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THE

^hannaputipl Journal

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Cransatlifftrs.

Irmnimcattical Journal

AND

Sran»atti0«s.

THIRD SERIES.

VOLUME XI,1

1880-81.

LONDON:

J. & A. CHURCHILL, NEW BURLINGTON STREET;

Edinburgh, MACLACHLAN & STEWART; Dublin, FANNIN & Co.;

Leipzig, TWIETMEYER.

1881.

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PRINTED BY STEVENS AND RICHARDSON,

C4REAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, LONDON, W.C. ? v

.

YOL. XI.— JULY 3, 1880.

THE ORIGIN OF THE “GUM” OF
QUEBRACHO COLORADO.

BY DR. AUGUST VOGL,

Honorary Member of the Pharmaceutical Society.

Through the kindness of my friend, Mr. J. Wibiral,
head of the firm “ Pfantzert’s Successor ” here, I
obtained a piece of the wood, about two decimetres
long, known under the name of “quebracho Colorado,”
now much in request as a tanning material, and to a
certain extent employed medicinally. It is generally
referred to Loxopterigium Lorentzii, Anacardiaceae,
Grisebach (Argentine Republic).

The piece of wood in question showed crevices
and hollow spaces about eight centimetres long and
lour centimetres broad, the walls of which were
deeply cleft and covered with a remarkable friable,
almost black, resinous mass, reminding one of certain
species of kino, ruby red at the angles, transparent,
breaking with a conchoidal fracture, and strongly
astringent.

This evidently was the so-called quebracho gum,
with reference to which there is an interesting
communication by Pedro N. Arata in the Pharma¬
ceutical Journal and Transactions , 1878, p. 531 (from
the Anal, de la Sociedad Cientifica Argentina , July,
1878).

The conditions under which this substance, which
can very well be named quebracho-kino, appears,
and which are quite analogous to those which afford
the so-called “ angelin-pedraharz ”* and the well
known “araroba,”t lead to the supposition that they
owe their origin to a disorganization of the wood,
which supposition is in fact confirmed by a fuither
histological investigation. I will briefly communi¬
cate my results as a supplement to the work of
Arata above quoted.

The heavy, tough, and very hard wood possesses
on the whole a bright brownish-red colour. In a
polished transverse section it shows bright medullary
rays very near to each other, and in the narrow wood
rays very numerous vessels as bright spots, and at
long intervals from each other run narrow rays of
wood parenchyma. About the crevices, above men¬
tioned as being covered with excretion, the wood
takes an almost black colour, which renders the
coarse structure relatively indistinct, and which
finally quite disappears in the clefts upon which the
mass of excretion lies or into which it rather flows.

* ‘ Pringslieim’s Jahrb. fiir. Bot. / ix.
t ‘ Comment, zur oester. Pharrn.,* third edition, p. 43G.
Third Series, No. 523.

The structure of the wood of quebracho Colorado
has been briefly described by me (in ‘ Der Gerber,’
1878) and more fully later by J. Moller (‘ Berichte
fiber die W eltaustellung,’ Paris, 1878, part 8). Only the
most important characteristics need be here referred
to. The principal medullary rays, generally three
cells broad and usually accompanied on either side
by cells containing crystals, consist on the whole of
pitted cells, not thick walled, extended in a radial
direction (fig. 1, m) ; together with these are secondary
rays one cell broad. The wood rays have as a ground
tissue libriform fibres (fig. 1, T), besides to a small
extent wood parenchyma, partly standing alone,
partly in simple layers surrounding the vessels.

The latter are generally very broad, thick walled,
with bordered pits and large thyllen, sometimes
containing crystals, either alone or in radiate groups
of two to five, seldom more. The oxalate of lime
crystals occurring in the wood are, in part, very
large, frequently double, and belong to the kliuo-
rhombic system.

Sections from the unaltered (bright brownish-red
portion of the wood show, under water, as contents
of the tissue, an amorphous mass coloured olive-
green by ferric chloride, completely soluble in water,
alcohol, and with heat in solution of potash. This
mass is more granular and bright red in colour in
the libriform cells and wood parenchyma, and ho¬
mogeneous, clotted, and brownish-red in the vessels
and medullary rays.

The cell walls appear to be yellowish or reddish-
yellow, and indeed the primary (the border layers a)
are intensely coloured.

Long continued warming in water decolorizes the
above, and at the same time there appears consider¬
able swelling of the secondary layers (ft), especially
in the vessels and libriform cells. Chloriodide of
zinc colours them (but not the primary membrane)
violet; iodine with sulphuric acid renders them
blue.

Sections from the black portion of the wood show
an essentially different behaviour of the elementary
tissues. All are so densely filled with the brownish-
red contents that without further treatment it is
difficult to understand the structure. This can only
be done by removing the contents of the cells with
one of the above solvents. The most remarkable
change is shown in the libriform fibres. In a trans¬
verse section boiled in water (fig. 4) the secondary
layers remarkable by their swelling in the same
preparation from the unaltered wood (fig. 2) are not
visible ; but inside the brownish-red primary mem¬
brane lie merely the remains of the above in the

2

THL PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 3, 1SS0.

form of a shrunken colourless skin, separated from
the cell wall by a distinct interval (fig 4, 6).

Explanation of the Accompanying Drawings.

Part of a transverse section from the wood of Quebracho
Colorado strongly magnified.

m, m, medullary rays.

I, l, libriform cells.

a, a, primary membrane.

b, h, secondary layers (second cell membrane).

Pigs. 1 and 2, from the unaltered (bright brownish-red),
figs. 3 to 5, from the altered (black) portion of the wood.

Pig. 2. Boiled in water.

b, much swollen.

Pig. 3. Libriform cells under water, densely filled with
amorphous brown-red contents.

Pig. 4. After boiling in water. Libriform cells with the
shrivelled remains of the secondary layers separated from
the cell wall. Medullary rays with spiral bands.

Pig. 5. Boiled in water. Libriform cells more changed
than in fig. 4. Primary membrane partly torn.

In a longitudinal section these remains of the
secondary deposits appear as thin, thick, or narrow
spiral bands. The cells also of the medullary rays
in the transverse section (fig. 4, m) show spiral bands.

The nearer to the excreted gum, the more evident
the changes become. Finally, a part is reached
where in a transverse section, after solution of the
cell contents, a thin brown cellular network with
polygonal meshes is met with, formed from primary
membrane, and corresponding to the fundamental
tissue. This shows numerous disruptions (fig. 5),
especially as it appears in a radial direction.

The remains of the secondary layers are visible in
single cells only. In the vessels, and especially in
the border cells, a withering away of the cell mem¬
brane is observed.

In the mass of gum which lies immediately on the
wood are found only more or less numerous pieces
of tissue in a very shrivelled condition, besides the
above remains, and on the exterior the perfectly homo¬

geneous kino-like mass of excretion is seen. If a
small portion of the brick-red powder be treated
with solution of potash under the microscope, only
single crystals of oxalate of lime, of the same form as
that in which they occur in the wood, and a few
colourless membranous flakes are observed. The
latter, after neutralization with acetic acid and treat¬
ment with chloriodide of zinc, are coloured blue, by
which they are known as remains of cell tissue and
their origin recognized.

The above mentioned facts indicate that the so-
called “gum” forming constituents appear first of
all as cell contents in the wood, that these under
certain conditions, and in some parts, are increased
at the cost of the cell wall, and further that, in the
first place, secondary layers undergo this meta¬
morphosis, and, lastly, the primary membrane.

Vienna.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ACONITINE AND
ALLIED ALKALOIDS.

BY C. R. ALDER-WRIGHT, D.SC. BOND.

Aconitine (C33H43lSr012 or 07 j q^qq^q Hr0

— This alkaloid appears to be the chief, if not the
only active alkaloidal ingredient in the roots of
A. Napellus , occurring therein together with amor¬
phous alkaloids of lower molecular weight, and con¬
taining a higher percentage of carbon. From these
alkaloids the free base partially separates by solution
in ether and spontaneous evaporation, the ether being
preferable previously mixed with very light petro¬
leum spirit, as recommended by Duquesnel. If the
amount of aconitine present relatively to the amor¬
phous bases is not considerable it is often impossible
to get the former to crystallize at all (at any rate on
the small scale) ; in any case a considerable amount
of aconitine is retained in solution permanently by
the agency of the amorphous alkaloids, which thus
cause considerable loss, much as alkaline salts do
in the case of sugar crystallization. Even after re¬
peated crystallization from ether or ether-petroleum
spirit, aconitine retains mechanically minute quanti¬
ties of the amorphous bases, which, however, can be
wholly eliminated by conversion into a salt, crystal¬
lization thereof, and regeneration of the alkaloid (by
treatment with an alkali and crystallization from
ether) from the salt thoroughly freed from the mother
liquor which contains the amorphous base as salt:
the hydrochloride, hydrobromide, and nitrate are
salts answering well for this purpose, especially the
two last.

When perfectly pure, aconitine melts in a capillary
tube at 183° — 184° (corrected), the melting point
being lowered by the presence of amorphous bases ;
the final complete melting is preceded by a slight
fritting, beginning a few degrees below the melting
point, and is accompanied by only very slight darken¬
ing with the pure base, by more if impure.

This test together with the following constitute
the two simplest criteria of purity. The alkaloid to
be examined is dissolved in a few drops of some dilute
acid, some puae ether added, and then some sodium
carbonate solution in excess and the whole well agi¬
tated in a stoppered bottle; the ethereal solution is
decanted and allowed to evaporate spontaneously;
when only a small quantity is left this is decanted
from the crystals that have formed into another

July 3, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

3

vessel and allowed to evaporate to dryness. If the
aconitine were tolerably pure the last drops of ethe¬
real mother liquor will dry up to crystals; but if
more than minute quantities of amorphous bases
were present these will accumulate in the mother
liquor, the last portions of which will dry up not to
crystals, but to a varnish or gum-like mass.

The gold salt of aconitine should not darken on
drying over sulphuric acid in the dark (presence of
amorphous alkaloids often causes decomposition to a
small extent on drying) ; after desiccation, first over
sulphuric acid till visibly dry and finally in the
water-bath, it should contain a trifle under 20*00 per
cent, of gold (theoretical percentage 19*92). If the
base contain traces of amorphous alkaloids, the gold
percentage is a little higher, specimens purified only
by crystallization from ether generally containing
20*2 to 20*3 per cent, of gold.

On heating for some hours to 100Q in a closed vessel
with alcohol and a little caustic potash, aconitine
should yield, close to 19 per cent.' of benzoic acid (theo¬
retical percentage 18*92), which can be extracted and
estimated by evaporation of the alkaline fluid to dry¬
ness, solution in water, treatment with hydrochloric
acid and ether, and spontaneous evaporation of the
ethereal solution, with purification of the residue from
resinous bye-products if necessary. The acid thus
formed should not produce any substance capable of
giving a green colour to ferric chloride on fusion at
250° with caustic potash, and treatment of the “melt”
with hydrochloric acid and ether, and evaporation to
dryness of the ethereal solution (indicates freedom
from pseudaconitine).

Pure aconitine should contain close to the theore¬
tical amounts of carbon and hydrogen, viz. 61*39 and
6*67 per cent, respectively. These analytical figures
are the only reliable means of distinguishing aconi¬
tine from the closely allied alkaloid recently de¬
scribed under the. provisional name “japaconitine”
(vide infra), which agrees very closely with aconitine
in all the other above named points.

Pseudaconitine —

(^30^-49^^12 0r ^Hg^NOg |

the chief if not the only active ingredient in A. Ferox
roots. Considerably less easily crystallizable than
aconitine; melting point when pure near to 104° — 105°
(not very distinctly marked, lritting commencing a
few degrees lower), no darkening in colour accom¬
panying the final fusion. No conclusions as to
purity can be drawn from the incomplete crystal-
lizability of the base (or its nitrate), as infinitesimal
amounts of impurity, too small for analytical deter¬
mination, and other circumstances greatly affect the
crystallizing power. Should yield on u saponifica¬
tion” with alcoholic potash near to the theoretical
amount of veratric (dimethylprotocatechuic) acid,

o*ch3
o*ch3

CO-OH

(viz. 26*49 per cent.), especially after purification
of the acid formed from resinous bye-products ; and
should give analytical numbers near to the following
theoretical values

Carbon in base (anhydrous) . . . 62*88

Hydrogen in base „ ... 7*13

Gold in Gold Salt „ . . . 19*10

Slightly higher percentages of gold being found (as
with aconitine) when the base is only purified by

crystallization from ether, and hence retains minute
quantities of the amorphous bases occurring together
with it in the roots.

Japaconitine (C06H88N2O21). — Provisional name
applied to a base occurring in aconite roots (query
as to species) recently imported into England from
J apan. First examined by Paul and Kingzett, who
attributed to it the formula C29H43N09. Exhibits
very close similarity to aconitine, furnishing almost
exactly the same amount of benzoic acid on saponifi¬
cation (theoretical percentage 19*6), and melting at
almost the same temperature, but slightly higher
(184° — 186° instead of 183° — 184° corrrected). Crys¬
tallizes from ether just about as readily as aconitine,
furnishes very similar salts, and can only be dis¬
tinguished conveniently by analytical numbers, the
theoretical values being uniformly higher than with
aconitine, viz. : —

Carbon in free base . 63*67

Hydrogen in free base .... 7*07

Gold in Gold Salt ...... 20*39

ETHYL BROMIDE.*

BY LAWRENCE WOLFF, M.D.

Progressive medicine has again confronted the pharma¬
cist in this substance with a new remedial agent, which
promises fair to stand the test of time much better than
the host of new remedies which are almost daily pressed
into the ranks of our therapeutic allies, and it is therefore
I think it merits closer investigation, in order that it be
offered to the medical profession in its highest possible
perfection.

In view that already our literature shows a great deal
of research and a thorough knowledge of the production
of this new agent, I do not claim to here propose radical
innovations, but merely desire to call attention to such
modifications as will assist in obtaining it in its pure state
at the lowest possible price.

Ethyl bromide, the hydrobromic ether of older che¬
mists, discovered by Serullas in 1827, shortly after the
discovery of bromine itself, received but little attention
as a therapeutic agent until Dr. Nunnelly, of Leeds,
England, called attention to it as a useful anaesthetic in
1865. Rabuteau, of Paris, |igain created considerable
interest by his experiments with it on the lower animals
in 1876, but the credit of bringing it out prominently,
and, as it now seems, permanently, is due to Dr. Lawrence
Turnbull, and the hearty co-operation, persevering efforts
and experiments of Dr. R. J. Levis, both of Philadelphia.
The latter has already used it in hundreds of oases, and
as yet no untoward accident has occurred at his hands.

Its early preparation by the discoverer was based upon
the action of phosphorus on bromine in presence of
alcohol, which Personne, in 1861, modified by substituting
amorphous phosphorus instead, and which was subse¬
quently more rationally conducted by Professor Reming¬
ton. The process of De Vrij, by decomposing potassic
bromide with sulphuric acid in presence of alcohol, was
an improvement which was followed out by Dr. Greene,
but which never served me, in the proportions mentioned,
to obtain any appreciable quantity of the ethyl bromide.

Its chemical composition was early determined to be
C2H5Br, its specific gravity 1*40, and its boiling point
106° F.; it will not burn, and its vapours will even
extinguish flame.

Finding considerable objection to the product of the
earlier process on account of its alliaceous odour, probably
due to free phosphorus or an ethyl phosphide, I was soon
led to produce it by De Yrij’s method, which, however,
I found deficient in the amount of sulphuric acid, and

* Read before the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.
From the Amencan Journal of Pharmacy , May, 1880.

4

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 3, 1$!>0.

it was not until I had almost trebled its quantity that I
succeeded in completely converting the entire amount of
alcohol into ethjd bi'omide.

The process I employed, and, after various experiments
and modifications, found to answer best, is as follows : —

Twenty-four ounces of potassic bromide, coarsely
powdered, are added to a mixture of 64 ounces of sul¬
phuric acid and 32 ounces of water. After the mixture
has sufficiently cooled, 16 fiuidounces of alcohol (95 per
cent.) are added thereto, the whole placed in a large flask
contained in a sand-bath, and connected with a Liebig’s
condenser, heat applied sufficiently that the contents of
the flask should be at about 200° E., and there to be main¬
tained until the reaction, which will go on quite lively
for a while, shall have ceased, and the ethyl, which has
rapidly been gathering in a receiver containing about 1
ounce of water, has ceased to come over, as can easily be
detected when it fails to further sink to the under
surface of the layer of water. The ethyl bromide so
obtained will amount to about 20 ounces, and should be
shaken with a solution of potassic bicarbonate, subse¬
quently washed with water, and purified by redistillation,
as described below.

The chemistry of this process is quite plain, the sul¬
phuric acid forming acid potassium sulphate, the bromine
taking the place of the oxygen in the ethyl oxide, forming
water with the hydrogen present, which expressed in
symbols would read as follows : —

KBr + H2S04 + C2H60 = KHS04 + H.,0 -1- C.2H5Br.
The operation is in itself so simple, so rapid, and so
totally devoid of all danger, that its advantages over the
earlier ones are readily obvious. It can easily be con¬
ducted on the laboratory table of most any pharmacy,
and will yield a product which possesses all the character¬
istics as described above. Its cost is an item of the
greatest importance to the pharmacist, in view of the
very high price asked for it at one time, and perhaps yet.
The potassic bromide at 68, the sulphuric acid at 15, and
the alcohol at 30 cents, will make the expense for material
per pound only 90 cents, while any young man can make
this amount in two hours’ time, besides attending to his
various other duties, and it will enable him to emancipate
himself from the manufacturing chemist, adding by it to
his self- esteem and the elevation of his profession.

But when larger quantities are required, and when it
is a matter of importance to reduce the price as much as
possible, I have found it to advantage to deviate from
the above process, which, however, to the pharmacist
may prove most suitable for its preparation on a small
scale.

As the first step in the manufacture of potassic bromide
is that of ferrous bromide, I made use of the latter at once
to obtain the desired ethyl in the following manner: —

In a stone jug containing about 1 gallon of water and
2^ pounds of iron turnings or wire, 5 pounds of bromine
are gradually added, care being taken not to allow the
temperature to rise too high, the jug besides being placed
in cold or iced water, and as soon as the reaction has
ceased the solution of the green ferrous bromide is filtered
off, the remaining iron being well washed out with warm
or boiling water, and to it, in a leaden or glass flask (I
have found the acid globe of a carboy a most useful
vessel), 15 pounds of commercial sulphuric acid are added;
after the mixture has sufficiently cooled, 6 pints of alcohol
(95 per cent.) are intermixed, the mixture well agitated
and distilled at a temperature as in the before-mentioned
operation. I have in this way obtained from these
amounts 7 pounds ethyl bromide at a cost of material of
not over 4’30 dollars, or about 60 cents per pound.

Again, in this reaction the chemistry is quite simple,
the sulphuric acid uniting with the iron to form ferrous
sulphate, while the two bromine again take the place of
two oxygen in the two ethyl oxide, the four hydrogen
with the two oxygen of the ethyl oxide forming two water,
and may be expressed in symbols as follows : — -
FeBr2 + 2C2H60 + H2S04 = FeS04 + 2HsO + 2C2H5Br.

Although the ethyl bromide thus obtained is by far
purer and has less odour than most of the articles found
in the market, I have observed that, on evaporating a
quantity of it, it left a heavy acrid odour behind which
in anaesthesia was bound to prove objectionable if not
actually deleterious, and I concluded, therefore, that,
after washing, I would re-distill it at a low temperature,
which I effected by placing it in a gallon bottle contained
in a water-bath, and connected with a condenser. The
bath was heated to a temperature of not over 125° E.,
at which brisk ebullition ensued, and a stream of
pure ethyl bromide was received, which was devoid of
any and all disagreeable odour, colourless and limpid,
of a specific gravity of 1’40, boiled at 106° F., and dicl
not burn.

The remains in the bottle were about one-half ounce
of a brown acrid liquid, of which I have not yet re¬
covered a sufficient amount to make a more complete
examination. To the taste it is extremely unpleasant,
pungent, and representing the disagreeable odour gene¬
rally found in the ethyl bromide offered in the market.

As regards the stability of pure ethyl bromide, which
has been questioned, I can fully confirm Dr. Levis’s ex¬
perience. I have kept samples of my earlier experiment-),
made almost two months ago, which to-day present the
same appearance they had then ; and far from a spontaneous
decomposition, I have not succeeded, by either alkalies or
acids, or other chemical means, to liberate the bromine
from this ethyl, or to effect its exchange in double de¬
composition,* and cannot say, therefore, that it deserves
the name of a loosely molecular article. (Dr. Squibb,
Medical Record , April 3, 1880, p. 379.)

In concluding my remarks on its manufacture, I would
point out the simple and cheap manner in which, by my
process, a pure and reliable article (which already has
been thoroughly tested by many physicians) can be pro¬
duced by the pharmacist himself, without having to
submit to the exorbitant prices generally asked for it.

Actuated by a desire to, further study the effects of the
ethyl bromide, I was led to make a series of experiments
on the lower animals and on ourselves, conjointly with
my friend Dr. J. Gr. Lee, the physician to the coroner of
this city. Regarding the safety of it as an anaesthetic,
as well as to after effects produced by its use, we made
numerous investigations, the results of some of which I
will give condensed below.

As an article from the pen of Dr. J. Marion Sims seems
to indicate that a most disastrous result has recently
occurred from its use ( Medical Record, April 3, 1880,
p. 361), and that being the only and first instance of the
kind reported, the ethyl bromide used in that case, as
well as the most of it produced heretofore, was presumably
obtained in a very imperfect manner, and it seems but
reasonable to review the case.

That death occurred only twenty-one hours after the
use of the anaesthetic seems to imply that it was not its
immediate presence which caused this lethal effect. The
presence of an odour of ethyl bromide forty-one hours
after its administration is hardly in conformity with its
volatile chai'acter, but s e ns to point to the presence
of some heavier and less diffusible substance contained
therein.

Judging from these facts that the deleterious effects
might be due to the heavy distillate above mentioned, we
gave 20 drops of it to a rabbit, with the result of causing
gastro- intestinal irritation, general malaise, and subsequent
death in eighteen hours afterwards; while, in the same
animal, 30 drops of pure ethyl bromide, given on a previous
occasion, produced no worse effects than slight intoxication.
A post-mortem examination showed the decided odour of
the acrid heavy distillate pervading the intestinal tract
and kidneys, while the brain, which unfortunately in the
autopsy of Dr. Sims’s case has not been mentioned, pre-

* I have since observed a reaction with a strong solution
ammonia, yielding ethylamine bromide.

July 3, 18S0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

5

sented a congested appearance, explaining probably the
cerebral trouble which Dr. Sims’s patient complained of so
much. This congestion is totally absent in immediate
death produced by the anaesthetic on animals, the brain
in such contingencies being generally pale and somewhat
anemic. The abdominal viscera also showed signs of
irritation and congestion.

To further satisfy ourselves as to the effects of pure
ethyl bromide, we continued our experiments as fol¬
lows : —

A rabbit of 4 pounds 3 ounces weight ; anaesthesia in¬
duced in one minute by 20 drops of ethyl bromide ;
pupils first contracted, and then dilated ; heart acting
well, with slight increase in number of beats. By with
drawing and reapplying the anaesthetic as required, the
animal was kept under the effects of it for twenty
minutes, and on withdrawing it the animal recovered
entirely in five minutes.

Another rabbit, weighing 3£ pounds, was made to
inhale 1 drachm of ethyl bromide, producing complete
anaesthesia in one minute, causing first contraction,
followed by dilatation of the pupil; heart beating
normally ; voluntary muscles relaxed. The anaesthesia
being pushed on by the use of another drachm of the
ethyl, the beating of the heart was accelerated, number
of respirations increased, and in six minutes heart ceased
to beat, after losing perceptibly in impulse. Attempts at
resuscitation proved fruitless, but electromotoric sensi¬
bility well preserved. Post-mortem examination showed
the brain in a state of anemia, lungs pale and healthy,
right ventricle and auricle distended, and filled with ante¬
mortem clots; no odour of the ethyl perceptible after
death.

The above experiments demonstrate that with the
cautious use of ethyl bromide, rabbits, which are with
difficulty maintained in anaesthesia, can be successfully
ethylized without much danger to their lives.

Satisfied as to this, we were determined to obtain in¬
formation as to its action when administered internally,
and for that purpose gave to three of the animals re¬
spectively 10, 20 and 30 minims of the eth>l. While
producing in the larger doses more markedly a slight
intoxication, no other serious symptoms arose. Encouraged
by this, we commenced taking it ourselves, well diluted,
first in doses of 5 and 10, and then 25 and 30 drops,
without discovering any noticeable effect, save that of
slight sleepiness induced by the larger doses. A nervous
headache, existing during these experiments, seems by
the ethyl to have been entirely relieved, which, however,
might have been the case had any other bromide been
taken instead. That it may prove of decided benefit in
nervous irritation and hysteria is readily to be inferred
herefrom.

To the taste it is sweet and pleasant, but heating to.
the mucous surfaces, and it should be well diluted before
it is administered.

The next case for experiment was that of a rabbit,
which we injected hypodermically with 5 minims of the
ethyl, producing, however, no marked effect, save a very
slight intoxication. Another, subsequently injected with
10, 15 to another, and 30 to still another, had again the
effect of producing intoxication, with a decided somnolence
and relaxation of the muscles, all of the animals recover¬
ing, however, completely within one hour. As a com¬
parative experiment, another rabbit was injected with 15
minims of chloroform, which produced most marked and
threatening effects and complete somnolence, from which
the animal could not be roused, and only recovered after
three hours, remaining for hours afterwards in a stupefied
condition.

It is to be remarked here, that in all cases where the
animals were injected with ethyl bromide the number of
respirations were largely increased.

Determined to ascertain the manner in which the ethyl
bromide should prove fatal if injected hypodermically, we
injected into one of them, a healthy female rabbit of 5

pounds weight, within half an hour, in broken quantities,
2^ drachms of the article, failing, however, to inflict
death, nor more serious symptoms within the next three
hours than those above noted ; found, however, that the
animal had expired during the following night.

A post-mortem examination revealed a congested brain,
but showed nothing beyond that to account for its death.

The inference from these experiments may be set down
that, internally as well as hopodermically, the ethyl
bromide has no toxic effect on the animal organism
beyond that of ether or alcohol.

The absence of any odour of it in intestines, kidneys
and liver, admits the theory that it is totally eliminated
through the lungs ; that by its presence in large quan¬
tities in the system, and if not readily eliminated through
the lungs, it acts as a decided stimulant, and may, when
used in excess, like ether and alcohol, cause death by
cerebral congestion.

Finally, and with a view to test its adaptability and
safety as an anaesthetic in comparison with ether and
chloroform, we experimented on three healthy rabbits of
about the same weight, simultaneously administering by
inhalation to one ether, ethyl bromide to another, and
chloroform to the third, sufficient being used to maintain
profound anaesthesia.

The first one, under ether, was completely under its
effect in one minute ; heart’s action rapidly increased in
number of beats, diminished in impulse, death occurring
in three minutes.

The second one was in complete anaesthesia from ethyl
bromide in thirty seconds; pupils first contracted then
dilated; muscles relaxed; accelerated action of heart,
gradually failing impulse ; death in seven minutes.

Third rabbit received chloroform, producing rapidly
anaesthesia in fifty seconds ; heart feeble ; at the expira¬
tion of one minute fifty seconds heart suddenly ceased to
beat.

Post-mortem appearance showed the animal killed by
ether presenting congested membranes and investments
of braiD, heart " apparently arrested in diastole, clot in
right auricle and ventricle, which were largely distended ;
odour of ether thought to be faintly perceptible on opening
abdominal cavity ; post-mortem hypostasis well marked in
lungs.

Rabbit died of ethyl bromide presented on post-mortem
examination a brain somewhat paler than normal, clots
in both ventricles and auricles of heart ; death apparently
from over-stimulation of this organ; lungs normal; no
odour of the ethyl perceptible in viscera.

Chloroformed animal showed on post-mortem examina
tion an anemic brain, small clots in right auricle and
ventricle, heart apparently arrested in incomplete systole,
due to clot ; lungs markedly congested ; no odour of
chloroform noticeable.

The inferences from these cases seem to impress us as
follows : —

The first and second rabbits, which had been treated
respectively with ether and with ethyl bromide, died
under similar circumstances. The modes of death appear
to have been occasioned by a gradual paralysis of the
cardiac inhibitory motor centres, while the sudden heart
failure in the third, which is typical of chloroform
accidents, seems to indicate paralysis of the cardiac
motor centres.

While it is hardly justifiable to infer from experiment i
on animals as to the effect on the human organism, it is
not to be denied that they go far, along with the many
trials on human beings and those upon oui'selves, to show
that a direct toxic influence from pure ethyl bromide on
the organism need not be apprehended.

That pure ethyl bromide is per se an absolutely safe
anaesthetic can as yet not be positively stated, but that
its action appears to be quite as safe as ether, and
certainly more so than the treacherous and dangerous
chloroform, seems to us, as deduction from above-related
experiments, out of questiom

6

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 3, 1880.

We can certainly hail this new-comer as another agent
destined to alleviate sufferings, which, by its own merits,
will win its way into the ranks of those we now hold as
recognized measures for combating disease, and as such,
propose that by this body it be recommended for a
position in the National Pharmacopoeia about to be
revised.

THE BITTER PRINCIPLE AND RESIN OF HOPS.*

BY DR. MAX ISSLEIB.

The nature of the bitter principle, as well as of the
other constituents of hops, has already several times
been the subject of investigation. These investigations,
at least in respect to the bitter principle, have hitherto
led to no satisfactory results.

Etti,+ in his memoir upon the tannic acid of hops, at
the close mentions also the bitter principle, which accord¬
ing to him can be obtained in the following manner.
The hops are extracted with ether, when there pass into
solution essential oil, chlorophyll, and a crystalline white
and an amorphous bi'own resin. Of these the white resin
alone remains undissolved when the evaporation residue of
the ethereal solution is treated with alcohol. The resin
that is dissolved in the alcohol is separated from the bitter
substance adhering to it by the addition of water to the
alcoholic solution. Prom the turbid liquid, which is not
rendered clear by filtration, the resin separates, whilst the
bitter substance remains in watery solution. If this solu¬
tion be evaporated in a vacuum over sulphuric acid it
yields well-formed colourless crystals ; but if it be evapo¬
rated in a water-bath only small crystals are formed in
an extract-like mass. The crystals, as well as the syrup,
have a strong bitter taste, and are completely soluble in
water, especially when warmed. According to this author
it is possible, by repeated re-dissolving and re-precipitation,
to separate the resin and bitter substance so completely
that the resin no longer tastes bitter. He says further,
“These experiments, which can easily be controlled,
are contrary to the frequently expressed opinion that the
bitter resin of hops is only brought into watery solation
by the help of sugar, tannic acid, gum, essential oil, etc.
The brown amorphous resin and the bitter substance of
hops are two essentially different substances.”

A repetition of this investigation appeared to me to be
indicated because of the want of more exact information
respecting the crystalline hop-bitter so obtained.

The best Bohemian hops were exhausted with ether.
After removal of the ether there remained a greenish-
black aromatic resin-like extractive residue. Of this the
greater part was dissolved by alcohol and there were left
behind white indistinctly crystalline flocks, which were
identical with the white crystalline resin of Etti. These
flocks, collected on a filter, appeared as a voluminous
greenish-coloured residue. This residue was dissolved in
ether and repeatedly recrystallized ; it was not, however,
completely freed from the adhering green colouring
matter. •*

The alcoholic solution of the ethereal hop extract was
mixed with half its volume of water. It became at once
milky turbid, and after standing the greater part of the
resin it contained separated as a brown amorphous mass.
This separated resin was re-dissolved five times in alcohol
and precipitated with water. The united aqueous liquids
did not become clear by filtration. When carefully con¬
centrated on a water-bath there was a separation of a
considerable quantity of resin still suspended in it.
Crystals were not obtained after the concentrated liquid
had been evaporated in a vacuum over sulphuric acid
to a syrupy consistence, neither when, as directed by
Etti, the syrup had been re-dissolved in alcohol and again
separated. Moreover the syrup did not taste like a pure

* Communication from the Laboratory of E. Reichardt.
From 1 lie Archiv der Pharrnacie for May.
t Dingl. Polyt. Jo-urn 1876, 228.

bitter, but strongly acid, nauseous, and afterwards bitter.
Further, the alcoholic solution of the resin that had been
five times precipitated by water still had a strong bitter
taste. These results consequently do not correspond
completely with those obtained by Etti.

The previous investigations on the preparation of the
hop bitter, so far as the literature is accessible to me, are
as follows : —

Ives* first called attention to the presence in hops of a
yellow powder, resembling vegetable cells, which occurs
on the inner base of the scaly bracts of the hop strobile.
It also forms on the young leaves when just bursting, but
it falls off from them as they grow older. Ives named
these granules “ lupulin,” and he obtained from dried
hops that had been rubbed together in a sack, nearly
one-sixth of their weight of this substance. According
to his analysis lupulin contained in 100 parts : —

Tannin . 5 parts.

Extract insoluble in alcohol . . 10 „

Peculiar bitter substance, soluble

in water and in alcohol . . . 11 „

Wax . 12 „

Resin . 36 „

Insoluble ligneous residue ... 46 „

Essential oil was not detected in lupulin by Ives. The
substance named wax was soluble only in ether and
alkaline liquids. The hop bitter dissolved more easily
in hot water than in cold. According to Ives when hops
are completely deprived of lupulin they no longer contain
any of the peculiar bitter. He therefore proposed that
lupulin should be used in the place of hops in medicine
and brewing.

In 1826, Pelletier, Payen and Chevallier,+ who had
previously written on the same subject, J published their
renewed comprehensive investigation upon the constitu¬
ents of hops. They extended their investigations both
to the herbaceous and woody portions of the hop plant,
and to the yellow hop glands. According to them the
herbaceous portion and the stem contain the same con¬
stituents if carefully freed from lupulin. They impart no
bitterness to water, but a disagreeable astringent taste,
and a smell resembling that of ordinary vegetable infu¬
sions. In the watery extract a series of organic and
inorganic salts were detected, which need not be further
referred to here.

In the yellow secretion, on the other hand, an abund¬
ance of bitter substance was found. The quantity of
hop glands amounted to 13 per cent, of the hops; of this,
however, 4 per cent, was sand, so that there was left
9 per cent, of pure yellow secretion that floated upon
water. From these pure hop glands they obtained 2 per
cent, of a white volatile persistently acrid tasting oil,
which was assumed to contain sulphur, since polished
silver was blackened by water with which the oil had
been in contact.

Infusion of hop glands, prepared with heat, has an
aromatic bitter taste, and contains essential oil, resin,
some fatty matter, organic and inorganic salts, and a
peculiar bitter substance, which these authors on their
part named “ lupulin.” They described this bitter sub¬
stance as yellowish white, drawing moisture from the
air, and more soluble in warm water than in cold. The
saturated aqueous solution frothed when shaken, had a
neutral reaction, and was not altered by acids and alkalies.
The bitter substance was prepared by treating the watery
extract after addition of lime with alcohol, filtering off
the alcohol and evaporating. The residue was exhausted
with water, warmed, washed with ether, and carefully
dried. The use of ether is unnecessary if the watery
extract be repeatedly treated with alcohol and water.

Further the hop glands contained, according to these
authors 50 to 55 per cent of resin, soluble in alcohol and

* American Journal of Science , vol. ii., p. 302.
t Journal de Chim. med., 1826, vol. ii., p. 527.
X Geiger’s Magazin, vol. xvii.

July 3, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

7

ether, having an aromatic smell and taste, and burning
with a smokeless flame.

These investigations were very valuable, in the state of
chemical science at that time. Now it is known that in
the preparation of the bitter substance nothing should be
used — in this case lime — which would induce its decom¬
position.

Wagner* corrected the statement of Payen and Cheval-
lier as to the presence of sulphur in hop oil. He obtained
from hops 0’8 per cent, of a light brownish oil, having a
strong smell of hops, a burning slightly bitter taste re¬
calling that of thyme and origanum, sp. gr. 0’908, and
slightly acid reaction. In this oil Wagner was unable to
detect sulphur and he came to the opinion that Payen and
Chevallier had worked with sulphured hops. By frac¬
tional distillation the oil was separated into several parts.
The portion passing over between 175° and 225° C. had
the composition C10H18O, consequently differed only by
H20 from the hydrocarbon C10H16. Upon mixing the
hop oil with alcoholic solution of potash, it became brown,
and in distillation a hydrocarbon, having the formula
C10Hl6 and smelling like rosemary, passed over. From
the behaviour of the oil with acid sulphite of ammonia,
it giving no crystalline compound, it was considered not
to be an aldehyde.

Personnef made further experiments upon lupulin. In
distilling it with water an acid and a volatile oil passed
over. The former proved to be valerianic acid, and the
volatile oil was by treatment with nitric acid converted
into valerianic acid and a resinous substance. Dropped
upon fused potash the oil yielded a hydrocarbon C10H16,
besides carbonate and valerianate of potash. Personne
assumed, therefore, the presence in hop oil of a hydro¬
carbon, C10H16, and valerol, C10H12Oo. Personne found
also in hop oil an organic acid and a bitter nitrogenous
substance, neither of which was more closely examined.

LermerJ renewed the investigation of the hop bitter.
His comprehensive communication mentions of former
work only that of Ives. Lermer exhausted hops repeatedly
with ether. From the ethereal extract there separated
after standing a considerable quantity of a crystalline
body, which according to him was myricin. It was easily
obtained perfectly white through washing with cold alco¬
hol and recrystallization from hot alcohol. The alcohol
solution filtered from the myricin was again distilled, the
residue taken up with ether, and shaken repeatedly with
strong potash solution until this was no longer coloured
deep yellow. The resin, etc., passed principally into the
lower watery potash layer ; in the upper was found the
potash combination with the hop bitter, together with ad¬
herent resin. Upon shaking the deep brown ethereal layer
it yielded the hop bitter alkali to the water. From the
watery solution a copper compound of the hop bitter,
soluble in ether, was precipitated by CuS04. Upon treating
the ethereal solution of the copper salt with sulphuretted
hydrogen and evaporating the filtrate in a current of car¬
bonic anhydride a brown residue was obtained, in which
crystals quickly formed that were freed from adhering
mother-liquor by nitrobenzol and spreading them on gyp¬
sum. The bitter substance so obtained was insoluble in
water, but readily soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform,
carbon bisulphide, benzol, turpentine oil, and similar sol¬
vents. The crystals had an acid reaction ; the potash and
copper salts were also acid. The formula of the copper
salt, according to Lermer was Cu0,C32H2507.

Lermer further mentions the occurrence of some other
crystalline body in hops, which however was not more
closely examined.

The same objection which was raised against the in¬
vestigation of Payen and Chevallier must be repeated

* Journal far practische Chemie, vol. lviii., 35L.
f Journ. Pharm.y vol. xxvi., pp. 241, 321; vol. xxvii.,
p. 22,

J Vierteljahrsschrift fur jpract. Pharmacie , vol. xii.,
p. 505.

with greater emphasis against that of Lermer. The use
of concentrated solution of potash in the preparation of
undecomposed hop bitter has been proved by more recent
Investigations upon the bitter substances inadmissible.

If the properties of the bitter substances previously ob¬
tained from the hop be compared no slight differences are
manifest. Whilst Ives only mentioned the occurrence in
lupulin of a bitter substance which was soluble in water
and alcohol, Payen and Chevallier described the. nature
of the bitter substance named by them “lupulin” as soluble
in water and alcohol, neutral and uncrystallizable, and
not altered by acids or alkalies. Personne spoke of a
bitter nitrogenous substance. Lermer prepared a bitter
substance insoluble in water and soluble in ether, alcohol
and similar solvents, having an acid reaction. The crys¬
talline bitter substance of Etti was soluble in water and
alcohol, though he failed to give nearer information upon
its special properties.

These entirely divergent results have their basis in the
use of imperfect methods.

In the isolation of bitter substances in the present day
their behaviour towards tannic acid, lead salts and ani¬
mal charcoal is utilized.

Only a few are precipitated by tannic acid ; the bitter
substance being withdrawn from the precipitate produced
by means of alcohol, after the tannic acid has been com¬
bined by previous treatment of the precipitate with lead
oxide.

Acetate and subacetate of lead are suitable principally
for the acid-reacting bitter substances. The bitter sub¬
stance lead precipitate, stirred in water, is decomposed
with sulphuretted hydrogen ; the bitter substance is then
found either in the watery solution or with the lead sulphide,
which possesses the peculiarity of obstinately retaining
many bitter substances. Frequently the watery extract
is precipitated first with acetate of lead and then with
subacetate, in order to ensure the separation of the pre-
cipitable acids.

Animal charcoal is advantageous in the preparation of
both the neutral and the acid bitter substances. Hopf,
Warington, Weppen and others observed the power of
vegetable and animal charcoal to remove the bitter sub¬
stance from bitter vegetable extracts, and Lebourdois and
Bley made practical use of the observation. Freshly
burnt previously boiled granular animal charcoal is best
suited for the purpose. The vegetable extract is treated
with the charcoal either in the cold or with heat until the
bitter is removed; the charcoal is then washed with
cold water and gently dried. The bitter substance is with¬
drawn by means of boiling alcohol, and other substances
going into solution must be removed by suitable reagents.
The great advantage of this method is that it is not neces¬
sary to concentrate the voluminous vegetable extract,
and easily occurring alterations are avoided.

This method was also indicated in this case, because
the bitter substance of hops is not isolated by tannic
acid and lead salts. If an aqueous extract of hops
prepared with heat be treated with tannic acid a
plentiful precipitate generally results. This, however,
is not a combination of the hop bitter with tannic acid,
since if the precipitate be decomposed with lead and
exhausted with alcohol, the alcohol leaves upon evapora¬
tion a dark brown coloured residue, which has a very
disagreeable astringent, but only slightly bitter taste. A
very considerable precipitate is also produced in extract
of hops or of lupulin by lead acetate and subacetate ; but
after decomposition by means of sulphuretted hydrogen
there remains after the evaporation of the watery solution
a body similar to that obtained with tannic acid. If the
lead sulphide be exhausted with boiling absolute alcohol
there remains upon evaporation of the alcohol generally
some slightly yellowish coloured crystals, which consist of
sulphur derived from the decomposed sulphuretted hy¬
drogen.

Before I refer to the experiments which led to the
decision as to the best means of extraction and the most

8

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July S, 1S80.

suitable method of isolating the bitter substance, it will
be as well to define the term “ bitter substance ” some¬
what more precisely.

At preseut this name is applied to a class of bodies
very widely spread through the vegetable kingdom, but
also occurring in the animal kingdom, which almost
always by boiling with acids or alkalies, sometimes also
under the influence of ferments, by the taking up of water,
break up into sugar or a body resembling it, and another
decomposition product. They belong therefore, mostly, to
the large group of glucosides. These are taken as ethers
of the sugars or sugar- like compounds ; most of them taste
bitter or astringent and have a neutral or slightly acid re¬
action. Besides carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, a few con¬
tain nitrogen, and only myronic acid contains sulphur also.
From the alkaloids, allied to them by their bitter taste,
they are distinguished by the reaction, the almost
constant absence of nitrogen and their less powerful
action upon the organism. Only picrotoxin, helleborin,
digitalin, antiarin and colchicin are exceptions. Those
families of plants that are rich in alkaloids, — for instance,
papaveracese and solanaceae, — are poor in bitter substances,
it is interesting that it is possible still further to split up
one of the two original decomposition products, as is the
case with phloridzin and salicin.

A scientific arrangement of the glucosides is at present
not yet possible. Kromayer divided them according to
the difference in their taste into two great divisions, the
bitter substances and the acrid tasting substances. Each of
these has vaiious subdivisions. Scholemmer^ attempted
the division of glucosides into the fatty series, — containing
at present only myronic acid, — and the aromatic series.
From the latter he separates the tannic acids by their
behaviour towards salts of iron and albumen solution.
Marquardt divided the bitter substances into —

A. Picroglucosides, yielding sugar or some other sac¬

charine body upon decomposition.

B. Pure picrides, yielding no saccharine body to the

action of acids,

Both these classes are again split up into —

(1) Chromogens,

(2) Ozogens,

(3) Retinogens,

according as they yield upon treatment colouring matter,
odorous matter (essential oil, etc.), or resin.

Preparation of the Hop Bitter. — In order to make clear
the best means of extracting the bitter substance from
the hop, experiments were made with different solvents.

Behaviour of Lupulin and Hops towards Cold
Water. — Hops were exhausted by extracting them four
or five times with cold distilled water ; a strongly bitter
tasting, aromatic smelling yellowish liquid was cbt lined.
When lupulin was rubbed as fine as possible — which c msed
it to agglutinate together very much and thereby to present
resistance to the penetration of the water — a liquid was
obtained by similar treatment, which manifested the
bitter taste and aromatic odour in a higher degree than
that obtained from the hop. The complete exhaustion of
the lupulin is only effected with difficulty on account of
its resinous nature. Upon the evaporation of the liquids
so obtained there remained a small quantity of light-
brown extract, which tasted strongly bitter, but herba¬
ceous also.

Behaviour of Lupulin and Hops towards Warm
Water. — Upon pouring boiling water upon lupulin and
hops strongly coloured extracts were obtained. They
tasted bitter, but were also disagreeable and astringent.
They left upon evaporation a considerable quantity of
brown extract.

Behaviour of Lupulin and Hops towards
Alcohol. — 10 grams of hops exhausted with 85 per
cent, spirit yielded a brown bitter tasting filtrate, which
upon evaporating left 2-67 grams = 267 per cent, of resin¬
like extract. 10 grams of lupulin were submitted to

* * History of the Carbon Compounds.’

similar treatment ; the filtrate was deep brown, tasted
bitter and left 5 '53 grams, or 55*3 per cent, of extract.

According to the statement of Etti and my own
observations alcohol dissolves only the brown resin of
hops. In order to determine the identity of the resins
obtained from the hops and from lupulin, they were both
purified with water from adhering extractive matter.
The elementary analysis of this resin will be given
subsequently. The resin dissolved with difficulty in
benzine and light petroleum spirit, but readily in ether,
alcohol and chloroform. The hop resin is precipitated
from alcoholic solution by subacetate of lead, barium and
calcium hydrates. The hydrates of sodium and potassium
convert the resin into a resin-soap soluble in water.

Behaviour of Lupulin and Hops towards
Ether. — The ethereal extracts of lupulin and hops are
green coloured, appear red in transmitted light, and leave
upon evaporation of the ether a blackish-green resinous
residue that does not impart a bitter taste to water.

From these experiments it appears that the bitter taste
both of hops and lupulin can be entirely removed by cold
distilled water. The pure bitter aromatic taste of the
cold extract, as compared with the bitter disagreeable
herbaceous taste of the hot, the lighter colour and the
smaller quantity of the cold extract, were advantages that
tell in favour of cold water as the means of extraction of
the bitter substance.

Further experiments showed that the cold extracts of
hops and lupuliu can be almost completely deprived of
bitter taste by freshly burnt animal charcoal. A larger
quantity of hops was therefore placed in a roomy extrac¬
tion cylinder, with a sieve bottom, and exhausted as
rapidly as possible with cold distilled water. The extracts
obtained being left in contact with freshly burnt animal
charcoal in closed vessels had after two days lost their
bitter taste. The charcoal was afterwards washed with
cold water and gently dried, and then exhausted with
boiling 90 per cent, alcohol as long as the latter was
coloured by it. From the wine-yellow strongly bitter¬
tasting extract most of the alcohol was removed by
distillation. The residuary liquid became turbid, but
again cleared upon further evaporation, a brownish-
black resinous body separating from the reddish-yellow
liquid.

Indeed it was by the separation of this — as subsequent
elementary analysis demonstrated — brown amorphous
resin that the clearing of the watery extract was effected,
it not being filtered, but only decanted, so that finely
divided resin in the extract is capable of being absorbed
by the charcoal.

The reddish-yellow watery liquid from which the
resin had separated tasted very strongly bitter; never¬
theless this was followed by a disagreeable astringencjr.
It was evidently a solution of the pure bitter sub¬
stance, or the pure substance must have been contained
in it. Carefully brought to the consistence of a syrup
upon a water-bath it became turbid, and upon further
concentration there was a separation of dark flocks and
it did not again dissolve clear in water. From this be¬
haviour it became probable that besides the bitter
substance another body was present. A separation of
this body by various solvents was attempted, but frus¬
trated by their equal solubility in water, alcohol,
choloform benzin and petroleum spirit. But upon
shaking, the aqueous solution of the bitter tasting
extract with ether this takes up the bitter substance
alone, whilst the other body being insoluble in ether
remains in the aqueous solution. The ether is faintly
I yellow coloured, and upon its removal there remains
usually a very small quantity of an extraordinarily bitter
strongly aromatic smelling body, whilst the watery solu¬
tion of the extract which has been shaken with ether
possesses only an insipid disagreeable taste.

The very small amount of bitter substance obtained
from the hops amounted to O’OOI per cent., which in¬
duced me to submit lupulin to the same treatment. The

July 3, 1S80.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

9

lupulin was obtained in Bonn ; it was of a yellowish-
green colour and very aromatic smell, and left upon in¬
cineration 19*8 per cent, of residue, which is probably
not to be looked upon as an adulteration, since in the
collection of lupulin an admixture of sand, etc., from the
hop field is hardly to be avoided.

The lupulin was rubbed as fine as possible, which
caused it to agglutinate together. As in this condition
it could not be perfectly penetrated by water, it was
mixed with three to four times its quantity of pure
quartz sand that had been freed from soluble matter
with acid. In other respects the process followed was
as before.

Five kilos of lupulin yielded 5*5 grams of bitter sub¬
stance, equal to 0T1 per cent., quite similar in its
properties to that obtained from hops. The hop bitter
is therefore present more abundantly in lupulin than in
the whole hop ; which is a confirmation of the earlier
statement of Payen and Chevallier that the bitter sub¬
stance of hops has its seat exclusively, or at least
principally, in lupulin.

Properties of the Pure Bitter Substance. — The bitter
substance remains after the evaporation of the ether as a
ight-yellow mass, of the thickness of an extract, which
upon heating to over 60° C. assumes a reddish-yellow
colour. If it be kept a longer time at this temperature
it can be rubbed after cooling into a yellowish-white
powder. In cold water the bitter substance when of a
syrupy consistence is tolerably easily soluble ; but in the
powder form it dissolves much more difficultly. When
dissolving in warm water the bitter substance melts
together to a resin- like mass, which rotates for a long
time on the surface of the water ; it always becomes
darker in colour and the latter portions are only very
difficultly soluble.

Alcohol, benzine, carbon bisulphide and ether dissolve
the bitter substance readily; but all attempts to crys¬
tallize it from one of these solvents were without result.
Evaporated during a week under the air pump there
always remained an amorphous mass. The taste is a
very intense pleasant bitter, recalling quinine ; the smell
is very aromatic and resembling hops. Upon heating it
to over 100° it puffs up and decomposes with evolution
of a peculiar aromatic odour; and upon stronger heating
it burns with a bright sooty flame, without leaving any
ash.

The bitter substance contains no nitrogen and has an
extremely slight acid reaction. Concentrated sulphuric
acid dissolves it with a black, and concentrated hydro¬
chloric acid and nitric acid with a yellow-brown colour.
Upon treating a warmed aqueous solution with dilute
acids it becomes turbid, giving off a strongly aromatic
smell. Upon longer standing there separates at the
bottom of the vessel a brown resin-like substance inso¬
luble in water. A decomposition of the hop bitter is
consequently caused by dilute acids, but no sugar can be
detected in the supernatant liquid. Alkalies dissolve
the bitter substance with an intense yellow colour.
Acetate and subacetate of lead and tannic acid produce
turbidity in hop bitter solution, without a clear preci¬
pitation following. Ferrous and ferric salts produce no
change of colour in a solution. The reagents for alkaloids,
iodo-iodide of potassium solution, phosphomolybdic acid,
phosphotungstic acid, platinic chloride, and mercuric
chloride cause no precipitation.

Elementary Analysis of the Hoy Bitter. — As the change
of colour that takes place in tbe hop bitter when heated
above 60° C. indicates the beginning of decomposition an
elementary analysis was made of some that had been
dried at this temperature until the weight remained
constant. The combustion was made by means of cupric
oxide in a current of oxygen gas.

I. 0*2314 gram gave 0T703 H20 = 0*018922 H; and
0*5340 CO.,r= 0*145636 C.

II. 0*2268 gram gave 01679 H>0 = 0*018955 H; and
0*5194 COo = 0 141654 C.

III. 0*2204 gram gave 0*1670 H,0 = 0*018555 H ; and
0*5068 C02 = 0*138218 0. ’

I.

C = 62*93
H = 8*17
O = 28*90

100*00

Found.

II. III.

62*45 62*71

8*22 8*42

29*33 28*87

100*00 100*00

Calculated for

^•J9H460lO*

0 = 62*81
H = 8*31

O = 28*88

100*00

Decomposition of the Hop Bitter. — When a warm
aqueous solution of hop bitter is mixed with twenty times
diluted SO4H2 in great excess, it at once becomes very
turbid. After standing twelve hours a resinous mass
separates upon the bottom and sides of the vessel, whilst
the supernatant liquid appears yellow coloured. The
quantity of the separated insoluble body amounted in
one case to 8*4, and in another to 8*7 per cent of the hop
bitter used. The filtrate was as exactly as possible
neutralized with Ba(OH)2, and after filtering off the
BaS04 evaporated. After cooling the syrupy liquid
solidified to a crystalline paste. The crystals contained
a considerable quantity of baryta, but were neutral in
reaction, a formation of a barium salt had therefore taken
place. There was no indication of sugar.

The insoluble resinous body produced by S04H., may
be named “ lupuliretin,” and the acid formed simulta¬
neously, “lupulinic acid.”

After purification of the lupuliretin from adhering
sulphuric acid by careful washing with warm water it
appears as a brownish-black aromatic-smelling resin-like
body. Its chemical relations resemble those of hop resin ;
it cannot be obtained crystalline from either alcoholic or
ethereal solution. It gave on analyses results corre¬
sponding with the formula C10H16O4.

Found.

Calculated for

c =

I.

II.

C]0H

16^4.

- 60*14

59*93

C =

60*00

H =

= 7*85

8*29

H =

8*00

O =

= 32*01

31*78

O =

32*00

. Lupulinate of barium is extremely soluble in water,
dissolving equally in ether, alcohol, chloroform and
water. It was not found possible to deprive it of its
yellow colour by recrystallization from any of these
solvents. Dried over calcium chloride until constant in
weight and analysed it gave results corresponding with
the formula C48H90BaO24.

Found.

Calculated for

I.

II.

C48*l90^aO^4-

C

= 48*23

48*08

C =

48*53

H

= 7*47

7*66

H =

7*58

Ba

= 11*56

11*56

Ba =

11*54

O

= 32*74

32*70

O =

32*35

When heated to 80° C. this salt lost five equivalents of
water ; therefore C48H90BaO24 = C48H80BaO19 + 5HsO.
Upon stronger heating it decomposed with evolution” of
vapour having an acid reaction, and at a temperature of
about 300° C. it burnt with an aromatic odour.

Upon exactly neutralizing 0*3 gram of lupulinate of
barium with sulphuric acid the concentrated filtrate left
a faintly yellow-coloured crystalline bitter-tasting residue.

Elementary Analysis of the Hoy Resin. — Resin obtained
both from hops and lupulin was analysed.

I.

Found.

Calculated for

II.

III.

C10H14O3.

C

= 65*67

65*81

66*09

C = 65*93

H

= 7*68

7*69

8*04

H = 7*68

O

= 26*65

26*50

25*87

O = 26 39

Resin from Hope. From Lupulin.

For the confirmation of the empirical formula C'ioH]403
for hop resin experiments were made in the preparation
of compounds. It is necessary, however, to remember
that these compounds of resins frequently do not show a
constant composition.

10

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNA^ AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 3, 1880-

Upon treating a spirituous solution of hop resin with
subacetate of lead a voluminous precipitate appeared,
which after careful washing and drying formed a greenish-
yellow powder. Upon analysis it gave results corre¬
sponding with the formula C30H40PbO9 + 3 OH2. The
composition found would probably be more correctly
expressed by the formula —

(C20H26PbO6 + C10H14O3) + 3 OH2.

A barium compound was prepared by decomposing the
soda soap of hop resin by means of baryta water. This
gave results corresponding with the formula —

^20®-28-^a^6 d* C10H14O3) +70 H2.

The calcium compound was obtained by decomposing
the soda soap with lime water. It formed a greenish-
grey powder and yielded results corresponding to the
formula C20H26CaO6 + 6 OH2.

Substance Insoluble in Ether. — As before stated there
occurs in the spirituous extract from the animal charcoal
besides the bitter substance a body that is insoluble in
ether, whilst the bitter substance is dissolved by it.
When this insoluble substance is dried and powdered it
forms a red-brown hygroscopic powder, having a dis¬
agreeable smell and taste. Submitted to elementary
analysis it gave results corresponding with the formula
C10H]8O6. An aqueous solution treated with subacetate
of lead yielded a voluminous yellowish -green precipitate,
which after careful washing and drying was analysed and
gave results corresponding with the formula C10H16PbO6.

Conclusions. — From the results of the foregoing investi¬
gation it appears that there exists in hops and in lupulin
a peculiar bitter substance. It is decomposed by acids,
but as no sugar is yielded it must be placed among the
pseudo-glucosides. The decomposition takes place accord¬
ing to the following equation : —

^ ^29^-46^10 ^ OH2 — C10Hl6O4 + C48H82Ol9.

The lupuliretin obtained by the decomposition of the
hop bitter is related to the resin and the essential oil.
From hop resin it differs by H20.

Cio^A + OH^CioHiA.

Hop resin. Lupuliretin.

It may be that hop resin is derived from the essential
oil as follows : —

Essential Oil Hop resin,

of Hop.

The substance insoluble in ether is a simple oxidation
product of the hop oil ; thus : —

^10^-18^ + O5 = C'10^18^6*

Essential Oil. Substance Inso¬

luble in Ether.

The hop resin stands, however, in certain relation to
the substance insoluble in ether, so that the assumption
is permissible that in the oxidation of the essential oil of
hop first resin is found, and afterwards, by further oxida¬
tion, the substance insoluble in ether, which is richer in
hydrogen and oxygen.

THE CONSTITUENTS OF JAPANESE BELLADONNA
(SCOPOLIA JAPONICA).*

Scopolia japonica, which is called by the Japanese
rot6, or onishirikusa, or omisikusa, or omekikusa, or
hashiridokoro (which last term is the most usual one), is
a member of the natural family Solanaceae and is highly
poisonous. Its root has been employed for a very long

* Reprinted from New Remedies , June, 1880.

time by Japanese physicians, and there can be no doubt
that it possesses valuable therapeutic properties.

The latter reside in two alkaloids, which were obtained
in the following manner : — The dried root was powdered
and several times extracted with alcohol, the alcohol was
distilled off from the united tinctures, the residue dis¬
solved in water and filtered to remove the separated fat.
The clear filtrate was now precipitated with solution of
acetate of lead, the precipitate removed by filtration, the
filtrate freed from excess of lead by sulphuretted hydro¬
gen, and after again filtering the solution concentrated,
at a moderate heat, on a water-bath. The thin liquid
residue was mixed with sulphuric acid, the mixture
shaken with chloroform and the chloroformic solution
separated. On evaporation, the latter left behind slender
colourless needles which were contaminated with a
yellow, smeary mass. The whole residue was boiled
with water, the liquid (after cooling) was filtered, the
filtrate concentrated on the water-bath at a low tem¬
perature and cautiously mixed with ammonia. This
produced a white precipitate, which was collected on a
filter, washed with a little water and then dissolved in
alcohol, which, on evaporation, left behind colourless
crystals. These had the characteristics of an alkaloid.
Owing to the minute proportion in which this alkaloid
exists in the root, the quantity obtained was insufficient
for an accurate investigation of its properties and nature.
A few drops of the aqueous solution of the sulphate of
this alkaloid dropped into the eye of a rabbit produced
dilatation of the pupil. I propose to name this alkaloid
rotoine (from the Japanese name, rdt6), and reserve to
myself its further study.

The second alkaloid, which I term scopole'ine, exists
in the root in larger proportion. It is obtained by
adding an excess of soda solution to the acid liquid left
after shaking with chloroform and by again shaking the
now alkaline liquid with chloroform. The latter takes
up the alkaloid and deposits it, on evaporation, in an
impure condition, as a yellowish-brown, resinous mass.
In order to purify it it was dissolved in dilute sulphuric
acid and the solution carefully mixed with sodium car¬
bonate, as long as the precipitate was dirty and slimy.
After filtering, a further quantity of sodium carbonate
was added as long as a precipitate was formed. The
latter was collected on a filter, washed and dissolved in
chloroform. On evaporating the latter, the alkaloid was
obtained as a yellowish, resinous mass, which, when
perfectly dry, may be rubbed up to a yellowish-grey
powder, possessing a great tendency to run together.
I have been unable to obtain this alkaloid in a crystal¬
line condition or to form crystallized salts. It is diffi¬
cultly soluble in water, easily in acidulated water, also
easily in chloroform and alcohol. All these solutions
(except when supersaturated with acid) have a strong
alkaline reaction. It yields precipitates with nearly all
alkaloidal reagents.

Regarding its effect on the animal organism, I can at
present (July 22, 1878, at a meeting held in Tenkion,
Yedo, Japan — Ed. N. R.) only say that it seems to act
similarly to atropia. What relation it bears to the
latter, however, I am not at present prepared to say, but
hope to be soon able to give a fuller account of its com¬
position, products of decomposition and physiological
effects. — Dr. A. Langgaard, from Mittheilungen der
Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Natur- und Volkerkunde Ost-
Asiens, fol. Yokohama. No. 16 (December, 1878), p. 267.

Note by Ed. N. R. — A short account of the root of
Scopolia japonica and its uses, by Dr. G-. Martin, of
Tokio, Japan, may be found in the Archiv der Pharmacie ,
December, 1878, p. 336. Dr. Martin states that it is
called J apanese belladonna, but that its narcotic effects
are much less marked than those of true belladonna. He
says it contains solanine, but no atropine. The plant
is further remarkable from the fact that it communicates
to liquids a stronger fluorescence than any other known
plant.

. July 3, 1880].

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

11

£be ijpbarnKucuttcal Journal

- ♦ -

SATURDAY , JULY 3, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , hooks for review , etc ., should he addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
■ transmission of the Journal should he sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. JournJ

THE AUTUMN SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS.

Though it has not been until after the days had
begun to shorten that we have been so fortunate as
to enjoy weather that could fairly be called summer-
like, the experience of the past week has been suffi¬
cient to bring to mind the fact that the excursion
season is again coming round, and that before six
weeks are over there will be special inducements
for those whose business is more or less connected
with scientific subjects to take part in some of the
annual gatherings that have for their object the pro¬
motion of science and its applications as well as the
increase of social intercourse between the cultivators
of particular branches.

The coming month of August will leave little to be
desired in this respect if it be only possible to take
advantage of all the opportunities to be presented.
First in order of date there will be the meeting of
the British Medical Association, to be held at
■Cambridge from the 10th to the 13th, under the
presidency of Dr. G. M. Humphry, Professor of
Anatomy in the University of Cambridge, and
during which addresses upon Medicine, Surgery
and Physiology will be delivered by Dr. J. B.
Bradbury, Mr. Timothy Holmes and Professor
Michael Foster. In addition to the usual business
of the sections specially devoted to various subjects
there is to be an exhibition of surgical instruments,
microscopes, pharmaceutical preparations, dietetics
and sanitary appliances, and excursions will be
made to Ely, Peterborough and Audley End on
Saturday, the 14th.

After the lapse ot a week from that time will
succeed the meeting of the British Pharmaceutical
Conference at Swansea, commencing on Tuesday,
the 24th, under the Presidency of Mr. William
Southall, of Birmingham, and continuing during
that day and the next for the reading of papers and
transaction of general business. On the Thursday
it is proposed to have a marine excursion in the bay,
and if the weather is propitious this opportunity of
seeing the fine coast scenery in the neighbourhood
of Swansea will be a source of much enjoyment to
lovers of the picturesque, while botanists and geolo¬
gists will no less meet with numerous objects of
special interest to them.

The extent and variety of the industrial enter¬
prise in the neighbourhood of Swansea cannot fail
to furnish many attractions for those who visit the
Conference, and we understand that arrangements
are to be made for the members to inspect some of
the most interesting manufacturing establishments.
Last year the visitors of Sheffield enjoyed a great
treat of this kind in going through the Bessemer
Steel Works and the Electro-Plate Works that could
scarcely be surpassed ; but when it is remembered
that in the Swansea district there is another highly
interesting steel-making process in operation, besides
iron works, silver, nickel, cobalt and zinc refineries ;
since, moreover, it is an important centre of copper
ore smelting, of tin-plate making, and of “patent
fuel ” manufacture, there is every reason to anticipate
in this respect a result no less satisfactory than that
experienced last year at Sheffield.

Mr. James Hughes, the Local Secretary of the
Swansea Committee, is, we understand, about to issue
a circular to the members of the Conference offering
to give information as to hotel and other accommo¬
dation for intending visitors, and in order that this
may be secured satisfactorily it is desirable that
early application should be made to him.

As compared with some of the places that have
been visited by the Conference, Swansea is but a
small town, and though we do not doubt that good
and ample accommodation will be found by all
who attend the meeting, the fact that the British
Association meeting will be held at the same time
will naturally make this more difficult. In our re¬
port of the proceedings of the Executive Committee
of the Conference last week it will have been noticed
that from considerations of this kind it has become
a standing question whether the advantages of hold¬
ing the Conference meeting at the same place and at
the same time as the meeting of the British Associa¬
tion are not now more than counterbalanced by the
attendant disadvantages of that plan.

During the early years of the Conference it would
scarcely have been possible to have a meeting other¬
wise than with the support of those who were
mainly brought together by the attractions of the
British Association ; in fact the Conference was then
little more than incidental to the Association
meeting. But now that it has attained a con¬
siderable degree of independent vitality it does not
seem to be essential that the meetings should
coincide. The attendance at the meetings is now
much greater than it was originally, and, in a small
town especially, this circumstance is likely to pro¬
duce some degree of inconvenience on both sides, if
not actual antagonism, in the attempts to procure
places of meeting and lodging accommodation.

On the other hand, there is no doubt that to some
members of the Conference the simultaneous meet¬
ings are a great convenience, as pointed out by Mr.
Schacht, but we are disposed to think that the
number of those influenced in this way is very small

12

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 3, 1880-

as compared with aggregate of the visitors to the
Conference. This argument in favour of continuing
the previous practice seems moreover to he somewhat
beside the real question to be considered.

This year the meeting of the British Association is
to be presided over by Professor Ramsay, the
Director General of the Geological Survey, and the
special features of interest will be lectures on
Primeval Man, by Professor W. Boyd Dawkins ; on
Mental Imagery, by Mr. F. Galton, and on the
North-East Passage, by Mr. Henry Seebohm.

REGISTRATION UNDER THE DENTAL ACT.

At the recent meeting of the Medical Council a
letter from the Honorary Secretary of the Dental
Association was read, calling attention to an
accompanying list of persons wrho have been
registered in the Dentists’ Register upon their
declaration that they were at the time of the passing
of the Act “ in the bond fide practice of dentistry
with pharmacy,” but whose names are not to be
found in the Register of Chemists and Druggists
for 1878, and who in an “ opinion” of counsel that
had been obtained are consequently all liable to
have their names struck off the Register. After
consideration it was resolved that a reply should be
sent that for the purpose of the removal of names
from the Dentists’ Register it is necessary that
evidence with respect to each name should be
submitted to the General Council who will there¬
upon take such steps as it may see fit, in conformity
with the provisions of the Act.

This resolution is in accord with our expectation,
as it has been expressed to correspondents that have
consulted us upon the subject.

A further indication of the course which the Medi-
eal Council will be disposed to follow is given in its
decision with respect to a case in which a person
whose connection with pharmacy had been limited to
assisting in a homoeopathic pharmacy and who had
received a warning letter from the Dental Association
because his name was not on the Register of Chemists
and Druggists. He had now forwarded a certificate
from a medical man that he had for three years been
earning his living in the practice of dentistry in con¬
junction with the homoeopathic pharmacy, and asked
that his declaration might be amended. The appli¬
cation was granted, and instructions were given that
in future issues of the Dentists’ Register the words
“with pharmacy” should be omitted after this
person’s name.

THE CONFERENCE TESTIMONIAL TO PROFESSOR

ATTFIELD.

It will be remembered that at the last meeting
of the British Pharmaceutical Conference at
Sheffield, it was resolved that under the circum¬
stances of Professor Attfield’s announced retire¬
ment from the post he now occupies, it is desirable

to institute some permanent recognition of the
invaluable services to the Conference rendered by
him as its Senior General Honorary Secretary since
its establishment sixteen years ago.

An influential General Committee was formed
last October for the purpose of taking the necessary
measures to carry out this resolution. At its first
meeting the General Committee appointed a small
Executive Committee, consisting of Messrs. ScHACHTr
Bender, Brady, T. Hyde Hills, R. Reynolds,
M. Carteighe and Professor Redwood, to carry
out the details of the scheme.

As the subscription list will shortly close, sub¬
scribers who have not yet paid their subscriptions are
invited to send the amount without delay. Sub¬
scriptions of any amount not exceeding 10s. 6 d.
should be forwarded to the Honorary Secretary
and Treasurer, Mr. Michael Carteighe, 180, New
Bond Street, London, W.

THE CATALOGUE OF THE SOCIETY’S LIBRARY.

W e are requested by the Secretary to say that the
new edition of the Catalogue of the Library of the
Pharmaceutical Society is now ready, and that in
accordance with the resolution passed by the Council
a copy has been forwarded through the post to every
Member and Associate in Business of the Societv.

V

Associates not in Business and Apprentices or
Students of the Society will be supplied with copies
of the Catalogue upon applying for them to the
Secretary.

It may further be mentioned that there are still
some copies left of the recently published Index to
ten volumes of this Journal, and that copies of this
work also will be supplied to persons connected
with the Society who have not yet received them,,
upon their expressing a wish to that effect to the
Secretary.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The last ordinary meeting of this session will be
held on Thursday next, 8th inst. , at 8. 30 p.m. A
Report on Organic Chemistry (postponed from the
last meeting) will be made by the Secretary on “ The
Relation between the Chemical Constitution of
certain Organic Compounds and their Action upon
the Ultra-Violet Rays.” A Report on Materia
Medica will be made by Mr. R. H. Parker, on
“Spurious Gums imported with Myrrh.” A
Report on Inorganic Chemistry will be made by
Mr C. H. Hutchinson, F.C.S., on “The Formula*-
of some Inorganic Substances.”

THE CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A special meeting of the above Association will
be held at 32a, George Street, Hanover Square, on
Wednesday next, July 7, when there will be an
exhibit of microscopes and other objects of interest
by its members.

July 3, 18S0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

13

|)robinaal Crmisarifons.

LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

Tlie seventeenth annual meeting of this Association
was held in the Library of the Association, at the Church
Institute, on June 3, Mr. R. Reynolds in the chair.

The Honorary Secretary presented the financial state¬
ment, which showed a balance in favour of the Associa¬
tion of £31 11s. 1 d.

The number of members was reported as having fallen
during the year from thirty-six to twenty -nine, and that
of associates from twenty- six to twenty. The use made
of the library and reading-room by some of the associates
had been considerable, and the Committee would wish to
see a more genei’al advantage taken of the valuable
collection of books relating to chemistry, botany and
pharmacy.

The collection of materia medica specimens has been
in rather frequent use by students.

The lectures delivered during the year have not been
numerous ; but the attendance has been more encouraging
than in some previous sessions.

The papers read on these occasions have been as fol¬
lows: — November 12, by Mr. J. Abbott, on “Ergot;”
December 12, T. Eairley, Esq., F.C.S.E., “Glass, its
Manufacture and Mode of Working;” February 11,
Mr. E. O. Brown, on “Aerated Waters, and Simple
Methods of Detecting Impurities therein;” March 10,
Mr. Bothamley on “ Flame.”

The following officers were elected for the current
year: — President, Mr. Councillor T. B. Stead; Vice-
President, Mr. S. Taylor; Treasurer, Mr. J. A. Hirst;
Honorary Secretary, Mr. J. Heliowell ; Librarian, Mr.
J. Exley ; other Members of Committee, Messrs. Abbott,
Chadwick, Jefferson, R. Reynolds, Smeeton, Yewdall;
Auditors, Messrs. G. Exley and F. Reynolds.

The best thanks of the Association were tendered to
Mr. J. Land, who has for many years acted as Treasurer.

MEETING AT NOTTINGHAM.

Thursday Half-Holiday Movement.

At a general trade meeting of the chemists and drug¬
gists of Nottingham, held at the Flying Horse Hotel, on
Wednesday, June 23, Mr. W. H. Parker in the chair,
the following resolution was unanimously carried : —
“ That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that
the chemists should close their establishments on Thurs¬
day afternoon, and that the following gentlemen, Messrs.
Fitzhugb, Rayner, W. H. Parker, C. Warriner, W.
Widdowson, R. Widdowson, Humphreys, Oldershaw,
Wilford and Normel be a Committee to strive to bring
this object about.”

roxecbmgs of Scientific Societies,

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,
June 24, Professor Attfield, F.R.S., in the chair.

Mr. W. A. H. Naylor, F.C.S., read a paper on “The
Green Extracts of the Pharmacopoeia.” It is intended
to publish a resume of this- paper in a future number.

A discussion followed the reading of the paper, in
which the President, Messrs. Parker, Arnold, Hooper,
Postans, Hardwick, James and Wright joined.

Mr. Holland said that he considered the taste which
Mr. Naylor had referred to in ext. taraxaci is owing
(assuming that it has been properly prepared) to the
season in which the root has been collected. The extract
prepared from roots gathered in September and October
would be very different from that made from roots celleeted

ia February. As regarded the preparation of the green
extracts of hemlock, henbane, nightshade, etc., remember¬
ing the experiments which were made previously to the
publication of the British Pharmacopoeia in 1864, and
having taken part in a discussion on the subject shortly
afterwards, Mr. Holland was sorry to find that Mr.
Naylor had reopened the question in his paper as to
whether or not it is prudent to discard the albumen
from the finished extract. He had always considered
the albumen au inert and valueless adjunct to the extract
and although it might not very materially affect the keep¬
ing ojualities of the product, the quantity thrown down
varied so much in different stages in the growth of the
plants that it would be very unwise to allow it to be re¬
tained in the extract or rejected at the discretion of the
manufacturer. Mr. Naylor had said that the syrup
should be thick, and not thin, when the green matter is
added. Mr. Holland thought that it was a matter of
very little importance provided the temperature were kept
low enough ; but he strongly urged that the liquor from
the preparation, after being strained, as Mr. Naylor sug¬
gested, should be heated on a water-bath so that the
green juice could never come in contact with the side of
the pan where the heat is above 130° F. This must be
the case if the juice were heated in a high pressure steam
pan, which should in no case be employed until the green
colouring matter had been separated. The proper time
for collecting the plant for making into extracts was very
accurately described in Squire’s ‘ Companion to the Phar¬
macopoeia,’ which was followed by Mr. Naylor in his paper.

A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Naylor for his
practical pharmaceutical paper.

Mr. Stewart Hardwick then read the following paper
upon “ Boracic Acid Ointment” : —

Boracic Acid Ointment.

BY STEWART HARDWICK.

A short time ago a prescription for a lotion was given
me to dispense, containing borax, carbonate of soda,
glycerine and water. On mixing the ingredients there
was evident decomposition with strong effervescence.
Examination of the glycerine of borax of the Pharma¬
copoeia proved it to be strongly acid, and on treating
borate of calcium with glycerine it dissolved, and on
addition of carbonate of soda effervescence occurred. I
am not at present in a position to say what this reaction
is, but one result is the liberation of boracic acid.*

Thus finding boracic acid to be soluble in glycerine, I
endeavoured to prepare a solution that might be used to
mix with a fatty base to form a perfectly smooth oint¬
ment ; but found, when the proportion of acid ordered is
large, the quantity of glycerine required is greater than
is desirable to introduce into an ointment. 1 then turned
my attention to solidifying solutions of the acid in
glycerine by means of gelatine and starch, and made
preparations varying in strength from 2 to 1 drachm in
the ounce. The latter, I believe, is quite as strong as
the ointment usually employed. The form I used for the

jelly is : —

Gelatine . 15 gr.

Water . 2 dr.

Glycerine . 6 dr.

Boracic Acid . . as much as is ordered.

The gelatine is soaked in the water for two or three
hours, and then added to the boracic acid dissolved in
the glycerine by aid of a gentle heat.

The water is necessary on account of the hygroscopic
nature of the glycerine; but its addition reduces the
solvent power of the mixture, consequently when made
much stronger than 1 drachm in the ounce part of the
acid crystallizes out. Glycerine jelly does not, however,
form a good base.

* An explanation of this reaction was given in a paper
read before the Students’ Association by Dr. Senier and
Mr. Lowe, in April, 1878; See Pharm. Journ., [3], viii.,
p. 819.— ED; Ph. j*

14

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 3, 1S80.

A far better preparation is made by use of starch,
which might be named glycerine of boracic acid. The
form for its preparation is : —

Starch . 1 drachm.

Glycerine . 1 ounce.

Boracic Acid . . as much as is ordered.

Dissolve the acid in the glycerine, add the starch, and
heat to the boiling point. When made a drachm in an
ounce this preparation leaves nothing to be desired ; the
base is of good consistence, the active ingredient is in a
state of perfect solution, and on that account may be
expected to have a quick and effective action. When
made 2 drachms to the ounce a small part of the acid
separates out in microscopic crystals ; but even then the
state of division is far greater than can be obtained by
trituration.

When it is desired to incorporate boracic acid with
lard or other fatty base, the addition of a few drops of
glycerine (about 20 minims to a drachm) materially
facilitates its pulverization.

After a discussion, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr.
Hardwick.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The Chemistry of Bread-Making.*

BY PROFESSOR GRAHAM, D.SC.

{Continued from page 1051, Vol. X.)

Lecture III.

The albuminoids in cereals may be very conveniently
divided into two chief categories, those which are soluble
in water, and those which are, at least at first, not soluble.
Those whioh are insoluble consist of glutin and fibrin.
Glutin differs from.fibrin, inasmuch as it is slightly soluble
in cold water — more so in hot water ; but that which
distinguishes it from fibrin is that it dissolves in spirit of
wine, whereas the other material, fibrin, which constitutes
71 per cent, of crude gluten, does not. There are yet
other forms of albuminoids, but these are soluble in water.
They consist of albumen, which, of course, is soluble
in water. It is precipitated by strong alcohol and by
boiling, and differs therefore from the next member, legu-
min, which resembles albumen in every other respect,
except that on boiling it is not precipitated. Lastly, there
is a form of soluble albuminoid matter, contained more
especially in the husk or skin of the berry of the wheat,
which has been called cerealin. This is a very active
diastasic ferment, and resembles to a great extent the
peculiar diastasic ferment which is obtained from malting
barley, and infusing the result of that malting.

These three varieties of albuminoids are found, one or
more of them, more or less in all seeds, and for this reason.
You remember I pointed out to you the nature of the
caryopsis of barley, and I compared that with the rich,
thick, fleshy cotyledons of the bean and pea, and I said
that when you considered the bean and pea or the cary¬
opsis of the barley and wheat, we have in either case a
mass of matter stored up by the parent plant for the
future nourishment of the young embryo lying at the
bottom in both cases. Now, the function played by
these soluble albuminoids is to convert the insoluble
cellulose matter, the woody fibre, and after that has been
to a great extent used up, then to attack the starch, the
amylaceous matter, in the grain or in the seed, and
convert it into soluble nourishment for the young
growing embryo. The amount of soluble albuminoids
we shall presently see, in well-matured and well-gar¬
nered grain, is not large, whereas, in ill-matured grain,
and still more, of course, in sprouted grain, the amount
of these albuminoid ferments is considerable.

I shall call your attention now to a very interesting

* Cantor Lectures : Delivered November and December,
1879. Reprinted from the Journal of the Society of Arts.

experiment, because we shall find that it has a consider¬
able bearing upon the very ingenious process of fermenta¬
tion that bakers have discovered for themselves. If we
take yeast, which is a powerful and active ferment when
added to dextro or lievo-glucose, or maltose sugar, and add
it to the unbroken starch cells, we shall find that, even
after an hour in the cold, there is comparatively little
action ; whereas if we add to that yeast, and that unbroken
starch— ordinary starch before it is boiled, and while the
cells are not burst — a small quantity of the cold water
infusion of any of the cereals, we shall find that, inasmuch
as that cold water infusion contains soluble albuminoids,
these are acted upon by the yeast, and are converted from
their complex molecular structure into bodies of less com¬
plexity in their structure. In other words, they are less
colloidal or gummy ; they are more mobile. That peculiar
molecular disturbance having been brought about, among
the soluble albuminoid bodies in the cold water infusion
of any of the cereals, by the peculiar action of yeast, these
degraded albuminoids have the power of passing through
the lining of the starch cell, and in that way the hydration
of the starch is brought about, so that maltose sugar and
dextrin of the various kinds I have told you about are
formed ; whereas, if we do not make use of these soluble
albuminoids obtained from a cold water infusion of one of
the cereals, if we take starch itself unboiled, we shall find
that yeast has, in the same time, comparativelylittle action.
Now, that is a matter of considerable interest, and we
shall find that the baker has acquired all that knowledge
practically long ago. I am only pointing it out to you
now on account of its scientific interest. Mr. Lewis has,
in one tube, some water, unbroken starch cells and yeast ;
in the other, in addition to the yeast and starch, he has
added a small quantity of cold aqueous infusion of flour.
These two tubes have stood one hour, and on testing
a filtered portion of each, you will find that, whereas the*
yeast and starch alone have no action, or but little, on.
Fehling’s solution when boiled with it, that in the other
case, where a little cold infusion of flour was added, the
Fehling’s solution will show considerable reduction, proving
that sugars have been formed by the intervention of the
soluble albuminoids of flour. We may gather, then, from
this that the yeast cell is itself unable to pierce the starch
cell, and that the action brought about by the yeast is
indirect ; by first of all degrading the form of the soluble
albuminoids, and then causing them to ooze through the
sac or wall of the starch cell.

The tendency of all albuminoids, even those which are
insoluble in water, and even that which is the most
complex in its structure, namely, fibrin, is to degrade, to
become less and less complex, and ultimately, of course,
to become soluble in water. The degradation of molecu¬
lar structure is communicated to the complex molecular
structure of starch, so that the complexity of starch
undergoing the peculiar degrading action which goes on
in the albuminoid molecule is itself converted into mole¬
cules less complex than starch, namely, into maltose and
dextrin ; in some cases there may be also the production
of other sugars. We see then, that the albuminoids are
powerful degraders, or breakers down of the complexity
of molecular structures. But that is not the only interesting
point connected with nitrogen. Curiously enough, we
speak of nitrogen as being inert, and as being merely used
for the purpose of diluting the oxygen of the atmosphere,
hence we are all very liable to look upon nitrogen as play¬
ing a comparatively unimportant role in the phenomena
of nature ; and yet, strangely enough, were it not for the
action of nitrogen, or rather for the compounds of nitrogen,
there would be no life whatever in this world ; there
could be no simple cell even built up without the action
of this marvellous architect, the nitrogenous compound.
Every cell structure, and of course every large aggre¬
gation of cell structures, such as an oak tree, or a man,
containing many millions of cell structures, is all built
up by the wonderful agency of nitrogen, or rather of its
compounds. But while nitrogen is so important an agent,

July 3, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

15

so marvellous a builder up, it is for very similar reasons
equally powerful in breaking down. Wherever you have
albuminoids present, if there be moisture sufficient, and if
there be warmth sufficient, there you have the agent
ready for degradation. And hence it follows that man has
been obliged to use two chief methods for the purpose of
preventing this wonderful degrading power possessed by
albuminoids. One method man adopts is heat. By the
simple action of heat, some albuminoids are rendered in¬
soluble, and, therefore, inert. You know that if you
take ordinary white of egg and boil it, you will, to some
extent, prevent the degradation of the albumen, and it
will last, or withstand putrefaction, longer than if you
had not so boiled it. Heat, together with drying, is a
still more powerful method of preventing the attack of
these albuminoids. If you were to take perfectly pure
cellulose, which exists so largely in woody structure — if it
were absolutely free from all kinds of albuminoids — you
would find even in moisture it would not decay ; it would
last for ages, I may say ; but we also know perfectly well
that ordinary wood decays rapidly, especially if there be
moisture. Now, the plan adopted in order to overcome
this tendency to decay, is either to heat the wood, so as
to char a portion of it, as used to be done when wood was
charred on the outside to convert it into charcoal. That
plan, however, has been replaced to a great extent by the
still more efficacious way of acting on the albuminoids so
as to precipitate them. Tannic acid and creasote preci¬
pitate the albuminoids, and that is why the leather maker
uses the tannic acid in oak bark or Bombay cutch, and

By looking at this table we shall learn some very useful
facts. In the first place, if we take the analysis of Flemish
wheat, we find the insoluble albuminoids are 8 '3, the
soluble 2*4 ; in the case of Odessa wheat there are 12*7
insoluble and 1*5 soluble ; Poulard blue, 8*7 insoluble
and 1*6 soluble ; in the case of another variety of Poulard
wheat we have 13*8 insoluble and 1*8 soluble. He gives
also the analysis of the same wheat, but the product of a
very dry year, in which the soluble albuminoids are only
1*4. I wish to draw your attention particularly to two or
three points of this analysis. First of all, by dividing
the insoluble by the soluble, -so as to convert the soluble
into unity, we shall have the following ratio : — In the
case of the Flemish, the ratio of insoluble to soluble is
4£ to 1 ; Odessa, 9 to 1 ; Poulard, 8 £ to 1 ; Midi, 10 to 1 ;
Polish, 12^ to 1, a very large ratio ; Hungarian, 8 -Jr to 1 ;
Egyptian, 14 to 1 ; Spanish, 6 to 1 ; and Taganrogg, 10
to 1. We shall see afterwards the importance of this to
the miller when he has to consider the best method of
mixing his wheats, for the purpose of producing a high-
class flour A very interesting point about these analyses
of PdLigot is this. I have not had an opportunity of
of referring to the original paper, and therefore I do not
know whether he himself pointed out this interesting rela¬
tion or not, but if you compare the soluble albuminoids
with the amount of what he calls dextrin — of course the
methods of analysis thirty-six years ago were not quite so

why railway companies take care to creasote their sleepers.
The creasote precipitates the albuminoid matters, and
therefore those albuminoid matters are not able to de¬
grade the cellulose matter of the wood. So in the same
way fish is cured ; the Finnon haddock is preserved for a
certain time by the action of smoke ; hams are also so
preserved for a certain time. Other methods have been
employed, such as the use of salt, and you will find that the
baker made use of this agent to prevent, to some extent,
the degrading action of the albuminoids. The Egyptians,
in the preparation of their mummies, had recourse
to the same system, partly by drying and partly by the
employment of certain aromatic principles, so that we
find that heat, especially dry heat, is one of the means
by which we can prevent the degrading action of albumin¬
oids. The other method consists in the employment of
chemical reagents, such as corrosive sublimate, tannic acid,
creasote, and other matters of that kind, which prevents
their activity by the precipitation of albuminoids. We
shall presently see more of this when I come to speak of
the rationale and object of the kiln-drying of grain.

We have seen the great diversity of character of the
albuminoids found in the different cereals, and I wish to
draw your attention this evening to the degrading influ¬
ences which are brought about in the character of the
albuminoids of wheat by climatic influences. I have here
the result of the researches of the eminent chemist,
Pdligot, on different wheats, taken chiefly from his own
country, but to some extent from countries outside
France.

perfect as we have now at our disposal, but still, taking
this dextrin, which is now called maltose, together with
dextrin, and comparing it with the soluble albuminoids —
you will find a very strange ratio appears, and which is
very constant throughout. The ratio of soluble albumin¬
oids to dextrin in the case of Flemish wheat is 1 to 4.
Taking the Odessa, which is so very different in character
to the Flemish, so large is the amount of insoluble
albuminoids compared with that in Flemish, still we have
also the ratio of soluble albuminoids to dextrin as 1 to 4.
In the case of Poulard blue, there also we have 1 to 4, and
so you will find in all cases 1 to 4, until we come to the
Hungarian, where the ratio is not quite 1 to 4, but 1
to 3 This, probably is due to some slight error in the
analytical process, not to any real difference in the nature
of the compounds formed. So it goes on again in the
Egyptian and Spanish as 1 to 4, until we come to the
Taganrogg, and there it is 1 to 5£. Possibly, this is also
due to some error of analysis. With this exception, in a
long list, we have the ratio of soluble albuminoids to
dextrin always as 1 to 4, evidently indicatiug some definite
combination of the albuminoid matter with the sugar
bodies.

I wish to draw your attention now to some important
results published a good many years ago by Messrs. Lawes
and Gilbert. Doubtless, to some of you the names of
Lawes and Gilbert are well known, but to those who are

Analysis of Wheat (Pisligot).

Fle¬

mish.

Pro¬

vence.

Odessa.

H£ris-

son.

Poul¬

ard

Roux.

Water .

14*6

14*6

15*2

13*2

13*9

Fat .

1*0

1*3

1*5

1*2

1-0

Insoluble albuminoids .

8*3

8*1

127

10*0

87

Soluble albuminoids . .

2*4

1*8

1*6

1*7

1*9

Dextrin .

9-5

8*1

6-3

6*8

7*8

Starch .

627

66*1

61-3

67*1

66*7

Cellulose .

1*8

• • •

• • •

• • •

• • •

Saline matter ....

• ••

...

1*4

...

...

Poul¬

ard

Bleu.

Poul¬

ard

Bleu.

Dry

year.

Midi.

Polish.

Hun¬

garian.

Egyp¬

tian.

Span¬

ish.

Tagan

rogg.

14*4

13*2

13*6

13*2

14*5

13*5

15*2

14*8

1*0

1*2

1*1

1*5

1*1

1*1

1*8

1*9

13*8

16*7

14*4

19*8

11*8

19*1

8*9

12*2

1*8

1*4

1*6

1*7

1*6

1*5

1*8

1*4

7*2

5-9

6*4

6*8

5*4

6*0

7*3

7*9

59-9

597

59-8

55*1

65*6

59-8

63*6

57*9

1*5

...

1*4

...

• . •

• • •

2*3

1*9

1*9

17

1*9

...

...

1*4

1*6

16

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

[July 3, 1880.

not so well acquainted with them, I may say that the
agricultural interests of England lie under a great debt
to the public spirit and enterprise of Mr. Lawes, who has
for more than thirtyyears spent some £4000, if, indeed, it is
not nearer £5000 a year, on an elaborate series of researches

not merely into the influence of season upon wheat, but,
into an immense number of matters connected with agri¬
cultural chemistry. He has been most ably assisted in this
great national work by his scientific collaborateur, Dr.
Gilbert.

Influence of Seasons on the Character of Wheat Crops. (Lawes and Gilbert.)

Particulars of the Produce.

Composition of Grain.

Composition of Straw.

Harvests.

Total Com

Per cent.

Ter cent.

Weiebtper

Per cent.

Per p.ent

Per cent.

Percent.

Per cent

Per cent.

aa<i Straw

Corn in

L>ressed

bushel of

Dry

Ashin Dry.

Nitrogon

Dry (H2°>.

Ash in Dry.

Nitrogen

per Acre in

Total Pro-

Corn in

Dressed

(•-'12° F.).

in Dry.

in Dry.

lbs.

duce.

*

Total Corn.

Corniu lbs.

— 1845 . . .

5545

33*1

90*1

56*7

80*8

1*91

2*25

7*06

0*92

+ 1846 . . .

4114

43*1

93*2

63*1

84*3

1*96

2*15

. • .

6*02

0*67

1847 . . .

5221

36*4

93*6

62*0

...

• • •

2*30

• . •

5*56

0*73

— 1848 . . .

4517

36*7

890

58*5

80*3

2*02

2*39

. . .

7*24

0*78

+ 1849 . . .

5320

40*9

95*5

63*5

83*1

1*84

1*94

82*6

6*17

0*82

/ 1850 . . .

5496

33*6

94*3

60*9

84*4

1*99

2*15

84*4

5*88

0*87

+ 1851 . . .

5279

38*2

92*1

6*2*6

84*2

1*80

1*98

84 7

5*88

0*78

— 1852 . . .

4299

31*6

92*1

56*7

83*2

2*00

2*38

82*6

6*53

0 79

— 1853 . .

3932

25*1

85*9

50*2

80*8

2*24

2*35

81*0

6*27

0*20

/ 1854 . . .

6803

35*8

95*6

61*4

84*9

1*93

2*14

83*7

5*08

0 69

Means . .

5053

35*4

92*1

59*6

82*9

1*98

2*20

83*2

6*17

0*82

On referring to this table, you will notice that I have
marked certain years, 1846, 1849, and 1851, with a +.
Those years were remarkable for the dryness of the summer,
the great amount of heat, the long continued heat, and the
favourable conditions, not merely in the maturing period,
but also in the harvesting period. If we look to the figures
there given us by Lawes and Gilbert, we shall find, firstly,
that the total weight of produce per acre is very high ;
secondly, that there is a high ratio of dressed corn to the
total weight of corn ; and, thirdly, that there is a high
relative weight of corn. It is put here in pounds per
bushel, and those who are well acquainted with agricul¬
tural matters will see, of course, that 63 lbs. per bushel,
or 621 lbs., indicates considerable excellence. Now, while
the harvest was a favourable one, and the crop was good,
we find that the amount of ash in the grain of 1846, was
1*9 ; in 1849, 1*8 ; in 1851, 1*89 ; which are low numbers
compared with what we shall find in the bad years. But
that is not all, a high produce or a valuable crop, and a
high state of maturation of the grain, in other words,
considerable excellences in the wheat, are accompanied
by a comparatively low ratio of nitrogen — in 1846,
2-15 ; in 1849, 1*94 ; and in 1851, 1'98.

Now, let us take the other aspect of the question. The
bad years are marked with a — ; 1845 was a bad year ;
1848, the year of political troubles, was also a year of
great trouble to the farmers ; 1852 and 1853 were also
bad years. Now, if you look at these years, you will
see that whilst the total corn is low, the weight of dressed
corn is also low. In one year it is only 58 lbs. to the
bushel, and in another case 50 lbs. But if we consider
the ash, we find it is comparatively high. Take the case
of 1848, which is a comparatively bad year, it is 2*02 ; in
1852, 2*0 ; in 1853, 2*24 ; and so on. The nitrogen is
very high as well as the ash — I should say the ratio or
percentage of nitrogen was high, not the actual amount
produced per acre, but there is a high ratio to the corn
itself — in 1845, 5*25 ; in 1852, 2*38 ; in 1853, 2*35.
Consequently, you see that a high ratio of nitrogen, so far
from being coincident with a good character of wheat, is
rather coincident with a bad character of wheat, and the
same applies to the ash ; a high ash is rather indicative
of a low quality of grain.

The analyses, given by Dr. Gilbert, were made after
drying the corn, so that there is no moisture given here
for you to compare with Pdligot’s results, but if you look

at Peligot’s results, you will find about 14 per cent., or
one-seventh of the whole, consist of water. If we deduct
this one-seventh from the nitrogen column of Lawes and
Gilbert, we shall then obtain, by simply multiplying
what remains by 6*33, the amount of albuminoids, as in
the instances given by P^ligot. Now, in the years 1846,
1849, and 1851, when that correction is made, if we com¬
pare Lawes and Gilbert’s with Pdligot’s results, we find
that, in those three years, 10*85 was the average amount
of the total albuminoids, soluble and insoluble put to¬
gether. We see in the years 1845, 1848, 1852, and 1853,
the bad years, that the average total amount of the al¬
buminoids, soluble and insoluble, amounts to 12*7. Thus,
therefore, we find that the wheats of the bad years have
two per cent, more albuminoid matters than the wheats
of the good years. In other words, wheats of bad ela¬
boration have the greatest amount of nitrogen. That, at
least, refers to our own country ; and not only is the
amount of nitrogen or albuminoids high in bad years, but
there is one other very serious matter for the miller,
namely, that these albuminoids are not well elaborated.
A considerable quantity of them are soluble, like cerealin
and albumin, and are high in proportion to the insoluble
variety that the miller or baker requires.

(To be continued.)

larlianunteg mtir fitter

Arsenical Colours.

In a case which was tried at Guildhall, on June 17, in
the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division,
before Mr. Justice Bowen and a common jury, Messrs.
Steinhoff sued the defendants, Messrs. W. Woollams
and Co., wall paper manufacturers, of High Street,
Manchester Square, W., for certain sums said to be due
for colours supplied to the latter. Defendants refused
payment, on the ground that the colours were verbally
guaranteed by the plaintiff’s agent as non- arsenical,
whereas one of them, called “Imitation Azure Blue,”
did, in fact, contain a large quantity of arsenic. Pre¬
viously to discovering this fact, defendants had used the
pigment in the manufacture of wall papers, and as it has
been a strict rule with them for years past to allow no
arsenical colours to be used in their factory, they were

July J, 18S0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

17

thrown between the alternatives of endangering their
reputation by the sale of goods detrimental to the public
health, or of having the stock of arsenical paper they had
unwittingly manufactured left on their hands. They
chose the latter course, and now made a counter claim on
the plaintiffs for £370, as compensation for the loss
incurred.

Mr. Charles Barton Cobbe, traveller to the plaintiff,
denied most positively that he had guaranteed the
“Imitation Azure Blue ” to be free from arsenic. Mr.
W. Muir, partner with the plaintiff, said Mr. Cobbe had
no authority to guarantee.

His Lordship summed up, and after directing the jury
that any statement intended to be a warranty made at
the time of sale was a warranty in law, and that if Mr.
Cobbe, although not authorized in words, was by his posi¬
tion in the plaintiff’s service authorized in their opinion
to do all things needful to sell the colours, and that he
did guarantee the colour to be free from arsenic, his
employer would be bound by what he said, left it to the
jury to say whether the colour was sold free from arsenic
by the plaintiff’s agent, and whether he was authorized to
give a warranty.

The jury found for the defendants Messrs. Woollams
on both poiuts, and a verdict was entered accordingly,
the amount of damages to be settled by arbitration.

Pharmaceutische Chemie. Yon F. A. Fluckiger.

Erster und zweiter Theile. Berlin, 1879. Yerlag

von Rudolph Goertner.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry. By F. A. Fluckiger.

In two volumes. Berlin, 1879. Published by Rudolph

Goertner.

Professor Fluckiger is well and favourably known to
British pharmacy, not only as co-author of a standard
work on materia medica, but as a contributor to this
Journal, and it is with interest of a very active kind that
we inquire to what degree is his reputation supported or
raised by the material now before us ?

The plan of ‘ Pharmaceutische Chemie ’ is one with
which we do not think English readers will find them¬
selves familiar, though the point of view which we believe
to have been taken in framing it shows much that may
be advanced in its favour. The author has set to work
in a very matter-of-fact way. His material has been
obtained from the shelves and cupboards of a well-
appointed pharmacy, and his classification of it has all
the simplicity of nature improved, and occasionally
complicated, by art.

A list of the classes in vol. i. will illustrate the
plan : —

1. Non-metallic elements.

2. Metals.

3. Binary compounds of non-metals, except acids and

hydrocarbons.

4. Cyanogen group.

5. Hydrocarbons derived from methane.

6. Alcohols.

7. Non-aromatic organic acids.

8. Fat, soap and wax.

9. Carbohydrates.

10. Resins.

11. Benzols.

12. Ethereal oils.

13. Alkaloids.

To complete the scheme, — in vol. ii. class xiv. is devote
to the inorganic bases and peroxides ; class xv., to inor¬
ganic acids and acid anhydrides ; classes xvi. to xxxiii., to
a consideration of the various metallic salts, and class
xxxiv., which is the last, to short biographical notices of
authors quoted.

The selection of material for a work of this character

depends not less upon the information than upon the
judgment of the compiler. If we did not know that
Professor Fliiclciger’s information was of a very extended
character, and if we had not already good reason for
believing that the judgment associated with it was
correct, the volumes before us would be assurance of
both. Speaking strictly in view of the plan of the work,
we do not find that what is excluded would have added
materially to its value, or that anything it contains could
well be spared. Apparently, the author has worked within
sharply defined lines which rarely shade off into indis¬
tinctness, as though, commencing with the determination
of admitting nothing but what was obviously within the
domain of pharmacy he had yet been tempted to include
outlying though related substances by an artistic desire
of giving roundness and completeness to his work. Hy¬
drogen and oxygen are rigorously excluded, though the
former is actually employed in the preparation of reduced
iron and the latter is of such universal importance that
it would seem to call loudly for notice in a work on
Pharmaceutical Chemistry, even though such notice be
only historical. We find the key to the style of proce¬
dure, of which the instance just cited is the most notable,
in an examination of the material itself, which to our
mind is not treated so as to teach chemistry at all, either
pharmaceutical or any other. It affords a vast mass of
information on substances used in medicine laid down in
that indicative mood of which Professor Fluckiger is
master and is obviously intended for men who already
possess a good knowledge of chemistry ; to any other the
value is greatly reduced by an almost total want of refe¬
rence to the science of chemistry. Almost the only
feature which is inconsistent with this idea of the intent
of the volumes is afforded by the way in which the
atomic weight of an element is indicated. This is given
not as a number attached to the name or symbol, but by
saying as in the case of chlorine “ the specific gravity is
35'5 times more than that of hydrogen.” Whilst this
statement is more than enough for the educated student
who finds it in what is for him a work of reference, it
is not enough for the student who is learning chemistry.
Our attention is all the more arrested by this circumlocu¬
tion in that the acknowledged power of the writer to
express himself with illuminating terseness is largely
exhibited in the rest of the book. It is true that in the
present instance his power is exercised on the objective
side of a science whose only footing is in visible nature,
but even under such favouring circumstances, compact
diction is sufficiently rare to be admired when met with.

Professor Fluckiger has in these volumes bestowed a
wealth of information on pharmacy in its chemical rela¬
tions which cannot fail to be of the greatest possible
value to those engaged in the practice of it, whether in
Germany or England. Sulphur, most important both as
an element and a natural product, though disposed of in
six pages, receives a share of attention and is the subject
of treatment in detail which corresponds to its many
and varied applications in pharmaceutical and general
chemistry. Appearing in the class of non-metallic ele¬
ments, it is comprised in three sections, of which section 4
gives the sources, production and characters ; section 5 is
on sublimed sulphur and includes a notice of washed sulphur,
whilst section 6 treats of the preparation, properties and
testing of precipitated sulphur and closes with a general
historical note. A peculiarity of the arrangement is that
washed and precipitated sulphur have each a section to
themselves and are as distinct from sulphur as the latter
is from phosphorus or iodine.

The short biographical notices are short indeed, and
names of many living men are omitted. For example,
although Groves and Wright are quoted on page 406,
they do not appear amongst these notices, but when wre
find that an illustrious name is disposed of thus : —

“ Cavendish, Heinrich, 1731 — 1810. London. Mit-
glied der Royal Society, sections 29, 39, 529, 729.”
we are more inclined to congratulate than pity them.

18

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 3, i860.

The nine hundred or more pages are well printed, and
the equations in particular stand out in clear bold type
which catches the eye at once. The index is not so
complete as could be desired though it includes the most
important substances mentioned.

Notice has been received of the death of the fol¬
lowing : —

On the 20th of May, 1880, Mr. John Hird, Chemist
and Druggist, Pembroke. Aged 47 years.

On the 9th of June, 1880, Mr. Joseph Henry Williams
Pees, Chemist and Druggist, Belmont, Bath. Aged 30
years.

On the 18th of June, 1880, Mr. Miles Thomas Lewis,
Chemist and Druggist, Strand, W.C. Aged 38 years.

On the 19th of June, 1880, Mr. Charles Edward
Stansmore, Chemist and Druggist, Marchmont Street,
W.C. Aged 54 years.

On the 22nd of June, 1880, at Edgbaston, Mr. Morris
Banks, Chemist and Druggist, formerly of Birmingham.
Aged 75 years.

On the 22nd of June, 1880, Mr. David McDowell,
Chemist and Druggist, South Shields. Aged 47 years.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

Alphabetical Manual of Blow-pipe Analysis, show¬
ing all known Methods, Old and New. By Lieut.-
Col. W. A. Ross. London : Trubner and Co. 1880.
Prom the Publishers.

Kelly’s Directory of Chemists and Druggists, in¬
cluding Chemical Manufacturers, Wholesale Druggists,
Drysalters, Patent Medicine Vendors, and other Trades
connected therewith, of England, Scotland and Wales,
and the principal Towns of Ireland. Fourth edition.
London : Kelly and Co. 1880. From the Publishers.

gisjiensmg Utewarantra*

In order to assist as much as 'possible our younger
brethren, for whose salce partly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

Replies.

[412], If the prescription was written as represented
H. H. R. would be right in directing two teaspoonfuls for
a dose.

Square.

[421] . Strained manna with or without the pulv. acacise
and made up with mucilage will answer.

Square.

[421], In dissolving zinci chlor. it is advisable to have
it as dry as possible before adding to the water. A very
weak solution of HC1 added drop by drop will dissolve
any flocculent matter. The above is adopted in some
West-end houses. To filter would be wrong.

Square.

[422]. “Bdfrd.” did quite right in the absence of any
directions on prescription

Square.

[423]. Provided “Bdfrd.” powdered the sacch. lact. as
finely as possible prior to mixing with the hyd. c. creta
(otherwise the gritty powder may separate the hy. from
the ca.) he was correct, as dispensers are supposed to
weigh and not guess each powder. Square.

Queries .

[424] .

R Quinse Sulph . 7) i j.

Tinct. Ferri Perchlor . 3j-

Acid. Sulph. Dil . q.s.

Aq . ad gij.

The 3j of tinct. ferri is sufficient to dissolve the quinine.
Should any acid, sulph. dil. be added? This mixture,
after standing some time, deposits a thick sediment. Can
it be dispensed so as to avoid this, and of what does the
sediment consist ? Vis.

[425] . What is the best mode of dispensing the follow¬
ing, and what appearance should it present ? —

R Potass. Iodid . 3iiss*

Ferri et Quin. Citrat. . .... 3ij-

Tinct. Nucis Vomic . 3ij-

Sp. Ammon. Arom . gss.

Aquam . ad gviij.

Gr. H.

[426] . Ought the following to appear as clear as water
or slightly turbid ? —

R Liq. Am. et Bism. Cit . gj.

Lithiae Citrat . . 3SS-

Tr. Nucis. Vom . 3ss.

Tr. Colchici . 3ss.

Aquae . gvij.

M.

The mixtures that I prepared were slightly turbid, like
tr. aurant. et aquae, but elsewhere they have been per¬
fectly clear and transparent, and not so Strong in flavour.

Query.

[427] . C. B. would like the opinions of some of our
senior dispensers on the following prescription : —

R Spt. Vini. Rectif . 3^3-

Ung. Zinci Benzoat . gij.

M. Ft. ung.

Should the B.P. ung. zinci be used or one (of the same
strength) made with zinci benzoas? Is the latter a
definite salt or only a mixture of zinc oxide and benzoin
or benzoic acid ?

[428]. What is the best method of dispensing the
following formula : — •

R Quiniae Salicylatis . gr. xij.

Sp. Chlor. . . 3ij.

Inf. Aurant. Co . . . ad g8

M. Ft. mist. Capt. gj. ter die.

I have made it different ways and cannot send out a
presentable mixture.

A. A. F.

[429].

R Tinct. Ferri Mur . gss.

Tinct. Digitalis . gss.

Acid. Phosph. Dil. . . .. . . . gss.

Potass. Acet. ........ 3ij-

Aquam . ad gvj.

M. Sig. A teaspoonful in a large wineglassful of
water three times a day.

In dispensing the above prescription I obtained a
dense white precipitate as the result of various methods
of mixing the ingredients. Can this result be obviated ?
What reaction takes place? And does the following
equation correctly represent the reaction ? —

Fe2Cl6 + 6 KC2H302 = Fe26 C2H302 + 6 KC1.

Fe26 C2H302 + 2 H3P04 = 2 FeP04 + 6 HC2H302 .

Pharmakon.

July 3, 1S80.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

19

[430]. What is the best method of dispensing the
following prescription ? —

ft Plumbi Acetat . £iij.

Zinci Sulph. . ....... Jpv.

Acid. Phenic. Xtal .

M. Ft. pulv. et sign. One teaspoonful to half a pint of
water, to be used as directed.

Samuel Lawrence.

[431]. Is there any excipient for J gr. of permanganate
potash in pill, all organic matters reducing it ? A pre¬
server is in great perplexity as to some suitable ex¬
cipient.

Oxygen.

[432]. What is is the best way to make up the follow¬
ing:—

ft. Pot. Iod . gr. iij.

Quince Sulph . gr. j.

Syr. Aurant. . . 3SS-

Aquam . ad Zij.

. H. IIyne.

[433]. “ Jacque ” would like to know what colour the
following mixture should be. As it was dispensed in
London it presented a greenish appearance, but his own
appeared a brownish yellow:—

ft Potass. Citratis . 3V 9j*

Tr. Nucis Vom . in, 80.

Quinise Sulph . gr. xvj.

Tr. Ferri Acetatis . 3V ^ xx*

Aquae Camph . ad 58.

Jlotcs untr (Queries.

[657]. Some years ago, in one of those brilliant but
unpublished remarks at our evening meetings by the late
Mr. Morson, he said, “ I do not know the reason why
substances should change their character when uncom¬
bined, but I do know this, nature is very particular
before she makes that complex body morphia to have
plenty of meconic acid ready to take care of it directly
it is formed, and in the young poppy plant you may con¬
stantly find the acid without the morphia.’’ Just so with
ammonia. I do not like, and would not take if I knew
it, liq. am. acet. or liq. amon. cit. prepared from liquor
ammonise. I decidedly prefer that from the carbonate,
especially “the volcanic.”

George Mee.

[662] . BLACK STAIN. — Will some one kindly in¬
form me what is used for staining cane black ? I have
tried several things, viz., logwood and ferri sulph. boiled,
black dye, acid, sulph., etc., without success. The same
method that is adopted in staining horn combs might
suffice, but I am not acquainted with it. The object of
staining the cane is that it might be used instead of whale¬
bone in stays.

W. J. Tuck.

1 1 ■ — /

[663] . ZmCOGRAPHIC TRANSFER PROCESS.
— Will any of your readers kindly inform we what is the
best method of charging the zinc plate with gum in the
zincographic transfer process ?

Pharmacist.

[664]. HAIR RESTORER.— Will some kind reader
of the Journal furnish me with a thoroughly reliable for¬
mula for hair restorer, clean to use and harmless ?

Grey Locks.

[665]. TICKET INK.— Can you give me a form for
the brilliant black ink used by window ticket writers ?

H. W. Tunley.

CorrcspoabcRCc,

Crystallized versus Amorphous Aconitine.

Sir, — Having been requested by Dr. C. Rice, of New
York, Chairman of the Committee of Revision of the
U.S.A. Pharmacopoeia, to draw up an account of the cha¬
racteristics of pure crystallized aconitine in such a manner
as to serve, as far as practicable, as criteria of purity and
identity, I append to this note a copy of the remarks I
have put together for him J thinking that the subject is one
of some little importance now that the use of powerful
drugs like aconitine is extending not only in reference to
external application, but also for internal administration,
e.g., in accordance with the methods of treatment recently
expounded by Dr. Burggrave, of Ghent, and those adopted
by other practitioners. It requires little argument to show
that granting that it is not very material whether the chief
active ingredient in a lotion is present in a given propor¬
tion, or to half or double that extent, provided the limits of
variation are not widely different (such as 10 to 1 or
100 to 1), this ia no way holds good when this ingredient
is to be administered internally, more especially when the
character of the physiological action of the substances
naturally admixed with this ingredient _ (in varying pro¬
portions with drugs of different sources and origin) is
wholly unknown and cannot be allowed for. In such a
case as this, it is evident that the use of a single definite
substance, carefully isolated in a state of purity, permits of
the dose being regulated and the action of the drug studied
in a way wholly impracticable when a crude impure drug
is employed containing an unknown percentage of active
ingredient and unknown amounts of other bodies of pos¬
sibly quite different properties.

Dr. Rice concludes his letter to me with the following
words: — “The medical profession over here is disgusted
with the worthless commercial article, and, if the pure alka¬
loid could be obtained, would use it in very considerable
quantities.” On making inquiries of Mr. John Williams
(Messrs. Hopkin and Williams, 16, Cross Street, Hatton
Garden, E.C.), I understand the chief impediments in the
way of supplying pure crystallized aconitine (from A.
Napellus) are twofold. Firstly, as a general rule, purchasers
object to paying the high price at which the pure article
must necessarily be sold on account of the great cost of
production, so long as an impure article is in the market
at a much lower price (even though that be comparatively
high) ; and secondly, it is not every batch of roots that
will yield the crystallized base, even though the mode of
manufacture be uniformly the same ; which I expect,
judging from my own experience in the matter, means to
say that whilst some batches of roots contain a larger pro¬
portion of crystallizable base and smaller quantities of
non-crystallizable alkaloids, so that a considerable per¬
centage of crystallized alkaloid can be isolated in the manu¬
facturing way, other batches contain less crystallizable
aconitine and so much of the non-crystalline bodies that
what crystallizable aconitine is present cannot be induced
to separate by crystallization from the other impurities.

It appears to me that the first difficulty is one which
will in time cure itself. If prescribers insist that the pure
alkaloid only shall be used, dispensers are bound to supply
it, even should the pure substance cost twenty times as
much as the impure article now usually sold. The question
of cost really only affects the patient and not the dispenser,
who will simply charge more for making up the prescrip¬
tion. Besides, the activity of the pure alkaloid is so great
that the actual weight of substance used in any prescrip¬
tion would be excessively small, and its actual value,
therefore, not great, even were the drug an enormously
costly one. Moreover, from another point of view, it is
just possible that it might be held that the sale under the
name of “ aconitine ” of a substance which is not actually
aconitine, but a mixture of that substance with other bodies
naturally occurring with it, and not perfectly separated
from it, is as much an offence under the Sale of Food and
Drugs Act as would be the sale of morphine contaminated
with a large amount of narcotine imperfectly separated in
the manufacture, or of quinine containing much cin¬
chonine, under the names of morphine and quinine respec¬
tively. In the latter two cases I take it that it would be

* See before p. 2.

20

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 3, 1880.

difficult to contend tliat the impure article was not sold to
the prejudice of the purchaser, and that it was of the nature
and quality demanded ; whilst it is nr t easy to see in what
respect the sale of aconitine stands on a different legal
footing.

As regards the second difficulty, a simple cure at once
suggests itself. At the present moment the price of aconite
loots is fixed by considerations which, however valuable
they may be as indications, are certainly not calculated to
give any adequate idea of the percentage of pure crys-
tallizable alkaloid to be extracted from the roots. Let the
manufacturer purchase roots, not by rule of thumb and in
the dark, but on the strength of an analytical certificate
showing that when the roots are treated by such-and-such
a method (the exact details of which should be specified
like the details of the anthracene tests), 100 parts of roots
yield so many parts of aconitine in the crystallized state,
or as a crystallized salt, e.g., the nitrate. The manu¬
facturer then would have it in his power to reject batches
of roots which cannot be worked up iuto crystallizable alka¬
loid or which will not give a satisfactory yield thereof; and
would thus avoid the irregular results justly considered by
Mr. Williams to be a great bar to the production on a
manufacturing pcale of the pure base.

In connection with this it may be remarked that the
effects of variation of soil and climate on A. Napellus roots
(and other species), so far as regards the quantity of crys¬
tallizable and other bases obtainable from a given weight
of root, are at present wholly unknown. The questions as
to whether the best yield of crystallized base is obtained
w ith young, mature, or old roots ; as to how far the pseud-
aconitine of A. ferox and the alkaloid allied to aconitine
obtainable from Japanese roots can be substituted for
aconitine itself with advantage, and many other analogous
questions require working out. On this latter point the
comparative physiological experiments of Dr. Fraser, of
Edinburgh, now in progress with specimens prepared by
the writer, will, it is to be hoped, throw some light. In
reference to the former point it may be noticed that a batch
of fresh aconite stems and flowers worked up in much the
same way as the roots by the writer, has yielded a product
which, whilst evidently containing some amount of aconi¬
tine, is yet so charged with amorphous bases that the
aconitine cannot be separated by crystallization either as
alkaloid or salt. How far this is a characteristic difference
between the stems and roots, however, can only be decided
by further experiments.

Chemical Laboratory, C. R. Alder-Wright, D.Sc.

St. Mary's Hospital , W.

Apothecaries’ Weights and Measures.

Sir, — I have just received official intimation that the
standards for apothecaries’ weights and measures have been
received in Liverpool and have thought it well to commu¬
nicate the fact through the medium of the Journal to the
chemists and druggists of this district.

The Act now being fully adopted here, it will be well
that all concerned should at once comply with the require¬
ments of the law.

Liverpool. Charles Symes.

Mr. Cyrus Buott.

‘ 4 1 am not what I was. I feel these years
Have done sad office for me ; and that time,

Which I had dreamed might fling around the path
On which I ventured something of that light
Which cheers life like a halo, hath but cast
A sickly shadow o’er my pilgrimage.”

Sir, — With your permission I wish to make another
appeal on behalf of old Mr. Cyrus Buott, the late Editor of
the Chemists and Druggists' Advocate, and late proprietor
of the Medico-Pharmaceutical Abstract and Review. Many
of your readers will better remember Mr. Buott as the
vigorous Secretary of the United Society of Chemists and
Druggists, a society which, at one time, had considerable
influence on pharmaceutical politics. The unhappy condi¬
tion of this old gentleman, who has lived to the age of
eighty years to find himself worsted in the struggle for
existence, is truly pitiable. About four years since, I
ventured to appeal to the benevolent hearts which abound
in our trade in help of Mr. Buott, and the response was
most generous and beneficent. The tide of adversity has,

however, once more overtaken him, and I again plead for
such assistance that will enable him to live the few remain¬
ing years of his life free from the assaults of poverty and
corrosive cares.

I shall be glad to receive and acknowledge through the
medium of the Journal, the donations resulting from this
petition.

205, St. John Street Road, E.C. Robt. Hampson.

Viviparous Plants.

Sir, — At page 37 of Ehind’s ‘Vegetable Kingdom,’ your
correspondents will find the following: —

“The name of bulbils is applied to a kind of small solid
or scaly buds, that grow on different parts of a plant, and
are susceptible of vegetating by themselves ; or which,
when detached from the parent plant, become developed
and produce a vegetable perfectly similar to that whence
they derive their origin. Plants bearing buds of this kind
are named viviparous. They may occur in the axilla of the
leaves. At other times they are produced in the place of
the flowers. The nature of the bulbils is similar to that of
the bulbs properly so called. Sometimes they are scaly, at
others solid and compact.”

Liverpool. J. B. O.

Upward Percolation.

Sir, — I find that the idea itself of upward percolation
has been anticipated nearly twenty-two years ago in a
a letter to the Pharmaceutical Journal, by Mr. A. W. 1'.
Smith, who gave a figure of the apparatus he used. He did
not, however, record any results of experiments with the
percolator, such as form the bulk of my paper.

10, Burton Crescent, W.C. William Elbourne.

Pharmaceutical Student. — Your questions should be
addressed to the Registrar under the Dental Act, 315,
Oxford Street, at the same time informing him upon what
grounds you propose to claim registration, a point that you
have ignored in your communication to us.

Rob. — See a paper on the ] reparation of “ Permanent
Essence of Bennett ” in Pharm. Journ. for Oct. 19, 1873
(vol. ix., p. 307).

A. Deck. — We should think the crystals could bo
obtained by applying to Dr. Theodor Schurhardt, Goerlitz.

J. W. Garrett. — Symphytum tuberosum, Stellaria
glauca, and Lotus hispida would be plants very unlikely
to be met with in the locality mentioned. W e should like
therefore to see specimens before making use of your note.

Veritas. — Your letter appears to have more to do with
the business of the office than with that of the Journal. It
has therefore been handed to the Secretary.

J. B. Shilcock. — If the proprietary medicine for veterinary
use be capable of being used as a beverage or as a medicine
for internal administration it will come within the terms
of the Act.

F. Gall. — (1) Thalictrum jlavum. (2) Anthyllis vul-
neraria.

W. Stewart. — Conium maculatum.

R. E. Williams. — (1) The reaction was due to free
alkali in the potassium cyanide. (2) A general knowledge
of the whole would be necessary. (3) The occurrence is
interesting if the whole of the flower is white. (4) We are
not aware that powders are at present sent out from
Bloomsbury Square for analysis.

3 — (1) “Quina” was the orthography adopted in the
London Pharmacopoeia. (2) Cinkona.

B. P. — The general practice is to follow the usual rule of
giving a soft sound to the letter c when coming immediately
before the vowel e. The exceptional practice is based upon
an opinion that would not be affected by the use of a cedilla
mark.

Camphor. — We cannot endorse your opinion that it
should be made compulsory upon a chemist and druggist,
to keep every drug mentioned in the Pharmacopoeia if
he does not consider it to his interest to do so.

Re. — We have no knowledge of the details beyond what
is conveyed in the report.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Claypole, Bradshaw, Garrett, Kermath, Coleman,
Prentice Bros., J. B.O., Wide Awake, Temporary Assistant.

July'lO, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

21

NOTES ON INDIAN DRUGS.

BY W. DYMOCK.

{Continued from page 994, Vol. X.)

Acorus calamus, Linn., Arace;e. The rhizome.
Vernacular : Bacha, Bach (Hind., Beng.); Yek-
hand (Bomb.).

History, Uses, etc. — This plant, originally a native
of Central Asia, is now established in most parts
of Europe ; it is the ‘ acoron ’ of the Greek and the
^vacha5 of Sanskrit writers. The Arabs call it 1 waj ’
and ‘ood-ul-waj,’ evidently corrupted forms of the
Sanskrit name. Some consider it to be identical
with the ‘ calamus aromaticus’ of Dioscorides, but
against this we have the authority of the Arabic
and Persian writers, who state that the ‘ kalum
armktik ’ of the Greeks was a kind of cliiretta ;
Royle would have it to be an andropogon. The
Hindus consider the sweetflag to be emetic in
large, and carminative, stimulant and tonic in small
doses. As an emetic a drachm and a half to two
drachms is given in a tumbler full of warm salt and
water ; as a tonic it is usually combined with
other bitters and aromatics ; as a stimulant it is
added to other remedies in paralytic and nervous
affections. The Mahometans describe it as deob¬
struent and depurative, useful for the expulsion of
the phlegmatic humours which they suppose to be
the cause of paralysis, dropsy and many other
diseases ; they recommend it to be given to children
to bite when teething and prescribe it internally
in calculous affections. It has also a reputation
as a diuretic, emmenagogue and aphrodisiac, and
is applied in the form of poultice to paralysed
limbs and rheumatic swellings. A pessary com¬
posed of acorus, saffron and mares’ milk is used to
promote delivery ; a hip bath of the decoction is
also said to be efficient for this purpose.

j Description. — The root stock occurs in somewhat
tortuous, sub-cylindrical cr flattened pieces, a few
inches long and from 4 — 1 inch in greatest dia¬
meter. Each piece is obscurely marked on the
upper surface with the scars, often hairy, of leaves,
and on the under with a zigzag line of little,
elevated, dot-like rings, the scars of roots. The
root stock is usually rough and shrunken, varying
in colour from dark brown to orange brown,
breaking easily with a short corky fracture, and
exhibiting a pale brown spongy interior. The
odour is aromatic and agreeable, the taste bitterish
and pungent.

Microscopic Structure. — A section of the rhizome
is like an open net work, composed of rows of
nearly round cells and open spaces (water passages).
Most of the cells contain small starch granules, but
some of them essential oil. At the junction of the
cortical and central portions of the rhizome is a
very distinct row of small empty cells. The vas¬
cular bundles are numerous, especially just within
the line of small cells just noticed ; each bundle
consists of a ring of spiral vessels surrounding a
number of jointed tubes.

Commerce. — Two kinds of vekhand are met with
in this market: multani, value Rs. 34 permaund of
41 pounds ; ghati, value Rs. 24.

Arum margaritiferum, Roxb. (?), Arace^e.

A large Amorphophallus, growing at Asnora in the
Goa territory, which I have only seen in fruit, will,
I think, prove to be this species. The country
Third Series, No. 524.

people use the crushed seed to cure toothache. A
small quantity is placed in the hollow tooth and
covered with cotton ; it rapidly benumbs the nerve .
They also use it as an external application to
bruises, on account of its benumbing effect. The
fruit is yellow, about the shape and size of a pis¬
tachio nut, closely set round the upper part of the
spike, which is several feet in height and as large as
that of the plantain. The skin of the fruit is tough,
the pulp scanty and yellow ; it encloses two seeds
having the shape of a coffee bean, and placed with
their flat surfaces in apposition. The testa of the
seed is soft, greenish-brown externally, green in¬
ternally ; the kernel is white, adhering closely to the
testa, soft and juicy when fresh, but rapidly be¬
coming hard and dry when cut. The taste is in¬
tensely acrid ; after a few seconds it causes a most
painful burning of the tongue and lips, which lasts
for a long time, causing much salivation and subse¬
quent- numbness. A section of the fruit and seed
shows the following structure from without inwards.
(1). Several rows of thick-walled cells, having
yellowish-brown granular contents (skin). (2). A
parenchyma composed of thin-walled cells, having
no solid contents except needle-shaped crystals
(pulp). (3). Several rows of small cells, containing
chlorophyll (testa of seed). (4). A delicate paren¬
chyma, the cells of which are loaded with very small
starch granules, mostly round, some truncated
(kernel). The Goa name of the plant is ‘uzomut’ or
‘ azoriant.’

Curculigo orchioides, Gaertn., Hypoxide.e. The

root. Vernacular : Kali-musli, Musli-kand
(Hind., Beng., Bomb.); Nilap-panaik-kizhangu

(Tam.).

History , Uses , etc. — Both Hindu and Mahometan
writers speak of two kinds of musli, which from
their description appear to be species of Curculigo,
which they describe as white and black ; the former
probably the translucent dried root of C. orchioides,
and the latter the root of C. uncifolia. The suffed-
musli of the shops is quite a different article, being
the tuber of an asparagus. The author of the
‘Mahkzan’ describes the root of the musli as
tapering and like the Egyptian shakakul. He says
that some prefer the white variety and some the
black. In Bombay we meet only with the black
kind. It is collected in the Concon and Guzerat,
where C. uncifolia is very abundant. . It must be
borne in mind that the word ‘ musli ’ (in Sanskrit
‘mushli’) means any tapering root, and is often loosely
applied. Native medical works give the following
instructions for collecting musli : — Two year old
plants are to be selected, and the roots having been
washed and cleared of rootlets are to be sli ced with
a wooden knife, threaded upon a string, and dried
in the shade; when dry they may be powdered.
The dose is 180 grs., to be beaten up with 180 grs.
of sugar in a small glass of water, until it forms a
thick mucilage. Treatment to be continued for
forty days, abstinence from mental and physical
exercise being enjoined. Musli is prescribed in
asthma, piles, jaundice, diarrhoea, colic and gonor¬
rhoea. It is considered to be demulcent, diuretic,
tonic and aphrodisiac, and is generally combined
with aromatics and bitters for administration.

Description. — Musli occurs as short tranverse
sections of the root, half an inch or less in diameter,
covered externally by a dark brown bark. The

22

the pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

[July 10, 1880.

' substance of the root in the black variety is opaque
and greyish-brown ; in the white, amber coloiired
and translucent. Portions of the characteristic
wrinkled vermicular rootlets may usually be found
attached to some of the x>ieces. The taste is mucila¬
ginous and slightly bitter.

Microscopic Structure. — The fresh root of C. unci-
folia when cut across presents a firm milk-white
opaque surface, marked with numerous minute
punctures. Thin sections show that it consists of
a cortical and central portion, both composed mainly
of a delicate parenchymatous tissue, loaded with
small starch granules ; here and there a large cell
contains a bundle of needle-shaped crystals. The
large open passages, which can be seen with the
naked eye, are almost entirely confined to the corti¬
cal portion ; they are lined by the walls of the
neighbouring cells. In the central column are
numerous bundles of spiral vessels, which are mostly
situated near its junction with the cortical portion.
Many of the starch granules are muller-shaped.

Chemical Compositions — The drug has not been
examined.

Commerce. — Most of the bazaar musli comes from
Rutlam in Malwa. Value Rs. 4 per maund of 37| lbs.

Crinfm asiaticum, Linn., Liliace.e. The blah

and hares. Vernacular: Sukhdarsan, Bara¬
ka var (Hind., Beng.) ; Visha-mungil (Tam.) ;

Nagdowx (Bomb.).

History, Uses, etc. — lhave not met with any account
of this drug in native works on materia medica, nor
does it appear to be used medicinally in Bombay,
though the plant is very common. Ainslie informs
us that the natives of Southern India bruise the
leaves and mix them with a little castor oil, so form¬
ing an application which they think useful for re-
pelling whitlows and other inflammations that come
at the ends of the toes and fingers ; also, that the
juice of the leaves is employed for ear-ache in Upper
India. Rumpliius, who calls it ‘radix toxicaria,’
(Amb., ii.,p. 155 to 169), speaks highly of its viitues
in curing the disease occasioned by the poisoned
arrows of the Macassers in their wars ; it is the root
chewed that is the emetic, provided a little of the juice
is swallowed. The Crinum asiaticum is the man-sy-
lan of the Cochin Chinese and its virtues may be
found lauded by Loureiro (Ainslie, ‘ Mat. Ind.,’ vol.
ii., p. 464.) Sir W. O’Shaughnessy remaiks (‘Beng.
Disp.,’ p. 656), that this is the only indigenous and
abundant emetic plant, of which he has experience,
which acts without producing griping, purging or
other unpleasant symptoms. In the Pliar. of India
the root has been made official as an emetic, nauseant
and diaphoretic. Directions for making a juice and
syrup are given ; the former to be given in doses of
2 — 4 fluid drachms every 20 minutes until emesis is
produced, the latter in doses of 2 fluid drachms as
a nauseant and emetic for children.

Description. — Caulescent or stemless ; leaves linear-
lanceolate, very smooth ; margins entire, striated
beneath, 3 — 4 feet long and 5—7 inches broad ;
scapes axillary, shorter than the leaves, a little com¬
pressed ; flowers numerous, 12 — 50 in an umbel,
white, almost inodorous ; berries roundish, the size
of a pigeon’s egg (‘Bombay Flora,’ pt. I., p.275).
The root is bulbous, white, with a terminal stoloni-
ferous fusiform portion issuing from the crown of the
bulb. It varies greatly in size ; odour narcotic and
disagreeable.

Microscopic Structure. — The central portion of the
bulb (stoloniferous fusiform portion) consists of a
parenchyma made up of polyhedral cells containing
a little granular matter and some needle-shaped
crystals; it is traversed by numerous bundles of
jointed and spiral vessels. Surrounding the central
portion is a solid cortical layer, less vascular than the
central column. From both of these spring the
subterraneous white bases of the leaves, which form
the upper part of the bulb.

Chemical Composition. — Nothing is known.

Commerce. — Not an article of commerce.

( To be continued.)

OPIUM SMOKING APPARATUS.

The following note upon this subject has been
placed at our disposal by Professor W. T. Thiselton
Dyer, Assistant Director of the Royal Gardens,.
Kew : —

The number of articles employed by an opium-
smoker in China in the process of fumigation is very
considerable, but I am not aware that they have
ever been described. We are indebted to Dr. Hance,
the well-known botanist, who has turned his official
position as Vice-Consul at Whampoa to the greatest
advantage in the interests of science, for the very
complete specimen of an opium smoker’s outfit which
is now exhibited in the Kew Museum.* He has also
furnished us with the accompanying memorandum
describing the several articles and their mode of use,
which has been drawn up by Mr. Sampson.

Description of Opium Smoldng Apparatus.- — The
tray is usually of larger size than that sent herewith
(which is of Japanese make) and is made of black
wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl. All the appa¬
ratus is neatly arranged on the tray, which is placed
in the centre of a large square Couch, so that a man
can lie on either side of it.

The essential contents of the tray consist of a
lamp, a stand for spare bowls, a pot for the opium,
and a dipper. The bowl-stand herewith sent is made
to hold three spare bowls ; a Chinese opium smoker
has as many fancies about his pipes as a tobacco
smoker has of his meerschaums. The lamp is some¬
times made of glass, and sometimes of metal ; it is
essential that the cover be so arranged as to prevent
smoke coming from the flame. The opium pots are
sometimes made of silver; those sent herewith are
of horn. A small quautity of prepared opium is also
sent as a specimen, in a glass bottle. The two iron
things with wooden handles are to scrape out the
bowl when it becomes foul ; the scrapings form the
“opium dross,” which is sold to those who want a
strong but cheap alid ill-flavoured smoke. The two
iron things without wooden handles are the “dippers”
above mentioned, one end being pointed and the
other flattened. There is also a tin box in which the
scrapings and opium ashes may be put. An opium
smoker takes great pride in the neatness of his tray,
and adorns it with other little contrivances both use¬
ful and ornamental.

Lying on his side, with his face towards the tray
and his head resting on a high hard pillow (some¬
times made of earthenware, but more frequently of
bamboo covered with leather), the smoker takes the
pipe in his hand ; with the other hand he takes a

* The authorities of the Kew Museum having since come
into the possession of a second set of the apparatus, one
set has been presented to the Museum of the Pharmaceuti¬
cal Society through Professor Dyer. — Ed. Pharm. Journ.

, July 10, 1830.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL .JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

23

dipper and puts tlie sharp end of it into the opium,
which is of a treacly consistency. Twisting it round
and round he gets a large drop of the fluid to adhere
to the dipper; still twisting it round to prevent it
falling, he brings the drop over the flame of the
lamp and twirling it round and round he roasts it ;
all this is done with acquired dexterity. The opium
must not be burnt or made too dry, but roasted
gently till it looks like burnt worsted ; every now
and then he takes it away from the flame and rolls
it (still on the end of the dipper) on the flat surface
of the bowl. When it is roasted and rolled to his
satisfaction, he gently heats the centre of the bowl,
where there is a small orifice ; then he quickly thrusts
the end of the dipper into the orifice, twirls it round
smartly, and withdraws it ; if this is properly done
the opium (now about the size of a grain of hemp-
seed or a little larger) is left adhering to the bowl
immediately over the orifice. It is now ready for
smoking.

The smoker assumes a comfortable attitude (lying
down of course) at a proper distance from the lamp.
He now puts the stem to his lips and holds the bowl
over the lamp. The heat causes the opium to frizzle,
and the smoker takes three or four long inhalations,
all the time using the dipper to bring every particle
of the opium to the orifice as it burns away, but not
taking his lips from the end of the stem or the opium
pellet from the lamp till it is all finished. Then he
uses the flattened end of the dipper to scrape away
any little residue there may be left around the
orifice, and proceeds to prepare another pipe. The
preparations occupy about five or ten minutes, and
the actual smoking about thirty seconds. The smoke
is swallowed and is exhaled through both the mouth
and the nose.— Theo. Sampson, Canton, September
24, 1879.

We have a model of an opium smoker’s couch
with two smokers carved in Pai-c’ha wood procured
for us by Mr. W. M. Cooper, H.M. Consul at Ningpo.
This is exhibited in the same case with the smoker’s
tray in the Kew Museum. The mode of smoking is
also illustrated by some wood cuts (from Chinese
blocks) given in ‘China’s Millions,’ 1878, pp. 22, 45.

ERGOT AND THE ERGOTINES.*

BT E. SCHMITT.

Although the botanical nature and microscopic struc¬
ture of ergot are now well known, the same cannot be said
respecting its chemical constitution.

The earliest labours upon the composition of ergot are
due to Vauquelin and Legrip in France, and Maas and
Wiggers in Germany. The first complete chemical ana¬
lysis was published in 1831 by Wiggers, and it was then
that the first mention was made of ergotine as the active
principle of ergot. With ergotine there were also men¬
tioned a red colouring matter, a non-saponifiable fatty oil,
a sugar that was specially studied by Mitscherlich, fun-
gine, ash very rich in phosphoric acid, etc. As to the more
recent investigations a resume of them is to be found in
the Traite de Pharmacognosie of Dr. Albert Wigand
(Berlin, 1879) and another in a memoir by Dr. Daubraiva
in the Zeitschrift d. aRgemeinen cesterreich. Apothekcr-
Vereines , 1880, p. 73. According to these later researches
the activity of ergot would be due (1) to two acids, scle¬
rotic acid combined with lime and fuscosclerotic acid
derived from the red colouring matter ; (2) to a very
bitter alkaloid, picrosclerotine, probably occurring with

fuscosclerotic acid in the colouring matter ; and (3) to a

_ _ _ _ , . ^ _ _ _ _

* Bulletin de la Society de Pharmacie de Pordea ix, vol.
xx., p. 40.

nitrogenous matter of a gummy nature, scleromucin.
Ergot contains T5 to 4 5 per cent, of sclerotic acid, and
2 to 3 per cent, of scleromucin, whilst it contains scarcely
one part in a thousand of fuscosclerotic acid and picro¬
sclerotine.

In the second rank come alkaloids of doubtful action,
ergotine, ecboline, and ergotinine, combined with a vola¬
tile acid, ergotic acid, and colouring matters, selererythin,
scleroiodin, scleroxanthin and sclerocrystallin.

In the third rank occur the inert matters : 30 to 35 per
cent, of fixed oil, 2 per cent, of resinous matter, 46 per
cent, of cellulose, mycose, leucine, secaline, and ash very
rich in phosphates.

These analyses do not mention cholesterine, which
Schoonbrodt, in 1866, and Ludwig, in 1869, found in
ergot. They are especially the expression of the later
work of Dragendorff and Podwissotzky and take very
little account of other researches made since 1831. Let
us pass in review the memoirs thus forgotten, commencing
with those which relate to the ergotines.

The ergotine of Wiggers, which is the oldest in a
chronological point of view, is not an alkaloid. It is a
complex extractive matter; nevertheless its elementary
composition has been established by Liebig and Pelouze.
It is obtained by first freeing ergot from its fixed oil by
means of ether or carbon bisulphide, and then treating it
with boiling alcohol. This alcoholic tincture is evapo¬
rated to dryness upon a water -bath, and the dry extract
is exhausted with cold distilled water. The residue in¬
soluble in water is the ergotine of Wiggers, of which the
yield is from 1 to T25 per cent. This ergotine is very
toxic ; its action is therefore not uncertain, as is alleged
by Dragendorff and Podwissotzky. It occurs under the
form of a reddish-brown pulverulent extract, having an
acrid and bitter taste. It is insoluble in water and ether ;
it, therefore, contains neither sclerotic acid nor scleromu¬
cin, which are soluble in water, nor ergotine, which is
soluble in ether. It is soluble in alcohol, to which it com¬
municates a red colour, and contains consequently the
colouring matters mentioned above of fuscosclerotic acid
and picrosclerotine. It is also soluble in concentrated
acetic acid and in alkalies. In consequence of its method
of preparation, its complex nature, and its badly defined
therapeutic effects the ergotine of Wiggers has not been
employed in medicine.

This is not the case with another extractive product
obtained from ergot, and to which M. Bonjean, of Cham-
bery, has also given the name of ergotine. Bon jean’s
ergotine is a true mixed extract. It is prepared by ex¬
hausting ergot with cold water, bringing the aqueous
solution to the consistency of a clear syrup, and freeing
this syrup by strong alcohol from insoluble salts, gummy
matters and albuminoids. After filtration the filtered
liquor is brought to the consistence of an extract. The
preparation and the characters of this ergotine will be
referred to subsequently; but from a chemical point of
view it may be stated that this extract contains probably
the sclerotic acid and a little of the scleromucin of
Dragendorff, the secaline of Winckler, and the ergotine
and ecoboline of Wenzell.

This brings us to a third ergotine, the ergotine of
Wenzell. This German chemist, studying in 1864 the
aqueous extract of ergot, believed that he had discovered
in it two alkaloids, ergotine and ecboline, the first slightly
active, the second possessing the obstetrical properties of
ergot and combined with a special acid, ergotic acid.

Wenzell prepared these two alkaloids by heating the
aqueous extract of ergot with acetate of lead, filtering,
freeing the liquor from excess of lead salt, and afterwards
adding corrosive sublimate, which precipitates the ecboline
only. After separation of this alkaloid the ergotine is pre¬
cipitated by phosphomolybdic acid, the phosphomolybdate
is then decomposed by carbonate of barium in the presence
of water, and after filtration the liquid, containing the
ergotine, is evaporated to dryness in a water-bath. Wen-
zell’s ergotine has the appearance of brownish-black

24

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 10, 1880.

shining varnish. It is soluble in water and in alcohol,
but insoluble in ether. It is very slightly active, as has
been mentioned ; ecboline, on the contrary, would repre¬
sent four times its weight of ergot.

The study of these three products, so different in their
mode of preparation and their physiological effects, shows
that these ergotines are far from being clearly defined
compounds. The ergotinine of M, Tanret appears to be
a true alkaloid. This chemist first prepares an extract of
ergot with boiling 80° alcohol, and from it he obtains by
the successive actions of ether, chloroform, sulphuric acid,
and alkalies, a body having a very feeble alkaline reaction,
but possessing all the other properties of alkaloids. His
process of preparation has been published in the Pharma¬
ceutical Journal, [3], vol. vi., p. 522 ; vol. ix., p. 70 7.

Ergotinine is a crystallizable alkaloid. It is insoluble
in water, and soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform.
The alcoholic solution is very fluorescent. By the action
of concentrated acids in the presence of traces of ether it
gives rise to phenomena of coloration. Thus sulphuric
acid added to one-seventh part of water causes it to
become red, yellow, and then an intense violet blue. It
forms with acids, especially sulphuric and lactic acids,
well crystallized salts. Unfortunately it is very unstable,
and is found in ergot in very small quantity, the maximum
yield per kilogram being 1*20 gram of ergotine, of which
only one -third crystallizes. Hence it would not be
susceptible of every day use, although it might be a very
powerful hemostatic in cases of uterine hemorrhage.

I come now to the investigations of Dragendorff and
Podwissotzky, who relegate the ergotines and ergotinine
to the second rank, and attribute all the properties of
■ergot to two acids, a gummy matter, and an alkaloid
very different according to them from ergotine and
ergotinine. Sclerotic acid, obtained, like scleromucin,
from the aqueous extract, is soluble in water, 45°
alcohol and boiling 75° alcohol. It is a body with
a, very energetic action, a subcutaneous injection of
it rapidly causing paralysis in frogs, with swelling of
the abdomen. Euscosclerotic acid is insoluble in water
and in ether. It dissolves in acid menstrua, and is
prepared by treating the colouring matter of ergot
with alcohol acidulated with tartaric acid. It appears
to act specially upon the sensibility, which it diminishes
promptly. Scleromucin is a viscous colloidal matter,
■soluble in water and insoluble in alcohol. It is nitro¬
genous and very rich in mineral substances (26 "8 per
cent.). Although very impure and badly defined it
•appears to be the therapeutic agent of ergot. Piero -
.sclerotine is a very bitter alkaloid, which is removed
from the colouring matter at the same time as fusco-
sclerotic acid. It is not soluble in acidulated water.
This alkaloid is the most toxic agent in ergot. Injected
in the dose of one milligram under the skin of a frog it
produces at first insensibility, followed by paralysis of the
extremities, and causes death in less than ten minutes.

This rapid review of the different bodies that have been
derived from ergot proves that we are not well acquainted
with the active principle or principles of ergot. Not one
of the bodies isolated, alkaloid or acid, gummy or colour¬
ing matter, can replace in therapeutics the drug itself,
and it would appear that it only remains to admit with
Bon jean and Buchheim, that ergot owes its medical
properties to the whole of its chemical constitution.
Consequently the medical man should always employ
ergot in its natural state, powdered, and the powder
should always be recently prepared. Under this form it
could be rendered more active and probably less alterable
by removing the 35 per cent, of fixed oil, by exhausting
it, for example, with carbon bisulphide.

For hypodermic injections choice should be made among
the preparations soluble in water of that which would be
at the same time the most active and the most stable, the
■easiest to prepare and the most apt to lend itself to
dispensing. This choice is rendered easy by the small
number of preparations in which these conditions are to be

found. I can only mention three, the fluid ergotine of
Portans, the liquid extract of Yvon, and the ergotine of
Bonjean.

I am not acquainted with experiments made with
Portans’ ergotine, but can quote its mode of preparation,
which whilst being convenient to any pharmacist, appears
to be logical. The powdered ergot is macerated during
eight days in a mixture of water, alcohol and glycerine.
At the end of this time it is passed through a filter, and
the filtered liquor freed from alcohol by distillation. The
ergot remaining on the filter is then exhausted by dis¬
placement with water, and this aqueous solution is con¬
centrated in a water-bath to the consistence of an extract.
The extract is then redissolved in the liquid from the
first maceration, and this solution is concentrated in a
water-bath in a tared capsule until the weight of the
liquid equals the weight of the ergot employed, and then
filtered. A fluid extract is thus obtained which represents
its own weight of ergot.

Yvon’s liquid extract is prepared also to represent its
own weight of ergot, but the method is based upon the
investigations of Wiggers, Wenzell, and Tanret in treat¬
ing the ergot with an acid menstruum. The ergot is
pulverized, freed from fatty matters by carbon bisulphide,
and then dried in the open air in the shade until
all the odour has disappeared. It is next treated
by displacement with water acidulated with four parts
per thousand of tartaric acid, the acid liquid is
heated to coagulate albuminoid matters, reduced in
a water-bath to one third, allowed to cool and filtered.
The filtered liquor is digested with freshly precipi¬
tated carbonate of lime, again filtered and brought to the
consistence of a syrup, to which is added some 928
alcohol. The alcoholic liquid is filtered, decolorized by
animal charcoal, again filtered, then submitted to distil¬
lation or evaporation to drive off the alcohol. Finally
the residue is taken up with distilled water, 15 centi¬
grams of salicylic acid added for each 100 grams of ergot,
and sufficient distilled water or cherry-laurel water to
have 100 grams of liquid for each 100 grams of ergot.
It is then allowed to deposit afresh, filtered and preserved
in small well closed flasks.

Yvon’s extract is a liquid having an amber colour and
a peculiar odour ; it gives all the reactions of alkaloids.
It lends itself well to the preparation of hypodermic
injections and, according to the inventor, keeps well.
The product is open, however, to the objection of want of
homogeneity, its activity varying exactly with that of the
ergot, and so especially is the long and unpractical mode of
preparation. Yvon’s process is a laboratory process,
which could never be followed in the ordinary course in
pharmacies, especially in country plaoes.

Bon jean’s ergotine is therefore the preparation to
which recourse should be had in the majority of cases,
it being, when well prepared, a valuable and reliable
remedy. The preparation of this extract not being men¬
tioned in the Codex has been dealt with rather arbitrarily.
Few extracts have been so much studied during recent
years, but it will suffice to mention the memoirs of
Deschamps, Dorvault, Carles, Lepage, Patrouillard and
Catillon. I prefer to all the processes indicated that of
Bonjean, modified in the direction indicated by Lepage
and the Bordeaux Society of Pharmacy.

Taking a kilogram of ergot, for example (fresh and
undried, if this be possible), it is reduced to a coarse
powder and placed in a bottle of five litres capacity ; the
bottle is filled with distilled water, closed and shaken
frequently. At the end of twenty-four hours, after
allowing it to deposit during the night, the liquid is
decanted or siphoned, and its evaporation commenced in
a tared vessel in a water-bath. The bottle is refilled
with distilled water and again shaken ; then, after a
maceration of six hours, the liquor is decanted and added
to the previous product. Another litre of water is added
to the ergot and left in contact during two hours, then
the whole is thrown on a strainer and pressed. The

July 10, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

25

third liquor is added to the other two and the whole is
evaporated rapidly until reduced to about 500 grams.
It is now allowed to cool to 50° C. and poured into a
litre flask; the dish is rinsed with a little 92° alcohol,
which is added to the other liquid and the flask is com¬
pletely filled with strong alcohol, after which it is closed,
shaken and placed in a cool place. After twenty-four
hours the liquid is filtered through paper and the filtrate
is evaporated in a water-bath to the consistence of a firm
extract. A yield of about 8 per cent, of ergotine is thus
obtained.

This ergotine is of a red-brown colour and has a smel
like that of roast meat ; its taste is bitter and piquant.
It contains 10 per cent, of water and leaves 6 per cent,
of salts upon incineration. It dissolves nearly completely
in water, and this solution is facilitated by first suspend¬
ing the extract in a little glycerine. It is soluble in 60°
alcohol.

It will have been noticed that I employ the method of
Cadet, which I prefer, with M. Patrouillard, to the
method of displacement. I have not obtained a larger
yield ; never 12 to 15 per cent., and upon this point I
am in complete accord with M. Carles. I have also
operated as recommended by M. Catillon, by first making
an alcoholic extract and then taking up the extract with
water. The displacement with alcohol is much more
methodical and regular, but I have not obtained a larger
yield than by the process mentioned before when ope¬
rating with the same kind of ergot. I would mention,
however, that these parallel experiments were made with
small quantities. But nevertheless, in presence of this
result it seems preferable to retain the process of Bon jean ;
the product is more homogeneous and more comparable
to the ergotines found in all pharmacies, which is a great
advantage to the physician and the patient.

Ergotine should be preserved in well closed flasks. It
should never be used too old ; there would therefore be
an advantage in preparing it every year or every two
y6ars at least. After a time it forms crystalline deposits
of a salt which, according to Fliickiger, is an acid phos¬
phate of sodium and magnesium, with a little sulphate.

For hypodermic injections ergotine is used in doses of
1 to 2 grams, dissolved in distilled water, cherry-laurel
water, or a mixture of distilled water and glycerine, the
precaution being taken to first suspend the ergotine in
the glycerine, adding the water and filtering through
moistened paper to obtain very clear solutions. These
solutions are made sometimes 1 in 5 (Dr. Vidal), some¬
times 1 in 10 or 1 in 15 (Dr. Bucquoy and Dr. Moutard-
Martin) .

Subcutaneous injections of ergotine are occasionally
painful, either when a badly prepared alcoholic extract
or a solution slightly alcoholic has been used, or an
ergotine containing lactic acid, due, according to Bach-
heim, to the lactic fermentation of the mycose.

The conclusions from a chemical and pharmaceutical
point of view are easily deduced. When the medical
man can, he should administer the pulverized ergot, were
it even in suspension in a julep, and that in preference to
all the ergotines. For hypodermic injections he should
use for the present the ergotine of Bon jean.

THE SAPPHIRE MINES OF SIAM.

The Commercial Report by the Acting British Consul-
General in Siam for the year 1879 contains the following
interesting information upon this subject : —

The year 1879 will long be memorable in the provinces
of Battambong and Chantaboon for the discovery of
valuable sapphire mines and for the great influx of
foreigners, chiefly from British and Independent Burmah,
to work the same. There have long been mines of
inferior value in this neighbourhood, and about five
years ago new mines were discovered by a native hunter.
Being, however, in a very remote and secluded position,
it was some time before the fame of the new mines spread
o the Burman and Indian gem traders and miners.

Some individual diggers, however, having found their
way to the mines, and having returned to Rangoon and
Calcutta with the proceeds of their work, realized very
large sums, and a rush for the new mines commenced and
continued throughout the last year, during which many
thousands of British subjects passed through Bangkok
from British Burmah on their way to the mines.

The arrival of these large bands of armed strangers
caused considerable alarm among the natives of Chanta¬
boon and Battambong, who could scarcely be persuaded
that the country was not invaded once more by the old
hereditary enemies of Siam, the Burmans and Peguans.
The miners, however, by their peaceable behaviour
restored confidence, and the country people soon were
glad to sell them all kinds of provisions at enhanced
rates.

The miners, in their haste to become rich, disregarded
all considerations of health, and immense numbers died
from jungle fever. The Toung-thoos from Pegu proved
the most capable of standing the climate, and, many having
made money and returned successful to their homes, the
rush continued unabated for a long time ; but now the
great mortality is beginning to tell, and the broken health
and emaciated appearance of most of those who return,
will check the eagerness of others to try their fortunes in
this fever-stricken district.

The governor of the province has hitherto levied 2£
ticals (5s. 7 %d.) from every man working at the mines,
and this is cheerfully paid.

Good order has hitherto, I am happy to say, been main¬
tained, and the governor has appointed a British subject
named Kam Sai to act as headman and to collect the
licence duty.

The Siamese authorities do not regard with entire
complacency this conveyance from their soil of these
valuable gems without the payment of any royalty. Na
definite proposition has, however, yet been made to impose
any other than the licence tax above mentioned.

There would probably be found considerable difficulty
in collecting any sort of ad valorem duty.

As it is, the discovery of the most valuable stones is
kept as secret as possible by the fortunate finders, and
should any ad valorem duty be attempted to be imposed,
the tax-gatherer would probably be defeated by craft or
force.

When Admiral Coote was here, I was anxious to show
him some good specimens of these sapphires, and called
for some of the miners who were in Bangkok on their
return from the diggings. One of them, a poorly clad
and miserable looking individual, produced a few small
stones, and, after a great deal of coaxing, was induced
with many precautions to give us a private view of his
great prize, which was a very large sapphire in the rough,
which he valued at 20,000 rupees. He would probably
not have shown this stone at all had he not been on the
point of leaving in a steamer.

Owing to the secrecy thus observed by the possessors
of valuable gems, it is impossible to give any estimate of
the total value of stones found, but that individuals have
made very large profits is certain. There is a man now
in Bangkok who dug out a stone which he offered for
sale in Chantaboon at 1000 rupees, but did not find a
jurchaser. He went with it to Rangoon, where he was
offered 15,000 rupees ; but, having then awoke to the value
of the stone, he declined to sell and took it to Calcutta,,
where he eventually obtained 30,000 rupees for it.

Now, however, there are many experienced gem mer¬
chants established in the neighbourhood of the mines, and
something like the real value of the stones can be obtained
by the miners on the spot.

Many of the miners finding themselves in cash have
invested in the luxury of wives taken from the Siamese
population, and the value of marriageable young women,
who are at all good looking, has in consequence gone up
to a very high figure.

The largest sapphire hitherto found, which I know of.

26

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 10, 1SS0.

weighed 370 carats in the rough, and when cut turned
nut 111 carats of the finest water.

The ruby, onyx, and jade are also found in tbe district,
but the quality of none of these is such as to make them
very valuable.

CHESTNUT LEAVES*

BY LEWIS JOSEPH STELTZER, PH.G.

Chestnut leaves should be gathered for medicinal use
in the months of September and October, while still
green ; they possess a faint characteristic odour. When
gathered in the early part of October they lose in drying
49 per cent, of their weight, retaining most of their green
colour, except the midrib, which changes to brown. They
do not become brittle, and are, therefore, with difficulty
reduced to powder. *

The leaves contain a considerable amount of tannin
and extractive matter. The powder cannot be percolated
alone on account of swelling when water or alcohol is
added. A fluid extract is made by repeatedly digesting
the leaves in water and expressing the juice, adding-
glycerin and sugar and evaporating, as recommended by
Professor J. M. Maisch ( American journal of Pharmacy,
December, 1871). A tincture made in the proportion of
two ounces of the leaves to a pint of diluted alcohol is
also frequently used.

Chtstnut leaves were first brought to the notice Sf the
medical profession by Mr. George C. Close, in the year
1862, but were used by some physicians and in domestic
practice previous to that time. They have been'~used
with good success as a remedy for whooping cofigh;
appear to control the spasms and often cause their 'Sus¬
pension in a few days. The fluid extract is probably the
best preparation to use, as it contains the drug in a con¬
centrated form and is not unpleasant to take. The
tincture may also be used, but the objection to it is the
large dose required and the amount of alcohol contained
therein.

For the purpose of ascertaining some of the con¬
stituents of the leaves they were subject to the following
experiments : —

The infusion possessed an astringent taste, producing
with ferric chloride a greenish-black precipitate, and a
copious precipitate with solution of gelatin, showing the
presence of tannin. The infusion was deprived of colour¬
ing matter, tannin, etc., with solution of subacetate of
lead, filtering and separating lead with sulpliydric acid.
The liquid appears to be free from sugar. Tbe cold in¬
fusion showed the presence of albumen when heated, and
by the precipitate produced with solution of mercuric
ehloi-ide. Alcohol precipitated gum, soluble in excess of
water, and this solution was not precipitated with fe. ric
chloride or sodium borate.

Ten grams of the ground leaves were boiled with suc¬
cessive portions of water until the soluble parts were all
dissolved, the different solutions mixed, filtered and
treated with solution of gelatin until it ceased to afford a
precipitate. This was separated by filtration, washed,
dried and weighed; the result was T70 gram, equal to
about 0-9 gram of tannin. A repetition of this experi¬
ment gave nearly the same result. This experiment
shows 9 per cent, of tannin present in chestnut leaves.
After removing the tannin from the infusion by means
of fresh hide the filtrate was not affected by ferric chlo¬
ride, and was, therefore, free from gallic acid.

The alcoholic tincture possessed a dark green colour
by reflected light and brown colour by transmitted light.
Upon evaporation a dark green extract was obtained.
Its solution in water, in which it is slightly soluble, gives
a black precipitate with ferric chloride. A portion of
the tincture was evaporated to a small bulk, thrown upon
water and the insoluble portion filtered out, again dis¬
solved in alcohol and treated with animal charcoal ; when
filtered the solution was colourless, and left no residue

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, June, 1880.

when evaporated. The solution of the extract in chloro¬
form, when treated with purified animal charcoal, filtered
and evaporated, left a small quantity of a soft, yellowish
substance, probably resin. By the treatment of the
leaves with petroleum benzin and evaporating a quantity
of fatty matter is obtained, freely soluble in ether.
Negative results were obtained when examining for an
alkaloid or volatile oil.

One hektogram of the dried leaves was incinerated;
5- 40 grams of ash of a light grey colour was obtained,
having an alkaline reaction.

Appropriate tests indicated the presence of carbonates,
chlorides and phosphates of potassium, calcium, magne¬
sium and iron, while the organic constituents of the
leaves are tannin (9 per cent.), gum, albumen, resin (a
trace), fat, extractive and lignin.

RESIN AND TURPENTINE.*

The following account of the mode of production of
resin and turpentine on the south-eastern coast of the
United States is taken from an American paper : —

“From Wilmington, N.C., southward, and nearly all
the way to Florida, the pitch pine trees, with their blazed
sides, attract the attention of the traveller. Tbe lands
for long stretches are almost worthless, and the only
industry, beyond small patches for corn or cotton, is the
‘ boxing ’ of the pitch pine trees for the gum, as it is
called, and the manufacture of turpentine and resin.
There are several kinds of pine trees, including the white,
spruce, yellow, Roumany and pitch pine. The latter is
the only valuable one for boxing, and differs a little from
the yellow pine, with which it is sometimes confounded
in the north. The owners of these pine lands generally
lease the ‘ privilege ’ for the business, and receive about
125 dollars for a ‘ crop,’ which consists of 10,000 1 boxes.’
The boxes are cavities cut into the tree near the ground
in such a way as to hold about a quart, and from one to
four boxes are cut in each tree, the number depending
upon its size. One man can attend to and gather the
crop of 10,000 boxes during the season, which lasts from
March to September. About three quarts of pitch or
gum is the average production of each box, but to secure
this amount the bark of the tree above the box must be
hacked away a little every fortnight. Doing this so
often, and for successive seasons, removes the bark as
high as can be easily reached, while the quality of the
gum constantly decreases, in that it yields less spirit, as
the turpentine is called, and then the trees are aban¬
doned. The gum is scraped out of the boxes with a sort
of wooden spoon, and at the close of the season, after the
pitch on the exposed surface of the tree has become hard,
it is removed by scraping, and is only good for resin,
as it produces no spirit. The gum sells for 1 50 dollar
a barrel to the distillers. From 16 barrels of the crude
gum, which is about the average capacity of the stills,
80 gallons of turpentine and 10 barrels of resin are made.
The resin sells for from 1*40 dollar to 5 dollars per
barrel, according to quality, and about pajs for cost of
gum and distilling, leaving the spirit, which sells for 40
cents a gallon, as the profit of the business. Immense
quantities of resin await shipment at the stations along
the line, and the pleasant odour enters the car windows
as we are whirled along. After the trees are unfit for
further boxing, and are not suitable for lumber, they are
sometimes used to manufacture tar ; but the business is
not very profitable, and is only done by large companies,
who can thus use their surplus labour. The trees are cut
up into wood, which is piled in a hole in the ground and
covered with earth and then burned the same as charcoal
is burned elsewhere. The heat sweats out the gum,
which, uniting with the smoke, runs off through a spout
provided for the purpose. A cord of wood will make
two barrels of tar, which sells for 1 '50 dollars per barrel
and costs 37^ cents to make. The charcoal is then sold
for cooking purposes.”

* From the Journal of the Society of Arts, June 4, 1880.

July 10, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

27

(TIk ^Ibarmnccutital |ounml.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , books for review , etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary , 17, Bloomsbury Square , W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal ,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

THE TESTING OF COMMERCIAL QUININE
SULPHATE.

The vast importance of quinine as a remedial
agent, surpassing as it does that of almost all other
medicines, is now so generally acknowledged that it
is not surprising to find considerable attention directed
to the means by which the purity of the salt most
frequently met is to be ascertained. Some years ago
there was published in this Journal a description of
a method for testing sulphate of quinine devised by
Dr. G. Kerner, and based upon the differences
existing between the solubilities of the sulphates of
cinchona alkaloids in water and between the solu¬
bilities of the several alkaloids in dilute solution of
ammonia.

That method of testing was a great improvement
upon the test recommended by Zimmer and Liebig,
based upon the differences in the solubility of
quinine and other cinchona alkaloids in ether ; it
was on that account adopted in the German Phar¬
macopoeia, but has not yet received further official
recognition. The consequence lias been that the
results obtained in testing sulphate of quinine as to
purity have not always been of such a nature as
to decide the question satisfactorily or at all, and it
is somewhat notorious that sulphate of quinine has
very frequently contained such an amount of cin-
chonidine sulphate as to be very far from entitled to
rank as a pure preparation. That this should be
the case is to a great extent intelligible from the
circumstance that of late years it is said there has
been in the manufacture of quinine a much larger
use of those varieties of cinchona bark that contain
considerable amounts of cinchonidine.

Three years ago attention was directed to this
subject at an Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Society, and it was shown that several commercial
samples of quinine sulphate contained from 5 to 10
per cent, of cinchonidine sulphate. It was also
shown that the indications furnished by the test
directed in the British Pharmacopoeia were not such
as to give evidence of this impurity, and that there
was really no difference between the result obtained
in testing such samples and that obtained in testing
really pure quinine sulphate. At that time it was
suggested that a test based partly upon the different
solubilities of the sulphates of quinine and cin-

clionidine in water and partly upon the different
solubilities of the corresponding alkaloids in ether,
would be more useful for ascertaining the purity of
quinine sulphate than either the test of the British
Pharmacopoeia or even that introduced years before
by Dr. Kerner. Somewhat later almost exactly
the same mode of testing quinine sulphate was
recommended by Dr. Hesse, who described a form
of apparatus in which the operation was to be con¬
ducted and laid down rules by which some approxi¬
mative estimate might be formed as to the amount
of impurity present in the quinine sulphate operated
upon.

It is in regard to this point that there is the
greatest difficulty in obtaining trustworthy results by
any of the known methods of testing quinine sul¬
phate. Even with Kerner’s test applied volume-
trically the results obtained are liable to vary under
the influence of slight differences of the conditions
of experiment, and at the time when that test was
introduced the knowledge of the alkaloids associated
with quinine was sufficiently imperfect to give rise
to additional uncertainty ; now, however, it may be
taken as certain that in almost every case the im¬
purity met with in commercial quinine sulphate is
nothing more nor less than cinchonidine sulphate.
The great solubility of cinchonine sulphate as compared
with quinine sulphate is alone almost a guarantee
that it cannot be present in a well prepared sample
of quinine sulphate. As regards quinidine, again,
the probability of its occurrence is very slight, for it
must be remembered that there are but few kinds of
cinchona bark which contain so much quinidine that
its sulphate is likely to remain mixed with recrys¬
tallized quinine, sulphate.

Quite recently, another paper on the subject lias
been published by Dr. Kerner, in which he
specially refers to the misconceptions and errors
which he thinks have arisen from Dr. Hesse’s
recommendation of a method for judging as to the
quality of commercial quinine sulphate, and in
justification of this view he instances the statement
in a paper by Dr. Schacht, of Berlin, that a certain
sample of quinine sulphate, tested as Dr. Hesse
directs, gave a result showing that it contained “ at
least 3 per cent, of cinchonidine sulphate.” He
there mentions having long ago made use of the
method recommended by Dr. Hesse, and based
essentially upon the fact that cinchonine, quinidine
and cinchonidine dissolve less readily in ether and
separate from the ethereal solution more quickly
when they are associated with very little or no quinine;
but he adds that his experience at that time led him
to regard this mode of testing as not being practical
and trustworthy enough for its adoption as an
official quinine test. He gives several reasons
which lead him to infer that quantitaiive estimations
according to the time the appearance of crystals in
tire ether solution takes place are altogether pre¬
carious and untrustworthy, and then goes on to state

28

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 10, 18S0.

that the ammonia test carefully applied is so much
more safe and delicate that it will admit of approxi¬
mate determination of the impurities in commercial
quinine sulphate, besides giving positive evidence of
purity in the case of samples that are free from
associated alkaloids.

We propose publishing in an early number of this
Journal a resume of the directions given by Dr.
Kerner for applying the ammonia test in order to
ascertain the character of commercial quinine sul¬
phate, and also for the purpose of determining more
precisely the actual quantities of impurity present, and
will now only mention one other point which he
deals with, viz., the amount of water in the quinine
sulphate of trade. It is well known that this salt
normally contains a considerable amount of water of
crystallization, and that this water is readily lost by
efflorescence. Besides this, the voluminous char¬
acter of the salt enables it to hold mechanically a
variable excess of water to such an extent, as Dr.
Kerner states, that apparently dry samples may
be met with containing as much as 18 per cent, of
water. It is also stated that such a result is not
unfrequently brought about by devices of the manu¬
facturer and by intentional moistening of the salt
after it has passed from his hands into commerce.
Dr. Kerner suggests that the best remedy for this
state of things would be to substitute the hydro¬
chlorate in place of the sulphate, inasmuch as it
is a more constant salt, and it has been found to
possess advantages from a therapeutical point of
view.

Still, since quinine sulphate is the official prepa¬
ration and the one in general use, the question as to
the amount of water in a sample is, as Dr. Kerner
insists, one of importance as regards the determina¬
tion of relative value of that sample ; but at the same
time he points out that it is not easy to decide what
may reasonably be required in this respect, and that
it is still less easy to determine quickly the amount of
water in a sample of quinine sulphate than it is to
detect minute traces of cinchonidine not indicated by
the ammonia test. In most manuals of chemistry the
neutral quinine sulphate is represented by the for¬
mula 2(C20H24N2O2)H2SO4 + 7H2O, according to
which the percentage amount of water would be
14*45. Dr. Hesse adopts formulae with 71> and even
8 molecules of water, but Dr. Kerner has invariably
found the loss of weight by drying at 115° C. to
vary between 14*38 and 14*80 per cent, when the
fresh salt pressed between blotting paper and pro¬
tected from efflorescence was operated upon. Con¬
sequently, he adopts the corresponding formula as
correct, and as he considers it is impracticable in
factory operations to prevent efflorescence altogether,
while thoroughly removing all mechanically adherent
water, he concludes that it must be regarded as a
well founded requirement that official quinine sul¬
phate should not at the utmost lose more than 14*6
per cent, of its weight when dried at 115° C. As a
general rule he considers the loss of weight in good
samples would be only 13*8 to 14*4 per cent.

By exposure to dry air at a moderate temperature
the crystallized quinine sulphate gradually loses five
molecules of water, or 10*32 per cent., forming the
compound 2(C20H24N2O2)H2SO4 + 2H2O, containing
4*6 per cent, water and 82*8(5 per cent, dry alkaloid.
This salt is heavier than the above mentioned salt
with seven molecules of water, and it has not so good
an appearance, but it is constant, and though it can
be thoroughly deprived of water of crystallization*
even by drying at 100° C., the anhydrous salt,
2(C20H21N2O2)H2SO4, containing 86*86 per cent, of
alkaloid, is so hygroscopic that it again attracts from
the atmosphere two molecules of water more or less
rapidly according to the humidity of the air.

Consideration of these facts leads Dr. Kerner to
suggest that the constant salt with two molecules of
water should be made official, with the view of pre¬
venting improper introduction of water or loss to
druggists by efflorescence, and of ensuring the ad¬
ministration of quinine in precisely the doses
desired. Meanwhile, however, he recommends the
practice of making a determination of the amount of
water an element in the valuation of commercial
quinine sulphate, as being more important than the
testing for such traces of cinchonidine as fail to be
indicated by the ammonia test.

We share this view of the desirability of taking the
percentage of water into account in testing quinine
sulphate more thoroughly than we do that which
gives a preference to the ammonia test, and are dis¬
posed to think that the modification of that test in
which ether is used to ascertain the solubility of the
alkaloid remaining in solution as sulphate after
recrystallizing the sample in question from water
will furnish a more intelligible result than any other
we know of. The quantitative determination of the
amount of impurity is, however, a matter requiring
some considerable skill in analytical operations, and
as regards anything less than 1 per cent, it may in
general be dispensed with altogether for all practical
purposes.

MR. CYRUS BUOTT.

Many of our readers will have noticed in the last
* number, on page 20, a fresh appeal on behalf of Mr.
Cyrus Buott. The fact that this gentleman “has
lived to the age of eighty years to find himself worsted
in the struggle for existence” will be in itself a strong
plea with the generous, and especially there must be
many gentlemen who were associated with Mr.
Buott in the work of the United Society who will
be glad of the opportunity of sending a contribution
towards his aid now that he is in distress to Mr.
Hamtson, 205, St. John Street Road, E.O.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the above Association will
be held on Thursday, the 15th inst., at 8*30 p.m.,
when the chair will be occupied by the President,
Professor Attfield, F.R.S., and the Annual Report
of the Executive Committee will be read.

The Lord Chancellor has been pleased to place
the name of Mr. S. R. Atkins, pharmaceutical
chemist and member of the Council of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society, on the Commission of the Peace for
city of Salisbury.

* See Cownley “On the Water of Crystallization in
Quinine Sulphate,” Fliarm. Jo urn ., [3J, vii., p. 18‘J.

July 10, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

29

Cransarthms of % ^Ijjarmaceuticat

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.
Wednesday , July 7, 1880.

MR. THOMAS GREENISH, PRESIDENT.

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACIIT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Andrews, Atkins, Bottle, Churchill,
Frazer, Gostling, Hampson, HilL, Maclcay, Radley,
Richardson, Robbins, Sandford, Savage, Symes, Williams
and Woolley.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

Mr. Mackay presented, in the name of Professor
Archer, a small box containing rare specimens of Indian
attars. 1

The President moved a vote of thanks to Professor
Archer, which was carried unanimously.

The Sessional Address.

The Secretary read a letter he had received from Dr.
Langdon Down, expressing his willingness to undertake
the duty of delivering the Sessional Address in October
next, in accordance with the request of the Council.

Resignation of Mr. Shaw.

The President reported that he had received a letter
from Mr. Shaw, stating that he found he should not be
able to attend the Council regularly during the present
year, and he therefore begged to place bis resignation in
the hands of the President. In taking leave of his col¬
leagues, he desired to express his high sense of the kind¬
ness which he had received at their hands during the
nine years he had held office. The President said he had
written to Mr. Shaw, asking him to reconsider the
matter, but Mr. Shaw could not see his way to do so.
He was sure they would all agree with him that it was a
source of regret that they should lose so able and zealous
a member as Mr. Shaw.

Mr. Sandford having had much intercourse with
Mr. Shaw all the time he had been a member of the
Council, felt sure the Council would agree with him that
a vote of thanks was due to Mr. Shaw for his services
on the Council, together with an expression of regret
that he should have found it necessary to re ign.

Mr. Mackay begged to second the motion, which he
did with the greater heartiness because Mr. Shaw was
known to the members of the North British Branch
before he became a member of the Council. In the early
days of the Society’s existence in Edinburgh Mr. Shaw
was in business there, and devoted a great deal of time
and attention to the interests of the Society. He there¬
fore shared very deeply the regret which had been
expressed at Mr. Shaw’s resignation.

Mr. Hampson also felt that the retirement of Mr. Shaw
was a loss to the Council and to the trade. He well
reflected general broad views on trade matters and was a
very conscientious and zealous member of the Council.

Mr. Symes having also supported the motion, it was
carried unanimously.

The President stated that, in accordance with the
bye-laws, the Council would have next mouth to fill up
the vacancy caused by Mr. Shaw’s retirement.

The following, being duly registered as Pharmaceutical
Chemists, were respectively granted a diploma stamped
with the seal of the Society: —

Chapman, Joseph George.

Evans, John.

Holmes, William Albert.

Jones, William.

Elections.

MEMBERS.

Pharmaceutical Chemists.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and tendered their subscriptions for the current vear,
were elected “ Members ” of the Societ}- : —

Chapman, Joseph George . Binfield.

Holmes, William Albert . Kendal.

Chemists and Druggists.

The following registered chemists and druggists, who
were in business on their own account before August 1st.
1868, having tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected u Members ” of the Society : —

Davies, Elias Kossuth . Bethesda.

Patchitt, Edwin Cheshire . Nottingham.

Pattison, Henry . Shrewsbury.

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

The following, having passed the Minor examination,
being in business on their own account, and bavin
tendered their subscriptions for the current year, wei
elected “ Associates in Business ” of the Society : —

Boyd, Samuel . Annan.

Coleman, Edward . Tam worth.

Currie, William Little . Glasgow.

Fox, Alfred . Hull.

Griffith, Philip . Burnham, Somerset.

James, Thomas Cragg . Birkenhead.

Porter, John Thomas . Coalville.

Welford, Richard . Blackburn.

Wright, Eli . . . . Bi rmingham.

ASSOCIATES.

The following, having passed the Minor examination,
and tendered (or paid, as Apprentices or Students) their
subscriptions for the current year, were elected “Asso¬
ciates” of the Society: —

Barnett, John Arthur . Salisbury.

Dickinson, David . . Boston.

Dodd, William Ralph . Market Drayton.

Francis, Matthew Robert . London.

Jackson, Henry Lawson . Crediton.

.T ackson, William Hodgkinson . . . Crediton.

Mason, Joseph Robert . Workington.

Moore, Jonathan Reuben . Kettering.

Slicer, Walter . Bingley.

Trible, Edward . Launceston.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, having passed the Preliminary exami¬
nation and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “ Apprentices or Students ” of the
Society : —

Austen, Charles Wilson . Surbiton.

Blarney, Edward Parr . Hayle.

Crowther, Horace Wood ward... West Bromwich.

Garnett, James . Kendal.

Hopkins, John Henry . Leicester.

McKenzie, James . Macduff.

Morrison, John Wm. Thomas... London.

Parsons, Thomas . Bourton-on-the-Water.

Richmond, Paul Henry . Wigton.

Stevens, Walter Rowland . Wye.

Thomas, Joseph Arden . Cambridge.

Ward, Robert Edward . Kettering.

Wheeler, William Robert . Fant Holme.

Woods, William Herbert . Plymouth.

Woolley, Evan Edward . Llanidloes.

Several persons were restored to their former status
in the Society upon payment of the current year’s sub¬
scription and a fine.

6 aq

30

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 10, 1S80.

Restoration to the Register.

The name of the following person, who had made the
required declaration and paid a fine of one guinea, was
restored to the Register of Chemists and Druggists : —

Henry Matthew Roberton, 11, East Street, Walworth,
Surrey.

Additions to the Register.

The Registrar reported that —

Wallett James Burgess, Great Northern Hospital, Cale¬
donian Road, London, N .,

Joseph Cook, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derby,

Joseph Robinson Lund, 81,Barkerend Road, Bradford,
Yorks, and

George Murrell, 36, High Street, Winchester,
having made statutory declarations that they were in
business before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
and these declarations having beeu supported by duly
qualified medical practitioners, their names had been
placed on the Register.

Reports of Committees.

The report and recommendations were unanimously
received and adopted.

The Sale of Patent Medicines containing Poisons.

The Council then went into Committee to consider a
communication from the Privy Council, relative to the
sale of patent medicines containing poisons. After some
discussion, a draft letter to be sent in reply was agreed to
by the Council, and ordered to be sent to the Privy
Council.

Reports of Committees ( continued ).

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

The Professors had attended and reported on their re¬
spective classes.

Professor Redwood had submitted specimen copies of
the ‘ Historical Sketch of Pharmacy.’

The Librarian’s report had been received, and included
the following particulars : —

May .

Attendance.

| Day .

* ( Evening

Total. Highest. Lowest. Average.
288 18 3 12 nearly.

130 12 3 7

FINANCE.

The report of this Committee was received and adopted,
and sundry accounts were ordered to be paid. The
accounts included a large item for law costs, and in con¬
nection with this matter the President stated that he
had received a communication from the Solicitor, saying
that he had retained Mr. Benjamin, Q.C., in addition to
the counsel previously engaged in the case, for the appeal
in the House of Lords.

BENEVOLENT FUND.

Mr. Symes sugge.-ted that time might be saved if the
details of cases were not read to the Council.

The President thought it very desirable that the
details should be read, in order that those who did not
attend the Committee might know what was being done.

Mr. Richardson supported the view of Mr. Symes.
He thought the Council had full confidence in the Com¬
mittee.

Mr. Williams suggested that if this question were to
be raised, a notice of motion should be given, to which
Mr. Symes assented, and the reading of the minutes was
then proceeded with.

The report included a recommendation of_the following
grants : —

£15 to a registered chemist and druggistjmd former
member, age 73.

£5 to a registered chemist and druggist, aged 71, who
has had two previous grants of £10 each.

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist Jand associate,
suffering from illness.

£10 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist.

£20 to the widow of a member, to assist her in fur¬
nishing her house for the purpose of letting lodgings.

£10 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist.

£10 to the widow of a chemist and druggist.

£5 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist,
who had a grant of £10 in September last.

£10 to the widow of a life member, who has had two
previous grants of £20.

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist, who has had
several previous grants.

£10 to a female registered chemist and druggist.

£10 to one of the unsuccessful candidates for an annuity
at the last election.

With regal’d to a provisional grant of thirty guineas
made in November last, to assist in the election of an
orphan to an asylum, the Secretary reported that he had
attended the election, but had not found it necessary to
expend any of the money, the child being elected without
such expenditure.

One or two cases had been deferred for further in¬
quiries, and in two cases the Committee had not enter¬
tained the applications.

Circulation of books. Town. Country. Total.

No. of entries . . . 164 87 251

Carriage paid . . . . £1 12s. 2d.

The following donations to the Library had been
reported, and the Committee recommended that the usual
letter of thanks be sent to the respective donors : —

Blancliet, C., Du Thapsia garganica, 1880.

Trupheme, V., Premieres dtudes sur l’Erythroxlyon
coca, 1879.

From Professor J. Li5on Soubeiran ?

Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Annual Report
of the Alumni Association, 1879-80.

From the President of the Association.

Ambition’s Dream, in two fyttes, new ed., 1879.
[Anonymous.'] From the Author.

Hielbig, C., Kritische Beurtheilung der Methoden
welche zur Trennung und quantitativen Bestim-
mung der verschiedenen Chinaalkaloide benutzt
werden, 1880.

Lehmann, A., Vergleichende Untersuchungen einiger
Catechu- und Gambir-Proben nebst kritischer
Beleuchtung der Methoden zur Bestimmung ihres
Handelswerthes, 1880.

From Professor Dragendorff.

Hoadly, B., Three Lectures on the Organs of Respi¬
ration, 1740.

Leake, J., Lecture introductory to the Theory and
Practice of Midwifery, 3rd ed. [1776].

— Syllabus of Lectures on Midwifery, 1776.

— Description and Use of a New Forceps, [1775].

— Vindication of Forceps, 1774.

Keill, J., Essays on several parts of the Animal
(Economy, 2nd ed., 1717.

Morley, J., Essay on the Nature and Cure of
Scrophulous Disorders, [with description and] co¬
loured plate of vervain, [25th ed.,] 1787.

Quincy, J., Lexicon Physico-Medicum, or, New
Physical Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1722.

— Prselectiones Pharmaceutics, or, Course of Lectures
in Pharmacy, 1723.

Read, [A.,] Chirurgorum Comes, or, Whole Practice
of Chyrurgery, 1687.

Salmon, W., Synopsis Medicinse, or, Compendium of
Physiclc, 3rd ed., 1695.

Sydenham, T., Whole Works, translated by J. Pechy,
1696.

Withering, W., Account of the Foxglove and some
of its Medical Uses, 1785.

From Mr. Benjamin Heald.

Flora of British India, by Sir J. D. Hooker, etc.,
[pt. 7, 1880]. '

From H.M. Secretary of State for India.

Annuaire des Spdcialit^s M&licales et Pharmaceu-
tiques, 1880. From the Editors ?

July 10, 1880],

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

31

The Committee recommended the purchase of the
undermentioned works for the Library: —

Chemist’s Journal, The.

Corfield, W. H., Health, 1880.

Dickson, J., Fasciculi Plantarum Cryptogamicarum
Britannise, 1785-1801.

Ekin, C., Potable Water, 1880.

Ferrand, E., Aide-Memoire de Pharmacie, 2me ed ,
1880.

Freind, J., Chymical Lectures, 2nd ed., 1729.

Gordon, J. E. H., Physical Treatise on Electricity
and Magnetism, 1880. 2 vols.

Kingzett, C. T., Nature’s Hygiene, 1880.

Latham, H., On the Action of Examinations, 1877.
Luff, A. P., Introduction to the Study of Chemistry,
1880.

Pavy, F. W., Treatise on Food and Dietetics, 2nd
ed., 1875.

Prantl, K., Elementary Text-Book of Botany, trans¬
lated by S. H. Vines, 1880.

Ringer, S., Handbook of Therapeutics, 8th ed., 1880.
Tyndall, J., Heat a Mode of Motion, 6th ed., 1880.
Valentin, W. G., Course of Qualitative Chemical
Analysis, 5th ed., 1880.

The Librarian had laid before the Committee copies of
the new edition of the Catalogue of the Library. He
had also expressed his appreciation of the aid he had
derived in its compilation from the rules for cataloguing
adopted or proposed by the Library Associations, and
from those prepared by Mr. Cutter.

The Committee recommended that a copy of the
Library Catalogue be forwarded to each of the provincial
associations and to various public institutions and
libraries.

The Committee recommended that the Library and
Museum be closed in the evening during August and
September.

The Curator’s report had been received, and included
the following particulars : —

Total. Highest. Lowest. Average.

Attendance ( Day . . 314 20 4 10

during April, j Evening 64 8 1 2

Total. Highest. Lowest. Average.

During ( Day . . 170 14 2 8

May. | Evening 29 4 1 2

The following donations to the Museum had been re¬
ceived, and the Committee recommended that the usual
letter of thanks be sent to the respective donors : —

Specimen of Bloodwood Gum ( Eucalyptus corym¬
bose/,). From Mr. T. B. Groves, Weymouth.

Specimens of Cyperus bulbosus, Anchanchah seed,
True Zedoary Root ( Kachoora ), Yellow Zedoary
Root (Amba Hulda), and the root of Zingiber
Cassumunar. From Dr. Dymock, Bombay.

Specimens of Valeriana Hardxoickii.

From Mr. A. W. Gerrard.
Specimen of the Fruit of Liquidarnbar Formosana.

From the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew.
Specimen of the Seeds of Brucea Sumatrcina.

From Dr. De Vrij.

Specimens of Boiari Root.

From Professor Davidson, Aberdeen.
Specimens of the barks of Cinchona Calisaya , C.
succirubra and C. officinalis, from Jamaica, and
fine quills of the bark of C. Ledgeriana, from Java.

From Mr. Thos. Whiffen.
Specimens of the following chemicals, etc., from the
recent Pharmaceutical Exhibition : —

Anetholate, Carbolate, and Eugenate of Quinine,
Sulphate of Conchinine, Santonate of Sodium,
Laudanine and Pseudomorphine, and a speci¬
men of German Opium. From Mr. T. Farries.
Specimens of Apocynin, Chelonin, Eupurpurin,

Hamamelin, Stillingin, Xanthoxylin and False
Quebracho Bark.

From Messrs. Burgoyne, Burbidges, Cyriax
and Farries.

Two crystalline acids, separated from commercial
artificial Salicylic Acid.

From Messrs. Hopkin and Williams.

Specimen of genuine Chian Turpentine.

From Dr. John Clay, Birmingham.

Specimens illustrating the composition of Cod Liver
Oil, as exhibited at the last Paris Exhibition, in¬
cluding oleic acid, solid fatty acids, volatile acids,
biliary matter and gaduine.

From Messrs. Southall, Brothers and Barclay.

Specimen of Lisbon Copal, apparently not of fossil
origin. From Mons. C. Chantre.

Specimens of South American Drugs.

From Messrs. Wyleys and Co., Coventry.

Specimens of Chinese Opium Smoking Apparatus
and three cases of Indian Drugs.

From the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew.

Herbarium specimens of the plant yielding Chinese
Oil of Peppermint.

From Mr. C. Ford, Director of the Botanical
Gardens at Hong Kong.

Herbarium specimens of Aristolochia Clematitis (the
uncultivated plant). From Mr. R. Modlen, Oxford.

Herbarium specimens of Daphne Laureola.

From Mr. T. Romans.

The Curator had also reported that M. Pfleiderer had
offered to present the Society with one of his mixing
machines, and it was recommended that the offer be
accepted.

It was also recommended that a small quantity of
zircon and phenakite be purchased for the Museum,
specimens having been submitted. Also that the
Curator pay a visit to Glasgow, in order to select and
superintend the removal of some valuable specimens of
crystals which had been offered the Society by Mr.
E. C. C. Stanford.

The Curator had made an application for an assistant,
and the Committee recommended that one be engaged at v
a salary of not more than 30 s. per week.

Mr. Frazer and Mr. Mackay having expressed their
approval of the Curator visiting Glasgow and Edinburgh,

The President remarked, in reference to the engage¬
ment of an assistant in the Museum, that the Curator had
a great deal of his time occupied in classifying and
arranging specimens sent from Kew, and other sources ;
in answering queries and giving information to visitors,
and in identifying specimens of drugs sent to him from
all parts. It was absolutely necessary that an assistant
should be engaged to perform the more mechanical part
of the work.

The report and recommendations of the Committee
were received and adopted.

The Historical Sketch of Pharmacy.

Specimen copies of this book were laid on the table,
and it was referred to the Library, Museum and La¬
boratory Committee to decide on the style of binding
which should be adopted.

HOUSE.

The report of this Committee was received and adopted,
but it contained nothing calling for special notice. The
main portion of it referred to cleaning and decorating the
premises of the Society in Edinburgh.

Mr. Mackay suggested that a fire-proof safe should be
procured, for the purpose of keeping the register books
belonging to the North British Branch.

This proposition was acceded to, and included in the
report.

GENERAL PURPOSES.

The report of this Committee included the usual letter
from the Solicitor stating the progress of various matters

52

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 10, 1880.

which had been placed in his hands. In the case of Mr.
Jackson, of Chesterfield, the defendant had paid the
penalty and costs into Court ; in the case of Mr. Hartley,
Sheffield, judgment had been obtained against the defend¬
ant. The same result had been obtained in the case of
Mr. Wright, Liverpool. Mr. Jenkins, Llangadock, had
paid the penalty and costs into Court. A verdict had
also been obtained against Mr. Copping, Manchester.

The Solicitor had also reported that the appeal case
stood the eighth on the list of cases for hearing.

Several other cases of alleged infringement, particulars
of which had been sent to the Registrar, had been con¬
sidered, and in some instances prosecutions had been
ordered. The report was as usual considered in Com¬
mittee. On resuming, the report and recommendations
of the Committee were received and adopted.

The Bill foe Regulating the Manufacture and
Sale of Spirit.

Mr. Hampson asked if the Spirits Bill now going
through the House of Commons was receiving attention.

The President said it was.

Mr. Williams said there were clauses which would
be very injurious to chemists and druggists, inasmuch as
there was a provision that no article should be made or
kept in stock in which methylated spirit had been used,
under a heavy penalty.

Mr. Hampson thought that hitherto the law had been
in one direction, and the regulations issued by the Board
of Inland Revenue in another. Instead of all persons
being amenable to the law, they were amenable to official
regulations which were uncertain and unsatisfactory. It
ought to be known exactly what the law was which people
had to obey, and not have to obtain permission to do cer¬
tain things, the interpretation of which was extremely
doubtful.

Mr. Sandford said his attention having been called to
this Bill by the Secretary, he saw certain things which
appeared to him to require alteration, and he, therefore,
waited on the solicitors to the Board of Inland Revenue,
and put the case before them. They assured him that the
Bill was simply to consolidate, not in any way to alter
the existing law. The Bill allowed the use of methylated
spirit in the preparation of sulphuric ether and chloro¬
form as before, and he suggested that it might also be
extended so as to allow of its use in such operations as
extracting the resin of scammony, an article to which his
attention had been called by the President, where the
methylated spirit all passed off before the substance was
ready for use. He, therefore, asked the solicitors to
insert words rendering it necessary for the spirit to
remain as a component part to constitute an offence.
They told him that it would be very difficult to intro¬
duce any regulation of that kind, but that it was quite
unnecessary, because if resin of scammony or any dry
article which had no methylated spirit in it were ex¬
amined it could not be proved any had been used. Two
or three days after, however, his notice was drawn to the
omission of one word which was very important; he
again called and drew attention to it, and he believed
the matter would receive full consideration. The old Act
of 1866, said that “no person shall use methylated spirit
or any derivative thereof in the preparation of any article
capable of being used either wholly or partially as a
beverage, or internally as a medicine ; and if any person
shall use, or shall sell or have in his possession any such
article in the manufacture and composition of which
methylated spirit should have been used, he should be
liable to a penalty. Now, in the new Act the word
“such” had been omitted, accidentally he thought, and it
therefore made a person liable for the possession of any
article. He, therefore, asked that the word “such” should
lie re inserted, and he hoped it would be, but he was told
that the Bill had to await the result of the Budget. It was
a curious fact that under the old Act, permission had been
obtained from the Board of Inland Revenue to make soap

and compound camphor liniment with methylated spirit,
and afterwards on a special application by this Council that
permission was extended to aconite and belladonna lini¬
ments, but it now appeared that there really had been no
occasion to obtain permission for either of these things,
they being already exempted by the word “such,” which
limited restrictions to articles which might be used as a
beverage or a medicine to be taken internally. He was
also informed that whatever regulations had been made
under the old Act would remain in force under the new.

Mr. Williams remarked that the Council had been
told the same thing in the case of other Acts, but when
the Acts came to be applied there were found to be most
material alterations required. Besides, the reading of
police magistrates and judges was not always the same as
that of the Privy Council, or those who drew the Act ; and
he wanted everything to be made plain in the Act itself.
Methylated spirit was largely used in the preparation of
some of the vegetable alkaloids, and if the Act passed as
it now stood, all this manufacture in Great Britain would
be entirely stopped. Methylated spirit had been used in
the preparation of strychnine, atropine, and such like
bodies, and if it were stopped all the trade would go
abroad, because it would be impossible to compete with
foreign makers.

Mr Sandford said if no one could be prosecuted for
selling an article which had not the spirit remaining in it
and if the word “such” were inserted, the difficulty would
be removed.

Mr Hampson thought notwithstanding the great
obligations they were under to Mr. Sandford for having-
taken action in the matter, it ought not, being so im¬
portant, to rest in the hands of any individual, and he
would therefore move that a committee, consisting of the
President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Messrs. Sand¬
ford and Williams, be requested to watch and report on
this Bill.

Mr Andrews seconded the motion.

Mr Richardson supported the motion. In addition to
the articles mentioned by Mr Williams, methylated spirit
was used considerably in the manufacture of compound
extract of colocynth. But he understood from Mr.
Sandford that the introduction of the word “such” would
make an immense difference. He was lately asked by a
surgeon to make him four winchesters of tincture of
opium with methylated spirit for outward application ;
he told him he was not permitted by law to do so, but as
he understood Mr. Sandford it might be done if the
product was not intended to be taken internally.

Mr. Sandford said that was not so. It was only
permissible in cases where the article could not be used
internally.

Mr. Symes having spoken in support of the motion, it
was put and carried unanimously.

Mr. Churchill said it would be desirable to obtain the
same exemptions under the new Bill as were enjoyed
under the old.

The School of Pharmacy.

The Council then went into committee to consider the
report of the Special Committee appointed to consider
the condition of the Society’s School.

It was resolved that the result of the Committee’s
deliberations be communicated to the Professors.
Appointment of Professors and Curator.

Professor Redwood was reappointed Professor of
Chemistry and Pharmacy for the ensuing year.

Professor Bentley was reappointed Professor of Botany
and Materia Medica for the ensuing year.

Professor Attfield was reappointed Professor of
Practical Chemistry for the ensuing year.

Mr. Holmes was reappointed Curator forthe ensuing year.
The Council Examinations.

Messrs. M. Carteighe and Corder were appointed to
conduct the examinations •in July for the prizes offered
by the Council.

July 10, 1830.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

33

List of Local Secretaries, 1880-81.*

The following gentlemen were appointed Local Secre¬
taries for the ensuing year : —

Towns eligible.

Names of persons appointed.

Aberdare . .

Aberdeen .

Abergele .

Aberystwith . .

Abingdon .

Accrington .

Altrincham . .

Andover .

Arbroath .

Ashbourne .

Ashby-de-la-Zouch . .
Ashton-under-Lyne . .

Aylesbury .

Ayr .

Banbury .

Banff .

Bangor ../ . .

Barnsley .

Barnstaple .

Barrow-in-Furness . .

Bath .

Beaumaris .

Bedford .

Belper .

Berwick . .

Bewdley .

Birkenhead .

Birmingham .

Bishop Auckland .

Blackburn .

Bodmin .

Bolton .

Boston .

Bournemouth .

Bradford (Yorkshire)

Brecon .

Bridgnorth .

Bridlington . .

Bridport .

Brighton .

Bristol . .

Buckingham .

Burnley . . . . .

Burslem .

Bury .

Bury St. Edmunds .
Caine .

Davidson, Charles.
Hannah, John.

Davies, John Hugh.
Smith, William.

Sprake, David Lewis.
Hughes, Edward.

Gould, Robert George.
Shield, George.

Bradley, Edwin Silvester.
Johnson, Edwin Eli.
Bostock, William.
Turner, John.

Ball, George Vincent.
Ellis, Bartlett.

Baker, Henry Villars.
Badger, Alfred.

Goss, Samuel.

Steel, Thomas.

Commans, Robert Dyer.

Cuthbert, John M.
Ashton, John.

Carr, Walter Paterson.

Nicholson, Henry.
Southall, William.
Dobinson, Thomas.

F am worth, W illiam.
Williams, J oel Drew.
Dutton, George.

Duncan, Alexander.
Rimmington, Felix W. E.
Meredith, John.
Deighton, Thomas Milner
Forge, Christopher.
Tucker, Charles.

Gwatkin, James Ross,
Stroud, J ohn.

Sirett, George Benyon.
Thomas, Richard.
Blackshaw, Thomas.

Youngman, Edward.

Cambridge . . Deck, Arthur.

Canterbury . Bing, Edwin.

Cardiff . Hollway, Alfred Brown.

Cardigan . Jones, John Edward.

Carlisle . Thompson, Andrew.

Carmarthen . Davies, Richard M.

Carnarvon . Lloyd, William.

Chatham . . Crofts, Holmes Cheney.

Chelmsford . Baker, Charles Patrick.

Cheltenham . Smith, Nathaniel.

Chester . Baxter, Geoige.

Chesterfield . Windle, John T.

Chichester . . Long, William Elliott.

Chippenham . Coles, John Coles.

Christchurch . Green, John.

Cirencester . . . Mason, Joseph Wright.

Clitheroe .

Cockermouth . Bowerbank, J oseph.

Colchester . Cordley, William Bains.

Congleton . Goode, Charles.

Coventry . Wyley, John.

* Local Secretaries are appointed in all towns in Great
Britain which return a Member or Members to Parliament,
and in such other towns as contain not less than three
Members of the Society or Associates in Business.

Towns eligible.

Crewe . .

Cricklade .

Croydon .

Darlington .

Deal .

Denbigh .

Derby .

Devizes .

Devonport .

Dewsbury .

Diss .

Doncaster .

Dorchester .

Dorking .

Dover .

Droitwich .

Dudley .

Dumfries .

Dundee . .

Dunfermline . .

Durham .

Edinburgh .

Elgin .

Ely .

Evesham .

Exeter .

Eye .

Falkirk .

Falmouth .

Fareham .

Faversham .

Flint .

Folkestone .

Forfar . r. .

Frome .

Gainsborough .

Gateshead .

Glasgow .

Gloucester .

Gosport .

Grantham .

Gravesend .

Greenock .

Grimsby, Great .

Guernsey .

Guildford .

Haddington .

Halifax .

Harrogate .

Hartlepool .

Harwich .

Hastings and St. Leonards

Haverfordwest .

Hawick .

Helensburgh .

Helston .

Hereford .

Hertford .

Hexham .

Heywood .

Horsham .

Huddersfield .

Hull .

Huntingdon .

Huntly .

Hyde .

Hythe .

Inverness .

Ipswich .

Jersey .

Kendal . .

Kidderminster .

Kilmarnock . .

King’s Lynn .

Kingston-on-Thames _

Names of persons appointed.
..McNeil, James Norton.

..Barritt, George.
..Robinson, James.
..Green, John.

. . E d wards, W illiam .
..Stevenson, Richard.

..Codd, Francis.
..Matterson, Edward H.

. .Gostling, Thomas Preston.
..Howorth, James.

..Evans, Alfred John.
..Clift, Joseph.

..Bottle, Alexander.
..Taylor, Edmund.

..Gare, Charles Hazard.
..Allan, William.

..Hai'die, James.

..Seath, Alexander.
..Sarsfield, William.
..Mackay, John.
..Robertson, William.

. . Pate, Henry Thomas.
...Dingley, Richard Loxley.
...Delves, George.

..Bishop, Robert.

, . . Murdoch, David.

, . .Newman, Walter Francis.
...Batchelor, Charles.
...Underdown, Fredk. W.
...Jones, Michael.
...Goodliffe, George.

, . . Ranken, J ames A.

Spouncer, Henry Thomas.
Elliott, Robei’t.
Kinninmont, Alexander.
Meadows, Henry.

Hunter, John.

Cox, J ohn.

Bulgin, William.

Botterill, George Thomas.
Arnold, Adolphus.
Martin, Edward W.

Watt, James.

Dyer, William.

Davis, R. Hayton.
Jackson, William G.
Bevan, Charles F.

Bell, James Alfred.
.Williams, William.

.Craig, John.

.Harvie, George.

.Troake, Marler H.
.Williams, Walter.

.Lines, George.

.Gibson, John Pattison.
.Beckett, William.
.Williams, Philip.

.King, William.

.Bell, Charles Bains.
.Provost, John Pullen.
.Chalmers, George.

.Wild, Joseph.

Lemmon, Robert Alee.
.Galloway, George Ross.
.Anness, Samuel Richard.
.Ereaut, John, jun.
.Severs, Joseph.

.Hewitt, George.

.Borland, John.

.Palmer, Wm. Jos.
.Walmsley, Samuel.

34

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 10, 1S80.

Towns eligible.

Kirkcaldy .

Knaresborough .

Knutsford .

Lancaster . .

Launceston .

Leamington .

Leeds .

Leek .

Leicester .

Leighton Buzzard .. ..

Leith .

Leominster .

Lewes . .

Lichfield .

Lincoln .

Liskeard .

Liverpool .

Llandudno .

Longton .

Loughborough . .

Louth . .-.

Lowestoft .

Ludlow .

Lyme Regis .

Lymington .

Macclesfield .

Maidstone .

Maldon .

Malmesbury .

Malton .

M alvern .

Manchester, etc .

March .

Margate .

Marlborough .

Marlow .

Merthyr Tydvil . .

Middlesborough .

Midhurst .

Monmouth .

Montgomery .

Montrose .

Morpeth .

Neath .

Newark .

.Newbury .

Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-on-Tyne .. ..
Newport (I. of Wight)

Newport (Mon.) .

New Radnor .

Newton Abbot .

Newtown .

Northallerton .

Northampton .

Norwich .

Nottingham .

Nuneaton .

Oldham .

Oswestry .

Over Darwen .

Oxford .

Paisley .

Pembroke .

Penrith .

Penzance .

Perth .

Peterborough . .

Petersfield .

Plymouth . .

Pontefract .

Poole .

Portsmouth, etc .

Preston .

Ramsgate .

Names of persons appointed.
..Storrar, David.

..Potter, Charles.
..Silvester, Henry Thomas.
..Bagnall, Wm. Henry.
..Eyre, Jonathan Symes.
..Davis, Henry.

..Reynolds, Richard.
..Johnson, William.
..Clark, Walter Beales.

. Readman, William.
..Finlayson, Thomas.
..Davis, David Frederick.
..Martin, Thomas.
..Perkins, John Jaquest.
..Malt by, Joseph.

..Young, Richard.

..Symes, Charles.

..Penney, William Scaly.
..Prince, Arthur G.
..Paget, John.

..Hurst, John B.

..Sale, Thomas J.

. . W oodhouse, George.
..Thornton, Edward.
..Allen, Adam U.

..Bates, William Isaac.

Wall worth, David.
Brown, Francis J ames.
Buckle, James.

Metcalfe, Edmund Henry.
Wilkinson, William.
Davies, Peter Hughes.
.Candler, Joseph Thomas.

Smyth, Walter.

Buck, Thomas.
Cowap, Samuel Evan.
Key, Hobson.

Burrell, George.
Marshall, George T.
Hibbert, Walter.

March, William.
Hickman, Frederick.
Cartwright, William.
Martin, Nicholas H.
Orchard, Herbert Joseph.
Seys, J ames Ancas.

Poulton, John.

Owen, Edward.

Warrior, William.
Bingley, John.

.Sutton, Francis.
Fitzhugh, Richard.

.IlifFe, George.

.Hargraves, H. Lister.
.Saunders, George James.
.Shorrock, Ralph.

Prior, George Thomas.
Hatrick, William.
Treweeks, Rich. Harwood.
.Kirkbride, William.

■ Cornish, Henry Robert.

■ Heanley, Marshall.
.Edgeler, William B.
Balkwill, Alfred P.
.Bratley, William.
Penney, William.

.Childs, James L.

Barnes, Lawrence R.
.Morton, Henry.

Towns eligible.

Reading... .

Redditch .

Retford .

Richmond (Yorks) ...

.Ripon .

Rochdale .

Rochester .

Rothesay .

Rugby .

Ryde (Isle of Wight)

Rye .

St. Albans .

St. Andrews .

St. Austell .

St. Ives (Cornwall) ...

Salisbury .

Sandwich .

Scarborough .

Seacombe .

Selby .

Shaftesbury .

Sheerness .

Sheffield .

Shields, South .

Shipley .

Shoreham .

Shrewsbury .

Slough .

Southampton . .

Southport .

Spalding .

Stafford .

Staly bridge .

Stamford .

Stirling . . .

Stockport .

Stockton-on-Tees .

Stoke-on-Trent .

Stourbridge .

Stratford-on-Avon . . .

Stroud .

Sudbury .

Sunderland .

Swansea .

Tamworth .

Taunton .

Tavistock .

Teignmouth .

Tenby . .

Tewkesbury .

Thirsk . .

Tiverton .

Torquay .

Totnes .

Truro .

Tunbridge Wells .

Tynemouth .

Uttoxeter . .

Wakefield .

Wallingford .

Walsall .

Wareham .

Warrington .

Warwick .

Watford .

Wednesbury .

Wellington (Somerset)

Wenlock .

Westbury .

West Bromwich .

Weston-super-Mare ...

Weymouth .

Whitby .

Whitehaven .

Wick .

Names of persons appointed.
..Hayward, Wm. Griffith.
..Mousley, William.

. .Clater, Francis.
..Thompson, John Thomas.
. .Judson, Thomas.

..Taylor, Edward.

..Harris, Henry William.
..Duncan, William.

. . Chamberlain, Arthur G.
..Pollard, Henry Hindes.
..Waters, William Allen.

. .Ekins, Ai’thur Edward.

. .Govan, Alexander.

..Hern, William Henry.
..Young, Tonkin.

..Atkins, Samuel Ralph.

. Baker, Frank.

..Whitfield, John.
..Walker, John Henry.
..Cutting, Thomas John.
..Powell, John.

. .Bray, John.

..Ward, William.

..Mays, Robert J. J.
..Dunn, Henry.

..Fenner, Edwin.

..Cross, William Gowen.
..Griffith, Richard.

. .Dawson, Oliver R.
..Ashton, William.

. Shadford, Major.

. .Averill, John.

. .Brierley, Richard.

Duncanson, William.

Kay, Samuel.

Brayshay, Thomas.
Adams, Frank.

Bland, Thomas Frederick.
Hawkes, Richard.

Blake, William F.
Harding, James John.
.Sharp, David Blakey.
Griffiths, William.
Alikins, Thomas Boulton.
Prince, Henry.

Gill, William.

Cornelius, Joseph.

Davies, Moses Prosser.
Allis, Francis.

Havill, Paul.

Smith, Edward.

Keen, Benjamin.
Percy, Thomas Bickle.
Howard, Richard.

Johnson, John Borwell.
Wice, Jonathan H.
Payne, Sidney.

.Bate, Joseph William.
Randall, Thomas.

Woods, Joseph Henry.
Pratt, Henry.

Chater, Edward Mitclidl.
Gittoes, Samuel James.
.Langford, John Brown.

Taylor, Stephen.

Gibbons, George.

Groves, Thomas Bennett.
Stevenson, John.

Kitchin, Archibald.
Miller, Kenneth.

July 10, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

35

Towns eligible. Names of persons appointed.

Wigan . Phillips, Jonathan.

Wigton .

Wilton .

Winchester . Hunt, Ricliaid.

Windsor . Russell, Charles J. L.

Wolverhampton . Brevitt, William Yates,

Woodbridge . Betts, John.

Woodstock . Griffits, John Alonza

Worcester . . Virgo, Charles.

Worthing . Cortis, Arthur Brownhill.

Wycombe . Furmston, Samuel C.

Yarmouth, Great . Poll, Wm. Sheppard.

Yeovil . Maggs, Thomas Charles.

York . Davison, Ralph.

Local Examinations.

The Secretary presented the following table, showing
the attendance of candidates at the various centres for the
last eight Preliminary examinations.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

List of Centres and Table of Attendances of Candidates at

each Centre.

1S7S.

Oct.

1S79.

Jan.,

Apr.,

July,

Oct.

! 1SS0.
Jail.

1880.

Apr.

i

: 1S80.
July.

Total
number
of atten¬
dances
at each
centre
at 8
exami¬
nations.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

I

•

Birmingham .

12

87

20

20

17

156

Brighton .

3

14

3

—

5

25

Bristol .

6

44

13

6

15

84

Cambridge .

5

22

2

10

1

40

Canterbury .

—

10

2

4

11

27

Cardiff .

3

OK

AH/

8

5

3

44

Carlisle .

6

30

4

9

8

57

Carmarthen .

7

42

3

9

4

65

Carnarvon .

2

23

5

7

10

47

Cheltenham .

2

8

3

2

1

16

Darlington .

3

25

4

7

7

46

Exeter .

2

34

13

9

4

62

Hull .

_

40

6

13

3

62

Lancaster .

1

21

5

9

13

49

Leeds . 1

7

70

11

17

15

120

Lincoln .

3

40

13

9

7

' 72

Livei’pool .

7

/

60

10

14

18

109

London . 1

O Q

oo

211

45

45

46

380

Manchester .

18

104

23

26

23

194

Newcastle .

5

32

9

13

10

69

Northampton .

—

28

4

5

7

44

Norwich .

2

46

8

13

11

SO

Nottingham .

8

53

13

15

12

101

Oxford .

1

7

1

2

3

14

Peterborough .

2

28

4

3

3

40

Sheffield .

8

32

3

5

13

61

Shrewsbury .

2

21

4

5

4

36

Southampton .

5

44

8

6

5

68

Truro .

1

19

2

3

1

26

Worcester . |

2

12

2

2

1

19

York .

2

39

5

11

63

SCOTLAND.

Aberdeen .

13

61

9

17

8

108

Dundee .

7

21

5

7

7

47

Edinburgh .

11

63

20

13

27 '

134

Glasgow .

3

46

8

9

11

77

Inverness .

2

9

2

5

1

19

Douglas, I. of Man

_____

2

_

____

_

2

Guernsey . f

1

1

2

—

—

4

Jersey .

—

1 1

1

1

i

3

It was resolved that Superintendents be appointed at the
same centres as last year, and that the appointments be
offered in the first instance to the Local Secretaries in the
respective places with the exception of London.

Report of Examinations.

June, 1880.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Candidates.

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, (16th) . .

. . 9

4

5

Minor, (16th) . .

IS

12

6

„ (17th) . .

. . 25

15

10

—43

—27

—16

Modified, (16th) .

. . 1

0

1

53

31

22

Preliminary Examination.

9 certificates were received in lieu of the Society’s
examination : —

2 University of Oxford.

2 University of Edinburgh.

1 University of Glasgow.

4 College of Preceptors.

Opinion of the Board of Examiners on the Desirability of
the Establishment of a Curriculum.

The report also included a statement that the London
Board had discussed the desirability of requiring from
candidates for the Minor and Major examinations a
certificate of having completed a curriculum at some
recognized school of pharmacy, and the opinion of the
Board appeared to be unanimous that the production of
such a certificate was very desirable if practicable.
Mr. Brady had also reported to the London Board that
the subject had been discussed by the deputation who
went to Edinburgh with the members of the North
British Board, and that those gentlemen held the same
view and had passed a minute to that effect. The opinion
was unanimously expressed by the Scotch Board that if a
curriculum were recognized at all, it must be compulsory,
not permissive. But it was also felt that as the subject
was not free from difficulties, considering the existing rules
and regulations of the Society, a more decided opinion
could not be expressed until a definite scheme was brought
forward.

The consideration of the report of the deputation to
Scotland and correspondence on other matters was deferred
until the next meeting.

^rocccbingp of Scientific Societies,

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The Chemistry of Bread-Making.*

EY PROFESSOR GRAHAM, D.SC.

Lecture LIL.

( Continued from paeje 16.)

I have also here a series of results obtained by Mr.
Brown, Demonstrator in the Laboi*atory of Chemical
Technology of University College, for the purposes of
these lectures, on the influence of moisture in the process
which bakers submit the flour to when they add water at
a certain temperature — 100° Falir., in degrading some
flours compared with other flours.

* Cantor Lectures : Delivered November and December
1879. Reprinted from the Journal of the Society of Arts.

36

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 10, 1880.

Infusion Products of Elour. (Henry Brown.)

Cold.

2 Hours.

4 Hours.

8 Hours.

Cold.

2 Hours.

4 Hours.

8 Hours.

Vienncl Whites.
Maltose ....

trace.

2-41

3-65

4-09

A '36

2'83

4'09

5'39

Dextrin ....

trace.

2-17

2*79

4-35

0'89

2'34

2'40

3-80

Soluble albuminoids.

076

0-58

0-76

1-28

«jrH
So i

0-76

0'65

1'29

212

0*76

5T6

7-20

9-73

1

*’33

3-01

5'82

7-78

11-81

3

Best Whites.

o

2

Maltose ....

none.

1-57

2-04

3-41

A -57

6'01

6-01

7*59

Dextrin ....

1-21

1-48

2-74

2-85

go*

1-04

0-84

1*21

0-67

Soluble albuminoids.

0-71

0-58

0-31

1-54

O ..

o o i

1-05

1-45

1-31

1-89

1-92

3-63

5-59

7-80

> 3-66

8'30

8'53

1015

Best Households.

Maltose ....

1-00

1-36

4-09

3-93

trace

3'41

3'93

4-99

Dextrin . . . .

1T3

2-46

2-09

3-79

pi •

2'70

0'95

2'09

2'89

Soluble albuminoids.

0-93

0-79

1-23

1-42

>

O <D i

0'62

0'70

1-39

1-33

7;41

3-06

4-61

7-41

914

3-32

5'06

9-21

Inferior

Flour.

4

Hours.

8 Hours.

With Lime.

High Dried.

4 Houis.

8 Hours

4 Hours.

8 Hours.

Maltose .

6-82

11-14

6-82

8-20

4-44

4-44

Dextrin .

0-43

1-23

o-u

2-19

1-78

2-91

Soluble al-

buminoids.

3T9

3-74

334

3-34

2-48

3-29

10'49

16-11

10-27

13-69

8-70

10-64

You will find the varieties taken consist of Vienna
whites, the best whites, the best households, second house¬
holds and brown meal. They have been digested in cold
water for a few minutes ; then afterwards they have been
kept up to a temperature of 100° Eahr. for two, four, and
eight hours. If you look at the figures you will find, with
these different kinds of flours, very remarkable differences
are brought about by simply keeping the flours in a moist
condition, at 100° Fahr. for these respective times. In
the case of the Vienna whites, we find at the end of two
hours, 5T6 is the amount of total soluble matters ; a,t
the end of four hours, 7"2 ; at the end of eight hours, 9*7 3,
and so on. I will not go through the whole list. The point
I wish to call your attention to is this. Here and there
you will find some slight discrepancies, partly due, it may
be, to slight errors of analysis, partly to the difference of
manipulation, and partly also to some difference in the
nature of the soluble albuminoids; but still, even allowing
for all that, you will find that there is a considerable
agreement. The longer you carry on this operation, the
more you degrade, not merely the albuminoids, but the
more also you degrade the starch down to the condition of
maltose and dextrin. That process we call a hydration
process. In the case of the second households, an inferior
variety, we find, at the end of eight hours for example, the
amount of the soluble albuminoid matter has increased to
1*89. In the case of No. 1, it has amounted to 2T2,
giving us a total of 11T3 soluble matters.

We shall find afterwards the importance of these in¬
vestigations when we come to consider the baker’s process,
when he has to submit, not flours very high in quality,
but flours of inferior quality, to a long process of
panification .

I pass on now to a very important matter, namely, the

effect of kiln-drying. A few minutes ago I called your
attention to the ways that man has of overcoming the
marvellous activity of albuminoids in degrading the
molecular structure of animal or vegetable substances.
The same occurs of course in wheat as in other things.
Now, the influence of kiln-drying I take to be this. In
the first place, if you consider the corn that has not been
thoroughly well matured in consequence of the insufficient
amount of heat in the last stage of the ripening process,
I think you will agree with me that kiln-drying must do
much good in ripening, as it were, the albuminoids. In
the case of wheat which has been fairly well matured, and
yet somewhat injured on account of unfavourable harvest
weather, we shall find also that the removal of moisture
must tend to lessen the peculiar property of these al¬
buminoids to become, in the presence of water, more and
more soluble in their nature ; and in addition to that,
evidently it is of the highest importance that heat shall
be given to the grain just as it is ripening — I mean at the
end of the process. I am not speaking now of the earlier
part of the process, but rather of the last portion of the
maturation of the grain. Unfortunately, in a country
like ours, we cannot always — indeed we very rarely — get
such very excellent conditions as some of our foreign com¬
petitors have, and the result is that, every now and then,
such as the harvest we have just passed through, we have
conditions that are wholly unfavourable in giving the
kind of wheat we want. We obtain a large ratio of nitrogen,
and also a large ratio of the soluble albuminoids to the
insoluble. In other words, we obtain what the baker
would call a poor weak flour ; weak in gluten — rich
enough in total nitrogen, but weak in the important
character of nitrogen compounds that he requires for his
purpose.

Following the previous table, we have the results of a
flour of inferior character which has been also submitted
to this infusion process, or, as the brewer would call it,
the mashing process — the action of moisture and heat for
a certain time ; in the first place, four hours, and then
afterwards eight hours. I will not read all the details,
but simply give you the totals in each case. The amount
of matter dissolved at the end of four hours was 10 491
per cent. Indeed, it would have been more, had I em¬
ployed a more accurate method than the one I have
employed for the determination of the soluble albuminoid
bodies, but the determination of the amount of albumen in
infusions is very laborious, and, therefore, I have availed
myself of the very ingenious and very valuable method
known as Wanklyn’s method for determining the al-

'July 10, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

37

bumen. This process does not give us the true totals,
but merely gives relative results, so that the numbers are
relatively correct, although, absolutely, they are rather
-too low. Still, 10*49 may be taken as the amount of
soluble matter in every 100 parts. In the case of eight
hours we have no less than 16 parts out of 100 become
soluble, and you will see for yourselves what this soluble
mass is composed of. While we are considering this
table, I may as well call your attention to the next
point. Many practical men may have heard of the use
of lime in preventing too great a solution of the soluble
albuminoids from the cereals. Now, in brewing, it is
exceedingly important to have lime salts, especially car¬
bonate of lime, and also to some extent sulphate of lime
and sulphate of magnesia, in the water, to prevent too
great solution of the albuminoid matters. Ladies who
are present will understand this better, perhaps, if I give
an illustration of the nature of hard water compared
with soft, by referring to the ordinary method of boiling
peas. Where you have peas, of what one would call a
certain age, it would be most injurious to harden the
water by the addition of a salt of lime, gypsum, or any¬
thing of that kind. U nder these circumstances you require,
in order to have the peas soft and tender, to use a soft
water ; whereas, where you boil young peas in a very soft
•water, the liquid is very highly coloured, due to the
solution of the albuminoid called legumin. Now the
addition here — see table — -was simply of a little ordinary
powdered chalk, not caustic lime, but the ordinary car¬
bonate of lime, and therefore we find not much action at
the end of four hours ; but at the end of eight hours,
instead of having 16 parts to the hundred made soluble,
we have only 13*6. Now, I come to the interesting part
-of the table. It was done in order to illustrate the action
of kiln-drying ; but to have brought this before an
audience like this, consisting of a great many practical
millers and bakers, it would have been necessary to have
given a very much larger series, in order to have illus¬
trated the benefit to be derived from kiln-drying, thau I
have here. I merely made these experiments for the
purpose of my argument, to show the action of a com¬
paratively low temperature — about 140° Fahr., carried
on for some six hours. It was a slow drying action, and
at the same time, a slow heating one. We find now, in
looking at the result, after the corn, or rather the flour,
had been submitted to that action, there is a very marked
effect. Upon mashing the flour with water in the same
way as the others, with the same quantity of water, and
4;he same quantity of flour, and at the same temperature,
we find that in four hours, instead of 10*49, we have 8*7
-only dissolved. But there is a still more marked decrease
found when we submit that for eight hours to the same
action ; then instead of having 16*11, as we had in the
first case after eight hours, we have now only 10*64.
Now, 10*64, as the total amount of soluble matter
obtained from 100 parts of flour, is, as you notice on that
list, much lower than any. This method is far more
efficacious than the employment of lime, and the difference
between 10*64 and 16*1 is very marked.

As regards the question of kiln-drying, it is, of course,
no new matter, and all practical men know that there are
great advantages to be derived from it, especially in a year
like the present, when many barleys are not fit for malting
purposes until they are kiln-dried. Again, in such a bad
year as we have had, and living, not in Egypt, but in a
country that is constantly being flooded, we know per¬
fectly well that no miller could make use of grain until
it has been submitted, not merely to the drying action
in the stack, but also to some extent to the heating action
that goes on in the stack. This is more marked when
you act upon corn that has been unfavourably garnered.
If you submit that to a good process of kiln-drying, a
process where the temperature is not high, say about
100° Fahr., increasing slowly to 140° Fahr., and at the
same time submit it to a current of air, taking care that
the thickness of the kiln floor is not too great, I feel

convinced that, in many cases, our inferior wheats could
be made, not into good wheats, perhaps, but they could
be made much less inferior than they are now.

Before I pass from this, I will call your attention
again to the fact that that drying was not done on the
kiln floor, it was done with the actual flour ; manifestly,
therefore, we see that there must be many cases — I am
not speaking of what may be called hard dried wheats,
grown under very favourable conditions, but of our ordinary
wheats, and especially in unfavourable years — there must
be many instances where considerable benefits would be
derived from a thorough drying of the flour after it has
been made, not merely drying it at a low temperature, but
at a temperature from 100° Fahr. to 120° Fahr., with a
sufficient current of dry air to carry off the moisture.

I pass now to the next stage in the process of bread -
making, that is to say, to the flour-making, or grinding down
of the flour. I will not detain you long with reference to the
process of milling, for a good many reasons. In the first
place, we have not much time, there being so many other
matters to be discussed. The second reason is one which,
I daresay, practical millers who are present will consider
all-sufficient, that is, I am perfectly ignorant of the
subject, and, therefore, I think it is better that I should
not go at all into the vexed question of high grinding or
low grinding, or the use of rollers or disintegrators for
the purpose of grinding. I would, therefore, rather pass
on to the chemical aspect of the question. What is it
that we theoretically conceive to be desirable to obtain
in the process of converting grain into the flour that is
required for the bread-making ? Well, I think, in the
first place, that no system of milling — whether it be a
new method, or with stones, as has been the immemorial
custom, and still is the chief method of grinding — can be
perfect, unless the germ of the corn has been removed,
and for this reason, although the germ bears a com¬
paratively small ratio to the total weight of the corn,
still it is ah important factor. It contains very active
albuminoid ferments, and, therefore, if that germ be
ground up with the remainder of the flour, it must, to that
extent, injure the value of the flour for bread-making
purposes.

The next point that occurs to me as a chemist that
should be attainable in any good system of milling, is the
thorough removal of the bran ; not even the slightest
quantity of bran should be allowed to remain in the flour
when prepared, and for the reason I pointed out to you
that there is a soluble albuminoid ferment called cerealin.
This is a very active diastasic body. An infusion of
cerealin or an infusion of ordinary bran would give you
a quantity of soluble ferments that will rapidly attack
the starch cells, and in the presence of water hydrate the
starch into maltose and dextrin. That is another reason
why I consider that no system or milling is perfect,
whether it be done by stones, or whether it be done by
rollers or disintegrators, if it does not fulfil these two
conditions, the removal of the germ and the removal of
the bran.

I know that I am here treading upon very tender
ground ; not so much in regard to practical millers,
they, perhaps, will not be so adverse to me, but I am
about to criticize views that have been adopted by some
scientific men, and followed by physicians, namely, the
great value and importance of the bran. I admit of
course, that bran amounts to about one-fifth of the total
corn, and, therefore, the rejection of so much bran
would, on a hasty view, seem to be a serious loss. It is
true that, though there is much useless woody fibre, there
are also some valuable albuminoid bodies, and, further,
that there is a larger proportion of phosphoric acid and
potash in the bran than is found in the ash of the rest of
the berry. We may admit this, and yet decline to fall
into the error made by some scientific writers and
by physicians, who have looked solely to the results of
chemical analysis and have overlooked the important
question of the indigestibility of the hard, horny substance

38

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 10, ISSOi

known as bran. We know that, if bran be introduced
into the flour in large flakes, it acts as an irritant, pro
during well-known effects ; now this powerful laxative
action — though it may be in some cases of advantage to
persons suffering from sedentary lives, and therefore pre¬
ferable to aperient medicines — is not what the world at
large desires. I may be answered that the bran need
not thus be used, and that it should be ground to as fine a
powder as the finest flour, and, therefore, there will
remain no irritant particles. This view has been taken
of a vexed question by many anxious to save the assumed
high food value of bran, ignoring that, in so doing, they
are reducing the value of wheaten flour for the purpose of
bread-making. They might equally recommend that oat¬
meal or barley-meal should be mixed with flour intended
for the manufacture of fermented bread. In grinding
down the bran of wheat along with the husk of the corn,
you have introduced into the flour an active albuminoid
ferment ; and so soon as you take such flour containing
the whole of the bran ground down to a very fine con¬
dition, then, in the process of panification or bread¬
making, it imparts the peculiar power which soluble
albuminoids have of rapidly converting the starch
molecules into less simple ones. You have a large
quantity of maltose sugar formed and dextrin, and these
in the oven give considerable colour. Not merely do
they give colour, but they produce another somewhat
injurious action, which is, that it is more difficult to
obtain, with a thorough admixture of impalpable bran,
a light bread. The bread is not only high-coloured, but
it is also more or less sodden, and this gives considerable
trouble to the baker to avoid, even partially.

As regards the importance of the constituents of bran,
I say that the analyst, and the physician who makes use
of the analyst as his supporter, in bringing before us the
importance of brown bread as compared with white, and
who assert that, in rejecting the bran, we are guilty of a
serious waste of flesh -forming and bone-forming material,
should not take a mere chemical analysis as all-sufficient
to establish their point. At our first meeting, you will
remember, there was on the walls of the room a tabulated
statement showing the amount of starch, dextrin, soluble
and insoluble albuminoids, fatty substances, wooden fibre,
mineral matter, and so on, found in various vegetable sub¬
stances. The table was one of a series used by me in my
lectures on agricultural chemistry at University College,
and the object of the table was to show, from an analyst’s
point of view, the comparative merits of various substances
for feeding purposes. Now, on this test, we found hay to be
of high value as food, and even oat straw to be of consider¬
able value, as, indeed, every farmer knows from ex¬
perience. Still more valuable than these in heat- giving,
and especially in flesh-forming materials, were linseed
cake, and rape cake and decorticated cotton cakes. Now
those who hold, from mere chemical analysis, that bran
is of such high value as food material that its omission
from flour should meet with grave censure, should, from
a similar analytical standpoint, urge us to eat hay, oat-
straw, linseed, and cotton cakes. Doubtless these sub¬
stances are of high value as food for cattle, because the
herbivorae can digest and utilize them with ease ; not so
man, who would starve in a field where a cow or a sheep
would fatten. As with hay and linseed cake, so with
bran. I hold that the best mode of digesting such food
substances is, first of all, by the aid of our hoofed friends,
to convert them into milk and cheese, or bacon, beef, and
mutton.

The admixture of finely ground bran is detrimental to
the fermentation process of bread-making, and this ad¬
mixture of an active albuminoid ferment, the cerealin of
bran, reduces high class wheats, from a fermentation point
of view, to inferior wheats. Those who still attach such
high importance to bran must, therefore, use the Dauglish
carbonic acid method, or muriatic acid and bicarbonate
soda, in order to avoid the injurious action of the soluble
albuminoids. Later in the course. I shall propose a plan

by which inferior flour may be used in the common bread¬
making process without undergoing degradation, and I
will point out how “whole meal” may also be so utilized
without injury to the character of the bread. Though I
am not a believer in the great merits of the vastly over¬
rated bran, the suggestions I shall have to make will
enable those who think so highly of it as a food material-,
to obtain it in their loaf made by the fermentation process,
without being driven to use the loaf of the artificial
carbonic acid processes.

I now pass to another matter of considerable interest
to millers, that is, the admixture of wheats. Small
millers in certain parts of the country, especially in olden
times, were not content — but they were compelled — to
take the produce of their immediate neighbourhood, but
those living in the present age have to compete with:
people who are making flour in Hungary, the United
States, and elsewhere, to invade our markets with, and*
have to consider the important problem of so utilizing-
our wheats, such as it may please God so give us from
year to year, that although in the long run they may be-
inferior from some points of view to foreign wheats, yet
they are fortunately usually so rich in some other qualities*
that we can, by judicious admixture, obtain the flour
requisite for a high class of bread ; and even though we
be visited with an unfavourable harvest, yet by judicious
management — as for instance by kiln-drying, and by
judicious admixture of foreign wheats — we can, to a con¬
siderable extent, remedy the evils from which we are
suffering. Not that we shall be able to make them equal
to foreign flours for fancy purposes, but we shall be able
to make them good useful flours for ordinary household)
bread. The object, then, of the miller in this admixture
of wheats — and in some cases, I understand that even as
many as ten or twelve varieties may go into one flour — is
to balance the soluble and insoluble albuminoids, so that
he shall not have too great a quantity of soluble al¬
buminoids, which our wheats are usually so rich in. Then,,
while he is looking for a foreign wheat that will fulfil the
conditions of increasing this ratio of insoluble albuminoids
to soluble, he must at the same time see that he dees not
reduce his starch too much. In this way — I was going
to say he looks at Priigot’s table, but of course he does
not do that — he consults his own experience ; but if we
look at the table on the wall, we shall find that he will
be influenced by these considerations. If he has an
English wheat tolerably rich in starch, but yet, unfortu-
lately containing too much soluble albuminoids, he would
look out for some such wheat as the Taganrogg, some of
the Hungarians, or some of the Egyptians. One of these
Egyptians you see has 19 per cent, of insoluble and 1 per
cent, of soluble albuminoids ; and thus, by mixing these
with some of the beautiful wheats grown in the centre
and south of Spain, and in some parts of the United
States, he will find that he gets wheats that are very rich in
starch, but not rich in gluten, and at the same time not
very rich in soluble albuminoids. He is able, by a
judicious mixture of the various wheats, so to reduce the
ratio of soluble albuminoids as to produce the desired
result, and yet obtain a high ratio of starch.

The miller has various ways of testing wheats. One
method is to judge from the appearance, the weight, and
the general character of the corn, the ability to do which
well long experience gives him. Perhaps he may grind
some, and make bread of it. He also adopts the method
of working it with water, so as to obtain the elastic
gluten by constantly washing away the starch. Many
years ago, a French baker, of considerable ability (M.
Bolland), took this gluten, and, after thoroughly washing
it, put it inside a copper tube, graduated to scale, and
then placed it in the oven. The importance of the gluten
is that, being an elastic material, it entangles the carbonic
acid, and rises as the gas expand*, so as to form a well
piled loaf. He not only weighed the crude gluten after
it had been heated in the oven, but he also measured the
amount of expansion of the gluten in the tube. There

July 10, lS80.]j

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

39

have been, in addition to this, many other methods em¬
ployed by which, in addition to the experience of the eye,
the hand, and so on, the miller has been able to judge of
the quality of the wheat ; and it is wonderful the amount
of ability with which men can deal with these matters,
even without the aid of an apparatus or chemicals. So far
as I knowr, most methods which have been recommended
refer to the quantity of resisting gluten left after kneading
with water. I wrould suggest the following as a useful
method of examining flour, though I am not in a position at
the present moment to recommend it strongly, because I
have not had sufficient experience of it. We do not want
merely to consider the amount of gluten — that is certainly
a most important factor, because the greater the quantity
of that the stronger the flour is— but we also wish — it
maybe as a subsidiary factor — to know the amount of
soluble matters formed in the mashing or infusion process,
the mixing w'ith water, and keeping at a certain tempera¬
ture for a certain time. We want to know, not merely
the amount of gluten we can obtain, but also the amount
of soluble albuminoids, maltose, and dextrin, that are
formed. Now, I have here a series of test tubes properly
labelled, and they refer to various qualities of flour —
Vienna whites, best w'hites, first households, second
households, and so on, and the process is as follows : —
One ounce of flour is weighed out and mixed with four
ounces of cold water. This is allowed to digest for one hour.
Then it is filtered through a piece of filter paper into one
of these test tubes, which cost about 8d. or 9 d. a dozen.
They can be marked in two places, at the half ounce and
the one ounce. The first portion of the filtrate would be
thick, and that you can throw away, but the second
portion will be clear. If you w'ere examining six kinds of
flour, you would have six test tubes, into which you
would filter the respective infusions.

According to Pdligot’s tables, and also according to the
wrork done for these lectures by Mr. Brown, you will see
that we get a rough idea — perhaps I ought not to say a
rough, but a fairly good idea of the amount of degradation
or hydration that goes on in a certain time from the different
flours we take. I prefer, for the purpose of the test, to allow
it to stand in the cold, because we wrant to know how
much of the soluble albuminoids there are already formed
which cold water will dissolve out. Perhaps some of you
may prefer to let it stand twro or four hours, instead of
one, but whatever method you adopt, it will be a method
of comparing one sample of flour with another under
similar conditions. This being done, you add a little
methylated alcohol. This is about 80 per cent, strong of
spirit, and costs about five shillings a gallon, being sold
without the excise duty. If you add alcohol up to the
second mark, and allow it to stand fur some little time,
you \yill find, according to the inferiority of the flour, so
is the amount of the precipitate, and, according to the
superiority of the flour, so does the amount of the precipi¬
tate diminish. The more inferior the flour the greater the
amount of matter precipitated, and vice re set. At present,
it is merely an opaque prt cipitate, but it will presently
settle down to an apparently coherent flocculent precipi¬
tate, and then you can judge from the six tubes of the
nature and the amount of soluble matter which has been
obtained, by simply digesting the respective flours with
cold w'ater, either for one or two hours.

|Jcirlimnent;irir antr proceedings.

The Pharmaceutical Societt of Great Britain v.

Copping.

This case wras heard before J. A. Russell, Esq., Judge
of the Manchester County Court, on the 1st instant.

The particulars of the plaintiffs’ claim show that they
sued the defendant for a penalty of £5, incurred by him
in selling or keeping open shop for the retailing, dis¬
pensing or compounding poisons.

Mr. J. M. Yates, of the Manchester bar, instructed by
Messrs. Flux, Slade and Co., appeared for the plaintiffs,
and Mr. Rideal, solicitor, of Manchester, appeared for
the defendant.

The plaintiffs’ counsel having opened the case, the
defendant’s solicitor raised points for argument, but the
judge, intimating his opinion in the plaintiffs’ favour,
the defendant’s solicitor consented to a verdict for the
penalty and costs, without evidence being gone into.

The learned judge gave judgment accordingly for ,£5
and £4 17s. costs.

(DbUuani.

THOMAS D’AUBNEY.

On Friday the 2nd inst., the grave closed over the
remains of the late Thomas D’Aubney, Chemist and
Dentist, of 82, Shepherdess Walk, City Road, Member
of the Pharmaceutical Society since February, 1870.
Thomas D’Aubney wras the second son of Charles
D’Aubney, Surgeon, of Alford, Lincolnshire, and wras born
February 3rd, 1823. He was educated at Boston, and
afterw'ards apprenticed to Mr. Thomas Curtis of Holbeach,
Lincolnshire. For some time he lived as assistant at
Kingston-on-Thames, and afterwards in London. In
February, 1853, he commenced business on his own account
at Shepherdess Walk. Hew s a member of the Qu- ckett
Microscopical Club, in which he felt great interest. For
many years he was Treasurer to the Schools in connection
with Holy Trinity Church, and for nine years he was
Minister’s Warden of Holy Trinity Church, Hoxton ;
and at Easter, 1867, was presented by his fellow'
parishioners with a testimonial in the form of a silver
salver. It was Mr. D’Aubney, who in June, 1860, first
suggested the formation of a new Society for Chemists not
connected with the Pharmaceutical Society, and from that
suggestion, made public in one of the earliest numbers of
the Chemists and Druggists' Trade Circular, sprang the
United Society of Chemists and Druggists and all its after
consequences. He worked on the executive committee
until 1866. About that time he first entertained the idea
of forming a Wholesale and Export Drug Company,
which very soon came into existence. He was chairman
of the board of directors during its existence. Since
the wdnding up of that unfortunate speculation he has not
appeared to enter into trade politics, but was always
ready to render assistance and give his support to any
deserving object.

On the 28th ult. Mr. D’Aubney left home in his usual
good spirits, intending to pass an hour at Madame
Tussaud’s Wax Exhibition, and whilst waiting for his
train at the Baker Street Station, he incautiously ventured
into the tunnel, where he was struck down and killed
within a few feet of the platform. Those who remember
Thomas D’Aubney, will call to mind his genial disposition
and generosity of character.

Notice has also been received of the death of the fol¬
lowing : —

On the 23rd of June, 1880, Mr. Walter Peat, Chemist
and Druggist, Ryde, I. W. Aged 62 years.

On the 30th of June, 1880, Mr. John Prockter,
Chemist and Druggist, Penzance. Aged 67 years.

On the 1st of July, 1880, Mr. Edward Beck, Chemist
and Druggist, Whitchurch, Salop. Aged 57 years.

gispmsing IWemorantm.

Replies.

[424], If “Vis” had only dispensed the prescription
strictly according to the R, he would not have got into
such trouble. It can be clearly seen that the physician’s

40

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 10, 1880

intention in ordering the “acid, sulph. dil.” qs., was
simply that the quinine should be dissolved. It may
look rather ridiculous to “Vis,” but as acid, sulph. dil. was
ordered he was not justified in dispensing the prescrip¬
tion sine acid. If he use 7) j of dilute acid, he will find
the mixture keep without any deposit.

W. Watson Will.

[424]. In this prescription the writer ordered the acid,
sulph. dil. to form a clear solution should the tinct. ferri
perch, not effect the total solution of the quinine.

T. V. M.

[424] . H. G. C. met with great difficulty in obtaining a
permanent solution of sulphate of quinine in tinct. ferri
perchl., but was successful on using liq. ferri perchl. with
water in place of the s.v.r.

[BtTF A ^ ^ -

[425] . Dissolve the iodide of potassium in 6 ounces of the
water, then add the tinct. nucis vomicse and spt. ammon.
arom., and lastly add the ferri et quin. cit. dissolved in
the remainder of the water. The mixture has a milky
appearance and ought to have a “shake the bottle”
label put on the bottle.

W. Watson Will.

[425]. I should first dissolve the ferri et quinae cit. and
pot. iodidi in about 4 ounces of the water. Then add
tinct. nucis vom, and, lastly, add the sp. ammon. aromat.,
gradually shaking well after each addition. The colour
will be similar to that of dec. cinchonse flav., with the ex¬
ception that it is a little lighter.

T. V. M.

[426]. This mixture ought to have a light opalescence,
caused by the precipitation of the resin in the tinct. nucis
vom.

W. Watson Will.

[426]. H. G. C.’s observation leads him to suppose that
some dispensers adopt the improper practice of filtering
slightly turbid mixtures, and so bring discredit upon the
dispenser who simply mixes them as ordered. The best
way of meeting the difficulty is to learn whether the
mixture was quite transparent in the first instance, and
then to follow suit. But it would be still better if some
authoritative declaration were made against filtering,
when not directed by the prescriber.

[427].

R Spt. Vini Rect . 3ij-

Ung. Zinci Benzoat . . . §ij.

M. Fiat ung.

The ung. zinci benzoat. here mentioned undoubtedly
refers to the unguentum zinci, B.P. The addition of
“ benzoat.” after zinci in this prescription is used because,
prior to the Pharmacopoeia of 1867, ung. zinci was made
with lard, as C. B. will find by referring to London
Pharmacopoeia, 1851. Such a mode of ordering ung.
zinci, B.P., is a daily occurrence amongst physicians.
Zinci benzoas is a definite salt.

W. Watson Will.

[427]. Some dispensers use adeps praep. instead of
adeps benz. , and some use only common adeps in making
ung. zinci, B.P., therefore I should imagine that the
writer, being aware of this, specially signified that made
with benzoated lard. If he wished zinci benz. to be used
he would have written it so —

R Zinci Benz.,

Adipis Praep.

I have often had prescriptions with ung. zinci benz.
written, and always use that of the B.P.

T. V. M.

[427]. The B.P. ung. zinci being made with adeps
benzoatus, a great many prescribers write “ung. zinci
benzoat.” to distinguish from a commoner quality made
in many establishments with plain lard for retail pur¬
poses, and which turns rancid in a very short time.

A Junior Dispenser.

[429]. Whatever method you adopt in mixing the ingre¬
dients in this R, you cannot prevent the precipitation of
the ferri phosphas formed. “Pharmakon’s” equation is
correct if he dissolves the acetate in water and then adds
the tincture, and lastly the acid, but the following may
also take place if the order is reversed, namely, add the
tincture to some water, then the acid and lastly, solution
of the acetate —

Fe.,Cl6 + 2 H3P04 = 2 FeP04 + 6 HC1.

6 KC2H302 + 6 HC1 = 6 KC1 + 6 HC2H302,

The phosphate is not precipitated until the reaction takes
place between the free hydrochloric acid and acetate
potass, for the simple reason that ferri phosphas is soluble
in hydrochloric acid and almost insoluble in free acetic
acid. W. Watson Will.

[430] . Rub the two powders together, then add the

acid. "After well mixing the result will be a moist
powder, which ought to be sent out in a wide-mouthed
stopping bottle. W. Watson Will.

[431] . “ Oxygen ” will find a good excipientfor permanga¬

nate of potassium in Canada balsam. By using a warm
mortar 2 grains of balsam is sufficient to mass 12 grains
of permanganate. W. Watson Will.

[432] . I should add a few drops of acid, sulph. dil. to -

effect the total solution of the quinine. T. V. M.

ITcrfes nntr (Queries.

[665]. TICKET INK.— “ Brunswick black,” thinned
if requisite with a little turpentine.

Worthing. Burt.

[666]. ESS. COCHINEAL.— I should be glad to know
the reason that ess. cochineal when made from the old
formula so frequently ferments, even when a good propor¬
tion of s. v. r. is added as soon as the mixture is cool.

J. W. Cottrill.

[667]. GERMAN YEAST POWDER.— Would any
correspondent be kind enough to furnish me with a good
recipe for this, and oblige W. H. B.

[668]. Can any reader of the Journal oblige me with
a formula for a perfectly white creamy liniment with¬
out fixed oil? Vis.

Comsponbentc*

W. Stewart. — (1) Gar ex vuljpina. (2) Poly gala vulgaris.
(3) Alisma Plant ago.

“ Echinodermata.” — The same question has been asked
on two occasions recently without evoking an answer.

M. P. S. — See a note on the solubility of salicylic acid in
Vichy and Seltzer waters in the Journal for June 26, page
1035,

“ Orchid.” — Orchis maculata.

T. P. J. — (1) Blaine’s ‘Outlines of the Veterinary Art.*
(2) Probably the book to which you refer is ‘ The House
Surgeon, or the Doctor at Home,’ by the late Mr. Smee,
published by the Accident Insurance Company.

E. N. P. — See papers on the Hectograph in the Pharm.
Journal , [3], vol. x., pp. 486, 644.

“ Wide Awake.” — We are not aware that any steps are
contemplated of the nature to which you refer, and there¬
fore it will be desirable at least to defer the publication of
your letter.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Modlen, Tilden, Pinchen, Burt, Forrester, Tem¬
porary Assistant, Nemo, Foam, M.P.S.

■July 17, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

41

NOTE ON SOME “ SPURIOUS GUMS ”
IMPORTED WITH MYRRH.*

BY R. H. PARKER.

Last year I had the opportunity of selecting from
several bales of unpicked myrrh a considerable
quantity of numerous kinds of “ spurious gums,”
to which I briefly referred in a paper f previously
read before this Association, and I propose sub¬
mitting to you as a sequel to that paper the
results of a somewhat more detailed examination
•of the impurities there referred to.

It will, of course, be understood . that these sub¬
stances rarely find their way into the best parcels
of “ picked Turkey myrrh,” being carefully rejected
by the wholesale houses.

Five substances will be referred to, those met
with in largest quantity, viz. : —

( 1 ) . Opaque bdellium.

(2) . African bdellium.

(3) . Opaque tasteless gura-resin.

(4) . Yellow tasteless gum-resin.

(5) . Bitter acrid gum.

The percentage composition of these impurities as
•given in this note is based upon the solubility of
the substance in absolute alcohol and water, and
will serve to give an idea of their constitution ; but
the results do not, of course, indicate the exact
proximate constituents.

The general outline of the analysis is as fol¬
lows : —

Several of the largest and most characteristic of
the tears were selected, the outer portions removed,
so as to leave the “gum” quite free from extraneous
impurity and, If sufficiently hard, reduced to a fine
powder, otherwise, as in the case of “bitter acrid
gum,” cut into thin shavings with a knife.

Determination of Moisture and Ash. — About 1
gram of the powder, accurately weighed in a plati¬
num dish, was exposed in a hot air-bath at 100° C.
for several hours, until it ceased to lose weight.
The loss of weight = moisture. A little volatile oil
might be dissipated in this process, but it is pro¬
bable that a dry heat of 100® C. would not cause
much error from that cause. The dry residue was
then ignited, until all traces of carbon were removed.
The weight of dish and ash less that of dish (weighed
after ignition) indicates “the ash.” The “ash” is
not included as a separate item in the percentage
•composition, because all extraneous matter had been
removed ; it would, therefore, have been in a state
of combination with the gum, and would be included
in the weight of that constituent.

Determination of Gum. — 2 or 3 grams of the pow¬
der were digested with successive portions of absolute
•alcohol and the tincture decanted ; when the soluble
portion was nearly all removed, the residue was col¬
lected in a weighed filter, washed till the evaporated
filtrate left no residue, dried at 90° C. till constant,
and its weight taken ; from this is calculated total
percentage of gum.

An accurately weighed portion of the dried gum
was treated with water until nothing further dis¬
solved, the residue collected in a tared filter, dried
■at 100° C., and weighed. This weight, less that of
filter, gives weight of gum insoluble in water ; this

# Read before the School of Pharmacy Students’ Asso¬
ciation, July 8, 1880.

t Pho.rm. Jo urn., [3], x., p. 81.

Third Series, No. 525.

deducted from that of total gum gives by difference
gum soluble in water.

Determination of Resin , etc. — The weight of this
is taken “by difference,” and includes resins, vola¬
tile oil, if any, and other substances soluble in abso¬
lute alcohol.

(1). Opaque Bdellium (Balsxmodendron Plaijfah li)
is a very hard, yellow ochre coloured, opaque gum-
resin, with but slight odour and a bitter taste. In
common with other exudations from the genera Bal-
samodendron and Boswellia, tears of this substance
frequently have portions of papery bark attached to
their surface. Triturated with water, opaque bdel¬
lium forms a very good cream coloured emulsion
Cold absolute alcohol dissolves about 50 per cent.;*
the residue is not entirely soluble in water, the
insoluble portion swelling up and giving the cha¬
racters of bassorin.

The colouring matter appears to be due to a resin
very soluble in alcohol, giving a canary yellow
coloured tincture ; this resin is also soluble in
ether, benzol and chloroform. The tincture (1 of
gum-resin to 6 of rectified spirit) becomes slightly
milky with alcoholic solution of plumbic acetate,
gives a slight yellow precipitate with one drop of
liq. plumbi subacet., and an intense greenish-black
colour with tinct. ferri perch lor.* The tincture is
bitter and becomes milky with water.

The mucilage made by dissolving 1 part of the gum
(completely washed with rectified spirit) in 40 of
water, is tasteless, partly precipitated by subacetate
of lead and not at all by neutral acetate.

The ash (1 ’6 per cent. ) appears to be chiefly calcic
carbonate, dissolving entirely with effervescence in
dilute acetic acid and giving a copious precipitate
with ammonium oxalate.

Water distilled from opaque bdellium had the
slight odour of the drug, but there was no appear¬
ance of oil globules in working on a small scale.

Composition of opaque bdellium —

Soluble in alcohol (by difference) . . . 47*42

Gum soluble in water . 30'Ql

Gum insoluble in water . 11 '07

Moisture . 11 '50

lOO'OO

(2). African Bdellium (. Balsamodendron A frican ..a)
is a gum-resin, the fracture of which is of a dull slaty
hue, the margins possessing a powdery resinous
appearance; it is hard, translucent in thin layers,
red by transmitted light, has a bitter taste and its
slight aromatic odour recalls that of black pepper.
Triturated with water it does not form an emulsion,
but on standing gives a nearly bright mucilage with
a copious brown sediment. The mucilage is very
thick unless a large quantity be added, indicating
presence of a considerable proportion of gum allied
to tragacanth.

The tincture of African bdellium is very light
yellow; almost the whole of the brown colouring
matter is insoluble in alcohol, chloroform, ether
and turpentine. Alcohol extracts about 15 per cent. ;
one-half of the residue, including the colouring
matter, is insoluble in water, simply swelling up
like tragacanth, but dissolves to a brown solution .
with a little caustic potash.

* Ferric chloride does not give this reaction with a
tincture of “gumhodthai” or “gum hotai,” a substance
which has been referred to the same botanical source as
opaque bdellium.

42

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

July 17, 1880.

Tlie tincture (1 to 6) gives no precipitate with
bromine, plumbic acetate, nor with ferric chloride ;
a drop of liq. plumbi subacet. produces a slight
precipitate, and water renders it milky.

The mucilage (made by treating with water the
residue insoluble in alcohol) is tasteless, and gives a
slight precipitate with subacetate but none with
neutral acetate of lead.

The estimation of moisture and ash gave 13*6 per
cent, of the former and 1T6 per cent, of the latter,
consisting chiefly of calcic carbonate.

Distilled with water, African bdellium gave indi¬
cation of the presence of a considerable quantity of
volatile oil possessing the characteristic odour of the
drug ; the first portion which came over was nearly
colourless, the latter portion rather deep yellow,
both lighter than water. The small quantity
operated on did not admit of an exact percentage

calculation.

Composition of African bdellium —

Soluble in alcohol (by difference) . . . 15‘4

Gum soluble in water . 33’2

Gum insoluble in water . 37*8

Moisture . 13*6

100-0

Recorded analyses of African bdellium differ
widely. Guibourt, in his fourth edition of ‘ Drogues

Simples,’ gives —

Resin . 59"0

Soluble gum . 9 ’2

Bassorin . 30-6

Volatile oil and loss . 1"2

100-0

while Planclion, in the seventh edition of the same
work, says it yields 70 -3 per cent, to boiling alcohol,
the rest being a gum completely soluble in water.

(3). Opaque Tasteless Gum- Resin occurs in large tears
with smooth surface, is very hard, has a dull waxy
fracture, and is almost devoid of colour, odour and
taste. Several pieces have papery bark attached, and
two or three large tears were found imbedded in fine
specimens of myrrh, suggesting their exudation from
the same trunk under abnormal conditions, but the
gum and resin differ materially from those of
myrrh.

Triturated with water this substance gives a very
slightly milky solution and a copious sediment. It
is soft and adhesive between the teeth.

Alcohol dissolves about 60 per cent. ; the residue
is almost entirely soluble in water

In the air bath a portion lost 7*6 per cent, at
100° C., and when ignited left *865 per cent, of ash,
chiefly calcic carbonate.

The tincture (1 in 6) is not precipitated by
bromine or plumbic acetate, or changed by ferric
chloride or lead subacetate ; it becomes milky with
water.

The mucilage is not affected by neutral acetate of
lead and only slightly precipitated by subacetate.'

Composition of opaque tasteless gum-resin : —

Soluble in alcohol (by difference)

. 60-54

Gum soluble in water ....

. 30-32

Gum insoluble in water . . .

. 1*54

Moisture . .

100-00

(4). Yellow Tasteless Gum-Resin. — Tins is at once
ecognized by the peculiar powdery yellow appear¬

ance of the surface of the tears, which are mostly
small and irregular. It is yellowish-white in colour,
almost devoid of taste and odour, hard and easily
powdered; resinous when chewTed. It does not
emulsify when triturated with water, the liquid
becoming quite clear after deposition of much sedi¬
ment.

Alcohol dissolves about 63 per cent.; the residue
is almost entirely soluble in water.

A portion lost 3'62 per cent, at 100° C., and on
ignition left a residue, mostly calcic carbonate, equal
to *48 per cent.

The tincture (1 in 6) is not changed by either lead
solution, bromine solution, or by ferric chloride.

The mucilage gives a slight precipitate with sub¬
acetate, but none with neutral acetate of lead.

Composition of yellow tasteless gum-resin .

Soluble in alcohol (by difference) . 63*16

Gum soluble in water . . . , . 31 "76

Gum insoluble in water . . . . I- 46

Moist\ire . 3 ’62

100-00

Chemically and constitutionally this appears almost
identical with opaque tasteless gum-resin, but it differs
physically in its gritty character when chewed, and
in the powdery yellow and irregular surface of the
tears.

(5). Bitter Acrid Gum. — This appears to be one of
the several substances that have received the native
designation “ googul,” and seems identical with the
specimen 1391 in the Pharmaceutical Society’s
Museum, but differs from the “googul” 139/. It
occurs in very irregular tears of a yellowish-brown
or dark-brown colour, sometimes very nearly colour¬
less and transparent. Its taste is very bitter and
persistently acrid, somewhat resembling ammonia-
cum. It is soft, receiving the impress of the nail,
and a small piece can be kneaded between the
fingers.

It readily forms when triturated with a small
quantity of water a thick opaque mucilage, and, with
the exception of a trifling residue, is entirely soluble
in about 25 parts of water. This residue examined
microscopically was seen to consist entirely of
vegetable tissue, chiefly long fusiform prosenchy-
matous cells, with a few fragments of pitted vessels.

A portion lost at 100° C. 6 6 per cent., and left on
ignition an ash of calcic carbonate equal to 1*11 per
cent.

Cold absolute alcohol dissolves about 63 per cent.

The tincture (1 in 6) contains the bitter acrid
principle, and is not rendered milky by addition of
water ; gives a very copious precipitate with subace¬
tate of lead, becomes milky with neutral acetate,
and gives a slight whitish precipitate with ferric
chloride, but none with bromine solution.

The gum insoluble in alcohol forms with water a
tasteless mucilage, which gives a copious precipitate
with subacetate, but very little with neutral acetate.

On treating this substance with about six parts- of
water, the colouring matter and gum precipitated by
subacetate of lead dissolve ; the remainder forming a
thick oily layer at the bottom of the vessel ; this
layer again treated with three or four parts of
water becomes of a very light yellow colour and
dissolves entirely in more water, giving a nearly
colourless solution which is scarcely precipitated
by subacetate of lead, and possesses in a marked
degree the characteristic bitterness and acridity of

July 17, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

43

tlie original substance. Distilled with, water a very-
small quantity of oil came over slowly, floating on
the distillate, which possessed the odour but not the
taste of the gum.

Composition of bitter acrid gum : —

Soluble in alcohol (by difference) . . . 63 0

Gum insoluble in alcohol . 30' 4

Moisture . . . . . 6*6

100-0

The alcoholic solution appears to contain the bitter
acrid principle, essential oil, and a substance pre¬
cipitated by subacetate of lead, for the oily layer
separating from the aqueous solution washed and
dissolved in water gives scarcely any precipitate with
subacetate, and the subsequent addition of alcohol
causes no separation.

Bissa bol was almost entirely absent from the
bales of myrrh examined ; so also was Indian bdellium,
unless the yellow tasteless gum-resin be that sub¬
stance; it differs, however, materially from the
specimen of Indian bdellium in the Society’s
Museum.

A considerable quantity of transparent gum was
found which appears to resemble inferior acacia gum ;
also several tears resembling externally the yellow
tasteless gum-resin, some having an oily interior
and an aromatic terebenthinate odour, while one
tear, when broken, possessed an odour strongly
resembling jargonelle pear.

DIKA BREAD.

The following interesting note concerning the
preparation of the dika or odika bread of Western
Africa has recently been received from Dr. H. W.
Bachelor, in the Gaboon, by Mr. Thomas Christy,
to whom we are indebted for it : —

“The plums are gathered as they fall from the
tree, and are emptied from the baskets one after
another until a large heap is formed. They are al¬
lowed to remain many days until the outside has
putrefied, and then the nuts are cracked, the seeds or
kernels taken out and smoked for many days. Then
they are put into a large mortar and crushed into a
homogeneous mass. The rays of the sun are now
allowed to pour on the mass, which melts and is put
into a mould. This mould is of the shape of a frus¬
tum of a cone, and the cakes vary in diameter from
8 inches to a foot at the base. These will keep for
six months.’’

Dr. Bachelor also makes the following interesting
remarks with regard to the native medicinal plants
of the country : —

“The only way of ascertaining the properties of
any product here is to ask the natives ‘if it poisons
goats,’ or ‘if the monkeys eat it,’ aud by direct experi¬
ment. The natives themselves know nothing of one
medicine for one disease, and another for another.
It is in their opinion the witchcraft that cures, not
the leaf itself.”

ALBUMINATE OF IRON.*

BY C. LEWIS DIEHL.

Among the ferric compounds introduced during the
past few years, albuminate of iron has attracted some
attention abroad, but has been noticed only to a limited
extent in the United States, if I may be allowed to judge

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, April, 1880.

by the demand for it in this locality. Recently, however,
I was called upon to prepare a solution of albuminate of
iron by a formula suggested by Dr. W. Dbnitz, of Tokid,
Japan. This formula differed so radically from those
that had previously come under my observation, both in
the manipulation directed and the proportion of ferric
chloride and egg albumen employed, that I was led to
make some comparisons, and eventually a series of ex¬
periments, during the course of which some facts were
developed that seem to merit publication. But before
giving these experiments in detail a brief review of the
methods and experiments that have been made public, or
as far as they have come under my observation, is neces¬
sary ; and it is also necessary to explain that, in so far as
the method of Dr. H. Hager is concerned, which antici¬
pates me in the application of common salt to the pre¬
cipitation of the ferric compound, but differs widely in
some particulars, I had no knowledge of it at the time my
method was developed.

Friese* first recommended albuminate of iron for the
treatment of chlorosis, rhachitis, etc. He obtained it by
adding 10 grams of liq. ferri sesquichlor., Phar. Ger., to
the white of one egg ; washing the precipitate with dis¬
tilled water until the excess of ferric chloride was removed,
then macerating the residue for twenty-four hours in 500
c.c. of distilled water and 12 drops of hydrochloric acid to
effect solution. The albuminate of iron so produced is
said to contain 2"8 per cent. iron.

Kobligkf observed that an albuminate containing
uniformly as much iron as stated by Friese cannot be
obtained. Also, that the albuminate is somewhat
soluble in water, and that therefore it should not be
mixed with large quantities of that fluid, but should be
washed upon a filter as long as the water passes clear.

BembeckJ makes the same observation as Kebligk
regarding the solubility of the albuminate produced by
Friese’s method, but ascribes the solubility to the excess
of hydrochloric acid in the officinal (Phar. Ger.) solution,
of ferric chloride. He recommends that 6 parts of dry
ferric chloride, obtained by evaporating the officinal.
(Phar. Ger.) liquor, be dissolved in 10 parts of distilled
water, the solution filtered and mixed intimately with 20
parts of albumen ; the brown-yellow magma is trans¬
ferred to a wetted cloth, expressed with the hands, and.
this is repeated with the addition of distilled water until
the excess of ferric chloride is removed. The residue is
then dissolved by macerating it for one or two days in.
half a litre of water containing 12 drops of muriatic acid.
By parts, the author evidently means grams ; by albumen,
the white of eggs.

Biel§ recommends the following method: — 10 grams of
dry egg albumen are dissolved in 100 grams distilled
water, clarified by subsidence, and mixed with 3"2 gram
liq. ferr. chlor. of 30 per cent, (or 2'4 grams Phar. Ger.),
previously diluted with ten times the quantity of water ;
the mixture is gently heated and agitated vigorously,
after which 20 grams of 90 per cent, alcohol and sufficient
water are added to make the mixture weigh 200 grams.
When used, the concentrated liquor is to be diluted with
four times its weight of water, and then contains 0-033
per cent. iron. By subjecting the solution to dialysis, a
neutral product was obtained, but it still contained
chlorine, and appeared to possess no advantage over the
normal solution. Dry albuminate of iron is obtained by
evaporating the solution to syrup, spreading this on glass
plates, and drying at 40° C. (= 104° F.) The golden-
yellow lamellae contain 3*34 per cent, iron, and readily
dissolve in warm water after the addition of 1 or 2 drops
of hydrochloric acid (to how much of the albuminate ? ).

Holdermannl| records some experiments relative to the

* Berlin. Klin. Wochenschr., 1877; Phar. Centralh .,
August 2, 1877, p. 251.

t Schweiz. Wochenschr. f. Phar., 1877, No. 47, p. 381.

X Arch. d. Phar., Dec. 1877, p. 521.

§ Phar. Zeitschr. f. Russ., 1878, No. 7, p. 193

|| Arch, der Pharm., February, 1878, p. 149.

44

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 17, 1880.

conditions which favour the precipitation of the albu¬
minates, the influence of acidity, alkalinity, etc. The
nature of the acid in the ferric salt employed appears to
exercise a decided influence on the composition (proportion
of iron) of the albuminate, but the latter, after its forma¬
tion, does not appear to become changed in its composition
by fractional washings.

Merck* * * * § recommends the method of Dr. Hoffmann ( ? )
for preparing dry albuminate of iron. 15 parts crystal¬
lized ferric chloride (containing 20 per cent. Fe), or 20
parts liquor ferr. sesquichlor. (Phar. G-er.), are dried with
10 parts dextrin at 40° to 50° C. (= 104° to 122° F.),
and pulverized ; then 80 parts pulverized egg albumen
are mixed with it. He describes it to form luminous
brownish-red crystals (?), not hygroscopic, soluble in 50
parts cold water, and most readily at a temperature of 30°
to 35° C. (= 86° to 95° F.). A slight deposit may form
on standing, which is readily dissolved by a few drops of
hydrochloric acid.

Donitzf gives the following formula : — The white of
one or two eggs is thoroughly mixed with about 150 c.c.
water, and a solution of 6 drops of officinal (Phar. Ger.1)
solution of ferric chloride in 30 c.c. water is gradually
added, agitating vigorously after each addition. The tur¬
bidity at first produced gradually disappears on the further
addition of the ferric solution, but the addition of a few
drops of hydrochloric acid may be necessary if the ferric
solution has been added too rapidly. The solution is
finally filtered, which it does more easily than if it is
attempted to filter the solution of albumen before the
addition of ferric chloride. Upon evaporating the solu¬
tion at a moderate temperature a permanent and readily
soluble dry albuminate is obtained. Finally,

Hager, in an appendix (p. 1338) to his recently com¬
pleted ‘ Handbuch der Pharmaceutischen Praxis,’ gives
the following formula for “ ferrum albuminatum sac-
charatum ” : — 100 c.c. albumen (from five hen’s eggs)
are vigorously shaken with 400 c.c. water, the solution is
strained without expression, mixed with 250 c.c. of a cold
saturated solution of common salt, and then with 40 c.c.
liq. ferri sesquichlor. (Phar. Ger.) diluted with 160 c.c.
water. After about half a day, the mixture is diluted
with 3 litres of water, well shaken, the precipitate col¬
lected upon a muslin strainer, washed with water, etc.
The well drained magma, which when dry amounts to
about 10 gra ms, is mixed with 60 grams of powdered
refined sugar, dried at the temperature of the water-bath
on porcelain plates, weighed, powdered, and mixed with
sufficient sugar to make 100 grams of saccharate. This
contains 0 65 to 0 ’66 per cent, ferric oxide ; the pure
albuminate 6'5 to 6'6 ferric oxide. The same preparation
may be obtained by precipitating the solution of the albu¬
minate of iron with alcohol, etc.

As mentioned, my first practical acquaintance with
albuminate of iron was with the solution produced by the
formula of Dr. Donitz. This solution is, as described by
the author, a perfectly transparent light brown liquid,
nearly tasteless, and will keep well in cool weather for
several weeks. It contains, as I have determined by
calculation and subsequent experiments, an excess of
albumen, even when the smaller quantity of egg-white
is employed, for which reason the latter quantity was
adopted for the experiments made with this solution.
When such a solution is evaporated in a current of warm
air a light-brown, transparent residue is obtained, which
may be detached in the form of scales, and readily
furnishes a powder having a very light cinnamon-brown
colour. This dry albuminate also corresponds to the
description of Dr. Donitz, being readily dissolved by
water to form a clear solution, particularly if a modicum
of dilute hydrochloric acid is added. The yield, however,
is necessarily very small, owing to the dilute character of

* Pharm. Zeit., March, 1878.

t Berlin. Klin. Wochenschr., September 8, 1879, page
535.

the solution j* and the preparation of dry albuminate
from such, on any considerable scale, is therefore out of
question ; and though subsequent experiments showed
that a far more concentrated solution of albuminate of
iron could be obtained by a modification of the method,
it nevertheless seemed desirable to ascertain some process
— if possible, one of precipitation — whereby the evapora¬
tion and consequent exposure of any considerable propor¬
tion of liquid should be avoided. To this end, it became
necessary to subject the known or accepted characters of
albumen and its compounds to critical review, when,
among others, the following points bearing directly upon
the subject under consideration were developed, f

1. Albumen is not precipitated from its aqueous solu¬
tions by ferric chloride, J and even prevents the precipita¬
tion of the oxide of that metal by alkalies.

2. Albumen is precipitated from its aqueous solutions
by dilute sulphuric, nitric, hydrochloric and pyro- and
meta-phosphoric acids ; but by the ordinary tribasic
phosphoric acid, or by organic acids, only upon the
addition of chloride or sulphate of sodium, or other
alkali salts.

3. Albumen appears to form acid and normal salts, the
first containing one molecule of base, the second two
molecules. It also appears to combine directly with
some salts — principally basic — in the same proportions.

4. The acid salts of albumen are sometimes soluble,
the normal salts generally insoluble in water ; but
neither are insoluble in excess of metallic salt or
albumen.

5. The formula for albumen is, according to Lieverkiihn,
Ci44H122N18S.2044,§ and is so generally accepted. That
of its acid salts would be represented by the formula
M0,C144H129N18S2044, and that of its normal salts by
2 M0,Cu4Hj23N18S2044.

It becomes evident, from the above, that my inquiries
gave no clue to a precipitant for albuminate of iron, and
it was therefore by a purely empirical process of reasoning
that I decided to try the effect of a saturated solution of
common salt upon a quantity of Donitz's solution of albu¬
minate of iron, to which an excess of ferric chloride had
been previously added. The result was an immediate,
copious and evidently complete precipitate, which my
experiments seem to prove to be an albuminate of
definite composition, and which is obtainable from
solutions containing an excess of albumen as well as
from such that contain an excess of ferric chloride.
The following is a brief account of the experiments
made : —

1. To a quantity of Donitz’s solution corresponding to
one egg-white, 1 fluid drachm liq. ferri chlor., U. S. P.,
diluted with water and partly neutralized with ammonia,
was added, whereby no other change than a slight
deepening in colour was produced. On now adding a
quantity of saturated solution of chloride of sodium
(hereafter designated as “solution of salt”), a copious,
light brown precipitate was produced, while the super¬
natant fluid had a decided yellow colour, gave abundant
evidence of iron, and only faint evidence of albumen.
The precipitate was collected, expressed, shaken with
distilled water, in which it dissolved completely, and
again precipitated with solution of salt. The filtrate
now passed colourless, and gave only faint evidence of
iron and of albumen. The strongly expressed precipitate

* Egg-white contains about 12'5 per cent, dry albumen
(which quantity has been accepted by me in my experi¬
ments); consequently 6 fluid ounces of Donitz’s solutkn
will yield only about 1 drachm of albuminate.

t The principal works consulted were Graham-Otto’s
‘ Lehrbuch der Chemie,’ ‘ Organische Chemie,’ vol. iii., by
H. v. Feh ling, and ‘Dictionary of Solubilities of Chemical
Substances,’ by Frank A. Storer.

X This does not, however, apply to the egg-white in its
natural condition, as is evident from the methods hitherto
pursued for the preparation of albuminate of iron.

§ The old notation is retained in this paper.

July 17, 1SS0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

45

constituted a translucent mass, light brown in thin, dark
reddish-brown in thick layers, very friable when dry, and
then easily reduced to a very fine powder having a light
cinnamon-brown colour. It was readily soluble in water.
Its quantity was not determined.

2. A quantity of Donitz’s solution corresponding to one
egg-white (1 ounce, more or less) yielded, upon evapora¬
tion in a current of warm air, 56 grains of albuminate of
iron in the form of friable, light yellowish-brown, trans¬
lucent scales, which produced a very light cinnamon-
brown powder.

3. A portion of the same solution, corresponding to the
same quantity of egg-white, was treated with one- third
its volume of solution of salt, the precipitate collected,
washed with a mixture of one volume of solution of salt
and three volumes of distilled water (hereafter designated
“dilute solution of salt”), subjected to powerful expres¬
sion and dried. It weighed 34 grains and possessed all
the characters of the albuminate of iron obtained by ex¬
periment 1. The filtrate from the precipitate, however,
gave but faint evidence of iron and abundant evidence of
albumen, the washing being continued as long as decided
evidence of the latter was given, Both the filtrate and
washings appeared colourless.

From these experiments it became evident that, while
in experiment 1 a very decided excess of ferric chloride
had been used, in experiments 2 and 3 albumen was in
excess. This excess of albumen is represented in the dry
albuminate obtained by experiment 2, but is removed by
washing in experiment 3, just as the excess of ferric
chloride is removed by washing in experiment 1. The
quantity of ferric chloride employed in experiment 1 was
therefore reduced, some attempt being also made to es¬
tablish a working formula.

4. Ten troy ounces of egg-white were diluted to 20 fluid
ounces with distilled water, a solution of 3 fluid drachms
of liq. ferri chlor., U. S. P., in 10 fluid ounces of distilled
water was added, and the solution filtered. 10 fluid
ounces of solution of salt were now added, the precipitate
collected on wetted muslin, washed with dilute solution
of salt, drained, expressed powerfully, and dried. The
product weighed 9 drachms ( = 11 ’25 per cent, of the egg-
white employed) and had all the characters of the albu¬
minate obtained by experiment 1. The filtrate was
yellow, though much lighter than that obtained by
experiment 1 ; the washings finally gave evidence only
of traces of iron and of albumen. The press cake, though
obtained by powerful pressure, was translucent dark
reddish-brown only in the centre, the margins, upon
which the pressure was evidently not so strong, being
opaque and light brownish.

5. One troy ounce of egg-white was treated precisely as in
experiment 4, but instead of precipitating the albuminate,
the solution was evaporated to dryness. It yielded 60
grains (= 12"5 per cent, of the egg-white employed) of
dry substance in the form of dirty dark brownish scales,
having a greenish tinge, and when powdered had a light
bro vanish-grey colour, very distinct from that of the pro¬
ducts previously obtained.

6. Experiments 4 and 5 having convinced me that the
quantity of ferric chloride used was still in excess, a
series of experiments were made, which are not neces¬
sarily given in detail, but which consisted in adding
variable proportions of ferric chloride to solution of egg-
white, precipitating the solutions, and selecting from
among the proportions so determined that in which there
was evidence of a decided but small excess of ferric
chloride in the filtrate. This was found to be 50 minims
of liq. ferri chlor., U. S. P., to 4 troy ounces of egg-white,
and operating with these proportions at different times,
the following yields of albuminate of iron were obtained,
all of which corresponded in their physical characters,
solubilities, etc., with the albuminate obtained by the
first experiment

Four troy ounces egg-wliite yielded 214 grs. —11 *23
per cent, albuminate.

Twelve troy ounces egg-white yielded 720 grs. = 12-56
per cent, albuminate.

Twenty-two troy ounces egg-white yielded 1312 grs.
= 12-42 per cent, albuminate.

With the above proportions the filtrate still had a faint
yellow colour and gave a decided ferric reaction, but only
a faint reaction for albumen, while, when completely
washed with dilute solution of salt, the final washings
failed to give any appreciable evidence of either.

Assuming now, for the purpose of comparison, that
albuminate of iron is a definite compound in which 1
molecule of ferric chloride (Fe2Cl3) is united with 1 mole¬
cule of albumen (C144H122N18S2044),* the following table
will show the relation of the former to the latter in the
different processes that have been suggested.

1

1

Process.

Liq Ferri Chlor

1

Natural
egg-
white
(taken
to con¬
tain 12’5
p. c. dry
albu¬
men.

Dry egg-
albu¬
men.

Excess
of dry
egg-
albu¬
men di¬
rected.

Excess
of Liq.
Ferri
Chlor.,

U. S. P.
irected

U. S.
Ph„
■sp.gr.
1 '355

12-8
p. C.

Fe.

1 Phar.
G-er. sp
gr. 1-840
=15 p. c.
Fe.

Gim.

Gram.

Grams.

Grams.

Grams.

Gram.

Theory . .

1-0

0-854

3-669

Friese’s . .

1-0

0-854

2-628

0-341

0-907

Bernbeck’s .

1-0

0-854

•2-800

0-350

0-9047

Biel’s . . .

1-0

0-854

3-570

0-0272

Merck’s . .

1-0

0-854

3-410

0-0908

Donitz’s, a .

1-0

0-854

40-960

5T20

1-451

Donitz’s, 6 .

1-0

0-854

82-000

10-250

6-581

Hager’s . .

1-0

0-854

1-640

0-205

0-9442

Diehl’s . .

1-0

0-854

89-030

3-629

0-0111

An examination of the table will make it clear that
in Friese’s, Bernbeck’s and Hager’s processes the quantity
of ferric chloride is largely in excess of that required to
form an albuminate ; that Dcinitz directs a considerable
excess of albumen when the smaller quantity (a) of the
latter is employed, and a very large excess when the
larger quantity (6) is used ; while Biel and Merck, whose
processes are based upon the direct combination of ferric
chloride and albumen, direct proportions that agree well
with that theoretically required. The quantity used by
me corresponds still more closely with that required by
the formula provisionally accepted, and the proportion
having been arrived at experimentally, before any calcu¬
lation of the required quantity was made, seems to
support the view that in the formation of albuminate of
iron 1 molecule of ferric chloride and 1 molecule of albu¬
men are concerned. The large excess of ferric chloride
used by Hager is, as has been shown, unnecessary, and
was probably adopted by him without proper reflection.
That employed by Friese and Bernbeck, however, seems
to have been arrived at by practical observation, and, in¬
asmuch as I h’d failed to obtain precipitates by the
direct action of solution of ferric chloride upon egg-white,
if the latter was at all diluted with water, the following
experiments were made to throw some light upon this
subject, as well as upon some points embraced in the
foregoing.

7. To 204 grains of egg-white, beaten to destroy
stringiness, 75 minims of liq. ferri chlor., U. S. P.
(corresponding to Friese’s method and proportions)
were added. A light yellow turbid magma was pro¬
duced, which was mixed with an equal volume of water,
transferred to a filter and washed with water until the
washings passed colourless. The residue upon the filter,
which was quite bulky, formed a gelatinous mass upon

* A normal salt would require 2 molecules Fe^Oj to 3
molecules albumen.

46

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 17, 1880..

standing, and, when diluted with water after it had at¬
tained that condition, failed to pass through the filter.
After several days the contents of the filter were further
diluted with water and transferred to a new filter, when,
very slowly, the soluth n passed through the filter. The
clear liquid yielded, on evaporation, an albuminate of
iron in the form of transparent yellowish-brown scales.
Owing to unavoidable loss its quantity was not deter¬
mined.

8. Simultaneously with this experiment (7) a parallel
experiment was made in which liq. ferri chlor. was eva¬
porated to dryness, redissolved in water, filtered and then
added to the pure egg-white (corresponding to Bernbeck’s
methods and proportions). In this instance a copious
precipitate was obtained which was quite distinct from
that obtained by Friese’s method, and may be described
as granular. It was very readily washed, but when
allowed to drain over night it had completely changed its
character. A gelatinous thick liquid had formed, a por¬
tion of which had passed through the filter, and was con¬
sequently lost. The receiving vessel being changed, the
liquid was further diluted with water, when it very slowly
passed through the filter, forming a clear liquid. This
yielded a dry albuminate corresponding in appearance
with that obtained by experiment 7. It was not
weighed.

9. Two troy ounces of egg-white were dissolved in 7 fluid
ounces of water, 5 fluid ounces of solution of salt added
and the solution filtered. The filtration proceeded quite
slowly when compared with the filtration of a similar solu¬
tion of albumen to which ferric chloride had been added
in place of salt. Upon the addition of 25 minims of liq.
ferr. chlor., U.S.P., previously diluted with 3£ fluid
ounces of water, a precipitate of albuminate of iron was
obtained, just as in the instances in which the inverse
process was employed, and the filtrate and washings gave
very faint evidence of albumen, though the former gave
decided evidence of iron. The albuminate produced had
the same character as that obtained by experiment 1.

10. The same quantity of the same egg-white was
dissolved in water, the solution mixed with solution of
salt, and filtered just as in experiment 9. Diluted hydro¬
chloric acid was then added drop by drop. When 25
drops had been added, the liquid became permanently
turbid ; with 5 drops more a decided turbidity was pro¬
duced, and after adding 5 drops more, a further addition
failed to produce a precipitate in the clear filtrate. The
precipitated albumen was not subjected to nearer experi¬
ment, but it deserves a thorough examination since there
were decided evidences of change, it being no longer
coagulable by heat. Its quantity, also, was not deter¬
mined, but it appeared to be less, both in volume and
weight, than that obtained from the same albumen by
precipitation with ferric chloride.

The first two experiments (7 and 8) have shown,
beyond a doubt, that concentrated solutions of albumen
(in the form of the natural egg-white) are readily precipi¬
tated by ferric chloride, either in the presence or absence
of hydrochloric acid, but that the precipitates obtained
under either condition again become soluble when the
excess of ferric chloride has been removed by washing.
They likewise show that while Bernbeck’s view, that the
solubility of the albuminate is due to excess of hydro¬
chloric acid in the liq. ferri chlor., is probaby incorrect,
the condition in which the albuminate of iron is precipi¬
tated when ferric chloride, free from hydrochloric acid, is
employed, is of such a character that it can be readily
washed so as to free it from excess of ferric chloride ;
while that obtained by Friese’s method, being in a very
finely divided condition, cannot be washed with the same
readiness, and that, therefore, a portion of the precipitate,
being completely freed from excess of ferric chloride, may
again enter solution before the remainder is sufficiently
washed.

Experiment 9 has shown that the process of precipita¬
tion, by the intervention of common salt, can be inverted

so that the ferric chloride will act as the final precipitant.*
The method, however, has the disadvantage in that the
solution of albumen and salt filters very slowly, while
that of albumen and ferric chloride filters with compara¬
tive rapidity. It is not clear, on the one hand, why
common salt should effect the precipitation in dilute
solutions of albuminate of iron, and why, on the other
hand, ferric chloride should only precipitate albumen
when it is in its natural solution. Both propositions
must for the present be accepted as facts, which may find
explanation by further experiments. It may be, further¬
more, inferred that the small quantity of chloride of
sodium and other salts, naturally present in egg-white
in its concentrated natural solution, is sufficient to effect
precipitation upon the addition of ferric chloride ; but in
this event a much smaller quautity of the latter than
that employed by Friese or Bernbeck should effect the
same result.

Experiment 10 was made simply to determine the
probable effect of an excess of hydrochloric acid in the
liq. ferri chlor., and is, perhaps, of greater interest in its
relation to albumen itself than in its relation to albu¬
minate of iron. Judging from the action of ferric
chloride, free from hydrochloric acid, upon albumen
(experiment 8), as well as from the evidently incomplete
precipitation of albumen by the dilute hydrochloric acid
(experiment 10), it seems justifiable to conclude that in
the precipitation of albuminate of iron in the presence of
common salt the action of the ferric chloride is in¬
dependent of the presence of free hydrochloric acid.
The whole question in these bearings is, however, too
intricate to be disposed of without further and compre¬
hensive study, and may rest here for the present.

In the foregoing, a ready method for preparing dry
albuminate of iron has been given. It remains to con¬
sider whether the product obtained by the method is
uniformly the same. In order to satisfy myself on this
point, the ferric oxide was determined by a method,
which, for the purpose, appeared to me sufficiently
accurate, but would not be sufficiently so if my object
had been the establishment of a fonnula for the com¬
pound.

1*0 gram of albuminate of iron obtained by experiment
4 was subjected to incineration, at a dull red heat, until
it ceased to lose weight. The weight of the ash being
ascertained, this was exhausted with water, the solutions
obtained were evaporated, dried, and heated at an in¬
cipient red heat as long as it lost weight. The weight
of soluble salts (principally chloride of sodium) so deter¬
mined being deducted from the total ash, the quantity of
ferric oxide in 1 gram of the original albuminate was
ascertained, and from the figures so obtained the per¬
centage of ferric oxide in the pure albuminate was deter¬
mined as shown in the following : —

1 *0 gram albuminate, experiment
4, incinerated until it ceases to

lose weight = . 0*121 gram ash

Ash yielded to water . . . 0*073 „ salt

Difference is ferric oxide . 0*048 „ Fe203

100 grams of the albuminate, therefore, contains 7*3
grams of salt and 92*7 grams pure albuminate of iron,
representing 4*8 grams of ferric oxide.

Then, if 92*7 grams of pure albuminate contain 4*8
grams of ferric oxide, 100 grams of pure albuminate con¬
tain 5*16 grams = 5*16 per cent. Fe203.

Th e experiment showed that the product obtained by
the process of precipitation contains a considerable pro¬
portion of chloride of sodium. Remembering that the
expressed precipitate was translucent in the centre and
opaque in the margin, a portion of the clear central mass
of the press cake obtained by experiment 6 wras di’ied and

* This is already shown by Hager’s method, but his
method was not known to me at the time the experiment
was made.

July 17, 1S80.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

47

treated precisely as the above. The result was as fol¬
lows : —

1*0 gram clear albuminate, exp. 6,

yielded . 0T05 gram ash

Ash yielded . . . . . . 0"056 „ salt

Difference . 0049 „ Fe203

100 grams of this albuminate, therefore, contains only
5-6 grams of salt, and the pure albuminate of iron, con¬
stituting the remainder, = 5T9 per cent. Fe203.

Equal portions of the three lots of albuminate of iron
•obtained according to experiment 6 were now powdered
together, and 1 gram of this powder treated as above .
The result now was follows : —

TO gram mixed albuminate, exp. 6,

yielded . 0T20 gram ash

Ash yielded . 0"072 ,, salt

Difference . 0‘048 „ Fe203

Showing that 100 grams contained 7 "2 grams of salt, and
that the pure albuminate contained 5T7 per cent. Fe203.

It remained now to subject the albuminates of iron
obtained by Friese’s (experiment 7) and Bernbeck’s (ex¬
periment 8) methods to similar quantitative examination.
But, inasmuch as the peculiar method by which these albu¬
minates were obtained seemed to exclude the presence of
saline components other than ferric compounds, these were
simply incinerated, and the residue weighed as ferric oxide.

1 gram albuminate, experiment 7, yielded 0-048 gram
— 4"8 per cent Fe203.

1 gram albuminate, experiment 8, yielded 0-048 gram
= 4‘8 per cent. Fe203, thus pointing to identity in their
composition, notwithstanding that the one was obtained
with normal solution of ferric chloride, and the other with
ferric chloride which had been previously deprived of its
excess of acid.

As before stated, the method of determination is not
such as should be employed to secure that degree of
accuracy that is necessary to determine the chemical
constitution of albuminate of iron. The results are,
however, sufficiently accurate to show that the com¬
pound obtained by the method of precipitation is uniform
in its composition, and points out very clearly that an
albuminate of iron of definite constitution exists.

What its precise constitution may be, however, is a
question which I must leave to others, who have more
time for such investigation, to decide ; and I will
sitnply observe in this connection that, if the formula
of albuminate of iron represents 1 molecule albumen
(C144H122N13S2022 = 1612) and 1 molecule ferric chloride
(Fe2CI3 = 162,5), the compound would represent 4'5 per
cent, ferric oxide ; or, if it represents 1 molecule each of
albumen and ferric oxide (Fe2O3 = 80), it would contain
4"728 per cent, ferric oxide.

The following table shows the percentages of ferric
oxide that have been obtained or are claimed for the
different albuminates : —

Albuminate.

Ferric

Corresponding to

Oxide.

Metallic

Iron.

Feme

Chloride

If F e2Cl3,C144H122N18S2044 . .

p. c.
4-500

p. c.

3-147

p. c.
9-150

If Fe203, C144H122Nj s b2044

4-728

3-304

9-600

Friese’s .

3-998

2-800

8T22

Biel’s .

4-769

3-340

9719

Hager’s .

6-500

4-550

13-201

Diehl’s exp. 4 .

5T60

3-612

10-479

„ clear „ 6 .

5190

3-633

10-540

„ mixed „ 6 .

5T70

3-619

10-500

Friese’s „ 7 .

4-800

3-360

9-748

Bernbeck’s „ 8 .

|

4-800

3-360

9-748

Finally, my observations may be summed up as fol¬
lows : —

1. Albuminate of iron, in a dry condition, can be
obtained with great ease by a method of precipitating its
solutions with common salt.

2. So obtained, whether from solutions containing an
excess of ferric chloride or an excess of albumen, it is
constant in its composition as regards the relation of al¬
bumen to iron.

3. The dried and powdered product is readily dissolved
by water.

4. Obtained by the method recommended, it contains
a certain percentage of common salt, the presence of
which, however, does not interfere with its solubility,
nor, it is likely, with its therapeutic application.*

5. The process recommended is rapid, and conducted
under conditions in which the albumen cannot be un¬
favourably affected by exposure to the heat of summer ;
and, even if exposed for a longer period than is necessary,
the presence of salt is calculated to prevent the changes
to which albumen or its compounds, in a moist condition,
are subject.

6. The albuminate represents about 5 per cent, of ferric
oxide, or 10 per cent, of ferric chloride.

Louisville, Ky,

THE PREPARATION OF PEPSINE.f

BY A. PETIT.

In a preceding article, J I have given the mode of
testing pepsine ; I will now pass rapidly in review the
various processes of preparation. It would otherwise be
impossible to account for the very diverse appearances
of the pepsines found in commerce, the action of which is
so different. A large number of specimens are absolutely
without physiological action, and as will be seen sub¬
sequently, they are often those which have undergone
treatment having for its object to obtain them in a state
of great purity. It is certain that these specimens have
been overheated, or that evaporation has been effected in
the presence of hydrochloric acid, which, as the liquors
concentrate, determines more or less considerable altera¬
tions of the active principle. I shall lay stress especially
upon the processes that have been recently recommended
and which yield active products.

Wasmanri’s Process. — Wasmann gave the first process
for the extraction of pepsine in 1839. The mucous
portion of a pig’s stomach is first washed during several
hours in distilled water at the temperature of 30° to
35° C., and then allowed to macerate in the water until
it commences to develop a fetid odour. The liquid after
filtration is precipitated with acetate of lead and the
precipitate is washed, suspended in water, and decom¬
posed by a current of sulphuretted hydrogen. The
liquid is then filtered and evaporated to the consistence

* Dr. Hager recommends for his preparation, which is
preliminarily obtained essentially like mine, that, after the
addition of solution of salt, the mixture be diluted with a
considerable quantity of water, the precipitate collected,
and washed with water so as to remove the salt as much as
possible. I have not had opportunity to test the value of
this direction, though my observations lead me to fear that
the entire precipitate might by such procedure again enter
solution. Some experiments made within the last few days
show that a considerable quantity of the salt can be removed
from th e dr y powder by shaki n g it with water and immediately
throwing the mixture on a filter. The larger portion of the
liquid passes colourless, and contains much salt ; but the
residue on the filter very soon assumes a gelatinous condi¬
tion, and finally dissolves. It is my opinion that the larger
part of the salt may be removed from the moist press-cake
by immersing it in water until it begins to exercise solvent
action on the albuminate, then removing the cake and
drying.

f Journal de Pharmacie et de Chimie, [5], vol. ii. , p. 85.

X Pharmaceutical Journal, [3], vol. x., p. 583.

48

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 17, 1880-

of a syrup and an excess of alcohol added which pre¬
cipitates the pepsine.

Vogel's Process. — The pepsine obtained by the process
of Wasmann is several times redissolved in water and
reprecipitated by alcohol in order to obtain it in a state
of greater purit}7.

Bidder and Schmidt's Process. — The gastric juice is
neutralized with lime water, and the filtered liquor is
evaporated to the consistence of a syrup and precipitated
by alcohol. The precipitate is redissolved in alcohol and
reprecipitated by a great excess of mercury bichloride ;
the mercury is eliminated by a current of sulphuretted
hydrogen, and the solution separated from the sulphide
of mercury is evaporated to dryness.

Deschamps d’ Avallon's Process. — In saturating the free
acids of calf’s rennet with ammonia, Deschamps d’Avallon
precipitated the syntonine held in solution, which carried
with it a portion of the pepsine. It was to this sub¬
stance that he gave the name “ chymosine.”

Payen’ s Process. — Payen added to the filtered gastric
juice of a dog ten to twelve times its weight of alcohol.
The precipitate was redis3olved in water and again pre¬
cipitated by alcohol. Payen called this product
“ gasterase.”

Mialhe’s Process. — M. Mialhe demonstrated in 1846
that there existed in the gastric juice a digestive ferment,
and that the pepsine of Wasmann, the chymosine of
Deschamps d’Avallon, and the gasterase of Payen are
identical with each other, and constitute one and the
same principle. He proposed to extract the pepsine
either from the gastric juice itself, or from the liquids
(rennets) in which are put to macerate the mucous
membrane of the stomach itself, which was much more
practical and allowed of the obtaining of a commercial
product possessing considerable activity.

IVittich's Process. — The mucous portion of the stomach is
macerated in glycerine and the liquid from the macera¬
tion is precipitated by alcohol.

Briiclce’s Process. — -Briicke recommended to digest at a
temperature of 38°, in dilute phosphoric acid, the mucous
portions of a pig’s stomach until completely disaggregated.
The liquid after filtration should be limpid and should no
longer be precipitated by ferrocyanide of potassium
After having added lime water to nearly complete neutra¬
lization the precipitate of phosphate of lime, which has
carried down the pepsine with it, is collected. This is
again dissolved in water containing hydrochloric acid and
precipitated by lime water. It is then dissolved in
dilute hydrochloric acid, filtered, and to this new solution
is added cholesterine dissolved in the cold in a mixture of
four parts of 94° alcohol and one part of ether. The
cholesterine soon rises to the surface, carrying with it the
pepsine, which is fixed upon it. The whole is collected
upon a filter, washed first with dilute hydrochloric acid,
then with water, and shaken with ether, which dissolves
the cholesterine, whilst the water adherent to the pre¬
cipitate is charged with the pepsine. It only remains to
evaporate this water at a moderate temperature to obtain
the pepsine pure.

Process of the French Codex. (1867). — This process,
which closely resembles that of Wasmann, consists in
taking a number of stomachs of freshly killed sheep,
emptying and washing them rapidly and then tearing
away the internal membrane by beating them sharply
with a brush of couch grass. The pulp which results is
macerated during two hours only in water at a tem¬
perature of 15° C., then the whole is thrown upon a
coarse strainer, and to the liquid that passes through, but
unfiltered, a solution of neutral acetate of lead is adr’ed.
The precipitate which forms is very abundant. The
supernatant liquid is decanted and replaced twice with
distilled water. The precipitate is suspended for the last
time in water through which a current of sulphuretted
hydrogen is passed until excess is manifest. The liquid
and the black precipitate are distributed upon a numbei
of filters, and the filtered liquid is evaporated as rapidly

as possible in deep vessels, exposing only a small surface-
at a temperature not exceeding 45° C. When dry the
product is removed by means of a flexible knife, and pre¬
sents the form of a firm paste of a light colour, slightly
acid taste, and with a special odour that is not at all putrid-

Process of the British Pharmacopoeia. — The stomach
of a pig, calf, or sheep, is carefully washed, the mucous-
membrane thus cleansed is scraped, and the viscous
matter so obtained is spread out and rapidly dried at a
temperature not exceeding 100° F., or 37° C. The dry
product is pulverized.

Scheffer’s Process. — This process consists in macerating
in water acidulated with hydrochloric acid, with frequent
agitation, during several days, the mucous membrane of
a pig’s stomach, carefully cleaned and cut into small
pieces. If after filtration the liquid is not clear it is
allowed to stand twenty-four hours. An equal volume
of a saturated solution of chloride of sodium is then
added to the clarified liquor. After several hours the
pepsine, separated by the chloride of sodium, floats to the
surface, from whence it is removed with a spoon and
deposited upon a calico filter, which is finally submitted
to pressure to remove as much as possible of the saline
solution.

Petit's Process. — The studies which for upwards of ten
years I have pursued upon the digestive ferments have
led me to the conclusion that these very alterable
principles ought to be submitted to manipulations as
little complicated as possible. In the experiments that I
shall cite to support this opinion it will be seen that the
precipitations by alcohol and other agents do not allow
of the recovery of more than a portion of the original
digestive substance.

The stomachs of pigs, calves, or sheep are carefully
washed with water and the mucous membrane, separated
b}7 scraping with a rounded knife, is cut as small as
possible and put to macerate in four times its volume of
distilled water, to which is added 5 per cent, of alcohol.
The mixture is agitated every half-hour. After four
hours’ maceration the liquor is filtered and evaporated at
a temperature not exceeding 40° C., in vessels exposing a
large surface and in a well ventilated place, so that a
renewal of the atmosphere takes place readily.

Comparative Examination of the Various Processes for the
Preparation of Pepsine.

In presence of such various processes given by authors
and recommended in pharmacopoeias, it was indispensable
to prepare pepsine by following them exactly. It was
necessary also that the conditions of experiment should
be absolutely comparable. This has been attained by
operating upon the same liquids or upon the same
mucous membranes. Each process has been repeated
several times in order to be sure of the exactitude of the
results obtained.

The process of Wasmann presents the inconveniences
that I shall notice in speaking of the process of the
French Codex, besides that which results from precipi¬
tation by an excess of alcohol.

Precipitation by alcohol only allows of the separation
of a portion of the digestive power.

Vogel’s process is still more defective, since the pepsine
is submitted to several precipitations by alcohol.

The processes of Bidder and Schmidt, Deschamps
d’Avallon and Payen cannot be used for the preparation
of medicinal pepsine and have yielded me bad results.

Briicke’s process has always appeared to me a little
strange. The carrying down of a soluble substance by
means of a precipitate would appear likely to leave in
solution a large part of the active principle. This is in
fact what takes place. The phosphate of lime precipi¬
tate does, however, carry down a large proportion of the
pepsine ; but in following the process to the letter and
washing the cholesterine to which the pepsine adheres,
first with acidulated hydrochloric acid and then with

July 17, 1SS0.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

49

pure water, it is very evident that the pepsine should all
he dissolved. Consequently the aqueous liquid that
separates in the treatment of the moist cholesterine
with ether contains only traces of the digestive principle.

Repeated three times this process yielded me as a
definite result insignificant quantities of a product con¬
taining more or less phosphate of lime.

In treating by this method 5 grams of excellent pepsine
I obtained only a few centigrams of slightly active pro¬
duct.

Although this process cannot be employed in the
preparation of commercial pepsine, I have called atten¬
tion to it because it has been indicated as an excellent
method of preparing pepsine in a state of great purity.

According to Briicke his pepsine would not be a nitro¬
genous body. It is nearly certain that this author had
not pure pepsine at his disposition, but foreign substances
retaining a certain proportion of pepsine. I have, in
fact, ascertained that a pepsine converting into peptone
«®ne thousand times its weight of fibrin, and giving when
moderately calcined 17 per cent, of ash, contained in a
first estimation 10 '80 per cent, of nitrogen, and in a
second ] 1 *40 per cent., or a mean of 11T0. Taking
account of the ash this would be 1 3*37 per cent, of
nitrogen, which approaches closely to the composition of
albuminoid substances.

It appears, therefore, that the process of Briicke
ought to be rejected even for the purposes of research
where it would only be required to prepare small quan¬
tities of pure pepsine.

It now remains to discuss the five following processes : —
Maceration of the mucous portion of the stomach in water
and precipitation by alcohol, the French Codex process,
the British Pharmacopoeia process, the American process
of Scheffer, and that which I have myself proposed.

In each experiment 25 grams of water, containing 3
grams of HC1 per litre, were added to 5 grams of fibrin
and heated twelve hours at 50° C. in presence of variable
quantities of pepsine. By afterwards adding nitric acid
drop by drop to the filtered liquid, it was ascertained
whether the transformation into peptone was complete
or more or less advanced. The results are indicated by
the figures given below, which were obtained in operating
upon pigs’ stomachs.

Yield. — 550 grams of liquid from the same maceration
gave by—

Grams.

Codex process . 1T0

Precipitation by 3 volumes of alcohol . . 3‘50

Precipitation by 10 volumes of alcohol . 3 '50

Petit’s process . . . . 5'70

Activity. — These products employed and tested as de¬
scribed gave the following results : —

Method of Preparation of Product
used.

~ , ., Result when

Quantity tested with Nitric

used- Acid.

Precipitated by 3 vols. of alcohol 0'30 gr. Abundant pre¬
cipitate.

Precipitated by 10 vols. of alcohol 0'30 ,, Abundant pre¬
cipitate.

Codex process ....... 0'20 „ Clear liquid.

Codex process . 0 JO „ Abundant pre¬

cipitate.

Petit’s process . 0'01 „ Clear liquid.

In a second series of experiments the yield was —

Grams.

Codex process . 0'22

Scheffer’s process . 11 '00

Precipitation by 3 vols. of alcohol . . 3'50
Petit’s process without filtration . . . 6*80
Petit’s process with filtration .... 3*25

Method of Preparation of Product
used.

Quantity
used. *

Result when
tested with Nitric
Acid.

Codex process . . . . . . CJ0 gr. Very abundant

precipitate.

Scheffer’s process . 0J0 „ Clear liquid.

Precipitation by 3 vols. of alcohol 0J0 „ Very abundant

precipitate.

Petit’s process, without filtration 0'01 „ Clear liquid,

Petit’s process, with filtration . 0'005 „ Clear liquid.

The Codex process gives, as will be seen, variable
quantities of pepsine, of which the activity is very in¬
ferior.

By Scheffer’s process an active product can be obtained,
but the pepsine so prepared contains more or less chloride
of sodium. In the foregoing case there was left upon
calcination four-fifths of saline residue. Twice I obtained
good results by adding the chloride of sodium to the un¬
filtered liquors ; but when the liquor was filtered, as
recommended by Scheffer, the product was much less
active.

The process of the British Pharmacopoeia, compared
with my own, gave a nearly identical yield, but the
pepsine so obtained was more impure, less soluble and
less active.

Method of Preparation of
Product used.

Quantity used.

Result when
tested with Nitric
Acid.

British Pharmacopoeia . 0'05 gr. Clear liquid.

Petit’s process . . . 0'01 andO'OOSgr. Cleiir liquid.

I might have determined in the various cases the
quantity of pepsine, prepared by alcohol or by the Codex
process, which is necessary for the absolute conversion of
5 grams of fibrin into albuminose ; but the results were
so conclusive that I thought it useless to continue the
experiments. They proved in the clearest manner the
superiority of my process.

It is very generally believed that water is a bad solvent
of pepsine. This is an error already combatted by Witt.
The mucous portion of the stomach yields as much pepsine
to simple water as to acidulated water or glycerine.
Comparative experiments have shown to me that the
liquors acidulated with hydrochloric acid are inferior in
activity to those prepared with water only.

Some mucous membranes were separated from the mus¬
cular coats, cut fine and mixed. Equal weights of this
mixture were macerated in equal volumes of (1) Water ;
(2) Water containing 5 per cent, of alcohol ; (3) Water
containing 5 grams of true hydrochloric acid per litre.
After macerating the same time, a test of artificial diges¬
tion gave the following results ; —

Aqueous liquor . * . ^ c.c.

Rather abundant pre¬
cipitate.

JJ JJ •••!}>

Clear liquid.

Alcoholic liquor . . . ^

Turbid liquid.

JJ JJ •••!»>

Clear liquid.

Hydrochloric liquor . 1 „

Rather abundant pre¬
cipitate.

9

>j jj • • ^ jj

Turbid liquid.

Following my own process in the preparation of calves’
and sheep’s pepsine, I obtained the following results : —

Calves’ pepsine, Filtered liquor

11 5)

Unfiltered liquor

11 11
Sheep’s „ Filtered liquor

11 11

Unfiltered liquor

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

0J0 gr. Clear liquid.
0*05 ,, Precipitate.

0’20 „ Clearliquid.

0J0 „ Precipitate.

0 05 „ Clearliquid.

0'025 „ Turbidliquid.
0J0 „ Clearliquid.

0'05 ,, Precipitate.

These products upon testing gave the following re¬
sults : —

The Codex process, tested with the same quantity of
sheep’s stomach, gave —

50

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 17, 1SS0,

Yield. — Petit’s process .... 10’30 gram.

Codex process .... 2’50 „

Activity. — Petit’s process, filtered liquor 0-05 gr. Clear

liquid.

Codex process . 0'50 „ Precipi¬

tate.

To sum up, it will be seen that it is easy to prepare
pepsines of great activity.

With fresh pigs’ stomachs that have not undergone any
alteration, taking the most minute precautions during the
evaporation, I have succeeded in preparing pepsines con¬
verting into albuminose one thousand times their weight
of strongly dried fibrin.

With sheep’s stomachs the activity of the pepsine pre¬
pared is about one-tenth.

After the experiments that I have already published*
relative to the simple solution of fibrin, it will, I hope,
be clearly established that there exists an absolute
difference between the solution of fibrin and its con¬
version into albuminose, and that pepsines which only
dissolve ten times their weight of fibrin will no longer be
considered good. With the most active pepsine prepared
by my process, I have been able to obtain in seven hours
the solution of five hundred thousand times its weight of
fibrin. The contents of several comparison flasks, placed in
the same conditions, were not liquefied, and had preserved
their gelatinous appearance. In making comparative ex¬
periments it is necessary to take the greatest care not to
introduce into the flask the least trace of pepsine, how¬
ever small.

It may further be useful to add that by prolonged
exposure in the stove acidulated water alone would de¬
termine the more or less complete solution of the fibrin.

NOTE ON A SIMPLE MEANS FOR INCREASING
CERTAINTY OF PERCEPTION OF COLOUR
CHANGE IN VARIOUS TITRATIONS.+

BY A. DUPB13, PH.D., F.R.S.

As is well known, the change from pale yellow to red,
in the titration of chlorides by means of nitrate silver
with neutral chromate as indicator, is more distinctly
perceived by gaslight than by daylight. No doubt eyes
differ in regard to their powrer of perceiving slight varia¬
tion of colour tint, and in my case I have always found
it advisable, in the analysis of potable waters, containing
from one to two grains of chlorine per gallon, considerably
to concentrate by evaporation previous to titration, or
else to perform the titration by gaslight. The adoption
of the following simple plan enables us, however, to per¬
ceive the change of colour as sharply and with as great a
certainty by daylight as by gaslight.

The water is placed into a white porcelain dish (100 c.c.
are a useful quantity), a. moderate amount of neutral
chromate is added (sufficient to impart a marked yellow
colour to the water), but instead of looking at the water
directly a flat glass cell containing some of the neutral
chromate solution is interposed between the eye and the
dish. The effect of this is to neutralize the yellow tint
of the water, or, in other wrords, if the concentration of
the solution in the cell is even moderately fairly adjusted
to the depth of tint imparted to the water, the appearance
of the latter, looked at through the cell, is the same as if
the dish were filled with pure water. If now the standard
silver solution is run in, still looking through the cell, the
first faint appearance of a red coloration becomes
strikingly manifest, and what is more, when once the
correct point has been reached the eye is never left in
doubt however long wre may be looking at the water. A
check experiment in w'hich the water with just a slight
deficiency of silver, or excess of chloride, is used for com¬
parison is therefore unnecessary. The plan is useful
chiefly with very dilute solutions, one or two grains of

* See Pharmaceutical Journal , [3], vol. x., p. 584.
f Read before the Society of Public Analysts, on June
2, 1880. Frun the Analyst, July, 1880.

chlorine per gallon, and since I have adopted it I have
entirely given up the concentration of the water prior to-
titration formerly practised.

A similar plan will, I think, be found useful in other
titrations. Thus, in the case of turmeric, the change
from yellow to brown is perceived more sharply and with
greater certainty when looking through a flat cell contain¬
ing tincture of turmeric of suitable concentration than
with the naked eye. The liquid to be titrated should, as
in the former case, be placed into a white porcelain dish.
AgaiD, in estimating the amount of carbonate of lime in
a water by means of decinormal sulphuric acid and
cochineal, the exact point of neutrality can be more
sharply fixed by looking through the cell filled with a
cochineal solution. In this case, the following is the plan
I have found to answer best. The water to be tested —
about 250 c.c. — is placed into a flat porcelain evaporating
dish, part of which is covered over with a white porce¬
lain plate. The water is now tinted with cochineal as
usual, and the sulphuric acid run in, the operator looking
at the dish through the cell containing the neutral
cochineal solution. At first, the tint of the water and
the tint in which the porcelain plate is seen are widely
different ; as, however, the carbonate becomes gradually
neutralized, the two tints approach each other more and
more, and when neutrality is reached they appear
identical ; assuming that the strength of the cochineal
solution in the cell and the amount of this solution
added to the water have been fairly well matched.
Working in this manner I have found no difficulty (taking
| litre of water) to come within 0T c.c. of decinormal
acid in two successive experiments, and the difference
need never exceed 0'2 c.c. In the cell I employ, the two-
glass plates are a little less than half-an-inch apart.

A somewhat similar plan may be found useful in other
titrations, or in fact in many operations depending on the
perceptions of colour change.

MANUFACTURE OF GLAUBER’S SALT IN THE
SOUTH OF FRANCE *

The following interesting description of the extraction
of Glauber’s salt from the sea-brines, as now practised at
the large salines at the mouth of the Rhone River, con¬
tains several items of interest to the chemist : —

The sodium sulphate is obtained by decomposing a
liquor which contains common salt and magnesium
sulphate in proper proportions by the aid of artificial
cold. The Carre ice machine is used for this purpose.
The crude material, the sel mixte, crystallizes out at a
certain stage in the evaporation of the mother liquor left
after common salt has crystallized. This special liquor is
then cooled by an ingenious application of the refrigera¬
ting process until —6° is reached, when Glauber’s salt
separates out as a crystalline scum, which is removed and
carried by elevators to large draining casks. Here the
salt is freed from adhering water and is now ready to be
made anhydrous. This operation had given great diffi¬
culty, as the evaporation in iron pans was not possible,
on account of the tendency of the separating anhydrous
sulphate to burn, and calcination with the aid of a
reverberatory flame was also extremely difficult to carry
out. The difficulty has been overcome very simply. The
water of crystallization is not driven off by heat, but is
displaced. For this purpose, the crystallized Glauber’s
salt, in quantities of 1500 kilograms, is fused with a small
amount of the mother liquor in a wooden tank heated by
a copper worm and provided with stirrers, when 250 kilos
of common salt are added. In the degree that the salt
dissolves, anhydrous Glauber’s salt is precipitated, and at
the end of the operation about 85 per cent, of the Glauber’s
salt originally used is obtained as an anhydrous precipitate.
The salt so obtained has at most 0‘5 per cent, sodium
chloride and 5 per cent, of water present.

* From Chem. IndustHe, January, 1880, p. 9. Re¬

printed from the American Journal of Pharmacy, May.

July 17, 1880].

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

51

(Tbc |1barm;ucutit;U |ounial

SATURDAY, JULY 17, 18S0.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , hooks for review , etc., should he addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should he sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary , 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. J burn.”

WHAT IS ACONITINE ?

Indirectly rather than otherwise this question
has been forced upon the attention of medical men
and pharmacists by most of the work that has been
carried out during the last few years in connection
with the active principle of aconite. For a long
time the amorphous pulverulent substances known
as aconitine were distinguished, according to the
place where they were made, as German, French, or
English aconitine, and they were generally credited
with widely different characters, and it was not
until Mr. Groves directed his attention to the mode
of extracting from aconite root the alkaloid con¬
stituent present in it that some indications of the
existence of at least two distinct alkaloids were
obtained. It was not even then shown distinctly
that this was the case, but it seems to have been
inferred rather than proved that true aconitine was
a crystalline substance, and that the unequal activity
of the various kinds of commercial aconitine was a
consequence of the admixture with that substance
of other alkaloids associated with it in aconite root
and differing from it in physiological action.

Subsequently, when Duquesnel published his
process for preparing crystalline aconitine, there
appeared to be some reason for anticipating that the
various products known as English, German and
French aconitine would be superseded by the intro¬
duction of a substance possessing definite chemical
individuality. That result, however, has not yet
been achieved, and though crystalline aconitine can
be obtained, its cost is so great as almost to preclude
its use.

In America, among other incidents of the Pharma¬
copoeia revision now in progress, the question “ What
is aconitine?” has come under consideration, and,
as stated in a late number of this Journal, Dr.
Rice has applied to Dr. Wright for a statement
of the characteristics of pure crystalline aconitine,
such as would serve for adoption in the new
Pharmacopoeia. Considering what is known to be
the case as regards the variable activity of com¬
mercial aconitine it is not surprising that medical
men should be, as Dr. Rice says, disgusted with it,
and that they should desire to be supplied with a
more definite preparation.

The characteristics of aconitine as laid down by
Dr. Wright may be regarded as expressing the
result of his extended investigation of this alkaloid
and as furnishing satisfactory means of recognizing it
and ascertaining its purity ; but while admitting in
this respect the value of the information furnished
by Dr. Wright, we are irresistibly reminded of the
sage direction of an ancient teacher of the culinary
art when describing the preparation of a hare, “ First
catch your hare,” and in like manner it occurs to us
as needful that we should first catch our aconitine.
Dr. Wright considers that if prescribes would insist
that the pure alkaloid only shall be used all
difficulty would be got over, dispensers would
necessarily procure the pure article as defined by
Dr. Wright, and its cost, however much that might
be, would only be a matter affecting the patients’
pockets and of no comparative moment when con¬
sidering the advantage they would gain from their
medical advisers being able to use the alkaloid with
confidence.

But there are obstacles in the way which deserve
consideration, since they may render such a solution
of the question more difficult and less desirable than
is supposed. Thus for instance there are many
persons influenced by commercial considerations who
would object to paying the high price of the pure
crystalline article so long as another article is in the
market at a lower price. Then, again, there are the
difficulties of obtaining aconitine in the crystalline
state ; from some roots it cannot be obtained at all,
while in others the quantity obtainable varies very
much.

According to Dr. Wright’s own interjiretation of
these differences of results in practical operations it
is clear that what is chiefly needed for the introduc¬
tion of crystalline aconitine is a process by which it
may be separated from those non-crystallizable sub¬
stances which prevent it from crystallizing. This
applies both to the actual manufacture of the alka¬
loid, and to the valuation of the roots by which, as
Dr. Wright suggests, their suitability for that pur¬
pose should be determined ; for if the valuation test
crives a result which cannot be realized in manufac-
turing operations, or if in both cases there be equal
difficulty in separating cvystallizable aconitine from
associated impurities which prevent it from crystal¬
lizing, we shall still have to follow the initial direc¬
tion of the old cook as best we may before we can go
any further towards making crystalline aconitine take
the place of that which is now generally used.

Then comes the further question whether in the
case of aconitine the crystalline condition is in itself
such a trustworthy indication of purity and indivi¬
duality as to make it desirable to insist that all the
aconitine used in medicine should be actually in
the crystalline state? Dr. Wright’s definition of
aconitine, given in this Journal two weeks ago, and
his letter on the subject, furnish evidence that
the crystallization of aconitine is so much influenced

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 17, 1SS0.

by the presence of other substances that it may be
looked upon almost as a matter of accident.
Moreover, it is probable that in converting true
aconitine into the crystalline state this can only
be effected partially and with a large waste. What
is wanted much more than the crvstalline condition
of the aconitine to be used in medicine is a know¬
ledge of means by which the particular substance,
possessing such powerful physiological activity, can
be identilied and distinguished from other analogous
inert or less active substances associated with it, and
by which it can also be practically separated from
them in manufacturing operations. In this sense we
have still not only to catch our hare, but also to
learn how to do this.

In reference to the testing of the materials from
which aconitine is to be prepared, it is certainly very
desirable to have some means of determining in such
materials the amount of the particular alkaloid re¬
quired; but we cannot endorse Dr. Weight’s sugges¬
tion that this should be done after the manner of an
anthracene test, by a method prescribing specific
details of operation, for, in a general way, there is no
more vicious method of testing the value of an
article, and, in the case referred to as an example,
the results are always liable to defect arising from
accidental presence of some substance not separated
by the operations prescribed. It seems more
reasonable to assume our knowledge of the che¬
mistry of aconite and of the alkaloids contained in
it to be still too imperfect to admit of chemical
tests being prescribed for ascertaining their indi¬
viduality or the purity of any one in particular by
the aid of its chemical characteristics.

As to the physiological action of the aconite
alkaloids, we are also in want of satisfactory know¬
ledge, and we must look to the future results of
such investigations as are in progress for the assist¬
ance which may be derived from this source.

It must not, however, be supposed that by the
foregoing remarks we desire in any degree to dis¬
parage the information given by Dr. Weight as the
result of his labours; our intention is only to point
out that it falls far short of what is required for a
satisfactory settlement of the question “ What is
aconitine ? ” and that it goes but a very little wTay
towards showing how the existence of the physio¬
logically active alkaloid in aconite root can be
.ascertained and how the extraction of it economically
is to be carried out. Before these questions can be
decided a very large amount of work will have to be
done, and we hope that Dr. Weight will be able to
continue his investigations to those ends.

SUNDAY TRADING.

A eetuen that has been prepared by the Chief
Constable of Glasgow, showing the number of shops
and other places of business found open within that
city on Sunday the 6th of last month, offers but a
sorry comment upon some correspondence that ap¬

peared not long ago in this Journal. According to
this return on the Sunday mentioned, out of 2243
shops that were kept open in Glasgow 203, or rather
over 9 per cent. , were drug shops. This is not only
an absolute but a relative increase as compared with
the year 1876, when the numbers were 166 out ot
2109, or not quite 8 per cent. In the same period
the shops kept open in Glasgow on Sunday for the
sale of such necessaries as milk, meat and bread show
a decrease.

JAVA CINCHONA BARK.

Me. Consul Cameeon reports from Java that the
Government cinchona crop of 1878, shipped to
Holland during 1879, amounted to 91,649 kilos,
and netted 179,700 florins, while the total expenses
of cultivation amounted only to 52,862 florins. A
commission appointed to investigate the rival merits
of “mossing” and “coppicing” has presented an
indecisive Report. Meanwhile a new method of
collecting the bark, recommended by the Superin¬
tendent of the Government, is attracting attention.
It differs from “ mossing ” in that it consists in
scraping off the outer portions of the bark of the
trunk only, allowing the inner bark, which by the
“mossing” system is removed, to remain on the
tree.

PHARMACY IN NEW ZEALAND.

With reference to the movement for the regula¬
tion of pharmacy in New Zealand, which was men¬
tioned as being promoted some months since, we
learn that a letter has been received from the colonial
premier by the President of the New Zealand Phar-
ceutical Society stating that the proposed Pharmacy
Bill was being printed and would be submitted to
the Crown law officers. This was thought to indicate
that the ministry considered the Bill of so much im¬
portance that it had been adopted as a Government
measure and would be laid before the Legislature in
the following session. . Meanwhile efforts are being
made to develop the newly formed Pharmaceutical
Society by the securing of rooms, the formation of a
library and other measures.

DEATH OF DR. PHOEBUS.

Intelligence has been received of the death of
Professor Dr. Philipp Phoebus, of Giessen, on the
1st inst., in his 76th year. For many years Pro¬
fessor Phoebus advocated the compilation of a
European Pharmacopoeia, and for the furtherance
of this object he eventually joined with some other
leading continental pharmacists in the formation of
a Phannaconomic Society. Some progress was
made in the drawiug up of a scheme, and proofs
showing the arrangement of the type, were prepared.
The work of the society was brought before the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain by Dr.
Thudichum at an evening meeting in 1872 ; but
since that time very little has been heard concerning
it in this country.

July 17, 1SS0

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

53

robin rial

(Trims actions.

evidence, seeing that defendants under the Adulteration
Act were allowed to do so.

CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ TRADE ASSO¬
CIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Meeting of Executive Committee.

A meeting of the Executive Committee of this Asso¬
ciation was held at the office of the Association, 23,
Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, Friday,
July 9, 1880, at 1 p.m. Mr. Thomas Barclay (Birming¬
ham), President, in the chair ; Mr. Robert Hampson
(London), Vice-President.

Present — Messrs. Andrews (London), Arblaster (Bir¬
mingham), Bell (Hull), Churchill (Birmingham), Cross
(Shrewsbury), Davison (Glasgow), Harrison (Sunder¬
land), Holdsworth (Birmingham), Owen (London), Stead
(Leeds), Symes (Liverpool), Walker (Coventry), Williams
(Manchester), and the Solicitor of the Association.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive
and Sub-Committee meetings held on May 28 and July
5 were read and approved.

The Secretary said that the Association had defended
two of its members since the last meeting of the Executive,
in summonses issued against them under the Weights
and Measures Act. In the first of these, Mr. W. Wil¬
kinson, of 114, Lambeth Walk, Surrey, on May 19, was
fined the nominal penalty of Is. per weight for having
in his possession several apothecaries’ weights which were
inaccurate. A report of the case had appeared in the
trade journals. On the previous Wednesday their Soli¬
citor had defended Mr. E. Freeman, of Ledbury, in a
summons charging him with having in his possession
for use of trade one fourteen pound weight, which was
false or unjust. This summons was dismissed on its being
proved to the satisfaction of the bench that the weight
was not used for the purpose of buying or selling goods.*

Letters from Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Freeman were
read, expressing the thanks of those gentlemen for the
assistance rendered by the officers of the Association.
The latter sent also a donation of £2 to the Funds.

The President said, after the prosecution in London,
he felt there was no time to be lost in endeavouring to
put a stop to such proceedings. He called upon Mr.
Harrison, the Birmingham inspector appointed under
the Act, who readily consented to an arrangement, by
which he promised to send out a printed form to all
chemists residing in his district, stating when he was
ready to stamp their weights. He (Mr. Harrison)
further promised to give them at least a month’s notice
before they would be interfered with. That being the
case, he thought it advisable to bring the matter before
the President of the Board of Trade, with a view of
inducing him to get other inspectors to do the same.
He addressed a letter on the subject to Mr. Chamberlain,
who in his reply, said — “Having regard to the opera¬
tion of the Act, as referred to in your communication, as
well as in previous communications with the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society, a circular to the several local authorities
will be prepared and issued from this department,
referring to this correspondence, and telling them what
has been done with regard to apothecaries’ weights and
measures. By this means the President hopes to remedy
to some extent the grievance of which you complain.”
In continuation, the President said he was in favour of
an effort being made to get the Act amended; he
thought it most desirable that inspectors should not
be paid by results, and the rural police who acted as
inspectors of weights in country places were thoroughly
incapable of testing small grain weights.

Mr. Glaisyer thought it should be insisted on in any
alteration of the Act “that defendants should be allowed
to give evidence in their own defence.”

Mr. Hampson could not see why defendants under the
Weights and Measures Act should not be allowed to give

* See p 59.

It was moved by Mr. Hampson, seconded by Mr.
Symes, and unanimously resolved : — “ That a Sub- Com¬
mittee, consisting of the officers of the Association,
together with Messrs. Arblaster and Churchill, be ap¬
pointed to consider the working of the Weights and Mea¬
sures Act, and to deal with the same as they think fit.”

It was moved by Mr. Hampson, seconded by Mr.
Davison, and unanimously resolved: — “That the officers
of the Association, together with Messrs. Andrews, Bell,
Churchill, Cross, Jervis, Johnson, Maltbjr, Williams,
Stead and Symes, form a Law and Parliamentary Com¬
mittee for the ensuing year, with power to deal with
such cases as it deems expedient.”

It was moved by Mr. Andrews, seconded by Mr. Bell,
and unanimously resolved That the officers of the
Association, together with Messrs. Arblaster and Church¬
ill, form a Finance Committee for the ensuing year.”

It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr.
Arblaster, and unanimously resolved : — “ That the
officers of the Association, together with Messrs.
Andrews, Arblaster, Bell, Churchill, Cross, Harrison,
Jervis, Johnson, Maltby, Owen, Phillips, Stead, Symes
and Walker, form a General Purposes Committee for
the ensuing year.”

It was moved by Mr. Andrews, seconded by Mr. Owen,
and unanimously resolved : — “That Mr. Henry Glaisyer
be reappointed Solicitor to the Association for the ensuing
year.”

It was moved by Mr. Bell, seconded by Mr. Harrison,
and unanimously resolved : — “That Mr. W. F. Hay don
be reappointed Secretary to the Association on the same
terms as before.”

It was moved by Mr. Arblaster, seconded by Mr.
Stead, and unanimously resolved : — “ That Mr. G. R.
Templeman be reappointed Assistant-Secretary to the
Association on the same terms as before.”

It was moved by Mr. Hampson, seconded by Mr.
Symes, and unanimously resolved: — “That Professor
Attfield be reappointed Analytical Referee to the Asso¬
ciation for the ensuing year.”

It was moved by the President, seconded by Mr. Owen,
and unanimously resolved : — “ That Messrs. Laundy and
Company, Public Accountants, be reappointed Auditors
to the Association for the ensuing year.”

It was moved by Mr. Cross, seconded by Mr. Arblaster,
and unanimously resolved: — “That Messrs. Lloyd’s
Banking Company be reappointed Bankers to the Asso -
ciation for the ensuing year.”

The Solicitor directed the attention of the Committee
to several clauses in the Bill to Consolidate and Amend
the Law relating to the Manufacture and Sole of Spirits,
before the House of Commons, which he considered re¬
quired their attention.

It was moved by Mr. Cross, seconded by Mr. Owen,
and unanimously resolved : — “That the Bill to Consoli¬
date and Amend the Law relating to the Manufacture
and Sale of Spirits be referred to the Law and Parlia¬
mentary Committee, with power to deal with it as they
deem desirable.”

A letter was read from Mr. C. W. Warriner, of Not¬
tingham, stating that the Nottingham and Notts Che¬
mists’ Association had appointed a committee “to consider
and inquire into the present high rates charged by rail¬
way companies for the carriage of drugs in hampers, and
to put themselves into communication with anyone
whom they might think proper with a view to their
reduction, and to report thereon.”

The President said the letter just read was the out¬
come of a debate on the subject by the Nottingham
Chemists’ Association, and therefore merited their best
attention.

Mr. Symes said the question of the carriage of drugs
was a serious matter for both the wholesale houses and
the country chemists. He had often found railway

54

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July IT, 1SS0.

companies very exacting ; tlieir rates were very high and
their charges generally required very careful watching,
as they frequently endeavoured to obtain more than their
legitimate charges.

Mr. Harrison said he thought the best plan would be
to refer the Nottingham chemists to their Chamber of
Commerce, as, in his opinion, that body would have more
influence with the railway companies than an association
representing one trade only.

Mr. Churchill said he thought the matter was one that
the Association might deal with as affecting chemists and
not the Chamber of Commerce. Drugs paid a high rate
of carriage. The drug rate from London to Birmingham
was forty shillings per ton, whereas the mineral water
and earthenware rates was twenty- eight shillings per ton.

Mr. Hampson said the wholesale houses would be
deeply interested in the matter, as it must be to their
advantage to send their goods at a cheap rate.

Mr. Walker said, as a representative of the wholesale
trade, he might remark that their firm had repeatedly
addressed railway companies on the subject, but to very
little purpose.

It was moved by Mr. Bell, seconded by Mr. Williams,
and unanimously resolved : — “ That the question of the
rates charged by railway companies for the carriage of
drugs be referred to the Sub- Committee previously ap¬
pointed to deal with the working of the Weights and
Measures Act.”

It was moved by Mr. Harrison, seconded by Mr.
Owen, and unanimously resolved : — “ That the Law and
Parliamentary Committee be directed to address the Go¬
vernment with a view of obtaining such an amendment of
the Jury Act as may provide that the exemption from ser¬
vice on juries enjoyed by pharmaceutical chemists should
be extended to all registered chemists and druggists. ”

The particulars of several cases of illegal trading in
poisons were laid on the table, and the Solicitor and
Secretary were instructed to take proceedings under the
17th section of the Pharmacy Act in such cases as they
deemed expedient.

iroteebmgs of Scientific Societies.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The last ordinary meeting of this Association for the
present session was held on Thursday, July 8, Mr. R. H.
Parker, Vice-President, in the chair.

The Secretary gave his Report on Organic Chemistry,
the subject being : —

The Relation between the Chemical Constitution
of Certain Organic Compounds and their Action
upon the Ultra-Violet Rays.

BY WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, F.C.S.,

Assistant Demonstrator of Chemistry in the Laboratories
of the Pharmaceutical Society.

The three principal methods of examining the action
of various substances upon the ultra-violet rays of the
spectrum are —

(1) . The photographic method proposed by W. A.
Miller,* in which the spectrum was obtained from electric
sparks passing between silver electrodes, the liquid to be
examined being placed in a cell with quartz faces. Glass
cannot be used on account of its absorptive action upon
the ultra-violet. The cell is placed immediately before
the slit, the rays passing through a quartz prism and
finally concentrated by means of a rock crystal lens upon
an iodized collodion plate placed within a camera.

(2) . The method of Stokes, f in which the spectrum is
received upon a fluorescent screen, the ultra-violet portion
thus being rendered visible.

* ‘Phil. Trans.,’ 1863, i.

+ ‘Phil. Trans.,’ 1862, 606.

(3). The methoc^more recently proposed by Soret,* in
which a spectroscope having a fluorescent eye-piece is
employed.

Hartley and Huntington^ have examined the action of
various organic compounds upon the ultra-violet portion
of the spectrum, with a view of discovering if any con¬
nection existed between the chemical constitution of the
bodies and their power of actinic absorption. To this
end they have examined homologous series of alcohols,
acids and hydrocarbons.

The apparatus used -was a modification of Miller’s,
using generally nickel instead of silver as electrodes and
gelatine plates instead of iodized collodion, with other
modifications. The position of the absorption bands and
their measurement wrere determined by reference to the
lines of cadmium, zinc and aluminium in the ultra-violet
portion of the spectrum. Quartz cells filled with water
were found to exert no action upon the ultra-violet rays,
i.e., were diactinic.

The alcohols of the CnH-2n-f 3 series were then examined,
and "were found to be characterized by their diactinic
properties. Methylic alcohol, CH3OH, when pure, was
found to be nearly as transparent as water.

Ethylic alcohol, C2H5OH, is less diactinic than methylic
alcohol, and propylic alcohol, C3H7OH, is still less diac¬
tinic. A higher homologue of this series, octylic alcohol,
C8H7OH, possessed considerably more absorptive power.

It will be seen from the diagram exhibiting the results
that every increment of CH.2 in the homologous series is
accompanied by increased absorption of the more re¬
frangible ultra-violet rays, but no absorption bands are
produced.

The fatty acids were next examined, but owing to the
difficulty of obtaining pure formic acid the sodium salts
were examined, molecular weights of the salts being
dissolved in equal volumes of water. The results which
are shown in the diagram indicate increased absorption
as the series is ascended, and it will be also observed that
the fatty acids are less diactinic than their corresponding
alcohols. This is probably due to the absorptive power
of the carboxyl group (COOH) contained in the former.
This theory is strengthened by the fact that oxalic acid
(COOH)q produces a much greater absorptive action than

acetic acid ] COOH From an examination of the

ethereal salts of the fatty acids it was found that they
resemble their corresponding alcohols and acids in their
diactinic poAver, and do not produce absorption bands.

The diagram shows the result of the examination of
benzene and the substances containing the benzene
nucleus. It will be seen that they all possess a great
absorptive action and are further characterized by the
production of well marked absorption bands at certain
degrees of dilution.

Benzene itself possesses great absorptive power, and is
characterized by six absorption bands which appear when
1 part of benzene is dissolved in 7 50 parts of alcohol, and
are well seen after a dilution to 1500. The layer of
benzene solution used was ’75 inch thick, consequently a
layer of benzene ^ ^-g-th of an inch will exhibit the ab¬
sorption bands. Phenol and thymol exhibit absorption
bands which are more persistent after dilution than those
of benzene. Benzoic acid, C6H5COOH, exhibits bands
which are not destroyed when the dilution has reached
more than 1 part per million.

Phthalic acid, C6H4(COOH)2, is less diactinic than
benzoic acid, and the absorption bands are not destroyed
when the dilution is equal to 1 part in 4,000,000. This
gives further support to the theory that the carboxyl
group possesses special absorptive powers. Phthalic acid
stands in the same relation to benzoic acid as oxalic acid
to acetic acid, and benzoic acid and phenol are related in
the same manner as acetic acid and alcohol.

* ‘Archives des Sciences Physique et Naturelles,’ Geneva,
1878.

t ‘ Phil. Trans.,’ 1879, 257.

July 17, 1680.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

55

From the examination of various substances Hartley
lias arrived at the conclusion that the production of
absorption bands is due to the double linking of three
pairs of carbon atoms in a closed chain, as is generally
assumed in the graphic formula of benzene.

h-c-c-h

II II

h-c c-h
H— (Uc— H

Compounds having two adjacent carbon atoms doubly
linked as in ethylene

CH2

II

CHo

do not exhibit absorption bands, neither do compounds
having two carbon atoms trebly linked, as is assumed
with acetylene.

CH

i

Absorption bands only occur, as far as experiments
have shown, when the compound contains a closed chain
of three pairs of doubly linked carbon atoms. When
hydrocarbons contain six or more carbon atoms the atoms
admit of the three following arrangements, so as to form
a closed ring : —

(1) . The six carbon atoms may be singly linked, as in
the case of camphor. This compound as well as cam¬
phoric acid exhibits no absorption bands.

(2) . Two pairs of atoms may be doubly linked, as is
assumed in the case of the terpenes. Neither the ter-
penes, nor their oxidized or hydrated derivatives, occasion
any absorption bands, although they possess in a marked
degree the power of absorbing the ultra-violet rays, which
power increases as the number of carbon atoms in the
molecule; thus terpenes of the constitution C15H24 possess
a greater absorptive power than those of the formula

Ca«Hie.

(3) . Three pairs of carbon atoms may be doubly linked,
as in the case of benzene. Bodies having this consti¬
tution, as has been noticed before, yield characteristic
absorption bands.

As might be expected from the generally adopted
formulae of naphthalene and anthracene, the absorption
bands are much stronger than those of benzene. Naph¬
thalene is considered to be formed by the union of two
benzene nuclei, as the formula represents.

H-C-C-H

II II

H-C C-H

I I
c=c

I I

H-C C-H

II II

C-C

I I

H H

A solution of one part of naphthalene in 60,000 pro¬
duces four characteristic absorption bands.

Anthracene has the following constitution : —
H-C-C-H

II II

H-C C-H

C = C

I I

h-c-c-h

I I

c=c

I I

H-C C-H

II II

H-C-C-H

The absorption bands are shown by a solution of anthra¬
cene containing one part of anthracene in 50,000,000 of
glacial acetic acid.

Hartley and Huntington* have examined the action of
a number of essential oils upon the ultra-violet rays.

The following oils and hydrocarbons transmit con¬
tinuous spectra : —

Australene from oil of turpentine.

Birch bark.

Cajuputene dihydrate.

Caraway hydrocarbon, No. 2.

Cedrat hydrocarbon.

Calamus.

Citron.

Citronella.

Cedar wood.

Nutmeg hydrocarbon.

Cubebs.

Elder.

Hesperidene from oil of orange-peel.

Indian geranium.

Juniper.

Lavender.

Lign aloes.

Melaleuca ericifolia.

Menthol from oil of mint.

Terebene.

Vitivert.

Patchouli, oil of (1 and 2).

Rose, otto of.

Rosemary,

Santal wood.

Terebenthene.

Cajuputene hydrate, which is the principal constituent
of oleum cajuputi, B.P., is probably a terpene of the for¬
mula C10Hlfi.

Oleum carui, B.P., is a mixture of two hydrocarbons,
one of which, No. 2, is probably a terpene of the formula

Oil of citronella is chiefly composed of citronellol, which
is a body probably isomeric with camphor.

Oil of cubebs contains a terpene of the formula
Ci5H24.

Most of the other substances have similar constitu¬
tions and, as expected, do not produce absorption bands.

Hydrocarbons showing the absorption bands of cymene
(C10H14) :

Thyme. Nutmeg.

Lemon. Caraway, No. 1.

Cymene is a higher homologue of the benzene series,
and exhibits characteristic absorption bands.

Substances showing strong bands of absorption in the
spectrum transmitted by dilute solutions : —

Oil of aniseed.

Oil of bay.

Oil of bergamot.

Oil of bitter almonds.

Oil of cassia.

Oil of cloves.

Carvol from caraway oil.

Myristicol from nutmeg oil.

Patchouli, blue oil of.

Oil of peppermint.

Oil of pimento.

Oil of thyme.

These substances nearly all contain compounds having
the benzene nucleus; thus oils of bay, pimento and cloves
contain eugenol, C6H3OHOCH3C3H5 ; oil of cassia, cin¬
namic aldehyde, C6H5C2H2COH ; oil of aniseed, anethol,
C6H4OCH3C3H5; oil of thyme, thymol C6H3OHCH3C3H7;
and cymene C10H14 Bergamot is known to contain hes¬
peridene, a terpene of the formula C10Hj6, and another
hydrocarbon which, from these experiments, is probably
a derivative of benzene. Menthol, carvol and myristicol
(C10H14O) have been shown to be isomeric (Gladstone) ;

' *' CProc. Roy. Soc.,’ 1879, 200~.

56

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 17, 1S80.

the nucleus of the former from its action upon the ultra¬
violet rays is probably a terpene, whilst benzene is the
nucleus of the two latter.

Prom the varying action of essential oils upon the ultra¬
violet rays they may be distinguished, if diluted with
alcohol, before observation is made. Bodies of the aro¬
matic series will be distinguished by their absorption bands,
and terpenes by the transmission of continuous spectra.

General Conclusions : —

Every increment of CH2 in a homologous series of
alcohols, acids, etc., is accompanied by an absorption of
the more refrangible ultra-violet rays, the amount of
spectrum transmitted being inversely as the number
of carbon atoms in the molecule. Absorption bands only
occur when three pairs of carbon atoms are doubly linked
in a closed chain.

The terpenes of the formula C10H16 and C15H24 both
possess a great absorptive action upon the ultra-violet
rays, the action of the latter being the greatest.

Isomeric terpenes generally transmit spectra which
differ in length or in other respects on dilution.

Compounds containing the benzene nucleus exercise a
greater absorptive power than the terpenes upon the
ultra-violet rays, and produce absorption bands which are
characterized by their intensity.

Isomeric bodies containing the benzene nucleus produce
bands which differ in position and in intensity.

Mr. W. Elborne then took the chair while Mr. R. H.
Parker made his Report upon Materia Medica, the subject
being “Spurious Gums Imported with Myrrh.” The
paper will be found on p. 41.

Mr. C. H. Hutchinson then delivered his Report on
Inorganic Chemistry on “The Formulae of some In¬
organic Substances,” being a continuation of a former
report upon vapour densities at high temperatures. This
report will be published in a future number of this
Journal.

The meeting then adjourned.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The Chemistey op Bread-Making.*

BY PROFESSOR GRAHAM, D.SC.

{Continued from page 39.)

Lecture IV.

I have, at last, arrived at that stage of the course
which, I fear, many of you must have thought I might
have come to before ; but when one considers the very
important and somewhat obscure phenomena underlying
the baker’s art, I think that the careful study of the
properties of the different substances entering into the
composition of bread, and of the very interesting pheno¬
mena connected with the hydration-products formed
in the panification process, will be deemed of sufficient
importance to justify the time that I have given to this
preliminary part of the subject.

I, therefore, proceed this evening to the manufacture
of bread, giving you a short outline of the process ; but
I do not propose to discuss at much length this part of
the subject, because we shall have ample matter to
consider, irrespective of the technical details of bread
making. I must preface my brief description of the
process by the statement that bakers, in different parts
of England, employ different methods in their art, and
probably many here present, who are practical men, and
who have done me the honour of attending this course,
will find in some points — perhaps not many — that I do
not describe the particular method they follow ; but, for
the purposes of a general audience, I think it will be
advisable to take bread-making as known in London, or
in the West- end of London, as an illustration of the art
generally.

* Cantor Lectures : Delivered November and December,
1879. Reprinted from the Journal of the Society of Arts.

The first part of the process consists in the preparation
of what is technically called the “ ferment.” I ought to
say, first of all, that a sack of flour weighs 280 lbs., and
that a sack will turn out about 90 to 94 loaves of 4 lbs.
each, according to the quality of the flour ; so that I
shall deal with a sack of flour as the unit of the operation
which I shall proceed to describe. Bakers themselves,
inasmuch as it is much more convenient to measure water
than to weigh flour, are in the habit of speaking not so-
much of the flour employed as of the water. The first-
part of the process is the preparation of the ferment.
This consists in taking potatoes, about 6 lbs. to 8 lbs. to
the sack — some use as much as 12 lbs. — and the potatoes
should be, of course, well selected, mealy, not waxy or
unripe and ill-matured. These are well washed, then
boiled, in order to burst the cell walls of the potato
starch. After they have been boiled thoroughly, they
are mixed with additional water, and then put into a
fermenting tub, and when the temperature of the water and
of the mashed potato has cooled to 85° Fahr., the yeast is
added. One quart of brewers’ yeast is employed to the
sack of flour, and, in addition to this, a pound or two of
flour is added to supply albuminous food to the yeast,
and this constitutes the “ferment.” Fermentation
commences, the soluble starch — the properties of which
I have previously described — is affected partly by the
direct action of the yeast, and partly by the action set up
by the yeast-ferment on the soluble albuminoids in the
flour which has been added, and the result is the hydra¬
tion of the starch and the conversion of the starch into
the sugars and dextrin, which I have described so fully.
This process goes on for some five hours ; it rises during
that time, and at about the end of five hours, varying a
little with the temperature, the head falls in. The head
having fallen in, it is allowed to remain in a quiescent
condition for two or three hours, and then the baker
proceeds to the next stage, which is called the preparation
of the “sponge.” They call it “stirring the sponge.”
In the preparation of the sponge, about one-fourth of the
total flour — or one-third according to the practice of
those bakers who prefer a stiffer sponge — is taken. This
is placed in the trough, and the “ferment” is added,
along with some more water at 85° Fahr., the whole of
the ferment being forced through a sieve, to remove the
skins of the potatoes used, and thus the skins do not
come into contact with the sponge. The potato skins
and flour on the sieve are well washed by the water here
added. The total amount of water used in the ferment
and sponge stages being about half of the whole amount
used for the sack of flour, this amount is about 60 quarts,
varying somewhat with the character of the flour. Thus,
up to and including the “ sponge,” one-fourth — or one-
third according to some bakers — of the flour and some
30 to 32 quarts of water have been used.

In the preparation of the sponge, some bakers — not
many, but still some who occupy a prominent position in
the trade — add a part of the salt, I have been told,
about one-half of the total salt ; but probably this will
depend entirely upon the temperature, as, for example,
whether it is winter time or summer. The object of the
salt is to check somewhat the activity of the ferment,
and I shall presently allude to this matter again, because
many bakers do not adopt the plan of adding salt at this
particular stage.

The sponge being made, it is allowed to go on ferment¬
ing for some time. At the end of about an hour it
increases visibly in size, and this increase, due to the
production of carbonic acid gas, causes it, at the end
of about five hours, to “break.” When the mass has
risen to its fullest extent, the sponge breaks, owing to
the escape of some of the carbonic acid gas, and, having
broken and fallen down, it commences to rise again, and
in about another hour, varying somewhat according to
the temperature at the time, or of the room, the sponge
rises again, and breaks again. This is called the second
break. So soon as it has broken a second time, the

-July 17, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

57

remaining part of the flour — which would be about three-
fourths, or two-thirds, according to the practice followed
by the baker — and the remainder of the water are added.

We pass thus to the dough. The remainder of the
flour having been added, and the remainder of the water,
the whole is thoroughly well mixed, and it is at this
stage when most bakers add the whole of the salt. Other
bakers only use that which remains over after having
employed a little at the sponge stage. The total quantity
of salt used I find to be about 3 lbs. to the sack, or 48
ounces, which would give about half an ounce of salt to
the 4 lb. loaf of bread. This part of the operation of
bread-making entails a very great deal of hard manual
labour, and it has, therefore, often been proposed that
•one should introduce machinery, with a view to lessening
the amount of mechanical labour. There was exhibited
at our last meeting an instrument, the invention of Mr.
Pfleiderer, which seems to be a very successful piece of
•machinery. My business, however, is not to discuss the
mechanical advantages of this piece of machinery or that,
but rather to confine myself to the chemical phenomena.
I did hear an objection to it, that, in order to be a
really useful instrument, it would require to have other
power than manual, but those of you who are practically
interested in the matter must judge of this for your¬
selves.

The dough having been thoroughly well worked is now
left for one hour, in order to rise again. It is then scaled;
that is, it is cut and weighed off in proper quantity and
made up into loaves. By the time a large batch of bread
has been scaled and made up, of course, the previous
^portions are ready for the oven. They are then put into
the oven, and are there heated for about an hour and a
half, the temperature of the oven at the time of the
introduction of the bread varying from about 400° Fahr.
to 450° Fahr. Of course, that is not the temperature of
the bread, because the bread contains water, and there¬
fore, it rises little, if at all, above the ordinary tempera¬
ture of boiling water.

There are some modifications of this process as just
described. First of all, some bakers use the whole of the
salt in the stage which is called the preparation of the
dough ; whereas, as I have pointed out, some use a part
of the salt at an earlier stage, namely, in the sponge stage.
Again, some use a thicker sponge, some use as much as
one-third of the total flour, and others only one-fourth.
Again, some employ what is called patent yeast, instead
of brewers’ yeast. Patent yeast is made by taking an
infusion of malt and boiling that with hops, and then,
when it is sufficiently cooled, yeast is added, and in that
way young active yeast cells are formed. Those who
employ patent yeast take, I believe, about 6 lbs. of this
patent yeast — in winter 7 lbs. — to the sack of flour. One
other point, to which I need only briefly allude, is the
preparation of what are called fancy breads, more
especially the beautiful rolls and loaves introduced during
the last few years to the London public in imitation of
the bread made in Vienna, and afterwards in Paris.
These fancy breads are fermented, not with the ordinary
brewers’ yeast, but with German yeast ; and the process
— as 1 understand, followed by almost every one — is, to
- make the ‘ ‘ ferment ” first. This ferment is made with
potatoes, and also with brewers’ yeast, as usual, but, in
the sponge stage, German yeast is employed, and a con¬
siderable quantity, so that the fermentation is very rapid,
and thus one obtains very large, light, and porous bread.

I will now briefly consider the chemical changes of the
process. In the first place, in the preparation of the
ferment, I said that potato, or fruit, as it is technically
termed in the trade, is employed. N o w, this is not used for
the purpose of adulteration, nor is it used for the purpose
-of increasing the profit. On the contrary, very often the
baker has to give a very much greater price for the starch
in the potato than for the starch in flour or in rice,
for it would be much cheaper for him to buy cereals for
this purpose. His object is this. With the exception

of the maranta arrowroot and the tous-les-mois arrow-
root, potato starch is the largest of the starches, and it
readily lends itself to the expansive action which takes
place in boiling. On bursting, the granular matter,
the starchy matter of the cells exudes from the ruptured
cell- wall, as I have pointed out to you before ; and it is
only on the starch after it has been made in this soluble
form that the soluble ferments of the yeast can act.
Therefore, the baker has found out for himself long
before science was able to teach him — I do not know how
old the custom is, but certainly long before science could
have taught him — the baker found out for himself the
advantage of using a small weight of potatoes to develop
the fermenting organisms required to do the work of
converting a sack of 280 lbs. of flour into bread. Now,
in 8 lbs. of potatoes there is only, at the very outside,
one-fifth of its weight of starch, and one-fifth of 8 lbs. is
but a very small quantity when dealing with 280 lbs. of
flour ; and manifestly, then, this arises from some other
reason than a desire to substitute a cheap material for a
dearer. Its real value is to enable the baker to obtain
an active propagation of the yeast, and to enable him to
get a larger quantity of sugars and dextrin formed in a
given quantity of time than if he were to employ flour
only. I believe, in some cases, bakers also scald a little
flour, in order to obtain some soluble starch in that way,
in addition to the employment of potato. During the
preparation of the ferment, which lasts something like
eight hours, there is a continuous action, to which I called
your attention at our last meeting, when I showed you,
from the analyses of Mr. Henry Brown, that soluble
albuminoids, in the presence of moisture at about 100°,
and also at 85°, gradually become degraded, less and less
complex, and, therefore, more and more mobile ; and
this action converts soluble starch into those more hy¬
drated products, maltose and dextrin, which I described
to you at our second meeting.

The ferment having been much increased by the treat¬
ment with the potato and the small quantity of flour
employed, the next stage is the preparation of the sponge.
Here the baker adds a portion of the flour, either one-
third or one-fourth, according to his custom, and, of
course, a portion of the water. This is thoroughly
intermixed, and so the fermenting action goes on ; partly
upon the sugars already formed in the first or fermenting
stage, and partly also (and to a great extent with inferior
flours) upon the albuminoids and starch of the flour
added in stirring the sponge.

The third stage is what I will call, chemically, the
inactive stage. I do not mean to say that no change
goes on, but that, as compared with the very great
chemical activity of the fermenting stage, and the power¬
ful fermenting activity of the sponge stage, we may call
the dough stage— when it is made thick and firm, and
when salt is added in order to check further action — the
inert stage, the object now being that there shall be no
more degradation of the albuminoids, no more breaking-
up of the complex starch into simpler molecular group¬
ings. Sufficient of the sugar has been formed to carry on
all that is required at this particular stage. The period
given for the carrying on of the fermentation is only
about an hour, and then the dough is put into the oven
in order that the action shall be stopped ; but, of course,
before it is stopped, the temperature acts on the globules
of carbonic acid gas ; they expand under the heat, and so
they lift the bread, and they are able to lift it on account
of the resisting elastic property which the gluten of the
wheat possesses.

The first object aimed at by the baker in the process
of bread-making, is to get a thoroughly good aeration <
the finished bread, so that it shall be light, not heavy,
that the air spaces which lighten it shall not be large,
but that there shall be a large quantity of smaller air¬
spaces, and to obtain, in other words, a well -piled, well-
aerated bread. The next point the baker aims at is to
have as little colour produced in the pacification process

58

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 17, 18S0

and in the oven process as possible, and his object in
endeavouring to obtain as little as possible of coloured
products is, doubtless, derived from the fact that inferior
flours are pre-eminently prone to give coloured products,
and the world at large has come to conclude that high-
coloured bread is due, of course, to inferior flour. These
are by no means the only objects that the baker has in
view: he also desires to obtain a loaf that has a nice
aroma, and a sweet, I think they call it a “nutty,” taste
on the palate.

The use of salt is a very interesting discovery on the
part of the unscientific baker. The baker found out the
value of it long ago, and also in this case before there was
any science to tell him of it. In a very interesting
lecture, delivered some few years ago by Mr. Callard, a
baker of well recognized eminence in the trade, it was
pointed out that the salt might be compared to the bridle,
and the yeast to the whip, that the one was a check on
the other, and that by a judicious use of salt at the dif¬
ferent stages, one could guide and arrest the fermen¬
tation.

I proceed now to a matter which must have arisen in
the minds of all of you. What is the cause of fermenta¬
tion ? To what is this production of carbonic acid gas
due, and to what is the production of alcohol which is
always noticed in the fermentation of bread due ? I will
not detain you long with a matter which has interested
scientific men for many years ; but inasmuch as it is an
exceedingly interesting branch of science, I think it well
to give you a short account of the various views which
have been held upon this question, and to point out to
you the knowledge we now possess in regard to it. The
first philosophical explanation of alcoholic fermentation
was that given by Stahl and Willis. They said that
alcoholic fermentation was due to a peculiar motion im¬
parted from the degrading body to a body in its neigh¬
bourhood, and the body receiving this peculiar impulse or
motion was degraded from a complex structure to
structures more and more simple. This idea that a body
having a peculiar kind of motion or vibration can com¬
municate to another body in its neighbourhood the same
kind of vibration or motion is certainly not unphilo-
sophical. For example, if we were to take a rod of iron,
say, a small poker, and suspend it by a string in the
middle of this room, so that the pointed end would be
directed to this side of the room, which is the north side,
and were then to tap the poker for a short time with a
small hammer, or piece of wood eveD, we should find that
the poker becomes possessed of properties which it did
not manifest before. Thus, if we were to suspend it in
any other room in London, or in England, the pointed
end Avould be directed to the north side of the room when
free to swing. The extent to which it would manifest
this peculiar property would depend on the amount of
tapping, and the conditions observed by the operator,
and for a time the poker would retain this peculiar
tendency of pointing north and south.

Now, by this peculiar mode of tapping the poker, we
set up a number of vibrations, which would, under
ordinary circumstances, produce no manifest effect on
the poker, but, because we placed the poker at right
angles to the diurnal rotation of the earth, then we have
those vibrations compelled to take a peculiar, and, as we
term it, polar arrangement, so that the vibrations circle
round the axis of the poker, and the result is that, for
some time, that poker acts as a magnetic needle. In
much the same way, if I had a large finger-glass, and if
I were to strike a particular note on the string of a
fiddle, I could compel that glass, supposing I knew its
dominant key, also to give forth the same note as the one
I had produced from the string of the fiddle. Doubtless,
there are many other instances you may, yourselves,
think of in support of the idea of Stahl and Willis. This
idea was taken up by Liebig and by others, who developed
it to a considerable extent. Liebig said that the peculiar
kind of motion was an oxidation action, that it was due

to the oxidation of complex albuminoids, and by the
oxidation of albuminoids he accounted for alcoholic fer¬
mentation of saccharine molecules, and for the fact that
the sugars, therefore, were broken up into alcohol and
carbonic acid, or, at a higher temperature into lactic acid
and acetic acid. The view of Stahl and Willis would, at
the present day, account for the peculiar action of the
hydration of starch, but it certainly does not account for
the alcoholic fermentation. While these views were
held so recently, strangely enough, in 1680, a Dutchman,
Leuwenhoeck, contended that yeast consisted of minute
globules. The matter was forgotten, however, for micro¬
scopes in those days were not of very great power, until
the year 1837, when Cagnard de la Tour, and also
Schwann, corroborated by Kutzing, distinctly proved
that yeast was a cellular organism. But the great Work¬
man in this field of investigation has been Pasteur, to
whose labours throughout a long period of his life, labours
carried out even at the sacrifice, to a great extent, of his
health, and certainly to the injury of his sight, we owe
the true clue to the nature of alcoholic and many other
fermentations. The problem whence come ferments has
been, to a great extent, answered by Pasteur. If you
take an ordinary grape, well -grown in the south of
Europe, you will find a beautiful bloom upon it. That
bloom partly consists of minute organisms and dust that
has fallen on to the skin of the grape. Now, Pasteur
proved that it was this dust adhering to the outside of
the grape that set up fermentation in the expressed juice
of the grape. I will not detain you by a long account of
his work, but I will merely say that, in the first place,
he so arranged his experiment that he could take from
the inside of the grape a part of the juice without any
trace of the dust on the skin coming in contact with it.
He found when that juice was put in small tubes, and in
tubes which had been previously heated so that there
should be no trace of organized dust existing in them, and
with proper means taken to prevent any more dust
getting into such a tube, the juice would not ferment*
On the other hand, when he took a small portion of the
dust of the skin of the grape, and added it to the juice
from the interior of the grape, he got vinous fermenta¬
tion. The juice was converted into wine by alcoholic
fermentation. Not only does the grape contain this
minute ferment on the skin, but also the dust of the air
generally contains the spores of ferments, and ferments
themselves, which may produce alcoholic, butyric, ropy,
or other kinds of fermentation. Not long ago, in England,
it was customary in Dorsetshire to allow the wort made
from malt to spontaneously ferment, and, if you go over
to Brussels, even at the present day, you will find there
beers well known in Belgium under the names of Lambic
and Faro, produced by spontaneous fermentation. After
the wort has been made it is placed in large tuns, and
whatever dust falls from the atmosphere goes into the
large hole at the top, and sets up fermentation. The old
pi'ocess of making bread by means of leaven was also a
haphazard process of the same kind; that is, you could
not predict exactly what kind of organisms would follow.
The result is, as you know, that the old leavened bread
was certainly by no means a sweet, pleasant bread, and
those who have had the misfortune to drink Lambic and
Faro must know how sour and bad they are.

I said that the old leaven contains alcoholic organisms.
These have been carefully examined by Engel, and he has
given them the term Saccharomyces minor, because they
are smaller than the ordinary beer yeast, called Saccharo¬
myces Cerevisice. These names may seem somewhat long
for organisms so small. I am unable to make use of
simpler terms, however, without running the danger of
confusion. The Saccharomyces minor, discovered by Engel
in leaven, measures only yooxxfrti1 of an inch in diameter.
It is an alcoholic organism, and produces spirit and
carbonic acid like the ordinary beer yeast ; at present,
however, we have no knowledge of the ratio of alcohol to
gas. Along with these organisms in leaven occur also

July 17, 1880.J

THE PHAEMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

59

the common beer yeast, and numerous organisms of
disease, producing lactic, acetic and butyric acids, also
the ropy organisms ; indeed, left to chance as the leaven
process is, we may expect numerous sources of diseased
action. Thus, the spontaneous fermentation of bread
(and the leaven process is eventually this) as with the
Belgian beer, leaves us the sport of chance.

{To be continued.)

Iparlhtmcniiirii antr iCitto ^Irotecbings,

Prosecution under the Weights and Measures Act.

At the Ledbury Petty Sessions, on July 7, 1880, before
John Hopton, Esq., Chairman, Rev. J. Buckle, Colonel
Webb, and Dr. Henry, Ernest Freeman, pharmaceutical
chemist, of Ledbury was charged — “That on the 10th day
of June last, at the parish of Ledbury, he unlawfully had
in his possession for use for trade a certain false or unjust
weight, intending to represent 14 pounds, contrary to
the form of the statute in such case made and provided.”

Mr. Glaisyer, Birmingham, Solicitor of the Chemists
and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great Britain, con¬
ducted the defence.

Inspector Blunsdon, inspector of weights and measures
for the district, deposed that on the 10th June last he
visited the shop of Mr. Freeman and examined all the
weights in the shop. Witness then asked the assistant
if there were no more weights, and he said yes, there was
a 1 4 lb. weight. Witness believed he said it was upstairs.
He then went away and fetched it ; he was away about
a couple of minutes. Witness tested the weight and found
it was 3 drachms deficient.

Chairman of the Bench: Was it a weight that had
been long in use ? — It appeared like it, sir.

Cross-examined by Mr. Glaisyer : The witness said
that he examined the weights in the shop first, and found
them all correct. There was a 1 4 lb. weight in the
shop, and that was right weight.

Mr. Glaisyer : My defence in this case is a very simple
one. It is that this weight, which is admitted by the in¬
spector to have been fetched from upstairs, is not used at all
for the purposes of sale or purchase, but was simply used
by defendant to roughly weigh the ingredients which he
inserts into two substances which he prepares, namely, pig
food and horse powders. It is not used in the shop at all,
and therefore I think there is no case, as this summons
allege^, and is bound to allege, that the weight is used for
trade. Trade by the terms of the Act is stated to be sale
and purchase, and I think if I can prove these facts to the
satisfaction of the bench, that they will see their way
to dismiss the summons. They will bear in mind that
the weights found in defendant’s shop were on the
inspector’s own admission found perfectly accurate, and
that amongst these weights was a 1 4 lb. weight, which
was used by him for selling his goods.

Harry Chard, a servant of the defendant, recollected
the inspector visiting his master’s shop. The superin
tendent came in, and asked for their weights. Witness
put the weights before him that were in the shop. He
tested them, and found them all right. He then asked if
they had not some more weights. Witness said yes, one
14 lb. weight upstairs in the warehouse. He asked witness
to fetch it, and witness told him they did not sell with it,
but only used it for weighing things for pig food and horse
ppwders. He said never mind, you fetch it. Witness said
they only used it for mixing pig food and powders. He
again told him to fetch it, which witness then did, and he
said it was half a drachm light.

Now as a matter of fact is this 14 lb. weight also
kept upstairs ? — Yes.

Is it used to sell by ? — No.

Do you test by it anything that is purchased ? — No.

Is the only purpose for which it is used that of weigh¬

ing substances for mixing into those powders which you
have spoken of ? — Yes.

Had it ever been taken down into the shop for any
other purpose except to be produced to the inspector ? —
No.

Is it never used in the shop ? — Never.

Mr. Glaisyer : I am prepared to call another witness to
verify the boy’s statement if the bench think it necessary.

Chairman of the Bench : The decision of the bench in
this case is that the summons be dismissed, but no costs
will be allowed, as we think the inspector was justified in
the course he has taken.

Mr. Glaisyer : I presume the weight in question will be
returned to the defendant ?

Chairman of the Bench : Yes, certainly.

An Elementary Text Book or Botany. Translated

from the German of Dr. K. Prantl, and revised by

Dr. S. H. Vines. London: W. Swan Sonnenschein

and Allen. 1880.

The natural consequence of examinations is to lead
students to follow in the lines indicated by the questions
asked, and one need only glance at some of the published
questions of the Science School and University examina¬
tions to see that botany has made great strides of late
years, and that it has become necessary to learn many
terms and many ideas only to be found in such recent
text books as Sachs’ and Thome’s, or to search through
the most recent papers in the Journal and Transactions of
the Linnean Society , or other similar publications, if the
knowledge required by the examiners is to be mastered.
But Sachs’ text-book is one rather for reference than for
regular reading, and a work which should equal it in
advanced information, but be more easy to peruse, has for
some time been felt to be a desideratum. Such a one is
now offered to the botanical public, as may be gathered
from the preface, in which Dr. Vines says : — “ This book
was written by Professor Prantl to meet a growing demand
for a work on botany, which, while less voluminous than
the well known * Lehrfeuch ’ of Professor Sachs, should
resemble it in its mode of treatment of the subjects, and
should serve as an introduction to it.” This exactly re¬
presents the character of the present volume, which
gives a kind of bird’s-eye view of the most advanced
botanical knowledge of the present day in a clear and
concise form. The book is divided into four parts, which
treat respectively of the morphology, anatomy, physio¬
logy, and classification of plants.

In the last part the author has adopted Sachs’ classifi¬
cation of the thallophytes in preference to that followed
by Dr. Prantl, regarding the former as being of consider¬
able assistance to the student. That of the higher groups
is based upon the system professed by Alexander Braun.
In morphology the term scorpioid and helicoid, as applied
to inflorescence, are used in a manner exactly opposite to
that understood by the majority of English botanists.

The book is written for the most pirt in a lucid style,
and the typographical arrangements are excellent. In a
few cases only the meaning becomes obscure from the
condensed character of the wording. For instance, a
berry is defined thus : — “ The endocarp is soft and juicy,
as well as the mesocarp, so that the solitary hard seeds
are imbedded in the pericarp.” The descriptions of
fruits, and the explanation of their structure is one of the
least satisfactory portions of the book, and the student
who peruses it will find out for himself a truth which is
generally recognized as regards chemistry, but too often
forgotten by those who attempt to obtain a knowledge of
botany, viz., that there are many facts which can only be
learned by a 'practical course of study under an experi¬
enced teacher, and that books alone are not sufficient
without examination of the objects themselves.

60

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 17, 1630

Tlie plants mentioned as examples of the different
families are, it must be remembered, copied from the
German work, and the remarks cencerning them do not
always apply equally to this country. Thus Lycopodium
annotinum is not one of the “ commonest species which
occur in our woods.” Selaginella licit etica and S. spinulosa
do not occur in this country “ on mountainous districts,
on walls, and on the ground,” and Orthotrichum speciosum
is not “ common on trees ” in this country, nor are Ophrys
myodes and Epipogon Gmelini natives of this country, as
might be supposed from the context.

The grouping of the nearly allied families of plants
into orders is an improvement which will probably
greatly assist the student in obtaining a clearer view of
the relationship of plants, although the changes in names
and the use of new terms will be no welcome addition
to our already overloaded botanical vocabulary, even if
necessary for scientific examinations

The woodcuts are in a few cases difficult to understand,
C.g., the antherozoids of ferns ; but regarded as a whole
the book is one that, in spite of its modest description as
an “ elementary ” text-book, will be welcomed by many
advanced students of botany, and may be safely recom¬
mended as a clear and useful exponent of the views held
by botanists of the present day. Those whose regular
botanical studies are over, but who meet with new terms
not found in many of the text-books which have hitherto
been regarded as standard works, such as zygomorphic,
lysigenous, hypsophyllary, eucyclic, metabolism, etc., will
find this work most useful for reference. It has also the
recommendations of portability, moderate price, clear
type, and lucid explanations of the terms used. The
work will undoubtedly take a high position among
botanical treatises for educational purposes.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

Traits d’Anesth^sie Chirurgicale, contenant la De¬
scription et les Applications de la Mdthode Anesthesique
de M. Paul Bert. Par le docteur J. -B. Roltenstein.
Paris: G. Bailliere and Co. 1880. Erom the Pub¬
lishers.

Annuaire des Specialities Medicares et Pharmaceu-
tiques. Paris. 1880. Erom the Editor.

Jahresbericht uber die Eortschritte der Chemie und
verwandter Theile anderer Wissenschaften. Eur 1878.
Drittes Heft. Giessen: J. Ricker. 1880. Erom the
Publisher.

On Brain and Nerve Exhaustion. “Neurasthenia.”
Its Nature and Curative Treatment. By Thomas
Stretch Dowse, M.D., etc. London : Bailliere,
Tindall and Cox. 1880. Erom the Publishers.

Alcohol Tables, giving for all Specific Gravities, from
l'OOOO to 0*7938, the Percentages of Absolute Alcohol,
by Weight and Volume and of Proof Spirit. Calcu¬
lated by Otto Hehner, F.C.S., E.I.C., etc. London :
J. and A. Churchill. 1880. From the Publishers.

Hotcs anfr (Queries.

[666]. ESS. COCHINEAL. — In reply to the inquiry
of Mr. Cottrill, I recommend the old formula without
any s. v. r., and adding a proportion of chloride of sodium,
as recommended by Mr. Church, Pharmaceutical Journal ,
2nd series, vol. vi., page 552. About half the quantity
of salt there ordered will suffice, and produce an article
which will remain sweet for many months. The fer¬
mentation spoken of is probably effervescence ; this may
be prevented by continuing the ebullition of the liquid
until the effervescence caused by the addition of the acid
salts has ceased.

R. Griffith.

[666]. ESS. COCHINEAL. — In answer to Mr. Cottrill,
I believe the reason which he seeks is that although the
old formula may be followed, the old fashioned alum is
not used. Ammonia alum, the kind in general use, may
and probably does yield traces of free ammonia when
boiled with carbonate of potash, as in making the essence ;
this would induce putridity in animal matter accompany¬
ing it, either in the case given or in others — egg liniments,
for instance.

From this drawback the use of potash alum is entirely
free, and I have now by me a sample of ess. cocci prepared
with potash alum on May 1, 1875, which is covered with a
firm mouldy crust, but is entirely free from taint.

J. F. Brown.

[669] . FROTHING FOR FERMENTED LIQUIDS.
— Will some one be kind enough to furnish “ A ” with a
recipe for making a fluid for giving a permanent head to
ginger beer, ginger ale, ale, beer, and fermented ginger
beer which will keep in any climate and not turn turbid ?

[670] . BLACK WRITING INK.— “Nemo” would
be glad if any reader of the Journal will oblige him with
a formula for making good permanent black writing ink
that would not deposit on keeping, as the ink made from
galla and ferri sulph. does.

jUspcnring Iftcntanroiia.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column was established ,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[434]. R. S. T. will be obliged for information con¬
cerning the following prescription : —

R Quinise Disulph . gr. xxv.

Liq. Ferri Phosph. Magnet. (Light-

foot’s steel) . 3ivss*

Aquse . ad ^iij.

M. ft. mist.

My customer states that it has been made up without
any precipitate. I find the quinine to dissolve almost
entirely in the mixture of liq. ferri phosph. and aq.; but
upon standing, a copious precipitate forms.

Camspaiitrcnte,

No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

X Y. Z. — The formula for the Syrup of the Phosphates
was reprinted in extenso from Parrish’s 4 Practical Pharmacy*
in the Pharmaceutical Journal for April 22, 1871, p. 857.
Applications for books from the library should be sent to
the Librarian.

M. P. S. — We think there are other books better suited
for the purpose, for instance, Attfield’s 1 Chemistry, General,
Medical, and Pharmaceutical’ (Van Voorst).

Nemo. — For recipe for ruby liquid see vol. x., p. 40.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Golding, Harvey, Parker, Richardson, Hughes,
Nemo, Country Druggist, Inquirer.

July 24, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

61

CIjc central Journal

- 4 -

SATURDAY , JULY 24, 1830.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , hooks for review , etc., should he addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should he sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridob, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

A dvertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W,
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Joum.”

COMPANIES AND THE PHARMACY ACT.

After another long trial of patience the question
raised by the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society
in the prosecution of the London and Provincial
Supply Association (Limited), for alleged infringe¬
ment of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, came before the
House of Lords last Tuesday, and after the argu¬
ments of counsel on both sides had lasted during the
greater part of that day and Thursday, the decision
given just at the moment of our going to press has
supported the previous judgment of the Lords
Justices, against which the Pharmaceutical Society
had appealed to the House of Lords.

This litigation is therefore now at an end, and the
result is one leaving the Pharmaceutical Society
powerless to prevent the continuance of limited
liability companies to carry on the business of a
chemist and druggist, so far at least as the Pharmacy
Act, 1868, is concerned, and it now only remains to
consider whether there are not other means by
which the true object and intention of that Act
will admit of being secured. This further question
will doubtless engage at an early period the attention
of the Council and of the Committee that is en¬
trusted with the inquiry into the amendment of the
Pharmacy Acts.

In our present issue we give a full report of the
arguments brought forward by Mr. Benjamin ou
the part of the Pharmaceutical Society during the
first day’s hearing, and in the Journal of next week
we shall publish the remainder of the proceedings,
so that our readers may be able to follow the course
of the arguments on both sides, as well as to become
acquainted with the opinions of the Lord Chancellor
and the other members of the Court of Appeal.
This report will doubtless be read with deep interest
by all members of the trade and will furnish matter
for consideration by local associations of chemists
and druggists, as well as by the Council itself. It
would be premature to speculate now upon the
possible result of these deliberations, and we will
therefore confine ourselves to stating what seems to
be the result of the decision arrived at by the House
of Lords.

Third Series, No. 526.

As regards the contention -of Mr. Benjamin, that
a corporation was not to be excused from compliance
with the provisions of the Pharmacy Act on the
ground that it could not become qualified as the Act
directs, it was argued by him to be most consistent
with the spirit of the Act to hold that a corporation
could not lawfully carry on the business of a chemist
and druggist. But it was held by the House of
Lords that this would be lawful provided that the
persons actually selling or compounding drugs and
medicines were themselves qualified and on the
Register of Chemists and Druggists. Consequently,
the decision of the House of Lords in favour of
limited liability companies being at liberty to carry
on the business of a chemist and druggist is qualified
by the important condition that the persons em¬
ployed by such companies to sell or to compound
meclicines must be qualified in accordance with the
Pharmacy Act. This is certainly calculated to ope¬
rate as some mitigation of the mischief to be appre¬
hended if a limited liability company Avere free to
carry on business altogether independent of the
Pharmacy Act, and Lord Blackburn very clearly
stated his opinion that if such a company had not a
qualified manager to conduct the selling the com¬
pany would be liable under the Act.

To a great extent, therefore, we may take it as
having been established by the decision now given
by the House of Lords that it is in a general way
expedient and desirable for the safety of the public
that the provisions of the Pharmacy Act should be
respected. This question was left open by the
judgment of the Lord Justices, and as we pointed
out in a previous article, it was the question which
chiefly required consideration. The answer now
given to it by the House of Lords may be regarded
as a recognition of the principle which has always
guided the action of the Pharmaceutical Society in
seeking to restrict the conduct of pharmaceutical
business to such persons as were properly qualified
for the purpose.

At the same time it must be stated that, in the
course of the hearing of the appeal, there were some
indications of a tendency to regard the Pharmacy
Act less in the light of a measure for ensuring the
safety of the public than as one for the protection of
a class of traders by upholding for them a monopoly
of the trade in drugs. If, in future, co-operative
stores and limited liability companies are to be free
to carry on the business of a chemist and druggist it
would seem that they must do so in some way under
the supervision of the Pharmaceutical Society similar
to that hitherto exercised by it in regard to indivi¬
dual traders ; and, inasmuch as the existing Phar¬
macy Act does not contain any provisions specifically
relating to the conduct of the business of a chemist
and druggist under such conditions it may be neces¬
sary, by further legislation, to provide for this being
done in a manner consistent with the spirit of the
present Act.

62

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 24, 1880.

Crausactions of f be |j barmaautical

j^oaetir.

EXAMINATIONS IN LONDON.

July 8, 1880.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Ten candidates were examined. Five failed. The
following five passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Bancroft, James . Halifax.

Elborne, William . Grantham.

Fazan, Charles Herbert . Colchester.

F owler, William . Sunderland.

Hardwick, Arthur . Sheffield.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Thirteen candidates were examined. Ten failed. The
following three passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists: —

Alexander, George . Liverpool.

Bakewell, William Whitehorn. .Uttoxeter.

Bell, George . Hull.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

One candidate was examined, but failed to pass.

July 9, 1880.

Present— Mr. Schacht, Vice-President ; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, T. e!
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Eleven candidates were examined. Nine failed. The
following two passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Hooper, David . Southwark.

Slicer, Walter . Bingley.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Fifteen candidates were examined. Eleven failed. The
following four passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Biddles, William Byron . Reading.

Bright, Frederick . Taunton.

Burrows, Richard . London.

Thomas, David Robert . Aberystwith.

July 13, 1880.

Present — Mr. Greenish, President ; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

'Seven candidates were examined. One failed. The
following six passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists

Barnes, James William . Spalding.

Price, Robert John . . . "Wrexham

Smith, John Ord . Scarborough.

Taylor, Fred . Exeter.

Thornton, John . Aldridge.

Wyatt, Charles Frederick .....’.Old Brompton.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Eighteen candidates were examined. Thirteen failed.
The following fire passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : _

Crompton, Henry . Bury.

Elkington, William Alfred . Spalding.

Evans, John . Carnarvon.

Fentiman, Charles Henry . London.

Gibson, Atkin Brewster . Grantham.

July 14, 1880.

Present — Mr. Greenish, President ; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was also present, on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-six candidates were examined. Sixteen failed.
The following ten passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists: —

Freeman, William Harrison ...Leeds.

Grover, Sydney . Lower Norwood.

Hamnett, Thomas . . London.

Harrison, William . . Wisbeach.

Hopkins, John Henry . Leicester.

Knight, Thomas . Nottingham.

Last, Alfred John . Rochford.

Lawson, Arthur . Liverpool.

Leicester, Frederick . . North wich.

Livesey, James Thomas . Preston.

July 15, 1880.

Present —Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was also present, on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Ttventy-six candidates were examined. Sixteen failed.
The following ten passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Matthews, Charles William ...London.

Mears, Henry . Eastover.

Morgan, Albert Hall . Birmingham.

Pearce, Thomas Ellery . Tavistock.

Phipps, Frederick . Birmingham.

Powell, Samuel John . Swansea.

Preston, Henry . Mansfield.

Puntan, Herbert Harding C. ...Turriff.

Rendall, Theodore Stancombe... Torquay.

Wilson, William Joseph . Oxford.

July 16, 1880.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was also present, on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty -three candidates were examined. Nine failed.
The following fourteen passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists :—

Jones, Samuel . . . Flint.

Ross, Andrew Leighton . London.

Routly, John . Brighton.

Slater, William Martin . Ipswich.

Smith, Lewis . Grassendale.

Taberham, Frederick William.. .Wells.

Thompson, James . Hull.

Warner, Matthew Richard . Shrewsbury.

Williams, Charles Edward . Bays water.

Williamson, James . Ash.

Wilson, Thomas Whiting . Harrogate.

Woolcott, John Newton . Sidmouth.

Woolliugs, Frank . London.

Young, Pelham Charles . Salisbury.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned certificates were received in lieu
of the Society’s Examination

Certificate of the University of Cambridge.
Gardner, Frederick William ...Newark.

July 24, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

63

Certificate of the University of Oxford.

Hicks, Joseph . Banbury.

The report of the College of Preceptors on the examina¬
tion held on July 6, was received.

Three hundred and forty-one candidates had presented
themselves for examination, of whom one hundred and
seventy -four had failed. The following one hundred and
sixty -seven passed, and the Registrar was authorized to
place their names upon the Register of Apprentices or
Students : —

(Arranged alphabetically).

Acton, Samuel . Liverpool.

Aubrey, Henry James . Leamington.

Baker, Edmund Gilbert . London.

Barlow, Arthur Edward . Rothwell.

Barratt, Herbert . Snaith.

Bates, John . Manchester.

-Bax, Robert William . Rawtenstall.

Beauchamp, Frederic Crawley... Hemel Hempsted.

Bell, John Henry . Windsor.

Be van, Tom Webb . London.

Bird, John . Manchester.

Birkett, Benjamin Brelesford ...Workington.

Blenkinsop, John . Carlisle.

Bromwich, Edmund George ...Birmingham.

Brown, Charles Ezra . Morley.

Buchan, David Donaldson . Stirling.

Buckley, Walter . Manchester.

Cairns, Peter . ...Galashiels.

Caswell, Joseph Alban . Sedgley.

Cooke, George Harry . Altrincham.

Corrie, Thomas . Moniaive.

Cossins, John Benjamin . Rhyl.

Crofts, Robart . Canterbury.

Crosth waite, Daniel . Blackpool.

Davy, Arthur . Bradford.

Day, Stephen . London.

Day, William . . . Oswestry.

Deans, George . London.

Dell, Frederick Barton . Llanelly.

Dobb, Thomas . Sheffield.

Dorman, George . Ashford.

Dorn, Thomas . Oxford.

Drouet, Harry Anthony . Lower Norwood.

Eastland, John . Margate.

Edington, Alexander . Edinburgh.

Elling worth, Alfred Thomas ...Bromsgrove.

Ellis, Frederic Edward Evans. ..Kettering.

Emms, Sidney Riley Wilson ...Chipping Sodbury.

Evans, Josiah . Pencader.

Fardon, Arthur Edwin . Bristol.

Farrage, William Thomas R. ...Rothbury.

Flanagan, Andrew . Richmond, Surrey.

Fraser, John M . Inverness.

Geary, Frederic Charles . Coalville.

George, Isaac . Great Yarmouth.

Graham, Gilbert . Girvan.

Grant, John Merson . Cullen.

Graves, Richard . London.

Greenwood, William Joseph H. Cirencester.

Griffiths, Cornelius Albert . Cinderford.

Grigor, William George . Edinburgh.

Hay, Arthur . Great Yarmouth.

Haynes, Joseph Alfred . Fairford.

Heale, Henry . London.

Henderson, Isaac . Workington.

Hickinbottom, John William ...Sleaford.

Hill, Edward . Lower Tottenham.

Holloway, William Alfred . Redruth.

Holstius, Otto . London.

Hood, Thomas . Leith.

Hoyles, Henry Richardson . Sheffield.

Hughes, Daniel . Holywell.

Hughes, Joseph . Dyserth.

Hunt, Oliver Kirby . Bath.

Ingle, George . Bradford.

Jackson, Frederick Daniel . Boston.

James, Hugh . Bodedern.

Jamieson, Simpson . St. Andrews.

Johnson, John Mountfort . Leek.

Jones, Evan . London.

Jones, George Henry . Brighton.

Jones, John Edmund . Llanerchymedd,,

Jones. William Alexander . Stoke-on-Trent.

Kay, James Spencer . Rochdale.

Key worth, Alexr. Barrington... Bedford.

Kir dan, Samuel . Blackburn.

Langton, Wm. James Rivers ...Maidstone.

Layman, Ernest Blakesley . Anerley.

Lewis, David John . Aberystwith.

Ligertwood, Alexander L . Johnstone.

Llewellyn, Lewis Herbert . Shrewsbury.

Low, Maxwell . Dumfries.

Lucas, Edward William . Ashbourne.

McGlashan, James . Edinburgh.

McHarg, William Boyd . ...Glasgow.

McKenzie, James . Fochabers.

Manuel, Walter . Grimsby.

Martin, William . Exeter.

Massey, John, junr . Manchester.

Mathieson, Robert . Aberdeen.

Melville, Samuel Lightfoot . Liverpool.

Menzies, Robert . Hardgate.

Mitchell, Leonard Montague ...Bristol.

Molineux, William . Preston.

Morris, John Buchan . Stirling.

Morton, Alexander . . . Edinburgh.

Mossop, Samuel . Ashton-under-Lyne.

Newdick, John . Ashford.

Page, William Armstrong . Ironbridge.

Passmore, William Edwin . Maidstone.

Philpott, Frederick William ...London.

Pirie, James Crichton . Arbroath.

Polack, Emanuel . Rochester.

Pottage, John William Dick ...Edinburgh.

Potter, Charles Compton . London.

Price, John Charles . Taffs Well.

Prince, Henry Rhodes . ...Taunton.

Pullan, Herbert Newman . Low Harrogate.

Rackham, Frederick William... Norwich.

Rainford, Walter . Blackburn.

Reed, John William . St. Helens, Auckland,

Reid, David . Montrose.

Reynolds, Ernest Jame3..Milton-next-Sittingbourne.

Richardson, George . Lancaster.

Roberts, William . Bangor.

Robertson, William . St. Andrews.

Robson, William . Blaydon-on-Tyne.

Rogers, Frank Ashley . Nottingham.

Royston, Arthur S *ymour . Bentley.

Rutherford, Thomas Melvill ...Peterborough.

Saltmarsh, Mark Alfred . Deal.

Sansom, Frederick James . Barrow-in-Furness*

Sayer, Arthur . Huddersfield.

Sharp, Stephen . Hey wood.

Sherburne, John Chester . London.

Slinn, Albert Edward . Rhyl.

Smith, Joe Harry . Keighley.

Smith, Walter Edward . Preston.

Smout, Charles Lickfold . London.

Spong, John Fuller . Leeds.

Stiles, Theodore Mayo . Poole.

Swift, Arthur Hayball . York.

Swinton, Thomas Henry . Crewe.

Tabor, Charles James . London.

Thacker, Harry Ransley . Nottingham.

Thomas, Edward . Garstang.

Thomas, John Abraham . Cardiff.

Thompson, Henry Edward . Sheffield.

Thompson, John Park . Alston.

Thomson, Alexander . Arbroath.

G4

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 24, 1S80.

Thomson, William . Cullen.

Tillett, Arthur John . Market Rasen.

Turnbull, William . Newcastle-on-l yne.

Turner, John F . Ramsgate.

Verity, Harry . Leeds.

Waind, Walter Harry . Kirby Moorside.

Wake, George . Howden.

Wallace, William . Edinburgh.

Walwin, Walter . Warminster.

Ward, Albert Edward . Bradford.

Warner, George 0 . Clifton.

Watts, Joseph Wormall . Brighton.

Weall, George Alexander . Preston.

Wild, Tom Arthur . Hyde.

Wilkinson, Robert . Kirkham.

Wilkinson, Thomas . Crook.

Willcocks, Arthur Squire . Portsea.

Williams, Alfred Griffiths . Hereford.

Williamson, Leonard Wright ...Darlington.

Wilson, James . Chesterfield.

Wilson, John Herbert . Downham Market.

Wood, James Beaumont . Huddersfield.

Woodcock, Page Ilornor . Norwich.

Woods, Joseph James Birkett...Tunstall.

Wright, David Morgan . Kirkcaldy.

Wyatt, William . Mansfield.

Young, Arthur . London.

The questions for the examination were as follows: —

Time allowed : Three Hours for the three subjects.

I. LATIN.

1. Translate into English the following passages: —

A. Ariovistus ad postulata Caesaris respondit : se prius
in Galliam venisse, quam Populum Romanum. Nun-
quam ante hoc tempus exercitum Populi Romani Galliae
provinciae fines egressum. Quid sibi vellet ? Cur in
suas possessiones veniret ? Provinciam suam hanc esse
Galliam, sicut illaui nostram. Ut ipsi concedi non
oporteret, si in nostros fines impetum faceret, sic item
nos esse iniquos, qui in suo jure se interpellaremus.

B. Itaque priusquam quicquam conaretur, Divitiacum
ad se vocari jubet et, quotidianis interpretibus remotis,
per Caium Valerium Procillum, principem Galliae pro¬
vinciae, farniliarem suum, cui summam omnium rerum
fidem habebaJ, cum eo colloquitur : simul commonefacit,
quae ipso j l’aesente in concilio Gallorum de Dumnorige
sint dicta, et ostendit, quae separatim quisque de eo apud
se dixerit : petit atque hortatur, ut sine ejus offensione
animi vel ipse de eo, causa cognita, statuat, vel civitatem
statuere jubeat.

2. Name the deponent verbs in the above extracts,
and give the present, perfect and infinitive of each.

3. Decline in full se, hoc, ill am, ipsi, nos, qui, occurring
in extract A. What is the person of qui ?

4. Translate into Latin: — (i.) At the break of day
Caesar was distant from the camp of the enemy not
further than fifteen hundred paces, (ii.) Having heard
of the arrival of Caesar, Ariovistus sent ambassadors to
him. (iii.) Then at length Ariovistus sent a part of his
forces to attack the smaller camp, and there was sharp
fighting on both sides until the evening.

II. ARITHMETIC.

[The working of these examples, as well as the answers,
must be wiitten out in full.]

5. A mixture is made of 6 gallons of spirit at 12s. 6d.
per gallon, 4 gallons at 18s. 9(7., and 10 gallons at
22s. 8c7. ; what is the value of a gallon of it ?

6. Find the value of f -~-l£— |-j-3-|ar.

7. Divide 15 by 625, by 6’25, and by ’625.

8. If the tax on a rent of £25 is £2 10s, what will it
be on a rent of £10 9s. 4 \d.

9. How are the gramme and the litre, the units of
weight and capacity, related to the metre , the unit of
length ?

III. ENGLISH.

10. Define a Pronoun. Classify Pronouns. Give the
inflexions of the Personal Pronouns.

11. State clearly the difference between the four
present forms — “ I write,” “ I am writing,” “ I have
written,” and “ I have been writing,” — in respect of (a)
the duration ; (b) the incompleteness or completeness of
the action.

12. Name some verbs which are followed by the
infinitive without “to.”

13. Parse the works in italics: — “Travel not early,
before thy judgment be risen; lest thou observe rather
shows than substance.”

14. Write a short composition on one of the following
subjects : —

“ The advantages of using the metric system,”

“ The elements of a good character,”

“ How to ventilate a room,”

“ Bicycling.”

The following is a list of the centres at which the
examination was held, showing the number of candidates
at each centre and the result : — -

Candidates.

a T3

•d

TJ

QJ

G <d
* G

'H

c$

*3

PL.

&•

Aberdeen .

... 8

0

3

Birmingham...

...17

6

11

Brighton .

... 5

2

3

Bristol .

...15

7

8

Cambridge . .

... 1

1

o

Canterbury ..

...11

7

4

Cardiff .

... 3

3

0

Carlisle .

... 8

4

4

Carmarthen ..

... 4

3

1

Carnarvon ..

...10

6

4

Cheltenham . .

... 1

1

0

Darlington ..

... 7

3

4

Dundee .

.. 7

4

3

Edinburgh ...

...27

11

16

Exeter .

... 4

1

3

Glasgow .

...11

7

4

Hull .

... 3

0

3

Inverness .

... 1

1

0

Candidates.

1

0 •
S'?

■d

0)

00

H3

0>

X S

CD

X

Cu

N

Lancaster .

.13

8

5

Leeds .

.15

8

7

Lincoln .

. 7

3

4

Liverpool .

.18

4

14

London .

.46

23

23

Manchester .

.23

16

7

N e wcastle - on-T.

10

2

8

Northampton ..

h"

. /

3

4

Norwich .

.11

5

6

Nottingham .

.12

3

9

Oxford .

. 3

2

1

Peterborough ..

. 3

1

2

Sheffield .

.13

8

5

Shrew’s bury .

. 4

2

2

Southampton . .

. 5

2

3

Truro .

. 1

1

0

Worcester .

. 1

1

0

York .

. 6

3

’

3

EXAMINATIONS IN EDINBURGH.

July 13, 14 and 15, 1880.

Present — Messrs. Ainslie, Borland, Cilmour, Kemp,
Kinninmont, Stephenson and Young.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

13 th.—Two candidates were examined. One failed.
The undermentioned passed, and w-as declared qualified
to be registered as a Pharmaceutical Chemist : — -
Hardie, James Miller . . Dundee.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

13£/i. — Nine candidates were examined. Five failed.
The following four passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Dick, James Miller . Edinburgh.

Dyer, Charles Frederick . High Wycombe.

Eunson, John . . Kirkwall.

Sanderson, William John . Edinburgh.

lith. — Nine candidates were examined. Three failed.
The following six passed, and wrere declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Farquhar, Robert Forbes . Aberdeen.

Fleming, Ebenezer . Castle Douglas.

Grant, Alexander . Cullen.

Hughes, John Smith . Spalding.

Kerr, William . Edinburgh.

Kinross, William Malloch . Edinburgh.

15 th. — Ten candidates were examined. Four failed

July 24, 1SS0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

65

The following six passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Bowman, George Fell . London.

McNiven, James . Edinburgh.

Nettleship, Thomas William ...Bawtry.

Ray, William Frederic . Westerham.

Walker, Thomas Farmery .......York.

Westwater, George . Lochgelly.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

15t7i. — Two candidates were examined. One failed.
The undermentioned passed, and was declared qualified
to be registered as a Chemist and Druggist : —

McLaren, David . Edinburgh.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

The Certificate of the University of Glasgow in favour of
the undermentioned was received in lieu of the Society’s
examination : —

Martyn, James . Airdrie.

Harliamentarg imb ^ato ^Irombiiigs,

The Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain v.
The London and Provincial Supply Association.

This case was opened in the House of Lords on Tuesday
July 20, 1880, before the Lord Chancellor, Lord Black¬
burn and Lord Watson.

The counsel for the Appellants were Sir John HolkeT,
Q.C., Mr. Benjamin, Q.C., and Mr. Lumley Smith, Q.C.,
instructed by Messrs. Flux, Slade and Co., Solicitors to
the Pharmaceutical Society. The counsel for the Respon¬
dents were Mr. Wills, Q.C., and Mr. Finlay.

Mr. Benjamin : My lords, this case was argued both
in the Divisional Court and in the Court of Appeal, by
Sir John Holker, who leads me in the case, and I hope
and have reason to believe he will be able to appear
before I finish the opening. He is in an important case
in Manchester, and I hope he is on his way now, but he
has not arrived, and, therefore, it becomes necessary for
me to take his place in opening the case. My lords,
the amount in dispute in this case is £5, but the question
is whether the Act of Parliament, providing protection
for Her Majesty’s subjects with regard to the sale of
poisons is to become a dead letter, as it would be made
according to our contention by the decision appealed
from, given by Her Majesty’s Court of Appeal, or
whether it should be treated as an Act protecting the
lives of the subjects, as determined by the Court of
Queen’s Bench. The shortest mode for me to bring
your lordships’ attention to the facts of the case will
be by referring to the special case, which you will find
at page 10 of the Appendix, which was stated by the
judge of the county court, the late lamented Mr. Lake
Russell: — “ This action was brought in the Bloomsbury
County Court to recover a penalty under section 15 of an
Act of 81 and 32 Vic. c. 121, intituled ‘The Pharmacy
Act, 1868.’ The plaintiffs are a corporation duly incor¬
porated in the year 1843 by Royal Charter (which was
confirmed by the Pharmacy Act, 15 and 16 Vic. c. 56),
and entitled under section 12 of the said Pharmacy Act,
15 and 16 Vic. c. 56, to sue for penalties in the county
court. The defendants are a company registered under
the Companies Acts, 1862 and 1867, as a limited com¬
pany, with a nominal capital of £10,000 divided into
1000 shares of £10 each, of which one William Mackness
holds 564 shares fully paid up. Six persons (one of
whom was Henry Edward Longmore) hold five shares
each, with £2 10s. paid on each share. Three persons
hold one share each with £2 10s. paid on each share, and
the remaining shares are unallotted. The register of the
shareholders was put in evidence, and a copy of it may
be referred to as part of this case. The said company
was registered on the 29th January, 1878, and was
formed, inter alia , 1 To purchase or acquire the trade or

business of a wholesale and retail grocer and general
warehouseman, then carried on by Mr. William Mack¬
ness at No. 113, Tottenham Court Road, Middlesex.’ A
copy of the memorandum and articles of association of
the company was put in evidence, and may be referred
to as part of this case. The said William Mackness is
the managing director of the said company. He is not a
duly registered pharmaceutical chemist or chemist and
druggist within the meaning of the said Pharmacy Act,
1868. Henry Edward Longmore is the only shareholder
who is a ‘pharmaceutical chemist’ or ‘chemist and drug¬
gist,’ within the meaning of the Pharmacy Act, 1868.
The business of the said company is carried on at 113,
Tottenham Court Road aforesaid, and includes, amongst
other departments for the sale of various goods, a chemist
and druggist’s shop or drug department, which is an open
shop for the retailing, dispensing and compounding poisons
within the meaning of the Pharmacy Act, 1863. The
said poisons are sold to the public, and not merely to
members of the defendant company. The said Henry
Edward Longmore is, and at the time of the sales of
poisons hereinafter mentioned was, a duly registered
chemist and druggist within the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
and the business of the said drug department was at the
several times aforesaid and is conducted by the said
Henry Edward Longmore, with the aid of two qualified
assistants. The said Henry Edward Longmore (with the
aid aforesaid) at the times aforesaid attended and still
attends regularly to the said drug department, and to
nothing else, and he and his assistants were and are the
servants of the defendants, the company, and paid by
salary or wages. On the 4th of February, 1878, the said
Henry Edward Longmore, acting on behalf of the de¬
fendants, sold at the said premises two pennyworth of
oxalic acid. On the 19th of March, 1878, the said Henry
Edward Longmore, acting on behalf of the defendants,
sold at the said premises solution of perchloride of mer¬
cury, as an ingredient in a prescription then made up by
him. On the 20th of March, 1878, the said Henry
Edward Longmore, acting on behalf of the defendants,
sold at the said premises a pennyworth of white
precipitate. All the articles mentioned in paragraphs
8, 9, 10 and 11 inclusive, are poisons, within the
meaning of section 15 of the Pharmacy Act, 1868.”
Then follow the judge’s notes ; but I do not think it
desirable to read them ; if my friends think it necessary
they can read them. The findings of the county court
judge are quite sufficient to raise the point on which
your lordships’ judgment is solicited. Paragraph 14,
page 16, of the case proceeds : — “ On the part of the
defendants it was contended, first, that as the business of
their drug department w’as conducted by the said H. E.
Longmore, who was a duly registered chemist and drug¬
gist, the defendants had not incurred any penalty under
the said section. Second, that even if it were otherwise
the defendants, as an incorporated company, are not
within the said Pharmacy Act, 1868.” It is this second
contention, which has been maintained by the Appeal
Court, which, as we say, practically destroys the entire
value of the Act for protecting the subject against the
sale of poisons. “ It was on behalf of the plaintiffs con¬
tended, first, that as the defendants kept an open shop
for the retailing, dispensing and compounding of poisons,
and as the said H. E. Longmore did not keep the said
shop, and did not sell poisons therein on his own account,
but as the servant and on account of the defendants, the
defendants had incurred the penalties mentioned in the
said section ; and, secondly, that an incorporated company
is within the Pharmacy Act, 1868. I decided that ac¬
cording to the true construction of the Pharmacy Act,
1868, and upon the facts of this case, no offence within the
Act was committed by or on the part of defendants, the
company, and that the defendants, the company, had not
incurred, and were not liable to any penalty under the Act.”

Lord Watson : It does not appear there very clearly
what view he took of the subject.

66

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 24, 18S0

Mr. Benjamin: His judgment is here, my lord, but I
hardly think it necessary to read it, because I understand
my learned friends on the other side do not rely on it.
His view of what was done was not a contravention of
the statute, but I believe that point will not be main¬
tained. The second point on which my friend relies is that
the Act does not include an incorporate company, and that
therefore any incorporated company may sell poisons as
they please without reference to the terms of the Act.

Lord Blackburn : The corporation are not liable to a
penalty; but as they cannot sell poisons without em¬
ploying qualified persons, I do not think it would destroy
the Act so thoroughly. I do not think the decision
destroys the Act so thoroughly as you say.

Mr. Benjamin : Of course, that point will come later.
I think it does, that it is an absolute destruction of the
Act; because there is nothing to prevent the incorpo¬
rated company from having little boys to sell their drugs,
and it would be perfectly impossible to sue the little boys
for the penalties, or to attempt to check the sale by
seeking for penalties against lads in a shop who sell one
pennyworth of oxalic acid to a customer.

The Lord Chancellor: As I understand, the learned
judge who stated this case proceeded on the ground that
Longmore being a duly registered chemist and druggist, the
defendants had not incurred any penalty under the statute.

Mr. Benjamin : Quite so, my lord, but that over¬
looked one clause in the Act, and I think my learned
friend Mr. Wills will not contend that the learned judge’s
view was right ; because the A ct punishes not only the
sale of the poisons, but it punishes the keeping of a shop
open for the sale of poisons to the public, which it is ex¬
pressly found in this case that the defendants did.

The Lord Chancellor : But, as I understand — I do
not know whether I am right or not — I thought they
would have been liable, but for the fact that Longmore
was a duly registered chemist and druggist.

Mr. Benjamin : Longmore was the one that sold, and
it might be possible to contend that it only applied to him,
but they overlooked the clause in the Act which makes
it penal to keep open shop, and Longmore did not keep
open shop ; he was a servant there.

The Lord Chancellor: Is the Act printed here, or
the material clauses of it, or will you give me a reference
to it, and I will send for it?

Mr. Benjamin : My lord, we have here some smaller
volumes, which will be convenient to your lordships. All
the Acts are there, my lord. It is necessary to call your
lordships’ attention first to the Act of 1852. It is the
15 and 16 Yict. cap. 56. Now, my lords, that is an Act
for regulatingthe qualification of pharmaceutical chemists;
“Whereas it is expedient for the safety of the public that
persons exercising the business or calling of pharmaceuti¬
cal chemists in Great Britain should possess a competent
practical knowledge of pharmaceutical and general che¬
mistry.” Then it goes on and organizes the Society, and
about half way down the preamble it says this, “and
whereas it is expedient to prevent ignorant and incompe¬
tent persons from assuming the title of or pretending to
be pharmaceutical chemists or pharmaceutists in Great
Britain, or members of the said Pharmaceutical Society,
and to that end it is desirable that all persons before as¬
suming such title should be duly examined as to their skill
and knowledge by competent persons and that a register
should be kept,” and so forth. Then it is enacted, first,
that the charter granted to this Society is confirmed save
as altered. Then the Council are authorized to make
bye-laws. Then by Section 8 they are empowered to
conduct examinations of persons who present themselves
for examination under the provisions of this Act, in their
knowledge of the Latin language, botany, materia medica
and in pharmaceutical and general chemistry, and such other
subjects as may from time to time be determined. Then
the examiners are to be appointed. Then Section 12 says :
“From and after the passing of this Act, it shall not be
lawful for any person not being duly registered as a

pharmaceutical chemist according to the provisions of
this Act to assume or use the title of pharmaceutical
chemist or pharmaceutist in any part of Great Britain, or
to assume, use, or exhibit any name, title, or sign imply¬
ing that he is registered under this Act, or that he is a
member of the said Society, and if any person not being
duly registered under, this Act shall assume or use the
title of pharmaceutical chemist or pharmaceutist, or shall
use, assume, or exhibit any name, title, or sign implying
that he is a person registered under this Act, or that he
is a member of the said Society, every such person shall
be liable to a penalty of £5, and such penalty may be re¬
covered by the Registrar to be appointed under this Act
in the name and by the authority of the said Society in
manner following, that is to say : In England or Wales,
by plaint under the provisions of any Act in force for
the more easy recovery of small debts and demands.”
Now, my lords, in the years 1867 and 1868 a great deal of
excitement arose from the effect of the sale of poisons
with fatal consequences in shops of persons incompetent, and
Parliament passed an Act, the purpose of which is stated in
most emphatic words in the very first words of the pream¬
ble. It is an Act to regulate the sale of poisons and to alter
and amend the Pharmacy Act, 1852. “ Whereas it is ex¬

pedient for the safety of the public that persons keeping
open shop for the retailing, dispensing or compounding of
poisons, and persons known as chemists and druggists,
should possess a competent practical knowledge of their
business and to that end and from and after the day
herein named all persons not already engaged in such
business should before commencing such business be duly
examined as to their practical knowledge, and that a
register should be kept as herein provided, and also that
the Act passed in the 15th and 16th years of the reign
of Her present Majesty, intituled an Act for regulating
the qualification of pharmaceutical chemists, hereinafter
described as the Pharmacy Act, should be amended.”
Now, the first section is this : “ From and after the 31st
day of December, 1868, it shall be unlawful for any person
to sell or keep open shop for retailing, dispensing or com¬
pounding poisons, or to assume or use the title ‘ chemist
and druggist,’ or chemist or druggist, or pharmaceutical
or dispensing chemist or druggist, in any part of Great
Britain, unless such person shall be a pharmaceutical
chemist or a chemist and druggist within the meaning of
this Act and be registered under this Act and conform to
such regulations as to the keeping, dispensing and selling
of such poisons as may from time to time be prescribed
by the Pharmaceutical Society with the consent of the
Privy Council.” The Privy Council is made a party to
this Act in a number of sections for the protection of the
public.

The Lord Chancellor : Is there any clause in the Act
providing for companies in one way or the other ?

Mr. Benjamin: No, my lord, not in one way or the other.

The Lord Chancellor : Your argument is that no
company can be a qualified person, and on the other
hand they say that no company dealing in poisons is
within the Act. Is not that so ?

Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord.

Lord Blackburn : Before this Act there were com¬
panies of apothecaries. There was the Apothecaries’
Company of Liverpool, who were a corporation, and the
Apothecaries’ Company of London. Was it intended to
say that they should no longer sell drugs and medicines ?

The Lord Chancellor : The Society of Apothecaries in
London is incorporated.

Mr. Benjamin : I am going to call attention to these
societies. For them there is a special Act, and I shall
have to call your attention specifically to those Acts.
There is no prohibition against any of these companies
selling drugs and medicines. They may sell drugs and
medicines.

The Lord Chancellor : Providing there is no ingredient
of a poisonous character in them. Are there any
medicines of which you can say that ?

July 24, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

67

Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord ; castor oil is not a
poison. A list of poisons is given, and everything else is
exempt.

Lord Blackburn : You say they may sell drugs and
medicines, but they shall not sell them if they contain
any of these drugs which have some poisons in them. If
it is so, they will never be able to dispense their
prescriptions.

Mr. Benjamin : I do not know, my lord, whether they
would or not ; but whether they would or not, the
question is whether they are prohibited by this Act from
selling poisons. What we contend is that there is
absolutely nothing to prevent their going on with the
ordinary business in drugs, only when any prescription is
called for containing poison, they must say you must go
to a pharmaceutical chemist.

Lord Watson : The schedule mentions a great many.

The Lord Chancellor: “Emetric tartar, opium, chloro¬
form.”

Mr. Benjamin: Yes, my lord, “corrosive sublimate,
cantharides, cyanide of potassium, strychnine, arsenic
and prussic acid.” You must not deal in these things.
Nobody is to deal in these things but a man who has
been properly educated.

Lord Blackburn : Then unless there be some special
legislation, the Society of Apothecaries or any other
corporation would have that part of their trade taken
away from them.

Mr. Benjamin : Your lordship, I think, is quite mis¬
taken in assuming that. The Society of Apothecaries
is composed exclusively of persons who have undergone
this examination.

Lord Blackburn : They have undergone an examina¬
tion, but the corporation has not. The person who occupies
the open shop has not undergone the examination.

Mr. Benjamin : That is quite true ; but the persons
who keep the open shop, that is the corporation, is
composed of persons exclusively who can. To go into
that would take me away from following this Act, which
is really the Act which is submitted for your lordships’
interpretation. I have just read the 1st section. Then
the 2nd section provides for a schedule of what are
poisons within the meaning of the Act. Then the 3rd
section says : “ Chemists and druggists within the meaning
of this Act shall consist of all persons who at any time
before the passing of this Act have carried on, in Great
Britain, the business of a chemist and druggist, in keeping
of open shop for the compounding of the prescriptions of
duly qualified medical practitioners, also of all assistants
and associates who, before the passing of this Act shall
have been duly registered under or according to the
provisions of the Pharmacy Act, and also of all such
persons as may be duly registered under this Act.” You
seethe words “ all persons.” If persons mean corpora¬
tions, as we say it does, a number of societies your lord-
ship has spoken of are saved by the Act itself.

The Lord Chancellor : Because they kept a shop before ?

Mr. Benjamin: Yes, my lord.

Lord Blackburn : I do not quite see that.

Mr. Benjamin : Chemists and druggists within the
meaning of this Act shall mean persons. If “ persons ”
means corporations, it means those carrying on business
before the Act.

Lord Blackburn : No ; the obvious meaning is the
person who has been acting as a chemist shall without
further examination be deemed to be qualified. But
now people must go through a new examination. It
never means anything so extremely eccentric as to say
that a corporation such as the Pharmaceutical Society
may be deemed a qualified chemist and druggist.

Lord Watson : It seems to include the several persons
who are duly qualified under the Act of 1852.

The Lord Chancellor : I do not know. The preamble
begins by saying that from the day named all persons
not already engaged in business shall be examined, and
so on. Then the first section says that nobody shall sell

these things unless he, inter alia, is a chemist and
druggist within the meaning of the Act. If that clause
extends to corporations in existence before, I do not
quite see why the persons in the 3rd section, where it
says persons who at any time before the passing of this
Act have carried on business as chemists and druggists,
and so on, shall be chemists and druggists within the Act.
Therefore it is not unlawful for them to sell poisons under
the 1st section.

Mr. Benjamin : Those are merely collateral points, my
lord, because the real question is whether it is now lawful
for any company whatever, including all these supply
associations, to have an establishment for the sale of
poisons.

The Lord Chancellor: The sale to be effected by
persons really qualified, selling by that person’s agency.
That seems to be the view in the respondents’ case.

Mr Benjamin: That is the view* in the respondents’
case. What we contend is, that the Act does not apply to
corporations, and therefore if it does not apply to cor¬
porations at all they could not have qualified persons.

Lord Blackburn : If they do not have qualified persons
could you not proceed against the director who employed
an unqualified person to sell ?

Mr. Benjamin : I am not concerned to inquire whether
the directors are liable. I dare say they are. But our
contention is that a corporation keeps an open shop for
the sale of poisons.

Lord Blackburn : I quite understand it. I quite
follow it. I was only a little hesitating as to your state¬
ment, which seemed rather calculated to frighten the
House, that the Act would be a dead letter.

Mr. Benjamin: It occurs to me that it would, my
lord.

Lord Watson: You say that the offence of selling and
the offence of keeping open shop are two distinct
offences.

Mr. Benjamin : Quite so, my lord ; they are quite
distinct offences. It is most important to keep them
separate, because I think there must be some ambiguity
in relation to the person who is liable for selling, although
it may possibly be contended that the individual who
sold, and not the master for whom he sold, was the
person selling. There can be no doubt or hesitation
upon the question as to who it is who keeps the open
shop. The servant does not keep the open shcp. It is
the master that keeps the open shop.

Lord Blackburn : Surely there is no ambiguity. The
one selling is the master.

Mr. Benjamin : I am quite willing to accept that,
although there is something in the 17th section which
would seem to make that a little doubtful. You will
find in the 17th section this statement: “It shall be
unlawful to sell any poison either by wholesale or retail,
unless the box, bottle, vessel, wrapper or cover in which
such poison is contained be distinctly labelled with the
name of the article and the word ‘ poison,’ and with the
name and address of the seller.” And a little further
down : “ And for the purposes of this section the person
on whose behalf any sale is made by any apprentice or
servant shall be deemed to be the seller ; but the provi¬
sions of this section, which are solely applicable to poisons
in the first part of the schedule (A) to this Act, or which
require that the label shall contain the name and address
of the seller, shall not apply to articles to be exported.”
It has been argued, and your lordship will see that one
of the arguments in the case is, that inasmuch as in the
17th section it is specially provided that for the purpose
of that section the person on whose behalf the sale is
made is to be deemed the seller, that therefore in the
other sections of the Act — that is the argument — the
seller means the servant who sells, not the master on
whose behalf he sells. I do not think the argument is a
good one, but I call attention to it as a reason why I
speak of our contention. Our contention is this. Our
contention is that keeping open shop for the sale of

68

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 24, 1SS0.

poison to the public, which is what has been done by the
finding of this case by this company, is an offence. Have
they a right to do that ? because if they are not under
the Act they can do it without a qualified person. There¬
fore, in that sense we say the whole protection of Her
Majesty’s subjects is gone, if the whole of the co-opera¬
tive societies of all sorts which are springing up, as well
as anybody who chooses, like this gentleman, who wras a
grocer, and chose to take in five or six persons with a
small qualification, and convert himself into a limited
company — anybody, under the decision as it stands, as
we contend, could open a shop, and is not bound by the
Act ; therefore, all the precautions against the sale of poi¬
sons provided by the Act of Parliament become nugatory.
Then, my lords, there is another section which provides
that the Society may sue in the same way as the former
Act provided. That being the condition of the legislation,
I call your lordships’ attention to the judgment of the
county court judge. He made one or two mistakes in
his judgment which he corrected afterwards in his state¬
ment of the case. The statement of the case, therefore,
gives the facts; but the judgment of the learned judge
is this : “ Now the question is, whether a company of
this sort, in which a shareholder is not a registered
chemist and druggist, is at liberty to sell poisons without
committing an offence under the Act of Parliament and
incurring the penalty imposed by it.” He then recites
section 1 and sections 15 and 16: “In addition to that,
my attention was also called to an earlier Act for the
construction of statutes, in which it says that in certain
cases the word ‘ person ’ shall include a corporate body.
Upon that it was contended that this corporate body, in¬
cluding persons who are not duly qualified chemists and
druggists, could not carry on such business without
incurring the penalties imposed by the Act. Now, the
first thing that strikes one is, that if Mr. Longmore had
sold these things for himself alone he would not have
committed any offence whatever.” That is true. “ He
is a duly qualified man, and if he had kept an open shop
and sold poisons he was duly qualified to do that, and it
would be no offence whatever. However, it is said that
it was committing an offence, because the business was
so conducted that money is acquired, and the profit so
made goes into the pockets of other people. That ob¬
viously is not within the mischief intended to be remedied
by the Act. I have carefully considered it, and have
availed myself of the very able argument of Mr. Plux
on the part of the plaintiffs, but the result I have come
to is that it is not an offence within the Act when done
in the manner this has been done.” He has entirely
overlooked section 1 which makes it an offence to keep
an open shop. “ It does not become unlawful when done
on behalf of the company, so long as the business is con¬
ducted by a duly qualified chemist and druggist, who, if
carrying it on for his own benefit, would not be within
the penalties of the Act. It is not within the mischief
intended to be prevented, and I am of opinion that no
offence within the Act, therefore, was committed.”
Therefore, my lords, he does not determine the second
question, whether the Act applies to a corporation. He
says what has been done has been done by a qualified
man, overlooking the fact, that a qualified man although
he sold did not keep open shop, and therefore keeping
open shop was the offence for which the penalty
was sought to be recovered. Your lordships will find the
plaint with the particulars at page 5. The plaint is this:
“ Between the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain, by Elias Bremridge, the Registrar of the
Society, by the authority of the Council, and the London
and Provincial Supply Association, Limited. The follow¬
ing are the particulars of the plaintiffs’ demand herein :
To amount of penalty incurred by the defendants in
selling or keeping an open shop for the retailing, dis¬
pensing or compounding poisons.”

The Lord Chancellor : I do not know whether any
technical rule applies to the construction of these plaints,

but you will observe that the offence of selling is not
alleged nor keeping open shop. It is selling, or keeping
open shop.

Mr. Benjamin : It is using the language of the section.

The Lord Chancellor : There seems to be no averment
on the face of the plaint that he did either one thing or
the other.

Mr. Benjamin: It goes on, “to wit, red oxide of
mercury.”

The Lord Chancellor : There is no averment there.
The plaint is — I do not know whether there is anything
in it — but there is no statement that they are sued
because they sold or a statement that they are sued
because they kept an open shop, but it is for a penalty
iucurred in “selling or keeping an open shop.”

Mr. Benjamin: Keeping open shop for the sale of.

Tbe Lord Chancellor: The “ or ” is disjunctive, which
makes it uncertain what they are charged with.

Mr. Benjamin : That is not one of the points which is
submitted by the case. The case only submits two
questions to the Court.

Lord Watson: They are not alternative, they are
really a cumulative charge.

Lord Blackburn : The distinction between the act of
selling which was done by a qualified servant and the act
of keeping open shop does not seem to have occurred
until after the county court judge had given his
decision.

Mr. Benjamin : He says the two points were argued
before him. He puts the question for the decision of the
Court at page 17.

The Lord Chancellor: I should almost doubt. I do
not know whether the question of keeping open the shop
as distinct from selling was argued before him. At page
7 he says. “ The question is whether a company of this
sort in which a shareholder is not a registered chemist
and druggist is at liberty to sell poisons.”

Mr. Benjamin : At page 17, he says distinctly the
point was before him, and he submits it to the Court —
“The questions for the decision of the Court are: 1st.
Whether or not a registered company comprising share¬
holders who are not duly registered pharmaceutical
chemists or chemists and druggists keeping an open shop
for the retailing, dispensing or compounding poisons — ”

The Lord Chancellor : Is there no doubt ?

Mr. Benjamin : “ — and employing therein a duly re¬
gistered pharmaceutical chemist or chemist and druggist,
to conduct the business, is liable to a penalty under the
15th section of the Pharmacy Act, 1868. And 2nd.
Whether an incorporated company is within the Phar¬
macy Act, 1868. Those are the two questions. Judg¬
ment is to be entered for the plaintiffs for £5, with
costs, or for the defendants, with costs, according as the
Court may answer these questions.” Then there is the
memorandum and articles of association, but I do not
think anything turns on them beyond merely to point
this out, that under the decision, if a company is not
under the Act, then anybody can by the help of five or
six servants or friends taking a share apiece keep open
a shop for the sale of poisons, he himself not being qualified.

Lord Blackburn : Would there be any very great harm
in that if he took care to have a qualified person to serve ?

Mr. Benjamin : But if the Act does not apply to him
he need not have a qualified man.

Lord Blackburn : If he had not a qualified manager I
should apprehend hp would be clearly liable to a penalty
for selling.

Mr. Benjamin : My lord, if it is a company and that
is not within the Act, how are they liable ?

Lord Blackburn : The directors.

Mr. Benjamin: I am not speaking of the directors
but of the company. It is the company that keep open
shop. If it does, the question is whether the Act reaches
a company. It has been held by the Court of Appeal
that the Act does not reach a company. If that be the
case, anybody who wants to sell may form just such an

July 24^1680.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

69

association as this man did with six or seven friends with
a share apiece.

Lord Blackburn : What struck me was this, it is very
probable they will not incur a penalty as a corporation,
but I see no reason why every one of the unqualified
men should not be liable to a penalty and therefore the
Act would prevent them just as before. It would be
only different in form.

Mr. ~Pp.nja.min : It is possible when we came to sue a
director he would say, I keep no open shop.

Lord Blackburn: But though he would not sell he
might have kept an open shop. If this Mr. Mackness
were not to employ a qualified person but an unqualified
person to sell and you brought an action against him to
recover a penalty for that he caused an unqualified
person to sell, I do not see, at present, why you should
not succeed.

Mr. Benjamin : Some of the judges think he would
not be liable.

Lord Watson: I understand Mr. Benjamin’s contention
to be that no person or aggregate of persons can keep a
shop although they conduct the business that is carried
on in that shop by mean of a registered person.

Lord Blackburn : That is the contention.

Mr. Benjamin: Yes, my lord. Now, my lords, here is
the judgment of the Divisional Court. The Lord Chief
Justice and Mr. Justice Mellor were both of opinion that
this penalty had been incurred, and was properly sued for.

[The Court adjourned for a short time.]

Mr. Benjamin : My lords, I was about to read the
judgment of the Court of Queen’s Bench. I need not
read the first part, which is simply a re-statement of the
facts which I have put before your lordships. The Lord
Chief Justice says “Upon this state of facts the question
presents itself whether the defendant company as such is
amenable to the penal enactments of the statute. It was
fully admitted on the argument, nor could it be contested,
that, if this had been an ordinary partnership, the
individual partners, at all events such of them as were
not qualified under the statute, would have incurred the
penalties it imposes. The intention of the Legislature
appears clearly to have been to prevent any shop or
establishment to exist for the sale of poisons, except
under the immediate superintendence and control of
a duly qualified proprietor. It is not enough that the
proprietor employs a qualified person to manage the busi¬
ness. The master must himself be duly qualified. Two
parties could not combine to carry on the joint business
of grocer and chemist, though the one attending to the
latter department of the business might be a qualified
chemist. There would be nothing to insure in such a
case that, in the absence of the qualified partner, the other
might not take upon himself to act in his stead, and thus
the security against fatal mistakes in the dispensation of
medicines which the statute was intended to insure might
be seriously compromised. The defendants are, therefore,
within the scope of this legislation ; the case comes within
the evil against which the statute was intended to provide
a remedy. But they are said not to be within the statute
as being an incorporated company ; the main ground on
which this contention rests being that the Act in ques¬
tion, in its prohibitory as well as penal clauses, uses the
term ‘ person,’ a term which, it is contended, cannot be
properly applied to a corporate body. The objection thus
founded on the use of the word ‘person’ in the penal
clauses of the Act would seem at first sight to present some
difficulty, but when the scope and purpose of this legisla¬
tion are taken into account the difficulty does not appear
to be insuperable. Reliance was placed by the Attorney-
General, in his argument in support of the appeal, on the
enactment of the 14th section of the 7 and 8 Geo. IV., c.
28, that whenever any statute relating to any offence,
whether punishable by indictment or summary conviction,
in describing the offence or the offender, uses words im¬
porting the singular number or the masculine gender only,
it shall be understood to include several matters as well

as one matter, several persons as well as one person, males
as well as females and bodies corporate as well as indi¬
viduals, unless it be otherwise specially provided, or there
be something in the subject or context repugnant to such
construction. But that Act is expressly confined to pro¬
ceedings on indictment or summary conviction, and,
therefore, cannot apply here, where the proceeding is by
civil action. It shows, no doubt, the disposition of the
Legislature to include corporations under the general
designation of person or individual in penal statutes,
but the terms of the Act will not admit of its application
to the present case. To solve the question, we must
therefore confine our attention to the statute itself, on
which this action is brought.”

The Lord Chancellor : You have said nothing on this
subject of the General Act for the Interpretation of
Statutes.

Mr. Benjamin : That is Lord Brougham’s Act.

The Lord Chancellor : Yes.

Mr. Benjamin : Lord Brougham’s Act has nothing on
this particular point. I will call your lordships’ atten¬
tion to what that has presently. “ That an incorporated
company is within the mischief against which this legis¬
lation was directed is, I cannot help thinking, quite
obvious. If a company, by reason of its being incor¬
porated, is not within the provisions of the Act and
amenable to its penalties, and effect is to be given to the
argument of Mr. Wills, it necessarily follows that such a
company might openly carry on the business of chemists
and druggists and sell poisons without a single member
of the company, or even the person employed to conduct
this portion of their business, being qualified. The
person actually selling the poisons might be amenable,
and it was probably with a view to avoid this that, in
the present instance, a qualified person was employed to
manage this department of the defendants’ business ;
but the company employing him would enjoy complete
immunity. A person desiring to combine the business of
a chemist and druggist with that of a grocer would have
only to get one or two persons to join him, providing
them with a share or two, as appears to have been done
in the formation of this company, and so forming an in¬
corporated company, to set the statute at defiance. It
cannot be supposed that the Legislature can have con¬
templated a result so entirely at variance with the policy
and purpose of the Act.”

Lord Blackburn : Was the purpose of the Act to secure
the monopoly of all dealings and transactions in these
things to apothecaries, or to secure that there should be
skilled persons concerned in the sale of drugs ? because
they are two very opposite purposes.

Mr. Benjamin : My lord, I protest very submissively
against the use of the word “ drugs.” The Act speaks
of poisons.

Lord Blackburn : Poisons, if you prefer it.

Lord Watson: Poisonous drugs.

Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord.

Lord Blackburn : The greater portion of the reasoning
of the Lord Chief Justice goes to this, that inasmuch as
in order to secure that qualified persons shall attend to
these matters, the Legislature thought fit to say, perhaps
from intention or perhaps by oversight, that no one shall
keep open shop except a qualified person ; it, therefore,
follows that the object of the Act was to prevent any¬
one carrying on that business. The Legislature has
accidentally said probably, that if a man dies, leaving
the goodwill of his business to his wife, that she shall
not carry it on, which is rather hard, but that is an
accident from what they were intending. The Lord
Chief Justice reasons as if the principal object of the
Act was to give a monopoly to the qualified chemist.

Mr. Benjamin: That is the odium or prejudice at¬
tempted to be cast against this prosecution no doubt.
We submit it is not even matter of prejudice, that the
prosecution has nothing to do with the general business
of a druggist, that there are a thousand things which a

70

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 24, 1880.

druggist may sell, but it is only certain poisons which the
Legislature deemed dangerous to the public, and the sale
of which, or probably even keeping open a shop for the
sale of which it has laid down certain precautions. The
one question is whether in that Act, which is plain
enough in its words, the word “ person ” includes cor¬
porations. I apprehend, my lords, that no one will
doubt that if I were to hire a shop in Oxford Street and
keep a qualified person there to sell poisonous drugs,
coming with the purview of this Act I should be liable.

Lord Blackburn: You would be brought within the
letter of the Act.

Mr. Benjamin : I should be within the Act.

Lord Blackburn: Whether you would be brought within
the spirit of it, so that the words should be stretched to
include the case of a body corporate when carrying on
such a business, which is what the Lord Chief Justice
seemed to think, is not, to my'mind, quite so clear.

Mr. Benjamin : I will come back to that presently ; I
do not think it will require any stretching. I shall give
well-established decisions that the word “person” must
mean corporations.

The Lord Chancellor: There is only one difficulty
which has occurred to me, Mr. Benjamin, and I shall be
glad if you will meet it ; that is this: the 1st section says it
shall be unlawful to do these things unless such person
shall be a pharmaceutical chemist or chemist and drug¬
gist within the meaning of this Act, and registered as
such. I suppose that a corporation cannot be a pharma¬
ceutical chemist or a chemist and druggist within the
meaning of this Act, unless you would say that the 3rd
section might include corporations which before the Act
were carrying on business as chemists and druggists.

Mr. Benjamin: My lord, I have not yet called your
attention to the 15th section: “From and after the 31st
day of December, 1868, any person who shall sell or keep
open shop for the retailing, dispensing, or compounding
poisons, or who shall take, use, or exhibit the name or
title of chemist and druggist, or chemist or druggist, not
being a duly registered pharmaceutical chemist or chemist
and druggist” (leaving out other things), “shall for every
such offence be liable to pay a penalty or sum of £5.”

The Lord Chancellor : That so far would be equal to
the same thing. What has been passing through my
mind is this, and I will put it in the form of a question.
Can the word “person” in this clause include the word
“corporation,” if it is impossible for the corporation to do
the thing which the clauses seem to assume that the
person may, if he pleases, do %

Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord, that is another part
of my argument. That is the question before your lord-
ships. We say that the true meaning of the clauses is,
no shops shall be kept open for the sale of poisons to the
public except by a person duly registered as a pharmaceu¬
tical chemist or chemist and druggist.

The Lord Chancellor : In other words, it shall be im¬
possible for any joint stock company to deal with these
things.

Mr. Benjamin : It is to be impossible for anybody but
a pharmaceutical chemist or chemist and druggist.

The Lord Chancellor: As a joint stock company can¬
not be, although anybody in the world may be, a phar¬
maceutical chemist, there is, whether intended or not, an
exclusion of all joint stock companies from this business.

Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord, as there is an exclusion
of every other subject of Her Majesty except that one.

Lord Watson: The other subjects of Her Majesty can
qualify ; a corporation cannot.

The Lord Chancellor: A partnership might be formed,
we will suppose, exclusively of pharmaceutical chemists,
yet, according to your argument, it would be equally
impossible for it to carry on this business.

Mr. Benjamin : A partnership ?

The Lord Chancellor: Yes; assume it a part of the
memorandum or articles of association that no one should
hold shares who was not qualified.

Mr. Benjamin : Your lordship is speaking of a company.
I was thinking of a partnership.

The Lord Chancellor : A company, that no one should
hold shares who was not qualified under this Act, and, as
a matter of fact, every shareholder might be so qualified,
and yet your argument still is that such a corporation
is excluded from carrying on business.

Mr. Benjamin: I say the Act means this, and nothing
else : no one shall keep an open shop for the sale of poisons
except a registered pharmaceutical chemist — that that is
the whole meaning of the Act.

The Lord Chancellor: You may be quite right.

Mr. Benjamin : I think when you come to compare
the provisions of the Act your lordship will come to that
conclusion ; at least, I hope so. At all events, there are
two eminent judges who came to that conclusion, although
other eminent judges have come to the contrary. I will
now go on with the judgment of the Lord Chief Justice :
“ A person desiring to combine the business of a chemist
and druggist with that of a grocer would have only to
get one or two persons to join him, providing them with
a share or two, as appears to have been done in the
formation of this company, and so forming an incor¬
porated company, to set the statute at defiance. It
cannot be supposed that the Legislature can have
contemplated a result so entirely at variance with
the policy and purpose of the Act, or intended to place
incorporated companies on a different footing in this
respect from that of ordinary partnerships or individuals.
It is, no doubt, possible that, although joint stock com¬
panies existed at the time this statute was passed, the
formation of such companies for the purpose of combining
trades hitherto carried on singly, and among other things
for that of superadding the business of the chemist to that
of the grocer or provision merchant, may not have been
present to the minds of those who framed and passed this
statute. Still, if the case, though unforeseen, is within
the mischief which the Legislature had in view, and the
enactment is large enough to embrace it without any
forced or strained construction being put on the language
of the Act, it is our duty to advance the remedy intended
to be afforded. It is true that the term used in the 1st
section of the Act is ‘persons,’ and that, ordinarily
speaking, this word would not be applicable to a corpora¬
tion.” The Lord Chief Justice puts the case lower than
I should contend for. I say, ordinarily speaking “person”
is applicable to a corporation. “ But when the meaning
and effect of the enactment is looked at without too close
an adherence to its precise phraseology, it amounts to no
less than a general prohibition to everyone not qualified
according to the Act from dealing in poisons or carrying
on the business of a chemist and druggist.”

Lord Watson: He means retail dealing, of course, in
using that term.

Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord; he means what the Act
poiuts out, retailing the poisons to the public. “ The
fallacy of the argument urged on behalf of the defendants
is that it assumes that the prohibition is addressed to
individual persons ; but the provision being universal,
must extend to all persons, whether acting in an
individual or corporate capacity. The defendants, it is
true, in thus infringing the law are not acting in their
individual capacity, and may not (but on this it is
unnecessary to pronounce any opinion) be liable indi¬
vidually. But in their aggregate or corporate capacity
they are breaking the law, and being in the latter
capacity, as well as individually, within the prohibition
they must, if capable of being sued for it, be also amenable
to the penalty, and must for this purpose be taken to be
sufficiently persons within the meaning of the statute.
The fact so strenuously insisted on by Mr. Wills, that,
in other sections of the Act, the word ‘ person ’ is
applicable to individual persons only, and not to a
corporate body, only tends to show that the adoption of
the business of chemists and druggists by incorporated
companies like the present was not contemplated wh n

J*ily 24, 1380.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

71

the Act was passed. It by no means shows that the
prohibition being general and the mischief being clearly
within the statute, the company, though as such they
may be incapable of complying with some of its require¬
ments — as, for instance, to undergo examination under
section 6 — ought not to be held to be within the penal
clauses of the Act, or should be allowed openly to break
the law under the belief that they are beyond its reach.
In the present case, it so happens that a member of the
oompany, and who manages the chemical department of its
business, Mr. Henry Edward Longmore, is a qualified
chemist. But it is not as a member of the company that
he so acts, but as the paid servant of the company. It is
clear, therefore, that his being qualified will not exonerate
the other members of the company who are not so. Nor
would it be otherwise even if it were as a member of the
company that he so acted. So long as any of the company
are disqualified, the body is disqualified ; and the one
who, though himself qualified, acts for the body becomes
a party to their offence, and becomes liable conjointly
with them. The qualified chemist who, in partnership
with a grocer, carried on the business of grocer and
•chemist, would be as liable to the statutory penalty as his
unqualified partner.” The learned judge here is speaking
of an apothecary who takes a partner.

Lord Blackburn : Is there anything in the Act which
says that if a qualified person is carrying on business he
shall be subject to a penalty for carrying on a business
with an open shop because he has an unqualified partner ?
It does not seem to me very reasonable, I do not know
why it is to be assumed that is intended.

Lord Watson : There is no provision for the separation
of the trade of selling drugs, or poisons.

Mr. Benjamin: No, the prohibition is to the open shop
to sell poisons.

Lord Blackburn : Exactly so, and it has been worded
to the extent that, as far as I can see, if A. dies leaving
the goodwill of his business to his widow that destroys it.
The widdW cannot carry on the business.

Mr. Benjamin : There is a special provision for that.

Lord Blackburn : Where is that ? It may throw some
light on the point.

Mr. Benjamin: In section 16 : “ Nothing hereinbefore
■contained shall extend to or interfere with the business
of any legally qualified apothecary or of any member of
the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons of Great
Britain, nor with the making or dealing in patent medi¬
cines, nor with the business of wholesale dealers in sup¬
plying poisons in the ordinary course of wholesale dealing,
and upon the decease of any pharmaceutical chemist or
chemist and druggist actually in business at the time of
his death, it shall be lawful for any executor, admin¬
istrator- or trustee of the estate of such pharmaceutical
chemist or chemist and druggist to continue such busi¬
ness if and so long only as such business shall be bond
fide conducted by a duly qualified assistant, and a duly
•qualified assistant within the meaning of this clause,
shall be a pharmaceutical chemist or a chemist and
druggist registered by the registrar under the Pharmacy
Act or this Act : Provided always, that registration
under this Act shall not entitle any person so registered
to practise medicine or surgery, or any branch of medicine
or surgery.” That is, on the decease of course the widow
would have to sell out the business in the ordinary way,
but the business is not to be destroyed. That hardship is
provided against.

Lord Blackburn : It is provided for in her case that
she shall carry it on with a qualified assistant.

Mr. Benjamin : That is one of the grounds on which
we rest. We contend that this special exception in favour
of a widow, who is not qualified, carrying on with a
Qualified assistant, is strongly in our favour.

The Lord Chancellor : The widow who remains executor
or administrator.

Mr. Benjamin: “Any executor, administrator, or
trustee.”

Lord Blackburn: It is to meet the hardship of that
particular case.

Mr. Benjamin: It is the solitary case provided in the
Act in which a person not qualified may carry on the
business, and that is only on certain specified terms. It
must be bond fide conducted by a duly qualified assistant,
and the duly qualified assistant is a pharmaceutical
chemist or chemist and druggist registered under the
provisions of this Act.

The Lord Chancellor : It is not material whether the
Lord Chief J ustice was authorized or not in saying that
a qualified chemist who, in partnership with a grocer,
carried on the business of a grocer and chemist, would be
held liable to the statutory penalty. I fail in finding
any words in the Act which justify it, but probably it is
not very important.

Mr. Benjamin : It may perhaps be doubtful, because
the industry of my learned friend has picked out an old
case, a curious case, the very first case ever decided by
Lord Mansfield, in which Reynard sued Chase. It is a
case of Reynard v. Chase, reported in first Burrows. In
that case it was for infringing the statute for carrying on
the business of a brewer. One of the two partners was
a brewer and the other was not, but it was expressly
found in the case that the business of brewing was
cari'ied on by the qualified brewer, who was paid for it
by the partnership as a paid servant, and after he had
carried on the business of brewing then the profits were
divided between the partners. Under the special cir¬
cumstances Lord Mansfield held that the unqualified
partner was not liable to be sued.

The Lord Chancellor: Not the unqualified partner ?

Mr. Benjamin: Because he took no part in the brewing
whatever.

Lord Blackburn : I was not aware there was any Act
with regard to a qualified brewer. Perhaps it turned on
the words of the Act.

Mr. Benjamin: It did not require a qualified brewer.
It was one of the old Acts of the city of London which
prohibited anyone carrying on a trade without having
gone through a proper apprenticeship. One of the men
had gone through an apprenticeship, and become a brewer
in that sense, and the Court, consisting of Lord Mansfield
and his associates, held that the other partner was really
not doing business as a brewer.

The Lord Chancellor : As I understand, it was held
that in a case in which one of two partners was legally quali¬
fied, the benefit of his qualification enured to the other.

Mr. Benjamin : It did not go quite to that extent. I
will show your lordship exactly what it was. It was
found that the one who was not qualified was not
breaking the statute if he took no part in brewing.

The Lord Chancellor : It is certain that the corporation
takes no part in selling the poison, except in the sense in
which the partner would.

Mr. Benjamin : I always go back to this, the corpora¬
tion keep the shop open.

Lord Watson : In that case the business of brewing
was in this sense carried on by the partners, that they
drew the profits. It seems to have been held to satisfy
the statute that they carried on business exclusively by
means of a qualified person to whom they delegated the
practical part of the business.

Mr. Benjamin : The statute was simply this, it pro¬
hibited any person not having passed his apprenticeship,
from pursuing a particular trade.

The Lord Chancellor : It is the prohibition of anyone
not answering a certain description from pursuing a
particular trade.

Lord Watson : A retail brewing business. What they
have done here is a retail trade in poisons, according to
your contention.

Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord.

Lord Watson : You say no man shall carry it on
although he delegates the whole conduct of the business
to a qualified man.

72

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 24, 1880.

• Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord, that is what the statute
says. But here there is no qualified partner.

The Lord Chancellor : You may draw a distinction
between a partnership and a corporation, no doubt.

Lord Blackburn : The Lord Chief J ustice’s indignation
is against a man carrying on the trade of a chemist and
a grocer in one and the same partnership. I confess I do
not myself see it.

Mr. Benjamin : The indignation there of the Legisla¬
ture is against the sale of poisons to the public. That is
what he was dealing with in the particular case. The
illustration may not be as applicable as it might have
been otherwise. The Lord Chief Justice goes on: —
“ Being thus of opinion that a company, though incor¬
porated, is none the less within the prohibition of the
statute, I come to the remaining question, whether
such a company is capable of being sued for the
penalty provided by the 15th section. Upon this point
the authorities referred to by the Attorney- General in
his argument appear to me to afford a satisfactory
answer. Although it is true that a corporation cannot
be indicted for treason or felony, it was established by
the case of Reg. v. The Birmingham and Gloucester
Railway Company that an incorporated company might
be indicted for nonfeasance, in omitting to perform a
duty imposed by statute — such as that of making arches
to connect lands severed by the defendants’ railway. It
was further held, in Reg. v. The Great Northern of
England Railway Company, that an incorporated com¬
pany could be indicted for misfeasance — as in cutting
through and obstructing a highway — though they could
not be indicted for treason or felony or offences against
the person. In the present instance we are dealing, not
with an indictment or information, but with an action in
a civil court. Though the sum to be recovered is no doubt
a penalty for the infraction of the statute, the means to
be resorted to for its recovei'y are of a purely civil character.
If a corporation can be indicted for misfeasance, I am
wholly at a loss to see why it may not be proceeded against
in a civil suit for the recovery of a penalty which it has
incurred by disobedience to a statutory prohibition.”
Then, my lord, came the judgment of Mr. Justice Mellor.
He says “ I have come, with considerable hesitation,
to the conclusion that our judgment should be for the
plaintiffs, and that both questions submitted to us must
be answered in their favour. I was for some time
inclined to think that the circumstances of the de¬
fendants’ case were not within the contemplation of
Parliament when the Pharmacy Act, 1868, was passed,
and that although clearly within the mischief intended
to be provided against, words sufficiently comprehensive
had not been used in framing the Act to include the acts
of the defendants, and that, consequently, it became a
casus omissus. A fuller consideration of the provisions
of the Act 31 and 32 Vic., cap. 121, has, however, brought
me to the same conclusion as that expressed by my Lord
Chief Justice in his judgment in this case. I think that
the great object of the Legislature was to prevent the
sale of poisonous or dangerous drugs by persons not quali¬
fied by skill or experience to deal in such commodities.
It, therefore, proposed to form into one association all
persons who for the future should alone be deemed to
deal in the same, and who should be registered under the
provisions of the Act which we are now considering. It
accordingly provided for the interests of all chemists and
druggists who had been in business as such previously to
the passing of the Act, but with regard to the future it
made careful provision for the examination and registra¬
tion of all persons who should in future form the only
qualified body of persons who should be permitted to
keep open shop for the retailing or compounding of poi¬
sons, and I now think that the sections which mainly
embarrassed me as to the extent of the prohibitive sec¬
tions are really, when carefully considered, only the
provisions regulating the steps which in future are to be
taken by all persons who desire to obtain the privilege

of keeping open shop and retailing, dispensing or
compounding the poisonous drugs in question, and)
who, upon being registered as pharmaceutical chemists,,
or chemists and druggists, within the provisions of the
Act, will become qualified so to do. To incorporate such
a society, to whose members in future the sole privilege
of keeping open shop as chemists, or chemists and drug¬
gists, for the sale, or dispensing or compounding poisons
should be intrusted, rendered it necessary to prohibit all
other persons, not so registered or qualified, from keeping-
open shop or retailing, dispensing or compounding such
drugs for sale, and from assuming the title of pharma¬
ceutical chemist, or chemist and druggist, and, therefore,
whilst one set of sections are qualifying and intended to-
regulate for the future the mode in which persons should
become qualified as members of the association, and to-
provide for the government of the body incorporated, the
sections 1 and 15 of the Act which contain the prohibi¬
tory words, upon the meaning of which we have to decide,
have an entirely distinct effect. The object of those
sections is absolutely to prevent the danger assumed to be
likely to arise to the public by the keeping open shop
for the retailing, dispensing or compounding poisons, by
any persons not being qualified pharmaceutical chemists,
or chemists and druggists, and the intention and scope of
those sections and the general object of the Act is ab¬
solutely to exclude, from the time of the passing of the-
Act, all persons other than the registered members of the-
Pharmaceutical Society from keeping open shop or re¬
tailing, dispensing or compounding of poisons. Now,
before the passing of the Act, 1868, all persons, whether
‘natural persons’ or ‘artificial persons’ constituted by
incorporation for trading purposes, might either as in¬
dividuals or as corporations have kept open shops and
retailed, dispensed or compounded poisons. It was es¬
sential, therefore, to the effectuating the objects of the-
Act, that all persons, whether natural or artificial, should
for the future be prevented from dealing as before in the
prohibited matters; and the cases cited by the Attorney-
General in his argumeut show that an incorporated com¬
pany may commit an offence either of nonfeasance or
misfeasance, and may be punished by indictment for
the same as if the act had been done by a natural person.
We may well, therefore, interpret the word ‘person’
in the 1st and 15th sections so as to include not only any
natural persons, but any artificial person created by tho
law, which would be capable of committing the offence
referred to in the 15th section, as having committed it by
the course of proceeding actually adopted by the de¬
fendants ; and we are authorized upon the principle of
decided cases to say not only the ‘ offence ’ has been
committed by the defendants, but that they are liable to*
be punished for it under the provisions of the 15th
section.” Then my friend Mr. Wills asked for leave to appeal,
and the Lord Chief Justice says: “I think, looking to
the importance of the question involved, you ought to
have leave to appeal. I confess I give it to you with
reluctance, because no one can doubt for a single moment
that if the law is to be established by that Act of
Parliament, your company are just as much within the
mischief of it as an ordinary partnership; at the same time,
the matter is not so free from doubt as that I think you-
ought to have leave to appeal.” Now, my lords, on appeal
from that came the judgments of the Lords Justices ra¬
the Court of Appeal. Lord Justice Bramwell says t
“ I am of opinion that this appeal must be allowed.
I think the word ‘ person ’ in section 15 of the Pharmacy
Act, 1868, does not include a corporation. That the
word ‘ person ’ may include corporation I will not
deny, though at the same time, considering the way
in which statutes are now drawn, that when ‘ corpo¬
ration ’ is meant it is always named, at least that
there is no modern instance to the contrary, and that
when the Legislature made a general interpretation
clause that ‘ person ’ should be male and female, plural
and singular, etc., it did not include ‘corporation,’ X

July 24, 1S80]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

73

should be reluctant to hold that in any particular statute
‘ person ’ included ‘ corporation,’ unless there was strong
reason so to do. In this case there is, in my opinion, no
such reason, but the contrary. Sections 1 and 15 of the
Act create an ‘ offence ’ and provide for its punishment.
But for section 15, section 1 would create a misdemeanor
punishable by indictment, fine and imprisonment. But
offences, certainly offences of commission, are the offences
of individuals, not of corporations. A corporation cannot
have the mem rea.” The whole of that I venture to say
is contrary to authority and contrary to the common
law. “ I do not say that a corporation cannot be guilty
of an offence of nonfeasance — it certainly can be ; and it
has been so held as to a misfeasance ; but though if the
Legislature pleased it might enact that a corporation
should in a certain event be taken to have committed an
offence, the presumption is that in speaking of ‘ offenders ’
it speaks of individuals. If a statute were to say that
any person publishing a libel should be guilty of an
offence, or that no person should publish a libel, a corpo¬
rate printing company publishing a libel would not be
guilty in its corporate capacity.” My lords, I venture to
say that that is unsound law on the authorities. “ But
the individuals publishing would be the offenders. So for
instance as to the sale of beer and spirits.” Just take
that illustration, suppose a corporation should undertake
to sell beer or spirits on the ground that because the Beer
and Spirit Act said “ persons ” they were not within it.

The Lord Chancellor : Suppose a newspaper published
a libel, and it was carried on, as many newspapers are, by
a joint stock company, would there be an action for libel
against the paper?

Mr. Benjamin : Most unquestionably, my lord. I
think the case books are full of such cases. I think I
shall call your lordships’ attention to specific authorities
•on the subject. I think throughout this judgment Lord
Justice Bramwell has started with a wrong basis, that
the law is sustained by authorizing that the word “ per¬
sons ” always includes “corporations” when by the
context it is not evident that corporation was intended
to be excluded.

Lord Blackburn : I confess I, like you, rather think the
reasoning of the Lord Justice is a little beside the
question and not quite accurate. I always myself thought
that the law was that a corporation could commit an
offence as much as an individual.

Mr. Benjamin: Take this very example, for instance,
of the sale of beer and spirits : “ No doubt, if there was
strong reason for saying ‘ person ’ in this statute meant
* corporation,’ one ought so to hold. As, for example, if
the mischief to be prevented could not be otherwise.
But that is not so here. For the individual offender may
be got at.” With all submission, that is no reason at all.

If the servant or shopman of a corporation sells poison,
not being a pharmaceutical chemist and registered under
the Act, it will be no answer to an action for the penalty
to say that he did it as servant, whether of an indi¬
vidual or a corporation not qualified. If the act is in
itself unlawful, it is not the less so because done as
servant. If it would be lawful because the servant was
qualified, though his employer was not, I think the
statute is shown to be all the more reasonable, as in that
case a corporation is on the same footing as a partnership,
and there is no reason why it should not be. It may be
asked, how is the ‘ keeping open shop ’ to be reached ;
the servants do not keep it open ? ” His lordship’s answer
is, “ No, but the directors or managers do ; they are the
•offenders in that case.” " That is not, as I submit, an
answer to the charge found in the special case, “ That
this corporation kept open shop.” “ I cannot see how
they could deny that they kept open this shop. They do
— they do it in fact.” Then it is the directors who are
keeping open the shop, not the corporation, according to
■his lordship. How about a director who is not present ?

Lord Blackburn : I do not quite follow the Lord
Justice Bramwell ’s decision when he seems to think that

if it were shown that the directors or manager commit
an offence it follows that the corporation do not. I
confess I should have thought that as to a body corporate
committing a nuisance, if you could indict the individuals
I do not see that it would follow that the corporation
would not be indictable.

Mr. Benjamin : If you look at the next sentence it is
a direct denial of a whole series of authorities. “ If they
committed a public nuisance by smells, vapours or other¬
wise in the preparation, or (if supposable) in the sale of
theirs drugs, they and not the corporation would be
indictable.”

Lord Blackburn : My impression certainly is that
they and the corporation too would be liable.

Mr. Benjamin: My lord, indictments of corporations for
nuisances is one of the commonest things in the practice
of the law. Then his lordship goes on : — “I see no
reason then for including ‘corporation’ in the word
‘person.’ I see many the other way. It is remarkable
that in this particular statute ‘person’ never includes
‘corporation’ in any other section.” Mr. Justice Mellor
had pointed out that there are a series of the sections,
providing for the future examination and admission of
individuals into the Society. Of course those sections
have no reference to corporations ; they are not going
to submit to examination or qualifications.

Lord Blackburn : No, but the great thing that strikes
me about it is, that in every other instance, I think, but the
1st section, where the word “ person ” is used, it always
is implied that the person is a man who can go through
the examination and can become a chemist.

Mr. Benjamin: My lord, my answer to that is, that I
submit that is conclusive in our favour, because the Act
assumes that the offence is to be committed by a person
who could go through the examination. It is clear then
that the corporation is a person that could not go through
the examination, and is not intended by the Act to be
one of the persons who is to keep the open shop. I will
call your attention presently to the authorities as well as
to the passages in the Act itself, which I have not yet
called critical attention to. Then his lordship says : —
“ It is manifest that ‘ persons ’ in the preamble keeping
open shops, and ‘ persons ’ known as chemists and drug¬
gists, means individuals ; for they are ‘ persons ’ who it
is expedient should possess a competent practical know¬
ledge of their business. A corporation as such cannot
possess a competent practical knowledge.” Of course,
the conclusion then drawn is that it may keep an open
shop. I should draw the opposite conclusion. “ Then
such ‘ persons ’ are to be examined, It is manifest
‘ persons’ there does not include corporations ; why should
it in section 1 ? So ‘ persons ’ in section 3 who have been
assistants cannot include corporations nor the ‘person’ in
section 4 who is to be of full age, nor the ‘ persons ’ in
section 5 who had been admitted pharmaceutical chemists,
for no corporation had been, nor the ‘ person ’ in section
6, for a corporation never could have a certificate of com¬
petent skill, nor the ‘person’ in section 10, who is a
person that may die. In short, ‘person,’ in no other
section of this Act included corporation. Further than
this, I am by no means certain that the statute is not
levelled at the individual acting, and not (at least in all
cases) his employer. Who would be liable under section
15 for compounding medicines of the British Pharmaco¬
poeia otherwise than according to its formularies ?
Surely the actual person compounding. Section 16
supposes there may be a qualified assistant, and not a
qualified master. Again, section 17, which especially
provides that for certain matters the master is liable,
seems to suppose that otherwise he would not be.”
That is the passage to which I called attention.

Lord Blackburn : Is that the real effect of section 17?

Mr. Benjamin : I do not think it is so at all, my lord.
Perhaps it will be as well to look at section 17 now, just
in this connection. What section 17 says, is this: “It
shall be unlawful to sell any poison of those which are in

74

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 24 1SS0.

the first part of schedule A to this Act, or may hereafter
he added thereto under section 2 of this Act, to any per¬
son unknown to the seller.” You see there it becomes abso¬
lutely necessary to know who is meant by the seller; it is a
man who has not put on the wrapper, or cover, or label 1
Is he the person meant as the one who is to know the per¬
son applying, or is it the master? The Act says : “To any
person unknown to the seller unless introduced by some
person known to the seller, and on every sale of any such
article the seller shall before delivery make, or cause to
be made, an entry in a book to be kept for that purpose,
stating in the form set forth in schedule F to this Act,
the date of the sale, the name and address of the pur¬
chaser, the name and quantity of the article sold, and the
purpose for which it is stated by the purchaser to be re¬
quired, to which entry the signature of the purchaser and of
the person, if any, who introduced him shall be affixed ; and
any person selling poison otherwise than is herein provided
shall upon a summary conviction before two justices of the
peace in England, or the sheriff in Scotland, be liable to
a penalty not exceeding £5, for the first offence, and to a
penalty not exceeding £10, for the second or any sub¬
sequent offence ; and for the purposes of this section the
person on whose behalf any sale is made by any appren¬
tice or servant shall be deemed to be the seller.” There¬
fore that is proceeding no doubt on the assumption that
the sale would be made on all occasions by the master ;
but as this is in relation to a particular procedure to be
adopted in the sale, that is to say wrapping up the box or
bottle with the particular wrapper and cover and mark¬
ing it poison, and that the person shall be known to the
seller, it was thought necessary, perhaps from excess of
caution, to say that when we are speaking of this section
we mean the master ; we do not mean it is enough that
the person shall be known to the apprentice who sells it ;
we do not mean it is enough that the apprentice knows
him ; we mean that the master shall be responsible, even
if the apprentice does not put the proper label on.

Lord Watson: How does a man come to be known to
a corporation.

Mr. Benjamin : He cannot be known to a corporation.

Lord Blackburn : It is not a very good specimen of
legislation. Does it mean when it says the seller shall
be deemed to be the person on whose behalf the sale is
made more than that when the label is put on you are
not to put the name of the apprentice, but to put the
name of the master ?

Mr. Benjamin : You see just above, it says you shall
not sell to anybody you do not know.

Lord Blackburn : Exactly.

Mr. Benjamin : Then they say, when we say you shall
not sell to any person you do not know or who is not
introduced by somebody you know, we mean the master,
not the apprentice.

Lord Blackburn : That I have some little doubt about.
A statement that the seller shall mean the master, the
employer, not the employed, is very much more germane
to the requirement that the name of the seller shall be on
the label.

Mr. Benjamin : It says “ shall not sell to any person
unknown to the seller unless introduced by some person
known to the seller.” That clearly implies that the
precautions used for the public against the sale of poisons
are not simply that the man who keeps the open shop for
the sale must be qualified ; but he shall not, even although
qualified, sell to the public at large, except under certain
precautions, and the first thing is, before he sells to
anybody, he must know the person to whom he is selling.

Lord Watson : Or know that his master knows him.

Mr. Benjamin: Yes, my lord; or if the person is un¬
known to the master, then the unknown person cannot
get poison unless introduced by somebody that is known.

Lord Blackburn : I confess —I do not know that it is
very material — but I should have a difficulty in construing
section 17 to say that if you have a qualified assistant
who sells, and a person comes in and asks for a penny¬

worth of oxalic acid and that qualified assistant knows
him perfectly well, he is obliged to say I cannot sell it
unless you know the master.

Lord Watson: Strictly, I rather think it would be so
according to the terms of it. This clause of the statute
seems to contemplate sales by a qualified person.

Mr. Benjamin : Then, my lord, there are two things
that the Act is prohibiting. We are not here on the open
shop question ; we are supposing a man keeping an open
shop who is really qualified, but that is not enough to
protect the public. He shall not sell to anybody that
comes in.

Lord Blackburn: We are assuming here that the right
people keep open the shop and that the right person is
selling. I suggested, but that is a good deal beside the
present question, I believe, that this referred to the label.

Lord Watson: It comes very much to this, that the
clause cannot well apply to a corporation selling.

Mr. Benjamin : Quite so, my lord, and that therefore
if what is required to keep open a shop and to sell poisons
is that which this section says must be done in the sale of
poisons, then the corporation cannot sell, because it
cannot comply with the provisions of the Act which point
out what is to be done when a person, one of the public.,
comes into the shop and asks for poison.

Lord Watson : You may found an argument either
way. You may say the Legislature intended to exclude
corporations dealing in these articles by retail or that
it had not these corporations in view in framing the law.

Mr. Benjamin: It is possible to take that view; but
then I should say we see by the preamble what is in¬
tended — to restrict and check the public sale of poisons
to any customer that may come in. It goes very far in
support of the opinion of the Lord Chief Justice and Mr.
Justice Mellor, who think there is no doubt that the
whole purview of the Act was to prevent the public
going into a shop to buy poison from being poisoned by
the incompetency of the proprietors or assistants.

The Lord Chancellor: Suppose there is a corporation
carrying on this kind of business ; it seems material that
the words “ known to the seller ” may be capable of a
sensible interpretation. A regular customer certainly
would be known to the seller, although the seller could
only act by his agents. Supposing in any other Act of
Parliament the same words were used, where there was
no question about the right of a corporation to carry on a
business, the person with whom they had regular dealings,
to whom they delivered goods, paid for his goods, and
knew in any sense in which a corporation can know
anything, would not he be a person known to the seller ?

Mr. Benjamin : I think he would, my lord, I am bound
to say; but at the same time, I think when you look at
the 17th section it contemplates an individual person —
the person who is selling, the individual who is selling,
and the public who is going to buy the poison.

Lord Blackburn : It probably does. Surely you would
not say that in the case of a man who has carried on a
business and died, and it was carried on by his executor or
through a qualified assistant, and a person going in
known to that qualified assistant, that it was a breach
of the Act because he did not know the executor, who
might be thirty miles away.

Mr. Benjamin : No, my lord. I should say in the
question as to the executor, it would be there considered
that inasmuch as that particular case had been provided
for, this particular requisition in section 17 could not be
enforced.

The Lord Chancellor : The corporation might know a
customer with whom it had regular dealings. It could
not have any other sort of knowledge.

Mr. Benjamin : No, it could not.

Lord Watson : I anticipate on both sides you will agree
that it does not extend to corporations ; but you each
found upon it a different conclusion.

Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord. I say that inasmuch as
the provisions of the Act contain things which do not

July 24, 18S0.]

THE PHAEMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

75

apply to a corporation, it is plain that corporations were
not intended to sell.

Lord Watson : Your adversaries say it is one of many
illustrations which show that corporations were left out
altogether.

Lord Blackburn : One argument is, that as corpora¬
tions cannot do these various things, therefore it is meant
to say they shall not carry on the trade at all. The
■other says, inasmuch as the persons are restrained from
: trading only to prevent unqualified persons doing the

act, and that as we should not extend it to sales in
restraint of trade, we ought not to prevent a corporation
carrying on business by qualified assistants. There are
two opposite conclusions drawn from the same premises.

Mr. Benjamin: Yes, my lord. Then the judgment
proceeds: “Then section 18 and the following when they
use the word ‘person’ clearly do not mean ‘corporation.’
There is this advantage, as I have said, in this construc¬
tion, that it does not exclude a corporation from the
benefit of carrying on this business, nor the public from
dealing with them.” It is a benefit in his lordship’s view
for the public to deal with a corporation in poisons. “It
is not needlessly in restraint of trade as it otherwise
would be, at least not directly. If it does indirectly
■operate to preclude a corporation carrying on this trade,
however qualified all its members may be; it is to be re¬
gretted; but then there is no need for making ‘person’
include ‘corporation,’ nor for creating the novelty of a
corporate offence.” That novelty has been known since
the time of Lord Coke certainly. “It only would operate
against a corporation as it would against a partnership.
Eurther, how is this the act of the corporation if it is un¬
lawful ? For if it is, it is ultra vires of the directors.”
That is a singular result.

Lord Blackburn : I think that argument has been used
before ; but without success. If I remember rightly
when someone brought an action of trespass or false
imprisonment against the South Eastern Railway Com¬
pany, they said it could not possibly be ; that if their
servants were doing wrong they must have been acting
ultra vires ; but somehow or other the only effect of that
ingenious argument was that the j ury gave about double
the damages they would otherwise have done, That
was Chilton v. The South Eastern Railway Company.

Mr. Benjamin: Then his lordship says: “In the
result, considering the way in which modern statutes are
drawn, that corporations are specified where corporations
are meant, that offences are wilful breaches of law or
inattention to its commands and so the act of the in¬
dividual offending, that there is no reason for holding
■corporations to be within the Act, that there are reasons
to the contrary, and that in no other section of this Act
does ‘ persons ’ mean ‘ corporation,’ I am of opinion it
does not in these sections. I am aware that the penalty
is recoverable by plaint in the County Court, 15 and 16
Vic. c. 62 ; but the sum recovered is at the disposition
of the Crown, section 14, and it is a ‘penalty,’ and the
act an ‘offence,’ and, the person an ‘offender.’ I am
aware also that there is ground for saying that under
section 15 all of several partners keeping a shop must be
qualified, though none attend, and the shopman need not
be qualified. If so it may be said, so must all the share¬
holders and directors of a corporation. I do not know.
The Act may have a more limited meaning, and be
more reasonable. If not, still this furnishes no argu¬
ment in favour of ‘person’ meaning corporation.”
Now, my lord, Lord Justice Baggallay adopted the argu¬
ment which my learned friend lays great stress upon, and
which appears to me absolutely to have no bearing on
the case. But I may be unable to appreciate it, because
my friend laid great stress upon it. He said, “I will
show you a large number of modern statutes in which, in
the interpretation clause ‘ person ’ is said to mean ‘ cor¬
poration.’ It is not in this Act, and therefore in this
Act, ‘ person ’ does not mean ‘ corporation.’ I cannot
see the force of that argument. It may be that one

hundred persons may take precaution to say that person
means corporation, which is simply a restatement of the
common law, whilst in other cases persons may be satis¬
fied in drafting statutes to rely upon the common law.
But why the superabundant caution of some persons
should operate against the confidence of others in relying
upon the common law I do not see in the statutes relat¬
ing to these offences in which very plainly corporations are
intended to be included. Lord Justice Baggallay says : “I
agree in the opinion that this appeal should be allowed.
In modern times when the Legislature has intended
that the word ‘ person ’ or any other word primarily
importing an individual in any particular statute shall
include a corporation, it has been usual to introduce an
interpretation clause, declaring that the word shall have
such extended meaning. In the year 1868, the year in
which the Act now under consideration was passed, at
least four other Acts were passed into which such a clause
was introduced ; namely, the Sea Fisheries Act, the Fair
of Kildare Act, the Regulation of Railways Act, and
the Artizans and Labourers Dwellings Act; and in
another, the Irish Fairs Act, the word ‘owner’ was de¬
clared to have the same meaning. Now the omission
from Lord Brougham’s Act of any general declaration
that the word ‘ person ’ when used in subsequent statutes
should include a corporation, and the absence from the
Act now under consideration of any such interpretation
clause, to my mind strongly supports the view that the
Legislature had no intention that the word ‘ person ’
when used in the Act should include a corporation. It
probably is the fact, as was suggested in argument, that
at the time when the Act passed it was not in the con¬
templation of the Legislature that a corporate body
would embark in the business of selling or of dispensing
or compounding poisons, and that consequently it had no
intention of either including or of excluding a corpora¬
tion when using the word ‘ person.’

Lord Watson: In Lord Brougham’s Act what is the
definition of the word “ person ? ”

Mr. Benjamin: It is cited in the Chief Justice’s
judgment. All it says is that “ person ” in the
singular shall mean “ persons ” in the plural, and that
“persons” in the plural shall mean “person” in the
singular, and that “males” shall mean “females” and
“females ” “males,” and so on with a number of things.
There is nothing said there whether “ person ” means
“ corporations.” Still, really the argument is drawn
from the fact that in a statute defining the meaning of
certain expressions, the question whether “ person ” in¬
cludes “ corporations,” is not dealt with. This is the 4th
section of the Act. In all cases words importing the
masculine gender shall be taken to include the feminine,
the singular to include the plural, and the plural the
singular, unless the contrary as to gender or number is
expressly provided.

Lord Watson: The word “person” is not defined ?

Mr. Benjamin: It is not defined at all. And how an
argument can be drawn from the fact that an Act gives
an interpretation of certain words but does not give an
interpretation of this word, and that therefore “person”
does not mean “corporation,” I am unable to appreciate.

The Lor-d Chancellor : A corporation beyond doubt by
the common law is a legal person, is it not ?

Mr. Benjamin: Unquestionably, my lord.

The Lord Chancellor : So that although the context
might settle it one way or the other, yet if there be
nothing repugnant in the context, why should it not be a
legal as well as a natural person ?

Mr. Benjamin: It is certainly determined by Lord
Coke ; and it is not only so determined by a considered
decision of the Court of Common Pleas, but by the
House of Lords, as I shall show your lordship presently.

Lord Blackburn : I do not understand it is questioned
that “ person ” is wide enough to include “ corporation.”
The argument against you is that the person in this
statute is capable of going through an examination.

76

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 24, 188ft.

The Lord Chancellor : That is another matter.

Mr. Benjamin: When your lordships hear the other
side you will find that I am not beating the air, that
they do contend positively that the word “ person ” does
not include “corporation.”

Lord Blackburn: In these Acts. But I have not
heard anybody say that “ person ” never could include
“ corporation.”

Mr. Benjamin: When Lord Coke was quoted in the
Court below Lord Justice Bramwell said he did not pay
any attention to it ; that it was only a dictum.

Lord Watson: Certainly Lord Justice Baggallay’s
opinion is founded on this that the Legislature not having
said expressly in this Act that “ person ” should include
“ corporation,” it must be assumed that they did not
intend that it should be included.

Mr. Benjamin : That is his view. It probably is the
fact, as was suggested in the argument, that at the time
the Act was passed it was not in the contemplation of
the Legislature that a corporate body would embark in the
business of selling or dispensing or compounding poisons.

Lord Blackburn : But if the fact was that there were
such bodies as the Apothecaries’ Hall in Liverpool, or
the Apothecaries’ Company in London, where corpora¬
tions did carry on that business, it is a bold assumption
that the Legislature did not provide for them.

Mr. Benjamin: Lord Justice Baggallay goes on: —
‘ However, this may be, it must I think be admitted
that although an Act may not contain a declaration that
the word ‘ person ’ shall include a corporation, and
although it may be clear that the Legislature could not
be reasonably presumed to have any intention in the
matter; yet, if it be clear from the general scope and
purport of the Act that the selling, dispensing, or com¬
pounding of poisons by a corporation was or might be
within the mischief intended to be guarded against, and
if extending the meaning of the word ‘ person ’ so as to
include corporation would enable the necessary protection
to be given, such an interpretation might and ought to
be adopted. But when I turn to the Act itself I can
and nothing to lead me to such a conclusion.’’ To what
conclusion ? That the sale, dispensing and compounding
of poisons by corporations ought to be within the mischief
of the Act. I cannot follow that.

Lord Blackburn : If you read the few next lines you
will see what he means.

Mr. Benjamin : I am going to read them. “ The object
of the Act is to prevent the selling, dispensing or com¬
pounding of poisons by unqualified persons. A corporation
cannot of itself sell, dispense, or compound ; it can only
do so by the aid of a servant or assistant, and if that
servant or assistant is duly qualified in the manner
required by the Act — as is admittedly the case with
regard to the dispenser employed by the defendants — the
object of the Act is obtained.” His lordship forgets
that an individual, even with these precautions, is subject
to the Act. He overlooked the fact that the offence is
to keep open shop when you are not a qualified person.

Lord Blackburn : Lord Justice Baggallay says this : —
The object was to prevent the sale by unqualified
persons, with a view to that, as ancillary to that, it was
enacted, perhaps overlooking that it might be a hardship,
that a person should incur a penalty if he kept an open
shop. Then he says you have no occasion to extend that
to corporations, because the main object of the Act was
not to prevent people keeping shops open, but to prevent
unqualified persons from selling.

Mr. Benjamin : With all submission, my lord, I con¬
test the whole of that. I say that the purpose of the Act
was to prevent the sale by unqualified persons. First,
no one unqualified shall open a shop at all. Then the
next thing comes as to the selling. In order to carry out
the purposes of the Act no one unqualified shall have a
shop to sell to the public anything that will poison the
public at all. Then if he is qualified he may have a quali¬
fied assistant ; and the Act provides that the assistant may

be qualified, and the bottles and boxes and so on shall be
properly labelled ; for all of which the proprietor of the
establishment is responsible. Who is the proprietor of
this establishment ? The proprietor of this establishment
is this company, which is Mr. Mackness under the name
of a company ; he is keeping open shop ; he is doing this,
or the company if you please — for it is legally constituted
and I would rather it be considered that it is legally
constituted — for the purpose of the prosecution is to have
it established whether or not the Poisons Act is utterly
non-existent as regards a company or corporation. If it
is, of course Parliament must be applied to ; but if it is
not, if the Act is fairly and clearly an Act prohibiting
keeping open shop for the sale of poisons by anybody but
a qualified person, then the exclusion operates as much
against a corporation as against an individual.

Lord Watson: Lord Justice Baggallay says, as I
understand his judgment, that an individual can
obtain a licence— -he may qualify. An individual who<
conducts his business through a qualified assistant may
comply, but a corporation cannot. That is his view.
A corporation must conduct the business through some¬
one ; and if it does not conduct it through a qualified
person, that person would be liable.

Mr. Benjamin : No doubt the person would be liable ;
but, inasmuch as the Legislature has said the proprietor
must be qualified as well as the assistant -

Lord Blackburn : It may have accidentally done that.
You seem to have overlooked the curious way in which
you are now arguing what the main object of the Act
was. Keeping open shop was forbidden certainly, because
it says : — “ It shall not be lawful for any person to sell or
keep open shop for retailing, dispensing, or compounding
poisons, or to assume or use the title chemist and drug¬
gist or chemist or druggist or pharmacist,” and so forth,
unless such person is qualified. The main object of the
Legislature is to prevent selling by an unqualified person.
It is merely stuck in accidentally, “ shall not keep open
shop.” You argue as if it were the mere object to give a
monopoly to chemists and druggists.

Mr. Benjamin : The line of the preamble, “ Whereas
it is expedient for the safety of the public that persons
keeping open shop for the retailing, dispensing, or com¬
pounding of poisons,” should be competent men. Those
are the very first words of the preamble.

The Lord Chancellor : It does not seem as if the idea
of keeping open shop was separate in the mind of the
Legislature from the act of selling, dispensing, or com¬
pounding poisons. It is not sticking up a sign or an¬
nouncing a business they had in view; it is actually
business done.

Mr. Benjamin : No doubt, my lord, the actual business-
done is that which the statute pointed to.

Lord Watson : The preamble is very curious when it
says : — “ Whereas it is expedient for the safety of the
public that persons keeping open shop for the retailing,
dispensing, or compounding of poisons, and persons known
as chemists and druggists, should possess competent
practical knowledge.”

Mr. Benjamin: I do not think it will be contended,
nor has it been suggested by anybody, that the effect of
keeping a shop open to the public for the sale of poisons-
is not an offence within the Act.

Lord Watson : It is quite clear that “ person ” in the-
preamble, where it says, “ To that end all persons,” does
not include corporations.

Mr. Benjamin : His lordship goes on to say this : “Andi
in the view I take of the Act, the protection intended to-
be given to the public is sufficiently secured in the case
of a corporation keeping open a shop for selling, dis¬
pensing, or compounding of poisons, for in my opinion
the seller referred to in the first section is the actual
seller, and not the individual or corporation on whose
behalf he may act, and this view is supported by the
language of the 17th section, which when dealing, not
with the simple sale of poisons, but with selling parti-

July 24, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

77

cular poisons without the adoption of special precautions,
imposes a comparatively small penalty on the seller, but
declares that for the purposes of that section the person
on whose behalf the sale is made shall be deemed to be
the seller, thus implying, that except for the purpose of
that section the person reftrred to in the Act as selling,
means the person actually selling, and not the person by
whom he is employed.” I think, my lord, that inference
is quite untenable. “ I need not refer to many sections of
the Act which are quite inapplicable to the case of a
corporation, as they had been pointed out in detail by
Lord Justice Bramwell. In the absence, then, of any
declaration in the Act that the word ‘ person ’ is to
include a corporation, and not gathering from the general
scope and purport of the Act that there is any necessity
in the interest of the public that any such interpretation
should be given to the word, I have arrived at the con¬
clusion that such an interpretation ought not to be put
upon it, and that this appeal should be allowed.” Then,
my lord, the Lord Justice Thesiger’s judgment is one
which I have read very carefully, because it looked to
me for a long time, reading his reasons, that he was
going to decide in our favour.

Lord Watson: He expi esses a doubt.

Mr. Benjamin : He is very doubtful. He saj-s : “ I
also am of opinion, not without doubt, that this appeal
should be allowed. The question for determination is
whethe r an incorporated company is subject to the pro¬
hibition contained in section 1, and liable to pay the
penalty imposed in section 15 of the Pharmacy Act,
1868, or in other words, whether the term ‘person,’ used
in these sections, includes such a company. In dealing
with this question, I start with the axiom that the term
‘ person ’ is, in legal phraseology, wide enough to include
not merely natural persons, that is, individuals, but, arti¬
ficial pei sons, such as corporations, aggregate as well
as sole. I start at the same time with the undisputed
fact that the practice in modern statutes where corpora¬
tions are intended to be affected is either to expressly
name them or to use in reference to them the term
‘person,’ with an interpretation clause expressly pro¬
viding that cox-poratlons are intended to be included in
the term.” I beg your loi'dships to note that I dispute
the fact which is there stated to be undisputed. I say
there are a great many cases in which people put that in ;
but thei-e are hundreds of statutes in which it is not in.
“ As a proper resultant of the apposition between the
axiom and the practice, it appears to me that the term
‘ person ’ when contained in a modern Act of Pai-lia-
ment should never be construed to include corporations,
except where, first, the term is expressly interpreted as
including them ; or, secondly, the context of the Act
clearly shows that they are so included ; or, thirdly, the
object and scope of the Act peremptorily l-equh-e them to
be so included, and the context does not clearly negative
a construction to that effect.” I venture to say, my
lords, this is the first time that that mode of construing
the word ‘ person” has ever appeared in a decision ; on the
contrary I challenge my learned friends to find a case in
which the word “ person” is not held to include corpora¬
tions unless by the context it must naturally be excluded.

Lord Blackburn : I suppose really the argument of the
appellants used against you here is that you are always to
look to the nature of the Act. They always go upon
that, that they are excluded here because of various
things which no corporation could do. I do not know
that there is much cause to inquire into it.

Lord Watson : The proposition you have to meet is
that stated by his lordship, not any of these questions
whether the terms of this statute did not exclude
corporations.

Mr. Benjamin : “ Neither the first nor the second
condition exists in the pai-ticular Act under considera¬
tion; but for a long time I have doubted whether
the judgment of the Court below might not be supported
upon the third. The object of the Act is that of

providing for the safety of the public in the matter
of the sale of poisons. The means by which that
object is proposed to be attained is, inter alia, that
of subjecting those who keep open shop for the retailing,
dispensing or compounding of poisons to certain
conditions and restrictions. Corporations may keep
open shop, their doing so without proper safeguards
may expose the public to the mischief against which the
Act is intended to guard. There is, therefore, a strong-
presumption d prioi'i that they would be made subject
to the same conditions and restrictions as those to which
individuals would be subjected, or at least, to some condi¬
tions and restrictions that would serve to the same end.
Proceeding a step further it may be said that a statutory
provision under which a particular thing is made unlaw¬
ful for any individual to do, except under certain condi¬
tions, contains an indication that the thing itself is
intended to be entii-ely prohibited except under those
conditions,” (there we have exactly our contention)
“ and consequently cannot be done by a cox-poration even
though the conditions are in their nature such as cannot
under any circumstances be complied with by them.”
That is a very fair statement of our c -intention.
“ Lastly, a penalty, by which the prohibition is to be
enforced, recoverable by civil suit, is as applicable to
corporations, who may, even under certain circumstances,
be the subject of indictment, as it is to individuals. Not¬
withstanding, however, the force of these considerations,
which still press themselves upon me, I have come to the
conclusion that the whole contents of the Act too clearly
point to individuals aloixe being intended by the term
‘pei-son ’ to allow of that term being held to include cor¬
porations in the 1st and 15 th sections. I do not propose
to repeat what has already been said by Lord Justice
Bramwell upon this point. He has shown conclusively
that the pi-eamble and every section of the Act, putting
aside for the moment the two sections whose meaning-
is in dispute, when using the term ‘ pei-son ’ or ‘ pei-sons ’
i*efer to individuals alone. But in addition to what
he has poiixted out I find in the first section itself
evidence that the words ‘ any person ’ in the eaidier
part of that section are limited to individuals and
cannot be extended to corporations, for in a sub¬
sequent part of the same section the woi*d ‘ pei-son’
is again used with such a context as absolutely forbids
its application to a corporation, and yet in such a l-elation
to the same word contained in the earlier part of the
section as to grammatically require that it should receive
the same construction. I do not think that under such
cii*cumstances the Court ought to strain the language of
the Act so as to make it include corporations, even if it
were clear that the mischief intended to be pi-ovided
against would otherwise in the case of companies keeping
open shop for the sale of poisons be remediless. But I
fetl bound to add that I am by no means satisfied, that
although a corporation as a separate entity be not liable
to the penalty which is sought to be r. covered, in this case
the individual members of the corporation, whether direc¬
tors of a company or otherwise, may not be liable, and
thus the mischief be remedied. I prefei-, howevei’, to give
no definite opinion upon this point, for it involves the
question whether the Legislature intended or not to prac¬
tically put an absolute veto upon the keeping open shop
for the sale of drugs by tx-ading companies, and the absence
from the Act of any express reference to such companies
is almost equally difficult to be accounted for upon the
notion that the Legislature had that intention as upoix
the notion that the Legislatui-e did not think of the
matter at all, and thereby a casus omissus has occurx-ed.”
Your lordships are now in possession of the views of
the several judges on the point, and it becomes my duty
to call attention particularly to the language of the Acts,
and to the authorities in relation to the nxeaning of the
word “ peison ” as including corpoi'ations. Now, my lord,
the authority produced in relation to persons, including
corporations, wras this : in the second Coke’s Institute, p.

78

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 24, ISSa.

720, is the exposition of the statutes 39 Elizabeth and the
21st James I. concerning the erection of hospitals, and
the Act begins in this way : “ Be it enacted by the
authority of this present Parliament that all and every
person and persons seised of an estate in fee simple,
their heirs, executors, administrators,” and so forth, “may
set up a hospital,” and Lord Coke, to the words “every
person or persons ” has a note at the foot of page
721; — “All and every person and persons.” These
words regularly do extend to any body politic or
corporate, but not to such as are restrained by Acts
of Parliament to alien ; but doth extend to such bodies
politic or corporate as may alien, as mayors, com¬
monalties, burgesses, and the like, and to all other
persons whatsoever.” These words regularly do extend
to any body politic or corporate. Now upon that being
cited it was said to be simply an obiter dictum, so to say.
It was in this house so argued by a learned counsel, Mr.
Kindersley, to be of no authority, a mere obiter dictum,
and your lordships will find that in the case of the Cor¬
poration of Newcastle v. The Attorney-General and
others, in 12 Clarke and Finnelley, p. 402, Mr. Kindersley
in argument, at p. 411, said: “ There is no decided case
putting a construction on this part of the Act. Lord Coke
commenting on the Act says,” and then he quotes Lord
Coke’s note, and he says : “ This is the opinion of a
great authority no doubt ; but it is an opinion in the
closet, not arrived at in discussion, a mere dictum, not
formed by any decision of the court, and the opposite
construction is put on the words in the statute of cases
by Lord Brougham. When the decision came to be
given, the Lord Chancellor, who was Lord Lyndhurst, said
“ that comment of Lord Coke, which may be said to
be a contemporaneous exposition of the Act has never
been questioned ; it has been accepted by everybody since
his time, and no doubt numerous charitable corporations
depend upon it. The Act itself enumerates the classes
who were excepted as being incapable of creating an
instrument, and it is said that such a construction is to
be put on the Act as should be beneficial. I do not
think this House will feel justified in putting a construc¬
tion upon the Act, inconsistent with that commentary of
Lord Coke.” Lord Cottenham said: “I agree in that
view. We are not likely to overlook Lord Coke on this
subject, but that does not relieve the respondents,” etc.

Lord Lyndhurst referred to the terms of the statute
and said there were exceptions.

The Lord Chancellor : He does not say that “persons”
in every statute includes corporation.

Mr. Benjamin : No, my lord, he does not, but he says :
“These words regularly do extend to any body politic.”
Of course you may find it excluded in the statute.

Lord Watson: The argument proceeded on that same
statute of Elizabeth, I understand, in that case.

Mr. Benjamin : Quite so, my lord.

Lord Blackburn : Is not a body politic a person at law ?

Mr. Benjamin : Not only that, but unquestionably Mr.
Justice Blackstone in his commentaries says that persons
are either natural or artificial.

Lord Blackburn : But still that comes very far indeed
from grappling with the real question. If a person is to be
duly qualified who passes an examination, then it cannot
mean corporation.

Lord Watson : If this Act contained a provision that
certain corporations should be exempted from clause 16,
that would be a strong indication that all other corpora¬
tion were included.

Mr. Benjamin : Taking my authorities and arguments in
the logical order in which I have placed them, I will now
call your lordships’ attention to the case of the Mayor of
Hereford v. Martin in the 15th Law Times, N.S. 187.
The statute said this. It was an Act for the supplying
with gas the city of Hereford, and it said : “If any per¬
son or persons shall carelessly or negligently break,
destroy, throw down, break or injure any lamp or lamps
owned, or to be set up or belonging to said company ” —

(That is one clause) — “ or by any person or persons at his-
or their private expense”; then there was a penalty to
be recovered. The defendant was sued for having broken
by accident a lamp-post set up by the Corporation of
Hereford; and the defence was, “I am only liable to
action under this penal statute if I break a lamp
owned by a person who has set up at his private
expense a lamp. You are not a person or persons;
you are a corporation.” It was a very strong Court,
composed of Chief Justice Erie, Mr. Justice Williams,
Mr. Justice Byles, and Mr. Justice Keating. Erie, Chief
Justice, said, “I am of opinion the case must be sent
back to the magistrates. The information was founded
upon an accidental breaking of a lamp pillar within the
city of Hereford. The question for us is whether the
5th Geo. IV. gives the corporation a right to recover
damages under such circumstances under the words
‘ person or persons.’ I think it does. The words upon
which the matter turns are : ‘ Set up at his or their
private expense.’ The lamps belonging to the appel¬
lants were set up by funds belonging to them in their
corporate capacity. The statute could not have been
intended to give less protection to the corporation than
to private individuals.”

Lord Blackburn : The case seems to have been de¬
fended, not on the ground that a corporation was not a
person, but that the words “ private expense ” cut down
the meaning and prevented it applying to a public body,
which is intelligible.

Mr. Benjamin : One of the judges said that. Mr.
Justice Byles concurred.

Lord Blackburn : That is an intelligible argument. I
confess I was thoroughly astonished to think that the
justices could have said, “You may break with impunity
a lamp belonging to the corporation.”

Mr. Benjamin: Not that you could break it with
impunity, but that you could not proceed under this
special Act for a penalty.

Lord Blackburn: It must be the same thing nearly.
But if they were arguing that the special Act gave a
penalty in favour of those who put it up at private
expense it was an arguable point that the corporation who-
put it up at the public expense were not within it.

Mr. Benjamin : Mr. Justice Byles said : — “ I am of the
same opinion. This case falls within the very words of
the Act. Persons are by Blackstone divided into natural
and artificial, and the latter includes corporations. The
enactment is one under which a party is to obtain recom¬
pense, and therefore the words ‘private expense’ should
be interpreted broadly.” Keating, Justice, says : — “I am
of the same opinion. The object of the Act is clear — to
protect the lamps belonging to the corporation as well as
those of any other person. The question is whether, then,
is anything in the words ‘ private expense ' to prevent this
object being carried out. I think the magistrates ought
to have convicted.” There appear to have been two
arguments. One is, that “persons” does not include
“corporations;” secondly, that “at the expense of the
corporation ” is not “ private expense.” Those seem to
have been the two arguments. Erie, Justice, repelled
the second argument, and Keating, Justice, referred to
both, as well as Byles, Justice. The case, therefore,
decides this at all events. This was a case in which a
penalty was imposed on those who should do certain
damage to lamp-posts set up by a person or persons at
their private expense, and it was held that that included
corporations. Now, my Lord Blackburn, will probably
remember the case of Terry v. The Brighton Aquarium,
Law Reports, 10 Queen’s Bench, 306.

Lord Blackburn: I remember the case, but I do not
remember that it had anything to do with this point.

Mr. Benjamin : The first thing I have to observe on
that is, that it never was intended that a corporation,
could not be made liable for a penalty and could not be
made liable for just such a thing as was done in the pre¬
sent case. The case is a short one : “ The defendants are

J y 24, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

79

the owners of the Brighton Aquarium, a building which
consists of chambers below the level of the ground,” and
so forth. An action was brought against the defendants
to recover a penalty under the 21 Geo. III. cap. 49, for
keeping open — the same language as this — a place of
entertainment, or amusement, on the Lord’s day, or Sun¬
day. It was held that the Aquarium was a place of en¬
tertainment ov amusement within the statute, but nobody
(contended that the defendants were not liable.

Lord Blackburn : If I remember Bishop Porteus’ Act,
’there is a string of words including “corporation ”
-amongst those who are made liable. The thing which
I reluctantly felt myself bound to say was that it was
within the Act, but as far as I can remember, it was sug¬
gested that “corporation” was not within the Act. I
think there were words which included everything.

Mr. Benjamin : The Act is here, my lord, I was going
to call attention to it. These are the words : “ Whereas
certain houses, rooms or places within the cities of
London and Westminster or in the neighbourhood thereof
have of late frequently been opened for public entertain¬
ment or amusement upon the evening of the Lord’s day
commonly ealled Sunday ; and at other houses, rooms,
or places within the said cities or in the neighbourhood
thereof under pretence of inquiring into religious
•doctrines and explaining texts of Holy Scripture, debates
have frequently beeir held on tbe evening of the Lord’s
day concerning divers texts of Holy Scripture, by persons
unlearned and incompetent to explain the same, to the
corruption of good morals, and to the encouragement of
irreligion and profaneness. Be it enacted, that from and
after the passing of this present Act any house, room, or
other place which shall be opened or used for public
entertainment, or amusement, or for publicly debating
on any subject whatever, upon any part of the Lord’s
day called Sunday, and to which persons shall be
admitted by the payment of money or by tickets sold for
money, shall be deemed a disorderly house or place ; and
tbe keeper of such house, room, or place shall forfeit the
sum of £200 for every day that such house, room, or
place shall be opened or used as aforesaid on the Lord’s
■day.” Not a word said about “person” or “corpora¬
tions.” The word was “ keeper.”

Lord Blackburn : You are right in saying that no point
then was raised about it being kept by a corporation.

Mr. Benjamin : What I was going to say with reference
to it was this : “ The keeper of such house, room or
place, shall forfeit tbe sum of £200 for every day such
house or room is opened or used.” Now, the turn of
words is undoubtedly different in the two Acts. In the
Pharmacy Act it is that no person shall keep open shop.
This Act says, places of entertainment on Sunday even¬
ing shall not be kept open, and the keeper shall be liable.
The two Acts, and the mischief they intend to meet, are
•exactly analogous. The language was in the one case,
the person who keeps open the shop, and in the other the
keeper of an open place of amusement.

Lord Blackburn : I can always allow a great deal of
latitude to argument; but when you say that the object
of Bishop Porteous, who said that where people who
held a debating society that was wrong, and that there¬
fore anybody who on Sunday opened a public house
of entertainment should be deemed to keep a disorderly
house, that this is the same as this Pharmacy Act of
1868, I do not understand it.

Mr. Benjamin : I do not say the same, I say analogous.
The Act of 1868 provides against the keeping of an open
shop to sell poisons. That is, the physical poisons. The
other Act was an Act against keeping open an estab¬
lishment of amusement on Sunday evenings where they
were spreading moral poison. The difference in the language
of the two Acts has not in the least degree reference to
the fact whether the keeping open of the place was by
an individual or by a corporation. In either case it was
those who kept open the §hop.

Lord Blackburn : If Bishop Porteus’ Act had said that

keeping open a place on Sunday, unless it was by a person
duly qualified as being a clergyman, it would be blas¬
phemy, then I think you would be right in saying they
are analogous ; but the words are not at all the same.

Mr. Benjamin : In Terry v. The Brighton Aquarium
it was a corporation and there was no attempt on the
i part of the very able counsel, Mr. Manisty, who was for
the defendants, to say that a corporation could not be
guilty of an offence — it goes at all events to that extent —
and punishable by penalty which was recoverable in the
way pointed out by the Act. To that extent the decision
is absolutely in point, and that is one of the points
raised in this case. Now, my lord, on the question as to
liability of a corporation. I do not know whether that
is intended to be raised afresh here, but I call attention
to two decisions which appear to us conclusive on the
point. They are both mentioned in the judgments, but
where they are found is not mentioned. The first is the
case of the Queen v. The Birmingham and Gloucester
Railway Company, 3 Queen’s Bench, 223. I will only
read the marginal note of this in order to curtail the dis¬
cussion. “A corporation aggregate may be indicted by their
corporate name for disobedience to an order of justices
requiring such corporation to execute works pursuant
to a statute, and if such indictment be ordered by the
assizes or sessions where parties cannot appear by
attorney, the proper course is to remove it into this Court
by certiorari , to compel appearance by the justices.”
That was for nonfeasance. The question of nonfeasance
not being that which an Act of Parliament required, the
point came up again in the case of the Queen v. The
Great Northern of England Railway, 9 Queen’s Bench,
315. This was a case which involved misfeasance by a
corporation. It was argued that although a corporation
might be liable to indictment for nonfeasance, a corpora¬
tion could not be guilty of misfeasance because it could
not have, as Lord Justice Bramwell says, the mens rea.
The considered judgment of the Court was delivered by
Chief Justice Lord Denman : “The question is whether an
indictment will lie at common law against a corporation
for a misfeasance, it being admitted in conformity with
undisputed decisions that an indictment may be main¬
tained against a corporation for nonfeasance. All the
preliminary difficulties as to the service and execution of
process, the mode of appearing, and pleading, and en¬
forcing judgment are by this admission swept away. But
the argument is that for a wrongful act a corporation is
not amenable to an indictment, though for a wrongful
omission it undoubtedly is ; assuming in the first place
that there is a plain obvious distinction between the two
species of offence. No assumption can be more un¬
founded. Many occurrences may be easily conceived full
of annoyance and danger to the public and involving blame
in some individual or some corporation of which the most
acute person could not clearly define the causes or ascribe
them with more correctness to mere negligence in pro¬
viding safeguards or to an act rendered improper by
nothing but want of safeguards. If A. is authorized to
make a bridge with parapets, but makes it without them,
does the offence consist in the construction of the un¬
secured bridge, or in the neglect to secure it ? But if the
distinction were always easily discoverable, why should a
corporation be liable for the one species of offence and
not for the other ? The startling incongruity of allow¬
ing the exemption is one strong argument against it. The
law is often entangled in technical embarrassments,
but there is none here. It is as easy to charge one
person or a body corporate with erecting a bar across a
public road as with the non-repair of it, and they may
as well be compelled to pay a fine for the act as for the
omission. Some dicta occur in old cases, ‘ a corporation
cannot be guilty of treason or of felony.’ It might be
added ‘ of perjury or offences against the person.’ The
Court of Common Pleas lately held that a corporation
might be sued in trespass ; but nobody has sought to fix
them with acts of immorality. These plainly derive

80

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 24, 1SS0.

their character from the corrupted, mind of the person
committing them, and are violations of the social duties
that belong to men and subjects. A corporation which as
such has no such duties cannot be guilty in these cases ;
bwt they may be guilty as a body corporate of com¬
manding acts to be done to the nuisance of the com¬
munity at large. The late case of Regina v. Birmingham
and Gloucester Railway Company was confined to the
state of things then before the Court which amounted to
nonfeasance only ; but was by no means intended to
de.iy the liability of a corporation for a misfeasance.”
Then the Court holds indictment is perfectly maintain¬
able. So that the considered judgment of the Coui't in
two cases is that a corporation may be guilty of an offence.
There are some offences which of necessity it cannot
be guilty of. A corporation qud corporation cannot
commit a rape, or commit a murder; the persons who
are members of a corporation may be guilty of one
thing or the other. But a corporation may commit a
fraud, and the records of your lordships’ House are
full of cases in which frauds committed by corporations
are inquired into. In all these matters, therefore, it
is necessary to refer to the particular statute under con¬
sideration in order to apply the authority. Now, assuming
as I have, that a corporation may be guilty of an offence,
I ought to call your lordships’ attention to 7 and 8 George
IV. cap. 28, section 14. It appears that the statute is
not, as cited by one of their lordships, inapplicable to the case
before your lordships. This is the language of the statute.
The statute is entitled, an Act for further improving the
Administration of J ustice in Criminal Cases in England,
section 1 4 is this : “ That wherever this or any other
statute relating to any offence, whether punishable upon
indictment or summary conviction, in describing or re¬
ferring to the offence, or the subject matter on or with
respect to which it shall be committed, or the offender or
the party affected or intended to be affected by the
offence, hath used or shall use words importing the singu¬
lar number or the masculine gender only, yet the statute
shall be understood to include several matters as well as
one matter, and several persons as well as one person,
and females as well as males, and bodies corporate as
well as individuals, unless it be otherwise specially pro¬
vided or there be something in the subject or context
repugnant to such construction ; and wherever any for¬
feiture or penalty is payable to a party aggrieved, it
shall be payab’e to a body corporate in every case where
such body shall be the party aggrieved.” So that
“ person ” includes the plaintiff or defendant, and it
includes a corporation, whether the party aggrieved or
the party that has committed the offence — it is to be
within the statute. It is true that this is said : “ Where-
ever this or any other statute relating to any offence,
whether punishable upon indictment or summary convic¬
tion,” but our argument, if upon the attention which
Parliament bestows on an offence by a corporation, it is
held that even in grave offences the word “ person ” shall
include a corporation, when the enactment is directed
against an offence punishable by indictment or summary
conviction, a fortiori, is the corporation included in the
word “person,” when it is an offence of a much minor
consequence, and which is simply punishable by an
offence by civil pi’ocess. I do not say that the Act
directly covers it in exact language, but I say it shows
the view which Parliament takes of statutes using the
word “ person ” alone, and in reference to corporations.
Now, my lords, there is a statute, which it is but just
to my learned friends and to the learned Court to say,
was not quoted in the Court below, on the very subject
of the apothecaries and pharmaceutical chemists. It is
a public Act. It is the 15th Geo. III. cap. 194.
Now, my lord, in that Act there is a series of provisions
exactly in conformity with the provisions in this Act,
regulating the practice of apothecaries, and from the
beginning of that Act it uses the word “ persons ”
throughout, and in section 3 the masters and wardens are

empowered to enter the shop of any person or persons
whatsoever, using or exercising the art and mystery of
an apothecary, and to fine such persons. The principal
clause, my lord, is this 20th section, “ and be it enacted
that if any person, except such as are actually practising
as such, shall after the 1st day of August, 1815, act or
practise as an apothecary in any part of England and
Wales without having obtained such certificate as afore¬
said, every person so offending shall for every offence
forfeit the sum of £20.” Throughout the Act there are
various provisions, all of which relate to persons. Then,
my lord, the 30tli section of the Act says this : “ Pro¬
vided always, and be it further enacted that no action or
suit shall be brought or prosecuted against any person or
persons, body or bodies politic, or corporate, for anything
done in pursuance of this Act after six calendar months
next after the act committed.” Now, the Act had not
said a word about corporations being guilty of anything
wrong ; it had hitherto spoken of persons being wrong.

Lord Blackburn: That is to protect them against
actions.

Mr. Benjamin : Section 29 provides for that.

The Lord Chancellor : No, no. That is merely saving
their general rights. Then section 30 says there shall be
a limit of the time within which such actions or suits
may be brought against persons or bodies politic or cor¬
porate, for anything done in pursuance of the Act.
Consequently, as I understand it, it does not mean a
thing done against the Act ; but if in consequence of the
Act the Society of Apothecaries were to do something in
respect of which an action was brought against them, it
might be said you are too late, the time is limited.

Mr. Benjamin : What I am pointing out is that this
section 30 deals with bodies corporate as being included
in the Act, whereas throughout the Act you have nothing
except persons dealt with up to that period.

Lord Watson: It does not clearly show — at least as
you read it — that it meant to refer to the penalty clause
of the Act. If it had been a limitation of the time for
bringing the action for penalties, it would have been very
strong in your favour.

Lord Blackburn : If] any person or body politic do
what this Act contemplated, they might be liable to
have an action brought against them for it, which action
shall be brought within six months. That does not at
all show that the word “person” means body corporate.

Mr. Benjamin : No, my lord, but the Act had before
that not spoken of corporations, or of anything but per¬
sons as liable under the Act.

Lord Blackburn : It is not liable under the Act ; it is
protected, because they do something under the Act.

The Lord Chancellor : I should be strongly inclined to
think that it relates to actions that might be brought
against the Society of Apothecaries for acts done; for
example, under the 3rd section of the Act it gives them
power to enter into other people’s shops, to search, cer¬
tify, and determine whether the medicines, and so on,
are wholesome, and if they find anything false, unlawful,
deceitful, corrupt or hurtful, they may burn, or otherwise
destroy, and so on. A man may say that what you have
destroyed is not deceitful, or any other of these epithets.

Lord Watson: There are a great many police and
other statutes constituting offences, which contain that
clause, but that was, I thought, always understood to be
for the protection of those putting the Act in force.

The Lord Chancellor: It is for anything done in pur¬
suance of the Act.

Mr. Benjamin: It is possible the Act may be framed
in that way, although certainly up to that part of the
Act, there had been nothing to be done by any corpora¬
tion. Now, my lords, I wish to take this Act itself, the
Act of 1868, and call your attention to its provisions.

The further hearing was adjourned until Thursday.

In consequence of the length to which the legal report
has extended, notice of several communications is unavoid¬
ably postponed.

July 3%, 1880..]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

81

Cjjoe ^{rornmtnlia:l laitmal

.^i ^ „ —

SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1880,

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , books for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bbemridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Squai'e, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Fharm. Journ.”

THE APPEAL CASE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

Though it is only by increasing the usual size of
the Journal, by adding to it an eiglit page supple¬
ment, that we are able to place before our readers
this week the remainder of the arguments in this
case and the judgment of the House of Lords, we
have deemed it desirable not to delay the publica¬
tion any longer, and for that reason are compelled
to defer “ The Month,” as well as other matter, until
next wqek,

Hitherto, if we may judge from the absence of
any critical reference to the case in most of the
daily papers, it would not seem to have attracted
much attention outside the circle of those especially
interested. The only paper in which we have as
yet seen any comments upon the case is the Daily
News, and there it is dealt with more as furnishing
an illustration of the curious and wholly artificial
difficulties caused by the technical rules which have
been established by the judges for the construction
of statutes, than as involving questions affecting the
safety of the public. The only way in which this
latter aspect of the case is referred to is by the
expression of an opinion that the ultimate decision
of the House of Lords is no doubt in accordance with
common sense. The consideration that has mainly
led to this opinion would appear to be the circum¬
stance that in the particular case in question the
s ale of poisons was actually conducted by a manager
who was a qualified chemist, and for this reason our
contemporary considers that the Pharmacy Act was
practically obeyed.

T his, we take it, is the extent to which the decision
of the House of Lords can be regarded, as the Daily
News thinks, as being in accordance with common
sense unless, the decision is to have the effect of im¬
posing upon other associations or limited liability
companies carrying on the business of a chemist
and druggist the obligation to employ qualified
chemists as the persons actually engaged in selling
and dispensing drugs and medicines. That, however,
is an obligation which is not imposed upon such
com panies by the Pharmacy Act according to either
the view of the respondents or that of the appellants
in this case. According to the latter view a com-i
pany is excluded from the possibility of carrying on
Third Series, No. 527.

the business of a chemist and druggist because it
cannot possibly become qualified as the Act provides,
according to the other a company is outside the pro¬
visions of the Act and in so far is not required, in
th,e interests of the public to take any cognizance
of qualification either on the part of its members or
of the assistants: actually engaged in carrying on
the selling and dispensing of drugs and medicines.
Certainly the Pharmacy Act does not contain any
specific provision requiring that in such cases assis¬
tants should be qualified. However, Lord Black¬
burn expressed himself as being strongly inclined
to think that a corporation would be liable to
penalties under the 15th section of the Pharmacy
Act if it caused an unqualified person to conduct
sales and it could be brought home to the corpora¬
tion that it did deliberately cause the person to
infringe the Act. On the principle qui facit per
aliumfacit per se, therefore, he held that corporations
were not wholly outside the Act.

A. company carrying on the business of a chemist
and druggist with unqualified assistants might, it is
true, be held responsible for the breach of law com¬
mitted by its servants, but we fail to perceive why
that should make companies exempt from the pro¬
visions to which individuals are subject in carrying
on the same business and we equally fail to believe
that in the interest of the public it would be a
sufficient guarantee for the employment of qualified
assistants by such companies.

It was from such a view of the ca^e that the Council
of the Pharmaceutical Society determined to continue
the prosecution of the London and Provincial Supply
Association beyond that stage, when it was in fact
simply a prosecution of an individual carrying on
his business under that designation. It was from
such a view that the determination to take that
course is to be regarded — as the President of the
Society has pointed out in his letter to the Daily
News — as the result of reading the duty of the
Society by the light of common sense, and that in.
that light the Society was justified in expecting a
verdict in its favour.

Moreover, in considering the position of the
Society in this litigation, the history of the case
should not be overlooked. The drug business of the
London and Provincial Supply Association, now con¬
ducted as that of a limited liability company, was
up to the beginning of 1878 conducted by one indi¬
vidual, who not being on the register of ehemists
and druggists was forbidden by law to practise as a
chemist and druggist. The Pharmaceutical Society
in exercise of the duty assigned exclusively to it by
the Pharmacy Act of 1868 commenced proceedings
against him for infringing that Act and as a matter
of course obtained from him the penalty appertain¬
ing to the offence. At the same time he tendered
through his legal representative an assurance that
he “ was engaged on arrangements to terminate any
violation of the law. ” It tinned out eventually that

82

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 31, 1880.

Ills process for arriving at this result was not the
discontinuance of the business that he had been
unlawfully carrying on ; but simply the association
with himself of six other persons and the constitu¬
tion of a company under the Limited Liability Act
for the purpose of continuing to carry on the busi¬
ness otherwise exactly as it had been carried on
before.

When that was found to be the case it was by the
light of “ common sense ” that the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society formed the opinion that
since the Legislature had declared, in the interests
of the public, that no person not being on the
register of chemists and druggists should keep open
shop for the sale of drugs and dispensing of
medicines, it was intended that no company or
association of such unqualified persons should
do so. And equally by the light of “common sense”
the Council came to the conclusion that its duty was
to have recourse to the power conferred upon it by
the Pharmacy Acts for the repression of practices
declared to be unlawful, and, therefore, to repeat
against the seven persons constituting the London
and Provincial Supply Association Limited the pro¬
secution which had been successfully conducted
against one of that number when the business was
carried on by him alone.

It is with considerable reason, therefore, that the
President of the Pharmaceutical Society has, in his
letter to the Daily News , taken objection to the
remark that the decision of the House of Lords was
plainly in accordance with “ common sense,” in so
far as that remark may suggest the inference that the
course adopted by the Council of the Pharmaceuti¬
cal Society exhibited a deficiency of common sense.
That the action of the Society’s executive is not to be
thus regarded is moreover shown by the judgments
given by the Lord Chief Justice Cockburn and by
Mr. J ustice Mellor when the case was heard in the
Court of Queen’s Bench. In their view the object of
the Pharmacy Act was to protect the public against
the possible consequences of unqualified persons
carrying on the business of a chemist and druggist,
and they held that as it was unlawful for any
individual persons to sell and dispense poisons, un¬
less duly registered in accordance with the Act, it
could not be the intention of the law that any
association of such persons should do what they
were individually prohibited from doing. Certainly
this view appears to bear the impress of common
sense, and to be one that ought to receive general
acquiescence, unless we are to disregard the obvious
meaning of the term common sense, and look upon
the faculty it represents as being equally many sided
with other forms of opinion.

But notwithstanding the decision of the question
from another point of view, and the fact that the
judgment of the House of Lords has not literally
endorsed the opinion of the Society’s executive re¬
specting the inability of an association of unregistered

persons to carry on the business of a chemist and
druggist, it is satisfactory to note that in some
degree the spirit of the Pharmacy Act has been
upheld and recognized as appropriate to the condi¬
tions it has to deal with. Throughout the hearing of
the appeal the remarks of their lordships gave abun¬
dant indication that they perceived the necessity for
proper qualification on the part of those engaged
in the sale of drugs and in dispensing medicine.
Whether it be lawful or unlawful for associations
of unregistered persons to carry on this business,
whether or not they can be compelled in carrying
on such business to employ only qualified men to
conduct it, there is at least some assurance that the
moral effect of their lordships’ remarks on this point
will be felt and appreciated almost as forcibly as if
they constituted an exposition of the actual law. In
so far the Pharmaceutical Society has good reason to
be satisfied that it has been successful in upholding
the fundamental principle of its existence and that
both as regards its duty to the public and to the
trade it represents it has rendered some service by
carrying out to the end the litigation upon which
it was deemed fitting to devote so much time and
money.

In our own body widely different opinions have
been entertained as to the propriety of entering upon
this litigation. As will be seen from some of the
letters published this week the decision of the House
of Lords has not been altogether a surprise. Only
one of the letters received as yet objects to the
decision, and that does so by the assumption that
the statute requires a qualified master. This, how¬
ever, is precisely the question that was at issue.
The House of Lords has decided that the statute
does not require a qualified master except when the
master is an individual, and in the case of an associa¬
tion constituting the master, it accepts the qualifica¬
tion of the servant by whom the business is actually
conducted as sufficient reason for regarding such a
master as being exempt from the provisions of the
Pharmacy Act as to keeping open shop, examination
and registration.

THE CONFERENCE TESTIMONIAL TO PROFESSOR

ATTFIELD.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee, held
on the 16th instant, it was resolved to close the
subscription list at the meeting of the Conference at
Swansea in August. The Committee decided that
the testimonial should take the form of a collection
of works in general literature for the Professor’s
library, accompanied by a suitable address. The
address will be presented at Swansea by the Chair¬
man of the Committee. Members who have not
yet paid their subscriptions and intending sub¬
scribers will oblige by remitting the amounfwithout
delay to Mr. M. Carteighe, 180, New Bond Street,
W., the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer.

July 31, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

83

IJarliimnntaxn tmtr Ibto ^Iroceetirirgs,

The Pharmaceutical Society op Great Britain v.

The London and Provincial Supply Association.

The argument in this case was resumed on Thursday,
July 22, 1880.

Mr. Benjamin : When your lordships adjourned I was
going into an examination of the two Acts — not going to
the authorities, but looking to the Acts themselves for
their meaning. Your lordships observe that the Phar¬
macy Act of 1 852 was an Act for regulating the quali¬
fications of pharmaceutical chemists. It is confined
entirely to that, and it confirms the charter, provides for
the formation of a Council, the manner of voting, and
the registration of members, and for examinations of
different kinds. Now between that Act and the Act of
1868 public alarm was created by several cases of poison¬
ing by mistakes in chemists’ and apothecaries’ shops, and
the Act of 1868 was passed on its title for two distinct
purposes. It is an Act to regulate the sale of poisons,
and also to amend the Pharmacy Act of 1852. There¬
fore, you must expect to find in this Act of 1868 a series
of sections, upon which great reliance has been placed by
my learned friends on the other side, which referred to
the Pharmacy Act of 1852, which Act was confined to
regulating the qualification of pharmaceutical chemists ;
consequently there are ten or twelve sections, I do not
know how many exactly, which, according to the title of
the Act, are directed to a further Act for regulating the
qualifications of chemists. But the Act, by its very title,
put at the head of its purpose, is an Act to regulate the
sale of poisons, and no Act for regulating the sale of
poisons had ever existed before. I say, therefore, with
all confidence, that I can ask your lordships to say that
you would expect to find in this Act new legislation on
the subject of the sale of poisons and legislation directed
to the amendment of the former Act ; and it is no
objection to the proper construction of those sections
which regulate the sale of poisons that there are a
number of other sections which have nothing to do with
that, but which are applied, and intended to apply, solely
to the alteration and amendment of the pre-existing law.

The Lord Chancellor : You must observe that the
preamble speaks of two objects : the first relates to
poisons and the other to all persons known as chemists
and druggists, who have to pass an examination, if not
already engaged in business, when provision is made.

Mr. Benjamin : I am much obliged to your lordship.

The Lord Chancellor: And any construction of the
word “persons” which is applicable to poisons would
primd facie be applicable to the other purpose also.

Mr. Benjamin: Yes, my lord, it would be applicable
to the other also, but not exclusively. That is what I
submit to your lordships. When the Act of 1862 was
passed, the thing which is put at the head and front of
the Act is to regulate the sale of poisons. The preamble
says that it is expedient for the safety of the public that
persons keeping open shop for retailing, dispensing and
compounding poisons should have a proper qualification.
Then the Act begins, and in its 1st section carrying out
the primary object begins by a prohibition of the sale of
poisons.

The Lord Chancellor: Carrying out both objects,
because it goes on to say, “ or to assume or use the title
of chemist and druggist, or chemist or druggist.”

Mr. Benjamin: Yes, my lord, but the very first sen¬
tence is as to the sale of poisons.

Lord Blackburn : To take the preamble alone it seems
as if “ person ” there meant a natural person, because it
says : “ Whereas it is expedient for the safety of the
public that persons keeping open shop for the purpose of
retailing and dispensing poisons,” that is one thing, and
that “ persons known as chemists and druggists,” that is
another, should possess a competent practical knowledge

of their business. To that end, from and after a par¬
ticular date, every person shall be examined. You
would hardly say that a corporation or person artificial
could possess a competent practical knowledge of che¬
mistry. It certainly could not so duly examined.

Mr. Benjamin: Quite so, my lord. Our argument
from that is for what it is worth — and it seems to us
conclusive — that inasmuch as a corporation cannot
possess these qualifications, it is a person that cannot
sell poison.

The Lord Chancellor : What I wish you to notice is
that you cannot stop short of contending, prospectively
at all events, that the Act would prevent any company
from carrying on the business of chemists and druggists,
not merely from selling poisons, but from carrying on
business as chemists and druggists.

Mr. Benjamin : Prospectively, my lord, yes ; that was
the intention of the Act I quite admit.

The Lord Chancellor : If you established that -

Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord. By amending the
Pharmacy Act, it provides for such a registration of
persons carrying on the trade as shall prevent anyone
carrying on the trade who has not passed the proper
examination. Then you have the 1st section, “ From
and after the 31st day of December, 1868, it shall be un¬
lawful for any person to sell or keep open shop for retailing
dispensing, or compounding poisons, or to assume or use
the title ‘ chemist and druggist,’ or chemist or druggist,
or pharmacist, or dispensing chemist or druggist in any
part of Great Britain, unless such person shall be a
pharmaceutical chemist, or a chemist and druggist
within the meaning of this Act, and be registered under
this Act, and conform to such regulations as to the
keeping, dispensing, and selling of such poisons as may
from time to time be prescribed by the Pharmaceutical
Society with the consent of the Privy Council.” There
then, my lords, taking that section alone, is it not plain
that this Act was intended for the safety of the public,
not only as regards the sale of poisons, but as regards the
practice of an apothecary, that he shall be a person who
has been examined and registered? Observe, my lords,
“it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or keepopen shop
for retail.” Those words “to sell ” would be superfluous,
because it would be quite sufficient to prohibit “ keeping
open shop for retailing, dispensing, or compounding
poisons,” if it were not that poisons are known to be
habitually bought by private persons, by persons who
are practising as apothecaries or druggists, and in
the fen country, as I am informed, and I am told it
appears by the blue books, the whole population were
in the habit of being supplied with such drugs as opium
and compounds of opium by travelling pedlars. They
were persons who did not act as apothecaries and
druggists ; but they were private individuals who would
hawk about the country poisonous drugs, and the inten¬
tion, therefore, of the Act was not simply to aim at
persons who keep a shop, but to aim at persons who went
about the country not practising as pharmaceutical
chemists or druggists, but simply as retailers and pedlars
of poisonous drugs ; therefore it was made an offence not
only to keep open shop for the sale to the public, bat for
anybody to sell. In that way the public were protected
against the sale of poisons ; and the second purpose of the
Act to alter and amend the Pharmacy Act by requiring
a proper examination and registration was also observed.
Then, my lords, the 2nd section simply gives a list of
poisons by reference to the schedule.

Lord Blackburn : It would be important to show that
the mischief is not the less affected by a corporation
keeping open shop if they have a qualified assistant.
You may say that a corporation is brought within the
words ; but what harm does it do if the body corporate,
such as Apothecaries’ Hall, continues to sell by qualified
assistants ?

Mr. Benjamin: My lord, that question about Apothe¬
caries’ Hall has been used at every stage of the argument

84

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 31, 1886.

in this case, and I have only to answer that the Apothe¬
caries’ Hall is a private partnership. It is not a company,
it is not a corporation. We have the deed of partner¬
ship in Court, if it is necessary to look at it.

Lord Blackburn : It may be ; but whether it was a cor¬
poration or not I do not know. I believe there were some
bodies corporate engaged in this business ; but supposing
there were not, there may have been such, and how would
the fact that the shop was kept by a corporation in the
slightest degree bring the case within the mischief if the
people who actually dealt with the poisons were qualified ? i

Mr. Benjamin : If a corporation is not under the Act,
then a corporation is not obliged to have a qualified as¬
sistant.

Lord Blackburn: But if they do sell, I should say
that a corporation, if it sells by an unqualified assistant,
certainly the unqualified assistant would be under the
Act.

Mr. Benjamin : The question is whether the corporation
can escape the provisions of the Act. If they are not
under the Act there is a complete absence of any protec¬
tion such as the Act requires in keeping a shop for the
sale of poisons.

The Lord Chancellor : Let me ask you this, Mr. Benja¬
min. In what manner do you suppose the Apothecaries’
Company, which certainly did some time ago and prob¬
ably does so still, carry on the business of chemists and
druggists and deal in medicines and drugs, dispensing
them and so on, are saved from the Act according to your
construction ?

Mr. Benjamin : They are a private partnership com- ;
posed exclusively of apothecaries.

The Lord Chancellor : No, they are a corporation — at
least I fully believe they are.

Mr. Benjamin : We have the deed here, my lord, dated
in 1822, and it is a private partnership.

The Lord Chancellor : The Apothecaries’ Company ?

Mr. Benjamin: It is not a company.

Lord Blackburn : In 1822, a body who had got more
than seven persons, who tried to carry on business, would
have found themselves in an enormous difficulty. Are
you sure they are not a corporation ?

Mr. Benjamin : Here is the deed.

The Lord Chancellor : Those who carry on business at
Apothecaries’ Hall.

Mr. Benjamin : They were a private partnership —
those who sell. Here is the deed, and by the deed nobody
but a qualified apothecary can be a member of that body.

Lord Blackburn: What I should like to know is,
whether they are not incorporated besides1; because in
1822, a large body would have found enormous difficulty
in carrying on business. Are you quite sure they are
not a corporation ?

Mr. Benjamin : I am so instructed, my lord, and the
deed is brought here. I am told there is no such thing.

Mr. Wills : The charter is cited in the Act 55 Geo.
III. establishing them as a corporation by the name of
“The Master, Warden and Society of the Art and Mystery
of Apothecaries.” That is the charter of 15 James I.

The Lord Chancellor: It is so by an old Act of Parlia¬
ment in. my hand. It is clear they are treated as a cor¬
poration there. They are a very old corporation. One of
the medical Acts refers to them. I rather think, I am not
sure, that they are as old as the earliest medical Act,
which if I am not mistaken is as old as Henry VIII.

Mr. Benjamin : Your lordship is quite correct in that;
bat it does not derogate from what I said that the com¬
pany consists of those who keep a shop for the sale of
medicines, and a private partnership composed of mem¬
bers of that corporation is a company who by a private
deed amongst themselves carry on the business; the
corporate company does not carry on the business, but
there is a sub-partnership, so to speak, composed of mem¬
bers of the corporate company whose deed is before me.

Lord Blackburn : Is it registered under the Joint Stock
Companies Act ?

Mr. Benjamin: No, my lord.

Lord Blackburn : I do not understand how it has con¬
trived to carry on business. It seems very strange.

Mr. Benjamin: Here it is, my lord. If it is necessary,
and if your lordships desire it I will read what the pro¬
visions are.

The Lord Chancellor: Strictly speaking we have no
right to attend to any such deed, which, I presume; is
not in evidence.

Mr. Benjamin : No, my lord, it is not.

The Lord Chancellor : But I do not suppose there will
be any objection on the other side to its being read by
way of illustration of your argument. What is the date
of it ?

Mr. Benjamin : 1822, my lord. It is an “ Indenture
made on the 9th November in the 3rd year of George IV.
in the year of our Lord 18'22, between the Masters,
Wardens and Society of the Art and Mystery of Apothe¬
caries ” — that is the incorporated company — “ of the
first part, the several persons whose names are set forth
in the column marked A at the foot of the second part,
the other persons in column B of the third part, the
several persons mentioned in column C, being members
of the company in the new partnership formed by these
presents, of the fourth part, and the several persons whose
names are subscribed in the column marked D, being
members only of the second class in the new partnership
formed by these presents, of the fifth part. Whereas the
persons who are or who are intended to be parties hereto
of the second part have for many years past carried on a
trade or business in co-partnership in drugs and medicines
in the name of the said Master, Wardens and Society
with a certain capital stock called the Navy Stock, upon
certain terms and regulations.”

Lord Blackburn : That would seem as if the trade was
carried on in the name of the corporation. That removes
the difficulty which I thought of. The corporation would
bring an action for a contract made on their behalf, and
nobody could set up a defence.

The Lord Chancellor: One suspects from what you
have already read, that the nature of the deed is this, that
the corporation carries on the business ; but inasmuch as
it is desirable that the persons who are practically em¬
ployed in it, or contribute money with which it is carried
on, should have certain rights inter se distinct from those
of the corporation, the deed is intended to provide for and
regulate that.

Mr. Benjamin: No, my lord, it is not that. It is a
new partnership. I have just read one sentence in the
preamble. “And whereas the several persons who are or
are intended to be parties hereto of the third part
have for some time past carried on in co-partnership in
the name of the said Master, Wardens,” and so on, “the
trade in medicines, and making and vending chemical
medicines, with a capital or stock commonly called the
Laboratory Stock. This indenture witnesseth and it is
hereby agreed that the said co-partnership, or trade, or
business as aforesaid, exercised or carried on by the parties
of the second part, shall be determined and dissolved as
on the 31st December in this year, and that all the estate,
property, stock in trade and so forth, shall by the com¬
mittee for managing the said co-partnership be sold and dis¬
posed of at valuation by auditors in the usual manner.”
Then the co-partnership is formed and the operative part
is this: “First, that the persons the parties hereto of the
fourth and fifth part respectively shall and will as on the
1st day of January, 1823, carry on and exercise in co¬
partnership the same trades or businesses as now are or
hitherto have been carried on.”

The Lord Chancellor : Just read the introductory words
of t hat sentence once more.

Mr. Benjamin: “The parties hereto of the fourth and
fifth part shall and will as and from the 1st January,
1823, carry on and exercise in co-partnership the same
trades or businesses as are now or have been earned on
by the persons interested in the capital or stock called the

July 31, 1380.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

85

Navy Stock, and the persons interested in the capital and
stock called the Laboratory Stock. The said new part¬
nership shall be carried on in the name of the Miaster,
Wardens and Society of the Art and Mystery of Apothe¬
caries of the City of London, bnt for the benefit of the
members or proprietors of such new partnership, and the
said Master, Wardens and Society do consent.”

Lord Blackburn : You see the business was carried on,
as I thought was absolutely necessary from the fact that
it could not otherwise have been carried on, by the cor¬
poration.

The Lord Chancellor: If it is carried on in the name
of the corporation, and if it is illegal for the corporation
to keep an open shop, it is at least a very serious question
whether they were not keeping an open shop under that
deed.

Mr. Benjamin : That may be true ; but it would also
be true that the rights of this corporation and those who
may carry it on have been saved by the statute.

The Lord Chancellor : That I have been looking at, and
it was purely with that view that I refer to that case.
It seems to me, however, difficult so to argue because the
only rights saved are the rights of persons registered
under the Act, and by the 5th clause with, respect to
persons at that time carrying on business, it is necessary
that they should claim to be registered by notice in
writing, “ signed by him, as the expression is, and how
can the corporation sign notice in writing ?

Mr. Benjamin: One word, my lord, a little further.
I wish your lordship to be in possession of what this deed
is. The 53rd clause is, that no person shall be qualified
to be a proprietor of the first class, that is, a partner,
unless he shall be a liveryman of the said society ; and
nobody shall be qualified to be a proprietor of the second
class unless he be an apothecary in actual practice for
his own benefit and on his own account.

The Lord Chancellor : I do not perceive that either of
those expressions brings him within this Act of 1868.

Mr. Benjamin: The 57th.

Lord Watson : Schedules C and D, referred to in sec¬
tion 5, would seem to apply exclusively to individuals.

Mr. Benjamin : What I did intend to argue was that
it is perfectly immaterial to us whether the Apothecaries
Company was or was not within the Act.

The Lord Chancellor : It may be immaterial to you,
but it may not be immaterial entirely for the considera¬
tion of the question before us ; if this company, which
has existed since the time of Henry VIII., which is by
law entrusted with the regulation of the sale in general,
would be an illegal company as to the business of che¬
mists and druggists by this Act. That is not a very im¬
material consideration. ^ ...

Mr. Benjamin : I will go on with the consideration of
the Act, my lord, if you please, leaving out this Apothe¬
caries’ Company for a moment, and supposing the Court
to be in ignorance of its existence.

The Lord Chancellor : It may not be in ignorance of
its existence, because of the Acts of Parliament which
relate to it, which are public Acts. Whether it may be
in ignorance of its carrying on business as Apothecaries
Hall is another question.

Mr. Benjamin: Or keeping a shop for the sale of
poisons to the publie. It may be it is not authorized to
keep open shop for the sale of poisons to the public. I
do not know how that may be. I have not investigated
that point. But what I am looking at is the face of this
Act, and seeing wbat the Act says. I have called your
attention only to the 1st section, and the section is :
“ Nobody shall sell or keep open shop for the sale of
poisons, except he be a druggist registered within the
meaning of this Act and registered under the Act.

Lord Blackburn : I am not sure but you have slightly
altered the words and made them rather more favourable.
It does not say nobody shall sell, but it shall be unlawful
for any person to sell. If it had said nobody shall sell,
you may very well say that means that a corporation

shall not do it, but if it simply says, “it shall be unlawful
for any person to sell or keep open shop unless,” so and so,
it does not follow if “person” is by the context confined
to natural persons that it refers to a corporation. I mean
you should stick to the very words.

Mr. Benjamin: Well, my lord, in the course of argu¬
ment one is not always reading the particular passage,
but giving one’s idea of the meaning of it. My idea of
the meaning of the first section, and one which I hope to
win your lordships’ approval of, is that nobody shall have
an open shop for the sale of poisons, except a duly registered
chemist. That is our interpretation of the 1st section,
and we say that it includes corporations. Although it is
said that it may be unlawful for any person to sell unless
he be registered under this Act. If a corporation cannot
be registered under this Act a corporation is a person,
and it is unlawful for the corporation. It is unlawful
for any person. My friend says that does not mean
it shall be unlawful for a corporation. It is on them
to show that that language does not apply to a cor¬
poration. The language is, it shall be unlawful for
any person unless he is registered under this Act. A
corporation cannot be registered under the Act. Of
course, those portions of the Act which amend the former
Pharmacy Act do not permit of the registration of a cor¬
poration. We infer from that and we say the fair meaning
of that is this, inasmuch as a corporation cannot be a re¬
gistered chemist under the provisions of the Act, and
inasmuch as it is unlawful for any person but a registered
chemist to keep open a shop to sell poisons, a corporation
cannot ; it is in direct violation of the Acts, and there is
nothing in the Act which confines it to an individual.

The Lord Chancellor: According to your argument,
although a partnership consisting of six or seven registered
persons qualified under the Act would be perfectly legal,
yet if it consisted of seven or more persons who were
registered under the Joint Stock Companies Act, it would
be illegal, although as I have said every member must
be duly qualified.

Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord, that would be the result.

The Lord Chancellor: In other words the chemists
and druggists are excluded from the benefits of the law
of limited liability.

Mr. Benjamin : For the carrying on business of
chemists and druggists, yes, my lord. That is to say not
excluded from the benefit, but they must not deal in
poisons ; that is all.

The Lord Chancellor: I cannot at present see that
there is any possibility of us limiting the operation of the
Act to the dealing in poisons. It goes on to the
assuming or using the title of chemists and druggists and
so on, and as it seems to me whatever construction is
right as to poisons, is right as to carrying on the business
of chemists and druggists.

Mr. Benjamin : Now, my lord, the 2nd section of the
Act gives us a schedule, in which the poisons are
enumerated within the meaning of this Act. “The
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
(hereinafter referred to as the Pharmaceutical Society)
may from time to time, by resolution, declare that any
article in such resolution named ought to be deemed a
poison within the meaning of this Act, and thereupon the
said Society shall submit the same for the approval of
the Privy Council, and if such approval shall be given,
then such resolution and approval shall be adver¬
tized in the London Gazette , and on the expiration of
one month from such advertisement, the article named in
such resolution shall be deemed to be a poison.” Then
the 3rd is, “ Chemists and druggists within the meaning
of this Act shall consist of all persons who, at any time
before the passing of this Act, have carried on, in Great
Britain, the business of a chemist and druggist.” We
say that includes a corporation, and that the Apothecaries’
Company, to which your lordship has referred, is there
saved.

The Lord Chancellor: No, that is not a saving

86

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 81, 1880.

clause, that is a definition clause, the saving clause is
later.

Mr. Benjamin : This 3rd section saves them ; it says
“ chemists and druggists shall consist of persons who
before the passing of this Act carried on the business of
chemists and druggists.”

The Lord Chancellor : And of certain other persons.
That by itself is not a saving, but a definition clause.
The saving clause is found elsewhere.

Mr. Benjamin : What is the effect of this, my lord ?
Is it not that chemists and druggists within the meaning
of this Act include all persons who heretofore have
carried on the business of chemists and druggists ?

The Lord Chancellor : Certainly, whatever be the
meaning of the word “ druggist.”

Mr. Benjamin: Yes, my lord.

Lord Watson: But they cannot dispense poisons until
they comply with the provisions of section 5, namely,
registration.

Lord Blackburn : A corporation can hardly be regis¬
tered under section 5.

The Lord Chancellor : Certainly not, I should think.

Mr. Benjamin: “ And also of all such persons as may
be duly registered under this Act.” “ The new register
shall comprise all persons who have heretofore carried on
business and all who are registered under this Act.”

Lord Blackburn : I think you will find, if you look at
section 5, there is some difficulty in construing that in
that way.

Lord Watson : How can a company declare in the
terms of schedule D that it is a duly qualified medical
practitioner, residing at a particular place ?

Mr. Benjamin : It cannot, my lord, because it is not a
medical practitioner, — Apothecaries’ Hall is not a medical
practitioner at all, and of course it could not. Section 4
is that assistants are to be registered. That plainly is an
amendment to the previous Act. Then section 5 : “ The
persons who at the time of the passing of this Act shall
have been duly admitted pharmaceutical chemists or
shall be chemists and druggists within the meaning of
the Act shall be entitled to be registered.”

Lord Watson: Section 4 is an amendment to section 6
of the previous Act.

Lord Blackburn : Section 5 says, “ Who are entitled
to be registered.”

Mr. Benjamin : “ Provided, however, as regards any
such chemist and druggist, that his claim to be registered
must be by notice in writing, signed by him and given to
the Registrar with certificates according to the schedules
C and D to this Act ; and provided also, that for any
such registration of a chemist and druggist, unless it be
duly claimed by him on or before the 31st day of
December, 1868.”

Lord Blackburn : Stopping there for a moment, how
could a corporation become registered under section 5 ?
A corporation cannot possibly send “ a notice in writing
signed by him ; ” it is a straining of the words to say so.

Mr. Benjamin : Let us see schedule C. It is a
declaration of a person in business as a chemist and
druggist before the Pharmacy Act of 1868, to the
Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

“I - hereby declare that I was in business as a

chemist and druggist in the keeping open shop for the
compounding of the prescriptions of duly qualified medical

practitioners at - , in the county of - , on or before

the - day of -

The Lord Chancellor : And signed his name.

Lord Blackburn : Who is to sign that ? How is the
corporation to sign that ?

Mr. Benjamin: A corporation signs by its seal.

Lord Blackburn: Is not that doing violence to the
language? Which of the two is the greatest straining of
the words, to say that “ person ” means a natural person,
or to say that signing means sealing?

Mr. Benjamin : Whichever of those constructions may
be preferred, my lord, we have not yet come to the sec¬

tion which covers the present case. It may be conceded
for the purpose of the argument that we are taking our
contention too high in saying that in section 3 the word
“ person ” includes a corporation. Let us for a moment
admit that. Then, of course, that being inapplicable, it
is a continuation of the former Act in relation to Apothe¬
caries’ Hall. Then the 6th is undoubtedly an amend¬
ment of the former Act about examinations. Seven is un¬
doubtedly an amendment of the former Act. It is about
the examination and registering. Eight is an amendment
of the former Act. Nine is an amendment of the former
Act. Ten is an amendment of the former Act. Eleven
is an amendment of the former Act. Twelve is an
amendment of the former Act. Thirteen is an amend¬
ment of the former Act. Fourteen is an amendment of
the former Act ; the whole of those sections being ap¬
plicable to registration.

The Lord Chancellor : And every one of them, as far as
one can see, only applicable to the registration of natural
persons.

Mr. Benjamin : Quite so, my lord, because the former
Act was only applicable to natural persons. The Act of
1852 is clearly only for natural persons, and the
main clauses of this Act are solely for natural persons.
I submit that we must keep in view all the time that
there are two classes of provisions in the Act of 1868,
and stated to be so ; one having reference to the regis¬
tration and the other having reference to the sale of
poisons, the section relative to the sale of poisons being
entirely new, the other sections being simply amendments
of the former Act. The former Act provided only for
regulating the qualification of pharmaceutical chemists,
that was entirely a personal Act and the sections which
amend it are personal sections.

The Lord Chancellor : Fourteen is the clause of penal¬
ties, which it would be very difficult ts apply to a corpo¬
ration.

Mr. Benjamin : I say that, my lord, section 14 is an
amendment of a former Act.

The Lord Chancellor : It goes beyond that j it says :
“Any person who shall wilfully procure or attempt to pro¬
cure himself to be registered under the Pharmacy Act, or
under this Act, by making or producing or causing to be
made or produced any false or fraudulent representation
or declaration,” which would plainly include the declara¬
tion by persons then carrying on business as chemists and
druggists under the 5th section, “shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor and shall on conviction be sentenced to
imprisonment for any term not exceeding twelve months.”

Lord Blackburn : It does not relate to the former Act
only, but to this Act. It is manifest that a person
making a false declaration under the 5th section in order
to get himself registered as a person who before the passing
of the Act was carrying on in Great Britain a business of
a chemist and druggist would be liable to imprisonment
under that clause. Therefore it is clear that corporations
cannot be contemplated.

Mr. Benjamin : It seems to me, my lord, with all sub¬
mission, that it is really in force of what I am endeavour¬
ing to maintain rather than in derogation of it.

The Lord Chancellor : If you say that corporations are
prohibited, of course it is quite consistent that these
clam es do not contemplate or provide for them.

Mr. Benjamin : What I mean is this, my lord, that
this clause, like the other clauses having reference to the
registration of pharmaceutical chemists, is a code of
legislations for persons — that I quite admit.

Lord Blackburn : Of course it is quite competent to
argue that if in section 1 it was meant to enlarge the
sense of the word to include persons natural and
artificial that in the thirteen following sections “person”
is used in a restrict sense.

Mr. Benjamin : That is for registration.

Lord Blackburn: But when you find, without any
obvious reason, the word person is used in one sense in
section 1, and is used in a different sense in thirteen follow-

July 31, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

87

ing sections, primd facie one would say if “ person ” is used
in one sense to begin with, it would mean the same
throughout.

Mr. Benjamin : Unless the Act had said it had two
objects, and the Act says it has two objects.

Lord Blackburn: If the Act had anywhere said, as
Mr. Justice Mellor seems to have thought in his judg¬
ment, that to encourage apothecaries to qualify them¬
selves they should have a monopoly of the profits
arising from vending poisonous drugs — if that object were
there, I should say there was a great deal of force in
your argument; but I don’t find that.

Mr. Benjamin : My lord, so far as the question of
monopoly is concerned, monopoly of course is a difficult
word, it creates prejudice ; but your lordship is perfectly
justified in making use of it.

Lord Blackburn : Take a different word. What I
wish to express is, the sole right of vending, or the profits
arising from the sole right of vending— if there was any¬
thing in this Act — a recital so clear, or a statement that
for the purpose of inducing men to undergo education
and become able chemists and understand their business,
we will give such people as become pharmaceutical
chemists the sole right of obtaining profits from vending
poisonous drugs. A recital or any enactment to that
effect would go a great way towards showing that you
are right. But that is what I cannot find.

Mr. Benjamin : My lord, I think that the Act specifies
a distinct purpose, a much higher purpose, than that. It
specifies a desire to protect the public against being
poisoned, and that is quite as high an object and a
separate object.

Lord Blackburn : Only that the legislation is not
necessarily connected with that chief idea. That is
what made me ask some time ago if you could point out
to me — the object being to save the public from being
poisoned by a duly qualified man and in a shop regulated
to sell poisons — why the public should be in more danger
because, instead of keeping the profits for his own use,
he handed them over to a corporation.

Mr. Benjamin: Because it is admitted under the
language of the Act. I suppose nobody questions that,
that no private individual could do what this company
has done and not be within the Act.

Lord Blackburn : But what I want to know is this.
One object of the Act was to say that no one but a
qualified person shall superintend the selling of poisons,
and it forbids to keep open shop. That is because a
person may keep open shop and have a duly qualified
assistant, but then the master may perhaps interfere, and
therefore, to simplify proof, if he is an unqualified person
who keeps the open shop he is within the Act ; but a cor¬
poration cannot control its qualified manager.

Mr. Benjamin : And therefore it cannot carry out the
purpose of the Act.

Lord Blackburn : No ; therefore its keeping an open
shop does not produce the mischief the Act is intended
to prevent.

Mr. Benjamin: A corporation with an open shop for
the sale of drugs has assistants, but it sends abroad for
things, cheap, if you please, drugs and medicines of dif¬
ferent kinds. The corporation itself is not qualified to
judge of what it is buying. The man who is in the shop,
who is a duly qualified assistant, has nothing to-do with
the purchase. It is perfectly well known that it is a matter
of extreme importance that the quality of drugs, poisons
or whatever they are, that are kept in the shop should be
pure, and it is also known that in very many drugs there
are certain amounts of impurity which a qualified person
would know and would be able to appreciate, and so
whether it was too much or too little to make the drugs
of a particular strength.

Lord Watson : That is carrying it very far.

Lord Blackburn: That is an excellent argument for
extending the Act to the wholesale purchase and sale of
drugs.

Lord Watson : Is not a company within the Adultera¬
tion Act ?

Mr. Benjamin : I was answering an observation of my
Lord Blackburn, whether or not there was any necessity
for the person who kept the shop to be qualified, for a
proprietor to be qualified. The Act says the proprietor
must be qualified. I am asked whether there is any, and
what danger to be apprehended if the proprietor be a
company ? I answer yes, because the proprietor being a
company, a company may get a stock of the most impure
description.

The Lord Chancellor : So may persons properly quali¬
fied under the Act. There is not a word in the Act to
provide against their making purchases by agents, of any
sort or kind, abroad, whether qualified or unqualified.
There is nothing in the Act to require the quality of
drugs which they bring into stock to be tested ; nothing
to deal with the subject of adulteration.

Mr. Benjamin: Now, the Act having said that the
person who keeps the shop must be duly qualified, there
must be a motive for the requirements.

The Lord Chancellor : It does not follow he must be a
chemist.

Mr. Benjamin: Yes, my lord, the Act requires the
proprietor to be a qualified chemist, who keeps open the
shop ; the proprietor must be a qualified chemist.

The Lord Chancellor: What I meant was this. I
do not suppose that the qualification for a registered
chemist of that sort requires that he should analyse all
his drugs.

Mr. Benjamin: No, my lord; but I am asked for the
motive for the lawgiver saying, we are not satisfied that
the assistant shall be qualified, we want the proprietor to
be qualified. And it is suggested what motive is there for
that. I answer, the motive is that a duly qualified pro¬
prietor furnishes his shop with the drugs and poisons
which are to be sold, and it may be that the Legislature
thought that it was necessary that the proprietor should
be duly qualified as additional security for the quality of
the drugs and poisons sold in his shop.

Lord Watson : Should it not be, as was suggested by
one of their lordships in the Court below, that it is from
apprehension that the principal may interfere with his
assistant and sell instead of him.

Mr. Benjamin: For that also, in which case as the
assistant is under his orders, the qualified servant is under
the orders of the unqualified master. That again, as
suggested by the judges below, may be a reason for
requiring the master to be qualified.

Lord Blackburn : But how does that apply to a cor¬
poration, if the corporation, as in this case, has a
qualified managing director ? The body corporate cannot
interfere.

Mr. Benjamin : I do not quite understand. This man
here, who keeps the little portion of the establishment
called the druggist’s shop, is a paid servant.

Lord Blackburn : He may be a paid servant, I do not
recollect exactly how it stands now ; but, however, that
would be more as to this particular case.

The Lord Chancellor : It is obvious, Mr. Benjamin,
you may have a man who was qualified carrying on busi¬
ness, and he might have as the general manager of his
business a person who was not qualified, but as for the
particular purpose of vending these drugs, a person who was
qualified. There would be no illegality in the general
manager being an unqualified person under those
circumstances.

Mr. Benjamin : The proprietor must be qualified.

The Lord Chancellor : I am putting the case of a
qualified proprietor selling by a qualified assistant, but
leaving the general management of his business, as a
tradesman, in the hands of such a person as the
gentleman whose name I forget —

Mr. Benjamin : Longmore ?

The Lord Chancellor : No, not Longmore.

Mr. Benjamin : Mackness?

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THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 31, 1880.

The Lord Chancellor : Yes, Mackness. He, I under¬
stand, is not qualified to sell drugs.

Mr. Benjamin : No, my lord, he is substantially the
proprietor.

The Lord Chancellor: The company is the proprietor. It
is undeniable that it is a company; Mackness is the general
manager, and Longmore is the person to whom this
department is confided. The position of Mackness will
not make it illegal, or would not have made it illegal,
supposing that instead of a company the business had
belonged to a qualified person under the Act.

Mr. Benjamin : "Well, my lord, we come back to this,
here is a business in which there is no qualified proprietor.

Lord Blackburn : If you could establish your first point,
that “person” necessarily includes a corporation — it cer¬
tainly may — and consequently a corporation is forbidden,
there is no more to be said.

Lord Watson : Your argument leads to this, that
under section 1, corporations and individuals are included
in the word “person” for two different purposes, one is
intended for the purpose of being subjected to the regula¬
tions of the statute, the other is introduced for the purpose
of being excluded from the sale of poisons altogether.

Mr. Benjamin: Well, my lord, I do not see why that
should not be. But now the 15th section comes in, which
is important.

Lord Watson : That seems to me to be it.

Mr. Benjamin : It is a distinct offence committed under
the Act: “Erom and after the 31st day of December,
1 868, any person who shall sell, or keep an open shop for the
retailing, dispensing or compounding poisons, or who shall
take, use, or exhibit the name or title of chemist and
druggist, or chemist or druggist, not being a duly registered
pharmaceutical chemist or chemist and druggist, or who
shall take, use, or exhibit the name or title of pharmaceu¬
tical chemist, pharmaceutist, or pharmacist, not being a
pharmaceutical chemist, or shall fail to conform with any
regulation as to keeping or selling of poisons, made in pur¬
suance of this Act, or who shall compound any medicines
of the British Pharmacopoeia, except according to the
formularies of the Pharmacopoeia, shall, for every such
offence, be liable to pay a penalty or sum of £5, and the
same may be sued for, recovered, and dealt with in the
manner provided by the Pharmacy Act for the recovery
of penalties under that Act ; but nothing in this Act con¬
tained shall prevent any person from being liable to any
other penalty, damages or punishment, to which he would
have been subject if this Act had not passed.” Now, you
have here this, any person who shall after the 31st day of
December, sell, or keep open shop for the retailing of
poisons commits an offence. Surely, my lord, that is as
broad language as one ever finds in an Act of Parliament.

The Lord Chancellor : But still the question is the
meaning of the word “ person ” as used in this Act.

Mr. Benjamin : Is there any reason for excluding the
corporation from committing that offence ?

Lord Blackburn : There is a strong reason, as it seems
to me, in the very 15th section, which puts penalties on
persons. They say the word “ person ” is limited to the
same extent as in section 1. Once establish that in
section 1 a corporation is included, and the other would
follow.

* Lord Watson : It is not presumable that the Legislature
intended to include under the penalties section anyone
except those referred to in the former section. I think
the question of the 15th section, unless you can point
out any difference in the language, is precisely the same
as the question which arises on the first.

Mr. Benjamin : No doubt, sections 1 and 15 are to be
read together.

The Lord Chancellor : It is very important to observe
that this section and others clearly struck at assistants,
as well as the principal to whom the business belongs.
The word “sell” and the word “compound” in that
clause clearly relate to the person actually selling and
actually compounding. Therefore, except for those words

on which you rely, “keeping open shop,” there is nothing
in the section in which the objects would not be fully
met, although a corporation carrying on business were
not within it ; and in the 17th section that is made still
clearer by the words which say, that for the purpose of
this section, a person on whose behalf a sale is made
shall be deemed to be the seller, and, by necessary impli¬
cation one would say, showing that is not to be the uni¬
versal rule throughout the Act.

Mr. Benjamin : That is the argument used against iu.
I did endeavour to answer that argument by showing
that there were certain peculiar provisions in section 17
which might have given rise to doubt. It is a peculiar
section, and I will come to that in a moment. I will
first pass over section 16 and arrive at section 17 at once.
Section 16 is the saving clause which enacts that
“ nothing hereinbefore contained shall extend to or
interfere with the business of any legally qualified
apothecary, or of any member of the Royal College
of Veterinary Surgeons of Great Britain, nor with the
making or dealing in patent medicines, nor with the
business of wholesale dealers in supplying poisons in the
ordinary course of wholesale dealing.” Then comes this,
upon the decease of anyone actually in business it shall
be lawful for his executors to continue the business if
and so long only as such business shall be conducted by a
duly qualified assistant. Here we have the case, and the
one case only, in which a business can be conducted
where the proprietor is not duly qualified.

The Lord Chancellor : That, also, I think you may
assume contains a very strong intention that the word
“ sale ” and the word “ compound,” and so on, are ap¬
plicable to a person actually making the sale, although
not the owner of the business : otherwise, under that
section, everything would be thrown at large and poisons
might be sold by persons who were carrying on the
business. The Legislature provided against that by
saying that the business may be carried on by a duly
qualified assistant.

Mr. Benjamin : But further, I call that in aid of my
general proposition, that there is a single case provided
by the Act in which the business can be carried on by a
duly qualified assistant without a duly qualified pro¬
prietor. This is a case in which there may be no duly
qualified proprietor, and yet the party does not come
under the censure of the Act, if in this stringent emer¬
gency, temporary in its nature, there be a duly qualified
assistant.

Lord Watson : That is so far in favour of your argu¬
ment that this clause does not appear to deal with
keeping open shop. It deals exclusively with actual
selling.

Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord.

Lord Watson: I think the Arsenic Act of 1851 has at
the end a clause which deals only with the seller.

Lord Blackburn: I think section 16, which authorizes
an executor to continue such business, must mean to con¬
tinue it as before, that is to keep open shop.

Mr. Benjamin: Quite so. I quite agree that is the
meaning of that, and I call in aid the fact that the
Legislature had in view circumstances where it might be
proper to excuse an absence of a qualified proprietor,
and there is but one case in which carrying on the
business' without a qualified proprietor is made lawful by
the Act.

Lord Blackburn: This section 16, if you are right in
your argument that a corporation is within it, does not
conflict with it, it is quite clear.

Mr. Benjamin : With regard to what the Lord Chancel¬
lor said about section 17, 1 endeavoured before to point out
the necessity of that particular clause in this section only.
When you read the section itself you will see why it was
necessary particularly to introduce that clause into it ;
“ that it shall be unlawful to sell any poison, either by
wholesale or retail, unless the box, bottle, vessel, wrapper
or cover in which such poison is contained be distinctly

July 31, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

89

labelled with the name of the article and the word poison,
and with the name and address of the seller of the poi¬
son.” Now, clearly, it might have been contended that
the person who sold was the assistant — that it was the
assistant — that it was the assistant who was selling
without having the box, bottle, vessel, wrapper or cover
with the proper label, and with the proper address ; and
that inasmuch as this is a penal section that the pro¬
prietor could not be held responsible for his assistant
failing to wrap up the box, bottle, or vessel with the proper
paper, and putting on the proper address.

Lord Watson: This is a much wider enactment, it
comprises wholesale dealing as well.

Mr. Benjamin: Yes, my lord; therefore taking that
alone it became necessary to say inasmuch as this is now
made a penal offence, whom do we mean by the seller who
fails to wrap the box, or wrap the bottle, and put the
proper label upon it ? Well then, what we mean, says
the Legislature, is that what is mentioned in this section
as the seller shall not be the assistant who wraps up,
but shall be the proprietor.

The Lord Chancellor : That is exactly what I pointed
out. The 15th section is a penal section also. There is
also a provision as to the seller in that section.

Lord Watson : This section applies to wholesale deal¬
ings, and would certainly include a corporation also,
which you would not say is illegal.

Mr. Benjamin : Yes, my lord, that is so. Then this is
a criminal act. It is not a penalty of £5 for an offence
to be sued for, but “ any person selling poisons otherwise
than as herein provided, shall, upon summary conviction,
be liable to a penalty not exceeding £5 for the first
offence, and for the purpose of this section the person on
whose behalf any sale is made shall be deemed to be the
seller.”

Lord Watson : It is difficult to maintain that the word
“ person in what you have just read does not include
corporation.

The Lord Chancellor : Because the previous part of the
section begins differently, it says, “it shall be unlawful.”

Mr. Benjamin : This is a regulation for the sale of
poisons. It shall be unlawful to do this thing, and if it
is done it is the proprietor who is liable. Now, supposing
in this very case this registered apothecary do what is
here forbidden, and he sells a box or bottle without being
wrapped up with a label with the proper address and so
forth, who is to be hit ? The verywvords of the section
say it is the owner, the proprietor. If a corporation can
be a proprietor it is clear.

Lord Blackburn: I should say at present you have
made out your point on this section 17, that the word
person is used in the sense to include, not only a natural
person, but an artificial one, and that consequently if in
this business anyone does sell poisons without labelling
them, whether wholesale or not, that the corporation
would be liable. It weakens the argument against you
that in every instance in the Act “person” means a
natural person, because it appears there is one where it
does not.

Mr. Benjamin : But then I beg your lordships to re¬
member this, you have the view of the Legislature in
relation to offences in general, although in a particular
Act speaking of convictions and indictments that the
word “ person ” under the Act, defining the offence, does
include corporations, because section 14 of the Act of
George IV., to which I called attention, says, “wherever
this or any other statute relating to any offences, whether
punishable upon indictment or summary conviction, I say
that those words “whether punishable upon indictment
or summary conviction ” are not words of limitation.

Lord Blackburn : What are they ? It looks un¬
commonly like it. No doubt it would apply to section

17.

Mr. Benjamin: “That wherever this or any other
statute relating to any offence, whether punishable upon
indictment or summary conviction, in describing or

referring to the offence, or the subject matter on or with
respect to which it shall be committed, or the offender or
the party affected or intended to be affected by the
offence, hath used or shall use words importing the
singular number or the masculine gender only, yet the
statute shall be understood to include several matters
as well as one matter, and several persons as well as one
person, and females as well as males, and bodies corporate
as well as individuals.”

Lord Blackburn : Surely that is an offence. Section 17
does, to my mind, constitute an offence, and consequently
the person there would come within that Act. I think
the context would show that.

Mr. Benjamin: The 15th section constitutes an
offence.

The Lord Chancellor : No, its says, “ such penalty
may be recovered by the Registrar to be appointed under
this Act in the name and by the authority of the said
Society in manner following, that is to say : In England
or Wales, by plaint under the provisions of any Act in
force for the more easy recovery of small debts and
demands.”

Lord Blackburn : No doubt it uses the word offence.
It speaks of an offence, but it is not an offence in the
same way as those referred to in the Act of George IY.
That is a thing in the nature of a claim, this is a thing
for which you are to sue for penalties.

Mr. Benjamin: It is true the Act of George IV. says,
wherever we as the Legislature speak of an offence,
whether that offence be punishable by indictment or
summary conviction, when we use the word “person”
we mean corporate body also.

Lord Watson : It is, in fact, a criminal penalty in the
one case and a civil duty in the other ; that is the
distinction.

Mr. Benjamin : I should say so, my lord ; it is a
very strong indication of the view of the Legislature.
One cannot see the reason why a general body should be
included when you speak of the offence, and there is an
indictment, and not included if it is a penalty.

The Lord Chancellor : I think there is a very good
reason, because, of course, a criminal offence is something
which is malum 'prohibitum by law, and any person,
legal or natural, may be guilty of it who violates the
law.

Mr. Benjamin : You will observe this, my lord, that
the penalty in this case is in the nature of a fine. It
goes to the Crown ; it does not go to the informer.

The Lord Chancellor : That seems to be of no import¬
ance at all, if it is a criminal offence punishable by
summary conviction, although by fine.

Lord Blackburn : Do the fines sued for in the county
court go to the Crown ?

Mr. Benjamin: Yes, my lord. Section 14 says: “All
and every sums and sum of money which shall arise from
any conviction and recovery of penalties for offences
incurred under this Act shall be paid as the Commis¬
sioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury shall direct.”

Lord Watson: There is nothing said that the applica¬
tion of the penalties is to the Government.

Mr. Benjamin : No, my lord, but they are under the
control of the Government.

Lord Blackburn : The object of the statute of George
IY. was this. We all know the old decisions had given
very strange notions about some offences. There is a
definition of forgery where it said forgery was with
intent to defraud any person, and there has been a doubt
expressed whether the Bank of England was a person.
There was an express enactment passed as soon as the
doubt was raised to say that the Bank of England, or
any other corporation, should be a person within the
meaning of the Act. That showed how far people went
in their views of criminal acts. There was a doubt
raised, and consequently the Legislature very sensibly
said, we will settle it.

Mr. Benjamin : In other words, it seems that the

90

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 31, I860.

decision of the Court given that the Bank of England was
not a person -

Lord Blackburn : There never was a decision that I
am aware of, but there was a doubt.

Mr. Benjamin: There was, I believe, a decision; my
learned friends have found out a decision.

Lord Blackburn: It may be, but I thought it had
never gone further than a doubt, and a doubt which I
can only explain as arising from the extraordinary reluc¬
tance which existed to hang a man for forgery.

Mr. Benjamin: I trust that this £5 penalty will not
raise in your lordship’s mind that extreme reluctance.

Lord Blackburn : It is not on that ground. It is
not because a corporation is not liable and cannot be
imprisoned or hanged, therefore it should not comply with
the law.

Mr. Benjamin: Then, my lord, sections 18, 19, 20, 21
and 22, are all for the organization of the Council, and
of course have no reference to corporations.

The Lord Chancellor : We may look at them as an
illustration of the meaning of the word “person.” For
example, the 20th and 21st sections provide for the
eligibility of all persons registered as chemists and
druggists under the Act to be members of the Council,
and so on, plainly inapplicable to any but natural
persons.

Mr. Benjamin : It still comes back to my point, what¬
ever it may be worth,— it seems to me to be really a very
good one, — that this Act is based, as its title indicated,
on two classes of sections, one of them having reference
to the person - -

The Lord Chancellor : I do not think they have very
much bearing on it.

Mr. Benjamin : And the other having reference to the
offence. All those which have reference to the person
have reference to the Pharmacy Act of 1852, which
provided a mode of establishing the qualification, registra¬
tion and examination, and this Act carries it further, and
says that it is intended as an amendment of the other
Act. But it says also that it is an Act on an entirely
new subject, to prevent the sale of poisons to the public.
So far as that is concerned, I apprehend that upon the
true principles of construction you will take those sections,
which have reference to the sale of poisons to the public,
as originally independent legislation upon the subject,
and entirely disconnect them from all other sections of
the Act, which have reference to the qualification of
individuals to their examination, and being brought into
the Council and registered, and entered in the register.

The Lord Chancellor : It would be a singular thing if,
before the passing of this Act, there had been no single
instance of a joint stock company of chemists and
druggists formed under the Limited Liability Act, and
then it would be a very singular thing if, having such
companies, they were certainly made illegal by the opera¬
tion of general words, without any provision for rendering
them legal.

Mr. Benjamin : I think you will find in the Act of
1862 a provision, which makes it legal to form a body of
any persons over twenty ; but a regulation that there is
a saving of existing companies.

The Lord Chancellor : I was thinking of the provision
of the Joint Stock Companies Acts which you know
was many years earlier than this Act in question.

Mr. Benjamin : I have looked over them and 1 should
imagine it would be always found that existing com¬
panies were saved.

Lord Blackburn : That is not the point. In 1862 any
number of persons could associate themselves for any trade.
Apothecaries were certainly not excepted from the Act
of 1862. I think, although I do not know whether the
fact was that there were any corporations between 1S62
and 1868 which were formed for the purpose of carrying
on the business of chemists and druggists, it is quite clear
it might have been so.

Mr. Benjamin : If that had been so, after all is there

anything in this Act which would authorize such com¬
panies to go on selling poisons ?

The Lord Chancellor : As far as I can see, they could
not go on assuming the name, or professing the business
of chemists and druggists if you are right, and it would
be a singular thing if, by operation of mere general words,
without any reference to their case, and without any
special provision for it, such as you have for the executors
of a deceased person in the 16th section, such companies
were certainly made illegal, and all their business stopped.

Mr. Benjamin : I do not know, my lord.

The Lord Chancellor : It may be there was no such
company, but at the same time — and we know how
largely the Joint Stock Companies Act was taken ad¬
vantage of — one thinks it would bo a very unlikely thing
for the Legislature to assume there were no such com¬
panies.

Mr. Benjamin : We can discover whether there were
any. I rather think there were none.

The Lord Chancellor : If there were not, the Legisla¬
ture might not have thought of them.

Mr. Benjamin : I do not think I can usefully keep up
this discussion further. I have submitted to your lord-
ships everything that occurs to me in support of the
judgments of the Court of Queen’s Bench ; and, looking
at the whole of it, I cannot help thinking that Mr.
Justice Mellor’s judgment is a most satisfactory one.

Mr. Lumley Smith : If your lordship pleases, I am
with my friend, Mr. Benjamin, in this case, and I
shall occupy but a very short time.

Mr. Benjamin : My lord, I have in my hand that
which I ought to have called your attention to for one
moment, for what it may be worth, an Act passed in the
year 1875, I think it is, a similar Act which was passed
for Ireland by the Legislature. It is the 38 and 39 Yic.
c. 57, and in the 30th section of that Act the prohibition
against keeping open shop has been enlarged, instead of
diminished, and in Ireland it is by legislation in 1875 pro¬
vided that so much of the Act of 1795 as prohibited
keeping open shop within the meaning of the said Act by
any person, other than a licentiate of Apothecaries’ Hall,
shall be repealed. Provided always that it shall be un¬
lawful for any person to keep open shop for retailing,
dispensing, or compounding poisons within the meaning
of the Act of the 33rd and 34th of the reign of Victoria,
or dispensing medical prescriptions, unless such persons
be registered. So that in Ireland the prohibition goes
even to the compounding of ordinary prescriptions.

Lord Blackburn : It does not touch the question
whether a corporation be within the Act.

Mr. Benjamin : No ; I merely point out to your lord-
ship that the view of the Legislature with regard to
prohibition seems to be rather to extension than to re¬
striction.

Mr. Lumley Smith : The general propositions which I
ask your lordships to adopt before coming to the particular
words of the Act of Parliament seem to be simple, and as
far as I know there will be no difference between the
counsel on the two sides. It is first of all this : That the
word “person” may include the word “corporation.” I
think that we have already heard from your lordships
and probably will be conceded at once. Then I should
ask your lordships to say further that “person” does in¬
clude the word “corporation,” in cases where there is no¬
thing in the context which shows a contrary intention.
I do not know that that would be disputed. Then I
should press on your lordships this, that it does not follow
because there are sections in an Act of Parliament in
which the word “person” must necessarily be construed
to apply only to natural persons that in other sections in
which the word “person” may include “corporation,”
that it must necessarily be so interpreted as always
throughout the whole Act to have the same meaning. It
may very well be that in some sections the word “person”
could from the context only mean a natural person;
whereas there are other sections in which, having regard

July 31, 1880.]

:\

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

91

to the mischief which was to he dealt with or the remedy
which was to be applied, that the word “persons” could in¬
clude both corporations and natural persons. And, my
lords, there are one or two cases in which the considera¬
tion of that question has arisen, and I will shortly bring
them before your lordships. There is the case of Boyd v.
The Croydon Railway Company, in 4 Bingham, New Cases,
p. 669. I cannot say that the cases I am about to quote,
or arising out of Act of Parliament, are at all resembling
this; but there are cases in which the word “person” has
been discussed. That was a case of an Act which in¬
corporated a railway company, and there was a provision
which is very usual in such Acts of Parliament, that no
action was to be brought against any person for anything
done in pursuance of this Act without twenty-one days’
notice given to the defendant, and the decision of the
Court of Common Pleas there was that the word person
included company, and that they were entitled to notice
on being sued for obstructing the way in carrying the Act
int® effect.

The Lord Chancellor : It is very obvious that in such
an Act as that that the company was the person pri¬
marily dealt with. The powers are all given to the com¬
pany.

Lord Blackburn : If “person” can include a corporation,
and it is not disputed that it can, I should think that it
ought to have included it in that Act.

Mr. Lumley Smith : In that case there was this point
on which great stress was laid, that there was an inter¬
pretation of the word corporation. The word corporation
frequently occurred in the Act, and in the interpretation
clause there was an interpretation of the word “ corpora¬
tion,” and the argument was that as throughout the Act
of Parliament wherever “ company ” or “ corporation ”
was meant there had been an interpretation clause, that
the word “ person ” must mean something else ; but
Chief Justice Tyndall there says this: “On a proper
construction of the 109th section I think the company
are within this protection in many parts of the Act ; it
is true that the word ‘ person ’ cannot include company,
as where it is put in opposition to the word company,
or is expressly confined to directors. The question is
whether in section 109 it is used in such a qualified or
restrictive sense. Looking at the whole section it seems
clearly to embrace every description of person who shall
have proceeded bond fide to carry the Act into effect,”
and so on. Mr. Justice Parkes says this : “ In a statute
which contains nearly 200 sections, there may be several
in which the woi'd ‘ person ’ does not include the word
‘ company.’ ” It does not follow that there may not be
others in which that word does not clearly comprehend
them. I am only using that to show that it does not tallow
that the word person must necessarily have the same
meaning throughout the Act of Parliament. There is
one other case to which I will also draw attention in
which the same rule is laid down. That is the case of
Cortis v. The Kent Water Company, 7 Barnwell and
Cresswell, p. 314. That is a case in which by an old Act
of Parliament for lighting and paving Woolwich, and for
the relief of the poor, certain persons, commissioners, were
entitled to levy a rate upon every person or persons who
held, occupied or possessed land in the parish. There the
argument was that “person” did not include “corpora¬
tion” and that the rate as made against them was bad.
It was held after discussion that the corporation were
included and that they were liable to be rated. There
was considerable stress laid upon this that the mode of
appeal given to the persons rated and who were aggrieved
was by appeal to the quarter sessions in which the appel¬
lant was bound to enter into a recognizance, and it
was argued that inasmuch as a corporation could not
enter into a recognizance that therefore it did not come
within the provision of the Act. Mr. Justice Bailey
upon that, after drawing attention to the fact that under
the old Poor Law Acts, occupiers and corporations
had always been rated and that there was nothing

in this Act which showed an intention to relieve
corporations from a liability which previously existed,
goes on to discuss the question as to the word
“ person,” and he says the first objection to the plaintiff’s
right of action was that a body corporate does not come
within the meaning of the 16th section of the 47 Geo. III.
c. Ill ; and he says there does not appear to be any
intention to exonerate any person who was liable before
that time to contribute to the poor rates. Then he goes
on : “ The word ‘ person ’ may be confined to individuals
in their natural capacity, and it may extend to bodies
politic. By the statute 43 Elizabeth, which was a
statute in pari materia, every competent person, or vicar,
or keeper of any land or tenement was liable to contribute
to the relief of the poor. Now, these words do not of
necessity extend to a corporation, but they have been
construed to include the corporation. The statute also
gives a right of appeal to any person or persons aggrieved
by any rate. It is said in this case that it must be
collected from a consideration of the clauses of this Act
that corporations were not intended to be included,
inasmuch as the person or persons appealing against the
rate are required to enter into a recognizance, and that
a corporation cannot do so. If it were necessary to
decide that point I should pause before I decided that a
corporation were not competent to enter into a recog¬
nizance. I am aware there is a dictum to say they
cannot do so ; but they may appoint an attorney,” and
so on. Then Mr. Justice Littledale in the same, case,
speaking of that portion of the argument which was
addressed to entering into recognizances, said : “ It has
been said that as the 106th section gives an appeal to
every person aggrieved, but he has to enter into recog¬
nizances with two sureties, and as a corporation cannot
enter into recognizances, those provisions show clearly that
a corporation was not intended to be included by the
Legislature in this Act of Parliament, because it could not
be intended to compel a corporation to do an act which
is impossible. But where an Act of Parliament directs
a thing to be done which it was impossible for a corpora¬
tion to do, but which other persons may do ; and another
act, which a corporation as well as others can do, then
the corporation will be excused from doing the thing
which it cannot do, and will be compelled to do the act
which it is capable of doing. Assuming therefore, that
a corporation cannot of itself enter into a recognizance,
still its sureties may, and I think, therefore, that a
corporation might satisfy this clause with regard . to
sureties. I would remark with regard to the reasoning
of Mr. Justice Littledale, where certain acts have to
be done which a corporation cannot do, that it may be
excused from doing it. I think if the case had arisen,
before the passing of this Act, of a company carrying on
the business of a chemist and druggist, such as it has
been suggested the Society of Apothecaries were doing,
that they would not be prevented from registering by the
form in the schedule. If there were some words used in
the schedule which were inapplicable to a corporation,
but nevertheless the Act of Parliament showed an
intention that corporations might be registered, or rather
the Act of Parliament gave the power of being registered
to all persons who had carried on the business, probably
some other form of application would have been held
sufficient, and would have entitled them to be registered.

The Lord Chancellor : Do you say, in addition to that,
that under the 18th section a corporation may be eligible
to be elected, and to be a member of the Pharmaceutical
Society?

Mr. Lumley Smith : No, my lord, certainly not, be¬
cause the power of being a member of the Pharmaceutical
Society is confined to persons who could register as
chemists and druggists, and must be personal. Ordinarily
a pharmaceutical chemist must have been examined.

The Lord Chancellor : It says, “ Every person who, at
the time of the passing of the Act, is or has been in
business on his own account as a chemist and druggist as

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[July 31, 1880.

aforesaid, and who shall be registered 'as a chemist and
druggist, shall be eligible to be elected, and continue to
be a member of the Pharmaceutical Society according1
to the bye-laws thereof.” Those words, “ every person,”
seem to include anyone who may be so eligible.

Mr. Lumley Smith : I have not got the bye-laws here
before me, but no doubt the bye-laws would prevent a
company coming in.

The Lord Chancellor : Supposing they do, that would
diminish the force of the observation, that every person
was required to be registered who is expressly declared to
be capable of being elected a member of the Society, and
therefore no person can be required to be registered who,
either by the bye-laws or otherwise, could not possibly be
a member of that Society.

Mr. Lumley Smith : I do not, of coui’se, willingly
admit the latter part of your lordship’s proposition that,
because they may be registered and yet were not eligible
to be members of the Pharmaceutical Society, that it
follows that they could not be registered unless they
could be members. It may be. It may be it does state
it in terms ; but there is no doubt that those enabling
sections were intended to apply to individuals and not to
corporations.

The Lord Chancellor : It seems strong evidence that
the Legislature thought it required registration only of
persons who could be admitted to the privilege.

Mr. Lumley Smith : On that I think there is no doubt
it may be taken as a fact that at the time this Act of
Parliament was passed, there was no company in existence
which was carrying on any business of this kind.

The Lord Chancellor : If that could be shown in any
way that we are at liberty to take notice of it would be
at least useful for us to know it.

Mr. Lumley Smith: In the year 1868 there were, of
course, a good many companies, but they were all regis¬
tered and the registry would speak for itself. It is a
public document.

Lord Blackburn : Have you looked at the registry to see?

Mr. Lumley Smith : I am told, as a fact, there are
none. I do not know that it has been searched.

Mr. Wills : I believe there were several already in
existence dispensing their own drugs.

Mr. Lumley Smith : At the time this Act was passed,
there are the blue books, and the select committee, and
so on, and the facts seem to be these: There were no
companies formed at all for the purpose of carrying on
the business of chemists and druggists. There were
certain co-operative stores coming into existence. I
believe the Civil Service Stores was begun the year before
this, about 1867, but at that time none of them had
commenced the business of dealing in drugs.

The Lord Chancellor : If they were not registered as
chemists and druggists I should not think it would very
much affect the question.

Mr. Lumley Smith : As far as we have been able to
trace back the first and only connection of the stores with
chemists and druggists arose in this way: that certain
chemists were willing to give advantages to customers
who were members of the stores, and it was not until
some years after the passing of this Act of 1868 that any
of them began the system of selling drugs. I may say
a word about the stores. The ordinary stores are not
companies, such as this which is now before your lord-
ships, because the theory of the large co-operative stores,
such as the Civil Service and the Army and Navy, is
that they supply only member's. The privilege may be
abused and goods may be purchased by or for other
persons who are not actually members, but the theory of
the stores is, that it is an agglomeration of persons buying
wholesale and therefore at a cheap rate for division
amongst their own private personal members, and it is
very much in that respect like the supplying of wines to
members of a club.

Lord Blackburn : A great many co-operative stores, as
they are called, now have shareholders.

Mr. Lumley Smith : It is confined to shareholders.

Lord Watson: I think they have both shareholders and
members.

Mr. Lumley Smith : I am not sure about members.

Lord Watson : They have shareholders who participate
in the profits, and a number of persons only members who
are not shareholders, but who have leave to buy. They
do not sell to the whole of the public.

Lord Blackburn : It is not because it is a store that
this body would be excluded, but because it is a corpo¬
ration.

Mr. Lumley Smith : It does not at all follow, if their case
came before the Courts on the legality of selling drugs to
a member by the Army and Navy Stores, or the Civil
Service, that it would be found on that case that it was
an open shop. Here it is found as a fact in the case that
it was an open shop, established for sale to the public
and it is an open shop.

Lord Blackburn: The mischief would be obviously
quite as great; the chance of a member of the co¬
operative stores being poisoned if the stores left it to
women or children to administer their drugs, which I
do not think they would do, is quite as great as anybody
else.

Mr. Lumley Smith : If he is a member he is a con¬
senting party; there will be no injuria. I think, my lord,
those are all the general remarks I have to make ; but
there is one other case which Lord Coleridge considered
recently, a case of the G-uardians of Shoreditch against
Franklin. The only remark of Lord Coleridge that I
should quote in favour of my view is one which, I think,
would hardly be disputed— that “ person ” included
corporation, and the Act must be considered secundum
subjectam materiam.

Lord Blackburn : This decision then, I think, was not
a “person” within the meaning of the statute, where
the person aggrieved sued for the penalty.

Mr. Lumley Smith : On this ground, that a common
informer had to make an affidavit, and a corporation
could not.

Lord Blackburn : The common informer used to have
to make an affidavit. If I recollect right they never
could be informers so long as common informers were
required to make personal affidavits ; but then when the
making of the affidavit had been taken away, the argu¬
ment was that the incapacity of corporations remained.

The Lord Chancellor : Where is that case ?

Mr. Lumley Smith : It is in the 3rd C. P. Division,
337. He no doubt said that they never had been common
informers. His words are, I think it undesirable that
corporations should be common informers. The general
doctrine of the text-books is against it, and there is no
doubt under the earlier statute corporations could not be
informers, because they could not make affidavits, and I
think they cannot in this case. He seems rather to have
gone on grounds of public policy. The proposition I
should cull from it is this : “ Undoubtedly the word
‘ person ’ may in one sense include a corporation, but the
Act must be construed secundum subjectam materiam, and
we must ascertain whether a corporation is within the
words.”

Lord Blackburn : That principle I should think your
opponents would quote, as well as yourself ; it is the
application of it.

Mr. Lumley Smith : It shows that it is not because it
means the natural person in one case, therefore it cannot
mean a corporation in another. Now, my lords, broadly
on the statute — I do not intend to go particularly through
it, but I should suggest this, that there were two things
which the Legislature had to look at, that poisons might
be sold, and that persons might keep a shop for the sale
of poisons. There is no doubt that in ordinary cases
where poisons were sold, there would be very great diffi¬
culty in tracing the actual hand that sold the poison.
There might be large establishments; there might be
several assistants, and it would be very difficult indeed to

July 31, 1880]

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93

say who actually sold the poison, but it would be very
easy to find out who kept the shop. The man’s name
would be up over the door; he would pay rent, and
therefore the difficulty of proof, which Lord Blackburn
spoke of lately, seems to have been very much intended
to be met by imposing the penalty on the person who
kept the shop.

Lord Blackburn : It ought to have said the person who
keeps open shop, in which there are not qualified sellers,
because the object was not, as far as the protection of the
public goes, to punish a man for drawing profit from the
sale of drugs ; it was to prevent the actual sale by an
unqualified person.

Mr. Lumley Smith : I must take . the liberty of
limiting your lordship’s words to the selling of poisonous
drugs.

Lord Blackburn : I am not at all sure of that.

Mr. Lumley Smith : Under this Act of Parliament, a
man must not call himself a chemist and druggist. The
public are entitled to know this ; if a man write it on his
door that he is a chemist and druggist, they are entitled
to know that he has passed his examination.

Lord Blackburn: They mixed the two together,
keeping open shop and selling poisons.

Mr. Lumley Smith : No doubt poisons do enter into a
large number of things.

Lord Blackburn : He might put up, I am not a chemist
and druggist, I am a man who sells various drugs and
various medicines which are not poisonous.

Mr. Lumley Smith : Anybody can do that.

Lord Blackburn : But I think anybody who set that
up would find his custom fall off.

The Lord Chancellor : It would certainly be a curious
thing. The Act prohibits the assumption of the title of
chemist and druggist and so on, but it does not anywhere
that I see prohibit persons carrying on the business of a
chemist and druggist.

Mr. Lumley Smith : Oh, no. I think the history of
that is clear when you come to look at the earlier Act.
There were before 1852 various classes of chemists — there
were a certain number of them who chose to pass an
examination, and thereby became pharmaceutical chemists.
I dare say your lordship may have seen in chemists’ shops
very often a very handsome diploma displayed in the
shop window with the arms of the Pharmaceutical
Society. Therefore at that time a man who voluntarily
joined this body had a certain grade, because he was
known to be a person of instruction. Then they found
that other chemists who kept shops called themselves
pharmaceutical chemists, and therefore the Act of 1852
was passed, and the only restriction in that laid on the
trade was this, that nobody shall call himself a pharma¬
ceutical chemist unless he is registered as a member of
that Society. That is the only restriction.

Lord Blackburn : Is it now settled that pharmaceutical
is right? I remember there was a great controversy
when Lord Campbell called it pharmaceutical or phar-
makeutical, I forget which, and it went into the Court of
Error, and it seemed to me that the Court of Appeal
were more anxious to prove that he was wrong in the
way he pronounced the word than in the way he laid
down the law.

Mr. Lumley Smith : The Court of Exchequer Cham¬
ber thought it was pharmakeutical. I do not know
whether the Judicature Act has altered that.

The Lord Chancellor : At all events what you say is
that the thing prohibited by the 12th section of that Act
was the assumption or use of the title of pharmaceutical
or pharmakeutical chemists or pharmacists..

Mr. Lumley Smith : Yes, my lord, that is all.

The Lord Chancellor : That is enlarged by this Act.
He must not assume the title of chemist and druggist.

Mr. Lumley Smith : That is so. It goes by steps. It
shows the necessity the Legislature felt for making the
Act more stringent ; but they thought proper to save the
rights of those already established. Of course, this Act of

Parliament says “ you shall not call yourself a pharmaceu¬
tical chemist or chemist and druggist, but carry on the
trade you may ; you may call yourself a herbalist or a
wholesale druggist, you may do what you like as to that,
but you must not assume either of those titles. ” Then it
gives further bye-laws on the question of poisons. There
is this remark suggested as to this prohibition that you
are not bound to wait until a man has made a sale. It
may be, if a man has a shop open with poisons exhibited
in the window, you are not bound to wait until he has
actually poisoned somebody or sold poisons ; but you can
at once proceed for the penalty, and so there is a certain
facility of proof given and of preventing poisons being
sold by enabling a penalty to be recovered from those
who are keeping open shop. Eor facility of proof it seems
to have been considered that the person who was at the
head of the shop should be the responsible person.
Your lordships see that not only is it considered
expedient for the safety of the public that the persons
selling poisons and so on should be qualified ; but the
Legislature is rather desirous that all persons who are
keeping the shop should have a competent practical
knowledge. My lords, this is not the sole instance of a
limit to the capacity of carrying on a business. I
may take the case of an ordinary solicitor. It is not
everyone who is entitled to carry on the business of a
solicitor ; it is limited to certain persons. There have
been a great number of cases in which it has been held
that a qualified solicitor, being in partnership with an
unqualified solicitor, subjects himself to penalties. I
never heard yet of a joint stock company being formed
for the purpose of distributing law.

Lord Blackburn : In the case of solicitors they are
officers of the Court. It is a very different position. Any
person, not being qualified, who sells, I suppose that must
mean the person who superintends the sale. It could
hardly be said that if a qualified assistant was there and
directs the apprentice boy, who knew nothing about it, to
tie up a parcel and hand to the gentleman who was there,
that the boy was selling ; it would be the head man who
was selling.

Mr. Lumley Smith : My lord, I should think that with
regard to the sale of poison the actual person who . sold
would be liable. There is nothing to limit his liability.
The more difficult point, if I may put it, is this. Sup¬
posing you have a qualified chemist ; supposing he has a
manager who directs the boy to make the sale ; and sup¬
posing the boy sells a packet without a proper label.

Lord Blackburn : Do not take the label case, because
that is a special section ; but take it that I go into a shop
and I ask for a pennyworth of strychnine, and that they
know me well enough, and that the man who actually
sells, the qualified assistant, has gone upstairs and the
non-qualified apprentice sells. I take it he would be the
person selling and who would be liable to a penalty.

Mr. Lumley Smith : He would seem to come within
the Act. Then comes the necessity of making liable the
man who keeps the shop.

Lord Blackburn : I do not see that that is a case of
necessity. I can understand that the manager of the shop,
being himself qualified, might sell by a non-qualified
person and so become liable ; but I do not see the neces¬
sity so long as the qualified person superintends the sale.

Mr. Lumley Smith : You get all these difficulties
which have come in, which arise with regard to the
proprietors of newspapers when they say, we were not
aware that a certain article was inserted, and so on.
The Legislature has thought difficulties might arise,
because there might be a question whether the master
had authorized it. Suppose the master said, “ I told the
boy always to put the label on.”

Lord Blackburn: That would not do. It would be
like the old analogy, which explains it very well, the
under-sheriff or the bailiff must be present in an arrest.
The man who has got the warrant may arrest and the
assistants whom he has got with him; but if the assis-

94

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 31, 1880.

tant arrests, and the man who has got the warrant i3 not
present, it is illegal.

Mr. Lumley Smith : Inasmuch as these penalties
were to be recovered before county court judges sitting
all over England, who might take different views of the
law, and might not have the case argued and the
authorities before them, they might have felt a doubt as
to whether or not the master was responsible for the act
of the boy ; therefore, whatever the reason may have
been, the Legislature ha 3 thought it necessary to make
both these matters of offence, either the selling of poison,
or the keeping an open shop for the sale of poison; and
it seems to have intended that there should be at the
head of the business, a man who had a competent
practical knowledge. It may be, as your lordships said,
that a corporation is not likely to come in and interfere
with carrying on the trade ; but the Legislature wished
to have somebody at the head responsible for having a
competent practical knowledge. There is no doubt, if
you have a manager who looks after the business, he
may be a qualified man, but the interest in the success
of a trade which is felt by a paid manager is very
different to that felt by a person who is actual proprietor
of the business. It certainly seems to have been con¬
templated that, wherever there was an open shop kept,
there should be at the head of it a responsible man,
a man who had a competent practical knowledge.
When we look at section 1. If it stopped halfway, I
apprehend there could be no doubt in the world, that a
corporation would be intended — if it stopped at the
words “Great Britain.” The words are: “From and
after the 31st December, 1868, it shall be unlawful for
any person to sell or keep open shop for retailing, dis-
pensiDg, or compounding poisons, or to assume or use
the title of ‘chemist and druggist,’ or ‘chemist,’ or
‘druggist,’ or pharmacist,’ or ‘dispensing chemist’ or
‘druggist,’ in any part of Great Britain.” If it stopped
there, I apprehend there could not be any doubt in the
world.

Lord Blackburn : One would be perfectly incapable of
understanding what it meant. Of course “ person ” there
must have included everybody.

Mr. Lumley Smith : Suppose it has entirely prohibited
the sale of poisons, as it might prohibit the sale of any
particular drug. I will not say it is illegal to sell any
drug, but they might have said, “We prohibit the sale of
poisons.” Then it is clear that would have included
corporations. Very well, but it makes an exception.
Practically it comes to this : — -No person shall keep a
shop, unless such person be a chemist.

The Lord Chancellor : It i3 very probable those words
are as important as any in the whole Act for the deter¬
mination of the matter ; but do not they say that such
person is contemplated as is within the exception ?

Mr. Lumley Smith : That of course is the whole point.
I ask your lordship to adopt the proposition that the
word “ person ” in the same Act of Parliament may mean
in some cases a natural person, and in others artificial
persons, and I a-k your lordship to go further and say,
that in the same section there is no reason why the word
“ person ” should not mean different things. The whole
distinction is this : — in one case you have a prohibitive
enactment, and then comes the enabling enactment ; and
the distinction that runs through that section runs
through the whole Act of Parliament.

The Lord Chancellor : Suppose there were an Act of
this sort, that no person shall carry on the business of
bankers unless he be thirty years of age, would not you
say the rule would receive light from the exception ?

Mr. Lumley Smith : In that case, perhaps.

Lord Blackburn : Especially if the Bank of England
had been carrying on business as Apothecaries’ Hall had.

Mr. Lumley Smith: Would your lordships draw the
conclusion from that, that a corporation could be bankers
nevertheless?

The I/ord Chancellor : The words “ unless he be thirty

years of age” plainly show what sort of person the
Legislature had in mind, namely, persons wh > might be
above or below that age. So here persons who may have
this class of qualification.

Mr. Lumley Smith: May I put the hypothetical
enactment in a different form ? Suppose it said “no bank
shall be kept in England except by a person of thirty
years of age.” Then clearly a corporation could not
keep it.

Lord Blackburn: That is what Mr. Benjamin put ;
unwittingly he changed the frame of the words. That is
not exactly it.

Mr. Lumley Smith : I am putting it wittingly here.

The Lord Chancellor : There you would have a general
prohibition independent of any question of personality
and an exception of that provision in favour of persons
of a certain age.

Mr. Lumley Smith : That is how I ask you to read
this section. I say that is what the Legislature meant.

Lord Blackburn : If I could see that the Legislature
meant that, I quite agree it would not be too great a
strain ; but I have not been able to see that that is what
the Legislature meant.

Mr. Lumley Smith: That is the view the Court of
Queen’s Bench took, that it was intended to be a general
prohibition with this exempting power to certain persons.

Lord Blackburn : I am not quite sure that the Chief
Justice took that view. It was certainly the view that
Mr. Justice Mellor took, and if it were clear that the
Legislature meant that there would be a great deal of
force in it.

Air. Lumley Smith : That is really the whole substance
of the thing, whether or not, this is a general prohibition,
and you get that from the preamble which states that it
is advisable for the safety of the public that persons
keeping open shop should have a practical knowledge.
How can a company have a practical knowledge ?

Lord Blackburn : I do not see that the Legislature
implies that a corporation may not keep an open shop if
their manager has a practical knowledge.

Mr. Lumley Smith : We go by steps; s It does desire
there should be a competent knowledge, and on this your
lordships say you fail to see how far there is a broad
prohibition ; but when you come to the 17th section it
really does contain a broad prohibition. “ It shall be
unlawful to sell any poison.”

Lord Blackburn : But that is not only by retail, but
in the earlier part of it, wholesale.

Mr. Lumley Smith: In the 17th section the wholesale
is exempted.

Lord Blackburn : No, they are within it.

Lord Watson: They are brought into it expressly.

Lord Blackburn : They are exempted from the rest of
the Act ; in the 17th they are brought in.

Lord Watson: Therefore it necessarily covers many
persons.

Mr. Lumley Smith: 13 that so about the wholesale
dealers ? It says “ For the purposes of this section -

Lord Blackburn : Look at the beginning of it : “ It
shall be unlawful to sell any poison either by wholesale
or retail.”

Mr. Lumley Smith : There is a special limitation of
that lower down in the section : “ For the purposes of
this section the person on whose behalf any sale is made
by any apprentice or servant shall be deemed to be the
seller, but the provisions of this section, which are solely
applicable to poisons in the first part of the schedule (A)
to this Act, or which require that the label shall contain
the name and address of the seller, shall not apply to
articles to be exported from Great Britain by wholesale
dealers, nor to wholesale dealing.”

Lord Blackburn : I do not quite know how a wholesale
person would sell at all, except it is in the ordinary
course of wholesale dealing.

Mr. Lumley Smith: It was probably intended to apply
to the sale of large quantities by an ordinary chemist and

July 31, 1SS0.]

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95

druggist. At any rate, I submit, that really takes all
the sting out of the first part of the section. Then I ask
your lordships to consider this. What your lordships are
pressed with is that no mischief is done by the case
of an unqualified person having a qualified assistant.
The mischief that would result from a decision up¬
holding the decision of the Appeal Court would be
this, that there is nothing in the Act of Parliament
that makes it necessary to have a qualified assistant.
If it is held that corporations do not come within this
Act of Parliament, this company may go on in Tot¬
tenham Court Road without any qualified assistant upon
it, and yet penalties for keeping an open shop may be
impossible.

Lord Blackburn : The penalty for keeping an open
shop, but not the penalty for selling.

Mr. Lumley Smith : But, my lord, is that so ? because
if corporations are not within this Act at all, there is no
penalty for selling.

Lord Blackburn : Yes, there is.

Mr. Lumley Smith : If a corporation is not included
in this Act of Parliament, then it only comes in by a side
wind ; because it says that a corporation is included in
the case where there is summary conviction. Then it
may be so ; but if, broadly, corporations are not within
scope of this Act of Parliament, then, although there was
not a qualified person on the premises, the corporation
would go scot free. That would be a most dangerous
doctrine to lay down. There is no privilege given to
assistants. Whether an assistant is qualified or un¬
qualified is a matter which the Legislature has entirely
passed by. The very fact that, in a certain case, power
to carry on a business by a qualified assistant is given to
executors by section 16, shows that in every other case
the mere fact that an assistant is qualified does not
entitle a person to carry on business. If corporations
are not within the Act at all, they are not bound to have
a qualified assistant at all. Now, my lords, one word
more as to whether a company could be formed for the
purpose of carrying on this business.

The Lord Chancellor : I have sent for Mr. Wilcocks’
book on the laws relating to the medical profession,
and I find there a charter of King James I. to the
Apothecaries’ Company, in which they are constituted
a corporation by the name of the “Master, the Wardens,
and Society of the Art and Mystery of Pharmacopists.”
Besides various powers of regulation, I think it is pretty
clear that they are contemplated not only from that
name, but otherwise, as actually selling medicines ;
because they have been obviously one with the grocers’
company, and in another charter under the same name.
Then there is this clause “ That the master, wardens,
and society might have and enjoy all such franchises,
privileges, advantages, etc., in respect of aromatics,
pharmacy, drugs, and other things appertaining to their
trade as they did before when included in the grocers’
company,” and he also says, at page 19, that even at that
period the apothecaries were regarded as a trading
company in the city.

Mr. Lumley Smith: That may be. Your lordships
will remember this, that the position of apothecaries has
changed of late years. In old days the apothecary
really was what a chemist and druggist is now, and
kept a shop for the sale of drugs. He was not a
surgeon ; but apothecaries were vendors of drugs. You
will remember in “ Romeo ” he goes to the shop of the
“lean apothecary,” where he finds all these simples
exposed for sale. The chemists and druggists now
occupy the position formerly occupied by the apothecary,
and apothecaries have become now the ordinary medical
men. I have read through this deed, and if your
lordships will allow me to tell you in two words what
the purport is, I will do so. It recites that there have
been certain persons, proprietors of stock, carrying on
this business. It recites that the partnership should be
dissolved, and then it forms a new partnership, con¬

sisting of two classes. One is the first class, consisting
of one hundred and twenty persons, each of whom brings
in a certain portion of capital. The others, the second
class, consisting of two hundred proprietors, bringing in
a small quantity of capital. The deed provides that
everybody of the second class should be a practical
apothecary, that is to say, that he should be an
apothecary in actual practice on his own account.
Then the first class are to be elected out of the second
class, and they must be liverymen. So that it comes
to this, that the Society is carried on by two hundred
men who must be apothecaries, and by one hundred
and twenty, who must be both apothecaries and livery¬
men of the company. They are entitled to use
the premises of the master and wardens and the manage¬
ment — that is the only other point that may be interesting
— is to be superintended by a committee of managers, con¬
sisting of the master and wardens for the time being, and
thirty of the proprietors of the first class. So that the mas¬
ter and wardens are always elected from the livery, and
apparently they are all apothecaries. It is really in fact
a society of apothecaries. Now we have the fact that that
was a partnership carried on at the time when this Act
was passed, because the deed is in 1822. I submit to your
lordships that in one of two ways that society have been
exempted from this Act. First we were pressed with the
apprehension that this Act might put an end to the trade
of this Society. First of all I have submitted that they
might have registered, because they were in fact chemists
and druggists carrying on business at that time. There
would have been a difficulty about the actual form of the
schedule to be signed; but supposing they could not
register, then section 16 would have protected them.
Section 16 provides that “ nothing hereinbefore contained
shall extend to or interfere with the business of any legally
qualified apothecary.” Now, the actual business of an
apothecary admitted according to this old charter was not in
advising a patient whether he had a fever or not, but in
vending drugs, and the actual business of an apothecary
was in keeping a shop for the sale of drugs. Then if these
two hundred gentlemen or more were all carrying on busi¬
ness under this name of the Apothecaries’ Society, being
in fact a private partnership, they would be all protected
by that section, “ Nothing hereinbefore contained shall
interfere with the business of an apothecary.” Doubtless
they would have to sell poisons with labels in the same way.
That would come within section 17 ; but see the position
of that section, some stress may be laid on that. The
position of section 16 comes immediately after section 15,
which is a general one with regard to keeping shop,
Then comes that section from which they are not
exempted ; because when it comes to the actual regula¬
tion as to the sale of poisons it is desirable that all the
world should be within it. I think, my lords, the position
of that section in the Act of Parliament rather goes to
show that the previous section was intended to be
universal ; and then this clause was put in. Only one
more word, my lords, on the remark that fell from the
Lord Chancellor as to whether it was intended to prevent
chemists and druggists taking advantage of the Limited
Liability Act.

The Lord Chancellor : I ought to have said the J oint
Stock Companies Act.

Mr. Lumley Smith : Yes, my lord. The case your
lordship put was the case of certain chemists and
druggists. Consider how far the argument would lead.
I leave out the chemists and druggists, and consider the
proposition whether or not a company could be formed
of ordinary persons for the purpose of carrying on the
business of chemists and druggists, although they were
not qualified persons. I think a difficulty would arise in
this way ; because the Act of Parliament under which
joint stock companies are regulated restricts them to be
companies formed for a lawful purpose. Now it is
admitted in this case that if an individual was doing
what the company have done here, if Mr. Mackness had

96

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[July 31, 1880.

not formed himself into a company as he did in this case,
that it would have been an unlawful act.

Lord Blackburn : It may, if he remained subsequent to
1868 ; but if he had done it between 1862 and 1868
there would not be a pretence for saying so.

Mr. Lumley Smith : Probably that would be so ; but
since 1868, supposing we have the case of a firm formed
now ; if a certain number of persons were to form them¬
selves into a company and to state in their memorandum
of association that they were formed for the purpose of
keeping open shop for the sale of poisons, that, I
submit, would be for an illegal purpose, and the company
illegal.

Lord Blackburn : Is it not rather begging the question.
It would be because they are prohibited by the Act from
doing so.

Mr. Lumley Smith : My friend will admit, I think, that
if an ordinary individual had kept an open shop, if Mr.
Mackness had kept an open shop, although he had
a qualified assistant, he would have been breaking the

law.

Lord Blackburn: Probably he would.

Mr. Lumley Smith : If half a dozen or more gentlemen
choose to get up a company for doing that which an ordi¬
nary individual could not do, I should submit it would be
for an illegal purpose. Of course, as your lordship says,
it would be begging the question if you say by forming
the company they cease to be within the Act. You see
in the memorandum of association of this company they
carefully give the go-bye to that difficulty, because they
are expressly stated to be formed for the purpose of
carrying on the grocery business, or the business of Mr.
Mackness, and there is not a word about chemists and
druggists in it. I do not think I can usefully add any¬
thing more to the argument; but I submit that the
judgment of the Appellate Court ought to be reversed.

Mr. Wills : I appear, my lords, in support of the
judgment of the Court of Appeal, and after the ample
discussion which the case has already received so much
of the ground has been covered, that my observations
may, I think, be compressed within a very few words.
After all, the arguments on the one side and the argu¬
ments on the other may be put into two or three sentences.
The argument of my learned friend is that what is done
in the Act amounts to a general prohibition; that cer¬
tain persons may bring themselves within the excepted
words to allow them to carry on this trade ; if you cannot
do so by reason of your being a company, tant pis pour
vous. That is the end of it. That is the argument
reduced to its lowest form. The argument on our side is
that is not so; the prohibition is contained in express
words. The words of the section when compared with
the words of the rest of the Act of Parliament clearly
show that “person” is used in its natural sense, and in
that sense only ; and inasmuch as there is no prohibition
except that which is contained in the section, if you can
see by the rest of the Act that “person” there, as in the
rest of the Act, meant a natural person there is no pro¬
hibition. Therefore, our argument is, looking to the
terms of the Act, looking to the object for which
the Act was passed, the prohibition is confined to
natural persons, and does not mean there anything
beyond natural persons. There are certain parts of the
argument in the Court below which have been re¬
ferred to by my learned friend which I will deal with
very shortly. For instance, my friends have said some¬
thing as to the argument which was presented to the
Court below to show that “person” does not by any
means necessarily, or it may be in Acts of Parliament,
presumably, mean a corporation, unless by aid of an
extending clause. My lords, the judgment of Lord
J ustice Baggallay contains a sample of a number of Acts
of Parliament, which had been brought before your lord-
ships’ notice. I took half a dozen years, taking two or
three just about the time when this Act was passed, two
or three close to the present session, and one I think in

the middle, and I showed them that the class of cases in
which the word in question is extended to corporations by
express enactment is extremely numerous, and that there
is scarcely a case in modern Acts of Parliament where
any doubt or question could arise as to the extension of
the word “person” to corporations.

The Lord Chancellor: Do you mean that there are
many cases which are made very clear, and that, there¬
fore, the previous presumption of law must be changed ?

Mr. Wills : I do not put it so high as that. I only
point to that as showing the very extensive use of in¬
terpretation words in modern Acts of Parliament when
it was intended to include corporations.

Lord Watson : That is rather dangerous. You say
there are these interpretation clauses, but do you deny
that the onus is on you to say that “ person ” does not
include legal as well as natural persons ?

Mr. Wills : No, my lord, I do not attempt to deny
that.

Lord Watson : I am afraid if you examine the inter¬
pretation clauses, in many cases you will find that a
statute extends the meaning of a word to a great many
things it naturally includes.

Lord Blackburn : I suppose it will answer your pur¬
pose just as well, and it would be quite indisputable to
say that in common parlance if you use the word “ per¬
sons ” it means natural persons. For instance, no person
in common talk would say the London and North
Western Railway was the richest person in London.
That is that in ordinary talk the word “person ” without
any strict legal interpretation means a natural person,
and the context shows in which sense it is used.

Mr. Wills: I cannot help thinking that the use of
the extending clause ha3 become much more common
since the Act of George IV., to which my friend
referred. There are a great number, and I have looked
with some care at the Acts, where that interpretation
clause is used, and it seems to be in all of them. They often
put penalty clauses which by virtue of that Act of George
IV. would extend to every person in certain parts of the
Act necessarily, and then, in a number of other sections,
where that kind of assistance is not given by any Act
which has yet been passed — of course, Lord Brougham’s
Act, which was passed for shortening Acts of Parliament,
effected that ; then the framers of the Act have con¬
stantly used an interpretation clause for that purpose.
Well, my lords, I do not desire to say any more about
that, because after all, you really must look closely in all
cases of this kind to the language of the particular Act,
and I do not think that from the general principles one
gets any great assistance. The general principles are
tolerably familiar, and are tolerably well established ;
the difficulty in most cases, when there is a difficulty, is
in the application of them. Now, my lords, here what is
the mischief which is really intended to be corrected ?
Unless it may be, which my friends can hardly say, that
this Act was framed by those who had one purpose, and
passed by the Legislature for another purpose — if the
purposes to which it is now sought to apply it had been
recited, namely, that of putting an end to all joint stock
enterprises in dealing with trade of this kind, I suppose
there would have been no chance whatever of getting the
Legislature to pass it. My friends have said that there
were no companies existing at that day, no joint stock
companies, for dealing in drugs, which would necessarily
include the sale of poisons. I do not know how that is.
There is no evidence on the subject. Those who instruct
me say it is otherwise. Those who instruct my friends
say one way and those who instruct me say the other ;
and inasmuch as it is not before the Court, one cannot
safely act on any presumption of that kind. All one can
say is that there is no conceivable reason why that should
not have been the state of things. Joint stock enter¬
prise had been very largely used already in the year
1868, and especially since 1852, since the Limited
Liability Act has been introduced, and nobody can

July 31, 1*880. J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

97

doubt that this is a business which offers a great deal of
temptation to embark in because it is one in which profits
are ordinarily supposed to be large, as compared to the
amount of capital embarked, and it is also a business
which presents no difficulty whatever, in the nature
of it, to carrying it on satisfactorily by properly qualified
persons, managing, buying, selling and dispensing goods.

Lord Watson: Your argument is much the same in
either event, whether there were companies existing or
not. There is not much difference between the intention
of the Legislature to stop a company from trading or to
prevent corporations trading in future.

Mr. Wills : But there is one salient exception to any
doubt or uncertainty on the subject, and that is the one
that has been already presented to your lordship’s mind,
namely, the case of the Apothecaries’ Company. I was
very much surprised to hear it suggested to-day, because
we threshed this out pretty well below, and no suggestion
was made there that we were in error, that the Apothe¬
caries’ Company had for a great many years past carried
on this trade. Now, it appears they do carry it on in
their own name. We know perfectly well that every
bottle we get which comes from there is marked with
the name of the company, and one supposed that was so.
It turns out now that the business is an apothecaries’
business carried on in the name of masters and wardens
of the corporations, only that certain other persons who
provided the capital, I suppose there having been no
capital the property of the corporation itself, which had
not some specific distinction which made it difficult to
apply it to the purpose of carrying on the trade, and so
they get certain other people to supply the capital ; but the
business is carried on in their name, and the only result is
that the profits must be disposed of in a particular way and
for the benefit of particular persons. Now, can it have been
the intention of the Act of Parliament, as it is un¬
doubtedly the effect of the Act of Parliament if my
friends are right, to prevent the Apothecaries’ Hall dealing
in medicines in future ? To state the proposition is its
own refutation and yet how can it be doubted that, if my
friends are right, that consequence must follow ? My
friends have dwelt much on the fact of all the individual
corporators or members being duly qualified apothecaries ;
but duly qualified apothecaries are just the persons who
are not entitled to carry on this business, because there is
a provision in the earlier Act that so soon as a pharma¬
ceutical chemist becomes an apothecary under the licence
of the Apothecaries’ Hall, that he is to cease to be a
pharmaceutical chemist; therefore these persons are ex¬
pressly disqualified from carrying on this business. They
are persons expressly excepted from those protected by
this legislation. It is true, it is said that nothing shall
interfere with the business of a legally qualified apothe¬
cary, but the business of a legally qualified apothecary is
not the vending of drugs, but making them up for his
patients.

Mr. Benjamin : Will you refer to the clause of the
Act in which it says that. You will only find that he
ceases to be a member of the Society, not to be a phar¬
maceutical chemist.

Mr. Wills : I believe it is there. I will not stay to
look now ; but I am convinced there is some such enact¬
ment. Yes, it is section 11 of the Act of 1852. “That
no person who is a member of the medical profession, or
who is practising under right of a degree of any university
or under a diploma or licence of a medical or surgical
corporate body, shall be entitled to be registered under
this Act, and if any registered pharmaceutical chemist
shall obtain such diploma or- licence, his name shall not be
retained on the said register during the time that he is
engaged in practice as aforesaid.” That is the diploma
or licence from a medical, surgical, or corporate body. I
suppose that does not apply to Apothecaries’ Hall.

Lord Watson : But he may dispense.

Mr. Wills : I thought it was not only licentiates of
medical bodies, I thought it included Apothecaries’ Hall.

Lord Blackburn : No.

Mr. Wills: I may be wrong there; but the fact of
persons being legally qualified apothecaries does not make
them — and that is quite enough for my purpose — phar¬
maceutical chemists. One really is almost entitled to com¬
plain of the extent to which, in this case, the confusion has
been introduced — and it pervaded even one of the judg¬
ments of the Court of Queen’s Bench— the confusion be¬
tween the qualification of the individual corporator and
the qualification of the corporate essence. I thought
nothing was more clearly established than that as soon as
a corporation was created by charter or any other means
by which a corporation can be created, that the indi¬
viduals ceased to have any existence, except as persons
having rights within the ambit of the corporation ; and
as far as the corporation itself is concerned, it is a distinct
person in law; and that consequently this 16th section,
which says, that nothing herein contained shall extend to
or interfere with the business of any legally qualified
apothecary cannot possibly save the business of Apothe¬
caries’ Hall which is not and cannot be a legally qualified
apothecary. Now that such a body as Apothecaries’ Hall
cannot bring itself within section 3 by registration appears,
I think, abundantly plain, not only from the provisions with
regard to registration, not only from the provisions which
regulate the details in which registration is to be effected,
but also by the consequence of registration, because one of
the numerous consequences of registration is that every
person appearing on the register is to be eligible to be a
member of the Pharmaceutical Society, and there are
further provisions which entitle him to be elected an
associate of the Pharmaceutical Society. Then it goes
on : — “ Every person who at the time of the passing of
this Act is or has been in business on his own account as
a chemist and druggist as aforesaid and who shall be
registered as a chemist and druggist shall be eligible to be
elected and continue a member of the Pharmaceutical
Society according to the bye-laws thereof ; but no person
shall in right of membership acquired pursuant to this
clause be placed on the register of pharmaceutical
chemists, nor, save as is hereinafter expressly provided, be
eligible for election to the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society.” Now, inasmuch as those sections of that clause
apply to every person that is registered, it shows that
corporations cannot be amongst every person who may be
registered; consequently it shows that such a body as
Apothecaries’ Hall could not bring itself within the section,
and by registration enable itself to carry on its business
as having been a person who at the time of the passing of
the Act carried on business. Now, my lords, can there be
a more complete reductio ad absurdum than to suppose
that the Act of Parliament meant to put a stop to the sale
of poisons, and therefore incidentally to the dispensing of
medicines, by the body in England most qualified and
most fit in every sense to carry on such a business, the
place to which everybody sends if they want to have their
prescriptions properly made up with perfect certainty of
being right ?

Lord Watson: The most serious difficulty that Mr.
Benjamin’s argument raised on this part of the case was
this, that if your construction of the statute were correct,
a corporation can never be obnoxious to one of the
several penalties imposed by section 15. The conten¬
tion is, and I think it seems well founded, that any
individual, no matter what number of qualified assistants
he has, is liable in a penalty if there are found in his
open shop poisonous drugs for the purpose of sale ; but a
corporation may keep any quantity of poisonous drugs
for the purpose of sale, with unqualified assistants, and
that corporation can commit no statutory offence ; and
no body can commit a statutory offence on their premises
until there is an actual sale.

Mr. Wills : It is impossible to deny that. That con¬
sequence has been admitted throughout. It points to
this, that for one clause or so you have unforeseen
circumstances to deal with ; but the Act of Parliament

98

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 31, 1880.

I submit was framed without any reference to a corpo¬
ration and corporations were not thought of. This
expression about keeping open shop was thrown in, as it
were, by a kind of process of supererogation, something
thrown in over and above, having dealt with the sale,
which was essential for the safety of the public. I
imagine that what was present to the mind of the person
who framed this section 1, when he was drawing that
section, was not the case of a person who had an
assistant at all ; but he was thinking in his own mind of
an individual carrying on business and selling, without
the question of an assistant being present to his mind.

Lord Watson: He must have had in view the differ¬
ence between selling and keeping open shop.

r. Wills: Then this occurred to him: — Well, there
may perhaps be a question as to whether sales have
actually been effected, and I may as well throw in —
inasmuch as the intention is that sales of poisons should
be prohibited except by a qualified person — an expression
about keeping open shop ; it will do no harm, the same
people are intended. A man cannot keep an open shop
unless he does sell. Unless he sells as well as keeps an
open shop, there is no harm done ; the prohibition would
do no harm, and the same people will be hit in each
case. And, inasmuch as what was present to the mind
of the person who drew that section was nothing but a
natural person, it did not occur to him that there was
any reason to draw any kind of distinction in the
language.

Lord Watson : It has a much wider application. Ap¬
parently it is keeping a shop open for the sale of a par¬
ticular commodity ; because, in the one case, all that the
prosecutor has to prove in order to entitle him to the
penalty, is that there was an open shop, and that in the
shop there were certain articles presumably for sale ; that
is enough. In the other case he must prove the actual
sale. Of course, he could do that by going in and pur¬
chasing.

Mr. Wills : So long as you are dealing with the case
of natural persons, really the distinction of the person
keeping an open shop is perfectly immaterial, because the
person only keeps the open shop for the purpose of sale,
and only keeps an open shop for the purpose of effecting
repeated sales.

Lord Blackburn : It is to facilitate proof, I apprehend.
I suppose as soon as the officer of the Pharmaceutical
Society were to go down to a small shop in a little village
that the people would at once say they were selling
cheese, or bread, or something of that sort ; and that if
he asked them to sell him a pennyworth of arsenic, they
would of course say “no.” Therefore it was to facilitate
proof.

Mr. Wills : What I was pointing out is that so long as
we are dealing with the case only of the individual person,
as far as that person is concerned it is quite immaterial.

Lord Blackburn: If that was their object, to facilitate
proof, there was no intention to deal with a corporation ;
because a corporation keeping shop would hardly be
within that difficulty ; but if your adversaries are right in
saying, as Mr. Justice Mellor did, that one of the inten¬
tions was that the profits of the trade should be confined
to qualified persons, ot course, that is a very different story.

Mr. Wills : Of course, my lord. All I have to say is
that the recital of the Act does not suggest that to my
mind, and I submit to your lordship it is an unauthorized
and an unreasonable inference from anything pointed out
in the Act.

The Lord Chancellor : Can you tell me — I do not
know that it is very material — whether a man would
continue committing a series of offences for each of
which £5 could be recovered, if he kept an open shop
and did not shut it up, or whether it would be one
single offence, for which he would be fined £5 once
for all ?

Mr. Wills : I should think every day, and I do not
confine myself to a day.

The Lord Chancellor : Every minute, every hour,
or what ?

Mr. Wills : I should think so. I should think you
might draw a line at any particular moment. You
might say, “Up to that moment has he kept an open
shop ? Yes, he has.”

Lord Blackburn : There is something analogous in
the Act of Charles II., imposing a penalty on exercising
a lawful trade on a Sunday. It has been held that
the baker who had sold one loaf had freed himself for the
day.

Lord Watson : I think there is a case under the
Inland Revenue Act, where there is a penalty inflicted
for not entering spirits under a permit to a retail dealer.
I think it was held there in an English Court that
although the statute provided for daily entries, the
dealer was entitled to make the day’s entries at one time.
They held that the penalty was only applicable from day
to day for each day.

Mr. Wills : I suppose that would be because, according
to a reasonable course of business, he would have the
evening to make up his books.

Lord Watson: Probably here they would hold it was
an open shop from the time he opened it until the time he
shut it.

Mr. Wills : I should think in strictness you might draw
the line at any moment and say that for any perceptible
interval between that time and any other time he was
liable.

The Lord Chancellor : It would be a reasonable thing,
if he got a notice in the afternoon that he was proceeding
illegally, and he removed all those drugs at night, and did
not put them in the shop the next morning. It would be
rather unreasonable to fine him as many times as there
were hours in the day.

Mr. Wills : It certainly is a continuing offence.

The Lord Chancellor : It would be as often as a shop
is opened and shut, at all events.

Mr. Wills : Every fresh act of taking down the shutters
with the intention of keeping them down for the purpose
of inviting the public go in and buy.

The Lord Chancellor : It would be a new keeping of an
open shop.

Lord Blackburn : I do not think it would be inflicted.

The Lord Chancellor : I only asked the question be¬
cause there is that point. It looks very much like an
adjunct to facilitate proof.

Mr. Wills : However, my lord, I do not feel myself
severely pressed by the argument, that there may be
possibly some sections which point to an uncompleted
cycle of legislation and to a piece of legislation which is
not harmonious in all its details by reason of the con¬
struction which we seek to put upon it. In other cases
you have anomalous results. It is an anomaly if there
is something which would be an offence if committed
by an individual, and which would bring an indi¬
vidual under liability under the sections in question,
and which cannot be committed by a corporation, or
does not bring the corporation within the words of
the Act of Parliament. That is an anomaly. On the
other hand, surely it would be a much greater anomaly
to suppose that the Legislature, without saying it,
has intended to prohibit the dealing in drugs of this
kind altogether by joint stock companies, and a greater
anomaly still to suppose that the Legislature intended to
shut out the Apothecaries’ Hall from dispensing drugs
and selling poisons. What seems to me to be conclusive,
if I may venture to say so, is that no one can think that
it is seriously conceivable that if those who framed this
Act; and those who passed it, had thought of the case of
a corporation, they would not have made some natural pro¬
vision applicable to the case of a corporation for enabling
corporations to carry on their business with safety to the
public, and without violating any kind of clauses which
were reasonably intended for the protection of the
public. You must suppose, if you are to adopt the

July 31, 18S0.]

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99

construction of my learned friends, that the Legislature
either intended by a side wind to close all corporate
energy and enterprise in this department, or that per
incuriam it has done so. My lords, I submit that
either of these circumstances is one which any Court
dealing with this Act of Parliament would be reasonably
anxious to escape from, and that it would feel itself
justified in adopting any reasonable construction which
would avoid it. My lords, it is remarkable, and it is a
matter which formed part of my argument in the Court
below, and will form part of my argument before your
lordships, that where a general and universal prohibition
is intended, and when it is applicable to everbody, in the
17th section, the language is altered. I do not know
whether that was done on purpose, or whether it was
simply accidental, but so it is. That section 17, as far as
the first enactment in it is concerned, is universal.
There are qualifying words, which my friend read, in the
latter part of the section applying to wholesale dealers ;
but they do not touch this first part of it which makes
it unlawful to sell any poison, either by wholesale or
retail, unless the box or bottle be distinctly labelled with
the name of the article — of the poison — and the name and
address of the seller.

Lord Blackburn : That bears internal evidence of
being an afterthought. In the former sections of the
Act it is said the penalties should be recovered in the
county court ; but here there is a clause in which they
have not only altered the word, but in which, without
any reason for it which I can see, it says “ It shall be
recovered before two justices.”

Mr. Wills : Anyhow, there it is. You cannot argue
as to the construction of the clause from it ; because the
clauses are in different language. Clause 17 alters the
language, and in express terms made it a general pro¬
hibition. Of course, if the Act of Parliament had said
in clause 1 and clause 15 “from and after the 31st
December it shall be unlawful to keep open shop for
retailing,” etc., there would be an end to the matter. If
that had been the thing, then my friends would have
been well founded in saying : There is a general prohibi¬
tion in express terms and you cannot bring yourself
within the exception. But here there is no general
prohibition.

Lord Blackburn : A very slight alteration in the
language would do it.

Mr. Wills: It would ; but it would be very important.

Lord Blackburn : If it were in these words “ shall not
be lawful to keep open shop unless by a person duly
qualified,” that would be clearly nugatory.

Mr. Wills : They have not said that. If they had said
that, nobody could have doubted what was intended by
the general prohibition. But here, too, as it seems to me,
the general purview of the Act and the constant use of
the word “ person ” from the beginning to the end of this
Act indicate that the person who framed it and the
Legislature who adopted it, did not think of a corporate
existence when it was passing this Act and never thought
of dealing with it. Can you suppose that the Legislature
really meant in dealing with an enterprise of this kind
to establish — I do not want to use a word which carries
with it a thought of prejudice ; nothing is further from
my meaning — but can it be supposed that the Legislature
really intended to establish a special class of persons to
whom the dealings in these things should be confined.
I submit to your lordships it is impossible so to hold or
so to suppose, and I really do not think anything could
be gained by going over the whole ground again and
again. The judgments of the Court below are very
familiar to your lordships by this time. In the judg¬
ments in the Court of Queen’s Bench — certainly in the
Chief Justice’s judgment — there is, I venture to submit
a want of distinction between the position of individuals
and of corporate existences in which the individual is
merged as soon as there is corporate existence ; and, as it
seems te me, it is quite idle to suggest that the applica¬

tion of this statute could possibly be affected by the fact
that the individual corporators, the individual members
of the limited company, were or were not, any one of them
or every one of them, persons qualified to be pharma¬
ceutical chemists under the Act. The remainder of the
judgment deals with a contention which was never mine,
and which I humbly submit I ought not to be saddled
with, namely, that supposed contention that it was im¬
possible for a corporate existence either to commit an
indictable offence or an offence punishable on summary
conviction. I said in the Court of Appeal that I never
dreamt of advancing such a proposition as that. 1 must
have been very much misunderstood, and my language
must have been very unfortunate if it gave rise to any
such supposition. One has been too familiar in one’s own
practice by this time with the hundreds of cases almost which
one has argued before the very Court of Queen’s Bench, in
which there have been convictions of limited bodies
carrying on trades ; where this, that, or the other offence
has been under consideration. And the cases in which
actions have been brought, in which railway companies
have been indicted for obstructing highways, are so
numerous that ‘one must give the go-bye to all one’s
experience to make such a contention as that; and
although a very large portion of the Attorney-General’s
argument in the Court of Appeal and in the Court of
Queen’s Bench was directed to dealing with the proposi¬
tion, yet I venture to say it is one I never made and am
not concerned to support. What I have to support is
that every part of this Act shows that the very utmost
that can be said is, that this particular case of a corpora¬
tions is a casus omissus , and not that the Legislature ever
intended to or has by a side wind effected that extra¬
ordinary revolution of our notions and brought about
that result, the result, namely, of putting a stop at once
to corporate enterprise in this class of transactions and
shut out the Apothecaries’ Hall also. Let me call your
lordships’ attention to this observation which arises, I
think, very legitimately on the Act. I said that the
keeping an open shop was a thing, as it were, thrown in
supplementary, that it was not really the gist of the pro¬
tection required. The real gist of the protection required
being to prevent the sale, and the preventing the keeping
open shop being only ancillary to that, being in an
ordinary case an easy way of getting at it where you
cannot prove perhaps that the sale has been so effected.

The Lord Chancellor : There is a little difficulty there
in the preamble. It states the offence to be keeping an
open shop.

Mr. Wills: Yes, my lord; but even there it is only
ancillary to the sale. It is not the keeping open shop,
it is keeping the. open shop because things are sold there
and will be sold there if the open shop is kept. If you
can satisfactorily prevent the sale, it does not matter a bit
whether the open shop is kept or not ; but it is the sale
which is the real danger. And one observation which
arises, with which I intend to conclude what I have to say,
as showing that the real danger intended to be dealt with
is that of selling by unqualified people, is that where a
chemist or druggist dies, so long as the estate in which
his relatives are interested remains open and is not wound
up, so long is it competent for wholly unqualified people
to carry on the business by means of qualified assistants.

The Lord Chancellor : But then it is said that in that
case the Legislature expressly desired qualified assistants
which it has omitted to do in the case of a corporation ;
and, therefore, corporations cannot carry on the business.

Mr. Wills : Well, my lord, I should submit that is a very
strong argument for saying that the Legislature did not
think of corporations, otherwise they would have made an
analogous provision in the case of a corporation, especi¬
ally in the case of a corporation, if such there were, which
was already existing. But if the danger to the public
consisted in the keeping open shop by unqualified persons
— if that were the real gist of the danger — then the un¬
qualified persons ought not to be permitted to keep them

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[July 31, 1880

for a day ; because nobody can say that the mere preser¬
vation of a personal interest shall or ought to be put in
competition with securing the safety of the public. I
submit that that very fact that that has been provided
for and that no provision has been made in the case of
corporate bodies is a very strong ground for saying that
corporate bodies were omitted, not because it was sup¬
posed that they were dealt with by the word “person,” or
because that was intended, but because their case never
was present to the mind of the Legislature, which is
another way of saying that their case is not included and
that their essence is not included in the word “person.”

[Adjourned for a short time.]

Mr. Einlay : My lords, I am with Mr. Wills, and pro¬
pose to add but few words on behalf of the respondents.
The proposition for which the respondents contend is
that, if the statute provides it shall be unlawful to do
a particular thing unless in compliance with a particular
condition and that condition be one with which in the
nature of things an artificial person, a corporation, cannot
comply, the word ‘ ‘ person ” in that statute shall be read
as applying only to natural persons.

The Lord Chancellor: Just state that proposition over
again.

Mr. Finlay: If the statute provides that a person
shall not do a particular thing except on condition of his
complying with a certain proviso with which it is impos¬
sible for any except natural persons to comply, the word
“ person ” in such statute should be read as applying only
to natural persons.

Lord Blackburn: Unless the context and the object of
the Legislature is such as to clearly show the contrary.

Mr. Finlay : Certainly. If there were anything in
the context which intended that the enactment was to
be read in the more general sense, I should not contend
for the proposition ; but what I submit, my lords, should
be held to be the law is this, that in the absence of any¬
thing in the context or object of the Act clearly indicat¬
ing the contrary intention, the exception is one applicable
to natural persons only, that the rule is only intended to
apply to natural persons. There have been cases which
have been refereed to in the course of the argument, by
Lord Blackburn, where the law with reference to the
meaning of the word “person” was certainly carried to
a point for which we certainly should not contend. By
a statute relating to evidence of forgery in Harrison’s
case, which is referred to in 1st Leach’s Crown Cases, it
was held that the word “ person ” did not extend to the
Bank of England as being a corporation.

Lord Blackburn : In these cases it is tried before
twelve judges and if they all agreed the mind would be
contented ; but it does not by any means follow that the
majority held it. It would be probable enough if one of
them doubted.

Mr. Finlay : The facts are stated in East’s Pleas of the
Crown, 2nd vol., page 988, where I find this passage.
“Harrison was indicted for forging a receipt under the
statute 7 George II. which makes it felony to forge such
receipt with intent to defraud any person. Some of the
counts in the indictment laid the offence to be with
intent to defraud the London Assurance Company and
the Bank of England alternately. It was objected that
a company or corporation was not a person : and that the
Legislature had so decided by passing the statute 31
George II., c. 22, s. 78, which, after reciting that doubts
had arisen whether the word ‘ person ’ in the statute 2
George II. c. 25, extended to corporations or companies
enacted, that they who were convicted of the offences in
that statute should have the same punishment, if they
committed them against a company or corporation, as if
against any person ; but it did not mention the offences
comprised in the statute 7 George II. The Court
reserved this point for the opinion of all the judges, who
decided in favour of the prisoner, and he was discharged.”
Shortly after the statute was passed to remedy this
defect.

Lord Blackburn : That would not be a private matter,
but probably it was the Home Secretary who was sent to
by the advice of the judges, and would have probably
granted a pardon. I think it is rather too much to say
that is a decision.

Mr. Finlay : It is not necessary for the respondents to
contend for any proposition so wide as that case would
involve, if that case indeed amounted to a decision ; but,
in looking at the meaning of the word “ person ” in this
Act, it is of course material to look at the Act for it.
This Act is passed for the purpose of amending the Act
of 1852. Now the Act of 1852, 15 and 16 Viet., chap. 56,
begins by reciting — “ Whereas it is expedient for the
safety of the public, that persons exercising the business
or calling of pharmaceutical chemists in Great Britain
should possess a competent practical knowledge of phar¬
maceutical and general chemistry, and other branches of
useful knowledge : and whereas certain persons, desirous
of advancing chemistry and pharmacy, and of promoting
an uniform system of educating those who should practise
the same, formed themselves into a Society called ‘ The
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain,’ which Society
was on the 18th day of February, 1843, incorporated by
Royal Charter whereby it was provided that the said
Society should consist of members who should be chemists
and druggists, who were or had been established on their
own account at the date of the said charter, or who
should have been examined in such manner as the Council
of the said Society should deem proper, or who should
have been certified to be duly qualified for admission, or
who should be persons elected as superintendents by the
Council of the said Society. And whereas it is expedient
to prevent ignorant and incompetent persons from
assuming the title of or pretending to be pharma¬
ceutical chemists or pharmaceutists in Great Britain,
or members of the said Pharmaceutical Society, and
to that end it is desirable that all persons before
assuming such title should be duly examined as to
their skill and knowledge by competent persons, and that
a register should be kept by some legally authorized
officer of all such persons.” Then the 12th seetion pro¬
vides that “ after the passing of this Act, it shall not be
lawful for any person, not being duly registered as a
pharmaceutical chemist, according to the provisions of
this Act, to assume or use the title of pharmaceutical
chemist or pharmaceutist, in any part of Great Britain, or to
assume, use or exhibit any name, title or sign, implying
that he is registered under this Act, or that he is a
member of the said Society ; and if any person, not
being duly registered under this Act, shall assume or use
the title of pharmaceutical chemist or pharmaceutist, or
shall use, assume or exhibit any name, title or sign
implying that he is a person registered under this Act,
or that he is a member of the said Society, every such
person shall be liable to a penalty of £5 ; ” and it pro¬
vides for such a penalty. Now, my lords, that Act pro¬
vides against acts which it can hardly be supposed that a
corporation was likely to commit in order to be a member
of the Pharmaceutical Society. Then it was thought in
the year 1868 that merely a preventing of persons who had
not been examined from following this trade as pharmaceu¬
tical chemists or as members of the Society was not quite
enough ; and it had been by way of extending the prohi¬
bition to certain other acts that the statute now in ques¬
tion was passed. That provides that after a certain date
“ it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or keep open
shop for retailing, dispensing or compounding poisons, or
to assume or use the title ‘chemist and druggist,’ or ‘che¬
mist,’ or ‘ druggist,’ or ‘ pharmacist,’ or ‘ dispensing che¬
mist,’ or ‘ druggist,’ in any part of Great Britain, unless
such person shall be a pharmaceutical chemist, or a
chemist and druggist within the meaning of this Act, and
be registered under this Act.” Now when your lordships
find that the Act for the purpose of amending which
this statute of 1868 is passed is an Act which in the
nature of things dealt with what might be done by

July 31, lS^O.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

101

natural persons only, the presumption is that the amending
Act is intended to deal with the same class of persons ;
and when in the 1st section it is found that the condition
imposed upon persons who are to keep open shop is a
condition which only natural persons can comply with,
we submit to your lordships that the Act should be read
as applying to natural persons only. Suppose there had
been in former days an Act that no person should carry
on a certain business unless he had taken the oath of
allegiance, it would have been a very strong thing to say
that such an Act was to have had the effect of excluding
all corporations from carrying on the business mentioned
in that statute.

Lord Blackburn : Such a hypothetical Act would have
been rather more hard to construe than the present one.

Mr. Finlay : Each case one puts is merely an illustra¬
tion of the proposition which we advance for your
lordships’ approval, that if the condition is one which
only the natural persons can comply with, the reasonable
way of reading the prohibition it places on persons unless
they comply with the condition is to say that only natural
persons were intended to be dealt with. Then, my lords,
only one word more with reference to the second question
which has been mentioned in the course of the case with
reference to keeping open shop. My friend, Mr. Benjamin,
on Tuesday mentioned the case of Reynard v. Chase,
which is reported in the 1st Burrows, at the beginning of
the volume, p. 2. The statute on which that case was
decided was not then at hand ; but I have it here. It is
the 5th Elizabeth, chap. 4, sec. 31 : — “ After the first day
of May next coming it shall not be lawful for any person
or persons, other than such as now do lawfully use or
exercise any art, mystery, or manual occupation, to set
up, occupy, use, or exercise any craft, mystery, or occupa¬
tion now used or occupied within the realm of England
or Wales, except he shall have been brought up therein
seven years at least as an apprentice in manner and form
abovesaid.” So that the prohibition there is against
setting-up, occupying, using, or exercising any craft,
mystery, or occupation, and in the case of Reynard v.
Chace it was held that one not qualified to exercise the
trade himself by having served an apprenticeship, by
entering into partnership with a qualified person, and
only sharing the profits, without interfering in the trade,
is not within the statute of Elizabeth, chap. 4.

The Lord Chancellor : Where is Reynard v. Chase ?

Mr. Finlay : In 1st Burrows, p. 2.

Mr. Benjamin : It is the first case Lord Mansfield ever
decided.

Lord Blackburn : That is under the statute of Elizabeth
with reference to apprenticeship. The question there
raised was whether within the meaning of that Act a
sleeping partner in fact required to have an apprenticeship
as well as the other.

Mr. Finlay : I mentioned the case because it was
assumed by my friend in argument as incontestable that
one individual, a member of the firm of chemists and
druggists, who was not qualified, would be liable to a
penalty for keeping open shop.

The Lord Chancellor : The Lord Chief Justice seems
to have assumed that.

Mr. Finlay : Yes, my lord. The case of Reynard v.
Chase, which is here, certainly seems to be an authority
to the contrary. The words, of course, are not iden¬
tical.

Lord Blackburn: Where breweries had been carried
on by a deceased person, and the Court of Chancery had
ordered the business to be carried on by the next of kin,
for the benefit of the estate, it would be a question
whether the Court of Chancery or the next of kin would
be amenable to that.

Mr. Finlay: What Lord Mansfield says is this: — “Let
us consider whether the present case be within the letter,
or even the meaning of this Act. The general policy of
the Act was to have trades carried on by persons who
had skill in them. Now here the personal skill of the

defendant makes no real difference in the case, for the
person who is skilful acts everything, and receives no
directions from this man ; he neither did, nor was to
interfere. The case of Hobbs v. Young is not parallel.
There the defendant, a single man, directed the whole
trade ; was the master ; and directed all the servants.
As between master and servant, no doubt that it
is the master who carries on the trade and not
the servant. But in Hobbs v. Young there was no
partnership; nor (what is the distinguishing character of
the present case) a mere naked sharing of the profits, and
risking a proportion of the loss ; without his acting or
directing at all, in any manner whatsoever. In many
considerable undertakings, it is absolutely necessary
to take in persons as partners, to share the profits
and risk the loss. And the general usage and
practice of mankind ought to have weight in determina¬
tions of this sort, affecting trade and commerce, and
the manner of carrying of them on. It is notorious
that many partnerships are entered into, upon the
foundation of one partner contributing industry and
skill, and the other money. Many great breweries
and other trades have been carried on for the benefit of
infants and residuary legatees, under the direction of the
Court of Chancery. Now if the plaintiff’s construction
was to hold, the whole direction and decree of the Court
of Chancery was contrary to law and to an express Act
of Parliament. So it is likewise practised in other great
trades. The late Mr. Child directed his business of a
banker to be carried on for the benefit of his children
and other persons. Many other instances might be
mentioned. It would introduce the utmost confusion in
affairs of trade and commerce if this construction should
prevail. On the other hand, I see no inconvenience ; it
is exactly the same thing as to the trade, in every iota,
‘whether this partner has or has not served an apprentice¬
ship.’ ”

The Lord Chancellor : I think some parts of that
judgment lay stress on some special stipulation. Mr.
Child’s executors seemed (to go further ; but I suppose
executors there would not themselves have been
apprentices any more than the cestui que trusts.

Mr. Finlay: No, my lord. Of course I feel on this
part of the case an observation may be made on the
other side that the proviso in the 16th section in favour
of executors would be unnecessary, unless the conduct of
the business by a qualified person on behalf of the execu¬
tor, who did not personally interfere, would otherwise
have been keeping an open shop by the executor. But,
perhaps it is a fair observation that that proviso may
have been introduced by way of greater caution, and to
make things quite safe in the case of executors and repre¬
sentatives of a deceased pharmaceutical chemist ; that
proviso was inserted, but it does not necessarily follow
from the fact of that proviso being inserted that keeping
open shop is an offence committed by anyone who does
not actually take part in it. The Act recites that it was
expedient that persons keeping an open shop should
possess a practical knowledge of the business. That is
important only where the person on whose behalf the
shop is kept actually takes part in it himself, so that it
can be said that he keeps the shop himself. On these
grounds, my lords, I think that the judgment of the
Court of Appeal should be supported.

The Lord Chancellor : In connection with this statute
you referred to, may I ask — I am not quite sure how it
is — but has it not been the custom in the city of London
— I am not sure whether it is not in the Act of Parlia¬
ment which requires that properly licensed brokers shall
carry on a broker’s business — to treat it as sufficient, if
there is in a firm one such licensed broker ?

Mr. Finlay : I do not feel able to answer your lord-
ships question.

The Lord Chancellor; Can you answer that question,
Mr. Benjamin?

Mr. Benjamin: I cannot, my lord. I only know that

102

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 51, 1* SO.

the brokers of the City of London are a sort of chartered
libertines, and that they carry on business in the name
of a licensed man, though, perhaps, there are half a
dozen interested in it. They use the name of a licensed
broker.

The Lord Chancellor : It was my impression that that is
the way in which the law is understood. The business
can only be carried on by a licensed broker ; but it is
thought enough so there be a licensed broker in the
firm who carries on the business.

Lord Blackburn: There is a case in Measom and
Welsby where I rather think the decision was that
there was no infringement of the Act of Parliament,
but only the infringement of a municipal regulation.

Mr. Benjamin : I only propose to trouble your lord-
ships on such points as have been raised by my learned
friends, because I should take it to be unworthy of such
a tribunal to repeat what I have said in my opening.
Now, my lords, the first and principal argument of my
friend, Mr. Wills, was this, that apparently on the face
of the Act, the words “ keeping open shop ” were some¬
thing thrown in parenthetically, so to speak, and that the
main offence was the offence of selling ; upon which your
lordships, anticipating what I was about to say in answer
to that, said, “ But the Pharmacy Act begins in its pre¬
amble by expressing that it is expedient for the safety of
the public that persons keeping open shop for retailing
and compounding poisons shall have a practical know¬
ledge.” It does not say a word about selling, which would
lead one to suppose, and it so turns out that the supposi¬
tion is accurate, that the original Act had nothing about
selling in it, the preamble having no reference to it.
Accordingly I find — I have the whole series of the Bills
as they were before Parliament — and I find the original
Act was an Act exclusively confined to keeping open
shop, and the word ‘ sale ’ was introduced afterwards.

Lord Blackburn : Can we possibly construe an Act by
the particular words which were put into it in the course
of legislation ?

Mr. Benjamin : When it is stated as a fact that these
words were thrown in afterwards.

Mr. Wills : I did not assert that as a fact.

Mr. Benjamin : However, it answers my purpose com¬
pletely to say that the preamble shows that the Act as
originally produced was to prohibit keeping open shop
for the sale of poisons, and that the selling was not in the
preamble stated as one of the objects; but you do find
selling in the Act itself.

Lord Watson: If the statute had been in accordance
with the preamble, it would have afforded very little pro¬
tection to the public. A qualified person would have
kept open shop and sold as much poison as he chose by
means of an unqualified assistant.

Mr. Benjamin : Therefore it became necessary not
only to prohibit the keeping open shop, but of
course it would occur to everyone that there was
a great deal of positive convenience in prohibiting
the sale of poisons to people — that there was a great
deal of opium and other things of that sort sold, which
would not be reached by a prohibition to keep open shop.
Therefore the prohibition to sell was absolutely necessary
for the purpose of the Act. I do not think, therefore,
that it is possible to say that the provisions of the Act
are mainly directed against the act of selling. The main
thing is against keeping open shop ; but selling also is
made an offence under certain circumstances. Now my
friend says if, however, the purpose had been to make the
selling unlawful, why was the language changed in the
17th section? That is a fair argument. You find the
17th section begins: It shall 'be unlawful to sell any
poison without a particular label. This section says, my
friend says, it shall be unlawful for any person to do so ;
but why was it changed in the 17th section? It is now
conceded that this 17th section does apply to corporations,
and therefore the entire argument based on the fact that
there are a large number of sections which do not apply

to corporations when the word “person” is used, is com¬
pletely done away with and the argument disappears.
But my friend says : Why change the language of sections
1 and 15 from the language of the 17th ? The language in
the 17th is : It shall be unlawful to sell so-and-so ; and the
language in section 1 : Is it shall be unlawful for any person
to do so. Now, my lords, take this section, and leaving
out the unnecessary words so as to get at the exact meaning
of the phrase as used: “From and after the 31st
December it shall be unlawful for any person to keep an
open shop for retailing poisons unless such person be a
pharmaceutical chemist and druggist within the meaning
of the Act and be registered ” It is said that none but a
natural person can be registered, ergo, it is lawful for a
corporation to keep open shop for the sale of poisons,
because the prohibition is levelled only against those
who can pass an examination. But surely, my lord, when
you come to see the purpose declared in the Act itself,
that the purpose is to protect the public against keeping
open shop for the sale of poisons, it is to make that the
thing which is to be avoided ; that is the thing. Why
declare the policy of the Act ? The policy of the Act is
not to allow open shops to be kept, except by qualified
persons. Then the 1st section says : “ No person shall
keep an open shop for the sale of poisons except a qualified
person,” because that is the meaning of it. Now as a
corporation cannot be a qualified person, where is the
difference in sense and in construction between the 1st
and the 17th section, upon which my friends rely? Take
the 1st section and put it in plain language, such as
would be read and understood by an unlettered person,
meaning thereby a layman, as we call him amongst us
lawyers. “ Be it enacted that from and after the 31st
day of December, 1868, it shall not be lawful to keep
a shop open for the sale of poisons, except by a person
duly qualified.” Is not that as much a general prohibition
as the other ? Is not that really what is said ? After
the 31st day of December no person, except a duly
qualified person, shall keep open shop for the sale of
poisons.

Lord Watson : That is just the question, whether it is
the same thing to prohibit the thing itself or to prohibit
certain persons from doing it.

Mr. Benjamin : Then, my lord, in order to settle that
you must then see what the purpose of the Act was, and
in looking at the purpose of the Act the Legislature tell
you what their purpose is. They say it is expedient for
the safety of the public that persons keeping open shop
shall be duly qualified chemists.

Lord Blackburn : Not exactly; “should possess a com¬
petent practical knowledge of pharmaceutical and general
chemistry; and other branches of useful knowledge.”

Mr. Benjamin: Substantially the idea is the same.
The Legislature tell you the purpose is to protect the
lives of the subjects of Her Majesty from being exposed to
danger by buying poisons. Therefore they provide
against keeping open shops. That is the purpose of the
Act, to provide against keeping open shops for the sale of
poisons. Now that being the policy of the Act, and that view
being declared to be accomplished by the declaration that
this keeping open shop for the sale of poisons shall be
only by persons duly qualified, the question is whether
they meant all persons.

Lord Watson : You must not leave out those im¬
portant words, the remedy proposed for the mischief, that
all persons shall be examined. Does not “ all persons ”
include all such persons who are referred to before ?

Mr. Benjamin: My lord, I rely on that instead of
leaving it out, with submission to your lordship. The
purpose is that nobody shall sell except persons that shall
be examined. Corporations cannot be examined, ergo,
corporations shall not sell. That is our argument. The
Legislature say : “ Our purpose is that no shop shall be
kept open except by duly qualified persons.” Corpora¬
tions cannot be duly qualified persons under the Act,
therefore we say corporations cannot sell. The other

July 31, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

103

side say: The Act says that none but duly qualified
persons can keep open shop, and inasmuch as corpora¬
tions cannot be duly qualified persons they are not
within the Act. Which of those carries out the purpose
of the Legislature? The 17th section clearly, as regards
certain provisions of the Act as to the sale of poisons, is
applicable to corporations. The 15th, 16th and 17th
follow each other. The 15th speaks of persons selling
poisons who are not duly qualified and on the register.
The 16th says what those persons are, and the 17th says
if bottles and boxes are wrapped up in any other than a
particular way, that shall be an offence. Now why shall
not these three be read together; and if you so read them
together, unquestionably the 17th, which is the third,
referring to the ether two, can you adopt the other two
and bring the thr.e within the prohibition of the kind
named ?

Lord Watson : You cannot read them together, because
in the first place, even according to your own view, they
include all qualified persons. It is not a question of
qualification or disqualification. No person, qualified or
unqualified, can sell except he complies with those con¬
ditions.

Mr. Benjamin: You have an open shop, and the 17th
section provides how the business of the open shop is to
be conducted.

Lord Watson : It goes a long way beyond the open
shop — in a warehouse, or elsewhere.

Mr. Benjamin: No doubt ; but it does include an open
shop, and it includes a corporation as acting in the way
pointed out in that Act, as constituting the offence. My
friend, Mr. Finlay, opened his remarks with a general
proposition, which I think very fairly stated the question,
and which brings us right back to the inquiry to which I
have just directed your lordships’ attention. He says,
their proposition is that where only natural persons can
comply with a condition under which it is lawful to keep
open a shop for the sale of poisons, there the whole section
must be construed as having reference to natural persons;
but he adds that it cannot have reference to corporations,
because they cannot comply with the conditions. Now I
say, my lords, that that proposition cannot be maintained ;
that there are numerous cases in which particular privileges
of practising or doing acts are allowed by law to certain
classes of persons who can comply with certain conditions,
and that it is a false conclusion, a false inference to draw
from that premise, that because other persons cannot
comply with those conditions, therefore they may do
the thing without complying with them. It is just the
reverse of a fair inference, according to my views.

Lord Watson : This would shut out not only all the
female sex — I do not think they are within the charter
and the Act of Parliament?

Mr. Benjamin : Oh yes, my lord, we have many female
practitioners who have received their diplomas. There is
no doubt about that. Besides which, “ persons ” would
always include the two sexes. It has been held that
politically the word “ person ” does not extend to females,
but we have ladies members of our Society. Our con¬
tention is this : — If the Legislature says we do not want
open shops to be kept for the sale of poisons except by
really qualified persons, we say, you therefore cannot
keep it, because you cannot be duly qualified.

Lord Watson : I do not doubt that. Ido not think it
is controverted, if the Legislature have said that.

Mr. Benjamin : That is substantially what they have
said.

Lord Blackburn : If you can show from the nature of
it that the Legislature really meant that the form of
words would do it. But you assume the Legislature have
said that, and you change the form of words.

Mr. Benjamin : My lords, I only say that because of
what they have said is the purpose of the Act.

Lord Blackburn : You rest on the preamble.

Mr. Benjamin: Yes, my lord, I rest on the preamble.
My friend has referred to Harrison’s case in the first

Leach. But, my lord, that case proves nothing. The
facts were these. There were two successive Acts of
Parliament making criminal the offence of forgery to the
detriment of any person or persons. I do not say I am
using the exact words, but that was the substance of
them ; and doubts were entertained whether, under
the word person or persons, corporations were included.
Parliament then passed an Act, by which it said that
corporations were included in the first of the second Acts,
but did not say anything about the construction of the
second Act. Then a prosecution having been brought
forward under the second Act it was argued, Parliament
has had this matter under consideration, and it has de -
cided that “person” or “persons” means corporations
in the first of these two Acts ; but it has not said it is
so in the second, therefore the fair inference is that in
the second it means natural persons.

Lord Blackburn : Surely that is very bad reasoning.
The construction would be as it was before.

Mr. Benjamin : I am stating the fact, my lord, not
maintaining an argument. Under those circumstances
the Court held they could not hold that the second Act
applied to corporate bodies as well as to individuals,
because Parliament had not connected the two Acts at
the same time, or rather, having the two before it had
only dealt with one, and thereupon a second Act was
passed for the second.

Lord Blackburn : I rather think you are stating the
case too highly. It does not appear that anything of the
sort was held. It was only that the result was that there
should be a second argument ; for it was never bad, for
in the interim the Government made up their mind to
pardon the man, and passed a new Act.

Mr. Benjamin: That would rather strengthen the
view of the case I am putting before your lordships.
Now, my lords, we come to the case of Reynard v. Chase.
That case applies to a partnership, and says that where the
law has made it illegal for a person to carry on a business
who has not gone through the apprenticeship required by
the statute, that person may take another into partner¬
ship with him and may continue the original trade if the
silent partner takes no part in it at all. But in that very
case my friend overlooked the fact that his lordship, Lord
Mansfield, distinguished it from a former case in which
there was no paitner, and then he said the whole business
was not the business of the servant, Longmore, as stated
in the statement of facts here. But it is the business of
the master, and consequently a business conducted by the
defendant company, whether right or wrong, whether
lawful or unlawful, is a business conducted by the master
who is unqualified. Longmore is merely a servant who
obeys the order of the master ; and Longmore’s quali¬
fication cannot give a qualification to the master.
The master, as an individual, would be vio’ating the
Act ; and the whole question is whether the Legislature
have drawn an Act in such a fashion that if a single
individual conducting this business on his own responsi¬
bility would unquestionably be committing an unlawful
Act — if all the members conducting this business, each
one of them in an ordinary partnership, they would be
doing unlawful acts; but because the Government says
by charter of corporation under the Companies Act, 1862,
they may carry on business, that enables them to defy the
Act of Parliament, and carry on the business which other¬
wise they could not carry on. I apprehend as to the
danger to the public it is just the same.

The Lord Chancellor: I see Mr. Serjeant Hill was
very angry with the decision in Reynard v. Chase, from
the two notes of his, one at the beginning and the other
at the end.

Mr. Benjamin : Mr. Burrows in reporting it says it is
not a good decision.

The Lord Chancellor : I think you are referring to the
note of Serjeant Hill. In the advertisement to Burrows,
in the edition I have in my hand, it was said that the
publishers have in their possession a copy of these reports

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[July 31, 1880.

which belonged to the late Serjeant Hill, and have
ventured to add to this edition a variety of valuable notes,
etc., which he had made in his copy, and which are now
for the first time presented to the public. These will be
found at the bottom of the page in the shape of notes, or
in the margin enclosed in brackets. At the bottom of
page 2 is the first of the notes I have referred to, and that
is repeated again. I mean there is another note of the
same character at page 9, and both of them I assume are
notes of Serjeant Hill, judging from that advertisement.

Mr. Benjamin : My lord, I had seen the notes, and I
thought they were notes of the editor. I had not seen
the passage your lordship has read, stating that they were
Serjeant Hlil’s notes.

Lord Blackburn : It is not likely that Sir S. Burrows
would have said anything against a decision of Lord
Mansfield. Was Serjeant Hill a counsel in the case?

Mr. Benjamin : I believe not.

The Lord Chancellor : It must be the first case Lord
Mansfield decided.

Lord Blackburn: If Serjeant Hill was a counsel in the
case it would hardly be judicious for him to dispute the
judgment. }

The Lord Chancellor: I do not think he was.

Mr. Benjamin : I really do not think, in this case
Reynard v. Chase adds anything to the argument of the
appellant.

The Lord Chancellor: On the whole I should be
inclined to think, as far as the specific question was
concerned, taking Reynard v. Chase and Hobbs v. Young
together, the bearing is rather in your favour that other¬
wise, as far as it goes.

Judgment.

The Lord Chancellor : My lords, I cannot say that thi
case appears to me to be one free from difficulty, especi¬
ally as we have two Courts of high authority differing
from each other, the Lord Chief Justice and Mr. Justice
Mellor having taken the view of the statute for which the
appellants contend, and the Court of Appeal the opposite
view. My lords, the question really comes to be one upon
the construction of particular words in the 1st and 15th
sections of this statute, having regard to the general prin¬
ciples on which ambiguous words such as “person” ought
to be construed. There can be no question that the word
“person” may, and I should be disposed myself to say
pmmd facie it does, include in a public statute a person in
law, that is a corporation as well as a natural person;
but it is never to be forgotten that although that is a
sense which the word will bear in law, and as I said
perhaps should be attributed to it in the construction of
such a document as a statute, unless there be any reason
for a contrary construction, yet, that in its popular sense
and ordinary use it would hardly extend so far. There¬
fore, as statutes like other -documents are constantly
conceived according to the popular use of language, it is
probable, and may be taken to be certain, that the word
is often used in statutes in a sense in which it cannot be
intended to extend to a corporation, and that accounts
for the frequent occurrence in some statutes, in interpre¬
tation clauses, of an express declaration that it shall ex¬
tend to a body politic or corporate, and in other statutes,
of which an example will be found in one cited during the
argument by Mr. Benjamin, I mean the Act as to apothe¬
caries, in which there will be found clauses which say, as
in that instance, that remedies by persons who complain of
acts done under colour of the authority of the Act, or in
pursuance of it, must be prosecuted within a certain limit of
time against all persons or bodies politic or corporate, which
upon the face of the Act shows that corporations were con¬
templated. Now, I hold that with some qualification the
language used by the junior counsel for the respondents is
substantially right, that if a statute provides that a person
shall not do a particular act, except on condition of his com¬
plying with a certain proviso, primd facie it is the natural

and reasonable construction of such a statute, unless there
be something in the context, or in the manifest object of
the statute, or in the nature of the subject matter to
exclude it — primd facie I say it is the natural and reason¬
able construction of such a clause that by the use of the
word “person” the Legislature contemplates one of a
class of persons who may or may not do the act, or who
are capable of doing the act, the doing of which is to take
them out of the scope of the provision. Now, if that be a
sound observation, it appears to be decisive of this case
when we look to the language of the 1st and 15th sec-
tions. The 1st section, merely transposing the place in
which certain words are used, is this : — “ From and after
the 31st day of December, 1863, it shall be unlawful for
any person, unless such person be a pharmaceutical
chemist or chemist and druggist within the meaning of
this Act, and be registered under this Act,” to do certain
things. Primd facie that contemplates a class of persons
who may or may not be pharmaceutical chemists or
chemists and druggists within the meaning of the Act,
and be registered under the Act. What class of persons
can be such pharmaceutical chemists or chemists and.
druggists, and be registered? Can a corporation, or
can it not ? My lords, I think it clear upon the
sequel of the Act that a corporation cannot be so.
A corporation certainly, looking to the former Phar¬
macy Act, cannot be a pharmaceutical chemist, nor
can it be a chemist and druggist within the meaning of
this Act, and be registered under this Act ; because the
3rd clause says : — “ Chemists and druggists wkhin the
meaning of this Act shall consist of all persons, who, at
any time before the passing of this Act, have carried on
in Great Britain the business of a chemist and druggist
in the keeping of open shop for the compounding of the
prescriptions of duly qualified medical practitioners.5''
That indeed might have applied to a corporation if a cor¬
poration could be registered. But then with regard to
that class of persons who had previously carried on such
a business, the 5th section requires them to be registered,
and in order to registry requires a claim to be made by a
notice in writing, signed by the person, which notice is
to be in the form set forth in the schedule. I do not
see myself that it is possible to suppose that the Legis¬
lature contemplated that anyone but a person who could
sign the claim was to be registered under those clauses.
In addition, I find in the 18th section, this is ex¬
pressly provided : — “ Every person who at the time
of the passing of this Act is or has been in business
on his own account as a chemist and druggist, and who
shall be registered as a chemist and druggist, shall be
eligible to be elected and continue a member of the Phar¬
maceutical Society according to the bye-laws thereof.”
That appears to me plainly to show that the Legislature
enforced and required the registration of persons who
before the Act carried on business as chemists and drug¬
gists in a sense applicable onty to those who could become
members of the Pharmaceutical Society, in other words,
only to individual persons. With regard to those Who
should afterwards carry on business as chemists and
druggists, the Act plainly, I think, shows that they must
undergo certain examinations which are wholly inapplic¬
able to any corporation. The conclusion, therefore, which
I come to is that these words, “ unless ” and so on, are in¬
applicable to any corporations; that there being not a
general prohibition of the trade or business, but merely
a declaration that it shall be unlawful foa* a person, unless
he complies with certain conditions, to carry on these
otherwise lawful trades or businesses, not only keeping a
shop for retailing poisons or selling poisons, but also to
assume the title of chemist and druggist, or chemist or
druggist, I cannot, my lords, but think that it is a sounder
construction of the word “ person ” to hold that only
such persons are contemplated as might, by taking
proper means, comply with the condition and so enable
them to carry on the trade. Exactly the same observa¬
tions occur, my lords, upon the 15th section. There,

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105

again, transposing only the •words which occur in it, we
find — and this is the section which imposes the penalties
in question-. — the enactment is this : “ From and after the
31st day of December, 1868, any person not being a duly
registered pharmaceutical chemist or chemist and druggist,
who shall sell,” eta, and again, or who not being a phar¬
maceutical chemist, “shall take, use or exhibit the name or
title of pharmaceutical chemist” shall be subject to certain
penalties. The words follow also, “ or who shall compound. ’ ’

I think, haring reference to the particular act of compound¬
ing mentioned on each occasion, it rather fortifies than
otherwise what I may describe as the individual— I was
going to say personal — construction, but the very use of
that word exemplifies the difficulty of applying the word
"person” in the popular sense otherwise than t© indi¬
viduals. Well, my lords, if you look through the Act it
will be found that there is only one place in the Act
where it is necessary to put. upon the word “person”
the larger sense, and that is in a clause which is in
several respects remarkably contrasted with the rest
of the provisions of the Act, I mean the 17 th sec¬
tion. It begins with a general prohibition in un¬
equivocal terms. Not it shall be unlawful for any person
not coming under a certain definition to sell, but it shall
be unlawful to sell at all, absolutely, unconditionally, to
sell any poison as to which certain precautions are not
observed. And that is repeated. It shall be unlawful
to sell, it says at the beginning ; and four lines afterwards,
it shall be unlawful to sell, again ; and, as I say, that is
a universal prohibition not qualified by any exception as
to the person, though no doubt the thing which is made
unlawful is a thing done in a certain manner, or without
the observance of certain conditions. In addition to that,
the penalty there is not like the penalty under the 15th
section, a civil debt to be recovered by a civil form of
proceeding, or action, notwithstanding that it is for what
is called an offence ; but it is a penalty to be recovered |
upon summary conviction before two Justices. And then
these words are added : “ And for the purposes of this
section the person on whose behalf any sale is made by
any apprentice or servant shall be deemed to be the seller,”
which, the thing being made universally unlawful, I
•think must include a corporation, if the sale was made
by any apprentice or servant on behalf of the corporation.
My lords, it appears to me that the difference in the
•phraseology of that section from the rest is such as not to
justify any other construction of the word “ person ” in ;
the other sections, than that which it ought to have
received if the 17th section had not been in the Act.
And with regard to the main argument of the appellants,
which would be a very important argument indeed if it
were sustained, that the object of the Act would be de¬
feated unless a corporation as well as an individual were j
included, it seems to me, my lords, that that argument
cannot be successfully maintained. The act of selling,
the act of compounding, and every other act mentioned
in these two sections, by which penalties are imposed,
and also in the 1st, is struck at, whether done by the
principal to whom the business belongs or done by the
person whom he employs to carry on the business.
The words “ keeping open shop.” may not perhaps
be so, and upon those I will make an observation
presently; but that the word “sell” is, and that the
word “compound” probably is, I think is clear from
that very clause I just now read in the 17th section, that
for the purpose of that section the person on whose behalf
any sale is made by any apprentice or servant shall be
'deemed to be the seller. My lords, that indicates— I will
not say necessarily — but naturally implies that that is a
special construction for the purpose of the particular
section, and is not to be extended to sale where mentioned
in other sections ; and, my lords, I will add that regard
to the mischief which, beyond all controversy, the Act was
intended to prevent, leads necessarily to the same conclu¬
sion ; that he who sells, whether he be master or servant,
whether he be the principal or the person delegated to

conduct and manage the sales, is struck at by the 15th
section, because otherwise you get this, that a very wide
door would be open to all the things which the Act is
intended to prohibit. Nothing mere would be necessary
according to the appellants’ argument, if it were other¬
wise, than that the business should belong to a person
who does not himself carry it on, but who is qualified
under the Act ; and he might be at liberty to employ in
the management of his business persons not qualified. By
them the actual sales would be conducted, and the public
would suffer those very evils which the Act was intended
to prevent. The Act therefore, to be effectual, must
strike at the particular acts of those who actually con¬
duct the sales — who actually compound the medicines.
And if it does strike at those acts, no doubt that the
words, “ keeping open shop” extend to something more
and will comprehend a person who keeps an open shop,
although he may not with his own hands do all the
business of the selling or compounding medicines, and
who is the master or proprietor of the premises, if he be
a “ person ” within the proper construction ; but to say
that you must in order to include a corporation, which
may keep an open shop, necessarily extend the con¬
struction of the context, because if you do not there
may be a shop kept by a person who will do nothing
and who is not qualified — to say that is necessary for
the objects of the Act appears to me to be really
begging the question, because on that hypothesis, the
corporation does nothing. It does not itself conduct
the business, and the particular mischief which the public
would suffer, from the sale of things which ought not to be
sold, is sufficiently guarded against by prohibition of such
sales, and the conditions to which they are made subject.
Well, my lords, I said, to begin with, that I did not regard
the matter as free from difficulty, but in a difficulty, if
there be one, it does seem to me to be best to remember
the principle that the liberty of the subject is not by
unnecessary construction to be held to be abridged any
further than the words require, and inasmuch as it was
open to Her Majesty’s subjects before this Act passed
to carry on the business of chemists and druggists,
using the title of chemist and druggist, and, for the pur¬
pose of that business, keeping open shop for the sale,
amongst other articles, of poisonous drugs, as it was per¬
fectly lawful to do that by means of a company incorpo¬
rated under the Companies Act, and as there is nothing
whatever to show that the Legislature had grounds for
assuming that there could be no such companies, and
moreover, as there was a very great and leading company
incorporated as a company of sellers of drugs and pharma-
copists as long ago as the reign of James I., in whose name
it is admitted the business of selling drugs has been carried
on by their authority down to the present time, as that
was the state of the law, I do think that it would be wrong
for your lordships to impose upon the word “person,”
used in such a context as that in which you find it used
here, a construction which would at once render illegal
that mode of carrying on the business of chemists and drug¬
gists by such corporations, without any reference from the
beginning of the Act to the end to that class of per¬
sons, or to that kin l of case, more especially when you
do find in the Act, in the 16th section, a special provision
for the case of individuals carrying on that kind of
business-, who may die, whose executors or trustees may
carry it on after their deaths. It is true that the Legis¬
lature there requires for the safety of the public this safe¬
guard, that there shall be an assistant duly qualified, but the
Legislature shows that having that case in view it was not
thought that the object or policy of the Act required that
such a business should be prohibited. It was not thought
necessarily inconsistent with the object and the policy of
the Act that the principals, the proprietors of the busi¬
ness, the persons to whom those actually selling the drugs
would be responsible, should be unqualified, provided
that there was in the business a duly qualified assistant.
It by no means follows that all the drags would be sold

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[July 31, 1880.

by that duly qualified assistant or that he might not be,
as in this case, under the general superintendence of a
manager not himself duly qualified. All that is left open,
but it is thought not indispensable that the persons carry¬
ing on such businesses should be themselves duly qualified.
My lords, if there were not safeguards against the sale of
poisonous drugs in a manner contrary to the provisions of
the Act by the persons actually conducting the business
for the corporation, then, I think, the argument would
have been extremely strong against a corporation being
permitted to carry on the business, but where you find
that there are such safeguards and that the keeping
open shop in the case of executors is permitted although
they be not qualified, I think it is impossible to infer
that the object of the Act did require a larger construc¬
tion to be put on the word “person,” which the context
appears to me upon a fair construction to exclude. I
shall therefore advise your lordships that this appeal
should be dismissed with costs.

Lord Blackburn : I am of the same opinion. The
question really, when it is cleared of all superfluity, is re¬
duced to a very short point, but, I agree that it is one not
free from difficulty. The difficulty which I feel about the
case is not generally upon those things which seem to have
troubled most of the members of the Court below. I own
I have no great doubt myself, for instance, that the
word “ person ” may very well include both a natural
person, a human being, and an artificial person, a corpora¬
tion. I think that in an Act of Parliament, unless there
be something to the contrary, probably (I would not
like to pledge myself to that) it ought to be held to in¬
clude both. I have equally no doubt that in common
talk in the language of men, not speaking technically,
a “person” does not include an artificial person, that is to
say, a corporation. Nobody in common talk, if he were
asked who was the richest person in London, would
answer, the London and North Western Railway Com¬
pany. It is plain that in common speech “ person ” would
mean a natural person. In technical language it may
mean the other, but which meaning it has in any particular
Act must depend on the context and the subject matter.
I do not think that the presumption that it includes an
artificial person, a corporation, if the presumption does
arise there, is at all strong. Circumstances, and indeed
very slight circumstances, in the context might show which
way the word is to be construed in an Act of Parliament ;
whether it is to have one or the other meaning. And I
am quite clear about this, that whenever you can see the
object of the Act requires that “ person ” shall have
the more extended sense or the less extended sense,
whichever of those the object of the Act shows that it
requires, then you should apply the word in that sense
and construe the Act accordingly. My view of the matter
is that the question of what “ person ” means in this
particular Act gives rise to the whole difficulty, but
I may further say now, in order to avoid coming back
to it, that I do not feel the least difficulty arising from
what seems to have troubled some of the judges below
in this case. If this means a corporation, I quite agree
that a corporation cannot commit crime in one sense, a
corporation cannot be imprisoned, if imprisonment be the
sentence for the crime ; a corporation cannot be hanged
and put to death, if that be the punishment for the
crime. In all those senses a corporation cannot commit
a crime, but a corporation may be fined or may pay
damages, and I must totally dissent, notwithstanding
what Lord Justice Bramwell said, or is reported to have
said, from the supposition that a corporation that incor¬
porated itself for publishing a newspaper could not
be fined, or an action for damages brought against it
for libel, or that a corporation that commits a nuisance
could not be convicted of the nuisance, or the like. I
must really say I do not feel the slightest doubt about
that part of the case, and I think if we could get over
the first difficulty of saying that the “person” here may
be construed to include an artificial person, a corpora¬

tion, I should not have the least difficulty upon the other
grounds that have been suggested. But then, my lords,
my conclusion, looking at this Act, is that it is clear to
my mind that the word “person” here is so used as to
show that it does not include a corporation, and that there
is no object or intention of the statute which shows
that we should require to extend the word to a sense
which probably those who used it, the Legislature, did
not think of and were not thinking of at all. I do not
think the Legislature were thinking of bodies corporate
at all. They begin with a preamble. “ Whereas it is
expedient for the safety of the public that persons
keeping open shop for the retailing, dispensing or com¬
pounding of poisons, and persons known as chemists and
druggists, should possess a competent practical know¬
ledge of their business.” Stopping there, it is quite
plain to my mind that those who used that language were
not thinking of corporations. A corporation may, in one
sense, possess a competent knowledge of its business,
if it employs competent directors, and so forth, but it
cannot possibly have, for all substantial purposes of the
public protection, a competent knowledge of itself. The
metaphysical entity, the legal person, cannot possibly
have a competent knowledge, nor can, I think, a corpora¬
tion be supposed to be a person known as a chemist
and druggist. They were not thinking of a corporation;
they said that henceforth it was desirable that those who
carried on this business should have a competent know¬
ledge. It afterwards appears that the Legislature were
persuaded by the Pharmaceutical Society (I dare say
very rightly) to think that the best test of competency
was that they should be a member of this Society.
It then goes on to the enacting part, and the 1st section
is the most material, that “ it shall be unlawful for any
person to sell or keep open shop for retailing, dispensing
or compounding poisons, or to assume or use the title of
chemist and druggist, or chemist or druggist.” Now,
stopping there, it does seem to me that, without laying
down any technical rule, the plain meaning of the words,
and the words are used in that sense, is such a person
as could become a pharmaceutical chemist. A corporation
cannot, a individual can. It seems to me, therefore, it
plainly says in section 1 “ that it shall be unlawful to sell
or keep open shop, or assume the name of chemist or
druggist for any person, that is to say any natural
person, unless he becomes a pharmaceutical chemist.
The 15th section imposes a penalty, and in imposing the
penalty repeats the words which made the thing unlawful.
I think those two sections must be construed together.
Now, is there anything here in the context or in the
object to show that we should take that word “ person,”
which I think must have been used by those who framed
the Act, and understood by the Legislature as meaning a
natural person and extend it, and say that it applies to a cor¬
poration? I cannot see anything. If there had been any¬
thing in the Act or anything in the nature of things which
made it reasonable that it should be provided that all the
profits to be derived from vending poisons or poisonous
drugs should be shared amongst those who are pharma¬
ceutical chemists and that nobody else should intermeddle
with that trade ; if there was anything of that sort, in
order to carry out that object it would be necessary to
say that “ person ” includes corporation, and not a
natural person only. But that object is certainly not
avowed on the face of the Act. Whether any of those
who promoted the Act had any such idea in their minds
or not I cannot tell ; but they have not brought it forward
or put it in such words as would at all lead the Legislature
to think of it. and it is exceedingly improbable that if
they had boldly said “ and bodies corporate and joint
stock companies shall not deal in drugs,” or, if you like,
in poisonous drugs, “ unless they pay black mail to us,”
I think the Legislature would hardly have done it.
They have not done that in distinct terms. Now is there
anything in the object of the Act which requires such an
interpretation ? I quite agree that a body corporate may

July 31, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

107

keep an open shop, and no mischief is done there,
if they employ for the purpose of conducting the sale
qualified assistants and people who may manage the
sale ; if those qualified persons do superintend the
sale there, I see no harm that can arise. But no doubt
the Legislature have, for what reason it is for those
who passed the Act to say, thought it best to say that
a person — whom I take to be a natural person — shall not
only not sell, but shall not keep an open shop for the sale.
I think myself that probably one reason for that was to
facilitate convictions; and another reason may have been
that it was thought if there may be a person who keeps a
shop, who is unqualified, and he may have a qualified as¬
sistant, he may overrule the qualified assistant, at any
moment he pleases and there may be danger in that.
Those are intelligible motives ; but neither of those
motives applies where it is a case of a corporation ; for
the body corporate itself could not interfere and however
much the body corporate may have been unqualified,
their being so would not affect the matter. Then comes
another objection. It is said, if you put that construction
you defeat the Act altogether. That I cannot admit. I
hold distinctly that there can be no sale, whether a corpo¬
ration be the ultimate vendor or not, unless a person,
a natural person, manages the sale, and that natural per¬
son, if unqualified, would in my mind clearly become
liable to the penalty under the Act. And though I am not
so elear on thi-q I feel strongly inclined to think that , if a
corporation or anybody else caused an unqualified person
to conduct sales, and it could be brought home to them
and shown that they deliberately did cause the person to
infringe the Act, I am by no means clear that they would
not be, under section 15, liable to penalties themselves.
Qui facit per alium facit per se. I do not, however, say
that I am quite certain of that ; but I think it necessary
to say that because so repeatedly in the argument it was
assumed that a corporation was entirely out of this Act
altogether, which is not at all my view of it. . I say that a
corporation is out of that clause which prohibits persons
from keeping open shop. I do not go further than that,
and say anything more. Now, as to the rest, I really do
not think that there are any sections of the Act, or any
of the cases cited, or any general legal principle, which
requires to be noticed. It does seem to me that the case
will come after all to this : Does “ person,’ which may
include a corporation, include it here ? For the reasons
I have given, I think it does not. Is there anything in
the context or anything in the object of the Legislature
which requires that, although the word “person” would
not properly include a corporation, yet in this particular
case we should extend it and make it include a corporation,
I think there is not in this section. In section 17 there
is quite sufficient reason for doing so; but in sections
1 and 15 1 think there is not.

Lord Watson : My lords, it is impossible to disguise
the fact that this statute is characterized by great am¬
biguity, I would almost go the length of saying confusion,
of language. That probably arises from the circumstance
that the framers of this Act were dealing with two
separate matters : the one, improvement of a society
called the Pharmaceutical Society ; the other the
regulation of the sale of poisons generally throughout
Great Britain. That Society had existed from 1843,
when it was incorporated by Royal Charter for the
avowed purpose “of advancing chemistry and pharmacy,
and promoting an uniform system of education of those
who should practise the same ; and also for the protection
of those who carry on the business of chemists and
druggists.” In 1852 the Legislature, by the statute
(chapter 56 of the 15th and 16th of the Queen), made
various improvements in the constitution of the body upon
the recital that it was “expedient to prevent ignorant and
incompetent persons from assuming the title of or pre¬
tending to be pharmaceutical chemists or pharmaceutists
in Great Britain.” When you come to the Act of 1868,
the Act which we are dealing with, you not only have

further improvements made in the character of the body
and its constitution but you have very important changes
made, and a position and privilege accorded them by
statute. Down to 1852, and subsequently to 1852, they
had no special privilege; nothing in the nature of monopoly
or exclusive privilege, and the Act of that year was
simply intended, not to prevent other persons from
dealing in drugs of any description, but to prevent those
persons when dealing in drugs from assuming a title which
the members of the Society were alone entitled to.
But when you come to the Act of 1868, the provisions of
the statute undoubtedly give to them the sole right to
sell drugs as individuals, or to keep open shops for the
sale of poisonous drugs as individuals, because all
individuals who are not possessed of the qualification of
membership of the Society, or who have not passed the
requisite examination and had their names on the
register, are prohibited under penalties from dealing by
retail in these articles. Now, my lords, I must say
that when I come to deal with what is called — I say it
with respect — the intention of the Legislature, I find the
greatest possible difficulty in making up my mind as . to
what it should be. I think the considerations of policy
on either side are pretty evenly balanced, in fact I have
almost been inclined to hold that considerations of policy
rather preponderate in favour of the appellants’ argument ;
but that is not enough ; it is not enough for me to
speculate as to what was in the mind of the framer of
this statute ; whether he had forgotten the fact that there
were corporations which either were dealing or might
deal in poisonous drugs ; or whether, having this in view,
he framed this Act for the purpose of subjecting them
to certain disabilities. I can only look, my lords, at
the language the Legislature had employed in the
enacting clauses, sections 1 and 15, and I can only say
this, that even if I were satisfied that it had been the
intention of the framer of these two sections to give, to
individuals registered under the Act the exclusive, privi¬
lege of selling poisonous drugs by retail, and so impose
penalties upon a corporation keeping open shop for that
purpose, I must say I come to this conclusion, that it
would have been very simple for the Legislature to have
said so in express terms. And I, for my own part, am
quite satisfied, even apart from those considerations.which
have led your lordships to put another construction on
the terms of the statute, that the framer, if that was his
intention, has entirely failed to use language adequate
for the purpose which he intended.

The Lord Chancellor then formally put the question
that the appeal be dismissed with costs, and declared it
to be carried.

©Wtitarg.

JAMES FOULIS PLOMLEY.

It is with regret that we announce the death of another
of the founders of the Pharmaceutical Society, Mr. J ames
Foulis Plomley, at his residence, Fairfield, near Rye.

Plomley, in 1836, acquired the old established busi¬
ness in High Street, which he continued to conduct until
1857, when he took into partnership Mr. W. A. Waters,
and in the following year retired from the active duties
of the business.

In all affairs connected with the town of Rye, Mr.
Plomley took an intense interest, he having, been a member
of the Corporation for several years, and in 1852 he was
elected Mayor ; in virtue of that office he attended the
Duke of Wellington’s Funeral as one of the Barons of
the Cinque Ports. A few years later he was made a
magistrate for the borough ; but having had a stroke, of
paralysis a few years ago, he was compelled to relinquish
all active duties, and he gradually grew weaker and
more feeble till his death, on July 14, at the age of
71 years.

108

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 31, 1880.

CoiTesponbmrc*

*,* Nj notice can be taken of anonymous communica
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Society’s Case in the House of Lords.

Sir, — On reading your remarks on this case at page 61 of
this week’s J ournal, as regards individual traders, I cannot
shut my eyes to the fact that many of our members conduct
business on the same principle as the stores, inasmuch as
some members open branch establishments at a distance
from their own, and place an assistant to manage such
branch.

I could give many instances ; there is one in a village not
far fiom where I live, and the proprietor has an establish¬
ment twelve miles distant, and visits his branch, sometimes
once a month or fortnight for a few hours.

Now, our member may perhaps understand his business
better than the proprietors of the stores generally do, but
as he is absent on other duties, and, as the stores place a
competent dispensing gentleman in their establishment,
where is the difference ? Is it not tu quoque ?

Doimside Villa, Chilcompton, Bath. Joseph Leay.

The Pharmaceutical Society v The London and
Provincial Supply Association.

Sir, — It is pitiful to observe upon what technical grounds
the decision in this case rests. It really turned upon this
point — “persons” must not be interpreted to include
“corporations ” in the prohibitory sections of the Pharmacy
Act, because the qualifying sections demand from “ persons ”
that which “corporations ” cannot possibly fulfil. In other
words, because a “corporation” cannot qualify, it cannot
be disqualified. In effect it reduces qualification to a
negative state, and might, with as much reason assume
everybody to be qualified who has not presented himself
and been pronounced disqualified by the examiners.

The statute requires a qualified master ; it does not
require a qualified servant. The judgment dispenses
with a qualified master, and sanctions a qualified servant.
This may be an improvement on the statute, but it is not
the meaning of the statute ; but perhaps I am

No Judge.

Sir, — The recent decision of the House of Lords in the
case of the Pharmaceutical Society v. the London and
Provincial Supply Association cannot be said to come as a
surprise to the trade. Though not unanticipated, it will
still be a bitter pill to many. Those who so eagerly
advocated interference with the operations of co-operative
stores will now perhaps see with regret that the only results
attained are a loss of prestige on the part of the Society as
a body established for and acting in the public interest, an
advertisement of the stores, and to give to what have
hitherto been unauthorized traders a definite legal position.
Henceforth it will be perfectly easy for a grocer to convert
himself into a limited company, with a qualified chemist
holding one Bhare, and by whom a regular drug business
may be carried on. Grocers will for the future feel quite
secure against legal action in the knowledge of the defeat of
the Society, and we must expect that they will act on that
knowledge. Drugs offer a wide and profitable field as an
opening to a grocer, who can afford to retail them at prices
which to a chemist would be totally unremunerative.

No doubt a loud outcry will be raised at the dismissal of
the appeal to the House of Lords, and demands made for an
alteration of the law. It will be as well to recognize at once
the fact that no alteration of the law in a sense adverse to
the Lord Chancellor’s judgment is possible, and for this
reason : in the case just concluded, though the Society may
or may not have had law on its side, it was fighting an
adversary who in the long run always wins, viz. common
sense. Any appeal to Parliament would have to be based
on common sense and the public welfare. How then would
it be possible to go before the Legislature with a proposal
to restrict companies in the sale of drugs — acknowledging,
as it would be necessary to do, that none but qualified men

were so employed — when it is perfectly competent for a
chemist to keep open half a dozen shops without a qualified
assistant in any one of them ? So obvious is the retort,
and so certain in my view is it to be the position taken up
by Parliament, that even had the Pharmaceutical Society
won a victory in the recent contest, it would have been an
inglorious one, resulting in the introduction to the House
of Commons, next session, of a measure legalizing the
carrying on of drug businesses by companies, a measure
which having common sense on its side, would undoubtedly
have been carried.

Nothing it appears to me can be done. The House of
Commons will not prevent co-operative societies carrying
on the trade of chemist and druggist, unless it can be
proved that in so doing they are acting in a manner
injurious to the public welfare. This, under the circum¬
stances, cannot be done, and it would therefore be fatuous
to approach Parliament with proposals for a monopoly,
based on interests so manifestly private.

Major,

Sir, — Now that the lawyers have sifted the question of
liability of co-operative stores, in the matter of qualification
for dispensing prescriptions, etc., and the House of Lords
has finally settled the object, may we not, as sadder, but
wiser men gain some small advantage as well as disappoint¬
ment at our defeat ?

It is evident that the point of view from which their lord-
ships decided the question was one which many in our pro¬
fession had in a measure lost sight of, viz., that the Act of
1868 was not so much to benefit those whose names were
placed on the register as to protect the public from a class
of compounders of medicine wholly incapacitated for their
calling ; and so long as the preparation of prescriptions, etc.
is confined to the hands of those whose education qualifies
them for their duties and are responsible for their own acts
it was with their lordships only a secondary consideration
whether they were in the service of co-operative stores, or in
the position of assistants, or in business on their own
account.

It is difficult to us, as parties concerned, correctly to view
a question in which our own interests are so much at stake,
but apart from that the decision appears very much in ac¬
cordance with what the public have a right to expect from
the authors of the Act, and it would be well for those who
are looking for benefit derived from having their names on
the register, or to the decision of legal tribunals in their
favour, to fight the* battle of competition with their own
hands, and instead of allowing a mere professional education
to give a distaste for the tradesman-like work at the counter,
remember that acuteness in conducting business in kindred
trades has increased greatly in the competing times in which
we live, and not only must the stores, but oilmen and grocers
be met in their own way of conducting business, but in a
manner perhaps never contemplated by our predecessors in
business thirty years ago.

Wandsworth. G. N.

“ Lavandula .” — Your problem is one that might be
solved by experiment. Possibly your object would be at¬
tained by slightly varying the relative proportions of the
ingredients.

T. H. Potuell is thanked for his communication.

W. U. C. — You are recommended to submit the question
to a solicitor.

“ Beta.” — A recipe for “ bay rum ” will be found in vol.
viii. of the present series of this Journal, p. 679.

“ Bay Leaf ” will find recipes for effervescing saline pre¬
parations in the Journal for March 29, 1879, p. 807.

B. E. Williams. — (1) The table, etc., was published in
vol. vii., p. 989. (2 and 3) We can give you no information

on these points beyond what is contained in the Regulations
of the Board of Examiners. (4) We believe not.

J. Y. H. — The examiners are not limited to any particular
work, in making the selections.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Waters, MacCormac, Crocker, Williams, Postans,
Wright, Stewart, Landerer, Powell, Edward, Yalkenburg,
Bouttell, Haydon, Grant, J. G. H., J. J., P. T. W., 374,
J. G. S., L., T. P. J., R. L. G., J. N., C. T. W., J. F.,
A. B. C., Tyro, Ivor, Associate, Beta, Assistant, Nemo,
Student.

August 7, 18S0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

109

“THE MONTH.”

Although like the witches in 1 Macbeth. ’ w e have been
“iri lightning, thunder and in rain” during the past
month, very little damage appears to have been done

as yet to the vegetable kingdom. <

Of all the months in the year July is perhaps the
most prolific in flowers, and the laboratory of nature
is in this month most abundantly furnished with
material upon which the student, fresh from his
three months’ course of lectures, can experiment,
and can thus practically acquaint himself with the
truths already learnt theoretically from books.

Amonc the medicinal plants in blossom in botani¬
cal gardens this month may be mentioned Atropa,
Belladonna , Datura Stramonium and D. Tatula,
camomile, lavender, foxglove, hemlock, dulcamara,
elecampane, rue, hyssop, borage, alkanet and vale¬
rian. The last mentioned is now unrolling the
pappus from the rim-like limb surmounting the calyx
tube and thus shows how nearly allied the family is
to the Composite, which it also approaches m the
character of the ovary, of which one or two cells
frequently become abortive in some species. .

At Kew Gardens the white horehound (if it be
correctly labelled) seems to have taken on a peculiar
character, the flowers having a decided pale purple
tint like that of the blossoms of Stachys germamca
or Galamintha Glinopodium , as if the insects visiting
the horehound had gone to it from some other
hoary leaved plant, such as those above named,
with purplish flowers, misled by the general re¬
semblance of their leaves, and so cross-fertilized it
and caused a variation in colour. At all events the
plant has appeared year after year with blossoms of

the same hue. .

Another plant, belonging to the same natural

order, viz. Salvia Sclarea , now forms a beautiful object
in the Herbaceous Ground at Kew. The white flowers,
and the large white bracts, faintly tipped purple, are
almost indistinguishable from each other at a distance
and the handsome groups of white spike-like inflo¬
rescences are thrown into strong relief by the back¬
ground of green foliage close by. The seeds of the com¬
mon wild species, Salvia verbenaca, as well as several
others, develop a quantity of mucilage when placed
in water, and have been used in Cheshire and other
parts of England to clear the eyesight ; hence the com¬
mon name of clary or clear eye. For this purpose a
single seed is placed in the eye, and any irritating
particle soon becomes enveloped in the mucilage and
is thus easily removed. The pretty meadow sage,
Salvia pratensis, found only in two or three localities
in this country, seems on the other side of the chan¬
nel, in the neighbourhood of Paris, to be one of the
commonest species. It is to this plant, under the o
name of Salvia hcematodes, that red behen root is as¬
cribed in India. Another species, Salvia lyrata, a
native of Canada, has a reputation for the cuie of
cancer, and has thus acquired the name of cancer
'weed.

An interesting account, by Professor Rothrock, is
given in the Gardener’s Chronicle , J une 26, p. 808,
of the seed of a species of Salvia ( S . columbaria,
Benth.), possessing mucilaginous properties. These
seeds, which are roasted and ground, when mixed
with water into a sort of porridge, are eaten as
food. A small portion mixed with a quantity of
water is used to assuage thirst, and enables those
who drink it to lessen the large amount of liquid
which otherwise is often taken in hot countries to
Third Series* No. 528.

the detriment of health. In gastro -intestinal
disorders it forms a valuable remedy, on account of
its demulcent and at the same time exceedingly
nutritive properties. It is also used to remove
foreign bodies from the eye by means of the
mucilage it develops. The popular name for this
seed is “ chia.” The student should not neglect to
observe the distractile anthers in the genus Salvia,
and that two of the stamens are not developed.
The curious effect of the arrangement of the sta¬
mens, by which the insertion of the proboscis of
a bee causes the pollen to be deposited on the back
of the insect, may be readily imitated by pushing
a stalk of grass or a pin’s head down the tube of the
corolla.

Professor Rothrock states also that he believes that
the early natives of California smoked the leaves of
Nicotiana Clevelandii, A. Gray, a species which has
only lately become known to botanists. It is a small
plant with small flowers, and the tobacco made from
it is said to be exceedingly strong.

Among the rarer British plants which may now
be seen in flower at Kew may be mentioned TJrtica
pihdifera and its two varieties, Herniaria glabra,
Leonurus Cardiaca , Ajuga Chamoepitys, Melittis
Melissophyllum , Phyteuma orbiculare, and the blue
pimpernel. Several of the natural orders with in¬
conspicuous flowers are now in good condition for
examination, such as Chenopodiacese, Paronycliiaceoe
and Polygon acese. The singular calyptrate calyx
of Eschscholtzia, the clavate filaments of the meadow
rue, the flowers of the mullein, Nigella sativa , and
the curious inflorescence of Eryngium and Astrantia,
are now in good condition lor observation. The
coriander is also in full blossom, and anyone who
chooses to rub a leaf between the fingers will ob¬
serve what a remarkable difference there is between
the fetid odour of the fresh plant, which will doubt¬
less be familiar to most Londoners, and the fragrant
perfume of the ripe fruits. In the Economic House
at Kew the Adenanthera pavonina is now in blossom.
The flowers are small and yellowish and arranged
in a raceme, and, from being regular, would hardly
be recognized as belonging to the Leguminosce. The
anthers are tipped with a stalked gland, whence
the name Adenanthera. It is rather singular that
the flower should be so inconspicuous, and that the
beauty which seems the natural right of ffowers
should be lavished on the seeds, which are brilliantly
polished and of the most splendid scarlet colour.
Indeed, the object of the brilliant hue of seeds is one
that would probably repay investigation. These
seeds weigh almost uniformly 4 grains, and are used
as weights by jewellers in the east, and aie sometimes
pounded and mixed with borax to form a cement.

Buttercups and daisies are almost regarded in the
light of children’s playthings, but, like other toys,
are occasionally found to injure the little ones. In
the Times fox July 12 it is stated that a child died
from the effects of eating some buttercups m New-
sham Park, Liverpool. The acrid principle is
evidently of a volatile nature, since the buttercups
are not inj urious when made into hay . Although the
juice is used in homoeopathic medicine, its chemical
constitution does not appear to be well. known.

In the Gardener’s Chronicle , July 3, p. 11, an
interesting notice is given by Mr. W. B. Hemsley
of the nectaries in the Marcgraviacea, winch is well
worth reading by those who take an interest in the
fertilization of plants by the external agency o

110

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 7, 1S80.

insects and birds. The members of this exotic
family have usually an inflorescence, which either
forms a long raceme, as in Norantea , or, as in some
species of Marcgravia, is condensed into an umbel¬
late form. In several of the species with a racemose
inflorescence the flowers are erect, and the nectaries,
at first erect, become pendulous. In these cases,
as in Norantea Paraensis, the nectaries which are
tubular, flask or helmet-shaped are formed of the
bracts, and the humming birds which visit them for
the nectar, brush otf the pollen from the flowers with
their breasts. In Marcgravia , in which the inflo¬
rescence is generally a raceme condensed into an
umbel, four or five of the terminal or central
flowers of the umbel are not developed as blossoms,
but remain in a rudimentary state, while the united
pedicels and bracts form nectaries. As the umbel
is pendulous and the nectaries hang down in the
centre and are usually brilliantly coloured, while
the flowers are small and inconspicuous, the humming
birds which visit the plants brush off the pollen with
their wings and backs while dipping their beaks into
the nectaries. The inner surface of the nectary cup
corresponds with the under surface of the bract.

Those readers who follow bryology as a hobby,
will be glad to learn that Dr. R. Braith waite has
commenced his monographs of the families of the
British mosses. The first number contains the An-
dreseaceoe and the second one the Buxbaumiacese
and Tetraphidacese, and from the character of the
illustrations, which are excellent, and of the botanical
details, which are most complete, it is evident that the
work will be a standard one for British bryologists.

The Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society ,
which is now issued bi-monthly, has become a most
valuable publication, which is due in great measure
to the energy of Mr. F. Crisp. The journal gives
the most complete record published in this country
of current researches relating to microscopic subjects,
conveniently arranged under their various headings
of botany, zoology, etc.

The peculiar glaucous appearance of eucalyptus
leaves has been found by Dr. Schunck {Chemic d
News, July 16) to be due, not to a special condi¬
tion of the chlorophyll, but to an extremely thin
film of fatty matter, upon the removal of which by
ether the leaves assume the ordinary green colour of
other leaves. But there does exist a peculiarity
in the chlorophyll of eucalyptus leaves in that al¬
though the green solution obtained by extracting the
leaves from the tips of the branches with ether or
alcohol shows at first the usual absorption bands of
ordinary unchanged chlorophyll, yet after being kept
a few days in the dark it acquires a yellowish colour
and then shows absorption bands coinciding with
those of “acid chlorophyll,” being that modification
produced at once by adding a few drops of acid to an
ordinary solution of chlorophyll. Dr. Schunck ap¬
pears inclined to attribute this peculiarity to the
ozonizing effects of the essential oil present in the
leaves, but this hypothesis is not supported by the
result of some experiments made with leaves from
the orange tree.

Thundery weather generally brings mildew and
blight with it, but this year there is comparatively
little to be seen as yet. As the use of the micro¬
scope becomes more common and the study of these
minute organisms better known, it seems probable
that sanitary as well as botanical science will make
rapid strides, while various arts will be no less

indebted to what at first are liable to be regarded as
dry scientific facts. Thus the discovery that a
minute fungus, Mucor circinelloides, common on
liorse-dung, has the power to cause fermentation in
glucose, while it does not alter cane sugar, has been
utilized to separate cane sugar from molasses by
fermenting the glucose and so allowing the cane
sugar to crystallize out ( Journ . de Pharmacie, June,
p. 542).

Another instance of a rule of thumb practice
proving to have a sound basis is found in the custom
that has long been almost universally followed of
allowing the plucked olives to stand in heaps until
fermentation takes place before pressing them, under
the belief that the yield of oil is then greater. M.
Planchud {Journ. Pharm. et de Chim., July) has made
some experiments that have led him to the conclu¬
sion that this belief is founded on fact, and that
during the fermentation, which is due to a my coderm
belonging to the genus Penicillium that is developed
on the surface of the olive, there is a transformation
of a portion of the pericarp into oil. If, however,
the fermentation be allowed to go on too long, the
odour becomes disagreeable, the colour of the fungoid
gro wth changes, and a portion of the original oil dis¬
appears. When the development of fungus was
prevented by dusting the olives with powdered borax
no variation in the yield of oil took place.

At the meeting of the Royal Society on June 10,
Dr. Hind read a paper on Bacterium fcetidum, an
organism to which the fetid odour of profusely per¬
spiring feet appears to be due. It was obtained for
purposes of experiment, by teasing out a small por¬
tion of the sole of a wet stocking in water and culti¬
vating the micrococci in pure vitreous humour. The
fetid odour of the stocking was reproduced in the
liquid used for cultivating the bacteria. Although
the strength of the odour diminished in successive
generations, Dr. Hind stated at the meeting that an
antiseptic treatment, by which the bacteria were
killed in the stocking and inner surface of the soles
of the boots, completely destroyed the fcetor.*

Reports from Nicolaieff and Taganrog speak of the
enormous damage done to the cereal crops in South
Russia by a species of May beetle, the Anisoplia
Austriaca. The insect first appeared in the country
in 1865, and some idea of the increase of the plague
may be gathered from the statement that ten bushels
of beetles have been collected from a single acre of
wheat. The insect takes about twenty-two months to
develop from a lava to a full grown beetle, so that the
greatest damage has hitherto been done in alternate
years ; but there are signs in some districts that the
destruction will henceforth be annual. The beetle
attacks the half ripe ears of wheat, but oats and barley
escape. Very little appears to be done effectively
to limit the ravages of these destructive insects, for
when they are observed blackening the ears of corn
by their countless numbers, all that is usually done
is to stretch a rope across the field and drag it over
the corn. The insects are thus shaken off, but with
them a great number of wheat ears, while it is only a
matter of time for the insects to regain their places.

The cultivation of the red cinchona in Jamaica is,
according to the Gardener’s Chronicle, June 26, p.
806, in a most satisfactory and encouraging state.
Ten thousand pounds weight of bark has been ob¬
tained from 2490 trees, giving an average of a little
over 4 lb. of dry bark per tree.

* Nature, July 1, 1880.

August 7, 18*0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

Ill

It is now four years since Dr. Lauder Brunton
published his experiments4 on the action of mancona,
sassy or casca bark, as it has been severally called,
and but little use appears to have been hitherto
made of the properties of this powerful drug. MM.
See and Bochefontaine have, however, recently been
using it in the treatment of certain cardiac and
respiratory affections. They find that the active
principle erythrophloein increases the vascular ten¬
sion and at first slows the pulse and respiration ;
the respiratory movements are, however, afterwards
quickened, and in fatal cases persist, even after the
cessation of the action of the heart. f

Drs. Tomlinson and Murphyi call attention to the
value of hydroclilorate of apomorphia in the treat¬
ment of sunstroke. The drug administered as soon
as possible in a dose of one-tenth of a grain, injected
subcutaneously, produced emesis in less than ten
minutes. In no case was there distressing nausea,
but apparently an almost instantaneous evacuation
of the contents of the stomach. The temperature
was reduced, the pupils became widely dilated, and
sensation and movements returned in half an hour.

One of those curious cases in which the medical
profession is indebted to those outside of it for sug¬
gestions or remedies, is recounted in an amusing
manner in a recent number of the Lancet (July 3,
p. 6), by Drs. Ringer and Murrell. An old gentle¬
man, who for many years suffered from distressing
acidity, read in a daily paper that glycerine added
to milk prevents its turning sour, and he reasoned
thus: — “If glycerine prevents milk turning sour,
why should it not prevent me turning sour ? ” and
he resolved to try the efficacy of glycerine for his
acidity. The success of his experiment was com¬
plete, and whenever tormented by his old malady
he cures himself by a recourse to glycerine.
Drs. Ringer and Murrell quote the statement of J.
Mekulics§ that glycerine, although it destroys bac¬
teria and prevents the formation of septic poison,,
dissolves and preserves the septic poison itself, and
point out that glycerine does not hinder the diges¬
tive action of pepsine and hydrochloric acid, so that
while it prevents the formation of wind and acidity,
probably by checking fermentation, it in no way
retards digestion. The use of 1 to 2 drachms of
glycerine, either before, with or immediately after
food is recommended, or it may replace sugar in
tea and coffee. In some instances, a cure does not
occur till the lapse of ten or sixteen days. Mekulics
found that glycerine in the proportion of 2 per cent,
prevented decomposition in nitrogenous fluids, such
as diluted blood, for twenty-four hours, at ordinary
temperatures, that 10 per cent, would prevent it fur
five days, and that 20 per cent, prevented it alto¬
gether, even at a higher temperature.

According to the Prog res Med., |j Dr. Fonssagrives,
having ascertained that the addition of oil of anise
effectually masks the taste of cod liver oil and iodo¬
form, employs this combination where it is necessary
to give iodine, as that substance can be conveyed into
the economy in larger proportion by means of iodo¬
form than in any other way. To 100 grams of cod
liver oil ^ of a gram of iodoform and 10 drops of oil
of anise are used. _

* Lancet, Dec. 2, 1876.

+ Lancet, June 26, 1880, p. 1011.

J Practitioner, June, 1880, p. 453. From Ind. Med. Gaz.,
November 1, 1879.

§ Archivf. Min. Chir., Bd. xxii., Heft 2, 1878.

|| Med. Times and Gaz., p. 6.

A ranunculaceous plant growing in a limited
chalky district in the Lower Pyrenees, — the Thalic-
trum m.acrocarpum , — having been observed to possess
poisonous properties, has been examined by Messrs.
Bochefontaine and Doassans, and the latter has suc¬
ceeded in isolating from it a colourless crystallizable
principle, giving alkaloidal reactions, which he has
named “thallictrine” and considers to be the toxic
principle ( Comptes Bendus , xc., 1432). A non-nitro-
genous crystalline colouring matter has also been
separated in small clear yellow prisms, devoid of ap¬
parent physiological properties, and named “macro-
carpine. ” Thallictrine crystallizes in slender needles
grouped around a common centre; it is soluble in
alcohol and nearly insoluble in water, but combines
with, acids to form salts that are soluble in water.
The physiological properties of thallictrine are com¬
pared to those of aconitine. The paralysis of the
nervous system which it determines is however more
marked than that caused by aconitine, whilst with
aconitine the emesis and respiratory disturbances are
greater. Aconitine is toxic in smaller doses than is
thallictrine, and it is therefore suggested that thallic-
trine, being hence more manageable, might be of
service in therapeutics.

Still further progress has been made by Herr
Ladenburg in elucidation of the relation of the prin¬
cipal solanaceous alkaloids to each other. It will be
remembered that he had arrived at the conclusion
that hyoscy amine, daturine and duboisine are one
and the same alkaloid, which although isomeric with
nevertheless differs from atropine. He has now found
(Per., xiii., 607) that even this difference is probably
only a physical one, and that the decomposition pro¬
ducts yielded when these alkaloids are treated with
baryta — namely, tropine and tropic acid from atropine,
and liyoscine and hyoscinic acid from hyoscyamine,
daturine and duboisine — are identical. This he has
confirmed by preparing atropine artificially by treating
with dilute hydrochloric acid compounds formed
from (1) tropine from atropine and hyoscinic acid
from daturine, (2) hyoscine from hyoscyamine and
tropic acid from atropine, and (3) hyoscine and
hyoscinic acid both from hyoscyamine. The result¬
ing alkaloidal products were converted into gold salt,
which in each case agreed in every respect with the
characteristic gold salt of atropine. In this way,
therefore, it would appear that hyoscyamine may be
converted into atropine, and Herr Ladenburg is still
engaged on experiments as to the possibility of con¬
verting atropine into hyoscyamine. With respect to
homatropine (see vol. x., pp. 755, 955) it is now an¬
nounced ( Ber ., xiii., 1340) that it has been obtained
in the crystalline condition. When recrystallized
from absolute ether it occurs in well-formed colour¬
less prisms, melting between 95‘5° and 98’5° C.,
and having a composition corresponding with the
formula C16H21N03. Notwithstanding that the base
is not readily soluble in water, the crystals are hy¬
groscopic and even deliquescent. One advantage
that is claimed for homatropine in ophthalmic prac¬
tice is that it is not so powerful a poison as atropine.

Professor Stoder, of Amsterdam, has been making
some experiments in working up the press residues
from the preparation of syrupus rhei for the chryso-
phanic acid they contain. The dried residue reduced
to a powder was treated in a displacement apparatus
with benzol until the benzol passed through colour¬
less, when the greater part of it was distilled off.
The concentrated liquid was decanted from separated

112

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 7, 1880.

ernodin, and evaporated in a water-bath nearly to
dryness, and the residue again carefully extracted
with hot benzol. Upon evaporation and cooling of
the liquid the chrysophanic acid crystallized out, and
was purified by recrystallization from spirit. In this
way it is stated that the press residues yielded as
much as 09 per cent, of crystallized acid; but it is
worthy of remark that this is a larger proportion of
crysophanic acid than was found to exist ready-
formed in good specimens of rhubarb by Dragendorff
( Pharrn . Journ ., [3], viii., 829) or H. Greenish (76.,
ix., 933). The subject is not a new one, as there is
a specimen of chrysophanic acid in the Society’s
Museum which was prepared from the residue of
extract of rhubarb by Mr. T. F. Hanbury in 1872.

It is now stated on the authority of the Farber
Zeitung, No. 2, that Professor Baeyer has discovered
a practicable method of preparing indigo artificially
on the manufacturing scale, and that the patent has
been assigned to the Baden Aniline Company. The
indigo is said to be prepared from isatine chloride,
which in its turn is produced from benzol.

The nature of the corrosion which takes place in
vessels in which caustic soda is constantly melted has
been the subject of an investigation by Messrs. Brunck
and Graebe (. Ber ., xiii.). The mud which is deposited
in such a vessel was found to contain dark brownish-
violet bronze coloured scales, with a high metallic
lustre, having mainly the composition of the hy¬
drated ferric oxide, Fe204H2, but with a little ferric
oxide replaced by manganese. Under the micro¬
scope the scales appeared transparent, and yellow or
brownish-yellow, according to thickness ; they had a
specific gravity of 2‘91 to 2 ‘92, being thus distin¬
guished from gothite, the native ferric hydrate, which
has a specific gravity of 4‘0 to 4’4. Crystallized hy¬
drated ferric oxide thus produced is slightly magnetic.
It dissolves very slowly in cold hydrochloric acid,
and rapidly in hot. Dilute sulphuric acid and nitric
acid dissolve the crystals slowly when heated, but
have no other appreciable effect upon them. The
water is only driven off gradually by heat, part being
retained until after prolonged exposure to a tem¬
perature of 200° C. ; after ignition an almost black
oxide of iron is left.

Dr. Farrar, of Brooklyn, is responsible for the fol¬
lowing curious calculation in dentistry. He says that
in the United States alone not less than half a ton of
pure gold is annually packed into decayed teeth by
dentists, and that if the consumption continues at
this rate all the gold at present in circulation will be
reburied in the earth in about three hundred years.

It is estimated that the daily yield of petroleum
by the Pennsylvania oil wells during the month of
September last, amounted to 63,500 gallons, whilst
the total yield for 1879 exceeded by several millions
of barrels that of any previous year. The total
quantity of refined petroleum exported from New
York during 1879 was 254,701,316 gallons, of which
47,186,757 gallons came to England. The export of
crude petroleum, naphtha, and residuum amounted
to upwards of 50,000,000 gallons more.

In continuance of some observations made in the
last “ Month,” with regard to dispensing scales and
their weights, in presence of the recent Weights and
Measures Act, it may be observed that some difficulty
will be experienced by the dispenser in keeping the
several weights in such a condition that they may be
found by the inspector, in his periodical visits, toler¬
ably constant.

With the view of remedying a defect due to the
metal of which these weights are made, a defect
which must at least apply to the grain series in brass,
De Grave is about to introduce this series in alu¬
minum, which promises to supply a want and meet
a recognized difficulty that applies to the metal of
which these weights have hitherto been composed.
In the heavier weights, from 3ij to 7)ss, the
relative loss by oxidation is less appreciable, but
nevertheless, a loss does occur, and the same maker
proposes to meet this defect by using for this series
German silver. The first cost will necessarily be
greater than for the same weights made of the usual
metal, but this will be a very trifling matter as com¬
pared with their greater cleanliness and lesser
tendency to change of value from oxidation of their
surfaces. Some attention has also been given to the
scale beams, which are now being very generally
nickel plated.

By a dispenser who has acquired habits of neatness
and cleanliness these improvements in appliances for
the counter will be hailed with satisfaction and they
will be, to a certain extent, compensation for the
annoyances to which the recent Act, from its in¬
quisitorial character, must necessarily subject him
whilst engaged in his daily occupation.

The prescription, No. 424, regarding which “ Vis”
asks a question, is very similar to that commented
on in the last “ Month,” but with this difference, that
whereas in the former case a basic salt containing
iron was thrown down, in consequence of a deficient
supply of acid, in this one there is acid, sulph. dil.
ordered, in which the quinine should be first dis¬
solved, and the precipitate referred to will not occur.
Sufficient dilute sulphuric acid to dissolve the quinine
should be used before the quinine is mixed with the’
tincture of iron. This prescription and that of No.
420 may be studied together by the dispenser, as'
the difference in result will afford useful matter for
reflection.

Iodide of potassium with quinine is a combination
that has, on several occasions, previously been re¬
ferred to. G. H. will find in the Index, under
Dispensing Memoranda, references to pot. iodid. and
quina. In the prescription, No. 425, the citrate of
quinine and iron and iodide of potassium should be
dissolved in separate portions of water, and mixed
together with an addition of a little mucilage ; then
lastly, add the sp. ammon. aromat., which, without a
previous addition of mucilage, would throw the
quinine out of solution and on to the sides of the
bottle as a resinous mass. A decomposition will
slowly take place, with the formation of what is
usually called hydriodate of quinine, but the pre¬
sence of mucilage will diffuse the quinine on its
separation, and retard the other changes referred to.

The mixture, No. 426, will be clear until the
tinctures are added, when a slight opacity will take
place, resulting mainly from the separation of the
resinous matter of the nux vomica, thrown out of
the alcoholic tincture on its addition to the water;
the mixture will, from this circumstance, be slightly
turbid, but the flocculent matter will in a little time
subside, and leave the fluid clear. If the tincture of
nux vomica be properly prepared, there will be in
this mixture at once a certain amount of opalescence,
and a flocculent matter will afterwards be deposited.

The ointment of ung. zinci benzoat., No. 427,
referred to by C. B., has been very satisfactorily ex¬
plained in the following week’s Journal by several

August 7, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

113

correspondents. The ung. zinci, B.P., should he
used, the “ benzoat.” referring to the benzoated lard
with which the ointment is directed to be made, and
of which the prescriher may either not have been
aware, or he may have intended to emphasize the fact
that he wished this ointment to be made with ben¬
zoated lard. It is considered that the benzoin has a
preservative tendency when combined with lard, and
C. B., on referring to the Pharmacopoeia will find
that some ointments are directed to be made with
prepared lard, and others with benzoated lard. The
subject merits more consideration that it has as yet
received; many medical practitioners strongly object
to the use of benzoated lard in making zinc ointment
for their prescriptions, and it is stated, from practical
experience, that the Ointment thus made irritates
an abraded surface, whilst the zinc ointment made
with prepared lard, in a proper condition, is a very
soothing application.

Salicylate of quinine illustrates a remark in the
last “Month” on the dispensing difficulties with
new remedial agents. In this instance, No. 428,
the salicylate of quinine should be rubbed in a
mortar with a little mucilage, and diffused through
the mixture. It will gradually deposit, and the
bottle should therefore be shaken before each dose.
The querist in this instance should have stated the
different methods of mixing which he had tried
in his efforts to make a presentable mixture, the
reply could then have been better suited to his par¬
ticular difficulty.

It has been stated, quite recently, in reply to a
dispensing query, that in a combination of tinct.
ferri muriat. with acid, phosph. dilut., as in No.
429, a precipitation of ferri phosphas takes place.
The remarks of Mr. Watson Will on the “equation”
may be read by “ Pharmakon ” with advantage.

In prescription, No. 430, care must be taken that
the acid, phenic. be in crystals ; then each one of the
ingredients being powdered separately they should
be mixed separately. The phenic acid will liquefy
and moisten the other powders, the result being, not
a powder, as was most probably intended by the
writer, but a soft mass, inelegant and unsatisfactory.
Sufficient attention is not generally given to the
carbolic acid. In the B. Plunder carbolic acid, of
which phenic acid is the synonym, its characters
are described as those of colourless acicular crystals,
absorbing moisture on exposure to the air ; when,
therefore, it is prescribed, either in a powder or in
pills, care should be taken that the crystals be used
and that they be free from moisture.

Permanganate of potash— in reply to “ Oxygen,”
No. 431, — may, as has already been stated by corre¬
spondents, be made into pills with Canada balsam,
but cacao butter is to be preferred. With this sub¬
stance a very nice pill mass can be made, which by
careful manipulation may be rolled into pills and
afterwards covered with French chalk. The pills are
quite white and retain their shape, whilst the per¬
manganate is not decomposed. One of such pills,
placed in cold water, in a very few minutes gives
out its intense colour to the fluid in which it is
immersed.

The manipulation required in No. 432 will be
very similar to that of No. 425, though in this there
is no ammonia, and consequently there is not that
characteristic separation of the quinine to be ap¬
prehended. Still there will be a decomposition as
regards the pot. iod. and quinae sulph., as previously

indicated, which cannot be altogether prevented, but
may be much retarded by the presence of mucilage
of acacia.

The prescription, No. 433, presents some diffi¬
culties m forming from it an elegant mixture. If
the quinine be dissolved in the tinct. ferri acetat. , it
will be thrown out on the addition of the potassse
citras, and float on the surface of the fluid; thus
will be formed an inelegant mixture. But if the
quinine be dissolved in just sufficient dilute acid for
this purpose, before being added to the tincture,
an elegant mixture of a green colour will result.
Even from this, on standing, the quinine will to
some extent crystallize out on the sides of the
bottle, which can be obviated by the addition of a
little mucilage to the finished mixture.

The remarks just made as regards the prior solu¬
tion of the quinine will apply to query No. 434.
The quinine will not be fully dissolved in the liq.
ferri phosph. magnet. , and on standing, most, if not
all, the quinine separates and deposits ; but if the
quinine be previously dissolved in sufficient acid,
the separation will not take place. This course may
have been adopted by the previous dispenser, who
sent out the mixture without any precipitate.

A protest must be entered here against the re¬
marks of a correspondent who suggests learning
what was the course adopted by a previous dis¬
penser, and then “following suit.” Nothing could
be more pernicious ; a dispenser should, to the best
of his ability, carry out the intentions of the pre-
scriber faithfully, and quite irrespective of any par¬
ticular course that may have been adopted, for the
sake of appearance, by the person who previously
dispensed the medicine. The question of the
filtration of mixtures needs no more authority
than the common sense of the dispenser. The
filtration of fluid medicines to make elegant mix¬
tures is a crime ; it will in many instances render
null and void the best efforts of the medical atten¬
dant for the restoration of the patient’s health, and
will shake the confidence of medical men in a
branch of their own profession on which they have
been wont to depend for strict accuracy in the pre¬
paration of their prescriptions.

PURIFIED OLEIC ACID.*

BY ERNEST C. SAUNDERS.

Since the introduction of the oleates into medicine in
1872, by Professor Marshall, the demand for oleic acid
has been continually increasing, and although abundance
is to be had of a common quality, pure oleic acid is as
much unknown now as before the advent of the oleates
into the list of remedial agents. As it is suggested in
the Report on the Revision of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia
that oleic acid should be admitted into the next Pharma¬
copoeia, with the further suggestion that an Acidum
Oleicum Purificatum be also introduced, I offer the
following formula for the preparation of the latter,
which I have used in its present form for about three
years. I may first remark that the methods of preparing
pure oleic acid given in the various chemical works are in
all cases tedious and expensive. With one exception, all
that I have seen are based on the fact that oleate of lead
is soluble in ether, and lead margarate is insoluble in the
same. The exception is in Ure’s Dictionary, but as his
process is suggested for obtaining the acid from a source
(mutton fat) far richer in stearine than in oleine, I shall
not notice it. Mr. Charles Rice, in 1873, proposed the
purification of crude commercial oleic acid by cooling and

* Reprinted from New Remedies, June, 1880.

] 14

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 7, 18S0.

expression. One principal objection to this is that com¬
mercial oleic acid has a very disagreeable smell, which is
not got rid of at all. Besides this, though most of the
margaric acid may be taken out, all is not, and while
absolute chemical purity is not strictly necessary in a
medicine, it is certainly desirable to approach it as nearly
as possible when this can be done easily without adding
to the expense of the product.

The common method of preparing pure oleic acid given
in text-books is as follows : Saponify oil, olive or almond
preferably, with alkali, decompose with hydrochloric
acid, digest the crude acid with half its weight of lead
oxide, dissolve in ether, filter, decompose the filtrate with
hydrochloric acid, filter again, evaporate the ether, and
wash the residue thoroughly with water. This is
necessarily a costly process, as it is impossible to prevent
• the loss of a large percentage of ether, while it is besides
very tedious. Having some years ago to prepare a con¬
siderable quantity of the acid, I tried to shorten and
cheapen the above process. It occurred to me that in
white castile soap we have an abundant source of oleic
acid, and that it would be cheaper to use it than to
saponify the oil myself. I found on experiment that the
affinity of margaric acid for lead oxide is stronger than
that of oleic acid, and that if margaric acid be added to
a solution of oleate of lead in oleic acid, it takes pos-
sesssion of the lead, displacing the other acid. I also
found that alcohol of -820 specific gravity could be
substituted for ether, as lead oleate is soluble in it, while
lead margarate is not. From these data, I constructed
the following process : Decompose a solution of white
castile soap with excess of sulphuric acid, separate the
oily liquid, and dissolve in it five per cent of the weight
of the soap of lead oxide, heating as little as possible,
dissolve in alcohol, and filter after twenty-four hours.
Decompose the filtrate with hydrochloric acid, wash with
water, which causes the complete separation of the oleic
acid from the alcohol, and filter. It will be observed
that my process differs from the usual one in the use of
previously saponified oil, of a much smaller proportion of
lead oxide, and a consequently smaller quantity of liquid
to separate the margarate of lead, and lastly the substi¬
tution of alcohol for ether.

The practical formula is as follows : Cut up 5 pounds
of white castile soap, and put it into 20 pounds of boiling
water over a fire. Add 10 ounces of sulphuric acid, and
boil with constant stirring till two clear layeis are
formed. Decant the upper layer, shake with five pounds
of hot water, and again decant the oily liquid. In it
dissolve 4 ounces of lead oxide with a gentle heat, and
while hot pour it into 5 pounds of alcohol of *820,
previously heated to 150° F. Let stand twenty-four
hours and filter, pressing the residue strongly. To the
clear solution add 1 ounce of hydrochloric acid, and shake
thoroughly. Then mix with 10 pounds of water, decant
the acid, again wash with 10 pounds of water, and filter
the oleic acid. The alcohol used is entirely separated
from the acid by the water, and can be recovered by dis¬
tillation. The product will be about 2| pounds of pure
oleic acid, of a pale-yellow colour, and almost inodorous,
there being but a faint smell of olive oil. It is of
specific gravity *897 and answers all the tests showing
freedom from the solid fatty acid. Precipitated oxide of
mercury is freely soluble in it without any decompo¬
sition. Continued exposure to the air lowers the freezing
point, as Professor Miller states in his ‘Elements of
Chemistry,’ but I do not find that it acquires the brown
colour and rancid odour he says it does at the same
time.

By putting \ pound of freshly burned wood charcoal
into the alcoholic liquid obtained and allowing it to
macerate twenty-four hours before distilling, the alcohol
is recovered nearly odourless. With care the loss of
alcohol is very slight. I find from my laboratory book
that of 40 pounds of alcohol at *820 used in one operation
on 43 pounds soap 35J pounds were recovered, of course

in a diluted state. Benzin cannot be substituted for
alcohol, as lead margarate is soluble in it to a consider¬
able degree. In one of my early experiments I found
that commercial benzin left in the oil a very persistent
smell, which I could not remove. I have since taken
advantage of this to prepare purified benzin. Ten gallons
benzin mixed with 1 gallon cotton-seed oil, subjected to
slow distillation till 9 gallons have come over, yield a
benzin which evaporates without leaving any smell.
The same oil can be used three times, but then seems to
become so impregnated with the impurities of the benzin
as to lose its effect.

It will be noticed that I have assumed the solid fat of
olive oil to be margarin. I have done it for convenience,
not as expressing a decided opinion that it is the correct
view.

PODOPHYLLIN.*

BY I. GUARESCHI.

The author has examined the podophyllin of commerce
obtained from Podophyllum, peltatum, and finds it consists
of two substances, a resin soluble in ether, and a glucoside
which is not soluble in ether. This glucoside is decom¬
posed by the action of emulsin, or when boiled with dilute
sulphuric acid ; in the latter case, the solution on cooling
deposits a white powder, whilst the sugar remains dis¬
solved. The product of the decomposition of the glucoside
is soluble in alcohol and also in boiling water, being
deposited again as the solution cools ; it has not been
examined.

When commercial podophyllin is fused with potash and
treated in the usual way, it yields a small quantity of a
product which seems to contain hydroxysalicylic acid,
parahydroxybenzoic acid and pyrocatechol.

The author considers that the glucoside in podophvllin
resembles convolvulin and turpethin. »

NASAL BOUGIES. BACILLA CUNEIFORMIA

NASALIA.

Under these names are described a kind of bougies,
used for introduction into the no3e. They are from 8 to
10 centimetres long. The shape is cylindrical, but some¬
what cone-shaped, having a diameter of about 3 to 4
millimetres at the point and increasing towards the base
to 6 to 8 millimetres. The following examples are given
in the Pharmaceutische Zeitung, vol. xxv., p. 194 : —
Carbolized Nasal Bougies.

R Gelatinae albae . 55‘0 grams.

Glycerinae . 30'0 „

Aquae destillatae . 20 ’0 ,,

Reduce to a gelatinous mass by heating in a closed
vessel in a water- bath, and add — -

Acidi carbolici puri .... 0'2 grams.

Pour into glass moulds or moulds made of paraffined
paper so as to make fifteen rods, 8 to 10 centimetres long
and about 5 millimetres in diameter, and slightly cunei¬
form. For excessive or fetid discharge from the nose.

Tannin Nasal Bougies.

R Acidi tannici . 2'0 grams.

Tragacanthae . 6'5 „

Radicis althaeae . 2 0 „

Mix and add — -

Glycerinae . 6'0 „

Aquae destillatae . 3'5 „

Make four cuneiform rods 8 centimetres long. To be
moistened before introduced into the nose.

Bacilla cuneiformia zincica.

R Gelatinae albae . - . . . . . 60'0 grams.

Glycerinae . 40-0 „

Aquae destillatae . 20'0 „

Zinci sulfurici . 0’5 „

Mix, s. a., and make twenty cuneiform rods 8 centi¬
metres long.

* Gazzetca, 10, 16—20. Reprinted from the Journal of
the Chemical Society, J uly, 1880.

August 7, 1886.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

115

CIjc ipjrarntamtlkal fourmit.
- ♦ -

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, boolcs for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17 , Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal \,
Messrs. Chcrchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS.

At the meeting of the International Medical Con¬
gress, held last September, at Amsterdam, under the
Presidency of Professor Donders, of Utrecht, a
unanimous desire was expressed that the next meet¬
ing should take place in Great Britain in 1881 ; and
we now learn that this desire, having been commu¬
nicated to the Presidents of the Royal Colleges of
Physicians and Surgeons in London, they convened
a meeting of delegates from the various Universities,
Colleges, and other public bodies of the United
Kingdom, including the principal Medical Societies,

though no official communication has been made to
the Pharmaceutical Society on this subject, we have
reason for stating that there is a desire on the part
of the Executive Committee for the co-operation of
the Pharmaceutical Society in some way. This
circumstance seems to offer considerable inducement
for again taking into consideration the question
whether the International Pharmaceutical Congress,
already decided upon as to be held in London,
cannnot be held simultaneously with the Medical
Congress, and if practicable with some such associa¬
tion with the Pharmaceutical section of the Medical
Congress as to be beneficial both from a medical
and a pharmaceutical point of view. Our readers
will perceive that this subject has attracted the
attention of the Council, and that it is referred to
a committee to deal with as may be desirable.

From the terms of the resolution passed by the
Council, on Wednesday, it may be taken as decided
that the invitation given by the Council in 1879 is
to be repeated for 1881, and we trust that no unfore¬
seen circumstances may arise as was the case on
the former occasion to interfere with the successful
carrying out of this project for which there seems
now to be such a favorable opportunity.

the British Medical Association, and the Medi¬
cal Departments of the Army, Navy, and India
Office, with the object of obtaining, in this way,
a thoroughly national representation of feeling and
opinion on the subject.

It appears that a most cordial response was given
to this appeal from all quarters, and that at the
meeting of delegates thus convened, it was decided
to comply with the wish expressed at the Amsterdam
meeting, and to hold a congress in London. A
general committee of organization was then appointed,
together with an executive committee, and a recep¬
tion committee to carry out the necessary details.

Pier Majesty the Queen has graciously given proof
of her goodwill towards the cause of medical science
and the efforts for its furtherance by allowing the
Congress to be placed under her Royal patronage.
The Prince of Wales has also shown his interest in
the undertaking by according a similar favour.
From these and other circumstances it is probable
that a large number of distinguished men will be
attracted to England from all countries on the occa¬
sion, and the attendance of our own countrymen
from all parts of the United Kingdom, India and the
Colonies will probably be large.

The days of meeting are to extend from Wednes¬
day the 3rd of August to Tuesday the 9th of August
inclusive, and the several meetings will be held in
the Halls of the University of London, the Rooms
of the Royal Society, the Society of Antiquaries,
the Astronomical Society, the Linntean, Chemical
and Geological Societies.

Among the sections in which the preceedings of
the Congress will be carried on there is to be one
devoted to Materia Medica and Pharmacology, and

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

We are informed by the Honorary Secretaries
that the papers in the following list have already
been promised for the Swansea meeting.

1. Further Notes on Petroleum Spirit and Analogous
Liquids. A. H. Allen, F.I.C., F.C.S.

2. The Detection of Amorphous Quinine in Ferri et
Quinice Citras. J. De Vrij, Ph.D.

3. Note on the Presence of Arsenic in Tincture and
Solution of Perchloride of Iron. F. W. Fletcher,
F.C.S.

4. The Gravimetric Estimation of Minute Quantities
of Arsenicum. F. W. Fletcher, F.C S.

5. Notes on the Essential Oil of Buchu Leaves. Pro¬
fessor Fluckiger, Ph.D.

6. Notes on the Constitution of Peppermint Oil.
Professor Fluckiger, Ph.D. and J. B. Power, Ph.D.

7. A Sample of Cayenne Pepper. T. Greenish,
F.C.S., F.R.M.S.

8. Note on Indian Henbane. T. Greenish, F.C.S.,
F.R.M.S.

9. Note on the Restoration of Discoloured Syrup of
Iodide of Iron. T. B. Groves, F.C.S.

10. The Cultivation of Cinchona Calisaya. J. E.
Howard, F.R.S.

11. Observations in Pharmacy. G. A. Keyworth,
F.C.S.

12. The Green Extracts of the Pharmacopoeia. W. A.
H. Naylor, F.C.S.

13. New and Unofficial Pharmaceutical Preparations.
C. Symes, Ph.D.

14. Report on Commercial Specimens of Sal Volatile
aud Chloric Ether. J. C. Thresh, F.C.S.

15. The Nature of the Substance in Cinnamon Bark
which possesses the Power of Decolorizing Iodine.
J. C. Thresh, F.C.S.

16. Report on the Strength of Commercial Specimens
of Aqua Lauro-Cerasi. J. Woodland, F.L.S., F.C.S.

17. The Strength and Purity of the Alkaline Solutions
of Potash and Ammonia met with in Pharmacy. J.
Woodland, F.L.S., F.C.S.

18. Report on the Aconite Alkaloids. C. R. A.
Wright, D.Sc., F.I.C., F.C.S.

116

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 7, 1880.

Crmtsattimis of tbc ^barntamttixal

SocictD.

'O

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, August 4, 1880.

ME. THOMAS GEEENISH, PRESIDENT.

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Andrews, Atkins, Bottle, Churchill,
Frazer, Gostling, Hampson, Hills, Mackay, Radley,
Robbins, Sandford, Savage, Squire, Symes, Williams and
Woolley.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

Mr. Andrews said one of the Local Secretaries or
Superintendents told him he did not know whether he
was appointed until July, although the voting papers
were sent in in May.

The Secretary said the election did not take place
until July.

Mr. Andrews said the gentleman referred to had
superintended a local examination, although not formally
elected.

The Secretary said he continued to hold office as
Superintendent until July, from his previous appoint¬
ment.

Nomination of a Member of Council.

The first business was to nominate a gentleman to fill
the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Shaw.

Mr. Bottle begged to nominate Mr. Edward Northway
Butt, 13, Curzon Street, Mayfair. He admitted that in
ordinary circumstances it would appear to be the duty of
the Council, when a country member resigned, to nominate
one from the same locality ; but in the present case
there were reasons for not following that course. In the
first place it had in Mr. Symes a most able representative,
not only of Liverpool, but, as Mr. Shaw himself had been,
of the interests of the Society and the trade at large.
Then the question arose whether it should not seek for a
country member elsewhere ; but on looking round it
appeared that the northern counties were already very
effectively represented, and were it desirable to choose
a country member, he, for one, should be disposed to
seek for one in the West of England ; but on the present
occasion it seemed to him there were special reasons for
choosing a member in London. The position which the
Society occupied since the recent decision in the House
of Lords would probably impel them at no distant date
to seek an amendment of the law, and in that view it
was desirable to strengthen the numbers of members of
Council residing in London, not only for the purpose of
advising with the President and Vice-President as
occasion might arise, but also to attend at the House of
Commons night after night, when the Bill was passing
through it, in order to watch its progress and prevent its
being mutilated or added to in a sense that was not
desirable. Again, when the present Pharmacy Act was
first drawn it contained a clause to the effect that only
seven country members should occupy seats on the
Council. At that time Mr. Reynolds, of Leeds, wrote to
him and asked him to endeavour to get that number
enlarged to nine ; but on considering the matter, he saw
no reason why any limit should be imposed at all, and
proposed accordingly that the restriction should be struck
out. He then pledged himself that the country members
would see that it was to their interest to have at all times
an excess of London representatives ; but as time went on
and facilities had been afforded for country gentlemen to
attend not only the meetings of the Council, but those of
committees, it had come to pass that London, instead of
possessing two-thirds, only possessed about one-third of the
representation. He would not say anything against
that ; but remembering the readiness with which his pro¬
posal was received thirteen years ago, when he asked

that the number of seats occupied by country members
should not be limited, he hoped his present suggestion
would be received with equal unanimity, and that it would
be seconded by some of his country brethren.

Mr. Savage seconded the motion.

Mr. Radley had much pleasure in supporting it.

Mr. Hampson quite agreed with the remarks which
had fallen from Mr. Bottle, and had not a word to say
against Mr. Butt ; but on the other hand he thought they
should endeavour as far as possible to follow the indica¬
tions given by the votes at the recent election. On that
ground he begged to propose Mr. Spink, of West¬
minster.

This nomination not being seconded, the motion for the
election of Mr. Butt was put and carried unanimously,
and the President thereupon declared him duly elected.

On the motion of Mr. Bottle it was resolved —

“ That the name of Mr. Butt be added to the
Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee, and also to
the Benevolent Fund Committee.

The following, being duly registered as Pharmaceutical
Chemists, were respectively granted a diploma stamped
with the seal of the Society: —

Bancroft, James.

Barnes, James William.

Elborne, William.

Fazan, Charles Herbert.

Fowler, William.

Hardie, James Miller.

Hardwick, Arthur.

Hooper, David.

Price, Robert John.

Slicer, Walter.

Smith, John Ord.

Taylor, Fred.

Thornton, John.

Wyatt, Charles Frederick.

Elections.

members.

Pharmaceutical Chemists.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and tendered their subscriptions for the current year,
were elected “ Members” of the Society : —

Bancroft, James . Halifax.

Hardie, James Miller . Dundee.

Hooper, David . London.

Price, Robert John . London.

Smith, John Ord . Scarborough.

Chemist and Druggist.

The following registered chemist and druggist, who
was in business on his own account before August 1st,
1868, having tendered his subscription for the current
year, was elected a “ Member ” of the Society : —

Burgess, Wallett James . London.

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

The following, having passed their respective examina¬
tion, being in business on their own account, and having
tendered their subscriptions for the current year, were
elected “ Associates in Business ” of the Society : —

Minor.

Hosie, John . Rangoon.

Madeley, Edward S tanbury , . . London.

Rees, Harding . South Norwood.

Modified.

Barker, Robert . Mold.

Gall, Frederic . . . Carshalton.

ASSOCIATES.

The following, having passed the Minor examination,
and tendered (or paid, as Apprentices or Students) their
subscriptions for the current year, were elected “Asso¬
ciates” of the Society: —

August 7, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

117

Biddles, William Byron . Reading.

Crompton, Henry . Bury.

Fentiman, Charles Henry . London.

Gibson, Atkin Brewster . Grantham.

Grover, Sydney . Lower Norwood,

Hamnett, Thomas . London.

Harrison, William . Wisbeach.

Hopkins, John Henry . Leicester.

Jones, Samuel . Flint.

Livesey, James Thomas . Preston.

Matthews, Charles William — London.
Nettleship, Thomas William ...Bawtry.

Pearce, Thomas Ellery . Tavistock.

Powell, Samuel John . Swansea.

Preston, Henry . Mansfield.

Puntan, H. H. Cruiksha ik . Turriff.

Radford, James Alfred . Birmingham.

Reid, William . . Aberdeen.

Roper, Robert Francis . East Stonehouse.

Routly, John . Brighton.

Slater, William Martin . Ipswich.

Taberham, Frederick, William.. Wells.

Thomas, David Robert . Aberystwith.

Wilson, Thomas Whiting . Harrogate.

Wilson, William Joseph . Oxford.

Williamson, James . Ash.

Woolcott, John Newton . Sidmouth.

Woollings, Frank . London.

and that the thanks of the Council be given to the depu¬
tation for the valuable information furnished.

Weights and Measures Act.

Mr. Savage asked leave to state what had been done
in Brighton in reference to this Act, having on a former
occasion informed the Council that the Town Council did
not intend to put the Act in force. Since then an intima¬
tion had been received that it must be enforced, and a
meeting of the General Purposes Committee was held to
consider how it should be done. The result was that the
inspector was to attend at the Town Hall on certain days
for the purpose of inspecting weights and measures sent
down to him, for which he was to be paid by the Corpora¬
tion, so that chemists and druggists would be put to no
expense. All weights and measures would have to be
stamped before Christmas next. At first it was decided
that all inaccurate measures should be broken, but it was
afterwards resolved not to insist on this, as the measures
might be useful to students or others, but that they
should have a special mnrk put upon them, and if they
were found in use a penalty would be imposed.

Reports of Committees.

FINANCE.

The report of this Committee was received and
adopted, and sundry accounts were ordered to be paid.

BENEVOLENT FUND.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, having passed the Preliminary exami
nation and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “ Apprentices or Students ” of the
Society : —

Bell, John Henry . Windsor.

By ass, Robert . Hull.

Dobb, Thomas . Sheffield.

Eastland, John . Margate.

Farrage, William Thomas R. ...Rothbury.

Hasler, Joseph . Blackburn.

Haynes, Joseph Alfred . Fairford.

Hill, Edward . Lower Tottenham.

Jones, George Henry . Brighton.

Jones, William Alexander . Stoke-on-Trent.

Layman, Ernest Blakesley . Anerley.

Llewellyn, Lewis Herbert . Shrewsbury.

Mossop, Samuel . Ashton -un der-Lyne .

Parker, Edwin . Stoke-on-Trent.

Pullan, Herbert Newman . Low Harrogate.

Reynolds, Ernest James... Milton next Sittingbourne.

Saltmarsh, Mark Alfred . Deal.

Sant, Esdras . Pontypridd.

Sharp, Stephen . Hey wood.

Sherburne, John Chester . London.

Spong, John Fuller . Leeds.

Stacey, Ernest Lloyd . London.

Stiles, Theodore Mayo . Poole.

Thomas, John Griffith . Neath.

Tillett, Arthur John . Market Rasen.

Turnbull, William . Neweastle-on-Tyne.

Turner, John F . Ramsgate.

Wake, George . Howden.

Wilkinson, Thomas . Crook.

Willcocks, Arthur Squire . Portsea.

Woodcock, Page Hornor . Norwich.

Woods, Joseph James Birkett...Tunstall.

Wyatt, William . Mansfield.

Several persons were restored to their former status
in the Society upon payment of the current year’s sub¬
scription and a fine.

The Council then went into committee to consider the
report of the deputation to the Board of Examiners in
Scotland.

On resuming, it was resolved that the report be received,

The report of this Committee included a recommenda¬
tion of the following grants : —

£20 to a former associate and member in distressed
circumstances.

£15 to a registered chemist and drugcist, aged 78,
in distress, owing to the failure of a banking company.

£15 for the education of the orphan son of a legistered
chemist and druggist.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

Mr. Atkins asked how the Isherwood children were
going on.

The Secretary said he believed they were all doing
very well.

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

The Librarian’s report had been received, and included
the following particulars : —

June .

Attendance.

s Diy •. •

* ( Evening

Circulation ot b oks.

No. of entries . .

Carriage paid .

Total. Hiabest. T.ow st. A v* race.

291 20 5 11

165 14 1 7

Tott’U. Country. Tiral.

. 158 157 315

, . . . £2 Is. Qd.

The following donations to toe Library had been re¬
ceived, and the Committee recommended that the usual
letter of thanks be sent to the respective donors : —

Treumann, C., Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Aloe,
1880.

Wenckiewicz, B., Das Verhalten des Schimmelgenus
Mucor zu Antisepticis und einigen verwandten
Stoffen mit besonderer Beriicksichtigung eeines
Verhaltens in zuckerhaltigen Fliissiukeiten, 1880.

From Professor Dragendokff.

Ronalds, Sir F., Catalogue of Books and Papers
relating to Electricity, Magnetism, etc., edited by
A. J. Frost, 1880.

— Biographical Account of Sir F. Ronalds, by A. J.
Frost, 1880.

From the Society of Telegraph Engineers.

Mac£, M., Essai sur l’Origine et la Constitution des
Etres et Objets de la Nature, 1880.

From the Author.

Squibb, E. R., On the Relations of the Medical
Profession to the Trade Interests of the Materia
Medica, and Note on Pepsin, etc. [1880].

From the Author.

118

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 7, 1880.

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, 14th annual
catalogue, 1880.

From Mr. B. F. Davenport.
White, J. W., Salicylic Acid in Yellow Fever
[1880]. From the Author.

Commentar zur osterreichischen Pharmacopoe, von
F. C. Schneider und A. Vogl, 1880, Lief. 5.

From Professor Vogl.
American Pharmaceutical Association, Proceedings
of Third Meeting, 1854.

— Proceedings of Twenty-seventh Meeting, 1879.

From the Association.
The Committee recommended the purchase of the
undermentioned works for the Library : —

British Skin Hospital Pharmacopoeia, 2nd ed.,
1880.

Britten, J., and R. Holland, Dictionary of English
Plant Names, 1878-9, and continuation.

Hansen, A., Die Quebracho- Rinde, 1880.

Miller, W. A., Elements of Chemistry, 5th ed.,
1880, pt. 8.

Rennie, J., New Supplement to the Pharmacopoeias,
3rd ed., 1833.

Tuson, R. V., Veterinary Pharmacopoeia, 3rd ed.,
1880.

The Committee also recommended that the Librarian
do attend the annual meeting of the Library Association,
to be held in Edinburgh at the end of September or
beginning of October.

The Curator’s report had been received, and included
the following particulars : —

Attendance. Highest. Lowest. Average.

T 1 Day . . 24 1 12

une . . | Evening 8 1 3

The following donations to the Museum had been re¬
ceived, and the Committee recommended that the usual
letter of thanks be sent to the respective donors : —

Herbarium specimen of the Rose of Jericho (Anasta-
tica hierochuntina).

From Mr. W. Jackson, Creditor).
Fresh specimens of biennial Henbane.

From Messrs. Battley and Watts.
Specimens of unnamed South American Drugs.

From Messrs. Wyleys and Co., Coventry
Specimens of Nepal Cardamoms; Pods of Prosopis
siliquastrum ; Roots of Ionidium Ipecacuanha.

From Messrs. Geo. Curling and Co.
Specimens of Indian Atturs or Essential Oils.

From Professor Archer, Edinburgh.
A Kneading and Mixing Machine.

From Mr. Pfleiderer.
Specimens of perfect crystals of Sulphate of Copper
and Alum. From Mr. W. Read, Landport.

The Curator reported that he had distributed numerous
specimens of duplicate Indian Drugs to the following : —
The North British Branch.

The Leicester Chemists’ Assistants’ Association.

The Liverpool Chemists’ Association.

To the Materia Medica Museums of University Hos¬
pital, St. George’s Hospital and London Hospital.

To the Botanical Museum of St. Bartholomew’s Hos¬
pital.

Professor Bentley.

„ Bommer, of Brussels.

. , Davidson, of Aberdeen.

„ Dragendorff, of Dorpat.

„ Fllickiger, of Strassburg.

„ Herlandt, of Brussels.

„ Oberdorffer, of Hamburg.

„ Planchon, of Paris.

„ Soubeiran, of Montpellier.

Dr. Vogl, of Vienna.

Herr Dittrich, of Prague.

The Council went into Committee to consider the re¬
port. On resuming, the report and recommendations
were received and adopted.

It was also resolved that a letter from Professor
Attfield, with regard to the Society’s School, be entered
on the minutes.

GENERAL PURPOSES.

The report of this Committee included the usual
report from the Solicitor as to the progress of cases
placed in his hands. In the case of Wright, of Liverpool,
and that of Copping, of Manchester, the amount of
penalty and costs had been recovered.*

The Secretary also reported on several cases of alleged
infringement of the Act, in some of which the Committee
recommended that proceedings be commenced.

The Committee had also received the reports from the
Professors as to the prize examinations, and had opened
the motto envelopes to ascertain the names of the succesful
competitors.

The reports were to the following effect : —

Chemistry and Pharmacy.

In the examination for the bronze medal and certifi¬
cates there were five competitors, three of whom obtained
respectively 86, 78 and 75 marks out of 100. In the ex¬
amination for the silver medal and certificates, seven
papers of considerable merit had been received. The
conduct of the class throughout the session had been
highly satisfactory.

Botany and Materia Medica.

In this examination the Professor reported that the
average of the marks obtained had been high, 92 being
obtained by the most successful competitor. The same
remarks applied to the examination for the ten months’
course, in which six candidates were worthy of special
distinction. The good conduct, regularity of attendance,
punctuality, diligence and progress of the students, had
been highly satisfactory.

Herbarium Prize.

For this prize there were five competitors. The first
collection contained 880 specimens and was of great
merit ; as regards variety of ferns, the best ever sub¬
mitted. Mi*. Drew’s collection consisted of about 480
specimens and Mr. Leech’s of 420. The latter, however,
was slightly superior in arrangement and preservation,
and the two were therefore placed equal. A fourth col¬
lection contained 334 specimens and was well worthy of
a certificate.

Practical Chemistry.

For this examination seventeen candidates presented
themselves, all of whom came through it with credit, and
eight were worthy of special mention. A copy of the
questions was appended to the report.

Council Examination Prizes.

In this examination there were nine competitors, all of
whom had been examined in l.ondon.

The report of the Committee included a list of those
to whom it recommended that prize awards should be
made.

The Solicitor attended the Council and reported that
Sir John Holker had returned his brief in the case of the
Society v. the London and Provincial Supply Association,
with an expression of his great regret that other engage¬
ments had rendered impossible his presence at the bar of
the House of Lords, to take part in the argument.

The Council went into committee to consider the legal
portion of the report as usual.

On resuming, the report and recommendations of the
Committee were received and adopted.

Prize Awards.

The following awards were made on the recommenda¬
tion of the General Purposes Committee : —

Chemistry and Pharmacy.

[Five months’ course.]

Bronze Medal . Thomas Hart.

Certificate, of Merit . j£olm fH®nry C*#?’

' ( Ernest fired enck Salmon.

* See ante, x., ll)51, and xi., 39.

August 7, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

119

[Ten months’ course.]

Silver Medal

Certificates of Honour

Certificates of Merit

William Fowler.

/ Robert Wright.

\ John Thomas.

I William Elborue.

( David Hooper.

J’Edwd. Chas. Jas. Davies.
V Wm.Hodgkinson Jackson

Botany and Materia Medica.

[Five months’ course.]

Bronze Medal . John Henry Garrett.

{Alfred Hornby.

John Henry Chaplin.
Thomas Hart.

[Ten months’ course.]

Silver Medal . David Hooper.

William Elborne.

• ( William Fowler.

| \ John Henry Garrett.
w ( Robert Wright.
Certificate of Merit . John Thomas.

Certificates of Honour

Practical Chemistry.

Silver Medal . .

Bronze Medals .

Certificate of Honour

Certificates of Merit

David Hooper,
i Robert Wright.

| John Thomas.

Thomas Burrell.

! Wm.Hodgkinson Jackson
John Henry Chaplin.
Thomas Hart.

Botanical Prize.

Silver Medal ......

Bronze Medals ...
Certificate of Merit

John Hutchinson.

| j Walter Clark Drew.
g1 ( John Henry Leech.
James Thomas Bays.

Council Examination Prizes.

Pereira Medal (silver) ; and Books value £5, presented by

Mr. T. H. Hills.

David Hooper.

Pharmaceutical Society's Medal (silver) ; and Books value
£3, presented by Mr. T. H. Hills.

Henry William Drew.

Pharmaceutical Society's Medal (bronze) ; and Books value
£2, presented by Mr. T. H. Hills.

William Fowler.

Fharmacy Act Amendment.

The Vice-President thought it would be desirable to
pass a resolution with reference to the recent decision of
the House of Lords. He would therefore move —

“That the Special Committee appointed to consider
improvements in the Pharmacy Act, 1868, be re¬
quested to take into consideration the recent decision
of the House of Lords, in the appeal case “ Pharma-
eutical Society v. The London and Provincial Supply
Association,” and its probable effect on the future
of pharmacy, and to report to the Council any
course they might think it desirable this Society
should adopt.”

He had originaly drawn the motion requesting the
Committee to report to the President, instead of the
Council, in case it might be deemed advisable to take
any immediate action, but that question he would leave
to the decision of the Council.

Mr. Frazer said he should object to any step being
taken without full consideration.

Mr. Hampson seconded the motion, but thought all
necessary purposes would be answered if the Committee
reported to the Council in the ordinary way. It would
be impossible to move rapidly ; everything must be done
with due deliberation. They must certainly not rest
content with the present condition of things, and he
hoped they would all feel a strong determination to do the

best they could under the circumstances. The recent
decision was not only a blow against pharmacy but also
against the medical profession.

Mr. Symes supported the resolution.

Mr. Atkins thought there could not be two opinions
about the desirability of the Committee considering this
matter. He should support the resolution not only on
the grounds mentioned, but because there was con¬
siderable discontent amongst medical men as to the
existing state of the law, there being nineteen licensing
bodies at present.

Mr. Gostling also supported the resolution. They
ought to take the matter into most serious consideration,
not only in their own interests but in the interests of the
public.

The motion was then agreed to unanimously.

HOUSE.

The report of this Committee was adopted. It simply
recommended the payment of certain accounts for work
done to the premises.

Jacob Bell Memorial Scholarships.

The Committee appointed to award these scholarships
subject to the approval of the Council reported that the
examination was held on July 6, when nineteen can¬
didates competed, viz., in Birmingham, 1 ; Bristol, 2 ;
Canterbury, 1 ; Exeter, 1 ; Leeds, 2 ; Lincoln, 1 ; London,
10; Peterborough, 1.

The Committee called attention to the exceedingly
satisfactory results of the competition. In many
previous years it had been a matter of regret that the
number of competitors had been very small. The
number on this occasion had been altogether unprece¬
dented, and not only so, but the papers returned had
been of very high average merit ; no less than nine of
the competitors having obtained more than the number
of marks necessary to obtain a scholarship.

Under these special circumstances the Committee
recommended that as only two scholarships are awarded,
the mottoes of the other seven competitors who have
distinguished themselves be published in the order in
which they stand, as a recognition of the general merits
of their papers.

The mottoes adopted by the two candidates who had
obtained the highest number of marks were “ Ignota
tentare" and “ Ne quid nimis." The Committee having
ascertained that those mottoes had been respectively
adopted by —

Frederick Charles Bird
and

John Oldham Braithwaite,

recommended that the scholarships for 1880-81 be
awarded to them.

The Council received and confirmed the award of the
scholarships by the Committee and also resolved to pub¬
lish, alphabetically, the names of the seven candidates
who stood next in order of merit. The names are as
follows : —

Edward Baily.

William Edward Gillson Jackson.

Joseph Pemberton.

Edward John Wall.

Frederick Walmsley Warrick.

Francis Watts.

Robert Wright.

Superintendents of Written Examinations.

The following list of Superintendents and Deputy-
Superintendents of written examinations for the ensuing
year was agreed to : —

Aberdeen . Davidson, Charles.

Birmingham . Southall, William.

Brighton . . Gwatkin, James Ross.

Bristol . Stroud, John.

Cambridge . Deck, Arthur.

Canterbury . . Bing, Edwin.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

120

[August 7, 1880

Cardiff .

Carlisle .

Carmarthen .

Carnarvon .

Cheltenham .

Darlington .

Douglas, Isle of Man

Dundee .

Edinburgh .

Exeter .

Glasgow .

Guernsey .

Hull .

Inverness .

Jersey .

Lancaster .

Leeds .

Lincoln .

Liverpool .

London .

Manchester .

Newcastle-on-Tyne ..

Northampton .

Norwich .

Nottingham .

. Oxford .

Peterborough .

Sheffield .

Shrewsbury .

Southampton .

Truro .

Worcester .

York .

. . Hollway, Albert Brown.
..Thompson, Andrew.
..Davies, Richard Morgan.
..Lloyd, William.

..Smith, Nathaniel.
..Robinson, James.
..Breary, William A.
..Hardie, James.

..Mackay, John.

. . Delves, George.

. . Kinninmont, Alexander.
..Arnold, Adolphus.

, Bell, Charles Bains.
..Galloway, George Ross.
..Ereaut, John, jun.

. ..Bagnall, William Henry
..Reynolds, Richard.
..Maltby, Joseph.

..Symes, Cbarles.

..Taylor, George Spratt.
..Wilkinson, William.
..Martin, Nicholas Henry.

. .Bingley, John.

..Sutton, Francis.
..FitzHugh, Richard.
..Prior, George Thomas.
..Heanley, Marshall.

, . .Ward, William.

...Cross, William Gowen.
...Dawson, Oliver Robert.

. . . Percy, Thomas Biclde.
...Virgo, Charles.
...Davison, Ralph.

Deputy-Superintendents of Written Examinations.

Aberdeen .

Birmingham .

Brighton ...: .

Bristol .

Cambridge .

Canterbury .

Cardiff .

Carlisle .

Carmarthen .

Carnarvon .

Cheltenham .

Darlington .

Douglas, Isle of Man

Dundee .

Edinburgh .

Exeter .

Glasgow .

Guernsey .

Hull .

Inverness .

Jersey .

Lancaster .

Leeds .

Lincoln .

Liverpool .

London .

Manchester .

Newcastle-on-Tyne .

Northampton .

Norwich .

Nottingham .

Oxford .

Peterborough .

Sheffield .

Shrewsbury .

Southampton .

Truro .

Worcester .

York . .

Kay, James Petrie.
Churchill, William John.
Savage, William Wallace.
.Tucker, Robert Lewis.
.Church, Henry Jame«.
.Amos, Daniel.

.Saunders, William Josiah.
Hallaway, John.

.Davies, R. Morgan, jun.
.Hughes, Richard.
.Barron, William.
.Hutchinson, Rev. E.
Brearey, Arthur W.
.Kerr, Charles.

Ainslie, William.

.Lake, John Hinton.
.Davison, Thomas.
.Collenette, Adolphus.
.Baynes, James.
.Galloway, George.

Ereaut, John.

Hall, William.

.Smeeton William.

.Battle, John Scoley.
.Sumner, Robert.
Bremridge, Richard.
Knapman, John W.
Holmes, Edward M.
.Wilkinson, George
.Stuart, Charles Edward.
.Mayger, William W.
.Corder, Octavius,
.h’ayner, John.

.Thurland, Thomas Henry.
.Buckle, George F.
.Maleham, Henry.

.Cross, W. Gowen, jun.
.Spearing, James.
.Fiddick, Thomas.

.Lunn, Thomas.

.Sowray, Joseph.

Report op Examinations.

July , 1880.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Candidates.

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, (8th) .

... 10

5

5

„ (9th) .

. . . 11

2

9

„ (13th) .

... 7

6

1

— 28

—13

—15

Minor, (8th) .

... 13

3

10

„ (9th) .

. . . 15

4

11

„ (13th) .

. . . 18

5

13

„ (14th) .

. . . 26

10

16

„ (15th) .

. . . 26

10

16

„ (16th) .

, . . 23

14

9

—121

—46

—75

Modified, (8th)

. . . 1

0

1

—

—

—

150 59

Scotland.

Candidates.

91

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, (13th) .

. . . 2

1

1

Minor, (13th) .

... 9

4

5

„ (14th) .

... 9

6

3

„ (15th) .

. . . 10

6

4

—28

—16

—12

Modified, (15th)

... 2

1

1

32

18

14

Preliminary Examination.

Candidates.

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

341

167

174

3 certificates in lieu of the Society’s examination had
been received: —

University of Cambridge . 1

University of Glasgow . 1

University of Oxford . 1

The Council then went into committee during the
perusal of a letter bearing on the subject of the examina¬
tions, which had been sent to the President with a request
that it might be read to the Council.

Reports of Benevolent Fund Committee.

Mr. Symes moved in accordance with a notice : —

“ That the report of the Benevolent Fund Committee
be read in a more condensed form than hitherto.”

He had always held that it was unnecessary the Council
should spend so much valuable time in going again over
details which were examined in Committee. He did not
begrudge time being spent on important matters, but
when he saw matters of great importance hurried over
because the Council were getting towards the end of the
day, and that it had been brought to the end of the day
by interposing matters of routine which had been already
fully dealt with, he thought if only a matter of ten
minutes could be saved it would facilitate business and be
worth doing. He would suggest that the only details
given should be the name and address and age of the
candidate, with previous occupation, if any. When they
were read if any member were interested in any special
case, he would ask some further questions about it, as had
been done hitherto; but in the majority of cases the four
or five particulars he had mentioned would be ample.

Mr. Radley thought the Council might have some
sympathy with this motion though it might not agree
with the exact restrictions named. If they were expressed
in general terms without laying down an absolute rule, it
would be quite sufficient. Long letters need not be read,
or any minute detail, but the Council must not go too far
in the direction of abridgment.

Mr. Williams said the minutes of this Committee were

August 7, 1SS0. ]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

121

made as lengthy as they were for purposes of future refer¬
ence. The question arose who was to have the responsi¬
bility of cutting down the real minutes. It was rather a
serious matter, and one involving a principle, and he
thought the Council should have the reports of all Com¬
mittees accurately presented to the Council. There
might be some mere matters of routine included ; but as
the reading did not occupy more than ten minutes, and
sometimes not more than three, he thought it was a pity
to give up a great principle without some better reason
than they had yet heard given. He would ask Mr.
Symes to reconsider the matter.

Mr. Symes said the principle had been broken through
already in several cases, matters of detail having been
passed over in reading the reports.

Mr. Williams said it was competent to the ’Council at
any time to authorize the omission of matters of detail
being read, but that was very different to hurriedly laying
down a general rule.

Mr. Mackay said no member of the Council was more
desirous of saving time than he was, but at the same
time he should be very sorry to find the minutes of the
Benevolent Fund Committee shortened in any way. It
was one of the most important branches of the Society’s
work, and though the Committee was a large one, and
was generally well attended, still there were something
like ten members who were not on the Committee, and to
whom it would be a source of gratification to hear the
minutes read. He should be obliged to vote against the
motion.

Mr. Savage took it the report would appear as usual
in the book ; it would be only shortened in the reading.

The President said he should be sorry to see the
records of any Committee cut down at all. At the same
time there was some reason in Mr. Symes ’s motion, and it
might be understood, now that the matter had been
ventilated, that in reading these reports some extraneous
matters might, at the discretion of the President, be left
out, but he deprecated any resolution being passed on
the subject.

Mr. Symes said, if it were accepted as a principle, in
deference to the view of the President, he was prepared
to withdraw the resolution, but the fact was that, when
he first made the suggestion, he was over-ruled, and told
he could not speak to it unless he proposed a resolution,
and now he put it in the form of a resolution, he was told
the Council ought not to make a hard and fast line, but
it ought to be merely a suggestion, so that he did not
exactly know which was right. In reading the report of
the Library, Museum and Laboratory Committee, that
day, the Secretary, very properly no doubt, passed over
certain lists, which he said would be published in the
J ournal.

The President said they were lists of books, etc.,
which were all published in extenso in the Journal.

Mr. Symes said, on the understanding that his sugges¬
tion would be adopted, he should be happy to withdraw
the motion.

International Pharmaceutical Congress.

Mr. Hampson drew attention to the fact that the
International Medical Congress would meet in London
next year, and he saw that one of the sections of the
Congress was Materia Medica and Pharmacology. Now,
in 1874, the Council passed a resolution that the Inter¬
national Pharmaceutical Congress should be invited to
hold their next meeting in England. He thought that it
would be very desirable that the Pharmaceutical Con¬
gress should be held about the same time that the
Medical Congress would be held, and he moved that
another invitation should be sent.

The President said as he was the delegate sent to the
Congress at St. Petersburg, he could perhaps give some
information on this subject. He gave the delegates
present on that occasion an invitation, subject to its
being approved by this Council, that the next meeting

should be held in London, and it was understood that
that would take place in five years, which would have been
in 1879, but owing to the war in which Russia was engaged
and other circumstances, it was found impossible to have
a satisfactory meeting here at that time, and he was
advised by several distinguished foreigners not for the
present to issue the invitation ; but in the early part of
this year a paper was sent to Mr. Sandford, as President,
in connection with the International Medical Congress,
which he was good enough to forward to him, and one or
two other papers had since been sent by the Medical Con¬
gress to the President of this Society. It occurred to him
that it would be a very good opportunity to have the In¬
ternational Pharmaceutical Congress, in London, at the
same time as the International Medical Congress next
year. That was exceedingly desirable, as so many
medical men from the continent, taking much more
interest in pharmaceutical matters than as a rule medical
men in England did, would be over here attending the
Medical Congress, that the Pharmaceutical Congress
should be held at the same time.

Mr. Hills said the President of the College of Physi¬
cians mentioned the matter of the Medical Congress to
him in May last, and asked him if the Pharmaceutical
Society would get up an Exhibition of Materia Medica, etc.
Mr. Hills replied that the Society would be most happy
to do so, and suggested that the Exhibition should take
place at the Society’s house, Bloomsbury Square. Mr.
Hills mentioned the subject to the late President, Mr.
Sandford, but did not know whether any official notice
was taken of it.

Mr. Sandford said there was not.

The President said that medical men were entering
with great spirit into this matter, and he thought it would
be an excellent opportunity to hold the Pharmaceutical
Congress. He knew there were many eminent men
abroad who would only be too glad of the opportunity of
visiting England on such an occasion. It occurred to
him that the Council might affiliate the International
Pharmaceutical Congress with the Medical Congress.
One principal subject, and the only one in which English
pharmacists had any immediate interest at St. Petersburg,
was an International Pharmacopoeia, which as it was
thought a great deal of on the continent, though it did
not seem to be made much of here, would be probably one
of the chief points of discussion.

Mr. Williams asked if there would not be a danger of
one congress clashing with the other.

The President thought there would not be the slightest
danger of this.

Mr. Hills suggested that the best plan would be for
the President to see the President of the College of
Physicians, and in that case he would be happy to accom¬
pany him, and to make any preliminary arrangements.

It was then moved by Mr. Symes, seconded by Mr.
Hampson, and carried unanimously : —

“ That the Library, Museum and Laboratory Com¬
mittee be requested to make arrangements for the
reception of the International Pharmaceutical Con¬
gress on the occasion of their visit to London in
August, 1881.”

The Pharmaceutical Conference.

It was resolved, as last year, that those members of the
Council, who could make it convenient to attend the
Conference at Swansea, be appointed delegates.

Mr. Symes suggested that many valuable specimens
for the Museum might be obtained in Swansea and the
neighbourhood, if someone would undertake to collect
them.

The President said he had heard from Mr. Holmes
that he was very much indebted to Mr. Frazer for his
assistance in collecting specimens for which he had been
sent to Glasgow, and that the Museum would be very
much enriched by those which he would bring him.

122

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 7, 1880.

The School of Pharmacy.

The Council went into committee to consider a letter
from Professor Redwood, with regard to certain proposed
improvements which he proposed to introduce into his
course of lectures.

On resuming, it was resolved unanimously that Pro¬
fessor Redwood’s suggestions be approved.

The Sale of Spirits Bill.

Mr. Sandford reported that he had seen the Solicitor
to the Inland Revenue Board who had promised that he
would get the word “such” introduced into the Bill in
the clause to which reference had been made on a former
occasion. Since then he bad seen a notice on the paper by
Lord Frederick Cavendish to introduce the word.

The Secretary said the Bill had been considered in
Committee, and stood on the paper for to-morrow.

The Pharmaceutical Congress at Breslau.

On the motion of the Vice-President, seconded by
Mr. Williams, it was resolved that : — •

“The Editor and Sub-Editor should attend the An¬
nual Meeting of the German Pharmaceutical Asso¬
ciation to be held at Breslau in September.”

The September Council Meeting.

The President reminded the country members of the
Council that it was not absolutely necessary for them to
attend in September, as it was only requisite to form a
quorum of seven to get through the formal business.

Erratum. — Page 62, column 2, line 34, for Mears,
Henry, Eastover, read Mears, Henry, Bridgwater.

arliameitfarg mxir Ifrxto |gr j&mimtgs.

Important Case under the Sale of Food and
Drugs Act.

At the Stockport Police Court, on July 21, several
chemists and druggists and grocers of Stockport ap¬
peared to answer an information charging them, under
the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, with having sold sweet
spirits of nitre, not of the nature, substance and quality
of the article demanded by the purchaser.

The prosecution was conducted by the Town Clerk
on behalf of the corporation, and Mr. Henry Glaisyer
appeared to defend certain of the cases on behalf of the
Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great
Britain, instructed by the Secretary of that body.

The case of Mr. Bennett, chemist and druggist, was
taken first, the information charging him that on the 3rd
day of June, at Stockport, he unlawfully sold to the pre¬
judice of one Jacob Marshall, the purchaser, an inspector
of nuisances for the said borough, a certain drug, to wit,
sweet spirits of nitre (spiritus setheris nitrosi), which was
not of the nature, substance and quality of the article
demanded by such purchaser, inasmuch as the said
sweet spirits of nitre contained only 1*15 per cent, of
nitrous ether, and was of the specific gravity of '844,
whereas the quantity of nitrous ether should have been
3 per cent., and the specific gravity ’845 or thereabouts.

Inspector Marshall proved the purchase and the
division of the sample into three parts, one of which
he delivered to the public analyst next day, whose
certificate was as follows : —

“I, the undersigned, public analyst for the borough of
Stockport, do hereby certify that I received on the 4th
day of June, 1880, from you, a sample of sweet spirits of
nitre for analysis, marked B, No. 2, June 3, 1880, and
have analysed the same, and declare the result of my
analysis to be as follows : — I am of opinion that the said
sample contained the parts as under, 1*15 per cent,
nitrous ether ; specific gravity, *844. Observations. —
Spiritus setheris nitrosi, according to the British Phar¬
macopoeia, should have a specific gravity of ’845, and
contain not less than 3 per cent, of real nitrous ether.”

On cross-examination by Mr. Glaisyer, the inspector
said that defendant told him, after he had paid for the
sweet spirits of nitre and divided the sample, that it was
not the British Pharmacopoeia preparation ; and though
he did not understand the meaning of the term at the
time, he had since ascertained what was meant.

William Lees, the dispenser at the Stockport In¬
firmary, said he had a good deal to do with drugs.
The popular name of spiritus setheris nitrosi was spirit of
nitre or sweet spirits of nitre ; and, in his opinion, if
anyone went into a shop and asked for a preparation by
any of those names he should get spiritus setheris nitrosi
made according to the British Pharmacopoeia. He would
expect to find in it about 3 per cent, of nitrous ether;
and would not be satisfied if it contained only 1*15 per
cent. Witness said he was not a qualified chemist.

Oswald Wilkinson said he was public analyst for the
borough of Stockport. On the 4th of June he received
a bottle of sweet spirits of nitre similar to that produced
by Inspector Marshall. He analysed the sample, and de¬
livered his certificate to the inspector personalty. That
sample only contained 1*15 per cent, of real nitrous ether.
He should not consider that a person buying sweet spirits
of nitre would get what he wanted if he obtained an
article containing only 1*15 per cent, of nitrous ether.

By the Chairman : 3 per cent, of nitrous ether is a fair
proportion ; it should not be less. The specific gravity
of the sample was *844 instead of *845.

Examination continued.

The specific gravity may be kept up by adding rectified
spirit. The preparation sold contained rather more than
50 per cent, less nitrous ether than it should contain.

Cross-examined by Mr. Glaisyer.

You say you are the public analyst ; what training have
you had ?— Principally at Owens College, Manchester.

How long were you there? — Six sessions.

Have you any knowledge of drugs? — Yes.

What knowledge? — Both practical and theoretical.

Have you ever been in a pharmaceutical school? — No.

What knowledge have you of drugs then, Mr. Wilkin¬
son? —I do not quite understand you ; I have both theo¬
retical and practical knowledge.

What practical knowledge? — I know what they ought
to be, and have often tested them.

Have you frequently tested the preparations mentioned
in the Pharmacopoeia? — Most of them.

Have you frequently tested this preparation? — No ; I
have never tested it before.

Do you say you have never tested this preparation
before? — I have not.

Therefore you never tested this preparation at Owens
College ? — No.

Have you had any other training besides what you got at
Owens College ? — No ; except studying chemistry at school.

How long have you been appointed analyst to this
borough ? — This is the third year.

Do you know the history of this drug? — Yes.

Tell me what you know about it ? — I profess to know
all about it ; if you ask me a question I will answer you.

When was spirits of nitre first heard of? — I cannot say.

When was it first mentioned in the Pharmacopoeia ? —
Do you mean in the British Pharmacopoeia ?

In any pharmacopoeia? — I have seen it as far back as
1851.

Any further? — Well, I cannot say.

Do you find sweet spirits of nitre in the 1851 Pharma¬
copoeia? — Do you mean the British Pharmacopoeia?

Do you find it either in Latin or in English in the
1851 Pharmacopoeia? — I cannot swear to it.

Have you the words sweet spirits of nitre either in
English or Latin in any Pharmacopoeia ? —I will not
swear anything about the Pharmacopoeias.

Is it in the London Pharmacopoeia ? — I believe it is.

In what year ? — I do not know.

If I tell you it is in the 1746 Pharmacopoeia, you will
not contradict me? — No.

August 7, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

123

And if I tell you it is the only Pharmacopoeia it is in,
will you contradict me? — No.

How do you know that this preparation should contain
3 p. c. of nitrous ether, how did you ascertain that? — From
the British Pharmacopoeia and from other good authorities.

Where does the British Pharmacopoeia give you that
information? — I have not the British Pharmacopoeia.

Mr.s Glaisyer: Here is the British Pharmacopoeia.
(Book handed to witness).

Chairman of the Bench: What edition is that?

Mr. Glaisyer : It is the reprint with additions made in
1874, printed in 1877.

Witness : I do not see it says 3 per cent in this Phar¬
macopoeia; it is in the other Pharmacopoeias, I believe.

Mr. Glaisyer: Have you one that shows it? —No.

Chairman of the Bench : Does that book give you the
composition of the article ?

Witness: Yes, but it does not give the percentage of
nitrous ether, it gives the preparation of the article and
its character and tests.

Cross-examination continued.

Does it state in the characters and tests that the article
should contain 3 per cent, of nitrous ether? — No.

Then as to other Pharmacopoeias, can you mention one
giving that percentage ? — I believe the Edinburgh does.

When was the Edinburgh published ? — I cannot say.
I do not know. I do not profess to know anything about
the date of Pharmacopoeias.

How do you know then that it should contain 3 per
cent., you do not find it in the British Pharmacopoeia, and
you have not produced a single authority for making that
statement ? — But I can.

State your authority ? — Dr. Dupr£, if you think him an
authority.

In what work of Dr. Duprd’s do you find that ? — I can
point to an article in the Analyst for July, 1879 — book pi*o-
duced from which witness read — “According to my expe¬
rience we may consider a product containing 3 per cent,
of nitrous ether as fairly representing the British Phar¬
macopoeia preparation, and further in judging of the
purity or otherwise of any given sample of spiritus aetheris
nitrosi, B.P.,the particular method of manufacture adopted
in the preparation of the sample is of course perfectly im¬
material ; as long as it fairly corresponds in strength to the
B.P. standard, it must be considered as of the nature,
substance and quality demanded, however produced.”

What evidence does Dr. Duprd give of 3 per cent, being
the standard ? — He says a product containing that propor¬
tion of nitrous ether fairly represents the British Pharma¬
copoeia preparation, and that proportion is generally re¬
cognized by other chemists.

What evidence have you that 3 per cent, is to be taken
as a standard ? — Dr. Duprd says we may consider a pro¬
duct containing 3 per cent, of nitrous ether as fairly re¬
presenting the B.P. preparation.

Chairman of the Bench : Have you found other samples
to contain that percentage ?

Mr. Glaisyer: This is the first sample he has analysed,
he has stated that in evidence. Why do you accept
Dupr<S as an authority ? — He is a good authority, recog¬
nized by chemists.

Do you know that Dupr£ ordered a prosecution for this
article and lost his case ? — Yes, some time ago.

You can give no reason why you adopt his authority
except that you believe in him ? — He says that it ought
to give 6 per cent. ; that leaves a margin of 3 per cent.

Where does he say 6 per cent ? — In the paper in the
Analyst to which I have referred, he says if properly pre¬
pared the distillate would contain about 6‘5 per cent.

I do not see the words “if properly prepared;” Dr.
Dupr£ says if all the nitric acid employed were used up in
the formation of nitrous ether, the proportion contained
in the finished product, if 2 pints of spirit are added to the
15 ounces of distillate, would amount to about 6 '5 per cent.
But ought you to use up all the nitric acid employed ? —
It is not necessary, it depends on the quantity used.

Are you not ordered by the British Pharmacopoeia to
take certain quantities of each ingredient to make the
preparation therein ordered, and are you to use all the
nitric acid ordered ? — It depends on the proportion taken.

Are the quantities not stated in the British Pharma¬
copoeia ? — Yes, I believe so.

The quantity of nitric acid is 3 fluid ounces ; are you to
use up the whole of that quantity ? — Perhaps.

Are you to use up the whole quantity of nitric acid?
-■—I do not say that.

If you are making the British Pharmacopoeia prepara¬
tion are you not bound to take the quantities mentioned
in that Pharmacopoeia? — Yes, I stand by that.

Then having taken 3 fluid ounces of nitric acid for
making spirits of nitrous ether, are you bound to use up
the whole of that acid? — I will not swear to it.

You come here as a scientific witness. Do you know or
do you not know ? — I do not know.

Chairman of the Bench : You appear to be examining
this witness as to the manufacture of the article.

Mr. Glaisyer : He has stated on his certificate that spirits
of nitrous ether should contain 3 per cent, of nitrous ether,
he then states that this conclusion is based on the authority
of Dr. Dupr4, and, as far as I understand it, Dr. Dupre’s
argument stands or falls on this one particular, whether
all the nitric acid employed was used up.

Can you mention any other authority besides Dr.
Dupiri ?— I have seen it stated in pharmaceutical works.

Can you give me the names, because anyone can talk
in general terms ? — Yes, Squire’s ‘ Materia Medica.’

Have you that book with you ? — No, I have not, but
we can fetch it from the infirmary.

Mr. Glaisyer : I shall be glad to see any recognized
authority in which you can show it to me.

Magistrates’ Clerk : Will you read the last paragraph,
page 294 of the British Pharmacopoeia ?

Witness read as follows : — “ Characters and tests. —
Transparent and nearly colourless, with a very slight
tinge of yellow, mobile, inflammable, of a peculiar pene¬
trating apple-like odour, and sweetish cooling sharp taste.
Specific gravity *845. It effervesces feebly or not at all
when shaken with a little bicarbonate of soda. When
agitated with solution of sulphate of iron and a few drops
of sulphuric acid it becomes deep olive-brown or black.
If it be agitated with twice its volume of saturated
solution of chloride of calcium in a closed tube, two per
cent, of its original volume will separate in the form of
nitrous ether and rise to the surface of the mixture.”

Mr. Glaisyer : My edition of the British Pharmaeopceia,
which is the third reprint made with additions in 1874,
states : “ If it be agitated with twice its volume of
saturated solution of chloride of calcium in a closed tube,
two per cent, of its original volume will separate in the
form of an ethereal liquid and rise to the surface of the
mixture.” The words ethereal liquid are used instead of
nitrous ether.

Magistrates’ Clei’k : What does that 2 per cent, mean ?

Witness : It means that 2 per cent, of nitrous ether
will rise to the surface.

Mr. Glaisyer : The witness does not rely on the tests
of the British Pharmacopoeia.

Witness : I do not rely on that test altogether.

Cross-examination continued.

Do you rely on 3 or 2 per cent. ? — I took 3 per cent.

1 will swear to about 3, nearer 3 than 2.

Less than 3 then possibly ? — I will say 3. I will tako
Dr. Duprd’s authority.

Why did you say more than 2 ?— Because it only says
about 3.

The Pharmacopoeia does not say about 2, the words are

2 per cent ? — It says 2 per cent, of its original volume.
The question is, what was the original volume.

Chairman of the Bench : Is the Court to understand
that 2 per cent, is the whole of the nitrous ether con¬
tained in this preparation ?

Mr. Glaisyer: No, sir. The Pharmacopoeia does not

124

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 7, 1880.

even state that it contains that quantity of nitrous
ether ; perhaps the witness will read what the Pharma¬
copoeia does state.

Witness read as follows : — “ If it be agitated with
twice its volume of saturated solution of chloride of
calcium in a closed tube, 2 per cent, of its original
volume will separate in the form of nitrous ether and
rise to the surface of the mixture.”

Mr. Glaisyer: Is that book from which you have just
read the third reprint of the British Pharmacopoeia with
additions made in 1874 ? — No.

Mr. Glaisyer: There is a third reprint of the book,
printed in 1877. Will you now read from that ?

Witness reads : — “ If it be agitated with twice its
volume of saturated solution of chloride of calcium in a
closed tube, 2 per cent, of its original volume will separate
in the form of an ethereal liquid and rise to the surface
of the mixture.”

Town Clerk: We have put in and proved a copy of
the London Gazette for June 14, 1867, authorizing the
republished edition of the British Pharmacopoeia, the
work on which this case must be decided, and it states
that “ 2 per cent, of ethereal liquid will rise to the surface
on the application of this test.”

Cross-examination continued.

Did you test what rose to the surface in this case? — No.

How did you find 1T5 per cent, to be present then ? —
I worked by Dupre’s method.

You did not work by the British Pharmacopoeia test
then ? — I tried it, but it did not yield what it ought.

We are now talking about Bennett’s case. — I did
not apply the test of the Pharmacopoeia in that case.

What test did you apply ? — Dr. Dupre’s method.

Was this article nearly colourless? — Yes.

With a very slight tinge of yellow? — Yes.

Was it mobile ? — Yes.

Was it inflammable ? — I believe so.

Did you test it ? — I think not.

Had it a penetrating apple-like odour and sweetish,
cooling, sharp taste ? — I will not swear it had not.

What was the specific gravity ? — ‘844.

What do you say it ought to be ? — *845.

Then you would not quarrel with its specific gravity ?
— I do not say that.

Is there any practical difference between these two
specific gravities ? — Certainly.

Is there any important difference ? — I should say no,
certainly not.

Did it effervesce feebly or not at all when shaken with
a little bicarbonate of soda ? — Slightly.

Then it answered the test in that particular? — Yes.

When agitated with solution of sulphate of iron and a
few drops of sulphuric acid did it become of a deep olive-
brown or black ? — It became an olive-brown.

Did you, in this particular case, apply the next test,
agitation with solution of chloride of calcium ? — I did not.

Then you cannot say what percentage of ethereal
liquid or nitrous ether it would have shown by that
test? — Not according to that test.

Y ou are directed to test in a certain way, and you have
not done so ? — I have done it by a better way.

You say you did not apply the test ordered by the
British Pharmacopoeia? — I was not ordered to apply the
tests of the British Pharmacopoeia.

So far as you did apply those tests, the article answered
to them. By what test did you ascertain the percentage
of nitrous ether? — By Dr. Dupre’s.

Tell me what it was? — I took 10 cubic centimetres
of what was purchased as sweet spirits of nitre, and
treated it with 1J gram of solid caustic potash. This
was put in a flask and closed, and frequently agitated,
and left to stand for two days tightly corked. The con¬
tents of the flask were then washed out into a platinum
basin carefully, with 50 cubic centimetres of water, and
evaporated to a third of its bulk, then made up to 300
cubic centimetres with water containing 50 cubic centi¬

metres of sulphuric acid of 1 to 4 strength. One hundred
cub. cent, of this was taken and heated with standard
solution of permanganate of potash of known percentage;
that was the way I determined the nitrous ether.

Mr. Glaisyer : If you had gone on adding perman¬
ganate of potash would the solution not still have con¬
tinued to decolorize? — Very slightly after a given time.

Mr. Glaisyer : But does not Dr. Duprd admit that it
would? — I am not sure about that.

Mr. Glaisyer : Are not his words “ the solution still
continues to decolorize permanganate, though but slowly,
and much more will have to be added before the colora¬
tion becomes permanent?”— I think so.

Then where is the trustworthiness of this method to
give the quantity of nitrous ether present, if it goes on
for ever ? — It only goes on for a certain time.

How long did it continue to decolorize? — For five
minutes. I satisfied myself the reaction was complete.

Does Dr. Duprd give any proof that this is a good test?
— He has had it printed and I think that sufficient.

He does not say it can be relied on, does he ? — I cannot
remember every word of this article.

If I say he does not, will you believe me? — No.

Then read it. — He says : “ No doubt other substances
are oxidized as well, and the process indicates more nitrous
ether than is actually present ; but, as the error is on
the side of leniency, it is perhaps an advantage rather
than otherwise.”

Cross-examination continued.

The summons charges the defendant with having pre¬
judiced the purchaser. I want to know whether he was
prejudiced ? — I should say he was if the article did not
contain the proper proportion of nitrous ether.

Do not you know that there is another preparation
known as spirits of nitre ? — I believe there are several.

Do not you know there are others in common use ? —
Yes, I believe so.

Will you mention any characteristics that characterize
any of them ? — I cannot.

Do the words sweet spirits of nitre appear in the British
Pharmacopoeia ? — I believe not, but it is the same thing
as spiritus aetheris nitrosi.

You state that : you have no proof of it, have you? — No.

What was the origin of the name of sweet spirits of
nitre ? — I could not swear, except that it was originally
made from nitre and that it had a sweet taste, and that it
is ordered in the London Pharmacopoeia under that name.

Edward Bayner said he was a Doctor of Medicine,
had studied chemistry at Owens College, and at Paris and
Heidelberg. In his opinion the certificate given by the
analyst in this case would not represent a fair sample of
sweet spirits of nitre. If a person bought an article
similar to the one analysed he would not get what he was
entitled to receive. Spirits of nitrous ether was called by
many names, — sweet nitre, sweet spirits of nitre, spirits of
sweet nitre and other names. Sweet spirit of nitre of the
British Pharmacopoeia should contain more than 2 per
cent, of nitrous ether. The medicinal value of sweet spirit
of nitre was diminished by the absence of nitrous ether.

Cross examined by Mr. Glaisyer.

Why do you say the sample in question would not be
a good one ? — Because it does not come up to the standard
of the British Pharmacopoeia.

What is that standard ? — It should contain at least 2
per cent, of nitrous ether.

Where do you get that from ? —The Pharmacopoeia.

The Pharmacopoeia does not state that, it says 2 per
cent, of ethereal liquid. — I take the official Pharma¬
copoeia where the words nitrous ether are used.

The British Pharmacopoeia states “ that if it be
agitated with twice its volume of saturated solution of
chloride of calcium in a closed tube, 2 per cent, of its
original volume will separate in the form of an ethereal
liquid and rise to the surface of the mixture,” but taking
the Pharmacopoeia you have referred to, of which my
Pharmacopoeia is a reprint, that even does not say it

August 7, 1880. J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

125

is nitrous ether that rises to the surface, but that 2 per
cent, of its original volume will separate in the form of
nitrous ether. Are you prepared to say it is nitrous ether
that rises to the surface ? — It is not pure nitrous ether.

What would be the other ethereal substance that
would rise to the surface with the nitrous ether?— I am
afraid I cannot say.

Would there be aldehyd present ? — I should think so.

In what proportion ? — I do not know.

Mr. Glaisyer : In this case the defendant, Mr. Bennett,
is charged under the 6th section of the Sale of Food and
Drugs Act, with having sold this drug to the prejudice
of the purchaser and for having sold a drug not of the
nature, substance and quality of the article demanded.
We have heard, in the evidence of the ^inspector who
made the purchase, that he asked for sweet spirits of
nitre. Now, sweet spirits of nitre is a household medi¬
cine which has been in use for very many years and is
well known throughout the whole country by that name.
It is a preparation distinct from the spirits of nitrous
ether of the British Pharmacopoeia, prepared by a different
formula. The product of the distillation of the various
ingredients used in the manufacture of sweet spirits of
nitre, properly so called, will show a specific gravity of
*850 and I shall prove, on the evidence of Professor
Attfield, that the specific gravity of the sealed sample
of the article was '850 and I shall be able easily to
account to you for the discrepancy between the specific
gravities found by the professor and the public analyst.
The spirit of nitrous ether which is alluded to in the
summons, as being synonymous with sweet spirits of
nitre, is a totally distinct preparation from that which
the defendant has sold, and, as I contend, properly sold
under the term sweet spirits of nitre. Spirit of nitrous
ether is a medicine largely prescribed by the medical pro¬
fession and the directions for its manufacture occur in
the British Pharmacopoeia, published in 1867, and since
reprinted three times by direction of the Medical Council.
In the last reprint, dated 1877, the name sweet spirits
of nitre does not occur even as a synonym for spirits of
nitrous ether. The Town Clerk contended that we were
bound to supply medicines prepared in accordance with
the British Pharmacopoeia in all cases. That work is
prepared, as one gentleman on the bench is aware, under
the Medical Act, 1858, which enacts that the General
! Council shall cause to be published under its direction
a book containing a list of medicines and compounds,
and the manner of preparing them, together Avith the
true weights and measures by which they are to be
prepared and mixed, and containing such other matter
and things relating thereto as the General Council shall
think fit, to be called the British Pharmacopoeia, and the
General Council shall cause such Pharmacopoeia to be
altered, amended, and republished, as often as it shall
deem necessary. Then as to the object of the
Pharmacopoeia, the preface distinctly states that it has
for its object “ not so much the selection as the defini¬
tion of substances which the physician prescribes, and
which are required to be kept at one safe and uniform
standard of strength and composition, some remedies
may have been retained in it which have ceased to be in
general use, and others introduced the value of which,
although well attested, has not yet been generally
recognized.” Therefore the Pharmacopoeia is the index
or the dictionary by which chemists interpret the pre¬
scriptions of medical men. For that purpose it is
published and for that purpose it should be used. But I
submit that we are not to be drawn here on summonses
charged with prejudicing the purchaser because we sell
to him an article which, although not contained in the
Pharmacopoeia, is well known throughout the whole
country as a useful household remedy. We are not by
any Act of Parliament bound to that Pharmacopoeia for
our preparations, except in one particular, and that is
when by the Pharmacy Act we are bound to observe the
formularies of the British Pharmacopoeia when preparing

medicines mentioned therein. But that Act does not
prohibit us from selling other medicines not contained in
the Pharmacopoeia. There are many most valuable
remedies not mentioned in the Pharmacopoeia which are
sold in very large quantities. These are not contained in
the Pharmacopoeia because they are rarely if ever pre¬
scribed by medical men, and they therefore obviously
have no place in a book which is the dictionary by which
the chemist interprets what the medical man requires.
The prosecution, on the other hand, insists upon our
selling only the spiritus setheris nitrosi of the British
Pharmacopoeia, and we are charged with fraud and
with selling a spurious article to make additional
profit, and that we have, by selling it, brought ourselves
within the meaning of the section. We say that the
old preparation called sweet spirits of nitre of the spe¬
cific gravity of -850, may be legally made and legally
sold. It has been known for more than a century, and
I shall show, by the custom of the trade, that whereas
the public are well satisfied with the old preparation, they
are not satisfied with the new one, they will not have sweet
spirits of nitre superseded by the spirits of nitrous ether
of the British Pharmacopoeia. They complain of its
taste, they complain of its appearance, they complain
of its smell, and in proof of this I shall call before
you the defendant, who will say that within his own
knowledge, when he has sold the British Pharmacopoeia
preparation, it has been brought back to him by the
customer to whom he has supplied it, with a request that
the old preparation may be given to him instead. I
shall also prove by the evidence of representatives of large
wholesale houses that where one gallon of the British
Pharmacopoeia article is supplied, they supply 30 gallons
of the old preparation. I shall call before you townsmen
of your own who will prove that when they were in
business, people would have the old preparation and not the
new one. I shall call Professor Attfield who will describe
the process of manufacture of both articles, and will
also give you particulars as to the samples sent to him,
and will report that he found the sealed sample in this
case to be a good sample of sweet spirits of nitre.

H. C. Bennett, the defendant, said he was a chemist
and druggist in business in Stockport. He had been in
business here nearly three years. Witness recollected the
inspector coming to his shop. He asked for 4 ounces
of sweet spirit of nitre, and paid Is. 4 d. for it. Witness
served him with the article commonly sold as sweet spirits
of nitre. That article was in constant request by the
public. He had supplied the British Pharmacopoeia pre¬
paration to his customers, and it was constantly brought
back, complaint being made about it; in every case cus¬
tomers complained of it being too strong, of its burning
their throats, and its unpleasant smell, and they said they
did not like it so well as the old preparation.

Magistrates’ Clerk : Is it taken in the same state as you
sell it ? — It is usually diluted with water, but in some in¬
stances it is taken as sold.

Examination continued.

If a prescription were presented to you containing the
words spiritus setheris nitrosi, what would you dispense ?
— The British Pharmacopoeia preparation.

You keep both preparations in stock then ? — I do.

From whom and when did you purchase the nitre sold
in this case? — From Messrs. Evans, Sons and Co., Liver¬
pool, in May last.

Did you supply it in precisely the same way as you re¬
ceived it ? — In precisely the same condition.

Cross-examined by the Town Clerk.

What is the difference in the price of these prepara¬
tions ? — The price is 3s. and 3s. Ad. per pound respec¬
tively.

You say people have asked you for sweet spirits of nitre,
that you have supplied them the British Pharmacopoeia
preparation and they have brought it back ? — Yes.

Why did you give them the British Pharmacopoeia pre¬
paration unless you were satisfied in your own mind that

126

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 7, 1$80.

that was the proper thing to sell ? — I thought the British
Pharmacopoeia was the better form of the two.

Do you make a difference in the price? — No.

Do you think tho British Pharmacopoeia preparation is
the more beneficial of the two?- No.

Magistrates’ Clerk : But you say in your opinion that of
the British Pharmacopoeia is made by a better form, must it
not consequently be a better preparation ? — I think the
British Pharmacopoeia nitre is a superior article in one
sense, but not in another.

Magistrates’ Clerk : But if the British Pharmacopoeia
preparation is superior, the other article must be inferior.

Re-examined by Mr. Glaisyer.

Your reason for selling sweet spirits of nitre of a
specific gravity *850, prepared by the old form, is that
your customers will not have the other? — Yes.

Then you must either sell that article or go without
their custom? — Yes.

Have you recently attempted to supply the British
Pharmacopoeia preparation when sweet spirits of nitre
was asked for? — No ; I gave it up some time since,
people would not have it.

Professor Attfield, F.R.S., examined by Mr. Glaisyer.

What, in your opinion, is sweet spirits of nitre? —
There are two distinct varieties of sweet spirits of nitre.
Medical men and pharmacists know that there are two
varieties, viz., the article named in the British Pharma¬
copoeia, spiritus tetheris nitrosi or spirits of nitrous ether,
and that made from materials stated in older Pharma¬
copoeias. They are both prepared in similar apparatus,
but from somewhat different materials. The British
Pharmacopoeia variety is made from four materials,
spirits of wine, nitric acid, copper and sulphuric acid.
The older variety is made from spirits of wine and
nitric acid only. The older variety is made with materials
mentioned in the Pharmacopoeias of 1809, 1836 and 1851,
and in these three Pharmacopoeias, the ingredients ordered
are the same, the proportions of the ingredients are also
practically the same, and the process is practically the
same ; but the product, as obtained by makers who use
this old process, is a better product than that described
in those Pharmacopoeias.

Please give me the reason for that ? — The three
old Pharmacopoeias I have mentioned direct that a
certain proportion of product be obtained, and if that
proportion only is obtained then the product is very little
better than spirits of wine, but if the makers “draw
over,” as they call it, a larger product, then that product
is far superior in medicinal properties to the products
mentioned in the Pharmacopoeias. The product described
in the three old Pharmacopoeias would be of a specific
gravity of *834; the improved product obtained by the
makers using that old process but drawing over more
than is therein ordered would have a specific gravity of
'850. To my knowledge there is a large demand for this
article, and I think it would be a serious matter if,
the supply being stopped, chemists were prohibited from
retailing an article for which there is a legitimate
public demand.

Reverting to the case now under the consideration of
the bench, did you receive a sealed sample of the sweet
spirits of nitre in question ?— I received on the 5th J uly
from Mr. Bennett, the defendant in this case, the sealed
sample referred to, it was marked “B. No. 2. 3. VI. 80.”
I analysed the contents of the bottle and compared it
with samples made by myself.

What was the result of your comparison ? — The article
sold was quite as good as my standard samples. It was
. a good sample of sweet spirits of nitre. It was as good
in appearance, flavour, and odour, and answered as well
to tests and in the matter of specific gravity.

What did you find the specific gravity to be ? — The
specific gravity was '850, as in my opinion it should be if
the maker knows his business.

The analyst says he found the specific gravity to be
*844, can you account for that ? — I heard the analyst’s

evidence and consider that he obtained figures which
were too low, because the temperature at which he operated
was too high. It should have been 60° Eahr. instead of 64§.

Would that account for the difference in the specific
gravity found by the borough analyst and yourself ? — It
would do so partly, but, secondly, I consider he worked
on too small a quantity.

Then as regards the percentage of nitrous ether, the
borough analyst says in his certificate that sweet spirits
of nitre should contain 3 per cent, of nitrous ether ? — No
one knows what the percentage should be, there is no
standard, no recognized standard of any kind.

Chairman of the Bench : That is to sa.y, according to
different authorities, it varies from two to five, or even
I suppose seven per cent., for I see in a new American
work on materia medica, Dr. Wood, one of the best
authorities, states that it should contain seven per
cent.

Witness : There is no means of ascertaining the quan¬
tity of pure nitrous ether contained in a sample of
sweet spirits of nitre. One of the Pharmacopoeia tests
provides for the separation of a certain fluid “in the
form of nitrous ether,” or, as amended in a reprint, “ in
the form of an ethereal fluid.” To my knowledge that
alteration was made because the liquid, first stated to be
“ nitrous ether,” was admitted by the authorities issuing
the Pharmacopoeia to be something besides “nitrous
ether.” The ethereal fluid separated is not pure nitrous
ether. My own experiments have shown that not half
of it is nitrous ether.

Examination continued.

Is there any satisfactory way of ascertaining the quan¬
tity of nitrous ether present in a given sample of spirits
of nitre ? — I have tried all the processes yet proposed,
including the one employed by the borough analyst. Not
one is trustworthy. I have tried to devise a good process,
and have failed. The chief weak points in the process
named by the analyst are those admitted by himself, and
referred to by Dr. Dupre : there is no moment when the
action of the colour test can be said to stop, and other
constituents interfere and may give too high a result.
The statement, relied on by the borough analyst, that
3 per cent, of nitrous ether is the standard proportion
sweet spirits of nitre should contain is a mere opinion,
and, like Dr. Dupre’s process, not founded on any pub¬
lished experiments on ptire solutions of nitrous ether.

The analyst says that by the process he adopted he
found 1T5 per cent, of pure nitrous ether present. Would
the test mentioned in the Pharmacopoeia include any
other ethereal substance that happened to be present ? —
Yes. I do not place any reliance on the process by which
the analyst obtained his percentage of nitrous ether.
There might have been more there or less; the process
is untrustworthy.

Chairman of the Bench: Is the specific gravity any
satisfactory means of forming an opinion on spirits of nitre ?

Witness: The specific gravity is an indication as to
which of the two varieties a particular sample may be.

Even specific gravity would vary? — Undoubtedly.

Old preparations would not, of course, give the same
results as those recently prepared? — Certainly not.

Age would alter the results? — Yes; the preparation is
unstable and to that extent it is unsatisfactory whether
made by the old or the new process, but neither the maker
nor the seller can be responsible for that.

Examination continued.

Now, as to the variation in percentage of nitrous ether
being to the prejudice of the purchaser? — Medical
authorities are not agreed as to the exact substance or
substances to which the medicinal properties of spiritus
aetheris nitrosi are due. They may be due to nitrous
ether, to aldehyd, to other ethereal bodies, or to a com¬
bination of these substances.

Cross-examined by the Town Clerk.

How is sweet spirits of nitre described in the old
Pharmacopoeias ? — The words sweet spirits of nitre first

I

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 127

August 7, 1880.]

| -

came officially from the Pharmacopoeia of 1746. It is
written in Latin and the name is spiritus nitri dulcis.

You said there were two varieties. Is not one of
these described in the Pharmacopoeias as spiritus cetheris
nitrosi? — Spiritus setheris nitrosi, B.P., is the modern
variety of sweet spirits of nitre, which the majority of
the public do not like.

Magistrates’ Clerk : Is there any other Latin name now
in use except that of the British Pharmacopoeia, because
the defendant stated in his evidence that he dispensed
the British Pharmacopoeia article when spirits of nitre
w'as ordered in a physician’s prescription; he went further
than that, and said that he had tried to sell the British
Pharmacopoeia preparation to his customers; now why
did he adopt that course unless he thought it would be
necessary for him to adhere to the new Pharmacopoeia ?

Witness : I think he was right in so doing. Druggists
desire to be loyal to new Pharmacopoeias. But if the
public will not have preparations therein ordered, then
druggists, in my opinion, are quite within the law in
selling the artiele which the public does demand.

Chairman of the Bench : The Court is quite satisfied
in its mind that Mr. Bennett loyally adhered to the
! British Pharmacopoeia in dispensing physicians’ pre-
j scriptions.

Witness: Yes, but beyond that he has, and I believe
all druggists have tried, not only to dispense, but to sell
in retail trade the British Pharmacopoeia spirits of nitre.
Many of them, however, have given up the endeavour
because the public will not have the new variety.

Chairman of the Bench: We are to understand, I
think, that the old mode of preparation was in use until
the new Pharmacopoeia was issued by the authority of
the Medical Council, and that the mode of preparation
was then altered.

Cross-examination continued.

You mentioned three Pharmacopoeias, what are they? —
They are the official London Pharmacopoeias, such books
as are used by all medical practitioners in England.

Until abolished by the recent Pharmacopoeia, I
suppose? — They are not in every sense abolished, they
remain as authorities for the medicines contained in
them.

Did you test the sample in question by all the tests
mentioned in the British Pharmacopoeia? — I did not,
because some of those tests are untrustworthy.

Then you say it is impossible to find out whether this
article is pure or not ? — I say it is impossible according to
the present state of our knowledge to ascertain what pro¬
portion of pure nitrous ether is in it.

What proportion of nitrous ether do you say it should
l contain? — I do not know, no one knows there is no
standard.

Mr. Walthew : With regard to the article in question,
did you find it equal to the one you made yourself, and
that you considered pure ? — I did, sir.

Then further, do you consider the article which you have
been speaking of detrimental to health ? — Most certainly not.

Is it inferior in quality ? — It is not.

Pure according to all known tests ? — Yes.

Cross-examination continued.

How did you prepare your pure samples ? — Some ac¬
cording to the process mentioned in the old Pharmacopoeias,
and some according to the new Pharmacopoeia.

What did you find the specific gravity to be? — The
specific gravity of the preparation made according to the
old formula was *850 -

Yes, but the specific gravity mentioned in the recog-
: nized British Pharmacopoeia is *845. Is the specific gravity
no test of its goodness ? — To a certain extent.

Do its medicinal properties depend on the quality of
nitrous ether it contains ? — In a measure, probably.

Do you also attribute the medicinal powers of this pre¬
paration to other ingredients than nitrous ether ? — I do.

What authorities can you give for that ? — I have not
books here that will show you, but I can assure you |

authorities differ as to the source of the medicinal proper¬
ties of sweet spirits of nitre.

Magistrates’ Clerk : Supposing the analyst had told you
in this case that the result of his analysis had been to find
only '77 per cent, of nitrous ether, and that the specific
gravity of the sample was scarcely '840 ? — I should have
said that I placed no reliance on his figures showing the
percentage of nitrous ether, and secondly that the analyst
had made a mistake in the specific gravity, because he did
not take it at the temperature ordered by the Pharma¬
copoeia.

Would a difference of i\° in the temperature of the
liquid at which a specific gravity was taken materially
interfere with the result ?— That and working on too
small a quantity would fully account for the difference
between the borough analyst’s figures and mine.

But can you alter a specific gravity ? — Yes, you can
increase or decrease the specific gravity of a liquid by
departing from the proper temperature.

Then specific gravity is no test to go by ? — Specific
gravity is an indication of the relative weight of a prepa¬
ration, and as the specific gravity when properly taken was
right in this case, it is so far an indication that the
defendant’s artiele was pure.

What quantity did you take for the experiments ?—
Twenty-five grains, all that the inspector gave to the
defendant.

So that if he used too small a quantity you did the
same ? — Not so, he used only a fifth as much as I did.

Why should he make an error in using a small
quantity ? — Because the smaller the quantity the more is
the personal error of observation multiplied in referring
the result to 1000; henee commonly 1000 grains are used
when that quantity can be had.

Re-examined by Mr. Glaisyer.

You were asked a question by the magistrates’ clerk as to
what you would say of a sample containing only '77 per
cent, of nitrous ether and of a specific gravity of ’840.
Now, can you state with regard to the sample in question
that it answered the tests which you applied to it in
comparison with what you manufactured yourself ? — I do,
and it was equally good, and its specific gravity was *850.

Then the certificate of the analyst on that sample is
incorrect ? — Yes.

Charles Umney, a partner in the firm of Messrs. Wright,
Layman and Umney, of Southwark Street, London, said
his firm made, amongst other things, spiritus setheris
nitrosi. They made it of a specific gravity of '845, and
another variety of sweet spirits of nitre of a specific gravity
*850. He agreed with what Professor Attfield had stated
as to the process for making this preparation, and with
the conclusions at which he had arrived.

You say you prepare both varieties ; then of course
you sell both varieties ? — We prepare and sell both. The
old preparation of specific gravity '850 was in very much
greater demand than the other, and unquestionably in a
densely populated district the demand would be ten times
greater for the one than the other. There is a difference
in flavour, colour and odour.

Cross examined by the Town Clerk.

You describe both your varieties as spiritus setheris
nitrosi ? — On price currents Latin terms are used. That
would not always be interpreted strictly.

Do you know that manufacturers charge a different
price for the two preparations, and that the British Phar¬
macopoeia article is more expensive than the other ? —
Manufacturers should obtain a better price for the British
Pharmacopoeia preparation, because the process of manu¬
facture is somewhat complicated, and not free from dan¬
ger when it is made in large quantities, and consequently
manufacturers do charge more for this preparation ; but
the actual difference is not more than 3d. or 4d. per
pound, say one farthing per ounce wholesale.

Re-examined by Mr. Glaisyer.

Are you now wholly unconnected with this case except
as a witness ? — I am. It matters nothing to me as a

128

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 7, 1880.

>

manufacturer as to which way this case may be decided,
we only make what the public require.

Michael Conroy, manager for Messrs. Evans, Sons
and Co., stated that the firm supplied defendant with
sweet spirits of nitre in May last : the specific gravity
of the article was ‘850.

Do you make more than one preparation of spirits of
nitre ? — Yes; we make sweet spirits of nitre of a specific
gravity ‘850, and we also make the spirits of nitrous
ether of the British Pharmacopoeia.

For which have you the larger demand ? — We probably
manufacture from 120 to 130 gallons per week of the old
preparation compared with 3 or 4 gallons of the British
Pharmacopoeia preparation.

Do you sell the old preparation because you make more
profit out of that ? — We make less profit per gallon by
that article.

Daniel Woolley, pharmaceutical chemist carrying on
business at 2, Millgate, Stockport, stated that he had
been in business there since 1844. Had sold as sweet
spirits of nitre from that time to the present the old
preparation, specific gravity *850. Kept the British
Pharmacopoeia preparation and used it when ordered in
prescriptions. From his experience a customer, asking
for sweet spirits of nitre, wanted to have the ‘850 nitre,
and would not have the other.

Harvey Lowndes, pharmaceutical chemist, 7, Hall
Street, Stockport, had carried on business as a chemist
in the town from 1842 until 1876 : supposing a person
asked for sweet spirits of nitre, would supply him with
the ‘850 preparation.

R. M. Sumner, a partner in the firm of Messrs. Sumner
and Co., wholesale druggists and manufacturers, at Liver¬
pool, said he was wholly unconnected with this case except
as a witness. He made and sold both the preparations
of sweet spirits of nitre. Sold by far the larger quantity
of ‘850 nitre, ordinarily known as sweet spirits of nitre.

Cross-examined by the Town Clerk.

Do you supply hospitals ? — Yes.

What do you send to them? — The specific gravity is
usually specified on the order.

Mr. Glaisyer: That’s my case. May I ask the bench
if they will require to ask Professor Attfield any further
questions, as he wishes to catch his train to London.

Chairman of the Bench: I think not. I am sure he
has given his evidence very clearly and concisely.

The Magistrates retired, and on their return into Court
the Chairman said: The Court think the weight of
evidence is in favour of the defendant, and, therefore
they dismiss the case.

Mr. Glaisyer applied for costs.

The Magistrates’ Clerk (to the Town Clerk): Then you
withdraw the cases against Eyre, Cooper, Thornwaite
and Appleby.

The Town Clerk : Yes ; there being a difficulty in
selecting, the committee took out a number of summonses,
not that they were anxious for a number of convictions,
but that they did not wish to be invidious.

Dr. Downs : In regard to the application for costs, the
Magistrates must, as well as they can, protect the
expenses of the county.

Magistrates’ Clerk : Are not you bound, under a certain
analysis, to institute proceedings ?

Town Clerk : I think we are.

Magistrates’ Clerk : In spirits and milk there is no option
whatever, there is no alternative but to institute a prose¬
cution; and if it is so as regards drugs, it is a sufficient
justification for a prosecution.

Mr. Glaisyer (referring to the Act) : It is optional.

The Chairman : The Court is of opinion that any
prosecution in such cases is equally for the benefit of the
chemists and druggists as for the public ; and as this is a
test case we must restrict the amount of the costs to be
allowed, and we think £10 a good allowance under those
circumstances. This, however, must not be taken as any
precedent in this Court for allowing costs in future.

gispcushrg Iftemonwtra:.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose salce partly this column ivas established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[435J. Can you inform me the best mode of incorpo¬
rating “ eserine sulphate ” with lard or vaseline into a
smooth ointment ? It is too costly to experiment upon.

J. J.

[436]. Would any experienced dispenser kindly say
what excipient he has found to be the best for making
up small quantities of pulv. ext. coloc. co. or of the pulv.
pil. coloc. co. into a mass for pills? Water, syrup,
glycerine, tragacanth, paste, have all been tried, but
with these excipients the pills either become so hard as
to be insoluble or in a very short time lose their shape.

Tyro.

[437]. P. T. W. will be glad to know what colour the
ointment in the following prescription should be : —

K Zinci Oxydi . gr. 40.

Acidi Carbolici . gr. 10.

TTng. Hyd. Nitratis .

Ung. Benzoat . fffv.

01. Lavand . litxx.

M. ft. ung.

P. T. W., who was informed by the physician who
prescribed it that it should be yellow, found upon mixing
by heat it became a dark slate colour. He then rubbed
the ingredients together on the slabs, producing a light
grey coloured ointment, which in the course of half an
hour assumed the tint obtained in the first process. He
used ung. zinci, B.P. , in place of the zinci oxid. and ung.
benz.

[438]. Can any reader inform me of a better excipient
for pepsine pills than glycerine.

Nemo.

Comspaittreita.

“ Student .” — The provisions of the Act apply only to
Great Britain. — For some particulars as to the condition of
pharmacy in South Africa, see vol. x., pp. 300 and 340.

Associate. — See the Journal for June 19, p. 1031.

J. H. Dingle. — (1) Cladonia uncialis. (2) Stereo caulon
corallinum. (3) Splicer ophoron corralloides. (4) Cladonia
rangiferina. (5) Lecanosa tartarea. (6) Cladonia
furcata.

R. L. G. — Our disability in respect to the name is as
great as your own.

J. H. Edward. — The ingredients of the mixture could
not be separated as chlorides. See Fresenius’ ‘Quantitative
Chemical Analysis/ for method for separating gold from
platinum.

D. Grant. — We do not think the object can be obtained
by any means short of a surgioal operation.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Dens, T. Ronchetti, M. L. R., G. Wilkinson, W. K. G.,
Locum Tenens, P. H. Davies, T. W., Professor Landerer,
W. F. Haydon, H. T., H. R. Arnold, Enquirer, Apprentice,
R. C. H., Embryo.

The length of the report of the Stockport case compels us
to defer until next week the publication of a number of
other communications.

August 14, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

129

PAPAINE.*

’ BY A WURTZ.

In a former paper f the author described, in con¬
junction with Dr. Bouchut, a ferment which they
had prepared by precipitating with alcohol the
aqueous portion of the milky juice of Carica papaya
after the formation of a coagulum, and to which
they gave the name 11 psfpalne.” It was at the same
time stated that it appeared probable that a fresh
quantity of papaine was formed by the action of
water upon the coagulum. In the present paper
M. Wurtz describes the experiments undertaken with
the object of settling this and other points.

125 grams of papaw juice obtained by incision of
the green fruit were filtered and the residue pressed.
The solution precipitated by alcohol yielded 0*89
gram of a papaine very rich in ash, and containing —
deduction being made of the ash — 45 ’62 per cent, of
carbon and 6*72 per cent, of hydrogen.

The pressed pulp was triturated in a mortar with
125 grams of water, and after twenty-four hours
thrown upon a filter. The residue upon the filter
was triturated with a fresh quantity of 90 grams
of water. The two liquors, concentrated in a
vacuum with the addition of a few drops of prussic
acid, yielded 2*3 grams of papaine. After these two
washings, the pulp, already much reduced, was sub¬
mitted to two fresh washings with water (first with
142 c.c. and then with 150 c.c.), and the liquors,
united and concentrated in a vacuum, still yielded
IT gram of papaine, being a larger proportion than
yielded by the original juice. This papaine, which
digested fibrin energetically, contained (deduction
being made for ash) carbon, 4977, and hydrogen,
7-21 per cent. It therefore presented a composition
differing from that of the ferment dissolved in the
original juice.

After these four washings, the white pulpy resi¬
due, not very much being left, was again digested
with 50 c.c. of water, and the water afterwards
placed with 10 grams of moist fibrin. At the end
of two days only 8 grams of fibrin remained, and the
liquid, after filtration, was precipitated slightly by
nitric acid ; the fifth wash water, therefore, still
contained a small quantity of ferment. After these
five washings there only remained 5 grams of moist
pulp, representing 0*564 gram of dry matter. 2*5
grams of this pulp put to digest with 10 grams of
moist fibrin at 50° C., left at the end of two days
only 6 grams of moist fibrin, and the filtered liquid
gave an abundant precipitate with nitric acid.

In another experiment 100 grams of juice obtained
by incision of the fruit were suspended in water,
forming a thick pulp, which was washed three times
Avith water. The washings were added to the first
liquor and the whole concentrated in a vacuum and
precipitated by alcohol. The papaine (No. I.) so
obtained, which was very white, was analysed. The
pulp that remained upon the filter was suspended
in a large quantity of water. After filtration the
liquid concentrated in a vacuum yielded a fresh
quantity of papaine (No. II.), which contained, as
in the previous case, a larger quantity of carbon. X

* Comptes Rendus, vol. xc., p. 1379.
t See Pharmaceutical Journal, [3], rol. x., p. 283.

X Analyses of the pulp exhausted by water, alcohol and
ether gave variable results. This residue still contained
nitrogen.

Third Series, No. 52§.

Deduction made

I.

II.

for ash.

" I. IL

Carbon . .

. 42*21

44*18

4690 48*55

Hydrogen .

. 6*28

6*28

6*99 6*90

Oxygen . .

. 10*00

9*00

— —

It is therefore demonstrated that the pulp, after

being freed by washing from soluble ferment that
may be adherent to it, still yields, by the action of
water, a ferment capable of digesting fibrin. It may
be recalled here that the gastric ferment appears to
be contained under an insoluble form in the pepsini¬
ferous glands, for these do not yield it to pure water.

The analyses just quoted show that the soluble
ferment of Carica papaya, such as is obtained in pre¬
cipitating by alcohol the aqueous solution containing
it, is not of a constant composition. Numerous ana¬
lyses of crude papaine have, in fact, given very diver¬
gent results in respect to the proportions of carbon
and nitrogen, the carbon varying between 46 and 53
er cent, and the nitrogen between 14 and 1 8 per cent,,
eduction being made for ash. The proportion of ash
varied also ; generally it was high, amounting to 4 per
cent, and even more ; in one case it amounted to 20
per cent. It was ascertained that the ash consisted
chiefly of phosphate of lime; it yielded soluble salt
to water, and sulphuric acid and a small quantity of
potash have been noticed.

It follows from the foregoing that alcohol precipi¬
tates from papaw juice, fresh or digested with water,
a principle of variable composition. This would not
be surprising, as the ferment might be mixed with
other amorphous principles, especially with albumi¬
noid substances, modified by its action, i.e., peptones.
These peptones being more dialysable than the fer¬
ment itself, it might be hoped that the ferment would
concentrate on the dialyser. Experience has shown,
in fact, that the residue from dialysis yields a
ferment richer in carbon, and not containing more
than 1 to 3 or 4 per cent, of ash. The following are
some analyses of the ferment so purified. It may
be remarked that the white precipitate obtained by
alcohol was exhausted by ether, then dried in a
vacuum at 75°.

Papaine, purified by dialysis, deduction made for ash*
Carbon . . 50*77 51*80 50*70 52*77

Hydrogen • 7*23 6*71 7*50 7*47

Nitrogen . . — * — — 15*17

These analyses show that the product purified by
dialysis approaches in its composition that of albu¬
minoid substances, and this analogy is strengthened
by the fact that papaine contains rather a large
proportion of sulphur, in two specimens there having
been found 2*61 and 2*2 per cent, respectively*

The preceding analyses presented too much diver¬
gence to allow of the conclusion that the product is
definite and homogeneous. Another mode of purifi¬
cation was therefore attempted. Albumen ana pep¬
tones being precipitated by subacetate of lead it was
hoped to separate them by this reagent, which pre¬
cipitates crude papaine incompletely. To such a
solution, therefore, subacetate of lead was carefully
added until a portion after filtration no longer gave
a precipitate. The precipitate was separated and a
current of sulphuretted hydrogen passed into the

* The experiments were made with products that had
been submitted to lengthened dialysis and should not have
retained any more sulphate, but the figures obtained re¬
quire to be checked.

130

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 14, 1880.

filtrate. This was blackened, but the lead sulphide
was not precipitated in flocks. To separate it the
liquid was concentrated in a vacuum, and alcohol
added to it drop by drop so as to carry down the
lead sulphide with the first portions of the papaine
precipitated. The deposit having been separated by
filtration the clear liquid yielded to alcohol a white
precipitate of papaine. Two experiments made upon
crude papaine from different sources yielded speci¬
mens of purified papaine, which after exhaustion with
ether and drying at 75° C. in a vacuum, gave, de¬
duction being made for ash —

I.

11.

. III.

•Carbon . .

52-36

52T9

52-9

Hydrogen .

7-37

7T2

—

Nitrogen

16-94

16-40

16-44

Ash . . .

2-60

4-22

3-40

The sulphur was not estimated, sulphuretted hy¬
drogen having been used during the operation. A
third specimen contained 1 per cent, less of carbon,
- when submitted to dialysis during twenty-four hours
it gave the figures stated under III.

It may be added that O'l gram of specimen III.
digested energetically 5 grams of moist fibrine, even
after having been heated to 105° C.

M. Wurtz considers that the preceding analyses
demonstrate that the digestive ferment of Carica
papaya, named “ papaine ” by himself and M. Bou-
chut, possesses the composition of an albuminoid
substance. To the characters previously attributed
to this substance he adds the following, which relate
to papaine purified by subacetate of lead.

It is very soluble in water, in which it is capable
of dissolving in less than its own weight, after the
manner of a gum. The solution, even when dilute,
forms upon agitation an abundant froth. The crude
papaine redissolved leaves sometimes an insoluble
white residue.

Solution of papaine becomes turbid upon boiling,
without coagulating like albumen. . When left to
itself during several days it also becomes turbid, and
if then examined under a microscope is found to be
full of vibriones and bacilla.

It gives an abundant precipitate with hydrochloric
acid, and the precipitate dissolves readily in excess
of the acid.

Nitric acid, added in small quantity, precipitates
thick yellowish flocks that dissolve in excess of the
acid.

Neither ordinary phosphoric acid nor acetic acid
precipitate it, but metaphosphoric acid gives a
plentiful precipitate.

Prussiate of potash added to acetic acid gives a
precipitate.

Corrosive sublimate does not precipitate imme¬
diately the solution of pure papaine, or only gives a
slight turbidity ; after a time the turbidity becomes
more apparent. Upon boiling an abundant flocculent
precipitate is formed.

Plumbic subacetate does not give a precipitate or
only causes a slight turbidity, soluble in an excess of
the reagent. If excess of potash be added to the
liquor and it be heated it becomes blackened in con¬
sequence of the formation of sulphide of lead.

Sulphate of copper gives a violet precipitate,
which becomes blue upon boiling and dissolves in
potash with a beautiful blue colour.

_ Chloride of platinum gives an abundant pre¬
cipitate as also does tannic acid.

Picric acid gives an abundant precipitate insoluble
in excess of the reagent.

Millen’s reagent gives a plentiful yellowish-white
precipitate that becomes brick red when slightly
heated.

These characters, as will be seen, are those of albu¬
minoid matters, with some variations, especially in
respect to corrosive sublimate and subacetate of lead.

In its action upon albuminoid matters papaine
approaches the pancreatic ferment named “trypsine”
by M. Kiihne, who has made a careful study of it.
Unlike pepsine, trypsine appears to approach the
albuminoid matters ; its action upon the latter
appears to be more energetic than that of papaine.
Papaine dissolves large quantities of fibrin rapidly,
even in a neutral liquid ; but to get a liquor that
will not give a precipitate with nitric acid it is
necessary to use a relatively large quantity of
papaine, — for example, 0'3 gram for 10 grams of
moist fibrin, — and to prolong the digestion at 50° C.
during twenty-four hours. In this case there re¬
mains only an insignificant residue of dyspeptone,
very rich in mineral matters, and the filtered solu¬
tion gives with nitric acid only a slight turbidity
that may be due to an excess of the ferment. More¬
over, in all these digestions, besides the bodies pre-
cipitable by nitric acid and by alcohol, there is
formed a certain quantity of more hydrated
peptones that are soluble in ordinary alcohol,
especially with heat.

The rapidity with which solutions of papaine
become filled with microbes induced M. Wurtz to
ascertain whether they intervene in the rapid lique¬
faction of fibrin by this ferment, but he finds that
nothing of the kind occurs.

The solution of fibrin by papaine takes place in the
presence of prussic acid, boric acid, and even carbolic
acid ; that is to say, in conditions that exclude the
formation of microbes.

In conclusion, M. Wurtz adds that he has separated
from the juice of Carica papaya a fatty saponifiable
substance and a crystallizable nitrogenous principle
in white mamelons. These remain in solution in
the liquor from which crude papaine has been pre¬
cipitated. Further information on this subject will
be given in a future paper.

COCCUS RED *

BY R. BOTHER.

Take of —

Cochineal (whole) ....

Alum, in fine powder . .
Citric acid ......

Chlorhydric acid ....

Ammonia water, 16 to 18

per cent . .

Alcohol, strong ....

8 troy ounces.
2 „

1 „

1 fluid

1)

2i

f)

»

Disodium carbonate, sodium chloride and water, of each
sufficient. Mix the chlorhydric acid and two troy ounces
of sodium chloride with forty-four fluid ounces of water
and pour the solution upon the cochineal contained in a
suitable vessel. After macerating the mixture for two
days, with occasional stirring, decant the liquid and set it
aside. On the residue pour thirty-two fluid ounces of
water, and after a two days’ maceration, as before, again
decant the liquid and unite it with the previous decantate.
The residue is now again mixed with thirty-two fluid ounces
of water containing eight troy ounces of sodium chloride
in solution, and after having macerated for two days the

* From the Pharmacist and Chemist , June, 1880.

■I

.

August 14, 1850.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

131

mixture is poured into a strainer and subjected to strong
pressure. The colate is now incorporated with the
mixture of the first two macerates, and the resulting
liquid after a sufficient repose is decanted from the
sediment. Dissolve the alum in the clear decantate and
add the ammonia water, pour the mixture upon a plain
filter and then wash the collected precipitate with water
until practically freed from saline solution. Dissolve the
citric acid in four fluid ounces of water and add disodium
carbonate in large crystals until the effervescence of
carbonic oxide ceases. In this solution now dissolve
the washed aluminum carminate with a gentle heat, add
water to the measure of twenty-eight fluid ounces, then
the alcohol, and mix.

In a former discussion of this topic the writer pointed
out the various defects of the usual method by which
cochineal colouring is prepared, and then submitted a new
process, in which diverse drawbacks of the older operation
did not occur. But the otherwise admirable features of
the improved formula were not sufficiently potent to over¬
come the radical faults dependent upon the intrinsic
character of the incorporated components. In order to
achieve a result more thoroughly representative of the
pure colouring principle, in an unincumbered, more
definite and permanent form, the writer dissected the
formula, as it were, and independently examined the
several parts as to their behaviour and appropriateness in
this connection.

Since the dibasic carminic acid solely possesses the
tinctorial property of cochineal, the endeavour was
directed towards its expeditious and complete elimination
from the attendant inert, cumbrous, and putrescible
matters constituting the body of the insect. Chlorhydric
acid with sodium chloride in weak aqueous solution,
followed by a saturated solution of sodium chloride, by
means of remaceration, was found the most satisfactory
and efficient agent for rendering a preliminary separation
of the carminic acid from the gross of the matrix. The
7i. <x . of cochineal with a weak acidulated salt solution is
1-5, but a saturated solution of sodium chloride causes the
distended material to shrink and submit to subsequent
pressure to such an extent that the nearly exhausted shell
weighs after pressing less than the original substance.
Thus, through the readily solvent action of the first men¬
struum, the absorbent and contractive property of the last
and the self-clarifying tendency of the mixed macerates,
the first desideratum was attained.

As carminic acid alone does not constitute the tinctorial
agent of cochineal colouring, or coccus red, its simple
isolation from the crude extraction is not the immediate
aim ; but as aluminum carminate is the objective body
next in view, the succeeding step lies in that direction.
Aluminum carminate is of variable composition, not only
by virtue of the basicity of the acid, but also through the
peculiarity of the metallic radical. The desirable com¬
pound in this case is, however, obtained without difficulty
by treating the crude solution first with alum and then
with ammonia. The normal carminate is slightly soluble
in water, but is rendered insoluble by the employment of
a moderate excess of alum, whereby insoluble basic
carminate is produced.

Further progress in the operation now consists in bring¬
ing the aluminum carminate into an available solution.
This is effected by the agency of monad salts of certain
vegetable acids, resulting, however, in a closer union than
mere solution and the generation of a double salt having
that rich red tint characteristic of coccus red. Normal
sodium citrate is the most adaptable solvent, and hence
the writer has incorporated it with the new formula.
Alcohol is added as before to obviate septic degeneration,
which would otherwise occur.

The new formula also admits of greater concentration
than was heretofore possible. The proportion above
adopted is one troy ounce of cochineal in four fluid ounces.
A solution double this strength is originally obtained
after solution of the precipitate. The dry compound may

also be prepared by precipitating the concentrated solution
with alcohol or spreading it on glass plates, thereby
obtaining it either as a pinkish powder or in dark red
scales.

The aluminum carminate obtained by precipitation from
the crude solution as above directed is a dark purple-red
powder, soluble in acids and alkalies, yielding with the
first bright scarlet, with the second deep purple solutions.
Yet any solution of a carminate, in whatever degree of
acidulation, when diluted with water to a certain point*
changes suddenly from scarlet to purple, or deep pink,
according to the amount of carminate present. Dilution
with alcohol in the same manner does not alter the colour,
but subsequent addition of water immediately turns it to
pink. Aluminum carminate is- also soluble in aluminum
citrate with a purple colour. Previous to the adoption
of the writer’s new formula for coccus red it was the
intention to prepare and utilize the aluminum citro-carmi-
nate to the exclusion of monad radicals, but the undesir¬
able purple tint would not permit of its application. In
order to produce the necessary aluminum citrate a hot
concentrated solution of disodium carbonate was treated
with powdered alum, so as to insure a slight excess of the
former. After washing the rather voluminous precipitate
until barium chloride no longer disturbed the washings, it
was added to a proportionate amount of citric acid. A
barely perceptible effervescence of carbonic oxide took
place, but the aid of a gentle heat expelled it with pro¬
fusion until solution was complete, which speedily resulted.
This analogy was to be expected, since if a ferric hydro¬
carbonate could appear under such conditions nmch more
certain must then be the generation of the corresponding
aluminum compound. Normal aluminum citrate does not
appear to be a permanent salt, since a solution containing
one-fourth salt readily deposits crystals of a basic com¬
pound on standing a few days in a cool place or when
allowed to evaporate spontaneously.

Whilst endeavouring to precipitate the carminic acid
from the crude extraction in some useful form a portion
of the solution was saturated with sodium chloride and
treated with ammonia in excess. Ammonium carminate
was thrown down as a purple powder and a similarly
coloured supernatant liquid resulted. The ammonium
carminate readily united with the aluminum citrate,
producing a fine red solution. This reaction showed that
the colouring base of coccus red could also be obtained
by inverse synthesis, in the manner proposed by the
writer some years since for the more direct preparation of
ferric double citrates.

On treating another portion of the crude solution with
aluminum hydrate, precipitated by ammonia, no satis¬
factory product was obtained. The mixture on treatment
with acetic acid formed a solution from which alkalies or
their carbonates failed to give a precipitate, the generated
monad acetate appearing to hold aluminum carminate in
solution. The addition of calcium carbonate, with a view
to neutralize excess of acetic acid, resulted in a most
astonishing reaction by precipitating a copious very
gelatinous greenish-black magma. This precipitate was
slightly soluble in water, yielding an inky solution. It con¬
tracted remarkably on the addition of sodium chloride to-
saturation and would then admit of rapid filtration.
The filtrate still possessed a deep purple colour, from which,
ammonia in excess threw down an abundant pink pre¬
cipitate, whilst the circumjacent liquid retained a light
scarlet colour. The black calcium compound readily
dissolved in acids with the usual scarlet solution, and
likewise dissolved in alkalies with deep purple solution.
Solution of calcium hydrate, however, instantly changed
its colour to light pink. It is slowly decomposed by
ammonium sulphate, yielding a purple solution. . It is
also quickly decomposed by aluminum sulphate, giving a
purple solution, which on dilution with alcohol still
retained the colour, and on spontaneous evaporation
left a purple, apparently crystalline, residue. Com¬
pounds of magnesium or barium corresponding to the

132

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 14, 1880'

black calcium precipitate could not be produced, and in
fact the calcium body required a peculiar treatment, but
it would invariably result from an acidulated solution and
calcium carbonate. This body often deposits on the
walls of bottles containing tincture of cochineal or com¬
pound tincture of cardamom, and then has a striking
resemblance to patches of mould. It also imparts that
gelatinous consistence and black colour to cochineal on
treatment with water, owing to the presence of chalk as
an adulterant.

THE MANUFACTURE OF VINEGAR BY MEANS OF

BACTERIA.*

BY EMMANUEL WUEM.

The transformation of alcoholic liquids into vinegar
has for a long time been a subject of scientific discussion.
According to Pasteur the formation of vinegar is a
physiological phenomenon, having for its cause the vege¬
tation of a particular bacterium, the Mycoderma aceti.
Liebig, on the contrary, saw in it only the chemical
action of oxygen upon alcohol.

Pasteur has based his theory upon numerous experi¬
ments, and he has founded upon it a new process of manu¬
facture which he made, known in 1862, and described
in detail in his work, ‘ Etudes sur la Vinaigre,’ published
in 1868. He proposed to produce vinegar by sowing the
acetic raycoderm upon the surface of a mixture of wine
and vinegar, or of water with which had been mixed
besides 1 per cent, of acetic acid, 2 per cent, of alcohol
and nutritive mineral salts. When about one-half of the
alcohol had passed to the state of vinegar small quantities
of alcnholweretobe added daily until the liquid had received
sufficient for the vinegar to have the strength required
for commerce. In order to be able to add the alcohol
without destroying the fungus by direct contact it was
to be introduced by india-rubber tubes fixed at the bottom
of the vat and pierced laterally with small orifices. The
height of the liquid was not to exceed eight inches.

In 1869, Breton-Laugier, of Orleans, announced that
he had organized a vinegar manufactory upon the prin¬
ciples of Pasteur, and that acetification was effected from
seven to ten times more rapidly than by the process
employed hitherto, consisting in acetifying wine in large
vinegar vats. In 1870 the Socidtt; d’Encouragement de
l’lndustrie Nationale awarded to him a prize of one
thousand francs for improvement in the manufacture of
vinegar.

In Germany Pasteur’s ideas did not find a favourable
soil. Liebig, in his memoir on Fermentation and the
Origin of Muscular Force, t maintained his view, pre¬
viously expressed, that the formation of vinegar by means
of alcohol is not due to a physiological phenomenon; that
acetic acid is not the product of Mycoderma aceti, but the
result of a chemical oxidation. As a proof it was alleged
that a shaving from the lowest layer in a vinegar gene¬
rator which had been used during twenty -five years in
the manufacture contained no vinegar fungus that could
be dttected by a microscopic examination.

In 1866 Professor Otto wrote, in his treatise on the
manufacture of vinegar, that he had tried the process of
Pasteur and that he did not think it could be carried out
practically. In the last edition of this work (revised by
Professor Bronner in 1876) this statement still found
place without a supplementary remark, and as other
technological treatises are equally restrained in informa¬
tion on this subject it may be concluded that up to the
present time Pasteur’s process has not been practised in
Germany. Mayer and De Knierym have, however, lent
important support to the physiological theory by their
work.;}: They have proved, in fact, that even in the

* From the Moniteur Scientvfique for July.

+ Pharm. Journal, [3], vol. i., p. 61, et seq.
t Landwirthschaftliche Versuchs station, 1873, vol. xvi.,
p. 605.

manufacture by generators the Mycoderma aceti exists in
great numbers on the shavings.

Some observations that I had occasion to make in the
Institute of Vegetable Physiology, Breslau, at the instiga¬
tion of Professor Ferd. Cohn, placed it beyond doubt that
an energetic production of vinegar is caused by the vege¬
tation of Mycoderma aceti ( Bacterium mycoderma, Cohn).

Encouraged by the favourable results obtained upon a
small scale, and according to the instructions of Pasteur,

I have attempted to carry on industrially the manufacture
of vinegar from spirit of wine, and have succeeded in
an extremely satisfactory manner.

In the manufacture in which I am engaged with this
object, for a Breslau manufacturer, I use large wooden
vats, into which are poured 200 litres of a mixture of
vinegar, water and alcohol, together with the mineral
salts indicated by Pasteur (phosphate of potash, 0'01 per
cent., phosphate of lime, 0'01 per cent., phosphate of
magnesia, 0 01 per cent., and phosyhate of ammonia,
0'02 per cent.). The vats are well closed with solid
wooden covers, access of air taking place through small
openings made in the side. The mycoderm is sown by
means of a thiu wooden spatula, in imitation of Breton-
Laugier. The liquid in the vats is heated to 25° or 30° C.,
and the interior of the manufactory is maintained at a
temperature of 30° C.

According to Pasteur the proportion of vinegar ought
to be 1 per cert. But long continued observation has
shown to me that a liquid so slightly acid is easily in*
vaded by the mould fungus {Saccharomyces Mycoderma),
which hinders the extension of the acetic fungus, and,
consequently, the formation of vinegar, by burning up
the alcohol and changing it directly into carbonic acid.

Some experiments made specially with the object of
studying the influence of the proportion of acid upon the
development of the two fungi have proved that with 0*5,
1*0 and 1*2 per cent, of acetic acid the result is to mul¬
tiply exclusively the pellicle of mould ; with 1 '6 per cent,
there is a predominance of Mycoderma aceti ; with 2 per
cent, there is a pure cultivation of the latter. The mix¬
ture of 2 per cent, of alcohol, indicated by Pasteur, has
been found advantageous. In these conditions the pro¬
duction was such that the fungus sown had at the end of
twelve, twenty-four or thirty-six hours covered the entire
surface of the vat.

I undertook the microscopic examination under the
direction of Professor Cohn, to whom I would in this
place express my profound gratitude for the active par¬
ticipation and support which he has accorded to me
throughout my investigation. The result of this research
has been as follows : — The viscous pellicle of bacteria,
sometimes thin, sometimes thicker, is not always iden¬
tical. Three different forms can be distinctly observed,
concerning which it cannot at present be said whether
they proceed from one organism, constituting three
different states of development, or whether, as Mayer
presumed, there are three distinct organisms, capable of
producing acetic acid.

With a proportion of 1 to 3 per cent, of acid there was
observed specially the formation of a thick, viscous and
fatty skin, consisting of extremely small globules (mi¬
crococci), which while young occurred in contiguous rows,
and which after a few days were changed into an animal
glue through the formation of an intercellular substance.
Upon augmenting the quantity of acid there were formed
in this layer veins, rays and spots of a less thickness,
which extend more and more, whilst the original layer
sinks to the bottom.

The new pellicle, more delicate and less viscous, was at
first constituted of bacilli of variable length, disposed
very closely by the side of one another. This layer also
eventually became viscous, and was replaced by a more
delicate pellicle of bacilli, especially when the addition
of alcohol was not made with regularity. When the
proportion of alcohol exceeded 3 to 4 per cent., irregularly
curved and inflated filaments made their appearance.

August 14, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

133

• Up to the present we have been unable to detect in
these forms any difference whatever as to their power of
acetification. It has only been established that the
bacilli multiply also in a mixture containing 1 per cent,
of acid, whilst the various micrococci do nol; form thick
pellicles except when the proportion of acid is less. The
observation of Mayer that the mycoderm of vinegar is
very sensitive to changes in the proportion of acid is thus
found to be limited to micrococci.

A much more important influence upon the different
forms of vegetation ought to be attributed to the pro¬
portion of alcohol in the liquid in the vats. I he viscous
state is always occasioned principally by too small a
quantity of alcohol. For the sowings only thin pellicles
should be taken ; the viscous pellicles of micrococci and

bacilli germinate more slowly.

When the surface of the vat is entirely covered and
the surrounding temperature is 30 G., the liquid becomes
heated to 34° C., and at the same time a strong odour of

acetic acid is given off. .

The augmentation of acid, which is ascertained daily
by titration, oscillates between 0*2 and 0'4 per cent, as
the quantity of alcohol added is varied. Theoretically
the 2 per cent, by volume of alcohol that is added ought to
produce 2 per cent, of acetic acid, but practically the
yield is less. According to the calculations of Bronner,
in the generators with shavings the loss of alcohol rises
in the*3 preparation of “esprit de vinaigre ” (ordinary
crude vinegar) to 23 per cent., and in the case of the
stronger vinegars to 12 or 15 per cent. In the process
followed by us there was a loss, by evaporation only at
the commencement ; afterwards it was prevented by the
layer of vegetation. In all it amounted to from 10 to 15
per cent. °One portion of this alcohol is . used by the
acetic bacteria in the construction of their constituent
elements ; another portion is changed into acetic ether
by the action of acetic acid at the elevated temperature
of the liquid.

Two per cent, of alcohol yielded 1*7 to LS per cent, of
acetic acid. In order, therefore, to obtain a stronger
vinegar still more alcohol must be added to the liquor.
Rasteur had already pointed out that the formation of
vinegar may be stopped if the added liquor be too. rich in
alcohol. According to our experiments, the addition of
alcohol ought not to be made when there is more than
0-5 per cent, in the liquid, and then it ought to be effected
in such a way that the liquid which comes into contact
with the fungus does not contain more than 0’5 per cent,
of alcohol. In this manner we have succeeded in con-
tinuing the production until we have obtained liquids
very rich in acid. The greater the proportion of acid
becomes the more rigorously should the quantity of alcohol
introduced equal the quantity, used up.

When the vinegar has attained the desired strength it
is drawn off into the clarifying vats, in order to free it
from the turbidity produced by the particles of myco-
derms. The vat is afterwards cleaned with brushes and
filled anew.

The conditions for success in the manufacture are— a
sowing of pure bacteria, a uniform temperature of 30 G.,
and a well regulated addition of alcohol. Ihese condi¬
tions being exactly observed, the new process is easy of
execution, and presents over those hitherto followed the
following advantages : —

(1) In taking for a term of comparison the yield in
£l given time, it will be found that the new process
produces vinegar twice as rapidly as the old “ quick
mode of manufacture. A comparison may also . be
made from the point of view of the capital required
for plant. According to the data of Otto, three vinegar
generators, having a height of 3 metres, working together
and additions made every hour, yield daily about 120
litres of vinegar containing 4*5 to 5 per cent, of acetic
acid. The same quantity is produced by ten vats, for
each vat acetifies daily, on an average, 0‘3 per cent.,
making for the 200 litres which each vat contains, 600

grams of acetic acid daily, corresponding to 13 litres of
4‘5 per cent, vinegar. Ten vats with accessories cost
one-half less than three generators of the height men¬
tioned above.

(2) The space required by the vats does not need, as in
the case of the generators, to be of a particular height,
seeing that the dimensions of the vats can be fixed at
will. In any reasonable plant it would be less than that
required for the generators.

One great inconvenience in the manufacture of vinegar
in general is the appearance of vinegar eels, by which it
may be completely arrested. The eels, as pointed out by
Pasteur, because o^ their great need of oxygen, press
towards the surface of the liquid, destroying by their
swaying movements the pellicle of mycoderm and pre¬
venting it from reforming. In the generators they cover
the shavings with their viscous mass and so render direct
contact of the mycoderm with the liquid impossible.
If they multiply much the temperature of the liquid is
lowered. If the cooling be prevented the parts of the
pellicle destroyed may be reproduced. In this case the
eels take refuge in the upper part of the vessel and form
a ring of viscosity above the layer of bacteria.

The same phenomenon is produced upon the shavings.
Here also if the production of bacteria has taken place
above the eels are deposited upon the sides of the vat.
Sometimes, however, they multiply to such an extent
that acetification is stopped. It is very difficult then to
separate the eels. It becomes necessary to remove from
the vat a portion of the shavings and treat them with
boiling water. But in this way the mycoderm is
destroyed at the same time, and it is only after from four
to eight weeks that a new vegetation is formed and the
work recommences.

It is obvious that in Pasteur’s process the eels have
not time to multiply so as to become injurious, since a
vat is emptied and cleaned after from ten days to a fort¬
night.

It is necessary to take care that the sowings of
mycoderm do not come from a liquid infected by the eels.
These being visible to the naked eye such an accident is
easily avoided. However, if a vat be invaded the liquid
is drawn off and heated by means of boiling water or
steam to 60° C. The vat is washed with boiling water
and a little sulphuric acid, and then filled again with the
liquid that has been heated and cooled. If the vat be
kept clean and the vinegar used for the mixture be
heated to 60° C. the eels cannot be produced.

To preserve from eels vinegar manufactured and in
stock, an inconvenience frequently due to the unsuit¬
ability of the casks, recourse may be had to heating the
vinegar to 60Q in large casks with limited access of air.
Pasteur, in his work before mentioned, describes a
practical arrangement for this process of preservation.

Among the antiseptic agents there is one of which the
preservative action is remarkable, i.e., salicylic acid;
0'01 per cent., or 10 grams per hectolitre, is sufficient to
preserve vinegar from eels. Unfortunately, however, in
presence of the least trace of iron it gives rise to an
intense blue coloration. Now, in domestic use, vinegar
is frequently brought into contact with iron, and the
boiling vinegar would colour blue black the green parts
of vegetables, such for instance as cucumbers, because of
the iron contained in their chlorophyll. For this reason
it is necessary to give up the use of this excellent means
of preservation in the case of vinegar.

Boracic acid also acts as an antiseptic, especially in the
proportion of 0'04 per cent, or 40 grams to the hectolitre.
After three or four days the eels are killed in vinegar
containing considerable numbers. Boracic acid not
being injurious to the health, if it be used in very small
quantity, there is nothing opposed to its employment.
Formerly, manufacturers added to vinegar a small
quantity of sulphuric acid, but the sanitary authorities
in this country have forbidden the practice.

A vinegar preserved by chemical agents, however

134

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 14, 18S(k.

can. no longer be used in the further manufacture of
vinegar, for the antiseptics destroy the acetic bacteria
also. The most rational mode of preservation consists
therefore in heating the vinegar to a temperature of 60° C.,
as recommended by Pasteur. In the manufacture in
vats the production of eels is by this means rendered
impossible.

The vinegar fly {Musca cellaris, L.), which is found
always where acid liquors are evaporating, may also
cause the introduction of the vinegar eels. By walking
upon the viscous disc it may get the eels attached to its
feet and thus transport them to vats or sound generators.
In the vats this may be avoided by nfeking the covers, fit
well and covering the tubes and plugging the aeration
orifices with cotton. With generators, in consequence of
the continual affusions, the evaporation of the vinegar
spreading over the soil renders the locality unfavourable ;
the vapour given off by the generators themselves also
attracts the flies, the approach of which to them cannot be
prevented, whilst the vats are completely protected.

The acetification of a new shavings generator requires
six to eight weeks. According to the calculations of
Paul Pfund, also, a generator absorbs 5 to 6 hectolitres
of vinegar to acetify the shavings. Moreover, the vinegar
produced has during the first four weeks a very distinct
taste of the wood, communicated to it by the shavings.
The generators ought therefore to be kept in action unin¬
terruptedly.

The method of Pasteur, where the vinegar is formed
by bacteria, gives, on the contrary, immediately and
without loss of vinegar a saleable article of good quality.
Nevertheless, the vats in fermentation ought always to
be under rigorous control. An insufficient addition of
alcohol, or too great an excess of alcohol in the
fermenting liquor, immediately slackens the fermenta¬
tion or stops it entirely. But if the necessary proportions
be exactly observed the practical execution presents no
difficulty.

For the production of wine vinegar this method is the
only rational one ; for in this case it is not necessary
to add alcohol and the course of the manufacture becomes
still more simple.

THE CORK-TREE.*

The following description of the cork-oak is taken from
a more extended paper on the subject piiblished in the
recent report of the United States Department of Agri¬
culture for 1879. It is based upon a pamphlet by a
Spanish engineer of forestry, + which also gives an account
of the manufacture of bottle-corks in Spain. The report of
the Agricultural Department contains many details relat¬
ing to the cultivation of the cork-tree which are here
omitted.

The cork-tree ( Quercus suber, Linn.) is of various sizes,
and this has given rise to differences of opinion with
respect to the greatest height and circumference or dia¬
meter it attains. According to Mr. H. Laure, some have
grown to the height of fifty feet, and he has seen trees of
three feet in diameter in the neighbourhood of Bormes.
Mr. F. Joubert de Passa fixes the maximum height at
sixty feet, with a diameter of four feet. In Algeria, cork¬
trees sixty-five feet high and from ten and a half to
sixteen feet in circumference have been found.

In Estremadura there are some trees as large as
those found in Algeria. There is a tradition that in the
valley of Batuecas (Salamanca) there was a large cork¬
tree, the hollow trunk of which was used as a cell by some
of the monks of a neighbouring monastery. In 1862, in
a cork plantation called Monte Mayor, in the province of
Castellon de la Plana, cork was taken from a tree fifty
feet high by ten feet in circumference. This tree was

* From New Remedies, February, 1880.

f ‘El Alcornoque y La Industria Taponera, por Don
Primitivo Artigas y Teixidor, Ingeniero de Montes.
Madrid, 187o.

sixty years old. In the province of Gerona, the author
has seen trees of a greater diameter than any mentioned*
above, excepting that of the valley of Batuecas, the size
of which is not known.

The tree attains a great age, and its growth continues
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred years. It
lives after it ceases to grow, but the yield of cork is
diminished.

Extensive plantations of cork-trees are found through¬
out the greater portion of the countries lying along the
Mediterranean, as far north as the forty-fifth degree of
latitude ; beyond that line they do not flourish, and are
sparse and of little value. Its polar line coincides with
the isotherm + 13 -5°

The cork-tree requires a warm, or at least a temperate
climate. It is found in Spain at an altitude of one
thousand six hundred feet; at the same height in France,
according to some authorities, and at two thousand six
hundred feet according to others. In Algeria, it grows
at an elevation of three thousand two hundred feet..
The minimum average annual temperature which it can
stand appears to be + 13°.* A southern exposure is most
favourable to its growth, although it does well in other
situations when all other conditions are propitious.

The free circulation of air and an abundance of light
are highly beneficial to the development of this tree,
which prefers, therefore, slopes to plains, particularly if
they are near the sea or immediately on the coast.

According to Antonin Bouset, the cork-tree can resist-
differences of temperature of fifty degrees.

According to Mr. H. Laure, the cork-tree only grows
spontaneously, or in a wild state, in granitic or slaty forma¬
tions. Experts in the province of Gerona affirm that the
trees which yield the best cork are found on slaty lands.

The blossoms make their appearance in April or May*
and the fruit ripens in the following months of September
and January. Hence the different kinds of acorns,
according to the time of ripening. Those which arrive
at maturity in September, and sometimes about the
beginning of October, are called Brevas, Primerizas de
Han Miguel or Migulenas ; those which ripen in October
and November are called Segunderas or Medianas de San
Martin or Martineiias ; and lastly, the acorns which do
not ripen until December or January are known as
lardias or Palomeras.

The acorns of this species of oak are more bitter and of
an inferior quality of those to the Quercus Ilex, L., and
are not so good as food for swine.

The trees begin to bear acorns within twelve or fifteen
years, but until they reach thirty or forty, the acorns are
not fertile, nor is the yield abundant. It is said that
the tree bears fertile seeds when it yields cork sufficiently
good to make bottle-stoppers. Close growth or lack of
light diminishes the yield of acorns, and also impairs the
quality of the cork and bark, and lessens their quantity.

The acorns, although not very delicate, lose their
germinative faculty even when not on the trees, if
exposed to a great degree of cold.

Some varieties or sub-varieties of the cork-oak produce
very sweet acorns, as sweet or even sweeter than the
Quercus Ilex. It has also been observed that the trees
which yield small oblong or round and bitter acorns*
produce coarse cork, and those which bear large and
sweet acorns produce a finer article, and their trunks
are of a more regular shape. These characteristics are,
however, not generally to be relied on as indicative of
the peculiarities mentioned.

The operation of taking off the cork, although it inflicts
a real disease on the tree, facilitates, nevertheless, the
development of the trunk, and the production of the*
coats of cork. The cork should be taken off when the

* The author does not say whether this temperature is
according to the Reaumur or the Centigrade system. If
the Reaumur is meant, it is equal to 61 '25° Fahrenheit: if
Centigrade, 55 2° Fahrenheit. It is almost safe to assume
that the Centigrade is meant.

August 14, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

135

sap is running. Mr. Lambert is in favour of having this
work performed in the spring, because at that time, in
addition to the fact that the cork is removed with greater
ease than in the depth of summer, the new formation of
the cork which is not yet matured, and which is useless
for manufacturing purposes, is not removed. The inner
bark also is not so liable to dry up and separate from the
tree. Some cork growers, however, prefer to take off
the corks during the months of J uly and August, when
the sap is descending. Along the coast in the province
of Gerona, this work is generally done about June or
July, the operation being "begun when the cork readily
separates from the tree.

The greatest risk in taking off the cork in the spring
is, perhaps, in the danger of tearing away part of the
inner bark in addition to the further danger incurred
from late frosts which might kill the tree. It should be
so arranged, therefore, if possible, that the newly stripped
cork-trees, which are then covered with an abundant
exudation of sap, should not be exposed to sudden changes
of temperatui’e, particularly to the cold winds which
follow the autumn rains.

The trees should be stripped for the first time when
the outer covering can be taken off without injuring
them. In the province of Gerona, this is done when the
trees are from two to four inches in diameter. . This rule
is not strictly adhered to, however, and it is. not rare
to see even smaller trees denuded of their covering. _ The
first and sometimes the second coats of cork are of no
value to make stoppers.

After the trees arrive at maturity, that is to say, when
they begin to yield cork of mercantile value, it is of great
Importance to determine the proper period that should be
allowed to elapse between the harvests. In the province
of Gerona, the majority of the growers strip their trees
every ten years, while some do so every twelve years.
Cases are mentioned where the cork was permitted to
grow for eighteen years, and then gave a handsome return
to the grower. As cork sufficiently thick to make
champagne-stoppers is worth more than any other, growers
endeavour to produce this quality sometimes by putting
off the time of gathering for one or two years.

The time necessary for the production of good cork
varies according to the condition of the soil and climate,
and experience is the best guide in determining when it
should be gathered. When mature and fit for removal,
the body of . the cork is of a rose-white, which colour
rapidly disappears upon exposure to the air. To remove
the cork from the tree, an axe, the helve of which is
wedge-shaped at the end, is used. Two circular cuts are
made, one at the foot of the trunk and one at the proper
height above. A longitudinal cut is then made, and after
its edges are gently beaten with the axe, the end of the
helvels introduced and the whole piece is easily taken off.
Sometimes several circular incisions are made, and the
cork is taken off in sections. After the cork is removed,
two longitudinal incisions, which penetrate to the inner
bark, are made in the trunk along its whole length. This
is done to prevent the new formation of cork from
cracking on its other surface. Some persons make as
many as four of these incisions in the trunks of the trees.
They should not, however, be made on the north side.
The inner part of the cork consists of a yellow substance
which is useless in the manufacture of stoppers. It is
composed of dried sap, or at least of a corky substance in
process of formation, and is distributed equally over the
surface of the trunk. This substance dries quickly, and
serves as a protection of the mother or inner bark. I his
corky substance is precisely that which is taken off and
lost when the cork is removed later in season, when the
sap is descending.

If all the cork is taken from the tree at once, the new
cork is produced more slowly, but it is of a better quality
than when the tree is only partially stripped. As it has
been considered dangerous, to a certain extent, to deprive
the trees of their whole covering at once, it has been

proposed that the operation should be performed at
different times ; the first year taking off the cork up to a
height of about twelve inches ; the fourth or fifth year
up to the branches ; and the seventh or eighth year from
the branches themselves. By this method the trees may
not suffer so much from atmospheric influences. On the
other hand, however, it has the inconvenience of always
leaving a portion of the delicate surface of the trunk
exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather. In the
plantation of Monte Mayor, in the province of Castellon
de la Plana, it is, or at least was, the custom to take cork
from half the trunk the first year; two years later it
was taken off as far up as the branches; and two years
after from the branches themselves.

It is not expedient to remove the first cork all at once,
but at intervals of two or three years. In this way the
trunk acquires a greater diameter, and the tree is not so
liable to be injured by the cold. The trunk should be
stripped to the ground, because if a belt of cork should
be left, it would serve as a cover for ants, which would fill
it with holes, or for other insects, which would cause the
same or greater damage.

If the trunk is stripped every eight or nine years, the
thick branches should be stripped every ten or twelve
years, and the lesser ones every sixteen or twenty.

In the province of Gerona it is very generally the
practice to take the cork from the trunk only, as it is
thought by these means that a better quality of cork is
obtained the next time.

When the cork is all removed from the trees, it is
taken from the temporary places of deposit and piled up
to dry slowly, and in two months loses one-fifth of its
weight. Here it is inspected by the manufacturers, who
buy it on the ground.

If the cork-trees are not stripped, the cork splits and
becomes full of holes, and is worthless for making stoppers.
In about fifty or sixty years, the surface, exposed to the
atmospheric influences, begins to decompose slowly, and
the cork falls off in small pieces, in the same way as the
bark of other trees. It never falls off in large slabs, nor
does it naturally come off when the tree is alive, as some
persons have supposed, presenting the cork-tree as an
exceptional instance of physiological action, brought on by
natural agencies on the bark of this species only.

When it is intended to improve a cork plantation
which has never been stripped, the stripping should be
done at once, in order to obtain, eight or ten years later,
an article that can be used in making stoppers. The first
stripping is useless to this purpose.

In Estremadura cork is worth from 1‘40 to 2,00 dollars
(7 to 10 pesetas) per hundred pounds. In Catalonia a
higher price is paid. It is sold there in slabs at so much
a dozen. These slabs are about 8 palms square, and
bring from 2'40 to 4'00 dollars (12 to 20 pesetas)
per dozen.

To-day cork is worth eleven times more than it was
in 1790.

In 1843, in the department of Var (France), cork
plantations were estimated to be worth about 500 francs
per hectare (2 -4 7 acres). The net return per hectare each
ten years was 600 francs, or 12 per cent, per annum. At
the same date oak forests only yielded 3 per cent,
per annum.

To-day the value of cork plantations varies considerably,
according to the locality, the age of the trees, the density
of growth, and the quality of the cork produced. But as
the demand for stoppers increases every day, the cork
plantations acquire an additional value. Large sums are
invested in this kind of property, and several Catalonian
stock companies have rented large plantations in Estre¬
madura, Andalusia, and other places, and are making
handsome profits out of them. In a plantation in Estre¬
madura the first stripping was let for 200 dollars ; the
second brought 5000, and the third 10,000 dollars.

The mother-bark of the cork-tree contains a large
amount of tannin, as much as the best oak bark. It is

13 G

THU PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 14, 1880:

extensively used by the tanners of Cadiz. Cork-trees
grown for tan-bark are usually stripped every thirty
years, at which age they are entirely denuded of their
inner bark and cork. This kills the trees, and they are
then cut down to the roots, from which spring new
shoots, which, in their turn, are subjected to the same
process. The roots soon lose the power of sending up
vigorous shoots and get worse and worse, until at eighty
years very few stumps show any signs of life. Few cork
plantations are cultivated for tan bark, as they give
a better return when preserved for their yield of cork.

The wood of the cork-tree is a reddish brown. Its
density, when dry, varies according to different authorities
from 0*787 to D560. Exposed to changes from wet to
dry, it soon warps. It is very tough, and, for that
reason, may be used for carriage and waggon making, and
for similar purposes. As the wood is heavy and warps
easily, and the trunks are very short, it is hardly ever
used in domestic architecture. In naval construction,
curved pieces, which are continually under water and
fastened with copper bolts, are very durable. Iron bolts
cannot be used on account of the tannin in the wood. It
also makes good piles. It burns well, but as fuel it is
not so good as other species of oak. The charcoal is very
good, the wood yielding about 18 per cent of that article.

JAPANESE ISINGLASS.*

This substance, known in China and J apan under the
name of Tjintiow, has been described by Hanburyf as
occurring in two forms, the one consisting of quadrangular
sticks, from 1 — 1^ inch in diameter and 11 inches long,
and the other in slender furrowed strips only ^ of an inch
in diameter. The first form appears to be the rarest in
commerce, and is usually not so white and transparent as
the second form, although this is not always the case.J

With a view to determining the algas which enter into
the composition of this article specimens were submitted
to microscopical examination, those pieces being chosen
which, from their opacity or less transparent and clean
appearance, indicated the probability of containing frag¬
ments of algae in an unaltered state.

The following species were thus detected : —

Streblonemci. — Fragments of a species of this genus, con¬
sisting of articulated branched threads, of a brown colour,
were found attached to a piece of Gelidium, but the frag¬
ment was too incomplete to determine the species.

Scytosiphon lomentarius, J. Ag. — A portion of this
phaeosporous alga, presenting a portion of the tubular
frond, with the peculiar constriction characteristic of this
species, was found.

Sporacanthus cristatus, Kfitz. — This plant was repre¬
sented by a little mass of branchlets, composed of a
single row of cells and terminating in points ; in some
specimens cruciate tetraspores were found, the specimens
corresponding well with Kutzing’s figure of the plant
(‘Tab. Phyc.,’ v., p. 24, t. lxxxii.).

Cercimium. — The debris of algas belonging to this genus
were not rare, but the fragments met with were too incom¬
plete to determine the species. One species, so far as
can be judged from the presence of spines on the nodes,
appeared to be Ceramium ciliatum, Kutz., 1. c., ‘Tab.
Phyc.,’ xii., p. 26, t. lxxxvi.

Centroceras clavulatum, Ag. — The specimen detected
consisted only of two joints, but these presented such
clearly defined characters that there could be no doubt
the fragment belonged to the above-named species, since
they exactly corresponded with Kutzing’s figure, l. c., xiii.,
p. 7, t. xviii.

* Abstract of a paper by Dr. Leon Marchand in the
Bulletin de la Soc. Botanique de France, [2], i., 287.
f Han bury, ‘ Science Papers,’ 1876.

X Specimens of this substance in laminae have since been
received from Japan, and contain the same algae.

Endocladia vernicata, J. Ag. — The debris of this alga
was very rare. One of the filaments found exactly re¬
sembled that represented by M. Suringar (‘ Mus. Bot. d&
Leyde,’ vol. i., Algues de Japon, pi. xxx.)

Gloiopeltis tenax, Turn. — Here and there in the jelly
were found portions, not completely gelatinized, closely
resembling this species, and the presence of ovoid
cruciately-divided tetraspores exactly like those belong¬
ing to this plant confirmed the determination.

Gelidium polycladium, Kutz. — This was found in the
form of fragments, often very well preserved, and dis¬
tinguished from Gloiopeltis by the intricate character of
the filaments, resembling Kutzing’s figure of the plant,
l. c., tom. xix., p. 9, t. xxiv.

This species is frequently studded with the pretty
diatom, Arachnoidiscus ornatus, Sur., which is abun¬
dantly met with in some specimens of Japan isinglass,
and by the presence of which M. Menier detected the-
marine origin of some commercial currant jelly.

Nitophyllum ? — Some portions presented a flat frond
and hexagonal areolation, which recalled the structure
of Nitophyllum. These, however, were found only in
very small quantity, and in a badly preserved state.

Polysiphonia tapinocarpa, Sur. — This alga was met with
in the form of little sections of filaments, consisting of
short joints which, on transverse section, showed ten
siphons, and I do not doubt belong to the above species,
as figured in ‘Alga? Japonicae,’ 1870, p. 37, pi. xxv., B-
Some fragments of Melobesia ? were found on this plant.

Polysiphonia fragilis , Sur. — This species is represented
by Suringar on the same plate as the last, fig. A. It is
distinguished from the last by showing only five tubes in
the transverse section.

Polysiphonia parasitica , Grev. — This species has not
apparently been yet found on the coast of Japan, but
from the fragments possessing eight or nine siphons, and
from other characters which were well preserved in the
specimen examined, there can be but little doubt that,
they belong to the above species, as figured by Kutz.,
1. c. , xiii., p. 9, t. xxvi.

Diatomacece. — I have found a large number of species
belonging to this group, but especially Arachnoidiscus
ornatus, Ehr., described and represented by M. Suringar,

‘ Algae Jap.,’ fasc. iii., p. 5, pi. i., and by M. Menier.*

The above are by no means the only species which
enter into the composition of Japanese isinglass, but a
large number of others, which were observed to be
different, were too damaged to be recognizable. The two
forms of the article seem to be made with the same algae,
so far as it is possible to judge from the species found in
them, but with this difference, that in the quadrangular
form Gloiopeltis seemed to be the chief ingredient, while in
the slender sticks Gelidium corneum was most abundant-
This, however, may not be the case in all samples. It
seems probable that the Japanese and Chinese search
their coasts for such algae as furnish mucilaginous sub¬
stances, and having collected them, do not trouble them¬
selves to remove the parasites which are attached to-
them, or less gelatinous species which are entangled with
them, and thus the quality of different specimens varies
considerably. If the gathering consists almost entirely
of Gelidium, Gloiopeltis and Endocladia , the transparency,
whiteness and purity are very noticeable.

The name of Japanese isinglass, inasmuch as isinglass
(ichthyocolla) means fish glue, is objectionable, and should
nut be retained. The name Agar-agar, which has by some-
writers been proposed for it, has no better claim, since it
is applied to various algae which are not known to enter
into the composition of this substance.

According to Mertens ( Preussiche Exped. nach Ost.
Asien, Die Tange, 1866, p. 140), the following species are-
employed in the East Indies, under the name of agar-
agar: — Eucheuma spinosum, J. Ag., Sphcerococcus serra ,

* C. Menier, ‘ Falsification de la Gelee de Groiseille du.
Commerce decouverte par les Diatomees,’ Nantes, 1879.

August 14, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

137

Kutz., S. gelatinus, Ag., Gigartina horrida , Harv., and at
Timor, Hypnea divaricata , Grev.

The term gelose is also objectionable, on account of
Leing applied to a definite chemical substance.

The name phycocolle or seaweed glue would be prefer¬
able, unless the name tjintiow or lo-tha-ho be preserved.

POLYGRAPH COMPOSITION AND INK.*

The following compositions may be added to those
formerly quoted by us : —

1. Gelatin . 100 parts.

Water . 375 „

Glycerin . 375 ,,

Kaolin . 50 „

( Lebaigue .)

2. Gelatin . 100 parts.

Dextrin . 100 „

Glycerin . '• 1000 „

Sulphate of barium . q. s.

( W . Wartha.)

3. Gelatin . 100 gm.

Glycerin . 1200 „

Moist sulphate of barium washed by

decantation . 500 c.c.

( IF. Wartha.)

4. Gelatin . 1 part.

Glycerin (30° B.) . 4 parts.

Water . 2 ,,

( Kwaysser and Husak.)
Poly graphic Inks.

1. “ Violet de Paris ” . 10 parts.

Water . 30 „

{Lebaigue.)

2. “ Violet de Paris ” . 1 part.

Water . 7 parts.

Alcohol . 1 part.

{Kwaysser and Husak.)

3. Acetate of Rosaniline . 2 parts.

Water . 10 „

Alcohol . 1 part.

{Kwaysser and Husak,)

The first two produce a violet, the last named a red
copy.

THE PALL MALL GAZETTE ON THE CHEMIST
AND DRUGGIST.

The following article which appeared in The Pall Mall
Gazette for July 17, as one of a series on “London
Tradesmen,” will probably be read with interest by
chemists and druggists at the present juncture : —

“ But few of us in making provisional arrangements for
our annual expenditure put down the chemist’s bill as a
necessary item, or expect to become intimately acquainted
with that person in the course of our experience. Few,
however, escape him ; and as his charges appear before
us at last as an unexpected extra, they are ungrateful, —
sometimes as having become so painfully necessary, and
sometimes a3 representing nameless little requirements

* From New Remedies , July, 1880.

which seem to be redundant, or almost fictitious. But
the way to value a chemist’s services is to live for a
while beyond his reach. In London his proximity is,
perhaps, too close. Every fancied ailment sends your
servant there, or your daughters, or your wife. You
may soon find your house to be full of little bottles, with
small jars crowding the bedroom tables. They do not
come for nothing, as you discover at the end of the year.
But live away from your chemist for a time, — in the
backwoods of Australia, let us say, — and you will find
how glad you would be to welcome him.

“ It is painful— that bill for £15, with nothing to show
for it but old scars, rheumatic twinges, and the memory
of sick headaches. You have revelled in your beef and
mutton ; you have still the tailor’s good things within
your drawers : you have appreciated your wine merchant;
and your plumber, whom I regard as the worst enemy of
the human race, has served at least to keep the rain out.
There is still a doubt in your bosom whether the chemist
has really done anything for you. The contents of very
few of the numerous little pots have been applied to your
own body. It is on this account that the feelings of
paterfamilias as to the exorbitant nature of his account
have been so strong, and that we are reminded from time
to time that the Is. 6d. which we have paid for the small
bottles recently sent in has been charged at the rate of
500 per cent, on the original cost of the drug which has
been used. Nevertheless, if there be a cheap chemist in
the neighbourhood, you will hardly trust your stomach
or those of your wife and offspring to his tender mercies.

“Having a regard to abstract justice, we should endeavour
to ascertain what is the general result of a tradesman’s
career in his trade before we charge him or his brethren
with exaction. Does the chemist make his fortune
quicker than the butcher or the tailor or the publican?
Or does he retire into grander or more luxurious ease?
We think not. The publican is, we fancy, the man who
arrives the soonest at that final desideratum of “ a for¬
tune ” — though the nature of his business has been such
that we doubt whether he enjoys it the longest. And
next to him come the other two that I have named. The
chemist is by no means prominent as a man who in early
life and by rapid strides has made his way. If this be so,
and if to his trade he take as much education, forethought,
and intelligence as do the publican, the butcher and the
tailor, then the natural conclusion will be that he has not
dealt exorbitantly with the public, although he may have
charged 500 per cent, for the dose of rhubarb with which
he has relieved your little boy in the time of the early
apples.

“ But as to his education, forethought and intelligence,
can there be any doubt about it ? As to the nature of
his education, we will say a word just now ; but consider
a while the extent of the knowledge required by the
publican and the chemist. Of the former we may say
that the less he knows of the science of mixing the better
for his customers. To retail his beer as he gets it from
the brewer, or the gin from the distiller, is his duty, — if
he only would do it. Almost without fear as to the
consequences of adulteration he pursues his practices.
Down in those dark vaults to which we see the barrels
consigned by the burly men of Truman, Hanbury and
Buxton, or Barclay and Perkins, the liquor is prepared
for the drinker with a rough hand, and none is the wiser.
Certainly not the poor recipient. But the chemist?
What latitude in mixing is allowed to him? There can
be no rough hand there, — no cellar-work, no deeds of
darkness. The poor woman goes into the publican’s
house and comes out drunk. No inquiry is made as
to the nature of her intoxication. Drunk she is, and
drunk she has made herself ; and she is carried away on
the constable’s stretcher to the nearest police-station.
But if anything wrong has happened in the chemist’s
mixings he will never hear the end of it. One mistake
as to two drops out of a wrong bottle, made by an assis¬
tant, will ruin a man for ever.

138

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 14, 1880.

“ And yet complaints are made about bis charges ! No
doubt a chemist may make overcharges ; — no doubt he
will make overcharges unless restrained by competition.
It is the nature, — of a tradesman, I was about to say, —
but it is in the nature of all mankind to make such over¬
charges with a clear conscience unless they be prevented
by the fear that they will be left with their goods or their
knowledge unsold upon their hands. Ascending into
higher regions, may we not say that the same thing
takes place even with the barrister’s work? Sir John
and Sir Henry, having got to the top of their tree, may
charge nearly what they please. The same may be done
in almost every profession and trade more than in the
chemist’s. But as, to the ordinary run of legal assistance,
Mr. Jones is made “reasonable” by the proximity of
Mr. Smith, so it is in other trades. The chemist is
governed by the same law, and will soon mix his lotions
in vain unless he conform himself to the prices usual in
the neighbouring streets. In fact, there is a scale for
such prices recognized among chemists, though upheld by
no law, and in accordance with this they have to do their
daily work. Pills, though not unfrequent in family use,
are not as common as mutton chops, and the exact price
at which they may be purchased is not known to all
housekeepers ; but among the chemists themselves the
rule is preserved. We take it that one chemist ex¬
amining another chemist’s bill would be able to declare
at a moment’s notice whether the articles have been
overcharged. We may be sure that one chemist does
often see another chemist’s bill, and that, therefore,
such overcharges are unusual. It may be that the man
is no more honest than his neighbours, but he is subject
to the same restraints, and bound to good behaviour by
the same laws of living. When we hear of the tale
of 500 per cent, demanded for drugs, we should con¬
sider the circumstances under which the drugs are ad¬
ministered.

“ There is a story told of a passionate old Spanish artist
named Alonso Cano. He had lived many years, which
he had devoted to his art, and was passionate as well as
old. A judge came to him one day and gave him an
order for a figure in little of his patron saint. Cano
made a beautiful statuette, and charged the judge a
hundred doubloons. “ A hundred doubloons,” said the
judge, “ for work that has occupied you less than
twenty days ; and I, chancery judge as I am, only
receive one poor doubloon a day for my services ! ”
“Twenty days !” said Cano, dashing the statue to pieces
at the judge’s feet. “ It has taken me fifty years of
unintermittent study to learn to make that figure.” The
frightened judge left the artist’s workshop as quickly as
he could, for Alonso Cano was a rough man in his wrath,
and was said to have murdered his wife. When we hear
of chemists’ charges being held up to reproach on the 500
per cent, computation, we always think of Alonso Cano
and the broken figure of the patron saint.

“We doubt very much whether a chemist’s trade is
peculiarly profitable. There are well-known instances
of men, or firms, which have made large fortunes; but
we suspect that this has been done by a peculiar know¬
ledge in the science of drugs, — by something in which
scientific research has been combined with the retailing
of physic. And in these cases a peculiar happiness,
something which may be called luck, has been combined
with research, — so that after many years a man’s name
has been brought to the front, and other chemists have
found it to be their interest to deal with him; and
capital has joined itself to knowledge, till those elements
of success have been brought together which always
reach large pecuniary results. But taking the numerous
chemists’ shops which we see from street to street, we
believe that modest comfort is more often attained than
great wealth. The labour of the shop is continuous, and
hard labour has to be paid for. We doubt whether the
first idea in the minds of many, as they walk the streets
on Sunday, is not one as to the good fortune of the

chemist who can make his money seven days in the week.
The chemist’s assistant looks at his own lot in life in a
different light, and thinks that he ought to be paid for
his constant attendance. Bor him there is no early
closing on Saturday, the bowels of men and women
being subject to no mercy. All this must be considered
in the remuneration paid to him. And then there is his
knowledge. The simplest apothecary’s boy must have
some training, and before he arrives at the mystery of
mixing should have had much. Public opinion is a
weapon terribly strong. One wrong grain thrown into a
pill, as we said before, will send the father of a family
out into the desert a ruined man. Consequently a
chemist does pay his assistant more highly than another
tradesman. We are told that the common expense of an
assistant in a chemist’s shop is about £200 a year, which,
is much higher than is generally paid in other retail
trades.

“ But for the chemist himself the education necessary is
not only long and expensive, but is looked after by the
Government itself in a manner quite unusual in other
trades. For the butcher, the baker, and the publican, no
such care is necessary. They may teach themselves as
much or as little as they may choose to learn, and if the
teaching be not satisfactory, they must settle that them¬
selves with their customers. But with the chemist the
matter is conducted in quite a different form. We think
that we hardly exaggerate when we say that a man may
become a barrister without much necessary qualification.
He may become a barrister and be quite unfit to do a
barrister’s work, that work being of a nature which the
Government can leave to be arranged between the lawyer
and the litigant without danger to the lives of either.
But it has been felt that the vendors of drugs must not
be allowed to poison their neighbours, and therefore no
man can now open his shop as a chemist without having
proved himself fit to do so as regards the education de¬
manded of him. First of all he undergoes what we may
call general school teaching, which includes, we believe,
always the Latin language ; and he does that so as to
pass — or be plucked for — an examination. He then has
to undergo two various examinations in chemistry before
examiners appointed by the Pharmaceutical Society. On
passing the first he is entitled to call himself a chemist
and druggist. On passing the second he becomes, or may
become, a pharmaceutical chemist and druggist. What
is the difference, we must confess that we have been un¬
able to learn. They can both sell physic, and neither of
them is empowered to practise medicine. We can only
suppose that the pharmaceutical chemist is the more
learned pundit of the two, and therefore entitled to a
wider faith. It is not the case that he has any other
advantage in his trade. Now we do maintain that a»
man so trained to follow a learned profession — or at any
rate a scientific pursuit, if the word profession gives
offence — should not be regarded as one bound to sell his.
goods at any peculiar percentage of profit. It is not in
fact the goods he sells, but the goods so arranged as to
preserve instead of injuring life.

“We must add a word or two as to the chemist per¬
sonally. He is a tradesman ; otherwise he would have
no locus standi in our columns. At the first blush of the
thing it may seem that we are flattering him in calling
him a gentleman. But, with the chemist as with all
men, education will show itself. Our readers remember
that there is still an idea in the British mind averse to
retail dealing, which begrudges that comfortable name to
him who stands behind a counter. But our readers will
remember also the old adage —

Ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes
Emollit mores, nec sinit esse feros.

The art of medicine, though acquired merely with the
object of retailing it, is “ ingenuous,” and leaves its good
results. The consequence is that the chemist as we have
found him is always a man with whom it is pleasant to
spend a half-hour in free conversation.”

August 14, 1880.]]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

139

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, books for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. JournP

CHEMISTS’ CHARGES.

It is with some considerable satisfaction that we
this week reprint from a recent number of the Pall
Mall Gazette an article in which the position of the
chemist and druggist in regard to the general public
has been dealt with in a spirit of greater fairness
and rationality than is often the case with writers in
newspapers. After the sensational letters in which
attempts have been made to represent the legitimate
dispensers of medicine as extortionate and unreason¬
able in their charges, it is refreshing to find their
services dealt with from a fairer and more considerate
point of view, as being of a nature that does not
admit of their being appraised upon the level of
quick returns and small profits.

We are in no degree disposed to object to the con¬
sideration of the chemist’s services as those of a
tradesman, but in the nature of things it is essential
that a very wide distinction should be drawn between
the trade of a chemist and druggist and that of other
tradesmen. In the first place the work done by him
involves an amount of knowledge and preparatory
education altogether disproportionate to what is de¬
manded for the skilful conduct of other trades. A
mistake made in the supply of any article may be
attended with consequences far graver than any that
could result from a mistake made by the grocer, the
tailor, or the publican, and for this reason the chemist
is required to give proof of possessing the requisite
qualification before he can carry on business. In
view of these requirements on part of the chemist
and druggist, our contemporary admits that the pur¬
suit he follows, if it be not a learned profession, is at
least one of a scientific character, and that he should
not be regarded as one bound to sell his goods, like
the butcher or the grocer, at any particular percentage
of profit, since it is not in fact merely the goods he
sells, but the goods so arranged as to preserve instead
of injuring life.

There is another point of view which is important
in regard to the question as to chemists’ charges, and
we are glad to find that it has not been overlooked by
the writer in the Pall Mall Gazette. The average
result of a chemist’s business is not such as to indi¬
cate that it is peculiarly profitable. Leaving out of
account certain exceptional instances, there is much

more reason to believe that the contrary is the rule,
and that it is but rarely the chemist is enabled, from
the proceeds of his business, to retire upon a com¬
petence as other tradesmen often do.

Then, as regards the complaints that are some¬
times made of the chemist’s overcharges, our contem¬
porary has very reasonably pointed out that in the
present days of competition there is not much likeli¬
hood of such a practice being maintained by chemists
any more than by other classes of public servants.
Even taking it to be the inclination of tradesmen,
as of other classes, to charge as much as they can, the
influence of competition, no less than regard for their
own interest, will in most cases be sufficient to
prevent overcharge or any disregard of the com¬
monly recognized scale of prices. It would be
absurd to suppose the chemist is generally an excep¬
tion to this rule although some few may perhaps be
able, like eminent barristers or physicians, to fix
for themselves such a rate of remuneration as they
please.

It is curious to notice in the article that we are
now referring to an illustration of the fact that the
difference between a chemist and druggist and a
pharmaceutical chemist is but very little understood
by the general pnblic. In a kind of vague way it
seems to be known that there must be some difference ;
but, as the writer of the article confesses, most people
are at a loss to recognize what it is. The difficulty
is one that merits the consideration of all who
seek to secure for the British pharmacist a more
liberal recognition by the general public. In the
legal profession and in the practice of medicine such
a result has been attained ; but at present we can
only hope that there may be, in like manner, such a
better appreciation of those who have obtained the
higher qualification as to lead to its being more
generally sought for by members of the trade.

THE MEDICAL COUNCIL AND THE
PHARMACOPOEIA.

The subject of a new edition of the British Phar¬
macopoeia came under the consideration of the
Medical Council at its recent meeting, upon a
motion of Mr. Macnamara that a Pharmacopoeia
Committee should be appointed “ with the view of
“ considering and reporting to this Council how best
“any future edition of the British Pharmacopoeia
“ may be brought up to the scientific standard of
“the present day.” It cannot be said, however,
that the discussion was one calculated to beget
confidence in the present arrangements of this
national work. Mr. Macnamara, whilst admitting
that at the time of its production the present edition
of the Pharmacopoeia was an admirable work, said
that the advance of scientific discovery and differ¬
ences in nomenclature made it at this time an im¬
perfect, inaccurate guide, the patchwork nature and
inefficient character of which were unworthy of the

140

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 14, 1880.

Council. He also quoted several omissions from it,
which he considered important, and urged the ap¬
pointment of a permanent Committee charged with
the revision of the work. The motion was opposed
by Dr. Andrew Wood, Dr. Quain and others, and
it was pointed out that a Pharmacopoeia Committee
was already in existence, to which Mr. Macnamara
retorted that he had resigned his position as a
member of it because he had never been summoned
to attend a meeting. Eventually, the motion was
allowed to be withdrawn, though it may be hoped
that the existing Committee will henceforward
show sufficient signs of life to prevent at least its
own members from regarding it as defunct.

APOTHECARIES’ WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

A notice has been issued by the Town Clerk of
Westminster to the effect that the inspector of that
district has been provided with copies of the Board
of Trade Standards for the verification of chemists
and druggists’ weights and measures, pursuant to the
Order in Council of August 14, 1879. It is also
notified that the inspector will attend at the
Stamping Office, Guildhall, Westminster, every
Monday and Friday morning from ten to one, for
the purpose of verifying and stamping weights
and measures.

After the 31st December next, the inspector will
proceed to carry out the provisions of the Act by
visiting the houses, shops, warehouses, buildings and
yards of persons possessing, or using for the purpose
of trade, the weights and measures here referred to,
and in the event of any such being found unlawful
or defective he will cause the owner to be prosecuted
as the Act directs.

We make a point of drawing the attention of
those of our readers who carry on business in the
Westminster district to this notification, in order
that they may avail themselves of the opportunity
to have their weights and measures verified and
stamped so as to prevent inconvenience to them¬
selves hereafter.

DISPENSING FROM A MEDICAL POINT OF VIEW.

We have not until now had an opportunity of
referring to the case of prosecution under the Food
and Drugs Act at Deptford, in which the defendant,
carrying on the business of a chemist and druggist,
was fined five pounds and costs for selling as tinc¬
ture of quinine a preparation that was not in accord¬
ance with the British Pharmacopoeia. So far as we
have been able to ascertain, there was little reason
for taking exception to the magistrates’ decision, but
the most remarkable part of the case was the evi¬
dence given by a medical man on behalf of the
defendant, to the effect that if a prescription ordering
quinine were sent to a druggist, an article other than
quinine would be used in dispensing the medicine
unless the word “ ver.” were written on the
prescription. A more unwarrantable statement
than this it would be difficult to imagine, so

far as chemists and druggists are concerned, and
though this statement was made by a qualified medical
man, we are loth to accept it as an indication how
dispensing should be conducted from a medical
point of view. Mr. Browning’s experience in this
respect may be peculiar ; but we have no hesitation
in saying that it does not represent the practice
of chemists and druggists. His statements would
appear to suggest dishonesty on the part of dispensers
at least, if it were not evident from them that he has
been misled by confounding the dispensing practice of
hospitals with that of chemists and druggists. It is no
doubt true that in hospital practice and by some
medical men a sulphate containing other alkaloids of
cinchona bark besides quinine is largely used as Mr.
Browning said. There are good reasons for the use
of such a preparation in such cases as a substitute for
quinine, and we can understand that where it is so
used there maybe a necessity for using the word “ver.”
whenever the prescriber intends true quinine to be
used, but Mr. Browning has gone beyond the truth
in saying that this practice obtains among dis¬
pensing chemists.

Consequent upon the report of this case in the
daily papers, several letters were written by members
of the trade, repudiating Mr. Browning’s statement
and pointing out that it was not only unwarranted,
but undeservedly calculated to shake the faith of the
public in the integrity of chemists’ dispensing. We
fully endorse those opinions and think that even a
heavier fine than that inflicted in this case would be
well merited if there were any foundation for Mr.
Browning’s statement.

THE BUOTT FUND.

The following is a list of the subscriptions that
have been received by Mr. Hampson in answer to
his appeal on behalf of Mr. Cyrus Buott : —

£ s. d.

Professor Attfield . 110

R. Parkinson, Liverpool . 0 10 0

Alfred Franks, Ramsgate .... 0 5 0

“From One who has received some

favour from him,” Dublin ... 0 2 4

W. M. Co veil, Hackney . 0 5 0

F. Hinde, Retford . 0 2 6

Robert Chipperfield, Southampton .110
Lorimer and Co., London ....100

“Carolus” . 0 10 0

John Robbins, 372, Oxford Street, W. 2 2 0

R. D. Commans, Bath . 0 10 6

James Farr, Halifax . 0 10 0

P. T. W . 0 5 0

Alfred Bishop, London . 2 2 0

Arthur Lloyd, London . 10 0

Anonymous . 050

S. C . 0 5 0

F. Hudson, Sheffield . 0 10 6

Thos. Pullan, Bradford . 0 10 0

A. C. Wootton, 44a, Cannon Street,

E.C . 110

R. Brodie, Glasgow . 0 5 0

Kay Brothers, Stockport . 2 2 0

J. Wellington, Fowey . 0 5 0

Michael Jones' Flint . 0 5 0

Richard Reynold-, Leeds . . . . 0 10 0

“ A Friend in Derbyshire ....110
Robt. Hampson . 0100

August 14, 1S80-]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

141

^Ijarmateuftatl So cute of Jfrelmvir.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, July 7, 1880.

Present — Professor Tichborne, President ; Sir George
Owens, M.D., Dr. Collins; Messrs. Bennett (Kingstown),
Brunker, Goodwin, Hayes, Hodgson, Holmes, Oldham,
Pring (Belfast), and Simpson.

The minutes of the meeting held on June 2 were read
and signed.

Read a letter from Mr. William Harrington, M.P.S.I.,
of Cork, in reply to a communication from this Council.

At the request of the Council, Dr. T. Collins, Chairman
of the Law Committee, undertook to reply to Mr. Har¬
rington’s letter.

Read a letter from Dr. M. A. Ward, Secretary to the
Ledwich School of Medicine and Surgery, requesting that
the name of that school be added to the list of those from
which certificates of instruction in practical chemistry are
received by this Council.

The Registrar was instructed to inform Dr. Ward that
the laboratory of the school would be inspected by a Com¬
mittee of the Council during the month, who would report
to the next meeting of Council.

A letter from Londonderry signed “Pharmacist” was
laid on the table. The Registrar stated that the subject
of the letter was an alleged breach of the Pharmacy Act
in that town.

Resolved —

“That anonymous letters be neither read nor acted
upon by this Council.”

The following motion by Mr. R. Simpson was, by per¬
mission of the Council, withdrawn —

“That the Council take into consideration the desira¬
bility of engaging a man to collect evidence as to the
reported illicit compounding, now said to be common
in Dublin.”

The Report of the Preliminary Examination held on
July 5 was laid on the table. Twenty- three candidates
presented themselves, of whom all but two passed.

The Registrar laid on the table estimates for printing
the licence as pharmaceutical chemist on parchment, in¬
stead of on paper ; also for lithographing it in an enlarged
size, and improved form, on parchment.

The subject was deferred to a future meeting for con¬
sideration.

The examination for the licence as pharmaceutical che¬
mist was held on the same day as the Council meeting, but
it had not terminated when the Council rose. Eight can¬
didates presented themselves.

Stans ariwms.

SUNDERLAND CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The general meeting of the Sunderland Chemists’
Assistants and Apprentices was held at the rooms,
corner of William Street, on Monday evening, July 5;
the President, Mr. J. J. Browell, in the chair.

The President expressed his satisfaction at the progress
of the Association during the past session. Although
it had not been possible to carry out the programme in
its entirety, yet there had been several very efficient
substitutes for those papers which the authors had not
been able to give on account of other engagements. The
chemistry and materia medica classes had been well
attended and a laboratory was being fitted up in connec¬
tion with the former, for the use of the members.
Several additions to the library and also to the materia
medica museum had been received. Messrs. Horner and
Sons, and Messrs. Potter, Son and Clarke, had sent
parcels of specimens ; Messrs. Lynch and Co. had pro¬

vided a number of suitable bottles to contain specimens ;
and Mr. Walton had presented the Association with a
large case, with sliding glass doors, to hold the whole
collection. In addition, there had been received from
Messrs. Clarke, Bleasdale, Bell and Tollington, £2 2s. ;
from Messrs. Hearon, Squire and Francis, £1 ; Mr. W.
Fowler, a collection of minerals ; Mr. J. W. Robinson,
a microscope ; and Messrs. J. J. Nicholson and Co.,
specimens of different kinds of coal.

The President then thanked the members for their
assistance during the session and expressed a hope that
the Association might go on improving.

The Secretary (Mr. J. T. Humphrey) read his re¬
port, in which the number of honorary members was
stated to be 21, of members 23, and the average attend¬
ance 11.

In the absence of the Treasurer (Mr. J. Peacock), the
Secretary also read the financial report, the income for
the session being £22 4s. 10c/., the expenditure £7 12s. lOd,
leaving a balance of £14 12s.

The reports having been adopted, and votes of thanks
accorded to the officers for their services, to the donors
of specimens, etc., and to the authors of papers ; the
election of officers for the ensuing session was proceeded
with, the result being as follows : —

President, Mr. T. Watson ; Vice-Presidents, Messrs.
J. J. Browell and R. H. Mushens ; Secretary, Mr. J. T.
Humphrey ; Treasurer, Mr. J. Peacock ; Committee,
Messrs. C. Ranken, J. G. Cowey, J. W. Cameron,
J. Hall, G. Tully and J, McGregor.

IJrotccbings of Scientific Societies.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The Formulae of some Inorganic Substances.* * * §-

BY C. H. HUTCHINSON, F.C.S.

( Continued from page 844, vol. X.)

Since a previous report on this subject was read before
the Association, further particulars with regard to the
determination of the densities of substances at high
temperatures have been published : as these are of con¬
siderable importance, I determined to bring this subject
again under your notice.

In that report the formula given for stannous chloride
was stated to have been called in question by Dr.
Carnelly, who considered that the density had been
determined at too low a temperature. Since then Hn.
Victor Meyer and Zublin have again experimented with
it,*! and find that the temperature at which they obtained
numbers corresponding with Sn2Cl4 (619°-697°)t may(be
considerably increased without danger of chlorine being
evolved; thus two estimations at 880° and 970g gave
respectively 6’67 and 6‘23 ; the numbers calculated for
SnCl2 are 6‘53. Their work seems to show, then, that
this substance exists in two modifications, Sn2Cl4 at
comparatively low, SnCl2 at higher temperatures. The
remarks which were made with regard to Rieth’s work
being probably unreliable through partial evolution of
chlorine at the temperature at which he made his investi¬
gation are consequently withdrawn.

The subject, however, of more special interest at the
present time, is a continuation of the experimental study
of the so-called dissociation of the halogens.

Professor Crafts, in continuation of his former re¬
searches whilst experimenting with iodine, has, together
with Fr. Meier, § obtained densities which differ very

* A. Report on Inorganic Chemistry read at a meeting of
the School of Pharmacy Students’ Association, July 8, 1880.

t Ber. 13, 811.

X The temperatures quoted are in all cases Celsius.

§ Ber., 13, 851.

142

THE PHAEMACEUTICAL JOUENAL AND TEANSACTIONS.

[August 14, 1S80.

considerably from those obtained by Victor Meyer. The
apparatus employed differed in some particulars from
that used by the latter, the modifications introduced
being adopted in order to overcome certain supposed
sources of error, thus — The capillary tube dipping under
the water in the pneumatic trough would naturally offer
some resistance to the passage of a gas through it. In an
experiment in which 10 c.c. of air were passed into the
cold apparatus, only 9 '5- 9 '65 were obtained in the
measuring tube, “ and one saw that an excess of pressure
of 6-10 c.m. was necessary in order to force air through
the water, although the capillary tube was only 1 c.m.
below its surface.” In order to overcome this difficulty
the capillary tube was connected with the upper end of a
U tube graduated on both sides and connected with a
reservoir so that the contained liquid could be maintained
at any desired level ; the side of the U nearer the furnace
was enclosed in a glass tube filled with water of a known
temperature. This form of apparatus has the advantage
of recording any variations, of volume which may take
place during an experiment, as the following instance
shows : — 0'1266 gram iodine was introduced into the
heated bulb of the apparatus and the variations re¬
corded in the measuring tube were, — second minute
after introduction 12 '48, third 12'52, fourth 12*51,
fifth 12'49, eighth 12’47, twenty-fifth ll-59. The
commencement of the lessening of the volume being
generally coincident with the formation of a little cloud
of condensed iodine vapour in the upper part of the tube.
This experiment also points out the necessity of having
the narrow tube of the apparatus of as small an internal
bore as possible in order to prevent diffusion taking place;
a further precaution with this object is to fuse the sub¬
stance under examination into the bottle, or enclose it by
means of a stopper so that it may be introduced mouth
downwards, and thus the stream of vapour is not directed
against the neck of the apparatus.

A second alteration consists in the modification of the
top of the apparatus in such a manner that the substance
under examination can be introduced into the heated
bulb after the replacement of the stopper. In the case
of substances not volatilizing very rapidly there is no
difficulty in introducing the bottle with its contents,
replacing the stopper and allowing the few air bubbles
thus expelled to escape outside the measuring tube : if,
however, the substance be very volatile at the tempera¬
ture employed this procedure is not possible, and in that
case an allowance has to be made for the air found in
the measuring tube, which has been forced into it by the
introduction of the cork: to obtain this “value” Victor
Meyer* recommends the cork to be pushed into the neck
as far as a mark made on it, ten times successively, a
tenth part of the total amount of air thus expelled
constitutes “ cork- value,” which varies from about
0'3-0’6 c.c. according to the size of the cork used.
Experimenting in this way Hn. Crafts and Meier obtained
results in which certain irregularities seemed to point to
the existence of some source of error, blank experiments
were therefore instituted with the object of its discovery,
and they found that after the introduction of the empty
vessel and replacement of the stopper, an increase in
volume of 0'4-l-0 c.c. took place beyond that allowed for
the cork. This they attributed to the carrying down of
air from the room into the cylinder by the bottle, and to
obviate this, it was considered advisable to alter the top
of Meyer’s apparatus in the following way : — The
capillary delivery tube, instead of being fixed to the
apparatus, is fused on to a small piece of tube of the
same size as the narrow tube of the main apparatus, thus
constituting a T ; one end of this is connected with the
usual form of apparatus by means of caoutchouc tubing,
the other end is closed by the cork. This top piece is
then held by a key in such a position that the side of the
short end, instead of continuing the straight line of the

* Ber. 13, 813-814.

apparatus, falls over the centre of its narrow tube, so that
if the bottle be placed in the top of the T it cannot fall
into the bulb until the key has been removed. In an
experiment then, the bottle would be placed in position,
the stopper put in, and when the level of the liquid in
both limbs of the U was equal, the key would be re¬
moved, which, when the bottle had fallen, would be again
replaced.

The two errors thus described would, in the estimation
of Hn. Crafts and Meier, tend to neutralize each other ;
the first causing too little gas to be found in the
measuring tube, and so raising the density ; the second
causing too much to be forced over and thus lowering the
density ; on this account Victor Meyer’s method is not
necessarily inexact, but in a question of such importance
as this it was deemed advisable to get rid of every
probable source of error.

The further modifications adopted have reference to
the method of heating, and of measuring the temperature
obtained. By holding a long platinum wire in the
furnace they found that the light emitted by it was by
no means uniform, and in the hope of obtaining a more
even temperature they employed a Perrot furnace twice
the size of that used by Victor Meyer, and whilst
working at the highest temperatures, the bulb of the
apparatus was surrounded by a muffle constructed from
two “French” tiles (these are deeply convex tiles),
which were placed mouth together, the upper one being
bored, to allow of the passage of the tube of the
apparatus which is here protected by an earthenware
tube. Temperatures of from 500°-900° were obtained
by means of a lead-bath, the cylinder being protected
by a thin iron plate tube closed at one end.

An attempt to measure the temperature by gauging
the amount of gas used was not successful, it being found
that the amount of air passing through the furnace
affected its temperature most considerably, and they
could find no means of measuring even approximately the
air passing in. Calorimetric estimation of temperature
by means of a block of platinum was rejected, on the
score of its being scarcely accurate to consider that the
temperature of a block of platinum having a volume of
4-5 c.c. is the same as that of a cylinder of 100 c.c.
volume. Their attention was especially directed to
Meyer’s estimations of temperature by this method, and
they remark that the coefficient of specific heat of plati¬
num which he used is less than that found by Hr. Violle
in his latter experiments, and if this number were intro¬
duced into Meyer’s formula the temperature of 1500°
would be reduced by 50°, which is perhaps still too high,
since Violle’s experiments only determined the specific
heat up to 1190°, and at temperatures nearer the point
of fusion this would increase more rapidly. The same
author determined the fusion point of palladium, and
this temperature (1500°) must be regarded as not reached,
since they satisfied themselves by several experiments
that palladium is not fused in a porcelain cylinder heated
in a Perrot furnace. The method of determining the
temperature which they adopted was to fill the heated
apparatus with dry nitrogen, allow it to attain the tem¬
perature of the furnace, and then to displace it by means
of hydrogen chloride gas, which, being instantaneously
absorbed by water, allows one to see when the nitrogen
has been entirely displaced, an operation requiring from
one to two minutes, an additional two minutes being
allowed as a precautionary measure. In these deter¬
minations Meyer’s method of collecting and measuring
the gas was adopted. The volume of gas thus, obtained
represents the total contents of the apparatus at the
temperature employed, but as the degree of heat in this
varies as one ascends from the bulb to the top, so it was
necessary to consider separately the hotter and cooler
part, some experiments in which small pieces of gold
and silver were suspended at different heights inside the
smaller tube having shown that the covering of the
furnace formed a well-defined line of different tempera-

August 14, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

143

tures; the portions of the apparatus above and below
this line were calibrated and a compensator tube of the
same form and volume as the lower part was constructed ;
by this means the total volume of the apparatus, as well
as that of the upper and lower part, could be obtained
for any temperature, and on this basis their calculations
of temperature were made. The accuracy of the method
was checked by an estimation of the boiling point of
sulphur. Two experiments gave the temperatures 448°
and 445° at a barometric pressure of 725 ‘45 mm. The
boiling point at this pressure, according to Regnault’s
table, is 445°.

After thus stating the method of working which they
adopted, three series of densities of iodine are given,
comprising thirty-six results obtained at temperatures
varying from 355° to 1300°, which show that the density
slowly diminishes as the temperature increases. Another
series was then made, with all possible precautions
against error, and is appended together with a table of
Meyer’s results, as follows : —

Victor Meyer.

F. Meier and Crafts.

Tempera¬

ture.

Density.

Temperature.

Density.

253—450°

8-89; 8-83; S'84; 8*85
8-87; 8-71; 8-71

445°

8-70; 8-78; 8-75

Or

OO

Oi

0

677—682°

8-06; 8-58

757—770—765°

8-05; 8-28

00

to

o

6-68; 6-80; 6-80

831 — S7o°

8-04; 8-11

1027°

5-75 ; 5-74

1039—1059—1030°

7-18; 7-02; 6-83

1270—1280°

6-07; 5-57

1570°

5*67 ; 5-60 ; 5-71 ; 5-81

1390°

5-23; 5-31

The highest temperatures are most likely identical, that
which they consider to be 1400° corresponding with
1570° in Meyer’s table. The only source of error which
they consider probable is the possible expulsion of iodine
from the small bottle into the neck of the apparatus ; as
this would tend to raise the density, the lower numbers
may be the more correct.

Their experiments show, then, that the density of
iodine commences to be abnormal between 600 — 700°,
and that it decreases as the temperature rises up to 1390°,
when 0‘6 of the normal density is attained. They sup¬
pose that at a higher temperature the proportion 0‘5
corresponding with Ij would be reached ; in other words,
that the molecule I2 is progressively divided into two
atoms.

Before passing to a consideration of Professor Y.
Meyer’s reply, it will be well to notice briefly two
modifications of his apparatus which have been recently
described : —

I. Lothar Meyer’s method of introducing the substance
without an accompanying removal of the cork.* — A hole
is bored through the caoutchouc stopper which closes the
apparatus, and through this is passed a tube slightly
longer than the stopper, having an internal bore corre¬
sponding with that of the narrow tube of the apparatus.
The tube is closed at one end, and this end projects a
little above the upper side of the stopper. A pointed
piece of iron wire is pushed through the stopper parallel
with the tube, and its lower end so bent as to form
a rest for the bottle which is to be placed inside the
open end of the tube already described, the upper
end of the wire is then .bent so as to form a lever.
By means of this arrangement the substance may be
allowed to fall into the cylinder after the stopper is
in position by merely pushing the lever end of the
wire, and thus withdrawing the support of the bottle
containing it.

II. The modification suggested by Piccardf consists in

the division of the apparatus into two parts, viz., a tube
with one end widened to receive a cork, but otherwise
of the same bore as the smaller tube of the apparatus,
and the usual form of the apparatus minus the cork
piece. The short tube is connected to the apparatus by
a piece of caoutchouc tube at about the position where the
cork piece is generally placed, and is then allowed to rest
on one side at right angles with the apparatus, being
protected from the warmth radiating from the furnace
by a cardboard shield. In this case the bottle containing
the substance is introduced into the mouth of the tube
lying on one side, the stopper is then replaced, and
when everything is ready the short tube is brought into
a perpendicular position, so as to cause the bottle to slide
into the cylinder; it is then replaced in its former-
position.

In his reply to Professor Crafts, Professor Y. Meyer*
admits that his estimation of the highest temperature of
the Perrot furnace was excessive ; the reason of this he
does not exactly know, but thinks it may be partially
attributable to the burning of the iron cover with which
the platinum block is surrounded in order to prevent as
much as possible the radiation of heat during trans¬
ference to the calorimeter ; this burning would cause a
considerable local increment of heat, which can, however,
be easily avoided by using a platinum cover instead.
Since, in this method of determining the temperature,
the density estimation cannot be carried out at the same
time, but must be separated from it by an interval of
some hours, it was necessary to adopt a method by
means of which the temperature obtained on one day
could be again employed at another time ; this consisted
essentially in the use of a gas tap, to which was connected
a pointer moving over a graduated arc ; by means of this
any previous position of the tap could be again found
with great accuracy. The air draught was caused by a
chimney four metres long, ending under the ceiling of the
room, and therefore unaffected by wind or weather. The
time of working was between ten and one o’clock in the
day, as at this time the least variation in the gas pressure
took place. Calorimetric estimations showed that the
tap being in a given position, the temperature of the
furnace was the same for the same time on different days ;
it varied, however, for different times on the same
day.

Whilst thus stating the precautions he took, Professor
Meyer points out that his temperature estimations were
never more than approximate, but since it is now necessary
to note the temperature and the degree of dissociation, he
will undertake another series of experiments, using a
method by which temperature and density can be deter¬
mined at the same time. He does not agree with
Professor Crafts’ objection, “ that the pressure which is
necessary to overcome the capillary resistance of the water
to the passage of a gas through it ” has been overlooked ;
since pressure has as little influence on his method as
temperature, and if it be represented by a formula, it will
be neutralized in the end formula as much as temperature
is, nor does he consider that Crafts’ method of passing
air through the apparatus is comparable with the effect
produced by the volatilization of a substance in it,
especially as the first case requires the addition of a set
of tubes, through which a gas can only be passed by
varying the pressure, and the loss of gas may be traceable
to these.

Professor Crafts considered that the error produced
in this way was neutralized by the introduction of
cold air into the apparatus, when the substance to be
experimented upon was thrown into it. If this be the
case, the introduction of the substance into the apparatus
by a method such as Piccard’s, in which no external air
can be carried down with it, ought to give results in which
the gas collected is too little, and the density correspond¬
ingly too great. In order to determine whether this were the

* Ber.y 13, 991.
t Ber.y 13, 1079.

* Ber.y 13, 1103.

144

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 14, 18S0

case or not, some experiments were made with mercury
under these conditions, and at a temperature of 1050°
(this being chosen on account of the notably great
divergence of the results at this point), the densities
obtained were 7 '01, 6'62, 7*07, instead of 6'91 ; two
others obtained, using Lotliar Meyer’s method of intro¬
duction, were 7*04, 7'03.

Erom these results, the conclusion drawn is that the
method of working is not subject to the error hinted at,
and he therefore fails to see any advantage in adopting
a more complicated apparatus for his simple one.

The other source of error mentioned by Professor Crafts
he does not admit, viz., that with the substance under
examination, air is also introduced into the apparatus,
which expanding causes the expulsion of too much gas,
and the corresponding lessening of the density. He
makes it a postulate that the bottle introduced into the
apparatus must be completely filled with the substance,
and if blank experiments are to be made, they must be
made with solid cylinders instead of empty bottles ;
working in this way, he found in two sets of experiments
that the “ cork value ” was 0'42, 0 38, with full flame 0'57,
0'62, the replacement of the cork in each case being
preceded by the introduction of a short piece of glass rod
into the apparatus ; thus showing that if his precautions
be adopted, his method is perfectly reliable ; finally three
more experiments with mercury were made at 1050°,
this time opening the apparatus in each case. The
numbers obtained were 7T3, 7 '08, 6 '86. That this
method of opening and shutting is troublesome he admits,
and also announces his determination to use the simple
modifications which have been described, but neverthe¬
less, the results which have already been obtained by
this method are, he considers, free from the error im¬
puted, as is shown by the above experiments with
mercury, as also by the very many others he has made
before, and which agree equally well with the theoretical
value.

After thus making sure of his ground, the following
determinations were made with iodine, in order to
ascertain whether or not his former experiments were
correct, the temperatures were measured in the manner
adopted by Crafts : — 1043° 5*7 6, 1065° 6T6, 1062° 5'72.
A second series of control experiments was then made,
in which Lothar Meyer’s fall method was used, the
temperature being determined before and after each
experiment, 1109-1124° 5'92, 1084-1095° 5*78.

He therefore considers that although the objection
raised about the temperature estimation was proved,
those with regard to the density estimations were not,
and that his former results have been proved by his
latter ones.

Whilst making some temperature estimations and
using a cylinder from which the neck had been removed,
Professor Meyer noticed* that the lower part was evi¬
dently not so hot as the higher, but by raising it a little,
the temperature of all parts was rendered equal, as shown
by several calorimetric determinations ; he also found
that the pressure of gas by night is so much in excess of
that at command by day, that he could without difficulty
obtain a temperature at which the silicate used for
connecting the tube and cylinder of the porcelain
apparatus became so soft, as to be easily drawn into
threads with a platinum wire. Working at this tempera¬
ture he obtained the figures 4'53, 4'55, 4 '57, which
approach very nearly the calculated density for Il5 viz.,
4'39, being considerably lower than the f I2 density,
which was, as he cordially admits, first passed by
Professor Crafts. Whether the lowering of density to Ix
is the limit or not remains to be proved, and the tempera¬
ture necessary for this proof he hopes to obtain by means
of a tar- oil furnace, lately described by Deville and
Troost,fi by means ©f which porcelain may be fused ; in

* Per., 13, 1010.

f Comjpt. Rend., 1SS0, vol. xc., p. 72S.

which case, if porcelain can no longer be used, he hopes
to be able to employ graphite.

In furtherance of his work on the effect of heat on the
elements, he mentions in a note* that at a yellow heat
he has observed a considerable diminution of the density
of arsenic.

Whilst thus following this extended series of important
investigations, it is well to note some results recently
obtained by Hn. Otto Pattersson and Gerhard Ekstrand,f
in which Meyer’s method of determining vapour densities
has been compared with Dumas’. The fact that deter¬
minations of the first importance have been made by
Meyer's method has given rise to very great confidence
in it ; and these authors do not consider it deserves this,
on the following grounds. They note that although the
results obtained by Meyer’s method with organic sub¬
stances agree fairly well with the calculated numbers,
and are also fairly concordant, yet in those cases where
this method has been compared with others, especially
at high temperatures, the results obtained were not as
concordant as could be wished. Thus, Deville and
Troost, whilst estimating the density of iodine at high
temperatures, obtained no evidence of dissociation ;
and Crafts and Meyer, working with gaseous chlorine,
both found this gas to be normal at the temperatures
employed.

Opportunity for comparing the Meyer and Dumas
methods at temperatures of 100 — 214° was afforded
these chemists during an investigation which they were
carrying out, on the effect of small quantities of water
on the gaseous state of anhydrous formic and acetic acids.
Both methods were slightly modified. The alteration of
Meyer’s consisted merely in choosing a relative size of
the cork piece and capillary delivery tube, so that on
raising or depressing this in the pneumatic trough just so
much water would rise into it as would be expelled by
replacing the cork. The modification of Dumas’ con¬
sisted in using a large test-tube, as a vessel in which to
weigh the gas under consideration, which is drawn out at
the open end, and a narrow tube fused on. This vessel
(a) is then filled with pure water up to a file mark (m) on
the narrow tube, and weighed, by which means the weight
of water and the volume of a up to m is determined, and
from this volume the weight of the empty vessel may be
obtained. The water is then emptied out and the vessel
dried and filled with perfectly dry air, by means of a
capillary tube reaching to its bottom ; the narrow tube
is then drawn out at the point m, so that merely a
capillary opening is left. A second tube is then pre¬
pared exactly like the first, to serve as a counterpoise,
and which may conveniently be a few~3ecigrams lighter
than it. These two are then placed on opposite pans of
a delicate balance and exactly counterpoised, temperature
and pressure noted, and the point of the capillary tube of
the counterpoise sealed off. The vessel a is next heated
to the temperature at which the experiment is to be
carried out, sealed off and again weighed. The point is
then cut off and preserved ; sufficient of the substance
under examination introduced into a, which is again
heated until full of the vapour alone. This heating is
conveniently carried out in the bath used by Meyer.
The moment when all liquid in a has been volatilized
and the contained vapour is at the temperature of the
bath is easily determined by noticing when the column
of condensed vapour in the capillary tube is stationary ;
when this is the case, the small drop there remaining is
volatilized by holding a cylinder of copper, previously
heated, round the capillary tube, which is then quickly
sealed off. The precaution adopted in sealing, where
the bath is full of an inflammable vapour, is to cover it
with a disc of metal, through a hole in the centre of
which the point of the capillary tube passes.

Some comparative results obtained in this way are —

* Ber. 13, 1116.
t Ber., 13, 1185-1195.

August )4, 18^0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

145

Pare Benzene, calc ulated Density — 2*695.

The results in these tables, obtained by Dumas' method,
agree perfectly well with those found by Bineau, Cahours,
and also with those obtained by calculation from the gas
theory of W. Gibbs. Meyer’s method gives in each case
too low a density. From this it was argued that the
latter method contained some source of error.

Since every solid or liquid substance condenses air on
its surface at the ordinary temperature, this amount of
air on being carried into Meyer's apparatus would be
either partially or entirely volatilized, according to the
temperature employed. The error due to this may be
considered under two divisions : —

L Air condensation on the surface of the bottle intro*
duced into the apparatus. — Meyer and Crafts have already
pointed out that this may cause an increase in volume of
more than 1 c.c., though at the temperature at which
these chemists were working, 100 — 214®, the amount was
very small, about three or four bubbles only. This diffi¬
culty may be easily overcome by fusing the glass vessel
used to contain the substance under examination on to
the end of a long glass rod, passing air-tight through the
cork to the bottom of the apparatus ; as soon as the con¬
densed air has expanded to the volume corresponding with
the temperature of the bath, the substance is set free in
the cylinder by breaking the containing vessel, through
the agency of the glass rod. By this means the first
error may be entirely set . aside ; but nevertheless, the
results obtained were not very different from the earlier

ones, thus —

.Meyer’s ordinary Meyer’s Method Dumas’

Method. Modified. Method.

2-039 1-966 2379

1-849 1-976 2-387

1-874

II. Air condensed by the substance introduced into
the apparatus must therefore be the chief source of error.

This error is much less in the case of liquids than of
solids, especially if the latter be in the state of powder ;
that in the latter case it is a very important factor was
shown by introducing a small tube containing dry ferric
oxide into the apparatus, heated to 185°, when 1*2 c.c.
of gas was disengaged. Dry platinous chloride, which
had been well washed, and afterwards dried for seve¬
ral days at a temperature of 230°, gave the following
results : —

Bottle 0-1693 grm.
PtCl„ 01441 „
Bottle 0*1454 „
PtCl2 0-1194 „

disengaged at 214°, 0’96 c.c. air.
n ** « O’i 3 ft ,t

The empty glass bottles introduced into the apparatus
disengaged 2-3 bubbles, equivalent to 0*1 -0*1 5 c.c. air.

This error would become of great importance at the
high temperature employed by Victor Meyer, when from
13-25 c.c. air were collected in the measuring tube.
Since Dumas’s method is not subject to it, as all the air
would be driven out from the flask by the process of
volatilization, the authors conclude that if numbers which
have been obtained by this method are to be altered in
accordance with those found by Meyer’s, it will mean
that a method free from error is to be supplanted by one
less correct. ' -

Dr. Senier said that he took a great interest in the
subject which Mr. Hutchinson had placed before them
with even more than his usual ability. There were two
points to which he would allude. In the fii-st place, he
would direct attention to a source of error to which
Mr. Hutchinson had not adverted, and indeed he did
not know that notice had been taken of it hitherto.
Although the vapour density vessel and its contained air
attained a constant condition of temperature before the
substance was introduced, that temperature was not a
uniform one. The upper parts of the vessel, and
especially the delivery tube, were much cooler than the
bulbous lower portion. When the substance was intro*
duced the gas which resulted forced out of the apparatus
an equal bulk of air, and the first air to escape was
the cooler air from the upper parts of the vessel. This
was replaced with hotter air from the lower parts of
the vessel. Thus the collected air had not precisely the
same temperature of the equal volume of gas. It was
slightly cooler, and would therefore represent a somewhat
larger volume when compared with the vapour at the same
temperature. This would make the density obtained a
trifle less than it should be. The other point to which
he wished to allude was the question of the interpretation
of the results obtained by Meyer, Crafts, and others. He
was not, of course, prepared to say that it might not
be shown that dissociation had taken place, whether
that meant dissociation into other elements, or into lighter
molecules of the same element. He thought, however,
that scarcely sufficient attention had been bestowed upon
the assumptions which led to theories of dissociation. It
was assumed that gases which increased equally with
equal reduction of pressure or equal increase of tempera¬
ture contained the same number of molecules, and that
these molecules were to each other in weight as were the
weights of the gases themselves. This assumption was
innocent enough when all gases were supposed to be
affected by heat and pressure in the manner described.
Cases were observed amongst compounds where this did
not obtain, and it was attributed, and doubtless with
good reason in some of the instances, to dissociation
into simpler compounds, and now we are told that, in
the case of several elements this unequal expansion
occurs, and this too is attributed to dissociation. He
would suggest that the meaning of these facts be sought
in another direction, that inasmuch as the general facts
respecting the action of heat and pressure on gases had
been found to have exceptions in so many instances the
assumptions based upon them by Avogadro be seriously
reconsidered.

146

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 14, 1880:.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The Chemistry of Bread-Making.*

BY PROFESSOR GRAHAM, D.SC.

Lecture IV.

( Continued from page 59.)

The dust of the air contains organisms of various kinds ;
thus, in a short time, a piece of moist bread becomes
covered with mould; our boots, if put away in a damp
place, become covered with mould, and these moulds
consist of different organisms, readily -enough distin¬
guished from each other, and to which different names
have been given. One is the PeniciUium glaucum, another
Aspergillus , and others are different species of Mucor.
These all convert starch into carbonic acid and water,
providing they are growing in the air ; but if you sub¬
merge them in a saccharine liquid, they no longer can
breathe the oxygen of the atmosphere by which they
were able to convert starch into carbonic acid and water;
they are deprived of their oxygen, or, at any rate, in a
very short time the amount of dissolved air in the sac¬
charine liquid is used up by them, and the result is that
they are compelled to obtain their oxygen from the de¬
composition of the sugar itself. In getting oxygen from
the decomposition of the sugar, they convert the remain¬
ing portion of it into carbonic acid and alcohol.

The ordinary mother of beer, called by scientific men
Mycoderma cerevisice, the organism that converts beer into
carbonic acid and water, if submerged in a fresh solution
of barley malt, sets up a slow alcoholic fermentation,
with the production of carbonic acid and alcohol. And
so with other cell-structures; not only is this the case
with organisms such as I am speaking of, but even the
cells of sprouted barley, or of sprouted wheat, or the cells
of an apple, act in the same way. If you were to take a
sample of sprouted barley, and put that into a bottle,
after a week you would find, on opening the stopper, a
great rush of carbonic acid, with a strong aroma of
alcohol, together with some ethers. The same takes place
with fruits undergoing spontaneous decomposition. There
is a difference, however, between the action of the cells of
vegetable organisms and the yeast cells, such as I have
called your attention to this evening, in that they aie not
able to reproduce ; they do not increase ; on the contrary,
they die, and, therefore, the amount of alcoholic fermen¬
tation produced by the cells of the sprouted barley, or
the cells of fruits, is comparatively limited.

The conditions requisite for the vigorous action of yeast,
and the vigorous growth of yeast, are these : — First of all,
a certain amount of air is required. I said just now that
the organism was compelled to obtain its oxygen from
the decomposition of the sugar ; but, if you deal with an
organism you have submerged under these conditions, the
amount of alcohol produced is certainly great compared
with the ratio of its weight to the whole weight of the
yeast produced, but the amount of work absolutely done
is comparatively small ; whereas, by the aeration, to some
extent, of the liquid, or by the employment of organisms
that have previously been exposed to the air, there is a
much greater activity.

The next matter of importance for their vigour is the
presence of soluble albuminoids. True it is, of course, that
Pasteur has shown that the yeast organism is able to
attack ammoniacal salts, and to convert them into the
protein compounds of its own structure. That is quite
correct; but I am speaking rather from the technical
point of view, and in that point of view the presence of
albuminoids is necessary to active fermentation, whether
of beer or bread.

The next essential is the presence of sugars. There

* Cantor Lectures : Delivered November and December,
1879. Reprinted from the Journal of the Society of
Arts.

must be sugars present in order to undergo decomposition, .
producing carbonic acid and alcohol, and also to enable
the yeast organisms, as they are multiplying, to build up-
new cell structures by the cellulose formed from the de¬
composition of the sugar. Nine-tenths of the weight of
ordinary yeast, when well dried, consists of albuminoid
substances, the other tenth being matters derived from the

sugar.

We have seen that dust contains the spores of many
organisms, and it becomes necessary, when using ferments
— obtained from beer, for example — for the baker that he
should see whether the yeast which he has got con¬
tains the particular alcoholic organism which he wants,
or whether it contains a large number of other or¬
ganisms that produce acidity — produce, in other words,
decomposition of a kind unfavourable to his bread¬
making process. I have here, on the wall, diagrams
representing ordinary English brewers’ yeast, the cells,
of which are circular in character; there is Burton
yeast, which is ovoid in character ; another one represents-
ordinary yeast which has remained for a considerable¬
time in a liquid after the fermentation has been completed.
Such an exhausted liquid is unfit, of course, for the con¬
tinual growth and propagation of the organisms, and you
will notice that the organisms show distinct granulations
these granulations may be noticed in young active yeast
cells, but less distinctly than in the old exhausted cells,
in which the protoplasm has been used up in the struggle
for existence.

I am afraid some of you at a distance cannot see very
distinctly in these diagrams the characteristics of the-
different organisms, but I have placed on the table more
than a dozen preparations, which you can examine with,
the microscope, showing the different appearance of the
organisms which produce healthy alcoholic fermentation
and also those producing the lactic, acetic, butyric, and
ropy fermentations.

Under ordinary circumstances, the yeast ferment con¬
verts 100 parts of sugar into 51 parts of alcohol and
49 parts of carbonic acid and 5 parts of glycerine,
succinic acid and other products. The ropy organism
converts 100 parts of sugar into 51 parts of a peculiar
viscous, gummy body, called mannite, 45 of gum, and
6 of carbonic acid. This ropy organism, then, con¬
verts saccharine liquids into a thick, oily, viscous mass,
and occasionally it happens with a brewer, in the prepa¬
ration of beer, that a beer which was previously perfectly
bright and limpid, pours out as if it were almost like
treacle; and, if such diseased kind of yeast be given
to a baker, he must expect a similar kind of unfavourable
action on the saccharine matter he has made in his pre¬
vious panification process.

If you take one of these peculiar organisms of mould,
the mucors, and submerge it in a saccharine liquid, it
begins to form separate cells ; ultimately, they break up,
and they all act much in the same way, though not quite
with the same energy, as the ordinary English brewers’
yeast. I have not got a representation on the wall of
German yeast, but it much resembles the Burton, being
ovoid in character. You will see an example under one
of the microscopes.

London bakers, I am told, find that yeast from certain
breweries is much superior to yeast obtained from others.
Indeed, I learn that many of them are obliged to go out
of London to the more old-fashioned breweries in order to
get the kind of yeast they require. This is probably due
to the fact, that in the older breweries a different method
of fermentation is carried on ; the cleansing system, as it
is technically termed, is adopted, and not the skimming
system; but, with the skimming system carried on care¬
fully with the microscope, one can obtain as pure yeast
as by what is called “cleansing,” where the fermentation
is begun and carried on in large vessels down to a certain
stage, about one-half, and then it is placed in smaller
vessels, and there the fermentation is continued by the
yeast forcing its way through the bung-hole. In Burton,

August 14, 16S0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

147

•they use a combination of the small vessels, termed unions.
Bitter ale yeast is not so well adapted for bread-making
as mild ale yeast ; for this reason, that a large quantity
of hop has been employed in the process, and the tannic
acid in the hop, together with the oil, are inimical to the
activity of the yeast. Consequently, the yeast obtained
from very highly hopped ales is not so well adapted for
the baker as that obtained from less hopped ales.

I spoke just now of the patent yeast, and it is somewhat
singular to find that hops are always used in its produc¬
tion. Indeed, I have been told by more than one, that, if
we were not to use hops in dealing with malt, it would
be impossible to get any yeast formed, and that if we
were to add yeast to an infusion of malt prepared without
hops, we could not get yeast formed. Of course, this is
erroneous. It is not much more than three centuries ago
that hops were first introduced into England. Old English
ale was not made with hops. The use of hops is to aid
the keeping qualities of the yeast, by preventing too rapid
decay.

German yeast is largely used in England now. It is
not a yeast which comes up to the surface of the beer, in
the same way as ours ; on the contrary, it is a yeast
which settles to the bottom, and, therefore, that form of
fermentation is called “bottom fermentation;” whereas
ours is called “top fermentation;” but, in their chemical
action there is no essential difference between them. In
each case they convert saccharine matter into carbonic acid
and alcohol, and in the same ratios. On reference to the
Board of Trade returns, I find that in the year 1876 we
imported £406,000 worth of yeast from foreign countries ;
in 1877, £437,000, and in 1878, £468,000; so, apparently,
the traffic is slowly increasing. When I tell you that in
many parts of England brewers’ yeast is a drug, and that
there is not sufficient demand for it, it does seem that we
ought to find some means of making English top yeast
into a useful servant to the baker, instead of wasting it,
and having to purchase other yeast from Germany. It
is perfectly easy, with English top yeast, to secure, on the
one hand, that it shall be a quick-growing, active yeast,
like the German ; or, on the other hand, that it shall be
slow in its action, such as ordinary brewers’ yeast.

Good flour and good yeast, in the hands of a good
baker, will, of course, give us good bread. But, after all,
when the Council of the Society of Arts did me the
honour to ask me to give a course of lectures on the che¬
mistry of bread-making, they were not limiting their
thoughts to the West-end of London. A Society like ours
thinks not merely of the West-end of London, but of all
England ; and we have to consider, as I have more than
once pointed out, that we have, unfortunately too often,
bad harvests, and, therefore, bad flours. Then, again,
there are many bakers in country places, and, perhaps,
one need not go so very far away to find those who cer¬
tainly require some extra assistance in understanding the
very complex phenomena underlying their art. I called
your attention to the fact, you will remember, that, in
our bad harvests, the peculiarity of our wheats was not
that there was any deficiency in the total percentage of
albuminoids, but that there was a less percentage of the
tough, elastic, valuable bread-making gluten ; and I then
said that something might be done by a partial kiln-
drying of the wheat, and by so drying the flour afterwards
that it should not be ready to undergo the degradation
due to moisture which often occurs.

In the process of fermentation, which I have briefly
described to you, we have seen that, in the sponge stage,
a considerable quantity of the flour is left to undergo the
degrading action set up by the yeast on the soluble albu¬
minoids already there; manifestly, then, inferior flours
should not be submitted to such a panification process,
for two reasons. In the first place, there is a want of the
proper elastic matter in the bread; secondly, a large
amount of colouring matters is obtained in the fermenta¬
tion. If you will refer to this table of Oudemans showing
the action of a high temperature on the albuminoids of

wheat, you will find that when malt undergoes a kiln-
drying action, which is at a temperature certainly lower
than that of the oven, there are 7‘S per cent, of torrefac-
tion products. These are formed, to a great extent, from

Composition of Barley and Malt. {Oudemans.)

Barley.

Malt.

Air

Dried.

Air

Dried.

N Kiln
Dried.

Kiln

Dried.

!

Starch .

67-0

- 58*1

Pale.

58-6

High.

47*6

Dextrin .

5'6

8-0

6-6

10-2

Sugar .......

o-o

0-5

07

0-9

Cellulose .

9-6

14*4

10-8

11*5

Albuminous matters . .

12T

13-6

10‘4

10-5

Fatty matters ....

2-6

2-2

2-4

2-6

Ash, etc .

31

3-3

27

27

Torrefaction products

i

o-o

o-o

7-8

14-0

the destruction of the albuminous matters; they are also
partly formed by the action of heat on the saccharine
matters. At a still higher temperature, in what is called
“high dried” malt, we have no less than 14 per cent, of
torrefaction products, but those coloured products are
almost entirely due to the action of heat on the degraded
forms of albuminoid matters, and on the dextrin and maltose
formed. Manifestly, therefore, the inferior wheats should
not be submitted to the panification process. That was
the conclusion come to some years ago by Dr. Dauglish,
and he devised a system by which one may employ in¬
ferior wheats by using carbonic acid made in other ways,
and not by the action of the yeast-organism upon the
flour. Of course, tastes differ. I do not know how many
of you like aerated bread, but personally I do not like it.
There is a want, to my taste, of that nice sweet flavour
one gets by the fermentation process. Those who like
aerated bread have certainly an excellent means of using
inferior flours ; but for those who wish to have the pecu¬
liar aroma which is brought about by fermentation, the
problem presents itself, how shall we have carbonic acid
manufactured in the ordinary fermentation process, and
yet not obtain the highly coloured products which are
formed when we carry on that process with inferior
flours?

It seems to me that we can get over the difficulty by
not allowing these inferior flours to be submitted to the
action of the albuminoids of yeast, and, therefore, that in
our preparation of the ferment we should use the best
potatoes and the best flour. I did suggest that it was
worth while to try the effect of using the sugar called
dextrose in conjunction with potato, and one might also
suggest that the potato-starch which comes so largely from
America and elsewhere, and which can be. bought at
21s. per cwt., might be used along with or in place of
potatoes. But, in the second stage, I think the important
change to make is this : that we should use, for what is
called by the baker the sponge stage of the fermentation,
where it remains eight hours, a quarter of the flour, and
not allow the flour of the sponge to be inferior, so as to
undergo this very serious degradation by. which an un¬
pleasant form of bread is obtained, and high colour. It
seems to me, that in this stage one ought to use flour
made from well-matured wheats, and that when we come
to the comparatively inert stage, which only lasts for a
short time, and in the presence of a comparatively small
ratio of water, that then we should make use of our inferior
flours, if we are so unfortunate as to have them. I sugest
this as a method by which we may improve, not merely
the appearance of the bread, but also its digestibility,
because a heavy, sodden bread is not the kind of bread
that lends itself readily to the subsequent stages of
fermentation, which I shall have to draw your attention to.

(To be continued.)

148

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 14, 1S30

Cormponbcnce.

*/ No notice can be taken of anonymous communion-
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

Aconitine.

Sir, — I most cordially agree with your remarks in a recent
issue of the Pharmaceutical Journal that a considerable
amount of work is yet requisite before the question of the
economical production of aconitine is definitely settled ; but
I wish to point out that the questions now- remaining to be
solved are essentially of a pharmaceutical and manufacturing
nature, and as such somewhat out of the province of the
scientific chemical investigator ; these questions being simply
the determination of the circumstances (as to soil, climate,
age of plant, etc.), which influence the relative proportions
between the crystallizable aconitine and the non-crystalline
bases naturally accompanying it, so that the kind of plants
most suitable for the extraction of the alkaloid may be
known ; and thejelaboration of the best method of separating
the crystallizable from the amorphous substances on the
large scale.

During the last decade the amorphous alkaloidal mixtures
obtained from various species of aconites by Yon Planta,
Geiger and Hesse, Hubschmann and others have been shown
by the experiments of T. B. Groves, Duquesnel, Paul and
Kingzett, and more especially of the writer and his succes¬
sive collaborators Beckett, Luff and Menke, to be made up
of crystallizable alkaloids, products of the decomposition of
these bodies during isolation, and amorphous alkaloids
naturally contained. The crystallizable bases have been iso¬
lated and carefully studied as to their reactions, chemical
decompositions, and constitutional relationships to one
another, to other alkaloids, and to organic bodies generally.
The term “aconitine,” or “ aconitine crystallisde, was re¬
stricted by Duquesnel, now nearly ten years ago, to the crys¬
tallizable alkaloid isolated by him from A. Nap ell us. The
examination of several different samples of napellus roots by
T. B. Groves and by the writer subsequently has shown,
firstly, that in every case tried a certain amount (by no means
invariable) of the alkaloidal bodies present could be obtained
in the crystalline form by appropriate methods ; and secondly,
which is highly important, that in every case the crystal¬
lized base thus obtained was the same single well-defined
alkaloid, as characteristic of A. Napellus as nicotine is of
tobacco or conine of hemlock ; whilst the further examina¬
tions of other species of aconite roots has shown the exis¬
tence of other equally definite crystallizable alkaloids, each
of which is apparently characteristic of its own respective
species.

The questions as to how far these other crystallizable alka¬
loids are analogous to “aconitine” (i.e., the crystallizable
base of A. Napellus) in physiological action, and conse¬
quently how far they can be substituted for aconitine in
medical practice, is evidently beyond the province of the
chemical investigator, just as it is outside that of the phar¬
macist; on the other hand the latter is clearly the most
appropriate person to grapple with the purely pharmaceuti¬
cal problems as to what soils, climates and ages of plants
furnish the most crystallizable base, and what are the
exact details of manipulation which will enable the largest
percentage of crystallizable base to be isolated in manufacture
on the large scale.

As far as I personally am concerned, I have during the
last few years derived much pleasure and satisfaction in
applying with some measure of success the various grants
entrusted to me by the Pharmaceutical Conference for the
purpose of defraying the working expenses of investigations
on the general chemistry of the aconite alkaloids ; but now
that I have succeeded to some considerable extent in eluci¬
dating the more purely chemical relationships of these
bodies to one another, and to other organic bodies, and in
preparing the way for the skilled pharmaceutical chemist to
solve the problems connected with economy in manufac¬
ture (which as you justly point out yet require some
considerable amount of labour), 1 feel that my share in the
work as a scientific chemist is about accomplished ; and ac¬
cordingly am desirous of resigning the further prosecution
of these pharmaceutical details into the hands of whatever

manufacturing firm may be enterprising enough to take up
the preparations of the crystallized alkaloid, for which,
I am assured by Dr. Rice, a very considerable sale in
America alone ean be guaranteed, even though the price
should be reckoned by shillings per grain. The only reason
why American manufacturing pharmacists have not already
taken the matter up for themselves is, as I understand, the
difficulty in obtaining large enough supplies of the plant.
Had it been otherwise it would not at this epoch have been
still possible for British pharmacists to secure for this coun¬
try whatever honour and profit there may accrue from the
application to commercial pharmacy of the scientific know¬
ledge gained by the expenditure of the funds of the British
Pharmaceutical Conference in investigations into the che¬
mistry of the aconite alkaloids.

Chemical Laboratory, C. R. ALDER WRIGHT.

St. Mary's Hospital, W.

Assistants in the South of Prance.

Sir, — The gradually increasing number of English assis¬
tants engaged every year in the south induces me to cautiou
intending candidates against accepting engagements with¬
out some reliable information as to the situations they are
taking. In general, these are very comfortable ; there is
more liberty than in England, and some of the governors
are notoriously liberal in every respect to those they em¬
ploy; but on the other hand, there are several whose
treatment of their assistants is simply abominable, who
break all promises and engagements, as readily as they
make them, and against such, au Englishman has prac¬
tically no appeal. There is one man, in - -, who appears

to make this a point of honour, as he does it. more or less,
every season, however good his assistant, and though much
to his prejudice; and so well is this known that no one who
has been on the continent would think of accepting his
plausible explanations and liberal offers. The wholesale
houses offer no guarantee; they are simply commissioned to
get, amongst other items, an assistant for the season, and
though they may know how previous assistants have been
treated, their interests oblige them to ignore it.

A lengthened stay in the south has shown me what the
different situations are worth, and I shall be happy to
advise gentlemen having accepted or intending to accept
engagements, and who are unable to get confidential in¬
formation else where. $ :

It will be needless for me to note that this caution does
not apply te English governors, who may always be treated
with in full confidence.

Pharmacie Hogg, H. BOUTBLL.

2, Rue Castiglione, Paris .

The Buott Fund.

Sir, — Be so good as to grant me space to acknowledge
several generous donations in answer to my appeal on
behalf of old Mr. Cyrus Buott.

I regret the space I require is not as large as that which
I expected would be necessary. It would, indeed, be most
ungracious if I were to comment upon the response I have
obtained. Yet there appears no haven left open for this
old gentleman, if timely and suffioieDt aid be not given, but
the one most dreaded by every honest person, whose spirit
of independence is not entirely crushed.

It is difficult perhaps to fairly weigh the real claim Mr.
Buott has upon the trade, as there are different views taken
upon the kind of influence the society he represented had
upon the pharmaceutical legislation of 1868. I shall not
attempt to measure the extent of his claim. It has been
felt to be sufficient to know that he is very old and in
distress. With this feeling, I unite with those who have
kindly sent their gifts, and I ask with them for still farther
help. I feel assured there are many more who will
willingly add to the sum already obtained.

205, St. John Street Road., E.C. Robt. HaMPSon,

T. A. Ancell. — We are not aware of the publication you
refer to. _

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from

Messrs. R. G. Gould, B.T., J.B., A. E. Lomax, J. Sadler,
A. J. Heald, W. Hooper, W. Stewart, F. A. Barritt,
J. Morrison, J. J. Browell, W.J.B., Yis, West-end,
Fraxinus, F. Taylor, G. C. Druce, R. H. Parker,
G. Venables, Houghton, Mifflin and Co., J. F. Edwards,
R.L.G., W. B. Darroll, Pilula.

August 21, 1«SS0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

149

JAPANESE ACONITE.*

BY D. V. WASOWICZ.

[i

;

I

!

;

i

As supplementary to my paper on Aconite,! I
may be allowed to make some mention of another
kind of aconite root, coming from Japan. From a
botanical point of view the term “Japanese aconite”
includes markedly different kinds, viz. : (a) Aconitum
Japonicnm , Hortul., and (6) Aoonitum Japonicum ,
Thunb. The first kind is considered by Seringe to
be a variety of Aconitum variegatum, Linn. (A.
variegatum cliff usum, as well as A. glabrum, D.C.).
Siebold,J on the contrary, mentions it as synony¬
mous with his A. Chinense , Sieb. (A. Napellus, L.).§
Miquel refers it, and also Siebold’s A. Chinense
(called in Japanese language “ tori-rapta ”) to A.
Fischeri , Reichb., and says literally, “ A botanicis
indigenis, nec non a Siebold, Buerger, Textor, Moh-
nike lecta exemplaria satis diversiformia, hue tamen,
ni fallor, omnia ducenda.”|| ReichenbachlF found
this variety among the specimens brought by Pallas
from Kamtschatka, and classes it under the Uchy-
lodea in transition to the Cammaroideci, but does not
give the characters of the root.

The second kind, the Aconitum Japonicum ,
Thunb. , is considered by Reichenbach to be probably
A. uncinatum, L., cultivated in Japan, upon the
basis of a description and drawing obtained from
the former, which drawing is reproduced in his
work with Thunberg’s autograph. At the same
time, Siebold, as well as Miquel (according to whom
this kind is called “ reisinsoo ” by the Japanese),

refer it to A. lycoctynum , L., var. Q floribus ochro-
leucis. More recently Holmes thinks he has proved
that in Japan there are only three varieties of
aconite, Aconitum Fischeri , Reichb., A. uncinatum ,
L., and A. Lycoctynum , L. In the Chinese bazaars
two apparently different roots are met with, under
the name of “Japanese aconite.” One of them is
described by Tartarinov,** and this description agrees
with that of Hanbury relating to the root named
“ ch uen- woo,” as belonging to an unknown variety
of aconite. The accompanying descriptive drawings,
fig. 1, are copied from Hanbury’s book, ft

“ Chuen-woo ; Root of ] Aconitum sp. ( Ranuncu -
lacece). — Conical or top-shaped tuberous roots (fig. 1),

about 1^ inch in length, covered
with a blackish-brown cuticle ;
internally they are white and
amylaceous. They taste slightly
bitter and leave a persistent
sensation of numbness and
tingling on the tongue with
some acridity in the throat.

Ground to powder and mixed
with an equal quantity of the
root Tsaou-woo (next described)
and of the flowers Naou-yang-
hwa, also in powder, a com¬
pound is obtained which is
Fig. 1. Tub. Aconiti reputed to produce local anses-
J aponici, afterHanbury . thesia. This powder, moistened,
is to be applied to the surface of the part to be

* From the Archiv d. Pharmacie, vol. xiv., p. 217.

+ See before, pp. 301, 341, 463.

j Siebold et Zuccharini, ‘Florw Japonic®,’ vol. i., part 2,
pp. 183, 184.

§ Thunberg, ‘ Flora Japonica,’ 1784, p. 231.

!J| ‘Prol. Flor® Japonic®,’ Amsterdam.

t ‘ Illust. Spec. Aconit. Gen.,’ Leipag, 1823, 27.

** ‘ Catalog. Med. Sinens.,’ p. 5.

ft * Science Papers,’ p. 258.

Third Series, No. 530.

operated upon for two hours previous to the opera¬
tion, by which means, it is alleged, insensibility to
pain will be produced.”

The second root described by Tartarinov, and
named by the Chinese “ cao-wu-tu,” is called by
Hanbury “tsaou,” and he regards it, on the authority
of Hofmann and Schultes, as the root of Aconitum
Japonicum , Thunb. Yon Schroff, jun., and even
Hanbury, doubt the correctness of this derivation,
for the latter says in the next following passage that
it is highly probable that the Chinese name is not
restricted to a single species. This root has within
the past year been examined in regard to its che¬
mical composition by Paul and Kingzett, and Pro¬
fessor Fliickiger obtained from them a quantity of
the drug. Professor Fliickiger was good enough to
hand over to me the greater part of his supply,
which presented the following characters. The roots
resembled Hanbury’s drawings so completely that it
appeared almost unnecessary to make fresh drawings,
though I have done this for the sake of completeness.

Fig. 2. Tub. Aconiti Japonici
Tsaou-woo, natural size.

The roots are chiefly elongated radish-shaped and
less frequently ovoid tubers, almost always flattened
at the top and presenting distinct remains of lateral
stalks. At -the lower extremities they are generally
conical, but some are round, and a few of them are
pointed. They are irregularly and scantily furnished
with a few lateral roots, or only with the scars of these.
Externally they are greyish-brown, almost blackish,
with numerous longitudinal wrinkles and compara¬
tively many transverse wrinkles, so that the surface
of some pieces appears divided into irregular quad¬
rangular spaces. They measure from 1*5 to 5 '2
centimetres in length, and have a maximum diameter
of 9 millimetres to 1*4 centimetre and they weigh
from 0-5 to 3 53 grams. The weight of most of the
tubers varies from 1 *2 to 2*8 grams.

The fracture is granular. The roots are internally
of a white colour and quite free from smell. The
taste is at first farinaceous, with a sweetish bitter¬
ness, and soon after burning, acrid and irritating.
Digested with hot water, or macerated for some hours
in cold water, the tubers swell up slightly and after
perfect drying they again become hard and brittle,
but not horny. The water in which they have been
macerated presents a dark yellow colour and has a
persistent bitter taste. ^

A transverse section is quite white and under the

160

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 21, 1880.

microscope it appears as a uniform tissue, intersected
by eight to sixteen somewhat yellowish coloured
circularly placed bundles of vessels, which enclose a
proportionally large pith. Concentrated sulphuric
acid colours the section pale reddish, but only after
long continued action. Solution of iodine in iodide
of potassium produces at first a deep blue colour
that soon becomes black. Perchloride of iron pro¬
duces no effect at first; subsequently it gives rise to
a greyish coloration. Millon’s reagent produces a
very slight greyish coloration, that soon passes
into distinct yellow, and an alkaline solution of
cupric tartrate indicates only an extremely small
quantity of protein substances.

Under the microscope the outer rind of the root
appears to be formed of five to seven rows of crowded
roundish and tabular cells of a light brownish
colour. After this follows a layer consisting of from
four to ten rows of extended and equal-sized collen-
chymatic cells only slightly thickened, and with
proportionally very many stone cells imbedded in
them. The next layer is prominent and consists
of rounded slightly thickened parenchymatous poly-
hedric cells, which are not yellow coloured as in
Aconitum heterophyllum. Next to this follows the
principal tissue, composed qf several rows of ex¬
tended cells, which are more rounded and gradually
more contracted towards the centre, and about the
vascular bundles have the smallest diameter. These
are also parenchymatous cells. In this tissue there
are circularly distributed vascular bundles to the
number of eight to sixteen, which consist of from
five to eight vessels grouped together in rows. These
latter are almost always spiral, very seldom scalaii-
form- thickened and their walls are yellow coloured.
The pith enclosed by these bundles also consist of
rounded polyhedric cells, with scarcely any intercel¬
lular spaces between them and exceeding three or four
times in size the cells of the principal tissue. The form
of this central tissue is generally regularly rounded,
but here and there, though seldom, and only in the
upper part, is elliptic. The normal aspect of such a
transverse section is represented by fig. 3.

Fig. 3. Transverse Section through middle of the root — strongly

magnified.

The longitudinal section, fig. 4, distinctly shows
that the several vessels of the stalk cicatrix extend

separately to the end of the
root, and do not anastomose,
though they are often bent
and curved. The lateral roots,
to judge from the remains of
them, scarcely differ from the
principal roots, except that in
them the stone cells are very
scantily distributed. The con¬
tents of all the parenchy¬
matous cells consist of single
minute and perfectly round
starch granules, which are
frequently grouped together
in small lumps, less frequently
separate, and then rather lar¬
ger, and still less frequently
in compound granules, which

Fig. 4. Longitudinal Sec- “e never composed of more
tion— strongly magnified, than two members. See fig. 5.

©

Fig. 5. Starch Granules.

The root dried at 100° C., yielded 2*799 per cent,
of ash. This was not completely soluble in water
or in hydrochloric acid. The aqueous solution was
very alkaline. The ash was found to consist of Fe,
Al, Mg, Ca, Ka and traces of Na, combined with
H2S04,H3P04, and H2Si03,HCl.

Paul and Kingzett obtained from this root, ac¬
cording to the process of Duquesnel, besides true
aconitine, in the form of a crystallizable salt, possibly
aconitate of aconitine; also another and hitherto
unknown alkaloid, having the formula C29H43N09,
with which no crystallizable salt could be prepared.

In operating upon this root it was found to be
very acrid, producing numbness of the hands and
lips, from which it was supposed that its was not
inferior in activity to the root of Aconitum ferox.

Hanbury states that these roots are used with
chuen-woo to produce insensibility to pain in surgical
operations. According to Christison they form also
the principal constituent of an extract for poisoning
arrows.* According to Yon Schroff, jun., it is an
amusement in China to place unexpectedly on the
tongue the pure extract of tsaou-woo. He was unable,
however, to recognize in it a higher degree of
acridity than in Aconitum Napellus. As to the dried
root I am able to confirm that.

In order to determine the position occupied by
this root in a physiological relation, as compared
with the other poisonous aconite roots, such as A:
Napellus , A. ferox , and the roots of Japan aconite,
chuan-woo, described by Yon Schroff, jun., I pre¬
pared from the remainder of my supply, by SchrofFs
method, an alcoholic extract, according to the direc¬
tions of the Austrian Pharmacopoeia. I obtained
from 35*7 grams of root, 2*78 grams of extract of a
proper consistence. This gave a clear solution in
dilute alcohol of a brownish colour. The watery
solution was not clear and of a dirty brown colour.
The solutions were unusually bitter, and much more
acrid than a solution of the extract of A. Napellus.
0*75 gram of this extract, dissolved in alcohol,
killed a rabbit, weighing 1712 grams, in the course

* Edinburgh Medical Journal, April, 1859, p. 69.

August 21, 1S?0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

151

of thirteen hours and three quarters; and 5 2 grains
dissolved in water killed a rabbit, weighing 1547
arams, in sixteen hours and .a half. The post¬
mortem examination next morning did not give any
particular result beyond the appearances that are
usually observed in cases of poisoning by aconite.

This result compared with the observations of
Yon Schroff, jun., of the actions of the above-
mentioned three varieties of aconite shows that the
tsciou-woo root almost exceeds in poisonous effects
the cliuan-woo, and that both of them are equally
to be ascribed to Aconitum fer ox. This demonstrated
prominent poisonous character of the root is opposed
to the assumption of Hofmann and Schultz, especi¬
ally in case the Aconitum japonicum, Thunb., should
really be referred, as Siebold and Miquel affirm, to
A. lycoctonum, var. {3 Jloribus ochroleucis.

PHOSPHORIC ACID.*

BY J. U. LLOYD.

In 1858 Mr. Win, S. Thompson suggested the em¬
ployment of a formula, at that time in use by Mr. George
Andrews, to wit: — Mix 54 fluid ounces of nitric acid
with 26 fluid ounces of water and add 4 troy ounces of
phosphorus, place in a porcelain dish over which is to
he inverted another dish, and heat gently until . the
phosphorus disappears, and afterwards, until the nitric
acid is driven off. This process was subsequently
adopted by the U. S. P. (I860) in its essential points,
but instead of an inverted dish a glass funnel was. sub¬
stituted, the rim of which rested just above the liquid.
Professor Diehl called attention to the defect of this
arrangement in 1867, stating that the funnels often
broke, and he recommended a return to the first form of
apparatus for making phosphoric acid, a glass retort.
This I feel is desirable. When the air within the funnel
becomes warm, it rises and passes through the exit. The
place is supplied with fresh air which enters between the
dish and the funnel and just over the surface of the
liquid, becomes heated, and in turn escapes at the top.
Thus a constant flow of fresh air is the result, entering
between the dish and the funnel, passing over the solu¬
tion escaping at the exit of the funnel. A more perfect
and simple apparatus for producing a flow of air in the
manner designated, according to the laws of nature,
could scarcely have been designed, and from the fact that
it does this, it is objectionable, the effect being as
follows: —

When the heat is applied to the dish which contains
the diluted nitric acid and the phosphorus, the phos¬
phorus melts, and as the bubbles of gas escape which are
the result of the reaction they carry small globules of
phosphorus to the surface of the liquid. Immediately
these inflame and the phosphorus pentoxide escapes .with
the air from the exit of the funnel. As the liquid
decreases in bulk from evaporation and its specific
gravity increases, the phosphorus rises easier and more
abundantly and the combustion progresses more rapidly.
This increases the heat within the funnel and strengthens
the draft, particles of burning phosphorus are thrown
upon the funnel, and the intense heat produces its
destruction. Thus it will be seen that, even though the
heat of a water-bath be employed, or an expanded steam-
bath, a very large amount of phosphorus is lost, consider¬
able danger incurred, and an acid is produced which is
deficient in strength. To an extent this trouble may
be overcome by employing a funnel the exit of which
is closed with a stopper, or better, by placing a plate
of glass over the top of the dish and dispensing with
the funnel. Neither of the foregoing is equal to. the
glass retort, however, in the estimation of the writer,

* From New Remedies July, 1880.

and yet with this a few precautions are necessary in a
practical way.

When heat is applied to the retort, the phosphorus
melts, and, as before stated, small globules of it are
carried to the surface. There meeting with oxygen they
burn until the oxygen within the retort is consumed.
These small burning globules of phosphorus often float to
the side and thus break the retort at the very commence¬
ment of the process. To obviate this trouble it has been
my custom to pass carbon dioxide into the retort
and displace the atmosphere before applying heat. If a.
two gallon retort be employed, and 6f oz. avoirdupois
of phosphorus, 48 oz. avoirdupois of nitric acid, and 64
fluid oz. of water, the heat of an expanded steam (or
water) bath applied sixty hours will dissolve the phos¬
phorus. There will be no loss of phosphorus by
combustion. The temperature of the liquid during the
reaction will range about 208° or 210° E. The retort
should be connected with a condenser and the distillate
collected. This will contain about 10 per cent, of nitric
acid and may be employed in subsequent operations
instead of water for the purpose of mixing with the nitric
acid. The process of the Pharmacopoeia from this point
seems very simple, “ continue the heat until the excess of
nitric acid is driven off, and a syrupy liquid, free from
odour, and weighing two ounces, remains.” This in
practice, according to my experience, is more difficult than
dissolving the phosphorus. It requires a very high
heat to drive off the nitric acid, a heat often sufficient to
produce both meta- and pyrophosphoric acids.

To overcome this trouble, I make the following
suggestion. Evaporate the liquid within the retort until
it is reduced to the measure of sixteen fluid ounces, then
remove the heat, cool until reduced to the temperature
of 130° E., and add deodorized alcohol as much by
measure as there is of the solution. Then evaporate on
a water-bath until reduced to sixteen fluid ounces.
Nitrous ether will be evolved, and when the reaction has
ceased it will be found that the bulk of the nitric acid
will have disappeared. In case it is still present in
appreciable amount (?), again add sixteen fluid ounces of
deodorized alcohol and warm until thealcohol is evaporated
and the temperature reaches 200° F. and all odour of
nitrous ether has passed away. Lastly, add of distilled
water a sufficient amount to bring the solution to the
required gravity or q. s. to make 160 fluid ounces.

It will be found in practice that if the alcohol is. im¬
pure the acid will be discoloured. A little purified
animal charcoal will decolorize it in this case.

Acidum Phosphor icum Dilutum ( Diluted Phosphoric Acid)*
Take of

Phosphorus, three parts . 3.

Nitric Acid, twenty-five parts . 25.

Alcohol, eight parts . 8.

Purified Animal Charcoal, one-fourth part . £.

Distilled Water . °l*s#

Mix the nitric acid with forty-eight (48) parts of dis¬
tilled water, and pour the mixture into a tubulated and
stoppered glass-retort capable of holding twice the amount.
Then add the phosphorus and pass carbon dioxide into
the retort until the air is displaced. Now connect the
exit of the retort with a condenser, stop the tubulure of
the retort, and apply the heat of a water-bath until, the
phosphorus has disappeared. Then pour the liquid into
an -evaporating basin, and evaporate it until reduced to
eio-ht (8) parts. Then add sixteen (16) parts of distilled
water and pass sulphide of hydrogen into the solution
until the gas is in excess. Permit the mixture to stand
twelve hours and then filter it through a plug of cotton
placed in the exit of a glass funnel. Evaporate his
solution by means of a water-bath until it is reduced to
eight (8) parts, and cool it. Then add the alcohol and
evaporate it on a water-bath until there remain eight
(8) parts.* If it is coloured, or retains a burnt odour,

* Observe note t© succeeding formula on next page.

152

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

|[August 21, 1SS0

mix the animal charcoal with it and digest one hour, then
add of distilled water an amount sufficient to bring it to
sixty (60) parts, and filter it through a plug of cotton
placed in the exit of a funnel, returning the first that
passes and reserving it only after it becomes colourless.

Characteristics of this diluted phosphoric acid are the
same as those of the acid made from amorphous colourless.

I find that pharmacists dislike to handle ordinary
phosphorus. This is natural, as it is both dangerous and
disagreeable. Many times heretofore amorphous phos¬
phorus has been recommended for making phosphoric
acid, and certainly much can be said in its favour. The
following formula is not in the least dangerous (from
amorphous phosphorus) : —

Acidurn Phosphoricum Dilutum ( Diluted Phosphoric Acid).

Take of

Amorphous phosphorus, three parts . . . 3.

Nitric acid, twenty-five parts . 25.

Alcohol, eight parts . 8.

Purified animal charcoal, one-fourth part .

Distilled water . q.s.

Mix the nitric acid with ninety-six (96) parts of dis¬
tilled water in a porcelain capsule of twice the capacity
of the mixture, and add the phosphorus. Place the

capsule on a water-bath and heat it until the phosphorus
is dissolved, then evaporate the solution until it is reduced
to eight (8) parts. Permit it to cool, then add sixteen
(16) parts of distilled water and pass sulphide of hydrogen
into the solution until the gas is in excess. Permit the
mixture to stand twelve hours and then filter it through
a plug of cotton placed in the exit of a glass funnel.
Evaporate this solution by means of a water-bath until it
is reduced to eight (8) parts, and cool it. Then add the
alcohol and evaporate on a water-bath until there remain
eight (8) parts.* If it is coloured, or retains a burnt
odour, mix the animal charcoal with it and digest an
hour (this is unnecessary in case it is colourless and
odourless) ; then add of distilled water an amount suffi¬
cient to bring it to sixty (60) parts and filter it through a
plug of cotton placed in the exit of a funnel, returning
the first that passes and reserving the solution only after
it becomes colourless.

Characters. — A colourless, inodorous liquid, of the
specific gravity . . . . It is not rendered black

by nitrate of silver, nor turned white or whitish by bi¬
chloride of mercury (absence of phosphorous acid).
When gently warmed it does not deposit a bright
yellow sediment, after being saturated with sulphu¬
retted hydrogen, and after standing at rest for some
time (absence of arsenic acid). A crystal of pure
sulphate of iron introduced into a cold mixture of
equal parts of sulphuric acid and of the diluted phosphoric
acid may render it pinkish, but does not produce a black
or brownish colour in the liquid (absence of excess of
nitric acid). No precipitate is produced by chloride of
barium (absence of sulphuric acid), or nitrate of silver
(absence of hydrochloric acid), when either of them are
added in small proportion. It produces no precipitate
with an equal bulk of tincture of chloride of iron after
standing for several hours (absence, of pyro- and meta-
phosphoric acids).

One hundred parts of it are saturated by . . parts of

bicarbonate of potassium and no precipitate is produced.

THE MANUFACTURE OF OLEO MARGARINE OR
ARTIFICIAL BUTTER IN THE UNITED STATES.

Mr. Victor Drummond, Her Majesty’s Secretary of
Embassy at Washington, in a recent report, sends the
following memorandum in respect to the present position
of the artificial butter in the United States : —

The National Association for the Prevention of the
Adulteration of Butter lately met to hear a report of the

* It must be remembered that nitrous ether is inflam¬
mable, therefore the near application of a flame must be
avoided at this point.

Executive Committee in regard to a proposed circular
letter to the dairymen of the country, calling upon them
to organize to resist the fraudulent sale of oleo-margarine.
It is not surprising that an organization on the part of
dairymen should be carried out at this time, when it is
acknowledged by the oleo-margarinists that millions of
pounds of this butter imitation are exported from this
country annually into Europe. The Commercial Manu-.
facturing Company at New York alone make 18,000,000
lbs. yearly, of the value of from 15 to 20 cents, a pound.

The Committee of Congress on “Manufactures and
Agriculture” lately visited the works of the Oleo-marga¬
rine Company at Baltimore, and appear to have been
favourably impressed with this new product, as being a
wholesome and pure food and a benefit to the working
man as to its price.

The arguments in its favour are, that it is such a per¬
fect counterfeit of butter that thousands of pounds of it
are annually bought, sold, and eaten by the public in the
belief that it is the genuine article, that it is as wholesome
and as palateable as butter, that it adds to the productive
wealth of the nation, that it will prevent the manufacture
of thousands of pounds of bad butter now made, and en¬
courage the making of first-class butter, and thus will be
a blessing to the dairymen, and that its price is essentially
a blessing to the poor.

The argument on the other side is that it is jeopardizing
thousands of people connected with the dairy interests of
this country, that it undersells genuine butter and thus
makes itself attractive to the millions, who, from its ex¬
treme similitude to the real article, readily buy it in that
belief. The difficulty will probably be got over by a
legislative statute that oleo-margarine must be made of a
distinctive colour, and the goods branded so as to prevent
the public from being imposed upon.

M. Mdge, a Frenchman, appears to be the inventor of
oleo-margarine; the operations necessary for its produc¬
tion I give below, with an analysis of the article compared
with that of butter, so that those who buy this compound
in England may know exactly the process which enables
them to obtain the cheap article.

The method developed by him in this commendable
undertaking can best be appreciated by following it step
by step through the extensive works of the Commercial
Manufacturing Company of this city, at West 48th Street,
North River, where it is practised on a large scale, with
such improvements as experience has proved to be advan¬
tageous.

At an early hour each morning the selected fat from the
several abattoirs about the city begins to come in. The
fat being received within a few hours from the time of
killing, it is and must necessarily be fresh. After being
weighed the fat is thrown piece by piece into large vats of
tepid water ; any pieces showing blood stains being thrown
into a special vat for extra washing. After soaking for
an hour in the tepid water, the fat is thoroughly washed
with cold water and then covered with fresh cold water
and left another hour to soak. It is then assorted. The
pieces rich in oil are severed from the rest by a skilful
cut, the assorter throwing the finer pieces into an adjoin¬
ing tank for another washing, and the pieces less rich in
oil into tubs to be transferred to the tallow factory. The
fat for butter making is now carefully washed a third
time, then elevated to the floor above for hashing and
melting. The object of hashing is to disintegrate the fat,
thoroughly breaking up the tissues so that the oil will
separate therefrom at a low temperature. This is necessary
to prevent the development of the rank tallowy flavour
which results from the action of a heat, such as was
heretofore used for the melting of tallow before the Mege
discovery.

The hashing machine is simply a series of knife blades
revolving in an iron cylinder ; the fat being fed in at one
end, and after being disintegrated, forced out at the
other end through a perforated %iron plate. From the
hashers the fat is conveyed to the melting tanks, a series

August 21, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS-

153

of cauldron?, jacketed and surrounded with water. The
water is heated by steam, and in turn heats the fat,
which is melted at a temperature of from 122° to 124° F.
When the fat is thoroughly melted the mechanical stir¬
ring is suspended, the particles of membrane settle to the
bottom, forming “scrap,’’ and a thin film of white emul¬
sion of water and oil forms on the top. The latter is
removed and the clear yellow oil is drawn off into wooden
tank cars, which are sent into the “seeding” or press
room to rest while the oil is granulating by the crystalli¬
zation of the stearine. The melting process occupies
from two to three hours, and the granulation fully twelve
times as long, the temperature of the room being kept
at 85° F.

The refined fat is next pressed, when the excess of crys¬
tallized stearine is removed by straining under pressure.
The fat is now packed in cloths set in moulds to form
packages about the size of a common brick, the packages
being placed on galvanized iron plates in the presses on
the left. When a press is entirely filled the packages are
subjected to a slowly increasing pressure, under which the
fluid oil flows out until the stearine cakes are left dry and
hard, when they are removed by an adroit flirt of the
canvass wrapper. The larger area of the press room is
occupied by cans of crystallziing fat.

Two important steps in the butter-making process have
thus been completed. The thoroughly washed suet has been
deprived, first, of the inclosing cellular tissues, and next of
the excess of stearine. We have now a limpid amber-
coloured oil, perfectly sweet, and substantially the same
as the oil of butter. When cooled this oil, or oleo-mar-
garine, is slightly yellow in tint, melts in the mouth like
butter, and has an agreeable taste. At this stage it fur¬
nishes an excellent fat for culinary purposes, and may be
kept for a long time without risk of becoming rancid.
This makes it much preferable to ordinary butter for
naval uses. In the works of the Commercial Manufac¬
turing Company, the larger part of the butter-oil formerly
did not go beyond this stage, being drawn off from the
press room into casks for exportation. At present the
company cannot supply the demand for butter.

To convert the butter-oil into butter, it is necessary for
it to undergo the processes by which fat is converted first
into cream arid then into butter, in the udder of the cow
and in the churn. For this purpose so much of the daily
product of the Manufacturing Company as is needed for
home consumption is forced through pipes to the churning
room. In the cow’s udder the fat which is to be con¬
verted into cream is divided into minute globules, in
other words, emulsionized by the action of the mammary
pepsin in the milk. To accomplish the same end in the
factory the butter-oil is churned with milk for about
twenty minutes, when the oil is entirely and minutely
broken up. At the same time a small quantity of the
solution of annatto is added, as is commonly done in ordi¬
nary butter-making, to heighten the colour of the product.
The churning ended, the mixture is withdrawn from the
churn into a tub of pouuded ice. The sudden cooling
causes the emulsionized oil to solidify without crystalliza¬
tion. After remaining for two or three hours in contact
with the ice, the butter-like oil is worked over by hand
and the pieces of ice removed. The product has now the
appearance of freshly churned butter, but it is deficient in
the soluble butyric elements which give to creamery
butter its delightful odour and flavour, and, it must be
added, its tendency to become rancid with age. To supply
these essential elements of savoury table-butter the pro¬
duct is churned a second time with nearly an equal weight
of milk, during which process it takes up a sufficient
quantity of milk to make it to all intents and purposes
the same as dairy butter ; not so delightfully fragrant, it
is true, as the finer grades of creamery butter, but much
more attractive to the senses of taste and smell than the
average butter of the shops.

After the second churning the butter undergoes sub¬
stantially the same operations of working over to press

out the excess of milk, salting, packing, etc., as are
practised in our dairies; in these, as in the preceding
operations, scrupulous cleanliness being a characteristic
feature.

The works of the Commercial Manufacturing Company
are three storeys high, and cover an area of twenty-two
city lots — about 1^ acres. From an average of 100,000
lbs. of fresh caul fat received daily, from 40,000 to 50,000
lbs. of butter are produced — equivalent to the yield of
nearly as many thousands milch cows. From 20 to 25 lbs.
of beef oil suitable for butter-making is obtainable from
each of the 12,000 beeves killed every week for the re¬
quirements of New York and the adjoining cities, an an¬
nual addition to the food supply of this port of not less
than 12,000,000 of pure food, having a dietetic as well as
a commercial value of from 1 5 to 20 cents, a pound . The
possible annual gain to the whole country from M. Mage’s
discovery runs high among the millions.

For those who are curious to know the comparative
compositions of natural and artificial butter, the following
analyses are appended. It is proper to add that, owing
to differences in cattle, in their food, and in the common
processes of butter-making, natural butter is somewhat
variable in composition. The figures given below, how¬
ever, may be taken as a fair average.

Analysis of Natural and Oleo-margarine Butter.

BY DR. H. A. MOTT.

Constituents.

No. l,

Natural But¬
ter.

No. 2.
Oleo-marga¬
rine Com¬
pany’s But¬
ter.

Water .

11-968

11-203

Butter solids .

88-032

88-797

100-000

100-000

Insoluble fats —

Olein .

J 23-824

24-893

Palmitin .

Stearine .

j

Arachin .

[ 51*422

56*298

Myristin .

)

Soluble fats —

Butyrin .

)

Caprion .

[ 7-432

1-823

Caproin .......

Caprylin .

)

Casein .

•192

•621

Salt .

5-162

5-162

Colouring matter ....

Trace.

Trace

88-032

88-797

FIXITY OF COMPOSITION OF PLANTS. ANALYSES
OF SOYA HISPID A.*

BY H. PELLET.

For some years past the author has sought to prove
that the composition of many plants is much less variable
than might be supposed from the analyses published.
On the other hand, in the case of certain plants, such as
the beet, he has found that if differences exist in the
composition of the mineral substances which they con¬
tain, these differences occur according to the laws of
equivalence. That is to say, that the principal acids
being constant, especially phosphoric acid, the bases on
the contrary, may vary within certain limits; neverthe¬
less that this variation does not take place weight for

weight, but equivalent for equivalent. _ _

'* Comptes KencLus, vol. xc., p. 1177.

154

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 21, 1880.

Other plants, such as corn, do not show very great
variations. But recently having had occasion to analyse
some soy beans ( Soya hispida, Moench.), M. Pellet found
that they presented a rather remarkable fixity of com¬
position.

Three specimens were analysed, one obtained from
China, another from Hungary, and a third collected from
a plant cultivated at Etampes, in the department of
Seine-et-Oise, Prance.

Water .

Fatty Matters ....
Protein Matters (coagulable
nitrogen x 6'25)

Starch, Dextrin and Saccha
rine Principles* . .

Cellulose .

Ammoniaf .

Sulphuric Acid . . .

Phosphoric Acid . . .

Chlorine .

Potash .

Lime .

Magnesia .

Substances insoluble in acids
Traces of Soda, Iron, and
Mineral Substances, un¬
estimated . . . . . .

Various Organic Matters .

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

9*000

10*160

9*740

16-400

16*600

14*120

35*500

27*750

31*750

3*210

3-210

3*210

11*650

11*650

11*650

0*290

0*274

0*304

0-065

0*234

0*141

1*415

1*554

1*631

0-036

0-035

0-037

2-187

2*204

2*317

0-432

0*316

0*230

0*397

0*315

0-435

0-052

0*055

0-061

0*077

0*104

0*247

19*289

25*539

24*127

100*000

100-000

100-000

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

Nitrogen of the Am¬
monia .

Coagulable Nitrogen .

0-230

6-680

0*225

4-440

9-250

5-080

-5*910

-4*665

-5*330

Total Nitrogen estimated

directly . 5*910 4*720 5"440

These were therefore traces
of soluble ammonia.

Total Ash per cent, of
normal substance ob¬
tained by washing

( + C02) . 4*86 4*87 5*15

Soluble substances inso¬
luble in boiling water

and acetic acid . . . 67*10 68*40 65*80

Notwithstanding the different countries in which these
beans had been collected, it will be seen by these analyses
how slight was the difference in the organic and inorganic
composition of the three specimens.

The composition of the ash was as follows : —

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

Carbonic Acid .

4*10

1*20

1-00

Phosphoric Acid .

29*13

31*92

31*68

Sulphuric Acid .

1*37

4*80

2-74

Chlorine .

0*75

0*75

0-75

Potash .

45*02

45*27

45*02

Lime .

8*92

6-50

4*48

Magnesia .

8*19

6*48

8*47

Insoluble .

1*10

1T0

1*20

Traces of Soda, Iron, etc. . .

1*50

2*15

4-83

100-17

100*17

100*17

Deduct Oxygen for Chlorine .

0*17

0-17

0*17

100*00

100-00

100-00

It will be seen that there is little variation in the quan¬
tity of phosphoric acid and potash, which are the principal
substances, constituting between them three-fourths of
the ash. There is a little more variation in the alkaline
earths ; but the portion including the soda is slightly

* These figures represent the mean of three specimens,
t No. 1 is the mean of Nos. 2 and 3.

higher where the quantities of lime and magnesia are
lower.

The mean quantity of phosphoric acid is 1*53 per cent,
of the normal vegetable substance, and the quantity of
ammonia is 0*29 per cent. ; the quantity of ammonia
necessary to have the relation 71:17 would be 0*36.
There is therefore more ammonia than is required for the
magnesia to be only in the state of ammoniaco-magnesian
phosphate. The phosphoric acid must therefore have
entered the plant, as in the case of corn, in the state of
double phosphate of potash and ammonia. As a con¬
sequence of this large quantity of phosphoric acid there
is little carbonic acid in the ash. A propos of this, it has
been found that the double salts of soda and ammonia
decompose the alkaline carbonates, not only in the
normal state but after calcination ; i.e., the soda salt
calcined left a residue which when heated with carbonate
of soda drove off completely the carbonic acid. The
earthy carbonates appear to be less easily attacked by
the phosphates, and that is the reason why in No. 1,
where the proportion of lime and magnesia is highest,
more carbonic acid has been retained.

GTJM-HOGG*

BY CHAS. L. MITCHELL, PH.G., M.D.

Under the above title a peculiar form of gum is de¬
scribed in the U. S. Dispensatory, p. 1664 ; it was ob¬
tained from the establishment of Messrs. J. B. Lippincott
and Co., where it was used in one of the processes for
the manufacture of books. As described by Dr. Wood,
“ it is in lumps of various size, from that of a chestnut to
that of a walnut or larger, of an extremely irregular
shape, often much contorted, appearing frequently as if
consisting of several pieces which had become aggluti¬
nated in their soft state, translucent and nearly colourless,
with a slight reddish-yellow tint in some places, of a
rather dull though somewhat shining surface, very hard,
brittle, with a glassy fracture, inodorous, and nearly or
quite tasteless. With water it swells to a soft transparent
mass, which retains this condition long without change,
and if now stirred, instead of forming a consistent
mucilage, breaks up into minute, irregular, transparent
fragments, which retain this form indefinitely.”

Chemically examined by Professor William Procter,
jun., it was found to be only very slightly soluble in
water, both cold and hot, the solution giving a precipitate
with sol. subacetate lead, but none with oxalate of am¬
monium, in the latter respect differing from gum arabic.
The insoluble portion was dissolved by strong sulphuric
acid, and was converted by boiling dilute sulphuric acid
into a soluble gum. He considered the insoluble sub¬
stance to be bassorin, the insoluble constituent of traga-
canth, and the gum itself probably the same as Bassora
gum. The gum was obtained from the East Indies, but
its botanical source was unknown.

The attention of the writer was recently called to this
article, and a few experiments and a number of inquiries
made with a view to determine its true relation to
Bassora gum. A quantity of the drug was accordingly
obtained from the same house which furnished the speci¬
mens to Dr. Wood. Upon examination it does not pre¬
sent quite the same physical characteristics which are
described by him, but appears to be more a collection of
gums from different species bearing a general similarity
to tragacanth. It occurs in fragments of irregular shape
and varying from the size of a chestnut to much larger ;
its colour in different samples varies from a dirty white
to a yellowish-brown ; it is hard, inodorous, tasteless, and
breaks with a short glassy fracture. Some fragments
have still adhering portions of the bark of the tree from
which it has been obtained, while the general appearance
of the gum shows it to have been deposited in successive
exudations, similar to tragacanth.

A portion of the gum was set aside with a quantity of

* Prom the American Journal of Pharmacy , April, 1880.

A\igust 21, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

155

cold water, when, after the expiration of twenty-four
hours it had swollen up into a soft, white, transparent
mass, occupying the lower half of the vessel. When
agitated, this mass showed no disposition to form a
uniform mucilage, but separated into small, soft, trans¬
parent, and rather granular fragments, resembling
pounded ice ; this subsided to the bottom of the vessel
again when it was set at rest. The whole was now thrown
on a filter, and the filtrate examined ; it gave a very faint
precipitate with sol. subacetate lead, and no reaction
whatever to solution oxalate ammonium ; it was neutral
in reaction, and had neither taste nor smell.

A second portion of the gum treated by prolonged
boiling with water gave the same result as obtained with
cold water. The insoluble portion was next examined.
Alcohol and ether had no solvent action upon it ; boiled
with dilute sulphuric acid it was soon dissolved, the
resulting solution showing no reaction with tincture of
iodine, and not responding to Trommer’s test for sugar.
When boiled with a weak solution of an alkali or alkaline
carbonate it was speedily converted into a uniform thick
mucilage of a pinkish colour. When this was treated
with an acid it did not again precipitate, although the
mucilage lost its colour and became perfectly transparent.
The loss of colour may be probably accounted for by the
presence of iron in very small quantity. These tests,
with the exception of perhaps the last, on which there is
little information, correspond with those for bassorin, and
show the close similarity of the present gum with that
previously described by Dr. Wood, and to the Bassora
gum of other writers, and they are all probably identical
and the same.

While the solubility. of bassorin in alkaline solutions
has been but briefly alluded to in various works, it seems
to indicate certain properties which might almost entitle
it to be considered as an acid similar in its nature to the
arabic or gummic acid of gum acacia.

Its commercial history is quite interesting. It was
brought into this country about thirty years ago at
Salem, Mass. At that time Salem was the headquarters
of the East India trade, and this gum came with a lot of
tragacanth imported to that place from Calcutta. It was
supposed that it might be used in place of tragacanth as
a cheaper article by the shoe manufacturers of Lynn and
others. It came, however, into the hands of a noted
drug garbler of the place by the name of Whipple, and
was rejected by him immediately as an unsuitable and in¬
ferior gum. It was next shipped to Boston for sale, and
after a number of ineffectual attempts to foist it on the
market (for its worthlessness soon became known), was
finally put up at public auction, and sold for two or three cents
a pound to George Loring, at that time one of its principal
booksellers. Mr. Loring made a number of ineffectual
attempts to utilize it for different purposes, and, finally,
rather disgusted, placed it in the hands of a Professor
Jackson, a chemist of Jamaica Plain (one of the suburbs
of Boston). Professor Jackson experimented with it for
some time, and discovered its property of forming a good
non-adhesive mucilage when boiled with an alkali, and
being quite intimate with Mr. Loring, they soon utilized
it for the manufacture of marbled paper, which was just
then commencing to be known in the country. Gradually
the secret became known, and as there was a slight
demand for the article, at different times small lots were
brought into the-country. Up to the time of Jackson’s
experiments the gum had received no name, but after¬
wards it was known through the trade by the name of
gum-hogg, and it is believed he gave it this name on
account of its obstinacy in resisting the different efforts
for its solution, and thus behaving like a well-known
domestic animal of similar perverse and wilful habits.

The different gums varied very much in price, being at
various times from 25 cents to 1*25 dollars per pound,
and I have been informed by those who have used the
article for a number of years, that the character and
similarity of the specimens varied as much as its price.

They all seemed, however, to have a certain resemblance
to tragacanth. The mucilage formed by this gum pos¬
sesses no adhesive qualities, and thus is well fitted for its
peculiar use, although not superior to similar mucilages
obtained from flax seed, elm bark, quince seed, etc.

Of late years, it has gone considerably out of use on
account of the irregularity and scarcity of the supply,,
being substituted by some of the other mucilages before
mentioned..

From all these facts, the writer concludes, that gum-
hogg is not the product of any particular tree or plant,,
but is a trade name applied to various cheap and inferior
gums, all probably identical with Bassora gum, and con¬
taining and consisting almost entirely of bassorin.

In this connection, before concluding, it might be in¬
teresting to give a short account of its use in the
manufacture of books. The process in which it takes a
part is that of “ marbling,” as it is tei-med, which
consists of staining paper and the edges of books in a
peculiar and variegated manner. The gum is first allowed
to soak in cold water until swollen, and then boiled with
a weak solution of pearlash until a thick consistent
mucilage is obtained, which is strained. This forms the
basis or vehicle for receiving the colours and transferring
them to the paper, and is placed in a shallow tank on
legs ; the tank being about 5 feet long, 3 feet wide, and
4 inches deep. This body must be renewed as often as
fermentation in the mucilage renders it liquid ; in cold
weather this is not so frequent, but in hot weather it
must be replaced with fresh at least twice daily. The
colours used are the ordinary paint colours, ground to a
cream with thin mucilage of gum arabic. The workman,
standing over the tank, first takes a large brush with
spreading bristles, and dipping it in his colour, sprinkles
it over the surface of the tank by twirling the handle
between his hands. The value of the mucilage is now
shown, for the colour does not either mix with it, or
spread over its surface, but retains the circular form the
drops would assume upon first striking a plane surface.
The first colour is then followed in a similar manner by a
second, using a fresh brush, and this in turn by a third,
and so on at the pleasure of the operator, each particular
drop showing no disposition to mix with its fellow. The
pattern thus made is mostly of round drops, but should
it be desired to vary it, combs of different degrees of
fineness are drawn in different directions gently over the
surface, producing beautiful wavy lines and figures. The
paper is now floated gently upon the surface of the tank
for a few seconds, when the colour is transferred from its
surface to that of the paper, and after being hung to dry
is burnished by hot steel rollers. No particular quality
of paper is needed, the only requisite being, it should not
be too highly calendered. A smooth piece of board is
now drawn over the surface of the tank when it is ready
for a fresh operation. The edges of books are stained in
a similar manner; the book being taken unbound and
pressed between boards tightly together so that none of
the colour shall penetrate beyond its surface ; they are
afterwards, when dry, burnished with a hot iron tool by
hand. The products afforded by this process are of
infinite variety, and, as can be imagined, no two products
are ever exactly alike, and by varying the colours an
almost endless and kaleidoscopic change can be produced.

“FLOWERS” OF VINEGAR AND WINE.*

BY J. B. SCHN2ETZLEB.

Floioers of Vinegar. — Thanks to the now classic re¬
searches of Pasteur, we know that the conversion of
alcohol into vinegar is the work of a minute fungus of
the bacteria order, the My coderma aceti of Pasteur.
This fungus takes the shape of an elliptical cell, some-

* Communicated to the Swiss Natural History Society.

156

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 21, 1880.

what constricted in the middle, and about 1’5 millieme
of a millimetre in length. The cells occur singly or in
chains. They form a thin pellicle on the surface of
wine, and by extracting oxygen from the atmosphere and
communicating it to the alcohol, convert the latter into
vinegar. They propagate by division and surround them¬
selves with gelatinous substance. They thus form a
thick, soft, gelatinous head or scum, known in popular
phraseology as “ vinegar plant” or “ flowers of vinegar,”
which gradually sinks in the liquor, at the same time
losing its acidifying properties.

The “ flowers of vinegar ” referred to in this paper
formed spontaneously on the surface of a sound two-
years’-old white wine, in bottle, kept in a chest away
from all sources of impurity, at a temperature of 10° C.
(50° F.). Concave discs of mycoderma appeared in suc¬
cession on the surface of the wine, and in sinking, got
heaped one upon another, so that they at last formed a
cylinder about 4 inches in height and 1 inch in diameter.
The same thing happened when the wine was poured into
a test-glass. As each disc sunk, a slight train of gelati¬
nous substance could be traced, extending upwards from
it to the surface of the liquor, where the formation of
another disc was beginning. Under the microscope, this
gelatinous substance, minute flakes of which were floating
about in the wine, was found to consist of bacteria, whose
energy of movement appeared to be proportionate to the
acidity of the liquor. The formation of the discs con¬
tinued as before after the end of the test-tube had been
carefully closed with a cork. In this case, the bacteria
must have been supplied by the wine, not the air. During
the treading out of the grapes in autumn, large numbers
of minute atmospheric organisms, mostly saccharomyces
and mycc derma, find their way into the expressed juice,
and, according to the conditions to which the latter is
subsequently exposed, produce alcoholic fermentation,
flowers of vinegar, flowers of wine, the condition known
as rcpiness in the wine, etc., depending on the particular
organism which obtains the mastery in the struggle for
existence.

Flowers of vinegar consist of bacteria ( Mycoderma
aceti, Pasteur) and a gelatinous substance, yellowish-white
or reddish in colour according to the colour of the wine.
This substance is generally regarded as produced by
gelatinization of the cell membrane. It does not give
the same reactions as cellulose; it is insoluble in cupric
ammonia, and affords no blue or violet coloration with
iodine or chloride of zinc. With tincture of iodine it
turns yellow, as do the bacteria in it. Most fungi, how¬
ever, present the same peculiarities, leading to the in¬
ference that they possess a modified form of cellulose
(fungus cellulose). Boiled in water the gelatinous matter
of vinegar flowers does not dissolve, but thickens and takes
a firmer consistency.

Under pressure, the moisture becomes squeezed out
and the volume greatly reduced. Dried by exposure to
heat, it dwindles to a corneous pellicle, which chars in
flame, emitting an odour of burnt paper. The most
striking feature is the tenacious coherence of the
component films and the resistance they offer to separa¬
tion.

Gelatinization of the cellulose occurs in many fungi.
The chain-like cells of nostocs produce gelatinous masses
in considerable volume, which in the common nostoc form
olive-green laminae exhibiting a high degree of cohesion.
But, the fact is more striking when we find the thin films
of vinegar plant cohering so tenaciously.

It has lately been observed that certain living fungi, as
Penicillium glaucum, have the property of fixing tannin
in considerable quantity. To ascertain whether the fun¬
goid organisms of vinegar plant possess the same pro¬
perty, I placed shreds of flowers of vinegar in a solution
of sulphate of iron. Exposed to the air without the
shreds, the solution took, as usual, a yellowish hue ; but
when the gelatinous substance of Mycoderma aceti was
mixed with it, this gelatinous substance took a bluish-

green tint, although in vinegar alone it appeared a greyish-
yellow. Vinegar in which the bacteria were floating,
singly or in chains, took the same bluish-green tint on the
addition of sulphate of iron, while vinegar from which the
bulk of the floating germs had been precipitated took a
yellow hue with the iron. If, as appears very probable,
the coloration of the vinegar plant by ferric salts is due
to the presence of a certain proportion of tannin, we must
assume that the bacteria have absorbed this tannin from
the wine converted by them into vinegar. The tannin
fixing itself in the albuminous substance, that is, the pro¬
toplasm of the bacteria of the vinegar, probably contri¬
butes to their cohesive properties and powers of resisting
rupture.

Chlorophyll is absent in bacteria, but none the less,
these minute organisms have the property, with the aid
of alcohol, acetic acid, certain salts, water, etc., of elabo¬
rating considerable quantities of proteid matter, as cellu¬
lose, fats, etc. Pasteur supposes electricity to exert the
same influence here as light does on chlorophyll cells.
The effects of electricity on plant-cells are now no longer
mere conjecture. The experiments of Velten (‘Botanisch.
Jahrb.,’ 1876) have proved that inductive currents of
electricity produce in dead plasma of the plant cell move¬
ments identical with those recognized in the living cell
under the names of rotation, circulation, etc. So long
ago as 1849, I endeavoured to show that the cause of
ciliary motion, of the movements of spermatozoa, etc., was
electricity. Now, the vibrating cilise of animals and
plants are simply protoplasm ( Archives de Geneve, 1849).
Dallinger and Drysdale, according to a paper in the
Monthly Microscopical Journal, 1875, determined, with
the aid of a strong Powell objective, the existence of a
vibratile filament at each extremity of Bacteria terno.
Cohn had previously ascertained the existence of a
vibratile filament at each extremity of Spirillum volu-
tans.

Flotvers of Wine. — Wine left in bottles or casks imper¬
fectly filled, or in open vessels exposed to the air, becomes
sooner or later covered with a thin finely convoluted pel¬
licle of greyish-white substance, popularly known as
flowers of wine. Under the microscope, this is found to
consist of minute fungoid organisms to which the name of
Mycoderma vini has been given. This fungus differs from
My coderma aceti. According to the researches of Max Rees,
it belongs to the Saccharomyces, to which belongs also
alcoholic ferment. Rees has given to Mycoderma vini,
Desm., which is identical with Mycoderma cerevisace, Desm.,
the name of Saccharomyces mycoderma, Rees. The cells
are oval, elliptical, 2 to 3 milliemes of a millimetre in
breadth, and 6 to 7 milliemes of a millemetre in length.
They propagate by budding, forming chain-like ramifica¬
tions. Under certain conditions, ascospoi'es are found, as
when wine containing flowers of wine is mixed with
water. The cells then lengthen to 20 milliemes of a mil¬
limetre, and the protoplasm differentiates into 1 — 3
spores.

In the autumn of 1877 I put some pure grape -juice
in well corked bottles, which were placed in a cellar
where the temperature never exceeded 10° C. (50° F.).
The fermentation was slow. A deposit formed in the
bottom of the bottles ; some matters continued floating.
In March the clear portion of the liquor was decanted
and had still a sweetish taste. The microscope showed
that it contained numerous cells of Saccharomyces ellip-
soideus, Rees, and bacteria, with and without motion.
The cells of Saccharomyces budded and gave rise to a
secondary fermentation. Exposed to the air in a test-tube,
on April 6, the wine speedily formed a thin convoluted
scum of flowers of wine. These flowers consisted of
Saccharomyces mycoderma, Rees. But every stage of
transformation between this and the Saccharomyces ellip -
soideus, Rees, floating in the liquor, was found among
them. Exposed to air and light, the cells budded, gela¬
tinized and formed flakes in the liquor. In a test-tube
filled with the same liquor and kept in darkness no

August 21, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

157

increase of numbers ensued and no gelatinization could
be detected ; the proportion of Saccharomyces ellipsoideus
floating in this liquor also appeared larger.

De Seynes has shown that when placed on a dry
substratum affording little nourishment, Saccharomyces
mycoderma, Rees, formed two to three spores in asci.
These spores germinated in saccharine solutions, producing
budding cells. I noticed the same thing in flowers of
wine, which had formed on the surface of wine in a test-
tube. The scum thickened ; the upper portion, no longer
in direct contact with the liquor, but moistened still by
capillary action, was less nourished than that beneath it ;
the cells, longer than the others and punctuated, often
grouped themselves into ramifying chains, terminating in
circular cells. Larger elongated cells were also ob¬
servable, in which- the protoplasm differentiated into two
or three circular cells. But despite the presence of
floating bacteria {mycoderma) in the wine exposed to air
and light, there was no formation of flowers of vinegar.
The Saccharomyces had prevailed over the bacteria in the
struggle for existence.

I placed this same wine of 1877, which, after under¬
going the secondary fermentation in bottle above men¬
tioned, appeared to the naked eye perfectly clear and
limpid, in a sand-bath at a temperature of 80° C. (176° E.).
Afterwards I exposed a sample of this with another of
the same wine, which had not been thus treated.
After a while the former showed no trace of flowers
of wine, the latter was covered with them. A similar
result was obtained by adding 1 per cent, of borax to
the wine. Erom April 6 to June 6, wine thus treated
was exposed to the air without a trace of flowers of
wine appearing on it. The borax completely hindered
the development of Saccharomyces in the liquor ; but
it was noticeable that the bacteria continued to live
and move in the wine in spite of the borax, although
apparently incapable of producing acetification. In
strong red wines, borax in like manner prevented the
formation of flowers of wine, but destroyed the colour.
A less dose prevented growth without affecting the
colour. Artificially coloured wines lost their colour
sooner than others.

A word must now be said regarding the relationship
between Saccharomyces ellipsoideus, Rees, and Saccha¬
romyces mycoderma of the same. The species floating in
the wine undoubtedly was the first. The convoluted
pellicle, which formed on the surface of the wine when
exposed to the air, had all the characteristics of flowers
of wine. It thickened in the tube, not by mere agglo¬
meration of cells, but by the peculiar membranous
thickening observable in the flowers. The undermost
layers of this head, which were in direct contact with
the liquor, presented a greater resemblance to Saccharo¬
myces ellipsoideus, while the upper and more aerobian
layers consisted of organisms exactly resembling Saccha¬
romyces mycoderma as figured by Rees. In view of these
transitions, it may be asked whether the two species are
not identical. This view is favoured by M. Schulz’s
experiments (‘Botan. Jahresb,’ 1877). Schulz’s experi¬
ments show that the fungus of flowers of wine when
developed in saccharine solutions produces alcoholic
fermentation therein.

On the Condition known as “ Ropiness ” in Wine.— Eor
two successive years it was observed that a certain wine
became “ ropy ” when run off into a small 100 litre cask,
although in the larger cask from which it was taken it
still remained sound and clear. Before putting the wine
into the smaller cask, the latter had been twice carefully
washed out and even “ sulphured.” Under the micro¬
scope the sick wine, which ran like oil, and had assumed
an opaline tint, was found to contain innumerable minute
bacteria, of spherical shape, and mostly arranged in
chains. Pasteur, who noticed the same forms in a white
Nantes wine, gives their diameter as 1 millieme of a
millimetre. Mine were smaller in their dimensions.
They appear mostly in white wines ; rarely in red. Like

the bacteria of vinegar, they undergo gelatinization, and,
according to Pasteur, sometimes form a thick scum or
head, resembling that produced by flowers of vinegar.
As the malady shows itself in the best cleansed casks
and bottles, it would seem that the bacteria must be
derived from the grapes. In casks which have held ropy
wine, invisible germs lurk in the seams, and so transmit
the malady. Only by prolonged antiseptic treatment
can their influence be annulled. Whether the peculiar
state of ropy wine arises from gelatinization of the
bacterial cells, or from some peculiar kind of fermentation
set up in the wine, it is beyond doubt that the presence
and multiplication of the bacteria are the primary cause.
In red wines this affection rarely shows itself ; it is most
common in white wines which have not been highly
pressed or left long in contact with the husk. According
to M. Francis, tannin precipitates the glutinous matter,
and on this fact is based the application of tannin to the
treatment of certain maladies in wine, a practice which
enjoys a high repute in Champagne. This action of
tannin may explain the difference between white and
red wines in the above respect. As a rule, red wines
contain a larger amount of tannin than white. The
bacteria introduced with the grapes become tanned, and
their development is checked accordingly. When the
wine is deprived of its tannin, the surviving bacteria are
free to develop themselves, and produce acetification or
ropiness. In white wines containing little tannin this de¬
velopment takes place more readily. What tannin is
present is fixed by some of the bacterial germs ; the rest
thrive and multiply, with the attendant results. The in¬
troduction of a certain proportion of tannin into the wine
thus affords a means of combating the evil. The “ropy”
wine above referred to contained much mycelium of
Mucor racemosum, the protoplasm of which differentiates
in globular cells, which occur singly or in gelatinous
clusters, and have the property of producing alcoholic
fermentation in saccharine fluids.

SOME CONSTITUENTS OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS

OF ORIGANUM VULGARE AND THYMUS SER-
PYLLUM.*

BY E. JAHNS.

Whilst the essential oils of some of the species of
Origanum of the Mediterranean flora (0. hirtum, 0.
Smyrnceum, etc.), as pointed out on a previous occasion, t
are distinguished by their richness in carvacrol, the oil of
the German indigenous Origanum vulgare, according to
the opinion hitherto held by Kane and others, contains
no phenol. Erom want of material this oil had been
excluded from the scope of the author’s investigation, but
a specimen now placed at his disposals gives the oppor¬
tunity for a comparison.

The oil was a pale yellow thin fluid, of sp. gr. 0’871 at
150° C. It was kevogyre, the aD in a column 100 mm.
long being = - 34*4°. Potash solution removed from
the oil only a very small quantity of phenols (estimated
at scarcely 1 per cent.), one of which gave with alcoholic
ferric chloride a violet, and the other a green colour.
The separation of these phenols from one another was
effected in the manner described in the former paper.
They did not appear to differ from those occurring in
, other origanum oils, but the quantity was not sufficient
for further experiments.

An opinion has been expressed that the liquid phenol
which Buri§ found in the essential oil of Thymus Ser-

* From the Archiv der Pharmacie, [3], vol. xvi., p. 277.
f Archiv der Pharmacie, [3], vol. xv., p. 1.

X Distilled from fresh herbs in the previous autumn by
Drs. Weppen and Liiders.

§ Archiv der Pharmacie, [3], vol. xii., p. 48:*

158

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 21, 1880.

pyllum might be identical with carvacrol, because in
many reactions it appeared to resemble it, whilst the
near natural relationship of the genera Origanum and
Thymus woxild favour such an opinion. That this opinion
is at least partially correct has been shown by a repe¬
tition of Buri’s experiments ; unfortunately only a small
quantity of the phenol obtained from true serpyllum oil
was available, the oil yielding only about 1 per cent.
Buri dissolved the crude phenol mixture in potash
solution and shook this alkaline solution with ether,
when phenol A was taken up by the ether, whilst
phenol B remained dissolved in the potash, and was
afterwards separated by means of hydrochloric acid
as a reddish oil, having a creasote-like smell, the al¬
coholic solution of which was coloured violet by ferric
chloride. A nearer examination of the latter body was
not made.

Phenol A, the supposed carvacrol, behaved as described
by Buri. In alcoholic solution it was coloured green by
ferric chloride, not very intensely, and could not be
solidified at a temperature of -15° C. But when
cooled in a powerful freezing mixture (snow and crystal¬
lized calcium chloride) to -32°, and the side of the
containing vessel simultaneously rubbed with the im¬
mersed barometer, the mass, which had become thick
and turpentine-like, was rendered turbid by the sepa¬
ration of crystals, and a portion immediately solidified.
At the ordinary temperature the crystals only partially
liquefied ; the solid portion was therefore separated and
freed from liquid by pressure. From this liquid a smaller
quantity of the solid substance was more readily obtained,
the first crystals being formed when it was cooled to
— 159. In this manner about one-half of the phenol A
was obtained in the solid form, and a nearer examination
showed this body to be thymol, with which it agreed in
crystalline form, melting point, indifference towards ferric
chloride, as well as in the properties of the thymoquinone
prepared from it (m. p. 45° to 46°). The material was
not sufficient for analysis.

A complete separation of the thymol from the non¬
solidifying phenol could not be effected in the manner
mentioned. The portion remaining fluid was therefore
converted into the sulpho-acid and this into the barium
salt, in the supposition that the somewhat difficultly
soluble salt of sulphocarvacrolic acid, if present, would
crystallize out first. Of the first crystallization a portion
was used far the estimation of the barium and water,
and the figures found corresponded with the figures
previously published by me for the sulphocarvacrolate
of barium. 0'4855 of crystallized salt dried at 80° to
90° lost 1-053 H20 = 10-91 per cent., and gave 0-1663
BaS04, corresponding to 0-0977 Ba = 20-12 per cent, of
the crystallized and 22"58 of the dried salt. It also
corresponded in crystalline form and the approximately
estimated solubility. The remainder of the salt was
used partially in the preparation of the quinone, in
order that it might be identified as thymoquinone by
its crystalline form, melting point and other properties,
and partly for the isolation of the pure phenol, the
quantity of which, however, was not sufficient for fur¬
ther experiments, except the production of the green
iron reaction.

According to these experiments it can scarcely be
doubted that this liquid phenol was carvacrol, although,
on account of want of material, the identity could not
be made quite certain. The phenol A consists, therefore,
of thymol and carvacrol, to which must be added as a
third phenol-like constituent of serpyllum oil the body
giving a violet colour with ferric chloride.

It is remarkable that the obstinacy with which the
thymol in the above-mentioned case resisted solidification
also appears to interfere under these conditions with the
solidifying power of carvacrol. A quantity of pure
thymol and pure carvacrol fused together behaves simi¬
larly. It can be cooled to - 17° C. without a separation
resulting, whilst each constituent, treated separately,

easily solidifies at that temperature. The same pheno¬
menon is seen in a fused mixture of equal parts of
thymol and crystallized phenol (carbolic acid), which
even at — 20° C. remains still liquid, even when stirring
and rubbing the sides of the vessel are practised to induce
crystallization. This considerable depression of the
solidifying points in such mixtures might explain how.
it is that many observers have failed to obtain carvacrol,
for instance, in the solid state ; no doubt the cause lay in
the presence of probably only a small contamination with
a similar body. The property of solidifying readily, as
observed in the carvacrol from origanum oil, might there¬
fore be used as a criterion of purity.

In respect of the iron reaction of carvacrol, there is yet
a remark to make. As has been before mentioned, there
exists between the natural carvacrol and that prepared
artificially from sodium sulphocymolate, apparently a
difference, inasmuch as the former dissolved in alcohol is
coloured green by ferric chloride, whilst the latter,
according to Jacobsen, gives no such reaction ; some
doubt, therefore, might result as to their identity. In
a letter from Professor Jacobsen he explains this appa¬
rent difference by saying that this statement had reference
to the aqueous solution; in alcoholic solution his carvacrol
also gave a green coloration, but this reaction has been
accidentally left unmentioned. Professor JacobsenTcindly
placed a specimen of his preparation at my disposition,
and I have found that in this respect both carvacrols
behave perfectly similarly; both give with ferric chloride
in alcoholic solution a green, and in watery solution no
remarkable coloration.

THE REACTION OE EERRIC CHLORIDE WITH
SALICYLIC, CARBOLIC, GALLIC AND TANNIC
ACIDS.*

H. Hager gives the following means of distinguishing
between these acids by the aid of the ferric chloride
test : —

The substances which interfere with the violet colora¬
tion which ferric chloride gives with these acids are
numerous, and by noting them we may obtain a clue
as to which of the acids may be present in a solution.
Thus with salicylic acid the reaction is not disturbed or
hindered by the presence of acetic, boracic, sulphuric,
nitric or hydrochloric acids (all acids in dilute condition),
common salt, nitre, glycerin, alcohol, amyl alcohol or
ether. It is hindered by caustic alkalies, alkaline car¬
bonates, sodium acetate, ammonium acetate, borax, po¬
tassium iodide, sodium phosphate, oxalic, citric, tartaric,
phosphoric and arsenic acids. With carbolic acid the
reaction is not hindered by boracic acid, common salt or
potassium nitrate. It is hindered by acetic, oxalic, tar¬
taric, citric, sulphuric, hydrochloric, nitric and phosphoric
acids, sodium acetate, ammonium acetate, borax, sodium
phosphate, glycerin, alcohol, amyl alcohol and ether.

Phosphoric acid decolorizes both with salicylic and car¬
bolic acids and with gallotannic and gallic acids as well.
The officinal sodium phosphate, however, hinders the
reaction with salicylic and carbolic acids, but not with
tannic and gallic acids.

Eor a preliminary distinction between salicylic and
carbolic acids the solution is to be treated in abundance
with alcohol or glycerin, or with dilute acetic acid, and
then tested with ferric chloride. Salicylic acid will give
the reaction, carbolic acid will not.

To distinguish whether gallotannic or gallic acid be
present, add sodium phosphate to the solution, and then
test with ferric chloride. The violet coloration will show
their presence, but is not produced by salicylic or car¬
bolic acid.

* From Dingier' s Polytechn. Jour., 235, p. 407. Re¬
printed from the American Journal of Pharmacy. May,
1880.

Augu t 21, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

159

% J^Ijarmamdkal Journal.

- 4 -

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , books for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Seci'etary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements , and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ.”

THE PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE AND THE
BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AT SWANSEA.

Before another issue of the Journal appears, the
seventeenth session of the British Pharmaceutical
Conference will have been concluded, and from all
that we can gather respecting the character of the
papers to be read, and as to the other features of at¬
traction held out by our friends in Swansea, there is
good reason to anticipate a no less satisfactory result
than is now customary when the members of the
Conference meet to discuss the latest scientific novel¬
ties and renew their intercourse with old friends.
Even the weather seems inclined to be propitious,
and though north-easterly blasts still prevail, and
are to be looked favourably upon chiefly because
they may be credited with keeping off rain, sun¬
shine has not so utterly forsaken our misty sky as to
leave no hope of pleasant days to be spent during the
coming week on the coast of South Wales. The
meeting of the British Medical Association at Cam¬
bridge last week was fortunate in this respect, and we
trust that the gathering of the disciples of Pharmacy
may not be less favoured.

In addition: to the list of papers that has already
been published we are informed by the Honorary
Secretaries that five others have since been promised
on the following subjects : —

19. Ipecacunha Wine. By J. B. Barnes, F.C.S.

20. Notes on a Journey Eastward. By H. B. Be\dy
F.R.S.

21. Emulsions. By A. W. Gerrard, F.C.S.

22. A Peculiar Kind of Cinchona Bark. By B. H.
Paul, Ph.D.

23. The Determination of the Strength of Alcoholic
Solutions of Chloroform. By J. C. Thresh, F.C.S.

At the coming meeting, we understand that it is
expected Professor Maisch, of the Philadelphia
College of Pharmacy, will be present as a visitor
and as a representative of American pharmacists.
We may perhaps expect to hear from him some
•account ot the mode in which his colleagues co¬
operate with medical men in the preparation of the
Pharmacopoeia which is now in progress.

The general course of business at the meetings of
the Conference in Swansea will be of the usual
nature, commencing at half-past ten o’clock on
Tuesday morning, and terminating in the afternoon

of Wednesday, the members being invited during
the mid-day hour on both days to partake of a
luncheon, to be served in the garden belonging to
the Royal Institution, where the business meetings
are to be held.

On Thursday, an excursion has been arranged,
not as the members of the Local Committee first
intended, by boat in Swansea Bay, a project which
they regret having been compelled to abandon,
owing to the uncertainties of landing in Oxwich
Bay ; but by road, through the adjoining country.
Carriages are to leave the Royal Institution at half¬
part ten in the morning, proceeding by way of
Sketty, Fairwood Common and Park Mill to the
entrance of Penrice Castle, the seat of Mr. Talbot,
M.P. After a walk through the park to Oxwich,
the visitors will be entertained with a luncheon on
the beach. From that point the members of the
Committee will conduct their friends either to the
ruins of Oxwich Castle and Cefn Bryn or else back
through Crowley Woods to the Gower Union, the
board room and dining hall of which have been
kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee.
From the windows of these rooms, if the weather be
fine, a magnificent view will be obtained of the Bay
and the coasts of Devon and Somerset across the
“ silver streak.” At six o’clock a “ high tea ” will be
served, and it is hoped that the party will be able to
leave for Swansea at eight o’clock.

By following this programme probably there will
be a greater certainty of enjoying the beauties of
the country round Swansea than might have been
generally the case had the original plan been carried
out, and the risk of having to test the efficacy of
specifics against sea-sickness will not be incurred.

In connection with the British Association we
understand that active preparations have been made
for excursions to the more interesting places in the
district. Part of Thursday is to be devoted to a
visit to the iron works and collieries at Dowlais, and
in the evening the Mayor of Swansea will give his
reception soiree in a pavilion capable of accommo¬
dating 6000 persons. On Saturday there will be
excursions to the Gower Coast, Penrice Castle,
Oxwich Bay, Arthur’s Stone, Worm’s Head, Bishop-
stone Valley and its underground river, to Bacon
Hole and other bone caves, to the Via Julia and
tin works at Langhor, to Llaudilo, Golden Grove,
Carreg-Cennen and Dynevor Castle, and by sea to
Lundy Island and Ilfracombe. At the time of the
visit to Pembroke Dock there will be a large
number of war vessels lying there, as well as the
“ Great Eastern.”

On Thursday, the 2nd September, numerous ex¬
cursions are arranged which will afford opportunities
of inspecting the smelting works for which Swansea
is famous. The smelting of copper has been carried
on there for nearly two centuries to such an extent
that it is said nine-tenths of the copper smelting of
the kingdom is done there by a process which is

160

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 21, 1S8(L

known as the Welsh process. Of late years attempts
have been made to turn to account the “ copper
smoke,” or mixture of sulphurous acid and arsenical
fumes resulting from this operation, which has en¬
tirely destroyed vegetation on the hill-sides in some
places. The methods of converting this smoke into
sulphuric acid can be seen at the Hafod Works,
belonging to Mr. Vivian. Tin smelting, tin plate
works, and the steel works at Landore will also be
shown by the Mayor of Swansea, Messrs. Leach?
Flower and Co., and Dr. Siemens.

Among other industries carried on in the neigh¬
bourhood of Swansea we mav mention the making
of patent fuel, of sulphuric acid, phosphatic manures,
sulphate of ammonia, oxalic acid and alkalies, the
distillation of wood, and the smelting of cobalt
silver, nickel, lead and zinc ores.

As additional attractions during the meeting of
the British Association, there will be an agricultural
show, a flower show, and an exhibition illustrative
of local productions and operations. At the evening
soirees there will be exhibitions of machinery in
motion and an exhibition of scientific instruments
lent for the occasion.

We purpose giving, as usual, a full report of the
papers read and of the discussions that take place
as well as other proceedings of the Pharmaceutical
Conference, and in order to give a general resume
the delivery of the Journal, next week, will be
postponed a day beyond the usual time, as on the
occasion of the Meetings of Council.

PHARMACOPOEIA REVISION FROM A MEDICAL
POINT OF VIEW.

A very interesting article upon the Pharmacopoeia
of the United States has been published in New
Remedies for July. The author, Dr. D. Webster
Prentiss, Professor of Materia Medica in one of the
Washington Colleges, is a medical man, and he dis¬
cusses the revision of the Pharmacopoeia from the
physician’s point of view. According to him the
Pharmacopoeia may be divided into three sections
as follow : —

1. Embracing matters in which physicians are
most interested and that it is their province princi¬
pally to direct ; such as what drugs are to be included,
and the doses, or in other words, the strength of
preparations.

2. Matters in which pharmacists are most interested,
such as the construction of formulae and directions
for their manipulation, which should be left mainly
to pharmacists.

3. The intermediate ground on which physicians
and pharmacists meet with equal interest, as in
questions as to introducing matters of thera¬
peutics and toxicology, the use of parts by weight
instead of apothecaries’ weights and liquid measures.

The Editor of the Canadian Pharmaceutical
Journal , in referring to this paper, expresses his
approval of the views put forward by Dr. Prentiss,

and regards them as suggesting a just apportionment
of the work to be done in revising a pharmacopoeia.
He also expresses a hope that the time will come when
the revisers of the British Pharmacopoeia will see
their way clear to making a similar division of
labour, since he considers it is only by such an
arrangement that the work can be satisfactorily per¬
formed.

We draw attention to these opinions because we
entertain the hope that they may be of use in
helping to bring about among ourselves a more ade¬
quate recognition of the principle that the construc¬
tion or revision of a pharmacopoeia requires the
associated labour of medical men and pharmacists,
co-operating upon an equal footing and with the
same object. In the United States we have a de¬
monstration of the fact that such co-operation is not
only possible but advantageous, and there is reason
to believe that by following the example set on
the other side of the Atlantic, the character of
the British Pharmacopoeia would be in many
respects improved. Some weeks since we gave an
account of the constitution of the Committee charged
with the revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia
for the purpose of showing that it comprised a con¬
siderable representation of special pharmaceutical
skill. If we look back to the time when the last
edition of the British Pharmacopoeia was produced,
it will be seen that the work was actually and
avowedly done by pharmacists, and on several
occasions, when the subject of pharmacopoeia re¬
vision has been discussed at the evening meetings
of the Pharmaceutical Society, it has been made
manifest that the Committee of the General Medical
Council charged with the direction of the work
had to seek the assistance of practical pharmacists
in order to decide the questions that presented
themselves.

Practically, therefore, it is admitted that there is
a necessity for the co-operation of pharmacists with
medical men in the revision of the Pharmacopoeia,
and though the Medical Act of 1858, in providing
for the preparation of that work, did not take cog¬
nizance of that necessity, experience and the example
ot other countries have made known the defective
nature of its provisions in that respect. It is now
clear that considerable advance has been made upon
the opinions then prevailing on the subject, and we
think it is equally clear that we cannot remain
behind other countries in giving effect to the more-
enlightened views of the present time.

THE SPIRITS BILL.

This Bill has now passed through the House of
Commons and was brought to the House of Lords
on the 6th of August. We notice that in accordance
with the motion of which Lord Frederick Caven¬
dish gave notice the word “ such” has been inserted
in clause 130, page 43, so that all difficulty will now
be removed as regards the use of methylated spirit
in making liniments and preparations for external
use.

August 21, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

161

►

I

|P robin rial Sransariions.

LEICESTER CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The general half-yearly meeting of the above Associa¬
tion was held at the rooms, Halford Street, on Tuesday,
August 3rd, 1880, the President, Mr. Edwards, in the
chair. After a few remarks from the President, the
report was read and adopted. The report stated that
the improvement which was referred to at the last half-
yearly meeting had continued, and that the result of the
change in the manner of carrying on the work of the
Association had been very gratifying. The papers
contributed by the members on Wednesday evenings
had evoked considerable interest, and those meetings
had been better attended than the classes held during
the last two or three sessions. The number of members
had increased ; but the frequent changes in the personnel
of the Association had been found a great hindrance to
its prosperity, for in numerous instances, no sooner
had a member, able and willing to assist in the work,
turned his attention in that direction, than by his removal
to another town his services had been lost to the Associa¬
tion. A hope was therefore expressed that those who
may occupy the places thus rendered vacant will help as
much as possible to make the Society prosperous and to
accomplish the purpose for which it was established.
Thanks were expressed to P. Squire, Esq., F.L.S., for
the gift of a copy of the last edition of c Squire’s
Companion to the British Pharmacopoeia ; ’ and to the
Pharmaceutical Society, who have considerably enriched
the materia medica cabinet with specimens of interest
and value. In conclusion, the report stated that the
library had been constantly utilized, and that containing,
as it does, the leading works on subjects connected with
pharmacy, it is a source from which great benefit had
been derived. The measure of success which has attended
the efforts of the committee leads them to hope and ex¬
pect still further successes in the future.

The Treasurer’s report showed a balance in hand
of £1 Os. UJd

The meeting then proceeded to the election of a
committee for the ensuing session, with the following
result : — Mr. Edwards, President ; Mr. Shuttlewood,
Vice-President ; Mr. Lewitt, Hon. Secretary ; Mr. Clark,
Treasurer ; Mr. Thirlby, Mr. Masters, Mr. Winter.

SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICAL AND
CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Friday, August 6>
Mr. Ellinor, the President, in the chair.

After a discussion on the forthcoming Pharmaceutical
Conference at Swansea, the following were appointed
delegates to represent the Society: — Messrs. Ellinor,
Ward, F.C.S., Allen, F.I.C., F.C.S., and Maleham.
Several other matters of importance were brought before
the meeting, after due consideration of which the meeting
was brought to a close.

mwbwgs jorf Sdmiifit Sbomim.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of this Association was held on
Thursday, July 15, when the President, Professor
Attfield, F.R.S., occupied the chair.

The Secretary read the report of the Executive Com¬
mittee, the salient points of which were that the commu¬
nications read before the Association during the session
have exceeded those of last session, both in point of

numbers and in the predominance of those of a phar¬
maceutical character. The number of communications
read has been twenty-eight, fourteen papers and four¬
teen reports. Six of the papers were pharmaceutical,
four chemical, one botanical, one educational, one bio¬
graphical, one physiographical. Two reports have been
made on each of the following subjects: — Pharmacy,
botany, materia medica, inorganic chemistry, organic
chemistry, physical chemistry and analytical chemistry.

The adoption of the report of the Executive Committee
was moved by Mr. H. Senier, and seconded by Mr. W. E.
Bush, and carried unanimously.

Messrs. H. Senier and C. H. Hutchinson were ap¬
pointed as a committee to audit the Treasurer’s
accounts, which they reported to be correct.

There being no further business, the Association ad¬
journed over the vacation.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A special and numerously attended meeting of the
above Association was held at its rooms, 32a, George
Street, Hanover Square, on Wednesday, July 7. Mr.
G. F. Snow, one of the Vice-Presidents, occupied the
chair.

The evening was devoted to an interesting exhibition
of microscopes by Messrs. Branson, Killick, Naylor,
Parker and Tharle.

Mr. W. H. Wrenn exhibited some specimens of the
rarer essential oils, also some very fine crystals of sul¬
phate of cinchonine, amorphous koussine, etc.

Mr. T. Hardwick also exhibited some bronze medals,
English and Italian photographs, etc., in which those
present took great interest.

Readings, recitations and songs were given by members
at intervals during the evening.

A vote of thanks being accorded to the Chairman for
presiding, a very successful meeting terminated.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The Chemistry of Bread-Making.*

BY PROFESSOR GRAHAM, D.SC.

(Continued from page 147.)

Lecture V.

At last we have got our loaf in the oven, and it will
remain in the oven about an hour and a half. While it
is in there, I propose, in the first place, to consider some
peculiarities in ovens, and then to discuss that part of the
subject which comes most within my province, namely,
the chemical changes produced by the action of heat on
the loaf. In the common oven, in former times, and
even yet to some extent abroad, the heat was obtained
by burning wood inside the oven ; that is to say, in that
part of the oven in which the bread was afterwards
placed. When the combustion of the wood had com¬
municated a sufficient amount of heat to the walls of the
oven, then the embers were taken out and the bread was
put in. This is manifestly a rather cumbersome method,
and I need hardly say, in a country like ours, is also an
expensive one. Consequently, even long ago, coal was
employed for the purpose of heating the oven, the coal
being used in external furnaces. The Vienna baker, who
certainly for many long years has been pre-eminently the
best baker in Europe, and from whom the Parisian has
learned much, years ago found out that steam, acting on
the moist surface of the loaf, was able, at the high tem¬
perature of the oven, to convert the starchy matter of the
surface, moistened, as I said before with water, into
dextrin ; in other words, by the action of heat and mois¬
ture, he found that he could convert starch into dextrin
in much the same way that the greater part of the dex-

* Cantor Lectures : Delivered November and December,
1879. Reprinted from the Journal of the Society of
Arts.

162

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 21, 1880

trin, which is now used in calico printing, or at the hack
of postage stamps, is also made. The Vienna baker
obtains the steam in this way. The first batch of bread
is common bread, of rather an inferior character, and of
course in baking that bread the oven is charged with the
moisture of the steam which comes from the bread.
After that the rolls, moistened on the surface with water,
being placed in the oven, the steam from the first batch
of bread causes this glazing of the surface. Of late years
the Parisian bakers have employed steam boilers, so that
an injection of steam, from a boiler working under a little
pressure, takes place into the oven, and such ovens,
though they are not common, can be found in several
places in London. I have a drawing here of an oven
which will give you an idea of the character of the opera¬
tion that goes on. The centre drawing represents the
front of the oven as you see it with the door for the ad¬
mission of bread, and a door underneath for warming up
rolls and loaves previous to their introduction into the
oven. On the side is the boiler with the steam gauge.
You will notice the drawing has two lines indicating an
intersection, at A B and C D. The drawing on the left is
the section at a b, and shows the interior of the oven. The
door is partially open, and there is a pipe at the side,
with small apertures for the purpose of charging the oven
with steam. You will notice that the floor of the oven
is not horizontal, but rises slightly, the object being that
when the door is opened the steam shall not fall out.
Being heated, it is lighter than air, and if there is a
slight incline given to the floor of the oven, the tendency
of the steam is to keep in ; whereas, if it is flat, there is a
tendency for a considerable quantity of the steam to pass
out every time the door is opened and shut. The other
drawing represents a section on the line c D, which indicates,
by means of a movable door, the way in which the flame
coming from the furnace is sent into the oven in order to
heat its stone walls. So soon as the oven has arrived at
a temperature of about 400° to 450°, it is closed. In
the bakeries of Mr. Bonthron, of Regent Street, and Mr.
Carl Fleck, of the Brompton Road, a plan is adopted of
having two ovens, side by side, so as to economize the
fuel to some extent. I have not examined other ovens,
but I know that besides these there are some other bakers
in London who also adopt this injection method, which
practically, in its first conception, was due to the Austrian
baker.

In addition to this system of baking bread by means
of fuel, steam has also been employed in other processes ;
what is called Neville’s bread, which has a considerable
sale in London, I understand, is baked by means of steam
at a high temperature. You, doubtless, know the cha¬
racter of that bread sufficiently well, and it is, therefore,
not necessary that I should further allude to it.

I will pass on now to the chemical examination of the
changes which take place when the bread is introduced
into the oven. In the first place, the bottom of the loaf,
and the side and the top of the loaf, are greatly heated
by the hot surface which comes in contact with the bot¬
tom, and by the hot surfaces, which radiate the heat
from the top of the oven on to the loaf. You will notice,
in looking at the drawing, that the depth of the oven is
comparatively slight, the object being to have the radiat-
ing surface as near as possible to the top of the loaf. So '
soon as the loaf has been submitted to the action of the
heat, the carbonic acid gas which was in the dough ex¬
pands, and by the time that gas has been heated from
about 80° to 212°, which is the boiling point of water,
that gas will have expanded from 1 cubic inch to T24,
and that will indicate the amount of increase that a loaf
would undergo, supposing there was no moisture. But
while that amount of increase takes place, due to the ex¬
pansion of the carbonic acid gas itself, there is also con¬
siderable expansion due to the fact that the gas is moist.
Now, the tension of aqueous vapour at 212°, is equal to
the atmospheric pressure, and therefore we get an enor¬
mous increase, due to the amount of the moisture, as well

as to the carbonic acid gas itself. I said just now that
the temperature of the oven ranged from about 400° to
450°. The temperature of boiling water is 212°, that is
to say, provided the barometer stands at 30 inches of
mercury, because, of course, there is a higher boiling
point if the barometer be higher, and lower if the baro¬
meter should stand lower. Therefore, although the walls
of the ovens are at a temperature of about 400° to 450°,
the loaf itself is not at such a temperature. The bottom,
which is resting on the hot surface, of course is consider¬
ably heated, but the interior of the loaf does not rise
much above 212°. It rises doubtless slightly above that
temperature, due to the resisting action of the outer sur¬
face of the crust, which adds to the resistance of the
atmospheric pressure. Secondly, during this action which
is going on in the presence of moisture, the cell walls of
the starch are ruptured, so that we obtain from such a
heating action, not starch such as we know it before it is
boiled, but starch which, by the ruptured cells, lends
itself readily to the action of albuminoid ferments.
Thirdly, by the action of heat, some of the albuminous
matter undergoes a degrading action, which is afterwards
of use in the digestion process. But that is not all. Due
to the action of heat and moisture, not only is there glaz¬
ing by the production of dextrin on the surface, but there
is also, to a slight extent, a production of dextrin in the
interior of the loaf. You all know that if you were to
boil a suet dumpling, for example, for a comparatively
short time, the suet dumpling would not be very re¬
markable for its digestibility. Indeed, as in a day or
two, the most favoured festival of our year will be at
hand, I am reminded, by this action of the heat upon the
dumpling, of the old doggrel, which I should imagine
was partly composed by youth and partly by the ex¬
perience of old age. That doggrel says, “ Plum pudding
hot, plum pudding cold.” That represents, to a great
extent, the desire of youth to have plum pudding, no¬
matter whether it be hot or cold, provided there be plenty
of it. But then, old age lays down this as a necessary
condition, that the plum pudding should be “ in the pot
nine days old;” in other words, you cannot get digestible
albuminoids and starch of wheat unless they have been
submitted to the prolonged action of heat and moisture,
and this, to some extent, takes place in the action of heat
upon the loaf in the oven.

Another point I have to notice is, that coloured pro¬
ducts are formed. I have a table on the wall,* prepared
by Oudemans, showing the action of heat on malt, and
you will see there that air-dried malt contains no torre-
faction products, and that there are no less than 13’6 per
cent, of albuminoid matters ; whereas, when the malt is
heated to a temperature less than the boiling point, we
get 14 per cent, of torref action products, and only 10*5 of
albuminous matter. The torrefaction or coloured pro¬
ducts that are formed, are partly due to the action of
moisture at a high temperature on soluble albuminoid
matters, and partly to the dextrin and maltose sugars
that have been formed in the previous panification process..
Now, the more soluble products are obtained in the
previous process of bread-making, the greater will be
amount of colour in the final loaf. On the other hand*
the less the soluble products produced by the previous
bread-making process, the less will be the coloured pro¬
ducts obtained in the oven. That is why inferior flours
produce so much colour. Inferior flours, as I pointed out
to you from the tables drawn up by Mr. Brown, yield to>
the panification process, that is, in the process where
moist and moderate heat is acting on flour for a con¬
siderable time, a very large quantity of soluble products.
Therefore, I say that the more soluble products obtained
in the previous panification process, the greater the
amount of coloured products obtained in the oven, and
of course the less pleasant does the loaf look.

Another matter we ought to notice is, that by the
action of heat we obtain the outside crust. This crust

* See before, p. 147.

August 21, 18S0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

163

retains the moisture for a much longer time than if there
were no crust, and lastly, the amount of moisture or
water is greater the finer the flour, and, of course, vice
versa , and this absorption and retention of water depends
upon two distinct factors. In the first place, it depends
upon the higher character of the albuminoids. Albu¬
minoids of high maturation character (such as the crude
gluten, which, you will remember, I told you was com¬
posed chiefly of fibrin, and to some extent, also of glutin)
absorb and retain water with great avidity, which is not
the case with some other forms of albuminoids, such as
albumin found in most cereals, found largely in our in¬
ferior wheats in bad seasons, but to a very small extent
in really well-matured wheats grown in highly flavoured
climates ; the legumin and other soluble albuminoid
bodies, found very largely in the leguminosce; and the
cerealin, which is one of the albuminoids found in the
husks of cereals — of wheat especially : these soluble albu¬
minoids do not absorb much water, nor have they much
power in retaining it. Therefore, I say, that the first
factor depends on the character of the albuminoids
present. But there is still another, which is this, it
depends also on the percentage of starch. Supposing you
have a sufficiently large quantity of the hard gluten,
then the higher the amount of starch, the more water
will be absorbed and retained by such flour.

This absorption and retention of water enters largely
into the question of the number of loaves that may be
obtained from 100 lbs. of flour. The baker, of course,
reckons by the sack, but it is more convenient to take a
percentage result. According to Laws and Gilbert, in
100 lbs. of bread, there will be on the average 6 2 '8 of dry
solid matter, and 37*2 of water; according to Millon,
637 of dry matter and 36-3 of water; according to
Dumas, 55*4 of dry matter and 44*6 of water; according
to Maclagan, who made a series of researches on this
matter, the average amount of dry matter was 64, and of
water 36. Erom a number of results supplied to me by
many bakers, I find the average agrees pretty well with
the statement of Lawes and Gilbert. To take this ques¬
tion from another point of view, 100 lbs. of flour will
yield, according to LaAves and Gilbert, 135 lbs. of bread ;
according to Dumas, 130; and Maclagan, 137*7. But I
need hardly say that the number of loaves obtained from
100 lbs. of wheat flour, or the number of loaves obtained
from the sack, will, of course, vary according to the cha¬
racter of the wheat. Practically, the finer the wheat, the
greater number of loaves obtained from it. It may be of
interest — not to those practically acquainted Avith the
matter, but to those who are not — to say that the number
of loaves obtained from a sack of flour Avill vary. I am
afraid, in a year like this with English wheats, the results
would be rather low ; but, taking more favoured circum¬
stances, it will vary from 90 to 94 ; possibly, with ex¬
ceedingly fine foreign wheats, more than the latter
number may be obtained.

I have now done with the fermentation process, by
which carbonic acid gas (I have said very little about the
alcohol which is produced, as I pointed out, along with
carbonic acid gas in the fermentation process) is used for
the purpose of lightening the bread. I have. now to refer
briefly to what may be called artificial processes of pro¬
ducing the same evolution of carbonic acid gas, not from
the flour, but from chemical substances used along with
the flour. The best known of these methods is the process
of Dauglish, which is still practised in London, and it
may be in some other large towns of England. The
carbonic acid gas in this method is obtained by the action
of acid upon chalk, that is, carbonate of lime. The
carbonic acid obtained by the decomposition of chalk is
thoroughly well washed, and the carbonic acid* and water
are then mixed, in proper proportions, with the flour, and,
as rapidly as possible, the dough is made, scaled, made
up into loaves, and put into the oven. Now, the advan¬
tages of these artificial processes are manifest. An inferior
flour is not submitted to the degrading action of the

albuminoids upon the starch ; we obtain no sugars, we
obtain no dextrin. In other words, no action takes
place, except in the OAren, and, therefore, one is able to
employ inferior flours by such an artificial process. I
referred to this process at our last meeting, and a
gentleman asked me at the end of the lecture whether I
meant that those who employed the Dauglish process
used inferior flours. Of course, I did not say that, nor do
I say it. I merely say that one of the advantages of the
invention or suggestion of Dr. Dauglish is, that we can
make use of inferior flours. Another advantage is, that
the process is a very rapid one. The whole making of
bread occupies a very small period of time compared with
the long, tedious, laborious operations of the ordinary
fermentation plan. On the other hand, I think I am
bound to mention (though this is not so much a scientific
matter as one of personal opinion) what I consider the
disadvantage of the process. Such a bread is manifestly
lfejs SAveet than if the flour had been subjected to the
fermentation process. There has been no dextrin, no
sugar formed, and the albuminoids have not been lowered
or degraded. Consequently, such a bread does not taste
sweet ; it has none of that nutty flavour, according to my
taste, which a well-fermented good loaf has ; and it seems
to me that many other people at least must have adopted
the same opinion, because it is long since Dr. Dauglish
proposed this method, which theoretically seems a very
excellent one, and yet, I think I am not very wrong in
saying that, if we consider Europe, we shall find that a
remarkably small portion of the flour of Europe is sub¬
mitted to the Dauglish method, compared to the vast
amount of bread made by the fermentation process ; and if
the bread had been so well thought of by the world at
large, it ought by this time to have progressed much more
than it has. Another objection Avhich occurs to me here
is this, that the bread cannot be so rapidly digested as
the fermented bread; and it would be desirable that
investigation should be made upon this point, because one
cannot help feeling interested in the Dauglish process, on
account of certain obvious merits which it has.

Other methods for producing artificial raising of bread
are very numerous, and I need only name two or three of
them. In the first place, there is the process by which
bicarbonate of soda and hydrochloric or muriatic acid are
brought to act on each other in the dough. A reaction
takes place, by which chloride of sodium, or common salt,
is formed, and the carbonic acid escapes, and, therefore,
raises the loaf. But it is necessary that the operation
should be carried on very rapidly, and it is also necessary
that the exact proportions of bicarbonate of soda and
hydrochloric acid should be used, so that there should be
an exact naturalization of one by the other. In addition
to this method, tartaric acid and bicarbonate of soda are
employed occasionally ; and sometimes hydrochloric acid,
to which a small quantity of the acid phosphate of lime
has been added, is also employed, along with the bicar¬
bonate of soda. It is very easy to make this acid phos¬
phate of lime. If you take a small portion of burnt
bones, called bone ash, which comes so largely from the
River Plate and the Rio Grande in South America, and
add to it hydrochloric acid, you convert it into what is
technically termed superphospate of lime, or acid phosphate
of lime, and if you use an excess of hydrochloric acid, you
will have a solution of acid phosphate of lime in the
hydrochloric acid liquid, and this, if it be used to react
on the bicarbonate of soda, will give common salt,
together with phosphate of lime . The use of such agents
has been recommended by many, owing to the desire,
especially in the case of poor children, ill supplied with
milk, that the bread should contain bone earth, or the
elements of bone earth, so that the children may obtain
a considerable quantity of phosphate for the purpose of
building up their bone tissue which, at an early age, is so
necessary. Bicarbonate of ammonia has also been
employed as an artificial method of raising bread, and, of
course, there are many other such artificial chemical

164

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 21, 1SS0

means. The various baking powders which are so much
advertised, depend on a reaction of tins kind by which
carbonic acid gas is employed artificially. They all of
them seem to me to be open to the same objection as the
Dauglish method, and they have not its advantages,
except in so far as they enable one to make an aerated
bread under certain unfavourable circumstances, such as
at sea, or far away from the means of obtaining yeast ; of
course, under these conditions, they have some value.

Our bread being made, the next point one has to con¬
sider is, how it is digested. Now, digestion is a continua¬
tion of fermentation. Of course, I am using the expression
fermentation in the same sense that I used it in speaking
of the hydration action upon starch. I am not using the
term now in the sense of the boiling fermentation, where
carbonic acid and alcohol are produced, but that form
in which water is added to the molecular structure of the
starch, and by which sugars and dextrin are formed.
The first agent which is brought to bear upon the bread
is the albuminoid ferment, called by physiologists,
pty aline, which is found in the saliva. In order to obtain
a thorough and rapid hydration of the starch, so that that
starch is converted into soluble bodies, sugars and dextrin,
it is necessary that the bread should be thoroughly com¬
minuted, and we are endowed with a very wonderful
apparatus for the purpose of cutting and grinding it up into
a fine porous mass. At the same time, while this opera¬
tion is going on, the grinding action stimulates the glands,
so that during the time they pour out the secretion
destined by Nature for the solution of these starchy
bodies. Of course two points have here to be considered.
I said we must obtain a fine, light, porous mass, and we
must, therefore, so cut up or grind that bread that it
should always remain a fine porous mass ; that it should
be thoroughly aerated, and at the same time well mixed
with this albuminoid ferment of the saliva. Manifestly,
therefore, we see at once that the habit, which is so
common in England, of eating hot rolls and new bread,
is the very opposite of what Nature has pointed out
should be done. Bread which, when you press it between
your finger and thumb forms into impervious balls, is not
a bread which lends itself readily to the action I am
speaking of ; and I have been told, on good authority,
that bakers, who have found out for themselves so many
very interesting scientific facts connected with the whole
process of panification, seldom eat new bread. Indeed,
one gentleman said they never did ; they wait, at any
rate until the second day, until it will, in the grinding
action, remain light and porous for the action of the
ptyaline upon it.

Mr. Lewis has kindly heated two tubes. In my right
hand, I hold a tube which contains a solution of bread,
made simply by breaking it up to a fine powder, and then
digesting it for two hours at a temperature of 100° Fahr.
It was then filtered ; nothing but water was added to the
bread, and he has added some of Fehling’s liquid and has
boiled it. You see that there has been no reduction, or,
at any rate, a very small reduction of the protoxide of
copper to the suboxide. Whereas, in the other tube,
the bread was comminuted into the fine condition in
which it should be, as was also done in the other case,
and it was then mixed with a little saliva obtained by
exciting the submaxillary gland. This was warmed also,
at about 90° to 100° Fahr., for about two hours, and you
see the amount of sugar that has been formed. Where the
saliva has been mixed with the bread, it has produced a
considerable quantity of sugar. So far for the sugar. On
the addition of a little alcohol, we shall be able also to see
a considerable difference in the total amount of products
which have been rendered soluble under the two condi¬
tions. The right-hand tube was the one submitted to the
action of the saliva, and the left-hand one exhibits simply
the action of water on the bread. There is in one case a
considerable precipitate, and in the other very much less.

I will also show you the amount of albuminoids which
have been rendered soluble in the same time. While

Mr. Lewis is doing that, I will make a few remarks on
the necessity for all of us to husband this valuable fluid.
It is not given to us to throw away, and those of you who
are just about to begin manhood’s life, I should certainly
recommend, if possible, not to adopt the habit of smoking.
But still, if you should smoke — and I do not suppose
anything I may say will prevent you — I should recom¬
mend you to learn the way in which a G-erman smokes.
Any average Gorman will smoke from morning to night,
from the beginning of the year to the end, and will not
expectorate once ; he learns the habit of smoking without
expectorating, and the result is he is none the worse for
his smoking — at least, one does not see it; whereas we, in.
England, with our short pipes, smoke tobacco loaded with
moisture — which is one of those delusions about pipe
tobacco which has arisen, probably, from the interest of
tobacconists. You know most people have the tobacco
loaded with moisture, and keep it in a jar with a leaden
cover to it. Thus considerable quantities of unburnt-
nicotine distil over with the moisture, and also, at the
same time, tarry products and creasote ; whereas when the
tobacco is dry, a comparatively small quantity of these
distil over into the mouth and therefore there is no
necessity to expectorate. In these tubes you have, on
the left-hand side, the solution which has been acted upon
by some ferrocyanide of potassium and acetic acid, and
that has thrown down most of the albuminoid matters.
The one on the left-hand side is the solution of bread
simply with water, the other on the right hand, of course,
has had saliva added to it. In the left tube you see
there is no precipitate, or an excessively small quantity of
albuminoid matters ; whereas, in the right-hand tube —
due to the saliva — we have an abundant precipitate of
albuminous matter. We see, therefore, that this valuable
fermenting principle which we have at the very threshold
of digestion, is able to convert boiled starch into sugar
and dextrin with considerable rapidity, and at the same
time also it breaks down, and therefore dissolves some of
the albuminoids. It then passes downwards, and in the
stomach and duodenum it meets with other fluids, some
of which have the power also of hydrating and converting
starch into sugar and dextrin, and some others have the
power of dissolving the albuminoids themselves. In that
way we obtain the perfect solution of the bread that
we eat.

(To be continued.)

|hn-(uttmnf;xi\ir anCt gutter llrombiinjs.

Suicide by Poisoning.

On June 24, Albert Portway, son of Mr. J. Portway,
chemist, Bury St. Edmunds, committed suicide by
taking poison. The deceased, who was 21 years of age,
had suffered much from headache, violent sickness, and
mental depression. It was stated that he had been
preparing for the Minor pharmaceutical examination,
and entertained fears that he should fail and that this
upset his mind. The Coroner’s jury found that he
destroyed himself whilst in a state of temporary insanity.
— Cambridge Chronicle.

A Substitute for Paregoric,
important decision.

At the Town Hall, Sheffield, on Friday, July 30,
before T. W. Rodgers, Esq., and David Ward, Esq.,
Stephen Middleton, grocer, No. 51, Harvest Lane, was
summoned under the 6th section of the Sale of Food and
Drugs Act, for selling 4 oz. of paregoric, which was not
of .the nature and substance demanded by the purchaser,
being destitute of opium. The Town Clerk (Mr. Yeo¬
mans) prosecuted, and Mr. Parker Rhodes, of Rotherham,
defended.

On June 25, Inspectors Brammer and Ruminings, of

August 21, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

165

) j

,

li

■

:!

the Health Department, went to the defendant’s shop,
and asked for 4 oz. of paregoric. They were not aware
that the defendant sold paregoric ; but, being in the
neighbourhood, went in for the purpose. The defendant
took down a bottle from a shelf behind him, and remarked
that he was not obliged to sell any of it to them. He
was told that if he refused to sell, he was liable to a
penalty of £10 under the Act, and the defendant there¬
upon sold 4 oz. of what purported to be paregoric. He
previously told the officers to look at the labels upon the
bottle, which said, “ Paregoric substitute, without opium.
This article is guaranteed to contain no opium, or any
other ingredient prescribed by the new Pharmacy Act,
1868.” ' The defendant, in giving the officers 4 oz. of the
contents of the bottle, remarked, “I give it you for what
it is worth.” The officers then paid Is. and divided
what they received into three portions, one of which was
left with the defendant, one was reserved for themselves,
and the remaining portion was at once forwarded to
Mr. A. H. Allen, the borough analyst, to be analysed.

Mr. Allen said he found as the result of his analysis
that the sample was destitute of opium, which was the
most important ingredient in the medicine known as
paregoric or paregoric elixir. The material being destitute
of opium, he was of opinion that it was not paregoric.

Cross-examined by Mr. Parker Rhodes, Mr. Allen
said in what was popularly known as paregoric, opium
was a constituent part. The word “paregoric” signified
soothing. Opium was not the only sedative known to
medical science.

Dr. Hime, Medical Officer of Health, said opium was
an essential part in the composition of paregoric. In its
popular sense, paregoric was a medicine containing opium,
and included other ingredients.

Cross-examined by Mr. Parker Rhodes : In Dr.
Pereira’s ‘Materia Medica,’ it was stated that there could
be paregoric without the presence of opium, but that was
not the common belief.

Mr. Parker Rhodes, for the defendant, said he was
instructed to appear, not by the defendant, but by the
firm who manufactured the compound. The reason it
contained no opium was this : — The law prohibited grocers
selling any poisonous ingredient such as opium, and in
order that the paregoric might be sold to them, another
and weaker article was substituted by the manufacturers,
which did equally as well. The defendant was well aware
of the purpose for which the officers entered his shop, and
until he was threatened with a penalty of £10 he did not
wish to sell them that for which they asked. He then
told them frankly that he sold it for what it was worth,
and showed them the label on the bottle, which said
“Paregoric substitute.” The officers were determined to
get it, whatever it was, and they obtained that for which
they asked. Several persons who were in the shop at the
time strongly bore out Mr. Parker Rhodes’s statement,
and the maker of the compound, Mr. William Parkinson,
wholesale chemist and druggist, of Burnley, spoke as to
the nature of the drug.

The Bench retired to consider their decision, and upon
their return into court, Mr. Rodgers said that in their
opinion the defendant had done everything to show the
officers that the drug they insisted upon having was not
paregoric but only a substitute for paregoric, which did
not contain opium. The real question in this case was
whether he sold it to them as, and for, paregoric, intend¬
ing to deceive, or whether he sold it for what it was.
Inspectors Brammer and Rummings had not given
their evidence to the satisfaction of the bench, and on
behalf of the defendant there had been an overwhelming
amount of testimony that could not be cast aside, that
the defendant did not pass the drug off as paregoric,
but only for what it claimed to be.

Alderman Ward said he cordially agreed with Mr.
Rodgers’s remarks, and he thought the defendant had
conducted his business in a very proper way.

The case was then dismissed, and the Town Clerk

asked permission to withdraw two similar cases which
he had intended to have brought forward.

The Bench consented to this course being pursued.

Mr. Parker Rhodes asked for costs for his witnesses.

The magistrates declined to grant them, as they believed
it would have saved much trouble, and in every way
been more straightforward, if the defendant had at once
told the officers when they asked for paregoric, “I don’t
keep the article.” He had not done so, and, therefore,
they could not allow costs. — Sheffield Independent.

Alleged Poisoning by a Steedman’s Powder.

On Tuesday, August 3, Mr. T. C. Brian, coroner for
Plymouth, held an inquest at the Nottingham Arms,
Mutley, touching the death of Ernest Jarvis, aged ten
months.

Ellen Jarvis, mother of the deceased, said the child
had not been very strong since its birth, and as it was
not quite so well on Saturday last, a portion of a
Steedman’s soothing powder was given it. On the Sunday
it was still unwell, and about one a.m. on the Monday
morning she was aroused by the child breathing very
heavily. Mr. Wolf ers tan, surgeon, was immediately sent
for, and he came and remained with the child until 5.30
a.m., when it died. She bought the powder from Mr.
Saunders, chemist, and she had given these powders very
often to her other child, and they had done him good.

Mr. Wolferstan, M.R.C.S., said he had attended
the child since its birth ; it was a very small child,
and if his orders had not been strictly attended to
by the mother it would not have lived as long as it did.
On Monday morning when he visited the house he found
the child unconscious, and from its appearance and other
signs he saw that it was suffering from an overdose of
opium. He applied the usual remedies, and after about
three hours the deceased revived a little, but shortly
after it relapsed into its former condition, and died about
5.30 a.m. The mother said she had given the deceased
a portion of a Steedman’s soothing powder. He could
not, however, account for the death of the child ; but he
supposed the powder contained a narcotic, and that the
child was unusually susceptible of its influence.

The jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from
the effects of a narcotic, administered through inadvert¬
ence by the mother, but exonerated the mother from all
blame. — Western Morning News.

Robbery of Chemicals.

At the Central Criminal Court, on Friday, August 13,
before the Common Serjeant, Thomas King, Henry Har-
bord (a convict), William Harbord, Charles Fryer, Robert
Henry Mott and Thomas Bennett, were indicted for con¬
spiring to defraud Messrs. May and Baker, chemical
manufacturers, of Battersea, and Messrs. Morson and
Sons, wholesale chemists, Holborn. Mr. Poland and
Mr. Montagu Williams were for the prosecution ;
Mr. Avory and Mr. Forrest Fulton appeared for the
defence of two of the prisoners.

The case for the prosecution was as follows : — King
was a night watchman in the employ of Messrs. May
and Baker. From time to time he carried away large
quantities of red and white precipitate and calomel,
which were handed over to Henry Harbord and a man
named Stevens, who have already been convicted and
sentenced to five years’ penal servitude, the latter being
now called as a witness for the prosecution. William
Harbord allowed his house at Battersea to be used as a
depdt for the stolen goods, which were sold by his brother
to a man named James Clarke and to Mr. Freeman,
manufacturing chemist, of Kennington Park Road.
The other prisoners, who were in the employ of Messrs.
Morson and Sons, frequently conveyed large quantities
of chemicals belonging to their masters to Stevens, who
handed them to Henry Harbord to sell. In a com*

166

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 21, 1880.

paratively short period, no less than 300 ounces of
morphia were stolen, the prisoners realizing out of this
transaction between £4 and £5 per week. The convict
Stevens deposed in evidence that Fryer, Mott and
Bennett frequently forwarded 'chemicals stolen from
Messrs. Morsons by parcels delivery to Stevens’s house.

Several witnesses were examined for the purpose of
corroborating the evidence of Stevens.

At the close of the case the charge against Bennett
was withdrawn, and he was discharged.

The jury found all the other prisoners guilty.

Sentence was respited till next session, there being
other indictments against the prisoners to be disposed of.
— Daily Telegraph.

©fritumn.

Notice has been received of the death of the fol¬
lowing : —

On the 20th of June, 1880, Mr. James Semple,
Chemist and Druggist, Port Glasgow. Aged 74 years.

On the 27th of June, 1880, Mr. Joseph Silvester,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Heathside, Knutsford. Aged
76 years. Mr. Silvester became a Member of the
Pharmaceutical Society in 1842.

On the 17th of July, 1880, Mr. Robert John Clark,
Chemist and Druggist, Old Town Street, Plymouth.
Aged 37 years. Mr. Clark became a Member of the
Pharmaceutical Society in 1869.

On the 23rd of July, 1880, Mr. Edward Pearson Shaw,
Chemist and Druggist, Market Place, Wakefield. Aged
52 years. Mr. Shaw became a Member of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society in 1869.

On the 25th of July, 1880, Mr. Robert John Clarke,
Chemist and Druggist, Snettisham, Norfolk. Aged 60
years.

On the 31st of July, 1880, at The Elms, Leominster,
Mr. Thomas Cooper Lewis, Pharmaceutical Chemist,
Sheep Street, Rugby. Aged 50 years. Mr. Cooper be¬
came a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society in 1856.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

Alphabetical Manual of Blowpipe Analysis : show¬
ing all Methods Old and New. By Lieut.-Colonel
W. A. Ross, late R.A. London: Trtibner. 1880.
From the Publishers.

Professional Book-Keeping. A Treatise for Non-
Traders. By William John Gordon. London:
Wyman and Sons. 1880. From the Publishers.
Tables for the Analysis of a Simple Salt: for
Use in School Laboratories. By A. Vintner, M.A.
London: Longmans. 1880. From the Publishers.
Grundlagen zur Beurtheilung des Trinkwassers.
By Dr. E. Reichardt. Fourth edition. Halle a S. :
Buchhandlung des Waisenhauses. 1880. From the
Publishers.

The Workshop Companion, a Collection of Useful and
Reliable Recipes, Rules, Processes, Methods, Wrinkles
and Practical Hints for the Household and the Shop.
New York: Industrial Publication Company. 1879.
From the Publishers.

Dotes nnir (Queries.

[666]. ESSENCE OF COCHINEAL.— Perhaps the
following recipe for preparing a really good liquid cochi¬
neal that will keep an indefinite period without change
may be useful to Mr. Cottrill, in reply to his request for
information on the subject, as I have not yet found any
formula to equal it : —

R Cochineal . 2 ozs.

Subcarbonate of Potash,

Alum,

Cream of Tartar, of each ... 2 ozs.

Distilled Water . 20 ozs.

Boil the cochineal and salts of tartar together for
about ten minutes, then stir in gradually the cream of
tartar and alum, strain through muslin and afterwards
filter through paper. To the filtrate add ^ a pound
of lump sugar and dissolve with a gentle heat. Sugar is
the great preservative agent in this case, and I do not
remember ever meeting with a liquor so prepared that-
showed any sign of change.

35, Baker Street, W. A. W. Postans.

[670]. WRITING INK.— Perhaps the following for¬
mula, taken from the ‘Year-Book of Pharmacy’ for
1874, may suit “Nemo’s” purpose: —

R Acid. Pyrogallic . 1 part.

Pulv. Gum. Arabic. ..... 3 parts.

Ammonke Vanadiate . . . . 3 ,,

These to be mixed in a mortar and sufficient water
to be added. This forms an intensely black ink.

J. S. S.

[670] . WRITING INK. — “ Nemo ” will find the
following in Gray’s ‘Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia’: —

R Bruised Nutgalls . 12 parts.

Copperas (slightly calcined) . . 4 ,,

Gum Arabic . 4 „

Water . 120 „

Mix them together in a stone bottle and let them
stand for two or three weeks, shaking the bottle from
time to time. Then pour off the clear liquor and a little
creasote to prevent mouldiness. “ 374.”

[671] . PERFUMED CARBOLIC ACID.— Will any
reader inform me of a method by which earbolic acid can
be perfumed so as to render it more pleasant for disin¬
fecting purposes, and yet not destroy its properties ? I
have tried essential oils but find that on mixing with
water it becomes turbid, a circumstance I wish to avoid.

Hypocrateriform.

< [672]. STORM GLASS.— Would some reader kindly
give me a receipt for a storm glass ? That in ‘ Beasley’s'
Receipt Book ’ I cannot get to answer ; it seems to have
either too much camphor or water. A. E. Lomax.

CAMPHORIC ACID can be produced by boiling
camphor with 15 or 16 parts of strong nitric acid, in
a suitable glass vessel, for twenty or twenty-four hours,
when, upon cooling, the camphoric acid will be found
floating on the top of the acid as a crystalline cake.
This is removed and carefully washed with ice-cold water,
when it will be found to consist of a mass of acicular
snow-white crystals.

dispensing IJtemaranim,

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column was established ,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions , or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

Replies.

[435]. In answer to J. J., I would suggest the boiling
of the required quantity of eserine in a few gttae of water
in a test tube to produce a perfectly smooth ung.

W. J. B»

August 21, I860.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

167

[435]. Eserine sulphate may be readily incorporated
with a fatty basis for ointments by previous solution on
the slab in a few drops of water, the alkaloid being very
soluble in that menstruum,

R. H. Parker.

[436]. Has “ Tyro ” tried treacle and oil of cloves in
the proportion of 10 parts of treacle and 1 part of oil of
cloves ? or conf. rosse ? “ 374.”

[436]. Water is the best excipient for pulv. ext. coloc.
co. and pulv. pil. coloc. co. If the pills have to be kept
long, equal parts of water and glycerine may be used
and the pills enclosed in a bottle. The glycerine prevents
the pills from becoming insoluble, while if made fairly
hard they do not lose their shape, because the glycerine
cannot exercise its hygroscopic power to any great extent
when bottled.

R. H. Parker.

[436]. “ Tyro ” will find a very small quantity of dec.
aloe3. co. cone, the best excipient for pil. and ext. coloc.
co. I have made numbers of pills with it and have never
found them lose shape.

Pill-driver.

[441]. M. L. R. would be glad to know what is the
best excipient for the following : —

01. Menth. Pip . gt. xviij.

Thymol . gt. vj.

Ft. pil. xij.

They have been made up with soap and magnesia.

[442]. A prescription is offered for dispensing : —

Ung. Hyd. Iodi.

Which should be sent, the protoiodide or the biniodide ?

A Junior.

Comsjjottbwa.

*»* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

[437]. I should think that the ointment must be of a
greyish colour, on account of the mercury contained
therein. “374.”

[437] . Probably the prescriber was not aware of the

fact that ung. hydrarg. nit. soon loses its yellow colour
when mixed with lard. Physicians often erroneously
forecast the colour of a mixture from that of its con¬
stituents. R. H. Parker.

1

[438] . I believe there is no better excipient for pepsine
| pills than glycerine.

“ 374.”

[438]. In reply to “ Nemo,” equal parts of glycerine
.and mucilage ferm a very good mass with pepsine. Gly¬
cerine alone makes the pill too soft, and on keeping they
swell and perspire.

Pill-driver.

[438]. I do not think that a better excipient for pep¬
sine than glycerine is a desideratum. The only objection
is the hygroscopic nature of glycerine, which may be
easily counteracted by enclosing the pills in a bottle.

R. H. Parker.

[438]. In reply this query, our formula for pepsine
pills is —

Pepsine ......... gr. iij.

Pulv. Acaciae . gr. ss.

Syr. Simplex . q. s.

And the result is a very firm and easily manipulated

mass.

A. J. Heald.

Queries.

[439].

Zinci Oxyd . 0-5

Ung. Emoll . 40 ‘0

Should the above make a soft [ointment ? — as it was
returned as too hard for use when sent out. The ung.
emolliens was prepared according to Chevallier’s formula.
It had previously been dispensed on the contiment.

Nemo.

[440].

R Ferri et Ammon. Cit . ^ iij.

iEther. Chlor . 3j*

Ess. Menth. Pip . trix.

01. Morrhuae . . ad "pv.

j§ss. bis vel ter die sumend.

Is it possible to make a presentable mixture without
•any addition ? If not what would be justifiable ?

N. J.

A Protest against Reducing Prices.

Sir, — As the recent decisions in favour of co-operative
trading may incline some of your readers to make greater
efforts to compete with the stores, and as there is a great
tendency to lower prices at the present time, I wish to point
out the inadvisability (as far as my experience goes) of at¬
tempting to compete with stores and other large establish¬
ments by reducing prices, unless we can supply goods at the
same rate as they do, which of course we cannot. After
carefully watching the matter for more than fifteen months,
and trying the experiment in certain cases, I have come to
the conclusion, and shall be glad to hear that others have
done the same, that it is no use meeting the store price half
way, for the public will still go to the cheapest — or what
they think the cheapest — market and simply make a con¬
venience of the local higher priced trader, who, therefore,
might as well get full price for what he does sell. I can
mention the instances of three articles where such has been
the case, viz., zoedone, apollinaris, and Allen’s hair restorer,
to say nothing of smaller priced articles. On zoedone,
which I thought at 6s. 6d. per dozen was cheap enough to
please everybody, the public can now save Is. a dozen by
buying at the stores, and do so. With regard to apollinaris
I have found an unreasonable preference shown for paying
23s. for fifty bottles at the stores, and paying me 8s. per
dozen for odd half dozens, when they run out of it (which is
pretty often), rather than for buying of me for 25s., and
having a constant supply. Mrs. Allen’s hair restorer, again,
I used as a test article and have sold at all prices from 4s. 6<Z.,
but have not thereby increased my sale nor reduced that of
the stores. So far I have referred to purely commercial trans¬
actions, but in dispensing we have less cause for reducing
prices to keep from the stores people who when ill must
have their medicine prepared in the neighbourhood where
they reside. In reply to those who would ask how we can
compete with the stores, I would say that by the exercise of
virtues which are somewhat deficient at those establishments,
viz., attention, civility, neatness and dispatch, and by main¬
taining towards our customers a just appreciation of our
technical knowledge and responsibility, we shall retain the
confidence and patronage of an appreciative though exacting
public. This I contend is a more dignified and consistent
course than encouraging the sale of quack medicines and
other articles of unknown .'composition, which as educated
pharmacists neither is it our duty nor to our advantage to
do, and whereby we shall only lose caste with many people.
Let us, therefore, give up the short-sighted, erroneous and
derogatory policy of underselling, and be firm in our demand
for such remuneration as experience has shown not to be
exorbitant or unreasonable. Those who have already re¬
duced prices and may think they have done so wisely because
they have attracted some custom from their neighbours will
not I fear be able to retract, but the hope of deterring any
who may be contemplating doing so is my excuse for tres¬
passing so much upon your valuable space.

$t. John’s Wood. J. J. Chapman,

168

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 21, 1880

The Pharmacy Act and Assistants.

Sir, — Now that the interpretation of the word “person ”
in the Pharmacy Act, 1868, means the actual compounder
or seller of poisons, it is full time that those of us who are
on the register of chemists should look the matter boldly in
the face, and see whether we have not misread the intention
of the Act as appertaining to ourselves and our assistants.
We must confess that hitherto we have considered it per¬
fectly legal to open half a dozen shops, and put unqualified
assistants to manage them.

In clause 1 of the Act, 1868, it says : — “ It shall be un¬
lawful for any person to sell.” Does it really mean em¬
ployer as well as assistant? I certainly think it does,
otherwise, why does it say immediately after, “ or keep
open shop for retailing or compounding poisons ? ” “ Keep

open shop ” evidently means that the actual owner of the
shop must also be qualified, and that it is neither legal for
the master to employ an unqualified assistant, nor for an
unqualified person to be the owner of such a shop. The
meaning of the Act is also wide enough to include the non¬
employment of unqualified persons in any surgery, hospital
and public institution.

Clause 16 reserves the rights of certain persons: — “Nothing
hereinbefore contained shall extend to, or interfere with,
the business of any legally qualified apothecary.” That
means that if they choose to do the dispensing themselves,
it must be done by their own hands, and not by a boy in
buttons, a first year student, or his better half, unless such
person be legally qualified.

Clauses 5 and 4 explain the meaning of chemist and
druggist, and who are entitled to be registered under this
Act. It includes masters as well as assistants, so that no
hardship should be felt too severely in the first instance by
anyone from its provisions. Seeing that it all through pro¬
vides for the assistants, it shows clearly that in future
assistants so employed must be qualified, otherwise there is
no guarantee to the public as intended by the Act. If this
is not the intention of the Act, the sooner a fresh one is
introduced to Parliament, and its meaning made more
definite, the better for the protection of the public, and
of those chemists already on the register, whether em¬
ployers of, or engaged as, assistants. It would also be
advisable to introduce a clause something like the follow¬
ing: — “That each bottle of medicine or packet of poison
should bear the signature of the dispenser or seller, and
that the word * * poison ’ should be left out after compound¬
ing,” for often the mistake when it occurs is from the
misreading of the prescription, or the wrong ingredient is
used through ignorance, and not because any poison is
ordered in it.

And, “that whenever a qualified assistant changes his
situation, he should send a notice of such a change to the
registrar,” unless clause 10 in the present Act provides for
it. W e often hear employers saying that there is dearth of
assistants, but this is entirely due to the employment of
qualified assistants to do work which has nothing whatever
to do with the business of a chemist. If we employ
qualified assistants only for our legitimate business and
fill up their time by doing other work, instead of giving the
preference to unqualified ones, these qualified men will
soon recognize their position, and demand a fair remunera¬
tion for their services at the expense of the public, and
those who cannot now afford to keep assistants will, I hope,
in future find the dispensing of prescriptions more remu¬
nerative and more equalized, and thereby prevent qualified
men seeking a living by being driven to illegal prescribing,
dentistry, etc. The law was never intended to protect only
the special few, but the public and all those on the register
only. We shall then in a short time hear n© more of
speculative chemists and their numerous establishments,
nor co-operative dispensing, than we now hear of co¬
operative surgeons, solicitors or barristers.

I also think that if the Pharmaceutical Society com¬
municated with the Medical Council, they might introduce
a clause in the next Medical Biff to compel legally qualified
practitioners to either write or have printed on their pre¬
scriptions their name and address. It may be the means of
preventing illegitimate prescribing, and certainly for the
ready communication, if need be, by the dispenser with the
prescriber.

West End.

CoUMARIN IN ORCHrS MlUTARIS AND SlMIA.

Sir, — To the British plants Anthoxanthum odaratum,
Aspeomla odorata and Hierochloe borealis, known to con¬
tain coumarin, two more may be added, the closely allied
orchids,. 0. militaris and Simia. Baxter, in his 'English
Plants,’ alluded to their “ delightful fragrance, especially
when drying,” this being almost exclusively owing to cou¬
marin, the unsized paper used in preserving specimens
retaining the odour for a long time.

The true military orchis is recorded from Oxon, Berks,
Bucks and Herts. The monkey orchis (Simia) only from
Oxon and Berks, and in the latter county is queried in
‘Topographical Botany,’ as being probably extinct. I
found last year a single specimen in Berks ; this year,
in company with Mr. Bolton King, of Balliol College,
although we found a few specimens of both species in Oxon,
our search was unsuccessful in Berks. These orchids have
many intermediate forms, widely different as true Simia is
from Militaris in appearance, it being much the more
beautiful plant. I am rather inclined to think the inter¬
mediate forms are hybrids, as where Simia alone occurred
they were all typical plants, but where both occurred some
specimens of Simia evidently approached Militaris in ap¬
pearance.

It would be interesting to know whether the Kentish
military orchis, 0. fusca, botanically so closely allied to the
foregoing species, also contains coumarin ; my own dried
specimens give no trace of it.

118, High Street, Oxford. G. C. DruCE.

Assistants in the South of France.

Sir, — In case the letter from Mr. Boutell which appeared
in your last issue should cause any assistants to desist from
going to France, will you kindly grant me a few lines?

Mr. Boutell’s warning against one pharmacien has un¬
fortunately cast suspicion over all, and for the sake of those
who have not been in the South, as well as to clear the
generality of employers there, he ought to have called the
loup blanc by his name.*

Mr. Boutell ought to know besides that Englishmen have
a practical appeal against injustice, and can obtain sub¬
stantial reparation if wronged.

Indeed, the advantages of situations in the South of France
are so great that none need hesitate if they avail themselves
of Mr. Boutell’s experience and offer of advice. Assistants
are well paid, and treated with gentlemanly respect. They
are entrusted with liberty of action and judgment, which
English employers would do well to grant, for it causes
them to take a pride and a pleasure in doing a large business.

The “English chemist” is looked up to by the thousands
who winter in the South as an “institution” of public
utility, and so attached does he frequently become to the
business, to the proprietor, to the customers, and to the
gentle clime, that he can hardly bring himself afterwards to
settle again in England.

16, Coleman Street, London, E.C. George Weddell.

J. B. — There is an Act regulating the practice of
pharmacy in the State of New York, as is the case also in
several of the other North American States. Neither a
“Major” nor a “Minor” man would have a right to carry
on business in one of such districts unless he has complied
with the requirements of the respective legislation.

James. — A recipe for “Pick-me-up” was repeated in the
number for September 27 last, p. 260.

Vis. — We do not think the marks can be removed with¬
out a surgical operation.

R. A. Hoyle. — (l) Pyrola, probably P. secundijlora. (2)
Plantago, probably P. lanceolata, but we cannot say without
the leaves. (3) Galium verum. (4) Centawrea nigra. (6)
Agrimonia eupatoria. (7) Lychnis arvensis. (9) Hyperi¬
cum, probably H. quadranguhim, but impossible to say
from such a scrap. (10) Juncus Gerardi. One specimen
without a number appears to be Epipactis atroimbens.
Nos. 5 and 8 not received. Our correspondent is requested
to send in future entire specimens when not of large size,
or at least stem leaves as well as flowers, and not more
than six specimens at a time. _

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Davy, Chapman, Dispenser, J. H. J., W. B. S.

* This was done by Mr. Boutell; but it is not our
praotice to publish names in such cases.

]

August 2S, 1SS0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

169

NOTES ON INDIAN DRUGS.

BY W. DYMOCK.

{Concluded from page 22.)

Cyperus rotundus, Linn. Cyperace.e. The tubers.

Vernacular : Moth a (Hind., Beng., Bomb.) ;

KoRAi(Tam.). C.pertenuis,IM>. : Nagarmotha

(Hind., Bomb:, Beng.) ; Koriak-kizhan-gu

(Tam.).

History , Uses, etc. — These two plants, which • are
considered by botanists to be only varieties of the
same species, produce aromatic tubers which have
long been in use in Hindu medicine under their
Sanskrit names of ‘mus taka’ and ‘nagarmustaka.’
They are considered to be diaphoretic, astringent
and stomachic, and are prescribed in febrile affections
and derangements of the bowels. The nagarmotha
is much used as a perfume. The Arabian and
Persian writers describe several species of Cyperus
under the names of ‘ suud ’ and 1 mishk-i-zamin.’ They
consider the tubers to be attenuant, diuretic, em-
menagogue, lithontriptic and diaphoretic, and pre¬
scribe them in combination with other remedies in
febrile and dyspeptic affections. Alone it is recom¬
mended in a number of minor ailments; one ounce
is said to be an efficient anthelmintic.

Description. — The ovoid or nearly round tubers of
C. rotundus are developed upon a thin underground
stem ; externally they are black, scaly, and give off
numerous fine rootlets; at their summits the remains
of leaves and often one or more small tubers may be
seen. The substance of the tuber is white and
spongy ; it has a faint aromatic odour much like that
of Acorus calamus. Nagarmotha, which is the kind
in general use, consists of elongated simple or
branched tubers, generally about 2 inches long and
^ inch in diameter. The external surface is marked
t>y a number of annular ridges and is almost con¬
cealed by the remains of leaves. When these are re¬
moved the colour of the tuber is a deep brown-black.
A few wiry rootlets arise from its under surface, and
at the lower end is a portion of the underground
stem. The substance of the tuber is hard and of a
reddish- white colour ; it is divided into a central and
cortical portion, the latter being of a darker colour.
The odour is strongly aromatic, like Acorus, but
somewhat terebinthinate.

Microscopical Structure. — The outermost layer of
the cortical portion is composed of large bundles of
reddish-brown stony cells separated from one another
by interspaces ; within it are from 6 — 8 rows of very
thick-walled, empty cells ; next a tissue of thick-
walled cells, most of them full of large starch
granules, but some containing essential oil and
probably resinous matter. The central portion of
the root is separated from the cortical by a single
row of small yellow stone cells ; it is composed of
thick-walled cells, full of starch like those in the
cortical portion, but differs from it inasmuch as
many of the cells contain red colouring matter.
Large vascular bundles abound in the root; some of
them are surrounded by a layer of stony cells .

Commerce. — Two kinds are met with in this
market, Surat and Kattiawar; the first is heavier
and more aromatic than the second. Value, Surat
Rs. 2 per maund of 37^ pounds. Kattiawar Re. 1|.

Hermodactylus. ColchicacejE. Colchicum Sp.?

Vernacular : Soorinjan (Hind., Bomb., Beng.,

Tam., Arab.).

History, Uses, etc. — The Hermodactyl or “ Finger
Third Series, No. 531.

of Hermes,” was unknown to the early Greeks ; it
appears to have been first used medicinally by the
Arabs or later Greek physicians; it was first men¬
tioned by Alexander of Tralles, who flourished a. d.
560 lib. xi. It is deserving of special notice
that under the name of surugen or hermodactyl,
Serapion comprehends the koXxikov and tp-npepov of
Dioscorides and the eppoScucTvXos of Paulus iEgineta
(Pereira, vol. ii., pt. I., p. 166). Mesue and other
early Arabian writers describe three kinds of her¬
modactyl, the white, yellow and black. In this they
are followed by most of the more recent Mahometan
writers. Meer Muhammad Husain tells us in his
‘Makhzan’ that the white is the best and that it is not
bitter, next the yellow ; both may be used internally.
The black, he says, is poisonous and only to be used
externally. He describes the hermodactyl plant
as having leaves like a leek and a yellow flower ; it
is called in Persia ‘shambaleed.’ The black variety,
he says, has red flowers. Mahometan physicians
consider the drug to be deobstruent, alterative and
aperient, especially useful in gout, rheumatism, liver
and spleen. In gout they combine it with aloes ;
with ginger and pepper it is lauded as an aphro¬
disiac ; a paste made of the bitter kind with saffron
and eggs is applied to rheumatic and other swellings ;
the powdered root is sprinkled on wounds to promote
cicatrization. European physicians in India who
have tried the drug consider the tasteless hermo¬
dactyl to be inert or nearly so and the bitter to have
properties similar to colchicum (confer. ‘Phar. of
India,’ p. 246).

Description. — Surinjan-i-sheereen, or tasteless her¬
modactyl. Speaking of this drug, as furnished to
him from India by Dr. Hoyle, Pereira says. “In their
general form these conns resemble those of Colchi¬
cum autumnale. They are flattened, cordate, hol¬
lowed out or grooved on one side, convex on the
other. At their lower part (forming the base of the
heart) is a mark or disk for the insertion of the root
fibres. Their size varies ; the specimens I have ex¬
amined were fromf— inch in length or height,
1 — inch in breadth, and about \ an inch in depth.
They have been deprived of their coats, are exter¬
nally dirty yellow or brownish, internally white,
easily broken, farinaceous, opaque, odourless, taste¬
less, -or nearly so, and worm eaten. They agree
precisely with hermodactyl furnished me by Pro¬
fessor Guibourt.

“Surinjan-i-talkh or bitter hermodactyl. The cor ms
of this variety are distinguished from the preceding
by their bitter taste, their smaller size, and by having
externally a striped or reticulated appearance. Their
colour for the most part is darker ; in some specimens
it is blackish. One corm is ovate-cordate, 1 inch in
height or length, £ of an inch broad and about £ inch
thick, grooved or hollowed on one side, convex oil
the other ; it is of a brownish-yellow colour, semi¬
transparent. has a horny appearance and is marked
by longitudinal stripes, indicating a laminated struc¬
ture. A second is opaque, amylaceous, reticulated
externally, white internally, less flattened, and
of a remarkable shape, the concave or hollow
side of the corm being continued half an inch below
the mark for the attachment of the root fibres”
( ‘ Materia Med.,’ vol. ii., pt. I., p. 167), Pereira’s
description agrees exactly with the hermodactyls of
Bombay.

Microscopic Structure.- -The stare a grams of the
tasteless hermodactyl are large and muller shr;e:l.

170

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 28, 1880.

Chemical Composition. — Le Canu. has analysed the
tasteless variety and obtained the following result :
starch (forming the bulk of the drug), fatty matter,
yellow colouring matter, gum, supermalates of lime
and potash and chloride of potassium. The bitter
kind does not appear to have been examined.

Commerce. — The hermodactyls are imported into
Bombay from the Red Sea ports. Value Rs. J per lb.

Substitute. — The sliced bulb of the true narcissus,
imported from Persia, is sold in Bombay as bitter
surinjcin. It may be at once detected by its larger
size and tunicatecl structure. The taste is bitter and
acrid, the substance amylaceous and very similar to
that of the hermodactyl. It is used as an external
application and according to the author of the ‘Makh-
zan’ has properties very similar to those of surinjan-i-
talkh. Value annas 3 per lb.

Smilax china, Linn. Smilacejs. The root. Ver¬
nacular : Chob-chini (Hind., Beng., Bomb.) ;

Paringay-puttay (Tam.).

History, Uses, etc. — China root is described in
native works on materia niedica as a new medicine.
It appears to have been introduced into India from
China by the Portuguese before the middle of the
sixteenth century. The Arabs call it khashab-us-
sini ; in India it is universally known by its Persian
name, chub-chini (China wood). The author of
the 1 Makhzan-ul-adwiya ’ has a long article upon its
medicinal virtues. He also notices particularly the
variable appearance of different samples of the drug,
and directs that which is heavy, of a rosy colour,
and free from knots, to be selected. He tells us
that the fresh root is sometimes brought to India.
Some of this he planted at Moorshidabad, a.h.
1178; it produced a climbing stem with small
elongated leaves, not unlike a bamboo. After a
year’s time he dug it up, but found that the roots
had degenerated, and did not retain the qualities of
the China article. Chob-chini, though now little
used in Europe, still retains its celebrity in the East,
and is consumed in enormous quantities both in
India and China, the natives considering it to be
antirheumatic, antisyphilitic, aphrodisiac and demul¬
cent.

Description. — The tubers of chob-chini, which are
formed upon the fibrous roots of the plant, are of
the shape and size of an elongated kidney potato
somewhat flattened, knotty, covered with a rusty
coloured bark, sometimes smooth and shining, some¬
times rough ; internally their substance is of a
pinkish- white colour, hard and farinaceous, insipid,
mucilaginous and inodorous. The drug is usually
peeled and trimmed, and consequently is of irregular
form, resembling a piece of soft pinkish- white wood.
1 1 Microscopic Structure. — The bark consists of thick-
walled dark-brown brick- shaped cells, which contain
bundles of crystalline needles and resinous matter.
The bulk of the tuber is made up of a parenchyma,
the cells of which are large, thin- walled and loaded
with starch; some pink colouring matter is also
present. The starch grains are large, and have a
radiate hilum. The vascular system is scalariform,
and is associated with porous wood cells.

Chemical Composition. — No active principle has
been separated.

Commerce. — The drug is brought to Bombay from
Chinese ports and Singapore by the coasting steamers.
Value, unpeeled, Rs. 3 — 4 per maund of 37^ lbs.;
peeled, Rs. 9.

ERIODICTYON CALIFORNICTTM.*

BY WILLIAM C. HOLZHAUER.

The leaves, exhausted by stronger alcohol and then by
water, yielded the following results -

1. The alcoholic percolate, evaporated to the con*
sistence of an extract, yielded, by distillation with water,
a small amount of volatile oil, lighter than water, of a
pale straw colour, aromatic taste and odour, but slightly
resembling that of the leaves. The distillate was neutral
to test paper. On boiling the alcoholic extract with
water and allowing the liquid to cool, a crystalline sub¬
stance, of a yellowish- white colour and of a feathery
appearance, deposited, destitute of taste and odour, in¬
soluble in cold water and benzin, sparingly soluble in hot
water (the solution having a slight acid reaction), very
soluble in chloroform, ether and alcohol.

No alkaloids could be detected in the aqueous de¬
coction.

The remainder of the aqueous decoction was then
treated with a solution of acetate of lead, as long as a
precipitate was thereby produced ; then filtered. The
precipitate, having previously been thoroughly washed
with cold water, was then diffused through alcohol, and
decomposed by means of sulphuretted hydrogen, filtered,
and the filtrate evaporated to dryness at a low tem¬
perature. The residue was a brittle substance, of a light
brown colour, having an astringent, sour taste, proven to
be tannin, the alcoholic solution of the tannin being
perfectly clear, while that of the aqueous solution was
turbid, and on the addition of ammonia or potassic hy¬
drate turned to a dark brown colour and became perfectly
clear. The tannin gives a green precipitate with chloride
of iron, acquiring a dirty appearance on standing.

2. Previously having treated the leaves with alcohol,
they were then percolated with water. The percolate
was of a dark brown colour, bitterish astringent taste
and had a slightly acid reaction. After concentrating
the percolate a part of it was treated with absolute
alcohol, producing a precipitate of a dark brown colour,
wholly soluble in water, and proven to be gum associated
with brown colouring matter. The presence of sugar
was detected by means of Trommer’s test.

No alkaloids could be detected. A portion of the
percolate was then treated with a solution of acetate of
lead as long as a precipitate was thereby formed. The
precipitate, collected on a filter and thoroughly washed
with water, was then diffused through alcohol and de¬
composed by sulphuretted hydrogen, filtered, and the
filtrate slowly evaporated to dryness by means of gentle
heat. The product obtained was tannin, similar in ap¬
pearance and corresponding in all its reactions to that
obtained from the alcoholic percolate.

3. A fresh quantity of leaves was exhausted by ether.
The ethereal percolate was allowed to evaporate spon¬
taneously to the consistence of syrup.

On boiling this with water a resinous mass was pre¬
cipitated. The supernatant liquid was of a pale straw
colour, slightly aromatic taste and odour and of an acid
reaction. Evaporating the supernatant liquid and allow¬
ing to cool, crystals were obtained similar to those of the.
alcoholic extract, the quantity being too small to allow
further investigation.

Examination of the Resinous Precipitate.

By treating with stronger boiling alcohol and allowing
to cool, a soft, greenish, waxy substance separated, form¬
ing a pellicle. This substance was freed from colouring
matter by continued washing with cold alcohol. The
residue was proven to be vegetable wax, possessing a
slightly greenish tinge. After treating the resinous pre¬
cipitate with boiling stronger alcohol there remained a
soft, sticky substance, having neither taste nor odour,

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, August,
1880.

August 28, 18 ?0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

171

but slightly soluble in benzin and ether, readily soluble
in chloroform, and from this solution was reprecipitated
on the addition of alcohol, not volatile, burning with a
sooty flame, which experiments prove its being identical
with caoutchouc.

The remaining alcoholic liquid was of a dark green
colour ; after boiling and then digesting this liquid for
twenty-four hours with animal charcoal, filtering, and
subsequently evaporating by gentle heat, a brittle resin
was obtained of an amber colour, aromatic, slightly bitter
taste and faint odour.

GLYCERIN CEMENT.*

Hirzel obtained, in 1869, by triturating litharge with
glycerin, a mass which he found useful as a cement for
vessels containing benzol, ethereal oils, etc., as it pos¬
sessed the property of soon hardening. During the
same year Pollack recommended the same mass as a
cement for stone and iron ware, and pointed out that it
was attacked only by strong acids ; also, that its dura¬
bility is the greater the more water the litharge had
absorbed, since the latter when entirely dry yielded a
cement of feeble adhesiveness only. Rost, in 1870,
found this cement proof against concentrated [?] and
diluted acids, alkaline lyes, ether, alcohol, benzol and
carbon disulphide.

The somewhat contradictory statements regarding the
power of resistance against acids of this cement, as well
as the desire to find out whether glycerin entered into a
chemical combination with litharge, led Theodor Mo-
rawski to investigate the subject. Regarding the che¬
mical combination, we may briefly state that he actually
found this to be the fact. He obtained a definite com¬
pound, crystallizing in fine needles, which was found to
be a glyceride of lead, of the composition C3H6Pb03.
But tins compound, when isolated, is not of great stabi¬
lity, and would scarcely interest our readers. Our object
is to draw attention to the practical applicability of the
compound as a cement.

From a large number of experiments instituted to
ascertain the most favourable conditions for the pro¬
duction of a perfect cement, the author obtained the
following results : — The hardest cement is produced by
triturating 50 grams of litharge with 5 cubic centi¬
metres of glycerin. If more glycerin is used the mass
hardens much more slowly and imperfectly.

The small proportion of glycerin, however, makes it
impracticable to prepare large quantities of the cement
at a time. For this purpose it will be necessary to take
more glycerin, in order to facilitate the trituration. But
as it was also proved that the addition of a small quan¬
tity of water produced an equally durable cement,
provided the proper proportions are observed, he found,
after many trials, that the most favourable results are
obtained by adding 2 volumes of water to 5 volumes of
glycerin (sp. gr. 1'240) ; 6 cubic centimetres of this liquid
are incorporated with 50 grams of litharge. This mass
requires a shorter time than any other proportions to
produce a hard cement, ten minutes only being required
to harden moderately, while after two hours it becomes
even harder than any mixture containing litharge with
glycerin alone. But after a few days the latter com¬
pound (prepared without water) overtakes the former in
hardness and remains so. If it is desired to produce a
cement which rapidly hardens and still has considerable
firmness, it is advisable to use water with the glycerin. —
Dingier' s Polyt. Journ ., 235, 213.

This form of cement appears to be applicable for many
purposes in the laboratory as well as in drug houses. It
may be used as luting for joints or as cement for stoppers,
and probably also for mending stone, wedgewood and
porcelain ware. Of course, it should not be forgotten
that it contains lead.

PRESENTATION TO PROFESSOR ATTFIELD.

On Wednesday afternoon, at the conclusion of the
proceedings of the British Pharmaceutical Conference,
held at Swansea,

Mr. Schacht rose and said : Mr. President, a duty has
come to me by the accident of things, the responsibility
of which I certainly feel to be very great ; but I confess
I am able to face it all the more readily because of
the great personal gratification which accompanies it.
It will be remembered that on the occasion of our
meeting last year at Sheffield it was announced by our
Senior Honorary Secretary that it would be impossible for
him to fulfil any longer the duties appertaining to that
office, and he merely yielded to our urgent solicitations
to continue them for another year on the clear under¬
standing that at this meeting his official connection with
the Conference as its Honorary Secretary should terminate.
When that announcement was made, but one feeling seemed
to animate the minds of all members, and though at first
something like a sensation of dismay obtruded itself lest
we should find more difficulty than was subsequently ex¬
perienced in replacing so able an officer, that was speedily
replaced by one unanimous feeling of gratitude to Professor
Attfield for the great services he has rendered to the Con¬
ference. That sentiment naturally suggested that some
formal expression should be given to it, and that idea soon
took the form of a resolution that on this occasion a formal
expression of our feelings should take place. Since on that
occasion I had the honour to occupy the place now so ably
filled by you, sir, I naturally became the Chairman of
the Committee appointed to carry out the resolution,
and hence the somewhat prominent part which I am now
called upon to occupy in this matter. For many years I
have had the pleasure of an intimate acquaintance with
our friend, and charging my memory to strict accuracy,
I can trace throughout all my knowledge of him nothing
but one steady, constant effort to lead a good and useful
life. As to its goodness, this is not, perhaps, the place
to speak, and I will not dilate upon it further than to
say that I believe that side of his character to be the
mainspring of the other. It may not be inappropriate,
perhaps, to say just a word or two on the point of
Professor Attfield’s usefulness in his public life, which
is, indeed, the cause of what we are now doing, and
explains the enthusiasm with which the project has been
received. Broadly speaking, it occurs to me that the
usefulness of our friend’s life has consisted in this, that
he first of all achieved a high and distinguished position
for himself, and from that moment he has endeavoured
to hold up both for our admiration and achievement that
higher life of mental culture which is so plainly open to
us in the very nature of our calling, but which we are
very prone to forget in the experiences of business. It
seems to me it has been in that constant protest against
pharmacists sinking into anything like perfunctory
drudges, and in his recommendation of the only genuine
remedy for that, viz., that each man should do something,
or at least try to do something, for the general good, that
the main influence of Professor Attfield has rested.
Beginning his pharmaceutical work somewhere about
1854, he carried away the only two medals which the

# Reprinted from New Remedies , J une, 1880.

172

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 28, 18S0.

school then offered its patient and industrious students ;
he took the two medals in his year, and soon after
became director of the laboratory, and finally, Professor
of Practical Chemistry. Throughout the time he has
held this appointment his usefulness and success in that
capacity can be testified to by scores of our most
eminent pharmacists, and the secret of his success seems
to have been that he has adopted the scientific method of
teaching his own science, and has steadily persevered in
avoiding all those apparently royal roads which com¬
mend themselves to some to their own delusion,
and has endeavoured constantly to urge that one
steady course through the narrow way that leads to
right. And for this, not pharmacists only, but the
whole public, ought to feel, so far as they know the facts,
something like gratitude. But possibly the most interest¬
ing point in our friend’s career was that at which he
allowed himself to become the chief Honorary Secretary
of this Conference. He. I am sure, would not wish me to
attribute the whole success of this organization to his
labours. He was associated in those days with men who
had always been faithful to the cause, some of whom
I see around me now, whilst some of them have gone to
$heir rest ; but all were earnest in their endeavours to
promote an organization which was aiming, as they thought
and as he thought, at advancing the highest interests of
pharmacy. They all laboured earnestly, but I am sure
those gentlemen, and all who laboured with them, would
wish me to say that they regard Professor Att field’s labours
as the most prominent, and that they would accord to
him a very large portion of the honour due to those who
carried the infant through its early days into maturity.
This project was initiated a year ago, and during the in¬
terval I am happy to remind you that Professor Attfield
has received perhaps the highest reward which a scientific
Englishman of the present day can seek. He has received
the blue ribbon of science in being elected a Fellow of the
Royal Society. But I am sure it will be gratifying to
you all to remember that this little testimonial was
initiated before the recognition of Professor Attfield’s
claims on the part of the governing body of the Royal
Society. I am sure you will all feel glad when I have
finished, and I will, therefore, detain you no longer than to
read this scroll which is supposed to accompany the presen¬
tation of some volumes of general literature, which are at
present in London, where an opportunity will be presented
to those who feel curious to see them to do so during the
next few weeks, as they are too bulky to be brought down
here: — ‘Presented, with about five hundred works of
general literature, to J ohn Attfield, Ph.D., F. R.S., Professor
of Practical Chemistry to the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain, etc., by Members of the British Pharmaceu¬
tical Conference, in token of their goodwill and hearty
appreciation of his services as Senior Honorary Secretary
of the Conference from it foundation in Newcastle-on -

Tyne in 1863 to its meeting at Swansea in 1880.’ That
is signed by myself as Chairman, F. B. Benger, Henry
B. Brady, T. Hyde Hills, Theophilus Redwood, Richard
Bremridge and Michael Carteighe, Honorary Secretary,
as representing the large number of gentlemen who con¬
tributed to the memorial. I beg, with your permission,
sir, to hand it to Professor Attfield.

Professor Attfield, as soon as the cheering had sub.
sided, rose and said : — Mr. President, Mr. Schacht, and
gentlemen, I accept your very handsome testimonial with
feelings of pleasure and of satisfaction which are simply
inexpressible. As you have said, seventeen years of the
prime of my life have been devoted, shoulder to shoulder
with such honoured colleagues as Reynolds, and Brady, and
Schacht, with Presidents who still gladden us with their
presence, and Presidents who have passed away, to the
founding, developing, and maintaining of the British
Pharmaceutical Conference. My great reward — the
greatest reward, as a matter of course — is seen in the
great success of our joint labours. That success is
great. We have, officers and members together, con¬
tributed, during the seventeen years of the life of the
Pharmaceutical Conference, to the stock of pharma¬
ceutical knowledge four hundred original investigations,
and we have done that without impoverishing in the
slightest degree any other agency for the prosecution of
original research. We have annually given opportunities
for the leading chemists and druggists of Great Britain
and Ireland to assemble together and exchange thoughts
and opinions on pharmaceutical matters, and by the gen¬
erous aid of the local members in the towns we have visited
have given them opportunities for friendly intercourse
and good-fellowship, and these things have had the
happiest results. And lastly, for the past ten years, we at
all events have given to every one of our members
not only the ordinary advantages of membership in a
great association, but a record of the pharmaceutical
discoveries made throughout the whole world, in the form
of a ‘ Year-Book,’ which itself has been, I think, at
least double the value of the annual subscription. I say
again, my great reward is in contemplating the results of
these, our joint labours. But, gentlemen, to have one’s
life work appreciated and recognized by those for whom
it has been more immediately undertaken and continued
is extremely gratifying, and, therefore, I thank you from
the depths of my consciousness for this most delightful

present. Gentlemen, my wife will thank you, and my
children will thank you too, for they are just entering on
the paths of general literature ; and my library, although
fairly well reflecting science, is not rich in those very
works of general literature with which you now present
me. I myself, at the age of fourteen, or a few weeks over,
went from my school books straight to the study of works
of chemistry, botany, pharmacy, and materia medica; but,
like Enoch Arden, I have desired that my children
should have even a better bringing up. And as for my
wife, of whom I am sure I may say, ‘ many daughters
have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all,’
I have long determined that she, now that the cares of
teaching and training are getting less, should have the
opportunity of having at command the works of those
authors which a busy life (busy as mine) has only allowed
of her having a partial acquaintance with, and you, by
this present you now make me, enable me to realize
one of my most cherished hopes. Gentlemen, I can only
say that you could not possibly have gratified me and my
family more than by publicly recognizing this work that
I have done, the loving labour that I have undergone f <r
you and for pharmacy, and you could not possibly have
chosen a better mode of showing your appreciation.

Loud applause greeted the conclusion of the above brief,
but very effective address, and the proceedings concluded
with three cheers for Professor Attfield.

August 28, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL/ JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

173

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1880.

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Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

. THE BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

The British Pharmaceutical Conference has during
the past week marked the seventeenth year of its
existence by extending its travels to the Welsh
principality, the only portion of the British Islands
previously unvisited by it in the course of its
annual meetings. And although doubtless the at¬
tendance was unfavourably influenced by the diffi¬
culties which lie in the way of reaching Swansea
from many parts of the kingdom, as well as the fact
that neither the town itself nor its hotels present
attractions which would tempt a tired pharmacist to
spend a portion of his hard-earned holiday in breath¬
ing a smoke-laden atmosphere, there was, never¬
theless, sufficient in the hearty welcome given by
the local committee and in the interest of the busi¬
ness done to repay well those who did make the
venture.

At the commencement of the proceedings a
tolerably long list of delegates from various societies
was read over, but unfortunately very many of those
named were conspicuous only by their absence.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was re¬
presented by the President, Vice-President, and three
other members of Council, but neither the Secretary,
the Assistant Secretary, nor— with the exception of
Professor Atteield— the Professors of the School of
Pharmacy put in an appearance. The Pharma¬
ceutical Society of Ireland was wholly unrepre¬
sented. American pharmacy, however, was for a
time represented by Professor Maisch ; but having,
as Secretary of the American Pharmaceutical
Association, to be present at the coming meeting at
Saratoga he was compelled to take his leave before
the termination of the Conference.

The report on the state of the finances shows a
balance of over five hundred pounds, a kind of white
elephant apparently, since only one application has
been made during the year for a money grant in aid
of research. Whether or not it be by reason of the
opening up of other and more fertile hunting
grounds for the seekers of grants in aid that the
funds at the disposal of the Conference are thus
disregarded we cannot say, but it is evident that
. some five hundred pounds is now going a begging,
- and that there is an opportunity for some one to

devise a means by which it may be applied to a
purpose useful to pharmacy.

The death of Mr. Stoddart was naturally referred
to in feeling terms in the report, not only by reason
of his helpful connection with the Conference from
its inception, but also because he had so highly dis¬
tinguished himself in various ways as to make his
loss a special matter of regret, requiring expression
in the manner unanimously agreed to by the meet¬
ing in accordance with the proposal of Mr. Reynolds
and Mr. Brady.

The retirement of Professor Attfield from the
position he has filled so long and so ably was
another regretful feature, which contributed to make
the report of the Executive Committee more than
ordinarily gloomy.

The Presidential Address is this year a deviation
from the course usually followed on such occasions,
and though it cannot be said that the address pre¬
sents any very obvious utilitarian features, it affords
material for thought, and at a time when pharma¬
ceutical affairs are in such a high state of tension,
when the future of a large section of the trade is, to
say the least, so unpromising, it was probably ex¬
pedient to abstain as far as possible from the dis¬
cussion of trade interests and from stirring the
troubled waters of pharmaceutical politics.

The first paper read formed the conclusion of the
series of reports on the investigation of the aconite
alkaloids, carried out by Dr. C. R. Alder-Wright,
with the aid of grants from the Conference. In this
instance the material operated upon was the fresh
herbaceous portion of Aconitum Napellus, grown at
Foxton, in Cambridgeshire, the method of operating
being the same as that described in last year’s report.
The alkaloid obtained by evaporation from the ethereal
solution could not be made to crystallize or yield crys¬
talline salts, though from its activity it appeared to
contain a notable amount of the alkaloid which Dr.
Wright regards as true aconitine. Judging from
analysis, its composition was inferred to be substanti¬
ally the same as that of the mixed alkaloids obtained
from the roots of A. Napellus. The uncrytallizable
character of this mixture of alkaloids was ascribed to
the larger amount of amorphous bases preventing crys¬
tallization. The experiments made by Dr. Wright
appeared to show that, though the dry herb did not
contain very much less total alkaloid than the
equally dry root, the percentage of aconitine in the
alkaloid obtained from the herb was much less than
in that obtained from the root. This result, how¬
ever, cannot be regarded as representing the in¬
variable proportion of the alkaloids, since it is
inconsistent with the observation of Mr. Williams
that sometimes no crystallizable alkaloid is to be
obtained in operating upon the roots. This ap¬
parent variability would appear to show that it is
desirable to make further experiments with a view
of ascertaining how far the amount of crystallizable

174

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

August 28, 1880

aconitine may be influenced by differences in the
age of the roots, or by differences in the soil and
climate in which they are grown. Dr. Wright
considers that experiments of this kind, as well as
those necessary for ascertaining the precise method
of treatment and the menstrua best suited for se¬
parating crystallizable aconitine economically on the
large scale from the non-crystallizable alkaloids as¬
sociated with it, cannot readily be carried out by the
scientific chemist in his laboratory. It appears
therefore that this investigation still leaves un¬
satisfied the want which, on a previous occasion, we
pointed out as being the most pressing, namely, a
means by which the peculiar substance possessing
powerful physiological activity can be practically
separated from the less active substances associated
with it. Until this is done, there is no prospect of
being able to satisfy the demand that exists for a
more definite form of aconitine for medical purposes.

In Professor Fluckiger’ s paper on “ The Essen¬
tial Oil of Buchu Leaves,” he pointed out that the
oil contains a crystalline substance analogous to
carbolic acid, to which he gives the name “dios-
phenol.” The liquid portion of the oil, chiefly
distilling ^between 205° and 210° C. possesses an
odour very like that of peppermint. This oil is
destitute of rotatory power, and has a composition
approximately represented by the formula C10H18O.
It also appears from some experiments made by
Dr. Power that this compound is contained in the
oil in the form of a compound ether. Professor
Fluckiger did not find that the specimen he
operated upon contained salicylic acid. In connec¬
tion with this paper it may be mentioned that in
1865 Mr. Umney pointed out, in a paper read before
the Students’ Association at Bloomsbury Square, the
existence in the oil of Barosma betulina of a crystal¬
line substance, of which he obtained 500 grains from
20 fluid ounces of the oil. It is to this substance
that the greenish coloration of the oil with ferric
chloride is to be ascribed.

Dr. Power then read a paper by Professor
Fluckiger and himself on ‘‘The Constituents of
Peppermint Oil. ” In operating upon Mitcham oil
obtained from Schimmel and Co., of Leipsic, which
had been deprived, by repeated rectification, as com¬
pletely as possible of menthol, about 10 per cent, of
an oil was separated, which had not before been
investigated. The greater portion of it distilled
between 165° and 175° C., and had a composition
intermediate between the formulae C10H16 and C10H18.
When purified by distillation over metallic sodium
it was divided into two fractions of specific gravity
•359 and *856. By the distillation the peppermint
odour was lost, and gave place to that of freshly
distilled oil of turpentine. A small portion of the
oil, of a somewhat viscid character, was distilled
over at a higher temperature, and is considered
to be represented by a multiple of the simple for¬

mula C10H16, probably C15H24. According to these
results the liquid portion of Mitcham peppermint
oil would appear to consist of isomeric and polymeric
terpenes. The authors were unable to isolate the
substance which forms a crystalline compound with
alkaline bisulphides when some samples of peppermint
oil are operated upon in this way. It is considered as
probably having a boiling point approximating to
that of menthol and to be the cause of the remark¬
able colour reaction and fluorescence displayed by
fresh oil of peppermint when left in contact with a
few drops of nitric acid (1*20), since this reaction is
not given by the terpenes nor by menthol. In the
discussion that followed attention was directed to
the necessity of ensuring in investigations of this
kind that the material operated upon is free from
any kind of adulteration, and in illustration of the
fact that it was not always sufficient to purchase
what is represented to be the best commercial
article, Mr. Reynolds referred to the glover men¬
tioned by Southey, whose worst gloves were dis¬
tinctly known as “ best,” and who had four other
kinds, which he called “ better than best,” “ better
than better,” “best of all,” and “real best.” Mr.
Umney also pointed out that from the crude manner
in which the distillation of oil of peppermint is
carried out it was to be expected that even genuine
samples would contain more or less empyreumatic
materials, unless they were again carefully rectified
by distillation with water.

In a paper upon “ The Discoloration of Syrup
of Iodide of Iron,” Mr. T. B. Groves dealt with
the inconvenience arising from this liability to
alteration, which so frequently gives rise to doubts
whether medicine containing this preparation has
been correctly dispensed. Mr. Groves illustrated
this by stating that he had been found fault with
for supplying a colourless and flavourless article to
a customer who had previously been furnished with
a discoloured syrup, though for no better reason
probably than George the First’s cooks were com¬
plained of for not supplying the royal table with oysters
so high in flavour as those to which His Majesty
had been accustomed in Hanover. As a means of
remedying this inconvenience, Mr. Groves sug¬
gested that a minute trace of phosphoric acid should
be added in making the syrup, i-n order to ensure
the action formerly pointed out by him in the
Pharmaceutical Journal,* and, though as he
remarked, this plan would be considered hateful
and unorthodox by some, many will be glad to learn
how of two evils to choose the lesser. In the discus¬
sion that followed the reading of this paper atten¬
tion was chiefly directed, by a remark from the
President, to the importance of the character of
the sugar used for making syrups. It was shown
that the greater part of the sugar met with in
commerce is beet root sugar, which will not do for
# Yol. ix., 2nd series, p, 421.

August 28, 1SS0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

175

the manufacture of syrup of iodide of iron. In re¬
ference to the difference between the sugar from beet
root and that from the cane Mr. Andrews stated
that he knew it as a fact that they differed in solu¬
bility and that he had commenced a series of experi¬
ments upon the subject. The contamination of beet
sugar with ultramarine was also referred to by Dr.
Symes, who was of opinion that by proper treatment
it could be rendered as fit for use as cane sugar.
Upon Professor Attfield’s suggestion it was nnder-
stood that Mr. Andrews undertook to follow up the
subject experimentally, and, therefore, we may now
look forward to having this difficulty removed.

At the conclusion of the discussion following
Mr. Groves’s paper, the Conference was adjourned
until 2. 30, and in the interval the members partook
of lunch in the garden adjoining the Institution.

The next paper read on resuming the business
proceedings was contributed by Dr. De Yrij,
whose valuable services in connection with the in¬
troduction of the cinchona tree into India and the
manufacture of “Indian quinine” have recently
been recognized in the conferring upon him the
dignity and distinction of a Companion of the Star
of India. It described a method for the detection
of amorphous alkaloid in citrate of iron and quinine,
based upon the solubility of the oxalate of that base
in water and the consequent yellow coloration to be
observed when an adulterated sample is operated
upon as described in detail in the paper. A some¬
what discursive discussion followed the reading of
this paper, in the course of which it was pointed out
by Mr. Umney and others that the amorphous
alkaloid sometimes found in citrate of iron and
quinine may be due to the alteration of quinine
during the manufacture of the preparation. By
some it was also considered that this result arose
from the defective nature of the Pharmacopoeia
process. Mr. Fletcher recommended the plan of
tasting the preparation as being, in his opinion, a
convenient method of detecting the presence of
amorphous alkaloid by its peculiarly unpleasant
bitterness.

In Dr. Symes’s paper on “New and Unofficinal
Preparations,” attention was drawn to the practical
inconvenience arising from the want of any authori¬
tative formulae for the novel preparations which are
now so frequently employed by medical men. By
reference to the various strengths of tincture of
gelsemium and hydrobromic acid, he illustrated the
embarrassment that may be caused in dispensing,
and he suggested that the formulae for such prepa¬
rations should be regulated by the decision of some
such authority as the Medical Council. Although
the removal of uncertainty by the adoption of
such a plan would be very desirable, it cannot be
overlooked that there are considerable difficulties to
be encountered. As stated by Mr. Greenish, many
of these preparations are too insignificant and too

ephemeral in their application to merit any such offi¬
cial cognizance, and if the merits of new articles of
materia medica and new preparations are to be
decided by experience, it is precisely during the in¬
tervening period that the difficulties referred to by
Dr. Symes would remain unprovided for. Possibly
some conjoint action of members of the medical
profession and representatives of the Pharmaceutical
Society might be devised that would ensure that pre¬
scribes ordering new preparations would have their
wishes carried out, and that at the same time dis¬
pensers should be at no loss to ascertain what those
wishes were. At any rate the question is one that
deserves attentive consideration on both sides.

In a paper on the “ Cultivation of Calisaya,” Mr. J.
E. Howard described comparatively the conditions
under which this tree is grown for the production of
cinchona bark in Java, Ceylon, the continent of
India and South America, and brought forward
statements of various authorities to show the extent to
which the supply of rich quinine-yielding bark might
be expected to increase. As introductory to this, Mr.
Howard described the examination of a small tree of
Calisaya Anglica, which had been killed by canker in
his conservatory, after attaining in eight years a
height of seven or eight feet. He considers the
source of mischief to have been situated in the root,
but was not able to learn anything very definite
respecting it. In Java, where the Ledgeriana grows
so well and yields such rich bark there is no canker ;
but it appears that there are few parts of Ceylon where
this tree can be grown so as to yield bark so rich in
alkaloids, while on the Neilglierries the bark is of
excellent quality and commands a high price,
although the trees grow bushy and spindly. In
Bolivia, again, where calisaya has been cultivated in
its native locality, at the suggestion of Mr. Ledger,
within the last thirty years excellent results have
been obtained. Mr. Howard, however, thinks that
none of this bark, as imported into London, had the
appearance or was so rich in alkaloid as the true
Ledgeriana, possibly in consequence of the seed not
having been selected with such skill as that col¬
lected by Mr. Ledger’s servant Manuel. For this
reason therefore, the cultivation of calisaya in Bolivia
cannot be expected to yield such remarkable results
as it has done in Java especially. The same circum¬
stance also points to the importance of selecting
superior sorts in establishing or extending plantations
in India. Effectual drainage and high cultivation
are also essential conditions to be provided for. In
Ceylon as in Java it has been found that the
Ledgeriana surpasses all other kinds in yielding bark
containing a large amount of quinine. On the
whole, therefore, Mr. Howard thinks that true
calisaya, as introduced by Mr. Ledger, will continue
to assert its supremacy there as elsewhere. But he
also points out that, according to Mr. McIvor,
Ceylon is wanting in the deep rich soils to be found

\

176

[August 28, 1880.

' N

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

in India, and that since, according to the same
authority, cinchonas are very liable to canker when
the roots get down to the subsoil, there is for this
reason less promise of future results in Ceylon than
there is on the Neilgherries.

It is indeed to this cause that Mr. Howard
ascribes the death of the calisaya tree grown in his
greenhouse, and perhaps it is not going too far to infer
that Mr. Howard’s mention of the death of that tree,
and his conjecture as to the cause of it, may be in¬
tended to operate in some degree as a check upon
the enthusiastic expectations entertained as to the
future results of the cultivation of calisaya in Ceylon.
In reference to these prospects Mr. Howard quotes
the calculations of Mr. Dobree, published in the
Ceylon Observer of last June, which point to an
annual production of about ten million pounds of bark
in about five years’ time, and predict that the total
production of cinchona bark will in 1885 exceed the
total demand in 1876-78 by nearly eleven million
pounds. Mr. Howard thinks these calculations far
too sanguine even as regards quantity, and in any
•case, he thinks that one feature more likely to
become manifest in 1885 is that the representatives
of quinine manufacturers attending the sale-rooms
at that time will distinguish with the pencil-note
“rubbish” many of the consignments of Ceylon bark.

Closely connected with the subject of the foregoing
paper was the exhibition, by Dr. Paul, of a peculiar
kind of cinchona bark, with the object of showing that
it is now no longer possible to arrive even at an ap¬
proximate conclusion as to the value of a sample of
bark from mere visual examination. Leaving out
of account the fact that the officinalis, or crown bark
now coming from India contains a large amount of
quinine, while that hitherto known as “crown bark,’’
or“Loxa bark,” from South America seldom con¬
tains much, if any, it is also to be noted that
amongst the bark derived from South America it is
equally impossible to judge of the value of a sample
from its outward appearance alone. The old land¬
marks are no longer sufficient for indicating whether
a bark is worth only a few pence a pound or the
same number of shillings. Thus, for instance, the
official “ yellow bark,” or “ flat calisaya,” of the
present day is rarely what it used to be, but, on
the contrary, seldom contains much or any quinine
at all, and only a little cinchonine. On the con¬
trary it often happens that bark of unusual or novel
characters comes into the market containing an
amount of quinine and other alkaloids that renders
it intrinsically very valuable. In the case of the
specimen exhibited this fact was well shown, for to
all appearance it was of little or no value. It repre¬
sented a somewhat considerable parcel of bark that
was imported in June, 1879. It did not recommend
itself for making pharmaceutical preparations and
quinine manufacturers were disinclined to buy it at
any price. However, the analysis of the bark gave

it a different character, showing that in addition to
mere traces ot quinidine, cinchonidine and cinchonine
it yielded nearly 2| per cent, of sulphate of quinine,
so that for either or both of the purposes above
referred to it was an excellent bark, notwithstanding |
its unfavourable appearance.

The last paper read at the second sitting of the
first day’s meeting was on “ Ipecacuanha Wine,” by
Mr. J. B. Barnes, in which he recommended, as
an improvement in the preparation of ipecacuanha
wine, a modification of the plan proposed by ’Mr.
Carteighe for the preparation of an oxymel of
ipecacuanha. Mr. Barnes evaporates the acetic
extract of ipecacuanha to dryness, digests the
residue in a proper proportion of sherry for forty-
eight hours and filters. By this means he
obtains a rich brown solution which has been
kept for eight months without throwing down
any of the unsightly muddy sediment which is
well known to be formed when the ipecacuanha
wine of the Pharmacopoeia is kept for a few weeks.

The meeting was then adjourned until half-past
ten on Wednesday morning, and in conformity with
notice given by Mr. Grose, the local Vice-President,
most of the members present assembled at half-past
six on their way to inspect first the Hafod copper
smelting works and mills of Messrs. Vivians and
Sons, who make, besides ingot and sheet copper, sul¬
phuric acid and artificial manures, and then the Lan-
dore tin-plate works. In both these establishments
every attention was shown to the visitors and every
possible opportunity afforded for seeing the details
of the operations.

On the reassembling of the members on Wednes¬
day, Mr. Brady, after apologizing for his departure
from the generally observed rule of producing a
written paper, proceeded to give an account of his
experiences of pharmaceutical interest during a recent
journey to Ceylon and Japan. One of the points to
which his attention was directed was the cultivation
of cinchona in the former island and some of the con¬
clusions he arrived at were very different from the
statements that had been published, although it
must be admitted that these were based upon later
information. In reference to the cultivation of cin¬
chona he observed that mossing is not carried out in
Ceylon, for the reason that it promotes the destruc¬
tion of the trees by ants, and he did not enter upon
the consideration of the profitable nature of cin¬
chona cultivation, because that had already been
done in a much more commercial paper. The cul¬
tivation of vanilla was next referred to, and one
case mentioned in which the rows of plants had an
extent of no less than three miles. It may here be
noted that the development of this business seems
likely to be more rapid than profitable, for while
the price of vanilla not long ago was 70s. per pound,
it is now down as low as 10s. Assam tea and Liberian
coffee were two other products mentioned as being

August 2S, 1880.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

177

successfully grown in Ceylon; but the cultivation
of ipecacuanha was described as affording less
promise. Mr. Brady then proceeded to give an
interesting account of the cinnamon cultivation
in the island, stating that he had been quite unable
to trace the origin of the three different kinds
of cinnamon bark met with in this market. In
the course of his inquiries he was informed that
there were not only three, but no less than fifteen
varieties. The distillation of cinnamon oil was
described as being carried on in a most primitive
manner. One of the prominent features of Ceylon
vegetation was the occurrence of cocoa-nut palms,
which always grow freely near human habitations, a
fact that was explained to Mr. Brady as being due
to the promotion of their growth by smoke ; and if
that alone were a sufficient explanation, it might be
worth while to make an experiment in the cultiva¬
tion of cocoa-nut palms in and around Swansea.
The extraction of oil from the cocoa nuts was de¬
scribed as having been carried to a high degree of
perfection ; and, although some considerable degree
of mystery appears to be maintained as to the way
in which this is done, the result would seem to be
merely a natural consequence of the rational use of
suitable machinery. Mr. Brady mentioned that,
though cocoa-nut oil is habitually known to us as a
solid fat, it was never met with in Ceylon in
any other than the liquid form, which it was
impossible to persuade the native Cinghalese
was any other than its invariable condition. This
striking effect of the difference in the physical
character of a material produced by the influence of
climate had a parallel in an experience of the speaker
in Algeria as to the local idea of water, where on
telling a native that in England it was possible to
walk across the water in winter, his statement led to
the remark, “ If these Franks will tell you this no
wonder they come here with the Bible.” Among
the points of interest that Mr. Brady came across
in Japan was an ingenious form of still for making
peppermint water, a figure of which will be given
in a future number. In the discussion that followed,
Mr. White ineffectually endeavoured to open up
the question of the profit arising from cinchona
cultivation, and Mr. Wootton as ineffectually
sought to interest the meeting in the subject of
the obstacles alleged to be presented by the
Japanese to the importation of chemicals from this
country. It was evidently felt that there were
two sides to this latter subject, and that it would be
wise to leave it to to be. dealt with by those who
were more specially interested. In reference to the
distillation ot cinnamon oil in Ceylon, it was sug¬
gested by Mr. Umney that taking as a precedent the
extraction of cocoa-nut oil, it would be desirable
that the Ceylon growers imported a distinguished
pharmacist to distil the cinnamon oil, or at any
rate someone who would understand how to do it.

Mr. Greenish, in a “Note on Indian Henbane,”
prefaced his remarks by stating how desirable it was
that the numerous vegetable products introduced
from tropical and other countries should be
thoroughly examined in order to ascertain whether
or not they contain any active principle. Having
regard to the growing scarcity of biennial henbane
leaves, he had undertaken the examination of a
sample of Indian henbane leaf, which had a very
intense persistent odour. Having only a very small
quantity, he had prepared a tincture, and was inclined
to think that India would possibly supply this thera¬
peutic agent of more valuable character than that
of home growth. In commenting upon this paper,
Mr. Reynolds referred to the introduction of hyos-
cyamine by Merck, mentioning that it was usually
made from the leaves, and that what was made from
the root was often disappointing in its effects. Mr.
Umney expressed the opinion that this product was
really obtained from the leaves of the annual henbane
and that the direction of the Pharmacopoeia to use the
biennial varietv was “ mere moonshine.” Incident-

V

ally Dr. Symes remarked that he claimed the opinion
just expressed by Mr. Greenish as a support of the
suggestion he had already made that new drugs
deserved careful attention. Mr. Gerrard com¬
plained that the products obtained in this way were
too often only curiosities and not commercial articles.

Mr. A. H. Allen communicated some further
notes on petroleum spirit, describing some methods
which he considered calculated for distinguishing
between true petroleum spirit and the analogous
volatile liquid obtained from shale oil.

Mr. Greenish exhibited a sample of "cayenne
pepper, possessing all the external properties of true
cayenne as grown and ground in Natal, but having
an oily appearance that seemed artificial and com¬
municating to the paper in which it was folded a
greasy stain of a reddish-yellow colour. It was more¬
over quite destitute of pungency. In this respect it
seemed very much to resemble, as pointed out by
Mr. Brady, the mild capsicum commonly used in
Hungary as a spice under the name of “ paprika.”

Mr. Naylor then followed with some notes upon
the green extracts of the Pharmacopoeia, the details
of which were too copious to admit of special re¬
ference to them here, beyond stating that Mr.
Naylor is in favour of the production of these
extracts by evaporation in vacuo.

Mr. Fletcher then called attention to the
presence of arsenic in the tincture and solution of
perchloride of iron, and other articles in the prepara¬
tion ot which hydrochloric acid is used. He also
described an indirect method for the gravimetric
estimation of minute quantities of arsenicum, which
consisted in treating the substance to be examined in
such a way as to convert any arsenicum that it might
contain into arsenietted hydrogen, passing the gas
through solution of nitrate of silver and weighing

178

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 28, 1880

the reduced silver. Mr. Fletcher gave the prefe¬
rence to this method over those of Levol and
Herapath because the weight of the silver to be
weighed is about nine times as great as that of the
arsenic to be determined. Some doubt, however,
appears to exist as to whether the whole of the
arsenic in any substance to be examined would be
converted into arsenietted hydrogen by the action of
zinc and hydrochloric acid, although the figures
given by Mr. Fletcher as representing the results
obtained when operating on very small quantities
appeared to show that the process is trustworthy.

In Mr. Gerrard’s paper on emulsions he recom¬
mended the use of powdered gum acacia as the
emulsifying agent, and gave practical illustration of
his mode of operation as well as formula for the pre¬
paration of various emulsions.

A paper by Mr. Thresh, on the determination of
the strength of alcoholic solutions of chloroform was
then read, as well as a report on commercial speci¬
mens of sal volatile and chloric ether, in which the
results of the application of his method were de¬
tailed. After showing the wide differences between
the preparations supplied and used under the names
sal volatile and chloric ether, Mr. Thresh dwelt
upon the desirability of observing greater uniformity,
and in the discussion that followed, the need of
establishing some kind of authority that would be
recognized and that would be effectual in attaining
such a result was generally admitted.

Mr. Woodland’s report on the strength of com¬
mercial specimens of aqua lauro-cerasi was essentially
a reiteration of data published by Mr. Umney in
this Journal in the year 1869. They showed that
this preparation is uncertain in every way, and is so
thoroughly unsatisfactory that it is high time it
was expunged from the British Pharmacopoeia.

The concluding paper, also by Mr. Woodland,
was a report on the strength and purity of the
alkaline solutions of potash and ammonia met with
in pharmacy.

The next business was the discussion as to the
place of meeting in 1881, and as a matter of course
the choice fell upon York, from which city a formal
invitation had been sent by Mr. Ralph Dawson.
and was personally supported by Mr. Clark. The
new President proposed by the Executive Committee
was Mr. Richard Reynolds, of Leeds, and the new
Vice-Presidents were Professor Attfield, Messrs.
Davison, of Y ork, and Umney, of London ; as General
Secretary, Mr. Michael Carteighe, of London, and
as Local Secretary, Mr. Joseph Sowray were nomi¬
nated and all were elected by a unanimous vote.
Various votes of thanks were then passed. One of them,
on the motion of Mr. Brady, seconded by Mr. Savage,
expressing appreciation of the services so kindly
rendered by the Local Committee, and especially by
Messrs. Grose, Hughes, and Williams, in providing
for the reception and accommodation of the mem¬
bers. Another, proposed by Mr. Chipperfield and
seconded by Mr. Hughes, who was unable to resist
the temptation of addressing the meeting in the

Welsh language, recognized the ability and courtesy
with which Mr. William Southall had conducted
the business of the meeting.

The general business of the Conference having
been thus brought to a conclusion, shortly after five
o’clock Mr. Schacht, at the request of the Presi¬
dent, proceeded to the presentation of the testimonial
to Professor Attfield, the details of which will be
found on p. 171.

In the course of the evening, at the invitation of
the Local Committee, some of the members went for
a marine excursion round the Bay.

On Thursday morning those pharmacists who
bestirred themselves sufficiently early, and could,
unaided by the spectroscope, descry the sun through
the sulphurous mist that invariably overhangs Ban¬
dore, east of Swansea, w^ere unanimous in deciding
that although the Local Committee in its wisdom had
abandoned the idea of an excursion by water, still
there was every prospect that more or less of that
fluid might persist in accompanying them and their
friends. These forebodings, however, deterred but
few, and the members, accompanied by many of the
fairer sex, made a start at 11 from the Royal
Institution. Coaching westward through the town,
and passing the pretty villa residences that line the
road, they soon fancied themselves away from the
devastating effects of copper smoke. Within a
quarter of an hour a full view of the Mumbles was
obtained, passing through Sketty Village, where
abundance of honeysuckle skirted the road. A
view of the bay was followed in quick succession by
the pretty valley in which is the railway station of
Killay. No sooner, however, was an attempt
made to cross Fairwood Moor than the rain
descended in such quantity as to obscure the
clear-sighted vision of the guide, Mr. Grose,
and to effectually prevent him from pointing out
the grouse in the surrounding heather. Nothing
daunted, the journey was continued ; the old
castles of Kilvrough and Pennard were passed, and
upon reaching Penmaen the sun once more shone,
and the rain disappeared for the day. From the
coach road a fine view was obtained of Three Cliff
Bay, Cefyn Bryn and Oxwich Burrows. Penrice
Castle, the seat of Mr. Talbot, M.P. , was reached
about two, and the excellent enrichments of the mosaic
mantelpieces and the pictures were much admired.
Here the botanists enjoyed their favourite pursuit,
and found during their ramble through the park to
Oxwich beach Origanum vulgare , Lappa minor,
Centranthus ruber, Mentha rotundifolia, Campanula
Trachelium, CEnantha crocata, Cichoriumlntybus , Epi-
lobium hirsutum, Menyantkes trifoliata, etc.

Through the kindness of the Rev. Mr. Jenkins, Vicar
of St. John’s, luncheon was served on his lawn, and
his church on the edge of the beach was visited by
many. The parties here divided, the ladies coach¬
ing, others walking for a mile or two along the
beautiful sandy beach, while the more robust
wended their way through the wood. All, how¬
ever, arrived at the Gower Union House, which had
been kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee by
the guardians and here the whole party appreciated a
very excellent “ high tea ” and indulged in humour¬
ous speeches, some in Welsh, complimentary of
Mesrrs. Hughes and Grose, and other local friends.
At dusk, the excursionists retraced their way, and
arrived safely at Swansea soon after ten o’clock,
much pleased with their trip.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

179

August 2S, 1880.]

Dijarmatcutkal Stotittg of Jrelimfc.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, August 4, 1880.

Present— Professor Tichborne, President ; Dr. Aquilla
Smith, Vice-President ; Sir George Owens, M.D., Dr.
Collins; Messrs. Bennett (Kingstown), Brunker, Good¬
win, Harrington (Cork), Hayes, Hodgson, Holmes
and Simpson.

The minutes of the meeting held on July l were read

and signed. • . _ ....

Read letters from Messrs. Ennis and Son, solicitors,
giving report of result of legal proceedings in the four
cases in which prosecutions were instituted by this
Society, in all of which the Society was successful.

• Read a letter from Professor Attfield, asking the
names of the delegates from this Society to the Pharma¬
ceutical Conference, to be held at Swansea, on Tuesday,
August 24, 1880.

Professor Tichborne, President, and Messrs. Bennett
and Brunker were appointed delegates.

Read a letter from Professor Attfield presenting, on
the part of the Executive Committee of the British
Pharmaceutical Conference, a set of the ‘ Year-Books of
Pharmacy,’ ten volumes, to this Society.

Proposed by Mr. Holmes, seconded by Mr. Bennett,

and resolved : —

“ That a vote of thanks is hereby passed to the Execu¬
tive Committee of the British Pharmaceutical Con¬
ference for the ten volumes of the ‘ Year-Book of
Pharmacy,’ presented through Professor Attfield to
the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.”

Read a letter from Mr. Thomas C. Devlin, of Belfast,
asking, on the part of his brother, Mr. Frederick W.
Devlin (now in South Africa) for a duplicate certificate
as pharmaceutical chemist, the original having been
destroyed by fire at their premises in Belfast.

Mr. Devlin to be informed that an attested copy of
the entry of his brother’s name in the Register will be
sent to him at a cost of five shillings, should he so

desire it. . _

Read a letter from Mr. Michael J. O Bnen, of Ros¬
common, requesting that the Preliminary examination
passed by him at the Apothecaries’ Hall, Dublin, be
recognized, in accordance with resolution on page 73 of

the Calendar. .

Registrar ta inform him that the reply from the Privy
Council is daily expected by this Council, and that on its
receipt he shall be communicated with.

The Inspection Committee reported that they had
visited the laboratory of the Peter Street School of Medi¬
cine, and that it is sufficiently provided with appliances
for instruction in practical chemistry.

Proposed by Sir George Owens, seconded by Mr. Hodg¬
son, and resolved : —

“That the name of the Ledwich School be forwarded
by the Registrar to the Privy Council to be added to
the list of schools recognized by this Council.” ,

The report of the examinations for the licence to act as
pharmaceutical chemists, held on July /, was laid on the
table.

The following eight candidates had presented them¬
selves, and all had passed the examination :

John Abernethy, High Street, Lurgan.

Patrick James Bacon, John Street, Kilkenny.

Peter F. Baikie, 68, Grafton Street, Dublin.

Joseph Bolton, 107, Grafton Street, Dublin.

Joseph Eldon, 19, High Street, Portadown.

Michael Joseph Fottrell,70, Kenilworth Sq., Rathgar.
George Moore, Killylea, Co. Armagh.

Patrick Nangle White, 19, Castle Street, Sligo.

romirmcts erf Soenfifit Satieties.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

The Seventeenth Annual Meeting of this body com¬
menced its sittings on Tuesday, August 24, at the Royal
Institution, Swansea, Mr. W. Southall, F.L.S., in the
chair.

At the commencement of the proceedings, Mr. N M.
Grose, the Local Vice-President, in the name of the
chemists and druggists of Swansea and South Wales,
welcomed the members of the Conference to Swansea.
He said he hoped the meeting would prove both pleasant
and profitable. He had much pleasure in announcing
that, in addition to the local arrangements stated on the
programme, the members of the Conference would be
able to obtain tickets for any of the local museums, and
if anv who were able to remain until Friday would like
to visit a coal mine, there would be an opportunity pro¬
vided for their doing so.

Reception of Delegates.

Professor Attfield, Ph.D., F.R.S. (Gen. Sec.), then read
the following list of delegates : —

From the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. —
The President (Mr. Greenish), Vice-President (Mr.
Schacht), and Messrs. Andrews, Symes and Savage.

From the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. — The
President (C. R. C. Tichborne, Ph.D., LL.D.), and
Messrs. H. Bennett and J. E. Brunker, M.A.

From the Brighton Association of Pharmacy. — Messrs.
W. D. Savage, T. Billing and Marshall Leigh.

From the Bristol Pharmaceutical Association. — Mr.
Schacht.

From the Exeter Pharmaceutical Society. — Mr. G.
Pasmore.

From the Glasgow Chemists and Druggists’ Association. —
Messrs. T. Davison and Rait.

From the Leeds Chemists' Association. — Mr. Reynolds.

From the Leicester Chemists' Assistants and Apprentices'
Association. — Mr. T. W. Clark.

From the Liverpool Chemists' Association. — Dr. Symes
and Messrs. A. H. Mason and R. Sumner.

From the Manchester Chemists and Druggists' ^ Asso¬
ciation. — Messrs. F. B. Benger, F.C.S., and L. Siebold,
F.I.C., F.C.S.

From the Sheffield Association. — Messrs. Ward, Ellinor
and Maleham.

From the York Chemists' Association. — Mr. Clark.

The President said that, in addition to the above list,
the Conference was also favoured with the presence of a
distinguished visitor from the other side of the Atlantic,
Professor Maisch, of Philadelphia, whose name was well
known to all present, not only as an independent investi¬
gator, but also as author, in conjunction with Mr. Stille,
of a book which had attained a very high reputation.

Professor Maisch said he was very pleased to be able
to meet the Conference, and only regretted that having
already made arrangements to leave England immediately
he should not be able to remain throughout the meeting.

The Assistant-Secretary read the following report of
the Committee : —

Report of the Executive Committee.

Your Committee have met on several occasions since
the last general meeting of the Conference, and amongst
other matters of importance have carefully considered and
discussed the advantages and disadvantages of continuing
to hold the annual meetings in the same town and practi¬
cally at the same time as the meetings of the British
Association. The following is a summary of the opinions
expressed on both sides.

It was pointed out that considerable difficulty is often
experienced by local officers who are on the organizing
committees of both bodies ; that much inconvenience is

180

THE PHAEMACEUTICAL JOUENaL AND TE AN S ACTION S.

[August 28, 1880.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT, 1879-80.

THE GENERAL FUND.

The Senior Hon. Secretary in Account with the British Pharmaceutical Conference.

Dr.

To Sale of Year-Books by Secretary
„ „ „ Publishers

Advertisements in 1877 vol. .

1878 vol. .

1879 vol. .

„ Subscriptions from Members

£ s. d.
7 17 6
29 0 0
2 14 6
12 0 6
103 12 0
799 11 6

Or.

By Expenses connected with Year-Book : —
Butler and Tanner for
printing, binding, and
banding .... £408 7 5

Editor’s Salary . . . 150 0 0

Messrs. Churchill: —

Commission on Advertise¬
ments . . . ' 29 11 9

Advertising Year-Book . 2 18 0

Delivery to Members . 67 17 1

Foreign Journals (Nutt) 3 7 9

£ s. d.

662 2 O

„ General Printing : —

McCorquodale and Co. .
Stevens and Eichardson .
Parkins and Gotto .

„ Directing Circulars and En¬
velopes

„ Assistant-Secretary’s Salary
„ Postage (about 11,500
letters)

„ Sundries ....

„ Expenses of Meeting at
Sheffield

„ Balance to Treasurer

3 10
15 12
2 3

0

6

1

21

5

5

7

7

3

. 40

0

0

. 47

16

0

. 11

17

11

. 15

11

3

. 150

16

0

<£954 16 0

The Hon. Treasurer in Account with the British Pharmaceutical Conference.

Dr. £ s. d. 1880. Cr.

1879. _ Dr.

To Balance in hand on July 1
July. To Dividend on £250 Consols

1880.

Jan. To „ „

June 30. To Cash from Hon. Sec.

Assets July 1, 1879

£ s. d.
.112 4 5
. 3 13 6

. 3 13 6

. 150 16 0

£270 7 5

Cash in hand
Consols (stock)

1880.

June 30. By Balance

£ s. d.

.270 7 5

£270 7 5

£ s. d.
270 7 5
250 0 0

THE BELL AND HILLS LIBRARY FUND.

The Hon. Treasurer in Account with the British Pharmaceutical Conference

for Year ending June 30, 1880.

1880. Cr.

By Balance ......

1879. Dr.

To Balance in hand on July 1
July. To Dividend on £350 Consols

1880.

Jan. To

£ s. d.

4 19 7

5 2 9

5 2 9
£15 5 1

£ s. d.

15 5 1

£15 5 1

( Cash in hand
\ Consols (stock)

Assets July 1, 1880

Examined and found correct,

£

15

350

G. ELLINOE, Sheffield.
J. LLOYD, Swansea.

s. d.

5 1

0 0

Auditors.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

181

often felt by members of tbe two bodies on the Conference
excursion day; and that it is frequently impossible to
obtain adequate hotel accommodation, . especially by mem¬
bers of the Conference who do not wish to remain in a
town for the Association Meetings after the Conference
Meetings are over. On the other hand it was thought that
the time and town of meeting of the British Association
had come to be so generally understood as the town and
time of meeting of the Conference that the whole organi¬
zation of the latter would be much upset by a change.
The simultaneous character of the gatherings was one of
great convenience to many men, though it might be the
opposite to others. It was not perhaps always easy to
work up local pharmaceutical enthusiasm, but that was
less difficult of accomplishment when a whole town had
been fired with the idea of entertaining a large body like
the British Association, than in the absence of such an
impetus. Inquiries had been made on the subject, and
correspondence had been carried on with former local
secretaries and others, with a view to obtaining a general
opinion on the point ; many influential members preferred
the existing practice with all its disadvantages ; the meet¬
ings would° probably suffer in point of number of members
attending— both as regards local and visiting members—
if the meetings were held at times other than those just
preceding and overlapping the times fixed for the meet¬
ings of the British Association, as many members would
not care to go to a town twice within a month or so.
Local members, too, preferred to have the Conference at
the least busy times of the year, which were just the times
selected for the visit of the British Association. The
Conference meetings might be held at the same time in
some more or less distant town, but members wishing to
■economize time would object to such an arrangement.
The teaching class contributed many men and papers to
the Conference, and these would probably only attend
during August or September. At whatever time during
either of those months the meetings were held it would
fit in with the holiday arrangements of some men and
dash with those of others.

The following resolution was finally carried: — “The
Committee having again had under consideration the de¬
sirability of holding the annual meetings of the Confe¬
rence at times other than those just preceding and over¬
lapping the times of the meetings of the British Associa¬
tion, or of holding them in towns other than those visited
by the British Association, and having received opinions
on the subject from local secretaries and other members
of the Conference, conclude that any immediate alteration
of the existing practice as regards times and places of
meeting is undesirable.”

Your Committee have had under consideration the
advisability of publishing a general index of the ten
* Year-Books’ issued since 1870, and six numbers of
Proceedings’ issued before 1870, and they have in¬
structed the ‘Year-Book ’ Committee to superintend the
production and gratuitous distribution of such an index
to members.

Since the last annual meeting eighty-six candidates
have been elected to membership of the Conference.

Your Committee regret to have to report that only .a
single application has been made for a money grant in
aid of research. It may not be amiss to remind members,
■especially those who have received some scientific train¬
ing, that the Conference has funds at its disposal, and
that there is no way in which they can be applied in
more complete accordance with its avowed object than
in the assistance of those who are able to undertake
investigations in connection with the history of medicina
substances. The field is a wide one, as may be gatherec.
from the list of subjects annually circulated by the
Executive Committee, and it is earnestly hoped that our
younger members may be induced to adopt origina
research as part of their duty to the profession to which
they have devoted themselves.

It is the painful duty of your Committee to report,

officially, the death of Mr. William Walter Stoddart.
The constant devotion of Mr. Stoddart’s life to the cause
of science generally, and his great help to the highest
interests of this Conference, not only during the year in
which he occupied the post of its Presidency, but in the
numerous papers he communicated to its ‘Proceedings’

: :rom its first meeting in Bath to the last he was able to
attend in Sheffield, render this special allusion to his loss
by your Committee a simple though a sad duty.

They have also, with great regret, to announce that
;he Conference is about to lose the important services of
Professor Attfield, as Senior General Secretary.

The distinguished position which the British Pharma¬
ceutical Conference has achieved and has now for some
time enjoyed as an organization for the development of
scientific pharmacy has been so largely due to the ability
and energy of Professor Attfield, that his retirement
from the sphere of work in which he has so usefully
laboured creates a void which your Committee feel it
must be difficult to supply. They earnestly invite the
co-operation of the members generally in the efforts they
will be compelled to make to render this loss as little
disastrous as possible.

Professor Attfield read the financial statement, which
is printed on page 180.

Mr. Schacht explained that the financial statement
would have been presented by the Treasurer, Mr. Ekin,
but that gentleman was unable to be present, and had
written desiring him to apologize to the Conference for
his unavoidable absence.

The President then moved the adoption of the report
and financial statement.

Mr. Savage (Brighton) seconded the motion, and it was
at once carried unanimously.

The late Mr. Stoddart.

Mr. Reynolds (Leeds) said there was one paragraph in
the report which must have awakened deep feelings in
the minds of all present, the one which referred to the
great loss the Conference had sustained. Those who
were not aware of Mr. Stoddart’s illness must have felt
a great shock, as he did, when they heard the news. He
had ventured to put into the form of a resolution what
he believed would represent the feelings of the members
of the Conference on the subject, and would move —

“That the Conference records its deep regret at the
removal by death of Mr. W. W. Stoddart of Bristol, who
was one of its earliest supporters. Mr. Stoddart’s sound
and extensive knowledge of pharmacy, and his devotion
to pharmaceutical research had long been highly
valued by his professional brethren, and were formally
recognized by his election to the post of President
of the Conference during the years 1870 and 1871.
Mr. Stoddart performed the duties of the office with
great ability, and his genial and kindly disposition and
readiness to give countenance and advice to younger
inquirers secured for him the warm personal esteem of
his fellow members.”

He would also move —

“That the foregoing resolution be entered upon the
minutes, and that a copy be forwarded to Mrs. Stoddart,
with the assurance of the deep sympathy of the meeting
with herself and family under their great bereavement.”

Mr. Brady seconded the motion.

The President said all present would feel the propriety
of the resolution, and he would simply put it without
attempting to echo what had been so well said.

The motion was carried unanimously.

The President then delivered his opening address as
follows : —

The President’s Address.

When asked to accept the office of President of the
Conference for the present year, I naturally hesitated,
remembering the distinguished names and services to
pharmacy of those who have hitherto occupied the chair.

182

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

August 28, 1880.}

I felt that it was a position that required qualifications I
could hardly aspire to. I decided, however, that I ought
not to refuse such an honourable office, and therefore
appear before you this day to deliver the customary
address.

In speaking of my predecessors, my first thought is of
the loss the Conference has met with since our last
meeting in the removal by death of our excellent friend,
Mr. Stoddart, who filled the chair in the years 1870 and
1871. We shall sadly miss the genial presence and bright
intellectual powers of one who for so many years took an
active part in our deliberations and to whom no small
portion of the success of our meetings is due.

My next thought has reference to the place of our
meeting, and I have the pleasure for the first time of
giving the right hand of fellowship to our brethren of the
Principality on their own soil. There is no political
boundary between England and Wales, simply one of
race, therefore any emulation between us can only be the
highly honourable one of progress, and that the Cymry
are well represented in the practice of pharmacy, both in
their own land and in English pharmacies, is an indis¬
putable fact.

In making the very difficult choice of a subject upon
which to address you, I had to choose between the
abundant past and the limitless present, between the
technical portion of our profession and the results of
science which bear upon or are connected with it. The
subjective view of pharmacy has recently been most ably
laid before us. Pharmaceutical education is very much
to the front just now, but I leave its elucidation in the
very competent hands that are identified with it. Prac¬
tical pharmacy and the materia medica of the present
are dealt with in the ‘ Year-Book.’ I therefore came to
the conclusion that the past of pharmacy would still
afford abundant material to work upon, and that I might
present to you a few phases of its history that would
still possess something of novelty and interest.

The first phase in the history of pharmacy that I wish
to bring before you is that which existed in Italy about
the time of the Christian era, and a description of it is to
be found in the works of Roman authors.

This was a period of high intellectual cultivation, and
amongst the literature of the Augustan age that has
descended to us are the works, not only of poets, orators
and historians, but also of physicians and naturalists.

Anterior to this time Greece had led the van in medi¬
cine as in science and philosophy, and the names amongst
physicians of the somewhat mythical HCsculapius and his
descendants the Asclepiads, amongst whom was Hippo¬
crates of Cos, will occur to us as having with others laid
the foundations of medical science. Medicine then formed
a part of philosophy. Pythagoras, for example, wrote
upon it, and to attempt a history of its rise and progress
would of course be out of place here. Anatomy and
physiology had made considerable progress. Aristotle
had written his History of Animals, materials for which
were provided at an enormous cost by the orders of
Alexander the Great, and the great School of Alexandria
was founded, where anatomy was studied, illustrated by
dissection of the human body. At Alexandria laboured
Theophrastus, pupil of Aristotle, who founded the science
of botany and also wrote on materia medica. Aristotle
himself also wrote on plants and on pharmacy. "With
the decay of the School of Alexandria learning began to
shift westward. Asclepiades of Bithynia, a noted phy¬
sician, whose worts have perished, appears to have
migrated to Rome about 90 B.c. About one hundred
years after him flourished three men who have left their
mark upon medical science : Celsus, a physician of Rome y
Pliny, whose great work on Natural History was a col¬
lection of things credible and incredible, but was stored
with information respecting materia medica and on me¬
dical subjects in general ; and Dioscorides, whose renowned
work on Materia Medica and Botany held its position in
the first rank of authority for sixteen hundred years.

Dioscorides is said to have been physician to Antony
and Cleopatra, but it does not appear to be quite certain
when he lived. Pliny quoted from him largely, but he
does not give his name, as he does those of a multitude of
authors whose works he quotes. Galen, whose name will
be afterwards referred to, and who was a brilliant Greek !
physician, died some two hundred years later.

The name of Celsus is one we all know by sight very
well, but it is specially familiar to the medical profession.
Speaking as a pharmacist, pharmacists in general are*

I believe, not much acquainted with his writings. Celsus
wrote “Eight Books on Medicine,” and his works are
translated into English, and there are at least two transla¬
tions of the first four books, one of them by Dr. Steggall,
a name familiar to the earlier students at Bloomsbury
Square. From this I judge that our medical friends
devote their energies mainly to these four books, possibly
to the neglect of the others, and as the book relating to
pharmacy is the fifth I feel less compunction in taking it
as the text of the first part of my observations.

In the time of Celsus, who was a friend of Horace and
of Ovid and who is alluded to by both writers, luxury
prevailed at Rome to a great extent. Horace makes
some one say : —

“ By Jove, I wonder not that folks should eat
At one delicious meal a whole estate.”*

Civilization or what not produced luxury, luxury disease,
disease required physicians, and physicians needed drugs.
Some of the moralists of the present day tell us that our
civilization approaches very near to the gilded heathenism
of the Romans, by which a progression backwards is
evidently indicated ; but however this may be it is quite
certain that many things were done at Rome that have
also become the custom of these highly civilized and
modern times. For instance : —

“ By my physician’s learned advice I fly
From Baise’s waters.”*

But where ?

Sometimes the physician sent his patients to undergo
hydropathic and bracing treatment: —

“ While the sick folk in Clusium’s fountain dare
Plunge the cold head or seek a colder air.”*

But at others it was a sheltered nook they must have
needed, for although the climate of Italy — the land of the
olive and myrtle — is deemed to be the abode of zephyrs,
the reverse is often found out to be the case, and Celsus
himself gives a thoroughly British description of the
North East Wind : — Aquilo tussim movet , fauces exasperat,
ventrem adstringit, urinam supprimit, korrores excitat>
item dolorcs lateris et pectoris. If Celsus sent his patients
to the sea side it seems that sometimes they required
a compensation which is not unknown at the present
day:—

“ At the sea coast I shall expect to find
My wines of genuine and of smoother kind.”

There is nothing new under the sun. Luxurious ex¬
travagance and want usually run side by side. We
know the Roman rulers had to provide bread for the
poor — panem et circenses — but the latter our poor laws
do not supply. Luxury and penury alike lead to disease ;
the happy medium between the two to health; and I
am rather under the impression that through the influence
of hard times the pharmacist of the present day is suffer¬
ing from a turn in the tide tending towards moderation.

The first book of Celsus treats of general regimen for
healthy people, with special instructions for the treatment
of small ailments. Some of these directions were rendered
necessary by the luxury just spoken of ; for instance, the
custom of vomiting after meals. Celsus tells us that the
Greeks divided medicine into three branches : the first,
dietetic ; the second, pharmaceutical ; the third, chirur-
gical. The next book treats of the prognostics of disease
and its treatment by the dietetic method, with copious

* Francis’s Horace.

August 2S, 1SS0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

183

information respecting the various foods and their proper
use. Celsus also makes a variety of observations respect¬
ing seasons, winds, age, temperament and other conditions
of health. One passage struck me as of interest to middle-

I&ged philosophers like ourselves, At ostas media tutissima
est, quce neque juventce calore, neque senectutis frigore in-
festatur. There is much discretion and sound sense in
the description of the various foods, both animal and
vegetable. Generally speaking, foods may be said to
have not more than a personal interest for pharmacists ;
but special aids for the digestion are attracting present
notice, and with respect to farinaceous foods it is pro¬
bable that more may yet be discovered as to suitable
dietetic mixtures of these aliments. The Romans used a
variety of cereals, as foreign wheat, winter wheat, siligo,
a second kind of wheat, rye, barley, oats, rice, panicle and
millet ; and of legumes beans, peas, lentils and lupins.
Some of these were of good juice ( boni sued), some of
evil. Of flours, may be mentioned siligo and pollen,
varieties of fine flour, amylum, whole meal, bran and
fur, which was perhaps a kind of groats. Alica, a pre¬
paration of much repute, was made of rounded grains
deprived of husk and whitened with chalk for use, some¬
times ordered washed. It was said by Pliny to be obtained
from a plant called zea, and is translated maize ; but this
cannot be correct, as maize is a native of South America.
I would refer those who desire more information to the
book itself, but they must remember that lentils and
whole meal have been appropriated, the former at least
to somebody’s advantage. Sorbitio, slops or gruel, and
ptisan (barley water, etc.), were favourite remedies.
The latter name has been preserved by the French in
their tisanes, but has been abandoned on this side of the
channel. In dealing with farinacea we arrive at the
directions for the cataplasm or poultice, of which there
is more variety than now employed. Cataplasmata are
directed to be made with flour, fine or coarse ; and with
barley, vetch, darnel, millet, panick, lentil, bean, lupin,
linseed or fenugreek meal, boiled and applied hot ;
besides which a variety of drugs are employed to render
them emollient, rubefacient, or stimulant. Gestation,
that is exercise of divers kinds, friction, fomentation,
baths, etc., are hardly pharmaceutical remedies, but
clysters were administered, some of which were the same
as are now used.

The fourth book is more purely medical, and treats of
diseases of certain parts of the body ; and catarrh, being
: considered a local disease, we light upon the word destillatio,
which suggests an interesting comparison between the use
of words adopted in modern times from the Latin, and
the original meaning of the same words in the Augustan
age. I may remark that this work of Celsus was the
mine from which the medical writers, on the revival

iof learning, drew their medical Latin. In the word
destillatio the allusion is to the humour which distils
into the nostrils, distillation being synonymous with
catarrh. The word destillatio is several times used,
mutatis mutandis, with a like meaning, and in no. other
sense. Pulvis, as might be expected, is used with its
proper and present meaning, but tinctus (the word tinctura
does not occur) is used only in the sense of. dipped, as in
the case of water into which a smith’s hot iron has been
frequently dipped, which is said powerfully to affect the
spleen. Decoctum continues as of old, decocta being
numerous, but all extempore preparations. Infusum,
however, is only used with its original meaning of pouring
upon, as cold water poured upon the head. Neither
liquor nor solutio are used in our technical sense, or in any
way approaching to it ; the term liquid as distinguished
from solid is of course frequently to be met with. . Pro¬
bably at a much later period solution of any principle in
water was, as we shall presently see, but little understood.
In like manner essentia is something new altogether. The
word extractum occurs a few times, and in the preparation
of Artedace I thought I had met with its use in the
modem sense. Certain preparations are directed to be

boiled “ donee extracta inde gutta indurescat .” But I was
too hasty, it was not the pharmacist’s technical meaning.
Spiritus is used only in the sense of breath or breathing,
wind and air ; what may be termed the spirituous appli¬
cation of the word did not then exist ; it evidently grew
out of the sense of something purified, refined, or ethereal.

I may remark in this connection that the nam efermentum
was given to yeast. The word pilula is not to be met with,
though we may find pills under another name ; it is used
by Pliny and is the diminutive of pila, a ball ; singularly
enough pita is a mortar. The word linimentum did not
yet exist ; but there are liquids “ quce illinuntur ,” a
direction still given by physicians. These liquids, Celsus
tells us, were called enchrista by the Greeks, a word still
surviving in christen, which means to anoint rather
than to sprinkle. The word linamentum signified lint or
linen, linteum being a word also used. Gollyrium was
used in a somewhat more extended sense than that of
“ eye lotion,” as will be presently explained. Gargarisma
is not used, but the verb from which it was derived is to
be frequently met with.

Referring to the general subject of the book, we find
that for the diseases described special medicines and treat¬
ment are directed. Amongst the medicines occur the
standing formulae, and also a variety of extempore prepara¬
tions ; amongst these may be mentioned some to be taken
internally, as decoctions and the juice of fresh plants.
One preparation is still known and has not altogether lost
its popularity, that is acetum scillae ; this, however, was
no baby in the time of Celsus, as it was said to have been
used by Pythagoras five hundred years before.

We now arrive at the fifth book where, having left the
region of dietetic treatment, which, however, includes, as
we have seen, the use of a number of medicines, Celsus
enters upon the consideration of diseases more usually
combated with the aid of drugs. Erasistratus, he says,
and others who styled themselves empirics, put great con¬
fidence in medicines, but Asclepiades, for whose opinions
Celsus seems to have had the greatest respect, pretty
much laid aside the use of them — “ with some reason, as
most medicines offend the stomach, affording bad juices,”
— and turned his attention to the food ( victus ). Celsus,
however, judiciously advises either class to look to both
means of cure, and as medicines have peculiar powers he
commences by reciting their names and virtues. This
sketch being specially intended to bear upon the history
of pharmacy, and not upon that of materia medica — a
wider and most interesting subject — I will merely allude
in general terms to the substances mentioned in the text.

In the first place drugs are classed under their respective
properties and uses, and it is rather a surprise to find that
these generally have reference to their external action
upon the body, but we may remember that the very
earliest allusions we have respecting pharmacy are to oint¬
ments. For instance, in Exodus xxx. myrrh, cinnamon,
calamus and cassia with olive oil are to be obtained, “and
thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment
compound after the art of the apothecary.” That enter¬
prising lady, Medea, also compounded an ointment to
render Jason invulnerable. Other instances might be
given. So Celsus introduces styptics, vulneraries, diges¬
tives, cleansers, rodents, caustics, resolvents, and so forth.

Aperientia open mouths in bodies, which the Greeks
call stomata. Purgantia purge wounds and not bowels. Let
me give one short section by way of example of the drugs
used, that of evacuants and drawing remedies, viz., lada-
num ( Cistus creticus), round alum, omphacium (verjuice),
gall, chalcitis (copperas), bdellium, turpentine, and pine
resin, propolis (bee glue), dry figs boiled, dove’s dung,
pumice, meal of darnel, green figs boiled in water, elate -
rium, bay berries, nitre (soda ? ) and salt. Although in
this synopsis of the materia medica allusion is made almost
exclusively to the external application of diugs, it must
not be supposed that such is their only use; for instance
in the previous book a long list is given of dr reties to be
taken internally, and we shall find similar examples in the

184

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 28, issa

1 list of preparations. Celsus mentions from first to last per¬
haps four hundred drugs. Many of these have continued
in use to the present day and the list contains some of
our most valuable drugs, as scammony, aloes, opium,
hyoscyamus, cantharides, ammoniacum, etc. It will be
remembered that the Mediterranean coasts produced many
■ species of drugs, and that the east, with its aromatics, its
gums and balsams was open to the trade of Europe through
Antioch and Alexandria. Amongst the minerals men¬
tioned are metallic earths and oxides, mostly native, but
some produced, and which include in some shape or other
arsenic, copper, lead, iron, zinc and antimony. Silver and
gold were not officinal, but the latter was used for fasten¬
ing loose teeth. Soda, potash, and lime were the alkalies,
acetic the only acid. Wine is freely used both on its own
account and as a vehicle. Passum (a kind of raisin wine)
and mulsum (hydromel) were also freely used. Most of the
articles are well known and identified, others doubtful,
whilst of others, as Targa, one of the editors of Celsus said :
“ Quimonstrabit quid sit erit mihi magnus Apollo ponder¬
ing on which passage led me to think of the honours be¬
stowed on pharmacists — one may by chance get a degree
honoris causa, or a phenomenal F.R.S. Something between
a profession and a trade, there is not even a doctorate of
pharmacy.

Pharmaceutical preparations are naturally introduced
by a summary of the weights and measures used in com¬
pounding them. The ounce is divided into seven denarii
of about 62 grains each, and the denarius into six sextan tes,
a sextans being equivalent to the Greek obolus, or a little
more than J a scruple.

Simplicia, simples, is the name given by Celsus to un¬
compounded drugs, a designation that lasted longer than
the day when Shakspere 'wrote of one “culling of
simples,” but now seems to have disappeared. Celsus
says, “scepe simplicia opitulentur, scepe mixta,” and in this
last word, compounding of simples, lies the chief of the
pharmaceutic art, the culling being left to others. Perhaps
it is vanity to magnify our office ; this designation of its
duties reads simply enough, the words run smoothly; but
he that has practised pharmacy alone knows its sinuosities
and responsibilities. I say sinuosities, which may seem
an odd word to use, but pharmacy, more than most pro¬
fessions, requires of its follower knowledge both in the
highways and byeways of learning, and he often has to
deplore, to himself at least, his ignorance, whilst he may
apply to his profession the well-worn quotation — for did
not Hippocrates the father of medicine originate it? — Vita
brevis, longa ars .”

To recur to the text. External applications, as may be
expected, are most prominent. Malagmata have the first
place. A malagma was a plastic application ; something
between a plaster and a poultice. There are thirty-six
formulae given, some of them being named according to
their properties, as malagma for pleurisy, for the gout,
the liver, the spleen, etc., whilst others bear the name of
their inventor, as Moschus, Chrjsippus, Ctesiphon. Next
come plasters, “ emplastra” twenty nine kinds. Some
of these have for their basis litharge ( spuma argenti) and
olive oil ; and it is directed that when these are ordered
they are to be boiled together, so that we follow in making
our plasters the method employed at Rome eighteen
hundred years ago. Special qualities are given by the
addition of verdigris, minium, galbanum, cerussa alba, etc.
Basilicon is older than the image of the Royal Stuart,
with which I had associated it ; its formula is panax —
perhaps opoponax — galbanum, pitch, resin, and oil. Then
come pastils ( pastilli ), which the Greeks called trochisJcous,
in which we follow the Greeks, cutting off the tail of the
word for the sake of euphony. Pastils or troches are
made of dry medicaments, mixed up with a liquid not
greasy, as wine or vinegar, and afterwards dried. When
used they are to be moistened with the same liquid.
There are seven kinds, six of which are to be applied
externally ; but the seventh is to undergo what we
consider to be the legitimate disposition of such named

remedies. This kind is for the stone, and as the formula
and directions for use are given after the manner of a’
modern prescription, I will quote in full the classic Latin
of Celsus : — “ Cassice, croci, myrrhce, costi, nardi, cinnamomiy
dulcis radicis, balsami, hy per ici, pares portiones conterentur;
deinde vinum lene instillatur, et pastilli fiunt, qui singuli
habeant P. X ={sextantem) hique singuli quotidie mane
jejuno dantur.”

Next come pessaries ( pessi ). These remedies have of
late had considerable popularity ; but the pessaries of
Celsus had soft wool as a foundation, which was saturated
with some oleaginous or other preparation, of which

|

there are nine kinds ; the last, if effective, though costly,
might be worth notice, “si non comprehendit, adeps leonina
ex rosa (61.) mollienda est.” These are followed by
compound powders, all for application, except a sternuta¬
tory, of which white hellebore is the basis. Gargles are
described, and the formulae of antidotes are given. Of
these the most celebrated is Mithridates, by taking which
daily the monarch of that name secured himself against
the danger of poisoning. This medicine survives to our
day ; but its glory has departed. Acopa are a species of
liniment. Catapotia are the predecessors of our modem
pills. No directions are given for dividing the mas3
when made, the only instructions being that the size of
a vetch seed, a pea, a bean, an Egyptian bean, or a
lupin, as the case may be, is to be gulped down
(devorasse). One formula is anodyne, in which papaveris
lacrimce is directed to be used, and in a second for a
cough — Athenionis — the same drug is directed to be
used, and two catapotia the size of our bean (fabce
nostrce) a#re to be taken morning and night. This
dose would be equivalent to 20 grains or 2^ grains of
opium, which indicates some discrepancy of weights.
The same discrepancy is shown in the dose of elaterium
as given by Dioscorides, viz., an obolus, which, if the
strength were the same as at present used, would pro¬
bably be an obolus for Charon. A few miscellaneous
preparations conclude the list of regulation formulae*
In the next book is a long list of collyria, of which many
are solids, to be dissolved or used as a penicillium , as
the case may be. I have now brought to an end my
brief sketch of the Pharmacopoeia of Celsus. If I
have made mistakes in rendering it, I trust I may
be forgiven. I have met with some myself. For instance
Celsus tells us that if a sanguisuga be swallowed salt and
vinegar should be given. One editor says, apropos of this,
that in every other place Celsus calls the leech hirudo.
I take another edition with a good index and find six
references to hirudines, but as they all prove to be
hirundines, much more agreeable animals, I am still in
doubt as to whether Celsus “ordered leeches.” I could
mention other discrepancies; but, as I say, I ask easy
measure for myself.

There is yet a practical phase that neither physician,
pharmacist nor the public would let pass in those days
any more than in these present, namely the pecuniary,
and we find it treated of in Horace : —

“ * Take the ptisan ! What will it cost ? * * ‘Nay, hold,

A very trifle.’ ‘ Sir, I will be told.’

‘ Threepence.’ ‘ Alas, what does it signify,

Whether by doctors or by thieves I die ? ”’ *

The ptisan of the text was rice water ; but advice might
have been included. It is the old story, he spends a
fortune over a dish, but grudges eight asses, say sixpence
for being cured of the effects of it.

Let us again take up the history of pharmacy. After
a lapse of one thousand six hundred years great and
mighty changes had come over the world. Pharmacy had
also experienced its vicissitudes. Many searching spirits
had arisen, and a new science was being unfolded to the
world by a name unknown to Celsus. Alchemy and
chemistry were born and grew together. With their
history are associated the names of Paul Valentine with
his “ currus triumph alls antimonii ” and his discovery of

Francis’s Horace.

August; 2S, 1380.]

THE

PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRAN S ACTIONS.

185

sulphuric acid, Raymond Lully, Roger Bacon, Albertus
Magnus, and that prominent and burly hgure Taia

cslsus — •

“ The wonderous Paracelsus, the dispensei

Of life ; the commissary of fate, the idol

Of princes, - ”

the destroyer of Galenism and a man of great genius, but
a most egregious quack; author of a new medicine and a
new theology ; commonly believed to possess the double
tincture, namely, the power of transmuting metals, and
of curing diseases. Not much of his own survives, but
appropriator.*. have made good use of his ideas. Hence¬
forward we have chemical as well as galenical remedies.
The times had been strange, wild and irregular. Magic,
superstition and astrology had ahold upon physic, as upon
most things spiritual and temporal. Things medical,, as
things in general, were, however, now gradually improving
in most countries of Europe, and in 1618 was issued the
London Pharmacopoeia, henceforth to be the law of the
pharmacist. In early times it had a hard struggle to
hold its own ; the old views of things survived, new
heresies arose; it followed but did not lead, but in
following began the ascent to the proud position the
British Pharmacopoeia now occupies. It is not, how¬
ever, to the Pharmacopoeia Londinensis, but to the phar¬
macy of the times, irregular perhaps, that I wish to call
your attention for a few minutes, and this is o e
found in the dispensatories.

A famous dispensatory of the seventeenth century was
that of Dr. William Salmon, Professor of Phy sick who
lived “at the Blew Ball by the ditch side nigh Holborn
Bridge,” which went through many editions.. It is
professedly a translation of. the Pharmacopoeia wit
explanations and commentaries, and a dictionary of the
materia medica. The doctor is not afraid to make
animadversions upon the work of the august fellows o
“the Colledge,” which it appears was . lately reformed.
For instance there follows the directions foi me i o
plaster:— “A learned but long discourse, the Colledge
here talks almost like an apothecary as the vulgar
phrase is; but not half so well.” An interesting phrase
this, and by the way, the apothecaries must have taken
the ability to talk with them when they went over in 1815.
Men were outspoken and hard hitters in those days, the
amenities of life were less understood than at present.
This may be termed the redundant age of pharmacy.
The revival of learning had brought forward all the old
knowledge stored up in the pages of Pliny, Galen and
Dioscorides, and other ancient writers. In England,
Gerard, Parkinson and the herbalists were opening these
stores to the public view ; as Salmon says, “ In the very
best authors extant a great part are collections, a fact
probably true of many authors of the present day.
Chemistry had begun to contribute its share. Super¬
stition had not died out, cures being still performed
“ astrologically, galenically and chymically. Not long
before this, Jerome Cardan, the first physician of his time
in Europe, professor of mathematics and a philosopher,
was accustomed to draw the horoscopes of his patients,
and himself believed in them. The conflict between . the
old and the new, between rationalism and dogmatism,
had commenced even in pharmacy, but as yet . that
science was blessed with a superabundance of material.

Salmon himself was a bit of a quack, even as the times
went. I will give a slight sketch of his book.. The first
book treats of simples — the vegetable materia medica ,
the second of animals, including man, birds, beasts,
serpents, insects and fishes. Many of the substances
mentioned are preparations, not simples.. Man s body,
living or dead, affords thirty-nine medicaments, so it
may readily be imagined that hardly a bone or tissue, a
secretion or excretion but plays its useful part. A list
merely would be amusing reading, but hardly fitted to
the proprieties of the present day. So through the whole
zoologia, the obscene preparations, of which we find a
few even in Celsus and many in Dioscorides, were in full

force ; and it is odd to figure to oneself the disgusting
compounds that may have been swallowed by the good
people whose lives we read the story of, as well as by the
wicked and the great unwashed. Tanpora mutuntuv tt
nos mutamur in illis ; the fastidious tastes of those days
were probably very different from the fastidious tastes of
the present day. Custom reconciles men to strange per¬
formances. Erancis Rabelais was a physician, and there
was a good deal of the grotesque spirit of pantagruelism
about middle age medicine.

Next follows the mineralogia, and then the preparations
of the Pharmacopoeia, translated and copied with consider¬
able comments and additions. These are divided into com¬
pounds internal and compounds external, and we now
meet with the names that are still in use in the present
day. A few have fallen out of use, as magisteries— pre¬
cipitates both mineral and vegetable — except that perhaps
now and then the magistery of bismuth is heard of.
Quiddonies, kinds of rob or syrup, apparently pleasant
preparations, have disappeared altogether, and lohochs
survive only in the lohoch sanum, a name which in my
district is curiously modified so as to have caused a
totally different preparation to be substituted. But I
would here remark that the fine old remedies and recipes
that people used formerly for their minor complaints
have very much succumbed before those all-promising
but mostly delusive shams called patent medicines. . ^

The next book treats of the ‘ Practice of Chymistry,
and has chapters on principles, instruments, dissolution,
sublimation, etc. ; that on fermentation is as. follows :—

“ Fermentation is a certain manifestation of life fitting it
for a resuscitation, and without which it would remain
captivated within the bonds or chains of death ; or, it. is
the breaking of the bond of corruption and putrefaction
by the power of life assisted by a homogene matter or
principle already freed.” Quincy, who wrote perhaps
fifty years afterwards by the light of his modern days
Quincy, whom in my junior days I always considered to
be the grandfather and general ancestor of pharmacology,
because his was the oldest book upon our shelves—
remarks, quoting the passage : “ And what confused stuff
is this from Salmon !” But is there so much, fault to be
found with it? The modern problems of biology were
very far beyond Quincy’s ken, who proves fermentation
to arise from unequal specific gravities— a sort of here
we go up, up, up— there we go down, down, down
process ; but Salmon seems to have had a glimpse, if but
a hazy one, of the truth, and if he wrote most delicious
nonsense upon many subjects it may at least be said for
him that on this he wrote what may well pass muster
with much that is termed speculative philosophy in the
present very modern times.

I shall not trace my way to the pharmacy of the
present day by the direct path, but will, just touch upon
a work or two that indicate the way in which the old
follow-my-leader style of writing gave place to that
which culminated in ‘ Pharmacographia. Remedies from
newly discovered lands must necessarily be treated cle
novo . As early as 1661, a beautiful little book was
tmblished at Venice, written by Gandentius Brunacius,
‘De Cina Cina seu Pulvere ad Febres.’ I. said newly
imported drugs required new treatment ; this is true to
a certain extent, but yet this author is i soaked through
and through with the old ideas. He tells how the bark
was introduced, and then he discusses its nature, and
through the book as far as I have read it dwells at
intervals upon this one theme, which evidently em¬
barrasses him, viz., its quality of heat and dryness.
Galen gives every plant its four degrees of heat or cold,
dryness^ or moisture, and almost every writer down to a
later period than this follows him. they^oui f

them out would take a magnus Apollo to tell. What is
cold and dryness ? Is it a positive quality, as Galen has
it says Brunacius, or is it, as Cardan, m his book De
Subtditate ’ (on final causes, etc.), says, a mere absence
of heat? Author after author amongst the ancients is

186

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 28, 1SS9.

quoted, and logical proofs are given, illustration after
illustration, but still he is not satisfied. How heat can
exist in wood is a problem in physics he cannot clearly
comprehend, though he calls to his aid the case of the
burning mirror, by which the vestal virgins rekindled the
sacred fire, the case of the Apulian rustics who produced
fire by the friction of dry sticks, and that of the hair-
cutters, who say their instruments draw sparks from
the heads of their clients. Then further how the heat or
the cold of the bark acts upon the heat or cold of the
fever, though puzzling, is a question that it becomes a
‘ Syntagma Physiologicum ’ to answer, and it is done
accordingly. After this, we have the pharmacy of the
drug, and the ninth chapter treats and proves very
satisfactorily to our author “ why cina cina should be
given infused in wine;” on the other hand the next
chapter answers the question whether cina cina should be
exhibited in water in the form of infusion or decoction,
and the answer given in the first line reminds me of
Punch's advice to people about to marry, Respondeo
neutro modo esse prcebendum, and the reason follows,
that decoction in water takes away the strength of
medicines so prepared. This book must be one of the
earliest extant specially treating upon cinchona, and it
fixes the date at which it was brought to Rome to
Cardinal Lugo by the Jesuits as the year of jubilee, 1650.

In 1681 was issued ‘A New Mystery in Physick dis¬
covered by Curing of Fevers and Agues by Quinquina or
Jesuites Powder.’ This is a little book translated from
the French of Dr. Belon, preceded by an introduction
by an English author which contains a great deal of
very curious chemistry. Although but a few years had
elapsed since the former work, either the time or the
place of writing has caused a wonderful difference in the
treatment of the subject. The ancients are altogether
left out of consideration, and a much more rational view
is taken. The pharmacy is extended, wine is still the
favourite vehicle, but there are also tincture, extract,
infusion, pills ; altogether the book reads much more
pleasantly than the stilted English works of the same
period. One step more and in 1769 we are landed in the
gentle and respectable sobriety that characterized the
pharmacy and materia medica of this present age until
brightened by the influence of Dr. Pereira, and this step
we take in the company of Dr. Canvane of Bath, whose
dissertation on the Oleum Palmse Christi reached a second
edition in 1769. There is a little bit of history in the
announcement that “ the oil since my first publication
of this pamphlet is now become officinal, it being sold at
the Apothecaries’ Hall and several other shops in London
and Bath,” but it may be added that this was rather a
late introduction as the seeds were used by Hippocrates
1200 B.C. Dr. Canvane deals most fully with the
therapeutical value of the oil, but he does not forget the
pharmaceutical, and he introduces us to “ the uncom¬
parable Dr. Huxham of Plymouth,” whose name is, I
fear, gradually being forgotten by pharmacists. Not so
that of Mr. Goulard, who flourished the triumphant
motto “ Redeunt Saturnia Regna ; ” the extract of Saturn
is forgotten, but as Mr. Goulard’s extract it survives,
and if his name is “written in water” it is also written in
lead. Mr. Goulard’s work is well known ; but the three
others I have alluded to, especially the first, are, I believe,
f considerable rarity.

I have now brought to a close my sketch of a few
aspects of the history of pharmacy. My original inten¬
tion was also to have said something of the pharmacy
of the present ; but I have already had to cut my story
short. Whether many pharmacists can find time to
trouble much about the pharmacy of the past when that
of the present gives them so much to think of is perhaps
rather doubtful, but there is at least considerable interest
of a quaint sort to be gathered from it, and I cannot but
think that if the history of pharmacy, which has not yet
been written, were well put together it would be worthy
of the doing.

If pharmacy advanced slowly, the same may be said
of medicine, which from the time of Galen to the sixteenth
century gathered little or nothing but the dust and
cobwebs of scholastic theories. Then the sap began to
flow in the barren stems of many sciences. Pharmacy
was benefited by the advance made in natural philosophy
and chemistry, and chemists of repute were found in the
ranks of its followers. It for long, however, occupied but
a second place as a subsidiary branch of medicine, and it
was only in the present century that it first stood alone.
Since then its growth has been rapid, a constant process,
of evolution and survival of the fittest. Its scientifie
history is written in the Year-Books of this Conference,
and in the J ournals of the Pharmaceutical Society, and
its commercial, for it is a commerce, in the painstaking
and moderately rewarded lives of its numerous followers.

Mr. Grose, Swansea, moved — ‘ That the best thanks of
the members of the Conference be given to the President
for his very valuable and instructive address.

Mr. Greenish, in seconding the motion, said he need
only refer to the passage in which allusion was made to
the late Mr. Stoddart ; those who had been in the habit
of attending these meetings, and were ab all acquainted
with Mr. Stoddart, must heartily sympathize with what
had been said.

Mr. Hughes, Llandilos, having supported the motion,

Mr. Brady, as Senior Vice President, put it to the
meeting, when it was carried unanimously.

(To be continued.)

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

The meeting of the above Association commenced on
Monday, August 23, at Swansea, under the Presidency
of. Andrew Crombie Ramsay, LL.D., F.R.S., V.P.G.S.,
Director General of the Geological Survey of the United
Kingdom, and of the Museum of Practical Geology, who
delivered the opening address : —

The President’s Address.

ON THE RECURRENCE OF CERTAIN PHENOMENA IN
GEOLOGICAL TIME.

In this address I propose to consider the recurrence of
the same kind of incidents throughout all geological time,
as exhibited in the various formations and groups of for¬
mations that now form the known parts of the external
crust of the earth. This kind of investigation has for
many years forced itself on my attention, and the method
I adopt has not heretofore been attempted in all its
branches. In older times, Hutton and Playfair, in a
broad and general manner, clearly pointed the way to the
doctrine of uniformity of action and results, throughout
all known geological epochs down to the present day ; but
after a time, like the prophets of old, they obtained but
slight attention, and were almost forgotten, and the wilder
cosmical theories of Werner more generally ruled the
opinions of the geologists of the time. Later still, Lyell
followed in the steps of Playfair, with all the advantages
that the discoveries of William Smith afforded, and aided
by the labours of that band of distinguished geologists,
Sedgwick, Buckland, Mantell, De la Beche, Murchison,
and others, all of whom some of us knew. Notwithstand¬
ing this new light, even now there still linger the relics
of the belief (which some of these geologists also main¬
tained), that the physical phenomena which produced the
older strata were not only different in kind, but also in
degree from those which now rule the external world.
Oceans, the waters of which attained a high temperature,
attended the formation of the primitive crystalline rocks.
Volcanic eruptions, with which those of modern times are
comparatively insignificant, the sudden upheaval of great
mountain chains, the far more rapid decomposition and
degradation of rocks, and, as a consequence, the more
rapid deposition of strata formed from their waste — all
these were assumed as certainties, and still linger in some

I August2S, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 187

parts of the world among living geologists of deservedly
high reputation. The chief object of this address is,
therefore, to attempt to show, that whatever may have
been the state of the world long before geological history
began, as now written in the rocks, all known formations
are comparatively so recent in geological time, that there
is no reason to believe that they were produced under
physical circumstances differing either in kind or degree
from those with which we are now more or less familiar.

It is unnecessary for my present purpose to enter into
details connected with the recurrence of marine forma¬
tions, since all geologists know that the greater part of
the stratified rocks were deposited in the sea, as proved
by the molluscs and other fossils which they contain, and
the order of their deposition and the occasional strati-
graphical breaks in succession are also familar subjects.
What I have partly to deal with now, are exceptions to
true marine stratified formations, and after some other
important questions have been considered, I shall proceed
to discuss the origin of various non-marine deposits from
nearly the earliest known time down to what by compa¬
rison may almost be termed the present day.

Metamorphism.

All, or nearly all, stratified formations have been in a
sense metamorphosed, since, excepting certain limestones,
the fact of loose incoherent sediments having been by
pressure and other agencies turned into solid rocks con¬
stitutes a kind of metamorphism. This, however, is only
a first step toward the kind of metamorphism the frequent
recurrence of which in geological time I have now to in¬
sist upon, and which implies that consolidated strata have
undergone subsequent changes of a kind much more re¬
markable.

Common stratified rocks chiefly consist of marls, shales,
•slates, sandstones, conglomerates, and limestones, gene¬
rally distinct and definite ; but not infrequently a stratum,
or strata, may partake of the characters in varied pro¬
portions of two or more of the above-named species. It
is from such strata that metamorphic rocks have been pro¬
duced, exclusive of the metamorphism of igneous rocks, on
which I will not enter. These may be looked for in every
manual of geology, and usually they may be found in them.

As a general rule, metamorphic rocks are apt to be
much contorted, not only on a large scale, but also that
the individual layers of mica quartz and felspar in gneiss
arejaent and folded in a great number of minute convo¬
lutions, so small that they may be counted by the hun¬
dred in a foot or two of rock. Such metamorphic rocks
are often associated with masses of granite both in bosses
and in inters fcratified beds or layers, and where the meta¬
morphism becomes extreme it is often impossible to draw
a boundary line between the gneiss and the granite;
while, on the other hand, it is often impossible to draw
any true boundary between gneiss (or other metamorphic
rocks) and the ordinary strata that have undergone meta¬
morphism. Under these circumstances, it is not sur¬
prising that when chemically analysed, there is often little
difference in the constituents of the unmetamorphosed
and the metamorphosed rock. This is a point of some
importance in relation to the origin and non-primitive
character of gneiss and other varieties of foliated strata,
and also of some quartzites and crystalline limestones.

I am aware that in North America formations con¬
sisting of metamorphic rocks have been stated to exist of
older date than the Laurentian gneiss, and under any
circumstances it is obvious that vast tracts of pre-
Laurentian land must have existed in all regions, by
the degradation of which, sediments were derived where¬
with to provide materials for the deposition of the
originally unaltered Laurentian strata. In England,
Wales and Scotland, attempts have also been made to
prove the presence of more ancient formations, but I do
not consider the data provided sufficient to warrant any
such conclusion. In the Highlands of Scotland, and in
some of the Western Isles, there are gneissic rocks of

pre- Cambrian age, which, since they were first described
by Sir Roderick Murchison in the north-west Highlands,
have been, I think justly, considered to belong to the
Laurentian series, unconform ably underlying Cambrian
and Lower Silurian rocks, and as yet there are no
sufficient grounds for dissenting from his conclusion that
they form the oldest known rocks in the British Islands.

It is unnecessary here to discuss the theory of the
causes that produced the metamorphism of stratified
rocks, and it may be sufficient to say, that under the
influence of deep underground heat, aided by moisture,
sandstones have been converted into quartzites, lime¬
stones have become crystalline, and in shaley, slaty, and
schistose rocks, under like circumstances, there is little
or no development of new material, but rather, in the
main, a rearrangement of constituents according to their
chemical affinities in rudely crystalline layers, which
have very often been more or less developed in pre¬
existing planes of bedding. The materials of the whole
are approximately the same as those of the unaltered
rock, but have been rearranged in layers, for example, of
quartz, felspar and mica, or of hornblende, etc., while
other minerals, such as schorl and garnets, are of not
infrequent occurrence.

It has for years been an established fact that nearly
the whole of the mountain masses of the Highlands of
Scotland (exclusive of the Laurentian, Cambrian and
Old Red Sandstone formations) mostly consist of gneissic
rocks of many varieties, and of quartzites and a few
bands of crystalline limestone, which, from the north
shore to the edge of the Old Red Sandstone, are repeated
again and again in stratigraphical convolutions, great
and small. Many large bosses, veins and dykes of
granite are associated with these rocks, and, as already
stated, it sometimes happens that it is hard to draw a
geological line between granite and gneiss and vice versa.
These rocks, once called Primary or Primitive, were first
proved by Sir Roderick Murchison to be of Lower
Silurian age, thus revolutionizing the geology of nearly
one-half of Scotland, To the same age belongs by far
the greater part of the broad hilly region of the south of
Scotland that lies between St. Abb’s Head on the east
and the coast of Ayrshire and Wigtonshire on the west.
In the south-west part of this district, several great
masses of granite rise amid the Lower Silurian rocks,
which in their neighbourhood pass into mica-schist and
even into fine-grained gneiss.

In Cornwall the occurrence of Silurian rocks is now
well known. They are of metamorphic character, and
partly associated with granite ; and at Start Point, in
South Devonshire, the Silurian strata have been meta¬
morphosed into quartzites.

In parts of the Cambrian areas, Silurian rocks in
contact with granite have been changed into crystalline
hornblendic gneiss, and in Anglesey there are large tracts
of presumed Cambrian strata, great part of which have
been metamorphosed into chlorite and mica-schist and
gneiss, and the same is partly the case with the Lower Si¬
lurian rocks of the centre of the island, where it is almost
impossible to disentangle them from the associated granite.

In Ireland similar metamorphic rocks are common,
and, on the authority of Professor Hull, who knows
them well, the following statements are founded: —
“Metamorphism in Ireland has been geographical and
not stratigraphical, and seems to have ceased before the
Upper Silurian period.

“ The epoch of greatest metamorphism appears to have
been that which intervened between the close of the
Lower Silurian period and the commencement of the
Upper Silurian, taking the formations in ascending order.

“ it is as yet undecided whether Laurentian rocks
occur in Ireland. There are rocks in north-west Mayo
very like those in Sutherlandshire, but if they are of
Laurentian age they come directly under the metamor¬
phosed Lower Silurian rocks, and it may be very difficult
to separate them.

188

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 28, 1880.

“Cambrian purple and green grits are not metamor¬
phosed in the counties of Wicklow and Dublin, but the
same beds at the southern extremity of County Wexford,
near Carnsore Point, have been metamorphosed into
mica schist and gneiss.

“ In the east of Ireland the Lower Silurian grits and
slates have not been metamorphosed, except where in
proximity to granite, into which they insensibly pass in
the counties of Wicklow, Dublin, Westmeath, Cavan,
Longford and Down ; but in the west and north-west
of Ireland they have been metamorphosed into several
varieties of schists, hornblende-rock, and gneiss , or
foliated granite."

It would be easy to multiply cases of the metamor¬
phism of Silurian rocks on the continent of Europe, as,
for example, in Scandinavia, and in the Ural Mountains,
where, according to Murchison, “ by following its masses
upon their strike, we are assured that the same zone
which in one tract has a mechanical aspect and is
fossiliferous, graduates in another parallel of latitude into
a metam orphic crystalline condition, whereby not only
the organic remains, but even the original impress of
sedimentary origin are to a great degree obliterated.”
The same kind of phenomena are common in Canada and
the United States ; and Medlicott and Blanford, in ‘ The
Geology of India,’ have described the thorough metamor¬
phism of Lower Silurian strata into gneiss and syenitic
and hornblende schists.

In Britain, none of the Upper Silurian rocks have
undergone any serious change beyond that of ordinary
consolidation, but in the Eastern Alps at Gratz, Sir
Roderick Murchison has described both Upper Silurian
and Devonian strata interstratified with separate courses
of metamorphic chloritic schist.

Enough has now been said to prove the frequent
occurrence of metamorphic action among Cambrian and
and Lower and Upper Silurian strata.

If we now turn to the Devonian and Old Red Sandstone
strata of England and Scotland, we find that metamorphic
action lias also been at work, but in a much smaller
degree. In Cornwall and Devon, five great bosses of
granite stand out amid the stratified Silurian, Devonian,
and Carboniferous formations. Adjoining or near these
bosses the late Sir Henry De la Beche remarks, that “ in
numerous localities we find the coarser slates converted
into rocks resembling mica-slate and gneiss, a fact
particularly well exhibited in the neighbourhood of
Meavy, on the south-east of Tavistock,” and “ near
Camelford we observed a fine arenaceous and micaceous
grauwacke turned into a rock resembling mica- slate
near the granite.” Other cases are given by the same
author, of slaty strata turned into mica-schist and gneiss
in rocks now generally considered to be of Devonian
age.

The Devonian rocks and Old Red Sandstone are of the
same geological age, though they were deposited under
different conditions, the first being of marine, and the
latter of fresh-water, origin. The Old Red Sandstone of
Wales, England, and Scotland, has not, as far as I know,
suffered any metamorphism, excepting in one case in the
north-east of Ayrshire, near the sources of the Avon
Water, where a large boss of granite rises through the
sandstone, which all round has been rendered crystalline
with well-developed crystals of felspar.

On the continent of Europe, a broad area of Devonian
strata lies on both banks of the Rhine and the Moselle.
Forty years ago, Sedgwick and Murchison described the
crystalline quartzites, chlorite, and micaceous slates of the
Hundsruck and the Taunus and, from personal observa¬
tion I know that the rocks in the country on either side
of the Moselle are, in places, of a foliated or semi-foliated
metamorphic character. In the Alps also, as already
noticed, metamorphic Devonian strata occur interstratifiec
with beds of metamorphic schists, and, Sir Roderick
adds, “ we have ample data to affirm, that large portions
of the Eastern Alps . . . are occupied by rocks of

true Palaeozoic age, which in many parts.have passed into $
a crystalline state.”

I know of no case in Britain where the Carboniferous
strata have been thoroughly metamorphosed, excepting
that in South Wales, beds of coal, in the west of Car¬
marthenshire and in South Pembrokeshire, gradually
pass from so-called bituminous coal into anthracite. The I
same is the case in the United States, in both instances
the Carboniferous strata being exceedingly disturbed and
contorted. In the Alps, however, Sir Roderick
Murchison seems to have believed that Carboniferous
rocks may have been metamorphosed: a circumstance
since undoubtedly proved by the occurrence of a coal-
measure calamite, well preserved, but otherwise partaking
of the thoroughly crystalline character of the gneiss in
which it is imbedded, and which was shown to me by the
late Professor Gastaldi, at Turin.

I am well acquainted with all the Permian strata of
the British Islands and of various parts of continental
Europe, and nowhere, that I have seen, have they
suffered from metamorphic action, and strata of this age
are, I believe, as yet unknown in the Alps. This closes
the list of metamorphism of palaeozoic strata.

I will not attempt (they are so numerous) to mention
all the regions of the world in which Mesozoic or
Secondary formations have undergone metamorphic
action. In Britain and the non-mountainous parts of
France, they are generally quite unaltered, but in the
Alps it is different. There as everyone knows who is
familiar with that region, the crystalline rocks in the
middle of the chain have the same general strike as the
various flanking stratified formations. As expressed by
Murchison, “as we follow the chain from N.E. to S.W.
we pass from the clearest types of sedimentary rocks,
and, at length, in the Savoy Alps, are immersed in the
highly altered mountains of Secondary limestone,” while,

“ the metamorphism of the rocks is greatest as we
approach the centre of the chain,” and indeed, anyone
familiar with the Alps of Switzerland and Savoy knows
that a process of metamorphism has been undergone by
all the Jurassic rocks (Lias and Oolites) of the great
mountain chain. Whether or not any strata of Neocomian
and Cretaceous age have been well metamorphosed in
this region I am unable to say ; but it seems to be certain ;
that the Eocene or Lower Tertiary Alpine formation, ;
known as the Flysch, contains beds of black schists which
pass into Lydian stone, and also that in the Grisons it has
been converted into gneiss and mica-schist, a fact
mentioned by Studer and Murchison. I also have
seen in the country north of the Oldenhorn, nummulitic
rocks so far foliated that they formed an imperfect gneiss.

In Tierra del Fuego, as described by Darwin, clay
slates of early Cretaceous date pass into gneiss and mica-
slate with garnets, and in Chonos Islands, and all along
the great Cordillera of the Andes of Chili, rocks of
Cretaceous or Cretaceo-oolitic age have been metamor¬
phosed into foliated mica-slate and gneiss, accompanied
by the presence of granite, syenite, and greenstone.

This ends my list, for I have never seen or heard of
metamorphic rocks of later date than those that belong to
the Eocene series. Enough, however, has been said to
prove, that from the Laurentian epoch onward, the
phenomenon of extreme metamorphism of strata has
been of frequent recurrence all through Palaeozoic and
Mesozoic times, and extends even to a part of the Eocene
series equivalent to the soft unaltered strata of the
formations of the London and Paris basins, which except¬
ing for their fossil contents, and sometimes highly in¬
clined positions, look as if they had only been recently
deposited.

[To be continued.)

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs, Brady, Boutell, Wilford, Miller, Clark, Matthias,
Alcock, Beaven, Battie, Hanbury, 374, H. O. I., T. C. A.,
S. H. £\, J. O., Sheffield, Civis, Anteros, Eblana, Saxon.

September 4, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

189

ASHY INGREDIENTS IN LIGHT COLOURED
COD LIVER OIL.

BY PROFESSOR E. A. VAN DER BURG.

In the first part of the ‘ Scheikunolige Onderzuc-
kingen,’ by G. J. Mulder, Dr. L. J. de Jongh says,
on page 479 of his ‘ Chemical Investigation of the
Composition of Cod Liver Oil’: — “No less differ
the series of inorganic ingredients which we have
discovered in cod liver oil from those men¬
tioned by others.” Further on, on page 480, line
i 10:— “The reason why Harder, who, to our
knowledge, has been up to the present time the only
one that makes special mention of the inorganic
ingredients of the cod liver oil, has found no
phosphoric acid, is that he has not tried to find
it. In declaring this, viz., the reasons why the
results of our investigations on this point differ from
those of others, we believe we have done no more
than our duty. If we now look on the different
results of our own investigations of the three sorts
of cod liver oil we may state that the light-coloured
oils contain more inorganic ingredients than the
dark coloured. ”

Dr. de Jongh also tells us that his investigations
led him to the discovery that in the former the
quantity of phosphoric acid is nearly double and
that of lime more than double what is found in the
latter.

Considering that hardly any incombustible matter
is found in the light-coloured oil, it may be of
importance to know now Dr. de Jongh got those
figures.

To determine the phosphoric acid and the sul-
| phuric acid a certain quantity of the oil was ;*
saponified by the admixture of potassa caustica. The
soap which was obtained in this way was decom¬
posed with hydrochloric acid. After the removal
of the fatty acids the phosphoric acid in the filtered
liquor was determined as phosphas ferricus, and the
sulphuric acid as sulphas barycus.

In order to see how much calcium, magnesia and
soda the mixture contained a certain quantity of it
was carbonized, the carbon digested with hydrochloric
acid, and the phosphoric acid removed from the
acid liquor as phosphas ferri. After filtration the
calcium was determined as oxalas calcis, and after this
had been removed the magnesia was precipitated as
phosphas ammonico-magnesicus. The filtrate was
now mixed with sulphuric acid, evaporated in a
platinum cup, incinerated and weighed, and as no
potash was found the weight was taken account of
as sulphas sodae.

In this manner the author found in light-coloured
cod liver oil the follow percentages.

0-09135 Phosphoric acid
0-07100 Sulphuric acid
0-15150 Lime
0-00880 Magnesia
0"05540 Soda

Total 0-37805 per cent, inorganic matter or

0-32265 per cent, incombustible ingredi¬
ents, if the soda, which may be volatilized as chloric
natrium, is not counted.

What was, however, the result of a direct experi¬
ment, the burning in a platinum cup ? Nothing
more or less than this : — a quantity of no less than
35 . grams of light-coloured cod liver oil left no
weighable quantity of ash.

Third Series, No. 532.

These experiments have often been made with the
light coloured Lofodin cod liver oil of Draisma Van
Valkenburg, and generally crowned with the same
success.

Likewise other sorts of cod liver oil produced the
same results. For instance, 23*867 grams of an
English oil, that was very pure, left 0-0005 gram of a
light brown ash, in which iron, but hardly any calcium,
could be distinguished ; accordingly 0002 per cent.

22"408 grams of Dr. de Jongh’s oil, which is darker
than the two sorts mentioned above, left 0-002 gram
of ash, in which iron and calcium were distinguish¬
able ; accordingly 0"009 per cent.

Hence it may be safely stated that light coloured
cod liver oil contains hardly any or no incombustible
matter.

How then are the results of Dr. de Jongli’s experi¬
ments to be accounted for ? Inasmuch as this phos¬
phoric acid, calcium, etc., have really been found in
an analysis, they can only have originated from the
vessels or the reagents that were used, a warning
example, no doubt, that one cannot be too scrupu¬
lously accurate in ascertaining the rectitude of the
results that one has acquired through analysis.

ANALYSIS OF IODINE-IRON COD LIVER

OIL.*

BY PROFESSOR E. A. VAN DER BURG.

From the above it is evident that the light coloured
cod liver oil after combustion leaves no weighable
quantity of ash. The quantity of iron may be found
by burning at least 20 grams in a small porcelain or
platinum cup, and weighing the iron oxide that is
in that way produced. This weight multiplied by
0"7 gives the quantity of iron in the oil. If the oil
Is of the right kind there should be 0 ‘27 per cent, of
iron. One has to be very careful in burning the oil,
as it is very combustible, and the experiment con¬
sequently liable to fail.

The vessel — I always use one of platinum — should
be filled for no more than one-sixth. It should be
heated by a gas flame under the chimney. The oil
will be observed to lose the violet colour and become
brownish- red. As soon as the colour of the oil has
changed in this way, there will be a sufficient quan¬
tity of combustible vapour, that may be ignited by a
flame, and will keep burning for some time. At
that moment the gas flame should be removed, and
the combustion, that heretofore took place in a very
great flame, will keep on quietly. As soon as the
flame is extinguished, the vessel should be heated
anew, and again some inflammable vapours will
appear. When the oil is completely carbonized, a
beginning should be made with a total combustion
of the carbon. This last process may be quickened
a good deal, if every now and then a drop of water
is poured on the cooled carbon, and after a slow and
careful evaporation of the water the carbon is ignited
afresh. The red ash may be determined as pure iron
oxide. Should further proof be wanted, the ash may
be dissolved in hydrochloric acid, reduced by zinc,
after which the iron may be easily determined by the
ordinary titrated solution of potassium permanganate.

To find out the iodine 5 grams of the oil is sulfi-
cient. This should be saponified with an alcoholic
solution of potash (which must contain no iodine, oi
course), by heating it for an hour or two, in a porce -

# The method of making tliia preparation will be de-
eci ibed in the next number of this J ournal.

190

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 4, 1880.

lain cup, on a water-bath. After this the soap must
be completely carbonized in the same cup by careful
heating, and the carbon treated with water, until it
ceases to have an alkaline reaction. As a test that
the combustion has taken place in the right manner
the solution must be totally colourless. The clear
liquid must be rendered a little acid by admixture
of hydrochloric acid and precipitated by a solution
of palladium. The precipitate may be weighed now,
or as palladium metal, after heating. If the pre¬
paration has been of the right composition, 5 grams
will produce about 0*087 gram of iodetum palla-
diosum, or about 0*025 of palladium.

DETECTION AND DETERMINATION OF HEAVY
MINERAL OILS, OF RESIN OILS, OF THE FATTY
OILS, AND OF RESIN IN THE OILS OF COM¬
MERCE.*

BY M. A. EkMONT.

The qualitative analysis ought to be preceded by an ex¬
amination of the organoleptic properties of the oil, the
manner in which it behaves under the influence of heat,
and of its specific gravity, which often gives useful indica¬
tions. Thus, if the specific gravity of the sample is below
0*900 it certainly contains a mineral oil ; if from 0*900 to
0*975, we may be in presence of the most complex mix¬
tures; but if it is above 0*975 we have certainly an oil of
resin.

We begin by treating the sample with carbon disul¬
phide, freshly prepared, which gives a clear solution with
all the oils. If oleic acid or a fattj oil has been mixed
with alkali to raise its specific gravity by the formation of
a portion of soap, there will appear a precipitate. In this
case the liquid is filtered, and the residue is washed with
carbon disulphide. It may be proved to be soap by its
solubility in water, its alkalinity, and the turbidity, more
or less marked, which is caused by an acid poured into
the solution.

The filtrate is freed from the carbon disulphide by dis¬
tillation : 1 c.c. of the residue is taken and mixed with
4 c.c. of alcohol at 85°. If solution takes place fatty acids
are present, pure or mixed, and an excess of alcohol is
gradually added. If after having poured in 50 c.c. the
liquid is limpid, or there is produced a very slight cloud,
which disappears on adding a drop of hydrochloric acid,
the sample consists of oleic acid, pure or mixed with resin.
If the specific gravity does not exceed 0*905 at 15° the
sample consists entirely of oleic acid. If the specific gra¬
vity is higher the oleic acid contains resin. By way of
confirmation the substance is examined with the polari-
meter, either directly or dissolved in carbon disulphide,
and if there is a deviation we may be certain of the pre¬
sence of a resinous mixture.

If we find a persistent cloudiness in the alcoholic solu¬
tion it is because the fatty acids contain an oil sparingly
soluble in this solvent, and in so much the greater quan¬
tity as the cloud appears earlier. This very sensitive pro¬
cess renders it possible to detect 2 or 3 per cent, of heavy
mineral oil, or of resin, or fatty oil in the oleic acid known
in commerce as oleine. The turbidity produced in the
alcoholic liquid resolves itself in some time into little oily
drops, which line the sides of the vessel, and which can
be made by a shock to fall to the bottom of the tube. The
volume of this residue shows approximately the proportion
of insoluble matter.

The most common case is when 4 parts of alcohol do
not completely dissolve 1 part of oil. A larger quantity
of the latter is then taken, and agitated with an equal
volume of alcohol. After settling for a time the alcoholic
solution is decanted and evaporated in a capsule. The
nature and the quantity of the residue serve as a clue to
the nature of the mixture.

*Bullctin de la Society Chimique de Paris. Reprinted

from the Chemical News, July 23, 1880.

I submit the oil to the action of caustic soda, employing
the method indicated by M. Dalican for the analysis of
tallows. In a capsule of porcelain, or preferably of
enamelled cast iron, there are weighed about 20 grms. of
oil, and heated to 100° to 110°. There is then poured in
a mixture of 15 c.c. soda-lye at 36° B. and 10 c.c. of
alcohol : the mixture is stirred and heated until the alco¬
hol and the chief part of the water have disappeared.
Then 150 c.c. of distilled water are added, and the boiling
is kept up for half an hour, when three cases may occur : —

1. The oil, under the influence of the alkali, is merely
emulsified, and on the addition of water it separates dis¬
tinctly : this indicates either a mineral oil, a resin oil, or a
mixture of the two. The aqueous solution is decanted off,
and it is mixed with sulphuric acid. If there is no precipi-
ate, or if a mere slight cloudiness is produced, the sample
is a pure mineral oil. If there is a considerable precipitate
which collects in brown viscid drops giving off a strong
odour of resin, and soluble in an excess of alcohol, we have
a resin oil, pure or mixed. The oil is examined with the
polarimeter, and if it acts upon polarized light this is a
confirmation of the presence of resin oil. If the specific
gravity is below 0*960 there is probably a mixture of
mineral oil. Good indications may also be got by distilling
if one of the oils is not in too trifling proportion. The dis¬
tillation ought to be fractionated as far as possible and
conducted slowly. As the resin oils boil, as a rule, at
lower points than the mineral oils, it follows that in
place of having specific gravities which increase with the
boiling-points, as happens with the heavy mineral oils or
pure resin oils, there are observed, with their mixtures,
very abrupt transitions. The sample ought to be tested
with stannic chloride, and if the violet coloration is not
very distinct the same reagent should be applied to the
first products of distillation, since the colourable product
contained in the resin oils is there chiefly met with.

2. Or there is formed by the action of caustic soda a
paste-like mass of soap, which on treatment with wTater
and boiling for some time gives a clear liquid. It is diluted
with cold water and then supersaturated with an acid.
The fatty acids liberated collect on the surface after de¬
cantation of the water, and if exposed to cold they crys¬
tallize. A small portion is melted in a tube at a gentle
temperature, and 4 parts of alcohol at 85° are added first
and afterwards an excess. Here two cases are possible : —

a. If no precipitation takes place it is because the fatty
acids are pure, which shows that the oil examined is a
pure fatty oil, or, which rarely happens, mixed with resin.
The specific gravity of the fatty acids may here give good
indications, but it cannot be taken at common tempera¬
tures, at which fatty acids are solid. They must be
melted, and the specific gravity taken at a known tem¬
perature. M. Baudouin, Chemist at the Arnavon Soap
Works, at Marseilles, has drawn up a table of the specific
gravities of the fatty acids of certain oils taken at 30°.
Except those of linseed oil, which mark 0*910, those of
the other fatty oils have specific gravaties ranging from
0*892 to 0*900. To reduce the specific gravities of the
fatty oils examined to the temperature of 30°, deduct from
the density found, calculated on a litre, as many times
0*64 grm. as there are degrees below, or, if the temperature
is higher, add to the density found as many times as 0*64
grin, as there are degrees above. If the specific gravity
indicates that the neutral oil contains resin an attempt
may be made to separate it, in part at least, rapidly by
agitating 5 or 6 c.c. of the original oil with an equal
volume of alcohol, decanting after settling, and evaporating
in a capsule. There is thus obtained a solid or semi-fluid
residue in case of resin. Further examination is then
made with the polarimeter.

b. The fatty acids derived from the decomposition of
the soap give a precipitate if treated with an excess of
alcohol. If it is not redissolved by 1 grm. of hydrochloric
acid, and if after some time it is resolved into oily drops it
is due to a mineral oil or a resin oil. A fatty oil containing
10 to 15 per cent of one these oils is completely saponi-

September 4, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

19 L

fied, and yields with boiling water not an emulsion, but a
soap completely soluble. The turbidity should resolve it¬
self into oily drops, for there are certain fatty acids — those,
amongst others, of the oil of earth-nuts ( arachis ) — which
are soluble in a small proportion of alcohol at 85°, but an
excess of the alcohol precipitates a sparingly soluble por¬
tion, arachidic acid, in small flocks. These flocks may be
collected on a filter, and examined as to their complete
solubility in alkalies. If their melting-point is near 73°
they may be attributed to the oil of earth-nuts.

3. Or, lastly, the oil, on treatment with soda, may give
a paste more or less firm, which if placed in boiling water
for half an hour allows oily drops to rise to the surface,
which are due to a mineral oil or a resin oil. After settling
for some minutes a part of the supernatant liquid is de¬
canted and mixed with an excess of a saturated solution
of common salt. There is produced a precipitate of soap,
which is filtered off on cooling. The filtrate is super¬
saturated with an acid. If there is produced a slight tur¬
bidity, and if the liquid which was almost colourless when
alkaline gives off an odour of fatty matters we have a neu¬
tral oil mixed with a non-saponifiable oil. If, on the con¬
trary, the solution was highly coloured after filtration, and
gives when acidified a flocculent precipitate of a resinous
odour, the sample is a mixture containing resin. In these
two cases, the components of the mixture may be recog¬
nized by means of the procedures indicated above.

Quantitative Analysis. — If it is desired to know the
elements attacked by alkalies, and of those which are not,
the following procedure is to be followed If the sample
has yielded anything insoluble in carbon disulphide, it is
separated as already said, and the operation is confined to
the residue of the distillation. Let it be assumed that the
composition of the residue is as complex as possible, con¬
taining fatty oils, mineral oils, resin oils, and solid
resin.

The mixture is saponified. Into a flask closed by
stopper, through which passes a long tube, are introduced
20 grms. of the oil, and a mixture of 15 c.c. of soda at
36° B., and 15 c.c. of 90 to 95 per cent, alcohol. The flask
is then set upon the water-bath for half an hour and is
often shaken. At the end of this time the whole is poured
into a funnel fitted with a tap and previously warmed,
which is left in a stove at 50° to 60° until a complete
separation of the non-saponifiable oil from the alkaline
liquid has taken place. The latter is then decanted into a
porcelain capsule, and in its stead is poured 15 c.c. of
boiling water which has served to rinse the flask. It is
shaken well so as to wash the non-saponifiable matter,
and decanted anew after settling. Finally, it is washed a
third time with boiling water. The oil in the funnel is
received into a tared capsule and weighed. As for what
adheres to the sides, it is washed with a little ether, and
the solution is received in another capsule, which is ex¬
posed to the air till the bulk of the ether has disappeared.
It is then gently heated to expel the rest, and weighed.

The alkaline liquid is kept at a boil for some time to
expel the alcohol, and after cooling it is mixed with an
equal volume of a saturated solution of common salt, freed
from magnesia by being boiled for a few moments with
caustic soda and filtered. In this manner, the soap is pre¬
cipitated in firm clots, carrying with it the last portion of
non-saponifiable matter. The saline solution, after settling,
is decanted by means of a pipette and neutralized with an
acid. If a notable turbidity is produced, which collects in
flocks, it is due to resin. The flocks are collected, dried,
and weighed. The clots of soap are thrown upon a filter,
washed twice with salt water, the last traces of which are
removed by pressing the mass between blotting paper.
The soap is then placed in a glass cylinder, moistened
vvith about 100 c.c. of carbon disulphide recently rectified,
stoppered, gently shaken at intervals three or four times, so
as not to break the clots, and left to settle. After an hour
or two the carbon sulphide which is coloured yellow by the
dissolved oil, separates in the lower part of the cylinder.
It is decanted by means of a pipette, and in its stead is

added a fresh portion of the solvent. It is shaken, left to
settle, decanted, and so on till the carbon sulphide runs off
almost colourless. The whole is then thrown upon a
filter and washed for the last time. A portion of this
last washing, if evaporated upon a watch-glass, should
leave an insignificant residue.

The soap on the filter is exposed to the air till the
carbon disulphide with which it is saturated has escaped.

As for the carbon disulphide solution, it is distilled
gently on the water-bath. The last portions of the
solvent are expelled by blowing air into the flask while
placed in boiling water. When cold it is weighed.

The last portion of the non-saponifiable matter thus
obtained ought to have the same appearance as the first
portion. If it is less fluid it still contains a portion of
soap. In this case it is again taken up in carbon
disulphide at a gentle heat in presence of a few drops of
water to hydrate the soap which, without this addition,
would again be partially dissolved. It is then filtered
and the washed soap is added to the chief mass.

The non-saponifiable oil may consist of mineral oil,
resin oil, ora mixture of both. The means of detection
have been given above, and I have not yet come upon a
process for their separation.

The soap insoluble in carbon sulphide which lies on the
filter contains resin and fatty acids combined with soda.

The separation of these substances, so similar in their
properties, presents many difficulties. Several methods
have been published, but none of them gives satisfactory
results. That of M. Jean, one of the most recent, consists
in exhausting the barium soap with ether, which ought to
dissolve the resinate and leave the soaps of the fatty acids
untouched. On following exactly the author’s instructions,
I have never been able to avoid the partial solution of the
barium oleate. I have modified the process by substituting
for the ether boiling alcohol of 85 per cent, which certainly
dissolves much less of the oleate, but still takes up enough
to render the results inaccurate.

As far as possible the soap is separated from the filter
and placed in a capsule. The filter is put back in the
funnel and filled with boiling water. The solution is
effected slowly and filters by degrees ; it is received in the
capsule where the detached portion has been already placed.

The solution of soap, after cooling, is mixed with caustic
soda until precipitation no longer ensues, and left to settle.
All the soap of the fatty acids is deposited, drawing down
with it the chief portion of the resinate, a part of which,
however, remains in solution and colours the liquid strongly.
The whole is filtered, the filtrate accurately neutralized
with sulphuric acid ; the flocks of resin deposited are received
upon a tared filter which is weighed anew after washing
in water and drying at a low temperature. The soap is
redissolved in a little luke-warm water and an excess of
barium chloride is poured into the solution with agitation.
The clots of barytic soap are drained in a filter- pump,
replaced in the capsule in which the precipitation has been
effected and thoroughly dried in the water-bath or the
stove. The mass is then powdered, and treated with 50
or 60 c.c. of alcohol at 85 per cent, which is kept near the
boiling point, working it up with a pestle. It is left to
settle for a few moments and the supernatant alcoholic
liquid is then decanted into a phial. 20 to 25 c.c. of
alcohol are again poured upon the residue, let boil, de¬
canted after settling, and so on till a portion of the alkali
which has been used leaves, on evaporation, scarcely any
residue, which happens generally after 120 c.c. of alcohol
have been used.

The alcoholic liquids are mixed and distilled till there
remains only about 50 c.c. Hydrochloric acid is added to
decompose the resinate, and the resin set at liberty floats
in the liquids. On cooling it collects in a solid mass at
the bottom of the vessel. It is thrown into a capsule,
melted under water, and weighed after desiccation on the
water-bath.

The residue insoluble in alcohol is treated in a similar
manner to obtain the fatty acids.

192

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 4, 1880.

EUPATORIUM PERFOLIATUM.*

BY GEOKGE LATIN, PH.G.

Eupatorium perfoliatum has been analysed by Peterson
(1851) and Bicldey (1854) ; but, as they found nothing
but the usual constituents of herbs, the writer thought it
would be of some importance to make still further in¬
vestigations.

The leaves and tops of the plant, reduced to a mode¬
rately fine powder, and packed in a percolator, were
treated with 95 per cent, alcohol until exhausted. The
alcohol was distilled off and the residue evaporated to
the consistence of an extract by a very gentle heat. This
extract was then treated with ether, which dissolved out
the bitter principle and colouring matter, leaving a
greyish, gummy -like mass, entirely soluble in water, and
proved, by Trommer’s test, to be sugar.

The ethereal tincture was then placed in a flask, and
the ether carefully distilled off by means of a water-bath,
and evaporated to a semi-solid consistence, which was
then treated with petroleum benzin, by means of which
a large amount of colouring matter, fat, etc., was re¬
moved. The benzin solution, upon being permitted to
evaporate spontaneously, yielded a number of small crys¬
tals in an impure condition, which adhered to the sides
of the vessel. The>e were washed very rapidly with
petroleum benzin and then with ether, which left them in
the form of pure white, needle-shaped, tasteless crystals,
and were insoluble in alcohol, ether, water and alkaliue
solutions. When treated with sulphuric and nitric acids
separately no change was produced, but subjected first
to the action of nitric and then of sulphuric acid, a
beautiful carmine-red was produced, changing after a
short time to an orange yellow ; with hydrochloric acid
a beautiful emerald-green, and with potassium bichro¬
mate with sulphuric acid a greenish- violet was developed.
Heated to redness on platintnn foil, no residue is left and
no odour given off. The crystals have a comparatively
low fusing point ; on placing a few of them on a piece of
note-paper and holding them over the flame of a Bunsen
burner, they melt, leaving a greasy stain, but not suffi¬
ciently strong to render the paper transparent.

This being, so far as the writer is aware, the first
crystalline principle obtained from Eupcitorium perfo¬
liatum, it was a difficult matter to decide exactly what
was the nature of the crystals, as the quantity was very
small ; but, so far as examination enabled me to form an
opinion, I judged them to be either wax or resin.

The residue left after treating with benzin was then
dissolved in alcohol and filtered. Upon the filter there
was left a black powder, which was unaffected by alcohol,
water, alkalies and concentrated acids, and when heated
was consumed, leaving an ashy residue.

The filtrate was then treated with an alcoholic solution
of acetate of lead, which caused a copious precipitate of
colouring matter ; this was separated by second filtration
and the liquid treated with sulphuretted hydrogen (H2S),
by which the lead was eliminated. The liquid being
boiled, was thus freed from sulphuretted hydrogen. After
this, purified animal charcoal was left in contact with it
for three days, the whole being shaken occasionally. By
this means the solution was nearly deprived of colour ; it
was then concentrated and treated with boiling water
until all bitterness was removed, and the residue was a
resinous, tasteless mass.

The aqueous solution thus obtained was again evapo¬
rated and treated with chloroform, which dissolved out a
bitter principle and left a tasteless, resin-like mass in the
vessel.

The chloroformic solution, when evaporated, left the
bitter principle in a pure condition, and this was named
eupatorine. When tested by Trommer’s test it gave no
reaction, but when first boiled with sulphuric acid it
gives a red-coloured precipitate, and by sulphuric acid

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy , August,
1880.

alone a white precipitate was occasioned, showing it to
be a glucoside.

Eupatorine has a little acid taste, and is soluble in alcohol,
chloroform, ether, boiling water and concentrated acids ;
with sulphuric [icid a dark reddish-brown colour is pro¬
duced, and with hydrochloric and nitric acids a light
yellow colour results.

Eupatorine, when pure, is wholly dissipated by heat,
and when boiled with sulphuric acid and water the odour
of raspberries is given off.

Aqueous Percolate. — After the herb was treated with
alcohol it was exhausted with water and the solution
evaporated to the consistence of an extract, having an
astringent taste, and giving the following reactions : —
With ferric chloride, a dark green colour was produced ;
with solution of gelatin, a light brown precipitate was
formed, and by placing this in a filter and washing it
with cold water several times ferric chloride gave a dark
colour to that part of the filter that had been in contact
with the precipitate, proving the presence of tannin ;
with tartar emetic, no precipitate. Alcohol gave a pre¬
cipitate of gum from an aqueous solution. 5 grams of
the herb, when exhausted with sulphuric ether, upon
evaporating yielded an extract weighing 54 centigrams,
having no bitter taste, and nearly all soluble in benzin,
supposed to be colouring matter. A small quantity of
volatile oil was obtained by distilling the herb with
water, having the disagreeable odour of boiled cabbage.
5 grams of the herb lose 37 centigrams of moisture when
heated to dryness.

The chemical constituents of the herb are as follows : —
Eupatorine, (a glucoside), a crystallizable body, a vola¬
tile oil, gum, tannic acid, sugar.

THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY TO SUCCESSFULLY
CONDUCT PERCOLATION.*

BY J. U. LLOYt>, CINCINNATI, OHIO.

A reply to this query may at first sight appear easy.
On the contrary, the natural laws to be considered, and
the various causes dependent upon manipulation that are
continually influencing the process, render the subject
complicated. Beyond doubt, however, all the discrepancies
which manipulators meet in result of work from time to
time, and the recorded variations of different operators,
are due to causes that may be understood and overcome
to a very great extent. Natural laws govern the process
of percolation, and to carry on our work so as to make
the most judicious application of these laws to the object
in view should be the desire of the manipulator. Perco¬
lation, as connected with the work of the pharmacist, has
of late years become very important. Few appreciate
the very great amount of medicine prepared in this
manner, and I think it may truly be said that this very
interesting part of the business of the pharmacist is over¬
looked in many instances where money might be saved
and leisure time employed.

It is not perhaps altogether the fault of our druggists
that the subject is neglected, for to a degree the impres¬
sion has gradually extended that such articles even as the
simple fluid extracts of the Pharmacopoeia may be pre¬
pared upon a large scale better than in the small amounts
required by dispensing pharmacists. Be this latter point
true or not, to a very great degree the “manufacture”
of fluid extracts has passed into the hands of large houses.
Another reason, perhaps, for neglect of this branch of the
apothecary’s business, is the fact that some doubt has
arisen as to the comparative values of extracts made by
the officinal process and such modifications as have been
recommended. And yet I know that our pharmacists
are hard workers, and judging from acquaintances little
fear need be entertained that dread of trouble will make

* Read before the American Pharmaceutical Association.

September 4, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

193

the pharmacists of our country shrink from the adoption
by the revising committee of the United States Pharma¬
copoeia of any practical process for the preparation of
fluid extracts, however complicated such process may be.
I believe if the apothecary purchases fluid extracts that
may easily be made by himself it is in the majority of
cases from the above-named considerations. Few that
witness the constant application of our druggists to busi¬
ness, from early morning until late at night, will disagree
upon this point.

It is desired that the result of the investigations,
tabulated in the paper to follow, may assist in throwing
a little light upon some of the points we have mentioned,
and others that are obscure. In many instances old
ground is undoubtedly traversed, but it was deemed
best to follow the chain of argument, regardless of
former investigations. Let it be remembered that these
arguments are brought forward and experiments insti¬
tuted with the object of study in actual laboratory
management, and not for the purpose of upholding
preconceived opinions. It may be fouud that some
of the points are poorly taken, and others are supported
by experiments in which natural laws that exert a very
great influence upon the result are overlooked. If such
be the case corrections will be thankfully accepted. It
is to be hoped that those who criticize will bring forward
experiments that will enable comparisons to be made, or
at least will designate the points that appear defective.
It is also requested that criticisms be confined to the
points mentioned in this paper under like conditions only,
as no others can be of value. It will be noticed that the
experiments brought forward are upon a scale that will
enable repetition by every retail pharmacist of the
country. Others could have been tabulated, perhaps
to advantage, but it is thought a sufficient number are
given, and it is hoped that those who think otherwise may
be interested, and induced to go over portions of the work
while preparing fluid extracts during the year to come.

The opportunity is embraced to especially thank Mr.
Charles Mohr for his careful review of the manuscript,
and to acknowledge the justice of the majority of his
arguments where issue was taken, as that gentleman will
notice when enabled to peruse the present paper ; also to
Professor John M. Crawford for a careful review of the
mathematical expressions used in the first portions of the
paper. Lastly, it is to be remembered that the writer is
looking at this subject with his present light, and deems
it a duty to reconsider any point when convinced of
error, but claims the privilege to maintain his belief,

Sunless so convinced, whoever may be the dissenter.

One of the most frequent operations to be performed
by the pharmacist is to separate from the crude materials,
offered principally by the vegetable kingdom, active
principles from others inert or not desirable. This
object is reached by bringing the same into the liquid
state by solution, with the aid of a proper solvent

E (menstruum). Thus we have the process of maceration
and percolation, the latter being a modification of the
former, calling in the aid of gravitation. To arrive at a
proper understanding of the laws which govern the solu¬
tion of substances, that is the transfer of a solid into the
liquid state through the aid of solvents, we should
consider first the greatest agent in percolation, — the
attraction of gravitation. This unknown force impels
all terrestrial bodies toward a common centre, the centre
of the earth.

If we arrest the fall of a solid and pour upon it a
liquid, that liquid will flow" over the solid, excepting a
small amount held by adhesion, and will fall from the
lower surface towards the earth. If that solid be im¬
penetrable, and insoluble in the liquid, it will remain
intact; if soluble, it will gradually assume the liquid
state and disappear. If the solid be porous the liquid
will enter. This is due to absorption — a molecular force,
which is working independent of the attraction of gravi¬
tation, and overcoming it to a limited degree, thereby

exercising a great influence over the process of solution,
beneficial inasmuch as it insures a closer and more con¬
tinued contact between the solvent and the solid. Thus,
if a certain amount of liquid be slowly poured upon the
porous body, we shall find that attraction of gravitation
will fail to detach the liquid from the lower side ; it does
not flow over the outside but enters, is absorbed, and held
within its substance. The attraction of gravitation still
exerts itself, for the actual weight of the mass is the sum
of the separate weights of the two bodies. Without
further examination we might suppose the materials at
rest ; such, however, is not the case. There are dis¬
turbing elements which produce constant motion; thus,
an alteration of temperature will excite a change in the
relative position of the molecules of the liquid, and tem¬
perature constantly changes. But besides the motions of
the molecules, caused by the constantly varying changes
of temperature, there is osmosis, an attraction that in¬
duces currents of liquid through cellular tissue. Gravity,
however, overcomes at first all of these various contrary
influences —among which we may class diffusion — and is
ever tending to draw the liquid most heavily charged
with soluble matters downward through the lighter, and
thus there seems to be no rest, but, on the contrary, con¬
tinual change.

The influences mentioned exert themselves whether
the solid be large or small, whether a single particle
of dust in a quantity of liquid or an innumerable number
placed in a mass and covered with liquid. Let us turn
our attention to solution. Throwing aside all theories as
to the why and wherefore of the change of state from
solid to fluid, we must accept the fact, that below the
melting temperature certain solids will, to a fixed extent,
assume the form of liquids if in contact with particular
fluids. The conditions necessary to effect and promote
this change are: surface exposed to the dissolving
medium, circulation of the liquid, temperature and
time of contact between the surfaces of solid and the
liquid. In regard to the first of these conditions, it
is invariably found that the rapidity of solution increases
with the area of the surface exposed; thus, for an
example, if a cubic crystal of bromide of potassium,
or any other substance, one inch in dimension, be
surrounded with water, the surface in contact with
the water will be 6 square inches. If the crystal be
bisected by a plane parallel to any two of its sides, the
amount of the material remains the same, but its surface
has been increased 2 square inches. Let each half now
be divided into four equal parts, and there will be a total
of 12 square inches of surface, exactly twice the amount
of the original cube. Division can be theoretically, and
in the above instance according to mathematical laws,
continued to the extent of our imagination, and each cube
divided into eight will double the amount of the surface.
But in practice we meet with obstacles of various nature
which soon interpose insurmountable limits to accurate
divisions, making our further efforts in that direction
impracticable, and the desired increase of surface is most
readily effected by pulverizing the solid, thus obtaining

irregular surfaces.

In considering the rest of the conditions upon which
solution depends we next observe the action of currents.

Thus immerse a cubical crystal of bromide of potas¬
sium 1 inch in dimension in water, and its 6 square
inches of surface will be in contact with 6 square inches
of water surface ; immediately the two surfaces act
together, resulting in the disintegration of the surface
of & the salt, which assumes the liquid form and blends
with the surface of the water in the most intimate
manner. This change takes place to a fixed extent,
dependent upon the temperature and the saturation of
the solvent. If the crystal be at the bottom of a vessel
of water it commences most rapidly to diminish in size
from the top until finally it disappears. In observing
closely the process we notice streams of liquid circulating
about the crystal. These currents, colourless and trans-

194

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 4, 18S0

parent like the surrounding medium, are clearly visible
from the fact that they refract the rays of light differently,
an optical result caused by the portions of liquids of
different densities, for the particles which form the
surfaces of the salt unite with those of the water
surface, resulting in a compound that has a greater
specific gravity than pure water, consequently, as soon
as united, this fluid flows over the crystal and down its
sides in obedience to the laws of gravitation. It strikes
upon the bottom of the vessel and, in response to the law
that fluids of different densities seek their own level,
spreads out, and in doing so displaces its bulk of water,
which rises and replaces the solution about the crystal,
and thus continuous currents flow over and down the
sides of the crystal, and fresher menstruum is constantly
taking the place of that more saturated. We might
liken the foregoing to a surface of liquid resolving
against a solid, each movement of which wears away
the solid and decreases the wearing force of the liquid.
At last, if the amount of water be sufficient, the crystal
will have disappeared, and at the bottom of the vessel
will be found a dense solution at rest surmounted by a
lighter one. Again cautiously introduce a crystal of the
same salt and the afore -named phenomenon will take
place, though in a less marked degree. The circulation
of the medium becomes gradually less and less distinct,
and finally, if the salt be in excess, disappears. There
remains now a remnant of bromide of potassium sur¬
rounded by the dense solution, while overlying we find
almost pure water. In obedience to what is generally
considered another force, which, it is thought, produces
the diffusion of liquids, the solution and overlaying
water continually but slowly intermingle. At last they
are homogeneous, preceding which, however, the remnant
of crystal at the bottom of the vessel will have dis¬
appeared. The foregoing exemplifies the changes which
take place, under like conditions, when the crystal is
broken, excepting that the increased amount of surface
contact, before considered, hastens the operation. Thus
we find that nature’s laws constantly produce circulation
while solution is progressing. Arguing therefrom we
should be able to hasten the operation at certain stages
and assist nature by frequently stirring the entire liquid,
thus mixing the solutions. Recognizing the theoretical
value of circulation and extent of surface, when we wish
to dissolve substances we should powder them, and stir
the liquids at short intervals.

Temperature is most important. With a few excep¬
tions substances dissolve to a greater extent in warm
than in cold liquids, and even though the material be
scarcely more soluble in the hot menstruum it dissolves
more rapidly. This results from the fact that liquids
while rapidly changing temperature are in a more rapid
state of circulation, and heat also decreases the cohesive
attraction of solids, their molecules being more easily
detached from the mass, and therefore more readily unite
with those of the liquid. Few operators have failed to
notice the benefit of a warm room when dissolving sub¬
stances. Careful manufacturers cannot allow the process
of percolation to be conducted at winter temperature,
even though so doing results in great saving of alcohol
by lessening evaporation (see tables 1 and 2).* Time is a
consideration of importance. An appreciable amount of
contact must be allowed between solvent and solid. That
solutions require time for action is a principle well recog¬
nized and scarcely necessary to mention.

Having now briefly noticed the influences which
govern solution, let us consider the relation between
maceration and percolation, as these processes are called,
bearing in mind the fact that the direct object is the
solution of certain substances. Place 2 ounces of
powdered buchu in a vessel and saturate thoroughly
with alcohol. Then fit closely on the powder a sheet
of blotting paper, and add alcohol so that the entire

amount used is 16 fluid ounces ; then very carefully
remove the paper so as not to disturb the powder. Now
we shall have the principles of solution exemplified
essactly as in the previous example, excepting instead
of one crystal we have a number of very small
fragments, and instead of a perfectly soluble material
the substance is only partially soluble, and in addition
to other forces we have capillary attraction.

Solutions of different densities quickly form throughout
the interstices of the powder. These solutions are in
constant motion. They are subject to the forces before
mentioned, but by the predominating influence of gravi¬
tation the constant tendency of the heaviest solutions is
downward, and the densest part of the solution constantly
seeks the lowest point (see table 3). Thus we have new
surfaces presented between solvent and material, attended
in the first place with a handing downward of the dis¬
solved matter. Apparently, the liquid and the powder
are at rest; actually, there is constant motion, and so
long as the act of solution progresses the circulation of
the menstruum continues. However, these forces cannot
extend their influence above the surface of the powder.
It may be suggested here that diffusion can effect the
mixture (see table 3). Consequently the liquid within
the interstices of the powder may be strongly saturated
with dissolved matters, while that just overlying is
scarcely contaminated, and that near the surface of the
vessel is for some time perfectly pure. Assuming
now that we desire to transfer the dissolved matter
equally to all portions of the liquid, we most easily
accomplish the object by stirring the contents of the
vessel until the menstruum above and the solution
within are thoroughly incorporated. When allowed
to rest solution as before proceeds, and when we again
stir the contents of the vessel we transfer a certain
proportion of dissolved matter to the overlying fluid.
Each operation depletes the powder to an extent of
soluble matters, and tends to produce an equilibrium
between menstruum and material. The process of
solution becomes gradually less active, and at last
ceases to any perceptible degree, at which point we
find the liquid above the powder and the liquid within
identical. However long we may allow them to remain
together, and however violently they may be agitated,
we cannot further deplete the powder without increase
of temperature. This is maceration, and thus it is we
cannot by maceration represent the powder operated
upon, for when the supernatant liquid is filtered from
the powder soluble matters in proportion to the liquid
within the powder must remain with it. As the liquid
obtained is to the entire menstruum, so must the material
in the liquid obtained be to the material dissolved by the
entire menstruum.

Other inconveniences attend the practical application
of this mode of extracting the soluble substances from
our plants. A very serious objection is the time re¬
quired — generally two weeks. This, perhaps, more than
any other cause, interested pharmacists in a general
endeavour to improve. Another desideratum was an
increase of strength in the product. We will consider
briefly a slight modification of this process of maceration.
Let us carefully moisten 2 ounces of powdered buchu
with alcohol, press firmly into a container, and cover
with the same menstruum. The operation of solution
will be repeated exactly as in the other example. At
length the liquid within the powder, and that in the
cavities between its particles will be identical. When
this state arrives we remove the material to a press, and
obtain all the liquid possible by pressure.

The residuum material is again finely comminuted,
macerated with fresh alcohol, and again submitted to
pressure; the operation being repeated as many times
as is considered necessary. It at first strikes us with
reference to this process, that as we constantly remove
saturated liquid from the powder, and substitute per-
| fectly pure in its place, we must soon perfectly deplete

* The tables will appear in a subsequent portion of the paper.

—

September 4, 18S0.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 195

the powder. But by any ordinary means we cannot
remove all the liquid, and certainly that held within the
powder must contain its full proportion of dissolved
matters. Therefore, assuming that it required 4 ounces
of alcohol, and the liquid within the powder and that
between the particles had become identical in composi¬
tion, and 3 ounces of liquid were obtained (a liberal
allowance), one-fourth of the strength must remain in
the residuum ; consequently the 3 fluid ounces obtained
containing three-fourths of the extractive matter repre¬
sent 1^ ounce of buchu, or | ounce of powder to each
fluid ounce, and each of the following operations dilutes
this. At each successive step the powder, preceding and
following maceration and expression, contains the same
amount °of liquid, and for every 4 ounces of alcohol
applied, 4 ounces of solution are obtained, excepting
loss by evaporation, which will not be considered here.
Decrease in quantity of powder by having a portion of
its extractive matter removed by each maceration is also
disregarded. The second expressed liquid we find repre¬
sents but four-fifths of the extractive matters remaining
in the powder, that is, four-fifths of one-fourth, which is
one-fifth of the whole, or original quantity, which, added
to the three-fourths obtained by the first, operation, make
the sum of nineteen-twentieths contained in 7 fluid
ounces of solution, a little less than three-twentieths
to the fluid ounce. The first operation produced five-
twentieths to the fluid ounce, therefore there is a reduc¬
tion of a little more than two-twentieths to the fluid
ounce by the second maceration. Theoretically this
procedure may be carried to infinity before, entirely
exhausting the material (see table 4). Practically the
exhaustion will not be as thorough as our example repre¬
sents. From considerations yet to be named, the writer
believes it is impossible to obtain an expressed liquid con¬
taining substances of the plant capable of being dissolved
by the menstruum, in the great proportion between suc¬
cessive percolates indicated by this ideal example. It is
invariably found that a tenth maceration will produce an
appreciable amount of extractive matter, and when we
come to study the constituents of plants and their
relations to menstruum, it will be doubtless accepted
that such must be the case. As the matter stands,
those that favour this process cannot well object to the
argument and table, inasmuch as it admits of the
greatest possible depletion of the powder. Others may,
perhaps, with good cause, argue that theoretical propor¬
tion of soluble matter extracted will be less than the
above upon the assumption that the menstruum and the
inert portion of the powder are alike impregnated with
soluble matter, and that the actual proportion should be
between menstruum squeezed from the mixture and
entire residuum. Table 5 will give this view of the
case, using the same data for calculations employed
for table 4. Another trouble attending this process in
practice is the necessity of finely dividing or pulverizing
each residue before remaceration, an operation tedious
and difficult to accomplish in the majority of cases,
especially when large amounts of material are worked.
I have never succeeded to my satisfaction in a general
way, without passing the residuum through a sieve, after
each expression, an operation not easily accomplished,
especially with substances which agglutinate, although in
certain instances the process is preferable to any other.
Our aim we understand to be the transference of soluble
matter from material to liquid, if possible representing
a grain of the material with a minim of the solution.

iThis latter result we have not yet accomplished, and
cannot by either process of maceration examined. In
the first case we operate directly against the laws of
nature. W e are continually transferring a dense solu¬
tion upward. !£n the latter example we neglect to take
advantage of nature's greatest force. We use manual
labour to accomplish, in the way of separating the liquid,
what gravitation will do for us to any extent, and better
in every particular. Now let us modify the operation by

repeating the experiment of maceration exactly as here¬
tofore, but in a vessel with a layer of cotton at the
bottom, and an exit below, care being taken to avoid
stirring the powder. After the usual maceration,
cautiously open the exit and allow the liquid to escape
at the very bottom of the powder. As a consequence we
obtain the densest liquid at first, and substitute in its
stead at the surface perfectly fresh menstruum, with the
advantage that the liquid extracted has always passed
through the entire material. Thus we find the product
is constantly decreasing in colour and flavour, and the
powder is continually submitted to the action of a moving
menstruum.

We use no manual labour after preparing the apparatus,
and have no pressed residue to pulverize. We simply
connect maceration as before examined to one of nature s
most familiar laws, and in this latter experiment have an
exemplification of the process which Professor Procter
recommended for the preparation of fluid extracts and
tinctures. It is only a modification of the processes
previously examined, differing in the manner in which
the liquid is separated from the powder. It is simple in
operation, easy in manipulation, and productive of satis¬
factory results when properly applied. It is called perco¬
lation, under which name we shall perhaps be led to
examine some points of interest connected therewith,
and some modifications which have been suggested as
improvements over Professor Procter s process, very
properly denominated simple percolation.

Professor Procter, in bringing before pharmacists this
process to deplete a powder of soluble matters laid no
claim to originality, excepting in the application of the
principle for the purpose of making tinctures and fluid
extracts. He certainly was aware that the process had
been in use, for a similar process was recommended by
Count Bumford for preparing coffee; and in 1817 Mr.
C. Johnson applied the principle to the extraction of
cinchona bark, saying : “ The machine I use is similar to
one made several years ago by Edmund Loyd and Co ,
178, Strand, and does not differ essentially from any of
those described in Count Rumford’s eighteenth essay,
and in the Repertory of Arts, for April and May,
1813.” Of the practical application of the process, Mr.
Johnson remarks, “that in the Lancaster Public Dis¬
pensary this method is found to afford a better prepara¬
tion than was formerly obtained from twice the quantity
of cinchona.” (‘Annals of Phil.,’ vol. ix., p. 451.)

I am informed by Mr. Charles Mohr that Mr. Pelouze,
as early as 1834, introduced percolation into the labora¬
tory of the chemist in his method of preparing tannic
acid, calling it “extraction by the process of displace¬
ment.” Virtually, percolation had been employed for
ages before with civilized and even partly barbarous
nations, as, for example, in making saltpetre and potash.
Yet, while the idea was not new, its application to . the
preparation of tinctures and fluid extracts was original,
as far as I can learn, and thus we are as much indebted
to Professor Procter as though the principle for separating
soluble from insoluble matters was new in the world’s
history.

Professor Procter, by bringing forward this simple
process and simple form of apparatus for the preparation
of tinctures and fluid extracts, decreased the labour, the
time, and the expense. The memory of . Prof essor Procter
will ever be dear to American pharmacists, as well as to
those across the great water. His field of labour was a
wide one, and yet, perhaps, we are more indebted to him
for adapting the process of simple percolation to pharma¬
ceuticals than the majority of us are apt to imagine.
We cannot value his gift too highly; beautiful as it
is in its simplicity, it is not less valuable than simple.

In conducting percolation, the object being the pre¬
paration of fluid extracts, many points are essential other
than the considerations mentioned heretofore. Of those
the most essential to be considered are the vessel em¬
ployed, the material operated upon, the menstruum used,

196

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 4, 1880

and the manner of manipulation. Accepting the argu¬
ment that percolation is for the economical extraction of
soluble materials, it is of the utmost importance to study
influence of contact between the menstruum and the
material whose partial solution is to be effected, as we
have already seen that contact, continued for a length of
time, is of first necessity. Thus, if we place a pound of
powdered sugar, or any other soluble substance, within a
cylindrical percolator of such diameter that the space
occupied is 1 inch in height, and cautiously add, evenly
upon the upper surface, diluted alcohol, admitting for the
sake of argrxment that the menstruum passes evenly and
regularly through the powder, the diluted alcohol in the
first of the percolate will have been in contact with 1
inch of material. That which follows will have suc¬
cessively less material to operate upon, for the first
portions of percolate are partly made up of dissolved
sugar or extracted matter. Thus each preceding
portion of the percolate lessens the material in the
percolator, and lessens the height, thus decreasing the
contact of any that may succeed, until finally only a
thin layer of sugar remains, between which and the
passing menstruum the contact is very slight indeed. At
last the sugar disappears. For this reason, even where
the material is completely soluble, our percolate should
theoretically become less and less charged with dissolved
matters as percolation progresses (unless it be saturated
to a certain point of the percolate), and at la-t a com¬
paratively large amount of menstruum should contain
but a small amount of dissolved material. In con¬
nection with the above argument tables 6 and 7 may be
introduced.

Let us now imagine a like amount of powdered sugar
in a percolate of less diameter. The height will be
increased and the contact between the first part of
percolate and powder will be greater in proportion
to the increased height. Allowing, for argument,
the material to occupy 8 inches in height, it will
follow that the menstruum of the first portion of
percolate will have passed through eight times
the height of sugar that the corresponding portion
did in the former experiment, although the real
amount of sugar was the same. Now, again, we
have the afore-mentioned rule regarding decrease of
contact. Each successive part of the percolate lessens
the sugar in the percolator, and decreases the possible
contact (with sugar) of all the menstruum that may
follow, and under like motion of liquid the sugar
decreases in each succeeding part of the percolate. It
will be seen that, theoretically, each portion of the men¬
struum in the smaller percolator must have greater con¬
tact with the material than the corresponding menstruum
of the larger, if both percolate with the same rapidity,
although in both examples we operate upon similar
amounts of material. Arguing therefrom we are in¬
duced to anticipate that unless the percolate from the
percolator of greater diameter is saturated with sugar,
that which corresponds from the smaller will contain
more dissolved matter, for after 1 inch — the depth of
sugar in the percolator of greatest diameter — is passed
there remains in the smaller 7 inches of contact during
which solution may progress. Calculating accordingly
we may expect that if we spread a pound of sugar so
that it will occupy a depth of 1 inch in a percolator, and
percolate through it diluted alcohol enough to produce 16
fluid ounces of percolate, we will fail to obtain as much
sugar in solution as though the sugar had been placed in
a vessel of less diameter, thereby increasing the contact
between menstruum and sugar. Applying the same rule
to larger and smaller amounts of other substances, we
must conclude that unless there be counterbalancing
influences the amount of dissolved matter in a percolate
must increase and decrease with alteration in the height
of powder, other conditions being identical, and amount
of percolate passing from each in a given time. In con¬
nection with this portion of the argument I will invite

attention to tables 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, in which tem¬
perature, rapidity of percolation, and menstruums of
corresponding examples were identical.

Let us not infer, however, that the conditions cannot
render the foregoing to an extent inaccurate. If our
material be placed loosely in the percolator as a con¬
sequence the first portion of menstruum will pass rapidly. I ,
If after the first fraction of percolate is obtained the flow
be retarded by means of a stopcock, that which follows
may be held in contact with the material some time
longer than the first; after the second fraction is re¬
served the flow may be again retarded, and thus. more
actual contact of time induced between menstruum and
material than was obtained at first, although there is
continually less material within the percolator. With
some substances another benefit to be derived by the
latter percolates arises from the fact that if the material
be not finely divided or pressed firmly into the percolator
the first portion of percolate flows over the particles and
through the interstices between, thus preventing the
menstruum flow coming into close contact with soluble
materials. Gradually, however, the material may absorb
menstruum, aud expanding fill up those interstices, thus
forcing the passing percolate to seek more and more the
capillary passages through the material, and thus give a
larger amount of dissolved material to a portion of per¬
colate succeeding a certain amount of the first. To an
extent this result may occur from a somewhat similar
cause, even with materials perfectly soluble in the men¬
struum, as, for an example, sugar or salt. With small
amounts of loosely packed granulated sugar the first part
of a percolate of diluted alcohol or water quickly finds
the exit of the percolator, but the surfaces of the particles
are in the meantime softened and the mass contracts.

The interstices become filled with thick syrup or solu¬
tion, and thus the percolates that follow are for a time
retarded (see tables 12 and 13). It will be noticed that
the foregoing discrepancies result simply from imperfect
contact, or, as we may say, imperfect maceration.

We will now consider another phase of the subject.

Will a certain amount of material, occupying a height of
10 inches, yield to corresponding portions of percolate
less dissolved matter than a smaller amount in a perco¬
lator of such size as to make the height 20 inches ? If
we accept the foregoing arguments we must conclude
this will be the case to a certain point of the operation,
unless the percolate from each percolator is saturated, as
each drop of menstruum passing through the one will
come into contact with a larger portion of material than
that from the other, until a certain amount of soluble
matter is carried from the smallest amount of material,
when it will naturally follow that the percolate from the
largest amount of material will contain more dissolved
matter. In other words, the first portion of percolate
from the material occupying the greatest height will
excel the other, while afterwards the case will be re¬
versed. Perpendicular height should govern to this
extent the result from this standpoint regardless of
quantity. For the greatest contact between powder
and menstruums, moving with like rapidity, must be
where there is greater height of powder regardless
of breadth. Thus we are brought to tables 14 and
15 in which corresponding parts of percolates are tabu¬
lated.

In considering now that phase of contact between
menstruum and solid, called maceration, in connection
with percolation, one cannot find any influence at work
arising from a force other than those simply due to a
prolongation of contact before considered. The passing
menstruum is retarded, thus permitting a longer time for
the action of the solvent. In treating of this entire
subject let us bear constantly in mind that our aim is to
dissolve solid substances, and that the .various modifica¬
tions of the processes are simply influences affecting
solution.

( To he continued.)

September 4, i860.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

197

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , boohs for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary , 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal ,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. J ournJ

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

The public proceedings of the Association having
been, as stated last week, opened on Wednesday
evening by the address of the President, Professor
Ramsay, which was delivered before a moderate
audience, the meetings of the various Sections have
since been carried on with considerable vigour.
The meetings have been wisely held principally
in buildings situated towards the west end of
Swansea, where, being separated a considerable
distance from the smoke-belching chimneys of the
Landore suburb, a nearer approach to a tolerable
atmosphere exists than is to be found perhaps in
any other part of the town.

The addresses of the Presidents of the Sections
have as a whole been very interesting, an unusual
proportion of them dealing with topics interesting
to the readers of this Journal, and which it is
therefore proposed to take an early opportunity of
reproducing. Among them may be mentioned the
Address of the President of the Mathematical
and Physical Science Section, Professor W. Grylls
Adams, who discoursed on the constitution of matter
principally in the light thrown upon it by recent
spectroscopic investigation. Dr. Joseph H. Gilbert
addressed the Chemical Section upon a subject with
which his name has long been closely associated,
the application of chemistry to agriculture. In
the Geology Section, the President, Dr. H. C.
Sorby, took for his subject the comparative struc¬
ture of artificial slags and erupted rocks. In the
Biology Section, Dr. Gunther spoke with the au¬
thority belonging to him in virtue of his official
position on the use and management of museums,
incidentally describing the arrangement proposed
to be adopted in the new natural history museum
at South Kensington, whilst in the Anatomy and
Physiology Department of the same Section Pro¬
fessor F. M. Balfour took for his text “ the coming
of age of the origin of species.” These presidential
addresses have been followed by the reading of a
goodly number of papers in the different sections,
besides which there has been a lecture on Primeval
Man, by Professor W. Boyd Dawkins, and another
on Mental Imagery, by Mr. Francis Galton.
These, with the usual soirees and a large number
of excursions, have constituted ample material for

occupying the time of the scientific visitors to the
Principality.

At a general meeting of the Committee on Mon¬
day last, the subject of the meetings in 1881 and 1882
came under discussion. It was decided at Sheffield
that the jubilee meeting of the Association should
be held in York, where its first meeting took place,
and now it was unanimously resolved that Sir John
Lubbock should be the President of that meeting.
With respect to the meeting in 1882, invitations have
been received from four towns, Southampton, South-
port, Nottingham and Leicester. Leicester, however,
withdraws for the present from the competition, and
the result of the first vote was unfavourable to
Nottingham. Eventually it was decided to accept
the invitation from Southampton by 27 votes
against 22 given for Southport.

The concluding meeting was held on Wednesday,
when it was announced that only 914 tickets had
been issued, being the smallest number issued in
any year since 1852. The Association adjourned
until the 31st of August, 1881.

THE MANUFACTURE OF BOGUS DIPLOMAS.

For several years past a considerable scandal has
existed in consequence of the facility with which it
has been possible to obtain diplomas purporting to
be issued by more or less learned bodies, though the
sole value of such diplomas consisted in their affecting
to grant titles and degrees resembling those conferred
by universities of repute as a testimony of the holders
having satisfied the requirements of a university
curriculum and examination. Certain universities
on the Continent, from which better things might
have been expected, have not been free from this
taint, but the principal manufactories, like many
other big things, have had their home across the
Atlantic, and the name of Pennsylvania has long
been malodorous in this respect.

Many attempts have been made to stop this
traffic, and foreign governments have pressed their
complaints concerning it upon the Washington
authorities, but hitherto the evil has not been
effectually grappled with by them, and apparently
it has been left to the volunteer efforts of the Editor
of the Philadelphia Record to break up some of the
most notorious rings engaged in it. Stripped of the
sensational paragraphing which seems to be in¬
separable from American journalism, there is
enough in what may be deemed the sober facts
to make one ponder upon the public estimation
of the relative value of titles in this age of quackery.

The “ American University of Philadelphia ”
seems to have been started by a man named
Buchanan, formerly a porter, but who had in
1867 somehow obtained a charter from the State
legislature “ empowering him to confer all manner
« of degrees upon those who had attended a course
« of study.” In so reckless a manner were diplomas
distributed under this authority— some being said to

198

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 4, 1880

have been distributed gratuitously among coloured
voters to influence local elections — that at length a
committee was appointed by the Senate to investi¬
gate the scandal, the result being a resolution to repeal
the charter. But the power of the Senate to repeal it
was disputed in the law courts by Buchanan, and
eventually successfully, and in the meanwhile he
fell back upon another charter that he had obtained
for the “ American University,” which had been
overlooked. This contretemps seems to have given
an impetus and additional audacity to the move¬
ment, so that when recently the proprietors of the
Philadelphia Record entered into a compact with
the legal authorities to find the funds necessary for
an attempt to break up the system, the agent em¬
ployed, it is said, obtained for a sum equal to about
i>45 sterling, no less than eight diplomas from seven
“ universities ” and “ colleges,” five being for the
degree of M.D., and one each for those of D.D.,
LL.D, and D.C.L.

The story of the schemes by which several di¬
plomas were obtained by the same person under
different names is very amusing, but cannot be
recapitulated here. One of the most expensive —
having cost twenty-five hours in time and £26
in cash — was for the curious degree of “ Master in
Electro-Therapeutics,” and was declared to be
granted to one “ qui bene curriculo studiorum
“praescripto perfunctus est, et quern justo et
“ rigido examine prius habito, hoc gradu dignis-
“simum censuimus.” The result was that “Dr.”
Buchanan and some of his colleagues were arrested,
he being charged with devising a scheme to defraud
by means of the Post Office of the United States.
A few days afterwards proceedings were commenced
against the trustees and officers of the “ Philadelphia
University of Medicine and Surgery,” concerning
whom it is in evidence that in conferring degrees
upon a person of whom they knew nothing except
the name they had made an infant two years old an
M.D. and LL.D.

Some idea may be formed of the extent to which
this traffic extended from the statement that when
Buchanan was arrested the officers discovered on
the premises nearly half a ton weight of blank di¬
plomas, some of them signed by the “ faculty ” and
prepared for the insertion of the names of buyers.
Receipts were also found showing that fully three
thousand diplomas have been sold during the past
six years, and it is estimated that during the last
twenty- two years Buchanan has sold at least eleven
thousand diplomas.

The Philadelphia Record is carrying on the work
of exposure with great zeal and is evidently deter¬
mined to spare no effort to tread the swindle out of
existence. Column after column is filled with lists
of persons who are alleged to have countenanced
these “universities” and those who have obtained
diplomas from them. It appears, however, that the
charters of Buchanan’s colleges are still valid, and

therefore the diplomas issued from them, when
regular, although they may have little or no intrinsic
value, are possessed of some legal status. In the
State of Pennsylvania which chartered these colleges
the diplomas must be recognized in the courts unless
shown to be irregular. Fortunately many of them
are so, and it is so far satisfactory to learn that all
their diplomas for the titles of Graduate in
Pharmacy and Doctor of Dental Surgery are in¬
formal and worthless, as the colleges were not
authorized to confer those degrees.

It is needless to say that our contemporary has
our hearty sympathy in its labours, the difficulty of
which is shown by the success with which all pre¬
vious official attempts in the same direction had been
baffled. We notice a statement in the Medical
Times and Gazette that the chief culprit, Buchanan,
who was admitted to bail, has disappeared, and it is
conjectured that he has committed suicide. But
there is little in the history of his previous career
suggestive that he would adopt such a method of

getting out of a difficulty.

_

EXPERIMENTAL CULTIVATION IN JAMAICA.

In a series of papers relating to Her Majesty’s
colonial possessions, recently presented to Parlia¬
ment, there is some interesting information as to the
results attending some cultivation experiments that
are being made in the island of J amaica. Cinchona
cultivation seems to promise well, the fact that bark
of the best quality can be produced in the island
being said to be demonstrated and the establishment
of a remunerative plantation being considered to be
only a matter of time. A quantity of seed of the
carnauba palm ( Copernica cerifera ) has been intro¬
duced among other Brazilian plants, and hundreds of
trees are reported to be growing. An experiment '
with the cocoa plant ( Theobroma Cacao) does not seem
to have been so successful. In the orange cultiva¬
tion there has been a considerable development. In
the Castleton Gardens the clove has borne fruit
freely and trees have been raised from seed for
distribution. The cinnamon ( Cinnamomum Zeylani-
cum ) has not thriven there, but the Cinnamomum
Cassia grows luxuriantly, and plants of it are eagerly
sought by the peasantry, who use the bark for
flavouring tea and medicinal purposes.

The Liberian coffee plant has also been introduced
and the trees first received have borne a small crop
of fruit. Concerning this plant the Superintendent
of the Castleton Gardens reports that taking equal
numbers of average fruit of the two species (Arabian
and Liberian), grown side by side on the same
ground, the relative weight of the Liberian was as
eight to three of the Arabian. The Liberian variety
is slow in maturing, taking fully twelve months
from the season of flowering, and it is thought
probable that it will not be so easily pulped as the
ordinary kind.

THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

The meeting of the Council, which should have
taken place on Wednesday last, -was postponed in
consequence of a quorum not having bee formed.

September 4, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

199

IPrambtugs of Scientific Societies,

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

The President’s Address.

ON THE RECURRENCE OP CERTAIN PHENOMENA IN
GEOLOGICAL TIME.

BY PROFESSOR RAMSAY.

(Concluded from 'page 188.)

Volcanoes.

The oldest volcanic products of which I have personal
knowledge are of Lower Silurian age. These in Wales
consist of two distinct series, the oldest of which, chiefly
formed of felspathic lavas and volcanic ashes, lie in and
near the base of the Llandeilo beds, and the second, after
a long interval of repose, were ejected and intermingled
with the strata forming the middle part of the Bala beds.
The Lower Silurian rocks of Montgomeryshire, Shropshire,
Radnorshire, Pembrokeshire, Cumberland and West¬
moreland are to a great extent also the result of volcanic
eruptions, and the same kind of volcanic rocks occur in
the Lower Silurian strata of Ireland. I know of no true
volcanic rocks in the Upper Silurian series.

In the Old Red Sandstone of Scotland lavas and volcanic
ashes are of frequent occurrence, interstratified with the
ordinary lacustrine sedimentary strata. Volcanic rocks
are also intercalated among the Devonian strata of
Devonshire. I know of none in America or on the
continent of Europe.

In Scotland volcanic products are common throughout
nearly the whole of the Carboniferous sub-formations, and
they are found also associated with Permian strata.

I come now to Mesozoic or Secondary epochs. Of
Jurassic age (Lias and Oolites), it is stated by Lyell with
some doubt, that true volcanic products occur in the
Morea and also in the Apennines, and it seems probable,
as stated by Medlicott and Blanford, that the Rajmahal
traps may also be of Jurassic age.

In the Cordillera of South America, Darwin has
described a great series of volcanic rocks intercalated
among the Cretaceo- oolitic strata that forms so much of
the chain ; and the same author in his ‘ Geological
Observations in South America,’ states that the C >rdil-
lera has been, probably with some quiescent periods, a
source of volcanic matter from an epoch anterior to our
Cretaceo-oolitic formation to the present day. In the
Deccan volcanic traps rest on Cretaceous beds, and are
overlaid by Nummulitic strata, and according to Medlicott
and Blanford, these were poured out in the interval
between Middle Cretaceous and Lower Eocene times.

In Europe the only instance I know of a volcano of
Eocene age is that of Monte Bolca near Verona, where
the volcanic products are associated with the fissile lime¬
stone of that area.

The well-preserved relics of Miocene volcanoes are
prevalent over many parts of Europe such as Auvergne,
and The Velay, where the volcanic action began in Lower
Miocene times, and was continued into the Pliocene epoch.
The volcanoes of the Eifel are also of the same general age,
together with the ancient Miocene volcanoes of Hungary.

The volcanic rocks of the Azores, Canaries, and
Madeira are of Miocene age, while in Tuscany there are
extinct volcanoes that began inlate Miocene, and lasted into
times contemporaneous with the English Coralline Crag.
In the north of Spain also,' at Olot in Catalonia, there
are perfect craters and cones remaining of volcanoes that
began to act in newer Pliocene times ani continued in
action to a later geological date. To these I must add
the great coulees of Miocene lava, so well known in the
Inner Hebrides, on the mainland near Oban, etc., in
Antrim in the north of Irelaiid, in the Faroe Islands,
Greenland, and Franz- Joseph Land. It is needless, and
would be tiresome, further to multiply instances, for

enough has been said to show that in nearly all geological
ages volcanoes have played an important part, now in’ one
region, now in another, from very early Paleozoic times
down to the present day ; and, as far as my knowledge
extends, at no period of geological history is there any
sign of their having played a more important part than
they do in the epoch in which we live.

Mountain Chains.

The mountain chains of the world are of different
geological ages, some of them of great antiquity, and
some of them comparatively modern.

It is well known that in North America the Lower
Silurian rocks lie uncomformably on the Laurentian strata,
and also that the latter had undergone a thorough
metamorphism and been thrown into great anticlinal and
synclinal folds, accompanied by intense minor convolutions,
before the deposition of the oldest Silurian formation,
that of the Potsdam Sandstone. Disturbances of the
nature alluded to imply beyond a doubt that the Lauren¬
tian rocks formed a high mountain chain of pre-Silurian
date, which has since constantly been borne away and
degraded by subaerial denudation.

In Shropshire, and in parts of North Wales, and in
Cumberland and Westmoreland, the Lower Silurian rocks
by upheaval formed hilly land before the beginning of
the Upper Silurian epoch, and it is probable that the
Lower Silurian gneiss of Scotland formed monntains at
the same time, probably very much higher than now.
However that may be, it is certain that these mountains
formed highland before and during the deposition of the Old
Red Sandstone, and the upheaval of the great Scandinavian
chain (of which the Highlands may be said to form an
outlying portion) also preceded the deposition of the Old
Red Strata. In both of these mountain regions the rocks
have since undergone considerable movements, which in
the main seem to have been movements of elevation,
accompanied undoubtedly by that constant atmospheric
degradation to which all high land is especially subject.

The next great European chain in point of age is that
of the Ural, which, according to Murchison, is of pre-
Permian age, a fact proved by the Permian conglomerates
which were formed from the waste of the older strata.
On these they lie quite unconformably and nearly un¬
disturbed on the western flank of the mountains.

In North America the great chain of the Alleghany
Mountains underwent several disturbances, the last (a
great one) having taken place after the deposition of the
Carboniferous rocks, and before that of the New Red Sand¬
stone. The vast mountainous region included under the
name of the Rocky Mountains, after several successive
disturbances of upheaval, did not attain its present de¬
velopment till after the Miocene or Middle Tertiary
epoch.

In South America, notwithstanding many oscillations
of level recorded by Darwin, the main great disturbance
of the strata that form the chain of the Andes took place
apparently in post - Cretaceous times.

The Alps, the rudiments of which began in more
ancient times, received their greatest disturbance and
upheaval in post-Eocene days, and were again raised at
least 5000 feet (I believe much more) at the close of the
Miocene epoch. The Apennines, the Pyrenees, the Car¬
pathians, and the great mountain region on the east of
the Adriatic and southward into Greece, are of the same
general age, and this is also the case in regard to the
Atlas in North Africa and the Caucasus on the borders
of Europe and Asia. In the north of India the history
of the Great Himalayan range closely coincides with
that of the Alps, for while the most powerful known
disturbance and elevation of the range took place after
the close of the Eocene epoch, a subsequent elevation
occurred in post- Miocene times closely resembling and at
least equal to that sustained by the Alps at the same
period.

It would probably not be difficult by help of extra

200

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 4, 1880.

research to add other cases to this notice of recurrences
of the upheaval and origin of special mountain chains,
some of which I have spoken of from personal know¬
ledge ; but enough has been given to show the bearing
of this question on the argument I have in view, namely,
that of repetition of the same kind of events throughout
all known geological time.

Salt and Salt Lakes.

I now come to the discussion of the circumstances that
produced numerous recurrences of the development of
beds of various salts (chiefly common rock-salt) in many
formations, which it will be seen are to a great extent
connected with continental or inland conditions. In
comparatively rainless countries salts are often deposited
on the surface of the ground by the effect of solar evapo¬
ration of moisture from the soil. Water dissolves certain
salts in combination with the ingredients of the under¬
lying rocks and soils, and brings it to the surface, and
when solar evaporation ensues the salt or salts are de¬
posited on the ground. This is well known to be the
case in and near the region of the Great Salt Lake in
North America, and in South America in some of the
nearly rainless districts of the Cordillera extensive surface
deposits of salts of various kinds are common. The
surface of the ground around the Dead Sea is also in
extra dry seasons covered with salt, the result of evapo¬
ration, and in the upper provinces of India (mentioned
by Medlicott and Blanford) “ many tracts of land in the
Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain are rendered worthless for
cultivation by an efflorescence of salt known in the
North-West Provinces as reh,” while every geographer
knows that in Central Asia from the western shore of
the Caspian Sea to the Kinshan Mountains of Mongolia,
with rare exceptions nearly every lake is salt in an area
at least 3500 miles in length. This circumstance is due
to the fact that all so-called fresh-water springs, and
therefore all rivers, contain small quantities of salts in
solution only appreciable to the chemist, and by the
constant evaporation of pure water from the lakes, in the
course of time, it necessarily happens that these salts get
concentrated in the water by the effect of solar heat,
and, if not already begun, precipitation of solid salts
must ensue.

The earliest deposits of rock-salt that I know about
have been described by Mr. A. B. Wynne, of the Geo¬
logical Survey of India, in his memoir ‘ On the Geology
of the Salt Range in the Punjab.’* The beds of salt are
of great thickness, and along with gypsum and dolomitic
layers occur in marl of a red colour like our Keuper marl.
This colour I have for many years considered to be, in
certain cases, apt to indicate deposition of sediments in
inland lakes, salt or fresh, as the case may be, and with
respect to these strata in the Punjab Salt Range, authors
seem to be in doubt whether they were formed in inland
lakes or in lagoons near the seaboard, which at intervals
were liable to be flooded by the sea, and in which in the
hot seasons salts were deposited by evaporation caused
by solar heat. For my argument it matters but little
which of these was the true physical condition of the
land of the time, though I incline to think the inland
lake theory most probable. The age of the strata asso¬
ciated with this salt is not yet certainly ascertained. In
* The Geology of India,’ Medlicott and Blanford incline
to consider them of Lower Silurian age, and Mr. Wynne,
in his ‘ Geology of the Salt Range,’ places the salt and
gypsum beds doubtfully on the same geological horizon.

The next salt-bearing formation that I shall notice is
the Salina or Onondaga Salt Group of North America,
which forms part of the Upper Silurian rocks, and lies
immediately above the Niagara Limestone. It is rich
in gypsum and in salt-brine, often of a very concentrated
character, “ which can only be derived from original

* Many earlier notices and descriptions of the Salt
Range might be quoted, but Mr. Wynne’s is enough for
my purpose.

depositions of salt,” and it is also supposed by Dr. T.
Sterry Hunt to contain solid rock-salt 115 feet in thick-'
ness at the depth of 2085 feet near Saginaw Bay, in
Michigan.

In the Lower Devonian strata of Russia near Lake
Ilmen, Sir R. Murchison describes salts springs at Starai
Russa. Sinkings “ made in the hope of penetrating to
the source of these salt springs,” reached a depth of 600
feet without the discovery of rock salt, “and we are left
in doubt whether the real source of the salt is in the
lowest beds of the Devonian rocks or even in the Silurian
system.”

In the United States brine springs also occur in Ohiof
Pennsylvania and Virginia, in Devonian rocks.

In Michigan salts are found from the Carboniferous
down to the Devonian series ; and in other parts of the
United States, Western Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio,
Illinois and Kentucky, from the lower Coal-measures
salts are derived which must have been deposited in
inland areas, since even in the depths of inland seas that-
communicate with the great ocean, such as the Mediter¬
ranean and the Red Sea, no great beds of salt can be
deposited. Before such strata of salt can be formed,,
supersaturation must have taken place.

In the North of England at and near Middlesbrough,
two deep-bore holes were made some years ago in the-
hope of reaching the Coal-measures of the Durham coal¬
field. One of them at Salthome was sunk to a depth of
1355 feet. First they passed through 74 feet of super¬
ficial clay and gravel, next through about 1175 feet of
red sandstones and marls, with beds of rock-salt and
gypsum. The whole of these strata (excepting the clay
and gravel) evidently belong to the Keuper marls and
sandstones of the upper part of our New Red series.
Beneath these they passed through 67 feet of dolomitic
limestone, which in this neighbourhood forms the upper
part of the Permian series, and beneath the limestone
the strata consist of 27 feet of gypsum and rock-salt and
marls, one of the beds of rock-salt having a thickness of
14 feet. This bed of Permian salt is of some importance,
since I have been convinced for long that the British
Permian strata were deposited, not in the sea, but in
salt lakes comparable in some respects to the great salt
lake of Utah, and in its restricted fauna to the far
greater salt lake of the Caspian Sea. The gypsum, the
dolomite or magnesian limestone, the red marls covered
with rain-pittings, the sun-cracks, and the impressions
of footprints of reptiles made in the soft sandy marls
when the water was temporarily lowered by the solar
evaporation of successive summers, all point to the fact
that our Permian strata were not deposited in the sea,
but in a salt lake or lakes once for a time connected
with the sea. The same may be said of other Permian
areas in the central parts of the Continent of Europe,
such as Stassfurt and Anhalt, Halle and Altern in
Thuringia, and Sperenberg, near Berlin, and also in
India.*

Neither do I think that the Permian strata of Russia,
as described by Sir Roderick Murchison, were necessarily,
as he implies, deposited in a wide ocean. According to
his view all marine life universally declined to a minimum
after the close of the Carboniferous period, that decline
beginning with the Permian and ending with the
Triassic epoch. Those who believe in the doctrine of
evolution will find it hard to accept the idea which this
implies, namely, that all the prolific forms of the
Jurassic series sprang from the scanty faunas of the
Permian and Triassic epochs. On the contrary, it seems
to me more rational to attribute the poverty of the faunas
of these epochs to accidental abnormal conditions in
certain areas, that for a time partially disappeared
during the deposition of the continental Muschelkalk
which is absent in the British Triassic series.

In the whole of the Russian Permian strata only

* See ‘ Physical Geology and Geography of Great Britain,’
5th edition, where the question is treated in more detail.

September 4, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

201

fifty-three species were known at the time of the publica¬
tion of ‘Russia and the Ural Mountains,’ and I have
not heard that this scanty list has been subsequently
increased. I am therefore inclined to believe that the
red marls, grits, sandstones, conglomerates, and great
masses of gypsum and rock-salt were all formed in a flat
inland area which was occasionally liable to be invaded
by the sea during intermittent intervals of minor de¬
pression, sometimes in one area, sometimes in another,
and the fauna small in size and poor in numbers is one of
the results, while the deposition of beds of salt and
gypsum is another. If so, then in the area now called
Russia, in sheets of inland Permian water, deposits were
formed strictly analogous to those of Central Europe
and of Britain, but on a larger scale.

Other deposits of salt deep beneath overlying younger
strata are stated to occur at Bromberg in Prussia, and
many more might be named as lying in the same forma¬
tion in northern Germany.

If we now turn to the Triassic series it is known that
it consists of only two chief members in Britain, the Bunter
sandstones and the Keuper or New Red marls, the
Muschelkalk of the Continent being absent in our islands.
No salt is found in the Bunter sandstones of England,
but it occurs in these strata at Schdningen in Brunswick
and also near Hanover. In the lower part of the
Keuper series deposits of rock-salt are common in
England and Ireland. At Almersleben, near Calbe,
rock-salt is found in the Muschelkalk, and also at Erfurt
and Slottenheim in Thuringia and at Wilhelmsgltick in
Wurtemburg. In other Triassic areas it is known at
Honigsen, in Hanover, in middle Keuper beds. In the
red shales at Sperenberg and Lieth on the Lower Elbe,
salt was found at the depth of 3000 feet, and at Stassfurth
the salt is said to be “ several hundred yards thick.”

In Central Spain rock-salt is known, and at Tarragona,
Taen, and also at Santander in the north of Spain, all in
Triassic strata. Other localities may be named in the
Upper Trias, such as the Salzkammergut, Aussee,
Iiallstatt, Ischl, Hallein in Salzburg, Halle in the Tyrol,
and Berchesgaden in Bavaria.

In the Salt Range of mountains in Northern India
saliferous strata are referred with some doubt by Medli-
cott and Blanford 'to the Triassic strata.

In the Jurassic series (Lias and Oolites), salt and
gypsum are not uncommon. One well-known instance
occurs at Berg in the valley of the Rhone in Switzei’land,
where salt is derived from the Lias. Salt and gypsum
are also found in Jurassic rocks at Burgos in Spain. At
Gap in France there is gypsum, and salt is found in the
Austrian Alps in Oolitic limestone.

In the Cretaceous rocks salt occurs, according to Lartet,
at Jebel Usdom by the Dead Sea, and other authorities
state that it occurs in the Pyrenees and at Biskra in
Africa, where “ mountains of salt ” are mentioned as of
Cretaceous age. The two last-named localities are
possibly uncertain ; but whether or not this is the case,
it is not the less certain that salt has been deposited in
Cretaceous rocks, and judging by analogy, probably in
inland areas of that epoch.

In the Eocene or Older Tertiary formation, rock-salt
is found at Cardona in Spain, and at Kohat in the
Punjab it occurs at the base of Nummulitic beds. It is
also known at Mandi in India in strata supposed to be
of Nummulitic Eocene age.

The record does not end here, for a zone of rock-salt
lies in Sicily at the top of the Salina clays in Lower
Miocene beds, and in Miocene strata gypsum is found at
several places in Spain, while salt also occurs in beds that
are doubtfully of Miocene age (but may be later) at
Wielitzka in Poland, Kalusz in Galicia, Bukowina, and
also in Transylvania.

In Pliocene, or Later Tertiary formations, thick beds
pf gypsum are known in Zante, and strata of salt occur
m Roumania and Galicia, while in Pliocene rocks, accord¬
ing to Dana, or in post-Tertiary beds, according to others,

a thick bed of pure salt was penetrated to a depth of 38
feet at Petet Anse in Louisiana. This ends my list,
though I have no doubt that, by further research, many
more localities might be given. Enough, however, has
been done to show that rock-salt land other salts) are of
frequent recurrence throughout all geological time, and as
in my opinion it is impossible that common salt can be
deposited in the open ocean, it follows that this and other
salts must have been preeijoitated from solutions, which
by the effect of solar evaporation became at length super¬
saturated, like those of the Dead Sea, the great salt lake
of Utah, and in other places which it is superfluous to
name.

Fresh-water. Lakes and Estuaries.

I now come to the subject of recurrences of fresh- water
conditions both in lakes and estuaries. In the introduction
to the ‘Geology of India,’ by Messrs. Medlicott and
Blanford, mention is made of the Blaini and Krol rocks
as probably occupying “ hollows formed by denudation in
the old gneissic rocks,” and the inference is drawn that
“if this be a correct view, it is probable that the cis-
Himalayan Palaeozoic rocks are in great part of fresh¬
water origin, and that the present crystalline axis of the
Western Himalayas approximately coincides with the
shore of the ancient Palaeozoic continent, of which the
Indian peninsula formed a portion.’’ The Krol rocks are
classed broadly with “Permian and Carboniferous” de¬
posits, but the Blaini beds are doubtfully considered to
belong to Upper Silurian strata. If this point be by-
and-by established, this is the earliest known occurrence
of fresh-water strata in any of the more ancient Palaeozoic
formations.

It is a fact worthy of notice that the colour of the
strata formed in old lakes (whether fresh or salt) of
Palasozic and Mesozoic age is apt to be red: a circum¬
stance due to the fact that each little grain of sand or
mud is usually coated with a very thin pellicle of peroxide
of iron. Whether or not the red and purple Cambrian
rocks* may not he partly of fresh- water origin, is a ques¬
tion that I think no one but myself has raised. +

There is, however, in my opinion, no doubt with regard
to the fresh-water origin of the Old Red Sandstone, as
distinct from the contemporaneous marine deposits of the
Devonian strata. This idea was first started by that
distinguished geologist. Doctor Fleming, of Edinburgh,
followed by Mr. Godwin-Austen, who, from the absence
of marine shells and the nature of the fossil fishes in
these strata, inferred that they were deposited, not in the
sea, as had always been asserted, but in a great fresh¬
water lake or in a series of lakes. In this opinion I
have for many years agreed, for the nearest analogies of
the fish are, according to Huxley, the polypterus of
African rivers, the ceratodus of Australia, and in less
degree the lepidosteus of North America. The truth of
the supposition that the Old Red Sandstone was deposited
in fresh water is further borne out by the occurrence of
a fresh-water shell, Anodonta Jukesii , and of ferns in the
Upper Old Red Sandstone in Ireland ; and the same shell
is found at Dura Den in Scotland, while in Caithness,
along with numerous fishes, there occurs the small bi¬
valve crustacean Estheria Murchisoniae.

I think it more than probable that the red series of
rocks that form the Catskill Mountains of North America
(and with which I am personally acquainted) were formed
in the same manner as the Old Red Sandstones of Britain ;
for excepting in one or two minor interstratifications,
they contain no relics of marine life, while “ the fossil
fishes of the Catskill beds, according to Dr. Newberry,
appear to represent closely those of the British Old Red
Sandstone.” (Dana.)

* By Cambrian I mean only the red and purple rocks of
Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland, older than the
Menevian beds, or any later division of the Silurian strata,
that may chance to rest upon them.

f “On the Red Rocks of England of older date than the
Trias.” Jour. Geol. Soc., 1871, vol. 28.

202

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 4, i860.

The Devonian rocks of Russia, according to the late
Sir Roderick Murchison, consist of two distinct types,
viz., Devonian strata identical in general character with
those in Devonshire and in various parts of the continent
of Europe. These are exclusively of a marine character,
while the remainder corresponds to the Old Red Sandstone
of Wales, England and Scotland.

At Tchudora, about 105 miles S.E. of St. Petersburg,
the lowest members of the series consist of flag-like
compact limestones accumulated in a tranquil sea and
containing fucoids and encrinites, together with shells of
Devonian age, such as Spirifers, Terebratulae, Orthis,
Leptsenas, Avicula, Modiola, Natica, Bellerophon, etc.,
while the upper division graduates into the Carboniferous
series as it often does in Britain, and, like the Old Red
Sandstone of Scotland, contains only fish-remains, and in
both countries they are of the same species. “ Proceeding
from the Valdai Hills on the north,” the geologist “quits
a Devonian Zone xvilh a true 1 Old Red ’ type dipping
under the Carboniferous rocks of Moscow, and having
passed through the latter, he finds himself suddenly in a
yellow-coloured region, entirely dissimilar in structure to
what he had seen in any of the northern governments,
which, of a different type as regards fossils, is the true
stratigraphical equivalent of the Old Red system .” This
seems to me, as regards the Russian strata, to mean, that
just as the Devonian strata of Devonshire are the true
equivalents of the Old Red Sandstone of Wales and
Scotland, they were deposited under very different
conditions, the first in the sea and the others in inland
fresh-water lakes. At the time Sir Roderick Murchison’s
work was completed, the almost universal opinion was
that the Old Red Sandstone was a marine formation. In
the year 1830, the Rev. Dr. Fleming, of Edinburgh, read
a paper before the Wernerian Society in which he boldly
stated that the “ Old Red Sandstone is a fresh-water forma¬
tion ” of older date than the Carboniferous Limestone.
This statement, however, seems to have made no impres¬
sion on geologists till it was revived by G-odwin-Austen
in a memoir “ On the Extension of the Coal-measures,”
etc., in the Journal of the Geological Society , 1856. Even
this made no converts to what was then considered a
heretical opinion. I have long held Dr. Fleming’s view
and unfortunately published it in the third edition of
‘ The Physical Geology and Geography of Great Britain,’
without at the time being aware that I had been fore¬
stalled by Dr. Fleming and Mr. Godwin-Austen.

To give anything like a detailed account of all the
fresh-water formations deposited in estuaries and lakes
from the close of the Old Red Sandstone times down to
late Tertiary epochs, is only fitted for a manual of geology,
and would too much expand this address; and I will
therefore give little more than a catalogue of these
deposits in ascending order.

In the Coal-measure parts of the Carboniferous series,
a great proportion of the shales and sandstones are of
fresh-water origin. This is proved all over the British
Islands by the shells they contain, while here and there
marine interstratifications occur, generally of no great
thickness. There is no doubt among geologists that these
Coal-measure strata were chiefly deposited under estuarine
conditions, and sometimes in lagoons or in lakes ; while
numerous beds of coal formed by the life and death of
land plants, each underlaid by the soil on which the
plants grew, evince the constant recurrence of terrestrial
conditions. The same kind of phenomena are character¬
istic of the Coal-measures all through North America,
and in every country on the continent of Europe, from
France and Spain on the west, to Russia in the east, and
the same is the case in China and in other areas.

In Scotland, according to Professor Judd, fresh-water
conditions occur more or less all through the Jurassic
series, from the Lias to the Upper Oolites. In England,
fresh-water strata, with thin beds of coal, are found in
the Inferior Oolite of Yorkshire, and in the middle of
England and elsewhere in the Great Oolite. The Purbeck

and Wealden strata, which, in a sense, fill the interval
between the Jurassic and Cretaceous series, are almost
entirely formed of fresh-water strata, with occasional
thin marine interstratifications. By some the Wealden
beds are considered to have been formed in and near
the estuary of a great river, while others, with as good a
show of reason, believe them to have been deposited in a
large lake subject to the occasional influx of the sea.

In the eastern part of South Russia the Lias consists
chiefly of fresh-water strata, as stated by Neumayr.

The Godwana rocks of Central India range from Upper
Palaeozoic times well into the Jurassic strata, and there
all these formations are of fresh-water origin. Fresh¬
water beds with shells are also interstratified with the
Deccan traps of Cretaceous and Tertiary (Eocene) age,
while 2000 feet of fresh-water sands overlie them.

In south-western Sweden, as stated by Mr. Bauerman,
“the three coalfields of Hoganas, Stabbarp, and Rodingd,
lie in the uppermost Triassic or Rhietic series.” In
Africa, the Karoo beds, which it is surmised may be of
the age of the New Red Sandstone, contain beds of coal.

In North America, certain fresh- water strata, with beds
of lignite, apparently belong to the Cretaceous and Eocene
epochs, and in the north of Spain and soiith of France,
there are fresh-water lacustrine formations in the highest
Cretaceous strata.

In England the lower and upper Eocene strata are
chiefly of fresh-water origin, and the same is the case in
France and other parts of the Continent. Certain fresh¬
water formations in Central Spain extend from the Eocene
to the upper Miocene strata.

There is only one small, patch of Miocene beds in
England, at Bovey Tracey, near Dartmoor, formed of
fresh-water deposits with interstratified beds of lignite or
Miocene coal. On the continent of Europe, Miocene
strata occupy immense (independent areas, extending
from France and Spain to the Black Sea. In places too
numerous to name, they contain beds of “ brown coal,”
as lignite is sometimes called. These coal beds are often
of great thickness and solidity. In one of the pits which
I descended near Teplitz, in Bohemia, the coal, which
lies in a true basin, is 40 feet thick, and underneath it
there is a bed of clay, with rootlets, quite comparable to
the underclay which is found beneath almost every bed
of coal in the British and other coal-fields of the Carboni- (
ferous epoch. The Miocene rocks of Switzerland are
familiar to all geologists who have traversed the country
between the Jura and the Alps. Sometimes they are
soft and incoherent, sometimes formed of sandstones,
and sometimes of conglomerates, as on the Righi. They
chiefly consist of fresh-water lacustrine strata, with some
minor marine interstratifications which mark the influx
of the sea during occasional partial submergences of
portions of the area. These fresh-water strata, of great
extent and thickness, contain beds of lignite, and are
remarkable for the relics of numerous trees and other
plants which have been described by Professor Heer of
Zurich, with his accustomed skill. The Miocene fresh¬
water strata, of the Sewalik Hills in India are well
known to most students of geology, and I have already
stated that they bear the same relation to the more
ancient Himalayan Mountains that the Miocene strata of
Switzerland and the North of Italy do to the pre-existing
range of the Alps. In fact, it may be safely inferred
that something far more than the rudiments of our
present continents existed long before Miocene times, and
this accounts for the large areas on those continents
which are frequently occupied by Miocene fresh-water
strata. WitlT'the marine formations of Miocene age this
address is in no way concerned, nor is it essential to my
argument to deal with those later Tertiary phenomena,
which in their upper stages so easily merge into the
existing state of the world.

I

Glacial Phenomena.

I now come to the last special subject for discussion in

September 4, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

203

this address, viz., the recurrence of glacial epochs, a
subject still considered by many to be heretical, and
which was generally looked upon as an absurd crotchet
when, in 1855, I first described to the Geological
Society, boulder-beds, containing ice-scratched stones,
and erratic blocks in the Permian strata of England.
The same idea I afterwards applied to some of the
Old Red Sandstone conglomerates, and of late years it
has become so familiar, that the effects of glaciers have at
length been noted by geologists from older Palaeozoic
epochs down to the present day.

In the middle of last July I received a letter from
Professor Geikie, in which he informed me that he had
discovered mammilated moutonnee surfaces of Laurentian
rocks, passing underneath the Cambrian sandstones of
the north-west of Scotland at intervals, all the way from
Cape Wrath to Loch Torridon, for a distance of about
ninety miles. The mammilated rocks are, says Professor
Geikie, “ as well rounded off as any recent roche mou¬
tonnee,” and “in one place these bosses are covered by a
huge angular breccia of this old gneiss (Laurentian) with
blocks sometimes five or six feet long.” This breccia,
where it occurs, forms the base of the Cambrian strata of
Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, and while the higher
strata are always well stratified, where they approach
the underlying Laurentian gneiss, “ they become pebbly,
passing into coarse unstratified agglomerates or boulder-
beds.” In the Gairloch district, “it is utterly unstrati¬
fied, the angular fragments standing on end and at all
angles,” just as they do in many modern moraine
mounds wherever large glaciers are found. The general
subject of Palaeozoic glaciers has long been familiar to me,
and this account of more ancient glaciers of Cambrian
age is peculiarly acceptable.

The next sign of ice in Britain is found in the Lower
Silurian rocks of Wigtonshire and Ayrshire. In the
year 1865, Mr. John Carrick Moore took me to see the
Lower Silurian graptolitic rocks at Corswall Point, in
Wigtonshire, in which great blocks of gneiss, granite,
etc., are imbedded, and in the same year many similar
erratic blocks were pointed out to me by Mr. James
Geikie in the Silurian strata of Carrick, in Ayrshire.
One of the blocks at Corswall, as measured by myself,
is nine feet in length, and the rest are of all sizes, from
an inch or two up to several feet in diameter. There is
no gneiss or granite in this region nearer than those of
Kirkcudbrightshire and Arran, and these are of later
geological date than the strata amid which the erratic
blocks are imbedded. It is therefore not improbable
that they may have been derived from some high land
formed of Laurentian rocks of which the outer Hebrides
and parts of the mainland of Scotland form surviving
portions. If so, then I can conceive of no agent capable
of transporting large boulders and dropping them into
the Lower Silurian mud of the seas of the time save that
of icebergs or other floating ice, and the same view with
regard to the neighbouring boulder-beds of Ayrshire is
held by Mr. James Geikie. If, however, any one will
point out any other natural cause still in action by which
such results are at present brought about, I should be
very glad to hear of it.

I must now turn to India for further evidence of the
action of palaeozoic ice. In the Himalayas of Pangi,
S.E. of Kashmir, according to Medlicott and Blanford,

“ old slates, supposed to be Silurian, contain boulders in
great numbers,” which they believe to be of glacial
origin. Another case is mentioned as occurring in
“transition beds of unknown relations,” but in another
passage they are stated to be “ very ancient, but no idea
can be formed of their geological position.” The under¬
lying rocks are marked by distinct glacial striations.

The next case of glacial boulder- beds with which I am
acquainted is found in Scotland, and in some places in
the north of England, where they contain what seem to
be indistinctly ice-scratched stones. I first observed
these rocks on the Lammermuir Hills, south of Dunbar,

lying unconformably on Lower Silurian strata, and soon
inferred them to be of glacial origin, a circumstance that
was subsequently confirmed by my colleagues, Professor
and Mr. James Geikie, and is now familiar to other
officers of the Geological Survey of Scotland.

I know of no boulder formations in the Carboniferous
series, but they are well known as occurring on a large
scale in the Permian brecciated conglomerates, where
they consist “ of pebbles and large blocks of stone,

generally angular, imbedded in a marly paste .

the fragments have mostly travelled from a distance,
apparently from the borders of Wales, and some of them
are 3 feet in diameter.” Some of the stones are as well
scratched as those found in modern moraines or in the
ordinary boulder-clay of what is commonly called the
glacial epoch. In 1855 the old idea was still not unpre-
valent that during the Permian epoch, and for long after,
the globe had not yet cooled sufficiently to allow of the
climates of the external world being universally affected
by the constant radiation of heat from its interior. For a
long time, however, this idea has almost entirely vanished,
and now, in Britain at all events, it is little if at all at¬
tended to, and other glacial episodes in the history of the
world have continued to be brought forward and are no
longer looked upon as mere ill-judged conjectures.

The same kind of brecciated boulder-beds that are found
in our Permian strata occur in the h otheliegende of
Germany, which I have visited in several places, and
believe them to have had a like glacial origin.

Mr. G. W. Stow, of the Orange Free State, has of late
years given most elaborate accounts of similar Permian
boulder-beds in South Africa. There, great masses of
moraine matter not only contain ice -scratched stones, but
on the banks of rivers where the Permian rock has been
removed by aqueous denudation, the underlying rocks,
well rounded and mammilated, are covered by deeply in¬
cised glacier grooves pointing in a direction which at length
leads the observer to the pre-Permian mountains from
whence the stones were derived that formed these ancient
moraines.*

Messrs. Blanford and Medlicott have also given in
‘The Geology of India’ an account of boulder-beds in
what they believe to be Permian strata, and which they
compare with those described by me in England
many years before. There the Godwana group of the
Talchir strata contain numerous boulders, many of them
six feet in diameter, and “in one instance some of the
blocks were found to be polished and striated, and the under¬
lying Vindhyan rocks were similarly marked. The authors
also correlate these glacial phenomena with those found
in similar deposits in South Africa, discovered and de¬
scribed by Mr. Stow.

In the Olive group of the Salt range, described by the
same authors, there is a curious resemblance between a
certain conglomerate “and that of the Talchir group of
the Godwana system.” This “Olive conglomerate” be¬
longs to the Cretaceous series, and contains ice-trans-
ported erratic boulders derived from unknown rocks, one
of which of red granite “is polished and striated on three
faces in so characteristic a manner that very little doubt
can exist of its having been transported by ice.” One
block of red granite at the Mayo Salt Mines of Khewra
“is 7 feet high and 19 feet in circumference.” In the
“Transition beds” of the same authors, which are sup¬
posed to be of Upper Cretaceous age, there also are boulder
beds with erratic blocks of great size.

I know of no evidence of glacial phenomena in Eocene
strata excepting the occurrence of huge masses of included

* Mr. Stow’s last memoir on this subject is still in manu¬
script. It is so exceedingly long, and the sections that ac¬
company it are of such unusual size, that the Geological
Society could not afford their publication. It was thought
that the Government of the Orange Free State might under¬
take this duty, but the late troubles in South Africa have
orobably hindered this work — it is to be hoped only for
a time.

204

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 4, 1880.

gneiss in the strata known as Flysch in Switzerland. On
this question, however, Swiss geologists are by no means
agreed, and I attach little or no importance to it as afford¬
ing evidence of glacier ice.

Neither do I know of any Miocene glacier- deposits ex¬
cepting those in the north of Italy near Turin, described
by the late eminent geologist, Gastaldi, and which I saw
under his guidance. These contain many large erratic
boulders derived from the distant Alps, which, in my
opinion, were then at least as lofty or even higher than they
are now, especially if we consider the immense amount of
denudation which they underwent during Miocene, later
Tertiary, and post-Tertiary times.

At a still later date there took place in the north of
Europe and America what is usually misnamed “ The
Glacial Epoch,” when a vast glacial mass covered all
Scandinavia, and distributed its boulders across the north
of Germany, as far south as the country around Leipzig,
when Ireland also was shrouded in glacier ice, and when
a great glacier covered the larger part of Britain, and
stretched southward, perhaps nearly as far as the
Thames on the one side, and certainly covered the whole
of Anglesey, and probably the whole, or nearly the
whole, of South Wales. This was after the advent of
man.

Lastly, there is still a minor glacial epoch in progress
on the large and almost unknown Antarctic continent,
from the high land of which in latitudes which partly lie
as far north as 60® and 62°, a vast sheet of glacier-ice of
great thickness extends far out to sea and sends fleets of
icebergs to the north, there to melt in warmer latitudes.
If in accordance with the theory of Mr. Croll, founded on
astronomical data, a similar climate were transferred to
the northern hemisphere, the whole of Scandinavia and
the Baltic would apparently be covered with glacier-ice,
and the same would probably be the case with the Faroe
Islands and great part of Siberia, while even the mountain
tracts of Britain might again maintain their minor systems
of glaciers.

. Conclusions.

In opening this address, I began with the subject of the
oldest metamorphic rocks that I have seen — the Lauren-
tian strata. It is evident to every person who thinks on
the subject that their deposition took place far from the
beginning of recognized geological time. For there must
have been older rocks by the degradation of which they
were formed. And if, as some American geologists affirm,
there are on that continent metamorphic rocks of more
ancient dates than the Lauren tian strata, there must
have been rocks more ancient still to afford materials for
the deposition of the°e pre-Laurentian strata.

Starting with the Laurentian rocks, I have shown
that the phenomena of metamorphism of strata have
been continued from that date all through the later
formations or groups of formations down to and in
eluding partof the Eocene strata in some parts of the
world.

In like manner I have shown that ordinary volcanic
rocks have been ejected in Silurian, Devonian, Car¬
boniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceo-oolitic, Cretaceous, Eocene,
Miocene, and Pliocene times, and from all that I have
seen or read of these ancient volcanoes, I have no
reason to believe that volcanic forces played a more
important part in any period of geological time than they
do in this our modern epoch.

So, also, mountain chains existed before the deposition
of the Silurian rocks, others of later date before the Old
Red Sandstone strata were formed, and the chain of the
Ural before the deposition of the Permian beds. The
last great upheaval of the Alleghany Mountains took
place between the close of the formation of the Car¬
boniferous strata of that region and the deposition of the
New Red Sandstone.

According to Darwin, after various oscillations of level,

the Cordillera underwent its chief upheaval after the
Cretaceous epoch, and all geologists know that the Alps
the Pyrenees, the Carpathians, the Himalayas, and other
mountain chains (which I have named) underwent what
seems to have been their chief great upheaval after
the deposition of the Eocene strata, while some of them
were again lifted up several thousands of feet after the
close of the Miocene epoch.

The deposition of salts from aqueous solutions in inland
lakes and lagoons appears to have taken place through
all time— through Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous,
Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Eocene, Miocene,
and Pliocene epochs — and it is going on now.

In like manner fresh-water and estuarine conditions
are found now in one region, now in another, throughout
all the formations or groups of formations possibly from
Silurian times onward ; and glacial phenomena, so far
from being confined to what was and is generally still
termed the glacial epoch, are now boldly declared, by
independent witnesses of known high reputation, to
begin with the Cambrian epoch, and to have occurred
somewhere, at intervals, in various formations, from
almost the earliest Palaeozoic times down to our last
post-Pliocene “glacial epoch.”

If the nebular hypothesis of astronomers be true (and
I know of no reason why it should be doubted), the earth
was at one time in a purely gaseous state, and afterwards
in a fluid condition, attended by intense heat. By-and-by
consolidation, due to partial cooling, took place on the
surface, and as radiation of heat went on, the outer shell
thickened. Radiation still going on, the interior fluid
matter decreased in bulk, and, by force of gravitation
the outer shell being drawn towards the interior, gave
way, and, in parts, got crinkled up, and this, according
to cosmogonists, was the origin of the earliest mountain
chains. I make no objection to the hypothesis, which,
to say the least, seems to be the best that can be offered
and looks highly probable. But, assuming that it is true,
these hypothetical events took place so long before
authentic geological history began, as written in the
rocks, that the earliest of the physical events to which
I have drawn your attention in this address was, to all
human apprehension of time, so enormously removed
from these early assumed cosmical phenomena, that they
appear to me to have been of comparatively quite modern
occurrence, and to indicate that from the Laurentian epoch
down to the present day, all the physical events in the history
of the earth have vamed neither in kind nor in intensity
from those of which we now have experience. Perhaps
many of our British geologists hold similar ©pinions, but
if it be so, it may not be altogether useless to have
considered the various subjects separately on which I
depend to prove the point I had in view.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The Chemistry of Bread-Making.*

BY PROFESSOR GRAHAM, D.SC.

( Concluded from page 164.)

Lecture V.

I pass on now to a very interesting matter, and that
is the value of bread as food, or its value as a source of
power. I have here a table which we owe to the
researches of Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert, showing the
composition of the ordinary articles of food — meat, bacon,
butter, milk, cheese, flour, bread, maize, oatmeal, rice,
potatoes, vegetables, peas, and sugar.

* Cantor Lectures : Delivered November and December,
1879. Reprinted from the Journal of the Society of
Arts.

September 4, I860.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

205

Average Composition of Articles of Food.
( Lawes and Gilbert.)

Parts per 100.

Dry

Sub¬

stance.

Carbon.

Nitro¬

gen.

Nitro¬
gen to
100

Carbon.

Meat .

45

30

2-0

6-6

Bacon .

80

57

IT

2-0

Butter .

85

68

Milk .

10

5-4

0-5

9-3

Cheese .

60

36

4-5

12-5

Flour .

85

38

17

4-5

Bread .

64

23-5

1-3

4-5

Maize .

87

40

1*7

4-4

Oatmeal .

85

40

2-0

5-0

Rice .

87

39

1-0

2-5

Potatoes .

25

11

0-3

35

Vegetables .

15

6

0-2

33

Peas .

85

39

3-6

9-4

Sugar .

95

40

...

•••

I will not, of course, detain you by reading all these
numbers, but I wish to point out to you some very
interesting results obtained from a consideration of these
researches. We find in the fourth column a series of
numbers headed, “Ratio of nitrogen to 100 parts of car¬
bon.” In the case of wheat, it is 6'6 ; bacon, 2 ; of course
in butter none ; milk, 9 '3 ; cheese, 12^ ; flour, 4| ; of course,
bread is the same; rice, 2£; ordinary vegetables, 3'3 ; and
so on. In sugar there is no nitrogen. In looking at this
table, you will see that flour and bread stand tolerably
high in the ratio of nitrogen to carbon, viz., 4^ to the 100.
This leads me back again to a matter I spoke of before,
viz., the question of what one should do with the bran of
the wheat. Supposing a hard-working labourer, say a
ditcher or a navvy, were supplied with white bread almost
in sufficiency, but yet not quite, what would he crave for ?
We all know, as a matter of fact and experience, and
those of you who have seen men undergoing hard mecha¬
nical work will agree with me, his first craving is not for
a lump of brown bread, but for a piece of fat, butter, or
bacon ; but in any case the craving is not for more nitro¬
gen, but for more carbon, and.especially if that carbon be
derived, not from carbo hydrates in which, as I pointed
out to you, the hydrogen and oxygen are in the ratio in
which they form water, but bodies such as fat, in which
there is a very small proportion of oxygen, and therefore
a considerable excess of hydrogen ; in other words, bodies
which contain, not merely respirable carbon, but also re¬
spirable hydrogen, that is hydrogen over and above that
which is required to form water with the oxygen in the
compound. That is what a man craves for. If the
labourer were to select cheese instead of fat, even then,
in cheese, there is a considerable quantity of fat, and from
the fat of the cheese he would obtain a considerable
amount of heat force, vastly more than he would from the
caseine of the cheese. But, probably what the great mass
of working men undergoing hard work would desire most
to have would be very fat meat. Those of you who may
have seen navvies consuming large quantities of ex¬
cessively fat bacon, so fat that one can see no lean in it,
will readily understand what. I am pointing out. And yet
there is a very current notion that it is the lean of the
meat that gives us the greatest amount of motive force —
the greatest amount of mechanical power ; whereas, not
only will a labourer in our own country, but the Chinese
coolie, who lives upon rice, when he has to do a large
amount of work, such as loading a ship (and it is astonish¬
ing the enormous quantity of work they can do under
pressure) does not look to albuminoids in order to give
him that extra power ; on the contrary, he uses butter or

fat with his rice. He uses those fatty compounds that
contain carbon, and contain what chemists would call
potential force in the hydrogen, over and above what is
required to form water with the oxygen in the compound.

Let us see if science cannot explain this difference of
opinion. We have the instinctive craving of the labour¬
ing classes throughout the world ; and we have certain
views, which have been accepted, that lean meat, or albu¬
minoids, are the best sources of motive power. Before
coming to the table, which I have here, on the mechanical
equivalent of food, I think it will be convenient if I ex¬
plain to you a few numbers that are necessary to be un¬
derstood before we can consider these sources of power.
According to the definition used by physicists, we say that
a unit of heat is the amount of heat required to raise a
gramme (= 15"432 grains) of water 1° C.

If you take one gramme of pure carbon — say, the very
finest charcoal — and thoroughly burn it to carbonic acid
gas, the amount of heat given out by that oxidation of one
gramme of carbon would be sufficientto raise 8080 grammes
of water 1° C. I must apologize for using French weights
and measures, but I am very much more conversant with
these data in the French than in English weights and
measures ; but I will afterwards put the statements in a
plainer form, so that you will be better able to follow
me. Now, hydrogen gives out rather more than four
times as much heat as carbon. One gramme will give
out as much heat, when converted into water by burning,
as to raise 34,462 grammes of water 1° C. ; that is,
merely considering the amount of heat-force obtained
from the oxidation of carbon and hydrogen, and looking
at it solely from the point of view of how much water
that oxidation will warm. In order to convert this into
the mechanical motion of lifting a weight against gravity,
all we have to do is to make use of the data obtained by
the most invaluable researches of Dr. Joule, of Man¬
chester, published some years ago, by which he determined
what is called the mechanical equivalent of heat. He
found, when a gramme weight was allowed to fall through
424 metres, the force thus generated being made — by
proper mechanical contrivance — to agitate water, that
an amount of heat was produced equal to raising the tem¬
perature of the same weight of water — that is 1 gramme —
1° C. The force obtained from a falling weight can be
converted- into heat-force, and, conversely, the heat of com¬
bustion can be converted into raising a weight against
gravity. Thus, a gramme of carbon, when burnt to carbonic
acid gas, produces 8080 units of heat, and is, therefore,
equivalent to 8080 x 424 = 3392 m&tre kilogrammes of work,
or rather more than the force produced by three tons
falling through one mfetre. The same weight of hydrogen,
when burnt, produces more than four times as much force
as carbon, and is equivalent to 144 tons falling through
one mfetre.

Mechanical Equivalent of Food. (In natural state as

consumed.)

Weight of substance
One gramme
( =15 ‘432 grains).

Complete oxidation.

As burnt in
body.

Units
of Heat.

Mfetre kilo¬
grammes of
Forces.

Mbtre kilo¬
grammes of
Forces.

Potatoes . . .

1-013

429

422

Flour .

3-936

1669

1627

Oatmeal ....

4 000

1696

1665

Rice .

3-813

1615

1591

Lean Beef . . .

1-567

664

604

Beef Fat ....

9 069

3841

3841

Cheshire Cheese .

4-647

1969

1846

Now, these data being explained, I will proceed to
consider the motive force obtained from the various
sources of food we make use of, and, thanks to the re-

206

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 4, i860

searches of Yoit, Pettenkoffer, Bischoff, and others abroad,
and Playfair, Edward Smith, Frankland, and others in
our own country, this matter has been made very clear.
In the experiments of Frankland, by which he determined,
by very well-known methods, the heat of combustion, not
merely of carbon and hydrogen — that had been done
before — but the heat of combustion of lean meat — that is,
to say, meat deprived of fat by digestion in ether — fat
meat, rice, potatoes, starch, and so on, he found that the
heat of combustion of fat was rather more than six times
that obtained from the same weight of lean. I am not
using the word “lean’’ in the sense that you and I do,
where we speak of a lean beefsteak as having no fat in it —
a lean beef steak contains a good deal of fat — but the lean
meat deprived of fat by proper chemical means. He found
that fat can develop more than six times as much heat as
the same weight of lean. Now, Dr. Frankland, in carry¬
ing out these researches, determined not merely the
absolute amount of heat-force obtained, but the amount
of force obtained by carbo-hydrate, from fat, and from
albuminoid matters, when used by man. Albuminoids
are not burnt up to carbonic acid and ammonia ; they are
eliminated chiefly as urea, slightly as uric acid, and, in
birds and reptiles particularly, a considerable quantity is
eliminated in the less oxidized form of uric acid. By
making a deduction from these determinations of the
eliminated urea, the result of his researches was that the
fats yielded a very large amount of force compared with
the albuminoids — as I said before, about six times as
much. Two German chemists— Messrs. Fick and Wisld-
cenus — experimented upon this matter. They carefully
and most accurately weighed everything they ate, and
accurately determined the excrete products, the carbonic
acid, and so on. They found that, in going up the Faul-
horn, which is 10,000 feet high, they burnt 37 grammes
of their muscles. Now, according to the researches of
Frankland, this 37 grammes of muscle was only equivalent
to 68,000 mhtre kilogrammes of force ; whereas, the total
amount of force expended in going up a mountain of that
height was 319,000 metre kilogrammes — leaving a defi¬
ciency, therefore, 251,000 metre kilogrammes. This was en¬
tirely due to the fat and the carbo-hydrates they consumed,
and not due to the oxidation of their own muscles. From
the researches of these gentlemen, and those of Playfair,
upon labourers, and of Haughton, who experimented upon
soldiers undergoing shot drill, and Dr. Edward Smith,
who experimented not only upon individuals undergoing
the treadmill, but who also worked the treadmill himself,
and also from the work of Dr. Frankland, we now know
that the heat of combustion we obtain, and the amount
of force we generate, is due chiefly, not to the nitrogenous,
but to the non-nitrogenous parts of our food.

This is not all. As the work done increases in severity, it
is not the nitrogenous compound urea that increases, but it
is the carbonic acid gas which increases in the eliminated
products of combustion. The greater amount of work
done in a given unit of time, the greater is the amount of
carbonic acid produced. Dr. Smith, in experimenting
upon himself, found that, when he was sleeping, he elimi¬
nated 19 grammes of carbonic acid gas per hour from his
lungs. It was carefully quantified and weighed. When
sitting, 29 grammes were eliminated ; when walking 2 miles
an hour, 70 grammes ; 3 miles an hour, 100 grammes ; when
ascending the treadmill, at the rate of 28J feet per second,
it amounted to 190 grammes per hour. Then, you may say,
granting that the carbonic acid increases the more work
is done, whereas the urea increases but little, what func¬
tion does the muscle perform in the system? The function
that the muscle performs is precisely the same as the
piston-rod, together with the machinery, play in the ordi¬
nary locomotive. You know that the function of the
piston-rod of a locomotive is to convert heat from the
oxidation of the coke or coal — which, of course, operates
in changing water into steam — into a motion of the mass ;
so that, in that way, by burning fuel, you can drive a
train at 50 or 60 miles an hour. Precisely similar is the

function of the muscle in the human system ; it is the
apparatus by which the heat produced from the oxidation
of the carbo hydrates and of the fat is converted into
mechanical motion — into the motion, not merely of the
pulsation of the heart and other internal mechanical work,
but the motion of the body in walking, or running, or
climbing hills, and other mechanical work. There is this
difference, however, between the muscle and the piston-
rod; not merely the piston-rod, but all parts of the engine
are carefully constructed by the engineer, so as to avoid
what is technically termed “hot bearings ” ; in other words,
there must be no local production of heat by friction in
any part of the engine. There is this difference, then,
that the muscle is partly oxidized and broken up, but the
amount of heat obtained from the oxidation of the muscle
is only converted into mechanical motion in about the
ratio of one third of the total heat produced, two thirds
going to heat the body, and only one third going to pro¬
duce mechanical motion. We are indebted for these re¬
searches to Heidenheim and others.

To take a more practical view of this question, one that
will be more readily understood by most of you, I will
take some of Dr. Frankland’s results upon the heat of
combustion produced by oxidizing various articles of food.
Supposing we were to take the average of all persons
present in this room, and assume we are all 10 stone
weight (140 lbs.), and if we wished to go up 10,000 feet
against gravity, what amount of force should we require?
I could have given you the quantity in metre kilogrammes
of force, as I have already done, but let us see what
amount of money it would cost in the form of different
kinds of food, in order to do that amount of mechanical
work.

Weight and Cost of Food required to raise 140 lbs.
10,000 feet high.

Weight
in lbs.
required.

Cost
per lb.
in pence.

Total
cost “
in pence.

Potatoes ....

5

1

5

Flour .

14

3

4

Bread .

2i

2

4|

Oatmeal .

u

2|

3|

Rice .

lg

4

54

Lean of Beef .

34

12

42

Beef Fat .

4

10

5

Cheshire Cheese ....

H

10

12

On this table we have the number of lbs. required, of
different kinds of ordinary food, to produce this amount
of mechanical work. If we take potatoes ; we find 5 lbs.
of potatoes would be required, and if we consider them as
costing lc?. per lb., it will cost 5 d. You will readily
understand that the last column, which gives the value
of the articles, will vary from time to time. Of flour we
should only require 1^ lb., which is taken at about 3d.
per lb., and this would, therefore, only cost id. Bread
would cost 4 the difference is due, doubtless, to the
expense of the process of making bread. In the case of
lean beef, deprived of fat, 34 lbs. are required, and as the
cost of very lean beef is taken at Is. per lb., that would
cost 3s. 6(7., whereas the fat would only cost 5 d., because
so small a quantity as 4 lb. would do the work which
34 lbs. of lean beef would do ; 1£ lb. of Cheshire cheese
would be required, which, assuming the price to be 10c?.
per lb., would cost Is. to do that amount of mechanical
work. Of course, this table is merely suggestive, but you
see perfectly well that man does not require a large quan¬
tity of albuminoids in doing heavy work.

I told you that bread contains a very fair ratio of
nitrogen to carbon, and that, when considered from
another point of view — the mechanical work capable of
being done by the use of such food materials — that,

September 4, 1380.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

207

really, the money spent upon flour is not at all badly
laid out ; whereas, on the other hand, if you wish to have
a large quantity of work done in a short time, then, in
addition to bread, we require, not to use much nitro¬
genous matter, but rather to use fat, and, therefore, the
peasants, not merely of England, but of all countries
have been right, in spite of many scientific assertions that
they were wrong, in their instinctive habit, of adding fat,
rather than nitrogenous food, to their diet when under¬
going hard work.

At a former meeting, I said I would again revert to
the subject of bran; in doing so now, I wish it to be
distinctly understood that, in my criticism against the
admixture of bran with flour, I have been anxious to
defend the miller from the charges of being ignorant of
true scientific principles. I hold that the miller who so
well mills his flour as to eliminate all bran is the man
who is working on true scientific principles. His object
is to enable the baker to produce a fine, well-piled loaf,
not a sodden, heavy one. I think it is right I should
suggest a method by which wheaten flour may be used,
and yet not produce the injurious effects which I told you
finely-ground bran, with its cerealin, produces in the
panification process. This is to do what I suggested at
the last meeting should be done with inferior flours,
namely, to make the ferment and the sponge of really
good, strong flour, and then, in the dough process, when
it is so much stiffer, and where the whole operation only
lasts one hour, to use the wheaten flour. Of course, you
are perfectly well aware that hydrochloric acid and bi¬
carbonate of soda are sometimes used for raising wheaten
bread, but I am suggesting this other plan for those who
prefer a fermented loaf, and yet wish to avoid the high-
coloured products and sodden bread, formed by the
action of the finely-ground bran on this flour during the
many hours of the ferment and sponge stages, and who
desire that the fermented loaf of whole meal shall be
light and porous.

I have, at last, come to the conclusion, and I will
briefly recapitulate what, it seems to me, have been the
prominent features of our study together. In the first
place, you will remember, we studied in some detail the
properties of the different constituents of the cereals,
giving, of course, more especial weight to wheat.
Secondly, we found that climatic conditions have a most
important bearing upon the nature of those constituents,
and then, thirdly, we considered together the right mode
of treating such wheats by the miller, and, subsequently,
by the baker. Lastly, we saw the necessity of micro¬
scopic examination of the yeast, in order to be sure that
we were not introducing into our fermenting process
organisms of disease producing acetic acid, lactic acid,
butyric acid, and other injurious products. These,
perhaps, have been the chief points, though, at the same
time, there have been several others which have occupied
our attention for some time.

I have now only to say that, if I have succeeded in
awakening an interest in the wonderful phenomena con¬
nected with the art of bread-making, and have raised in
your minds a true conception of the high importance and
dignity of the art — based, as we have seen it to be, on
some of the most interesting departments of physical,
chemical and biological science — and if I have stimulated
any of you to resolve on the further study of these
sciences, whereby greater and more rapid progress may
be made, I shall rejoice that my efforts have not alto¬
gether failed.

|)arfkmentarg mitr ITafo ^xomVm^

Poisoning by Prussic Acid.

We regret to notice the sudden death, on Wednesday
last week, of Mr. H. J. Hey wood, a medical practitioner
of Pendleton, where he had a large practice. It appears

that the deceased had for years suffered much from indi¬
gestion, and had been in the habit of taking laudanum to
relieve pain and induce sleep. Early on Wednesday
morning his wife was awakened by hearing a fall, and
found her husband on the floor, unconscious, with a
prussic acid bottle in his hand ; and he died shortly
afterwards, an attempt to administer an emetic having
proved unsuccessful. Evidence given at the inquest
showed that he kept a bottle of laudanum and one of
prussic acid side by side on the same shelf, and that he
had inadvertently taken the prussic acid instead of the
laudanum. If a medical man can act in such a way,
who can wonder if non-professional persons, nurses or
patients, are now and then wanting in due carefulness ? —
Medical Times and Gazette, August 28.

gispeitsiirjj tJTeworanb^

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake pa/rtly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
members of the Journal to see if they can obta/in the re-
quired information.

[442]. Hydrarg. iodid. is a preparation of the London
Pharmacopoeia; its synonym in the British Pharma¬
copoeia is hyd. iodid. viride. The ointment should be as

follows : —

B Hyd. Iodid. . . 1 part.

Cerse Alb . 2 parts.

Adipis Praep . 6 parts.

To the wax and lard melted together add the iodide
and mix well.

“374.”

Dates mtir (Queries.

[672]. STORM AND WEATHER GLASS.— Take
a clean salad oil flask, half fill it with water, invert it in
a wide-mouthed bottle full of water, taking care that the
water does not escape from the flask. The water will
rise for fine weather and sink for wet. A little per¬
manganate of potash dissolved in the water will look
very effective.

“374.”

[673]. PASTILLE. — Can any of your readers inform
me what is mixed with conf. rosse, to form the pastille, now
unobtainable, formerly used in Turkey for lighting the
chibouque ?

A. G. Beaven.

[674]. IVORY STAINING. — Can any of your readers
inform me of the best process for permanently staining
ordinary white ivory, to the natural yellowish brown
colour of African ivory, having what is called the
bark on ?

Sheffield.

[675]. INJECTIO MORPHLE TARTRATIS— I
want to prepare a solution of above, containing one grain
in twelve minims. By precipitating the alkaloid from a
solution of its salt, well washing, and dissolving by
means of a solution of tartaric acid I get a solution from
which very insoluble crystals are eventually thrown down.
The solution I get from the London houses never
deposits in any way. Can any one explain this and give

208

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 4, i860.

a form for working by ? Any person doing so will very
greatly oblige S. H. P.

[676]. PREVENTIVE OF SEA-SICKNESS.— I
should feel obliged if you will ask, through the Journal,
if any member will oblige with a formula for “a sea¬
sickness preventive.” J. J. Matthias.

COLOURS FOR SHOP WINDOWS. — A very beau¬
tiful amethystine colour can be produced by dissolving
5 grains of salicylic acid in a little solution of ammonia,
mixing this with two gallons or enough water to fill the
show bottle. To this is added a few drops of solution of
chloride of iron, and afterwards a few drops of muriatic
acid.

Emerald-green colour, of great beauty, can readily be
produced by dissolving a few five cent nickel pieces in
equal parts of nitric acid and water, then diluting with
sufficient water.

A GOOD FILLING FOR TEETH.— A filling that
has been used very successfully for teeth, and which is
next to gold leaf in permanency, is made of the following
ingredients : —

R Oxide of Zinc (recently made by

burning) . 200 parts.

Powdered Silica . 8 „

„ Borate of Soda ... 4 „

„ Glass . 5 „

Mix and pass through a very fine sieve. To be kept
in a well stoppered bottle.

When required for use, a little of the powder is mixed
quickly with a concentrated solution of chloride of zinc,
so as to make a thick paste, which is pressed into the
cavity of the tooth, and will harden in less than ten
minutes. It forms a hard white cement, which will last
for years.

COSMETIC POMADE can be made by the following
formula : —

White Wax . 4^ ozs. avoir.

Lard . 4f „ „

Balsam of Peru . 1 drachm.

Oil of Orange Flowers ... 30 drops.

„ Lavender . 5 „

„ Cloves . 6 „

„ Rosemary . 5 „

Melt the lard, wax and balsam, and stir them con¬

stantly until they thicken, when the oils are added.
This is then poured into moulds ; when cold, wrap up
each stick in wax paper and tinfoil.

Black stick pomade is made by mixing 40 grains of
best lampblack, carefully rubbed up with a portion of the
lard.

Brown, by using burnt sienna in same way, and various
shades of brown, by mixing burnt sienna with lamp¬
black.

CAMPHORATE OF AMMONIA.— This salt is
easily produced by neutralizing camphoric acid with liq.
ammonia fortior, evaporating by a very moderate heat
until reduced to a syrupy liquid, and a pellicle begins to
form, when it is set aside in a cool place to crystallize.
It is a beautifully crystalline salt, consisting of masses of
crystals, radiating from central points, arranged in the
most symmetrical manner.

It is a salt that has sedative properties resembling the
monobromide of camphor, but, unlike that compound, it
is freely soluble in water. The dose is from 5 to 10
grains.

Erratum, — Page 166, second column, line 31. For
“ Then pour off the clear liquor, and a little creasote to
prevent mouldiness,” read “Then pour off the clear liquor
and add a little creasote to prevent mouldiness.

“374.”

No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Assistants in the South op France.

Sir, — If Mr Weddell bases his protest against my letter
on personal experience, I must remind him that in one
short season he can hardly have had the opportunities
that nearly six years have afforded me of knowing the
treatment assistants sometimes meet with. I can easily
understand that being still under the charm of his first
season spent in a good southern pharmacy he sees “tout en
rose” and resents the idea that gloomy colours can possibly
exist in so charming a climate ; but let him only take the
trouble of inquiring of those who have lived in the several
places referred to, and he will find that what I advance is
perfectly correct.

My object was not to create a prejudice against employers
in the south generally, far from it, but simply to state fact3
and offer a word of advice to those whom it might serve;
had Mr. Weddell had more experience of the littoral he
would certainly corroborate, instead of disputing my
statements.

Paris. H. Bouttell.

Sir, — I trust that having perused-Mr. Weddell’s letter
in your last issue no assistant will be led to think too
lightly of home situations and comforts and be eager to
relinquish them for the doubtful advantages offered by a
few months’ sojourn in the “sunny south.”

Taking into consideration the fact that these engagements
extend only over a season of from five to eight months, the
extra expense incurred by an imperfect knowledge of the
language and customs of the country, and the probable loss of
time and expenditure at the close of the season — it is
unquestionable that a good average permanency in England
is better in a pecuniary sense.

It is not necessary to seek in France the “gentlemanly
respect” or “liberty of action and judgment” which
your correspondent appears to think is not prevalent in
English pharmacies. Reasonable assistants can always
find the former and capable men the latter quality
among English employers, and probably with the accom¬
paniment of a greater amount of genuineness.

The experience gained by a few months in a foreign
pharmacy is often of great use in the future, but it is the
unanimous opinion of those who have “gone south” for
successive seasons that “ it does net pay.”

Mr. Weddell concludes his letter by saying, “So attached
does he (the English assistant) frequently become to the
business, to the proprietor, to the customers, and to the
gentle clime, that he can hardly bring himself afterwards
to settle again in England.” This I take to be as undesire-
able a thing as could happen to assistants who have
prospects of establishing themselves in business in their
own country.

Fred. J. Bathe.

Coumarin in Species of Orchis.

Sir, — In reply to Mr. Druce’s inquiry as to whether
Orchis fusca contains coumarin, I have found that in drying
this species in quantity it gives off an almost unbearably
strong smell of this substance, far more than Anthoxanthum
odoratum or any other plant with which I am acquainted.
I may also mention that Orchis uslulata develops the same
smell, though in a somewhat less degree.

Frederick J. Hanbury.

F. H. Alcock is thanked for his communication.

C. W. Nighton. — Spergula arvensis.

M. I. — Parnassia palustris.

H. J. H. — We are not aware of the existence of such a
work.

T. C. A. — A recipe for inseparable lime juice and glyce¬
rine was repeated in vol. ix„, p. 1032. _

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Wills and Wootton, Oswald, Wighton, W. J
Smith, Suburban Chemist, G. W.

September 11, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

209

PREPARATION OF IODINE-IRON COD
LIVER OIL.

BY S. DRAISMA VON VALAENBURG.

Being' invited by tbe Rotterdam Department of
the Dutch Pharmaceutical Society to make the
manner in which I prepare my iodine-iron cod liver
oil public, a thing which I had often thought of, but
different circumstances had up till now prevented
me from carrying out, I herewith present to the
public the following prescription : —

R Iodii . part L25

Eerri pulverati . . 2*50

01. jecor. aselli . . 98-50

The iodine is thrown into a vessel filled with cod
liver oil, and by constant stirring or shaking for some
days made entirely to dissolve into it, so that the
liquid when left for some time to itself has a specific
weight of 0-932—0-937 at 13-5°— 21° C.

The solution is now poured in a vessel which is
hermetically shut, and brought into contact with
iron by shaking or stirring it with this ingredient for
some four hours, until it gets a purple-violet colour,
and after a due shaking with solution of iodetum
kalicum and diluted starch has lost the power to
produce a reaction on free iodine.

The liquid must now stand quietly for twenty-
four hours (the vessel must be carefully shut, and
nearly full), then shaken again for an hour at least,
till it has been proved, after again shaking with
a little iodetum kalicum amylum solution (also
after twenty-four hours) that the preparation is
wholly exempt from free iodium, may easily be
made an emulsion, and consequently remain con¬
stant. The mixture must now stand till it appears
clear, and one must make sure by specific weight
and analysis that the desired combination has taken
place.

The oil should be conserved in well corked bottles,
filled to the top and of yellow-coloured glass, which
must have as little surface exposed to the air as is
possible.

The bottles are supposed to be emptied in five
days ; scrupulous investigations have brought to
light, that in this space the air can produce but a
very trifling change in the oil.

The mixture must be of a purple-violet colour,
and should have a specific weight of 0-937 — 0 940 at
8°— 13°.

It should contain 1-23 per cent, of iodine and
about 0-27 per cent, of iron, both in a chemically
combined condition. The mixture will become
of a darker colour and the quantity of iron greater
as the air has had more time to form iron oxy-
iodide.

Nothing of an iodine reaction must be observed"
when the mixture is shaken with diluted starch, not
even if to the latter should be added a solution of
kalium iodide. The addition of kalium iodide, which
seizes the free iodine that might be in the oil
greatly enhances the sensibility of the amylum re¬
action.

I prepare my cod liver oil in quantities of 800 to
1000 litres in a vessel that is provided with a stirring
apparatus, and several cocks placed in gradual eleva¬
tions. The vessel must be of iron, and capable of
being shut hermetically. During the preparation,
samples of the oil, of the iodine solution, and of the
iodine-iron solution are sent to Professor Van der
Third Series, No. 533.

Burg, and not before he has tested them, is the opera¬
tion proceeded with.

In large quantities French iodine is, in my opinion,
to be preferred above English iodine. The latter is
finer and consequently mixed itself easily with the
oil to a tough mass, which cannot be resolved again
but with great difficulty. In small quantities the
solution of the iodine may be considerably quick¬
ened by pulverizing the iodine in a mortar.

A long shaking with iron ought not to be
omitted in this case. Though apparently all the
iodine is dissolved to a clear liquid, close investi¬
gations have shown that, especially with large
quantities, small parts of a dark coloured matter
will adhere to the bottom of the vessel, from which
no shaking or stirring can remove them. This
matter is insoluble in ether. It may be nearly
completely burnt. The eye, with the aid of a
microscope, can detect no crystallization. This
circumstance probably explains why the iodine-
iron cod liver oil is of a finer taste and odour than
the original oil.

That the mixture after its purity has been tested,
shows a free iodine reaction when it has stood
for twenty-four hours, finds its explanation in the
fact that a small quantity of ferrid-iodide seems to
have been produced which soon decomposes itself into
ferro-iodide and iodine.

The violet colour owes its origin to the small
particles of ferrid- oxyiodide, which can hardly be
avoided but by a very careful removal of the air
during the shaking with iron.

A preparation that should be totally free of ferrid-
oxyiodide is not the thing that is desired. Then,
being a little darker coloured than the oil which
was used, it obtains immediately after it has been
brought into contact with the air the peculiar dark
violet colour, and may be used as a sensible charac¬
teristic reagent for oxygen.

Without taking this precaution, the quantity of
the oxyiodide combination will amount to very little
(though sufficient for the colour), if the preparation
• has been gone through with due care. Analysis will
sufficiently show this.

The oxidizable properties of the mixture will
become evident if a drop is exposed to the air on
the lid of a cup. At once the colour will change,
while, at last, the liquid will have a colour little
darker than the original oil.

If the drop is made to spread by strongly blowing
upon it, the above reaction will appear much more
quickly, on account of the higher temperature as
well as the vapour of water of the breath.

It is very remarkable that water will spoil the
mixture. We once had to ascribe the loss of about
10 tuns to this cause.

This influence of water may be easily shown. If
1 drop of water is shaken up with about 10 grams of
the oil in a well corked bottle, great changes will
soon be observed in the colour.

The water seems to rob the oil of the ferro-iodide
for some part, and for the other to decompose it by
mutual influence.

It is still noteworthy that the quantity of iron
was larger than was absolutely necessary, because
this quickens the combination.

Exact investigations, made expressly for this pur¬
pose, have clearly shown that the cod liver oil
which is prepared with the due observances remains
constant.

210

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 11, 1SS0.

ARALIA SPINOSA, OR FALSE PRICKLY ASH

BARK.*

BY LOUIS H. HOLDEN.

The striking difference of the physical characteristics
between the barks of false and true prickly ask (Xa n-
thoxylum) lies in the appearance of the spines and the
fracture of the bark.

The former presents spines which are quite numerous
compared with the latter ; they are about one-fourth
inch in length, are smooth, slender and tapering to a fine
point ; their base is round or oval, and arranged in trans¬
verse rows.

The latter bark has few spines, scattered irregularly ;
they are straight and of the same length, but two-edged,
with narrow linear base of about three-fourths inch in
length.

The false bark breaks with a rather tough but nearly
smooth fracture.

The true is brittle, and breaks with a short, non-
fibrous fracture.

In examining the bark the following is the result of
my analysis : —

Having reduced the drug to a coarse powder, it was
moistened with alcohol and packed in a percolator, ex¬
hausted with alcohol, the alcohol was removed by dis¬
tillation, and the residue evaporated to a solid extract.
The extract was mixed with alcohol to the consistency of
syrup, then treated with benzin, which removed the fatty
matter ; this fat is of a dark green colour, which is
probably due to chlorophyll. The residue was then
treated with ether repeatedly, until the portion insoluble
in ether, after being dissolved in water, would not answer
the tests for tannin.

On examination, I find ether has removed from the
extract all of the tannin and resin. Upon evaporating
the ethereal solution to dryness and washing the re¬
sidue with water, the tannin becomes separated from the
resin.

The tannin is precipitated from aqueous solution by
acetate of lead ; it gives an emerald-green colour with
salts of iron ; with caustic potash it turns ruby-red ; the
latter colour, when acted upon by oxalic acid, is de¬
stroyed. The tannin coagulates albumen ; it is an as¬
tringent, soluble in ether, alcohol and water. The
alcoholic extract cannot be detannated with oxide of
lead, which the following process will prove. The alco¬
holic extract was mixed with water ; on adding to this
oxide of lead, heating, allowing to stand for several days,
then evaporating slowly to dryness, mixing again with
water and filtering, then adding fresh oxide of lead and
allowing to stand for two months, it still answered to
tests for tannin.

The residue from the ethereal solution, after washing
with water, was found to be resin. It is a brown opaque
mass ; powdered, it is of a light brown colour, solid,
brittle, fusible, and volatilized by a high heat ; it is
slightly acrid, soluble in alcohol and ether, insoluble in
water, benzin and chloroform.

The residue from the alcoholic extract, after being
treated with benzin and ether, is entirely soluble in
water, from which it is precipitated by acetate of lead in
the form of a heavy yellow adherent mass, which carries
down mechanically the bitter principle; this can be sepa¬
rated by washing with alcohol. Upon evaporation, a
lightish yellow substance, in scale, is obtained, which
from the following experiments was proved to be a glu-
coside ; to this the name of araliin is given. Its solution
has no effect on litmus. It is soluble in alcohol and
dilute acetic acid, very soluble in water, foaming exces¬
sively upon agitation, and the froth being quite persistent ;
not soluble in benzin, chloroform or ether. Acetate lead
has no effect upon its solution ; no precipitate is produced

by platinic chloride or bichloride of mercury ; no action
by nitric acid and chromate potash, nor does it answer
to any of the tests for alkaloids. Hydrochloric acid
bleaches the araliin and develops the peculiar odour of
the plant ; the effect of sulphuric acid is similar. Potas¬
sium hydrate and ammonia have no effect.

Upon dissolving araliin in water acidulated with hy¬
drochloric acid, and upon boiling, a white, insoluble,
tasteless and odourless precipitate is formed, for which
I propose the name araliretin. After filtering, testing
filtrate for glucose by cupric sulphate and excess of
caustic potash, and boiling, a heavy precipitate of red
oxide of copper is formed, showing the bitter principle
to be a glucoside. Araliin boiled with potassio-cupric
tartrate produced precipitate of red oxide of copper,
confirming the preceding test. When araliin is boiled
with hydrate potash an amber colour is produced.

Upon addition of tannic acid in cold solution no change
takes place, but upon the application of heat a flocculent
precipitate is formed.

THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY TO SUCCESSFULLY
CONDUCT PERCOLATION.*

BY J. U. LLOYD, CINCINNATI, OHIO.

( Concluded from page 196.)

If we close the exit of our percolator at any time
during the progress of percolation the menstruum within
the percolator will necessarily cea3e to move bodily
downward. The liquid will thus remain in direct
contact with the material, and as a consequence the
act of solution will progress in a manner similar to that
exemplified by our example of the dissolving crystal
of bromide of potassium. Hence, it is evident that .no
other advantage than those resulting from longer con¬
tinued contact can arise. To guard against any dis¬
turbing influence affecting succeeding percolation, caused
by an unequal contraction of the only partially saturated
powder, it is to be observed that all particles of material
are equally and permanently surrounded by menstruum.
We must bear in mind that the action of the menstruum
upon the powdered material in the percolator, which
consists of a number of small fragments, and that upon
the single crystal of bromide of potassium, in the example
cited heretofore, differ only in degree ; its solvent power
affects alike all the molecules exposed to its influence,
and the relative difference is dependent solely upon the
difference of the areas of surface exposed to contact. In
fact, the term molecule implies no definite idea of size,
and is an expression applying to something beyond our
senses ; we cannot compare the molecules of a liquid to
particles of matter of any conceivable size. We are
forced to assume that a menstruum is made up of an
inconceivably large number of infinitely small particles,
which we consider capable of permeating the powder
within the percolator, finding its way through the
capillary channels which surround the particles of the
solid, circulating around them in obedience to laws
already considered, and according to influences yet to
be mentioned. During the process of maceration in the
percolator the capillary tubes, as well as the larger in¬
terstices, are supposed to be filled with liquid; if this
liquid be capable of dissolving wholly or partially the
solid solution must take place. Each successive move¬
ment of contact is found to decrease the quantity of
matter held in solution until the liquid is saturated or
the solid dissolved. Thus we find the effect of contact
in percolation to be identical with that in simple
maceration.

In percolation, from the instant the stratum of men¬
struum commences to penetrate the material until it

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, August,
1880.

* From the ‘ Proceedings of the American Pharma-.
ceutical Association/ vol. xxvii., 1879.

September 11, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

211

escapes we have maceration connected with alteration
of the position of the mass of the liquid. There are
continually new surfaces of contact formed as the liquid
passes downward towards the exit of the percolator, and
in maceration this phenomenon is also presented. There
is no rest within the vessel while solution progresses.
Mediums of greater specific gravity than the original
menstruum are constantly forming, which, obedient to
gravity, seek the lowest portion of the vessel, in turn to
be displaced by heavier liquids. In this way during
maceration numbers of percolating currents are flowing
throughout the capillaries, and between the interstices of
the material, as in percolation, while fresh portions of
liquid are continually coming into contact with new
surfaces, and saturations are giving way with perfect
regularity to those not saturated.

Thus cii’culation of currents progress and will continue
until an equilibrium is established, as long as there is
soluble matter and unsaturated menstruum within the
percolator, and afterwards whenever the temperature is
permitted to change. Therefore maceration cannot be
disconnected from percolation, and as we have seen per¬
colation must include maceration. And thus I am led
to understand that the contact of maceration and the
contact of percolation are identical. Reasoning from the
foregoing it may be argued that the expression, macera¬
tion in connection with percolation, is simply an expres¬
sion to imply prolonged contact of liquid with material,
by which means we may overcome a defective contact of
height of material within the percolator. Upon the other
hand, increase of height of powder may imply prolonged
maceration of the material with successive portions of
menstruum.

I think we may be justified in arguing that the in¬
fluences which modify contact are of vital interest in
the study of percolation; that the solvent action of a
percolating menstruum may be facilitated by judicious
maceration, or by increasing the perpendicular height of
the powder.

Let us now consider the vessel which contains the ma¬
terial known as the percolator. This is of the utmost
importance, as the increase and decrease of diameter
governs capacity, subservient to mathematical laws,
which it is necessary to examine.

The percolator controls the height of powder under
like pressure. As the diameter of the percolator de¬
creases it is responded to by greater, and as it increases
by less height, both of powder and menstruum. Thus, if
a cylindrical percolator be 6 inches in diameter, and a
given amount of liquid or powder occupy a height of 6
inches, the same material will occupy —

131 inches in height in a percolator 4 inches in diameter.
24 » ji j> 3 fj ;>

54 ,, t) )> 2 „ „

This is in conformity with the mathematical law that the
height of both liquid and powder increase inversely as the
square of the diameter of the percolator ; a rule, however,
which does not apply to the increase and decrease of the
resultant contact between the material and passing liquid,
as a more careful examination will illustrate.

Let us represent contact by numbers. If a cylindrical
or prismatic percolator be used which has been filled 1
inch with a powder, overlying which is alcohol to the
depth of an inch, it is evident that every particle of the
powder which assists to form any perpendicular line or
column of the powder an inch in height will be exposed
to and come into contact, with every collection of mole¬
cules in the line or column of alcohol perpendicular above,
providing the alcohol passes directly through the powder
from top to bottom. If we knew the number of particles
of powder and the number of molecules of alcohol in
their respective columns, by multiplying the numbers
together the pi'oduct would represent the individual
contacts between particles and molecules. As before
remarked we cannot calculate the number of molecules
in a given bulk, therefore we will simply call the inch of

alcohol and the inch of powder one, and thus by multi¬
plying one by one we have the product one, which we
will take as unity. If the powder be 2 inches in depth
and the alcohol be 1, or if the alcohol be 2 inches in
depth and the powder 1, the contact will be twice as
great (2x1 = 2), and may be represented by two. If
both are 2 inches in depth, the contact will be (2x2 = 4)
twice as great as the last, or four times that of the first,
and may be represented by four, and so on. Let us now
take a percolator, and apply the foregoing law of increase
of contact. Eor the sake of obtaining even numbers we
will consider a square prism instead of a cylinder, as the
principle applies alike to either, although in practice
cylindrical percolators are employed.

The area of the base of a square prism 16 inches in
diameter is 16 x 16 or 256 square inches. If a powder
properly moistened for percolation be placed in it to the
depth of 1 inch, above which rests an inch of alcohol,
there will be 256 cubic inches of each layer, and yet
being taken as unity when the alcohol has passed through
the powder the contact will be 1x1 = 1, and thus the
contact may only be represented by one. If a square
prism 8 inches in diameter be considered, the area of the
base wfll be 64 square inches. If filled with powder to
the depth of 1 inch, over which rests an inch in depth
of alcohol, each layer will contain 64 cubic inches of
material, or one-fourth the amount required to fill the
16-inch percolator 1 inch in depth. The 8-inch per¬
colator would therefore have to contain 4 inches in
depth of each alcohol and powder before the amount
(256 cubic inches) could be reached. Thus the contact
will be 4 x 4 = 16.

A prism 4 inches in diameter must be filled 16 inches
in depth with both alcohol and powder to contain 256
Cubic inches of each material. The contact will conse¬
quently be 16 x 16 = 256. Thus continuing our calcu¬
lations, we have the following table which expresses the
contact between material and liquid, in each instance
the percolator below being one-half the diameter of that
above : —

Percolator 16 inches in diameter, alcohol and powder
each 1 inch deep, contact, 1.

Percolator 8 inches in diameter, alcohol and powder
each 4 inches deep, contact, 16.

Percolator 4 inches in diameter, alcohol and powder
each 16 inches deep, contact, 256.

Percolator 2 inches in diameter, alcohol and powder
each 64 inches deep, contact, 4096 .

Percolator 1 inch in diameter, alcohol and powder
each 256 inches deep, contact, 65,536.

It will be seen that with the percolator 1 inch in
diameter there will be 65,536 times as much contact
between alcohol and powder, inch for inch, as in the
16 -inch percolator. Thus we find that whereas the
height of both liquid and powder increases inversely
as the square of the diameter of the percolator, the
contact between liquid and powder increases inversely
as the fourth power of the diameter of the percolator.

As we follow a line of experiments, the solution or
partial solution of one problem brings us face to face
with others. Thus we are led onward, and the more
thorough our study of the present, the more important
we find it to carefully note the future. The utmost
caution is necessary in studying nature’s laws, lest from
insufficient data we hastily generalize. The foregoing
argument regarding the laws of contact is undoubtedly as
accurate, from a theoretical view, as those of the mathe¬
matical increase and decrease of the capacity of the per¬
colator. In practice, however, the advantage derived
from increased contact of height between liquid and
powder, is not by any means as great as the foregoing
calculations indicate, and as our tables have shown.
Counteracting agencies overcome to a very great extent
the theoretical advantages contact should afford. Some
of these influences we have been led to consider, others

212

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 11, I860.

have yet to be mentioned. Let us not forget that every
effect has a cause, that variations in the result of perco¬
lations are due to the working of natural laws.

We shall now consider the material to be exhausted, of
which the United States Pharmacopoeia speaks as fol¬
lows : —

“As different degrees of fineness are necessary in
powders, according to their nature and mode of treat¬
ment, the special degree required is designated in the
several formulas. Por this purpose the terms very fine,
fine, moderately fine, moderately coarse and coarse are

used; the powder passed through a sieve of eighty or
more meshes to the linear inch, being designated as very
fine ; through one of sixty meshes, fine ; through one of
fifty meshes, moderately fine ; through one of forty
meshes, moderately coarse; and through one of twenty
meshes, coarse.”

Seven articles, coarsely ground, moistened, and packed
in two different sized percolators, during the month of
January, and allowed to macerate forty -eight hours,
then drawn in stream size of pin until liquid ceased
to pass. Temperature averaged 38° F.

Table 1.

Per-

Height

CO-

Menstruum.

of ma-

late.

terial.

Coarse Ground.

lb.

No.

In.

Mayapple root . . .

12

10

Alcohol.

10

Leptandra . . . .

12

9

Alcohol.

134

Hydrastis . . . .

8

8

Alcohol.

124

Hamamelis leaves . .

5

7

j Alcohol 3. )

| Water 2. \

164

Mayapple root . . .

5

3

{ Alcohol 3. )
l Water 2. j

234

Hydrastis . . . .

5

4

j Alcohol 3. )
j Water 2. (

21

Aletris .

4

5

Alcohol.

184

Amnt.
used to
moisten
ma¬
terial.

Men¬

struum

added.

Amount
of perco¬
late ob¬
tained.

Absorbed
by the ma¬
terial and
lost by eva¬
poration.

Dry ex¬
tractive
matter
con¬
tained
in 1 c.c.

Amount
of ex¬
tractive
matter
con¬
tained
in 1 fl. oz.

Amount
of ex-
trective
matter
contain¬
ed in 16
fl. oz.

Pts.

Pts.

Pts.

fl. oz.

Pts.

fl. oz.

Gr.

Gr.

Gr.

3

12

11

8

3

8

•41

12-095

193-52

3

12

9

14

5

2

1-00

29-5

472-16

2

12

9

11

4

5

•41

.12 095

193-52

4

19

14

13

8

3

1‘22

35-99

575-84

1

9

5

14

4

2

1-75

51-625

826-00

2

8

5

8

4

8

1*84

54-28

868-48

2

8

6

9

3

7

•70

20-65

330-40

Like amounts of material were at the same time, from
the same source, nicely wrapped and placed in a dry
situation until August, then percolated, each article
being worked in the percolator used in January for
the corresponding part. The same amount of men¬
struum was used for moistening each individual article,
and in every way precautions were taken to render the
two lines of experiments as nearly as possible alike. The
result is tabulated under : —

Table 2.

Amount of 'Amount of

Amount of

dry extrac-

dry extrac-

dry extrac-

tive matter

tive matter

tive matter

contained

contained

contained

in 1 c.c. of

in 1 fl. oz.

in 16 fl. oz.

tincture,

of tincture,

of tincture,

obtained

obtained

obtained

from the

from the

from the

reserved

reserved

reserved

part of

part of

part of

materials

materials

materials

percolated

percolated

percolated

in August.

in August.

in August.

Coarse Ground.

Gr.

Gr.

Gr.

Mayapple root . . .

•87

25-665

410-64

Leptandra .

1:94

57-23

915-68

Hydrastis .

■84

24-78

396-48

Hamamelis leaves . .

1-24

36-58

585-28

Mayapple root . . .

2-11

62-245

995-92

Hydrastis .

263

77-585

1241-36

Aletris .

•94

27-73

443-68

Table 3.

Eight glass tubes, J inch diameter, and 10 inches
long, were carefully sunk into alcohol until a little
more than half filled, then the lower orifice was corked.
A plug of cotton was now thrust from the top until an
inch below the alcohol. Different powders were then
poured into the tubes until even with the surface of the
alcohol. Each powder was then covered with a plug of
cotton, the tubes filled with alcohol, corked, and placed
in a quiet position. In six months the liquids below and
above were identical in appearance. In every case the
lower liquid was first coloured. Experiments with larger
amounts were much more striking.

Aconite. — Yellowish stratum appears at bottom of tube
in two and a half hours. Entire lower liquid yellowish
in twenty hours. Upper transparent.

Helonias dioica. — Lower liquid tinged in twenty hours,
increasing to yellow in thirty-four days. Upper trans¬
parent.

Blue Flag. — Lower liquid yellow in thirty hours, in¬
creasing to dark yellow in thirty-two days. Upper
transparent.

Tamarac Cones . — Lower liquid reddish in four hours,
blood-red in twenty hours. Upper slightly pink in thirty
days.

Mayapple. — Lower liquid yellow in twenty hours.
Upper slightly tinged in thirty-four days.

Bloodroot. — Lower liquid tinged in four and a half
hours at bottom, reddish-yellow throughout in twenty
hours, increasing in colour for thirty-two days, when it
is a dark yellowish-red, and upper liquid is yellowish.

Black Cohosh. — Lower liquid yellowish in twenty hours.
Upper transparent.

Lobelia Herb. — Lower liquid contains greenish-yellow
stratum at bottom in two hours ; greenish -yellow through¬
out in twenty hours. Upper liquid slightly tinged in
forty hours. Lower liquid brownish-yellow in thirty-
four days. Upper yellowish.

September 11, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

213

Table 4.

No. of maceration.

FI. oz. of
liquid ob¬
tained by
each ma¬
ceration.

The part of
the entire ex¬
tractive
matter con¬
tained in the
powder, ob¬
tained by each
maceration.

The part of
the entire ex¬
tractive
matter of the
powder con¬
tained in each
fl. oz. of the
liquid.

Total fl.
oz. of
liquid
ob¬
tained.

Total part ob¬
tained of the
entire extrac¬
tive matter
contained in
the powder.

The part of the
entire extrac¬
tive matter of
the powder
contained in
each fl. oz. of
the entire
liquid.

Decrease of
extractive
matter in each
fl. oz. of the
liquid, occa¬
sioned by the
addition of
the liquid ob¬
tained by the
last macera¬
tion.

The part of the
entire extrac¬
tive matter
remaining
after each
maceration.

1st .

3

•75

•25

3

•75

•25

•25

2nd .

4

•20

•05

7

•95

•1357

•1143

•05

3rd .

4

•04

•01

11

•99

•09

•0457

•01

4th . ‘ . . . . .

4

•008

•002

15

•998

•06653

•02347

•002

5th .

4

•0016

•0005

19

•9996

•05261

•01392

•0005

6th .

4

•00032

•00008

23

•99992

•04347

•00914

•00008

7th .

4

•00006

•00002

27

•99998

•03703

•00644

•00002

Table 5.

No. of macerations.

Fl. oz. of
liquid ob¬
tained by
each ma¬
ceration.

The part of the
entire extrac¬
tive matter
contained in
the powder
obtained by
each macera¬
tion.

The part of the
entire extrac¬
tive matter of
the powder
contained in
each fl. oz. of
the liquid.

Total fl
oz. of
liquid
ob¬
tained.

Total part ob¬
tained of the
entire extrac¬
tive matter
contained in
the powder.

The part of the
entire extrac¬
tive matter of
the powder
contained in
each fl. oz. of
the entire
liquid.

Decrease of
the extractive
matter, in
each fl. oz. of
the liquid, oc¬
casioned by
the addition
of the liquid
obtained by
the last ma¬
ceration.

The part of the
entire extrac¬
tive matter
remaining
after each
maceration.

1st ....

3

•6

•2

3

•6

•2

•4

2nd .

4

•26666

*06666

•*7

•

•86666

•12381

•07619

•13333

3rd ......

4

•08889

•02222

11

•95555

•08686

•02695

•04444

4th .

4

•02963

•00741

15

•98518

•06568

•02118

•01482

: 5th .

4

•00988

•00247

19

•99506

•05237

•01331

•00494

‘ 6th .

4

•00329

•00082

23

•99835

•04341

•00896

•00165

' 7th .

4

•0011

•00028

27

•99945

•03702

•00639

•00055

Each experiment consisted of 24 troy ounces of granu¬
lated sugar, packed with like pressure into cylindrical
percolators. Height occupied by experiment No. 7, 5
inches. Height occupied by experiment No. 6, 1 inch.
Menstruum, diluted alcohol. Rapidity of percolation
uniform with both experiments, both being conducted
simultaneously.

Table 6.

Percolate.

Grains of sugar ob¬
tained from 1 c.c. of
percolate.

Grains of sugar con¬
tained in each perco¬
late of 8 fl. oz.

1st . . .

8*87

2093-32

2nd . . .

. I 8*74

2062-64

3rd . . .

8*67

204612

4th . . .

5-99

1413-64

5th . . .

3-58

844-88

6th . . .

•04

9-44

Table 7.

Percolate.

Grains of sugar ob¬
tained from 1 c.c. of
percolate.

Grains of sugar con¬
tained in each perco¬
late of 8 fl. oz.

|

1st ....

5-38

1269-68

2nd ....

4-48

1077-28

3rd ....

3-31

781-16

4th ....

2-46

580-56

5th ... .

1-93

455-48

6th ... .

1-73

403-56

Each experiment consisted of 16 troy ounces of pow¬
dered (dusted) Leptandra Virgimca, moistened with
alcohol, and packed in different sized cylindrical per¬
colators with like pressure, the percolation being after¬
ward conducted with the same menstruum. Height of
powder experiment No. 8 was 5£ inches. Height of
powder experiment No. 9 was 1£ inch. The percolations
were conducted simultaneously. Percolates were passed
as nearly as possible with uniform rapidity, and every
precaution was taken to secure identical conditions of
both.

Table 8.

Percolates.

Grains of dry ex¬
tractive matter ob¬
tained from 1 c.c.
of percolate.

Grains of dry ex¬
tractive matter con¬
tained in each per¬
colate of 2 fl. ozs.

1st .

3-92

231-28

2nd .

3-20

198-80

3rd .

2-37

139-83

4th .

1-80

106-20

5th .

1-29

7611

6th .

•93

44-87

7th .

•63

37-17

8th .

•40

23-60

9th . . . , .

•34

20-06

10th .

•25

14-75

Uth .

•25

14-75

12th .

•23

13-57

214

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September li, 1880

Table 9.

Percolates.

Grains of dry ex¬
tractive matter ob¬
tained from 1 c.c.
of percolate.

Grains of dry ex¬
tractive matter con -
tained in each per¬
colate of 2 fl. ozs. ;

1st .

2-18

128-62

2nd .

2-04

120-36

3rd .

1-76

103-84

4th .

1-49

87-91

5th .

1-20

70-80

6th .

•98

57-82

7th .

•94

55-46

8th .

•72

42-48

9th .

•61

35-99

10th .

•40

23-60

Uth .

^•47

27-73

12th .

•43

25-37

Each experiment consisted of 8 troy ounces of AJstonia
constricta in fine (dusted) powder, moistened with alcohol,
and packed in different sized cylindrical percolators with
like pressure, the percolation being afterward conducted
with alcohol. Height of powder of experiment No. 10
was 5 inches. Height of powder of experiment No. 11
was 1£ inch. The experiments were conducted simul¬
taneously. Percolates were passed with uniform rapidity
as nearly as possible.

Table 10.

Percolates.

Grains of dry ex¬
tractive matter ob¬
tained from 1 c.c.
of percolate.

Grains of dry ex¬
tractive mattercon -
tained in each per¬
colate of 2 fl. ozs.

1st

•

1-76

103 84

2nd

•

•93

54-87

3rd

•

•49

28-91

4th

•

•24

14-16

5th

•

•22

12-98

6 th

•

•14

8-26

7th

•

•16

9-44

8th

•

•13

7-67

9th

•

•16

9-44

10th

•

•12

7-08

11th

•

•13

7-67

12th

•

•12

7-08

13th

•

•10

5-90

14th

•

•10

5-90

15th

•

•07

4-13

16 th

•

Tl

6-49

Table 11.

Percolates.

Grains of dry ex¬
tractive matter ob¬
tained from 1 c.c.
of percolate.

Grains of dry ex¬
tractive matter con¬
tained in each per¬
colate of 2 fl. ozs.

1st

•

•73

43-07

2nd

•

•68

40-12

3rd

•

•47

27-73

4th

•

•36

21-24

5th

•

•28

16-52

6th

•

*24

1416

7th

•

•17

10-03

8th

•

•15

8-85

9th

•

•16

9-44

10th

•

•17

10-03

11th

•

•13

7-67

12 th

•

•14

8-26

Table 11 — continued.

Percolates.

Grains of dry ex¬
tractive matter ob¬
tained from 1 c.c.
of percolate.

Grains of dry ex¬
tractive natter con¬
tained in each per¬
colate of 2 fl. ozs.

13 th .

•12

7-08

14th .

•09

5-31

15 th .

•11

6-49

16th .

•11

6-49

Each experiment consisted of 16 troy ounces of chloride
of sodium, in coarse powder, packed with like pressure, in
different sized cylindrical percolators. No. 12 occupied
three and a half inches in height. No. 13 occupied seven-
eighths of an inch in height. Water was the menstruum.
The percolates were reserved in fractions of 8 fluid ounces.
The experiments were conducted simultaneously, and
every precaution taken to secure uniformity, but the per¬
colates were permitted to pass naturally and freely.

Table 12.

Percolates.

Grains of salt ob¬
tained from 1 c.c.
of percolate.

Grains of salt con¬
tained in each per¬
colate of 8 fl. ozs.

1st .

4-89

1154-04

2nd .

4-91 •

1158-76

3rd .

4-97

1172-92

4th .

4-43

1045-48

5th .

3-05

719-80

Table 13.

Percolates.

Grains of salt ob¬
tained from 1 c.c.
of percolate.

Grains of salt con¬
tained in each per¬
colate of 8 fl. ozs.

1st .

4-89

1154-04

2nd .

4-90

1156-40

3rd .....

4-91

1158-76

4th .

4-00

944-00

5th .

2 76

651-36

f

Table 14.

8 troy ounces of coarse-ground
ergot. Height of powder, 4£
inches. Menstruum: alcohol,

1 ; water, 3.

1 c.c. contains
dry extractive
matter.

Total percolate
contains dry
extractive
matter.

1st percolate, 1 fl. oz. . .

4-76

140-42

2nd „ „ „

3-59

105-905

3rd ., ,, ,, . .

2-91

85-845

4th „ „ „

2-26

66-67

5th ,, ,, >j •

1-76

51-92

6th ,, ,, „ . .

1-47

43-365

Table 15.

16 troy ounces of coarse-ground
ergot. Height of powder If
inches. Menstruum : alcohol,

1 ; water, 4.

1 c.c. contains
dry extractive
matter.

Total percolate^
contains dry
extractive
matter.

1st percolate, 1 fl. oz. . .

2-85

84-075

2nd „ „ „

2-76

81-42

3rd ,, » tt • •

2-66

77-97

4th ,, ,, ;, . .

2-64

77-88

5th ,, ,, • «

2-59

76-405

6th ,, » » •

1-58

46-61

September 11, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

215

nwmtftml Journal.

- + -

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, hooks for review, etc., should he addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should he sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. JournP

THE FUTURE OF THE DRUG TRADE.

Much of tlie correspondence that reaches us in
reference to the present condition and future pro¬
spects of the drug trade furnishes evidence of the
precarious and unsatisfactory state of affairs that
prevails at the present time, and various as are the
suggestions offered with the object of effecting some
improvement, we cannot say that any one has yet
come under our notice which can be trusted to as
promising immediate relief from the evils which
chemists and druggists have to contend with. In
fact the very diversity of opinion on this subject is
in itself a reason by no means inconsiderable for
apprehending that the prospect of amelioration is
somewhat remote.

As regards the competition which is now brought
to bear upon chemists and druggists by co-operative
stores, grocers and others who have entered upon
the trade in articles which were formerly sold only
by chemists and druggists, it must be acknowledged
that this is, on the whole, perhaps the most serious
disadvantage to which they are exposed. In so
many instances the trade in patent medicines and
other kinds of proprietary articles constitutes so
large a part of the business of a chemist and druggist,
that when he is called upon to face competition in
this trade upon terms that are inconsistent with the
nature of his business the prospect presented to him
is necessarily most discouraging. Whatever alter¬
native he adopts there is but little reason for
■expecting a satisfactory result. That he can con¬
sistently, with due regard to his obligations and
responsibility to the public, and with proper con¬
sideration for the legitimate dignity of his calling,
carry on business upon the principle of small profits
and quick returns is, in our opinion, utterly im¬
possible. Whether or not the consumption of quack
medicines can be promoted by selling them on
this principle is, for our present purpose, not a
question worth considering, inasmuch as that is
■outside the scope of legitimate pharmaceutical busi¬
ness, in the conduct of which it would be unreason¬
able to suppose increased consumption of medicine
would be a result of the reduction of its cost, as
might be the case with any ordinary commodity of
daily use. The grocer who sells patent medicines

very nearly at cost price does not trust to this trade
for his living : it is only an accessory that can be
carried on without involving much, if any, addition
to his general expenses, and if it only gives him an
infinitesimal profit in return for such slight trouble
as it entails, he at least secures by it the advantage
of attracting custom for his other goods, which is of
much more importance to him. This is the true
explanation of the fact that some proprietary articles
are sold retail by grocers and at the stores at prices
even below the advertised wholesale prices. In one
instance that lately came under our notice, such an
article in great demand was being sold retail at five
shillings, although the wholesale dealer’s price for it
was six shillings.

We are therefore thoroughly in accord with those
of our correspondents who deprecate a reduction of
prices so as to compete with the stores. Among
others, Mr. Chapman put this view very sensibly in
the Journal of the 21st ult. No doubt the recent
decision in favour of co-operative trading has in¬
clined some chemists and druggists to make greater
efforts to compete by reducing their prices. We
quite agree with Mr. Chapman in thinking this to
be inadvisable for, of course, a half measure would
have no effect in bringing trade to the chemist and
druggist, people would still go to the cheaper market,
and a reduction of prices to the level of the stores or
the pushing grocer could only give the chemist and
druggist trade without its corresponding advantage.
Mr. Chapman illustrates the impracticability of
competition by various examples, the force of which
will be apparent to every one who has to do with
trade in the articles mentioned.

But what is the natural result to be foreseen from
adopting the alternative course, recommended by
Mr. Chapman, of refusing to compete with the low
priced sellers? Naturally the loss of the trade in
the articles referred to, and that undoubtedly means
ruin for many of those engaged in the drug trade as
it is now generally carried on. This is the rut into
which the wheel of the chemist and druggist’s
waggon has sunk and stuck fast. But while de¬
ploring his condition, we confess we cannot sympa¬
thize with the cry that he addresses to the Council
of the Pharmaceutical Society to obtain for him
protection in the sale of patent medicines and pro¬
prietary articles. We doubt whether protective
measures, even if there were any chance of their
being obtainable, would do much good, and we
would rather advise recourse to the old medical
principle of endeavouring to remove the cause of
the disastrous influences which now press so hardly
upon chemists and druggists as to imperil, in many
cases, their very existence.

With such an object, let us consider what are the
circumstances that have brought about the present
state of affairs. In the first place it must be remem¬
bered that while the business of the chemist and
druggist has developed into a distinct form, it has

216

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September li, i860.

never yet been possible to secure such a thorough
transfer of dispensing from the hands of medical
men to chemists and druggists as would admit of
their business being generally kept within its legiti¬
mate bounds. The necessity of the chemist and
druggist as a means of conveniently supplying the
wants of the public has operated largely as an in¬
ducement to enter upon his business ' while, at the
same time, the idea of its being less laborious, more
profitable and generally of a higher character than
other kinds of retail trade has probably had a
strong influence in the same direction. Chemists
and druggists having thus become too numerous
in proportion to the demands upon them for
carrying out strictly pharmaceutical business
have gradually taken up other branches of trade.
In this way there was added on to the business of
pharmacy properly so called a kind of spurious
business that might have been carried on by a
grocer’s boy as well as by the most accomplished
pharmacist, and as the worst feature of this course
chemists and druggists have been the chief agents in
the introduction of patent medicines, etc., to the public
notice. But now that the profitable result of this trade
is being torn from them by the competition of stores
and grocery shops there seems to be strong reason for
seeking protection to their interests by a closer
adherence to legitimate pharmaceutical business and
by a jealous determination to limit, in the most
rigorous manner, the admission to the right of carry¬
ing on that kind of business, which differs so entirely
from all other branches of trade as to demand in
the public interest proof of competent skill and ex¬
perience on the part of those allowed to carry it on.

It is by such protection alone that we have any
hope to see the true interests of pharmacy conserved
in this country and it is only by such means that
we think it possible to attain the result pointed to
by Lord Justice Bramwell when he observed that
the days of protection being past the only interests
worth consideration were those which could protect
themselves. If on this higher platform chemists and
druggists resolve to abandon the idea of underselling
as a policy at once short-sighted, erroneous and
derogatory, and to adhere to a more dignified and
consistent course of securing business in virtue of
their superior qualification and by the exercise of
attention, civility, neatness and dispatch, while
maintaining from their customers a just apprecia¬
tion of their technical knowledge and responsibility,
more may, we believe, be done for the drug trade
than can be expected by making demands upon
Parliament for legislation inconsistent with all the
tendencies of the age.

Of course we do not overlook the fact that the
adoption of such a course involves great difficulties,
and many great hardships, but when it is con¬
sidered what mischief has been brought about by
reliance upon the patent medicine trade as a main
feature of the chemists and druggists’ business, and

how thoroughly it has been the means of upsetting
the efforts of local associations to ensure harmony
and mutual co-operation for the advancement of
pharmacy ; when it is remembered that so much of
the present distress is due to the cultivation of this
spurious trade, we think that many will deem it
wiser even to risk the loss of this trade than reduce
themselves to the level upon which it must obviously
be carried on for the most part in future.

PROPOSED ADULTERATION BILL FOR THE
UNITED STATES.

Her Majesty’s Secretary of Legation at Washing¬
ton, U.S., reports that considerable attention is being
just now paid to the subject of adulteration, and
that an attempt is being made to secure the passage
of a Bill by Congress to ‘‘regulate commerce between
“ the States and to protect the citizens of each State
“ against the frauds and abuses of an untrammelled
“interchange of manufactures and commodities.”
From some of the reports that have been drawn up,
it would appear that if wooden nutmegs are played
out the genus is still fairly represented across the
Atlantic. One report states that six packages of
coffee berries, purchased in Baltimore, being tested
by simply washing them to remove the dressing,
lost weight respectively 68, 64, 63, 58, 19 and 8 per
cent. The washings being evaporated gave residues
containing in each case chromate of lead, phosphate
of lime (from bone black) and sulphate of barium.
In another report inferior molasses is said to be
mixed gallon for gallon with the liquid glucose now
used largely for flavouring syrups, whilst glucose in
the solid form is in its turn freely mixed with low
class sugars to lighten their colour. The draft Bill
put forward to remedy the evil appears to be a very
crude production, and in providing sweeping penal¬
ties upon undefined adulteration promises a crop of
troubles similar to those borne by early legislation
on this subject in our own country.

UTILIZATION OF WASTE.

A notable instance of the utilization of waste is to>
be found in the smelting works of the Greek Laurium
Company at Ergasteria, where the material operated
upon for several years past has been the slag (sconce)
of the ancient lead mines of Laurium. This slag,
however, is now nearly exhausted, and the company
is now operating chiefly upon the ekbolades or rejected
materials of the ancient mines. These still exist in
enormous quantities and although the yield of lead
from them is considerably smaller, twenty tons daily
instead of thirty, the yield of silver is larger. It is
computed that the materials rejected by the old miners
contain in their natural state 5 to 6 per cent, of lead
and 1250 grams of silver per ton, whilst the slag
yielded only about 700 grams of silver to each ton of
lead produced. Upwards of three thousand hands
are employed in this utilization of the waste of
former generations, and amongst the staff are to be
found a medical man and a pharmacist.

September 11, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

217

rombings of Stimtiftt Sotitfbs.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

(Continued from page 186.)

The reading of papers was then proceeded with.

The first paper read was a —

Report on the Aconite Alkaloids.

BY C. R. ALDER WRIGHT, D.SC. (LOND.),

Lecturer on Chemistry, in St. Mary's Hospital Medical

School,

AND E. H. RENNIE, M.A. (SYDNEY), D.SC. (LOND.),

Demonstrator of Chemistry, in St. Mary's Hospital
Medical School.

The alkaloids contained in 300 lbs. of fresh aconite
herb (A. Napellus), grown at Foxton, in Cambridgeshire,
were isolated by the methods described in last year’s
report, viz., crushing, maceration in alcohol, expression of
extract, evaporation to a smaller bulk, and treatment of
the liquid (weighing about 59 lbs.) with soda, and
repeatedly shaking with ether. A quantity of alkaloidal
matter was thus readily dissolved out, a small portion
remaining permanently dissolved in the alkaline fluid, in
a form difficultly soluble in ether ; the alkaloidal matter
thus retained yielded nothing crystalline on precipitation
with mercuro-iodide of potassium, and treatment with
sulphuretted hydrogen, and appeared to be all but
destitute of the characteristic physiological action of
aconite, producing little or no tingling of the lips, when
applied thereto ; it greatly resembled the corresponding
substance similarly obtained from the extracts derived
from the various kinds of aconite roots examined in
previous reports, consisting of a mixture of amorphous
bases of lower molecular weight than aconitine, some
of which differ therefrom markedly in being readily
soluble in caustic and carbonated alkalies, and in being

only imperfectly removed from such solutions by ether.

The alkaloidal substances dissolved out by the ether
treatment, being mixed with a large quantity of greenish
soft resin, were separated therefrom by agitation with
tartaric acid solution and separation of the tartrate
solution thus formed ; on treating this with sodium
carbonate and ether, about 15 grams of alkaloids were
finally obtained by the spontaneous evaporation of the
ethereal solution. No artifice employed was successful
in making this product either crystallize or yield crys¬
tallized salts of any kind; it appeared, however, to contain
a notable amount of aconitine, producing an energetic
action on the lips when cautiously applied thereto, though
it was by no means so powerfully active as pure aconitine.
On combustion it yielded the following numbers indicating,
as did also its physical properties, that it was substantially
the same mixture of alkaloids as that occurring in A.
Napellus roots, only differing therefrom in containing
a smaller percentage of aconitine, the quantity of uncrys-
tallizable bases being relatively much larger.*

(1). ‘2845 gram of substance dried at 110° gave *6735
C02 and '217 H20.

'459 gram of substance burnt with soda lime gave
•01222 N.

A portion of the substance was dissolved in dilute
hydrochloric acid, and the. solution precipitated by slow
addition to a dilute solution of sodium carbonate ; the
flakes thrown down after collection and washing, gave
these numbers : —

* It would seem to be highly probable that the presence
in excess of non-crystalline bases, preventing crystallization
of what aconitine is present, is the main cause of the
difficulty which we understand is sometimes experienced in
isolating the crystallizable alkaloid from A. Napellus roots
in the process of manufacture on the large scale.

(2). *290 gram gave '694 C02 and T95 H20.

'387 gram gave

•00993 N.

(l)

(2)

Carbon . . .

. . . 64'56

65'26

Hydrogen . .

. . . 8'47

7*47

Nitrogen . .

. . . 2'66

2'57

The sodium carbonate solution contained about a gram
of a soft alkaloid readily soluble in alkalies and for the
most part soluble in water, and but sparingly soluble in
ether, doubtless therefore consisting largely of aconine,
either produced by the saponification of aconitine during
the process of working out the bases present in the herb,
or else originally present therein.

The above numbers and general results are practically
identical with those obtained from the mixture of
aconitine and uncrystallizable alkaloids accumulating in
the mother liquors from which the aconitine from A.
Napellus root (described in report 1877, p. 461), had sepa¬
rated by crystallization, two samples of them giving the
following numbers.

Carbon . 65'80 65'46

Hydrogen . 7*7 8 7‘58

Nitrogen . 2'7l 3'05

Benzoic acid formed by

saponification .... 14'4 14'1

On boiling up the mixture of alkaloids (1) above,
benzoic acid was formed to a somewhat greater extent
than with these two samples; 2 ’227 grams gave of
purified acid, by titration '3904 grams, by direct weighing
(including a minute amount of resinous matter), *397
gram.

By titration 17'5. By weighing 17'8

The benzoic acid produced melted at 120° ; it gave no
trace of coloration with ferric chloride after fusion with
caustic potash at 250°, acidulation, and treatment with
ether; whence evidently no veratric (dimethylproto-
catechuic) acid was present, and therefore no pseud-
aconitine was contained in the herb employed.

Hence it results that the quantity of active alkaloid
contained in the aconite herb is probably somewhat less
than that contained in the roots, reckoned on the dry
substance ;ffor a quantity of roots was found (Report 187 6,
p. 539), to contain about '07 per cent of total bases, of
which aconitine constituted so large a proportion that
about two-fifths of the total alkaloid was obtained as
pure crystallized aconitine. Admitting the 300 lbs. (or
about 135 kilos) of fresh herb to represent one-fifth of
that amount of substance in the same state of dryness as
the roots (an estimate probably in excess of the truth),
the total yield of alkaloids readily soluble in ether being
about 15 grams, this would represent about '05 per cent,
of total alkaloids contained in the dry herb; the per¬
centage of aconitine in this amount of total alkaloids
being much less than that in the root alkaloids, so that
the relatively large amount of non-crystalline bases
wholly prevented crystallization.

It can, however, hardly be concluded from these two
cases that it is a general rule that aconite roots are richer
in crystallizable aconitine than the dry herb ; for we are
informed by Mr. John Williams that it has sometimes
happened in his factory that no crystallizable aconitine
at all but only non-crystalline bases could be isolated
from batches of roots worked up on the manufacturing
scale in precisely the same way as other batches which
readily yielded crystals ; whence it would seem that the
roots occasionally are either poorer in aconitine or richer
in non- crystalline bases than those described in the
Report for 1876; and it is therefore much to be desired
that further experiments should be made as to the
quantity of crystallized aconitine that can practically be
isolated on the manufacturing scale from roots of various
ages and grown in different soils and climates, etc. Such
experiments as these, like the analogous questions as to
what precise method of manipulating and what menstrua
will best suffice on the large scale to separate aconitine
economically from the non- crystalline alkaloids accom-

218

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. September n, isso.

panying it, cannot readily be carried out by the scientific
chemist working in his laboratory on a comparatively
small scale ; but they are indispensable in order to put
the economical production of crystallized aconitine on a
sound commercial footing.

At the present moment the pharmaceutical aspect of
the production of aconitine is as follows. Prior to the
last eight or ten years the term “aconitine,” was applied
to an amorphous alkaloidal substance extracted by pro¬
cesses investigated by Yon Planta, Geiger and Hesse,
and other chemists from A. Napelius, and probably
mixtures of that and other species. During the last
decade the experiments of T. B. Groves and Duquesnel,
together with those carried out by the aid of the Phar¬
maceutical Conference grants by Alder Wright and colla-
borateurs, and described in the series of reports of which
this is the concluding one, have demonstrated that the
active alkaloid of A. Napelius (to which for some years
the name “aconitine” has been restricted) is a definite
crystallizable substance occurring naturally intermixed
with larger or smaller quantities of amorphous bases of
much less highly active characters, and is readily split up
by various chemical reagents into benzoic acid and a base
(aconine), comparatively speaking inert: the want of
uniformity in physiological action of the product obtained
by processes such as those employed by the older chemists
being due partly to the presence of variable quantities of
the natural amorphous alkaloids co-existing with aconi¬
tine, and partly to the decomposition of a large portion of
the aconitine originally present by the action of the
particular chemicals and mode of treatment employed
during the extraction operations. Further, the relation¬
ships of this aconitine to other analogous aconite alkaloids
derived from other species ( e . g. pseudaconitine from
A. ferox), and to organic bodies generally have been
attentively studied.

As a consequence of these experiments, a demand for
pure crystallized aconitine has sprung up, more especially
in America, the object being to replace the amorphous
unreliable preparations generally met with in the market
by the pure uniform alkaloid ; but at the present moment
this demand is to a great extent unsatisfied because,
whilst the supply of A. Napelius of American growth is
too limited to enable American drug manufacturers to
prepare the pure alkaloid themselves, its manufacture in
Europe has not yet been carried out to any considerable
extent ; from whence it results that whilst the Committee
of the American Pharmaceutical Association on the
Revision of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia is desirous that the
forthcoming new edition of that Pharmacopoeia should
exclude the amorphous preparations and should define
aconitine solely as the crystallized uniform body
C33H43N012, described in detail in former Reports to the
Pharmaceutical Conference,* yet it appears at present
somewhat doubtful whether it will be practicable for this
desire to be carried out, simply because this pure article
is not to be found in the market, at any rate to an
extent at all comparable with the demand for it.

Professor Attfield said the Conference should not lose
sight of the question raised by Dr. Wright as to the
influence of age, climate and soil on the quantities of
active matter present in the aconite; nor of the other
question raised as to the best mode of commercially
manufacturing the alkaloid. It might be a question

* For an epitome of the characters (physical and
chemical) of aconitine and other allied aconite alkaloids,
vide The Pharmaceutical Journal, July 3, 1880, and
following numbers, in which some points connected with
the practical economical side of the question are discussed,
the origin of these communications being an application to
the subscriber by Dr. Charles Rice, Chairman of the
Revision Committee of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, for a
precis of the characters of aconitine and other information
concerning it for the guidance of the Committee. — C. R.
Alder Wright.

whether the latter matter should be left now to com¬
mercial enterprise or whether the Conference should do.
any more in that direction. Experiments respecting the
influence of soil and climate on plants required a great
deal of time and a great deal of money ; but as had been,
already intimated the Conference had money to spend
on these very matters, and it seemed a pity that this
question should be finally disposed of in this concluding
report by Dr. Wright. At any rate, he hoped the matter
would not be altogether lost sight of.

Mr. Schacht said he should like to lay stress on one
observation made by Dr. Wright, viz., that the crys¬
tallizable principle in these solutions was rendered more
difficult of crystallization by the presence of uncrys-
tallizable matter. It occurred to him that that was
somewhat opposed to one’s usual experience in such
mixtures, and he ventured to ask if it was one which
other scientific chemists would be prepared to endorse.
Dr. Wright was so shrewd and able a man that one
would like to receive everything he suggested, even a
scientific guess, with great respect, but it seemed a little
outside his own experience at any rate.

Mr. Umney, though he had had no experience in this
particular alkaloid, had found in the quinine manufacture,
when the mother liquor contained a large quantity of
crystallizable alkaloid, it was most difficult to crystallize
it when the amorphous alkaloid was also present. He
had no doubt there was the same difficulty in crys¬
tallizing sugar when there was a large quantity of treacle
present. At any rate he could speak positively as to the
cinchona alkaloid.

Mr. Gerrard said he could corroborate Mr. Umney’s
statement with regard to another alkaloid, pilocarpine,
and also eserine. He had found great difficulty in crys¬
tallizing the eserine salts he had prepared in the presence
of some amorphous or syrupy bodies. There seemed
some amorphous bodies present generally in some plants,,
which when evaporated to a certain extent greatly re¬
tarded crystallization.

Mr. Reynolds said there was another view of the case
and that was the possibility of a still more serious-
condition of things, the conversion of the crystallizable
alkaloid into an uncrystallizable product. He thought
this might be possible under some circumstances which
had not been sufficiently studied.

Mr. Schacht said that was just the point he was urging
the solution of.

Professor Attfield said the uncrystallizable matters, so
called by Dr. Wright, were simply those which he had not
yet succeeded in crystallizing. It might be, when better
methods of separation were devised, much of this matter
would turn out to be crystalline, and, being separated,
not prevent, to the same extent as at present, the
crystallization of the true aconitine. If it were necessary
to give any further answer to the question raised by
Mr. Schacht he might say that for several years he had
a great deal of experience in the crystallization of matter
from fluids obtained from herbs, and his almost constant
experience was that syrupy fluids of that kind did yield
crystals very easily, and which looked very beautiful, but
they always turned out to be sulphate of lime ; whereas
the alkaloid and organic matter which he was in search
of were considerably retarded in crystallization by the
presence of uncrystallizable matter.

Mr. Reynolds remarked that old pupils of Dr. Pereira
would no doubt remember one of his stock stories, that
when Dr. Thomson’s collection of alkaloids was examined
the crystals unfortunately turned out to consist largely of
sulphate of lime.

Mr. Greenish had observed that in a large number
of roots of aconite a change had occurred which was
probably due to the conversion of starch into a gummy
body. This applied more to the A. ferox, which came
from India, than to the A. Napelius, grown in Germany ;
he had found it occur in the latter, and it sometimes,
made the whole root so hard that in making sections it

September 11, i860.] THE PHAEMACEUTICAL JOUENAL AND TEANS ACTIONS.

219

actually turned the edge of the knife. Whatever this
hard substance was he could only recognize it as some
gummy body; it might interfere very much with the
crystallization of the alkaloid.

The President said a vote of thanks was due to Dr.
Wright for his very able paper.

The next paper read was entitled —

Notes on the Essential Oil op Buchu Leaves.

BY PROFESSOR FLUCKIGER.

If thin layers of buchu oil are exposed to spontaneous
evaporation, a crystallized substance makes its appear¬
ance. On submitting 35 kilograms of round buchu leaves
to ^distillation ( Barosma betulina), I obtained 180 grams
of 'essential oil, i.e., a little more than \ per cent. From
this the crystals can be extracted by means of caustic
lye. The oil repeatedly shaken with an equal volume of
soda lye, 1*14 sp. gr., forms a yellowish turbid mixture
soon separating into two clear layers (A) and (B). The
heavier (A) then displays a bright red colour ; it should
be washed several times with ether, in order to remove
that portion of the oil which is simply dissolved in, not
combined with the alkaline liquid. One volume of the
washed portion (A) is then diluted with 4 volumes of
alcohol sp. gr. 0*83 and neutralized with an acid, either
sulphuric, acetic or carbonic, when an oily layer separates.
In a couple of hours or sooner it concretes, and affords a
crystallized mass of what we may call diosphenol, with
allusion to Diosma, the original Linnean name bestowed
on the buchu plants. The upper lighter layer (B), on
being extracted repeatedly with warm water, further
affords a small amount of diosphenol. The crude oil, as
obtained from Barosma betulina , yielded nearly of its
weight of the phenol.

A mixture of one volume of alcohol 0*83 sp. gr., and
five volumes of ether is a good solvent for recrystallizing
the diosphenol ; by gently warming the crude crystals
with three times their weight of the mixture, they
dissolve, and on cooling afford pure crystals.

The results of two elementary analyses of them were
as follows : —

I. 0*2236 gram of diosphenol gave C02: 0*5752 gram =
0*1569 C and OH2: 0-1910 gram = 0*0212 H.

II. 0-2236 gram of diosphenol gave C02 : 0’5758
gram = 0*1570 C and OH2 : 01946 gram = 0*02i6 H.

From these figures, the formula C14H2203 may be
calculated, viz. : —

Found.

I. II.

14 C 168 70*58 70*17 per cent. 70*21 percent.

22 H 22 9*24 9*48 „ 9*69 „

3 0 48 20*18 - -

238 100*00

Diosphenol usually forms acicular crystals ; by slow
crystallization somewhat larger, well defined crystals
were obtained, which were crystallographically examined
in Professor Gfroth’s laboratory by Dr. A. Cathrein.
They will be fully described in Professor G-roth’s Zeitschrift
fur Krystallographie ; in the meantime I am indebted to
Dr. Cathrein for summarizing his observations as follows :
Diosphenol belongs to the monosymmetrical ( monoclinic )
system. Eatio of axes : —

a : b : c.= 1*3017 : 1 : 1*5435
,3 = 81° r

Colourless prisms, elongated parallel to the axis b,
generally tabulated parallel to c (see fig.). Faces observed :

c = (001), d = (101), a— (100), o=. (121), m= (110), s= (121).

a : c = (100) (001) 81° T

c : d = (001) (101) 55° 7
m : a=(110) (100) 52° 8'
m : c = (110) (001) 84° 33£'
o : c=(121) (001) 70° 6'
s : c = (121) (001) 75° 58'

Cleavage distinct, parallel to a (100).

The optical axes for red light in the plane of symmetry,
for yellow the substance is uniaxe, for green the plane of
the axes is normal to the plane of symmetry. Double
refraction negative.

The crystals of diosphenol melt at 83° (181*4° F.) and
boil at 233° (451*4° F.) ; I have, however, not been able to
distil it in the usual way without a partial decomposition.
By subliming diosphenol in the temperature of a steam -
bath, thin prisms 2 inches long are easily to be obtained.
It is readily soluble in alcohol 0*83 sp. gr., less so in ether,
but very sparingly in water. The aqueous solution in
boiling water on cooling affords small acicular crystals.
The solutions are perfectly neutral, and on addition of an
alcoholic solution of ferric chloride assume a dark colora¬
tion of dingy green. The crude oil as well as the water
distilled from buchu leaves exhibit the same behaviour.
Diosphenol has a slightly aromatic odour and taste, “ sui
generis,” by no means reminding of buchu leaves. It is
soluble in concentrated sulphuric acid, but without forming
a crystallizable compound; on saturating the brown solu¬
tion thus obtained with carbonate of baryum and duly
concentrating the filtrate, I obtained only a small quan¬
tity of an uncrystallizable baryum salt.

By caustic lye, diosphenol is also readily dissolved, but
it is not able to decompose the carbonates ; by carbonic
acid on the other hand, it is precipitated from its solution
in potash, soda or hydroxide of baryum. In 50 parts of
the latter (Ba(OH)2 + 80H2 in 20 parts of water) diosphe¬
nol dissolves very slowly. By allowing such a solution to
evaporate slowly over lumps of potash, no well-defined
baryum compound of diosphenol could be obtained, crys¬
tals of the pure phenol even gradually making their
appearance on the sides of the beaker. Nor have I
succeeded in preparing a solid potassium or sodium com¬
pound.

These few experiments show that the substance under
notice belongs to the class of phenols, although its action
on sulphuric acid and the hydroxides of potassium, sodium
and baryum, is less manifest than with many other sub¬
stances of the phenol class.

As to the other constituents of buchu oil, the portion
which had been exhausted with caustic lye was again
shaken with the same, when it was entirely dissolved, but
immediately separated on addition of much water. This
oil, washed with water and dehydrated with powdered
chloride of calcium, was distilled. Very little passed until
205° C. (401° F.) was reached. The main portion came
over between 205° and 210° C., a small amount only was
collected above the latter boiling point. All the various
fractions of the oil assumed likewise a green coloration
when mixed with aqueous or alcoholic perchloride of iron.

The oil boiling between 205° and 210° C. is remarkable
on account of its odour, which agrees very nearly with that
of peppermint ; I know in fact of no other essential oil
possessed of this aroma except peppermint. The oil under
examination is devoid of rotatory power ; submitted to
elementary analysis, 0*1942 gram of it gave C02 : 0*5528
gram = 0*1508 6. and OH2 : 0*2064 gram=0*0229 H,
that is to say C : 77*65 per cent., and H : 11*79 per
cent. The formula C10H18O requires 77*92 C. and 11*69

220

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September li, i860.

per cent. H. The main portion of the buchu oil, after
the extraction of the phenol, is thus shown to consist
of one of the numerous modifications of the molecule
C10H18O, the presence of which is the more and more
frequently ascertained among the constituents, both solid
and liquid, of essential oils. From some experiments
with the crude oil of buchu, instituted by Dr. Power, it
would appear the compound C10H18O is contained in the
oil in the form of a compound ether.

In concluding, I may say, that I have not found in the
buchu oil salicylic acid, which has been announced by
Wayne ( American Journal of Pharmacy, 1876, 19); also
‘Year-Book of Pharmacy,’ 1876, 229), to be yielded by the
oil. It remains, however, to be examined, whether this
holds good for other varieties of buchu leaves than that
examined by myself.

The President said the thanks of the Conference were
due to Professor Fiiickiger for his able paper on a rather
abstruse subject.

Professor Attfield said the interest of this subject lay
in the fact that this substance was very much like car¬
bolic acid ; though the author did not seem to have suc¬
ceeded in uniting it with alkalies. But he noticed that
Professor Fiiickiger had used solutions in alkalies, and it
was not very easy to get perfectly definite compounds
which would stand evaporation by putting carbolic acid
into alkaline solutions ; but if carbolic acid were mixed
with the solid alkali fusion was effected and it was quite
possible that if this phenol were mixed with its equivalent
proportion of solid alkali a compound must be produced.
Perhaps Dr. Powder could say whether the compound
which yielded the colour was a solid body.

Dr. Power said the colour depended entirely on the
phenol. It did not give the colouring action with chloride
of lime. There would be a little of the crystalline prin¬
ciple in the oil.

The next paper read was entitled — ■

Notes on the Constituents of Peppermint Oil.

BY PROFESSOR FLUCKIGER AND DR. F. B. POWER.

The oil of peppermint is one of the few essential oils
which are produced on a very large scale. According to
the statistics contained in ‘ Pharmacographia,’ oil of
turpentine, oil of lemon and of bergamot, grass oil, and
oil of caraway, would appear to be the only ones which
are sent to the market in much more considerable quan¬
tities than peppermint oil. Oil of cassia in this respect
approaches apparently more nearly to the last named.

Peppermint oil owes its value to the solid compound
termed menthol, C10Hj9OH. This substance, the al¬
coholic nature of which was first demonstrated by
Oppenheim* by the formation of several compound
ethers, has been shown by Beckett and Alder Wright +
to be connected both with the paraffin series and the
benzene series, inasmuch as by the action of dehydrating
agents it is easily converted into menthene, C10H18,
which, by the action of bromine, combines to form te-
trabromdecane, and the latter compound, by heating,
being readily split into hydrobromic acid and cymene,
or, as expressed by the equation—

C10H18Br4 = 4HBr + C10H14.

The hydrocarbon menthene therefore occupies an inter¬
mediate position between the decane of the paraffin
series, C10HW, and the cymene of the “ aromatic ” series,

o10h14.

With the exception of menthol, no other constituent of
peppermint oil has as yet been duly isolated ; it seemed
to us therefore of considerable interest to determine the
chemical nature of the liquid constituents of the oil.

In the beginning we had the intention to submit the

* Oomptes Rendus, liii., 329; Jaliresberichtder Chemie,
1861, p. 683.

f ‘Year-Book of Pharmacy,’ 1875, p. 605.

Japanese oil to examination, having, been obligingly
supplied with the fresh herb, as imported into London,
by Mr. Thomas Christy, F.L.S., and on the other hand
with peppermint oil, imported by Mr. Chantre, F.L.S.,
of London. The herb, upon being submitted to dis¬
tillation, yielded immediately an abundance of menthol,
accompanied by a small amount of liquid compounds.
The oil, presented to us by Mr. Chantre, on the contrary,
refused to crystallize, even when exposed for a month to
a temperature of from about 15Q C. — ( + 5°F.)to — •
20° C. ( — 4° F.) Upon submitting the oil to distillation,
we found it to be largely adulterated with alcohol, after
the removal of which the residual oil afforded a good
yield of menthol. This unsatisfactory result prompted
us to work on the Mitcham oil.

The oil employed for analysis was obtained from
Messrs. Schimmel and Co., of Leipsic, and consisted of
Mitcham oil, which they had deprived by repeated recti¬
fication as completely as possible of menthol.

According to information furnished us by Dr. Bertram,
the superintending chemist of Schimmel’s laboratory, the
crude Mitcham oil yields 80 — 85 per cent, of a liquid
product, sold by the firm as “extra strong oil,” and con¬
sisting principally of menthol, together with about 10 per
cent, of an oil which has remained as yet uninvestigated;
the loss of 5 — 10 per cent, resulting from the separation
of the constituents consisting of soft resinous matters.
The oil from which the menthol had been separated was
submitted by us to fractional distillation. The largest
portion was found to distil at 165— 175° C., a smaller
fraction of somewhat viscid character being collected at
250 — 275° C. The first fraction, or that collected at
165 — 175° C.,was then submitted to elementary analysis
with the following result : —

0T690 gram of substance gave 0"5348 gr. C02 =
01458 C., and 01868 gr. H20 = 0-0207 H."

Calculated.

_

Found.

y

Ci0Hi6.

CioH18.

Cio

120

88-23

C 87-00

C 86-27

h16

16

11-77

H 13-00

H 12-25

136

100-00

100-00

98-52

This result wotdd serve to prove that the body con¬
sisted essentially of a hydrocarbon, contaminated with a
small amount of oxygenated substances. It was then
purified by repeated distillation over metallic sodium,
and was so divided into two fractions, boiling respectively
at 165 — 170° C., and 173— 176° C. ; at the same time
the peppermint odour of the original liquid having dis¬
appeared, and given place to that of freshly distilled oil
of turpentine. The two fractions were then separately
submitted to analysis with the following result :

I. Fraction 165 — 170° C.

9"2428 gram of substance gave 0"7844 gr. C0o =
0-2139 O., and 0’2624 gr. H20 = 0*0291 H. “

Calculated for

Ci0H16.

Found.

Cio

120

88-23

C 88-09

h16

16

11-77

H 11-98

136

100-00

100-07

The specific gravity of the liquid is 0’859 at 20° C.

Its rotation in sodium light in a tube of 100 mm. at
25° C., is 13° to the left.

II. Fraction 173 — 176° C.

0-1874 gram of substance gave 0-6032 gr. CO^r=
0-1645 C., and 0-2004 gr. H20 = 0-0223 H.
Calculated for C10H16. Found.

C10 120 88-23 C 87-87

H16. 16 11-77 H 12-08

136 100-00

99-95

The specific gravity of the liquid is 0*856 at 20° C. ;

September li, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

221

its rotation, in sodium light, in a tube of 100 mm. at 25°
C., is 24° 4' to the left.

The two fractions, when treated with the nitric acid
mixture, afforded after standing for some time no crystals
of terpine, and upon saturation with dry hydrochloric
acid gas, only liquid hydrochloric compounds were
formed.

III. The small fraction collected at 250 — 275° C.,
afforded after repeated rectification over metallic sodium
a colourless, limpid liquid, boiling at 255 — 260° C. It
was analysed with the following results : —

0*1962 gram of substance gave 0*6312 gr. C0o =
0*1721 C., and 0*2132 gr. H20 = 0 0237 H.

Calculated for

Ci0H16.

Found.

Cjo

120

88*23

C 87*87

Hie

16

11*77

H 12*08

136

100*00

99*95

The molecular formula of this fraction in view of its
high boiling point is undoubtedly a multiple of the simple
formula C10H16, and would be more correctly expressed
by the formula C15H24, in accordance with the molecular
formula of those terpenes having similar boiling points.
Its specific gravity is 0*912 at 21° C. ; its rotation in
sodium light, in a tube of 100 mm., at 25° C., is 9° 2' to
the right.

The liquid portion of Mitcham peppermint oil is thus
seen to consist simply of isomeric and polymeric terpenes,
containing no menthene, as might be supposed from the
dehydration of the menthol, and the absence of compound
ethers in the oil is also herewith established.

According to Beckett and Wright,* the liquid portion
of Japanese peppermint oil contains a small amount of
a substance isomeric with borneol, an inference drawn
from analytical numbers obtained from a fraction boiling
at 210 — 215°, and which by treatment with zinc chloride
yielded principally menthene.

That no body of the formula C10H18O is present in the
liquid portion of Mitcham peppermint oil is conclusively
established by the analysis of the oil itself, previously
freed as completely as possible from menthol, and before
treatment with metallic sodium. As has been pointed out
in ‘ Pharmacographia,’ some specimens of peppermint oil
are capable of yielding a small amount of a crystalline
compound with alkaline bisulphites. This observation
we have now confirmed with the crude Mitcham oil ;
the body in question appearing, however, to be prin¬
cipally contained in the so-called “ extra strong oil,” and
has, therefore, probably a boiling point approximating
closely to that of menthol. It is furthermore contained
in the oil in such exceedingly small amounts that its
isolation for the present must remain uneffected.

It would also seem possible that to this body the
remarkable colour reaction and fluorescence is due,
which is displayed by fresh peppermint oil, when allowed
to remain a short time in contact with a few drops of
nitric acid, sp. gr. 1*20, as the reaction is not displayed
by the terpenes, nor by the menthol.f Peppermint oil
by age gradually loses the faculty of assuming this
coloration with nitric acid, which would also point to a
substance easily undergoing chemical change. We have
had as yet no opportunity of submitting the terpenes of
peppermint oil to oxidation, which should form a sub¬
ject for a special study, although it is probable that the
lower boiling fractions would furnish the same products
as turpentine oil, and terpenes having similar boiling
points, viz. : acetic, terebinic, terpenylic and terephthalic
acids, while menthol, according to the observations of
Oppenheim,i is converted by oxydizing agents chiefly
into what he calls “ resinous bodies.”

* Journ. of the Cliem. Soc., 1876, p. 3.
+ See ‘ Pharmacographia.’

X Compt. Rend., lvii., p. 360.

The President said the Conference was much indebted
to Dr. Power 1 for this paper, which had a considerable
bearing on the question of the adulteration of these
oils.

Dr. Power regretted that he was not able to present
specimens of these products. It was a remarkable fact
that the liquid portion of peppermint oil when entirely
free from menthol had an odour entirely distinct from
peppermint, but somewhat reminding one of lemon oil,
though corresponding more nearly to that of freshly dis¬
tilled turpentine oil.

Professor Attfield remarked that one paragraph in the
paper illustrated very well the risks run by experimenters
who depended on the commercial articles. The presence
of the alcohol in one of the samples examined showed
that when essential oils were to be examined, as matter
of original research, they should be either carefully
isolated by the experimenter himself or else obtained
from a manufacturer who would guarantee their purity.

Mr. Mason said he believed the specimen referred to
was manufactured on the continent. It was quite
unusual for oil of peppermint to be adulterated with
alcohol in this country.

Mr. Greenish thought the results showed that adultera¬
tion varied over a large number of specimens, and it was
difficult to determine what could be relied upon unless
the experimenter were present, and saw the oil made, or
made it himself. It seemed as difficult to obtain pure
peppermint oil as genuine port wine, which, it was said,
could only be secured by going to Portugal and buying a
cask, and sitting on it all the way home. In many of
these experiments the results could not be relied upon,
simply because the article was not genuine.

Dr. Symes thought some of the results obtained would
be due to the presence of a resinous matter, and this
would vary with the age of the oil. Probably some of
the resinous matter would be produced in the distillation,
and there would be some oxidation which would also
vary in different samples. He should like to know if
the experiments had been conducted with oil of a known
age or with specimens of different ages, and whether the
amount of resin was found to be constant in different
samples.

Mr. Umney said the Mitcham oil of peppermint would
always contain a large amount of this resinous principle,
and its presence was owing to the crude way in which
the essential oil was manufactured. If anyone visited
the fields at Mitcham, Carshalton, or the neighbourhood,
he would see the herb cut with a sickle and thrown
bodily into a still, not heated by steam but by direct
fire, and very often some portions got actually charred ;
thus the empyreumatic matter was driven over, and a
large quantity of resinous matter would be present in
the oil. He considered that no specimen of English
manufacture could be considered pure unless it had
been rectified the second time with water, and then a
very small quantity of the resinous principle would be
present.

Mr. Reynolds said it was quite necessary to go beyond
the mere fact that an article was called “ best,” because
unless there was something added to the superlative, the
mere market name carried no guarantee of purity. He
had just lit upon a quotation from Southey, in which he
said that there was an ingenious tradesman who sold
gloves, and whose worst gloves were distinctly known as
“best.” He had, however, four other kinds, which he
called “better than best,” “better than better than
best,” “ best of all,” and “the real best.”

Dr. Power, in reply to Dr. Symes, said the oil used in
these analyses was quite fresh, and had been redistilled
by Messrs. Schimmel and Co. ; there was very little
resinous matter contained in the oil as sent for analysis,
though according to the report of their own chemist it
usually showed from 5 to 10 per cent, of resinous matter
on rectification.

(To be continued.)

222

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 11, isso.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCE
MENT OF SCIENCE.

Section A, Mathematical and Physical Science, met on
Thursday, in the Argyle School, under the Presidency of
Professor W. Grylls Adams, M.A., F.R.S., etc., who
proceeded to deliver the following Address : —

On the Constitution of Bodies.

It has been said by a former President of this Section
of the British Association that the President of a section
ought to occupy your time, not by speaking of himself or
his own feelings, but by a review “ more or less extensive
of those branches of science which form the proper business
of his Section.” He may give a rapid sketch of the pro¬
gress of mathematical science during the year, or he may
select some one special subject, or he may take a middle
course, neither so extensive as the first nor so limited as
the second.

There are many branches of science which have always
been regarded as properly belonging to our Section, and
the range is already wide ; but it is becoming more and
more true every day that the sciences which are dealt with
in other sections of the Association are becoming branches
of physics, i.e., are yielding results of vast importance
when the methods and established principles of physics
are applied to them. It is not long since the theory of
exchanges became thoroughly recognized in the domain
of radiant heat, and yet it is already recognized and
accepted in the theory of chemical combination. Just as
the molecules of a body which remains at a constant
temperature are continuously giving up their heat motion
to surrounding molecules, and getting back from them as
much motion of the same kind in return, so in a chemical
compound which does not appear to be undergoing change,
the combining molecules are continuously giving up their
chemical or combining motions to surrounding molecules,
and receiving again from them as much combining motion
in return. We may say that each molecule is, as far as
we can see, constantly dancing in perfect time with a
partner, and yet is continuously changing partners. When
such an idea of chemical motion is accepted, we can the
more easily understand that chemical combination
means the alteration of chemical motion which arises
from the introduction of anew element into the space already
occupied, and the consequent change in the motion of the
new compound as revealed to us in the spectroscope.
We can also the more readily understand that in changing
from the old to the new form or rate of motion, there
may be a development of energy in the shape of heat
motion which may escape or become dissipated wherever
a means of escape presents itself. We know from the
experiments of M. Favre that as much heat is absorbed
during the decomposition of an electrolyte as is given out
again by the combination of the substances composing it.

We are making rapid strides towards the exact deter¬
mination of those relations between the various modes of
motion or forms of energy which were so ably shadowed
forth, and their existence established long ago, by Sir
William Grove in his Correlation of the Physical Forces,
where, in stating the conclusion of his comparison of the
mutual interchange of physical forces, he distinctly lays
down the principles of energy in this statement. “Each
force is definitely and equivalently convertible into any
other ; and where experiment does not give the full
equivalent, it is because the initial force has been dissi¬
pated, not lost, by conversion into other unrecognized
forces. The equivalent is the limit never practically
reached.”

The laws of Faraday, that (1) when a compound is
electrolysed, the mass of the substance decomposed is
proportional to the quantity of electricity which has pro¬
duced the change, and that (2) the same current decom¬
poses equivalent quantities of different substances, i.e.
quantities of their elements in the ratio of their combining
numbers, have given rise to several determinations of the
relation between chemical affinity and electromotive force.

In a paper lately communicated to the Physical Society,
Dr. Wright has discussed these several determinations,
and has given an account of a new determination by
himself. The results obtained are compared with the
heat given out by the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen,
and the value of the mechanical equivalent of heat is
deduced from these determinations.

The value obtained by Dr. Wright, which depends on
the value of Clark’s standard cell, agrees fairly we 1
with Joule’s determination from the heat produced
by an electric current in a wire, but is greater than
Joule’s value as obtained from his water-friction experi¬
ments. This may be accounted for by supposing an error
in the value of the ohm or B.A. unit, making it too
large by 1*5 or 2 per cent. Kohlrausch has also made
comparisons of copies of the B.A. unit with standard
coils, and comes to the conclusion that the B.A. unit is
1’96 per cent, too large. On the other hand, Professor
Rowland, in America, has made a new determination, and
finds that according to his calculations the B.A. unit is
nearly 1 per cent, too small. These differences in the
values obtained by different methods clearly point to the
necessity for one or more new determinations of the unit,
and I would venture to suggest that a discrimination
should be made under the authority of this Association,
by a committee appointed to carry out the work. And it
is not sufficient that this determination should be made
once for all, for there is reason to think that the resistance
of standard coils alters with time, even when the material
has been carefully selected. It has been found that coils
of platinum silver which were correct copies of the
standard ohm have become so altered, and have their
temperature coefficients so changed, that there are doubts
as to the consistency of the standards themselves. Pieces
of platinum-silver alloy cut from the same rod have been
found to have different temperature coefficients. The
value *031 for 1° C. is given by Matthiessen for this alloy,
yet two pieces of wire drawn from the same rod have
given, one '021 per cent, and the other *04 per cent, for
1° C.

Possibly this irregularity in the platinum-silver alloys
may be due to something analogous to the segregation
which Mr. Roberts has found to take place in copper-silver
alloys in their molten state, and which Matthiessen in
1860 regarded as mechanical mixtures of allotropic modifi¬
cations of the alloy. A recommendation has been made
that apparatus for determining the ohm should be set up
in London, and that periodically determinations be made
to test the electrical constancy of the metals and alloys
used in making coils. A committee should be authorized
to test coils and issue certificates of their accuracy, just as
is done by the Kew Committee with regard to meteoro¬
logical instruments. The direct relation between heat and
chemical work has been established, and the principles of
conservation of energy been shown to be true in chemistry by
the experiments and deductions of Berthelot and of Thom¬
sen, so that we may say that when a system of bodies passes
through any succession of chemical changes, the heat
evolved or absorbed when no external mechanical effect is
produced depends solely upon the initial and final states
of the system of bodies, whatever be the nature or the
order of the transformations. The extension of this prin¬
ciple to the interaction of the molecules and atoms of
bodies on one another is of vast importance in relation to
our knowledge of the constitution of matter, for it enables
us to state that each chemical compound has a distinct
level or potential which may be called its own, and that
when a compound gives up one of its elements to another
body, the heat evolved in the reaction is the difference
between the heat of formation of the first compound, and
that of the resulting product. It has been well said by a
former President of this Section that quality and quan¬
tity are the primary features to be observed in scientific
inquiry, and the domain of quantity has everywhere en¬
croached on that of quality. Lest that should be the
case in my address, I wish to direct your attention to

September 11, 18S0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

223

investigations of another kind which are being made in
that fertile region for discovery, the “border land” between
chemistry and physics, where we have to deal with the
constitution of bodies, and where we are tempted to
speculate on the existence of matter and on the nature of
the forces by which the different parts of it are bound
together, or become so transformed that all resemblance
to their former state is lost. We have become accustomed
to regard matter as made up of molecules, and those
molecules to be made up of atoms separated from one
another by distances which are great in comparison with
the size of the atom, which we may regard as the smallest
piece of matter that we can have any conception of.

Each atom is surrounded by an envelope of ether which
accompanies it in all its movements. The density of the
ether increases rapidly as an atom is approached, and it
would seem that there must be some force of attraction
between the atom and its ether envelope. All the
atoms have motions of translations in all possible
directions, and according to the theories of Maxwell
and Boltymann, and the experiments of Kundt, War¬
burg, and others on the specfic heat of vapours, in one-
atom molecules in the gaseous state there is no motion of
rotation. According to the theory of Pictet, the liquid
state being the first condensation from the gaseous state
must consist of at least two gaseous atoms combined.
These two atoms are bound to one another through their
ether envelopes. Then the solid state results from the
condensation of a liquid, and so a. solid molecule must
consist of at least two liquid molecules, i.e. at least four
gaseous molecules, each surrounded by an atmosphere of
ether. M. Pictet imagines these atoms to be centres of
attraction ; hence in the solid with four such centres the
least displacement brings into action couples tending to
prevent the molecule from bursting as soon as external
forces act upon it. All the molecules constituting a solid
will be rigidly set with regard to one another, for the
least displacement sets in action a couple or an opposing
force in the molecules on one another.

Let us now follow the sketch which M. Pictet has
given of changes which we may consider it to undergo
when we expend energy upon it. Suppose a solid body
is at absolute zero of temperature, which may be regarded
as the state in which the molecules of a body are in stable
equilibrium and at rest, the application of heat gives a
vibratory motion to the molecules of the solid, which in¬
creases with the temperature, the mean amplitude of
vibration being a measure of the temperature. We may re¬
gard the sum of all the molecular forces as the specific
heat of the body, and the product of the sum of all the
molecular forces by the mean amplitude of the oscilla¬
tions ; i.e. the product of the specific heat and the tem¬
perature will be the quantity of heat or the energy of
motion of the body. As more and more heat is applied,
the amplitude of vibration of the molecules increases
until it is too great for the molecular forces, or forces of
cohesion, and the melting point of the solid is reached.
Besides their vibratory motion, the molecules are now
capable of motions of translation from place to place
among one another. To reduce the solid to the liquid
state, i.e. to make the amplitude of vibration of the mole¬
cules sufficient to prevent them from coming within the
sphere of the forces of cohesion, requires a quantity of heat
which does not appear as temperature or molecular motion,
and hence it is termed the latent heat of fusion. The tem¬
perature remains constant until the melting is complete,
the heat being spent in bursting the bonds of the solid.
Then a further application of heat increases the ampli¬
tude of vibration, or raises the temperature of the liquid
at a rate depending on its specific heat until the succession
of blows of the molecules overcomes the external pressure
and the boiling point is reached. An additional quantity
of heat is applied which is spent in changing the body to
a gas, i.e. to a state of higher potential, in which the
motion of translation of the molecules is enormously
increased. When this state is attained, the temperature

of the gas again begins to increase, as heat is applied,
until we arrive at a certain point, when dissociation
begins, and the molecules of the separate substances of
which the body is composed have so large an amplitude of
vibration that the bond which unites them can no longer
bring them again into their former positions. The poten¬
tial of the substances is again raised by a quantity which
is proportional to its chemical affinity. Again, we may
increase the amplitude of vibration, i.e. the temperature
of the molecules, and get higher and higher degrees of
dissociation. If temperature means the amplitude of
vibration of the molecules, then only those bodies which
have their temperatures increased by the same amount
when equal amounts of heat are applied to them can pos¬
sibly combine with one another ; and so the fact that
the increase of temperature bears a fixed ratio to the
increase of heat may be the cause in virtue of which bodies
can combine with one another. Were other bodies to
begin to combine together at any definite temperature,
they would immediately be torn to pieces again when the
temperature is even slightly raised, because the ampli¬
tudes of vibration of their molecules no longer remain the
same. This idea of temperature is supported by the fact
that a combining molecule of each substance requires the
same amount of heat to raise its temperature by the same
number of degrees, the atomic weights being proportional
to the masses of the combining molecules. The cele¬
brated discovery of Faraday, that in a voltameter the
work done by an electric current always decomposes
equivalent quantities of different substances, com¬
bined with the fact that in the whole range of the
physical forces work done is equivalent to the
application heat, is quite in accordance with
tbe view that no molecule can combine with another
which has not its amplitude of vibration altered by the
same amount when equal quantities of heat are applied
to both.

As soon as we get any divergence from this state of
equal motions for equal increments of heat, then we
should expect that a further dissociation of molecules
would take place, and that only those which are capable
of moving together can remain still associated. Just as
in the change of state of a body from the solid to the
liquid, or from the liquid to the gas, a great amount of
heat is spent in increasing the motion of translation of
the molecules without altering the temperature, so a
great amount of heat is spent in producing dissociation
without increasing the temperature of the dissociated
substances, since the principle of conservation of energy
has been shown by M. Berthelot to hold for the dissocia¬
tion of bodies. We may conveniently make use of the
term latent heat of dissociation for the heat required to
dissociate a unit of mass of a substance.

We may thus sum up the laws of physical and
chemical changes : —

1. All the physical phenomena of change of state con¬
sist in the subdivision of the body into molecules or
particles identical with one another.

2. The reconstitution of a body into a liquid or a solid
being independent of the relative position of the mole¬
cules, only depends on the pressure and temperature.

3. Dissociation separates bodies into their elements,
which are of different kinds, and the temperature re¬
mains constant during dissociation.

4. The reunion of dissociated bodies depends on the
relative position of the elements, and so depends on the
grouping of the molecules. The atomic weight being
the mass of a molecule as compared with hydrogen, the
specific volume, i.e. the atomic weight divided by the
density, is the volume or mean free path of a molecule.

Building up his theory of heat on these principles,
M. Pictet arrives at a definite relation between the
atomic weight of a body, its density, its melting point,
and its coefficient of expansion, which may be stated
thus —

The volume of a solid body will be increased as the

224

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 11, i8so.

temperature rises by an amount which is proportional to
the number of molecules in it, and inversely as its specific
heat. At a certain temperature peculiar to each body,
the amplitude of the heat oscillation is sufficient to melt
the solid, and we are led to admit that for all bodies the
intermolecular distance corresponding to fusion ought to
be the same. The higher the point of fusion of a body,
the shorter, on this theory, must be its heat vibrations.
The product of the length of swing (the heat oscillations)
by the temperature of fusion ought to be a constant number
for all solid bodies.

A comparison of the values of the various quantities
involved in these statements shows a very satisfactory
agreement between theory and experiment, from which it
appears that for twenty-three different substances the
product of the length of swing by the temperature of
fusion lies between 2 ‘3 and 3 ‘7 for most substances. We
know very little about the latent heat of dissociation. In
order to determine it, say, for the separation of oxygen
and hydrogen, we should have to determine the amount
of work required to produce a spark in a mixture of
oxygen and hydrogen, and to measure the exact amount
of water or vapour of water combined by the spark as
well as the range of temperature through which it had
passed after its formation.

Our usual mode of producing heat is by the combination
of the molecules of different substances, and we are
limited in the production of high temperatures, and in
the quantity of available heat necessary to dissociate any
considerable quantity of matter. If we heat vapours or
gases, we may raise their temperatures up to a point cor¬
responding to the dissociation of their molecules, and we
are limited in our chemical actions to the temperatures
which can be obtained by combining together the most
refractory substances, as we are dependent on this com¬
bination for our supply of heat.

The combination of carbon and hydrogen with oxygen
will give us high temperatures, so that by the oxy hydrogen
blow-pipe most of the salts and oxides are dissociated.

The metalloids bromine, iodine, sulphur, potassium, etc.,
are the results of the combination of two or more bodies
bound together by internal forces much stronger than the
affinity of hydrogen or carbon for oxygen, for approxi¬
mately they obey the law of Dulong and Petit.

Eor higher temperatures, in order to dissociate the most
refractory substances, we require the electric current,
either a continuous, current, as in the electric arc from a
battery, or, more intense still, the electrical discharges
from an electrical machine or from an induction coil.

This electric current may be regarded as the most
intense furnace for dissociating large quantities of the
most refractory substances, and the electric spark may be
regarded as something very much hotter than the oxyhy-
drogen blow-pipe, and therefore of service in reducing
very small quantities of substances which will yield to
no other treatment. The temperature of the electric
arc is limited, and cannot reach above the temperature of
dissociation of the conductor, and in the case of the
constant current, which will not leap across the smallest
space of air unless the carbons have first been brought in
contact, the current very soon ceases when the point of
fusion has been reached. Yet in the centre of the arc
we have the gases of those substances which form the
conductor ; and, as Professor Dewar has shown, we have
the formation of acetyline and cyanogen and other com¬
pounds, and therefore must have attained the tempe¬
rature necessary for their formation, i.e. the temperature
of their dissociation. The temperature of the induction
spark, or, at least, its dissociating power, is higher than
that of the arc. We know that the spark will pass
across a space of air or a gaseous conductor, and we are
limited by the dissociation of the gaseous conductor, and
get only very small quantities of the dissociated sub¬
stances, which immediately recombine, unless they are
separated. If the gases formed are of different densities
they will diffuse at different rates through a porous

diaphragm, and so may be obtained separated from one
another. As the molecules of bodies vibrate they pro¬
duce vibrations of the ether particles, the period of the
oscillations depends on the molecules of the body, and
these periodic vibrations are taken up by their ether
envelopes and by the luminiferous ether, anJ their
wave-length determined by means of the spectroscope.
The bright line spectrum may be regarded as arising
from the vibratory motions of the atoms. As the tem¬
perature is increased, the amplitudes of oscillation of the
molecules and of the ether increase, and from the calcu¬
lations of Lecoq de Boisbaudran, Stoney, Soret, and
others, it would appear that many of the lines in the
spectra of bodies may be regarded as harmonies of a fun¬
damental vibration. Thus Lecoq de Boisbaudran finds
that in the nitrogen spectrum the blue lines seen at a high
temperature correspond to the double octave of certain
vibrations, and that, at a lower temperature, red and
yellow lines are seen which correspond to a fifth of the
same fundamental vibrations.

The bright line spectrum may be regarded as arising
from the vibratory motions of the atoms. A widening of
the lines may be produced at a higher temperature by the
backward and forward motions of the molecules in the
direction of the observer. A widening of the lines may
also be produced by increase of pressure, because it
diminishes the free path of the molecules, and the dis¬
turbances of the ether arising from collisions become
more important than vibrations arising from the regular
vibrations of the atoms.

Band spectra, or channelled space spectra, more readily
occur in the case of bodies which are not very readily
subject to chemical actions, or, according to Professors
Liveing and Dewar, in the case of cooler vapours near
the point of liquefaction.

The effects of change of temperature on the character
of spectra is very well illustrated by an experiment of M.
Wiedmann with mixtures of mercury with hydrogen or
nitrogen in a Geissler’s tube. At the ordinary tempera¬
ture of the air the spectrum of hydrogen or nitrogen was
obtained alone ; but on heating the tube in an air-bath
the lines of mercury appeared and became brighter
as the temperature rose, and at the same time the
hydrogen lines disappeared in the wider portion of
the tube and at the electrodes. The hydrogen or
nitrogen lines disappeared first from the positive electrode
and in the luminous tuft, and as the temperature rose
disappeared altogether. With nitrogen in a particular
experiment, up to 100° C., the nitrogen lines were seen
throughout the tube, but from 100° to 230° the nitrogen
lines appear towards the negative pole, and the mercury
lines are less bright at the negative than at the positive
pole, while about 230 Q C. no nitrogen lines appear. The
experiments of Roscoe and Schuster, of Lockyer and
other observers, with potassium, sodium, and other metal¬
loids in vacuum tubes, from which hydrogen is pumped
by a Sprengel pump, also show great changes in the
molecular condition of the mixture contained in the
tubes when they are heated to different temperatures.
The changes of colour in the tube are accompanied by
changes in the spectrum. Thus, when potassium is placed
in the bottom of the tube, and the spark passes in the
upper part of it, as the exhaustion proceeds and the tube
is slightly heated, the hydrogen lines disappear, and the
red potassium line makes its appearance ; then as the
temperature is increased, the red line disappears, and
three lines in the yellowish-green make their appear¬
ance, accompanied by a change in the colour of the
tube, and at a higher temperature, and with a Leyden
jar joined to a secondary circuit of the induction coil,
the gas in the tube becomes of a dull red colour, and
with this change a strong line comes out in the spec¬
trum, more refrangible than the usual red potassium line.
In this case, on varying the conditions, we get a
variation in the character of the spectrum, and the
colours and spectra are different in different parts of

September 11, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

225

the tube. In Lockyer’s experiments, at the temperature
of the arc obtained from a Siemens dynamor machine,
great differences appear in different parts of the arc :
for instance, with carbon poles in the presence of cal¬
cium, the band spectrum of carbon, or the carbon
flutings and the lines of calcium, some of them reversed,
are seen separated in the same way as mercury and
hydrogen, the carbon spectrum appearing near one pole
and the calcium near the other, the lines which are
strongest near that pole being reversed or absorbed by
the quantity of calcium vapour surrounding it. On intro¬
ducing a metal into the arc, lines appear which are of
different intensities at different distances from the
poles, others are strong at one pole and entirely absent at
or near the other, while some lines appear as broad as
half-spindles in the middle of the arc, but are not present
near the poles. Thus, the blue line of calcium is visible
alone at one pole, the H and K lines without the blue line
at the other.

We may probably regard these effects as the result, not
of temperature alone, but must take into account that we
have powerful electric currents which will act unequally
on the molecules of different* bodies according as they are
more or less electro-positive. It would seem that we have
here something analogous to the segregation which is ob¬
served in the melting of certain alloys to which I have
already referred in my address.

The abundance of material in some parts of the arc
surrounding the central portion of it gives rise to reversal
of the principal lines in varying thicknesses over the arc
and poles, so that bright lines appear without reversal in
some regions, and reversals or absorption lines without
bright lines in others. The introduction of a substance
into the aic gives rise to a flame of great complexity with
regard to colour and concentric envelopes, and the spectra
of these flames differ in different parts of the arc. Thus,
in a photograph of the flame given by maganese, the line
at wave-length 4234*5 occurs without the triplet near
4030, while in another the triplet is present without the
line 4234*5.

The lines which are reversed most readily in the arc
are generally those the absorption of which is most
developed in the flame ; thus the manganese triplet in the
violet is reversed in the flame, and the blue calcium line
is often seen widened when the H and K lines of calcium
are not seen at all. In consequence of the numerous
changes in spectra at different temperatures, Mr. Lockyer
has advanced the idea that the molecules of elementary
matter are continually being more and more broken up as
their temperature is increased, and has put forward the
hypothesis that the chemical elements with which we are
acquainted are not simple bodies, but are themselves
compounds of some other more simple substances. This
theory is founded on Mr. Lockyer’s comparisons of spectra
and the maps of Augstrom, Thalen, and others, in v hich
there are coincidences of many of the short lines of the
spectra of different substances. These short lines are
termed basic lines, since they appear to be common to
two or more substances. They appear at the highest
temperatures when the longest lines of those substances
and those which are considered the test of their presence
are entirely absent.

Mr. Lockyer draws a distinction between weak lines,
which are basic, i.e. which would permanently exist at a
higher temperature in a more elementary stage, and other
weak or short lines which would be more strongly present
at a lower temperature, in a more complex stage of the
molecules. Thus, in lithium, the red line is a low tem¬
perature line, and the yellow is feeble ; at a higher tem¬
perature, the red line is weak, the yellow comes out more
strongly, and the blue line appears ; at a higher tempera¬
ture still, the red line disappears, and the yellow dies
away; whilst at the temperature of the sun the violet
lithium line is the only one which comes out strongly.
These effects are studied by first producing the spectrum
•of the substance in the Bunsen flames, and observing the

changes which are produced on passing a spark through
the flame ; thus, in magnesium a wide triplet or set of
three lines (5209 '8, b1 and b2) is changed with a narrow
triplet (b1, b2, and b4) of the same character. We have
here what some observers regard as a recurrence of the
same harmonic relation of the vibrations of the same body
at a higher temperature.

If the so-called elements are compounds, they must
have been formed at a very high temperature, and as
higher and higher temperatures are reached the dissocia¬
tion of these compound bodies will be effected, and the
new line spectra, the real basic lines of those substances
which show coincidences, will make their appearance as
short lines in the spectra. In accordance with this view,
Mr. Lockyer holds that the different layers of the solar
atmosphere may be regarded as a series of furnaces,
on the hottest of which, A, we have the most elementary
forms of matter capable of existing only in its uncom¬
bined state ; at a higher and cooler level, B, this form of
matter may form a compound body, and may no longer
exist in a free state at the lower temperature ; as the
cooler and cooler levels, C, D, and E, are reached, the
substances become more and more complex, and form
different combinations, and their spectra become altered
at every stage. Since the successive layers are not at
rest, but in a state of disturbance, we may get them
somewhat mixed, and the lines at the cooler levels D and
E may be associated with the lines of the hotter levels ;
these would be basic or coincident lines in the spectra of
two different compounds which exist at the cooler levels
D and E. We might even get lines which are not present
in the hottest furnace A coming into existence as the lines
of compounds inB or 0, and then extending among the lines
belonging to more complex compounds which can only
exist at a lower temperature, when they might be present
as coincident weak lines in the spectia of several com¬
pound bodies. Thus Mr. Lockyer regards the calcium
lines H and K of the solar spectrum as evidence of
different molecular groupings of more elementary bodies.
In the electric arc with a weak current the single line
4226 of calcium, which is easily reversed, is much thicker
than the two lines H and K ; but the three lines are
equally thick with a stronger current, and are all reversed.
With a spark from a large coil and using a condenser the
line 4226 disappears, and H and K are strong lines. In
the sun, the absorption bands II and K are very broad,
but the band 4226 is weak. Prof. Young, in his observa¬
tion of the lines of the chromosphere, finds that H and K
are strongly reversed in every important spot and in solar
storms ; but the line 4226, so prominent in the arc, was
only observed three times in the chromosphere.

One of the most interesting features among the most
recent researches in Spectrum Analysis is the existence of
rhythm in the spectra of bodies, as has been shown by M.
Mascart, Cornu, and others, such as the occurrence and
repetition of sets of lines, doublets, and triplets in the
spectra of different substances and in different parts of
the spectrum of the same body. Professors Liveing and
Dewar, using the reversed lines in some cases for the more
accurate determination of wave-lengths, have traced out
the rhythmical character in the spectra of sodium,
potassium, and lithium. They show that the lines of
sodium and potassium form groups of four lines each,
which recur in a regular sequence, while lithium gives
single lines, which, including the green line, which they
show really to belong to lithium, though it was ascribed
to caesium by Thalbn, also recur in a similar way.
In these three metals the law of recurrence seems to
be the same, but the wave-lengths show that the
whole series are not simple harmonies of one funda¬
mental, although between some of the terms very simple
harmonic relations can be found. Between the lines
G and H are two triplets of iron lines, which, according
to Mr. Lockyer, do not belong to the same molecular
grouping as most of the other lines. In many photo¬
graphs of the iron spectrum these triplets have appeared

226

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 11, isso..

almost alone. Also the two triplets are not always in the
same relation as to brightness, the more refrangible being
barely visible with the spark. Combining this with
Young’s observations, in which some short weak lines
near G appear in the chromosphere thirty times, while
one of the lines of the less refrangible triplet only appears
once, and with the fact that in the solar spectrum the
more refrangible triplet is much the more prominent of
the two, Mr. Lockyer is led to the conclusion that these
two triplets are again due to two distinct molecular
groupings. There is one difficulty which must be taken
account of in connection with Mr. Lockyer’s theory with
regard to the production of successive stages of dissocia¬
tion by means at our command: (1) by combustion of
different substances ; (2) by an electric arc, which will
probably give slightly different temperatures according as
it is produced by different dynamo -electric machines ;
(3) by the induction spark without ; and (4) with a con¬
denser.

At each stage of the process there must be a consider¬
able absorption of heat to produce the change of state,
and our supply of heat is limited in the electric arc
because of the dissociation of the conductors, and more
limited still in quantity in the electric spark or in the
discharge through a vacuum tube ; also we should expect
a recombination of the dissociated substances immediately
after they have been first dissociated. Hence it seems
easier to suppose that at temperatures which we can
command on the earth, the dissociation of molecules by
the arc or the spar is accompanied by the formation of
new compounds, in the formation of which heat and light,
and especially chemical vibrations, would be again given
out, and would appear as new substances in the spectro¬
scope.

To the lines C, F, G-, and H belonging to hydrogen,
which have a certain rythmical character, Mr. Lock¬
yer adds D3 and Kirchoff’s line “1474,” regarding
“ 1474” (wave-length) as belonging to the coolest or most
complex form, and rising to F, which is again subdivided
into C and G-, using the spark without a condenser, which
again gives H with the spark and condenser, which is
again split up and gives D3, a more simple line than H,
in the chromosphere. Professors Liveing and Dewar, on
the other hand, trace a rhythmical character or ratio
between three of the brightest lines of the chromosphere,
two of which are lines “1474” and “f” of Lorenzoni,
similar to the character of C, F, and H of hydrogen, and
also trace a similar relation between the chromospheric
line D3 and “ 1474” to the ratio of the wave-lengths of
F and G. They infer the probability that these four lines
are due to the same at present unknown substance as had
been suggested by Young with regard to two of them.

The harmony of this arrangement is somewhat disturbed
by the fact that D3 lies on the wrong side of “1474 ” to
correspond with G of the hydrogen spectrum.

If we inquire what our sun and the stars have to say to
these changes of spectra of the same substance at different
temperatures, Dr. Huggins gives us the answer.

In the stars which give a very white light, such as
Sirius or a Lyrae, we have the lines G and H of hydrogen
and also H ; but the K line of calcium is weak in a
Lyrae, and does not appear in Sirius. In passing from
the white or hottest stars to the yellow stars like our sun,
the typical lines diminish in breadth and are better
defined, and K becomes stronger relatively to H, and
other lines appear. In Arcturus we have a star which is
probably cooler than our sun, and in it the line K is
stronger in relation to H than it is in the solar spectrum,
both being very strong compared with their state in the
solar spectrum.

Professors Liveing and Dewar find that K is more
easily reversed than H in the electric arc, which agrees
with the idea that this line is produced at a lower tem¬
perature than H, and Dr. Yogel has pointed out a co¬
incidence of a line of hydrogen with H.

Besides the absence or weakness of K, the white stars

have twelve strong lines winged at the edges, in which
there are three of hydrogen, viz., G, h, and H, and the
remaining nine form a group which are so related to one
another that Dr. Huggins concludes they probably belong
to one substance. Three of these lines are said by Dr.
V ogel to be lines of hydrogen. Liveing and Dewar have
made considerable progress in determining the conditions
and the order of reversal of the spectral lines of metallic
vapours. They have adopted methods which allow them
to observe through greater thicknesses of vapour than
previous observers have generally employed. For lower
temperatures tubes of metal or other material placed ver¬
tically in a furnace were used, and the hot bottom of the
tube was the source of light, the absorption being pro¬
duced by vapours of metals dropped into the hot tube and
filling it to a greater or less height. By this means many
of the more volatile metals, such as sodium, thallium,
irridium, caesium, and rubidium, magnesium, lithium,
barium, strontium, and calcium, each gave a reversal of
its most characteristic line or pair of lines, i.e. the red
line of lithium, the violet lines of rubidium and calcium,
the blue line of strontium, the sharp green line of barium
(5535), and no other lines which can certainly be ascribed
to those metals in the elementary state.

For higher temperatures tubes bored out in blocks of
lime or of gas carbon, and heated by the electric arc, were
used. By keeping up a supply of metal and in some cases
assisting its volatilization by the admixture of a more
volatile metal, such as magnesium, and its reduction by
some easily oxidizable metal, such as aluminum, or by a
current of coal gas or hydrogen, they succeeded in main¬
taining a stream of vapour through the tube so as to
reverse a great many lines. In this way the greater part
of the bright lines of the metals of the alkalies and alkaline
earths were reversed, as well as some of the strongest lines
of manganese, aluminum, zinc, cadmium, silver, copper,
bismuth, and the two characteristic lines of iridium and
of gallium. By passing an iron wire into the arc through
a perforated carbon electrode they succeeded in ob¬
taining the reversal of many of the lines of iron. In
observing bright line spectra they have found
that the arc produced by a De Meriteus machine
arranged for high tension gives, in an atmosphere of
hydrogen, the lines C and F, although the arc of a
powerful Siemens machine does not bring them out, and
they have observed many metallic lines in the arc which
had not been previously noticed. The temperature
obtained by the De Meriteus machine is thus higher than
that obtained in the Siemens machine.

From observations on weighed quantities of sodium,
alone as in amalgam, introduced into a hot bottle of
platinum filled with nitrogen, of which the pressure was
varied by an air-pump, they conclude that the width of
the sodium lines depends rather on the thickness and
temperature of the vapour than upon the whole quantity
of sodium present. Very minute quantities diffused into
the cool part of the tube give a broad diffuse absorption,
while a thin layer of compressed vapour in the hot part
of the tube gives only narrow absorption lines. Professors
Liveing and Dewar have observed the reversal of some
of the well-known bands of the oxides and chlorides of
the alkaline earth metals. The lines produced by mag¬
nesium in hydrogen form a rhythmical series extending
all across the well-known B group, having a close re¬
semblance in general character to the series of lines
produced by an electric discharge in a vacuum tube
of olefiant gas.

The series appears at all temperatures except when a
large condenser is employed along with the induction
coil, provided hydrogen is present as well as magnesium,,
while they disappear when hydrogen is excluded, and.
never appear in dry nitrogen or carbonic oxide.

From their experiments on carbon spectra they con¬
clude with Augstrom and Thalen that certain of the so-
called “carbon bands” are due to some compound of
carbon with hydrogen, probably acetylene, and that

■September ll, 1880 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

227

certain others are due to a compound of carbon with
nitrogen, probably cyanogen.

They describe some ultra-violet bands : one of them
coincides with the shaded band P of the solar spectrum
which accompanies the other violet bands in the
flame of cyanogen as well as in the arc and spark be¬
tween carbon electrodes in the nitrogen. All the bands
which they ascribe to a compound of carbon and nitrogen
disappear when the discharge is fallen in a non-nitro-
genous gas, and they reappear on the introduction of a
minute quantity of nitrogen.

They appear in the flame of hydrocyanic acid or of
cyanogen, even when cooled down as much as possible, as
shown by Watts, or when raised to the highest tempera¬
ture by burning the cyanogen in nitric oxide ; but no
flames appear to give these bands unless the burning sub¬
stance contains nitrogen already united with carbon. As
the views of Mr. Lockyer with regard to the multiple
spectra of carbon have very recently appeared in the
pages of Nature , I need only say that these spectra are
looked upon as supporting his theory that the different
flutings are truly due to carbon, and that they represent
the vibrations of different molecular groupings. The
matter is one of very great interest as regards the spectra
of comets, for the bands ascribed to acetylene occur in
the spectra of comets without the bands of nitrogen,
showing that either hydrocarbons must exist ready
formed in the comets, in which case the temperature need
not exceed that of an ordinary flame, or else nitrogen
must be absent, as the temperature which would produce
acetylene from its elements would also produce cyanogen,
if nitrogen were present.

Quite recently, Professors Liveing and Dewar have,
simultaneously with Dr. Huggins, described an ultra-violet
emission spectrum of water, and have given maps of this
spectrum.

It is not a little remarkable that by independent methods
these observers should have deduced the same numbers for
the wave-lengths of the two strong lines at the most
refrangible end of this spectrum.

Great attention has been paid by M. Mascart and by
M. Cornu to the ultra-violet end of the solar spectrum.
M. Mascart was able to fix lines in the solar spectrum as
far as the line R (3179), but was stopped by the faintness
of the photographic impression. Professor Cornu has
extended the spectrum still further to the limit (2948),
beyond which no further effect is produced, owing to
complete absorption by the earth’s atmosphere. A
quartz-reflecting prism was used instead of a heliostat.
The curvature of the quartz lens was calculated
so as to give minimum aberration for a large
field of view. The Iceland spar prism was very care¬
fully cut. A lens of quartz was employed to focus the
sun on the slit. Having photographed as far as possible
by direct solar light, Professor Cornu compared the solar
spectrum directly by means of a fluorescent eye-piece with
the spectrum of iron, and then obtained, by photographing,
the exact positions of the iron lines which were coincident
with observed lines in the solar spectrum. M. Cornu
states that the dark absortion lines in the sun and the
bright iron lines of the same refrangibility are of the
same relative importance or intensity in their spectra,
indicating the equality between the emissive and the
absorbing powers of metallic vapours ; and he thinks we
may get by the comparison of bright spectra with the sun
some rough approximation to the quantity of metallic
vapours present in the absorption layers of the sun’s atmo¬
sphere. He draws attention to the abundance of
the magnetic metals — iron, nickel, and magnesium —
and to the fact that these substances form the
composition of most meteorites. M. Cornu has
studied the extent of the ultra-violet end of the
spectrum, and finds that it is more extended
in winter than in summer, and that, at different eleva¬
tions, the gain in length of the spectrum for increase of
elevation is very slow (only a hundred and sixth of a mm.

in 868 metres), on account of atmospheric absorption, so
that we cannot hope greatly to extend the spectrum by
taking elevated observing stations. The limit of the
solar spectrum is reached very rapidly, and the spectrum
is sharply and completely cut off at about the line U
(wave-length 2948). From photographs taken at Viesch,
in the valley of the Rhone and at the Riffelberg, 1910
metres above it, M. Cornu finds the limits to be at wave¬
lengths 2950 and 2930 respectively. In the actual
absorption of bright line spectra by the earth’s atmo¬
sphere, M. Cornu observed among others three bright
lines of aluminum, which M. Soret calls 30, 31, and 32
(wave-lengths about 1988, 1930, and 1860), and he found
that 32 could not be seen at the distance of 6 metres ;
but on using a collimator, and reducing the distance to 1^
metres, the line 32 became visible, notwithstanding the
absorption of the extra lens ; at 1 metre, line 32 was
brightor than 31, and at a quarter of a metre 32 was
brighter than either 30 or 31.

With a tube 4 metres in length between the collimator
and prism ray 32 is not seen ; but when the tube is
exhausted, ray 31 gains in intensity and 32 comes into
view, and gradually gets brighter than 31, whilst 30
changes very little during the exhaustion. With the
same tube he found no appreciable difference between the,
absorption by air very carefully dried and by moist air0
and concludes that this absorption is not due to th
vapour of water, and it follows the law of pressure of the
atmosphere which shows it to be due to the whole mass
or thickness of the air. Also, M. Soret has shown that
water acts very differently on the two ends of the spec¬
trum, distilled water being perfectly transparent for the
most refrangible rays, since a column of water of 116 c.m.
allowed the ray 2060 in the spectrum of zinc to pass
through : on the other hand, water is so opaque to the
ultra-red rays that a length of 1 c.m. of it reduces the
heat spectra of metals to half their length and one
quarter of their intensity. In his discussion of the mag¬
netic effects observed on the earth’s surface, General
Sabine has shown the existence of diurnal variations due
to the magnetic action of the sun ; also the magnetic
disturbances, aurora and earth currents, which are now
again beginning to be large and frequent, have been set
down to disturbances in the sun.

Although iron, when raised to incandescence, has its
power of attracting a magnet very greatly diminished, we
have no proof that it has absolutely no magnetic power
left, and with a slight magnetic action the quantity of
iron in the sun would be sufficient to account for the
diurnal variations of the magnetic needle. During the
last few weeks I have been engaged in examining the
declination curves for the month of March, 1879, which
have been kindly lent to the Kew Committee by the
Directors of the Observatories of St. Petersburg, Vienna,
Lisbon, Coimbra, and Stonyhurst. Other curves are on
their way from more distant stations, but have not yet
been examined. On comparing them with the Kew
curves for the same period, I find the most remarkable
coincidences between the curves from these widely distant
stations.

It was previously known that there was a similarity
between disturbances at different stations, and in one or
two cases a comparison between Lisbon and Kew had
been made many years ago by Senor Capello and Professor
Balfour Stewart, but the actual photographic magnetic
records from several stations have never been previously
collected, and so the opportunity for such comparisons had
not arisen.

Allow me in concluding my address to draw attention
to a few of the more prominent features of these com¬
parisons which I have made. On placing the declination
curves over one another, I find that in many cases there
is absolute agreement between them, so that the rate
of change of magnetic disturbances at widely distant
stations like Kew, Vienna, and St. Petersburg is precisely
the same : also similar disturbances take place at different

228

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 11, 1830.

stations at the same absolute time. It may be state^
generally, for large as well as small disturbances, tha*'
the east and west deflections of the declination needle
take place at the same time and are of the same character
at these widely distant stations.

There are exceptions to this law. Some disturb¬
ances occur at one or two stations and are not perceived
at another station. Many instances occur where, up to a
certain point of time, the disturbances at all the stations
are precisely alike, but suddenly at one or two stations
the disturbance changes its character : for instance, on
comparing Kew and St. Petersburg, we get perfect simi¬
larity followed by deflections of the needle, opposite ways
at the same instant, and in some such cases the maxima
in opposite directions are reached at the same instant,
showing that the opposite deflections are produced by the
same cause, and that the immediate cause or medium of
disturbance in such a case is not far off ; probably it is
some change of direction or intensity of the earth’s
magnetism arising from solar action upon it.

Generally, after an hour or two, these differences in
the effects of the disturbance vanish, and the disturbances
again become alike and simultaneous. In such cases
of difference, if the curve tracing of the horizontal or
the vertical force be examined, it is generally found that,
at the very same instant of absolute time, with the begin¬
ning of these opposite movements there was an increase or
a diminution in the horizontal force, and that the horizontal
force continues to change as long as there is any difference
in the character of the declination curves. It is clear,
then, from these effects that the cause or causes of mag¬
netic disturbances are in general far distant from the
earth’s surface, even when those disturbances are large ;
but that not unfrequently these causes act on magnetic
matter nearer to the surface of the earth, and therefore
at times between two places of observation, and nearer to
one than another, thus producing opposite effects on the
declination needle at those places ; in such cases, the
differences are probably due to changes in the earth’s
magnetic force.

Now, if we imagine the masses of iron, nickel, and
magnesium in the sun to retain even a slight degree
of magnetic power in their gaseous state —and we
know from the researches of Faraday that gases on the
earth are some of them magnetic — we have a sufficient
cause for all our terrestrial magnetic changes, for we
know that these masses of metal are ever boiling up from
the lower and hotter levels of the sun’s atmosphere to the
cooler upper regions, where they must again form clouds
to throw out their light and heat, and to absorb the
light and heat coming from the hotter lower regions ;
then they become condensed and are drawn again back
towards the body of the sun, so forming those remarkable
dark spaces or sun spots by their downrush towards the
lower levels.

In these vast changes, which we know from the science
of energy must be taking place, but of the vastness of
■which we can have no conception, we have abundant
cause for these magnetic changes which we observe at the
same instant at distant points on the surface of the earth,
and the same cause acting by induction on the magnetic
matter within and on the earth may well produce changes
in the magnitude or in the direction of its total magnetic
force, and alter the direction of its magnetic axis. These
magnetic changes on the earth will influence the declina¬
tion needles at different places, and will cause them to be
deflected ; the direction of the deflection must depend on
the situation of the earth’s magnetic axis or the direction
of its motion with regard to the stations where the
observations are made. Thus both directly and indirectly
we may find in the sun not only the cause of diurnal
magnetic variations, but also the cause of these remark¬
able magnetic changes and disturbances over the surface
of the earth.

gtspenshtg |ttcmornnb:t.

[443].

R Magnes. Calc . gr. xx.

Tinct. Assafoet . til xx.

Aquae . ad §j.

Misce.

On using the light magnesia and after standing a few
hours, the subsidence of magnesia and assafoetida re3in
developed a bright green colour. The heavy magnesia
was then tried, the green colour was much longer in
appearing and was not so bright.

After prolonged standing in the first case the colour
faded to a dull green, and in the second case the deposit
assumed several colours in successive layers.

To what are these changes due?

J. WlLFORD.

[444]. Will some reader kindly say if there are any
special precautions necessary in making an emulsion of
phosphorized cod liver oil? I can turn out an emul¬
sion with the plain cod liver oil, tragacanth andi
glycerine being the excipients, but where phosphorus is
present I fail to succeed.

S. E. Clarke.

[445] . R. L. G. would like to know what preparation
should be dispensed when “ chloroformyl ” is prescribed.
It has been ordered with sedative ingredients (Scheele’s
acid, tinct. digitalis and camphor).

[446] . What would be the best method of dispensing
the following ? —

1 doz. suppositories, £ grain chloroform in each.

Embryo.

Coraspanbcna.

“ Eblana.” — We do not remember a paper that answers
exactly to your description, but one on “The Preparation
of Syrup of Ferrous Phosphate from Metallic Ron ” will be
found in vol. v. of the present series, p. 541.

L. R. Oswald. — The questions will be published in the
Journal for October 9, which will contain an account of
the distribution of the prizes.

W. Miller. — The specimen of supposed savin does not
seem to have been enclosed.

H. 0. I. — The following recipe for a “ crystal varnish for
negatives” was given in vol. i., p. 716: — Dissolve 2% lbs.
white shellac, \ lb. mastic, and £ oz. camphor in 1 gallon of
hot alcohol, 64 o.p., and filter.

E. W. W. — Probably a coating of nickel would best
answer your purpose. See vol. ii., [3], p. 363.

H. — (1) Pap aver somniferum. (2) Hippocrepis comosa.
(3) Brassica campestris. (4) Stellaria media. (5) Epi~
lobium hirsutum. (6) Veronica Buxbaumii. Veronica
should always be sent with the fruit well developed.

W. Steivart. — (1) Ranunculus acris. (2) Potentilla
reptans. (3) Circcea lutetiana. (4) Epilobium hirsutum.
(5) Too fragmentary to determine. (6) Lychnis diurna.
(7) Lythrum Salicaria. (8) Geum wrbanum.

W. Stewart. — (1) Erythrcea Centaurium. (2) Ranun¬
culus Flammula (R. Lingua has much larger flowers). (3)
Euphorbia Helioscopia. (4) Hypericum pulchrum. (5)
Anagallis a/rvensis. (6) Hypericum Androscemum.

E. Coleman. — (1) Probably Brassica Erucx. (2) Reseda
luteola. (3) Probably Thalictrum minus. (4) Jasione
montana. (5) Scabiosa succissa. (6) Scutellaria minor.
Send better specimens, next time. Nos. 1 and 3 cannot be
named with certainty because of being too fragmentary.

“ Fraxinus.” — (1 and 2) Athyrium Filix-fcemina. (3)
Blechnum Spicant. (4) A grostis vulgaris. Grasses should
always have two or three stem leaves attached.

H. C. H. — (1) Nepeta Glechoma. (2) Oxalis acetosella.
(3) Veronica Chamcedrys. (4) Mochringia trinervis
(Arenaria). (5) Stellaria Holostea.

September is, i860.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

229

PREPARATION OP OPIUM FOR SMOKING.

BY HUGH MCCALLUM,

Pharmaceutical Chemist , Government Analyst ,
Hong Kong.

As the policy of the opium trade from India to
China is receiving considerable attention among
philanthropists, etc., in England, probably the
following account of the process of preparing
opium for smoking purposes, as conducted by the
present opium farmer in Hong Kong, may be of
some interest to pharmacists.

The boiling operations are carried on in a moderate
sized building at Shek-tong-tsui, in the west end of
the city of Victoria, where there are over eighty
Chinese coolies and a few Indian watchmen em¬
ployed, all of whom live on the premises. The
majority sleep in a loft immediately above the
boiling rooms, the others in a room on the ground
floor, which also does duty as a kitchen, mess room
nnd general store, and is in open communication
with the boiling rooms. The employes may therefore
be said to live in an atmosphere saturated with the
odour of opium, yet all seem in good health. On
inquiring if many of them were habitual opium
smokers,' the information received was that only one
head-man smoked regularly, but that some ot the
others indulged occasionally v\hen any of their
friends paid them a visit.

The boiling is conducted in two rooms in open
connection with each other, one being set apart for
the first boiling, the other for the final. The first
boiling room has a row of furnaces along each side,
with a few rows running transversely between them;
the other has four rows, extending along the whole
length of the room. The furnaces are made of a
kind of fire clay and are of two sizes, the lar^e size
having a diameter of about 24 inches, the small size
a diameter of 18 inches, the depth of each being about
9 inches ; they are built in with brick, the fuel used is
wood charcoal. The pans in which the opium is
boiled are made of some kind of copper alloy, and
are of two sizes so as to fit the furnaces, their shape
being somewhat like a shallow evaporating dish.

The opium is sent every day from the hong ( i . e.,
shop or firm) to the boiling house, the previous day’s
boiling being then returned to the hong. The aver¬
age quantity boiled each day is from six to eight
chests of Patna opium, this being the only kind used.

The opium is removed from its covering of leaves,
etc., moistened with a little water, and allowed to
stand for about fourteen hours ; it is then divided
into pans, 2J balls of opium and about 10 pints of
water going to each pan ; it is now boiled and
stirred occasionally, until a uniform mixture having
the consistence of a thin paste is obtained. This
operation takes from five to six hours. The paste is
at once transferred to a larger pan and cold water
added to about 3 gallons, covered and allowed to stand
for from fourteen to fifteen hours. A bunch of tang
Knin (lamp wick, the pith of some plant) is then
inserted well into the mass, the pan slightly canted,
when a rich clear brown fluid is thus drawn off and
filtered through chi mui (paper made from bamboo).
The residue is removed to a calico filter and
thoroughly washed with boiling water, the wash
water being reboiled and used time alter time. The
last washing is done with pure water ; these washings
are used in the next day’s boiling. The residues on
the calico filters are transferred to a large one of the
Third Series, No. 534.

same material and well pressed ; this insoluble resi¬
due, called nai chai (opium dirt), is the perquisite of
the head boiling coolie, who finds a ready market
for it in Canton, where it is used for adulterating or
rather in manufacturing the moist inferior kinds of
prepared opium. The filtrate or opium solution is
concentrated by evaporation at the boiling point,
with occasional stirring, until of a proper consistence,
the time required being from three to four hours ;
it is then removed from the fire and stirred with
great vigour till cold, the cooling being accelerated
by coolies with large fans. When quite cold it is
taken to the hong and kept there for some months
before it is considered in prime condition for smok¬
ing. As thus prepared it has the consistence of a
thin B.P. or treacly extract, and is called boiled or
prepared opium. In this state it is largely exported
from China to America, Australia, etc., being care¬
fully sealed up in small pots having the name of the
maker ( i.e ., hong) on each.

The Chinese recognize the following grades of
opium : — (1) “ Raw opium as imported from India.

(2) “ Prepared opium : ” opium made as above.

(3) “Opium dross:” the scrapings from the opium pipe.
This is reboiled and manufactured as a second class
prepared opium. A Chinese doctor stated lately at a
coroner’s inquest on a case of poisoning that it was
more poisonous than the ordinary prepared opium.

(4) “Nai chai” (opium dirt): the insoluble residue left
on exhausting the raw opium thoroughly with water.

What strikes one very forcibly on witnessing
these operations is that the morphia value of the
opium can have little to do with its smoking value,
because, if so, the mode of manufacture must de¬
teriorate it considerably, owing to the long continued
moist heat it undergoes ; however, there can be no
doubt but the process described has after long ex¬
perience been found to yield the drug in the most
approved form for smoking. This opinion naturally
raises the question, which of the definite principles
of opium or combinations thereof has the power
when smoked, or rather burned in a pipe, the
vapours being inhaled, of producing such peculiar
effects ? The elucidation of this point must be of
great interest both to the chemist and physiologist.

HYDROBROMIC ACID.*

BY EDWARD GOEBEL, PH.G.

Of the various formulas recommended for the prepara¬
tion of dilute hydrobromic acid, the one probably most
used by pharmacists, on account of its simpleness, is that
in which solutions of potassium bromide and tartaric acid
are mixed and exposed to a low temperature to separate
the potassium bitartrate formed. This formula, however,
yields an acid by no means as pure as desirable, as it
retains a very large amount of bitartrate of potassium in
solution, for although this salt is but sparingly soluble . in
water, it dissolves freely in mineral acids. My attention
was first drawn to this fact while preparing bromide of
calcium from an acid prepared according to the above
formula, by neutralizing it with calcium carbonate, when
a very considerable precipitate of calcium tartrate was
noticed. The acid contains about 10 per cent, of its
weight of potassium bitartrate. Even by using alcohol
in this formula, as has been recommended by Dr. Rice, a
product is obtained which still contains considerable
bitartrate. Another objection is that under certain cir¬
cumstances bromine is liberated.

* From Neiv Remedies, September, 1830.

230

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (September 18, 1880.

Professor F. Schaeffer suggesting its preparation from
barium bromide, some experiments were made for deter¬
mining a ready method by which this salt can be obtained.
It was found that by heating together bromide of ammo¬
nium and carbonate of barium a satisfactory result is
gained. The equivalents of these two salts are about
the same (98), but it is best to use a slight excess of car¬
bonate of barium to insure the complete decomposition
of the bromide of ammonium. The following is a good
working formula : —

Pure carbonate of barium . . . . 100 parts.

Bromide of ammonium . 95 „

Distilled water ... a sufficient quantity.

Ti iturate the salts well together with a few drops of
distilled water so as to make a damp powder. Put this
in an evaporating dish or a crucible and apply heat, at
first moderate, gradually increasing, stir frequently, and
continue the heat until vapours of carbonate of ammonium
can no longer be detected by hydrochloric acid. After
cooling, dissolve the residue in distilled water, filter, and
evaporate, stirring constantly towards the last, until a
perfectly dry salt remains.

The salt thus obtained is freely soluble in water and
from it dilute hydrobromic acid can be prepared by simply
decomposing it with the requisite amount of sulphuric
acid. To prepare a 10 per cent, acid proceed as follows : —

Bromide of barium ...... 148 grains.

S ulphuric acid, U. S.P. (96 *8 per cent.

HO.SOg) . 50‘6 grains.

Distilled water .... a sufficient quantity.

Dissolve the barium bromide in about ^ ounce, and dilute
the acid with about 2 drachms of distilled water. Add the
diluted sulphuric acid to the solution of the barium bro¬
mide, filter, and wash the precipitated barium sulphate
with sufficient distilled water to make the filtrate weigh
810 grains. The commercial sulphuric acid usually being
weaker than the officinal acid, more than the above quan¬
tity will be required to precipitate all the barium, and
more diluted acid must therefore be added very carefully
until it no longer produces a precipitate. By this method
a perfectly pure hydrobromic acid can be prepared with¬
out distillation, provided, of course, the materials used
are pure ; it is especially important that the carbonate of
barium has been well washed, as the adhering chloride of
sodium will otherwise contaminate the bromide of barium
and also the hydrobromic acid.

The 10 per cent, acid can by careful evaporation be
concentrated so as to represt nt 30 per cent, or even more
of hydrobromic acid gas.

THE APPLICATION OF CHEMISTRY TO
AGRICULTURE.*

BY J. H. GILBERT, PH.D., F.R.S., V.P.C.S., F.L.S.

Some of my predecessors in this chair, whose duties a
teachers of chemistry lead them to traverse a wide range
of the subject every year, have appropriately and usefully
presented to the Section a resume of the then recent pro¬
gress in the manifold branches of the science which have
now such far-reaching ramifications. Such a course has,
however, come to be of much less importance and interest
of late years since the systematic publication by the
Chemical Society of abstracts of chemical papers in home
and foreign journals as soon as possible after their appear¬
ance. Some, on the other hand, have confined attention
to some department with which their own inquiries have
more specially connected them. And, when the Council
of the Association request a specialist like myself to un¬
dertake the Presidency of the Section, it is to be supposed
they take it for granted that he will select for his opening
address some branch of the subject with which he is known
to be mainly associated.

But it seems to me that there is a special reason why

* Presidential Address delivered before the Chemical
Section of the British Association, Swansea, 1880.

I should bring the subject of Agricultural Chemistry
before you on the present occasion. Not only is the
application of chemistry to agriculture included in the
title of this Section; but in 1837 the Committee of the
Section requested the late Baron Liebig to prepare a re¬
port upon the condition of Organic Chemistry, and it is now
exactly forty years since Liebig presented to the British
Association the first part of his report, which was entitled
* Organic Chemistry in its Application to Agriculture and
Physiology ; ’ and the second part was presented two years
later, in 1842, under the title of ‘Animal Chemistry, or
Organic Chemistry in its Application to Physiology and
Pathology.’ Yet so far as I am aware, no President of
the Section has, from that time to the present, taken as a
subject of his address the Application of Chemistry to
Agriculture.

Appropriate as, for these reasons, it would seem that I,
who have devoted a very large portion of the interval
since the publication of Liebig’s works, above referred to,
to agricultural inquries, should occupy the short time that
can be devoted to such a purpose in attempting to note
progress on that important subject, it will be readily un¬
derstood that it would be quite impossible to condense
into the limits of an hour’s discourse anything approach¬
ing to an adequate account, either of the progress made
during the last forty years, or of the existing condition of
agricultural chemistry.

For what is agricultural chemistry ? It is the che¬
mistry of the atmosphere ; the chemistry of the soil ; the
chemistry of vegetation; and the chemistry of animal
life and growth. And but a very imperfect indication of
the amount of labour which has been devoted of recent
years to the investigation of these various branches of
what might at first sight seem a limited subject will suffice
to convince you how hopeless a task it would be to seek
to do more than direct attention to a few points of special
interest. Indeed, devoting to the purpose such leisure as
I have been able to command, the more I have attempted
to become acquainted with the vast literature which has
been accumulated on the subject, the more difficulty have
I felt in making a selection of illustrations which should
best convey an idea of the limits, rather than of the extent,
of the labour which has been expended, and of the results
which have been attained, in agricultural research.

The works of Liebig to which I have referred have, as
you all know, been the subject of a very great deal of
controversy. Agricultural chemists, vegetable physiolo¬
gists, and animal physiologists have each vehemently
opposed some of the conclusions of the author, bearing
upon their respective branches. But if the part which
has fallen to my own lot in these discussions qualifies me
at all to speak for others as well as myself, I would say
that those who, having themselves carefully investigated
the points in question, have the most prominently dis¬
sented from any special views put forward in those works,
will — whether they be agricultural chemists, vegetable
physiologists, or animal physiologists — be the first to admit
how vast has been the stimulus, and how important has
been the direction, given to research in their own depart¬
ment, by the masterly review of then existing knowledge,
and the bold, and frequently sagacious, generalizations of
one of the most remarkable men of his time !

Confining attention to researches bearing upon agricul¬
ture, it will be well, before attempting to indicate either
the position established by Liebig’s first works, or the
direction of the progress since made, to refer very briefly
to the early history of the subject.

From what we now know of the composition and of the
sources of the constituents of plants, it is obvious that a
knowledge of the composition of the atmosphere and of
water was essential to any true conception of the main
features of the vegetative process ; and it is of interest
to observe that it was almost simultaneously with the
establishment, towards the end of the last century, of
definite knowledge as to the composition of the air and
of water, that their mutual relations with vegetation were

September 13, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL .JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

231

first pointed out. To the collective labours of Black,
Scheele, Priestly, Lavoisier, Cavendish, and Watt, we
owe the knowledge that common air consists chiefly of
nitrogen and oxygen, with a little carbonic acid; that
carbonic acid is composed of carbon and oxygen ; and
that water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen ; whilst
Priestly and Ingenhousz, Sennebier and Woodhouse, in¬
vestigated the mutual relations of these bodies and vege¬
table growth. Priestly observed that plants possessed the
faculty of purifying air vitiated by combustion or by the
respiration of animals ; and, he having discovered oxygen,
it was found that the gaseous bubbles which Bonnet hac
shown to be emitted from the surface of leaves plungec
in water consisted principally of that gas. Ingenhousz
demonstrated that the action of light was essential to the
development of these phenomena; and Sennebier provec
that the oxygen emitted resulted from the decomposition
of the carbonic acid taken up.

So far, however, attention seems to have been directec
more prominently to the question of the influence of
plants upon the media with which they were surrounded,
than to that of the influence of those media in contribut¬
ing to the increased substance of the plants themselves.
Towards the end of the last century, and in the beginning
of the present one, De Saussure followed up these inquiries ;
and in his work entitled, * Recherches Chimiques sur la
V£g£tation,’ published in 1804, he may be said to have
indicated, if not indeed established, some of the most
important facts with which we are yet acquainted
regarding the sources of the constituents stored up by
the growing, plants. De Saussure illustrated experi¬
mentally, and even to some extent quantitatively, the
fact that in sunlight plants increase in carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen, at the expense of carbonic acid and of
water ; and in the case of his main experiment on the
point, he found the increase in carbon, and in the
elements of water, to be very closely in the proportion in
which these are known to exist in the carbohydrates.
He further maintained the essentialness of the mineral
or ash constituents of plants ; he pointed out that they
must be derived from the soil ; and he called attention
to the probability that the incombustible constituents so
derived by plants from the soil were the source of those
found in the animals fed upon them.

With regard to the nitrogen which plants had already
been shown to contain, Priestly and Ingenhousz thought
their experiments indicated that they absorbed free
nitrogen from the atmosphere ; but Sennebier and
Woodhouse arrived at an opposite conclusion. De
Saussure, again, thought that his experiments showed
rather an evolution of nitrogen at the expense of the sub¬
stances of the plant than any assimilation of it from
gaseous media. He further concluded that the source of
the nitrogen of plants was more probably the nitrogenous
compounds in the soil, and the small amount of ammonia
which he demonstrated to exist in the atmosphere.

Upon the whole, De Saussure concluded that air and
water contributed a much larger proportion of the dry
substance of plants than did the soils in which they grew.
In his view a fertile soil was one which yielded liberally
to the plant nitrogenous compounds, and the incom¬
bustible or mineral constituents ; whilst the carbon
hydrogen, and oxygen, of which the greater proportion
of the dry substance of the plant was made up, were at
least mainly derived from the air and water.

Perhaps I ought not to omit to mention here that,
each year for ten successive years, from 1802 to 1812,
Sir Humphry Davy delivered a course of lectures on the
* Elements of Agricultural Chemistry,’ which were first
published in 1813, were finally revised by the author
for the fourth edition in 1827, but have gone through
several editions since. In those lectures, Sir Humphry
Davy passed in review and correlated the then existing
knowledge, both practical and scientific, bearing upon
agriculture. He treated of the influences of heat and
light ; of the organization of plants ; of the difference, and

the change, in the chemical composition of their different
parts : of the sources, composition, anl treatment of
soils ; of the composition of the atmosphere, and its
influence on vegetation ; of the composition and the
action of manures ; of fermentation and putrefaction ;
and finally of the principles involved in various recog¬
nized agricultural practices.

With the exception of these discourses of Sir Humphry
Davy, the subject seems to have received comparatively
little attention, nor was any important addition made to
our knowledge in regard to it during the period of about
thirty years from the date of the appearance of De
Saussure’s work in 1804 to that of the commencement of
Boussingault’s investigations.

About 1834, Boussingault became, by marriage, joint
proprietor with his brother-in-law of the estate of Bechel-
bronn, in Alsace. His brother-in-law, M. Lebel, was
both a chemical manufacturer and an intelligent
practical farmer, accustomed to use the balance for the
weighing of manures, crops, and cattle. Boussingault
seems to have applied himself at once to chemico-
agricultural research ; and it was under these conditions
of the association of “ practice with science ” that the first
laboratory on a farm was established.

Erom this time forward, Boussingault generally speht
about half the year in Paris, and the other half in-
Alsace ; and he has continued his scientific labours,
sometimes in the city, and sometimes in the country, up
to the present time. His first important contribution
to agricultural chemistry was made in 1836, when he
published a paper on the amount of nitrogen in different
foods, and on the equivalence of the foods, founded on
the amount of nitrogen they contained ; and he com¬
pared the results so arrived at with the estimates of
others founded on actual experience. Although his
conclusions on the subject have doubtless undergone
modification since that time, the work itself marked a
great advance on previously existing knowledge and
modes of viewing the question.

In 1837, Boussingault published papers — on the
amount of gluten in different kinds of wheat, on the
influence of the clearing of forests on the diminution of
the flow of rivers, and on the meteorological influences
affecting the culture of the vine. In 1838 he published
the results of an elaborate research on the principles
underlying the value of a rotation of crops. He de¬
termined by analysis the composition, both organic and
inorganic, of the manures applied to the land, and of the
crops harvested. In his treatment of the subject he
evinced a clear perception of the most important prob¬
lems involved in such an inquiry ; some of which, with
the united labour? of himself and many other workers,
have scarcely yet received an undisputed solution.

Thus, in the same year (1838), he published the results
of an investigation on the question whether plants
assimilate the free or uncombined nitrogen of the
atmosphere ; and although the analytical methods of the
day were inadequate to the decisive settlement of the
point, his conclusions were in the main those which
much subsequent work of his own, and much of others
also, has served to confirm.

As a further element of the question of the chemical
statistics of a rotation of crops, Boussingault determined
the amount and composition of the residues of various
crops ; also the amount of constituents consumed in the
: rood of a cow and of a horse respectively, and yielded in
;he milk and excretions of the cow, and in the excretions
of the horse. Here, again, the exigencies of the investi¬
gation he undertook were beyond the reach of the known
methods of the time. Indeed, rude as the art of agricul¬
ture is generally considered to be, the scientific elucida¬
tion of its practices requires the most refined, and very
varied, methods of research ; and a characteristic of the
work of Bossingault may be said to be, that he has
frequently had to devise methods suitable to his purpose,
before he could grapple with the problems before him.

232

TILE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September is, iS80.

In 1839, chiefly in recognition of his important con¬
tributions to agricultural chemistry, Boussingault was
elected a member of the Institute; and in 1878, thirty-
nine years later, the Council of the Royal Society
awarded to him the Copley Medal, the highest honour
at their disposal, for his numerous and varied contribu¬
tions to science, but especially for those relating to
agriculture.

The foregoing brief historical sketch is sufficient to
indicate, though but in broad outline, the range of
existing knowledge on the subject of agricultural
chemistry prior to the appearance of Liebig’s memorable
work in 1840. It will be seen that some very important
and indeed fundamental facts had already been established
in regard to vegatation, and that Boussingault had not
only extended inquiry on that subject, but. he had
brought his own and previous results to bear upon the
elucidation of long recognized agricultural practices.
There can be no doubt that the data supplied by his
researches contributed important elements to the basis
of established facts upon which Liebig founded his
brilliant generalizations. Accordingly, in 1841, Dumas
and Boussingault published, jointly, an essay which
afterwards appeared in English under the title of ‘ The
Chemical and Physiological Balance of Organic Nature ; ’
and, in 1843, Boussingault published a larger work, which
embodied the results of many of his own previous original
investigations.

But there can be no doubt that the appearance of
Liebig’s two works, which were contributions made in
answer to a request submitted to him by the Committee
of this Section of the British Association, constituted a
very marked epoch in the history of the progress of
agricultural chemistry. In the treatment of his subject
he not only called to his aid the previously existing
knowledge directly bearing upon it, but he also turned to
good account the more recent triumphs of organic
chemistry, many of which had been won in his own
laboratory. Further, a marked feature of his expositions
was the adoption of what may be called the statistical
method — I use the statistical rather than quantitative, as
the latter expression has its own technical meaning among
chemists, which is not precisely what I wish to convey.

It seems that, notwithstanding the conclusive evidence
afforded by the direct experiments of De Saussure and
his predecessors, vegetable physiologists continued to
hold the view that the humus of the soil was the source
of the carbon of vegetation. Not only did Liebig give
full weight to the evidence of the experiments of
De Saussure and others, and illustrate the possible or
probable transformations within the plant already
established in organic chemistry, but he demonstrated
the utter impossibility of humus supplying the amount
of carbon assimilated over a given area. He pointed out
that humus itself was the product of previous vegetable
growth, and that it could not therefore be an original
source of carbon; and that, from the degree of its in¬
solubility, either in pure water or in water containing
alkaline or earthy bases, only a small fraction of the
carbon assimilated by plants could be derived from the
amount of humus that could possibly enter the plant in
solution. He maintained that so far as humus was
beneficial to vegetation at all, it was only by its oxidation,
and a consequent supply of carbonic acid within the soil ;
a source which he considered only of importance in the
early stages of the life of a plant, and before it had
developed and exposed a sufficient amount of green
surface to the atmosphere to render it independent of
soil supplies of carbonic acid.

With regard to the hydrogen of plants, at any rate
that portion of it contained in their non-nitrogenous
products, he maintained that its source must be water ;
and that the source of the oxygen was either that con¬
tained in carbonic acid or that in water.

With regard to the nitrogen of vegetation, both from
the known characters of free nitrogen, and as he con¬

sidered a legitimate deduction from ’direct experiments*
he argued that plants did not take up free or uncombined
nitrogen, either from the atmosphere, or dissolved in
water and so absorbed by the roots. The source of the
nitrogen of vegetation was, he maintained, ammonia;
the product of the putrefaction of one generation of
plants and animals supplying the ammonia for the next.

He pointed out that, in the case of a farm receiving 1
nothing from external sources, and selling off certain
products, the amount of nitrogen in the manure derived
by the consumption of some of the vegetable produce
on the farm itself, together with that due to the refuse
of the crops, must always be less than was contained in
the ci-ops grown; and he concluded that though the
quantity so returned to the land was important, a main
source of the nitrogen assimilated over a given ai'ea was
that brought down from the atmosphere in rain.

There can be no doubt that, owing to the limited and
defective experimental evidence then at command on the
point, Liebig at that time (as he has since) greatly over¬
estimated the amount of ammonia available to vegeta¬
tion from that source. In Boussingault’s ‘reclamation'
already referred to, he gave much more prominence to
the importance of the nitrogen of manures. In Liebig’s
next edition (in 1843) he combated the notion of the
relative importance of the nitrogen of manures ; main¬
tained, in opposition to the view put forward in his
former edition that the atmosphere afforded a sufficient
supply of nitrogen for cultivated as well as for uncultivated
plants ; that the supply was sufficient for the cereals as
well as for leguminous plants ; that it was not necessary to
supply nitrogen to the former ; and he insisted very much
more strongly than formerly on the relative importance
cf the supply of the incombustible, or, as he designated
them, the “inorganic ’’ or “mineral,” constituents.

As to the incombustible or mineral constituents them¬
selves, Liebig adduced many illustrations in proof of
their essentialness. He called attention to the variation
in the xom position of the ash of plants grown on different
soils ; and he assumed a greater degree of mutual
replaceability of one base by another, or of one acid by
another, than could be now admitted. He traced the
difference in the mineral composition of different soils to
that of the rocks which had been their source ; and he
seems to have been led by the consideration of the
gradual action of “ weathering ,” in rendering available |
the otherwise locked -up stores, to attribute the benefits
of fallow exclusively to the increased supply of the in¬
combustible constituents which would by its agency be
brought into a condition in which they could be taken up
by plants.

The benefits of an alternation of crops Liebig con¬
sidered to be in part explained by the influence of the
excreted matters from one description of crop upon the
growth of another. He did not attach weight to the
assumption that such matters would be directly injurious
to the same description of crop; but he supposed rather
that the matters excreted were those which the plant
did not need, and would therefore be of no avail to the
same description of plant, but would be of use to
another. He, however, attributed much of the benefits
of a rotation to different mineral constituents being
required from the soil by the respective crops.

Treating of manure, he laid the greatest stress on the
return by it of the potass and the phosphates removed by
the crops. But he also insisted on the importance of the
nitrogen, especially that in the liquid excretions of
animals, and condemned the methods of treatment of
animal manures by which the ammonia was allowed to
be lost by evaporation. It is curious and significant,
however, that some of the passages in his first edition,
in which he the most forcibly urges the value of the
nitrogen of animal manures, are omitted in the third and
fourth editions.

The discussion of the processes of fermentation, decay
and putrefaction, and that of poisons, contagions, and

September is, 18S0.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

23 i

miasms, constituted a remarkable and important part of
Liebig’s first report. It was the portion relating to
poisons, contagions and miasms, that he presented to
this Section as an instalment, at the meeting of the
Association held at Glasgow in 1840. It was in the
chapters relating to the several subjects here enumerated
that he developed so prominently his views on the
influence of contact in inducing chemical changes. He
cited many known transformations, other than those
coming under either of the heads in question, in illustra¬
tion of his subject ; and he discussed with great clearness
the different conditions occurring, and the different
results obtained, in various processes — such as the
different modes of fermenting beer, the fermentation of
wine frord different kinds of grapes, the production of
acetic acid, etc. As is well known, he claimed a purely
chemical explanation for the phenomena involved in
fermentation. He further maintained that the action of
contagions was precisely similar. In his latest writings
on the subject (in 1870), he admits some change of view;
but it is by no means easy to decide exactly how much
or how little of modification he would wish to imply.

Liebig’s second report, presented at the meeting of
this Association in 1842, and published under the title of
* Animal Chemistry, or Organic Chemistry in its applica¬
tions to Physiology and Pathology,’ perhaps excited even
more attention than his first ; and, probably from the
manner as much as from the matter, aroused a great
deal of controversy, especially among physiologists and
physicians. Liebig was severe upon what he considered
to be a too exclusive attention to morphological characters
in physiological research, and at any rate too little
attention to chemical phenomena, and, so far as these
were investigated, an inadequate treatment of the subject
according to strictly quantitative methods.

He combated the view that nervous action, as such,
could be a source of any of the heat of the body ; and he
adduced numerous illustrations and calculations in support
of the view that the combustion. of carbon and hydrogen
in the system was sufficient to account for, and was the
only source of animal heat.

He compared and contrasted the general composition
of plants and animals. In accordance with Mulder, he
pointed out that whilst plants formed the nitrogenous
bodies which they contain from carbonic acid, water and
ammonia, animals did not produce them, but received
them ready -formed in their vegetable food ; that, in fact,
the animal begins only where the plant ends. But,
going beyond Mulder, and beyond what had then, or has
since, been established, he maintained the identity in
composition of the admittedly analogous nitrogenous
compounds in plants and in the blood of animals.

Omitting the fat which the carnivora might receive
in the animals they consumed, he stated the characteristic
difference between the food of carnivora and herbivora to
be, that the former obtained the main proportion of their
respiratory material from the waste of tissue ; whilst the
latter obtained a large amount from starch, sugar, etc.
These different conditions of life accounted for the com¬
parative leanness of carnivora and fatness of herbivora.

He maintained that the vegetable food consumed by
herbivora did not contain anything like the amount of
fat which they stored up in their bodies ; and he showed
how nearly the composition of fat was obtained by the
simple elimination of so much oxygen, or of oxygen and a
little carbonic acid, from the various carbohydrates.
Much less oxygen would be required to be eliminated
from a quantity of fibrine, etc., containing a given
amount of carbon, than from a quantity of carbohydrates
containing an equal amount of carbon. The formation
of fatty matter in plants was of the same kind ; it was
the result of a secondary action, starch being first formed
from carbonic acid and water.

He concluded from the facts adduced that the food of
man might be divided into the nitrogenized and the
non-nitrogenized elements. The former were capable of

conversion into blood, the latter incapable of such trans¬
formation. The former might be called the plastic
elements of nutrition, the latter elements of respiration.
From the plastic elements, the membranes and cellular
tissue, the nerves and brain, cartilage, and the organic
part of bones, could be formed ; but the plastic substance
must be received ready-made. Whilst gelatine or chondrine
was derived from fibrine or albumen, fibrine or albumen
could not be reproduced from gelatine or chondrine. The
gelatinous tissues suffer progressive alteration under the
influence of oxygen, and the materials for their re-forma¬
tion must be restored from the blood. It might, how¬
ever, be a question whether gelatine taken in food might
not again be converted into cellular tissue, membrane,
and cartilage in the body.

At that time, adopting and attaching great importance
to Mulder’s views in regard to proteine, he says : — “All
the organic nitrogenized constituents of the body, how
different soever they may be in composition, are derived
1 from proteine. They are formed from it by the addition
: or subtraction of the elements of water or of oxygen, and
by resolution into two or more compounds.”

He seeks to trace the changes occurring in the conversion
: of the constituents of food into blood, of those of blood
into the various tissues, and of these into the secretions
and excretions.

He states that the process of chymification takes place
in virtue of a purely chemical action, exactly similar to
those processes of decomposition or transformation which
are known as putrefaction, fermentation, or decay. Thus,
the clear gastric juice contains a substance in a state
! of transformation, by the contact of which with the
insoluble constituents of the food they are rendered
soluble, no other element taking any share in the action
excepting oxygen and the elements of water. All
substances which can arrest the phenomena of fermenta¬
tion and putrefaction in liquids, also arrest digestion
when taken into the stomach. Putrefying blood, white
of egg, flesh, and cheese, produce the same effects in a
| solution of sugar as yeast or ferment ; the explanation
being, that ferment, or yeast, is nothing but vegetable
fibrine, albumen, or caseine, in a state of decomposition.

Referring to the derivation of the animal tissues, he
I says they all contain, for a given amount of carbon, more
i oxygen than the nitrogenous constituents of blood. In
hair and gelatinous membrane there is also an excess of
nitrogen and hydrogen, and in the proportions to form
ammonia. We may suppose an addition of these elements,
or a subtraction of carbon, the amount of nitrogen remain¬
ing the same. The gelatinous substance is not a compound
of proteine ; it contains no sulphur, or phosphorus ; and
it contains more nitrogen, or less carbon than proteine.

He next, as he says, attempts to develop analytically
the principal metamorphoses which occur in the animal
body. He adds that the results have surprised himself
no less than they will others, and have excited in his own
mind the same doubts as others will conceive. He
nevertheless gives them, because he is convinced that the
method by which they have been obtained is the only one
by which we can hope to acquire an insight into the
nature of organic processes.

Referring to the animal secretions, he argues that they
must contain the products of the metamorphosis of the
tissues. He says a starving man with severe exertion
secretes more urea than the most highly fed individual in
a state of rest ; and he combats the idea that the nitrogen
of the food can pass into urea without having previously
become part of an organized tissue.

Having shown the chemical relations of bile and urine
to the proteine bodies, he illustrates, by formulae, the
connection between allantoine and the constituents of
the urine of animals that respire. He insists that in
the herbivora the carbohydrates must take part in the
formation of bile ; and he calculates the number of
equivalents of proteine, starch, oxygen, and water, which
would yield a given number of equivalents of urea

234

THU PHARMAOEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September is, 1880.

choleic acid, ammonia, and carbonic acid. The non-
nitrogenous constituents in the food of the herbivora
retard the metamorphosis of the nitrogenous bodies,
rendering this less rapid than iii the carnivora. It may
be said that proteine, starch, and oxygen give the
secretions and excretions, carbonic acid by the lungs, urea
and carbonate of ammonia by the kidneys, choleic acid by
the liver. It is the study of the phenomena which
accompany the metamorphoses of the food in the
•organism, the discovery of the share which the atmo¬
sphere and the elements of water take in these changes,
by' which we shall learn the conditions necessary for the
production of a secretion or of an organized part.

He traces the possible formation of taurine from
caffeine or asparagine by their assumption of oxygen and
of the elements of water. And from the composition of
the vegetable alkaloids he suggests the possibility of their
taking a share in the formation of new, or the transforma¬
tion of existing, brain and nervous matter.

Finally, in reference to these various illustrations and
considerations, he says, however hypothetical they may
appear, they deserve attention in so far as they point
out the way which chemistry must pursue if she would
really be of service to physiology and pathology.
Chemistry, he says, relates to the conversion of food
into the various tissues and secretions, and to their
subsequent metamorphosis into lifeless compounds.

After this lapse of time, it will certainly be granted
that, quite irrespectively of the admissibility or otherwise
of the particular illustration adduced, or of the truth or
error of any of the conclusions drawn — and some at least
are so true that they seem to us now all but truisms, and
you may be disposed to ask me why I should tell you over
again a story so often told before — there is no doubt that
Liebig’s manner of treating the subject did exert an
immense influence by stimulating investigation, by fixing
attention on the points to be investigated, and on the
methods that must be followed, and thus by leading to
the establishment or the correction of any special views
he put forward, and to a vast extension of our knowledge
on the complicated questions involved.

In the third part of Liebig’s second volume he treats of
the phenomena of motion in the animal organism. It is
to his views in regard to one aspect only of this very wide
and very complicated subject that I propose to call your
attention here, as it is chiefly in so far as that aspect is
concerned that the question is of interest from the point
of view of the agricultural chemist. He says : —

“ We observe in animals that the conversion of food
into blood, and the contact of the blood with the living
tissues, are determined by a mechanical force, whose
manifestation proceeds from distinct organs, and is
effected by a distinct system of organs, possessing the
property of communicating and extending the motion
which they receive. We find the power of the animal to
change its place and to produce mechanical effects by
means of its limbs dependent on a second similar system of
organs or apparatus.”

He points out that the motion of the animal fluids
proceeds from distinct organs (as, for example, that of the
blood from the heart), which do not generate the force in
themselves, but receive it from other parts by means of
the nerves ; the limbs also receive their moving force in
the same way. He adds: — “Where nerves are not
found, motion does not occur.” Again: —

“ As an immediate effect of the manifestation of
mechanical force, we see that a part of the muscular
substance loses its vital properties, its character of life :
that this portion separates from the living part, and loses
its capacity of growth and its power of resistance. We
find that this change of properties is accompanied by the
entrance of. a foreign body (oxygen) into the composition
of the muscular fibre . . ; and all experience proves

that this conversion of living muscular fibre into com¬
pounds destitute of vitality is accelerated or retarded
according to the amount of force employed to produce

motion.” He adds that a rapid transformation of
muscular fibre determines a greater amount of mechanical
force, and that conversely a greater amount of mechanical
motion determines a more rapid change of matter.

“ The change of matter, the manifestation of mechani¬
cal force, and the absorption of oxygen, are, in the
animal body, so closely connected with each other that
we may consider the amount of motion and the quantity
of living tissue transformed as proportional to the quan¬
tity of oxygen inspired and consumed in a given time by
the animal.” Again : —

“The production of heat and the change of matter are
closely related to each other ; but although heat can be
produced in the body without any change of matter in
living tissues, yet the change of matter cannflt be sup¬
posed to take place without the co-operation of oxygen.”

Further, on the same point : — “ The sum of force avail¬
able for mechanical purposes must be equal to the sum of
the vital forces of all tissues adapted to the change of
matter. If, in equal times, unequal quantities of oxygen
are consumed, the result is obvious in an unequal amount
of heat liberated, and of mechanical force. When
unequal amounts of mechanical force are expended, this
determines the absorption of corresponding and unequal
quantities of oxygen.”

$ Then, more definitely still, referring to the changes which
take place coincidently with the exercise of force, and to the
demands of the system for repair accordingly, he says : —
“The amount of azotized food necessary to restore
the equilibrium between waste and supply is directly
proportional to the amount of tissues metamorphosed.
The amount of living matter, which in the body loses the
condition of life, is, in equal temperatures, directly pro¬
portional to the mechanical effects produced in a given
time. The amount of tissue metamorphosed in a given
time may be measured by the quantity of nitrogen in the
urine. The sum of the mechanical effects produced in
two individuals, in the same temperature, is proportional
to the amount of nitrogen in their urine, whether the
mechanical force has been employed in the voluntary or
involuntary motions, whether it has been consumed by
the limbs, or by the heart and other viscera.”

Thus, apparently influenced by the physiological con¬
siderations which have been adduced, and notwithstanding
in some passages he seemed to recognize a connection
between the total quantity of oxygen inspired and con¬
sumed and the quantity of mechanical force developed,
Liebig nevertheless very prominently insisted that the
amount of muscular tissue transformed — the amount of
nitrogenous substance oxidated — was the measure of the
force generated. He accordingly distinctly draws the
conclusion that the requirement for the azotized con¬
stituents of food will be increased in proportion to the
increase in the amount of force expended.

It will be obvious that the question whether in the
feeding of animals for the exercise of mechanical force,
that is, for their labour, the demands of the system will
be proportionally the greater for an increased supply of
the nitrogenous or of the non-nitrogenous constituents of
food, is one of considerable interest and practical import¬
ance. To this point I shall have to refer further on.

[To be continued.)

QUASSIA v. MOSQUITOES.

An infusion of 1 pound of quassia to 8 gallons of
water has been recently recommended, not only as a
preventive of blight in plants and as effectual against
green fly and other insects, but when applied to the face
and hands as a thorough protection against mosquitoes.
The editor of the Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal says,
“ This may be all very well for English gnats, but we
fancy that the American insect, that bites through a pair
of cow hide boots soaked in carbolic acid, will pay very
little attention to common house-fly poison.”

!'

!

September 18, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

235

Cj }t jmrttmcwtkal Jmirmil.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1880.

Communications for . the Editorial department of this
Journal, books for review , etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal ,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. JournJ

MEDICO-PHARMACEUTICAL ABUSES IN THE
UNITED STATES.

The Philadelphia Medico-Legal Society is a
society of which we confess we know little beyond the
fact that it appears to rejoice in a rather high-sounding
title, and that it would seem to have adopted and
made public a report from a committee on the subject
of medico-pharmaceutical abuses. W e intend to show
no disrespect to this society therefore when we say that
its ordinary proceedings and conclusions would not be
likely to present many features of interest to the
readers of this Journal, and we propose to refer to
the report — which in its literary style and the faith
manifested by the reporters in the efficiency of some
of their conclusions betrays considerable traces of
juvenility — only because it discusses several topics
that are of importance to pharmacists on this side
of the Atlantic as well as the other.

The report commences by drawing attention to
some “ mistakes ” into which physicians are alleged
to have perhaps unconsciously drifted. The first
“mistake” charged against the physician is that,
unlike as “in the earlier days of the healing art,
“ when the professional status of medical men was
“ animated by a higher atmosphere of professional
“ tone,” he now, by allowing the compounding and
dispensing to drift into the pharmacists’ hands,
has practically delegated to another class almost
the exclusive management of the therapeutics of
medical practice and has abdicated the driving of
the medical team. Moreover, it is alleged that
the physician has by the system of prescription
writing cultivated in the public the habit of relying
upon the judgment of the pharmacist, and developed
so much confidence in his discretion and skill that to
a large degree the pharmacist and not the physician
has become the one consulted for remedies and
treatment. Another consequence of this enhanced
importance of the druggist is said to be that he is able
to select a particular physician and specially “run”
him to the detriment of his less favoured confreres.

The suggestion implied in the first of these allega¬
tions, that each physician should, like his earliest
predecessors in the practice of the healing art or a
modern Indian “medicine man,” prepare as well as
-dispense and prescribe his medicines is one that

not even the countenance of a medico-legal society
can render worthy of discussion. As to the conse¬
quence said to follow the increased confidence in the
pharmacist, due to his being entrusted with the
making up of physicians’ prescriptions, it may safely
be said that, whatever may be the case in Pennsyl¬
vania, in this country there would be nothing so
conducive to the reduction of counter practice within
the narrowest limits as the fuller occupation of the
pharmacist in his more congenial and natural func¬
tion of dispensing. At any rate, it is not quite
clear how the proclivities of the pharmacist towards
“running” a particular physician can be compatible
with his greed for prescribing himself.

Another mistake attributed to the physician we
can only mention, since criticism of the allegation
lies outside our domain. It is the practice of charging
round fees for professional visits, even when there is
little occasion for such visits, and the prescribing of
unnecessarily large quantities of expensive drugs.
This, it is alleged, builds up the business of the
druggist, while it depletes the pocket of the patient
and drives him to the patent medicine vendor or the
homceopathist.

The last mistake, alleged, however, only against
some Philadelphia physicians, is that they have
smirched the reputation of the profession by making
a dirty compact with unscrupulous druggists for a
percentage on prescriptions diverted to the stores of
the latter. A similar “ mistake ” has been heard
of in this country, but when we read that in Phila¬
delphia such prescriptions are made up at excessive
prices, and that bottles and boxes of unused medi¬
cine are needlessly set aside by the astute doctor at
successive visits to be substituted by others no less
expensive, we are reminded of the paradoxical
“ deeper still ” of the lowest depths.

The report next draws attention to a series of
complaints which it is considered physicians are
entitled to make against druggists in respect to
various customs that injuriously affect the profes¬
sional and business functions of the medical practi¬
tioner, and the first of these relates to unfaithfulness
in making up prescriptions. The report here takes
a hypothetical form, and says that if an expensive
drug be prescribed and a cheaper be substituted, if
preparations not up to the standard formulae be
used, or if one preparation be substituted for another
not in stock, the pharmacist so doing practises a
deception wholly at variance with his duties as a
compounder. With this opinion we entirely concur,
but cannot help remarking that there is much virtue
in the “if,” and that otherwise the complaint has
hardly a fair raison $ tre, for whilst upon mere
conjecture it ought not to be made, with certainty
as to such a practice by any pharmacist the remedy
would lie in the prescriber’s hands.

The subject of the next complaint is the repeti¬
tion of prescriptions by pharmacists without the
order of the prescriber, and it is urged that there

236

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September U, mo.

can be no doubt that a vicious habit of consuming
narcotics or alcohol has been in numerous cases
engendered by this practice, and further that
many persons have undoubtedly been permanently
injured by overdrugging the system with remedies,
potent in themselves as correctives of diseased con¬
ditions, but contra-indicated except where used
under the observation of a prudent prescriber. In
the opinion of the reporters the pharmacist who
makes up a prescription repeatedly without fresh
instructions from the prescriber, or who dispenses it
for a person for whom it was not originally pre¬
scribed, “ assumes an unwarranted responsibility
“ wholly impertinent to the province of his vocation
“ as a responder to the dicta of the physician, who
“adapted his prescription to the indications of a
“ particular case.” This question of repeating pre¬
scriptions is, however, one that cannot be settled by
simple denunciation of pharmacists by the medical
profession ; it is one upon which the public will have
its say as a party concerned. Moreover it cannot
be maintained that the objections urged apply to all
prescriptions to the same extent, and in the case of
a prescription likely to prove hurtful if indiscrimin¬
ately repeated, the medical man always has it in his
power at least to order it not to be dispensed more
than once.

But the complaint which is made in the bitterest
tones has for its theme the sale of patent and pro¬
prietary medicines, and the injury caused to regular
practice and the general medical profession by the
part pharmacists have taken in this traffic is warmly
denounced and described as beyond computation.
“Was the pushing or sale of patent nostrums the
“object of the pharmaceutist’s studies and graduation!”
it is indignantly asked ; whilst the two succeeding
questions, “ Who is it that has trained the people
“to go to drug stores for all the paraphernalia of
“ patent medicine makers ?” and “ Who is it that is
“ever putting the endlessness of these stuffs into stock
“ and introducing them to the people for percentages
on sales 1 ” recall the style of a ditty that once had
considerable popularity in the nursery. Notwith¬
standing, however the virago shrillness of the scolding
there is some justice in this remonstrance against
the progressive development of the nostrum trade,
which, however, has had its abettors among the
members of the medical profession also, and the
pharmacists of this country are at last becoming
alive to the fact that although it for a time presented
an alluring prospect it is destructive to the best
interests of true pharmacy.

We have thus referred to the principal points in
this report, not because we are inclined to attribute
to it any factitious importance, but because it seemed
to have some interest as showing that the trans¬
atlantic “medico-pharmaceutical abuses” are very
similar in their nature to grievances that are not
unfrequently put forward in this country. So far as
these grievances are real, every well wisher to the art

of medicine — and pharmacy as a part of it — will be
desirous of their removal. But in our opinion this
will not be effected by the opening of opposition
drug stores or the drawing up of a black list of
offending pharmacists, as proposed by the present
reporters, but by cultivating an increase in the
mutual respect and confidence between prescribers
and dispensers, and the entrusting of dispensing
more entirely to the pharmacists’ hands, notwith¬
standing that the reporters curiously enough indicate
a similar course in the past as having been the
origin of the evils lamented.

ALLEGED MISUSE OF PILOCARPINE.

An inquiry has been in progress in Cork, which
turns upon a point not without its interest to those
inclined to experiment with new remedies. It ap¬
pears, according to the account given in The Times of
Thursday last, that a boy who was admitted to the
Fever Hospital during the recent epidemic of scar¬
latina in Cork came under the attention of Dr.
McNaughton Jones, who considered him to be
suffering from suppressed scarlatina. Dr. Jones
prescribed the usual remedies at first, but afterwards,
regarding the case as a serious one and thinking the
boy not likely to recover, he decided to inject pilo¬
carpine subcutaneously. A ten per cent, solution was
after some difficulty obtained and equal to one-tliird
of a grain of the alkaloid injected under the patient’s
skin. According to the evidence of the resident
surgeon of the hospital the injection was followed
by a marked change for the worse; the child be¬
came delirious and a cold clammy perspiration,
with extreme depression of the vital powers, no
pulse and great restlessness followed. Death super¬
vened in five hours. A charge was then brought
forward by the father of the boy that Dr. Jones
had caused the death of the child by the adminis¬
tration of the pilocarpine, and the investigation
which has been conducted by the committee of
the Hospital has already occupied five days. In
support of the charge it was alleged that Dr. Jones
had used the pilocarpine as a simple experiment ;
that he had no experience in the hypodermic use of
the drug and that he had adopted the novel treat¬
ment without consultation with his colleagues. On
the other hand it was contended that the injection
of pilocarpine was neither novel nor dangerous, and
various authorities were quoted for its use in scar¬
latina and exanthematous fevers where there is a
suppression of the eruption. Dr. Jones also said that
he had frequently used it before in the treatment of
ophthalmic diseases. The treatment adopted by Dr.
Jones was endorsed by Professor O’Keefe, of
Queen’s College, Cork, as well as by Dr. Duffey, of
Mercer’s Hospital, Dublin. The inquiry, so far as
taking evidence is concerned, is understood to be
closed, but at the time of writing the committee had
not given its decision.

September is, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

237

jmmbtngs of Sdcnftfk Stfrictbs,

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

[Continued from page 221.)

The next paper read was entitled —

The Restoration of Discoloured Syrup of Iodide

of Iron.

BY THOS. B. GROVES, F.C.S.

Numberless articles by accredited writers in the
Pharmaceutical Journal and elsewhere have shown that
the preparation of a nearly colourless syrup of iodide of
iron is not a difficult matter, and there has been a pretty
general concurrence in the belief that the process of the
British Pharmacopoeia leaves little to be desired. As to
its keeping properties, there has been and probably there
still is a good deal of difference of opinion ; some going so
far as to say that it keeps perfectly well, and needs no
special precaution for its preservation, whilst others have
devised elaborate ways of bottling and storing or chemical
treatment intended to enable the pharmacist to dispense
a creditable article when called upon by the prescriber.
It is doubtless true that when made with pure sugar, a
substance by-the-bye difficult at all times to procure, the
syrup, when in reasonable demand, does keep fairly well,
so well in fact that well accustomed dispensing establish¬
ments fail to see any difficulty in the matter. Such,
however, is not the case with those who perhaps are not
called upon to dispense the article once in a month, or
even less frequently. Then on searching the cupboard
it is often found that the syrup without some treatment
is not presentable, and frequently it happens that for
want of knowing what to do in the case the syrup is
sacrificed and the patient incommoded. With the view
of assisting my brother pharmacists when in this dilemma
I venture to offer a few observations. I must, however,
confess that instances have to my knowledge occurred
where the pharmacist has not been too scrupulous, and
ignoring the refinements of pharmacy has not hesitated
to supply his customer with a discoloured syrup. I have
myself been hauled over the coals for supplying a colour¬
less and comparatively flavourless article, “apparently
not so strong as Mr. Dash’s”; in fact have suffered for a
time, as did George the First’s cooks, who supplied his
majesty’s table with fresh oysters, “not so ’igh in
flaviour” as those to which his Hanoverian Highness
had been accustomed.

The discoloration of syrup of iodide of iron is doubtless
due mainly to the presence of free iodine ; when
turbidity is present there is probably also a basic persalt
of iron in suspension which adds to the effect. To get rid
of both of these it is only necessary to dilute the syrup
with say a third of its volume of water, to boil briskly for
a few minutes, then filter through paper, and finally
reduce by evaporation to its original bulk. The syrup
will then have resumed its original appearance.

The strength of the preparation will not have been
materially altered by this treatment, for it takes a
wonderfully small quantity of iodine in the free state to
colour a large amount of liquid. Thus it will be found
that one drop of liquor ferri perchloridi added to half a
fluid ounce of freshly prepared syrup of iodide of iron will
produce in it the tint of golden sherry, to be completely
dissipated by a few minutes’ boiling. There is, I am
aware, nothing new in this treatment by boiling, etc. ;
it has, I know, been mentioned already by some writer
whose name I have unhappily forgotten, but whose
useful though often unused suggestion has not escaped me.

I will now refer to some experiments I have recently
made in the same direction, and having for their object
the avoidance of the delay attendant on the process
already mentioned.

The text-books tell us that when a persalt of iron is
brought in contact with a soluble iodide, the salt is

reduced to the proto condition, and free iodine is
eliminated. It was at one time thought that under these
circumstances a per-iodide was formed, but Mr. Squire,
junr., some years since proved conclusively that such
was not the case by showing that the colour could be
removed from such a liquid by simply shaking it with
an ordinary solvent for iodine such as benzine or chloro¬
form. If to such a liquid containing iodine in solution,
caustic potash or soda be added, precipitation of ferric
oxide will result, and the iodine will combine with
the base of tie precipitant. Applied to a discoloured
syrup of iodide of iron the process does not answer, and
that in consequence of the sugar, as it appears to me,
exercising a solvent action on the precipitated oxides.
In fact it is after filtration more discoloured than ever.

In a paper published in the ninth volume, second
series, of the Pharmaceutical Journal (“Preservation of
Syrup of Iodide of Iron”), I pointed out the effect pro¬
duced by the presence in the syrup of a trace of phosphoric
acid, how that by seizing at the moment of its forma¬
tion the peroxide of iron and rendering it insoluble, it
effectually prevented the reaction ending in the elimina¬
tion of free iodide that would otherwise have resulted.
Syrup, even dilute, will keep for years after being so
treated, but of course one gets instead of the discolora¬
tion the slight turbidity occasioned by the deposit of
perphosphate of iron ; this however, being colourless and
easy of removal by deposit or filtration, is of but little
moment. Addition of phosphoric acid to syrup already
discoloured is of no avail; the mischief has been done
and no persalt remains for it to act upon. If, however,
previous to the addition of the acid, a few drops of
liquor potassse be stirred into the syrup the colour
disappears almost immediately, and, the acid being in
slight excess, will not again return.

Thus I found by experiment that when to half a fluid
ounce of syrup discoloured by one drop of liquor ferri
perchloridi, I added enough liquor potassse (the amount
would vary according to the acidity of the syrup) to
produce a distinct greenish coloration, the further
addition of two drops of dilute phosphoric acid restored
the syrnp to its original tint.

The use of hyposulphite for this purpose is of course
well known, but its employment is in my opinion not so
recommendable as that I have just described.

The paper will, I fear, be regarded as simply hateful
and utterly unorthodox by the few ; but the many will, I
hope, not be displeased to learn how of two evils to
choose the less.

The President said the thanks of the Conference were
due to Mr. Groves for this paper, which was interesting
pharmaceutically to them all. There were two very
important points in it, — one the decoloration of the
coloured syrup, and the other the question of the purity
of sugar. The latter had no doubt presented itself to all
pharmacists who had endeavoured to obtain pure sugar.

Mr. Umney said that from 70 to 80 per cent, of the
sugar of commerce at the present day was beet sucrose,
and such would not do for the manufacture of syrup of
iodide of iron, so far as his experience went. He had
seen a syrup made from this sugar, even when it had been
brought most accurately to the proper specific gravity,
become after a time perfectly solid. He had compared
it with syrup made in exactly the same way from English
refined cane sucrose, and the same result did not take
place. He had not had an opportunity of investigating
whether this was due to the presence of inverted sugar
in the beet sucrose, but perhaps some one could throw
some light upon the question.

Mr. Hughes said he used Martineau’s sugar in making
all his syrups.

Mr. Andrews could quite corroborate what Mr.
Umney said. He had had a great deal of trouble with
various syrups, and particularly with syrup of the phos¬
phates and Easton’s syrup, from discoloration. He had^

238

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. September 18, 1880.

in fact, commenced a series of experiments on the subject,
intending to communicate the results to that meeting,
but pressure of other business, public and private, had
prevented his completing the investigation. He felt
sure, however, that such a paper would be most valuable.
He had adopted the plan of procuring his sugar from one
of the large lozenge houses in London, for he could not
get it pure from the neighbouring grocers, and by getting
better sugar his results were much more favourable.

Mr. Naylor said he had noticed latterly amongst the
sugar which had come into the market, especially Ame¬
rican sugar, that it contained an appreciable quantity of
sulphur ; and when a syrup had been made containing
acid salts, such as hypophosphites or phosphorous acid,
where the phosphorous acid was somewhat in excess, after
a time the syrup had become turbid and had given off
sulphuretted hydrogen. He had not estimated the quan¬
tity, but it was quite sufficient to be detected by the
smell, and of course it could be readily detected by
the ordinary tests, such as acetate of lead. There ap¬
peared to him to be very considerable difficulty in ob¬
taining pure cane sugar. There was a difficulty in getting
any quantity of Ma.rtineau’s sugar, according to his ex¬
perience, but he should like to know the opinion of those
wh<? were in the habit of buying large quantities. With
reference to the manufacture of iodide of iron, he was
scarcely prepared to say that he was dissatisfied with
the Pharmacopoeia process, but at the same time he be¬
lieved that manufacturers did not adhere strictly to the
directions given. One defect in the process was that the
mixture was ordered to be boiled to effect the combina¬
tion of the iodine and iron. According to his experience
there was no such necessity. Again, if the solution were
filtered and the filtrate washed with cold water, a basic
iron salt would be thrown down, and it would be quite
impossible to keep that liquor so that it would retain its
colour. In fact it would begin to show signs of decom¬
position in half an hour. But if the iodide of iron had
not been boiled, and if there were an excess of iron, which
appeared to influence it to some extent, the liquor could
be kept for some few hours. If no wash water were used
it would not throw down a basic compound of iron. Of
course it would not keep for an indefinite time ; but for
a reasonable time it would show no change.

Dr. Symes said the subject of keeping syrup of iodide
of iron had been a matter of discussion in the Pharmaceu¬
tical Journal and other papers connected with chemistry
and pharmacy almost as long as he could remember.
Mr. Groves mentioned a druggust searching his cupboard
for this preparation and finding it discoloured; but he
should say the cupboard was about the last place in which
to keep it. If it were filled into small bottles and these put
in a strong light it would keep much better. He had met
with samples which had readily become decolorized by
being treated in the way mentioned, but on the other
hand he had met with specimens which entirely resisted
such efforts. It remained even yet a problem what
caused the discoloration. He scarcely thought it was
free iodine, but believed it was a case of oxidation. The
subject, however, of most interest, was probably that of
the sugar, which some few years ago he had dealt with,
though not perhaps so fully as it deserved, and he was not
then so thoroughly aware as he was now of one common
impurity in sugar. If he remembered rightly he then
pointed out that if beet sugar were properly treated it
could be made almost as pure as cane sugar. For instance
Say’s sugar was regarded by some as the best to use, and
that was entirely from beet ; it was the best refined
French sugar. The American granulated sugar which
he then mentioned he had since used, and found it to be
probably the purest; and it was reliable as being cane
sugar, and certainly had not to undergo the same treat¬
ment as beet sugar had. The fact was, crude cane sugar
required much less manipulation than beet sugar, to arrive
at a state of purity, and consequently there would appear
to be more stability about it. The greatest difficulty in the

present day, was not the small quantity of glucose which
might exist, so much as the presence of sulphur, which
arose from the use of ultramarine to make yellowish sugars-
more white. If a moist crystal of citric acid were wrapped
up in a sheet of blue writing paper, and held in a warm
hand, it would smell of sulphuretted hydrogen. He had
observed this when using such paper to wrap up chemicals,
and Mr. Tanner had also noticed it quite independently.
Precisely the same thing occurred in a great deal of refined
sugar, which was rendered white by the use of ultramarine.
He happened unfortunately to have a cask of German
granulated sugar, made to look like the American, because
that had obtained a reputation as a pure article, and if he
1 made a syrup from it there would be a decidedly blue
scum on the surface. He thought pharmacists should in¬
sist on having pure sugar, and if there were a sufficient
protest made against this kind of adulteration some good
might be done. He did not see why public analysts should
not take it up with far greater benefit than many of the
matters which they now turned their attention to, and it
would go far to remedy the evil they were especially con¬
sidering.

Mr. Ellinor said that some years ago he made some
syrup of iodide of iron with sugar obtained from a grocer,
which turned colour, and almost solidified, and neither
boiling nor anything else could restore the colour. He
asked the grocer what kind of sugar it was, and was told
it was the best French sugar. He therefore concluded
that it was some adulteration which caused the change of
colour.

Professor Attfield suggested that Mr. Andrews or
some one else might follow up the subject he had
suggested and make experiments on the solubility of cane
sugar as distinguished from beet sugar. He had an
impression that these two sugars even when absolutely
pure did differ somewhat, though a chemist, qud a che¬
mist, might not be able to say how. Possibly if some
physical experiments were made it would be found that
they were only isomeric with each other, not identical.

Mr. Andrews, who was understood to consent, said he
knew it was a fact that they differed in solubility.

Professor Attfield said Mr. Groves raised the question
why syrup of iodide of iron was not discoloured when a
little potash or soda was added, and had suggested that
it might have something to do with the ferric compound
being kept in solution by the sugar. The salt which
would be precipitated by an alkali no doubt would be
kept in solution by the sugar. The fact was there pro¬
bably was a persalt of iron present ; though what that
persalt might be he -did not know. It might be ferric
saccharate ; but there was possibly a persalt of iron
which was reduced to a ferrous salt with the liberation
of iodine, just as perchloride or persulphate would be ;
and so long as that were so a few drops of solution of
alkali would not suffice for removal of free iodine.

Mr. Clark asked if Professor Attfield had ever tried
the large crystals of sugar such as were introduced by
Finzl, of Bristol ; because he believed that all English
refiners now used beet sugar, but these large crystals
could not be made except from cane sugar. This sugar
had only been boiled down once from the sugar cane, and
it gave these large crystals. He feared that they would
see no more of the granulated American sugar which
Dr. Symes had referred to, as the process had been
patented in England, so that it could not now be im¬
ported.

Dr. Symes said thousands of tons of the large crystal
sugar were made in Liverpool containing beet sugar.
There was danger of a slight impurity there in the form
of lime, because he believed it was made by a patent
process by which the sugar was converted into sucrate
of lime.

Mr. Savage, referring to Dr. Symes’s remark that the
syrup retained its colour if exposed to a strong light,
wished to ask if it would not deteriorate by continued
exposure.

September 18, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

239

Mr. Fletcher said an interesting paper on this sub¬
ject, written, he believed, by Mr. Creuse, had appeared
some time since in the American Journal of Pharmacy.
The author pointed out that in discoloured syrup of iodide
of iron there were always two substances present, viz.,
grape sugar and hydriodic acid. He observed that the
discoloration never went beyond a certain point, namely,
that which had been called golden-sherry colour, and
there it remained. It was also proved by a number of
interesting experiments that if for one-third of the cane
sugar, grape sugar were substituted, this discoloration
never took place. These results were strikingly confirmed
by Mr. Groves’s experiments, because it was very clear
that on boiling a somewhat diluted syrup, the hydriodic
acid present would convert a portion of the cane sugar
into grape sugar, and then the discoloration stopped. It
was possible also that a strong light would exert a similar
influence.

The Conference then adjourned for luncheon.

On reassembling, the first paper that was read was —

The Detection of Amorphous Quinine (Chinioidin)
in the Ferri et Quini.® Citras, B.P.

BY DR. J. E. DE VRTJ.

During my visit to London in May last, one of my
pharmaceutical friends asked me if I knew a method to
detect the adulteration of this medicine by substituting
partly the quinia by the (so called) amorphous quinine.
After some reflection I replied affirmatively, and as my
friend told me that he had reason to suspect that this
fraud was often put into practice, the publication of my
process may perhaps be useful.

The test of the B.P. for this preparation is the
following : —

“ Fifty grains dissolved in a fluid ounce of water and
treated with a slight excess of ammonia give a white
precipitate, which, when collected on a filter and dried,
weighs 8 grains. The precipitate is almost entirely
soluble in pure ether, and when burned leaves but a
minute residue.”

As the pure amorphous quinine is easily soluble in
ether, it is clear that, notwithstanding the quinia is partly
substituted by amorphous quinine, the medicine will
answer the test of the Pharmacopoeia. This substitution
can, however, easily be detected by transforming the
separated quinine into a neutral oxalate. This oxalate
after being thoroughly dried on water-bath is dissolved in
chloroform and the solution, if necessary, filtered. If a
few drops of water are put on the top of this solution in
a test tube the oxalate of quinine will take a part of the
water and crystals of oxalate of quinine will appear in the
chloroform, whilst the water on the top remains clear
and uncoloured if the medicine is not sophisticated. If it
contains, however, amorphous quinine the oxalate of this
base will be taken up from the solution in chloroform,
and the water on the top of this solution will be more or
less yellow coloured by the oxalate of amorphous quinine
which has been dissolved by the water.

The President said this was a practical and useful
test, which must commend itself to notice.

Mr. Umney thought the test put forward by Dr. De
Yrij seemed simple and elegant, and might prove valuable.
There could be no question that amorphous quinine was
almost always to be found in the citrate of iron and
quinine to some certain extent, and there could also be
no doubt that the alkaloid was converted from the
crystallizable into the amorphous state during the process
of manufacture, but this only occurred to a small extent,
and if pure crystalline sulphate of quinine were used,
this change would be very slight. He looked upon this
test as one which was very simple, and could be applied
by almost any one. It was known how insoluble oxalate
of quinine was, and the paper showed that the oxalate of
amorphous quinine was soluble in water.

Mr. Fletcher said he had hoped when he saw the
title of the paper that the test proposed by Dr. De Vrij
would have been a quantitative, instead of, as it appeared,
a qualitative one. As Mr. Umney had said, amorphous
quinine might be found in any sample of citrate of iron
and quinine, and if the Pharmacopoeia process were
strictly followed he would undertake to say that at least
one-fourth of the quinine would be converted into the
amorphous condition, the heat employed in evapora¬
ting the solution to a syrupy consistence being quite
sufficient to convert a large proportion of the crystal¬
lizable quinine into the amorphous state, as he had found
by practical experience. In the paper he read at the last
meeting of the Conference, he described a process for
the estimation of quinine in the citrate of iron and
quinine, which was based on the fact that when the
alkaloid was obtained, as in the usual way, by precipi¬
tation with ammonia and re-solution in ether, evaporating
the ether, and weighing the anhydrous quinine (dried
at 120°), one was able to calculate exactly how much
sulphuric acid was required to convert that quinine into
basic sulphate, and if the requisite number of cubic
centimetres of decinormal sulphuric acid were added to
this anhydrous quinine, and the vessel in which it was
contained were kept for a short time at a gentle heat, the
whole of the quinine would be converted into basic sul¬
phate, which crystallized out on cooling. Further ex¬
perience, however, had convinced him that it was not
advisable to dry the quinine at 120°, because at that
temperature a very considerable portion of it was con¬
verted into amorphous quinine. He had made a number
of experiments to verify this by taking pure sulphate of
quinine — not that of commerce — but that which had been
freed from cinchonidine by five recrystallizations. Taking
a weighed quantity of this sulphate, precipitating by
ammonia, extracting by ether, and drying at 120°, and
reconverting that into sulphate by the addition of the
requisite number of cubic centimetres of decinormal
sulphuric acid, there was a loss of from 5 to 10 per
cent, on the theoretical quantity. Not only that, but if
the filtered solution from the first crystallization of the
sulphate were examined it would be found that a large
quantity of the quinine which was missing as crystal¬
lizable sulphate was present in the solution as amor¬
phous quinine, as could be easily proved by precipitating
with ammonia, redissolving in ether, and drying that at
120°, when the precipitate, instead of being white, as
in the first instance, would be quite yellow, and it
would have precisely the taste of amorphous quinine.
He thought Dr. De Vrij’s process would very possibly
condemn as sophisticated, citrate of iron and quinine
which had been prepared according to the British Phar¬
macopoeia process, and the more strictly that process was
followed the more amorphous quinine would be produced.
There was a very simple test which every pharmacist
could use for himself with a very little practice, and
which would detect 5 per cent, of amorphous quinine.
It was simply necessary to take a scale and place it on
the tongue, the difference in taste between that and the
genuine preparation would be so distinct that no one
could possibly mistake it. The bitter was as distinct
as was the bitter of aloes from that of quassia. From
experiments he had made he had conclusively proved that
there was no better test for the presence of amorphous
quinine than this.

Professor Attfield suggested that possibly Dr. De
Viij’s process might be made quantitative by treatment
of the aqueous solution, evaporation and so on.

Dr. Senier said it seemed to him that although in
the hands of experienced chemists this process which
had been suggested might be useful, in the hands of
an ordinary pharmacist, or one who had not had special
training in the crystallization of these salts, it would be
found difficult. One portion of the process involved the
formation of neutral oxalate from a certain amount of
base, but that amount was r.ot mentioned. It would be

240

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September is, 1880.

necessary to use a certain quantity, several grams at
least, of citrate of iron and quinine, and then he doubted
whether a chemist without special experience would be
able to neutralize satisfactorily the alkaloid. As far as
his experience went the formation of a neutral salt of a
cinchona alkaloid, so as to secure practically complete
crystallization, was no easy matter. He should like to
ask Mr. Fletcher a question with regard to his paper of
last year. Mr. Fletcher there recommended, and now
repeated the recommendation, the total amount of
alkaloid to be calculated from the sulphuric acid added
to convert it into a neutral sulphate. From his ex¬
perience he (Dr. Senier) should have thought it exceed¬
ingly doubtful whether, although the calculation might
be made, the measurement of the sulphuric acid
would be at all accurate enough for the complete
conversion of the alkaloid into neutral sulphate. He
had found it exceedingly difficult to convert quinine into
neutral sulphate of quinine, and it required a con¬
siderable amount of care. He should have said, on the
face of it, it could never have been done by any measure¬
ment of a decinormal solution of sulphuric acid.
Another question was whether the amorphous quinine
derived from white crystallized sulphate of quinine
would necessarily be coloured.

Mr. Fletcher said he recommended in this test 20
grams of sulphate to be used for the examination. From
that amount there was a very fair proportion of quinia
obtained, and if the decinormal solution of sulphuric
acid was made carefully, and tested gravimetrically, there
could not possibly be any more accurate method.
Certainly it was much more accurate than deciding
whether one had enough sulphuric acid to convert the
alkaloid into basic sulphate by testing with litmus. As
far as his own experience went, the quantity of sulphuric
acid theoretically indicated had been found absolutely
correct. The whole of the alkaloid went into solution,
a perfectly transparent solution was obtained, which was
alkaline to litmus, and from this solution the basic sul¬
phate crystallized out in splendid crystals. With regard
to the second question, he certainly should expect that
the amorphous alkaloid would be slightly coloured,
because he believed that it was always so, however pure
or however prepared. He thought the colour combined
with taste was as good an indication of the presence of
amorphous quinine as could be obtained, provided it had
been extracted by ether, and dried at 120°.

Mr. Naylor said he had made a great number of quan¬
titative estimations of quinine by Mr. Fletcher’s process,
and always found it answer admirably, nor had he met
with the difficulty of neutralizing the quinine to
which Dr. Senier had referred. Altogether the process
appeared a very manageable one and exceedingly satis¬
factory. He preferred it much to the method of
dissolving the quinine in sulphuric acid, and ascertaining
when the solution was neutral by means of litmus, or by
afterwards making it neutral by means of alkali, so as to
obtain the basic sulphate. Different samples of citrate
of iron and quinine differed very greatly in their acidity,
and he should like to ask whether it would not be
possible to get scales which were much more neutral
than those generally sold in the market. Some makers
prepared the citrate far less acid than others, but he did
not know whether the presence of amorphous quinine
exercised any influence on this.

Mr. Fletcher said the citrate of iron and quinine
which he found most appreciated by pharmacists was
that which dissolved readily without any deposit; but
such citrate contained much more citrate of ammonia
than the Pharmacopoeia preparation. A short time ago a
wholesale house applied to him for an explanation of a
reaction which had been pointed out to them by a chemist
in the country, as occurring when dispensing citrate of iron
and quinine with iodide of potassium. A large precipitate
occurred slightly coloured, which caused the mixture to
be returned with the remark that the pharmacist who

had previously dispensed it had supplied a mixture
perfectly clear and bright. On examining the citrate
of iron and quinine which had been supplied, he found
it in all respects perfectly pure, but it was rather slow in
dissolving, from which he inferred that the citrate of am¬
monia was somewhat deficient. He tested a sample of
Howard’s citrate of iron and quinine with iodide of po¬
tassium, and found that it gave a precipitate, which was
no doubt hydriodate of quinine, and its colour and
quantity would be dependent on the one hand on the
acidity of the citrate of iron and quinine, and on the
other on the alkalinity of the iodide of potassium.
As he had said, the citrate which was most appreciated
contained an excess of citric acid and citrate of ammonia,
and a preparation of that sort he found would not give
a precipitate immediately with iodide of potassium.

Mr. G-errard said Dr. De Vrij’s paper pointed out a
defect in citrate of iron and quinine with which few were
previously acquainted, and one practical result would
perhaps be to try and remedy that defect. One of the
best ways of doing so would be to dispense only a solu¬
tion of citrate of iron and quinine which had not been
submitted to the amount of heat required to get it in the
scale form.

Mr. Greenish observed that in dispensing iodide of po¬
tassium in a mixture of citrate of iron and quinine there
was occasionally a separation, but he had always con¬
sidered it was hydriodate of quinine formed, and did not
think it was influenced by the solution, because he had
used it both in solution and not in solution.

Mr. Gerrard said it was the drying which produced
the amorphous alkaloid.

Mr. Hughes said he had found some difficulty in
dispensing iodide of potassium with quinine, and if
anyone could suggest a means of overcoming it he
should be very grateful.

Mr. Fletcher said if the citrate of iron and quinine
dissolved rather slowly and did not form an absolutely
brilliant solution, one might at once come to the conclu¬
sion that it was somewhat deficient in citrate of ammonia,
and he should add either a little excess of citric acid or a
solution of citrate of ammonia containing an excess of
citric acid.

Mr. Howell said Dr. Langdon Down frequently
ordered citrate of iron and quinine with iodide of potas¬
sium, to which he generally added a small quantity of
citric acid. When the prescription was in that form it
ceased to precipitate.

Mr. Greenish thought Mr. Fletcher’s remark really
opened a very grave question, whether a dispenser was
justified in adding such a thing as citric acid with a view
of obviating a decomposition which must occur in more
or less time. He did not think he was.

Dr. Symes could not endorse that view. He was the
last to tamper unduly with a prescription, but as they
had heard that day citrate of iron as found in the market
was not a definite chemical substance which could neither
be more acid nor more alkaline than originally intended,
but in fact was received in all sorts of conditions.
One of his earliest difficulties as a dispenser was to dis¬
pense a prescription often written by a eminent physician
at Leamington, containing a small quantity of sal volatile
with citrate of iron and quinine. They found that with
the article of one manufacturer when manipulated pro¬
perly, dissolving it first in a large bulk of water and
using an acid citrate of iron and quinine, the mixture
could be kept from depositing to any extent. In the
case of iodide of potassium he had an idea that it
was a slight alkalinity of the iodide and a very neutral
condition of the citrate of iron and quinine which brought
about the precipitation. If it were known as a fact that
one manufacturer would supply citrate of iron and quinine
slightly acid, whilst another supplied it neutral, he saw
no difficulty in adding a minute percentage of citric acid,
which should really exist in the substance. It was useless
discussing matters of difficulty if they could not escape

I

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September 18, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

241

them, but it seemed to him if they could see a means of
remedying an evil without bringing about any unsatis¬
factory results they should adopt it.

Mr. Morris said if this fact were better known,
medical men would be able to introduce a little citric
acid in such cases without the pharmacist undertaking
it on his own responsibility.

Mr. Umney said the truth might sometimes be known
with advantage. Nine years ago in the Pharmaceutical
Journal he pointed out that if citrate of iron and quinine
were made by the form given in the Pharmacopoeia the
resulting scaled salt invariably, when dissolved by water,
was turbid. He had for about ten years used about
2| per cent, more of citric acid, and in this way pro¬
duced a preparation that would form a proper solution
without a trace of turbidity, at the same time it was
exceedingly soluble.

Mr. Grose asked it citrate of iron and quinine when
dispensed with iodide of potassium would liberate the
iodine. He sometimes had a peculiar prescription to
make up containing citrate of iron and quinine and
iodide of potassium, and he got a nasty looking mixture,
which was not at all right. The question was, was he,
as a retail pharmacist, justified in supplying the defects
of the manufacturer. Take the case of iodide of
potassium and spirit of nitrous ether ; if they got a
decomposition were they justified in neutralizing tlie free
acid in the spirit of nitrous ether ?

Mr. Savage thought the lesson to be deduced from
this discussion was a practical one, not that chemists
themselves in retailing should vary a prescription in any
way, but that manufacturers like Mr. Umney should
learn the lesson, and send the preparation out to them in
such a form as they could use it.

Mr. Grose said the question was, if the manufacturers
did not do so what must the chemists do. Now-a-days
there was a good deal of competition, and people sent out
a good-looking salt which would take with the customers,
and were not always very particular if it did not turn
out quite as it should do according to the Pharmacopoeia.

The President said he could assure Mr. Grose that
manufacturing chemists had a great deal to think about in
this way as well as retail ones. They must try and get
on as well as they could together.

Mr. Grose said he had found in the case of the
ammonio- citrate of iron that sometimes it was very acid.
He frequently had prescriptions of ammonio- citrate of
iron and bicarbonate of potash or soda, and unless he
was very careful bang went the bottle. It was not at
all satisfactory if they sent out a mixture in a hurry for
the servant to come in the next day and say the bottle
had burst and his suit of clothes had been spoilt.

A vote of thanks was passed to Dr. De Yrij for his
paper.

The next paper read was entitled : —

New and Unofficial PharmaceutiCxIL Preparations.

BY CHARLES SYMES, PH.D.

On the present occasion I do not propose to read a
paper giving the result of original investigations or
research, but simply and shortly to bring before the
members of the Conference a subject which I believe to
be of importance to all practical pharmacists, and the
discussion of which it is hoped will be both interesting
and profitable.

Two years ago, at Dublin, it will be remembered a
discussion arose as to the precise strength of the article
that should be used when aq. flor. aurautli was pre¬
scribed, and it was found that in the absence of any
authority, the usage of dispensing houses differed widely,
some regarding that known as the “triple” water, others
considering the “diluted” as proper to supply. Unfortu¬
nately no satisfactory conclusions were arrived at and the
matter remains to-day where it did then, viz., in an
undetermined and unsatisfactory state. If now, such a

simple article as this admits of so wide a variation, we
shall not be surprised to find that many other less
commonplace preparations do so equally, with the obvious
result of creating confusion and raising doubts in the
minds of physician, pharmacist and patient, the former
often failing to obtain results which from the published
experience of other members of the profession he has a
right to expect, the second feeling doubts as to whether
he is carrying out with precision the wish of the
prescriber, and the latter, from differences in appearance,
etc,, when the prescription is dispensed at different
pharmacies, losing confidence in the treatment. Some
manufacturers devote special attention to certain classes
of preparations, and by producing old compounds
possessing marked excellence, or new combinations having
distinctive characters, they aquire a reputation for such
and have a kind of proprietary right therein. It is not,
however, to these I desire to direct attention, but to those
in which no one appears to possess such claims as to
priority in specialty of character and for which no
authoritative or recognized formulae exist. Tincture of
gelsemium is an example, which, according to a recent
article in the British Medical Journal, varies in strength
from 1 in 5 to 1 in 10, or 100 per cent., and there appears
no evidence to show whether the stronger or the weaker
is correct. Tinctures of jaborandi, eucalyptus, boldo, etc.,
may vary similarly. In the early days of croton chloral
hydrate we prepared a syrup therefrom as follows : —
Croton (or butyl) chloral hydrate . 480 grs.

Boiling distilled water . 6 ozs.

Glycerine . 6 ozs.

Syrup of orange peel . 18 ozs.

One fluid drachm containing 2 grains of the active
ingredient. There was evidence that such a preparation
was desired on the part of the medical profession, and
doubtless other firms and individuals equally early with
ourselves, possibly before us, prepared somewhat similar
compounds, but it is scarcely probable that these all
accorded in strength and character. A dozen or more
formulae exist for -the syrup known as chemical food (the
original formula of Parrish not yielding satisfactory
results) ; hence it varies in colour, density, acidity and
strength.

Medicinal bromohydric or hydrobromie acid is now
largely prescribed, and for its preparation several formulae
have been published ; one by Dr. Wade, the physician who
originated the idea of using it internally as a medicine,
which provides for 10 grains of combined bromine in the
drachm ; another by Dr. Fothergill yielding a product of
about half that strength ; and one by Dr. Squibb of
Brooklyn, producing a purer acid and containing 33 '4 per
cent. The -weaker acid is the one best known and most
generally used in this country, but as Dr. Wade points
out it is not that with which the original experiments
were made and results obtained which recommended it
as a useful therapeutic agent.

Fluid extracts are in the United States so prepared
that a fluid ounce shall as nearly as possible represent one
ounce of the crude drug. No rule of this kind exists in
Great Britain. Indeed the official fluid extracts vary so
much in strength that we have as it were a licence to
prepare the unofficial of any strength we please ; therefore,
when a new drug is introduced, half a dozen manu¬
facturers may prepare fluid extracts from it of as many
different strengths ; the physician who prescribes and the
pharmacist who dispenses it both being ignorant of the
exact relation it bears to the drug. Quebracho, coca,
rhamnus frangula, etc., are examples.

Perfect as is the present Pharmacopoeia when compared
with its predecessor, it nevertheless contains some un¬
satisfactory formulae, which are generally known to be so.
Now each operator remedies these defects according to
his own views or to those of others who, after investi¬
gation, publish the conclusions arrived at ; thus certain
official formulae became replaced by unofficial of greater
or less variation.

242

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 18, 1880.

My object is not to enumerate instances but to illus¬
trate the fact already stated, that a large number of
preparations in general or occasional demand exist for
which there are no recognized formulae or strength, and
thus an element of uncertainty is created which should
not obtain in the domain of pharmacy.

If the British Medical Council could see its way to
a decennial revision of the Pharmacopoeia (which at pre¬
sent it does not appear to do) it would scarcely cope fully
with the difficulties I have mentioned, although some of
them would be remedied more readily than they now are.
At present we are abandoned to the winds of uncertainty
as to when reform is likely to be brought about, and it
behoves us to seek some means by which we may bridge
over the difficulty. Apropos of this, it has occurred to
me as desirable that some standing authority should
exist to give semi-official or official sanction to formulae
for tinctures, fluid extracts, etc., as occasion might arise,
which would ensure greater uniformity and provide a
means by which many remedies could receive a far more
satisfactory trial than they now do.

If the discussion resulting from these few remarks
indicates that the difficulty is regarded by others as of
the same importance that I have assumed it to be, it will
remain for the Conference to consider the desirability of
adopting some means for constituting such an authority
either from its own members or partly so and partly
from the Medical Council, if that body could be induced
to take up the matter jointly with us.

The President said many of these preparations had
given pharmacists great difficulty. The subject was
worthy of discussion, what authority could be established
by which preparations might be guaranteed when they
become of sufficient importance to demand such a
position.

Mr. Grose said he could bear out Dr. Symes’s opinion
that the number of unofficial preparations caused a great
deal of inconvenience, especially to country pharmacists.
He sometimes had a thing ordered by medical men who
had seen it recommended in the Lancet , or some other
medical journal, and he knew nothing whatever about it.
He could only write to town for it, and perhaps it
came too late for the patient. Only the other day a
customer of his was very ill ; something was ordered
which he could not get in the town, and the next
morning the man was dead. Of course it was not an
official preparation. A little while before that the
liquid extract of spigelia was ordered : he sent to his
wholesale house for it, but they could not get it any¬
where, though they kindly sent him the formula from
which to prepare it.

Mr. Greenish said he had practically found that one
great difficulty in connection with these things was that
they were introduced in such numbers that their name
was legion, and many of them were of so ephemeral a
character that half of them, or more, were out of the
market almost as soon as they were in, and perhaps some¬
times before. If they had any Committee of the Medical
Council, or of pharmacists, or any other body of men to
attend to this matter, it would have to be a permanent
committee constantly taking into consideration the
preparations coming before the public, some of which had
not apparently any claim to be prescribed. The question
of aqua aurantii floris came before the Conference at
Dublin, when he expressed the opinion that it being a
triple preparation it must occur to any pharmacist that
it should be mixed 1 part with 2 of water. With regard
to chloral hydrate, it was almost a pity that there were
such things as simple solutions introduced into the
Pharmacopoeia. He could not understand syrup of chloral
hydrate being prescribed. Let there be a solution of
the chloral hydrate, and let the medical man order so
many grains as he thought fit to be mixed in syrup or
anything else as he desired. Why should there be a
form which was simple chloral hydrate mixed with

syrup and water ? This led to the great difficulty that
pharmacists had to keep a number of compounds which
might just as well be made up at the time they were
wanted. He thought it would be well if there were
a sort of Appendix to the Pharmacopoeia, to which new
preparations should be added, and there might be also
another part, of perhaps as many pages, forming a sort
of limbo, into which the old ones might be put as new
ones came in, and thus the Pharmacopoeia itself might
be kept tolerably clear, and about its present size.
With regard to these new preparations, if they were not
found in the Pharmaceutical Journal itself they would
be usually found in the advertisement part, and if they
were all to be put into the Pharmacopoeia, it would soon
become very much larger than a family Bible.

Mr. Mason thought that Mr. Greenish had over¬
looked the fact that when chloral hydrate was first
introduced several wholesale houses manufactured a
syrup of it. When manufacturers made a new thing
they did their best to get medical gentlemen to order it,
and the consequence would be that different houses
might send out syrups of different composition and
different strength. This was one of the cases where
the Pharmaceutical Committee would come in and say
that syrup of chloral hydrate when supplied should be of
a certain strength.

Mr. Greenish said he did not want a syrup at all ;
let a medical man, if he wanted 15 grs. of chloral hydrate
to be given, order it, and the pharmacist might put it
into the mixture ; the medical man might order syrup if
he liked.

Mr. Umney said in spite of what Mr. Greenish had
remarked were was very great weight in Dr. Symes’s
statements. He was frequently put on the horns of a
dilemma to know what he was to do with a certain class
of preparations when orders were put in his hands for
same. He generally searched the Pharmacopoeia first,
and if he found the preparation there prescribed according
to a formula, unless his experience told him that it was
dictated wrongly (which did sometimes occur), he so
prepared it. If he did not find it there he searched
other pharmacopoeias, the Pharmaceutical Journal, or
the ‘ Year-Book of Pharmacy.’ Many of these new
preparations were to be found in the American Pharma¬
copoeia, and if that was the case he thought they ought
to be loyal to it and prepare them according to the
directions there given. Many too could be found in the
Pharmacopee Universelle and L’Officine. Still there was
the difficulty that there were these new preparations,
some of which were not to be handled with impunity.
For instance, tincture of gelsemium, which he always
made 1 in 5, and which some made 1 in 10. Both
formulae had been published, and it was in these matters
that the great difficulty arose. If there were some com¬
mittee, as Dr. Symes suggested, probably there might
from time to time be a certain amount of responsibility
taken out of the hands of practical men; and it would
tend to give a certain amount of uniformity to dispensing,
The Conference was much indebted to Dr. Symes for
bringing the subject forward.

Mr. Savage said this was an important subject, and
only showed more than ever the desirability of pharma¬
cists being properly represented when the new Phar¬
macopoeia was compiled. He thought the President and
the Vice-President of the Pharmaceutical Society would
form a capital committee to refer matters of this kind to.

Professor Attfield said the difficulty to which Dr.
Symes had drawn attention existed in the United States
as well as in Great Britain, and only on the previous day
had formed the subject of a conversation between Pro¬
fessor Maisch and himself. They came, however, to the
conclusion that the doctrine of evolution might be trusted
to give a good account of a large number of the substances
introduced ; there would no doubt be a survival of the
fittest, and the others might be disregarded. But the
question was, what to do with those preparations which

September is, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

243

did survive for some considerable time, with a view to
insure uniformity of strength . In America some desired
to have a new Pharmacopoeia once every ten years, and
probably that idea would be carried out ; but there was
a large party who wished to have it every five years,
chiefly in order that new preparations which were worthy
of it should have an official character given to them.
Professor Maisch said that he and several prominent
pharmacists in the States were of opinion that a phar¬
macopoeia coming out every five years would cause an
endless amount of trouble both to medical men and to
pharmacists ; they were of opinion that ten years was
quite often enough to have a new pharmacopoeia, and
they proposed to meet the difficulty in some such way as
this : a committee of gentlemen engaged in the con¬
struction of the Pharmacopoeia should be appointed with
power to consider the value of newly introduced pre¬
parations, and that those which seemed to have anything
like a trustworthy character and to be valuable should
be placed in an appendix which might be published
every two or three years, or certainly every five years,
and that then, decennially, those preparations of the
appendix which seemed to show that they were worthy
of being placed in the Pharmacopoeia itself should be
placed there, and the others omitted altogether. There
would thus be something between an official pharma¬
copoeia and an unofficial notice of the preparations in
journals which would facilitate the introduction of good
new remedies into medical practice.

Mr. Naylor agreed with Dr. Symes’s remarks, but
should not have risen except for the fact that he had
referred to quebracho. A little time ago none could
be obtained in the market, and it was not at all known
what was the strength of the preparation then sold.
Since that time repeated inquiries had been made with
reference to the strength, and he might say that that
generally sold was a liquid extract made of such a
strength that two parts of the fluid extract should cor¬
respond to one part of the bark. He quite agreed with
the remarks of Mr. Umney, and had always followed
the same plan himself, namely., in a case of this kind to
refer to various pharmacopoeias and then to look up the
literature on the subject.

Mr. Lloyd thought it would lessen the difficulty if
wholesale houses would mention the composition of the
article and the strength of the preparation.

Mr. Naylor thought wholesale houses were always
very ready to give every information desired.

Mr. Andrews said this was a very wide subject, and a
very important one, and if all were to be said on it that
could be said it would occupy the whole of the afternoon.
He rose to make one suggestion, that when medical men
ordered a new preparation they should give some indica¬
tion of the strength required. He had occasionally found
for instance, that when it was a new medicine for which
there was no official formula they had put 1 x 20, which
he understood meant 1 in 20. If medical men would do
that it would relieve chemists of a vast amount of re¬
sponsibility and trouble and they would know at once
what was intended. This was far more common in
foreign prescriptions than in English, for in this country
some of these new remedies were ordered in a sort of
random way, which caused great difficulty to pharmacists.
He had now from fifty to one hundred preparations
which he had only used once or twice and never heard
of afterwards. Of course it could not be expected
that medical men should confine themselves to old
remedies if new ones were suggested, for it was only by
experiment that the useful could be singled out from the
worthless.

Mr. Schacht said the difference in the strength of medi¬
cines was a matter which every one must regret, and to
that extent he felt grateful to Dr. Symes for having in¬
troduced the subject; but he did not sympathize so much
with one of the suggested remedies where reference was
made to the possibility of escaping from the dilemma by

something like an authoritative declaration from that
Conference. He should regret very much if the Executive
regarded it as part of its duty to lay down any rules
whatever for the guidance of anybody; he thought rather
its aim should be to elicit individual opinion to the fullest
extent, but that it belonged to another body, a more dis¬
tinctly representative body, to declare anything which
had the semblance of authority. He, therefore, hoped
that discussions on such matters would only take the line
of eliciting individual opinion, and to that extent control
the exercise of the profession in other hands.

Mr. Morris said the great evil was the different
strength of preparations, and although the plan adopted
by Mr. Umney was very good so far as it went it fre¬
quently happened that there were two or three formula
given for one preparation; some might adopt one and
some another, and by that means they had various pre¬
parations to dispense where there should be only one of
uniform strength. He saw no other mode of getting over
the difficulty than by having somebody whose opinion
would be an authority. He thought the plan suggested
by Professor Attfield a very practical one.

Dr. Symes, in reply, said Mr. Greenish had pointed out
that there were such a number of these preparations, and
their existence was exceedingly short. No doubt they
were numerous, but he thought they were not so
numerous as they appeared. They were troublesome,
and on that account they appeared to be more numerous
than they were. When a new preparation was intro¬
duced it was a source of some trouble to pharmacists, but
it was part of their duty to take it. Shirking or ignoring
a difficulty did not get one out of it, and when a new pre¬
paration was introduced the medical profession had a
right to claim from pharmacists all the assistance they
could give them to get it in the best possible form, and
also of a uniform strength. As to the length of life of
these new remedies it was a question, as Professor Att¬
field had said, of the survival of the fittest, but no phar¬
macist had the right of ignoring a thing, or by carelessly
dealing with it to strike a nail in the coffin of the new
preparation. He had not referred to syrup of chloral
hydrate, but to croton chloral hydrate. It was an elegant
preparation, and was largely used in Liverpool. The
difficulty was, if people went from one part of the country
to another a syrup of quite a different strength might be
dispensed. The tincture of gelsemium he always pre¬
pared 1 in 10, which showed how the practice varied, and
he had known that strength in the doses prescribed by
a medical man to produce very marked toxic effects. He
could scarcely agree with Mr. Schacht that it was not the
work of the Conference to accept some office of this kind.
If they went to the Pharmaceutical Society it would be
almost certain to avoid taking any responsibility of the kind
and would probably hand it back to them to deal with.
In Paris, it was true, the Pharmaceutical Society had
really accepted the duty he had mentioned and published
a number of unofficial formulae for the benefit of pharma¬
cists, and he was not sure that something of that kind
had not been done in the United States. It should be
remembered that many pharmacists had not the oppor¬
tunity of referring to a number of the works Mr. Umney
had spoken of. But in addition to those he might say
that he referred sometimes to the ‘Homoeopathic Pharma¬
copoeia,’ and it had considerably assisted him sometimes.
On one occasion tincture of drosera was ordered by a
physician, but it did not occur, he thought, in any of the
books mentioned by Mr. Umney. He had no difficulty
in finding it in the ‘Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia,’ and it
was prepared 1 in 10, as indeed were all the tinctures,
he believed, from dry drugs which were used homceo-
pathically.

The President said as books had been referred to he
might mention two which he had found particularly
useful, one was Dorvault’s ‘L’Officine’ and the other
that of the gentleman who had been with them that
morning, Stille and Maisch’s ‘ Dispensatory.’ The in-

244

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (September is, 1880,

formation was there brought up to the latest date, and it
was very useful.

A vote of thanks was passed to Dr. Symes.

The next paper read was on —

The Cultivation on Calisaya.

BY JOHN ELIOT HOWARD, F.R.S., F.L.S.

The death and post mortem examination of a small tree
of Calisaya anglica will furnish a suitable introduction to
some comments on the subject of this paper.

I append a photograph of this tree taken in the autumn
of 1879; from which it will appear that it was in luxu¬
riant health a few months since. On returning home last
month I noticed a very unfavourable change in its appear¬
ance, and detected some white spots on the bark arising
from fungus, which I knew from previous experience to
be a fatal indication of disease.. On further examination
I found that canker had invaded the plant to a serious
extent ; and after trying in vain some heroic remedies I
determined to root up the calisaya, and if possible gain
some useful information as to the cause of its death.

The age of this small tree was eight years. The height
between 7 and 8 feet, but would have been much more,
had I not been compelled to cut off the top some years
back in accordance with the requirements of my conser¬
vatory.

Before doing this, I succeeded in taking a strip along
this upper portion and renewing the bark under moss as
practised in India. The girth of the stem at the base was
9f inches and about 6| inches at the summit (where cut
off). The result of the analysis of the bark of my tree
was as follows : —

Calisaya Anglica Quill— 1‘25 Sulphate of Quinine, 0/7 0
Cinchonine, 0.15 Quinidine.

Calisaya Anglica Stem Bark — 3 ‘20 Sulphate of Quinine,
T50 Cinchonine, 0'32 Quinidine.

Calisaya Anglica Root Bark = B’95 Sulphate of Quinine,
TOO Cinchonidine, TOO Cinchonine, 0’27 Quinidine.

This must be considered satisfactory for a tree grown
under glass in England.

I send the lower portion and also the renewed
summit for inspection, together with some pressed leaves
showing the character of the foliage. These were taken
off just before the tree was rooted up ; and I may notice,
as a feature of the disease, that the petiole separated with
a* brownish scar, the leaves falling as those of deciduous
trees in autumn.

As regard the cause of this complaint, which seems
generally to supervene after my plants of cinchona have
attained a certain age (say, as in this case, about eight
years), I was not able to learn anything very definite. I
suspect that the oxidation of the cinch otannic acid may take
a wrong direction,* and instead of contributing to the for¬
mation of alkaloid, may produce the brown discoloured
patches which extend upwards from the roots through the
midst of the bark ; but the source of the mischief seems
to be in the roots themselves, the small fibrillse of which
perish. It has been supposed that this arises from a re¬
dundancy of moisture ; but I have two fine plants of cali¬
saya, one of the vera (published as such by Sir Jos. D.
Hooker) the other of Ledgeriana. These have as yet
shown no signs of the malady, though growing in the same
bed of earth.

I learn from the report of a recent visitor to the plan¬
tations in Javaf that they have there u no canker, and few
trees die from wet feet, for the land is elaborately terraced
before it is planted with cinchona.’’ “The Ledgeriana
grows best in the best soils of that country.” The great
superiority of the Java soil, possessing as it does, such
abundant elements of fertility, is particularly noticed.
“ The weeds which are very abundant are cut down three
times a year, and left to decompose, forming an additional

* It is important to seal up any accidental wound or am¬
putation, otherwise the sap around is liable to injury.

f Ceylon Observer , June 17, 1880.

source of fertilitity to the plant ; whilst in their very growth
they are supposed to be useful. They keep the soil together,
they catch and retain the rain and dew, they prevent
wash, and hinder the rays of the sun from beating down
on the bare surface of the soil and keep it in the condition
nature intended it to be in. They are also a safeguard,
for if you denude large tracts of country of every kind of
vegetation except the one kind you are cultivating, you
concentrate on the devoted head of your favourite type
of vegetable life all the attacks of all the enemies of vege¬
tation which float in the air, or which burrow in the
ground.” So much in the defence of the weeds ; but it must
be borne in mind that let them consume as much as they
can, there still remains enough and to spare in its rich¬
ness ; “ neither the coffee nor the cinchona could possibly
look better or grow more luxuriantly if they had all the
elements of the soil to themselves without any contest or
opposition.” In the opinion of this observer the tree will
find no spot in Ceylon, excepting a few parts of Uva,.
capable of affording it anything like the nourishment it re¬
quires to develop a bark yielding on analysis such mag¬
nificent proportions of the best alkaloids.

Too much stress, however, ought not to be laid on this
peculiar advantage ; for on the Nilghiris, though the trees
grow bushy and spindly in habit, the quality of such bark
as was yielded was excellent. Quite recently also bark of
Ledgeriana has been sold in the London market (said to be
from Darjeeling) at the high price of 14s. 8 d. per pound-
The development in that climate was apparently slower,
but it looks as if trees in their full maturity might rival
those from Java. In this latter region it appears that
“no stem or root bark is ever exported that is not the
produce of a tree at least eight years old, and generally of
still greater age.”*

At this age, Mr. Moensf calculates the average yield
for officinalis to be 2 lbs. per tree, against 4 lbs. from'
Ledgeriana and 6 lb. for succirubra. Ledgeriana is the
prince of all, for it appears that even at the low average
price of 6s. per lb., the thirteen year old plantation, if
now rooted up, would yield an average of at least £2000
per acre. (Mr. Moens makes it £4000.) But there is
no idea of rooting up trees which, under the processes of
gradual removal and renewal of bark, will yield a peren¬
nial flow of wealth. In this respect the management ap¬
pears to be much better than in British India. Mr. Moens
says : “ Our 8J bouw of Ledgeriana has given, within-
thirteen years till now 34’619 half-kilograms, say 38'800
English pounds, by thinning, coppicing and scraping.”
“And if you saw the gardens at present you would ask
where this bark had been taken, as the plantation is
quite close and regular. We took only what was too
much, and would hinder the growth of the finest trees.”

The size of these finest trees is remarkable. They
speak of a succirubra tree of fourteen years old, 63 feet
high and 3| feet in girth ; a calisaya tree seventeen years
old, 60 feet in height and 3 feet in girth, and a Ledgeriana
thirteen years old, 48 feet high and 3 feet in girth.

I will now contrast with these results others obtained
in the native country of the calisaya, in consequence of a
suggestion of Mr. Ledger, who thus records them in a
letter to me under date December 10, 1879 : —

“In December, 1849, I was at the farmhouse of a
contractor of mine for delivery of a large quantity of
bark, in the Yungas of Bolivia. When conversing one
evening on the distance that bark had then to be brought
lout of the forest to where we then were, my friend
observed, pointing to the slope of a high mountain on
the opposite side of the gully or canon: ‘In my father’s
time, aud when I was fifteen or sixteen years old, from
the sides of yonder mountain ( cerro ) we were for two-
years cutting the best bark I ever saw, almost all was
“rojo.”’ I then said: ‘Such being the case why do
you not then plant there 10,000 or 20,000 plants? It is
your own property, and, living near, you would in that way

# Ceylon Observer, June 17, 1880.
f Ibid June 12.

'•September is, is?0.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

245

have a good fortune for your children.’ He did plant some
£000 by March, and in the following year 10,000 more.
In reply to inquiries, his letter of September, 1878, I
only received in August last. He says : ‘Not only I, but
all the family, have very good reason to remember your
visit to San Jos6. Since 1875 we have cut 500 qs.
of bark yearly, and, owing to demand, have sold at an
average of 200 dollars per quintal (equal to 4s. per lb),
and there is “cascarilla” (bark) in abundance for ten
years. We have planted many thousands of trees since
you gave us the idea. - has done the same in Sorata.’ ”

I have much reason to believe that the supplies thus
obtained have found their way to the English market,
and that the details above given are correct. These, it will
be observed, indicate a lower average quality than that
of Java. This perhaps coincides with a more rapid
growth of the trees, for Ledger’s correspondent says:
■“ We have not weighed the bark taken from each tree,”
which, however, must be much older than those in Java ;
-“yet I should say that many yielded 3 or 4 quintals of the
three classes, tabla, charqui and canuto. The bark is not
all of the best, though every plant was picked.”

In a subsequent letter, the same correspondent says :
“ For some eight years we have stripped half the bark off
some thousands of trees ; about 5 per cent. die. At first
we covered the wound with plaintain leaves for a year or
fifteen months. We find now it is best to plaister the
stripped side with mud (barro) mixed with plenty of
chopped straw or grass, and it answers admirably. When
the new bark is well grown the mud covering falls off.”

I do not think any of this bark (as imported into
London) has had the appearance, or manifested the rich¬
ness in alkaloid of the true Ledgeriana. Indeed, Mr.
Ledger says : “ I feel convinced in my own mind that no
white man would or could succeed in getting such splendid
seed as my faithful Manuel did. In fact, and as the
good poor fellow repeatedly told me, he got seed from
particularly fine old trees that we had together seen and
sat under. The splendid old tree in Fr. Simon’s yard we
often (in 1850-51) used to look up and wonder the age it
could be. It was covered with silvery bright pink moss A
We put its age at over five hundred years. I have often
calculated with Manuel that it would yield fully 15 qqs.
dry bark of the three classes.”

It was in this district probably that Dr. Weddell ob¬
tained the specimens I have referred to in my ‘ Origin of
the Calisaya Ledgeriana of Commerce,’ as in the years
above referred to Mr. Ledger says they were together in
the above districts. I do not believe these were exactly
identical with the Ledgeriana, though approaching very
nearly to it.

The specimens given to me by Dr. Weddell were as
follows : —

Calisaya viride )

„ zambita > Prov. de Yungas, 1851.

„ morada )

„ morada Prov. de Larecaja, 1851.

Ledger thus describesf what he calls the “rojo”: —
“‘ When in flower the leaves are red underneath. When
the seed is ripe and the leaves falling they are a dark
purple. Old trees in particular have on the branches
a species of rough moss of a brilliant scarlet colour.”

This is called Hypochnus rubrocinctus and is repre¬
sented on the Calisaya in Goebel’s Pharmaceutische
Waarenkunde. It used to be looked upon by dealers in
London as a necessary indication of the best calisaya.
Ledger also speaks of the red and dark green leaves as
peculiar to this cinchona.- “I have often” he says,
“ seen, when in the Yungas, from the fork of a high
tree, the manchas far away denoted most clearly by the
wind discovering the red colour under the leaves.”

Mr. Ledger sent me, in 1877, specimens of calisaya,

* A tree of Hasskarliana, aged seventeen years, gave
Moens 95 lbs. of dry bark.— Ceylon Observer, June 14,
1880; Pharm. Journ . and Trans., March 13, 1880.

f In letter, November 24, 1875.

two of which were of the “rojo” sort with white flowers ;
but all were unfortunately lost in transit. The white
flowering calisayas would probably be the true Ledgeriana,
and gathered near the banks of Mamore.* * * § I am more
and more inclined to think that the true Ledgeriana
belongs to Eastern Bolivia, to which district the River
Mamore belongs.

It will therefore be understood that the cultivation in
Bolivia, although comprising fairly good qualities of
calisaya, is not that of Ledgeriana , nor can it yield such
remarkable results.

A very important reflection is that the cultivation is
nevertheless remunerative, and capable of easy and of
indefinite extension. The only chance for Indian cultiva¬
tion in the future consists in the choice of superior sorts,
and the efficacy of high cultivation. If these requisites
are attended to, considering the greater facilities in
India of conveyance to the markets, there is no doubt a
great future open to both countries.

It will also be evident that there is practically no limit
to the age up to which the calisaya may go on yielding
serviceable bark. It does not change with age like
the succirubra. This is owing to the difference in the
tannic acid.

In Bolivia, as in Java, attention is paid to the effectual
drainage of the roots. Mr. Ledger says :f — “ I think you
should advise all parties forming plantations to plant on
slopes or sides of hills. I never have seen the trees
growing on flats or the bottoms of gullies. Too much
damp at roots is fatal. Almost all the largest and best
‘ patches ’ of cinchona are found on red (dark) soil. The
bottoms are black soil.”

Examination of a calisaya grown by Captain Cox in
Wynaad, in the latter conditions, singularly confirmed to
me this observation.

Mr. Mclvor’s experience led him to the same con¬
clusion. He says,J after visiting Ceylon : — “ The red and
crown barks seem to do best in Ceylon as they do here.
But on the whole our cinchona plantations on the
Nilghiris give promise of better results than the Ceylon
plantations. Ceylon is wanting in the deep rich soils we
possess, and cinchona is very liable to canker when the
roots get down into the subsoil.”

I fear that this must be admitted to have been the
cause of “canker” in my Calisaya Anglica also. Perhaps
in forming the bed, I did not pay sufficient attention to
obviating this evil, and it is certain that one deep root
found its it way beyond where I could easily trace it.

In a recently prepared bed I have at length effectually
shut out the possibility of such mischief.

The following table§ of the average prices obtained for
the 100,000 half kilos of bark sent home from Java, in
1878, will give a fair idea of the relative value of the
different sorts there cultivated : —

Succirubra . . . . 175 per cent, per half kilo.

Calisaya Javanica . . 1'38 „ „ ,.

„ Josephiana . 1*20 „ „ „

,, Anglica . , 1 58 ,, ,, ,,

„ Ledgeriana . 6 ’31 „ „ „

Cinchona Hasskarliana 1*23 „ „ ,»

,, officinalis . 2*80 „ „ „

„ lancifolia . 1*59 „ „ ,, .

„ oaloptera . 1*35 „ „ „

„ Pahudiana . 170 ,, „ ,,

By this it will be seen that the Ledgeriana greatly exceeds
all the others, and that it equals or excels the cul¬
tivated calisaya of Bolivia ; but the average of this
sort now sent will be much higher, if I may judge from
that now selling at Amsterdam.

I wish this remark, however, only to apply to the true
Ledgeriana, for which as much as 15s. per pound has just
been paid at Amsterdam; but in packages recently

* See Ledger’s letter, December 22, 1874.

f In letter, December 10, 1879.

% In letter to myself, March 16, L76.

§ Ceylon Observer , June 15, 1880.

246

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 13, 1880-.

bought under this name I find samples at a lower price
exactly reproducing the finer calisayas of which I have
bean treating; but containing not more than half the
quinine of the ledgeriana.

I have examined the officinalis bark from the same sale
and find. that it resembles in appearance the “knotty sort
of Jussieu.” It has no reference whatever to the true
C. officinalis. I am persuaded that this (the Uritusinga)
has never found its way to Java. In all that I have seen
from thence and in the excellent botanical specimens
given me I find the angustifolia indeed, but no trace of
the Uritusinga.

The important question of the relative proportion of
supply to demand will gradually enforce upon the planters
the necessity of cultivating none but the best species. I
have long been insisting on this point both as to the
cultivation in Java* and in India.

The prospects of the future in Ceylon are almost
alarming, at least if we may trust the calculations of
Mr. Dobree, Dikoya, Ceylon; published in the Ceylon
Observer of June 15th, 1880. He says : —

“I see by your Directory of 1876-78 that you esti¬
mate the total consumption of cinchona bark for the
world at 12,624,000 lbs. In Dikoya and Maskiliza dis¬
tricts alone, during 1880, I believe I am under the
mark in saying that there will be 6,000,000 cinchonas,
exclusive of those planted in previous years.

“ Nearly every other district in the island is also
planting cinchonas ; and I do not think I am over-esti¬
mating the number of cinchonas that will be planted in
1880 throughout the island at 20,000,000 ; allow 5,000,000
for failures, and add 5,000,000 for plants planted in pre¬
vious years and now alive, and it will give you 20,000,000
cinchona trees, which in five years will yield either by
taking strips, or mossing, or by the shaving process, about
10,000,000 lbs. of dry bark a year.

“ Again, referring to your Directory, I see you esti¬
mate the production of cinchona bark for the world at
12,471,000, of which Ceylon is put down for 150,000 ;
but when it produces 10,000,000, as I believe it will, in
1885, the total production of the world will exceed the
demand of 1876-78 by 10,847,000 lbs.”

It is proverbially uncertain to count one’s chickens
before they are hatched, and, considering the enormous
mortality overtaking the plant (occasionally, if I mistake
not, amounting to 90 per cent.), I think the ahove calcu¬
lation far too sanguine ; but, supposing it is correct (for
argument sake) to the extent of one-half the estimate, I
think I foresee one result. I do not choose to predict —
as I never like to do this unless I am sure that my pre¬
dictions will come to pass — but I think I may fairly
anticipate crowded sales-rooms in this market in 1885, at
which the representatives of various quinine manufac¬
turers are attending, with the portentous word “rubbish”
as a pencil note attached to certain vast consignments of
Ceylon bark.

For proof of the probability of this anticipation, I refer
to the account I have given of the whole of last year’s
importations in the Gardeners' Chronicle. No doubt
much good and profitable bark will also be imported (as
now is the case) from Ceylon, and probably this will keep
up its price, or nearly so. Dr. Trimen informs me that
he has two new plantations of Ledgeriana under his care,
which are looking very well at present. Abundant in¬
formation will be found in the Ceylon Observer + as to the
successful efforts of private planters, on which I must not
enlarge ; but remark, by the way, that renewed officinalis
bark from Prospect estate, on the Nilgiris, lately sold as
high as 12s. 6d. per lb. This was from the true officinalis
defined and published as such by Sir Jos. Hooker, and
well described since in Bentley and Trimen’s ‘ Medicinal
Plants.’ It is the Uritusinga of the ‘ Nueva Quinologia ’
of Pavon : and this name was retained by Mclvor, from
whom (before his lamented death) I received excellent

* Pharmaceutical Journal.

f June 15, 1880.

specimens grown under his care. It is at the present
time flourishing with me, and deserves no doubt the
description given by a planter* as being “the largest
leaved variety of the true officinalis.”+ I have leaves up
to 9 inches by 6. I observe with pleasure that this
writer (W. B. L., of Leangapilla, Ranjala,) says, “ I
think it by far the most profitable kind to grow in j
Ceylon.” No doubt both this and bark properly renewed
from C. succirubra will always command a good price in
the market, as being rich in produce of alkaloid suited to
the quinine manufacturer.

On the whole I think it is evident that the true
calisaya will assert its supremacy as the prince, or, as I
should call it, the queen of all the cinchonas. Such. 1:
indeed is the import of its name as “ the best of all
barks ” for the production of quinine. It is also quite
clear that we are as correct in ascribing to Mr. Ledger
the introduction of the unrivalled Ledgeriana as we are in
speaking of Columbus as the discoverer of America. Mr*

L. has the merit of employing the accurate discernment
of his faithful Indian servant for collecting the very best
seed ; and in this he has shown the importance of know¬
ing how to employ and to trust good subordinates — a
secret of success in other enterprizes than that of the
cultivation of cinchona. It is not by evolving theories
out of our inner consciousness, but by patient observation
of facts, and following out deductions from these to their
legitimate results, that the cultivation of calisaya can be
advanced. In this way Mr. Moens has the credit of in¬
troducing several improvements, which it would prolong
this paper to too great a length to describe. I would
simply mention the raising of the seed in porous earthen¬
ware pans, the subsequent care requisite to be extended
over the young plants, the grafting of the Ledgeriana on
stocks of succirubra, and the mode of harvesting the bark
by scraping. On this latter point I will remark that it
is not in the calisaya that we find the striking prepon¬
derance of quinine in the outer bark, which I believe I
was the first to demonstrate in the face of many author¬
ities to the contrary. In the scrapings of the calisaya,
so far as appears at present, there is not a greater
abundance of alkaloid than in the bulk of the bark.

The reason for this is in the difference of microscopical
structure between one variety of cinchona and another.

I have shown how remarkably this is changed in the
renewal of bark of succirubra. The “laxj cellular
tissue ” thus formed is full of alkaloid throughout its
whole extent. The whole nature of the bark is thus
changed.

(To be continued.)

Uarliamentarg anlr

Poisoning by a Liniment.

An accident has occurred at Broughty Ferry, which
resulted in the death of Mr. James C. Lindsay, agent
for the Royal Bank, he having been accidentally poisoned.
On Monday evening, September 6, Mr. Lindsay after
taking supper went to bed. He was then quite well,
and in his usual good spirits. About an hour afterwards,
being troubled with a cough, he rose and went to a press
to take a little paregoric, which he usually kept in case
of emergency. He picked up a phial, and, after swallow¬
ing a teaspoonful of its contents, returned to bed. The
taste appeared to him to be more unpleasant than usual,
but he took no more thought about the matter until
shortly afterwards he felt a sinking sensation passing
over him. Becoming alarmed, he called his daughter,
and on informing her of his condition and what he had

* I have the hybrid , called pubescens, alluded to by this
writer, growing near, with longer and larger pubescent
leaves; but I doubt all hybrids as to permanent good
qualities.

t Ceylon Observer, June 19th, 1880.

X See my ‘ Quinology, of the East Indian Plantations.’

September 18, 1SS0.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

247

done, she made an examination of the phial which
Mr. Lindsay had used. It was found that instead of
taking the paregoric phial, he had taken another
bearing the label ‘‘Ess. Bouquet,” but filled with a
poisonous liniment for external use. Feeling himself
becoming greatly worse, Mr. Lindsay and his daughter
went off about midnight to the house of Dr. Wemyss,
about half a mile off. When he was admitted by the
doctor, Mr. Lindsay felt exhausted and very giddy, and
stated that his hands and feet felt very dead. Dr.
Wemyss at once gave emetics, and did everything he
could to arrest the consequences of the poisoning.
His efforts, however, were entirely fruitless, for Mr.
Lindsay died in the doctor’s house about half-past two
o’clock. — Edinburgh Courant.

Hispeitshtg IJTentcrraittra.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[447]. Can any one inform me what change takes
place when the following hypodermic injection deposits,
and also how to prevent it ? The | ounce supplied to
the surgeon in a stopper bottle from which the syringe is
filled deposits enough to block up the needle in three
or four days, but the stock solution remains clear for two
weeks : —

Injectio Morphias et Atropias.

R Morphias Acetatis . gr. 24.

Atropiae Sulphatis . gr. 1 a.

Aquae Destillatae . ^j.

R. S. T.

[448]. Will any reader of the Pharmaceutical Jouimal
kindly inform me the best way of dispensing the follow¬
ing ?—

R Ext. Haematoxyli,

Cretae Prasp . ail

Tinct. Opii . f^j. -

Aq. Cinnam . ad f^viij.

M. Ft. mist.

J UNIOR.

[449] . _

R Liq. Hypophosph. Co . t^j.

„ Ferri Hypophosph . ^ss.

„ Strychniae . 3j.

Aquam . ad 5viij.

M.

I had this prescription the other day, but could not
find either the liq. hypophosph. co. or the liq. ferri hypo¬
phosph. in any of the pharmacopoeias. R. E. H

[450] . The following appeared in the British Medical
Journal, July 24, from one of our authorities on skin
diseases, and was stated by him to be the “best” prepara¬
tion for general loss of hair from ordinary circumstances: —

Vaseline and Castor Oil . . equal parts.

Red Oxide of Mercury ... 5 grains.

Strong Liquid Ammonia . . J drachm.

And a few drops of Oil of Rosemary.

At the request of a medical man I prepared the above,
using \ ounce of each vaseline and castor oil (no quantity
being mentioned), but no matter in what manner they
were mixed they would not combine and finally resolved

themselves into their component parts, the mercury at
the bottom and the vaseline as a cream on the top. As
there are now so many varieties of vaseline, perhaps this
may account for the difficulty. Perhaps some pharma¬
cist will volunteer his assistance, for as it stands now
nothing could be more inelegant.

W. K. G.

ttcrt.es miir (Queries.

[676]. PREVENTIVE FOR SEA-SICKNESS.

Ext. Cannabis Ind . grs. ij.

Chloroformi Pur . 3j*

For adults, five drops on a lump of sugar on embarking,
and repeated in two or three hours if required. For
children, one or two drops.

In reply to your correspondent, Mr. J. J. Matthias,
I send the above, which I have found very useful in
cases of sea-sickness.

W. Lee.

Castle, Northwich.

[677]. MARKING INK. — I made some marking ink
according to the form given by Mr. R. Roberts in the
Journal of December 13, 1879, and obtained a greenish
looking ink, the free acid in which destroyed the fabric .
On neutralizing with carbonate of potash I got an ink
which could not be removed with chloride of lime or
caustic potash solution, but it was not at all a good black.
Any reader giving information will oblige.

W. Miller.

[677]. MARKING INK. — I prepared a marking ink
from a recipe published in your Journal, viz., manganese
phosph., 1 oz., acid hydrochlor., 2 ozs., anthracene, \ oz.,
water, \ oz., potassa chromate, | oz.; add gum water and
shake. I found on mixing the above they form a thick
syrupy liquid, not in any way suitable for marking linen.
I added more water, but still the result is very unsatis¬
factory. Can you or any of your readers help me ? The
receipe was signed “ R. Roberts.”

Anteros.

€vrasjpxmimt«.

*»* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authentic
catid by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Professor Attfield and the Foundation of the
British Pharmaceutical Conference.

Sir, — Professor Redwood’s volume, ‘ The Progress of
Pharmacy ’ (Ed. 1880), has just came under our notice.

The record of the establishment of the British Pharmaceu¬
tical Conference, as given at p. 316, is strangely wanting in
one essential particular, viz., the part taken by Professor
Attfield in that work.

It is not unreasonable to regard all who took part in
convening or attending the meeting held at Newcastle-upon-
Tyne, on September 2, 1863, as founders of the Conference;
but if the question of pedigree be pushed back a stage further
we must state thus publicly (what we believe to be widely
known already) that Professor Attfield was associated with
us in the issue of the earliest circular on the subject, and
we now add that each of us recognized Professor Attfield’s
adoption of the scheme as its one crucial point. We were
convinced that if Professor Attfield took up the respon¬
sibilities of the office of Senior Honorary Secretary, the
new organization would have secured the needful pivot
which would be reliable for its movements in every direc¬
tion. The testimonial just presented to Professor Attfield

248

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 18, 1880.

marks the sense of his fellow members of the fidelity, energy
and ability with which his self-imposed duties have been
performed during the long period of seventeen years.

Richard Reynolds.
Henry B. Brady.

The Future of Pharmacy.

Sir, — If I mistake not, Mr. Chapman, in his able and
sensible letter, invited the expression of the opinion or
experience of his brethren in business on the question of
reduction of prices, and although occupying perhaps only a
humble position in the trade, I have ventured a few remarks
on the subject. Being in the heart of the South Yorkshire
coal district our circumstances and class of business differ
very widely from those of Notting Hill, nevertheless the
evil of which your correspondent complains affects us even
here, to no small extent. Surrounded as we are by the
large towns of Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster
to which places the railway fare varies but from 4 \d. to 9d.,
and where Is. 1 $d. patents, etc., are sold at prices varying
from 9 Id. to lO^d. by generous grocers and “cutting,” or,
perhaps as they themselves would put it, “enterprising”
druggists, we in this neighbourhood of course experience
a considerable diminution in the sale of the various nos¬
trums which formerly constituted an important item in our
business.

When I state that out of my account with the principal
wholesale drug firm with whom I deal, above one-third of
the amount was for “patents” it will be seen that they alone
constituted no inconsiderable portion of our returns. I
ought perhaps to say, that within a radius of from two to
three miles, which includes several populous villages, we
number about eight registered chemists.

Notwithstanding the competition to which we are ex¬
posed from the towns I have named we have none of us as
yet made any reduction in our prices. Speaking for myself,
however, I frankly confess that my sales of patents have
fallen off above one-third, but yet I am in a considerably
better position than if I had reduced Is. l^d. articles even
to 10$d. For example, on Saturday last I sold eight
Is. l%d. patents, on which the profit amounted to 3s., but
had I reduced them to, say, 10 Id. I should have had to sell
no fewer than two dozen, and at 9gd. of course the sale would
require to be increased to three dozen, in the day, ere the
same amount of profit could have been obtained.

But is it reasonable to suppose that because pills are sold
at, say, Id. per box profit, that any person in his senses
would think of taking a single pill more than he required,
on this account? How often, I would ask, do druggists
themselves patronize the contents of their own shop bottles,
notwithstanding the fact that they may, if they be so dis¬
posed, revel in the luxury of drugs at cost price ? Why the
very supposition is fraught with absurdity ! The difficulty
in nine cases out of ten is to induce people to take even the
necessary medicine they occasionally require, everybody, so
far as my observation goes, being only too glad to echo
Macbeth’s cry, “Throw physic to the dogs, I’ll none of it.”
Indeed the fact that people cannot be persuaded to swallow
drugs if they do not require them is so self-evident that
one almost feels ashamed at having to employ any argu¬
ments to prove the truth of the statement. And yet how
many are there among our brethren in the trade who have
imbibed the erroneous idea that by reducing prices they can
increase consumption and so augment their returns, fondly
imagining that this in turn necessarily leads to augmented
profits.

As an example of this very common mistake I may in¬
stance the case of a young gentleman of my acquaintance at
present managing (?) a drug business in this county, who,
seized with the prevailing mania, thought by a coup de main
to increase his employer’s returns by offering customers
three boxes of a 7 \d. “patent” for Is. 6d. On a friend
pointing out to him that out of the eighteenpence thus ob¬
tained for three, he only reaped the same profit as he would
have done had he sold one at its legitimate price of 7i<L,
his reply was “Oh ! but don’t you see how much larger is the
return we get ? ” It would almost appear from this, that
the individual in question had acquired the belief that
traders in general and druggists in particular live, not by
their profits, but by their returns. The incident reminds
one of the old woman who was at great pains to inform her
customers that she had no profit whatever singly on her
oranges, she only made her living by the quantity she sold !

I think it would not be a bad thing if some further instruc-
tion in profit and loss and the value of “returns ” as dis¬
tinguished from “ profits” were included in the curriculum
of our various pharmaceutical schools so as to banish as far
as may be from the minds of the next generation of phar¬
macists this ignis fatuus of “ small profits and quick returns”
as applied to the drug business. Your leading article in
last week’s Journal, however, deals so fully and ably with
that subject that no more needs to be said about it here. I
quite agree with you that a remedy for the present state of
things has yet to be devised, although it seems to me that I
can almost detect one in operation. However, I have not
space or time to go into that question, but may say that I
have in my own case endeavoured to obviate in some sort
the evils in question, by slightly raising the prices of drugs
proper, and advancing a little my prices for compounding
recipes and prescriptions (which latter I am sorry to say in
this locality are “ few and far between ”), as also my price
for medicine, which in many cases I am asked to presc: ibe
myself, though I do not cultivate counter prescribing. By
such means I am glad to say I have been enabled to hold
my own in the face of the depression in trade to which we
have had to bow, so that although my returns may have
diminished to three-fourths of what they were a few years
ago, my profits remain about the same.

Mexhorough , Yorkshire. R. J. Shields.

Assistants in the South of France.

Sir, — Mr. Boutell’s letter in your issue of September 4,
in spite of some vague declamation, only confirms the
observations I made in your number for August 21 . If it
took Mr. Boutell six years to learn that situations in the
South of France were uncomfortable, it would appear as if
he had not found it so very hard. Since he is kind enough
to refer to what he knows of my experience, I may say that
I have had occasion to converse with every pharmacien on
the littoral, and with nearly all the assistants, besides
having previously made an interesting historical study of
the gentlemen who had formerly been south, and the
remarks I made were based upon the knowledge thus
acquired, and upon personal experience.

Mr. Bathe’s caution is very timely. Assistants ought to
weigh well the disadvantage of losing many home comforts,
and to consider the shortness of the season, if only engaged
for that time. But if it does not pay I should almost say it
is the assistant’s fault, unless he goes as a junior.

Mr. Bathe correctly states that reasonable assistants are
treated in England with gentlemanly respect ; but that does
not contradict my statement that they aro so in France also, j1
With regard to “liberty,” Mr. Boutell with six years’
experience could tell Mr. Bathe that they have “ more
liberty” in France than in England.

In conclusion, of those who have gone to the littoral,
seriously wishing to do well, some have established them¬
selves there, and are rapidly making their fortunes, others
have come home and proved all the more successful for a
short residence in the “ sunny south.”

Liege. George Weddell.

W. R. Cullen. — Your post card has been handed to the
Secretary, to whom all notices as to the delivery of the
Journal should be sent.

M. P. S. — We are not aware of the existence of such a
school.

J. C. — We cannot undertake to answer your question,
which is one that should rather be put to a solicitor.

W. Lincolne. — For the removal of chrysophanic acid
stains, see vol. viii., p. 1018.

A Caution. — “ Pharmacist ” writes to caution chemists
and druggists as to the inadvisability of assisting in the
diffusion of American nostrums by providing travelling
agents with information as to medical men in their neigh¬
bourhood.

C. W. P. — For method of preparing oleate of zinc, see
vol. ix, p. 58, also p. 848. For suppositories having a
gelatine base, see vol. ix, pp. 503 and 949.

W. R. Kermath. — Thanks for the cutting. _

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from I

Messrs. Smith, Mee, Draper, Barnes, Woodland, Squire,
Chichester, Wootton, Gerrard, Oswald, Stringer, Allen,
Plowman, Brady, Thresh, Grose, Thomas, Newsholme,
Morgan, G. W., E. F. C., J. E. H., Socius, Reform,

Y olvox globator.

September 25, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

249

“THE MONTH.”

The time of the “ sere and yellow leaf” is rapidly
approaching and the phenomena concerned in the
fall of leaf or branch therefore form an appropriate
subject at the present time. In the Gardeners’
Chronicle , September 18, p. 361, the Rev. M. J.
Berkeley, — the veteran observer whose eye nothing,
however minute, seems to escape, — describes a curious
case which recently came under his notice. A large
number of branches of a luxuriant oak tree were
found scattered on the ground, and on examination
it was discovered that their disarticulation was owing
to the same circumstance that causes the fall of the
leaf, viz., the formation of a number of loose cells at
a peculiar point. The cells in these branches formed
across the centre of swellings in the branch, and at
this point the branches gave way during a smart
gale. The leaves of the oak appeared to be affected
by a peculiar disease described some years ago in
the same journal under the name of “ cladoptosis.”

In the various botanical gardens there are still
a large number of plants in blossom, and those who
are interested in the study of practical botany
will find at Kew Gardens the following natural
orders well represented : — Ranunculacese, Malvaceae,
Geraniacese, Rutaceae, Oxalidaceae, Boraginaceae,
Scrophulariaceae, Polygonaceae, and several others.
In the Ranunculaceae the Nigella sativa may be
seen with its curious fruit, showing in conjunction
with N. damascena and N. orientalis almost every
stage between the distinct follicles of an apocarpous
fruit and their union into a capsule or syncarpous
fruit, which is of rare occurrence in this order. On
some of these plants a twin capsule was observed as
the result of a single flower, and on others there
might be observed what seemed to the naked eye a
development of the placenta with ovules outside the
capsule.

In the Scrophulariaceoe a fine specimen of Linaria
vulgaris may be seen in blossom, of which all the
flowers have the peloria form, in which there are
five spurs and five stamens and a five-parted corolla
to each flower, the ovary, however, remaining only
two-celled, as is normally the case in this order.

Among medicinal plants in flower may be no¬
ticed Sarracenia purpurea, Peganum Harmala , rue,
camomile, wormwood, and Asclepias incamata , while
in the Economic House a fine specimen of Zingiber
Cassumunar is in blossom. The root of this specimen
was sent over from India by Dr. Dymock, in a living
state, and was presented by the Pharmaceutical Society
to Kew Gardens. There has been for a long time
some confusion concerning the plants which yield
zedoary, zerumbet and cassumunar roots, and it
may be hoped that the flowering of the specimens
sent by Dr. Dymock will enable the matter to be
cleared up.

In the Compositse bed a plant ( Ammobium elatum )
is now in blossom which offers a most remarkable ex¬
ample of decurrent leaves, the base of the leaves being
prolonged downwards so as to form a winged stem,
and close by may be seen a species of Gnaphalium ,
G. fcetidum, remarkable for the exceedingly offensive
odour of its leaves, which clings to the hands for a con¬
siderable time, and which resembles the smellperceived
when passing an old he-goat or a flock of sheep in the
street. On the other hand an American species ( G .
polycephalum ) which is used as an astringent for
ulcerated mouths, etc., possesses a fragrant odour, so
much so that one of its provincial names is u Indian
Third Series, No. 535.

posy.” It is probably this plant that Oliver Wendell
Holmes alludes to when he says, “ Perhaps the herb
everlasting, the fragrant immortelle of our autumn
fields, has the most suggestive odour to me of all
those that set me dreaming.” The student may
observe in the common Gnaphalium uliginosum , so
prevalent in damp pastures in this country in the
autumn, that the portion which is commonly called
the flower is, as in all everlasting flowers, composed
of dry chaffy bracts or phyllaries instead of petals,
the true flowers being all tubular.

In the early part of this year Mr. T. L. Phipson
communicated some curious observations made upon
the leaves of the common acacia tree of our gardens,
Bobinia pseudacacia. He noticed that if the ter¬
minal leaflet was struck by the finger from ten to
twenty times in the bright sunlight all the leaflets
folded up and went to -sleep as they do at night,
closing one after another and commencing with
those nearest to the terminal leaflet.

When the terminal leaflet of the sensitive plant,
Mimosa pudica (which is now in flower in Regent’s
Park Botanic Garden), is sharply touched with the
point of a lead pencil the same phenomenon may be
observed ; but when the leaflets at the base are
touched only the one affected by the blow closes
up if not allowed to touch the others, though
as it underlies the one above it the upward
movement causes it to touch the next leaflet and
makes the rest close in regular order towards the
top of the leaf. The greatest effect seems to be pro¬
duced by bending downward the top of the rachis of
the leaf and not, as might have been supposed, by irri¬
tating the swellings at the base of the leaf or leaflets.

Another remarkable little plant, Salvinia natans ,
may now be seen in fruit both here and at the Kew
Gardens. Plants of the Marsileacese are so difficult
to procure in this country, except in mountainous
districts, that those who are studying cryptogamic
botany may be glad of the opportunity of seeing
this little plant. There is, moreover, no British
plant of this genus. The hairs on the leaves are
very beautiful. The spore cases are hidden from
sight under the leaves and among the roots, and
are as large as small peas ; the spores, when mature,
fall to the bottom of the water.

In the Hale Farm Nurseries, at Tottenham, Gen -
tiana Kurroo is now in blossom, and in the Botanical
Gardens at Dublin another Indian medicinal plant,
Guscuta rejlexa, a kind of dodder, is growing in great
luxuriance, being about 16 feet high, although planted
only last May.

A step in the right direction is about to be taken
in Germany. On October 15, next, a new pharma¬
ceutical school will be opened in Brunswick, in
which young men are to be specially educated for
the wholesale trade. Particular attention will be
given to pharmacognosy, the recognition of adulte¬
ration, microscopical investigations, and botany. The
course will comprise two sessions and the fee for
each session will be £7 105. Adulterated . drugs
generally reach the retail trade through mistakes
made by the wholesale buyer, and judging from the
crude drugs imported from Germany into this country,
some supervision is certainly required before they are
exported as well as when they arrive in this country.
An instance in point is the difficulty of getting
genuine quebracho bark, a false kind being largely
met with in Germany and having during the past
month been offered in the London market.

250

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 25, IS80.

Cinchona bark from Jamaica is already assuming
a place in commerce. The fourth consignment, for¬
warded from the Government plantations in April
last and sold in London on May 20, consisted of
122 bales, the bark of C. officinalis fetching 7s. 6d.
per pound for stem and 7s. 9 d. to 8s. Id. for root
hark. It is calculated that in eight or ten years the
grey bark would realize at the rate of <£500 per acre.
An interesting point in connection with the drying
of the bark has been so far decided by this consign¬
ment. There has been some discussion whether or
no the bark is deteriorated by drying in sunlight.
All the bark sent in April last from Jamaica was
dried in the sun as rapidly as possible, and in com¬
petition with artificially dried and other barks ob¬
tained the highest prices.

During a recent severe hurricane in Jamaica, the
Cinchona succirubra, owing to its large leaves,
suffered considerably, having been uprooted and
damaged to the extent, it is said, of 15 to 20 per cent.
The loss will, however, be compensated for by the
bark which the fallen trees will yield, although the
time of the year is not very favourable to drying
it. Singularly enough, the plants in the sheltered
hollows suffered more than in the open clearings,
a fact worth remembering by cultivators of the cin¬
chona. Jalap has until lately been planted among
the cinchonas, but was found to exhaust the soil,
and therefore has been removed into new ground.
The crops of jalap during the past year in Jamaica
amounted to 14,924 pounds and sold in the fresh state
for £62 3s. 8 d.

The action of the Carica papaya on fibrin has of
late; attracted considerable attention. M. Bouchut
has recently made some interesting experiments as
to the action of the diluted juice of the plants on
living animal tissue and finds that the effects pro¬
duced are similar to those on dead tissue, adenomata
and cancers being digested and converted into pep¬
tones. The solution used contained one-fifth of
papaw juice. If this solvent action can be limited,
it would seem as if papaw juice might become a
valuable medicinal agent. The living plants are now
obtainable in this country, and it may be hoped that
the numerous investigations which have of late been
made by various experimentalists may lead to some
practical therapeutical result.

M. Bouchut has also extended his researches on the
digestive principle of the papaw tree to the common
fig, and the result of his preliminary experiments
( Comptes Rendus , vol. xci., p. 67), carried out upon
the milky juice collected from a fig tree in April last,
seems to show that this juice contains a powerful
ferment capable of digesting albumenoid matters.
As much as 90 grams of fibrin, added in eight
successive portions at intervals of one or two days
to 5 grams of the milky juice, and kept at a tempera¬
ture of 50° C., was for the greater part digested,
leaving a small amount of a white homogeneous
residue, and the solution having the odour of good
broth.

The physiological action of cocaine, the active
principle of coca leaves, has recently been investi¬
gated by Dr. von Ansep in the Physiological
Institute at Wurzburg. He finds that in mammalia
small doses accelerate the action of the heart and
the peristaltic movements of the intestines and
lessen the secretions of the several mucous mem¬
branes. Cocaine dilates the pupil of the eye, whether
taken internally or applied externally.

In the Practitioner for August Dr. Murrell gives
an account of the action of muscarine in the treat¬
ment of the night sweating of phthisis, and publishes
a formula for a solution of picrotoxine which he uses
in the same complaint. The solution is as follows : —
Picrotoxine, 8 grains ; glacial acetic acid, fl. 3iv ;
distilled water, to fl. §iv; mix and filter. This solu¬
tion being 1 in 240, 4 minims are equal to ^ gr. Pills
of picrotoxine containing ^ gr. are made by rubbing
with sugar of milk and adding glycerine and traga-
canth. The average dose of -g£ gr. is usually given
three times a day, the last dose being given at bed¬
time. He finds that muscarine acts in much the
same way as picrotoxine and pilocarpine.

Dr. Mackesy of Cork records in the British
Medical J om'nal for August 7, p. 208, the successful
use of a subcutaneous injection of pilocarpine in the
treatment of asthma.

It is not often that one hears of a case of poisoning
by quassia, although it is known to possess narcotic
properties. In the case recorded in the Lancet ,
August 14, p. 260, the poisoning arose from an over¬
dose given at a hospital in the form of injection.
As no antidote has been published, it may be
desirable to place on record that the remedies found
effectual in this case were powerful stimulants, such
as ether, sal volatile and brandy, aided by the appli¬
cation of hot water to the feet. The pupils were
strongly contracted, and the symptoms appeared to
resemble somewhat those of poisoning by opium.

Dr. Ortega in Le Practicien states that he has
found a solution of chloral, 1 part in 50, very effectual
in the treatment of the distressing complaint known
as perspiring feet. The solution was used in the
form of a bath for the feet, and applied in the
form of wet cloths, with the result that the odour
disappeared in two days.

Dr. Thin also has published in the British Medical
Journal , September 18, p. 463, his treatment for the
same disease, which consists in the use of cork soles
and changing the stockings twice daily, placing them
after being used for some hours in a saturated solu¬
tion of boracic acid. They are then dried and are fit
to wear again if it be desired. By this means the
bacteria (see ante , p. 110) are killed, and the use of the
cork soles prevents the boots from becoming contami¬
nated with bacteria, as they can be changed every day
and treated in the same manner as the stockings.

The oil of eucalyptus has lately been attracting
some attention as an antiseptic dressing for wounds
and is claimed to possess not only the advantage
over carbolic acid of being non-poisonous, but also
of preventing the development of bacteria when
it is present in the proportion of 1 in 666 of the
dressing, while carbolic acid does not do so until
the amount reaches 1 in 200. The eucalyptus oil
is soluble in oil and pure paraffin as well as in
alcohol. For spray and irrigation Professor Schulz
recommends a mixture of the alcoholic solution with
water. Dr. Siegen, according to a quotation in the
Lancet , September 4, p. 387, finds that a 5 per cent,
solution of eucalyptus may be employed without
any drawback. For gauze bandages he dissolves
3 parts of the oil in 15 of alcohol and dilutes with
150 parts of water.

The discussion in the medical papers as to the
efficacy of Chian turpentine in cancer still continues,
and it may be well, therefore, to repeat that the
genuine article has not a bitter taste when kept in
the mouth for a few minutes, but that Chian tur-

I

>

'4

f

September 25, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

251

pentine adulterated with coniferous turpentines has
a well marked bitter taste, not always immediately
perceptible, but invariably so after a short time.
There appears to be at the present time very little
of the genuine drug in the market, while there is a
considerable quantity that is not genuine and which
must find its way into circulation. In the Museum
of the Society there is a genuine sample that be¬
longed to the late Dr. Pereira, as well as specimens
presented by Dr. Clay, and these can easily be
referred to for purposes of comparison on application
to the Curator.

A new step in vaccination has been proposed by
M. Bouley at the Paris Academy of Sciences. The
Bacillus anthracis, which has been found to be the
cause of the disease called charbon or splenic fever
in cattle and of the woolsorters’. disease in mankind,
has been proved to be susceptible of dilution so as
to be safely used to inocculate the disease in a mild
form and prevent its occurrence in a more aggra¬
vated and fatal character. M. Bouley suggests that
it may be possible to make generations refractory
to the disease by inoculating the mothers during
the last period of gestation.

M. Galtier has been studying the very fatal disease
called glanders in horses, and finds, that drying
destroys the virulent activity of the poison. On the
other hand it is communicable by the saliva, so that
the drinking of a glandered animal at a trough would
probably be sufficient to communicate the disease to
healthy horses.

A writer in Nature , September 16, p. 463, states
that the oil of American pennyroyal (Hvdcoma
puleg if tides') rubbed on the skin will prevent the
attacks of mosquitoes, and that a quantity of the
leaves strewed about an apartment at night will keep
them away. He suggests that the English oil of
pennyroyal ( Mentha Pulegium ) might possibly have
a similar effect.

According to the Pharm. Zeituug , the adultera¬
tion of insect powder seems to be on the increase.
Some samples obtained from a respectable house
were found to contain 1^ per cent, of chrome yellow
and left 10 '5 per cent, of ash on incineration. .

A new and beautiful form of tannic acid is now
being produced in Germany. It is made by allow¬
ing a syrupy ethereal solution of tannin to drop
from a perforated vessel through a warm atmosphere,
for a distance of about 16 feet, on to a rapidly re¬
volving cylinder, from which it is removed in fine
threads having a pseudo-crystalline appearance.

Herr A. Saalfield, in the Archiv der Pharmacie ,
xiii., p. 280, remarks concerning Palembang benzoin
that it may be distinguished from the Sumatra kind
by dropping the tincture into water, when instead
of milkiness only a flocculent precipitate is pro¬
duced, and that it should therefore not be used to
make the tincture of benzoin. He remarks also
that the tincture is of a paler colour. This kind of
benzoin, he states, contains 10 per cent, of benzoic
acid and no cinnamic acid. Samples met with in
this country, however, are known to yield as much
as 20 per cent. This kind of benzoin may generally
be recognized by the glassy, translucent character ot
the fracture and the almost entire absence, of distinct
tears, also by the amount of moisture that it contains,
which is sufficient to cause it to become mouldy it
kept in a closed vessel.

In the Pharm. Centralh., No. 22, Dr. C. Grote
gives a test for the purity of balsam of Peru, which

has been found to be adulterated in North Germany
with rosin. As the addition of this substance reduces
the specific gravity and renders the balsam thicker
than usual, any specimen having a less specific
gravity than 1*36 may be suspected of containing
rosin. When 3 to 5 drops of the balsam are shaken
with 2 to 3 cubic centimetres of water of ammonia
in a test tube, a brownish-grey liquid is produced
with a thin foam which soon collapses, the emulsion
remaining fluid for days. If 20 to 25 per cent, of
rosin be present, a dense bulky foam is produced
and the emulsion gradually gelatinizes, so that after
fifteen minutes the test tube may be inverted with¬
out spilling any of the liquid.

Dr. Muter has called attention ( Analyst , August,
p. 140) to a specimen of assafcetida that had been
submitted to him by a pharmacist, which although
outwardly presenting a good resemblance to the drug
as met with in tears, and having the usual odour,
contained in the centre of each tear a small stone.
The stones were apparently specially prepared from
magnesium limestone, and in the average of three
tears of which the weight was taken amounted to
over 78 per cent. It is conjectured that the “ tears ”
were manufactured by dipping the stones into
melted assafoetida until they had acquired a sufficient
coating, since although the coating smelt fairly well
it contained far below the proper quantity of essential
oil. If the fraud is one so systematically carried out
as the foregoing seems to indicate, it will be well
for pharmacists to keep a sharp look out upon the
assafoetida, especially if a sample should present a
more than usually rounded appearance.

Dr. Hesse has been continuing his investigation
of dita bark (Alstonia scholaris )* and has extended
his research to the closely allied “ cortex Alstoniee”
(A. spectabilis), or “poel6 bark,” from Java ( Annalen ,
vol. cciii., p. 144). He now announces that he has
separated from dita bark, besides ditamine which he
had before partially described {Pharm. J ourn., [3], vi.,
144), two other alkaloids, echitamine and echitenine.
Echitamine and some of its salts have been obtained
in a crystalline form, and there is a peculiarity about
its water of crystallization. The air-dried crystals
of the base contain four molecules of water. Of
these, three are driven off at a temperature below
105° C., and one only after continued exposure to
that temperature in a partial vacuum. But in losing
the fourth molecule of water the alkaloid becomes
much less strongly basic in its reaction, though this
molecule is restored and the original form reproduced
upon treating the dehydrated base with hydrochloric
acid and decomposing the hydrochlorate. In con¬
sequence of this apparent difference in the relation
of the last molecule of water, Dr. Hesse prefers to
look upon the monohydrated base as the normal
form, and from its behaviour has named it echit-
ammoniumhydroxide. The bases at present found
in dita bark are, —

Ditamine . C18H19N02

? . C1SH23N0S

Echitenine . G20H27NO4

Echitammoniumhydroxide . . . C22H30N2O5

All these three alkaloids were also obtained from

poeld bark (A. spectabilis ), together with a fourth,
which Dr. Hesse proposes to name “alstonamine.”
But in this bark echitammoniumhydroxide is present
in much larger quantity (0 808 per cent.), and as its

* For an abstract of the former paper, see Pharm. Journ.
[3], vi., 142.

252

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 25, 1880.

physiological action has been found to resemble that
of curare it will be useful to ascertain how far the
reputed medicinal activity of these alstonia barks
depends upon the proportion of this alkaloid which
they contain.

Another alkaloid that has recently been attracting
some attention, namely aspidospermine, the alkaloid
of quebracho bianco, has been the subject of an
interesting communication from Dr. Wulfsburg, of
Gottingen {Pharm. Zeit., September 8). Dr. Wulfs¬
burg considers aspidospermine to be identical with
“pay tine,” an alkaloid discovered by Dr. Hesse, in
1870 ( Pharm . Journ., [3], i., 226, and iv., 772), in a
white bark of unknown botanical origin imported
from Payta, and considered by Professor Fluckiger to
agree in anatomical structure with the cinchona
barks. Dr. Wulfsburg has had an opportunity of
examining a specimen of this white Payta bark, given
by Dr. Hesse to the late Professor Wiggers, and is of
opinion that it is from a species of Aspidosperma,
though possibly not from that known as “ quebracho
bianco.” The reactions of the alkaloid (or alkaloids),
as published by Hesse and Fraude respectively, agree,
fairly well, as also do the analyses, if allowance be
made for the possibility that Fraude, who avoided
exposing his product to heat, analysed a substance
containing a molecule of water that Hesse found to
be driven off at 130° C. Hesse, however, found his
alkaloid to be non-poisonous when administered to
rabbits. It may be remarked that, although the
confusion which a short time since prevailed between
the quebracho bianco bark and quebracho Colorado
wood has to some extent disappeared, there still
seems to be great uncertainty as to the former, for at
the recent exhibition in connection with the meeting
of the German Association at Breslau, bark was ex¬
hibited by two firms, labelled in both cases “quebracho
bianco ver.” but which evidently did not all come
from the same botanical source. It may be mentioned
that figures of a longitudinal and a transverse section
of the “cortex chinse albas de Payta” are given in
Yogi’s ‘Commentar zur osterreichischen Pharma-
copoe ’ (3rd edit. ), p. 223.

The probability of the presence of a second alkaloid
in jaborandi has been mentioned by both physiolo¬
gists and chemists ; and Drs. Harnack and Meyer,
of Strassburg, now announce ( Annalen , cciv., 67) that
they have detected the presence in many commercial
specimens of pilocarpine of another strong base, to
which they have given the name “jaborine.” It
is described as being distinguishable from pilo¬
carpine by its difficult solubility in water and greater
solubility in ether. In physiological action also it is
said to differ, it corresponding exactly to atropine in
this respect, whilst the action of philocarpine is
analogous to that of nicotine. Jaborine is further
said to be readily formed from pilocarpine by the
action of acids, simple evaporation in acid solution
being sufficient to produce a small quantity of it.
The authors prepared jaborine also from some evapo¬
rated mother liquor left after the crystallization
of pilocarpine in a manufacturing operation, but
failed to obtain it sufficiently pure to enable them to
publish a formula representing its composition. In
fact the conclusions to be drawn from the paper itself
are not quite definite. It is true that the easy forma¬
tion of jaborine from pilocarpine points to a common
origin, but the occurrence of pilocarpine and jabo¬
rine together in the same leaves is not necessarily
demonstrated either by the presence of jaborine in

commercial pilocarpine, concerning the manufacture
of which nothing is known, or the fact that it was
obtained from a residual liquor from a manufacturing
operation in which it is expressly stated that the
leaves of Piper reticulatum and other species were
used together with those of Pilocarpus pennatifolius.
Nevertheless it is important to know that pilo¬
carpine is liable to be contaminated with another
body differing considerably from it in physiological
action.

Dr. Peckoldt, who appears to be indefatigable in
the chemical investigation of the Brazilian vegeta¬
tion, announces ( Zeits . oester. Apot.-Ver ., Aug. 20,
p. 369) that he has separated from the Scybalium
fungiforme , Sch. et Endl., — a Balanophoraceous plant
popularly called in Brazil “ esponja de raiz ” (root
sponge) and “cogumello de sangue” (blood fungus), —
a bitter pungent alkaloid, crystallizing in small white
transparent needles, a peculiar crystalline organic
acid, and other bodies. He has named the alkaloid
“ scybaline ” and the acid “ scybalinic acid.”

A considerable portion of the current number of the
Annales de Ghimie et de Physique is devoted to an
exhaustive paper by M. Villars on the important
subject of the etherification of the mineral acids. With
respect to the comparative rapidity of their etheri¬
fication the results of the author’s experiments show
that it varies considerably among the hydracids,
hydriodic acid etherifying more rapidly than hydro-
bromic acid, and both of them more quickly than
organic acids, such as acetic acid. Hydrochloric acid,
on the contrary, etherifies very slowly, much less so
than does acetic acid, and in the presence of most of
the superior homologues of ethylic alcohol even this
slow rate of etherification is in the case of hydro¬
chloric acid retarded. Sulphuric acid etherifies
almost immediately under ordinary conditions, the
rapidity being, however, notably slackened by dilu¬
tion as well as by the lowering of the temperature.
Some very interesting conclusions are come to by
the author as to the limits of etherification of these
four acids, but these are too complex to allow of
their being described in detail in “ The Month.”

The observation is recorded by M. Barnouvin
(Rep. Pharm., Aug., p. 350) that carbolic acid, when
liquefied by heat and then left to cool remains
liquid at a temperature much below its melting
point (as low as +15° C.), thus manifesting the phe¬
nomenon of superfusion. Solidification is, however,
at once produced, with a rise of temperature, upon
plunging into it a foreign body such as a glass rod.
Thymol is known to act in a similar manner, and
it will be remembered that it was recently pointed
out (vol. x., p. 1036) by Herr Jahns that a mixture
of carbolic acid and thymol remained in a liquid
state at a temperature as low as — 20° C.

Au accident that happened at Cannes some months
since, during the preparation of oxygen for adminis¬
tration to the late Empress of Russia, presented some
unusual features which induced M. Limousin to
investigate them in the hope that they would throw
some light upon the nature and cause of the explo¬
sions that every now and then occur during the
preparation of the gas (Journ. Pharm. Chim. , August,
p. 178). Under the direction of the physician, who
thought thus to secure a purer product, only chlorate
of potash had been placed in the retort, and the gas
was being collected in a metallic gasometer of 80 or
90 litres capacity. Whilst the gas was being given off
rather tumultuously, as is usual towards the close of

September 25, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

253

such an operation, there occurred a violent explosion
in the gasometer, which was hurst and torn, whilst
the retort in which the decomposition of the chlorate
of potash was going on remained intact. The ex¬
planation suggested by M. Limousin is that under
the influence of the temperature necessary for the
decomposition of the chlorate incandescent particles
of the undecomposed salt were carried over and
ignited the inner surface of the vulcanized india-
rubber tubing of the wash bottle, thus producing
sufficient carburetted hydrogen to form when carried
over together with the oxygen into the receiver a
mixture that would explode upon coming into con¬
tact with a flame. This final condition, he thinks,
might have been produced by the rush of gas carry¬
ing, even through the wash bottle, inflamed particles
of sulphur or incandescent undecomposed chlorate.
The lesson that M. Limousin draws from the accident
is to enforce the necessity for always using perman¬
ganate of manganese with the chlorate of potash in
such operations.

It may be mentioned, in connection with this
subject, that the Rouen Industrial Society offers one
silver gilt medal for the production of pure oxygen
by an industrial process more economical than those
known, and another for the economic production of
oxygenated water. The same Society also offers
gold medals for the production of ozone in a con¬
centrated state and for an industrial process for the
preparation of ozone. The memoirs have to be sent
to the Director of the Society not later than the
1st of October.

Even to speak of hot ice seems paradoxical, but
its production has actually been effected by Mr.
Carnelly ( Chem . Nevjs, Sept. 10, p. 130). Its exis¬
tence is dependent upon the fact that in order to
covert a solid into a liquid the pressure must be
above a certain point (called by Mr. Carnelly the
u critical pressure ,J) otherwise no amount of heat
will melt it. Mr. Carnelly states that experimenting
in this direction he has obtained solid ice at tem¬
peratures so high that it was impossible to touch it
without being burned, and that he has also by
maintaining the superincumbent pressure below 4-6
millimetres of mercury ( i.e ., the tension of aqueous
vapour at the freezing point of water) kept ice for a
considerable time at temperatures far above the
ordinary boiling point, the ice eventually subliming
away without previously melting. Other substances
have been found to exhibit the same phenomena,
and notably mercuric chloride.

To hear a shadow fall is another marvellous ex¬
perience which has been reserved for this eventful
year in the history of physics, and according to a
communication to the Times of Wednesday last, Mr.
Bell appears to have succeeded in fulfilling a pro¬
phecy made by himself two years ago that this
would be made possible. In doing this the pro¬
perty possessed by selenium of offering more or less
opposition to the passage of electricity according
as it is acted upon or not by light has been
utilized by Mr. Bell, who has thus succeeded in
constructing a kind of microphone sensitive to the
vibrations of light. The application of this success
promises to mark a further advance in the art of
communication between places distant from each
other. A plane mirror of flexible material, such as
silvered mica or microscopic glass, is employed to
reflect sunlight or strong artificial light concentrated
upon it by a lens. The speaker’s voice_is directed

against the back of this mirror, which is thus thrown
into vibrations in the same way as the diaphragm of
a telephone and communicates these vibrations to
the beam of light reflected from it. At the more or
less distant station towards which it is reflected the
light after passing through a lens is received upon a
parabolic reflector, in the focus of which is placed a
selenium cell in circuit with a local battery and
telephone. At present the distance apart of the
stations where the experiments have been made has
not exceeded 230 yards, but Mr. Bell is said to
believe that similar results may be obtained at
whatever distance a beam of light can be flashed
from one observatory to another.

Turning now to the “ Dispensing Memoranda,” it
may be stated, in reply to J. J. (No. 435), that
eserine sulphate may be incorporated with a basis
such as vaseline or lard by freshly dissolving it, as
recommended by W. J. B. and R. H. Parker, in a few
drops of water, in which medium it is readily soluble.

A very good excipient for making the pulv. ext.
coloc. co. or pulv. pil. coloc. co. into pills, required
by No. 436, is the compound decoction of aloes. If
these pill masses be made in accordance with the
B. P. instructions they will not, on account of the
soap, become so hard as to be insoluble in the secre¬
tions under the peristaltic action of the digestive
canal. Care must of course be taken that no more
excipient be used than is just sufficient to effect the
union of the powders into a mass. 11 374 ” answers
this question with the suggestion that oil of cloves
and treacle be used as an excipient. Has it never
occurred to the writer that an excipient should con¬
sist of a simple substance of no medicinal activity ?
Where is the authority for the addition of an ex¬
cipient containing oil of cloves to compound extract
of colocynth?

The ointment of prescription No. 437 should, if
the ung. hyd. nitratis be slightly acid, be light
yellow ; on the contrary, if the ointment named be
tolerably neutral, the combination will be of a slate
colour. The colour of this ointment will merely
depend on the condition of the ung. hyd. nitrat., and
whatever colour the ointment might be when made
it will speedily change and become a dark slate, due
in fact to deoxidation of the mercury. It is not
quite clear how the writer could have used the ung.
zinci benz. in lieu of the oxide of zinc and benzoated
lard of the prescription ; the relative proportions of
zinc and lard would not correspond. There are in
the prescription 40 grs. of zinc oxide to 240 grs. of
benzoated lard, whereas in the B. P. unguentum the
proportion is 40 grs. of zinc and 218 and a fraction
of lard, the difference being due to the troy weight
of the prescription and the avoirdupois weight of
the Pharmacopoeia.

The objection to glycerine as an excipient for
pepsin e pills should be stated by “Nemo” in No.
438. Is it that the surface of the pills so made
becomes moist, or that they do not retain their
shape1? The glycerine of tragacanth, about half the
strength of that for which a formula was given in
these columns some months ago, may be tried with
advantage, and it is very likely that many other
excipients may be used with very good results, but
glycerine is one to which little objection has ever
been raised. If the objection be that the glycerine
by absorbing moisture from the atmosphere renders
the mass damp, let the suggestion of “ Pill Driver ”
be tried, or that of Mr. Heald ; a few experiments

254

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 25, 1880.

would soon settle the point, and with advantage,
probably, to many other dispensers.

*‘ Nemo,” in No. 439, should have given Cheval-
lier’s formula, from which he made the ung.
emolliens. This ointment is usually considered to
be represented by simple ointment, and one of the
synonyms of the simple cerate of the London
Pharmacopoeia was ung. emolliens. The simple
ointment of the British Pharmacopoeia may very
properly be used for the ung. emolliens of this
prescription, and if properly prepared it should
not be too hard for use. Some compounds are
best made into an ointment suitable for use by first
melting and then allowing the ingredients to cool ;
others, by keeping the ingredients stirred until cool.
The melting process is more suitable when there is
a fluid ingredient not easily miscible with lard. In
the case in question the mortar with brisk treatment
will effect a satisfactory result.

The mixture, No. 440, should be made by dis¬
solving the ferri am. cit. in the smallest possible
quantity of water and adding it with the other
ingredients to the cod liver oil ; an emulsion should
not be attempted. Additions of this description are
sometimes made to cod liver oil when it is never
intended that they should form anything more than
a temporary mixture after a brisk shake of the
bottle. It seems to be a well founded opinion
that cod liver oil is better retained and assimilated
by the stomach when in a free state than when
combined with mucilage or any similar substance,
and in consequence many physicians do not require
an emulsion.

The pills, No. 441, maybe dispensed with soap and
magnesia ; there is sufficient room for a tolei’able
quantity of some suitable excipient without neces¬
sarily making the pills unusually large. The
remarks on kindred combinations in former Journals
may be studied with advantage.

The hyd. iod. viride of the British Pharmacopoeia
corresponds to the hydrarg. iodid. , Ph. Lond. This
preparation should therefore be used in making the
ung. hydrarg. iodid. of prescription No. 442 ; a re¬
ference to the British Pharmacopoeia should have
settled this point to the satisfaction of “ A Junior,”
and obviated the necessity of having recourse to the
pages of the “ Dispensing Memoranda.”

In answer to question No. 443, the mixture of
magnesia and tincture of assafoetida developed but a
very slight green coloration, and only after standing
for several days ; probably it would vary in different
samples of assafoetida. A similar reaction with lime
is taken advantage of by M. Yigier ( Jahresbericht der
Pharmacie , 1870, p. 151) as a means of distinguishing
various gum resins.

S. E. Clarke, in No. 444, does not say what
process he has followed in making an emulsion of
phosphorized cod liver oil, or what proportion of
phosphorus the oil contained. Following the
directions of Mr. Gilmour (in Pharm. Journ., [3],
vol. ix., p. 773) an excellent emulsion can be made
with phosphorized oil containing or % gr.
per 3j.

In reply to R. L. G., No. 445, chloroform is
usually dispensed lor chloroformyl, but of course
dose, etc., must be taken into consideration.

No. 446, there is no difficulty in making sup¬
positories of cocao butter and chloroform, taking
care that the chloroform, previously dissolved in a
little oil, be added while the butter is thickening.

Presuming the solution of morphia and atropia, in
No. 447, to deposit the morphia, it is suggested that
an addition of a small- proportion of glycerine would
obviate its recurrence.

The mixture, No. 448, can be dispensed by
rubbing down the ext. hsematox. to a fine powder,
adding part of the water, and finally the creta praep.
and tr. opii mixed with the remainder.

Probably the author of prescription No. 449 in
writing liq. hypophosph. co. referred to a prepara¬
tion suggested in the British Medical Journal by
Dr. Churchill in the beginning of the present year,
but reference to the prescriber would be advis¬
able.

The prescription No. 450 may be made into a
very presentable ointment by first rubbing the
castor oil with the ammonia, and when a good
emulsion has resulted gradually adding the vaseline
and remainder of ingredients. This formula par¬
takes of the character of a recipe rather than a
prescription, and should a separation show itself
the addition of a little more oil will render
the ointment uniform. The vaseline used is
the preparation which is usually advertised as
such.

- j -

THE APPLICATION OF CHEMISTRY TO
AGRICULTURE.*

BY J. H. GILBERT, PH.D., F.R.S., V.P.C.S., P.L.S.

{Continued from page 234.)

So far, I have endeavoured to convey some idea of the
state of knowledge on the subject of the chemistry of
agriculture prior to the appearance of Liebig’s first two
works bearing upon it, and also briefly to summarize the
views he then enunciated in regard to some points of
chief importance. Let us next try to ascertain something
of the influence of his teaching.

Confining attention to agricultural research, it may be
observed that about the year 1843, that is, very soon after
the appearance of the works in question, there was estab¬
lished the Chemico-Agricultural Society of Scotland, which
was, I believe, broken up after it had existed about five
years, because its able chemist, the late Professor John¬
ston, was unable to find a remedy for the potato disease.
Shortly after this, the Highland and Agricultural Society
of Scotland appointed a consulting chemist; somewhat
later the Royal Agricultural Society of England did the
same ; and later still followed the Chemico-Agricultural
Society of Ulster. Lastly, the very numerous “Agricul¬
tural Experimental Stations” which have been established,
not only in Germany, but in most Continental States, owe
their origin directly to the writings, the teachings, and
the influence of Liebig. The movement seems to have
originated in Saxony, where Stockhardt had already
stimulated interest in the subject by his lectures and his
writings. After some correspondence, in 1850-1, between
the late Dr. Crucius and others on the one side, and the
Government on the other, the first so-called Agricultural
Experimental Station was established at Mochem, near
Leipzig, in 1851-2. In 1877, the twenty-fifth anniver¬
sary of the foundation of that institution was celebrated
at Leipzig, when an account (which has since been pub¬
lished) was given of the number of stations then existing,
of the number of chemists engaged, and of the subjects
which had been investigated. From that statistical
statement we learn that in 1877 the number of stations
was : —

* Presidential Address delivered before the Chemioal
Section of the British Association, Swansea, 1880.

September 25, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

255

In the various German States . 74

In Austria . . - . 16

In Italy . 10

In Sweden . 7

In Denmark . 1

In Russia . 3

In Belgium . 3

In Holland . 2

In France . 2

In Switzerland . 3

In Spain . 1

Total ..... 122

Besides these 122 stations on the Continent of Europe,
the United States are credited with 1, and Scotland also
with 1.

Each of these stations is under the direction of a che¬
mist, frequently with one or more assistants. One special
duty of most of them is what is called manure-or seed-or
feeding stuff-control; that is to examine or analyse, and
report upon such substances in the market, and it seems
to have been found the interest of dealers in these com¬
modities to submit their proceedings to a certain degree
of supervision by the chemist of the station of their

district. , .

But agricultural research has also been a characteristic
feature of these institutions. It is stated that the in¬
vest igation of soils has been the prominent object at sixteen
of them ; experiments with manures at twenty-four ; vege¬
table physiology at twenty-eight ; animal physiology and
feeding experiments at twenty; vine culture and wine
making at thirteen ; forest culture at nine ; and milk pro¬
duction at eleven. Others, according to their locality, have
devoted special attention to fruit culture, olive culture, the
cultivation of moor, bog, and peat land, the production of
silk, the manufacture of spirit, and other products.

N or does this enumeration of the institutions established
as the direct result of Liebig’s influence, and of the sub¬
jects investigated under their auspices, complete the list
either of the workers engaged, or of the work accomplished
in agricultural research. To say nothing of the labours
of Boussingault, which commenced some years prior to
the appearance of Liebig’s first work, and which are
fortunately still at the service of agriculture, important
contributions have been made by the late Professors
Johnston and Anderson in Scotland, and in this country
both by Mr. Way and Dr. Voelcker, each alike in his
private capacity, and in fulfilment of his duties as
Chemist to the Royal A gricultural Society of England.
Nor would it be fair to Mr. Lawes (who commenced ex¬
perimenting first with plants in pots, and afterwards in
the field, soon after entering into possession of his property
in 1834, and with whom I have myself been associated
since 1843), were I to omit in this place any mention of
the investigations which have been so many years in pro¬
gress at Rothamsted.

So much for the machinery ; but what of the results
achieved by all this activity in the application of chemistry
to agriculture?

As I have already intimated, and as the foregoing brief
statistical statement will have convinced you must be the
case, it will be utterly impossible to give, on such an
occasion as this, anything approaching to an adequate re¬
view of the progress achieved. Indeed, I have to confess
that the more I have looked at the subject with the hope
of treating it comprehensively, the more I have been im¬
pelled to substitute a very limited plan for the much more
extended scheme which I had at first hoped to be able to
fill up. I propose then to confine attention to a few
special points, which have either some connection with
one another, or to which recent results or discussions lend
some special interest.

First as to the sources and the assimilation of the
carbon, the hydrogen, and the oxygen of vegetation.
From the point of view of the agricultural chemist, the
hydrogen and the oxygen may be left out of view. For,

if the cultivator provide to the plant the conditions for
the accumulation of sufficient nitrogen and carbon, he
may leave it to take care of itself in the matter of hy¬
drogen and oxygen. That the hydrogen of the carbo¬
hydrates is exclusively obtained from water is, to say the
least, probable ; and whether part of their oxygen is
derived from carbonic acid, and part from water, or the
whole from either of these, will not affect his agricultural •
practice.

With regard to the carbon, the whole tendency of
subsequent observations is to confirm the opinion put
forward by De Saussure about the commencement of the
century, and so forcibly insisted upon by Liebig forty
years later — that the greater part, if not the whole of it,
is derived from the carbonic acid of the atmosphere.
Indeed, direct experiments are not wanting — those of
Moll, for example— from which it has been concluded
that plants do not even utilize the carbonic acid which
they may take up from the soil by their roots. However
this may be, we may safely conclude that practically the
whole of the carbon which it is the object of the culti¬
vator to force the plants he grows to take up is derived
from the atmosphere, in which it exists in such extremely
small proportion, but nevertheless large actual, and con¬
stantly renewed amount.

Judging from the more recent researches on the point,
it would seem probable that the estimate of one part of
carbon, as carbonic acid, in 10,000 of air, is more
probably too high than too low as an estimate of the
average quantity in the atmosphere of our globe. And,
although this corresponds to several times more in the
column of air resting over an acre of land than the vege¬
tation of that area can annually take up, it represents an
extremely small amount at any one time in contact with
the growing plants, and could only suffice on the suppo¬
sition of a very rapid renewal, accomplished as the result,
on the one hand, of a constant return of carbonic acid to
the atmosphere by combustion and the respiration of
animals, and, on the other, of a constant interchange and
equalization among the constituents of the atmosphere.

It will convey a more definite idea of what is accom¬
plished by vegetation in the assimilation of carbon from
the atmosphere if I give in round numbers the results of
some direct experiments made at Rothamsted, instead of
making general statements merely.

In a field which has now grown wheat for thirty-seven
years in succession, there are some plots to which not an
ounce of carbon has been returned during the whole of
that period. Yet, with purely mineral manure, an aver¬
age of about 1000 pounds of carbon is annually removed
from the land ; and where a given amount of nitrogenous
manure is employed with the mineral manure, an average
of about 1500 pounds per acre per annum more is ob¬
tained; in all an average of about 2500 pounds of carbon
annually assimilated over an acre of land without any
return of carbonaceous manure to it.

In a field in which barley has been grown for twenty-
nine years in succession, quite accordant results have
been obtained. There, smaller amounts of nitrogenous
manure have been employed with the mineral manure
than in the experiments with wheat above cited ; but
the increase in the assimilation of carbon for a given
amount of nitrogen supplied in the manure is greater in
the case of the barley than of the wheat.

With susar-beet, again, larger amounts of carbon have
been annually accumulated without the supply of any to
the soil, but under the influence of a liberal provision of
both nitrogenous and mineral manure, than by either
wheat or barley.

Lastly, with grass, still larger amounts of carbon have
been annually accumulated, without any supply of it by

manure. .

Many experiments have been made, in Germany and

elsewhere, to determine the amount of the different
constituents taken up at different periods of the growth
of various plants. But we may refer to some made a

256

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 25, 1880.

Rothamsted long ago to illustrate the rapidity with
which the carbon of our crops may be withdrawn from
the atmosphere.

In 1847, we carefully took samples from a growing
wheat crop at different stages of its progress, commencing
on June 21, and in these samples the dry matter, the
mineral matter, the nitrogen, etc., were determined.
On each occasion the produce of two separate eighths or
sixteenths of an acre was cut and weighed, so that the
data were provided to calculate the amounts of the
several constituents which had been accumulated per
acre at each period. The result was that, whilst during
little more than five weeks from June 21, there was
comparatively li t tie increase in the amount of nitrogen
accumulated over a given area, more than half the total
carbon of the crop was accumulated during that period.

Numerous experiments of a somewhat; similar kind,
made in another season, 1856, concurred in showing that,
whilst the carbon of the crop was more than doubled
after »the middle of June, its nitrogen increased in a
much less degree over the same period.

Similar experiments were also made, in 1854 and in
1856, with beans. The general result was that a smaller
propoition of both the total nitrogen and the total
caroon was accumulated by the middle or end of June
than in the case of the wheat, though the actual amount
of nitrogen taken up by the beans was much greater,
both before and after that date. The nitrogen of this
leguminous crop increased in a much greater proportion
during the subsequent stages of growth than did that of
the gramineous crop ; but the carbon increased in a
larger proportion still, three-fourths or more of the total
amount of it being accumulated after the middle of June.

I should say that determinations of carbon, made in
samples of soil taken from the wheat field at different
periods during recent years, indicate some decline in the
percentage of carbon in the soils, but not such as to lead
to the supposition that the soils have contributed to the
carbon of the crops. Besides the amount of carbon
annually removed, there will, of course, be a further
accumulation in the stubble and roots of the crops ; and
the reduction in the total carbon of the soil, if such have
really taken place, would show that the annual oxidation
within the soil is greater than the annual gain by the
residue of the crops.

Large as is the annual accumulation of carbon from
the atmosphere over a given area in the cases cited, it is
obvious that the quantity must vary exceedingly with
variation of climatal conditions. It is, in fact, several
times as great in the case of tropical vegetation — that of
the sugar-cane, for example. And not only is the greater
part of the assimilation accomplished within a compara¬
tively small portion of the year (varyfi g, of course,
according to the region), but the action is limited to the
hours of davlight, whilst during darkness there is rather
loss than gain.

But it is remarkable that whilst the accumulation of
carbon, the chief gain of solid material, takes place
under the influence of light, cell-division, cell-multipli¬
cation, increase in the structure of the plant, in other
words, what, as distinguished from assimilation, vege¬
table physiologists designate as growth , takes place, at
any rate chiefly, during the night ; and is accompanied,
not with the taking up of carbonic acid and the yielding
up of oxygen, but with the taking up of oxygen and the
giving up of carbonic acid. This evolution of carbonic
acid during darkness must obviously be extremely small,
compared with the converse action during daylight,
coincidentally with which practically the whole of the
accumulation of solid substance is accomplished. But,
as the product of the night action is the same as in the
respiration of animals, this is distinguished by vegetable
physiologists as the respiration of plants.

I suppose I shall be considered a heretic if I venture
to suggest that it seems in a sense inappropriate to apply
the term growth to that which is associated with actual

loss of material, and that the term respiration should be
applied to so secondary an action as that as the result of
which carbonic acid is given off from the plant. It may,

I think, be a question whether there is any advantage in
thus attempting to establish a parallelism between animal
and vegetable processes ; rather would it seem advan¬
tageous to keep prominently in view their contrasted, or
at any rate complementary characteristics, especially in
the matter of the taking up of carbonic acid and the
giving up of oxygen on the one hand, and the taking in of
oxygen and the giving up of carbonic acid on the other.

But it is obvious that in latitudes where there is com¬
paratively continuous daylight during the periods of
vegetation, the two actions — designated respectively
assimilation and growth — must go on much more
simultaneously than where there is a more marked
alternation of daylight and darkness. In parts of Norway
and Sweden, for example, where, during the summer,
there is almost continuous daylight, crops of barley are
grown with only from six to eight weeks intervening
from seed time to harvest. And Professor Schubeler, of
Christiania, after making observations on the subject
for nearly thirty years, has recently described the
characteristics of the vegetation developed under the.
influence of short summers with almost continuous light
He states that, after acclimatization, many garden flowers
increase in size and depth of colour; that there is a
prevailing tmge of red in the plants of the fields ; that
the aroma of fruits is increased, and their colour well de¬
veloped, but that they are deficient in sweetness ; and that
the development of essential oils in certain plants is greater
than in the same plants grown in other latitudes. Indeed,
he considers it to be an established fact that light bears
the same relation to aroma as heat does to sweetness.

{To be continued.)

PREPARATION OF SODA FROM THE SULPHATE
BY MEANS OF LIME AND SULPHUR.*

BY F. GUTZKOW.

The author has patented a method of preparing caustic
soda from sodium sulphate by treating the latter with
calcium sulphite and introducing sulphurous acid gas
into the mixture. Soluble calcium bisulphite is thus
formed, which reacts with the sodium sulphate, forming
calcium sulphate and sodium bisulphite. These are
separated by filtration, and the gypsum washed out with
hot water. The sodium bisulphite is then treated with
milk of lime, whereby a solution of caustic soda is
obtained, which contains a certain proportion of sodium
sulphite and sulphate and also calcium sulphite. It is
evaporated in the usual manner, and the caleium sulphite
which is left after decantation is used in another opera¬
tion. The following two questions presented themselves
to the author in working out this method: — (1). To what
extent can sodium sulphate be transformed into the sul¬
phite by means of lime and sulphurous acid; and (2). To
what extent can sodium sulphite be rendered caustic by
lime? As regards the first question, the conversion of
sodium sulphate into sulphite is very satisfactory, and
might be regarded as complete, if it were not for the
solubility of the calcium sulphate, which is greater in the
solution than in pure water. In the subsequent treat¬
ment with lime, this has a tendency to reconvert part of
the sodium sulphite into sulphate. The second question
could not be solved in a satisfactory manner, although
success depends in a great measure on the solution being
sufficiently dilute, but even with 14 grains per litre only
87 per cent, was converted. The results obtained, how¬
ever, were only approximate, and, therefore, could not
be used as proper data for answering this question. It
was found that sodium sulphite requires a greater dilu¬
tion than the carbonate.

Details of the apparatus used and the mode of working
are given.

* From the Dingl. Polyt. J., 236, 148 — 158. Reprinted
from the Journal of the Chemical Society, August, 1880.

September 25, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

257

Ijarnramthral Journal.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, books for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements , and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. JournP

THE POTABLE WATER CONTROVERSY.

The discussion as to what constitutes a potable
water, which came so prominently before the
Chemical Seciety last session, and to which refer¬
ence was made in these columns in a recent number
of this Journal, has at length extended beyond the
limits of scientific societies and the pages of their
journals and is now being carried on in the columns
of the daily press and in the vestry rooms of the
metropolis.

The circumstance which has given this latest fillip
to the topic and brought it before a wider circle is
to be found in the last return of the Registrar-
General as to the births and deaths in London and
other large towns. Dr. Frankland is there quoted
as having reported that all the samples of Thames
water supplied to the metropolis during August,
although as a rule efficiently filtered, were of very
bad quality and utterly unfit for dietetic purposes,
owing to their pollution with organic impurity, and
that the Lea water, which was also efficiently filtered,
was not superior to the Thames water. On the
other hand the deep well waters supplied by the Kent
and Colne Valley Companies had been described as
being of their usual excellent quality. As a justifi¬
cation of this condemnation, Dr. Frankland, taking
the average amount of organic impurity in a given
volume of the Kent Company’s water in the nine
years ending December, 1876, as unity, represents
the amount of organic impurity found by him in
the analyses of waters supplied by the various com¬
panies last month by the following figures Kent,
1*6; Colne Valley, 1*6; Tottenham, 1*6; New
River, 31; Chelsea, 5T ; Grand Junction, 5*8 ;
West Middlesex, 67 ; East London, 7 '0; Southwark,
77, and Lambeth, 7*8.

The inference apparently intended to be drawn
from these figures was attacked, in a letter to the
Standard , by Dr. Dixon, who as Medical Officer of
Health for Bermondsey might be supposed not to
look with too lenient an eye upon any laches of the
Southwark Company. Admitting that the Kent
Company’s water, after its filtration through miles
of chaLk, is almost as free from organic nitrogenous
matter as carefully distilled water, lie argues that
this is not a fair standard by which to judge water
drawn from the Thames at Hampton. He points

out that the filtered river water, after all, contains
less than one-third of a grain of organic carbon and
organic nitrogen per gallon, and expresses an opinion
that when properly filtered the softer river water is
the most useful and economical for washing and
cooking purposes and more wholesome to drink.

Dr. Dixon’s opinion was subsequently supported
in a letter from a member of the Institute of Civil
Engineers, who expressed his wonder, if a fraction of
what is said by scientific chemists on the subject
of Thames water be true, that there are any left to
tell the tale. He also quoted from a letter of the
late Dr. Letheby, from which it appears that in the
Registrar- General’s returns for May 18, 1867, or just
previous to the time at which Dr. Frankland’s
average for a standard of purity commences, the
Kent water was spoken of as altogether the worst
sample out of eight supplied by as many different
companies to the metropolis at that time. That
Mr. Wanklyn also should disapprove of the “exag¬
gerated character” of Dr. Frankland’s report goes
almost without saying. It is more to the purpose
to have his opinion, as the result of analyses of
London water extending over many years, that
“when the companies filter properly (which does
“happen) the water supply is excellent.”

On Monday last, Dr. Dixon returned to the charge,
the opportunity being a meeting of the Bermondsey
Vestry. The gist of his argument was that medical
men have failed to observe any differences worth
noting between the death rates in the districts where
the water from the deep chalk wells is drunk and
those in districts where the condemned river waters
are used, any difference that has become perceptible
being in fact in favour of the latter.

The statistics laid before the Bermondsey Vestry by
Dr. Dixon, in support of his position, are somewhat
interesting as a contribution to the discussion, and
may be quoted for what they are worth. Thus, dealing
first with current events, he shows that although
during the last few weeks there has been an increase
in the number of deaths from diarrhoea, these deaths
have been quite as numerous, in proportion to the
population, in the districts supplied by the Kent
Water Company as in those supplied by the South¬
wark and Lambeth Companies. Next, in order to
show that the organic matter in river water does not
necessarily affect the public health unfavourably, he
turns to the third quarter of last year, when the
amount of organic elements in river water, as com¬
pared with that in the water from the chalk wells,
was as 5-9 to 1, and the deaths from diarrhoea iu
London numbered 1184. But in the corresponding
quarter of the previous year, whilst the proportional
impurity of the river was only 3*4 to 1, the deaths
from diarrhoea were 2932, or more than two and a
half times as many. Again, in the first quarter of
1872, the Thames water was reported to be in this
respect nine and a half times as “impure” as the chalk
water, yet the number of deaths in London from

258

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 25, 1880.

I

diarrhoea, 132, was the lowest for that quarter during
the nine years from 1871 to 1879, whilst the greatest
number of deaths from diarrhoea in London in one
quarter during the same nine years occurred in the
third quarter of 1873, at a time when the river water
was represented to be only two and a half times as
impure as the chalk water, the deaths in that quarter
numbering 3170.

Dr. Dixon admits that impure water is un¬
questionably a cause of diarrhoea and many other
diseases, but these he attributes to the presence of
decomposing animal matter or sewer gas and not to
the minute quantities of vegetable and animal sub¬
stance's from which no natural water is found
absolutely free. And his report closes with the
expression of an opinion that the water of the
Thames at Hampton, when efficiently filtered and
properly stored, is in a practical, if not a chemical
sense, a pure and wholesome water.

These statistics brought forward by Dr. Dixon
require obviously to be considered with caution.
Were they to be accepted as indicating the usual
results following an increase or decrease in the
organic impurities in Thames water it would follow
that much of the sanitary work that has been
accomplished during recent years in respect to the
metropolitan river and the supply of water drawn
from it for drinking purposes has been worse than
useless. This would be an absurd position which
it is not likely that Dr. Dixon intends to take. All
that he wishes to point out, probably, is that a low
death rate from diarrhoea and similar diseases is
compatible with the consumption of a water con¬
taining a comparatively large amount of “ organic
impurity,” and vice versd. This would be only in
accord with the opinion recently expressed in these
columns that while the aid which analytical results
offer in deciding the quality of a water should not
by any means be rejected, it should be used with
caution, and also with Mr. Erin’s condemnation of
the custom of laying the chief stress on the mere
amount of organic substance as misleading and
fallacious. There can be no doubt that it is not the
quantity so much as the nature and origin of the
impurity which claims the first consideration, and
anything in the history of a water which* throws a
light upon this is of prime importance as helping to
form a sound conclusion as to its quality.

TEE JURY LISTS.

As Sunday next will be the last Sunday upon
which the lists of persons liable to serve on juries
during the ensuing year will be exhibited at the
doors of churches and chapels, it will perhaps be
useful to remind all pharmaceutical chemists who
wish to secure the exemption from such service pro¬
vided by statute as to the advisability of examining
the lists for their respective districts and ensuring
that their names are not included therein. The

necessity for such procedure is involved by the
second section of the Juries Act, 1870 (33 and 34
Vict.,c. 77), which provides that no person whose
name shall be in the jury book as a juror shall be
entitled to be excused from attendance on the ground
of any disqualification or exemption, other than
illness, not claimed by him at or before the revision
of the list by the justices of the peace. If a person
entitled to exemption finds his name included in the
list he should attend before the justices in petty
sessions on the day indicated in the notice on the
list and apply to have it expunged, and in the case
of a pharmaceutical chemist who is a member of the
Pharmaceutical Society the production of a certifi¬
cate from the Registrar as to such membership is

accepted as evidence in support of the claim.

— ~

THE ALLEGED MISUSE OF PILOCARPINE.

The inquiry referred to in these columns last
week as to the alleged death of a child in the Cork
Fever Hospital, resulting from the injection of
pilocarpine, was brought to a close on Saturday last.
The committee has come to the conclusion that
although the use of the drug was new in Cork it
was in use in the United Kingdom, and Professor
Jones had a special knowledge of it which warranted
him in using it without consulting his colleagues ;
but the committee also found that there was want
of care as to the time of performing the operation
and an absence of interest in the case.

THE ABOLITION OF THE QUININE DUTY IN
THE UNITED STATES.

From Ecuador it is reported that during last year
there was a considerable decrease, in the quantity of
bark shipped to the United States, and a correspond¬
ing increase in the shipments to Great Britain. This
is attributed to the late reduction in the high duties
on sulphate of quinine imported into the United
States, which has thrown that market open to
European competition. The shipments of bark from
Ecuador to England during 1879 amounted to 11,228
quintals.

DEATH OF AN ANNUITANT.

The Obituary column this week includes the
name of Mr. Thomas Henley Eastes, one of the
Annuitants on the Benevolent Fund, who died on
the 15th inst., at the age of 84 years. Mr. Eastes
was elected an Annuitant in 1 875. He was formerly
a member of the Pharmaceutical Society.

POISONOUS FLY PAPERS.

A case, recorded on another page, in which a
child has been poisoned through swallowing a fly
paper supposed to have been impregnated with an
arsenical salt, will recall the letter addressed to this
Journal on the subject in June, 1878, by Mr. S.
Plowman, in which he called attention to the fact
that several varieties of fly paper contained arsenic,
and one to an extent equal to C grains of As03 in
each sheet.

September 25, i860.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

259

rRmtrhtgs of Srimtific Sanetws.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

(Continued from page 246.)

A Peculiar Kind of Cinchona Bark.

Dr. Paul called attention to a specimen of cinchona
bark which he said was of interest as showing that it was
no longer possible to arrive at even an approximate con¬
clusion as to the value of a sample of cinchona bark from
mere visual examination. The specimen shown was from
a considerable parcel of bark that was imported into this
country from South America in June, 1879. According
to its outward appearance it was of little or no value, and
it was ignored by both quinine manufacturers and makers
of pharmaceutical preparations. But an analysis of the
bark brought out its true character and showed that it
yielded, in addition to mere traces of quinidine, cinchoni-
dine and cinchonine, 2^j per cent, of quinine sulphate, so
that for either pharmaceutical purposes or the manu¬
facture of quinine it was an excellent bark.

In the discussion which followed, reference was made
both to Mr. Howard’s paper (see before, p. 244) and Dr.
Paul’s communication : —

The President asked if there were much of this bark
in the market.

Dr. Paul said there were some large samples.

Mr. Welcome asked if Dr. Paul had been able to trace
the source of the bark.

Dr. Paul said not further than that it was from New
Granada.

Mr. Greenish remarked that the fracture was very
short, which indicated parenchymatous rather than
prosenchymatous tissue, and taking that only as an
indication he should expect it to be rather rich in
quinine, because it was in the parenchymatous tissue
that the quinine resided.

Mr. Welcome said this bark had been creating quite
a sensation of late, as a curiosity, owing to its peculiar
structure. Instead of being fibrous as other barks were
it had a peculiar crystalline appearance, more like cherry
bark. He once saw a specimen which came from Mata-
grossa, down the Maramont River ; he also saw another
specimen traced to somewhere in the vicinity, which was
shown to him by Professor Fluckiger, of Slrassburg. It
was tested by Dr. Hesse, and found to contain about 2
per cent, of quinine. There had been no similar bark
ever brought to America. It had been traced as far as
London, but this was the first he had heard of which
came by way of Granada.

Dr. Paul said the first sample was imported in June, 1879.

Mr. Umney said one deduction that might be drawn
from Mr. Howard’s paper was that, private enterprise
being brought to bear so largely in the culture of cin¬
chona, they might look forward in a few years to seeing
the Government almost thwarted in their fine commercial
speculation in the Neilgherries. That there would be
very cheap importations into this country when these
private plantations arrived at maturity there could be no
doubt.

Dr. Symes said that not only in this particular kind of
bark, but in the ordinary quinine yielding barks, the
remark of Dr. Paul was strictly correct, namely, that
many of the old features were changing. He had been
told by old buyers that formerly immediately they saw a
bark they could tell bv its fracture and appearance
almost the exact value of it. Those days seemed to be
passing away, and chemical analysis was now the only
thing to be relied upon.

Dr. Paul said it was almost invariably the case now that
what was formerly considered the best bark, the yellow flat
calisaya, was almost worthless, containing scarcely any
quinine at all, and no alkaloid beyond a little cinchonine.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Howard and Dr.
Paul.

The last paper read at this sitting wa3 entitled —
Ipecacuanha Wine.

BY J. B BARNES, F.C.S.

Upon looking over Dr. Dyce Duckworth’s paper read
at an evening meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society in
March, 1872, entitled “Notes on the Pharmacy of
Ipecacuanha,” it occurred to me that the wine might be
improved by a modification of the plan proposed by
Mr. Carteighe for the preparation of the acetum and the
oxymel of ipecacuanha.

His prescription for the preparation of the acetum is
to macerate an ounce of bruised ipecacuanha root in a
fluid ounce of acetic acid for twenty-four hours, pack in
a percolator and pour distilled water over it until one
pint of percolate has been obtained.

The modification consists in evaporating the acetum
thus obtained over a water-bath to dryness, and sub¬
sequent maceration of the dry extract in a pint of sherry
wine for forty-eight hours, and filtration. By this means
a rich brown solution is obtained, which, although made
eight months since, has not thrown down the unsightly
muddy sediment so well known to be the case when
ipecacuanha wine of the Pharmacopoeia is kept beyond a
few weeks.

A white crystallized deposit of cream of tartar,
however, made its appearance in about a fortnight, and
the crystallization has gone on slowly ever since, but it
differs very much from the muddy mixture of ipecacu-
anhate of emetia and cream of tartar which continually
goes on forming in the wine of the Pharmacopoeia.

By this treatment the emetia is converted into the
acetate, which from its superior solubility complete solu¬
tion is insured.

It would, of course, be more rational to use an alcoholic
solution of emetia, which Dr. Duckworth states has the
same therapeutical effect as ipecacuanha, but similar
effects would be obtained by the use of a liquid extract
made by exhausting the acetic extract with water con¬
taining ten or fifteen per cent, of rectified spirit.

This new wine is slightly acid, but to so trifling an
extent as to be not at all likely to interfere with the
action of alkalies which may be prescribed with it.

A four fluid drachm dose proved an efficient emetic
when given to an adult.

Mr. Greenish said 'it was generally admitted that the
ipecacuanha wine of the Pharmacopoeia was not a satis¬
factory preparation. If the deposit which fell in the
bottles were carefully examined it would be found to
partake of the character of cells, so that no doubt it was
due to a fermentation that went on in the wine.
He apprehended that Mr. Barnes’s paper was founded on
Dr. Duckworth’s, which was read before the Pharma¬
ceutical Society some years ago, when an objection was
taken to it. It was admitted that the acetic extract
would be an excellent preparation of ipecacuanha, but it
was contended that as carbonate of ammonia and other
alkalies were so frequently dispensed with ipecacuanha
there would be difficulty in using any acetic preparation.
There would not be the same objection to Mr. Barnes’s pro¬
posal, because he apprehended that the quantity of acetic
acid left in the extract when evaporated would be very
small. Still there would be a trace. The paper was a
very suggestive one and well worthy of attention, and he
had no doubt that in the next or some future Pharmaco¬
poeia a better or more definite preparation of ipecacuanha
wine than the one it now contained would be adopted.

The Conference then adjourned, and in the course of
the evening many of the members visited the Hafod
Copper Smelting Works and Mills of Messrs. Vivian, and
the London Tin Plate Works.

The Conference resumed its sittings on Wednesday
morning, August 25, at half-past ten, when the first
communication was the following : —

260

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 25, 1880.

Notes on a Journey Eastward.

BY HENRY B. BRADY, F.R.S.*

A few words of explanation if not of apology are due
to the Conference for the remarks I propose to offer. It
has been the custom of the Conference, almost, indeed,
one of its unwritten laws, that communications presented
to its meetings should be in the form of written papers —
mere extempore addresses being too commonly deficient
in the accuracy essential to scientific records to be re¬
garded with favour : but until a few days ago I had
no idea that my engagements would have allowed me
to be present at this meeting and still less did I contem¬
plate occupying any portion of the time devoted to its
sittings. The position in which I find myself placed is
due to some of those I see around me, who have urged
that if a member absents himself from one of our annual
gatherings for the sake of travelling the least he can do
is to report himself on his return ; and as their wish in
such a matter is law to me, I have brought a few ex¬
tracts from my note-book, hoping with their assistance
to be able to interest you for the little interval that
has been accorded to me.. It must be premised, how-
over, that my late journey was not undertaken with
any definite scientific object, at any rate with none
bearing upon pharmacy ; its aim was rather change and
rest after a spell of hard work.

I have found it difficult to fix the precise points which
I might best bring before you, there is so much on such
a tour interesting from a pharmaceutical stand-point ;
but perhaps I can hardly be wrong in centering what I
have to say in the island of Ceylon.

I left Marseilles early in February last year, in the
M. M. Steamship, “ Anadyr,” bound for Colombo. There
is nothing that need detain us in connection with Naples,
Port Said or Aden, which were the only points at which
we stopped en route. Passing to the south, the Island of
Socotra appeared as a long low line of hills with here and
there a higher peak, all as barren and desolate as Aden
itself. The pharmaceutist associates little but what is
bitter with Socotra and there is certainly nothing in the ap¬
pearance of the island from the sea to dispel such an idea.

Colombo is about three-and-twenty days from Marseilles,
and somewhat within that time we were at anchor
outside the harbour. It would be out of place here to
attempt to describe first impressions of tropical scenery,
but as we are all more or less botanists, or are supposed
to be, a few words on matters connected with the vegeta¬
tion of the island may be of interest. One of my objects
in stopping in Ceylon was to see cinchona trees and to learn
something, by observation, of cinchona culture, and to do
this it was necessary to visit the mountainous districts
far inland. The first stage on an excursion into the interior
is to Kandy, the old capital of the island, a distance of 72
miles by railway from Colombo. The line at one point
reaches an elevation of 1600 to 1700 feet, and the scenery
by the way is always beautiful, often grand. Endogenous
trees, notably the cocoa-nut palm and the bamboo, and in
cultivated patches the banana and other Musacece, form
a striking feature in the landscape, whilst, with greater
resemblance to our own forest trees, the bread-fruit and
the jack-fruit, the various species of Ficus , and the
Poinsettia with its scarlet leafy tufts, and in the gardens
the lettuce-tree ( Pisonia ) with its yellow-green foliage,
are amongst those that first arrest attention.

About four miles from Kandy are the Peradenya
Gardens which have been so long and so ably superintended
by the veteran botanist, Dr. Thwaites. The primary
object of the gardens is botanical and economic, rather
than merely horticultural. I had the advantage of the
company of Dr. Thwaites during the long morning I spent
there. Amongst the conspicuous medicinal and economic
plants in the grounds are the pimento ( Eugenia pimenta), a

* This was an extempore address and the report which

we furnish has been revised and somewhat extended by the
author. — Ed. Pharm. Journ.

beautiful evergreen tree, which, though it grows freely
enough, is not cultivated in Ceylon on a commercial scale ;
the black pepper (Piper nigrum), indigenous in the forests
of south-western India, though probably not in Ceylon,
which flourishes like a weed, its slender jointed stems,
with large ovate leaves, climbing like ivy amongst the
trees ; the nutmeg ( Myristica officinalis), a fine spreading
tree some 40 feet high with beautiful evergreen foliage ;
the cinnamon ( Cinnamomum zeylanicum) which, when
allowed to grow unchecked, is a forest tree — concerning
which I shall have more to say presently ; Ficus elastica ,
one of the india-rubber trees, and the banyan (Ficus
indica), with its wonderful aerial roots ; the palm-oil tree
(Elais guineensis) ; the jaggery-palm (Caryota urens) ;
the sugar-palm ( Saguerus saccharifer) : the betel-nut
( Areca catechu); aud the talipot ( Corypha umbraculifera),
a fine specimen of which was in flower. By the river
side are clumps of bamboos a hundred feet in height with
stems thick enough to make buckets of. Tfie mango
( Mangifera indica), in size and appearance not unlike an
apple-tree, was already in fruit ; cocculus indicus (Ana~
mirta cocculus), an indigenous, climbing, shrubby weed,
was at home amongst the trunks and branches of its
larger neighbours ; and besides these there were a number
of plants cultivated experimentally, vanilla, cardamom,
cacao and the like, to which I must more specially advert.

As you well know, the island of Ceylon owes a consider¬
able proportion of its wealth to the cultivation of coffee, and
you may also know that for some years past the planta¬
tions have suffered from the spread of a leaf disease caused
by a minute fungus, Hemeleia vastatrix. The ravages of
this pest have increased to such an extent, that two
years ago the loss to the island from injured crops was
estimated at not less than two million pounds sterling per
annum. The fact that the disease has been most preva¬
lent and most destructive at elevations of about 3000 feet
— that is in the regions which have been longest under
coffee cultivation — seems to indicate that the gradual im¬
poverishment of the soil and the consequent deficient
vigour of the plants are probably at the bottom of the
mischief. Be that as it may, of recent years the planters
have directed their attention to other possible sources of
income, and in this way the experimental culture of
other plants used in medicine or for food has undergone
a fair trial. Of these the most important to us are
cinchona, vanilla, cardamoms, and ipecacuanha ; but there
are in addition tea, cacao and Liberian coffee, all of
which have been introduced to a greater or less extent.

To see cinchonas under cultivation it is necessary to go
much further into the mountainous district, and I deter¬
mined to visit the Government nursery at Hakgala. The
journey from Kandy to Nuwera Eliya, the great health
resort of Europeans, is performed partly by rail, partly by
a vehicle called in courtesy a stage-coach, and the re¬
mainder by any conveyance you can manage to hire. It
is a difficult mountain road, reaching at one point an alti¬
tude of something like 6700 feet, and it lies through varied
and beautiful scenery. One first sees Cinchona succirubra
in this district at a height of 3000 feet. The trees are not
very large and at a distance they bear considerable re¬
semblance to small sycamoi-es; they are planted chiefly near
the roads, but sometimes distributed amongst the coffee
shrubs. Much higher on the mountain slopes, that is at
an altitude of 5000 feet, tea plantations are noticed, the
Assam variety being that preferred for cultivation. It
was dark ere I arrived at Nuwera Eliya and the mountain
air was so keen, that a blazing fire on the hearthstone of
the hotel was a welcome sight, though within a few
degrees of the equator. In the morning I noticed that two
fine specimens of Eucalyptus globulus in front of the hotel
had their leaves shrivelled and brown from the frost of the
previous evening. The eucalyptus has been largely intro-
uced into the highlands of Ceylon and it appears to thrive
down to about 2l>00 feet elevation. The two specimens
alluded to I estimated as from 50 to 60 feet in height.

The Hakgala Gardens are about seven miles beyond

September 25, 1880. THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

261

Nuwera Eliya and have an elevation of a little over 6000
feet. They were established on the introduction of cin¬
chona culture, just twenty years ago, by Dr. Thwaites,
and are now under the superintendence of his brother.
Mr. J. E. Howard, in the interesting paper which we
heard yesterday, mentions the Ceylon Observer as the
authority for some of his facts, and I should like to say
here that it is to the editor of that journal, Mr. Ferguson,
who is himself an experienced cinchona grower, and to
Mr. Thwaites, that I am chiefly indebted for the informa¬
tion I obtained on the subject. Mr. Howard’s paper has
forestalled a good deal of what I might otherwise have said,
but this is of the less consequence as his details are posted
to a date much later than my visit. To speak with critical
accuracy of the species of the genus Cinchona is quite
beyond my power, and whilst there is so much difference
of opinion amongst botanists who have given great atten¬
tion to the subject — Weddell, Bentham, Hooker and others
recognizing forty or fifty species, whilst Kunze admits but
four — we may be content to leave the matter undiscussed.
For our purpose the interest of the genus centres in the
three species, C. officinalis (with its variety Condaminea) ,
C. Calisaya (with its variety Ledgeriana), and C. succirubra.

In Ceylon the cultivation has hitherto been very much
confined to C. officinalis and C. succirubra, the latter of which
grows best at elevations from 2000 to 4500 feet, whilst
the former seems equally at home up to 6000 feet. At
Hakgala a plantation of these two species, fourteen years
old, was cut down a year before my visit, and yielded an
average of 3 lbs. of bark per tree, which sold in the
London market at 5s. 6d. per lb. I measured some of
the stumps of C. succirubra , and found them 7 inches in
diameter, indicating a very slow rate of growth as com¬
pared with the South American plantations mentioned
in Mr. Howard’s paper. It is customary to plant offici¬
nalis about 3 feet apart, and succirubra about 4 feet apart.

There seems considerable doubt how far true Calisaya
has been grown at all in Ceylon. Mr. Thwaites thinks
that nearly all the plants grown under that name have
been hybrids. Of their so-called C. Calisaya Ledgeriana ,
there appear to be at least three varieties of distinct
habit and mode of growth. But Mr. Ledger’s own
seed has produced different results in Ceylon from
those obtained from it in the Neilgherries, and the com¬
parison of these with specimens grown in Java only
increases the difficulty of determining the botanical
characters of the species under cultivation. There has
been a great demand for plants of C. Calisaya, and
advertisements had appeared in the newspapers offering
£12 per thousand for guaranteed Ledgeriana, whilst
young plants of officinalis and succirubra could be
bought for one-tenth of that price. C. Calisaya appears
to grow better at low elevations than the other species,
and at Batticaloa it has been cultivated down to the sea-
level under cocoa-nut trees. At high elevations it
assumes a shrubby habit; but it seems to die off at a
certain age, and in common with C. officinalis is subject
to canker, that is, the bark splits, swells, and peels off.
This is probably owing, as suggested in Mr. Howard’s
paper yesterday, to want of sufficient depth of good well-
drained soil. The process of “mossing,” which has been so
successfully practised elsewhere, does not seem to answer
in Ceylon, the reason assigned being that the mossy
covering serves as a harbour for ants.

With regard to the extent to which cinchona culture has
been carried, the figures I obtained differ widely from
those of Mr. Howard’s correspondent, and as they repre¬
sent the estimate of one who has exceptional facilities
for ascertaining what is being done, they may be worth
repeating, even though they are more than a year old.
At the time of our interview, Mr. Ferguson thought that
there were about 6000 acres of cinchonas under cultivation,
and that in five years there would, at the present rate of
increase, be about 5,000,000 cinchona trees of one species
or other in the island : but without official returns it must
be very difficult to arrive at even approximate numbers.

Next to cinchona growing, perhaps the most important
recently introduced industry, from a medical stand-point,
is the cultivation of the cardamom. The true Malabar
cardamom ( Elettaria cardamomum) is not indigenous to
Ceylon, though an allied species, perhaps only a variety
( E . major), grows wild in the forests. It is an endogenous,
herbaceous plant, with long tapering leaves, not unlike
those of an iris, but some eight or ten feet high. The
bulbs are planted about eight feet apart, and begin
to bear fruit at end of the third year. They give two
good crops, and then a small one, after which they are
taken up and a fresh lot planted. Advertisements appear
in the newspapers offering the bulbs for sale at a price of
about 40 rupees per thousand.

Vanilla {Vanilla planifolia) is now cultivated in many
tropical countries, but has only recently been introduced
into Ceylon. I saw but one experimental lot. This was
in a moist shady place, and the plants were trained on
slanting poles a foot or eighteen inches apart. It begins
to yield fruit in about three years, and goes on bearing
almost indefinitely. That its culture has been undertaken
in earnest I gather from the fact that I heard of one
planter who had a line of plants three miles in length.

Ipecacuanha ( Cephaelis ipecacuanha) has also been intro¬
duced, but I did not gather that its cultivation had been
attempted on any great scale. It is a little shrubby plant
about a foot in height, and could probably be grown
without much difficulty; but Dr. Thwaites thinks that com¬
mercially it could only answer under pot culture at native
houses, where women and children could attend to it.

Returning to the low lands my first desire was to see
something of the cultivation of cinnamon on a com¬
mercial scale and the preparation of the bark for
the market; so, furnished with suitable introductions,
I took the steamboat from Colombo to Negumbo,
a little fishing village about twenty miles up the coast.
Thence a drive of three miles inland brought me to
Kimbulapitia, an estate of about 400 acres, superin¬
tended by Mr. W. Carry, one of the most successful
cinnamon growers in the island. The cinnamon ( Cinna -
momum zeylanicum) is a native of Ceylon. When allowed
to grow' it is an evergreen tree of considerable size,
flourishing at every elevation up to 3000 feet, one variety
to almost the highest points of the island. Its cultivation,
however, is confined to the S.W. coast, from Negumbo to
Matura, as the light sandy soil within a few miles of the
sea is best suited for its growth. Under cultivation it is
never permitted to assume its natural arborescent form ;
but is coppiced and becomes a bush like a hazel, with a
thick woody stool and long straight shoots. For the first
three years the plants produce nothing of marketable value
and during the next three only here and there a stick,
but after the sixth year the bushes are in full bearing,
and go on for forty to sixty years. The shoots are cut
when they are a year and a half or two years old, three
to six feet long, or even more, and as thick as a walking
stick. The beds are kept carefully weeded, the weeds
burned and the ashes used as manure ; the roots of the
bushes are always kept well covered. My guide laid great
stress on these apparently little matters. The finest quality
bark is obtained from green stems, the cutting of which
injures the plants more or less and it is said that such
bark does not pay to produce under 4s. Qd. to 5s.
per lb. Our excellent curator, Mr. Holmes, asked me,
before I left home, to make some inquiry concerning one
or two very distinct varieties of cinnamon which ap¬
pear in commerce ; but I found it difficult on the spot
to obtain any satisfactory information. Mr. Carry stated
that there were not less than fifteen varieties, sufficiently
distinct in flavour to be easily recognized. The sticks,
after being cut, are carried to the “ wadia,” or peeling
shed. They are there trimmed, and the rusty cuticle
which is the beginning of the corky layer of the bark is
removed by scraping whilst the end of the stick is held
down by the heel of the worker. The older the shoot of
course the more scraping it requires. A curved knife,

262

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 25, 1880.

pointed at the end, is used for peeling. A longitudinal
slit is made and the bark loosened by working the point
of the knife underneath it, when it comes off in frag¬
ments from an inch to a foot in length. If the weather
has been dry the peeling is facilitated by rubbing the
stick all round with a smooth piece of hard wood. The
strips of bark are laid longitudinally, the ends over¬
lapping, till they make up lengths of between three and
four feet, the smaller pieces being placed inside the larger
to about an even thickness. In this condition the lengths
are placed side by side in rows, on strings stretched over¬
head, and as they dry they gradually close up and form
the long thin sticks we all know. They are inspected
from time to time and any irregularity in closing up is
corrected. This process occupies about three days, after
which the drying is completed by exposure to the sun
for some days longer. The produce of the Kimbulapitia
estate is from 300 to 400 bales of 100 lbs. each, per
annum. A uniform price of 4 h,d. per lb. on the weight
of finished bark is paid for labour.

I subsequently visited a neighbouring property where
cinnamon oil was distilled. The appearance of the
plantations was in strong contrast with those I had
just left — the beds were weedy and ill kept, and the
bushes in poor condition. The still- house was an open
shed : the stills were of copper, apparently of about 50
gallons capacity, and of the most primitive construction.
The spent bark was employed in part for firing. About
40 lbs. of cinnamon chips were used for each charge, and
they were macerated some hours before being put into
the still. It has been stated that sea- water is employed
for this purpose, but such was not the case in this
instance. The distillation occupied six hours, and two
charges to each still were worked per diem. About three
ounces of oil resulted from each operation. The dis¬
tillate was collected in a series of cylindrical cans, each
with a spout inserted in its side, about one-third the
way up. These were arranged on steps one below the
other, to act as separators, the heavy oil being deposited
in the bottom of the cans. The total produce was stated
at about 120 bottles of oil per annum.

At the present time, however, the cultivation of cocoa-
nuts in the low lands near the sea pays better than either
cinnamon bark or cinnamon oil, and through the kindness
of the gentleman already named, I was enabled to see
something of the way in which this is conducted on a
commercial scale. There is a very common belief that
the cocoa-nut palm will only grow near human habita¬
tions, and this is so far true that in country districts
wherever you find a clump of cocoa-nut trees you may
assume there is a village, even though you cannot at the
moment see it. Various explanations, more or less
plausible, have been offered of the fact, if it be one. Mr.
Carry attributed it chiefly to the smoke from the dwellings
favouring the growth of the palm. His own plantations
were kept very clear of other vegetation ; all dead leaves
were carefully collected, thrown into pits, thoroughly wet
and then slowly burned, so that the largest possible amount
of smoke might be produced under the trees. About 80
palms are planted to each acre, the trees being 21 or 22
feet apart ; and each of these yields about 50 cocoa-nuts per
annum, that is about 4000 nuts per acre. The cocoa-nuts
sell at 60s. per thousand, and as the cost of cultivation is
only about 40s. per acre, a large margin of profit is left.

There are several cocoa-nut oil mills at Colombo, and
I paid a visit to that owned by Messrs. Leechman and
Co., which perhaps is the most extensive of them.
The process adopted is a very simple one. The white
portion or pulp of the cocoa-nut is dried, roughly
powdered, and then pressed by means, of machinery
similar to that employed in this country for rape or
linseed The dried pulp yields about 60 per cent, of its
weight of colourless limpid oil. A native can hardly be
made to believe that this oil, which he knows only as a
thin fluid, is a white solid fat when it arrives in England.
I recollect well when travelling in the interior of Morocco,

the look of pitying incredulity with which I was met by
certain Moors of more than common intelligence, when
I told them that in my country, in winter, the water
was hard and solid, and that you could sometimes even
walk across the rivers. But possibly we may sometimes
take home, even to ourselves, the saying of an old Spanish
chronicler, when commending for acceptance a story
making heavy demands on the credence of his readers,
“None but light and inconsiderate minds hastily i eject
the marvellous — to the thinking mind the whole world is
enveloped in mystery.”

I must not linger over Ceylon ; indeed, I have already
occupied more of your time than I intended ; nor shall I
detain you with my visit to Singapore, though the
botanical gardens contain much of interest and the fruit
market has many products that are novelties to a Eu¬
ropean. In the Straits Settlements, as in Ceylon, the
cultivation of Liberian coffee is exciting much attention,
and their seedling plants, seventeen months old, were
already beginning to bear fruit when I was there.

I would gladly enlarge somewhat on my stay in China
did time permit, for the country, or, at any rate, its
people, afford rich material for study in whatever aspect
they are approached. The language is of course the
great obstacle to obtaining information. I had the plea¬
sure of visiting some of the drug shops of the native
town in Shanghai, in company with Mr. Fryer, an ac¬
complished Chinese scholar, — the translator of many
European scientific works into their difficult language.
Here we found an assortment of wonderful remedies, of
which Tertiary fossils were not the least important. The
bones of extinct species of Rhinoceros and Elephas and the
fossil teeth of several carnivorous animals, under the names
of “dragon’s bones” and “dragon’s teeth,” are amongst the
most highly prized articles of Chinese materia medica.
Dragon’s teeth are said in their old books to cure heart¬
ache and stomach-ache, to drive away ghosts, to cure
colds and dysentery, fainting in children and nocturnal
alarms, and to increase the general health. Who would
not like to possess a dragon’s tooth ? We are told that
they are only genuine when they adhere to the tongue.

I would willingly also linger over Japan, but must
perforce confine my remarks to one or two subjects.
At Kob£ the air was redolent of the familiar scent
of camphor from a pile of tubs of the crude drug
waiting on the quay for shipment. At Osaka I was
hospitably entertained by an old member of the Con¬
ference, Mr. W. Gowland, who for several years has
held a high position in the Imperial Mint, and is in fact
responsible for the coinage of the country, which now
holds an excellent character in the East.

At Tokio, my friend, Dr. R. W. Atkinson, the Professor
of Chemistry in the University, drew my attention to a
pretty little earthenware distilling apparatus, in use
amongst the Japanese, which I have much pleasure in
introducing to your notice.

The accompanying sketches will, I think, be readily
understood. It consists of four pieces : a boiler, a, on to
which fits a short cylinder, with a perforated bottom, b,
and over this a condenser, c, with a cover, d. The
cover being removed, a stream of cold water can be kept
running into the condenser by means of a bamboo, and
the overflow carried off by the spout at its base. Round
the base of the inner side of the middle cylinder runs a
ledge which forms a channel opening into an exit spout.
The materials for distillation are put into the boiler and
the whole is placed on the ordinary hibatchi , or domestic
fire-box. The vapour passes through the perforated
bottom of the cylinder, collects in drops on the dome¬
shaped inner surface of the condenser, runs down into
the channel before described, and is collected at its exit
from the spout. This little contrivance is known by the
Japanese under the name of lambik or ranibiki , which is
doubtless some corruption, through the Dutch, of the
word alembic. In the country districts peppermint is
largely used as a corrective for water rendered muddy

September 25, 1*80.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

263

and otherwise unsuitable for drinking by rains, as well as
for other domestic purposes, and this apparatus is one of
the means employed for its distillation. Whether it may
afford any hints of which advantage may be taken in our
laboratories I must leave you to determine.

Fig. 2. — Section.

The President said the Conference were much in¬
debted to Mr. Brady for the extremely interesting account
he had given of his journey. The subject of cinchona
cultivation itself was one which was almost unknown to
the world in general, and it was only those who, like
themselves, had connection with it had any conception of
its magnitude.

Mr. Schacht drew attention to a fine collection of
photographs which Mr. Brady had brought with him
and which were open to inspection.

Mr. White thought it would not have been inappro¬
priate if Mr. Brady had pointed out what a lucrative
culture the cinnamon was. It was once said that the
most lucrative culture in the world was early spring
radishes in the neighbourhood of London, as they gave a
larger return per acre than any other product, but after
what they had heard about cinnamon he was led to
believe that perhaps it produced a larger amount of profit
when cultivated than any other known article. He had
been told that as much as £1000 per acre had been
acquired from the cultivation of this tree in Ceylon, and
if this fact were pointed out it would be an incentive to
increase the culture, which of course would tend to lower
the price and confer great benefits on mankind.

Mr. Brady, in reply to Mr. White’s observations, said
that it was altogether too soon to attempt to determine
the eventual profits to be derived from cinchona culture.
At the present time, of course, those who had bark to sell
were in an enviable position, but it was a question of
supply and demand, and if the state of things fore¬
shadowed in Mr. Howard’s paper should ever come
about, the bark from our eastern plantations could not
possibly continue to realize its present value.

Mr. Greenish said he was glad to hear Mr. Brady’s
remarks with respect to the coffee plantations being
injured by the exhaustion of the soil. Six years ago he
was in Portugal during the time of the vintage, when he
was asked by a Portuguese gentleman if he could in any
way account for the fungoid disease on the fruit and the
phylloxera on the root. Just in front of the house was a
vineyard which was very productive, and at that time
they were gathering the crop. He made a calculation,
and pointed out that every year they were taking away
so many tons of grapes from the vineyard, and not even
the leaves that fell from the trees were allowed to remain
on the ground. It was, therefore, simply a question of
time when they would cease to have any grapes at all.

Mr. Wootton said no doubt Mr. Brady when in Japan
heard of the complaints against the Japanese Govern¬
ment with reference to drugs from England, many of
the English wholesale druggists having complained very
bitterly. He had heard of it from a gentleman who had
lived for many years in Yokohama, who said the matter
was now before the British Foreign Office. The com¬
plaint was that the Government analysts condemned
English exports of drugs to a very great extent, but not
until they had allowed the duty to be paid for them.
It sometimes happened that, after they were condemned
and not allowed to be sold, certain persons would go to
the owner of the property and offer him a small price,
which he was glad to take rather than ship them
back to England. Of course only one side of the ques¬
tion was heard here, and he had no means of knowing
what the views of the Japanese Government were. They
seem to have acted pretty fairly to a great extent, for
although they appointed native analysts in each of the
ports to which English goods were sent, they appointed
an European superintendent. He believed in Yokohama
this superintendent was a Dutchman, because Dutch
imports were the smallest, and it was thought that his
judgment would be less biased than an Englishman’s or
a Frenchman’s. He did not know whether Mr. Brady
could give any opinion on the matter.

Mr. Brady, in reply to Mr. Wootton’s question as. to
the grievances complained of in connection with the im¬
portation of drugs into Japan, said the matter had scarcely

264

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 25,1880.-

begun to attract public attention when he was at
Yokohama, and he had heard little about it. That
the Japanese had a faculty for devising both import
and export duties on every conceivable thing on which
it was possible to raise money was a fact well and
widely recognized. The appointment of a Dutchman
to the superintendence of this department of the revenue
should not, he thought, be attributed to any preference
for the representative of a country doing only a small
trade, but rather to the old standing commercial rela¬
tions of the Japanese with Holland, dating back to a
period long anterior to their commerce with this country.

Mr. Umney said when he heard Mr. Brady speak of a
Newcastle engineer at the cocoa nut oil factory he could
not help wishing that some enterprising cinnamon grower
had sent here for a manufacturing pharmacist to con¬
duct the distillation of his cinnamon oil. He could
safely say there was no product which came into the
London market which pharmacists were bound to use
(for 95 per cent, of the cinnamon oil was imported)
which was so unsatisfactory, and required so much care
in selection. Cinnamon leaf was distilled, and of course
its distillate came into the market as a distinct product,
but he believed sometimes cinnamon leaves found their
way into the still, and that very much deteriorated the
quality of the oil. At any rate, that some inferior
qualities of bark found their way into the still with the
superior qualities there could be no question. Again,
referring to the primitive way in which the distillation
was carried on, they could now well understand how
different cinnamon oils varied so much. Chemists knew
that cinnamon oil was made up of two products, the one
a light and the other a heavy oil. The bulk of it was
a heavy oil, and he should like to ask Mr. Brady whether
he had observed if there was a light and heavy essential
oil separator at the stills. He should say that to distil
cinnamon 40 or 50 pounds at a time was about the worst
way of going to work economically that could possibly
be devised, unless the water was returned again and
again to the still for redistillation with fresh portions of
cinnamon.

A vote of thanks was then passed to Mr. Brady.

The next paper read was a —

Note on Indian Henbane.

BY THOMAS GREENISH, F.C.S., F.R.M.S.

Among the samples of interesting drugs which reach
the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society, either
through its honorary and corresponding members, or
other scientific men, the products of India, our own
colonies, or those of other countries, there is an ample
field for scientific research, and one in which the youth
of our profession may serve the cause of pharmacy, and
at the same time earn distinction for themselves.

It is, from every point of view, desirable that the
numerous vegetable products of tropical and other
countries, introduced as remedial agents, should, as early
as may be convenient, be thoroughly examined, and if
there be present in any one of them an active proximate
principle or residual agent, that it may be recognized as
an aid to therapeutic science or, on the contrary, if pos¬
sessing only some ^stringent or other less valuable con¬
stituent, it may be relegated to its proper place as an ad¬
dition to a class of bodies of which we at present possess
so ample a store.

It is sometimes difficult to determine whether it be a
loss to therapeutics or a gain to true pharmacy, but,
nevertheless, there is the fact, and it is daily exemplified,
that the more plentiful supply of the raw material sends
a large number of new therapeutic agents into the list of
forgotten or neglected remedies.

The official biennial henbane leaf has of late years
become very scarce in this country, and it was with
considerable interest, that, at the request of Mr. Holmes,
I undertook the examination of a small sample of

henbane leaf sent from India. It arrived in a tin
box without any particulars as to its being the pro¬
duce of the annual or biennial plant, place of growth,
character of soil, the result of cultivation, or otherwise.
The quantity at my disposal was only 3^ drachms. On
removal from the tin the leaves had a clammy feel ; they
possessed an intense odour, on the hand very persistent,
and generally stronger than that of any henbane that had
previously come under my notice.

With so small a quantity of leaf the tincture seemed
the most suitable official preparation to make. Eor this
purpose it was placed in a drying closet at a temperature
of about 80° F., and with a loss of 14 grams or 7 per
cent., was reduced to a coarse powder as directed in the
Pharmacopoeia. It was remarked how quickly and
almost entirely the peculiar odour of the henbane, just
referred to, passed off in the process of drying.

The tincture was prepared by maceration, and after
standing the usual time, pressed off and filtered. Com¬
pared with the official tincture of the British Pharmaco¬
poeia, made with biennial henbane, by transmitted light
it was brown olive, whereas the official tincture is olive-
green, and the colour more intense. A little of the
tincture of Indian henbane added to water produced no
opalescence, and gave only a tinge of colour; the official
tincture, on^the contrary, produced considerable opacity,
which, on the addition of a little liquor potassae, disap¬
peared.

In the general structure of the leaf I could perceive no
very material difference, but a section of the midrib
showed much more vascular structure than one from the
same part of indigenous biennial henbane ; but more ex¬
tended observation will be required on the histology of
the two plants before any definite conclusion can be
arrived at as to their identity.

Extracts made from the two tinctures were relatively
3’43 for the Indian henbane, as compared with 4’20 for
the British Pharmacopoeia ; but on this point also further
experiment, and with larger quantities, is desirable.

As regards the difference in colour it is probable that
under a tropical sun one of the elements of the chloro¬
phyll of the Indian henbane bad been in part decom¬
posed, and hence the brown of that tincture as compared
with the green of the official. The two samples also were
respectively viewed in the spectroscope, when the Indian
tincture showed an absorption band in the red, smaller,
and not so clearly defined as that of the tincture from the
indigenous biennial. This would also indicate a loss of
chlorophyll as just referred to. The relative difference in
the yield of extract of the two tinctures may receive its
solution in the greater vascular development of the
Indian as compared with the indigenous leaf. The
quantity of tincture was too small for reliable con¬
clusions as to any difference in the therapeutic value
of the two tinctures. That question must be left to a
larger supply of material for its solution.

Pereira, quoting Mr. Houlter, states, in reference to
indigenous biennial henbane that, “ when fresh it has a
strong, unpleasant and narcotic odour, a mucilaginous,
slightly acid taste, and a clammy feel, and that by drying
it almost wholly loses these properties.” Reference has
already been made to the more intense odour of the
Indian henbane, and it may therefore be worth while to
determine on a small quantity of a given sample the
amount of loss suffered in the process of drying, and
allowing for that loss to make a tincture with the leaf
without previously drying it, so that the strong odour
which is probably due to some volatile principle, and also
the acridity, may together be retained, and probably in¬
crease the therapeutic value of the product.

It is to be wished that a larger supply of this henbane
leaf, with full particulars on those points of its history
previously referred to, may reach this country for the
institution of more exact experiments to determine the
relative value of the two henbanes ; but these references
may serve to turn attention to another probable sourc

September 25, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

265

for an official plant now, and for some years past, very
scarce in this country.

I am inclined to think that the Indian henbane, from
its very intense odour, probably the result of climatic in¬
fluences, may supply a therapeutic agent more volatile
than any one of the official preparations from indigenous
henbane.

The President said the thanks of the Conference were
due to Mr. Greenish for an interesting paper on a prac¬
tical subject. The pith of it really lay in the few last
words. He did not know whether any quantity had
been hitherto imported.

Mr. Reynolds said the subject of henbane was likely
not to diminish but to increase in interest. Some few
years ago it was under a cloud, and people spoke of it
very disparagingly, some medical writers regarding it as
O’.e of those tinctures which could be given in any quan¬
tity up to an ounce without doing either good or harm.
The introduction of hyoscyamine in a state of greater or
less purity, for which they were chiefly indebted to M.
Merck, of Darmstadt, had led to a change of opinion,
and it had been used to a considerable extent lately in
the leading asylums, and originally in the West Riding
Asylum, by Dr. Robert Lawson, who, in the ‘ Medical
Reports ’ of the institution, vol. vi., called the attention
of the profession to it, and it was now recognized as one
of the most valuable remedies for controlling the excite-
ment of mania. The only case in which Merck’s extractive
hyoscyamine had been disappointing to those who had
used it, as far as he was aware, was where it had been
made from the root of the plant. Usually, Merck used
leaves, and the greenish colour had been regarded by
medical men as one of the tests of a reliable hyoscyamine.
There could be no question that any new source for
hyoscyamine would be scarcely less interesting to phar¬
macists than a new source for morphia, or any of the
drugs in most constant use.

Dr. Symes said the Conference was much indebted to
Mr. Greenish for explaining this new source for replacing
a diminished supply, and he was pleased to hear that
notwithstanding Mr. Greenish’s criticism on what he said
the previous day in defence of new remedies he thought
it very necessary that attention should be given to new
drugs when they were brought to this country. It
occurred to him from the facts stated that the tincture
from Indian henbane did not become opalescent when
mixed with water, that it was a characteristic of English
henbane made from annual leaves that it did not become
opalescent, and had been shown to be very nearly harm¬
less, whilst that made from biennial leaves did become
opalescent. He had recently had very good evidence
that hyoscyamine was gradually growing purer than
originally. There was certainly a difference in two
samples supplied by the same manufacturing chemist.
A medical man was prescribing it in one-twentieth of a
grain doses ; it had been dispensed twice ; but when it
was dispensed with a new supply the first dose produced
almost blindness and intoxication, so much so that the
patient’s employers thought he had better go home and
recover himself before continuing his duties. The dose
was precisely the same, and he could only attribute the
intoxication to the greater activity in the hyoscyamine.

Mr. Mason asked if Mr. Greenish had examined Ger¬
man henbane comparatively.

Mr. Greenish replied in the negative.

Mr. Umney thought the first important point to decide
was whether the biennial henbane was the only active
kind, and whether the annual kind was inert. He was
pretty confident that the henbane from India was a plant
that grew, flowered and died annually. The German
henbane also, he believed, was an annual variety; from
this there could be little doubt that Merck prepared his
hyoscyamine. He was of opinion that what they heard
of the greater activity of the biennial henbane was to a
great extent moonshine. The scarcity referred to would

continue so long as they drew it solely from home
supplies, and did not use that from the Continent, India
and other countries. The cultivation of biennial henbane
was already becoming almost a monopoly in two or three
hands, and they would probably see it get dearer year
by year until someone undertook a properly experi¬
mental investigation of the medicinal properties of the
two varieties, and the manufacture of hyoscyamine from
the annual variety.

Mr. Gerrard said on the breaking up of the Indian
Museum and the distribution of the specimens a number
of them fell into his hands, and among them was a
specimen of an Indian grown henbane. It was very
interesting, and had just the description given by Mr.
Greenish. He took a few hundred grains of the leaf and
submitted it to extraction by alcohol. The extract was
treated with water, filtered, and that solution was treated
with Meyer’s solution. The precipitate was weighed,
and a parallel experiment being carried on with biennial
henbane, a quantity of the weighed precipitate from
each approximated so closely that there could not be said
to be any difference in the amount. Judging by that
observation it would appear that the yield of alkaloid
matter from this Indian henbane would be nearly the
same as from the English grown plant. He should like
to know whether this Indian henbane was a commercial
article. He feared it was not, but he should like to
get a large quantity of it; he could then get the
necessary therapeutical experiments made. There had
recently been brought into the London market an
extract of hyoscyamus which was offered as Japanese.
It was the colour which might be expected in old
extracts, not a green, but a brown extract, in which
apparently a great deal of heat had been used carelessly
in evaporation. He thought it not at all impossible that
if it were offered in the market it might be made use of
and offered as English by the admixture of a little
chlorophyll. This was submitted to the same examina¬
tion he had already described, and the yield of alkaloid
matter as compared with the English was certainly
greater ; but he did not isolate the alkaloid absolutely as
hyoscyamine, the quantity in his hands not being
sufficient. When they considered that the percentage
of hyoscyamine was stated by Hanbury and Eliickiger
to be O'OS per cent, it was evident that an ounce of
extract would hardly yield enough to form a good judg¬
ment of its value.

Mr. Greenish said that when there was a demand
for a new supply of anything of this kind it was ample
justification for calling attention to it. With regard to
the trade supply, Mr. Holmes was in communication
with Dr. Dymock on that point, and he had little doubt
that by-and-by any quantity could be supplied. There
was another important point, and that was that a
tincture of the root of henbane was now being used, and
he requested Mr. Holmes to try and get some of the root
from Dr. Dymock so that experiments might be made
on that. He believed the tincture made from the root
from India would be stronger than that made from the
root grown in this country.

Mr. Brady thought it probable there might in the
future be exported from Japan a number of such pre¬
parations as extract of hyoscyamus, and even of things
more purely chemical. There was a great ambition on
the part of the Japanese to rival European manufacturers,
especially in matters requiring education and skilled
labour. They were now attempting to make quinine on
a considerable scale, and at some of the government
hospitals they would scarcely allow preparations not of
home manufacture to be used, even although they had
to pay many times the price for them. There was a
rapidly rising body of educated men in Japan capable of
holding their ©wn with Europeans in these as in other
matters.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Greenish for his
paper.

26G

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 25, 1880.

The next paper was entitled —

Further Notes on Petroleum Spirit and
Analogous Liquids.

BY ALFRED H. ALLEN, F.I.C., F.C.S.

At the Sheffield meeting, I laid before the Pharmaceu¬
tical Conference the results of my experiments on certain
tests for distinguishing commercial petroleum spirit or
“ benzoline ” from coal tar naphtha, the true benzol or
benzene.

Additional experience has fully confirmed the opinion
I then expressed as to the value of these tests, but it
has also shown that the subject was by no means ex¬
hausted.

The great competitor with petroleum spirit, in a com¬
mercial sense, is the highly volatile and inflammable
liquid obtained as a secondary product in the manu¬
facture of paraffin wax and burning oil from the bitu¬
minous -shale of the south of Scotland. This liquid,
which may be conveniently called “ shale naphtha,” is
commonly described as consisting essentially of a
mixture of hydrocarbons of the marsh gas or paraffin
series. As in physical properties the shale naphtha
presents the closest resemblance to petroleum spirit,
both liquids being, in fact, known in commerce as
“ benzoline,” and as they are usually stated to be
identical in chemical composition, I supposed that the
reactions which I found characteristic of petroleum
spirit would be equally applicable to shale naphtha.
Experiment has shown, however, that this is not true
in all cases. In fact, the observed differences in the
behaviour of the two liquids with certain reagents point
to a much wider divergence in their chemical composition
than is commonly suspected to exist.

The tests which I have found most serviceable for
distinguishing petroleum spirit from shale naphtha, and
both of these from coal-tar benzol, are the following : —

1. The solvent action of the sample on coal-tar pitch.

2. The behaviour of the sample with anhydrous car¬
bolic acid (Calvert’s No. 2).

3. The reaction of the sample with nitric acid.

4. The behaviour of the sample with bromide.

The following table exhibits in a convenient form the
behaviour of the liquids in question with the two first
named tests, the reactions with nitric acid and bromine
requiring separate and more detailed consideration.

To facilitate comparison, I also give the specific
gravities and boiling points of the samples examined.
They were ordinary commercial specimens, not purified
in any way.

Mode of Treat¬
ment.

Petroleum
Spirit. .

Shale

Naphtha.

Coal Tar Benzol.

a. Sp. gr. of
sample

b. Boiling point
of sample

c. Solvent ac¬
tion on coal-tar
pitch

d. Behaviour of
the sample when
three measures
of it are shaken
with one mea¬
sure of fused
crystals of ab¬
solute carbolic
acid.

•690

•718

05* C. 66* C.

Very slight sol- Behaves
vent action on similarly to
pitch ; liqui dpetr oleum

but slightly co- spirit,
loured even after
prolonged con¬
tact.

No apparent The liquids
solution. The form a ho-
liquids are notmogeneous
miscible. For mixture,
the real nature,
of this reaction,!
see ‘Year-Book
of Pharmacy,

1878, page 578.

•876
80* C.

Readily dis¬
solves pitch,
forming a deep
brown solution.

The liquids
form a homo¬
geneous mix¬
ture.

From the above table it appears that while shale
naphtha presents the closest resemblance to petroleum
spirit as regards its specific gravity, boiling point, and
solvent action on pitch, it is sharply distinguished from

it by its behaviour with carbolic acid, in which respect it
resembles coal-tar naphtha or benzol. The carbolic acid
test is not available for examining a mixture of petroleum
with shale or coal-tar naphtha, as in such cases the
phenol passes readily into complete solution.

In its limited solubility in spirit of wine shale naphtha
behaves like petroleum spirit, and differs from benzol.

As the carbolic acid test had shown a sharp distinction
between the more volatile products from petroleum and
those from bituminous shale, it appeared interesting to
compare the reactions with it yielded by burning oils
from different sources. The samples of burning oil com¬
pared were a specimen of refined American petroleum,
or “kerosene,” of ’800 specific gravity, boiling at 166° C.,
and one of shale oil, or “ photogene,” of '801 specific
gravity, boiling at 170° C. Both samples required six¬
teen or seventeen volumes of methylated spirit for com¬
plete solution, and gave with coal-tar pitch light yellow
liquids having a greenish fluorescence.

Carbolic acid, employed in the proportion indicated
above, was found not to be miscible with either kind of
burning oil, but the petroleum product caused it gradually
to assume a dark purple and ultimately a black colour.
This reaction was repeatedly obtained, but I am unable
to say whether it is peculiar to the few specimens hitherto
examined, or whether it is a test which might be gene¬
rally applied to distinguish petroleum kerosene from the
similar product from shale.

I produce tubes showing the reactions with pitch and
carbolic acid yielded by petroleum spirit and burning oil,
shale naphtha and burning oil, and coal-tar benzene.

In my previous paper 1 described a method of applying
nitric acid to the discrimination of petroleum spirit and
benzol in such a manner as to allow of rough quantitative
results being obtained. I may say, however, that my
observation that the volume of petroleum spirit remains
unchanged when treated with nitric acid under the con¬
ditions prescribed in my former paper, is not true of all
samples. Some specimens of petroleum spirit lose 10 or
12 per cent, by measure when treated with nitric acid,
and the portion which apparently remains unaltered
contains a sensible proportion of nitro-compounds.

Correspondence with a friend engaged in the distilla¬
tion of shale, and who desires to remain anonymous, has
given me a further insight into the constitution of
petroleum spirit, and the action of nitric acid upon it.
I have therefore continued my experiments in this
direction and extended them to shale naphtha and the
burning oils from shale and petroleum. My researches
are still too incomplete for detailed publication, but I
believe I have definitely verified the following facts,
some of which were pointed out to me by the corre¬
spondent already mentioned.

While petroleum spirit is but little affected by the
action, for a few minutes, of 4 volumes of fuming nitric
acid of 1’45 sp. gr., shale naphtha is violently attacked
with considerable rise of temperature. After the comple¬
tion of the reaction, two distinct layers of liquid are found
floating on the acid. In one of the most reliable experi¬
ments, these layers measured 20 per cent, and 31 per
cent, (by volume) respectively of the original shale
naphtha taken. The layers were then separately treated
with concentrated sulphuric acid, first of the ordinary
strength, and then fuming. The lower of the two layers
was by this means almost totally dissolved and_ got rid of,
while the lighter layer still measured 14 per cent, of the
original naphtha. Petroleum spirit treated in a similar
manner, never yields a second layer of oil floating on the
acid, and after treatment with sulphuric acid and soda
the residual oil still measures at least 75 per cent, of the
original quantity operated on, and appears to consist of
the true paraffins (CnH2n-f.2) of the petroleum spirit.

As to the nature of the liquid which disappears on
successive treatment with nitric acid and ordinary
fuming sulphuric acids, it appears certain that it consists
essentially of hydrocarbons of the olefine series having

September 25, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

267

the general formula CnH2n. This conclusion is borne
out by the fact that those products which are most
readily acted on by nitric acid also have the greatest
capacity for decolorizing bromine water, and I am
attempting to base a method of determining the olefines
■on this principle. The results already obtained in this
manner are very remarkable and conclusively prove the
predominance of olefines in shale products, these readily de¬
colorizing many times the volume of bromine which can be
caused to combine with petroleum naphtha or burning oil.

In petroleum spirit, I have repeatedly found traces of
’benzene and its homologues, as indicated by the produc¬
tion of aniline. Shale products, however, appear to be
wholly destitute of this series of hydrocarbons. I am
Informed that while chrysene is produced largely by the
distillation of shale, anthracene is met with in but very
insignificant quantity, and naphthalene appears to be
entirely absent. The lubricating oils produced from
shale consist almost wholly of olefines, the paraffins of
high boiling point being solid at ordinary temperatures,
and hence are separated in the form of paraffin wax.

The following table shows roughly the differences
existing in chemical constitution between petroleum
products and the bodies of similar physical characters
obtained by the distillation of shale : —

Petroleum.

Naphtha.

At least 75 per
cent, of heptane,
C7H16, and other hy¬
drocarbons of the
marsh gas or paraffin
series, CnH2n + 2.
The remainder ap¬
parently olefines,

CnH2n, with distinct
traces of benzene,
C6H6, and its homo¬
logues.

Photogene

55 to 80 per cent.

or burning

of higher members of

oil.

paraffin series,
CnH2n 2. The re¬
mainder chiefly ole¬
fines.

Lubricating

oil

?

Wax.

Solid paraffins,

CnH2n + 2.

Shale.

At least 60 or 70
per cent of hepty-
lene, C7H14, and
other hydrocarbons
of the olefiant gas
or ethylene series,
CnH2n. The re¬
mainder paraffins,
CnH2n. No trace
of benzene or its
homologues.

60 to 65 per cent,
of higher members
of olefine series,
CnH2n. The re¬
mainder paraffins,

^n-^2n 2*

Almost wholly
higher olefines, the
paraffins of similar
high boiling point
being solid. No
naphthalene.

Solid paraffins,

2*

From these, and many other observations, it is clear that
the naphthas from petroleum and shale are not chemi¬
cally identical. It is probable that while petroleum spirit
consists chiefly of heptane, C7H16, and other members of
the marsh gas or paraffin series of hydrocarbons, shale
naphtha contains a very large proportion of hydrocarbons
of the olefine or ethylene series, heptylene, C7H14, being
one of the leading constituents.

The burning oil from shale, when treated similarly
with nitric acid, gives no second layer of oil, the only
layer measuring some 86 to 90 per cent, of the original
sample. On treating this with sulphuric acid, great
heat is developed, and the residual oil, after washing
with alkali, etc., measures pretty constantly 35 to 37 per
cent, of that originally operated on. This is a much
smaller proportion than is left by petroleum burning oil
when similarly treated. In fact, the process may be
employed for discriminating between petroleum and
shale photogenes.

The oily layer which survives the successive treat¬
ment with fuming nitric acid of 1‘45 specific gravity, ordi¬
nary sulphuric acid (1'85 specific gravity), fuming sul¬
phuric acid, and soda may safely be considered to consi-t
of members of the paraffin series, having the general
formula CnH.2n + 2.

I have to thank Mr. W. L. Gunn for bis assistance in
carrying out many of the experiments made in connection
with the research.

Professor Attfield asked if Mr. Allen thought there
was any good chance of his reagent enabling these things
to be separated from one another when they were mixed.
Not that they were very likely to be mixed, perhaps, but
one knew that when some things got cheaper than others
mixtures were the result. With regard to the name
photogene, which Mr. Allen thought should be applied,
it was a good name, no doubt, and well expressed the
article and its use, but he questioned whether those who
made or used this oil would adopt it. For it was the one
originally used some twenty-five years ago by those who
worked on the subject, and if it was not adopted then,
being the first name almost that was employed, it was not
likely to be adopted now. He himself advocated it fifteen
years ago, but it had not the slightest effect. He hoped
Mr. Allen would work out further the reaction with
carbolic acid.

Mr. Reynolds said Mr. Allen spoke of using No. 2
Calvert’s carbolic acid. He should like to know whether
he thought absolute phenol would be a suitable thing.

Dr. Paul said Mr. Allen’s idea with regard to the
name was, he feared, not a practical one, as manu¬
facturers were very fond of names chosen by themselves.

Mr. White (Carmarthen) said there was no doubt a
considerable difference in these oils. The coal-tar naph¬
tha was the only one which would properly dissolve
india rubber or gutta percha. Petroleum spirit left a
greasy stain.

Mr. Allen said with reference to the possibility of
separating these oils if they were mixed, it must be
remembered that they were mixtures to begin with. If
he were asked if he could separate petroleum spirit from
shale spirit or shale naphtha, he could only say
they were very much alike, except that one contained
an excess of one constituent and the other more of
another. But if he were asked if he could separate
paraffins and olefines, he said yes ; he could obtain the
paraffins separate, but he was not sure he could obtain
the olefines. The method he had described, the action of
nitric acid, destroyed the olefines but left the paraffins
intact. He saw no chance of obtaining a separation
of the two naphthas from, petroleum and shale, nor did
he think it possible to detect the admixture of one with
the other unless the proportion of each wa.s considerable.
But he had shown that the products from the two
sources could be readily discriminated when separate.
As a matter of fact, commercially the price of the shale
burning oil and shale naphtha was regulated by the price
of petroleum, and when the latter went up so did the
shale products. Shale naphtha was largely used as a
substitute for turpentine. It was said that petroleum
spirit left a nasty greasy mark, but that must be because
it was badly prepared. Manufacturers wanted to have a
market for everything, and what would not go into the
burning oils passed as naphtha. And since burning oil
had to have a high boiling point and a high flashing
point, no doubt a good deal went into the naphtha which
had better be left out. If it were redistilled and the
last portions rejected, a perfectly volatile petroleum spirit
would be obtained, which would leave no trace of any
stain. He had been asked whether he knew the action
on petroleum spirit of absolute phenol as distinguished
from Calvert’s No. 2 carbolic acid, but the two were the
same thing. No. 1 and 2 carbolic acid presented no
difference except that one was intended for internal use.
As he understood, the main difference was that it was

268

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 25, 1880.

put in a smaller bottle and sold at a higher price. An¬
hydrous phenol, or anhydrous carbolic acid, was in the
form of crystals, which when pure, as he pointed out to
the Conference two years since, boiled at 182° and
melted at 41° C. If a little water were added to it the
melting point was greatly lowered. He mentioned that
it was necessary to use anhydrous phenol for the test,
and the sample must be melted and boiled in order to
drive off any water. The liquid form of carbolic acid
should not be used, because that consisted chiefly of
cresylic acid, which was miscible with petroleum naphtha
at all temperatures.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Allen for his
paper.

( To be continued.)

arlxmrnnteg mttr fitter Urnmtrmgs.

Poisoning by a Fly Paper.

On Monday last, Mr. Clarke Aspinall, Liverpool city
coroner, held an inquest on the body of Robert Leask,
nineteen months old, the son of Robert Leask, seamen,
who died from poisoning under singular circumstances.
Mrs. Leask, the mother of the child, stated that on
Friday afternoon last she left deceased in the cradle asleep.
On a table there was a plate with some water and a
piece of paper in it, called a “flycatcher,” and it had
printed upon it, “Dillon’s fly -killing paper” and “Cau¬
tion — this sheet must be kept out of the reach of
children.” She went into the room where the child
was a few minutes afterwards and found him standing
on a chair, with the plate on which the “flycatcher” had
been to his mouth, drinking the water. The paper was
not there, and the water had been turned brown by it.
She took the child at once to a chemist’s, and deceased
there vomited what appeared to be the “flycatcher.”
She next took him to the Royal Southern Hospital,
where a doctor prescribed medicine. The child was
afterwards seen at home by another doctor, but continued
very ill all the evening, and died at half -past ten o’clock
the same night. Witness said she had put the paper
and plate on the mantelpiece out of the way, and had
taken it down to put some water in it, and had forgot to
put it up again. Dr. Branagan who had been called to
the child, said that death had resulted from an irritant
poison, he believed arsenic. The jury returned a verdict
of “Accidentally poisoned.” — Liverpool Evening Express.

Notice has been received of the death of the fol¬
lowing: —

On the 2nd of March, 1880, Mr. William Worrin,
Chemist and Druggist, Brentwood. Aged 64 years.

On the 10th of August, 1880, Mr. John Goldsmith,
Chemist and Druggist, Abingdon. Aged 62 years.

On the 14th of August, 1880, Mr. William Dickinson,
Chemist and Druggist, Manchester Road, Southport.
Aged 32 years.

On the 15th of August, 1880, Mr. George Lockyer,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Deptford High Street, Kent.
Aged 60 years. Mr. Lockyer had been a Member of the
Pharmaceutical Society since 1846.

On the 15th of August, 1880, Mr. Thomas Fowler
Prior, Harper Street, Bedford. Aged 71 years.

On the 20th of August, 1880, Mr. Thomas Beastall,
Chemist and Druggist, Hereford Street, Sheffield. Aged
40 years.

On the 4th of September, 1880, Mr. Charles Thomas
Stott, Chemist and Druggist, Sowerby Bridge, York¬
shire. Aged 23 years. Mr. Stott had been connected
with the Pharmaceutical Society since 1871.

On the 7th of September, 1880, Mr. John Powell,

Pharmaceutical Chemist, Shaftesbury. Aged 66 years.
Mr. Powell had been a Member of the Pharmaceutical
Society since 1842, and was the Local Secretary for
Shaftesbury.

On the 12th of September, 1880, Mr. James Cliff,
Chemist and Druggist, Kirkgate, Wakefield. Aged 26
years.

On the 15th of September, 1880, Mr. Thomas Henley
Eastes, Chemist and Druggist, Dover. Aged 84 years.

On the 16th of September, 1880, Mr. William Henry
Collings, Chemist and Druggist, Royal Promenade,
Clifton, Bristol. Aged 53 years.

On the 20th of September, 1880, Mr. William Floyd,
Chemist and Druggist, Smith Street, Liverpool. Aged
46 years.

Puke Sugar for Syrups.

Sir, — The last number reports a conversation at Swan¬
sea upon a very familiar subject, the necessity of having
pure cane sugar for syrups, and the difficulty of procuring
it. Will you allow me to make a practical suggestion, viz.,
that the wholesale drug houses should add pure sugar to
their lists?

Of course, many already have sachar. alb. pulv.; but
what is required is guaranteed cane sugar for syrups. In
many towns it is difficult to procure sugar of undoubted
character, and, as stated in the discussion, even largo
crystals cannot now be depended on. No doubt many
chemists would willingly give a rather higher price to
secure a guaranteed sugar from a drug house.

Barnstaple. W. Symons.

Syrup op Iodide of Iron.

Sir, — My memory was at fault in attributing the article
upon “ Syrup of Iodide of Iron ” (to which I alluded in the
course of the discussion on Mr. Groves’s paper at Swansea)
to Mr. Creuse. I find, by reference, that the author was
P. L. Hammer. It appeared in The Pharmacist (Chicago)
for April, 1876, and is reprinted in the Pharmaceutical
Journal, [3], vol. vi., p. 907. The paper is exceedingly
practical, and, to anyone interested in the subject, will
well repay perusal.

73, Highbury Hill , N. Fred. W. Fletcher.

P. Wells. — We tljank you for the communication and
recommend you to communicate to the Registrar any evi¬
dence you may possess of a breach of the Pharmacy Act
having been committed by the person referred to.

H. Boutell. — We do not think any further advantage can
result from a continuance of the correspondence.

J. Leach. — Achillea Millefolium.

H. O. H. — Alchemilla arvmsis.

T. G. P. S. is requested to comply with the rule as to
anonymous communications and also to send any letter
intended for the Editor to the Journal Department, 17,
Bloomsbury Square.

S. Hardwick. — Special cases are not provided for the
binding of the Pharmaceutical Journal.

N. — Ferreira’s ‘ Hydrologic Generale,’ a copy of which is
in the Society’s Library.

L. P. S. I. — The answer would depend upon the locality.
In some parts of the States and Canada there are no laws
regulating pharmacy, in others probably such a certificate
would be received in lieu of an examination ; in others, on
the other hand, it would not.

R. W. O. — Professor Tichborne’s formula for the pre¬
paration of lin. iod. potass, c. sapone with oleic acid will
be found in the Pharm. Joum. for Sept. 5, 1874 (vol. v.),
p. 1852.

C. W. Price. — The reference should have been to vol. x.,
pp. 58 and 848, not vol. ix.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Hutton, Smith, Lawrence, Symes, Kermat h*
Kimber, Pratt, Carlton, Crown Perfumery Company*
K., N., Beta, Unguent, Potass. lodid.

October 2, ISSO.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

2G9

ASPIDOSPERMINE AND PAYTINE.*

BY DR. N. WULFSBERG,

Assistant in the Pharmacological Institute in Gottingen.

In a previous communication upon aspidosperma
and quebracho, published in the Pharmaceutische
Zeitung , the author expressed an opinion that pro¬
bably in other species of Aspidosperma the same
alkaloid might be detected. More rapidly than was
at that time expected, this conjecture has become a
certainty. Not, however, that a new chemical in¬
vestigation of an aspidosperma bark has opened up
a fresh source of aspidospermine. The fact is far
more surprising, and the author hopes in the fol¬
lowing communication to make it probable that
aspidospermine is an old acquaintance, and identical
with the pay tine described by Hesse in 1870.f

The author was led to this opinion upon ob¬
serving, in the recently published third edition of
Yogi’s ‘ Commentar zur oesterreichischen Phar-
macopoe,’ p. 223, fig. 101, a very fine drawing of a
longitudinal and a transverse section of an Aspi¬
dosperma bark, which bears the title — “Cortex chinse
albse de Pay ta.”

A bark having this name was, in 1870, given by
Jobst, of Stuttgart, to Hesse to examine. Hesse was
unable to ascertain the source of the bark, but he
demonstrated by the chemical examination that it
could not have been derived from any species of
cinchona. He found in it, on the contrary, the
new alkaloid “ paytine,” and he described the ob¬
taining and properties of this body with his cus¬
tomary thoroughness. X

Two years afterwards Fluckiger had an opportu¬
nity of examining the bark, and drawing up an exact
pharmacognostic description of it.§ He came to the
conclusion that it could be neither a cinchona bark,
nor probably a rubiaceous one.||

According to Fluckiger, the bark consisted of
layers of bast, about 5 centimetres long, 6 centi¬
metres broad, and 5 to 8 millimetres thick. Its
yellowish-white colour is due to very numerous
yellow bast fibres imbedded in the whitish paren¬
chyma. The bast fibres are spindleform, united, or
at least approximating in small groups, distributed
equally throughout the parenchyma without definite
arrangement. They are so completely converted
into wood, that no interspace, or only a small chink,
is left between them. They are soft and do not, as
in the Cinchona Calisaya , penetrate to the surface.
They are strongly attacked by boiling solution of
potash and coloured pale green. Each bast fibre is
accompanied by parenchymatous tissue containing
crystals. Round about it, for instance, lie small
bast parenchyma cells, strongly pressed against and
firmly adhering to it, each cell enclosing a crystal of
oxalate of lime. It after boiling with potash the
bast fibres be isolated, they exhibit abundantly the
imprints of the crystal cells, often in the form of
curious prominences.

The medullary rays are very small, and consist of
one or two rows of cells.

Those cells of the bast parenchyma which do not
contain crystals are filled with starch granules.

* From the Pharviaceutische Zeitung , Sept. 8, p. 546.

+ Pharm. Journ., [3], vol. i., p. 226, and vol. iv., 772.

X Annalen d. Chemie u. Pharmacie, vol. cliv., p. 287.

§ N. Jahrbuch f. Pharmacie, vol. xxxv., p. 291.

|| The actual words of Professor Fluckiger are -“ Sollte
sich meine Yermuthung bestatigen, dass sie einer Cinchonee
aber nieht einer Cinchona angehort,” etc.— Ed. Ph. J.
Third Series, No. 536

These granules are small, either approaching a
spherical or an irregularly tetrahedral form, simple
or compound. If a thin slice*of the bark be moist¬
ened with very dilute ferric chloride, the paren¬
chyma assumes a blue to a violet colour, which
passes to a green from the yellow colour of ferric
chloride if this be added in larger quantity. The
reaction is very faint and indicates only a small
quantity of tannin.

The above description corresponds exactly with
the drawing of Yogi. If now the description and
the figure be examined, together with the later
figures and descriptions of Aspidosperma Quebracho-
blavco , Schlechtendal, by Jos. Moeller and Ad.
Hansen, the great similarity becomes equally
striking. For comparison, the description of
Moeller may be chosen, on account of its brevity;
and of this, only the portion which corresponds
need be cited, as his description of the corky layer
presents no interest for this purpose.

“ Inner bark about 8 centimetres [? millimetres]
thick. Medullary rays consisting of one to three
rows, separated by thin-walled parenchyma. In the
latter occur groups of sclerenchyma and stone cells.
The bast fibres are 1 to P5 millimetre long, 0'06
millimetre broad, spindle-shaped, obtuse at the end,
and covered all over with crystals, so that in ma¬
cerated preparations the fibre walls seldom come
into view. The thickening is very considerable.
Ferric chloride preparations give an almost black
precipitate.”

The author, in his former communication upon
quebracho, showed that these crystalline sheaths of
the bast fibres, already observed by Fluckiger in
1872, and the development of which in the white
quebracho bark has been lately pointed out by Dr.
Hansen, are characteristic of species of Aspido¬
sperma. It was therefore of great interest to him to
find in the pharmacognostic collection at Gottingen
a specimen of the cortex chinse albse de Payta,
which the late Professor Wiggers had received from
Hesse. This agreed completely with the description of
Fluckiger and the figure of Vogl, and appeared, upon
comparison with the bark of Aspidosperma Quebracho-
bianco, Schlecht., with that of A. febrifuga, Fenzl,
and with barks referred by Grundherr and Hertel
to quebracho, to be a true Aspidosperma. As to the
species, however, this bark differs ; it is most like
the quebracho bianco, but is distinguished from
that with certainty through the finely-pointed scler¬
enchyma fibres of the bast, and through the absence
of short sclerenchyma cells from the inner bark.
In elegance of the crystalline sheath, a section cut
from it equals the most beautiful microscopic pre¬
parations of Aspidosperma. The reaction with dilute
solution of ferric chloride is in all these barks ex¬
actly the same. The parenchyma becomes coloured,
whilst the sclerenchyma retains the light yellow
colour.

What species of Aspidosperma may occur in Peru
is at present unknown to the author. That the
mother plant of the white Payta bark is of a dif¬
ferent species from those hitherto known pharma-
cognostically may be assumed with certainty, partly
on account of the anomalous character of the bark,
partly because the numerous South American species
of this genus have each only a limited distribution.
So long as the allied Apocynacese of that continent
remain imperfectly known as to their anatomical
structure, the author would look upon even the

270

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

fOctober 2, 18S0

reference to the genus as being doubtful, if even a
more weighty argument could not be raised.

As before mentioned, ten years ago Hesse prepared
the alkaloid paytine from the white Payta bark.
If, therefore, the author’s opinion be correct, it be¬
comes a question in what relation paytine and
aspidospermine stand to one another. A comparison
of the descriptions of the two alkaloids shows that
they very nearly correspond. Of both isolated ob¬
servations have been made, which the author was
unable from insufficient materials to use in the
comparison, especially a number of colour reactions;
but the general result of these goes to show that
in the colour reactions both alkaloids exercise a
reducing action. The corresponding characters are
in the following table placed opposite to each
other : —

Paytine.

According to Hesse ( Lieb .
Annalen, vol. cliv., p. 287).

Colourless prisms.

Tastes bitter.

Dissolves readily in alcohol
and ether.

Slightly soluble in water.

Melts at + 156° C.

Heated above the melting
point it yields an oily
liquid distillate and a
residue of carbon.

Hydrochlorate, hydriodate
and nitrate of paytine
obtained crystalline; but
the sulphate, oxalate,
chromate and nitropicrate
not so.

Hydrochlorate of paytine
dissolves at +15° C. in
16 ’6 parts of water.

Corrosive sublimate pro¬
duces in a solution of
hydrochlorate of paytine
a yellowish amorphous
precipitate.

Picrate of paytine forms
beautiful yellow amor¬
phous flocks.

Chromate of paytine is a
yellow amorphous preci¬
pitate.

A solution of hydrochlorate
of paytine gives with
platinic chloride a dark
yellow precipitate, which
upon heating in hydro¬
chloric acid dissolves with
a brown-red colour that
immediately passes to
blue, with the separation
of an indigo blue pre¬
cipitate.

Aspidospermine.

According to Eraude {Be-
richte , vol. xi., p. 2189 ;
vol. xii., p. 1560).

White prismatic crystals,
with simple shining fa¬
cets.

Tastes bitter.

Dissolves in 48 parts of 99
per cent, alcohol at
+ 14° C.

Dissolves in 106 parts of
ether at +14° C.

Slightly soluble in water
(1 in 6000).

Melts at +205° to 206° C.

Heated above the melting
point it is partially de¬
composed and evolves a
vapour provocative of
sneezing and having a
smell remotely resembling
acrolein.

Crystalline salts could not
be obtained.

The hydrochlorate dissolves
freely in water.

The hydrochlorate is pre¬
cipitated by corrosive
sublimate in white flocks.

Aspidospermine gives with
picric acid a yellow pre¬
cipitate.

Erom tolerably reduced so¬
lutions yellow salts are
precipitated both by the
red and the yellow chro¬
mate of potash.

F rom hydrochlorate solution
platinic chloride throws
down a yellow flocculent
precipitate. This, dis¬
solved and boiled with
excess of platinic chloride,
is coloured deep violet.

The formulae have not here been set out, because
at the first glance they appear to be very different.
The author considers, however, that a closer ex¬
amination shows that they support his view most
powerfully of all. Fraude states that in the pre¬
paration of aspidospermine a high temperature is to
be avoided' as much as possible. Hesse, on the other
hand, has found with respect to paytine that, when
dried at from 130° to 140° O., it gives off a molecule
of water of crystallization. He has crystallized the
substance from different solvents — alcohol, ether,
benzine, petroleum spirit, and chloroform — and
found that in the preparations so obtained the
water of crystallization behaves very differently.
For instance, the crystals from ether do not undergo
the least loss in the exsiccator, and even at 120° C.
they give off the water with extreme difficulty.
Hesse’s analyses were all made with the substance
dried at from 130° to 140° C. The author thinks,
therefore, it may be well assumed that Fraude, vTho
carefully protected his alkaloid from a high tem¬
perature, analysed it containing the water of crys¬
tallization. If the figures found in his analyses be
compared with the formula of Hesse, adding to it
H20, this formula agrees better with the analyses
than either of the two calculated by Fraude. Taking
first Hesse’s analysis of paytine : —

Found.

Mean. Calculated for the

I.

II.

formula C21H24N0O.
78-61 78-75

c . .

. 78-53

78-70

H .

, 7-33

7-68

7-51 7-75

N . ,

. 8-80

—

8-80 8-75

O . .

—

—

5-08 5-00

The formula for the undried substance is —

C21H24N20 + H20 = C21H26N202.

In the following table are shown the percentages
found by Fraude in his analyses of aspidospermine ;
also the figures calculated from his formulae, and
those of the undried paytine : —

Found.

Mean.

Fraude s Fraude s

first latest ^ndned

formula formula

C22H30 cfogf

NoOo JN2V2
_ reaiures

To24

C

74-99 '

^4-92 74-20

74*28

74-25

74-37

75-00

74-75

74-56

H

8-50

8-30 —

8*45

8*60

8-46

7-96

8-47

7-69

N

8 23

8-30 —

—

—

8-26

7-96

7-90

8-28

O

—

— —

—

—

8-71

9-08

9-06

9-47

As is evident from this table, the numbers corre¬
spond better with the formula of undehydrated
paytine than with either of the formulae given by
Fraude. Especially the amount of nitrogen corre¬
sponds very well with the paytine formula.

Both analysts attempted the analysis of the pla-
tinochloride, but on account of the reducing action
of the alkaloid they did not succeed in obtaining a
crystalline or well defined compound. The numbers
obtained, therefore, do not correspond very exactly.
Hesse found, Pt 1873 per cent. ; Fraude, 17*44,
17*45 and 17*48. The formula (C21H25N20)2 *PtCl0
requires 18*82.

The neighbouring geissospermine of Hesse, with
which, according to Dragendorff,* Arata would asso¬
ciate aspidospermine, is distinguished both from it
and from paytine by its slight solubility in ether
and by the purple-red colour which it gives when
dissolved in concentrated nitric acid. It does not
reduce platinic chloride, and is represented by the
chemical formula C19H24N202H20.

* ‘ Jahresbericht,’ 1878, p. 122.

October 2, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

271

The author hopes that by the foregoing he has
demonstrated with great probability that the so-
called “white Payta bark” is an Aspidosperma
bark and that the alkaloid obtained from white
quebracho bark is paytine. The deductions that
would follow are easily drawn. Instead of “ cortex
chinse de Payta albse” the bark must be named
1 ( cortex aspidospermatis de Payta albus.” The
plant from which it is derived belongs to a Peruvian
species of Aspidosperma. Although the remark of
the late Professor Wiggers* that Hesse had not quite
suitably named the alkaloid found by him “pay-
tine” was certainly correct, this name must lie
retained as being the older by a year, and the name
i( aspidospermine ” abandoned. That this is at
present finally established the author does not
venture to affirm, but he hopes that his investigation
may stir up those chemists who may be in posses¬
sion of trustworthy materials to carry the compari¬
son further.

It should also be mentioned that Hesse at that
time experimented with paytine upon rabbits, with¬
out observing the slightest symptoms of poisoning.
Probably the dose was too small or the manner of
administration was incorrect. With a galenical
preparation of quebracho bark Penzoldtf saw a
physiological action upon frogs, which he verified
in subsequent physiological experiments.

If a thorough experimental investigation of aspi¬
dospermine should not give the desired light upon
the activity of the mother drug, it is of greater
importance that Hesse, besides paytine, found in
the bark analysed by him a second alkaloid not
yet named or further followed up. The chemical
investigation of the Aspidosperma barks still re¬
mains, at any rate, a promising task.

Hesse further makes the remark that the Payta
bark, on account of its richness in starch, and the
absence of disturbing volatile compounds, is suitable
for the manufacture of brandy. Should this advice
be verified in practice it would be the first example
of the use of a bark in this way.

CHIAN TURPENTINE.

BY WILLIAM MARTINDALE.

Since I published some notes on the above drug,+
— which still is much in request, and until lately not
to be had in the market, although some of the
genuine article is now offered at a high price, — I have
received the following account of it, and the probable
supply this season, from M. D. Spadavo, French
Consul at Ohio. The account tallies pretty well
with that which I published before, and the supply,
although not large this year, could, if required, be
much increased.

“ I am happy to give you the information you
require relating to Chian turpentine. This drug has
not been collected in our island for many years, and
I believe the greatest quantities of Chian turpentine
sold as such in England were mere falsifications or
another kind substituted for it. Ohio may possess
about 1000 turpentine trees, some exceedingly old,
— up to eight hundred or nine hundred years, — and
varying from \ yard to 10 and 12 yards in circum-

* Jahresbericht , 1870, p. 141.

t Berlin Kl. Wochenschr., vol. xvi., p. 269.

£ Phornn. Journ., [3], vol_x., p. 854.

ference. These trees when well cultivated may give
from 2 to 3 kilograms of turpentine (a year ?).

“ The turpentine is collected by incisions made in
the trunk of the tree about April, which are renewed
every year.

“ The fruit of this tree when ripe is collected and
pressed in the same way as the olives; it gives a
magnificent oil, very much liked by the inhabitants
and often employed instead of butter. As soon as
the fruit begins to get ripe the flow of the turpentine
ceases. This happens about the middle of August.

“This year the inhabitants have been surprised to
receive orders for the collection of turpentine, as it
has been asked for in England and bought at the
rate of 6s. the oke (or 1600 grams). The island has
not produced over 700 or 800 kilograms this year,
as many have not been informed in time to incise
the tree. Owing to its cheapness the possessors of
these trees do not give themselves too much trouble
in collecting it clear, and they let it flow on the
sand, which is taken with it. We have not the
means to get it cleared and are obliged to send it as
it is collected.”

The above is dated, “Ohio, 18th September,
1880.”

CHEMICAL EXAMINATION 0E DAMIANA.*

BY HENRY B. PARSONS.

In the report of the U. S. Department of Agriculture
for 1878, pp. 130 and 131, is given a brief summary of
results obtained in an examination of true damiana — the
Turnera aphrodisiaca of Ward and Vasey. Some addi¬
tional notes may here be of interest, and may to some
extent supplement the accurate botanical descriptions
given by J. U. and C. G. Lloyd in New Remedies, August,
1880, pp. 228 — 230. The analysis, as reported, is as
follows : —

Proximate Analysis of Turnera Aphrodisiaca.

Moisture, at 115— 125° C . 9-06

Ash, by combustion . 8 '37

Chlorophyll, soft resin, volatile oil . 8*06

Hard, brown resin . 6‘39

Sugar, colour and extractive matter . 6'42

Tannin . 3*46

Bitter substance . 7 '08

Gum . 13‘50

Starch isomers . 6T5

Acid and alkali extracts . 10’02

Albuminoids . 14-88

Cellulose . 5 03

98-42

Since the publication of this analysis I have duplicated
many of the results, and am satisfied of their approximate
accuracy.

It seems probable that the medicinal effects of damiana
are principally dependent upon ( a ) the volatile oil, ( b ) the
soft resin, ( c ) the hard, brown resin, (d) the bitter sub¬
stance, (e) the gum, (/) possibly the tannin-like acid.
This being true, a description of each substance may
tend to throw some light on the therapeutic action of
different preparations from this drug.

The volatile oil is present in moderate amount, but
apparently not exceeding 0'2 per cent. It was impossible
to separate enough for extended examination. It seems,
however, to have an odour and other properties much
resembling the terebinthinate oils. Doubtless, so far as
it goes, its medicinal properties are similar to those of
minute doses of turpentine oil.

The soft resin seems to be rather an oleo-resin in con-

* From New Remedies, September, 1880.

272

THE PHARMACEUTICAt JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 2, 1S80

sistence, but it does not allow of further division by-
solvents. It is, when freed from chlorophyll, a brown,
semi-solid substance, has a very acrid, terebinthinate
taste, and is freely soluble in alcohol of 80 and 90 per
cent., in chloroform, ether, carbon disulphide, benzole
and petroleum naphtha. It is not removed from these
solutions by animal charcoal. It does not readily dis¬
solve in dilute ammonic or potassic hydrates. It seems
very probable that to this soft resin may be attributed
many of the unpleasant irritant effects following the
administration of alcoholic extracts of damiana.

The hard, brown resin is dissolved by none of the
above solvents of the soft resin except alcohol, in which
it is freely soluble. This resin is nearly tasteless, melts
at about 85° C., and forms soluble soaps when treated
with dilute ammonic and potassic hydrates. It seems
probable that there may be two resins here included, as
well as a little brown colouring matter, from the fact
that fractional precipitation of its ammoniacal solutions
fails to recover the whole of the crude resin originally
employed. The portion first precipitated by acid is much
darker coloured than the original resin, while the still
remaining neutralized solution forms a light brown lead
soap when treated with lead acetate.

It seems rather doubtful whether this resin is medi¬
cinally active.

The bitter substance is an amorphous, light brown,
uncrystallizable solid, containing no nitrogen, and appa¬
rently not a glucoside. Its bitterness is not unpleasant
nor very persistent.

Water and alcohol freely dissolve this bitter extractive,
but it is insoluble in ether, chloroform, benzole, petro¬
leum naphtha, and carbon disulphide. Repeated experi¬
ments failed to separate this substance in a crystalline
form, and thorough treatment with animal charcoal did
not deprive it of colour ; it is not precipitated by acetate
or basic acetate of lead, or by any other of the ordinary
reagents.

As the result of very careful experimentation, I believe
that this bitter substance is a true tonic of especial
value to dyspeptic patients. For their use it should not
be administered as fluid extract or tincture (both of
which contain the objectionable irritant resins), but
rather as an infusion or decoction. In several cases the
patients have prepared a “tea” by simply pouring a
teacupful of hot water over a teaspoonful of the dried
leaves, the liquid being allowed to cool until it could be
drunk. As thus made, the “tea” is not at all unpleasant,
but is rather the reverse ; it contains the volatile oil,
which gives it an aromatic taste, the bitter extractive, a
little tannin, and most of the mucilage of the leaves.

I have seen very marked good effects in three cases
where the persons experimented upon were constantly
troubled with disordered stomach and attendant sick
headaches ; in each of these cases the faithful use of
damiana “tea” twice a day has resulted in apparent
c\ire, after about one to two months’ experimentation.

The amount of gum in damiana is quite large. When
separated by precipitating a prepared aqueous extract of
the leaves with alcohol, this gum is perfectly white, but
even short contact with the air causes it to become inky
black.

As above stated, this gum is present in aqueous
extracts with the bitter extractive. It may have emol¬
lient or demulcent properties, but of these nothing seems
yet to be known.

The “ tannic acid ” is one of those so-called “ tannins ”
present in nearly all plants ; it gives, with ferric salts, a
greenish-brown colour, but it possesses no marked astrin-
gency. It is hardly probable that it has much to do with
the medicinal activity of the leaves.

There seem also to be minute quantities of volatile
and non-volatile organic acids, and of a substance which
gives with ferric salts a purplish colour, somewhat similar
to that produced by salicylic acid. These substances are
not included in the above analysis.

From what has been stated it seems probable that
alcoholic preparations may be irritating in many case<}
became they contain the soft resin , and that aqueous ex¬
tracts are probably tonic because they contain the bitter
extractive. At the same time, the alcoholic extracts m;iy
possibly be more useful where they can be borne by the
stomach. Possibly, also, the reputed aphrodisiac virtues
of damiana may be due to the single or conjoined action
of the soft (and probably irritating) resin, and of the
bitter extractive.

These therapeutic speculations are those of a chemist
rather than those of a physician ; if they shall merely
throw some light upon the very discordant results re¬
ported by medical practitioners they may prove not
altogether useless.

SELENIUM AND THE PHOTOPHONE.*

BY PROFESSOR A. GRAHAM BELL.

In bringing before you some discoveries made by
Mr. Sumner Tainter and myself, which have resulted in
the construction of apparatus for the production and
reproduction of sound by means of light, it is necessary to
explain the state of knowledge which formed the starting
point of our experiments. I shall first describe the
remarkable substance selenium, and the manipulations
devised by various experiments ; but the final result of
our researches has evidenced the class of substances
sensitive to light vibrations, until we can propound
the fact of sensitiveness being a general property
of all matter. We have found this property in gold,
silver, platinum, iron, steel, brass, copper, zinc, lead,
antimony, German silver, Jenkin’s metal, Babbitt’s
metal, ivory, celluloid, gutta percha, hard rubber, soft
vulcanized rubber, paper, parchment, wood, mica, and
silvered glass ; and the only substances from which we
have not obtained results are carbon and thin micro¬
scopic glass. We find that when a vibratory beam of
light falls upon these substances they emit sounds — the
pitch of which depends upon the frequency of the
vibratory change in the light. We find further thaf,
when we control the form or character of the light
vibration on selenium, and probably on the other sub¬
stances, we control the quality of the sound and obtain
all varieties of articulate speech. We can thus, without
a conducting wire as in electric telephony, speak from
station to station, wherever we can project a beam of
light. We have not had opportunity of testing the
limit to which this photophonic influence can be ex¬
tended, but we have spoken to and from points 213
metres apart ; and there seems no reason to doubt that
the results will be obtained at whatever distance a beam
of light can be flashed from one observatory to another.
The necessary privacy of our experiments hitherto has
alone prevented any attempts at determining the extreme
distance at which this new method of vocal communica¬
tion will be available. I shall now speak of selenium.

In the year 1817 Berzelius and Gottlieb Gahn made
an examination of the method of preparing sulphuric
acid in use at Gripsholm. During the course of this
examination, they observed in the acid a sediment of a
partly reddish, partly clear brown colour, which under
the action of the blowpipe gave out a peculiar odour,
like that attributed by Klaproth to tellurium. As
tellurium was a substance of extreme rarity, Berzelius
attempted its production from this deposit ; but he was
unable, after many experiments, to obtain further indica¬
tions of its presence. He found plentiful signs of
sulphur mixed with mercury, copper, zinc, iron, arsenic
and lead, but no trace of tellurium. It was not in the
nature of Berzelius to be disheartened by this result.

* Lecture delivered at the Boston meeting of the American
Association by Professor A. Graham Bell. From Nature ,
September 23, 1880.

October 2, 1SS0-3

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

273

In science every failure advances the boundary of know¬
ledge as well as every success, and Berzelius felt that if
the characteristic odour that had been observed did not
proceed from tellurium, it might possibly indicate the
presence of some substance then unknown to the chemist.
Urged on by this hope he returned with renewed ardour
to his work. He collected a great quantity of the mate¬
rial, and submitted the whole mass to various chemical
processes. He succeeded in separating successively the
sulphur, the mercury, the copper, the tin, and the other
known substances whose presence had been indicated by
his tests ; and, after all these had been eliminated, there
still remained a residue which proved upon examination
to be what he had been in search of — a new elementary
substance. The chemical properties of this new element
were found to resemble those of tellurium in so remark¬
able a degree, that Berzelius gave to the substance the
name of “ Selenium,” from the Greek word selene, the
moon (“ tellurium,” as is well known, being derived from
tellus, the earth).

Although tellurium and selenium are alike . in many
respects, they differ in their electrical properties, tellu¬
rium being a good conductor of electricity, and selenium,
as Berzelius showed, a non-conductor. Knox discovered
in 1837, that selenium became a conductor when fused ;
and Hittorff, in 1852, showed that it conducted, at
ordinary temperatures, when in one of its allotropic
forms. When selenium is rapidly cooled from a fused
condition it is a non-conductor. In this ics vitreous
form it is of a dark brown colour, almost black by
reflected light, having an exceedingly brilliant surface.
In thin films it is transparent, and appears of a beautiful
ruby red by transmitted light. When selenium is
cooled from a fused condition with extreme slowness it pre¬
sents an entirely different appearance, being of a dull lead
colour, and having throughout a granulated or crystalline
structure, and looking like a metal. In this form it is
perfectly opaque to light, even in very thin films. This
variety of selenium has long been known as “ granular
or “ crystalline ” selenium, or, as Regnault called it,

“ metallic ” selenium. It was selenium of this kind that
Hittorff found to be a conductor of electricity at ordinary
temperatures. He also found that its resistance to the
passage of an electrical current diminished continuously by
heating up to the point of fusion, and that the resistance
suddenly increased in passing from the solid to the liquid
condition. It was early discovered that exposure to
sunlight hastens the change of selenium _ from one allo¬
tropic form to another ; and this observation is significant
in the light of recent discoveries.

Although selenium has been known for the last sixty
years, it has not yet been utilized to any extent in the
arts, and it is still considered simply as a chemical
curiosity. It is usually supplied in the form of cylindrical
bars. These bars are sometimes found to be in the
metallic condition ; but more usually they are in the
vitreous or non-conducting form. It occurred to Wil¬
loughby Smith that, on account of the high resistance of
crystalline selenium, it might be usefully employed at the
shore end of a submarine cable, in his system of testing
and signalling during the process of submersion. Upon
experiment, the selenium was found to have all the
resistance required — some of the bars employed measuring
as much as 1400 megohms— a resistance equivalent to
that which would be offered by a telegraph wire long
enough, to reach from the earth to the sun ! But the
resistance was found to be extremely variable. Lxperi-
rnents were made to ascertain the cause of this variability.
Hr. May, Mr. Willoughby Smith’s assistant, discovered
that the resistance was less when the selenium was
exposed to light than when it was in the dark.

In order to be certain that temperature had nothing to
do with the effect, the selenium was placed in a vessel of
water, so that the light had to pass through from 1 inch
to 2 inches of water in order to reach the selenium.
The approach of a lighted candle was found to be suffi¬

cient to cause a marked deflection of the needle of the
galvanometer connected with the selenium, and the light¬
ing of a piece of magnesium wire caused the selenium to
measure less than half the resistance it did the moment
before.

These results were naturally at first received by
scientific men with some incredulity, but they were veri¬
fied by Sale, Draper, Moss, and others. When selenium
is exposed to the action of the solar spectrum, the
maximum effect is produced, according to Sale, just
outside the red end of the spectrum , in a point nearly
coincident with the maximum of the heat rays ; but,
according to Adams, the maximum _ effect is produced
in the greenish-yellow or most luminous part of the
spectrum. Lord Rosse exposed selenium to the action of
non-luminous radiations from hot bodies, but could pro¬
duce no effect ; whereas a thermopile under similar
circumstances gave abundant indications of a current.
He also cut off the heat rays from luminous bodies by
the interposition of liquid solutions, such as alum,
between the selenium and the source of light, without
affecting the power of the light to reduce the resistance
of the selenium ; whereas the interposition of these same
substances almost completely neutralized the effect upon
the thermopile. Adams found that selenium was sensitive
to the cold light of the moon, and Werner Siemens
discovered that, in certain extremely sensitive varieties of
selenium, heat and light produced opposite effects. In
Siemens’s experiments, special arrangements were made
for the purpose of reducing the resistance of the selenium
employed. Two fine platinum wires were coiled together
in the shape of a double flat spiral in the zig-zag shape,
and were laid upon a plate of mica so that the disks did
not touch one another. A drop of melted selenium was
then placed upon the platinum wire arrangement, and a
second sheet of mica was pressed upon the selenium, so as
to cause it to spread out and fill the spaces between . the
wires. Each cell was about the size of a silver dime.
The selenium cells were then placed in a paraffin bath,
and exposed for some hours to a temperature of 210 C.,

after which they were allowed to cool with extreme slow¬
ness. The results obtained with these cells were very
extraordinary ; in some cases the resistance of the cells,
when exposed to light, was only one-fifteenth of their
resistance in the dark.

Without dwelling farther upon the researches of others,
I may say that the chief information concerning the
effect of light upon the conductivity of selenium will be
found under the names of Willoughby Smith, Lieutenant
Sale, Draper and Moss, Professor W. G. Adams, Lord
Rosse, Day, Sabini, Dr. Werner Siemens, and Dr. 0. W.
Siemens. All observations by these various authors had
been made by means of galvanometers ; but it occurred
to me that the telephone, from its extreme sensitiveness
to electrical influences, might be substituted with ad¬
vantage. Upon consideration of the subject, however, I
saw that the experiments could not be conducted in the
ordinary way for the following reason : — The law of
audibility of the telephone is precisely analogous to the
law of electric induction. No effect is produced during
the passsage of a continuous and steady current. It is
only at the moment of change from a stronger to a
weaker state, or vice versa, that any audible effect is pro¬
posed, and the amount of effect is exactly proportional to
the amount of variation in the current. It was, therefore,
evident that the telephone could only respond to the
effect produced in selenium at the moment of change
from light to darkness, or vice versa, and that it would
be advisable to intermit the light with great rapidity, so
as to produce a succession of changes in the conductivity
of the selenium, corresponding in frequency to musical
vibrations within the limits of the sense of hearing.
Por I had often noticed that currents of electricity, so
feeble as to produce scarcely any audible effects from a
telephone when the circuit was simply open or closed,
caused very perceptible musical sounds when the circuit

274

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 2, 1880.

was rapidly interrupted, and that the higher the pitch of
sound the more audible was the effect. I was much
struck by the idea of producing sound by the action of
light in this way. Upon farther consideration it appeared
to me that all the audible effects obtained from varieties
of electricity could also be produced by variations of light
acting upon selenium. I saw that the effect could be
produced at the extreme distance at which selenium
would respond to the action of a luminous body, but that
this distance could be indefinitely increased by the use of
a parallel beam of light, so that we could telephone from
one place to another without the necessity of a conduct¬
ing wire between the transmitter and receiver. It was
evidently necessary, in order to reduce this idea to
practice, to devise an apparatus to be operated by the
voice of a speaker, by which variations could be produced
in a parallel beam of light, corresponding to the varia¬
tions in the air produced by the voice.

I proposed to pass light through a large number of
small orifices, which might be of any convenient shape,
but were preferably in the form of slits. Two similarly
perforated plates were to be employed. One was to be
fixed and the other attached to the centre of a diaphragm
actuated by the voice, so that the vibration of the
diaphragm would cause the movable plate to slide to and
fro over the surface of the fixed plate, thus alternately
enlarging and contracting the free orifices for the passage
of light. In this way the voice of a speaker could
control the amount of light passed through the perforated
plates without completely obstructing its passage. This
apparatus was to be placed in the path of a parallel beam
of light, and .the undulatory beam emerging from the
apparatus could be received at some distant place upon a
lens, or other apparatus, by means of which it could be
condensed upon a sensitive piece of selenium placed in a
local circuit with a telephone and galvanic battery. The
variations in the light produced by the voice of the
speaker should cause corresponding variations in the
electrical resistance of the selenium employed ; and the
telephone in circuit with it should reproduce audibly the
tones and articulations of the speaker’s voice. I obtained
some selenium for the purpose of producing the apparatus
shown, but found that its resistance was almost infinitely
greater than that of any telephone that had been
constructed, and I was unable to obtain any audible
effects by the action of light. I believed, however, that
the obstacle could be overcome by devising mechanical
arrangements for reducing the resistance of the selenium,
and by constructing special telephones for the purpose.
I felt so much confidence in this that, in a lecture
delivered before the Royal Institute of Great Britain,
upon May 17, 1878, I announced the possibility of hear¬
ing a shadow by interrupting the action of light upon
selenium. A few days afterwards my ideas upon this
subject received a fresh impetus by the announcement
made by Mr. Willoughby Smith before the Society of
Telegraph Engineers that he had heard the action of a
ray of light falling upon a bar of crystalline selenium, by
listening to a telephone in circuit with it.

It is not unlikely that the publicity given to the
speaking telephone during the last few years may have
suggested to many minds in different parts of the world
somewhat similar ideas to my own.

Although the idea of producing and reproducing sound
by the action of light, as described above, was an entirely
original and independent conception of my own, I recog¬
nize the fact that the knowledge necessary for its con¬
ception has been disseminated throughout the civilized
world, and that the idea may therefore have occurred to
many other minds. The fundamental idea, on which
rests the possibility of producing speech by the action of
light, is the conception of what may be termed an undu¬
latory beam of light in contradistinction to a merely
intermittent one. By an undulatory beam of light,
I mean a beam that shines continuously upon the
selenium receiver, but the intensity of which upon that

receiver is subject to rapid changes, corresponding to the
changes in the vibratory movement of a particle of air
during the transmission of a sound of definite quality
through the atmosphere. The curve that would graphi¬
cally represent the changes of light would be similar in
shape to that representing the movement of the air. I
do not know whether this conception had been clearly
realized by “ J. E. W.,” of Kew, or by Mr. Sargent,
of Philadelphia ; but to Mr. David Brown, of London,
is undoubtedly due the honour of having distinctly and
independently formulated the conception, and of having
devised apparatus — though of a crude nature — for
carrying it into execution. It is greatly due to the
genius and perseverance of my friend, Mr. Sumner
Tainter, of Watertown, Mass., that the problem of pro¬
ducing and reproducing sound by the agency of light
has at last been successfully solved. The first point to
which we devoted our attention was the reduction of the
resistance of crystalline selenium within manageable
limits. The resistance of selenium cells employed by
former experimenters was measured in millions of ohms,
and we do not know of any record of a selenium cell
measuring less than 250,000 ohms in the dark. We
have succeeded in producing sensitive selenium cells
measuring only 300 ohms in the dark, and 155 ohms in
the light. All former experimenters seem to have used
platinum for the conducting part of their selenium cells,
excepting Werner Siemens, who found that iron and
copper might be employed. We have also discovered
that brass, although chemically acted upon by selenium,
forms an excellent and convenient material ; indeed, we
are inclined to believe that the chemical action between
the brass and selenium has contributed to the low re¬
sistance of our cells by forming an intimate bond of
union between the selenium and brass. We have
observed that melted selenium behaves to the other
substances as water to a greasy surface, and we are
inclined to think that when selenium is used in con¬
nection with metals not chemically acted upon by it,
the points of contact between selenium and the metal
offer a considerable amount of resistance to the passage
of a galvanic current. By using brass we have been
enabled to construct a large number of selenium cells of
different forms. The mode of applying the selenium is
as follows : — The cell is heated, and, when hot enough,
a stick of selenium is rubbed over the surface. In order
to acquire conductivity and sensitiveness, the selenium
must next undergo a process of annealing.

We simply heat the selenium over a gas stove and
observe its appearance. When the selenium attains a
certain temperature, the beautiful reflecting surface
becomes dimmed. A cloudiness gradually extends over
it, somewhat like the film of moisture produced by
breathing upon a mirror. This appearance gradually
increases, and the whole surface is soon seen to be in the
metallic, granular, or crystalline condition. The cell
may then be taken off the stove, and cooled in any
suitable way. When the heating process is carried too
far, the crystalline selenium is seen to melt. Our best
results have been obtained by heating the selenium until
it crystallizes, and continuing the heating until signs of
melting appear, when the gas is immediately put out.
The portions that had melted instantly recrystallize, and
the selenium is found upon cooling to be a conductor, and
to be sensitive to light. The whole operation occupies
only a few minutes. This method has not only the
advantage of being expeditious, but it proves that many
of the accepted theories on this subject are fallacious.
Our new method shows that fusion is unnecessary, that
conductivity and sensitiveness can be produced without
long heating and slow cooling ; and that crystallization
takes place during the heating process. We have found
that on removing the source of heat immediately on the
appearance of the cloudiness, distinct and separate
crystals can be observed under the microscope, which
appear like leaden snowflakes on a ground of ruby red.

October 2, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

275

Upon removing the heat, when crystallization is further
advanced, we perceive under the microscope masses of
these crystals arranged like basaltic columns standing
detached from one another, and at a still higher point of
heating the distinct columns are no longer traceable, but
the whole mass resembles metallic pudding-stone, with
here and there a separate snowflake, like a fossil, on the
surface. Selenium crystals formed during slow cooling
after fusion present an entirely different appearance,
showing distinct facets.

We have devised about fifty forms of apparatus for
varying a beam of light in the manner required, but only
a few typical varieties need be shown. The source
of light may be controlled, or a steady beam may be
modified at any point in its path. The beam may be
controlled in many ways. For instance, it may be
polarized, and then affected by electrical or magnetic
influences in the manner discovered by Faraday and
Dr. Kerr. The beam of polarized light, instead of being
passed through a liquid, may be reflected from the
polished pole of an electro-magnet. Another method
of affecting a beam of light is to pass it through a lens
of variable focus. I observe that a lens of this kind has
been invented in France by Dr. Cusco, and is fully
described in a recent paper in La Nature ; but Mr.
Tainter and I have used such a lens in our experiments
for months past. The best and simplest form of ap¬
paratus for producing the effect remains to be described.
This consists of a plane mirror of flexible material — such
as silvered mica or microscope glass. Against the back
of this mirror the speaker’s voice is directed. The
light reflected from this mirror is thus thrown into
vibrations corresponding to those of the diaphragm
itself.

In arranging the apparatus for the purpose of repro¬
ducing sound at a distance any powerful source of light
may be used, but we have experimented chiefly with
sunlight. For this purpose a large beam is concentrated
by means of a lens upon the diaphragm mirror, and,
after reflection, is again rendered parallel by means of
another lens. The beam is received at a distant station
upon a parabolic reflector, in the focus of which is placed
a sensitive selenium cell, connected in .a local circuit with
a battery and telephone. A large number of trials of
this apparatus have been made with the transmitting and
receiving instruments so far apart that sounds could not
be heard directly through the air. In illustration I shall
describe one of the most recent of these experiments.
Mr. Tainter operated the transmitting instrument, which
was placed on the top of the Franklin schoolhouse in
Washington, and the sensitive receiver was arranged in
one of the windows of my laboratory, 1325, L. Street, at a
distance of 213 metres. Upon placing the telephone to
my ear I heard distinctly from the illuminated receiver
the words: “Mr. Bell, if you hear what I say come to
the window and wave your hat.” . In laboratory experi¬
ments the transmitting and receiving instruments are
necessarily within earshot of one another, and we have,
therefore, been accustomed to pooling the electric circuit
connected with the selenium receiver, so as to place the
telephones in another room. By such experiments we
have found that articulate speech can be reproduced by
the oxyhydrogen light, and even by the light of a kerosene
lamp. The loudest effects obtained from light are
produced by rapidly interrupting the beam by the per¬
forated disk. The great advantage of this form of
apparatus for experimental work is the noiselessness of
its rotation, admitting the close approach of the receiver
without interfering with the audibility of the effect
heard from the latter ; for it will be understood that
musical tones are emitted from the receiver when no
sound is made at the transmitter. A silent motion thus
produces a sound. In this way musical tones have been
heard even from the light of a candle. When distant
effects are sought another apparatus is used. By placing
an opaque screen near the rotating disk the beam can be

entirely cut off by a slight motion of the hand, and
musical signals, like the dots and dashes of the Morse
telegraph code, can thus be produced at the distant
receiving station.

We have made experiments, with the object of ascer¬
taining the nature of the rays that affect selenium. I or
this purpose we have placed in the path of an intermittent
beam various absorbing substances. Professor. Cross
has been kind enough to give me his assistance in con¬
ducting these experiments. When a solution of alum or
bisulphide of carbon is employed, the loudness of the
sound produced by the intermittent beam is very
slightly diminished ; but a solution of iodine in bisul¬
phide of carbon cuts off most, but not all, of the audible
effect. Even an apparently opaque sheet of hard
rubber does not entirely do this. When the sheet
of hard rubber was held near the disk interrupter the
rotation of the disk interrupted what was then an invisible
beam, which passed over a space of about twelve feet
before it reached the lens, which finally concentrated it
upon the selenium cell. A faint but perfectly perceptible
musical tone was heard from the telephone connected
with the selenium. This could be interrupted at will by
placing the hand in the path of the invisible beam. It
would be premature, without further experiments, to
speculate too much concerning the nature of these in¬
visible rays \ but it is difficult to believe that they can be
bent rays, as the effect is produced through two sheets, of
hard rubber containing between them a saturated solution
of alum. Although effects are produced as above shown
by forms of radiant energy which are invisible, we have
named the apparatus for the production and reproduction
of sound in this way “the photophone, because an
ordinary beam of light contains the rays which are opeia-
tive.

It is a well-known fact that the molecular disturbance
produced in a mass of iron by the magnetizing influence
of intermittent electrical current can be observed, as sound
by placing the ear in close contact with the iron. It
occurred to us that the molecular disturbance produced in
crystalline selenium by the action of an intermittent beam
of light should be audible in a similar manner without
the aid of a telephone or battery. Many experiments
were made to verify this theory without definite results.
The anomalous behaviour of the hard rubber screen
suggested the thought of listening to it also. This ex¬
periment was tried with extraordinary success. I held
the sheet in close contact with my ear, while a beam of
intermittent light was focussed upon it by a lens. A
distinct musical note was immediately heard. We found
the effect intensified by arranging the sheet of hard
rubber as a diaphragm, and listening through a hearing-
tube. We then tried the crystalline selenium in the form
of a thin disk, and obtained a similar, but less intense
effect. The other substances which I enumerated at the
beginning of my address were now successively tried in
the form of thin disks, and sounds were obtained from all
but carbon and thin glass. We found hard rubber, to
produce a louder sound than any other substance we tried,
excepting antimony, and paper and mica to produce the
weakest sounds. On the whole we feel warranted in
announcing as our conclusion that sounds can be produced
by the action of a variable light from substances of all
kinds, when in the form of thin diaphragms. We have
heard from interrupted sunlight very perceptible musical
tones through tubes of ordinary vulcanized rubber, of
brass, and of wood. These were all the materials at
hand’ in tubular form, and we have had no opportunity
since of extending these observations to other sub-
stances*

I am extremely glad that I have the opportunity of
making the first publication of these researches before a
scientific society, for it is from scientific men that my
work of the last six years has received its earliest and
kindest recognition. I gratefully remember the encourage¬
ment which I received from the late Professor Henry at

276

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 2, 1880.

a time when the speaking telephone existed only in theory.
Indeed, it is greatly due to the stimulus of his apprecia¬
tion that the telephone became an accomplished fact. I
cannot state too highly also the advantage I received in
preliminary experiments on sound vibrations in this
building from Professor Cross, and near here from my
valued friend Dr. Clarence J. Blake. When the public
were incredulous of the possibility of electrical speech,
the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the
Philosophical Society of Washington, and the Essex
Institute of Salem, recognized the reality of the results
and honoured me by their congratulations. The public
interest, I think, was first awakened by the judgment of
the very eminent scientific men before whom the telephone
was exhibited in Philadelphia, and by the address of Sir
William Thomson before the British Association for the
Advancement of Science.

At a later period, when even practical telegraphists
considered the telephone as a mere scientific toy, Professor
John Peirce, Professor Eli W. Blake, Dr. Channing,
Mr. Clarke, and Mr. Jones, of Providence, Rhode Island,
devoted themselves to a series of experiments for the
purpose of assisting me in making the telephone of prac¬
tical utility ; and they communicated to me from time to
time the result of their experiments with a kindness and
generosity I can never forget. It is not only pleasant to
remember these things, and to speak of them, but it is a
duty to repeat them, as they give a practical refutation
to the often repeated stories of the blindness of scientific
men to unaccredited novelties, and of their jealousy of
unknown inventors who dare to enter the charmed circle
of science. I trust that the scientific favour which was
so readily accorded to the telephone may be extended by
you to this new claimant — the photophone.

FLOWERS AND THE WEATHEU.*

The vegetable kingdom opens up a curious field of
investigation, in which the meteorologist will learn much
regarding the mutual interdependence of all departments
of creation. If light and electricity be, as well known,
influential in exciting the movements of animals breathing
the vital air, plants are equally subject to the same
potent agencies, and testify to their influence so visibly
as to attract the notice alike of the scientific botanist and
of the illiterate rustic. In some parts of England the
peasants mark the blooming of the large water lily, and
think that the number of its blossoms on a stem indicate
the price of wheat per bushel for the ensuing year — each
blossom being equivalent to a shilling. We smile at this
as superstitious folly ; but even philosophers have not
deigned to despise the weather indications afforded by
the shutting of the flowers of certain plants.

Lord Bacon, for example, who was remarkably atten¬
tive to all the appearances and changes of natural
objects, is the author of some of the observations which
follow : —

The pimpernel ( Anagallis arvensis). — “ When the flower
of this plant,” says Bacon, “ expands bodily and fully, no
rain will happen for four hours or upward ; if it continues
in that open state, no rain will disturb the summer’s day;
when it half conceals its miniature flower, the day is
generally showery ; but if it entirely shuts up or veils
the flower with its green mantle, let the traveller put on
his great-coat, and the plowman, with his beasts of
draught, expect rest from his labour.” This little plant,
from its peculiar susceptibility, has long been known as
the “ poor man’s weather glass.”

“ The Siberian sow thistle ( Sonchus ). — It the flowers
of this plant keep open all night, rain will certainly fall
the next day.”

“ The African marigold ( Tagetes erecta). — If this plant
opens not its flowers in the morning about seven o’clock,

* From the Scientific American. Reprinted from the
Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal, July, 1880.

you may be sure it will rain that day unless it thun¬
ders.”

“The trefoil (Hedysarum). — The different species of
trefoil always contract their leaves at the approach of a
storm ; hence these plants have been termed the
‘ husbandman’s barometer.’ ”

“ White thorns and dog-rose bushes. — Wet summers
are generally attended with an uncommon quantity of
seeds on these shrubs, whence their unusual fruitfulness
is a sign of severe winter.”

Besides the above there are several plants, especially
those with compound yellow flowers, which nod, and
during the whole day turn their flowers towards the sun.
Such flowers are designated as “heliotropes,” and the
movement which they thus exhibit is called their
“ nutation.” This is particularly observable in the
common sow thistle ( Sonchus arvensis) ; and it is a well
known fact that a great part of the plants in a serene
sky expand their flowers, but before rain they shut them
up, as the tulip, for instance. The flowers of chick-
wintergreen (Trientalis Americana) droop in the night,
lest rain or moislure should injure the fertilizing pollen.
One species of wood sorrel (Oxalis) shuts up or doubles
its leaves before storms and tempests, but in a serene sky
expands or unfolds them, so that husbandmen can
foretell tempests from it. It is also well known that the
sensitive plants and other species of Cassia observe the
same rule. The flowers of the bindweed ( Convolvulus
arvensis), the wood anemone, and the common daisy
{Beilis), even if already open, will shut up on the approach
of rain. The last named flower appears to have derived
its name — day’s eye — from its sensitiveness to light.
Such phenomena as these are probably determined by
the action of light; and the flowers of such plants being
shut at ten or eleven o’clock in the morning tell of colds
and gloom, and so predict rain.

Besides affording prognostics, many plants also fold
themselves up at particular hours, with such regularity as
to have acquired particular names from this property.
Linnaeus has enumerated forty-six flowers which possess
this kind of sensibility. From an arrangement of such
flowers it has been ingeniously proposed to form a floral
timepiece. The flowers of the goat’s beard ( Tragopogon )
open in the morning at the approach of the sun, and,
regardless of the weather, shut up about noon, and hence
its common name of “go-to-bed-at-noon.” The star of
Bethlehem expands its flowers about eleven, and closes
them at three in the afternoon. The evening primrose
( (Enothera ) is well known from its remarkable properties
of regularly shutting with a loud popping noise about sunrise
and opening at sunset. After six o’clock, these flowers
regularly report the approach of night. The flowers of
the garden lettuce open at seven o’clock and shut
at ten.

That light is the chief agent of these changes seems to be
proved by the experiments of De Candolle, made at the
Jardin des Plantes, in an underground cellar, illuminated
by lamps giving a light equal to fifty-four ordinary wax
candles. By lighting these he could cause the flowers of
the star of Bethelem to open at pleasure, and also those
of the sea camomile, which keeps its flowers closely shut
during the night ; but he could produce no artificial effect
with the strongest light upon several species of wood
sorrel, whose flowers and leaves are both folded up at
night. With the sensitive plant he succeeded in so com¬
pletely changing the hour of closure that on the third
day from being placed in the light cellar it began to fold its
leaves in the morning and open them in the evening.

One of the most singular cases of the action of light on
plants is that of the Lotus of the Euphrates, as described
by Theophrastus, and which he represents as rearing and
expanding its blossom by day, closing and sinking beneath
the surface of the water by night, so as to be beyond the
grasp of the hand, and again rising up in the morning
to present its expanded blossom to the sun. The same
phenomenon is also related by Pliny.

October 2, 1880.]

277

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

%\ ft Journal.

- ♦ -

SATf/RDAF, OCTOBER 2, 1880.

THE OPENING OF A NEW SESSION.

During the coming week most of the schools of
medicine and the allied sciences in the metropolis
will recommence their operations, and the students
will gather to hear the words of advice and encourage¬
ment that will fall from the lips of the Mentors
appointed to deliver the respective “ Introductories.”
It may he fairly presumed, however, that none of
these orations will present so much of attraction to
the readers of this Journal as that which is to he
delivered on Wednesday, by Dr. J. Langdon Down,
to the students who have entered for the Thirty-ninth
Session of the School of Pharmacy carried on in the
Phamaceutical Society’s premises, in Bloomsbury
Square. The occasion is one of peculiar interest and
importance. Dr. Down was himself one of the
earlier pupils and prizemen in the School and has
long been one of the Honorary Members of the
Pharmaceutical Society, and the fact that, although
eventually choosing a medical career, he has never
ceased to manifest a kindly feeling towards those
who practise pharmacy will add to the weight of
what he may say. Moreover, although such ad¬
dresses are primarily addressed to students, there is
usually in them a second reading intended for those
of older growth, and pharmacists will be sure to note
with attention what is said by so eminent a medical
man concerning the practice of pharmacy at so
critical a period in the history of the calling. Those
who are able to be present at the meeting may have
the additional pleasure of sharing the sympathy and
enthusiasm which the distribution of the prizes won
by students of a former session always evokes.

The occasion is also notable in another sense,
since it marks the commencement of a session in
which what may prove to be important modifica¬
tions in the tutorial arrangements of the School wall
be effected. These we shall at present only indicate
without further comment. The first alteration is,
that with a view of connecting the lecture teaching
of the Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacy with
the instruction given to the practical class in the
laboratory, and to allow of the number of experi¬
mental illustrations being increased, the Demon¬
strator of Practical Chemistry will assist at the
lectures and examinations. The second, but not less
important alteration is, that in connection with the
class of Chemistry and Pharmacy, instruction in
practical dispensing will be provided for those
students who need it.

It may be well also to remind our readers that
the meeting next week will be the first of another
series of Evening Meetings, and that these will
depend principally for tlicir value upon those who
having made observations of interest to pharmacists

are at the trouble of making them known by the
reading of a paper. Such communications should,
however, be submitted to the Evening Meetings
Committee at least one week before the date of the
meeting at which they are intendsd to be read.

ACCLIMATIZATION EXPERIMENTS IN JAMAICA.

Although one of the most favoured spots in the
earth in respect to the richness and variety of its vege¬
tation, — even its name being derived from a native
one meaning the land of wood and water, — Jamaica,
as is well known, has not been so prosperous in
recent years as might have been hoped. The waning
of the sugar and coffee industries, and other circum¬
stances, some of which were political and social, have
had a very blighting effect, and appear to have
paralysed the energy that is usually expected from
British colonists. It is therefore gratifying to learn,
from a recent supplement to the Jamaica Gazette ,
that systematic efforts are now being made to utilize
the natural advantages of the island and to find in
its well watered soil, differences of elevation, and
consequent wide range of temperature, a home for
some of the economic plants of other lands. A few
of these that have been already introduced with a
promise of success are of considerable interest to
pharmacists.

Chief among these introductions stands the cin¬
chona. This cultivation has been carried on for some
years past, but apparently only in a very perfunctory
manner. It was commenced as far back as the year
1866, under the direction of Mr. Robert Thomson,
at a place called Cold Spring, and barks from this
locality were favourably reported upon by Mr.
Howard in 1872 and by Dr. De VriJ in 1873. But
it is only comparatively recently that any consider¬
able quantity of J amaica cinchona bark has come into
the market. The prices obtained for this, however,
have, as mentioned last week (before, p. 250), been
sufficiently high to warrant the hope that they will
prove an encouragement and stimulus to the in¬
creased attention which is being given to the culti¬
vation of cinchona in the island.

The species of Cinchona which has hitherto been
principally cultivated in Jamaica appears to be
C. succifubra , and this, it has been found, can be
grown in the island at all elevations above 2000
feet, the bark, it is claimed, being equal to the best
red bark produced either in South America or the
East Indian plantations.

An idea of the rate at which this species grows
may be gathered from the fact that the average
height of one hundred eleven-year-old trees which
were cut down in February last was 22 feet 1 inch,
whilst the entire yield of bark from them weighed
1660 lbs. when green and 515 lbs. after being sun-
dried. The largest of these trees measured 35 feet
in height, with a circumference close to the ground
of 25 "inches, and at five feet from the ground of 20
inches. It yielded 11 lbs. of dry trunk bark and 3

278

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNA^ AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 2, 1880

lbs. of branch bark, which, calculated at the rate
obtained this year for a similar bark, — namely, 4s.
per lb. for the former and 2s. for the latter,— would
be worth £2 10s. This, however, was an excep¬
tionally fine tree.

The principal disadvantage attending the culti¬
vation of C. succirubra in Jamaica is that it appears
to suffer, especially in exposed situations, from a
local disease which is thought to be due to fungoid
growth setting up in the fissures and wounds caused
by the straining of the bark or the breaking off of
a branch during windy weather. This condition is,
of course, favoured by the succulent habit of the
species.

But a species that probably has a more important
future before it in Jamaica is the Cinchona officinalis,
which, although not attaining so great a size as the
C. succirubra, yields in the “ grey ” or “ Loxa ” bark
a product of considerably higher value. Moreover,
this species does not suffer so much from the fungoid
disease referred to. Unfortunately the C. officinalis
was until recently in disrepute in J amaica, the reports
of Mr. Howard and Dr. De Vrij on the specimens
of bark from this species submitted to them not
having been very favourable, Dr. De Yrij only
obtaining 0*46 per cent, of quinine. These samples
were, however, taken from plants grown at compara¬
tively low elevations, whilst the best results are
obtained at Ootacamund at an elevation of 8000 feet,
and both observers suggested that a higher elevation
might yield better results. This has now been con¬
firmed, and the C. officinalis is found to flourish and
yield a good bark, as shown by the prices quoted last
week, at elevations of from 4500 to 6000 feet, even
in exposed situations, and this height is attained and
exceeded in many places in the Blue Mountain and
St. Andrew’s ranges.

The yellow bark from Jamaica, the produce of
trees that have hitherto passed in the plantations as
C. Calisaya, although it brought good prices, is now
thought not to be the true yellow bark of commerce
the plant yielding it being probably hybrid between
C. officinalis and C. succirubra. This variety will
be retained in cultivation for the present, but efforts
will be made to introduce the true Calisaya from
India and Java.

As has been the case at Ootacamund, jalap has
been grown in the neighbourhood of, or in fact in this
case among the cinchonas, hut the experiment has
been temporarily interfered with through the necessity
for removing the plants because of the injury they
did to the cinchonas. A separate plantation of jalap
extending over about two acres has, however, now
been formed.

Amongst other economic plants reported to be
cultivated in the Botanical Gardens of the island
for distribution are the nutmeg, clove, cinnamon,
vanilla, Liberian coffee, camphor, and gamboge.
Nutmeg trees six years old have been found to
yield from 2500 to 3000 nutmegs, or about 40 to
50 lbs. per tree per annum.

Iroaeimiq^ of Scientific Societies.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

(Continued from page 268.)

The next paper was on —

A Sample of Cayenne.

BY THOMAS GREENISH, F.C.S.

[The publication of this paper and the discussion upon
it is deferred for the present at the request of the author.]

The International Pharmaceutical Congress.

The President said he believed Mr. Greenish wished
to say a word or two about the International Pharma¬
ceutical Congress, which was to be held in England
next year. The delegates to Vienna and St. Petersburg
were very well received and they should all do something
on their part to return the compliment. What was
suggested was small subscriptions but numerous ones.

Mr. Greenish said no doubt most of the gentlemen
present were interested in this subject, in fact their very
presence there showed their interest in pharmacy, and
they would be aware that it was proposed to hold an
International Medical Congress in 1881 in London, and
he believed from the active steps now being taken that
that congress would be a very great success. About six
years ago he was appointed a delegate to the Inter¬
national Pharmaceutical Congress in St. Petersburg,
when he gave the delegates there an invitation to meet
next in London. Five years was the usual interval
between the meetings, but the war between Russia and
Turkey and various other things rendered it inadvisable
to meet at the usual lime in London, and, therefore, it
was postponed. But they now thought it very desirable
that in 1881 this International Pharmaceutical Congress
should be held in London. Its first meeting was in
Brunswick many years ago, the second in Paris, the
third in Vienna, and the fourth in St. Petersburg ; and
it was with considerable delight, more than he could
express, that those who were present at St. Petersburg
received the invitation which was again sent from the
Pharmaceutical Society on the return of the delegates.
Many points of interest would come before this Inter¬
national Congress, one being that much misunderstood
question, the International Pharmacopoeia. In Germany
there were he did not know how many pharmacopoeias
at one time, but now there was only one ; in Switzerland
there were a large number, but now there was only one;
and, therefore, he did not think there would be much
difficulty in forming such an International Pharmacopoeia
as was shadowed forth at St. Petersburg, namely, one
in which the active preparations of opium, strychnine,
and such substances should be the same in the several
countries. In this question some of the pharmacists and
medical men abroad took much more interest than even
the pharmacists of this country, and the presence of
those medical men and pharmacists in England at that
particular time and the discussions probably that would
take place would, he hoped, tend to impress on the
Medical Council how very desirable it was for pharmacy
to have a certain number of chosen pharmacists take
part in the preparation of the Pharmacopoeia.

The Conference then adjourned for luncheon.

Upon reassembling, the first paper read was —

Notes upon the Green Extracts of the
Pharmacopeia.

BY W. A. H. NAYLOR, F.C.S.

The first official announcement of the use of prepara¬
tions made from green plants which the most nearly
resemble our extracts, dates as far back as 1746, when
the leaves of rue and savin were made to yield a semi¬
solid product by the successive operations of decoction,

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October 2, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

279

filtration and evaporation. Twenty years later produced
the veritable prototype of our green extract in the
umbelliferous plant, the hemlock, under the designation
of an inspissated juice, and it was ordered to be prepared
by taking the whole plant, bruising it, expressing the
juice and evaporating it with care. The lapse of another
twenty years sufficed to bestow upon the inspissated juice
of the hemlock and other products similarly prepared
the generic appellation by which they continue to be
known, that of extracts. And when it is remembered
how important a position this class of preparations
occupies in the domain of therapeutics, and how the
remedial value of the extracts may be affected by
variations in their mode of production, it is not surprising
that so much attention should have been devoted to the
subject of their manufacture. To record such observa¬
tions in regard to the manufacture of the green extracts
as have been furnished by the experiences of a laboratory
constitutes the design of this paper. Belladonna may be
taken in illustration of the following remarks : —

The plant having been obtained, no time should be
lost in working it ; but while in the fresh condition it
should be stripped of its leaves and flowering tops.
Prompt attention to what may seem so trifling a cir¬
cumstance is, however, of the first importance, for the
perfection of the product will greatly depend upon the
degree to which fermentation has been prevented, or if
induced, the degree to which it has been checked. If
several plants have been tied in a bundle, as is generally
the case, and the several bundles be crowded together, it
is obvious that under such conditions they will soon
become- heated and ferment. It will be wise, therefore,
to untie any bundles and apportion so much room to the
several plants, so that at least they may not be more
than in loose contact. Should it happen that the
plants come to hand so late in the day as to render
inevitable the postponement of operations until the next
morning, their stems may with advantage be put into
a little water for the night. It will be remembered that
the Pharmacopoeia directs that the flowering tops as well
as the leaves of the several plants be employed for
making their respective extracts, while the old London
Pharmacopoeia restricts the use of parts to the leaves
alone. The main advantage secured by this addition
was the production of an extract which was less prone to
change. At the same time there was obtained an in¬
creased yield of extract of not inferior quality. The
suggestion that flowering tops should be employed was
due to Mr. Squire. By experiment it was found that
the product obtained from the combined use of leaves,
flowers and their peduncles was less liable to undergo
change and present that unsightly appearance known as
mould, a condition which the leaf extract could rarely be
held guiltless of assuming.

In a paper read at an Evening Meeting of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society now nearly twenty years ago, Mr. Squire
discussed the question “ Whether medicinal extracts from
green herbs are best prepared from leaves only or from all
the soft parts of the plant taken together.” From the
same plant, belladonna, the author prepared two extracts,
the one being the product of the leaves alone, the other
the combined product of the young stalks and flowers.
The leaf extract became mouldy in ten days, the other
remained unimpaired. These experiments of Mr. Squire
were confirmed by others who had had large experience
of these particular preparations. And to-day it is a
matter of common knowledge amongst experienced
manufacturers of medicinal extracts that when these
preparations are made with the leaves only they in¬
variably become mouldy, “ whereas when made with the
soft parts of the whole plant they keep perfectly well
and remain of a good consistence from one season to
another.”

If it be asked to what proximate principle may be
assigned the preservative properties apparently resident
in the peduncle or young stems, one has little hesita¬

tion in affirming it to be due mainly to the gummy
matter invariably present in these parts of the plant.
In addition to gummy matter, however, there exists in
the young stems inorganic salts, which are known to
exercise an antiseptic influence over putrescible sub¬
stances, and I would suggest whether the keeping
properties of an extract in which the young stems have
been employed may not be in part attributable to mixed
chlorides of sodium and potassium. Here I would
remark that the addition of but a very small proportion
of gum to an extract — while in the fresh condition and
which is known readily to mould — will materially retard
the period of decay. This fact is mentioned because it
harmonizes with the opinion just expressed ; but it must
not be supposed that I recommend such an addition in
making the Pharmacopoeia extracts, — an addition, more¬
over, for which there should be no necessity.

The next part of the process consists in bruising the
plucked “ leaves and flowering tops.” This operation, in
kind, is one so well known to the practised pharmacist as
in general terms to require no comment. On the small
scale this object will be best accomplished by vigorously
beating the selected parts in a bell-metal mortar, or a
stone mortar, as recommended officially. If the stouter
stems have been rejected, little difficulty will be ex¬
perienced in effecting a fairly successful destruction of
the texture of the leaves, etc. This operation is more
easily and efficiently performed by stone runners, as in a
grinding mill, where direct pressure and a tearing action
are simultaneously brought into play, in this manner
the bruising operation is conducted by wholesale manu¬
facturers.

When the leaves, etc., have been disintegrated to the
necessary degree, they should be enclosed in a hair cloth,
and submitted to pressure. For this purpose a good
press is essential. But while much depends upon the
power of the press much also depends upon the mode in
which pressure is applied. For instance, if young stalks
have been imperfectly comminuted, the disintegrated
mass under the influence of pressure will spring, the
several particles will not be acted upon equally ; as a
result, little spaces will form here and there, throughout
the mass, and so render extremely difficult the successful
extraction of the juice. Under such circumstances, a power¬
ful press would in a great measure compensate for the
low results obtained by a smaller one. If, however, the leaf
texture has been uniformly and completely broken up, as
it would be under stone runners, the pressure will be equal
throughout the mass and no spaces will be formed. In
this case the pressure should at first be applied very
gradually and increased as the proportion of juice in the
mass decreases. By thus graduating the force as it is
applied the marc is prevented from being forced through
its cloth and the maximum amount of juice is obtained.
A hydraulic press is the one generally employed for this
and similar purposes on the large scale. It is, I suppose,
hardly necessary to remark that caution is required in the
pressure of such a plant as belladonna, otherwise a little
of the juice is apt to be squirted into the eye, a circum¬
stance which might be attended with more than temporary
inconvenience. Before passing from this part of the pro¬
cess I desire to record one or two observations upon the
juice itself. And I would note that from the general ap¬
pearance of the juice the practised eye can presage the
quality and to some extent the yield of the final product.
Neither the watery juice of a bright green colour nor the
deeply brown in which the chlorophyll readily subsides
will produce an extract of good quality: The reason of
this is to be found in the fact that these characters belong
respectively to plants which have not arrived at maturity
and those which have advanced beyond this stage. That
juice which is intermediate in quality between these two,
where the bright green of the one by blending with the
other is tempered into a dull green, will invariably yield
a product possessing in the highest degree the characters
of a good extract. The specific gravity of belladonna

280

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 2, 1880.

juice ranges from 1015 to 1035, the average maybe taken
at 1020, and in an ordinary season a ton of the leaves and
young stems would give 130 gallons of juice. These
numbers must be regarded as approximate only, since the
juice of plants, and consequently the extracts made there¬
from, are greatly influenced by variations of season.

I now come to speak of that part of the process which
directs the strained liquor to be heated to 130° F.,
and the chlorophyll which separates to be removed by fil¬
tration through calico. The strained liquor is then to be
heated to 200° F. to coagulate the albumen, and again
filtered. Regarding both these operations they are in
themselves simple and similar and require no comment.
I would merely add that it will be found of great advan¬
tage to remove the scum which rises to the surface during
the heating of the liquor to the temperature at which the
chlorophyll separates out. With reference to the rejec¬
tion of the albumen, I would make the following observa¬
tions : —

First. That vegetable albumen in an uncoagulated or
imperfectly coagulated condition is much more active in
promoting decomposition than when coagulation has been
completely effected. Therefore that system of making
extracts in which the juice is at once evaporated at a
temperature too low to ensure complete coagulation of the
albumen appears to me an objectionable one.

Secondly. There is a tendency for some portion of the
vegetable albumen to be thrown out of solution when the
temperature has reached 130° F., i.e. when the chlorophyll
separates. This tendency towards separation at low
temperatures appears to be less as the percentage of alka¬
line chlorides is great, a fact which possibly accounts in
some measure for the moulding of extracts when made from
the juice of the leaves alone. For the leaves contain
more albumen and chlorophyll than any other part of
the plant and proportionately less chlorides, and in my
experience I have found that some portion of the
albumen which is removed along with the chlorophyll
is subsequently returned in company with the green
colouring matter.

Thirdly. For all practical purposes the albumen may
be completely thrown out of solution by raising the juice
to the boiling temperature. This, of course, necessitates
the simultaneous removal of the chlorophyll.

Lastly. So far as the keeping properties of the extract
are concerned they are not interfered with to a per¬
ceptible extent from one season to another by the
retention of coagulated albumen, provided the juice of
the young stalks of the stem has contributed to the final
product.

Some of the objections which have been raised against
the retention of the albumen are to the effect that being
an inert substance it dilutes the extract, increases the
yield, and adds to the remuneration of the manufacturer.
In reply to these objections it may be stated that as far
as is known there is no conclusive evidence to show that
the albumen, even in the condition in which it would
exist in the green extracts, is devoid of physiological
action, or, supposing it to possess no specific remedial
properties, may it not be one of those substances which
exercises a modifying or controlling influence, so that in
rejecting what seems superfluous we may be losing a
valuable ingredient? The increase of yield to the ex¬
tract by the incorporation of the albumen would be in
the ratio of about 1 oz. of moist albumen to the pound of
finished product. One is therefore led to conclude that
so comparatively insignificant an increase of remuneration
to the manufacturer is quite inadequate to account for
the reasons which, under certain circumstances, induced
him to retain this ingredient.

An argument which has been adduced in favour of
retaining the albumen is based upon the disturbing
influence which its withdrawal occasions, causing the
nicely balanced affinities by which the several con¬
stituents of the plant are held together to be thrown out
of equilibrium. Without doubt there is some force in

this argument, but it loses much of its weight when it is
remembered that those who advance it are themselves also
in favour of coagulating, removing, though subsequently
returning, the albumen. With the main drift of this
argument I cordially agree and could refer to modes of
treatment in relation to certain drugs in which its facts
are borne out by the experiences of medical men, but its
application in this particular instance seems to me
less warrantable.

I have now to remark upon the last part of the process,
which directs the strained liquor from which the albumen
and chlorophyll has been removed to be evaporated by a
ivater-bath to the consistence of a thin syrup, the green
colouring matter is then to be added, the whole assidu¬
ously stirred, and evaporation continued at a temperature
not exceeding 140° F. until the extract is of a suitable
consistence for forming pills. It will be noted that in
these directions there is no mention of the kind of
apparatus to be employed for the evaporation of the
liquid. It may be presumed therefore that a wide shallow
vessel such as is ordinarily used for purposes of this
description was intended by the compilers of the process.
In the absence, too, of any particulars respecting the
manner in which evaporation is to be conducted we may
safely infer that up to a given point no other precaution
is necessary than that the substance to be heated be
subjected to a temperature near to, not necessarily below,
but not exceeding 212° F. Now I am well aware that
in conducting so ordinary an operation in so simple a
manner and with such apparatus as is to be found in
every well appointed pharmacy, the fullest opportunity
and advantage is secured to the pharmacist for making
his own extract. I am also willing to admit that not a
few of the objections urged against evaporation by ex¬
posure to air assisted by heat, have not as yet been
substantiated by proofs of a convincing character. With¬
out, however, recounting these objections I will at once
declare myself in favour of what is termed evaporation
in vacuo, and for the following reasons: —

First. When the liquor of an extract is evaporated at a
temperature little exceeding 212° F., with a current of
air over its surface into which the vapour diffuses, after
the liquor has attained a certain degree of concentration
it will be noted that the resinous and gummy bodies
have undergone a change, probably from the absorption
of oxygen from the air. And this change will be in¬
dicated by the opalescent appearance of the liquor, to be
succeeded by a deposition of matter which in no sub¬
sequent part of the process will again pass into solution.
This tendency to premature and distinct separation
during concentration is largely decreased if not entirely
prevented by evaporation in vacuo. Whether the
change referred to impairs the medicinal quality of the
extract I am quite unable to say.

Secondly. By resorting to a temperature at which
evaporation would be conducted in a vacuum pan we are
the better able to retain the volatile constituents of the
plant, a fact the importance of which cannot fail to be
appreciated when it is remembered that the activity of
one official green extract is due to a volatile alkaloid.
And here I would remark that those who have given any
attention to the evaporation of the hemlock juice have
recommended its exposure in thin layers to a continuous
current of dry air. I confess I should like to see some
such modification adopted by the compilers of the next
Pharmacopoeia, at least so far as hemlock extract is con¬
cerned.

Thirdly. The most potent argument to be advanced in
favour of evaporation in vacuo is based upon the observa¬
tion that one or more soluble constituents of certain
plants present a marked difference in their taste according
to the manner in which evaporation has been conducted.

I would note especially the extract of taraxacum. This
extract when made as the Pharmacopoeia directs by
evaporating the strained juice over a water-bath has a
sickly sweetish taste, whereas, when evaporated in vacuo

October 2, 1880. j

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

281

it is found to have retained, apparently unimpaired, its
bitter properties. This argument in its application to
dandelion extract is overruled by those manufacturers
who contend that the evaporation of the juice in open
pans at low temperatures produces no such conversion
of bitter principle into sweet, -provided the root be
gathered not earlier than February. But since the
prevailing opinion amongst pharmacists is in favour of
collecting the root before it is attacked by frost and
hence, of necessity, usually before February, it follows
that with the majority this objection can have no weight
in invalidating the argument. I may say that evapora¬
tion in a vacuum pan is carried on at a temperature of
about 115° F., and if the piston of the air pump has been
well packed it may fall between 90° to 100° F.

The rate at which fluids evaporate in the vacuum pan
varies greatly with the nature of the liquid operated
upon. The juices of plants are amongst the slowest and
the most capricious owing to the propensity they manifest
for frothing, a condition which most prevails at the
commencement of the evaporation and greatly retards its
progress. It is therefore somewhat difficult to fix
definitely the rate of evaporation, but we may regard
four gallons per hour, in the case of belladonna juice
with a vacuum pan, comfortably working twelve gallons
at a time, as a close approximation to fact.

In recommending the addition of the chlorophyll to the
liquor when it has reached that degree of concentration
represented by a thin syrup , it may be presumed the
object aimed at was the perfect incorporation of the green
colouring matter with the other constituents of the
extract and that too, in as little altered a condition as
circumstances could command. I think this object is the
better attained by evaporating the liquor to a thick syrup ,
a consistence it would have on leaving the vacuum pan,
and then stirring in the chlorophyll, it having been
previously passed through a moderately fine hair sieve.
This modification obviates the necessity of heating the
extract over a water-bath at a temperature at which
evaporation proceeds at a very slow rate, and at a time
when the extract is gradually aquiring a consistence in
which it will more readily retain its heat, and will in
consequence be more likely to be acted upon injuriously.
In addition to improving the appearance of the extract
the retention of the green colouring matter possesses the
advantage of preventing the extract from absorbing
moisture and becoming inconveniently soft. Regarding
the term pilular consistence as defining the degree of
concentration of the final product, it appears to me
sufficiently explicit, and I take it to mean that the extract
so far as possible may unite the properties of plasticity
and firmness to such a degree as that it can be moulded
without adhering to the fingers, and when divided will
retain its globular shape. The yield of extract from the
belladonna plant varies within wide limits, and is greatly
influenced by seasons, but we may regard 80 to 90 pounds
per ton as an average result.

Mr. Plowman said he had had very little experience in
making green extracts, and, therefore, was not in a position
to criticise the paper, but he would like to ask a question or
two. He had been struck with the very practical nature
of the paper, and one thing which seemed more particu¬
larly to affect the final character of the product was
rubbing the chlorophyll through a moderately fine hair
sieve. If that was not done the chlorophyll got into little
pellets and it was almost impossible to get a smooth final
product. It was stated that gummy matter materially
retarded the extract turning mouldy, aDd he should like
to know whether gum was actually added in practice.
The next point was that the albumen had a tendency to
come out with the chlorophyll at 130°, or before. He
should be glad to know if Mr. Naylor had actually
instituted any experiments to prove the existence or non¬
existence of albumen in the chlorophyll which first
separated at that temperature. It seemed somewhat

doubtful whether the presence or absence of albumen
modified the action of the extract. He should like to
know if when the albumen separated any experiments had
been made to determine whether any alkaloid or active
principle adhered to the albumen, either when it was
washed or when it was not washed. Probably there would
be something adhering to it if not washed, but after
washing he should venture to predict that the albumen
would not contain anything active.

Mr. Hughes was much pleased at the suggestion made
in this able paper that extracts should be made of such
a consistency that they could be easily dispensed in pills.

A great difficulty he had was that the extracts he got
from wholesale houses were so thin that it was necessary
to add gum arabic or magnesia, which gave a pill greater
in size than that intended by the prescriber. He hoped
that wholesale houses would bear that in mind and not
send out extracts which would increase the size of the pill.

Mr. Plowman thought 1 ounce of moist albumen to 1
pound* of finished extract was a very material addition,
being over 6 per cent., and would leave a large extra
margin of profit.

Mr. Greenish was very glad to hear Mr. Naylor pay a
well deserved compliment in the early part of his paper
to a man they all respected, Mr. Squire. It really was
Mr. Squire who taught the pharmacists of Great Britain
the value of an extract, and how to make it properly.
Mr. Naylor spoke of the gummy property as tending to
keep the extract when the soft portions of the plant
beyond the leaf were used. He would ask if it were not
due to the fact that when using the leaf he had a much
larger quantity of vegetable albumen, a product which
ran more readily into decomposition, than he would have
if he used the soft portions of the plant containing in fact
the vascular bundles. He thought it was a mistake to
use a hydraulic press ; it might be necessary in commerce,
but in so doing one was apt to press out not only the
juice of the plant, but the smaller particles, which worked
up into the extract. The juice by itself made a nice
transparent extract, very hygroscopic, perhaps a little
more difficult to manage, and the yield much smaller, but
it seemed to him much more satisfactory.

Professor Attfield said Mr. Naylor assigned to the
inorganic chlorides an important function in the keeping
of the extracts, and referred to chloride of sodium as well
as chloride of potassium. He had examined very many
organic residues of the combustion of extracts, and had
almost always found chloride of potassium present to the
exclusion of chloride of sodium. He should like to know
how often chloride of sodium had been found, and in what
quantity.

Mr. Naylor, in reply to Mr. Plowman, said there was
some little difficulty in ascertaining whether gum had
really been added to an extract, or whether the gummy
matter, which was sometimes present in much larger
quantities than in others, was a natural product. That
albumen separated along with the chlorophyll could be
shown by dissolving out the chlorophyll, and then using
a suitable solvent for the albumen. Sometimes very
little albumen went down with the chlorophyll, and at
other times a fair quantity. It was not unreasonable
to suppose that some albumen did separate at the tempera¬
ture named, considering its extremely complex character.
With reference to alkaloids being thrown down along
with the albumen, his experiments on that point were not
complete, and therefore he had not mentioned them ; but
as far as conium was concerned, he was unable to detect
the presence of any alkaloid in the albumen when washed.
He agreed with IVIr. Greenish that the leaf contained more
albumen and chlorophyll than any other part of the plant,
but the fact that when gum was added to the leaf pro¬
duct it would keep it, and that gummy matter was con¬
tained in the stalks, gave reasonable ground to suppose
that it exercised an antiseptic or, at any rate, conserva¬
tive influence over the extracts. With reference to
hydraulic pressure sometimes squeezing out the cellular

282

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 2, 1880.

tissue, that of course would be removed when the extract
was strained. Chlorine was generally present as chloride
of potassium, and he had found only traces of chloride of
sodium.

Mr. Greenish said he recollected in the earlier days
of the Pharmaceutical Society a suggestion being made
at one of the evening meetings that a small addition of
gum arabic to an extract had a remarkably preservative
property.

The President said he did not remember that, and
was not aware that it had ever been suggested as an
addition to green extracts.

A vote of thanks was then passed to Mr. Naylor for
his paper.

The following two papers were then read : —

Note on the Presence of Arsenic in the Tincture
and Solution of Perchloride of Iron.

BY F. W. FLETCHER, F.C.S.

The presence of arsenic as an impurity in many well
known pharmaceutical preparations has formed the subject
of numerous papers by various investigators. The evi¬
dence in the celebrated Smethurst trial seems to have
first aroused attention to its presence in subnitrate of
bismuth.* Since then it has been noted by Reynolds in
sulphide of antimony, + by Rademalcer in phosphoric
acid.J by Bussy in sulphate of potash, § and by Giles and
Randall|| in Parrish’s syrup. To this list I have the
melancholy satisfaction of contributing an addition. Some
time since, having occasion to examine a number of
samples of hydrochloric acid, many of which had been
sold as pure, and finding abundant indication of the
presence of arsenic in all, it occurred to me that possibly
a considerable portion of the liquor ferri perchlor. of
pharmacy might be prepared with similar acid, and if so
would doubtless contain arsenic. I therefore procured
specimens both of the tincture and solution from five
very eminent dispensing establishments, each of which
when examined by Marsh’s test yielded dense mirrors of
arsenicum. Samples obtained from various other sources
yielded like results. As it appeared that it would be a
matter of interest to determine the actual amount of
arsenic present, the five samples of strong solution above
referred to were examined quantitatively. To estimate
the arsenic, a measured volume was diluted, reduced
with sodium sulphite, saturated with H.2S, the filtered
and washed precipitate dissolved in HN03, and to the
solution thus obtained an excess of ammonia and mag¬
nesia mixture added.

A^203

MgNH4As04,H20. Grains per

100 fluid ounces.

1. 18 c.c. yielded ’009 grm. 10‘85

2. 18 „ „ -010 „ = 12-07

3. 14 „ ,, not weighable —

4. 25 „ „ -015 „ = 13*05

5. 14 „ „ not weighable —

Of several other specimens examined, one yielded no less
than 33'8 grains As203 in 100 fluid ounces.

I venture no remark upon the therapeutical effect of
such infinitesimal amounts of arsenic as would be con¬
tained in a single dose of the above liquors when ad¬
ministered in the form of the tincture or diluted solution,
but, granting the result to be nil, the presence of an
impurity of such ill fame can scarcely be considered
desirable from a pharmaceutical point of view. Pro¬
bably very few pharmacists are in the habit of making
their own liq. ferri perchlor. ; they cannot, therefore, be
held directly responsible for a preparation for which
they are dependent on outside sources. But, in con¬
cluding this brief note, I would offer one observation

* Pharm. Journ., [2], i., 356.
t Ibid,, [2], iii., 568.

X Ibid., [31, i., 426.

§ Ibid., [3], ii., 954.

|| Ibid., [3], iii., 437.

upon a question which seems to me worth consideration.

Is there not a danger, in the midst of the present ex¬
cessive production and competitive prices, of neglecting
to keep up the standard of what may be called cheap
medicines ? It is well to remember that the pecuniary
and the therapeutical value of a medicine very frequently 1
stand in an inverse ratio. Whilst, therefore, the phar¬
macist does well to assure himself that his scammony,
opium and quinine are worth the money he pays for
them, will he not be wise to spend an occasional half
hour in inquiring into the character of more humble, but
certainly not less deserving remedies ?

The Gravimetric Estimation of Minute Quantities
of Arsenicum by an Indirect Method.

BY F. W. FLETCHER, F.C.S.

The method most generally employed for the deter¬
mination of arsenicum is that of Levol, who was the first
to propose its separation in the form of the double
arseniate of ammonia and magnesia. This process, whilst
undeniably the best of any of the direct gravimetric
methods in use, cannot be said to be entirely satisfactory.

It is, in the first place, by no means an easy matter to
isolate the arsenical salt, when present in complex solu¬
tions, associated with other bases and acids precipitable
by magnesia mixture. It is, moreover, extremely difficult,
if not impossible, to effectually wash the precipitate of
ammonio-arseniate of magnesia; since, as Bunsen* and
others have pointed out, it will retain sensible traces of
salts present in the precipitating liquids as obstinately as
sulphate of barium. There is also a danger of inaccurate
results by reason of the variable nature of the precipitate
when dried at slightly different temperatures. At
100° C. it is said to retain from 1 to 3 molecules of
water, one only at 102° — 103° C., part of this equivalent
being lost if the temperature is allowed to reach 105° C.
Wittstein+ proposed to overcome this objection by ignit¬
ing the precipitate (preferably in a current of oxygen)
and so converting it into arseniate of magnesia, but it
has been observed by Rose| that the arsenic acid is
liable to be reduced at high temperatures by the am¬
monia, a corresponding loss being necessarily incurred.

The chief drawback, however, in my own experience of
the process is, that it fails to estimate the arsenicum
when present in very minute quantity, and as every
pharmacist is aware, cases occur in which the accurate
determination of even traces of ai-senic becomes a matter
of considerable importance.

An ingenious method for the estimation of arsenicum
when contained in a solution in the state of arsenious
acid was proposed by Rose,§ based on the fact that when
chloride of gold is added to a solution of arsenious acid,
a precipitate of metallic gold is formed in^ accordance
with the equation : —

3 As203 + 4 AuC13 + 1 5 HoO = 6 H3 As04 + Au4 + 1 2 HC1

594 < 786-8

And from the weight of the gold thus liberated a very
accurate estimation of the amount of arsenic can be
deduced. It is, however, necessary to let the mixture
digest for some days to ensure complete decomposition,
and like the magnesia process, it is not applicable to the
determination of very small amounts of arsenicum ; in¬
asmuch as the molecular weight of the px*ecipitate is not
very greatly in excess of that of the arsenious acid.

In a paper on the presence of arsenic in subnitrate of
bismuth, published some years since in the Pharma¬
ceutical Journal, \\ Br. Herapath described ■ a method
which be had successfully employed for the estimation of
traces of arsenicum based on the well-known test of

* Liebig’s ‘ Annalen,’ 192, iii. Also ‘ Year Book of
Pharmacy,’ 1879, 51.

+ Chemical Gazette, vii., 242.

$ Chemical Gazette, vii., 242.

| Chemical Gazette, vii., 242.

II Pharm. Journ., [2], iv., 302.

October 2, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

283

Marsh. His plan consisted in employing an exit tube
of very hard glass, narrowed in several parts by being
drawn out with the blowpipe, and bent into a triangular
form. This, after being accurately weighed was attached
with an india rubber joint to the chloride of calcium
tube connected with the hydrogen bottle. The gas having
been generated, heat was applied by separate spirit lamp
flames to three or four portions of the bent tube. Upon
introducing into the apparatus the liquid to be tested,
any arsenietted hydrogen evolved was of course decom¬
posed in its passage through the tube, and the arsenicum
deposited. The increase in weight of the tube at the
end of the operation represented the total arsenicum
present in the substance under examination.

When the amount of arsenicum is weighable, Hera-
path’s method leaves little to be desired, whilst it has the
merit of yielding the substance sought for in a state of
purity. When, however, the weight of the deposit falls
below a milligramme, trustworthy or concordant results
can scarcely be expected.

Besides the various gravimetric processes referred to,
there are, as is well known,' several volumetric methods
of estimating arsenicum. Of these, the older processes,
based on the indirect oxidizing agency of iodine when that
element is present in a solution containing arsenious acid,
are only reliable when the amount of the latter is con¬
siderable. An important modification, rendering the
volumetric method much more delicate, was proposed by
Mr. W. A. H. Naylor, in an able paper on that subject,
read at an Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical So¬
ciety in December last, and to those who prefer a volu¬
metric method of analysis, Mr. Naylor’s process may be
used with advantage.

Whilst engaged in the examination of some solutions
of percliloride of iron, referred to in a previous paper,
and having only limited quantities of material to deal
with, in some of which the amount of arsenicum
was too small to estimate gravimetrically by existing
methods, it occurred to me that the beautiful reaction
first observed by Soubeiran as taking place when a
stream of arsenietted hydrogen is passed through a
solution of nitrate of silver, might possibly be made the
basis of an accurate and rapid method for the indirect
determination of minute quantities of arsenic. It will
be remembered that the decomposition involved in the
reaction is expressed by the following equation : —

6 AgN03 + 3 H20 + AsH3 = 6 HN03 + H3 As03 + 3 Ag2

'"mo* 78 648

From which it will be seen that for every 75 parts of
arsenicum obtained in the state of AsH3, no less than
648 parts of metallic silver are thrown out of solution.
In other words, when the amount of arsenicum to be
estimated does not amount to more than ^ of a milligramme
(or about three one-thousandths of a grain), the weight
of the silver precipitate is so large as to be capable of
accurate determination on any balance of average
delicacy.

The method I have employed for the estimation is very
simple. An ordinary flask of about 250 c.c. capacity,
having an indiarubber stopper fitted with a thistle and a
right angled delivery tube, and containing granules of
pure zinc, serves for the hydrogen bottle. Attached to
the exit by a short piece of flexible tubing is a 50 c.c.
wide mouth bottle, containing about 30 c.c. N. solu¬
tion of lead acetate. In connection with this is another
bottle of the same description, containing 30 c.c. of
N. solution of silver nitrate, and attached to this a third
of precisely similar description ; the delivery tube from
the last terminating in the air. Pure hydrochloric acid
having been poured into the flask, and the stream of
hydrogen allowed to flow through the apparatus for some
minutes — at the expiration of which the solutions in the
three small bottles should still remain perfectly clear,
and likewise the extremities of the dipping tubes be free
from stains — the arsenical solution, previously freed

from oxidizing agents and concentrated to a bulk not
exceeding 25 c.c., is very gradually introduced into the
flask through the funnel tube, the last portions being
washed down by a jet of distilled water from a wasli-
bottle. The silver solution in the second bottle at once
commences to darken, and in a few seconds to throw
down a precipitate of finely divided metal. If the
arsenical solution has been carefully added, so that the
evolution of gas is steady, and provided the proportion
of arsenicum does not greatly exceed 10 milligrams, no
change will be observed in the silver solution contained
in the third bottle. At the expiration of from five to
ten minutes, the apparatus is dismounted, the silver
precipitate filtered off, washed, dried, ignited with its
filter in a porcelain crucible and weighed. Its weight,
minus filter ash, multiplied by *1157, is the weight of
arsenicum, or by ‘1527 the weight of arsenious acid in
the solution under examination.

The following table indicates the results obtained by
operating upon known quantities of arsenic : —

*292 gram pure As203 was dissolved in distilled water
with the aid of a little hydrochloric acid, and the solution
diluted to 500 c.c.

5 c.c. of the solution containing ’00292 As.>03 gave
•0154 Ag. x -1527 = ’00235 As203.

5 c.c. of the solution containing *00292 As.,03 gave
*0156 Ag. x -1527 = ’00238 As203.

5 c.c. of the solution containing "00292 As.,03 gave
•0154 Ag. x *1527 = "00235 As203.

5 c.c. of the solution containing *00292 As203 gave
*0158 Ag. x *1527 = "00241 As203.

10 c.c. of the solution containing "00584 Aso03 gave
•0344 Ag. x *1527 = "00525 As203.

10 c.c. of the solution containing "00584 As2o3 gave
*0340 Ag. x *1527 = "00519 As203. <

20 c.c. of the solution containing ‘01168 Aso03 gave
•0740 Ag. x -1527 = "01075 As203.

The loss in each experiment not exceeding the fraction of
a milligram.

As regards the presence of other substances in the
solution under examination, which by forming gaseous
compounds with hydrogen might decompose nitrate of
silver, and so interfere with the estimation of the arsenic,
there are to be considered five, viz., antimony, sulphur,
tellurium, selenium, and phosphorus. A preliminary ex¬
amination would of course decide as to the first, and
indicate a special method of procedure, whilst any sulphur,
selenium and tellurium, would be arrested by the acetate
of lead solution in the first bottle. The occurrence of
phosphorus in its lower forms of oxidation would in most
cases be rare. If, however, its presence is suspected, the
solution must be treated with a little nitric acid, to con¬
vert into phosphate, the excess of acid being afterwards
expelled by suitable means.

Estimations of traces of arsenicum occurring in different
forms and under varying conditions, by the method I have
described, have yielded excellent results.

The following will suffice as examples : —

Experiment 1. *5 grams arsenious acid, dissolved in a
little dilute hydrochloric acid, was digested for some
hours with portions of a sheep’s stomach. The fluid por¬
tion was then removed, and distilled with strong hydro¬
chloric acid in the manner recommended by Taylor,* and
the distillate diluted to 500 c.c. Five c.c. of this solution
representing 5 milligrams of arsenious acid, estimated by
the process I have described, yielded "029 gram Ag. or
"0044 gram As203.

Experiment 2. 2 grams of pure subnitrate of bismuth
were rubbed into a paste with 50 c.c. of a standard
solution of arseniate of ammonium, containing "0372
gram of the salt. The mixture was then heated for
some time with 10 c.c. strong sulphuric acid, until all
the nitric acid was driven off. It was then diluted and
filtered, and the basic sulphate of bismuth on the filter
repeatedly washed with distilled water, the mixed filtrate

I * Pharmaceutical Journal , [2], ii., 411.

284

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 2, 1880.

and washings being diluted to 100 c.c. 10 c.c. of this
solution yieided ’012 gram Ag, equivalent to *00356
Am3As04 found against *00372 calculated.

Experiment 3. The mother-liquor, weighing 4 pounds,
or 1818 grams, obtained from the crystallization of 100
pounds of bismuth metal was examined for arsenicum in
the manner described. 75 grams were used in the esti¬
mation and yielded *015 gram Ag, equivalent to *0017 As,
representing *0412 gram As in the 100 pounds of bis¬
muth. The last experiment affords a good illustration of
the delicacy of the process, the amount of arsenicum to
be estimated amounting to but little more than ^ grain
in 700,000 grains of the bismuth or less than one part in
a million.

I need scarcely say that I lay no claim to originality
as regards the chemistry of the method I have described.
It is founded upon a reaction long well known, although,
so far as I have been able to ascertain, its application
to quantitative analysis has not been previously noted.
Neither do I suggest that it should supersede the mag¬
nesia or any other process in present use. But in those
cases where the proportion of arsenic to be estimated is
exceedingly small, and it is yet necessary to assign to it
a more precise limit than is conveyed by the additional
“trace,” I can strongly recommend the method as
being both easy in its application, and accurate in its
results.

My thanks are due to my assistant, Mr. H. P. Cooper,
for the care and skill with which he has performed a
large number of analyses bearing upon the subject of
this paper.

Mr. Plowman said Mr. Eletcher had stated he had
kept his apparatus going some five or ten minutes
before dismantling it to weigh the silver, and he was
somewhat surprised to hear that length of time men¬
tioned, because some years ago he was making some
experiments, the success of which depended on the com¬
plete conversion of arsenicum into arseniuretted hydrogen,
and he then found that five hours was not sufficient, nor
yet five days, nor as far as he remembered when the
process went on continuously for a whole week. Operat¬
ing with pure zinc he allowed the process to go on for a
week, and still found traces of arsenicum being given
off as arseniuretted hydrogen. As Mr. Fletcher’s results
came out very fairly, the question arose as to whether the
equation put on the board exactly represented the decom¬
position which took place when arseniuretted hydrogen
passed through a solution of nitrate of silver, or whether
there was not some other change which caused a larger
deposition of silver, and so account for the results. His
own experience was that the arsenicum would not come
off entirely.

Professor Attfield said that it occurred to him that
Mr. Eletcher was somewhat on the horns of a dilemma.
If the process were conducted too rapidly it was possible he
might not collect all his arsenicum, whilst if he conducted
it too slowly he might get metallic silver precipitated in his
solution, not derived from the action of the arseniuretted
hydrogen, but from the action of the hydrogen itself on
the nitrate of silver. He appeared to have conducted
his experiments fairly rapidly, and he noticed that he did
not get out the theoretical quantity of arsenicum by a
good deal. He was only working with minute propor¬
tions, and it was astonishing that he should get out so
much, but still it appeared that he did not get within 10
or 20 per cent, of what he put in. Mr. Eletcher had
mentioned a number of substances in which arsenicum
had been found by different chemists to which he might
add common salt, in which it was found many years ago
by Campbell.

Mr. Schacht desired to say one word in favour of the
process for the delicate detection of minute quantities of
arsenicum to which Mr. Fletcher had alluded, but passed
over rather slightly as though he was scarcely disposed to
recommend it. He referred to the one devised by Dr.

Herapath. He happened to see Dr. Herapath’s process
of work, and at the time repeated some of his experi¬
ments, and remembering that it was a very easy process,
and one which required very little beyond the first ex¬
periment, and then a very delicate and careful weighing.

He thought it deserved rather more respect than it had
received at Mr. Fletcher’s hands. It certainly acted
very nicely down to the limit of a milligram.

Mr. Reynolds said there was a recent case of detection
of arsenic in minute quantities which, he believed, had
not yet been published. Professor Thorpe, of the York¬
shire College, had lately investigated the condition of the
urine in a fatal case of poisoning by absorption of arsenical
green from the walls of a house, but he had to be satisfied
with reporting abundant traces. This was a case in which
it would have been very satisfactory if a more delicate
quantitative test for arsenic had existed.

Mr. Allen said although it was true there was a
sensible loss, they could all see that when dealing with
such minute quantities, literally only of T^oths of a
grain, that these were extraordinarily accurate results.

It was no use to say, as Mr. Schacht had done, that Dr.
Herapath’s method was a very satisfactory one ; no
doubt it was so far as it went, but the objection was that
in his method it was the metallic arsenic which had to be
weighed, and there was not the advantage of a greatly
increased weight. Now Mr. Fletcher weighed nine
times the weight of silver which he had of arsenic,
and therefore for every *01 of a grain of metallic arsenic
he had *09 of metallic silver to weigh. Professor Attfield
suggested that it was not certain metallic silver was not
thrown down in some cases by the hydrogen, but Dr.
Russell showed that only perfectly neutral nitrate of
silver was apt to be precipitated by a current of pure
hydrogen, and that the slightest trace of acid prevented
such action ; therefore, Mr. Fletcher had only to take
the precaution of having it faintly acid and there would
be no fear of any precipitation of metallic silver. It was
a most convenient method provided all the arsenic was
got off in gas in the time mentioned. It did not prevent
one estimating it by any of the ordinary processes in
the filtrate from the precipitated silver, though, of course,
that involved the assumption, the truth of which Mr.
Plowman seemed to doubt, that a'l the arsenic passed off
in the form of gas. From his own experience, dealing
with much larger quantities, he should be inclined to
agree with Mr. Plowman that it did not all go off in
the form of gas. On the other hand, he was quite in¬
clined to suppose, as Mr. Fletcher’s experiment showed
to be the case, that, when dealing with minute quan¬
tities, practically the whole, or within a few per cent, of
the whole, would be found in the form of gas. He would
suggest to Mr. Fletcher that he might modify the form of
the apparatus so as to insure a more complete absorption
of the arsenetted hydrogen. It was not impossible that
the low results might be due quite as much to incomplete
absorption as to incomplete conversion into arsenietted
hydrogen. Mr. Fletcher had pointed out one or two
objections to the ordinary magnesia process, that it was
not applicable to small traces, and that the precipitates
were of variable composition, but it did not matter if
they varied if the process was only used to estimate
traces. What did it matter whether it contained one-
half a molecule of water or more if one were only esti¬
mating traces ? Hence Mr. Fletcher’s objections were
not really to the point, but nevertheless he had shown
a method by which they could weigh nine times the
amount of the thing they wanted to estimate ; that was
a matter of prime importance. Mr. Fletcher made
mention of oxidizing such things as the lower acids of
phosphorus by means of nitric acid, but he should con¬
tend that nitric acid was a very bad oxidizing agent in a
dilute solution ; it would be far safer to use perman¬
ganate.

Professor Attfield said the proportion obtained as
against the proportion of arsenic used was important. »

October 2, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

285

One could see at once that if 29 milligrams were used
and 23 were recovered this was very close to the original
weight, being in fact only 6 milligrams out, but the
question was this, if 29 grams were put in, would 23
grams be got back, or 29 grams minus 6 milligrams only.

Mr. Fletcher said with regard to the time allowed
for the gas to pass through the solution before adding
the arsenical solution, he thought if no darkening in colour
took place in from five to ten minutes one might be quite
satisfied that it was free from any appreciable quantity
of arsenic. Even if traces were present it would not
interfere with the gravimetrical estimation of the arsenic.
One might get a solution which would give what were
apparently very dense mirrors with Marsh’s test, but
which when tested with nitrate of silver would scarcely
give the faintest possible coloration. As to the equation,
which it was remarked might not represent the reaction,
he simply gave it because it expressed the salient point
of the decomposition. As to Professor Attfield’s remarks
as to the discrepancies in the results obtained from the
quantity of arsenic used it should be recollected that he
did not recommend this process for large quantities of
arsenic ; in fact for a solution containing centigrams of
arsenic the magnesia method might be used. He was not
putting this forward in place of the magnesia process
when dealing with a weighable precipitate. But one
thing was quite certain, with a solution containing only
2'9 milligrams of arsenious acid one would never get a
weighable precipitate with magnesia. If the result came
to be multiplied into percentages it looked very large, but
when it was recollected that there were barely 3 milli¬
grams operated upon the results were not so bad. He
was very sorry that Mr. Schacht should have misinter¬
preted his reference to Dr. Herapath’s process. He did
not in the least degree intend to disparage that process,
in fact it was Herapath’s paper which first suggested the
method he now brought forward. As Mr. Allen had
said, by Herapath’s process one could only weigh the
arsenic, and the molecular weight being low when there
was less than a milligram it became almost impossible to
get true results. He quite agreed with Mr. Allen’s sug¬
gestion that probably a more complete form of apparatus
would be better than the three bottles. If a larger
quantity of arsenic were present, and the gas was desired
to be generated more rapidly there could be four or five
bottles. It was a very simple matter to filter off the
precipitate out of each bottle.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Fletcher.

The next paper read was on —

Emulsions.

BY A. W. GERRARD, F.C.S.,
j Demonstrator of Pharmacy and Materia Medica to
University College.

This communication is the result of some experiments
made with the view of determining what would prove the
most valuable agents for general use to render oils, balsams,
resins, and oleo-resins, in the form of emulsions. Also to
arrange formulae practical and reliable, for the most com¬
monly prescribed substances required to be dispensed in
the emulsion form.

The subject, I know, is one upon which much has been
already said and written, and yet withal there exists
amongst pharmacists a wide difference of opinion and
practice as to the material or process which shall best
emulsify any given oil. The truth of this observation
may be demonstrated by giving the same prescription, say
for ^ an ounce of castor oil to be rendered into 2 ounces
of emulsion according to art, to six different chemists to
prepare ; the products will vary most astonishingly, no two
being alike either in colour or fluidity and some not even
emulisified at all. This want of uniformity in our art
applies not only to emulsions but various other prepara¬
tions; and although some slight variations may be ex¬
pected in preparations obtained from products themselves

subject to natural variation, the difference is generally far
too great to be explained on these grounds, and is often
sufficient to create suspicion or distrust in the mind of a
patient, to whom no amount of explanation is satisfac¬
tory. This is matter for regret and enables me to make
the observation that I believe the blame for much of this
can be traced to a deficiency in pharmaceutical education,
for it is a fact that actual practical pharmacy, I mean the
the real manufacture of preparations and practical use of
apparatus, forms no part of the curriculum of our school.
The remedy suggests itself.

The emulsifying agents most commonly employed and
regarded with most favour are the mucilages of tragacanth
and acacia, likewise their powders. My experiments have
been confined to these substances, previous results having
proven that where honey, yolk of egg, and almond powder
are recommended for special purposes, acacia or traga¬
canth answers equally well or better.

To decide the respective merits of tragacanth and
acacia some forty experiments were conducted with each
gum, both in powder and in mucilage, mixed with various
oils and resins in various proportions, and by varied
manipulation, the results obtained being altogether in
favour of powdered gum acacia, the emulsions it forms
being perfect milk- like fluids, in which the eye cannot
distinguish any particle of oil ; they pour easily from the
bottle and mix with water in any proportion without
separation. Most of the forms given below have been
kept for two months and show no deterioration.

For general instructions when using powdered gum
acacia, it is essential that it be of the best quality and
almost white. The substance to be emulsified, if it be a
fluid, must be measured in a dry measure and poured into
a dry mortar ; the necessary amount of powdered gum can
now be well incorporated, next the portion of water indi¬
cated in each case, but by no means let it be measured in the
oily measure. Now stir well, taking care that every particle
of oil is brought within range of the disruptive mechanical
motion ; want of attention to this part of the operation is a
frequent source of failure, for if any oil gets up the side of
the pestle or mortar and is omitted from the emulsifying
process it will most certainly show itself by floating upon
the surface of the finished product, spoiling what might
otherwise have been a perfect preparation.

When the substance to be emulsified is a solid or semi¬
solid body with resinous properties, it is advisable to
dissolve it in twice its quantity of rectified spirit, then
treat in the same manner as for fluids. Syrups,
tinctures and flavouring agents when ordered should,
as a rule, be added last.

Emulsion of Cod Liver Oil.

Cod liver oil . 4 ounces.

Essential oil of almonds ... 4 minims.

Powdered gum acacia .... 1 ounce.

Syrup . 1 „

Water ........ to 8 ounces.

Mix the gum with the oil, then place on the mixture 2
ounces of water, and stir till the emulsion is formed, then
add the remainder, water, essence and syrup.

Emulsion of Castor Oil.

Castor oil . 4 drachms.

Powdered gum acacia . . . 80 grains.

Essential oil of almonds . . 1 minim.

Simple syrup . 2 drachms.

Water . to 2 ounces.

Mix the powder with the oil, then add 2 drachms of
water, and stir till the emulsion is formed, add the re¬
mainder, water, syrup and essence.

Emulsion of Turpentine Oil.

Oil of turpentine . 4 drachms.

Powdered gum acacia ... 2 .,

Syrup . 2 „

Water . to 2 ounces.

286

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 2, 1880.

Mix the powder with the oil, add J ounce of water,
and stir till the emulsion is formed, then add the re¬
mainder of the water and syrup.

Oil of turpentine is considered one of the most trouble¬
some bodies to emulsify ; prepared by this form there is
no difficulty.

Emulsion of Balsam Copaiba.

Balsam of copaiba .... 3 drachms.

Powdered gum acacia ... 3 „

Simple syrup . 6 ,,

Water . to 6 ounces.

Mix the powder with the balsam and add 6 drachms
of water, then stir till the emulsion is formed, gradually
add the remainder of the water and syrup.

Emulsion of Resin of Copaiba.

Besin of copaiba . 2 drachms.

Rectified spirit . 4 „

Powdered gum acacia , . . 4 „

Water . to 6 ounces.

Dissolve the resin in the spirit, add the powdered gum
and mix well, add now an ounce of water, stirring till
the emulsion is formed; make up to 6 ounces with water.

Emulsion of Balsam of Peru.

Balsam of Peru . 3 drachms.

Powdered gum acacia ... 2 „

Simple syrup . 6 „

Water . to 6 ounces.

Rub the powder well with the balsam, add 3 drachms
of water and stir till the emulsion is perfect, then add
the remaining water and syrup.

In emulsions containing resins or bodies heavier than
water, there is generally a sediment forms ; it is so with
the two previous forms, but there is no aggregation into
a hardened mass, and a slight shake of the bottle puts all
right again.

Emulsion of Chian Turpentine.

Chian turpentine . 2 drachms.

Ether . 4 „

Powdered gum acacia ... 2 „

Water . to 6 ounces.

Dissolve the turpentine in the ether, and filter, washing
the filter with a drachm of ether, mix well with the gum,
and add J ounce of water, stirring till the emulsion is
perfect, lastly add the remaining water.

Attention has already been called to the superiority of
acacia over tragacanth to emulsify Chian turpentine, and
the statement cannot be disproved.

Many of these forms have been well tested and prac¬
tically made by large classes of students, and the results
have been most satisfactory.

Before leaving the subject I will say that no rule of
thumb practice should be attempted in making an emul¬
sion ; success may occasionally occur, but annoyance
and waste of time and material is the invariable result.

In conclusion, powdered gum acacia in my hands has
achieved the greatest success, and so far as I am con¬
cerned merits the distinction of being called the per¬
fection of emulsifying agents.

The President said this paper was perhaps one of the
most interesting practically to the pharmacists which had
come before the meeting.

Mr. Greenish thought the Conference was very much
indebted to any pharmacist who had thrown some light
on the formation of emulsions. As a practical
pharmacist he knew of difficulties in connection with the
matter. With regard to the use of pulv. acaciae it was
not new, and they were indebted to their brothers across
the Atlantic for a hint in that respect. Two or three
pharmacists had written on the subject and he thought
there was not much more to be said upon it, but
it always did good to bring an important matter forward
again. Sometimes tragacanth was used, and his ex¬
perience quite agreed with Mr. Gerrard that it was not
really suitable for the purpose. He should like

pharmacists to occasionally put their emulsions under the
microscope, when they would soon see the difference
between a good one and a bad one ; the small globules
of oil would in the one case be much larger than in the
other. Mr. Gerrard laid stress on using good acacia, and
it was only the best which should be used. It "was one
of those substances which would repay any pharmacist
for paying attention to. Some was introduced into the
market, which was not soluble, and that in its emulsive
qualities would very much resemble tragacanth. Gum
acacia was an exudation and the best to use for this
purpose was one perfectly soluble.

Mr. Plowman said it was quite true that the sugges¬
tion to use gum acacia was not new, but he must do
Mr. Gerrard the justice to say that instead of a mortar
being used Mr. Winched Forbes advised the use of a phial,
and gave an instance of a turpentine emulsion in which
the turpentine was to be put into the phial first and
shaken up, the pulv. acacise was next added, the two were
shaken together, a definite quantity of water being added
first, and then the remainder gradually. Mr. Gerrard’s
process seemed to consist in using a mortar, and he had
given definite formulae.

Mr. Savage said the subject was an old one, but
members were much indebted to Mr. Gerrard for the
definite preparations he had given and the simplicity of
the method'. With regard to the use of gum acacia it
was recommended in Gray’s ‘ Supplement to the Pharma¬
copoeia ’ for 1831, in mixing oil of almonds.

A Member said he had found a little difficulty in
making emulsions with gum acacia, having had occasion
to use a cod liver oil emulsion in his own family. On
pouring it out, if the bottle were left in a dry room a
layer of gum was left on the top, and every successive
pouring left an additional layer, which was rather an ob¬
jection. In other respects he found it form an excellent
emulsion.

Mr. Richardson (Aberdare) asked if it would not be
better to add the oil to the gum.

Mr. Cottrell suggested that if sugar were added at
first it would assist the process very much indeed, and
the proportionate quantity of water could be added after¬
wards, although no doubt it was a heresy if no syrup
were ordered to put syrup in. It was a small quantity -
Mr. Gerrard had, but he would give a form for a larger ■i
quantity of emulsion which would last for years, would
not separate and would be as good in five years’ time as
at present. It was one he was frequently making,
though it was not used by those suffering from disease,
but was more often taken by those persons who were in
good health. He had a large mortar with the pestle
through a ring, into which he put twenty-four eggs ; it
was not necessary to use gum for an emulsion, and he
used a fine almond powder, which he obtained from a
house in London, which would emulsify anything. It
was very much Mr. Gerrard’s system. The twenty-four
eggs were put in the mortar and then he got 6 ounces of
good Durham mustard, 2 pounds of crystallized brown
sugar, these were worked together well until the cracking
noise which had been referred to was heard, and hard
work it was. Then he added 64 ounces of the very
finest sublimed oil, and then when that was well mixed
it was a beautiful smooth yellow emulsion, to which he
added 4 pints of vinegar and 3 ounces of Taragona
vinegar. It was exactly the same form as Mr. Gerrard
had given.

Mr. William Evans desired to thank Mr. Gerrard for
the paper. Country chemists sometimes found great
difficulty in dispensing some prescriptions. Their cus¬
tomers sometimes went to town and got their prescrip¬
tions prepared there occasionally in a very different
manner, and when they came back to the country if the
prescriptions were not dispensed in exactly the same
way they were not satisfied. He should be very glad if
some gentleman present would make out some notes as a
guide to apprentices and to serve as a standard as to how

October 2, 18S0.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

287

things should be prepared ; there ought to be more
uniformity in practice amongst chemists.

Mr. Ward (Sheffield) had prepared many emulsions,
but must express his thanks to Mr. Gerrard for the
simple way in which he had introduced his method. He
should like to ask if he had allowed his emulsions to stand
for a year, because some he had prepared stood very well
for three or four months, but owing to a change of
temperature, or some other circumstance, they did not
keep well beyond that time.

Mr. Gerrard said his principal object was to show
the simple and easy manner in which an emulsion could
be made by the use of powdered gum acacia, and also to
give formulae which would introduce more uniformity of
practice amongst chemists in the making of these pre¬
parations. He was quite aware that gum acacia . had
been recommended previously, but no good . reliable
formulae had been given for the making of emulsions. It
was necessary for him to arrange formulae for his demon¬
strations and as they had turned out satisfactorily he
thought it would be well to bring them before the
Conference. Mixing the ingredients in a phial did not
give so good results as with a pestle and mortar. It was
always difficult to get away the last traces of oil from
the side of the bottle. With regard to the emulsion
becoming gummy on the surface and thickening, it really
become clotted and difficult to pour, and consisted mainly
of a mixture of oil and gum, and that was especially so
with cod liver oil. With reference to castor oil emulsion
when it was prepared with gum acacia, unless some
essential oil were added it underwent some change,
and became sour, but the addition of some essential oil to
the emulsions would prevent that. His experience as to
keeping did not extend beyond three months _ at the
outside. One gentleman spoke of the advisability of
adding syrups to the water before making the emulsion,
but that rather retarded than aided the process. The fla¬
vouring agent, and the sugar should as a rule be added last.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Gerrard.

[To be continued.)

^arlmmeufatg mtfr

The Use op Concentrated Tincture of Camphor.

An inquest was held by the Bridgwater Borough
Coroner (Mr, P. 0. H. Reed), on Monday evening,
September 20, at the Town Hall, on the body of Mr.
James Coll, a commercial traveller, who died suddenly
on the previous morning at the Royal Clarence Hotel.

The following amongst other evidence was adduced : —

Mr. George Rochester, commercial traveller, said, I was
at the Clarence Hotel last Saturday evening, arriving
there a little after eight. I found the deceased in the
commercial room, lying on the sofa, apparently resting
himself. He was a perfect stranger to me up to that
time. I gathered from a remark he made that he had
been taking some sherry and water. He seemed to be
tired and exhausted, and he was indistinct and mumbled
in his conversation. He asked when the North mail went
for Ireland, and afterwards wrote a letter, and went, I
believe, to the post office. About a quarter past nine he
returned, and laid down on the sofa, stating that he was
ill. I asked “ What is the matter ? ” He replied that he
had diarrhoea very badly. I advised, from my own experi¬
ence, his taking some tincture of camphor. I rang for
the boots for him, and at the request of the deceased the
boots went to Mr. Good’s, the chemist, and brought back
a sixpenny bottle of it. I should know the bottle again
if I saw it. I then opened the bottle, got a piece of sugar,
and gave the deceased from three to five drops on it.
After an interval of about twenty minutes I got another
piece of sugar, and broke it in two, at his request, to make
it smaller. I gave him another piece, with from ten to
fifteen drops upon it, and I repeated the same dose about

about half an hour afterwards, at his request. He did
not take any more of the tincture in my presence. About
an hour elapsed between when he took the first lot and
the last. Soon afterwards I was informed that a medical
gentlemen had been sent for, and was with the deceased
On his coming down I stopped him and informed him of
having given the deceased some tincture of camphor. The
doctor wished the bottle found. The deceased, on going
to bed, took a piece of sugar and the bottle of cam¬
phor with him. I accompanied him to the bedroom,
for the purpose of finding the bottle. This was about
half-past eleven or quarter to twelve. The deceased
was then in bed, partially undressed. The doctor
asked the deceased for the bottle he had brought up¬
stairs. Deceased replied “It’s up above.” I asked
“ Where do you mean ? ” and “ Up above ” was again
the reply. We searched for the bottle, but could
not find it for some time. Subsequently the bottle
was found on the dressing room table of No. 21, another
bedroom, and the bottle contained about the same
quantity of mixture as when he carried it away. The
deceased gradually got more violent, calling “Police,”
“Murder,” “Thieves,” and “Fire.” He also exclaimed,
“ Let me go, and I will say nothing more about it.” He
tried several times to get out of bed, and had to be kept
there by force. Afterwards I heard a crash of glass, and
on returning to the room I found Mr. Parsons and others
pulling him back from the window, and he was laid on
the floor. A strait waistcoat was sent for, but one
could not be procured. After that he became quieter,
and I went down for some beef tea and other things that
the doctor wished him to have. The deceased partook of
some of this beef tea, and also some coffee, and, a small
quantity of hot brandy and water that was recommended
for him by the doctor. The deceased was then put to
bed, and the doctor left about half-past four, recom¬
mending us to go to bed also, leaving two policemen
in charge. The deceased at that time appeared rather
exhausted, which I accounted for by the excitement and
violent struggling he had previously undergone. About
ten minutes afterwards I was called down. I found
the deceased, supported by two policemen, apparently
dying, and insensible. I ran down for the boots to send
for the medical gentleman, and on my return to the
bedroom I found that the deceased was dead. Before
giving any drops I noticed a label on the bottle, and read
it through, and observed that it contained directions as
to the quantity to be taken on sugar, and also in cases
of violent attack. The quantity I gave was within the
quantity mentioned in the directions.

Mr. F. J. C. Parsons : I am a medical man practising in
this town. On Saturday night, about half-past eleven, I
was sent for to go to the Clarence Hotel. When I got
there I saw the deceased in bed, half undressed. After a
little conversation, I came to the opinion that in addition
to a certain amount of alcoholism, he was suffering from
something else. He was semi-rational. I asked what
he had been taking. He showed me the bottle now
produced, which was on his dressing table. I asked him
if he had the prescription. He thought he had, and that
it was in his coat pocket. I handed him his coat, and he
gave me sundry papers, quite unconnected with the pre¬
scription. I felt iris pulse, which was very quick and
weak, and he was in a cold bath of perspiration. I left
him for a short time to have an interview with Mr,
Leaker and Mr. Rochester, to whom I was then intro¬
duced. I learnt from the latter that the deceased had
taken a certain quantity of tincture of camphor. I im¬
mediately suggested that we should find this bottle, which
I understood had been procured from Mr. Good, chemist,
by the under-boots. Eventually we fonnd the bottle in
an upper bedroom — No. 21. I produce the bottle, which
was sealed in my presence. I attended to the deceased
nearly all the night. He was exceedingly violent at times,
constantly calling for the police, and by my wish the
police were summoned, and two came into his bedroom.

288

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 2, 18S0.

Soon after four he made a determined effort to jump out
of the window. I restrained him, and placed him on the
floor ; he was then in a state of great collapse. Some
beef tea and brandy were administered. At five he
seemed somewhat recovered, and I had him placed in bed.
Soon afterwards he appeared much better, and I then
left him in charge of two policemen. I was summoned
again in half an hour, and found him dead, with a police¬
man on either side. The medicine given me by the deceased
represents the prescription handed to Superintendent
Lear by the druggist at Wells. It is perfectly harm¬
less. The other bottle produced, found on the dressing
table of No. 21 bedroom at the Clarence Hotel, is
labelled, as to how the contents should be used, as fol¬
lows : — “Four drops on a small piece of sugar every five
minutes until the symptoms begin to yield. In very
severe cases the dose should be increased from 5 to 20
drops every five minutes.” I may say (added Mr. Parsons)
that the public imagine this homoeopathic solution of
camphor to be a most harmless medicine, whereas it is a
most poisonous and dangerous one. It is a medicine that
should be used with very great care, and the public have
no conception as to the danger they incur in using it. This
is what Dr. Johnson (physician to King’s College Hos¬
pital) says concerning it : — “ It is time that the pub¬
lic should be warned of the danger which they incur
by the use of this poisonous homoeopathic concentrated
solution of camphor, which is more than seven times the
strength of ordinary spirit of camphor. It is notorious
that the modern disciples of Hahnemann have gone from
the ludicrous extreme of infinitesimal dilution to the
dangerous extreme of the greatest possible concentration
of active and poisonous drugs.”

The Coroner: You have heard the evidence of Mr.
Rochester as to the quantity given, no doubt with the
very best intention and greatest kindness to the deceased.
What do you say about that ? — My opinion is, and I have
no doubt of it, that the deceased died from the excessive
use of alcohol, but I certainly do think also, and I am
bound to say so, that the use of solution of camphor was,
to say the least of it, very unfortunate. I do not mean
to say that deceased died from camphor poison in any
shape or form, but from what you, Mr. Coroner, and the
jury would understand as delirium tremens.

The Coroner : Was the death accelerated, do you say,
by the use of this camphor? — Well, I would not like to
go so far as that ; but you have already heard what I
have had to say with regard to the danger attending its
use, and I have felt it my duty to say so to you, and
through you to the public.

Mr. Goldie: Would you prescribe it yourself, doctor?
— No, and I may add that this solution of camphor is
prepared by chemists each in their own particular way,
and that each one puts his own doses upon the bottle.
The public have not the least knowledge of the serious
consequences that may result from it.

The Coroner : Is that medicine generally dispensed in
shops for diarrhoea? — Yes ; it is a most popular remedy
for it, but not a less dangerous one.

The jury retired for deliberation for a short time, and
returned with a verdict of “ Death from the excessive
use of alcohol and a severe attack of diarrhoea.” — Bridg¬
water Mercury.

Poisoning by Carbolic Acid in an Infirmary.

On Saturday evening, September 25, a painful affair
took place in Greenock Infirmary. One of the nurses
gave a patient some medicine, supposed to be a black
draught ; but it was found that instead of this a quantity
of carbolic acid had been Administered to the unfortunate
man, who expired in about an hour. Deceased was an
American seaman. The nurse has been remitted to the
sheriff on a charge of culpable homicide. — Edinburgh
Courant.

®0tTesponbentc.

The Future of Pharmacy.

Sir, — I was pleased to see the able letters from Mr.
Chapman and Mr. Shields in the Journal relative to patent
medicines, etc. Nothing would prove more suicidal than
to follow the lead of the stores and grocers in that respect.

My opinion is, if the trade generally will only show a
bold front on that point, and declare by such action they
will not be intimidated, they will in the long run come out
of the conflict better than they anticipate.

I doubt if the public generally have much faith in patent
medicines supplied by cutting grocers, who know nothing
of these preparations, and can give no opinion respecting
them.

I believe when a chemist has obtained the confidence of
the public, and has carried on his business in a straight¬
forward manner, he can recommend preparations of his own
in many cases, and he will find his advice listened to and
appreciated.

In this town the chemists came to a resolution some
years since not to lower the prices of any patent medicines,
whatever grocers or others might do as regards them. This
agreement has been faithfully kept by all, and, I believe,
greatly to our advantage.

High Cross, Barnstaple. Edward Pratt.

The Buott Fund.

The following additional list of donations to this Fund

has been received : —

Proprietors of Chemist and Druggist ... 2 2 0

Alfred Bastin, Manchester . 2 2 0

Wm. Matthews, 12, Wigmore Street, W. 1 1 0

Alfred Rose, 441, Edgware Road, W. ... 0 5 0

Thomas Holme, Pendleton . 0 10 6

James Mackenzie, Edinburgh . 0 10 0

Edward Hammerton, Colchester. . 0 10 0

E. B. Vizer, Brighton . 0 10 0

B. W . 0 2 6

S. S. Beall, Cambridge . 0 2 6

John Throssell, Cambridge . 0 6 0

K., Cambridge . 0 2 6

Alpha . . 0 10 0

J. Wellington, Fowey . 0 5 0

R. H. A. Holborn, Highbury Crescent... 110

“ Pharmacist.” — By the 3rd section of the Explosives Act
the term “explosives ” is made to include for the purposes
of the Act a large number of articles, and amongst them
“ coloured fires.”

“ Mentha.” — Aq. menthse is mint water, the product of
Mentha viridis. See the answer to a similar question,

“ Dispensing Memoranda,” No. 101, vol. viii., p. 850.

8. Griffith. — Sedum svectabile.

“ Fraxinus.” — Lastrcea dilatata, probably. The stem
with the scales should be sent, not a mere fragment of a
frond.

E. J. Cox. — Colutea arborescens.

Chemicus is thanked for his communication, to which,
however, we do not think it necessary to give further
publicity.

C. J. W. — "We do not recognize any particular balance
through your description, but you are recommended to
consult a dealer in such apparatus.

G. F. T. — Royle’s or Garrod’s Handbooks of Materia
Medica and Therapeutics.

“ Only a Junior ” is recommended to consult a manual of
dentistry. -

“ Tyro.” — Apply to the Secretary for a copy of the pam¬
phlet entitled 4 Hints to Apprentices and Students.’

T. P. Morgan. — Up to the time of our latest advices no |
legislation regulating the practice of pharmacy in New
Zealand was actually in existence, but an attempt was
then being made to secure the passing of such an Act. See
before, p. 52.

“ Socius.” — "We are unable to give you the information.

J. E, H.— Such a sale would be unlawful. _

Comm unj cations, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Cottrell, Guest, Flux, Latham, Whitfield, Pritchard ,
Kermath, Brady, Foster, Somerset

October 9, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS

delivered at the commencement of the thirty-
ninth SESSION OF THE SCHOOL OF PHARMACY,
Wednesday, October 6, 1880,

By J. LANGDON DOWN, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P.

When your Council did me the honour to request
that I would address a few words to you at the
commencement of the thirty-ninth session of your
school, I felt that I could not decline that honour,
as my affections had been entwined, from the very
commencement of your Society, round its noble and
successful efforts to advance pharmacy in Great
Britain ; and from the recollection that it was within
the walls of this building that I received some thirty-
four years since my first scientific impulses, and my

earliest scientific training.

It may be permitted me, as one outside your
special work and yet belonging with you to the great
commonwealth of medicine, to take a review of your
past and present position and to make forecasts as
to your future. You may feel assured that where
any of my remarks may appear to be antagonistic
to your interests, that they will have been conceived
in no unfriendly spirit, but with a tender sympathy
begotten by early affection and with some know¬
ledge of your difficulties, traditions, and aims.

This great Society, under whose auspices we are
met to-night,— what is the reason for its being ?
Its origin is, I conceive, a most philosophical one :
to take cognizance of a differentiating process which
had been and ought to be going on in medicine,
and to bring to the process all the best powers and
aids which pharmacy could muster. The fathers of
this Society had no selfish aims: they were men
who -were occupying the foremost ranks of their
calling ; they stood out for the most part as promi¬
nent lights on a background, wdiich aided them by
contrast, and, like all dark backgrounds, absorbed
the light that was emitted rather than assisted in the
illumination. They were men wdiose names are now
household words in pharmacy, — the Allens, the Bells,
the Hanburys, the Savorys, the Morsons, and the
Squires,— whose interest, if they had been influenced
by low motives, would have been to have profited
by a prominence which the absence of a wide diffu¬
sion of pharmaceutical knowledge fostered. All
credit, then, to those who had the prescience to
anticipate and the zeal to aid in the process of
specialization, of vrhich this Association is the out¬
come.

In a rude condition of society the healing art was
necessarily comprehensive ; it combined the treat¬
ment of disease, both medical and surgical— disease,
too, not confined to the human species, but including
that of domestic and other animals. With this was
combined the preparation and sale of medicines, the
collection of plants and drugs, and the commercial
Third Series, No. 537.

transactions associated therewith. Realizing the
physiological process of the amoeba, which, without
any definite parts adapted to special work, extem¬
porizes out of its homogeneous structure organs for
locomotion, for prehension, for digestion, and for all
the other requirements of its simple life, propa¬
gating itself even by division of its structure, and
never advancing beyond a simple mass of sarcode>
so the medicine man of prehistoric or even early
historic times went on in this amoeboid state oi
existence, performing offices of diverse characters
without any special adaptation, and carrying out a
low and inefficient function in the economy in which
he existed. But j ust as the mass of sarcode is probably
by a process of evolution differentiated into special
organs adapted to fulfil with exquisite nicety the
purposes for which they are designed, giving rise to
beings higher and higher in the scale of organiza¬
tion in proportion to their differentiation of structure
and function until the highest vertebrate animal is
reached, so by a process of evolution a process
which should ever be regarded with satisfaction —
the medicine man of early historic times has become
differentiated into the physician, surgeon, dentist,
veterinary practitioner, and pharmacist, and, accord¬
ing to all philosophical analogy, each member of the
commonwealth of medicine becomes higher, more
evolved, more useful to himself and for the common
good, in proportion to the perfection of the differen¬
tiating process. This is the touchstone in my opinion
to which should be referred all questions arising
between the different branches of the profession.
Every indication of multiplicity of function in any
member of the body is a mark of retiogiession ,
every instance of minute adaptation of means to ends
is a mark of evolution and an evidence of progress.

You will readily gather from this that the adop¬
tion of pharmacy by large commercial companies
under the name of stores, whether co-operative or
otherwise, is a phase of retrogression, and one v liicli,
in the nature of things, cannot continue if phar¬
macists are true to themselves and promote that
higher culture and scientific knowledge which this
Society has done so much year by } eai to diffuse.
I know, from having been a constant reaclei of } our
Journal, and I may say that I have been so fiom
the appearance of its first numbei, that the recent
legal decisions and re- decisions have been a source
0f° perplexity and annoyance, and that the future of
pharmacy seems to many under a cloud. For my¬
self I can see danger only from a growth of quackery
in pharmacy itself. The true pharmacist, like the
true physician, should be ever working to raise his
art, to give to it a scientific basis, and to discourage
pretence and shams.

The great peril for pharmacy is the growing
tendency to the sale of proprietary and secret
remedies. That this is an increasing evil I am
thoroughly convinced. Constantly the physician is
thus interviewed when at his morning receptions.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 0, 1880

290

A gentleman of good address is nsliered into liis
consulting room ; he has "been taking his turn with
others at the physician’s levee. With Saxon tones or
American phrase he commences a story which is
evidently learned by heart, and reminds him forcibly
of the historical disquisitions of the guides at the
Tower of London. He is anxious to make him
acquainted with the latest developments of science ;
he knows the physician takes a keen interest therein,
and he has therefore called to tell him of a very marvel¬
lous discovery — a discovery which is so pregnant with
potentialities for the future that anxiety was felt to
ascertain the opinion of the more thoughtful members
of the medical profession on a matter which was
only in its newest stage. Professor Driveller, of the
University of Niagara, had discovered, while making
optical investigations of the spray of the cataract as
it passed through wire gauze of infinitesimal gauge,
that a portion of the metal was taken up by the
water in a condition perfectly new to science. It
was, in fact, iron in such an allotropic condition as
to have assumed all the properties of a hitherto un¬
known quasi-e lenient. For some time the said pro¬
fessor had met with the serious difficulty that there
was no known solvent, and that, moreover, it was
perfectly unstable ; after months of experiment the
learned professor had hit upon a plan of reducing
it to a perfect and stable solution. Then he pours
out some physiological statements regarding the place
which this agent is to fill in the human economy, and
is anxious that his colleagues should try it on patients
in the wards of his hospital. Presently the physician
has the pleasure of seeing this same agent adver¬
tised in the columns of the morning newspaper,
detailing how it has the patronage of the leaders of
the medical profession, and cures dyspepsia, nervous¬
ness, hepatic, renal, and cardiac trouble — in fact, all
the ills which flesh is heir to. This pestilent flood
of American and English specifics is not only an
insult to the medical profession, whose time the
projectors impudently take up, but it is a blight to
the profession of pharmacy, paralysing its energies
and lowering it to a debased commercial existence.

If the time should ever come for the physician to
prescribe Professor Driveller’s Ferric Phosphate,
Mother Hubbard’s Lymph Generator, and Doctor
Pillule’s Peptonic Assimilator, then scientific thera¬
peutics will be at an end, and pharmacy, such as it
would be, could be as well transferred to the per¬
fumery department of the linendraper’s shop, to the
Italian warehouseman, or the bookseller, as to exer¬
cise the attention of the cultivated men who have
honoured me with their presence to-night. The
proprietary or patent medicine, enveloped with its
bill of laudatory puffs and its stated dose, can be
handed over the counter without much scientific
acumen or pharmaceutic lore. The educated physi¬
cian and the skilled pharmacist have clearly no
interest in fostering this growing and unprofessional
upas tree. Medicine will have fallen to a lamentable

stage when the physician prescribes for his patients
preparations the composition of which is to him un¬
known, and the pharmacist is simply employed in
dispensing nostrums of the mode of preparation of
which he is equally ignorant. Clearly the future
aspirations of pharmacists should not be in this
direction. On the other hand, should it be in
encroaching on the functions of the medical pre-
scriber ? This would be, according to my test, a
mark of retrogression, and equally opposed to the
specialization of function, which is the characteristic
of advance and refinement. The branch of the
medical commonwealth whose function is prescribing
and treating disease has never felt the slightest
jealousy of the advancing knowledge and education
of that branch whose function it is to prepare and
dispense the medicaments of the healing art. For
it is well known that a refined and cultivated pharma¬
ceutical body would be a great aid in that division
of labour which is essential to the development of a
scientific medicine. The whole progress of medical
science has been so vast, the teachings of the dead-
house of such increased importance, the develop¬
ments of physiological knowledge so extensive, and
the refinements in diagnosis so multiform, that it is
more and more hopeless for the pharmacist to com¬
pete with his medical brother, having regard to the
safety of his clients, the quiescence of his own con¬
science, or the solidity of his reputation. No one
can fail to appreciate the public advantage of an
educated body of pharmacists throughout the land,
whose opinion cau be readily obtained on the action
of medicines, their doses and suggestions thereon;
but the more educated in their specialty the more
slow will they be to consider that what is called
“ counter-prescribing ” should be their function and
their aim. When one recollects how the proper |
treatment of disease depends on a correct diagnosis,
and that only by prolonged study in the wards of a
great hospital, with the opportunity there afforded of
verifying or correcting the opinion formed on the
living by the examination of the dead, can this be
mastered, it needs no argument to enforce how
thoroughly impossible it is for the pharmacist to
gain this knowledge with all the means at his dis¬
posal. A treatment of symptoms will often be
attended by the most disastrous results. A man
complains of pain in his knee ; you prescribe some
embrocation, wasting precious time while a popliteal
aneurism is threatening life. You are asked to treat
a pain in the eye, and your collyrium is being use¬
lessly employed while an acute glaucoma is surely
and rapidly compromising a vision which might
readily have been saved. Another complains of
headache, and your saline aperient kicks the balance
between life and death in a patient having initial
symptoms of enteric fever. A little girl limps with
pain referred to the knee ; your lotion or palliative
applied thereto wastes only precious time while
destruction and irreparable mischief has taken place
in the joint of the hip. One might go on illus¬
trating this in a variety of ways. The growth of
medical science and the greater demand now made
on the time of the medical student has rendered it
impossible that he can compete with you in your
acquaintance with the branches of professional know-

October 9, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

291

ledge which fall more especially within your domain.

I am able to speak with some authority in the
matter, and can assure you that in no medical
school in London is chemistry taught as efficiently
as it is taught here. Nowhere do medical students
have the advantages which are furnished here for
acquiring a knowledge of botany and materia me-
dica. It is in these directions that your power lies,
and when one considers the importance of chemistry,
and its endless ramifications in sanitary and pharma¬
ceutical directions, and how very much the tendency
is growing on the part of medical students to give
it but slight attention, and to ignore more and more
botany and materia medica, it does not require much
prescience to predicate that you may be as superior
to your medical confrere in these branches of know¬
ledge as he will certainly be to you in the diagnosis
and treatment of disease. No one can have studied
the papers presented at your Pharmaceutical Con¬
ferences without being convinced that the day is
not far distant when the medical man will have
to leave all that relates to pharmacy to those whose
education shall have been vouched for by this
Society, if his object is to secure the best results
to his client, and when this Society will take a
more important place than heretofore in the pro¬
duction of our British Pharmacopoeias.

In an age when the prevention of disease is
regarded as equal in importance to its treatment,
and when the pollution of our drinking water is
known to be a fertile cause of evil, how natural
it will be to fall back on the cultivated pharma¬
cist for opinion as to the potability of any given
water supply, and the detection of the sophistica¬
tions of articles of food. It will be the fault of
the pharmacist of the future it he is not the
recognized appeal in these and similar cases. Again,
there is an increasing tendency to prescribe Galvan¬
ism or Farad ism in various nervous lesicjns, and I
cannot conceive a better arrangement for developing
the scientific value of these powerful curative agents
and rescuing them from being abused by the char¬
latan, than for the pharmacist being prepared to
carry out the prescription of the physician with
regard to these therapeutic powers. Doubtless, if
pharmacists would lend themselves to the exhibi¬
tion of these agents much benefit would result to
their specialty and to the public.

I am aware I am addressing you at a period of
great depression in pharmacy. The recent decisions
in our law courts have rendered it possible for
large co-operative commercial bodies to compete
with you in some divisions of your calling. The
growth of that department which includes pro¬
prietaries in patent medicines, and which lias in the
main been a source of evil to the great medical body,
as well as to the public itself, and which I have
already referred to, has proved a very vulnerable
point of attack. The fact that it requires no more
skill to sell a box of proprietary pills than to sell
the last number of “ The Nineteenth Century ” lias
opened the mere druggist and patent medicine
vendor to an attack which lie may rely on will
never be impotent, and which will deprive him of a
source of income in that direction for ever. The
transition which must inevitably be the outcome of
these tactics must be faced, and no advantage can be
gained by not looking the situation fairly in the
face. Does it mean the effacement of pharmacy ?
Certainly not. The attack has been mad* on the

commercial side of the calling only, and the result,
if met in a right spirit, will be that pharmacy will
come out of the trial purified, with greater power of
development in its professional aspect, and less assail¬
able than aforetime by simply commercial associa¬
tions. It may be that at present too many are
engaged in the mere work of distribution, and that
the numbers of those engaged in pharmacy are
beyond what are required. If that be the case, then
the process of evolution will be in pharmacy the
same as in biology, one of natural selection and the
survival of the fittest. The pharmacists of the
immediate future will be fewer in number, but they
will be men of higher culture and of still more
scientific standing, if this Society and the body it
represents rises to what I conceive their duty at the
present crisis. In proportion to the scientific culture
of the pharmacist so, in like manner, will he be
removed from the competition of huge commercial
bodies, the more will he rely, and successfully rely, on
his personal aptitude and skill. The greater the growth
of the professional side of his character, the less vulner¬
able will he be on his commercial aspect. The duty
of this Society will be, I conceive, to increase rather
than lessen the scientific culture of its votaries. The
time will have arrived when the candidates for its
diploma will be required to show that they have been
carefully trained, as well as sedulously examined,
and that they have entered the profession without the
blighting influence of “ cram.” As a former medical
tutor of my college, I became convinced that it would
have been possible to have an intelligent cabman to
pass examinations who had never dissected a body,
or had seen the inside of a hospital ward ; but, for¬
tunately, it was essential to those who presented
themselves for examination that they should prove
that they had gone through a process of training in the
dissecting-room, lecture-room, and hospital wards,
and assuredly I should much prefer to be treated,
either medically or surgically, by the unexamined
candidate who had gone through his curriculum than
by the perhaps over-examined cabman, however
intelligent. I would submit that every candidate
for pharmacy as a profession should, as now, give
evidence of scholastic education at a preliminary
examination anterior to his apprenticeship. I
conceive that proof of three years’ practical work
in a pharmaceutical establishment should be required,
where he would learn habits of order, precision,
and cleanliness, which are so essential to alter labo¬
ratory work, and where, moreover, he would gain
an intimate physical knowledge of the agents em¬
ployed iu medicine, facility in reading prescriptions,
and neatness and care in dispensing. Before com¬
mencing further study he should pass an examination
which might be called the. “ preliminary technical,”
in which he would show evidence of sufficient skill in
reading prescriptions, in practical dispensing, and in
naming at sight every agent used in pharmacy. He
should then be required to go through a curriculum
in some recognized school, taking the one at Blooms¬
bury as the type, where, by lectures, demonstrations,
and laboratory work, he would acquire without cram
a scientific knowledge of his profession, and establish
a basis for future development. Certainly not less
than an entire session of ten months should be in¬
sisted on before he presented himself for the honour¬
able titleof Pharmaceutical Chemist. 1 hose who have
means and time at their disposal might spend with
advantage another ten months at the laboratory iu

292

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 0, 1880.

practising original research, while possibly for the
present only five months might be insisted on for
the Minor qualification. Only in this way, I am con¬
vinced, will the proper education of the pharmacist
of the future be secured, and an adaptation of num¬
bers to requirements arrived at in a way which will
tend to elevate pharmacy, to confer advantage on the
medical commonwealth, and to benefit society at
large.

But I must not forget that I am addressing
some who are commencing their strictly academical
career, and who are entering on a course of study
which is to influence in no small degree their future
lives. You who are here for the first time, and who
are strangers to one another, and possibly to the pro¬
fessors of this school, are to work together for a sea¬
son in order to fit yourselves for a profession to which
you have determined to devote yourselves. Have you
thoroughly considered the requirements it demands,
and the sacrifices it claims ? Have you, by a process
of introspection, well satisfied yourselves that you
come here with holy purpose and high resolve to be
true to yourselves and to your race in the exercise of
a vocation to which, if you do not bring a loving heart
and a vigorous mind, it were better that you came not
at all ? I presume, however, that without the pretence
to a special call to the work, you are prepared to enter
on its scientific studies with all the truthfulness of
youthful enthusiasm, and all the earnestness of
unsophisticated hearts. You are embracing a calling
which does not hold out the prospect of unlimited
wealth or of political renown, yet you may readily
by common industry insure a competency without
the risks of purely mercantile life, and the anxiety
which commercial speculations entail. Your capital
will, to some extent, be the knowledge you will have
gained here, and which no bankruptcy can ever take
away. Your every-day pursuits will have far more
inherent interest than the rise and fall of markets,
while your acquirements may render you fit com¬
panions for the cultured of the land.

What during your student’s period have you to do ?
How are you to do it ? I will presume that you have
entered this school with the preliminary training, both
scholastic and technical, which is essential as a
groundwork for a successful pharmaceutical education.
Without preliminary scholastic training much of the
language of the lecture-room is difficult to understand,
whereas a knowledge of classics makes the language
of science easy. You have now to engraft on your
preliminary training that scientific knowledge which
is to fit you for the practice of pharmacy in its largest
sense. Chemistry will occupy a large share of your
attention — chemistry not of books merely, but of the
spirit-lamp, the test tube, and the balance. It rami¬
fies in every department of your art, regulates the
preparation of medicaments, investigates into the
condition of food and the presence of poisons, and is
the basis therefore of public hygiene and medical
jurisprudence. I cannot too strongly urge on your
giving much of your time to the mastery of the prin¬
ciples and practice of this most fascinating science.
The study of systematic botany and zoology will cul¬
tivate the faculty of observation, and will make you
acquainted with the true position in the animal and
vegetable kingdom of the vast assemblage of products
which are used either as food or medicine, and will,
moreover, place you in a position for understanding
those questions of biological discussion which are ever
forcing themselves on the attention of the cultivated

beyond your profession, and your ignorance of which
would surely tend to your disadvantage.

Physical science, as represented by the laws of
light, heat, electricity, and magnetism, must perforce
secure your regard.

You will be but a sorry practitioner of pharmacy
if medical agents and their properties — in other words,
materia medica and therapeutics — do not secure a
large share of your attention.

Your time will be divided between the laboratory,'
the lecture theatre, and the museum, while your
evenings should be devoted to reading your lecture
and laboratory notes, and the text-books which will
be recommended to you. I am aware that there is
a tendency in the present day to depreciate the value
of lectures, and to assume that reading is the best
process for obtaining information. Of course there
may be peculiar mental constitutions that cannot
derive much advantage from lectures. I speak, how¬
ever, from my own experience, and from observation
of others, and I feel convinced that any tendency to
neglect oral teaching is to be deplored. I am daily
conscious of numerous things of importance which
occur to me, which were received from the living
mouths of Pereira and others, and which would never
have been so remembered had they been merely read.
Books are of great value, but they cannot supersede
the digested truths and careful demonstrations of a
well-appointed lecture. The lecture will be a- guide
to you ; you will learn therefrom what should demand
most attention in your general reading. Moreover
the lecture-room is a pleasant change to the earnest
student. He employs for the time another organ of
special sense for the imbibition of knowledge,
and returns to his reading with more vigour
for the change. My advice is, read vigorously ;
but also attend the laboratory, the demonstrations
and lecture room no less assiduously. Where the
professors .examine as well as lecture, lose never the
opportunity of being questioned. Let your work in
the laboratory be systematic and continuous ; irregu¬
larity at your bench means loss of time by the
spoiling of your products other than the precious
moments squandered. Regard loss of laboratory
work as loss of golden opportunities which will never
recur. Do not be ever asking yourselves whether
the examiners require this, that, or the other, and,
as is too frequently the case, ignore what they do
not insist upon. Say rather, what will the welfare of
my future clients require, and what knowledge should
I possess in order to become an accomplished phar¬
maceutical practitioner 1 I hope that you have come
here with some nobler purpose than the mere adop¬
tion of a gentlemanly calling; that you have a higher
motive than that it has been the possession of your
father and grandfather, and that you wish to inherit
a business which, by virtue of their well-founded
name, will ensure your success without their in¬
dustry and skill. [ would have you know that
there is no royal road to worthy and abiding
pharmaceutical knowledge. I know only the steep
but well-trodden one of earnest and persistent
work. Everything will be done at this school to
facilitate your journey. Guides will be furnished
at every pass — guides who have made successful
transits themselves, and who, while having lent their
aid to others, have not lost sympathy with new
adventurers whose aims are high, but whose courage
falters. Under their guidance difficulties apparently
insurmountable will vanish. The path that seems

October 9, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

293

to be lost in obscurity will reappear and lead you
to the wished-for point. The crevasse which appears
too difficult to leap will, by their experienced tact,
be crossed, in safety, and the community of others
with kindred aims will be a help in the mountain
journey. The ascent, which would have been hope¬
less to a desultory wanderer, will be quite a pleasant
and long remembered tour, in consequence of the
facilities which organization and multiplied guides
secure. Moreover emulation will lead you to re¬
newed energy. You will see others climbing slopes
that seemed impracticable, you will resolutely de¬
termine not to be left behind. With a powerful will
those and far more difficult ones will be scaled by
you.

Your guides will have strong sympathies with you
in your efforts. They were enthusiastic novices
themselves once, they know all the difficulties and
dangers, and they still retain lively interest in your
successes as they will have sympathy with you in
your failures. Nothing will so commend you to
their regard as manifest earnestness, and nothing
will so command success as a well-determined pur¬
pose. Set out this day with a definite object and
the loftiest possible purpose, and a determination to
practise self-denial in the attempt and you shall be
astonished at your own success. The morning may
be cloudy, thick mists may surround your path. You
start with elastic step and blithesome spirits, seeing
naught before you, trusting only to your guides.
You traverse the outskirts of the village and leave
behind the last landmark with which you are fa¬
miliar ; that old crag you had almost reached in
some of your more desultory wanderings. Onwards
and upwards you toil, no defined view greets the
eye ; you are conscious of exertion, but nothing-
more. You rest at regular halts, refresh yourselves
with mountain fruit, and pluck some lavourite
flowers. Onwards and upwards, still in mist ; you
are conscious that you have made some advance for
the umbrageous trees no longer o’erhang the path.
Presently the clouds disperse, and as if by the ma¬
chinery of a transformation scene the whole geo¬
graphical region opens to your view. You trace the
meanderings of the road, you see the hamlet of the
valley, far down, a tiny speck, and can appreciate
the lovely view your tardy footsteps have attained.

Your journey, henceforth, shall be more joyous,
for you shall see the route by which the summit
shall be reached. The path, moreover, shall lead to
beauties with which you were never before familiar :
Nature exhibited in a variety of wondrous aspects,
now astonishing you by the height and massive¬
ness of her primeval rocks and anon luring you by
the exquisite minuteness of her glacial flowers.
Amid all your arduous work you shall have time to
cultivate the sesthetical side of your nature, and to
worship and reverence the bountiful Creator of all
things. Your guides, from past experience, are con¬
scious of dangers, of which they would in all earnest¬
ness warn you. They remember many ot whom it
might be said u Ye did run well, what hath hindered
you ? ” Some started briskly, but got languid on the
journey ; they had never practised themselves to
effort of any kind before ; they strayed behind—
were lost. They might have succeeded well in
valley labour, and in more humble pursuits have
made themselves useful in their day, but they under¬
took an expedition for which they were not suited
and perished in the attempt. They remember others

who started with every promise of a brilliant ascent,
who had all the possibilities of a successful career,
who were swift of foot and expert of limb, but
who wandered out of the beaten track and searched
for gems and flowers in deep gorges and sequestered
nooks ; anon they would rest and take their fill of
pleasure, trusting to their instinct to reach their
fellow-travellers by some short cut. But the lost
ground was not to be so readily made up, and
they were to be seen seeking for refuge in some
miserable chalet half up the mountain, while their
less gifted friends attained the hospice on the
summit.

They remember others who had come from
loving friends with all the hopes of widowed
mother and the blessings of sympathizing sisterhood,
for whom relatives had scraped together all
that they could spare, and had even debarred
themselves to supply the wallet and provide the
necessities of the route, but who wandered away
from their guides, chasing some gay butterfly
o’er ice slopes that made one shudder at the
venture. The homestead heard the daily prayer for
a successful journey to its loved one. The guides
used all their influence to enforce the danger of the
pursuit ; they told of dreadful catastrophes that had
happened and would surely happen again. They
remember how their expostulations were disregarded
— the merry laugh at the slow— the preference for
perilous paths and treacherous transits, for the ceru¬
lean blue of the fissured ice. They were in their
own estimation too sure of foot for danger ; but alas !
the slippery surface, true to itself, led to their down¬
fall, and the echoing chasm told the wayfarers of the
life that had been lost.

The guides remember, however, other than doleful
tales and miserable failures. They preserve fresh in
their memories the names of some of the companions
of their own first ascent ; of others who before and
since have scaled the difficulties, and are now far away
from leading strings, making explorations where no
human foot has been ; who are ascending higher and
yet higher, with no assistance of chart, for their toil
is in order to provide one ; who are daily collecting
facts and recording observations ; who are permeating
mankind with their thinkings ; who are carving their
names in enduring characters, and are spending and
being spent for the glory of God and the good of
man.

Let these animate you. Let the student’s life
which you commence to-day be 'a fitting prelude to
your work beyond the stage of pupilage, and to the
higher life hereafter. Let it be characterized by all
that is earnest, true, and noble. Let it be honest,
despising all seeming in lieu of reality. Let it be
gentle, blossoming with kindly acts and genial sym¬
pathies. Let it be generous, crediting to the full the
goodness of your fellows, and hesitating to sully their
fair fame. Let it be brave, meeting trials with
fortitude, and sharing the burthens of others. Let
it be wise, redeeming the time, and adding know¬
ledge with increase of days.

I have already furnished you with the formula to
aid you in the solution of your problem, the secret
that will command success, the talismanic charm
which turns everything into gold, the potent spell
at which all difficulties vanish — it is earnest and
persistent work. Let it be supplemented by a
gentle, Christian life — terminated by a peaceful,
hopeful death,

294

[October 0, 1880.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

Clje Journal.

- -

SATURDAY , OCTOBER 9, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , books for review , etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17 , Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

A dvertisements , and 'payments for Copies of the J ournal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. JournN

THE SOCIETY’S SCHOOL OF PHARMACY.

Though the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society has at its late meeting decided not to adopt
the proposal of discontinuing the work of teaching,
it is evident from the frequent discussion of this
subject and from the nature of the opinions expressed?
no less by those who oppose than by those who advocate
the limitation of the Society’s action to examination
alone, that there is a growing tendency to recognize
the desirability or at least the expediency of such a
limitation of its functions. Whether that tendency
will soon or ever become so general as to bring about
the course suggested by Mr. Hampson’s motion is
a point upon which it would be hazardous to venture
an opinion at the present time, more especially since
the grounds upon which the cessation of direct
educational work by the Society is proposed partake
more of the nature of abstract principles than of
actual demonstrations that the educational work
conducted under the auspices of the Society is in¬
efficient or in any way less calculated to promote
the interests of pharmacy than it should be. Mr.
Hampson’s chief argument in support of his propo¬
sition is that education and examination cannot
consistently be carried out by the same body ; but
whatever d pri"ri plausibility may attach to this
argument it is insufficient to com teract the evi¬
dence afforded by past experience that education
and examination have been consistently carried
out by the Society, and that both functions have
been performed with as much advantage as the
existing conditions would allow of being expected.
And though it must be admitted that the mainten¬
ance of the Society’s School of Pharmacy has not
been productive of such generally beneficial results
in regard to pharmaceutical education as might be
wished, that circumstance must be ascribed to the
comparatively very small extent to which the
opportunities for education afforded by the School
have been taken advantage of, rather than to any
want of consistency between the educational work
of the Society and its action as the examining body.
It is not by the abolition of the Society’s School that
we can hope to provide a remedy for the indifference
to thorough educational training which is mani¬
fested by the proportionately small number of
students who seek to avail themselves of the

opportunities it affords ; but it may at least be
expected that, if the School continues to be main¬
tained in a thoroughly efficient manner, the example
afforded by it and by the students who have been
educated in it will exercise a powerful influence in
making the benefit and necessity of sound technical
training more generally appreciated.

There is also another point of view from which
we are induced to regard the continuance of the
Society’s School as desirable. Education has been?
since the foundation of the Society, the point to
which its efforts have been principally directed.
That was in fact the chief want of the pharma¬
ceutical body. To supply it the funds of the Society
have been most freely applied, and the aid of dis¬
tinguished teachers has been obtained. That it is
at present much less a want than formerly we cannot
say ; but at the same time it is satisfactory to know
that some good result has been achieved. To a
certain extent the necessity for education has been
established, and so far as the possession of it can be
tested by the examination which must be passed in
order to obtain legal qualification for carrying on
business, it has been made by the Society’s efforts
an essential for everyone that intends to enter upon
the business of pharmacy.

But the work that has thus been done is only
partial, it has not been sufficient to raise the average
educational status of British pharmacists to an
equality with that of continental countries, and for
the sake of promoting the disposition to obtain a
higher qualification than that provided for by the
Minor examination there is still a wide field for the
exercise of such an influence as can be exerted only
by a thoroughly efficient school that will attract the
more enterprising and emulative students. For
some time to come we can only hope for this being
done on a voluntary principle, and the educational
work of the Pharmaceutical Society will not have
been completed until the need for higher education
of this kind has become generally recognized and
the demand for it has become the rule rather than
the exception.

In what way can the objects of the founders of the
Pharmaceutical Society be more surely sought after
than by maintaining a school where not only the
bare necessities of the Minor examination can be
obtained, but a thorough proficiency in those
scientific acquirements which will enable the
pharmacist to fulfil the higher demands upon his
skill which Dr. Langdon Down referred to in his
inaugural address as coming properly within the
province of the business ? There is surely no more
fitting way in which the funds of the Society can be
applied, and if the average cost of education* in the
Society’s School amounts to as much as was stated
by Mr. Hampson that circumstance alone would
appear to point to the necessity of maintaining the
School by the help of the funds at the Society’s
disposal for the benefit of pharmacy.

October 0, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

295

As regards this higher education of pharmacists
the Society is at the present time precisely in the
same position that it was formerly in regard to the
qualification now recognized as legally essential.
It must be supported by the Society as a voluntary
body and promoted by the expenditure of its funds
in such a way as to secure the desired result. That
students in the Society’s School should under such
conditions enjoy advantages over those outside of it
is evident, but we cannot concur with Mr. Sampson
in regarding that fact, as he does, as being an argu¬
ment against the connection of the Society with the
School. Neither can we agree with him in thinking
that the scientific education of pharmacists could be
as efficiently conducted at medical schools or other
teaching institutions as it might be at the Society’s
School ; for, as regards medical schools, it is un¬
questionable that, as pointed out by Dr. Langdon
Down, the modern growth of medical science and the
demands now made upon the time of the medical
student in studying various subjects have driven
into the background those subjects with which
the pharmaceutical student has to concern himself
especially. Speaking with the authority of expe¬
rience he declared that at no medical school were
such advantages furnished for studying chemistry,
materia medica, and botany as at the School of the
Pharmaceutical Society, and we are disposed to
think the same would hold good in the case of other
teaching institutions.

The argument put forward by Mr. Hampson that
the amount of business to be transacted by the
Council is so great as to prevent satisfactory perform¬
ance of the duties connected with the maintenance
of a School seems in our opinion to be the least
forcible of all as indicating that the School should
be abolished. It is almost a matter of course that
with the growth of the Society and the increase of
its importance there should be an accession to its
duties and an augmentation of its work, but these
results of development would seem to be rather
matter for internal organization than a reason for
abandoning a course of action which has been more
than any other fruitful in creating the position now
held by the Society and in giving it the importance
it has attained.

THE BENEVOLENT FUND.

It will be seen by the official report that the
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, at its
meeting last Wednesday, decided that in December
next four more persons should be placed on the list
of annuitants on the Benevolent Fund. As, how¬
ever, there are at present no less than ten approved
applicants for annuities, it is evident that an election
will be necessary, and we hope that the interest
excited in the selection of so large a number of
annuitants will be manifested in a greatly increased
number of subscriptions forwarded to the Secretary.

THE APPLICATION OF THE METRIC SYSTEM TO

DISPENSING.

In a communication to the New York Medical
Becord, Dr. Oldberg, whilst protesting against the
resolution to which the United States Pharmacopoeia
Convention has come in favour of expressing all the
official formulae in parts by weight, advocates the in¬
troduction of the metric system, which he thinks can
easily be done and yet to retain the liquid measures.
The plan that he suggests is to have only two units,
one for weights and one for measures. As the unit
for weights he would have the “ gram,” which being
equal to about fifteen grains, would fairly represent
one-quarter of a drachm. The other unit, for the
liquid measures, I e would call the “ fluigram,”
which would be equal to about fifteen minims, or
about one-fourth of a fluid drachm. This Dr.
Oldberg thinks would be a great simplification,
and one that would not clash too much with the
systems at present in use in the United States and
this country.

ALLEGED POISONING BY CANNED MEAT.

An inquest has been held at Poplar respecting the
death of a child alter eating some American corned
beef. The medical practitioner who made the post¬
mortem examination attributed the death to an irri¬
tant poison, and according to the Daily Chronicle had
“come to the conclusion that a portion of the tin
“had become absorbed with the meat and so caused
“a deadly substance known as hydrochloride of
“zinc.” It is quite possible that for the extraordi¬
nary chemistry and transmutation of metals, as well
as the eccentric phraseology, the local reporter is re¬
sponsible and that the medical practitioner only ex¬
pressed an opinion that in some way the death was
due to an admixture of tin from the can with the
meat. But at present we know of no evidence that
such a toxic effect would follow, and it seems much
more probable that the poisoning was due to the
putrescence of the meat.

EDINBURGH CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

We have received a programme of the proposed
proceedings of this Association during the coming
session. The Association meets once a month from
October to April inclusive, in the rooms of the
North British Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society
in Edinburgh, for the discussion of matters relating
to pharmacy. Amongst the subjects to be brought
before the members during the next six months are
such practical ofles as “Chloral and Croton Chloral,”
“ Rhubarb,” and “ Cochineal and Cochineal Colour¬
ing,” whilst discussions on what may be called the
politics of pharmacy will not be wanting. We need
hardly say that we are glad to express our sympathy
with this effort of the junior pharmacists of Edin¬
burgh for mutual improvement.

We are requested to state that in the list of
signatures reported recently, on p. 172, to have been
attached to the Address presented to Professor
Attfield at Swansea, the name of Mr. Richard
Bremridge was erroneously substituted for that of
Mr. Richard Reynolds, the President-Elect of the
Conference.

296

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 9, 18$0.

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Sodcfjj.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday , October 6, 1880.

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT,

IN THE CHAIR.

Present — Messrs. Andrews, Atkins, Bottle, Butt,
Churchill, Prazer, Gostling, Hampson, Hills, Mackay,
Hadley, Richardson, Bobbins, Sandford, Savage, Squire,
Symes, Williams and Woolley.

The Vice-President said that he had received a letter
from the President, writing in St. Petersburg, expressing
his fear that he would not be able to reach London in
time to attend the meeting that day, in consequence of
the delay of a day in the sailing of the packet by which
he intended to return.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Vice-President called attention to one -point
arising out of the minutes, namely, the special application
made by Professor Redwood for the modification, to some
extent, of the course of instruction at the school by the
forming of a class for the instruction of students in
dispensing. Upon that subject the following letter had
been received by him that day from Professor Redwood : —

“ 17, Bloomsbury Square,

“London, Oct. 5th, 1880.

“ To the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great

“ Britain.

“ Gentlemen, — At the last August meeting of your
Board you authorized the adoption of a new arrangement
of the mode of conducting my class, by which it was
proposed —

“ 1st. To connect, more intimately than heretofore, the
lecture teaching in chemistry with the practical in¬
struction in the Laboratory, and

“ 2nd. To supply to students requiring it, instruction
in practical dispensing and the discrimination of
chemical and pharmaceutical preparations.

“ The first part of this arrangement is now being
carried into effect, and I defray the expense of doing so
out of my lecture fees, by paying Dr. Senior for his
assistance at my lectures.

“ The second part of the arrangement is not yet in
operation as it requires apparatus and fittings which have
to be provided.

“ My principal object in thus addressing you is to' ask
if you will be good enough to provide what is necessary
in the way of specimens and dispensing apparatus. I
have undertaken to pay Mr. Dimmock for conducting
the class, and we propose to charge a small fee of — say
£1 Is., to meet the cost of materials used up, and to sup¬
plement the £20 a year I am to pay Mr. Dimmock.

“ This class will be instructed in the reading, trans¬
lating and dispensing of prescriptions, and the discrimina¬
tion of chemical and pharmaceutical preparations. We
propose having it conducted one day in the week, from
five till six o’clock in the evening, in the Lecture Room.
We have the tabling suitable for the purpose, which was
used for a similar purpose in the same place eighteen
years ago by Messrs. Braith waite and Wood.

“ Ten of the students who have entered to my class for
the present session have expressed a wish to join the class
of Practical Dispensing.

“ I am, gentlemen,

“ Yours truly,

“ T. Redwood.”

The proposition made to the Council was, in short, that
the Society should from its resources supply the require¬
ments mentioned in the letter for the purpose of instruc¬
tion to the students in dispensing. All the materials
used by Professor Redwood in his lectures would be the

property of the Society, and the charges would be well
covered, the Professor considered, by the small sum asked
as a grant from the Society.

Mr. Symes asked whether Professor Redwood was in
order in forming the class at all. The appointment of a
demonstrator to assist at the lectures as well as in the
laboratory was made, he quite understood, in order that
the Professor of Practical Chemistry might be enabled to
carry out a course of teaching which should bear a proper
relation to the lectures. So far no exception could be
taken to the proposition; but the Council should not
forget that what was now brought before it had been
brought forward on a former occasion and negatived.
Personally he had not been aware that Professor Red¬
wood proposed to form a class of the kind suggested.
He was not taking exception to the formation of such a
class in itself, but surely the Council should consider
whether the class was to be formed under circumstances
which would meet with its sanction.

Mr. Williams pointed out that it was left in the
hands of the President to arrange details with Professor
Redwood.

Mr. Symes said no doubt that was so; but at the
same time the Council had not approved the scheme
submitted by Professor Redwood.

Mr. Hampson understood that a gentleman had been
engaged for the dispensing instruction. Reference had
been made to Dr. Senier; but it appeared that another
gentleman, Mr. Dimmock, had been already engaged for
the practical dispensing. A straightforward application
had been made, and had been discussed by the Com¬
mittee, whose report had been accepted by the Council,
the Committee, in fact, not having agreed to the proposal.

Mr. Savage understood that the fee originally asked
from the students for the course had been reduced by
half.

Mr. Robbins thought Mr. Hampson was wrong in
stating that the Committee had refused to comply with
the recommendations. It was the Council, and not the
Committee, who had rejected them.

Mr. Symes said that one of the chief points in the
view of the Council was that no extra fee should be
charged to the students; but here was a proposal to
charge them a fee for a course of an hour’s instruction a
week, which must be an inadequate teaching."

The Vice-President read an extract from the minutes
of the former resolution of the Council referred to, stating
that the proposal was agreed to with the view of enabling
the professor to increase the number of his experimental
illustrations, and for the purpose of providing instruction
in practical dispensing for those students who had had
but slight means previously of obtaining it.

Mr. Mackay asked whether it was not understood,
when the Council acceded to the recommendation, that
no extra fee should be charged to the students.

Mr. Williams referred to the minutes as showing that
it had been stated by the Council to be desirable that the
fees of the school should not be increased in consequence
of the giving of such lectures.

Mr. Symes protested against a proposal which had
been put forward in a plain and simple manner, and
negatived, being carried by a side wind, as it was now
being attempted to be carried through.

The Vice-President said the only objection taken by
the Committee was to the fact of an increased charge
being made to meet the expenses of the demonstrator’s
assistance at the lectures. The request of the professor
was that he should be allowed to charge a small fee per
student to those who attended this special distinct class,
to which one lecture a week was to be delivered during
the session. It could not have been contemplated by the
Committee that the students should receive that special
teaching for nothing. The professor would himself give
time and attention to the class, and for the proposed
small fee it had been already considered by several of the
students that they would get their full money’s-worth.

t

i

!

I

I

October 9, 1880=]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

297

This was not a question really of assistance for additional
lectures, but for a class which was to keep the school
abreast of the time.

Mr. Mackay said that the only question before the
Council was whether Professor Redwood's request to be
allowed to charge a small fee to the students and that a
grant should be made to him by the Society for apparatus
for the class, should be acceded to or declined. He cer¬
tainly thought the Council was not in a position to allow
a fee to be charged. It had been understood that the
additional instruction was to be provided entirely at the
expense of Professor Redwood; that was part and parcel
of the bargain and it was a matter of surprise that Pro¬
fessor Redwood should now come forward with this
request, his. profit being in the increased number of pupils
who were likely to attend his lectures.

Mr. Sandford agreed with Mr. Symes that it seemed
inconsistent for the Council to agree in August to that
which it had positively refused to accede to in July ; but
that it had consented was certain, and it was too late for
it now to question Professor Redwood s arrangements. It
was not unreasonable that an extra payment should be
made by the students of the class, as dispensing was not
included in the regular course of education in the school.
The expenditure for apparatus was a. matter which
might be referred by the Council to the Libraiy, Museum
and Laboratory Committee. ...

Mr. Williams said that communications having taken
place between the Council and the professors on this
subject had resulted in alterations being proposed by
Professor Redwood which had been agreed to, with the
exception that it had been finally left to the President
to settle the details, and as it was necessary the matter
should be arranged before the school session recom¬
menced, this regulation had, he presumed, been agreed to
by the President. Personally he (the speaker) had opposed
the appointment of a dispensing tutor in the school, so that
he was not at all an advocate for the change, but it was
certainly quite in accordance with the resolution of the
Council at its last meeting.

Mr. Williams moved—

“That the letter from Professor Redwood be received
and entered on the minutes and the question referred
to the Library, Museum and Laboratory Committee
to consider, and that they be empowered to act at
their discretion.”

He said that motion was prompted by his belief that
the Council stood committed to the proposal, and it
must now be in some way carried out. Possibly the
Committee might come to the conclusion that the charge
for the tutor should be borne by the . professors. . It
Bhould, however, be borne in mind that in the appoint¬
ment of the tutors this special course of instruction was
not contemplated. Professor Redwood had informed him
that ten of the students were already anxious to avail
themselves of the additional course.

Mr. Richardson seconded the motion.

Mr. Gostling moved as an amendment —

“That the matter of Professor Redwood’s letter be
referred to the Library, Museum and Laboratory
Committee, and that the Committee shall report
thereon to the next Council meeting.”

He said that he was disappointed to find that the
students were to be asked for another fee when they had
already to pay as much as they could afford, and he
thought the instruction should be included in the
general teaching.

Mr. Churchill moved as a rider to the motion —

“ That if instruction in dispensing be given at the school
it should be for not less than three hours per week,
and that the instruction be given without extra
charge to the students.”

Mr. Andrews seconded the rider.

The Vice-President remarked that a reference to the
Committee would involve a delay of a month and a half.

Mr, Atkins recommended the adoption of some via

media. If instructions had gone forth to the professors
that they might at their own charge engage a dispensing
tutor, then he thought the Council was pledged in the
matter and should not at this period of session draw back.
He objected to extra charge being made to the students,
but would not quarrel with the small grant proposed.
Dispensing was taught in other schools and should be
taught in the Society’s.

Mr. Woolley was also of opinion that the Council
should not draw back, and said the strongest evidence in
favour of the proposal was that ten of the students had
already paid the fee for the special instruction.

Mr. Frazer would not consent to any Committee
having power to bind the Council, who had never con¬
templated an extra charge being made to the students.
Any delay in awaiting a further report could be made up
by the delivery of a double set of lectures during the
remainder of the session.

Mr. Andrews reminded the Council that the matter
had been brought forward on the former occasion at the
fag end of the meeting, when half the members had left,
and the remainder probably did not hear what passed.
Questions of such importance should only be brought
forward on previous notice.

The Vice-President said that it would be impossible
to arrange that each matter should be brought forward
at a particular period of the day, and in this instance
it was impossible that notice could be given.

Mr. Hampson coincided in the remarks of Mr.
Andrews, that the matter had been disposed of without
sufficient discussion. The usual course would have been
to submit the matter to the Library, Museum and Labo¬
ratory Committee.

The Vice-President said that it could not be done,
as there had been no other meeting until the present and
in the meantime the session was actually proceeding.
The professor was not pledged to the fee mentioned, but
at the same time he was decidedly of opinion that instruc¬
tion obtained for nothing was not appreciated.

The amendment was then put and lost; the original
resolution was carried, and the rider, on a general expres¬
sion of opinion by the Council, was withdrawn.

Elections.

members.

Pharmaceutical Chemists.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and tendered their subscriptions for the current year,
were elected “ Members” of the Society :

Linton, Ralph Tait . Edinburgh.

Stammwitz, Louisa . London.

Chemist and Druggist.

The following registered chemist and druggist who was
in business on his own account before August 1, 1868,
having tendered his subscription for the current year,
was elected a “ Member ” of the Society :

Willcox, John Williams . Madeley.

associates in business.

The following, having passed the Minor examination,
being in business on their own account and having tendered
their subscriptions for the current year, were elected
“ Associates in Business” of the Society :

Binks, Burcham . Falmouth.

Mason, William Drury . Grimsby.

Squire, Fredk. John Cripps . Plymouth.

Taylor, Charles Edward . Sedbergh.

Wells, Ernest William . Grahamstown.

associates.

The following, having passed their respective examina¬
tions and tendered (or paid as Apprentices or Students)
their subscriptions for the current year, were elected
“ Associates ” of the Society \ '

Minor.

Beard, James Hogg,, . Manchester.

298

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 9, 1880.

Coverdale, George .

..Leeds.

Leicester, Frederick .

.. North wich.

Ray, William Frederic .

..Westerham.

Wallis, George .

..Ryde.

Modified.

Brown, Joseph .

. .Liverpool.

apprentices or students.

The following, having passed the Preliminary exami-

nation and tendered their subscriptions for the current

year, were elected “ Apprentices

or Students ” of the

Society : —

Baker, Edmund G .

..London.

Banks. Alfred .

. .Stratford-on-Avon.

Coates, Thomas .

..Mai ton.

Cule, Taliesin .

..Merthyr Tydvil.

Grant, John Merson .

..Cullen.

Hoare, William Herbert .

. .Windsor.

Irwin, Thomas .

. .Aldershot.

Jacklin, Alfred .

..Louth.

Jamieson. Simpson .

..St. Andrew's.

McDonald, John .

. .Liverpool.

Maitland, Frank .

..Stonehouse.

Marsden, Charles Edwin .

..Huddersfield.

Percival, Thomas .

..Falkirk.

Polack, Emanuel .

. .Rochester.

Quine, Richard Henry .

..Warrington.

Rees, Richard .

..Neath.

Robinson, Harry .

..Guiseley.

Skinner, Richard .

. . Oxford.

Stephens, James, jun .

..Gamrie.

Thomson, William .

...Cullen.

Walker, Arthur .

. .London.

Several persons were restored to their former status
in the Society upon payment of the current year’s sub¬
scription and a fine.

Restorations to the Register.

The names of the following persons, who had severally
made the required declarations and paid a fine of one
guinea, were restored to the Register of Chemists and
Druggists : —

George Bywater, 215, Arundel Street, Sheffield.

Horace Arthur Costerton, 90, Western Road, Brighton.
Henry Morton, 16, Broadway, Deptford.

Additions to the Register.

The Registrar reported that —

William Fox, Westerham, Kent,

Robert Stephen, 8, Orchard Place, Old Aberdeen,
John Williams Willcox, Madeley, Salop,
having made statutory declarations that they were in
business before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
and these declarations having been supported by duly
qualified medical practitioners, their names had been
placed on the Register.

The Chemists’ Ball.

A letter was read from Mr. Arthur L. Savory, the
Honorary Secretary of the Ball Committee, asking
permission to use one of the Society’s rooms for the
meetings to make arrangements for the next Ball. The
request was acceded to.

Resignation of an Examiner.

The Vice-President read a letter from Mr. John
Moss, resigning his seat on the Board of Examiners.

Mr. Williams said while the Council must be sorry to
lose Mr. Moss, it might be inconvenient to fill the vacancy
created, at the present moment, in view of the approaching
appointment of the full board. Such an appointment was
a serious matter and one which should be well considered
by the Council.

It was j esolved —

“ That Mr. Moss’s letter be received and entered on
the minutes, and that the Council accepts his resig¬

nation with an expression of great regret at the loss
of his valuable services as an Examiner.”

Reports of Committees,
finance.

The report of this Committee was received and adopted,
and sundry accounts ordered to be paid. The accounts
included a large item for law costs in the House of
Lords, in connection with the case of the Pharmaceutical
Society v. The London and Provincial Supply Associa¬
tion, and an item for expenses connected with reporting
the proceedings of the Conference at Swansea for the
Journal, upon which a discussion arose, and

Mr. Richardson moved —

“ That all applications for money payments should be
submitted to the Finance Committee before being
brought before the Council.”

The motion was withdrawn.

benevolent fund.

The report of this Committee included a recommenda¬
tion of the following grants : —

£10 to the daughter of a former member,

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist, aged 55.

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist, aged 84.

£10 to orphan children of the late James Isherwood.

Five applications for relief were ordered to stand over,
and two were not entertained.

The Secretary had reported that there were thirty
annuitants upon the Fund, and had given particulars
as to the present age and date of election of each.

The Committee, having considered the financial posi¬
tion of the Fund, was of opinion that four annuitants
might be elected in December.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

library, museum and laboratory.

It was resolved that Mr. Butt should be added to this
Committee.

GENERAL PURPOSES.

The report of this Committee, which included the usual
statement from the Solicitor as to the progress of cases
placed in his hands, was considered in committee.

The Council having resumed, the Report of the Com¬
mittee was received and adopted.

The Meeting of the German Apothecaries’
Association.

The Secretary read a letter from the Editor stating
that, in accordance with the wish of the Council, he and
the Sub-Editor had attended the recent meeting of the
German Apothecaries’ Association in Breslau, and had
been very cordially received by the officials of the
Association. It also stated that the intimation of the
projected holding of the International Pharmaceutical
Congress in London next year had been received with
much approval.

On the motion of Mr. Robbins, seconded by Mr. T.
H. Hills, the Secretary was requested to write to the
President of the German Pharmaceutical Association, to
thank him for invitations to their annual meeting and
for the cordial reception of the delegates sent to it by
the Council of the Society.

The School of Pharmacy.

Mr. Hampson moved, in pursuanoe of notice —

“ That the Pharmaoeutioal Society, among other duties
and responsibilities, being authorized by Act of
Parliament to examine, certify, and register all per¬
sons entitled to practise pharmacy in Great Britain,
it is inexpedient to be directly engaged by means of
a school of pharmacy in giving instruction to
pharmaceutical students.”

He would deal first with the duties of the Society under the
Act. By the Society’s charter it had to do with those who

Octobor 9, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

299

carried on the business of chemists and druggists. Provision
was made not only for the supervision by the Society of the
education given to chemists and druggists, but it had the
office of examining candidates and granting certificates,
besides the all-important duty of keeping an annual
register. The work comprised also the management of a
large museum and library ; the publication of a weekly
journal for the trade ; the disposal of considerable
finances of the association, and the Act of Parliament
also included the administration of a benevolent fund.
The work of the Committees of Council, to carry out
these duties, was very great, and he really thought some¬
times that altogether the Council was hardly able to
satisfactorily perform the work it had to do. It was,
therefore, a matter of economy of energy that the Society
should not undertake more than its own essential duties.
Pharmacy, it was to be feared, occupied at present a
somewhat gloomy position, and the Council had the
prospect before it of an amended Pharmacy Act, in
connection with which all its energy and sagacity would
be required. When the Society was established in 1841,
and subsequently incorporated (in 1843), the condition
of chemists and druggists was such that it was the im¬
perative duty of the Society to begin to educate them,
for the simple reason that no means of education existed
in other quarters. No other body was then in existence
which could give the requisite teaching in pharmacy,
laboratory work, and scarcely in botany ; and it was
necessary that the trade should be recognized as an
educated body. But times had changed since the Charter
was obtained. Facilities for education had so multiplied
all over the country that it was no longer necessary for
the Pharmaceutical Society to itself engage directly in
giving instruction. No doubt the Society’s school had in
the past done great and noble work. But the Society
was no longer a voluntary body ; it had to examine
students from all quarters and was bound to register
them so long as they were sufficiently educated to pass
the examinations. One argument against the connection
of the Society with the school was the advantage
possessed by students within its walls over those outside
them, and upon that point he must refer, though very
reluctantly, as an illustration, to a case which had
occurred in the examinations. Seeing the practice of the
medical and other corporations in these matters he thought
that this Society should consider itself as a university
or examining rather than an educating body. The
average C03t of education in the school, which had been
in past sessions £2 9s. 6d., was now about £6 5s. per
student. That represented the expenditure of a very
large sum, and it was not right that so much money
should be paid annually out of the members’ subscrip¬
tions. The Society’s charter gave the Society the care of
chemists and druggists, and empowered it to promote a
uniform system of education for those who should
practise chemistry and pharmacy. That educational
work could be efficiently done in connection with King’s
College, or some other teaching institution ; while the
Society’s own necessary duties occupied so much time month
after month that the Society really could not properly
attend to it. The Society could in that way encourage
education outside its own walls and do better work than
by continuing to hamper itself with unnecessary responsi¬
bilities. He could only, in conclusion, submit his
proposition to the Council to decide upon the wisdom of
severing education and examination, both of which he
submitted could not be efficiently carried out by the
same body.

Mr. Andrews seconded the motion, but reserved his
remarks.

Mr. Atkins was reluctantly compelled to differ from
the views expressed by Mr. Hampson in support of his
motion. He did not think the time had arrived yet, at
all events, for disendowing and disestablishing the school.
That time might come, but, on the other hand, the dis¬
position appeared to be growing stronger on all sides to

associate education and examination. Both undoubtedly
should not be carried out by the same men — undoubtedly
they should be accompanied by the greatest precautions
against possible collusion in the examinations. Oxford
and Cambridge were both examples of bodies which first
educated, then examined, and finally granted certificates
to students on passing out of those universities. The
same system obtained in the London University, which,
in connection with its colleges, was both an educating
and an examining body, though it was founded as an
examining body only. Tradition had been invoked by
Mr. Hampson in support of his motion, but, looking at
the past history of the school, there could be no doubt
that it had done good work during the last forty years,
and he (Mr. Atkins) hoped it had not yet finished its
labours. Even assuming it was true, and there had been
powerful representations to that effect both in the out¬
side world and in the press, that the education within the
walls of the school was imperfect, that was the greater
reason why the Council should itself take care that the
materials for a genuine product should be furnished by
the school. The question must be argued either upon
principle or expediency : on principle he could see no
reason why education should not be efficiently and
honourably conducted within the Society’s school ; and, on
the ground of expediency, he believed the time had not
yet come for interfering with its present position. The
efforts of the Council should be concentrated, not on dis¬
establishing or disendowing, but upon infusing new life
and new zeal into it.

Mr. Symes, while regretting that the motion had been
brought forward, had no doubt that the Committee would
be glad of an expression of opinion from the Council
upon it. He had endeavoured to look at the question
entirely without prejudice from his early associations
with the institution, and he had certainly come to the
conclusion that, if Mr. Hampson’s suggestion pointed in
the right direction for future measures, at all events the
time had not yet arrived when such a step could be
taken. The Society was founded for the purpose of ele¬
vating the position of pharmacy, and no more effective
means for doing so could be found than by affording
support to the school where the education could be
given, which was the secondary object of the Society.
He considered that the Society should in fact go much
more largely into education than it had hitherto, and
that it should affiliate itself more with outside schools.
For that purpose, therefore, he should like to see the
Council placing itself in connection with town and pro¬
vincial schools, and it might also encourage education by
offering Society prizes to schools in which a certain num¬
ber of lectures were delivered, and which had a certain
number of students. Regulations might also be made
for the payment of teachers by results, and those steps
would enable competent teachers to be readily found.
Certainly the Council should endeavour to bring about
a more universal system of education. He could
not see anywhere a single school which furnished so
thoroughly all the conditions that could be desired for
a general pharmaceutical education. His inquiries on the
subject had shown him that all the universities, except
the London University, were both educating and ex¬
amining bodies. Although the Council might possibly
in the future thank Mr. Hampson for opening the ques¬
tion, he certainly thought the motion was premature at
the present time.

Mr. Gostling also, although he confessed that he had
considerable sympathy with Mr. Hampson’s views, thought
the time had not arrived for abandoning the school.
Rather, he would do all he could to improve the school of
pharmacy through which most of the leading men who
had done honour to the Pharmaceutical Society had
passed. He felt compelled, therefore, to oppose the
motion.

Mr. Savage, in opposing the motion, pointed out that
new arrangements had recently been made -which would

300

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 9, 1880.

remove many of the existing difficulties. He regretted
the reference that had been made to the Board of Ex¬
aminers, and contended that a more worthy body could
not be found. The examiners were always thoroughly
fair in their examinations, and the candidates were quite
unknown to them.

Mr. Mackay also looked upon the motion as singularly
premature, as it could not have been brought forward at
a more inopportune time than the present. Seeing the
general feeling of the Council with regard to it he would
venture to suggest that Mr. Hampson should consent to
withdraw it, as there was not the slightest chance of its
being passed.

Mr. Williams said that one reason given by Mr.
Hampson why the school should be abandoned was that
the examiners were biassed.

Mr. Hampson repudiated having made any such
charge against the examiners.

Mr. Williams said that at any rate the charge had
been made by implication, and he could only say that
Mr. Hampson would find upon inquiry that he had been
greatly misinformed.

The Vice-President asked whether Mr. Hampson
was disposed to accede to the suggestion to withdraw his
motion.

Mr. Hampson having declined to do so,

Mr. Bottle urged that that gentleman had advanced
no reasons whatever why the Council should abandon the
present system of teaching. Mr. Hampson might perhaps
be one of those men who were in advance of their time,
and might live to see the change made which he was
now proposing ; but the time had not yet arrived for it.
Nothing could possibly have cropped up more inoppor¬
tunely than such a discussion at the present, and with
regard to the examinations he was convinced that they
were most impartially conducted.

Mr. Mackay added that he had been present at every
examination which had been held in Edinburgh and could
state that there had never been the slightest disagreement
with regard to them or anything but the most straight¬
forward conduct on the part of the examiners. There
was no possibility of collusion amongst them, and in fact
it only happened once in some three or four hundred
times that there was any necessity for the examiners to
consult as to whether any particular candidate should
pass or not.

Mr. Andrews said that if he did not speak his silence
might be misunderstood ; it might be thought that he
had seconded the motion merely to promote discussion,
and not from any sympathy he had with it. On the con¬
trary, he did mainly coincide with the views expressed
by Mr. Hampson, and was fully convinced that, even if
the time had not yet arrived, it would be necessary eventu¬
ally to close the school. This opinion, which he had long
held, had been more strongly forced upon him by facts
which had been brought very prominently forward
before a committee upon which he had sat- -that the
school was gradually dwindling away, and would soon
die of inanition — and he thought it more honourable to
the Society to close it than to let it die out. Further
that, in common with many others, he entertained the
hope that a college of pharmacy might be founded, that
would not only be honourable to the pharmacy of the
country, but would help to raise it to a still higher posi¬
tion ; but that he feared there was no prospect of such
a college being formed until the Society’s school was
closed. He could see clearly from the course the discus¬
sion had taken that there was no probability of that at
present, and to make this school a success, therefore, was
an object of the greatest importance, but to do so it would
be necessary to conduct it on different principles. It
was advertised as the School of Pharmacy of the Phar¬
maceutical Society, whereas the Council had nothing to
do with it beyond the appointment of professors and
exercised no superintendence over it. In his opinion,
-to make the school a success it was necessary to appoint

some one to be the head of it, who should have the sole
responsibility of it, who should have no other occupation
and no emolument but what he derived from it. He
thought that if the right man could be found, the school
might perhaps be raised to its former condition, but
otherwise it would soon cease to exist for want of
support.

Mr. Sandford emphatically denied that there was any
ground for a charge of partiality against the examiners,
and was sorry Mr. Hampson had taken the opportunity
at the opening of the session of mooting the question.
He hoped, therefore, the motion would be withdrawn,
after what had been said. Mr. Andrews had spoken of
the school not [having prospered, but this was not the
way to improve its prospects of success. The Council
was really now asked to put a rope about the neck of the
school, and it was very much like asking a doomed man
to go forward to his fate in comfort and with pleasure.

Mr. Richardson said it was very painful to have such
a proposition brought forward after the professors had
gone into the subject and given the Council a scheme
which, it was to be hoped, would be eventually of great
benefit to the School of Pharmacy. This discussion was
most ill-timed, but one good could spring from it — from
the high opinion of the professors shown to be enter¬
tained by the Council.

Mr. Frazer also testified to the fairness of the Board
of Examiners in fulfilling its duties, and stated that the
examinations were conducted separately as at the uni¬
versities.

Mr. Squire pointed out the fact that no building could
be better adapted than the school in every way for
educational purposes, and said he would therefore be
very sorry on that account to see it done away with. No
reason whatever had been given to the Council for any
considerable change.

Mr. Robbins was of opinion that the school might be
made a good one, and only required the adoption of
proper measures to make it by far the best school of
pharmacy.

The Vice-President suggested to Mr. Hampson the
advisability of withdrawing his motion in accordance
with the generally expressed opinion of the Council.
That gentleman had appealed to the charter, but the
charter recited that it was the duty of the Society to
educate. He had appealed to the cost of the school, but
the fact was that it was maintained at a cost ridiculously
small as compared with that which would be entailed by
the counter-proposition for the foundation of a college of
pharmacy, a necessarily very large expenditure in place
of the £300 or £400 a year at present expended on the
school. He had appealed to the university system, but
in that system education was clearly included as well as
examination. Finally, he had referred to the many
other claims upon the time of the Council, but the
Council had never yet found itself unable to perform its
work, including attention to the affairs of the school.
Possibly there might be a good deal to be said in the
abstract against the existence of such a school, but it
was quite clear the present opinion of the majority of
the Council was that, in view of the good so far done, it
should not be abandoned. On those grounds he hoped
Mr. Hampson would not press his motion, and he had
only to add his own testimony to the careful impartiality
with which the examiners decided on the merits of each
candidate who came before them.

Mr. Hampson, in reply, again denied that he had made
or intended to make any charge against the examiners of
the kind suggested. No charge of favouritism could, he
believed, be justly made against them. At the same time
he must repeat that the Council had so much other work
to do that it could not possibly give proper attention to
the education afforded in the school, and that was one of
the reasons why the school had not prospered. The duty
of the Council towards the school had not, however, ceased,
and the Council could not be satisfied with its condition

October 9, I860.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

301

unless oertain radical changes were sooner or later made
in it. With those remarks he would, in accordance with
the generally expressed view of the Council, consent to
withdraw his motion.

Administration of the Benevolent Eund,

Mr. Robbins moved, pursuant to notice : —

“That it he an instruction to the Benevolent Fund
Committee in the administration of the Fund that
members and associates of the Pharmaceutical So¬
ciety, widows and orphans of the same, and also
subscribers to the Fund, on their application for aid
should be considered to have a prior claim over
those who have never been connected with the So¬
ciety nor have contributed to the Benevolent Fund.
He- said that his reason for moving the resolution was
that the Committee had at present no power to make
distinction between persons connected with the Society
and those who had no connection with it. An idea
prevailed among outside chemists that they had as
great a claim on the Benevolent Fund as the members
of the Society themselves, and he was desirous to
see that idea removed. The fund was founded by
the Society for the benefit of its members and asso¬
ciates, and was at the present time almost entirely
sustained by their subscriptions, so that the present
system was a great injustice to those whose interests it
was the duty of the Council to protect. That injustice
would be seen when it was considered that there were
10,000 chemists, mostly non-subscribing, outside the
Society’s ranks against the 3000 members, and it could
not be matter for surprise, therefore, that the large pro¬
portion of applications were from non-members, to whom
it was never contemplated when the fund was founded
that more than half of it, as was now the case, should be
given. The evil was a growing one, and if nothing were
done the time would come when three-fourths instead of
half the fund would be taken by those outside the Society.
He would like to see a rule adopted to the effect that
members and associates elected in the usual way as
annuitants should, if their subscriptions had amounted to
say £10, be eligible to receive £40 a year, and if to £20,
to £50 a year. Such a rule as that would act as a
stimulus to subscribers, but he merely threw it out as a
suggestion as it was no part of the motion. It was a fact
that members had taken umbrage at the large grants
made to outsiders in comparison with those made to
members, and he wished therefore that power should be
given to the Committee to make a distinction between

them. t .

Mr. Richardson seconded the motion, considering that
in view of the dark future threatening for pharmacy, it
was desirable the Society should put its house in order
and take steps to be in a position to afford needed
assistance to its own distressed members.

Mr. Williams wished to correct the statement of
Mr. Robbins as to the source of the subscriptions, in case
it should create prejudice if allowed to go forth. It was
by no means the fact that nearly all the subscriptions to
the fund came from members, and Mr. Robbins had
exaggerated the proportions of payments. At the same
time outsiders did not contribute as they might, and even
half-a-crown from each of the non-members would be
amply sufficient to meet all the claims upon the fund.
Last year against £376 which had been granted to
members only £322 had been distributed among persons
not connected with the Society or subscribers to the fund.
He could not understand what Mr. Robbins meant by
acknowledging the prior claim of the former, as the
Society had never yet been unable to respond to every
appeal made to it for charity. At one time the benefit
of the fund was exclusively given to the subscribers, anc,
he then declined to subscribe a penny to it, and it was
only when an alteration was made, and the benefits of
the fund were extended to all who were on the Register
that he had done what he could to assist the fund. If its

application were now to be restricted to subscribers, he
would be one of the first to retire from subscribing to it.

Mr. Savage thought some distinction should be. made
to show that there was an advantage in subscribing to
the fund.

Mr. Sandford hoped the fund would not be made the
subject of any illiberal distinction, and that the . Council
would not pass the resolution, however much it might
deem it desirable to protect the interests of the members
of the Society.

Mr. Symes said the motion appeared to be a coercive
measure intended to compel subscriptions to the fund.

It was said that many of the people who came upon the
fund had not subscribed to it, but probably they had
never been in a position to do so and had not for years
and years had a shilling to spare for the purpose. He
would not say a word in defence of those who could
subscribe to the fund and did not, but would urge upon
the Council that if there was any question on which it
should be careful not to narrow its sympathies it wa3
in the distribution of the Benevolent Fund. The word¬
ing of the motion was most unfortunate ; in spirit it
might be good but in letter it was very bad.

Mr. Frazer pointed out that a comparison of the
amounts distributed with the stated numbers of sub¬
scribers and non-subscribers proved that if there had
been any preference shown it had not been in favour of
the latter.

Mr. Radley said that at all events whatever became
of the resolution, the discussion would probably benefit
the fund by inducing numbers in the trade to become
subscribers who were not already.

Mr. Hampson said it would not be right for the Council
to make a distinction between members and non-members,
nor would it be wise for it to make a distinction which
was not made in the Act of Parliament. . Hitherto, the
Society had always been able to afford relief to all who
asked it. It seemed unfair, no doubt, that those who did
not contribute to the fund should derive benefit from it,
and he would prefer to alter its character more in the
direction of making it a provident fund.

Mr. Mackay suggested that it would be wise, after the
discussion which had taken place, for Mr. Robbins to
follow the example of Mr. Hampson and withdraw his
motion. As a rule no case brought before the Committee
and properly supported failed to receive relief, and it was
only in very bad cases that substantial assistance was or
should be refused.

Mr. Squire was also of opinion that it would be better
the Committee should continue to inquire into the merits
of each case for relief, and not to be fettered by such a
resolution.

Mr. Robbins, in reply, denied that he had made ex¬
aggerated statements, and said the figures showed that
considerably more than half the fund had been given to
non -members of the Society. His resolution would not
stop relief to persons outside, but would only make their
cases subject to the prior claim of members and subscri¬
bers, and the measure was, he thought, really one of the
mildest character. He had known positive instances
where members had suffered under the present system by
the Committee holding back after having made grants to
a considerable amount.

The motion was then put and lost.

Donations to the Museum.

In reply to the Vice-President’s inquiry,

Mr. Frazer stated that a number of specimens had
been handed to him as a gift by the Directors of the
Tharsis Sulphur and Copper Company, Glasgow,, as a
donation to the Museum of the Society. The specimens
represented the raw ores, their products and by-products.

Application to be placed on the Register.

Among the letters read was an application from a
person to be placed on the Register without an examina¬
tion, but the Council was unable to accede to the request

302

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 9, 1880.

Reports of the Government Visitors to the
Examinations.

The Secretary submitted to the Council three reports
which he had received from the Privy Council Office in
August. These it is intended to publish in the next
number of the Journal.

The Council then adjourned.

Erratum. — On p. 64, col. ii., in the list of persons who
passed the Minor examination in Edinburgh, on July 13,
for “Dick, James Miller,” read “Dick, George Walter.”

PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING.

Wednesday October 6, 1880.

The first evening meeting of the session was held
on Wednesday, October 6, the chair .being taken at
half-past eight by Mr. Schacht, Vice-President of
the Society.

The Chairman said that the President was absent
in consequence of the delay of a steamer by which
he was about to return from St. Petersburg, and he
(Mr. Schacht) was bound to take his place. Al¬
though regretting his absence, he was also, he must
confess, somewhat pleased and gratified by an acci¬
dent which allowed him to take such a prominent
position on such an interesting occasion, although
he had certain misgivings about being able to fulfil
its duties properly. He was sorry for the President,
as it would have been to him a matter of great
gratification to preside on the present occasion, and
welcome the young men who were destined to re¬
ceive the reward of their hard work at his hands,
and certainly it would have been a great gratifica¬
tion to the President to welcome Dr. Langdon
Down, who had been good enough to undertake the
delivery of the address to the students. His (the
Chairman's) first duty would be to ask Professor
Redwood, the Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacy,
to report on the competition for prizes in the
Chemistry and Pharmacy Lecture Class.

Report on the Chemistry and Pharmacy Class.

Professor Redwood said that although the custom
which was adopted on these occasions of connecting
the past with the present and with the future had,
undoubtedly, some very important advantages, he
had sometimes wished, as he had wished then, that
it had been possible to invert or to alter the order
of the proceedings, so that instead of commencing
with the commonplace expression of a professor’s
report, they might bring more prominently into the
foreground the address which they would all be
anxious to hear, or the students of the past session
who would by-and-by have to appear before the
meeting. He was very glad to find that the impor¬
tant part of the evening’s proceedings, the delivery
of the address, had been taken by his friend Dr.
Langdon Down, who was a student within those walls
more than thirty years ago, and had been a very able
assistant in the school. No one could be more fitted
than that gentleman to offer words of advice and en¬
couragement to the students. He had risen from the
class, and pursued a most prosperous and successful
career, and his experience offered a bright example
of what could be done by steady perseverance and
fixed determination to attain to the object of one’s am¬
bition. It would be a source of considerable gratifi¬
cation to Dr. Down to find that after the lapse of so
many years they were still pursuing the same course
of sound pharmaceutical education which was founded

by those who might be called the fathers of British
pharmacy. The illustrious names of those who
were engaged in founding this systematic education
included those of William Allen, Charles James
Payne, Jacob Bell, Thomas Newborn Morson, Peter j:
Squire, George Waugh, Daniel Bell Hanbury, and
Henry Deane. And among those who were the first
active agents, they had Anthony Todd Thompson,
Jonathan Pereira, and George Fowne3. The
last session of their school was its thirty-eighth,
and they had, therefore, had some experience
in the work of pharmaceutical education. It might
be asked of them, “ Have you discovered any
royal road to knowledge V' “Have you found
that it is possible to get at the spring which con¬
tinues to flow without digging deeply and labori¬
ously]” Their answer was “No; we still adhere to
the same system.” That system which was first
founded and established by those who bore the
honourable names which he had mentioned was that
which was alone advocated and supported by all
good and wise men who took an interest in the
subject of pharmaceutical education. The Professors
found it their duty to endeavour to convey know¬
ledge deliberately, not to hasten it, for they were
assured that knowledge to be permanent and useful
must be deliberately acquired. They felt that it
was their duty not merely to teach but to educate.

It was mainly through the persistent study and ap¬
plication of the students that credit could be acquired
by the institution and benefit be conferred upon the
profession of pharmacy. He had to bring under
the notice of the meeting the gentlemen whose ;
names had already been communicated by him
to the Council and to whom the Council had
awarded certain marks of distinction. There were
two classes of students who were thus rewarded.

One class had studied for one course of five months,
and might attain to the distinction of receiving a
bronze medal or certain certificates of merit. During
the last session there had been two courses of in¬
struction, one extending from October to February,
and the other from March to July. During the
first of those courses there had been a larger
number of competitors for the bronze medal and
certificates of merit than during the second course,
for in the second part of the time a certain
number of the students were students not of
five months, but of ten months, and it had always
been the object of the Council and of the Society
to encourage those who came to study for the
longer period. At the end of the course, which
ended in February, Mr. William Elborne, who was
a Bell Scholar, obtained the bronze medal, the value
of his answers in the class being estimated at 88 out
of 100. Mr. Robert Wright was close upon the heels
of Mr. Elborne, and he (the Professor) had a
difficulty in deciding whether the medal should be
given to Mr. Elborne or to Mr. Wright. The lowest
number of marks in any one of the cases was 76
out of 100. During the second five months, as
he had already said, there was a smaller number of i
these students ; there were three to whom awards
had been made. But there was what might be
called a higher class of ten months’ students, and in
that category there was a silver medal awarded, and
there were two classes of certificates, namely, certifi¬
cates of honour and certificates of merit. Certificates
of honour might be looked upon as, perhaps, equal
in value to the bronze medal, because the number of

October 9, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

303

marks which must be gained must amount to the
same as in the case of a bronze medal. He hardly
needed to say that the gentlemen to whom the
awards had been made had all well merited the
distinction which they had obtained.

The following is a list of the students in this class
to whom prizes were awarded : —

Five Months’ Courses.

Bronze Medal

Certificates of Merit

first course.

.William Elborne.
Robert Wright.
David Hooper.
James Williams.
William Fowler.

second course.

Bronze Medal.. .

Certificates of Merit .

Session.
Silver Medal .

Certificates of Honour ...
Certificates of Merit

. Thomas Hart.

{ John Henry Chaplin.

' ' ’ | Ernest Frederick Salmon.

Ten Months.

. William Fowler.

I Robert Wright.

1 John Thomas.

' j William Elborne.

( David Hooper,
j Ed. Chas. James Davies.

( Wm. Hodginson Jackson.

The following were the questions for the examina¬
tion : —

FIRST COURSE.

BRONZE MEDAL AND CERTIFICATES.

Time allowed : 4 hours.

1 . What is the weight of a fluid ounce of a liquid, the
specific gravity of which is 1’48 ?

2. If a piece of platinum were weighed in the usual
way in air, with brass weights, and its weight found to
be 500 grains, and if it were afterwards weighed with
the same weights under an exhausted receiver, that is, in
vacuo, would the second indication differ from the first,
and if so, would it be more or less ?

3. What is the meaning of the expression “ mechanical
equivalent of heat?”

4. What are the best excipients for giving a pilular
consistence to the following medicines — namely, calomel,
camphor, creasote, copaiba, oil of peppermint, mercurial
ointment ?

5. Describe the terms maceration, digestion, elutriation,
lixiviation, percolation, and displacement, as used in
pharmacy.

6. Describe the production of sulphurous anhydride
from sulphuric acid and mercury, and from sulphuric acid
and charcoal.

7. Describe the action of sulphurous acid as a decolour¬
izing agent, and the difference between its action and
that of chlorine. Name some of the organic substances to
which the former is advantageously applied for depriving
them of colour.

8. Describe the effects of different degrees of heat on
zinc, and the way in which this metal may be reduced to
the coarsely granulated and also to the finely granulated
state.

9. Define the terms alcohol, ether, aldehyd, ketone, and
olefine, as used by chemists as generic terms.

SECOND COURSE.

BRONZE MEDAL AND CERTIFICATES.

Time allowed : 4 hours.

1. Give the values of the gramme, metre, decagramme
and litre, in English measures.

2. Give the values of the ounce, pound, pint, fluid
dracbm, and minim, in grains and grain-measures.

3. Describe the method you would adopt for determin¬

ing the specific gravity of a liquid the quantity of which
at your disposal is only a fluid drachm.

4. In a balance, should the fulcrum be above or below
the cenh’e of gravity of the beam ?

5. Which is the best and which is the worst conductor
of heat, and also of electricity among the following sub¬
stances : copper, iron, bismuth, charcoal ?

6. In distilling water, how much cold water is required
in the condenser (a worm-tub, for instance) to produce a
gallon of distilled water ?

7. Describe the processes of elutriation and clarification,
as applied in pharmacy.

8. Describe chlorine, its production, properties, and
some.of its compounds.

9. Describe the production of alcohol from sugar by
fermentation. Give the composition of alcohol, and show
the relation it bears to ether, acetic acid, and aldehyde.

SESSION.

SILVER MEDAL AND CERTIFICATES.

Time allowed : 3 hours.

1. When was the French metrical system of weights
and measures first introduced, and what was taken as the
initial measure from which all others were deduced in that
system ?

2. When was the English system of imperial weights
and measures first introduced and legalized, and what
was taken as the initial measure from which all others
were deduced in that system?

3. Has any essential change taken place with regard to
the use of the initial measures originally referred to in the
French and English systems of weights and measures for
the purpose of verification by comparison ?

4. Describe the Jaw known as Boyle’s or Mariotte’s law
relating to tiie compression and expansion of gases.

5. In 'a simple galvanic arrangement of a zinc and a
platinum plate immersed in acidulated water, with con¬
necting wires, which is the positive and which the negative
terminal ?

6. Describe and explain the phenomenon of fluorescence,
referring especially to its occurrence in solution of sulphate
of quinine.

Time allowed : 3 hours.

7. Describe the production of iodine from sea- weed.

Give its properties, and the modes of producing some of
its compounds, especially iodic and hydriodic acids, and
iodide of potassium.

8. Describe the production of potash from wood, and
the prineipal compounds of potassium, especially those
used in medicine, from commercial potash.

9. How are the chlorides of calcium, magnesium,
aluminium, and chromium respectively prepared ?

10. Describe chloroform, its composition and properties,
the method by which it is prepared, and the supposed re¬
actions which occur in its production.

11. What are the essential characters of an alcohol?
Illustrate the subject by reference to examples.

The Chairman then asked Prof. Bentley for his —

Report on the Botany and Materia
Medica Class.

Professor Bentley said that his esteemed colleague,
Professor Redwood, had gone into matters of detail
which applied both to his (Professor Bentley’s)
course and to Professor Redwood’s. There was only
one matter which he should like particularly to
mention. Professor Redwood had spoken of the
old and the new. He (Professor Bentley) could not^v.
but recollect amongst his brightest remembrances
that he attended as a pharmacy student the first
course of lectures in that institution, and got the
first prize that was ever given in it. He could
speak now, as he had always spoken in former years,
of the good conduct, regularity of attendance, punc¬
tuality, and progress of the students attending his

304

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 9, 18S0.

class. This was a tale that had been told for thirty-
eight years. The reputation which the students
of the School of Pharmacy had obtained had been
maintained in every respect during the last year.
In the first five months’ course the bronze medal
was obtained by Mr. David Hooper with 90 marks
out of 100. In the case of the certificates of merit,
the marks must be over 75 out of 100. This was a
very high standard for a certificate of merit, the
ordinary standard being 60, and therefore every¬
one present would be satisfied that the gentlemen
who received the certificates of merit had well
deserved those distinctions. In the second of the
five months’ courses, the bronze medal was ob¬
tained by Mr. John Henry Garrett with very high
marks. As to the ten months’ course, it was a source
of peculiar gratification to him to find that the
silver medal had been taken by Mr. David Hooper,
the student who obtained the bronze medal in the
first course. Two years ago Mr. Hooper sent in a
collection of plants, for which he obtained a bronze
medal. He (Professor Bentley) then ventured to
say that that was not the last time they would hear
of Mr. Hooper, and on the present occasion he came
before them most honourably distinguished. They
might depend upon it that those men who worked
during their articles of apprenticeship, and obtained
distinction in the School of Pharmacy, were those
who generally succeeded in after life. Mr. Hooper
obtained the silver medal with a very high average,
having obtained 113 marks out .of the possible
number 125. This was a high proportion. There
could be no question as to the merit of his answers.
The others were also highly distinguished, and the
average of marks was very large. He felt fully per¬
suaded that the gentlemen who were rewarded on this
occasion would maintain the dignity of pharmacy.

The following is a list of students in this class to
whom prizes were awarded : —

Five Months’ Courses.

FIRST COURSE.

Bronze, Medal .

Certificates of Merit

.David Hooper.
Robert Wright.
William Elborne.
Wiliam Fowler.
John Thomas.

'SECOND COURSE.

Bronze Medal . John Henry Garrett.

( Alfred Hornby.

Certificates of Merit . . . < John Henry Chaplin.

( Thomas Hart.

Session. Ten Months.

Silver Medal . David Hooper.

William Elborne.

( William Fowler.

§ < John Henry Garrett.
H ( Robert Wright.
Certificate of Merit . John Thomas.

The following were the questions for the examina¬
tion : —

FIRST COURSE.

BRONZE MEDAL AND CERTIFICATES.

Time allowed : 3 hours.

1. Describe the structure of the bark of a dicotyle¬
donous stem.

2. Define the following terms : — Parenchymatous, pro-
senchymatous, epidermis, stoma, vitta, node, tuber, and
corm.

Certificates of Honour

3. What is the structure of the ovule ? Explain the
terms angiospermous and gymnospermous.

4. What are the official parts of Aconitum Napellus;
and what are the distinctive characters of aconite and
horseradish roots ?

5. What is tragacanth ? How is it obtained, and what
are its botanical and geographical sources ?

6. What are the botanical sources, general characters,
and chemical composition of black pepper, long pepper
and cubebs ; and mention the constituents to which their
medicinal properties are due ?

SECOND COURSE.

BRONZE MEDAL AND CERTIFICATES.

Time allowed : 3 hours.

1. What are the distinctive characters of roots and
stems ? Define the following : — Spine, prickle, rhizome,
tuber, corm, and bulb.

2. Describe the structure and mode of development of
a leaf-bud.

3. Distinguish between determinate, indeterminate and
mixed inflorescences ; and define a spadix, corymb, panicle,
capitulum, umbel, and helicoid cyme.

4. What are the physical and chemical characteristics
of black and white mustard seeds ?

5. What are the botanical and geographical sources of
the official bucliu leaves, and what are the characters of
each ?

6. Enumerate the official plants of the Rosacese, and
describe the botanical source, general characters and
chemical composition of bitter almonds.

SESSION.

SILVER MEDAL AND CERTIFICATES OF HONOUR.

Botany.

Time allowed : 3 hours.

1 . What is protoplasm ? Where is it found, and what
are its chemical composition and uses ?

2. Define the following terms as applied to leaves : —
Peltate, decussate, obvolute, reclinate, serrate, retuse,
obovate, pinnate, pinnatifid, biternate, ligule, and
phyllode.

3. Describe the structure of pollen, and explain the
process of fertilization in angiospermous dicotyledons.

4. Describe the principal kinds of dehiscence in simple
and compound fruits.

5. Distinguish the Iridaceae from the Amaryllidacese,
Liliaceae and Melanthacese.

6. Give the essential characters of the following natural
orders : — Malvaceae, Caryophyllacese, Umbelliferse, Olea-
ceae, Boraginaceae, and Polygonacese.

Materia Medica.

Time allowed : 3 hours.

1. What are the botanical and geographical sources of
the official Cusparia bark and of the spurious bark ? and
show how they may be distinguished from one another.

2. Enumerate the official substances of the Umbelli-
ferae and their botanical sources. How is galbanum
obtained, and what are its general and chemical characters
and its official preparations ?

3. What are the botanical and geographical sources of
calabar beans ? Describe their general and chemical
characters.

4. What is storax ? How is it obtained, and what are
its general and chemical characters ?

5. Describe the general and chemical characters of
dandelion root. Show how it may be at once distin¬
guished from other roots, and mention the period usually
regarded as the best for its collection and the data on
which such an opinion is founded.

6. What are the botanical and geographical sources of
kamala ? Describe its general and chemical characters
and state its uses and doses.

j

t

j

flj

4

I

■

October 9, 1880. ]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

305

Report on the Practical Chemistry Class.

Professor Attfield said that during the whole
pharmaceutical year there was no duty which he
performed with more pleasure and satisfaction than
that of testifying at the October evening meeting to
the uniform assiduity and gentlemanly behaviour of
the students of the Society’s school. On the present
occasion not only could he endorse all that his
colleagues had said on that subject, but he could also
go somewhat further than usual. In considering
the condition of a school, mere numbers may
mislead. Regard must also be had to the quality of
the knowledge which the pupils directly and in¬
directly acquired. With regard to the former it was
not for a professor to say one word. As to the
knowledge which they might obtain indirectly, he
thought that he should be able to show that during
the past session the condition of the school as a
school, without reference to the numbers attending,
was satisfactory. There was a growing demand on
the part of the public, not only that all known
remedies should be presented to them in as active and
as palatable form as possible, but that new remedies
which might at present only be known to the
uncivilized savage, or exist only in the unexplored
forest, or the undug mine, should be properly
investigated and placed at the public service.
Where was to be obtained the knowledge which
would enable that demand to be supplied ? He
thought that no member of the medical profession
would claim that such knowledge would be forth¬
coming from medical pharmacy ; and although the
public might obtain pharmacy of a kind from
another quarter, and obtain it very cheaply from the
places which he was thinking of, he was sure that they
would not obtain high-class pharmacy from co-opera¬
tive stores. The kind of knowledge to which he was
alluding, pharmacists amongst themselves termed
<c original pharmaceutical research.” But what was
especially wanted •was a widely distributed power of
seizing on the researches of the few and applying
them to the medicinal wants of the public. Medical
pharmacy could not supply the demand ; here too,
co-operative pharmacy failed ; the passing of an ex¬
amination did not ensure its supply. It could only
be got from those who have been soundly and
deliberately trained. He claimed that the Council of
the Society provided such training in their School of
Pharmacy. As evidence in support of this, he would
adduce the fact that although last session the number
of pupils attending the school was small, the desire
which they evinced to be led into the beginnings of
paths of pharmaceutical research was greater than
it had been in any previous session. No fewer
than twenty-eight papers and reports were read by
students before the School of Pharmacy Students’
Association, which Association the Council had done
its utmost to support. This was a greater number
than had been read in any previous session. All
these papers had a bearing on pharmacy, but four
might be classed as chemical, one botanical, one edu¬
cational, one biographical,- one physiograpliical, and
six were pharmaceutical in the strictest sense of the
word. Of the reports, two were botanical, two were
on materia medica, two were on pharmacy, two on
organic chemistry, two on inorganic chemistry, two
on analytical chemistry, and two on physical che¬
mistry. All the reports were considered of sufficient
importance to be noticed by the talented Editor of
the Pharmaceutical Journal , and many of the papers

were printed in extenso. The knowledge which
enabled men to produce work of that kind was the
knowledge which would enable the new remedies
of the world to be presented to the public for
their use ; and he claimed that the Council
provided successfully for the attainment of that
knowledge in their School of Pharmacy. With
regard to the competition at the end of the
session, he had to report that no fewer than seven¬
teen _ entered to compete for the Council’s prizes,
consisting of medals and certificates of honour and
merit, and that a gentleman whose name they had
already heard several times before — Mr. Hooper —
obtained, not merely 87 per cent, of the possible
marks, but 100 per cent., and he, consequently, took
the silver medal. Two bronze medal were also ob¬
tained by gentlemen whose names they had already
heard — Mr. Robert Wright and Mr. John Thomas,
these gentlemen having obtained respectively 95 per
cent, and 85 per cent, of the full number of marks.
As to the certificates of honour and merit, the Council
had awarded four to the following gentlemen — Mr.
Thomas Burrell, Mr. William Hodgkinson Jackson,
Mr. John Henry Chaplin and Mr. Thomas Hart.
He had one word more to say about Mr. Hooper.
That gentleman was one of those men who were
blessed with perfect health, and he could get up at
four o’clock in the morning day after day, and work
hard till very late at night. He was a man who
could eat plenty of bread and butter, and what was
a far greater blessing than that, he could very well
assimilate it. But, after saying that, he (Professor
Attfield) must say that of the many men whom he
had known who could eat bread and butter and as¬
similate it, he never knew one who could so per¬
sistently refuse all those temptations which a healthy
man was likely to fall into, and who could work
more persistently from early morning till late at
night than Mr. Hooper.

The following is a list of students in this class to
whom prizes were awarded: — •

Silver Medal . David Hooper.

Bronze Medals . j Robert Wright.

( John Ihomas.

Certificate of Honour . Thomas Burrell.

( Wm. Hodgkinson Jackson.

Certificates of Merit . < John Henry Chaplin.

( Thomas Hart.

The following were the questions for the examina¬
tion : —

Juhj 21 st and 22nd, 1880.

Hours 10 to 5 each day.

(Books and Memoranda permitted.)

Standard number of Marks , 100.

FIRST DAY.

1. Prepare for me a small specimen of acetate of
potassium — half an ounce or an ounce.

2. Make a qualitative analysis of the accompanying
sample labelled “Moist Iodine,” and state what impurities
are present.

SECOND DAY.

3. What percentage of alkaloid is present in the
“ citrate of iron and quinia ” supplied to you ?

4. State not only the general but the special character
of the “ organic powder ” placed before you ; using such
chemical and physical aids as may be at your disposal.

Note. — Manipulation as well as results will be scru¬
tinized.

306

THF PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 9, 1880.

Report on the Botanical Prize.

Professor Bentley, being called on to report on
bis subject, said that be had already indicated the
value of the prizes which were given by the Council
for herbaria, by stating his belief that those who
succeeded in after years were those who distin¬
guished themselves by their botanical knowledge
during their early training. The recent competition
had been a very good one, and live herbaria were
sent in. The Council had awarded the silver medal
for a very valuable collection of British plants,
indicating great industry and practical knowledge,
to Mr. John Hutchinson. He (Professor Bentley)
was sure that, like Mr. Hooper, Mr. Hutchinson
must have got up at four in the morning, or he
could not have sent in nearly nine hundred speci¬
mens, as he had done. The two bronze medals
were awarded to Mr. Walter Clark Drew and
Mr. John Henry Leech, both of whom Were
eminently deserving of them. The number of
specimens sent in by one exceeded the num¬
ber sent by the other, but there were other
elements to be taken into consideration besides
number. The principal point was that they should
have a knowledge of plants and be able to name
them accurately ; and, moreover, attention ought to
be paid to the careful selection and preservation of
specimens. Although the number of specimens was
greater in one instance than in the other, the
smaller collection was so admirably preserved that
he had no hesitation whatever in reporting to the
Council that he thought that it would be difficult to
draw a distinction between the two collections. A
collection sent in by Mr. James Thomas Bays was
deserving of a certificate of merit. In conclusion,
he most cordially congratulated all these gentlemen
upon the awards which had been made.

The following were the awards : —

Silver Medal .

Bronze Medals ...
Certificate of Merit

..John Hutchinson.

| Walter Clark Drew,
y John Henry Leech.
..James Thomas Bays.

The Council Examination Prizes.

The Chairman said that they had another series
of prizes, which went by the name of the Council
Examination Prizes. The professors had already
reported upon the work done by the younger stu¬
dents. The prizes which were about to be reported
upon were for another set of students, namely,
those who had already passed the Major examina¬
tion. None could compete but those who had
passed during the last session. The competition
was consequently one amongst the selected spirits.
He would ask Mr. Carteighe to report on the Council
Examination Prizes.

Mr. Carteighe said that the first medal in this
competition bore the name of Dr. Pereira, a man
who was honoured all over the world. He thought
that it added very much to the lustre of a student if
after having obtained medals and certificates in the
class examinations he should obtain the present
very high distinction in a competition with a select
few. A prize in this competition was not a distinc¬
tion for one subject only, for the competition em¬
braced the three main divisions of the science of
pharmacy — botany, materia medica, and chemis¬
try. It afforded, him and his colleague, Mr.
Corder, great gratification to find that the papers

were of great excellence, and they had felt much
pleasure in carrying out the examinations. They
had been delighted to find that the standard of
knowledge had not deteriorated amongst the select
few, and he thought that if Dr. Pereira were alive,
and could examine this year’s papers himself, he
would be right glad in his heart. The Pereira medal
in silver, with books to the value of £5, which were
kindly added to the prize by the generosity of Mr.
Hills, had been gained by Mr. Hooper. The ex¬
amination was a written one, and therefore it was
impossible to carry the test of practical work to the
same extent as in a laboratory or elsewhere; but
when he found that a Pereira medallist who ex¬
ceeded by far all his competitors was, at the same
time, the best practical chemist in the laboratory,
he felt perfectly certain that Mr. Hooper was a man
of unusual ability, and would do credit to any
school. The two other medals had been gained by
Mr. Drew and Mr. Fowler, both of whom had
written exceedingly good papers.

The following are the names of those to whom the
prizes are awarded : —

Pereira Medal {silver) ; and Books value £5, presented by

Mr. T. If. Hills.

David Hooper.

Pharmaceutical Society’s Medal ( silver ) ; and Books value
£3, presented by Mr. T. H. HiUs.

Henry William Drew.

Pharmaceutical Society's Medal ( bronze ) ; and Books value
£2, presented by Mr. T. H. Hills.

William Fowler.

The following were the questions for this examina¬
tions: —

CHEMISTRY.

Time allowed : 3 hours.

1. Distinguish between atomic, equivalent and mole¬
cular weights.

2. An organic compound on combustion yields the
following percentages. Calculate its formula, and name
the compound : —

Carbon . . . . 68 ’67

Hydrogen . . . . 4 ‘95

Oxygen . . . . 26 ‘38

3. Acetic acid contains C 40’0 H 6'6 and 0 58'4 per
cent. ; and chloracetic acid contains 37 5 per cent, of
chlorine. Calculate the molecular weight of acetic acid.

4. How are carbolic and salicylic acids obtained in a
pure state ? Give their physical and chemical properties.

5. An acid solution contains antimony, arsenic, and tin.
How would you separate them ?

6. Describe briefly the chemistry of brewing and
vinegar making.

BOTANY.

Time allowed for the following two papers: 3 hours.

1. How would you distinguish the leaves of Taxus
baccata (common yew) from those of other plants ?

2. What plants produce tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate,
and chicory ? Give the natural orders and the parts
used.

3. Give the characters of the natural order Rosaceae,
the sub-orders with the fruits ; and mention the plants of
this order used in medicine, commerce, and the arts.

4. Describe minutely the plant before you, and give
the natural order to which it belongs.

MATERIA MEDICA.

1. What is ergot, and what is the cause of its growth ?

2. Give the botanical names and habitats of the trees
yielding the turpentines of commerce ; describe the

October 0, 18S0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

307

methods by which they are prepared and their physical
and chemical characters.

3. What are the characters of Jamaica sarsaparilla and
whence is it obtained ?

The Chairman, before handing the prizes to the
successful competitors, congratulated them very
heartily in the name of the meeting. He thought,
from what they had heard, that they might very
fairly congratulate the professors in the school and
the teachers of the classes on the students having
passed such very good examinations. Lastly, they
might congratulate the Society on the possession ot
a school which turned out such creditable results at
the end of a session.

The Chairman then presented the various prizes
and certificates to the successful competitors. He
also presented a copy of ‘ Pharmacograpliia ’ and a
copy of ‘ Science Papers ’ to Mr. David Hooper, and
a similar gift to Mr. William Fowler. He reminded
the meeting that copies of these works had been
placed in the hands of the Society by Mr. Thomas
Hanbury to be given in memory of Daniel Hanbury
to the winners of silver medals in the sessional
school competitions.

The President then called upon Mr. Plowman to
report on the competition for

The Jacob Bell Memorial Soholarships.

Mr. Plowman said that he rose to perform a
peculiarly pleasant task. When the report upon the
examination for the Bell Scholarships had been
presented in former years, a complaint had usually
been made by the reporting examiner that there had
been so little competition lor these valuable prizes.
Last year, in particular, his then colleague, Mr.
Taylor, was very emphatic in calling attention to
the value of these scholarships and to the small
number of competitors for them. As an old Bell
Scholar himself he could fully bear out what Mr.
Taylor had said as to the value of these prizes and
from personal experience could testily to the very
great advantages enjoyed by the Bell Scholars, lor
not only was the money value of the scholarships con¬
siderable, but successful competitors were granted a
free education in the school of the Society under its
distinguished professors. The latter was a privilege
he could not possibly over-estimate. He might also
add that with characteristic generosity Mr. Hills
presented in addition an annual prize of books to each
of the scholars. With regard, however, to the charac¬
ter of this year’s competition, he was sure his hearers
would share his satisfaction in being able to state that
there could be no possible ground for complaint. In
fact the number of competitors was nearly double
that of last year. Nineteen candidates in all pre¬
sented themselves, 10 in London and 9 at diffe] ent
centres throughout the country ; of these no le ;s
than 9 earned more than two-thirds of the full
number of marks ; that is to say more than
enough to qualify for a scholarship. The number
0(f candidates was quite unprecedented, and it was also
unprecedented that such, a large number should
attain such a high degree of excellence. The
successful candidates were Mr. Frederick Charles
Bird, of Bath, and Mr. John Oldham Braithwaite,
of London, so that the honours were equally divided
between town and country. As only two scholar¬
ships could be awarded the Council had already
marked their appreciation of the high average merit
of the non-successful competitors by publishing the

names of those who qualified for, but did not obtain
a scholarship. After these remarks it was needless
to say anything in praise of the successful competitors.
The fact of their being placed at the head of the
list after such a severe competition in itself spoke
volumes, and further comment was unnecessary. A
word, however, to the so-called unsuccessful ones.
He said so-called advisedly, because he considered
that they had really achieved a solid success, for
though they were not rewarded by prizes, the training
which the majority had undergone would be of the
greatest possible value to them, and many of the
papers gave promise that their writers would become
accomplished members of their calling, and would
raise its dignity and status. Amid so much excel¬
lence it might seem ungracious to call attention to
anything that was not praiseworthy. At the suggestion,
however, of his colleague, Mr. Brady, he must make
some reference to the writing. He spoke feelingly of
the matter, for in some cases the writing was simply
execrable, and it required a considerable amount of
study on the part of the examiner to arrive at the
candidate’s meaning. Mr. Brady, in a letter, suggested
that about six easy lessons in writing should be taken
by intending candidates before presenting themselves,
and added with epigrammatic force that words, we
know on good authority, were given to men to conceal
their ideas, but I have never learnt that writing was
given them to conceal their words.” Seriously, how¬
ever, he (Mr. Plowman) considered that it was almost as
important for the pharmacist to write a plain legible
hand as to be able to turn out a decent box of pills
or to make a good emulsion. Mr. Plowman con¬
cluded by hoping that the competition next year
would be as good as or still better than this.

The Chairman presented the Bell Scholars with
the books given by Mr. Hills.

The successful competitors for the Scholarships
were —

Frederick Charles John Bird
and

John Oldham Braithwaite.

The questions set for this examination were as
follows : —

Time allowed: Three hours.

LATIN.

Translate into English : —

1. “Qusecumque in foliis descripsit carmina virgo, -

Digerit in numerum atque antro seclusa relinquit,
Ilia manent immota locis neque ab ordine cedunt ;
Verum eadem, verso tenuis cum cardine ventus
Impulit et teneras turbavit janua frondes,
Nunquam deinde cavo volitantia prendere saxo,
Nec revocare situs aut jungere carmina curat :
Inconsulti abeunt sedemque odere Sibylla;.

Hie tibi nequa morse fuerint dispendia tanti,
Quamvis increpitent socii et vi cursus in altum
Vela vocet possisque sinus implere secundos,

Quin adeas vatem precibusque oracula poscas
Ipsa canat vocemque volens atque ora resol vat.”

2. “ Arida simul in pulverem subtilissimum tere, et in
vase obturato conserva. Turn quoties confectione utendum
est, instillato syrupo, iterum tere ; denique adjecto oleo,
omnia misce.”

3. Parse the italicized words in the passages given
above.

4. Decline in singular and plural qucecumque carmina ;,
and give the present, perfect, infinitive and supine of
digerit, relinquit, tere, misce.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

308

[October 9, 18S0.

ENGLISH.

Inaugural Sessional Address.

Write a short essay on Money.

Parse fully : —

“ Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you
To leave this place.”

The President then called upon Dr. J. Langdon
Down, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P., to deliver the Inaugu¬
ral Sessional Address. This will be found on p.
289.

ARITHMETIC.

1. The specific gravity of a liquid is 1*25. How many
grammes does 1 pall on of it weigh ?

2. A piece of land is sold for 490 guineas. A. takes
i °f the money, B. takes of f, and C. takes the

remainder. What amount does each receive ?

3. What decimal added to the sum of 1^, |, and
J g will make the sum total equal to 3 ?

4. Find the sum of 2-56, 8*493, and 4*63 correct to six
places of decimals.

FRENCH OR GERMAN.

The candidate is at liberty to choose either French or
German, and is not required to show a knowledge of both.

FRENCH.

Translate into English : —

“ Comment ! C’est un homme qui fait des miracles.
11 y a six mois qu’une femme fut abandonnee de tous les
autres medecins : on la tenait morte il y avait deja six
heures et l’on se disposait a l’ensevelir, lorsqu’on y fit
venir de force l’homme dont nous parlons. 11 lui mit,
l’ayant vue, une petite goutte de je ne sais quoi dans la
bouche ; et, dans le meme instant, elle se leva de son lit,
et se mit aussitot a se promener dans sa chambre, comme
si de rien n’eiit ete.”

And : —

“ Les eaux distilldes ne possedent pas toutes leurs
qualites au moment oh elles viennent d’etre prepares ;
ce n’est qu’au bout d’un certain temps qu’elles ont acquis
leur plus grande suavit6 : aussi convient-il de ne les
employer qu’un mois ou deux apres leur preparation.”

GERMAN.

Translate into English : —

“ O, eine edle Ilimmelsgabe ist
Das Licht des Auges — Alle Wesen leben
Yom Lichte, jedes gltickliche Geschopf —

Die Pflanze selbst kehrt freudig sich zum Lichte.
Und er muss sitzen, fiihlend, in der Nacht,

Im ewig Finstern — ihn erquickt nicht mehr
Der Matten warines Grim, der Blumen Schmelz,

Die rothen Firnen kann er nicht mehr schauen —
Sterben ist nichts — doch leben und nicht sehen,

Das ist ein Ungltick.”

CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY.

Time allowed: Two hours.

1. What is meant by the term combustion ? If a
lighted candle be placed in a jar of chlorine what is the
result ?

2. Describe methods for preparing chlorine, bromine
and iodine. In what respects are these bodies analogous ?

3. What is the chemical composition of vermilion,
Iceland spar, gypsum, cinnabar, butter of antimony,
galena, verdigris, white lead and calamine.

4. What weight of hydrate of potassium is formed by
the action of 10 grammes of metallic potassium upon
water ?

5. In what respect does the preparation of an infusion
differ from that of a decoction ? Mention any peculiarities
in . the methods of preparing infusum calumbse, infusum
chiratse, infusum cusparise, infusum cusso, infusum quassia3
and decoctum granati radicis.

BOTANY.

Describe a complete flower.

State what you know of the general structure and
functions of the leaf.

At the close of the Address —

The Chairman rose to convey to Dr. Langdon Down,
in the name of the meeting, their hearty thanks for the
address which he had just delivered. He felt that the
occasion was a special one, and that there was a difference
of which they ought to take cognizance, for the words of
wisdom and advice and sympathy which the address con¬
tained came from one who was outside their own body.
When they heard such words come from one who was an
eminent member of the medical profession, and from one
who, with the eye of a philosopher, could see clearly the
relation of parts to a whole, as Dr. Down saw it, they
felt, with a little more emphasis than if those words had
been presented by one of themselves, that their calling
was an important one. He was sure that the meeting
would join with him (the Chairman) in conveying their
hearty appreciation of the value of the address.

Mr. Sandford said that the Vice-President had re¬
quested him to second the vote of thanks, but it was-
entirely unnecessary for him to do so. He was sure that
they all felt greatly indebted to Dr. Langdon Down for
the admirable address which he had given them. He
had given them words of congratulation and encourage¬
ment, and he had added words of caution. He (Mr.
Sandford) hoped that these would sink deeply into their
minds, and that they would all be better for what they
had heard that night.

Dr. J. Langdon Down, in acknowledging the vote of
thanks, said that it was quite cheering to come again and
to meet so many friends of his early days. He might
tell the prizemen that the first scientific impulse which he
received was the prize handed to him at the table in that,
room.

On the motion of Mr. Taylor, a vote of thanks was
accorded to the Chairman. The Chairman made a brief
acknowledgment.

Comsponbmcc.

No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the w'itci'; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

H. Flux. — We do not know where you could get a set of
Modified examination questions that have been given re¬
cently. Neither do we think it probable that the Board of
Examiners would allow such an examination to be held
by a local secretary.

H. Nicholson. — A recipe for Chilli Paste will be found
in the Plxarm. Journ. for May 1 last, p. 887.

W. R. Kennath is thanked for his communication.

L. Pritchard. — The 14th section of the Weights and
Measures Act provides that — “ One sixteenth part of the
imperial standard pound [avoirdupois pound] shall be an
ounce, and one sixteenth part of such ounce shall be a
drachm, and one seven thousandth part of the imperial
standard pound shall be a grain.”

C. P. C. (who should have sent his name and address). —
Some information respecting luminous paint may be found
in the Journal for May 1st, p. 882.

“ Crinis.” — A solution of peroxide of hydrogen is said
to be used for the purpose.

“Xenophon.” — A solution of bimeconate of morphia may
be prepared as follows: — Bimeconate of Morphia, 10 grains;
Rectified Spirit, 1 fluid drachm, Distilled Water, 13 fluid

drachms.

" r-1 ‘ ~ — - - ■ 1 — ; _ _ _

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Conroy, Fletcher, Gall, Brown, Long, Darling,.
Thomson, Haydon, Street, Foster, Hill, Agnos, Spathula.,
Pharmacist.

f

j

ii

i

;|

:

1

October 16, 1SS0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

309

NOTES ON CHIAN TURPENTINE.

BY PROFESSOR FLUCKIGER.

This drug has recently been in much request, as
may be seen from the notes in this J ournal, vol. x.
(1880), pp. 955, 1026, and xi. (1880), p. 271, which
have been devoted to this turpentine.

It is not at all probable that a good and regular
supply of it could be obtained from Ciiio. The
island, on the whole, has never produced it largely,
as already stated in the ‘ Pharmacographia,’ 2nd
edition, p. 166.

Pistacia Terebinthus being distributed over a very
wide area, could well be laid under contribution
from other countries. The best plan would perhaps
be to go to Algeria. In the Algerian forests the
terebinth may be found very frequently, either
mixed with oaks and lentisks, or even in clumps in
small woods. The trees grow to the height of 50
feet and to more than 6 feet in circumference and
attain a very great age. I was surprised some time
ago to learn the following statements in regard lo
the turpentine, which L will translate literally from
the “Flore forestiere,” 3rd edition, 1877, p. 72,
written by a very competent observer, viz., Mr. A.
Mathieu, conservator of forests, and professor in the
French School of Forests at Nancy.

“ Tears of a white and very fragrant turpentine
exude from the bark of Pistacia Terebinthus : in
the hot season they are flowing out in such an
abundance that it becomes difficult sometimes to
enjoy the shade of the tree. The tears soon solidify.
The resin is then termed in Algeria ‘lek’ or ‘alk >
meaning lacker. It is very similar to the ‘ mastick ’
of Scio or Ciiio.”

A large terebinth tree will yield 7 to 14 ounces
annually.

Mathieu’s statement as to the rapid hardening of
this turpentine is quite in accordance with the
description given in the £ Pharmacographia.’ It may
fairlv be presumed that the Algerian resin is
identical with that originally collected in the island
of Ohio.

The authors of the £ Pharmacographia ’ are of the
opinion that another kind of terebinth, “ Pistacia
atlantica Desfontaines, growing to a large size all
over Northern Africa, is but a variety of Pistacia
Terebinthus, but Mathieu considers them to be
distinct trees. However this may be, he further says
that Pistacia atlantica also affords an abundance
of the same turpentine as the genuine Pistac a
Ter binthus. We may further suppose that the
supply of products under notice might be largely
increased by systematically puncturing the bark.

There is thus a possibility of procuring any
quantity of Ohio turpentine at a moderate rate, in
order to enable the medical profession to settle the
question as to the real merits ot this old drug,
which is singularly again claiming a position in the
modern materia medica.

CHIAN TURPENTINE.

BY PROFESSOR JOHN CLAY.

The following paragraphs are extracted from some
Notes on Chian Turpentine, by Professor Clay, published
in the Lancet for the 2nd instant : —

“ It is a matter for regret that the supply of the genuine
Chian turpentine has been so limited, as this has led to
the substitution of factitious drugs, the use of which, as
I have previously explained, unfavourably influences the

Third Series, No. 538.

results, besides entailing the further disadvantage of
preventing a thorough testing of this method of treating
cancer. I believe it is a fact that Chian turpentine, in
mass, can scarcely be procured in this country at the
present time, and therefore it is obvious that the treat¬
ment of the disease must be somewhat in abeyance until
a supply of the pure drug arrives from abroad. I hope
that the difficulty will soon be overcome, as I have been
making special efforts to obtain the pure turpentine direct
from Scio, and have had three excellent samples of the
genuine drug sent to me through the post from that
island ; a supply may therefore l>e expected shortly, when
the purity of the drug at least will be definitely deter¬
mined. The specimens referred to differ in some par¬
ticulars from the Chian turpentine which I have pre¬
viously described, and which had been in stock some years.
There are also samples of larch turjDentine in the market,
which slightly resemble the recently gathered genuine
drug. Jt may be of advantage therefore to the profession
to describe each, and to note their differences.

“ Specimen No. 1 is of a pale, amber colour, and almost
entirely free from impurities. It has the fragrant odour
peculiar to Chian turpentine well marked, which is
readily perceptible after rubbing a small portion between
the thumb and finger. It has a mild terebinthinate
taste, which rapidly disappears. On placing a small
portion of the drug on a piece of glass, and exposing it to
the atmosphere, it considerably thickens after a few days’
exposure.

“ Specimen. No. 2. This, obtained last year, is the drug
as collected. It contains a large quantity of foreign
matter, such as pieces of bark, sand, etc., all of which
give it a darker colour than the last mentioned specimen.
Two ounces of this crude product yielded, after straining,
upwards of half an ounce of impurities. 4 he strained
portion contained still a quan'ity of minute particles of
foreign substances. The taste and odour are the same as
in the specimen N o. 1.

“ Specimen No. 3 resembles soft glazier s putty, but is
somewhat whiter, and is of the same consistence. It is
Chian turpentine that has been well washed in water, to
free it from impurities. It has a mild ta-<te of turpentine,
and the peculiar odour is well marked. If a portion is
subjected to pressure between two pieces of glass, water
can be readily forced out of the mass.

« Three specimens have been submitted to me as genuine
Chian which were purely larch turpentine. They may, as
alleged, have been gathered in Cyprus. They have a strong
odour of pine wood, and are of a browner appearance
than the recent specimens just described. On tasting a
portion, it appeared tasteless for the first minute, after
which a strong bitter nauseous flavour became manifest,
eventually leaving a strong sickening sensation at the
back of the throat, which is slow to disappear. A
portion placed on glass, and exposed to the atmosphere
for four weeks showed no signs of thickening, and readily
adhered to the fingers.

ii The degree of solubility of the two kinds of turpentine,
in ether and alcohol, is not materially different from that
described in a former paper. The mild terebinthinate
taste of the pure drug, its peculiar odour, with its power
to solidify on exposure to the atmosphere, are characters
sufficient to distinguish it from any other turpentine

resin . •

“ It would appear to be not an easy matter to decide the

question of purity, for upwards of three hundred specimens
have been sent to me for examination by English and
foreign medical men, most of them being guaranteed by
the druggists supplying them, and it was a surprise to me
to find so few examples of the genuine article amongst
them. It will be as necessary now as before to
use extreme vigilance in this respect in expectation of
the new supply. In a large percentage of cases the
factitious turpentine only has been used in the treatment
of can< er. In one institution this was particularly s > ;
and after the genuine drug had been tried for about three

310

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 16, 1860.

weeks, the results of the two were combined, and a letter
forthwith appeared in the Times , alleging that the remedy
was useless. A similar instance occurred in an institution
in this town, where the impure drug was first used, and
then after a trial with the pure drug for about three
weeks, letters appeared in a medical journal declaring
that the remedy was of no benefit in the treatment of
cancer. It is plain that sufficient time has not been
allowed to elapse for the full effects of the remedy to be
manifested, as in these instances of condemnation it has
almost invariably been declared inoperative after a few
weeks’ trial only. Besides the unsatisfactory results
which have accrued from the use of the impure drug, the
full effects of the pure turpentine have not been gained in
some instances from the drug not having been entirely
digested. This has arisen occasionally from its incomplete
preparation for administration. In compounding the
mixture, freshly prepared mucilage of tragacanth, B.P.,
has not been used, and then it rapidly decomposes ; or
sufficient of the mucilage has not been employed, which
causes the resin to separate, and the doses of the medicine,
therefore, have been irregular and insufficient. It has
been shown in the Pharmaceutical Journal that acacia
powder might be advantageously substituted for the
tragacanth. It is necessary, therefore, to provide that a
sufficient quantity of either gum shall be used in the
preparation of the Ohio turpentine mixture. Where the
digestive powers are impaired, an addition of twenty
minims of the compound tincture of cinchona to each
dose has occasionally proved beneficial. The discon¬
tinuance of the sulphur has been advised, in order to
make the mixture more elegant and miscible. I believe,
however, that the mixture is more efficient, when it is
well tolerated, if prepared with the sulphur.

“ In reference to the pills, if they are not properly
prepared they are not always digested. If this is
discovered on examining the evacuations, the use of the
mixture in conjunction with the pills is indicated ; that
is, a dose of the mixture should be taken by the patient
night and morning, and two pills in the middle of the
day, in each case after food. It is advisable, when
commencing the treatment, to give only half doses of the
turpentine for the first week. Magnesia should not be
used as an excipient in the preparation of the pills, but
whether this exception ought to apply to the recently
collected drug future experiment will have to decide.
Pills prepared with magnesia are almost insoluble, and
the same remark applies to some coated ones. The pills
may be prepared sometimes with ether, to soften the
turpentine, or it may be made soft by immersing the
mortar in a hot-water bath, the sulphur being added to
the mass in its softened state. The latter mode appears
preferable, if only to facilitate the digestion of the pills,
as if any difficulty is met with in this way they may be
roughly powdered and taken in milk or some bland
liquid, and then they are generally digested.

“ The statements made in my original paper as to the
efficacy of Chian turpentine in cancer appear to me to be
fully confirmed by the additional experience gained in
the use of the remedy. In the cases previously reported
the cancer has disappeared, and there are no signs of its
return. This fact must be considered at least as a
complete refutation of the statements, recently and boldly
made, that Chian turpentine in the treatment of cancer
is useless. The cases just referred to are unique of their
kind, for, so far as I know, they are the only instances on
record of cancer being cured solely by the administration
of an internal remedy. I feel justified, therefore, in
stating that uterine cancer at least may be removed by
the use of Chian turpentine.”

THE PRESERVATION OF TOMATOES.

The following description of the process of canning
tomatoes occurs in a letter from Mr. Sharpies, of Boston,
Mass., published in the October number of The Analyst

“ The tomatoes are raised in the surrounding country
here — chiefly in Arlington and Belmont, which lie about
six or seven miles north-west of Boston. The kind pre¬
ferred at present are known as the Boston Market; these
are a smooth, compact tomato, weighing from 150 to 200
grams ; they are very solid, being well filled with meat
and very few seeds. These are brought in daily and
sold to the factories. At the factory they are emptied
a bushel at a time into a wire basket, and then scalded
by dipping into a tank of boiling water. They are then
removed to a large table, when they are sorted into firsts
and seconds only, the ripest being packed as firsts. They
are then measured out into pails holding about a peck
each, and passed on to the skinners who carefully skin
and core them. They are then ready for packing. The
cans are filled by hand, the tomatoes being packed as
closely as possible into the can. It is found at this stage
of the operation that the juice is present in excess and a
considerable portion of it is thrown away. No water is
ever used, as the tomatoes furnish more than enough.*
After the cans are filled to within an eighth of an inch of
the top, the lid is placed upon them and soldered fast.
A small hole is then punched in it, and the cans are
placed in a hot bath until steam issues from the hole ;
they are then removed from the bath and allowed to cool
slightly and sealed; they are then returned to another
bath in which they are boiled from thirty to forty-five
minutes ; from this bath they are removed to a cooling
room. Next morning, when cooled, they are stacked.
At the end of the packing season the cans are examined,
and those which have spoiled are rejected. The con¬
dition of a can can almost always be told from an
examination of the outside. A can in good order has
the ends concave. If, on the other hand, the ends are
convex, it is almost certain that the can is spoiled.”

CHINESE WHITE WAX.+

From an article in the British Mail on the white wax
industry of China, it seems that the average annual
value of this peculiar crop amounts to about £650,000.
From Hankow alone upwards of £81,000 worth of this
wax was exported in 1879. The Chinese white wax is a
deposit found on twigs of Ligustrum lucidum, and caused
by the puncture of an insect. It is said that in Keenchang
district the plant thrives in great abundance, and in the
spring of the year the twigs are covered with countless
swarms of flies having the appearance of a brown film.
The branches soon became covered with a white soap¬
like incrustation, which increases in volume till the com¬
mencement of the fall of the year, when the sprays are
cut off and immersed in water which is kept boiling.
“ The viscid substance rises to the surface, and is skimmed
off, melted, and allowed to cool in deep pans. It was
accidentally discovered, that by transporting the insects
from their native districts to the more vigorous one of
Keating-fu, in the north of the province, their power of
discharging wax was largely augmented — a property
which was promptly and extensively availed of by the
Sze-chuen traders. The period between evening and
morning is chosen for conveyance, because many hours of
sunlight would precipitate the hatching. This should
take place only after the females have been attached to
the trees. Arrived at their destination, six or more of
the mothers — which are enormously prolific — are tied,
wrapped in a palm leaf, to a branch of the ligustrum.
A few days later the young flies are swarming on the
twigs, where they fulfil their mission by the month of
August ; then they perish in the cauldrons, where the
results are immediately collected. It is stated that this
peculiar industry requires the exercise of great care and
forethought.”

* A perfectly ripe tomato, skinned and cored, weighed
127'5 grams. On drying it left a residue weighing only 7
grams, or 5 '49 per cent, of the original weight.

t From the Gardeners' Chronicle , October 2, 1380.

October 16, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

311

Cjxc |)jrarnramtfkal foitrmil.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , boohs for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square. .

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary , 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. J ourn .”

PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION.

In speaking last week of the decision arrived at
almost unanimously by the Council to continue the
maintenance of the School of Pharmacy established
by the Society in 1843, we confined our remarks
chiefly to a consideration of the arguments put
forward in support of the idea that there is no
longer any need for the Society to carry on its direct
educational work, and though we could not avoid
the conclusion that those arguments were in them¬
selves insufficient to warrant the adoption of the
course proposed by Mr. Hampson, it is at least
evident, from some of the remarks which fell
from several members of the Council in dis¬
cussing Mr. Hampson s motion, that the question
raised by him has not been finally disposed of.
Reverting also to previous action of the Council in
regard to pharmaceutical education, and especially
to the Society’s School, we must infer that it points
in the same direction as the remarks referrred to
above as having been made at the last meeting of
the Council. The motion brought forward by Mr.
Schacht, last June, to appoint a special committee to
inquire into and consider the general question of the
relation of pharmaceutical education and the pharma¬
ceutical examinations, as well as the appointment
at the same time of another special committee to
consider the condition of the Society s School, are
circumstances which show, as we then took occasion
to remark, that something is felt to be wanting, and
the proposal of new arrangements by the professors
is even more conclusive evidence that this is the case.

We may perhaps take Mr. Hampson’s withdrawal
of the motion brought forward by him at the last
meeting of Council as practically indicating his
acquiescence in the generally expressed opinion that
it is at present inexpedient to discontinue the
Society’s School, and as manifesting his concurrence
in the view that it is desirable to improve that
School by the adoption of such measures as would
make it more efficient and still more prosperous
than it has been. When Mr. Schacht’s Committee
enters upon its work, it may be expected that the
mode in which this is to be attempted will be
pointed out, and definite remedies suggested for the
wants that may be found to exist. Meanwhile some
estimate may be formed of the necessities of the case

by a consideration of the reports made to the Privy
Council by the Government visitors of the examina¬
tions held in London and Edinburgh during the
last three years. These reports were submitted
to the Council last week, and they are published
in the present number of the J ournal.

The most prominent fact revealed by these reports
is the very large proportion of failures among the
candidates who present themselves for examination.
From one-third to one-half of the number are re¬
jected, and, as Dr. Maclagan points out, this is a
proportion above what is observed in the practice of
most examining boards. From this fact alone we
may infer that there is a very great deficiency in the
existing system of pharmaceutical education, and
that the opportunities afforded for acquiring a know¬
ledge of the subjects in which aspirants for legal
qualification to carry on business have to be ex¬
amined are far from being sufficient. As regards the
instruction to be obtained by apprentices while en¬
gaged in that capacity, Dr. Maclagan is of opinion
that their masters do not generally take that amount
of interest in the youths who are supposed to be
under their tuition which they ought to take with the
object of leading them to appreciate more correctly
the serious nature of the career they are intending to
enter upon. He dwells upon this omission as being
one of the main causes of the failures among candi¬
dates for examination, and urges that if masters
find it impossible to give more attention to the
instruction of their apprentices and assistants, that
circumstance would be a strong argument in favour
of requiring all aspirants for the pharmaceutical
profession to pass through a fixed curriculum of
instruction in recognized schools.

Even in the special subject of practical pharmacy
there are indications that the education obtained by
apprentices and assistants is very imperfect owing
to the common practice of obtaining such pharma¬
ceutical preparations as extracts, tinctures, etc., from
wholesale houses instead of making them. So far
as the examinations in Edinburgh illustrate this
point it appears that the number of failures in phar¬
macy come next in order to those in botany and are
rather in excess of the failures in chemistry. The
subjects in which there are least failures are pre¬
scription reading, materia medica and dispensing,
and this is so far satisfactory that it shows the can¬
didates may generally be trusted to dispense drugs
without risk to the public, although it does not give
evidence of such a high standard of knowledge as
might be desired in a thoroughly well educated
pharmacist.

If we examine the statistics of the examinations
it will be seen that the candidates are chiefly
deficient in the strictly scientific subjects, a know¬
ledge of which is calculated to raise the pharmacist
from the grade of a mere tradesman to that of a
professional man. Thus, for instance, botany is
the subject in which failures are most numerous.

312

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 16, 1SS0.

In chemistry, which may be regarded as the chief
foundation of a successful career as a pharmacist,
we are told that there is a marked deficiency in the
candidates’ acquaintance with general principles,
though there may be some knowledge of chemical
facts apparently learnt by rote. Still it is satis¬
factory to learn that there are signs of considerable
improvement in the chemical knowledge of the
mass of candidates, and perhaps we may not be
unreasonable in believing that if there were greater
facilities for obtaining sound practical instruction in
chemistry the percentage of failures in the examina¬
tions would be less.

Altogether the results of the examinations tend
to support the opinion expressed by Mr. Symes at
the last Council meeting that the Pharmaceutical
Society should take even a greater part in education
than it has hitherto done, not only by maintaining
an efficient central school, but also by supporting pro¬
vincial schools or offering inducements for students
to devote greater attention to scientific subjects.

The results of the examinations for the qualifica¬
tion of pharmaceutical chemist reported upon by
Dr. Greenhow serve to show very plainly that not¬
withstanding the disposition to seek this distinction
there is no proportionate indication of the requisite
scientific proficiency on the part of candidates. Thus
for instance, in 1879 no less than 54 candidates out
of 126 failed to pass. Among these, 20 failed in
the practical chemical work to be done in the labo¬
ratory and 12 more in the viva voce examination in
chemistry, so that more than one-half of the failures
in this examination were in that subject in which
especial proficiency is intended to form the distin¬
guishing characteristic between those who have
passed the Major and those who have passed only
the Minor examination.

With these facts before us it is evident that there
is need for strenuous efforts to be made with the
view of impressing upon the young men who intend
to seek their living by the practice of pharmacy the
imperative necessity of devoting greater attention to
acquiring a practical knowledge of chemistry. For
that purpose it is not sufficient merely to study
books or to attend lectures. Practical work in
a well directed laboratory is the only means by
which the requisite proficiency can be gained,
and a certain amount of time must be devoted to
this work after the period of apprenticeship has
been passed. For the model upon which pro¬
vision should be made for pharmaceutical students
in this respect it is but reasonable that we should
look to the well appointed laboratory of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society. If there be any reason for the
representations hinted at by some of the speakers
at the last Council meeting that the education there
given is imperfect or wanting in any respect, such a
fact would be grievously detrimental to the best
interests of pharmacy, for any such imperfections
would assuredly be magnified in other schools that

have not the prestige and advantage of the Society’s
support and control.

In past times so much interest has been taken in
the Society’s School by many leading men connected
with pharmacy that the maintenance of its character
as the most efficient means for the advancement of
pharmacy should be regarded as a debt we owe to
their memory, and no effort should be wanting to
prevent the possibility of even a rumour that the
School was gradually dwindling away or a suspicion
that it was in any respect less efficient than it might
be. Let us hope, therefore, that the discussion of
its merits and of the propriety of its continued
existence which has taken place, perhaps somewhat
inopportunely at the commencement of a session,
may be succeeded by such conclusive evidence of
good work as will satisfy its opponents and en¬
courage its supporters.

THE AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION.

The twenty-eighth annual meeting of the Ameri¬
can Pharmaceutical Association was held at Saratoga
Springs, N.Y., commencing on Tuesday, September
14, and concluding on Friday the 18th. The members
assembled in the ball-room of the Congress Hall and
the meeting is described in the Druggists' Circular
as having been “the most brilliant gathering that
ever graced such an occasion.”

The first session, as is customary with this Asso¬
ciation, was called to order by the President of the
past year, Mr. G. W. Sloan, who delivered an
Address which had for one of its topics the
gradual extinction of native medicinal plants that
is going on in the United States, especially through
the destruction of forests. At the next session the
executive for the coming year was elected, the new
President being Mr. James J. Shinn, of Phil¬
adelphia.

The Report of the Executive Committee stated
that there were at that time 1152 members on the
roll, and subsequently 141 new members were
elected, being a considerable excess over the losses
during the year. The Treasurer’s Report also showed
some improvement in the fijancial position.

Notwithstanding that the proceedings lasted
four days only a small number of scientific papers
appear to have been read, a great part of the time
having been taken up with the discussion of
the bye-laws, the reception of reports of com¬
mittees and other similar business. One im¬
portant alteration in the bye-laws that will come
into force at the next meeting commits the first con¬
sideration of all business matters to a “council,” and
this will prevent a great waste of the time of the
general meetings on trivial affairs. There was also an
exhibition of articles of interest to pharmacists held
in connection with the meeting. Before adjourning
it was agreed that the next meeting should be held
in Kansas City, to commence on August 23, 1881.

THE CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

This useful Association commenced its fourth
session on Thursday in the present week, the open¬
ing address being delivered by the President, Mr.
F. W. Branson. Thursday evening next the 21st
inst. , is to be devoted to a Social Meeting. The
programme issued contains a list of papers on in¬
teresting subjects that are promised for reading
during the coming session.

October 16, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

313

Cransariimrs oi % ^Ibarmareulkal

£>othtv.

Reports of the Government Visitors.

The following are the reports to the Privy Council
from the Government Visitors to the Examinations which
were brought under the notice of the Council at its
meeting last week : —

Dr. Greenhow’s Report of the Examinations held by the
London Board of Examiners of the Pharmaceutical
Society during the year 1878.

No change has been made in the mode of conducting
the examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society during
the last four years ; neither, indeed, is any change at
present desirable, the examinations as at present con¬
ducted affording a sufficient guarantee of the fitness of
the successful candidates to be registered under the
Pharmacy Act, 1868, and to keep open shop for the
retailing, dispensing and compounding of medicines.

The Preliminary examination in English, Latin and
Arithmetic continues to be conducted by the College of
Preceptors, under the direction of the Board of Examiners,
an arrangement which secures a fair, uniform and suffi¬
ciently rigid examination. I have already, on several
occasions, commented upon the unsatisfactory results of
this examination, as showing the imperfect character of
the elementary education amongst the candidates who
present themselves for it. The same remark applies to
last year, for out of 1130 candidates who offered them¬
selves for the examination only 538 passed, whilst 592,
or 52*4 per cent., failed. The proportion of failures in
1878 was thus much larger than it had been in the years
1876 and 1877, when it was 42*41 and 46*72 per cent,
respectively, but about the same as in 1874 and 1875, in
the former of which years it was 52 T 8, and in the latter
51*81 per cent.

Only 77 candidates presented themselves for the Major
qualification during last year, 49 of whom passed and 28
failed, being in the proportion of 36*36 per cent. The
failures were therefore proportionately less numerous than
they had been in 1877, when, out of 94 candidates who
were examined, only 50 passed, and 44, or 46*8 per cent.,
failed, but did not differ very widely from that in each
of the years 1875 and 1876, in the former of which the
failures were at the rate of 36*11, and in the latter of
37*75 per cent.

All the candidates who come up for this examination
having previously passed the Minor examination, and
been registered as chemists and druggists, the examina¬
tion, as I have said in previous reports, must be regarded
as one for honours, and it is quite reasonable that a higher
amount of scientific knowledge should be required from
the candidates than from those for the Minor qualification.

During the year 1878, 528 candidates were examined
for the Minor qualification, 257 of whom passed and 271
or 51*33 per cent, failed, being a larger proportion than
had failed in 1877, when it amounted to 48*19 per cent,,
and nearly the same as in each of the years 1875 and
1876, in the former of which 52*9 and in the latter 51*15 per
cent, failed. A large proportion of the failures last year was
due to the weakness of the candidates in chemistry ; 98
having failed in that subject by itself and 22 in conjunction
with either materia medica or botany; these being the three
most important scientific branches of the examination.

Only 25 candidates came up for the Modified exami¬
nation during last year, 11 of whom passed and 14 failed
to satisfy the examiners.

In conclusion, I have only to add that the examinations
were conducted, on the one hand, with fairness, impar¬
tiality, and a due consideration for the position and
feelings of the candidates, and, on the other hand, with
sufficient strictness to afford a satisfactory proof of the
competency of the successful candidates to be admitted
to registration under the Pharmacy Act, 1868.

Dr. Greenhorn’s Report upon the Examinations held by the
London Board of Examiners of the Pharmaceutical
Society during the year 1879.

I have again no change to report in the mode of con¬
ducting the examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society,
neither hap any alteration been made during last year as
regards the regulations for candidates.

The Preliminary examination continues to be con¬
ducted by the College of Preceptors, under the direction
of the Board of Examiners, and the results of this ex¬
amination last year did not materially differ from those I
have had to report on former occasions. The large num¬
ber of 1474 candidates presented themselves for this
examination during the year, of whom 783 passed and
691 were rejected; the percentage of rejections was
therefore 46*88, being somewhat less than in the pre¬
ceding year, but almost identically the same as was the
case in the years 1876 and 1877.

A small number of the candidates (39) who gained
the minimum passing number of marks in each of the
subjects comprised in this examination failed to pass
because they did not obtain four- tenths of the number of
marks allotted to the examination in the aggregate; 117
candidates failed in all the subjects of the examination,
namely English, Arithmetic and Latin; 116 failed in
English, 249 in Arithmetic, or in Arithmetic and Eng¬
lish conjointly, and 170 in Latin, or in Latin conjointly
with either Arithmetic or English. It is scarcely neces¬
sary to repeat, what I have said on former occasions,
that these results manifest a lamentable deficiency of
elementary education in a large proportion of these candi¬
dates. No doubt most of the rejected candidates will
present themselves again, and perhaps eventually pass ;
but no subsequent study, even though it may enable
them to pass the examination, can supply the absence of
that sound elementary education which they have missed
in early life.

The Board of Examiners held twenty-five meetings for
conducting the technical examinations during last year.
The number of candidates who presented themselves for
the Major qualification, that of pharmaceutical chemist,
was 126, of whom 72 passed and 54 failed ; the rejections
therefore amounted to 42*86 per cent., being a larger
proportion than that of the preceding year, and some¬
what less than that of the year 1 §77- In this exami¬
nation, again, 7 candidates were so weak that they
failed to obtain the aggregate number of marks, namely,
four- tenths, required for passing, although they had each
of them obtained the minimum passing number of marks
in each of the separate subjects included in the examina¬
tion, Of the remainder, 20 failed in the practical chemical
work done in the laboratory, and 12 more in the viva voce
examination in chemistry. Thus more than one half of
the failures in this examination were in that subject
especial proficiency in which is intended to form the
distinguishing characteristic between those persons who
have passed the Major and those who have passed only
the Minor examination.

During the year 1879, 525 candidates for the Minor
qualification were examined, 268 of whom passed, and
257 were rejected ; the rejections were therefore at the
rate of 48*95 per cent. This proportion is slightly lower
than that of the previous year, or of either of the years
1875 and 1876, but rather higher than that of 1877; upon
the whole, however, the fluctuations in the annual pro¬
portion of rejections have been only small ; for, taking
the last five years together, the failures in this examina¬
tion have been at the rate of 50*34 per cent. The failures
last year were so generally distributed among the several
subjects of the examination that it would serve no good
purpose to quote them in detail.

A few candidates continue to come up annually for the
Modified examination ; they amounted to only 23 in the
year 1879, 14 of whom passed and 9 failed.

In conclusion, I am of opinion that, as at present
conducted, the examinations of the Pharmaceutical

314

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 16, 1SS0.

Society, held in London, offer a sufficient guarantee that
those persons who have passed them are competent to be
registered under the Pharmacy Act, 1868.

(Signed) E. Headlam Gkeenhow, M.D.

Dr. Maclagan's Deport on Pharmaceutical Examinations

in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh, June

I have for two years, by circumstances which I need
not detail, been prevented from giving in a formal report
on these examinations, and my present remarks thus
embrace a period of three years. I was present at all the
examinations held in Edinburgh during this time except
on the following occasions, July 11, 1877, October 16 and
17, 1877, December 20, 1877, July 25, 1878, July 23 and
24, 1879, October 29 and 30, 1879, and December 17,
1879.

The number of candidates examined during these
three years was as follows : —

Passed. Failed. Total.

Major Examinations . . 10 6 16

Minor Examinations . . 209 127 336

Modified Examinations .8 8 16

368

These numbers suggest the following remarks : —

(1). That in all the examinations there is evidence
from the large number of rejections that there is at all
events no undue leniency on the part of the examiners.
In every class of candidates the proportion of rejections
is large. Viewed as percentages the failures are
Majors . . 37 ‘5 per cent.

Minors . . 37*8 „

Modified . . 50' „

As I have remarked in former reports the Majors and
Modifieds are too few to enable me to generalize on
them, and the Minors must be taken as the real founda¬
tion of any remarks which I have to make.

It • appears, therefore, that more than one-third of the
candidates failed. This is a proportion above what we
observe in the practice of most examining boards. It is
in one sense satisfactory because it shows that the
examiners are stringent in the performance of their duty.
In an other, it is unsatisfactory, because it shows that a
great many young men present themselves as candidates
for admission to the profession of pharmacy with totally
inadequate ideas as to what is to be required of them, and
with apparent forgetfulness of the fact that by passing
this examination they are to get entrance to what is under¬
stood to be a scientific profession, not merely to get
permission to follow a particular trade. Seeing that
young men are, in their ideas on professional subjects,
much influenced, or at least ought to be influenced, by
the advice of those who are their professional seniors, it
appears to me to be. the necessary but lamentable
conclusion, that many of the pharmacists of Great Britain
do not take that amount of interest in the youths who are
under their tuition which they ought to take, and which
would lead their juniors to estimate more correctly the
seriousness of the undertaking to enter the pharmaceutical
profession. I would take this opportunity of urging
upon all those who have young men as apprentices or
assistants, that it is an unkind thing to use them as aids
in carrying on their own business, and not at the same
time to do all the}7 can to make the young men properly
fit themselves for a line of life which is a profession as
well as a business. Although I do not forget that the num¬
ber of failures before any examining board is liable to
fluctuations, I am led to make these remarks because the
experience of the Board which I have the pleasure of
supervising shows that the number of failures has not
been lessened by either the precepts contained in reports
or by the example of facts brought out by actual returns,
that on the contrary the proportion of failures so far as
the experience of these three years goes is rather
increasing than diminishing. Taking the Minors as an

example, the percentage of failures during the last three
years has been : —

1877 . 25*5 per cent.

1878 . 39'6 per cent.

1879 . 45 per cent.

I trust that if these facts come under the notice of any
pharmacists who have young men under them, they will
think more seriously than they may have done of their
responsibility, and may not merely utilize, but help to
educate their subordinates.

If it be the case that masters, with the best desires for
their juniors, find it impossible to do this consistently
with due attention to their business, we have a very
strong argument in favour of requiring all aspirants to
the pharmaceutical profession to go through a fixed
curriculum of instruction in recognized schools. It will
be useful, not merely as a contribution to examination
statistics, but as a guide to any conscientious master or
teacher who may be disposed to listen to the hints
reluctantly given above, to see what are the special
causes of the rejection of the candidates who have failed,
irrespective of those who have been remitted for general
deficiency. The following indicate the subjects in which
actual failure to come up to the pass value occurred, two
of them sometimes referring to the same individual : —

Botany . . 47

Pharmacy . 36

Chemistry . 35

Dispensing . 24

Materia Medica . 10

Prescription Reading . 3

These numbers show that it is in the strictly scientific
branches that there is most deficiency. 'J hese are the
very branches the knowledge of which raises the
pharmacist from the grade of tradesman to that of pro¬
fessional man.

Botany, as usual, is pre-eminent in this respect. My
observation is to the effect, that not a few of the can¬
didates have a sort of empirical power of naming
medicinal plants, shown to them as herbarium specimens,
while they are very loose in their ideas of vegetable
organography, and totally at sea in the matter of vege¬
table physiology.

It appears to me, therefore, that there is much room
for improvement in the botanical education of candidates.
The same remarks, mutatis mutandis , apply to chemistry.

There is in many of the candidates a knowledge of
chemical facts, apparently learned by rote, but a want
of grounding in chemical principles, and, in many cases,
great ignorance of chemical physics.

I must, however, allow that although candidates occa¬
sionally present themselves whose ignorance of chemistry
is absolute, there is considerable improvement in regard
to chemistry in the mass of candidates.

Perhaps there is a growing feeling that chemistry has
a direct practical bearing upon their daily professional
work, and this feeling ought, by all means, to be en¬
couraged ; but it ought to be impressed upon the minds of
pharmaceutical students that the object of admitting them
to these examinations is not merely to see whether or not
they may be trusted to dispense drugs to the public, but,
by raising the standard of knowledge in individuals,
to elevate the profession of the pharmacist ; and, there¬
fore, that they should be warned, more and more, that
they ought to pay increased attention, not only to
chemistry, but to botany, which they will be apt to
consider less important to them practically.

It is, however, unpleasant to know that among the
special causes of rejection, pharmacy stands as high as
chemistry. It is not easy to understand how this should
be, if candidates only take the trouble at their leisure
moments to make themselves familiar with the physical
properties of the preparations which they are constantly
dispensing. It is remarkable that this does not apply so
much to materia medica, many of the specimens of
which can be studied chiefly in museums. Is it that

October 16, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

315

familiarity with ordinary pharmaceutical preparations
breeds contempt for a careful study of them?

I do not attach much importance to the mere exercise
of memory, involved in stating, for instance, what pro¬
portions of drug and spirit are ordered in the Pharmaco¬
poeia to be used in preparing a tincture, though this
should be known ; but I have in several instances
observed that candidates had little knowledge of the
mode in which some of the common preparations are
made and have heard them plead in excuse that their
employers buy their tinctures, etc., from wholesale
houses and do not prepare them for themselves. It
is, of course, obvious with regard to chemical and
galenical preparations, which can be made successfully
only on the large scale, that this system of purchase is
unavoidable ; but, with regard to many preparations,
such as tinctures, which can be made as economically
and successfully on the small as on the large scale,
employers of candidates ought to give them every
possible opportunity of doing these under the master’s
superintendence, and thus of fixing these pharmaceutical
operations in the candidates’ minds.

I wish it to be understood, that in making these
observations, I repudiate any intention of accusing the
pharmaceutical profession generally of indifference as to
the tuition of their assistants and apprentices. .

My remarks are suggested only by the failures, with
which alone I am at present dealing, and take no note of
the many successful candidates, who must have had all
the benefits which a considerate master’s instructions can
confer upon them.

I have little to say as to the other departments in
which failures have occurred. I think that, setting aside
a few flagrant exceptions of almost total ignorance of
chemistry, most of the candidates make a better appear¬
ance in this department than formerly. The experience
of these three years confirms me in the belief, that the
conjunction of the theoretical chemical examination with
the practical testing in the laboratory works well.

Several useful additions to the apparatus in the. labora¬
tory here have tended to make the practical examinations
more satisfactory.

I must, before concluding, repeat a formerly expressed
opinion of mine that the omission to call in the aid of the
microscope in testing candidates, especially Majors, is a
defect in these examinations. I am led to understand
that this suggestion when formerly made by me was
unfavourably received in London. It is of importance
that the examinations in London and Edinburgh should
be as nearly as possible alike, and it would therefore not
do to bring the microscope into use at the Edinburgh
Board if that of London objected to it. I confess, how¬
ever, that I cannot see any good reason for thus ignoring
a means of research which is appealed to in several
instances in the British Pharmacopoeia, and for debarring
the examiners in botany from ascertaining whether the
candidates have any real acquaintance with vegetable
histology, without which their knowledge of botany can
hardly be said to be scientific.

I would earnestly desire that, after due intimation, the
appearances under the microscope of drugs and vegetable
structures were made a part of the examination of the
Majors, and in due time of the Minors also.

(Signed) Douglas Maclagan.

^pharmaceutical jSocictn of Irclautr.

ANNUAL MEETING, 1880.

The fifth annual meeting of the Society was held on
October 4, at the Royal College of Physicians, Dublin,
at 4 o’clock. The following members attended: —
Professor Tichborne, President ; Messrs. Allen, Batt,
Bennett, Brunker, Conyngham, Galwey, Goodwin,
Grindley, Hayes, Holmes, Hodgson, Park, Payne,

Oldham, Simpson, W. F. Wells, jun., J. Wells and
Yance.

The President having appointed Messrs. Simpson, W.
F. Wells, jun., and Allen as scrutineers of the voting
papers,

Mr. J. Wells asked the President the meaning of the
regulation on page 55 of the Calendar as to persons
being engaged in compounding and dispensing for at least
two years, whether it necessitated attendance during the
whole working day or only any part, and as to ' the
legality of a certificate given to a person who had only
served a part of the day.

Mr. Hodgson did not think any gentleman holding the
qualification of the Society would be guilty of so gross an
act as to give such a certificate.

The President said they could hardly take upon them¬
selves to dictate to any chemist how long each day he
should keep his shop open or his assistants working.

After some further conversation the matter dropped.

The Treasurer then laid before the meeting his annual
statement, audited by Messrs. Hayes and Oldham,
showing a cash balance in favour of the Society of £138
18s. Id. and funded in 3 per cent, stock £296 5s. 11(2.

On the motion of Mr. Brunker, seconded by Mr.
Grindley, the Treasurer’s account was passed.

The Scrutineers having brought in their report, the
President announced the result. Sixty-one papers were
received, one only was rejected, being unsigned. The
following were the numbers of votes obtained by each
candidate : —

Professor Tichborne, 59 votes.

John Goodwin, 46 votes.

William N. Allen, 46 votes.

William Hayes, 44 votes.

Stanley Oldham, 43 votes.

Alexander Doran, 41 votes.

G. H. Grindley, 40 votes.

John George Boileau, 29 votes.

William Whitla, M.D., 14 votes.

W. F. Wells, 1 vote.

The first seven were declared elected. Mr. W. F.
Wells was not a candidate.

The election of officers was then proceeded with.

Charles R. C. Tichborne, LL.D., Ph.D., was re-elected
President on motion of Mr. E. M. Hodgson, seconded
by Mr. Hayes.

Aquilla Smith, M.D., was re-elected Vice-President
on motion of Mr. Brunker, seconded by Mr. Oldham.

Mr. E. M. Hodgson was re-elected Treasurer on
the motion of Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Oldham.

Mr. Hugh J. Fennell was re-elected Registrar on
the motion of Mr. Oldham, seconded by Mr. Brunker.

Messrs. Hayes and Oldham were re-elected Auditors
on the motion of Mr. J. T. Holmes, seconded by Mr.
James Vance.

On the motion of Mr. Brunker, seconded by Mr.
Simpson, the following gentlemen were elected upon the
Law Committee: — Messrs. Collins, Brunker, Oldham,
Hayes, Allen, Payne and Whittaker.

On the motion of Mr. Brunker, seconded by Mr.
Goodwin, the present Examiners were re-elected.

The consideration of the notices of motion was then
proceeded with, the first by Mr. Allen being as
follows : —

“ That in the opinion of this meeting it is not desirable
that any person who is engaged in preparing students
for the Examination of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Ireland should be appointed an Examiner of the
Society.”

The President remarked that he had had some doubt
as to whether he should receive the notice of motion
given by Mr. Allen, as he considered that it related to
the appointment of Examiners, a matter with which the
Council alone had to do, and that it was not for members
to dictate to that body ; at the same time he approved of
the intention of the motion, but asked Mr. Allen to

316

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 16, 1880.

withdraw it with the view of bringing the matter before
the Conncil.

Mr. Allen, in reply, stated that in deference to the
President’s suggestion, he would withdraw his motion
with the permission of the meeting ; at the same time,
while disclaiming any attempt to dictate to the Council,
he thought that the annual meeting was one at which
the members had their only opportunity of ventilating
any matters or making suggestions. He instanced the
case which induced him to give notice of his motion,
which was that of a gentleman who had some intention
of seeking for the post of examiner, and if appointed,
had in contemplation to add to his income by instructing
pupils.

Considerable conversation of a desultory character
ensued, and finally the motion was withdrawn.

Mr. W. F. Wells, jun., then read his motion, as
follows : —

“ That in future a full report of Council or other
meetings of this Society be sent to the Pharmaceu¬
tical and Chemist and Druggist Journals, immediately
after each meeting, for publication.”

He said there had been great irregularity during the past
year in publishing reports of the meetings of Council ;
four times there was no report of the proceedings, and
frequently it was not until the following month after the
meeting that the notice was inserted in the Pharmaceu¬
tical Journal. Many members had informed him that
they did not care to subscribe to a Society of which they
knew so little, and he thought there was a loss on that
ground, as many who had not joined would do so did
they see what action the Council was taking. He com¬
plained that the accuracy of the reports was not what it
should be, and said the report of the last annual meeting
did not correctly represent what occurred upon that
occasion, and also called attention that there was no
report of the Council meeting in September, when a
letter was received from the Privy Council approving of
certain regulations affecting the annual election, and
which he considered should have been made known to
them.

The President admitted that there had been irregu¬
larity, but hoped in future to have more regular
insertions of the proceedings, and explained that at
some of the meetings no business of importance was
transacted, and no report issued. He quite agreed with
Mr. Wells that the meetings ought to be properly
reported, and suggested that the motion should be
withdrawn, and promised that in future the reports
would be more regular.

Mr. Fennell (Registrar) then stated that it was no
part of his duty to furnish such reports, and that he
would undertake no longer to supply them, and was
proceeding to read a statement to the meeting, when

Mr. Park objected to Mr. Fennell being heard; there
was no accusation against Mr. Fennell.

After Mr. Holmes and Mr. Brunker had made a few
remarks,

Mr. Wells asked why the reports were discontinued in
the Chemist and Druggist.

It was explained that owing to some reports being-
omitted, and others sent late for publication, that the
editor did not care to continue inserting them.

Mr. Allen read a letter which he had received from
the editor of the Chemist and Druggist, in which he
stated that the reports were so obviously prepared for
publication, and so carefully deprived of all general
interest that he did not care to insert them, but was
willing to publish proper reports of the Society’s pro¬
ceedings if supplied to him.

The meeting then adjourned.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

October 6, 1880.

Present, Professor Tichborne, President ; Aquilla Smith,

M.D., Vice-President ; Sir G. B. Owens, M.D. ; Messrs.
Allen, Bennett, Brunker, Collins, Goodwin, Grindley,
Hayes, Oldham, Payne and Simpson.

The minutes of the meeting of September 1 having
been read and signed.

A letter from the Editor of the Chemists' Journal was
read and considered. The Registrar was directed to
forward a Calendar and acknowledge his letter.

Read a letter from Mr. Robert Barklie, F.C.S., of
Belfast, requesting information as to why his school had
not been sanctioned by the Privy Council, and asking the
Council to accept his certificate for the present.session.

The Registrar was directed to inform Mr. Barklie that
the Council have already taken steps towards having the
matter arranged.

Messrs. Bring, Payne and Whittaker, of Belfast, were
appointed to visit the school and report to the Council.

A request from Mr. Bacon of Londonderry for a new
certificate in lieu of one which was torn in transit through
the post. The Registrar to inform him that a new one
would be sent upon the Council receiving the damaged
certificate.

Mr. Edwards Daniel Elmes, Carrickmacross, having
been proposed by Mr. Oldham and seconded by Mr.
Holmes, was elected a member of the Society.

The report of the Preliminary examination was handed
in by Dr. Collins, which showed that twelve were
examined, ten of whom passed, two being rejected.

On the motion of Sir G. B. Owens, seconded by Dr.
Aquilla Smith : —

“ That the necessary advertisements be inserted this
month in the General Advertiser for the election of
new Examiners.”

After a division the motion passed.

A copy of ‘ Materia Medica and Pharmacy,’ Handsell
Griffiths’s, edited by Geo. F. Duffey, Esq., M.D. Dublin,
was presented to the Library by the Editor.

It was proposed by Mr. G. H. Grindley and seconded
by Mr. Goodwin : —

“ That the thanks of the Council be conveyed to Geo.
F. Duffey, Esq., M.D., for the volume.”

The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting then adjourned.

The examination for the licence of pharmaceutical
chemists had not concluded when the Council rose.

Jrobinchil Exms admits*

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the thirty-first session was held
at the Royal Institution on Thursday evening, September
30, the President, Dr. Charles Symes, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed, and several donations of books and periodicals
announced.

Messrs. F. Burd and W. P. Evans were elected

members.

The Honorary Secretary (Mr. Michael Conroy, F.C.S.)
then read the annual report of the Council as follows : —

Annual Report.

“ In presenting the thirty-first annual report of the
procedings of the Association, your Council has pleasure
in congratulating you upon its continued prosperity.

“During the session the list of members has been
thoroughly revised. Three members and 9 associates
have been elected ; 3 members and 2 associates have
resigned, leaving the number at present on the list 163,
comprising 19 honorary members, 113 members, and 31
associates.

“The retirement of Mr. John Abraham from your
Council owing to failing health was the cause of a
unanimous expression of regret. Mr. Abraham had 1
been a member of your Council from the foundation
of the Association, and was for four sessions a very able

October 16, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

317

President. Our library and museum give evidence of
the substantial help afforded by him to the Association ;
and in electing him an honorary member, your Council
hope he may be spared many years to continue his
interest in its proceedings.

“Mr. George Webb Sandford, late President of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, has also been
elected an honorary member, in recognition of his
unwearied exertions to improve the legal status of phar¬
macists.

“Your Council regret that death has removed one of
our most valued and esteemed honorary members, Mr.
W. W. Stoddart, F.I.C., F.C.S., etc. He was elected in
1870, shortly after the visit of the British Pharmaceutical
Conference to Liverpool. The ability and courtesy with
which he conducted its proceedings on that occasion
materially assisted in making it one of the most
successful meetings of that body. His untiring efforts
to advance chemical, pharmaceutical, and general
scientific research are well known. The loss thus
sustained has been duly acknowledged in a letter of
condolence to his widow and family.

“Eleven ordinary meetings have been held during the
session, at which important papers have been read and
other subjects discussed. The miscellaneous communi¬
cations at these meetings have been of considerable
interest and of material help to the proceedings. In
thanking those members who have rendered this
assistance, your Council hopes for a continuance of the
same during the coming session.

“The new regulations with regard to the chemistry
classes of the school of pharmacy have been successful.
Twenty students entered for the inorganic elementary
and advanced classes and 8 for the organic class. At
the examination for the President’s prizes six students
competed. The questions were set by Mr. Edward
Davies, F.C.S., F.I.C., and the answers were adjudicated
upon by Mr. A. H. Mason, F.C.S., and Mr. Alex. Watt,
F.C.S., F.I.C.

“Messrs. James Wood and Isaac Fisher were declared
the successful competitors, and will this evening be
awarded the prizes.

“Your Council considers it desirable that in future,
students who wish to compete for the prizes, must have
attended at least one of the inorganic courses, as well as

Pthe organic course.

“The important aid rendered by your Association at the
Associated Soiree of the Literary, Scientific, and Art
Societies of Liverpool, greatly enhanced the success of
that undertaking. Our exhibits, consisting of several
collections of rare and costly chemicals and alkaloids,
scientific apparatus, etc., were much appreciated ; and
our thanks are due to those firms and persons who so
generously contributed objects for exhibition ; also to our
President and Vice-President for their able chemical
lectures on the occasion.

“The fifteenth conversazione of the Association was
held at the Royal Institution, and though highly suc¬
cessful as a scientific and instructive entertainment, your
Council regrets that financially it proved a loss. The
various exhibits and practical demonstrations were highly
appreciated by the visitors, and your Council desires to
express its obligations to the various exhibitors, and to
the members and other friends for their generous aid on
the occasion. In a special degree are our thanks due to
Mr. Edward Davies, F.C.S., F.I.C. , etc., for his
exhaustive lecture on “ Gases and Vapours ; ” to Mr.
James Birchall for the complete set of historical views
which he exhibited by means of the oxyhydrogen light,
and the interesting description he gave thereof ; also to
Mr. Charles Sharp, F.L.S., and friends for providing the
musical portion of the entertainment.

“Invitations having been received to send delegates to
the British Pharmaceutical Conference, held this year
at Swansea, the President, Vice-President, and Hon.
Treasurer were appointed.

“The Librarian reports that 343 volumes have been
taken out during the session, and that the library had
been freely used by members for reference.

“Your Council has purchased some new standard work1-",
which have been added to the library, and it is indebted
to several scientific societies at home and abroad for the
periodicals which they contribute.

“The ballot at the concluding general meeting for the
appointment of President for the thirty-second session
resulted in the unanimous re-election of Dr. Charles
Symes.

“The following three members of the Council retire by
rotation, but are eligible for re-election : — Messrs. T. P.
Abraham, Shaw and Sumner.

“ Mr. Alfred Bedford, being no longer able to devote
the time necessary for attending council meetings, has
intimated his desire to withdraw his name from the list
of those eligible for re-election. Your Council regrets the
loss of the valuable help of one of its earliest and most
esteemed members, and has felt it its duty to acknow¬
ledge the able and willing manner in which he has
devoted himself for many years to the interests of the
Association, in the respective positions of Member,
Councillor, Vice-President and President, by electing
him an Honorary Member.”

The Hon. Treasurer (Mr, Robert Sumner) presented a
report of the finances of the Association, which showed
a slight deficit due to the loss upon the conversazione,
and also to the purchase of some new books for the
library.

After the reading of the reports, the President moved :
— “ That the reports as read be adopted, and together
with a list of members and abstract of proceedings of the
past session, be printed and circulated among the
members.”

The motion was seconded by Mr. R. M. Sumner and
carried unanimously.

Mr. R. Sumner moved: — “That the best thanks of
this meeting be given to the donors to the library and
museum, and to the authors of the papers, during the
past session.”

Mr. A. Ivehlstadt, Ph.D., seconded the motion, which
was carried unanimously.

Mr. R. Parkinson moved : — “ That the best thanks of
this meeting be given to the officers and Council for their
services during the past session.”

Mr. E. F. Morton seconded the motion, which was
unanimously carried.

The President’s prizes of books, offered to the two
students in the chemistry class who should pass the
best written examination, were then awarded to the
successful competitors, Messrs. James Wood and Isaac
Fisher, the former receiving the first prize.

The meeting next proceeded to the election of four
members of the Council by ballot. Messrs. T. F.
Abraham, Charles Sharp, F.L.S., John Shaw and
Robert Summer were declared duly elected.

LEICESTER CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

A lecture was delivered at the rooms of the above
Association, 4, Halford Street, September 29, on “Heat,”
by Mr. Plant.

The lecturer, who illustrated what he had to say by
copious diagrams and experiments, began by explaining
the nature and sources of heat, in which division of the
subject he explained the material and kenetic theories of
heat, and pointed out the reasons for adopting the latter
in preference to the former, which is now generally
rejected. He then graphically explained the results of
subjecting a body to heat, expansion, rise of temperature,
and change of state. He then performed experiments
illustrating thermometry, the construction and use of
the thermopile, fusion, evaporation, and the use of
hygrometers. He showed how ebullition always took

318

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 16, 1880.

place where the tension of the vapour was greater than
the atmospheric pressure. He then passed on to explain
what was meant by latent and specific heat, calorimetry,
radiant heat, and the way it was transmitted through
space, also the difference between luminous and dark
heat, and the unequal distribution of heat in the solar
and electric spectra, giving a list of substances by means
of which luminous heat could be separated from dark
heat. When dealing with specific heat the lecturer
showed an interesting experiment to illustrate the
specific heat of various metals. Eive small metallic
disks of equal weight of copper, iron, lead, zinc and tin
were heated together in a bath of oil to a temperature of
about 200° C., and were then placed upon a cake of
white wax, with the following result: the iron, having
the greatest specific heat, soon penetrated through the
cake of wax, the zinc and copper were next, whilst the
lead and tin penetrated but a short distance into the
wax, and remained imbedded there.

A vote of thanks brought a very instructive evening
to a close.

CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ TRADE
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Law and Parliamentary Committee of
this Association was held at the office of the Association,
23, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, on
September 29, 1880, at one p.m.

Mr. Thomas Barclay, President, in the chair.

Present, Messrs. Andrews, Bell, Churchill, Cross, Jervis,
Southall, and the Solicitor of the Association.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee
were read and approved.

The Secretary reported having received communications
from Messrs. Hampson, Holdsworth, Maltby, Symes and
Williams, regretting their inability to attend.

The President said the first matter on the agenda was to
decide on the course to be adopted for giving effect to the
following resolution passed by the Executive at its last
meeting : — “ That the Law and Parliamentary Com¬
mittee be directed to address the Government, with a
view of obtaining such an amendment of the Jury Act as
may provide that the exemption from service on juries
enjoyed by pharmaceutical chemists should be extended
to all registered chemists and druggists.”

The Secretary said that probably the intention of the
Executive would be best met by a memorial to the Home
Office. He then read the following draft memorial which
he had prepared : —

“ To the Right Honourable Sir William Vernon
Harcourt, M.P., Her Majesty’s Principal Secretary
of State for Home Affairs.

“The Memorial of the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade
Association of Great Britain.

“Respectfully showeth: —

“That your memorialists have had under their con¬
sideration the question of the liabilty of registered
chemists and druggists to serve on juries.

“That the principle of the exemption from jury service
of members of certain professions, on account of the
nature of the duties appertaining to their professions, is
of very ancient date, and has on several occasions been
recognized by Parliament.

“That since the year 1513, surgeons have been so exempt.

“That in the yearl694, this exemption was extended to
apothecaries.

“That by the Juries Act of 1862, this principle wasfurther
extended to certain chemists and druggists, that is to say,
to those duly registered as pharmaceutical chemists ;
these were, by that statute, included in the lists of persons
entitled to exemption from jury service.

“That this privilege was granted to pharmaceutical
chemists, not because they were pharmaceutical chemists
as such, but because it was considered desirable in the
public interest that the business of a chemist and druggist

should have the close personal supervision of the pro¬
prietor, and the exemption was limited to pharmaceutical
chemists because they were at that time a registered
body, and consequently it was seen that no difficulty
would be experienced in limiting the privilege to those
only who were legally entitled to it ; whereas had the
whole body of chemists and druggists been granted such
immunity, it would at that time have been found im¬
possible to limit the exemption to the legitimate members
of the trade, as no register of chemists and druggists other
than the register of pharmaceutical chemists was then
in existence.

“That by the Pharmacy Act, 1868, this state of things
is amended, and provisions are therein made for the ap¬
pointment of a registrar whose duties are laid down in
the 13th section of that Act, which are as follows : —

“XIII. The Registrar shall, in the month of January
in every year cause to be printed, published, and sold a
correct register of the names of all pharmaceutical che¬
mists, and a correct register of all persons registered as
chemists and druggists, and in such registers respectively
the names shall be in alphabetical order according to the
surnames, with the respective residences, in the form set
forth in schedule (B.) to this Act, or to the like effect, of
all person appearing on the Register of Pharmaceutical
Chemists or on the Register of Chemists and Druggists, on
the thirtieth day of December last preceding, and such
printed Register shall be called ‘The Registers of Pharma¬
ceutical Chemists and Chemists and Druggiscs,’ and a
printed copy of such Register for the time being, purporting
to be so printed and published as aforesaid, or any certificate
under the hand of the said Registrar, and countersigned
by the President and two members of the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society shall be evidence in all courts,
and before all justices of the peace and others, that the
persons therein specified are registered according to the
provisions of the Pharmacy Act or of this Act, as the
case may be, and the absence of the name of any person
from such printed Register shall be evidence, until the
contrary shall be made to appear, that such person is not
registered according to the provisions of the Pharmacy
Act or of this Act.’

“Your memorialists therefore humbly pray that you
will exert your influence on Her Majesty’s Government
with a view to induce them at the earliest opportunity to
extend to all registered chemists and druggists the privi¬
lege of exemption from jury service as enjoyed by a por¬
tion only of that body.

“Signed on behalf of the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade
Association of Great Britain.

President.

Vice-President.

“ Office of the Association, Secretary.

“ Birmingham , October , 1880.”

It was moved by Mr. Andrews, seconded by Mr.
Jervis, and unanimously resolved: — “That the draft
memorial now read be approved, and that the Secretary
be instructed to forward a copy of the same, duly signed,
to the Home Office.”

The Committee then discussed the expediency of
endeavouring to amend the Pharmacy Act in view of the
recent decision of the House of Lords in the case of the
Pharmaceutical Society v. The London and Provincial
Supply Association ; when it was moved by Mr. Jervis,
seconded by Mr. Cross, and unanimously resolved : —
“ That this Committee heard with profound regret the
decision of the House of Lords in the case of the
Pharmaceutical Society v. The London and Provincial
Supply Association, Limited, but learned with satisfac¬
tion that the Pharmaceutical Council had referred the
decision of this case to the Sub-Committee appointed
by them to consider desirable improvements in the
Pharmacy Act, and trust that the result of this delibera¬
tion will lead to such proposed amendments of the Act
as this Association can assist in carrying through Parlia¬
ment.”

October 16,’ 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

319

The Secretary was instructed to forward a copy of
this resolution to the Secretary and Registrar of the
Pharmaceutical Society.

A letter was then read expressing the thanks of the
Stockport Chemists’ Association for the defence of three
of its members in the recent prosecution for the sale of
sweet spirit of nitre.

llrorccbings of Scientific Societies.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

(Concluded from page 287.)

The next paper read was entitled —

Determination of the Strength of Alcoholic
Solutions of Chloroform.

BY J. C. THRESH, F.C.S.

In examining a solution of chloroform in spirit of
wine it is evident that unless the density of the alcohol
used to dissolve the chloroform is accurately known, the
specific gravity of the solution affords no indication what¬
ever of its strength. When, therefore, I set about the
task of reporting upon commercial chloric ethers, I found
that first of all it would be necessary to devise some
process for estimating the chloroform, as my search in
text-books and dictionaries for such a process was in
vain.

Fortunately, however, a method was devised which,
when put to the test of actual experiment and slightly
modified, left nothing to be desired, neither on the score
of simplicity nor accuracy.

The requisites are an accurately graduated tube, about
*5 metre in length and 10 to 12 millimetres in diameter,
or a 50 c.c. burette, graduated in one-tenth c.c. and
provided with a stopcock, a dilute sulphuric acid, made
by diluting 1 part of oil of vitriol with 6 parts of water,
and a supply of petroleum ether (the gas oil or gasoline
of commerce), tinted rose colour by immersion in it for a
minute or two of a piece of alkanet root.

When a dilute alcohol, of, say, specific gravity *900, is
poured into the burette, its volume accurately noted,
and a quantity of the gasoline added and the mixture
agitated, when the whole has been allowed to stand for
some time so that complete separation has taken place, it
will be found, providing the temperature has not varied,
that the dilute spirit occupies exactly its original volume ;
it has either yielded nothing to the gasoline, or, as is
improbable, the petroleum ether has taken up exactly as
much spirit as the spirit has dissolved of petroleum ether.
If now, however, the experiment is repeated, substituting
a mixture of chloric ether and water for the dilute spirit,
it will be found that the aqueous solution has decreased
in volume to an extent proportional to the percentage of
chloroform present.

As thus performed the results are not entirely satis¬
factory, since the mixture has to stand a considerable
length of time before the surface of demarcation between
the two fluids becomes perfectly distinct, and both being
colourless and of nearly the same refractive index, there
is a little difficulty in taking the reading correctly.
Both these obstacles are overcome by substituting dilute
sulphuric acid for the water and tinting the petroleum
ether with a colouring matter insoluble in dilute alcohol.

To obtain the utmost possible accuracy the analysis is
conducted as follows, first assuming that chloroform does
not constitute more than 15 per cent, of the mixture.

Having secured the stopcock of the burette, pour in
the dilute acid until the column reaches approximately
the 30 c.c. graduation, then introduce with a pipette
20 c.c. of the chloroform solution, cork tightly, and
shake vigorously until thoroughly mixed. Now fix in a
stand and allow it to rest for about half an hour, or until
all air bubbles have disappeared, and the mixture, which

upon agitation rises several degrees in temperature, has
again acquired the temperature of the room. Tap gently
if necessary to cause any floating globules of chloroform
to sink to the bottom, then very carefully pour on about
10 c.c. of the coloured gasoline. This must be poured
very carefully down the side of the tube so as not to mix
in the least with the acid solution. Now re-insert the
cork, fix the tube in a perfectly upright position and
read off the height of column of colourless fluid. In my
experiments I have always read from the lowest point of
the slightly convex base of the coloured liquid, and to
obtain the utmost accuracy have fixed the tube with the
line of demarcation of the two fluids exactly level with
the eyes and between the latter and a fine line in the
same plane made upon the window. Then, by aid of a
small hand lense, such as is used for viewing prints, etc.,
a difference in the length of the column corresponding
to one-fortieth of a c.c. can be read without difficulty.
In fact the expansion of the column of fluid produced by
holding the tube in the warm hand for a minute or
two can easily be detected. The tube is next shaken
thoroughly for two or three minutes and again placed in
its support, until the mixed fluids have completely sepa¬
rated. This does not take many minutes, but before
reading off the reduced column of dilute spirit it is best
to allow the tube to remain for about half an hour, so as
to be certain that it has the same temperature as the
apartment, and if this temperature is not the same as at
the time of the first reading a correction, to be described
subsequently, must be made, if the greatest accuracy is
desired.

To determine approximately the expansion co -efficient
of a mixture of chloroform spirit and water, several
readings were taken during one experiment, with the
tube immersed up to near the line of demarcation in a
larger tube containing water at known temperatures.
The mean apparent coefficient of expansion for 1° C.
was *0005.

When, therefore, the first reading, taken before agita¬
tion with the gas oil, is “a” and the second reading,
taken after agitation, is “b ” cubic centimetres, if the
temperature varied at the times when the observations
were taken “t” degrees, then the required quantity is—

j a— b (l±t -0005). J

-f or — according as the temperature has decreased or
increased.

In the following tabulated experimental results, the
first seven determinations were made without noting
the temperatures.

Per cent, of Chlorof.

Per cent, of Chlorof.

by volume, added.

found.

r

per cent.

l*

per cent.

7-

99

7-25

59

3.

9?

2-75

95

5-

99

5-

55

2’

59

2-

99

5*

95

4-5

59

11-66

95

12-

99

11-66

99

11-87

95

2-15

99

2-05

99

3-85

99

3-75

99

8-09

99

8-15

99

9-87

99

9-7

99

33-3

59

33-3

9 9

nations being more than "25 per cent., I was led to make
the experiments for determining the effect of temperature
changes, and where necessary the correction was made
in all subsequent experiments. As an increase of tempe¬
rature of 2‘5° C. will cause an error of '5 per cent., it is
obvious that except when a mere approximation is re¬
quired, thermometer readings must be taken and correc¬
tions made.

In the last experiment only 10 c.c. of the chloroform
solution were employed, and 20 c.c. of gasoline were

320

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 16, 1S80.

added instead of 10. In the only experiment made with
a solution containing over 50 per cent, of chloroform, the
result was much too low, and it was obvious that the
details would have to be considerably modified to make
the method practically applicable for such solutions.

This paper was followed by a — ■

Report on Commercial Specimens op Sal Volatile
and Chloric Ether.

BY J. C. THRESH, P.C.S.

In preparing this paper for the present Conference I
have had two objects in view; first, to ascertain definitely
what were now being retailed and dispensed for chloric
ether and sal volatile, in the hope that by reventilating
this question in conference, something practical may be
suggested for establishing uniformity; and second, to
examine and report upon specimens of such preparations
as were sent by manufacturers when aether chlor. and sp.
ammon. co. were ordered.

Eor the first purpose a circular letter was sent out to
about one hundred chemists, including the heads of most
of the best known dispensing establishments, the subject
matter of which ran as follows : —

“ I am preparing a short paper for ensuing Conference
on 1 Sal Volatile and Chloric Ether,’ and shall esteem it
a favour if you will furnish me with a reply to the
following query : — ‘ What are you in the habit of
dispensing and retailing when chloric ether (seth. chlor. or
sp. seth. chlor.) and sal volatile (sp. ammon. co. or sal
volatile) are prescribed or asked for ? ’ ”

In reply to this query, taking first the chloric ether ques¬
tion, twenty-seven firms said that both in dispensing and
retailing the sp. chlorof., B.P., was used for chloric ether
and sp. Eether. chlor. ; eleven firms used Duncan’s chloric
ether only ; one used Duncan’s sp. chlorof., B.P., or a
solution of one part of chloroform in nine of spirit,
according to circumstances ; another “ a special distilled
product;” another “a distillate from chlorinated lime and
alcohol ; ” another, “ aether chlor. P.L.,” the existence of
which, no doubt, most of you were previously ignorant
of ; another uses sp. chlorof., B.P. for sp. aether, chlor.,
but a solution of chloroform (1 in 10) for aether chlor.,
whilst fourteen always employ a solution of chloroform in
alcohol, the strengths varying from 1 in 7j to 1 in 10 by
volume ; finally one firm replied that they dispensed
chloric ether 'not sp. chlorof. B.P., the “ not ” being un¬
derlined.

It appears, therefore, that in about half the number of
cases, chloric ether or sp. aether chlor. is understood to
be represented by the B.P. sp. chloroformi, whilst in the
other half stronger solutions of chloroform are supposed
to be what the prescriber requires. As will be seen from
analyses of some of the distilled chloric ethers, the variation
in chloroform strength in the preparations dispensed for
“chloric ether” is from 2 per cent, to 12'35 per cent.

Eor sal volatile and sp. ammon. co., forty-four firms
replied that both in dispensing and retailing they
invariably employ the B.P. sp. ammon. arom. ; six use
the sp. ammon. co. of the 1836 P.L. ; one the sp. ammon.
co. of 1787 P.L. ; six use special preparations of certain
makers; one a “sp. ammon. arom., sp. gr. '918 ;” and one
firm replied that they always dispensed sal volatile not sp.
ammon. arom., B.P., but no intimation as to nature or
maker was vouchsafed. Many chemists, whilst invariably
using the sp. ammon. ar., B.P., for dispensing, when sal
volatile or sp. ammon. co. is prescribed, yet retail special
preparations as sal volatile.

It appears, therefore, that in the very great majority
of cases the B.P. preparation has superseded all other
forms of sal volatile.

The samples of chloric ether and sal volatile examined
were all obtained either from manufacturers or large
wholesale houses, with perhaps three exceptions which
were obtained from retail houses.

In response to my inquiries for specimens of the articles

sent out when chloric ether and sal volatile were ordered,
all the firms to whom I wrote were kind enough to send
me two or more samples, in many cases together with
replies explaining what course they usually followed
under the circumstances. Many, for chloric ether, sup¬
plied Duncan’s preparation ; others “ special distilled pro¬
ducts;” others, the B.P. sp. chloroformi; and others,
solutions of chloroform in spirit, stronger than the B.P.
preparation. The specific gravity was determined by aid
of a balance and 10 gram sp. gr. bottle, the temperature
at each observation being recorded. The sp. grs. of two
samples were then determined at temperatures varying
from 14° to 22° (the extremes between which all had
been taken), and it was found that a difference of one
degree Centigrade affected the sp. gr. by (very ap¬
proximately) '001. In the table appended, therefore, all
the densities have been corrected for 15 p C., and expressed
to the nearest third decimal. It will be seen upon com¬
paring the two columns that the specific gravity is alone
no criterion whatever as to chloroform strength ; for
example, one specimen, density '893, contained 3 per cent,
chloroform, whilst another, sp. gr. '894, contained 7|
per cent. The density of the sp. chlorof. in no case
reached *871 as indicated in B.P. ; but this I attribute
to the fact that a s.v.r. of 60 o.p. is much more
generally used than the 56 o.p. spirit of the British
Pharmacopoeia.

The results obtained by actual analysis therefore cor¬
roborate the statement elicited by the circular letter.
There is, however, one little matter for surprise, and
that is the small percentage of chloroform contained by
the distilled “ chloric ethers.” There seems to be an
impression abroad that this preparation, though more
miscible with water than the B.P. sp. chloroform, yet is
much richer in chloroform. This is undoubtedly a fallacy,
the preparation which so many understand to be in¬
tended when “chloric ether” is prescribed, containing
only fi’om 2 to 3 per cent, of chloroform, although judging*
from its specific gravity (which has deceived so many),
it would contain 7 to 9 per cent.

In the following table, in the first column, is placed
the name of the article as taken from the label on sam¬
ple bottle, the word “ special ” signifying that the label
also intimated that the preparation was a speciality of
the firm whose name it bore.

I perhaps ought to add that the chloroform was esti¬
mated by the method described in the paper just read,
and that in taking burette readings I did not attempt
to read off to less than °f* a c.c., corresponding to>
nearest £ per cent.

Tabulated Results of Analyses of the Chloric Ethers of

Commerce.

Sp. Gr.
at 15° C.

Percentage by

volume of
Chloroform.

Chloric Ether, Special

. *878

2'5

Sp. ACth. Chlor. . . .

. '893

3'

Sp. Chlorof .

. *862

5'

Aether Chlor. . . .

. '885

7'

99 • • • •

. '861

4 '5

Sp. Chlorof. B.P. . .

. '865

5'

ACther Chlor. Dest.

. '879

2'

ASther Chlor. . . .

. '872

7'

Chloric Aether . . .

9'5

Sp. Chlorof .

. '865

4 '5

Chloric Ethei*, Special

. '887

2-5

99 99

. '894

7’75

A3ther Chlor. . . .

. '922

12-25

99 •

. '894

8-5

Dist. TEth. Chlor. . .

. '918

3'

iEther Chlor. . . .

. '903

925

Sp. Chlorof .

. '861

4-75

iEther Chlor. . . .

. '899

9'25

99 • • •

. '865

4'25

Sp. Chlorof .

. '864

5'

Turning now to the sal volatile question I found that.

October 16, I860.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

321

with perhaps one exception, every wholesale house made
a sp. ammon. eo. besides the B.P. sp. ammon. aromat.,
and in response to my application for a sample of what
they usually sent out when sp. ammon. co. or sal volatile
was ordered, in most cases samples both of the B.P. and
the special preparations were sent me.

Several firms offered to give me any further informa¬
tion which I might require, and in correspondence with
some of them I found that the process of the B.P. was
not considered so satisfactory as it should be, yielding a
very variable product.* When working with quantities,
if the distillation is stopped when the distillate has the
correct sp. gr., a little ammonia is left in the retort,
which is easily driven over if the distillation be continued
a very little longer. It will be seen in the sequel results
obtained working on a small scale do not confirm this.

The whole of the samples were examined in the
following manner : — First, the sp. gr. was determined by
aid of the balance and 10 grs. sp. gr. flask, and the
temperature noted. The contents of this flask were then
poured into a flask of about 200 c.c. capacity in which
had been placed 40 c.c. of a solution of hydrochloric
acid, each c.c. of which contained *01825 gram HC1,
corresponding to *0085 gram NH3 (half a molecule). The
mixture was slightly diluted, boiled for about a minute,
tinted with neutral alizarin, and the free acid deter¬
mined volumetrically by a solution of soda, corresponding
in strength with the acid solution. The number of c.c.
of alkali required to impart a red tint was registered.
Twenty c.c. were then poured into another flask,
holding up to a fiducial mark on the neck exactly
100 c.c., containing excess of a solution of barium
chloride. The flask was then filled to the mark with
water, vigorously shaken and placed aside from six to
twenty-four hours or until the precipitate had so far sub¬
sided as to allow 50 c.c. of clear liquid to be drawn off
by a pipette.

To this a little alizarin was added, slight excess of acid
solution run in from a burette, and the excess titrated
back with the standard soda.

Then if ‘ a ’ represent the number of c.c. of soda
solution required in the first instance to neutralize the
excess of acid added to the 10 c.c. of sample, ‘b’ the
c.c. of acid required to neutralize the free ammonia in
the second experiment, and ‘ d ’ the specific gravity of the
spirit of ammonia at time of measurement, we have —

*085 ^ .= per cent, free NH3
d

'085

(40 — a) — = per cent. NH3 free and combined.

•240

(40 — a— b) — — per cent. (NH4)2 C03.

That the combined ammonia in the sp. ammon. ar. is in
the state of normal carbonate appears most probable
from the fact that it must of necessity contain less C02
than the original carbonate from which it was distilled,
since, as previously pointed out by J. Miller, + when the
mixture of ammonia spirit, etc., in the retort is heated,
long before distillation commences, brisk evolution of C02
ensues, little or no ammonia passing over at same time,
as is proved by passing the gas first through solution of
barium chloride and then through baryta water. The
former remains perfectly clear for some time after the
latter has copiously precipitated. I attempted to deter¬
mine the C02 in a sample of spirit, sp. gr. *873, distilled
by myself and containing 1*365 per cent, of combined
ammonia, by treating with excess of acid and absorbing
the gas evolved with soda lime. The C02 obtained was

'* Thought by one firm to possibly be due to “exceedingly
uncertain composition of the carbonate of ammonia of com¬
merce.” By another, “to impossibility of condensing all
the ammonium carbonate (or carbamate) which first distills
without risking an explosion, by its blocking up the worm
of condenser.”

t Pharmaceutical Journal, 3rd series, i., 742.

*325 gram, the theoretical quantity obtainable where the
ammonia combined in form of normal carbonate is *308
gram. As the result, *325, would, on account of difficulty
of preventing some free NH3 and possibly also of alcohol
passing into soda lime tube, be most probably too high,
I think it confirms the conclusion that the spirit contains
the normal carbonate.

The subjoined tables record results obtained in analyses
of forty samples of sal volatile.

Sp. Ammon. Arom. B.P.

Sp. Gr.

NH3 free
p. c.

(NH4)2C03
p. c.

Total NH3

1.

*877

•601

1-337

1-067

2.

*869

•988

•248

1-076

3.

*S72

1-297

•523

1-482

4.

*878

1-613

none

1-613

5.

•885

1-043

1-918

1-721

6.

•877

1-253

1-400

1-749

7.

•870

1-329

1-352

1 807

8.

•868

1-534

•772

1-807

9.

•880

1-165

1-876

1-830

10.

•871

1-481

1-486

2 009

11.

•894

1-492

1-584

2 054

12.

•865

1-941

•443

2-098

13.

.866

1-306

2-270

2-110

14.

•877

1-049

3-703

2-360

15.

•887

•978

3*950

2-376

16.

•869

1-614

2-320

2-436

17.

•873

1*325

3-824

2-678

18.

•874

1-777

2*659

2-718

19.

•875

1-435

3-995

2-849

Specimens not B.P.

Sp. Gr

Free NH3
p. c.

(NH4)2C03
p. c.

Total
NH:!
p. c.

Sp. am. arom., Old

form .

•871

2T65

none

2-165

Sp. am. arom., Old

form . '

•891

2-156

•161

2-213

Sp. am. arom., Old
form .

•916

1-624

1-395

2-096

Sp. am. arom., Special

•904

•999

1-803

1-634

11 11 11

•911

•981

.448

1T40

Sp. am. co., P.L. (1836)

•906

1-335

1-805

1-974

y

•<1

OO

•840

•678

•657

■911

11 11 • •

•920

•444

1-043

.813

11 11 • •

.863

•560

2-111

1-308

„ „ Special

•879

1-286

2-703

2-031

j* 11 11

•925

1-057

•200

1-121

19 19 11

•911

1-008

none

1-008

Sal Volatile ....

•911

•923

•553

1-119

11 11 • • • •

•871

•839

•383

•976

„ „ Special .

•916

•779

3-903

2-162

11 11 11 *

•954

•142

4-481

1-699

11 11 11 *

•885

1-370

2-007

2-113

11 11 11 *

•880

1-371

1-745

1-970

11 11 11 *

•910

1-009

3-982

2-326

Sp. sal volatile . . .

•840

1*311

1-883

1-981

Aromatic sal volatile .

•882

1-319

2-556

2-224

These results are far from satisfactory.

That the pro-

ducts sent out as special preparations should have varied
one can understand ; but why the article sent out by some
of the largest distillers and wholesale houses as a B.P.
product should vary to such an extent is simply un¬
accountable.

Mr. Martindale has asserted* that on the large scale
it is impossible for the distillate to contain more than
1*7 per cent, of ammonia without being deficient in
carbonic acid, but as several of the samples examined
contained more than this amount of ammonia, and
yet were richer in carbonate than samples containing
less ammonia, I ventured to write to the distillers
of sample No. 18, asking if the sample was prepared
according to the B.P. directions, etc. In reply I

* Pliarm. Journ., 3rd series, i., 704.

I

322

X

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 16, 1880

was informed that such was the case, and that they
usually found the residual liquor in the retort to contain
a little carbonate of ammonia ; but only in about propor¬
tion of 1 oz. to every 6 gallons of spirit distilled. Sample
No. 14 was distilled in the laboratory of a well-known
member of the Conference, by the B.P. method, and yet
is rich in both ammonia and carbonic acid.

To ascertain, if possible, how the loss could occur I
distilled a small quantity in a retort, connected with a
glass worm, the free end of which simply passed into the
neck of the flask. Soon after the retort was first heated,
C02 began to be evolved, and effervescence continued
probably until the liquid commenced to boil, then a moist
crystalline deposit formed in neck of retort, condensing
worm, and side of flask ; finally, the spirit distilled over,
and towards the end of the operation carried over with it
most of the crystalline matter deposited in the worm. The
product in the flask, when the requisite quantity had been
collected, contained a considerable quantity of crystalline
matter which, however, was entirely dissolved after a
time, when occasionally agitated. The results of the
analysis of this sample are given in No. 17. A second
quantity was then distilled, and a syphon attached to
the worm so as to keep the latter full of fluid, after a
sufficient quantity had once distilled over to fill it, by this
means at the last no trace of crystalline matter was left in
condensing tubes. Care was also taken to prevent any
loss of free ammonia. The results of the analysis of this
sample are give in No. 19. In neither distillation did
more than a trace of ammonia remain behind in the
retort. It would appear, therefore, that when every
care is exercised in making this preparation to condense
all the ammonia, the amount of free ammonia in the
product is approximately equal to the ammonia in com¬
bination. On the assumption that the combined am¬
monia exists in state of neutral carbonate, as appears
almost certainly to be the case, the following equation
will represent at least the initial and final products of

tlio action *

" H20 + 2 N4H16C308 + 4 NH4HO = 3 (NH4)2C03 +

3 C0.2 + 6 NH4H0.

That sp. ammon. ar. will be deficient in ammonium
carbonate, if after distillation the product is not by agita¬
tion or otherwise caused to take up the crystalline deposit
which is formed, or if the condensing arrangement is such
as not to completely condense the very volatile crystalline
matter which first comes over, is evident. Possibly also
where a length of time is required to raise a large quantity
of fluid to the boiling point, further dissociation of the
carbonate may take place, and loss of C02 ensue ; but in
this case we should expect to find most of the ammonia
in the distillate, whereas, those samples noted for their
poverty in carbonate are not rich in free ammonia.

If the equation above given correctly represents the
reactions which take place, then a typical specimen of
aromatic sp. of ammonia should contain 1 '4 19 per cent, of
free ammonia, and 1’424 per cent, of combined ammonia
corresponding to 4*007 per cent of the neutral carbonate.
On the small scale it is undoubtedly possible to produce
a spirit differing very little from this, and if on the large
scale the process really does yield a distillate varying to
the extent indicated in the analyses, then either some
other process for convenience of manufacturers should be
devised for producing a more reliable article, or it should
be made in smaller quantities at a time ; but as many
firms send out an article rich both in carbonate and free
ammonia, one cannot understand why all should not do
the same.

In conclusion, I would remark that any misunderstand¬
ing in prescribing and dispensing as to what is intended
when sp. ammon. co., sal volatile, or aether, chlor. and sp.
aether, chlor. are prescribed would be entirely obviated,
were these names placed as synonyms under head of
sp. ammon. ar. and sp. chloroformi respectively, in the
next edition of the B.P.

The President said he should regret that these valu¬
able papers should be hastened over, but he feared there
would not be time to discuss them at length.

Dr. Symes, having had some correspondence with Mr.
Thresh on this matter, felt some little interest in it.
With regard to sal volatile, he thought the total amount
of ammonia was really the great point of importance.
But the proportion of caustic ammonia to carbonate of
ammonia present was by no means unimportant. Al¬
though the total amount of ammonia in two samples
might be the same, the flavour, taste and character of
the two would be quite different if one had a much
larger proportion of caustic ammonia than the other.
His experience was that if the Pharmacopoeia process
was followed it was a satisfactory one for preparing sal
volatile, though he had some difficulty sometimes in
getting the whole of the deposit left in the receiver to
dissolve, and the hint given by Mr. Thresh was there¬
fore valuable. With regard to chloric ether, he thought
they all pretty well understood that the spirit of chloro¬
form of the B.P. was introduced for the purpose of
replacing the unsatisfactory and uncertain chloric ether
which previously existed. Before that time chloric ether
was charged a very high price, and was supposed to be
very special in its character, because it was distilled, and
was in some respects superior to all others, but he got
into difficulties by using it, because he found that it was
much weaker than that usually prepared by admixture.
He was quite at a loss to understand from the specific
gravity of the chloric ether why it should not contain
more chloroform. The facts proved to be that the spirit
was weaker; it would not be 19 spirit and 1 of chloro¬
form, but perhaps 17 spirit and 2 of water and 1 of
chloroform that would account for the specific gravity.
This great difference in usage in chloric ether was a
very strong argument for carrying out the idea which he
had put forth on the previous day of having some kind
of authority who should revise and render uniform these
very unsatisfactory preparations.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Thresh for hi*
papers.

The next paper wa3 a —

Report on the Strength of Commercial Specimens
of Aqua Lauro-Cerasi.

BY JOHN WOODLAND, F.L.S., F.C.S., ETC.

Having obtained samples of this drug from different
pharmacists, the following table will show the results of
twelve estimations of hydrocyanic acid contained in
them : —

No. of
Sample

Percentage
of acid.

[

No. of
Sample.

1

| Percentage
of acid.

1

*034

7

•0408

2

•037

8

•0292

3

•0291

9

very slight trace

4

•052

10

034

5

•051

*11

none

6

•024

*12

none

* Numbers 11 and 12 samples contained not a trace
of hydrocyanic acid, and were evidently but an admixture
of essence of almonds ( sine prussic acid) and water, the
odour being very different to that of the other samples,
and alcohol was proved to be present. In performing
these estimations I used both nitrate of silver solution,
or Liebig’s process, and mercuric chloride with ammonia,
or Hannay’s process, with similar results. I also tried
the method recommended by Vielhaber (‘ Year-Book of
Pharmacy,’ 1879, p. 24), but did not obtain such satis¬
factory results. In order to ascertain if there is any

October 16, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

S’2S

other constituent of cherry- laurel water, besides hydro¬
cyanic acid, that would react with nitrate of silver, and so
vitiate the results obtained in volumetric estimation,
I distilled one of the samples with ferrous sulphate and
slaked lime, the distillate from which was not affected
by the volumetric solution. The varying percentages
shown in the above table indicate the instability of this
preparation, the strength decreasing as the age increases,
in what proportion I have, as yet, been unable to determine,
but intend during the coming year to perform experi¬
ments which will form the subject of a future paper.
Through the kindness of Mr. Umney in supplying me
with recently distilled samples of cherry-laurel water
from the fresh and dried leaves, I have been able to
ascertain the percentages of hydrocyanic acid contained
in them. In the sample prepared with fresh leaves I
found *0524; in that distilled from the dried leaves '0204.
I performed the experiment with the dried leaves to
ascertain if in the process of drying the active principles
(which, when treated with water yield hydrocyanic acid
as one of the products) were entirely or partially
destroyed, and if the latter to what extent. Wishing to
use a test for the presence of hydrocyanic acid in cherry-
laurel water which would be less tedious than those
generally used for the detection of small quantities of
hydrocyanic acid, a weak solution of mercurous nitrate
in dilute nitric acid was adopted, which in the presence
of a cyanide gives a greyish-brown precipitate, even in
the presence of chlorides, bromides, iodides or phosphates.
The test is not so delicate as the Prussian blue and
sulphocyanide tests, but is sufficiently so for the pur¬
pose to which it was applied ; a sample of cherry-laurel
water not giving a reaction with the mercurous nitrate
solution would certainly not owe its efficacy to hydro¬
cyanic acid. Although mineral acids render weak
solutions of hydrocyanic acid more stable, no foreign
acid was found in any of the samples examined. A very
good test for the detection of sulphuric or hydrochloric
acid in the presence of hydrocyanic is the addition of
dilute solution of oxyacetate of lead to the suspected
sample when if no mineral acid be present the liquid
remains clear, sulphuric or hydrochloric acid producing a
precipitate.

Mr. Umney said Mr. Woodland had done good
service in calling attention to cherry-laurel water. He
thought it was high time it was expunged from the
Pharmacopoeia altogether. Those who knew what an
•uncertain preparation cherry-laurel water was would
discard it. It was introduced no doubt to satisfy a little
contention between the Edinburgh and the Dublin
physicians, when the 1864 Pharmacopoeia was framed.
The Dublin men used to colour theirs with tincture of
lavender, and the Edinburgh men distilled without
colouring, and in this form it had been retained in
our British Pharmacopoeia. He remembered that in
Eebruary, 1869, he read a paper showing how uncer¬
tain was the distillate, and how uncertain it was when
prepared from leaves of different ages, and uncertain
also when the leaves were freshly gathered or kept
a few days, showing also that after some two or three
months’ keeping the quantity of prussic acid decreased
to an enormous extent. His experience as a manu¬
facturer told him that cherry-laurel water was very
little required, and it was very difficult for British
pharmacy to keep it in a uniform state. The French
Codex prescribed that after it was distilled it was to
be examined and brought to a suitable strength by the
aid of a nitrate of silver solution, but the British Phar¬
macopoeia took no notice of anything of that sort. Alto¬
gether he thought the sooner they saw the last of it the
better.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Woodland for
this communication.

The last paper read at this meeting was a —

Report on the Strength and Pority of Alkaline
Solutions of Potash and Ammonia as met with in
Pharmacy.

BY JOHN WOODLAND, F.L.S., F.C.S., ETC.

Having during laboratory practice frequently noticed
the presence of impurities in both liquid and solid samples
of caustic potash, I was (on seeing in the list of subjects
for papers, issued by the Secretaries of this Conference,
that information regarding the purity and strength of
solutions of potash and ammonia is required) induced to
examine a few samples found in ordinary retail commerce,
with the view of ascertaining if the same impurities exist
in liquid potash, and as regards the chief ones to what ex¬
tent, also to determine the strength and purity of liquid
ammonia. The results of the examination of ten samples
of liquid potash are as follows : —

No. of
solu¬
tion.

Specific

Gravity.

Per¬
centage
of Al¬
kali.

Per¬
centage
of Chlo¬
ride of
Potas¬
sium.

Other Impurities.

1

1-06

5*91

*324

•3 per cent, of alumina,
traces of calcium, sodium,
silica, carbonates and sul¬
phates.

2

1-06

5*94

*238

Traces of alumina, lime,
silica and carbonates.

3

1*054

5*05

*123

Traces of alumina, lime,
carbonates, and sulphates.

4

1*045

4*625

*104

*24 per cent, of alumina,
*44 per cent, of lead oxide,
traces of lime, silica, sodi¬
um, carbonates and sul¬
phates.

5

1*06

5*73

*273

5*2 percent, carbonate of
potash, traces of alumina,
soda and silica.

6

1*056

5*59

*114

*5 8 per cent, of lead oxide,
traces of alumina, lime,
soda and carbonates.

7

1*051

5*66

*165

Traces of alumina, lime,
carbonates and sulphates.

8

1*051

5*405

*26

•35 per cent, of alumina,
ti'aces of lime, carbonates
and sulphates.

9

1*052

5*412

*19

*28 per cent, of alumina,
traces of lime, carbonates
and sulphates.

10

1*048

I

4*73

*2*24

Traces of alumina, lime,
soda, silica, carbonates and
sulphates.

*11

1*046

4*095

1

*23

Traces of alumina, lime,
silica and carbonates.

From these experiments the average specific gravity is
P0537, that of the B.P. solution being 1-058; the average
percentage of alkali is 5*4052 or 24‘917 grains in an ounce,
the strength of a B.P. solution being 5-84 percentage of
alkali, or 27 grains in an ounce, and the average percent¬
age of chloride is '2015.

The presence of lead in two of the samples indicates
want of care in storage. In nearly every case when pur¬
chasing the samples, I noticed that the solutions were
poured from white (instead of, as the B.P. orders, green
glass) bottles, and if I remember rightly(?) the two samples
containing lead were poured from new white glass bottles
recently labelled. Since performing the above experi¬
ments, I have tested two samples of liquid potash which

* This solution included with the others of potash was
solution of caustic soda supplied in place of the former,
which was asked for.

324

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 16, 1880

f

have been kept in old white glass bottles for the space o
from three to six months, and no trace of lead could be
found in either; but on testing a sample that had been
kept in a new white glass vehicle for three weeks the pre¬
sence of lead was very evident. Hence I infer that during
a certain time the silicate of this metal is being gradually
removed by the action of the alkali on the inner surface of
the glass until no more is left ; when the bottle is fit to
contain the alkali without danger of its being contami¬
nated. The test applied for the detection of alumina is
based upon that used for the detection of alum in bread.
An alkaline infusion of logwood in solution of ammonia is
prepared (1 of logwood to 20 of the solution). After
acidification of the liquid potash this ammoniacal infusion
is added in excess and the liquids heated, when if a trace
of alumina be present a dark precipitate appears.

From experiments performed upon solutions of ammonia,
both strong and dilute, it was found (as the following table
will show) that they are as a rule free from salts of other
metals although the strength and specific gravity vary to
a slight extent. Six samples of dilute solution of am¬
monia were obtained from retail pharmacies and yielded
the following results _

No. of
Sample.

Specific

Gravity.

Percentage of
Ammonia
Gas.

Impurities.

1

*958

10-01

Traces of sulphate and
chloride.

2

•959

10

Traces of sulphate and
chloride.

3

*961

975

Traces of sulphate.

4

•946

11-04

Traces of zinc, sul¬
phates and chlorides.

5

•959

9-98

Traces of sulphate and
chloride.

6

•956

10-23

Traces of sulphate and
organic matter.

Five samples of strong solution of ammonia were ex.
amined with the following results : —

No. of
Sample.

1

Specific

Gravity.

Percentage of
Ammonia
Gas.

Impurities.

1

•888

34-02

Traces of chloride.

2

•884

36-3

Traces of organicmat-
ter and chloride.

3

•880

37-85

Traces of chloride and
sulphur.

4

•892

32-2

Traces of sulphate.

5

•888

34-02

Traces of chloride.

The solutions containing organic matter gave a slight
reddish-brown colour with nitric and a pink with sul¬
phuric acid, showing the impurity to be of a tarry nature ;
but such small traces were present that volumetric esti¬
mation by permanganate of potash was not resorted to.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Woodland for this
paper.

Place of Meeting in 1881.

The President said the next business was to settle the
place of meeting for next year.

Professor Attfield then read a letter from Mr. Ralph
Davison, of York, giving a cordial invitation to the
Conference to meet there next year.

Mr. Clark (York) said he had to apologize for the
absence of Mr. Sowerby, who intended to be present also
as a delegate. He was present at the meeting referred

to in the letter just read when it was unanimously re¬
solved to send an invitation to the Swansea meeting, and
he also had an opportunity of seeing the chemists of York
who were not able to be present at the meeting, and he
was able to convey to the members the unanimous invita¬
tion of the York chemists. They could not offer to show
any large manufactories, such as the members had been
accustomed to see during the last two years, but they had
one manufactory, that of glass bottles, which would be
interesting, because it was established by a retail chemist
in York, Mr. Spence.

Professor Attfield moved that the thanks of the
meeting be given to the chemists of York for their
cordial invitation, and that their offer be accepted. York
had supported the Conference from its earliest days and
some members residing at York had always attended the
meetings.

Mr. Mason seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.

Election of Officers.

Professor Attfield said the Executive Committee had
very carefully considered the question of what officers
they would recommend for election for the ensuing year,
and a printed list had been circulated showing the result
of their deliberations. It was too late to explain many of
the points which the Committee had considered, but he
could assure the meeting that the names were the result
of prolonged discussion ; at the same time it was open to
any of the members to suggest any alteration in the list.

The President then read the following names, who^
on being put to the vote, were unanimously elected : —

President.

Richard Reynolds, F.C.S., Leeds.

Vice-Presidents.

Professor Attfield, F.R.S., etc., London.

R. Davison, York.

N. M. Grose, Swansea.

C. Umney, F.C.S., London.

Treasurer.

C. Ekin, F.C.S., Bath.

General Secretaries.

F. Baden Benger, F.C.S., Manchester.

M. Carteighe, F.C.S., London.

Local Secretary.

Joseph Sowray, Petergate, York.

Other Members of Executive Committee .

R. Dresser, York.

T. Greenish, F.C.S., London.

J. Hughes, Swansea.

A. H. Mason, F.C.S., Liverpool.

S. Plowman, London.

C. Symes, Ph.D., Liverpool.

W. A. Tilden, D.Sc., F.R.S., Birmingham.

J. C. Thresh, F.C.S., Buxton.

J. R. Young, Edinburgh.

Auditors.

J. T. Williams, Swansea.

J. Clark, York.

Mr. Brady then moved : —

“ That the non-resident members of the British Phar¬
maceutical Conference hereby tender their cordial
thanks to the Local Committee, and especially to
Mr. N. M. Grose, Mr. J. Hughes and Mr. J. T.
Williams, for the admirable and successful manner
in which their various arrangements connected with
the Swansea meeting had been carried out.”

He said he need add no words of his own to the sen¬
timent which was so well expressed in the resolution.

Mr. Savage said the acclamation with which the-
resolution had been received was sufficient evidence of
the satisfaction which had been given. He had attended

Octebe 16, 1S80.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

325

a great many Conferences and though it would be
invidious to make any comparisons where all had tried to
do their best, he might say that in no place had they
met with a more cordial recepiton, or a greater desire
to do the best they could for the interest of the Associa¬
tion.

The resolution having been carried unanimously,

Mr. Grose on behalf of the Committee said he tendered
their most heartfelt thanks for the unanimous and hearty
manner in which the meeting had received the resolution
just passed. He did not think it was required, for they
had only done their duty as every Englishman and every
Welshman would like to do. They felt honoured at
having entertained so many eminent scientific luminaries
of the day. Although the illustrious visitor who had
been present for an hour or two from the other side of
the Atlantic had left, still Swansea was proud that he
had attended its Conference.

Mr. James Hughes said he could only endorse the
sentiments of his friend and confrere, Mr. Grose, who
had done so much to lighten his duties as Secretary.

Mr. Plowman then moved a vote of thanks to Messrs.
Vivian and Sons for their kindness in allowing the
members to look over their copper works. He was sure
he should express the feelings of all present when he
said that the largest amount of instruction and enter¬
tainment was felt by all who visited the works.

Mr. Ellinor seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.

Mr. Davies then moved that the best thanks of the
Conference be given to the proprietors of the Landore
tin plate works for the facilities given to the members
present of inspecting their works. He was sure those
who went over these fine works were charmed alike with
both. Every one seemed willing to give all the in¬
formation in his power, and all arrangements appear to
have been made to afford a full view in every department
of each of these large works.

Mr. Ward seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.

Mr. Chipperfield proposed a hearty vote of thanks
to the President for the very courteous and able manner
in which he had conducted the business of the Conference.
Mr. Southall, in occupying that chair, had followed on in
an illustrious line of ancestry, but he was quite sure
they would all agree that the dignity of the office had
not suffered at his hands. He could only express a hope
that in years to come the chair would be filled as ably as
it had been on that occasion. He had much pleasure in
meeting their worthy President on that the seventeenth
year of their history, and he could only express a hope
that he might be spared to meet him on the thirty-
fourth.

Mr. Hughes, as a Welshman, begged to second the
proposal, and to say a word or two of gratitude to those
who had come to the Principality to enlighten them as to
what they ought to do. He must crave permission to
express his feelings in his native language. This he
proceeded to do amidst great applause.

The resolution was then put by Mr. Schacht and carried
unanimously.

The President thanked the members very much for
the kind manner in which the resolution had been pro¬
posed and carried. He had felt it to be a great honour
to occupy the important position of President of the
Conference and trusted the Conference had not suffered
by his presidency, and he would remind them that when
he undertook the duty it was on the full understanding
that it was for one year only, and he should be followed
by a gentleman more fitting than himself, and who had
been a mainstay of the Conference, and it would be a
great pleasure to him to give up the office to his friend
Mr. Reynolds.

The proceedings were brought to a termination by the
presentation to Professor Attfield, which has been already

reported.

||arliamentarg mxis

Proceedings under the Pharmacy Act.

The case of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great
Britain v. Piper, instituted in the Bloomsbury County
Court, in which the plaintiffs sued the defendant for a
£5 penalty incurred by his having kept open shop for the
sale of poisons, viz., having taken order for a poison and
delivered it bearing a label of a chemist at a distance,
has been terminated by the defendant paying into Court
the amount of the penalty and costs.

The case of the Pharmaceutical Society v. Harrod, in¬
stituted in the Brompton County Court, in which the
plaintiffs sued the defendant for a £5 penalty incurred
by his having kept open shop for the sale of poisons, viz.,
having taken order for a poison and delivered it bearing
a label of a neighbouring chemist, has been terminated
by the defendant paying into Court the amount of the
penalty and costs.

gtspeming HTcmorantm.

[447]. When acetate of morphia is dissolved in water
for hypodermic use, a gradual and troublesome deposit of
small crystals ensues ; but if the solution be made in a
flask or beaker, and heated to the boiling point, the
deposit is at once determined. If the solution be then
filtered, it will remain tolerably clear. Using Smith’s
morphia, I have for some years made large quantities of
morphia solution for hypodermic use by the above simple
method, which has proved quite satisfactory. Where not
objected to, I prefer before boiling to add a few frag¬
ments of camphor, to prevent decomposition on keeping.

Scarboro. J. Whitfield.

[449]. The first two ingredients are probably nostrums
concerning which further information could be found
in the advertising pages. It would simplify matters
greatly were prescribers to bracket the name of the
makers with the special article ordered.

W. R. K.

[451]. How is the following prescription to be dis
pensed ? —

R Hyd. Chlor . gr. v.

Ext. Opii . gr. ij.

Aq . S’J-

Ft. lotio. To be dropped into the eyes. — H. O. T.

Is chloral or calomel meant ?

J. G. P. S.

[452]. Would any reader inform me how to disperse
the following? —

R Ext. Lupuli . 3j.

Ext. Taraxaci . 3SS*

Aq. Purse . ad jjv j.

M. Ft. mist.

I found that the water would only dissolve part of the
ext. lupuli, leaving a green spirituous extract.

H. 0. J.

[453]. Can any reader inform me what is intended
when lin. plumbi co. is prescribed ?

G. W.

[454]. I have lately had occasion to make several
quanties of syr. ferri phosph., B.P., at the end of the
formula for which it says : “ The product should measure
12 fluid ounces.” I have never yet found it measure
more than 10^ fluid ounces. Can anyone account for the
difference? Should the bulk be made up, and if so, by
what, “ acid phosph. dil. ” or “ aqua” ?

R. J. Latham.

326

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 10, 1880.

[455].

R Ung. Rumic c. Sulph . 313.

Will some reader kindly favour me with formula for
above

Unguent.

[456].

R Sp. .Ether. Nit .

Pot. Iod .

. . . . 3j.

Dec. Sarsse Co. Cone. . .

.... 3iij.

Aq .

Cap. 3j. q.q. 4th hora.

Will you please to say whether, in your opinion, the sp.
cether. nit. should be neutralized with pot. carb., so as to
prevent the decomposition of pot. iod. ? or if you believe
it to be the intention of the prescriber to give small doses
of free iodine?

W. J. Smith.

[457].

1

R Sodae Hypophospliitis . . .

• • •

olJ-

Sodse Bicarb .

5iss.

Liq. Strychnise .

1T1 xxiv,

Tr. Quinise .

• • •

Aquam .

5xi3-

Sig. A tablespoonful three times

a day.

Will this form an incompatible mixture, i.e., will the
strychnia be thrown down by the sodae bicai-b., and if so,
would it be dissolved by the water present ? I may say
I put a “ shake the bottle ” label on for fear.

W. J. Smith.

[458]. “ Jacque ” would like to know if plumbi gly-
cerid. is the same as plumbi glycerol, recommended by
Mr. B. Squire ; if not, what is the formula for the gly-
cerid. ?

ftcrtes nnb (Queries.

[678]. CORN CAUSTIC.— I have had an application
for corn caustic (liquid), no or little smell, brown colour,
so described to me, and as very good. Can any chemist
give me the recipe for such a preparation ? Does not
blacken the -skin.

16, Fonthill Hoad, N. B. T. Kimbek.

[679] . QUININE SNUFE.— “ Cymru ” would feel
obliged if some gentleman would give him a form ula for
“ quinine snuff.” It is used as a remedy for hay fever.

[680] . AQUEOUS TINCTURE OF OPIUM.— Will
some reader supply me with a good process for making an
aqueous tincture of opium, B.P. strength, that will keep ?

Spathula.

[681]. METALLIC CEMENT. — “ K.” would feel
obliged if any reader can give him a recipe for a cement
suitable for fastening brass (or copper) labels to tin boxes;
or can anyone tell him what is used in France for fasten¬
ing the brass labels to the ends of the sardine boxes, as
such would be likely to answer his purpose ?

©tritiiarrr.

Notice has been received of the death of the fol¬
lowing : —

On the 23rd of September, 1880, Mr. Thomas Iliffe,
Chemist and Druggist, Nuneaton. Aged 71 years.

On the 24th of September, 1880, at Norwood, Mr.
Thomas Arthur Whitehouse, Chemist and Druggist,
Bristol Road, Birmingham. Aged 26 years.

On the 28th of September, 1880, Mr. George Shield,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, High Street, Arbroath. Aged

60 years. Mr. Shield was a Member of the Town
Council and filled the office of Provost from 1876 to
1879. He had been a Member of the Pharmaceutical
Society since 1852 and was its Local Secretary for
Arbroath.

On the 30th of September, 1880, at New Church, Mr.
Howell David Hinds, Chemist and Druggist, High Street,
Wrexham. Aged 45 years. Mr. Hinds had been an
Associate of the Society since 1871.

On the 1st of October, 1880, Mr. George Johnson,
Chemist and Druggist, High Street, Stamford. Aged 43
years.

On the 10th of October, 1880, Mr. Alfred Coates,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Bakewell. Mr. Coates had
been a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1870

*»* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Dr. Down on Proprietary Medicines.

Sir, — I have just read with pleasure the eloquent intro¬
ductory address delivered by J. Laugdon Down, M.D.,
F.R.C.P., and was very much impressed by the able words
therein ; but, as in a portion of his address he indulged in a
gentle denunciation of proprietary medicines, which have
hitherto formed a portion of the trade of all pharmacists,
will you allow me to say a few words in answer to that
portion of his address ?

Dr. Down, with all the leading philosophic spirits of the
age, is committed to the doctrine of evolution. He says
that “ the medicine man of pre-historic times has become
differentiated into the physician, surgeon, dentist, veterinary
practitioner and pharmacist.” And then true to the doctrine
of evolution, he boldly asserts that each member of the com¬
monwealth becomes higher, more evolved, more useful to
himself and to the common good in proportion to the per¬
fection of the differentiation.” And again, “ every indica¬
tion of multiplicity of function in any member of the body
is a mark of retrogression, and every instance of minute
adaptation to ends is a mark of evolution, and an evidence
of progress.” All this is correct. Herbert Spencer could i
not have stated it more clearly, but later on we find that '
the great peril to pharmacy is the growing tendency to the
sale of proprietary articles and secret remedies, and why ?
Because this portion of their business can be as easily
transferred to the perfumery departments of a linendraper’s
shop, to the Italian warehouseman or the bookseller. This
is undeniably, and perhaps unfortunately true; but it must
not be forgotten that this specialization of the amoeboid
pharmacist, which causes one to produce fluid magnesia,
another pancreatic emulsion, others tonga, pyretic saline,
phosphorized cod liver oil, sanitas, Condy’s fluid, phos-
phorized cod liver oil emulsion, fruit salt, chlorodyne,
etc., where there is a minute adaptation of machinery
and special knowledge to ends, is a mark of evolution,
and therefore evidence of progress. What is not evi¬
dence of progress but evidence of a tendency to parasitism
is where the pharmacists, the proprietors of the various
specialties, are unscrupulous and use language in their
prospectus calculated to mislead the unwary, and do not
adhere to what they strictly know is proved to be true.

The great argument against the use of proprietary medi¬
cines is that the patient is frequently incompetent to form
a correct diagnosis of his malady, so that incipient enteric
fever and a popliteal aneurism may be mistaken for much
more simple ailments. But why should the old lady who
has had rheumatism all her life, and by the acute sensations
can form a much clearer diagnosis of her complaint than
her medical man, call in a physician when she can get
some simple remedy which she has hitherto found efficacious?
Shall she always be scared by the dread of popliteal aneurism
or disease of the hip joint? Again, a man has a headache;
the cause he knows full well to be the previous night’s
indulgence ; [he takes citrate of magnesia or some simple

October 1(5, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

327

effervescing saline as a refresher. Need he always have
before his eyes the spectre, enteric fever ? Evidently if all
patients were so nervous as to seek the physician for every
supposed simple ailment, in a few instances diseases, which
now prove fatal, would be cured ; but their number would
not be sufficient to warrant the suppression of the proprietary
articles, considering the public inconvenience which would
arise.

As a rule, the pharmacist has a very good notion of the
■composition of the proprietary medicines which he sells,
and his own self interest will prevent him recommending a
specialty when he has something equally good of his own
he can sell instead ; or, when by sending the patient to a
doctor he can get a prescription to dispense. The physician
is not expected to prescribe proprietary medicines, and,
indeed, this would be impolitic if he or his dispenser can
concoct something better or equally good with no great
expenditure of time. This course is frequently, but not
always possible ; but when Dr. Down denounced the
pestilent flood of American and English specifics, the
anathema fell alike on the evil and the good, and it must
be remembered that some have become household friends
in the English family, and by no means deserve such hasty
condemnation..

In conclusion may I specially draw your readers’ attention
to that important portion of his address where he refers to
the study of botany and zoology, and a knowledge of which
he says will place pharmacists in a position for under¬
standing those questions of biological discussion which are
ever forcing themselves on the attention of the cultivated
beyond the profession of the pharmacist, and their ignorance
of which would surely tend to their disadvantage ?

S. F. Elljman.

The Introductory Address.

Sir, — Your report of the address of Dr. Langdon Down,
on opening the session in Bloomsbury Square, has afforded
me much pleasure and will, I am sure, be very much appre¬
ciated by every member of the Society, for the very able and
comprehensive view which his practical knowledge of the
trade enabled him to take of our present and future pro¬
spects. And whilst expressing sympathy with us under our
present difficulties, he foreshadowed hopeful things for the
future. His retrospect of the past was a fitting testimony to
the value of our founders, and an encouragement to their
successors, with a suitable caution to avoid the general
tendency of the age, co-operative stores, as a mark of
retrogression. In this age of severe competition it is a
matter of great difficulty to know what course to adopt
when you find that your neighbour, the grocer, is underselling
you in many articles that used to be considered as belonging
to your special province ; it is, therefore, satisfactory to find
that Dr. Down points out a course of action eminently
calculated to raise the standard of our calling, at the same
time somewhat difficult to attain. However, it is evident
that renewed effort in the way indicated by Dr. Down must
be followed, and the chemist’s trade raised beyond the reach
of co-operative stox-es and grocers. Meanwhile an evolution is
taking place and we may hope that the fittest will survive.
The difficulties of a good preliminary education have to be
encountered, and the inducements for parents to apprentice
their sons to a trade that has little beyond its respectability
to recommend it are small. Another difficulty presents
itself in country districts where the population is sparse.
Druggists must combine other trades with their own to
enable them to live, and a youth cannot have the necessary
experience (supposing that he has passed his Preliminary)
to pass his Minor : it is, therefore, of the first importance
that he should be able to enter a school where pharmacy and
prescriptions are taught. This will now be more fully met
in Bloomsbury Square than it ever has been, and the recent
decision of the Council will meet an important requirement
and the very high estimate of Dr. Down will be sustained,
.although in rural districts I am afraid it will be a long time
before counter-practice is done away with, and not until
the country medical practitioner can see his way to depute
the dispensing of his medicines to the local chemist.

Dr, Down’s general remarks and advice to the students
are worthy of being separately published and circulated
amongst those more immediately concerned ; at any rate, I
thank him very much for the valuable suggestions contained
in his address.

A Country M.P.S.

The Teaching or Dispensing.

Sir, — As a member of the Pharmaceutical Society, it is
with very deep regret I see that Pi'ofessor Redwood has
added dispensing to the school curriculum at Bloomsbury
Square. I am not ignorant of the reasons which have led
to this alteration, and I make this effort to try and carry a
point I have much at heart. My fellow members will, I
am sure, agree with me that the cardinal virtues of a
chemist are method and accuracy. Where can these be
cultivated a sufficient length of time except in the phar¬
macy ?

The school in Bloomsbury Square as I knew it twenty
years ago, with the ten months’ course of lectures, was as
nearly perfect as one could desire, and young men going
there with a good practical acquaintance of their business
received the finishing touches which made them fit suc¬
cessors of our Deane, Squire, Morson, Cracknell, etc.
Where are we now ? Cabinet makers have a very clever
process of making one wood look like another ; it is called
veneering. Common deal has a layer of Spanisli mahogany
on it. And that is exactly what we propose to do with
young men wishing to be chemists. We desire to veneer
with a semi-scientific glamour a soft material. Consider¬
ing the hard battle these young men will have to fight in
after life, are we acting justly, fairly or honestly by
them ? They have to wean medical men from prejudice
and win their confidence; is that the buckler for the
ffght? . , ,

Ignorance disparages, and I fear chemists as a rule have
not estimated the practical knowledge of medical men
sufficiently highly. The successful ones are very keen¬
witted ; the action of medicine is for ever under their
immediate eye ; that is the fierce light that beats on a
chemist’s reputation. If the successful practitioner is satis¬
fied, the public will follow him like sheep. To secure this
we must multiply our teachers, and this can be accom¬
plished very easily. It is not considered a hardship in the
mercantile marine that a mate or captain should be tested
in seamanship and referred to the sea for twelve months,
while for his purely scientific course three months’ return
to his logarithms, etc., is sufficient for failure in navi¬
gation.

Continentalism is, to my mind, scientific slovenliness ;
we must improve on their model.

Divide the Minor examination into two parts, practical
and scientific, then parents will have some security their
money is not wasted. Men will be chary of taking pupils
who cannot educate them, that is, teach them dispensing
and make them conversant with the various pi'oeesses in
use for making galenicals, and the very little chemistry
required to make the Pharmacopoeia intelligible. This
practical examination would qualify pupils as assistants, a
sad want. The division would enable the scientific poi’tion
to include an elementai’y knowledge of light, heat and
electricity, without which no man of ordinai'y culture is
equipped, and therefore no master is fitted to hold his own
nor dare to call himself a chemist.

This plan would make every pharmacy where pupils are
taken a help-meet to Bloomsbury Square, and if it acts as
a barrier to such numbers overcrowding a poor calling,
when so many others are flourishing, it will be a real
kindness to them.

If a candidate fails in the practical examination, send
him back in disgrace to the shop, for twelve months, from
whence he came, or turn him over to another and let his
parents settle the affair with the master ; if the lad fails in
his scientific examination, three months is ample.

George Mee.

79, Grosvenor Road, Highbury New
Park, London, N.

The Danger of Concentrated Solution of
Camphor.

Sir, — Many instances are known to medical men of the
great danger resulting from the administration of homoeo¬
pathic solution of camphor, and the public should be warned,
as well as the more learned vendors of drugs, that it is not
safe in all hands as a remedy.

The solution is usually about six or seven times the
strength of spirit of camphor of the Pharmacopoeia.

I am not prepared positively to state that any adult has

328

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 16, 1880.

been wholly poisoned by camphor ; bat children have lost
their lives through its agency.

Not long since I witnessed its most injurious effects in an
adult; but the case of Mr. James Coll, who died on the
19th ult. at Bridgwater, should be a warning to all using
such remedies.

That in the solid state camphor is not so readily absorbed
as whin in solution, is abundantly known to all; but the
practice of giving large and repeated doses at short intervals
by unqualified persons is to be deprecated.

If alcohol lias been partaken of the absorption will be very
much facilitated, and I think this explains the toxic effect,
and the very rapid symptoms developed in the case of
Mr. Coll.

That camphor is cumulative need not be discussed at
length in your pages; but there was no time for elimination
between the first dose and the last, and at least 30 drops
were taken w ithin an hour. I fail to see that it was satis¬
factorily proved by Mr. Parsons that Mr. Coll died from
what we are to “understand as delirium tremens ,” and if
we read aright, camphor had nothing to do with the death
“ in any shape or form.”

If a man was verging on delirium tremens, surely he
would have had some other symptoms than indistinctness
and mumbling in conversation.

Again, I never knew a man on the border of fatal delirium
tremens able to write a letter and go to the post office with
it. Up to the time of his taking the camphor, his
conduct was surely not that of a person who in a few hours
wou’d die from the effects of chronic alcoholism. I am
aware that it has been stated a single debauch has induced
“the trembles.”

Although I have had many cases through my hands, up
till now I have not met with such an instance, and 1 adduce
this as there was no evidence to show Mr. Coll was a “fast
liver,” or that he was upon this occasion wholly under the
influence of liquor.

Every symptom described is in perfect keeping with what
is observed in camphor poisoning, and if delirium, fatal
delirium, tremens was hastened, — even suppose it to be dor¬
mant, for the sake of argument, — was it not accelerated,
and dois it not stand out as clear as noon-day, that after
the doses of camphor it did set in with fatal efiect? If such
be the case, and if it admits of no doubt, surely the camphor
acted at least as an exciting agent, if not under the circum¬
stances as the real cause of the collapse.

In such cases as cholera and diarrhoea Dr. Rubini of
Naples was very stringent in his directions as regards the
administration of camphor. It is against the practice of
giving large and frequent doses that attention should be
directed; and it ought to be borne in mind that camphor
has a very different action in some individuals to what it
has in others.

I hope, therefore, that those who sell it will be careful
not to give it without distinct instructions as to its use, for
it is clearly a medicine that in some cases is administered
by the public with good . intention, but fraught with peril,
as I have more than once seen.

Northallerton. Henry Brown.

The Estimation op Minute Quantities of Arsenic.

Sir, — A paper read before the British Pharmaceutical Con¬
ference is published in your issue of the 2nd inst. by Mr. F.
W. Fletcher, on a method, which he claims as a novel one,
for the estimation of minute quantities of arsenicum. To
Mr. Fletcher, no doubt, all honour is due for the originality,
so far as he is concerned, in having devised that process,
but unfortunately for him he cannot claim to be the
originator of it. If he will refer to the Chemical News,
vol. xxvii., p. 74, he will find that A. Houzeau, there
publishes practically the same process as far back as 1873,
and I have used that process constantly for some years with
satisfactory results.

Royal Institution , Manchester. W. THOMSON.

Sir, — In the discussion at the Conference, as reported in
the Journal for October 2, that followed the reading of the
paper by Fletcher on an indirect method of estimating
minute quantities of arsenic, Mr. Allen, in correction of the
remarks of Dr. Attfield, made the following statement: —

‘ ‘ Professor Attfield suggested that it was not certain
metallic silver was not thrown down in some cases by the
hydrogen, but Dr. Bussell showed that only perfectly
neutral nitrate of silver was apt to be precipitated by a
current of true hydrogen, and that the slightest trace of
acid prevented such action; therefore Mr. Fletcher had
only to take the precaution of having it faintly acid and
there would be no fear of any precipitation of metallic
silver.”

This is almost a complete inversion of Bussell’s results.

What Bussell does say ( Journal of the Chemical Society ,
vol. xxvii, page 5) : —

“ A neutral solution of silver nitrate becomes acid as soon
as the silver separates out ; and it has always been found
that the silver is precipitated in larger crystals and
brighter in appearance from acid than from neutral solu-
tions.”

On page 8, where the effect of free acid is examined,
Bussell states: —

“From a solution containing 7 per cent of HNO3 and
saturated with 10 gi'ams of silver nitrate, hydrogen pre¬
cipitates in eighteen hours 0T275 gram of silver, very
nearly as much as would have been precipitated from a
neutral solution. Even in a solution containing as much as
17‘o per cent, of HNO;J silver is precipitated by hydrogen.”

Bussell finds that (page 4) a dilute solution is less readily
precipitated than a saturated one, and in the latter it is
nearly half an hour before there is any change.

Manchester. W. H. Darling.

IF. B. Bar roll. — We do not think you would be eligible
as the regulation as to eligibility expressly states that
candidates “must have been not less, or been engaged not less,
than three years in the pharmacy of a registered pharmaceu¬
tical chemist or chemist and druggist.”

B. T. Kimber. — We are sorry to differ from you as to the
relative value of the matters referred to.

X. (who should have sent his name and address). — See
the paper on quillaia bark, by Mr. Collier, in the Pharma¬
ceutical Journal for September 20, 1879, p. 234.

“ Coccus.’' — Probably the purple colour was due to the
salicylic acid having come into contact with iron during the
making of the preparation.

“ Pharmacy.” — We know of no recent work on the subject.
You might, perhaps, consult Messrs. Pontifex and Wood, of
Shoe Lane, with advan age. See a paper by Mr. Corder,
Pharmaceutical Journal, [3], vol. vii., p. 349; and another
by Mr. Schacht, in vol. viii., p. 225.

A. J. H. — Try the recipe given in the Journal for Decem¬
ber 9 last, vol. x., p. 443. We cannot ask for imitations of
particular preparations.

“ Croton.” — There seems always to have been a doubt in
the minds of the discoverers as to whether they were dealing
with croton chloral or butyl chloral, since, although they
temporarily inclined on theoretic grounds to the opinion
that it was the former, the hydrogen found in analysis was
always in excess. The doubts were strengthened by the
nature of the decomposition and addition products obtained
from it, and the discovery of monochlorcrotonaldehyd
among the bye-products eventually led to the conclusion
that it was formed by the addition of two atoms of chlorine
to that substance, thus becoming trichlorbutylaldehyd as
represented by the equation : —

C4H3C10+Cl2=C4H5Cl30.

The paper in which these results were published is printed
in the Berichte, vol. viii., p. 1561. See also a paper on the
Chlorine Derivatives of Alcohol, in Pharmaceutical Journal,
[3], vol. viii., pp. 549 and 566.

Chemicus. — We are not aware that there has been any
relaxation of the law on the subject.

J. N.— The preparation is one sent out by Messrs. Corbyn.

J. G. Willson is recommended to submit his question to
the Registrar.

R. Bayle. — Please send particulars as to date.

A. Manning. — Your letter has been handed to the
Secretary, to whom all notices as to the dispatch of Journals
should be sent.

Communications, Letters etc. have been receivedfrom
Messrs. Fennell, Siebold, Hankey, Pretender, J. A. H.,
M. O. P., Ph. C.

October 23, 1SS0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

329

THE EXHIBITION AT BRESLAU.

A very interesting feature in connection with the
recent meeting of the Deutsche Apotheker- Yerein
in Breslau was, as in former years, the Pharmaceu¬
tical Exhibition. This was held on the premises of
the Concert House, in the Gartenstrasse, in which
the meetings of the Association took place. One
portion of the exhibits was displayed in a long
gallery running along one side of the principal
concert room ; another portion was shown in three
large rooms in the building that were entirely
devoted to the purpose ; whilst a third portion was
accommodated under a colonnade in the gardens
attached to the establishment. Altogether there
were about ninety exhibitors.

The display, being this year more scattered, was
hardly so effective in appearance as that at Hanover
last year. Moreover, two sections which were there
well represented, — the pharmaceutical apparatus and
the archaeological literature of pharmacy, — were on
this occasion much less conspicuous. Neither was
any display of microscopes or other similar apparatus
noticed, and again there was a complete abstention
on the part of chemical manufacturers. But there
were many objects of interest to pharmacists shown,
quite sufficient to well repay the trouble involved in
a visit, and the exhibition, closely associated as it
was in one of its departments with opportunities for
the renewal of friendship and the drinking of lager
beer, was certainly not the least attractive portion
of the meeting.

Perhaps the feature that would first strike an
English visitor would be the prominent position
assumed in the exhibition by the exhibitors of
natural mineral waters and of wines for medical and
pharmaceutical uses. Of the mineral waters there
were several displays, the largest one being a col¬
lective exhibition by five Breslau firms, which
included waters from about sixty different springs,
and the literature describing their composition and
alleged properties formed when collected a consider¬
able bundle. Some of these waters are well known
in this country, others are not, and as inquiries
respecting these natural waters, especially those that
are less known, are not infrequent, a few details
gathered from these pamphlets and ther sources
may not be out of place as indicating the bottled
mineral waters principally in use in Germany.

Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle, Rhenish Prussia). — Sul¬
phuretted saline.

Adelkeidsquelle (from Heilbrunn, Bavaria).— Contains
iodine and bromine in combination with sodium.

Assmannshausen (Nassau).

Bilin (Bohemia). — Antacid table water.

Charlottenbrunn (Silesia). — Mild chalybeate.

Colberg. Cudoiva (Pomerania). — Brine.

Driburg (Westphalia). — Strong chalybeate.

Eger Franzenbad (Bohemia). — Alkaline sulphates and
chlorides with carbonate of iron.

Elster.

Eras (Nassau). — Saline and gaseous.

Fachingen (Nassau). — Contains soda (in large quan¬
tity), lithia, strontia, lime, magnesia, iron and manganese
as carbonates ; soda, lithia, lime and alumina as phos¬
phates ; chlorides of sodium and potassium ; fluoride of
calcium ; silica and sulphate of soda.

Flinsberg (Silesia).

Friedrichshall (Saxe-Meiningen). — Bitter water. Con¬
taining large quantities of sulphates of soda, magnesia
and lime, chlorides of sodium and magnesium, and some
carbonate of magnesia.

Geilnan (Nassau). — Alkaline.

Third Series, No. 539.

Giesshubel (Bohemia). — ’Gaseous aperient dinner water.
Gleichenberg (Styria). — Contains alkaline chlorides and
carbonates, carbonate of iron and carbonic acid.
Goczalkowitz.

Hall. — Brine.

Ilomburgh. — Aperient. Three-fourths of the solid con¬
stituents consist of chloride of sodium, the next important
in quantity being chloride of magnesium.

Hunyadi Janos (Hungary). — Bitter aperient water, con¬
taining large quantities of the sulphates of soda and
magnesia, and chloride of sodium.

Iwonicz. Jastremb. Kainzenbad.

Karlsbad (Bohemia). — Strongly purgative, containing
much sulphate, carbonate, and chloride of sodium.

Kissengen (Bavaria). — Similar to Priedrichshall, but
claimed to contain more free carbonic acid.

Kosen (Saxony). — Contains much chloride of sodium
(more than five-sixths of the total solid ingredients) as
well as the sulphates of lime, potash, soda, and magnesia.

Krankenheil (Bavaria). — Alkaline, carbonate, sulphates
and chlorides.

Kreuznach (Rhenish Prussia). — Bromo-ioduretted brine,
containing a considerable proportion of chloride of calcium
and some chloride of lithium.

Krynica.

LandecJc (Silesia). — Saline, containing, together with a
small quantity of free carbonic acid, some sulphuretted
hydrogen and nitrogen.

Langenau (Silesia). — Containing carbonate of iron and
the alkaline earths.

Lippspringe (Westphalia). — Saline water, containing
besides free carbonic acid a considerable quantity of
nitrogen.

Marienbad (Bohemia). — Alkaline water, rich in sul¬
phate, carbonate, and chloride of sodium.

Neuenahr (Rhenish Prussia). — Similar to Apollinaris.
Pullna (Bohemia). — Bitter saline, containing principally
the sulphates of soda and magnesia, together with some
potassium bromide and lithium.

Pyrmont (Waldeck).— Chalybeate and brine.

Rehme (Westphalia). — Brine.

Reinerz (Silesia). — Contains principally carbonates of
lime, soda, and magnesia, ferrous and manganous car¬
bonates, and traces of ferrous arsenite and carbonate of

lithia. . .

Roisdorf (Rhenish Prussia).— Table water, containing
chloride of sodium, and the carbonates of soda, magnesia,

and lime. . . , . _

Saidschutz (Bohemia).— Bitter water, containing chiefly

sulphate of magnesia.

Salzbrunn (Ober-Silesia). — Carbonated alkaline water,
containing also a considerable proportion of sulphate of
soda.

Schwalbach (Nassau) .—Chalybeate.

Setters (Nassau). — Same as Seltzer.

Soden (Nassau).— Containing the chlorides of sodium
and potassium, and ferrous carbonate .

Spa (Belgium). — Chalybeate.

Tarasp (Switzerland).— Containing principally the sul¬
phates of soda and potash, carbonates of soda, magnesia
and lime, protoxide of iron, and chloride and some iodide

of sodium.

Vichy (France). — Alkaline and chalybeate.

VictoHa (Buda Pesth, Hungary).— Bitter water.
Wildungen (Waldeck).— Alkaline gaseous water.
Wittekind (near Halle).— Brine.

Besides the bottled waters there were a considerable
number of products, many of them in the shape of
residues either deposited naturally or obtained
artificially by evaporation. Amongst these were
evaporated residues and mother liquors from the
Kaiserquelle, Marienbad, Saidschutz, Vichy, Giess-
hubler and other springs, some rather crystalline
carbonate of magnesia and “ pastilles digestives from
Bilin water, and a soap said to contain iodides and

330

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 23, 1880

bromides made with water from the Goczalkowitz
spring, near Pless. From Franzenbad was shown
a ferruginous peat for baths and a ferruginous ochre
(hydrated red oxide) for use in gas purification.

The attention given to the wines seemed to
indicate that they occupy a more important place in
German pharmacy than in English. Tokay was
conspicuous, almost suspiciously so, considering the
small quantity that is said to cross the Hungarian
borders, otherwise than to Russia, where it is almost
exclusively consumed. Greek wines also seemed to
be in favour. A specialty of Messrs Duhr and Co.,
of Cologne, consisted in small bottles of wines, ranging
upwards from a few ounces. They also showed a
medicinal “ champagne,” warranted free from added
carbonic acid.

In the Colonnade were three fine collections of
vegetable drugs, exhibited by Herr Grund, of
Breslau, Messrs. Wolff and Rasim, of Breslau, and
Herr Kathe, of Halle, and it would be difficult to
award among these the palm for greatest merit.
Herr Grund exhibited cinchona barks in unusual
variety, but the specimens were unequal in quality ;
the Ledgeriana was shown in dark brown thin
smooth quills. Another notable feature in this
display was the gums. One specimen marked
“ Gummi arabicum Gezyrrhi ” was extremely white
and brilliant, and others approached it in beauty
of appearance. One specimen, however, bearing the
anomalous title “ Gummi arabicum australischer ”
wTas frankly marked “ werthloss.” Gum benzoin
from Siam was there in large and beautiful frag¬
ments, and the Sumatra and Palembang varieties in
square blocks. This Palembang benzoin, it will be
remembered, contains no cinnamic acid ; it is now
worked for benzoic acid, of which it contains about
10 per cent. There were also some fine white tears
of olibanum and some too that had a purplish tint.
Then there were flores pyrethri rosei and flores
chrysanthemi (wild from Monte Nero and the
Herzegovina and cultivated from Civita Vecchia
and Ragusa) and the powders prepared from them.
Sarsaparilla from Honduras, Yera Cruz, Guatemala
and the Rio Negro, were exhibited in original
packages, the latter being in hanks not unlike in
shape to parallel eel pots. There was also an
original package of curari, consisting of a tier of five
small pots. A large collection of sponges attracted
attention by their size and beauty, the African
varieties from Mandrucha and Bengaso being especi¬
ally noticeable. Some of the sponges were of a
delicate primrose colour, and with respect to the
bleached sponges it w'as stated that they had been
treated with permanganate of potash and not with
oxalic acid.

The collection of Messrs. Wolff and Raisim in¬
cluded, among other things, some fine specimens of
coto and paracoto barks. There were also samples
marked “ cort. quebracho bianco” and “ cort. que¬
bracho Colorado,” but the former was more fibrous
and otherwise differed in appearance from other
specimens of the true quebracho bianco bark. The
kind presentation by the firm of a sample of this as
well as of the red bark to the Museum of the Society
will allow of comparison being made, and perhaps
throw some light upon its origin.

Some of the specialties of Herr Kathe were
noticed in the account of the exhibition in Hanover
last year. Among other noticeable features in this
year’s exhibition were flores pseoniae ; folia sal vise ;

folia piperitae and crispae, used for making infusion
or “tea”; the rhizomes of Iris tomato,, cut intp
slices with a hole in the centre, for children ; a cake
of resina draconis, about 11 inches in diameter and
3 inches thick ; liquorice root cut into flakes, and
the rhizome of Filix mundata. Herr Kathe also
exhibited some large pieces of Aspidosperma Que¬
bracho bianco bark, one of which was kindly
presented to the Museum of the Pharmaceutical
Society.

Herr Muller of Ober-Glogau limited his display
to single chamomile flowers. -

The display of pharmaceutical preparations,
although not very extensive, was interesting, and
some of them were particularly noticeable because
of the greater relative importance that they seem to
enjoy in Germany as compared with this country.
This is especially true of what may be called pharma¬
ceutical confectionery, and of such preparations those
of santonin were amongst the most common, occurring
generally in the form of a conical troche, containing a
definite quantity (about 0 03 gram) of santonin.
Whether this conspicuousness of santonin is dependent
upon, or simply concurrent with, the national consump¬
tion of “ schinken ” and sausage is perhaps fair matter
for conjecture. Another preparation that assumed
considerable prominence is sal ammoniac in the form
of tablets. There were also some very nice looking
samples of liquorice extract in thin pipes and in
threads. Other articles were malt pastilles and
bon-bons, flesh-peptone chocolate, and some good
looking gum pastilles, not coated but made uniform
throughout. As might be expected, Silesia being
the home of the beet, some very fine specimens
of sugar were shown, both in lumps and as an
impalpable powder, and the exhibition by Herr
Eulner, of Berlin, of a sugar for pharmaceutical
purposes that was warranted to be “free from
ultramarine ” showed that the importance of such
an impurity, as pointed out by Dr. Symes, is thought
worthy of recognition.

Capsules were also well represented, and the ex¬
hibit of Herr Pohl, of Schonbaum, near Danzig, was
again worthy of special mention, not only on account
of the variety, but also for the beauty and elasticity
of the capsules and perles. Here were capsules con¬
taining in each 0'05 gram to 0-25 gram of quinine ;
others containing 7 ‘5 grams of castor oil in neat
boxes each holding four capsules ; others wrere filled
with sandal wood oil, or with cod liver oil containing
1 to 3 per cent, of iron in the form of benzoate, or
with apiol, which last are said to be exported prin¬
cipally to India for use in kidney diseases.

The plasters formed another portion of the exhibi¬
tion worthy of notice, especially for the nattiness and
convenience of the form in which they were pre¬
sented. Tin boxes appear to be utilized freely for
this purpose, and these would contain in some in¬
stances a dozen small circular mustard papers ; in
others there were rolls of diachylon or salicylated or
other plasters, varying from about a quarter of an
inch in width and in the smaller sizes retailable at a
very small price. In connection with this subject
must be mentioned the beautiful cardboard and white
birch and beech wood boxes for various purposes
shown by Herr Siegemund, of Berlin, on whose
counter a trophy representing Liebig’s Holie formed a
conspicuous object, and by Herr Schmitz of Neusalz-
on-the-Oder. Some of the cases, again, were devoted
especially to antiseptic dressings, and one very

October 23, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

331

beautiful transparent material for this purpose was
shown under the name of “hyaloderma.” !

The odour from the perfumery exhibits was very
perceptible to the nose, but they included nothing
of very special interest. The essential oil of yiang-
ylang ( Unona odoratissima ), the preparation of which
at Manilla, in the Phillipines, is chiefly in the hands
of Germans, was shown at the stall of Herr Reymann,
of Breslau, together with the oil of champaca flowers.
Here was also to be seen a curiosity in the shape of a
delicately fine handkerchief woven from the leaf fibres
of the pineapple. Herr Hausfield demonstrated the
excellence attained on the continent in the manufac¬
ture of glycerine soaps, the importation of which into
this country has, however, received a severe check
in consequence of the presence of alcohol in the soap.
One specimen of glycerine soap appeared as a clear
liquid. Other soaps shown by the same exhibitor
were “sulphur soap,” apparently containing some
sulphuret, borax, and beech tar soap. Carmine was
shown in boxes of which it only covered the bottom,
and there was a scented cinchona water.

Of course the ubiquitous firms of Park, Davis and

Co., and Cheeseborough were represented, and Seabury
and Johnson’s plasters and “ Sanitas ” were among
the other exhibits familiar to the English visitor, the
last mentioned being in Germany apparently under
the auspices of Messrs. Sarg and Co. There was
also a “ petrolina ” from New York, bearing the
alternative title of “petroleum jelly,” a name which
was long since appropriated and criticized in this
country. A large collection of homoeopathic remedies
was also shown. Among the other miscellaneous
preparations worthy of mention were pencils of
nitrate of silver, enclosed in cedar wood, like the
ordinary black lead pencils, each containing^ 2 5
grams of nitrate, and some “ molken pastilles, re¬
quiring only to be dissolved in boiling milk for the
production of curds and whey. As mentioned before,
the display of apparatus was small, Oberdorffer’s
well-known presses, and those of one or two other
makers, and an Otto’s gas engine forming the
principal features. There was a good display of
glass bottles ‘from Silesian factories, and also of
porcelain vessels for chemical and pharmaceutical
purposes from the Royal Saxon Porcelain Works, at
Meissen. Finally there were two or three dispensing
counters and poison cupboards exhibited, the latter
being remarkable for the faith which they evidenced
in the efficacy of the symbols of a death’s head and
cross-bones, stencilled inside and outside on every
panel, as an aid to careful dispensing.

THE ALKALOIDS OF DITA BARK.*

BY 0. HESSE.

Apothecary Grippe, of Manilla, prepared from dita
bark, the bark of Alstonia scholaris (syn. Echites scholaris),
a substance that he named “ditain,” which he represented
to be obtained in the same way as quinine is from
cinchona bark. This alleged method of preparation
appears to have given rise to the idea with some that
this ditain was a peculiar vegetable base, notwithstanding
that from the communications of Hildweinf1 and Gorup-
Besanez,X it became evident that the preparation in
question was nothing but an extract. However, Gorup-
Besanez separated from 30 grams of ditain, according to

* Abstract of a paper in the Ai 'inalen der Chemie, vol.

cciii., p. 144. „ , .. „„

t Pharm. Central, 1873, No. 26; Neues Bepert,,xxii.,b6l.

X Annalen der Chemie , clxxvi., 88.

Stas’s method, a very small quantity of a strong non¬
volatile and crystallizable alkaloid, though this was not
sufficient for further examination.

Before, however, Gorup-Besanez directed the attention
of chemists to ditain, Julius Jobst and the author under¬
took an examination of dita bark itself. This investigation
led to the discovery of an alkaloid precipitable from
solutions of its salts by ammonia, which they named
“ dit amine,” and another substance presenting much
similarity to the alkaloids, inasmuch as it formed a
compound with oxalic acid, but differing in that it did
not pass into ether and similar solvents when treated
with an excess of ammonia. Other attempts made to
isolate this substance were unsuccessful, and the naming of
it was deferred until further experiment should disclose
its nature.

Meanwhile, dita bark, as appears from a later paper by
Harnack,* was worked upon by E. Merck, who succeeded
in preparing from it a crystallizable base, which in 1876
he showed at the Exhibition of Scientific Apparatus, at
South Kensington. Harnack examined this substance,
which Merck considered to be pure ditamine,'! and found
that in the supposed ditamine there was present the
hydrochlorate of an active vegetable base, which having
obtained from ether in crystals he named “crystallized
ditaine.” Harnack further came to the opinion, like
Merck, that dita bark contained no basic substance

besides this alkaloid. .

Hereupon in a paper entitled ‘Historische Notiz liber
Ditain,’ HusemannJ declared that ditaine had long
before been prepared by Scharlee, and named “ alsto-
nine.” This led the author of the present paper (Hesse)
to make some remarks upon the subject^ and as Harnack s
investigation was then unknown to him and Husemann in
his paper had treated Gruppe’s and Harnack s ditains
as identical, he thought Harnack’s investigation had been
carried out with dita extract. This error induced Harnack
to publish an extract from his paper in the Journal of the
German Chemical Society (xi., 2» 04), in which he stated
that dita bark contained only one alkaloid, namely,
“ crystallized ditain,” and he considered, therefore, that
Hesse’s communication, according to which dita bark
contained two alkaloids, ditamine and echitamine, was due
to imperfect observation.

In the present paper, therefore, Hesse describes exhaus¬
tively these two alkaloids, together with a third,
“ echitenine.” The last named has been known to him
some time, but a communication respecting it has been
delayed until it was ascertained whether this alkaloid was
actually contained in the bark, or was first formed during
the preparation of the other two.

Ditamine.

Ditamine is very easily prepared by the process
described by Jobst and Hesse, II which consists, after a
preliminary treatment of the bark with petroleum spirit,
in supersaturating an alcoholic extract of dita bark with
soda, shaking out the alkaloid with ether and obtaining it
from the ethereal solution in the usual way. If ammonia
be used instead of soda more or less of other substances
separate with it, which passing also into the ethereal
solution render the obtaining of the ditamine m a pure

state much more difficult. .

From the solution supersaturated . with soda it is
difficult to remove the last traces of ditamine by means
of ether, and light petroleum spirit does not act more
favourably, notwithstanding that it separates somewhat

better from the basic solution. , , .

The amount of ditamine in dita bark was estimated in
a subsequent experiment at 0‘04 per cent. In that case

* Archiv.f. exp. Path. u. Fharmakologie, yiii., 126. }>

f Merck at first designated this substance ‘ dittanune,
but appears subsequently to have chosen for it the name of

“ditaine.” # ..

X Archivf. Pharmacie, ccxn., 438.

§ Berichte , xi., 1547.

I |l Pharm. Jowrn., L3], vol. ii., p. 144.

332

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 23, 18S0.

the powdered bark, without previous treatment with
petroleum spirit, was extracted directly with hot alcohol
and the extract obtained upon the evaporation of the
alcohol was treated with dilute acetic acid in order to
bring as much as possible of the alkaloid retained by the
resinous bodies into solution. The clear filtered solution
was then supersaturated with soda, shaken with ether,
and the ethereal solution treated with a small quantity of
acetic acid. After the acetic solution had been separated
from the ether it was saturated with ammonia in excess,
and the precipitated alkaloid shaken out with pure ether,
which upon evaporation left it as a yellowish varnish.

According to these results it might have been expected
that from ten kilograms of dita bark four grams of
ditamine would be obtained. But the process folloAved
was that first described, and only 0'4 gram of alkaloid
was obtained. About nine-tenths of the alkaloid had
disappeared in the process, and probably was contained
in the before-mentioned resinous mass. With the small
quantity of ditamine thus obtained all the statements
respecting this alkaloid previously put forward by
Jobst and the author were confirmed.

Ditamine dissolves very readily in dilute acetic or
hydrochloric acid, as well as in dilute acids generally,
and from such solutions it is precipitated by excess of
ammonia in white amorphous flocks. In this it is dis¬
tinguishable from echitamine, the alkaloid next described,
which is not precipitated from its saline solutions by
ammonia. The two alkaloids present another difference,
not easily mistaken. If to a concentrated acetic solution
of ditamine a few drops of strong hydrochloric acid be
added it remains perfectly clear, whilst in a similar
solution of echitamine a dense crystalline precipitate is
soon formed, the commencement of which is promoted
by stirring the liquid with a glass rod.

The small quantity of ditamine at the author’s disposal
did not allow of the composition of the free base being
ascertained by analysis ; but the platinum salt, obtained
in light yellow amorphous flocks by precipitating an
aqueous hydrochloric solution with platinum solution,
gave figures corresponding with the formula —

(C16H19N02,HCl)2 + PtCl4.

The free alkaloid would therefore have the formula

c16h19no2. .

Echitamine.

After the ditamine has been, in the way described,
removed as entirely as possible, the remaining solution is
neutralized with acetic or sulphuric acid, and carefully
evaporated until it equals one-fifteenth to one-twentieth
the weight of the bark used. To the solution, whilst
still warm, some hydrochloric acid and chloride of sodium
is added, which produces a resinous precipitate that soon
becomes crystalline. The addition of sodium chloride is
continued until it is observed that the precipitated resin
no longer alters its form upon standing. After twenty-
four hours the precipitate is collected, washed with
concentrated hydrochloric acid, and purified by crystalli¬
zation from boiling water. As hydrochlorate of echita¬
mine is almost insoluble in concentrated hydrochloric
acid, the crystallization from water, which, as a rule, is
rather slow, may be hastened by adding hydrochloric acid
to the solution. The hydrochlorate is then thrown down
as a white crystalline powder.

Echitamine may also be prepared by adding fused,
potash to the before-mentioned basic aqueous solution
that remains after the removal of the ditamine and
shaking with chloroform. The chloroform takes up the
alkaloid present, which is partly suspended and partly in
solution, and gives it upon evaporation as an amorphous
residue, which upon treatment with a little concentrated
hydrochloric acid very easily yields the hydrochlorate pure.

Erom the pure salt the free alkaloid can easily be
obtained by dissolving it in the smallest possible quantity
of hot water, adding to the solution saturated solution of
potash or, preferably, fused potash, and shaking out the
free base, which separates in white flocks, with ether or

chloroform. In either case there remains after slow
evaporation an amorphous residue, which upon drying in
the exsiccator at first shrivels up and then cracks. Only
in very exceptional cases does this residue show here and
there indications of crystallization. Upon dissolving
this residue in strong alcohol, or in a mixture of equal
parts of acetone and water, the pure base is obtained
upon spontaneous evaporation of the solution in a
chamber free from carbonic acid in thick obliquely
truncated glassy prisms.

An analysis of the air-dried substance gave results
corresponding with the formula C22H28N204 + 4H20.
Upon placing the air-dried crystals in ail exsiccator they
lost one molecule of water; when further dried in a par¬
tial vacuum (about 400 mm.) at 80° C. they lost two mole¬
cules more, and the fourth molecule was given off with
difficulty and after some time upon raising the tempera¬
ture to 105° C. Upon exposure to moist air this anhy¬
drous substance quickly took up one molecule of water,
again forming the compound C22H28N204 + H20. The
same compound is obtained upon treating the residue left
by the evaporation of the ethereal or chloroform solution
with hot acetone. The basic mass at first swells up and
is eventually converted into a magma of delicate white
amorphous flocks, which, washed with cold acetone, dried
in an exsiccator and pulverized, form a white powder,
having the composition of the monohydrate.

The last traces of the last molecule of water are very
persistent, and can scarcely be got rid of without decom¬
position taking place. Moreover, the dry residue obtained
at 150° C. is almost without action upon red litmus paper,
whilst that containing one molecule of water sharply
colours such paper blue. It would consequently appear
that this one molecule of water has a special signification
towards echitamine, and that by its loss a much weaker
base is formed from a strong one.

This substance formed by drying at 105° C. has, how¬
ever, the peculiarity that when treated with hydrochloric
or other acids the original base is again formed. This
recalls in some measure the formation of chloride of
ammonium‘s when hydrochloric acid and ammonia are
brought together. But when chloride of ammonia is
decomposed with potassium hydrate the nitrogen base
splits up into ammonia and water, whilst in the case of
the organic base under consideration, when it is de¬
composed with potassium hydrate, the water remains
combined and is only given off upon the application of
heat.

C22H28N204-HC1 + KHO = KC1 + C22H28N204 -H(HO).

Consequently, the author calls the compound with one
molecule of water, C22H28N204,H20, “ echitammonium¬
hydroxide,” yielding echitamine by the loss of one mole¬
cule of water.

Echitammoniumhydroxide.

Echitammoniumhydroxide dissolves tolerably readily
in water and still more easily in alcohol, communicating
to the solution a strongly basic reaction. It dissolves
when freshly precipitated rather easily in chloroform and
ether, but is very slightly soluble in coal benzine and
nearly insoluble in petroleum spirit. When the alkaloid
has assumed the crystalline form it dissolves with
difficulty in ether. Both the ethereal and the chloroform
solutions upon spontaneous evaporation leave the alkaloid
in the amorphous condition, though sometimes the
amorphous mass shows distinct traces of crystallization.

The aqueous solution of echitammoniumhydroxide
throws down from solutions of cupric chloride, ferric
chloride and alum the oxyhydrates, without redissolving
these precipitates. In solution of acetate of lead the
solutionproducesa voluminous precipitate of hydrated oxide
of lead, which is partially redissolved in the precipitant.
Echitammoniumhydroxide also displaces the ammonia
from chloride of ammonium, and sets free the alkaline
hydrates from solution of sodium and potassium chlorides,
echitammonium chloride being formed and separating in

October 23, 1SS0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

333

crystals. The sodium chloride is decomposed very quickly,
but potassium chloride requires some time.

When heated quickly in capillary tubes to 206° C.
echitammoniumhydroxide melts and becomes coloured
through the formation of a black scum. It is optically
active, rotating the beam of polarized light to the left.
With sulphuric acid it is coloured an intense purple red,
but the colour becomes paler upon warming. Both the
alkaloid and its chloride dissolve with a purple red colour
in concentrated nitric acid, but after some minutes this
colour disappears and the solution becomes . intensely
green. Bromine produces in the aqueous solution of the
alkaloid a yellow flocculent precipitate that dissolves upon
heating. Anhydrous acetic acid dissolves the base very
readily. Upon warming the solution becomes brownish.

Echitammonium, the author thinks, is probably the
most strongly basic of all the alkaloids and appears to be
monovalent. It neutralizes acids completely, forming
salts, some of which are crystallizable. The chloride,
C„2H99N204C1 or C22H28N204. HC1, is obtained in colour¬
less shining needles upon treating an aqueous solution of
the alkaloid or one of its easily soluble salts with concen¬
trated hydrochloric acid or solution of sodium chloride.
It dissolves moderately freely in hot, but with difficulty
in cold water, forming sometimes in the latter a super¬
saturated solution, from which the salt immediately crys¬
tallizes on the addition of a couple of drops of hydrochloric
acid. It is almost insoluble in concentrated hydrochloric
acid and solution of chloride of sodium. A large number
of other salts, which have been prepared and examined
by the author, are described in detail in the original
paper. The author also describes an oxidation product,
which he provisionally calls “ oxyechitamine,” produced
when a solution of the base is allowed to evaporate while
exposed to the air.

Echitenine.

Echitenine remains in the first mother liquor after
the precipitation of the echitammonium chloride. It
may be obtained either by precipitating with mercuric
chloride and decomposing the precipitate with sulphu¬
retted hydrogen, etc., or by saturating the mother liquor
with soda, shaking with chloroform and evaporating, in
either case manipulating so as to get the hydrochloric
compound of the alkaloid in concentrated solution. This
is done by simply evaporating the solution resulting from
the decomposition of the mercuric salt, or in the other
case dissolving the chloroform residue in concentrated
hydrochloric acid. After standing some time the clear
solution is filtered, supers- aturated with soda solution and
shaken with chloroform. The chloroform solution is
then washed with water, treated with animal charcoal
and finally evaporated, when the echitenine is left as a
brownish residue. After perfect drying this residue
becomes very brittle and springs in brownish lamellae
from the sides of the vessel. It retains some chloroform
which is only driven off completely at a temperature of
100° C. The dry snbstance, when analysed, gave results
corresponding with the formula C20H27NO4.

Echitenine forms, when pulverized, a brownish strongly
bitter tasting powder, which melts at above 120° C. It
dissolves with a reddish-violet colour in concentrated
sulphuric acid and in concentrated nitric acid with a
purple colour, passing quickly into green and finally into
yellow. If the powder be simply exposed to the vapour
of nitric acid it becomes coloured an intensely blue-green.

Echitenine dissolves freely in alcohol, imparting to it
an alkaline reaction. It also dissolves readily, especially
when freshly precipitated, in chloroform and ether, less
readily in water, and in petroleum spirit it is almost
insoluble. Its solution in dilute hydrochloric acid gives
a yellow flocculent precipitate upon the addition of
potassium or sodium hydrate, as also does ammonia if
the solution be moderately concentrated. Even solution
of soda produces a precipitate in a concentrated solution,
but not in a dilute one.

Echitenine forms true salts with acids, but they are

amorphous, and with few exceptions are unsuited for
investigation.

In conclusion, in comparing echitammoniumhydroxide
with ditamine and echitine, the other bases accompanying
it in dita bark, it is at once apparent that they contain
only half the proportion of nitrogen, and the author
thinks that this difference may also be partially an
expression of the relation which these bases show toward
acids. Though differing in this respect, they appear to
belong, as indicated by the nitric acid reaction, to a
common group and the author believes that they are
part of a series which he represents as follows : —

Ditamine . C/16H19N02.

? . . . C18H23N03.

Echitenine . C20H27NO4.

Echitammoniumhydroxide . C22H30N2O3.

Echitammoniumhydroxide would therefore, according to
this view, be the most perfect basic product occurring in
the Alstonia scholaris.

THE BALSAM FIR.*

In his Report^ to the Regents of the University of the
State of New York, Mr. Charles H. Peck, the botanist
of the New York State National Museum, has the fol¬
lowing : —

“ The importance of the balsam fir, Abies balsamea ,
Marshall, as an ornamental evergreen and as a source .of
balsam, renders a brief account of it and its enemies
desirable.

“It prefers wet or marshy soil, in cold, hilly, or
mountainous regions, yet it is quite at home on com¬
paratively dry upland, and will thrive in almost any soil.
Its growth is rapid, but the tree seldom attains a very
large size, the trunk rarely exceeding 1 foot in diameter
at the base. Its usual diameter is 6 to 8 inches, with a
height of 30 to 40 feet. It has a straight gradually
tapering trunk, giving off, at intervals of 1 or 2 feet,
circles of branches, each one of which is a little shorter
than the one next below it. This gives to the head or
spray a very regular form, resembling in outline an
elongated cone. The branches are given off at a wide
angle with the trunk. They are generally a little
ascending, but sometimes horizontal, or slightly deflexed.
The branches are numerous, and given off with con¬
siderable regularity at each node, though scattering or
adventitious branches and branchlets aie of frequent
occurrence, both on the trunk and branches. Theie are
usually three regular branchlets at each node, two
spreading laterally (one from each side of the branch),
and one extending downwards and outwards beneath
the branch. The leaves have been described in some
botanical works as two-ranked. They are, however,
scattered on all sides of the leading shoots, and branch-
lets, and are more or less spirally arranged in their inser¬
tion ; but those on the lower side of the branchlets are so
curved and directed upwards and outwards that they
appear, as a whole, to be somewhat two-ranked. They
are flattened like the leaves of the hemlock, but are
usually longer than those of either the hemlock or

spruce. The lower surface is marked by a prominent

midrib and has a silvery or glaucous lustre which, com¬
bined with the deep green of the upper surface, gives to
the foliage a richness and beauty unequalled by that of
any other of our evergreens. They remain upon the
tree four or five years, so that all the shorter branches
are clad with rich, dense foliage throughout their whole
1 extent. The cones or fruit of the balsam are produced

I on the upper and consequently on the shorter and

younger branches. I have never seen them on branches
below the middle of the tree. They stand erect on the
branches and in this respect differ essentially from the

* From New Remedies, September, 1880. _ ,

f ‘ Twenty-first Annual Report on the New rorx State
National Museum,’ 8vo., Albany, 1872, p. 21.

334

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 23, 1880.

pendulous cones of the spruce and hemlock. On the
very short branches, near the top of the tree, they are
often so close together that they appear crowded or
clustered. Before maturity they are more or less tinged
with bluish, or violet and purplish hues, but their beauty
is generally impaired by copious exudations of resin.
When quite young they are bristly with the long,
slender points of the bracts, but these are at length
nearly concealed by the overlapping scales. The cones
have been described as 3 to 4 inches long, but I have
never seen them so long. Their usual length with us is
1^ to 2^ inches. Sometimes on the mountains, small
trees 4 to 6 feet high bear a few cones. This tree, like
the spruce, in some situations varies considerably from the
typical form. In the Catskill Mountains I have seen it
dwarfed to a diffusely spreading bush, similar to the
ground hemlock. Near the summit of the high peaks of
the Adirondaclcs, it loses its beauty and thrift, and forms
dense thickets, in which the trunks are but a few feet
high, rapidly tapering and coated with lichens ; the
branches are long, straggling, crooked, and interlaced,
the whole forming a hedgelike mass, through which any¬
thing larger than a rabbit would find great difficulty in
passing. Starved by the lack of soil, stunted in its growth
by the short, cold seasons, pressed down by the weight of
accumulating snow, and bruised and cut back by masses
of ice and frozen snow hurled against it by fierce blasts of
wind, it can no longer attain its usual size and its natural
symmetry of form. These mountain thickets of balsam
fir are of interest to the botanist, because they show the
hardy character of the tree, and its ability to live where
few other trees can live ; but they are the constant dread
of tourists who visit the unfrequented peaks of the
Adirondacks, for they are passed, only with the utmost
difficulty and labour.

“ The wood of the balsam fir is of little value for lumber,
owing to the small size of the tree. It contains resin
and burns freely, but with a crackling noise. The smoke
is very penetrating and irritating to the eyes. Near the
summits of the mountains, however, it is almost the only
available wood for camps and camp fires. The bark of
this tree furnishes the well-known “ Canada balsam,” a
clear viscid resin of considerable repute in medicine, and
much used for mounting objects for the microscope. The
resin is obtained from small vesicles or “ blisters ” in the
bark. It is generally more abundant in the thrifty
smooth-barked trees of low damp lands than in the
stunted growths of the mountains. Because of the
value of this tree as a producer of balsam, and because
of its beauty and fitness to adorn parks and pleasure
grounds, it ought to be cherished and preserved. But
like its companion the spruce, it has its insect and
fungoid foes. While at Summit, in Schoharie County,
in September, I noticed in a small grove of balsams and
a dozen or more of the trees had recently been killed or
were then dying. The leaves had nearly all changed
their colour, but for the most part yet remained on the
trees. An investigation showed pretty conclusively that
an insect was the cause of the death of the trees. A
minute bark-mining beetle, both in its mature and in its
larval state, was found between the bark and the wood.
The beetle perforates the bark, excavates its furrow
along the inner surface in a horizontal direction, and
deposits its eggs along the sides of the furrow which is
less than one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter. As soon
as the eggs are hatched, the larvae begin to mine furrows
of their own at right angles to the original gallery, one
part eating their way upward and another downward
between the bark and the wood. These larval galleries
are nearly parallel to each other and are at their be¬
ginning so minute that they are scarcely perceptible to
the naked eye ; but as the larva advances in its course,
it increases in size and the diameter of its furrow
increases in like manner. The larvae were found (in
some instances transformed to the mature beetle) each
in the larger end of its own furrow. It will be observed

from the direction of the original furrow how powerful
an agent for mischief this minute beetle is. Its work is
carried on in the most vital part of the tree. Three or
four beetles attacking the trunk at or about the same
height, and on different sides of the tree, would com¬
pletely and effectually girdle it and destroy its life.
Even a single beetle, by extending its furrow entirely
around the trunk, would accomplish the same result;
but no furrows were found thus extended. The length
of the original furrows appeared to be less than 4
inches. The beetle itself is scarcely more than 1 line long,
and belongs to the genus Tomicus. The species is pro¬
bably undescribed. In the case of the spruce-destroying
beetle more workers are necessary to kill the tree, because
the main furrows are excavated longitudinally or parallel
to the axis of the trunk, while in the case of the balsam-
destroying beetle the original furrow is excavated at right
angles to this axis, and therefore cuts off or destroys the
vital action over a much broader space.

“ The destruction of the balsams was not limited to the
single grove in which it was first observed. In several
places along the road between Summit and Jefferson dead
and dying balsams were noticed, but the affected trees were
not very numerous, and it would not be a difficult matter,
with prompt and united action, to arrest the progress of
the mischief. If each man, on whose land the balsams
grow, would, as soon as signs of the presence of the
trouble are manifest, cut the affected trees, strip off the
bark and burn it, he would, by so doing, destroy the
colonies of larvae, and prevent the further spread of the
mischief. It is not at all probable that trees once attacked
and showing signs of death can be saved, and it would be
far better to cut them down immediately than allow them
to remain as nurseries for these tiny marauders.”

CINCHONA CULTIVATION IN BENGAL.*

The report of the Government cinchona plantation in
British Sikkim for the year 1879-80 has been received,
from which it appears that the season was unusually
favourable for planting operations, and about three-
quarters of a million of young trees were planted out,
of which 644,222 were Succirubm, covering an area of a
little above 196 acres, against 353,415 planted over an
area of 120 acres in the previous year. During the year,
276,700 trees of this species were put out on the new
plantation of Sittong, covering an area of nearly 101
acres ; 258,620 were planted on the old plantation of
Rishap and Mungpoo, though on virgin soil, and 108,900
replaced those that had to be uprooted for the bark crop.
In addition to these, a good many young plants were
utilized in filling up gaps as they occurred in the older
parts of the plantation.

In the resolution recorded upon the proceedings of
last year, it was stated that the Lieutenant-Governor, in
view of the more extensive cultivation of Cinchona
Calisaya, had authorized Dr. King to proceed to Java and
ascertain the condition under which the Dutch have
successfully grown that variety of cinchona. Dr. King
accordingly visited the plantations in Java during the
year. The result of his visit to that island was embodied
by him in an interesting report received by Government
on the 22nd November last, and forwarded to the
Government of India on the 15th December, 1879. The
report shows that, in respect of soil and climate, the
Java plantations have great advantages over those of
Sikkim, but on the other hand labour is much cheaper
in British Sikkim. The conclusions arrived at by Dr.
King were that efforts should be made to graft
Ledgeriana and approved varieties of Calisaya on
Succirubra stocks ; that attention should be directed
towards propagating the best varieties of Calisaya ; that
trial should be given to the Java plan of shaving the
bark of cinchona trees ; and that a more suitable locality

* From the Journal of the Society of Arts.

October 23, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

335

for cinchona cultivation than Sikkim should be sought
for in Burma, the Andaman Islands, and the Khasi
Hills. The Dutch method of shaving the bark of living
trees has already been tried at Mungpoo, but there has
been as yet no time to judge of the results.

The entire produce of the plantations for the year was
361,590 lbs. of dry bark, against 261,659 lbs. in 1878-79 ;
of this, 29,520 lbs. were yellow, and the rest red bark.
The new plantation of Sittong grew its first crop during
the year, and of the bark gathered, 15,850 lbs. repre¬
sented the yield of that plantation. The aggregate
yield of bark in former years amounted to 1,134,901 lbs.,
so that the total produce of the plantations since their
opening, including the crop of the past year, has been

1,496,491 lbs. . t .

The total expenditure on the plantation amounted to
Rs.69,973 0 4, of which Rs.15,204 4 6 represented the
capital expenditure on the new plantation at Sittong,
and Rs.54,768 11 10 the working expenses of the old

plantations. , . .

The superintendent reports that there is a considerable
demand for seed of Cinchona succirubra among the
coffee-planters of Ceylon, who sow it broadcast between
the trees on their plantation, as also for seed of Cinchona
Calisaya ; but it has been found impossible to meet
the demand for the seed of the latter variety to the full
extent, as the bulk is required for the Government
plantation.

The total out-turn of the febrifuge, factory for the year
just passed was 9434 lbs. 13 oz., against 7007 lbs. in the
previous year. The demand of that year, however,
amounted to 7955 lbs. 7 oz., which Mr. Wood, the
quinologist, was able to meet from the large stock that
he had on hand at the commencement of the year, a he
febrifuge factory has been extended during the year,
and is now on a sufficiently large scale to meet all
probable current demands, and at the same time to
maintain a sufficient reserve stock of the alkaloid as now
manufactured.

The total expenditure on the plantation from its
commencement (including compound interest at 4 per
cent.) is a little less than 10 lakhs of rupees. The cash
transactions for the year therefore show a profit of
rather more than 5^ per cent, on the capital. But this
does not represent the whole of the gain for the year,
for the stock in hand has been increased in value by
Rs.42,775, which is equal to another 4 per cent, on the
capital. The amount of febrifuge used in substitution
of quinine in Government hospitals and dispensaiiea
during the past year was 5400 lbs. Calculating the
average price of quinine in Calcutta at 90 rupees (a
rather low estimate), the saving effected by this sub¬
stitution during the year has been very nearly four lakhs
of rupees, and the total saving since the factory com¬
menced working aggregates. 11* lakhs of rupees or more
than the plantations have cost since their opening.

The Lieutenant-Governor regrets the loss of the
valuable services of Mr. Wood, who resigned his
appointment of quinologist during the year. -The thanks
of Government are also given to Dr. King, whose
management of his department leaves nothing to be

desired.

the application of chemistry to

AGRICULTURE.*

BY J. H. GILBERT, PH.D., F.R.S., V.P.C.S., F.L.S.

(Continued from page 256.)

In connection with this question of the characters of
growth under the influence of continuous light, compared
with those developed with alternate light and darkness,
the recent experiments of Dr. Siemens on the influence of
electric light on vegetation are of considerable interest.

* Presidential Address delivered before the Chemical
Section of the British Association, Swansea, 1880.

In one series of experiments, he kept one set of plants
entirely in the dark, a second he exposed to electric light
only, a third to daylight only, and a fourth to daylight,
and afterwards to electric light from 5 to 11 p.m. Those
kept in the dark acquired a pale yellow colour, and died;
those exposed to electric light only, maintained a light
green colour, and survived ; those exposed to daylight
were of a darker green colour, and w ere more vigorous ;
and, lastly, those submitted to alternate daylight and
electric light, and but a few hours of darkness, showed
decidedly greater vigour, and, as he says, the green of the
leaf was of a dark rich hue. He concluded that daylight
was twice as effective as electric light ; but that, never¬
theless, “electric light was clearly sufficiently powerful to
form chlorophyll and its derivatives in the plants.’

In a second series of experiments one group of. plants
was exposed to daylight alone ; a second to electric light
during eleven hours of the night, and was kept in the
dark during the day ; and a third to eleven hours day,
and eleven hours electric light. The plants in daylight
showed the usual healthy appearance ; those in alternate
electric light and darkness were for the most part of a
lighter colour; and those in alternate daylight and
electric light far surpassed the others in darkness of green
and vigorous appearance generally.-

I have carefully considered these general descriptions
with a view to their bearing on the question whether the
characters developed under the influence of electric light,
and especially those under the influence of almost
continuous light, are more prominently those of
assimilation or of growth; but I have. not been able to
come to a decisive opinion on the point. From some
conversation I had with Dr. Siemens on the subject, I
gather that the characteristics were more those of. dark
colour and vigour than of tendency to great extension in
size. The dark green colour we may suppose to indicate
a liberal production, of chlorophyll ; but if the depth of
colour was more than normal, it might be concluded that
the chlorophyll had not performed its due amount . of
assimilation work. In regard to this point, attention
may be called to the fact that Dr. Siemens refers to the
abundance of the blue or actinic rays in the electric arc,
conditions which would not be supposed specially to
favour assimilation. On the other hand, the vigour,
rather than characteristic extension in size, . would seem
to indicate a limitation of what is technically called
growth, under the influence of the almost continous light.

Among the numerous field experiments made at
Rothamsted, we have many examples of great variation
in depth of green colour of the vegetation growing on
plots side by side under known differences as to manuring ;
and we have abundant evidence of difference. of composi¬
tion, and of rate of carbon-assimilation, coincidently with
these different shades of colour. One or two instances
will strikingly illustrate the point under consideration.

There are two plots side by side in the series of experi¬
ments on permanent grass land, each of which received
during six consecutive years precisely the same amount of
a mixed mineral manure, including potass, and the same
amount of nitrogen in the form of .ammonia salts. After
those six years, one of the two plots was still manured in
exactly the same way each year; whilst the other was so,
with one exception — namely, the potass was now excluded
from the manure. Calculation shows that there was a
great excess of potass applied during the first six years ;
and there was no marked diminution of produce during
the five or six years succeeding the cessation of the
application. But each year subsequently, up to the
present time, now a period of fourteen years or of
nineteen since the exclusion of the potass, the falling off

in produce has been very great.

The point of special interest is, however, that ail but
identically the same amount of nitrogen has been taken
up by the herbage growing with the deficiency of potasr
as by that with the continued supply of it. The colous
of the vegetation with the deficiency of potass has been

336

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 23, 1880.

very much darker green than that with the full supply of
it. Nevertheless, taking the average of the eight years
succeeding the first six of the exclusion of the potass,
there has been nearly 400 lbs. Jess carbon assimilated per
acre per annum ; and in some of the still later years the
deficiency has been very much greater than this.

We have here, then, the significant fact that an equal
amount of nitrogen was taken up in both cases, thit
chlorophyll was abundantly produced, but that the full
amount of carbon was not assimilated. In other words,
the nitrogen was there, the chlorophyll was there, there
was the same sunlight for both plots; but the assimila¬
tion-work was not done where there was not a due supply
of potass.

Again, in the field in which barley has now been grown
for twenty-nine years in succession, there are two plots
which have annually received the same amount of nitrogen
— the one in conjunction with salts of potass, soda, and
magnesia; and the other with the same, and superphos¬
phate of lime in addition. The plot without the
superphosphate of lime always maintains a darker green
colour. At any given period of growth the dry substance
of the produce would undoubtedly contain a higher
percentage of nitrogen; but there has been a deficient
assimilation of carbon, amounting to more than 500 lbs.
per acre per annum, over a period of twenty-eight years.
Here again, then, the nitrogen was there, the chlorophyll
was there, the sunlight was there; but the work was not
done.

It may be stated generally that, in comparable cases,
depth of green colour, if not beyond a certain limit, may
be taken to indicate corresponding activity of carbon
assimilation ; but the two instances cited are sufficient to
show that we may, so far as the nitrogen, the chlorophyll,
and the light are concerned, have the necessary conditions
for full assimilation, but not corresponding actual assimila¬
tion.

It cannot, I think, fail to be recognized that in these
considerations we have opened up to view a very wide
field of research, and some of the points involved we may
hope will receive elucidation from the further prosecution
of Dr. Siemens’s experiments. He will himself, I am
sure, be the first to admit that what he has already
accomplished has done more in raising than in settling
important questions. I understand that he proposes to
submit plants to the action of the separated rays of his
artificial light, and the results obtained cannot fail to be
of much interest. But it is obvious that the investiga¬
tion should now pass from its present initiative character
to that of a strictly quantitative inquiry. We ought to
know not only that, under given conditions as to light,
plants acquire a deeper green colour, and attain maturity
much earlier than under others, but how much matter is
assimilated in each case, and something also of the com¬
parative chemical characters of the products. As between
the action of one description of light and another, and as
between the greater or less continuity of exposure, we
ought to be able to form a judgment whether the proper
balance between assimilation on the one hand, and growth
and proper maturation on the other, has been attained ;
whether the plants have taken up nitrogen and mineral
matter, and produced chlorophyll, in a greater degree
than the quantity and the quality of the light have been
able to turn to account; or whether the conditions as to
light have been such that the processes of transformation
and growth from the reserve material provided by
assimilation have not been normal, or have not kept pace
with the production of that material.

But one word more in reference to Dr. Siemens’s results
and proposed extension of his inquiries. Even supposing
that by submitting growing crops to continuous light by
the aid of the electric light during the night, they could
be brought to maturity within a period shorter than at
present approximately in proportion to the increased
number of hours of exposure, the estimates of the cost of
illuminating the vegetation of an acre of land certainly

do not seem to hold out any hope that agriculture is likely
to derive benefit from such an application of science to
its needs. If, however, the characters of growth and of
maturation should prove to be suitable for the require¬
ments of horticultural products of luxury and high value,
it may possibly be otherwise with such productions.

The above considerations obviously suggest the ques¬
tion : What is the office of chlorophyll in the processes
of vegetation ? Is it, as has generally been assumed,
confined to effecting, in some way not yet clearly under¬
stood, carbon assimilation, and this done, its function
ended ? Or is it, as Pringsheim has recently suggested,
chiefly of avail in protecting the subjacent cells and their
contents from those rays of light which would be adverse
to the secondary processes which have been distinguished
as growth ?

Appropriate as it would seem that I should attempt to
lay before you a resumi of results bearing upon the points
herein involved, so numerous and so varied have been the
investigations which have been undertaken on the several
branches of the question in recent years, that adequately
to discuss them would occupy the whole time and space
at my disposal. I must therefore be content thus to
direct attention to the subject and pass on to other
points.

It has been shown that the plant may receive
abundance of nitrogen, may produce abundance of
chlorophyll, and may be subject to the influence of
sufficient light, and yet not assimilate a due amount of
carbon. On the other hand, it has been seen that the
mineral constituents may be liberally provided, and yet,
in the absence of a sufficient supply of nitrogen in an
available condition, the deficiency in the assimilation of
carbon will be still greater. In fact, assuming all the
other necessary conditions to be provided, it was seen
that the amount of carbon assimilated depended on the
available supply of nitrogen.

In a certain general sense it may be said that the
success of the cultivator may be measured by the amount
of carbon he succeeds in accumulating in his crops.
And as, other conditions being provided, the amount of
carbon assimilated depends on the supply of nitrogen in
an available form within the reach of the plants, it is
obvious that the question of the sources of the nitrogen
of vegetation is one of first importance. Are they the
same for all descriptions of plants ? Are they to be
sought entirely in the soil, or entirely in the atmosphere,
or partly in the one and partly in the other ?

These are questions which Mr. Lawes and myself have
discussed so frequently that it might seem some apology
was due for recurring to the subject here, especially as I
considered it in some of its aspects before this Section at
the Sheffield Meeting last year. But the subject still
remains one of first importance to agriculture, and it
could not be omitted from consideration in such a review
as I have undertaken to give. Moreover, there are some
points connected with it still unsettled, and some still
disputed.

It will be remembered that De Saussure’s conclusion
was that plants did not assimilate the free or uncombined
nitrogen of the atmosphere, and that they derived their
nitrogen from the compounds of it existing in the atmo¬
sphere, and especially in the soil. Liebig, too, concluded
that plants do not assimilate nitrogen from the store of
it existing in the free or uncombined state, but that
ammonia was their main source, and he assumed the
amount of it annually coming down in rain to be much
more than we now know to be the case.

Referring to our previous paper for full details respect¬
ing most of the points in question, I will state, as briefly
as I can, the main facts known — first in regard to the
amount of the measurable, or as yet measured, annual
deposition of combined nitrogen from the atmosphere ;
and secondly as to the amount of nitrogen annually
assimilated over a given area by different crops — so that
some judgment may be formed as to whether the

October 23, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

337

measured atmospheric sources are sufficient for the
requirements of agricultural production, or whether, or
where, we must look for other supplies !

First, as to the amount of combined nitrogen coming
down as ammonia and nitric acid in the measured
aqueous deposits from the atmosphere.

Judging from the results of determinations made many
years ago, partly by Mr. Way, and partly by ourselves,
in the rain, etc., collected at Rothamsted ; from the
results of numerous determinations made much more
recently by Professor Frankland in the deposits collected
at Rothamsted, and also in rain collected elsewhere; from
the results obtained by Boussingault in Alsace ; from
.those of Marid-Davy at the Meteorological Observatory
at Montsouris, Paris ; and from those of many others
made in France and Germany — we concluded, some
years ago, that the amount of combined nitrogen
annually so coming down from the atmosphere would not
exceed 8 or 10 lbs. per acre per annum in the open
country in Whstern Europe. Subsequent records would
lead to the conclusion that this estimate is more
probably too high than too low. And here it may be
mentioned in passing that numerous determinations of
the nitric acid in the drainage water collected from
land at Rothamsted, which had been many years
unmanured, indicate that there may be a considerable
annual loss by the soil in that way ; indeed, probably
sometimes much more than the amount estimated to
be annually available from the measured aqueous deposits
from the atmosphere.

It should be observed, however, that the amount of
combined nitrogen, especially of ammonia, is very much
greater in a given volume of the minor aqueous deposits
than it is in rain ; and there can be no doubt that there
would be more deposited within the pores of a given area
of soil than on an equal area of the non- porous even
surface of a rain-gauge. How much, however, might
thus be available beyond that determined in the collected
and measured aqueous deposits, the existing evidence
does not afford the means of estimating with any

certainty. . ,

The next point to consider is — What is the. amount oi
nitrogen annually obtained over a given area, in different
crops, when they are grown without any supply of it in
manure? The field experiments at Rothamsted supply
important data relating to this subject. ,

Thus, over a period of 32 years (up to 18/5 inclusive),
wheat yielded an average of 207 lbs. of nitrogen per acre
per annum, without any manure ; but the annual yield
has declined from an average of more than 25 lbs. over
the first 8, to less than 16 lbs. over the last 12, of those
32 years; and the yield .(it is true with several bad
seasons), has been still less since.

Over a period of 24 years, barley yielded 18'3 lbs. of
nitrogen per acre per annum, without any manure ; with
a decline from 22 lbs. over the first 12, to only 14 6 lbs.
over the next 12 years.

With neither wheat nor barley did a complex mineral
manure at all materially increase the yield of nitrogen in
the crops.

A succession of so-called “root crops,, common
turnips, Swedish turnips, and sugar beet (with 3. years
of barley intervening after the first 8 years) yielded,
with a complex mineral manure, an average of 26 ’8 lbs.
of nitrogen per acre per annum over a period of 31 years.
The yield declined from an average of 42 lbs. over the first
8 years, to only 137 lbs. (in sugar beet) over the. last 5
of the 31 years ; but it has risen somewhat during the
subsequent 4 years, with a change of crop to mangolds.

With the leguminous crop, beans, there was obtained,
over a period of 24 years, 31 ‘3 lbs. of nitrogen per acre
per annum without any manure, and 4 5 "5 lbs. with a
complex mineral manure, including potass (but without
nitrogen). Without manure the yield declined from 487
lbs. over the first 12 years to only 14 '6 lbs. over the last
12 ; and with the complex mineral manure it declined

from 61-5 lbs. over the first 12, to 29 5 lbs. over the last
12, years of the 24.

Again, an ordinary rotation of crops of turnips, barley,
clover or beans, and wheat, gave over a period of 28 years
an average of 36 '8 lbs. of nitrogen per acre per annum
without any manure, and of 45‘2 lbs. with superphosphate
of lime alone, applied once every four years, that is for
the root crop. Both without manure, and with super¬
phosphate of lime alone, there was a considerable decline
in the later courses.

A very remarkable instance of nitrogen yield is the
following — in which the results obtained when barley
succeeds barley, that is when one gramineous crop
succeeds another, are contrasted with those when a
leguminous crop, clover, intervenes between the two
cereal crops. Thus, after the growth of six grain crops
in succession by artificial manures alone, the field so
treated was divided, and, in 1873, on one half barley,
and on the other half clover, was grown. The barley
yielded 37*3 lbs. of nitrogen per acre, but the three
cuttings of clover yielded 151 ‘3 lbs. In the next year,
1874, barley succeeded on both the barley and the clover
portions of the field. Where barley had previously been
grown, and had yielded 37'3 lbs. of nitrogen per acre, it
now yielded 397 lbs. ; but where the clover had pre¬
viously been grown, and had yielded 151 ’3 lbs. of nitro¬
gen, the barley succeeding it gave 69 ’4 lbs., or 30 "3 lbs.
more after the removal of 151’3 lbs. in clover, than after
the removal of only 37' 3 lbs. in barley.

Nor was this curious result in any way accidental. It
is quite consistent with agricultural experience that the
growth and removal of a highly nitrogenous leguminous
crop should leave the land in high condition for the
growth of a gramineous corn crop, which characteris¬
tically requires nitrogenous manuring; and the deter¬
minations of nitrogen in numerous samples of the soil
taken from the two separate portions of the field, after
the removal of the barley, and the clover, respectively,
concurred in showing considerably more nitrogen, es¬
pecially in the first 9 inches of depth, in the samples
from the portion where the clover had been grown, than
in those from the portion whence the barley had been
taken. Here, then, the surface soil at any rate, had been
considerably enriched in nitrogen by the growth and re¬
moval of a very highly nitrogenous crop.

Lastly, clover has now been grown for twenty-seven
years in succession, on a small plot of garden ground
which had been under ordinary garden cultivation for
probably two or three centuries. In the fourth year after
the commencement of the experiment, the soil was found
to contain, in its upper layers, about four time3 as much
nitrogen as the farm-arable-land surrounding it ; and it
would doubtless be correspondingly rich in other con¬
stituents. It is estimated that an amount of nitrogen
has been removed in the clover crops grown, corresponding
to an average of not far short of 200 lbs. per acre per
annum ; or about ten times as much as in the cereal
crops, and several times as much as in any of the other
crops, growing on ordinary arable land ; and, although
the yield continues to be very large, there has been a
marked decline over the second half of the period com¬
pared with the first. Of course, calculations of the pro¬
duce of a few square yards into quantities per acre can
only be approximately correct. But there can at any
rate be no doubt whatever, that the amount of nitrogen
annually removed has been very great ; . and very far
beyond what it would be possible to attain on ordinary
arable land ; where, indeed, we have not succeeded in
getting even a moderate growth of clover for more than a
very few years in succession.

One other illustration should be given of the amounts
of nitrogen removed from a given area of land by different
descriptions of crop, namely, of the results obtained when
plants of the gramineous, the leguminous, and other
families, are growing together, as in the mixed herbage
of grass land

338

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNA^ AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 23, 1880.

It is necessary here to remind you that gramineous
crops grown separately on arable land, such as wheat,
barley, or oats, contain a comparatively small percentage
of nitrogen, and assimilate a comparatively small amount
of it over a given area. Yet, nitrogenous manures have
generally a very striking effect in increasing the growth
of such crops. The highly nitrogenous leguminous crops
(such as beans and clover), on the other hand, yield, as
has been seen, very much more nitrogen over a given
area, and yet they are by no means characteristically bene¬
fited by direct nitrogenous manuring ; whilst, as has been
shown, their growth is considerably increased, and they
yield considerably more nitrogen over a given area, under
the influence of purely mineral manures, and especially of
potass manures. Bearing these facts in mind, the follow¬
ing results, obtained on the mixed herbage of grass land,
will be seen to be quite consistent.

A plot of such mixed herbage, left entirely unmanured,
gave over twenty years, an average of 33 pounds of nitro¬
gen per acre per annum. Over the same period another
plot, which received annually a complex mineral manure,
including potass, during the first six years, but excluding
it during the last fourteen years, yielded 46*3 pounds of
nitrogen ; whilst another, which received the mixed
mineral manure, including potass, every year of the
twenty, yielded 5 5 6 pounds of nitrogen per acre per
annum. Without manure, there was some decline of
yield in the later years ; with the partial mineral
manuring there was a greater decline ; but with the
complete mineral manuring throughout the whole period,
there was even some increase in the yield of nitrogen in
the later years.

Now, the herbage growing without manure comprised
about fifty species, representing about twenty natural
families ; that growing with the limited supply of potass
comprised fewer species, but a larger amount of the pro¬
duce, especially in the earlier years, consisted of legu¬
minous species, and the yield of nitrogen was greater.
Lastly, the plot receiving potass every year yielded still
more leguminous herbage, and, accordingly, still more
nitrogen.

The most striking points brought out by the foregoing
illustrations are the following : —

First. Without nitrogenous manure, the gramineous
crops annually yielded, for many years in succession,
much more nitrogen over a given area than is accounted
for by the amount of combined nitrogen annually coming
down in the measured aqueous deposits from the atmo¬
sphere.

Second. The root crops yielded more nitrogen than
the cereal crops, and the leguminous crops very much
more still.

Third. In all cases — whether of cereal crops, root
crops, leguminous crops, or a rotation of crops — the
decline in the annual yield of nitrogen, when none teas sup¬
plied, was very great.

How are these results to be explained? Whence comes
the nitrogen? and especially whence comes the much
. larger amount taken up by plants of the leguminous and
some other families, than by the graminese ? And lastly,
what is the significance of the great decline in the yield
of nitrogen in all the crops when none is supplied in the
manure ?

Many explanations have been offered. It has been
assumed that the combined nitrogen annually coming
down from the atmosphere is very much larger than we
have estimated it, and that it is sufficient for all the
requirements of annual growth. It has been supposed
that “ broad-leaved plants ” have the power of taking up
nitrogen in some form from the atmosphere, in a degree
or in a manner, not possessed by the narrow-leaved
graminese. It has been argued that, in the last stages of
the decomposition of organic matter in the soil, hydrogen
is evolved, and that this nascent hydrogen combines with
the free nitrogen of the atmosphere, and so forms am¬
monia. It has been suggested that ozone may be evolved

in the oxidation of organic matter in the soil, and that,
uniting with free nitrogen, nitric acid would be produced.
Lastly, it has by some been concluded that plants assimi¬
late the free nitrogen of the atmosphere, and that some
descriptions are able to do this in a greater degree than
others.

We have discussed these various points on more than
one occasion ; and we have given our reasons in concluding
that none of the explanations enumerated can be taken as
accounting for the facts of growth.

Confining attention here, to the question of the assimila¬
tion of free nitrogen by plants, it is obvious that, if this were
established, most of our difficulties would vanish. This
question has been the subject of a great deal of experi¬
mental inquiry, from the time that Boussingault entered
upon it, about the year 1837, nearly up to the present
time. About twenty years ago it was elaborately investi¬
gated at Rothamsted. In publishing the results of that
inquiry, those of others relating to it were fully discussed ;
and although the recorded evidence is admittedly very
conflicting, we then came to the conclusion, and still
adhere to it, that the balance of the direct experimental
evidence on the point is decidedly against the supposition
of the assimilation of free nitrogen by plants. Indeed,
the strongest argument we know of in its favour, is, that
some such explanation is wanted.

Not only is the balance of direct experimental
evidence against the assumption that plants assimilate
free or uncombined nitrogen, but it seems to us that the
balance of existing indirect evidence is also in favour of
another explanation of our difficulties.

I have asked what is the significance of the gradual
decline of produce of all the different crops when con¬
tinuously grown without nitrogenous manure ? It
cannot be that, in growing the same crop year after year
on the same land, there is any residue left in the soil
that is injurious to the subsequent growth of the same
description of crop ; for (excepting the beans) more of
each description of crop has been grown year after year
on the same land than the average yield of the country
at large under ordinary rotation, and ordinary treatment
— provided only, that suitable soil conditions were
supplied. Nor can the diminishing produce, and the
diminishing yield of nitrogen, be accounted for on the
supposition that there was a deficient supply of available
mineral constituents in the soil. For, it has been shown
that the cereals yielded little more, and declined nearly
as much as without manure, when a complex mineral
manure was used, such as was proved to be adequate
when available nitrogen was also supplied. So far as
the root crops are concerned, the yield of nitrogen,
though it declined very much, was greater at first, and
on the average, than in the case of the cereals. As to
the leguminosse, which require so much nitrogen from
somewhere, it is to be observed that on ordinary arable
land the yield has not been maintained under any con¬
ditions of manuring ; and the decline was nearly as
marked with mineral manures as without manure.
Compared with the growth of the leguminosae on arable
land, the remarkable result with the garden clover would
seem clearly to indicate that the question was one of soil,
and not of atmospheric supply. And the fact that all
the other crops will yield full agricultural results even on
ordinary arable land, when proper manures are applied,
is surely very strong evidence that it is with them, too,
a question of soil, and not of atmospheric supply.

But we have other evidence leading to the same
conclusion. Unfortunately we have not reliable samples
of the soil of the different experimental fields taken at
the commencement of each series of experiments, and
subsequently at stated intervals. We have nevertheless,
in some cases, evidence sufficient to show whether or not
the nitrogen of the soil has suffered diminution by the
continuous growth of the crop without nitrogenous
manure.

{To he continued.)

October 23, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

339

% Ijjjarmamtlkal Journal,

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , hooks for review , etc., should he addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should he sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C .

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ.”

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHARMACEUTICAL STUDY.

At tills period of the year the reports of the pro¬
ceedings of provincial associations connected with
pharmacy commonly contain some reference to the
provision made in different localities for enabling
pharmaceutical students to obtain a knowledge of
chemistry and botany, as supplementary to the prac¬
tical training in the recognition of drugs and in the
art of dispensing which results from their daily occu¬
pation, and though there are cases in which the
endeavour to direct the attention of apprentices and
junior assistants to the importance of studying those
branches of science has not been sufficiently appre¬
ciated, it is satisfactory to note that there are signs
of a gradual improvement in this respect.

Last week the report of the Liverpool Chemists’
Association made mention of the success that has

attended the new regulations affecting the chemistry
classes of the school of pharmacy carried on under
its direction. No less than twenty students have
entered for the inorganic elementary and advanced
classes, besides eight who have entered for the
organic class. In connection with this school, it
appears that prizes are offered by the President, and
we learn that six students competed for them at the
late examination, two of the number being successful
in obtaining an award. We are glad also to notice
that the Council of the Association intends in future
to make attendance at two of the courses a condition
of qualification for competitors in the examination,
and we hope that it will be found possible, after a
time, to introduce practical laboratory work as well
as attendance at courses of lectures.

In the report of the Bristol Pharmaceutical
Association, published in the present number, we
have further evidence of the existence of opportuni¬
ties for the study of those sciences without a
knowledge of which no one can expect to obtain the
legal qualification for carrying on business as a
pharmacist, or to succeed in the practice of the art
to which his energies are to be devoted after having
done so. No object can be more worthy the efforts
of such a body as the council of a pharmaceutical
association than that of impressing upon apprentices
and assistants, not only the desirability, but the
imperative necessity of giving serious attention to
the study of chemistry and botany, as being the

means by which their chief capital in the future
conduct of their business is to be acquired. At the
present time such advice is especially requisite, and
from no one can it come with more cogency than
from experienced members of the trade who have
themselves learnt to appreciate the benefits resulting
from thorough scientific training. We think, there¬
fore, the Council of the Bristol Pharmaceutical
Association has done well to exercise its influence
in this direction, and through the mouth of its
chairman, Mr. Schacht, to point out to the young
men more or less under its control the fact that
the future welldoing of all pharmacists depends
entirely upon the amount of knowledge, skill and
integrity they bring to bear on the fulfilment of their
duties.

As regards the possession of the requisite know¬
ledge, the statistics we published last week in the
reports of the visitors appointed by the Privy
Council to attend the examinations conducted under
the Pharmacy Act furnish sad evidence that it is too
often entirely wanting. The large proportion of
failures in the Minor examination admits of no other
interpretation, and those failures would be disgrace¬
ful to the existing condition of pharmaceutical edu¬
cation in this country if there were not good reason
to believe that very many of the candidates who
present themselves in the examination room have
never given their attention to the subjects they are
required to show a knowledge of in such a manner
as to make them able to acquit themselves creditably
before the examiners.

Mr. Schacht’s reminder that the duties of the
pharmacist necessitate acquirements beyond those
to be gathered in the shop is, therefore, one
eminently suited to the present occasion, and he has
rendered good service by declaring, with the
authority that appertains to his official position, that
it behoves young men intending to enter upon a
pharmaceutical career to equip themselves with all
the mental training and knowledge they can gain
by careful systematic study of the sciences connected
with their art, since otherwise their best intentions
and their cleverest manipulations would bring them
only to the tail end of the race.

In speaking last week of the numerous failures in
the examinations, we referred to the remark of Dr.
Maclagan that they were in excess of the experi¬
ence of other examining bodies, and since that time
we have been made acquainted with the results of
the pharmaceutical examinations of the past year in
Germany, which contrast in a very marked manner
with those obtaining here. The number of candi¬
dates for examination by the German Commission
was 156, and of this number no less than 147 passed,
36 of them being characterized as “ sufficiently
instructed,” 90 of them as “ good,” and 21 as “very
good.” It must be remembered also that the ex¬
amination in Germany is decidedly of a higher
character than that of the “ Minor ” in this country,

340

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 23, 1880.

and still the failures in England were no less than
49 per cent., while those in Scotland amounted to
45 per cent.

It is sad to contemplate the probable fate of those
who constitute this large class of unsuccessful candi¬
dates, and to learn from their number how general
is the disregard of scientific study among those who
look forward to a pharmaceutical career. It is
equally disheartening to reflect that these failures
have not at the present day such an excuse as might
have been urged in former times. There is no lack
now-a-days of opportunities for study, but the want
is rather in appreciation of its necessity, and per¬
haps we should add in the disposition to enter upon
it. At Bristol, for instance, pharmaceutical students
have, as Mr. Schacht points out, the choice of two
organizations at which they can cultivate their
scientific inclinations and obtain the instruction
they stand in need of for passing their examination
with credit and qualifying themselves for the effi¬
cient performance of their duties. At the Uni¬
versity College of Bristol and at the Trade
and Mining School they have opportunities for
instruction during the day and in the evening.
Courses of lectures on chemistry are given there
which cover the whole range of the science. For
those who choose to devote their time to practical
work in the laboratory provision is also made under
the guidance of competent teachers. Instruction in
botany by means of lectures and practical demonstra¬
tions is also to be obtained and the library of the
Bristol Pharmaceutical Association, enriched by
grants from the Pharmaceutical Society, offers
facilities for private study to those who desire to
avail themselves of its resources.

Hence it will be seen that in the city of Bristol
the means exist for acquiring the knowledge which
young pharmacists manifest such a striking want of
when they present themselves for examination, and
in other parts of the country there is as much, if not
more opportunity for engaging in systematic scientific
study that would speedily make failure in examina¬
tion the exception rather than the rule. Among
the places where such opportunities exist we may
mention Leeds, as the seat of the Yorkshire
College, on the staff of which is a pharmacist who
we are sure would gladly see its ample resources
made available for educational purposes by young
men who aspire to become pharmacists themselves.
Of more modest pretension than the institutions we
have mentioned are the local schools connected with
pharmaceutical associations, in many provincial
towns and specially intended for pharmaceutical
study, though in most cases the good intentions
of their founders have not been responded to by
such an attendance of students as would suffice for
their maintenance. In view of these various pro¬
visions for study let us hope with Mr. Schacht that
the young pharmacists of the present will show
themselves as fully alive to the advantage as to the

difficulties of the time, and by availing themselves
of the one do their best towards encountering the
other.

REVISION OF THE GERMAN PHARMACOPEIA.

A Commission is at the present time sitting in
Berlin, charged by the Imperial Government with
the revision of the German Pharmacopoeia. The
Commission consists of thirty members, being a
larger number than originally intended, and also
than sat on the Commission which drew up the
first edition in 1872. Of the thirty members, five
(Messrs. Housselle, Kersandt, Reinhardt, Ker-
schen steiner and Koch) are medical officials ; six
(Messrs. Binz, Eulenberg, Fluckiger, Gaethgens,
Husemann and Rossbach) are pharmacologists ; six
(Messrs, von Fehling, Hilger, Otto, Poleck,
Reichardt and Jaff£) are chemists, the last being
a Professor of Medical Chemistry ; seven (Messrs.
Frantzel, von Gerhard, Jurgensen, Nothnagel,
Salzer, Volkmann and von Ziemssen) are clinical
physicians ; and six are pharmacists. Besides these,
the Prussian War Office has deputed two military
physicians and a military dispenser to attend the
sittings. Dr. Schmidt, Professor of Pharmacy at
Halle, is acting as Secretary to the Commission.
In respect to nationality, Prussia has eleven repre¬
sentatives on the Commission, Bavaria six, Wur-
temberg three, Kingdom of Saxony one, Baden one,
Alsace-Lorraine one, Grand Duchy of Saxony two,
Mecklenburg two, Brunswick, Oldenburg and Ham¬
burg each one. Hesse is not represented on the
Commission.

According to the Pharmaceutische Zeitung con¬
siderable surprise exists in pharmaceutical circles at
the omission of the names of two well-known
pharmacists, Messrs. Biltz and Hirsch, who were
active members of the Committee which recently
reported to the German Pharmaceutical Association
on the subject. It must be confessed, however, that
chemistry and pharmacy are well represented on the
Commission, and to an extent in striking contrast to
that which obtains in respect to the British Phar¬
macopoeia. But the present arrangements for the
production of the British Pharmacopoeia have be¬
come a reproach and a source of considerable dis¬
satisfaction to the pharmacists of this country, a
dissatisfaction that is justified as well as intensified
by the fact that the three other most important
pharmacopoeias in the world, those of the United
States, France and Germany, are at the present time
being revised by committees in which pharmacists
are properly represented.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

Grants in Aid of Research.

The Executive Committee will meet on Wednes¬
day, the 27th inst., to consider applications for
grants. Applications should be addressed to the
Secretary of the Conference at 17, Bloomsbury
Square, W. C.

DEATH OF PROFESSOR WAGNER.

Dr. Rudolf Wagner, whose 1 Handbook of
Chemical Technology 5 has probably become known
to many of our readers through the English transla¬
tion by Mr. Crookes, died suddenly on the 5th
inst.., in his 58th year. Dr. Wagner was at the
time of his death Professor of Technological Che¬
mistry in the University of Wurtzburg.

October 23, 1880, J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

341

xobxmml

BRISTOL PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION.

A general meeting was held at the Museum and
Library, Queen’s Road, Bristol, on Friday October 8,
Mr. G. F. Schacht, President, in the chair.

The Chairman said one of the objects the Council had
in view in calling the members together was to place
clearly before them, and more especially before the
younger members, the opportunities for professional and
scientific education by which they were surrounded, and
the}T had asked him to do this in some simple and
informal manner.

He now, therefore, begged the attention of those
present to the statement he had to make, and urged
them to give it their serious consideration, for he believed
the future well-doing of all pharmacists, whether young
or old, depended entirely upon the amount of knowledge,
skill and integrity they brought to the fulfilment of their
duties.

He might, perhaps, in addressing his friends and
neighbours, assume both the integrity and the technical
skill, without which no one would have a right even to
hope for any success in any department of industry
whatever ; but he must remind them that the duties of
the pharmacist necessitated acquirements beyond those
to be gathered in the closet and in the shop, and it
behoved them to equip themselves with all, both of
mental training and of knowledge, that they could gain
by careful systematic study of the sciences connected
with their art ; otherwise their best intentions and their
cleverest manipulations would bring them but to the tail
end of the race.

There had been a time when those who thus thought
had found in the neighbourhood of Bristol some difficulty
in directing students to good opportunities for pursuing
their work, but he was happy to say no such difficulty
existed now. Indeed, pharmaceutical students had now
the choice of two organizations at which they might
cultivate their scientific inclinations, namely, the Uni¬
versity College, Bristol, and the Trade and Mining
School, Bristol, and at the former they had the further
choice of day or evening instruction.

In the subject of chemistry the course of day lectures
at University College covered the whole science in four
terms, that is, the inorganic portion occupied the first
and second terms and the organic the second and third.

Laboratory instruction was continued throughout the
whole session for those who could devote their time to
such work.

The subject was also systematically treated in courses
of evening lectures, which extended over two terms, and
there existed, moreover, an evening laboratory course,
which he thought many young pharmacists might attend
with much advantage, both to themselves and their
employers.

The chemical department of the College was under the
direction of Dr. Ramsay and Mr. Orm Masson, and he
could assure them both these gentlemen were able che¬
mists and good teachers.

They had also, as he had already stated, full courses of
lectures and laboratory teaching at the Trade and Mining
School, and he had every reason to believe the instruction
given there was of high order.

With regard to botany' — the other science upon which
the art of pharmacy rested — full courses of lectures, both
day and evening, and botanical walks were organized at
both these institutions, and the teacher, Mr. Leipner, was
highly esteemed both for his knowledge and the happy
faculty he possessed of imparting it to others.

It was his agreeable duty also to remind them that
through the generous assistance of the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, they possessed
a very good library of scientific books, which under
certain simple regulations they were at liberty to carry

away to their homes for private study. He was glad to
see that a fair demand for these books existed, and that
they were a good deal consulted. He was sure that the
knowledge of this fact would much gratify those whose
kindness had supplied them.

In addition to this bit of property, they were the
owners of a very respectable nucleus of a pharmaceutical
museum, and they had right of access (in virtue of their
connection with the Bristol Pharmaceutical Association)
to all the treasures, both literary and scientific, contained
in the noble institution in which they were at that
moment assembled.

It would be thus seen that though they possessed no
independent school of pharmacy of their own, they were
surrounded by ample outside opportunities for both
elementary and advanced scientific study ; and it rested
with themselves alone to show whether the labour with
which these advantages had been secured had been wisely
bestowed or wasted.

For his own part, the Chairman said, he was full of
hope that the young pharmacists of the present time
were as fully alive to the advantages as they were to the
difficulties of the day ; and were resolved as a matter of
course to play off the one against the other.

The further meetings of the Association were dis¬
cussed and arranged, and a few other business details
having been approved, the proceedings terminated.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The 'first general meeting of the thirty-second session
was held at the Royal Institution, on Thursday evening,
October 14, the President, Dr. Symes, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read
and confirmed, the following gentlemen were elected
members : — Messrs. Thomas Edwards and Gordon Penni-
cook.

The President next delivered his inaugural address as
follows : —

Inaugural Address.

This evening we inaugurate the thirty-second session of
the Liverpool Chemists’ Association and enter on a new
year of work, with its demands, responsibilities and
privileges.

As a rule, I believe, the first two of these are dominant
in our minds, whilst we are very apt to be forgetful of
the last; indeed, those who do not join our ranks, or
join'ng, do not attend our meetings, seem to doubt whether
there are any privileges connected with us as a society,
and possibly also the necessity for our existence as such.
Certain is it, however, that the Association could not
have attained its present position without considerable
labour on the part of its promoters and supporters for a
long period of time, and those who join in later years
inherit that position and the property acquired, as well
as the privilege of meeting here to discuss and further
develop the sciences which constitute and are related to
the calling of the chemist and pharmacist.

It is not easy to find a new theme for an inaugural
address, to deliver before the members of this Association ;
for about a quarter of a century the ground has been so
well trodden that it yearly becomes more difficult to make
a selection. I shall, probably, best consult the interest
of those who practise pharmacy, as well as my own taste,
on the present occasion, if I deal with a subject which has
naturally occupied much of my attention of late, viz., the
present position and future prospects of pharmacy in this
country.

The ‘ Historical Sketch of the Progress of Pharmacy in
Great Britain,’ by Bell and Redwood, is an interesting
description of what its title indicates ; but it concludes as
an important epoch in our history, and might, with
advantage have been continued to the present date. The
past is necessarily connected with and exercises its
influence on both the present and the future, and I
therefore feel justified in making some few remarks on

342

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 23, 1880.

the passing of the Pharmacy Act, in 1868, an Act which
has recently been much abused, and I believe misinter¬
preted, but which at the time was considered to be the
consummation of the desires of the founders of the
Pharmaceutical Society, and of all who felt a deep
interest in pharmacy.

At that time three distinct interests existed. The
G-overnment was desirous of introducing a bill which, if
passed, would place restrictions on the sale of poisons to
the public, believing, no doubt, that such restrictions,
with the pains and penalties which would be incurred by
their violation, would be the best safeguard against
accidental or criminal poisoning. The Pharmaceutical
Society strove to show that more good was to be expected
from the better education of and an improved position
for those who should be allowed to deal in such deadly
substances, and with this in view, pressed for measures
which were calculated to accomplish such results, and to
protect the interests of the trade, or rather what might
be regarded as its professional and responsible interests.
A third party, more numerous than the Society, known
as the outside body, and largely represented by the
United Society of Chemists and Druggists, were anxious
to defend their vested interests and to insist that any
measures which were to become law should be framed on
a sufficiently broad basis to recognize such interests to
the fullest extent. After a long and sharply contested
struggle a compromise was arrived at between the three
parties, and the results were embodied in the Act already
mentioned. A poison schedule had been drawn up, and
an attempt had been made to introduce some very absurd
regulations for the keeping and sale of poisons, under
police inspection ; but these were withdrawn on the
understanding that the Pharmaceutical Society would
substitute others of sufficiently comprehensive and
practical nature to embrace the requirements of every
pharmacy. Education was provided for by compulsory
examination, all outside interests were duly considered,
and as an equivalent for the exactions made, an exclusive
right in the use of certain titles and in dealing in poisons
was created on behalf of pharmacists and chemists and
druggists. In fact pharmacy became, to a certain extent,
recognized as a profession related to that of medicine, and,
similarly, certain privileges were accorded to it.

This is a point of special interest at the present moment,
for none of us who watched the passing of the Act, or who
took an active part therein, entertained the least misgiving
as to whether it gave us perfect security and protection
in these particulars. We felt satisfied in our own minds
as to what was the intention of the legislature ; and yet
we have recently been told by the highest legal authority
in the land that something very different was really in¬
tended, and that we are mistaken in our assumption as
regards protection.

Subsequently the Pharmaceutical Society was called
on by the Privy Council to fulfil the last condition (or
what was assumed to be a condition), viz., to make the
proposed regulations for the keeping and selling poisons.
This caused considerable excitement and opposition on the
part of chemists throughout the country, the resistance
being so strong and the majority against such regulations
so considerable that they were never enforced.

The Act of 1868, with some slight alterations made by
a short Act in 1869, is the Pharmacy Act of the present
day, in which most of us have lost some faith under its
recent interpretation. Indeed, many tell us that it has
always been a burden without adequate compensation,
and that both pharmacy and pharmacists would have
been better without it. But is this really so ? That it
has imposed some restrictions there can be no doubt,
but that it has conferred some benefits I think is equally
certain. We have better definition, more complete
organization, better individual qualification and conse¬
quently an improved position as a body. These are
material advantages, and although we have recently seen
an important corporate right considerably modified to

our disadvantage, still we have a remedy against un¬
registered individuals and firms who attempt to practise
pharmacy. Serious as is the position now with regard
to corporate bodies, it must be evident to any one who
gives the matter a moment’s thought that it would be
considerably worse had we no Pharmacy Act at all. Then,
unqualified individuals would be far more difficult to
deal with than corporate bodies, for although less power¬
ful they might with a little tact assume most of the
characteristics of being qualified and so deceive the
public; whereas now, if people go to stores for their
medicines they do so with their eyes open, and it would
be too absurd to assume that to any large extent an in¬
telligent public will entrust their prescriptions to stores
or that such institutions could conduct the pharmacy of
Great Britain satisfactorily. Much of the prosperity of
this country and the excellency of its products depend
on the specialty of function or division of labour whereby
each class of individuals acquire skill in their special
work. Now such huge bazaars are clearly antagonistic to
the progressive spirit of the age, are retrograde in their
tendency, and they must necessarily disappear when the
sensation in their favour begins to wane ; which sooner or
later it must do as regards pharmacy, if not with other
branches of trade which they profess to exercise.

It would be useless to deny that the result of the recent
action has been a defeat and disappointment to us, and I
would not for a moment attempt to persuade you that
the Pharmacy Act has accomplished all we can desire, or
that it is a perfect piece of legislation. Neither would I
be understood to underestimate the strength of our op¬
ponents, or to advocate inaction on our part. But what I
am desirous of doing is to place the matter fairly before
you ; the facts as they really are, when seen from different
points of view; and having arrived at these, having realized
our position, to consider what is to be done or what can
be done to remedy the present state of things.

The various remarks at trade meetings, and corre¬
spondence in our journals bear evidence that there are
differences of opinion on this point. Many tell us that
pharmacy is in a rapid state of decay, and that unless
“immediate steps” be taken to stem the tide in its down¬
ward course pharmacists will soon all be ruined ; but few
venture to say what these “immediate steps” are to be.
Of these some agree that a new Act will accomplish the
desired result, while others tell us that “to expect the
Government to recognize the claims of a party to pro¬
tection when the principles of free trade are so generally
recognized is altogether absurd.” Probably the best course
for action lies somewhere between these two extremes.
Pharmacy is undoubtedly suffering from outside competi¬
tion, but no help will come purely on that account ; the stern
realities of business admit of but little sentiment, and to
get anything bearing the semblance of protection we
must show that all we ask is for the benefit of the public,
in fact that it is the interest and welfare of the public
we wish to protect rather than those of ourselves. Let us
take, for example, the patent medicine question, not the
prices at which the articles are sold, but from another
point of view. We should, I think, have no difficulty
in demonstrating to the satisfaction of the legislature
that it would be for the benefit of the public that
poisonous patents should be labelled as such by the
makers ; but this alone would not serve our purpose,
we should further desire that the sale of such articles
should be restricted to registered persons. But, we
should be asked, What is the difference whether a bottle,
say, of chlorodyne is sold by a pharmacist or a grocer so
long as it is supplied on the same condition that any
harmless article would be? Are the public better
protected in the one case than in the other? If you
chemists have the exclusive right to sell poisonous
patents, are you prepared to carry out the same re¬
gulations in the selling of them as you now do with the
scheduled poisons which they may contain? “You
cannot have the rose without the thorn.” Now,

October 23, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

343

gentlemen, what should we say to this proposal which
is obviously only fair and reasonable? Should we
willingly accept these conditions and be perfectly
satisfied .that the protection of the public, the additional
labour to the seller and the monopoly were all evenly
balanced? I fear the approval would not be general
and that many would desire the latter without the
trouble that the former would involve. It seems to
me that in seeking a new Act we must be prepared
for something of this kind, for the Privy Council have
already taken cognizance of the great facilities which
now exist for obtaining poisons under cover of the
patent stamp. Our periodicals assert the facts that to
fall to the level of the outside competitors would be
retrograde, and ruinous to the prospects of pharmacy in
this country, whilst to seek protection for the benefit of
ourselves only is sure to prove a failure. The Pharma¬
ceutical Journal is regarded by many as taking too high
a standpoint for the average druggist. Having read
carefully its leaders on this question, however, I have
satisfied myself that they contain many remarks well
worth our consideration, but it will be unnecessary to
quote them here. The Chemist and Druggist is a journal
specially devoted to what are commonly recognized as
“trade interests,” and it does not seek by sensational
articles and empty declamations to gratify those who,
feeling themselves sadly wronged, look for some simple
or royal road by which all will be set right to their
entire satisfaction ; oil the contrary it diagnoses the
malady, probes deeply into the wound, weighs the merits of
various proposed palliatives, and finally provides a remedy,
which having little of suavity about it will be nauseous
to many and palatable only to few ; chacun d son gout,
still none will doubt but it is honestly given. The
Chemists' J ournal, with undoubtedly good intent but less
deliberation, insists that something must be done to
remedy the present state of things; but the precise
nature of that something remains to be explained in a
future article. If it is really practical and more easy of
accomplishment than the task which at present lies
before us we shall be glad to know its details at an early
date.

Calm reflection will probably show us that the recent
reverse is not an unmitigated evil ; it will probably have
some lessons for us well worth learning. We know now
how little parental protection we are to expect from the
state. We have been told that “few interests are worth
protecting which cannot protect themselves,” and this is
certainly suggestive. It calls for our best energies to
render ourselves worthy a higher position than the one
we now occupy. Unity of purpose and action are
demanded. Before the Act of 1868 passed there was
division in our own camp ; but now there is a common
enemy without it is most desirable that we should merge
all minor differences in the one general purpose, ever
remembering that “unity is strength,” and that it is
largely in our hands to determine within certain limits
what the future of pharmacy shall be. True it is that in
the all- wise disposal of things, matters sometimes take a
different course from that which we intended them to
do, but it is our constant experience that no good solid
efforts in the direction of right are ever lost. Temporary
defeat and disappointment should merely stimulate to
renewed efforts ; should cause us to learn the lesson they
teach, but leave us undaunted still. The French nation
is probably now in a condition of greater prosperity than
at any other period of her history, and yet this state of
things is the sequence of the most ignoble defeat it ever
suffered. Might not this too suggest a lesson and be an
incentive to us to strengthen our position by higher
attainments and better organization, the former to lift
pharmacy from the last traces of the mire which still
adhere to it, and the latter to place it in its true position
as an important but distinct branch of the medical
profession ?

This evening we formally open a new session of our

school of pharmacy. The Liverpool Chemists’ Associa¬
tion, like the parent Society, regards education as one of
its. important functions ; it recognizes most fully that
this is one of the special means by which both chemists
and pharmacists must hope to attain to higher ground.
It is surrounded by many difficulties, but none of them
too great to surmount,; amongst these, I may say it
would be gratifying to find more young men coming
forward anxious to join our classes, the fees are nominal
and the excellence of the instruction beyond doubt. It
cannot be supposed, however, that attending lectures
will alone give a sound knowledge of the subjects
taught; the information thus gained must be supple¬
mented by home study — steady, persistent study, re¬
sisting manfully the pleasurable allurements which so
often tempt the student from the path of duty, and
keeping steadily before the mind the high aim and object
of the undertaking.

The subject of education is receiving special attention
just now at Bloomsbury Square, and a committee has
been appointed to inquire into the relation to each other
of pharmaceutical education and examination. I have
on former occasions pointed out that passing examina¬
tions should not be the sole, or even the chief object of
study. Whether the student enters on his career with a
view of pursuing pure chemistry or pharmacy, he does so
with a view of earning his living thereby and of benefiting
in some way the profession he has chosen. But neither of
these objects is accomplished by examination ; it is
only one of the tests of fitness to enter on the business of
life and to protect the public from such evils as may
arise from ignorance. I say one of the tests advisedly,
for a comparatively ignorant man with a good memory
might be coached to pass almost any examination ; but
who would think of regarding such passing as evidence
of proficiency?

To acquire permanent knowledge the period of study
must be more extended than is often the case at present.
Young men not infrequently give years of their time to
pleasures or idleness, and then seek to gain the know¬
ledge necessary to pass the dread ordeal by a hurried
process, by overgorging the mind with undigested facts.
Would any sane individual attempt ‘to administer food
to the body in the same unreasonable manner?

Professor Attfield has treated this subject very fully in
a pamphlet on “ Pharmaceutical Education,” and con¬
cludes that one of the remedies for the present state of
things is to insist on a curriculum of systematic training
and study. He is supported in this view by many who
should be capable of offering an opinion, and although no
one will assume that certificates of having attended
certain courses of lectures m chemistry or laboratory
practice would be proof that the student who had done
so was a good chemist ; still, it would be evidence that a
certain period of time had been devoted to assumed or
real study, that the student had in fact given up the
time necessar}1- to have acquired the knowledge he
possessed in a substantial manner, whether he had
really done so or not. I know there is a feeling abroad
that a curriculum would be an obstacle in the way of
many young men who would otherwise enter on the
calling of pharmacy, and that it would be a hardship 1 3
the students who do so enter. Such conclusions are pro¬
bably the result of sentiment rather than of careful
reasoning. Certainly it would be easier for the earnest,
honest student to give evidence that he was building up
a solid structure of useful knowledge by this slower
process, than for him to declare his proficiency solely by
a single crucial test, and it is equally certain that the
result would be more satisfactory to the examiners.
Provincial schools like this, with efficient teachers,
would be duly recognized, and certificates of having
attended their courses of lectures would be accepted by the
Board of Examiners. A new relationship would spring
up and greater uniformity in teaching would exist
between the central school or schools and those scattered

344

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 23, 1880.

about the country ; new life and energy would be infused
into our teaching, and an increased number of students
would necessarily result. If a moderate curriculum
could be introduced and some process of affiliation by the
parent Society be adopted, I know of no other means
which would equally advance the interest and prosperity
of provincial schools of pharmacy.

With these remarks then I commend the students to
their work, and I ask the members and associates of the
society to unite their best endeavour to make the session
on which we now enter a successful one.

On the motion of Mr. A. H. Mason, F.C.S., seconded
by Mr. Edward Davies, F.C.S,, a unanimous vote of
thanks was passed to the President for his address, and
the meeting closed.

EDINBURGH CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The first meeting of the third session was held on
Wednesday evening, October 13, in the rooms of the
North British Branch. Mr. J. D. Robertson, President,
in the chair. There was a very large attendance.

The minutes of last meeting having been read and
confirmed,

The Secretary made a statement regarding some of the
subjects which had occupied the attention of the Com¬
mittee during the recess, and intimated that the subject
for the apprentices’ prize this session was “ Iron,” and
that essays must be given in to the Secretary on or before
January 1, 1881.

The President then proceeded to deliver the opening
address. He referred to the high honour conferred upon
him by being elected President, and promised to do his
utmost to meet the wishes and further the interests of
the Association. In the course of a spirited and most
interesting address he touched upon many subjects of
great importance to pharmacists generally, and especially
to assistants and apprentices. Referring to the Pre¬
liminary examination he gave it as his opinion that this
examination ought to be passed before entering the trade,
and that employers ought to exercise more discretion in
selecting apprentices. He did not believe in the neces¬
sity for a compulsory curriculum, and thought that
cramming did not exist to such an extent as many
seemed to imagine. As to whether the calling of a
chemist ought to be looked upon as a trade or a pro¬
fession he quoted a number of eminent authorities on
the subject, the preponderance of authority being in
favour of regarding it as partaking of both characters.
He condemned the dispensing of prescriptions by medical
men, but would excuse them doing so in country places
where, unfortunately, they could not depend on having
their instructions faithfully carried out by the local
chemist. In regard to counter prescribing he was not
prepared to defend it except in its simplest range, but
thought it would be absurd and unreasonable to prohibit
chemists absolutely from recommending remedies in
simple ailments. Referring to Edinburgh he said they
knew little of the difficulties which beset chemists in
some other places, the trade being a pure drug trade,
and the doctors leaving to the pharmacists the dispensing
of their prescriptions, with one or two glaring exceptions.
In conclusion, he referred more particularly to the object
and work of the Association, and appealed to individual
members to do their utmost endeavour to promote its
welfare and assist in carrying on the work of the Asso¬
ciation.

On the motion of Mr. W. Aitken, seconded by Mr.
C. P. Henry, a cordial vote of thanks was awarded to
Mr. Robertson for his address.

The President having intimated that the next meeting
would take place in November, when a paper would be
read by Mr. Boa, on “ Chloral and Croton Chloral,” the
meeting was brought to a close.

of Sdentific Sadeifos.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.
A Sample of Cayenne.*

BY THOMAS GREENISH, F.C.S.

A short time since a sample of cayenne was placed in
my hands by Mr. Holmes with a request that I would
submit it to microscopical examination. It had been sent
to him as an article which had recently made its appear¬
ance in commerce.

The sample possessed all the external characters of the
true cayenne, and such a one as is grown in Natal, ground
in the colony, and sent in that state to this country. It
had an oily appearance which seemed artificial, and com¬
municated to the paper in which it was folded, together
with the oil, a reddish colour; the oil which permeated the
paper was a fixed oil.

There are two distinct cayennes grown in Natal, one is
a brilliant red, and the other yellowish and corresponding
to the Nepaul pepper ; they are both, and more especially
the former, extremely pungent. This sample, however,
although possessing, to the naked eye, all the external
characters of the Natal red pepper was entirely devoid of
pungency.

At first it was thought probable that some other pod
than that of the capsicum had been ground and forwarded
to this country for the purpose of adulterating the genuine
article ; to determine this point with certainty, a portion
of it was subjected to careful histological examination,
and the cellular structure compared with that of true
Natal samples which I had previously examined.

Characteristic Cells of the Capsicum Fruit.

The annexed drawing shows the characteristic cells of
the capsicum fruit, isolated, and mounted separately for
the purpose of reference on such an occasion as the
present, where they were required for comparison with
those of the sample. The cells, fig. 1, are the external
cells of the capsicum pod ; usually they possess more or
less of a beaded appearance as represented in the drawing.
Within them are parenchymatous cells, fig. 2, traversed
by spiral vessels, The surface of the internal coat is covered
by the cells, fig. 3. The irregularities seen on the internal
surface of individual cells and so conspicuous in fig. 1 and
3, as compared with the parenchymatous cells (fig. 2), are
caused by the irregular deposition of the secondary
matter, assuming very different and interesting forms, a
circumstance frequently observed in histological in¬
vestigation.

With the pod must necessarily be ground the seed
which it contains, and hence is met with in an examina¬
tion of the powder a remarkably characteristic cell, serpen¬
tine in form and with its secondary deposit in regular
laminse (fig. 4), which are rendered conspicuous by the
appropriate reagents. _ _ _

* Read August 25.

October 23, 1880. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

345

Having given considerable attention to the anatomical
examinations of different capsicums, without meeting
with one that was not more or les3 pungent, the question
arose, how has this sample been deprived of its pungency,
so as still to retain its colour?

In the first place, heat was employed to drive off the
acrid principles of the capsicum, but this was not suc¬
cessful; decomposition occurred just when volatilization
was taking place; this may possibly have been due to
the fact that the pungent principle resides in a resin as
well as a volatile oil. Diluted spirit was then tried
and by this agent the acrid matter was removed with¬
out, or with very little, loss of colour, leaving a marc
devoid of pungency, and possessing much the appearance
of the sample in question.

From subsequent information it is believed, that the
more brilliant samples of cayenne, but deprived of
pungency, or perhaps a bye-product of some manufacture,
are used for giving the special plumage to canaries, and
that the sample in question was most probably one in¬
tended for this purpose, and not an adulterant of com¬
mercial cayenne.

The investigation of this subject has afforded me the
opportunity of describing the structural details of the
capsicum fruit, and will propably be accepted as another
illustration of the value of histological investigation in
determining, by anatomical detail, the true from the false
in materia medica specimens or any product of the
vegetable kingdom which may be submitted to the
pharmacist.

The President said this paper had both practical and
scientific value. He should like to ask Mr. Greenish
what he considered the very brilliant colour in the first
sample was due to, whether there had been any fixed oil
added which drew out the colour

Mr. Brady said there was a red pepper commonly used
in some parts of southern Europe, notably in Hungary,
very similar in colour and appearance with the sample
produced. He had seen it brought into the market at
Pest in large quantities in linen bags. He believed it
was the produce of a capsicum, although he had never
traced the species, but it had so little strength that it
might be used, a teaspoonful at a time, as a condiment.
A very similar pepper was used in Algeria.

Mr. Naylor said he had met with a sample of cayenne
pepper very closely resembling the one handed round,
but it possessed a much more pungent taste. It was
forwarded with a request to obtain a quantity of it ; but
though it was sent to the wholesale houses and no oppor¬
tunity was missed, he was unable to get a further supply,
and he had not to this day been able to make out what
pepper it really was.

Mr. Chipperfield asked what was cayenne pepper?
He took it that it was capsicum ground before it was
dried, and it must also have some salt mixed with it,
or else it would not keep good for any length of time.
For instance, they all knew practically that pulv. capsici
did not keep very long, and those who were not fre¬
quently in the habit of using it when they want to make
up a prescription often found it was mouldy and bad.
He therefore took it that it was owing to the salt being
added to the capsicum or chilli that the pepper would
keep so long. They always found cayenne pepper red,
but Nepaul pepper was not so deep a colour, being
almost yellow. Chillies themselves were of all colours —
green, a beautiful red, and sometimes a beautiful yellow,
but they never found pepper made either from the green
or from the yellow ones. He often had them himself in
the form of West or East Indian pickles with all these
beautiful colours.

Mr. Andrews asked if it were not possible that this
pepper might have been used for the preparation of
soluble cayenne pepper; whether, by means of spirit the
active pungent matter had been extracted and the
residue treated in some way, as he suggested, with fixed

oil. He could not account for it otherwise, for there was
no trace of pungency.

Mr. Chipperfield said he doubted if birds would care
to eat the chillies after all the pungency had been taken
from them.

Mr. Cotterell said he had a samjile of cayenne pepper
on one occasion two or three months, and there was a
little suspicion of its having got damp; it had the flavour
of the sample now produced, but although the pungency
was gone it tasted of saffron, and had the colour of
saffron.

Mr. Lloyd said the flavour appeared to him to be that
of palm oil.

Mr. Gerrard said that during the past year he had
prepared a quantity of extract of capsicum which had
been applied locally for therapeutical purposes in treat¬
ing skin disease, and probably in a short time a paper
would appear on the subject in one of the medical
journals. He found that the yield was very variable.
The extract was prepared by exhaustion with methylated
spirit, and distilling off the alcohol, when the residual ex¬
tract separated into two layers, one which was evidently
resinous and the other fatty. This fatty layer would
crystallize, and as such a mixture was not well adapted
for mixing with fats as an ointment it was necessary to
add a little alcohol to cause a proper admixture of the
resin and the fat. The yield of resinous matter from
capsicum varied considerably, for he obtained 50 per cent,
more resin from some samples than from others. In
some the fatty matter was in excess, and in others the
resinous matter. Until recently he had always under¬
stood that capsicum, if applied locally, would not produce
a blister, and he believed Mr. Greenish himself held that
opinion two or three years ago, but he had since found
out the contrary, for if some of this fatty matter got on
the skin it would produce intense irritation, and if it
remained long enough would raise a blister.

Dr. Symes presumed that Mr. Greenish scarcely con¬
sidered this to be a sample of Natal cayenne. He
thought it had very little of the characteristics of that
article. The Natal cayenne was an article of commerce
fetching rather a high price, and was in demand amongst
grocers. It might have been a special sample of Natal
cayenne that Mr. Naylor was seeking on that occasion
he referred to. It had a peculiar odour, and a very oily
appearance. It was scarcely necessary that chemists
should dispense cayenne pepper containing salt, because
if the capsicums were carefully dried and powdered, he
never found them spoil.

Mr. Clark said to the best of his belief capsicum
pepper was not sent out mixed with salt, and as there
might be public analysts in the room it might be as well
to state that fact.

Mr. Umney said those interested in the chemistry of
chillies could not do better than peruse a valuable paper
by Mr. Thresh, which they had placed before them
some time ago, showing there was a large quantity of
fixed oil in the ordinary chillies of trade ; it was owing
to this fact that they saw the oily stain on the paper.
Every one who had handled a parcel of cayenne must
have made this observation.

Mr. Greenish said it was curious fact, but this
appeared to be used for the plumage of canaries ; whereas
the principal importer in London of Natal cayenne, who
prided himself on its colour and pungency, told him over
and over again that bird fanciers especially asked for it.
But here was a fact that bird fanciers wanted that which
was pungent, and there was this which was without any
pungency was used for the same purposes. He was
pleased to hear from Mr. Brady that there was a
Hungarian cayenne which had very little taste indeed,
but this had seemingly no taste at all. Mr. Andrews
had suggested that it might be a bye-product in making
a soluble cayenne. He had alluded to that in the paper,
but did not wish to say it had been used for that
purpose. Mr. Gerrard seemed to have misunderstood

346

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 23, 1880.

him when he spoke of cayenne in a mustard plaster.
What he said was that, he had examined two or three
samples of mustard leaf and amongst them was an
American sample in which there was no capsicum, but
he did not express any opinion about the properties
of capsicum to raise a blister or otherwise.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Greenish for his
paper.

tspensincj BTemorantnt.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose salce partly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[451]. “ Hyd. chlor.” is hyd. perchlor. or corrosive
sublimate. It has had many synonyms, and the U. S.
Pharmacopoeia still designates it as hyd. chlor. corrosi-
vum. Neither calomel nor hydrate of chloral can be
meant, as no one would drop such an irritant as chloral
into the eyes, and what in the name of wonder suggested
to J. G. P. S. “calomel?” Formerly, Dr. Mackenzie
and Dr. Smith used a lotion of hyd. chlor., the latter
using 2 grains to the ounce, and the former 1 grain to 8
ounces of water, with 6 grains of sal ammoniac. The
practice of using corrosive sublimate in eye affections in
the form of lotion has been almost abandoned, at least
in England, but there can be little doubt that hyd. chlor.
in this case means hyd. perchlor., B.P.

Henry Brown.

[451]. I should most assuredly dispense this as follows:

R Hydratis Chloral . gr. v.

Ext. Opii . gr. ij.

A rt “7 • •

Ft. lotio. I have never heard of mercurial preparations
for the eyes.

“374.”

[452]. It is difficult to conceive how a “ green
spirituous extract ” is left by treating ext. lupuli with
water in the formula given by H. O. J. If the extract
is made according to the B.P. directions, such is im¬
possible, as it will mix well and smoothly with water.
All the spirit is distilled off.

Henry Brown.

[453]. I take it that lin. plumbi co. means lin. plumbi
subacetatis. of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia. It is thus
made : — Olive oil, 3 ounces ; solution of subacetate of
lead, 2 ounces. When mixed, a yellowish- white emulsion
is formed.

It is used for chilblains, chapped hands, bruises, etc.,
and is most useful in healing burns and scalds when
obstinate. I have frequently employed such liniment
with good results.

Henry Brown.

[453]. Probably by lin. plumbi co. the prescriber
means glyc. plumbi subacet.

[454], Syr. Ferri Phosph., B.P.— I made “syr. ferri
phosph., B.P.” yesterday, and it measured exactly 12 oz.

Mr. R. J. Latham must have made a mistake some¬
where, as I strictly followed the B.P. directions.

J. Blake Benjamin.

[454] . There must be some error in making it, as it
generally comes out tolerably exact, and what little there
is short should be made up by water.

“347.”

[455] . Ungt. Rumicus c. Sulphur. — “Unguent” will
find a general formula in Stills and Maisch. If it is not
at hand, the plan of procedure is thus : — Boil yellow dock
root in vinegar until the fibre is softened, then reduce it
to a pulp, and mix it with sulphur and lard. No exact
proportions are given. It has been used in itch and
other skin diseases. Various species of rum ex have been
employed in medicine, both internally and externally, but
all have fallen into disrepute.

Henry Brown.

[455]. The following are the proportions of sulphur
and rumex ointment employed in making ung. rumicis c.
sulph.

R Ung. Rumicis . 3viij.

Sulphur Sublimat. . ^j.

M

Formula for Ung. Rumicis.

R Dock Root . 14 parts.

Lard . 12 parts.

Yellow Wax . 1 part.

The root to be thoroughly cleaned and well bruised and
boiled with the lard until the water is driven off.

J. H. F.

[455]. “Unguent” asks for a formula for ungt. rumic.
c. sulph. Perhaps this from Quincy’s ‘Dispensatory’
will suit him : —

Ungt. ex Oxylapatho.

Take of sharp-pointed Dock Root boiled in water and
drove thro’ a sieve and live Sulphur, ana §iss., of Hog’s
Lard boiled in the juice of Scabious, to the consumption of
all the juice lbss., of the Unguentum Populneum, boiled
in the juice of Elecampane, §ss., some drops of Oil of
Rhodium Wood, and let these all be reduced in a mortar
into an ointment, s.a.

Lewis’s ‘Pharmacopoeia’ (1748) gives the following
formula for —

Unguentum Antipsoricum.

Take roots of Elecampane and those of sharp-pointed
Dock, of each cut small and bruised, 3 ounces. Boil them
in a mixture of 3 pints of water and 1 pint of vinegar, 2
till half of the liquor is wasted. Strongly press and strain
out the remaining half, and add to it 10 ounces of the
leaves of water cresses, fresh gathered and bruised, and 4
pounds of Hog’s Lard. Let them all boil again till the
moisture is exhaled; then press out tVe ointment, and
dissolve in it 4 ounces of Yellow Wax, and the same
quantity of Oil of Bays. Mix the whole well together.
Sulphur may be occasionally added to this ointment.

If the above are too elaborate, perhaps the following
from the ‘ Pharmacopoea Universalis’ will suit your cor¬
respondent : —

Ant'iherpetic Ointment.

R Sublimed Sulphur . oj.

Pulp of Dock Root . 33.

Lard . gij.

Lemon Juice . . . 2 spoonfuls.

Mix.

Edward H. Storey.

[456]. The question of the decomposition of potass,
iodid. by the free acid always present in a sample of sp.
aether. nit., comparatively old, has been so often
discussed in your Journal that it seems almost un-
necessary again to revert to it. Undoubtedly the
prescriber has no intention of giving small doses of free
iodine, and if by neutralizing the acid in sp. seth. nit. a
satisfactory mixture is not obtainable, the incompatibility
of the two ingredients should be pointed out to him.

J. H. F.

[456]. The pot. iod. and spt. seth. nit. question again

October 23, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

347

crops up. Mr. W. J. Smith no doubt knows that unless
spt. aeth. nit. is freshly prepared, it will set free a portion
of iodine when added to iodide of potassium. The com¬
bination has long been a favourite catch in Dublin, and
the spt. seth. nit. should always be neutralized. It is
not the intention to give iodine in a free state.

Henry Brown.

®0rasp0iiimice.

No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the write r; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

[457]. Strychnia is not thrown out of solution by
sodae bicarb. A “ shake the bottle” label is not necessary.

J. H. F.

[458]. “Jacque” will find all the information he re¬
quires in the ‘ Pharmacopoeia for Diseases of the Skin,’
by Mr. Balmanno Squire. Call it plumbi glycerole, or
glyceride, or glycerite, it is made by substituting gly¬
cerine for water in the preparation of “ liquor ” plumbi
subacetatis glycerinum. It is also called “pigmentum
plumbi.” The ointment is made by adding ^ drachm of
the plumbi subacet. glycer. to 1 ounce of vaseline.

Henry Brown.

[458]. Evidently the prescriber made an error, and
intended to write plumbi glycerin, a term often used in
place of plumbi glycerole.

“ 37 4.

[459]. Having the following prescription to dispense I
was unable to make it to my satisfaction, perhaps some
Lind reader will be able to help me : —

ft Phosphori . or- j

Benzol Rect.

Calcii Chloridi .
Tr. Zingib. Fort.
Aq. ....
Misce. Fiat mist, sec

. 3ij-
• 3iij.

. 388*

_ad ^xij.
capiat gss. bis vel ter

art. et

■die ex cyatho aquae c. sp. vini gallici

Volvox Globator.

1460].

ft. Acid. Gallic . 3j-

Acid. Sulph. Dil . 3j*

Aquae . ad $vj.

M. Ft. mist.

A sixth part every four hours.

This was sent out as a clear mixture, with little or no
•deposit., by a surburban chemist. I wrote to ask his
modus operandi , but he merely says that it is his custom
to use hot water, but that will not prevent the excess of
acid crystallizing out on cooling. Could it be considered
•correctly dispensed ? The addition of a solvent such as
•s.v.r. or glycerine would not be justifiable.

W. H.

Dotes anfr (Queries,

[680]. AQUEOUS TINCT. OF OPIUM.— If “Spa-
thula” has made a good aqueous tincture of opium he
might add a little salicylic acid, which might help to
lceep it.

“ 374.”

[682]. INFUS. CORT. AURANTII.— Will some one
please give the information how a non-alcoholic prepara¬
tion of cortex aurant. can be made so as to remain
perfectly bright ? I have made an infusion both cold and
hot, also a decoction with aq chloroformi, but in about
seven days they became cloudy and threw down a deposit.

W. B. S.

[An infusion of orange peel, B.P., bottled whilst hot,
and with atmospheric air excluded, may be kept for a
long time without apparent change. In contact with the
atmosphere it will undergo decomposition. — Ed. Ph. J.j

The Future of Pharmacy.

Sir, — Pharmacy shares at present with farming great
depression, and as there are now many vacant farms there
will soon be also many vacant pharmacies. Everything
connected with them is mouldy, even as portrayed by
Shakspere in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ about the apothecary,
and also in ‘The Progress of Pharmacy,’ page 24. Several
members of Council speak of the “gloomy position,
and Dr. Down of “great depression.” Let us hope, as is
usually the case, when things come to the w orst that they
will mend ; but let us poor sufferers look to good examples
and not to bad ones. There is no doubt we are besieged and
hard pressed; but let us neither starve like cravens nor
desert to the enemy ; let us makea sally, as many a British
garrison has done before, and show we have some spirit left.

Some timid chemists suggest we should fight stores with
their own weapons; but, alas, we should find that store
weapons would cut our own throats, and we should at best
be only pulling our nose to spoil their faces. They sell our
goods at cost price as a draw, having other more profitable
things to recoup themselves; we have not, we cannot buy
and sell and live entirely on the loss.

I hold that the true remedy is to agitate and show that
we are not satisfied with the decision on our case. I call it
simply wholesale confiscation and spoliation. The law gives
us protection, which belief has undoubtedly been the means
of inducing say hundreds, at a moderate computation, to
enter the business, and I never heard of any case in w'hich
vested interests were injured without compensation; there¬
fore, if this is to be the law let us have compensation and

start afresh fairly. ... . ,

The whole difficulty is about these unnatural or artificial
persons. I have heard of artificial flowers and chemicals
produced artificially, but I never heard of an artificial
chemist before. The Lord Chancellor admits in the opening
sentences of his judgment, “In a popular sense and in
ordinary use the word person must be taken to mean a
natural person,” and continues to favour us till he speaks
of an artificial person (which has been created in this case) ;
then he says that it evidently does not apply to corporations,
as they could not be admitted as members of the . harma-
ceutical Society. But that is really outside the case, as it is
being on the Register of Chemists, and not on the lists ol
members of the Pharmaceutical Society that gives qualifica¬
tion and if any number of persons had been carrying on
the business of a chemist before the Act which has given us
the protection, undoubtedly they could have registered
through any member or secretary in case of a company, and
as none did claim, ergo there did not exist such a thing ; and
they cannot infringe a law, but, as other companies who
wish to do a special act, must have a special Act of Pai La¬
ment to give them power. I do not think the Act will bear
such a strain on it as to say that because the Act does not
say corporation may not, therefore they may. I take the
view of our learned counsel, it is forming a company for an

'^iff Down, in his most able and learned address, points
out a bright future for a typical pharmacist; but in all due
deference, I should call him a scientific chemist, more of
whom exist at present than are actually required. I he
public have all that is necessary. The bociety ha3
trained and educated a vast body of intelligent and com¬
petent men, distributed throughout the length ana bieadth
of the land at everybody’s door, even in greater numbers
than actually required, as many of us know, and a more
faithful set of slaves does not exist, ready to be at anybody s
beck and call night and day, and if it were not for these
valuable reserves, there are few who would be so insane as
to trust to stores, which are a long way off and only open
about nine hours a day, if they did not know there was a
needy class (rendered, alas, more needy through their selfish¬
ness) ready to tide them over cases of emergency. . ,

1 say that it is as absolutely necessary to have chemists
shops distributed about as it is to have gas lamps m every

348

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 23, 18S0.

street, and that persons who deal in medicines should be
qualified, and that no unqualified person should be allowed
to sell medicine at all ; thus we ought to have the trade in
our own hands at remunerative prices, and let the public
effect their economies in some other branch of expenditure,
and as ours in any case is so small an amount, whilst the
other items must furnish abundant opportunity.

Henry Long.

Exemption from Jury Service in Scotland.

Sir, — From an account of the proceedings of the Law
and Parliamentary Committee of the Chemists and Drug¬
gists’ Trade Association, reported in last week’s Journal, it
appears that that body purpose memorializing the Home
Secretary on the subject of the exemption of chemists and
druggists from jury service. This is a step in the right
direction.

Registered chemists and druggists are as much entitled as
their professional brethren — pharmaceutical chemists — to
exemption from jury service. The proposed memorial is
to be signed on behalf of the “ Chemists and Druggists’
Trade Association of Great Britain .” This, one would
naturally imagine, includes Scotland. If it does, so far
good. It so happens, however, that pharmaceutical che¬
mists in Scotland are not exempt from jury service. I hope
the Trade Association will excuse me if I appeal to their
good offices on behalf of the entire profession in Scotland in
this matter of jury service.

It is scarcely creditable to the Pharmaceutical Society
that this act of justice to Scotland has been so long deferred.
Might not the Society at this juncture co-operate with the
Trade Association for “ puir auld Scotland’s sake?”
Dalkeith , N.B. James Stewart,

Pharmaceutical Chemist.

L The writer of this letter appears to overlook the fact
that the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society has already
obtained recognition of the principle he contends for, and
he seems also to forget that so long as there is no Jury Bill
before Parliament no opportunity exists for carrying that
principle into operation. — Ed. Ph. Journ.]

The Estimation of Small Quantities of Arsenic.

Sir, I am indebted to Mr. Thomson for his courteous
letter referring to Houzeau’s process for the estimation of
arsenic, published in 1873. This method, owing to its
being described as volumetric, had escaped my notice when
hunting up previous researches on the subject.

Mr. Thomson thinks that Houzeau’s method and my own
are practically the same. In this I cannot agree with him. It
is true both are based upon Soubeiran’s reaction, but whilst
Houzeau deduces the amount of arsenic from a volumetric
determination of silver lost , I calculate it by a direct
gravimetric estimation of silver found. The latter must,
I think, be admitted to be the more accurate method. An
example will make this clear.

Let it be assumed that the amount of arsenious acid to
be determined is that taken in the first four experiments
described in my paper, viz., ’00292 gram As203 equivalent
to 00221 gram As, and that 30 c.c. decinormal solution of
silver nitrate are employed to absorb the gas. From the
equation —

6 AgN03+3 H20 + AsH3=6 HNO3+H3 As03+3 Ago

1020

it will be seen
/1020x -00221
V 75

L=)

78

that this

amount would decompose
/’030

'030 gram AgNC>3, or

I

/

1'7

c.c

of the decinormal solution. The whole success of Houzeau’ i
method would depend upon the absolute recovery of th(
30 c.c. of silver solution used, minus the equivalent o
1*7 c. c. decomposed by the arsenietted hydrogen. That this
could be ensured seems to me very improbable. In additior
to a slight loss, which must necessarily occur, in filtering
and washing the precipitated silver, any one who has mad<
use of Soubeiran’s reaction will have noticed that, owing tc
the varying pressure, consequent upon an irregular dis
engagement of the hydrogen (especially noticeable when
operating upon solutions containing bismuth), a portion oi
the silver solution is apt to get sucked back into the acetate
of lead bottle. A c.c. or two might thus be easily lost

which would involve a considerable error when calculating
the As from the missing silver.

The gravimetric method is not open to this objection;
the liberated silver falling at once to the bottom ©f the
bottle, and if the precaution be taken of allowing the
hydrogen tube to dip only just bslow the surface of the
solution, not a particle of silver need be lost from back
pressure.

Taking also into consideration the fact that Houzeau’s
process involves the use of two standard solutions and an
indicator, in addition to the inferiority of a volumetric as
compared with a gravimetric estimation, I think the
method recommended in my paper at the Conference is, on
the whole, to be preferred. At the same time I gladly
accord to M. Houzeau the credit of having first turned
Soubeiran’s reaction to quantitative account.

73, Highbury Hill, N. F. W. Fletcher..

P.S. — Curiously enough Houzeau concludes his paper
with the observation that “ solutions of nitrate of silver are
not, as has been stated by some chemists, reduced by a
current of pure hydrogen.” However tid3 may be, Dr.
Russell’s experiments are sufficient to show that there
would be no danger of reduction in such a dilute solution,
as a decinormal one.

The Supply of Chian Turpentine.

Sir, — In the communication I sent you last week from
Professor Fliickiger, he suggested that Chian turpentine
might be found in quantity in Algeria. I have, this week, re¬
ceived letters from competent authorities in that country,
who have been making search for the true Pistacia Terebin -
thus trees, and they reply “ that they are very scarce, and,
indeed, hardly known.” “ The tree most resembling it,
Pistacia atlantica, Desf., occurs there, and a sample of
the resin is sent for comparison.” Some true specimens
of Chian turpentine are being distributed to the traders,
with the hope that they may discover a supply.

Mr. C. Hanbury informs me that a correspondent states
that although some more trees of Pistacia Terebinthus have
been found in the Islands, the Government will not allow
them to be touched, with the view of tapping them, for-
fear of destroying the trees.

London. Thos. Christy, F.L.S.,

Sunday Duty.

Sir, — What is the meaning of the term “ Sunday duty,’’
where, of course, there are no special arrangements come |
to ? Does it mean that during the hours an establishment is¬
open on Sunday the assistant in charge is to supply every¬
thing inquired for, or is it intended that medicines are
to be supplied only? The latter is what I have always
understood. Of course supposing a jnan chooses to supply
anything besides medicine he can do so. But does hia
employer expect him to do it as part of his duty?

PoTASa. lODID-

E. F. C. — Recipes for glycerine jelly will be found rar to!
ix., p. 463, and other places.

M. F. H. — The formula for Coffin’s composition powder
has been given several times in the present series ; for
instance, in vol. viii., p. 498.

J. P. Richards. — Gnaphalium uliginosum (Compositse).

Student. — The U.S.P. formula for ung. acidi carbolici is
— Carbolic acid, 60 grains ; simple ointment. 420 grains.

H. Tanner is recommended to consult the advertisement
sheet accompanying this J ournal.

G. L. — The crystallization was due to the chemical dry¬
ness of the carbolic acid. It might be prevented by adding
a few drops of water to the acid while in a liquid state.

Beta. — The minuteness of the quantity of arsenic that
can be detected by Marsh’s test would depend upon the
delicacy with which the manipulation is carried out.

Assistants in New Zealand. — W. G. S. asks for informa¬
tion as to the class of trade in New Zealand, whether
situations are difficult to obtain, and what is the salary
usually obtained. Any information as to the best province
to go to, necessary outfit, etc., would greatly oblige. _ _

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Edward, Cayley, Princep, Dyer, Hampson, Benja--
min, Planchon, Boa, Country Major, Siphon, W. G. S.

October 30, 1SSQ.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

349

“THE MONTH.”

October is usually looked forward to as a pleasant
month ; but the constant rains and floods, to say
nothing of the frost and snow, which for a time
seemed to precipitate us into the middle of winter,
have by no means kept up the traditional good
•character of the month. Even the many-tinted chrys¬
anthemums and dahlias soon lose their beauty when
wetted by rain, and the flower gardens in consequence
are already beginning to assume a wintry aspect. As
■flowers disappear, however, the lower classes of
plants have a chance of being observed.

The varied hues and bright colours of fungi are
especially noticeable during this month, from the
greater abundance of these plants in autumn, and
hence fungologists usually select October . for their
forays and excursions. The Cryptogamic Society
of Scotland seems to be in a remarkably vigorous
condition. During the past year about sixty new
species of fungi have been added to the Scotch
flora, and some excellent papers, having a very prac¬
tical turn, are specially worthy of mention as having
been read at the recent meeting of the Society in
Glasgow, one on the “Club-root Fungus ( Plasmo -
diophora brassicce- ),” which causes a remarkable
disease affecting the turnip, mustard and other
Cruciferse, by Mr. A. Stephen Wilson (published
in the Gardeners' Chronicle , October 16, p. 467),
and another by Mr. J. Young, on “Dry Rot in
Houses and the Best Means of eradicating it.”
The Woolhope Club, at Hereford, and the Epping
Forest Club, also seem growing in numbers, and be¬
coming very popular among cryptogamic botanists.

Those who are interested in muscarine will be glad
to learn that the Agaricus muscarius appears to be
Tery abundant this year. It may be found com¬
monly under birch trees, especially those growing in
sandy loam. It should be carefully distinguished
from j Russula emetica, a species which is equally
brilliant and similar in colour, but has no white
warts on the pileus, and no ring on the stem.
It is singular how some plants seem to follow the
footsteps of the white man. Thus, in Jamaica the
common mushroom, Agaricus campestris, seems to
have become naturalized in the neighbourhood of
the cinchona plantation on the Blue Mountains in
•Jamaica. An excellent paper on the fungi affecting
particular trees is given in the Garden for September
25, p. 319, and is evidently written by some one
who knows their haunts and habits.

In the Economic House at Kew the papaw tree
is now in blossom (female flowers), and also the ginger
plant. A few others of economic rather than pharma¬
ceutical interest are also in flower, such as the Sunn
hemp, Crotalaria juncea, the China grass, Bcehmeria
nivea , and the Daphne papyracea . In the open
ground there are but few medicinal plants in flower,
the saffron crocus and colchicum being almost the
only species of medicinal interest.

The fool’s-parsley, CEthusa Cynapium, is now fruit¬
ing abundantly in kitchen gardens, and the difference
between its fruit and that of Conium can now be
readily observed ; the two vittrn on the commissure
becoming distinctly visible as the fruit ripens.

In Sowerby’s ‘English Botany’ the editor remarks,
“ This plant is one of the most dangerous of its order.

. . . When eaten it produces vomiting, giddiness

and other symptoms of narcotic irritant poisoning.
A case is recorded which happened in Germany, of a
woman putting some leaves in mistake for parsley
Third Series, No. 540.

into soup, of which two of her children partook and
died in consequence.” A number of other writers
have also stated that the plant possesses poisonous
properties. Dr. J. Harvey, however, in a communi¬
cation published in the St. Thomas’s Hospital Report,
vol. x., p. 257, gives the results of a series of experi¬
ments . with the juice of the plant obtained before
flowering, and with the juice obtained from the
plants in green fruit. In these experiments from I
to 8 fluid ounces of the juice were administered
without any effects being produced, and he, there¬
fore, comes to the conclusion “that the CEthusa Cyna¬
pium of Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Essex and Hertford¬
shire is not only absolutely free from the noxious
properties attributed to it, but that it is pleasant all,
to sight, smell and taste, and in the absence of the
more fragrant and succulent plants, might well be
used as a pot-herb or a salad.” He further continues,
“if anyone should think differently of the plant of
his locality, I will be ready to indulge his scruples,
to test the matter with him and satisfy him, as I
have no doubt I shall be able to do, that my conclu¬
sions are independent both of locality and season, and
that the only influence which these conditions have
on fool’s-parsley, as on hemlock, is to increase or
diminish its succnlency.” It would have added still
more to the interest of the results thus obtained if it
had been stated whether the plants experimented
with grew on a damp or a dry soil, since a difference
in this kind is known to influence considerably the
amount of active principles contained in plants.

The use of chlorophyll in vegetable growth appears
to be by no means conclusively ascertained. Prings-
heim recently suggested that it was chiefly of use
in protecting the subjacent cells and their contents
from those rays of light that would be adverse to
the secondary processes which have been dis¬
tinguished as growth. But Dr. Gilbert, in his very
interesting address to the Chemical Section of the
British Association, no w publishing in this J ournal (see
before, p. 336), points out that the plant may receive
abundance of nitrogen, may produce abundance of
chlorophyll and be subject to the influence of suf¬
ficient light, and may yet not assimilate a due
amount of carbon. He shows that the presence of a
due supply of potassium salt and of sufficient avail¬
able nitrogen is necessary for the proper assimilation
of carbon by plants. The amount of carbon assimi¬
lated evidently does not depend on the protective
power of the chlorophyll alone, nor on its chemical
action. In connection with the colouring matter of
leaves it has been observed that the leaves of the
Virginia creeper, Ampelopsis hederacea , change to the
well known beautiful red hue sooner on walls exposed
to the north and east, and that if the weather be wet
during the time when they usually change colour
the red tint is only sparingly developed.

Dr. Siemens is still prosecuting his researches on
the influence of light on vegetation, and has already,
to a certain extent, done away with one of the objec¬
tions to the application of the electric light for pro¬
moting vegetation, viz., the expense, by using the
steam of the engine supplying the electric machines
to heat the water pipes used to warm the hothouses.

Anything of a green colour, and not belonging to
the vegetable kingdom, is often regarded by a certain
portion of the public as likely to possess deleterious
properties, and even green coloured oysters might
perhaps find their way into the analytical laboratory.
It has long been observed that in certain localities

350

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 30, 1880

oysters have a green colour, especially marked in the
mantle or “ heard,” and recent experiments by M.
Puysegur, at Sissable, and repeated in the Jardin
des Plantes at Paris ( Nature , October 7, p. 549), show
that this colour is, as was supposed, due to a diatom,
Navicula ostrearia. According to these experiments,
perfectly white oysters become coloured in twenty-
four hours when placed in water containing the
diatoms, the depth of green colour bearing a direct
relation to the quantity of diatoms present in the
water, and when the oysters are removed to pure
sea water the colour disappears altogether from
them after a few days. The endcclirome, or yellow
chlorophyll of the diatoms, would seem to be ab¬
sorbed through the line of suture joining the valves
of the diatoms, where the frustules are scarcely sili-
eified at all, and being digested and decomposed, the
colouring matter passes direct into the blood, to
which it imparts its colour.

The border line between the animal and vegetable
kingdom has always been a very shadowy one, and a
new form, which has recently been discovered by Pro¬
fessor Perrier, will not tend to make it any clearer, for
Professor Van Tieghem (Bull. Soc. Bot. France , 1880,
p. 130) states that he is not well able to say whether
the organism is an animal or plant. It has, however,
received a name — JJimystax Perrieri.

In Comptes Rendus for September 27, p. 553, M.
Loewenberg states that he has found a micro-organism
in the discharge from furuncle or abscess in the ear.
He believes that the disease is communicable to other
portions of the body by contact of the diseased
matter, and hence uses antiseptics, such as boric acid
or thymol, in the form of injection or lotion.

Professor Baillon (Bull. Mens. Soc. Linn, cle Paris,
No. 33) calls attention to the fact that in most
works on descriptive botany, the natural order of
Onagraceee is characterized by the constant absence
of stipules, and quotes the classical works of Hooker,
Decaisne, Endlicher and Duchartre in proof of his
assertion. Professor Baillon finds that in the com¬
mon fuchsia little stipules are often present. In
Circcea also they can be detected, and in the Lopezia
of our gardens all the leaves have two very distinct
stipules, which have often been referred to in bo¬
tanical works, as also is the case with Haloragia,
though Bentliam and Hooker describe them as
absent. The stipules are in many cases very
minute, often subulate, and sometimes of a red colour.

At a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society,
October 12, Professor Henslow called attention to a
Zanzibar orchid, Angrcecum Kotschyi, which pos¬
sessed the peculiarity of a spirally twisted spur; this
he suggested might possibly act as a tendril, and
would thus add another to the list of organs, e.g.,
leaflets, petioles, flowering branches, tips of leaves,
stipules, etc., which are known to form tendrils.

Perhaps few of our native plants offer such a
variety of forms of the same organs on one plant as
the common arrowhead, Sagittaria sagittifolia, of
which an interesting account will be found in the
Garden for October 16, p. 387. The roots show
three distinct forms, tuberous, fibrous and stoloni-
ferous. The leaves are sometimes submerged phyl-
lodes (flattened leaf-like stalks), others consist of an
elliptical blade on a tall petiole, the lower portion of
the leaf not being developed, and others again offer
the true arrow-shaped form. The flowers also present
similar variations, the lower ones usually fertile,
producing seed ; the upper ones, barren on the

flowering stems, produce flowers with the sexes
separate.

A singular monstrosity of the poppy sent by Mr.
Lynch, of the Cambridge Botanical Gardens, is
illustrated in the Gardeners' Chronicle, October 9, p.
469, in which beside the ovary being fully formed,
all the stamens are developed as if carpels.

Further information received from Jamaica shows
that the damage done by the late hurricane is likely
to considerably affect the revenue arising from the
sale of cinchona bark. In a letter, forwarded from
Kew, to Nature, Mr. Morris states that he estimates
that 20,000 cinchona trees of all ages have been
uprooted or so severely damaged that they must
be immediately barked. The number of available
cinchona seedlings has also been reduced by the
hurricane from 500,000 down to 80,000.

The calisaya cinchona cultivated in Jamaica
hitherto would appear (Nature, October 21, p. 592)
to have been a hybrid plant, with more of the C.
succirubra than Calisaya in its nature. A specimen
of this hybrid is now to be seen in the Economic
House at Kew. Fortunately the error has been de¬
tected and three young plants of the best variety of
Calisaya, C. Ledgeriana, given to the Kew authorities
for the purpose by Mr. J. E. Howard, F.R.S., have
been forwarded to that colony, and others to Ceylon,

In Bengal, according to Dr. King’s recent report
about three quarters of a million of young plants
have been planted out, and a crop of 361,590 pounds
of dry bark has been harvested. Carthagena bark
has been brought into cultivation.

From the Gardeners' Chronicle, October 16, 1880,
p. 498, we learn that the crop of hops in this country
amounts this year to 507,606 cwts. As there are
67,671 acres under hop cultivation, the yield is
about 7£ cwts. per acre.

In the Practitioner for October is an admirable
paper by Dr. Lauder Brunton, on “ Indigestion as a
Cause of Nervous Depression,” which is worthy of
being printed in extenso in a paper of world-wide
circulation, explaining as it does the effects of the
high pressure under which people live in the present
day, and dealing with many of the problems of daily
life in a masterly manner.

In the same journal it is stated that a French
gentleman, being convinced that the papaw plant
would become useful in medicine, planted a large
extent of ground with the trees, and has collected
the juice in much the same way as opium, the juice
being allowed to dry on incisions in the half ripe
fruit and then scraped off ; thus obtained it is in the
form of coarse grains, which dissolve readily in
water. The writer states that compared with the
most active pepsine and with the most active liquor
pancreaticus he has found it to surpass them both
in the power of digesting either cooked meat or
hard-boiled white of egg. It does not, however, act
in an acid solution. But a sentence occurs at
the end of the paragraph which should not be
omitted here, lest it have a connection with the
statement above quoted. “We believe that the
French firm who have introduced this substance
into medicine will shortly appoint an agent in this
country, if, indeed, they have not already done so.”

After experimenting upon the physiological
action of the narcissus, snowdrop and lioemanthus,
plants belonging to the natural order Amaryllidacese,
Dr. Ringer has examined the properties of an
alkaloid isolated by Mr. W. A. Gerrard from a

October 30, 18S0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

351

liliaceous plant, tlie common garden tulip, and has
communicated his results to the P>actitioner ,
October, p. 241. He finds that nitrate of tulipine
differs almost entirely in its action from the amaryl-
lidaceous alkaloids, it being a muscle poison affecting
the muscles like veratria, but in a lesser degree.
These results are interesting from a botanical as
well as a physiological point of view, as confirmative
of the theory that the relationships between natural
orders may, to a certain extent, be indicated by the
nature of their chemical constituents. The nearer
relationship of the Liliacese to the Melanthacese
seems shadowed forth by the fact that a liliaceous
plant has yielded an alkaloid like veratria. In the
same manner the position of the genus Duboisia,
as belonging to the Atropacese rather than to the
Scrophulariacese, was demonstrated by the discovery
of duboisine (hyoscyamine of Ladenburg) and
nicotine in plants of the genus. If, as Sir James
Paget in his recent address, delivered in the Patho¬
logical Section of the British Medical Association,
says, that much may be learned by human patho¬
logists from a study of the consequences of injuries to
and diseases of plants, it is equally certain that
botanists may learn a great deal as to the relationships
of plants from a knowledge of their physiological
action and chemical constituents. If a knowledge
of botany be banished, as has been suggested, from
the medical curriculum, it may be hoped, for the
sake of the progress of medical science that some
knowledge of it will be required before the medical
curriculum is entered upon. Those who think
differently will do well to peruse Sir James Paget’s
thoughtful and learned address (. Lance* , p. 603, 645).
Not only are observations more readily made on less
complex structures, and facts concerning vitality,
growth and disease more easily ascertained in them
than in higher forms, but the most minute members
of the vegetable kingdom, as shown by the recent
investigations concerning bacteria, are by no means
the least important objects of investigation, since a
knowledge of the laws which govern their appear¬
ance and vitality and propagation must be ol the
utmost value to mankind.

Japanese aconite is the subject of a communication
from Mr. Geerts, of Yokohoma (P harm . Zeit.,
October 23), who says positively that it is derived
only from Aconitum Fischeri, Reichb. The Japanese
distinguish between two kinds of the drug, namely,
“u-dzii,” the principal tuber, and “bii-shi,” the
younger but more poisonous tubers, of which there
may be five or six to a plant. The latter tubers
are said to form the drug used in Japan, but they
first undergo a special preparation, having for its
obj ect partly to render them less toxic, and partly to
preserve them from decay and from insects. This
consists in steeping the fresh tubers for a long time in
a mixture of common salt, vinegar and water, then
drying them in wood ashes and afterwards in the sun.
Besides agreeing with the experience that two kinds
of roots are met with in the market under the name
of Japanese aconite, these details may furnish an
explanation of the peculiar condition of some of the
specimens, which has been pointed out by Mr.
Greenish, and also of the fact that the crystallizable
alkaloid cannot always be obtained from these tubers.

German pharmacists appear to look upon the
question of the constitution of aconitine as still
undecided, inasmuch as we learn that the Committee
charged on behalf of the German Pharmaceutical

Association with the selection of a subject for the
Hagen Bucholz Prize Essay for 1881 has decided
upon, li The Preparation and Chemical Constitution
of English and German Aconitine.” The essays are
to be sent without the author’s name under a motto,
to Apotlieker W. Danckwortt, Magdeburg, before
August 1 next.

The second alkaloid stated by Herr Ladenburg to
be present together with hyoscyamine in henbane
(. Pharm . Journ. , [3], x., 872), has now been isolated
and described by that chemist ( Berichte , xiii, 1549).
It was separated from the mother liquor after the
larger proportion of the hyoscyamine had crystallized
out, but resisted all attempts at its crystallization.
The double gold salt was, however, obtained in crys¬
tals, which were better formed, and not so soluble
as those of the gold salt of hyoscyamine. Analysis
showed that the new base has the same composition
as hyoscyamine, represented by the formula — ■
C17H23N03; but when treated with baryta, though
the acid of the decomposition products proved to be
identical with tropic acid, the base was found to be
only isomeric with tropine. The alkaloid has there¬
fore been named “ hyoscine,” and the base resulting
from its decomposition “ pseudotropine.” The action
of hyoscine upon the pupil of the eye is described as
analogous to that of atropine, and at least as strong.
Herr Ladenburg points out that all the strongly
mydriatic alkaloids at present known to occur natur¬
ally are isomeric with each other. They are atropine
and hyoscyamine (C17H23N03), both of them splitting
up into tropic acid (C9H10O3) and tropine (C8H15NO):;
and hyoscine (C17H23N03), splitting up into tropic
acid (C9H10O3) and pseudotropine (C8H;5N03). The
artificial mydriatic alkaloid, homatropine, has the
composition ClcH21N03, and splits up into amygdalic
acid (C8H803), and tropine (C8H15NO). From the
analogy which homatropine presents in its physio¬
logical action to atropia, Dr. Murrell has been led
to experiment as to whether it might prove a useful
addition to the list of remedies for morbid sweating.
He reports, however ( Practitioner , October, p. 252),
that when administered to patients suffering from
the night sweating of phthisis it proved decidedly
inferior to atropia, Dover’s powder, picrotoxin, and
other known remedies.

According to M. Bochefontaine ( Comptes Rendus,
xci., 579), the Gonium maculatum contains two
active principles, one of them possessing the pro¬
perty usually attributed to conia of paralysing the
central nervous system, the other acting more like
curara. The physiological experiments which have
led him to this conclusion were performed with two
hydrobromic acid compounds. The first, which,
because of its action, M. Bochefontaine calls hydro-
bromate of conia, was in amber coloured crystals
and was the most toxic of the two. The second,
prepared irom the first by several recrystallizations,
formed colourless or slightly nacreous crystals. An
inference which he draws is that in the case of the
hydrobromate successive crystallizations tend to
eliminate the principle paralysing the nervous
centres and to fix the curarking principle. Un¬
fortunately for the value of this opinion, however,
there is no chemical evidence as to the real nature
and constitution of either one or the other of these
supposed hydrobromates. # #

The differences of opinion existing between Dr.
Kerner and Dr. Hesse in reference to the testing
of quinine sulphate and to the amount of water

352

•THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 30, 1880.

normally appertaining to that salt as water of
crystallization, have again formed matter for comment
by the last named chemist in a paper read before
the German Chemical Society. A resume of Dr.
Kerner’s views on the subject was given in the
present volume of the Pharmaceutical J ournal (page
27), together with a statement of his reasons for
regarding the test of the German Pharmacopoeia as
preferable to the one recommenced by Dr. Hesse,
and sufficient for all practical purposes. Dr. Hesse
now states that cinchonidine, when freshly precipi¬
tated, is more easily soluble in dilute ammonia than
quinine is, and that although a separation of
crystalline cinchonidine from such a solution does
take place after the lapse of some time, while the
quinine solution will remain clear for several hours
at least, the ready solubility of freshly precipitated
cinchonidine interferes with the application of the
ammonia test for detecting small amounts of
impurity in quinine sulphate.

In addition to this, Dr. Hesse states that he has
observed another circumstance which renders the
official test of the German Pharmacopoeia inap¬
plicable. This consists in the different behaviour
of cinchonidine sulphate when merely mixed with
quinine sulphate, as in making experiments with the
ammonia test, compared with that which it presents
when actually crystallized together with quinine
sulphate, as in an impure sample of this salt. In
the latter case Dr. Hesse finds that the cinchonidine
sulphate assumes a form in which it escapes detection
to some considerable extent by means of Kerner’s
ammonia test. In illustration of this peculiarity in
the behaviour of cinchonidine sulphate, Dr. Hesse
gives several examples of commercial quinine sul¬
phate, containing from 9 to 13 per cent, of cin¬
chonidine salt, which, when tested as the German
Pharmacopoeia directs, furnished results indicating
that they were pure.

As regards the amount of water in commercial
quinine sulphate, Dr. Hesse is of opinion that,
except when the salt has effloresced, a small per¬
centage of water is less an indication of the sample
being good than it is of the probable presence of a
considerable amount of cinchonidine salt, since he
finds that the presence of this impurity exercises an
influence upon the water of crystallization of the
quinine salt and, as he thinks, probably reduces it to
six molecules, the proportion normally existing in the
cinchonidine salt.

Messrs. A. Riche and A. Remont, having been
engaged in the examination of the squill, chronicle
the observation ( Journ . Pharm. et Chim., October,
p. 291) that its bitterness varies very much, in some
instances the juice of the bulb being even sweet.
This variation they attribute to the presence of a
substance they have separated and named “scilline,”
which appears upon coming into contact with acids
to be converted into levulose with extreme facility,
the bitterness of the bulb being reduced in proportion
as this change progresses. “ Scilline” is described
as forming a yellowish-white spongy amorphous
mass, soluble in water in all proportions, and only
slightly soluble in strong alcohol. The name “scil¬
line” is, however, unsuitable ; for if this substance
should prove to be one hitherto unknown, the name
has been already appropriated by Merck {Pliarm.
Journ., [3], ix., 1038) to indicate a crystalline sub¬
stance nearly insoluble in water and soluble in alcohol.
But the new “scilline” of Messrs. Riche and Remont

is possibly only a rediscovery, as it would seem to
have much in common with the “sinistrin” obtained
by Schmiedeberg in 1879 (‘Pharmacographia,’ 2nd
edit., p. 692).

In a communication to the Academy of Sciences
{Comptes Rendus, xci., 607), M. Poirot attributes to
the absinthe {Artemisia Absinthium ) extraordinary
properties as an insectifuge. He says that among
the absinthe plants that cover the vast plains of
North America, he has never seen flies, ants, or any
other kinds of insects, and to these he adds worms,
scorpions, serpents and rattlesnakes. He proposes
to use this property in the extinction of the phyl¬
loxera, as he believes this pe3t would not be able to
go through the necessary metamorphoses in a soil
manured with the leaves and stalks of the plant.

Picrotoxin, the substance prepared from cocculus
inclicus, to which different formulae have been attri¬
buted by different chemists, has been investigated
by Messrs. Barth and Kretschy {Monatshefte f.
Chemie, i., 99), who by a process of fractional
crystallizations from benzol and from water have
ascertained that it consists of a mixture of at least
three different bodies, which they have named
“ picrotoxine,” “ picrotin,” and “ anamirtin.” Picro-
toxin (C15H1G06+H20) crystallizes from hot benzol
in rhomboid form, fuses at 201° C., reduces silver
nitrate, especially upon the addition of ammonia,
and Fehling’s solution when heated, and is extremely
bitter and very poisonous. Picrotin (C25H30O12 + hH20)
crystallizes from benzol in four-sided needles with
oblique ends, completely fuses at 250° to 251° C.,
reduces silver nitrate and Fehling’s solution, and is
bitter, but not poisonous. Anamirtin (C19H24O10) is
the most soluble in water ; it crystallizes in tabular
lamellae, and is neither bitter nor poisonous. The
relative proportions in which these substances were
obtained were Picrotoxin, 32; picrotin, 66; ana¬
mirtin, 2 ; but the authors are of opinion that these
proportions may vary with differences in the seed
from which the original substance is prepared.

The formation of phosphorus pentiodide, which
has hitherto been doubted, is now stated to have
been accomplished by Mr. Hampton, working in the
laboratory of the University of Virginia {Chemical
News, October 8, page 180), by bringing together, in
an atmosphere of nitrogen, phosphorus (dissolved in
carbon bisulphide) and iodine in slight excess of
that required for the compound Phl5. The com¬
pound thus obtained readily decomposed when heated
above 50° C. or brought into contact with atmo¬
spheric air, but it is described as having, before
decomposition, appeared as a very dark crimson,
almost black, mass of crystalline structure, appa¬
rently made up of thick needles or slender prisms.

In the same laboratory some experiments have
been made, by Mr. W. T. Page, to determine the
extent to which carbon bisulphide is soluble in
water. For this purpose a small quantity of carbon
bisulphide was placed, together with pure water that
had been deprived of air by boiling, into well filled
and stoppered flasks, and these were kept at definite
temperatures and shaken at short intervals from day
to day. At the end of a given period, after ensuring
that no decomposition had taken place, the solution
was oxidized with potassium permanganate acidified
with nitric acid, and the resulting sulphuric acid
determined as barium sulphate. It was found that
after having been kept thirty days at a temperature
of from 12° to 13° C. the water had dissolved about

October ?0, 1880

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

353

one-fifth per cent, by weight of carbon bisulphide,
and that the proportion dissolved diminished with a
rise in the temperature.

The liquefaction of ozone is reported by Messrs.
Hautefeuille and Chappuis ( Comptes Rendus , xci.,
522) as having been effected when operating
upon a mixture of oxygen and ozone very rich in
ozone. Very soon after pressure was applied there
was an appearance of a blue colour, and when the
pressure equalled several atmospheres the gas became
of an indigo blue colour. At the moment of release
after a compression equal to seventy-five atmo¬
spheres there was an appearance of a white mist,
which was taken as an indication of liquefaction, if
not of solidification. It was found necessary that
the capillary tube containing the mixture should be
kept at a low temperature during the operation
(about - 23° C.) and the conrpression effected slowly,
otherwise the ozone Was decomposed with the libera¬
tion of light and heat, manifested in a strong de¬
tonation accompanied by a yellowish flash. The
authors promise that in a future communication
they will discuss the part that this coloured gas may
play in the atmosphere.

Herr Zulkowsky ( Berichte , xiii., 1395), in a paper
“ On the Behaviour of Starch towards Glycerine,”
gives some details not without a bearing upon the
discussion which followed the reading of Mr. Will-
mott’s paper on “Plasma ” last year ( Pharm . Journ.,
[3], ix., 828). He points out that when starch is
heated with concentrated glycerine the soluble
modification is formed, the quantity increasing with
the rise of temperature, until the mass becomes
quite fluid at 170° C., and the starch is almost com¬
pletely changed into the soluble form at 190° C. As,
however, might be expected there is a difference in
the rapidity and completeness with which this con¬
version takes place in starch from various sources.
Potato starch passes quickly and easily into the
soluble form ; wheat starch is not so rapidly
acted upon, and rice starch is not entirely changed
after having been kept at 190° for a considerable
time. From the glycerine solution the unconverted
starch may be separated by pouring it into water
and filtering. Upon adding strong alcohol to the
filtrate the soluble starch is precipitated.. This is
completely soluble in water, and even in dilute
alcohol, but a concentrated aqueous solution exposed
to the air gradually gelatinizes through a reformation
of insoluble starch. It might throw some light
upon the history of glycerinum amyli if further ex¬
periments were made to ascertain whether the
rapidity with which this reformation of insoluble
starch takes place also varies with the kind of starch
used. The fact that soluble starch is produced when
starch and glycerine are heated together was men¬
tioned by Dr. Senier in the discussion referred to.

Preparations of iodide of iron certainly occupy a
full share of pharmaceutical literature. M. Carles
has been turning his attention to the decomposition
that takes place in the “ normal ” solution of iodide
of iron of the Codex, which is used among other things
for the extemporaneous preparation of syrup of
iodide of iron, and he has sought for a preventive in
some insoluble substance of the same nature, but
having a greater avidity for oxygen than the iodide
of iron. This he says (Hull. Soc. Pharna. Bord., xx.,
112) he has found in hydrated sulphide of iron, which
he prepares by precipitating sulphate of iron with
• sulphydrate of ammonia. The precipitate is washed

by decantation several times with boiling water,
collected upon a filter and preserved in a pappy
condition in a well stoppered bottle. A few drops
of this paste added to the iodoferrous solution is said
to keep it colourless for an indefinite time, or to
remove the colour when shaken with a coloured
solution. The alteration which takes place in syrup
of iodide of iron he attributes to alkaline substances,
principally lime, in the syrup used, and he proposes
to prevent it by the addition of a small quantity of
citric acid, because that acid does not form precipi¬
tates with the salts of lime present.

According to a writer in the Canada Medical
Journal , the bitter taste of potassium bromide may
be disguised by the use of simple syrup. Three
drachms of syrup, containing about 150 grains of
sugar, mixed with each drachm of the bromide, is
said to completely alter the taste, giving it an
agreeable nutty flavour, not unlike that of cocoa-nut
milk. If largely diluted, children are alleged to take
it with avidity.

According to the New York Medical Record, a
formula for the treatment of tail and freckles, pro¬
posed by Professor White and endorsed by Dr.
Nevins Hyde, is as follows: — R. Hyd. bichlor.,
vj.; acid mur. dil., 5y, aquae, §iv. ; alcohol, aq. rosoe.,
aa^ij. ; glycerine 5j. M. Apply at night and wash
off in the morning.

There is in the present day a tendency to regard
the time-honoured preparations which have secured
a place in the national Pharmacopoeia as scarcely
abreast of the age, and instead of pharmacy following
in the wake of medical science, it is in advance of
it, and ingenuity is vastly exercised in combining
remedial agents, which alone have scarcely held their
own, into a “ preparation,” and thus this one claim
of novelty suffices to induce many practitioners to
order it in their prescriptions. Perhaps these changes
have been “rung” more frequently on the liypo-
phospliites than on any other class of remedies. It
seems difficult to believe that they possess no value,
and yet more difficult to determine what value they
do possess ; individually they have all been tried,
and each in succession has been found wanting, and
more or less abandoned. But there is a charm in a
compound which a simple preparation does not
possess, and combination may develop a latent
quality hitherto unrecognized. It. E. H. in sim¬
plicity refers to his Pharmacopoeia for some hypo-
phosphite liquor ordered in prescription No. 449.
The liq. hypopliosph. co. is occasionally ordered by
a west-end physician, and is prepared by a west-end
house, but the formula has not been published.

In prescription No. 451, hyd. clilor. most probably
means calomel ; that substance alone, or mixed with
sugar, or opium, or both, is occasionally ordered
to°be blown into the eyes in ulcers of the cornea,
and there is no reason why the same end should not
be sought by dropping the calomel, diffused in a
fluid, into the eye. Calomel is still usually written
hyd. clilor. in prescriptions. Mr. Henry*Brown
states that hyd. clilor. is hyd. perchlor., or corrosive
sublimate ; such a statement must not be allowed
to pass without comment, and it is to be hoped that
it will not be accepted by the readers of this J ournal,
or coroner’s inquests will dispose of those customers
that still remain to the pharmacist. Referring to
the B.P., under hyd. subchlor. will be found syno¬
nyms “ Calomelas, 1864, Edinburgh, Dublin. Hy-
clrargyri cliloridum, London. Calomel. M ith this

354

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October SO, 1£80.

definite description before him, is the dispenser
required to ramble abroad after the U. S. Pharmaco¬
poeia, and seek from it some support for the use of a
corrosive preparation of mercury, the very mention
of which calls forth visions of a “ death’s head and
cross-bones?” The word subchlorid. is of compara¬
tively recent introduction into medicine, and even
now by no means generally used. The strength
even of the solution should raise a doubt as to hyd.
perchlor. being indicated in that prescription as an
application to the eye. Following in medical terms
the indications of science, it should always be in
company with common sense. It is just possible,
but scarcely probable, that chloral hydras may be
meant ; but again, if that substance be intended
it should be written chlor. hyd., instead of hyd.
ehlor., as in the prescription.

With reference to the extracts in No. 452 : if pro¬
perly made the ext. lupuli should be soluble in
water, but not forming a bright solution. There is
a deposit of insoluble matter from most of the Phar¬
macopoeia extracts when re-dissolved ; but it is
difficult to see how a “green spirituous extract”
can be obtained from a carefully prepared ext.
lupuli, B.P.

The dispenser would be justified in using the lin.
plumbi acet., as suggested by Mr. H. Brown, for the
lin. plumbi co. of prescription No. 453, if unable to
communicate with the prescriber and thus obtain
more definite information as regards a preparation
for which there is no published formula. As sug¬
gested by another correspondent, it may refer to the
more recent preparation of lead, the glycerole of sub¬
acetate of lead, lately introduced into medical practice.

The quantity of syr. ferri phosph., B.P., which
the product should measure when made from the
Pharmacopoeia formula may differ occasionally when
made by different persons, and this difference would
probably in some measure depend upon the quantity
of moisture left in the phosphate of iron after being
pressed, and previously to its solution in the phos¬
phoric acid. Unless the product measure 12 fluid
ounces the quantity of phosphate of iron in each
drachm would not be in accordance with the B.P.
One correspondent states that he makes the syrup
strictly adhering to the B.P. directions, and the
•pioduct measures 12 ounces. It is difficult to per¬
ceive on what authority another writer says that the
difference should be made up with water.

For prescription No. 455, the inquirer can take
his choice of several formulae, forwarded by Mr.
Henry Brown and Mr. E. H. Storey, for ung. rumic.
c. sulph., and given in the Journal of October
23. Essentially they are much alike ; probably the
ointment has outlived its reputation.

In No. 456 the sp. aeth. nit., if so acid as
to decompose pot. iodid., should be previously
neutralized with an alkali, as pot. bicarb., so as to
avoid the liberation of free iodine, which would
otherwise be Set free in the mixture. The B. P.
says that sp. aeth. nit. “ effervesces feebly or not at
all when shaken with a solution of bicarbonate of
soda.” The quantity of iodine liberated being therefore
dependent on the amount of free acid in the sp.
aeth. nit., it is scarcely possible to conceive that any
medical man would rely on such a contingency for
the dose of iodine which he intended to give to his
patient. It is more rational to assume that the
writer of the prescription intended to administer
iodide of potassium in definite doses rather than

free iodine in doses perfectly indefinite, and which
to some extent must vary with every sample of sp.
nitre used in dispensing the prescription.

The strychnia in the liquor of No. 457 is dissolved
and kept in a state of solution by the addition of
hydrochloric acid ; alone it is almost insoluble in
water, and the addition of sodse bicarb, to the B.P.
liquor would throw down the strychnia either in
a state of fine division, or after standing, in a
crystalline condition. Although the quantity of
water present is more than sufficient to redissolve
the precipitate, strychnia being soluble in water to
the extent of 1 in 7000, yet taking into consideration
the amount of salts present it is probable that this
will not occur. A “ shake the bottle ” label was
therefore very properly sent with it, or the greater
part of the strychnia might have been taken in the
last dose of the mixture. J. H. F. says that strychnia
is not thrown out of solution by bicarbonate of soda.
Fresenius, in his ‘ Qualitative Analysis,’ 9tli edit. ,
p. 356, states : “ The addition of bicarbonate of soda
to an acid solution of strychnia causes no precipita¬
tion, and it is only after the lapse of twenty-four
hours, or even a longer period, that strychnia
crystallizes from the fluid in distinct prisms, in
proportion as the free carbonic acid escapes.”

It may safely be assumed that the plumbi
glycerid. mentioned by “Jacque,” No. 458, is the
same as the plumbi glycerol, of Mr. Balmanno Squire,
which will be found described in the Journal, [3], vi.,
p. 881., although it is not usually called a glycerid.
This view corresponds with that of Mr. Henry
Brown on this preparation.

The mixture, No. 459, should be made by dis¬
solving the phorphorus in the benzol, and then by
means of mucilage diffusing and suspending it when
added to the water and other ingredients, otherwise
the phosphorus will be thrown out of solution and
deposited. Great care should be taken in the dis¬
pensing of any prescription containing phosphorus,
and such a formula is not the most suitable for its
administration.

The gallic acid in prescription No. 460 is in ex¬
cess of that which the quantity of water ordered with
it will hold in solution ; if dissolved in hot water it
will on cooling crystallize out. The proper method
with such a mixture is to rub down the gallic acid
to a fine powder and diffuse it through the liquid.
A “shake the bottle” label should accompany the
mixture. W. H. says the mixture was sent out
clear. As the solubility of gallic acid in water is 1 in
100 a solution of 3j in 5yj of water cannot be made.
In spirit the solubility is 1 in 8, 7)j of gallic acid
would therefore require 7j of spirit. Such an addi¬
tion would be a liberty that no dispenser should
presume upon. Glycerine may be used as a solvent,
but there is no warrant for such a deviation from
the prescription, and the dispenser’s attention may
be directed to some valuable observations in the
Pharmaceutical Journal, [3], vol. iv., p. 336, on the
property glycerine possesses of modifying, in a re¬
markable degree, the action of some otherwise very
astringent compounds. From these remarks it may
be gathered that, having regard to the intentions of
the prescriber. the use of spirit or glycerine in order
that this mixture may be sent out clear cannot be
justified, and the intelligent dispenser will pause
before he neutralizes the activity of the most import¬
ant ingredient in the prescription, and by doing
so imperils the life of the patient.

October SO, 18S0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

355

Cjrc illjarniaceutixiit journal.

SATURDAY , OCTOBER 30, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , boohs for review , etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Member's and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal shoidd be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square , W.C,
Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal ,
Messrs. Churchill, Neio Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ.”

EXEMPTION FROM SERVICE ON JURIES.

It would be inconsistent with the estimation in
which Englishmen hold the institution of trial by
jury for any individual or class of individuals to
object to the performance of the duty which may at
any time be required of them in this respect, unless
they were able to bring forward very strong reasons,
based upon considerations of benefit to the public,
for being allowed exemption. There are few persons
wrho have not experienced inconvenience from being
called away from their business to serve on juries,
but even among those who have suffered in this way,
we believe that after the subject had been fairly
considered, the general conclusion would be that
exemption from liability to serve cannot be sought
for by any plea of interference with one’s own
pursuits or business occupation, except in so far as
such interference is likely to be detrimental to the
public interests.

That physicians and surgeons should be exempt
from liability to serving on juries is a natural con¬
sequence of the duties they are habitually called
upon to perform, and of their frequent occupation
with cases of great emergency. Similar exemption
may fairly be claimed also for other persons whose
ordinary duties demand in the public interest an
amount of personal attention incompatible with at¬
tendance at law courts as jurymen, and when the
existing Juries Act was passed it was out of regard
for the responsible and delicate position of those
engaged in. dispensing physicians’ prescriptions that
pharmaceutical chemists were put in this respect
upon the same footing as members of the medical
profession. At that time pharmaceutical chemists
were the only members of the drug trade who could
be thus recognized in the eye of the law as being
engaged in avocations affecting the safety of the
public, and hence it was quite natural that im¬
munity from jury service should be restricted to
them, although they constituted only a fraction- of
those carrying on the drug trade.

Nor was it without very considerable effort that
this result was achieved ; had it not been for the
influence of organization exercised through the
action of the Pharmaceutical Society, and the
respect commanded for its claim by the fact that
it was urged upon the grounds of benefit to the

public as well as the official recognition and qualifi¬
cation of its members, even pharmaceutical chemists
would not have been included among the classes
exempted by the Act from service on juries.
Whenever the opportunity arises for extending
this exemption to the entire body of chemists
and druggists, it may be expected that the same
influence exercised through the same body will secure
the same consideration from the Legislature.

Meanwhile, however, we fail to recognize the
propriety of stirring in this subject as the Law and
Parliamentary Committee of the Chemists and
Druggists’ Trade Association proposes to do. In the
abstract the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society has
recognized the principle that chemists and druggists,
like pharmaceutical chemists, should be exempt
from serving on juries. As we pointed out last week
the Council has also obtained recognition of this
principle by the Legislature and in all probability it
might have become the law if the Juries Bills of
1872 or 1874 had been passed. Whenever another
J uries Bill is brought in, the exemption of chemists
and druggists will no doubt be dealt with, but until
that opportunity offers we think there is not much
prospect of obtaining consideration of the subject.

Moreover, it may be asked with no little pertinence
what practical disadvantage is caused by the limited
scope of the exemption from jury service1? Cannot
anyone who desires to obtain it do so by a process
that ought not to involve much if any trouble,
and an outlay of less than ten pounds ? Then again,
if the nature of a chemist and druggist’s business be
such as to require in the interests of the public that
he should be exempt from jury service, we do not
hesitate to say that he should not hold any less position
in the body than that of a pharmaceutical chemist.
The remedy for any existing inconvenience is there¬
fore ready at hand for those who choose to avail
themselves of it, and we consider the adoption of
such a course would be even more conducive to the
interests of the pharmaceutical body than agitation
of the question whether the exemption from jury
service is to be extended. The circumstance
that Scotchmen do not share with their English
brethren the exemption belonging to the grade of
pharmaceutical chemist was once attributed by Mr.
Mackay to “ the proverbial modesty of Scotchmen
in not advancing their claims,” but however that
may be, the disadvantage is one that does not lie so
much to the discredit of the Pharmaceutical Society
or its executive as our correspondent, Mr. Stewart,
seems to think. Justice to Scotland in this respect
is wanting chiefly because Scotchmen, objecting to
be governed by the same laws as Englishmen, have
a Juries Act of their own, which does not seem to
give them so much advantage as the English Act
does.

Considerations of expediency also lead to us to
regard the agitation of this subject as being pecu¬
liarly inappropriate and undesirable.

356

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 30, 1880..

The demand for extended exemption from jury
service must necessarily provoke inquiry into the
possible effects of granting it. If so many persons
are made exempt, may there not be a difficulty in
finding jurymen, and will not the interests of the
public be thus prejudiced to a greater extent than
by leaving things as they are ? It is not long since
dentists were granted exemption from jury service
should they desire it ; but we fail altogether to
perceive that a dentist’s occupation constitutes in
itself any adequate reason for thus reducing the
available number of jurymen by upwards of five
thousand. Even by the admission that chemists
and druggists should be just as much exempted from
serving on juries as pharmaceutical chemists are,
there is implied an assumption that there is a close
similarity if not identity between the duties in
which both classes are engaged as servants of the
public. Unfortunately, however, we cannot accept
that assumption as representing the actual position
of affairs. Some of our correspondents inform us,
from time to time, that the chief part of many a
chemist and druggist’s business consists in the sale
of patent medicines and other proprietary articles,
and we fear there is too much reason for accepting
this statement as correct. But if that be the case
there can scarcely be any better reason for seeking
exemption from jury service for those so situated
than there is for the average dentist to obtain it by
reason of the nature of his duties as a servant
of the public. It is not because the dentist’s
occupation does not admit of his being called
upon to act as a juryman that the members of
this class have been exempted, but because dental
practitioners have been incorporated as a class to be
recognized by registration and legal qualification,
and have thus been brought within the shadow
of one edge of the medical profession. In like
manner we believe that in proportion as those
engaged in the practice of pharmacy succeed in
taking a similar position, and in making that
occupation, as it should be, a branch of the medical
profession, so will they more surely be able to enjoy
advantages and immunities that, as mere traders,
they could never hope to possess.

INSPECTION OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

The Justices for the Peace for the County of
Middlesex, acting under the Weights and Measures
Act, 1878, as the local authority for the county,
have appointed Professor Redwood Chief Inspector
of Weights and Measures for the district under their
authority, and they have assigned to him the duty
of verifying troy, bullion and decimal grain weights
and the apothecaries’ weights and measures used in
the sale of drugs. The office of the Chief Inspector
is at 21, Hart Street, Bloomsbury, and he will
attend there every Tuesday between the hours of
eleven and four.

A notice has been issued by the Clerk of the

Peace for Middlesex to the effect that persons
desiring to have any of the above-named weights
or measures verified and marked in accordance with
the requirements of the statute are to apply at the
Chief Inspector’s office, by letter or otherwise, and
that arrangements will be made for receiving such
weights and measures and testing them in the order
in which applications are made.

THE NEW SCHOOL OF PHARMACY IN PARIS.

We learn from the Repertoire de Pharmaeie that
the building of the new “ Ecole superieure de Phar-
macie ” in Paris is now complete and that in 1881,
at the commencement of the second semestre, the
students will leave definitively the old school in the
rue de l’Arbalete.

The new school, which is situated between the
rues de l’Abbe-de-l’Ep6e and d’Assas and the
Avenue de l’Observatoire, occupies a space of 17,000
square metres. Its principal entrance is in the
Avenue de l’Observatoire, opposite the Rue Herscliel,
and in the “ cour d’honneur,” 57 metres in length, will
be placed statues of Parmentier and Vauquelin.
The basement consists of seven separate divisions
where the professors’ laboratories will be situated.
There are two principal amphitheatres, each having
an area of 100 square metres. The gardens and
grounds are at the side of the rues d’Assas and
Michelet.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

The first meeting of the Chemical Society will
be held next Thursday, November 4, at 8 o’clock
in the evening, and the following papers are to be
read: — “On the Compounds of Vanadium and
Sulphur,” by E. W. E. Kay ; “ Report on the
Atmospheric Oxidation of Phosphorus and on Some
Reactions of Ozone and Peroxide of Hydrogen,” by
C. T. Kingzett ; “ Action of Heat on the Mixed
Vapours of Benzene and Toluine,” by Dr. T. Car-
nelly ; “Bismuth and Bismuth Compounds, Part I.
Oxides and Hydrates, Part II. Halogen Compounds,”
by M. M. Pattison Muir, G. B. Hoffmeister and
E. E. Robbs; “On the Colour, Properties and Rela¬
tion of the Metals Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, Iron, Man¬
ganese and Chromium,” by T. Bayley ; “Action of
Diazo-Naphthalin upon Salicylic Acid,” by Dr. Percy
Frankland ; “ Action of Organo-Zinc Compounds
upon the Nitriles and their Analogues,” by Dr. E.
Frankland, F.R.S. and C. C. Graham; “Action
of Zinc Ethyl on Benzoylic Cyanide,” by Dr. E.
Frankland and D. A. Louis; “On the Basic Sul¬
phates of Iron,” by Spencer Pickering; “Fourth
Report on Researches in Chemical Dynamics, Sec. I.,
by Dr. C. R. A. Wright ; Sec. II. and III., by Dr. C.
R. A. Wright and A. Menke; “On Some Naph-
thalin Derivatives,” by Dr. Armstrong and N. E.
Graham.

The Sunderland Chemists’ Assistants and Appren¬
tices’ Association held a conversazione in their
rooms, on the 11th inst. There was a good
attendance, and much interest was shown in in¬
specting the scientific apparatus, pharmaceutical
novelties and preparations displayed. After the
discussion of matters of pharmaceutical interest, the
members separated, having spent a very pleasant
and profitable evening.

October 30, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

357

Crmisactimts of tbe

o

Saaetir.

anmiceutical

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION".

At a meeting of the Board of Examiners for England
and Wales, held in London, on Wednesday, October 27,
1880, the report of the College of Preceptors on the
examinations held on October 5 was received.

Two hundred and twenty-seven candidates had pre¬
sented themselves for examination, of whom ninety-two
had failed. The following one hundred and thirty-jive
passed, and the Registrar was authorized to place their
names on the Register of Apprentices or Students : —

Abel, Frank George . Chester.

Abel, Peter Alexander . Inverurie.

Adler, Martin Woldemar . London.

Alexander, Adam . Aberdeen.

Allen, Thomas . Kelso.

Andrews, Charles Russell . London.

Aplin, Albert Edward . Weymouth.

Ayre, William Sharp . Seaham Harbour.

Barber, Daniel Stone . Dursley.

Barton, John William . Campbeltown.

Batchelor, William . Stalybridge.

Bentley, William . Egremont, Cumberland.

Bice, James . St. Ewe.

Bishop, William . Bridgnorth.

Bostock, Thomas H . Eastwood.

Briggs, Alfred Radley . Wakefield.

Brooke, Joe William . Ashton-under-Lyne.

Broome, Bertie . Cromford.

Brown, Charles . Barking.

Buckley, John Davies . Leominster.

Bullock, James . Uttoxeter.

Burnby, John James . Bardney.

Burroughs, George Henry . Seaforth.

Cheney, Henry Robert . Banbury.

Clark, Adam Rankine Gibson... Dumfries.

Clarke, Andrew . Scarborough.

Clarke, Harry Ward . Richmond.

Collins, James Ernest . Ipswich.

Cowie, George . Banff.

Crickmore, Robert . Rochester.

Cullinan, Edward . London.

Dalwood, Harry F. W . Sherborne.

Daniel, Enoch . . . Cardiff.

Darroll, Charles . Warminster.

Davis, John . Nottingham.

Dawrson, John Harper . Fife Keith.

Delarue, Edward Ludlow . London.

Drake, Henry Charles . Newark.

Duck, William George . Cardiff.

Duckworth, William . Blackburn.

Eden, Thomas Watts . Evesham.

Ensor, John Thomas . Birmingham. '

Evans, Edgar Michael .• . Cardiff.

Evans, William James . New Quay.

Ferrie, George Thomas . Edinburgh.

Forshaw, James Henry . Huy ton.

Forster, John Robert, junr . Blyth.

Giles, William . Wallsend-on-Tyne.

Gill, George Hewson . Glossop.

Gilpin, Samuel Richard . London.

Goy, William Henry . Stamford.

Gray, William Underwood . Lincoln.

Hallowell, Frederick . Macclesfield.

Harries, David . Carmarthen.

Harvey, Robert Rose . Cardiff.

Higgins, Sydney John W . Pewsey.

Higgs, Edwin Coster . Reading.

Hill, Elric John . ..Norwich.

Hill, Herbert William . Hull.

Holmes, Arthur . Chippenham.

Horsburgh, Robert . Edinburgh.

Hudson, John Beckinton . Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Hulme, Harold Edwin . Pendleton.

Hutchinson, William . Dunbar.

Ives, Herbert . Norwich.

James, James Owen . . New Quay.

Johnson, Martin Kemble . Stoke.

Jones, Henry . Landport.

Jones, Philip Henry . Conway.

Jones, Robert Watkin . Oswestry.

Jones, Tom Young . Carmarthen.

Kerr, Robert . Edinburgh.

Kimber, Arthur Weaving . Fyfield Wick.

King, Richard Henry . Bradford-on- A von.

Knapman, Thomas Lang . Torquay.

Knowles, Robert . OverDarwen.

Lawrie, Thomas . Edinburgh.

Lawson, Albert Edward . Shrewsbury.

Lees, James Nall . Rochdale.

Lockwood, Joe . Hyde.

MacCreath, David . Newton Stewart.

McGregor, James . Edinburgh.

Mackay, Alexander . Inverness.

Maddock, Geo. Edw. Barrow ...Blackburn.

Michie, James . Aberdeen.

Millbright, George James . Shrewsbury.

Morrall, Edward Ernest . Bridgnorth.

Morris, Daniel . Portmadoc.

Moulden, William Henry . Bingley.

Myers, George . . Welton.

Nicholson, Arthur . Birmingham.

Nicholson, Walter John Cecil... Woodstock.

Osborne, James . Bridgwater.

Painter, Edgar . Stafford.

Paisley, James . Seaham Colliery.

Plews, Harry William . Bedale.

Pollaky, Francis Hughes Jas.... London.

Price, Henry Thomas . Shrewsbury.

Proudman, Edward William ...Leominster.

Rahn, Ernest William . Beccles.

Ranken, John . Forfar.

Robb, David . Ossett.

Robinson, Frank Richard . Birmingham.

Rogers, Frederick Hughes . Northwich.

Sanders, Francis Theodore . Ramsgate.

Shallcross, Joseph Richard . Tunstall.

Shepherd, Robert Farel . Beverley.

Simpson, Alexander T . Edinburgh.

Smart, Thomas Willis . Reading.

Stanton, Leonard William . Wolverhampton.

Swinscoe, Herbert Nicholas ...Wisbech.

Tate, Herbert William . Manchester.

Taylor, George . Newark.

Taylor, Henry Pearson . Alnwick.

Taylor, John William . Radcliffe.

Thomson, John Hutcheson . Lochee.

Timbury, Alfred Jefferies . Leominster.

Tirrell, John, jun . Hanley.

Tite, John Reynolds . Towcester.

Trembath, Henry . Penzance.

Tyler, Charles Skelton . Cambridge.

Vallance, Arthur Clayton . Mansfield.

Walker, Herbert . Nottingham.

Ward, Thomas Armistead . Wigan.

Watson, Edwin . Cardiff.

Watson, John Winder . Tunstall.

Weston, George, jun . Sleaford.

WhCeldon, William Henry . Derby.

Whitehouse, John William . Bradford.

Whitfield, Allen . Chirk.

W illiams, Ernest Bertram Billing, Edmonton.

Williams, Herbert Edward . London.

Wilson, Samuel . St. Helen’s.

Woodyatt, John Fred . Macclesfield,

Woolley, Samuel Walter . Stamford.

35S

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October CO, 1889

The following is a list of the centres at which the
examination was held, showing the number of candidates
examined at each centre and the result : —

Aberdeen ...
Birmingham
Brighton ...

Bristol .

Cambridge

Canterbury

Cardiff .

Carlisle .

Carmarthen

Carnarvon

Cheltenham

Darlington

Dundee .

Edinburgh

Exeter .

Glasgow ...

Hull .

Inverness ...

Candidates

Candidates.

» 1

1-0

<D !

y, K |

Passed.

Failed.'

§ -o’

c? a

K 0

Passed.

.. 6

4

2

Lancaster .

. 2

1

.15

7

8

Leeds .

.10

5

.. 1

0

1

Lincoln .

. 6

4

.. 7

6

1

Liverpool .

. 8

4

.. 1

1

0

London .

.34

12

.. 2

2

0

Manchester ....

.17

15

.. 7

6

1

N e wcastle - on-T.

11

6

.. 5

1

4

Northampton .

. 1

1

.. 4

3

1

Norwich .

. 7

4

.. 3

2

1

Nottingham ....

.10

8

.. 3

1

2

Oxford .

. 3

3

.. 4

1

3

Peterborough .

.. 5

3

4

2

2

Sheffield .

.. 3

0

..13

8

5

Shrewsbury ....

.. 7

7

.. 6

3

3

Southampton .

.. 2

1

.. 4

2

2

Truro .

.. 3

2

.. 4

3

1

Worcester ....

4

.. 2

2

1

0

York .

1

-C

<V

•H

1

5

2

4

22

2

5
0
3
2
0
2
3
0
1
1
0
2

The questions for examination were as follows: —

Time allowed : Three Hours for the three subjects.

III. ENGLISH.

10. Write the following nouns in the plural number: —
lady, loaf, hoof, staff, ox, brother, focus , vertex, genus,
crisis.

11. Give the diminutive forms of the wx>rds — stream ,
hill, duck, lass, maid ; and the force of the following
prefixes — mis, un, per, sub.

12. Explain the function of a conjunction, an advei'b,
and a preposition. Write three short sentences, each
containing one of the above-mentioned parts of speech.

13. What is meant by weak and strong verbs? Give
the present infinitive of ridden, shorn, got, sprung, clad,
xorought, stricken.

14. Write a short composition upon one of the follow¬
ing subjects : —

“The Force of Example.”

“ Self-Reliance.”

“ Thrift.”

“The Advantages of Travelling,” or,

“ The Character of Queen Elizabeth.”

EXAMINATIONS IN LONDON.

October 20, 1880.

Present — Mr. Greenish, President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

I. LATIN.

1. Translate into English the following passages : —

(A) . Id ea maxime ratione fecit, quod noluit eum
locum, unde Helvetii discesscrant, vacare, ne propter
bonitatem agrorum Germani, qui trans Rhenum incolunt,
e suis finibus in Helvetiorum fines transirent, et finitimi
Galliae provinciae Allobrogibusque essent.

(B) . His rebus cognitis, Caesar Gallorum animos
verbis confirmavit, pollicitusque est sibi earn rem curae
futuram : magnam se habere spem, et beneficio suo et
auctoritate adductum, Ariovistum finem injuriis facturum.
Hac oratione habita, concilium dimisit.

2. Parse fully : — “ Id ea maxime ratione fecit ; ” and
give the present, perfect, and supine of discesserant and
transirent. Decline agrorum, spem.

3. In (B.), explain the construction of “ His rebus
cognitis,” and give the derivation of tbe verbs in italics.

4. Translate into Latin : — (i.) Orgetorix is chosen to
carry out these things, (ii.) That fact was told the
Helvetii by a spy. (iii.) All things being got together
for the setting out they fix a day, upon which all are to
meet on the banks of the Rhone, (iv.) Yesterday, to¬
day, to-morrow, the day after to-morrow.

II. ARITHMETIC.

[The working of these examples, as well as the answers,
must be written out in full.]

5. An iron merchant buys 32,016 tons of iron at
£4 13s. 4 d. per ton ; he sells half of it at cost price, half
of the remainder at a profit of \d. per lb., and the rest at
a profit of |c?. per lb. ; what was his gain ?

6. Add together the sum, difference, product, and
quotient (the greater being divided by the less) of f
and

7. A person who possessed three-eighths of a mine, sold
two-thirds of his share for £2520 ; find the value of
seven-eighths of the whole mine.

8. Find the value of 7*75 of £1, and 0‘63 of 16 days
12 hours.

9. If 3 men can mow 8 acres of wheat in 2 days, how
long will it take 5 men fo mow 20 acres at the same
rate

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Six candidates were examined. One failed. The
following five passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Allsworth, Norman . Havant.

Coverdale, George . Leeds.

Davies, Richard . London.

Horne, John . Wednesbury.

Morse, Charles Henry Stafford.Bishop’s Stortford.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Fourteen candidates were examined. Six failed. The
following eight passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Ackerman, Henry . Chipping Sodbury.

Adams, Henry George . Maidstone.

Austen, Charles Wilson . Surbiton.

Baines, Francis . Corsham.

Baker, Walter Robert . London.

Bardill, Draper Welch . Derby.

Botham, Frank John . London.

Bowman, Samuel . Durham.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

Three candidates wTere examined. Tioo failed. The
undermentioned passed, and was declared qualified to
be registered as a Chemist and Druggist: —

Tregear, Augustus Frederick. . .London.

October 21, 1880.

Present— Mr. Greenish, President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barms, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, 1'. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Six candidates wrere examined. Three failed. The
following three passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists: —

October 30, 1880.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

359

Cbristopherson, Fred . Ipswich.

Hope, Arthur Peach . Uppingham.

Phillips, James Wilson . Btoadstairs.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Eighteen candidates w- re examined. Seven failed.
The following eleven- passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Brampton, William S. Howes... Stanion.

Burford, Samuel Francis . Leicester.

Chaplin, John Henry . Wakefield.

Cooper, Walter Temple . London.

Crompton, Alfred, jun . Bury.

Cule, Taliesin . Merthyr Tydvil.

Curry, Nicholas . Spennymoor.

Ellis, Richard . Knaresborough.

Evans, Thomas . Chorley.

Forrest, Ernest William . Gainsborough.

Gilkes, William Henry . Banbury.

October 22, 18S0.

Present — Mr. Greenish, President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

_Dr. Greenhow was present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-five candidates were examined. Fourteen
failed. The following eleven passed, and were declared
qualified to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Chapman, William Henry . Birmingham.

Gill, Sutton Dudley . West Bromwich.

Harrison, Peter Webster . St. Helen’s.

Hart, Thomas . Darlington.

Howell, William . London.

Hucldebridge, Philip . London.

Hunt, Tom George . Snaith.

Jackson, William E. Gillson ...Newark.

Jenlcs, William . Bristol.

Jevons, Wallis Byron . Market Rasen.

McDonald, John . Liverpool.

October 27, 1880.

Present — Mr.Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Six candidates were examined. Five failed. The
undermentioned passed, and was declared qualified to be
registered as a Pharmaceutical Chemist : —

James, Charles Frederick . High worth.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Eighteen candidates were examined. Ten failed. The
following eight passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Moore, Albert . Ashton- under- Lyne.

Murray, George . Coldstream.

Newcombe, William Langdon...Shepton Mallet.

Norton, Alfred James . Swansea.

Paine, Charles . Belton.

Pre'ton, William . Barnoldswick.

Prosser, Frank Henry . Birmingham.

-Quine, Richard Henry . Warrington.

October 28, 1880.

Present — Mr.Schacht, Vice-President ; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor,

Dr. Greenhow was present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-one candidates were examined. Fourteen failed.
The following seven passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Rjgg, George Farrer . London.

Ripley, Edward . Cambridge.

Stanford, Frederick William ...London.

Sumner, John . Wilmslow.

Watson, Henry Gervase . Sheffield.

Whit ton, Richard . Lincoln.

Woods, William Herbert . Plymouth.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned certificates were received in lieu
of the Society’s Examination : —

Certificates of the University of Cambridge.

Holmes, Francis . Lutterworth.

Miles, Charles . Dorchester.

Vinen, John . Paignton.

Walker, William Roddis . Herne Hill.

Certificates of the College of Preceptors.

Klosz, Sydney Albert . London.

Robinson, John . Wrexham.

Rowland, Leonard Bromfield ...Wrexham.

Tighe, John Wynne . Exeter.

Webb, Benjamin . Aylesbury.

Certificate of the University of Edinburgh.
Stewart, Fergus Ferguson . Dalkeith.

Certificate of the Faculty of Physicians and, Surgeons of

Glasgow.

Morrison, Forbes . Glasgow.

Certificate of the University of Oxford.

Steward, Josiah William . Bridgnorth.

EXAMINATIONS IN EDINBURGH.

October 20 and 21, 1880.

Present — Messrs. Ainslie, Borland, Gilmour, Kemp,
Kinninmont, Stephenson and Young.

Professor Maclagan was present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

20th. — Two candidates were examined. Both failed.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

20th.— Eleven candidates were examined. Five failed.
The following six passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Beaulah, William . Manchester.

Brown, John Jarvey . Glasgow.

Cormaclc, John . Kirkwall.

Foggitt, Thomas Jackson . Thirslc.

Gilmour, George . Glasgow.

Hawdon, Jas. Alexander Jacob. . . London.

21 st. — Fourteen candidates were examined. Five failed.
The following nine passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Moir, James . Leith.

Ogston, William . Aberdeen.

Palmer, Tom Clifford . Grimsby.

Reid, James . . Edinburgh.

Simpson, James . Foveran.

Tait, Robert . Edinburgh.

Turnbull, William Scott . Edinburgh.

Walker, Francis . Liverpool.

Walkley, James Byron . Bollington.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

2LI. — One candidate was examined, but failed to pass.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned certificates were received in lieu
of the Society’s Examination : —

Certificate of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Hewitt, John Richard . Birmingham.

Certificate of the University of Cambridge.

Clarke, Frederick Henry . Edinburgh.

360

THE PHAEMACEUTICAL JOUENaL AND TEANSACTIONS.

[October 30, 1880.

|1r0ttcMngs .erf Srhntifit Scrcutim

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE LITEEAEY AND
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Electric Lighting.*
by j. w. SWAN.

Almost two years ago I had the honour of delivering a
lecture in this place on “Electric Light;” to-night I
have undertaken to report the progress which has been
made since then iu connection with the subject.

At the time of iny last lecture the public mind was
greatly perturbed by the question whether or not gas
lighting was about to be superseded by electric lighting.
It was generally believed that a re volution- working dis¬
covery had been made, and you may remember, as a
consequence, gas stock was much depressed in value.
After a while, when the supposed wonderful discovery
dwindled and paled in the daylight of scientific examina¬
tion, the panic subsided, and then the current of feeling
drove the other way, and in place of the hasty credulity
which at first took possession of the public mind, there is
now, I think, an equally unreasonable unbelief in the
possibilities of electric lighting — the idea now widely
prevailing that electric light, as a substitute for gas, is
after all a delusion.

In tracing the progress of electric lighting during the
last two years, I shall endeavour to give you some reason¬
able grounds for forming an opinion on the question
whether or not there is a prospect of electric light being
made useful to us for lighting our streets and houses,
and, therefore, to what extent it may probably compete
with gas light.

In the first place, I feel it to be necessary, in order
that I may insure that I am taking you along with me,
that I should lay at least some slight foundation of
general principles.

The economical production of powerful electric currents
naturally occupies the foremost place in the consideration
of my subject, for it is evident that unless such electric
currents as are required for electric lighting can be
produced with sufficient economy and facility, electric
lighting as a common means of artificial illumination is
altogether out of the question. I stated in my last
lecture that the dynamo-electric machine, driven by the
steam engine had given us cheap electricity.

The dynamo-electric machine, you will remember, is a
machine consisting of bobbins of copper wire and magnets
so arranged that the bobbins of copper wire can, by the
turning of a spindle, be rapidly moved in and out of the
magnetic rays or lines of force which emanate from
the poles of the magnets. When the bobbins are so
moved electric currents are produced in them which can
be used for electric lighting and other purposes. Motive
power is in this way transformed into electric power.

It is, moreover, an example of that universal law which
we have all come in contact with in one shape or another,
that you get nothing fur nothing in this world. So long
as no work was being done by the machine hardly any
power was required to drive it ; but the moment work
was taken out of it, by the heating of this wire, a corre¬
sponding amount of extra motive power had to be applied
to it through the arm of my assistant.

The dynamo-electric machine is the most economical
generator of powerful electric currents.

There have been no great recent improvements in the
dynamo-electric machine, indeed there is not much room
for great improvement: it gave in its original form such
a very good return in electricity for the motive power
applied to it. There have been minor improvements,
which have resulted in a slightly increased yield of current
for a given amount of motive power absorbed.

Progress has also been made in the economical develop¬
ment of steam power. On the whole, I may safely say

* Lecture delivtrjil October 20, 1880.

that the cost of producing electricity by mechanical
means has been diminished.

It is practicable to develop one-horse-power by the
combustion of 2 lbs. of coal per hour, and to produce
with this amount of motive power a current of electricity
sufficient to give a light of over one thousand standard
candles. That is to say, we can maintain for one hour
an electric light more than equal to one thousand standard
candles, or sixty-six large gas burners, by the combustion
of 2 lbs. of coal. That is a much more economical result
than can be obtained by the Voltaic battery, or any
other means of generating an electric current at present
known.

The Voltaic battery, as a means of generating current for
electric lighting, is still as far behind the dynamo-electric
machine as ever ; but as an auxiliary to the dynamo-
electric machine, for the purpose of storing electricity,
a modification of the Voltaic battery is very likely
to prove useful, and to have an important bearing on
the economical production of electric currents, such as
would be required in an extensive general application of
lighting by means of electricity ; and employed in that
manner it would perform the same part in a general
system of electric lighting that the gasometer performs in
gas lighting.

It could scarcely be considered a satisfactory condition
of things that the continued burning of lamps in your
house should depend on the continuance of the revolutions
of the fly wheel of a steam engine and other wheels con¬
nected with it, and yet that in some measure would be
the actual condition if electric lamps were fed in a hand
to mouth fashion, by taking the current directly from a
single dynamo-electric machine or a single engine. Such
a mode of using electricity would be almost as liable to
break down as would a system ’of gas-lighting without
gasometers, and which depended upon the supply of gas
direct from the gas retorts. The breaking of a shaft, or
the slipping of a belt are things which in the natural
course of events will certainly happen, and it would
obviously be in the highest degree inconvenient if these
accidents were immediately telegraphed to you in the
form of extinguished lights. Of course, in the electric
lighting of a town from a great central station, there
would be many engines and many generators, all working
together, reducing to almost nothing the consequence of
such accidents as I have mentioned.

But to further meet this difficulty the secondary battery
comes to our aid. M. Plants was, I believe, the first to
put the idea of a secondary battery into practice. The
secondary battery of M. Plants consists of plates of lead
placed opposite each other, and very near together (but
not touching). A Plante cell consists simply of two
pieces of sheet lead rolled up together, and separated by
the space of about one-eighth of an inch.

You observe that in this combination we have two
plates of the same metal, viz., lead ; and in this respect
the combination differs from an ordinary Voltaic battery,
inasmuch as the very essence — so to speak — of the
Voltaic battery is the dissimilarity of the two plates
which in part constitute it. It is zinc and copper, or zinc
and platinum, or some dissimilar combination of that sort
that we are all familiar with as characteristic of the Vol¬
taic battery.

Here, in the secondary battery, the two plates are
alike; therefore, of themselves, they cannot generate a
current of electricity like the ordinary Voltaic battery.

But if these two lead plates are for a time connected
by wires with a generator of electricity, no matter of
what kind (it may be a dynamo-electric machine which
supplies the primary current), one of the lead plates is
changed on its surface — it becomes oxidized — and after
undergoing this change, it is, when detached from the
generator, in such a condition as to be able to give out,
at any future time, a current of electricity on its own
account ; and when the charge has been expended the
plates are, like an empty gasometer, just in the same

October 30, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

361

condition they were before receiving the charge, and
ready to be charged afresh.

The secondary battery is therefore ail instrument of
very great interest at the present moment, and it is much
t > be hoped that it may be improved, because, in the
simple form which I have described, it does not quite do
all that would be required of a secondary battery, applied
as a store of electricity on a large scale for extensive
practical electric lighting.

I have here a modified form of a secondary battery,
which, if it does not give us all that could be desired,
makes a very considerable contribution towards it. This
battery was charged this morning ; before being charged
it was nearly inert. I will join the poles together by
this platinum wire, and if the charge has been retained
the wire will become hot. [The wire is, you see, white-
hot.]

The want of a means of storing electricity is a newly
felt want ; as yet it cannot be said to have been quite
fully supplied, but, as I have shown yoxi, it has been
supplied to a certain extent, and research is still busy at
work seeking its complete fulfilment. There can be no
doubt that what is wanted will be found, and with the
perfecting of the secondary battery that great objection
to electric lighting — that you cannot store the power
which produces it, as you can store gas, will be com¬
pletely met.

Besides the dynamo-electric machine, and besides the
Voltaic battery, there is yet another kind of generator
of the electric current which I must at least mention ; it
is the thermo-electric battery.

In the dynamo-electric machine, electro-motive force
is developed indirectly by the combustion of coal in the
furnace of a steam engine. In the thermo-electric
battery electricity is developed by the direct action of
heat upon the plates composing it.

This diagram will enable you to understand the
principle of the construction of the thermo-electric
battery, or thermo-pile as it is generally called.

Here is represented a plate of antimony, and here a
plate of bismuth. If heat, from any source, as for
instance from a gas flame, is applied at the point where
these two plates are represented as joined together — the
opposite ends of the plates being kept cold— a certain
electro-motive force is developed, which, when the cold
ends of the plates are united by a conducting wire, will
operate to cause an electric current to flow in this
circuit.

The thermo-electric pile is a combination of such
couples arranged exactly like the pairs of a Voltaic
battery, so that at the extremities of the combination,
an electro-motive force is developed, which is the sum
of the electro-motive force of the individual pairs.

The current produced by the thermo-pile is an
exceedingly weak one, and consequently the united
energy of a very great number of couples is required to
produce such an electro-motive force as is necessary for
the electric light.

Twenty years ago the effects obtained by means of the
thermo-pile were of such a trifling character as to hardly
raise the idea that it would ever be a rival of the Voltaic
battery where strong currents of electricity were required,
but since then the thermo pile has been so far improved
that it has already replaced the Voltaic battery in more
than one electro-plating works.

Here is a thermo-pile of an improved form. It is the
Noe pile constructed by M. Bregnet of Paris. It is now
in action. There is a gas burner at the centre of the
group of pairs heating one end of each pair. I have
made a circuit of wire between the cold ends of the first
and last couples of the series, the circuit at this point
goes through a short piece of thin platinum wire, which,
when the current passes, will become hot. As this piece
of platinum wire is too small for you to see from a distance,
I have laid upon it a piece of gun-cotton, and if the wire
becomes hot enough, this will be ignited, but without

any noise. The circuit is at the moment broken. I will
now complete it by pressing this knob.

H is said that the thermo-pile of Clamond has main¬
tained four electric lights, each of 220 standard candles,
by the combustion of 21 lbs. of coke per hour. This is
no doubt a much greater quantity of fuel than would
have been required for producing the same remit by
means of the dynamo-electric machine, but yet it is a
result sufficiently economical for some purposes, and cer¬
tainly sufficient to encourage the belief that in the
thermo-pile, we have, as it were, an additional string to
our bow, and that if such results have been arrived at
with this species of generator in its as yet immature
foim, there is probability that still more economical
results may ultimately be obtained by this means.

I might spend much time in describing the special
features of different new generators of electric currents,
but as the time at my disposal is short, and as the other
parts of my subject are more interesting and important,
I pass on to speak of the different ways of applying
currents of electricity to the production of light.

All the various means of producing light by electricity
that can make any pretention to practicability are
divisible into two classes, namely : —

1st. Lighting by the electric arc.

2nd. Lighting by incandescence.

In lighting by the electric arc, there is a break or gap
m the circuit which has to be bridged over by a sort of
electric flame. In lighting by incandescence there is no
break or gap at the point where light is produced, but a
thin highly infusible and badly conducting solid substance
is there interposed which becomes white hot, and emits a
light, bright in proportion to the degree of heat produced
in it.

Now, to fix in your mind precisely what I am talkiug
about, I will first show you what I mean by the electric
arc. This will enable you more easily to follow my
remarks on the question of electric lighting by this
method.

Here is an enlarged view of the electric arc, — here are
the two carbon points, and here — between them — is
formed the electric arc. A powerful electric current,
produced by a gas engine and dynamo-electric machine,
is supplied to these two pencils of carbon through thick
copper conducting wires, and you see that a stream of
flame is flowing or rushing between them. If the points
are too much separated, the light is lessened ; by in¬
creasing the air-space between the points, resistance to
the passage of the current is increased, and the current
is consequently diminished, and when this diminution of
current passes a certain limit the light is lessened. On
the other hand, when the points are made to approach
too closely to each other, the light becomes less for the
opposite reason.

A certain amount of difficulty or resistance must be
offered to the passage of the current in order to produce
light, and to get the best effect the resistance must
neither be too much nor too little.

When the points are made to touch there is no longer
the resistance of the air-space to be struggled through,
the light consequently goes out.

Observe the alteration in the points ; they burn away,
and one faster than the other. Now as the production
of a steady light demands that the points should be
maintained at a constant distance apart, it is evident
that under the complicated conditions of the case a nice
regulation of the distance of the points to each other is a
matter of extreme difficulty.

I will now ask for the current to be turned on to a
lamp hung up aloft, in order that you may see how very
nearly the difficulties of producing a steady arc light
have been surmounted.

The particular lamp I am using for the purpose of my
illustration is Crompton’s lamp. Properly regulated it
feeds the pencils together almost continuously and with
great precision.

OULJ

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 00, 1880.

That then, ladies and gentlemen, is par excellence the
Electric Light. That is the form and style of electric
light that inventors have for the last forty years struggled
and battled with difficulty upon difficulty to render ser¬
viceable to the wants of man.

From the nature of the electric arc light you will
readily perceive that it is a kind of light not suited to
the lighting of dwelling house®, nor shops, nor streets.

It does not lend itself kindly to division, nor extensive
distribution. It will give you either a great deal of light
or none.

For certain exceptional uses it is excellent. If you
want a very brilliant illumination all centred in one
focus, for a light-house, or signal, for example, or for a
high-roofed railway station, or very large workshop, or
open space, it is unquestionably the most economical and
the best of all artificial lights.

It has already found for itself in England over two
hundred appropriate applications. Its use is continued
and increased on the Thames embankment. It is used
in the reading room of the British Museum ; in the Picton
Library, Liverpool ; in a portion of the South Kensington
Museum; at the Liverpool Street Railway Station; the Bar-
row Shipbuilding Works ; the St. Enoch Railway Station,
Glasgow; on the Promenade at Blackpool; and at the
New Albert Docks, where by means of Siemens’s lamps,
three miles of wharves and quays are made almost as light
by night as by day, and at a very moderate cost.

As an illustration of the economy of lighting by means
of the electric arc under conditions suited to its use, I
instance the case of the Alexandra Palace, where two
thousand gas lights, which consumed 26s. worth of gas
per hour, are replaced by six of Mr. Crompton’s lamps,
giving a greater aggregate amount of light than the two
thousand gas burners, at a cost of 6s. per hour. In some
instances the economy of the electric arc light is greater
by half than in the case I have mentioned. Not only is
it economical in such a case as that of the Alexandra
Palace, but it produces an effect of general illumination
overhead, as well as upon the ground, not produceable by
any other means.

But the interest which attaches to electric arc lighting
is much lessened by the fact that the purposes to which
that mode of lighting is suited are exceptional. We do
not as a rule want the light of one thousand candles or
more all in one place. What we do generally want is a
number of small and steady lights, spread about in dif¬
ferent rooms, and in different parts of those rooms. For
electric light of this description we must search in another
direction.

I said that there is another way of producing electric
light; namely by incandescence.

Lighting by incandescence is a branch of the subject
which has a special charm for me, because I have
bestowed upon it much thought and labour ; and it is, I
believe, the branch which will yield the largest crop of
fruit. Electric lighting by incandescence is just as
simple as arc lighting is difficult; all that is required is a
material which is not a very good conductor of electricity,
highly infusible, and which can be formed into a wire or
lamina, and is either non-combustible in air, or, if com¬
bustible, does not undergo change in a vacuum. There
are, so far as I know, just two substances that possess,
in any sufficient degree for the purpose in question, the
qualities I have specified.

The two substances are : platinum, or an alloy of
platinum with iridium ; and carbon. Platinum has the
advantage over carbon that it is not combustible in air ;
it does not, like carbon, burn away if you make it white
hot ; but it is very inferior to carbon in the degree of
heat it will bear without fusion ; and for producing light
by incandescence it is essential to economy that the
incandescent material should be capable of enduring an
extremely high temperature, because the amount of light
emitted by an incandescent substance increases in a more
rapid ratio than the temperature.

When, for example, you have a piece of platinum wire
or carbon red hot, it emits almost no light, but double
its temperature by sending a double quantity of current
through it, and it will yield much more than twice the
light it did before.

It is therefore evident that the hotter the incandescent
material can be made the less the light will cost per unit
of power expended.

Iridio-platinum, comparatively with other metals, may
be called extremely infusible, but compared with carbon
it is nowhere. Carbon has in fact resisted wdthout
fusion the very highest degree of heat brought to bear
upon it, and what that degree of heat is I can hardly
estimate, it is so enormous.

But carbon has been found so difficult to deal with on
account of its ready combustibility (and some other
troublesome properties which I will mention afterwards)
that experimenters have bestowed much attention upon
platinum and iridio-platinum as the incandescent ma¬
terial for electric lamps.

Mr. Edison was, I think, the last who attempted to
utilize platinum in an electric lamp, and I think there
can be no doubt that he obtained better results with
platinum and came nearer making a useful platinum
lamp than any experimenter in the same track who had
gone before him. Edison’s platinum lamp was the lamp
of which so much was promised and expected in October,
1878, and which led, you remember, to the panic in gas
shares. This lamp did not realize the hopes of the in¬
ventor. Whilst Mr. Edison was endeavouring to produce
a useful incandescent lamp by means of platinum, I was
endeavouring to obtain the same end by means of carbon.

It had appeared to me for many years that if ever
electric light was to become generally useful, it would,
most probably, be by means of the incandescence of
carbon. I had, long before the time to which I am re¬
ferring, attempted to render this idea practicable.

As a matter of history, I will briefly describe an ex¬
periment which I tried about twenty years ago.

I had a number of pieces of paper and card of various
forms and sizes buried in charcoal in a crucible. This
crucible I sent to be heated white hot in one of the
pottery kilns belonging to Mr. Wallace, of Forth Banks.
From the pieces of carbonized card which I thus obtained
I selected a long spiral, the ends of this I clipped between
small blocks of carbon carried by uprights and connected
with conducting wires. A small glass shade was cemented
over this mounted carbon spiral, and the air was ex¬
hausted by means of a very good air-pump, lent to me for
the purpose of this experiment by the Rev. Robert Green,
of Longhorsley. A good vacuum (according to the ideas
that then prevailed) having been produced, I applied the
wires of my battery (consisting of ten cells of Callan’s
modification of Grove’s battery) with great expectation
of a brilliant result ; instead of this, there was the most
absolute negative presented to me, not a vestige of heat
or light appeared in my long ringlet of carbonized paper.
It was evident, and I immediately recognized the fact,
that the electric current of the strength I was using
would not go in sufficient quantity through so long a
piece of carbon as I had taken. I therefore repeated the
experiment with shorter carbon and a greater number of
cells, and I obtained, under these altered circumstances,
an extremely interesting result.

My carbon was in the form of an arch, about 1 inch
high and | of an inch wide; The ends of the arch were
held in small clamps with square blocks of carbon.

The air-pump having been worked, I had the pleasure
of seeing that when contact with the battery of forty or
fifty cells was completed my carbonized paper arch be¬
came red hot, and it was evident that nothing more was
wanted than a still stronger current to make it give out
a brilliant light; but I had used up all the battery power
at my disposal, and having reached this limit, I contented
myself with watching the behaviour of the arch, the
engrossing question being, How long will it endure ?

October 30, 1880.}

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

363

I noticed that the inner part of the arch w.as hotter
than the outer part, and that, perhaps in consequence of
this, the arch became bent on one side. This bending
gradually increased, until at last the arch had so far
curled down that the top was on a level with the clamps,
and on coming in contact with the sole of the lamp it
broke in two, and the experiment collapsed.

That, I confidently believe, was the very first instance
in which carbonized paper was ever used in the construc¬
tion of an incandescent electric lamp.

I am now speaking of twenty years ago, and at that
time the Voltaic battery was the cheapest source of
•electricity known, and the means of producing high vacua
were very much less perrect than they are now.

I laid my electric light experiments aside until about
three years ago, when two things concurred to lead me to
pursue the subject afresh.

The discovery of the dynamo-electric machine had
•entirely altered the position of the question of electric
lighting, shifting it out of the region of things scienti¬
fically interesting into that of things practically useful.

The Sprengel air-pump, too, had been invented, and
with its invention we had been provided with a means of
producing much higher vacua than could be produced by
the old form of air-pump.

Mr. Crookes’s radiometer experiments had shown us
what a really high vacuum was and how to produce it.

Mr. Stearn, of Birkenhead, an ardent scientific amateur,
was so attracted by the extraordinary results Mr. Crookes
had obtained by means of high vacua, as to go with great
•enthusiasm into the same line of experiment, and he soon
acquired such a knowledge of the Sprengel pump, and
such expertness in its manipulation as perhaps was only
equalled by Mr. Crookes himself.

I had the good fortune to make Mr. Steam’s acquaint¬
ance, and that was the other one of the determining
eauses of my second attempt to solve the problem of
electric lighting by the incandescence of carbon.

In the interval between the first and second periods I
have mentioned, many attempts had been made by
various experimenters to render practicable incandescent
carbon lamps, but none wei'e entirely successful.

Here is represented a variety of the most notable of
these attempts. Some are vacuum lamps, and some have
air admitted. Sawyer and Mann’s lamp is filled with
nitrogen. When the incandescent carbon is in air it
burns away, and must consequently be renewed just as a
candle must be renewed ; it must also be thicker than
would be necessary in a vacuum, and being thicker it
requires a proportionally greater current to render it
incandescent; both these circumstances are obviously
against economy.

The Andr£ lamp is one of the best of this type. In
this the supply of air is limited ; still this lamp, and all
those lamps, are lacking in simplicity and in economy.

In all the various attempts to utilize the principle of
the incandescence of carbon in vacuo, two great diffi¬
culties had stood in the way, and baffled every attempt
to overcome them. One was the rapid wearing away and
consequent breaking of the incandescent carbon ; and the
other the obscuration of the lamp by a kind of black
smoke. So uniformly did these phenomena present
themselves that the idea was propounded and generally
accepted that the blackening of the lamp globes was due
to volatilization of the carbon under the action of the
enormous heat to which it was subjected.

In Fontaine’s work on electric light this passage occurs
at page 180 : —

“Attentive examination of incandescent carbons,
through a strongly coloured glass, has shown that they
are not uniformly brilliant. They present obscure spots
indicative of non-homogeneity, and the position of cracks,
which rapidly disintegrate the carbon. The vacuum
never being perfect in the receiver the first carbon is in
greater part consumed. It would appear that, con¬
sequently upon the little oxygen contained in the lamp

being transformed into carbonic acid and carbonic oxide,
the carbon should be preserved indefinitely. But there is
then produced a kind of evaporation which continues to
slowly destroy the incandescent rods. This evaporation
is, besides, clearly proved by a pulverulent deposit of
sublimed carbon, that we have found on the interior
surface of the bells, on the several interior parts, rods,
contacts, hammers, etc.”

If this idea of the volatilization of carbon were founded
in fact, any further attempt to render incandescent carbon
lamps durable by means of a vacuum were mere waste of
time, and durable they must be if they were to be of any
practical value.

Fortunately I did not accept as conclusive the experi¬
ments which seemed to show that carbon was volatile,
and that the blackening of globes of incandescent carbon
lamps was an inevitable lesult of the carbon being very
highly heated. I knew that the conditions under which,
without exception, all previous experiments had been
tried, were such as did not allow to be formed anything *
approaching a perfect vacuum within the lamp. Screw
fittings had invariably been employed to close the mouth
of the lamp, and the ordinary air-pump to exhaust the
air. Under such circumstances it was certain that a con¬
siderable residuum of air would be contained within i*q
and also that it would leak. Then, there had never been
any thought given to the gas occluded in the carbon itself,
and which, when the carbon became hot by the passage
of the current through it, would be evolved ; nor had
sufficient care been taken to make the resistance, at the
points of fixture of the carbon, less than in the carbon to
be heated to incandescence.

It was evident to me that before any definite conclusion
could be arrived at as to the question of the volatility of
carbon, the cause of the blackening of the globes, and the
wearing away of the incandescent rods, we must first try
the experiment of heating the carbon to a state of extreme
incandescence in a thoroughly good vacuum (such as Mr.
Crookes has taught us how to procure), and under more
favourable conditions as to the contact between the
incandescent carbon and the conductors supporting it
than had hitherto obtained.

Accordingly, in October, 1877, I sent to Mr. Stearn a
number of carbons, made from carbonized cardboard, with
the request that he would get them mounted for me in
glass globes by a glass blower, and then exhaust the air
as completely as possible. This delicate operation Mr.
Stearn very kindly undertook, and very skilfully carried
out.

In order to produce a good vacuum it was found
necessary to heat the carbon to a very high degree by
means of the electric current during the process of
exhaustion, so as to expel the gas occluded by the carbon
in its cold state ; for, otherwise, however good the vacuum
was before the carbon was heated, immediately the
current passed and made it white hot, the vacuum was
destroyed by the out-rush of the gas pent up in the carbon
in its cold state. In order to make a good contact
between the carbon and the clips supporting it, the ends
of the carbon were thickened, and, in some of the early
expeiiments, electrotyping and hard soldering of the ends
of the carbons to platinum was resorted to.

I will not weary you, however, with details, but simply
say that the prescribed conditions having been rigorously
complied with, it was found, after many troublesome
experiments, that when the vacuum within the lamp
globe was good, and the contact between the carbon and
the conductor which supported it sufficient, there was no
blackening of the globes, and no appreciable wasting
away of the carbons.

Thus was swept away a pernicious error, which, like a
lying finger-post, proclaiming “ No road this way,” tended
to bar progress along a good thoroughfare.

It only remained to perfect the details of the lamp to
find the best material from which to form the carbon,
and to fix this material in the lamp in the best manner.

364

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 30, 1S8(L

These points, I think, I have now satisfactorily settled ;
and you see the result in the lamp before me on the
table.

It is a very modest-looking affair, but its performance
goes beyond its appearance. The carbon is extremely
thin — a mere hair, — and how wonderfully strong and
elastic it is I will endeavour to show you by means
of the lantern.

This carbon, unlike the carbon spoken of by Fontaine
in the extract I read to you, is quite homogeneous and
almost flinty in hardness, and it becomes harder by use
in the lamp ; the longer and the hotter it is heated, the
harder it becomes. What degree of hardness it will
ultimately arrive at is an interesting question.

Here is a magnified view of the carbon ring in a state
of incandescence, observe how absolutely uniform in
brightness it is ; that proves it to be homogeneous and
foretells its durability.

Now I will show you how easily lamps of this kind are
* lighted, and how completely this form of electric light
can be divided and distributed.

Is it not a pleasant light ? It is not so white as the
arc light, but yet a whiter light than gas. Colours are
correctly seen by it, as this picture shows. But the
great merit of this light consists in its not being in
contact with air, and therefore there cannot possibly
be the slightest air pollution caused by it. The rooms
in which this light is used will be as pure by night as by
day.

It is essential to economy in lighting by incandescence
that the incandescent carbon should be very thin. The
carbon I use is not one-twentieth the thickness of the
thinnest of the carbons formerly employed, and therefore
one-twentieth of the current, costing one-twentieth the
price, will produce in my thin carbon the same degree of
luminosity as twenty times more current will produce in
such carbons as were used in those ancient lamps.

You will notice that in my lamp leakage is very
thoroughly guarded against; the wire which passes
through the glass not only having the glass fused around
it where the wire and globe meet, but, in addition to
this, the wire is coated with glass almost up to the
carbon. In this way the vacuum is preserved very
effectually.

You have, of course, all heard that after Mr. Edison
abandoned his platinum lamp as impracticable, he
invented a new lamp in which carbonized cardboard is
used.

Here is a diagram of Mr. Edison’s carbon lamp, with
its horseshoe of carbonized paper. It is in some respects
like mine, but latterly I have given up the use of
carbonized cardboard, and am now using a material as
much better than carbonized cardboard as carbonized
cardboard was better than the material previously used.
In an article which appeared in the February No. of
Scribner’s Magazine, authenticated by a letter from
Mr. Edison in the same publication, it is stated that
Mr. Edison was the first to use carbonized paper ; that is
incorrect. And this also occurs after a description of
the Sprengel pump used in exhausting these lamps : —
“ Mr. Edison’s use of carbon in such a vacuum is entirely
new.” Now, I dare say there are many here who will
remember this little lamp, which I showed here two
years ago in action. This lamp has exactly the same
simplicity as my present lamp, being composed entirely
of three substances, namely, glass, platinum, and carbon,
and it was exhausted in precisely the same manner, and
to the same degree, as that which Mr. Upton — no doubt
in good faith but still in error — speaks of as “ entirely
new.”

I do not mention these things in any way to disparage
Mr. Edison, for no one can esteem more highly his
inventive genius than I do. I merely state these facts
because I think it is right to do so in my own interest,
and in the interest of true history.

The complete seclusion of the light in this lamp from

contact .with air suggests its adaptability to coal mine
illumination, and I earnestly hope that this may prove
to be one of its uses.

But the great purpose to which a lamp of this kind
is applicable, is the lighting of your houses. In view of
such an application two all-important questions present
themselves : — one, as to distribution, another, as to cost.

Can this light be divided, distributed, and measured
as gas is divided, distributed, and measured ? And at
what cost? It is quite impossible in a brief lecture to
discuss these questions exhaustively, but as far as is
possible in a few words I will answer them.

1st. Then, as to division and distribution, it has been
asserted on very high authority that great loss neces¬
sarily attends the division of the electric light. To a
certain, extent this is true of lighting by the electric arcr
but it is totally and absolutely erroneous of lighting by
incandescence. There is no loss in dividing the electric
light produced by this means. Faraday has stated the
law of the case in these words: “An electric current
which will heat one inch of wire white hot will also heat
to the same temperature 100 inches, or an infinite length
of the same wire.” There is no question of the truth of
this. Now, as it is only necessary, in order to maintain
a given current, to increase the force which produces it
in the same proportion as you increase the resistance to
its flow, it follows that the cost of raising to a certain
degree of incandescence a longer or shorter length of
carbon or of maintaining a 10 candle-light or 100 candle¬
light will be exactly proportional to the light produced.
You may even contemplate on this principle the
economical production of an electric light as small as a
rush-light. A certain unit of light may be established
in an indefinite number of places, with no greater aggre¬
gate expenditure of power than that directly and simply
proportional to the number of lights.

With regard to distribution, I believe that it will prove
to be practicable to light any large town — all Newcastle,
for instance — by means of wires laid in the ground as gas
pipes are laid, and all branching from one centre, and
conveying the electric current to lamps like this.

I he lamps now lighted are supplied by a current
coming from generators working at the far end of
Mosley Street (a quarter of a mile away), and it would
be just as easy by using a more energetic current — a
current as it were under higher pressure — to maintain
these several miles away, and for this purpose the con¬
ductors need not be large, not so large certainly as to
make the distribution of electric current more costly than
the distribution of gas.

For supplying large towns with electric light, Mr.
Edison proposes to have a number of centres for the
supply of electric power, perhaps a quarter of a mile
apart, whence wires would be sent out in every different
direction, distributing the current to the houses round
about. His plan of distribution is this. He proposes to
send out bundles of main wires from each of the centres
of supply, and from these main wires to branch as many
small wires into the houses as there are lamps to be
lighted, each branch wire proceeding from a main wire
to the place where the lamp is situated, and from thence
to a return main wire.

Now although this plan has the great merit of sim¬
plicity, I do not think it will answer, except for very
short distances.

When a number of lamps are grouped together in that
manner, it is necessary that the individual lamps should
offer a very high resistance to the current, for if each
lamp does not offer an extremely high resistance to the
passage of the current there must be great waste, a
large proportion of energy bemg in that case spent in
heating the conducting wires, instead of the carbon in
the lamps.

Mr. Edison accordingly proposes to make hi3 lamps of
a very high resistance ; he proposes to use for the incan¬
descent material a form of carbon which offers a higher

October 30, 18S0.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

365

resistance than simple carbon in its compact state ; but if
■carbon pure and simple is used, then I submit it had
better be in as stable^and condensed a state as possible,
because in process of use it tends to consolidate, and it is
undesirable that any change should take place in the
lamp during use.

The resistance offered by a filament of carbon in its
best state for incandescent lamps, as thin as it is safe to
use in a lamp, and of a length sufficient to give say a
light equal to one burner, or ten standard candles (a unit
of light which I think we must not go beyond in planning
an extensive system of town lighting), will not offer so
ihigh a resistance as that which Mr. Edison has made the
•basis of his scheme of distribution.

With lamps of this resistance, the result would be that
before many were bridged across from one main wire to
another, as much or more work would be done in the
conducting wire as in the lamp. The only way of avoid¬
ing this waste of energy, without abandoning the idea of
■small units of light, would be either to employ enormously
thick conductors, or have a very limited area supplied
from one works.

I think the difficulty is capable of being surmounted in
this way : Instead of grouping the lamps as Mr. Edison
•proposes, each lamp being as it were a loop or bridge
between two mains, I propose to string them in series —
ten, fifty, or perhaps one hundred lamps being all inter¬
posed in one and the same line. In this way every lamp
would add to the resistance of the line, instead of, as
in Mr. Edison’s plan, diminishing its resistance. The
waste of energy in the conducting wire would thus be
•avoided.

A copper wire, less than one-eighth of an inch thick,
would supply current for one such series of, say from ten
to one hundred, lamps at five miles distance, with a very
small percentage of loss ; while to supply at the same
distance a corresponding series on Mr. Edison’s plan
‘would demand copper conductors of such thickness as
would certainly make the plan far too expensive ; or if
such thick conductor was not used there would be an
impracticably extravagant waste of energy in the wire.
If even 50 per cent, of the energy were expended in the
wire, the size of the conductor required to transmit
the current, say, even two miles, would be far too
great.

There is no way of escape that I know of from this
dilemma, viz., that either we must make our unit of
light larger than necessary for a very great many pur¬
poses, and so give up the idea of extensive division
.and extensive distribution, or, in order to gain these
points, we must group the lamps in the manner I have
proposed.

There are, no doubt, difficulties in the carrying out of
jny plan, but none that are not easily surmountable.
For example, if twenty, fifty or one hundred lights were
in a series, a break in any part of the line would ex¬
tinguish all the lights. This danger can be met in two
ways : —

I would have only one lamp belonging to a given line
in one house, so that the extinction of such a line of
lights as we are contemplating would not be a very
serious mishap ; but I would make such a mishap ex¬
tremely unlikely to occur, by placing along with each
lamp an automatic circuit closer. This would so act
.as to bridge over the gap made by the accidental
breaking or failure of a lamp, and so prevent the
extinction of the rest of the lamps in the series, while
a fresh lamp was put in the place of the broken one —
a thing no more difficult, and probably not more costly,
than the replacement of a broken gas burner chimney
or globe.

There is another difficulty occasioned by the variation
■of the current in proportion to the number of lamps in
action.

What is required in this case is to maintain a uniform
current in the line of lamps, whether one or one hundred

are alight. This can be accomplished by self-acting
apparatus somewhat on the principle of the governor of
the steam engine, and which would automatically raise
or lower the potential or pressure by steps of one-hun¬
dredths, according to the number of lamps in use.

I have also considered the question of measuring the
current and, if time allowed, I could show you that that
could be done as easily as the measuring of gas.

Similarly, all other practical difficulties arising out of
this method of distribution can be met, and being met,
we are at liberty to contemplate a great central works
producing electricity by large steam engines, and dis¬
tributing it by means of wires to a whole town, exactly
as gas is now distributed by gas works.

I have already referred to the cost of electric light
produced on the arc principle, and shown that when
the circumstances are favourable to the employment of
that method, it is much more economical than gas
light.

The economy of lighting by incandescence has not
been exemplified by so many instances of actual practical
use. One thing is, however, quite clear, and that is, that
electric lighting by incandescence is an economical pro¬
cess, — it will be less costly than gas lighting. That
is conclusively demonstrated by the fact that 1000 fee
of gas employed in working a gas engine to develop an
electric current, and used in my lamps, will yield more
light than 1000 feet of gas consumed in the ordinary way
in gas burners. This room is now lighted by twenty of
my electric lamps, and to produce the current which feeds
them 160 cubic feet of gas per hour are being burnt in a
gas engine; before my lamps were kindled the room was
lighted by seventy gas jets, consuming, I am told on good
authority, 280 feet per hour. It is very evident that we
have got more light out of the gas through the medium
of electricity than was got from the larger quantity of
gas which those burners consumed. Our conditions here
are somewhat unfavourable to my light for a fair com¬
parison, but from measurements carefully made, both of
light produced and current required to produce it, I am
warranted in saying that at least twice as much light
will be produced by a certain quantity of gas used to
generate an electric current [employed in my lamps, os
would be obtained from this quantity of gas burnt in gas
burners in the usual manner.

If that is so, then it is evident that when, instead of
the motive power of gas, that of steam produced in the
most economical manner is employed, this method of
electric lighting will be very much less costly than gas
lighting. I reckon that 40 lbs. of coal employed in
raising steam to generate electricity is capable of pro¬
ducing in my lamps the effect of 1000 feet of gas burnt
in gas burners in the ordinary manner.

The economical view of the question is therefore, in
my opinion, very favourable to electric lighting, and I
think fully warrants me in anticipating an extensive sub¬
stitution of electric light for gas light.

The great difficulty which till now has completely
blocked the way to any general use of electric light was
the difficulty of division, that difficulty is now completely
overcome, by the method of producing electric light by
the incandescence of carbon in vacuo of which I have
given you a practical demonstration to-night.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, if I have not exhausted my
subject I certainly have exhausted your patience. I will
weary you no more.

Eighty years ago Science gave us enlarged means of
turning night into day; since then not a little of our life¬
time has been spent in gas-lit rooms, and it has been
somewhat of a reproach to Science that she has not pro¬
vided us with this larger measure of light. without at the
same time imposing on us the necessity of breathing a
vitiated atmosphere.

To-day, Science vindicates herself; henceforth we may
make the long nights of our northern winter bright with¬
out any such sacrifice.

366

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 30, 1880

avlhtmenfitrir raft |?aixr

raccefriitgs.

Poisoning by Vermin Killer.

An inquest has been held at Forest Gate, before
Mr. C. C. Lewis, coroner, touching the death of
Hannah Bickmore, aged 17. After evidence had been
given tending to show that death had resulted from
taking strychnine.

Mr. Cumine, chemist and druggist, was sworn, and
stated that he knew the deceased and had done so for
some little time as servant in the employ of Mr. Cole.
He also stated that deceased purchased some vermin
poison at his shop, and he produced the “poisons” book
with deceased’s signature.

Horace Charles Dadson, deposed : I am an assistant
to Mr. Cumine, chemist and druggist, of Forest Gate,
I knew the deceased by sight. She came to the shop on
the morning of the 15th inst., and asked for a packet
of vermin killer. She was served with a sixpenny
packet, on her signing the “poisons” book, now produced.
I cautioned her at the time as to its dangerous contents.
I saw no difference in her appearance, and her manner
was as I had been in the habit of seeing her. The
packet contained about 3J grains of strychnine.

The jury returned a verdict that deceased had taken
poison which caused her death, but in what state of
mind she was at the time there was no evidence to show.
They also were unanimous in their opinion that there
was no blame attaching to Mr. Cumine in the matter of
selling the girl the vermin poison.

Poisoning by Opium.

On Monday last an inquest was held at Hull, before
Mr. J. J. Thorney, respecting the death of Amos Withers.

The evidence showed that the deceased, who was forty-
one years of age, had been in the habit for about four
years of taking the twelfth part of a drachm of opium to
alleviate pains in the head and stomach, and to make
him sleep. Deceased was in a measure addicted to drink,
but prior to last week he had not partaken unduly for
eight or nine weeks. He, however, commenced to drink
on Monday week, and drank more or less heavily up to
the day of his death. On Friday deceased sent for half a
drachm of the drug, and his wife, who was present,
handed it to him, telling him to take a small portion. He
put the whole in his mouth, and upon the return of Mrs.
Withers from fetching a little water, he informed her
that he had swallowed all the half drachm. An emetic
was immediately taken by the deceased, who appeared to
be very much alarmed, and Mr. Hollingworth, surgeon,
was at once sent for. The emetic was not effectual, and
the man died at half -past eight on Saturday morning.

Mr. Hollingworth said that when he first saw the
deceased he had no extraordinax-y appearance, but com¬
plained of feeling drowsy. The vomit smelt of opium,
which showed that the drug was dissolved. Witness did
not at first use the stomach pump, because he was aware
that a lump of opium wTould not ascend in the tube ; he
used it eventually, however. The heart seemed to fail,
and witness adopted artificial respiration. Witness re¬
mained with deceased up to five o’clock, when, finding
that he could render no further aid, he left. He attri¬
buted death to congestion of the brain and convulsions,
which could be attributed to opium poisoning.

In answer to the Coroner, a girl named Ellen Ellis,
who fetched the opium from the shop of Mr. Price,
chemist, Witham, said that she did not sign her name in
any book when she obtained the poison.

Mr. Price, in his evidence, pointed out that it was
unnecessary to do so. It was only essential to place the
ordinary label, bearing the words “ Opium — Poison ” on
the package.

A J uror : Is it customary for you to supply every
child who comes to you ?

Witness said it was not his custom to do so. He
usually asked who the opium was for, and whether such
person was accustomed to taking it.

A Juror : Then you can sell it to every child ?

Mr. Price : Certainly, if I choose to be careless. The
law places no restriction on me.

The jury briefly consulted, and returned a verdict that
death resulted from opium, which was accidentally ad¬
ministered by deceased. — Eastern Mwning News.

gispeiTswg

[451]. Mr. Henry Brown, in last week’s Journal, in
answer to No. 451 of “Dispensing Memoranda*” says,
“ What in the name of wonder suggested calomel to
J. G. P. S. ? ” as applied to the eyes.

When living with a surgeon in large practice some
years since, we both of us frequently used it ; about
^ grain on the edge of a spatula, blown into the eye.

Jones Coppock.

[451]. I never heard chloral hydras used for such a
purpose, therefore hyd. submur. is meant.

[451]. Why in the name of wonder should Mr. Henr
Brown object to the idea of using calomel for the eyes?

A few weeks since I dispensed a prescription written
by a London physician as under —

R Calomel . 3ij*

(In a stoppered phial).

To be dusted into the eye with a camel hair pencil.

The prescriber used it at the time of consultation ; I
was also an eye-witness to the patient using it himself,
and have since been informed that the result has been a
perfect cure after several years’ suffering.

Mr. Henry Brown says hyd. chlor. is hyd. perehlor.,
or corrosive sublimate.

The London Pharmacopoeia says hyd. chlor. is calomel.

Which is the most authentic?

Had I nsed hyd. perehlor. to-day in making the
following pills I should not have felt so comfortable
in my mind as I do at the present moment : —

R Hyd. Chloridi . gr. xij.

Confec . q.s.

Ft. pil. vi.

Midhurst. S. E. Cowap.

[451]. Should use calomel, as the above is evidently an
eye lotion. Calomel is used in some diseases of the eye
in conjunction with opium. I have never yet heard of
chloral hydrate being used for that purpose.

A. C.

[451]. “What in the name of wonder suggested to
J. G. P. S. calomel?” Thus writes Mr. Henry Brown
in last week’s Journal. If Mr. Brown wishes I could
show him many copies of prescriptions for the eyes in
which calomel is used. I should most certainly use
calomel.

J. W.

[451]. In contradiction of the rather positive statement
of Mr. Brown, I may say that J. G. P. S. was right in
supposing “ calomel ” might be intended in this prescrip¬
tion. It is frequently ordered by an eminent Liverpool
oculist, and I have, within the last week, dispensed one
of his prescriptions, in which it was ordered as follows: —
R Pulv. Hyd. Subchlor. (Calom.) . . . 5ij.

Ft. pulvis bene trituratus.

To be dusted into the eyes once a day.

The “ calom.” was evidently inserted to prevent any
possible doubt in the matter. I may add it was for a
child, under two years of age, and is not by any means a
solitary instance.

Karl Sang.

October BO, 18S0.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

367

[451]. I have often read with much pleasure the
answers of Mr. Henry Brown to numerous questions in
the “Dispensing Memoranda,” but I must differ with
him in his answer to this question. He begins by saying
“ hyd. chlor. is hydrarg. perchlor., or corrosive subli¬
mate.” On what authority does he state this? Hydrarg.
chloridum of the London Pharmacopoeia is the same as
hydrarg. subchlor. of the present. Now, how can
hydrarg. chloridum be also called (as it is according
to Mr. Brown), hydrarg. perchlor.? Is not this latter a
double chloride whose formula is HgCl2, while that of
the chloride is HgCl ? Mr. Brown quotes as his authority
the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, but a dispenser has for his
authority the British Pharmacopoeia. How many cases
of poisoning would occur daily if hydrarg. perchlor. was
dispensed as hydrarg. chlorid.? I have often dispensed
prescriptions in which hyd. chlor. is so written; I always
use calomel. If chloral was intended the writer would
have written it thus : Hydrati chloral, or chloral, hydrat.
Besides, as Mr. Brown states, “ nobody would drop such
an irritant as chloral into the eye.” Therefore, I should
dispense the prescription thus —

R Hydrarg. Chloridi (Calomel) . . . gr. v.

Ext. Opii . gr. ij.

Aquae . §ij.

Ft. lotio.

Hydrarg.

[451]. The correspondents who have replied to the
question No. 451 of “ Dispensing Memoranda” seem to
be curiously mistaken. I have often dispensed, by the
direction of an eminent oculist, calomel in the dry state
to be blown into the eye, and I could likewise name some
of the most eminent in London at the present time who
are constantly ordering it thus.

I think calomel would be intended in such a prescrip¬
tion as No. 451, and for an assistant to think that any
other article was meant would be evidence to me, neither
of his cuteness nor carefulness, but of nervous incapacity
or lack of experience.

J. C. Hyslop.

[452]. If the extracts are of a proper consistency the
dispenser should have no green spirituous extract left.

[455]. Ung. Rumicis c. Sulph. — Under the above
heading I find in Ruddock’s ‘ Horn. Vade-Mecum ’ the
following formula : —

R Ung. Rumicis . %}.

(see below).

Sulph. Hypochlorid . 3ij.

M.

Perhaps your correspondent may be able to ascertain
whether the prescription is of homoeopathic origin or not.

Uny. Rumicis.

R Ext. Rumicis . 3j-

Cerat. Simp. (Horn. Ph.) . §j.

M.

N. B.--The extract is prepared from 4 ozs fresh dock
root, by percolating with a mixture of 27 ozs. water and
3 fl. grs. glycerine, and afterwards evaporating to a
syrupy consistency.

Sandoxvn , I. W. . George Brown.

[455]. Ungt. Rumic. c. Sulph. is chiefly prepared in the
following manner : —

From Rumex Acetosa, nat. ord. Polygonacese, or docken
roots. Washed and freed from earth, sand, etc., then shred
and boiled with axungia by means of a water-bath for
ten minutes, then strain through calico ; rub the sulph.
sublim. in a mortar until it is free from grittiness, allow
the axungia, etc, to stand in a cool place for another ten

minutes, and add the sulph. sub., gradually stirring till

cold.

R. Docken Roots . 4 parts.

Axungia . 4 parts.

Sulph. Sub . 1 part.

J. H. Edwards.

[456]. I should neutralize the free acid in spirit of nitre
as the prescriber no doubt meant spt. seth. nit., B. P.,
which normally is neutral ; it is only after keeping that it
becomes acid. I would advise liquor potassse in place of
potassse carbonas. I do not think the prescriber meant
to give free iodine.

A. C.

[457]. Mr. W. J. Smith was quite correct in putting
on a “ shake the bottle ” label, as the strychnine is pre¬
cipitated by the sodae bicarb., after standing for some
time. The reply given by your correspondent, J. H. F.,
is therefore quite misleading, and he would do well to try
the experiment for himself.

J. I. F.

[459]. I should dispense this prescription thus : Dis¬
solve the phosphorus in the benzol, then form an emulsion
with 2 drachms of powdered gum arabic and 1 ounce of
water, then add calcium chloride, etc., dissolved in water.

A. C.

[460]. I think if the gallic acid were rubbed to a fine
powder and then mixed with acid, sulph. and water, the
mixture would be dispensed in accordance with prescriber’ s
wishes. It is an axiom in medicine that complexity
ought to be avoided, provided the therapeutic action
is not affected. Alcohol adds to the complexity of the
mixture, but does not improve its therapeutical action ;
therefore it should not be added.

A. C.

[461]. Will some one kindly inform me what is the
best solvent for quinse salicylas?

B. J. Kent.

[462]. “ Nemo ” would be glad to know how the
following recipes should be dispensed : —

R Iodide Mercury . gr. 8.

Dissolve in Hydrochlor. Acid . . gtt. 10.

Antimonial Wine . 1 oz.

R Ointment, White Calx of Mercury.

Holes anb (Queries,

[683] . LITHIA WATER. — “ Syphon ” would like to
know if any reader could inform him how to make lithia
water in syphons.

[684] . PHOSPHATED BEVERAGE. — Can any of
the readers of the Journal kindly give a form for making
a good “ pliosphated beverage?”

Solus.

[685]. PEROXIDE OF HYDROGEN.— I have tried
peroxide of hydrogen for golden hair, mixed in the fol¬
lowing manner : —

R Peroxide of Hydrogen . 3j.

Aq. Rosse . ad §x.

M.

I find it does not answer. Could some one, in any
way, enlighten me on the subject?

W. M. COVELL.

368

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 30, 18S0. !

Correspondence.

Exemption from Jury Service in Scotland.

Sir, — I shall be much obliged if you will allow me to
inform your correspondent, Mr. James Stewart, through
the medium of your columns, that it is the determination
of this Association to endeavour to obtain, at the earliest
possible date, the exemption from jury service of all regis¬
tered chemists and druggists, whether residing in England,
Scotland or Wales.

With reference to the memorial recently forwarded from
this office to the Home Secretary, I may say that it was
intended to urge the Government to extend the principle
of exemption from jury service, now enjoyed by certain
pharmaceutical chemists, to the whole body of registered
chemists and druggists, but as no legislation on the subject
was pending no good result would have been gained by
referring to details of all desirable alterations in the
existing law on this question.

W. E. Haydon,

Secretary of the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade
Association of Great Britain.

23, Burlington Chambers, Neio Street ,

Birmingham.

Sir, — In reference to your comments on my letter in last
week’s Journal on the subject of jury service, I must plead
guilty to being hitherto unaware of the fact that “ the
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society had already obtained
recognition of the principle” for which I contend. It cer¬
tainly reflects great credit on the sense of fairness and
logical acumen of the recognizing parties. But, Mr. Editor,
c“fine words butter no parsnips,” and what the pharma -
reutical chemists of Scotland desiderate is, not merely the
ecognition of an abstract principle, but exemption.

I can remember when, fifteen years ago, I aspired to the
honour of being a pharmaceutical chemist, one of the
brightest attractions of that consummation was the almost
certain prospect of being exempt from jury servioe.

The liability to jury service on the part of chemists in a
small way of business is harassing in the extreme. This I
have felt to be the case, repeatedly.

As for awaiting the advent of a “Jury Bill before Parlia¬
ment,” I cannot conceive a better raison d’etre for the
introduction of a jury bill than the exemption of the
pharmaceutical chemists of Scotland and the chemists and
druggists of Great Britain from jury service.

What I should like to see is, the Pharmaceutical Society
adding its powerful weight to the action of the Chemists and
Druggists’ Trade Association, in the way of approachiug the
Home Secretary at this particular time. Even supposing
that we must wait till some more potent reason for legisla -
iion anent jury service turns up, such joint action would, in
my opinion, lessen the chances of our being forgotten or
overlooked. James Stewart,

Dalkeith, N.B. Pharmaceutical Chemist.

The Teaching of Dispensing.

Sir, — As a student who has just entered for a course of
lectures at the Society’s School, I venture to address you in
reference to a letter which appeared in a recent Pharma¬
ceutical Journal on the “ Teaching of Dispensing” by Pro¬
fessor Redwood. Mr. Mee says he wishes to raise the
standard of the Minor examination, at the same time he
condemns an improvement made in the curriculum, which
•will enable young men to become better assistants — a sad
want. The letter seems to me to be an insult to the
Professors of the school and to all students of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society.

Young men at the present time go to the schools with
good practical acquaintance of their business, and twenty
years hence the (so called) soft material will have deposited
some secondary layers, and I hope we shall be the means of
raising the profession to its proper level, and pass it down
as a respectable, upright, and honest means of obtaining a
livelihood, which is not the case at present in the majority
of shops. I believe also that we shall allow time and
render aid to pupils in their studies : not keep our shops
open until 10.30, which is now invariably the case in some
shops in the north of London. Teach us dispensing in the
shops P Some of my fellow students and myself know to

our sorrow the incompetency of chemists to teach. And who
is better fitted than Professor Redwood, a sound practical
man, to instruct us properly in thia important branch of
our profession? The whole letter appears to me to be a
conglomeration of misplaced words.

A Student.

Sir, — I was sorry to see in a recent Journal a letter
from “A Member,” expressing regret at the formation of a
dispensing class at Bloomsbury Square.

This gentleman appears to be well acquainted with the
lamentable fact that many students are deficient in a know¬
ledge of elegant dispensing. Has he, however, considered
what may be the cause of this ? It is hardly probable that
young men who evince an eagerness to acquire a knowledge
of more difficult subjects would willingly remain ignorant
of so important a branch of their calling. Is it not because
many masters take little or no pains to teach their appren¬
tices their business ? It may be a good method, as far as
“ counter work ” is concerned, to set a novice to work and
to leave him to educate himself; but in dispensing some¬
thing more is required. Yet how many masters, after
having watched their apprentice make up a few mixtures,
trouble themselves any more in the matter ? Hence so
many young men discover, when they commence their
preparation for the Minor, that there is a difference between
mixing the ingredients of a prescription and dispensing the
same.

To many students this class will be a great boon, since it
will enable them to acquire a knowledge they could not
gain elsewhere, excepting in our leading dispensing busi¬
nesses.

I am quite unacquainted with the technicalities of cabinet¬
making, but it seems to me that instead of comparing these
students to common deal awaiting the “veneering” process,
it would be better to liken them to more valuable wood
which, having been roughly hewn by unskilful workmen,
will have to be planed and squared before it can be sub¬
mitted to the process of polishing by a skilled artificer,
whereby its utility and value will be enhanced a hundred¬
fold.

Sganarelle.

Caution. — A correspondent, signing himself “ Vi dim,
wishes to advise his fellow-chemists, if called upon by a
person offering coal black marking ink pencils, to test them
before purchasing. A specimen is shown which is stated to
have been washed and boiled, but the writing of which he
found to disappear on the application of a little soap and
cold water.

Plymouth Assistant. — The design of the stamp to be used
as a sign of verification is decided in each district by the
local authority, but some time since it was recommended
by the Board of Trade that a design like No. II. should be
universally adopted, with a particular number for each
district.

J. C. S. — Such a person can remain on the Register of
Chemists and Druggists, and therefore can legally keep an
open shop for the retailing and dispensing of poisons.

Civet will find recipes for gazogene powders in the number
for May 17, 1879, p. 950.

Mr. II. Burnam is thanked for his communication.

T. H. M. — The answer to your question would appear to
depend upon whether the manufacturers have legally secured
to themselves the sole use of the name. You are recom¬
mended to consult a solicitor.

Norsk. — Moller “ On the Manufacture of Cod Liver Oil,”
1862. See also two papers in the present series of this
Journal, vol. ii., 443, 483, and vol. vii., 810.

Electro. — See Ure’s ‘ Dictionary,’ vol. i., under “ Cya¬
nides,” or Cooley’s ‘ Cyclopaedia, * under “ Electro typing.”

L. R. Osivald. — The question has been recently asked
without obtaining an answer.

J. E. Williams. — The formula has not been published,
and we think it would be useless applying for it except to
the medical man in question.

P. Princep. — We are unacquainted with any published
data giving the relation of strength and specific gravity in
solutions of hypophosphorous acid. _ _

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Hambar, Davenport, Siebold, Fraser, Kent, Hart-
ridge, Allen, Nemo, Welt, Omikron, Filius, Minor,
Cliemicus, Secretary of the Nottingham Association.

November 6, 1880.]

369

THB MARMACEDTICAL JOtTRNAL AND TRANSACTION^.

INDIAN HENBANE.

BY W. DYMOCK.

Henbane, though a native of the Himalayas, was
probably unknown as a medicine to the ancient Hindu
physicians. “Parasika-yamani” and “khorasani-
yamani,'’ the names which it bears in some recent
Hindu books, indicate its foreign source. Mahome¬
tan writers call it “banj,” an Arabic corruption of the
Persian “bang.” They say it is the “afeekoon” of
the Greeks, the “azmalus ” of the Syrians, and the
“katfeet” or “ iskeeras ” of the Moors, They also add
that in the Deilami dialect it is called “ keer- chak,”
because the capsules resemble a little basket with a
cover, such as the Arabs make out of date leaves
and call “kafeer.” Meer Muhammed Husain’s
description of “banj” in the ‘ Makhzan-ul-adwiya’
agrees well with the genus Hyoscyamus. He says
there are three kinds, white, black and red, and
that the white is to be preferred. He mentions the
preparation of a sun-dried extract from the juice of
the fresh leaves, and says that the leaves are also
pounded and made into a paste with flour, out of
which small cakes are formed, which when dry retain
their medicinal properties for some time.

Henbane is described by eastern writers on
materia medica as intoxicating, narcotic and anodyne.
Amongst the many uses to which it is put the follow¬
ing may be mentioned as peculiar to the East : — A
poultice of the juice with barley flour is used to relieve
the pain of inflammatory swellings ; the seeds in wine
are applied to gouty enlargements, in flamed breasts
and swelled testicles. About % drachm of the seeds
with 1 drachm of poppy seeds are made into a mixture
with honey and water and given as an anodyne in
cough, gout, etc. Equal parts of the seed and
opium are used as a powerful narcotic. A mixture of
the powdered seeds with pitch is used to stop hollow
teeth which are painful, and also as a pessary in
painful affections of the uterus. The juice or a strong
infusion of the seeds is dropped into the eye to
relieve pain. Ainslie and other European writers
upon Indian materia medica notice the use of hyos-
cyamus seeds in India and attribute them to IT. niger,
but I have not heard of anyone who has raised this
plant from the bazaar seed. In the ‘ Mufaridat-i-
Nasari’ it is distinctly stated that the officinal
article should be the seed of white lieu bane (bazr-
ubbanj-abiad).

Henbane seed is the only part of the plant used
in native practice in India ; it is known in Hindostan
as “ khorasani ajwain,” in Bombay as “ khorasain
owa,” and in Madras as “ khorasain omam.”

For the purpose of supplying Government
hospitals with extract and leaves the Hyoscyamus
niger has been cultivated at Saharunpore in the
Bengal Presidency, at Hoonsoor in Mysore and at
Hewra, near Poouah in the Deccan. The quantity
grown is limited to the requirements of Government.
It is a cold weather crop. If sown in October, the
plants will produce ripe seed in March or even earlier.
As regards medicinal qualities, the experience of
medical men in India is that the plant cultivated for
Government yields preparations in every respect
equal to those obtained from Europe. Dr. O’Shaugh-
nessy found that 3 grains of the sun-dried extract
produced marked soporific and anodyne effects.

At present henbane leaves are not an article of
commerce in India, but the Superintendents of the
Government Gardens are, I believe, allowed to grow
any profitable crops of medicinal plants for sale.

Third Series, No. 541.

The price charged by the Hewra Gardens to the
Medical Department this year for dried leaves is
Rs 1£ per lb., and for extract Rs 4 per lb.

The price of the imported seed in the Bombay
market is usually Rs 7 per maund of 37|lbs.

Bombay , October 15, 1880.

THE MIKANIA GUACO AS A REMEDY
FOR SNAKE BITE.

In South America, under the name of “ guaco,”
several plants enjoy a considerable reputation as
remedies against snake bites. Most of them are
species of Aristolochia , but one, the Mikania Guaco ,
is a Composite plant. Notwithstanding this reputa¬
tion, very little trustworthy evidence has been
published as to the real efficacy of any of them,
and an attempt made by Dr. Schomburk a few
years since to introduce the Mikania Guaco into
South Australia, with a view of clearing up the
doubt, does not appear to have led to a definite
result. In a letter, however, recently received by
the Director of the Royal Gardens at Kew, from Mr.
Robert B. White, of La Salada, New Grenada, the
writer gives his personal testimony as to the value
of the remedy, and some other information which,
by the courtesy of Mr. Thiselton Dyer, are made
available for the readers of this Journal.

Mr. White says that the Mikania Guaco is the
true “guaco,” and forms the basis of all the pre¬
parations of the snake bite doctors of the district.
There are two varieties, one with green stems, the
other, called “ morado,” with purple, the latter being
the most prized. There are several species of snakes
in the country whose bite is deemed mortal, some of
them killing in a very few hours, but Mr. White,
who has lived in the Choco and other snake-infested
regions many years, testifies that the guaco, properly
and promptly administered, is a cure for the bite of
the most venomous.

In cases of snake bite, when the guaco leaves can
be obtained fresh an infusion in sugar water is made,
in the proportion of one leaf to a large cupful, and
this quantity is given hot every hour. It is said to
stop the vomiting usually occurring. The leaves
are also preserved by bruising and placing them in
alcohol, and of the tincture thus formed a teaspoonful
is administered every half hour for one hour and a
half, and then every hour, and afterwards the dose
is gradually diminished. Hot poultices of the
bruised leaves and stem of the plant are applied to
the wound, taking care not to use sufficient heat
to drive off the volatile principle of the plant. If
there be swelling and pain the limb is fomented
with hot water to which some tincture of guaco has
been added.

The Mikania Guaco is described as growing from
seed in any good soil where there is a temperature
of 24° to 25° C. , and it would appear to be a plant
deserving of physiological and chemical experiments
to determine its true character. It is worthy of note
that it was at one time said to be the source of
condurango.

THE BARK OF ALSTONIA SPECTABILIS.*

BY O. HESSE.

Alstonia bark, the “cortex Alstoniae ” of pharmacog-
nosists, is nearly allied to dita bark. This bark, which
in Java is called “poel^,” comes from the Alstonia specta-

* From the Anncilen der (Jhemie, vol. ciii ., \\ 170.

370

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 6, im.

bilis, R.Br., a species which from its characteristic pro¬
perties has been named by De Candolle, Blaberopus
venenatus. This Alstonia grows in Timor, the Moluccas,
and in the eastern parts of J ava, especially in the neigh¬
bourhood of Malang.

Wiggers, on his ‘Pharmacognosie,’* * * § * gives an extremely
true description of this bark, to which I would refer.

Poeld bark differs from dita bark not alone by its
extraordinarily bitter taste, but also in its anatomical
structure. For comparison a specimen of dita bark was
obtained, which was apparently stem bark, and a branch
bark of the other kind. Herr Professor Ahles, who has
examined both barks microscopically, kindly tells me
that the difference in the structure of the two barks does
not depend alone upon their age, but also upon the
peculiarities of the respective plants.

Formerly the poele bark was used in Java against
fever with favourable results, and in Batavia especially it
came much into use for this purpose. Apothecary
Scharldef there examined this bark and found in it a
special alkaloid, which he named “ alstonine.” This was
occasionally prepared in Batavia, but does not appear to
have ever come into use either in the hospitals or in
private practice.

As the name “alstonine” had already been given to a
substance obtained from the Australian Alstonia , I have
before proposed that Scharlde’s alkaloid might be named
“ alstonamine.” In the following remarks I shall use
this name for the alkaloid in question.

Schariee obtained the alkaloid by extracting the
coarsely powdered bark with alcohol, and after previous
filtration precipitating the tincture with tannic acid.
The white flocculent tannate was washed with water,
suspended in alcohol, and decomposed with freshly pre¬
cipitated lead hydrate. The alcoholic solution, upon
evaporation over sulphuric acid, yielded the alkaloid in
brilliant oblique rhombs and prisms. In its reactions it
presented relatively great similarity to clitamine. But
from this alkaloid it differs, as also from echitenine,
by its power of easily crystallizing.

Further, that it cannot be echitammoniumhydroxide
is evident from the following experiment. Freshly pre¬
cipitated echitammonium tannate in alcoholic solution
was treated with freshly precipitated lead hydrate, but
was not decomposed by it. This result is not surprising,
as it is known that echitammoniumhydroxide separates
lead hydrate from its combinations.

Consequently, there is in alstonamine an alkaloid
differing from the alkaloids of dita bark.J In order
to obtain further information upon the nature of this
alkaloid, I undertook an investigation of poeld bark.
I am indebted for a specimen to Professor Wiggers, who
had obtained it some time ago direct from Batavia,
possibly from Schariee himself.

I first prepared an alcholic extract from 50 grams of
powdered bark. This was treated with dilute acetic
acid, when a resinous mass was left which contained a
considerable quantity of echicerin.§ The clear filtered
acetic solution was then supersaturated with soda, shaken
with ether, and this treated with acetic acid. After super¬
saturating this solution with ammonia the base removed
from it by pure ether weighed 0-066 gram. It was found
to be identical with ditamine.

The liquid left after treatment with ether was next
supersaturated with potassium hydrate and shaken with
choloroform. Upon evaporation of the chloroform
solution, after washing with water, there remained a
brown amorphous residue, which after treatment with
hydrochloric acid gave 0'423 gram of echitammonium
chloride.

The mother-liquor was then again supersaturated with

* * Pharmakognosie/ 5tli edit. (1864), p. 358.

t ‘ Geneeskundige Tijdschrift voor Nederl. Indie,’ vol. x.,
p. 209 (1863).

X See before, p. 331.

§ Pharm. Journal, [3], vol. vi., p. 144.

potassium hydrate and shaken with chloroform, which
now upon evaporation yielded 0’042 gram of a mixed
residue, consisting of an amorphous alkaloid and one
crystallizing readily from chloroform. The crystals were
concentrically grouped prisms and behaved towards nitric
acid like ditamine. The substance was repeatedly dissolved
in chloroform and upon evaporation of the solution
obtained again unaltered. The small quantity of this
substance which I thus obtained, though not sufficient for
further experiment, was sufficient to ascertain that it was
not ditamine, echitenine, or echitammoniumhydroxide.
As besides this no other crystallizable alkaloid could be
observed in this alstonia bark, I assume that these crystals
were actually Scharlde’s alstonamine.

As to the amorphous portion, in which these crystals
were imbedded, it corresponded in its behaviour with
echitenine.

The quantity of bases present in 100 parts poeld bark
accordingly amounted to —

0T32 Ditamine.

0‘808 Echitammoniumhydroxide.

O’OSO Echitenine and Alstonamine.

In order, therefore, to obtain a sufficient quantity of
alstonamine for a thorough investigation a considerable
quantity of poele bark would be required. Unfortunately
I have not been able to procure such a quantity, so that I
must desist from the further examination of this alkaloid.

One result of especial interest is that the bark in
question contains more than six times as much
echitammoniumhydroxide as does dita bark, in which I
found 0T3 per cent. It may be observed that the action
of this alkaloid and its chloride upon the animal organism
is similar to that of curare, so that it probably follows
that persons who are treated with this bark for the relief
of intermittent fever would undergo a more or less
powerful poisoning.

THE RESIN OF LEPTANDRA.*

BY J. U. LLOYD.

Leptandrin of commerce varies in appearance from
two reasons : —

1. Different fineness of powder.

2. Difference in composition.

If an alcoholic tincture of Leptandra vinjinica be
evaporated to the consistence of a thick syrup and this
be poured into cold water a black tarry substance
separates. This, if washed with pure cold water, finally
becomes tasteless, and, if it be dried, constitutes the
article above named. This has a deep black colour and
breaks with a shiny fracture. I-t resembles much in
appearance asphaltum. The powder produced from it
varies in colour in accordance with its fineness, becoming
of lighter shade as comminution progresses. This is the
main reason for the difference in the colour of the resin
(by resin is understood the precipitate before mentioned),
and it may cause powders from the same lump to vary
considerably.f

Sensible Properties. — If the precipitate of which I have
been speaking were “leptandrin of commerce” there
would be no very remarkable difference in the appearance
of the various lots. The odour would be the same and
all specimens tasteless, or nearly so. There is no officinal
process for making “ resin of leptandra.” There is no
preparation recognized by the Pharmacopoeia under the
name of leptandrin. The question arises : Is leptandrin
of commerce the powdered resin to which article the
name was originally applied by William S. Merrell ? In
my opinion the majority of physicians who use

* Read at the twenty-eighth meeting of the American
Pharmaceutical Association at Saratoga. Reprint* d from
the American Journal of Pharmacy , October, 1880.

t Seven samples, powdered from one piece and sifted
through sieves of different fineness, were exhibited.

November 6, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

371

“ leptandrin ” do not recognize the resin as the active
principle of the root. Why should we take it for
granted that manufacturers prepare the article, labelled
leptandrin, by precipitation of the resinous substances ?
Professor John King did not make his original prepara¬
tion from the root of Leptandra viryinica in this
manner. He informs me that he forms his opinion of
the therapeutical value of Leptandra viryinica from the
use of a dried mixture of aqueous and of alcoholic
extracts.

Resin (?) of Leptandra, or leptandrin, was discovered
by William S. Merrell about 1850. We may well
suppose that the value of podophyllum resin (podophyllin)
and the object of improvement led Mr. Merrell to the
precipitation of the resin of leptandra and to the supposi¬
tion that it (the resin) would prove to be the medicinal
principle of Leptandra viryinica. This latter is admitted
to have been a mistake, for very few eclectic physicians
desire the resin, and the best authorities have decided
against it.

I am of the opinion, furthermore, that very little of
the “ leptandrin of commerce ” is the resin, and that the
difference in “ sensible properties ” of various lots may
be ascribed to difference of composition. Manufacturers
desire to prepare the best representative of the root, and
as the resin fails to answer, they seek for other principles
and other means of manipulation, and label the result
“ Leptandrin.”* Thus, I conclude that “ the leptandrin
of commerce” varies much in appearance and in “sensible
properties ” from the fact that it is of different degrees of
fineness and of various compositions.

“ What is the best process for the preparation of the
resin ? ” Resin of leptandra exists as such to the extent
of 6 per cent, (average of 3000 pounds) in w^ell dried
root of not less than one year’s age after collection. It
is a recognized fact that the yield of resin increases with
the age and exposure of the root after collection where
water, simply, is employed as a precipitant, and for this
reason the root of two or more years of age is desirable.
If the powdered root be percolated with alcohol and the
percolate evaporated to a syrupy consistence, and this
be poured into a larger quantity of cold water, a semi¬
solid substance settles. This, when well washed and
dried, is the so-called resin. If the water which was
used as a precipitant of the resin be examined it will be
found very bitter, in consequence of the presence of the
bitter principle, first noticed by Professor E. S. Wayne
(1856) and afterwards by Professor F. F. Mayer
(1863). The latter gentleman ascribed to it the pro¬
perties of a glucoside, and I think his views will be
supported. If five per cent, of sulphuric acid be mixed
with the precipitating liquor after decantation from the
resin, and the mixture be permitted to stand some weeks,
the bitterness disappears, and a quantity of resin, similar
in appearance to the original precipitate, is produced.
If, however, the sulphuric acid and tire precipitating
liquid be mixed and then boiled together from thirty to
sixty minutes, the reduction takes place at once, the
bitterness disappears and resin results as one product. f

This would indicate that the bitter principle is a
glucoside, and that the resin is a product of its decom¬
position, although I have not experimented regarding
the corresponding production of glucose. That this resin
is thus formed in a considerable amount may be seen by
specimen shown, which is (12 pounds) the result of a
1000 pound batch of leptandra. In making this lot the
overlying liquid was simply .decanted from the precipitate
and it may have contained a small amount of mechani

* Leptandra is valued by many for its laxative properties.
The principle which imparts to the root this effect has
never been identified.

t This cannot be taken as conclusively pointing to the
foimation of the resinous substance from, the bitter
principle. It may be that the resinous matter is held in a
state of minute suspension by the liquid, or even is in
actual solution. The subsequent manipulation with the
acid solution may simply throw it down.

cally divided resin which refused to settle. From the
foregoing it would be obvious, that if the object be too
obtain the greatest possible yield of resin the best process
will be to obtain resin from the glucoside also.

Formula . — Extract the root of leptandra (properly
powdered) by means of alcohol. Evaporate the percolate
to the consistence of a thick syrup, and pour the result,
with stirring, into ten times its bulk of cold water;
decant the supernatant liquid, add to it 5 per cent, of
sulphuric acid, boil until the bitter taste disappears, and
then wash separately the two resins with water and dry
them, after which mix and powder them. To dry the
precipitated resin, place in a vessel and expose, with
frequent stirring, to a steam-bath until it is of such a
consistence as to break when cold ; then break it into
small pieces, and finish the drying by exposing to the
air. The resinous substances obtained by means of
sulphuric acid may be dried by simple exposure to the
air. According to many authorities resin of leptandra is
inert. I am decidedly in favour of a dried alcoholic
extract, although such must contain a considerable
amount of glucose, which exists in the root in large
amount, and is extracted by alcohol to a considerable
extent. The trouble experienced in drying an alcoholic
extract (recorded by Dr. T. L. A. Greve) without the
use of foreign substances, and with full preservation of
its characteristics, renders its preparation by ordinary
methods tedious and somewhat difficult. I have no
trouble with leptandra when I pursue the following
process : —

Extractum Leptandrce Alcoholicum. — Precipitate the
evaporated alcoholic extract by means of water, in the
manner before directed, and evaporate the liquid to
the consistence of a thick solid extract. Dry the
resin, powder it, and stir this powder into the solid
extract and thoroughly incorporate them. The thick
mass is then to be picked into small pieces, spread in
layers in a drying closet and dried by a current of warm
air, then powdered. From the foregoing preparation
the full effects of leptandra root may be expected.

It will be noticed that I use the dry resin as an
absorbent instead of carbonate of magnesium or other
extraneous substance. This, or a similar preparation,
might well be recognized by our Pharmacopoeia. The
preparations which are sold under the name of leptandrin
constitute an important article of commerce, second,
among the so-called resinoids, only to resin of podo¬
phyllum (podophyllin). Dried alcoholic extract of
leptandra differs to such an extent from the precipitated
resin, which was named “leptandrin ” by its discoverer,
Mr. W. fl. Merrell, as to forbid their substitution for
each other. If the resin be rubbed with distilled water,
and the mixture be then poured upon a filter-paper, the
filtrate will be colourless, almost tasteless, and free from
bitterness. Under the same conditions the filtrate from
the dried extract is dark colomi ed and very bitter.

Resin of leptandra will never run together at ordinary
temperatures nor in any atmosphere. On the contrary,
extract of leptandra upon exposure to a moist atmo¬
sphere, or if not well dried, will run into a hard lump.
The yield of dry extract, made by the process I suggest,
will average ten per cent, of the weight of the root
employed. _ _

THE ACTION OF OILS ON METALS *

BY WILLIAM HENRY WATSON, F.C.S., ETC.

At the Plymouth meeting of this Association I brought
forward the results of some experiments, showing the
actions of various oils on copper, and the conclusions
arrived at were briefly these : —

1. That of the whole of the oils used, viz., linseed,
olive, colza, almond, seal, sperm, castor, neatsfoot, sesame,
and paraffin, the samples of para fiinandcas tor oils had

# Read before the Chemical Section of the British Asso¬
ciation, Swansea Meeting, 1880. Reprinted from the
Chemical Ntws, October 15, 1SS0.

372

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 6, 1880.

the least action, and that sperm and seal oils were next
in order of inaction.

2. That the appearances of the paraffin and the copper
were not changed after seventy-seven days’ exposure.

3. That different oils produce compounds with copper
varying in colour, or in depth of colour, and consequently
rendering comparative determinations of their action on
that metal from mere observations of their appearances
impossible.

I was disposed to conclude that these experiments
would indicate the relative action of the oils on other
metals, simply expecting that the extent of action would
vary throughout, but that the variations would be pro¬
portionate between the different oils.

Since the publication of these results, however, an
interesting paper has appeared ( Pharm . Journ.), “On the
Action of Paraffin Oils on Metals,” by Dr. S. Macadam.
He comes to the same conclusion as myself with regard
to their action on copper, but referring to iron, says “it
is slightly affected by paraffin oil, and on ten days’
contact the oil becomes deeper in colour and throws
down a fine ferruginous sediment.” Owing to this, I
have lately made experiments on the action of the same
oils as those previously used on copper, on iron, and the
results, which are the subject of this communication, are
interesting to me as showing that there is no relation
between the action of an oil on copper and the action of
that oil on iron ; that, in fact, in several instances those
oils which act largely on iron act slightly on copper,
while those which act largely on copper act little on iron.
Of course the actual extent of action of the same oil (with
the exception of paraffin) is greater on copper than on iron.

In addition to the oils used in my experiments on
copper, I also used a sample of refined lard oil, and a
special lubricating oil, prepared by the Dee Oil Company,
near Chester. The following observations were made,
after twenty -four days’ exposure : —

1. Neatsfoot. — Considerable brown irregular deposit on
metal. The oil slightly more brown than when first
exposed.

2. Colza. — A slight brown substance suspended in the
oil, which is now of a reddish-brown colour. A few
irregular markings on the metal.

3. Sperm. — A slight brown deposit, with irregular
markings on the metal. Oil of a dark brown colour.

4. Lard. — Reddish-brown, with slight brown deposit
on metal.

5. Olive. — Clear and bleached by exposure to the light
and air. The appearance of metal same as when first
immersed.

6 . Seal. — A few irregular markings on metal. The oil
free from deposit, but of a bright clear red colour.

7. Linseed. — Bright deep yellow. No deposit or marls
on metal.

8. Almond. — Metal bright. Oil bleached and free from
deposit.

9. Castor. — Oil considerably more coloured (brown)
than when first exposed. Metal bright.

10. Paraffin. — Oil bright yellow and contains a little
brown deposit. The upper surface of the metal on being
removed is found to have a resinous deposit on it.

11. Special Lubricating. — Metal bright. Appearance
of oil not perceptibly changed.

The samples were then chemically examined, and the
amounts of iron found in them were as follows : —

Neatsfoot oil (English) .

. 0-0875

grain

Colza

99 ....

. 0-0800

99

Sperm

)) ....

. 0 04G0

99

Lard

» ....

. 0 0250

99

Olive

9 ...

. 0-0062

99

Linseed

9> • •

. 0 0050

99

Seal

99 ....

. 0-0050

99

Castor

99 ....

. 0-0048

99

Paraffin

99 ....

. 0-0045

99

Almond

99 ....

. 0-0040

99

Special lubricating oil

. 0-0018

99

For comparison, the following are the results obtained
of the action of these oils on copper, as previously com¬
municated, after exposure of ten days : —

Copper found.

Neatsfoot oil . . 0T100 grain.

Colza

Sperm

Olive

Linseed

Seal

Paraffin

Almond

0*0170

0-0030

0-2200

0-3000

0-0485

0-0015

0T030

Owing to the length of exposure being different in the
two series, we cannot fix on the actual differences in
the rate of action of any of the oils on the two metals.
However, it is shown that almond oil, which acted largely
on copper, acts very slightly on iron ; in fact, with the
exception of the paraffin and special lubricating oil (a
mineral preparation), it acted less than any of the other
oils on iron. The same is shown, as already mentioned,
as to the action of various other oils ; thus, while sperm
oil acts slightly on copper, it acts considerably, compared
with the others, on iron. Linseed, seal, castor, almond
and paraffin may be bracketed as having about the same
and very little action on iron, while linseed, olive, neats¬
foot, almond and seal have the greatest action on copper.

QUILLAIA TOOTHWASH.*

BY ALEXANDER E. BENNETT, PH.G,

An excellent toothwash containing glycerin is made
as follows : —

R Soap Bark, ground . 4 oz.

Glycerin . 3 oz.

Diluted Alcohol . . sufficient for 2 pints.

Oil of Gaultheria,

Oil of Peppermint . . . . aa 20 drops.

Macerate the soap bark in the mixture of glycerin
and diluted alcohol for three or four days, and filter
through a little magnesia px-eviously triturated with the
volatile oils.

Thus made, a much better preparation is obtained
than by macerating the bark in the dilute alcohol, and
adding the glycerin afterwards,

NATIVE OXIDE OF ANTIMONY. +

Among the papers read before the meeting of the
American Association of Science, was a communication
by Mr. E. T. Cox, on the oxide of antimony deposits in
Sonora, Mexico, about thirty miles from the Gulf of Cali¬
fornia. The district is mountainous, the hills being in
short narrow ranges, with table-land lying between,
composed for the most part of broken and highly porous
material. The formation consists mostly of granite and
subcarboniferous limestone, with porphyry, quartzite, and
trachite dykes. Extensive fissures exist in the rocks,
and in these the metal occurs from 4 feet to 20 feet
wide, and, so far as is known at present, to a depth of
30 feet; the oxide of antimony being almost pure and
very uniform. The area over which these remarkable
deposits occur is limited, being about five miles long and
half a mile wide. They are being worked by a Boston
company, who possess extensive claims, on some of which
antimony ore stands up in ridges above the surface, and
can be traced for some hundreds of feet. The oxide
contains on an average about 50 per cent, of pure metal,
much of it reaching 77 per cent. The principal impurity
is silica. It is believed that at lower depths than have
yet been reached the nature of the deposits will be found
to change gradually to sulphide of antimony.

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy , October,
13S0.

f From the Journal of the Society of Arts. October 8,
L880.

November 6, 1880.3 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

373

SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 6, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , boohs for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square , W.C.

A dvertisements , and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

PROSECUTION UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND
MEASURES ACT.

The provisions of the new Act for the verification,
stamping and inspection of apothecaries’ weights and
measures again call for the serious consideration of all
members of the trade. The case brought before the
magistrates of Marylebone this week, and reported
at page 385 of our present issue, shows that chemists
and druggists are exposed to very considerable
danger even where they have taken pains to place
themselves, as they believe, in conformity with the
requirements of the new Act.

The facts of the case, so far as they have been
made known, are very simple. Mr. Whittle
appears to have provided himself with measures
manufactured by the York Glass Company, which
purported to bear the legal mark of verification of
the inspector acting under the direction of the local
authority for York. Naturally, he has presumed
that these measures were correct, and he has
taken the stamp upon them as a guarantee
that he was safe from being charged with in¬
fringement of the Act by reason of the provision
it contains that a weight or measure duly stamped
by an inspector under the Act shall be a legal
weight or measure throughout the United Kingdom.
In taking that view of the matter we think Mr.
Whittle was quite in the right, and though it is
true he might have used other means of ascertaining
whether the measures in question were strictly
correct, we do not think he was at all called upon
to do so. Having procured the measures from a firm
of high repute as makers of graduated vessels he was
justified in regarding them sufficient for his purposes
as to accuracy, and as they bore the stamp of an
authorized inspector under the Weights and Mea¬
sures Act he had no occasion to send them to the
inspector of his own district for verification.

But notwithstanding these plausible reasons for
supposing that he had loyally put himself in con¬
formity with the law, Mr. Whittle has been made
disagreeably aware that his measures were still sub¬
ject to the criticism of the inspector of his own
district, and on the occasion of a visit by that official
to inspect his weights and measures four of the
measures were pronounced by him to be incorrect.

As a consequence of this Mr. Whittle has been sum¬
moned before the Marylebone Bench of Magistrates
on the charge of having in his possession measures
which were inaccurate.

As regards the alleged inaccuracy of the measures
in question, it appears that no evidence was adduced
at the hearing of the case beyond the statement by
the inspector of the particular details in which he
asserted that he had found them inaccurate. On
looking to that statement, it will be seen that the
incriminated measures were two half-ounce measures
and two 60 minim measures. In no one of these
instances is it alleged that the measures were in¬
accurate as regards the total quantities they were
intended to measure. As measures respectively of
half an ounce, or 240 minims, and of 60 minims,
there does not appear to have been anything to
complain of, so far as the charge goes and so far as
we are informed. It is only the alleged inaccuracy
of the inferior graduations that is complained of,
that is to say, the half-ounce measures are said to be
inaccurately graduated up to the 25 and 30 minim
marks, while the 60 minim measures are said to be
inaccurately graduated up to the 15 and to 35 minim
marks, but not otherwise.

Then, again, as to the amount of alleged in¬
accuracy within the limits above named, it appears
that in the two half-ounce measures it is stated as
having been 1 minim in 25 and 2 minims in 30,
while in the smaller measures it was 1 minim in 15
and 1 minim in 35. We will not here attempt to
justify such irregularities of graduation as those
which have been stated by the inspector to have an
actual existence, though we have much reason for be¬
lieving that they are not in excess of what may reason¬
ably be expected under the circumstances, and not such
as to justify condemnation of the measures. More¬
over, the mode of manufacturing such measures and
the way they are used must be taken into account
before such irregularity of graduation can be made a
foundation for a charge of infringing the Weights
and Measures Act by having in one’s possession
unjust measures. It is notorious that in the
minor graduations of such measures the sub¬
divisions are made — not at haphazard — but still
somewhat arbitrarily. It is also to be remembered
that for the measurement of such quantities as those
which the Marylebone inspector indicates as being
most incorrectly marked on Mr. Whittle’s mea¬
sures it is not the custom of the practised and care¬
ful dispenser to use a half-ounce measure or perhaps
even a 60 minim measure, but that a more accurate
instrument of measuring is had recourse to.

Putting aside, however, these several considerations,
there is another point on which we think it is very
much more imperative that we should have clear and
indisputable evidence of proof before there can be any
pretence for subjecting a respectable tradesman to the
indignity of being charged with using false weights
and measures. The Marylebone inspector bas made

374

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 6, 1880.

certain definite allegations and Mr. Greenwell, the
clerk to the magistrates, well remarked that he had
better first of all prove that th»>se allegations were well
founded. This is the point to which we desire to
call attention and we regret that the desirability of
the step suggested by the clerk to the magistrates
does not seem to have attracted his attention at an
earlier stage, for we venture to think that if such
had been the case Mr. Whittle might not have
been summoned before the magistrates. Certainly
upon that occasion the inspector did not respond to
the suggestion offered, and so far the charge rests
wholly upon his dictum.

In saying this much we do not mean to impute
to the inspector any disposition to mislead or mis¬
represent, but having regard to the faculties of
manipulation and observation requisite for satisfac¬
torily carrying out such operations as the testing of
graduated measures, we do not hesitate to declare
that without very conclusive proof to the contrary
we should be strongly inclined to doubt the accuracy
of the inspector’s results as stated in this case. To
our apprehension the question is whether the figures
given by the Marylebone inspector represent irregu¬
larities of graduation or inaccuracies of observation.

But however that may be, it certainly was never
the intention of this Act that irregularities of gradua¬
tions relating to drops of liquid should — even if they
existed — be made a pretext for a charge involving the
suspicion of intentional fraud. The officials of the
Board of Trade connected with the Standards Depart¬
ment have always manifested such readiness to render
assistance to those charged with the administration
of the law relating to weights and measures that
it might have been expected the local authorities
of Marylebone would have sought counsel in
that quarter as to the propriety of instituting
such a prosecution as that of Mr. Whittle. They
have, indeed, now referred the case to the Board of
Trade, but from our reading of the Act it seems
more than doubtful whether that department can
now take any action.

As the case stands it is one of conflict between
two authorized inspectors upon points of detail that
are really less important than they are made to
appear, and there is much reason for believing that
the settlement of such points is far beyond the
capacity of the average inspector of weights and
measures. Few of these officials, indeed, are com¬
petent to do the work required in testing apothe¬
caries’ weights and measures. The situation is one
of a serious nature, however, to chemists and druggists
and to those who supply them with weights and
measures, but it may perhaps produce the good effect
of constraining local authorities to pay more atten¬
tion to the due performance of their duties in the
matter of verification and inspection of weights and
measures than they have done hitherto.

We are informed that the Council of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society, having regard to the gravity of the

< . 'ijri XT '

case, has empowered the President to confer with
the Society’s solicitor as to the best mode of pro¬
cedure with a view of averting the possible incon¬
venience with which members of the trade now seem
to be threatened in connection with the inspection of
apothecaries’ weights and measures.

THE METRIC SYSTEM.

Deferring to the position of the metric system
in the United States, where although endorsed by
the medical and pharmaceutical professions and
other scientific bodies, the system does not make
way amongst the general public, the Pharmacist
affirms that much could be done towards the
removal of this indifference by judicious legislation.
It suggests that if, for example, the tax on tobacco
were fixed at so much per kilogram, the whole
traffic in that article would, as a matter of con¬
venience, soon follow this lead and, as a result,
people would become familiar with the names and
values of the weights of the metric system. A
similar result it is thought would also follow the
taxing of liquors by the litre or decalitre.

GRAHAM MEDAL.

It is announced that the triennial Gold Medal of
the Chemical Section of the Philosophical Society
of Glasgow, founded in commemoration of the work
of the late Professor Graham, will be awarded at
the end of the present session for the best paper on
any subject in Pure or Applied Chemistry. Papers
should be sent, not later than February, to the
Secretary of the Section, Dr. J. Dobbie, Chemical
Laboratory, University of Glasgow.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The first meeting of this session will be held at
17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C., on Thursday, Novem¬
ber 11, at 8.30 p.m. The President, Professor
Attfield, F.R.S., will occupy the chair. The elec¬
tion of officers for the ensuing session will take place,
after which the President will refer to the objects of
the Association and will introduce for discussion the
subject of “ Chemical Constitution from the point of

view of the Student of Pharmacv.”

«/

THE CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association will be held
at its rooms, 32a, George Street, Hanover Square, on
Wednesday next, November 10, at 9 p.m., precisely,
when Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S., will read a paper
on “British Mosses.”

The returns for duty paid on patent medicines
during the year ending March 31 last shows that
the consumption of these preparations is still in¬
creasing, the amount being £133,668 against £130,691
in the previous year.

November <j, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

375

Cnmsartions of tbc |1jnu'macmticiil

Sodetu.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, November 3, 1880.

MB. THOMAS GREENISH, PRESIDENT,

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Andrews, Atkins, Bottle, Butt,
Churchill, Frazer, Gostling, Hampson, Hills, Mackay,
Radley, Richardson, Robbins, Sandford, Savage, Squire,
Symes and Williams.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and con¬
firmed.

The President read a letter from Mr. Moss acknow¬
ledging receipt of the letter sent from the Council accept¬
ing his resignation as an examiner.

The Benevolent Fund.

Mr. Robbins said he wished to correct some inaccuracies
in the report of the last Council meeting, his remarks on
the working of the Benevolent Fund not having been
correctly represented. No doubt this arose partly from
the fact that there was a great deal of matter to get into
the Journal,* but the principal reason probably was that
the reporter who usually attended was not present. The
report commenced by a reference to his reason for bring¬
ing forward the motion, but it did not give the reason at
all, as he had stated he was induced to bring forward the
motion because at a recent meeting of the Benevolent
Fund Committee when a case was under consideration,
he had asked whether the applicant was a member of the
Society or not ; and the reply he received was that the
Committee had no power to make any distinction
between those who were and those who were not mem¬
bers of the Society. His intention was, if his motion had
been adopted, to propose at the next meeting of the
Benevolent Fund Committee that applications from mem¬
bers and associates, and their dependents, should be first
considered, and afterwards the applications from non¬
members ; as he considered that such a change would be
beneficial in the interests of the members themselves.
From the observations of some of the members it might
be inferred that he wished to make subscription to the
Benevolent Fund a test of eligibility to receive assistance;
but he was as much opposed to that as any one could
be. He had always considered that those who unfortu¬
nately had barely sufficient to meet the wants of their
own households were not justified in giving away money
even for charitable objects. He should, therefore, cer¬
tainly oppose any attempt to limit the Benevolent
Fund to subscribers only. On the other hand he wished
to encourage those who were in more affluent circum¬
stances to subscribe freely and liberally, and he would
give them privileges in return for so doing.

Mr. Hampson here rose to order.

Mr. Robbins said he was merely correcting an in*
accurate report.

Mr. Hampson said the whole Council might wish to do
the same, as the report was very imperfect.

Mr. Robbins said he should be very brief. He merely
wished to make it clear that he had no intention of
limiting the benefit of the Fund to subscribers.

Mr. Andrews suggested that the best course would be
for Mr. Robbins to address a letter to the Editor, giving
the corrections he wished to make. He should like half
an hour himself to correct the report of his own remarks ;
but he should not think of doing so.

Mr. Robbins said he did not wish to re -discuss the
question, which, of course, he had no right to do ; but he
certainly had a right to correct any error in the report.

The President thought Mr. Robbins was entitled to
correct any inaccuracy in the report.

* The report of Mr. Robbins’s remarks was printed as it
reached our hands without abridgment or alteration.— Ed.
Pharm, Journ,

t Mr. Atkins suggested to Mr. Robbins that his reputa¬
tion in connection with the Benevolent Fund stood too
high to be in need of any further explanation.

Mr. Robbins said there were important errors, which
he ought to be allowed to correct. He was reported to
have said that members had taken umbrage at the large
grants made to outsiders ; but he never said anything of
the kind. He did not say anything about large grants, but
the large amount of money given in grants, which was
quite a different thing. Again, Mr. Williams had
charged him with making exaggerations, which was a
serious accusation ; but his reply to him was not given.

Mr. Williams remarked that two-thirds of what he had
said was not reported.

Mr. Hampson hoped Mr. Robbins would not occupy
the time of the Council further on this matter.

Mr. Robbins said he would bow to the wish of the
Council; but he should raise the same objection when
other members wished to refer to what had taken place
at former meetings.

Diplomas.

The following, being duly registered'as Pharmaceutical
Chemists, were respectively granted a diploma stamped
with the seal of the Society : —

A1 Is worth, Norman.

Chris topherson, Fred.

Coverdale, George.

Davies, Richard.

Hope, Arthur Peach.

Horne, John.

James, Charles Frederick.

Morse, Charles Henry Stafford.

Phillips, James Wilson.

Elections.

members.

Pharmaceutical Chemists .

The following, having passed the Major examination
and tendered their subscriptions for the current year,
were elected “ Members ” of the Society : —

Fazan, Charles Herbert . London.

Horne, John . Wall Heath.

ASSOCIATE IN BUSINESS.

Protheroe, John Godwin . Axminster,

having passed the Minor examination, being in business
on his own account and having tendered his subscription
for the current year, was elected an “ Associate in Busi¬
ness” of the Society : —

ASSOCIATES.

The following, having passed their respective examina¬
tions and tendered (or paid as Apprentices or Students)
their subscriptions for the current year, were elected
“ Associates ” of the Society : —

Minor .

Ackerman, Henry . Chipping Sodbury,

Adams, Henry George . Maidstone.

Baines, Francis . (lorsham.

Chaplin, John Henry . ...Wakefield.

Chapman, William Henry . Birmingham.

Crompton, Alfred, jun . Bury.

Curry, Nicholas . Spennymoor.

Ellis, Richard . Knaresb«»rough.

Evans, Thomas . Chorley.

Harrison, Peter Webster . St. Helens.

Hart, Thomas . Darlington.

Howell, William . London.

Hucklebridge, Philip . London.

Hunt, Tom George . Snaith.

Jackson, William Edw. Gillson. Newark.

Jenks, William . Bristol

Jevons, Wallis Byron . Market Rasen.

Paine, Charles . Belton.

Prosser, Frank Henry . Birmingham,

376

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [Kmmter 6, 1880.

Eigg, George Farrer . London.

Stanford, Frederick William ...London.

Sumner, John . Wilmslow.

Woods, William Herbert . Plymouth.

Modified.

Tregear, Augustus Frederick ...London.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, having passed the Preliminary exami¬
nation and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “ Apprentices or Students ” of the
Society : —

Clague, Thomas Maltby . Douglas.

Nicholson, Walter John Cecil... Woodstock.
Williams, Ernest B. B . Edmonton.

Several persons were restored to their former status in
the Society upon payment of the current year’s subscrip¬
tion and a fine.

Eestorations to the Eegister.

The names of the following persons, who had severally
made the required declarations and paid a fine of one
guinea, were restored to the Eegister of Chemists and
Druggists : —

Thomas Crocker, 23, Bayswater Terrace, London, W.

Thomas Jones Parry, Ebenezer, Carnarvon.

Additions to the Eegister.

The Eegistrar reported that— -

Mary Letitia Harley, 135, Great Dover Street,
Borough, London, S.E., and

Henry Chetham Eobinson, 65, Battersea Park Eoad,
London, S.W.,

having made statutory declarations that they were in
business before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
and this declaration having been supported by duly
qualified medical practitioners, their names had been
placed on the Eegister.

Keports of Committees,
finance.

The report and recommendations of this Committee
were received and adopted, and several accounts were
ordered to be paid.

benevolent fund.

The report of this Committee included a recommenda¬
tion of the following grants : —

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist, who has had
three previous grants of like amount. This applicant
was formerly in business for thirty years.

£10 to the widow of a late associate of the Society
who died in J une last, and who had himself twice received
assistance from the Fund.

£5 to the widow of a pharmaceutical chemist member.

£10 to the widow of an associate, who has had two
previous grants of like amount.

£5 to be placed in the hands of the Secretary for giving
casual relief in pressing cases.

£12 to a registered chemist and druggist to provide
him with a cork leg.

Several applications had been deferred for further
inquiries. One had not been entertained, the applicant
having £500 in a bank.

The Secretary had reported that there were five other
applications, which were not yet complete.

A letter had been received from one of the late Mr.
Isherwood’s orphans stating that she was very happy
and comfortable.

i he report and recommendations of this Committee
were received and adopted.

The Council went into committee to consider one
particular case, and in the result the Secretary and one
of the members of Council were requested to make
personal investigation into the circumstances,

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

The Librarian’s report had been received, and in¬
cluded the following particulars : —

Attendance.

Total.

Highest. Lowest. Average

July 1 to 31 i *?ay *. ’

J ( Evening

. 286
. 155

18 4

13 3

10

7

August 1 to 31 Day

. 33

5 0

1

Sept. 15 to 30 Day

. 69

10 1

5

Circulation of books.

No. of Entries.
Town. Country.

Total.

July . . . . .

. 153

197

350

August ....

. 68

77

145

September 15 to 30

. 74

126

200

Carriage paid.

£ s. d.

July . . .

. 4 1 11

August . . .

„ 2 2 6

September

• • •

. 2 11 9

The Librarian had also reported that in making the
annual inspection of the Library he had found the under¬
mentioned books were missing : —

Beasley’s Book of Prescriptions, 4th ed, 1872.

Chemist and Druggist, 1866-7 (double vol.).

The following donations to the Library had been
received : —

Histoire et Documents Inedits sur les Caux de St.
Pardoux. From Professor J. LEon Soubeiran.

Jalan de la Croix, N., Das Verhalten der Bacterien
des Fleischwassers gegen einige Antiseptica, 1880.

Kessler, F., Versuche liber die Wirkung des Pepsins
auf einige animalische und vegetabilische
Nahrungsmittel, 1880.

From Professor Dragendorff.

Macfie, E. A., Copyright, 1879. From the Author.

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Sundry Eeports,
Prospectuses, etc. From Dr. B. F. Davenport.

Muller, F. v., Eucalyptographia, 1880, 6th decade.

From the Author.

Power, F. B., On the Constituents of the Ehizome
of Asarum Canadense, 1880. From the Author?

Pulteney, B„ Historical and Biographical Sketches
of the Progress of Botany, 1790, 2 vols.

From Mr. W. T. Elliott.

Eoyal College of Physicians, Pupil’s Pharmacopoeia,
a Translation of London Pharmacopoeia, 3rd ed.,
by W. Maugham, 1824. From Mr. W. Fever.

Eoyal College of Surgeons of England, Calendar,
1880. From the College.

Eoyal Dublin Society, Scientific Proceedings, 1877-
80; Scientific Transactions, 1877-80.

From the Society.

Sinimberghi, N., II ferro dializzato, la sua vera com-
posizione chimica e il miglior modo di prepararlo,
1879. From the Author.

Smithsonian Institution, Annual Eeport for 1878.

From the Institution.

Tommasi, D., Ossicloruri alluminici, osservazione
sull’ attuale peso atomico dell’ alluminio, 1880.

— Eicerche intorno alia formazione dell’ idrato
ferrico, 1880. From the Author.

United States of America, Surgeon- General’s Office,
Index-Catalogue of Library, vol. i., 1880.

From the Surgeon-General.

University College, London, Calendar, 1880.

From the College.

University of Edinburgh, Calendar, 1880.

From the University.

University of Glasgow, Calendar, 1880.

From the University.

The Committee recommended that the publications of
the Society be forwarded to the Eoyal Dublin Society.

The Committee recommended the purchase of the
undermentioned works for the Library : —

Archiv flir experimentelle Pathologie und Pharma-
kologie.

November 6, 1S80.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

377

Bancroft (E.), Essay on the Natural History of
Guiana, 1769.

Bourgoin (A. E.), Traitd de pliarmacie galenique,
1880.

Camboulives (M.), Manuel pratique de therapeu-
tique, de matiere medicale, de phannacologie et de
l’art de forinulei', 1880.

Gamgee (A.), Text-book of the Physiological Che¬
mistry of the Animal Body, 1880.

Linnean Society, Transactions, vol. 29, Botany of
the Speke and Grant Expedition from Zanzibar to
Egypt.

Museum of Practical Geology, Catalogue.

Wurtz (A.), Atomic Theory, translated by E.
Cleminshaw, 1880.

The Librarian had presented his report on the annual
meeting of the Library Association, and on his visit to
the Society’s rooms in Edinburgh.

The Curator had presented a report, in which it was
stated that the attendance in the Museum during three
months had been as follows : —

Attendance. Total.

July 1 to 31

Aug. 1 to 31
Sep. 15 to 30

Day . . 271
Evening 62
Day . . 44

Day . . 103

Highest. Lowest. Average.

19 3 10

13 0 2

5 0 2

20 0 8

The following donations had been received : —

Duboisia Leaves.

From Messrs. Grimwade, Ridley and Co.

Single Camomile Flowers.

From -the North British Branch.

Specimens of Boracite and Crude Boracic Acid.

From Messrs. Townsend and Co., Glasgow.

A Mass of Crystals of Chlorate of Potassium, and
Iridescent Crystals of the same Salt.

From the North British Seaweed Company,

Glasgow.

A Mass of Crystals of Bichromate of Potassium.

From Messrs. J. and J. White, Glasgow.

A Series of Specimens illustrating the Products of
the Destructive Distillation of Wood.

From Messrs. Turnbull and Co., Glasgow.

A large Series of Specimens illustrating the Manufac¬
ture of Copper and Sulphur.

From the Tharsis Sulphur and Copper Mining Co.

Specimens of Tong-pang- chong Root ; a Sweet
Cayenne Pepper Pod ; Quebracho Bark and
Leaves. From Messrs. Thos. Christy and Co.

A fine Specimen of Prunus Laurocerasus in fruit.

From Messrs. Kay, Brothers, Stockport.

A fine Specimen of Root of Veratrum Viride.

From Messrs. Morson and Son.

Letters of thanks had been received for duplicate
specimens of Indian and other drugs which had been
distributed to the following : —

Professor Bommer, of Brussels.

„ Fristedt, of Upsala.

„ Dragendorff, of Dorpat.

The Leicester Chemists’ Assistants’ Association.

Parkes’ Museum of Hygiene.

St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School.

The Curator reported also that the duplicate specimens
asked for by Professor Soubeiran, of Montpellier, and by
the Leicester Chemists’ Association, and by Professor
Fristedt, of Upsala, had been forwarded to them.
Specimens of the drugs received from the India
Museum had been placed in the Society’s Museum, as
also specimens of the Morocco drugs, recently presented
by Mrs. Leared. Some duplicates of Indian drugs, etc.,
still remained, of which a list had been prepared and
would shortly be distributed.

An application had been received from the Aberdeen
Chemists’ Association for some glass covered tin boxes,

which were for disposal. The Committee recommended
that the request be acceded to.

Mr. J. Collins had offered some Herbarium Specimens
of Medicinal Plants for sale. The Curator was desired to
select such as might be suitable for the Society’s
Museum, and to arrange with him as to the price, and
report at the adjourned meeting.

A gross of bottles was required for the Hanbury
collection of materia medica, which would shortly be
attended to. The Committee directed that they be pro¬
cured.

The Professors had attended, and reported that the
entries in the respective classes were rather more numerous
than at the corresponding period of last session.

The Committee recommended that the ‘ Historical
Sketch of Pharmacy ’ should be sold at 3s. Gd., and that
copies should be sent to the provincial associations and to
such learned societies as the President should select.

An advertisement for an Assistant Curator had been
drawn up and inserted in the Journal, in response to
which eleven applications had been received, and the
Committee recommended that Mr. William Elborne,
pharmaceutical chemist, and Bell Scholar of last session,
be appointed.

An application had been received from Professor
Attfield asking that additional means for warming the
laboratory might be provided, and it was recommended
that this should be done if the cost did not exceed £20,
and if it would not interfere with the policy of insurance.

It was also recommended that a list of Bell Scholars
and of the Pereira and Silver Medallists be prepared,
with a view of displaying them on a tablet in some con¬
spicuous position.

The Council went into committee to consider the
report. On resuming,

The report and recommendations of the Committee
were received and adopted.

It was also resolved that a copy of the Librarian’s and
Curator’s reports, on their recent visit to Edinburgh,
should be sent to the Secretary of the North British
Branch, to be submitted to the Council and Board of
Examiners in Edinburgh.

The President asked the Council to sanction the
sending of the Journal, regularly as published, to the
Botanical Gardens in St. Petersburg. The request was
made to him by the Curator of the Gardens, Herr
Maximowicz, a man of world-wide reputation, and the
most eminent systematic botanist in Russia, and he
had no doubt that some valuable contributions would be
received from him. Herr Maximowicz had promised
that publications issued in connection with the Botanical
Gardens at St. Petersburg should be sent to the Society.

Mr. Hills suggested that a copy of the ‘Historical
Sketch of Pharmacy ’ should also be forwarded.

The suggestions were unanimously agreed to.

The Vice-President asked whether there were any
solid grounds for limiting the list of prizemen to the
Bell Scholars and Pereira Medallists ? Many men had
distinguished themselves as students before the institu¬
tion of either of those prizes, and they might like to have
their names recorded as well as those who had come to
the front in more recent times.

Mr. Sandford said the whole subject would require a
good deal of consideration, and probably no arrangements
would be carried out until after the next Council meeting.

HOUSE.

The report of this Committee included a recommenda¬
tion that the Secretary should have tablets affixed to the
portraits and other pictures belonging to the Society,
and should also obtain the advice of Messrs. Vokins as
to the desirability of cleaning and re-varnishing some
of them.

The report and recommendations of the Committee
were received and adopted.

373

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 6, 1SS0.

GENERAL PURPOSES.

The report of this Committee included the usual
report of the Solicitor as to the conduct of cases which
had been placed in his hands. It stated that Mr. C. D.
Harrod, 105, Brompton Road, had paid the amount of
penalty and costs into court,

As usual, the report of this Committee was considered
In committee,

On resuming, the report and recommendations of the
Committee were received and adopted.

PHARMACY ACT AMENDMENT.

This Committee had held a meeting at which it had
been resolved after discussion : —

“That in consideration of the decision of the House
of Lords in the case of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Great Britain v. The London and Provincial
Supply Association, Limited, this Committee recom¬
mends that steps be taken to obtain an amendment
of the Pharmacy Acy, 1808.”

The report and recommendation were unanimously
adopted.

Mr. Hampson moved: —

“ That the Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee be
requested to draft a bill to amend the Pharmacy
Act, 1868, and submit the same at its earliest con¬
venience to this Council.”

Mr. Richardson hoped the Committee would take the
earliest opportunity of letting every member of the
Council see the draft of the bill. It was a very
important matter, and he hoped every means would be
taken to make the bill as perfect as possible.

Mr. Hampson said he felt this was a very important
occasion and that the Committee would require all the
help and support of the Council in carrying out its
labours. It was a great crisis in pharmacy, which
necessitated fresh legislation, and he hoped the Com¬
mittee would be able to produce a bill which would meet
with the acceptance of the Council. It was not desirable
to go into details now, but he hoped the Committee
would get to work as soon as possible and draft a bill.

The Vice-President seconded the motion, but
he thought it was worth considering whether the
Committee should not limit itself to the framing of
suggested alterations before putting them into the form
of a bill. He had a strong opinion that if the Society
endeavoured to carry a bill of its own through Parlia¬
ment it would very likely fail, and therefore it should
rather endeavour to enlist the Government in favour of
the ideas it wished to formulate. In order to do it
the Society should approach the Government, not with
a bill ready drawn, but with suggestions which the
Government might introduce into any bill of its own.

Mr. Hampson said the Committee would no doubt
have to take the Council into its confidence time after
time before the bill was presented in its final shape.
The advantage of putting the ideas of the Committee
in the form of a bill was that they then took a more
perfect and definite form.

Mr. Atkins hoped the suggestions of the Committee,
as laid from time to time before the members of the
Council, would be discussed openly, or else they would
lose a large amount of valuable assistance from members
of the Society outside. He could quite understand there
must be certain matters which it might be wise to keep
to themselves, but there were many points on which
they would get valuable help from outside.

Mr. Savage said when the Committee had come to a
resolution as to the best course to adopt, it would then
be submitted to the open Council and postponed for
further consideration, when the public interested in the
matter would have an opportunity of making any sugges¬
tions.

The Vice-President desired to remind Mr. Atkins
that what was published became other people’s property
in well as the Council’s, If the Council had any sort of

idea that it was going to work round public companies
and bring them into the same category as private indi¬
viduals and published that to the world it would be
simply courting organized opposition.

The motion was put and carried unanimously.

Mr. Hampson said he supposed the Committee, when
necesary, would have power to call in the aid of the
Solicitor.

The President : Certainly.

Board of Examiners.

The President reminded the members of Council that
at the next meeting it would be necessary to appoint the
Board of Examiners for the ensuing year. One gentleman,
Mr. Moss, had resigned, whose place must be supplied,
and it was open to any member of the Council to suggest
any names.

Report of Examinations,

October , 1880.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Candidates.

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, (20th) .

. . . 6

5

i

„ (21st) .

. . . 6

3

3

„ (27th) .

. . . 6

1

5

— 18

— 9

— 9

Minor, (20th) .

. . . 14

8

6

„ (21st) .

. . . 18

11

7

„ (22nd) .

. . . 25

11

14

„ (27th) .

. . . 18

8

10

„ (28th) .

. . . 21

7

14

— 96

—45

—51

Modified, (20th)

. . .. 3

1

2

• -

—

—

117

55

62

SCOTLAND.

Candidates.

Examined. Passed.

Failed

Major, (20th) .

... 2

0

2

Minor, (20th) .

... 11

6

5

„ (21st) .

... 14

9

5

—25

—15

—10

Modified, (21st)

... 1

0

1

28 15 13

Preliminary Examination.

Candidates.

- - ^ - - ■ “ s

Examined. Passed. Failed.

227 135 92

14 certificates received in lieu of Society’s examination : —
5 University of Cambridge.

1 University of Oxford.

1 University of Edinburgh.

5 College of Preceptors.

1 Eaculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

1 Royal College of Surgeons of England.

PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING.

Wednesday , November 3, 1880.

MR. T. GREENISH, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR.

The second Evening Meeting of the session was held on
Wednesday, November 3, the chair being taken by the
President at half-past eight o’clock.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been con¬
firmed,

The President said he regretted there was so small a
programme for the evening, but there were some matters
in connection with the specimens on the table which
might be interesting. As some of them were contributed
by himself he would ask the Vice-President to take the
chair while he described them.

The Vice-President took the chair accordingly.

November G, 18S0.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

379

The Peesident said most pharmacists were in the
habit of taking an autumnal holiday, and they certainly
should be, if they were not, for it did a person engaged in
business a great deal of good to get away for a bit,
especially if he got out of the way of business letters. It
therefore occurred to him this year to go to Russia, and
he took the steamer from Hull to Riga, which was a six
days’ journey. On the way he asked the captain if he
knew anything of Riga balsam, of which he was anxious
to get a specimen. The captain said he knew it well,
always kept it by him, and found it very useful when he
had pains in the stomach. This balsam was a regular
article at an old historic house in which he (the President)
spent some five or six years at an early period of his
life. When he got to Riga he obtained a bottle at
the distillery where it was made, and the proprietor
showed him the recipe, from which it appeared that
it contained 95 per cent, of spirit, and was drawn
over from certain herbs, amongst which wormwood was
included. He took about a teaspoonful or rather more,
and it nearly took his breath away ; but he understood
that the Russians would drink a beerglass full, and with¬
out so much as winking. The bottle which he brought
with him bore a label, as usual in the Baltic provinces, in
both Russian and German, and it might be interesting in
the museum, though he did not think it was quite the
same as the article he remembered some forty years ago,
which was thicker, and more like a balsam. Having
spent some time in Riga he went on to Reval, the part
through which all drugs were introduced into the north
of Russia, just as most articles coming from India
and Persia were introduced through Nishnii Novgo¬
rod. Some time ago a large quantity of cocculus
indicus had been sent there as juniper berries, but was
stopped by the analyst, who obtained a considerable sum,
about £70 or £80, for so doing from the Government.
He also met there with an article which was introduced
as cinnamon, and it was unquestionably a cinnamon, but
not the bark commonly known under that name. He
had not had time to determine what it actually was, but
believed it was one of the cassias. Another spurious
specimen he brought home was sold as saffron, but was
really nothing but Calendula officinalis, mixed with a
large quantity of starch and some colouring matter.
From Reval he made his way to Dorpat, where he
visited the Jaboratory of Professor Dragendorff, who
presented him with a case containing thirty-two
specimens, mainly salts of platinum and other metals,
prepared by Professor Claus, the great authority with
regard to platinum and the discoverer of ruthenium in
the residues of that metal. He was formerly professor
of pharmacy in that university. These were very in¬
teresting and many of the specimens were valuable, and
could hardly be replaced. Professor Dragendorff also
gave him an ore of manganese, obtained from the
Caucasus, which he believed would in the future be
an important source of supply of this mineral. There
was also an interesting specimen of native soda car¬
bonate, and a sample of mannite, extremely pure and
interesting as being a product of the decomposition of
lactic acid. It would be remembered that at the Phar¬
maceutical Conference he brought forward a sample of
cayenne which had been introduced into this country ; not
as was at first thought as an adulterant, but as afterwards
appeared for the feeding of canaries, and Mr. Brady
then suggested that it was probably the paprika which
was grown in Hungary. Professor Dragendorff gave
him a specimen of genuine paprika, sent him by Pro¬
fessor Egge, and it was a kind of cayenne which was in
common table use in Russia, being used freely like
ordinary pepper. It had certainly a pungency which
the specimen he showed at the Conference did not
possess. Mr. Brady had since sent to Hungary for
some paprika, and one sample possessed a little
of the pungency of cayenne, but the other specimen did
not. It was quite possible that the sample he showed

might have been of the latter kind, as it had a good
colour. Professor Dragendorff also gave him a typical
sample of strychnos bark. He spent a good deal of time
in the laboratory, and the professor took him over the
Materia Medica Museum, which certainly astonished
him by the number and the variety of the specimens
stowed away in so limited a space. He has reason to
believe that the present condition of the museum is
mainly due to Professor Dragendorff’s untiring energy.
He was much pleased, also, to see there some specimens
which bore on the label, “From Jonathan Pereira.’ It
appeared that Professor Dragendorff had purchased a
portion of the museum of Martiny when it was sold after
his death. Martiny was the author of a cyclopaedia of
drugs which is still thought very highly of in Russia, and
it was from his collection that these Pereira specimens
came. Professor Schmidt, Professor of Chemistry in the
Dorpat University, had asked him to bring for the
Society’s museum six specimens of naphthas and four of
ozokerit, which were obtained in Baku, in the south-east
of Russia. A specimen of Persian galbanum was given
him by Edward Hirschson, who had written a pamphlet
on gum resins, which obtained for him the title of Ma-
gister of Pharmacy and the Suwarrow Gold Medal ; it
was, in fact, one of the most exhaustive pamphlets he
had ever seen on any one subject. It so happened that
in Russia he not only met with Hirschson, but with
Treumann, also a Magister of Pharmacy, known by his
pamphlet on Aloes, and with Christophson, who had ob¬
tained the same title by his researches on saponin, together
with several others, who had equally distinguished them¬
selves in the Dorpat Laboratory. Each of the men who
had obtained this title was really a marked man, and he
could not help repeating the opinion he had expressed
before, that he should like to see some such title as
Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society given to advanced
students who would devote a year or so to some parti¬
cular line of research ; thoroughly investigate some par¬
ticular subject, and make that examination exhaustive.
The title might be accompanied with a life membership
to make it more valuable. He had also a few samples
from a former Bell Scholar and student of this Society,
Mr. Henry George Greenish, who, he was pleased to say,
still carefully, read the Journal, and was as much interested
in the Society as when he resided in England. Sometimeago
he contributed a paper on The Chemistry of Nigella Sativa
to the Pharmaceutical Journal, and these samples were
illustrative of that paper, being the substances obtained
from the nigella. He particularly wished attention to
be directed to the frothing which occurs (analogous to
saponin) when a little of the melanthin is dissolved in
spirit poured into a bottle half filled with distilled water
and vigorously shaken, and the close analogy which this
melanthin of Nigella sativa bears to the helleborin of the
botanically nearly related helleborus carried out the
anticipation of Dragendorff that plants naturally closely
allied frequently contain similar important constituents.
Whilst in Dorpat he had much pleasure in spending
several hours in the laboratory of Professor Russow with
whom vegetable histology had been a life study. He
had often mentioned how desirable it would be for
students to pay attention to this subject, but the fascina¬
tion of the subject never struck him so forcibly as it did
on this occasion. He was also invited to visit the paper
manufactury of Mr. Schultz, at Rappin, forty-five miles
from Dorpat, and was much interested in what he saw.
The conditions of paper manufacture were very different
in Russia to what they were in England, linen rags being
cheaper than wood pulp. The peasants grew and spun
flax very largely, so that almost every article of clothing
worn by them was was made of linen. He had brought
several samples of paper; one a filtering paper, was specially
interesting. It could only be made in the winter, because
they never used any chemicals for bleaching, but effected
this by exposure, and he was told that it was necessary
for this paper to be exposed to a freezing temperature. The

380

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 0, 1880.

freezing of the water had the same effect he presumed on
the filtering paper as it had in slate quarries, where it sepa¬
rated the laminae. In the case of the paper it separated the
fibres and made it uniformly porous. Another specimen
he had brought was a material very largely used there for
roofing ; it was composed of several layers of paper closely
pressed together, and soaked in a mixture of mineral and
wood tar. The gentleman at whose house he stayed,
although keeping his carriage and livery servants, had
his house covered with this material. He next went to
St. Petersburg, where be had an invitation from Mr.
Maximowicz, who was the Curator of the Botanical
Gardens, and the most eminent systematic botanist in
Russia, to call upon him. He was preparing a flora of
Japan, and although it was not a flora of medicinal plants
he had no doubt it would be very valuable even to pharma¬
cists, and that this gentleman, from his great knowledge of
Japanese plants, would be extremely useful to the Society.
They were now getting a large number of products from
Japan, for instance aconite roots; he had himself ex¬
pressed an opinion several times with regard to the two
kinds of aconite roots from Japan, from which the aconi¬
tine had been obtained, but they were not quite certain
as to what species they belonged and until they were
their information would not be definite. He sketched
out for Mr. Maximowicz the two kinds of aconite roots,
when he pointed out one as the Aconitum Fischeri. In the
last “Month” it was mentioned that according to infor¬
mation obtained directly from Japan such was really
the case. He had no doubt that Mr. Maximowicz
would be able to give the Curator of the Museum
very valuable information in the case of any Japanese
drugs which came under his notice. Mr. Maximowicz
expressed a wish that the Pharmaceutical Journal should
be added to the Library of the Botanical Gardens of St.
Petersburg, and he was happy to add that the Council had
this day acceded to his request. In St. Petersburg he
visited a great many pharmacists, and was much struck
with the large quantity of oxygen used there for inhalation.
At the Oldenberger Hospital for children, the manager of
which he knew, he found an enormous quantity of oxygen
gas used, and on visiting many of the pharmacists he
found that it was really quite an article of trade ; one
pharmacist, who did a fair business, told him that the
quantity he sent out during two or three of the winter
months was about £100 worth in value. Asthma was
very prevalent in St Petersburg in October, November,
and December. It seemed to him very singular that an
article so much used there, each pharmacist having his
gasometer, was scarcely used at all in this country. In
presen tiug these specimens to the museum, he could not
help referring to the great courtesy and kindness shown
by Russian pharmacists to a representative of the
pharmacy of Great Britain.

Professor Attfield, alluding to the specimen sent by
Mr. H. G. Greenish, said that as a professor of the
Society, he was much pleased to see the interesting work
which his old scholar was doing. He would remind the
Society that Mr. Greenish, jun., was not only a Bell
scholar, but also an old member and officer of the School
of Pharmacy Students’ Association, in which he had,
possibly for the first time, learnt the art of recording the
results of his observations, and perhaps of observing,
therefore, all the more accurately, and had thus, it
might be, first got into the way of making those elemen¬
tary investigations which had ultimately led to the
important researches in which he had been recently
engaged, the results of which he had sent to the Society.

Mr. Holmes had listened with great interest to the
President’s remarks. He had looked over the salts of
platinum and allied metals, and found the majority of
them were such as the museum had not hitherto possessed.
He believed that Professor Claus was the discoverer of
ruthenium. With regard to the paprika or capsicum, he
had tasted it, and found it had a slight pungency ; but that
sent to him from various parts of this country had no pun¬

gency at all. He was told that it was not used as a
stimulant for canaries, but simply to increase the brilliancy
of the colour of their plumage. There was another kind
of capsicum, of a somewhat globular shape, like a small
tomato, which had no pungency, and this was cultivated
in various parts of the continent, and was, he had reason
to believe, the source of the cayenne pepper used for
canaries. With regard to the nux vomica bark, it was
one of the most characteristic specimens he had seen,
and it was exceedingly difficult to get such a specimen in
this country. The President had mentioned that several
of Dr. Pereira’s specimens were found at Dorpat. In
the Society’s museum there was the chief collection of
the late Dr. Pereira, and in it there were a number
of specimens which were marked from Dr. Martiny, so
that Pereira had evidently exchanged specimens with
Martiny. Some little time ago he had been asked to
look over the specimens of materia medica in the London
Hospital, where Dr. Pereira was formerly a lecturer, and
he found there a set of small duplicates of the specimens
which illustrated the grand work on materia medica of
that author, and which were, therefore, of considerable
interest and historic value. Along with these he found
a specimen of bark, bearing a label stating that it had
been sent over here as a false cinchona bark from Santa
Marta, New Granada, in May, 1852. It was evidently
the same bark as had now come into commerce under the
name of coto bark. With regard to the importance of
vegetable histology, he confirmed Mr. Greenish’s observa¬
tions. It was by the aid of the microscope that he was
able to be certain that the specimen of saffron really
consisted of the common marigold plant, Calendula offici¬
nalis. He had often read that saffron contained marigold
florets; but he had never found it mixed with or sub¬
stituted for saffron. In putting this under the microscope
he observed that the ligulate florets exactly corresponded
with those of the marigold in the number of teeth and
also in the hairs. He found two kinds of hairs on the
marigold florets, the one kind consisting of a single series
and the other of a double series, and both these were
present also on this spurious saffron. Again, there were
some grains of pollen on the forked stigma, and. he
noticed that on the false saffron the pollen was spiny.
He then took a specimen of marigold, and found its
pollen was of exactly the same kind. When books were
published on different kinds of pollen, diatoms, etc., they
might not at first sight seem to be of much use; but
cases were constantly occurring which showed the im¬
portance of all branches of vegetable histology. He had
been much interested in the Russian filtering paper, and
the method of rendering it porous; it reminded him
of a peculiar kind of seaweed isinglass, which came
from Japan, which also was very porous. For some
time it could not be discovered how it was made
porous, the outside being perfectly smooth ; but he
learnt from a Japanese gentlemen that they made
the jelly by boiling the sea-weed in water, and then took
it to the coldest part of the island and allowed it to freeze ;
when it had become solid they cut it into strips, laid, it on
boards and put it in the sun to dry, when the moisture
oozed out and left it in a porous state. With regard to
the collections of Japanese plants which Mr. Christy gave
some time ago to the museum, he was able to identify
one of them by means of a description of the plant pub¬
lished by Maximowicz. He had been interested for some
time in Japanese aconite, and took the trouble some time
ago to examine all the specimens in the British Museum
and Kew Herbarium. There were three kinds of aconite
found in Japan; one, A. uncinatum, had a very narrow
tapei'ing root, not larger than a quill when dried ; another
was identical with Aconitum Napellus, though it was
called by another name; the third, of which he could
not obtain a root, was Aconitum Fischeri. He, therefore,
came to the conclusion that the Japanese aconite must
be produced by A. Fischeri, and, therefore, had written to
Japan and asked a gentleman whom he knew there to

November 6, 1880.3 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

381

send him specimens, so that he might make sure that the
Japanese aconite really came from that plant. However,
he had evidently been forestalled by Mr. Maximowicz.
It gave him great pleasure to see these specimens sent by
Mr. H. G. Greenish ; he found great difficulty in getting
gentlemen in this country to undertake the investigation
of anything new, and only a short time ago he had to
send to Professor Dragendorff a bark which came into
this country in some quantity, and which he had tried
without success to get examined here. The cinnamon
was an interesting specimen. In the spring of this year
Professor Fliickiger sent him a specimen of cinnamon
which corresponded almost exactly with that from Dorpat.
Now in 1876 it came to his knowledge that there were
in this country two hundred bales of cinnamon of that
kind, and they were bleached and sent to Hamburg,
because the cinnamon was rather darker than ordinary
kind. He believed the false cinnamon was bleached by
moistening it with water or steam, and exposing it to the
vapour of sulphurous acid. It seemed to have made its
way from Hamburg to Russia on the one hand, and to
Strassburg on the other. It had a taste something like
coriander and cinnamon, mixed with a trace of clove
flavour. He might mention that amongst the India
Museum specimens of cinnamon recently presented to the
Society he had found one, called Cinnamomum obtusi folium,
very similar in taste to that now shown, but they did not
seem exactly to correspond under the microscope, although
the India Museum specimen was probably younger and
might differ somewhat on that account. He should not
like to say without further examination whether this false
cinnamon was produced by C. obtusi folium or not. For
practical purposes, however, it was easily distinguishable
from common cinnamon by its fibrous structure and its
characteristic taste.

The President said the sample of spurious saffron was
considered a very good adulterant ; it was so mixed with
starch that it was evidently an intentional adulterant.
The cinnamon had none of the outside bark attached to
it. The sclerenchymatous tissue, or steincellen as the
Germans call it, running along in one direction inside
the bark, was very characteristic of one species ; this had
not got it, but the specimen Mr. Holmes gave them showed
it very clearly.

Mr. Holmes added with regard to the saffron that he
had remarked the starch in it, but did not feel sufficiently
satisfied to say much about it, but the colouring matter
he had examined carefully. He washed some of it off
the florets and found it had a reddish colour, and
believed it came from the petals of the poppy ; the red
colour of the poppy mixed with the yellow of the mari¬
gold produced exactly the orange colour of saffron. He
thought the petals used to make this artificial saffron
were not used in the dry but the fresh state, when the
colour would be brighter. It was mixed up with some
kind of flour, probably ordinary flour, because the starch
seemed to be of two or three kinds. Probably the poppy
petals were bruised and mixed with thin flour paste, and the
fresh marigold florets coloured with the mixture.

Professor Bentley said he could not help rising to
thank the President for his communication, though he
was not prepared to make any special remarks on any
of the specimens he had referred to. The President had
gone over a new field and visited a country of which they
knew comparatively little, and many of the matters he had
mentioned were especially interesting on that account. A
word or two the President had let fall with regard to his
great teacher, Dr. Pereira, had given him great pleasure,
and he could fairly bear out what the President hacl
said. He had the happiness not only of being a pupil of
Pereira, but was afterwards his colleague when lecturing
at the London Hospital, and he remembered that he had
often then referred to the Martiny specimens. The
specimens of nux vomica bark were very fine, and Pereira,
in his collection, had some of exactly the same character.
The President had referred to the adulteration of cocculus

indicus. He had seen bay berries substituted for cocculus
indicus, but had never heard of cocculus indicus being
sold for juniper berries before ; that only showed that so
far as adulteration was concerned, the most dissimilar
substances were sometimes substituted for one another.

The Vice-President said the first article named by
the President, the Riga balsam, took him back in memory
to his earliest experience in pharmacy, and he should
like to ask him whether anything of the old idea with
regard to the virtue of this balsam still lingered amongst
the Russians. At one time the most remarkable pro¬
perties must have been attributed to it, for he could well
remember even now the conclusion of a certain paper
which was wrapped round a bottle of Riga balsam which
he saw when very young. It ran somewhat in this way ;
after descanting a long time on the virtues of the balsam,
this proof was given of them : “ Take a hen or a ram,
drive a nail through its head, brains and tongue, pour in
a few drops of the balsam, and in a few minutes the
creature will rise[and eat as before. The Lord has created
medicines out of the eartb, and he that is wise will not
abhor them.” That showed that at one time, certainly,
an opinion did exist that the preparation called Riga
balsam had remarkable medicinal virtues, though the
President seemed to indicate that it was now used rather
as a cordial. He would take this opportunity of asking
the members to record by acclamation, after the Presi¬
dent had made his concluding remarks, their appreciation
of his communication. When he (the Vice-President)
last spoke there it was to express a feeling of regret at
the President’s absence, but he must now express his
gratification that he was not with them then, as he was
gathering the information from which they had all bene¬
fited.

Mr. Cleaver said he had often regretted that in this
country no one was public-spirited enough to provide
some place where students could go and work at pharma¬
ceutical research of an advanced character, but he hoped
the time was not far distant when there would be some
institution or school founded where that sort of thing
could be carried out. With regard to the Riga balsam,
he recollected a few years ago it used to come into com¬
merce as a thicker liquid, and of much darker colour
than the specimen now produced. The material used
for roofing appeared to be very similar to that which
was used in some parts of England for roofing purposes,
except that it was made of flax fibre. With regard to
the oxygen gas, it was known that when the late Empress
of Russia was ill lately, in the South of France, oxygen
was used as a remedial agent in her case, and that a
serious accident occurred in its preparation.

The President said he could quite sympathize with Mr.
Cleaver’s remaxk as to the want of facilities for original
research in this country. In Russia he met with several
men who had obtained the title of Magister of Pharmacy,
and each was a man of eminence ; he regretted that here
we did not find the same spirit.

Mr. Holmes then called the attention of the meeting
to a number of specimens presented to the museum, the
first collection being a set from the Tharsis Copper and
Sulphur Company, Glasgow, on which Professor Attfield
would say a word or two. Next came a series of
specimens from Messrs. Turnbull and Co., Glasgow, which
represented the manufacture of acetic acid from wood
by destructive distillation. One was a creasote oil, which
he believed was the article commonly known as the
essence of smoke, used for curing hams. There was also
a fine mass of bichromate of potish from Messrs. J. and
J. White, of Glasgow, and some very beautiful iridescent
crystals of chlorate of potash. He did not know the
cause of this iridescence, and believed that only a few of
these crystals were found in a large quantity of the
chlorate. These had been presented by the North
British Seaweed Co. through Mr. E. C. C. Stanford, who
had also given a fine mass of crystals of the chlorate,
which had been injured in transit; this mass Mr. Stanford

382

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[November b, 1880.

liad kindly promised to exchange for a more perfect one.
Mr. Ford, superintendent of the Botanical Gardens at Hong
Ivong, had sent him dried specimens of the plant which
yielded the Chinese oil of peppermint. There was also a
small case of the oil sent by Dr. Dymock, showing the
state in which it was imported into India, and there Was
also a Chinese bottle showing how it was imported into
this country. The specimen plant itself was very much
like the common mint; it had hardly any botanical
character to distinguish it from the Mentha arvenis. He
had carefully examined a number of specimens of the
mints referred to in the ‘ Pharmacographia,’ in which
work it was referred to Mentha arvensis, var. Javanica,
Bl., but all the specimens of that plant which he had
seen in various herbaria had the taste of spearmint not
peppermint. In the Japanese Flora called ‘ Zomokou
Zoussetz,’ the peppermint plant was described as being
Mentha arvensis, var. vulgaris, Benth., but that differed
in the shape of the leaves, which were wider below than
those of either the Chinese or Japanese peppermint plants,
and had, moreover, only the taste of the ordinary Mentha
arvensis of this country. In Franchet and Savatier’s
recent ‘Flora of Japan,’ it was referred to Mentha
austriaca, Jacq., but none of the specimens he had tasted
had the taste of peppermint, not even a type specimen.
He therefore wrote to this gentleman at Hong Kong to
kindly send him a specimen of the plant from which the
oil was procured, and this certainly had the taste of
peppermint. It was to him a very interesting question
why plants that differed apparently in no external
character should produce quite different essential oils, and
he thought it must have something to do with the hybridi¬
zation; just as the cinchonas yielded different amounts of
quinine, etc., according to the parents, so would the
mints, which were also a very intricate and difficult
group, present different characteristics according to the
species with which they hybridized. He could only
imagine that the plant was the Mentha canadensis, and he
therefore sent to Professor Asa Gray to kindly send him
several specimens of Mentha canadensis to examine.
One of these tasted like a mixture of peppermint and
bergamot, another tasted like spearmint and horsemint
mixed, whilst the third tasted of peppermint, but not so
strongly as the Chinese plant. There were also on the
table some specimens of quebracho bark, which although
not used much as yet in this country was used on the
continent and also in America very largely for dyspnoea.
The name, which meant break-axe, was derived from the
fact of the wood being so hard that it injured the
axe and was applied to a number of different trees
belonging to a number of different natural orders.
Dr. Hansen, of Erlangen, had written a pamphlet
on this bark, in which he gave full details of the plant
that yielded it, so that there would be no difficulty in
distinguishing the true bark. He had on the table one
specimen of true bark, and also two of false quebracho,
brought by Dr. Paul from Breslau, one of which was
marked red quebracho bark and the other white, but
they were neither the true bark. Externally they
looked very much alike, and one might be easily misled
by the apjDearance, but examining them with the lens it
would be seen that the red kind had very hard rigid
fibres, whilst the white, on the other hand, readily gave to
the finger nail and had short fibres which very easily fell
off almost in the form of dust. The third bark, however,
was very hard and showed no sign of fibre, but consisted
of alternate stratified layers of dark and light brown
tissue. From St. Petersburg not long ago, he had
received for the museum four other specimens of que¬
bracho, neither of which were genuine. He had lately
received from Prague a specimen of what was known as
staple isinglass, which was hardly ever met with in the
retail trade, and was therefore interesting. It was
made in Russia, simply by folding up small portions
of the swim bladder of the sturgeon, and the substance
received from Prague on sale under this name consisted

purely of some animal membranes, not of fish at all.
He had received from the President a specimen of an
object which most would be familiar with the appearance
of, commonly called crabs- eyes. These calcareous sub¬
stances were found in two lateral pouches of the stomach
of the cray fish, and only at the time when the animal
was casting its shell, for as the shell was formed these
little concretions disappeared from the stomach. They
had been imitated at various times, but the true article
had a laminated structure. In the last century this
substance was official in the Edinburgh and London
Pharmacopoeias, being used as an antacid. One curious
thing with regard to it was that just as the lobster
turned red when put into boiling water so would these,
for though they were of a pale bluish colour inside,
according to Guibourt they turned a red colour when put
into boiling water. What the nature of the colouring
matter was he did not know.

The President said the quebracho was an extremely
interesting bark; it had been considered as a probable
substitute for quinine, and was therefore worthy of very
careful examination and description. The only monograph
which existed on the subject was one by Dr. Hausen, of
Erlangen. There was one peculiar fibre which he termed
sclerenchymatous fibre, which was distinctive of the true
bark. Mr. Holmes on the previous day had placed in his
hand six specimens of this bark, which he examined and
found that four had this peculiar fibre, but he could not de¬
termine the fibre in the others. As this was rather an
important matter he would sketch on the black board
the appearance of the fibre. The President then pro¬
ceeded to do so. but said that at the same time he did not
agree in the propriety of the name. It was not like
ordinary sclerenchymatous tissue thickened by secondary
deposit, but this fibre appeared to be simply liber or bast
fibre, which had been increased by cells growing round
them, and each cell containing a crystal of oxalate of
lime.

A vote of thanks was passed to the donors of the
different specimens.

Incorrect Verified Weights.

Mr. Pound exhibited a set of weights which he said
had been passed by an inspector under the Act and
were officially stamped, and yet the 30 gr. weight was
marked as ^ a scruple. He mentioned it as a caution to
those buying weights.

Specimens illustrative of the Copper Industry.

Professor Attfield then shortly described the speci¬
mens of copper salts sent from Glasgow in response to an
invitation from the Council. This particular series was
an illustration of the great sulphur, copper and arsenic
industry. The Tharsis Company had sent specimens
of cupreous iron pyrites, the raw material from which
they obtained copper itself, sulphur, and, of course, sul¬
phuric acid, much oxide of iron in different forms and a
number of other products in small re’ative proportions.
The copper pyrites contained about 50 per cent, of
sulphur. The mineral was roasted and 30 per cent,
burnt off in the shape of sulphurous acid which was con¬
verted in the usual way into sulphuric acid. The roasted
ore was then ground, mixed with salt, and again roasted.
During the latter operation the sulphide of copper was
by the oxygen of the air converted into sulphate and that
with the chloride of sodium gave chloride of copper and
sulphate of sodium. The product was treated with water
and the dissolved sulphate of sodium was converted in
due time there or elsewhere into carbonate. The solution
of chloride of copper had metallic iron put into it, which
threw down metallic copper. Hence the whole process
was commonly termed the icct process as distinguished from
the old process of getting copper by means of roasting alone,
commonly called the dry process. During the roasting
what little arsenicum there was in the pyrites burnt off
as ordinary white arsenic and was condensed in the flues

November 6, 1880,] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

383

just as soot would be in a common chimney. He might
just mention that this specimen of arsenic contained
selenium, according to the examination of one of his as¬
sistants, Mr. Stapleton, who, as a matter of curiosity, had
tested the specimen. The other products were in small
relative proportion, though in large absolute quantity, on
account of the enormous amount of material acted upon.
What zinc there was in the pyrites was extracted, some
silver also was obtained and a very small proportion of
gold. The roasted mixture of pyrites and salt was for
the most part soluble in water, but there was a quantity
of red matter left behind, which was oxide of iron. This
was produced in various qualities by this firm, one of the
specimens was labelled ochre, a second, rouge, and the
other Venetian red. He had now named the chief sub¬
stances which this firm had been good enough to present
to the Society. The series included a pretty ingot of the
metal itself.

Crystallized Duboisine.

Mr. Gerrard then exhibited some specimens of duboi¬
sine. He said he believed these were the first definite
crystalline permanent specimens of the alkaloid duboisine
ever prepared. Two years ago he had the honour of lay¬
ing before the Society the process by which he isolated
this alkaloid, and since then he had made numerous
attempts to crystallize it, but it always appeared as a
hygroscopic brownish mass. Recently, however, by means
of a suitable solvent he obtained it in a pure white crys¬
talline form. In the course of crystallization it appeared
in two forms, one in cauliflower-like aggregations of
crystals, and the other, which consisted of a fine filamen¬
tous moss-like mass floating in the crystallizing medium.
Whether these two different forms were different bodies
or different forms of the same body he was unable at
present to state, but the process by which he had prepared
it, and the properties of duboisine thus obtained, he hoped
to lay before the Society on a future occasion.

The President said the meeting was much indebted
to Mr. Gerrard for his remarks.

Mr. Naylor said those accustomed to the manufacture
of sulphate of duboisine knew the difficulty of obtaining
it in anything like a colourless condition. He had
never yet seen it in anything approaching the state of
purity now shown. He had made a quantity from time
to time, but had never obtained it anything like free
from colour, and only on two or three occasions in a
crystalline condition. When he said crystalline he meant
that it crystallized on pouring a concentrated solution
to a piece of glass and allowing it to cool very gradually.
In this way very small needles had been produced,
distinguishable to the eye, but more visible under the
lens. The difficulty had always been on account of its
hygroscopic character, and he was quite sure not only
pharmacists but the medical profession would appreciate
the very valuable services of Mr. Gerrard.

Mr. Gerrard added that the active properties of this
body would be better realized when he stated that a
solution of duboisine of the strength of 1 in 32,000 would
rapidly dilate the pupil of the eye.

Mr. Williams asked if Mr. Gerrard had had time to
ascertain whether duboisine in its pure state was really
the same as hyoscyamine or atropine, or whether the
statement that these alkaloids were all identical had
any truth in it. Now that he was able to get the alka¬
loid in a pure state it might be possible to settle that
question.

Mr. Gerrard said that was just the object he had at
present in view.

A vote of thanks having been passed to Mr. Gerrard
for his remarks,

The Chairman, in concluding the business of the
meeting, referred to the scarcity of papers and said he
felt somewhat humiliated to think that in a place like the
metropolis there should not be a paper forthcoming for
the Evening Meeting of the Society. He hoped such a
thing would not occur again.

rffbmnal Cransatftmrs.

NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The opening meeting for the session 1880-81 was
held on Tuesday evening, October 26, at the Britannia
Chambers, Pelham Street. The President, Mr. R. Fitz-
Hugh, F.C.S., in the chair. Owing to the inclemency of
the weather the attendance was but small. The session’s
prizes in the pharmaceutical chemistry class were pre¬
sented by Mr. Fitz-Hugh, as follows 1st. Mr. W. W.
Talbot ; 2nd. Mr. F. Savage ; 3rd. Mr. W. Gill.

One new member and three new associates were
admitted to the Association.

The President then gave the opening address, in which
after giving a short rSsume of the work done during the
past. year, he entered upon the subject for which he more
particularly wished to address the associates, viz., study.
He urged them to take one subject at a time and work at
it thoroughly ; also to be self-reliant in their study, and
not to depend entirely upon external aids and “ crams.”

The Vice-President, Mr. W. H. Parker, followed, and
in a few well-chosen remarks endorsed all that the Pre¬
sident had said.

Both addresses were listened to with the greatest
attention, and a hearty vote of thanks to the President
and Vice-President concluded the meeting.

NORTHAMPTON PHARMACEUTICAL
ASSOCIATION.

The. inaugural meeting of the above Association was
held at the School of Pharmacy, College Street, on
Friday evening, October 29. Mr. G. C. Osborne was
voted to the chair.

The accounts having been audited and found correct,
officers were elected for the ensuing year.

Mr. G. C. Osborne was unanimously elected President,
Mr. J. Hayllar, Vice-President, Mr. F. W. Ashton,
Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Norman, Librarian and
Curator.

It was resolved that, as the number of members was
few, the Committee should not be chosen from them,
but should comprise the entire number, that business
meetings should be held the first Monday in every month,
and that the class conductors should read a report as to
the work done at their classes at these meetings. The
rules were then read through and amended.

Mr. Osborne consented to conduct the botany and
materia medica classes and Mr. Hayllar the chemistry
and pharmacy, both gentlemen expressing the hope
that although few in number, all the members would
gain such knowledge as would be useful to them, not
only in preparing for the examinations, but during their
business career.

||r0mbings of Srimtifrc S0neii.es*

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

The Executive Committee met at 17, Bloomsbury
Square, on Wednesday, October 27, 1880.

Present — Mr. H. B. Brady, F.R.S., Vice-President, in
the chair; Messrs. Attfield, Benger, Carteighe, Ekin,
Greenish, Plowman, Redwood, Schacht and Southall.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been con¬
firmed, Mr. Carteighe read letters from the President
(Mr. Reynolds) and from Mr. A. H. Mason, apologizing
for their absence; also one from the Pharmaceutical
Society of Ireland, thanking the Committee for their
present of a set of Year-Books.

The following gentlemen, in addition to the President
of the Conference for the time being, were appointed the

384

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 6, 1880.

several additional subjects might be with advantage in¬
serted, e.g ., elementary mathematics, and perhaps che¬
mistry ; also a moderate knowledge of French should be
required, and the Latin translation taken from a wider
range than at present.

As, in the speaker’s opinion, there does not appear to
exist any reasonable objection against a compulsory cur¬
riculum for the Minor examination, he thought that this
limitation ought to be insisted on as soon as practicable,
for the advantages gained to the student would un¬
doubtedly be great. In lieu of a portion of this cur¬
riculum a two years’ course of lectures, with some
laboratory practice, tested by examination, might with
justice be accepted from a few well-appointed provincial
centres. Those centres might become in course of time
self supported by lecture fees; but perhaps at first it
would be necessary to subsidize them. This should be
done with caution, however, or the centres would multiply
unduly, and a less efficient system of education result in
consequence.

The Minor examination should, he considered, be sepa¬
rated into two di\ isions, and be held on different dates,
at an interval, say of twelve months, the age limit of
candidates being reduced for the first division to twenty.

They could then fully qualify at twenty-one, as at pre¬
sent. The first might comprise botany and chemistry
only, these subjects forming the foundation on which to
build a fuller knowledge of materia medica and other
subjects contained in the second part of the examination.

With this arrangement more time could be devoted to
practical dispensing than is possible with the present
crowding of subjects.

The moderate amount of volumetric analysis mentioned
in the B.P. should certainly be required of Minor candi¬
dates, as it -was necessary for the proper conduct of a
business to be able to correctly estimate the strength of
so unstable, but powerful, a medicine as hydrocyanic
acid. The Major being a non-compulsory examination
might well be lengthened to three days, and partly
written, and if certain portions were transferred to the
Minor the candidate might be required to pass in one
subject only, namely, chemistry, including a knowledge
of the preparation and properties of the alkaloids and
other active principles of important drugs. A successful
examination in a single subject — chemistry — would, he
believed, be held in higher esteem by the candidate
himself and also by the public and medical profession,
who might then perhaps be induced to consult the phar¬
maceutical chemist more frequently on various matters
than is at present the case.

In answer to the question, “ What is the use of all this
scientific knowledge to the pharmacist ? ” the reply surely
must be, that when combined with business tact and
ability this knowledge has (and will have still more in
the future) a decided trade value, in addition to a value
of its own, which cannot be judged of in a pecuniary
sense.

As regards the difficulty of obtaining apprentices, should .
the Preliminary examination be made compulsory (i.e.,
before the execution of indentures), such an objection
ought not to obtain a hearing, for the future well-being of
pnarmacy cannot be dependent on the number of pre¬
miums received from apprentices into the coffers of
pharmacy.

As to objection to increased cost of education, and
subsequent non-remuneration for the same, should a
large number of intending pharmacists come to this
conclusion, and act according to their convictions, better
probably for themselves, better certainly for those already
qualified, that candidates should experience discourage¬
ment at the outset, rather than be given encouragement j.
to enter by an easy portal into an already over-crowded
calling.

Publication Committee for 1880-81 : — Professor Attfield,
Messrs. F. Baden Benger, Thomas B. Groves, Charles
Symes, Michael Carteighe (Secretary).

A grant of ten pounds was placed at the disposal of
Mr. H. G. Greenish for a chemical investigation of
“nerium oleander.” Several other applications were re¬
ceived, but the consideration of these was postponed until
the next meeting of the Committee, in order that further
information might be obtained from the applicants.

The names of one hundred and thirty-one members
whose subscriptions were more than two years in arrears,
who had failed to respond to a special notice, were
removed from the roll.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS ASSOCIATION.

The first meeting of the fourth session was held on
Wednesday evening, October 13, at the rooms, 32a,
George Street, Hanover Square, when there was a good
attendance of membex-s and visitors.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and
confirmed,

The Inaugural Address

was given by the President, Mr. F. W. Branson, who
first alluded to the objects of the Association, and the
advantages accruing to those assistants who attended and
took part in the business of meetings held for the reading
and discussion of papers on pharmaceutical and scientific
subjects.

The satisfactory progress and financial position of the
Association were next noticed, and indications were given
of an even more successful session than the preceding
one. Allusion was then made to the programme of
meetings issued. The papers announced, it was ex¬
plained, were not to form exclusively the proceedings of
the Association, but were inserted to form the nucleus
of meetings. Several notes on pharmaceutical subjects
had already been promised, and additions were specially
invited.

A subject of considerable interest to assistants was
then noticed in the address, viz., the late hours of business
still existing in many retail establishments in London.
It was hoped, however, that if a unifoi’m hour of closing
could not be adopted, owing to various circumstances, at
least a better arrangement might be mutually agreed
ixpon between principals and assistants, so as to allow the
latter a reasonable amount of spare time to enable them
to keep their knowledge abreast of the age, and yet at
the same time be able to take that amount of recreation
which is so essential to health.

The immediate future of pharmacy was declared to be
unpromising, and any advance was mainly to be sought
in the improved training and acquirements of the phar¬
macist himself, for without these improved conditions
legislative protective enactments would avail but little.
Again, a more highly trained pharmaceutical body could
not but appeal with far greater force than at present to
public favour for that share of dispensing which would
naturally fall to them. Bai*ber and surgeon have dis¬
solved partnership, and why, in course of time, should
not the separation of prescribing and dispensing become
general, both in medicine and pharmacy ? To help to bring
about such a result the present system of education,
and to some extent of examinations, should be boldly
re-modelled with as little delay as possible, sufficient time
being allowed before alteration, so as to prevent the
occurrence of cases of hardship and just complaints.

The Preliminary should be made compulsory before
the execution of indentures of apprenticeship. This
change would be an act of kindness to the would-be
pharmacist, and would clear his path at once of those
educational subjects which sometimes subsequently bar
his progress, Consequently he would be the better able to
thoroughly study during his apprenticeship those subjects
required for the Minor examination. The time allowed
for the Preliminary examination should be extended, and

A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. G. F. Snow to
Mr. Branson for his excellent address. quite endorsed

November 6, 18S0.J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

385

bis remarks, especially with regard to the suggested
improved curriculum for the future education of pharma¬
cists. He felt quite sure that the present session would
be as successful as its predecessors, if not more so. At any
rate the programme spoke for itself ; although some of
the papers were not altogether strictly pharmaceutical,
they were certainly scientific, and would be productive of
interesting discussion.

Mr. W. A. H. Naylor had great pleasure in seconding
the vote of thanks, and he thought the suggestions as to
the acceptance of a course of study from an efficient pro¬
vincial centre a very good one.

Mr. Branson made a brief acknowledgment.

H aril ament arir antr ^a to |1roccebings«

Important Case under the Weights and Measures

Act.

On Monday, November 1, 1880, Mr. Elijah Charles
Whittle, of 6, Townshend Road, St. John’s Wood, ap¬
peared before the Marylebone Bench of Magistrates
sitting in the Court House, Marylebone Lane, in answer
to a summons taken out by E. W. Tibbey, Inspector of
Weights and Measures, for having four glass measures in
his possession which were incorrect.

The measures were as follows : —

No.

l.

240 Minim Measure.

Deficient

on

5 m .

1 m.

10 m .

1| m.

55

15 m .... .

2 m.

2<) m .

1 m.

25 m .

1 m.

No. 2. Another 240 Minim Measure.

Deficient on

5 m .

1 m.

10 m .

1 m.

15 m .

2 m.

20 m .

2 m.

yy

25 m .

1 m.

yy

30 m .

2 m.

No.

3.

60 Minim Measure.

Deficient on 1 0 m .

I! m.

yy

15 m .

1 m.

No.

4.

60 Minim Measure.

Deficient on 10 m .

1 m.

yy

15 m .

1 m.

yy

20 m .

yy

25 m .

2 m.

yy

30 m .

H m.

yy

35 m .... .

1 m.

The Inspector having briefly stated the effect of the
summons,

The Chairman (Mr. T. Hankey) asked Mr. Whittle
what he had to say.

Mr. Whittle said he was at a loss to know why he was
summoned at all, the measures being all officially stamped
as verified according to the Act.

Mr. Greenwell (Clerk to the Magistrates) said the in¬
spector had better first of all prove that the measures
were not correct.

The Inspector said the present Act of Parliament
authorized Her Majesty, through an Order in Counci1, to
alter and make any standards which should be required
for the use of inspectors and legalizing apothecaries’
standard weights and measures. He had given every
chemist in the district due notice of this Order, and that
their weights and measures would be liable to be inspected
the same as those of other traders. Having given Mr.
Whittle the usual notice, he called on him a short time
ago to verify his weights and measures. He had tested
the ones now produced by the Board of Trade standards,
and he had found them incorrect.

Mr. Greenwell having inquired the extent to which
the measures were incorrect,

The Inspector stated the particulars as above given.

The Chairman inquired whether these measures had
been stamped.

The Inspector said with regard to the stamp, it was
rather a difficult question; they were presumed to have
been stamped at York. The stamp of “V. R.” and
“Yk.” appearing on the glass was presumed to have been
the stamp.

Mr. Greenwell asked why the Inspector used the word
“ piesumed ? ”

The Inspector said he felt some doubt as to its being
really the work of the inspector. A man of practical
experience in the glass engraving trade, and who was
prepared to give evidence if necessary, informed him that
the mark was cut with a wheel, and was not likely,
therefore, to have been done by the inspector himself.
It appeared to have been placed on the glass by the
manufacturer.

Mr. Greenwell said that created a second question ;
but supposing the stamp were genuine, still a person
would be liable if the measures were unjust.

Mr. Whittle said the measures were officially stamped,
and, as he understood, the official stamp having once
been placed upon a measure, that was recognized by the
Board of Trade throughout the kingdom and no question
could be raised as to the accuracy of the measures.

Mr. Greenwell said he thought the defendant was not
quite correct about that ; the stamp of an inspector,
wherever given, would hold good throughout the United
Kingdom, but that was only assuming the measures were
correct.

Mr. Whittle said he understood that when a measure
had once been verified by an official duly appointed in
any part of the kingdom it could not be questioned.
There were thousands of these glasses sold, and they
had all been stamped by the official at York. He
had a copy of a letter, which he produced, stating that
the Board of Trade recognized that mark. The letter
was as follows : —

“ Town Clerk’s Office,

“ 16, Coney Street, York.

“8th October , 1880.

“ Weights ami Measures Act.

“ Dear Sirs, — Referring to my letter of the 24th ult.,
and yours of the 5th inst., I now beg leave to acquaint
you that I have received a letter from the Standards
Department of the Board of Trade, in which they state
* that the stamp or mark of verification used by local
authorities is not required under the Act to be approved
and registered by this Board.’

“ The corporation of this city have, as you are aware,

adopted the following mark, viz., to be used by

their inspector for the purposes of the Act, which is a
perfectly legal mark of verification, and must be recog¬
nized as such.

“ Your correspondent will therefore see that he is in
error in supposing that the mark requires the approval of
and registration by the Board of Trade before it becomes
a legal mark.

“ I am, dear Sir,

“ Yours faithfully,

“ Jos. Wilkinson.

“ Town Clerk for St. Giles.

“ The York Glass Co., Limited, Jork .”

The Chairman said there was no question the defendant
was quite in order in having these stamped glasses, but
it did not at all follow that the stamps were correct

Mr. Whittle said chemists purchasing stamped mea¬
sures of course presumed they were correct, the stamps
being a guarantee. He thought it would be found in the
Act that a measure stamped in any part of the country
could not be questioned by any other inspector.

386

THU PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[November 6, 1880.

Mr. Greenwell said that was so. The words of the
section were, “ A weight or measure duly stamped by an
inspector under this Act should be a legal weight or
measure throughout the kingdom unless found to be
false or unjust, and shall not be liable to be re-stamped
because used in any place other than that in which it
was originally stamped.” Therefore the stamp must be
taken as a verification which passed throughout the
United Kingdom, provided the measure were a proper
measure, but not further, otherwise you might get a
stamped verified measure one day and afterwards it
might become impaired by use, and still it would be
false and unjust. That was so especially with regard to
weights, therefore the stamps did not excuse the defen¬
dant if the measures were incorrect. Did he admit they
were incorrect ?

Mr. Whittle said they were sold to him as stamped
measures and as being made especially to carry out this
Act. They were made by one of the most respectable
and largest firms in England, the York Glass Company,
which was well known to every chemist.

The Chairman asked if the defendant had satisfied
himself of the correctness of the measures.

Mr. Whittle said he was not satisfied that the inspector
had really got the best appliances for the testing of these
measures. It was a very difficult thing to test these
measures accurately.

The Chairman said no doubt it was.

The Inspector said the Board of Trade was perfectly
satisfied with their present standards and considered them
most accurate ; several shapes had been tried, but the ones
now supplied to inspectors had been found the most
accurate. He really felt doubtful whether the mark in
question were placed on the measures by an inspector or
by a mechanic.

The Chairman said he did not all doubt the bona fides
of the defendant in this case ; but their inspector
questioned the accuracy of the measures.

Mr. Greenwell : Not only the accuracy of the measure
itself, but the accuracy of the stamp also appeared to be
questioned.

The Inspector said that was so.

Mr. Greenwell said the first thing to deoide would be
the accuracy of the measures themselves. It was evident
that chemists were liable to be very much deceived if
these measures were not accurate.

Mr. Whittle said he could answer for it that a firm like
the York Glass Company would not be likely send out
anything spurious.

Mr. Greenwell said if the marking was done at the time
of the manufacture it could hardly be called the stamp of
the inspector.

Mr. Bernard suggested that it might be done after¬
wards under the inspector’s eye.

The Inspector said the Act said that the inspector
shall verify and then stamp. It did not say he should
allow anyone else to do it.

Mr. Greenwell remarked that there was a penalty of £50
upon any manufacturer who sold a false measure in that way.

The Inspector then proceeded to test the measures in
question before the magistrates, one graduation in each
measure being tried, and the given quantity of water being
put in by means of a pipette.

Mr. Whittle said it was very difficult to verify all
these glasses.

Mr. Greenwell said it was no doubt misleading to the
trade if they bought measures of a respectable company
and found them incorrect. The practice in London was
to examine every particular measure and if found correct
to stamp it.

The Inspector said he believed Mr. Whittle admitted
these measures were incorrect.

Mr. Whittle said no, he did not know which was
correct.

The Inspector said it was not very likely the Board of
Trade standards were incorrect.

The Chairman asked if the defendant would be
satisfied if they sent these measures to the Board of
Trade and stated the case that they did not agree with
the standards of their inspector and suggesting that they
should be verified.

The Inspector repeated that the standards supplied to
him were issued from the Board of Trade and with each
one was a parchment certificate stating it was correct,
and not only so, but he was supplied with a scale of
deficiences which would be allowed. He was quite
aware that Mr. Whittle bought these measures in good
faith believing that they were stamped measures ; but at
the same time the Act of Parliament said if they wrere
found to be incorrect they were liable to be seized.

Mr. Greenwell said it was very hard on Mr. Whittle.

The Inspector said, of course it was, but at the same
time the Act of Parliament must be enforced, or it would
be of no use.

Mr. Greenwell said it seemed to be a question more
against the York Glass Company than against Mr. Whittle.

The Chairman having again inquired if Mr. Whittle
would be satisfied with the course he had suggested,

Mr. Whittle said it would be tantamount to a remand ;
he had only received the summons on Friday, and he
thought that was a very short time.

Mr. Greenwell said there would be no objection to
further time if it were required.

After some further conversation, the case was ordered
to stand adjourned until the next sitting of the magistrates,
which would be on Monday, December 6. In the mean¬
time the magistrates would communicate with the Board
of Trade, and if the case was not completed by that time
it would be adjourned till January.

A Magistrate asked the defendant if it were not a fact
that some other fluids would preserve their level in a glass
tube which would render the measurement more easy ;
water of course had always a concave surface.

Mr. Whittle said there were fluids which would pre¬
serve a more level surface, namely, those of higher specific
gravity.

The Inspector said they were not allowed to use any¬
thing but distilled water for the purpose of testing
measures.

The case was then adjourned until December 6, Mr.
Greenwell stating that the Bench would convey to the
Board of Trade their opinion that the Board ought to in¬
quire into the matter further.

Alleged Poisoning by Tartaric Acid.

The Coroner for Plymouth (Mr. T. C. Brian) held an
inquest on Monday at the Guildhall, Plymouth, con¬
cerning the death of William Henry Skinner, Notte
Street.

It appeared from the evidence that the deceased, who
had been drinking, was heard to call out, saying he was
dying. The landlord of the house went upstairs, met
the deceased on the landing, and he asked for some #
water. In reply to an inquiry as to what he had done,
he replied that he had taken some tartaric acid. Mr.
Morris, surgeon, was then fetched.

Mr. Edwin Morris, M.R.C.S., said he found the de¬
ceased lying on a bed, suffering excruciating pain. A
glass, containing a white substance, partly powder, was
shown to him, and there was a fluid at the bottom of the
tumbler which smelt like beer. A bag containing about
1 lb. 2 ozs. of matter, which he afterwards found to be
tartaric acid, was also handed to him. The deceased
admitted to him that what he drank from the tumbler
was taken from the paper bag, and from what he told
witness he thought that the deceased took about half an
ounce of the acid. In his opinion death was caused by
the violent shock to the stomach caused by the acid.

The jury returned a verdict, “ That the deceased com¬
mitted suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity.”
Western Morning New?.

November 6, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

387

Poisoning by Arsenic.

An inquest was held at Louth, on Thursday, October 28,
touching the death of Charles Atkinson, aged 75 years.

Eliza Freshney said deceased had been lodging with
her. On Tuesday she saw her child with a cup in his
hand, and she took it from him. Deceased at the same
time said “ Don’t let the boy have what is in that cup ;
it is magnesia which I am going to take to do me good.”
Witness saw the cup was about half filled with cold tea
and a powder. She said nothing, and put the cup down,
but thought if it was magnesia there must be something
mixed with it. The deceased went to the mixture
afterwards. Shortly before five o’clock he was sick, and
witness told him she thought magnesia should not have
made him vomit. He then said it was not magnesia,
but something else he had taken, but would not tell her
what it was, although she asked him repeatedly. The
doctor came, and remained with him until he died.

Mr. Mark Smith, chemist, said that on Tuesday
morning deceased purchased at his shop an ounce of
powdered arsenic. He was not supplied without hesita¬
tion. He said he wanted the arsenic for some boot
preparation which a man had asked him to make. Wit¬
ness told him that it was very poisonous, but at last let
him have it, as the man was well known to him, being in
the habit of visiting the shop two or three times a week,
and witness believed it would be an act of charity to the
old man by which he would properly be able to earn
a trifle for himself. He told deceased that he would
want other things for the preparation, but he replied
that he had them by him. The fact that men were in
the habit of obtaining the articles for such preparations
at different shops to ensure secrecy put him off his
guard. Deceased was compos mentis. The requirements
of the Act were complied with. (Book produced).

After medical evidence to the effect that death was the
result of arsenical poisoning, the jury returned a verdict
of “Suicide while in an unsound state of mind.” —
Louth Advertiser.

Charge of Fraud against a Chemist and Druggist.

On Monday, November 1, at the Worship Street
Police Court, Charles James Leake, about 55, described
as a chemist, was charged on remand with having
obtained goods by uttering forged cheques.

Mr. St. John Wontner prosecuted for the Treasury.

The prisoner presented an order pm porting to be from
Mr. Leake, chemist, of Whetstone, near Barnet, asking
for delivery to bearer of certain goods named, and in
payment of which a cheque for £8 was enclosed. The
cheque was drawn by Charles James Leake in favour of
Mr. Hovenden, perfumer, etc., of City Road, on the
Wandsworth Branch of the London and South Western
Bank. The goods were delivered to the prisoner, who
passed as carrier from Whetstone. The cheque was
returned marked “ account closed.”

Mr. Wontner now said that he proposed to go into a
second case against the prisoner, and had some six or
seven cheques uttered by the prisoner under similar
circumstances.

John Westfield, manager to a firm trading as Steedman
and Co., of Walworth, deposed that on January 7 last,
a man brought him an order from Mr. Leake, chemist,
of Whetstone, for certain goods to the amount of £18 19s.
the order being accompanied by a cheque on the bank
mentioned for the amount. The goods were given to the
bearer, who left with them. He, however, omitted to
take up the receipt, and witness, going out to give it him,
saw the prisoner in the cart with the man, who was then
driving away. The cheque was returned marked “ account
closed.” A letter written to the address at Whetstone
was returned through the Dead Letter Office, endorsed
“gone away.”

A clerk from the London and South Western Bank
Wandsworth Branch) was called to prove that Charles

James Leake opened an account there in February, 1879,
but it was closed in the September following.

The Prisoner cross-examined the witness to show that
a sum of £65 he suggested had been paid in had not been
credited to him.

The Witness knew nothing of the matter, and, in reply
to Mr. Wontner, said that no complaint had ever been
made to the bank of such an omission.

Mr. John Hindle, chemist, High Street, Whetstone,
deposed to purchasing last year the business formerly
carried on by the prisoner at Whetstone, and produced
the deed of sale for a consideration of £135.

Mr. Wontner said that at the time the prisoner left
Whetstone he was considerably in debt to the tradesmen
about, and at Wandsworth, where he lived at the time he
opened the account with the bank, he incurred similar
liabilities, leaving without discharging them.

The prisoner, who reserved his defence, was committed
on both charges for trial. — Standard.

WILLIAM AITKIN.

It is with much regret we have to announce the
death of Mr. William Aitkin, Pharmaceutical Chemist,
of 3, Pitt Street, Edinburgh, which took place at his
residence, Hillhead Park, Lasswade, on the 1st inst., in
his 73rd year and after a week’s illness.

Mr. Aitken had been a Member of the Society since
1852. He filled the Presidential chair of the North
British Branch for the year 1862-3, and he was a
member of the Scottish Examining Board for many
years, having to resign this appointment on account of
his advancing years.

Mr. Aitkin was ever a warm friend of the Society, and
a much respected member of the pharmaceutical body in
Edinburgh.

Notice has also been received of the death of the fol¬
lowing : —

On the 11th of October, 1880, Mr. John Trotter, Che¬
mist and Druggist, East Linton, Haddingtonshire. Aged
53 years.

On the 12th of October, 1880, Mr. John Sutherland,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, St. Nicholas Street, Aberdeen.
Aged 7 3 years. Mr. Sutherland had been a Member of
the Pharmaceutical Society since 1853.

On the 27th of October, 1880, Mr. John Thomas Fenn,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Regency Street, Westminster.
Aged 65 years. Mr. Fenn had been a Member of the
Pharmaceutical Society since 1853.

On the 29th of October, 1880, Mr. Thomas Jones,
Chemist and Druggist, Great Howard Street, Liverpool.
Aged 40 years.

On the 29th of October, 1880, Mr. Robert Ban*,
Chemist and Druggist, Paisley. Aged 67 years.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.
Spirit Gravities, with Tables. By Thomas Stevenson.
M.D. Lond., etc. London: Van Voorst. 1880. From
the Publisher.

Poisons : their Effects and Antidotes. By Albert
B. Prescott, M.D., F.C.S. From the Author.
Versuche uber die Wirkung des Pepsins auf einige

ANIMALISCHE UND VEGETABLISCHE NaHRUNGSMITTEL.

Von Friedrich Kessler. Dorpat. 1880. From
the Author.

Vergleichende Untersuchung einiger indischen
Handelssorten des arabischen Gummi. Von Emil
Massing. 1880. From the Author.

St. Thomas’s Hospital Reports. New Series. Edited
by Dr. Robert Cory and Mr. Francis Mason. Vol.
x. London : J. and A. Churchill. 1880. From the
Secretary.

888

rat; PEtAEtfAcEtfTfG'At JOURNAL ASt) TRANSACTIONS. [November 6, 18SQ

CorHspoitbence.

Exemption from Service on Juries.

Sir, — In reference to your leading article last Saturday,
on “Exemption from Service on Juries,” I am of opinion
that undoubtedly the public safety should be the ground of
exemption from service on juries, and that is the assump¬
tion of the preamble “Whereas it is expedient for the
safety of the public,” etc. The unintelligible fact is that any
difference should be made between the several persons on the
register of chemists, when there is no distinction in their
duty to the public. The preamble might be supposed to
read “ Whereas it is expedient for the clients of pharma¬
ceutical chemists.” It appears to me to be too readily
assumed that it is merely a question of a ten pound note.
That it is very much so in the case of those who have
entered the trade or profession since 1868 I am not
concerned to dispute. That is a comparatively recent date.
At a rough guess there are 800 pi armaceutical chemists
who hold no diploma, and probably 7000 chemists and
druggists who were in business before 1868. The former
cannot boast against the latter that “ with a great sum they
obtained this freedom,” for, unless my memory fail me,
they paid two guineas each before 1853 ; so that these two
classes are entitled, equally with the dentists, to exemption
on the ground of registration, upon which rather than any
other basis, exemption is founded. The assumption that
pharmaceutical chemists dispense physicians’ prescriptions
while chemists and druggists do not, cannot be admitted,
for it is contrary to fact and is arbitrary. The chemist and
druggist rnay, and does, dispense, for “a belted earl, a
marquis, duke, and a’ that;” but, I believe, a common
soldier demands the services of a pharmaceutical chemist.
Beyond that, and possibly a berth as dispenser in a work-
house, I know of no difference in the public functions of the
two. If it be granted (which I do not admit) that pharma¬
ceutical chemists dispense for a higher class than chemists
and druggists, it is a distinction unknown to the law that
a duke should have greater protection to life than a
mechanic. If it were a question of poisoning either, I
should submit that titled drones, who contribute nothing
to the country’s weal or wealth, could be better spared
than the worker, whose toil creates wealth. As a rule,
I am inclined to think that the pharmaceutical chemist
can more easily leave his business than the chemist and
druggist, and exemption should operate rather in favour
of the man who must stay at home for the public good,
even though that public should mainly be the “working
classes.”

There are doubtless strong reasons for not raising a direct
parliamentary issue on the question, or it may be asked
why there should be any exemption at all of such valuable
names from the jury list. Although exempt myself, I
question whether a wiser course would not be to withdraw
all such exemptions, and to insist on the exhaustion of
the list before a man is called to serve a second time, po
that as a ratepayer is not charged with a second rate until
the first is paid up, so his time should not be taxed twice
over till all had been taxed once. It would not fall on
most men moie than once in a lifetime, and that is not an
exorbitant tribute to patriotism. But there seems to be
a growing desire to shirk public duty, and an increasing
craving for special privilege. Men would walk about with
“ cvm privilegio ” tattooed upon them, like the title page
of an old bible. If the grocer wishes to take his family by
rail, he bethinks him that he pays a large sum for carriage,
and though he recoups himself from his customers, yet he
will obtain a free pass. Duty to one’s country seems to be
resolving itself into a piece of permissive compulsory
legislation, with power for every man to “contract himself
out of the Act.”

Hyde. Henry H. Pollard.

The Future of Pharmacy.

Sir, — In a letter in this week’s issue from “ A Student,”
the following expression occurs: — “ And pass it down as a
respectable, upright and honest means of obtaining a liveli¬
hood, which is not the case at present in the majority of
shops.” Now, I consider the above very strong language
to use unless there be adequate foundation for it, and I for
one shall be much obliged to “ A Student ” if he will
nform a fellow- worker in a more explicit manner exactly

what he means by the expression to which I have referred
above, as I consider that when such language is used, in
common fairness a suitable explanation should be fur¬
nished.

II. Vm. Morres.

The Dispensing of Prescriptions in the Provinces.

Sir, — Please allow me to take up arms in behalf of the
country chemist against the assertion of Mr. I. D.
Robertson, President of the Edinburgh Chemists’ Assistants
and Apprentices’ Association, made by him at the first
meeting, this session, of the above Association, a report of
which was given on page 344 of a recent Journal. He
there says, in reference to the dispensing of prescriptions by
medical men, that he “ would excuse them doing so in
country places, where unfortunately they could not depend
on having their instructions faithfully carried out by the
local chemist.” It is now twelve years ago since the
passing of the Act, which compelled all those desirous of
being chemists, and not being in business for themselves
before that time, to pass an examination. This Act in¬
cluded the whole of Great Britain. Assuming, therefore,
that those being in business for themselves, whether in
town or country, were sufficiently qualified by the amount
of experience they had gained practically, I say that a man,
although he be “only a country chemist,” as those in
business in lai'ge towns are apt to say disparagingly, is
nevertheless just as much qualified to dispense any pre¬
scription, as the best of the “town” chemists. Why
“town” chemists should look down upon their fellows,
who are placed in rather different circumstances to them¬
selves, I cannot imagine. Of course we all know that in
the country there is not one-twentieth part of the dis¬
pensing to do that there is in large towns, but none the less,
a “country” chemist is just as well able to do twenty
times as much if called upon to do so. Besides, I should
think every one knows the appearance of a bottle of
medicine as sent out from a surgery. To all appearance it
is a bottle of water, a badly fitting cork in it, and a piinted
label attached. Now a chemist, although he be a
“country” one, could surely just as well put into that
bottle the one or two ingredients of which most country
doctors’ medicine consists, and fill it up with water, as tho
doctor’s “ unqualified assistant, his boy in buttons, or his
“ better half.” In my own town, for instance, the doctor’s
“ better half” does the whole of his dispensing. It vexes
me very much to hear that sneering tone in which country
chemists are spoken of, and to see the remarks made about
them in print. “ Every man to his place.” There are
very few of your “town ” chemists who would know what
to give if called upon to prescribe a cow drench, physic
balls, or such like “ auirnal ” medicine, but would have to
consult their ‘ Beasley,’ and tell their customers in sheer
desperation, “ I will send it in, it will take some time in
making.” I should like chemists, whether in town or
country, to be more united. Surely this perpetual sneer is
not one way in which this union might be effected.

I hope that these few remarks will cause town chemists
to look upon their country brethren as on a par with
themselves. Filius.

H. L. had better make inquiries of the travellers who
visit him from various druggists’ sundry men, and compare
his notes.

J. R. Hill. — We do not think the Act applied to the sale
of the salt in question.

J. C. R. — If the person referred to has not passed the
Minor examination, and the circumstances attending his
registration are as you state, his registration would have
been illegally effected and his name could be erased by
order of the Council.

O. W. J. — The zinc is plunged into a solution of ordinary
commercial sal ammoniac and the carbon is tiehtly packed
in a porous pot with a mixture of peroxide of manganese
and carbon in the form of a coarse powder. Some good
information respecting Leclanche’s ana similar batteries
will be found in Design and Work for the present week.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received fioxn
Messrs. Walton, Brown, McCallum, Parker, Hurst, Allen,
Davenport, Coveil, Richardson, Fluckiger, Christie, John,
Cupidus rerum novarum, One who has passed the Minor,
374, Jacque, Stooke, Karl Sang, Omikron, Edward, S,
G. W. J., L. A. U. R. A., W. R. F.

November 13 1880.]

THE PHAEMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

38$

THE BOROCITRATES AND THEIR
PREPARATION * * * §

BY EDMUND SCHEIBE.

Magnesium Borocitrates.

Of all tlie compounds of borocitric acid the most
interesting is the salt of magnesium, since it was
successfully used therapeutically more than forty
years ago by Graeger, Beckerf and other physicians
in cases of kidney disease and stone. A subsequent
treatise^ upon the action of magnesium borocitrate
in calculous disorders attributed this to the boric
acid, which does not undergo any change through
the secretions in the human body and is therefore
able to exercise a decomposing action upon the salts
of uric and phosphoric acids.

The correctness of this theory is said to be con¬
firmed by the experiments of the author and
Madsen .§ Madsen found by comparative experi¬
ments upon the solubility of uric calculus in
solutions of lithium benzoate and magnesium boro¬
citrate that the latter salt is capable of dissolving
almost twice the quantity of urate that the lithium
compound can. Further, when a small dose (1
gram) of the sodium or magnesium salt was
administered, the author, after several hours, suc¬
ceeded in detecting boracic acid in the urine by the
flame reaction. In this case, in order to prevent
the volatilization of the boric acid during the con¬
centration of the urine, the operation was conducted
in the presence of excess of potash or soda solution.

As to whether, when, after administration, the
boric acid occurs in the urine it is combined with
bases or free, the author thinks that the following
experiment shows that it occurs in both conditions.
After the use of larger doses of the magnesium and
sodium compounds (10 to 15 grams of the mono-,
di-, and triborocitrates) the urine was evaporated to
perfect dryness and then extracted with absolute
alcohol. Boric acid could be detected by the flame
reaction both in the alcohol and the residue. Pure
boric acid is soluble in alcohol ; the boric salts, on
the contrary, are not.

Further, according to some experiments carried
out by N. Schwartz, 1 1 magnesium borocitrate appears
to be a stronger antiseptic against bacteria than
pure boric acid, and indeed he proved the acid salts
(those having the least proportion of boric acid) to
have a more energetic action than the neutral salt.

According to Schwartz’s observations the rnono-
and diborocitrates of magnesium appear to decom¬
pose in the presence of bacteria and ferments, and
the author thinks that it may be assumed that in
this case the energetic action depends upon the
boric acid set free from the compound in st'jtu
nascendi.

The acid salts have also the advantage that in
comparison with the triborocitrates their taste is
more agreeable and they are more soluble in water.
For these reasons the author considers the mono-
and diborocitrates to be preferable to the neutral

* From a paper published in the Pharniaceutische Zeit-
schriftf. Russland, xix., 514.

t Magnesia usta, 3u parts; Acid, boracic., 100 parts;
Acid, citric., 60 parts; Acid, hydrochloric, (sp. gr. 1T24),
30 parts.

X Archiv d. Pharmacie (1866), cxxvii., 256.

§ Pharmaceutische Zeitschrift f. Russland, xix., 239.

|| Sitzungsbericht d. Dorpater Naturforscher-Gesell-
schaft (1879), p. 204.

Third Series, No. 542.

salts for therapeutic use. As will appear by analyses
reported further on the preparations most frequently
occurring in commerce and found by him in
pharmacies are also acid salts.

Like the salts of the fixed alkalies and alkaline
earths there exist three chemically constant com¬
pounds of the magnesium borocitrates. By the
solution in boiling water of the constituents
according to the following proportions by weight
these salts can be easily obtained. As with the
exception of the potassium compound the boro¬
citrates crystallize badly or mostly not at all, the
preparations are produced in scales or more suitably
in the powder form.

The following are the proportions by weight given
by the author : —

a. Magnesium Triboro citrate (C6H507)2Mg3 +
(B3H3O 6)2. _ Crystallized boric acid, 35 parts-;
carbonate of magnesia, 25 parts, or calcined mag¬
nesia, 12 parts; crystallized citric acid, 42 parts.

b. Magnesium Diborocitrate (C6H607)2Mg2 +
(B2H204)2. — Crystallized boric acid 24 parts; car¬
bonate of magnesia, 16 parts, or calcined magnesia,
8 parts ; crystallized citric acid, 42 parts.

c. Magnesium Monoborocitrate (C7H702)2Mg +
(BH02)2.— Crystallized boric acid, 24 parts; car¬
bonate of magnesia, 1 6 parts, or calcined magnesia,
8 parts ; crystallized citric acid, 80 parts.

Two preparations, which have already been used
in therapeutics, have been analysed by the author.
The first, obtained from Opperman’s pharmacy in
Revel, has been prepared during many years from
an old prescription. The powder is soluble in
twenty parts of cold water, but less soluble in hot
water, and after cooling there is a separation of
crystals of boric acid. The taste is strongly acid,
and in composition it stands nearest to the mono-
borocitrates, but it contains more boric acid than can
become chemically combined. The mean percent¬
age composition was : — Citric acid 61 '64 ; magnesium
6 '23; boric acid 32T3.

The second preparation, also from the above phar¬
macy, was obtained from Schering, of Berlin. The
beautiful silky scales are soluble in equal parts of
cold water. According to the. proportions of the
citric acid and magnesium it might be described as
a diborocitrate, but for this it contains somewhat too
little boric acid. It consists of citric acid, 73 '50 per
cent.; magnesium, 8'83 per cent.; boric acid, 16 '67
per cent.

Lithium Borocitrates.

All three lithium compounds are easily soluble
in water, and what was stated respecting the pre¬
paration of the magnesium salts applies equally to
them. As a starting point of the preparation carbo¬
nate of lithium is the most suitable.

Lithium Triborocitrate (C6H5Li807 + B3H306). —
Crystallized citric acid, 20 parts ; lithium carbonate,
11 parts; crystallized boric acid, 18 parts.

b. Lithium Diborocitrate (C6H4Li2(BO)207) + 2H20.
— Crystallized citric acid, 20 parts; lithium carbo¬
nate, 7 parts; crystallized boric acid, 12 parts.

c. Lithium Monoborocitrate (C6H6Li(B0)07) + H20.
— Crystallized citric acid, 20 parts ; lithium carbo¬
nate, 4 parts ; crystallized boric acid, 6 parts.

Sodium Borocitrates.

The normal salt of sodium and both acid salts are

390

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 13, 1380. .

obtained by decomposition of crystallized sodium
carbonate.

a. . Sodium Triborocitrate (C6H6Na307 + B3H306),
etc. — Crystallized citric acid, 21 parts; crystallized
sodium carbonate, 42 parts ; crystallized boric acid,
18 parts.

b. Sodium Diborocitrate . — Citric acid, 20 parts;
sodium carbonate, 28 parts ; boric acid, 12 parts.

c. Sodium Monoborocitrate. — Citric acid, 20 parts;
sodium carbonate, 14 parts ; boric acid, 6 parts.

A sodium compound prepared by Schering, of
Berlin, occurs as a light powder, easily soluble in
water, having an agreeable acid taste, and in its
composition standing nearest to the monoborocitrate.
An analysis gave the following percentage composi¬
tion : — Citric acid, 80*15 ; sodium, 8*77 ; boric acid,
11 08.

Ammonium Borocitrates.

The ammonium salts are most suitably prepared
from the ammonium carbonate. The compounds
must be carefully dried, since otherwise decomposi¬
tion gradually takes place, ammonia being volati¬
lized.

a. Ammonium Triborocitrate (C6H6(NH4)307 +
B3H306, etc. — Citric acid, 20 parts ; ammonium car¬
bonate, 15 parts ; boric acid, 18 parts.

b. Ammonium Diborocitrate. — Citric acid, 20 parts;
ammonium carbonate, 10 parts ; boric acid, 12 parts.

c. Ammonium Monocarbonate. — Citric acid, 20
parts ; ammonium carbonate, 5 parts ; boric acid,
$ parts.

A preparation made by Schrenk, in Darmstadt,
has almost the same composition as the normal am¬
monium triborocitrate. It consists of citric acid,
51*38 per cent.; ammonium (NH4), 14 per cent.;
boric acid, 34*62 per cent.

Potassium Borocitrates.

The potassium compounds have up to the present
time found scarcely any therapeutic use, but are, —
as, for instance, the crystalline potassium biboro-
citrate, — of greater theoretic value. In this case
the mono- or bicarbonate of potassium are best used
in the preparation.

a. Potassium Triborocitrate (C6H5K307 + B3H30G),
etc. — Citric acid, 20 parts ; potassium bicarbonate,
30 parts, or monocarbonate, 20 parts; boric acid, 18
parts.

b. Potassium Diborocitrate. — Citric acid, 20 parts ;
potassium bicarbonate, 20 parts, or monocarbonate,
14 parts ; boric acid, 12 parts.

c. Potassium Monoborocitrate. — Citric acid, 20
parts ; potassium bicarbonate, 10 parts, or mono-
. carbonate, 7 parts; boric acid, 6 parts.

Iron Borocitrates.

Numerous experiments and analyses show that
the salts of the heavy metals are wanting in the
power to combine chemically citric and boric acids ;
permanent compounds of constant composition exist
only in double compounds with the fixed alkalies.
The iron preparation was made by dissolving freshly
precipitated oxyhydrate of iron in the acid boro-
citrates. The amount of iron oxide taken up
amounted in the diborocitrate of sodium and iron
oxide to almost 8 per cent., and in the monoboro¬
citrate to over 16 per cent.

THE APPLICATION OF CHEMISTRY TO
AGRICULTURE*

BY J. H. GILBERT, PH.D., F.R.S., V.P.C.S., F.L.S.

(Continued from page 338.)

Thus, we have determined the nitrogen in the soil of
the continuously unmanured wheat plot at several
successive periods, and the results prove that a gradual
reduction in the nitrogen of the soil is going on ; and,
so far as we are able to form a judgment on the point,
the diminution is approximately equal to the nitrogen
taken out in crops ; and the amount estimated to be
received in the annual rainfall is approximately balanced
by the amount lost by the land as nitrates in the
drainage water.

In the case of the continuous root-crop soil, on which
the decline in the yield of nitrogen in the crop was so
marked, the percentage of nitrogen, after the experiment
had been continued for twenty-seven years, was found to
be lower where no nitrogen had been applied than in
any other arable land on the farm which had been
examined.

In the case of the experiments on the mixed herbage
of grass land, the soil of the plot which, under the
influence of a mixed mineral manure, including potass,
had yielded such a large amount of leguminous herbage
and such a large amount of nitrogen, showed, after
twenty years, a considerably lower percentage of
nitrogen than that of any other plot in the series.

Lastly, determinations of nitrogen in the garden soil
which has yielded so much nitrogen in clover, made in
samples collected in the fourth and twenty-sixth years of
the twenty seven of the experiments, show a very large
diminution in the percentage of nitrogen. The diminu¬
tion, to the depth of 9 inches only, represents approxi¬
mately three-fourths as much as the amount estimated
to be taken out in the clover during the intervening
period ; and the indication is, that there has been a
considerable reduction in the lower depths also. It is
to be supposed, however, that there would be loss in
other ways than by the crop alone

I would ask, Have we not in these facts — that full
amounts of the different crops can be grown, provided
proper soil conditions are supplied ; that without
nitrogenous manure the yield of nitrogen in the crop
rapidly declines ; and that, coincidently with this, there
is a decline in the percentage of nitrogen in the soil —
have we not in these facts cumulative evidence pointing
to the soil, rather than to the atmosphere, as the source
of the nitrogen of our crops ?

In reference to this point, I may mention that the
ordinary arable soil at Rothamsted may be estimated
to contain about 3000 lbs. of nitrogen per acre in the first
9 inches of depth, about 1700 lbs. in the second 9 inches,
and about 1500 lbs. in the third 9 inches — or a total of
about 6200 lbs. per acre to the depth of 27 inches.

In this connection, it is of interest to state that a
sample of Oxford clay, obtained in the sub-Wealden
exploration boring, at a depth of between 500 and 600
feet (and which was kindly given to me by the President
of the Association, Professor Ramsay, some years ago),
showed, on analysis at Rothamsted, approximately the
same percentage of nitrogen as the subsoil at Rothamsted
taken to the depth of about 4 feet only.

Lastly, in a letter received from Boussingault some
years ago, referring to the sources whence the nitrogen of
vegetation is derived, he says : —

“Prom the atmosphere, because it furnishes ammonia in
the form of carbonate, nitrates or nitrites, and various
kinds of dust. Theodore de Saussure was the first to
demonstrate the presence of ammonia in the air, and
consequently in meteoric waters. Liebig exaggerated
the influence of this ammonia on vegetation, since he
went so far as to deny the utility of the nitrogen which

*■ Presidential Address delivered before the Chemical
Section of the British Association, Swansea, 1880.

November 13, i860.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

391

forms a part of farm-yard manure. This influence. is
nevertheless real, and comprised within limits which
have quite recently been indicated in the remarkable
investigations of M. Schlosing.

“From the soil, which, besides furnishing the crops
with mineral alkaline substances, provides them with
nitrogen, by ammonia, and by nitrates, which are formed
in the soil at the ejcpense of the nitrogenous matters
contained in diluvium, which is the basis of vegetable
earth ; compounds in which nitrogen exists in stable
combination, only becoming fertilizing by the effect of
time. If we take into account their immensity, the
deposits of the last geological periods must be considered
as an inexhaustible reserve of fertilizing agents. Forests,
prairies, and some vineyards have really no other manures
than what are furnished by the atmosphere and by the
soil. Since the basis of all cultivated land contains
materials capable of giving rise to nitrogenous combina¬
tions, and to mineral substances, assimilable by plants,
it is not necessary to suppose that in a system of
cultivation the excess of nitrogen found in the crops is
derived from the free nitrogen of the atmosphere. As
for the absorption of the gaseous nitrogen of the air by
vegetable earth, I am not acquainted with a single
irreproachable observation that establishes it ; not only
does the earth not absorb gaseous nitrogen, but it gives
it off, as you have observed in conjunction with
Mr. Lawes, as Reiset has shown in the case of dung, as
M. Schlosing and^I have proved in our researches on
nitrification.

“If there is one fact perfectly demonstrated in
physiology, it is this of the non-assimilation of free
nitrogen by plants ; and I may add by plants of an
inferior order, such as mycoderms and mushrooms
(Translation).”

If, then, our soils are subject to a continual loss of
nitrogen by drainage, probably in many cases more than
they receive of combined nitrogen from the atmosphere
—if the nitrogen of our crops is derived mainly from the
soil, and not from the atmosphere — and if, when due
return is not made from without, we are drawing upon
what may be termed the store of nitrogen of the soil
itself— is there not, in the case of many soils at any rate,
as much danger of the exhaustion of their available
nitrogen as there has been supposed to be of the
exhaustion of their available mineral constituents ?

I had hoped to say something more about soil, to
advance our knowledge respecting which an immense
amount of investigation has been devoted of late years,
but in regard to which we have yet very much more to
learn. I must, however, now turn to other matters.

I have thus far directed attention to some points of
importance in connection with the sources of the con¬
stituents of our crops, and I must now briefly refer to
some in connection with the composition, and to some
relating to the uses, of the crops themselves.

As to composition, I must confine myself to in¬
dicating something of what is known of the condition of
the nitrogen in our various crops ; though I had intended
to say something respecting the carbohydrates, and
especially respecting the various members of the cellulose
group.

As to the nitrogen— in our first experiments on the
feeding of animals, made in 1847, 1848 and 1849, the
results of which were published in the last-mentioned
year — we found, that, in the case of succulent roots used
as food, not only were they not of value as food in pro¬
portion to their richness -in nitrogen, but when the per¬
centage of it was higher than a certain normal amount,
indicating relative succulence and immaturity, they were
positively injurious to the animals. So marked was the
variation of result according to the condition of maturity
or otherwise of the foods employed, that, when reviewing
the results of the experiments which had up to that time
been conducted, in a paper read before this Section of the
British Association at the Belfast meeting in 1852 (and

which was published in full in the annual volume*); we
stated that the mode of estimating the amount of proteine
compounds by multiplying the percentage of nitrogen by
6-3 was far from accurate, especially when applied to
succulent vegetable foods, and that the individual com¬
pounds ought to be determined. The Rothamsted la¬
boratory staff was, however, much smaller then than it is
now, and with the pressure of many other subjects upon
us, it was at that time quite impossible to follow up the
inquiry in that direction.

It is, indeed, only within the last ten years or so, that
the question has been taken up at all systematically ; but
we are already indebted to E. Schulze, A. Urick, Church,
Sachsse,Maercker, Kellner, Vines, Emmerling, and others,
for important results relating to it.

Our knowledge in regard to the subject is, however,
still very imperfect. But it is in progress of investiga¬
tion from two distinctly different points of view — from
that of the vegetable physiologist, and that of the agri¬
cultural chemist. The vegetable physiologist seeks to
trace the changes that occur in the germination of the
seed, and during the subsequent life-history of the plant,
to the production of seed again. The agricultural che¬
mist takes the various vegetable products in the condition
in which they are used on the farm, or sold from it. And
as a very large proportion of what is grown, such as
grass, hay, roots, tubers, and various green crops, are not
matured productions, it comes to be a matter of great
importance to consider whether or not any large propor¬
tion of the nitrogenous contents of such products is in
such condition as not to be of avail to the animals which
consume them in their food ?

We cannot say that the whole of the nitrogen in the
seeds with which we have to deal exists as albuminoids.
But we may safely assume that the nearer they approach
to perfect ripeness, the less of non-albuminoid nitrogenous
matters will they contain : and, in the case of the cereal
grains at any rate, it is probable that if really perfectly
ripe they will contain very nearly the whole of their
nitrogen as albuminoids. With regard to some legu¬
minous and other seeds, which contain peculiar nitro¬
genous bodies, the range may, however, be wider.

But whatever the condition of the nitrogenous bodies
in the seeds we grow or sow, with germination begins a
material change. Albuminoids are transformed into
peptones, or peptone-like bodies, or degraded into various
amido- or other compounds. Such . change into more
soluble and more diffusible bodies is, it is to be supposed,
essential to their free migration, and to their subser¬
viency to the purposes of growth. In the case of the
germination, especially of some leguminous seeds, aspara¬
gine has been found to be a very prominent product of
such degradation of the albuminoids ; but it would seem
that this disappears as the green parts are developed.
But now the plant begins to receive supplies of nitrogen
from the soil, as nitrates or ammonia, and it would seem
that amides constitute a considerable proportion of the
produced nitrogenous bodies, apparently as an inter¬
mediate stage in the formation of albuminoids. At any
rate, such bodies are found to exist largely in the imma¬
ture plant ; whilst the amount of them diminishes as the
plant, or its various parts, approach to maturity.

But not only have we thus, in unripened vegetable
productions, a greater or less, and sometimes a very large,
proportion of the nitrogenous bodies formed within the
plant, existing as amido -compounds, but we may have a
lar^e amount existing in the juices as nitric acid, and
some as ammonia, etc. Thus, E. Schulze determined the
nitric acid in various “roots;” and he found that, in
some mangels, more than one-third of the total nitrogen
existed in that form, and about one-tenth as much as
ammonia. In a considerable series at Rothamsted, we
have found an extremely variable proportion existing as
nitric acid, according to the size, succulence, or degree of

# ‘ On the Composition of Foods in Relation to Respira
tion and the Feeding of Animals.’

3S2

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November is, 1880

maturity, of the roots ; the amount being, as a rule, the
least with the ripest and less highly nitrogenous roots,
and the most with the most succulent, unripe, and highly
nitrogenous ones. In some cases it reached as much as
from 20 to nearly 30 per cent, of the total nitrogen. In
many other immature vegetable products nitric acid and
ammonia have been found ; but, so far as I remember, in
none in anything like so large a proportion as in the
so-called “ root crops,” especially mangels. In many,
however, the quantity appears to be immaterial ; and it
is remarkable that whilst there is so much in the “roots,”
little or none is found in potatoes.

No wonder that, in the experiments already referred
to, we found the feeding result to be the worse the more
succulent and immature the roots, and the higher their
percentage of nitrogen, accordingly.

But it is to the difference in amount of the albuminoid
bodies themselves, in different descriptions of vegetable
produce, that I wish specially to direct attention,
making, however, some reference to what is known of
the proportion of the nitrogen existing as amido-com-
pounds.

In some mangels E. Schulze found only from about 20
to 22 per cent, of their total nitrogen to exist as insoluble
and soluble albumin. But he found in one case 32*5, and
in the other 40 ‘8, per cent, of the total nitrogen as
amides. In a large series of determinations at Rotham-
sted, by Church’s method, we found a variation of from
under 20 to over 40 per cent, of the total nitrogen of
mangels to exist as albuminoids ; or, in other words,
from nearly 60 to over 80 per cent, of it in the non¬
albuminoid condition.

In potatoes Schulze found from under 50 to 65 per
cent, of the total nitrogen as soluble and insoluble albu¬
min, and from 27*7 to 49T per cent, as neutral and
acid amides. In a series of potatoes grown at Rothamsted,
under very various conditions as to manuring, and in two
different seasons, we found the nitrogen as albuminoids to
range from little over 50 to more than 71 per cent, of the
total nitrogen, leaving, of course, from less than 30 to
nearly 50 per cent, to be accounted for in other ways.

Kellner determined the amount of nitrogen as albu¬
minoids, and as amido-compounds, in a considerable
series of green foods, both leguminous and gramineous,
cut at different stages of their growth. The proportion
of the total nitrogen not as albuminoids was, upon the
whole, greater in the legnminosse than in the gramineae.
In both, however, the proportion as albuminoids in¬
creased as the plants approached to maturity. The pro¬
portion as albuminoids was in all these products very
much larger than in roots, and generally larger than in
potatoes. In the case of first crop meadow hay, we
found in the separated gramineous herbage 76*4, in the
leguminous herbage 82, and in the miscellaneous herbage
80 ‘3 per cent, of the nitrogen as albuminoids ; and in the
second crop 86‘2 per cent, in the gramineous, 88 '3 per
cent, in the leguminous, and 88 T per cent, in the mis¬
cellaneous herbage. How far the higher proportion of
the nitrogen as albuminoids in the second crops is to be
taken as any indication of the characteristics of the
autumn growth, or how far it is to be attributed to the
accidental condition of the weather, may be a question.

These illustrations are sufficient to give some idea of
the range and proportion of the nitrogen in different
feeding crops which does not exist as albuminoids; and
they are sufficient to show that a very large proportion of
the non albuminoid matter exists as various amido-com¬
pounds. The question arises, therefore, whether these
bodies contribute in any way to the nutrition of the
animals which feed upon them? We have but little ex¬
perimental evidence on this point. As green herbage is
the natural food of many descriptions of animal, we might
suppose that characteristic constituents of it would not be
without some value as food; but the cultivated root
crops are much more artificial productions, and it is in
them that we find such a very large proportion of non¬

albuminoid nitrogen. With respect to some of the
amido-compounds, at any rate, direct experiments seem
to show that they are digested in the animal body, and
increase the elimination of urea. Weiske and Schrodt
found that rabbits receiving, as their only nitrogenous
food, either asparagine or gelatin, wasted and died ; but
a rabbit receiving both asparagine and gelatin increased
in weight and survived to the end of the experiment,
which lasted seventy-two days. From the results of
other experiments made with sheep, they concluded that
both asparagine and gelatin protect the albuminoids of
the body from oxidation.

These considerations lead me, in conclusion, to refer
briefly, and I promise it shall be as briefly as is consistent
with clearness, to the two very much disputed questions
of the origin of muscular power, and the sources of the fat
of the animal body. These subjects Mr. Lawes and
myself have frequently discussed elsewhere ; but as the
controversy has assumed a new phase quite recently, it
seems desirable and appropriate that I should recur to it
on the present occasion.

With regard to the question of the sources in the food
of the fat of the animal body, Liebig originally maintained
that although fat might be formed from the nitrogenous
compounds within the body, the main source of it in the
herbivora was the carbohydrates. In his later writings,
he sharply criticized the experiments and arguments of
those who have maintained the formation of fat chiefly
from the proteine compounds ; but he at the same time
seems to attach more importance to that source than he
formerly did. He gives it as his opinion that the question
cannot be settled by experiments with herbivora. He
adds that what we know with certainty is that, with
these animals, albuminates and carbohydrates work
together to produce fat; but whether the non -nitrogenous
product, fat, has its origin in the albumin or in the carbo¬
hydrate, he considers it not easy to determine.

At the time when we commenced our experiments on
the feeding of animals in 1847, the question whether the
fat of the animals fed for human food was mainly derived
from albuminoids or from carbohydrates had been
scarcely raised, or at least it was not prominent. The
question then was rather — whether the herbivora received
their fat ready formed in their food, or whether it was
produced within the body — the latter view being that
which Liebig had so forcibly urged, at the same time
maintaining that at any rate its chief source was the
carbohydrates. Accordingly, our experiments were not
specially arranged to determine whether or not the whole
of the fat produced could or could not be derived from the
albuminoids.

For each description of animal, oxen, sheep, and pigs,
such foods as had been established by common experience
to be appropriate were selected. The general plan of the
experiments was, to give to one set a fixed amount of a
recognized good food, containing known quantities of
nitrogen, fatty matter, etc. ; to another set the same
amount of another food, of different characters in these
respects ; to other sets also fixed amounts of other foods
in the same way : and then there was given to the whole
series the same complementary food ad libitum. Or, to
one set was supplied a uniform food rich in nitrogen, and
to others uniform foods poorer in nitrogen, and so on, in
each case ad libitum.

It will be seen that, in this way, a great variety of
dietaries was arranged, and it will be observed that in
each case the animals themselves fixed their consumption
according to the requirements of the system.

As already indicated, the individual nitrogenous and
non-nitrogenous compounds of the foods were not deter¬
mined. As a rule, the constituents determined were —
the total dry matter, the ash, the fatty matter, and the
nitrogen ; from which last the amount of nitrogenous
compound it might represent was calculated by the usual
factor. But, as already said, the results so obtained were
only used with considerable reservation, especially in the

November 13, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

393

case of all immature vegetable produce. Nor was the
crude fibre determined ; but, as in the case of the estimated
nitrogenous substance, when interpreting the results, it
was always considered whether or not the food contained
much or little of probably indigestible woody matter.

(To be continued.)

PHARMACY ACT, 1868.

RECTIFICATION OF THE REGISTERS OF
PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTS AND CHE¬
MISTS AND DRUGGISTS.

We are requested by the Registrar to publish the
following list of persons whose names will be erased from
the Registers unless they communicate with him on or
before 30th December next.

Those marked (*) are Pharmaceutical Chemists.

Akhurst, William Edward . 60, Silchester Road, Notting Hill,

London, W.

Appleby, William . Scarborough.

Armitage, Joseph Henry . Church Street, Greenwich, Kent.

Armstrong, Edward Walter . 15, Princes Street, Hanover

Square, London W.

Baker, James Barry . 4. Derby Road, South Hackney,

London, E.

Baldwin, Edwin . . 22, Robertson Street, Hastings.

Balfr6, Juan Morday . Streatham Common, Surrey.

Barrett, William Henry . 305, New City Road, Glasgow.

Battersby, Charles . Peas Hill Road, Nottingham.

Bewley, Charles Carter . 182, Kmgsland Road, London,

E.

Blencowe, Thomas . Towcester, Northamptonshire.

Bourne, William Kemsey . 78, Weedington Road, Kentish

Town, London, N.W.

Bridgewater, Francis Foster . 3, Eastgate, Barnsley.

""Brough, Henry James . 30, Conduit Street, London, W.

Brown, Charles Hills . 9, Marlborough Terrace, Upper

Holloway, London, N.

Brown, James . Market Street, Droylsden, Lancs.

Brown, Leonard Flintoff . Horbury, near Wakefield, Yorks.

Brydon, Robert . 6, Cambridge Street, Edinburgh.

Budgett, Arthur Edward Sydney. Dulwich, Surrey.

Burn, John . 26, Drury Lane, London, W.C.

Burn, Robert Gibbon . 168, Fleet Street, London, E.C.

Burnham, Ralph, jun . Great Grimsby, Lines.

Campbell, Arthur .

Carr, Henry .

Carr, John .

Chambers, Charles .

Cholwich, Thomas .

Clapperton, William George

Clarance, Felix Robert .

Clark, Alexander .

Clark, George Clayton .

Clayton, Charles. .

Cluckie, Andrew .

Cocking, Charles Cooper ....

Cooper, Daniel .

Cottrell, Sarah .

Cowper, David Burgess ..».

Cox, John . .

Cox, Oliver . . .

Crofts, Christopher .

Crosley, James .

Cumine, Frederick Hill .

Dalton, Charles James . .

Darley, Henry Charles .

Davies, David .

Davies, George .

Davies, Hugh . .

Davies, Thomas William....
Davies, William Evan .

Davis, Thomas .

Day, William John .

Dewhurst, John Eli .

Diggens, Edward Daniel....
Dixon, William Bunting ....

14, Hill Street, Glasgow, N.B.

67, King Richard’s Road, Lei¬
cester.

50, High Street, Dumbarton,
N.B.

20, Newborough Street, Scar¬
borough.

Blackawton, Devon.

140, Red Bank, Manchester.

18, Northumberland Place, Bath.

178, Leith Watk, Edinburgh.

Kirkby Stephen, Westmoreland.

156, Ashbourne Road, Derby.

145, St. George’s Road, Glasgow.

Wath-upon-Dearne, Yorks.

Hackney, London, E.

70, London Street, Reading.

51, High Street, Brechin, N.B.

High Street, Woking, Surrey.

33, Bath Street, Leamington,

Warwickshire.

Burscough Bridge, Burscough,
Lancs.

47, Kirkgate, Leeds.

Bagster’s Plain, King’s Lynn.

87, Islington, Birmingham.

6, Russell Square, Brighton.

18, Lewis Street, Aberaman,
Glamorganshire.

High Street, Great Marlow,
Bucks.

15, Prince’s Square, Kennington,
Surrey.

12, Tottenham Court Road. W.

Porthcawl, near Bridgend, Gla¬
morganshire.

207, Finnis Street, Bethnal Green,
London, E.

1, Campbell Grove, Nottingham.

Townley Street, Tonge, Middle-
ton, near Manchester.

Henley-on-Thames.

15, Park Terrace, Tondti, Bridg¬
end, Glamorganshire.

Dodridge, Samuel Henry Stephens 8, Shelley Terrace, Shakespeare

Road, Stoke Newington, Lon¬
don, N.

Eastes, Frederick Thomas . Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch

London, E.

Eedes, John Westmacott . Marden, Kent.

Elliott, Robert Taylor . 38, Bedford Terrace, Southamp¬

ton.

Emms, William Robert . 28, High Street, Strood, Kent.

Evans, Arthur William . 1, North Ravensworth Street,

Sunderland.

Evans, Henry . Six Ways, Birmingham.

Fearnside, William Henry . 5, Stockwell Place, Clapham

Road, Surrey.

*Ferneley, John William . Hooper’s Telegraph Works, West

Ham, Essex.

Ferris, James . 10, Ashley Terrace, North Road,

Plymouth.

Finch, Thomas . 17, Godolphin Road, Shepherd’s

Bush, London, W.

Fish, Joseph Perrett . 5, Prospect Row, Huddersfield.

Fitzgerald, Anthony . 41, Margery Park Road, Upton,

Stratford, London, E.

Flanders, Henry . The Steyne, Bognor, Sussex.

Fletcher, William, jun . 7, Blucher Street, Burnley,

Lancs.

Fogg, Robert . 60, Deansgate, Bolton, Lancs.

Foster, Henry . Hulme Dispensary, Manchester.

Fowler, Charles March . 66, Patshull Road, KentishTown,

London, N. W.

Fowler, George William . 6, Townshend Road, St. Johns

Wood, London, N.W.

Gibson, Thomas Armat .

Goldsmith, Joseph Lawder .

Gollop, Robert Allbut .

Goodchild, Thomas Archibald ...

Goulstone, James .

Graham John .

Graham, Thomas Ross .

Greenshields, Henry David .

Greensmith, Lawrence .

24, Cursitor Street, Chancery-
Lane, London, W.C.

68, Edge Lane, Liverpool.

163, Strand, London, W.C.

6, Magdala Street, Belfast.
Llandovery, Carmarthenshire.
Bloomgate, Lanark, N.B.
Market Place, Guisborough,

Yorks.

7, Queen Street, Ramsgate.
Uttoxeter, Staffs.

Hales, George Wardle . 9, Orient Street, Everton, Liver¬

pool.

Hall, William . Tyne Dock, South Shields.

Halley. William . . 204, Canongate, Edinburgh, N. B.

Harding, Christmas . 18, Hatfield Street, Blackfriars

Road, Surrey.

Harper, Walter . 12, Davis Terrace, Isle of Dogs,

London, E.

Harrison, John . . 191, Hackney Road, London, E.

^Harrison, Robert Hooper . 165, Mile End Road, London, E.

Hawker. Henry . 18, St. Johnsville Road, Hornsey

Rise, London, N.

Heath, Alfred . 5, Alexandra Terrace, Hall

Street, Moston Lane, Har-

purhey, Manchester.

Hedley, John Heslop . Hexham, Northumberland.

Hemsworth, William . Elksley, Notts.

Hendy, Albert . . 13, Hereford Road, Bayswater,

London, W.

Herbert, Henry Charles Joyce ... 8, Essex Street, Islington, Lon¬
don, N.

Hirst, Francis Octavius . Baker’s Hill, Sheffield.

Hockley, Thomas . Husbands Bosworth, Leicester¬

shire.

Holland, David . - . Sandy Lane, Lymm, Cheshire.

* Horner, Thomas Barker . High Street, Stockton-on-Tees.

Horner, William Blackwell . 93, Bloomsbury, Manchester.

Horton, Samuel . . Oak Villa, Spilsby Road, Horn-

castle.

Horton, Walter . Wednesbury, Staffs.

Howorth, George Buxton . 1, Marine View, King Street

Egremont, Cheshire.

Hudson Walter . Bloomsbury Street, Wolver¬

hampton.

Jalland, Arthur Gibson .

Jeanes, George .

Jelley, Stephen John .

x Jennings, John Edgell .

Johnson, Fletcher Atkinson......

Jones, David Lewis .

Jones, Hugh .

Jones, John .

Jones, John Pitman . . .

Jones, Llewellyn . . .

Jones, Thomas Jacob .

Kent, Edward .

6, Layton’s Buildings, Southwark,
Surrey.

Market Place, Martock, Somer¬
set.

Calcutta.

Southampton.

13, High Street, Oldham.

Wincanton, Somerset.

Corwen, Merionethshire.

Tan-y-Grisian, Merionethshire.

Prospect Cottage, Rhosesmoor,
near Holywell.

27, Meadow Road, South Lam¬
beth, Surrey.

Newport, Mon.

Gratton Road, West Kensington
Park, London, W.

394

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. November 13, 1880.

Kenwrick, Lucius Holden

Kerruish, Edward John ..

King, William .

Kirk, William . . .

Knight, Edward .

Leake, Charles .

Letch, Henry Robert .

Lewis, David .

Liddiard, William .

Lister, Thomas William .

Lloyd, David Llewellyn ..

Lucas, Robert .

Lunniss, James .. .

Machon, Robert .

Margetts, Usher .

Marples, Francis .

Martin, William .

Mattley, Joseph . . .

Mayo, Robert William .

Merry weather, Charles..,..

Milligan, William M .

Mitchell, Frank .

Moreton, Edwin .

Morgan, David .

Morris, John Dixon .

Alunro, Robert .

Murray, James Hugh .

Nash, Henry .

High Street, Cradley Heath,
Staffs.

99, Duke Street, Barrow-in-
Furness.

ii, Russell Street, Brixton,
Surrey.

Litchurch, Derbyshire.

106, Unet Street, Birmingham.

Whetstone, Middlesex.

44, High Street, Croydon, Surrey.

16, Princes Square, Kennington,
Surrey.

1 19, Ledbury Road, Westbourne
Park, London, W.

67, High West Street, Gateshead-
on-Tyne.

Carnarvon.

28, Portland Street, Huddersfield.

9, Poole’s Terrace, Seven Sisters
Road, London, N.

Grange-over- Sands, Lancs.

Eastwood, Notts.

Mansfield Road, Bolsover,
Derbyshire.

16, York Road, Lambeth, Surrey.

150, Yorkshire Street, Rochdale,
Lancs.

High Street, Crickhowell, Bre¬
conshire.

Highgate, London, N.

Victoria Road, Fenton, Staffs.

1 16, Porter Street, Hull.

Woodland Place, Nottingham.

18, Hatfield Street, London, E.C.

76, Newtown, Whitehaven.

73, Princes Street, Edinburgh.

Forres, Elginshire.

1, Alexander Road, Kilburn
Park, London, N.W.

Neale, Benjamin Thomas Mills .. 29, High Street, Hampstead,

London, N.W.

Nichols, Frederick Roberts . 190, Green Street, Bethnal Green,

London, E.

Oakley, Robert .

Owen, David .

Ozanne, Albert Angel .

Palmer, Edward George .

Parsons, Francis Henry .

Pauli, John .

Pearse, F.benezer .

Peat, William Henry .

Penrose, Thomas Samuel . .

Percy, Hugh .

Perrin, William .

Poole, William .

Portello, William .

Potts, Joseph . .

Pountney, William Frederick .

Pridmore. William Beeston .

Priestley, John . .

Pringle, William .

Prowse, Frederick .

Ragsdell, Walter .

Ramsay, Emma .

Rayner, Hessey .

Reeves, Henry .

Riches, Francis Bloye .

Riley, John Cowgill .

Roberts, David . .

’Roberts, John Lyddon .

Roberts, Thomas Hughes .

Robinson, Barrick Hodgson . . . .
Rogers, William Willcox .

Ryle}7, Henry Ballinger .

Sanders, Joseph Alfred .

Saveli, Edward Pearce .

Scott, David Wolsley .

Seifferth, Charles Benjamin . . . .
Sey(de, Francis Napier .

High Street, Sutton Coldfield,
Warwickshire.

Rhayader, Radnorshire.

108, Long Acre, London, W.C.

Millfield, Peterborough.

Southam.

4, Dalston Lane, London, E.

Sherborne.

Ryde, Isle of Wight.

51, Goleherne Terrace, West
Brompton, London, S.W.

Redland, Bristol.

329, Eccles New Road, Man¬
chester.

15, Westby Street, Lytham,
Lancs.

11, Gilston Street, West Bromp¬
ton. London, S.W.

Military Road, South Shields.

Albert Buildings, Dudley Road,
Birmingham.

155, Abbey Street, Bermondsey,
Surrey.

57, Lord Street, Liverpool.

Baker’s Pool, Sheffield.

368, Stretford Road, Manchester.

White Rock, Hastings.

8, Printing Office Street, Don¬
caster.

12, Russell Street, Hull.

Becklev, Sussex.

1, George’s Terrace, Kensal
Green, London, W.

24, Methley Street, Kennington,
Surrey.

7, West Square, Surrey.

33, Heath Street, Hampstead,
London, N.W.

Roewen, Carnarvonshire.

75, Northgate, Guisborough.

127, Shepperton Road, New
North Road, London, N.

Ottery St. Mary, Devon.

West Row, Stockton-on-Tees.

79, Crampton Street, Newington
Butts, Surrey.

Church Street, Barmouth, Meri¬
onethshire.

Walsall Street, Willenhall, Staffs.

Willenhall, near Wolverhampton.

Seyde, John Frederick .

Shakespeare, Alfred William

Shaw. Francis .

Sheldon, Ralph Garnett .

Shillcock, Arthur .

Simnett, Thomas .

Smith, Alexander .

Smith, Anne Exall .

Smith, Anthony .

Smith, William .

Smith, William Henry .

Smith, William Ross .

Southern, Charles William .

Sowden, William John .

Staley, John .

Starie. William Chantler .

Stedman, Alfred John .

Stevens, Joseph .

Sturton, Thomas. .

Sutherland, James John .

Swan, Edward.. .

*Swann, William Henry .

Willenhall, near Wolverhampton.

37, Noble Street, Leicester.

Chorley, Lancs.

195, Vauxhall Road, Liverpool.

39, Duke Street, Brighton.

18, Lambeth Road, Surrey.

83, Stirling Road, Glasgow.

1, High Street, Dunstable, Beds.

69, Queen Street, Hull.

Radford, Notts.

Haltham-on-Bain, near Horn-
castle, Lines.

18, Methley Street, Kennington,
Surrey.

107, St. George’s Road, Surrey.

Louth, Lines.

311, Chester Road, Hulme, Man¬
chester.

33, Great Russell Street, London,
W.C.

1, Westbourne Street, London,
S.W.

73, Camden Road, London,
N.W.

102, Douglas Street, Deptford,
Kent.

10, King’s Place, Leith Walk,
Edinburgh.

Bishop Stortford, Herts.

Loughborough.

Tabberer, William Frederick

1'ayler, Thomas Palmer .

Taylor, David .

Taylor, George Haddah .

Taylor, John .

Taylor, Johnston James .

Taylor, William . .

Teal, Thomas, jun .

Thom, James .

Thompson, William Frederick
Gamwell .

Todnck, William .

Trant, William .

Turner, Frank Edward .

Turner, Robert John .

Vance, Thomas Shaw .

*

Vickerman, Edwin . .

18, High Street, Warwick.

101, Drury Lane. London, W.C.

248, Manchester Road, Brad¬
ford, Yorks.

239, Vauxhall Road, Liverpool.

8, Bensham Place, Beaulah
Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey.

Edinburgh.

Guildford Street, Chertsey,
Surrey.

Astley Bridge, Little Bolton,
Lancs.

9, Blackstock Road, Finsbury
Park, London, N.

16, Cambridge Street, Hyde
Park Square, London, W.

38, Hardgate Street, Hadding
ton, N.B.

Chapel Allerton, Yorks.

287, City Road, London, E.C.

287, City Road, London, E.C.

Henley Terrace, North Wool¬
wich.

12, Russell Street, Hull.

Wade, Robert Brady . 24, Methley Street, Kennington,

Surrey.

Wakefield. Henry Edward . 53, King’s Road, Chelsea,

London, S.W.

Wakefield, Thomas . 247, Lower Wandsworth Road,

Surrey.

Wakefield, Thomas Nottage .... Newport, Essex.

Walker, Ralph Dearlove . 78, Lancashire Hill, Heaton

Norris, Lancs.

Walton. John . High Street, Chasetown, near

Walsall.

Warne, John Martin . Trellowarren Street, Camborne,

Cornwall.

Waterson, John . 430, Coventry Roadr Birming¬

ham.

Watson, Richard . 28, Earl Street, Coventry.

Watson, Thomas Edmondson.. .. Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Watt, John William . 14, Stafford Street, Birmingham.

Whewell, William Edmund . High Street, Wordsley, near

Stourbridge.

Wilkinson, William George . Addison Road, Shields Road,

Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Williams, Benjamin Hughes .... 102, Gt. Homer Street, Liver¬
pool.

Williams, Samuel Thomas . 372, Oxford Street, London, W.

Wilmer, Frederick Joseph . 18, Methley Street, Kennington,

Surrey.

Wilson, James . 67, St. John's Street Road,

London F.. C.

Wilson, Matthew . 36, Howe Street, Edinburgh.

Wine, John . . 2, Somerset Terrace, Redcliff,

Bristol.

Withers, Henry Percy . Cromer, Norfolk.

Wood, James Burdge . 50, Upper Kennington Lane,

Surrey.

Woodward, Edward . . . . 72, Ashton Street, Birmingham.

•Wrangham, John . 14, Angell Park, Stockwell,

Surrey.

Wright. Joseph . Ardwick, Manchester.

November 13, 1880.] THE PHAEMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

395

Cfrc Hfurmamttiral |axtrmil.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 13, 1880.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD ON THE
ADULTERATION OF DRUGS.

There are many considerations which justify the
opinion that a statute like the Sale of Food and
Drugs Act is calculated to he of great advantage to
the general public and also to traders who con¬
scientiously strive to furnish their customers with
genuine commodities, and for this reason we have
never joined in the outcry raised against the Act by
certain class journals upon the ground that it is an
undue interference with freedom of trade. Incon¬
venience may no doubt be caused sometimes to
individuals without sufficient reason, as we have on
some occasions had to show, but on the whole we
think the tendency of the Act is for good in every
way, and the chief thing to be guarded against in its
administration is the influence of exaggerated zeal on
the part of excitable officials, and of that disposition
to ride a hobby which is inseparable from certain
natures.

In the report just issued by the Local Govern¬
ment Board, the results arrived at under the opera¬
tion of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act are of course
dwelt upon. Satisfaction is naturally expressed at
the additional number of local authorities that have
taken advantage of the Act, and in compliance with
its provisions secured for their respective districts
the services of an analyst. In like manner the
passing of the Amendment Act of last year is spoken
of favourably as having been the means of effecting
important improvements, one of the chief being the
removal of the obstacle arising from the technical
construction put upon the words “ to the prejudice of
the purchaser.”

In regard to these and other points similarly
referred to in the report, we are entirely of opinion
that there is reason for satisfaction, and for the
expression of a hope that under the law as it now
stands it will be found practicable to reduce the
extent of adulteration still further than hitherto.
But while concurring in the views thus put forward,
we cannot but point out that there is no more certain
way of frustrating the possibly beneficial tendency
of the Act than by creating erroneous impressions
as to the prevalence of adulteration and the danger to
be apprehended from it. The craze that was produced
some years ago on the. subject by vapouring quacks
has been followed by a reaction of profound in¬
difference on the part of a large portion of the public,
which will in a great degree account for the circum¬
stance that private individvals do not avail them¬
selves of the legislative provisions for their own
protection.

Among the various classes of articles referred to

in the report of the Local Government Board as
having been subjected to the scrutiny of public
analysts we find that “drugs” are mentioned, and in
the tabulated statement of the number of analyses
made during the past year it is stated that 613 samples
have been examined. Among that number it is also
stated that 171 samples were found to be adulterated.
At the same time it is stated that these data are based
upon the quarterly reports of analysts and not upon
the number of cases in which legal proceedings were
instituted. It is further stated that while in many
of the samples classed as “adulterated” the amount
of adulteration was so small that no prosecution was
advised the proceedings undertaken in other in¬
stances broke down.

Those who have followed with attention the pro¬
ceedings under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act,
will be aware how often prosecutions break down
for want of any maintainable case, and how often,
even under other circumstances, the results arrived
at by the public analyst fail to prove the existence
of adulteration. It appears, therefore, especially
remarkable that these facts should have been dis¬
regarded in the report of the Local Government
Board to such an extent as to allow of the quarterly
reports being taken as the basis whence the preva¬
lence of adulteration could be deduced and repre¬
sented in percentages. Yet such is actually the
case, and — confining ourselves to drugs — the amount
of adulteration to which they are subject is thus
represented as being 27*8 per cent, in 1879, against
25 '4 per cent, in 1878.

According to these data, there has been no bene¬
ficial effect produced by the Sale of Food and Drugs
Act upon the quality of drugs, but there would
appear to have been, in spite of it, some considerable
increase in adulteration. It is astonishing that such
obviously worthless data should find a place in the
report of an important public department ; still
more astonishing that they should be given side by
side with information which proves their worthless¬
ness ; and most of all is it astonishing that such
material should be made use of with the object of
pointing to a state of things demanding serious
attention.

Drugs* we are informed, continue to be largely
adulterated. The probable injurious results of the
practice thus assumed to exist and to be growing
are referred to. Instances are given to show how
the health of the public may thus be prejudiced, and
lastly the Board repeats the opinion expressed in
former years that the “ state of things demands
“ serious attention and that strong efforts should be
“ made to secure the sale of genuine drugs of proper
“ strength.”

Such an utterance on the part of a Government
department is of course likely to be of influence and
ought to be deserving of respect. We regret that
we cannot regard it in this light, and that on the
contrary we feel bound to declare this utterance of

396

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 13, 1880.

the Local Government Board in regard to drugs to
be entirely unfounded and delusive.

The very cases that are mentioned in the report as
illustrative of the adulteration of drugs, viz., paregoric
without opium, sweet spirits of nitre entirely destitute
of nitrous ether, cream of tartar mixed with sulphate
of lime (sic), tartaric acid with lead sufficient to
injure health, fluid magnesia with only 33 grains
of magnesia per fluid ounce, and tincture of rhu¬
barb of half strength, suffice to show that there
is a want of adequate foundation for the grave
statements and the alarming opinions in the report.
The cases here referred to are either outside the
legitimate trade in drugs or such as have furnished
evidence that public analysts are not competent to
advise prosecution. They have in reality no rela¬
tion to the legitimate trade in drugs beyond being,
on the one hand, cases of piratical competition
which call for repression by the Government, and,
on the other hand, cases of mischievous interference
against which traders should be protected.

So far from there being any reason for believing
that the adulteration of drugs is a practice that
prevails, we do not hesitate to say, as we have
said on previous occasions, that few articles are so
free from adulteration as the drugs sold by qualified
persons. One of the chief objects of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society since its foundation has been to
discountenance sophistication in all forms and to
make the good quality of drugs used or sold by
pharmacists a point to be especially studied. We
therefore protest against the statements contained
in the late report of the Local Government Board, in
so far as they may be susceptible of being construed
to refer to those properly engaged in the business of
pharmacy.

PHARMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION IN THE
COLONIES.

New Zealand, following the example of the
mother country and of other colonies, has made a
first step in pharmaceutical legislation, and the Act
recently passed to establish a Board of Pharmacy
will be found at page 401 of the present issue.

The Act is to come into operation at the com¬
mencement of next year, and the first Board, to
be appointed by the Governor in Council for a
period of three years, is to consist of a President
and six other persons eligible for registration as
pharmaceutical chemists. At the end of that
period successors are to be elected by the registered
pharmaceutical chemists of New Zealand. The
only grade recognized is that of pharmaceutical
chemist, and the persons eligible for registration are
such as had attained the age of twenty-one at the
time of the passing of the Act and had carried on
the business of a chemist and druggist or homoeo¬
pathic chemist for at least two months, or had been
employed as dispensing assistants for at least six
months in a shop or for three years in a hospital,

etc., in New Zealand, or lastly, such as hold certifi¬
cates of competency from the Pharmaceutical Society
of Great Britain or any College or Board of Phar¬
macy recognized under the regulations made by the
Board of Pharmacy of New Zealand.

Those who do not possess any of the above qualifi¬
cations for registration are to undergo examination
of the same general character as that adopted in
this country. The Act also provides that it shall
be unlawful for any unregistered person to assume
the title of pharmaceutical chemist, pharmaceutist,
chemist and druggist, dispensing chemist, or other
words of similar import, or to use any sign implying
that he is registered under the Act, under a penalty
of five pounds.

Among the miscellaneous provisions of the Act it
may be mentioned, now that the amendment of our
own Act is under consideration, that in regard to
the carrying on of the business of a deceased phar¬
maceutical chemist by his executors, administrators
or trustees, such continuance of the business is to be
limited to a period of twelve months, except by
special permission by the Board of Pharmacy, and in
all cases the business is to be conducted by a re¬
gistered pharmaceutical chemist.

Another provision of the Act has relation to the
sale of adulterated drugs, and renders any registered
person liable to prosecution as though he were aware
of the adulteration found to exist, unless he be able
to prove the contrary.

It is worthy of note that the Act does not contain
any provision in regard to the sale of poisons, nor
indeed any provision restricting the business of
pharmacy to registered persons ; but that it merely
affords protection of the title indicating registration
and thereby the possession of competent skill and
knowledge.

MUNICIPAL HONOURS.

In the list of gentlemen who have been elected to
fill the office of Mayor in various parts of the
country we notice the following : — Mr. Edward
Clark, Chemist and Druggist, Lancaster ; Mr.
James Ployd, Chemist and Druggist, Bury St.
Edmonds ; Mr. John Horsley, Chemist and Drug¬
gist, Hartlepool ; and Mr. H. J. Orchard, Chemist
and Druggist and Local Secretary to the Pharma¬
ceutical Society, Newport, I.W. Besides these, Mr.
John Babtie, Pharmaceutical Chemist, has been
re-elected Provost of Dumbarton, and Mr. William
Sarsfield, Pharmaceutical Chemist and Local Secre¬
tary of the Society, has been elected to the Municipal
Council of Durham.

THE RECTIFICATION OF THE REGISTER.

Attention is particularly directed to the im¬
portant notice on the front page of the present
number and the list of names on pp. 393 and 394.
It will be seen that nearly two hundred and fifty
persons, who have failed to reply to two registered
letters sent in accordance with the Pharmacy Act,
are liable to have their names struck off the Register
unless they communicate with the Registrar on or
before the 30th of December next.

November 13, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

397

^(jarmiiccutiud Sbcietir of fretatr.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

November 3, 1880.

Present— Professor Tichborne, President ; Dr. A. Smith,
Vice-President; Sir G. B. Owens, Messrs. Allen, Bennett,
Brunker, Collins, Doran, Grindley, Goodwin, Hayes,
Hodgson, Holmes, Oldham, Payne, Pring, Ryan, Simpson
and Whittaker.

Before the business of the meeting commenced,

Mr, Goodwin asked what steps had been taken to
prevent pharmaceutical chemists being summoned on
juries, he having received a summons in both town and
county.

The President said that the Registrar furnished a list
to the Collector-General of Rates, whose duty it was to
make out the lists of jurors for the city, and to the Clerk
of the Union, whose duty it was to prepare the panel for
the county ; but he was not able to explain why Mr.
Goodwin was not exempted.

The Registrar (Mr. Fennell) said that a member had
objected to the minutes of the annual meeting of
October 4 being read, as reading at that time was ir¬
regular, and asked the President for a ruling.

The President said it had been the custom of the
Society to read the minutes as soon as possible after
the annual meeting, and he saw no reason to alter that
course.

Mr. Allen said he was the member who objected. The
minutes should be read at a meeting of the same kind,
and should not be read at a council meeting, when
members who had a voice only at annual meetings could
not object to anything in them. The minutes of the
council meeting which was held previous to an annual
meeting were not read at it, but were held over to the
next council meeting; it was not the rule in public
companies.

The President said the idea of reading the minutes
was to have them corrected, and if the reading was
postponed for a year, it would be difficult for members
to remember sufficiently well what had occurred at the
previous meeting in order to check the record of the
proceedings.

Dr. Smith suggested that the minutes might be con¬
firmed upon the same day as the annual meeting by having
another meeting for that purpose.

The President then directed that the minutes be read
together with those of council meeting of October 6.
Both being read and signed, the election of examiners
was proceeded with, after considerable conversation as
to the method of voting, which by the bye-laws must be
by open voting.

Dr. Smith then asked that Mr. Allen’s resolution —

“That in the opinion of this meeting it is not
desirable that any person who is engaged in pre¬
paring students for the examinations of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society of Ireland should be appointed an
examiner of this Society”
should be put to the meeting first.

Mr. Brunker said the resolution was an abstract one,
and, if passed, would not affect the individual vote of
any member of the Council.

The President said he believed that the intention was
merely to take the opinion of the meeting, as no resolu¬
tion could be binding until it had received the sanction
of the Privy Council.

The election was then proceeded with. Applications
were received from the following; the applications and
testimonials of such candidates as had not canvassed the
Council individually were read to the meeting : —

a. As Examiners in Latin , English and Arithmetic. —
John William Moore, M.D., F.K. and Q.C.P.I.; Robert
W. Griffin, A.M., LL.D. ; Isaac Ashe, M.D., F.K. and
Q.C.P.I.; Joseph Daniel M’Feeley, Sch. Cath. TTniv.

Irel.; Stewart Woodhouse, M.B., L.R.C.S.I. ; H. Colpoys
Tweedy, M.B.. L.R.C.S.I.

b. As Examiner in Materia Medica and Botany. —
George F. Duffey, M.D., F.K. and Q.C.P.I.

As Examiner in Chemistry. — Edmund W. Davy, M.D.,
M.R.I.A. ; Peter F. Baikie, L.P.S.I., M.P.S.G.B.

d. As Examiner in Pharmacy. — Charles Evans, M.P.S.I. ;
Robert W. Harley, L.A.H. Dub., L.R.C.P. and L.R.C.S.
Edin. ; George M. Foy, L. and F.R.C.S.I.

For Examiner in Arts. — Dr. J. W. Moore was proposed
by Sir G. B. Owens, seconded by Dr. Smith.

Dr. Griffin was proposed by Mr. Holmes, seconded by
Mr. Pring.

The remaining four applicants were not nominated.
The voting was taken by a show of hands. Dr. Moore
received 11 votes, and Dr. Griffin 8 votes. Dr. Moore
was declared elected.

For Examiner in Materia Medica and Botany. — Dr.
George F. Duffey was proposed by Dr. Collins, seconded
by Mr. Goodwin, and elected unanimously.

For Examiner in Chemistry. — Dr. E. W. Davy proposed
by Dr. Collins, seconded by Mr. Grindley, was elected
without dissent, and declared duly elected. Mr. Baikie’s
nomination did not go to the vote.

For Examiner in Pharmacy. — Mr. Evans was proposed
by Sir G. B. Owens, seconded by Dr. Smith ; Dr. Harley
by Mr. Grindley, seconded by Mr. Allen; Dr. Foy by
Mr. Payne, seconded by Mr. Simpson. Upon the first
voting, the numbers recorded for each candidate were —
for Mr. Evans, 7 ; Dr. Harley, 9 ; Dr. Foy, 3. The two
first were then voted for again, Mr. Evans receiving 7,
and Dr. Harley, 11 votes. Dr. Harley was declared
elected.

The report from the Belfast members of Council,
deputed to visit the Chemical School of the Working-
Men’s Institute, Belfast, as follows, was read to the
meeting : —

“Belfast, October 29, 1880.

“We have to report that, in compliance with the reso¬
lution of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society,
passed on the 6th inst., we have inspected the School
of Chemistry, held in the Working Men’s Institute, in
this town, and conducted by Mr. Barklie. We found the
premises in every way suitable for the purposes for
which they are intended. The appliances were good in
quality and sufficient in number. There is every accom¬
modation for pupils, and we have no hesitation in ex¬
pressing our belief that it is a school which might fairly
be recognized by the Society, and which has complied
with the regulations thereof.

“ Signed, Richard W. Pring.

“ J. C. Charles Payne.

“Henry Whittaker, M.D.”

It was proposed by Mr. Hayes, seconded by Mr. Simp¬
son, and passed —

“ That the report from the Belfast members of Council
upon the Chemical School of the Working Men’s
Institute, Belfast, be entered upon the minutes, and
a copy forwarded to the Privy Council for the recog¬
nition of the School.”

A Member reported a case of alleged illegal dis¬
pensing, and on the motion of Mr. Brunker, seconded
by Mr. Simpson, the following resolution was put to the
meeting, and passed : —

“That the case of illegal dispensing, mentioned by

- be referred to the Law Committee, and a

special meeting of that Committee be summoned
for the purpose of considering it.”

(For obvious reasons it is not desirable to publish the
particulars of cases mentioned for prosecution).

Owing to the lateness of the hour, and the amount of
time which the elections occupied, it was suggested that
the remainder of the business, which was considerable,
should be postponed. It was, however, arranged that
Mr. Payne should proceed with his resolutions. The
first —

398

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 13, 1880

“ That the sixth regulation, page 44 of the * Calendar,’
be amended, so that it may conform to the reso¬
lution passed by the Council, November 7, 1877.”

The resolution was of a technical character, and was
for the purpose of making uniformity in the regulations.
After some discussion, an amended resolution was
proposed by Mr. Payne, seconded by Mr. Brunker, and
passed —

“That the Editor of the ‘Calendar’ be requested to
alter clause vi., page 43, so as to conform to the
resolution of November 7, 1877, page 71 ; also to
alter the hour of meeting, in accordance with resolu¬
tion of July 3, 1878, page 72.”

Mr. Payne being unable to remain, and the meeting
not deeming it desirable to have his remaining resolutions
proposed by another member, the whole of the remaining
resolutions were postponed.

A new certificate, in lieu of the one torn in transit
through the post, was signed and ordered to be sent to
Mr. Bacon, Londonderry, the injured certificate being
destroyed by the President.

The report of the examination for the licence of Phar¬
maceutical Chemist, held October 6, wa3 laid before the
meeting. The following five presented themselves, all

of whom passed : —

George Dimond . Maryborough.

William Henry Gamble . Fairview.

John M’Murray . Warrenpoint.

Joseph Stewart . Limerick.

Richard Sunner . Cork.

The meeting then adjourned.

DOVER CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the above was held November
8. Mr. H. Peake was elected Chairman in place of
Mr. Cotterell, who resigned that office, and Mr. J.
Wilford was re-elected Secretary and Treasurer for the
ensuing year. The usual routine business was then
proceeded with, consisting principally of the revision of
prices and other trade matters.

The annual supper was held after the meeting. In
proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Cotterell for so ably
filling the office of Chairman during the four years’
existence of the Association, Mr. Bottle referred much
of its success to the energy and tact displayed by the
Chairman, and in the name of the members of the
Association he wished him health and happiness on his
retirement from active co-operation among them.

In reply Mr. Cotterell thanked the members for their
assistance at all times in carrying out the objects of the
Association. He thought these meetings had done a great
deal of good in promoting harmony and unity of action,
and though he should shortly be removed out of the
neighbourhood of Dover, yet he should always feel a
deep interest in the future of the Association ; he should
look back with great pleasure to the many pleasant
evenings spent with them and hoped in the future now
and then to take his place among them.

“ Success to the Dover Chemists’ Association,” was
proposed by Mr. Hambrook and responded to by the new
Chairman, Mr. Peake.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

||r oijrnxi at %x airs actions .

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The opening meeting of this Association for the present
session was held in the Manager’s Library, Anderson’s
College, 204, George Street, the new President, Mr.
Robert McAdam (Glasgow Apothecaries’ Company), in
the chair.

After the Secretary, Mr. John C. Hunter, had read the
minutes of the previous meeting, which were approved of
by the members,

The President gave a short address, in which he
thanked the members for conferring that honour on him.
He added that he must crave their indulgence, as he was
no great speaker, and on that account he would introduce
Mr. John Walker, who had kindly volunteered to read a
paper.

Mr. Walker then read a paper entitled “ Man : bis
Place in Nature.” — He could not say whether man ap¬
peared at once, as given in the Mosaic record, or after a
great period of time and many changes, as required by
the evolutionists ; but there was no doubt that man was
not placed here simply to satisfy his physical wants and
nothing else ; but having been gifted by his Creator with
mental abilities of varying qualities, these gave him the
power of enjoying and following out any of the various
subjects in science, art, or literature, and by cultivating
these mental- faculties he would be forming a source of
enjoyment for himself and others all the days of his life.
Mr. Walker then touched upon the relation of the vege¬
table kingdom to animal life ; also on chemistry, as
showing by its teaching the laws which govern matter in
its various changes of state. Mr. Walker concluded his
paper by reading a passage from one of Pope’s poems
giving a poet’s idea of matter.

After the election of members and other business, a
hearty vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. Walker for
his instructive paper; also a vote of thanks was given
to the new President, after which the meeting closed.

The second general meeting of the thirty-second session
was held at the Royal Institution on Thursday evening,
October 28th, the President, Dr. Charles Symes, in the
chair.

The paper for the evening, on “The Hygroscopic Power
of Sulphuric Acid,” was read by Mr. Thomas Williams,
F.C.S. The author produced the results of some
hundreds of weighings which he had conducted since the
beginning of last March, with the object of ascertaining,
on the one hand, to what extent sulphuric acid, would,
when exposed for a continued length of time, absorb the
moisture of the atmosphere, and, on the other hand, to
ascertain to what extent diluted sulphuric acid would
evaporate when exposed to ordinary atmospheric in¬
fluences. Mr. Williams’s experiments showed that, in
round numbers, a limit to both the absorption and the
evaporation was reached when the proportions were one
part of the strong acid to two parts of water. From
numerous experiments, he concluded that sulphuric acid
does not absorb fifteen times its weight of water when
exposed to an atmosphere saturated with moisture, as
given in standard works to have been found by M. Gay
Lussac.

A lengthy discussion on the paper took place, in which
the President, Messrs. Chubb, Conroy and Watt took
part, and at the close a hearty vote of thanks was given
to Mr. Williams.

rBmtmtp rrf Scientific Satieties*

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday,
November 4, Professor E. H. Roscoe, President, in the
chair.

The following certificates were read for the first time : —
J. A. Arnold, A. E. Barclay, A. C. Cockburn, P. H.
Cathcart, T. Farrington, P. F. Frankland, A. E. Gar rod,
R. Holliday, A. Jesseman, J. A. Macfarlane, W. B.
Mason, R. T. Plumpton, C. H. Sharpies, F. M. Sexton,
B. H. Thwaite, J. M. Wyborn.

The President congratulated the Society on having

November lo, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

199

thirteen papers down for reading on the first evening of
the session.

During the reading of the first paper, which was com¬
municated by the President, Dr. Erankland took the chair.

On the Sulphides of Vanadium. By W. E. Kay. _ _

Berzelius describes in his original research on vanadium
two sulphides, VS5 and VS3. Prom the researches of
Roscoe it follows that their real formulae should be
and (V202)S3. The author has repeated the
experiments of Berzelius, analysed the compounds formed,
and investigated the whole subject. He also gives details
of the method employed to estimate the sulphur, i.e.,
ignition in a hard glass tube in a stream of oxygen, the
products of combustion passing successively through two
Liebig s potash bulbs, the first filled with bromine water,
the second with distilled water. Berzelius obtained his
compounds by precipitation, and one of them by a dry
process. The substances formed in the wet way are oxy-
compounds, but do not seem to have any definite com¬
position. The dry process, i.e, heating V203 to redness
m sulphuretted hydrogen, forms curiously enough V2S3,
which gives the same increase in weight over that of the
V203 aa (V2C)2)S2 5 80 that if Berzelius had but estimated
the sulphur in the product, instead of being satisfied
with the increase of weight, the true constitution of the
vanadium compounds would probably have been ascer¬
tained by him. The author has obtained and studied
three sulphides, V2S2, V2S3, and V2S5. V2S2 is obtained
by reducing V2S3 m a current of hydrogen, as glisten-
mg black scales or a blackish powder. It absorbs oxygen
with avidity. Hot strong sulphuric acid gives a greenish-
yellow solution. Hot strong nitric acid oxidizes it with
violence. Colourless ammonium sulphide gives a splendid
purple solution. It is acted upon but slightly by caustic
alkalies. V2S3 is prepared as above, or by the action of
SH2 or CS2 at a red heat, or V206. In its properties it
resembles V2S3, but oxidizes less readily. Y0Sr is pre¬
pared by heating a mixture of S and V2S3 in a sealed
tube .to 400° for three hours. It resembles the other
sulphides, but is readily dissolved by caustic soda. The
author remarks on the inferior stability of the sulphides as
compared with the oxides, V„S5 when heated giving off
sulphur and forming V2S3, whilst V2S3 in an atmosphere
of hydrogen is reduced to V2S2.

On the Action of Zinc Ethyl on Benzoylic Cyanide. By
E. Erankland and D. A. Louis.— The cyanide was
gradually added to zinc ethyl diluted with three times
its volume of dry ether, and the reaction completed by
heating in a water-bath. The product of the reaction, an
amber coloured jelly, was decomposed, and then extracted
with alcohol. Tufts of colourless needles were obtained
which gave on analysis C24H19N02. The authors propose
the name benzeyanidin. The yield is small, about 3 per
cent, of the cyanide. Another substance, boiling between
200° and 220°, was obtained ; but the authors did not
succeed in purifying it so as to procure a liquid with a
constant boiling point. It was oxidized with bichromate
and dilute sulphuric acid, when propiophenone, C9H10O
was obtained, which the authors believe was formed
directly by the action of zinc ethyl on the benzoylic

cyanide- 2 j + ZnEt2 = 2 | +Zn(GN)j.

Much zinc cyanide was also formed. The halogen nature
of the compound radical cyanogen is thus shown to
extend to its replacement by an electro-positive hydro¬
carbon radical.

On the Action of Zinc Ethyl on Cyanogen. By E.
Erankland and C. C. Graham. — The zinc ethyl rapidly
absorbs the cyanogen, and is finally converted into a
solid mass. This mass was heated to 120° in an oil-bath,
and furnished a colourless liquid, which was freed from
traces of zinc ethyl, and re-distilled. It then boiled at
96°. Analysis indicated the formula C3H5N, and it had
all the properties of propionitrile. The solid residue re¬
maining after the distillation consisted almost entirely of
zincic cyanide. The reaction is therefore —

CN

^ CN + ZnEt2 = 2Et(CN) + Zn(CN)2.

It is to be noted that a separation of carbon from carbon

occurs, accompanied by a simultaneous union of carbon
to carbon.

Report on the Atmospheric Oxidation of Phosphorus and
some Reactions of Ozone and Peroxide of Hydrogen. By
X •UIN^ZETT-— The author commenced with a historical

resumt of previous researches by Schonbein, Andrews,
Mangnac, Corne, Boehe, Leeds, MacLeod and himself.
A,ne aufchor in the present research employed a series of
glass bottles stoppered, each fitted with two glass tubes
ground into holes in the stopper, thus avoiding altogether
the use of cork and indiarubber. He concludes that
both ozone and peroxide of hydrogen are produced by
the oxidation of phosphorus, the peroxide of hydrogen
remaining almost entirely in the water in which the
phosphorus is oxidized. The ozone passes on in the air
current and after washing and drying with strong H,SO,
was estimated by the amount of iodine liberated in an
acidified solution of potassium iodide. A large number
of experiments were made ; in several cases the proportion
of peroxide of hydrogen to the ozone produced was ap-

oi noimatf y * to 2; The ozone was entirely destroyed at
240 , and by passing through oil of turpentine. It was,
however, not destroyed by passing through a ten-volume
solution of hydric peroxide. Ozone when it acts on oil of
turpentine gives rise to the same peroxidized compound as
is formed by the absorption of oxygen. The turpentine
which has absorbed ozone when treated with water pro¬
duces an equivalent amount of peroxide of hydrogen
bimilar observations are recorded with ether. As regards
the^estimation of peroxide of hydrogen, the author finds
thau the ordinary process with potassic iodide and starch
may be much shortened by employing a large excess of
dilute sulphuric acid. When it is estimated by the amount
of oxygen evolved with potassium permanganate, the
author advises that no acid be added, as a mixture of
potassic permanganate and dilute sulphuric acid gradually
gives off oxygen until all the permanganate is decomposed.

After a few remarks from the President and Dr. Arm¬
strong,

The Secretary read a paper —

On Bismuth and Bismuth Compounds. By M. M. P.
Muir, G. Bernard Hofemeister and C. E. Robbs.—
The preparation of the various oxides, hydrates, and
halogen salts is discussed and previous work is criticized
and experimentally examined. The oxides and hydrates
certainly known to exist are Bi202, Bi203, Bi00 ‘ Bio0*f
Bi203H20, Bi203, 2H20 and 3H20, Bi204H20 and 2H20,
Bi205H20 and possibly Bi202H20 and- 2HaO and
Ei2053H20. The relative stabilities towards heat and
reducing agents of the oxides and towards heat of the
hydrates are discussed. The action of chlorine and
bromine on the oxides is described. The hydration of
the oxides in moist air is measured ; Bi2032H20 is shown
to. be . the hydrate into which the others tend to pass.
Bil3 is much more stable, and more indifferent to re¬
agents than the corresponding bromide or chloride.
There is apparently no tendency to form complex oxy-
iodides. By the action of HF on Bi203, BiF3 and BiOF
are formed. The following equations- represent the final
distribution of salts in each reaction.

1 . Bi203 + 2HC1 + xH20 = 2 BiOCl + (x + 1 ) H20.

2. Bi203 + 6HI + a:H20 = 2BiI3 + (* + 3)Ho0.

1. 3BiOCl + crHi + asHo0 = 2BiI„ + BiCl, + (x- 6)HI
+ (£C + 3)H20.

2. 4BiOI + xRCl + xH.,0 = 3BiCL + BiL + (* + 4)H„0

+ HI + {x- 9)HC1. 2

An attempt is made to condense the leading relations
between oxides and hydrates in structural formulae, in all
of which the bismuth atom is represented as trivalent.

On the Colour, Properties, and Relations of the Metals
Copper , Nickel, Cohalt, Iron , Manganese, and Chromium.

By T. Bayley. — These metals form a group of elements
with atomic weights progressing from 52‘2 to 63-00 ; they

400

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 13, 1880.

are characterized by salts corresponding to their normal
oxides, which in dilute solution possess strongly developed
and characteristic colours. Standard solutions were pre¬
pared, containing 5 grams of each metal per litre; the
iron was oxidized with nitric acid, after solution in
dilute sulphuric acid ; the other solutions contained
excess of both these acids. By mixing 20 parts of the
copper solution, 7 of the iron and 6 of the cobalt, a
colourless liquid was obtained, appearing, however,
slightly grey from the partial suppression of the white
light passing through ; the colour equivalents of cobalt,
iron, and copper, are therefore respectively 20*7 and 6.
The colour equivalents being the numbers expressing the
quantities of the metals required to produce an optically
neutral mixture ; the colour co-efficients are the recipro¬
cals of the colour equivalents reduced to terms of the
co-efficient of copper as unity. The colour co-efficient
expresses the specific chromatic power of the element in
the particular combination. These numbers vary slightly
with the temperature; thus the above neutral solution
(at 18^) when boiled appears to be yellow. By mixing
iron and copper we can simulate exactly a nickel solution.
A copper solution is complementary to a mixture of iron
and cobalt, and to the reflection from a surface of copper.
The mean wave length of the light absorbed by iron,
nickel, cobalt, and copper increases as the atomic weight
increases ; the mean wave lengths of the light absorbed
by nickel and cobalt are nearly identical. Generally the
affinity of the metals of this group for oxygen increases
with the colour co-efficients; the co-efficients are Cu 1,
Ni T05,Fe 2,85,Co 3‘33,Cr,Mn(?). The oxides studied are
the so-called normal oxides, i.e. neither protoxides nor
peroxides. The following table exhibits the colour
properties of these elements as studied up to the present
time. Elements with solutions of similar colour being
placed in the same column : —

Yellow. Orange. ^ red^ Violet. Blue. Green.

Ee 7 Fe + 6 Co Co 20Cu + 6Co Cu 20Cu + 7Fe
Mn (?) Copper Cr Cr Cr Cr

reflection mixtures

Mn Mn Ni (nearly)

(nearly)

The following combinations give grey, partially opaque,
liquids: cobalt, iron and copper; copper solutions and
copper reflections ; chromium (blue) and copper reflection ;
copper, iron and chromium (red) ; copper, iron and
manganese (red) ; chromium (green) and chromium (red) ;
chromium (green) and cobalt. The author has specially
examined only the first of these combinations. He gives
diagrams showing the absorption spectra of cobalt, copper,
and iron, the solutions being of equivalent chromatic
strength, i.e., equal volumes give, when mixed, a grey
liquid.

On the Action of Diazonaphthalene upon Salicylic Acid.
By P. F. Frankland. — Although numerous azo bodies
have been prepared, yet only a few thereof are compounds
of the oxybenzoic acids, and in none has the position
of the phenylazo group been ascertained. The author’s
object was therefore twofold, the preparation of a new
azo compound and the determination of the place of
entry of the diazo group into the benzene nucleus of
salicylic acid. The diazo group was introduced in the
form of diazonaphthalene, naphthylazosalicylic acid being
formed. This substance, on treatment with tin and
hydrochloric acid, yielded naphthylamine and amido-
salicylic acid. The latter was then converted by means of
its diazo compound into iod-salicylic acid, which by
its \ melting point, reactions, and conversion into oxy-
salicylic (quinolcarboxylic) acid proved to be the iodsali-
cylic acid, already known. The diazo group of the
diazonaphthalin thus attached itself to the benzene ring
of the salicylic acid, in the para position to the hydroxyl,
and in the meta position to the oxatyl. In the preparation
of naphthylazosalicylic acid, an amorphous brown body
was obtained, insoluble in water. This proved to be a

mixture of two substances, one soluble in alkalies with
the formula C10H8NO, the other insoluble in alkalies,
C30H33N5O2.

On the Basic Sulphates of Iron. By Spencer Pickering.
— The author has investigated the numerous sulphates
said to exist ; but of the existence of fifteen of them he
can find no proof, there being apparently but one definite
chemical compound.

Fourth Report to the Chemical Society on Some Points in
Chemical Dynamics. By C. R. A. Wright, E. H. Rennie,
and A. E. Menke. The authors have determined the
rate at which reduction of certain metallic oxides is
effected under conditions varying as to temperature, but
otherwise constant, with the view of finding out how far
abrupt alterations in the rate occur when a higher is
reduced to a lower oxide, the heat of formation of which
differs from that of the higher oxide. They show that
these alterations are readily distinguishable, at any rate
at certain temperatures. Thus samples of ferric oxide in
different states of physical aggregation were reduced
under constant conditions by hydrogen and by carbon
oxide ; curves were then plotted, the amounts of reduction
being taken as ordinates and the times as abscissas. It
was seen that as soon as one-ninth of the oxygen had been
removed (so that the partially reduced oxide had the
composition Fe304) a marked slackening in the rate of
reduction was always observed, particularly at lower
temperatures, a sort of angle being thus produced in the
curve. No such angle exists at points representing
either removal of one-third of the oxygen (reduction to
FeO) or any other stage of reduction. The results with
carbon oxide are complicated by its tendency to bring
about reoxidation. Fea?Oy + CO=Fea?Oy + 1 + C. The

effect of this is to diminish the rate of reduction; never¬
theless it was found, almost invariably, that the rate of
reduction of carbon oxide was c.p. greater than that of
hydrogen, as was expected from the greater evolution
of heat in the former case. Manganese dioxide was
examined in the same way with similar results. A distinct
angle was exhibited by the curve when the composition
was Mn304 and another angle when it was MnO. The
reducing action of both hydrogen and carbon oxide then
ceases up to a bright red heat. In every case the angle
indicates a decrease in the rate of reduction and that
consequently the heat of formation of the lower oxide is
greater than that of the higher oxide. From the present
and previous experiments the authors deduce the general
law that in any two comparable cases of reduction, in
which the heat evolutions differ from one another, the
case in which the heat evolution is algebraically the
greatest {i.e. the greatest evolution or least absorp¬
tion) is the case in which “a” the length of time
requisite to produce a given amount of reduction at a
given temperature is the least, “b” the amount of
reduction produced in a given time at a given tempera¬
ture is the greatest, and “ c ” the temperature requisite
to produce a given amount of reduction in a given time
is the lowest. Certain apparent minor exceptions to this
law have been noticed and are explained by the non¬
identity of conditions, e.g., when carbon oxide reduces
ferric oxide the action is retarded by the tendency, above
alluded to, of carbon deposition ; and again when the
oxide is coated with a film of reduced substance the
carbon oxide diffuses much more slowly than hydrogen
under similar circumstances, the reducing action of
carbon oxide being thus much retarded. Again, when
metallic copper is oxidized a similar retardation takes
place owing to the formation of a film of oxide. The
general law stated above may be represented graphically
by constructing curved surfaces about 3 rectangular axes,
the co-ordinates of any point on a surface representing
time, temperature and amount of reduction. The surface
representing the values obtained with the substance the
reduction of which is accompanied by the greatest heat
evolution always lies outside.

On some Derivatives of Naphthalene. 1. On R

November 13, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

401

Naphthohulpho nic Acid. By H. E. Armstrong and
W. C. Graham. — The authors were led on certain
theoretical grounds to re-examine the /3 naphthol-
sulphonic acids prepared respectively from ft naphthol
and from the so-called naphthalene /3 disulphonic acid
by fusion with caustic potash. They have prepared and
examined various salts, and conclude that Ebert and Merz
were right in asserting the identity of the two products.
They have also studied the action of bromine on ft
naphthol-sulphonic acid.

On Acetylorthoamidobenzoic Acid. By P. D. Bedson and
A. J. King. — Acetorthotoluidine was first prepared by
heating orthotoluidin with glacial acetic acid for several
hours and recrystallizing from aqueous alcohol ; it was
thus obtained in white needle-shaped crystals melting at
107°-109°. This compound was oxidized by the addition
in small quantities at a time of potassium permanganate,
the whole being warmed in a water-bath. The Mn02,
etc., was filtered off and the acid precipitated directly
by concentrated hydrochloric acid or as a lead salt with
lead acetate. The authors have studied the acid and
some of its salts. The physical and chemical properties
are given in the original paper.

A paper, on the Formation of Sodium Hydrate from
Sodium Sulphate, by Messrs. Cross and Bevan, was taken
as read.

The Society then adjourned to November 18, when the
following papers will be read : —

“ Notes on the Oxides of Manganese,” by Spencer
Pickering ; “ Aluminium Alcohols. Part I. Their Pre¬
paration by means of the Aluminium Iodine Reaction,”
by J. H. Gladstone and A. Tribe.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting of the above Association held at the
rooms, George Street, Hanover Square, on Wednesday,
October 27, a paper on “ Electro-Metallurgy ” was read
by Mr. L. B. Miller.

After giving a brief outline of the general subject of
electrolysis, the lecturer divided his paper into electro¬
plating, electrotyping, and the reduction of refractory
metals in the electric arc, treating each in detail. In
speaking of electroplating, great stress was laid on the
necessity of a thorough cleansing of the article before
deposition on its surface, and then the composition of the
more commonly used solutions for silver, copper and gold
were given. Under electrotyping, the lecturer mentioned
the manner in which casts of different objects were made,
and their surfaces rendered conducting, and stated the
way in which set up type and engravings were reproduced
by deposition. Under the last division of his subject, he
described, with the aid of a diagram. Dr. Siemens’s recent
demonstration of the fusion of steel in the electric arc, by
making the metal to be melted contained in a crucible,
the positive pole of a current from a dynamo-machine,
the other pole being a carbon rod, the arc being formed
between the carbon and the metal, the latter undergoing
fusion.

During the discussion experiments were given, and at
the close of the lecture the usual vote of thanks was
carried.

arliamcitfarg imb | Into Bmmbiitgs,

PHARMACY ACT FOR NEW ZEALAND.

An Act to Establish a Board of Pharmacy in New

Zealand. [19£/i August, 1880.]
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of New
Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows : —

1. The short title of this Act is “ The Pharmacy Act,
1880.”

2. This Act shall come into operation on the first day
of J anuary, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.

3. It is divided into Parts as follows : —

Part I. — Pharmacy Board of New Zealand.

Part II. — Pharmaceutical Register of New Zealand.

Part III. Registered pharmaceutical chemists.

Part IV. Miscellaneous.

4. In this Act, if not inconsistent with the context, —

“ Chemist and druggist ” means all persons who,

within two years before the passing of this Act,
have carried on in New Zealand the business of
a chemist and druggist, in the keeping of open
shop for the compounding of the prescriptions of
duly qualified medical practitioners, and also of
all such persons as may be duly registered under
this Act :

“ Register ” means the Pharmaceutical Register of
New Zealand:

“ Registrar ” includes the Deputy-Registrar under
this Act:

“ Drug ” or “ drugs ” means drugs for internal or
external use, and shall extend to all articles
taken or sold as medicines.

Part I.

Pharmacy Board of New Zealand.

5. Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act,
the Governor in Council may appoint a Board, consisting
of a President and six other members, under the style of
‘‘ The Pharmacy Board of New Zealand,” hereinafter
in this Act termed “the Board.”

6. No person shall be elected or appointed President
or member for more than three years, but shall be
eligible for re-election or reappointment, and the
Governor in Council may from time to time remove
the President or any other member of the Board.

7. The first President and other six members of the
Board shall be appointed by the Governor in Council,
without previous election, provided that no person shall
be so appointed who does not appear to be eligible for
registration as a registered pharmaceutical chemist.

Such President and members shall be appointed for a
period of three years.

If any vacancy occur in the Board during such period,
the Governor in Council may appoint thereto, without
previous election, any registered pharmaceutical chemist;
and the person so appointed shall hold office until the
expiration of three years from the date of the appoint¬
ment of the first members of the Board under this Act,
and no longer.

8. At the expiration of the period for which the first
President and members of the Board shall be appointed
to hold office, no person shall be a member of the Board
unless he be a registered pharmaceutical chemist, and
unless he shall have been elected to act as a member of
the Board by the registered pharmaceutical chemists of
New Zealand; and no person shall be appointed as Presi¬
dent unless he be a member of the Board, and shall have
been elected by the other members to act as President.

Every election shall be held in manner prescribed by
regulations to be made by the Board, subject to the
approval of the Governor in Council.

9. A quorum of the Board shall consist of not less than
three members thereof, and, in the absence of the Presi¬
dent from any meeting of the Board, one of the members
present shall be elected chairman of that meeting.

10. The Board may from time to time appoint a regis¬
trar, deputy-registrars, and any other officers whom they
may require for the purposes of this Act, and shall have
power to remove the same at any time.

11. The Board may from time to time make, alter, or
rescind regulations for the purposes of carrying this Act
into effect: Provided that such bye-laws shall be con¬
firmed and approved by a special general meeting of
pharmaceutical chemists. Such regulations shall not
have any effect if they be repugnant to any law in force
in New Zealand or to the provisions of this Act, nor
until they shall have been published in the Government
Gazette.

402

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 13, 188»:

Part II.

Pharmaceutical Register of New Zealand.

12. The Board shall from time to time cause the names
of all persons certified by the Board as duly qualified for
registration as registered pharmaceutical chemists to be
registered, with their residences and qualifications, in a
book to be kept by the Board for that purpose in the
form in the first schedule to this Act, or to the like
effect, and such register shall be called “ The Pharma¬
ceutical Register of New Zealand.”

All persons, so long as their names continue to be
enrolled in such register, may be described in this or any
other Act or any regulations as “ registered pharmaceu¬
tical chemists.”

13. Previously to registration or examination under
this Act, such fees shall be payable as are set out in the
second schedule to this Act, or such other fees as may
from time to time be fixed and determined by any regu¬
lation hereafter to be made by the Board in accordance
with this Act; and the said fees shall be paid to the
Registrar of the Board for the purposes of this Act.

14. The Board may from time to time make the neces¬
sary alterations in the registration of the qualifications
and addresses of the persons registered under this Act,
and may from time to time write or cause to be written
a letter to any registered pharmaceutical chemist, ad¬
dressed to him according to his last known address, to
inquire whether he has changed his place of business ;
and if no answer be returned to such letter within the
period of six months from the sending thereof, the Board
may erase the name of such person from the Pharma¬
ceutical Register, and may restore the same to such
register upon the personal application of such person and
production of his certificate or satisfactory proof of his
former registration.

15. Every registered pharmaceutical chemist on
changing his place of business shall intimate the same to
the Board, and the Registrar shall correct the entry in
the register accordingly, and every Deputy-Registrar
of Births and Deaths in New Zealand on receiving
information of the death of any registered pharmaceu¬
tical chemist shall forthwith transmit notice thereof
by post to the President of the Pharmacy Board, and on
the receipt of such notice the Board shall erase the name
of such chemist from the Pharmaceutical Register of
New Zealand.

16. If any registered pharmaceutical chemist be con¬
victed of any offence under this Act which in the
opinion of the Board renders him unfit to be on the
Pharmaceutical Register of New Zealand, the Governor
in Council may, upon the application of the Board, order
the name of such person to be erased from such register;
and such erasure shall be a disqualification as a re¬
gistered pharmaceutical chemist within the meaning of
this Act, and it shall be the duty of the Board to erase
such name accordingly.

17. The Board, shall, in the month of January in each

year, cause to be printed, published, and sold, a correct
register of the names of all the registered pharmaceutical
chemists, and in such registers respectively the names
shall be in alphabetical order, according to the surnames,
with the respective residences of such chemists ; and such
printed register shall be called “ The Pharmaceutical
Register of New Zealand for 18 ,” and for every suc¬

ceeding year.

18. A printed copy of such register for the time being,
purporting to be printed and published with the authority
of the Board as aforesaid, or a copy of the Government
Gazette purporting to contain regulations made by the
Board, shall be primd facie evidence in all courts of
justice and in all legal proceedings whatsoever that the
persons specified in such printed register are registered
according to the provisions of this Act, or that such
regulations were duly made; and the absence of the
name of any person from such printed register for the
time being shall be evidence until the contrary shall be

made to appear that such person is not a registered phar¬
maceutical chemist.

Part III.

Registered Pharmaceutical Chemists.

19. Any person who, at the time of the passing of this
Act, shall have attained the age of twenty-one years, and

(1.) At any time before the date of the commencement
of this Act shall for not less than two months
have carried on the business of a chemist and
druggist or homoeopathic chemist, in the keeping
of an open shop for the compounding and dis¬
pensing of the prescriptions of legally qualified
medical practitioners ; or

(2.) At any time before the date of the commencement
of this Act shall for not less than six months
have been employed as a dispensing assistant in
an open shop in New Zealand for the com¬
pounding and dispensing of the prescriptions of
legally qualified medical practitioners, or shall
have been for not less than three years em¬
ployed as a dispensing chemist in an hospital,
charitable institution, or other public institution
in New Zealand; or

(3.) Holds a certificate or diploma of competency as a
pharmaceutical chemist, or as a chemist and
druggist, or homoeopathic chemist, from the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, or
any college or Board of Pharmacy recognized
by the Board under any regulations made under
this Act, — -

shall be entitled to be registered as a pharmaceutical
chemist without being subjected to examination.

A certificate of qualification, in the form of the third
schedule hereto, shall entitle the person named therein,
on payment of the proper fee, to be registered under this
Act at any time within six months after the date of such
certificate.

20. The Board shall have full power and authority,
and are hereby authorized and empowered to examine all
persons who shall present themselves for examination
under the provisions of this Act in their knowledge of
the Latin language, in botany, in materia medica, and in
pharmaceutical and general chemistry, and such other
subjects as may from time to time be determined by any
bye-law : Provided that such examination shall not
include the theory and practice of medicine, surgery and
midwifery ; and the said examiners are hereby em¬
powered to grant or refuse to such persons, as in their
discretion may seem fit, certificates of competent skill
and knowledge and qualification to exercise the business
or calling of pharmaceutical chemists : Provided, further,
that all duly registered medical practitioners shall on
application be entitled to be registered as pharmaceutical
chemists.

The Board may from time to time appoint examiners
to carry out the examinations under this Act.

21. Every person who desires a certificate of qualifica¬
tion for registration under this Act, or to be examined
by the Board, shall furnish the Board with a statutory
declaration according to the fourth schedule, or to the
like effect.

Where a person applies for such certificate under sub¬
section 1 of section 19 his declaration must be accom¬
panied by the statutory declaration of a justice or legally
qualified medical practitioner, in the form in the fifth
schedule or to the like effect, that such justice or practi¬
tioner from his own knowledge believes the statement of
the applicant to be correct and true.

Where a person applies for such certificate under sub¬
section 2 of section 19 his declaration must be accom¬
panied by a statutory declaration, in the form in the
sixth schedule or to the like effect, of the person in
whose shop he was employed, or of the governor or super¬
intendent of the public institution in which he served,
that the statement of the applicant is correct and true.

November 13, 1880.J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

403

Where a person applies for such certificate under sub'
section 3 of section 19 his declaration must be accom
panied by the certificates or diplomas on which he base
his application. Such certificates or diplomas shall be
returned to the applicant by the Board.

Part IY.

Miscellaneous.

22. Any person registered under this Act who sells
or offers for sale any drug which is adulterated, shall,
notwithstanding any enactment to the contrary, be deemed
to have knowledge of such adulteration unless the con¬
trary be proved by such person.

23. Nothing herein contained shall extend to or inter¬
fere with the business or with any rights and privileges
of any legally qualified medical practitioner, or of any
member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons of
Great Britain, nor with the business of wholesale dealers
in supplying drugs and chemicals in the ordinary course
of wholesale dealing; and upon the decease of any regis¬
tered pharmaceutical chemist actually in business at the
time of his death it shall be lawful for any executor,
administrator, or trustee of the estate of such pharma¬
ceutical chemist to continue such business for a period of
twelve months and no longer, unless by permission of the
Board of Pharmacy of New Zealand, if and so long as
such business is bond fide conducted by a registered
pharmaceutical chemist.

24. Any registrar or other person who shall wilfully
make or cause to be made any falsification in any matter
relating to the Pharmaceutical Register of New Zealand,
or the Pharmaceutical Register of New Zealand for any
year, and any person who shall wilfully procure or attempt
to procure himself to be registered under this Act by
making or producing or causing to be made or produced
any false or fraudulent representation or declaration,
either verbally or in writing, and any one aiding or
assisting therein, shall be deemed guilty of a misde¬
meanour punishable by fine or imprisonment, and shall
on conviction be liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty
pounds, or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding
twelve months.

25. From and after the passing of this Act, it shall not
be lawful for any person, not duly registered as a phar¬
maceutical chemist according to the provisions of this
Act, to assume or use the title of pharmaceutical chemist,
pharmaceutist, chemist and druggist, dispensing chemist,
or other words of similar import, in any part of New
Zealand, or to assume, use, or exhibit any name, title, or
sign implying that he is registered under this Act, or that
he is a member of the said Society ; and if any person,
not being duly registered under this Act, shall assume or
use the title of pharmaceutical chemist, pharmaceutist,
chemist and druggist, dispensing chemist, or other words
of similar import, or shall use assume, or exhibit any
name, title, or sign implying that he is a person registered
under this Act, or that he is a member of the said
Society, every such person shall be liable to a penalty
of £5.

26. All offences under this Act shall be adjudicated on
amd all penalties imposed by this Act shall be recovered
in a summary manner before a resident magistrate or
two justices of the peace , and all penalties when re¬
covered shall be paid to the Board to be applied towards
the expenses of carrying this Act into effect.

Schedules.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists.

Name.

Residence.

Qualification.

Date of
Registration.

A. B., President ) of the Pharmacy
C. D., Member > Board of New
E. F., Member ) Zealand.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

Fees Payable tinder “ The Pharmacy Act, 1880.”

. £ s. d.

h or every examination before the Board 3 3 0

On registration as a pharmaceutical che¬
mist without examination — section 19,
sub-sections (1), (2), and (3) . . . . 2 2 0

On registration in every other case . . 110

THIRD SCHEDULE.

Certificate of qualification for registration as a registered
pharmaceutical chemist under “ The Pharmacy Act
1880.” J

We do hereby certify that , residing at

, in the provincial district of
New Zealand, is duly qualified for registration as a
registered pharmaceutical chemist on the grounds set
forth at the foot of this certificate.

Dated at , this day of

188 . J

President, (l.s.)

Member, (l.s.)

Member, (l.s.)

Registrar, (l.s.)

FOURTH SCHEDULE.

“ Pharmacy Act, 1880.”

Declaration by a person who was in business as a che¬
mist and druggist, or who was employed as a dispensing
assistant in some pharmacy before the date of the com¬
mencement of “The Pharmacy Act, 1880.”

I, , residing, at , in

do solemnly and sincerely declare that I have attained
the age of twenty-one years, and that I carried on the
business of a chemist and druggist [or homoeopathic che¬
mist] in the keeping of an open shop for the compounding
and dispensing of the prescriptions of legally qualified
medical practitioners [or was employed as a dispensing
assistant in an open shop for the compounding and dis¬
pensing of the prescriptions of legally qualified medical
practitioners] at the places and during the pei'iods under¬
mentioned, on or before the day of

18 , to wit

And I make this solemn declaration, etc.

^ A. B.

Declared at , in the , this

day of 188 , before me. C. D.

FIFTH SCHEDULE.

Declaration to be signed by a justice of the peace or
legally qualified medical practitioner respecting a per¬
son who was in business as a chemist and druggist
before “ The Pharmacy Act, 1880.”

To the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand.

_ , residing at , in the provincial

district of , do hereby declare that I am a

justice of the peace for the colony of New Zealand [or
a legally qualified medical practitioner], and that to my
knowledge , residing at , in the pro¬
vincial district of , was in business as

during the period oT periods stated in his declaration
dated the , 188 , and set out in the margin

hereof, and that I believe the statements in his declara¬
tion to be true and correct.

And I make this solemn declaration, etc.

A. B.

Declared at , in the , this

day of , 188 , before me.

C. D.

SIXTH SCHEDULE.

Declaration to be signed by master chemist and druggist
as to service of dispensing assistant or apprentice.

To the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand.

I, _ , residing at , in the provincial

district of , do hereby declare that I am a

registered pharmaceutical chemist [or a pharmaceutical
chemist and druggist, as the case may be], and that

404

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 13, 1880.

, residing at , in the provincial

district of , was employed as a dispensing

assistant [or as apprentice] in my open shop at
during the period undermentioned : —

From ,18 ,

To ,18 .

And I make this solemn declaration, etc.

A.B.

Declared at , in the , this

day of , 188 , before me. C. D.

IjUbieto.

Die Quebracho Rinde. Botanisch-Pharmakognostische

Studie von Dr. Adolph Hansen. Berlin: Julius

Springer. 1880. Small 4to. 26 pp., with 3 litho¬
graphic plates.

This is one of those exhaustive treatises, hardly ex¬
pected from any other quarter than Germany, which deal
with a subject thoroughly and from every point of view ;
but which are in consequence often ignored or pooh-
poohed as being too prolix. It has the advantage, how¬
ever, of having for its topic a substance about which there
existed previously very little definite information, a lack
which has led to such confusion that perhaps it is no ex¬
aggeration to say that the sudden demand for quebracho
bianco bark, which sprang up in consequence of Dr.
Penzoldt’s researches, has been met in a large proportion
of cases by the supply of another article.

The author, who is an assistant in the Botanical Institute
at Erlangen, deals in the first section of his treatise with
the history and source of the bark. It appears that at¬
tention was first directed to it in 1878, by its occurrence
in a parcel of vegetable drugs sent from the Argentine
Republic to the Erlangen University for investigation,
with a statement that it had been in use during several
years as a febrifuge and that it was looked upon as equal in
activity to the cinchona barks. A chemical examination
undertaken by Herr Fraude resulted in the separation
from it of an alkaloid, which he named aspidospermine,
but which a later investigator thinks identical with
Hesse’s pay tine. Therapeutic experiments with the bark
were carried out by Dr. F. Penzoldt, who though he was
unable to confirm the allegation as to it possessing anti¬
febrile properties announced that it had an extraordinary
power of relieving dyspnoea. This statement caused
many inquiries for the bark, and the fact that it was
almost unknown and bore a name common to at least
three other barks gave rise to the confusion before re¬
ferred to.

“ Quebracho ” is a word meaning literally “ to break
the axe,” and appears to have been applied to certain
trees because of the hardness of their wood. The
principal were “ quebracho bianco ” and “ quebracho
Colorado,” and one traveller, Jacques, speaking in 1867
of these two kinds together, says that the wood is so
extraordinarily close in texture and hard that it might be
substituted for iron in the axles of waggons and the
rollers in Bugar-cane pressers. The adjectives have
reference, however, not to the colour of the bark, as is
sometimes assumed, but to the colour of the wood, which
in the case of the “Colorado” is described by Burmeister
as being of a blood-red colour and becoming after a time
quite black, whilst the “bianco” wood remains quite
white. This traveller met with both kinds of tree
in the La Plata States, and being unable himself
to determine them botanically he sent specimens of
branches and fruit of quebracho bianco to Schlechtendal,
who identified them as belonging to a species of Aspido-
sperma (Apocynacese), whichhenamed A. Quebracho-bianco;
but he also assumed that the quebracho Colorado, bearing
the same trivial name, must belong to the same genus,
and without seeing any specimens named it A. Quebracho-
colorado. This error was pointed out in 1872 by Grisebach,
who eventually referred this tree to the terebinthaceous

genus Loxopterygium , and named it L. Lorentzii, so that
the confusion with respect to the bark is only a repetition
of this mistake concerning the parent tree.

The Aspidosperma Quebracho-bianco , to which our
attention must be limited in this notice, is described as
being a tall tree having a perfectly straight stem of about
2 to 3 feet in circumference, and a moderately sized oval
crown, which, however, can be seen through in every
part ; the extremities of the branches are pendent
something like those of the Salix babylonica. The leaves
are in triple whorls, leathery, lanceolate, entire, smooth,
with scarcely prominent nerves, on both sides alike, and
ending in a sharp thorn. The flowers are in cymes.
In its inflorescence it approaches most closely to
Aspidospermum nobile, A. pyri folium, A. subincanum, and
A. tomentosum, while in its leaves it resembles A. parvi-
folium. but differs from it in the thorny spine and the
whorled arrangement.

The author next proceeds to a description of the bark,
for which he was able to use some of the same parcel as
that used by Fraude and Penzoldt, as well as specimens
obtained from other sources, and as this section presents
the most practical interest to the pharmacist we shall
quote from it rather fully. In the original work, how¬
ever, the descriptions are greatly assisted by a large
number of admirably drawn and some coloured figures.

The Aspidosperma bark which comes into commerce is
taken from old trees, which might be seventy or eighty
years of age. The pieces have a thickness of from 20 to
30 millimetres. In proportion to its dimensions the
development of corky layer is very great, extending
sometimes to one-half or even more of the entire sub¬
stance of the bark. Young pieces of bark in which cork
has not yet formed are seldom met with. Externally the
tissue converted into cork differs from the unchanged
tissue very sharply and distinctly. A smoothly cut trans¬
verse section through the entire bark shows two layers,
differing much in colour and structure, separated by a
sharp boundary line, and usually nearly equal in thickness.

The outer layer is deeply fissured, rough, and ridged,
whilst the inner layer forms a band of nearly uniform
breadth. Under a lens these layers are seen to be not
homogeneous in structure. The outer corky layer i3
externally of a smutty grey colour, covered here and there
with remains of lichens ; where the grey covering is
removed it is reddish-yellow. The bulk of the corky
layer consists of an ochre-yellow mass, through which
run tangentially serpentine lines of nearly uniform breadth
and approximately in the same direction. Between
these dirty yellow lines numerous whitish granules are
scattered throughout the mass.

The inner layer shows, when slightly magnified by a
lens, only two constituents : a clove- brown mass, through
which a large number of whitish granules are scattered as
in the corky layer. These characters appear more distinct
when the surface of the section is slightly moistened.

Whilst the cork of bark taken from different trees
always presents a similar appearance, the colour of the
inner layer of the bark varies frequently, the pure clove-
brown often showing lighter or impure shades, or being
quite light or almost yellowish-white. This under the
microscope is seen to be due to the absence of colouring
matter from the parenchyma cells, which usually are cin¬
namon-brown coloured, very variable in size, with unequal
and irregularly thickened walls, and contain much starch
and a light brown granular substance.

The bark is tolerably hard, easily crumbling when cut ;
the inner side, which originally was nearest the trunk,
shows a fibrous splintery fracture. These details, especi¬
ally with the help of the drawings, show that recognition
of the bark is easy, as it does not resemble any other
known. The exterior corky layer, especially, is character¬
istic, on account of its constant colour and structure.

The principal microscopic features of the bark are the
numerous cork bands and the sclerenchymatous cells.
The latter constitute the whitish points before referred to

November 13, 1S80.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

405

as being apparent in both layers. They occur in groups
and in both layers are alike in form and general appear¬
ance; but those in the inner bark have dark yellow
contents, the chemical nature of which has not yet been
cleared up. rl he principal mass of these cells are com¬
pressed, with strongly thickened membranes, clearly
showing layers, and nearly equal in dimensions in each
direction, and consequently are what are sometimes called
short stone cells. Among them, however, are some cells
that are nearly circular in transverse section and in
longitudinal section are seen to be bast cells of consider¬
able length and spindle-shaped at both ends. They occur
not only in the groups of sclerenchymatous cells, but also
isolated, though in considerable number, in the paren¬
chyma. Each of these bast cells is closely covered with
a kind of sheath made up of angular cells each containing
a crystal of oxalate of lime. Dr. Hansen calls them,
therefore, “ sclerenchymatous fibre ” and considers them
to form a most characteristic feature of the bark when
examined microscopically. But the appropriateness of
this name has been recently questioned by Mr. Greenish,
and it may be mentioned that Professor FlUckiger, who
first observed this peculiar feature in a false cinchona
bark, speaks of it as a bast tube accompanied by crystal-
bearing parenchyma ( “ jede Bastrohre begleitet ist von
levy stall fuhrenden Parenchyma")* Moreover, it is
worthy of note that in a paper which recently appeared
in this Journal, + Dr. Wulfsberg speaks of the crystal¬
line sheaths of the bast fibre as characteristic of species
of A sp'dosperma and not of quebracho bianco alone.

Passing by a histological chapter on the development
of the bark, we come to one on false quebracho barks, in
which the author describes two that have been met with
in commerce substituted for Aspidosperma bark. One of
these is copalchi bark, from the Croton Pseudochina ,
Schlecht., of the family Euphorbiaceae. This bark, which
presents no similarity to quebracho bark, though at
first it was freely substituted for it, occurs in commerce
in tolerably long quills, 1 to 5 millimetres thick, covered
externally with a dirty white cork that is more or less
fissured and can be rubbed off in powder. A section
shows a yellowish- white outer bark and a dark brown
inner bark, formed from the bast portion of the stem.
The other false bark is a hard, uniformly dark brown
bark, covered with a whitish to greyish-brown cork, and
having numerous furrows upon the inner side. Its bota¬
nical origin is unknown.

There is also another chapter on the wood of Aspi¬
dosperma Quebracho , which is said to have an action
similar to that of the bark, but weaker, and to be some¬
times used instead of it. Altogether the work is an
admirable contribution to the history of the subject, and
those who may wish to know more of the bark, even if
they cannot . read German, will be able to consult the
capital drawings with profit.

(ffrituaru.

GO

gispcitsmg glenroranira.

hJVi ordeT to assist as much as possible our younger
6ref7irm,/or whose sake partly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of siipposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in

S & irUd SU"est that those who meet

with difficulties should before sending them search previous

i the/ournal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

M.

[449] With reference to your note on the “hypophos-
phites m “The Month,” I beg to say that the liq.
hypophosph, co. is prescribed by Dr. Churchill, who
pubhshed the formula in the British Medical Journal of
March 27, 1880. _ W. H. Richardson.

.any furttier testimony in support of the
Editor s opinion as expressed in “ The Month ” is required,
perhaps the following prescription by an eminent Edin-

suffice Practltloner> Just handed in to be dispensed, may

Ung.Petrofci . ! %*.

big. Eye Salve. To be used at bed time.

D. F. McD.

[451]. The British Pharmacopoeia, 1864, under “ Hy-
drarg. Chloridum,” says, see Hydrarg. Corrosiv. Sublimat.
In Pereiras ‘Materia Medica ’ (1849) hyd. chlor. is given
as a synonym of both the sub- and perchlorides In the
same work (p. 847) occurs the following statement*—

One of the inconveniences attending the alteration of
.e atomic weights is that the name (chloride of mercury)
formerly applied to calomel) is now transferred to cor¬
rosive sublimate.”

On the other hand, most of the Pharmacopoeias, in-
eluding the B.P., 1867, P.L., 1851, U.S.P. (5th revision),
the French, German and Indian, either do not mention
hyd. chlor. unqualified, or else indicate clearly that the
subchloride only is meant by that name.

Consequently, although there are authorities for both
renderings, the weight of evidence on the ground of
nomenclature is certainly in favour of hydrarg. subchlor.
being used in the prescription submitted by J. G. P. S.

But the question must also be regarded from a physio¬
logical point of view, which in ,the case of hyd. chlor. is
far more important than that of nomenclature.

t Poth calomel and corrosive sublimate are used in
diseases of the eye. I can find no record of the former
having been used otherwise than in the dry state, half a
grain or more being used for each application. Pereira
says, “It is sometimes blown into the eye to remove
spots on the cornea.”

With reference to corrosive sublimate the same author
remarks, A solution has been employed as a collyrium
in chronic diseases of the eye, especially those'' of a
venereal nature.”

Notice has been received of the death of the fol¬
lowing : —

On the 19th of October, 1880, Mr. Verdon Dearden,
Chemist and Druggist, Heeley, near Sheffield. Aged 62
years.

On the 31st of October, 1880, Mr. James Border
Searle, Chemist and Druggist, Gunnislake, Cornwall.
Aged 71 years.

On the 6th of November, 1880, Mr. John Douglas,
Chemist and Druggist, Dale Street, South Shields. Aged
69 years.

On the /th of November, 1880, Mr. Joshua Stephen
Fletcher, Chemist and Druggist, Breek Road, Everton,
Liverpool. Aged 38 years.

* Neues Jahrbuclx f. Pharmacie , vol. xxxvi., p. 293

T Ante, p. 269.

Mr. Henry Brown instances the use of a solution of
perchloride 2 grains to the ounce. The strength of that
under consideration is 2^ grains to the ounce. Assuming
that calomel was intended, the quantity instilled with
a few drops would be out of all proportion to the amount
generally employed, viz., half a grain; moreover, this sub¬
stance appears to be always used dry.

Considered physiologically then, it seems plain that
corrosive sublimate was intended, and this evidence, I
think, far outweighs a literary quibble over nomen¬
clature.

The diametrically opposite opinions expressed on this
question, the only definite solution of which would be
the decision of the prescriber, clearly indicate how
essential it is that every dispenser should be thoroughly
grounded in the general principles of therapeutics.

R. H. Parker.

406

THU PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (November 13, 1880.

[451]. I do not doubt at all but that calomel was
intended in this prescription, but as some of our friends
seem to ignore the idea that chloral is used in lotions for
the eyes, I may state that I have dispensed three pre¬
scriptions similar to the following within the last three
months, the directions on each being different, but I only
give one, for a young lady : — ■

ft Chloral Hydrate . 3j-

Aqme . . §vj.

M. Ft. lotio.

The lotion is to be applied to the eyes at night or
wdien in pain.

Jacque.

[451]. Your readers know that as a rule I have taken
only up knotty or debatable points in all my contributions.

I have always stuck to my text, or, if I diverged, it was
in the form of a more lucid mode of explanation so as to
elucidate the point at issue. I find your reviewer in
“ The Month” is scarcely up to the good standard of his
general criticisms upon debatable points. He says I state
“ that hyd. chlor. is hyd. perchlor. or corrosive sublimate ;
such a statement must not be allowed to pass without
comment.” I suppose Sir Robert Kane is an authority.
Let anyone refer to his treatise on chemistry. Chloride
of mercury is corrosive sublimate, calomel is subchloride
of mercury, as in our day so designated in the B.P. I
place no reliance in the London Pharmacopoeia in the
decision of this question. The compilers when they
changed the good old name of calomel from “ submurias ”
into “chloridum,” only opened up a door of discussion
in pharmacy, which we, after more than a generation,
still find practically unclosed. Although not in the trade
I feel, after many years medical practice, how a simple
change may give effect to discussion of the character
now before us. If anything were wanted to prove the
usefulness of your “ Memoranda,” the discussion in
regard to query 451 would, I think, suffice.

J. Gr. P. S. asked a question concerning a lotion, and in
the Journal for October 30, Messrs. Coppock, Cowap,
Karl Sang, “Hydrarg,” Mr. Hyslop, A. C. and J. W. all
speak of calomel being blown into the eyes. I was per¬
fectly well aware of the fact ; but what has dry calomel
blown into the eye to do with a lotion ? Dupuytren,
Klugl, van Siebold, Dr. Wells and Mr. Brudenel
Carter have used calomel, as described by your corre¬
spondents. My argument is, and was, that it is corrosive
sublimate that is intended in this instance as hyd. chlor.

Your reviewer of “the Month,” as well as all your
correspondents, have overlooked my last paragraph. In
it I distinctly say, “ but there can be little doubt that
hyd. chlor. in this case means hyd. perchlor., B.P.

I think the argument of the reviewer in “ The Month ”
that if calomel, hyd. subehlor., be used in the dry state
in eye affections ‘ ‘ there is no reason why the same end
should not be sought by dropping the calomel diffused
in fluid into the eye,” is not altogether to the point.
He then expatiates upon the danger, etc., of taking
the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, as a guide. I now reply
the U.S. is a far more excellent guide, as a pharma¬
copoeia, than the British in many matters. Hyd.
chlor. i3 now only given as a synonym in the B.P.,
calomel being called hyd. subchloridum. I am not
disposed to think that any medical man who intended
to use calomel in any eye affection would order 5 grains
with 2 grains of extract of opium to be diffused in 2
ounces of water. To diffuse 1 grain in 192 minims of
fluid, and use this as a lotion, when even in infants half
a grain or [more of calomel is inserted by insufflation
between the eyelids, is what I do not think the pre-
scriber intended. I think no man would be so ignorant
as to give corrosive sublimate in 2 grain doses, as sug¬
gested might be the case by Mr. Cowap, by always
supposing hyd. chlor. meant corrosive sublimate. With
so many synonyms, dispensers must be guided by their
own knowledge of the doses of the two chlorides of
mercury, and also their uses. The recent chemical

names of mercuric and mercurous chlorides have not
solved the difficulty. I believe the old names of bi-
chloride and submuriate are the best, and most free from
the possibility of a mistake as to which chloride is meant.
It might have been better had I added the words “ I
think ” before hyd. chlor., in the Journal of October 23
still, I have most excellent authority for stating what I
did. I quite agree that many medical men are very-
prone to write hyd. chlor. where calomel is intended, it
being the last P.L. name; but I think the intelligent
pharmacist may be left to judge which chloride is meant
in most instances; but this discussion upon the subject
will be beneficial, I have no doubt, in more ways than
one.

One word more in regard to the remarks in “ The
Month.”

The solution is not of excessive strength, as there indi¬
cated. I stated that Dr. Mackenzie used a solution
containing 2 grains to the ounce, and in No. 451, if hyd.
perchlor. was used, 5 grains are in 2 ounces. In many
cases of eye affection a less strength would be of no use.

In Thomson’s ‘ Dispensatory ’ some useful hints are
given, but I think Pereira’s observation is well worth
quoting : ‘ ‘ One of the inconveniences attending the
alteration of the atomic weight is that the name (chloride
of mercury) formerly applied to calomel is now trans¬
ferred to corrosive sublimate.” I find as synonyms,,
chloride, bichloride, hydrochlorate, muriate or oxymuriate
(hydrargyrum chloridum, bichloridum), etc. I may state
I am not disposed to deny that hyd. chlor. may mean
calomel, but I altogether dissent from your reviewer’s
remarks upon the point at issue in “The Month,” and
not one of your correspondents has touched the question
in the Journal of October 30, as dry calomel has nothing
to do with either calomel in a lotion or corrosive subli¬
mate.

Northallerton. Henry Brown.

[461]. B. J. Kent will find salicylic acid the best
solvent for quinise salieylas. Should quin, salicylas be
prescribed with iron, the iron ought to be used as a
solvent then.

“374.”

[461]. The best solvent for “quince salicylas” is the
common acetum of the British Pharmacopoeia.

L. A. U. R. A.

[461]. Mr. J. B. Kent asks, what is the best solvent
for quinae salicylas ? He may either use alcohol, tinct.
aurant., or any other suitable tincture. Heat adds much
to the facility of solution. Water can then be added. I
may state I have found hydrobromic acid a most ex¬
cellent solvent, and in cases of headache the combination
in my hands has been most successful. In rheumatism
the salicylate of quinia is useful as a tonic towards con¬
valescence.

Northallerton. Henry Brown.

[463]. The other night I had a prescription as follows : —

ft Ext. Belladon . 31-

Plumb. Acet . 3j.

Decoct. Papav . §xij.

M. Et. lotio.

I had to use the dec. pav. warm, but in adding the
plumbi acet. an opaque jelly formed. Was it owing to any
mucilaginous principle in the decoct. ?

Stooke.

[464]. What is the dose of carbolate of soda, for
internal use. The sulpho-carbolate is 1 — 20 grs. But^as
the carbolate must apparently be stronger, I should be
obliged if you could inform me of the dose.

Omicron.

[465]. I had the following prescription to dispense the
other day. Was I right in using cold water, and putting.

STovemboi IS, 1680.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

40 7

a S^a^e bottle ” label? As the chlorate did not
all dissolve the customer brought it back, saying it was

quite free from sediment the first time he had it
made up.

R Potass. Chlorat . 76 e-r

Glycerine . . ^iv.

Aq. Bull . ad ^ij.

.Ft. mist. A teaspconful for a dose. John.

(ilmresponCmue.

* notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
tor publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

[466]. Can. the following prescription be dispensed,
without addition or alteration, to form a good permanent
creamy lotion ?

As I make it a. separation takes place in the course of
a few hours, and in a week or ten days decomposition sets
in; all flavour of rose is destroyed and from bad it goes to
worse, until unfit, for use. It is said to have been dis¬
pensed to keep without separation or change.

R Liq. Potassfe . . 7A\%

Aquae . Zj ‘

01. Olivae . 'lyj

Attar Eosae . Jil iv.

Aquae . . ad ^viij.

± t. lotio, nocte maneque utend.

Karl Sang.

[467]. The other day a liniment was dispensed by me
•containing —

R Acid. Acet. Glacial. . . Aiij.

01. Terebinth.,

Camphorae ....... aa 3iss.

I dispensed it, and it was quite transparent. The lady
for whom it was said that the last time she had it made
it was very nearly opaque ; so I thought I would try ex¬
actly reversing the order in which they were placed, and
the result was that I got a very nearly opaque liniment.
Can any reader kindly inform me how this is ?

Fred. G. Walton.

The Benevolent Fund.

^ am frequently being reminded by circular from
the Secretary of the Society, appealing on behalf of the
benevolent Fund. I for some time was a subscriber (cer-
;iainlJ a heayy one)> but latterly have discontinued for
the following reason : — I do not feel justified in assisting
those who do nothing to further the good ends of pharmacy.
I contend that those who have been supporters of the
Society or its funds, and have by unforeseen circum¬
stances failed to secure a fund of their own, wherewith
to support infirmness, old age, etc., have a prior claim
on our charity to those who have done nothing whatever
but plod along the road of buying and selling, making n
advancement in the sciences, subscribing to none of the
funds, following up by abusing the Pharmaceutical Society,
brooding over the laws of our constitution as affecting their
interests, encouraging an inherent spirit of dissent, and
failing to see the vast advantages of supporting the cause of
unity ; and when poverty comes down upon them the bitter
feeling invariably adheres to them, that the Pharmaceutical
bociety is a nuisance. Still after all this, they put in a
claim, and at present an equal claim to the Society’s sup¬
porters, for the benevolence of those to whom they bear an
amount of animosity. I do not, therefore, feel myself justi-
fied m subscribing to those funds under the existing rules.
After those who have supported the cause and have become
candidates have been _ elected, give outsiders a chance if
there is room after their election ; then I will again become
a supporter of the Benevolent Fund.

W. R. F.

Ifcries mtir (Queries.

[685]. Mr. W. M. Covell’s question relating to his ex¬
periment is very indefinite. Mr. C. ought to question
himself about the nature of H202 before trying such an
expensive experiment. Perhaps his object is to convert
aqua ros® into peroxide of hydrogen, and receive the
price of H202 from his patient or customer — a good idea, if
it could be accomplished. He may have written his
symbol wrong for rose water, %x instead of gx. I am not
surprised he failed to accomplish his object. Unless Mr.
C. requires the rose water simply as a perfume, I do not
understand what his question is ; supposing he desired the
preparation perfumed with roses, why not use a few
drops of otto of rose, and then his ideas could be carried
into effect for his perfumed hair dressing preparation
successfully ?

I should recommend Mr. W. M. Covell to consult Dr.
Attfield’s formula on the subject, i.e., peroxide of barium
(Ba02) is formed on passing air over baryta heated to low
redness. By the action of dilute hydrochloric acid it
yields solution of peroxide of hydrogen (H202) or oxy¬
genated water.

Jno. H. Edward.

[686], MARKING INK. — “Agnos ” would be glad
of a good form for a marking ink, well proved, easily
made, and that will not burn the linen or wash out.
“Agnos” has tried a formula of Professor Redwood’s, in
Beasley ; but finds this does not turn a good black when
ironed, and washes either quite out or yellow. As this
form is held to be exceptionally good, he would be glad
to bow whether there is any chance of an error in the
mixing, or whether the ingredients may have caused some
•unexpected reaction.

Exemption from Jury Service.

Sir,— In reading the leading article of the Pharmaceutical
Journal for October 30, I was struck with the apparent dis¬
similarity of views contained therein. On page 355, I read
“In the abstract the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society
has recognized the principle that chemists and druggists, like
pharmaceutical chemists, should be exempt from serving on
juries,” and “ The Council has also obtained recognition of
this principle by the Legislature.”

_ On page 356, whilst admitting the justification for exemp¬
tion, the writer refuses to recognize the assumption that
there is a close similarity or identity between the duties in
which both classes are engaged as servants of the public.
Why does he not state “ what the principle of our claim is”
according to his view ? He is correct probably in saying
our trade chiefly consists in the sale of proprietary articles
and patent medicines; but we country chemists also enjoy a
fair proportion of dispensing of prescriptions from London
physicians and others, though there is room for a larger
share ; it is in a large measure a question of degree only.
I am proud to say I lived with a London chemist who was
a shining star in the pharmaceutical world. But did we not
sell proprietary articles and patent medicines and cattle
medicines also? Yes, and I doubt if his business in these
articles was second to any in London. We country chemists
welcome the day when “ chemists only ” shall dispense, then
let “doctors only” prescribe, I have troubled you with
this correspondence having had to obey a jury summons
myself, but fortunately was released after the first day,
through writing to the judge and handing in a letter from a
doctor ; it was with great reluctance and after some hesita¬
tion that I was permitted to stay away. Had I served
“during the assizes” as ordered, I should have been wholly
prevented from attending to my business for three days,
which is rather severe, no matter how humble a chemist’s
business may be.

I trust the Trade Association will succeed in passing a
bill to exempt all chemists, whether in England, Scotland or
Wales, from serving on juries now that there is a complete
list of all who are in business.

Milton. Arthur Stooke.

408

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 13, I860.

The Future of Pharmacy.

Sir, — Perhaps you will allow me to make a few remarks
upon the inaugural address delivered by the President of
the Metropolitan Chemists and Druggists’ Assistants’ As¬
sociation, on October 13. Touching upon the future of
pharmacy, Mr. F. W. Branson states that “ without the
improved condition of the pharmacist himself, legislative
protective enactments will avail but little.” If Mr. Bran¬
son had just reversed his statement, I think, he would
have come nearer to the great evil existing at present, for
I am of opinion that, without “legislative protective enact¬
ments,” or an amendment of the Pharmacy Act, our well-
earned qualifications will “avail but little;” and if Mr.
Branson would take the trouble to inquire regarding the
education of chemists and pharmacists throughout Britain,
he will find, perhaps to his own surprise, that we are
abreast of the age so far as our business, “ scientific pur¬
suit” or profession is concerned. Mr. Branson suggests
some “ brilliant improvements ” in the examination code,
from which one might safely conclude that he (Mr. Bran¬
son) has passed the required examinations; nevertheless,
there is no reason, except that of selfishness, for supporting
or allowing to pass unnoticed such uncalled-for proposals.
I presume to say, that the examinations, as they are now
conducted, give ample proof of the safety which both the
profession and public enjoy, and if Mr. Branson (so full of
suggestions) could devise a sure method of widening the
minds of a great portion of our medical brethren, and
securing their co-operation, we might be able, with our
present amount of pharmaceutical education, to raise our
calling considerably in the eyes of the public.

G. S. I., Associate.

The Dispensing of Prescriptions in the Provinces.

Sir, — A champion has been found “ to take up arms in
behalf of the country chemist ” when no such person
was required. I refer to the position taken up by “ Filius”
in his letter in Journal of date November 6. The “ asser¬
tion” I made was borne out by facts which have come
under my own notice, and did not, as “Filius” seems to
imply, from his taking “up arms in their behalf,” apply
to country chemists as a body; but, of course, “Filius”
seems to forget that there are “ black sheep ” in our flock
alike in town and country, and immediately “ takes up
arms in behalf of the country chemists.”

I do not wish to discuss the question why “ town chemists
should look down upon their fellows,” it being a question
requiring a good deal of proof, nor follow “ Filius” deeply
into his calculation about dispensing, merely giving it as
my idea that in the case of dispensing it is the quality, and
not the quantity, that will establish a chemist’s reputation,
but shall borrow from his reference to the “doctor’s better
half” in “his own town” doing all the dispensing, and
give it as a “wrinkle,” only from an economic point of
view, however, to the trade at large. I would humbly
suggest to “ Filius,” when “ it vexes him very much to
hear that sneering tone in which country chemists are
spoken of,” to refrain from “ sneering ” at his “ town
brethren ” on account of, according to his idea, their want
of knowledge of “ animal ” medicines, and to bear in mind
that, strictly speaking, it is as little the province of the
country chemist as it is of the town to “prescribe ” animal
or orther medicines.

Much against my inclination, and in spite of a strong
aversion to take notice of anonymous correspondence, I
have considered it necessary so make these remarks on the
letter in Journal of November 6, by “ Filius.”

Edinburgh. James D. Robertson.

Sir, — I am in the habit, from time to time, of reading, with
pleasure, the Pharmaceutical Journal but I must say that
your impression of last week was read, by me with very
different feelings when I came to the letter signed “Filius;”
and if this be a sample of the country chemist, I can well
understand his brothers of the “town ” looking down upon
him.

“Filius” is not content with differing from Mr. J. D.
Robertson, but he must needs defend himself by most un¬
warrantable and false remarks on the dispensing of the
country medical man.

“ Filius ” admits that there is not one-twentieth part of
the dispensing to do in the country as in town, and he
assumes that those in practice before the passing of the Act
are qualified by experience to dispense as well as the

doctor’s “ unqualified assistant ” or “ boy in buttons,” and
I will add, perhaps no better. Does ‘Filius” not know
that a medical man with a large mixed country practice
puts up more prescriptions in one day than he does, in
perhaps three months, and on that accouut alone, to say
nothing of his three or five years’ apprenticeship, gets more
experience in dispensing than “Filius” appropriates to
himself?

I should like to know how “ Filius” obtained his experi¬
ence of the contents of a bottle of medicine “ as sent out
from a surgery,” and put up or prescribed by a medical
man. It surely cannot be as an eye-witness, as I should
think no medical man would allow “ Filius,” if he knew
him by name, on his premises.

“Filius” must continue to be vexed by the “sneering
tone in which country chemists are spoken of,” if he con¬
tinues to write in such a manner of medical men, who are
as superior to him, as from the tenor of his letter, I should
say, town chemists are ; for I feel sure that no London
chemist would have written in such a manner to your
Journal.

A (sometime) Country Doctor.

The Prescribing of Special Preparations.

Sir, — Considerable discussion has recently taken place on
the subject of pharmaceutical education and the adoption of
a compulsory curriculum, with the object of training up a
body of men who shall be competent to make pharmaceutical
preparations and dispense the prescriptions of medical men.

The following prescription was handed to me a day or
two ago : —

!£> Tinct. Cinch. ; . ^iv.

' Special. (T. W. N.)

Corby n and Co.

Do you not think ten months’ study and the passing of
two stringent examinations will be so much time wasted,
when I am asked to prepare prescriptions like the above,
for it is evident the medical man who wrote the prescription
doubts the competency of chemists in general being able to-
prepare tincture of bark? Certainly such prescriptions
will not stimulate me to pass the ‘ ‘ Major,” as I am already
“One who has passed the Minor.”

A. E. Lomax. — Recipes for the preparation of weather
glasses will be found in vol. i. of the present series of this
Journal, p. 437 (requiring proof spirit instead of rectified
spirit) and p. 457.

J. B. — See Mr. Thresh’s paper on “ Soluble Essence of
Ginger,” in vol. x., p. 193.

H. A. — The following are the standard works on the
subject; but it should be remembered that introductory
works are required by a beginner: — Wilson’s ‘ Bryologia
Britannica (scarce) ; Mudd’s ‘ Manual of British Lichens ’
(scarce); Leighton’s ‘Handbook of British Lichens’ (scarce);
Cook’s ‘ Handbook of British Fungi,’ 2 vols. ; Berkeley’s
‘Outlines of British Fungology.’ 13 raith waite’s ‘Mono¬
graphs of British Mosses ’ is in the course of publication in
parts. (1) Lunularia vulgaris; (2) Parmelia physodes ;
(3) Cladonia pyxidata; (4) Xylaria hy poxy l on ; (5)

Polyporus versicolor; (6) Stereum, probably rugosum ;
(7) Oak spangles: see Museum Catalogue, p. 254, No. 778.

Irwin. — New Remedies could probably be obtained direct
from the publishers, Messrs. Wood and Co., Great Jones
Street, New York, or through Messrs Trubner, of Ludgate
Hill, or any other foreign bookseller.

Messrs. Neivmun and Co. — We are not aware that the
paragraph you refer to does you any injustice, or that it
has any relation to you.

A. P. B. — The following is the equation given in Watts’s
Dictionary, vol. iii., p. 202 : 5PH2=P2H+3PH3.

F. W. E. S. is recommended to address his question to
the Inland Revenue authorities.

A. L. T. — See Mr. Howden’s paper on “ Pharmacy in the
United States,” Pharm. Journ., [3], vol. i., p. 461.

Alpha. — Rosolic acid is produced by the oxidation of
phenol in the presence of alkalies. See Watts’s Dictionary,
vol. v., p. 116. *

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Sawer, Goddard, Siebold, Johnson, Modlen, Foun¬
tain, Huskisson, Secretary of Society of Arts, Euryowie,
Euonynim, Provincial Chemist, Calcis Phosphas, Acacia,
Dartmoor, Cordial, Q., F. S. M., T. P. J., F. W. E. S.

November 20, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

409

NOTES ON PATCHOULI.’

BY J. CH. SAWER.

The identity of the plant furnishing this perfume
has been the subject of articles in this Journal since
the year 1844,* * * § but the first mention of it in a
pharmaceutical paper seems to be in the Journal de
Pharmacie, 1826.t The first parcel of the leaf
offered at public sale in London was in 1844, and
it was bought in at 65. per lb. Since that date the
trade in these leaves and the oil has enormously
increased, the number of bales imported into London
during the last twelve months having been from 300
to 400 bales of 2 cwt. each. It is stated by Dr. Piesse
that “its consumption in the perfumery trade of
Europe is something beyond belief, and in the last
edition of his work on perfumery he says that
“were the otto cheaper its consumption could be
increased tenfold.” This book is dated 1879 ; the
average price, first-hand, during that year was 3s.
per oz. in London ; it is now only Is. 7<, and leaves
have been sold at from 3 \d. to 9 d. per lb., according
to quality.

The bulk of the enormous quantity of leaves
harvested and of the oil goes direct from its place of
production to Mecca, the Arabs believing in its
health-giving properties and in its power of warding
off fever and sickness. During the last five years
China and Japan have adopted it for similar reasons.
As a perfume it has much more popularity amongst
Orientals than amongst Europeans ; still, if the
European consumption alone increases in the ratio
predicted by Dr. Piesse, consumers will naturally
inquire into the causes which influence so large a
market, held in a few hands and based on the
supply of a plant of which very little is known in
Europe.

The generally accepted name, “ Pogostemon Patch¬
ouli? originated by Pelletier-Sautelet,§ and the mi¬
nute botanical description of that plant given by
him in vol. viii. of this Journal, may apply to a
variety of the true plant or a plant yielding a some¬
what similar perfume, but the plant as it grows
wild in Province Wellesley doe3 not flower ; neither
does the variety which is cultivated at Singapore.
Still Bentham was of opinion that Pelletier’s plant
was identical, or not really specifically distinct from
his Pogostemo'i intermedins || of Silhet, Penang and
the opposite shore of the Malay peninsula, or from
P. parviflo'rus of Silhet, Assam and Saharunpur, or
even from P. Heyneanus of Ceylon, Java, etc., which
Drury describes as “ probably merely a variety with
larger spikes and more drooping in habit,” and says
that it is found wild in the Concans, and that it is
probably Rheede’s synonym “ cottam

Apparently there are several varieties of this
plant. It is found in many other places than those
above-named ; in Ceylon, China, Java, Mauritius,
etc. Its native locality may not have so wide a
range, but it has most likely been introduced for
cultivation at many of those places. The plant
does not grow to any extent on the island of Pe¬

* Pharm. Journ., [1J, vol. iv., p. 80; vol. vi., p. 432; vol.
viii., p. 574 ; vol. ix., p. 282, and iv. (3rd series), p. 362.

f Vol. xii., p. 61.

4 Garden , Nov. 24, 1877.

§ Mem. de la Soc. Roy. des Sciences d’ Orleans, V. n. 6,
1845, and Benth. in De Cand. Prodr., xii., p. 153 ; also
Hooker’s Journ. of Bot. and Kew Mis., i., pp. 22 and 328.

II ‘ Wall. Cat.,’ 2327.

* Hort. Mai./ x., t. 77.

Third Series, No. 543.

nang, but a plant said to have been obtained from
thence was introduced into the Botauic Garden at
Calcutta, and during ten years showed no dispo¬
sition to blossom. Other specimens flowered in the
stoves at Kew and at Orleans ; others received from
Louis Van Houtte of Ghent, and grown in the
moist stove here, have not attempted to flower,
although they otherwise throve exceedingly and
agreed in the structure of leaf and stalk with the
figure of the Kew plant. The only variety known
to flower (if really it be a variety of the same plant)
grows on one of the islands near Sourabaya, south¬
east of Sumatra ; the leaf is odorous, though not so
broadly ovate and with shorter pedicels, and it -is
grown simply for the flowers, which are sold in
large quantities for a medicinal purpose in the
various markets of Java, and fetch a high price.

The difficulty of obtaining accurate botanical do-
tails of these plants is great, but there are no doubt
many varieties, and all labiate plants, especially the
mints, are apt to take a character and habit not true
to the original plant, when transplanted to a climate
or soil other than is natural to them ; and under such
conditions the development of odorous properties is
as much changed as is the development of medicinal
properties in many drug-yielding plants. To in¬
stance the former I may mention the lavender and
the peppermint, and regarding the latter, Dr. Hooker
observes, in the introductory essay to his ‘ Flora
Indica/ that the most conspicuous Indian examples
are presented by the opium poppy, mudar ( Calotrop'is )
and the Ganabis sativa or common hemp of England,
which yields “bhang” and “chirris” in varying
quantities and of different quality very much in pro¬
portion to the humidity of the soil and climate it
grows in. The digitalis grown in the Himalaya is
said to have proved almost inert, and so with other
plants which have been cultivated for medicinal
and economic purposes. The wood of the English-
grown Lebanon cedars differs greatly in colour,
hardness and odour, and the wood of the English
oak grown at the Cape of Good Hope is worthless.
The patchouli plant cultivated at Singapore is of
course not propagated by seed, as it never flowers.
It may be a hybrid, and if its difference of odour be
not attributable to this cause it may be to the drying,
fermenting and distilling processes being carried on
in a different way to that adopted in Province
Wellesley. These reasons may also account in some
measure for the differences observed in the Chinese
oil of peppermint.

Inquiring into the causes which influence the price
of any volatile oil, we find that besides supply and
demand, quality is considered, depending on freedom
from adulteration and careful manufacture, whether
derived from stale or recent plants, and particularly
on the variety of the plant from which it is produced.
Whether in the case of patchouli there are plants
differing specifically or not, it is certain that there
are varieties, arising perhaps from hybridization,
cultivation, or climatic influence, and there are still
greater differences in the aroma of the oil, arising
either from method of production or adulteration. The
bales which now arrive in London are mostly from
Province Wellesley, aud consist of leaves and woody
stalks (too large a proportion of the latter) of the
wild variety known locally as “ Doun Tildm TJtan /’
Bonn signifying leaf, Tildm bed or mattress, als£>
including the idea “health-giving,” and outan
“wild,” meaning that the natives stuff their beds

410

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 20, 1880.

and pillows with the leaf and believe in its health¬
giving and iife-prolonging virtues. Now, even as¬
suming that these bales consist of this plant alone,
-unadulterated with leaves of any other plant, that
they really have been properly cured and dried, and
do not turn mouldy or rancid in transit and arrive
sound and unseadamaged, and that during the time
they are stored in warehouse in London they escape
dampness (which the leaf is remarkably apt to ab¬
sorb), the oil which is afterwards distilled from these
leaves differs in aroma from that distilled from the
leaves on the spot immediately after the final drying
process. The majority of the bales imported are re¬
shipped to a German port and the oil distilled from
them is said to be often adulterated to the extent of
even 60 per cent., with cheaper oils, mostly with
those of cedar and cubebs. (It is remarkable that
these have been selected as adulterants, as the cam¬
phor of patchouli is isomeric with that of cubebs and
with the concrete oil of cedar.*)

The method of cultivation of the plant and pre¬
paration of the oil, as practised by Mr. Fisher of
Singapore, is as follows : — The variety selected for
cultivation is known locally as Tilam Wangi (meaning
“fragrant”), obtained from the island of Rhio, near
Singapore, in the Straits Settlements. The soil most
suitable is a rather stiff clay with only a small percent¬
age of silica, and land of this description found near the
coast (containing traces of marine deposits) is planted
in rows about 4 or 5 feet apart. The plants are
propagated by cuttings struck in the open air, which,
until rooted, are sheltered from the sun by pieces of
cocoa-nut shell. The harvest is made in dry weather
and when the sun has drawn up the dew from the
leaves ; the tops and green parts of the plant are
broken off by hand, rejecting all yellow or decayed
leaves and all the woody stems. The selected parts
are then dried in the shade under large sheds (as the
sun would draw out the perfume), and to ensure
evenness in drying, they are spread on bamboo
racks, allowing the air to penetrate from beneath.
During this process they are frequently turned
over, and when so far dried as to leave just
sufficient moisture to permit of a slight fermenta¬
tion, they are piled in heaps and allowed to heat
gently; after this they are again spread out and
dried — but not to absolute dryness — and are imme¬
diately distilled. The addition of about 25 per cent,
of the wild herb “ Tilam outan ” is said to increase
the fragrance of the distillate. The distillation is
effected by passing steam generated in a boiler apart
through the leaves in the stills. The pressure of
steam is not allowed to rise above 30 lbs. The yield,
under these conditions, being about ^ oz. per lb.
of leaves ; by high pressure steam the yield would
be greater but more rank in quality. The stills are
sometimes jacketted, and by passing a separate
current of steam into the jacket condensation in
the body of the still is avoided. Operating on
specimens of leaf recently imported into London, I
have observed that at the commencement of the
distillation a small portion of a pale coloured oil
passes over, lighter than water, and of a more
delicate aroma than the heavy oil ; but the heavy
oil was rank. The Singapore oil is sent to London
in cases of twelve bottles containing 22 ounces in
each bottle, labelled with the manufacturer’s name
and guaranteed by him to be pure. From London

* Comptes Rendus, January 8, 1877.

it is sent to merchants and manufacturing perfumers
in all parts. Obviously such oil is more likely to
be pure and of better quality than an oil distilled in
England, France, or Germany from the baled leaves
and without a reliable pedigree. The oil described
as “ French ” oil has a different odour to the genuine
leaf, and has not the peculiar olive-brown tint of the
Singapore oil.

An examination of oil of patchouli was made in
1864, by Dr. Gladstone,* on a specimen obtained from
Dr. Piesse, and believed to be quite genuine ; also on
a specimen obtained from India. Both specimens
were brownish -yellow and slightly viscid. They
began to boil at 257° C., at which temperature
nearly all distilled over, and was found to be a
hydrocarbon analogous to that from cubebs, but
towards the end the thermometer rose much higher,
and the distillate became of a deep blue colour,
owing to the presence of an intensely blue matter
termed “azulene” or “coerulein,” which is also found
in the oils of Calamus aromaticus, Matricaria chamo -
milla, Artemisia Absinthum, Achillea Millefolium ,
and in small quantity in the oils of bergamot and
Ceylon lemon-grass. The analysis of this remark¬
able fluid shows its formula to be C16H130 (and not
C12H130, as stated by Piesse at page 58 of his last
edition). Its boiling point is 576° F., and its sp. gr.
•910. There are but few liquids which give a
coloured vapour when boiled, but azulene is one of
them. Like itself its vapour is blue. It is soluble
in and imparts its colour to fatty and volatile oils,
alcohol, and many other liquids, but not water. It
is very permanent, and bears a temperature of 700°
to 800° F. in a sealed tube without alteration, and
none but the strongest acids aided by heat will break
up its constitution. It is most intensely blue, ap¬
pearing almost black wdien in a concentrated state.
It is not decolorized by sulphurous acid, sulphuretted
hydrogen, or bromine water. It does not attach
itself to animal charcoal, nor does it dye wool, cotton
or silk. It has been found to exist to the extent of
6 per cent, in the pure oil.

When left at rest oil of patchouli deposits a
crystalline body, known as camphor of patchouli,
in regular hexagonal and pyramidal prisms. The
composition of this camphor has been stated as
C30H28O2 by Gal,t but by Montgolfier^ as C36H2602,
which would constitute it an isomer of camphor
of cubebs and of concrete essence of cedar. The
conditions most favourable to the formation of this
body are little known, but it has been remarked
that it forms more rapidly in samples of oil
which have been desiccated by chloride of calcium.
This camphor not having any commercial value its
formation is undesirable, but as it results from a
simple molecular change it may be difficult to pre¬
vent it ; however, it is possible that the presence of
a small quantity of water in the oil may at least
retard it.

The difference of the boiling point of oil of patchouli
from that of oil of cedar and of oil of cubebs may
serve as a guide in testing a suspected sample; so
also may the percentage of azulene.

Volatile oils exhibit great diversity in their action
on polarized light, some being dextro-, others lsevo-
rotatory in various degrees. According to Gladstone§

# Journ. Chem. Soc ., series 2, vol. iii.

f Bui. de la Soc. Chim., 1869, p. 304.

X Comptes Rendus , January 8, 1877, p. 88.

§ Journ. Chem. Soc.} xvii., p. 3.

November 20, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

411

the rotatory power (determined for a column of liquid
10 inches long) of the so-called “ Penang ” oil of
patchouli is - 120°, the same for cedar wood oil being
+ 3°. The hydrocarbon of patchouli oil — pat-
choulene — deviates the polarized ray - 90° ; the
rotatory power of cubebs is recorded as +55°.

The same authority gives the sp. gr. of the three
sorts of commercial oil of patchouli as follows : —
Indian, -9554; Penang, *9592 ; French, 1-0119; all
taken at 60° F., and for their hydrocarbons : —

Sp. gr. at 20° C. Boiling Point.

Indian . . . . ’9211 254 C.

Penang .... '9278 257 „

French .... *9255 260 „

Of course, the addition of oil of turpentine would
have the effect of lowering the sp. gr., and so
counterbalance the adulteration of ol. copaibse, but
the application of Professor Dragendorff’s test should
detect this.*

NOTES ON THE ARISTOLOCHIACE.® AS
ANTIDOTES TO SNAKE POISONS.

BY R. MODLEN.

A remark in an article on the South American
antidote for snake bites, guaco, in the Pharmaceutical
Journal for November 6, leads me to offer one or
two extracts on the above subject. The chief one is
taken from Rev. J. G. Wood’s * Natural History,’ the
others from different works.

The natural order Aristolochiacese is rather a
large one, and comprises plants found in nearly
every part of the globe. Gray enumerates seventeen
species, of which no fewer than six are supposed to
have antidotal powers. Among them are A. angui-
cida, the root of which u chewed and introduced
into the mouth of a serpent so stupefies it that it
may for a long time be handled with impunity : if
the reptile is compelled to swallow a few drops, it
perishes in convulsions : the root is also reported to
be an antidote to serpent bites ; ” A. fragrantissima ,
a native of the Andes; A. indica ; A. sempervirens,
which is supposed to be the plant the Egyptian
jugglers use; A. serpentaria, which Pereira and
Christison say, in spite of its name and old reputa¬
tion, possesses no power at all as an antidote ; and
A. trilobata, a native of the West Indies. This
genus is represented in England only by A. clematitis ,
and even that is so scarce and local that its claims
are not very strong.

The species to which I particularly wish to attract
attention is A. indica . An account of it is given in
the Pharmaceutical Journal , vol. vii., [3], p. 311, by
Dr. Dymock, in his valuable and interesting “ Notes
on Indian Drugs,” but he does not mention the great
use that seems to be made of it in some parts of
India. The local name is sapsun, and it is in use
chiefly as a stimulant tonic. It is a creeping plant,
and is trained on a trellis-work, which it clothes
with its narrow, abruptly pointed leaves.

Wood says, “This plant has long been considered
as a valuable remedy for the bite of the cobra, but
the accounts of its use and mode of operation
have mostly been vague and scarcely trustworthy.

I have, however, been fortunate enough to obtain
much valuable information on this subject from
R. Lowtlier, Esq., formerly Commissioner at Alla¬
habad, who was accustomed to employ this plant
very largely in cases of cobra bites.” Mr. Lowther

gives details of several interesting cases, too long to be
quoted without unduly enlarging these notes.
Suffice it is to say that in some cases the patient
recovered from extreme weakness and exhaustion,
and no ill effects of the poison remained. The leaves
were bruised and applied to the wound, and were also
reduced to a pulp, three medium sized leaves beiug
mixed with an ounce of water.

| “ The fresh leaf is, when tasted, very bitter and

aromatic, bearing some resemblance to quinine in
the clear searching quality of the bitter. It is re¬
markable that when persons are suffering from the
poison of the cobra they describe it as being sweet.
There is certainly a kind of sweetness in the leaf, for
on chewing a dried leaf of this plant, I found it to
be rather, but not very, bitter, with a pungent
I aroma something like that of the common ivy, and
a faint, though decided sweetness as an after
flavour.

“It is not a universal specific, for when experi¬
ments were tried by getting some dogs bitten by
the cobra, and treating them with this leaf, they
died to all appearance sooner than if they had been
entirely neglected. Mr. Lowther has made a rather
curious series of experiments on the cobra’s poison,
and the mode of its action, and has found that while
human beings become cold as marble under the
influence of the venom, dogs are affected in precisely
an opposite manner, being thrown into a high fever,
from which they die. The body of a dog killed by
a cobra’s bite will remain quite hot for some ten
hours. The Aristolochia, therefore, which is a
powerful stimulant, rather aids than counteracts
the operation of the poison.

“In the case of a human being, however, the effect
of this remedy seems to be infallible, and Mr.
Lowther informs me that he always keeps a pestle
and mortar by the plant, so that no time should be
lost in bruising the leaf, and mixing it thoroughly
with water before pouring it down the throat of the
sufferer. The admixture of water is necessary, be¬
cause in most cases the patient is insensible and the
jaws stiffened, so that the mouth needs to be opened
forcibly, and the preparation poured down the
throat.”

Although we English pharmacists may never be
in a position to test this remedy, still it seemed to
be one of sufficient interest to be noted. Strangely
enough the only place in this neighbourhood (Oxford)
where I have seen an adder is the only locality for
A. clematitis.

[Some previous remarks upon this subject, applying;
more specially to the reputation as antidotes attained by
species of Aristolochia in ancient times, will be found in a
paper by Dr. Hance, in the present series of this Journal,
vol. iii., p. 725. — Ed. Pharm. Journ.]

NOTES ON CITRIC AND SALICYLIC ACIDS.

BY F. C. CLAYTON.

In the Standard of September 14, there appeared
the following paragraph : —

“ For the period during which the Autumn Manoeuvres
will last near Berlin large quantities of citric acid have
been served out to the troops of the Guards and Third
Army Corps who are taking part therein. The ex¬
perience of previous years has shown that this material'
is not only an excellent preservative against sunstroke,
but, dissolved in water, makes a refreshing drink.
Another chemical preparation which has been distributed
among the troops at the manoeuvres this year is salicylic

# Pharmaceutical Journal, [3rd series], vi., p. 541.

412

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 20, 18S0.

acid, in the form of a powder, an excellent remedy for
such maladies of the feet as soldiers mostly suffer from.”

As a manufacturer of citric acid I was naturally
interested in obtaining some furthur information as
to this new use for it as a preservative against sun¬
stroke, and more especially as my friend Mr. D. W.
Gm uliougli, chemical broker, of Mincing Lane, had
previously informed me that he had purchased 120
tons for the use of the Russian army during their
campaign in Turkey three or four years since.

I therefore wrote to the Foreign Office authorities
enclosing a copy of the above paragraph, and asking
them to obtain further information on both acids at
Beilin and St. Petersburg, which they have kindly
done through our representatives there. That in¬
formation is as follows and it will be seen that the
statement as to the use of citric acid in the above
campaign is contradicted, but Mr. Greenhough is
confident that the purchase was intended for the
Russian Army though it may never have been used :

“ Memorandum.

“ Germany.

“No citric acid has been issued to the men in the
Guard Corps and in the 3rd Army Corps, only to
the 24th regiment.

“ One junior surgeon in this regiment gave it to
some of the hospital orderlies lor them to give to
such people as should require it when exhausted on
the march. It is considered to be a refreshing
drink in hot weather, of a better flavour than water
with vinegar, which has been given for years to men
who begin to be affected by the heat.

“ The surgeon-general in the Guard Corps states
that there is no decided proof of the benefit of this
acid against sunstroke, but it seems to have answered
in the 24th regiment.

“ The salicylic acid is used. It is in the shape of
a powder, and a great preventive against perspiring
and sore feet.

“ Composition.

“ Acid Salicylic . 3 parts.

“ Amylum . 10 „

“ Powder of Talcum . 87 „

“ It is applied dry ; on a march daily ; in garrison
every two or three days. It takes off the irritating
influence of the perspiration of the feet, and prevents
in consequence the soreness.

“ I11 the Italian army anise-seed and 1 Zambuco,’
arc similarly used in hot weather.

“ Russia.

“ Citric acid was not used by the Imperial troops
during the Russo-Turkish war, but was first em¬
ployed last year to make palatable and wholesome a
quantity of spoilt cabbage. It helps considerably the
progress of fermentation in making the soup known
as ‘stchi.’

“ It has also been employed lately by the troops
on service in Central Asia, to make drinkable the
brackish water found in the desert.

“ The amount served out is 1 lb. per hundred men,
supplied in its crystallized state ; but it is only under
exceptional circumstances that the acid is employed
in the Imperial army.

“ Citric acid has never been used in Russia in
case of scui vy ; it is supposed to be too weak to act
as a curative, or even as a preventive against that
disease, and would require, at all events, vegetables
and fresh meat to be of any use under such circum¬
stances.

“ The acid in question is made of Italian- lemons
in the military medicine establishment; there is no
special factory for it in Russia, nor is it imported.

“ Salicylic acid appears to be of no use whatever
as a remedy for foot sores ; it is used only as a disin¬
fectant, but has no curative properties.

“ Bandages are steeped in salicylic acid to prevent
infection.”

GLYCEROLE OF CINCHONA.*

BY FRED. LOOS, JR., PH.G.

Although there are numerous liquid preparations of
tbe cinchona barks there appear to be none which, for any
length of time, remain perfect and reliable; they become
more or less turbid, and in most cases a precipitate
forms.

As this deposit is generally that extractive portion of
the bark which contains a large percentage of its
alkaloids, and therefore the part which is most sought
after in medicine, it is evident that a large proportion of
its active qualities are lost, and what the physician
supposes is doing his patient the most good is orna¬
menting the sides of the “ shop bottle ” in some modern
“ palace of pharmacy.” It seems that the solvents used
in making the officinal preparations of the cinchona
barks have not the power to hold in solution the above-
mentioned principle, and on that account in a short time
the liquids lose their transparency, and become cloudy.

Glycerin is not only an excellent solvent and preser¬
vative, but its blandness and agreeable taste render it
acceptable in many cases where an alcoholic or vinous
preparation is objectionable. By using glycerin I find
that a beautiful preparation of cinchona can be made,
which effectually holds in solution the extractive portion
of the bark, and its clearness or quality is not affected in
the least by age. In this respect I think it surpasses the
present extractum cinchonae fluidum of the U. S. P., for
in it there is invariably a very heavy deposit. Therefore,
this fluid extract, which should and could be a very good
one, has fallen almost entirely out of use.

The same complaint can be made of tinctura cinchonae
and tinctura cinchonae comp., so much used at present
and prescribed by physicians everywhere.

The glycerole of cinchona, of which I am now about
to speak, is a dense but very clear liquid, each fluid ounce
of which represents a troy ounce of the bark ; and, as
there is not the slightest deposit of any kind, it contains
all the virtues of the bark, coupled with those of the
glycerin. The glycerole of cinchona rubra is a very
dense liquid, of a rich, deep garnet colour, while the
glycerole of cinchona calisaya is considerably lighter in
colour and not so dense ; this is evidently on account of
the much greater quantity of extractive matter in cinchona
succirubra.

As the process for making the glycerole of either
cinchona succirubra or cinchona calisaya is exactly the
same, one formula will suffice.

R Cinchona Bark, in moderately

fine powder . 16 troy ounces.

Glycerin . 12 „

Alcohol . 3 fluid ounces.

Mix the liquids, and macerate the cinchona for five
days, then pack in a conical glass percolator and displace
with a menstruum composed of two parts of alcohol and
one of water. Collect first twelve ounces and set aside,
then continue percolation to exhaustion. Distil off the
alcohol, or evaporate until reduced to 4| ounces, and
when cold mix with the first 12 fluid ounces; allow to
stand a few days, and filter.

As stated above, each fluid ounce of this preparation
represents one troy ounce of the bark, and therefore each
teaspoonful represents 60 grains. Sixty grains of

# F om the American Journal of Pharmacy. October,
1880.

November 20, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

413

cinchona bark being rather a large dose, and one which
is seldom prescribed, I have made a glycerole just half
the strength, and find it equally as fine and much more
convenient for prescribing. The process is the same as
the one previously given, with the exception that in this
case only one-half the quantity of cinchona bark is used,
and therefore each teaspoonful represents but 30 grains
of the bark, which is much nearer the average dose than
the former.

The glycerole of cinchona is so intensely bitter that I
have endeavoured, by the use of licorice and several
aromatics, to make a compound which, to some extent at
least, would be pleasing to the taste; and, by com¬
pounding this with an equal bulk of the glycerole of
cinchona, quite an agreeable mixture can be made.

Aromatic Glycerole of Licorice.

R Licorice root, in fine powder . 2 troy ounces.

Cinnamon, in fine powder . . 1 „

Cloves, Anise and Caraway in fine

powder, each . 2 drachms.

Glycerin . 4 troy ounces.

Dilute Alcohol .... sufficient quantity.

Mix the drugs, and having moistened them with the
glycerin and quantity sufficient of the diluted alcohol,
pack in a conical percolator and displace with a men-
strum of dilute alcohol ; set aside the first three ounces,
and continue percolation until exhausted. Evaporate
until reduced to one fluid ounce, and when cold mix with
first percolate, and filter.

Aromatic Glycerole of Cinchona.

Take equal bulks of glycerole of cinchona and aromatic
glycerole of licorice ; mix t;hem, and filter if necessary.

Any of the above-mentioned glyceroles can be reduced
to any desired strength by diluting with a menstruum
composed of two parts of alcohol and one of water.
Should the reduced preparation show any inclination to
precipitate, it is advisable to add a small portion of
glycerine to the menstruum used in making the dilution.

VIBURNUM PRUNIFOLIUM.*

BY HERMAN VAN ALLEN, PH.G.

Viburnum prunifolium, natural order of Caprifoliacese,
indigenous to North America. The bark of the root is
found in pieces about 2 inches long and 1 inch wide
externally, reddish-brown, lighter internally, breaks with
a short fracture, is without odour, and of a very bitter
taste.

Of the bark collected in June, 4 ounces, in moderately
fine powder, were percolated with stronger alcohol ; the
tincture evaporated to a syrupy consistence gave a dark
green residue, of a very bitter taste ; treatment with
benzin removed a small portion of fatty matter, of a dark
green colour, and ether afterwards dissolved a small
portion of bitter principle. On evaporating the residue,
it was found to be readily soluble in water, the solution
giving no reaction with gelatin, but with salts of iron a
dark green colour was produced. Only a small portion
of the bitter principle was found to be soluble in chloro¬
form .

The aqueous extract was treated with acetate of lead,
but only a small portion of colouring matter was removed,
the resulting liquid being of a light brown colour. To
this sulphate of sodium was added, evaporated to dryness,
and the bitter principle taken up with stronger alcohol,
which on evaporating left a syrupy liquid of a very bitter
taste. *

Finding it impossible to obtain the bitter principle
pure, the following course was tried : — 2 pounds of bark
on being exhausted with stronger alcohol gave a dark
brown percolate, to which, on evaporating, acetate of
lead was added, and by filtering a portion of the colouring

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, September,

1880.

matter was removed. To this filtrate sulphate of sodium
was added and evaporated to dryness, and bitter principle
taken up by alcohol fortior ; percolation through animal
charcoal failed to remove any of the colour. This alco¬
holic solution was then evaporated to dryness, dissolved
in water, and again treated with animal charcoal, when a
portion of the colouring matter was removed, but the
percolate was still slightly coloured. A small portion
was evaporated and treated with ether and chloroform
but nothing was taken up by these solvents. The aqueous
percolate was then treated by dialysis, and the resulting
liquid was found to be still slightly coloured, very bitter,
and to give a copious precipitate with Trommer’s test for
sugar. Various solvents were used to obtain the bitter
principle free from the sugar, such as a mixture of equal
parts of alcohol and ether, stronger ether, benzin, chloro¬
form, carbon bisulphide, or to precipitate it with mercury
bichloride, but it was not affected by any of these re¬
agents.. It is probably a glucoside, or allied sugar. The
alcoholic solution gave negative results with the general
tests for alkaloids.

Examination of Colouring Matter. — That portion which
was precipitated by acetate of lead was dissolved in boil¬
ing water; sulphuretted hydrogen gas was passed into
this, giving it a dark red colour ; this was continued as
long as a precipitate was produced, then filtered and
evaporated to dryness and dissolved in water, when it
gave the following results With solution of gelatin, a
light brown precipitate of tannin ; with chloride of iron,
a greenish black ; with subacetate of lead, light grey ;
with sulphate of copper, light green ; and when evapo¬
rated to dryness, left a brown residue of a slightly bitter
and astringent taste. The precipitate containing sulphide
of lead was then treated with hot alcohol ; the° resulting
solution was of a dark brown colour, and gave the follow¬
ing results, alcohol having been previously added to the
test solution Solution of mercury bichloride first be¬
comes clear by oxidation, then, if more be added, a
greyish-white precipitate is produced ; chloride of iron,
greenish-black ; caustic potash, clear, then a brown pre¬
cipitate ; caustic soda, dark brown ; subacetate of lead,
brownish-grey.

Ethereal Percolate. — Three ounces of the bark were
exhausted with ether, the resulting percolate being of a
dark green colour, which gave a decided precipitate with
solution of gelatin ; was then detannated with oxide of
lead, evaporated to dryness, and the bitter principle
taken up with stronger alcohol, which leaves, on evapo¬
rating, a light yellowish -green mass, of a neutral reaction,
and of a purely bitter taste, slightly soluble in water
and freely so in alcohol ; this corresponds in all respects
to the viburnin obtained by Kramer from Viburnum
opulus. The bark, after treating with ether, was then
percolated with water ; this percolate was found to have
an acid reaction ; it was then rendered alkaline by lime
water, when a dark precipitate was obtained ; this was
filtered and tested for tartaric acid, but none was found.
Then a portion of the precipitate was washed with
dilute solution of hydrochloric acid, which, on being
neutralized with ammonia, and acetic acid added, gave a
precipitate of oxalic acid, also with solution of acetate
of soda.

The filtrate obtained from lime water precipitation
was boiled ; when another precipitate was obtained this
was filtered out, the precipitate washed with diluted
acetic acid ; this, when ammonia was added, remained
clear, but on boiling a precipitate of citric acid was
obtained. To the clear filtrate obtained, on boiling, an
equal bulk of alcohol was added, when a precipitate of
malate of calcium was obtained ; this was washed on a
filter with alcohol to remove colouring matter, then with
boiling water to dissolve the malate. Acetate of lead
added to this solution precipitated malate of lead, and
when heated, first agglutinated, then fused.

Valerianic Acid. — A decoction of a half pound of bark
was then percolated with hot water : this percolate has

414

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 20, 1880.

an acid reaction, and on being distilled with sulphuric
acid the distillate is slightly coloured, has an odour of old
apples and an acid reaction ; this was neutralized with
the officinal solution of caustic soda, sp. gr, 1*071, evapo¬
rated to dryness, dissolved in water and again distilled
with sulphuric acid ; the distillate was slightly coloured,
and had the distinct odour of valerianic acid ; this was
neutralized with caustic soda and evaporated to dryness.
A portion of the resulting valerianate of soda was dis¬
solved in amylic alcohol, sulphuric acid added, and heated,
when the characteristic apple odour was developed. An
aqueous solution of valerianate of soda and of sulphate of
zinc were heated separately and then mixed, when, on
cooling, crystals of valerianate of zinc separated in white
pearly crystalline masses ; these are soluble in alcohol
and in a large quantity of water, and have a styptic taste
and an acid reaction, turbid when heated, clear on cooling,
and are soluble in ammonia water.

Analysis of Ash. — Twenty grams of the bark, in powder,
were carefully dried and weighed ; total weight, 18*6
grams ; on incinerating, it was found to weigh T65 gram ;
on percolating with water and drying it weighed 1*579
gram. The aqueous percolate gave a dense white preci¬
pitate with solution of chloride of barium, insoluble in
boiling nitric acid, and on addition of water the precipi¬
tate is not dissolved, showing the presence of sulphuric
acid. With solution of nitrate of silver a curdy white
precipitate of chloride of silver was obtained, soluble in
ammonia, insoluble in boiling nitric acid ; on addition of
perchloride of platinum to the original solution a precipi¬
tate of potassium was obtained.

The ash was percolated with dilute solution of hydro¬
chloric acid, which caused it to effervesce, showing the
presence of carbonates ; the ash was nearly all dissolved,
only a slight portion remaining on the filter. The filtrate
gave a copious precipitate with ferrocyanide of potassium,
showing the presence of the ferric salts of iron. When
ammonia was added to the filtrate it became cloudy, and
clear again on addition of acetic acid. Ammonia was
added to the filtrate to precipitate the iron, filtered, and
to the filtrate solution of chloride and carboiiate of am¬
monia, boiled and filtered, when a precipitate was formed.
This was filtered, washed and dissolved in acetic acid ;
this gave no reaction with chromate of potassium, showing
the absence of barium ; but with oxalate of ammonia a
white precipitate of calcium oxalate was formed. The
filtrate gave a copious precipitate with phosphate of
ammonia, showing the presence of magnesium. The
small residue of ash remaining undissolved in hydro¬
chloric acid solution under the blow-pipe only gave
evidence of iron.

Chemical Constituents. — (1) A brown resinous body, of
a very bitter taste, from which it was found impossible to
separate the sugar ; (2) a greenish-yellow resin or neutral
body, of a bitter taste, slightly soluble in water, freely so
in alcohol, called by Kramer viburnin ; (3) a volatile
acid, answering to all the tests of valerianic acid ; (4) a
tannic acid, giving greenish-black colour with ferric salts ;
(5) oxalic acid ; (6) citric acid ; (7) malic acid ; (8) sul¬
phates ; and (9) chlorides of calcium, magnesium, potas¬
sium and iron.

THE APPLICATION OF CHEMISTRY TO
AGRICULTURE.*

BT J. H. GILBERT, PH.D., F.R.S., V.P.C.S., F.L.S.

( Concluded from page 393.)

The animals being periodically weighed, we were thus
able to calculate the amounts of the so estimated nitroge¬
nous substance, and of the total non-nitrogenous substance,
including and excluding fat, consumed— /or a given live-
weight unthin a given time, and to produce a given amount
of increase in live weight.

Experiments were made with a large number of sheep,
and a large number of pigs. And, even without making
allowance for the different condition of the nitrogenous or
of the non-nitrogenous constituents, in comparable foods,
the results so uniformly indicated that, both the amount
consumed by a given live-weight of animal within a given
time, and that required to produce a given amount of in¬
crease, were determined much more by the amount of the
non-nitrogenous than by that of the nitrogenous consti¬
tuents which the food supplied. And when allowance
was made for the different condition of the nitrogenous
constituents, and for the greater or less amount of the
non-nitrogenous ones which would probably be indigest¬
ible and effete, the indications were still more remarkable
and conclusive.

In very many cases the animals were slaughtered, and
carefully examined as to whether the tendency of develop¬
ment had been more that of growth in frame and flesh
or in fatness. Here, again, the evidence was clear, that
the tendency to growth in frame and flesh was favoured
by a high proportion of nitrogen in the food, and that to
the production of fat by a high proportion of digestible
non-nitrogenous constituents.

In a few cases the actual amount of fat in the animals
in the lean, and in the fat condition, was determined ; and
the results admitted of no doubt whatever that a very
large proportion of the stored-up fat could not have been
derived from the fatty matter of the food, and must have
been produced within the body.

So decisive and consistent were the very numerous and
very varied results in regard to these points, that we had
no hesitation in concluding — not only that much of the
fat stored up was produced within the body, but that
the source of much, at any rate, of the produced fat
must have been the non-nitrogenous constituents of the
food- — in other words the carbohydrates.

As already stated, however, as the question whether
the source of the produced fat was the proteine compounds
or the carbohydrates was not then prominent, we had
not so arranged the experiments as to obtain the largest
possible increase in fat with the smallest possible supply
of nitrogenous compounds in the food, nor did we then
even calculate whether or not there was sufficient nitro¬
genous matter consumed to be the source of the whole of
the fat produced.

This question, indeed, excited very little interest, until
at a meeting of the Congress of Agricultural Chemists
held at Munich in 1865 (at which I happened to be pre¬
sent), Professor Voit, from the results of experiments
made in Pettenkofer’s respiration apparatus with dogs
fed on flesh, announced his conclusion that fat must have
been produced from the nitrogenous substance, and that
this was probably the chief, if not the only, source of
the fat, even of herbivora — an opinion which he subse¬
quently urged much more positively.

In the discussion which followed the reading of Pro¬
fessor Yoit’s paper, Baron Liebig forcibly called in
question his conclusions; maintaining not only that it
was inadmissible to form, conclusions on such a point in
regard to herbivora, from the results of experiments made
with carnivora, but also that direct quantitative results
obtained with herbivorous animals had afforded apparently
conclusive evidence in favour of the opposite view.

Voit’s paper excited considerable controversy, in which
Mr. Lawes and myself joined. We maintained that ex¬
periments to determine such a question should be made
not with carnivora or omnivora fed on flesh, but with
herbivora fed on their appropriate fattening food, and on
such herbivora as common experience showed to be pre¬
eminently fat-producers. We pointed out* that the pig
comprised, for a given live-weight, a comparatively small
proportion of alimentary organs and contents; that, com¬
pared with that of the ruminants, his food was of a high

* Presidential Address delivered before the Chemical
Section of the British Association, Swansea, 1880.

* “ On the Sources of the Fat of the Animal Body,”
Phil. Mag., December, 1866. •

November 20, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

415

character, yielding, for a given weight of it, much more
total increase, much more fat, and much less necessarily
effete matter; that, in proportion to his weight, he con¬
sumes a larger amount of food, and yields a larger amount
both of total increase and of fat, within a given time ;
and, lastly, that he contains a larger proportion of fat,
both in a given live weight and in his increase whilst
fattening.

It is obvious that, with these characteristics, there is
much less probable range of error in calculating the
amount and the composition of the increase in live-
weight in relation to the amount and composition of the
food consumed, than in the case of the ruminants ; and
that, therefore, the pig is very much more appropriate
for the purpose of experiments to determine the sources
in its food of the fat it produces.

Accordingly, we calculated a number of our early
experiments made with pigs, to determine whether or not
the nitrogenous substance they consumed was sufficient
for the formation of the fat they produced. For sim¬
plicity of illustration, and to give every possible advantage
to the view that nitrogenous substance might have been
the source of the produced fat, we assumed the whole of
the crude fat of the food to have been stored up in the
animal — thus estimating a minimum amount to be pro¬
duced. Then, again, we supposed the whole of the
nitrogenous substance of the food to be perfectly digested
and to become available for the purposes of the system.
Lastly, after deducting the amount of nitrogenous sub¬
stance estimated to be stored up as such, the whole of
the remainder was reckoned to be so broken up that
no other carbon-compounds than fat and urea would be
produced.

The result was that, even adopting these inadmissible
assumptions, in all the cases in which, according to
common experience, the food was admittedly the most
appropriate for the fattening of the animal, the calcu¬
lation showed that a large amount of fat had been
produced which could not have been derived from the
nitrogenous substance of the food, and must therefore
have had its source in the carbohydrates. Such a result
is, moreover, entirely accordant with experience in prac¬
tical feeding.

Reviewing the whole subject in great detail in 1869,
Professor Voit refers to these results and calculations.
He confesses that he has not been able to get a general
view of the experiments from the mass of figures
corded, and from his comments he shows that he has on
some points misunderstood them. He admits, however,
that, as the figures stand, it would appear that fat had
in some instances been derived from the carbohydrates.
Still, he says, he cannot allow himself to consider that a
transformation of carbohydrates into fat has thus been
proved.

Professor Emil von Wolff, again, in his Landivirth-
schaftliche Futterungslehre, referring to the same experi¬
ments, admits that they are almost incomprehensible
unless we assume the direct concurrence of the carbo¬
hydrates in the formation of fat. He nevertheless seems
to consider that evidence of the kind in question is
inconclusive, and he suggests that experiments with pigs
should be made in a respiration apparatus to determine
the point.

Mr. Lawes and myself entertained, however, the utmost
confidence that the question was of easy settlement
without any such apparatus, provided only suitable
animals and suitable foods were selected. I accordingly
gave a paper on the subject in the Section f Ur Landwirth-
schaft-und Agricidtur-Chemie, at the Naturforscher Ver-
sammlung held at Hamburg in 1876.* The points which
I particularly insisted on were : that the pig should be
the subject of experiment ; that he should be allowed to
take as much as he would eat of his most appropriate
fattening food, so that his increase and the fat he pro-

* The substance of that communication is given in the
Journal of Anatomy and Physiology , vol. xi., part iv.

duced should bear as large a proportion as possible to
his weight, to the total food, and to the total nitrogenous
substance consumed. Finally, it was maintained that if
these conditions were observed, and the constituents of
the food determined, and those of the increase of the
animal estimated according to recognized methods, the
results could not fail to be perfectly conclusive, without
the intervention either of a respiration apparatus or of
the analysis of the solid and liquid matters voided.

Results so obtained were adduced in proof of the
correctness of the conclusions arrived at. We at the
same time admitted that although, for reasons indicated
we had ai ways assumed that fat was formed from the
carbohydrates in the case of ruminants as well as of
pigs, yet as in our experiments with those animals we
had supplied too large amounts of ready formed fat or of
nitrogenous matter, or of both, it could not be shown so

conclusively by the same mode of calculation in their
case as m that of pigs.

In the discussion which followed, Professor Henneberg
agreed that it seemed probable that fat could be formed
from the carbohydrates in the case of pigs. In the case
®xPeni^eIlts ‘with other animals, however, the amount
°f fat produced was too nearly balanced by the amount
of tat and albuminous matters available, to afford con¬
clusive evidence on the point.

Quite recently, Professor Emil von Wolff ( Landivirth -
schaflliche Jahrbiicher, Band viii., 1879, Supplement) has
applied the same mode of calculation to results obtained
by himself with pigs some years ago. He concluded
that the whole of the body fat could not have been
formed without the direct co-operation of the carbo-
hydrates of the food. But what is of greater interest
still is that he also calculated in the same way the
results of some then quite recent experiments of Henne-
berg, Kern and Wattenberg, with sheep. He thus found
that, even including the whole of the estimated amides
with the albumin, there must have been a considerable
production of fat from the carbohydrates, and, excluding
the amides, the amount reckoned to be derived from the
carbohydrates was of course much greater.

1 will only add on this point that, on re-calculating
some of our early results with sheep, which did not afford
sufficiently conclusive evidence when the whole of the
nitrogen of the food was reckoned as albumin, show a
very considerable formation of fat from the carbohydrates
if deduction be made for the probable amount of non¬
albuminoid nitrogenous matter of the food.

We have now, then, the two agricultural chemists of
perhaps the highest authority, both as experimenters and
writers on this subject on the continent, giving in their
adhesion to the view that the fat of the herbivora, which
we feed for human food, may be, and probably is, ’largely
produced from the carbohydrates. I dare say, however,
that some physiologists will not change their view until
Voit gives them sanction by changing his, which, so far
as I know, he has not yet done.

lhe question which has been currently entitled that of
1 he Origin of Muscular Power ,’ or ‘ The Sources of
Muscular Power, ' has also been the subject of much
investigation, and of much conflict of opinion since the
fiist publication of Liebig’s views respecting it in 1842.

As I have already pointed out, he then maintained
that the amount of muscular tissue transformed, the
amount of nitrogenous substance oxidated, was the mea¬
sure of the force generated in the body. He accordingly
concluded that the requirement for the nitrogenous con¬
stituents of food would be increased in proportion to the
increase of the force expended. In his more recent
writings on the subject, he freely criticizes those who
take an opposite view. He nevertheless grants that the
secretion of urea is not a measure of the force exerted ;
but, on the other hand, he does not commit himself to
the admission that the oxidation of the carbohydrates is
a source of muscular power.

The results of our own early and very numerous

416

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 20, 1880.

feeding experiments were, as has been said, extremely
accordant in showing that, provided the nitrogenous
constituents in the food were not below a certain rather
limited amount, it was the quantity of the digestible and
available non-nitrogenous constituents, and not that of
the nitrogenous substance, that determined — both the
amount consumed by a given live-weight within a given
time , and the amount of increase in live-iveight produced.
They also showed that one animal, or one set of animals,
might consume two or three times as much nitrogenous
substance in proportion to a given live-weight within a
given time as others in precisely comparable conditions
as to rest or exercise. It was further proved that they
did not store up nitrogenous substance at all in propor¬
tion to the greater or less amount of it supplied in the
food, but that the excess reappeared in the liquid and
solid matters voided.

So striking were these results, that we were led to turn
our attention to human dietaries, and also to a considera¬
tion of the management of the animal body undergoing
somewhat excessive labour, as, for instance, the hunter,
the racer, the cab horse, and the foxhound, and also
pugilists and runners. Stated in a very few words, the
conclusion at which we arrived from these inquiries
(which were summarized in our paper given at Belfast in
1852) was— that, unless the system were overtaxed, the
demand induced by an increased exercise of force was
more characterized by an increased requirement for the
more specially respiratory, than for the nitrogenous,
constituents of food.

Soon afterwards, in 1854, we found by direct experi¬
ments with two animals in exactly equal conditions as to
exercise, both being in fact at rest, that the amount of
urea passed by one feeding on highly nitrogenous food
was more than twice as great as that fed on a food
comparatively poor in nitrogen.

It was clear, therefore, that the rule which had been
laid down by Liebig, and which has been assumed to be
correct by so many writers, even up to the present time,
did not hold good — namely, that “ The sum of the
mechanical effects produced in two individuals, in the
same temperature, is proportional to the amount of
nitrogen in their urine ; whether the mechanical force
has been employed in voluntary or involuntary motions,
whether it has been consumed by the limbs or by the
heart and other viscera ’’—unless, indeed, as has been
assumed by some experimenters, there is, with increased
nitrogen in the food, an increased amount of mechanical
force employed in the “ involuntary motions ” sufficient
to account for the increased amount of urea voided.

The question remained in this condition until 1860,
when Bischoff and Voit published the results of a long
series of experiments made with a dog. They found that,
even when the animal was kept at rest, the amount of
urea voided varied closely in proportion to the variation in
the amount of nitrogenous substance given in the food — a
fact which they explained on the assumption that there
must have been a corresponding influence in the force
exercised in the conduct of the actions proceeding within
the body itself in connection with the disposal of the
increased amount of nitrogenous substance consumed.
Subsequently, however, they found that the amount of
urea passed by the animal was, with equal conditions as
to food, etc., no greater when he was subjected to labour
than when at rest ; whilst, on the other hand, the carbonic
acid evolved was much increased by such exercise. They
accordingly somewhat modified their views.

In 1866 appeared a paper by Professors Fick and
Wislicenus, giving the results obtained in a mountain
ascent. They found that practically the amount of urea
voided was scarcely increased by the labour thus under¬
taken. Professor Erankland gave an account of these
experiments in a lecture at the Royal Institution in the
same year ; and he subsequently followed up the subject
by an investigation of the heat developed in the com¬
bustion of various articles of food, applying the results

in illustration of the phenomena of the exercise of
force.

Lastly, Kellner has made some very interesting experi¬
ments with a horse at Hohenheim, the results of which
were published last year. In one series, the experiment
was divided into five periods, the same food being given
throughout ; but the animal accomplished different
distances, and drew different weights, the drought
being measured by a horse-dynamometer The changes
in live-weight, the amount of water drunk, the tempera¬
ture, the amount of matters voided, and their contents in
nitrogen, were also determined.

The result was, that with only moderate labour there
was no marked increase in the nitrogen eliminated in the
urine ; but that with excessive labour the animal lost
weight and eliminated more nitrogen. Kellner concluded,
accordingly, that, under certain circumstances, muscular
action can increase the transformation of albumin in the
organism in a direct way ; but that, nevertheless, in the
first line is the oxidation of the non-nitrogenous matters —
carbohydrates and fat, next comes in requisition the
circulation-albumin, and finally the organ-albumin is
attacked.

In reference to these conclusions from the most recent
experiments relating to the subject, we may wind up this
brief historical sketch of the changes of view respecting
it, with the following quotation from our own paper
published in 1866 : * — “ ... all the evidence at

command tended to show that by an increased exercise
of muscular power there wa«, with increased requirement
for respirable material, probably no increased pi-oduction
and voidance of urea, unless, owing to excess of nitro¬
genous matter in the food, or a deficiency of available
non nitrogenous substance, or diseased action, the nitro¬
genous constituents of the fluids or solids of the body
were drawn upon in an abnormal degree for the supply of
respirable material.”

In conclusion, although I fully agree with Voit, Zuntz,
Wolff, and others, that there still remains much for both
chemistry and physiology to settle in connection with
these two questions of “ The Sources of the Fat of the
Animal Body ” and “ The Origin of Muscular Power yeti
think we ma}7 congratulate ourselves on the re-establish¬
ment of the true faith in regard to them, so far at least
as the most important practical points are concerned.

ANALYSES OF BLACK AND WHITE MUSTARD.f

BY CHAKLES H. PIESSE AND LIONEL STANSELL.

The seeds of black and white mustard, Sinapis nigra
and S. alba, when crushed and sifted constitute the mus¬
tard farina of commerce ; both species are cultivated in
this country, a considerable quantity, however, being
imported from abroad. In the manufacture, the seeds
of both variety in suitable proportions are crushed
between rollers, then pounded and sifted. The residue
in the sieve is called dressings ; what passes through is
farina or flour of mustard. This is re-sifted, yielding
three qualities: (a) superfine; (6) fine; and (c) seconds.
The seeds are tough and difficult to powder; the best
method on a small scale is to pulverize them in an
ordinary mortar with a large cast iron pestle.

The fax-ina of black and white mustard differs but
little in appearance, the brown being, however, slightly
darker. In the unground state the seeds of white mus¬
tard are of a yellowish straw colour, those of brown a
dark brownish-purple.

A. 1 gram white seeds, Yorkshire, contain 170 seeds.

B. 1 „ „ „ Cambridge, „ 172 „

C. 1 „ brown „ Cambridge, „ 944 „

100 seeds of A weigh *5882 gram, B *5814 gram, C

0T059 gram.

* “Food in its Relations to Various Exigences of the
Animal Body.” — Phil. Mag., July, 1866.

f From The Analyst, September, 1880.

November 20, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

417

Methods of Analysis employed. — The sulphur was esti¬
mated by oxidation with concentrated nitric acid, and
subsequent precipitation with barium chloride.

Eor the determination of nitrogen the soda-lime
method was employed, the evolved ammonia being
passed into standard acid. Mustard contains so large
a proportion of fat, that during the combustion the
amount of tar produced considerably interferes with the
subsequent titration. It was therefore found necessary
to exhaust a weighed quantity of the crushed mustard
seeds (previously dried) with petroleum ether, to collect
the exhausted mustard on a weighed filter and to dry it,
then after re-weighing to calculate the ratio between the
original mustard and that free from fat and moisture. A
weighed quantity of this exhausted mustard was then
used for the estimation of the nitrogen. By this ex¬
pedient the production of tar during the combustion was
almost entirely prevented. The amount of nitrogen,
after subtracting that contained in the potassium my-
ronate,* in the case of black mustard, is multiplied by
6*25 to obtain the albuminoid substances.

Substances Soluble in Water ( My rosin and Albumin).
— The amount of myrosin and soluble albumin appears
not to differ in either variety. About 2 grams of sub¬
stance were well digested for twelve hours with cold water,
the fluid then filtered into a quarter litre flask, and the
seeds washed thoroughly with cold, warm, and finally
boiling water. Of the filtrate, 50 c.c. were evaporated
to obtain the total soluble matter ; 100 c.c. were boiled,
and the coagulated albumin collected on a weighed filter.

Fat and Cellulose. — ( a ) About 2 grams of finely pul¬
verized seed well dried; (6) extracted with petroleum
ether, the insoluble matters collected on a weighed filter,
dried and weighed ; (c) boiled successively with very
dilute hydrochloric acid, caustic soda, and hydrochloric
acid, being washed with boiling water each time, finally
with alcohol, dried, and weighed as cellulose.

Estimation of the Volatile Oil. — The distinguishing
characteristic of brown mustard is the occurrence in
it of potassium myronate, which, in presence of water,
is acted upon by a peculiar ferment — myrosin, contained
in the seed — whereby it is decomposed, yielding potas¬
sium, hydrogen sulphate, glucose, and allyl isothio¬
cyanate, the pungent oil of mustard : —

— KHSO4 -f- C6H1206 + C3H5,CS,N.

100 parts potassium myronate yield 23'855 volatile oil.

It is remarkable that the yield of volatile oil is greater
when the brown mustard is mixed with some of the
white. The results of many experiments have led to the
following process : —

About 25 grams of the crushed brown seeds are mixed
with about a quarter of their weight of white seeds (also
crushed, in a 500 c.c. flask, 300 c.c. cold water added and
allowed to stand for five or six hours. The highest yield
of oil is obtained by standing for this length of time, and
sensibly diminishes after six hours, gradually decom¬
posing in contact with the myrosin ; the yield after the
lapse of forty-eight hours will reach only about two-
thirds of that originally present, while after a week not
one-third of the whole will be obtained. We have
found after numerous trials that not less than three hours
nor more than six should be allowed to elapse between
the addition of the water to the mustard and its distilla¬
tion, the rule finally adopted being to allow the mixture
to stand for five hours. The flask is then to be connected
with a small Liebig’s condenser, and the liquid distilled
until no more oily drops are seen to come over. The
distillate is received in a small flask (150 c.c.), containing
30 c.c. ammonia sp. gr. 0‘88. When the distillation is
judged complete, the flask is disconnected and, after
removing from the flame, shaken. If the steam
possesses the sharp pungent odour of mustard oil, the
contents are further distilled. This test is very sensitive.
When the boiling proceeds rapidly, after 50 c.c. have

* Potassium myronate contains 3*37 per cent, of ni¬
trogen.

come over, it will almost invariably be found that the
mustard is entirely deprived of volatile oil. The distilla¬
tion finished, the condenser is well rinsed out with cold
distilled water into the receiver (this is necessary), the
flask corked and put aside until the oily drops have
quite disappeared, being occasionally shaken for this
purpose ; at least twenty-four hours are usually re¬
quisite. When the change is complete the flask is
covered with a porcelain crucible lid, and boiled for
a few minutes to expel the ammonia, transferred to a
weighed platinum basin, and evaporated to dryness on
the water-bath, subsequently dried in the water oven
and weighed. The amount of thiosinamine thus ob¬
tained is multiplied by ‘85344; the product is the
quantity of allyl isothiocyanate contained in the mus¬
tard operated upon. If the factor 3*5775 be used, the
amount .of potassium myronate is ascertained.

Thiosmamme is formed by the union of one molecule
of ammonia with one molecule of mustard oil.

CS,N,C3H5 + NH3 = CS, j NH,C3H,.

Analysis of White Mustard.

Mustard
Whole Seeds.

Mustard Farina.

York-

Cam-

Super-

Se-

shire.

bridge

fine.

Fine.

conds.

Moisture .

9-32

8-00

•30

5-78

6- 06

Fat .

25-56

27-51

37-18

35-74

32-55

Cellulose .

10-54

8-87

3-90

4-15

9-34

Sulphur .

0-99

0-93

1-33

1-22

1-26

Nitrogen .

4-54

4-49

5-05

4-89

4-25

Albuminoids ....

28-37

28-06

31-56

30-56

26-56

Myrosin and albumen .

5-24

4-58

7-32

6-67

6-11

Soluble matter . . .

27-38

26-29

36-31

36-60

33 90

Volatile oil ... .

0-06

0-08

003

0-04

0-03

Ash .

4-57

4-70

4-22

4-31

4-30

„ soluble ....

0-55

0-75

0-44

0-55

0-33

Analysis of Brown Mustard.

Mustard

Whole

Seeds.

Mustard Farina.

Cam¬

bridge.

Super¬

fine.

Fine.

Seconds.

Moisture ....

8-52

4-35

4-52

5-63

Fat .

25-54

36-96

38-02

36-19

Cellulose ....

9-01

3-09

2-06

3-26

Sulphur ....

1-28

1-50

1-48

1-30

Nitrogen ....

4-38

4-94

5-01

4-31

Albuminoids . .

26-50

29-81

30-25

26-06

Myrosin and albumin

5- 24

6-46

6-78

6-14

Soluble matter . .

24-22

31-64

32-78

31-41

Volatile oil . . .

0-473

1-437

1-500

1-381

Potassium myronate

1-692

5-141

5-366

4-940

Ash .

4-98

5-04

4-84

4-91

,, soluble . . .

1-11

1-01

0-98

0-77

In the process of manufacture, the sifting chiefly re¬
moves the husk, and dries the farina, the other constitu¬
ents being, as it were, concentrated. This is well seen in
the amount of volatile oil in brown mustard. Again, the
fat, which averages about 25 per cent, in the seeds, reaches
37 per cent, in the farina ; the sulphur is increased nearly
one-half of 1 per cent., and so on with the other constitu¬
ents ; while the cellulose falls about two-thirds and the
moisture about one-half.

418

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 20, 1880

I

The white seeds differ in composition from the brown,
chiefly in not yielding volatile mustard oil, in the. fact
that the sulphur is lower, and the soluble matters higher
in the former than in the latter.

The results of over forty experiments upon the amount
of volatile oil present in brown mustard are here shown, a
few of the separate determinations being given : —

Volatile Oil
per cent.

Whole mustard

seeds ....

0-486

0-465

0-468

Average 0*473

Brown farina,

superfine . . .

Brown farina, fine

1-439

1-436

„ 1-437

1-51

1-49

1-50

„ 1‘500

Brown farina,

seconds . . .

1-358

1-418

1-367

„ 1-381

Characteristic Tests. — I. The aqueous extract of white
mustard yields with solution of ferric chloride a deep
blood-red coloration; this reaction is so slight as to be
scarcely apparent with a similar extract of black mustard.

II. The aqueous extract of white mustard acquires in
a few hours a powerful odour of sulphuretted hydrogen ;
that of the black mustard smells only of the pungent
mustard oil.

Analysis of Ash of Mustard Seed.

White Seeds.

Brown Seeds

Yorkshire.

Cambridge.

Cambridge.

Potash ....

21-29

18-88

■ 21-41

Soda .

0-18

0-21

0-35

Lime .

13-46

9-34

13-57

Magnesia . . .

8-17

10-49

10-04

Iron oxide . . .

1-18

1-03

1-06

Sulphuric acid

7-06

7T6

5-56

Chlorine . . .

Oil

0-12

0T5

Phosphoric acid .

32-74

35-00

37-20

Silica ....

1-00

1-12

1-41

Sand • • • • •

1-82

1-95

1-38

Charcoal

12-82

15-14

7-57

99-85

100-48

99-70

When the charcoal and sand are deducted, the follow¬
ing is the percentage composition of the ash. An analy¬
sis” made in 1850 by Way and Ogston of white mustard
is appended : —

White

Seeds.

York¬

shire.

White

Seeds.

Cam¬

bridge.

White.
Way and
Ogston.
1850.

Brown

Seeds.

Cam¬

bridge.

Potash ....

24-98

22-64

2578

23-59

Soda .

0-21

0-25

0-33

0-38

Lime .

15-79

11-19

19-10

14-95

Magnesia . . .

9-58

12-58

5-90

11-06

Iron oxide . . .

1-38

1-23

0-39

1T6

Sulphuric acid . .

8-28

8-58

2-19

6-12

Chlorine ....

0-12

0-14

trace.

0T6

Phosphoric acid

38-48

41-97

44-97

40-99

Silica .

1*17

1-34

1-31

1-55

99-93

99-92

99-97

99-96

The ash for analysis was obtained by careful incinera¬
tion at a heat below visible redness.

It will be noticed that the ash consists mainly of potas¬
sium, calcium and magnesium phosphate, with a very

minute proportion of chlorine ; and that no carbonates
are present. Practically no difference exists between the
ashes of the two varieties, so that no analytical indications
can be obtained from the mere examination of that con¬
stituent.

We append a few reactions of thiosinamine likely to
prove of interest : —

I. Thiosinamine dried at 100° is an oily substance,
which solidifies when cold after some time. It dissolves
readily in hot water, and crystallizes therefrom in beauti¬
ful tufts of crystals (monoclinic).

II. Treated with nitric acid, it is partially oxidized,
though even boiling with the concentrated acid for half-
an hour failed to effect complete decomposition, as evi¬
denced by the percentage of sulphuric acid obtained by
precipitating the liquid with barium chloride.

III. Silver nitrate added to an aqueous solution of
thiosinamine gives a white curdy precipitate, which re¬
dissolves less and less perfectly until the silver salt is in
excess, when the precipitate remains permanent.

IV. Mercuric chloride gives a reaction precisely simi¬
lar to silver nitrate.

V. Platinic chloride gives an abundant curdy orange-
yellow coloured precipitate, which does not redissolve in
the excess of thiosinamine, nor in cold water In hot
water it dissolves after first melting and floating to the
surface, and on cooling separates as an opaque mass of the
consistence of balsam tolu, in which condition it remains.
This salt, as well as the two before mentioned, is readily
soluble in alcohol.

VI. Mayer’s reagent (Hgl2 + KI) yields a dirty white
coloured precipitate, which coheres in a few hours to form
a number of oily drops. This change occurs at once on
heating. The precipitate is only slightly soluble in either
hot or cold water.

VII. Nessler’s solution gives an insoluble yellow pre¬
cipitate.

VIII. Picric acid only affords a precipitate in strong
solutions.

CHROME ORES OF CALIFORNIA.*

Among the varied mineral riches of California, that of
chrome ore, for the manufacture of bichromate of potash,
so largely used in making colours and pigments, and in
charging batteries for telegraph purposes, is assuming
a remarkable importance. The chrome ore is found
associated with serpentine, and the mines are situate
near San Luis Obispo, from the shipping harbour of
which — Port Harford — 15,000 tons have been sent away
within the last three years. The average production
yielded from 2000 lb. of chrome iron, containing 50 per
cent, of chromium, is about 1600 lb. of bichromate of
potash. During the year 1870, the following were the
statistics of the trade : — Import of bichromate, 2,624,000
lb.; domestic manufacture, 4,258,000 lb. ; total, 6,882,000
lb.; and, as the requirements of chemical science are
annually increasing, it is likely that a considerable mining
industry will be added to those already existing in
California.

SOTJLAN’S PROCESS FOR CAPPING BOTTLES.

Make the following solution : —

Purified resin . 7 drachms.

Ether . 10 „

Collodion . 15 „

Aniline red, sufficient. ,

Dissolve the resin in the ether, mix it with the collo¬
dion, and colour to taste. All that is necessary to apply
the mixture is to dip the cork and the top of the bottle
in it, turning it for an instant in the hand while the
composition dries. The result is a semi-transparent
varnish of pleasing appearance, especially if the cork
of the bottle is previously sealed on top with sealing-
wax. — Druggists' Circular and Chemical Gazette j _

* From the Journal of the Society of Arts, October 8.

November 20, 1880. THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

419

Qc |ffy{rimrmdtnil fotmral
- «. -

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, hooks for review, etc., should he addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square , W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London. W
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

THE RELATION BETWEEN- MEDICINE AND
PHARMACY.

An attempt has recently been made in Phil¬
adelphia to improve the relations between those
engaged, respectively in the practice of pharmacy
and of medicine by organizing meetings for the
discussion of various subjects affecting the interests
•of both classes, with a view to devising means for
the remedy of mutual grievances. The idea appears
to have originated with the Medico-Legal Society of
Philadelphia, and in response to the invitation of
that body a number of physicians and pharmacists
met in the hall of the Philadelphia College of
Pharmacy. On that occasion Dr. Swayze opened
the proceedings by calling attention to patent medi¬
cines, and recommending pharmacists to abandon
and discourage their sale, much upon the same
grounds as those urged by Dr. Langdon Down in
his inaugural address last month. This proposal
appears to have been so far approved by the meeting
that a resolution was passed to take steps for ascer¬
taining how far the pharmacists of Philadelphia
would be willing to unite in such a course. The
editor of the American Journal of Pharmacy refers
favourably to this proposal, and suggests it might
very properly go further by including also, on the
part of pharmacists, the discarding of all signs and
circulars relating to and recommending patent medi
cines, and, on the part of the physicians, the dis
carding of the specialties which are sometimes pre
scribed by medical men. Between these preparations,
often protected by trade marks and made by unknown
formulae, and the common nostrums known as patent
medicines, our contemporary thinks there is no
distinction to be drawn.

Another subject discussed was the compact some¬
times formed between certain physicians and phar¬
macists for mutual advantages in dispensing pre¬
scriptions, but no action was taken upon it, as it was
considered that the evil was one difficult to reach.
Prescribing over the counter and the repetition of
prescriptions were the subjects which excited most
interest, and they were both discussed at adjourned
meetings held last month. As regards the former
subject the discussion did not bring forth any new

points beyond the difficulty of defining exactly what
is to be understood by “ prescribing over the counter ”
and of deciding how far the pharmacist is justified in
expressing an opinion as to the choice of simple
remedies. On the part of the physicians charges
"were made to which the pharmacists present replied
by denying that they applied to them, and on the
motion of Professor Bemmington a resolution was
passed to the effect that as the diagnosis and treat¬
ment of disease belong to the province of a distinct
profession, and as a pharmaceutical education does
not qualify the pharmacist for these responsible
offices, he should, where it is practicable, refer
applicants for medical aid to a regular physician.
However, if we may judge from the comments on
this discussion in the American Journal of Pharmacy,
it does not appear to have been conducted with
sufficient regard to the propriety of not burdening
one class or the other with the misdoings of some
of its individual members, or to have been free from
the bitterness of feeling which has been experienced
amongst ourselves.

In regard to the unauthorized repetition of pre¬
scriptions, it was contended, on the one hand, that
this practice was undesirable, because serious results
and even death had taken place in consequence of it.
It was maintained that the physician does not sell a
prescription, but merely charges a professional fee
for his advice, and that he suffers pecuniary loss by
the use of his prescription being repeated without
his direction. On the other hand, it was held that
phaimacists cannot interfere with the right which
the public claims of having prescriptions dispensed
as often as may be desired, and that it is for the
physician to determine with his patients what is to
be done in that respect. As embodying to some
extent both views, a resolution was passed at the
meeting stating that physicians when writing a pre-
scription which they do not wish renewed should
write on the bottom of such prescription, “ Do not
renew,” and also inform the patient of the fact in
every case, while, on the other hand, the druggist
dispensing it should wiite or print on the label,
“Not to be renewed unless by a written order of
the doctor.”

Whether such a proceeding will have the desired
effect is at least doubtful. The popular idea is that
a patient has a right to the prescription he receives
from a physician and that he may do as he pleases
with it. Long usage has confirmed that belief, and
there does not appear to be any way in which it can
be interfered with, except as the result of an under¬
standing to the contrary between the physician and
his patient. The pharmacist really has no option,
but the utmost he can do is to caution patients
against the injury likely to arise from the continued
use of dangerous drugs, and even by that course he
may prejudice himself in some instances.

This subject has been recently under consideration
by the Austrian Government, and a proposal to

420

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOUENaL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 20, 1880.

regulate the use of physicians’ prescriptions has been
discussed by the Bohemian Pharmaceutical Associa¬
tion. Upon the principle that a physician’s pre¬
scription is only an order for one supply of medicine,
it is suggested that it shall he made unlawful for the
pharmacist to dispense a prescription more than once
or to dispense medicines according to copies of prescrip¬
tions. With that object physicians are to write their
prescriptions upon stamped paper, stating their address
and qualification as well as the date upon which the
prescriptions are given and the name and address of
the patient. Pharmacists are to be prohibited from
dispensing any prescriptions that are not thus authen¬
ticated, and they are also to be required to mark all
prescriptions dispensed with the date, their own
name and address and the word “ dispensed.” Dis¬
regard of these regulations by either physicians or
dispensers is to render them liable to penalty. The
Bohemian pharmacists have pointed out the difficul¬
ties attending the adoption of the plan proposed,
even if it were restricted to powerful medicines, and
they suggest that it is for medical men to adopt such
precautions as they may deem necessary for prevent¬
ing misuse of medicine ordered by them.

We have referred to these discussions less on ac¬
count of any novelty they present, than for the
purpose of pointing out the desirability of conferences
between medical practitioners and pharmacists upon
such topics as those above mentioned. Even if most
questions cannot be settled at once to the satisfaction
of all concerned, we agree with the editor of the
American Journal of Pharmacy in thinking there is
reason to believe that much good might result from
more frequent intercourse of physicians and pharma¬
cists. There are so many scientific and practical
points on which the members of one body might
enlighten those of the other, that such meetings
might be made interesting as well as beneficial, and
more calculated to promote on both sides that
differentiation of function to which we must look
for improvement in their relations rather than
to one-sided incriminations and declamations as
to grievances. One of the greatest cleficiences of
the present time is the absence of adequate compre¬
hension by medical men or pharmacists of the cir¬
cumstances by which each class is governed. We
are constantly meeting with indications of such
mutual misunderstanding, and may illustrate the
fact by reference to the last number of the British
Medical Journal, where it is stated that the Phar¬
macy Act renders the practice of pharmacy penal
for any person that is not duly registered under the
Act. If this statement were a representation of fact
there might probably be less reason for medical men
to complain of pharmacists, but it certainly is not
creditable to a leading medical journal to give
currency to such an absurd blunder.

INFRINGEMENTS OF THE PHARMACY ACT.

In the reports of proceedings under the Pharmacy
Act, 1868, it wTill be seen that in an action brought
by the Pharmaceutical Society against G. J. E.
Copping, in the Manchester County Court, the
defendant has paid into court the amount of
penalty and costs. This is the second time within
the present year that Mr. Copping has been pro¬
ceeded against for infringement of the Pharmacy
Act by keeping open shop for the sale of poisons,*
and this circumstance is not without significance in
connection with the complaint in the report of the
Local Government Board as to the sale of adul¬
terated drugs, to which we called attention last
wreek. It is under such circumstances of in¬
fringement of the Pharmacy Act by unqualified
persons that the sale of adulterated drugs is
carried on, and for this reason alone the efforts
of the Pharmaceutical Society to enforce the law
in the interest of the public ought to receive every
possible support from those departments of the1
Government that are concerned with the punish¬
ment of offenders. That the influence of such official
countenance of the Society’s action in this respect is
requisite may be sufficiently inferred from the fact
that the defendant in the case above referred to had
been proceeded against twice within six months, and
on both occasions paid the penalty of his offence.

DEATH OF AN ANNUITANT.

We regret to have to report the death, on Tuesday
last, of Mr. John Seagrave Higgs, at the age of 69
years. Mr. Higgs was elected an annuitant on the
Benevolent Fund in 1878.

MUNICIPAL HONOURS TO CHEMISTS.

In addition to the gentlemen referred to last week
as having been chosen to municipal offices, we have
to mention Mr. Edward Clark, Chemist and Drug¬
gist, who has been elected Mayor of Lancaster, and
Mr. Arthur Deck, Pharmaceutical Chemist and
Local Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society, who
has been re-elected an Alderman of the borough of
Cambridge.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association will be held on
Thursday, November 25, at 8.30 p.m., Professor
Attfield, F.R.S., President, in the chair. A paper
will be read by Dr. Senier, on “ The Object of
Study, including that of Pharmaceutical Study.”

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association will be held
at the rooms, 32a, George Street, Hanover Square,
on Wednesday next, November 24, at 9 p.m., pre¬
cisely. A paper will be read by Mr. C. Parkinson,
subject, “Sir Humphrey Davy,” and one by Mr.
F. W. Collinson, subject, “ Michael Faraday.”

* See Fharm. Journ., xi,, p. 39.

November 20, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

Crmtsactiaits ox tbc |pbarntaccutinil

SorofjL

NORTH BRITISH BRANCH.

The first meeting of the twenty-seventh session was
held in the Society’s Rooms, 119a, George Street, Edin¬
burgh, on Wednesday, November 10. Mr. J. B. Ste¬
phenson, President of the Branch, in the chair.

The minutes of the former meeting were read and
confirmed.

_ The Honorary Secretary intimated the following dona¬
tions : —

Donations to the Museum.

30 Mounted Specimens of the Official Indigenous
Medicinal Plants.

3 Series of Diagrams illustrating Elower Arrange¬
ments. Prom a Eriend.

Contributions to the Library.

The Spirit of Nature. By H. B. Baildon.

Presented by the Author.

Note Book of Materia M^edica. By Dr. Scoresby
Jackson, 4th edition. Edited by Dr. Moinet.

Erom the Publishers.

Historical Sketch of the Progress of Pharmacy in
Great Britain. By Jacob Bell and Dr. Redwood.

From the Society in London.

The Pharmacist and Chemist , from May till October.

From the Chicago College of Pharmacy.

The Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal , from May
till October.

From the Ontario Colloge of Pharmacy.

Journal of the Chemical Society, from May till
October. Official Awards of the Sydney Inter¬
national Exhibition, 1879. Report of H.M.
Commissioners for the Paris Universal Exhibition,
1878, 2 vols, and list of awards to British
Exhibitors. An Inquiry into the Theory and
Practice of Antiseptic Surgery. By Dr. James
Cumming. Erom Mr. Mackay.

The President then opened the session with the fol¬
lowing —

Introductory Remarks.

Gentlemen, — When a man has to open the session for
the fourth time from this chair, as is the case with me
this evening, I think you will agree with me that it is
neither to be expected nor desired that he should have
much to say. One duty, however, is rendered the more
•incumbent by the frequency of my appearance here, viz.,
the acknowledgment of the great and, as I think, the
unprecedented honour you have conferred on me by
again electing me to fill this chair. And this duty, as it
becomes more incumbent year by year, becomes also, let
me assure you, less a matter of course and more a matter
of heartfelt sentiment. Let me add my assurance that I
will do my best to fulfil the duties of the chair, and my
hope that our meetings this session will prove as in¬
teresting and be as well attended as in former years.

I have said that it was not to be expected or desired
that I should have much to say to you this evening. It
might indeed be expected that in the present position
and future prospects of our business, which are confessedly
of a somewhat gloomy character, I might have attempted
to lay before you any considerations which might tend
either towards enlightenment and guidance, or at least
comfort under the circumstances, but I fear I am little
competent to do so. There can be no doubt that the
present depression of trade has affected us all more or
less. Then there are these wholesale organizations in
the form of co-operative stores and supply associations,
so greatly in vogue with the professional classes, and
which have done so much, and may do so much more, in
the . way of damaging retail business. And lastly, —
unkindest cut of all, — there is the decision of the

421

wounding

us m a

Supreme Court of Judicature,

part which we had believed to be invulnerable, and
the full effect of which if carried to its logical con-

Jr ?lfficult to foresee. In view of all these
difficulties, I have really nothing to say, except the
merest commonplaces and truisms; but perhaps the mere
repetition of them may serve some purpose. As to
the depression of trade which has been not only so
universal but so protracted, it is bound in the natural
course of things to pass over. They say it is doing so
already, although I confess no signs of this have come
within, my personal knowledge. Then, as a trade we
must just accept all legitimate competition that mav
arise, be it on the part of stores, or in any other form
and we should consider that all other retail traders are
affected by these causes as well as ourselves, most of
them indeed to a greater extent. With regard to stores
1 am persuaded that they cannot compete in the long
run with the retailer in meeting all the requirements of
the public, so that when , the present mania for amateur
shopkeeping shall have died away, these concerns will do
so likewise. Besides., I think it is within the range of
possibility that retailers may devise some plan to get
their professional assistance at wholesale rates, whfch
would throw a new light on the relation of the different
classes to one another. . The legal decision which I have
referred to presents difficulties more serious, because it
trenches on the professional part of our business, which
we had hitherto considered our stronghold. It seems to
deprive us of the protection which we had come to regard
as belonging to us in virtue of our professional qualifica¬
tion. . Seems to deprive us, I say, because I believe that
m point of fact, protection— at least the substantial
benefits of a protected condition — will always be found
associated with the qualification. It is true that the
judges based their decision on the fact of the qualification
being present, but then the new principle they introduced
was. that of the qualification of one man constituting the
basis of the protection of another — a doctrine which
admits of many awkward applications. Our aim, both as
a Society and as individuals, should ever be to magnify
this qualification. We need fear no outside competition
in this, and I think it is in this direction we should ever
turn our eyes in view of difficulties. On the theme of
the future of pharmacy as conditioned by the qualification
of the pharmacist, there has been a good deal said and
written lately. Notably, there were leading articles in
our own Journal, and also in the Chemist and Druggist
quite recently, and a speech by Dr. Langdon Down to
the students in Bloomsbury Square on the opening of
the winter session, which, all express and illustrate °my
own ideas on this subject in a manner I cannot hope to
emulate, and as you must all be familiar with these
articles, I need not do more than refer to them. I thought
of now asking your attention for a few moments while I
showed how the idea was part and parcel, as it were, of our
Society, being expressed in the very words of our charter of
incorporation. You have to imagine ourveneratedfounders
laying their heads together, as we say, to found our Society,
and selecting words to express the very raison d'etre of it!
Well, they begin by saying that the first purpose of the
association is to advance chemistry and pharmacy, and
to promote the education of those who should practise
the same.”. There are other purposes, but this is the one
first mentioned and its position assigned, primary and
paramount. Look for a moment at it, we see it unfolds
in two directions. The first aspect is outward— to the
world of science “ for advancing chemistry and phar¬
macy.” The second is inward — to her own members
“for promoting education,” the animating principle in
both cases being qualification— the qualification of the
chemist and pharmacist. It is worth noting, too, that
the words “promoting education” are used. You all know
the agitation which has been and is taking place about
the proper place of our Society as to education. She
already provides it in Bloomsbury Square, but the diffi-

422

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 20, 1880..

culty of providing an education at all commensurate
with the entire requirements of our profession, is one
that has met every one who has for an instant con¬
sidered the subject, and it met, I firmly believe, these
foundersof ours and led them to use this word “promoting,”
for promote is a very wide word and includes every
agency that tends either directly or indirectly to educate
our members. Our examining boards promote education,
because candidates must be educated up to the standard
of our examinations. So do our library, and museum
and lectures. Yes, gentlemen, we are this evening, by
our presence here, fulfilling the first purpose of our
existence as a corporate body. Well then, after laying
down this first purpose of our Society, and assigning it
its place, our founders go on to the second “ and for the
protection of chemists and druggists.” You see the
order and connection of the two ; first, the qualification,
then the protection. And it were well for us to give
them always the same order and precedence, the one of
the other, in our minds. I have only in a word to men¬
tion the third purpose of the Society — the Benevolent
Fund. It was like these good men to make a regard for
the sacred principles of charity and mercy, the third
strand of the cord that was to bind our Society together.
For, as you all know, our Fund is of a purely eleemosy¬
nary character, and in this respect unlike the funds of
many other corporate bodies which partake more of the
nature of insurance funds. Is it necessary to point the
moral of this last purpose by formally urging the claims
of the Fund on the support of every one of us ?

Dr. J. A. Russell, Edinburgh, afterwards read a paper,
of which the following is an abstract, on ‘ Disinfectants,’
illustrated by diagrams and specimens.

Disinfectants.

BY J. A. RUSSELL, M.B., F.R.S.E.

A large amount of the quackery and confusion which
prevails in the prescription and use of disinfectants is
due to ignorance of the precise nature of the contagia of
diseases which disinfectants are intended to destroy or
render inert. Disinfectants, deodorants and antiseptics
have been confounded because so long as the nature of
the noxious material was unknown the chemical agents
were selected to satisfy the most various and differing
theories as to its nature and properties. Recently a flood
of light has been thrown upon the nature of the contagia
of many diseases, and being acquainted with their life
history we can select appropriate disinfectants. These
propagating agents consist of minute solid particles,
probably of a vegetable nature, and appear as a cork-
screw-like spirilla in relapsing fever and as a large
motionless rod (the Bacillus anthracis) in wool-sorters’
disease ; while in fowl cholera the blood is purpled with
a micrococcus one fifty-thousandth of an inch in diameter.
When these organisms exist in clothing they can be
destroyed by dry heat (220° F. for two hours) or by
thorough boiling and washing. Some kinds of them, at
all events, multiply in media external to the animal body,
and this multiplication appears in many cases to be
favoured by diet. Being non-gaseous they are not with¬
drawn from air in which they may be floating in clouds
by liquid or solid disinfectants exposed in vessels, and in
these circumstances should be expelled by ventilation
or cleansing or attacked by gaseous disinfectants.

Experiments upon vaccine matter, which may be taken
as the type of a virulent material, show that disinfectants
to be effectual must be used in much larger quantity than
is usually considered necessary, and that when the disin¬
fectant is of an acid nature the virus must be rendered per¬
manently and strongly acid. These experiments show that
sulphurous acid is much more potent than chlorine as a
gaseous disinfectant, and that though carbolic acid in
quantity equal to 2 per cent, of the virus completely

deprives it of its infective power for the time being*
yet it is not permanently abolished but returns when
the carbolic acid has escaped through exposure to the
air.

Permanganate of potash, though deficient in antiseptic
properties, is truly disinfectant when used in such quan¬
tity that the colour is retained, but the expense becomes
enormous, except for a few purposes. Though we have
no trustworthy light from direct experiment, there is-
reason to believe that many metallic salts in very strong
solution are disinfectant, and at all events many of them
are antiseptic (fatal to microzymes). The waste chlorides
from the manufacture of chlorine might be used for
drains. It should be remembered that agents such as
carbolic acid and metallic salts, which in small quantity
have a preservative power, may actually prolong the
life of contagium which would otherwise succumb to
natural processes if the agents are used in limited quan¬
tity.

Experiments upon vaccine matter prove that several
lauded and patented “ antiseptics and disinfectants ” are
perfectly worthless, so far as any useful influence upon
this virus is concerned. It is necessary clearly to under¬
stand what is required when selecting an agent for prac¬
tical use. There are good deodorants, which arrest-
putrefaction and fermentation, and yet completely faiL
to destroy contagious particles imbedded in an epithelial
or albuminous envelope, as they usually are.

The usual vote of thanks to the President and Dr..
Russell brought the meeting to a close.

|)r obxnthl ®ransacthms.

MIDLAND COUNTIES CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting was held at Burlington Chambers,
New Street, Birmingham, on November 10, at half -past
eight in the evening. There was a good attendance.

In moving the adoption of the report, copies of which
were on the table,

Mr. Barclay said that although there had not been this
year a course of lectures similar to three previous years,
there had been a good deal of quiet work done by the
Association. The library had been much enlarged, and
book case provided. The works recently bought were of
a kind most useful to the chemist for reference. A com¬
mittee had been formed and had commenced the work of
revising and republishing the price list. A sum of £5 had
been disbursed by the Treasurer in giving temporary as¬
sistance to a distressed chemist ; the sum was a small one
but the relief reached cases which the Benevolent Fund
of the Pharmaceutical Society did not deal with so well,
as assistance was given at once without delay. The
report was adopted.

Mr. Churchill moved that a sum of £10 be granted for
the temporary relief of chemists in distress. This was
agreed to. A further sum of £5 was voted on a motion
of Mr. Thomas Barclay for the purchase of additions te
the library.

Mr. Thomas Holdsworth was elected President; Messrs..
Gibson and Wilcox, Vice-Presidents; Mr. Joseph Lucas-
was unanimously re-appointed Treasurer ; Messrs. Arblas-
ter and Haydon were appointed Auditors. The Hono¬
rary Secretaries, Messrs. Dewson and Austen were also
re-appointed. The Committee was then elected, consist¬
ing of the following gentlemen : — Messrs. Arblaster,.
Barclay, Bellamy, Brown, Grieves, Jones, Haydon,.
Morris, Partridge, W. Southall, A. Southall, J. Green.

The following books were reported by the Librarian
new additions to the Library : — “ Roscoe’s and Schorlem-
mer’s ‘ Chemistry,’ vol. ii, part 1 and part 2 ; Cooley’s.

November 20, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

423

‘Encyclopaedia of Practical Receipts; and ‘The National
Dispensatory,’ Stilld and Maisch.

The report of the Local Government Board, an abstract
from which appeared in the Birmingham Post, was then
referred to by Mr. Barclay, who pointed out that the
report was calculated to produce an impression on the
minds of the public injurious to the chemist. The
chemist was not likely, as stated in the report, to sell
paregoric without opium, having no inducement to do so,
since he has the legal right to vend poisons. The real
culprits were hucksters and unqualified sellers of drugs,
who sold a so-called paregoric without opium in order to
evade the Pharmacy Act, a practice which was likely to
be productive of much mischief to the public as well as
injury to the chemist ; the weakness of sweet nitre was well
known to be due to the difficulty of the official process
on a large scale, and the rapid deterioration of the product
by keeping. With regard to cream of tartar, the im¬
purity (sulphate of lime) complained of in the report,
when present, was due to the practice of the wine pro¬
ducer, and not to fraud on the part of the chemist ; again,
the lead in tartaric acid, which the commissioners had
reported, was not an adulterant at all, but an impurity
present in minute quantity and difficult to altogether
avoid, when made by the method adopted by many
m anufacturers.

Considerable discussion ensued, in which most present
took part.

At the termination of the proceedings, the committee
elected a soiree committee to conduct the soiree business,
which should meet at an early date and settle the pre¬
liminaries. The Secretary reported that the Town Hall
was bespoken for the 21st of January next, and as there
was a strong desire felt for a good exhibition of processes
apparatus, etc., an unusually interesting soiree is looked
forward to.

rBaeiritTigs o{ Sacniific Societies.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The first meeting of the session was held on Thursday
November 11, Professor Attfield, F.R.S., President, in
the chair.

The election of officers for the ensuing session was
proceeded with, Mr. Caley and Mr. Evans being appointed
scrutineers.

The result of the election was as follows: _ Vice-

Presidents, Mr. Robert H. Parker, Mr. David Hooper •
Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Wyndham R. Dunstan*
Committee, Mr. William Elborne, Mr. John 0. Braith-
waite, Mr. Richard H. Groves, Mr. Charles Thompson.

A vote of thanks to the retiring officers, proposed by

.Hooper, and seconded by Mr. Job, was carried
unanimously.

The President then explained the objects of the As¬
sociation, and welcomed new members, urging them to
work for the Association by reading papers, thus in¬
directly obtaining benefit themselves. The subject of
“Chemical Constitution from the point of view of the
Student of Pharmacy ” was introduced by the President,
who after defining and describing the subject generally’
alluded to and explained some of the principal difficulties
which a pupil commencing the investigation of the sub¬
ject would experience.

A discussion followed, in which Messrs. Mitchell
Davies, Lewis, Bird, Braith waite and Parker took part.

. A vote of thanks to the President for his communica¬
tion, and for the continued interest which he takes in
the Association, was proposed by Mr. Groves, and
seconded by Mr. Braith waite, and carried unanimously.

f arlianrntfarg anb fato Iromtrrags.

Proceedings under the Pharmacy Act.

PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY V. D. B. JOHNSTONE AND CO.

In the Bloomsbury County Court, on Wednesday
November 17, Messrs. D. B. Johnstone and Co., of
Edgware Road, were sued for a penalty of £5, incurred
by them in selling or keeping open shop for retailing,
dispensing, or compounding poison, to wit, “chloral hy-
contrary to the provisions of the Pharmacy Act
1868 (31 and 32 Viet. cap. 121).

Mr. Flux appeared for the Society, and Mr. Ryland
appeared for the defendant-!.

Upon the defendants’ solicitor applying for an adjourn¬
ment of the case, Mr. Flux stipulated for an undertaking
on the. part of the defendants not to sell poisons in the
meantime, and this being agreed to, an order was made
accordingly.

Adjourned to December 2, at 12 o’clock.

A second action, brought by the Pharmaceutical
Society against G. J. E. Copping, of 18, Stockport Road,
Manchester, in the Manchester County Court, in which
the plaintiffs sued the defendant for a £5 penalty, in¬
curred by his having kept open shop for the sale of
poisons, has terminated by the defendant payino- into
court the amount of the penalty and costs.

Prosecution for Selling Patent Medicines
without a Licence.

On Tuesday, November 9, at the Petty Sessions held
at Market Harborough, John Simon Rochard, of
Kibworth, described as a chemist,* was charged by John
Hearne, supervisor, with having sold or exposed for sale
certain patent medicines without having a licence.

Defendant pleaded guilty, but in extenuation stated
that he went to Leicester for the purpose of taking out a
licence, but was referred to Stamford in Lincolnshire,
and in the hurry omitted to look further after it.
Defendant alleged that Mr. Brown (a chemist in the
same village), who had been the means of proceedings
being, instituted against him, was not actuated by any
affection for the revenue, but from a very different
motive obtained a licence on September 1.

It was stated that the Bench under the Summary
Jurisdiction Act had the power to reduce the fine ad
libitum, and defendant was fined in the nominal penalty
of 5s., and 16s. 6d. costs. — Leicester Chronicle.

Strange Case of Alleged Poisoning.

On Friday the 12th inst., Mr. J. Humphreys resumed
an investigation, at the Leigh Hoy Tavern, Hanbury
Street, Whitechapel, into the circumstances attending the
death of Cornelius Sullivan, aged 26, which took place on
the 16th ult. The deceased was in the service of Mr.
Stevens, a herbalist, of Osborne Street, Whitechapel.
He complained, on returning home, of feeling faint and
being sick, and stated that his employer had given him a
powder which he had taken. Medical aid was sought,
but death was almost instantaneous. An inquiry was sub¬
sequently made as to the nature of the powder given to the
deceased, and it was ascertained that Stevens also died
suddenly the same day.

Dr. Sterling made a post-mortem examination of the
body of Sullivan. Believing poison to be the cause of
death, he preserved the stomach and its contents for
analysis, and the inquiry was adjourned for this purpose.

The supplementary evidence taken yesterday was that
of Frederick Webb, a coachman, living in Gloucester Road,
Regent’s Park, who said he had an attack of liver com-

* There is no such name on the Register of Chemists
and Druggists.— Ed. Ph. J.

424

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 20, 1880-

plaint on the 9th of October last, and was recommended
to Stevens for advice. Witness received a powder, for
which he paid 2s. He was ordered to put it into a pint
of water, and take three teaspoonfuls four times a day.
On Sunday morning he took the first dose, and immediately
afterwards he was unable to grasp anything, felt giddy,
and his features became contracted — so much so that his
wife screamed when she observed them. Witness went
to a qualified medical practitioner, who at once informed
him he had taken poison, and administered an emetic,
which afforded him relief. Witness wrote to Stevens
demanding the return of 2s., and enclosing his medical
man’s bill. Stevens took no notice of the letter, and
witness called upon him, and saw him in his shop. Stevens
still refused to refund the money, and witness said he had
a portion of the powder with him, and he would have it
analysed. Stevens said he had no poisons in his shop,
and in order to convince him took three teaspoonfuls of
witness’s powder. Stevens also called in Sullivan, who,
he said, would take a similar dose. Witness said that
was unnecessary. Sullivan, however, took a dose. This
was all witness knew of the matter until he read the
deaths of Stevens and Sullivan in The Standard.

Dr. Tidy, of the London Hospital, said he received a
jar on October 19 from Dr. Sterling, containing the
stomach and parts of the intestines. In the stomach
were 8oz. of a thick yellowish fluid. The stomach was
considerably congested, and inflammation was running
through all the coats. On further examination he found
mineral and organic poisons, a considerable quantity of
lobelia, and definite traces of aconite, and a hot material,
which he thought was pepper. It was difficult to tell
whether lobelia or aconite was the cause of death, but
either or both would destroy life, as both were active
poisons. Aconite being the more powerful of the two,
would, perhaps, have been the more likely cause of death,
which was beyond doubt due to poisoning.

The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the
cause of death was due to poisoning, but under what
circumstances it was taken there was not sufficient
evidence to prove. — Standard.

The Use of the Word “Pyretic.”

LAMPLOUGH V. BEEDZLER.

In the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of
Judicature, at the Sittings at Lincoln’s Inn, on Friday
the 12th inst., before Lords Justices James, Cotton and
Lush, this case came on for hearing.

It was an appeal by the plaintiff from the refusal of the
Master of the Rolls to grant an injunction to restrain the
defendant from infringing the plaintiff’s registered trade
marks, from selling any chemical preparation in wrappers
having printed on them any imitation of the plaintiff’s
trade marks, and from using in connection with the
manufacture and sale of any chemical or other prepara¬
tion any wrappers or labels containing the words “pyretic
saline,” either alone or associated with other words,
or any wrappers or labels so contrived as to lead to the
belief that the article manufactured by the defendant
was the manufacture of the plaintiff. The plaintiff
is a chemist carrying on business in Holborn, and is the
manufacturer of a compound which has been well known
for many years as “ Lamplough’s Pyretic Saline.” He
has always used the words “ pyretic saline ” in connection
with his own name, but he alleged that his article had
always been known in the market by the name of
“pyretic saline.” The plaintiff had registered the words
“pyretic saline” as a trade mark, and he has also
registered a label of a more elaborate character. The
defendant is a wholesale and retail chemist trading as
John Beedzler and Co., in Norton Folgate. He sells an
article of his own manufacture which he describes on his
labels as “John Beedzler and Co.’s Salubrious Saline or
Health Giver,” and the label also described it as “an ex¬
cellent pyretic antibilious and headache effervescing

saline.” The Master of the Rolls in June last, held that-
the plaintiff’s trade mark had not been infringed, that
the defendant had not been guilty of any fraud, and
that what he had done was not calculated to deceive-
His Lordship, therefore, refused the injunction. The
plaintiff appealed.

Mr. Aston, Q.C., and Mr. E. Brodie Cooper (with
whom was Mr. Ince, Q.C.), for the appellant, contended
that the words “ pyretic saline,” which had been registered
by the plaintiff as his trade mark in addition to the
whole label, were distinctive, and formed a good trade
mark, and that if these words were not a good trade
mark the labels used by the defendant were deceptive.

Mr. Chitty, Q.C., and Mr. Jason Smith, for the
defendant, contended that the word “pyretic” was
purely descriptive, and appeared in dictionaries as long
ago as 1775, as equivalent to “febrifuge.” As a merely
descriptive word it could not form a valid trade mark,,
and no monopoly could be claimed in it by the plaintiff,
who, in order to obtain relief, must prove that the
defendant had himself committed fraud or had enabled
others to do so.

Mr. Aston, Q.C., replied.

Lord Justice James said there was no pretence for
saying that the plaintiff’s trade mark had been taken by
the defendant. Was there any ground for saying that,
the defendant had attempted to pass off his goods, not as
goods of the same kind or as rival goods, but as the goods
of the plaintiff ? In his Lordship’s opinion there was
not, and it was impossible for any one by means of the
defendant’s labels to pass off his goods as the plaintiff’s
goods. No part of the one label could be said to bear
any resemblance to the other. The appeal must be
dismissed.

Lord Justice Cotton was of opinion that, assuming the
plaintiff’s trade mark to be a good one, there had been,
no infringement of it by the defendant. As to the other
point, his Lordship thought there was more room for
reasonable doubt. The question was whether, from the
use of the word “pyretic,” the defendant had done that
which was calculated to induce people to believe that his
manufacture was that of the plaintiff. It was not neces¬
sary that there should be a fraudulent intent, for every
one must be held responsible for that which, upon the
facts known to him, was the reasonable and probable
result of what he did ; he could not be heard to say that
he did not intend to deceive. The case turned upon the
question what the use of the word “pyretic” by the
defendant was calculated to do. It was not a mere
fancy name, but a word descriptive of that which was
useful in curing or preventing fever, and it was used by
the defendant in that part of his label which was essen¬
tially descriptive of the qualification of the article which
he manufactured, not as a name of the article itself. In
his Lordship’s opinion, if a man took a really descriptive
name and annexed it to an article which he manu¬
factured, and it became known to the general public only
from his use of it, as a word descriptive of the article,
still he was not entitled to complain if another person
used the word as descriptive of his manufacture, provided
that he did not attempt to palm off his goods as those of
the first maker.

Lord Justice Lush said that if the term “pyretic:
saline ” was a trade mark, a proposition to which he did
not wish to say that he assented, yet in his opinion there-
had been no infringement of it by the defendant. The
only question was whether the defendant’s label was a
fraudulent imitation of the plaintiff’s. Was it so clear
an imitation that a person of ordinary intelligence,
buying the defendant’s goods, would suppose that he was
buying the plaintiff’s ? That was the test. But there
was not a single paragraph or sentence in the defendant’s
label resembling the plaintiff’s. Jf the plaintiff had
given to his article a fancy name, a word which had no¬
meaning, the case might have been very different. But
the word “pyretic” was to be found in our vocabularies a.

November 20, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

425

century ago as descriptive of the qualities of an article,
and a man could not, by using such a descriptive word in
this way, obtain a monopoly of it. There was no other
resemblance between the two wrappers, and a person of
ordinary capacity and intelligence would not be deceived
into buying the one for the other.

The appeal was accordingly dismissed, with costs.

property of these bodies. When boiled with water tri-
tmm is readily decomposed, being partly converted into
fruit sugar, but levulin and sinistrin are only broken ud
by water when heated to 100° C. in closed tubes. By
the action of yeast, however, levulin is more rapidly
decomposed than triticin or sinistrin.

Poisoning by “Baby’s Mixture.”

On Monday last, Mr. C. Maynard, coroner, held an
inquest at New Seaham, touching the death of Caroline
Heppell, daughter of George Heppell, miner. From the
evidence it appears the deceased was one month old, and
had been ailing for a few days. Dr. Beatty saw the
child, and under his treatment the symptoms got better.
On ihursday night the deceased becoming restless, the
mother gave it half a teaspoonful of a “baby’s mixture,”
made by a man named James Paisley, a workman at the
colliery, and who keeps a small shop. A neighbour
named Kirkbride made up the “mixture” with an
addition of aniseed, loaf sugar, and boiling water, giving
it to Elizabeth Heppell, sister of the first witness, who in
turn gave it to a little girl, seven years, old, sister to the
d ceased, with instructions not to administer more than
half a teaspoonful. The baby’s mixture was sold by a
a girl thirteen years old, daughter of James Paisley, to a
son of the witness Kirkbride, a mere boy. After the
child had taken the mixture it became worse, and died a
few hours afterwards. Dr. T. C. Beatty, who had seen
the child since its death, was of opinion that death had
resulted from opium poisoning.

James Paisley said he made the laudanum up with
24oz. proof spirit, 4 oz. distilled water, and foz. opium.
He bruised the opium. He had a patent medicine
licence, but no licence for making up this mixture.

The jury returned the following verdict That the
deceased died from the injudicious administration of
laudanum ; and Paisley be censured by the Coroner, and
warned as to any future sale. Pai -ley was then called
into the room and admonished by the Coroner. On
Paisley promising to cease the making up and sale of the
noxious drug, the proceedings terminated. — Neiv astle
Daily Chroniele.

Ilebiefos.

Ein Beitrag zur Kentniss des Levulins, Triticins
und Sinistrins. Von Adolf Weyher v. Reide-
meister. Dorpat. 1880.

This pamphlet contains the “Inaugural Dissertation”
written by the author for the obtaining of the title of
“Msgister der Pharmacie ” from the Faculty of the
University of Dorpat. It has for its subject three sub¬
stances that apparently perform similar functions in dif¬
ferent plants, namely, levulin, an indifferent body occurring
in the Helianthus tuberosus, and occupying a place between
inulin and fruit sugar analogous to that of dextrin
between starch and grape sugar; triticin, occurring in
the couch grass; and sinistrin, occurring in the squill.
These three bodies, notwithstanding that they correspond
in appearance and in most of their properties, — showing
only a difference in their behaviour towards polarized
light and some reagents, — have been attributed to different
groups of carbohydrates, and there has been a difference
of opinion expressed as to their behaviour towards
polarized light. The author’s experiments, which are
very numerous, lead him to the opinion that triticin is
an isomer of saccharose, whilst levulin and sinistrin
belong to the dextrin group. He failed to prepare tri¬
ticin or sinistrin optically inactive, his products rotating
polarized light to the left, though to a less degree than
stated by previous experimenters, and this rotatory power
he believes to be due, not to impurity, but an inherent

axxcj »v Uimsjtiuu COMPANION

d v I, -r, . - V. . ' * ui useiui anci

Reliable Recipes, Rules, Processes, Methods, Wrinkles
and Practical Hints for the Household and the Shop.

164WppYOrk: The Industrial Plication Company.

This volume, although a small one and low priced, has
an advantage over many of its more pretentious com¬
petitors m the evidence it presents of the truth of a
statement in the preface that it has been prepared with
very great care,. the chief aim being to give none but
recipes which will not disappoint those who attempt to
use them . It has no doubt fallen to the lot of many of
our readers after running down a recipe to be deterred
from attempting to use it through some absurdity or dis-
tortion which has accrued to it during its passage through
the hands of successive compilers. Without committim-
ourselves to endorsing all that is stated in the book, and
notwithstanding a little looseness of expression that is
met with here and there, we may say that it appears to
be a very handy little volume, and shows considerable
originality. The way in which some of the subjects are
grouped together and preceded by a practically written
introduction may be seen from two sections that have
been quoted m full in this J ournal : “ How to use Glue ”
and “ Cements ” (vol. x. pp. 712 and 834).

Although published in New York we presume the work
could be obtained through some of the Loudon agents for
the American publishers. °

lond°n Smoke and Fog: With Some Observations on
the Country Parson’s Grate and other Modern Fire¬
places. By Frederick Edwards, jun. London •
Longmans, Green and Co. 1880. 8vo. 20 pp.

The pretext for the publication of this pamjiblet is the
attention which has recently been directed to the subject
of fog and smoke in London ; but the author must be an
exceptionally sanguine man if he thinks that the hundred
lines m which he discuses this subject throw much light
upon it Assuming, as is the fashion, that smoke and
tog stand m the relation of cause and effect, he, in this
short space, parses in review various methods proposed
for the diminution of the production of smoke,— such as
the burning of gas, coke, or anthracite coal, the taxation
of open fire places, heating by hot water or air, etc.,— and
dismisses them all as impracticable in favour of a smoke¬
less stove burning from above, upon the Arnott principle
but modified by the author. In presence of the fact that
the fogs which have visited London during the last two
or three years have been very different from the sooty
irritating fogs of ten or twenty years ago, and have not
been much unlike fogs that occur in localities where little
or no coal is burnt, it would be just as well to have some
of the evidence upon which the assumption that the
occurrence of fogs could be controlled in such a manner
is based. . The greater part of the pamphlet deals with
the relation between ventilation and modern fire-places,
and points to a similar conclusion in respect to the
author’s invention. On the whole we do not think much
loss to the public would have been incurred by the post¬
ponement of the publication of the pamphlet until it
could have been included in a forthcoming volume, of
which it is intended to form a chapter.

Professional Book-Keeping. A Treatise for Non-
Traders. By William John Gordon. London:
Wjman and Sons. 1880.

Although from the statement rather ostentatiously set
out on the title page that this little work is intended for

426

THr. PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 20, 1880

non-traders, it might be supposed not to present much
interest to pharmacists, such a conclusion would be
incorrect. It is true that the scheme of accounts it
contains has been designed to “meet the special re¬
quirements of legal, medical and similar businesses in
which gross profits are represented by receipts for
services rendered.” But the author is not one who
dogmatizes in favour of a particular scheme; for he
starts with the admission that there is no reason why a
man should not design his own system of book-keeping.
A system of account-keeping that would suit one trade,
would be cumbersome or ill-adapted to another ; whilst
even in the same trade the detail that would satisfy one
man would be utterly insufficient in the eyes of another.
The merit of this treatise lies in the fact that in a section
on “Principles,” and another on “Details,” the reader is
helped to understand first the objects that should be
sought in book-keeping and then the best methods of
attaining those objects, and is thus enabled to select those
best adapted to his special case.

to that effect ? Besides, this lotion contains also ext. opii,
which adds to its strength.

The U. S. Pharmacopoeia seems to be Mr. Brown’s
“ guiding star,” for he says that this pharmacopoeia is far
superior in many respects to the B.P. I do not wish to
dispute with Mr. Brown on this point, for I think that
some alterations are required in'ourj Pharmacopoeia. But
the point at issue is reduced to these few words : — Is the
U. S. Pharmacopoeia or the B.P. to be taken for our
standard? Mr. Brown seems to infer the former. I
would suggest to J. G. P. S. that if possible he should
endeavour to ascertain from the writer whether calomel
or corrosive sublimate was intended.

T. G. M.

[451]. I dispensed the prescription with calomel, but
my assistant, like Mr. Brown, said hyd. perchlor. (or
chloral hyd. ) was meant, and it was for his satisfaction
that I put the question to the Journal. I have dis¬
pensed the same prescription many times and know that
calomel is meant.

Preston. J. G. P. S',

gtspensiitjj tftcwornntm.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose salce partly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
number's of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[451]. I fail to see that Mr. Brown has proved satis¬
factorily that a chemist should either in this or any
other instance dispense corrosive sublimate when hyd.
chlor. is prescribed. As I take, it a chemist’s duty is
to follow the nomenclature of the British Pharmacopoeia.
We find there “hydrargyri chloridum” as a synonym for
“hydrargyri subchloridum,” and I should myself consider
a dispenser (especially one who is aware that calomel is
applied in the dry state to the eye) much in error, who
made use of corrosive sublimate in the prescription
quoted. The present edition of the Pharmacopoeia has
been in use for many years, and, presumptuous as it
may appear to say so, I think the prescribers should,
equally with the dispensers, adhere to the nomenclature
(including synonyms) adopted by the representatives of
their own profession as the most suitable for use in
this work, which, as stated iu the preface “ is intended
to afford to the medical profession and those engaged in
the preparation of medicines throughout the British
Empire one uniform standard and guide, whereby the
nature and composition of substances to be used in
medicines may be ascertained and determined.”

Edward H. Storey.

[451]. I consider that the dispute as to the chlorides
should be set at rest by a full discussion carried on in
a friendly spirit through the medium of this Journal.

Mr. Brown still persists in his statement that hydrarg,
chlor. is hydrarg. bichlor. He quotes as his authority
Sir Robert Kane. Does he mean to infer that the B.P.
is to be cast on one side and that the dispenser is to
consult, instead, Sir Robert Kane’s work?

Mr. Brown goes on to say that the argument in the
“ Month ” is not altogether to the point in asserting that
calomel if used as a powder might also be used in solu¬
tion. He bases his objection on the ground that if
calomel were used in this manner, the quantity would be
so small that it would be of very little value as an eye
lotion

Is it not just as probable that the prescriber may have
ntended that a weak lotion should be made, and wrote

[465]. If “John” refers to his Latin dictionary, he
will find that aq. bull, means boiling water, not cold water
as dispensed by him, hence the sediment he complains of.

H. A. T.

[465]. “John” should have implicitly followed the
direction of the prescription by using “boiling water,” he
would then have obtained a clear mixture without
sediment.

Pot. chlor. is only sparingly soluble in cold water (1 in
16), whilst in boiling water its solubility is 1 in 2.

Ouudle. F. Davis

[465]. I cannot possibly see what object “John” could!
have in view in using cold water when aqua bulliens is so
distinctly ordered. “John” is surely aware that potass,
chlorat. is not soluble to the extent of 80 grains in §iss
aqua. Squire says that potass, chlorat. is soluble in cold
water 1 in 12, in boiling water 1 in 2. No wonder the
customer brought it back and complained of the sediment
of undissolved potass, chlorat.

T. G. Morris.

[468]. In dispensing the following prescription should
the liq. Fowleri be neutralized, or the hydrate of iron,
allowed to be precipitated with a “shake” on the

bottle ? —

R Ferri. Dialysati (Wyeth and Co.) . fpv.

Liq. Fowleri . th, 40.

Aquae . ad jjvj.

M. Sig. One measured tablespoonful thrice daily.

[469]. Could you give me in your next issue a formula-
for hypodermic solution of ergotine ?

Provincial Chemist.

[470]. The following recipe was given me as a specific
for toothache. I was told also that it made a clear
preparation. I have tried it several ways, and after
each it separates into three distinct layers. Can it be
prepared to present a decent appearance? —

Gum. Camph .

Chloroform . . . gij.

Liq. Opii Sed . giv.

Alum. Ust . '^ij.

Spt. Yini Rect . giv.

M.

T. P. J.

[471]. I should be glad to know whether a chemist
would be justified in refusing to dispense the following
prescription, which was presented a few days since. It
was thought possible that teriodide of nitrogen might be

^ovemb 20,1880. THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

427

formed. If so, need any care be exercised in dispensing
it so as to prevent an explosion?—

R Lin. Iodi Co . lj.

Lin. Camph. Co . ^j.

M. To be rubbed in three times a day.

Dartmoor.

, [472]. What should I use for aq. caryophyllas ? My
•dispensing unfortunately had not the appearance of that
.previously sent out.

F. S. M.

[473]. What is the usual custom in England when a
.physician orders sulphate of iron in pills ; is the granu¬
lated or dried sulphate used ? 3

Dublin. Euonymin.

[474]. Will some one kindly inform me of the best
method of preparing the enclosed prescription and oblige ?
2 drachms of powdered Alum.

.7 ,, „ Nitrous Spirits of Ether.

Mix well together and apply to the tooth affected.
Wrotham. W. H. Watkins.

Itotes miir ($xt cries.

[687]. DECOLORATION OF LAVENDER
WATER. — W ould any of the readers of the Journal
‘tell me how to get the colour out of some very high
coloured lavender water? Animal charcoal has not the
effect.

S.

[688]. SALICYLIC ACID.-I wish to draw the
•attention of pharmacists to the quality of the salicylic acid
used for dispensing purposes (it having been stated that
considerable disappointment and vexation are at times
experienced by the medical profession, owing to impurities
when the commercial kind has been used), and I also wish
to ask whether it would not be well to use only the pure
natural salicylic acid obtained from the oil of wintergreen
{ Oaultheria procumbens), salicylate of methyl. No doubt
the pure .natural acid is more expensive, costino- at the
present time 42s.. per lb. against 9s. 6d. for the com¬
mercial kind, which is used with so much advantage as
a preservative and antiseptic. Still, I think that for
medicinal purposes the pure natural acid should be
adopted, and I am assured that it can be produced in
quantity almost on the same terms as the commercial
variety.

35, Baker Street, W. A. W. Postans.

[*** There can hardly .be any doubt that an adequate
supply of the natural acid would be forthcoming were
there any considerable demand for it. In 1871 Mr
Broughton (Pharm. Journ., [3], ii., 281) reported to the
Indian Government that the essential oil obtained from
the Andromeda Leschenaultii, a plant growing commonly
in the Neilgherries, consists of methyl- salicylic acid, with
•even less of accompanying hydrocarbon oil than is present
in Canadian oil of wintergreen. So abundant did he
consider the supply of this oil obtainable that he proposed
to use it in the manufacture of carbolic acid ( Pharm .
Journ., [3], ii.., 503). Dr.' De Vrij also has stated that
an essential oil closely resembling oil of wintergreen is
yielded by species of Gaultheria growing plentifully on
the mountains of Java.— Ed. Pharm. Journ.]

[689]. GINGER ALE. — Can any of the readers of
the Journal give me a good form for the essence used in
the manufacture of ginger ale ?

J. B.

** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Local Government Board on the Adulteration

of Drugs.

Sir,— I crave space in your columns for a few remarks ou
the subject of the recent report issued by the Local Govern¬
ment Board on the Adulteration of Drugs.

I will first simply state my own experience. In the
early part of this year I was honoured by a call from an
inspector, who purchased from me samples of tartaric acid
and cream of tartar for analysis. They were supplied to
him in the proper way. He at the same time stated to me
that he had procured similar samples from two tradesmen
m the place who sold drugs, one a saddler and the other a
general dealer. Some weeks after I was informed by the
same authority that the drugs supplied by me had been
pronounced pure, and those supplied by the other two
tradesmen, adulterated ; that there had been a long dis¬
cussion between the magistrates as to whether the/ (the
tradesmen) should be prosecuted, and that it was finally
decided to warn them.

I do not wish by this statement to pretend that I supply
better drugs than my brethren in the trade do; nothing of
the sort. Twenty-five years’ experience convinces me that
the vast majority of druggists are careful and conscientious
in the conduct of their business. What I wish to convey
is, my impression, nay, my belief, that upon investigation
it would be discovered that the great majority of the
adulterated samples of drugs alluded to in the Local Go¬
vernment Report had been procured from persons who had
no special qualification for dealing in them.

To conduct the drug trade properly, even in the simple
sale of a drug over the counter, requires a special education,
and the Legislature has recognized this fact, though it
does not follow out the logical consequences of its own act,
inasmuch as it does not sufficiently support those who
legally qualify themselves.

The drug trade cannot be taken up and carried on by
persons who know nothing about it without damage to the
public, and the sooner this fact is recognized the better.

“We sutor ultra crepidam,” and true as the old saying
may be with regard to the shoemaker, it is far more
pointedly true with regard to medicine and the man who
deals in it, inasmuch as the results of error in one case ar
far more serious than in the other.

K. K.

The Future of Pharmacy.

Sir,— There can be but little doubt that the volume
recently issued by the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society to its members and associates in business, entitled
‘Progress of Pharmacy,’ and bearing upon its cover the
all-respected names of Bell and Redwood, has received more
than a usual share of attention.

Borne to us, as it were, upon the flowing tide of troublous
times, it has been eagerly ‘grasped in the hope of finding
within its pages some talisman wherewith to effect release
or relief from a desperate situation.

Although it may not bear the imprint of the magic
characters, it may be asked can the thoughtful reader lay it
aside believing that its issue will have been in vain? Is it
a book, and nothing more than a book, a merely interesting
story of old times pleasantly retold in which he has but a
passive interest? Or is it, rather, a history of battles fought
and won — of tough encounter and glorious victory — of lives
— even the lives of many noble men spent in unselfish con¬
test for the welfare of a future generation ? If such a tale is
true shall it be said that these things were done to no
purpose, and the brilliant examples of those who have gone
before have borne no good fruit ? Let him who continues
this history of progress tell as impartially as they to whom
we stand indebted for these first lines have done, and the
world will judge. Let us, on our part, recognize the abso¬
lute and immediate necessity of united and unflinching
conflict, and the world will not have to judge harshly.

Coming so soon after the issue of thej Progress of Phar¬
macy,’ Dr. Langdon Down’s stirring address follows in

428

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 20, 18S0.

natural sequence fitting in exactly with it, so that it may
almost be said to be the first chapter in a new volume.
That there should be considerable argument upon this point
may very reasonably be expected ; already Mr. Elliman, in
your issue on the 16th ult., takes exception to that portion
of Dr. Down’s address which, to others, appears the most
defensible, and in supporting his position gives a list of
proprietary articles, to some three or four of which probably,
Dr. Down himself could find no objection.

From the multitudinous columns devoted to the cata¬
loguing of patent and proprietary remedies, it is easy
enough to select a few and hold them forth to the com¬
munity at large saying, are not these evidences of progress?
and there would be none to dispute the fact. Whilst
taking the self-same columns as they stand, the Patent
Medicine Act as it is framed, and the trade as it is
generally worked, it will not be easy to prove any other
than that these are the fatal weights which have clogged
the progress of pharmacy ever since the 16th clause of the
Pharmacy Act became the law of the land.

It is far better to recognize the truth, and it stares us in
the face. The Patent Medicine Act is a mockery to our
boasted civilization, and it is suicidal for us to defend it.
The present situation has been largely contributed to by our
own sympathetic natures in allowing others to do that
which we can equally as well do for ourselves; this too
without the protection of a complacent Government, which
for the sake of an impost of about 10 per cent., would allow
a shoe-black to dispense his paste blacking, in the form of
pills, to cure all the diseases which ancient and modern
pathology, combined, had ever attempted to diagnose.
Nothing but humiliation can be the outcome of our fostering
a system of charlatanism which we in our respective posi¬
tions should have been the first to expose. It seems
highly probable now that trade competition will bring
about that which moral instinct has failed to do, and,
providing we are united in telling the truth we need not
fear the effects of our enforced veracity. In that portion of
our business which is undisputably a trade, we should seek
to place before the public the results of our own labour and
energy, and in cases where medicine is sold, to claim for it
no mysterious virtues, nor hesitate to state exactly what it
contained. The most unenlightened amongst our customers
could scarcely fail to appreciate this line of action although,
at first, they may not understand it. Such a course of pro¬
cedure does not take long to break down the prejudices of
the British public, and even in these turbulent times will
insure the success of the individual who pursues it. The
question as to the future of pharmacy admits of no such
solution and, regarding the recent legal decision, is per¬
fectly chaotic, the only thing certain is that if the present
state of affairs undergo a much further development there
will be no future to pharmacy, and consequently no progress
to report.

In reading carefully Messrs. Bell and Redwood’s book it
is noticeable that whenever trade interests were threatened
in the slightest degree a public meeting of energetic and
able men was the immediate result, generally followed by a
circular addressed to the whole of their country brethren.
It is now more than three months since a decision was
given which, for aught we know to the contrary, will
improve one-half of our number from the face of the earth,
and yet so far as I am aware there has not arisen from our
midst the indignant expressions of even one public meeting.
How much more shall we suffer before we seek a remedy ?
Mr. Long urges the necessity of agitation as beiDg the only
true solution ; let those of us who agree with him unite to
form a public gathering which, I venture to predict, will not
be wanting in number. At such a meeting it might be
possible to come to some conclusion as to what should be the
most desirable course to pursue in order to arrest what we
still believe to be an entire setting aside of the Pharmacy
Act of 1868. At the same time, it would be desirable to do
nothing which might render the difficult position of the
Pharmaceutical Council still more difficult. It must be
remembered that it is through their action alone that we
can hope for success, and whilst there are murraurings of an
apparent inactivity at headquarters it should also be boro e
in mind that the gentlemen who are our chosen representa¬
tives are, most of them, in the same position as ourselves,
and, like ourselves, subject to and sufferers from every phase
that the question has undergone from its commencement to
the present crisis.

Kilburn , N.W. Charles B. Allen.

A Query.

Sir, — An occasional customer of mine, whom I will call A.
states the following case: — Several years ago A.’s mother
(since deceased) had a physician’s prescription for diarrhoea
dispensed by the local chemist, whom I will call Z., and the
medicine proving effectual was regularly used by the whole
family.

Recently A. requested Z. to make up a fresh bottle of the
medicine, and also to let him have a copy of the prescription,
the original having been mislaid or lost.

Z. replied that he would supply the medicine, but would
require one guinea for a copy of the prescription.

A., who has all his life dealt regularly with Z , asks me if
this demand is customary or justifiable.

Before replying to him, I should like an expression of
opinion from some of your readers.

Ac AC r A.

The Teaching of Dispensing.

Sir, — With regard to the argument concerning the teach¬
ing of dispensing in the School at Bloomsbury Square, I was
much pleased to see a “Member’s” letter so ably responded
to. I should have scarcely believed that anyone at all in¬
terested in the advancement of our profession would have
offered the slightest objection to so excellent a proposition
as that which Professor Redwood subjected to the Council
of the Pharmaceutical Society recently, I am afraid that
many candidates who present themselves for the Minor
have a very rough and unskilful manner of dispensing-,
owing to their having received a very insufficient traiuing
from their late masters, not in all cases from his want of
interest in them, but from his utter incapability to instruct
them. I and others know this to our cost. Some chemists
(as I know from sad experience) know a great deal more
respecting cabinet making and the veneering process than
they do about chemical reactions, practical pharmacy, or
helping us to construe our Latin author. The result is that
many are obliged to have recourse to cramming just a short
time before their examination, and may manage to pass,
when they are as little fitted to be chemists as to be
solicitors, owing to the small interest their late employer
took in instructing (?) them. The only way to obviate this
is to enforce a fixed curriculum on everyone entering the
business, either in the Society’s School or in some other re¬
cognized school of chemistry and pharmacy, and also to
make it compulsory for them to pass both Minor and Major
examinations, and thus admitting only the thoroughly
competent.

C/UPIDUS REBUM NOVARUM.

Pill. — A tincture of the strength of 1 grain of podo-
phyllin to 1 drachm of alcohol has been suggested by
Messrs. Young and Postans. See vol. x., p. 300.

T. W. Collett. — Moore’s Ointment is generally sold in
market places and hucksters’ shops. We cannot give you
any information as to its composition. See vol. x., p. 40.

M. P. S. — The subject of citrate of iron has already been
discussed in the “ Dispensing Memoranda.” See vol. viii.,
pp. 359 and 407.

J. G. P. S. — The change of colour which takes place in a
mixture of fat and liq. plumbi acet. has been referred to on
several occasions. See vol. ix., pp. 65 and 693.

K. Bohm. — Your recipe, as it is written, is not intelli¬
gible.

“Assistant ” is referred to the rule respecting anonymous
communications.

H. C. A. is recommended to read the botanical note
that appear in this Journal in “ The Month.”

A. B. R. — The examination has no reference to particular
books, but is designed as a test whether the candidate has
received sufficient and suitable education. The questions
for each Preliminary examination are published at the
same time as the list of successful candidates. See, for
instance, before, p. 358.

W. B. — In the way directed in all books on analysis.
Dissolve it in water and keep the solution in a bottle well-
corked.

Commonications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Troughton, Marchant, Miller, Rowcroft, Stoakes,
Trick, Dymott, Brady, Parry, Edwards, Feltness, One who
is heartily sick of the Drug Trade, Pil. et Haust., Hydra
fusca, Norsk, Resurgam, Retort, Filius, T. E. G., H. C. H,

'

November 2?, 1880.) THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

429

“THE MONTH.”

When frost and snow commence at the end of
Octobei , there is but little chance of botanizing in
November. The heavy snow storm on October 20
seems to have done great damage in various parts of
the country, especially to oak trees, which seem to
have suffered more than elms, their branches beino-
strewed on the ground in abundance in many placed
1 his may probably be accounted for, partly by the
weight of snow supported by the numerous leaves
still remaining on the trees, and partly by the
gieater leverage sustained by the spreading branches
of the oak as compared with those of the elm, and
by the heavy crop of acorns, which this year are
unusually abundant. It is a singular fact, as noted
in the Gardeners ’ Chronicle , p. 598, that domestic
cattle will eat nothing else where they can get
acOrns, and they are being poisoned by eating them,
as in 1874, death resulting from inflammation of the
small intestines ; while the deer, which also eat them
are not poisoned. The adaptability of the pine
tribe to cold climates and snowy regions is very
remarkable, as is manifest in the linear character of
tlie leaves, which are not so likely to retain snow,
while the arrangement of the branches seems also
calculated, especially in the northern species to
cause the snow to glide off. ’

At the last meeting of the Linnean Society, Pro-
lessor Henslow exhibited a curious monstrosity of
the inflorescence of Verhascum nigrum , sent by Mr.
Marshal], of Ely, in which the upper branches were
developed in the form of leafy axes, forming an in¬
teresting illustration of the fact that flowers are only
spirals of leaves condensed to the same level by the
non-development of internodes and modified so as to
be fitted for the purpose of sexual reproduction. In
the lower part of the inflorescence the ovaries were
very large and were adherent to arrested proliferous
branches. This monstrosity was attributed to the
tendency of the sap to rise to the extremities. Some
years ago a somewhat allied case came under the
writer’s notice, in which a pear developed leafy
growth and no seed ; in this case the tree after beino-
for pome time badly nourished, had during the for-
mation of the pears been furnished with an abundant
supply of moisture. A similar proliferous growth to
that exhibited by Mr. Henslow is mentioned by Baillon
as occurring in Lysimachia ephemerum (‘Adansonia’
vol. iff., p. 310). ’

Most plants may be said to have two methods of
propagating themselves, the one by means of sexual
organs, and the other by buds or gemmae, either
attached or deciduous. Ferns are known in some
cases to produce buds on the surface of the frond ;
but Dr. Farlow has shown that these may occur also
on the prothallia of ferns. In the Gardeners
Chronicle for November 6, p. 598, the editor mentions
a case of this kind, in which buds occurred on the
upper surface of the prothallium of a crested variety
of Athyrium Filix-fcemina, the prothallium having
archegonia, but no antheridia visible on the under
side. This mode of growth would be classed by De
Bary under “Apogamy.” A correspondent in the same
journal makes the interesting observation with regard
to Amanita muscaria, the fungus from which mus¬
carine is obtained, that the larger specimens increase
very regularly about an inch in diameter everv
twenty-four hours, and grow at the same rate during
the night as during the day.

In a recent number of the Annales Agronomiques
Third Series, No. 544.

_ Chi onicle, October 30, p. 566), M. Yan

lieghem shows that the presence of too much
moisture m the soil causes the formation of alcohol
in the tissues of roots by depriving them of oxygen •
in tact, that alcoholic fermentation depends on the
suffocation of a living cell containing simar. On
examining the tissues of the root of an apple tree,
diseased from this cause, he found that the medullary
rays contained brown oily globules instead of starch
sugar, the cells being tinged of a brown colour and
giving off an easily detected alcoholic odour It
would have been interesting to know whether acetous
fermentation follows the alcoholic, and precedes the
formation of fungous growth.

Those who cannot read German and who are
willing to learn something of the sieve tubes in
plants, about which very little is said in most
botanical works, will do well to read the review of
Dr. Karl Wilhelms recent book on the subject, in
Mature for October 28.

In the Practitioner for November, Professor
Tommasi-Crudelli, of Rome, gives an interesting
account of the most recent investigations on the
subject of malaria. From these it appears that in
ali the malarious districts of the Roman Campa^na
tfie Bacillus malance has been found in a fully
developed state and could easily be obtained by
artificial cultivation, but could not be obtained by
any means either artificial or otherwise in some
perfectly healthy districts. During the heat of
summer this bacillus rises in such quantities in the
atmosphere of malarious districts as to be found in
large quantities in the sweat of the face and hands
lhe bacillus is always found in the blood in the
cold stage of the fever. In the acme of the fever on
the contrary, the bacilli disappear and only ’the
spores are found. The cause of this phenomenon is
undergoing further investigation. The principal
nidus of the parasite is in the marrow and spleen
the organs which produce the white corpuscles.

M. Duclaux, who has been entrusted by the
French Minister of Agriculture with an investigation
of the phenomena attending the industrial produc¬
tion of cheese, has presented a suggestive report to
the Academy of Sciences, which shadows forth
the possibility of controlling and multiplying
the flavours and aromas of cheeses to an extent
not less than that declared possible by M. Pasteur
in the case of beers (Comptes Iiendus, xci., 731).

M. Duclaux states that the modifications of pro¬
perties and flavour which lead up to the matura¬
tion of cheese are not spontaneous phenomena
but are due to the action of a number of ferments*
which have the character of attacking nearly
exclusively albuminoid substances. Of these ferments
he has met with at least a hundred, but only
about a score of them have yet been studied by
isolation and cultivation after Pasteur’s method.
Some of these are aerobies,* others anaerobies, and
others behave differently in this respect at different
times. . Cultivated in milk they transform the
casein into soluble albumens, very nearly if not
identical in constitution, and scarcely distinguishable
m this respect. But what the aerobies effect by
a slow and regular action the anaerobies accomplish
by a disengagement of carbonic acid and hydrogen,
a portion of the latter becoming sulphuretted hydro¬
gen or even a phosphide of hydrogen, and causing

# The. designation given by Pasteur to ferments which
flourish in contact with atmospheric air.

430

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 27, 1880.

the mass to acquire a putrid odour and taste. This
would account for the practice, long followed and
based upon empirical observation, of adopting such
conditions in the manufacture of cheeses which are
wished to mature slowly, as would by presenting to
the air a surface large relatively to the volume
favour the development of aerobies. The organized
ferments, moreover, were found to secrete at least
two soluble ferments, one coagulating casein, like
rennet, the other resembling pepsine and converting
casein into a kind of peptone soluble in water. The
products of the soluble ferments are not savoury,
odour and taste being the result of the action of the
organized ferments, and according to M. Duclaux
the quality of a cheese is dependent upon the relative
proportions in which these ferments are present.
The value of cheese as an article of diet would
appear, therefore, to lie partly in its presenting to
the stomach a semi-digested or peptonized aliment,
together with an excess of soluble and organized
ferments capable of existing and acting upon albu¬
minous matters in the stomach.

In a paper on the cultivation and preparation of
vanilla, by M. Jaillet, in the Repertoire de Pharmacies
he mentions that in the Island of Reunion the vanilla
is supported by trees in the plantation, preference
being given to the Jatropha Curcas , the tree pro¬
ducing the physic nut, owing to its easy and rapid
growth and its abundant milky juice, well adapted
to the nutrition of the vanilla plant. If there be
any truth in this statement, then the poisonous
effects of vanilla in some cases and not in others
may be explained by supposing that the acrid matter
contained in the Jatropha and most Euphorbiacese
had been absorbed by the vanilla plant and acted on
persons having an idiosyncratic sensibility to it.
In Mexico, fig trees, which have a milky juice, are
used as supports for the vanilla plant.

In the American Journal of Pharmacy for No¬
vember, there is an instructive paper by Mr. J. C.
Reeve, on the cinchona barks of American com¬
merce, containing engravings of microscopical
sections of the different barks. The author arrives
at the conclusion that only 50 per cent, of the retail
and 51 per cent, of the wholesale barks he examined
were of the official kinds. Of twenty-two barks sold
as true red cinchona only thirteen were G. succirubra.
Of fifteen sold as true Calisaya, ten only belonged to
that species, and of five barks sold as pale or grey
bark only one belonged to G. officinalis. A similar
investigation in this country would probably reveal
that even a less proportion of the bark sold as yellow
cinchona ( G. Galt say a) belonged to the official species,
and certainly that the proportion of quinine in the
barks supplied to the retail trade is too often below
the Pharmacopoeia standard.

At the October Pharmaceutical Meeting at Phila¬
delphia, Dr. F. B. Power exhibited specimens of the
oil of Asarum canaden-e, or wild ginger, which he
stated is being largely used by perfumers in flavour¬
ing tooth washes, and in soap making. By fractional
distillation it becomes separated into several distinct
portions, that coming over at the lowest temperature
being isomeric with oil of turpentine, and the next
having the composition of Borneo camphor. The
portion which comes over at the highest temperature
has an intensely blue colour, and is probably of
complex composition. Professor Sadtler mentioned
a case in which essential oil of mustard, imported
from Russia, contained so much bisulphide of carbon

as an adulterant that an explosion resulted in pouring
it from one vessel into another. The oil always
contains a small portion, whether made naturally or
artificially ; but this was in large excess, and was
attributed by the maker to the employment of seeds
of Sinapis juncea.

At a recent meeting of the Eure Pharmaceutical
Society, in France, M. Lepage called attention to
the adulteration of digitalis leaves with those of
ploughman’s spikenard. He points out that in the
month of May the leaves of the two plants have
such a close general resemblance as to be easily
mistaken for one another by ignorant or careless
herb gatherers. The leaves of digitalis are crenate
and those of Inula Gonyza serrate. He also states that
while a weak infusion of digitalis (1 in 100) assumes
a yellow colour on the addition of a few drops of
ammonia, that of Inula Gonyza assumes a green
colour, which becomes deeper and deeper on stand¬
ing, and can still be noticed in an infusion of digi¬
talis containing less than one- third of the adulterant.
The same reactions can be obtained with the tincture
when sufficiently diluted with water. There is,
however, another feature in the leaves which does
not appear to have been noticed in the above paper,
and that is that the nerves or prominent veins at the
base of the blade in digitalis are distinctly decurrent
into the petiole, while in Inula Gonyza they proceed
only to the midrib.

A case of poisoning by star anise is reported to
have occurred in Leeuwarden, Holland, which pre¬
sents considerable interest in consequence of a sug¬
gestion having been made that it was due to the
substitution of the fruit of the Japanese Illicium
religiosum for the aromatic fruit of the Cochin
Chinese Illicium anisatum. Although a careful
investigation as to the probable correctness of this
suggestion only, gave negative results, the occurrence
has given emphasis to statements on the subject
which it would be as well to bear in mind at a time
when a praiseworthy effort is being made to intro¬
duce Japanese drugs into the European markets.

It appears that, so far back as 1834, Professor J.
Hoffmann published in Leyden a little-known work
on the differences between these two plants, in which
he says, “The fruit of this tree ( Illicium religiosum ),
which occurs in China and Japan, and in the natural
histories of both nations is classed among the poi¬
sonous plants, is not the true star anise, but probably
through ignorance of the deceptive resemblance, is
mixed with it, and by the dealers of those countries
is used for its adulteration. The true star anise grows
neither in China nor Japan, but is an article of im¬
port into both countries.” This statement is said to
be based upon a study of some fifty Japanese and
Chinese works on natural history and medicine, in
which several cases of poisoning by the fruit of
Illicium religiosum are expressly mentioned.

A recent communication from Yokohama, by Herr
Geerts ( Pharm . Zeit., September 1), also confirms
this position. Herr Geerts reports that he has ex¬
perimented physiologically both with the fruit and
a thick yellowish oil obtained from it, which con¬
tained a large proportion of free fatty acids, and he
found that when administered to dogs 2 grams of
the powdered seeds acted as an emetic and 10 grams
of the oil caused intense irritation of the stomach
and intestines.

The plants which have been named respectively
Illicium anisatum and I. religiosum are considered

November 27, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

431

generally by botanists in the present clay to be at most
varieties, it not identical, and Bentley and Trimen
( Med. Plants ) speak of the difference consisting in
the fruit of the Japanese tree being somewhat less
rough and having a sharper and more recurved
beak. But a writer in the Pharmaceutisclie Zeitung
(Sept. 1), using the initials T. H. (probably Profes-
Theodor Husemann), asserts that the Japanese
lllicium bears poisonous fruit when introduced into
China, whilst the Cochin China Illiciu/m under¬
goes no change in the properties of its fruit when
grown in that country. Altogether the subject
appears to be worthy of further investigation, and
meanwhile it will be well to put on record the folio w-
ing differences, besides the want of aroma, found in
the Japanese fruit by Herr.Geerts. The ends of the
carpels of the J apanese fruit are pointed and curved
upwards, whilst tlie apex of the star anise is mostly
pressed in, and extended horizontally. The former,
too, are much more woody, are rougher on the
surface, and enclose much brighter and yellowish
seeds ; they are also compressed and more boat-like
than the rosette-formed star anise. The smell and
taste of tlie Japanese drug recall camphor or laurel
berries, but not anise.

Dr. Yitali reports ( L'Orosi , vol. iii., p. 259), a
characteristic and delicate reaction of atropine and
daturine, when either of these alkaloids is oxidized
by means of nitric acid and caustic alkali. If the
alkaloid to be tested be in the solid form, it is
boiled for a few minutes with ten times its volume
of strong nitric acid, and then the heat is continued
at a lower temperature until all free nitric acid is
driven off. Upon treating the cooled residue with
a few drops of freshly prepared alcoholic solution of
potash, a magnificent violet colour is developed,
which passes in a short time to wine red and then
muddy red. When the suspected alkaloid occurs in
solution, the liquid is evaporated and the residue
treated as the solid alkaloid. The test is said to be
very delicate, and Dr. Yitali thinks it points to the

identity of atropine and daturine. According to
Ladenburg, however, they are only isomeric ; but it
would be interesting to know how hyoscyamine and
duboisine, which he says are identical with daturine
and which Dr. Yitali does not appear to have ex¬
amined, behave towards the test.

Chemical discovery appears to be jeopardizing the
future of another important agricultural industry,
and the synthetic production of indigo threatens to
play the same part towards the indigo cultivators as
that of alizarin did towards the growers of madder.
It is only a short time since that the accomplishment
of this synthesis in the laboratory was announced
and already a considerable advance has been made
towards the carrying out of the operation on the
commercial scale. The starting point is cinnamic
acid obtained from storax, benzoin, or other sources
or itself synthetically produced according to known
methods, and the successive steps of the process
were demonstrated by Mr. W. H. Perkin, before the
Chemical Society at its last meeting, and are de¬
scribed on a subsequent page.

The amount of metallic iron in a specimen of
ferrum redactum can, according to 0. Wilner
{Farmaceutisk Tidskrift, August), be satisfactorily
ascertained by treating it with an excess of concen¬
trated solution of mercuric chloride at a gentle heat
when a separation of metallic mercury and mer¬
curous chloride takes place, and the metallic iron

passes into solution as chloride, and can be titrated
with permanganate solution, leaving ferric and
ferrous oxides undissolved. Three specimens that
were examined in the laboratory of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Institute at Stockholm showed proportions of
iron varying from 74-88 to 2P35 per cent. ; ferrous
oxide from 60-38 to II -58 per cent. ; and ferric oxide
from 65-41 to 2-16 per cent.

Professor Warden, of Calcutta Medical Collet,
reports ( Ind . Med. Gazette , October 1), the results
of a partial chemical examination of the root of the
Gloriosa superba, an Indian liliaceous plant popu¬
larly reputed to possess poisonous properties. After
the removal of two resins and a tannic acid precipi¬
tate from an alcoholic tincture of the root, there
was obtained upon evaporation of the filtrate a
bitter residue that Professor Warden looks upon
as the active principle contaminated with resin.
It Avas very toxic, -047 gram injected into tlie
stomach being, sufficient to kill a full grown cat.
This hypothetical active principle has been pro¬
visionally named “ super-bine.” Considering that
the . plant belongs to the same natural order as the
squill, and after comparing the physiological action
of the two drugs, Professor Warden thinks it may be
assumed that this active principle of the Gloriosa
superba is closely allied to, if not identical with,
that of the Scilla maritima.

From the Calycium chrysocephalum, a yellow lichen
that grows on the oak, birch and pine, Dr. Hesse
has separated a new neutral substance which he has
named calycin (Beri elite, xiii., 1816). The lichen is
treated with boiling ligroin, and the resulting golden
yellow solution yields upon cooling small prisms of
calycin, which when purified by recrystallization are
golden yellow. Calycin is nearly insoluble in cold
ligroin, light petroleum spirit, ether, alcohol, glacial
acetic acid, and acetic anhydride, somewhat more
soluble in chloroform, and still more so in these
solvents when hot. It. melts at 240° C. (uncor.),
sublimes unaltered and is represented by the formula
^i8-^-i205. Heated with solution of potassium or
sodium carbonate or barium carbonate suspended in
water caly.cin takes up a molecule of water and is
converted into calycic acid, which is nearly allied to
vulpic acid.

Liquid storax has been the subject of investigation
by Dr. J. Biel, of St. Petersburg, who finds that coal
tar benzin dissolves it with ease, and forms the best
menstruum for freeing it from impurity, of which
there is usually present about 10 per cent. As liquid
storax is not at all soluble in petroleum benzin, it is
suggested by the editor of New Remedies that purified
liquid storax may form a useful means of distinguish¬
ing between the two benzins, or even detecting their
admixture. At the Paris Exhibition there was ex¬
hibited in the Nicaragua and Guatemala courts a
remarkably clear form of liquid storax, presumably
obtained from Liquidambar styracifiua , resembling
virgin honey fresh from the comb in appearance,
which, at least, deserves examination.

Dr. J. G. Hess has found that cochineal contains a
hard crystallizable stearopten or fat in various pro¬
portions ; in that from Guatemala in the proportion
of 17 per cent.; from Java cochineal, 7 per cent.,
and from Canary cochineal, 18 per cent. If this be
removed from cochineal by alcohol previous to the
extraction of carmine, he finds that the carmine
obtained possesses a purer and more brilliant tint.

In the British Medical Journal , there is being pub-

432

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 27, 1880

listed a series of articles on “ Recent Studies in Thera¬
peutics,” which are worth reading by those pharma¬
cists who have a demand for new drugs ; the doses,
uses, and formluoe, of the various preparations
being given. In the issue of November 6, hydrastis
and hydras tine are thus described.

Two new anaesthetics, methyl chloroform, CH3CC13,
and monochlorethylenchloride, CH2C1,CHC12, have
been proposed by Dr. E. Tauber, of the Jena Univer¬
sity. Methyl-chloroform is described as having a sp.
gr. of 1‘372, an odour like chloroform, and a boiling
point of 167° F. Monochlorethylenchloride (for
which it may be hoped some shorter name will be
invented for daily use) has also an odour like chloro¬
form, but a sp. gr. of 1-422, and a boiling point of
239° F. As yet experiments have been made only on
animals, but these promise excellent results. Hopes
are entertained that the latter of the two will present
advantages over those hitherto in use. An account
of the experiments that have been made is given in
the British Medical Journal for November 13, p. 785.

Mr. Foulds, in a letter to the same journal
(p. 797), recommends as an anaesthetic giving
excellent results a mixture of 1 ounce of alcohol
added to 2 ounces of chloroform, the two shaken
together and mixed with 3 ounces of ether. Two to
4 drachms of this mixture are used for an inhalation.
He claims that the mixture is much safer than
chloroform alone.

Messrs. Gehe and Co., of Dresden, in their Sep¬
tember Report, give a few notes of pharmaceutical
interest. Aspiclospermine, the alkaloid of white
quebracho bark, of which the sulphate and hydro-
chlorate are not crystallizable, has been crystallized
in the form of citrate. The yield of the alkaloid is
stated to be only 0’3 per cent, of the bark.

Hyoscyamine is now being prepared in the form
of sulphate, which is more soluble in water, and
therefore more suitable for subcutaneous injection.

Bellaclonnine has for some time past been regarded
in the light of a waste product, but the recent
demand for homatropine and the discovery that it
could be prepared from bellaclonnine has brought
the latter into use for that purpose. The want of a
cheaper mode of obtaining amygdalic acid prevents
at present much reduction in the price of homatro¬
pine.

Benzoic acid is being prepared in Germany from
benzoyl chloride, and hence it is said to be likely to
fall in price. It becomes very necessary, however, in
these days of artificially produced chemicals, that
the physiological properties of the substances so
made should be compared with those of the natural
products. That there are differences of some kind
is shown by the fact that the manufacturers of
aniline blue prefer the benzoic acid made from
urine to that made from toluol. How far the
unsatisfactory results obtained in the treatment of
diphtheria by benzoate of sodium may have de¬
pended on the source of the benzoic acid used in
the preparation of that salt is also open to question.
Attention has already been called by Messrs.
Schering to the physical differences in the different
benzoic acids of commerce ( New Remedies , June,
p. 173). The potassium salt of the acid prepared
from oil of bitter almonds is easily soluble in
alcohol, while that prepared from the benzoic acid
of benzoin is insoluble.* In the benzoate of sodium,
prepared from urine, the solubility is not constant,

* Gregory, Ann. de Chemie, 87, p. 125.

but varies between 1 in 1*7 to 2-6 of water. In that
prepared from toluol 1*9 to 5 parts of water are re¬
quired. Messrs. Schering attribute these differences
to the acids being probably isomeric, and to impurities,
such as chlorobenzoate of sodium. The salt pre¬
pared from benzoin, on the other hand, is stated to be
uniformly soluble, whether the benzoic acid is pre¬
pared by the wet process or by sublimation. At 15° C.
1*7 parts of water were found by Messrs. Schering
to invariably dissolve 1 part of the salt. It behoves
pharmacists, therefore, upon whom physicians must
trust for uniformity of result as regards the quality
of drugs, to use only the benzoate of sodium and
benzoic acid prepared from benzoin for medicinal pur¬
poses. In like manner the natural salicylic acid and
salicylate of sodium, prepared from oil of winter-
green, should alone be used in dispensing and ordered
in prescriptions if uniformity of result and reliability
of operation be required.

A curious instance of the difference between
natural and artificial chemicals is presented by
valerianate of quinine, which according to Messrs.
Gehe can only be prepared as a handsome salt if the
natural acid be used. They state that new stock
cannot be made at present owing to want of natural
acid. There are, however, so many natural sources
of valerianic acid that there should be no difficulty
in obtaining it, provided that the acid from different
natural sources possesses the same properties. The
berries of the wild guelder rose, Viburnum Opulus,
are powerfully odorous of valerianic acid, and the
“ kesso,” or Japanese valerian, smells stronger of
valerian than the English drug.

Another remedy for tapeworm, which is much
relied upon by the natives in India, and is often
sent over or brought over to this country in small
samples, is the fruit of Embelia Ribes, a myrsinaceous
plant. The small brownish striated fruit, rather
less in size than peppercorns, are given in the form of
powder and in doses of a teaspoonful for a child and
a dessertspoonful for an adult. This remedy has
already been described in this Journal by Dr.
Dymock ([3], vii., p. 3), and deserves further investi-
tion, as the taste is pleasant and slightly astringent,
resembling tea, an advantage that does not belong
to all anthelmintics.

Balsam of copaiba is still high in price owing to a
deficiency of supply, and gurjun oil has been eagerly
bought up in consequence. It is said that balsam of
peru has lately been much adulterated with gurjun
oil and resins. Surely pharmacists in this country
have plenty of subjects that need investigation in
matters relating to the drugs in daily use. The
absence of interest in these matters by members of
the trade, as shown by the dearth of papers on
pharmacy, pure and simple, during the last year or
two, indicates an apathy by no means calculated to
win the confidence of the physician, or to raise the
business of a chemist and druggist to that high po¬
sition in the estimation of the public it should hold.

Chinese rhubarb also, owing to scarcity of the
Shansi drug, and to the fact that the province of
Szecliuen has been invaded by the rebels, is likely
to rise in price. Of otto of roses there is said to be a
better supply than last year, the yield at Kijanlik
being estimated at 300,000 meticals (a metical equals
4*8 grams, or 3 dwt. troy) as against 210,000 in 1879,
the average product in this district being estimated
at 400,000 meticals, while in a good year, as in 1873
it sometimes rises to 600,000,

November 27, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

433

Among various novelties referred to in Messrs.
Gehe’s report is “tonga,”* for which a botanical
source was sought to be defined by Mr. Holmes last
May.t According to information lately furnished
by Mr. Christy concerning the source of this article,
and as having been received from Dr. Bancroft of
Brisbane, it appears that it is not to be regarded as
the product of any particular plant, but rather as a
kind of herbalist’s composition powder, for which a
formula was obtained by a German resident in one
of the Fiji Islands, who suffered from neuralgia and
sought relief by trying the effect of the leaves, bark,
fruit, and roots of every plant growing wild upon
the island. By this enterprising and eclectic method
it is reported that he eventually arrived at a com¬
bination from which he wishes to make what profit
he can ; and we learn from the September report
of Messrs. Gehe and Co., that this remedy appears in
commerce as a fluid extract. It would appear from
this that “ tonga” is less a subject for pharmacological
study than an addition to the repertory of secret
preparations .

The announcement that the Corporation of the
City of London has entered into contracts with
three companies for the lighting of the principal
streets and bridges of the city by the electric light,
marks the considerable advance which this method
of illumination has made in public estimation.
Indeed, it would really appear from the demonstra¬
tion which took place at the last meeting of the
Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society (see
before, p. 360), and repeated on Wednesday evening
before the Society of Telegraph Engineers, that the
lamp problem and that of the subdivision of the
light have been at last satisfactorily solved by a
pharmacist, Mr. Swan, of Newcastle, and that the
greatest need at the present time is a convenient
means of storing electricity. It is not surprising
that just at this crisis a letter which has appeared
in the Times from Mr. Preece, alleging that already
the deaths of two persons are known to have
been caused by shock through contact with wires in
connection with an apparatus supplying current
to a JablochkofPs candle, and also that the use of
the electric light in mines would sometimes involve
conditions favourable to the production of ex¬
plosions, has attracted considerable attention. Mr.
Swan alluded to this letter in his presidential
address to the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Chemical
Society, and said that even admitting that the
deaths had resulted from shock, which he considered
by no means proved, he did not think that the
extreme views put forward by Mr. Preece as to
dangers consequent on electric lighting in general
could be sustained. The machine which supplies a
Jablochkoffs candle gives alternating currents, the
physiological effect of which is undoubtedly se vere,
but the machines more generally used give a direct
current, which only causes a slight shock upon
breaking contact. Mr. Swan demonstrated practi¬
cally the harmlessness of the direct current by
holding the wires from a dynamo-electric machine
for some minutes. With respect to the risk of
accident in mines through disarrangement of the
wires, Mr. Swan admits that in the case of a lamp
breaking, or wires* coming accidentally into contact
in a gas-laden atmosphere, there would be a danger of

* See Pharm. Journ., [3], x., 770, 849.
t Ibid., 889.

explosion, but he thinks Mr. Preece has exaggerated
the danger, and that a preferable course would be to
examine the difficulties with a view of seeing
whether they could not be overcome.

As bearing upon the influence of electric light
upon plants it may not be without interest to some
of our botanical readers to recall a curious experiment
performed by M. Schott, Director of the Botanical
Gardens at Vienna, who to suit the whim of the
Emperor krancis Joseph made the night-blooming
cereus flower by day instead of at night. This was
done by causing the plant to be shaded, and finally
excluded from light during the day, and subjecting
it to the action of electric light at night, so that the
habit of the plant became reversed, in consequence of
which it flowered between nine and ten o’clock in the
morning, in July. This was so long ago as 1850.
This plant ( Cereus Bonplandii ) is now being used in
the United States in functional diseases of the heart.

Mr. Henry Faulds, of Tsikiji Hospital, Tokio, con¬
tributes an interesting letter to Nature (October 28,
1880, p. 605) concerning the skin furrows of the
fingers. He finds that not only are these different
in the Japanese and English, but even in different
families and individuals, and suggests that this
fact might be turned to account in medico-legal
investigations for the identification of criminals.
The author states that on one occasion he dis¬
covered by the means of greasy fingermarks the
person who had been drinking some rectified spirit.
But there is nothing new under the sun, for after
many patient and original experiments, he learned
that the Chinese, criminals in early times had been
made to give the impressions of their fingers, just as
we make ours yield their photographs.

Probably many who have been unwise enough to
put vulcanized indiarubber articles and instruments
into the. shop windows have found to their cost that
such articles crack and become brittle, and lose their
elasticity. This, according to a Russian journal,
may be prevented by immersing the articles for a
few minutes to half or one hour, according to the
requirements of the case, in a mixture of 1 part
liquor ammonise with 2 of water until they resume
their former elasticity, softness and smoothness.

A new form of gutta percha for instruments, etc.,
has been devised by Mr. G. Fleury. In warm
countries, such as Algeria, surgical appliances made
with gutta percha become in a few months so brittle
as to be useless. He found that by mixing 9 parts
of gutta percha with 1 of camphor, a soft product is
obtained, which can be welded at about 136° F., and
which when cold is cohesive aud elastic.

From the discussion which has followed the pub¬
lication by J. G. P. S. of the prescription containing
“ hyd. chlor.,” it is evident that there existed con¬
siderable difference of opinion as to what was in¬
tended by the prescriber, and there would have been
consequently great diversity of practice on the part
of those chemists into whose hands the prescription
may in due course have fallen, and it is satisfactory
now to find from a subsequent communication of
J. G. P. S. that he knows the prescriber’s intention
was that calomel should be used.

The free discussion of such a subject should be
conducted without anything of a personal nature.
The presumed object of the writers of those queries
which appear every week in this department of the
Journal is to obtain from others whose experience
may be larger the requisite information for their

434 the pharmaceutical journal and transactions. [November 27, 18S0.

guidance, and the sole object of the summary in
“The Month” is to afford that information and to
review generally the views of different dispensers on
the questions at issue. It is not, therefore, too
much to ask that in any remarks on the views of
correspondents the subject matter alone should oc¬
cupy the more prominent, if not the only place.
Further than these observations there is nothing to
add to and nothing to alter in the conclusions ex¬
pressed last month with regard to the prescription
in question, and it may be considered another in¬
stance of the desirableness, if not the necessity, of a
more careful study of the British Pharmacopoeia, and
more especially of the synonyms given in that work.
Changes do occur in the nomenclature of successive
Pharmacopoeias, but as they have no stated periods
of issue they are not abreast of advanced chemical
science.

Mr. J. B. Kent, No. 461, requires the best solvent
for quinse salicylas. He has been answered by three
correspondents, and whether those answers be satis¬
factory or not, he should be reminded that he has
not accompanied his question with full particulars.
He has not stated whether he requires the best
solvent for quinae salicylas, or the most suitable, if
not the best, for quinae salicylas in a mixture; the
one requirement would necessitate a reply in the
abstract, the other might have evoked one more to
the purpose had the circumstances under which the
difficulty occurred been mentioned. It is soluble in
hot water and also in spirit.

The recipe No. 462 is typical of some which are
occasionally placed in the hands of the chemist to
prepare. Hydrochloric acid has little or no action
on iodide of mercury. They should be mixed to¬
gether, the antimonial wine added, and a “shake
the bottle ” label attached to the bottle. The white
calx of mercury ointment is an ointment of hydrarg.
ammoniatum of the B.P. This subject has on a former
occasion been discussed.

In prescription No. 463 the acetate of lead throws
down the colouring matter, with some extractive,
from the decoction of poppies. The acetate of lead
should be dissolved in water previously to its being
added to the decoction of poppies. The flocculent
precipitate cannot be avoided ; it will form in that
combination. Although there would appear to be a
chemical incompatibility, it still possesses medicinal
activity. The combination is not unusual as an
injection, but the mixture is not so elegant as could
be desired.

Prescription No. 465 contains more chlorate of
potash than the fluid will retain iri solution. It is
true that the prescriber has added boiling water, but
the dispenser, aware that if a larger quantity of a
salt be dissolved by heat the excess will crystallize
out, and that the crystallization will not necessarily
stop at the point of saturation, but continue until
there is little salt left in solution, will not use hot
water, but will rub down the salt to as fine a powder
as possible, and direct the bottle to be shaken before
the dose is poured out. Dispensers, to whom the
pharmacy of the different medicinal agents should
be familiar, are not expected blindly to follow the
directions of the writer of the prescription, as was
hinted at by Dr. Langdon Down, when he stated
that the time is not far distant when the medical
man will have to leave all that relates to pharmacy
to those whose education has specially qualified them
to undertake it.

The liniment of No. 466, although it forms a good
temporary emulsion, will, on standing, separate more
or less, and as the attar of rose is only faintly per¬
ceived in it when freshly prepared, it is scarcely to
be wondered at that it finally disappears entirely.

In making liniments, such as that of No. 467, the
order of mixing very much influences the result, and
it would have rendered the inquiry more interesting
if Mr. Walton had stated more precisely how he
mixed the ingredients in the first instance, when
the result was a transparent liniment, and what
was the particular change which he afterwards
made. Much will depend on the strength of the
acetic acid used. Further information on a liniment
containing the same ingredients, will be found in
a paper contributed to this Journal two years since
(vol. ix., p. 505) by Mr. Symons, which may be read
by Mr. Walton with advantage.

In dispensing prescription No. 468, the liq. Fowleri
should not be neutralized, and if the hydrate of
iron be thrown down from Wyeth and Co.’s ferri
dialysat,, a “ shake the bottle ” label must accompany
the mixture.

In reply to an inquiry by a “ Provincial Chemist,”
No. 469, for a hypodermic solution of ergotine,” that
preparation known as “Bonjean’s Ergotine, is usually
employed. A preparation for the same purpose by
M. Yvon will be found in the ‘ Year-Book’ for 1878.

The recipe No. 470 will not make a clear solution
and is likely to differ in appearance when made up in
different establishments, dependent to some extent
upon the make of the liq. opii sedat. used.

A chemist would not be justified in refusing to
dispense the prescription No. 471, unless he had
satisfied himself by previous experiment that an
explosion resulted from mixing lin. iodi comp, and lin.
cainph. comp. “ Dartmoor ” should have determined
this point for himself and then his communication
would have been more interesting. At present it
lacks the important element of experiment. Were
teriodide of nitrogen formed it would not explode in
a moist state and no such accident would be likely
to follow the preparation of the prescription. “ Dart¬
moor’s ” attention may be directed to the German
formula for tinct. iodi decolorat.

Aq. caryophyll., in No. 472, is the water drawn
over from cloves just in the same manner as dill or
cinnamon ; it is more elegant than inf. caryoph. and
devoid of its colour. It is very probable that at no
distant date the aq. caryoph. will find a place in the
B.P. to the exclusion of the infusion. The water is
slightly opaque from the presence of the oil and is
very pungent.

It is at all times difficult to say what is the custom
in England as regards many points in dispensing,
these columns testify that opinions are much divided.
In reply to “Euonymin” the granular sulphate of
iron should be used when sulphate of iron is ordered,
and it may be made into pills with glycerine of
tragacanth. Sometimes the ingredients will admit
of the dried sulphate only being used, in which case
it should be used in the proportion of 3 grs. for every
5 of the crystallized salt.

The ingredients of recipe in No. 474 should be put
together in a bottle, and the powdered alum shaken
up every time it is used. It was once considered a
specific for toothache, but whether toothache has
changed its characters or later remedies have super¬
seded this recipe, it is now rarely used ; perhaps it
has lost the reputation it once possessed.

November 27, 1880. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

435

RESORCIN AND ITS THERAPEUTIC USES A

Some eighteen years ago a new chemical compound was
obtained by Hlasiwetz and Barth, d of Vienna, from certain
resins, by the action of fusing alkalies. The discoverers
gave it the name resorcin, partly from the fact that it is
derived from a resin, and partly because it has some
similarity to orcin, a peculiar substance derived from
archil. Some time afterwards, Korner X prepared resorcin
synthetically by treating paraiodophenol (obtained from
dinitrobenzol) with fusing potassium hydrate ; but since
then many other and cheaper methods of preparing
it artificially have been discovered. Regarding the
chemical constitution of resorcin, it is meta-dihydroxyl-
benzol CgH4(HO)2. Pyrocatechin is the ortho- and hydro-
quinone is the para-compound. § Resorcin, like all phenols

* Abstract of a pamphlet by Dr. Justus Audeer, of
Wurzburg. Reprinted from New Remedies, September,
1880.

t Annal. Chem. and Pharm., 130, 354. See also Malin
in the same journal, 138, 76.

X Comptes Rend 63, 564.

§ Note by the Editor of N. R.— For the benefit of
those of our readers who have not followed the advances
of modern chemistry, the relation .ships between resorcin,
hydroquinone, and pyrocatechin may be thus explained :
Benzol is a compound containing Celle, each molecule of
which has the atoms of carbon and hydrogen so arranged
that the group CH follows each other six separate times,
being bound to the preceding group by two and to the
succeeding group by one bond. Now a molecule is a
compound existing in space, and has therefore three
dimensions ; yet, as it is not known what particular
stereometrical shape the molecule has, nor if known,
possible to draw it accurately, it is customary to project
the constituent parts of a molecule upon a plane surface
(paper, blackboard), in form of a diagram or drawing, and to
indicate by lines the number and directions of the bonds.
It should be distinctly understood, however, that this mode
of projection is only a makeshift, and leaves out of con¬
sideration the fact that the molecule is stereometric. The
benzol-molecule, then, may be thus represented :

CH (1)

/\

(6) HC CH (2)

I I!

(5) HC CH (3)

\/

CII (4)

Benzol.

In this scheme, the figures in brackets are added only fo
the purpose that the particular atom of hydrogen which we
may wish to designate may be pointed out by the number
placed opposite. Each atom of hydrogen in this nucleus
may be replaced by a monatomic atom or compound radical ;
and not only one atom may be thus replaced at a time, but
several or even all together. Let us now assume that two
hydrogen atoms are replaced by a monatomic radical a, and
let us begin the substitution at 1, passing round on the
right : we obtain three possible modifications, which are the
only ones possible, as it would have made no difference if we
had begun the substitution at any other H but that marked 1.
We therefore obtain the following three compounds, which
are distinguished by the prefixes ortho-, meta-, and para-,
placed before the special name of the compound :

Ca C a C a

/\ /\

IIC C« HC CH HC CH

HC

. HC Ca

I II

HC CII

\/

CH

Ortlio -Series.

\s

CH

Meta -Series.

Ca

Para- Series.

The ortho-series, then, is that in which two successive
hydrogens are replaced, the meta-series that in which one
hydrogen is left intact between two replaced hydrogens,
and the para -series that in which two hydrogens are left
intact between two replaced hydrogens. We will here
refrain from inquiring into the possible forms of these three
eries, if three atomB of hydrogen are replaced at the same

forms neither acids nor ketones by oxidation. The
hydrogen of the hydroxyl in resorcin can be replaced by
metals, but carbonic acid gas again separates the resorcin
from the salts. Alcohol and acid radicals can also take
the place of the hydrogen of the hydroxyl.

The tabular prismatic (orthorhombic) crystals of
resorcin, when rubbed or struck in the dark, appear
phosphorescent, a phenomenon which has not been
mentioned by any chemist. Its melting point is
variously placed at 99° C. (Hlasiwetz and Barth) ; 104°
C. (Oppenheim and Vogt); 118° C. (Calderon); and its
boiling point is given as 276-5° C. by Calderon and 271®
C. by Naumann. At 300° C. it is decomposed, leaving
a carbonaceous residue. Its spec. grav. at 0° C. is
D2727. .

SglubU'ty. — 100 parts of water dissolve about 86 '4 parts
of resorcin at 0° C. (Calderon). It is easily soluble in all
liquids, excepting carbon disulphide and chloroform. It
has a. peculiar odour, resembling phenol, and a peculiar
sweetish-bitter taste. Ferric chloride colours its aqueous
solution dark violet ; chloride of lime produces the same
tint. Acetate of lead added to pyrocatechin produces a
white precipitate ; none, however, with resorcin, which
is isomeric with pyrocatechin. Ammonio-nitrate of silver
is easily reduced by resorcin. On boiling a solution of
resorcin with manganese dioxide and sulphuric acid, no
odour of quinone is produced : difference from hydroquinone
with which it is likewise isomeric. To prove the identity
of resorcin it is only necessary to heat a small quantity of
the latter with some phthalic anhydride for half an hour
to 200° C. On adding now ammonia, there will be
developed a beautiful fluorescence, owing to the formation
of fluoresceine. Another reliable test is Liebermann’s
reaction with nitrous acid, which leads to magnificent

time. Now pyrocatechin, resorcin, and hydroquinone
are three isomeric substances, having the composition
CoH4(HO)2 ; yet they are chemically quite different. Pyro¬
catechin is benzol in which hydrogens Nos. 1 and 2 are
replaced by HO ; resorcin is benzol in which hydrogens
Nos. 1 and 3 are replaced by HO ; and hydroquinone is
benzol in which hydrogens Nos. 1 and 4 are replaced by
HO, thus:

C(IIO)

/\

HO C(HO)
HO OH

CH

Ortlio-dihydroxyl-
Benzol or Pyro¬
catechin.

C(HO)

/\

HC CH

I JJ

HC C(HO)

Meta-dihydroxyl-
Benzol or Resor¬
cin.

C(HO)

/\

HC CH

I II

HC CH

\/

C(HO)

Para-dihydroxyl-
Benzol or Hydro¬
quinone.

In order to produce resorcin, however, it is advantageous
to start, not from benzol, but from phenol or carbolic acid,
which is nothing else but benzol in which hydrogen No. 1
is replaced by HO. The particular compound of phenol
which yields resorcin most easily is paraiodo-phenol, which,
when melted with potassium hydrate is oxidized to resorcin:
CkHJ.HO + KOH = C6H4(EO)2 + KI

Paraiodo-phenol + potass, hydr. = Resorcin 4- potass.

iodide.

Yet this method is rather expensive on account of the
requisite iodine, paid of which is apt to be wasted or lost.
It is preferable to first convert the phenol, by means of
sulphuric acid, into a compound which may be termed
meta-phenol-sulphuric acid (the proper name is meta-
plienolsulphonic acid), and the salts of which, when melted
with caustic alkalies, yield resorcin. Or, according to Jos.
Bersch, vapours of pure benzol may be conducted into
sulphuric acid heated to at least 240° C. (= 464° E.). At
this temperature the benzol as well as the sulphuric acid
are decomposed and a new compound is formed, namely
the benzol-disulphonic acid, which has the composition
CgH4(SOo.HO)2. This acid is transformed into a sodium
salt and melted with caustic soda, thus :

C6H4(S02.Na0)2 + 2NaHO =;

Sodium benzoldisulphonate -f Soda =

C6H4(HO)2 + 2 Na2S03

Resorcin -(- Sodium sulphate.

436

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 27, 1380.

blue and red colours. It strongly coagulates both egg
and blood albumen. The coagulum emits vapours of
ammonia when heated to 122° C. On raising the
temperature to 170° C., a sky-blue colouring matter is
produced, which covers the inner walls of the flask with a
resinous coat. The same blue substance, which may be
called resorcin blue, and which is soluble both in water
and alcohol, is also formed when resorcin is treated with
urea. Heating over 170° C. destroys this blue colour.

Dr. Justus Andeer,of Wurzburg (from whose pamphlet*
we have abstracted the contents of the present article),
concluded from the relationship of resorcin to phenol
that the former body might possibly possess anti¬
septic properties similar to the latter. His preliminary
experiments showed that it requires rather strong
solutions of resorcin to arrest fermentation; yet a l°/0
solution will prevent the decomposition of urine, even if
exposed to the air for months. On the other hand, even
a dilute (l°/0) solution of resorcin is an energetic de¬
stroyer of the organic germs of putrefaction. Its efficiency
was proved not only by applying the solution to putrescent
matters directly, but also in this way, that some putrescent
substance was injected into or otherwise caused to be
absorbed by living animals, and the morbid symptoms
afterwards arrested and removed by the application of
resorcin.

Resorcin is not absorbed by the healthy, unwounded
skin, nor does it, even when violently rubbed into it,
either discolour it or produce symptoms of irritation or
relaxation. Hypodermic injections, containing 2c/0 of
resorcin, produce, in fat and well nourished persons, no
reflex symptoms, but in lean and nervous persons, painful
cramps and nervous twitchings are observed. Abscesses
have never been noticed. Concentrated solutions, when
injected into the muscles, produce sometimes more or less
decided symptoms of poisoning, at other times none at all.
The effect is particularly severe when a larger vessel or
lymphatic gland has been injected. Applied to the lips it
produces no effect as long as they are dry ; if they are wet,
a white blister is raised. It does not affect the substance
of the teeth.

Pharmacological Effects of Resorcin. — 1. In abnormal
fermentative processes, which are usually termed “ putre¬
factive,” it has proved to be a good antiseptic.

2. A 1 per cent, solution of resorcin prevents the de¬
composition of pancreas, blood, urine and other easily
putrescible substances. They retain their natural odour.

3. A 1 per cent, solution of resorcin soon arrests
already existing decomposition ; whether this is accom¬
plished by a direct destruction of the cause of decompo¬
sition or by coagulating the fluid which nourishes it lias
not yet been determined.

4. In septic processes artificially produced in animals,
resorcin (in 1 per cent, solution) acts, without local or
constitutional effect, just as well as carbolic acid, without
sharing the disadvantage of the latter, or of pyrogallic
acid, to be absorbed by the circulation, and thereby
causing an injury of its own;

5. Stab or cut wounds, purposely made in animals, if
treated with a 1 per cent, solution of resorcin, always
heal by first intention.

6. Wounds of the cornea, conjunctiva, gums, and other
mucous membranes which are artificially irritated and
infected by micro-organisms, after being cauterized with
resorcin, heal quickly without permitting the develop¬
ment of vital pathogenous germs or bacteria below the
scab.

7. Artificial, subepidermoidal, or cutaneous abscesses
or erysipelas yield to a proper treatment with resorcin
often in two or three days.

8. Resorcin, in 1 to 2 per cent, solution, has as little
effect upon the healthy skin or mucous membrane as pure
water, and never causes an eruption.

* ‘ Einleitende Studien uber das Resorcin, zur Einffih-
rung in die Praktische Medicin.’ Von Dr. Justus Andeer,
in Wfirzburg. 8vo. Wfirzburg, 1880.

9. Resorcin is borne as well or better than any other
antiseptic, particularly by the organs of respiration, which
it does not in the least irritate.

Indications. — Resorcin is valuable in surgical technic
in general, and in dental practice especially. It is an
excellent remedy by way of inhalation. Administered
by spray it neither irritates the eyes of the operator (as
carbolic acid does) nor the patient, and is almost odour¬
less in this form. In abnormal fermentative processes of
mucous membranes, a 1 to 2 per cent, solution speedily
arrests the phenomena. It is also valuable as a caustic
for catarrhal, tubercular and syphilitic sores, in which
cases it is best used in form of crystals applied to ex-
cri scences, particularly on mucous membranes ; it re¬
moves them painlessly, and restores the membrane in
three to four days to its normal condition. In form of
powder or crystal it is a most efficient remedy in diph¬
theritic affections. A close observation and control of all
cases treated for two years past with resorcin has furnished
only positive results. The most difficult cases of this disease
were cured in at most one week, completely and without
injurious consequences.* In purulent discharges of the
sexual organs and of the ears, resorcin acts differently
according to the nature of the discharge. If the latter is
purely septic or is a hypersecretion, a 1 to 3 per cent,
solution of resorcin acts as an efficient antiseptic ; in
purely fermentative discharges it is almost inert, and in
mixed forms only moderately effective.

Dose and Mode of Application. — The usual dose for an
adult, in mild cases and at the beginning of severe cases,
is 1 to 2 grams (15 to 30 grains), in more severe cases, 3
to 5 grams (45 to 75 grains) dissolved in 100 gm. (about
3£ fl. oz.) of water. These doses may be divided and be
taken at intervals during the day, as a preventive against
toxic influences.

The average maximum dose of resorcin, which is about
5 gm. (75 grains), either dissolved in 100 gm. of water or
in powder, should only be given in exceptional cases, that
is, such where smaller doses have already been given
previously with gradual increase, or where the quantity
of septic material is comparatively large.

For exhibition in fluid form the best vehicles are
alcohol, glycerin and syrup of orange. But it is prefer¬
able to exhibit it in powder enclosed in wafer or gelatin
capsules, whereby its peculiar taste is completely masked.
The following formulae can be recommended : —

1. Mixture ( Mistura Rcsorcini).

R Resorcini puri .... 0'5 gm. 8 grains.

Aquae destillatae . . . 100*0 „ 3 fl. oz.

Syrupi aurantii . . . 30‘0 „ 1 „

M. Dose. — A tablespoonful every two hours.

2. Emidsion ( Emulsio Resorcini).

R Resorcini puri .... 0’5 gm. 8 grains.

Amygdalae dulcis . . . 20'0 „ 5 3*

Syrupi aurantii . . . 30 0 „ 1 fl. oz.

Fiat emulsio. Dose. — A tablespoonful every two hours.

3. Powder.

R Resorcini puri . . . 0 3 — 0‘5 gm. 5 — 8 grains.

To be given in wafer or gelatin capsules.

Dose. — One powder every two hours.

4. Resorcin Gauze, 1^ per cent.

For 1 kilo (2£ lb.) of gauze use : —

Resorcin . 15'0 gm. ^ oz. avoir.

Glycerin . 150'0 „ 5 .,

Alcohol ...... 450 0 „ 1 lb.

* The medical profession is to be warned to be careful in
trusting to the reports on the effectiveness of such new
remedies in diseases like diphtheria, since a case might
possibly have been saved by trusting to old and well-tried
remedies. Yet if, by careful trials, the profession should
come to the same conclusion as the author of the above
paper, there can be no doubt but that resorcin would have
a great future as a remedial agent. — Ed. N. R.

November 27, 1880. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

437

5. Resorcin Cotton, 3 per cent,
tor 1 kilo (2^ lb.) of cotton batting use: —

Resorcin . 30-0 gm. 1 oz. avoir.

Glycerin . 70-0 „ D

Alcohol . 100-0 „ 3*

6. Resorcin Spray.

$ Resorcini puri ... 5*0 gm.

Aquae destillatae . . lOOO'O ,,

75 grains.
32 fl. oz.

FOOL’S PARSLEY (.ETHUSA CYNAPIUM).*

BY JOHN HARLEY, M.D.

It is often said that medicine can never become an
exact science. It would be much nearer the truth to
say, that such an education as the ordinary medical man
receives, or such knowledge as he commonly acquires, can
never lead him to be scientifically exact. His ordinary
acquirements are too often but a cloak to his ignorance,
and it follows that when he is called upon for scientific
information he is apt to impart the crudest errors ; the
common practice ensures impunity, assertion takes the
place of facts, and a didactic assurance carries more
enforcement than knowledge.

These ^ reflections seem harsh, but who can deny their
truth? They are suggested on the present occasion by
i eferring to my previous paper, in which I have given an
analysis of all the published cases of reputed poisoning by
fool’s parsley. Here we witness, on the one hand, "the
animus of an ancient prejudice, and, on the other, a
deplorable ignorance of the first object of these observa¬
tions the jEthusa Cynapium itself. From this review,
and from my own study of the plant, I was led to the
unavoidable conclusion that it was perfectly harmless.
Shall, we say that the three hundred years of horror,
loathing and hate cast upon this now innocent little plant
have at last purged it of its vices ; or must we dejectedly
confess that so much emotion has been so long and so
ignorantly wasted ? I think we are bound to make the
confession. What a lesson to those who, with as much
reason, erect their prejudices into altars whereat to sacrifice
the best feelings of their nature !

The observations in my previous paper had reference
to the juice prepared from Essex-grown plants of the year
186/, and to tinctures derived from fruits, both green
and dry, grown in different localities, in Sussex and Kent,
and in three different seasons.

A notion prevails, I believe, to some extent, that
locality and season have a great influence in developing
or repx-essing the qualities of the poisonous umbelliferous
plants, but I know of no fact which bears out that idea.
It is said, for example, that hemlock is eaten as a salad
in Russia. Well, even in Eugland, where the poisonous
properties of hemlock are fully developed, the horse or the
ox may browse upon the juicy plant to the extent of at
least. a pound of young leaves without showing any of its
physiological effects, and even man may eat an ounce of
the herb without experiencing any appreciable degree
of coneism. But we have yet to learn that hemlock is
used in any part of the world as a salad, for there are the
greater and the “ lesser ” hemlocks, and a reference
to medical literature will show how easy it is to confuse
them and how often this has been done.-f

Ihe lesser hemlock (jEthusa Cynapium) might well be
eaten as a salad in Russia or any other part of the world.
That it has been so used seems to me very probable.
Fool’s parsley is a domestic plant. Like the house
sparrow, it everywhere invades our homesteads, and it is
rarely or never found in the wild uninhabited parts of the
country. N ay more, it seems to have the same association
with the Roman stations in this country as the Smyrnium
olusatrum has with the Norman castles of a later age.

* From ‘ St. Thomas’s Hospital Reports,’ vol. x.

+ See my previous paper, p. 69, vol. iv, ‘St. Thomas’s

Hosp. Rep.’

Verulam, Richbo.rough, and Thauet are notable instances,
St. Albans especially, for there is no weed more common
there than fool’s parsley. I will leave the philologist to
determine whether the prefix “fool’s” is to be taken as
indicative of a thing to be avoided, or a thing to be loved,
as. my pretty fool,” and will pass on to give further
evidence of the harmlessness of the JSthusa Cynapium for
the benefit of those who may be still in doubt, or who
are likely to be misled by those who have written more
recently on the subject than myself. My previous paper
seems very little known. One eminent medical jurist,
the. late Dr. Taylor, indeed, has expressed himself as
satisfied with the evidence which I have adduced ; but
when I turn to other writers on toxicology I find them
transcribing the old story, and promulgating errors which
I thought I had fully exposed seven years ago.

It is thus with von Boek in Ziemssen’s ‘Cyclopaedia of
Medicine,’ who, unwittingly perhaps, adds to rather than
diminishes from the error in quoting the following : — In
1 869 five members of one family became ill from eating
a veal pie which had been flavoured with fool’s parsley

instead of ordinary parsley (Che vallier).”*

“ Flavoured,” merely flavoured ! Oh, pernicious plant,
worse than the worst, even aconite itself !

A foreigner may be excused for his ignorance of a few
facts in English literature, but the same indulgence can
scarcely be accorded to his English translator.^ For the
sake of contrast, the reader will perhaps allow me to
transcribe the summary, almost entire, of the properties
of fool’s parsley as given in this most recent work on
toxicology. The authors say “ the leaves of fool’s parsley
have been eaten by mistake for common parsley, and the
roots for parsnips. The plant may be known from true
parsley by its producing, when rubbed, a nauseous odour.
It is a narcotico -irritant poison. It is a poison to animals,
bix ounces of the juice introduced into the stomach of a
dog and secured by a ligature killed it in one hour. In
the human subject it has caused death in one hour.
Nausea, vomiting, stupor and insensibility, dysphagia,
muscular tremblings, dilated pupils, and lockjaw have
been observed.” Then follow six illustrative cases, the
evidence in which,, amongst others, I have criticised and
shown to be fallacious in in3r previous paper.

Botanists trouble themselves as little with the facts as
do the toxicologists, and so we find the latest writers on

medicinal plants^ reiterating the stereotyped errors _

amongst others this — “ The leaves of fool’s parsley when
bruised emit a peculiar, disagreeable odour, which is
altogether different from that of parsley.” The authors
previously quoted, in strict obedience to precedent, make
the same statement, and I dare to assume that neither of
these four men ever bruised fool’s parsley themselves in
order to appreciate its qualities. If they had done so
they would have found that the odour of the bruised
leaves is not unpleasant, inasmuch as it is faint, and
resembles that of parsley itself. Again, in reference to
Orfila’s stupid experiments, can a man in his senses infer
anything of the action of a medicine by forcing it into
the stomach and then tyiug a string tightly round the
gullet and its nerves ? The only way to bring people who
make such inferences to a sense of the realities of the
situation would be to put them in it. In such a case, and
apart altogether from the reputed poison, how many
would survive the hour? It is surely time to expunge
such glaring absurdities from scientific literature. Here
my criticisms end, and I will now adduce my facts.

1. Juice of the plant obtained before flowering. — June 4,
18/4, between 5 and 6 p.m., I collected a few plants of
uEthusa Cynapium growing in an old-established walled
garden, shaded by trees, within a stone’s throw of St.
Alban’s Abbey, and sloping to the south. The day had
been dry and hot. The plants varied from four inches to

* Ziemssen, vol. xvii, p. 829.

f Woodman and Tidy, ‘Forensic Medicine and Toxi¬
cology,’ London, 1877.

X Bentley and Triiuen, vol. ii, p. 124, 1880.

438

TIIE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNA_, AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 27, 1880.

a foot high, were bushy and robust, and most of them
just about throwing up a flowering stem.. At night the
roots were washed, and the plants placed in a deep vessel
containing quarter of an inch of water. They were quite
fresh in the morning, and between 9 and 10 a.m., that is,
fifteen hours after they were gathered, they were crushed
and pressed. To insure success the roots were crushed
separately ; they evolved more of the pleasant carroty
flavour than the herb. The herb proved to be very
succulent, as Mr. Walter Hemingway’s statement will
show : —

lbs. ozs.

Gross weight of herb . 1 15|

Weight of expressed juice ... 1

,, „ marc . 0 7

1 14£

Loss . 0 II

1 15i

The expressed juice measured 23 ounces, and it was
mixed with 7 ounces 6 drachms of rectified spirit. The
turbid mixture was not filtered. After subsidence of the
solid matter the juice was brightly clear, of the colour of
pale sherry, and a pleasant taste. Five hundred grain
measures evaporated to dryness on a water-bath yielded
20 -3 gr. of varnish-like, orange-brown extract.

2. Juice obtained from the plants in green fruit. — The
remainder of the plants in my friend’s (Mr. Edward
Beal’s) garden were allowed to grow undisturbed and
they finally attained a great size. On July 25 I pulled
one of the finest of these plants (about three feet high)
out of the ground, and during the afternoon chewed the
washed root. It had a sweet taste, with a pleasant
flavour resembling both carrot and parsley ; it was tough
and woody, and harder than pine wood to chew. I ex¬
perienced no effects.

In the evening of August 7 the rest of the plants
were dug up and sent to me entire. I received and ex¬
amined them the same night. They were very finely grown,
and heavy with fully formed, green, sweet fruit. Most
of the plants were over 2| feet high. Many had a
dozen umbels. One plant was 4^ feet high, had eleven
primary branches, and 173 umbels, and the stem at the
base was half an inch in diameter.

The plants were crushed and subjected to stron

pressure early next

morning.

The

following

is

Mr!

W eight of HCthusa Cynapium
Weight of juice expressed . .

Weight of marc
Loss . . . .

lbs.

ozs.

12

10

5

1:

7

9

6

15

0

10

7 9

The 78 fluid ounces of expressed juice were mixed with
one third of its bulk (19 fluid ounces) of rectified spirit,
making a total of 97 fluid ounces. The turbid mixture
was not filtered. It was a very dark brownish-green,
and after the subsidence of the solid matter the bright
supernatant fluid was of a rich reddish-brown colour,
darker than taraxacum juice, which, though free from
bitterness it resembled in taste. Five hundred grain
measures, evaporated to dryness on a water-bath, yielded
53 grains of dark, rather charred extract, for my water-
bath had become dry.

3. Observations on the juices of the immature and mature
plants. Being thus provided with carefully prepared juices
of the young plant in its most succulent condition, and of
the same generation of plants in them fully matured con¬
dition, I exhausted my supply upon four patients, one a
little girl six years old, who took them in quantities

ranging from 2 drachms to 2 ounces ; myself, who took
them in quantities ranging from 2 to 4 fluid ounces ; and
two other adults, who were the subjects of spasmodic
torticollis. These two took one or other of the juices in
doses ranging from 1 to 8 fluid ounces. Effects were
carefully looked for, but there were absolutely none in
either case after any one of the doses.

Further detail is superfluous, and I may say in con¬
clusion that the JEtliusa Cynapium of Sussex, Kent,
Surrey, Essex, and Hertfordshire is not only absolutely
free from the noxious properties attributed to it, but that
it is pleasant all, to sight, smell, and taste, and, in the
absence of the more fragrant and succulent plants, might
well be used as a potherb or a salad. If any one should
think differently of the plant of his locality, I will be
ready to indulge his scruples, to test the matter with
him, and satisfy him, as I have no doubt I shall be able
to do, that my conclusions are independent both of
locality and season, and that the only influence which
these conditions have on fool’s parsley, as on hemlock, is
to increase or diminish its succulency.

THE STABILITY OF CALOMEL.*

BY PHIL. HOGLAN, PH.G.

In the Druggists’ Circular for August, 1880, is a state¬
ment from M. Verne, a French pharmaceutist, on the sta¬
bility of calomel, which statement is copied from th e Bulletin
de Therapeutique. M. Verne finds that calomel mixed
with chloride of sodium, sugar, or citric acid undergoes no
change, and that therefore the asserted danger of prescrib¬
ing them at the same time is fictitious. The conversion
of calomel into corrosive sublimate by the chlorides of the
alkaline metals, and also by the organic acids, has for a
long time been a much vexed question; and the purpose
of the following experiments was to discover the cause of
the great discrepancies on this subject, and also to as¬
certain the correctness of M. Verne’s assertion that
“the danger of acid drinks when using calomel is pure
prejudice.”

Experiments.

A. Calomel was mixed with a solution of chloride of
sodium, and after standing ten days, at the temperature
of 78° F., the filtered liquid gave no evidence of the
presence of corrosive sublimate by the stannous chloride
test.

B. Calomel and citric acid were treated in the same
manner, and after fifteen days the filtered liquid gave a
slight greyish tinge with stannous chloride, indicative of
the presence of corrosive sublimate.

C. Calomel and sugar were treated in the same manner,
and after fifteen days no evidence of corrosive sublimate
could be found in the filtered liquid.

D. Calomel and solution of chloride of sodium were
maintained at a temperature of 98° F. (temperature of the
body) for one hour, when the filtered liquid gave evidence
of the presence of corrosive sublimate.

E. Calomel and sugar and calomel and citric acid
treated in the same manner at the same temperature,
also gave a reaction indicating the presence of corrosive
sublimate.

F. Calomel and water, treated in like manner for three
hours at 98° F., gave a very slight reaction with stannous
chloride. Not so marked as previous ones.

These experiments show, first, that calomel is slowly
converted into corrosive sublimate by water at the tempe¬
rature of the body. Secondly, that chloride of sodium,
citric acid, and sugar greatly promote the conversion of
calomel into corrosive sublimate, and hence are more or
less dangerous when present in the system with calomel.
Thirdly, that the discrepancies in. regard to the stability
of calomel are, in part, accounted for by taking into con¬
sideration the temperature at which the experiments have
been conducted. Fourthly, that at the temperature of
the human body calomel is an unstable compound.

* From the Chemical News, October 8, 1880.

November 27, 1880. THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

439

mrmamtfiial Journal.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27. 1880.

BOARD OF TRADE REPORT ON WEIGHTS AND

MEASURES.

In tliis report of tlie proceedings and business
carried out under the Act of 1878, it is again pointed
out that it is the duty mainly of the justices and
town councils to carry out the Act with regard to
the inspection of weights and measures used in
trade. Where practical difficulties arise and applica
tions for assistance are made to the Board of Trade,
the department continues to place before local
inspect ors its own practice or that of the principal
districts of inspection, with the view ol securing
greater uniformity in the carrying out of the Act.

The suggestion of the Board that a uniform de
sign of stamp should be used by inspectors in different
districts has met with general approval, and it has
been acted upon in a large number of places.

In regard to the stamping of weights and measures,
it is also pointed out that the Act requires every
weight and measure to have its denomination or an
abbreviation of that stamped upon it in legible figures
and letters, and in an appendix to the report the
abbreviations allowed by the Board are given. In
the case of apothecaries’ graduated glass measures,
they consist of a number indicating the capacity in
fluid ounces, drachms or minims and the letters,
fl. oz., fl. dr., or Min.

There is we think one point in connection with the
stamping of graduated glass measures to which we
may call attention as being likely, as things now
stand, to cause unnecessary trouble. This is the
character of the abbreviated denomination to be
stamped on such measures. According to the Act
every weight or measure is required to have its
denomination stamped upon it in legible figures and
letters. In the case of weights the compliance with
this requirement has an obvious practical limitation
according to the size of the weights, and this circum¬
stance is recognized in the Act by the exception made
where the small size of the weight renders the
stamping with its denomination impracticable. In
the case of measures, however, there does not appear
to be any such exception made, and for the measures
used in the sale of drugs the denominations of
standards mentioned in the second schedule of the
Act are fluid ounces, fluid drachms and minims,
their multiples and aliquot parts being also recog¬
nized by the Order in Council of August, 1879.

In addition to the impracticability of stamping
the denomination at all upon certain weights, it
appears, as we learn from the late report of the
Board of Trade, to have been found impracticable* to
stamp the full denomination on certain other weights
and that hence abbreviations are used. Neither the
Act itself nor the schedules attached to it or to the

Order in Council make any mention of such ab¬
breviated denominations as being proper to stamp
on weights or measures for the purpose of making
them conform with the law, and as usage appears to
be the only authority for thus stamping weights it is
not to be wondered at that inspectors sometimes
differ as to the proper abbreviation to be allowed.
Consequently in the report just referred to, a list of
the abbreviations allowed by the Board of Trade for
all new standard weights is appended, for the in¬
formation of makers of weights and measures. In
that list the recognized abbreviations for apothe¬
caries' weights comprise the symbols 3 and B, but in
the case of the corresponding measures the abbrevia¬
tions indicated are fl. oz., fl. dr., and Min.

So far, then, it would appear that in order to be
lawful an apothecaries’ graduated glass measure must
be stamped with the above-mentioned letters. It
is true that in the appendix to the report of the
Board of Trade the symbols f§, f£ and in are also
mentioned, but only in such a manner as to indi¬
cate that they may be used together with the recog¬
nized abbreviations, and not alone. This prescription
of a particular form of abbreviated denomination for
stamping graduated glass measures seems likely to
cause some trouble, inasmuch as it might be assumed
that such a measure stamped only with the symbols
5, 3 or Tn was not a lawful measure. Certainly it is
a point which might be taken up by some inspectors
so as to cause annoyance, and when it is remembered
that the use of symbols has hitherto been the most
general, if not the only, way of marking such
measures, it will be evident that there is some
ground for apprehension.

It has been suggested that in consequence of the
requirement of the letters fl. oz. etc., thousands of
measures in use throughout the country are rendered
useless inasmuch as they are unlawful without those
marks. This, however, is but an exaggerated idea.
The marking of a glass measure with a scratching
diamond or with the corner of a file is a very simple
and easy matter and if it be absolutely essential that
measures should bear the marks fl. oz., etc., it would
require but little time or trouble to place those
marks upon them by that means.

But we are disposed to think that there is at least
some reason for doubting whether the use of the
abbreviations indicated by the Board of Trade re¬
port is absolutely necessary for insuring conformity
with the Act ; or to put the matter in another way,
that a sufficiently strong case might be stated in
favour of the use of symbols to induce the Board of
Trade to recognize them equally with the other
abbreviated marks. In any case there seems to be
good gronnds for submitting to the Board a repre¬
sentation of the case as affecting chemists and
druggists, and asking for such action to be taken as
will suffice to prevent undue interference with them
in the customary and ordinary course of their busi¬
ness.

440

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 27, mv.

While dealing with this subject it may be useful
testate that upon the application of several local
authorities, the Board of Trade represented to Her
Majesty that it would be expedient to alter the fees
taken by such authorities for stamping weights and
measures, and that an Order in Council has been
made specifying the maximum fees to be charged in
such cases. For apothecaries’ weights the fee is
twopence, for each weight from 10 oz. to 1 oz. in¬
clusive, and one penny for each weight from 4
drachms to half a grain. For each graduated
measure containing more than one hundred sub¬
divisions the fee is one shilling ; for one containing
less than one hundred but more than titty sub¬
divisions, sixpence ; for one with less than fifty
sub-divisions, fourpence ; for each separate measure
of 40 fluid ozs. to 1 fluid oz. respectively, threepence;
and for one of 4 fluid drachms to one minim, two¬
pence.

This scale of fees has been adopted by the counties
of Bucks, Cornwall, Cumberland, Derby, Durham,
Essex, Middlesex, Surrey, Carnarvon, Ayr, Dum¬
fries, Edinburgh, Elgin, Kirkcudbright, and the
boroughs of Abingdon, Basingstoke, Chester, Leeds,
Leicester, Manchester, Nottingham, Salford, Sheffield,
Tenterden, Westminster, Great Yarmouth, Aberdeen,
Edinburgh, Elgin, Galasliields, Glasgow, Hawick,
Kirkcaldy, Paisley, Perth, and Dublin.

CO-OPERATIVE MEDICAL DISPENSING.

A medical contemporary publishes an account
of a scheme that has just been proposed by some
medical men in a provincial town which is con¬
sidered to offer promise of overcoming certain of
the difficulties and objectionable features of pri¬
vate dispensing. The promoters of this enter¬
prise — medical practitioners — have agreed to form
a joint stock company in order that they may
provide common premises and a qualified dispenser
to make up their prescriptions, and if desired
the prescriptions of others. This is considered to he
simply a new form of co-operation, and it is added
that as such there cannot be any possible objection
to it, but on the contrary advice is given to extend
the privileges of membership as widely as possible.
This scheme appears, therefore, to be a new departure
in the endeavour to prevent the survival of
the dispensing chemist, and, as being directed
against that side of the chemist and druggist’s
business which it is most desirable to develop,
is worthy the consideration of those members of the
trade who look upon the dispensing of medicine as
being rather a right belonging to them in the
abstract than as an acquisition to be secured on the
ground of superior qualification. One of the reasons
given for approving this scheme is the opinion ex¬
pressed by our contemporary that when medical men
cease to dispense their own medicines they throw
away a certain profit to which they are entitled, and

thouo-h this view seems to reflect but too well the
leading idea of the old apothecary of last century it
shows little appreciation of the differentiation of
function by which alone we can hope to achieve
reform and improvement in the practice of medicine
and pharmacy.

PROSECUTION UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND
MEASURES ACT.

We understand that the Chemists and Druggists’
Trade Association will undertake the defence of
Mr. Whittle in the action brought against him
under the Weights and Measures Act at Marylebone
Petty Sessions, the further hearing of which stands
adjourned until the 6th of December next. On that
occasion we may anticipate that the York Glass
Company and the Pharmaceutical Society will also
have representatives present to watch the case, and
on the one hand to defend the company against the
insinuation that the measures in question had not
been stamped in accordance with the requirements
of the Act, on the other hand to ascertain whether
in the carrying out of the Act chemists and druggists
are liable to inconveniences such as would admit of
being provided against in the future.

To the list of pharmacists already mentioned as
having received municipal honours, we have to add
the name of Mr. William Gunn, of Dnnse, who
was at the beginning of this month unanimously
elected Chief Magistrate of that place, and on Tues¬
day last was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the
county of Berwick.

Among the items of news telegraphed from
America we learn that the first prize of five hundred
dollars, offered by the National Board of Trade of
the United States of America, for the best essay
upon injurious adulteration and the draft of an Act
to prevent the same and regulate the sale of food
without imposing unnecessary burdens upon trade,
has been awarded to Mr. G. W. Wigner, the
Honorary Secretary of the Society of Public
Analysts of London.

DEATH OF AN ANNUITANT.

We are sorry to learn that another annuitant on
the Benevolent Fund, Mr. Edward Gilbert, died
on the 16th inst., in his 68th year. Mr. Gilbert
was elected in 1877 .

THE NEXT EVENING MEETING.

An Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Society will be held on Wednesday next, when
the following papers will be read: — “Note on the
History of Saffron,” by Mr. C. B. Allen, and “ On
the Use of Saffron in Pharmacy,” by Mr. E. M.
Holmes. The chair will be taken at half-past eight.

November 27, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

441

^Ijanmiccuttcal Sotictn of Jfrclmvir.

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

November 17, 1880.

Present — Professor Tichborne, President ; Dr. Aquilla
Smith, Vice-President ; Messrs. Allen, Bennett, Brunker,
Doran, Grindley, Hayes, Hodgson, Oldham and Simpson.

The meeting was called, in pursuance of the bye-laws,
in consequence of the death of Mr. John Goodwin.

The following resolution was proposed by Mr. Grindley,
seconded by Mr. Doran, and passed : —

“ That this Council, having heard with regret of the
death of their esteemed colleague, Mr. John
Goodwin, desire hereby to convey the expression
of their sympathy with his family in their sad
bereavement,”

and the Registrar was desired to forward the resolution.

Dr. Smith said that he had much pleasure in proposing
Mr. Draper to fill the vacant seat upon the Council.
From his connection with the Society as Examiner for
the last five years, the active interest which he took,
together with the President, in the evening meetings,
and his well known abilities as a chemist, he considered
that no better person could . be selected ; he therefore
proposed that Mr. Draper be elected.

The nomination having been seconded by Mi\ Allen,

Mr. Hayes said that he came to the meeting intending
to propose Mr. Boileau, whom he would be glad to see
again coopted, but would not propose him in opposition
to Mr. Draper.

Mr. Oldham also advocated Mr. Boileau’s claim to be
coopted and said that the next vacancy occurring would
be a favourable opportunity of repairing the slight put
upon Mr. Boileau by the outside members of the Society
at the last election.

Mr. Draper was then elected unanimously, and the
meeting adjourned.

xobmcml

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The third general meeting of the thirty-second session
was held at the Royal Institution on Thursday evening,
November 11th, the President, Dr. Symes, in the chair.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and con¬
firmed, and the following donations were announced : —
Specimens of crystallized duboisine and duboisia leaves,
from A. W. Gerrard; specimen of the bark of Quebracho
bianco , from the President; the current numbers of the
Pharmaceutical Journal, and ‘The History of Pharmacy,’
by Bell and Redwood, from the Pharmaceutical Society.

Mx*. A. E. Fletcher, F.C.S., gave an interesting de¬
scription of the means employed for sub-dividing the
electric light for household lighting.

The paper for the evening, on “Boron and its Com¬
pounds,” was read by Mr. Edward Davies, F.C.S., F.I.C.

The paper, which will be printed in an early number,
was discussed by the President, Messrs. T. F. Abraham,
Conroy, Kehlstadt and Watt, and a hearty vote of thanks
to Mr. Davies brought the meeting to a close.

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

Assistants’ Section.

The opening meeting of this Association was held in
the Manager’s Library, Anderson’s College, on Wednes¬
day 17th ult., at 9 o’clock p.m.

The retiring President (Mr. David Lee) occupied the
chair, and delivered a short address, in which he earnestly
importuned the necessity of the closest unity among the
members, and urged that they would, as in past ses¬

sions, use every endeavour to preserve the reputation and
name which this society had so long enjoyed. He said
they had the advantage of possessing an organization
which enabled them to give due consideration to events
passing around, particularly to legislation, proposed or
attempted, in which their future interests might be im¬
plicated, and which apparently they were to experience
in the coming year in an attempt to amend the Pharmacy
Act, an event of material importance to them all. This
session promised to be one of an unusually interesting
character, despite all the gloom which at present over¬
hung the pharmaceutical dominion.

After a short conversation among the members and
visitors, the following gentlemen were chosen to fill office
during the ensuing year President, Walter Paris ; Vice-
President, David Lee ; Secretary, G. S. Illingworth ;
Librarian, William Philp ; Committee : — John Adams,
A. C. Chalmers, James Paterson, and A. Paterson, jun.

Votes of thanks to retiring office bearers and enrol¬
ment of associates terminated the proceedings.

EDINBURGH CHEMISTS ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The second meeting of the third session was held on
Wednesday, 17th inst., in the rooms of the North British
Branch. Mr. J. D. Robertson, President, in the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and
confirmed, the President called upon Mr. Boa to read a
paper on

Chloral and Croton Chloral.

After referring to the discovery of chloral by Liebig,
in 1832, and its introduction to medical practice by
Liebreich, in 1869, he described the process for its manu¬
facture on the commercial scale, by the chlorination of
absolute alcohol, and illustrated by diagrams the chemical
changes occurring in the different stages of the process.

Speaking of the different preparations of chloral, Mr.
Boa said that it had occurred to him that chloral might
be used as a stimulating application for the hair in the
form of a pomade or cream, in combination with an
alkali. Lime cream with chloral, for example, might
supersede chloroform pomade.

Croton chloral, he went on to say, is prepared from
aldehyde by a process similar to that by which ordinary
chloral is prepared from alcohol. Croton chloral has
nothing to do with croton oil ; the name arises from the
fact that it is the chloral of the aldehyde of crotonic acid,
an acid which at one time was supposed to exist in the
seeds of Croton tiglium, although it has now been shown
that it does not contain an acid of this composition. As
to whether this substance is croton chloral or butyl
chloral, theory points to its being the former, C4H3C130,
although Messrs. Kramer and Pinner assert it to be the
latter, C4H5C130.

When chlorine is passed into aldehyde there is forma¬
tion of hydrochloric acid gas, this gas acts upon the
aldehyde and causes it to condense, as it were, into
crotonic aldehyde, with elimination of water. The
continued current of chlorine acts upon the crotonic
aldehyde with formation of substitution products. The
formation of croton chloral is explained in this way : — ■

Crotonic Aldehyde.

2 (C2H40) = C^O + ILO

Croton Chloral.

C4II60 + 3 Cl2 = C4H3C130 + 3 HOI

That of butyl chloral thus : —

2 (CoH40) = C4H60 -f H20.

Monochlorcroton

Aldehyde.

C4H60 + Cl2 = C4H5C10 + HOI.

Butyl Chloral.

C4H5C10 + C]2^C4H5C130.

442

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 27, 1880.

The formation of crotonic aldehyde during the process
is favourable to its being croton chloral, whereas the ex¬
planation of its formation as butyl chloral is not so easy
of acceptance.

Summarizing the physiological action of the two sub¬
stances, the decomposition products of each indicate
their respective actions. Trichlorinated compounds
usually act upon the brain, spinal cord, and heart ;
bichlorinated substances upon the brain and spinal cord
only. When decomposed by an alkali chloral yields
chloroform, CHC1S, a trichlorinated substance ; croton
chloral yields bichlorallylene, C3H2C12, a bichlorinated
substance. Accordingly, chloral acts upon the brain,
spinal cord, and heart : croton chloral upon the brain
and spinal cord, but not upon the heart, hence the latter
is the safer in cases where disease of the heart exists.

On the motion of Mr. W. Aitken, seconded by Mr. R .
Aitken, a hearty vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. Boa.

Afterwards a number of queries were submitted by the
Secretary, but owing to the late hour to which the
meeting had extended they were deferred till next
meeting, after one or two had been answered.

Ijromimujs of Scientific Societies.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday,
November 18, Professor H. E. Roscoe, President, in the
chair.

It was announced that a ballot for the election of
Fellows would take place at the next meeting (Decem¬
ber 2).

The following certificates were read for the first time: —
S. Harvey, J. W. James, W. E. Kay.

Mr. Spencer Pickering then communicated a lengthy
paper entitled —

Notes on the Oxides of Manganese. — Various samples
of oxides of manganese were obtained and heated to
various temperatures until their weight was constant.
The results obtained showed that these oxides sometimes
lost and sometimes gained in weight; at other times their
weight remained constant. This loss or gain of oxygen
does not appear to bear any relation to the degree of
oxidation of the oxide. It appears to be greatly
dependent on the amount of water present in the sample.
The greatest loss was found to occur in those oxides
which were examined soon after they were prepared.
The oxides of manganese appear to undergo a molecular
change on being kept in air for any length of time,
whereby their behaviour on heating may be entirely
reversed, a gain of oxygen taking place instead of a loss.
This molecular change is not accompanied by a variation
in composition. When small quantities of manganese
oxides were heated in a platinum dish over a Bunsen
burner, the oxide obtained was remarkably constant in
composition, when the gas was at the day pressure ; with
a larger supply of gas less constant results were obtained.

The President said that the oxides of manganese
seemed sometimes to lose and sometimes to gain in
weight when heated to 100°. The circumstances which
governed this alteration he hoped the author would even¬
tually succeed in determining. He should like to ask if
any special tests had been made for the presence of
organic matter and whether any specific gravities of the
oxides had been taken.

Dr. Wright asked if the absence of other metallic
oxides had been secured, as in his researches great care
was found to be necessary in this respect.

Mr. Pickering replied that the pure oxides used in his
research, after solution in acid and precipitation with
ammonium sulphide, gave no fixed residue on evaporation
with sulphuric acid. Some of the specimens were very

light and some very heavy powders. The presence of
organic matter could not account for a gain in weight.

Professor McLeod said that it would be interesting to
know if any oxygen was given off at ordinary tempera¬
tures in a Sprengel vacuum.

The President then called upon Dr. Gladstone to read a
paper by himself and Mr. A. Tribe entitled — •

Aluminium Alcohols. Part I. Their Preparation by
means of the Aluminium- Iodine Reaction. — In 1876 the
authors showed that either aluminium or aluminium-
iodide singly is without action on absolute alcohol, but
that together they decompose that liquid with facility.
The resulting bodies are hydrogen and two new organic
aluminic compounds, aluminic iodoethylate (C2H50)3I3A12
and aluminic ethylate A12(C2H50)6. It was also shown
that one molecule of the iodide suffices to bring about
the combination of very many atoms of aluminium with
the oxy -radical of the alcohol and that the amount of hy¬
drogen set free is equivalent to that of the metal which
disappears. In the present communication the authors
have studied more completely the composition and
properties of the ethylate and have applied the aluminium
iodine reaction to the preparation of analogous aluminium
derivatives of other alcohols. Twenty c.c. of alcohol, 2
grams of aluminium foil and 1 gram of iodine are heated
in a flask to 100°, the decomposition proceeds with
tolerable rapidity until the metal has disappeared. The
flask is then heated to 300°, until distillation at that
temperature ends. It is then connected with a receiver
and, the apparatus exhausted of air, the product in the
flask melted and distilled under diminished pressure. The
authors have prepared and examined aluminic methyl¬
ate, aluminic ethylate, aluminic propylate. No reaction
took place when isopropyl alcohol was usfed ; although
the isoiodide and the zinc isopropide are less stable
than the corresponding normal compounds. Aluminic
isobutylate, and aluminic amylate were prepared with¬
out difficulty, aluminic cetylate was formed, but was to a
great extent decomposed by the temperature necessary
for its formation by this reaction. On trying the
reaction with allyl alcohol, aluminic allylate was appa¬
rently formed but could not be isolated by distillation in
vacuo. Aluminic phenylate, cresylate and thymolate
were prepared, but could not be distilled; they were,
however, obtained tolerably pure by heating the respec¬
tive alcohols to about 200° with the theoretical quantity
of aluminium and enough iodine to start the action, and
then pouring off the semi-fluid product. The hydrogen
of benzylic alcohol can be replaced by aluminium, but the
compound formed is completely decomposed when heated
in vacuo. No aluminium compounds of ethene alcohol
or propenyl alcohol were obtained. The aluminic alcohols
are solid non- crystalline greyish white bodies and are
more or less decomposed on heating at the ordinary
atmospheric pressure, but those of the methyl series distil
at reduced pressure and have the property of remaining
fluid below their fusing points.

In reply to Dr. Armstrong, Dr. Gladstone said that an
attempt had been made to determine the vapour densities
of these bodies, but up to the present time had not been
successful.

Mr. W. H. Perkin then gave an account of the arti¬
ficial production of indigo, and prepared some before the
Society. He stated that through the kindness of Dr.
Caro he was enabled to exhibit some specimens of
artificial indigo and to demonstrate its preparation.
We are indebted to Professor Adolph Baeyer for the
discovery of the process. The starting point is practically
toluene, C7H60 ; indigo, therefore, may be classed among
the coal tar colours. From this hydrocarbon cinnamic acid
is prepared by a process which was suggested by Mr.
Perkin not long ago and which at the time did not seem
likely to be so soon turned to a practical application.
The next step is the conversion of the cinnamic acid into
its nitro-derivative by the action of nitric acid. Two
isomers can be thus formed, the ortho and the para; the

November 27, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

443

ortho is the only one which is useful in this process.
Fortunately by employing certain precautions this ortho
body can be obtained as the chief product of the reaction.
On exposing this nitro body to the vapour of bromine
orthonitrodibromhydrocinnainic acid is prepared, by treat¬
ment with caustic soda orthonitropropiolic acid is obtained,
which on reduction by grape sugar in a solution rendered
alkaline by an alkali or an alkaline earth is converted
into indigo. The steps in the process are, therefore,
toluene, C7Hf)0 ; dichloride of benzyl, C6H3,CHC12;
cinnamic acid, C9H802 ; next, orthonit rocinnamic acid,
C9H7(N02)02; then, orthonitrodibromhydrocinnamic acid,
C9H7Br202(N02) ; next, orthonitrophenylpropiolic acid,
C9H5(N02)02 ; and finally indigo. C16H10N2O2. Pro¬
fessor Baeyer has also discovered a second process by
heating orthonitrophenyloxyacrylic acid to about 110°,
but practically this process is not so good as the one just
mentioned. The artificial indigo is identical with the
natural product in every respect, it can be reduced to
form an indigo vat and gives a sulplio-acid soluble in
water which dyes silk. The colouring matter may be
made in the fibres of the fabric by passing them through
or printing them with a mixture of C9H5(N02)0.„ alkali
and grape sugar and then steaming or heating them for a
few minutes. Every effort is being made on the
continent to produce the colouring matter commercially
and there is but little doubt as to the ultimate and
speedy success of these endeavours.

The President, in thanking Mr. Perkin for his interest¬
ing demonstration, commented on the very superior
facilities which existed in Germany in the technical
institutions and the large manufactories for working out
such questions as the above. In one large works no less
than thirty chemists were employed at liberal salaries,
working at subjects connected with chemical technology.
If such arrangements existed in this country we should
have nothing to fear from competition.

On the Absorption Spectrumof Ozone. By W. N .Hartley.
— The author has photographed by means of the light
afforded by the coil and Leyden jar (which also served to
ozonize the air) the absorption spectrum. The absorption
band stretches from wave length 285 to 233 millionths
of mm., the air contained 1 vol. of ozone in 2000 of oxygen.
Great care was taken to exclude chlorine and oxides of
nitrogen. The mean wave length of the rays intercepted
by ozone is 256 millionths mm. from this the author
deduces the mean rate of vibi'ation of the molecule of
ozone as 1231 billions per second.

On the Probable Absorption of the Solar Pays by Atmo¬
spheric Ozone. By W. N. Hartley. — The author refers
to the recent experiments of Cornu on the shortening
of the solar spectrum in the ultra violet portion. This
observer has photographed the spectrum at different
altitudes. He finds that the longest spectrum was
obtained at the greatest height at mid-day. The shorten¬
ing is therefore due to the atmosphere. From various
considerations the author concludes that it is highly
probable that the absorbing substance in the atmosphere
is the ozone. He also attributes the blue tint of the
atmosphere to a great extent to ozone. The blue colour
cannot be due to the aqueous vapour nor the oxides of
nitrogen. Some further experiments on this interesting
question are promised.

On the Synthetical Production of New Acids of the
Pyruvic Series. By E. Moritz. Part II. Isobutyryl and
Butyryl Formic Acids. — The author has prepared and
studied the following bodies, isobutyrylformic amide,
diisobutyryl, dicyanide, and isobutyryl formic acid. The
acid was prepared by treating the polymeric cyanide with
hydrochloric acid and subsequent boiling in a water-bath.
If the mixture of cyanide and hydrochloric be poured
into cold water before boiling, oily drops form at the
bottom, which subsequently solidify. Two substances
were isolated from this deposit, one soluble in solid
carbonate fusing at 187°, the other insoluble, fusing at
207-208°. The author has also prepared and studied

butyrylformic-amide, dibutyryldicyanide, and butyryl-
formic acid. In conclusion the author states that an
improved method for preparing the acid-radical cyanide is
necessary for the success of further investigations.

On the Ancient Alum Well at Harrogate. By R. H.
Davis. — This old well was noticed by Dr. Garnet in 1791
as containing alum and iron. Up till 1870 the well seems
to have been forgotten: in that year, however, it was
brought to light again during some excavations made for
increasing the supply of sulphur water. It is a pale
reddish brown water, strongly acid to litmus, and very
astringent to the taste. The well is surrounded with
sulphur wells, and is of comparatively superficial origin.
The author gives an analysis of the water in grains per
gallon. Fe2(S04)3, 78*76; Fe2S04, 69*33 ; A1*(S04)„ 89*47;
CaS04, 56*91 ; MgS04, 57*38; K2S04, 3*14 ; Am,S04, 2*19;
NaCl. 33*9 ; Si02, 3*27. Total residue 397*25.

On Peppermint Camphor. By M. Moriya of Toki6. —
This paper forms No. IV of the contributions from the
University Laboratory of Tokio, and forms part of a
thesis presented by the author on graduating in chemistry.
In 1862, Oppenheim concluded that this camphor was a

n it \

monatomic alcohol ^ 19 j O and named it menthol ; in

1876 Beckett and Wright showed that menthol was
connected with the aromatic and the paraffin series. The
sample examined by the author was obtained from
Yonezawa. Its specific rotatory power was -59*3° ;
specific gravity at 15° 0*89, melting point 37 - 35°, distils
over at 210 - 212°; crystallized in iong needles, soluble in
absolute alcohol, ether, CS2 chloroform and glacial acetic
acid. By the action of bichromate and sulphuric acid at
120° for ten hours a colourless oil was obtained, C10H18O,
boiling 204-205°, specific gravity 0*9032, insoluble in
water, soluble in ether, alcohol, and chloroform. By the
action of nitric acid an explosive nitro body, probably
Cl0H19NO, was obtained yielding an amide, Cl0H19NHo.
By heating the camphor with twenty times its volume of
fuming nitric acid, a yellow liquid was obtained, which on
evaporation yielded a white crystalline substance, soluble
in water, which contained no nitrogen : analyis indicated
the compound to be normal pyrotartaric acid. Bromo
menthol, C10H19Br, was also prepared. By the action of
zinc chloride menthene was obtained.

By freezing the oil of peppermint obtained by distilling
the plant, separating the crystals, and subsequently
fractionally distilling, a liquid was obtained which the
author concludes to be the liquid which holds the camphor
in solution ; it has the composition Cl0H18O. In a note to
the paper Professor Atkinson suggests constitutional
formulae for menthol founded on the above researches.

The Society then adjourned to December 2nd, when
a ballot will be held for the election of Fellows and the
following papers will be read : —

1. “Communication from the Laboratory of the Univer-
sity College of Bristol,” by W. Ramsay ; 2. “ On the Specific
Volume of Chloral,” by Laura Maude Passavant, Brown
Scholar at the Yorkshire College; 3. “On the Formation
of Carbon Tetrabromide in the Manufacture of Bromine,”
by J. W. Hamilton.

(Mrituam

Notice has been received of the death of the fol¬
lowing : —

On the 4th of November, 1880, Mr. Charles Rogers,
Chemist and Druggist, Watery Lane, Birmingham. Aged
71 years.

On the 5th of November, 1880, Mr. Edward Vincer,
Chemist and Druggist, London Road, Sevenoaks. Aged
76 years.

On the 9th of November, 1880, Mr. Ferrand G. U.
Hinchliff, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Greenheys, Man-

444

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 27, 1880

Chester. Aged 58 years. Mr. Hinckliff became a Mem¬
ber of the Pharmaceutical Society in 1853.

On the 14th of November, 1880, Mr. Joseph Hall,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Salford, Manchester. Aged 59
years. Mr. Hall had been a Member of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society since 1843.

On the 16th of November, 1880, Mr. Henry Gambling,
Chemist and Druggist, Chichester. Aged 41 years.

On the 18th of November, 1880, Mr. Hugh Mackay
Anderson, Chemist and Druggist, Evelyn Street, Leeds.
Aged 35 years. Mr. Anderson had been an Associate of
the Pharmaceutical Society since 1876.

On the 18th of November, 1880, Mr. William Golding,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Albany Street, N.W. Aged 61
years. Mr. Golding had been a Member of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society since 1853.

gispcinmg Iftewanwim*

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose salce partly this column was established ,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And ive would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[451]. After the number of replies to the query of
J. G. P. S., perhaps a few further remarks from one who
has read the whole discussion with great interest may
not be superfluous.

It is only because this point has been most ably argued
against overwhelming weight and probability by Messrs.
H. Brown and R. H. Parker that a few remarks are
ventured on the crucial points advanced by these gentle¬
men.

Was Mr. Brown right in asserting hyd. chlor. to be
hydrargyri perchloridum of the British Pharmacopoeia of
1867, and in giving as his authority the definition of the
United States Pharmacopoeia, hydrargyri chloridum cor-
rosivum? (The italic is my own.) Ought not Mr.
Brown to have considered when he made this statement
that the very opposite assertion might be made and an
equally good authority given from that same “ excellent
guide ” of his (the U. S. Pharmacopoeia), which defines
calomel as hydrargyri chloridum mite ?

Does Mr. Parker bring forward the solitary statement
of an admittedly faulty edition of the B. P. (that of
1864) as of any authority in settling this matter ? . I
do not conclude that he does, as further on he admits
that “ the weight of evidence on the ground of nomen¬
clature is certainly in favour of hydrarg. subchlor. being
used but he adds that the question must be regarded
from a physiological point of view, which he thinks is far
more important than a mere literary quibble over no¬
menclature.

Granted that this is so, in a doubtful reading of a
prescription like that submitted by J. G. P. S., would
a dispenser possessing the most advanced knowledge of
physiology and therapeutics be justified in pronouncing
for a comparatively large amount of a corrosive sub¬
stance being applied to the surface of one of the most
delicate organs of the human body, without so much as
having the chance, perhaps, of looking at the eye in
order to verify the possibility of his guess being correct
as to the doubtful kind of remedy proposed ?

I think that an advanced physiologist, in calculating
the chances under such circumstances, would most pro¬
bably go on the side of safety (if he dispensed the pre¬
scription at all), and put in calomel instead of corrosive
sublimate.

In conclusion, perhaps I may be permitted to hope
that the definition of calomel (hydrargyri chloridum)
bequeathed us by the London Pharmacopoeia will ulti¬
mately give place in prescriptions to that of the British
Pharmacopoeia (hydrargyri subchloridum), which (with
all deference to Mr. Brown and the U. S. Pharmacopoeia)
is more to the point as a chemical definition and simpler
to write than hydrargyri choridum mite.

Specific Gravity.

[451]. It would serve no useful purpose were I to
attempt to go over all the authorities on materia medica
and chemistry so as to settle Avhat is meant by hyd. chlor.
The name is applied to corrosive sublimate and to calo¬
mel in a most irregular fashion, each author suiting his
own fancy as to nomenclature.

I find Taylor on ‘Poisons’ saying ( vide page 389):
“ This substance (calomel), also called chloride or sub¬
chloride of mercury.” On page 363: “Corrosive subli¬
mate is also known by the chemical name of chloride,
perchloride, etc.”

Dr. Tidy, in his work on ‘ Chemistry,’ page 425, calls
corrosive sublimate, chloride, bichloride, etc., and calo¬
mel, subchloride or protochloride.

In entering upon the discussion I knew what diversity
of opinion was likely to crop up on the point, but,
although T. G. P. S. says he knows calomel was meant,
I still look to the reasonable and therapeutic view in
solving such matters.

Take it then for granted calomel was intended, and
what is the position ? One grain is suspended in 192
minims of water, to which extract of opium is added.
Calomel, in the dry state, is used in eye affections twice
or thrice a day, in portions of 1 grain or more. Corro¬
sive sublimate is used in the form of solution, 2 grains to
the ounce of water, with or without opium. Now, I ask,
is it a reasonable inference to suppose hyd. chlor. means
calomel, which in the form of suspension, in watery
solution of opium, is so weak that 192 minims only
equal one ordinary dose, when used by the dry process,
namely, that of insufflation? I am quite willing to allow
that by a private mode of understanding J. G. P. S.
knew it was calomel the prescriber meant by hyd. chlor.
in this instance, but if I sent to Preston a prescription,
thus —

Hyd. Chlor . 5 grains.

Aquae .

Solve. Ft. lotio. Sig. “ For itch.”

Would he follow the B.P. and send out the lotion made
with calomel? Would common everyday experience
not at once say by hyd. chlor., corrosive sublimate
was meant? Again, if I ordered hyd. chlor. with spt.
vini rect., and write “To be pencilled over the affected
parts,” would any sensible compounder weigh out the
proportion of calomel as “ hyd. chlor.” in such an in¬
stance? I think not. Such then being the case, and
knowing corrosive sublimate is used in solution in eye
affections, in proportions equally as strong as the for¬
mula No. 451, that calomel is always used, so far as I
know, in the dry state, or in the form of ointment in eye
affections, I still hold a dispenser would be justified in
using corrosive sublimate in the case given, and not
calomel, for hyd. chlor., unless he privately was aware'
of some crotchet peculiar to the writer of certain pre¬
scriptions. The mildness of calomel, and the quantity of
extract of opium in formula No. 451, would point to hyd.
chlor. as meaning corrosive sublimate.

I may remark, in reply to T. G. M., I take no book as a
“ guiding star,” but if I were to choose between English
pharmacy and American, in every shape and form, I
should give a decided preference to the latter.

I may add it is a mistake to suppose that because
opium was contained in the lotion, No. 451, therefore it
added to its strength. From my standpoint the opium
was meant to allay irritation, — in a word, to sooth and
modify the action of the active ingredients. This was a

November 27, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

445

chief reason why I said I considered hyd. chlor. meant
corrosive sublimate, and not calomel, in the case of
“ Memorandum ” No. 451.

Northallerton. Henry Brown.

[465]. Mr. F. Davis, in his reply, says had I used
boiling water, I would have obtained a clear mixture,
without sediment, and Mr. T. G. Morris says “no wonder
the customer brought it back, and complained of the un¬
dissolved potass, chlor.” I maintain that if the mixture
was sent out without a sediment, it did not contain the
quantity of potass, chlor. ordered ; and I think Messrs.
Davis and Morris will admit that finely powdered
chlorate of potash is more desirable in a mixture, than
“ crystals,” which are certain to be deposited, were it
dispensed with boiling water.

Does Mr. T. G-. Morris really mean to say that 1 part
of the salt dissolved in 2 parts of boiling water will
remain in solution, when it has cooled?

John.

[465]. I quite sympathize with “ John ” in not making
a solution free from sediment. If he had made it with
boiling water as directed, he would have had the same
result when cold. It is evident that neither H. A. T.,
Mr. F. Davis nor Mr. T. G-. Morris have ever made up a
similar prescription, or they would have found out that
the pot. chlor., when dissolved in the boiling water, pre¬
cipitates on cooling.

J. Blake Benjamin.

[465]. “John” should have used boiling water, when
the mixture would have been free from sediment. This
remark applies to all mixtures containing potass, chlor.

Tunbridge Wells. C. Filtness.

[466]. A very satisfactory emulsion is formed by first
emulsifying the ol. olivse with liq. potass., filling up with
aqua, and well shaking.

Tunbridge Wells. C. Filtness.

[468], The precipitated ferric hydrate obtained by
“ Q ” was probably due to the water he used, more than
to the liq. Fowleri, the neutralization of which would
have made but little difference.

Acids, alkalies, and neutral salts, if in sufficient
quantity, precipitate dialysed iron. Common water
effects the change completely; distilled water does not
affect its equilibrium.

In the prescription before us, if the dialysed iron be
diluted with distilled water and the liq. Fovvleri added
(also diluted), a slight precipitate occurs which disappears
on agitation and a perfectly bright mixture results having
no tendency to deposit. A considerably larger propor¬
tion of liq. Fowleri may be added before a permanent
precipitate makes its appearance.

R. H. Parker.

[468]. All that is necessar}' in order to turn out a clear
mixture is to dilute the iron and the liq. Fowleri before
mixing and use distilled water.

Cymro.

[468]. I should dispense this without neutralizing liq.
Fowleri.

Tunbridge Wells. C. Filtness.

[468]. This shouid be dispensed as written, with a
“ shake ” on the bottle, taking the precaution to dilute
the liq. Fowleri with 1-oz., and the ferri dialysati with
4 ozs. of pure distilled water before mixing. If this
mode of procedure be adopted, a dark mixture will be
sent out perfectly bright, and having a tendency to deposit
only after some considerable time.

# “ Neutralizing ” the liq. Fowleri would only add to the
difficulty, as dialysed iron is precipitated not only by
alkaline solutions, but by solutions of neutral salts
as well.

Specific Gravity.

[469]. If “ Provincial Chemist ” will refer to Squire’s
‘Companion,’ eleventh edition, he will find what he re¬
quires.

Lavandula.

[471]. I should say a chemist would not be justified in
refusing to dispense this. No doubt teriodide of nitrogen
would be formed, but not to such an extent as to require
any great precaution.

1 unbridge Wells. C. Filtness.

[Hi]. il Dartmoor ” would not be justified in refusing
to dispense this prescription. I have repeatedly dispensed
a similar one with perfect safety, and I may say that the
prescription has been in use at intervals for the last ten
years. Possibly “Dartmoor” has forgotten that teriodide
of nitrogen is only explosive in the dry, and not in the
wet state.

Lavandula.

[471]. Iodine mixed with an excess of ammonia (NH3)
forms iodide of ammonium, and liberates nitrogen accord¬
ing to the following equation 4NH3 + 13 = 3HN4I + N.

This reaction also occurs either in aqueous or alcoholic
solutions of the two substances. When the iodine is in
excess, it unites with the nascent nitrogen to form an
explosive compound, the formula of which is somewhat
doubtful.

In the above equation 4 molecules of ammonia (NH3)
or 68 parts by weight, combine with 3 atoms of the
element iodine, or 381 parts by weight, forming 3 mole¬
cules of iodide of ammonium, and liberating 1 atom of
nitrogen.

In every fluid ounce of lin. camph. co. there are about
30 grains, by weight of gaseous ammonia (NH3), and in
every fluid ounce of lin. iodi, B.P. (which preparation
would most probably be dispensed for lin. iodi comp.),
there are about 48 grains by weight of free iodine. There
is, therefore, according to the above equation, enough
ammonia (NH3) by weight in the lin. camph. co. to
combine with three and a half times the quantity of the
free iodine contained in the lin. iodi, B.P., and thus
“ Dartmoor ” may dispense such a prescription without
any fear of an explosion whatever occurring, as there
cannot possibly be any explosive compound of iodine and
nitrogen formed. The liberation of the gaseous nitrogen
itself is so gradual that no special care need be taken on
that head in dispensing the liniment.

Specific Gravity.

[471] . In reply to “ Dartmoor,” nitrogen iodide would
not be formed.

Elborne.

[472] . In answer to F. S. M. the formula for aqua
caryophylli in Beasley is

Cloves . Ibii. tr.

Water . q.s.

Macerate for twelve hours, and distil Ibviii.

J. B. P.

[473]. When sulphate of iron is prescribed in pills a
dispenser roust use either ferri sulphas or ferri sulphas
granulata, B.P. (preferably the granulated), as both
contain the same amount of water of crystallization.

The dried sulphate of iron should only be used when
specially indicated in a prescription.

Specific Gravity.

[473] . It is customary to use ferri sulph. exsiccata for
pills ; of course, allowing for the difference in the percent¬
age of iron, caused by the loss of water in drying.

Tunbridge Wells. 0. Filtness.

[474] . Mr. Watkins has only to put the pulv. alum, in
a vial, and add sp. aether, nit., attaching a “ shake the
bottle ” label. It is a remedy in frequent demand here.

Tunbridge Wells.

C. Filtness,

446

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[November 27, 1S8

[475]. I have had the following prescription to dispense
recently. Can anyone inform me how to send it out so
that it shall not separate afterwards ? —

ft. Bals. Copaib . 3U*

Acid. Sulph. Ar . 3j-

Infus. Rosae . ad ^viij.

Retort.

[476] . This day I had the following to prepare : —

ft White Wax . . • . . . ' . . . . 1 oz.

Juice of Soloman’s Seal Bulbs . . 2 oz.

Honey . 2 oz.

Rose Water . 2 drms.

Otto of Rose . 1 drop.

Misce.

Will some one kindly tell me what appearance when
made it ought to have, the best way to mix it, and also
the best method to get the juice? D. H. F.

[477] . Should the following prescription be made up
to ^iss. with a mixture of syrup and water or should giss.

of each be added : —

R Tr. Nucis Yom . 3ij-

Ferri Citratis . 3j.

Syr. Aurant . 3j-

Syr. Simp.,

Aquae Destil . iia ad 3iss.

M. Take a teaspoonful in a little water after dinner.

B.

[478], Will some one kindly inform me of the best
method of preparing the following prescription, and
oblige ? —

ft 01. Tereb . ^ij.

Tinct. Opii . t^ij.

Iodine . 3ss.

Sig. “For outward application.” For nibbing the part
affected two or three times a day. Assistant.

Itotcs antr (Queries.

[687]. If S. will persevere in using animal charcoal in
sufficient quantity, and repeated filtration, he will be
rewarded with a colourless lavender water.

Lavandula.

[690]. PARAFFIN AND OLIVE OIL.— Can any
reader inform me in what quantity paraffin oil may be
used mixed with ol. olivse for the hair?

R. Fountain.

[691]. PEPSINE IN GLYCERINE. — Can any reader
oblige by giving a reliable formula for a solution of
pepsine in glycerine of such a strength that the dose may
be one drachm ? W. Miller.

[692]. GLYCERINE AND VASELINE.— I should
be glad to know what substance could be added to
glycerine and vaseline when mixed to solidify them, so as
to form a nearly transparent jelly.

F. D. B. Marchant.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

The Electric Light for Industrial Purposes. By
R. E. Crompton. London : Mansion House Buildings.
From the Author.

Pharmacognosie des Pflanzenreiches. Von F. A.
Fluckiger. Zweite Auflage. Erste Lieferung. Berlin :
Rudolf Gaertner. 1881. From the Publisher.

dflTOSjiontmict.

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Present and Future of Pharmacy.

Sir, — The question that now agitates the majority of our
calling is “ What is to become of us ? ” While some few
look on with philosophic complacency, others rejoice in the
prospect of a glorious state of independence, the result of
scientific culture ; others again suggest combination and a
bold front, with “No surrender” for a motto; but no
prospect of consentaneous action appears.

The ideas expressed by your correspondents are what
may be termed viewy, and end where they begin.

It would be a bootless task to follow these writers in the
varied positions they occupy, although their compositions
display much ability and a command of good English.

The grievance usually complained of is the sale of pro¬
prietary medicines by irresponsible and unscrupulous
traders. Since the reduction of the duty to 5s. a legion of
competitors has arisen, persons who never before dreamed
of meddling with physic. The majority of these adopt for
their maxim “ Small profits, quick returns.”

A neighbouring grocer displays a long list of patents,
some at prices below those of wholesale houses ; adding to
this, carbonate of soda, 6d. per lb. ; tartaric acid, Is. 8 d. per
lb.; borax, 8 d. per lb. ; chemical food, Is. §iv. bottle, and a
host of other drugs at equally tempting prices.

Unfortunately some of our fraternity descend to the lower
level, and compete with these “potsherds of the earth,”
instead of leaving them to “ stiive among themselves.”
But the giant evil, the insatiable monster to which all seem
destined eventually to succumb, is the co-operative system.
Only those who live in the suburbs or in the midst of a
great city can fully realize the power of its voracity,
which, like a cancer in a living body, cruelly invades the
whole structure, and eventually destroys existence.

Several years since, I received a letter from one of our
Presidents : — He said, “ Last year my loses were not less
than £200 through the stores, and I expect a still further
reduction this year.”

Another President, wrote “ I do not at present find much
diminution in my returns, but cannot expect to escape the
injurious influence that threatens us all.” Both these good
men and time rest from their labours, but the evil they
deplored has progressed, and is still progressing with
accelerated spread and power, and the amount of capital
absorbed from circulation must in the end have a most
prejudicial effect upon society at large, by impoverishing a
large class hitherto esteemed as an essential element of our
social system.

It will scarcely be credited, but I have the statement
from shareholders, that the Army and Navy Co-operative
Stores take no less than £7000 per day, and the Civil
Service Stores £4000 per day, — their weekly average, — other
minor concerns in proportion, — calculate the annual amount
abstracted from circulation !

The Manchester stores banked one million profits ; during
the process many shops were closed and the former occu¬
pants reduced to want. On a recent occasion of great
distress in the city, the benevolent shareholders gave the
poor starving tradespeople tickets for goods obtainable at
their own stores.

Now as those unfortunate recipients can no longer afford
to give to public charities, these free trading philosophers
contribute noble sums to hospitals and other Christian
institutions; they even announce concerts in the same
amiable spirit.

I know many chemists who are debarred from exercising
kindly feelings simply by the want of means. They would
gladly contribute to the Benevolent Fund, to the Attfield
testimonial, and the Pharmaceutical Conference, they
would enjoy a little occasional recreation, but their whole
time is occupied in providing for physical wants.

Sexagenarius.

November 27, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

447

Sir,— Perhaps some cutting chemist would kindly en¬
lighten the pharmaceutical world, or those employed in
dispensing of prescriptions and sale of patent medicines,
what will become of the rising young men who are preparing
themselves for the stringent examinations enforced by the
present Pharmacy Act? In this neighbourhood the state
of reduced prices is becoming alarming, varying from 9 §d.,
lOjd., and even 10 per cent, discount on all purchases. If
anyone connected with pharmacy would only peruse the
Medical Act, he will find the surgeon has full protection
against intruders. The Pharmacy Act, 1868, clause xv.,
states, that any person not being duly registered as a chemist
and druggist, or who shall fail to conform with the rules
and regulations as to the keeping or selling of poisons is
liable to a penalty of £5. If such is the existing law, why
allow drapers, grocers, oilmen to sell poisonous patent
medicines, namely, chlorodyne, etc. ? Anyone who has a
small retail business, selling only drugs, patent medicines,
mineral waters, and a few prescriptions to dispense occa¬
sionally, and who is compelled to compete with his cutting
neighbours, can barely get together sufficient profit out of
his returns to pay rent, rates and taxes, and provide the
common necessaries of life. I could mention men who are in
business not returning £300 per annum, with wife and
family. For argument’s sake, say he realizes one-third profit,
a great doubt in these cutting times. Why, an ordinary
mechanic can earn that without any compulsory examina¬
tions, risk or interference. I do not wish to claim to be the
only chemist, but I do maintain that when a man starts in
business on his own account, let him do so on a fair footing
with unity of prices, combined with neighbourdy friendship.

302, Mare Street , Haclcney. W. M. Covell.

R-S. — To corroborate the state of things, only the other day
I sent to a chemist for two boxes of Seigel’s Pills, price
Is. 7d. ; the following day obtained ^ doz. from my whole¬
sale house, those were invoiced at 2s. lid!.

Dispensing by Country Practitioners.

Sir, — Your correspondent, “Filius,” got himself rather
severely handled by Mr. James D. Robertson and “A
(sometime) Country Doctor,” but his letter contains more
than a germ of truth, and no harm can result, but possibly
much good, from further ventilating the subject that he
broached, viz., the dispensing by general practitioners of
the physic they prescribe. A varied experience of nearly
fifty years enables rue to say that such dispensing is
generally performed in the most perfunctory manner, and
if our legislators could thoroughly realize the very grave
evils that may, and undoubtedly do, arise from it, they
would endeavour, by some enactments, to remedy them.
No honest druggist but will admit that the passing of the
Adulteration of Food and Drugs Act was a most desirable
and beneficial act, that before its enactment drugs and
chemicals, in anything but a state of purity, were bought
and sold by not a few who wrote themselves chemists and
druggists. But the evils arising from such practice were
small, compared with the evils that result from the practice
now in question.

The records of our coroners’ inquests prove that at times
deaths are occasioned by the want of sufficient care in the
dispensing of medicines in the establishments of dispensing
chemists ; but those instances, it is gratifying to know, are
very rare indeed, and the reason is the almost universal
systematic and intelligent arrangement of the bottles, etc.,
in chemists’ pharmacies, especially in their dispensing de¬
partments, and the generally ceaseless control exercised by
those who have the charge of the dispensing, even in small
establishments, where perhaps a competent assistant cannot
be kept, but only an apprentice or improver, the vigilant
eye and constant direction of the principal reduce the
chances of a mistake to a minimum. And there is no
reason for the public to fear that a death arising from a
druggist’s error ever escapes detection. A medical man in
such cases, is always immediately summoned, and the facts
of the case are speedily revealed and made public, without
the slightest regard (and very properly) as to whether such
publicity will blast the reputation of him by whom or in
whose establishment the fatal mistake was committed. The
conviction that everyone connected with a druggist’s dis¬
pensary has, that Nemesis will assuredly and immediately
follow any serious mistake, is the greatest possible safe¬
guard to the public. Now contrast with the foregoing
the character of dispensing and dispensing arrangements

generally prevailing in “ doctors’ ” private surgeries, es¬
pecially in the ‘‘country.” I would prelude it with the
reminder that public analysts have no power to test the
purity of drugs or chemicals employed in the surgeries of
“doctors,” and yet it must be equally necessary as — nay
more necessary than — the power to test those dispensed by
chemists. In such surgeries there is usually no systematic
and intelligent arrangement, but confusion, as a rule, reigns
supreme. Many of the bottles too are imperfectly labelled,
some unlabelled, some without stoppers ; infusions too are
made by rule of thumb, and the slovenly manner in which
the bottles of physic for the patients are corked, labelled
and Avrapped, proclaim unmistakably to the initiated the
slovenly manner in which the medicines have been pre¬
pared.

But why should such dispensing be performed more
slovenly than in druggists’ establishments? Answer — •
Because it is a common practice for hundreds of medical
men, even in large provincial towns, and still more in
country places, to depute their wives or their sisters, or
their daughters or their grooms — the latter the most
frequently — to perform this onerous work. And Avhat
renders such practice more serious — more patently dan¬
gerous, is that it is not performed under the surveillance —
the vigilant eye of the doctor, but is generally done while
he is absent, either driving round visiting his patients, or
testing his skill with a double barrel, or galloping across
country. I know a medical practitioner, dwelling not far
from the banks of a certain classic stream, in such good
practice that he is able to keep a stud of some dozen horses,
not all required for visiting his patients, but the majority
for fox hunting, he being certainly as ardent a follower of
Nimrod as a disciple of iEsculapius. The “dispenser” of
this gentleman is the husband of his cook, and was erst his

boy in buttons,” and I was once intimately acquainted
with another (now gone to his rest), the origin of whose
‘ dispenser ” was precisely similar, who married oue of his
domestic servants, and who through long years had to
support himself, wife and family on 20s. a week. And
some while since the groom of a medical man, in a large
town in which I was then living, came to me, and said
“ Mr. Veritas, please tell me the best way for me to get tc
be an assistant in a chemist’s shop, I have done all Dr.
Squill’s dispensing” (and that would not be a little) “for
the last nine months, and I should like now to be a
chemist’s assistant.” The advice I then gave him has
resulted in his now getting an honest living (and a much
better living than being “ a doctor’s dispenser ” at 20s. a
week) , as a carrier.

There can be no doubt that the number of prescriptions
dispensed in private surgeries throughout the kingdom far
exceeds. those dispensed by chemists, and yet I believe
that it is a fact that the number of coroner’s inquests held
consequent on misadventures occurring in druggists’ estab¬
lishments far exceed those — comparatively few though they
be arising from similar causes, in the surgeries of medical
men. How is this apparent anomaly to be explained?
Very readily. As I have said no fatal error can be made
by a druggist without certain discovery and publicity re¬
sulting. Not so with errors occurring in private surgeries.
In a hundred ways, besides the real one, deaths resulting
can be accounted for, and doubtless often are. Having re¬
gard, for your space, I will mention but two circumstances
pertinent to this assertion, with Avhich I will conclude my
already long letter.

A medical man, in the dusk of an evening, went into his
surgery, intending to give a patient, I think a club patient,
a black draught. The laudanum bottle stood beside that
containing senna mixture (!) and he poured out twelve
drachms of the latter instead of the former, and death
claimed the victim of the doctor’s culpable negligence. Had
a druggist been the offender, a verdict of manslaughter would
have been recorded against him, but a brother medico was
called in, and though he saw the dregs of the laudanum in
the teacup out of which the fatal draught had been drunk,
and knew for certain that the cause of death was narcotic
poisoning, esprit de corps outweighed with him the sanc¬
tity of his oath, and he and the coroner so bamboozled
the non-intelligent jury, that they returned a verdict that
death was caused by painters’ colic ! He complained to
me afterwards of the base ingratitude of his professional
brother, who, after all risk of being caught in the meshes
of the criminal law had passed, vowed that he did not
believe that he had made a mistake !

448

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 2?. 18S0.

A doctor in large practice in London, with whom pulv.
antim. co. was apparently a panacea for a considerable
moiety of the ills that flesh is heir to, suddenly found that
numbers of his patients — children and adults — became far
more ill after taking the medicines that he and his assistants
prescribed than they were before, violent sickness being the
chief symptom. On examining the last pound of “ pulv.
antimonialis ” received from the druggist, the cause was
discovered ; it proved to be emetic tartar ! Now I cannot
say, at this lapse of time, — though I was one of the estab¬
lishment, — whether any of the doctor’s patients died from
the substitution of the one chemical for the other, but it is
very certain that if half a score had been killed, not a
syllable of the sad business would have publicly transpired.
I think I have said enough, and more than enough, to
prove that the public have not the safeguards to secure
them against accidental poisoning by medicines dispensed
in doctors’ surgeries as they have with regard to those
dispensed in chemists’ establishments ; in fact, they have
no safeguards, and a remedy ought to be found for so
frightful an evil.

Veritas.

Sir, — “A (sometime) Country Doctor” ventures toad-
minister to one “ Filius ” what he seems to consider a very
severe castigation for presuming to comment on the practice
of a certain class of medical men. As to the attainments of
country practioners, of whose methods I have during a
rather long life had much experience, I am constrained to
acknowledge that although “ Filius” expressed himself rather
freely, his statements are quite borne out by my own ob¬
servation — I have known the putting up of medicines
entrusted to not only members of the doctor’s family but
also to domestic servants and others who possessed no
technical knowledge whatever of the articles they handled.

The “ (sometime) Country Doctor ” speaks of the number
of prescriptions he was accustomed to dispense. I must
demur to the term prescription as applied to the ready-made
cheap stuff the country doctor keeps in his surgery and
which is filled out into bottles, then duly labelled and
despatched.

I once called on one of these duly qualified men, who was
baffled by a prescription he had undertaken to dispense for
a high-class patient. The formula contained chlorodyne and
compound tragacanth powder, and such a mess as he had
compounded I never have seen before or since. He was
struck with admiration to see the mixture prepared secundum
cirtem, and said “he should never have thought of doing
it in that way.”

One other instance. A young practitioner who had passed
in everything but pharmacy (which they do not teach at
his hospital) offered me £2 for a little instruction in dis¬
pensing, etc., for a few weeks, when said he “ You can sign
me up.” Of course I declined the proposal. But would it
not be well for medical students to get well grounded in
pharmacy before entering upon their future career ? It would
do them good in many ways ; prevent the formation of loose
habits, so unfortunately the rule with the class.

Several distinguished doctors are known as having first
graduated as dispensing chemists.

Asmodeus.

Iridescent Crystals of Chlorate of Potash.

Sir, — In Mr. Holmes’s interesting remarks on the drugs
and chemicals at the last Evening Meeting, he said, re¬
specting the iridescence of some crystals of chlorate of
potash, that a very few were found in a large quantity of
chlorate, and that he did not know the cause.

I think it will be found due to the presence of a minute
quantity of lead. What makes me think so, is, that in the
preparation of sal prunel. glob., where several hundred¬
weights of nitre are kept in fusion some hours, a beautiful
iridescent film of lead rises to the surface, which is carefully
removed by skimming before moulding. I think this acci-
dental presence of lead is from the vessel in which it is
crystallized, as it does not occur when I use the natural
nitre of India, but I always see it when using that manu¬
factured artificially.

H. 0. Huskisson.

Patchouli.

Sir, — In the very interesting article ‘ ‘ Notes on Patchouli’
by J . Ch. Sawer, in last week’s Journal, the author refers

to the great differences observed in the aroma of the oil,
which he considers to arise either from the method of pro¬
duction or from adulteration.

The mixture of other leaves with those of the true
patchouli in the bales which find their way to Europe, has
engaged the attention of Dr. Heinrich Paschkis,# who sub¬
mitted several samples of those found in commerce to
careful histological examination, with this result, that in
addition to the true patchouli leaf, the characters of which
he illustrates and describes in his pamphlet, he found the
leaves of several plants differing specifically from the
patchouli, not even any of its varieties, and these, although
varying in relative proportions, were always present in
considerable quantity, in some instances to the extent of
80 per cent., and he adds that of the many samples ex¬
amined by him, one only was found to consist of the true
leaves.

The form of the patchouli leaf, the simple hairs with
their several cells, the oil containing druses on both sur¬
faces, are characters, in addition to others of lesser value,
which serve to distinguish the true leaf from its adulterant.

Patchouli oil, therefore, drawn “from baled leaves without
reliable pedigree,” such as is imported into England or
Germany, and probably for the most part corresponding in
quality with those which came under the notice of Dr.
Heinrich Paschkis, must be of inferior quality as compared
with that drawn from selected leaves at the place of their
growth.

Thomas Greenish.

Glycerole of Cinchona.

Sir, — I am glad to see by an article published in your last
issue that the solubility of cinchona principles in glycerine is
again attracting attention. In 1876 I read a paper on the
subject at the meeting of the Pharmaceutical Conference in
Glasgow, and the preparation then made is still perfectly
bright and without deposit ; nor does it gelatinize as was
stated by Mr. Martindale to be the case with a somewhat
similar preparation included in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia.

The solvent powers of glycerine on vegetable matters
generally is a subject well worthy of careful attention and
experiment, for it is very probable that series of glyceroles
might be made that would advantageously replace some of
our present tinctures.

34, Leinster Terrace, W. Frederick Andrews.

Midland Chemists’ Association.— A Correction.

Sir, — In your report of the proceedings of the meeting
held last week, some remarks were incorrectly attributed
to me respecting spirits of nitre, cream of tartar and tar¬
taric acid.

The fact is I made no reference whatever to any of these
articles. It is no doubt an unintentional error on the part of
the Secretary.

Thomas Barclay.

Nor sic. — Moller’s pamphlet was published in Christiania
in 1862. A copy of it is in the Library of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society.

J. Loive. — We cannot comply with your request to ad¬
vertise for the formula of a certain maker’s preparation ;
but a large number of recipes for cements have been pub¬
lished at different times in this Journal, and may be
referred to with the aid of the indexes.

R. Hall is recommended to use a weak alkaline solution
for the purpose.

“ Inquirer. ” — The formula for Mr. Wilson’s lotion for
the hair has been given several times. See Pharm. Journ.
for March 29, 1879, p. 812.

“ Cymro ” and “ Minor ” are referred to the rule respect¬
ing anonymous communications. .

Kenbaan. — We do not think that the publication of your
question would elicit any opinion more authoritative or
more clearly expressed than that given in the judgments of
Lords J ustices Cotton and Lush, as printed before, p. 424.

Communications, Letters, etc. hive been received tom
Messrs. Stoakes, Calvert, Bartlett, Brady, Lister, Martin,
Haydon, Langbeck, Turney, Subscriber, Eblana, Alpha,
Pimlico, Carbo, J. P. N. B., J. W. _

# ‘ Zur naheren Hentniss einiger miuder Oekanuten

Blatter.’

December 4, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

449

NOTE ON THE HISTORY OF SAFFRON.*

BY CHARLES B. ALLEN.

Having served my apprenticeship in a town of
West Cornwall, it was with more than ordinary
interest that I noticed the following passage under
the heading of “Uses of Saffron ” in the ‘ Pharma-
cographia’ : — “A peculiar preference for it (saffron) as
a condiment exists in various countries, but especially
in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. This pre¬
dilection prevails even in England, at least in Cornwall,
where the use of saffron for colouring cakes is still
common.”

To what an extent this is the case, even the author
of the above paragraph could scarcely have been aware ;
for, after many years’ residence in the county, and
after a few years’ separation from it, nothing strikes
me as being more peculiar than the universal adop¬
tion of this drug to the purposes of a condiment,
and I have for a long while felt certain that so
singular a custom must have originated in some
other way than that of fashion alone.

It will, perhaps, not be too much to say that more
saffron is used in Cornwall than in all the counties
of England placed together. Every week, in the
ordinary Cornish household, huge pans of dough,
highly coloured by an infusion of saffron, are made
up into plain cake, which is generally recognized as
an article of daily diet ; but when it happens to be
a time of special importance, sucli as the annual feast
day of the parish, or at Christmas, it is then that
saffron cake occupies as prominent a position as
the loving cup which graces the civic banquet, for
portions of the “ feasten cake ” are on such occasions
sent around for friends to taste.

“ As dear as saffron ” is a Cornish proverb, and
signifies the ideal of expensiveness. Only very
lately a Cornish merchant of my acquaintance
kindly informed me that although, in his estimation,
it was not used as freely as in earlier days, he yet
bought it in quantities of 100 or 200 lbs. at a time. I
have no doubt that he is one of the largest buyers
in the western district ; but at the same time every
chemist, grocer, and village shopkeeper, throughout
the county, retails annually a large quantity, selling
it almost solely for use as a condiment in the manner
I have explained.

There ace various stories to account for the intro¬
duction of saffron into England. The ‘ Pharmaco-
graphia’ gives the reign of Edward III., between
A.D. 1327 and 1377, as a probable date. It has also
been attributed to the Crusaders ; whilst yet another
account states that a bulb was brought from the
East by a pilgrim in his staff, who secreted it at the
peril of his life. Whichever version may be correct,
it does not seem satisfactory to suppose that it was
introduced to the Cornish at that date, or in the
annals of the county authentic evidence would have
been easily forthcoming ; moreover, in the progress
westward of so strange a practice, it would most
assuredly have left its traces in some other county,
which I cannot find to have been the case, and
although there is abundant evidence to prove that it
was cultivated largely in Essex and other districts of
England, at one period actually forming an article
of export, there is, on the other hand, nothing to show
that its use was adopted widely by any particular
county or class of people in the British Islands.

Saffron is known to be indigenous to Persia,

* Read at the Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical

Society, December 1, ]880.

Third Series, No. 545.

Arabia, and other districts of the East, and to have
held a prominent place amongst the fragrant spices
of the Orientals. One thousand and fourteen years
before the Christian Era, in the Song of Solomon, it
is exalted as amongst the chief spices. It must have
beeu in regular use by the Jews at that period, and
at the present day it is largely used by them in all
parts of the world ; they use it in rice and also . in a
peculiar kind of soup, and strictly as a condiment.
Probably its use, as mentioned in the ‘Pliarmaco-
graphia,’ in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, is
attributable to the large number of Jews who have
lived in those countries. Noticing the very frequent
sale of saffron to people of the Jewish persuasion, I
have been gradually led to connect them in some
degree with the origin of its use in Cornwall.

With the very earliest dawn of authentic history
there exists in Cornwall records of the Phoenicians,
certainly the most remarkable people of the ancient
world, seeing that we stand indebted to them for
the invention of letters. The strip of land which
they inhabited in the northern portion of Palestine,
containing the cities of Tyre and Sidon, was never
conquered by the Jews. According to Herodotus
they said of themselves in his time that they came
in days of old from the shores of the Red Sea, and
they spoke a language cognate to that of the Arabians
who inhabited the east coast of that sea. Though
the Jews had conquered the greater portion of the
land of Canaan, Solomon evidently considered it politic
to cultivate a friendly intercourse with the Phoeni¬
cians, who were Canaanites, and his own people,
because of the superior knowledge of the former both
in pilotage and navigation ; we, therefore, find them
trading together and eventually voyaging together.
Of these voyages it is recorded that their general
practice was to form permanent settlements wherever
they carried on commerce, in the islands of the
Mediterranean, in Asia Minor, in Greece, in Spain,
possibly in England, certainly at Carthage and along
the northern coast of Africa. They carried on a regular
system of trade to Ophir for gold ; but once in three
years made longer voyages, not only for gold, but
even extending their journeys to the Cassiterides, or
tin islands of Cornwall, for procuring tin. Botal-
lack, a mine still in existence near the Land’s End,
is said to have been frequently visited by the
Phoenicians. Many of the remains discovered in
Qornwall have proved its inhabitants to have been
under some foreign influence, probably of oriental
origin, whilst the religion of the Celts points to a
similar conclusion. Marazion or Market- Jew, a
small village near Penzance, has by some been sup¬
posed to be of Jewish origin and it is said that the
Jews held a market there. Marazion is a corruption
of the two words ‘marali,’ bitter, and ‘zion,’ haven,
so-called from the fact of a brackish pool which still
exists on the outskirts of the village. One of the
principal streets of Penzance is called Market- Jew
Street, and as may be . supposed is the direct road to
the above-mentioned place. In Mclan’s ‘Costumes
of the Clans’ two figures of Celtic tribes or clans are
depicted, clad in one of the oldest garments peculiar
to the Celts, one of the clan Artair, McArthur of
southern Ireland, the other Fergus McFheargus or
Fergusons of the Highlands; this garment was
called the * Lein-croich,’ or saffron-coloured shirt,
which was the habit of people of distinction, and as
its name imports, was dyed of a yellow colour from
that plant.

450

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 4, 1880.

Tliis custom of dyeing garments seems to have
"been pursued also in Ireland, as late as the time of
Henry VIII., for a statute in that monarch’s reign
forbids the Irish, under penalty, from wearing “ any
shirt, sinock, kercher, bendel, neckercher, mocket or
linen cap dyed with saffron.”

There is but little light to be thrown on the intro¬
duction of saffron into Cornwall, or its distribution
in different countries by the names of saffron in
their several languages. In all European countries
the name is some modification of the Arabic word
Zaferan, which may be a corruption of the Arabic
word Asfar, yellow, giving in the feminine Safra,
meaning the same thing. In Russian it is written
Schaphran ; in Turkish (as in Arabic), Z&feran ; in
Armenian, Zafron ; in Italian, ZafFerano ; in German,
French and Norwegian, Safran ; in Spanish, A^afron ;
in Portuguese, Azafrao ; in Dutch, Saffraan ; in Welsh,
Safrwn and Safyr ; and in Bengali and Hindu, Jafriin;
in Chinese, Sah-fah-yhr. All these appear to have
come from the same source, though the Chinese may
have received saffron through the Tartars, since Gros¬
ser, ‘Descr. de la Chine,’ vols. 1-2, says that in some
parts of Tartary tribute is paid to the princes in saffron.

Mr. J. W. Redhouse kindly informs me that the
derivation of the word carcdm, mentioned in the
‘-Pharmacographia ’ as the Hebrew name used by
Solomon in alluding to the plant, should be written
krkm, and that as several names, such as kurkam
kurkoom, and in Sanskrit, kurkuma, occur in dif¬
ferent districts of India, it may have originally come
to the Hebrews through that country. Solomon may
have adopted this name during the traffic for gold,
peacocks, etc., which was carried on with India in his
reign. Under its Arabic name z&feran, it would have
been known to the Canaanites long before the time of
Solomon ; and in the northern part of Turkey in
Asia, a district is known as Zafferan Boli, meaning
the district of saffron. The origin of the word cur¬
cuma is perhaps derived from the same Hebrew root,
krkum, but it is a curious fact that while kurkum is
Sanskrit for saffron, the word for turmeric is totally
different, viz., nisa ; in Hindi it is haldi or huldi,
and in Bengali, halud ; the Greek name for saffron,
krokos, is supposed to be derived from the same
Hebrew root, krkm, according to the ‘Pliarmaco-
grapliia,’ but Leniery, in his dictionary, published
in 1727, states that the word crocus is supposed to be
derived from the Greek Kpouls, meaning a thread.
In the Latin language, crocus was applied by Pliny,
not only to the crocus but to the yellow threads in
the centre of flowers. Had the saffron come through
the Romans there would probably be a word in the
Cornish language similar to that of crocus.

Taking these facts into consideration it is not im¬
possible that saffron may have been known to the
Celts before the advent of Caesar, and it is in the
highest degree probable that it was originally .ntro-
eluced by the Phoenicians and bartered by them for tin
to the western barbarians who, from their love for fine
colours, would first have been attracted by it for the
stain that it would produce, while subsequent and
closer intercourse with the Phoenicians would doubt¬
less have taught them to use it as they — the Phoeni¬
cians — used it, in the form of a condiment, and this
.knowledge has probably descended from generation
to generation, until it stands exemplified as a peculiar
custom, existing in the homes of our Cornish kins¬
men of to-day.

It is with the hope of raising a discussion upon

this matter, and for the sake of gaining clearer in¬
formation upon it, that I am induced to communicate
this paper.

[The discussion on this 'payer is printed at p. 462].

THE USE OF SAFFRON IN THE PHARMA¬
COPOEIA-*

BY E. M. HOLMES.

Saffron occurs in seven preparations of the British
Pharmacopoeia, and is an official article in the
French, German, Hamburg, Belgian, Russian, Danish,
Swiss, Netherlands, United States, Norwegian,
Portuguese, Spanish, Austrian and Greek Pharma¬
copoeias, but not in the Finland one.

Of the seven preparations alluded to as occurring
in the British Pharmacopoeia, namely, decoctum
aloes co., pil. aloes et myrrhae, pulv. cretae aromat.,
tinct. cinch, co., tinct. croci, tinct. opii ammoniata,
and tinct. rhei, in the simple tincture of saffron only
can it be said to be a necessary ingredient, and the
pharmacist who makes the above preparations may
well ask why this expensive drug, so liable to adul¬
teration, enters into their composition.

From the time of Pliny, who says concerning
saffron : “ Adulteratur nihil aeque,’’ it has always
been expensive and adulterated more or less. In
most of the leading works on therapeutics at the
present day, e.g ., Ringer, Bartholow, Wood and
Headland, saffron is entirely ignored as a therapeutic
agent. Only in Phillips’s work on ‘ Materia Medica
and Therapeutics’ do we find it mentioned, as fol¬
lows : — “ Taken internally as a medicine, saffron is a
slightly exhilarating stimulant. The properties
which give this power depend upon a volatile oil ;
but unless employed in large doses the service it
may render appears to be inconsiderable, and used
in excess it is said to have proved fatal.” Dr. W. G.
Smith, in his 1 Commentary on the British Pharma¬
copoeia,’ says of saffron: “Formerly much esteemed
as an antispasiu odic and emmenagogue, but is not
now believed to possess any real activity. It is fre¬
quently ignorantly taken by patients labouring under
exanthemata, with the intention of favouring the
development of the eruption.” Dr. R. H. Semple,
in the Medico- Chirurgical Review, 1876, p. 500 — 1,
remarks : “ Although saffron was very much i xtolled
as a medicine by the ancients, and subsequenily em¬
ployed by the Arabian physicians, and although it
is still largely employed by the medical practitioners
of all civilized countries, it has lately been regarded
only as a colouring and flavouring ingredient in
various medicinal compounds.” In ‘ Pharmacogra-
phia,’ the authors remark : “ Saffron is of no value
for any medicinal effect, and retains its place in the
Pharmacopoeia solely on the ground of a colouring
agent.” Bentley and Trimen in their ‘ Medicinal
Plants,’ state that “at present it is scarcely ever
employed in this country or in the United States as
a medicinal agent. Its chief use in medicine is as
a colouring and flavouring agent, for which purpose
it is an ingredient in several official preparations.”

With regard to the tinctura croci, it appears to
form an agreeable colouring and flavouring agent ;
but if saffron be used only as a colouring or flavour¬
ing agent in the Pharmacopoeia it is difficult on
that ground to account for its presence in decoct.

* Read at the Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Society, December 1, 1880.

December 4, 18S0.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

451

aloes co., pil. aloes cum myrrha, tinct. rhei and
tinct. cinchonae co., from either of which its presence
would hardly be missed. The use of saffron in these
official preparations must therefore be traced to
another source. If we examine into their history
it will be found that, like many other valuable pre¬
parations of the Pharmacopoeia, they were made at
first to imitate or supplant patent medicines or pro¬
prietary articles which the medical practitioner of
former times found advantageous to use, just as
those of the present day have adopted chlorodyne
or liquor bismuthi. Thus, decoctum aloes replaces
baume de vie or balsam of life; pil. aloes et
myrrhse is still called pil. rufi; pulvis cretoe aro-
maticus may be traced back through the names
of confectio cardiaca from the London Pharma¬
copoeia of 1745 to that 1724, where it occurs as
Raleigh’s electuary or confectio Raleighana, with over
forty ingredients ; tinct. cinchonae co. is still known
as HuxlianTs tincture of bark in England, Belgium
and Spain ; and tinct. opii ammoniata as paregoric
elixir in Scotland. The use of saffron in some of
the above preparations, such as pil. rufi, may be traced
back to the time of Culpepper, and indeed to the
influence of astrology on medicine, for Culpepper,
who lived between 1616 and 1654, says of it, “ It is
an herb of the sun and under the lion, and therefore
strengthens the heart exceedingly. Let not above
ten grains be given at one time, for being taken in
immoderate quantity it may hurt the heart instead
of helping it. It quickeneth the brain, for the sun
is exalted in Aries, as well as he hath his house in
Leo. It helpeth the consumption of the lungs and
difficulty of breathing and is an excellent thing in
epidemical disease or pestilence, small pox or
measles. It is a notable expulsive medicine and
remedy for the yellow jaundice.”

But that Culpepper only reflected the beliefs of
the preceding generations is evident from the remark
of Christopher Calton, who, in 1591, says, “The
saffron hath power over the spirit and the virtue
thereof pierceth by-and-by to the heart provoking
laughter and merriment, and they say that those
properties come by the influence of the sun.”

All succeeding writers seem to have adopted these
views of its use up to the end of the last century ;
indeed the fact that Culpepper’s herbal has retained
its popularity among the less educated classes during
the last two hundred years is sufficient to account
for the widespread use of saffron by nurses, etc., in
this country, for measles and other exanthematous
diseases.

Before leaving the origin of the mediciual use of
this drug it may be interesting to notice how history
repeats itself in the case of saffron.

Homer speaks of the yellow-haired Achilles, as
if yellow hair was considered beautiful in his
time, and we find that in the time of the Christian
Fathers saffron was used by the ladies of Italy, who
envied the fair-haired beauties of the north, to dye
their hair; for Tertuliian, Cyprian and Jerome
denounced the practice, and declared that the hue
thus obtained was a presage of the fires of hell. In
the present day we find the practice repeated, with
the difference that peroxide of hydrogen is used
instead of saffron.

As a perfume the costly essential oil of saffron
was used by the Romans as a cosmetic for the skin
and as a perfume for the hair, and it is interesting
to note that spray diffusers were used by them on a

large scale ; for an infusion of saffron, made by steep¬
ing it either in water or wine, was diffused by means
of a powerful syringe in their theatres to refresh,
the atmosphere, so that the liquid fell over the
multitude in the form of an “almost impalpable
dust.”

But my object in calling attention to the use of
saffron in the Pharmacopoeia was to demonstrate that
in future Pharmacopoeias it might with advantage be
omitted from all the preparations except a tincture
or syrup, or preferably, a glycerole of saffron.

Although all the European Pharmacopoeias except
that of Finland include a compound tincture of
rhubarb, none of the formulae, nor that of the
United States Pharmacopoeia, contains saffron.
The same remark applies to tinct. cinchonae co.,
with the exception of the Belgian and Spanish
formulae, which are both headed with the synonym
of Huxham’s tincture of bark, and contain saffron.
Pil. aloes et myrrhae, occurs only I believe, in the
Belgian, Swedish and Portuguese Pharmacopoeias,
and contains saffron in each.

In the United States Pharmacopoeia the pulvis
aromaticus does not contain saffron. It is obvious
that there is something to be gained by the omission
of saffron from the above-mentioned tinctures, for
the nearer the approach to a universal formula for
such preparations as are used in every Pharmacopoeia,
the less difficulty and delay there will be for the
dispenser of foreign prescriptions in different coun¬
tries and the greater satisfaction there will be to
the patient, whose belief in the non-identity of the
medicine, arising, perhaps, from a slight difference
of tint of the liquid, is in some cases liable to
nullify the good effect of the prescription ; in other
words, the curative power of faith may be suspended
by a want of exact uniformity in the appearance of
the medicine. Again, in those preparations which
have replaced patent medicines, it is evident if
drugs which the medical profession consider worth¬
less, or nearly so, and which may be traced back to
astrology, are retained, that the Pharmacopoeia is
descending to popular prejudice, and is attempting
to formulate for trade preparations rather than for the
medical profession.

Since the above paper was read, I have been in¬
formed, through the kindness of Mr. H. B. Baildon,
that the Celtic for saffron is Croch, not Croich, and
that Lion is Celtic for flax, Lein meaning a shroud
and Croich a gallows or gibbet in the same language

[The discussion on this payer U printed at p. 462].

BORON AND ITS COMPOUNDS.*

BY EDWARD DAVIES, F.C.S., F.I.C.

In chocsing a subject for a paper I was influenced by
a desire to more fully satisfy myself as to the nature of
the boron compounds, and the place of boron in relation
to other elements. M. Mendeleef’s recent work has
thrown much light upon these points, and although they
may seem to be chiefly of scientific interest, the scientific
side of chemistry has an equal right with the practical
and pharmaceutical to come before the consideration of
this Association. Boron, as an element, was discovered
by Gay Lussac and Thenard, in 1S08, and imme¬
diately after by Sir H. Davy. Its oxide, B203, is
not decomposed by carbon, but potassium and sodium
readily take away the oxygen. To prepare it, 60 grams

* Paper read before the Liverpool Chemists’ Association,
November, 1880.

452

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 4, 1880.

of sodium, in small pieces, are mixed with 100 grams of
fused boron trioxide in an iron crucible, and the mixture
is covered with 30 grams of ignited chloride of sodium.
A vigorous action ensues on heating; the fused mass is
stirred with an iron rod, poured into water acidulated
with hydrochloric acid, washed and dried. This gives
amorphous boron as a brown powder, infusible at white
heat, burning at 300° C., and in oxygen with a brilliant
light, forming boron trioxide. Like carbon, boron has
three modifications : amorphous, graphitic and adaman¬
tine. The two latter are produced when B203 is fused
with aluminium. At a moderate heat the graphitic
form is produced, and at a white heat, the diamond
form.

Graphitic boron has a semi-metallic lustre and a copper
red tinge. It does not burn in air.

Adamantine boron is found in crystals, having the
form of an octahedron. The colour varies from yellow
to deep red. The hardness is nearly equal to that of
diamond. It does not burn even when heated in
oxygen, and is only oxidized slightly, but is slowly dis¬
solved by fused KHO.

Boron unites with oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, bromine,
fluorine and sulphur. It does not readily unite with
metals, except platinum and palladium.

I do not propose to enter upon a description of all the
boron compounds, but confine myself to those which
present points of special interest. Of these, boric acid is
perhaps the most remarkable.

The origin, basicity and properties of this substance
are alike interesting, and in some respects paradoxical.
We are ignorant as to the source whence boric acid is
derived. The action of steam at high temperatures on
sulphide of boron or nitride of boron at great depths in
the earth has been supposed to be its source, but these
explanations are purely hypothetical, as these bodies
have not been met with in nature. Borates decomposed
by carbonic acid in presence of steam is the most pro¬
bable source, but this theory gives no explanation of the
occurrence of ammonia as the constant companion of
boric acid. The subject is one which still requires
investigation. The manner in which the vapour of
steam, issuing from fissures in volcanic countries, es¬
pecially in Tuscany, brings up with it boric acid is well
known. The entire district is still the seat of earthquakes,
and immense clouds of vapour issue from crevices in the
earth. The vapours consist of steam, carbonic acid gas,
sulphuretted hydrogen, hydrogen, nitrogen and mineral
matters carried up mechanically, with very small quan¬
tities of boric acid. The condensed liquors are concen¬
trated by the heat of steam issuing from crevices and
allowed to crystallize. The boric acid thus obtained
contains many impurities, principally the sulphates of
ammonium, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium.
This sulphate of ammonium is the source of the so-called
volcanic ammonia, valuable as being free from the traces
of tarry matters which ordinary ammonia contains.

Crystallized boric acid is H3B03. If this is to be
considered as the anhydrous acid it is tribasic ; if only as
boric acid and water its formula will be HB02H20, and
the acid will be monobasic. Another view combines
both, and considers H3B03 as orthoboric acid, analogous
to H3P04 orthophosphoric acid, and HB02 as metaboric
acid, like HP03 metaphosphoric acid.

If ability to form chemically neutral salts be taken as
an indication, H3B03 would have to be given up, as there
are no salts having the formula M3B03, at least none
have been obtained in the free or crystalline state.
Bloxam has shown that by fusing B203 with Na2C03,
two molecules of C02 can be separated, and with SrC03
three molecules, in the latter case forming a salt with
the required formula Sr3B206. Still stronger evidence
is, that when B203 is fused with excess of NaHO the
reaction occurs B203 + 6 NaHO = 2 Na3B03 + 3 H20.
Neither of the salts appears to have been isolated, nor
any attempt made to show that the solution of the

sodium salt had properties differing from those of
NaB02.

The strongest evidence is the formation of a borate of
ethyl (C2H5)3B03, as this replacement of the hydrogen
of the acid by ethyl in all other cases marks the basicity
of an acid, as (C2H5)4Si04, (C2H5)3P04. Metaboric acid,
appears to be capable of isolation, although the most
conflicting statements have been made about it. In
Watt’s ‘Dictionary’ it is stated that the crystallized
acid loses half its water on heating to 80°-100° C.,
leaving 2B2033H20. Gmelin says that the crystals do
not lose water at 100° C. ; Schaffgotsch that they lose
all their water at 100°, and Frankland that they lose
HoO and become HB02. I have made the experiment
with some carefully recrystallized and air-dried boric acid.
It lost 30 '07 per cent, in a water-bath, rather more than
corresponds to HB02, which requires 29'03 ; but this
slight difference may result from the volatilization of a
little boric acid, as when heated more strongly to expel
all water, the total loss wTas 45 ‘3 per cent, instead of
43'57 per cent., evidently showing loss of B203. There
is a borate of ethyl, C2H5B02, but it appears to be very
unstable, easily resolving itself into triborate of ethyl and
boric anhydride. In my opinion the true constitution
of the borates is, that they are derived from H3B03,
and are for the most part acid salts, at all events in
solution or occurring as crystallized salts. Thus the
following classed as metaborates can equally be repre¬
sented as orthoborates : —

KHB.204,2H20 = kh0bo3h3bo3
NaB02,4H20 = NaH9B03,3H20
Na2B407,5H20 = 2(NaH2B03H3B03)
MgB206,2H20 = MgHB03H3B03

It sounds contradictory to call salts acid which are
intensely alkaline to test paper; but a distinction is
drawn between chemical and physical neutrality. Thus
Na2HP04 is an acid salt, though neutral to test paper,
whilst Na3P04 is chemically speaking neutral, though its
reaction is strongly alkaline. If this is the case with
phosphoric acid, which is a powerful acid, it is much more
so with boric acid, whose action on litmus is much the
same as that of carbonic acid.

Sodium Borates. — The metaborate, NaB02, as obtained
by fusion, crystallizes with 4H20, and may be looked upon
as an acid orthoborate. This salt is now manufactured
as an article of commerce in France. It is strongly
alkaline, and absorbs carbonic acid from the air.

Sodium Anhydroborate. Borax. — At one time our only
supply of this valuable salt was India. Into that country
it was imported from Central Asia, especially from
Thibet. Little appears to be known about the sources of
this borax, as Thibet is jealously guarded from foreigners
and its mineral resources are especially kept secret. All
the information that I have been able to gather is that
there is a lake, 6 miles by 2, which yields borax, in Thibet ;
biit no details were given as to the manner of extraction.
This borax is called tincal, and is coated with greasy
matter, which is said to be added to diminish breakage of
the crystals in carriage. It requires purification before it
can be brought into the market.

Much borax is now made from boric acid by neutralizing
it with carbonate of sodium. It is also made from the
borate of calcium, and natroborocalcite, a borate of calcium
and sodium. I do not intend to speak of the processes
used for these materials in this paper.

Of late years a new source of borax has been discovered
in America. I remember many years since seeing a very
fine sample of borax brought to Dr. F. Crace-Calvert’s
laboratory, which had come from California, but it seems
that nothing was done on a large scale until recently.
In the ‘Popular Science Review’ for 1877 there is an
interesting paper on the Borax Lakes of California, from
which I have taken the following description : —

“ The two Borax Lakes are situated near Clear Lake, in
Lake County, California, 110 miles from San Francisco.
The larger lake is about 300 acres in extent, from 2 to

December 4, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

453

5 feet deep, and in its muddy bottom borax is found in
crystals, some of which are more than a pound in weight.
They are disseminated through the clay which forms the
bottom, the finest at a depth of about 3 feet, and above
them a layer of smaller crystals. A borehole sunk to
the depth of 60 feet showed crystals in its whole extent.
The water of the lake contains about 18 per cent, of
borax, with chloride and carbonate of sodium. The
borax is obtained by sinking sheet iron coffer dams into
the lake, pumping out the water and digging out the
mud. This is then washed with the water of the lake,
so as to remove the mud and leave the crystals. At one
time 3000 pounds of crystals were thus obtained daily ;
they were dissolved in boiling water and recrystallized.
Little Borax Lake is about 30 acres, and is generally dry
in September and October. A white crust of borax is
then left, which is collected by Chinese labourers and
recrystallized. About a mile from Borax Lake is a tract
of 6 or 7 acres, known as Sulphur Bank, consisting of
decomposed volcanic rock, with innumerable fissures,
whence issue steam and gas, the former laden with boric
acid. The locality appears to resemble that in which
the ‘ suffuoni ’ of Tuscany arise, and in time to come, no
doubt, it will be utilized as a source of boric acid.
There are also hot springs, containing 103 grains of
borax to the gallon and also 107 grains of bicarbonate of
ammonium, an amount of ammonium salt unequalled in
any known water. On the eastern slopes of the Sierra
Nevada, near Walker’s Pass, there is the bed of an
ancient lake, the mud of which contains half its weight
of borax in crystals ; similar deposits are found in Lower
Nevada.”

Boronatrocalcite (Na2B4072CaB407,18H90, or
2NaH2B03,2CaHB03,8H3B03,3H20,
also called Ilayesite and Ulexite). — Of this mineral there
appears to be several varieties. It generally contains
sulphate and chloride of sodium, sulphate of calcium and
other impurities. This mineral is found along the western
slopes of the Andes, and then in the continuation of
the chain in North America, especially in the state of
Nevada, where there are districts covered with alkaline
salts, under which the ulexite is found at a depth of a
few inches.

Hydrated Borate of Calcium. — This is a mineral re¬
cently imported, I believe, from Turkey, and exceedingly
pure.

Chloride of Boron. — Obtained pure by heating boron
in dry chlorine ; its formula is BC13, ancl establishes the
atomicity of boron as triadic.

Nitride of Boron. — Eew of the elements combine
directly with nitrogen, but when boron is heated in a
current of nitrogen it forms BN. It is also obtained by
heating borax with ammonium chloride. On heating
this substance in steam it forms B203 and NH3.

There are many organic compounds containing boron.
The most important of these are the various boric ethers.
True to -the indefinite character of boron compounds,
there are no fewer than three ethyl borates : (C2H5)3B03,
C2H5B02, and a compound given as (C2H5)202B„03.
As the formula of the last compound by no means agrees
with its analysis, it is probably a mixture.

The chemical relations of boron are very interesting.
The fact that it in common with C and Si has three
allotropic modifications, similar in character in the three
elements, suggests some bond of union. This fact is,
however, the only patent relation as, unlike other triads
of elements, there is no relation of atomic weights, their
atomicities are different, and their acids all differ in
basicity. Certain researches, of which the periodic law
of Mendeleef is the crowning point, have thrown much
light on the relation of these elements.

In Mendeleef’s classification of the elements they are
arranged in the order of their atomic weights (as in the
diagram shown at the meeting), where in the horizontal
series there is a gradual increase in the maximum amount
of oxygen, and a corresponding diminution in the amount

of hydrogen with which the elements can combine. There
is also a strongly marked tendency to form strong
bases in the left hand elements, with a corresponding
tendency to form acids in the left hand elements. On
the other hand, in the perpendicular groups we have
elements of similar character, as Cl, Br, I, and it will be
noticed that the elements in the odd series are related to
one another more closely than they are with those of the
even series, and vice versd. On looking at boron we see that
in the series the order is Li, Be, B, C, N, O, H. Boron
thus stands between Be, which forms a distinct base, and
C, which doe3 not form any basic compound. It thus
stands as an element whose oxidized compound may
form either an acid or base, and this is just the character
°f, B203. With water it forms an acid which scarcely
affects litmus and is partially expelled from its compounds
by C02 in the cold.

The close relations of boron with carbon and silicon are
also explained, for carbon is its next neighbour, and carbon
and silicon are following members of the same group.
There are no known compounds of an element with
5 H. Boron stands in the place of an element whose
compound with hydrogen should contain 5 atoms, and all
attempts to make boruretted hydrogen have failed. In its
own group it stands next to aluminium, whose oxide can
act either as an acid or base. The nearest element in an
even series was in Mendeleef’s chart represented by a
blank space. He prophesied that an element would
probably be found to fill the place ; he was even able to
predict its properties, and provisionally he named it
ekaboron. Since then a new element has been dis¬
covered, to which the name of scandium has been given.
Its atomic weight fits it for the vacant place, and its
properties agree exactly with the forecast.

These are some of the less known facts in relation to
boron, and I trust that their interest has justified my
choice of a subject.

POISONOUS PROPERTY OF A “STAR ANISE.”

The following communication upon this subject is
published in a recent number of the Pharmaceutische
Zeitung* and appears to be from the pen of Professor
Theodor Husemann : —

In No. 18 of the Pliarmac. WeeJchlad, A. J. C. Geerts
makes a communication from Yokohama upon a poisonous
fruit allied to the star anise, which, notwithstanding that
it is described in some works as poisonous, or at least doubt¬
ful, has hitherto received very little consideration from
pharmacognosists and toxicologists, and the mother-plant
of which has moreover been repeatectly described as that
of star anise. It is the fruit of Illicium religiosum, Sieb.,
a Japanese tree, of which the evergreen branches have
from ancient times been used in Japan in the decoration
of the temples and the statues of the gods ; but the fruit
of which is looked upon as poisonous. This, in fact, it is,
as is shown by some cases of poisoning that have occurred
in the prefecture of Kanagawa, where the eating of some
food prepared with oil pressed from the seeds in the
place of rapeseed oil caused the death of one adult and
the severe poisoning of five other persons, characterized
by repeated vomiting. In Japan the oil in question is
used as a cheap lighting material, and as a lubricating
oil, but not as a culinary oil ; neither is the fruit
used as a condiment, whilst the fruit imported from
China of the star anise tree, Illicium anisatum , Lour.,
which does not grow in Japan, is generally used.

The confounding or identifying of Illicium religiosum ,
Sieb., and Illicium anisatum, carelessly permitted until
recent times in various handbooks, had its origin in a
mistake of Linnaeus’s, who looked upon the Japanese
tree, as first figured by Kampfer in his famous ‘Amoenitates
Exoticae’ (Lemgoviae, 1712), as the mother-plant of the
true star anise, and described it as Illicium anisatum,

* Pharm. Zeit., Sejff. 1, p. 530.

454

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 4, 1880.

Linn., which name is consequently a synonym of Illicium
rdigiosum and perfectly distinct from the Cochin Chinese
mother-plant of star anise, described under the name
Illicium anisatum by the Portuguese missionary Loureiro,
in his ‘ Flora Cochinensis,’ where he speaks of the carpel
as “ ovato-lanceolatse horizontaliter in orbem dispositse,”
and emphasizes its agreeable smell of anise, and sweetish
taste. Even Loureiro, however, notwithstanding the
characteristic difference in the fruits, which is clearly
shown in Kampfer’s figure, held that the Japanese and
Cochin Chinese Illiciums were identical. Thunberg, who
in his ‘ Flora Japonica ’ used the name Illicium anisatum,
L., for the Japanese species, expressly remarked, on the
other hand, that the fruit of the Japanese tree did
not possess such aromatic properties, and that the
star anise used in Japan as a condiment was imported.
The first who demonstrated with certainty the difference
in the two species, and called attention to the poisonous
property attributed to the Japanese fruit by Japanese
writers, was Ph. F. R. von Siebold.

Siebold’s name, Illicium rdigiosum, referred to the
use of the branches in the temple services. In his
‘ Flora Japonica ’ Siebold mentions that although, apart
from the want of aroma, the fruit of the Japanese species
might be very similar to the true star anise fruit, yet the
true star anise tree of the provinces situated west of
Canton presented, according to Loureiro’s description,
essential differences ; especially that it was smaller (8
feet high) and had smaller ovate leaves, rounded at both
ends, whilst the flowers had more than thirty stamens.
The fact, already mentioned by Kampfer, that it is the
bark and not the fruit which is aromatic, is confirmed by
Siebold, who also refers to its use as incense in temples.
He also remarked that poisonous properties were
ascribed to the leaves and that they were also used
as an antidote in cases of poisoning by tropical fish,
especially by the much dreaded Tetrodon hispidus. The
opinion expressed by the Dutch botanist, De Yriese,
that Illicium rdigiosum is only a variety due to local
and climatic influences, was combated by Siebold in a
special brochure, in which he produced irrefutable
evidence from Chinese literature that Illicium anisatum,
Lour., was not indigenous in either Japan or China, but
had been introduced into the latter from the country
bounding it on the south.

But according to Geerts an exact examination of the
Sikimi fruit shows that besides the want of aroma it
presents characteristic differences from the star anise.
The ends of the carpels of the Japanese fruit are pointed
and curved upwards, whilst the apex of the star anise
is mostly pressed in and extended horizontally. The
former are more woody, rougher on the surface and
enclose brighter and yellowish seeds ; moreover, they
are more compressed and boat-like than the rosette-
formed star anise. The smell and taste of the J apanese
drug recall camphor or the laurel, but not at all star
anise.

The poisonous property of the fruit in question has
been proved by Geerts in experiments made on animals
with the oil which caused the poisonings mentioned
above, as well as with a purchased oil and another
prepared by himself. The oil in question is a thick
clear yellow, sometimes greenish-yellow liquid, of pecu¬
liar smell and taste, and containing a large quantity of
free fatty acids, — in the fresh condition 5 ‘9 per cent.
Two grams of powdered seed acted as an emetic and 10
grams of oil produced intense irritation of the stomach or
intestines in dogs. In a preliminary examination the
presence of an alkaloid could not be established.

The facts communicated by Geerts are certainly of no
inconsiderable toxicological and pharmaceutical interest,
and are adapted to clear up the errors which, notwith¬
standing the earlier attempt of Siebold in 1825, are
tenaciously retained in books. The whole of the plates
in the widest spread illustrated works on official plants,
— E, von Hayne, Berg and Schmidt, — figure the

Japanese species, which would be erroneous even if
the opinion of De Yriese, that they are two varieties
of one and the same plants, — an opinion which some
celebrated botanists, such as Miquel and Baillon, have
endorsed, — were actually correct, since the Japanese
Illicium certainly does not yield the official drug, star
anise. If toxicology has recognized in the hemp and the
almond tree plants which under different conditions of
climate and soil yield fruit that is sometimes poisonous
and sometimes non-poisonous, and if, consequently,
Illicium rdigiosum, Sieb., and Illicium anisatum, Lour.,
are not correctly looked upon as specifically distinct on
account of their differently acting fruit, nevertheless it
must be remarked that the Japanese Illicium also yields
poisonous fruit in China, whilst the Cochin Chinese on
its introduction into China has suffered no change in the
properties of its fruit. Add to this the before-mentioned
differences in the leaf form and in the number of stamens,
and I believe that there is ground for considering them
to be two species rather than two varieties. I would
call to mind besides that in the tropics of the old as well
as of the new world, species of Illicium occur which in
respect to the aromatic principle they contain stand
much nearer to the star anise tree than Illicium religio ••
sum, some, as the “ sanki ” tree of the Philippines, agree¬
ing with it exactly in smell. But so far as I am aware,
there is no other species of Illicium with poisonous fruit
known.

A FEW SPECIES OF RHUBARB.*

BY H. VON SCHLAGINTWEIT.

The cultivation of rhubarb in India has been hitherto
unsuccessful. The so-called “ India rhubarb.” of commerce
consists of roots cultivated in the neighbouring districts
of High Asia. There is as little of this in the market as
of the Persian product, while the so-called “ Turkey rhu¬
barb ” is supplied by the Chinese, and is considered the
best root. The exact species which yield the rhubarb of
commerce do not seem to be known so far. The following
species were noticed by the author on the side of the
Himalaya towards India and in Thibet : —

1. Rheum Emodi, Wallich, a large plant, having a thick
stem, growing from Bhutan and Sikkim to Kaschmia on
the India side of the Himalaya, frequently reaching a
height of more than 6 feet, and also indigenous to
western Thibet, but less abundant. In most districts
of north-eastern and central dry High Asia its efficacy
is greatly praised, while in the damp and warm districts
of Sikkim and Bhutan the root seems to be inefficacious.
The whole sour stems are eaten both stewed and raw,
while the leaves are dried and smoked in Thibet and in
the eastern Himalaya.

2. Rheum leucorrhizum, Poll. (Rh. tartaricum, L.) —
During the period of inflorescence it is usually 2 inches
(Engl.) high, then gradually grows to a height of 1 foot.
It grows plentifully in the dry districts. The root is
said to be very efficacious, and the leaves are also
smoked.

The following species were met with less frequently: —

8. Rhtum loebbianum, Royle, is indigenous to the
vicinity of Simla at an elevation of more than 12,000
feet, and is also found in Kum£ou, principally in the
passes over the Niti Ghat towards Gn£ri Khdrsum.

4. Rheum moorcroftianum, Royle, is indigenous to
Kumaou and Gurhvdl at an elevation of 12,000 feet;
this species has very small stems.

5. Rheum spiciforme, Royle. The root of this species
is lighter and harder than usual, while the leaves are
thick and tough. It is indigenous to north-western Thibet.

* Translated and condensed from Ztschcr. d. Allg. Oest.
Apoth., Yer., April 10, 1880, p. 170. Reprinted from the
American Journal o Pharmacy, September, 1880.

December 4, 1880,] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

455

C| n fourmil.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , books for review , etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W
Envelopes indorsed 11 Pharm. JournJ

MEDICAL DISPENSING.

In reference to our observations upon the pro¬
jected dispensing enterprise to be started in an
important town in the midland counties, we have
received a letter from a resident pharmaceutical
chemist, giving some information as to circum¬
stances which he considers have given rise to the
idea. It appears that the condition of pharmaceu¬
tical affairs in this place is very peculiar and of a
nature to illustrate the fact that the worst attacks
upon the interests of pharmacy are made by mem¬
bers of the trade. We are informed that a chemist
and druggist in the town referred to has laid himself
out to carry on a cutting trade, not only in drugs,
patent medicines and sundries, but also in dispensing,
and that he advertises his readiness to dispense
prescriptions at from threepence to sixpence each.
We quite agree with our correspondent in regarding
such a state of things as being a scandal and disgrace
to the trade, but we do not quite perceive how the
remedy for it is to be sought from the contemplated
action of the medical practitioners in establishing a
kind of co-operative dispensary in the way men¬
tioned by us last week.

There really seems to be no obvious way of meet¬
ing the evil wrought by selfish members of the trade
who, regardless of the interests of the body to which
they belong, resolve to act upon extreme free trade
principles, and place themselves upon a level with
grocers, co-operative stores and others, who are ab¬
stracting from chemists and druggists so much of
the trade in patent medicines formerly done by them
alone. It is indeed scarcely possible in regard to that
description of business to hope for any remedy being
furnished by amendment of the law, since there is
an absence of any sufficient ground for arguing that
it should be restricted to persons possessing special
competence as the result of systematic technical
training.

It is more reasonable to regard the trade in patent
medicines and such articles as a branch of business
that is surely and rapidly passing altogether out of
the hands of chemists and druggists, and were
it not for the probability that this change will cause
severe injury and loss to a great number of those
engaged in the business it might be regarded as
matter for congratulation that it had been brought

about. In any case it is essential that the fact of
this change being in progress should be boldly faced
and that at the same time some thought should be
taken as to the means by which the damage may be
repaired. For this purpose we venture to suggest
that the course most natural and most desirable is
the endeavour to establish with the medical profes¬
sion an amicable concert, and we may add one of
mutual interest. As things now stand there is no
proper separation of the duties appertaining respec¬
tively to medicine and to pharmacy, and most likely
it will be many years before such a separation can be
generally realized ; but it is the thing to strive after
above all others, and for this reason we deprecate
the tone of some of the letters that have lately
appeared in our correspondence columns upon the
subject of medical dispensing. We do not pretend
to doubt that the dispensing of medicines is often
done by medical practitioners in a very slovenly
way ; anyone who has had the chance of examining
the dispensaries of country practitioners will have
met with abundant evidence of this fact and will not
be slow to admit that neither the interests of the
medical men nor those of their patients are well
served by that practice.

We will not imitate our correspondents by going
into instances and details to establish the justice of
the view just expressed, or to condemn the defective
way in which medical dispensing is done, because
it is not upon that ground that we think its
continuance is to be argued against. It is not
because medical dispensing is badly done as a rule
or in very many cases that we would urge the
transfer of this work from the medical practitioner to
the pharmacist, but because dispensing is the natural
occupation of the latter, and because it can only be
done by the former under difficulties and at the cost
of disregard for other matters more properly apper-
taing to his function.

Since the publication of the letter signed
“ Veritas ” we have received a number of other
communications of similar tenor, but we do not
think any good purpose would be served by their
appearance. On the contrary such letters are certain
to create irritation, if it be only by reason of the
foundation there may be for some of the statements.
They are sure also to call forth angry reprisals from
medical men and to produce antagonism instead ol
that harmony of feeling which is to be desired
between medical men and pharmacists. We trust,
therefore, that the endeavour to achieve a proper
allocation of work to medical men and pharmacists
will be prosecuted with more kindly consideration
and without giving rise to mutual recriminations.

PROSECUTION UNDER THE PHARMACY ACT.

Without being unduly jubilant, we may con¬
gratulate our readers upon the ultimate issue of the
prosecution instituted by the Pharmaceutical Society
against Messrs. Johnstone and Co., of Edgware
Road, for infringement of the Pharmacy Act. When
the case was adjourned last month, we were utterly
at a loss to conceive what manner of defence could
be relied upon by the defendants, and our view of
the matter has now been justified by their determi¬
nation to acknowledge their offence and to pay the
penalty imposed by law.

456

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 4, 1880.

Cransattiaits of tb c ^Ibanuamifual

Soactir.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, December 1, 1880.

MR. THOMAS GREENISH, PRESIDENT,

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Andrews, Atkins, Bottle, Butt,
Churchill, Frazer, Gostling, Hampson, Hills, Mackay,
Radley, Richardson, Robbins, Sandford, Savage, Symes,
Williams and Woolley.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Council went into committee whilst the Pre¬
sident stated the result of a visit which he had paid
in company with the Secretary to an annuitant, who has
since died.

The Council also considered in committee a letter from
the Board of Examiners for Scotland, with reference to
the report of the Curator on the Society’s Museum in
Edinburgh. The Council having resumed, this letter was
ordered to be entered on the minutes.

Appointment of Examiners for 1881.

The Council went into committee to consider and
discuss the merits of the respective gentlemen who had
been nominated.

The Council having resumed, a ballot was taken, and
the President declared the following pharmaceutical
chemists to be appointed Examiners for the ensuing
year, subject to the approval of the Privy Council : —

England and Wales.

Allchin, Alfred, England House, Primrose Hill Road>
N.W.

Barnes, James Benjamin, 1, Trevor Terrace, Knights -
bridge, S.W.

Benger, Frederick Baden, 7, Exchange Street, Manchester.
Brady, Henry Bowman, Hillfield, Gateshead-on-Tyne.
Carteighe, Michael, 180, New Bond Street, W.

Corder, Octavius, 31, London Street, Norwich.

Ekin, Charles, Whitmore House, Hampton Road,
Hounslow.

Gale, Samuel, 338, Oxford Street, W.

Greenish, Thomas Edward, 20, New Street, Dorset
Square, N.W.

Linford, John Samuel, 2, Lancing Terrace, Kirchen
Road, Ealing Dean, W.

Martindale, William, 10, New Cavendish Street, W.
Plowman, Sidney, 2, Residence, St. Thomas’s Hospital,
S.E.

Southall, William, 17, Bull Street, Birmingham.

Taylor, George Spratt, 13, Queen’s Terrace, St. John’s
Wood, N.W.

Scotland.

Ainslie, William, 58, George Street, Edinburgh.

Borland, John, 7, King Street, Kilmarnock.

Gilmour, William, 11, Elm Row, Edinburgh.

Kemp, David, High Street, Portobello.

Kinninmont, Alexander, 69, South Portland Street,
Glasgow.

Nesbit, John, 162, High Street, Portobello.

Stephenson, John Bertram, 71, George Street, Edinburgh.
Young, James Robertson, 17, North Bridge, Edinburgh.

Elections.

The following, having passed their respective examina¬
tions and tendered (or paid as Apprentices or Students)
their subscriptions for the current year, were elected
“ Associates ” of the Society : —

Burford, Samuel Francis . Leicester.

McDonald, John . Liverpool.

Walkley, James Byron . Bollington.

Addition to the Register.

The Registrar reported that —

Cornelius Cotter, 11, Nursery Street, Wandsworth Road,

London, S.W.,

having made the statutory declaration that he was in
business before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
and this declaration having been supported by a duly
qualified medical practitioner, his name had been placed
on the Register.

Mr. Woolley having asked what inquiries were made

in these cases,

Mr. Richardson asked when this registering was to
cease. There was great dissatisfaction in the country at
persons getting on the Register who ought not to get
there. If the Registrar would give a little more pub¬
licity to these applications there would not be so much
of that in the future. Last month he gave the Registrar
a letter he had received from a gentleman in Lincoln¬
shire, complaining that persons were put on the Register
who would not have obtained that privilege if inquiries
had been made in the neighbourhood. He feared, with all
deference to the medical profession, that there was some¬
times a little laxity in signing these certificates.

Mr. Robbins thought if the Registrar were to inform
the Council that a certain person had applied, and the
name were published, persons in the neighbourhood would
be able to make inquiries. At present, a person was
able to obtain registration before the chemists in his
neighbourhood heard of his application.

The President said there was a difficulty about this
matter. Six months ago he suggested that the Registrar
should mention these applications at the Council Meeting,
so that they might be reported and the chemists in the
neighbourhood or those who might have any valid
objections to the application should have an opportunity
of bringing them forward, previously to the name being-
placed on the Register. Strong objections, however,
were at the time brought forward to that being done, and
he thought everything was done which the law allowed
to prevent improper persons getting on the Register.

Mr, Sandford remarked that making any regulations
of the kind referred to would be going beyond the law.
The law said that if a man brought forward proof, which
was described in the schedule, the Registrar was bound to
register him. If a man’s name were held out, and he, as it
were, put into the pillory for a month, no doubt there
would be a lot of objections made to him; petty jealousies
would come in, in all sorts of ways, a nd the Council
would be inundated with letters objecting to so and so
being placed on the Register. Now the remedy was
simple and sufficient ; when a man’s name was placed on
the Register the announcement was made that this had
been done, and it was then quite open to anybody who
could prove disqualification to send the information, and
then, if necessary, the name would be erased ; but he
thought it would be most unwise to invite objections
beforehand.

The President said the difference in practice would
be that instead of receiving objections after a man was
on the Register they would be received previously.

Mr. Sandford said that was what the law did not
justify.

Mr. Frazer remarked that a hundred negatives did
not disprove one positive statement. When a medical
man said a man was qualified, a thousand negatives could
not upset it.

Mr. Bottle said it occurred to him that in the new
Bill which some of them were thinking of this might be
provided for. The Bill might, he thought, shut out for
the future those who had not hitherto availed themselves
of the Act, and all those who wished to get on the
Register should do so in the proper way by examination.

Mr. Williams said that a clause of that kind was
inserted in a Bill which he submitted to the Council some
two years ago, in which only two years more were
allowed for these applications. That Bill had, however,

December 4, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

457

been thrown aside, and he understood that in the new
bill, now being drafted, no such clause was inserted.

The President remarked that this question might
advantageously stand over to a later period of the day,
when the Solicitor would be in attendance.

Local Associations.

The Vice-President said he had an application to
make on behalf of the Bristol Pharmaceutical Associa¬
tion, of which he had the honour to be President. The
members of that body, appreciating very highly the
assistance it had received from the parent Society, and
encouraged by the kindness shown on a previous
occasion, were once more petitioners, — not for money
help, but for materials to strengthen their museum. In
preferring this request he ought to state that he had a
list of all the Association possessed, including the previous
gifts from the Society ; these materials were nicely
arranged in a cabinet occupying a side of the large local
museum ; it was a very creditable show as far as it went,
and he could assure the Council that it was very
decidedly appreciated, not only by the members of the
Association, but by medical students and others in the
neighbourhood. The Association was anxious, however,
that it should be a thoroughly useful educational
museum, and he had, therefore, with him a supplementary
list of what was required, in order to complete it. He
had shown this list to the Curator, who had ticked off a
number of articles as being those which he could supply
from his duplicate stores if the Council authorized him
to do so. He hoped the Council would allow this to be
done.

Mr. Williams said the proper course would be to
refer the application to the Library, Museum and Labor¬
atory Committee, and he was quite sure it would receive
its best attention.

Mr. Richardson thought the Council should also
remember that there were a great many other kindred
associations all through the country, and probably there
might be applications from some of these educational
bodies. It would be wrnll, therefore, to know if the
Council was justified in holding out hopes that other
societies in the kingdom would be similarly treated. He
sincerely hoped there might be sufficient specimens in
the museum to afford assistance to the societies -which
were growing up throughout the kingdom, and which he
was very glad to see for the sake of the young men
engaged in the trade.

Mr. Robbins hoped that many of the provincial
educational associations would follow the example of the
Bristol Association. He thought it was the very best
way in which the Council could assist the country, and
supply what was said to be a want. Sometimes such
Associations came for a money grant, which he thought
was objectionable, but when they came to ask for speci¬
mens to make their museums perfect, the Council ought",
he thought, to further that object as far as possible.

Mr. Richardson had no doubt that when provincial
associations knew they were not trespassing on the kind¬
ness of the Society, they would send in applications.

Mr. Hampson said it was surprising to find they were
not aware of it ; they had had very many opportunities
of knowing it.

Mr. Williams suggested that the Committee might be
authorized to look into and revise the regulations which
were made some twelve years ago with a view to en¬
courage education in the provinces, and the assistance of
local bodies. The condition of things had very much
changed since then ; the Act of Parliament had been in
operation a great many years, and what was perhaps a
proper arrangement then was hardly so suitable now.
He thought the Council might be of great service to local
bodies by encouraging and assisting educational projects,
and he should be very happy to assist any reasonable
course for attaining such an end.

Mr. Mackay said he should be happy to second such a

motion. He thought the assistance to be granted should
not be confined to specimens only. He thought money
grants should in some cases be given. This was an old
question being again revived. He was quite sure the
Council had the inclination to assist in this matter as far
as the means allowed.

Mr. Williams said he was reminded that he ought to
give notice of motion on this matter, and he would do so,
so that the Council might have an opportunity of fairly
discussing the question and then refer the question to the
Library Committee.

The President did not think there ever had been on
the part of the Council anything but a wish to support as
much as possible all educational means existing in the
country. But it always wished to be informed what
amount of local support was coming forward ; because it
could scarcely be expected that an ephemeral institution,
which had just been formed and could not show a
position that commended itself to the Council, would be
assisted. The Council must exercise a considerable
discretion in sending specimens or money into different
parts of the country, where there was not evidence of
proper local support.

Mr. Frazer was under the impression that regulations
already existed, and it was really the country which was
to blame for not applying.

Mr. Hampson thought that this inquiry was quite
unnecessary. He could not see that the conditions were
at all altered ; the regulations already existed under
which any application could be made, entertained, and
decided upon.

The President stated the main points of the regu¬
lations at present existing. It was then resolved, on the
motion of Mr. Bottle, seconded by Mr. Sandford : —

“ That the application from the Bristol Pharmaceutical
Association for materia medica specimens be referred
to the Library, Museum and Laboratory Committee
to consider and report thereon.”

The Evening Meetings.

Mr. Symes moved —

That the Evening Meetings Committee be requested
to consider the position of the Society with regard
to the Evening Meetings and to report to the next
meeting of this Council thereon.”

The Committee met each month, but he should like it
to present a report to the next Council meeting.

The President asked Mr. Symes to give a notice of
motion if he wished to bring the subject forward, but he
would beg him to reconsider the matter. A great change
had only lately taken place, the Committee having
decided not to pay for papers read at the Evening-
Meetings, and a little difficulty naturally arose in
consequence. He suggested that it would be better to
let matters go on for the present session and see what
the result was before taking any action.

Mr. Symes said he had no wish to press the matter.
If the President was satisfied with the state of the
Evening Meetings, he had no occasion to be dissatisfied ;
but he should be very sorry if they were so badly off in
Liverpool. He certainly regretted to see that either the
new regulations or something else was operating pre¬
judicially to the Society, and was desirous of doing
something before the meetings fell too low ; but at the
request of the President he would withdraw it for the
present.

The President said he was not satisfied with the
present state of things, but he thought it would be better
to wait a little before taking any action.

Exhibition at the Annual Meeting.

Mr. Richardson, referring to the exhibition which
was held on the occasion of the last Annual Meeting,
said he hoped Mr. Symes would act as energetically in
the matter next year, and seeing that one great objec¬
tion taken was that the question was not brought

458

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[December 4, 18S0.

forward in time, he hoped Mr. Symes would gi\e a
notice of motion for next month.

Mr. Symes said he should be very happy to give the
notice of motion required.

Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill.

The Council then went into committee, and spent
upwards of three hours in discussing, with the assistance
of the Solicitor, the recommendations of the Pharmacy
Act Amendment Committee, and a draft Bill which had
been prepared in accordance therewith.

On resuming, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr.
Hampson, seconded by Mr. Andrews : —

“ That Mr. Flux be requested to revise the Pharmacy
Act Amendment Bill as now agreed to in principle
by this Council ; that a copy of the revised Bill be
sent to each member of the Council, and that a
special meeting of the Council be convened on the
14th inst., to settle the form in which the Bill shall
be introduced into Parliament.’’

Mr. Frazer wished to state that he had not agreed to
any of the proposed amendments.

Loan of Specimens.

It was resolved that the President be empowered to
lend Mr. Plowman from the Society’s Museum such
specimens of drugs as he may think proper for the annual
soiree of- the Medical and Physical Society of St. Thomas’s
Hospital.

Reports of Committees,
finance.

The report and recommendations of this Committee
were received and adopted, and sundry accounts were
ordered to be paid.

BENEVOLENT FUND.

The report of this Committee included a recommenda¬
tion of the following grants : —

£15 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist
and late member of the Society. Applicant has had two
previous grants of like amount.

£10 to the widow of a member, who had had four
previous grants.

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist, suffering
from ill health. He had had two previous grants.

£5 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist.

£10 to the widow of a member.

£20 to a member suffering from ill-health, who has had
several previous grants.

£15 to be applied in the education of the youngest
child of a deceased chemist and druggist, the other
children having been provided for previously in a similar
manner.

£20 to the widow of a former member, residing in Tas¬
mania. Applicant had had one previous grant in 1876, of
like amount.

£10 to the widow of a late member.

£5 to a former member, in business for some years, but
now unable to earn his livelihood.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

HOUSE.

The report of this Committee included a letter from
the Clerk to the District Board of Works, saying that the
question of paving Great Russell Street with wood would
come before the Board at the beginning of the year, when
the application of the Council should be considered. It
also referred to the cleaning and regilding of the portraits
and frames belonging to the Society, but the further con¬
sideration of this matter had been deferred.

The Committee reported that the names of prizemen,
etc., could be exhibited on the walls of the lecture
theatre.

Mr. Hills recommended that the pictures should be
dealt with at once.

The report was received and adopted.

The President reported that one stove had been placed
in the laboratory and worked very well. It had been
seen by the surveyor to the Fire Insurance Company,
who had reported that it would not affect their policy.

library, museum and laboratory.
Librarian’s Report.

The Librarian’s report had been received, and in¬
cluded the following particulars : —

Attendance.
October .

Total. Highest. Lowest. Average.
Day . .218 14 3 9 nearly.

Evening . 97 13 1 5 nearly.

Circulation of books. Town. Country. Total.

No. of entries . . . 161 129 290

Carriage paid . . . £2 13s. 5 cl.

The following donations to the Library had been
received : —

Beddoes (T.), Collection of Testimonies respecting
the Treatment of Venereal Disease by Nitrous
Acid 1799.

Paris (J. A.), Treatise on Diet, 3rd ed., 1828.

Pearson (G.), Arranged Catalogues of Food,
Seasonings and Drinks, 4th ed., 1821.

Skeete (T.), Experiments and Observations on Quilled
and Red Peruvian Bark, etc., 1786.

From W. Brace, Esq.

New York, Hospital Formulary, etc., 1878-9.

Squire (B.), On the Treatment of Eczema, 2nd ed.,
1878. From Mr. E. M. Holmes.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Public Libraries, Catalogue
of Books in Lending Department, 1880.

From the Libraries.

Paschkis (H.), Zur naheren Kenntniss einiger
minder bekannten Blatter, 1879.

Paschkis (H.), Pharmakognostische Beitrage, 1880.

Paschkis (H.), liber zwei schleimliefernde Droguen.

From the Author.

Reidemeister (A. W. v.), Ein Beitrag zur Kenntniss
des Levulins, Triticins und Sinistrins, 1880.

From Professor Dragendorff.

Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society of London,
Catalogue of Library, Additions, 1879-80.

From the Society.

St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Statistical Table of
Patients during 1879. From the Hospital.

St. Thomas’s Hospital, Reports, etc., new ser., vol.
10, 1880. From the Hospital.

Fluckiger (F. A.), Pharmakognosie des Pflanzen-
reiches, 1881, 2e AufL, le Lief.

Heusinger (C. F.), Meletemata quaedam de Anti-
quitatibus Castorei et Moschi, [1852].

From Professor Fluckiger.

The Committee had recommended the purchase of the
undermentioned works for the Library : —

Mexican Pharmacopoeia, 1874.

Colmeiro (M.), Diccionario de los Diversos Nombres
Vulgares de Muchas Plantas, etc., 1871.
Ronquillo, Diccionario de Materia Mercantil, Indus¬
trial y Agricola, etc. 4 vols.

Remsen (I.), Principles of Theoretical Chemistry.

1877.

Orosi (G.), Farmacologia ovvero Farmacopea
Italiana, 4a ed., 1866-76.

New Italian Pharmacopoeia, when ready.

Chiarlone (Q.) and C. Mallaina, Historia de la
Farmacia, 1865.

Garrod (A. B.), Essentials of Materia Medica,
8th ed., 1880.

Huxley (T. H.), Lessons in Elementary Physiology,
latest Gci

Kirkes, Handbook of Physiology, .10th ed., 1880.
Piesse (G. W. S.), Art of Perfumery, 4th ed., 1879.
(Second copy for reference.)

December 4, 1SS0.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

459

Curator's Report.

GENERAL PURPOSES.

Attendance.
October .

Total. Highest. Lowest. Average,
j Day . 333 27 5 12

\ Evening 57 13 0 2

The following donations had been received : —

Japanese Infusion Pot, exhibited at the Conference.

From H. B. Brady, F.R.S.
Specimen of Native Emery from Smyrna.

From Mons. Chantre.
Specimen of Fruit of the Chian Turpentine Tree and
Lesser Sassafras Nuts. Herbarium Specimens of
Gastrolobium grandiUorum.

From Messrs. T. Christy and Co.
Specimens illustrating a paper on Myrrh.

From Mr. R. H. Parker.
Specimens of Mocha Aloes offered as Cape Aloes.

From Messrs. W. Fox and Son.
Specimen of “Crabs’ Eyes” from Japan.

From Mr. E. H. Davies.
Specimen of Australian Sandal Wood.

From the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew.
The folloioing Russian donations had been presented
through the President.

Specimens of Naphthas and Paraffins from Russia.

From Professor Carl Schmidt.
Specimens of Rare Salts of Ruthenium and other
Metals of the Platinum Group prepared by Pro¬
fessor Claus; False Saffron; False Cinnamon;
Riga Balsam; “Paprika” Cayenne Pepper; Nux
V omica Bark. From Professor Dragendorff.

Specimen of Persian Galbanum.

From Mr. E. Hirschsohn.
Specimens illustrating the chemistry of Nigella sativa.

From Mr. H. G. Greenish.
The following German donations had been presented
through Dr. Paul.

Two Specimens of Quebracho Bark (Red and False).

From Messrs. Wolff and Rasim, Breslau.
Specimen of White Quebracho Bark.

From Herr Kathe, Halle.
Letters of thanks had been received for duplicate
specimens of Indian and other drugs, from : —

Professor Soubeiran, of Montpellier.

Dr. Vogl, of Vienna.

Herr Dittrich, of Prague.

Professor Davidson, of Aberdeen.

The tin boxes for specimens had been forwarded to
Mr. Presslie, the Secretary of the Aberdeen Chemists’
Association.

Lists of the remaining duplicates of Indian drugs had
been distributed, and applications for the specimens had
been received from : —

Professor Bernardin, of Melle, Ghent.

Dr. Aquilla Smith.

Professor Bentley.

„ Dragendorff.

Messrs. Luff and Woodland.

M. Chantre.

Fresh specimens of some drugs and the additions re¬
quired by the examiners on materia medica, had been
placed in the examination cupboard as directed. The
Curator recommended that the cardboard boxes con¬
taining the specimens should be replaced by new ones.

The Professors had attended and reported favourably
as to their respective classes.

The Committee recommended that four tablets con¬
taining the names of First Prizemen (Sessional) ; Pereira
Medallists ; Herbarium Medallists (First Prize), and Jacob
Bell Scholars be placed in the lecture theatre.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

The name of Mr. Gostling was added to the Library,
Museum, and Laboratory Committee, and also to the
House Committee.

The report of this Committee included the usual
report from the Solicitor as to the progress of cases which
had been placed in his hands.

Several other cases had been considered by the
Committee and directed to be placed in the hands of the
Solicitor.

The Council went into committee as usual to consider
this report.

On resuming the report and recommendations were
received and adopted.

On the recommendation of the Committee the name of

Charles Robert Fenn, 83, Regency Street, Westminster,
was ordered to be removed from the Register.

PHARMACY ACT AMENDMENT.

This report, which was read in committee, stated that
the Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee had consi¬
dered the resolution of the Council passed in August last
requesting the Committee to take into consideration the
probable effect of the recent decision of the House of
Lords, and to report to the Council any course it might
think it desirable for tho Society to adopt.

The Committee stated the action it had taken in
drawing up a Bill for the amendment of the Pharmacy
Acts.

The report was received.

Mr. Symes protested against the minutes of this
Committee being read in committee.

Mr. Andrews joined in the protest, as there was
nothing in the minutes which might not be published.

The Examinations.

It was moved by the President, seconded by Mr.
Mackay : —

“That the following joint recommendation of the
Boards of Examiners for England and Scotland be
adopted ” : —

“ ‘ That candidates should not be permitted to use
their own books or memoranda of any kind in the
practical portion of the Major examination, but
that during the examination they be allowed, at
the discretion of the Examiner, to make use of
any standard book of reference.

“ ‘ That the Council be requested to provide for
the London and Edinburgh Boards the necessary
volumes.

“ ‘ The above regulation to come into operation in
October, 1881.’”

The President stated that both Boards of Examiners
recommended that this change should be made.

Mr. Andrews objected to such an important alteration
without due consideration, and without the reasons for it
being stated.

Mr. Bottle thought the Boards of Examiners had full
power to make this regulation themselves ; the only
necessity for it was that the Council were asked to
provide the books.

The resolution was carried nem. con.

PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING.

Wednesday , December 1, 1880.

MR. T. GREENISH, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR.

The Third Evening Meeting of the Session was held
on Wednesday, the chair being taken at half -past eight.

Sugar for Pharmaceutic Purposes.

Dr. Symes referred to the specimens of cane sugar
which he had placed on the table. He said that sugar
as it was usually sent out contained ultramarine. One of
the samples on the table was a pure dead white, and the
other had a tinge of yellow about it. They both con¬
sisted of the same sugar, the only difference being the
addition of colouring matter to one of them. These were
English samples. German samples were very much

460

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 4, 1880.

more loaded with blue than English samples. Sugar
refiners could get one shilling a hundredweight more for
sugar containing a trace of blue than for the pure article.
He believed that if pharmacists found it desirable to
have pure sugar, the refiners would place it in the
market. He mentioned at the last Pharmaceutical
Conference that when a sugar which contained a
decided blue tint was used for acid syrups an unpleasant
odour of hydrosulphuric acid appeared after a time.
Sugar refiners usually mixed cane sugar and beet sugar
together, as they got the best results from such a mixture,
but in the month of September the stock of beet sugar
Avas generally exhausted, and there was nothing but cane
sugar left to work upon, and therefore it Avas very easy
to get cane sugar in the month of September.

Resorcin.

Dr. Symes also showed two samples of resorcin, Avliich
he thought might possibly become an article in demand
among pharmacists. He had obtained in England
some resorcin which had something of the smell of
carbolic acid and a dark mahogany colour, and he
afterwards obtained a specimen from Switzerland.
This he had ordered pure, but it Avas not sent pure,
though it was very much lighter in colour than the
English specimen and had no smell of carbolic acid.
Resorcin had been used as a colouring matter. It
Avas a body of the benzole series, in Avhicli two atoms
of hydrogen were replaced by two molecules of hydroxyl.
He had not received it in time to attempt to purify it,
but pure resorcin ought to be in the form of perfectly
white crystals. It Avas stated to be soluble in almost
anything but disulphide of carbon and chloroform, but
he found that on heating it with benzole and also benzo¬
line that they had scarcely any solvent action, and there¬
fore it Avas probably insoluble in many other things. It
was soluble in Avater, 100 parts of Avhich would dissolve
as much as 80 parts of resorcin. It AA’as given in doses
of 3 or 4 or 5 grams. Probably when there was more
demand for resorcin if would become cheaper and purer.

The Chairman, referring to the samples of sugar, said
that unfortunately whenever a pharmacist spoke to a
manufacturer about an improved production of any
article, he was at once asked the question, how much he
was likely to Avant. The pharmacist might Avant so
many pounds, but the manufacturer could only take the
question of tons into consideration, so that the poor
pharmacist was obliged to Avalk away, feeling that phar¬
macy occupied a very Ioav position indeed in the esti¬
mation of manufacturers, and that a manufacturer Avas
not likely to make any special difference to suit the
pharmacist. With regard to the question of ultramarine
in sugar, a great many observations had been made, and
he should like to hear from gentlemen who were practi¬
cally acquainted with the subject whether the ultra-
marine which had been occasionally found in sugar really
interfered Avith the quality of the preparations in which
sugar was used.

Mr. Plowman said that he should like to ask Dr.
Symes a question. Some time ago he had occasion to
examine various samples of sugar which were to be used
for simple syrup. Some of them formed a perfectly thick
opaque syrup, and Avhen this sugar was used for syrup of
phosphate of iron, the odour of sulphurous acid was so
strong as to cause the supposition that the syrup of phos¬
phate of iron was made with dilute sulphurous acid instead
of Avith dilute phosphoric acid. By various means he
proved that the sulphur existed as a combined sulphite
in the sugar ; but he was unaware how the sulphite got
into the sugar. He should like to ask Dr. Symes Avhether
he could inform him on that point.

Mr. Williams said that pure sugar was absolutely
important in making chemical syrups. He had found
that syrups Avhich had been rendered white by means of
ultramarine had never yielded satisfactory results. The
ultramarine was easily discovered by simply dissolving

some of the sugar in water, and allowing it to stand for
a few days ; a distinct deposit would take place, and
there could be no mistake whatever that it was an
impurity which had been added to kill the original
yelloAV colour of the sugar. It Avas A'ery difficult to
get a pure sugar which would make a syrup with
any of the chemical compounds which were now so
freely used, such as the phosphates and other compounds
of iron, and when they did hit upon pure sugar they
had still more difficulty in tracing the history of it.
There Avas no doubt that the success of the chemical
syrups mainly depended upon the purity of the sugar. As
to resorcin, he did not think that it was a thing which was
yet met Avith in a perfect state. They had it in various
states of what he might call impurity and decomposition.
Its principal use had hitherto been in the arts, for ^he
purpose of producing a beautiful colour, fluorescene.
It had now come into use in medicine, but he had not
much confidence in its chance of success. It looked to
him like a very weak imitation of salicylic acid. He
had no doubt that Avhen they understood resorcin as well
as they understood salicylic acid they Avould find a
superior article. It was now more or less contaminated,
and rather more than less. Aniline Avas an analogous
body in many respects, and for years it was stated in
chemical works that aniline would turn brown. But
that Avas not true. He had succeeded by very great care
in making an aniline Avhich for six or eight months had
kept white, and after eighteen months was only of a light
straw colour. He Avas quite sure that the colour de¬
pended only upon impurity. They might depend that if
a demand arose for resorcin, there would soon be pro¬
duced an article which Avould be very much more credit¬
able to the chemist than the resorcin which was at
present in the market. The dose of resorcin which Dr.
Symes had mentioned seemed to be an enormous one.
He should be very sorry to swalloAV such doses as those
which AA^ere mentioned in German works.

Dr. Symes, in reply, said with regard to the sulphurous
acid in sugar, he should imagine that the sugar had been
decolorized to a great extent by means of sulphurous
acid instead of charcoal. He knew that that method
Avas adopted for experimental purposes in the laboratories
of sugar Avorks, for sugar works had their laboratories
and their own analytical chemist, or chemists. It was
quite possible that the same method might have been
adopted on a larger scale. But he could scarcely say
that he knew of any works where they used sulphurous
acid in this Avay. There Avere many processes used by
sugar refiners. One of these was the lime process. The
large crystals Avhich Avere now in the market A\rere
obtained by producing sucrate of lime. The blue colour
in sugar might be detected by looking through the
sample by daylight. That was the method adopted, and
might be used in sampling sugar Avithout the trouble of
dissolving it. With regard to the dose of resorcin, the
dose which he had referred to applied to the twenty-four
hours. The Germans and the French had a Avay of
stating the quantity to be given d iring twenty four
hours, this quantity being divided into smaller doses
during that period.

Mr. Cleaver attributed the inferior qualities of sugar
which had crept into use to the fact that cheaper products
had come greatly into demand. There were in the mar¬
kets various brands of sugar Avliich Avere perfectly pure
and would analyse out 99'9 per cent, of sugar without
any ultramarine or colouring agent Avhatever, and it was
Avell known to those who habitually used these brands
that they could be easily obtained. There was in the
market a great deal of Dutch sugar Avhich contained a
large amount of phosphate of calcium in the residue. It
was Avell known that of late years several processes had
been used for the preparation of sugar for various pur¬
poses. Among these he might mention the sulphate of
alumina process, in which sulphate of alumina was used
as a purifying agent. There was also the sucrate of lime

December 4, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

461

process, as mentioned by Dr. Symes, in which sucrate of
lime was first prepared and then the lime was precipi¬
tated by carbonic acid. He had examined several
samples of sugar, among which was one prepared by a
firm which had its head quarters in Liverpool and also
had a place in London. This sample contained a very
large amount of residue in which there was a large pro¬
portion of phosphate of' lime. He thought that the very
purest sugar ought to be used in pharmaceutical prepara¬
tions. A mention of the proper sugar would be found in
a paper read by Mr. Umney a few years ago.

The President said there was no question about the
desirableness of getting very pure sugar. Dr. Symes had
done good service in bringing before them the fact that
a certain portion of ultramarine which was put in by
manufacturers for a specific purpose was injurious in
pharmaceutical preparations. The next point was to
know where and how pure sugar could be obtained.
This was a most important matter, and he had no doubt
many preparations in pharmacy would be influenced to a
certain extent by the sugar which was used in their
preparation. With regard to resorcin, he believed that
there were very few manufactories in Switzerland of
anything in a chemical way, and it was more than prob¬
able that the resorcin which Dr. Symes had obtained
from Switzerland had been brought from Germany. The
sample appeared to him (the President) to be a partially
crystalline substance, and in a somewhat impure condition.
Perhaps in its present state very little could be said
about it. As to the dose, he thought it could be scarcely
defined when the substance contained an unknown
amount of impurity. At the same time the subject was
of very great importance, and they were indebted to
anyone who brought such subjects before them, and gave
them information.

A paper was then read entitled —

A Note on the History of Saffron.

BY CHARLES B. ALLEN.

This paper is printed on page 449. The discussion was
postponed until the reading of the next paper, which, in
the absence of Mr. Holmes, through indisposition, was
read by Mr. Elborne.

The Use of Saffron in the Pharmacopeia.

BY E. M. HOLMES.

This paper is printed on page 450.

Mr. Allen said that it was unfortunate for him that
Mr. Holmes was absent, for he would have made some
remarks on a glycerole of saffron which stood on the
table. Dr. Symes had entrusted to his (Mr. Allen’s)
care a preparation illustrating the way in which he made
syrup of saffron in his own pharmacy. He calculated
the quantity of saffron to be used, and made a concen¬
trated infusion of it. This was poured upon a calculated
quantity of sugar, and the sugar was then dried. A
yellow granulated sugar was thus produced. To 6 grams
of this substance he added 2 grams of water, and thus
made what Dr. Symes stated to be a first rate syrup of
saffron. Mr. Allen also referred to a glycerole of saffron
made in the ordinary way of a syrup, according to the
London Pharmacopoeia, with the exception that, instead
of mixing with sugar, he had used equal quantities of
sugar and of glycerine. The product would keep ; he
had himself kept it for three years. It would mix with
water in a very capital manner, and was free from deposit
for a considerable time. . He had also prepared some
fresh tincture of saffron. This looked admirable, but
on being mixed with water did not give such a satis¬
factory result as the glycerole.

Professor Redwood said that Mr. Allen’s paper con¬
tained some very interesting points with regard to the
localities in which saffron had been principally used, and
the history of its introduction. He had entered into
conversation on this subject with a literary friend of
his, who was a Spaniard, and the statement of this

gentleman was to the effect that saffron was used in
Spain from a very early period. He traced the introduc¬
tion of it to the Arabs. He seemed somewhat disposed
to ascribe the somewhat extensive use of saffron in
Cornwall to the fact that several thousands of Spaniards
were made prisoners in Cornwall at the time of the
Spanish Armada. He thought it probable that saffron
wa3 brought at that time to supply the wants of these
prisoners. As to the second paper, he thought that the
subject was a very fair and proper one for discussion.
He was not prepared at once to say that saffron might
not be omitted from certain preparations in the Pharma¬
copoeia, but he confessed that he felt a little hesitation
in too readily giving his assent to that view of the
subject. In the first place, he was not an advocate
for carrying out too readily and exclusively the
cheapening and the simplification of pharmacy.
He thought that it would be a serious mistake to
make any attempt in that direction. His idea was that
in a certain sense the more difficult and complicated
pharmacy was the better. They wanted to make phar¬
macy a profession. They wanted to make the practice of
pharmacy a thing which involved, as it did involve, the
exercise of a considerable amount of knowledge and of
education, and therefore he was not one to rush at once
at the adoption of the idea that they were to do away
with everything which complicated the preparations. He
had on several occasions expressed the opinion, which
he strongly maintained, that therapeutics was closely
allied to dietetics. In dietetics they did not limit their
articles of food to those the constituents of which were
the most nutritious, and abolish everything which ap¬
pealed simply to the eye or the nose or the palate. He con¬
ceived that if they proceeded in that direction, and confined
their diet simply to the articles which, according to phy¬
siologists, were the best capable of sustaining life and
renewing the waste of the body, they would not be by
any means contributing to one great object which they
had in view ; and so in like manner with regard to thera¬
peutics, he conceived that there were effects which might
be produced by such articles as saffron, and other
materials of that description, which had been employed
and obviously introduced with a view to appeal to some
of the special senses. He was not thoroughly satisfied
that saffron could do no good at all, and he should
hesitate to join in that onslaught upon every constituent
and every preparation in the Pharmacopoeia which could
not be clearly shown to possess very decided tliei’apeutic
value.

Mr. Robbins corroborated Mr. Allen’s statements with
regard to the extensive use of saffron in Cornwall.
Saffron was in use to a certain extent also in Devon¬
shire. If cake without saffron were offered to people in
Cornwall, not only the boys but the grown up people
would refuse it. He thought that there was a decided
flavour about saffron, and an aroma which was very
agreeable. The Cornish people rather wondered that
the people of other parts should be so benighted as
not to appreciate saffron. With regard to Mr. Holmes’s
paper, he fully agreed with the observations of Professor
Redwood. He thought that if the Pharmacopoeia pre¬
parations containing saffron were obtained at the shops
of various chemists, the quality of the articles could fre¬
quently be distinguished simply by means of the saffron
which they contained.

Mr. Radley, as one who had had considerable ex¬
perience in the practical part of the business of pharmacy,
was scarcely disposed to recommend the giving up of
saffron. In a number of cases he had known decided
advantage in the use of preparations containing saffron.
Pil. rufi, he believed, answered very much better with
saffron than without it. He believed that it was the
same with decoctum aloe3. A gentleman who had been
brought up as a chemist and druggist, and was afterwards
engaged in the wholesale trade, paid him (Mr. Radley) a
visit, and asked him whether he had any compound tine-

462

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 4, isso.

ture of cinchona containing the proper quantity of
saffron. He had an affection of the liver, and he said
that he was very careful to have the preparation with
the right amount of saffron, as he found this more valu¬
able to him as a medicine than other kinds. This
gentleman was a man of intelligence and experience, and
he (Mr. Radley) placed considerable confidence in his
judgment.

Mr. Bland said that he could scarcely agree with the
very sweeping denunciation contained in Mr. Holmes’s
paper with regard to the adulteration of saffron. Saffron
was formerly very much adulterated. He remembered
receiving, twenty years ago, from a wholesale druggist a
parcel of so-called saffron, in which he found nearly 25
per cent, of the petals of the common marigold. He
picked them out and returned them with the parcel.
Since then he had never received from a wholesale
druggist a parcel of saffron which he could say was wilfully
adulterated. The addition of oil also used to be prac¬
tised, to increase the weight of the saffron, but now the
saffron came without that adulteration, and it did not
stain the paper with the greasy mark which was formerly
seen. There was one form of so-called saffron which had
not been alluded to in either of the papers. He meant
the “crociin placenta,” which was very much sought after
at the time when he was an apprentice. He had never
met with a sample of that substance which deserved to
be called saffron at all. It generally consisted of some
extractive matter and the florets of Carthamus tincturius
or something of that kind. Fifty years ago, old women
used to make an infusion of this substance and take it
as tea. Though all, probably, felt sometimes a little
annoyed at the great expense of saffron, still he did not
think that so long as it was officially recognized in the
Pharmacopoeia they were at liberty to vary the formula.
In one article the formula was altered in the last edition
of the British Pharmacopoeia, namely tinctura rhei, and
he had found a strong popular objection to the change.
People said that they wanted the tincture of rhubarb which
they had always purchased. He could corroborate what
Mr. Allen had stated in his paper with respect to the
use of saffron by the Jews. Among those people it was
very commonly used as an ingredient in soup. He
believed, with the gentleman who spoke last, that there
was a very delicate flavour and aroma about saffron
which was exceedingly agreeable when one was used
to it.

Mr. Tanner said that Mr. Holmes had not mentioned
any special adulterant of saffron. He had with him a
sample of saffron which was offered to him a short time
since at not a high figure. Looked at casually it
presented a very fair appearance, but upon closer
observation he found it to contain a very considerable
quantity of some red ferruginous earth. He believed
that this was not at all an uncommon adulterant. It
was very readily detected by placing some of the saffron
in water, the water thereupon immediately becoming
turbid and there being a separation of the adhering
particles. Some years ago he frequently found in saffron
another adulterant, the saffron so adulterated having a
sticky moist feel which it never lost, however long it was
kept. When such saffron was put into water, carbonate
of lime separated from it, and this sank to the bottom of
the vessel and was readily recognized by its effervescence
with an acid and by the ordinary test for a calcium salt.
With regard to the method followed by Dr. Symes for
preparing syrup of saffron, he could confirm what
Dr. Symes said respecting such a preparation. It kept
for a much longer period than the syrup itself. As to
the medicinal effect of saffron, he thought that if it had
any, it owed it to the essential oil which it contained,
and which he fancied would be found to possess
stimulating properties. Saffron was largely used among
the Spaniards in South America.

Mr. Cleaver said that Mr. Holmes had not demon¬
strated that there was a want of therapeutic effect in

saffron. Many pharmacists thought that it had a decided
therapeutic effect in tinctura rhei, and also in the decoc-
tum aloes co. It was a fact that upon the addition of
the saffron in making this preparation a volatile body was
given off which had a very decided effect upon the
person operating at the pan in which it was being
concentrated. Mr. Holmes had stated that he thought
that the presence of saffron in the Pharmacopoeia pre¬
parations had its origin in the fact of saffron being used
in certain quack medicines. Was it not the case that
the presence of other medicines in the Pharmacopoeia
was due to the same fact ?

Mr. Plowman asked what was the effect to which Mr.
Cleaver alluded as being produced by the oil of saffron.

Mr. Cleaver said that it most strongly irritated the
mucous membrane of the nose and eyes.

Mr. Gerrard was inclined to consider that Mr. Holmes
had made out a case against saffron. It was the custom
in most large London hospitals to omit the saffron from
their compounds, and that was done by the consent of the
medical committees, which consisted of eminent members
of the medical profession, some of them, he believed, being
members of the General Medical Council which produced
the Pharmacopoeia. The preparations made without
saffron answered very well, and there was no difference
observed in their general action. He thought that there
were also other products in the Pharmacopoeia which
might be better omitted than saffron, especially the
animal substances, notably cochineal. Professor Redwood
had referred to the art and mystery of pharmacy. He
(Mr. Gerrard) objected to mystery and complication.
He very much preferred simplicity and light. If they
sought to make matters mysterious they would be
degenerating and would be reducing themselves to the
level of the city guilds — a condition which he hoped they
would never reach.

Mr. Collier said that it was almost impossible to say
anything positive with regard to the therapeutic effects
of saffron. The reason that it was left out of hospital
preparations was its expense. He had recommended its
omission from some of the preparations at Guy’s. In
fact, it was almost impossible to tell whether saffron had
any value in the preparations to which allusion had
been made, the circumstances under which medicines
were administered being unfavourable for the exact
comparison of results.

Mr. Cleaver said that it was a curious fact that it was
almost always the expensive substances that were omitted
from the preparations in hospitals. This applied with
regard to the substitution of cinchonidine for quinine.

Mr. Passmore said he noticed that Mr. Allen had
supported his ingenious and interesting speculation as to
the introduction of saffron into Cornwall by a positive
statement in which he, without doubt, attributed to the
name of the little village in Mount’s Bay a derivation
having a very strong Hebrew flavour. He would ask
him, however, whether the statement was not subject to
some qualification. Sixteen or eighteen years ago, a dis¬
cussion on the question of the alleged settlement of the
Jews in Cornwall in early times was carried on either in
Notes and Queries or in the Athenaeum , and this little
place was quoted as favouring the theory of the settlement
because it had the very curious and tempting names of
Marazion and Market- Jew. But that evidence seemed to
him to have been put out of court by a statement that
those two names were corruptions of two declensions of
a Celtic word meaning “the markets.” The village
still bore a third name, Margashiewe. It was well
known that the intolerance of the guttural in the
modern English language had led to many curiosities
in pi-onunciation which perplexed whilst they amused
the foreigner.

The President said that perhaps the best saffron pro¬
duced in Europe was grown in Lower Austria. This
fetched the highest price of any in the market, and, in
fact, only sufficient for home consumption was grown

December 4, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

4G3

It was really a curious fact which impressed those who
went into other countries, that saffron was very frequently
met with abroad in connection with cakes and other
articles of diet. He could not say whether this was due
to its colour, or to its having been presumed at some
earlier period that saffron possessed a dietetic or medici¬
nal influence. He was not one of those who would put
aside entirely what were called old women’s remedies.
Saffron was one of these, and it was considered a very
excellent remedy in measles. It was considered a very
excellent thing for birds that were moulting. He thought
that it was very likely that it possessed some influence
upon the skin, and possibly that might be the reason why
it had retained its place as a remedial agent. With regard
to the use of saffron in pharmaceutical preparations, he
confessed that it had occurred to him whether the saffron
was of any value. In some of the preparations the
quantity was very large indeed, and when the saffron
cost from 32s. to 35s. a pound it was a really important
item in the expenses of the preparations. If it was of no
value it might just as well be excluded. There was an
inducement to pharmacists to omit it or to use it in a
smaller quantity than that ordered. There was a diffi¬
culty in keeping syrup of saffron. Medical men prescribed
it, and it was very desirable to have a nice svrup. In
experimenting on the subject he had found that glycerole
of saffron was a preparation that kept uncommonly well.
It was prepared by simply putting saffron into glycerine,
allowing it to stand for some time, and straining it off.
This gave a very beautiful preparation which would
keep indefinitely. About the time that he was engaged
in experimenting on the subject some one brought
the preparation before the Society. It was uniform, and
he thought that it might supersede the very troublesome
preparation of syrup. With regard to the adulteration
of saffron, he had exhibited before the Society a sample
of so-called saffron which he brought from Russia. It
consisted entirely of calendula, and there was no saffron
in it. In this case they wanted the microscope in phar¬
macy. One of the best means of determining saffron
was the observation of the pollen grains. These were
entirely different from the pollen grains of calendula.
With regard to the omission of saffron from certain
hospital preparations, they, as a Pharmaceutical Society,
did not exactly follow what was being done in hospitals.
In those institutions things were sometimes done as
cheaply as possible ; but pharmacists were glad to take
a hint from hospitals, and he should consider that those
gentlemen who were at the head of hospitals, and who
very much assisted in bringing new preparations before
the public, were the very best men to determine whether
saffron was of any value or not. He had had put into
his hands by Mr. Bottle, who was not present, the
following note on the subject before the meeting: —
“Saffron Walden appears to be the English home of
saffron. The place took the name from extensive culti¬
vation of saffron, and was formerly Wealdenbury. A
very interesting account of the cultivation of saffron
at Saffron Walden is to be seen in early editions of
‘Encyclopaedia Britannica,’ notably in 3rd edition, 1747.”

Mr. Allen, in reply, first thanked Professor Redwood
for his kindly notice of his paper. He had had some
diffidence in presenting it, as it was not a strictly phar¬
maceutical one. Mr. Passmore had disputed, as many
people had disputed, that the J ews could be traced back
as having settled in Cornwall. In the preparation of a
short paper it was impossible to give all the authorities,
or all the reasons for deducing certain conclusions. Many
most learned antiquaries of the past generation were
strongly in favour of the supposition that the Jews not
only visited Cornwall, but formed a colony there. Dr.
Borlase, the greatest modern historian of the county,
held that opinion. On the cliffs round the Land’s End
there were large burrows, which were attributed to the
mining operations of the Phoenicians, who, having no
machinery, worked on the surface and cast their ore into

metal on the spot. There was discovered on the cliff the
rude figure of a bull, and this was considered to be a
sacred emblem of the Phoenicians. There was a mine,
known as Ding-Dong Mine, which was supposed to have
been worked by the Jews, and whenever the tinners
found an old smelting place they called it a “Jew’s
house.” They sometimes discovered rude blocks of metal
which they called “Jew’s pieces.” There were also re¬
mains of rude smelting houses, which were denominated
in the ancient Cornish language by a term which signified
“ The leaving of the Saracens.” There were also some
rude crosses, which apparently belonged to a time prior
to the Druidic period. A bitter controversy had arisen
on this subject, but Dr. Borlase and other very learned
men had given it as their opinion that these crosses
existed before the Druids. Diodorus Siculus, who wrote
quite sixty years B.C., spoke of the Cornish as being
very civilized in their living, owing to their mixture with
foreign nations.

Mr. Passmore said that Mr. Allen appeared to be
labouring under a mistake. He had expressed no
opinion as to the early settlement of Cornwall by the
Jews, but merely asked a question as to the derivation of
the name Marazion which Mr. Allen had adopted.

( Mr. Allen : As to the Spaniards, if there were any
Spanish prisoners in Cornwall it must have been at the
time of the Armada. The Spaniards had on two or three
occasions landed in Cornwall. At the time of the
Armada, two hundred of them landed in four galleys.
They were repulsed by Sir Erancis Godolphin, a good
old Cornishman, but not before they had done consider¬
able damage. A record existed at Paul church, a shox-t
distance from the sea, that the Spaniards landed at Paul,
in 1595, and burnt the church and did other mischief.
Unfortunately, Professor Redwood’s friend had not
given him the date.

The next meeting was announced for February 2.

Irobiimal

Cxmwfiom

MANCHESTER CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION AND SCHOOL OF PHARMACY.

The twelfth annual meeting took place at the
Memorial Hall, Albert Square, on Friday, November 26.
In the absence of the President, Mr. Councillor Brown,
who was prevented by illness from attending the meeting,
Mr. G. S. Woolley occupied the chair.

The following Report of the Council was read by
Mr. Benger, Honorary Secretary, and, with the
Treasurer’s statement of account, was received and
adopted : —

Report.

It may be remembered that on the last occasion the
Council of this Association presented its Annual Re¬
port it was announced that a grant of £35 had been
made by the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain to supplement the fees of our students in
remunerating the lecturer. Your Council was thus
enabled to make a considerable reduction in the fees.
Circulars setting forth particulars of the classes were
di'awn up and very widely disti'ibuted. The result was
that fairly satisfactory classes were established, as the
following particulars will show : —

Lectures Delivered in Session 1879 80.

Chemistry. — 35 lectures, on Fridays 7.30 to 9 p.m.
Commenced October 3. Number of entries 16.

Materia Medica and Pharmacy. — 30 lectures, on
Tuesdays 7.30 to 8.45 p.m. Commenced October 7.
Number of entries 15.

Qualitative Analysis. — 20 lectures, on Tuesdays, 8.45
to 9.45. Commenced October 7. Number of entries 11.

Botany. — 15 lectures, on Fridays 9 to 10 p.m.
Commenced January 9, 1880. Number of entries 5.

Total, 100 lectures. Total number of entries, 47.

464

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 47 1880.

The fees were 25s. for the chemistry course ; 20s. for the
course on materia medica and pharmacy; 15s. for the
course on qualitative analysis; 50s. for the three courses
combined; 12s. 6cl. for the course on botany.

Fees received. — 9 entries for chemistry, materia medica,
and qualitative analysis £22 10s. ; 2 entries for chemistry
and materia medica £4 10s. ; 1 entry for materia medica
and qualitative analysis £1 15s. ; 1 entry for chemistry
and qualitative analysis £2 ; 4 entries for chemistry
only £5 ; 3 entries for materia medica only £3 ; 5 entries
for botany only £3 2s. Qd. Total fees £41 17s. 6d.
Contribution from the Pharmaceutical Society £35.
Total £76 17s. 6d.

Your Committee did not feel justified in again appeal¬
ing to the Pharmaceutical Society for help, and in issuing
the Prospectus of Lectures for the present session, a
return was made to the old scale of fees ; they regret,
however, that the number of entries have been insuffi¬
cient to enable Mr. Siebold to recommence his classes.
It is possible that the school may reopen after Christmas,
but it must be borne in mind that in Manchester, as in
most large towns, there are now numerous classes avail¬
able for chemical students. The evening classes at
Owens College (Victoria University) and others, in con¬
nection with the Science and Art Department, afford
instruction at very moderate cost, and your Committee is
aware that many pharmaceutical students have availed
themselves of these.

Daring the early part of last session your Committee
was engaged in the revision of the price list issued by
the Association, and a new edition was published. A
large proportion of this has been sold.

At a meeting of your Committee held in February, a
resolution was unanimously carried, pressing on the at¬
tention of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society the
necessity of procuring the repeal of that portion of the
Pharmacy Act of 1868 which excludes patent medicines
from its operations; a copy of this resolution was for¬
warded by the secretaries to the Pharmaceutical Society,
and also to the various chemists’ associations throughout
the country, requesting their co-operation. Your Com¬
mittee understand that the subject is now under the
consideration of the Pharmaceutical Council.

Your Committee regrets that so small a number of
members take an active interest in the affairs of the
Association. It is willing to believe that many who
neglect to support meetings having scientific or educa¬
tional objects would flock to the standard should any
great trade question loom in the distance. The pharma¬
ceutical horizon is not cloudless at the present moment,
and your Committee feels that a thoroughly compre¬
hensive, or at least representative, association of che¬
mists and druggists in this district is as desirable now as
it ever was in the past.

The balance sheet for two years ending October 31,
1880, was read, showing a balance of £7 8s. 6d. in the
hands of the Treasurer.

On the motion of Mr. Cooper, seconded by Mr. Boor,
the following gentlemen were elected officers and Council
for 1880-1 : — President, Mr. Councillor W. Scott Brown;
Vice-Presidents, Messrs. J. T. Slugg, F.R.A.S., and W.
Wilkinson; Treasurer, Mr. G. S. Woolley; Hon. Secre¬
tary, Mr. F. Baden Benger, F.C.S. ; other members of
Council, Messrs. Blain, Boor, Botham, Bowdon, Harri¬
son, S. Kay, B. Robinson, R. Robinson, Slack, West-
macott and H. Woolley.

BRISTOL PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION.

A general meeting of this Association was held at the
Museum and Library, Queen’s Road, Mr. G-. F. Schacht,
President, in the chair.

The President said that before commencing the busi¬
ness of the evening, namely, the reading and discussion
of papers, he wished to draw the attention of all the

members and associates to the very kind services recently
rendered them by their friend, Mr. Little, who had now
completed the systematic arrangement of the contents of
the museum. He had also drawn up a very useful
list of the specimens they possessed, and had gone to the
further trouble and pains of preparing a table of such
other specimens as were most urgently needed to complete
the educational value of the collection. This was leallya
very valuable piece of work, and he asked all present to
join with him in thanking Mr. Little very warmly.

A paper upon “ Emulsions ” was read by Mr. Berry, in
which the processes recommended by Gerrard, Gilmour,
Collier and others, were illustrated and discussed, and a
method was advocated which consisted in the employment
of subcarbonate of potash in the proportion of 5 grains to
^ an ounce of oil and \ an ounce of water.

Mr. Algernon Warren, jun., made an informal commu¬
nication upon the bark of Alstonia constricta, the intensely
bitter quality of which had attracted to itself consider¬
able attention. Some of those who were endeavouring
to introduce it for practical purposes had stated that it
was a febrifuge equal to quinine. The speaker exhibited
specimens of the bark, both entire and in powder, and
also some tincture, which the members were desired to
compare with that of the cinchona bark (cortex Cin¬
chona flavse), and to note how much the more persistently
bitter of the two was the sample prepared from the
Alstonia. After expressing belief that there could be
little doubt of its value as a tonic, and that the more
important point — its value as a febrifuge — would be
speedily determined, he concluded with a few remarks
on the result of the comparison of the two barks under
the microscope, having found that in both the vascular
bundles are distinct, numerous and marked at regular
intervals, but that in the cinchona each vascular channel
is larger and the transverse marks more irregular than in
the Alstonia ; also that its woody fibres are more compact
and smaller, and that in the Alstonia bark there appear
some square thick- walled cells of somewhat unusual shapes.

The President, Mr. Schacht, detailed some experi¬
ments he had made upon the solubility of phosphorus in
alcohol, about which differences of opinion appeared to
exist that occasionally placed the dispenser in some diffi¬
culty. He had met with prescriptions in which a solu¬
tion of the strength 2 grains to the ounce was ordered,
and one medical gentleman of the neighbourhood had
assured him that an ounce of genuine alcohol would
dissolve 5 grains of phosphorus. As he, the speaker, had
never succeeded in extemporizing a solution so strong as
even the weaker of those just indicated, he thought the
matter worth some careful experimenting. He had
accordingly secured a sample of almost absolute alcohol,
one that contained 99 per cent, of C2H60, and of sp. gr.
0'798 at 60° F., and a large stick of phosphorus from a
fresh inner portion of which he had cut the portion for
each experiment.

The temperature at which each attempt at solution
had been made was 160° F.

When the experiment was conducted in such a manner
as to prevent the access of air, the phosphorus in the pro¬
portion of 1 grain to the ounce disappeared very slowly,
the mixture requiring very frequent shaking during about
four hours, and the constant maintenance of the above
temperature.

When, however, the experiment was conducted in a
bath of two or three times the capacity of the solution,
the phosphorus disappeared much more rapidly, about
twenty minutes usually sufficing for complete solution.

This difference in the behaviour of the phosphorus
under the two sets of circumstances had led to a closer
examination of the two resulting solutions. He had
found them both distinctly acid, but the latter much
more acid than the former. Carefully titrating them

December 4, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

465

with a definite solution of soda in alcohol, he had found
in a solution prepared as above, without access of air, that
one-tenth of the grain of phosphorus had passed into the
solution as an acid oxide of phosphorus, and upon similarly
treating a corresponding solution made with access of air,
one-fourth of the grain of phosphorus had been thus oxi¬
dized.

He had in all cases completely failed to get 2 grains of
phosphorus to remain dissolved in 1 ounce of alcohol after
it had become cool.

The conclusions to which his experiments had led him
were that phosphorus was capable of being retained
in solution by cold alcohol to the extent of about 1 grain
to 1 ounce, but that about one-fourth of the phosphorus
would be found to exist in the solution as one of its acid
oxides.

Ikcteeimigs of Scientific Societies,

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,
November 25, Professor Attfield, F.R.S., President, in
the chair.

Dr. Senier read a paper on “The Object of Study,
including that of Pharmaceutical Study.”

A discussion ensued, in which the President, Secretary,
Messrs. Parker, Collinson and Holmes took part.

A vote of thanks was passed to Dr. Senier for his
paper.

The Secretary announced that the following gentlemen
had been elected Reporters on Science for the ensuing
session : —

Pharmacy . Mr. W. H. Symons.

Botany . Mr. D. Hooper.

Materia Medica . Mr. R. H. Parker.

Chemical Physics . Dr. A. Senier.

Organic Chemistry . Mr. W. R. Dunstan.

Inorganic „ . Mr. C. H. Hutchinson.

Analytical „ . Mr. A. F. Dimmocle.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting of the above Association held on Wed¬
nesday, November 10, a paper entitled “British Mosses,”
was read by Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S.

The author, after commenting upon the history of our
knowledge of mosses since the time of Dillenino, and the
rapid increase in the number of species, and our know¬
ledge of their life history during the present century,
proceeded to describe in detail the structure and functions
of the different organs of mosses, their modes of pro¬
pagating by spores, tubes, gemmae, rhizinae, etc., and
finally pointed out that a classification by leaf structure
was very much easier and more natural than that formerly
adopted of classification according to the character of the
peristome, many species never having been found in
fructification. In conclusion, the process of mossing, as
applied to cinchona culture, was explained.

The paper was illustrated by numerous excellent
diagrams, to which frequent allusions were made by the
lecturer.

After the award of a most hearty vote of thanks, on the
proposal of Mr. R. H. Parker, seconded by Mr. F. W.
Collinson, a number of microscopic slides, illustrative of
the subject, and a large number of mosses in the fresh
and dried state, were viewed by the members.

Heating by Gas. Cooking in Private Families and Use
in Workshops. By Thos. Fletcher, F.C.S. 1880.

This pamphlet consists of a paper recently read before
the Philosophical Society of Glasgow, and although

evidently issued for trade purposes it is none the less
worthy of perusal by any person interested in the
relative usefulness and economy of coal gas as a heating
material. Mr. Fletcher has done so much towards the
development of the use of gas in this direction that he
is sure to secure attention to what he has to say upon the
subject, and the confidence is increased by outspoken
opinions that might hardly have been expected from such
a quarter. Thus he shows that he is not a mere hobby-
rider when he says : “ I know many cases where gas fires
have . been fixed and I know none where they have
remained in use twelve months. They are far too costly
in fuel and I do not see how a good gas fire is to be made
at a cost of less than Id. to 1 ^d. an hour. Of course a
small poor fire can be made for less, but it is practically
useless, even to look at.”

Indeed Mr. Fletcher admits that where the work done
by fires is continuous and extensive gas cannot be sub¬
stituted for coal economically ,• but for temporary
purposes, such as family cooking, occasional furnace
work, as well as in metallurgical operations requring nice
regulation of temperature, he claims that it can be used
with considerable advantage. Concerning Mr. Fletcher’s
numerous and excellent apparatus for these purposes full
information can be obtained from himself by those who
desire it, and nothing need be said here unless exception
be made in favour of the solid flame cooking burner,
which is really of wide application and for efficacy and
cleanliness leaves nothing to be desired.

In view of the present large and increasing consumption
of gas .as a fuel Mr. Fletcher urges upon the gas
companies the policy of in some cases lowering the
standard of the illuminating power so as to produce a
gas lower in price and better suited for heating purposes,
and he proposes the adoption of a maximum standard of
fourteen candle power.

■§sximnmtmi mth

Prosecution under the Pharmacy Act.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OP GREAT BRITAIN V.

D. B. JOHNSTONE AND CO.

This case, which was adjourned by arrangement on
November 17, was fixed for hearing on Thursday,
December 2, at 12 o’clock, but the defendants’ solicitor,
Mr. Rylands, then appeared and said he did not intend
to resist an order being made against the defendants.
He did not know whether he might be allowed to say
anything as to reducing the penalty.

Mr. Flux said there was no power in the court to
reduce the penalty.

Mr. Rylands suggested that Mr. Flux might agree to
accept a reduced penalty.

Mr.. Flux said that was the last thing he should think
of doing. There was no doubt that this illegal course
had been most deliberately entered upon by the defend¬
ants and that the offence for which they were sued was
not the first occasion of their selling poison.

Mr. Rylands added that the reason they withdrew was
not that they did not consider that they had no argument
to set up, but they did not want to be landed in an
appeal to the House of Lords.

The Registrar then asked if Mr. Rylands consented
to judgment for £5 against the defendants, to which
Mr. Rylands assented.

Mr. Flux said, he must ask for the costs, which the
Registrar accordingly allowed on the ordinary county
court scale.

Illegal Sale op Arsenic.

At the Ruthin County Police Court, on Monday
November 22, before Mr. R. G. Johnson and the Rev. the

466

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[December 4, 1S80.

Warden of Ruthin, Robert Lloyd, chemist, Ruthin, was
summoned by Inspector Humphreys for unlawfully selling
six ounces of arsenic to one Richard Davies on October 11,
1880, the arsenic not having been mixed with soot or
indigo in the proportion required by the Act.

Mr. Cartwright, Chester, appeared for the police, and
in opening the case stated that on October 12,
Captain Roberts, Rhewl, wras going out shooting with a
valuable setter dog. He missed the dog, and afterwards
took from it a piece of cheese which it had picked up on
the side of the road. He took the cheese from the dog
after it had eaten part of it, and it immediately became
very ill. The animal shivered very much, and died in a
few minutes. Upon examining the locality in the road
Captain Roberts found two more pieces of cheese covered
with white powder. He handed them over to Inspector
Humphreys.

Richard Davies, miller, Pwllgla3, stated that on
October 11 he purchased six ounces of arsenic from
Mr. Lloyd, chemist. Mr. Lloyd served him.

In reply to Mr. Cartwright the witness said he never
administered poison to a dog. He took the poison to
Drovers’ Arms, Rhewl, mixed it with three pounds of
flour and laid it to kill rats. The powder Avhich he
bought was of a bluish colour.

Mrs. J ones, landlady of the Drovers’ Arms, remembered
the night of October 11, when Richard Davies came there
to lay poison to assist in killing rats. The powder which
Davies did not use she handed over to Inspector
Humphreys.

John Jones (16), son of the last witness, said he re¬
membered Davies coming to the Drovers’ Arms on the
day in question. Davies mixed a packet of white powder
with the word “poison” on the paper. Inspector Hum¬
phreys here showed the witness two sample packages of
powder, one containing pure arsenic and the other mixed
with indigo. The lad selected the package containing
pure arsenic as the sort used by Richard Davies.

Inspector Humphreys then gave evidence. He said
that from information received from Captain Roberts and
Mrs. Jones, Drovers’ Arms, he made inquiries at the
chemists in Ruthin on the next Wednesday. Among
others he called on the defendant to ask if he had sold
any poison to anyone during the week past. Mr. Lloyd
replied that he had not ; he had sold no poison to anyone
for a long time. He called again on the Thursday, and
particularly asked if any poison was sold on the Monday
in question. Mr. Lloyd replied that he was sure no
poison was sold on that date. Witness asked for the
book of entries to be produced. They looked for it but
did not produce it. Called again on Friday when Mr.
Lloyd said he had been making inquiries of the young
men but they were doubtful about it ; he was afraid one
of them might have sold some. Mr. Lloyd then said :
“What poison is it you want to know about? Is the
party who bought it known? Do they say they bought
it here ?” Witness replied, “Your book will tell you that.
Where is your book ?” to which Lloyd replied, “We never
found it.” Witness called again on the Saturday, and
again on the 18th (Monday), when Mr. Lloyd produced
the book of entries, but witness said, “Never mind now,

I want to speak to you in private.” In conversation the
defendant then acknowledged that he sold the arsenic to
Richard Davies, and that the fact was recorded in the
book, but the name of David Edwards was down as a
witness and not John Jones as stated by the purchaser.
Witness said to defendant. “You denied all this to me
last week,” and defendant replied, “I did. It is to my
interest to keep these things private.” Witness asked
Lloyd, “ Is it not a fact that you sold that man some
strychnine at the same time you sold the arsenic ?” to
which Lloyd replied, “ What, do you mean to say so ?”
Witness replied, “That is my belief. Why should you
withhold information from me ?” Defendant then said he
must at once see his lawyer. Witness asked to be allowed
to examine the book and copy names of the last purchases,

but defendant said, “No you will have nothing more
from here. You want to bring me into trouble.”

Mr. Bancroft said he had analysed some powder re¬
ceived from Inspector Humphreys and it was pure
arsenic.

Mr. Osbert Edwards, who appeared for the defendant,
said that it was sold on a market day and was an over¬
sight. With regard to refusing information to the
police the defendant was under the impression that
the inquiry was being made about strychnine. If
arsenic only had been mentioned he would have told the
officer at once.

The Bench fined the defendant £2 10 s. and £2 10s.
costs.

Mr. Johnson said there was no excuse for a man to go
and sell six ounces of arsenic to one person, enough to
poison all the inhabitants of the borough.

Mr. Cartwright observed during the hearing that no
entries of poison sold were made in the book from July
1877 until October 11, 1880. — North. Wales Chronicle.

Poisoning by Chlorodyne.

On Wednesday last Mr. W. Carter resumed an inquiry
at the Star and Garter, Abbey Street, Bermondsey, as to
the death of Thomas Pash, 60, which was alleged by
Dr. J. Brindley James, of Jamaica Road, to have been
caused by an overdose of chlorodyne.

Dr. J ames said he saw the deceased on Monday week
last. He was then in a comatose state, and the pupils of
his eyes were contracted. The witness was shown a
bottle labelled “ Dr. J. Collis Browne’s Chlorodyne,” and
was told the deceased had taken several doses. His assump¬
tion was that the man had taken an overdose, and was
really dying from poison. He used emetics, but the
deceased never rallied. In reply to the coroner, the
witness said there were half a dozen different sorts of
chlorodyne; its constituents could only be known by
analysis.

J ames Goldman, the coroner’s officer, deposed to being
told by one of the witnesses, Louisa Maynard, that the
deceased had taken three doses of 15 drops each in
water, which she had administered to him. A fourth
dose, which was untouched, had been handed by him to
the last witness. The bottle itself had been forwarded
to Dr. Browning, who had been entrusted with the post¬
mortem examination and analysis according to the
coroner’s instructions.

Dr. Browning, Medical Officer of Health for Rother-
hithe, and professional analyst, said on Friday last he
received two bottles from the coroner’s officer for the
purpose of analysis. One bore the printed label, “Dr.
J. Collis Browne’s Chlorodyne,” and the other contained
the untouched quantity which had been given to Dr.
James. On the 27th ult. the witness made a post-mortem
examination in the presence of Dr. James and several
other qualified persons. There were no marks of violence
about the body of deceased. There were appearances
which fully justified Dr. James in his suspicion that the
deceased had died from poison. The condition of the
various organs was such as was found in cases of opium -
poisoning. The viscera and their contents having been
treated chemically, yielded in thirty-six hours a precipi¬
tate which gave crystals and morphia reactions estimated
as equal to 0-15 of a grain by weight. The bottle marked
“ Chlorodyne ” had in it a drachm of liquid made up of
chloroform, peppermint, prussic acid, morphia and syrup,
the amount of morphia being equivalent to 10 grains per
ounce. In the second bottle were 4 drachms of similar
mixture, diluted with water, from which was obtained
2^ grains of morphia, equal to 5 grains per ounce. Its
deadly character could be judged from the fact that
1 grain had been known to cause death in an adult, and
at least 2\ grains were missing from the bottle. The
witness considered that such a dangerous fluid ought to
have been labelled “poison.” Two other samples of

December 4, isso.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

4G7

chlorodyne he had analysed contained respectively 5 grains
and 8 grains to the ounce, and he considered that such
medicines ought to be dealt with under the Sale of Poisons
Act and labelled accordingly. Seeing that the deceased was
suffering from a fatty heart, it was most injudicious to
administer such a medicine to him. No medical man
knowing his condition would have prescribed such a
medicine for him. Looking at all the circumstances of
the case, the witness believed that those who advised the
deceased to take the medicine and those who administered
it had inadvertently caused his death, but not with
felonious intent. In answer to the jury, the witness said
he could not swear that the quantity of poison found in
the body had caused death, but that death was due to
narcotic poisoning he had not the slightest doubt. In
this, together with the report of the post-mortem examina¬
tion at which he was present, Dr. J. Brindley James
concurred.

The coroner then proceeded to censure Arthur Bow-
didge, a friend of the deceased, who had advised him to
take chlorodyne, and Louisa Maynard, for administering
the medicine, and said it was injudicious for persons who
were ignorant of the nature of a disease to prescribe for
it ; but under the circumstances the jury had acquitted
them of any criminal intention, and they might leave the
court, but he hoped it would be a lesson to them in the
future. Eventually a verdict was returned of “Death by
misadventure from an overdose of chlorodyne.” — Times.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

Aids to the Chemistry and Tests of the Pharma -
. copceia. By James Davison, L.R.C.S.I., L.K. and
Q.Q.C.P.I., etc. Dublin : Fannin and Co. 1880. From
the Publishers.

In organic Chemistry : adapted for Students in the
Elementary Classes of the Science and Art Depart¬
ment. By Dr. W. B. Kemshead. London and Glas¬
gow: W. Collins, Sons and Co. From the Publishers.

CmTcsponbence.

Dispensing by Country Practitioners.

Sir, — Concerning the question of dispensing by medical
men, which has been of late ventilated in the Journal, I
beg to cite two cases that have come under my notice lately,
showing, at any rate, that some dispensing doctors are a
trifle lax in their method of sending out medicines. A
woman came to me some time back with two ordinary
vials, one being labelled, “The draught,” etc. The other
also had on a somewhat similar label. She said that the
doctor had instructed her to use one liquid as a liniment
and to take the other as a draught, but wished me to
explain it, as she could not understand what was meant,
both bottles being labelled as medicines for internal use. I
of course sent her back to the doctor again.

■ Seeing the person who dispensed the medicines, some
time after, I asked him about the case, and found that the
liniment was composed of belladonna and chloroform. He
candidly and laughingly informed me that he rarely troubled
to label such bottles as poison.

The liniment had evidently been put into the first bottle
handy and heedlessly sent out with the previously written
directions for internal use still attached.

The other case was not so serious, but still indicative of
the “slap-dash” style.

A prescription was sent nie to be made up for a medical
man, his dispenser being absent, which contained amongst
other things one of his surgery nostrums, of the composi¬
tion of which I was of course ignorant. I returned the
prescription, saying that I could not prepare it unless this
preparation was sent me. However, shortly after the
patient returned with an instruction giving me carte
blanche to put in the “nearest thing like it,” the doctor
being either out of the preparation or the bottle was not to
be found in this well-ordered surgery.

I have no doubt that many chemists coull point out
similar cases if they chose to tak,* the trouble.

Plymouth. George T. Starkey.

Sir, — I take up my pen for the last time to reply to the
letters of “Veritas” and “Asmodeus,” and to protest
again at the wholesale libels on the general body of prac¬
titioners, for I cannot admit that the few exceptions
(assuming them to be true) mentioned by your corre¬
spondent, and magnified by “Veritas ” into hundreds, can
possibly justify such remarks on the great bulk of medical
men scattered through the provinces.

“ Veritas,” for want of a better excuse, questions the
purity of the drugs, infusions, etc., in the doctor’s surgery,
and “Asmodeus” calls them “ready-made cheap stuff,”
and so they both turn round and slander some of their own
body, — the wholesale druggists, — for I suppose that in nine
cases out of twelve the very same house supplies both the
doctors and chemists in the same town or country place, for
I think, sir, you would find very few doctors that make
their own infusions, etc., as they can buy them as reason-
ably and at less trouble to themselves from the wholesale
manufacturers.

As to the episode of the laudanum and senna mixture, it
reads on the face of it an absurdity, as, supposing the
doctors to have agreed together, fancy the coroner aiding
and abetting in the affair by “bamboozling the non-in elli-
gent jury ” into returning such a verdict ! No, sir; I am
afraid “Veritas” must have been reading the trial from
Dickens’s ‘ Pickwick,’ and muddled up the life-drawn
picture of the chemist’s “boy in buttons” mistaking
laudanum for tincture of rhubarb, and so he has evolved
this story of these two doctors out of the depths of his
moral consciousness. Respecting the antiinonial powder,
that was evidently the fault of the druggist in sending the
wrong article, and I am surprised that a man, speaking
with so much apparent authority as “ Veritas,” and being
so well versed in the purity, etc., of drugs, and being al-o
“ pne of the establishment,” did not himself discover the
mistake in the article.

All I wish to say to “ Asmodeus ” is, that on taking up
the first dictionary that came to hand, I find the word
“prescription” defined as a doctor’s receipt, and I take
the derivation to be something written beforehand, there¬
fore it would be a doctor’s receipt written before the
ingredients were put up, and as medical men are in the
habit of writing their prescriptions in their day-books for
their present and future guidance, I think I have shown
you the absurdity of this remark. As to the meaning of
“which is filled out into bottles,” the English is so shaky
that I give it up.

A (sometime) Country Doctor.

The Relation between Medicine and Pharmacy.

Sir, — The Lancet of November 27 contains an article
commenting upon the “joint discussion between chemists
and doctors, in some meetings which have been held in
the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, with the object of
improving the relations between the two classes.” The
view taken is such that I feel justified in bringing the
matter (through the medium of the Journal) under the
notice of my pharmaceutical brethren, with the hope that
abler pens than mine will refute those statements which,
if allowed to pass unnoticed, are calculated to convey very
erroneous impressions to the minds of the medical fra¬
ternity.

Whilst condemning “patents,” it acknowledged “that of
late years specialties have been much more prescribed than
formerly.” But it is much to be lamented that they are
not “much more,” but almost “universally” prescribed,
to the injury of the trade generally; for what with the
small margin of profit obtained from them, compared to
legitimate dispensing, the dead stock which results from
these experiments of prescribes, together with the frequent
necessity of having to obtain it specially, devolving upon
the pharmacist extra expenditure, and delay and incon¬
venience to the patient, the evil is very great indeed. Not
long since a prescription from one of the leading London
physicians was presented at a well-known dispensing estab¬
lishment in the city, ordering a 2-ounce concentrated mix¬
ture, together with five “specialties.” To use the words
of the Lancet, “it is not surprising that they are looked
upon with some disfavour by pharmacists, since the profits

[December 4, 1880-

468 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

derived from their sale must be very much less than those
obtained upon medicines dispensed from an ordinary pre¬
scription.” Our contemporary might well devote an article
to those who are the cause of the influx of these many
specialties into the market, viz., the physicians themselves.
Only a few months since a well-dressed representative of a
firm noted for these nostrums gave me a call, soliciting
orders to meet the demand which would result from his
waiting on all the medical men in the town with his
various preparations. The usual consequences followed,
viz., a certain number were prescribed, but soon ceased,
probably owing to a similar personage calling with some¬
thing fresh ; at any rate, the remains of the supply I was
compelled to obtain to meet the demand now stares me in
the face as “ dead stock.”

It then goes on to condemn “counter prescribing,”
adding, “it deprives the medical practitioners of one-half
the work which should legitimately come to them ; ” also
that “it bears the impress of ingratitude to the medical
profession, as the changes in the mode of medical practice,
the extensive adoption of the system of prescriptions (sic),
have put an enormous amount of business into the hands of
pharmacists.” In many towns which can boast three or
four chemists, not a single medical man gives prescriptions;
as, for instance, in my native town, there are four chemists
and six medical men, the whole of the latter dispensing
their own medicine; and here, with a population of 130,000
and seventy -four medical men, seven only (extensive adop¬
tion) give prescriptions. The article proceeds : “We would
suggest that medical men should resolve to discountenance
all chemists who are known to cultivate counter prescribing,
and to encourage by their help those (if any such are to be
found) who avoid it altogether.” In return for this very
kind advice, I would suggest that chemists generally dis¬
countenance those medical men who dispense their own
medicines, and encourage those (the few that are to be
found) who give prescriptions. Pharmacist.

Competition.

Sir, — As a mere distributor in petty commerce, the
dispensing chemist is nowhere when opposed to selfish,
unscrupulous men, armed with capital and energy, bent on
plunder. His best defence must lie in the following direc¬
tions: A deeper and wider knowledge of materia medica
and pharmaceutical chemistry, enabling him to occupy the
ground now being abandoned by the medical profession,
making him essential to them and to the public. This
increased knowledge will teach him how to prepare reme¬
dies far superior to those usually composing patent medi¬
cines, and these he will describe with modesty and truth,
his increased value to the public giving confidence and
ensuring a profitable sale. It must be with him as with
the medical practitioner, personal value and service making
him indispensable. F. C. S.

Copies of Prescriptions.

Sir, — In reply to your query in a recent Journal, I
am of an opinion that Z. was perfectly justified in declining
to give a copy of prescription, or at least not without just
remuneration. I look upon prescription books as the good¬
will of a dispensing establishment, and as you state the
medicine in this case had been regularly used by the whole
family for some years, by this it is perfectly clear Z. by
giving a copy of the prescription would be giving away not
a small proportion of his goodwill, even at the price asked.

What lawyer, accountant or architect will give you a
draft of any document without charge ? But the poor,
kind-hearted and unselfish chemist is a pattern to fallen
humanity, for he will go to the expense of having note-
paper headed for the special purpose of copying the thank¬
less public his prescriptions on. He will even do more —
he will hand it over the counter in a most bland manner
and thank him for the honour. What would my poor
brother think if he saw this same individual going half an
hour after into a “ co-operative” to get it dispensed ? This
is one of the many evils of giving copies. Mucilage.

Iridescent Crystals of Chlorate of Potash.
Sir,— I do not consider that the presence of lead is the
Cw8e of the beautiful iridescent colours occasionally dis¬
played by crystals of chlorate of potash, as suggested by
Mr. Huskisson, in your issue of November 27, but that the

phenomenon is a simple case of “ interference of light,’*
resulting from the physical condition of the crystal.

A sufficiently thin lamina of any transparent body ( e.g.y
a soap bubble) reflects light from both its surfaces, and a
reflected ray from the lower surface “interferes” with a
reflected ray from the upper surface in such a manner that
the waves of the one destroy or augment the waves of the-
other, according as they are in the same or opposite phases ;
consequently, coloured light is produced from white light-
by the obliteration of one or more of its constituents.

This condition is fulfilled in the crystal of chlorate of
potash by the presence of an interstitial layer of air, the-
reflecting surfaces bounding which are close enough to
produce “interference.” The friable nature of the crystal
accounts for the rare occurrence of iridescent specimens.

The same phenomenon may be observed at the extremity
of a crack which penetrates and terminates within a thick
piece of glass, or more frequently in a damaged fragment of
calc-spar, a series of coloured rings being visible.

The iridescent film on the surface of fused nitre observed
by Mr. Huskisson, the display of colours when oil is thinly
spread on water, the gorgeous tints resulting from the
presence of a coating of mixed sulphides and oxides on the
surface of the polished copper still exposed to the vitiated
atmosphere of the analytical laboratory, the blue or brown
film of oxide on a watch spring or steel spatula which has
been held in the flame, are further illustrations of the same
phenomenon. R. H. Parker.

“ Calcis Phosphas.” — In his ‘ Free Phosphorus in Medi¬
cine,’ Mr. J. Ashburton Thompson speaks of a saturated
“tincture of phosphorus,” prepared as follows, as being a
useful and convenient solution : — “ Take of absolute alcohol*
a sufficiency ; of phosphorus, an excess ; heat the alcohol to-
ebullition in a Florence flask ; add the phosphorus, and
keep the mixture at boiling point for a few minutes. Close
the flask accurately, and set the solution aside for twenty-
four hours. Agitate until cool, and afterwards occasionally.
Decant the solution from the excess of phosphorus with as
little exposure to air as possible into small coloured bottles.
Let each be quite filled, accurately stepped, and stored in
the dark. Care should be exercised to use absolutely
dehydrated spirit and perfectly dry vessels. This prepara¬
tion is stated to contain 1 grain of phosphorus in 320 grains-

“ Euryowie.” — Probably the following is the preparation
referred to. It is given in ‘Free Phosphorus in Medi¬
cine’ : —

Tincture of Phosphorus (prepared
as described in preceding para¬
graph) . 3 drachms 10 min.

Glycerine (free from water) . . . IJ ounces.

Spirit of Peppermint . 5 minims.

“374.” — Your answer respecting the glycerine and
pepsine preparation does not meet the request of our
correspondent, which was for a formula for its preparation.

“Bute.” — “ Unguentum Hydrargyri Oleatis ” (20 per
cent.). The following is the University College Hospital
formula : — “ Precipitated peroxide of mercury, 2 drachms ;
oleic acid, 10 drachms. To the oleic acid, kept agitated in
a mortar, sprinkle in the peroxide gradually, and triturate-
frequently during twenty-four hours until the peroxide is.
dissolved and a gelatinous solution is formed.”

A. Bond. — The questions set at each examination are-
printed in this Journal at the same time as the names of thn
successful candidates, and those for the last ten years may
be easily found by reference to the indexes.

“Minor.” — The following formula for Mr. Startin’s
lotion, has already been published in this Journal:—

1^ Zinci Oxidi . . . .... . . . 5ij*

P. Calam. Ppt . 511-

P. Sulph. Prsecip . 5l-

Glycerini . . . . 5ijt

Aq. Rosse . ' ad -^iij

Hydrarg. Bisulph . gr.j,.

M. Ft. lotio.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messers. Kendall, Abbott, Dennett, Christy, Filtness, Bond,
.Atkinson, Dyer, Wall, Tylee, Spenser, Sandford, Jackson,
Stevens, Dutton, Hance, Digit, Cymro, Zampa, Lubberly
Lout, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Yerax, Oxford, Argentum,
Minor, Yolo, Yillage Chemist, Hore, Illingworth, Despero,
Ptochos, F.F., H.K., N.R., L.W.S., J.F., T.G.T., H.J.

December 11, ISSd.] Me pharmaceutical journal and TRANSACTIONS.

469

NOTE ON HUNGARIAN RED PEPPER.

BY HENRY B. BRADY.

In the discussion upon Mr. Greenisli’s paper at
the Pharmaceutical Conference at Swansea,* * * * § I had
occasion to mention the fact that a sample of
cayenne might he a perfectly genuine powder of
capsicum fruits and still possess relatively a very
small degree of pungency ; that it might he of a
richer red tint than we are accustomed to see, and
might produce a bright orange-coloured, oily
looking stain on the paper in which it had been
wrapped, without the admixture of anything in the
shape of an adulterant. I named as an illustration
the red pepper commonly met with in some parts of
southern Europe, notably the paprika of the Hun¬
garians, as well as some similar condiments used in
Algeria, and elsewhere.

Finding that very little was known amongst those
who took part in the discussion of any cayenne
except the powder prepared from the fruit of
Capsicum fastigiatum, I wrote to a scientific friend
in Vienna for some particulars respecting the Hun¬
garian product, and the information I have re¬
ceived in reply may possibly be of interest to the
readers of the Journal. He states that paprika is
prepared entirely _ from the fruit of Capsicum
annuum, Linn., which is grown generally throughout
Hungary. Of this species, however, there exist
a great number of varieties, distinguished by the
size and shape of the fruits, and their milder or
sharper flavour. The larger fruits are as a rule
comparatively mild, and have a sweetish taste of
their own, whilst the small pointed sorts are com¬
monly the more pungent. The degree of pungency,
as well as the particular flavour is" said to depend in
part upon locality, and in part also upon method of
cultivation.

The Szegediner paprika is the sort most esteemed
by the Hungarians. Some specimens of this variety
which have been sent to me resemble the large
capsicums seen in our own markets, except that
they are broad or truncate at the apex, instead of
pointed. The pepper is ground with very little
preliminary drying, hence there is considerable diffi¬
culty in keeping the powder. It is the custom to
put it on the table in a salt-cellar, not in a cruet ;
but many Hungarian dishes are seasoned with it
before being brought to table. I have sometimes
had small parcels of paprika sent to me by post, but
the experiment has not been very satisfactory; when
fresh, it is an agreeable condiment, but if kept in
an open vessel it becomes dry and tasteless, whilst
in a closed one it soon turns mouldy.

Szegedin is a town of some size, lying directly
south of Pesth, perhaps half way to the Bosnian
frontier. In connection with the subject it is in¬
teresting to note that the cultivation of the capsicum
in this part of Europe dates back for three centuries.
Fliickiger and Hanbury. quote Leonard Fuchs, who
states that “he saw it cultivated in abundance at
Briinn, in Moravia, in 1585.” Moravia, it will be
recollected, is the province of Austria adjoining
Hungary on the north. The same authorities give it
as their opinion that a considerable portion of the
cayenne imported in powder is prepared from the
fruits of Capsicum annuum.

* See before, p. 345.

Third Series, No. 546.

STUDIES OF THE GENUS STRYCHNOS.*

BY G. PLANCHON,

Professor in the Ecole S uperieure de Pharmacie, Paris ,
and Honorary Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain.

I. Upon the Characters of Structure of the
Barks and Woods of Species of Strychnos.

In examining, some years since, the “hoang-nan ”
bark produced by a species of strychnos, k I called
attention to the structural relation which exists be¬
tween it and the bark of Strychnos Nux-vomica ,
or false angustura. There was in this fact an in¬
dication that other species of Strychnos would
present similar characters, and I thought there
would be some interest in making new researches in
this direction. I have, therefore, examined a certain
number of barks from plants important in the
materia medica, and belonging to the same genus,
— namely, bark from lignum colubrinum, m’bondou
bark, and the barks from American species furnishing
different kinds of curare, — and in all of them, what¬
ever may have been their geographical origin, Asiatic,
American, or African, I have found a certain number
of common characters, to which I wish briefly to call
attention.

To give a fairly complete idea of the structure of
these barks I would refer the reader to papers that
have already appeared in the Journal de Pharmacie
upon the false angosturaj and hoang-nan barks. § I
would add here in some detail the description of a
bark from a species of Strychnos , as yet undetermined,
which yields on the banks of the Rio Negro a kind
of curare. The stem had been sent to M. Gubler,
who kindly entrusted me with it to study the
characters ; the root was exhibited in the Champ de
Mars, in 1878, in the Venezuela section.||

This bark is relatively thin, dark grey on the sur¬
face, marked here and there with large chalky white
spots, rugose and irregularly furrowed longitudin¬
ally. The internal surface is yellowish-grey, and
regularly striated longitudinally. A transverse sec¬
tion presents to the eye a broad central zone of
whitish appearance, bordered on the exterior by a
narrow layer having an ochraceous tint, and on the
interior by a band much narrower still of the same
colour.

Examined under the microscope this bark shows :
(1) An exterior suberous zone, formed of numerous
cubical or rectangular cells in several rows one above
the other. (2) A subjacent zone of cellular tissue
with the elements extended longitudinally, and
filled with reddish matter. These two zones repre¬
sent the external portion which bounds the large
whitish zone. (3) This layer is formed only of cells
with much thickened walls or stone cells grouped
one by the side of the other in numerous rows. (4)
Lastly, at the interior there is found a layer of liber
tissue, intersected by medullary rays.

If a comparison be made between the three barks
before mentioned, — the false angustura, hoang-nan
and the curare bark from the Rio Negro, — the
analogy between the characters is very striking.
There is the same ochraceous suberous layer on the

* From the Journal de Pharmacie, [5], vol, i., p. 19.

f Journal de Pharmacie, [4], vol. xxv., p. 387.

X Oberlin and Schlagdenhauffen, Journ. dePharm., [4],
vol. xxviii., p. 225.

§ G. Planchon, Journ. cle Pharm. [4J, vol. xxv.

I) Journal de TMrapeutique, March, 1879.

470

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 11, 1880.

surface ; the same subjacent cellular layer, with cells
filled with reddish-brown matter and crystals ; the
same pale zone, characterized by stone cells ; and
lastly the same liber layer. There are only shades
of structure between these barks. For example, the
characteristic sclerencliymatous zone in the curare
bark assumes a considerable development in relation
to the other zone. But that is only a specific
difference convenient for the determination of this
bark. Taken altogether the structure is exactly
similar in the three cases.

We find characters quite analogous in three in¬
teresting barks recently communicated by M. J.
Cr6vaux, a distinguished naval physician, known by
his explorations in Guiana and the tributaries of the
Upper Amazon. Of these barks, one belongs to the
stem of Strychiios Castelnazana, Wedd., or “ramon” of
the Pebas Indians. The plant has been described by
Weddell, after his journey with M. de Castelnau ; it
furnishes on the Upper Amazon a kind of curare.
The other two are taken from the stem and root of a
new species of S trychnos, which also yields a curare
in French Upper Guiana. It is the “ ourari ” of
those regions, and is certainly different from the
“ ourari ” of British Guiana, which Schomburgk has
referred to Strychnos toxifera , Bentli.*

It is the same with fragments of bark that I have
found adherent to lignum colubrinum, preserved in
the stores of the Paris School of Pharmacy. It is
known that this wood, which contains a certain pro¬
portion of strychnia and brucia, comes from a species
of Strychnos, insufficiently determined, but probably
S. colubrma, Cobb. In its general aspect the bark
shows a whitish zone placed between two brown
zones. The pale zone is the characteristic scleren-
chyuiatous zone ; it is relatively very narrow. The
others are, — at the exterior, the suberous zone and the
subjacent parenchymatous zone, broader than the
sclerenchymatous zone ; at the inteiior, the liber
zone, more developed than either of the others,
formed first of rather short elements, then quite
at the interior of elongated elements bounded by
numerous cells with crystals.

Lastly, if we pass from these American or Asiatic
species to an African one, still defectively determined,
that which yields m’bondou, we find the zones that
have been indicated perfectly marked. I have two
specimens of the root of this plant, which is used in
the Gaboon as an ordeal poison. One was sent to
me by M. Bernardin, director of the commercial
museum of the firm of Mellelez-Gand ; the other is a
fragment left at the Montpellier School of Pharmacy
by the author of an interesting thesis upon m’bondou.
In these two barks are found — (1) the suberous zone,
formed of seven to ten rows of cubical cells ; (2) a
layer of cellular elements, extended tangentially,
having nearly the thickness of the suberous layer;
(3) the whitish zone, formed of three or four rows of
stone cells, narrower than the adjacent zones ; (4)
the liber zone, the broadest of all.

This constancy in the structural characters of the
bark having attracted my attention, 1 desired to
ascertain whether I couid not find in the ligneous

_ , O

layers a similar means of determination. I have,
therefore, examined, from this point of view, the
various species that I had at my disposition.

The wood best known in this group is that which

* I will confine myself at present to indicating these
analogies of structure, reserving the details of this structure
for a succeeding section on the plants which yield curare.

bears the name lignum colubrinum. Guibourt has
described it in his £ Histoi^e naturelle des Drogues
simples,’ and he has noticed as characteristic, “ the
white and silky fibres which are mingled in great
number with the ligneous fibres.” The presence of
these long, longitudinal trails, which show up by
their colour upon the groundwork of the tissues,
gives an aspect quite peculiar to these roots, and
upon a comparative consideration of the other
Strychnos woods, — that of hoang-nan, of which I have
been able to examine a fragment adherent to the
bark, those of various kinds of curare, and that of
m’bondou, — one is led to the conclusion that there
are great differences of structure between the ligneous
portions of these various plants. However, a more
attentive examination compelled me to abandon this
first impression.

The most striking features in most of these woods
are the numerous orifices which are apparent in a
transverse section and the furrows that run along
the length of the woody fibres. What are these
furrows and these orifices'? Do they belong to the
large vessels of these barks and roots ? This might
appear to be the case at first. But a simple section
examined under a microscope soon dissipates this
error. These spaces are seen to be none other than
long lacunae, which extend a considerable distance,
destroying all the tissues, medullary rays, ligneous
tissue and vessels.

A description of the curare wood from the Bio
Negro will give an idea of these ligneous layers.
This wood does not show the concentric zones well
marked, and nothing which corresponds to the
annual layers of our dicotyledonous trees. The
ligneous fibres, which are very numerous, regularly
ranged one opposite another in radial series, are of
inconsiderable diameter and all pitted. They
surround numerous vessels, also pitted, of which
the diameter is much less. The tissue is traversed,
from the centre to the circumference by numerous
medullary rays, composed sometimes of a single
row, sometimes of two or three files of rectangular
cells containing frequently a large crystal. At
intervals are seen also bands of cellular tissue which
pass through the ligneous tissue in a tangential
direction and which form false annual layers. But
the most curious and characteristic feature of this
structure is the development of large lacunae, which
are formed by the tearing, or rather by the destruc¬
tion, of the tissues, and which causes the disappear¬
ance over a considerable space of vessels, ligneous
tissue, medullary rays and cellular tissue. In a
transverse section these lacunae have a very irregular
contour, tending, however, generally towards the
ellipsoid form with the principal axis in a tangential
direction. They are not limited by any special
wall, but by the various tissues in the midst of
which they are developed. These are the lacunae
which form at the surface of the wood the charac¬
teristic openings that have been before referred to.

These curious lacunae are shown very clearly in the
wood of the stem and root of the Guiana ourari ; they
are also seen perfectly with the naked eye in the
wood of hoang-nan. Lastly, they are very visible in
a young stem of Strychnos Nax vomica , L. “Ramon”
wood ( Strychnos Castelnceana, Wedd.), which is very
hard and resistent to cutting instruments, appears at
first sight not to possess this character ; but in ex¬
amining a well polished section, and especially one
cut obliquely, the presence of these lacunse is per-

December 11, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

471

ceptible and is confirmed by the aid of a microscope.
The same is the case with m’bondou wood, which in
its compactness much resembles ramon wood. The
lacunae are less numerous, but they exist there and
have quite the same mode of formation as in other
species of Strychnos.

What relation can these stems thus furrowed have
to the lignum colubrinum, with its white silky fibres ?
A microscopic examination shows that a relation
exists and that the supposed silky fibres of Guibourt
are nothing but a matter secreted in the interior of the
lacunae, filling them completely and thus presenting
to the eye their peculiar course. There happens
here what is seen in the rudimentary state in other
species, where some lacunae contain through a part
ot' their length a resinoid product. The exudation
is much more marked in the lignum colubrinum. It
fills up the spaces that are made in the tissue ; but
the spaces none the less exist, and they have exactly
the same characters as those in the stems and roots
of other species of Strychnos.

I do not insist further upon the details of the
structure. I will limit myself in this section to
putting in evidence this important fact, the constancy
of certain characters in the wood as well as in the
bark of species of Strychnos, reserving for subsequent
sections various special points that may arise in the
study of this genus.

(To be continued.)

NOTE ON MIKANIA GUACO.

BY J. G. BAKER.

Mikania Guaco is a form of a plant widely diffused
in Tropical America, which is known under a great
many different botanical names. It is the Eupatorium
amarum of Vahl ; Eupatorium parviflorum of Aublet’s
1 Guiana,’ tab. 315 ; E. vinccef olium of Lamarck, in the
French ‘ Encyclopedic’ ; Mikania amira of Willdenow
and De Candolle ; Mikania Huaco of De Rieux ; M.
argyrostigma of Miquel’s ‘Stirpes Surinamenses,’
tab. 55 ; and M. Guaco and Tafallana of H. B. K.
and De Candolle. Under the name of Mikania Guaco
there are figures in H. B. K, ‘ PI. Equin.,’ tab. ]05,
and Descourtilz’s ‘Medical Flora of the Antilles,’
tab. 197, and under the name ofM. am am, var. Guaco,
in my ‘Monograph of the Brazilian Composite,’ t. 66.’
It ranges from Panama and Nicaragua to Peru and
Central Brazil.

SYRUP OF CITRIC ACID/

BY J. B. MOORE.

There is no flavouring substance more palatable or
more popular than that of the lemon. In the form of
lemon syrup, or its substitute, syrup of citric acid, it is
very extensively used, not only in medicine, but as a
beverage, as lemonade, etc. The syrup of lemon is now
very rarely kept by pharmaceutists in the United States,
the syrup of citric acid having almost entirely superseded
it on account of the trouble and at times the expense of
making the former, and the difficulty attending its pre¬
servation in good condition for a length of time.

Syrup of citric acid is easily and cheaply made, and
when well prepared, so as to possess the true fruity
lemon flavour, it is, in my opinion, ia every respect
equal, if not superior, to the veritable lemon syrup.
Unfortunately, however, the formula of the U. S. Phar¬
macopoeia for this syrup do«3 not afford a well-flavoured

* From the Druggists’ Circular.

and satisfactory preparation. The amount of oil of
lemon employed (4 minims to 2 pints of syrup) in the
officinal formula is inadequate to make a syrup of suffi¬
cient flavour.

The syrup of citric acid is used in medicine almost
exclusively to impart flavour to mixtures and to disguise
or modify the taste of unpalatable medicines. Is is,
therefore, valuable, to a great extent, in proportion to its
flavouring power.

If the process of the Pharmacopoeia is followed a larger
proportion of oil of lemon than is directed in the formula
cannot be used, as it would not be held in solution, and
would be liable to separate on standing and rise to the
surface of the syrup, which would be objectionable.

I have for a number of years tried to improve this
formula, and have met with much difficulty in devising
a process by which I could form a clear and permanent
syrup, with the lemon flavour sufficiently pronounced to
answer all the purposes for which it may be required,
not only as a flavouring for medicinal use, but also a
beverage in the shape of lemonade.

As the result of my experiments I offer the following
formula and piocess for the syrup of citric acid, which I
have used for several years with much satisfaction : —

R Oil of lemon .

Citric acid, in powder . . .

Carbonate of magnesia, fine

powder .

Sugar in coarse powder . .

Boiling water .

Water, sufficient.

10 to 15 minims.
68 grains.

15 troy ounces.
8 fluid ,,

Add the oil of lemon to the boiling water in a 2-pint
bottle ; shake vigorously and add 9 troy ounces of the
sugar ; shake well occasionally until the mixture cools.
Then add the carbonate of magnesium, and after the
mixture has been again well shaken, filter through paper,
passing sufficient water through the filter to make the
filtered liquid measure 14 fluid ounces; to this add the
remainder of the sugar and the citric acid, and shake
occasionally until dissolved, and, if necessary, strain
through muslin.

If after standing twenty-four hours the sugar is not all
dissolved, the solution may be completed by placing the
bottle in a water-bath at a temperature of from 140° to
150°.

This syrup, as thus prepared, keeps much better than
the officinal one, and is, in my opinion, in all respects a
better and more satisfactory preparation. If introduced
immediately into 4- or 8-ounce bottles, filled to the cork,
stoppered tightly, and kept in a cool, dark place, it will
keep without scarcely any apparent change for three or
four months. In fact, I have had samples preserved in
this way that have remained in very good condition for
eight months. But, like the officinal syrup, it is never¬
theless liable to change in a short time, in hot weather,
when brought up into the store-room. This teaches us
the importance of keeping all such preparations in the
cellar or some other dark, cool place, apart from the
deteriorating influence of the warm store-room. This
will, of course, give the dispenser a little extra trouble,
for which, however, he will be amply rewarded by being
thus enabled to supply these perishable preparations in a
more desirable condition.

In the above formula I have employed an excess of oil
of lemon, for the reason that it seems to yield a more
highly flavoured syrup than when just sufficient oil is
used for saturation.

The small- quantity of carbonate of magnesium em¬
ployed is barely sufficient to clear the syrup, and is much
better when added to the syrup and shaken than when
triiurated with the oil in the usual way, as when tritu¬
rated it appears to impair somewhat the flavour of the
oil and to diminish the delicacy of the syrup.

The filtration of the syrup towards the close of the
process, although continuous, is sometimes a little slow,
which, however, may be remedied by a change of filters,

472

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 11, 1830.

and by mixing a little water, say a half fluid ounce or so’
with the remaining contents of the filter.

It is hardly necessary for me to say that the oil of
lemon used for making this syrup should be the best and
freshest that can be obtained. If the oil is in the least
changed it will detract from the elegance and delicacy of
the flavour of the product.

When the syrup is intended for making a substitute
for lemonade, it may be made with tartaric acid, in whole
or in part ; tartaric, I think, forms a syrup with more life
and piquancy than the citric acid, and is equally if not
more refreshing as a beverage.

REMARKS ON THE TESTING OF MUSTARD OIL.*

BY F. A. FLUCKIGEK.

The examination of a specimen of mustard oil, adulte¬
rated with bisulphide of carbon, which was performed at
the request of Schimmel and Co. in Leipsic, led me to
some observations, which may be connected with some
communications of Hager ( Centralhalle , 1879, No. 39),
on the subject of the same oil.

The adulteration was to such an extent, that, by heating
the oil for one day in a water-bath at a temperature not
exceeding 80°, nearly one-fifth of the oil passed over, the
distillate possessing very nearly the specific gravity of
bisulphide of carbon, and, when warmed with alcohol
and ammonia, furnished very quickly the sulphocyanide
of ammonium, which gave with ferric chloride the
characteristic deep red coloration.

Treated in the manner indicated in my ‘ Pharma-
ceutische Chemie,’ p. 42, with alcohol, caustic potassa
and ether, the distillate above mentioned furnished the
ethylxanthogenate of potassium, which was recognized by
the beautiful yellow copper salt.

The liquid extracted from the mustard oil was, there¬
fore, to be considered as bisulphide of carbon, although it
was necessary to conduct the distillation at a temperature
above 47°, in order to obtain approximately the entire
amount.

The great mobility of sulphur in mustard oil has been
known for a very long time, as may be seen, e.g., from
the statements to be found in Gmelin’s ‘ Handbuch der
organischen Chemie,’ ii., 1852, p. 216.

It suffices, indeed, to warm pure mustard oil with a
little alcohol and ammonia, and to remove the excess of
the latter by heating in the water-bath, in order to obtain
the sulphocyanide of ammonium. It follows herefrom that
the sulphocyanide of iron reaction cannot be employed
for the purpose of detecting bisulphide of carbon in
mustard oil.

In order to obtain from pure mustard oil a metallic
sulphide, probably always accompanied by sulphocyanide,
it is not necessary to apply potassa, soda or ammonia ;
baryta water or lime water, even without alcohol, when
warmed with mustard oil, accomplish the formation of
the metallic sulphide, which may be detected by means
of the nitro-prusside of sodium. Even saturated solutions
of carbonate of sodium are capable of extracting sulphur
from mustard oil, forming therewith traces of sodium
sulphide.

Mustard oil and ammonia combine to form thiosinam-
min, SCNH(C;jH5)NH2; 1 molecule of mustard oil— 99
gives 116 thiosinammin. 100 parts of mustard oil must
therefore yield 1177 parts of thiosinammin. I warmed
5 grams of the pure mustard oil, distilled by Schimmel
and Co., with 2‘5 grams of absolute alcohol, and 8‘6
grams of ammonia water, sp. gr. 0’960, to about 60°, in a
loosely stopped flask. After a quarter of an hour the
mixture became clear, of a yellow colour, and, at the ex
piration of an hour, the odour of the mustard oil had

* From the Pharmaceutical Post, No. 17, 1880. Re¬
printed from the American Journal of Pharmacy ,
November, 1880.

disappeared. Evaporated on a watch glass upon the
water-bath until no further considerable reduction in
weight took place, the residue furnished upon cooling a
white crystalline mass of thiosinammin, which, after
drying completely over sulphuric acid, weighed 5’634
grams, or 11 ’2 per cent, of the applied mustard oil.

Other experiments, with slight deviation from this
procedure, gave 117, 1 1*23, and 1L57 per cent, of thio¬
sinammin.

Four grams of mustard oil, adulterated with bisulphide
of carbon, furnished on the contrary only 3 6 per cent.,
i.e., 90 per cent, of residue.

It is thus seen that the weighing of the thiosinammin,
which can be obtained from a given specimen of mustard
oil, is very well adapted for the determination of its
value.

This very neat reaction is, however, accompanied by
an unavoidable error. The action of the ammonia is, as
one might expect, not confined to the formation of the
thiosinammin, but the latter is always accompanied by
some ammonium sulphocyanide. The amount of the
latter is indeed very small, when a moderate heat and
not much more ammonia is applied than is necessary
according to the above formula. It still remains to be
studied under what conditions the formation of the
sulphocyanide is most limited; presumably, when the
formation of the thiosinammin takes place in the cold,
which in this case proceeds very slowly.

It would almost appear as if allyl sulphocyanide could
be formed of itself in mustard oil which has been kept for
a long time, for while pure and fresh mustard oil is not
changed by alcoholic ferric chloride, I have occasionally
observed with old mustard oil that a red coloration takes
place upon the addition of ferric chloride. As is well
known, allyl sulphocyanide boils at 161°, and passes by
simple distillation into mustard oil. It was therefore
sought whether by the action of a high temperature the
reverse reaction did not take place, and the mustard oil
assume the property of becoming coloured by ferric
chloride. This was, however, by no means the case with
a specimen of mustard oil which was heated in a sealed
tube to 180°; the oil became darker, but mixed, as
before, without change with ferric chloride. On the
contrary, the oil when exposed in a sealed tube for three
weeks to the action of sunlight, assumed a darker colour,
showed on the tube a brown deposit, and was then
coloured red by ferric chloride. It remains a peculiar
fact, that the red coloured compound, which is formed by
the action of ferric chloride on old mustard oil, or on that
which has been changed by the action of sunlight, is
insoluble in ether, which is not the case with the sulpho¬
cyanide of iron.

When the formation of the xanthogenate of potassium
is employed as a means for the detection of bisulphide of
carbon in mustard oil, the question arises, whether the
latter itself does not also take part in the reaction. This
is indeed the case, and with pure mustard oil, which has
been shaken with an alcoholic potassa solution, a liquid is
obtained which may lead to a deceptive conclusion, as it
also contains some potassium sulphide.

Indeed the behaviour of the xanthogenate of potassium
to copper salts is so characteristic that the smallest
amounts of bisulphide of carbon can be thus recognized ;
but, if mustard oil be present at the same time, the
decomposition products, proceeding from the latter, will
also give darkly coloured precipitates with copper salts.
Dr. Bertram, of Schimmel and Co., has found that very
dilute potassa, shaken for a very short time with mustard
oil, does not furnish these deceptive products of decom¬
position. Such a solution is obtained, according to him,
by saturating absolute alcohol with caustic potassa, and
diluting 20 drops of the solution with 10 c.c. of alcohol.
Ten drops of mustard oil, adulterated with bisulphide of
carbon, shaken with the above potassa solution for one
minute, then supersaturated with acetic acid, furnishes
a liquid, which with a solution of sulphate of copper

December li, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

473

produces a reddish-yellow precipitate. Pure mustard oil,
treated in the same manner, shows always an undesirable
turbidity, and after some time also a whitish deposit,
which, however, cannot be confused with that produced
by bisulphide of carbon, but which does not exclude with
certainty all doubts.

It is consequently the most desirable, under all circum¬
stances, to distill off the bisulphide of carbon, when the
quantity present will admit, and particularly to determine
its specific gravity and boiling point. In the case now
before us, the adulterated oil had the sp. gr. 1'073 at 20°,
while the same, after the above described process of
distillation, approached the correct number, 1*021, and
the specific gravity of the distillate was increased to over
1-20.

By the long preservation of the questionable adulterated
oil by the side of a specimen of the pure oil, the remark¬
able fact was shown, that the former in the course of a
few months, even in dispersed light, became coloured
very dark brown, and the bottom and sides of the flask
become covered with a dirty, brown red deposit, while
the pure oil under the same circumstances underwent no
change. In exposed sunlight, however, such a remarkable
distinction is not manifest, as in this case the pure oil
becomes also dark coloured very quickly.

THE SIEVE-TUBES OF DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS.

In a recent paper by Dr. K. Wilhelm of Strasburg, he
gives a fuller account than any previous observer of the
sieve-tubes of exogens. The plants examined were chiefly
Vitis vinifera, Cucurbita pepo, and Lagenaria vulgaris,
which may be taken as representatives of two different
types of sieve-structure; the first belonging to a more
complicated, the two others to a simpler type.

Those young bast-cells which are destined to the for¬
mation of a sieve-tube undergo, as a rule, a longitudinal
division into unequal cells ; the largest of these becomes
an element in the sieve-tube ; the one or more remaining
ones, which are much smaller but themselves of nearly
equal size, form the “companion cells” of the sieve-tube,
which may undergo still further division. These com¬
panion cells are always much smaller than the cam-
biform cells ; they are marked by containing abundant
granular protoplasm with a large nucleus; and the
walls which separate them from the sieve-tube always
contain a number of pits, which is not the case with
those that separate the sieve-tubes from the cambiform
cells.

The callous nature of the sieve-plates is not, as pre¬
viously supposed, the result of a secondary change ; on
the contrary, the transformation of a pit into a sieve-plate
begins with the local change of cellulose into callus. The
sieve-plates are formed where the pits in the callus are
separated by a reticulation of unchanged cellulose. The
callus is, however, not limited to the neighbourhood of the
sieve-pores, but may spread itself over the whole plate ; and
this callus-skeleton, which may be isolated, forms an essen¬
tial part of every completely differentiated sieve-plate.
The volume of this callus -skeleton varies at different times,
increasing with age and with the commencement of a
period of rest. Under both these conditions the sieve-
pores may become completely stopped; opening again
when the period of active vitality recurs. This descrip¬
tion applies both to the sieve-plates on the transverse
and to those on the longitudinal walls of the sieve-
tubes.

The chemical behaviour of the callus does not agree
with that of any known group of substances. With acids
and alkalies it swells quickly, and is rapidly dissolved if
they are concentrated ; it is only slightly attacked, or not
at all, by ammoniacal copper oxide. It is not coloured
by an alcoholic solution of iodine ; while potassium iodide
colours it yellow or brownish-yellow; on addition of
Schultz’s solution an intense red-brown colour is produced ;

this substance alone produces no change of colour, but a
considerable swelling. In the polarizing apparatus it
remains dark.

While the sieve-tube is in the process of formation,
a characteristic change take place in its contents, in the
formation of isolated drops or irregular masses of a
colourless or yellowish shining mucilage apparently rich
in nitrogen ; these appear in the layer of protoplasm
which lines the cavity of the young bast-cells, and their
appearance is followed by the disappearance of the
nucleus. These separate masses unite, as a rule, into a
parietal band, which is usually many times narrower
than the cell. This always remains distinct from the
granular protoplasmic parietal layer of the cell itself,
while the fluid contents is known as the “sieve-tube sap.”

The author was unable to observe more exactly the
origin of the sieve-pores and the commencement of the
open communication between the separate cells. It
probably takes place by the outgrowth of protuberances
of the protoplasmic parietal envelope of the sieve-tube,
which enter the sieve-pores from opposite sides where
two sieve-plates lie opposite to one another, and unite to
form connected strings.

The probable presence was determined, in Lagenaria
and Cucurbita , but not in Vitis, of an interior tube within
the parietal protoplasmic layer between the sieve plates,
and also penetrating the sieve-poies, formed apparently
from the substance of the mucilage. The actual perfora¬
tion of the sieve-pores, doubtful in some cases, was proved
in others by the connection between these protoplasmic
envelopes of adjacent sieve-tubes.

The presence of starch grains in the sieve-tubes was
established by the author in the case of Vitis. They are
of considerable size, 1*5 — 2 '5 mm. in diameter, and are
present when the tubes are still closed, chiefly in the
neighbourhood of the septa. Their size precludes the
hypothesis that they pass through the sieve-pores.

In the vine sieve -tubes occur in the medullary rays, by
means of which a connection is kept up between the
elements of adjacent bast rays. They result from the
transformation into sieve- tubes of a continuous row of
cells of the medullary ray, which penetrate it usually in
an oblique direction. Neither these nor the starch-grains
were observed in Lagenaria or Cucurbita.

The author was not able satisfactorily to determine
the function of the sieve-tubes, but inclines to the view
that they serve for the transport of insoluble substances
from one part of the plant to another.

CYPRIEN M. TESSIE DU MOTAY *

BY AUGUSTE J. ROSSI.

By the death of Mr. Tessin du Motay, the American
Chemical Society has to deplore not only the loss of one
of its most distinguished members, but also that of a
savant, who will leave by his numerous works, discoveries
and researches in all branches of technology, a lasting
impression on the history of industrial science of our
century. He died suddenly, in New York, from apoplexy,
at the age of 61 years.

Born in Brittany, France, in 1819, of an old and
aristocratic family, Tessin du Motay received in his
youth an academical but not technical education. His
studies were directed by the famous Abb£ Lamennais — a
friend of his family, from whom, it must be supposed, he
derived his very liberal ideas in politics and philosophy.
Gifted with a brilliant and passionate imagination, of a
distinguished and at the same time romantic turn of
mind, as well as of a superior intelligence, he could not
but take an active part in the conflict between the
“Romantic ” and “Classical” Schools, as the two parties

* From the Journal of the American Chemical Societij,

July, 1880.

474

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 11, 1880.

were called, wliicli divided the young generation of
literati in the first years of the monarchy of Louis
Phillippe. Brilliantly endowed as a literary man, his
first essays opened to him the doors of the most renowned
salons of this period, where French art, literature and
science made their abiding place. Even the most
exclusive of these opened its doors to one so well fitted to
do honour to it, and in the salon of Madame Rdcamier,
young Tessin du Motay met with great success in his
efforts in the drama, poetry and music. Cha.teaubriand
and Victor Hugo were the familiars of this “ Cenacle ,”
and there Tessin du Motay became acquainted with
Alfred de Musset, Vigny, Scribe, Thdophile Gauthier,
M6ry, Gerard de Nerval, and all this pleiad of young
authors, who have since acquired a prominent place in
different branches of literature.

But science had also its fascination upon him; the
frequenting of the society of such eminent chemists as
Chevreul, Dumas, Berthelot, decided his calling; more
especially Chevreul, who was an intimate friend of his
father; Chevreul who, at the age of eight years, held
M. du Motay’s father in his arms for baptism. Some
early discoveries encouraged him to persevere, and
finally, by continuous efforts in France and abroad, he
conquered for himself a name well known and appreciated
in the history of industrial chemistry. Ardent to the
task, never sparing the means he had been able to
acquire in his professional career as consulting chemist,
there has not been a single important subject in techni¬
cal science developed within the last twenty years, in which
Tessid du Motay was not directly or indirectly concerned.
Of a generous and open nature, he often gave to manu¬
facturers who consulted him new processes in industry,
or happy modifications of old ones, which were applied
by them and of which the origin cannot be publicly
traced to him.

An ardent and radical republican, brought up in the
midst of the liberal agitation of those times, a warm
advocate of free speech, free press and free education, he
has, in politics, a record that the friends of liberty and
liberalism cannot forget. He took, as might be expected,
a leading part in all the exciting events of the last
years of the Monarchy of July, 1830. He participated,
at the side of Ledru-Rollin, in the political movement of
1848, and the subsequent agitation.

Exiled from France, after what is known there as the
“Bourg^s Trial,” in 1849, he went successively to
Belgium, England and Germany. In England, he
renewed acquaintance with the prominent exiles, Ledru-
Rollin, Louis Blanc, Caussidihre, Madier de Montjau, all
of whom have since become well known.

When abroad, he completed many of his most impor¬
tant discoveries. He returned to France in 1860, and
applied himself from that time entirely to industrial
chemistry, which secured for him two gold medals and
one silver one at the different International Exhibitions
in Paris, in 1865 and 1878, and finally, the cross of the
Legion d’Honneur. During the siege of Paris he directed
the service of the ambulances, and all those who had
occasion to know him then, and to see him at work, can
testify with what devotion, what cheerful humour and, at
the same time, with what patriotism, he took his part in
the national defence. He was on the staff of the
Governor of Paris, and was present at the most im¬
portant battles of the siege, that of Champigny, and
others.

A literary man, a musician, a philosopher and a
savant, Tessin du Motay was also one of the most honour¬
able and sympathetic of men. Nobody, better than he,
knew how to ally to the genial courtesy and affability of
the man of good society, the dignity and the seriousness
of a perfect gentleman. The interest and charm of his
conversation, the amenity of his intercourse, made him
the most fascinating of men, as he was also the truest of
friends. Generous, kind hearted, always ready to help
misfortune wherever met, during a stay of hardly eighteen

months in the United States, he had succeeded in creating
around him a circle of appreciative and devoted friends,
who held him in the highest regard. Young and old
were attracted to him, fascinated, as it were, by the
magic-il charm of his conversation. Even in his later
years he did not give up his literary pursuits. He had
great fondness for Oriental literature and the mythology
and theogony of India. We were fortunate enough to
have the privilege to hear him read his translation,
or rather adaptation, in French verse (with many
original and happy additions inspired by the subject)
of some of the songs of Brahma and Vishnu. The
enthusiasm of his diction, the genuine animation of his
gestures, could well make one believe himself to be
transported, in reality, into the poetical fictions of
Brahmanism and Buddhism. He also left a philosophi¬
cal drama which he desired should not be published until
after his death, which, under the name of the “ Expiation
of Faust,” treats of an old subject in a novel and masterly
manner.

Tessie du Motay's Scientific Work.

It was said of him that he made perhaps more inven¬
tions than any other man, for it often happened that
when he was consulted about some scientific subject,
he would give expression to views so original, and make
suggestions so practical, that his consulters often utilized
them at once, without his receiving the credit of the
suggestion or invention. About eighteen months pre¬
vious to his death, he had come to the United States as
Consulting Chemist and Engineer of the Municipal Gas
Light Company, to superintend the building of retorts
and furnaces, and the preparation of machinery for the
introduction of the carburetted water gas, practically and
on a large scale, for the lighting of New York. Everybody
knows what success he has met with. The gas obtained
has a much greater illuminating power than the ordinary
gas, and can be produced at such reduced rates as to
have forced many of the other companies to adopt the
process.

Metallurgy. — Metallurgy greatly interested him, and
he was intimately connected for the last twenty years
with the progress of this science. He patented in
England a process for the treatment of arseniferous iron
ores, and suggested or made several improvements in the
manufacture of ferro -manganese. He was also the
first to introduce and manufacture bricks of magnesia
for metallurgical purposes. They were made for Mr. de
Wendel, in Alsace, for the Siemens-Martins steel fur¬
naces. The magnesia was brought from Euboea, Greece,
in the state of magnesite (magnesium carbonate). The
earth was ground, worked in the shape of bricks, which
were compressed by hydraulic pressure of 100 tons.
They were then burnt in a kiln at a very intense tempera¬
ture, so as to prevent the magnesia from changing to
carbonate on contact with the air. The best Dinas fire
bricks, used at Mr. de Wendel’s, lasted generally from
two to there weeks, whereas the magnesia fire bricks of
Tessid du Motay lasted eighteen months. They were
used by Mr. de Wendel in forty re-heating furnaces for
steel and iron, with great success;

In the fall of 1879, Mr. du Motay was engaged by
certain capitalists to make an examination of, and report
on, the iron and copper pyrites deposits of Lake Superior
and Canada. He was to have undertaken the direction
of the reduction of these ores by a new process of his
own invention, when death struck him.

Etching on glass. — In collaboration with Mardchal he
invented and introduced a very excellent method for
etching on glass. The use of hydrofluoric acid is always
attended with danger, especially when it is in the gaseous
state. But while the solutions of this acid produce on
glass brilliant surfaces, it is only by the use of the gas
that it is possible to obtain unpolished surfaces, much
finer and better adapted for delicate effects in decoration.
By his process, excellent results have been obtained, and

December 11, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

47 o

tlie dangers of the gas avoided. The hydrofluoric acid is
disengaged in the nascent state from a bath composed of
fluorhydrate of fluoride of calcium, water, and diluted
hydrochloric acid. He recommended also the use of
saccharate of lime as a counter- agent against the burns
produced by fluorhydric acid.

Photography. — In photography he improved several
processes, and, at the same time as Poitevin and Nibpce,
made several attempts for the production of coloured
photographs. In connection with Mardchal he invented
a special process for the production of transparent
vitrified photographic proofs. A glass plate having been
covered with a solution of india-rubber in benzine, and,
when dried, with a coating of ioduretted collodion, an
image (positive by transparency) is obtained from the
negative. After proper treatment by means of cyanide
of potassium, platinum and gold baths, to develop and
obtain the proper shades of black, the plate is placed in a
muffle, and the organic matters burnt. It is then covered
with a flux of borax, and vitrified.

Electric light.— Tessid du Motay has been connected
with the latest efforts made for the introduction of
electric light, on an industrial scale, for illuminating
citie3. A professional friend of Jablochkoff, Moncel and
Jamin, and other celebrated electricians, he, with
Jablochkoff, was the first to suggest the use of carbon
pencils coated with kaolin, to prevent their disintegration
when burning.

Edison, in his latest electric lamps, realized this idea
by using the carbon produced by the calcination of
bristol boards ; mistaking the true explanation of the
case, he attributed to a fourth state of carbon, the
peculiar properties of the carbon thus obtained.

Tessid du Motay (in an article which was published in
the New York papers) explained that the qualities
of durability of these new pencils were due to the
presence of kaolin, used for sizing bristol paper, and
that he and Jablochkoff had many years ago anticipated
the idea.

Permanganates. — He gave his attention to the prepara¬
tion of alkaline permanganates on a large scale, having
found an industrial use for them in his new method of
preparation of oxygen gas. In the ordinary preparation
of the permanganate, peroxide of manganese, chlorate of
potash and caustic potash are heated together in an iron
retort. After proper manipulations the mass is treated
with water, which transforms the manganate into per¬
manganate. Tessid du Motay proposed first to. produce
the transformation of manganate of potassium into per¬
manganate, by means of sulphate of magnesia. He also
obtained the alkaline permanganates by a completely
new process, by the action of the oxygen of the air on
sesquioxide of manganese in presence of caustic soda
or potash. The mixture, introduced into cast iron retorts,
is heated to 400° C., and a current of air is passed
through the mas3.

Preparation of oxygen. — One of his most original,
ingenious and successful inventions was that of the
preparation of oxygen gas on an industrial scale. His
method is based on the following reactions : When the
permanganate of sodium or potassium is exposed to a
temperature of 450p C., in a current of superheated
steam, the salt loses its oxygen, producing caustic alkali
and peroxide of manganese. If now this mixture of
these two substances, at this same temperature of 450°
C., is exposed to the action of a current of air, the
primitive salt is regenerated by absorption of oxygen,
and can then furnish oxygen anew by the action of super¬
heated steam. In consequence of these successive decom¬
positions and revivifications, a given quantity of per¬
manganate can furnish an indefinite quantity of ox}'gen.
The operation is effected in cast iron retorts. The
steam carried away by the oxygen gas is condensed,
and the air from which oxygen is to be borrowed
for the regeneration of the permanganate is blown in
the retorts after having been deprived of its carbonic

acid. By this method one cubic metre of oxygen cost
0’40 francs.

Illuminating gas. — Having thus secured the means of
obtaining oxygen cheaply and in great quantities,
Tessin du Motay turned his attention to one of his
favourite schemes, and one which has brought him a
legitimate share of his fame — “a new method of illumina¬
tion.”

Iu the Drummond light, a mixture of oxygen and
hydrogen gas, supplied by two different gasometers, is
brought in contact with a cylinder of caustic lime, and
lighted. A light, next in intensity to that of the sun or
electric arc, is thus produced. Tessid du Motay and
Mardchal have rendered this system applicable even to
the lighting of cities, by the introduction of their in¬
dustrial method for the preparation of oxygen gas.
Tessid du Motay modified the process in preparing the
hydrogen gas, by effecting the decomposition of hydroxide
of calcium by carbon in iron retorts. A company, under
the name of the New York Oxygen Co., has employed
this system of illumination with success for large squares,
public places, beacons, signals. It was very much used
during the war of secession.

Guided by Caron, Tessid du Motay and Mardclial
have since substituted for the calcium pencil a pencil
of calcined magnesia, which withstands better the high
temperatures which are reached. These pencils having
sometimes the inconvenient property of breaking on
cooling, they have substituted for them the “zirconia
pencils ” with much better results.

Tessid du Motay has also introduced a new system of
illumination by using water gas (a mixture of hydrogen
and carbonic oxide), which is burnt in the presence of a
regular current of oxygen, obtained by his process. The
flame is directed on cylinders of magnesia and zirconia.
This system was tried in Paris, Place de l’Hotel de Ville,
in 1868, with success.

In 1870, Tessid du Motay modified his methods in the
following manner : He made his oxygen pass into the
flame from a solution of naphthalene in petroleum ether.
This liquid was called, in France, “ carbolene.” During
the combustion, there are separated from the liquid
substances of an intense lighting power. This kind of
light is known in France a3 the “ Oxy-carburetted light
of Tessid du Motay.” The combustion took place in
lamps with a wick (Philipp’s lamps), into the flame of
which the oxygen gas penetrated horizontally.

After these experiments, Tessid du Motay still further
modified his system, and gave it a very practical form, b}r
directing a jet of oxygen gas on ordinary illuminating
gas from coal, made very rich in carbon by proper car-
buration, the combustion taking place in a slit burner of
steatite. This process was tried in Paris, in 1870, on
the Boulevard de 1’ Opera, and at the Tuileries, under the
auspices of Napoleon III., who was very enthusiastic on
the subject. The light, it is said, was intense and really
splendid. If it had not been for the complications which
the war brought on, this system, bade fair at the time, to
be thoroughly tested and employed in Paris. It was on
this occasion that he received the cross of the Legion
d’Honneur, he having refused it once before, on account
of his political record, because it had been officially sent
to him. The Emperor gave him an audience, and, having
learned his reasons for refusal, took from his coat the
cross he was wearing himself and attached it to the
bosotn of Tessid du Motay, adding that “science and
politics had nothing to do together.”

Though found objectionable on account of the double
system of pipes required, this system of illuminating can
be, and, in France, has been, applied in many cases.
It has been applied to the lighting of mines, for photo¬
graphy, for sub-marine works, for lighting public places
of meeting, theatres, etc. The industrial preparation of
oxygen by the du Motay process constitutes certainly
a progress very interesting and full of promise for the
industry of illuminating gas.

476

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December ll, 1880.

Tessid du Motay still further modified the burner for
his gas, by the introduction of his “differential burner.”
The ordinary illuminating gas, carburetted as before,
arrives in two opposite directions by two tubes which are
curved horizontally. The oxygen is supplied by a vertical
tube reaching slightly below the level of the others, and
placed between the two. This burner is formed of
several jets of the same kind, placed in a ring. A
vertical magnesia or zirconia pencil is slightly engaged at
its base in the ring formed by the jets, and becomes
incandescent.

Bleaching. — The name of Tessin du Motay is associated
with several inventions for the bleaching of textile fabrics
and fibres.

In 1874, Tessid du Motay proposed for the scouring of
silk (to deprive it of the sericine) the use of a bath of
hydrate of baryta (12 to 15 per cent, of the hydrate for
100 of the silk) heated to 80° C. The ordinary decoloriz¬
ing agents having no action on what is called “grey
silk,” he proposed to use successively, to bleach these
fibres, nascent oxygen gas and sulphur dioxide, sulphy-
dric acid and sulphur dioxide.

The silk is dipped in a solution of permanganate of
potassium, and then in a solution of sulphur dioxide, to
eliminate the oxides of manganese. After repeated
treatments in these solutions, the fibres are introduced
into a solution of sulphydric acid, or of alkaline sulphides,
washed, and again treated with sulphur dioxide solutions.

For bleaching flax, hemp, cotton, silk and wool, Tessin
du Motay has inti'oduced a new method based on the use
of the alkaline permanganates. A solution of manganate
of sodium is added to a solution of sulphate or chloride of
magnesium, or chloride of calcium ; by double decomposi¬
tion, permanganate of sodium, sulphate of sodium, and
hydrate of magnesium, or calcium, are produced. The
fibres are dipped in the solution. 2 to 6 kilograms of
manganate is said to be sufficient for 100 kilograms of
cotton, flax or hemp. The fibres are then passed into an
alkaline solution, in case of silk or wool in a solution of
soap, and afterwards into a solution of sulphur dioxide,
to dissolve the oxides of manganese.

The results obtained on a large scale at Comines,
France, at the manufactory of Verlay, in 1867, showed
that by Tessid du Motay’s process it is possible to bleach
completely in a day the fibres of flax and hemp, and that
but three days were required for tissues of flax and
hemp, and it was claimed that the fibres were no more
injured than by the other processes in use, which, more¬
over, necessitate a much longer time. For 100 m. of
linen the cost was stated at six francs. The manganate
of sodium could be obtained at one franc per kilogram.

He has also introduced a new method for bleaching
wax and feathers, which is at present carried on in
France, by Messrs. Viol and Duflot. It is based on the
use of oxygenated oil of turpentine.

Industry of sugar (baryta). — In the ordinary process of
the treatment of sugar solutions, the sugar is separated
from the impurities by the addition of lime and other
substances, capable of forming with these impurities in¬
soluble compounds, the sugar remaining in the solution.
Dubrunfaut and de Massy have introduced in France
a new method of treatment, which is the reverse of the
preceding. It consists in separating the sugar from the
impurities it contains, by forming with the sugar an
insoluble compound, while the impurities remain in the
solution. The substance employed is hydrate of baryta,
which forms with cane and beet sugar, even at the tem¬
perature of ebullition, insoluble saccharate of baryta.

To render this method practicable, hydrate of baryta
had to be obtained at a sufficiently low price, and on
a large scale. Dubrunfaut and Liplay prepared it by the
decomposition of witherite (barium carbonate) by coal.
But this decomposition to be complete, requires the
highest temperature, which the kilns used were not able
to stand.

Tessin du Motay, in connection with others, has con¬

tributed his part to the solution of the problem, and to
the introduction of another and much more economical
process. This process has been successfully carried on in
France, at Comines (Nord), at Asnikres Iks Paris, at
Courriere (Pas de Calais), at Menu Tylloy Delaune. It
is based on the decomposition of natural barium sulphate
(barytes), by coke, and subsequent treatment with zinc
oxide.

The mineral is ground, mixed with 20 per cent, of
coke or soft-coal, and calcined in a Siemens-Martin
furnace. Barium sulphide is thus formed. This sulphide
is suspended in water, steam is admitted and the mass is
thoroughly agitated. It is then allowed to settle. The
supernatant liquid and the concentrated washings of the
residue, are received in proper vessels. This liquid is of
a complex composition ; it contains diluted hydrate of
baryta, barium proto and bisulphide, and baryta sulphy-
drate. The sulphur is eliminated by boiling the liquid,
after an addition of zinc oxide (200 kilograms zinc oxide
for 35 hectolitres of sulphurous liquid, at 25° B.), the
mass being thoroughly agitated all the time. Insoluble
zinc sulphide is formed, and baryta hydrate remains in
solution. The solutions are concentrated, allowed to
crystallize, and the crystals are dried in the “ centrifuge.”
The product is hydrate of baryta with nine equivalents of
water. The 2inc sulphide is washed, roasted in ovens,
and the zinc oxide is thus regenerated for another opera¬
tion.

Binoxide of barium. — Tessid du Motay, starting from
the baryta, has also modified and improved the ordinary
process of preparation of binoxide of barium from this
base.

Artificial ice. — In 1880, Tessie du Motay and A. J.
Rossi patented two new processes for the artificial pro¬
duction of ice and cold, based on the power of absorption,
which they find certain ethers and alcoholic radicals
to possess, for gaseous sulphur dioxide and ammonia.

In one of them, a mechanical power is used to produce
the volatilization of both constituents of the binary
liquid, the vapours of which are compressed under very
small pressure in a condenser, where the ether liquefies
easily, absorbing the vapours of sulphur dioxide, recon¬
stituting the original liquid, and thus avoiding the high
pressures necessary to liquefy the sulphur dioxide by
mechanical compression.

In the other, advantage is taken of the higher point
of ebullition or less volatility of the absorbing ether. No
mechanical power is required. The sulphur dioxide is
disengaged by the action of heat (a water-bath), from the
absorbent contained in a boiler, and condensed to the
liquid state, by proper cooling and the pressure the gas
exerts on its own molecules.

The fire being removed from the boiler, and the latter
cooled in its turn, the liquid dioxide evaporates under the
partial vacuum thus produced, generating an intense
cold, its vapours being absorbed as fast as they are
formed by the absorbent in the boiler, working much in
the same manner as the Carrd ammonia solution
machines, but with much less pressure, and with a water-
bath instead of a furnace.

In 1879, Tessid du Motay, in collaboration with
L. F. Beckwith, took out in the United States several
patents of a mechanical character, for small rotary motors,
for mechanical devices, for the application of the cold pro¬
duced by refrigerating machines to the ventilation and
cooling of mines, for improvements in steam condensers
used on board of steamers, by using a very volatile
liquid, such as sulphur dioxide, for condensing steam,
instead of water, the volatile liquid being thereby vola¬
tilized under high pressures, the mechanical action of
which could be utilized on a piston so as to restitute
part of the mechanical power otherwise lost in the con¬
densing water. He also took a patent with L. F. Beck¬
with, for the joint use in the same ice machine, of sulphur
dioxide and chloride of methyl, with the idea of using the
former as an extinguisher of the latter.

December li, isso.} THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

477

CIjc |1ba':nT;ireutita1 Journal.

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , books for review , etc., should be addressed to the
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transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
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Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
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Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. JournJ

THE PROSECUTION UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND

MEASURES ACT.

The adjourned hearing of the summons against
Mr. Whittle for having in his possession glass
measures that were inaccurate has resulted in a
conviction, and as will be seen from our report of
the case at page 483, the attempt to defend him
against the charge proved entirely futile. After the
remarks we have already made on this case it will be
obvious that the result now arrived at is to be re¬
garded as an indication of possible serious danger
and detriment to any and every member of the trade
— danger that is not to be provided against by such
precautions as in the way of trade might be
deemed sufficient, and detriment that cannot be
averted by appeal to competent authority. So
far as this case illustrates the position of affairs
it is not sufficient to purchase one’s measures from a
well accredited source and to procure them bearing
the stamp of verification authorized by one or other
of the local authorities throughout the country,
which, according to the Act, is to render a weight or
measure legal throughout the United Kingdom. Mr.
Whittle had done that, and nevertheless he now
stands convicted of a breach of the 25th section of
the Act. This is the danger that threatens every
individual member of the trade at the present time,
and if we refer to the 45tli section of the Act it
will be seen that this is so, because there is a
certain limitation of the value to be attached to a
stamp of verification, leaving room for raising the
question whether a weight or measure is actually
correct. The inspector of each district under the
Act has thus placed in his hands the power of
negativing the value of a stamp of verification if he
arrives at the conclusion that a particular weight or
measure is incorrect. This is what has been done
in Mr. Whittle’s case, for the Marylebone in¬
spector alleges that the four graduated measures are
incorrect, notwithstanding their having the official
stamp of verification adopted by the local authorities
of York.

When the case comes before the Court empowered
to deal with offences under the Act it becomes evi¬
dent that a chemist and druggist is, to a very great
extent, at the mercy of an inspector, so far as a con¬
viction is concerned, and although under the 60tli
section any person who feels himself aggrieved by a

conviction or order of a Court of Summary Jurisdic¬
tion may appeal therefrom in the usual way, there
seems to be a total absence of any provision for
obviating conviction when the charge of inaccuracy
of weights and measures is unfounded. There is no
provision in the Act for referring the data of inspec¬
tors to competent authorities prior to conviction.

The case now referred to, in which Mr. Whittle
lias been the sufferer, affords an illustration of this
defect, and the course adopted by the magistrates
seems to show clearly that too much power is placed
in the hands of inspectors under the Act, especially
as regards the verification of weights and measures
involving some considerable manipulative skill.

The Marylebone inspector alleged that Mr. Whit¬
tle’s measures were deficient, and therefore incorrect
or unjust, and he summoned him for breach of the
Weights and Measures Act. At the hearing the
magistrates unreservedly avowed that they felt them¬
selves incompetent to go into the question whether
the measures complained of were incorrect or not.
They expressed their willingness to hear any
evidence that would prove the measures to be
correct, and admitted they would be bound to
listen to such evidence, but in the absence of
it they had only the opinion of their own official
— the inspector — to guide them, and as there was
nothing which would justify them in going against
the opinion of their own official, the only possible
result was a conviction. Virtually, therefore, this
result was brought about by the inspector’s dictum,
and the really important question, whether or not the
measures were incorrect, could not be touched.

We have already expressed our opinion that the
discrepancies alleged to obtain in the graduated
measures complained of by the Marylebone in¬
spector in this case are not such as should render
a person using them liable to prosecution for
infringing the Act by having in his possession
unjust measures. Assuming the statements of the
Marylebone inspector to be strictly accurate, they
would not justify in any degree the suspicion of
fraudulent intent in regard to the measures in ques¬
tion ; but at the same time it can scarcely be expected
that a bench of magistrates would enter ' into con¬
siderations as to the degree of latitude to be admitted
for the graduations. If the inspector’s data were
correct the measures were deficient, and in the strict
eye of the law they were unjust. This narrow view
of the case, based upon the evidence of the inspector,
was indeed all that was possible for the magistrates
to take.

The acknowledgment, on the part of the magis¬
trates, of incompetence to deal with what we consider
the really important questions as to the accuracy of
the inspector’s data, and as to the significance of the
alleged deficiencies in certain of the graduations, as
well as the decided expression of their sympathy
with Mr. Whittle, seem to point to the want of
some suitable provision for controlling the action of

478

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 11, 1889.

inspectors under the Weights and Measures Act in
regard to such weights and measures as those
under consideration. We are disposed to think
that if this case could have been referred to
a competent authority, with the object of ascer¬
taining whether it was one calling for prosecution
under the Weights and Measures Act, Mr. Whittle
would not have had the unpleasant experience of
appearing in court a3 a misdemeanant.

As it is, he has been convicted of an offence under
the Act, and he will still have to go through the
ordeal of an appeal before he can hope to remove
in any degree the stigma attaching to such a convic¬
tion. The only consolation that seems attainable by
him is that of having proved the want of some such
check on the action of inspectors as we have sug¬
gested. _

SPIRITUS AMMONITE AROMATICUS.

At the recent Pharmaceutical Conference in
Swansea, Mr. Thresh again drew attention to the
great variation in the amount of ammonia in spiritus
amnion, arom., even when it was represented to be
prepared according to the British Pharmacopoeia
process. Among nineteen samples analysed the
amount of free ammonia varied from 0601 to nearly
three times that quantity, while the carbonate of
ammonia varied from 0'24S to 3 ’995, or in other
words, one sample of this preparation contained
more than sixteen times as much carbonate of am¬
monia as another one, while the relative proportions
of free ammonia to carbonate of ammonia varied
almost to the same extent.

This subject has frequently been noticed in this
Journal, and it is one which seems to call for some
attempt to ensure greater uniformity. Naturally
the idea suggests itself that a more uniform prepara¬
tion could be made by merely mixing the several
ingredients, rather than by the distillation of a
mixture of such volatile materials. In regard to this
point, Mr. Symons, of Barnstaple, reminds us that in
another analogous case a high authority has remarked
that mixing certain ingredients in a retort and distilling
something out of it is not exactly a process which
modern chemistry can recognize as a proper one if a
definite product be desired. Under such circum¬
stances the product will vary, even if the proportions
of the ingredients be kept exact, according to the
quantities operated upon, the temperature at which
the distillation is carried on, and even the shape and
kind of apparatus employed.

But probably, as Mr. Symons suggests, a proposal
to dispense altogether with distillation in preparing
spiritus amnion, arom., and to adopt such a formula
as that recommended by Mr. Miller in 1867, or the
formula of the United States Pharmacopoeia, would
meet with strong opposition, as it did in 1867. There
is no doubt much ground for what Professor Redwood
then said as to distillation removing resinous sub¬
stance from the essential oils which is disagreeable to

the taste ; but, as Mr. Symons suggests, this resinous
substance is probably inert and equally removable
by deposition or filtering.

Considering the probable object of the prescriber
in ordering spiritus amnion, arom. to be that of
administering definite quantities of caustic ammonia
and of carbonate of ammonia, and at the same time the
desirability of having the preparation as agreeable
as possible to the taste, Mr. Symons suggests that
without dispensing with distillation entirely and
without sacrificing medicinal efficacy and uniformity
altogether for the sake of pleasant flavour, it might
be useful to adopt a middle course and to distil the
spirit together with the essential oils in the first
instance and afterwards to add an aqueous solution
of ammonia and carbonate of ammonia in suitable
proportion.

This suggestion is one that deserves consideration
now that the time for the preparation of a new
edition of our Pharmacopoeia may be regarded as
approaching, and as there are many other subjects of
a like character that might be usefully discussed in
these pages we trust that the beginning made in this
direction by Mr. Symons may serve as an induce¬
ment to others.

BENEVOLENT FUND.— ELECTION OF ANNUITANTS.

The official notice and the applications from can¬
didates would have made it almost superfluous to
call attention to the Election of Four Annuitants on
the Benevolent Fund on Friday next, were it not
that the provisions for the delivery of voting papers
by post, which tend perhaps to the convenience of
the voters, are not altogether compatible with the
necessities of the election which require the personal
attendance of some of them. The examination of
the voting papers entails a considerable amount of
work, which falls heavily upon the Scrutineers when
they are few in number. It is hoped, therefore, that
the attendance, at twelve o’clock, of persons entitled
to vote, will be large enough to furnish a sufficient
number who are able and willing to fulfil the
duties of Scrutineers.

PHARMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION IN GREECE.

We are glad to learn from our respected corre¬
spondent Professor Landerer, of Athens, that a
Pharmaceutical Society has just been formed in
Greece. One of the main objects of this Society is
to restrict the establishment of new pharmacies to
such an extent that there may not be more than one
for a population of four thousand. A law is to be
passed to this effect, and besides the restriction
in the number of pharmaceutical establishments,
properly so-called, druggists and general retailers are
to be prohibited from selling medicines in small
doses or according to prescriptions, under pain of
liability to fine and imprisonment. We learn that
the nomarchs and other local authorities throughout
Greece have declared themselves in favour of the
strict enforcement of this law.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association will be held on
Thursday, December 16, at 8.30 p.m., when a paper
will be read by Mr. C. Walker, on “ British Ferns
and their Allies.” A Report on Botany will be
made by Mr. D. Hooper, — “ Parasites and Sapro-
phites.”

December 11, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

479

JJIjanuatcutical Socicfn of ifrchmfr.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

December 1, 1S80.

Present — Professor Tichborne, President; Dr. Aquilla
'Smith, Vice-President ; Sir G. B. Owens, Messrs. Allen,
Bennett, Brunker, Collins, Draper, Grindley, Hayes,
Holmes, Hodson, Oldham, Pring and Simpson.

The minutes of the meeting held November 3, and also
those of the special meeting held November 17, were
-read and signed.

A letter was read from the family of the late Mr.
Goodwin thanking the Council for the resolution passed
at the Special Council Meeting.

Letters were read from Edmund W. Davy, M.D. ;
•J. \V. Moore, M.D. ; and George F. Duffy, M.D.,
thanking the Council for having elected them as
Examiners.

The Registrar then read a letter from Messrs. Ennis
-and Son, the Solicitors to the Society, informing the
Council that the writ in re Brownrigg had been returned,
.and that the magistrate had issued a warrant committing
him to prison for one month.

The President directed Mr. Fennell to read a letter
which he had received from Mr. Brownrigg stating that
he would abstain from dispensing in future, should his
imprisonment be prevented, or would pay the fine by
instalments.

Mr. Hayes said Mr. Brownrigg had called upon him
-and stated that he was unable to discharge the fine and
that imprisonment would be utter ruin to him, and
promised if the Council would prevent his committal
that he would not offend again. He (Mr. Hayes) suggested
they should deal mercifully with him, they having-
vindicated their rights.

Mr. Hodgson agreed that the Council should act
mercifully, but objected that the letter was an alternative
one, and suggested that a document should be drawn
•out by their Solicitors to be signed by Mr. Brownrigg.

The President doubted whether it would be correct to
oondone the offence and more particularly as the Society
had been at pecuniary expense of about £24 by the
^prosecution.

Mr. Draper, F.C.S., asked if the remittance of the fine
•depended upon the will of the Council.

Mr. Brunker said the Council had no voice now. The
•case having been disposed of by the magistrate it was
out of their hands. He suggested that Mr. Brownrigg
should make application to the magistrate, stating that
he was willing to pay the fine by instalments.

The President also thought the Council could not now
interfere.

On the motion of Mr. Brunker, seconded by Mr.
Hayes, it was resolved, in reply to the letter of Mr.
Brownrigg —

“ That Mr. Fennell be directed to refer him to the
Solicitors of the Society, and Dr. Collins was re¬
quested to call upon Messrs. Ennis and Son to
inform them that should the magistrate permit they
would not oppose an arrangement of payment by
instalments.”

A letter was read from W. S. B. Kaye, Esq., Clerk to
the Privy Council, acknowledging receipt of the Regis¬
trar’s letters, and promising to lay them befere the
Council at its next meeting.

A letter from Mr. John Moyle, asking permission to
be examined in January, was ordered to be replied to in
the negative.

A Member called attention to an infringement of
clause 30 of the Pharmacy Act, Ireland. A i-esolution
was proposed, seconded and passed — -

“ That Mr. Fennell should communicate with the
gentleman mentioned, and inform him that he was
illegally using the title Pharmaceutical Chemist, and
request him to register or cease using the title.”

The Law Committee reported upon the case referred
to them on November 3, and advised that legal proceed¬
ings should be instituted. It was proposed that a letter
should be addressed to the offender informing him that
he was acting illegally. After some discussion the re¬
solution was lost upon a division, and the recommendation
of the Law Committee that the Society’s Solicitors be
instructed to proceed with the case was adopted.

A vote of thanks to the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain for three books presented was proposed by
Dr. Collins, and seconded by Mr. Draper, and passed.

Accounts from Gunn and Cameron for advertisements,
and Browne and Nolan for stationery, were presented,
and cheques signed for payment.

Robert Montgomery, M.R.C.S.E., ex-Examiner in
Practical Pharmacy, was proposed for membership by
Professor Tichborne, seconded by Mr. Brunker.

The Registrar was directed to prepare the lists for the
Calendar for 1881.

Mr. Allen asked when the evening meetings would be
resumed.

The President said he hoped the next meeting would
be held in January.

The meeting then adjourned.

Licentiates of the Society who may have changed their
addresses are requested to inform the Registrar of such
change, for the purpose of correcting the list for the
Calendar.

Notice has been received of the ratification by the
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Privy Council of
the appointments as Examiners made by the Council at
its meeting on the 5th of November.

Infernal nm actions .

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The second meeting of the session was held in the
Manager’s Library, Anderson’s College, 204, George
Street, on Wednesday December 1, Robert McAdam,
Esq. (Glasgow Apothecaries Co.) in the chair. After the
Secretary, Mr. John C. Hunter, had read the minutes of
the previous meeting, which were approved of by the
members, the President called upon the late President,
Mr. Alexander Kinninmont, to read the following paper : —

Suggestions for the Amendment of the Pharmacy

Act.

BY A. KINNINMONT.

The recent decision in the House of Lords in the case
of the Pharmaceutical Society v. the London and Pro¬
vincial Supply Association, Limited, and the appoint¬
ment by the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of a
Committee empowered to draft a Bill to amend the
Pharmacy Act, 1868, seem to make the present occasion
a fitting one for offering a few suggestions as to what
amendments we should ask or have a likelihood of
obtaining.

As to the decision in question, it can only be
characterized as one more instance of the delight that
lawyers take in making the law of no effect by subtile
distinctions. The strange affirmation that what is illegal
for individuals to do singly is yet lawful for them
corporately, and that to a corporation everything is
permitted which is not expressly forbidden to corpora¬
tions in an Act of Parliament, is a matter that concerns
other interests more than our own, and I can only
express a hope that the Irish Land League may take
advantage of this decision and by acting boldly upon it
bring its reversal within the range of practical politics.

The alarm occasioned in our ranks by the decision
seems to me altogether without foundation. It has
really brought about no change in our position with

480

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 11, 1880.

regard, to co-operative stores, etc., as it was always
within the power of an enterprising grocer or store keeper
to let off a portion of the premises to a qualified chemist
and to carry on the drug business by means of a qualified
partnership without actually infringing the Pharmacy Act.

Now in approaching the Legislature with the view of
asking certain amendments to an Act which has wrought
beneficially for the public interest during more than
twelve jTears, we must bear in mind the smallness of our
numbers and the peacefulness of our habits. We cannot
influence elections by our votes, nor throng the
approaches to the House of Commons as a clamorous
mob, inodes of action which have proved ere now
successful means of preventing threatened attacks on
trade interests. Our only strength lies in the justice
and reasonableness of our demands, and although a great
historian has told us that persuasion is the resource of
the feeble, and the feeble can seldom persuade, yet there
is room to hope that our requests, if fairly stated and
legitimately pressed, may command the attention of the
Government.

We must also shun the use of the word “protection”
as one likely to prejudice our cause in the minds of
statesmen who profess to be guided by Liberal principles.
Our standpoint must be the opening words of the present
Pharmacy Act, “ Whereas it is expedient for the safety
of the public,” and our success in obtaining the modifica¬
tions we propose will be in proportion to our ability to
prove that they are likely to be conducive in greater
degree to public safety than the regulations at present in
force.

The amendments which seem to me necessary are few
in number, and are as follows : — ■

1. The quasi-legislative power given to the annual
general meeting should be abolished ; the Council being-
elected by the members of the Society, and having its
decisions made subject to the assent of the Privy Council,
we have thus quite sufficient guarantees against any
wrong or mistaken regulations acquiring the force of law.

2. Provision should be made to enable a business to be
carried on in behalf of a widow.

3. It should be clearly declared that all persons, sur¬
geons or others, keeping open shop are bound to observe
the regulations as to sale of poisons. At present this is
not distinctly understood or observed.

4. Every shop should be under the care of a qualified
person, either as proprietor or assistant, as at present a
chemist may have a hundred shops in as many different
towns, while the law does not require the presence of a
qualified man in any one of them.

This would prevent an unscrupulous chemist from
lending his name to an unqualified man, and so would
exclude from the business those who have no right to be
in it at all.

5. The most important change of all, and one upon
which I would most insist, is this, that the carrying out
of prosecutions for infringements of any of the provisions
of the Pharmacy Act should be placed in the hands of
the public prosecutor.

The public safety should be the public care. We have
done our part in expending time and money in qualifying
ourselves to carry on our business with due regard to the
safety of the public, and having done so, we are entitled
to call on the Legislature to fulfil its part of the implied
contract between us, and to prevent by means of its own
executive all contraventions of the law.

Why should the Pharmaceutical Society be compelled
to expend its funds, which are so much required for
educational and benevolent purposes, in expensive prose¬
cutions for the benefit of the public ? I consider that
the whole duty of the Society in cases of violation of the
law should be limited to the single point of giving evi¬
dence as to registration.

If you wish to see how this change would operate, I
would ask you to contrast a case of prosecution under
the Adulteration Act with one under the Pharmacy Act.

In the former case the accused comes into court with a
strong prejudice against him, his appearance there being
considered to show that there are strong reasons for
thinking him guilty, and the trial being a matter in
which the public aiithorities are the prosecutors, no sym¬
pathy is felt for him. In the latter case strong sympathy
is excited on behalf of the accused as being the victim of-
a powerful corporation whose jealousy has been awakened
by the attempt of a humble individual to break down
their monopoly.

If you glance over the late trial you will find this idea
running through the whole proceedings. That the whole
action was brought on in order to defend a monopoly',
and to this notion considerable colour is lent from the-
Pharmaceutical Society being compelled to assume the
pai't of prosecutor.

This feeling of commiseration would not exist were
action taken by the public prosecutor.

Let us consider a subject of a different nature, where-
qualification is required before permission can be obtained
to perform certain functions.

According to the Merchant Shipping Act, no ship is-
allowed to sail unless captain and officers have the neces¬
sary certificates, but no corporation of sea-captains is-
called upon to prosecute offenders.

Even in the case of the spirit trade it is the duty of
the police to look after shebeens, but the Wine, Beer and
Spirit Association is not called upon to provide funds-
to put them down.

I am convinced, therefore, gentlemen, that what is
necessary for us at the present time is, that whilst the
business of examination and general supervision of the
interests of the trade should be left in the hands of
the . Pharmaceutical Society, the duty of punishing
offenders against the Pharmacy Act should be in the-
hands of the police.

From a fear of occupying too much of your time, many
illustrations and details have been omitted, but these, I
think, your own experience can easily supply.

Should the idea of making the public prosecutor take
action in offences against the Act not find favour in the
eyes of our English brethren, I hope our Scotch represen¬
tatives will succeed in getting the usual clause inserted
into any amended Act, so that we at least may have the
opportunity of trying the experiment in Scotland.

After the reading of the paper, a varied discussion took
place.

Mr. J. A. Clarke spoke about the sale of poisons, e.fj.r
oxalic acid, sugar of lead, etc., by persons not qualified
and he commented strongly upon the law allowing small
hucksters to sell “ paregoric so called,” without its chief
ingredient, viz., the opium. The parties who bought that
spurious stuff might go at some future time to a chemist
and druggist and get paregoric of full strength, and on.
giving the same quantity of it to any young person might
do injury to the same. He also strongly condemned the
sale of patent medicines containing poisons by unregistered
persons. He was in favour of that pait of Mr. Kinnin-
mont’s proposed Amended Pharmacy Act which would
allow a widow to carry on business with a qualified assis¬
tant if she wished to do so.

Mr. Robert Brodie, Vice-President, said that it was
most singular that before the passing of the present Act
no restrictions were placed upon chemists and druggists
in business from selling poisons “ with the exception of
arsenic;” but after the passing of the Act, and although
chemists were then getting better qualified by their
examination, it was deemed necessary to restrict so many
articles of everyday use from being sold without the usual
entry in the poison book by proper qualified chemists.
Y et some of these articles were sold without the name
poison attached to them by unqualified persons. He also-
thought that the law did not punish severely enough some-
of those persons who, as was from time to time recorded
in the papers, give carbolic acid, etc., without properly

December ll, 1880.3 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

481

looking at the label, whereas if a chemist and druggist
makes a mistake, which does not happen often, the judge
is generally too severe in his decision.

Mr. J. C. Steele would not like to do away with the
poison schedule, as he thought the regulations gave no
great difficulty in carrying them out. He quite agreed with
that part of Mr. Kinninmont’s proposed amendment with
referenee to surgeons keeping qualified assistants to manage
their drug business, in the same way as the law should
insist on chemists doing so in any branch businesses which
they might possess, but not necessarily to attend person¬
ally to them themselves. He also thought that the qua¬
lity of drugs supplied to ships should be examined by a
person qualified to do so, for at present there was no check
upon the supply of in ferior drugs being sent to meet a
demand for articles that are quoted cheap, but which
cannot be genuine.

Mr. . Simpson was quite satisfied that the proposed
alterations of the present Act, as suggested by Mr. Kin-
ninmont, would be beneficial to the trade.

Mr. John Hunter thought there was nothing unreason¬
able in Mr. Kinninmont’s proposed Amended Pharmacy
Act, but he thought the Council should consider the
desirability of trying to adopt some means of preventing
the ever increasing supply of worthless nostrums which
are sold by chemists to the public, the majority of whom
believe that there is some patent right held by the maker.
Even some members of Parliament seemed to imagine that
there is some patent involved in the making of a cure-all
Pill*. tlie same as in some invention in the chemical or
engineering arts.

J. A. Clarke then moved that the meeting approve
of Mr. Kinninmont’s proposed amendments to the Phar¬
macy Act. This was seconded by Mr. Robert Brodie,
Vice-President. The motion was carried unanimously.

The President thereupon asked for a hearty vote of
thanks, which was duly given to Mr. Kinninmont for his
valuable suggestions, which it was believed would help to
mould the thoughts of chemists throughout the country
on the necessity of getting an Amended Pharmacy Act

soon.

NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The second monthly meeting of this Association was
held on Tuesday evening, November 30, at the Flying
Horse Hotel. The chair was occupied by Mr. Fitzhugh°
F.C.S., President, and there was a large meeting of mem¬
bers and friends. Eight new associates were proposed and
admitted, and a vote of thanks was accorded to the
Pharmaceutical Society for its donation to the library
of Bell and Redwood’s ‘ Progress of Pharmacy.’

During the evening Mr. H. Major, B.A., gave an
interesting and amusing lecture ; entitled “ Wit and
Humour.” Commencing his remarks by defining wit, he
proceeded to view it from different standpoints, as it
presented itself to the various phases of human nature.
He remarked that wit was subtle and often difficult to
be appreciated, and quoted Sydney Smith in its being
nearly allied to folly, that it can and needs to be studied
as any science; it should be pleasant not painful, yet
beneath its pleasantry lies a piercing sting and the sting
of wit generally lies in its tail. He carefully defined the
difference between wit and humour, the former dry,
caustic, and biting in its character, the latter rollicking,
jovial, like a “full tankard of foaming ale,” although the
one very frequently was merged into the other, and it was
difficult to determine between the two. The lecturer then
treated of national wit as applying to different countries
and nationalities, confining himself to English, Irish,
Scotch and American styles. During the evening Mr.
Major gave numerous mirth-provoking illustrations of
the different kinds of wit and humour, which kept the
company in a continuous state of laughter.

At the conclusion the usual vote of thanks was accorded
to the lecturer.

jromtrmgs of Scientific Societies.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday,
December 2, Dr. Gilbert, Vice-President, in the chair.

The following certificates were read for the first
E- Benton, A. H. Coffin, M. O. Gosset,
A. J. Kmg, E. Luck, W. J. Stavert, R. W. Walker,
tr. J. Wishart. During the evening the following
gentlemen were balloted and declared duly elected
Fellows of the Society J. O. Arnold, A. E. Barclay,
J. K. Crow, A. G. Chamberlain, A. C. Cockburn, P. H.
Cathcart, P. F. Frankland, T. Farrington, A. E. Garrod
A. E. Hawkes, R. Holliday, A. Jesseman, W. B. Mason’
J. A. Macfarlane, H. A. Mott, R. T. Plimpton, C. H.
Sharpies, F. M. Sexton, B. H. Thwaite, J. H. Tompson,
J . M. Wyborn. Professor Dewar and Dr. Sprengel were
elected scrutineers of the ballot.

The Chairman called upon Dr. Ramsay to lead a
paper —

On the Volumes of Sodium and Bromine at their Boiling
Points, also a joint paper On the Volume of Phosphorus at
its Boiling Point. By D. B. Masson and W. Ramsay.—
The method already described in Ohem. Soc. Jo urn ,
18/9, p. 471, was used in the experiments on sodium
with but slight modifications, an iron vessel being sub¬
stituted for one of glass. The sp. gr. of sodium at its
boiling point was found to be 0-7414, its sp. volume (the
reciprocal of the sp. gr.)~ 1 * 349. The atomic volume
(sp. vol. x at w) = 31"0. In a similar way the mean sp. gr.
of bromine at its boiling point was found to be 2-9483,
sp. vol., 0 3392 ; at. vol., 27T35. With phosphorus the
following numbers were obtained Sp. gr., 1-485 ; sp.
vol., 0-6734; at. vol., 20'91, with a probable error of
+ 0-3987. The authors then compare the atomic volumes

of the above elements in the free and combined condi¬
tions : —

Br

S

P

Na

free

99

99

99

27-135

21-60

20-91

31-00

combined

99

99

28T

22-6 and 28"6
25-3

not determined.

The atomic volumes of bromine are identical. The at.
vol. of sulphur in the free state is nearly identical with
its lowest value when combined. As nitrogen is known
to have at least three atomic volumes, we should expect
phosphorus to have more than one. In the following
compounds its atomic volume is doubtless about 25.
PCI*, PBr3, PC12 (C2H50), but in POCl3, PSC13 and
POBrCl2, the authors question the correctness of the
calculations. The oxygen and sulphur may have the
values of 12’6 and 28 6, instead of 7*8 and 22-6, if so, the
atomic volume of phosphorus will become in POOL
21*1 (molecule volume of POCl3 = 101-4 - (O 12-2 + Cl,,
68;2)), in PSC13, 19*4 ; in POBrCl2, 21 -7; the mean
being 20 '7, which fairly coincides with its value in the
free state (29‘91). Now P in PC13 is undoubtedly a triad.
In POCl3 and PSC13, it may be either a triad or pentad.
Cl Cl - P - Cl

Cl-P-Cl

or

O

O Cl

As the pentachloride of phosphorus furnishes POCl3 by
a simple and direct reaction, it is probable that the
correct formula is 0 = PC13, and therefore we might
expect the pentad phosphorus to have in this compound a
different atomic volume to the triad phosphorus in PC13.
Moreover, bromine in the free state has the same value
as in combination, and sulphur has in the free state the
lowest of the two values which it has in the combined
state. It is therefore necessary to ascribe two atomic
volumes to phosphorus, viz., 20 ’8 in compounds, in which
it acts as a pentad and when free, and 25*3 in its triad

482

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 11, 1880.

capacity. As orthophosphoric acid is obtainable directly
from the oxychloride by the action of water, the formuke
of the phosphoric acids must be ortho-

— HO
0 = P — HO
— HO,

pyro-

and meta-

0 = P

—HO
-HO

\

/

0 = P~

0

-HO

-HO,

0 = P = 0

I

HO.

In conclusion, the author states that from the facts
mentioned in the preceding paper, the theory of “steres”
as applied by Schroder to boiling liquid compounds is
untenable.

The Secretary then read a paper —

On the Specific Volume of Chloral. By Laura Maude
Passavant. — Great care was taken to dehydrate the
chloral used, and to avoid the formation of free hydro¬
chloric acid, which appears to have a marked influence
in polymerizing the substance. The chloral used in
these experiments has maintained its limpidity for a
considerable time, and has apparently not formed any
metachloral. It was obtained by treating commercial
re-crystallized chloral with strong oil of vitriol, and
afterwards distilling it twice over lime. Its vapour
density was found to be 72*21 ; its boiling point
97°'73. Its specific gravity at 0° compared to water
at 4° was 1*54179 and 1*54170 in two observations.
Its rate of expansion was also determined. The numbers
obtained agree well with those of Thorpe, but differ
from those of Kopp. As calculated from the observations
of the authoress of the present paper, the relative volume
of chloral at its boiling point (97°*73) is 1*12602; its sp.

1*54179

gr. at that temperature - - = 1*3692 compared with

6 r 1 12602

water at 4°, and its specific volume is therefore
= 107*37. This number agrees well with that

1*3692

calculated by Thorpe, 107*1, and shows, that the oxygen
atom in chloral has precisely the same value as in
aldehyde.

Dr. Armstrong said that from the observations of
Dr. Ramsay there was no doubt that the formula of
oxytrichloride of phosphorus was —

-Cl
0 = P-C1

-Cl

He should like to raise the question as to whether the
atomic volume was a constant. To take Thorpe’s paper,
the atomic volume of chlorine varied between 21*6 and
23*2, the mean being 22*7. These differences seemed to
him very large and outside the limits of experimental
error. Although it had been shown that there was
undoubtedly a great difference in this respect between an
element in the triad and pentad condition, he did not
think we were justified in assuming that we had deter¬
mined the atomic volume of an element.

Professor Dewar said that from the method of
calculating the atomic volumes very small differences
in experimental results would lead to large differences in
the numbers obtained; he thought that the coincidences
already obtained between the atomic volumes of an
element in the free and combined state were at all events
very striking facts.

Mr. Neison pointed out that there might be a systematic
as well as an experimental error ; the former could not be
got rid of by increasing the number of experiments.

Dr. Ramsay, in reply, said that there were two reasons

which might account for the variations in the experi¬
mental numbers : the difficulty of obtaining the various
substances in a pure state, and secondly, that the atomic
volumes were all determined at the particular pressure of
the atmosphere. Perhaps at some other pressure the
atomic volumes might agree more closely. He hoped to
present a paper which would answer the question,
whether the atomic volumes do or do not have the same
ratios at varying pressures.

Note on the Formation of Carbon Tetrabromide in the
Manufacture of Bromine. By J. C. Hamilton. — A quan¬
tity of a white crystalline substance was obtained as a
residue after distilling a quantity of commercial bromine.
It melted at 90°*1. It was decomposed by boiling with
an alcoholic solution of soda, yielding a white precipitate
of NaBr ; this, on precipitation with silver nitrate, indi¬
cated 97*1 per cent, of bromine in the original deposit.
Carbon tetrabromide has 96*4 per cent. This substance
is probably derived from the action of bromine on the
organic matter in the sea- weed.

Mr. Howard said that he had seen the same deposit
from Scotch and American bromine. German bromine
had never yielded a similar substance.

Researches on the Relation between the Molecular Structure
of Carbon Compounds and their Absorption Spectra. By
W. N. Hartley. — A preliminary notice of the work in
this paper was read at a meeting of the Society in June
last. Part I. contains general conclusions as to the
nature of the actinic absorption exerted by various
carbon compounds. Part II. contains an account of
experiments which prove the generally diactinic character
of substances constructed on an open chain of carbon
compounds. Part III. discusses the nature of the actinic
absorption exerted by various closed chains of carbon
atoms. Pacts are adduced to show that the formula;
which have been proposed for camphor and camphoric
acid and for the terpenes are correct, as far as the carbon
nucleus is concerned only, when, in the case of the first
two bodies, the nucleus is represented by a closed chain
of singly linked atoms, and, in the case of the terpenes,
when the closed chain contains two pairs of doubly linked
carbon atoms. Benzene hexachloride shows no absorp¬
tion band. The following conclusion has been estab¬
lished : no molecular arrangement of carbon atoms causes
selective absorption unless each carbon is itself united to
other than carbon atoms, as in the case of benzene.
Part IV. On the Absorption Spectra of Condensed Benzene
Spectra. — The extraordinary degrees of dilution which
substances like naphthalene and anthracene are capable
of withstanding before all actinic absorption disappears
(which were previously mentioned) have been verified.
Attention is drawn to the occurrence of a series of ab¬
sorption bands in naphthalene and anthracene spectra
similar to those seen in the spectra transmitted by
benzene. V. On the Cause of Absorption Bands in the
Spectra transmitted by Benzene and its Derivatives. — Theo¬
retical considerations lead to the conclusion that general
actinic absorption is due to the vibrations of molecules as
a whole, but that selective absorption is caused by a
series of secondary vibrations.

The Society then adjourned to December 16, when
Dr. Carnelly will give a demonstration on his recent
“ Researches as to the Effect of Pressure on the Melting
Point of Ice,” and the following papers will be read : —
“ The Estimation of Nitrogen by Combustion, including
Nitro-Compounds,” by J. Ruffle; “On some Naphtha¬
lene Derivatives,” by Dr. Armstrong and Mr. Graham ;
“ On some Hydrocarbons present in Resin Spirit,” by
Dr. Armstrong.

Errata. — In the report of the meeting of the Chemical
Society on November 18, which appeared in the Phar¬
maceutical Journal for the 27th, on p. 442, col. ii., line 8
from bottom, and p. 443, col. i., line 10 from top, for
“toluene, C7H60,” read, in both places, “toluene, or
C?H60.”

December 11, 1880. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

483

parliament atrji anti Jato mroccfbwgs,

Prosecution under the Weights and Measures Act.

On Monday, December 6, at the Marylebone Court
House, the adjourned summons against Mr. E. C.
Whittle, for having four glass measures in his possession
which were incorrect, again came before the bench.
There were present Mr. Thomson Hankey, in the ohairj
Mr. Galsworthy, Major Boss and Mr. Barnard. On
this occasion Mr. Glaisyer, Solicitor to the Chemists and
Druggists’ Trade Association, appeared on behalf of the
defendant.

The Chairman asked Mr. Glaisyer under what circum¬
stances he appeared, and did he propose to bring any
witnesses ?

Mr. Glaisyer said, Yes, I have witnesses from York and
from London,

The Chairman : What are you able to prove ? What
do you propose to prove? That the weights and measures
are correct ?

Mr. Glaisyer: We have not had an opportunity of
testing these identical measures ; but I desire in the first
instance, with your permission, to cross-examine the
inspector as to the mode in which he tested them. The
inspector from York is here, who has passed these
measures, and he will swear to their accuracy.

The Chairman : You are aware that we adjourned the
case in order that we might communicate with the
Board of Trade. We have an answer from the Board
of Trade, and certainly the measures are not correct.

-Mr* Glaisyer : That depends in these small measures on
the way in which they are tested. Perhaps I may be
allowed to observe that since this case wa3 before you on
the la3t occasion, a communication has been made to the
various inspectors throughout the country telling them
what part of the meniscus which is formed by the surface
of the liquid in the tube should be taken in testing these
measures. Before that, there was no general instruction
on the point, and some took the top of the meniscus and
some took the bottom.

Mr. F. W. Tibbey, the inspector, was then sworn and
cross-examined as follows by Mr. Glaisyer : —

How long since had you your standard, Mr. Tibbey?—
It can be ascertained from the identure. I could not say
exactly.

Last summer?— In April, I think; I could not say
positively.

The Chairman : Last year, or this year ? — This year, I
think it was April. I could not say from memory, but
I have the indenture which would prove the date.

Mr. Glaisyer : These measures all bear the mark of the
York inspector, do they not?— They all bear the “ YK.,”
but it is very difficult for us to say whose stamp it was.
If it had been a numbered stamp under the Board of
Trade, we could have referred to the number and found
out which stamp it was in a moment.

Still, there is nothing, as far as you are aware, to
prevent that being a proper stamp ? — I should not think
it was a proper stamp.

That is only your impression? — That is only my im¬
pression.

How did you test these measures ? — I tested them by
the standards which are issued by the Board of Trade
for our use in testing measures.

You complained of measure No. 1 that the line at 5
minim is 1 minim short, how did you test that? — I tested
that by the pipette tube.

What water did you take? — Distilled water.

At what temperature?— 62°, or as nearly as possible;
it might be 62|° ; one degree in temperature makes very
little difference.

Where did the line come? — It has been tested from
the bottom of the meniscus.

From the bottom of the meniscus throughout? — All
that I have summoned on.

Had you instructions with regard to that? — I had.

When? — I had instructions from the Board of Trade,
but prior to . any instructions from the Board of Trade
I had made inquiries on my own account.

When did you have the instructions from the Board
of Trade ?— About three weeks ago, I should think as
near as possible.

When about were the instructions received? — About
three weeks ago.

Since this case was first heard? — Yes.

Before that time you had no official instructions as to
how you were to test the measures ?— I had not.

Whether to take the bottom or the top of the meniscus ,
or to make an allowance from the bottom? — No, the
Board of Trade had no authority to issue instructions to
the inspectors ; they take their instructions from the
local authority which appoints them.

Had you any instructions ? — No, merely the usage of
the trade, that is what we have gone upon principally.

Have you not any authority for making an allowance
on these measures ? — Not below 30 minims.

Is not an allowance below 30 minims as necessary as
above ? — We have nothing to do with that.

As a matter of practice?— As a matter of practice
no appreciable error is to be allowed below 30 minims.

As a matter of fact, is it not as necessary below as
above, that is to say, can you measure accurately? — You
can measure to a tenth.

To a tenth of a minim ? — Yes.

How long have you been an inspector ? — I should think
about three years.

How long have you had practice in testing these conical
glass tubes ? — From the time of the Order in Council first
being passed, when I obtained these standards. \

That is about last April at the earliest ? — Yes; I have
had a great deal of practice.

From your practice you say it is possible to test these
tubes to a tenth of a minim ? — I should think so, that is
to say, if you take a correct line of sight.

And that two inspectors would agree to a tenth of a
minim ? — On several matters where two inspectors have
tried them to check each other they have agreed pretty
well within a tenth.

At all events there must be some allowance ; even then
you do not absolutely agree ?- —Perhaps not.

Do you know Professor Bedwood by name ? — I do.

Do you consider him a good authority on this subject ?
— I decline to give an expression of opinion as to Professor
Bedwood. I do not know him, and, therefore, I am not
in a position to say whether he is a good authority or not.

Mr. Glaisyer: I see in the report of the case that
almost as much was made of the fact of the mark on the
measures as the fact of their being said to be inaccurate.

Mr. Greenwell (clerk to magistrates) : What mark ?

Mr. Glaisyer : The official mark, — is that given up ?
There is no summons on it.

The Witness : No.

Mr. Glaisyer : Is that to form any part of the case ?

The Chairman : We have no summons on that.

Mr. Glaisyer : Then that may be assumed to be correctly
marked.

The Chairman : That is an entire assumption.

Mr. Glaisyer: They are not charged with being in¬
correctly marked, therefore, for the purpose of my case
we must assume the mark to be correct.

Mr. Greenwell : There is no evidence one way or the
other.

Mi’. Glaisyer : Except that the matter was much dis¬
cussed at the last hearing.

You ascertained these lower graduations by the pipette,
you say ? — Yes.

When you had dropped in the 5 minim — 5 is the
smallest, I think — did you drop in another to see how
far up the tube they came ? — I did not. I tested them
in this way. I placed the fluid in the pipette, or rather
drew in the pipette, and lowered it to the proper meniscus,

484

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December XI, 1880

then poured it into the glass until it reached the line in
proper sight, and what remained in the pipette is the de¬
ficiency.

Then if the inspector had taken the horns of the
meniscus, so to speak, instead of the base, would he have
been correct ? — I do not think he would. He would have
made the matter worse still.

You always take the base ? — We have not always
taken the base. We have always taken the centre of
the meniscus, which is always the usage of the trade.

Now, you are running back from what you have said.
— You are speaking of these particular measures, not of
the mode of testing in the metropolis. If you want to
know the particular mode of testing in the metro¬
polis —

Mr. Galsworthy : You had better answer the questions
only; do not give us a lecture every time.

Mr. Glaisyer : In testing these measures you took the
base ? — I did.

Have you always used the base in testing similar
measures ? — No, I have not.

Therefore, some of your measures may be complained
of ? — On that particular ground.

That would be so ? — It would, no doubt.

Would the extent of correction be 1 minim? — It would
not make the difference of 1 minim. I do not think it
would ; in fact, I am sure it would not in some measures ;
it all depends on the formation.

If I tell you that some of your measures, bearing your
mark, have been tested, and have been found to be more
than 1 minim short ? — I should be very much sur¬
prised.

The Chairman : Have you any proof as to these mea¬
sures ? What have we to do with other measures ?

Mr. Glaisyer : What I am trying to make out in this
case is, that it is absolutely impossible to test these
measures to the extent which the inspector has endea¬
voured to do in this case. It is absolutely impossible to
test these measures to one drop, and in many cases to
one and a half or two dtops.

The Chairman : We have not to consider that case at
all. I think these measures are of greater variation than
that.

Mr. Glaisyer : One and a half and two, two being the
most.

The Chairman : Any part would make the measure
incorrect.

Mr. Glaisyer : But my point is, that they cannot be
tested so accurately — that two inspectors testing the same
measure differ to that extent.

Mr. Galsworthy : Your point is that they may differ,
and you cannot test up to one drop ?

Mr. Glaisyer : Up to one, one and a half, or two, I
should contend.

Mr. Galsworthy : You said one just now.

Mr. Glaisyer: Up to one, one a half, or two. The
point I was making before was that even measures which
this inspector has tested had, since the instructions re¬
ceived from the Board of Trade, been tested and found
to be deficient.

(Mr. Glaisyer then produced several measures, two or
three of which the witness said bore his mark, as having
been tested, and asked him if he would test those.)

Mr. Galsworthy: We cannot sit here all day to see
these measures tested ; it has nothing to do with your
case.

Mr. Glaisyer: I think it has, because he has passed
these as correct, and I want to show the amount of dif¬
ference.

The Witness : These are not subdivided to minims.

The Chairman : All we have to d o is to say whether
the measures specially referred to us are correct or not.

Mr. Glaisyer : Or as near correct as it is possible to get
them. My whole case is that they cannot be accurately
tested, or that two inspectors, or even the same inspector,
may differ at two different times.

The Chairman : Certainly ; we cannot go into these
other measures.

Mr. Glaisyer : Will you let him take one ?

The Chairman: No, I think not. All we want to
know is whether you can prove that these measures which
our inspector says are incorrect are correct.

Mr. Glaisyer : I must ask you to allow me to test them.
I have not had an opportunity of testing these identical
measures. I have taken the case upon the statement of
the witness on a former occasion that he has found these
deficiencies, and the point I am instructed to argue is
that these measures cannot be tested to such a nicety as
he has endeavoured to do.

The Chairman : If you are prepared to prove that he is
incorrect in these measures -

Mr. Glaisyer: I cannot, because I have not tested
them. I have had no opportunity.

The Chairman : All we can do is to adjourn the case
if it is so. If you are prepared to go to the expense of
bringing witnesses before us that our inspector is in¬
correct, and has made an incorrect statement, we are
bound to listen to that; but we must have some proof
before us that that is the case.

Mr. Glaisyer : Then I must ask for an adjournment on
that ground, and for leave to test these measures by
further witnesses; but further than that, I think I was
entitled to go so far as to ask the witness to test these
measures which he has tested on previous occasions, in
order to show the credibility of his testimony.

Mr. Galsworthy: Are you prepared to test it now ?

Mr. Glaisyer : I do not know that I can.

The Chairman: We have the evidence before us that
the Board of Trade have pronounced these measures
deficient, and that is sufficient according to our opinion to
guide us, and we have the opinion of our own officer,
which agrees with the opinion of the Board of Trade.
Therefore, I think, the only course for us is to act upon
the evidence of the Board of Trade and our own officer,
and to allow you to appeal.

Mr. Glaisyer: Very well, sir; I will take it in that
way, if you wish it.

Mr. Greenwell : You are prepared to test the matter
to the extremity. Possibly there may be no penalty
inflicted.

Mr. Glaisyer: I would rather appeal, and have the
whole question tried, if that meets your view.

The Chairman : If the magistrates confirm the opinion
of their own officer, are you prepared to appeal ?

Mr. Glaisyer: Yes, sir.

Mr. Galsworthy : You want, in fact, to show that all
these measures are as correct as they can be ?

Mr. Glaisyer : Yes, sir; as correct as they can be.

Major Boss : You want to make it a test case ?

Mr. Glaisyer: It concerns not only the present de¬
fendant, but every chemist and druggist throughout the
kingdom.

Mr. Barnard : Not only chemists and druggists, but
the glass trade.

Mr. Glaisyer : Yes, very considerably.

Mr. Barnard : You are for the glass trade ?

Mr. Glaisyer : No, sir ; I am for the chemists and
druggists.

Major Boss : You wish a decision to carry to a higher
court ?

Mr. Glaisyer : If you are prepared to give a decision in
favour of my client, I do not want to carry it further;
but if you do not, I intimate most clearly that I mean to
appeal.

The Chairman : Would you consider that if we dis¬
charged the summons and retained the measures that
would be sufficient to justify you in appealing ?

Mr. Glaisyer : The case would not be dismissed in
that event. I think I am bound to see the matter
through.

Mr. Greenwell: You will understand that the sym¬
pathy of the magistrates is with the defendant.

December ll, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

485

Mr. Glaisyer : I quite understand that, sir.

Ihe Chairman : There is nothing1 which would justify
them in going against the opinion of their own officer.

Mr. Galsworthy : The magistrates have no desire to
convict in this case, but we feel in this position, that
we ought and must retain these measures.

The Chairman: We cannot part with the measures,
clearly.

Mr. Glaisyer: Suppose I were to call Professor
Redwood, who has had more experience in this matter
than any man in the United Kingdom, and were to give
evidence that it is alsolutely impossible to test these
measures to such a nicety as the present inspector has
endeavoured to do, would that satisfy you?

The Chairman : I think not. I do not think we are
competent to judge of that.

Mr. Glaisyer: Then I must press for a decision and
appeal from it.

The Chairman : Then we had better take Mr. Pdyth’s
evidence.

Mr. Winter Blyth, Medical Officer and Analyst to
Marylebone, was then sworn.

The Chairman : Are you prepared to advise the magis¬
trates that in your opinion these measures are not correct ?

I can only speak to certain measures which I examined
which were called Nos. 1, 2 and No. 4. With regard to
those three which I examined they certainly were not
correct.

Did you not examine No. 3 ? — I have only examined
those I have mentioned, 1, 2 and 4.

Mr. Galsworthy : Would Mr. Glaisyer like to ask Mr.
Blyth anything ?

Mr. Glaisyer: If I am going to appeal I think it is
hardly necessary to occupy the time of the court. May
I ask what communication you have received from the
Board of Trade ?

The Chairman : No, I do not think that is necessary
at all.

Mr. Greenwell : I may say that the opinion of the
Board of Trade is that the measures are not correct.

Mr. Glaisyer : May I ask whether it makes any refer¬
ence to the allowance.

The Chairman : I do not know that the word “ allow¬
ance ” has been used.

Mr. Glaisyer: You will observe that by the Act they
allow errors in certain of the standards; -perhaps it is the
word “ errors ” instead of “ allowance.”

Mr. Galsworthy : Perhaps it would be better for you
to accept on behalf of your client the opinion of the
bench ; no one says that the differences are enoi’mous,
but if you carry the case through, they may be proved
to be more incorrect.

^ Mr. Glaisyer : Then it will work a revolution in the
trade ; 15,000 of these measures are in use somewhere or
other.

The Chairman : It is an important question — we are
quite aware of that; only we do not feel ourselves
competent to go into a question of the scientific nicety
which undoubtedly your inquiry would lead to.

Mr. Blyth was then examined by Mr. Glaisyer, and in
the first place gave the various deficiencies in the gradua¬
tions as follows, stating that he tested them by weight
entirely : — °

No. 1 . 5 min.

-10

99

15

99

20

99

25

99

34

No. 2. . .

min.

20

99

30

No. 4. .

10

99

15

9)

Error,

36

gr.

31

99

67

99

93

99

79

99

35

99

01

gr.

91

99

19

99

74

gr.

29

99

43

99

Will you turn those weights into minims, please, and
tell me what those deficiences would be? — That is a
calculation which would take a little time ; I cannot do
it in my head, but it could be done easily.

On No. 2 the lowest mark is 5 minims?— I did not test
it at 5 minims.

The Chairman : We do not require to go beyond one ;
if one is wrong, the measure is wrong.

Mr. Glaisyer: I should prefer to go through it all,
because, after all, the credibility and competency of the
other witness are at stake.

_ You did not adopt the mode which is recommended or
directed to inspectors throughout the country in testing
these tubes?— I do not know how they test them. I
tested them by weighing.

At all events, yours is a much more accurate way of
testing than by the pipette? — Most decidedly, you can
always test more minutely by weighing than by measure.

No doubt. You did not try them by the pipette
process ? — I did not.

Did you try them more than once ?— One of them I tried
twice and it agreed to the second decimal figure, I think.

. What is your opinion with regard to testing by the
pipette, is it not possible at one time for the result to
vary from that at another time by the same process ?

Mr. Galsworthy : That is hardly a fair question. He
has not referred to the pipette test.

Mr. Glaisyer:. No; but he knows the process pro¬
bably, and as he is here as a scientific witness, I think I
am entitled to ask him what his opinion is.

The Witness : I think that with a properly constructed
pipette you would get it very accurately by each test.

Absolute, accuracy each time ?— No, not absolute accu¬
racy ; certainly not.

You would not get it absolutely accurate each test ?—
You would get it sufficiently accurate for technical
purposes.

But by weighing you get it much more accurate ?— -
Quite so.

Therefore, two testings by weight must to all intents
and purposes agree, whereas by the pipette they need
not necessarily agree ? — Just so.

The Chairman: You will understand that this Bench
has no other object whatever but a desire to have the
thing settled accurately; they only decline to go further
into the matter because they feel they are incompetent to
decide in any way on the question as to whether their
own officer has tested these measures in the most scientific
manner possible. Therefore they think, in justice to all
parties, the better way will be to convict the defendant
with a penalty of 6d., and to forfeit the measures.

Mr. Glaisyer: I presume, sir, you will allow me to
have access to the measures for the purpose of testing
them for the appeal.

The Chairman: Oh, yes, we shall be quite ready to
give you every facility.

Mr. Greenwell : You will not take them away ?

Mr. Glaisyer : No, we will have them tested here.

Mr. Greenwell : Nothing is said about costs. It is not
the practice to give costs here at all.

Suicide by an Assistant.

An inquest was held at Salisbury, on November 30,
before Mr. George Smith, on the body of Mr. Alfred
Stephen Harding, assistant to Mr. Atkins, chemist, who
appeared to have taken prussic acid in his bedroom soon
after retiring to rest on the previous night. The deceased
was only twenty-three years of age. No motive could be
assigned for the deed ; but it was stated that he had a
cousin in the Wilts Lunatic Asylum, and Dr. Blackmore
gave it as his opinion that he must have acted under
some sudden impulse.

The jury returned a verdict of “ Temporary insanity.”

Mr. Atkins said the deceased was a highly moral young
man, and in every respect a most trustworthy assistant. —
Portsmouth Times .

486

THE ITHARMAGEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 11, 1880.

The Power of Movement in Plants. By Charles

Darwin, LL.D., F.R.S., assisted by Francis Darwin.

London: J. Murray. 1880.

In his work on ‘ Climbing Plants,’ Mr. Darwin has
already given us the main facts regarding the interesting
phenomena connected with climbing stems, tendrils, etc.
In the present volume he collects together these, the
phenomena of sensitiveness, as exhibited by Mimosa,
many leguminoste, and other plants, of heliotropism and
geotropism, and attempts to associate them together as
manifestations of a single law.

The law is that of “revolving nutation,” as it was
termed by Sachs, of “ circumnutation, ” as Darwin
prefers to call it, and is thus stated : — “ All the parts or
organs in every plant, whilst they continue to grow, and
some parts which are provided with pulvini after they
cease to grow, are continually circumnutating. This
movement commences even before the young seedling
has broken through the ground.” The explanation of
this phenomenon in the more marked cases where it has
long been known was, until recently, the increased
growth of the side which becomes for a time convex;
but, although undoubtedly true, Darwin believes this
not to be the cause, but only a result of the primary
cause, itself inexplicable, viz , the greater turgescence of
the cells and extensibility of the cell walls alternately on
the one and the other side of the organ in question. To
this cause are due, not only the phenomena of climbing
stems and tendrils, but those of positive and negative
heliotropism, and of positive and negative geotropism —
or, to adopt the phraseology in the present volume, of
heliotropism, apheliotropism, geotropism and apogeo-
tropism — all of which are but modifications of circumnu¬
tation.

Probably the series of observations which will present
the greatest novelty to most readers is that which
demonstrates that these movements of nutation are as
universal in the roots and other underground parts
of plants as in the ordinary aerial stems. “Even
the stems of seedlings before they have broken
through the ground, as well as their buried radicles,
circumnutate as far as the pressure of the surrounding
earth permits.” The tip of the radicle is sensitive to
contact or irritation, and this sensitiveness causes move¬
ments in the adjoining parts. This peculiarity is con¬
fined to the tip of the radicle for a length of from 1 to
1#5 mm. ; and when that part is irritated by contact
with any object, by caustic, or by a thin slice being cut
off, the upper adjoining part of the radicle, for a length
of from 6 to 7 or even 12 mm., is excited to bend
away from the side which has been irritated ; and the
curvature thus caused is generally symmetrical. Al¬
though this movement can aid the primary and secondary
rootlets but little in enabling them to penetrate the soil,
it is of material service to them in greatly enlarging the
area from which they and their root hairs draw their
nourishment.

If the circumnutation of growing organs were quite
regular, their apex would describe a circle, or rather,
“ as the stem is always growing upwards, a circular
spiral. But it generally describes irregular elliptical or
oval figures. . . In the case of leaves the ellipses are

generally narrow. Whilst describing such figures the
apex often travels in a zigzag line, or makes small
subordinate loops or triangles.” We have in the volume
a large number of reproductions of these zigzag lines,
drawn on an ingenious plan contrived by the authors.

After describing the very remarkable phenomena con¬
nected with the circumnutating movements and growth
of seedling plants, and the sensitiveness of the apex of
the radicle to contact and other irritants, the authors
proceed to discuss in like manner the circumnutating
movements in mature plants — a very curious instance of

which occurs in the oscillatory movements of the leaves
of Dioncea ; — the modified circumnutation exhibited in the
phenomena of climbing plants, the sleep or “ nyctitropic ”
movements of leaves and other organs, and in the move¬
ments excited by light, together with the general phe¬
nomena of sensitiveness to light and to gravitation. It
is needless to add that this latest volume by Mr. Darwin
forms no exception to the characteristic accuracy and
minuteness of observation with which we are so familiar
in his other researches. Like his previous works, it
sums up the whole of our previous knowledge of the
subject, adds vastly to it, and must form the necessary
starting point for all future investigations.

©bltiiam

Notice has been received of the death of the fol¬
lowing : —

On the 15th of November, 18S0, Mr. John Hamilton,
Chemist and Druggist, Church Street, Haslingden. Aged
48 years.

On the 23rd of November, 1880, Mr. George Dutton,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Town Hall Square, Bolton.
Aged 72 years. Mr. Dutton was one of the Founders of
the Pharmaceutical Society, and was at the time of his
death Local Secretary for Bolton.

On the 26th of November, 1880, at Liverpool, Mr.
Leonai’d Flintoff Brown, Chemist and Druggist, late of
Horbury, Yorkshire. Aged 62 years.

On the 26th of November, 1880, Mr. Joseph Linington
Rastrick, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Southsea. Aged 64
years. Mr. Rastrick had been a Member of the Phar¬
maceutical Society since 1842, and for many years and
up to the time of his death served it as Local Secretary
for the Portsmouth district.

On the 27th of November, 1880, Mr. Charles William
Frampton, Chemist and Druggist, Smethwick. Aged 66
years.

On the 27th of November, 1880, Mr. Joseph Knowles,
Chemist and Druggist, Market Place, Knaresborough.
Aged 31 years.

On the 2nd of December, 1880, Mr. Isaac Ashburner,
Chemist and Druggist, Broughton-in-Furness. Aged 25
years. Mr. Ashburner had been an Associate in Busi¬
ness of the Society since 1876.

gtspmshtg Hbmarantra:.

In order to assist as much as 'possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. Bat the right
xoill be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re -
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle . And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re •
quired information.

[451]. I am another who is of opinion that hyd. chlor.
when written is intended for calomel and not for corrosive
sublimate, and I do not think there is much of a knotty
point at all in the question. I should think nearly all
dispensers of experience would disagree with Mr. Henry
Brown, and would dispense calomel when hyd. chlor. was
written.

York. E. B. Kendall.

[465]. “John” was perfectly right in labelling “shake the
bottle.” Chlorate of potash is soluble in cold water 1 : 17,
in boiling water 1:3; surely the prescriber did not mean
that the mixture should be heated each time it was used.

December 11, 1880.1 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

487

The chlorate of potash will crystallize out of the mixture
as it gets cold. It is, therefore, necessary to use powdered
chlorate and cold water.

IT. W. Lang beck.

[468]. I diluted the liquor Fowleri'with 4 ounces of dis¬
tilled water and the ferrum dialysatum with the remainder
of the water ; the two liquids mixed remained perfectly
clear, and even an addition of 6 drops of liquor potass®
caused no precipitate.

The ferrum dialysatum was of my own make.1

Sp. gr. 1 *0 46 =: 5 per cent, peroxide of iron.

H. W. Langbeck.

[469]. Hypodermic Solution of Ergotine —

Be. Ergotini dialysati partes duo (extracti er¬
got® dialysati spissi),

Glycerini,

Aquae destillat® aa partes quindecim.

H. W. Langbeck.

[470]. This preparation cannot present a uniform clear
liquid, for the burnt alum will deprive the liquor opii
of part of its water and change into common alum,
insoluble in an alcoholic medium. Liquor opii is not
miscible with chloroform.

H. W. Langbeck.

[471]. I believe Mr. Dartmoor would be justified in
refusing to make up the liniment, although teriodide of
nitrogen is believed to be explosive when dry only.

H. W. Langbeck.

[472]. E. S. M. should either use the water obtained in
distilling oil of cloves, or mix oil of cloves with French
chalk and exhaust it with distilled water.

H. W. Langbeck.

[472]. Aqua caryophylli is not much in request. I pre¬
pare it extempore by rubbing down 2 drachms of the oil
with magnesia and water to a paste, throw in a filter and
wash it to fill a Winchester.

The 2 lbs. of cloves to 8 lbs. of water is too much.

Putney. J. G.

[473]. Granulated sulphate of iron should be used.

H. W. Langbeck.

[473]. With regard to the remarks of Mr. Filtness, I
disagree in toto. As an assistant, I would consider the
substitution of the dried iron an interference with the
prescription.

Bute.

[473]. I should think the “ usual custom” in England
is, or ought to be, to dispense what is written, and if
sulphate of iron be ordered, to use it, and if the physician
wants dried sulphate or granulated sulphate of iron used,
let him order so.

I think there would be less discrepancy in dispensing
if prescriptions were dispensed as written, and not ac¬
cording to the fancies of different dispensers. What
business has “Euonymin” to seek after an ingredient
not ordered ?

York. Edward B. Kendall.

[475]. This can only be sent out so as to remain in¬
separable by making an emulsion of bals. copaib. either
with mucilage or the yolk of an egg and sugar.

“ 374.”

[475]. This cannot be dispensed so as to form a pre¬
sentable emulsion.

Tunbridge Wells. C. Filtness.

[477]. I should make up to j^iss with a mixture of
syrup and water.

Tunbridge Weils. C. Filtness.

[477]. This prescription I would dispense as written,

i.e., up to j^iss ; one medical man here frequently pre¬
scribes a mixture ending thus : —

Syr. Zingib. et Aqua Font. . . ana ad ^iv.

Bute.

[^7]. Most probably the prescriber intended equal
parts of syrup ami water to be added, so as to make the
mixture up to §iss. If ^iss of each were added the
mixture would last twenty-eight days, and it is unlikely
that the prescriber should wish it to last that length of
time.

“374.”

[4/7]. B. should, if possible, obtain the prescriber’s
meaning, if any doubt existed in his mind about his
mixture. Failing that, he would be justified, I think, in
dispensing it as ^iss mixture, using equal proportions of
syrup and water, the dose of tr. nucis vom. in that case
being the minimum dose of the Pharmacopoeia.

N. R.

[478]. Triturate the iodine and tinct. opii together in a
mortar until thoroughly incorporated, transfer to the
bottle, and add ol. tereb. “ Shake.”

Tunbridge Wells. C. Filtness.

[478]. In reply to “Assistant,” a good liniment can be
prepared, without the least danger of explosion, in the
following manner : —

Rub the iodine in a mortar with q.s. of s. v. r. to form
a thin paste, then cautiously add little by little (stirring
well) the ol. terebinth., and finally the tinct. opii. By
this process the iodine is thoroughly subdivided. It
soon separates, and must therefore be labelled “shake the
bottle.”

G. S. Illingworth.

[479]. The following prescription was dispensed by me,
and in the course of a few days the patient informed me,
That it produced a stain on the skin. Such was not
the result when dispensed by a London chemist.” Can
any of your readers inform me how to dispense it in
order to produce a colourless preparation as that dispensed
in London ? —

R Liq. Ammon. Fort .

Lin. Iodi .

Spt. Hither. Rect .

To be painted behind the ear every night.

3j.

3ij-

3wj.

Cymro.

[480], Would some reader kindly state if I did right
in communicating with the prescriber before dispensing
the following mixture of croton chloral hydrat., which I
have just had presented, and also what is the usual
maximum dose ? —

R Croton Chloral Hydrat . ,qj.

Tinct. Aurant. . . . . 3b ■

Aquae . ?iv

M.

Two tablespoon fuls immediately, afterwards one table¬
spoonful every two hours until the pain ceases.

H. K.

[481], I have had the following prescription to dispense
some time ago : —

R Liq. Morph. Mur.
Aquae Laurocerasi
Aquae Camph. . . .

M. ft. mist. C. 3j ter die.

ad

3i-

§>•...

5V11J-

M. - , M.D.

The B.P. dose of aqua laurocerasi is 5 ill to 30 ni, and
as the preparation contains hydrocyanic acid, and is not
of reliable strength ; would a dispenser be justified in
reducing the dose in the above prescription, even to the
maximum dose of the B.P. {i.e., %ss), or should it be dis¬
pensed according to the prescription ? I may say that I
was able to communicate with the prescriber. I should

488

T1IE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[December 11, 18S0.

thankful for the opinion of some of your readers in the
“ Dispensing Memoranda.”

D. Spenser.

[482], I had the following prescription given me to
dispense the other day. Can anyone inform me how to
make a presentable mixture ? —

ft. Quinae Sulph . £ss.

Ac. Sulph. Arom . 3iss.

Pot. Chlor.,

Sodae Bibor . aa 3ss.

Aquae Chlorof . ad gvj.

A Lubberly Lout.

what that meant, and I might send the drugs from my own
stock if I thought them as good ! I can hardly believe that
my customer was right in supposing that the doctor received
a percentage for recommending a particular firm, and yet
that seems the only explanation of such conduct.

One who has passed the Major.

Copies of Prescriptions.

Sir, — In reply to “Acacia” I think no dispensing
chemist is justified in charging for a copy of a prescription
that was entrusted to him.

H. W. LANGBECK.

[483]. A few days ago I had the following prescription
to dispense, viz.: —

R Magnesiae,

Bismuth . ana 3j.

Syr. Zingib . 3vj.

Mucil. Acac . 3iv.

Aq. Cinnam . ad ^ vj •

M. cap. §ss ter die.

< I used magnes. carb. pond, and bismuthi carb. Was I
right in doing so ?

Bute.

(lomsponbrnce.

*,* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Sir, — My opinion is the same as entertained by “Acacia”
that he ought to demand his guinea for the copy of pre¬
scription, and I hope others will do likewise or refuse to
supply it. We know what is intended. If the parties
themselves are well disposed it is lent to a friend who will
have no scruple in going to the stores for a future supply.

Putney. J. F.

Boruretted Hydrogen.

Sir, — In your report of a lecture by Mr. Edward Davies,
in last week’s issue, you represent him as saying, “ All
attempts to make boruretted hydrogen have failed.” In
December, 1878, I attended one of the evening meetings
of the Chemical Society, at which Mr. Francis Jones,
F.R.S.E., prepared, from magnesium boride and a mineral
acid, a gas burning with a green flame, which he described
as the body in question. His preliminary note on the sub¬
ject, of which this was the illustration, appeared in the
January number of the Society’s Journal for 1879. Has his
work been since confuted or has Mr. Davies overlooked it ?
In the latter case, both he and your readers will probably
be glad to have their attention drawn to the paper.

Thos. P. Blunt.

The Amended Pharmacy Act.

Sir, — I am reported in last week’s Journal a3 having said
“ I had not agreed to any of the proposed amendments ” on
the Pharmacy Act. This is quite true ; but the opposite
would have been as true. I do anticipate having to oppose
some of the amendments, but my present position is merely
this : — I took no part in the discussion on the proposed Act,
considering that I, for one, had not had sufficient time
given me for the due consideration of so very momentous a
question.

Qlasgow. Daniel Frazer.

The Prescribing of Special Preparations.

Sir, — “One who has passed the Minor” complains of a
very old grievance, and one that seems to increase in
inverse ratio to the need of it.

The following are a few of “ the specials ” which have
come under my notice lately: —

Blank and Co.’s Ferri Pyrophosph. Pulv.

Blank and Co.’s Red Gum Lozenges.

Blank and Co.’s Syrup. Ferri Phosph. Co.

Blank and Co.’s Calcium Sulphide Pills gr. £.

Blank and Co.’s Cod Liver Oil.

Blank and Co.’s Confection Senna.

Blank and Co.’s Calamine.

Blank and Co.’s Ext. Aloes.

Blank and Co.’s Ext. Colocynth.

Blank and Co.’s Syrup of Chloral,
and patent medicines from the neighbourhood of Bond
Street innumerable. For most of these preparations the
conscientious suburban chemist has to keep his customers
waiting some extra two hours, is frequently out of pocket
through the fares, and in return receives an article charged
a ridiculously high price and often inferior to the prepara¬
tion he himself would send out.

A short time ago a lady handed me a prescription
containing, amongst other ingredients, two common drugs
marked with the obnoxious “Blank and Co.” I told her that
the doctor had ordered drugs kept by a special retailer, and
that I would obtain them for her ; she said she had been
told to go to Blank and Co. for it, but she quite understood

Saffron.

Sir, — I read with much interest the paper on the “ History
of Saffron,” read by Mr. Allen at the Evening Meeting of
the Society on Wednesday last. 1 fully endorse his opinions,
and as I have served an apprenticeship of six years in the
best market town in West Cornwall, I have retailed a very
large quantity, especially at Christmas and the feast days
of the old parishes, which anniversaries are still kept up.
I have often wondered why saffron should be used so ex¬
tensively, as there is very little flavour or aroma about it.
Apparently it is solely on account of its colour, just as
cochineal is used in colouring blanc-mange, custards, etc.
Perhaps Mr. Allen is not aware that “ turmeric” is largely
used for the same purpose. It is known among the poorer
classes as “ dough stain.”

Redruth. Coenubia.

“Inquirer.” — We know of no rule that is sufficient for
the settlement of the point, or that would affect the con¬
struction usually put upon agreements between employers
and employed.

W. W. Towle. — We know of nothing to prevent you from
either advertising your recipes or having them made up if
you wish to do so.

H. J. — Try olive oil in which gamboge has been digested.

C. P. — The recipe for composition powder has been
already published several times in the present series. See
vol. vii., p. 308; vol. viii., p. 498.

“ The Griffin.” — The question should be submitted to a
solicitor.

A. E. Lomax. — Asa Gray’s ‘Manual of the Botany of the
Northern United States.’

Mr. Beck is thanked for his communication.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received frrm
Messrs. Jones, Glover, Symons, Allen, Holmes, Bell,
Tanner, Lomax, Ointment, Juvenis, Austral, Iodine,
Veritas, T. S. H., J. P. I., W. G. T., A. R,, R. W.

December is, i860.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

489

STAR-ANISE.

BY E. M. HOLMES, F.L.S.,

Curator of the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society.

During the last few years there has appeared on
several occasions at the drug sales in London a
variety of star-anise, which was supposed by those
who observed it to be the ordinary kind deprived
before importation of its essential oil by distilla¬
tion or other means, a supposition to which its more
wrinkled or warty appearance gave some show of
truth. A specimen of this drug was placed in the
Museum about a year ago, and my attention having
been called to it by the recent papers in this J ournal
on lllicium religiosum , I have compared it with the
specimens in our great national herbaria at the
British Museum and at Kew, and the examina¬
tion has convinced me that the drug recently im¬
ported is identical with the fruit of the Japanese
tree.

A comparison of a series of specimens of the
fruits of different species of Ulicium seems to show
that there is so great a similarity in the leaves and
fruits of different species that it is not at all
surprising that Linnaeus should have confounded
the Japanese and Chinese plants; and that, more¬
over, the taste of the fruits, and the number of car¬
pels of which they are composed, form the best
guide to distinguish the species.

Although only the Chinese and Japanese star-
anise have occurred in English commerce, there are
two other kinds which appear to be articles of trade
in the East and which, as there is the possibility of
their being exported at some future time to this
country as substitutes for the true article, it may be
worth while to describe at the present time.

In De Candolle’s ‘ Prodromus,’ vol. i., p. 77, only
three species are described, viz., lllicium floridanum,
Ellis, I. anisatum, L., and I. parviflorum, Mich. Of
these, the I. anisatum includes, as Siebold has shown,
the Japanese I. religiosum , which is evidently a dis¬
tinct species.

Two other species are described in Hooker’s
‘Flora of BritishaIndia,’ vol. i., p. 40, viz., I. Grifjithii
and I. majus.

As all of these are more or less interesting from a
commercial point of view, and the fruits have not
been described by De Candolle, the details which are
given below may be interesting to some of the
readers of this Journal.

1. lllicium anisatum , Loureiro. — Chinese star-
anise or badiane. — The plant described by Loureiro
in his ‘Flora Cochin-Chinensis,’ vol. i., p. 432, is a
native of the high mountains of Yunnan, in south¬
western China and to the west of Canton. According
to his account it differs from the Japanese star-anise
in being only about 8 feet high, in its smaller leaves
rounded at both extremities, and by the stamens
being about thirty in number. The carpels are
eight in number, and although each is furnished
with a beak when growing, in the commercial article
these are almost invariably broken off. The cha¬
racter quoted from Geerts, on p. 454, as distinguish¬
ing the Chinese drug, viz., that the apex of the carpel
is pressed in or extended horizontally is not a dis¬
tinctive feature. In the young state of the fruit
all the carpels are erect, but spread outwards
as they arrive at maturity ; hence, the position
of the beak will differ according to the degree
of ripeness of the fruit when gathered; in many
Third Series, N6. 547.

specimens of the Chinese drug it will be found
pointing upwards. The notch or depression close
to the. beak just at the end of the upper or ventral
edge of the carpel is more shallow (see fig. 1) in
the Chinese drug, and the fruit is generally larger
and has more of the carpels developed to their full
size than the Japanese fruit.

Fig. 1. Illiciu/m anisatum, Lour.

It may be remarked here — in confirmation of
Siebold’s statement that Thunberg augmented the
misunderstanding of this species — that among the
specimens contributed by Thunberg to the Banksian
collection, now in the Herbarium of the British
Museum, and labelled lllicium anisatum , both
I. religiosum and I. anisatum occur on the same
sheet, as evidenced by the fact that the fruits
are present, and that one tastes of anise and the
other does not, and by the difference in the under
surface of the leaf, that of I. religiosum being paler
and more glaucous. \

2. lllicium 7'eligiosum (Sieb. et Zucc., ‘FI. Jap.,<
vol. i., tab. 1). — This plant, first pointed out as a dis¬
tinct species by Siebold, has been included by most
previous and succeeding botanists under I. anisatum ,
but differs from it in being from 25 to 30 feet high,
i.e., twice or three times the height of /. anisatum ,
in having leaves rather broader above the middle,
with a more glaucous or paler under-surface (so far as
can be judged from herbarium specimens), and flowers
with only 18 or 20 stamens. It flowers in April. The
petals, which are yellowish and tinged with red here
and there at the margins, appear to be also less in
number than in I. anisatum. The tree is not a
native of Japan, but was introduced from China or
the Corea in ancient times by the Buddhist priests,
and planted around the Japanese temples, being
used when in blossom for adorning the altars and
tombs. The yellowish bark has an aromatic taste,

Fig. 2. lllicium religiosum,' Sieb et Zucc. A specimen
with all the capsules developed.

and is used by the Buddhists as an ingredient in
their pastilles, which are made to burn a certain
length of time, and thus serve as a sort of chrono¬
meter. The leaves are considered to be poisonous ;
but Siebold’s statement that they are an antidote to
the poisonous fish Tetraodon hispidus seems to arise
from a mistaken interpretation of Kcempfer’s re¬
marks, which rather indicate that the addition of
the leaves to the water in which the poisonous fish
has been boiled rendered that liquid much more
poisonous. The passage alluded to is as follows : —

“ Notabile est, ramulum additum decoctioni piscis
venenosi de OpMci^et Belgis dicti (si a veneno repur-
getur piscium delicatissimi) venenum multis gradibus
exasperare, quod citiori morte docent avrSxeipes.” —
Koempfer, ‘Fasc.,’ iv., p. 883.

490

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 18, 1880.

The fruit is not used as a spice in Japan, nor for
any other purpose, so far as is known, and it is
difficult to understand why it should have been sent to
this country, except through the ignorance of foreign
merchants residing in Japan. In Japan I. religiosum
is known as “skimi,” according to Siebold, or “somo,”
“skimi” or “fauna skimi,” according to Koempfer, and
in China under the name of “ao-woo-soo,” the fruit of
/. anisatum being known as hwai hiang.* The fruit
of I. religiosum , as it has appeared in English com¬
merce, is about one-third less in diameter than the
Chinese drug, and a few only of the carpels are
generally developed to maturity. The curve or de¬
pression on the ventral suture near the apex is
deeper and shorter, and hence the very short beak
appears more erect than in the Chinese drug, see fig. 2.
Neither the pericarp nor the seed has any taste of
anise, but possesses a very faint taste and odour like
the oil of Laurus nobilis , or distantly resembling the
odour of cubebs. The number of carpels is eight,
as in the Chinese anise. The seeds vary in thickness
according to the degree of ripeness, as in the other
species.

3. Illicium parvijlorum, Mich. — This species is a
native of the hilly regions of Georgia and Carolina,
in North America, and is distinguished by its small
flowers, with only nine to twelve, yellowish, ovate or
subrotund petals. Like the Chinese and Japanese
species, the fruit has only eight shortly-beaked car¬
pels ; the taste resembles sassafras.

4. IUicium Jloridanum , Ellis, a native of the
coast of Florida, differs from the above in having
twenty- seven to thirty dark red petals and a fruit
consisting of thirteen carpels, which resemble those
of the badiane, or Chinese star-anise, in flavour.
The fruits of this and the preceding species are not
met with in commerce. In Alabama the leaves of
I. Jloridanum are reputed to be poisonous, aud the
plant has hence acquired the name of the Poison
Bay. f

5. Illicium Grijjithii, Hook. f. and Thomson (‘FI.
Brit. Ind.,’ vol. i., p. 40). — A fruit resembling
stir-anise in shape, but having thirteen instead of
eight carpels, and without any taste of anise, was pre¬
sented to the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society
by Dr. Dymock, in 1878, as a kind of false star-
anise met with in Bombay. In the present year,
among other specimens presented by the Kew De¬
partment from the India Museum Collection, there
was a specimen of star-anise fruits identical with
Dr. Dy mock’s specimens, and labelled, Illicium
Grijjithii, and partly for this reason, and partly
because a specimen of the fruit of that plant in the
Kew Herbarium is devoid of the taste of anise, I refer
these fruits to I. Grijjithii. These fruits resemble
those of star-anise in colour, except at the ventral
and dorsal sutures, where they are rather darker,
but have thirteen carpels. When a carpel is chewed,
at first no taste is observed, but shortly a bitter taste,
with some acridity and a flavour between that of
cubebs and bay leaves, becomes perceptible, the
bitterness and acridity being the most marked
features. They also appear from the scars on their
sides to have been pressed together in the earlier
stages of growth through a greater proportion of
their length, probably from the carpels being more
numerous and therefore more crowded. The beak
isjshort and incurved and the terminal depression

* Porter Smith, ‘ Mat. Med. China/ p, 116.

t ‘ Treas. Bot./ p. 619.

well marked. Illicium Grijjithii is a native of East
Bengal, growing on the Bhotan and Khasia hills, at

Pig. 3. Illicium Grijjithii, Hook. f. et Thomson.

an altitude of 4000 to 5000 feet. It is a shrub, with
angular, glabrous branches and leaves larger than
those of I. anisatum , being 2 to 4 inches long and 1
to 2 inches broad and acute at both ends. The sepals
are six and orbicular, and the petals eighteen, the
outer being oval and the inner smaller and narrower.
The carpels have a thin fleshy epicarp and a short
subulate incurved beak. The slender portion of
the beak is usually broken off in the drug, but its
incurved direction remains noticeable. The fruit is
described by Hooker and Thomson as not having,
“ either when fresh or dried, at all the smell of
anise,” but “ a faint agreeable odour like that of the
leaves and wood.”* In the Museum of the Phar¬
maceutical Society the seeds are nearly all unripe in
the specimens of this species and I. majus.

6. Illicium majus (Hook. f. and Thomson, ‘FI.
Brit. Ind.,” vol. 1, p. 40). — In the collection of
drugs brought by Mr. J. Collins from Singapore,
and purchased by the Council of this Society, there
was found a parcel of star-anise fruits remarkable
for their dark brown or almost black colour and for
having from 11 to 13 carpels, which, as in those of
I. Grijjithii , are very equally developed. The de¬
pression near the end of the ventral suture is longer
and shallower, so that the short beak appears less
incurved. The taste has a strong resemblance to
mace, but lacks the bitterness so manifest in the
fruit of I. Grijjithii. Mr. J. Collins informs me that
this kind of star-anise is called “ bunga lawang ” at
Singapore, where it is sold in the bazaars, and that
it is used to make a drink for fevers, etc.

I. majus is a shrub about 30 feet high with leaves
from 4 to 6 inches long and 1£ to 2 inches broad, fhe
leaves being widest above the middle and evidently
acuminate at the apex. The flowers are pink, with
about 16 segments, the sepals and petals orbicular,
the inner petals being broad and oval, and the fila¬
ments broader than the oblong anthers. It is a
native of the Thoung Gain range in Tenasserim, at an
altitude of 5500 feet.

Pig. 4. Illicium majus, Hook. f. efc Thomson.

The fruit of I. majus does not occur in the
Herbaria of either the British Museum or Kew, and
the identification is therefore founded only on the
difference in taste of the fruit and the fact that
I. majus is the only species of which the fruit is not
known.

The following arrangement may be found useful
for pliarmacognostic purposes : —

* * Plor. Ind/ vol, i., p. 74.

December is, i860.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

491

Carpels 8 . IUicinm cinisatum Taste, resembling

aniseed.

„ . „ religiosum Taste, faint, like

bay leaves.

„ . „ parviflorura Taste, like sassa¬

fras.

Carpels 13 . Jllicium floridanum Taste, like anise.

„ . „ Griffith ii Taste bitter, like

bay leaves and
cubebs.

„ . „ m njus Taste, like mace.

It may be observed that the fruit of the Japanese
anise when wetted and laid on a piece of blue paper
reddens it immediately and strongly, while the
Chinese star-anise causes only a very faint red color¬
ation. The fruits of J. Griffithii and 2. majus pro¬
duce no such reaction.

In conclusion it may be remarked that several
cases of the Japanese star- anise were sold in London
at rattier less than half the price of the Chinese drug,
and although most of it has been shipped again, it
is not improbable that it will return to this country
mixed udth the true star-anise.

STUDIES OF THE GENUS STRYCHNOS.* * * §

BY G. PLANCHON,

Professor in the IS cole Superieure de Pharmacie, Pa isf

and Honorary Member of the Pharmaceutical So cietyo

Great Britain.

{Continued from page 471).

II. Plants that enter into the Composition

of Curare.

It is the case with curare, the arrow poison which
in one portion of South America is of so great im¬
portance to the natives, as with cinchona, ipecacuanha
and a large number of substances of great value ; they
were known for a long time as medicines, wdiilst
there was complete ignorance as to the plants which
furnished them.

Curare, in fact, made its appearance in Europe in
the year 1595, when Walter Raleigh f brought it to
the knowledge of the old world ; afterwards it was
mentioned in the narratives of various travels, and in
1639 in those of the Fathers d’Acunij a and d’Artieda.
The abbe Salvatore GilijJ speaks of it in detail in his
‘History of America. * In 1745, La Condamine, the
able astronomer to whom natural science owes the
discovery and description of the first Cinchona , made
known the “ poison of the Ticunas,”§ and he brought
back from his travels poisoned arrows, which served
for the experiments of Muschenbroch, d’Albinius
and Van Swieten. Bancroft gives some details upon
the preparation of this poison. But down to the
travels of Humboldt and Bonpland in the new world
(1800) there existed no very clear idea as to the
essential elements that enter into the American
poison.

These two illustrious travellers sawT curare pre-
pared|| upon the banks of the Orinoco, at Esmeralda,
Mandavaca and Vasiva, and they state that the
principal ingredient was the juice or the cold
decoction of a liana, or climbing plant, known in the

* From the Journal de Pharmacie, [5], vcl. i., p. 193.

+ Calay’s ‘ Life of Raleigh,’ vol. i., p. 13 ; Ap. p. 8.

X ‘ Saggio di Gloria americana descritta ’ (Rome, 1781),
vol. ii., p. 353.

§ * M6moires de l’Acadfcmie des Sciences ’ (1745), p. 490.

|| ‘ Yoyages aux Region Equinoxiales,’ vol. ii., p. 54S.

country under the name “bejuco de mavacure,’’ and
which they referred to a species of Strychnos. The
concentrated liquid had a syrupy consistence, and to it
was added a viscous juice named “ kiracaguero,”
which gave still greater consistence to the product.
Such was the first information upon the true origin
of curare, and all which follows shows how strongly
rooted is the idea that it is to a species of Strychnos
that the principal activity of the poison is due. As
to the species indicated by Humboldt and Bonpland
it is difficult to say what it is. Kunth places it near
the Rouhamon of Aublet; but in the absence of
sufficient materials for determination, judgment can
hardly be pronounced upon this delicate point.'*

In 1813, Watertonf made a long and difficult ex¬
ploration in the interior of British Guiana to see
for himself the preparation of the curare of the
Macusis, and he reports that there also the basis is a
climbing plant named “ wourali ” or “ ourari,” as¬
sociated with some other less important species.
But it was Richard SchomburgkJ who, in 1840 — 41,
gave the true composition of the curare of this
region. About 3° 10" N. latitude, in the granitic
mountains of Canuku or Conocon, -which bound the
savannahs of the river Rupununi, was ascertained one
of the most important points of the preparation of this
composition of this curare, of which the following is

the formula : —

Bark and Wood of “ Urari ” (Strychnos toxi-

fera, Schomb.) . 2 lbs.

Bark and Wood of “ Yak Id ” (S. Schomburg-

Icii, Klot.) . £ lb.

Bark and Wood of “Arimaru” (& cogens ,

Benth.) . ^ lb.

Bark and Wood of “Vokamiro” . ... £ lb.

Root of “ Tarireng ” . \ oz.

Root of “ Tararemu . ^ oz.

Fleshy Root of “ Maramu ” (C issampelos) sp.?

Four small pieces of “ Manica.”

This last substance belongs to a ligneous species of
the Zanthoxylacese, the -wood and bark of which are
antisyphilitics.

The formula, it will be seen, is very complex, and
several of its constituents remain undetermined ; but
the important fact is the predominance of species of
Strychnos, of which specimens have been sent to
Europe and described by botanists.

The same fact becomes again evident in the in¬
vestigations made on the bank of the Amazon by M.
de Castlenau in 1847. “It was,” says this traveller,
“with great pleasure that I found in a house (among
the Oregones) several Indians occupied in preparing
the poison which they use in the chase. They did
not appear to make any mystery of their occupation.
They had boiled during twenty-four hours in a large
boiler the fragments of a climbing weed; then, in
our presence, they added a substance having the ap¬
pearance of a lather, but which we knewT had come
from another creeper that had been rasped. This
mixture requires to be further boiled until it takes
the consistence of glue.Ӥ

Subsequently,! | M. de Castlenau explains that the
first of these climbers is the “bobongo” of the

* Rob. Schomburgk, ‘Annals of Nat. Hist.’, [1], vol.
vii., p. 411.

f ‘ Wanderings in South America.’

X Richard Schomburgk, ‘ Reisen in British Guiana in
1840 41,’ p. 450.

§ De Castlenau, ‘Expedition dans les Parties centrales
de i’Am6rique du Sud: Histoire du Voyage, v., p. 14.

|| Loc. cit., pp. 17 and 22.

492

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [Decamber is, 1880

Oregones and the “pani” of the Yagnas; the second,
of which the rasped hark is used, is the “tacato” of
the Oregones and the “ramou” of the Yagnas. M.
Weddell has studied these two plants. The “pani”
is a Menisperm, which he has named Gocculus toxico-
ferus. The “ramou” is a species of Strychnos, which
he has dedicated to M. de Castlenau ; it is the
Strychnos Castelnceana. This latter is freely dis¬
tributed throughout the whole region of the Upper
Amazon, in the districts of the Indians mentioned
above and in those of the Ticunas and the Pebas.
The curare of this country is evidently the same as
has been described by La Condamine in the
‘Memoires de PAcademie des Sciences’ under the
name of the “ poison of the Ticunas.”

Since then, sufficiently numerous indications have
been given to complete the foregoing and to illus¬
trate besides the preparation of the curare in other
countries.

First, we have the information furnished to M.
Gubler by M. Thirion, consul-general in Venezuela.
It refers to a poison which is prepared throughout
the district of the Upper Orinoco, by the Maquiri-
taras and Piaroas, and in the regions situated
between that river and the Rio Negro. According
to an official report the bark of a plant bearing
small white flowers and growing in high lands
having a blackish soil, is first rasped. “The rasped
bark is then boiled during several hours, until
it becomes a kind of paste, which is afterwards
strained in a very fine filter; it [the filtrate] is then
submitted anew to a slow fire until it has acquired
the consistence of a syrup, which indicates that the
poison has arrived at its full strength.” A portion
of stem, roots and leaves accompanied the report
transmitted to M. Thirion. These same specimens
were exhibited in the Champ de Mars in 1878, in the
Venezuelan section, together with calabashes of
curare. I have been enabled, through M. Gubler,
who kindly entrusted them to me, and by the
courtesy of the commissioners of the South American
exposition, to study these organs. The venation of
the leaves, and the structure of the barks and woods,
both of the roots and the stems, left me no doubt as
to the generic determination of the plant. It was
a Strychnos, and as it did not answer to any known
species, I have given to it the name of Strychnos
Gubleri, to recall the last work undertaken by our
regretted collaborateur. *

In the second place should be mentioned the
plants sent or brought from Brazil by M. Jobert, +
and especially those which have been communicated
to me by Dr. Jules Crevaux, the intrepid explorer
of French Guiana and the Upper Amazon.

These plants come from two distinct regions, one
already explored by M. de Castlenau, i.e., the
district of the Strychnos Castelnceana, Wedd. M.
Jobert and M. Crevaux saw there the same plants
as M. Weddell, the “pani” and the “ramou,”
besides a series of various plants, Aroidese,
Piperacese, Aristolochiaceae, etc.

The other region, recently explored by M. Crevaux
through many difficulties and perils, is in quite an
opposite direction. It is the country of the Upper
Parou, one of the affluents of the Amazon in the
south of French Guiana. It is there that the
Roucouyennes and Trios prepare curare with a plant
to which they have given the characteristic name of

* G. Planchon, Comptes Rendus, January 19, 1880.

f Jobert, Comptes Rendus, Jan. 14, 1878.

‘‘ urari ” or “ ourari,” but which is perfectly distinct
from that which bears the same designations in
other districts. The specimens, with flowers, that
M. Crevaux kindly intrusted to me upon his arrival
in Europe, have enabled me, in fact, to ascertain
that it does not agree either with the Strychnos
toxifera, of Schomburgk, which is the “ urari ” of
British Guiana, or with the other species of Strychnos
that have been indicated as ingredients in curari ;
namely, S. Schomburgkii , Klotzsch, of which I have
seen a specimen in the herbarium at the British
Museum, and 8. cogens, Benth., the description of which
does not accord with our plant. It is not a Rouhamon,
although at first it seems to resemble Aublet’s plant.
By its flowers it is a true species of Strychnos, un¬
known hitherto, and in order to associate it with
the traveller who brought it to Europe I have named
it Strychnos Crevauxii.*

If we review the foregoing information it will
be seen that in all the curares which have been
mentioned species of Strychnos play the principal
part, the other plants mixed with them are evidently
accessories. This has, moreover, been demonstrated
by physiological experiments undertaken recently
with the bark of American species of Strychn<>s,
which show that the characteristic action of the
poison can be referred to them alone. The Paul-
linia Cururn, of the family Sapindacese, of which
Claude Bernard in 1865 found a fruit in a fragment
of curare, and the action of which recalls that of the
American poison, has not been mentioned as an
element in this poison by any of the travellers who
have themselves been present during its preparation.

In the actual state of our knowledge we can
indicate pretty clearly four regions where curare is
prepared, and for each of them mention a species of
Strychnos which is used as a basis for its preparation.
These are, passing from east to west : —

(1) The region of the Upper Amazon or of the
Strychnos Castelnceana, Wedd. It is the most
extensive of the four, and includes the Solimoes,
the Yavari, the 19a, and the Yapoura. It yields the
curare of the Ticunas, Pebas, Yaguas and Oregones.

(2) The region of the Upper Orinoco, extending
towards the Rio Negro. It is there that the
Strychnos Gubleri is met with, which yields the
curare of the Moquiritaras and Piaroas. It corre¬
sponds with the district visted by Humboldt in
1800.

(3) The region of British Guiana or of the
Shychnos toxifera, Schonib., associated with the
Strychyios Schomburgkii, Kl., and Strychnos cogens,
Benth., from whence comes the curare of the
Macusis, Orecunas and Wapisianas.

(4) The region of Upper French Guiana (Upper
Parou) or of the Strychnos Crevauxii. , whence comes
the curare of the Trios and Roucouyennes.

We shall study successively the principal elements
which enter into the various kinds of curare.

(To be continued.)

THE SPONGE TRADE IN THE BAHAMAS AND
THE PROPAGATION OF SPONGES.

In a report to the Secretary of State for the Colonies
from the Governor of the Bahamas it is stated that
“various causes combined to make the past year a most
favourable one to those engaged in this branch of business.

* Planchon, Comptes Rendus, Dec. 23, 1878, and Jan.
19, 1880.

December 8, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

493

A larger number of buyers than usual appeared in the
market, and there was no period when it could be said
that prices had a downward tendency. The very high
prices offered at the beginning of the year were fully
sustained to its end. This strong competition served to
stimulate those actually employed in the fisheries to
greater exertion, and induced a great many others to
enter the business. Absence of heavy gales, and the
mild weather that generally prevailed, contributed in a
great measure to favour the efforts of the fishermen to
meet this increased demand. The successful results of
last year’s fishery are also somewhat owing to the rest
the sponge beds had whilst the privilege of fishing on
the coast of Cuba was accorded to the Bahamian spongers.
Licences to fish on this coast were again issued in 1879
to several vessels, but shortly after their arrival at the
sponging grounds they were boarded by Spanish gun¬
boats and ordered to leave ; some of them returned to
port with insufficient sponge to pay the cost of their
outfits.”

Governor Robinson then refers to the statements that
have been made by German naturalists as to the
possibility of the artificial propagation of sponges, and
asks that definite information should be obtained
upon the subject and supplied to him. In com¬
pliance with this request the Secretary of State appears
to have consulted Dr. E. Ray Lankester, who has
supplied the following report, which is printed in the
blue book : —

“In accordance with your request that I should report
to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Colonies
upon the subject of the artificial cultivation of sponges
for commercial purposes, I have made inquires (as I
expressed my intention of doing in my reply to your
letter dated April 26, 1880) relative to the experiments
inaugurated by the Austrian Government.

“I have received communications on the subject from
Professor Oscar Schmidt (now of Strassburg), who initiated
the experiments in the Adriatic, and also from Professor
Eilhardt Schulze (of Gratz), at present Director of the
Zoological Observatory erected by the Austrian Imperial
Government at Trieste. I have also carefully studied
a report by Dr. Emil von Marenzeller, published in the
Verhandlungen der k. k. zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft
in Wien, vol. xxviii., 1879, p. 687, which is based upon
official documents prepared by the Austrian Minister of
Agriculture, and upon special information supplied by
Professor Oscar Schmidt.

“The experiments in the Adriatic were carrried out
under the auspices of the Government during the years
1863 — 72, and were finally abandoned in November 1872
on account of the difficulties which were encountered.

“It appears that the method of cutting a sponge into
small pieces, affixing these pieces to movable supports,
and sinking the supports in the water where the sponges
naturally occur, was found to be perfectly successful.
The “cuttings” of sponge attached themselves to the
support and proceeded to grow each into a well shaped
sponge like that from which the cutting was taken.
Details are given in Dr. Yon Marenzeller’s report as to
the best mode of taking the cuttings, and as to the best
material for supports, also as to the time of year in
which to operate, and other important conditions.

“It appears that from a small cutting (26 cubic
millimetres in bulk) a sponge of marketable size would
be produced in about seven years’ growth.

“ Whilst the experiments of the Austrian Government
demonstrated the soundness of Professor Oscar Schmidt’s
suggestion, in consequence of which the cultivation was
attempted, yet two difficulties sufficed to put a stop to
the undertaldng.

“Firstly, the native population, more especially the
fishermen, had a great objection to these experiments,
fearing that they might lead to the injury of the sponge
trade, and consequently they persistently disturbed and
robbed the experimental sponge bed. It was necessary

that the sponge cuttings on their supports should be
placed in an open unprotected bay in order to secure the
requisite condition of the sea water and natural food of
the sponge, and at the same time the expense of protecting
the bay during a long series of years against the depre¬
dations of the fishermen would have been very great and
incommensurate with the profit to be obtained by the
sale of the sponges when full grown. The hostility of the
population of the Adriatic coast was then the chief cause
of the abandonment of the experiments. But, further,
the slow growth of the sponges (first established as a
fact by these experiments), and the expense of obtaining
the cuttings, and of making and sinking the supports,
seemed to show with considerable clearness that the
profit to be obtained by such a system of cultivation
would be extremely small.

“It appears that the actual weight of sponge produced
in a given time is not increased by the plan of dividing
a live sponge into many separate pieces ; the undivided
sponge would have increased by the same amount as
that by which the whole series of separate pieces have
increased in the same time, and inasmuch as a large sponge
is more valuable commercially than an equal weight
of small sponges, the utility of the operation of taking
cuttings is very doubtful. It could only be of service for
the purpose of diffusing sponges over a wider area of the
sea bottom than that over which they would naturally
spread ; if such a diffusion could be effected, the sponge
might be introduced to new and unoccupied ground, and
thus obtain increased facilities for nutrition, and a better
chance of falling upon one of those favourable situations
which cause the sponge to grow a good size; but the
situations suitable to the healthy growth of sponges ap¬
pear to be (so far as our knowledge goes) already fully
tenanted by sponges which multiply and diffuse them¬
selves naturally by means of eggs which give rise . to
minute swimming germs, these germs after a time fixing
themselves, and developing by slow growth into sponges
like those which produced the eggs.

“It may be possible by means of the system of sponge
cutting, proposed by Professor Oscar Schmidt, to introduce
sponges into new situations previously unoccupied ; and
experiments in this direction, though requiring great
skill and knowledge of the conditions favourable to
sponge growth, would be worth trying.

“Excepting with this object the method of sponge
cutting does not seem to be one of any promise.

“In relation merely to the management of an existing
sponge fishery, I am of opinion that all that can be done
by official control is to prevent the contamination or
unnatural disturbance of the waters and bottom where
the sponges grow ; and, secondly, to strictly enforce a
limitation of size in regard to those sponges which are
fished and sold. Only large sponge should be moved
from the sea bottom for the market, and all smaller and
incompletely grown specimens should be returned to the
waters by the fishermen immediately when taken.
Further, the ground on which the sponges grow should
not be too often dredged, but only at certain intervals
in the year. In making these recommendations I am
supported by the opinion of Professor Schulze, who has
during the last six years devoted himself to the study of
the life history of the Adriatic sponges, and has added
many most important facts to our knowledge of these
animals.

“Whilst these are the counsels which our present
knowledge of the subject justifies, it must be distinctly
understood that further experiment in the matter is to
be desired, and might be crowned with a practical
success. It may be possible to construct artificial basins
(of large size, some hundreds of yards in area,) in which
the water shall be of proper depth, temperature, and
purity for the growth of the commercial sponge, and such
basins might be stocked with sponges, by the use of the
‘method of cuttings.’ No experiments with artificial
basins have as yet been carried out.”

494

the Pharmaceutical journal and Transactions, roecember is, isso.

GROUND-NUTS.*

In the natural order Leguminosse, which contains such
a large number of species, and plants of such varied char¬
acters, two genera are remarkable for having individuals
with a peculiar habit, namely, that of ripening their
seeds underground.

The first of these plants, commonly known as the
ground-nut ( Arachis hypogcea), is a trailing, straggling
annual, growing about 2 feet high, with a thick angular,
pale green, hairy stem, and spreading branches. It bears
yellow papilionaceous flowers, the calyx of which has a
very long and slender tube, expanding at the top into
two deeply cut lips. In general appearance this calyx
tube has a strong resemblance to a flower-stalk, and
being of a green colour it is the more easily mistaken ; it
was, indeed, for a long time so mistaken. The yellow
petals are inserted in the throat of the calyx. The
stamens are ten in number, frequently, however, one is
abortive. The filaments are united into a tube for
nearly their entire length, the anthers alternately
rounded and oval. The ovary at first is very small, and
is seated at the bottom of the calyx-tube. The style is
very long and slender, projecting a short distance beyond
the staminal tube. After the flower ha3 withered or
fallen off the ovary remains very small for some time, at
the end of the long stalk, which, as it grows, curves
downwards, pushing the ovary into the ground, and
when sufficiently deep it begins to enlarge, perfecting
itself in this position beneath the surface of the soil. So
necessary is this burying process that, if anything occurs
to prevent it neither the ovary is increased nor are the
seeds formed. When fully grown the fruits are about 1
inch or 1^ inch long, of a dusky-yellowish colour, and
with a netted or reticulated surface ; each pod contains
usually two brownish-red seeds, sometimes, however,
three are found, but very rarely.

So largely is this plant cultivated at the present time
in most tropical countries for the sake of the oil con¬
tained in the seeds, that it is difficult to fix upon its
native country. It is, however, considered by some
authors to have probably originally come from Brazil, the
other species of the genus being natives of that country.
Though, as we have already said, the plant is largely
cultivated in nearly all tropical regions, it is in western
tropical Africa that it is most extensively grown.

It is described by Mr. Monteiro, in his ‘Angola and the
River Congo,’ as perhaps the most important plant in
native tropical African agriculture. Many thousand
tons are grown on the west coast, large quantities being
sent to Europe, principally to Trance. The author of
the interesting work above referred to considers that the
Arachis is destined to become one of the most important
oil seeds of the future. The plant, which is known as
the Mpinda or Ginguba, is cultivated in the greatest
abundance a few miles inland from the coast, where the
soil and climate are both better than in the arid country
near the sea. Requiring as it does a rich soil for its pro¬
fitable cultivation, it is consequently chiefly grown in the
bottoms of the valleys or in marshes, or in the vicinity of
rivers. The cultivation is very simple. After the
ground is cleared the weeds and grass are left to dry, and
are then burnt off, after which the ground is dug only to
the depth of a few inches by women with little hoes,
which, indeed, are the only agricultural implements used.
The seeds are then dropped into the ground and covered
up. These operations are carried on in October and
November, and the first crop of seeds which are gathered
for eating in a green state are ready about April. It is,
however, not till July or August that they become
thoroughly ripe and fit for harvesting for commercial
purposes. Several thousand tons of these seeds are
annually produced in this part of Africa, the bulk of
which is grown in the Mbamba country, lying parallel

# Reprinted from the Gardeners' Chronicle.

with the coast, at a distance of from 30 to 80 miles
inland. The population of this comparatively small
district is said to be very large, as may be gathered from
the fact that the large produce of ground-nuts are
shelled by hand, and brought down to the coast on the
heads of the natives.

It is found by the natives to be more profitable to sell
the seeds than to express the oil themselves, therefore
but little oil beyond that required for their own use is
prepared by them. Formerly it was obtained in a very
rude manner by first pounding the seeds into a uniform
mass in a wooden mortar. A lump was then taken from
the mortar, hot water poured upon it, and the whole
squeezed in the hands, the oil and water running from it,
which was afterwards separated. The oil is very largely
used in Angola for culinar}7 purposes. The seeds, simply
reduced to a paste, by being ground on a stone, are used
to thicken stews and similar dishes. Mr. Monteiro
describes a large plantation of ground-nuts as a very
beautiful sight — “ a rich expanse of the most luxuriant
foliage of the brightest green, every leaf studded with
diamond-like drops glittering in the early sun.” The
ground-nut is an important part of the food of the
natives, and more so in the country from Ambriz to the
River Congo than south at Loanda and Benguella. It is
seldom eaten raw, blit roasted, and when young and
green, and roasted in the husks, is really delicious eating.
It is excessively oily when fully ripe, and the natives
then generally eat it with bananas, and either the raw
mandioca root, or some preparation of it, experience
showing them the necessity of the admixture of a
farinaceous substance with an excessively oily food.

From India also large quantities of Arachis or ground¬
nut oil are exported. In some of the Southern States of
America the plant is now largely grown. Marseilles is
the principal centre of the trade in this oil, but enormous
quantities are brought to London as well as to the chief
towns of Holland and Germany. So largely is the oil
developed in the seeds that it is easily obtained by
simple expression either with or without heat, that
produced by the cold process being of course the most
valuable. The oil is of a very light colour, with a bland
taste, so much resembling olive oil that it is said to be
largely used for adulterating that oil. For pharmaceu¬
tical purposes ground-nut oil is now almost exclusively
used in India instead of olive oil, and in this country its
chief use is in soap-making as well as in the preparation
of cold cream and other toilet adjuncts. The residue of
the seeds is made into cake for feeding cattle, and has
been strongly recommended on account of the oil con¬
tained in it, its sweet taste, digestibility, and its richness
in flesh-formers. As food for man the seeds are used in
different parts of the world, either cooked or raw. In
England they are frequently seen in small shops, being
eaten chiefly by children, who call them monkey-nuts.
In America a sweetmeat is prepared from them, by
parching them and treating them with sugar: simply
roasted, they are said to form a good substitute for
coffee, and when finely beaten up into a pulp and formed
into cakes are sold in America for use as chocolate. In
Loanda the traffic in ground-nuts is very extensive, and
a source of great wealth to the country. In Ambacca,
one of the most populous districts of the interior,
thousands of tons were, until recently, sold annually ;
at the present time this trade is said to have almost
entirely ceased. In consequence of the decrease in the
price of ground-nuts — from £20 to £14 per ton — there
has been but little inducement for the natives to cultivate
the plant except for their own consumption.

The second plant, of which we spoke at the commence¬
ment as having a similar habit to that of the Arachis, of
ripening the seeds beneath the earth, is known as the
Bambarra Ground-nut ( Voandzeia subterranm). Like
Arachis it belongs to the section Papilionacese. It is the
only species of the genus, and is described as being a
native of Africa, over which continent it is widely

December is, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

495

distributed by cultivation ; it also occurs abundantly
under the same conditions in Brazil and other parts of
South America. Besides the name of Bambarra Ground¬
nut, by which the plant is known in Africa, it is called
by the natives in Natal Igiuhluba, and in Brazil Man-
dubi d’ Angola. The plant is annual, creeping. The
leaves are borne on long stalks, and are composed of three
leaflets each, the central one itself being stalked. The
flowers are yellow, papilionaceous, or similar in form to
those of the last described plant. The calyx is bell¬
shaped, and the ovary, which bears two ovules, is sur¬
mounted by a short style and a hooked stigma. The
flowers are both unisexual and perfect. After the period
of flowering the fl uver-stalks bend over and push the
young fruits into the ground, where, like the Arachis,
they ripen their seeds. The pods, when fully grown,
are about £ inch long, somewl t oval in shape, in
colour resembling the pod of Aracnis, and also marked
with a network of ribs, but coarser and not so well
defined as in the ground-nut. Each pod contains but
one seed, which is shining black marked by a small
white hilum. These seeds are eaten in countries where
the plant grows, either in an unripe state and boiled like
peas, or in their raw state when fully ripe.

POISONOUS PRINCIPLE OP GLORIOSA SUPERBA:
A CHEMICO-PHYSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH * * * §

Preliminary Notice.

BY SURGEON C. J. H. WARDEN,

Professor of Chemistry , Calcutta Medical College.

Gloriosa superba is a climbing plant belonging to the
natural order Liliaceas, and is found in low jungles, and
in the beds of ravines and edges of rivers throughout
India.

Burman,f Roxburgh, X and others describe the root as
being violently poisonous, but give no details of a case in
which its effects have been observed. Norman Chevers
includes the root in his list of poisons procurable in
Indian bazars; and in hi3 ‘Manual of Indian Medical
Jurisprudence,’ gives notes of the post-mortem appearances
in two cases of poisoning by Gloriosa superba. A belief
in its poisonous properties is also common amongst the
natives of all parts of India.

In Hindu works on materia medica, the root of
Gloriosa superba is classed as one of the seven minor
poisons. The minor poisons being opium, seeds of Abrus
precatorius, Datura, roots of Nerium odoratum, roots of
Gloriosa superba, milky juice of Calotropis gigantica, and
Euphorbia neriifolia.% The properties are thus described.
“It is applied in blood diseases, swellings, wounds,
abscesses and pains. It is acrid in taste, but is a mild
poison, and brings on abortion when eaten.”

Moodeen Sheriff state i that the root is not poisonous in
twelve grain doses, and ascribes to it alterative, tonic,
and antiperiodic properties. || “In Travancore a remedy
held in esteem in the treatment of gonorrhoea is a white
farinaceous powder obtained from the root by bruising
and repeated washings and maceration.’’^

Moodeen Sheriff also states that the root is considered
by native practitioners and druggists in Southern India
to possess nearly the same properties as the root of
A conitum ferox, and hence its names, “Nat-krt-bachlinag,”
country aconite, and ‘Adavi-ndbhi,’ wild aconite: and
this probably accounts for the statement made by Dr.
George Bidie to the Editor of the Indian Pharmacopoeia,

* From the Indian Medical Gazette, October, 1880.

t ‘ FPr. Indica,’ p. 82.

X ‘ Flor. Indica,’ vol. ii. p. 143.

§ Calcutta Medical News, No. ~ .

|| ‘Supplement, Indian Pharm.’

■(I ‘ Waring. Indian Pharm.’

that he had found the roots of Aconitum ferox sold in
Mysore largely adulterated with Gloriosa superba.

In the vernacular the plant has apparently several
synonyms, “Kurreearee,” “Cariari,” “Bish languli,
“Natka-bachhnag,” “Adavi-ndbhi,” “Hurreeana ^ or
Hurinah,” and “ Nungninlicah Nunguinleeah” or “Eslia
langula.” The last name being derived from the resem¬
blance which the root bears to a native plough.

The botanical characters of Gloriosa superba are as
follows: — Calyx none; corolla six-petalled and reflex;
germ superior, thin celled; cells many seeded; attach¬
ment central ; style oblique ; flowers yellow and crimson,
mixed; flowers during the rains; capsule thin celled and
three valved, varying in length from one to three inches ;
seeds several ; embryo double and furnished with a
perisperm ; root tuberous, cylindrical, bent at a right
angle near one end, knotty at the angle, and occasionally
much pointed at both ends, varying in length from two
to eight inches, generally about the size of a finger or
thumb, but sometimes thicker. The knot bears a mark
of the stem on the upper surface, and gives attachment
to many thin rootlets by the lower. The roots are also
found bulbous. The fresh roots are plump and juicy,
and surrounded by a brownish epidermis, beneath which
is a tegumentary layer of a waxy yellowish hue, in which
spots of a deep yellow colour are frequently visible. If
the root be dug up before flowering the epidermic
covering is white, and is easily separable into layers, and
gives marked indications of the presence of tannic acid.
On section the root substance is of a white colour and
consists of cells containing starch granules. The juice is
strongly acid in reaction, and slightly bitter without
being acrid. The old roots are shrivelled in appearance
and rather sweet to taste ; on section, the cells under the
microscope are found to be apparently enlarged, with a
diminution of the starch granules. The roots, when dried
by exposure to air, break with a starchy fracture ; but if
dried in a hot water oven at 100°, the fracture is glassy.
The stem is climbing and herbaceous; leaves, lanceolate
and ending in a tendril.* Lindon and Mason’s account
of the flowers is perhaps worthy of quoting. “One
of the most curious flowers in the Tenasserim country
is the Gloriosa superba ; ‘ Gloriosa ’ on account of the
glorious colour's of its flowers, and the elegance of their
form. The flowers are as large as a lily, and hang down ;
the petals, stamens, and style, all turn, and grow up like
a flower turned inside out, and then to complete the
oddity the leaves prolong tbeir extremities into tendrils,
and the plant walks on its toes.”

The toxic effects of the drug on human beings have
been recorded in nine instances. The notes of the two
cases recorded by Dr. Norman Chevers, and to which
reference has before been made, are to the following
effect i _

Case I. — “Mr. R. D. Logg, Civil Surgeon of Pertabgurh,
sent down portions of the fresh root, stalk, and leaves of
a creeping plant, bearing a Seed, and called by the
natives ‘Kuryaree,’ together with the contents of the
stomach of a woman who destroyed herself by swallow¬
ing a m - (maslxaf-32 grains) of the same. The

notes of the post-mortem examination are considered to
show that the action of kurreearee is that of a narcotico-
irritant poison.”

Case II. — “Dr. Chandra, in civil medical charge of
Deoghur (Santhal Pergunnahs), sent in from Mr. J . T.
Blumhardt, Assistant Commissioner of Godda, the roots
and seed-vessels of the Gloriosa superba (under the name
‘Kareeam;’ Bengali, ‘Ognishikha’). About two tolahs
weight of the root was administered with some salt and
red lead to the deceased Deba Pahariah.”

Dr. Robert Harvey, in a report in the medico- legal
returns received from civil surgeons in Bengal from

Modified from Roxburgh and Moodeen Sheriff,
f Or Massa, gold weight,

496

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 18, 1880.

1870 to 1872, states, “the returns give six cases, all
fatal; all suicidal; all but one in males, and all from
Oudh.”

In 1876 a partial analysis of the root was made with
specimens collected in Jnne, before flowering. The
sample weighed about lOlbs., it is carefully freed from
sand, etc. The tubers cut into thin slices were dried by
exposure to air, and the desiccation completed in a water
oven at 100° C. ; and the residue reduced to tine
powder.

While the slices of the root were drying in the open
air, some of the sections assumed a yellow colour. And
this colour in many instances could be produced by
moistening a slice with an alkaline solution ; the colour
being again destroyed by an excess of acid. The
tegumentary layer of the roots, in which yellow spots
were observed, also developed a yellow hue on adding
a solution of an alkali ; while the yellow spots
under similar treatment assumed a rich reddish yellow
colour.

The fresh roots contained 81 "06 per cent, of moisture,
and yielded on ignition 4"583 per cent, of mineral matter,*
of which T538 per cent was insoluble in water. The ash
was strongly alkaline in reaction, effervesced with acids,
and contained a considerable amount of potash.

On treating the dry powdered roots with cold water, a
dark reddish solution was obtained, strongly acid to
litmus paper, and slightly bitter to the taste. It readily
reduced Febling’s copper solution. Caustic alkalies
darkened the colour of the solution : ferric chloride
indicated the presence of a trace of tannic acid.

The percentage of aqueous extractive matter was
determined in two experiments, cold water being used,
the mean being 23"986, calculated on the root dried at
100° C. The aqueous extractive matter yielded on
ignition 2"995 per cent, of ash, also calculated on the dry
root ; showing a difference of '05 per cent, when compared
with the direct estimation of the soluble constituents
of the ash.

On digesting the powdered root with alcohol of sp.
gr. 8116, 13 ’01 5 per cent, of extractive matter was
obtained. This extract was strongly acid in reaction,
and had a balsamic pleasant smell.

In old roots collected late in the season, and some time
after flowering, the amount of extractive matter is
diminished —

New.

Old.

Alcholic extractive . .

. 13-01

6-05

Aqueous .

. 23-98

1941

Ash .

. 4-58

4-47

the amount of extractives

may vary

considerably

beyond the limits assigned above. On evaporating a
tincture of the root until it ceases to smell of alcohol,
the resulting extract roughly separates into two portions.
On allowing an alcoholic extract from which the whole
of the spirit has not been expelled to stand for some
time in a stoppered bottle, yellow nodules, about the
size of pins’ heads, are slowly deposited.

The alcoholic extract is entirely soluble in caustic
alkaline solutions : the resulting solution being of a
dark red colour. On neutralization, an abundant pre¬
cipitate occurs. This precipitate consists of resinous
matter, and can be separated into a dark and light
coloured resin, which I propose calling respectively
a superbine and fi superbine resins, a superbine resin
when purified forms a dark chocolate coloured powder,
with acid properties, and solid at ordinary temperatures.
j8 resin is of a yellow colour and of the consistence
of butter; on standing for some time it becomes
indistinctly crystalline.

The alcoholic extractive matter is best separated into
fractions for experimental purposes by adopting the
following plan. A concentrated tincture is slowly poured

into a large bulk of water acidulated with acetic acid,
with constant agitation. The precipitate wTctich occurs,
should be filtered off and washed with cold water. It
consists of the two resins to which reference has before
been made. The filtrate is exactly neutralized with
carbonate of soda, which causes a turbidity, from the
precipitation of a small quantity of resin dissolved by
the acid : after filtration, the solution is very faintly
acidulated with a few drops of dilute sulphuric acid,
and a solution of tannic acid added, this causes a bulky
curdy precipitate. The precipitate should be collected,
washed with cold water, and while still moist mixed
with an equal bulk of lime and a small amount of water
and the mixture evaporated to dryness. The dried mass
is then reduced to fine powder and treated with boiling
alcohol. On allowing the alcoholic solution to evaporate
a bitter residue is left. This residue contains a bitter
principle, contaminated with resinous matter. Its
toxic effects, however, are very marked, *047 gm. in¬
jected into the stomach being sufficient to kill a full
grown cat. This bitter extract probably contains
the active principle which I have provisionally termed
superbine.

The separation of the two resins may be effected by
one of the following methods. By the action of benzole,
in which /3 resin is soluble and a comparatively insoluble,
the trace of dark resin dissolved may be removed by
evaporating the solution until it ceases to smell of
benzole, and then placing the soft residue in a stoppered
bottle with ether ; a solution of carbonate of soda is next
added and the bottle well shaken. The ether dissolves
the yellow resin and leaves tie dark resin apparently
in combination with the sodic carbonate. The ether
holding the yellow resin in solution is evaporated to
dryness, and the residue washed with acidulated water.
The a resin is then in a sufficiently pure condition for
ultimate analysis.

The dark resin left after the action of benzole on the
mixed resins is dissolved in a solution of caustic potash
and precipitated by a dilute acid. The treatment must
be adopted two or three times before the resin is obtained
sufficiently pure for analysis.

Caustic lime may also be employed for the preparation
of the resins, and this may be done by either of the
following plans. The powdered root may be mixed with
lime, and then digested with alcohol ; the resulting tinc¬
ture contains only the yellow resin in solution. Or the
mixed resins may be dissolved in alcohol, and mixed with
an equal bulk of cream of lime ; after evaporation to
dryness the residue is boiled with alcohol, which dissolves
the yellow resin only, the dark resin forming apparently
a compound with lime, from which it may be moved by
the addition of dilute hydrochloric acid, which forms
a soluble salt .with lime, and leaves the resin as a brown
powder. ,

The organic acid in the root is obtained in the usual
way, and when purified presents the characters of tartaric
acid.

By working in the manner sketched out above, the
alcoholic extract was divided into four fractions —

1. a resin.

2. /3 resin.

3. Bitter principle — superbine.

4. Filtrate from tannic acid precipitate.

The two resins have been obtained in a pure state,
and ultimate analyses have been made : but extreme
difficulty has been experienced in purifying the bitter
principle. The chemical properties and physiological
action of these various fractions will form the subject of
a second communication.

In conclusion, I would remark, that bearing in mind
that Gloriosa superba belongs to the same natural order
as squills, and comparing the physiological action of the
two drugs, it may be assumed that the active principle
of Gloriosa superba is closely allied to, if not identical
j with, that of the Scilla maritima.

* Calculated on the root dried at 100° C.

December 18, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

497

Cl ire |outmil.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1880.

PHARMACY ACT AMENDMENT.

The amendment of pharmaceutical legislation,
which now engages the attention of the body repre¬
senting the drug trade of this country, is an under¬
taking which will probably furnish opportunity for
recognizing the very wide differences of opinion that
exist concerning the present desiderata of this busi¬
ness and the means by which its future may he
improved. The letters that have appeared during
the past few months upon the future of pharmacy
and upon some of the difficulties with which those
engaged in the business now have to contend have
in some degree foreshadowed the absence of unani¬
mity which we fear is to be anticipated. On the one
hand there are those who look upon the Pharmacy Act
as a measure designed for the protection of the trade
interests of a class; who would endeavour to restrict
the sale of all kinds of drugs and medicinal prepara¬
tions to that particular class, and in many cases
would hope by such means alone to improve the
present position of the legally qualified dealer in
drugs, as well as to open up for him a better future.
On the other hand, there are some who look upon
legislative restriction of trade with so much aversion
that they would rather seek the entire repeal of the
Pharmacy Act than its amendment in any par¬
ticular.

Between these two extremes are to be found all
shades of opinion, the most rational, perhaps, being
that which regards the provisions of the Pharmacy
Act that operate to the advantage of the pharmacist
a's being only incidentally protective of the class to
which he belongs, and in the main directed to
secure an object of more paramount importance in
the eye of the Legislature, viz., the benefit of the
public.

One of the points referred to in the letter of a
correspondent this week will serve to illustrate the
discordance of opinion that prevails as to what really
are the interests which members of the trade should
seek to defend. Widows, as our readers are aware,
have been a source of trouble in pharmaceutical
affairs, as they sometimes are in other relations, and
the fact that the question as to the extent to which
their claims to constitute an exception to the first
section of the Pharmacy Act should be allowed has
given rise to more animated controversy than any
other part of the Act may be taken as warranting in
no small degree the advice of Mr. Weller, senior,
to beware of widows. Our correspondent, Mr.
Tucker, in referring to this matter, naturally
declares in a general way his sympathy with the
unfortunate position of a widow, pharmaceutical
or otherwise, but in reference to the suggestion that
the widow of a registered chemist and druggist

should be still more definitely made an exception
to the provision of the first clause of the Pharmacy
Act, he adds his opinion that this suggestion cannot
be followed with any show of reason by those who
demand that no other kind of unregistered person
shall be permitted to carry on the business.

As a mere matter of logic it appears undeniable
that if the benefit and safety of the public, which
constitute the real object of the Pharmacy Act, be in
the case of a chemist and druggist’s widow suffi¬
ciently guarded by her employing a qualified assis¬
tant to conduct her business, it would be impossible
to contend that it was not equally guarded in the case
of any other person whose business was conducted
by a qualified assistant. There is great force, there¬
fore, in the prediction of our correspondent that if
these two opposite views were to be embodied in the
proposed Bill for amendment of the Pharmacy Act
they would prove a serious obstacle to its acceptance
by the Legislature.

Another subject upon which great diversity of
opinion prevails amongst members of the trade is
patent medicines. With some these preparations
rank as perfectly legitimate items of pharmaceutical
business, and this is probably the more general view
concerning them. Long continued usage is to some
degree a reason for it, but that ought not to prevent
some consideration of the fact that the use of patent
medicines necessarily implies the loss of pharma¬
ceutical business, as well as of the exercise of medical
skill by the medical practitioner. According to a
recent statement the amount of revenue accruing to
the State from stamps on patent medicines and
licences to sell them approximates to two hundred
thousand pounds a year, and the sum paid for these
articles must be very considerably greater. It can¬
not be inferred that this is an exact measure of the
normal medical and pharmaceutical functions super¬
seded by the use of patent medicines, but it serves
at least to show that patent medicines are, as some
members of the trade consider, antagonistic to the
interests of pharmacy as well as of medicine.

In considering this matter, moreover, we must not,
at the present time, overlook the circumstance that
the sale ©f patent medicines is now conducted in
such a way as to put_ the pharmacist altogether on
one side, the trade competition of stores, groceis and
other traders being such as he cannot take part in.
There is, we think, little prospect of altering this
state of things so as to retain the trade in the hands
of chemists and druggists, nor do we think that they
have really much reason to complain tbat this
portion of their business is passing away from them,
since it must be remembered that originally it was
carried on largely, if not chiefly, by booksellers and
others who did not lay claim to those qualifications
by which the pharmacist must seek to attain prefer¬
ential consideration from the public.

These are but a few of the points on which
discrepancy of opinions may be expected to induce

498

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 13, 1889.

dissimilar appreciation of tlie merits of an Amended
Pharmacy Bill. The task of drafting a Bill will
therefore he one of considerable difficulty, and, as
may be judged from the time it has already occupied
in the preliminary stage, one not to be proceeded
with so precipitately as some may imagine to be
possible.

CASSIA LIGNEA.

Her Majesty’s Consul at Canton, reporting on the
trade at that port during the year 1879, states that
there has been a remarkable increase, amounting to
more than 28,000 cwts., in the quantity of cassia
lignea exported. The cassia is of three kinds,
deriving their distinctive names from the districts
in which they are produced, of which Loting and
Luehpo are in the province of Kwangtung and
Taiwoo is in Kwangsi. It is said to be largely
used by tanners and carpenters, but it is in special
request for the preparation of perfumery and medi¬
cine. The export is chiefly to America and this
country ; small shipments are also made to India and
the continent of Europe. The cost at the places of
production is estimated at 6 taels (about 35s.) per
picul (133J lbs), but before it can be shipped it has
to pay accumulated taxes amounting to 50 per cent,
of its original price, or 42J per cent, in excess of the
dues and duties authorized by the tariff.

STRANGE POISONING MISADVENTURE.

A recent number of the Presse Medicale Beige
reports the death at Tournai of four persons im¬
mediately after taking some sulphate of magnesia
that had been purchased from a phannacien. This
led to an examination of the stock, when eight out
of forty packets of sulphate of magnesia were found
to be contaminated with considerable quantities of
strychnia. Strychnia was also found adhering to
the sides of the bottle from whence the sulphate had
been taken. No explanation is forthcoming as to
the source of the poison.

THE ROYAL INSTITUTION.

The arrangements for the Friday Evening Meet¬
ings at the Royal Institution include discourses on
the following subjects : — January 21, “ The Phe¬
nomena of the Electric Discharge with 14,400
Chloride of Silver Cells,” by Dr. Warren De La
Rue; January 28, “The Origin of Colonial Organ¬
isms, 5; by Dr. Andrew Wilson; February 4, “The
Teachings of Modern Spectroscopy,” by Dr. A.
Schuster; February 11, “The Distances of the
Stars” by Dr. R. S. Ball; February 18, “Fruits
and Seeds,” by Sir J. Lubbock ; February 25, “ Ex¬
citability in Plants and Animals,” by Dr. J. S.
Burdon-Sanderson ; March 4, “ Elasticity viewed
as Possibly a Mode of Motion,” by Sir W. Thomson ;
March 18. “ Musical Pitch and its Determination,”
by Dr. W. H. Stone; and March 25, “The Weather
and Health of London,” by Mr. Alexander
Buchan. Another evening will be occupied by
Professor Tyndall, but the subject is not yet an¬
nounced.

Crmtsattuws of tiu

Sodetg.

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Tuesday, December 14, 1880.

MR. THOMAS GREENISH, PRESIDENT,

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Andrews, Bottle, Butt, Churchill,
Frazer, Gostling, Hampson, Hills, Radley, Robbins,
Sandford, Savage, Squire, Symes, Williams and Woolley.

The Solicitor submitted the draft Pharmacy Bill, as
revised by him, in accordance with instructions he had
received from the Council at its last meeting.

The Council went through the preamble and the
clauses of the Draft Bill seriatim, and made certain
alterations. Additional clauses were also discussed, and
the Draft Bill was again referred to the Solicitor to make
the alterations determined on.

It was resolved : —

“ That the Pharmacy Bill as now agreed to be sub¬
mitted to counsel to determine the exact wording
of the Bill, which is again to be considered by this
Council.

EXAMINATIONS IN LONDON.

December 8, 1880.

Present — Mr. Greenish, President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, C order, Gale, Linford,
Martindale, Plowman, Southall and Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Seven candidates were examined. Five failed. The
following two passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Knight, Thomas . Nottingham.

Morgan, William . St. Clears.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Nineteen candidates were examined. Twelve failed*
The following seven passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Baker, Charles Frederick . Hitchin.

Barber, Edward Anderson . York.

Bev is, Walter . Newport, I. W.

Bilson, Frederick Eastall . Newark.

Broad, Henry James . Stourbridge.

Cracknel], Herbert . London.

Dawson, William Hewson . Horncastle.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned was examined, and was declared
qualified to be registered as a Chemist and Druggist : —

Adams, Joseph Henry . London.

December 9, 18 SO.

Present— Mr. Greenish, President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Linford,
Martindale, Plowman, Southall and Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-eight candidates were examined. Sixteen failed.
The following twelve passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Edwards, James John . Coventry.

Evans, Thomas . Llandyssul.

Fielder, Arthur Buckley . Winchester.

Fry, Edwin Sargood . Buckhurst Hill.

December 18, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

499

G-arland, Thomas William ...... Acock’s Green.

George, Alfred Walter . Great Yarmouth.

Goldby, Frank . Abingdon.

Haines, William Edward . Hereford.

Hartley, Thomas . Haslingden.

Hill, Richard Mainprise . Scarborough.

Hornby, Alfred . London.

James, Joseph . Plymouth.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned certificate was received in lieu
of the Society’s Examination : —

Certificate of the University of Cambridge.

Haynes, Joseph Henry . London.

December 15, 1880.

Present— Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Seven candidates were examined. Three failed. The
following four passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Knight, William Tomkins on ...Nottingham.

Slater, William Martin . Ipswich.

Wood, Robert . Loughborough.

Wright, Alfred . Stowmarlcet.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-two candidates were examined. Nine failed.
The following thirteen passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Johns, John . Llandilo.

Kemp, Herbert William . Horncastle.

Lawrence, George Richard . Boston.

Leithead, Robert .... . Sunderland.

Lester, Samuel . . . Cheltenham.

Llewellyn, Lewis Herbert . Shrewsbury.

Maitland, J ohn . Aberdeen.

Matthews, Herbert Rouse . London.

Maxey, William Henry . Boston.

Nettle, William Robert Pett ...Plymouth.

Patterson, Thomas . Preston.

Power, William . Greenwich.

Willet, John Algernon . London.

December 16, 1880.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

Twenty-seven candidates were examined. Sixteen failed.
The following eleven passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Richardson, George . Lancaster.

Roberts, George . Dalston.

Robinson, Herbert Edwin Joseph, London.

Rogers, Stephen . Manningtree.

Suart, George . . Lancaster.

Surfleet, Walter . Louth.

Thompson, Arthur . Buxton.

Walgate, Septimus . Hull.

Whigham, Robert Laing . Cardigan.

Wynter, Ernest Char’ os . Seaford.

Yeates, Alfred . Kington.

PRELIMINAR EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned certificates were received in lieu
of the Society’s Examination : —

Certificates of the University of Cambridge.

Kent, John Collison . Wakefield.

Smith, Frederick . Shorncliffe.

Certificates of the College of Preceptors.

Haines, George Richard . London.

Rowsell, Philip Foale . Teignmouth.

Sellers, Arthur Edward . ...Huddersfield.

Williams, John Thomas . Dowlais.

Certificates of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Cox, Frank . ...London.

Lang, Alfred Graham . Greenwich.

Certificates of the University of Oxford.

Hurst, Samuel John . Boston.

Munkman, Robert Allen . Boston.

NORTH BRITISH BRANCH.

The second meeting of the twenty-seventh session was
held in the Society’s Rooms, 119a, George Street, Edin¬
burgh, on Tuesday, December 7. Mr. J. B. Stephenson,
President of the Branch, in the chair.

The minutes of the former meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Honorary Secretary announced the following dona¬
tions : —

To the Museum : — A Series of Dissections illustrating
26 of the more important Natural Orders. A Series of
Diagrams illustrative of Flower Arrangement, from
R. Stenhouse, Chemist, Edinburgh.

To the Library: — The Canadian Pharmaceutical
Journal , for November, from the Ontario College of
Pharmacy.

The ‘Chemists and Druggists’ Diary’ for 1881, from
the Publishers.

The following papers were afterwards read : — -

The Necessity for the Better Training and Educa¬
tion of Medical Oeficers of Health.

BY H. AUBREY HUSBAND, M.B., F.R.C.S.E.,

Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence and Public Health ,
Medical School, Edinburgh.

Mr. President and Gentlemen,— I felt not a little dif¬
ficulty, when honoured by a request from your Secretary
to read a paper before you, as to the selection of a sub¬
ject. Leaving the discussion of special subjects more or
less intimately connected with your profession to those
who have devoted their time and energy to their con¬
sideration, I came to the conclusion that I might not
altogether unprofitably take up your time, if I brought
before you some subject, the importance of which is now
generally admitted and which, as citizens, must be of in¬
terest to you. I have, therefore, selected for your con¬
sideration the important question as to the necessity for
some special training in the education of Medical Officers
of Health. All of you are doubtless aware that these
important officers have been called into existence by
recent Sanitary or Public Health Acts, notably by the
Public Health Act of 1875, which only, however, applies
to England, as previous attempts to amalgamate English
and Scotch sanitary laws proved a failure owing to the
difference between Scotch and English legal procedures.
Hence special Sanitary Acts have been passed for each
of the three divisions of the kingdom. These Acts,
although creating a distinct body of medical practitioners
with new and important functions to perform, yet have
nowhere defined their duties, nor has provision been made
for the proper education of this class of practitioners.
True, the Acts require that the candidate for the post of
a medical officer of health should possess a double qualifi¬
cation, in medicine and in surgery, but owing to the
peculiarities of our law, which enables nineteen competing
corporations to grant qualifications enabling the holder to
practise in this country and the colonies, the diplomas so
granted may mean anything or nothing. Besides, with, I
think, but four exceptions, no special knowledge demanded

500

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [Decembers, isso.

of the medical officer of health forms a part of any of the
examinations held by the above-mentioned competing
bodies. In the cases to which I refer, the knowledge
required is of a very elementary character, and is no more
than any ordinary medical man ought to possess. But if
the demand for special knowledge in matters of hygiene
and public health be conspicuous in its absence from the
examinations of our licensing boards, the means of acquir¬
ing such knowledge are still more marked by an almost
total neglect. In London, lectures on some of the subjects
included under hygiene are delivered at most of the
medical schools, but as attendance on them is purely
optional they are but indifferently patronized by students.
Still, the instruction offered in the domain included under
the term preventive medicine is not of that systematic
character which is so marked when we consider the
advantages held out to the student of curative medicine.
An explanation, and perhaps an excuse, for this defect
may be found in the fact that the field of curative medi¬
cine holds out at present far greater attractions and incen¬
tives for its cultivation than does that of preventive
medicine. The latter also is to a great extent the product
of civilization and of the tendency to congregate large
bodies of human beings in towns. Man in his primitive
state, disseminated over large tracts of country, alone
needed the attention of the physician to his individual
wants, and it was only when he began to join himself
with his fellow man, either for the purpose of protection,
conquest or the accumulation of wealth that he created
the very evils which now call for the services of the
sanitarian and preventive physician. Hence curative
medicine is the elder sister of preventive medicine, which,
though the younger in time of birth, I believe is destined
sooner or later to supersede her sister. For have we not
the old adage that “prevention is better than cure?”
.Another reason for this neglect of the study of preventive
medicine may also be found in the fact that the student’s
time is already fully taken up in acquiring a grasp of the
fundamental principles of curative medicine, and I may
here remark that although rapid progress has been made
in medical art and in the collateral sciences which all
lend their aid in the elucidation of difficult questions
connected with practical medicine, yet the period of
study remains about the same as in the days when all
the knowledge required by the English College of
Surgeons was contained in ninety-two pages of a book,
2 inches by 3. Of the remedy for this I will speak
presently.*

Again, the pecuniary advantages held out to the student
are not such as to tempt him from the more lucrative
walks of general practice. The pernicious rule by
which small districts are required to elect medical officers
of health at salaries too small to tempt competent men
must sooner or later be abolished, and larger districts
formed capable of paying a fair remuneration to properly
qualified medical practitioners for their individual,
attention to the important duties of their office.
Leaving this and other important questions more or less
connected with it, allow me to return to the discussion
of the subject with which I commenced this paper, — the
absence of special training for medical officers of health.
Since the passing of the Acts before mentioned the
University of Dublin first and then those of Cambridge
and Edinburgh, and, I believe, London proposed to grant
degrees in state medicine or public health. The College
of Physicians of Edinburgh has also instituted a licence
in Public Health. Some years ago, but immediately after
the University of Dublin issued its rules for its degree
in state medicines, I wrote to Professor Maclagan
suggesting that some agitation in favour of the institu¬
tion of a like degree in my Alma Mater might be of use.
I never received a reply to that letter, perhaps it did not
need one, but in the next issue of the ‘ University
Calendar ’ I found the regulations for the present degree

* Winslow’s ‘ Pocket Guide to the College of Surgeons/

1837.

in Public Health laid down. Now, although these
Universities and the College of Physicians grant degrees
and certificates in sanitary science, no well defined course
of study is laid down and candidates are left to pick up
the special information required from books or in any
other way that chance may determine. The University
of Dublin, for instance, requires a competent knowledge
in law, engineering, pathology, vital and sanitary
statistics, chemistry, meteorology and medical juris¬
prudence. By law is meant sanitary law, a knowledge, in
fact, of the Acts of Parliament passed in the interest of
the public health, and when I tell you that of these there
have been passed between fifty and sixty, if not more,
the knowledge required is somewhat extended. Besides
by a happy, though not altogether wise or lucid method
of procedure, Acts of Parliament are continually being
passed amending, correcting or amplifying former Acts, so
that to get any knowledge of the law several Acts have
to be read together, parts of sections being even altered
by subsequent enactments. From this you will see that
instruction in sanitary law is needed, yet nowhere, as far
as I know, has any attempt been made to assist the
student. The same may be said of the other branches
of knowledge required, even the book on meteorology
recommended is out of print and old copies are obtained
with difficulty. In the University the only instruction
to be obtained by the student is contained in a course of
lectures delivered by the Professor of Medical Jurispru¬
dence as part of his three months’ course on the latter
subject, extending over, I believe, about a fortnight of
the session, time scarcely sufficient to mention even
briefly the titles of the Sanitary Acts. Thus we have
the anomaly of a University granting a degree,
demanding a knowledge of certain special branches of
medical education, yet making no provision or offering
any facility for the acquirement of the required infor¬
mation. To make up for this deficiency I prepared a
course of lectures embracing the subjects demanded by
the examining bodies and proposed to deliver them
during the winter session, but, owing to the fact that
these bodies, as they make no effort to supply the want,
do not require attendances on lectures devoted to sanitary
medicine, and to other causes, chiefly among which may
be mentioned the non -requirement of special sanitary
knowledge for public health appointments, I have not
met with the success that I had anticipated. To remedy
the evils to which I have directed attention I would
suggest that all medical officers should be required to
undergo a course of instruction in sanitary matters and
that their fitness for the post of medical officers of health
should be carefully tested by a thorough theoretical and
practical examination, conducted by the Government or
other competent authority. Admitting, as I have before
done, that the time of the student is now fully occupied,
I would require that the courses of sanitary instruction
be taken out after the candidate has obtained his
diplomas to practise medicine and surgery. But nothing
can be done till the Government is prevailed upon to
demand a special education and training for our medical
officers of health; hence it becomes the duty of every
true sanitarian to use his utmost efforts to bring about
this desirable object.

I would also draw attention to the want of a museum
of sanitary appliances which would enable the student to
become familiar with the means used for the removal of
sewage, the disinfection and ventilation of buildings,
etc., etc. I have suggested the foundation of such a
museum, on the lines of the Parke’s Museum in
London and I can find no name under whose segis
such a collection could be made than that of the
late George Combe. To me Combe appears to be the
greatest pioneer in sanitary science this country has
produced and his unwearying devotion in the promulgation
of the necessary laws of health could not be more
fittingly rewarded than by the foundation of an institu¬
tion such as I propose. I do not expect that my

December 18, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

501

suggestion will meet, at present at least, with any tangible
support ; questions affecting; the general weal do not meet
with that ready acceptance or encouragement which
characterize those that touch the interest of the
individual. The necessity for precautions against the
spread of epidemics only strikes the individual when he
sees the wave of disease approaching him and likely to
affect his individuality. He puts off till to-morrow what
ought to have been done to-day and when the morrow
comes, dark and dreary, mourns over the lost hours. I
fear, gentlemen, that I have taken up your time to little
purpose and that much that I have said has little if
anything to do with your special calling in life, I must
therefore reiterate the excuse I made at the beginning,
when I elected to talk on the question of the special
training of medical men in sanitary matters, — that we are
all citizens in one great republic.

The next paper read was on —

Acetic and Allied Acids.

BY DANIEL GOKRIE,

Pharmaceutical Chemist.

The subject I have chosen is an interesting one, and I
hope your kind indulgence will not be too resolutely
attacked when I inform you that this short paper is not
altogether the result of practical experiment, but a few
fragmentary observations, which I hope may be not
altogether without some interest to those present.
Acetic acid and its chemistry are intimately wound
up in a certain group of bodies, sugars, starch, dextrine,
alcohol and aldehyde, to treat on all of which substances
separately would occupy too much of your time. By
means of a certain organism we find alcohol produced ;
another kind of organism propagates and we discover
acetic acid has been produced; the lactic ferment gives
us lactic acid; another one generates butyric acid : all of
which organic growths are eminently characteristic. The
alcohol plant, Torula ccrevisice, under favourable circum¬
stances, very soon asserts its claim to membership in the
vegetable kingdom — assuredly a plant in miniature. The
torula, when once propagated, grows, fructifies and
enumerates with amazing rapidity; it, however, cannot
feed on starch. By the process of germination that body
is converted into the more soluble but less stable grape
sugar, which by the action of the Torula cerevisice or
yeast plant is split up into alcohol and carbonic acid.
The above is a familiar instance of the result of an
organism. At this stage, however, the whole of the
alcohol may be converted into vinegar by the intro¬
duction of the germ ( Mycoderma aceti) which produces it,
showing most conclusively that the old theory of fer¬
mentation is a mere myth, and that it is not a mere
question of absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere, but a
product due to the exclusive agency of a little plant
when placed in conditions favourable to its growth.

That we could not possibly have alcohol without the
budding and sprouting torula, nor yet acetic acid without
the agency of the microscopic fungus, Mycoderma aceti,
requires but one moment’s reflection to be repudiated ;
perhaps I might be allowed to illustrate to what I refer
in‘order to convey to the mind some light on the matter.

If we subject wood to dry distillation we have in the
distillate among a variety of empyreumatic products,
acetic acid, and it is scarcely necessary for me to
mention that we have in this case the veritable pro¬
duction of acetic acid without the remotest aid of the
mycoderma or vinegar - plant. Unfortunately for our
supply of alcoholic liquids, at least in the present
position of science, we depend practically on the work
which its peculiar fungus does, as I am afraid I shall
require to resort to the process of synthesis for the
production of ethylic alcohol, at least I am not aware
of any analogous process for its production. Ordinary
olefiant gas and sulphuric acid have a great affinity for
each other. The resulting compound is ethyl sulphuric
acid, C2H6S04, in which half the hydrogen is replaced by

ethyl, C2H5 ; if water is added to this body ethyl alcohol
is obtained on distilling, and that in this instance there is
no connection with the torula I need scarcely mention.

In the process of synthesis we are reminded there are
more difficulties to encounter than in analysis. We can
reduce alcohol to aldehyde by means of an oxidizing agent,
which is not a very stable body, being easily reduced to
acetic acid. This is a case of simple reduction, the
carbon atoms remaining the same in one molecule of
each of the three bodies. The portions of the molecule
where the disturbance takes place are the hydrogen and
oxygen atoms. One atom of oxygen is absorbed from
the air, which splits up the hydrated ethyl into aldehyde
and water ; in other words, hydrogen is displaced by
oxygen. The exactly same thing is performed a second
time, which gives the acetic acid. It is interesting to
note at this point that in the production of the above
bodies the ethyl radical is quite broken up, but in the
production of ether from alcohol it is not broken up at
all, but is simply converted from the hydrate of ethyl to
the oxide. To show the consummate ability with which
man handles the products of nature, I may state that he
not only can convert alcohol into acetic acid, but he can
pervert acetic acid into alcohol. Linneman has obtained
ethyl alcohol by acting on acetic anhydride with sodium
amalgam.

I intended dilating on several acids whose origin is due
to an alcohol, but none of the others are of sufficient
pharmaceutical importance to merit their discussion, with
the exception of lactic acid, which, however, differs from
the others in the very important particular in not being
derived from an alcohol at all. The point of similarity
in this case is that it resembles acetic acid in owing its
origin to a ferment called the lactic ferment. If milk be
boiled so as to destroy the organisms and kept in a vessel
carefully sealed against exposure, there can be no fer¬
mentation ; but from the moment exposure occurs, fer¬
mentation will ensue, because that organism, like the
others, is everywhere. Singularly enough, it can also be
obtained by acting on sugar with putrid cheese which is
the ordinary source. There is, however, some danger of
a portion of the sugar becoming transformed into alcohol,
which tendency militates against its use as compared
with the sugar of milk.

If the lactic fermentation is permitted to go on too
far, the second stage of transmutation commences,
hydrogen and carbonic acid gas are both evolved, and the
butyric fermentation, by which oily acids are formed, is
established. I have attempted by experiment to deter¬
mine the quantity of lactic acid obtainable from a known
weight of sugar by mixing moist cheese, sugar and chalk
with water ; in course of time carbonic acid gas is freely
disengaged and continues frequently for some weeks.
The result I cannot with confidence lay before you, as I
have my doubts as to the success of the experiment. I
do not exactly know which was to blame, the sugar, the
cheese, the chalk or myself. Possibly all four put
together, but judging from the never ending escape of
gas, and the exceedingly meagre supply of lime salt,
combined with the offensive odour, I am inclined to
pronounce it a butyrate. Perhaps I am wrong; at all
events, I consider my encouragement such as to dissuade
me from pursuing the investigation further.

Advantage has been taken of its power in dissolving a
considerable quantity of phosphate of lime in the pre¬
paration of a remedy known as syrup of lacto-phosphate
of lime. Unlike the acids derived from an alcohol,
it is not volatile; however, if it be heated in a retort to
2 66° F. a smrll portion distils over and the residue, on
cooling, converts into a yellowish, solid, fusible mass, very
bitter and nearly insoluble in water. This is lactic
acid which has lost one equivalent of its basic water.

The acid of methylic alcohol, as we know, is
formic acid which is distinguished from acetic by its
reducing action on silver salts; singularly enough
although there is this distinctive peculiarity between

502

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. December 18, 1880.

acetic and formic acid, and others in addition between
methylic alcohol and ethyl, the action of an alkali and
chlorine converts them both into one and the same thing,
viz., chloroform. Properly speaking, however, chloro¬
form is now regarded as a derivative of methyl. This
is rather interesting as well as singular, especially when
the atomic constitution of their molecules is considered,
the formula of the methyl radical is CH40 and the
ethyl radical C.2H5. On comparing the two formulas, one
can scarcely be led to the conclusion that they are
related to one another. The methyl hydrate forms
corresponding compounds to the ethyl hydrate, with the
exception of its aldehyde, and among the many analogies
which these bodies present I may mention that they
exhibit about the same specific gravity when mixed with
equal quantities of water at 60° F.; and, not only so, the
above analogies are increased when it is found that these
two bodies, the one equally with the other, show a
maximum of contraction which always occurs when one
part of spirit is mixed with three of water. Acetone,
methyl acetate, dimethyl acetate and the empyreumatic
oils, being in variable proportion in wood naphtha, cause
its density to vary considerably.

There is this peculiarity about methyl alcohol and its
acid : while the formic acid can be prepared by a variety
of methods and obtained from a number of sources, its
alcohol is almost exclusively a product of the destructive
distillation of wood, although it has been obtained
synthetically by acting with marsh gas on chlorine, and
afterwards decomposing the chloride thus formed with
aqueous potash ; however, this experiment depends on
the production by synthesis of marsh gas. In synthesis a
great deal could be done and no doubt will be accomplished
in course of time; it is a comparatively easy matter tearing
a body to pieces by analysis, but when an attempt is
made to build up that body again there are difficulties
not so easily surmounted. I was reading the other
day of the production of citric acid from glycerine by
synthesis, which almost rivals the feat of converting a
little soot into one of the favoured few tilings of earth
that do not fade, viz., a diamond. Who knows but that
some day, in order to procure a delicate feast, we may find
it only necessary to refer to some coal and sand ?

There is a property which alcohol possesses and which
I have not yet referred to, and that is it sometimes unites
with a base to form an alcoholate, thus playing the part
which an acid is usually understood to do. The chemistry
of alcohol and acetic acid is so much bound up together
that it is almost impossible to speak cf the one without
referring to the other ; in fact what I have hitherto
referred to has been as much about alcohol as acetic acid.
I have already stated that alcohol sometimes plays the
part of an acid ; it is not alone in this respect, as glycerine,
though not itself an acid, sometimes plays a similar part
by dissolving some of the metallic oxides. An example
of an alcoholate may be taken, as for instance, heating
acetic ether with a caustic alkali — as baryta — the ether
splits up into barium acetate and barium alcoholate.
When an acetate is subjected to destructive distillation,
there is a body which is generated named acetone; if
barium or calcium acetate is distilled, acetone is given off
and carbonate of the alkaline metal remains. The pro¬
duction of this body is not, however, confined to acetic
acid, as it has been obtained by the reduction of
citric acid with permanganate of potash or binoxide of
manganese and dilute sulphuric acid, the citric acid
splitting up into acetone, C3H60, carbonic acid and
water But properly speaking acetic ketone, or acetone,
is a derivative of acetic acid ; when acetic acid is
decomposed by being passed through a porcelain tube,
heated to redness, acetone is one of the products. In
the case of alcohol it is transformed into aldehyde
and then into acetic acid by gradual oxidation; in this
case it is quite different. It is derived from acetic
aldehyde by the substitution of the alcohol radical C'H3
for the hydrogen in the group COH.

There are some very interesting phenomena connected
with bodies, similar in many respects, but very dissimilar
in others. The dissimilarity, however, rests most1y in
their physical characters, because they often approach
each other in very closely molecular constitution, in
many cases being identical. This can only be accounted
for, as the text-books state, by the way in which the atoms
group themselves together. Further allusion must not be
made, however to those matters, as they belong to
isomerism, allotropy, etc., and are apt to lead away
from the points under consideration.

The sources and methods of production of some alcohols
are very unlike in character. Ethylic alcohol can be
obtained from anything of a saccharine or farinaceous
nature; while methyl is derived solely from vegetable
matter by destructive distillation. Amyl, on the other
hand, must be a secondary product when farinaceous
matters are undergoing the vinous fermention. Grape
sugar does not yield it. It can only be generated where
there is starch; it evidently is due to the starch breaking
up into something other than grape sugar. The ethylic
alcohol can be obtained only by the fermentation of
saccharine matter ; methylic alcohol by the destructive
distillation process alone ; amyl probably by the action of
some albuminoid or ferment on the already active starch
cells, similar perhaps to sinapin in mustard (black) or
amygdalin in bitter almonds. Acetic acid is the natural
acid of ethyl alcohol by the fermentation generated by
the Mycodervia aceti , or vinegar plant, also by the oxida¬
tion of alcohol with platinum black, both of which
methods first convert the alcohol into aldehyde, or the
intermediate body between alcohol and acetic acid. Then
as to formic acid, which is, in fact, the analogue of acetic
acid, the former being derived from methyl or wood
spirit. Formic acid was once solely prepared by distilling
the bodies of ants with water — hence the name. In pre¬
paring formic acid from wood spirit there is no inter¬
mediate compound corresponding to aldehyde produced,
which, however, is scarcely a distinguishing characteristic,
as ethyl aldehyde is so easily reduced to the condition of
acid. The corresponding acid of amyl, I need scarcely
mention, is valerianic acid, rather a wide divergence
considering that it is obtained from a body so closely
to ethyl alcohol.

Another source for the same body is valerian root which,
as the name implies, takes its derivation from this circum¬
stance, Formic acid can also be easily obtained from
sugar, tartaric or oxalic acids, or starch ; when sugar is
acted on by nitric acid, oxalic acid results, but when
sugar is acted on by sulphuric acid and binoxide of man¬
ganese, formic acid is formed, and to show the close
relation of oxalic and formic acids, oxalic is converted
into formic acid by distilling it along with either pumice
stone or sand. The oxalic radical is H2C204, the formic
CH202, a considerable difference certainly when con¬
trasted the one with the other.

It seems to be a distinguishing character of the two
acids, nitric and sulphuric, the latter to convert organic
substances into formic and the former into oxalic acid.
I have not yet sufficiently investigated the matter to deter¬
mine an explanation of this phenomenon, whether it may
be that the hydrogen of the sulphuric acid is abstracted
and the oxygen of the nitric ; this I am afraid hardly ex¬
plains this property peculiar to these two bodies, as it is
undoubtedly the result of oxygen in both cases. The
nitric acid is deprived of a portion of its oxygen to con¬
vert the sugar into oxalic acid, and most certainly the
liberation of oxygen is the most prominent and direct
disturber of the equilibrium when sulphuric acid and bin¬
oxide of manganese are present in this compound. It
may be that it is simply a physiological effect produced
in the same manner that metaphosphoric acid coagulates
albumen while tribasic acid does not possess that property.
It is not improbable that these properties, on the other
hand, may be explained, in the one case by the oxygen
simply being in its normal condition, and in the other

December 18, 1880: J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

503

case, that is where we have sulphuric acid and binoxide
of manganese, it may be that the oxygen is in its allotropic
condition, in the form of ozone and consequently more
active, and it is well known how very much more active
ozone is compared with the element in its unaltered con¬
dition. Whether this may be idle speculation or not is im¬
material, but certain it is that nitric acid converts sugar
into oxalic acid, while the same substance yields formic
acid by another process of oxidation. We now have an
idea what is the behaviour of sugar when submitted to
the direct influence of an oxidizing body ; on the other
hand when it is exposed to conditions similar to those of
starch for conversion into grape sugar, — or expose the cane
sugar to the influence of the peculiar azotized principle
known as diastase, contained in malt, — it undergoes the
same phenomenon as starch ; it is just probable, however,
that it immediately becomes converted into grape sugar
by absorbing the elements of water, while starch must
assume an intermediate condition, that of dextrir, under
the same circumstances.

I have in a rather imperfect manner pointed out in the
preceding remarks two kinds of acids allied to acetic, and
these are, those allied to acetic acid because they owe
their origin to an alcohol, such as formic and valerianic
acids, and secondly, those that bear a resemblance to
acetic acid, inasmuch as they are produced by a ferment,
such as lactic and butyric acids. There is yet one more
acid which I will venture to allude to, and that is ga lie
acid, to which I have not made any reference hitherto.
I mention it as being the produce of a ferment. It is
generally supposed that gallic acid is the body that
results when tannin is subjected to the joint influence of
moisture and atmospheric air, whereby it is converted
into the more highly oxygenated body known as gallic
acid, which is so far correct. But, according to the
researches of M. Antoine Larocque, the peculiar body
which effects this change is a ferment or organism, and,
moreover, this organism converts sugar into alcohol and
carbonic acid in the same manner as yeast does, while
beer yeast, muscular flesh and caseous matter change
tannin into gallic acid. The similarity of the gallic and
vinous fermentation may hence be reasonably inferred.

What is this fermentation? Pasteur, whose researches
in this direction are acknowledged to be unparalleled,
has defined it as “life without air.” If yeast be examined
through a microscope, it will be found to be an assemblage
of living cells, and supposing the supply of atmospheric
oxygen suddenly cut off, they will live and thrive at the
expense of the oxygen of the sugar in the liquid. Thus
the living cells of fruits can absorb oxygen and breathe
out carbonic acid, exactly like the cells of leaven ; but
supposing oxygen cut off, will they die ? Pasteur demon¬
strated this by placing under a bell- jar twenty-four
plums ; he filled the jar with carbonic acid gas ; beside it
he filled a jar with twenty-four plums, uncovered. At
the end of eight days he removed the plums from the
carbonic acid gas, and the result was as he expected. He
compared them with the uncovered plums : the covered
plums remained hard and firm, their fleshy portion not
being at all watery, while the others were soft, sweet and
watery, and, moreover, yielded 6-^ grams of alcohol. In
the case of the conversion of grape juice into wine, it is
unnecessary to add yeast, as in pressing out the j uice the
little plant is unconsciously sown, as it adheres to the
external portion of the grape. The atmosphere is full of
all kinds of bacteria, which makes it necessary to take
precautions against their introduction into a liquid under¬
going the vinous fermentation as well as the acetic.
Heat kills these bacteria, cold numbs them. The dis¬
tiller, on the other hand, requires to add yeast to his vats
to set up the action. If a little of the pure juice of the
grape be extracted, so that it will not come in contact
with tlie external portion of the grape, and be exposed to
pure air, fermentation will not ensue. Pasteur’s researches
prove that glycerine and succinic acid are also products
of the alcoholic fermentation, and that it is not altogether

a question of the sugar splitting up into alcohol and
carbonic acid. His experiments have proved this. To
prove that the dust brushed off the grape and the minute
cells of the yeast are one and the same thing, if we brush
it into the inert juice, they very soon show all the symp¬
toms of the budding torula.

The liquids of the healthy animal body are also sealed
from external contamination. Pure blood, for example,
drawn with due precautions from the veins will never
ferment or putrefy in contact with pure air. We have
seen that the ferment of the grape clings like a parasite
to the surface of the grape. Nor is it necessary to
impregnate beer wort with yeast to provoke fermenta¬
tion ; exposed to ordinary air, it would sooner or later
ferment. But the chances against it containing alcohol
would be very great; it might, by accident, contain the
torula. By the same rule, in the production of vinegar by
the rnycoderma, if other organisms are allowed to effect
entrance into the vinegar vats, the whole product might
be vitiated, so that the vinegar plant is essential to the
production of vinegar in the acetous fermentation. To
sum up, acetic acid is now generally accepted as being
reduced alcohol, or alcohol minus two atoms of hydrogen
and one of oxygen substituted, and it is very interesting
to note that while acetic acid is converted into a mass of
ice at 34° F., and remains crystallized at 48° F., alcohol
has never been known to freeze, although Faraday suc¬
ceeded in rendering alcohol as thick as oil, by immersing
a tube of it in a mixture of carbonic acid snow and
ether. The former is the term applied to the fine snow-
like body which results when a vessel containing liquid
carbonic acid has an orifice made into it; evaporation
proceeds so rapidly that a portion of the vapour freezes
by the intense cold produced. This snow may be col¬
lected. More than this, by means of the cold produced
by a mixture of solid carbonic acid, liquid nitrous oxide
and ether, alcohol is rendered so viscid that it does not
run out of the vessel when inverted.

A very cordial vote of thanks was given to Dr. Hus¬
band and Mr. Gorrie for their papers.

Ipmbwtial Craraaadimw.

CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ TRADE ASSO¬
CIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

A meeting of the Law and Parliamentary Committee
of this Association was held at the office of the Associa¬
tion, 23, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
on December 10, 1880, Mr. Thomas Barclay (Birming¬
ham), President, in the chair.

Pi esent —Messrs. Andrews (London); Bell (Hull);
Cross (Shrewsbury); Churchill (Birmingham); Hampson
(London); Holdsworth (Birmingham); Johnson (Malvern) ;
Southall (Birmingham) ; Williams (Manchester), and the
Solicitor of the Association.

The Secretary said that a number of replies had been
received to the President’s circular, asking for informa¬
tion as to the laws of foreign countries affecting phar¬
macists residing in those countries. The replies and
accompanying printed matter on the subject were laid
on the table.

At the suggestion of the President it was resolved:—
“ That a linguist be engaged to read from the replies and
printed matter such portions as were considered likely to
be of value to the Association, and that a note should be
made of same.”

The Assistant- Secretary reported the results obtained
in visiting certain towns with the object of collecting
subscriptions, and obtaining new members.

It was agreed to recommend to the Executive that
the names of all members of the Association whose sub-

504

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 18, 1880

scriptions are two years in arrear be erased from the
Register.

A letter from the Home Office was read, acknowledg¬
ing the receipt of the memorial from the Association
on the subject of exemption of chemists and druggists
from jury service.

A report having been received from the Solicitor to the
Association on the proceedings in the case of Mr. Whittle,
it was resolved : — “ That the decision in the case of
Regina v. Whittle be appealed against, and that the
Solicitor be instructed to take steps to obtain all neces-
saiy evidence for the appeal.”

A discussion then ensued upon the Pharmacy Act
Amendment Bill, and it was resolved : — “ That the
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
be respectfully requested to provide this Association with
copies of the draft of the proposed Bill to amend the
Pharmacy Act, when finally agreed upon by the Council
at its meeting to be held on the 14th inst., and this Com¬
mittee hoj>es that sufficient time will be allowed to
enable the Executive to consider the clauses of the Bill,
with a view to assist the Council by united action in
carrying a satisfactory Bill through Parliament.”

ROCHDALE CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the Rochdale Chemists’ Asso¬
ciation was held in the Acker Street Committee Room
of the Public Hall, on Wednesday evening the 24th ult.,
when the Secretaries’ report and the Treasurer’s
financial statement were read, showing a balance in hand
of £4 8s. 6d.

The officers were requested to continue their duties
until the next meeting, when the appointments will be
finally made .

The question of patent medicines occupied the atten¬
tion of the meeting the remainder of the evening. One
gentleman stated that an advertised stamped medicine
would not remunerate the proprietor for his trouble if
the total cost of the bottle, contents, wrapper and
label was more than 2d. for a Is. 1 %d. article. This
statement was received with some surprise, but was
proved thus —

s. d.

Bottles, contents, wrappers and labels ... 2 0

Advertising . 3 0

Stamps . 16

Gross profit, out of which to pay for labour . 1 6

Total ... 8 0

Price to wholesale dealers . 8 0

This estimate has been supplied by a gentleman who
has been part proprietor of a medicine, and knows a
great deal about the trade. It was thought in the
meeting that it would be well for the estimate above
given to be widely circulated among the trade.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The fourth general meeting of the thirty- second
session was, held at the Royal Institution on Thursday
evening, November 25, Mr. Edward Davies, F.C.S.,
F.I.C., presided, in the unavoidable absence of the
President.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed, and the following donations announced: —
The Pharmaceutical Journal , from the Society; the
Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal, from the Editor; and
the Chemists' Journal, from the President.

Mr. Edward Davies made a communication on the
expansion of glycerine by heat, in answer to an inquiry
made at the previous meeting.

Mr. Albert Kehlstadt, Ph.D., read a paper on
“ Benzene.”

The paper was discussed by Messrs. Chubb, Conroy,
Davies and Watt.

The author replied to the points raised, .and a hearty
vote of thanks to Mr. Kehlstadt brought the meeting to

a close.

NORTHAMPTON PHARMACEUTICAL
ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the above Association was
held on Monday evening, December 6, at the School of
Pharmacy, College Street, Mr. G. C. Osborne in the
chair.

Mr. J. Hayllar, who had conducted classes in
chemistry and pharmacy during the past month, read a
very satisfactory report, stating that the attendance had
been good, and it was evident that the members had pre¬
pared for the classes in a more thorough manner than
they had done previously. In conclusion, he informed
the meeting that the Laboratory had been entirely re¬
modelled, and that one night every fortnight would be
devoted to practical chemistry.

Mr. Osborne, who had conducted the botany and
materia medica classes, briefly referred to them, agreeing
with Mr. Hayllar as to the attendance, etc., and he
congratulated the members on their making such a good
start for another session.

The subscriptions having been received, the meeting
separated.

ikoceebings of Sdenitfk Satieties.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting of the above Association, held on Wed¬
nesday, November 24, Mr. F. W. Branson in the chair,
two biographical papers were read, one by Mr. C. Par¬
kinson, on “Sir Humphrey Davy,” the other by Mr.
F. W. Collinson, on “ Michael Faraday.”

Mr. Parkinson sketched the character of Sir H. Davy ;
traced his career from his apprentices! ip to a surgeon at
Penzance to his winning the blue riband of science, “ The
Presidency of the Royal Society.” He drew attention to
the extraordinary capacity for work which Davy possessed,
the range and variety of his studies, his fishing and
shooting excursions, his poetic faculty, how he was
lionized by London society, his eccentricities, his sudden
friendships, his scarcely disguised contempt for the French
savants, his unfortunate jealousy of his great pupil, Fara¬
day, his slovenly manipulation in his own laboratory, and
the exquisite delicacy and neatness of his experiments at
lectures, the ready way in which he overcame difficulties,
adapting his apparatus with a facility which seemed
almost an inspiration, and expressed his regret that we
were unable to love the man so much as we respected
the philosopher, one of whose chief claims to our regard
was that when he might have retired and enjoyed an
inglorious ease, or utilized his great gifts for the accumu¬
lation of wealth, he voluntarily devoted his life to the
study of science for the benefit of mankind.

Mr. F. W. Collinson commenced his paper by defending
the position of such subjects as the biographies of Sir H.
Davy and Michael Faraday in the calendar of the Asso¬
ciation, because of their influence upon the scientific
world, also from the examples and lessons to be derived
from their lives. He glanced over the more important
incidents of Faraday’s life, which showed a steady ad¬
vance from his birth until his death, apparently unmarred
by the failings common to most men, and gave some
extracts from letters and lectures which illustrated the
nobleness, simplicity and greatness of his mind. He
also gave an account of Faraday’s opinions upon the
position science should occupy in the education of the
young, and the honours due from the country and society
to men who devoted their whole lives to the pursuit of
scientific discovery. The author then drew attention to

December 18, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

505

the charming absence of sordid or unworthy motives in
Faraday’s character, proved by his giving up a handsome
income and the opportunity of accumulating a magni¬
ficent fortune, in order that he might apply himself more
to scientific research. The author then proceeded to
review Faraday’s most important discoveries, amongst
which were — •

1. The deflection of the magnetic needle by the elec¬
tric current, the basis of the system of electric telegraph.

2. Magneto-electricity, now applied for the production
of the electric light.

3. The convertibility of all known forces.

4. The magnetization of polarized light.

5. The liquefaction of gases.

6. The discovery of benzol, now applied in the manu¬
facture of aniline dyes.

He also touched upon Faraday’s theories upon electro¬
chemical decomposition, terrestrial magneto-currents, etc.,
etc. These discoveries proved him, he said, from Tyndall,
to be the “prince of investigators.” The author con¬
cluded with an extract from Punch , which appeared after
Faraday’s death.

After a few remarks by the Chairman, a hearty vote
of thanks was passed to Mr. Parkinson and Mr. Collinson
for their interesting papers.

axliamwtarg mrir ||r0mbiup«

Poisoning by Vermin Killer.

Mr. William Carter, coroner for the Eastern Division
of Surrey, held a very long inquiry in the Perseverance
Tavern, Brixton, on Tuesday, as to the death of Joseph
Moller, aged twenty-three, who committed suicide on
Saturday last by swallowing strychnine, at his lodgings,
f 4, Cowley Hoad, Brixton.

Miss Annie Shaw deposed that the deceased was em¬
ployed by a syrup manufacturer at the corner of Mark
Dane. He had been residing with her mother as a lodger
for the past three months. Lately he had been down in
spirits, and did not relish his food. On Saturday morning
she heard a moaning noise. She jumped out of bed, and
went to deceased’s room, where she found him in convul¬
sions, and when she touched his limbs they became
contracted. Upon asking him what was the matter
he made no reply. He asked for some water. She
took up a glass, but finding some sediment in it did
not use it. (The glass was produced in court.) Deceased
died at a quarter-past five on Saturday morning. Before
he died he said he had taken vermin powder, which he
had obtained at a chemist’s.

Mr. Wilkins, M.K.C.S., having certified that death had
resulted from poisoning by strychnine, and

The Coroner having expressed his regret that these
poisonous vermin powders could be so easily obtained
from chemists,

The jury returned a verdict of “ Suicide while in an
unsound state of mind.” — Standard.

Infringement of Trade Marks.

In the case of the Apollinaris Company, Limited, v.
John Lyon and Co., of Liverpool, his Lordship, the Vice-
Chancellor Sir James Bacon, pronounced judgment on
November 26 last, perpetually restraining the defendants,
John Lyon and Co., their servants and agents, from
manufacturing, preparing, selling, or advertising any
mineral or other waters as “Apollinaris,” or under any
name of which the word “ Apollinaris ” forms part, and

ordering defendants to render an account of all profits
made by them through the sale of such water, and to
deliver up to the plaintiffs all bottles and labels in
defendants’ possession bearing the name “Apollinaris,”
either alone or in conjunction with any other words. It
was further ordered that the defendants, John Lyon and
Co., Liverpool, should pay the costs of the action.

Tifbido.

British Wild Flowers by Natural Analysis. By

F. A. Messer. London: David Bogue. 1880.

In the present day when books on botany follow one
another in rapid succession, it would seem difficult to
strike out a new method of teaching a knowledge of
British v/ild flowers. This, however, the author of the
book under notice appears to have done. Like many
others he has felt apparently that the condensed
anglicized Latin, which seems to characterize the
botanical descriptions of the present day, by no means
conveys a good idea of the plants to the mind of one
who has not seen the plants themselves, and in the little
work before us he endeavours to explain the descriptions
by diagrammatic representations of the structure of the
flowers of each class, family and genus. The author
claims, and with some reason, that diagrammatic re¬
presentations have not the disadvantages of full illus¬
trations of the individual plants, inasmuch as there is no
possibility of the student attempting to identify a plant
by its general resemblance to the diagram, and neglecting
a knowledge of the reasons of its position in the natural
system.

If the author succeeds in inducing young botanists to
ascertain for themselves the structure of the flowers of
each plant in order to acquire a knowledge of classifi¬
cation, the book will be a most valuable one ; but it is
much to be feared that it will not be so used, unless such
a practical knowledge is required in botanical examina¬
tions.

A knowledge of the names of plants is that which
young botanists generally endeavour to obtain first, and
afterwards a knowledge of their structure and the reasons
for their position in a system of classification. Those
who have arrived at this second stage, and who have a
desire to learn something of the structure and relation¬
ships of the different orders will find this little book most
valuable. The ovary especially is a difficult organ to
understand when in the young state, as it occurs in the
flower, and even a transverse section does not always
appear very clear under a lens. The excellent diagram¬
matic representations of this organ will help the tyro to
understand what he should be able to see. The repre¬
sentations of the sori and indusia of ferns, and of the
different forms of the palese and glumes and awns in
grasses and sedges, will also prove very useful.

The arrangement of the analyses resembles that followed
in Lowndes Notcutt’s ‘ Handbook of British Plants,’ and
while it has not the advantage of that little work, nor of
Hayward’s, in giving the characters of each species, yet it
will serve as a most valuable aid in distinguishing the
more intricate genera, and in understanding the structure
of the more minute flowers.

As every second page of the analysis consists of a table
of diagrams, the cost of the book is greater than that
of those above mentioned, while its size is rather too
large for the pocket. As a very useful supplement to
either of them for home use we can strongly recom¬
mend it to those who are commencing in earnest the
study of the wild plants of our fields, woods and hedges.
The student should, however, carefully read the instruc¬
tions in the preface, which are not quite so full as they
might be.

506

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 18, 18S0,

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

Experimental Chemistry for Junior Students. By
J. Emerson Reynolds, M.D., F.R.S., etc. Part I.
Introductory. London : Longmans, Green and Co.
18S0. From the Publishers.

Abridged Therapeutics : founded upon Histology and
Cellular Pathology. By W. H. Schussler, Dr. Med.
et Chir. Authorized Translation. London : Elliot
Stock. 1880. From the Publisher.

The Chemists and Druggists’ Diary for 1881. Lon¬
don : Office of the Chemist and Druggist. 1880.
From the Proprietors.

Itspcusinsj IJtewarmiira.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose salce partly this column ivas established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
ioill be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And wc would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[486]. Terrors of Dispensing. — Under some such
heading I may be allowed to describe the rather alarming
consequences of having to compound the subjoined pre¬
scription, which was sent to me last week : —

R Calcis Hypophosphitis ..... 3s3*

Potass. Chloratis . 3SS*

M. ft. pulv. vj.

One to be taken three times a day.

Proceeding cautiously to powder each separately, and
then mixing them carefully together, I was priding myself
upon the evident amity of the-e ingredients looking so
pure and innocent in my glass mortar. I thought that
having got their latent potentialities to agree so well up
to that point, they would as peacefully submit to removal
by the palette knife. But “Alas ! poor Yorick !” at the
third touch of the cold steel they resented the insult by
vanishing into fire, smoke and noise, leaving the as¬
tonished dispenser half stunned and minus some eye¬
brows and lashes, a sadder but wiser man. Thanks to
my spectacles, which were on, iritis has not supervened ;
but the next man who tries the experiment with better
eyes may find that disease troubling him. Or should he
be operating on double the quantity, it may “ give him
fits,” as we say.

A. R.

[451]. As regards the “hyd. chlor.” prescription, I
think, if it is not an understood thing what the doctor
really does want dispensing in the lotion, it is quite
necessary to ask him. Now chloral hydrate is as likely
to be meant as anything else. To prove that, I had a
lotion to dispense for the eyes (from a prescription by
Dr. B. Carter) a few days ago, containing 4 grs. of
chloral hydrate to the oz. On the same prescription was
ordered hyd. subchlor., which was to be used (in the dry
state) for the eyes also.

From that it is evident that both are used for the
eyes, but as to hyd. bichlor. I cannot say anything;
neither do I think it likely that a heavy powder like
calomel (which is next to entirely insoluble) would be
intended for a lotion for the eyes.

Endymion.

[469]. Solution of Ergotine: —

R Ergotine . grs. xij.

Aquae Dest . 3j-

Dose. Five minims by subcutaneous injection.

T. S. H.

[484],

R P. Rhei . 3SS*

Mag. Carb. Pond . 3ij-

Ext. Taraxaci . Sjiv.

Tr. Gent. Co . 3u

Aq . ad ;§vj.

M. ft. mist.

The above prescription was handed to me to dispense
a day or two ago, and I was informed that on two or
three occasions it had exploded after having stood for a
few days in an ordinary temperature. Can any reason
be given for this ?

- W. G. T.

[485]. The following was dispensed by me yester¬
day : —

R Ammon. Carb. . . • . 3iss«

Tinct. Scillse . t^j.

Tinct. Cinchon . ^iss.

Aq . ad jyviij.

M. A tablespoonful in water before meals.

It was labelled “shake the bottle.” To-day it is
brought back with a complaint that when previously
dispensed (in Scotland), it was a clear, pale yellow
mixture. I snppose it had been filtered. Ought it to
have been so ? And what appearance should the mix¬
ture have had ? Cinchona Calisaya.

[487]. The following recipe was given me to make up
this week. Will any reader kindly inform me how he
would prepare it ? —

Equal parts of each.

Cocoa Nut Oil . . )

Rum . (

Make up a large bottle of the above hair wash, using
only the two ingredients ordered.

I may add that when melted together, although kept-
in brisk motion, the cocoa nut oil separates on cooling.

Despero.

[488].

R Pulv. Alumin . 3s9*

Plumb. Acetat. . £)j.

M. ft. pulv. To be dissolved in a pint of water as a
lotion.

On rubbing the above together in a mortar a thick
paste is formed. Will some reader tell me what reaction
takes place, and the best form of sending it out to the
patient ?

London. Alpha.

[489]. I had to dispense the following prescription last
week : —

R Hydrargyri Iodidi Rubri . . . gr. xviij.

Sodii Iodidi . gr. vj.

Aquae . ^iij.

M.

Label “ Poison. For outward application only.”

Should this be dispensed as written, putting a “ shake
the bottle ” label on, or would a dispenser be justified in
adding sufficient sodium iodide to effect solution ?

Austral.

[490]. In the following prescription would someone
kindly inform me what ointment is ordered ? —

R Pulv. Plumbi Acet . gr. vj.

Acid. Acet. Dil . . tit v.

Aq. Destil . jvj.

M. ft. lotio.

To be used twice daily.

R Ungt. P . 3j.

Use every night.

I am at a loss to know what is meant by Ungt. P.
Before it was sent to me it had been dispensed by a
Manchester firm, and an ointment of a pink colour
sent out.

Ointment.

December 18, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

507

[491] .

R Mist. Cinch. Co . Jij.

Acid. Sulph. Dil . gtt. vj.

Aquas . gvj.

Ft. mist.

Etian,

R Tinct. Catalp. Syr . /jij.

Aquae . ^vj.

Ft. mist. Sign. Cpt. 3ij quaque hora dua alternat.

(None of the t’s are crossed).

The above prescription, as brought to me, was a copy
by a registered chemist in a large midland town, who had
dispensed it. There were no initials, but my customer
considered it the copy of a prescription from a well-
known homoeopathic doctor ; but, on inquiry, I found
that the two chief ingredients were not in the Homoeo¬
pathic Pharmacopoeia, nor known to some eminent
dispensing firms in London, who frequently dispense the
aforesaid doctor’s prescription.

A respectful and friendly note of inquiry, enclosing an
addressed envelope, was therefore sent to the above
chemist, and in due course the following reply was
receded : —

“ Dear Sir, — Referring to your communication I beg
to reply as below.

- “Yours truly,

it _ >5

This was printed evidently from the usual gelatine
tablet, as if such inquiries are frequent. Then follows : —

“ You have evidently been mislead (sic) by state¬
ments.”

Then, apparently written by the same person, but with
different ink and another pen, “If you cannot dispense it
I cannot help you,” and nothing more.

I am aware that Squire gives a formula for mist,
cinchon. co., but this contains ammonia, and would
hardly be dispensed with acid, sulph. dil. ; but what
about the second formula which, as written, may either
be tinct. calalp. syr., or more more probably, tinct.
catalp. syr.?

Barnstaple. W. Symons.

[492] . The other day I had the following brought to
me to dispense : —

R Sodas Bicarb . 3SS-

Zinci Oxydi . .

* Sax. Olei Purificati . ad ^ij.

M.

To be applied night and morning.

Can anyone inform me what is meant by the last
article ?

J. P. I.

Hates nnb (Series.

[687]. “ S.” may try a small quantity of oxalic acid.

[693]. GLYCERINE JELLY— “Minor” would like
to have a good receipt for glycerine jelly, emollient and
not so gelatinous as those mentioned in volume ix. of
the Pharmaceutical Journal.

[694] . GRANULAR EFFERVESCING SALICY¬
LATE OF SODA. — “ Hove ” would be glad to know of
a good form for making granular effervescing salicylate
of soda. A form has been tried in which salicylic acid
was substituted for the citric acid in “ Sodas Citro-Tartras
Effervescens ’ of the B. P. ; but it would not granulate at
all, after several different attempts.

[695] . LIQUOR PEPTICUS. — I shall be obliged if
any of your correspondents could give me a good form for
making “ liquor pepticus ” from pepsine. A preparation

under that name was made some years ago by Mr.
Titterton, but who has given up business.

Digits.

[696]. WHITE FIRE.— Will any kind reader oblige
me with a recipe for white fire, without sulphur ?

L. W. S.

[697]. CONCENTRATED INFUSION OF GEN¬
TIAN. — I should like to ask the best method of making
concentrated infusion of gentian. Whether it would be
better to add all the spirit during maceration or only
half the quantity, or whether the ingredients would be
thoroughly exhausted without spirit. In such a case, of
course, adding sufficient spirit afterwards to keep the in¬
fusion any length of time.

C. Jones.

[698]. SHAMPOO LIQUID. — Will some reader please
furnish X. Y. Z. with a receipt for very soapy and
creamy-looking preparation to use as a shampoo ?

CorrcsponOcna.

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Position of Widows in Relation to the
Pharmacy Act.

Sir, — In the discussion on a new Pharmacy Act it has
been suggested more than once that provision should be
made to enable a business to be carried on in behalf of a
widow.

Whilst deeply sympathizing with widows in their misfor¬
tune, I would ask, how we can with any show of reason
demand legislation on the one hand to allow unregistered
persons (widows) to carry on business, and, on the other
hand, expect legislation to prevent other unregistered per¬
sons from doing the same thing?

Our demand for legislation must rest on the plea that it
is fur the benefit and safety of the public; if, in the case of
a widow this is sufficiently guarded by employing a quali¬
fied assistant, how can we say that it is not sufficiently
guarded should any other person or persons carry on
business with a qualified assistant ?

Should a Bill be introduced in which these very opposite
views are embodied, they will, I think, prove to be a
stumbling block.

Kilburn. W. T. Tucker.

Chemists’ Prices.

“ No preparation sent out unlabelled. Prices rendered as low
as possible, considering the quality of the medicines, which are
always the best that can be obtained.”

Sir, — The above statement appeared on the business
card of a dispensing chemist, with whom I served as
assistant in my younger days.

Nowr, I find no fault with those who maintain high
prices by elegant dispensing; but many chemists are
obliged to be content with low prices, and a qualified phar¬
macist lias a right to fix his own prices on his own goods.
The Pharmaceutical Society is not a trade union to uphold
prices. The Society attends to education and qualification.

As long as retail druggists have penny customers so long
will low prices be popular and needful in poor districts.
One man will certainly thrive on low prices and penny
customers, when another will fail at full prices, with heavy
rent and taxes, etc. No doubt each man is required in his
right place, but time and chance happen to all men.

The applicants to the Benevolent Fund show an endless
list of poor druggists. In Shakspere’s play, Romeo tempts
the poor apothecary to supply poison for an unlawful
purpose, by his purse of money, and the apothecary soothes

508

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December is, 1SS0.

his conscience by the well-known words, “ My poverty, but
not my will, consents.” The same words would suit the
pharmacist, when he receives the poor man’s last shilling
for full price dispensing. If the dignity of pharmacy can
only be maintained by full prices, the sooner the dignity is
snubbed the better, by grocers and co-operative stores open¬
ing dispensing departments, conducted by qualified assis¬
tants.

Dr. Johnson’s epitaph on a poor surgeon will suit the
poor druggist —

“ His virtues walked their narrow round,

Nor made a pause, nor left a void ;

And sure the Eternal Master found
His single talent well employed.”

Doivnside Villa, Chilcompton, Bath. Joseph Leat.

Saffron, Sugar, etc.

Sir, — In the discussion which took place on the reading
of the two papers on “Saffron,” at the last Evening Meeting,
I am reported to have said : “Saffron was largely used by
the Spaniards in South America.” This may be the fact,
but it is not quite what I intended to convey. What I said
was that saffron entered into the composition of the pre¬
paration known as laudanum Sydenhami, which was largely
used by the Spanish population of South America. How
far the narcotic effect of this preparation may be modified
by the stimulating properties of the saffron, I am not
prepared to say; but certain it is that this Sydenham’s
laudanum is preferred to most other forms of opiate.

Touching on the sugar question, again brought forward
by Dr. Symes, I should like to add that given a pure sugar
in other respects, the presence of a minute quantity of blue
colouring, — ultramarine, or what not, — is less objectionable
than some of the other impui'ities we hear of. It is easily
got rid of by subsidence, as pointed out by Mr. Williams ;
not so, however, the other impurities present in some
sugars, my own opinion being that the greatest difficulties
arise from the presence of lime salts. I speak from experi¬
ence, and with special reference to the preparation of the
class of remedies known as “ chemical syrup Whether
the source of the sugar be beetroot or cane j uice, I believe
to be quite immaterial, provided the resulting product has
been carefully and perfectly purified. Of course, the pre¬
sence of ultramarine is liable to produce an evolution of
H2S when such sugar is used for making a syrup containing
an acid, and thus impart to it a most disagreeable odour.
As no one seems to have given a satisfactory reply to the
question asked by Mr. Plowman regarding the evolution of
SO2 from a sample of sugar which had been made into
syrup of phosphate of iron, 1 would suggest that calcium
sulphite or bisulphite had been employed in the preservation
of the cane juice to prevent fermentation and consequent
loss, and that this product had to some extent remained in
the finished sugar. In view of his statement that the
sulphur existed as a combined sulphite, it would be interest¬
ing to know whether he found lime as well.

I used to find that the sugar sold in small, dry, hard
crystals, and known as Finzell’s crystal, was the most
satisfactory for pharmaceutical use.

Alfred E. Tanner.

17, Devonshire Square, Bishopsgate, E.C.

Syr. Ferri Iodidi.

Sir, — Having recently supplied some syr. ferri iodidi to
a customer, he remarked that my preparation was not the
same colour as some that he had obtained elsewhere. I ob¬
tained from him a small sample of the said syrup, and, on
examination, found that it was quite of a yellow colour,
and, to my surprise, contained a notable quantity of sul¬
phuric acid.

Now, I am aware that mineral acids, among other things,
have been recommended for keeping the syrup, but I have
yet to learn that such additions are necessary and justifi¬
able. I have always been satisfied with the syrup of the
Pharmacopoeia, which, in my opinion, when carefully
prepared and kept in full bottles, leaves little to be
desired.

As uniformity is desirable, and that those who, like

myself, are anxious to dispense prescriptions faithfully,
should be protected from the unjust suspicions of their
customers, I think that before such additions are made,
some attempt should be made to prove that they are neces¬
sary, and obtain for them some legal sanction.

I shall be glad to obtain expressions of opinion from
others of the fraternity who have been troubled in the like
manner as myself.

Iodine;

Boruretted Hydrogen.

Sir, — The following is a copy of note3 taken by myself
from a class lecture, delivered by Mr. F. Jones, at the
Manchester Grammar School, some time in 1879 : —

“ Boron hydride, BH3, is obtained by the decomposition
of magnesium boride with hydrochloric acid. The magnesium
boride is prepared by heating excess of magnesium with
boron trioxide,

B203+6Mg=3 MgO+MgsBa ; Mg3B2+6HCl=3MgCl2+2BHs
Boron hydride is a gas burning with a green flame ; i&
soluble in water, and the solution gives a precipitate with
silver nitrate. ” •

Mr. Jones is, I believe, still engaged on the determination,
of the density of the gas.

Apis.

Note on Spr. Ammon. Arom., B.P.

Sir, — In answer to remarks by Mr. Thresh and others, I
find, on referring to my laboratory book, that in one year
I distilled at twelve different times 168 pints imp. of sp.
arom. ar., that is in double the quantities each time of the
B.P. I fortunately have it noted down on each occasion,
the specific gravity of the product, and this I find to average
8721; this will be sufficient to to show that by a little care
the standard may be very nearly attained. I am certain
that I get the proper quantity of ammonia, as I find a
portion is deposited in a few days, especially if the weather
is cold; indeed, I believe the excess of my specific gravity
is owing to the amount of ammonia present. I use one of
the thick earthenware shells and worms, made by Messrs.
Doulton, this is put into a copper steam jacket; this part
of my apparatus I do not use for any other purpose, thus
being sure of any taint.

Each time I put in 12 pints of sp. rect. and only 5 pints
of water, instead of 6 pints, as ordered, the essential oils,
the ammonia being added a portion at a time as the distilla¬
tion proceeds. By using a pint less water I can more
readily draw over the last part of the product, and by
adding the ammonia gradually there is no risk that the
lower end of the worm will be blocked up by a deposit of
the salt, which is sometimes the case if the steam is turned
on to the still with the whole of the ammonia present.

I do not find that the sp. rect. can at times be depended
on. 1 have had it sent out as 60Q over proof, and it has
proved to be only 50p over proof. I use it 56° over proof.

On the whole, I question, when properly prepared,
whether we have in the Pharmacopoeia a more elegant,
stable, or certain preparation, cr one which answers the
purposes for which it is intended so well as that of spt.
ammon. arom.

Norwich. Octavius Corder.

“ Discipulus." — You are recommended to read an article
on “Pills and Pill Coating,” published in the Pharma¬
ceutical Journal for December 15, 1877 (vol. viii.,
p. 461).

A. W. Forster. — We do not think it fair to ask for
recipes imitative of particular preparations.

“ Sarniehsis. — Rubini’s tincture of camphor is a solution
of camphor in its own weight of 60 o.p. spirit.

A. J. S. — Pharm. Journ., [3], vol. x., pp. 855 and 1027.

“Novice." — See Neubauer and Vogel’s ‘Guide to the
Analysis of Urine.’

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Hutchins, Schivardi, Loeffler, Illingworth, Calumbo.,
J. M. J., C. T. M., M., G. B„ W. R.

December 25, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

509

“THE MONTH.”

The scarcity of liolly berries and haws in hedge¬
rows is generally considered indicative of a green
y ale- tide, and notes from a botanical correspondent
in the Isle of Wight seem to show that the saying is
likely to prove true, in respect to the coming season,
at all events. During the last few days of November
the primrose and buttercup ( Ranunculus acris), and
during the first fortnight in December Linaria
Cymbalaria , Ruscus aculeatus , Honkeneja peploides,
Parietaria diffusa , and several other plants were
observed in blossom, while the fragrant winter
heliotrope ( Petasites fragrans ) was observed in
flower on November 28, nearly a month before its
usual time of appearing.

Those among our correspondents who occasionally
send mosses to be named will probably enjoy their
Christmas holiday this year, for a mild winter fre¬
quently causes species rare in fruit to produce
fructification, and many a woodland gem may be ex¬
pected to delight the u moss-trooper ” who ventures
to botanize during the approaching winter.

The medicinal plants in blossom are necessarily
few at this time of year. One which may now be
seen in a few botanical gardens is in blossom ; but it is
rarely seen outside them, although it has been in
cultivation in this country for nearly a century and
a half, and grows freely in any common soil. In its
natives countries — the United States and Canada —
the witch hazel, Hamamelis virginica, is a native of
damp woods and thickets, and forms a shrub 6 to 10
feet high. The leaves somewhat resemble those of
the common hazel ; the flowers, which are borne in
clusters of three or four at the axils of the leaves,
are remarkable for their tassel-like appearance. The
involucre which surrounds them consists of three
ovate leaflets ; the calyx is four-cleft, and the four
petals are long, linear, greenish-yellow and curiously
twisted. The nut- like, two-celled, and two-beaked
capsule, containing two black oily edible seeds, does
not ripen until the next autumn, when it may often
be seen mingled with the new flowers. A woodcut
of a flowering twig is given in the Garden _ for
December 11, p. 585. The bark is used in the United
►States as a remedy for haemorrhoids, haemorrhage and
congestions, and forms the principal ingredient in a
well-known patent medicine in this country. It has
been recommended also for preventing abortion, and
in obviating the effects of cotton root in bringing on
miscarriage. The use of this plant for the first-
mentioned purpose appears to have been borrowed
from the native Indians, and for the last-mentioned
purpose from the negroes. Its value in inflammation
and congestions is such that it would form a valuable
addition to other domestic remedies, if cultivated in
cottage gardens.

The researches of Schnetzler on the colouring
matter of the flowers of the peony and on that of
the leaves of the Canada vine, Ampelopsis hederacea ,
have yielded some interesting results. These in¬
vestigations seem to suggest that the calcium oxalate
and carbonate may play an important part in the
coloration of such plants as rhubarb, cactus, and
other plants that are known to contain them in
quantity, while the inactivity of absorption, and
consequent lessening of the supply of soluble car¬
bonate of lime, etc., to the leaves, might account for
the tendency of the leaves to redden in autumn.

In the red leaves of the creeper it is found that
chlorophyll still exists, concealed by a red substance,
Third Series, No. 548.

probably a derivative of chlorophyll, and also soluble
in alcohol. When potash is added to the red solution
it becomes of a beautiful green, but is no longer
fluorescent, as solution of chlorophyll would be.

A dilute solution of calcium carbonate added to
an alcoholic solution of the colouring matter of
peony petals, causes the colour to change successively
into purple, purple-violet, blue, green and yellow,
while calcium oxalate changes the colour to a fiery
red ; the green colour so produced has a red tinge in
transmitted sunlight, and is not changed back by
acid reagents into red. The addition of ferroso-
ferric sulphate gives with the original solution
a blackish-blue precipitate, indicating the presence
of a tannic substance, which seems to have some
connection with the red colouring matter of the
peony, as well as with that of the Ribes sanguinea
and the rose.

In a paper contributed to the Scientific Pro¬
ceedings of the Vienna Academy ( Nature , Decem¬
ber 16, p. 159), Herr A. Stolir details the results of
investigations on the presence of chlorophyll in the
epidermis of leaves. It has been hitherto supposed
that submerged phanerogamous plants, with a few
exceptions, contain chlorophyll in their epidermis,
while terrestrial phanerogams, also with a few
exceptions, have an epidermis destitute of chloro¬
phyll. Herr Stohr’s experiments, however, point to
a different conclusion. He finds that while chloro¬
phyll is contained in the epidermis of most of the
broad leaved gymnosperms and of by far the greater
number of terrestrial phanerogams, it is absent
from that of the needle-leaved gymnosperms and the
terrestrial monocotyledons. In most cases the chloro¬
phyll does not occur in the epidermis of the upper
surface of the leaf, being quickly destroyed on its
formation by a too intense light ; but is only to be
found in that of the under surface and also of the leaf
petioles and stipules. So far as the evolution of the
chlorophyll bodies was observed the latter showed
themselves as starch-chlorophyll bodies. These ex¬
periments appear to have been made upon the leaves
of nearly one hundred species.

M. H. Comes ( Comptes Rendus , vol. xci., p. 335),
as the result of experiments on the transpiration of
plants, finds, among other things, that plants tran¬
spire most water when exposed to that part of the
solar spectrum where they absorb most light and that
only those rays which are absorbed favour transpira¬
tion, so that transpiration is least under the rays
coinciding in colour with the organ, and therefore
reflected, and greatest under the complementary rays,
and the more intensely coloured the organ and the
more intense the light, as at midday, the greater the

transpiration. .

At a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society,
on December 16, Professor Henslow remarked with
regard to the black hellebore, or Christmas rose, that
the white sepals have three separate functions, being
at first protective of the internal organs, then at-
| tractive by their white colour, and, lastly, nutritive,
i for they become green again subsequently, and so
! prepare nourishment for the ripening follicles and
! seed. The interior of the tubular petals had been
discovered by Dr. Masters to possess the power of
! assimilating nitrogenous food presented to them, and
j as in the sundew, the protoplasm in their cells had
! been observed to undergo the process of aggregation.
I Ur. Masters exhibited a chrysanthemum in which
one half of the flower head was composed of yellow

510

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 25, 1880

florets, and the other of longer florets of a pink
colour, — the two halves representing on the same
head two well known distinct varieties.

Some of our readers have probably, during the
August holidays, noticed that the common cow-
wlieat, Melampyrum pratense, is freely visited by
ants. Mr. E. Ratliay has recently shown that the
nectariferous glands which attract them are minute
scales on the epidermis on the under side of the
bracts. The gland consists, in M. arvense, M. nemo-
rosum , M. pratense and M. barbatum, of a short
pedicel wall and a circular peltate disk, composed of
a single layer of prismatic cells. The fluid is secreted
beneath the cuticle of the upper surface of the disk,
and is set free by the rupture of the cuticle. The
secretion contains at least 2 per cent, of sugar, which
does not reduce copper oxide in the cold. Humble-
bees and other insects have also been observed to
visit these glands. With respect to this plant, as
with some other root parasites, it has been observed
that they turn black in drying, but the nature of
the juice and its applicability as a hair-dye or for
other purposes do not seem to have been the object
of chemical investigation.

Some further light has been thrown on the forma¬
tion of resin or oil canals in plants by the researches
of Mr. T. F. Hanausek on the resin passages in
certain cone scales. He finds that although resin
may be formed as a true secretion by special secretive
organs, or by the transformation of certain cell con¬
tents, yet it may also arise from a deliquescence of
the outer walls of particular cells (schizogenous resin
passages), or by metamorphosis of the entire cell wall
and cell contents (lysigenous resin passages) .

At a recent meeting of the Linnean Society a
large attendance was present to hear two papers by
Mr. Francis Darwin ; one, “ On the Power possessed
by Leaves of placing themselves at right angles to
the direction of Incident Light,” and the other, “On
the Theory of the Growth of Cuttings,” illustrated
by observations on the bramble. The object of the
first paper was to test the relative values of the
theories of Frank on the one hand, and De Vries on
the other ; the former supposing that leaves and
some other organs are cliaheliotropic, i.e., have a
specific sensitiveness to light, which causes them to
place themselves at right angles to the incident light,
and others heliotropic, i.e., exhibit a tendency to
place themselves parallel to the light; the latter
supposing leaves to take up a horizontal position or
otherwise in obedience to the combined or opposed
influences of geotropism and heliotropism, while in
some cases epinasty and hyponasty come into play,
i.e., a preponderance of growth on the upper or
lower surface of the leaf. The result of experiments
made by Mr. Darwin, when he had destroyed the
geotropic tendency by the use of a klinostat or clock¬
work instrument, which revolves the plant in a hori¬
zontal plane — seemed to point to diaheliotropism
as being the really important influence at work in
affecting the natural balance of the forces that
would otherwise keep the leaves in a horizontal
position.

With regard to the bramble, the author arrived at
the conclusion that the behaviour of cuttings is a
repetition of the normal process of a deranged func¬
tion in the plants ; in other words, that the rooting
of bramble tips is determined by an internal impulse
or morphological force which regulates the growth of
roots.

The Gardeners' Chronicle, December 18, p. 786,
states that the Java Government quinine crop of 1878,
shipped to Holland during 1879, amounted to 91,469
kilos, and netted 179,000 florins, while the expenses
of culture amounted to 52,862 florins. There are
stated to be at the present time 397,550 cinchona
plants of various sorts in the nurseries at Bandong,
and 1,678,670 trees planted out. It will, therefore,
probably be some years before the Indian, Jamaica
and Bolivian plantations will be able to compete
successfully in supplying so large a quantity of the
best bark as Java is able to do at the present time.
Some very fine quill Bolivian calisaya, however,
the growth of plantations in that country made at
the suggestion of Mr. Ledger when travelling there,
has lately been sold in the London market, and
yielded 7 per cent, of quinine sulphate. According
to Mr. Whiffin, such a yield of quinine has never
before been obtained from any South American
bark, and the Bolivian bark is quite equal in value,
if not indeed superior to the Ledger bark of Java.

In Guatemala, crown bark of good quality is being
gro wn, and the results of the recent sales of Jamaica
bark show that the crown and red barks ( C . officinalis)
can compete successfully with those of Ceylon and
India, having fetched higher prices in the London
market. Unfortunately the calisaya cultivated in
Jamaica turns out to be only a hybrid between C.
officinalis and C. succirubra, and not more valuable
than red bark. It may be hoped that the Ledger
variety of calisaya will be soon planted extensively
in that island, as well as the pubescent variety of
Cinchona officinalis yielding 6 per cent, of quinine
and 5 per cent, of cinchonidine ; also the valuable
calisaya of Santa Fe, as soon as seeds and yoking
plants can be obtained in quantity.

Dr. J. Moeller, of Vienna, in the Pharm. Cent.,
describes the bark of mokundu kundu, brought by
Dr. Livingstone from Mupanga, Central Africa.
After giving a thorough microscopical and chemical
description of the bark, he arrives at the conclusion
that it is not, as was supposed, derived from Nauclea
africana. The bark has a pure bitter taste and is
said to be not inferior to cinchona. Its active
principle is soluble in both hot and cold water.
Dr. Moeller tested for the presence of an alka¬
loid without success, but had only two grams to
operate on.

In a paper on the materials containing tannin
used in Japan, Mr. J. Ishikawa ( Chemical News,
December 3, p. 275) states that Japanese galls give
the same reactions as Aleppo galls, but contain a
larger percentage of tannin. The galls are gathered
in July, August and September, placed in wooden
tubs and boiling water added, in which they are
allowed to remain for half an hour ; they are then
removed and dried in the sun for three or four days.
In Kiyoto they are said to be kept in storehouses for
some years before being used, as the dyers prefer the
old kinds, which they say are stronger. The old
varieties, which are more brittle and yield darker
decoctions, are said in some specimens to contain
6326 of tannin while the younger specimens give
only 60 9 of tannin. A remarkable liquid, called
“kaki-no-shibu,” prepared from the astringent fruits
of the persimmon ( Diospyros Raid), is used for giving
strength and durability to paper, which is applied
to many more uses in Japan than in Europe. This
property appears to be due to the deposit from
the film of liquid, with which the paper is covered,

December 25, 1880. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

511

possessing somewhat of the character of lacquer,
while the tannin acts as an antiseptic. The film
formed by this liquid on materials coated with or
immersed in it is almost insoluble in water or
alcohol and is not perceptibly attacked by boiling
with dilute sulphuric acid. The kaki-no-shibu is
prepared from the fruits gathered early in the
summer and beaten in stone mortars. The mass,
transferred to wooden tubs, is covered with water
for half a day and then filtered through a straw bag.
The liquid so prepared is a milky fluid of a light or
dark grey colour and evidently holds minute particles
of solid matter in suspension. Other tanning
materials used in Japan are “kashiwa kawa” bark
( Quercus dentata), containing 2 to 7 per cent, of
tannin, betel nuts, pomegranate bark, shibuki bark
(Myrica rubra), yielding 11 to 14 per cent, of tannin,
and yasha bushi fruit ( Alnus firmd), with 25 to 27
per cent, of tannin.

A celebrated febrifuge of Cochin China, known
there as “ thuang son,” has recently been introduced
to European gardens as a decorative plant {Gardeners'
Chronicle, December 18, p. 790). _ It belongs to the
Acanthacese, and is called Meninia turgida.

A good deal has been written about the adultera¬
tion of drugs lately. That of food, however, is not
only more common, but is apparently on the increase.
The Garden, December 18, p. 616, quotes a state¬
ment made by Mr. Medhurst, a British official in
China recently, that 53,000 lbs. of willow leaves were
being made ready to be mixed with teas at one port

alone. # .

With respect to the consumption of saffron m this
country, referred to by Mr. C. B. Allen at the last
Evening Meeting, a correspondent, who is one of the
largest importers of saffron in this country, writes to
say that out of the last 5 cwt. received, half of it
was sold in Cornwall, and that it is quite usual for
half the quantity imported to be supplied to that
county. He also states that a good deal of saffron
goes to Ireland for colouring butter, and some quan¬
tity to leather dealers in Walsall.

In Comptes Rendus , December 6, pp. 942-945,
Messrs. Gaireau and Machelart describe a new crystal-
. line principle, called bergenin, which they have
obtained from several species of Saxifraga, notably
from S. sibirica, S. cordifolia and S. crassifolia.
Bergenin is stated by the authors to be a nervine
tonic suitable in those diseases which enfeeble the
vital forces, and they consider that, as a tonic,
it should be placed between quinine and salicin.
The formula of bergenin is C6H404. It crystallizes
in tetrahedrons from alcohol, and in prisms with di¬
hedral summits from a watery solution. It appears
to possess the properties of an acid, as it forms
soluble salts with potassium, calcium, barium and
magnesium, and a precipitate with lead soluble in

excess of the acetate of lead.

A new acid, to which the name of phytolaccic
acid has been given, has been obtained by M. Terreil
from the fruit of Phytolacca Kcempferi, and in
smaller proportion from that of P. decanclr a {Comptes
Rendus, vol. xci., p. 856). It appears to exist in the
plant as an acid salt of potassium. This salt and
the free acid are freely soluble in water, and the
aqueous solutions have the peculiarity of becoming,
when heated with hydrochloric acid, coagulated into
a kind of jelly which is no longer soluble in water,
though it is very soluble in 90 per cent, alcohol.
The acid is stable, and reddens blue litmus strongly,

but neither it nor its salts have yet been obtained in
a crystalline form.

A neutral crystalline bitter principle has been
obtained by M. Tanret from the fruit of the Simaba
Waldivia, which like its cogener, the Simaba Cedron,
has a considerable therapeutic reputation in the
Central American republics. It was prepared by
exhausting the finely powdered waldivia with 70 per
cent, alcohol, distilling, and shaking the residue
while still warm with a considerable quantity of
chloroform. The chloroformic solution is distilled
to dryness, and the residue taken up with boiling
water, which deposits the “ waldivin ” in a crystal¬
line form upon cooling. It is slightly soluble in
cold water, and soluble in 30 parts of boiling water,
60 parts of 70 per cent, alcohol, and 190 parts of
absolute alcohol. In chloroform it is very soluble.
Its aqueous solutions froth abundantly, and are ex¬
cessively bitter. It is easily decomposed by alkalies,
losing its bitterness with caustic alkalies nearly in¬
stantaneously. Its composition is represented by
the formula C18H24O10,2^H2O. M. Tanret failed to
obtain the bitter principle of the Simaba Cedron in
the crystalline form, answering to the “ cedrin ” of
M. Lewy, and appears to think that that investigator
might have had some fruit of S. Waldivia mixed
with the cedron fruit on which he operated.

Some chlorinated derivatives of strychnine have
been described by Messrs. Richet and Bouchardat
{Comptes Rendus, vol. xci., p. 990). Monochlorated
strychnine is obtained by passing into a warm con¬
centrated solution of hydrochlorate of strychnine
chlorine equal to one molecule for each molecule of
the alkaloid, and adding ammonia, which precipi¬
tates a mixture of strychnine, monochlorated strych¬
nine, and more chlorinated products. Treatment
with strong alcohol leaves the strychnine undis¬
solved, and the solution is neutralized with hydro¬
chloric acid. It is then evaporated and treated with
water, which dissolves out the hydrochlorate of
monochlorated strychnine. This body is very soluble
in water, chloroform, ether, and strong alcohol, and
is represented by the formula C21H24C1N202. It
combines with acids, though it is not a strong base ;
but it is as toxic as strychnine, which it resembles in
some points. With sulphuric acid and bichromate
of potash, however, it gives a magnificent red colour,
and with a mixture of sulphuric and nitric acids an
intense cherry-red. Trichlorated strychnine is de¬
posited together with strychnine when chlorine is
passed through a cold solution of hydrochlorate of
strychnine to saturation. It is separated by washing
the precipitate with acidulated water, then with
warm water, and dissolving the residue in alcohol,
from which it crystallizes slowly. It is insoluble
in water, and soluble in ether and chloroform, and
it is represented by the formula C21H24C13N202. It
differs from the monochlorated derivative by giving
no special coloration with sulphuric acid and bichro¬
mate of potash, and a purple colour with nitro-
sulphuric acid ; it appears also to be almost without
physiological action, even in doses of from 0’5 to 1
gram. Further it no longer combines with acids.

The results of some experiments upon the dialysis
of ferric oxide dissolved in a solution of ferric
chloride have been recently reported to the French
Academy of Sciences by M. de la Source ( Nature ,
Nov. 25, p. 86). He represents “fer Bravais:’
by the formula 30Fe2O3-Fe2Cl65 and he states that
after three months’ dialysis of a weak solution

512

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 25, isso.

of this preparation the greater part of the chlorine
had passed into the dialysate, and the proportion of
ferric chloride had been reduced to one molecule
to 116 of ferric oxide, the chlorine not even then
having ceased to pass through. He is of opinion
that under certain conditions ferric hydrate per se is
soluble in water.

A communication by Herr Herzen on acetous
fermentation, mentioned Nature (November 25,
p. 86), seems to furnish an instance of the perversity
with which sometimes experimenters proceed on the
plan how not to do it. Two of the experiments
were as follows: — In one flask was placed 100 c.c.
of water, to which was added 10 per cent of pure
alcohol and a drop of fermenting wine full of
Mycoderma aceti. In another was placed the same
quantity of water, and 5 per cent, of acetic acid and
a drop of the wine added. After eight days there
was no Mycoclerma in the first flask, but a con¬
siderable quantity in the second, and from this
Herr Herzen infers that the Mycoderma is not a cause
but a consequence of the change. Pasteur’s method
of manufacturing vinegar would, in that case, be
based upon error. Now it has been expressly stated
by Pasteur, and confirmed in practice (see before,
p. 133), that the presence of more than 2 per cent,
of alcohol hinders the development of the acetous
fungus, and it has also been found that it does not
flourish in a liquid containing less than 2 per cent,
of acid. Therefore, when the experimenter used
five times that quantity of alcohol and omitted the
acid he produced conditions in which it was
previously known the fungus cannot multiply, if
even, indeed, it can maintain life. In the second
flask with less alcohol and in an acid liquor there
was a closer approximation to favourable conditions.
A similar phenomenon occurs in alcoholic fer¬
mentation, which is well known to be retarded or
stopped in the presence of too much alcohol. Further,
Boussingault has recently found that sugar is
more rapidly transformed into alcohol by the
action of yeast if the alcohol and carbonic anhy¬
dride be removed from the liquid as they are pro¬
duced. He also states that fermentation may go on
rapidly in the presence of a considerable excess of
alcohol, if it be conducted in a partial vacuum. On
the other hand, it will be remembered that Mr.
H. T. Brown found ( Pharm . Journ ., [3], vol. iv., p.
615), that with otherwise ordinary conditions fer¬
mentation proceeds more slowly under diminished
pressure.

Some curious experiments, performed by Dr.
Brown Sequard ( Medical Times and Gazet'e, November
27, p. 627), on the effects of the local application of
chloroform, seem to show that the application of
chloroform liniment to the nape of the neck, or to that
portion between the shoulder and the neck, known
as the epileptogenous region, may not be without
some degree of danger.

In the British Medical Journal, December 18,
p. 957, in the report to the Scientific Grants Com¬
mittee of the British Medical Association, a very full
account is given of the physiological action of a
number of anaesthetics with which experiments have
been made. From the results obtained it appears that
ethidene dichloride occupies an intermediate position
between chloroform and ether, being safer than
•hloroform, while a less quantity is effective than of
ether. One paragraph in the report seems so im¬
portant, especially to manufacturing chemists, that

it may be quoted here word for word. “It is worthy
of observation that two substances, butyl chloride
and isobutyl chloride, which have the same chemical
formula, exhibit such different actions. The same
contrast is seen in the actions of ethene clichloride
and ethidene dichloride, which are also isomeric.
The first of these produced severe convulsions, while
the second promises to be an excellent anesthetic
without any convulsive effects.”

The mixed anesthetics, such as chloramyl (made
by adding 2 drachms of nitrite of amyl to 1 pound of
chloroform) and mixtures of ether and chloroform,
etc., do not appear to have as yet been experimented
upon. Benzine, acetone, pyrrol, amylene and bichlo¬
ride of methylene (apparently a mixture not having
a constant boiling point), methyl and ethyl chlorides
and nitrous ethyl ether, did not yield satisfactory
results.

The elder (Sambuciis nigra ) has been the subject
of an investigation by M. Govaerts {Repertoire, Dec.,
p. 529) with a view to determining what part of the
plant and what pharmaceutical preparation is most
favourable for obtaining and administering the
active laxative principle. He finds that the juice
from the fresh leaves is the best form, in doses of
about 60 grams, with 5 drops of spirit of pepper¬
mint. The juice of the bark is also said to produce
excellent effects, if the preparation is well made ; it
may be given in doses of 15 to 30 grams. The most
agreeable preparation is a wine of the fresh bark (30
parts in 100), and it keeps the best; in doses of 15 to
30 grams it produces copious alvine evacuations, but
these are accompanied by nausea and vomiting. A
high temperature or drying appears to exercise a
deleterious effect upon the leaves and bark, and pre¬
parations of them, by completely destroying the
active principle.

In a paper read before the Philadelphia College of
Pharmacy ( Amer . Journ. of Pharm., December,
p. 593), Dr. Wolff describes some experiments made
with a view of overcoming the inconveniences some¬
times attending preparations of morphia intended for
subcutaneous injection. He finds the best results
obtained by making a quarter of a grain of the
hydrochlorate and an equal quantity of sodium chlo¬
ride into a pellet by moderate pressure in a suitable
pill press. Such pellets are said to keep without
difficulty in a glass tube that can be carried in the
pocket, and to dissolve readily. Dr. Wolff finds also
that the solution causes less pain than the ordinary
solutions of either morphia salts alone or with the
addition of an antiseptic.

In the British Medical Journal for November 27,
p. 841, some remarks on the proper form in which
to use pancreatine, from the pen of Dr. IP. Dobell,
will probably interest those readers who have a
demand for pancreatic preparations. In the same
journal, Dr. Murrell describes the results of experi¬
ments with Chaulmoogra oil in phthisis, and finds
that the best mode of internal administration is to
take it in milk, or externally to rub it into the chest.

The curious practice of swallowing a spider in
dough or spider’s web in a pill, for the cure of ague,
would seem from the letters of correspondents on p.
909 of the same journal, to point out that at least
these insects deserve a chemical investigation. Ants
are known to contain formic acid, which has reputed
therapeutical properties, and spiders certainly possess
some power, not merely of poisoning their victims,
but preserving their bodies from putridity until

December 25, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

513

intended to be used, if the stories in books on
natural history are to be believed. If spiders really
contain a substance of value in ague it might, doubt¬
less, be also prepared artificially, and would then be
less likely to excite disgust in patients.

In the Practitioner for December an account is
given of an empirical cure for diphtheria, discovered
by a woman at St. George-sur-Loire, which was
adopted with success by Dr. Cornilleau. On
analysis the remedy proved to contain oxalic acid
and traces of tannin. The formula used by the
Dr. Cornilleau in imitation of this remedy was —
pure oxalic acid, 1*5 gram ; infusion of green tea, 120
grams; syrup of bitter orange peel, 30 grams; a
dessertspoonful being given every three hours.
Seventeen out of eighteen cases are reported to have
been successfully treated by this remedy.

Dr. Sporer, of St. Petersburg, states that chloral
in the solid state will relieve the most severe
toothache in a few minutes, if a small piece wrapped
in cotton wool is placed in the cavity of the tooth
and allowed to disssolve.

At a recent meeting of the Berlin Medical Society
(. Medical Times and Gazette , November 27, p. 623).
Professor von Langenbeck exhibited a new material
for forming plaster splints and dressings which has
received the name of tripolitli. It was originally
intended for stucco and decorative purposes, but its
greater lightness and the fact that when once hard
and dry it absorbs no more water attracted the
attention of Professor Kronlein, to whom it was
mentioned by a patient as being superior to the
plaster of Paris dressings in ordinary use. Its exact
composition is not known, but it is supposed to be
a compound of calcium and silicium oxides with a
minute portion of iron. It forms a grey powder of
the same weight as plaster of Paris, but finer and
softer to the touch.

The colouring of wall-papers has been for years
past a subject of sporadic communications, containing
a full share of clap- trap, but referring chiefly to the
danger resulting from the use of arsenical greens.
Herr Bernbeck now calls attention ( Pharm . Zeit.,
Dec. 11, p. 792) to a possible inconvenience resulting
from the use of ultramarine. He states that a room
covered with an ultramarine coloured paper was
observed to be tainted by a smell of sulphuretted
hydrogen, the source of which long escaped detection.
Eventually, however, it was associated with the
paper, and. a closer examination led to the con¬
clusion that the ultramarine on the surface was
being slowly decomposed under the influence of the
alum in the paste used in hanging the paper. This
appeared to be confirmed by the fact that a piece of
the paper steeped in very dilute solution of alum
gave off sufficient sulphuretted hydrogen to be
perceptible to the nose and to blacken lead paper.

During the past week, by a judgment of the
Exchequer Division of the High Court, the right of
the Government to a monopoly of communication
by telephone in this country has been so far
established, and unless this judgment be reversed
on appeal there is some probability of a consider¬
able development in this direction. Under these
circumstances it may be interesting to mention one
of the possibilities in connection with the necessary
manipulation. The Scientific American states that
recently a workman on the roof of a house in New
York, in arranging the wires, dropped an electric
light wire upon a telephone wire belonging to a

Messrs. Silcox. The result was that the persons in
the office of this firm were startled by a burst of
flame from the telephone instrument on the wall, the
heat produced being so intense as to melt the magnets.
It is true that such accidents may be prevented by a
proper use of insulating materials, but the point is
that in this instance the precaution was neglected,
as it might be in others.

At the present time, when selenium is likely to be
in demand in connection with the photophone, it
may interest some to know that a mineral is found
in the region of Cachenta, in the province of Mendoza
in the Argentine Republic, which contains 28 per
cent, of selenium {Brit. Med. Journ., December 18,
p. 993). This mineral contains also 28 per cent, of
copper, and lesser quantities of iron, lead, silver,
tellurium and sulphur.

At the meeting of the Physical Society on the
11th inst., Lieut. Darwin read a paper on the rate
of loss of light from phosphorescent substances, based
on some experiments with Balmain’s paint {Chem.
News, Dec. 17, p. 302). It was illustrated by a curve
which appeared to show that the loss is independent
of the original intensity of the illumination, and
that it diminishes very nearly in proportion to the
square of the intensity of the light. Lieut. Darwin
seemed to think that for the charging of the paint a
short exposure to a strong light is not equivalent to a
longer exposure to a feeble light. A slight increase
in the temperature of the surface considerably in¬
creases the quantity of light given off in a certain time.

Turning to the “ Dispensing Memoranda ” of the
past month, in the remarks on the mixture of liq.
arsenicalis with liq. ferri dialysat., sufficient atten¬
tion has not been paid by correspondents to the fact
that Wyeth and Co.’s solution of dialysed iron was
used in the original prescription, and therefore that
the results accompanying a mixture of a 5 per cent,
solution of dialysed iron with liq. arsenicalis may not
be quite the same as those attending a solution of
which Wyeth and Co. are the makers. This is an in¬
convenience which must necessarily occur occasionally
with preparations of foreign manufacture, and those
for which there is no definite official strength.

In Mr. Langbeck’s communication with regard to
aq. caryopli., he suggests a method of making it by
rubbing down the oil with magnesia and water. The
practical inconvenience attending a water made in
this manner has been alluded to by a correspondent.
The result of a little of the magnesia being dissolved
by the water may, in some combinations, be a decom¬
position of one or more important ingredients in
the mixture. In addition to this there is a gradual
deposit in the shop bottle from a water prepared in
this manner. Such a water at best is but a poor
substitute for one drawn from the cloves, and a mix¬
ture dispensed at an establishment where water made
with the oil and magnesia had been used would not
compare favourably with one from a house using aq.
caryoph. drawn from the cloves.

Mr. Kendall thinks “ there would be less discre¬
pancy in dispensing if prescriptions were made up
as written.” A very comfortable notion to enter¬
tain, but one that is scarcely, in the presence of
existing facts, practicable. He probably may not be
a careful reader of these columns, or may, perchance,
have overlooked the correspondence which has taken
place on hyd. chlor. The question arose, what was
written? and conflicting have been the answers to
that apparently simple question. The dispenser

514

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 25, 1880.

must exercise some discretion, and bring his prac¬
tical experience to bear in the discharge of his very
important duties.

The balsam of copaiba could not be taken in
divided doses if the mixture No. 475 were sent out
as written. It is necessary, therefore, to make an
emulsion of it by means of the same quantity of
mucilage with trituration in a mortar, and the in¬
fusion of roses being gradually added with the acid
sulph. arom., the copaiba will, by this method, be
suspended and diffused through the mixture. It
will not separate within a reasonable time, but
there is that tendency in all emulsions, and sooner
or later they will separate. It cannot, therefore, be
said that it will not afterwards separate.

The recipe No. 476 is not the prescription of a
duly qualified medical practitioner. It is difficult
to say what appearance it should have when made,
as great liberties are often taken with these domestic
recipes for external application. The juice of
Solomon’s seal may be obtained in the same manner
as other expressed juices by bruising in a mortar
and pressing out the liquid.

The difficulty in No. 477 is more apparent than
real. The prescriber has clearly ordered a §iss
mixture and the first three ingredients being ^ss
§j more is required to be added of equal parts of
simple syrup and distilled water to complete the
quantity. This method of ordering the vehicle is not
uncommon, but at the same time many dispensers
may not have had the opportunity of seeing it. It
is not by any means the most simple method of
ordering what is required and little can be said in
its favour.

The prescriber of No. 478 evidently intended that
the iodine should be dissolved for use in the ol.
terebinth, and tr. opii, but perhaps was not aware
that iodine is soluble to a very limited extent in
either of these two ingredients. The iodine should
first be dissolved in a little sp. vini rect. and then
mixed with the other ingredients. In the presence
of such a difficulty the addition of a little spirit
is quite admissible, having regard to the evident
intention of the prescriber when he wrote the
prescription that the iodine should be in a state of
solution and thus capable of application.

The prescription No. 479, if dispensed as written,
will not make a colourless solution unless a much
larger quantity of ammonia be used, which is not
admissible without the direct sanction of the pre¬
scriber. Time favours the decolorization. Dis¬
pensed as written it must stain the skin on its appli¬
cation.

Croton chloral hydrate is ordered in prescription
No. 480 to be given, 15 grains for the first dose and
7£ grains every two hours until the pain ceases, and
the dispenser seems to think the dose excessive and
that such a dose should be brought under the notice
of the prescriber previously to its being dispensed.
Dr. R. Engel (in liis paper on croton chloral hydrate
in the Pharmaceutical Journal, [3], vol. v., p. 341)
says, “ croton chloral is hypnotic in doses of ^ to 1
gram” — that is, in doses equivalent to the first of
15 grains ordered in the prescription, — and the writer
guards against an excess of the remedial agent by a
direction that one tablespoonful be repeated every
two hours till the pain ceases. An acquaintance with
the medical literature of this substance will show
that a dose of 15 grains followed by doses of half
that quantity is not beyond what may be given in

cases of acute neuralgia, and with such a prescription
there can be no reasonable excuse for referring to
the writer for consideration.

Mr. Spence has a prescription, No. 481, containing
3j aq. laurocerasi, and states that taking the Phar¬
macopoeia as his guide, the dose is excessive, and at the
same time he asks if the dispenser would be justified
in reducing the dose. It is most important that a
dispenser should recognize an unusual dose in a
prescription and he would naturally refer to his
Pharmacopoeia, but the preparation referred to is by
no means constant in its strength. The writer of
the inquiry may read with advantage Mr. Umney’s
paper on aq. laurocerasi [2], vol. iv., p. 469. He will
there find how variable this preparation is, even
when freshly prepared, and reckoning the percentage
of hydrocyanic acid in some of the best samples and
comparing it with the acid, hydrocyan, dil., JB.P., he
will find that, supposing the aq. laurocerasi to be of a
quality yielding the largest proportion of hydrocyanic
acid, the dose given in this prescription would be
equivalent to 3 minims acid, hydrocyan., B.P., a dose
very commonly largely exceeded. There would
seem, therefore, no reason why aq. laurocerasi of the
best and freshest make should not be given in doses
of 5j- If must, however, be stated here that a dis¬
penser may decline to dispense the prescription if he
considers that it is attended with danger to the life of
the patient, but when there is no evident error in
the prescription he is not justified in reducing a dose.
Such a liberty may lead to great irregularities.

There is no difficulty in making a very satisfactory
mixture of No. 482. By mixing the quinae sulph.
with the acid, sulph. arom., putting the solution into
the bottle with half the quantity of the aq. chlorof.,
then dissolving the salts in the other half and mixing
the two solutions, an elegant but slightly opalescent
mixture will result, without any separation. It is
difficult to understand why the question should have
been asked, and the writer, who has signed his ap¬
propriate, if not his proper name, should at least state
how he got into a difficulty and what that difficulty
was which induced him to ask the question.

The question in No. 483, as to what magnesia
should be used when magnesia is ordered, has on
more than one occasion been referred to and fully ex¬
plained ; one will be found in [3], vol. viii., p. 849,
to which “ Bute ” is referred. At the same time he is
requested to study the magnesias and to acquire clear
notions of the differences in constitution indicated
by the different names. When the B.P., under
magnesia, gives a formula for its preparation by
driving off carbonic acid from the carbonate, how
can “ Bute ” use mag. carb. pond. ? Again, as to
the bismuth, why use bismuth, carb. ? On reference
to the B.P. it will be seen the bismuth, subnit. of
the present Pharmacopoeia was called bismuth, alb.
in the Pharmacopoeia of 1864. The introduction of
bismuth, carb. is comparatively recent, while bis¬
muth has had a place in successive Pharmacopoeias
from a remote date. The present bismuth, subnit.
should undoubtedly have been used in this prescrip¬
tion.

Prescription No. 484, has exploded after standing
a few days. The decomposition which took place
must have been due to the ext. tarax. being more or
less acid, and on the addition of mag. carb. carbonic
acid would be liberated and cause the result com¬
plained of. With ext. tarax. in that condition, the
best course to adopt would be to dissolve the extract

December 25, 18S0.J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

515

in hot water, and to add the carbonate of magnesia
in an open vessel. Under these circumstances the
gas would soon be driven off, and no further change
of the character named need he anticipated.

The combination of ingredients in No. 485 must
result in a precipitate, and a “ shake ” label was
very properly placed on the bottle. It would have
been a great mistake to have filtered the mixture
for the sake of appearance, as the most active con¬
stituents would assuredly have been filtered out.
If a dispenser has acquired a reputation for faithful
dispensing he has no need to fear an occasional
inquiry with regard to the difference in appearance
of a medicine dispensed at his and any other
establishment.

The explosion of the ingredients in prescription
No. 486 might have been anticipated, and the publi¬
cation of such a result may serve to put dispensers
on their guard against such combinations.

With regard to the recipe No. 487, a solid cocoa-
nut oil cannot be mixed with rum for a hair- wash ;
but there is an article known in the market as
liquid cocoa-nut oil, which may be used in the same
manner as the widely known preparation of rum
and oil, celebrated of old as one of the best applica¬
tions to prevent the hair falling off, and this fluid
oil is probably the one indicated in this recipe. A sepa¬
ration takes place, and it must be shaken before use.

The powder of No. 488 should be dispensed with
each article separately powdered and perfectly dry ;
there will thus be no occasion for rubbiug the two
ingredients together, which would facilitate their
decomposition. If each powder be in a proper
state there will be no immediate decomposition or
any serious inconvenience in dispensing it.

In No. 489 the application should be dispensed as
written, with a “ shake ” label attached to the bottle.
The dispenser would not be justified in increasing
the iodide of sodium with a view to dissolving the
iodide of mercury. There is no evidence that the
writer intended complete solution Had he written
“ solve ” instead of “ misce,” there would have been
some show of reason for a doubt on the subject.

The prescription, No. 490, seems to be one
intended for piles. It is difficult to determine what
was meant by ung. P. It may mean one of the
lead ointments of the Pharmacopoeia, or equally
ung. picis, and the fact that it was sent out, by a
Manchester firm, of a pink colour would tend to the
latter.

Mr. W. Symons has done good service in publish¬
ing prescription No. 491, with the correspondence.
It probably represents one of those “unholy alliances”
of medical men with special pharmacists, which
have so often been deprecated in these pages.

The sax. olei purif., of prescription No. 492, is
one of the varieties of petroleum, known in the trade
as saxoline, and of which vaseline may be taken as
typical.

THE USES OF HENNA IN ALGERIA.

The following observations, chiefly abstracted from a
recent page of the Repertoire de Pharmacie, may supple¬
ment some details of information on the subject of
henna, which appeared in our columns of July 4, 1874.

The name “ Henn^-al-hennah,” is given by the Arabs
to a plant belonging to the order Lythracese ( Octandria
monogynia), the Lawsonia inermis of Linnaeus. This shrub,
well known to the ancients, is very common throughout
India, Cabul and Persia, appears to be a native of Arabia,

and to have been distributed by the Arabs into Turkey
(Asiatic and European), Egypt, and along the coast of
the Mediterranean. It is, however, rather uncommon in
Algeria, and the bulk of the products derived from it are
obtained from the East.

A considerable business is done in the leaves of this
plant, which are collected in the green state and dried in
the sun. An aqueous decoction made from the coarsely
powdered leaves gives, after a few hours, to objects to
which it is applied a peculiar ruddy coloration, some¬
what similar to that of red ochre, but not quite to so deep
a tint, and this stain lasts for some three or four weeks.
The flowers are remarkably fragrant, whether fresh or
dry, and are particularly grateful at a distance. The
leaves are in daily domestic use by nearly every tribe
obeying the Mussulman law. The women use it for
dyeing the palms of their hands and the soles of their
feet, partly with the idea of enhancing their natural
charms, as the Japanese will blacken their teeth and the
Indians tattoo themselves. Henna is also used for staining
the hair of children of both sexes, not only for beautifying
purposes, but as a specific against the skin diseases so
frequent in youth, especially when the hair is allowed to
grow very long, as is the case with the young Arabian
girls and with the boys until a certain age, when the head
is shaved, leaving only a long tail from the crown. This
custom of shaving the heads of boys is not, however,
general ; certain religous sects, amongst which the very
wide-spread one of the Aissaonas (especially near
Morocco) allow the chevelure of both sexes to grow long.

The indigenous Jews also adopted the use of henna for
the same purposes as the Mussulmans, those only who
have acquired French habits having abandoned it, — at
least, so far as using it for toilette purposes.

The peculiar reddish-brown stain of henna deepens
the natural colour of the hair, and to certain tribes,
especially that of the Kabyles, whose hair is very fair,
the effect of its coloration is more pronounced, often
leading strangers who see it for the first time to believe
the colour natural.

On moistening the dried leaves a slight odour is
perceptible ; their taste is bitter and faintly aromatic ;
they contain a red colouring matter, an essential oil and
tannin. A medicament prepared from them is employed
by the Arabs in the treatment of wounds of all kinds,
causing the skin to grow over and healing them very
quickly ; these effects are probably due to some exciting
action of the essential oil, and to the astringent properties
of the tannin. They use this remedy principally on
horses, to heal wounds or sores caused by friction of the
harness or otherwise on a journey. Having stopped
for a rest and unsaddled, they will apply a plaister of it,
and continue their march without taking more thought
of the wound, which, if it does not heal, at least does not
extend, and causes less suffering to the horse. They also
employ it as a means of preventing the opening of old
wounds, where the hair has not grown over the scar ; it
closes up and hardens the tissues, — in fact, tans the skin.

For similar reasons, the Arabs who can afford to in¬
dulge in the sport of gazelle hunting will give their
horses a foot-bath of henna, especially if the animals are
young, or have not taken great exercise for some time.
There may be some analogy to this in the custom
prevailing amongst Arabian women of staining the palms
of the hands and the soles of the feet,— it may render the
skin less tender.

In India a cosmetic is made by beating up the fresh
leaves with catechu. Although a decoction of fresh
leaves stains the skin it does not appear to communicate
its colour to cloth.

Acids destroy the colour, but alkalies and infusions of
astringent vegetables deepen it.

The species Lawsonia spinosa is considered by Rox¬
burgh to be nothing more than the L. inermis (or alba),
grown on a dry sterile soil, causing it to be very thorny
and the branches short and rigid.

516

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 25, 1830.

THE CHARGE AGAINST A CHEMIST UNDER TEE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT.

The following communication from the Board of Trade,
upon the subject of the recent conviction for being in
possession of verified incorrect apothecaries’ measures,
has been kindly forwarded by Mr. Whittle for publica¬
tion : —

“ Board of Trade,

“ (Standards Department),

“ 7, Old Palace Yard, S.W.,

“ December 21, 1880.

“Sir, — I am directed by the Board of Trade to acquaint
you that their attention has been called to a report of a
prosecution under the Weights and Measures Act, 1878,
at the Court House, Saint Marylebone, on the 6th inst.,
and as it appears that the decision of the magistrates is
to be appealed against, I am to transmit to you herewith
copy of a letter addressed by this Board to the Chairman
of the Magistrates before whom the summons was heard.

“ I am, Sir,

“Your obedient Servant,

“C. Cecil Trevor,

“Mr. E. C. Whittle,

“ Chemist,

“ 6, Townshend Road,

“St. John’s Wood.”

[Copy.]

‘ ‘ Board of Trade,

“ (Standards Department),

“ 7, Old Palace Yard, S.W.,

“ November 24, 1880.

“Sir, — With further reference to your letter of the 8th
inst., I am directed by the Board of Trade to transmit to
you herewith copy of a statement of the errors which
have been found to exist after comparison with the
Imperial standards in the four graduated glass apothe¬
caries’ measures received from the Inspector of Weights
and Measures for St. Marylebone, and I am to state that
having regard to the practical difficulties of construction
and graduation of measures of this particular form, the
Board of Trade, as at present advised, think that the
measures now in question may be accepted as correct for
the purposes of ordinary trade ; although the differences
from the Imperial standards, as shown in the accompany¬
ing statement, are larger than should be allowed in other
forms of apothecaries’ measures.

“ I am, Sir,

“ Your obedient servant,

“ (Signed), C. Cecil Trevor.

“ Thomson Hankey, Esq.,

“ Chairman of the Petty Sessional Division,

“ Court House,

“St. Marylebone.”

“ Statement of the errors, in minims, of four graduated glass
measures, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, received from the Inspector
for Marylebone.

No. 1 Measure.

Graduation. Error.

5 minims -- Ar

minim.

10

>> - tV

33

15

„ - ItV

20

»> - lAr

33

25

>> Aro

33

30

3

}i If)

n

No. 1. Measure — continued.

Graduation.

Error.

35 minims

+

A- minim.

40

33

+

ItV

33

45

55

+

lV

33

50

55

+

1 6

ITTT

33

55

55

+

1 s>

xTXr

33

60

55

+

1 4
■“•TIT

33

70

55

+

nr

33

80

55

—

tV

33

90

55

—

A)

33

100

55

—

I'lO

33

110

55

Ar

33

120

55

—

1

TO

33

150

55

—

o

To

33

180

55

—

3

nr

33

210

55

+

i

1 0

33

240

35

+

2jV minims.

No. 2 Measure.

5

minims

—

Ay minim.

10

53

-

5

TO

33

15

55

-

1 3

1 1X5

33

20

53

—

1

33

25

55

—

5

nr

33

30

35

—

9

nr

33

35

35

-

1 2

J-nr

33

40

33

+

3

TXT

33

45

33

—

i

TXT

33

50

33

—

8

TXT

33

55

35

+

r>

nr

33

60

33

+

1

33

70

33

+

3

TXT

33

80

33

—

1

nr

33

90

33

-

9

nr

33

100

33

—

1 Ar

33

120

53

—

Ar

33

120

33

—

6

nr

33

150

33

—

9

TO

33

180

33

-

2 minims.

210

33

—

to minim.

240

33

+

7

TO

33

No. 3 Measure.

5

minims

—

XV minim.

10

33

—

9

1XT

33

15

33

—

1

nr

33

20

33

+

5

nr

33

25

33

+

3

1 0

33

30

33

—

j

10

33

35

33

-I

JS

nr

33

40

33

+

4

T<r

33

45

33

+

3

Tir

33

50

33

+

4

TiT

33

55

33

+

TXT

33

60

33

+

Ar

33

No. 4 Measure.

-

5 minims

+

tV minim.

10

33

+

3

TXT

33

15

33

+

nr

33

20

33

—

ItV

33

25

33

—

i 2

Anr

33

30

33

—

1

33

35

33

—

tV

33

40

33

+

nr

33

45

33

+

o

115

33

50

33

+

2

TXT

33

55

33

+

1

TXT

33

60

33

-

2

1 0

33

“Where the measure is short or in deficiency the sign is
— , and where it is large or in excess the sign is +.”

December 25, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

517

Che llljiirmaccuiitiil fcmtmd.

- + -

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1880.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , booJcsfor review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editob, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bbehridoe, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Chdrohill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

THE CHARGE AGAINST A CHEMIST UNDER THE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT.

In speaking of the prosecution of Mr. Whittle
under the Weights and Measures Act a fortnight
since, we ventured to express the opinion that such
cases ought not to he brought before the magistrates
without the previous reference to some authority
competent to judge of all the circumstances and to
decide whether there is sufficient reason for pro¬
ceedings being taken. In doing so we merely took a
common sense view of the matter, having regard to
what might be taken as probable in Mr. Whittle’s
case, and we had not the advantage of any spesial
acquaintance with the actual circumstances of it
beyond what had been made generally public.
There was only one particular which might appear
to be somewhat out of accordance with the view
we felt disposed to take as to the impropriety of
this prosecution, and that was the fact that the
magistrates stated that they had received a com¬
munication from the Board of Trade, according to
which the measures in question were declared
to be incorrect. That communication appears to
have been put forward by the magistrates as sup¬
porting the action of the Marylebone inspector, and
therefore inducing them to decide upon a conviction ;
for the Chairman of the Bench of Magistrates re¬
marked, “ we have the evidence before us that the
“ Board of Trade has pronounced these measures
“deficient, and that is sufficient, according to our
“ opinion, to guide us, and we have the opinion
“ of our own officer, which agrees with the Board
“ of Trade. Therefore, the only course is for us to
“ act upon the evidence of the Board of Trade and
“ our own officer, and allow you to appeal.”

These remarks would certainly imply that there
was some valid ground for the prosecution, and it is,
we think, to be regretted that, after they had been
made, the actual communication from the Board of
Trade was not produced in accordance with the re¬
quest of Mr. Glaisyer, especially as it had been
treated by the magistrates as being evidence in the
case.

We are this week enabled to publish the letter
addressed by the Board of Trade to the Marylebone
magistrates, a copy of it having been sent by the

Board to Mr. Whittle, “in consequence of the an-

“ nouncement that an appeal would be made against

“ the magistrates’ decision,” and it will be seen, no

doubt with very much surprise, that the opinion of

the Board of Trade authorities is very far from

being of the nature that the magistrates’ remarks

would indicate. A complete examination of all

the graduations of the four measures sent by

the magistrates to the Board of Trade appears

to have been made at the office of the Standards

Department. The letter is accompanied by a

tabular statement of the results obtained by the

Board of Trade in testing the measures in question,

and those results differ very materially from the

data of the Marylebone inspector. Taking those

graduations of the four measures which were stated

by the Marylebone inspector to be incorrect, and

comparing his data with those of the Board of Trade,

it appears that some of them are much in excess of

those given by the Board of Trade, while others are

of smaller amount, and only two or three accord with

them. Thus, for instance, the 5-minim graduation

of measure No. 1 was stated bv Mr. Tibbey to be

«/

1 minim deficient, while the Board of Trade reports
it to be only three-tenths of a minim deficient. The
10- minim graduation stated by Mr. Tibbey to be
1| minim deficient is reported by the Board of
Trade as being only one-tenth of a minim deficient.

Similar discrepancies between the data of the
Marylebone inspector and those of the Board of
Trade obtain in regard to most of the other gradua¬
tions, and the evidence furnished by the results of
the Board of Trade examination of the measures is
not only no confirmation of the inspector’s charge
against Mr. Whittle, but it distinctly shows that
the inspector’s results were incorrect. A glance at
the tabular statement on the previous page will
satisfy anyone of this, and it is therefore astonishing
that the Marylebone magistrates could have viewed
it as supporting their officer’s allegation that Mr.
Whittle’s measures were unjust.

Moreover, in the letter addressed to the Chairman
of the Magistrates, it is distinctly stated that the
measures in question might be accepted as correct
for the purposes of ordinary trade. This opinion was
based upon considerations of the practical difficulties
of constructing and graduating measures of the kind,
find it is one that will command the acquiescence of
everyone conversant with the subject. The further
remark that the discrepancies from Imperial standards
in the graduations of the measures in question are
greater than should be allowed in other forms of
apothecaries’ measures does not in any way lessen
the force of the Board of Trade’s approval of those
measures as being proper for use, but, as we under¬
stand, it applies only to measures of small capacity,
such as are suitable for measuring small quantities of
potent medicines, and, as we pointed out in a
previous article, half-ounce measures would not be
used for that purpose.

518

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 25, 1880.

We cannot conceive wliy the information furnished
by the Board of Trade in regard to this case should
not have been made known when the adjourned
hearing of the case came on. That information ap¬
pears to have been given so far back as the 24th of
November last, and coming from so authoritative a
source it ought to have been allowed to influence
the magistrates’ decision in the direction to which it
so clearly points. To our apprehension the case
against Mr. Whittle is entirely disposed of by the
Board of Trade’s evidence, and the fact that he has
been compelled to undergo the ordeal of appealing
against a conviction founded upon such insufficient
grounds is a hardship to which he ought not to have
been subjected by the magistrates, even for the sake
of supporting the position assumed by their official.

The case, elucidated as it now is ' by the letter we
publish this week, affords strong reason for the
adoption of such a course as we suggested when last
writing on the subject. Inspectors of weights and
measures are not qualified for the work of testing
graduated measures and the finer kinds of weights, and
until adequate provision is made for this work being
done properly prosecutions should not be entered
upon. We make no reflection upon the Marylebone
inspector, and do not doubt that he has done his best
and has lodged the complaint against Mr. Whittle
in perfect good faith, but it is as obvious now, as it
was before probable to every one capable of j udging,
that he was mistaken, and that by the action he has
taken grievous injustice has been inflicted upon
Mr. Whittle as well as the makers of the measures
referred to in the prosecution.

CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA.

Mr. Consul Allen, writing from Shanghae, refers
to some curious articles of trade' which are imported
there for use in Chinese medicine. About three
tons of tigers’ bones were so imported during 1879,
and this supply was supplemented by four tons of
crocodiles’ scales. Young deer’s horns are also met
with, and a considerable quantity of ginseng is im¬
ported from Japan. It is conjectured that much
more ginseng enters Shanghae than is accounted for
at the custom house, its small bulk relatively to its
value making it a convenient article for smuggling.

Reporting on the trade of Macao, Mr. Vice-
Consul Murray says that star-anise reaches that
place from the province of Kwansi, and is exported
to the coast ports, and a large quantity goes to
England and the Continent. The quantity exported
in 1879 amounted to about 8000 piculs (nearly 500
tons), valued at 160,000 dollars. Star-aniseed oil is
also exported to Europe and a little finds its way to
Manila occasionally. Cassia oil also is sent into the
same markets generally as star- anise oil.

Persian opium appears to be making its way into
all parts of China and together with the native
opium enters into competition with that ot Indian
growth. The Persian opium is, however, said to be
frequently adulterated with sugar.

&xm&Mtkons of ibe ^Ijarmaautkal

GENERAL MEETING-BENEVOLENT

FUND.

ELECTION OF ANNUITANTS.

A General Meeting of the Members, Associates in
Business, and Associates of the Pharmaceutical
Society, and of the Subscribers and Donors to the
Benevolent Fund, Was held at the house of the
Society, 17, Bloomsbury Square, on Friday, Decem¬
ber 17, at 12 o’clock, for the Election of Four
Annuitants.

Mr. Thomas Greenish in the chair.

The notice convening the meeting was read.

Scrutineers were appointed, who examined the
voting papers and brought up the following
report : —

Scrutineers' Report.

We, the undersigned Scrutineers, appointed at the
sixteenth election of annuitants on the Benevolent
Fund of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain,
do hereby certify that we have examined the voting
papers committed to us, and report the following

result : —

Barker, John . 4711

Woods, Elizabeth . 4441

Dutton, Sarah Ann . 3520

Kennett, Louisa . 3268

Watkins, Louisa . 3093

Godden, George . 2148

Hello well, Mary Ann . 1370

Bowen, Margaret Sophia . . . . 1214

Robinson, Samiiel . 856

Rowlands, Amelia C . 660

3455 voting papers were received, of which num¬

ber 62 were informal (42 unsigned) and were dis¬
allowed.

J. Robbins, Chairman.
Sidney Plowman.

E. N. Butt.

Charles A. Blake.
Charles E. Turner.
Charles J. Mead.
William Gulliver.
Robert Fisher Young.
Edward L. Cleaver.
December 17, 1880.

Walter Hills.

W. H. Symons.

R. S. Dampney.

W. H. Ferguson.

Thomas Rich.

Wm. Toogood Frost.
John S. Linford.

Wm. Valentine Radley.
Charles B. Allen.

The Chairman declared the following four duly
elected Annuitants :

Barker, John.

Dutton, Sarah Ann.

Kennett, Louisa.

Woods, Elizabeth.

A vote of thanks was given to the Scrutineers for
their long and arduous duties.

December 25, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

519

EXAMINATIONS IN EDINBURGH.

December 15, 1880.

Present — Messrs. Ainslie, Borland, Gilmour, Kemp,
Kinninmont, Stephenson and Young.

Professor Maclagan was present on behalf of the
Privy Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Two candidates were examined, and were declared
qualified to be registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Dunlop, Thomas . Govan.

Lees, David . St. Andrew’s.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Tioelve candidates were examined. Five failed. The
following seven passed, and were declared to be qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Eorret, John Alexander . St. Andrew’s.

Grant, Thomas Mackay . Edinburgh.

Grigor, William George . Edinburgh.

Hewitt, John Richard . Birmingham.

Mair, William Low . Leslie.

Morison, John . Edinburgh.

Todd, Joseph . Carlisle.

Addendum. — Page 499, col. 1, above line 20 from
bottom, add: — Dr. Greenhow was present on behalf of
the Privy Council.

|)robincml (Lransactrons.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The fifth general meeting of the thirty-second session
was held at the Royal Institution on Thursday evening,
December 9, the President, Dr. Symes, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed, and the following donations were an¬
nounced: — The Pharmaceutical Journal, from the So¬
ciety ; and the Chemists' Journal, from the President.

The Honorary Secretary (Mr. Conroy) exhibited a
caddy of falsely packed musk, which he stated was the
worst sample that had ever come under his notice, every
pod being more or less packed.

Mr. Thomas Williams, F.C.S., made an interesting
communication on the Pharmacopoeia test for phosphate
of lime.

Mr. Thomas Garside, E.C.S., read the following paper
on “ Nickel and Nickel Plating,” practically illustrating
the plating process.

Nickel and Nickel Plating.

BY THOMAS GARSIDE, F.C.S.

Formerly nickel, together with cobalt, was obtained
almost exclusively from mines in Sweden, Saxony,
Austria and Italy. In these places it exists combined
with sulphur or arsenic or both. By a series of roastings
and meltings a concentrated matter is obtained which is
afterwards treated in the wet way to obtain nickel oxide.
The oxide so obtained is mixed with a reducing agent,
such as wheat flour, and made into a stiff paste, which is
divided into small cubes or grains which, when dried, are
placed in crucibles lined with charcoal, a large excess of
the latter being used to fill up the interstices between the
grains. The crucibles are then stacked in large furnaces
and maintained at a high temperature for a considerable
time. The result of this operation is that the oxide of
nickel is reduced, but the heat not being sufficient to
melt the metal the cubes or grains retain their shape and
have a porous texture.

The discovery within the last few years of extensive
beds of nickel ore in New Caledonia, an island of the
South Pacific, belonging to France, has occasioned an

extensive development in the production of nickel. Some
three or four years ago large quantities of these ores were
brought to Europe, and, as a consequence, the price of
nickel fell considerably, the demand not keeping pace
with the great increase in the supply. From being
worth 10s. to 14s. per lb. it fell, until last year it could
be bought for 2s. 6d. The importation of the ore, how¬
ever, suddenly ceased. I have not been able to hear of
any having come to this country during the present year,
and have been informed that there is no prospect of any
more being being brought from New Caledonia. That
the importation should cease until prices improved would
be only in accordance with the law of supply and demand,
but it appears that the mines in New Caledonia have
passed into the hands of one firm in France, “ The
Gamier Company,” who have established works at the
mines, where the nickel is concentrated and a regulus
produced containing about 75 per cent, nickel, 23 per
cent, iron and 2 per cent, silica. In this condition it is
brought to their works at Septemes, near Marseilles,
where the metal is refined. This being the case I
presume that “ The Gamier Company,” will have a
monopoly of this kind of ore until it can be obtained
from some other source.

The New Caledonian ore differs from those first men¬
tioned in that it contains no arsenic or sulphur, and
the quantity of cobalt is so minute that it may be disre¬
garded. In it the metal exists as a hydrosilicate com¬
bined with magnesium. This forms the green portions of
the specimens. Iron in both the ferrous and the ferric
state is intermixed with the green salt of nickel in con¬
siderable proportion, but only exists in minute quantity
in combination with it. When the ore is pulverized and
boiled with HC1, the nickel, magnesium and iron dissolve
completely and a residue remains of silica and of a
minute quantity of a black substance which, when fused
with sodium carbonate and nitrate, imparts to its solution
in water a yellow coloration, indicating chromium. This
facility of decomposition by acids and its freedom from
cobalt, arsenic and sulphur, and from the metals precipi¬
tated by H2S, renders the preparation of pure nickel
from this ore a much simpler operation than from the
others. Several processes for the extraction of the metal
have been suggested, and patents for most of them taken
out, and upon these I will make a few remarks.

M. Gamier, who discovered and first described the
ores, operates in the dry way and produces a carbide of
nickel by fusing with carbon and suitable fluxes ; the car¬
bide being afterwards purified by another operation. This
process is or was carried on, I believe, by “ The Gamier
Company,” already referred to. By the wet way the
usual method is to act upon the powdered ore by means
of HC1. For this purpose it is necessary that the ppwder
should be impalpable, otherwise a portion of the silicate
of nickel will not be acted upon and loss will occur. I
have found it impracticable to obtain it sufficiently fine,
except by lixiviation with water. When the solution has
been effected, a portion of the iron being in the ferrous
state requires to be peroxidized, and for this purpose
nitrate of soda, chloride of lime, or a stream of chlorine
gas has been used. With the two former the operation is
easy enough, but with the latter it would be both trouble¬
some and expensive. After the peroxidation of the iron,
chalk or carbonate of barium is added, which neutralizes
the excess of acid and precipitates completely the iron
together with any aluminium which may be present. I
find that the carbonates of the alkaline earths will preci¬
pitate nickel to a certain extent from the solution. Car¬
bonate of barium has the least action in this way and
carbonate of magnesium the greatest. Any excess above
what is necessary to separate the iron must therefore be
avoided as much as possible. The solution will then
consist of chloride of nickel, chloride of magnesium, and
the small quantity of chlorides of calcium, sodium, or
barium which have been added. The great difficulty
now is the separation of the oxide of nickel from the

520

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 23, 1SS0.

magnesium, owing to the affinity which the latter appears
to have for the former. One method is to treat the
mixture with solution of chloride of lime, which precipi¬
tates the nickel as black sesquioxide ; but as any excess of
chlorine partially redissolves the nickel another operation
is necessary to recover this, which is done by lime water.
It is, however, impossible to prevent some magnesia from
going down, and a practical difficulty appears to me to
exist in the process of separating and washing the preci¬
pitate. The solution and washings containing chlorine
would rapidly act upon any ironwork in the pipes,
pumps, or filters. Another process is to add milk of
magnesia in calculated proportion. The reaction which
takes place is NiCk-f MgO =NiO + MgCk. This re¬
action, howrever, is never complete, the precipitate con¬
tains a large percentage of magnesia., while a considerable
quantity of nickel remains in solution. The principal
object of the author of this process appears to be to
recover the HC1 from the chloride of magnesium ob¬
tained, by evaporating it to dryness and treating it with
superheated steam; a game which, in this country, at
any rate, would not be worth the candle.

By another method the nickel is precipitated by sodium
carbonate in insufficient quantity to complete the precipi¬
tation; the liquor is then drawn off and a little more
sodium carbonate added to separate the whole of the
nickel, and this last precipitate, mixed largely with mag¬
nesium carbonate, is used in the first part of the process
to neutralize excess of acid. I have not tried the experi¬
ment, but I think it would be impossible thus to obtain
the nickel carbonate without a large percentage of the
magnesium salt.

Still another method of treating the HC1 solution is to
evaporate it to dryness and then ignite in earthenware
retorts, when the chlorides of nickel and iron are sublimed.
This appears to me to be a very troublesome and expen¬
sive process.

Sulphuric acid has been proposed for decomposing the
ore instead of HC1. Mr. Allen, of Sheffield, has de¬
scribed a method by which he produces nickel sulphide
and large quantities of magnesium sulphate, the latter to
the extent of 150 lbs., from 100 lbs. of an average sample
of ore. The very low price of this salt, however, detracted
from the commercial value of the process. It has also
been proposed to separate the magnesia by sodium phos¬
phate. As, however, this reagent precipitates nickel as
well as magnesium, I do not understand how the sepa¬
ration would be effected unless the solution were made
ammoniacal, and the expense of doing so puts it cut of
the question.

Oxalic acid has also been used to separate nickel from
other metals, oxalate of nickel being insoluble in dilute
aeids, while the oxalates of iron and magnesium are
soluble. I find, however, that the precipitated nickel
salt carries down with it traces of both these metals,
which are not removed even by boiling with dilute HC1,
and I have not been able to prepare pure salts of nickel
in this way.

By the process which I have worked out and am now
carrying on, I obtain nickel oxide with only a very
small percentage of magnesia, and also a solution of
magnesium chloride almost pure and quite free from
nickel, and this when evaporated down yields an article
which has a commercial value amongst cotton sizers,
lhe process not being protected by letters patent, you
will excuse me for not giving further particulars respect¬
ing it.

The presence of a small quantity of magnesia in the
oxide of nickel prevents the making of a presentable¬
looking product by the usual methods for making cube
and grain nickel, but if the metal is actually melted it
does no harm, and, in fact, forms a slag with and removes
any trace of sulphur which may be present and which
would be hurtful to the quality of the metal.

The melting-point of pure nickel is very high, and it is
only by the greatest care and the strictest attention in

maintaining the high temperature that it can be success¬
fully effected. I have melted several pounds on one or
two occasions in a fire-brick furnace fed with hard
foundry coke and the blast produced by a fan, but it
required about five hours’ continuous firing, and on some
other occasions when I attempted it, the crucible at the
end of the operation was not to be found, it having fused
and run amongst the ashes like a slag. With the gas
furnaces of Mr. Fletcher, of Warrington, however, the
thing can be done in a short space of time. If properly
managed a given quantity, say, four or five pounds, of
metallic nickel can be perfectly fused in one of his
medium-sized furnaces in twenty-five minutes, com¬
mencing with the furnace cold. Upon one occasion only
have I done it in less time than this by a modification in
the arrangement of the blow-pipe, but have been un¬
successful in all attempts to repeat the experiment. The
chief difficulty I have experienced in the application of
Fletcher’s furnace is in reducing the oxide of nickel to
the metal. With small quantities it is easy, but when
crucibles above a certain size are used the crucible gives
way before the centre of the mass of oxide of nickel is
reduced. The most refractory pots I have been able to
obtain will not stand the heat a sufficient length of time.
Plumbago crucibles do not melt or soften, but the plum¬
bago burns away. I am endeavouring to overcome the
difficulty by arranging the furnace so that it will take a
number of small crucibles in the place of one large
one.

Ordinary pure nickel is somewhat brittle. Of late
much attention has been directed to render it malleable,
and this appears to have been effected by several persons.
Mr. Fleitmann adds a small percentage of magnesium,
the effect of which, if I understand it correctly, is not to
produce an allojr, but to exclude certain gases which are
absorbed by the metal in cooling and which render it
brittle. M Gamier adds three-tenths per cent, of phos¬
phorus, which probably acts in the same way as the
magnesium. I have also a specimen of rolled nickel
plate, made by Messrs. H. Wiggin and Sons, of Bir¬
mingham, but am not acquainted with the method by
which it is produced. The advantages of a malleable
nickel would appear to be confined chiefly to the manu¬
facture of that class of articles in which the alloys of
nickel with copper and zinc would be injurious, as, for
instance, in surgical instruments and the anodes used in
nickel plating. The alloys used for spoons and other
culinary and domestic articles seem to leave little to be
desired on the score of whiteness, and they are necessarily
much cheaper.

The salts of nickel are made by dissolving the metal or
oxide in nitric or sulphuric acids for the nitrate or sul¬
phate, or using oxide and other acids for other salts.
The double sulphate of nickel and ammonium is the only
one for which there is any considerable demand. It is
used in making the baths for nickel plating, and is
formed by mixing the sulphate with the calculated pro¬
portion of ammonium sulphate and crystallizing in the
usual way.

Mr. Allen, of Sheffield, pointed out some time ago that
the double sulphate was almost insoluble in strong solution
of sulphate of ammonium, and a patent was taken out by
Mr. Unwin, of Birmingham, for the preparation of the
sajlt in this way. A concentrated solution of sulphate of
ammonium is directed to be poured in large excess into a
concentrated solution of sulphate of nickel. A crystalline
precipitate of the double salt separates, which can be
collected, washed and recrystallized. I find, although
the patentee professes to obtain it pure by this means,
that ferrous and magnesic sulphates are not separated.
I am at present making this salt direct from the New
Caledonian ore by a process which yields a practically
pure product.

Nickel plating, although known for many years, has
only recently received much attention. In Muspratt’s
‘Chemistry as applied to the Arts and Manufactures,’

December 25, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

521

published in 1860, the following reference is made to it:

“ Mr. Gore deposited nickel in the state of reguline white
metal from a solution of the double chloride of nickel and
ammonia by making a lump of metallic nickel the anode
in a strong aqueous solution of hydrochlorate of ammonia
— sal ammoniac — and passing a strong current of elec¬
tricity through it for several hours, until the liquid
acquired a pale greenish-blue colour; also by treating a
solution of 1 part of arseniate of potash and 5 parts water
in a similar manner.

“ Nickel is likewise deposited from a solution formed by
dissolving the pure metal in nitric acid, then precipitating
it either by a solution of caustic potassa, carbonate of
potassa, or cyanide of potassium ; washing the precipitate,
and dissolving it in a solution of potassium [ammonia is
evidently meant], and operating by means of a battery
and an anode of pure nickel.”

The salt best adapted to the purpose, and the one now
universally employed, is the double sulphate of nickel and
ammonium, as before mentioned. The bath should be
kept neutral or slightly alkaline and of a sp. gr. of
7° Twadd. By the use of this it is very easy to obtain
upon copper or brass a white deposit capable of yielding
a very brilliant polish with almost any kind of battery.
In practical work, however, and especially in plating
articles of iron and steel, considerable care and skill are
required, and sometimes even the most experienced are
troubled with irregularity of deposit and with the cracking
and peeling off of the layer of nickel. To overcome this
difficulty, in some cases a coating of copper is first given
to iron and steel articles and they are afterwards plated
with nickel.

Unless the battery power is properly adjusted to the
rate of depositing the nickel may be separated from the
solution more rapidly than its place is supplied from the
anode, and the bath then becomes too weak and acid.
Quite a number of receipts have been suggested or
patented for making the baths, but I believe none have
superseded the simple solution of ammonio-sulphate.
Borax is directed to be added to the bath by one patentee.
In other cases organic salts of nickel are recommended,
such as the tartrate, citrate, or benzoate. I have been
informed by a practical plater that the ammonio- chloride
possesses the same advantages as the ammonio-sulphate,
and I presume that the latter is used on account of its
being more easily procurable. The Americans appear to
have taken the lead in this branch of industry, and in the
United States nickel plating is much more extensively
employed than it is with us. The art is, however, de¬
veloping very fast and will no doubt very soon be applied
in every case where it can be of service. The deposit of
nickel is almost as white as silver, but not quite, as
may be easily seen by a comparison of the two, but unless
placed in juxtaposition an inexperienced eye might find
it difficult to distinguish one from the other. The metal
is also very hard and not easily scratched, and is not
blackened by hydrosulphuric acid; add to this its cheap¬
ness, and its superiority to silver for most purposes
is very evident.

Although atmospheric influences do not act very
rapidly upon it, yet they do so to an appreciable extent,
especially if damp; and unless kept polished articles
thus coated become tarnished in time. The amount
of labour for this, however, is very small to what is
required in the case of either brass or silver. In
cleaning it care must be taken to use a soft polishing
material, such as whiting or rouge, and not a harsh sharp
one like emery, otherwise the coat of nickel may easily
be stripped off.

A lengthy discussion followed in which the President,
Messrs. A. Abraham, Conroy, Davies, Hughes, Mason,
Watt and Williams joined.

Mr. Garside fully replied to the points raised in the
discussion, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the
author.

NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The third monthly meeting of the Nottingham and
Notts Chemists’ Association was held at the rooms of the
Association, Britannia Chambers, on Tuesday Evening
December 14, the President (Mr. Eitzhugh) occupying
the chair.

There was a good attendance, and during the evening
one new member and three new associates were ad¬
mitted.

Mr. F. H. Spenser gave an interesting lecture on
“ Heat.” He commenced by showing the terms heat and
cold were merely different degrees of the same influence,
and gave a brief sketch of the two theories advanced to
explain the phenomena of heat, showing how the material
theory failed and why the undulatory or dynamical theory
was generally accepted by modern scientific men. Accord¬
ing to this theory, heat was not a material substance, but
a condition of matter ; what to our sensation is heat, in the
object itself is nothing but motion. He then proceeded
to treat of the various sources of heat, physical,
mechanical, and chemical. The effect of heat on matter
was illustrated by numerous familiar examples, . and
practical applications were pointed out and explained.
Exceptions to the general rule were next mentioned. The
expansion of water on freezing was shown, and the effect it
had upon nature referred to. Ice being lighter than water
floats upon the surface, and the life contained in our rivers,
lakes, and seas is thus preserved to our use. The boiling
point of water and its dependence upon the pressure of the
atmosphere were next considered. Papin’s digester was
described, showing that water, by increasing the pressure,
could be heated beyond 100° C. It was also shown how
by decreasing the pressure, on the contrary, water boils
at a much lower temperature. In a good vacuum water
boils at 20° C. That water boils by “convection ’’ not
“ conduction ” was proved, and bodies were divided into
good and bad conductors of heat, according to the speed
at which heat was propagated along the molecules of
the substance. The action of Davy’s safety lamp was
explained. The lecturer closed with a few practical
remarks upon the use and nature of clothing in summer
and winter.

The lecture, which was listened to with great attention,
was illustrated by experiments. A vote of thanks was
accorded Mr. Spenser at its close, which was suitably
acknowledged, the lecturer urging the young men present
not to neglect the study of scientfic subjects.

LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A lecture was delivered before the members and asso¬
ciates of the Association, on Wednesday evening, Decem¬
ber 15, in the Lecture Theatre of the Yorkshire College
(kindly lent for the occasion), Mr. Councillor Stead in
the chair, by Louis Siebold, Esq., of Manchester, on the
“ Training of Modern Pharmacists.”

The lecturer said the Pharmacy Act had now been in
operation for twelve year's and it was but natural that
thoughtful men should begin to discuss the question
whether, and to what extent, the higher education of
pharmacists aimed at by the promoters of that Act had
become a reality. He was afraid very little true progress
had as yet been made in this direction. It was well
known that out of the hundreds that, during the last
twelve years, had passed their examinations very few
ever participated in the work of original research or be¬
trayed in any other way any signs of superior attainments
they were generally supposed to have acquired. There were
few callings the practice of which afforded better oppor¬
tunities than pharmacy did for new and useful observa¬
tions, and there were no societies more eager to receive
accounts of such observations than the Pharmaceutical
Society and the British Pharmaceutical Conference, yet
these societies appealed almost in vain to the younger
members of the profession for contributions to their

522

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. December 25, 1880.

literary records. There [were notable exceptions, it was
true, and some very excellent work had been done now
and then by young pharmacists of the present period, but
the number of these young and promising investigators
was exceedingly small as compared with the large numbers
who since 1868 has passed the pharmaceutical examina¬
tions. It was of equally rare occurrence that these men
added any scientific employment, such as commercial and
other analyses, to their ordinary duties as an additional
source of income ; and this appeared the more surprising
in view of the fact that a portion of what was hitherto
considered the legitimate business of the pharmacist was
fast drifting away from him through competition from
unexpected quarters. The question arose whether or not
those who in recent years had joined the ranks of phar¬
maceutical chemists and chemists and druggists really
possessed the scientific qualifications with which they
were credited. He (the lecturer) believed that in the
great majority of cases they did not, and his opinion on
this point was the result of much thought, personal ob¬
servation and diligent inquiry. He was well acquainted
with many who had passed the Minor and Major ex¬
aminations, but among them he knew but very few who
could be trusted to perform an ordinary qualitative
analysis or could make any useful practical application of
the knowledge they had gained, and who would be able
to pass the same examination again twelve months after
their previous success without another course of prepara¬
tion. The experience of others who had likewise given
this subject much attention was the same as his own, and
confirmed his impression that a very large proportion of
those who annually satisfied the boards of examiners did
not really possess the knowledge they appeared to possess.

The fact that these men passed their examinations
merely proved that on a given day they were able to
answer a large number of questions put to them, but it
did not afford satisfactory evidence that their answers
sprang from a store of sound and well assimilated
knowledge such as would result from a protracted and
conscientious course of study. They knew beforehand
the kind of questions likely to be asked and had been
specially trained in the manner of answering these
questions by a process popularly known as “cramming,”
which bore the same relation to real teaching as
adulterated food did to the genuine article. This process
did not create reflecting pupils ; it did not call forth any
love of study; it did not develop habits of observation or
any desire for further improvement ; it did not qualify
the student for the battle of life, as it failed to impart
any permanent knowledge available to him in his future
calling. It was a dull, toilsome process, burdening him
with crowds of facts, but barren facts without coherence
or meaning, to be remembered only for the day of
examination and to be gladly forgotten as soon as
possible afterwards. Yet this was the kind of training
which the great majority of students of phai’macy seemed to
prefer to any other. It was the process to which most of
them trusted after wasting years of precious time
without any serious attempt to acquire the scientific-
knowledge required of them. What was the remedy
for this unsatisfactory state of things? An enforced
attendance at some recognized school had been suggested
as such, and he felt bound to say that he knew of no
other plan more likely to be successful. How much
more perfect would be the examiner’s estimate of the
candidate’s knowledge if he were provided with satis¬
factory evidence that the latter had passed through a
sound and systematic course of study, during which he
had not only been a regular attendant at the lectures and
at the laboratory, but had also satisfied his teachers in
periodical examinations. Such evidence, coming from
the hands of able and conscientious teachers, could not
fail to prove a most valuable aid to the examiners in
forming a correct judgment of the candidate’s qualifica¬
tions. Such a plan would also prove a boon to the
honest and hardworking student, in securing to him a

fuller recognition of his labours. The indifferent
student, on the other hand, who neglected his oppor¬
tunities and trusted to a final cram, would find himself
placed at an enormous disadvantage. He (the lecturer)
had no doubt that some such change would ultimately
be carried into effect, and he most sincerely wished
success to those who had first suggested it and had
worked hard towards its realization. There appeared
to him still another plan calculated to check the
pernicious system of cramming, viz., a complete change
in the system of examinations. He was far from wishing
for any change in the composition of the present boards ;
he had the pleasure of personally knowing many of the
examiners and entertained a high opinion of their ability,
conscientious zeal, and impartiality. Important improve¬
ments, however, might be made in the present system of
examination. He explained to the meeting his views on
the changes he considered desirable, and stated that
ere long he intended to deal with the subject at greater
length in another place. The concluding portion of
Mr. Siebold’s lecture was devoted to a general sketch
of a pharmacist’s training, such as appeared to him best
calculated to produce good results. He laid particular
stress on the importance of an early beginning with
scientific studies ; the apprentice’s technical education
generally, occupied and properly occupied, most of his
time; but some time, even if but one hour, should be set
apart for reading every day. Provided with the standard
works on pharmaceutical chemistry, materia medica,
botany, and pharmacy, an hour’s diligent reading daily
would convey to the young student’s mind a large
amount of valuable information during his term of
apprenticeship.

Studious habits being once acquired were not likely to
be relinquished, but would be persevered with after the
expiration of this term. The experiments described in
the books, and especially the chemical tests, should as far
as possible be practically performed, as it was impossible
to acquire even the rudiments of analysis by reading only.
If the youth was fortunate enough to live in a town
where suitable lectures were provided, he ought to avail
himself of such opportunities at some period during his
apprenticeship or as soon after as circumstances per¬
mitted.

The advantages to be derived from such courses of
instruction would be vastly greater to those who had
already made good use of their books, than to those who
had made no previous start with their studies ; and at no
time would these advantages be more keenly perceived
than during the period which the student, after the com¬
pletion of his technical education, should spend in a well
appointed school of pharmacy, with the object of fitting
himself for the higher duties of his calling. He appealed
to employers, in particular, to impress these facts firmly
on the minds of those committed to their charge, to
encourage them in an early beginning of their studies,
and to seize every opportunity of reminding them that it
was only by a slow step-by-step process that true and
lasting knowledge could be gained.

CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ TRADE ASSO¬
CIATION OE GREAT BRITAIN.

A meeting of the Law and Parliamentary Committee
of this Association was held at the office of the Associa¬
tion, 23, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
on December 17, 1880, at 1 p.m., for the purpose of
considering the Draft Bill to amend the Pharmacy Act,
prepared under the instructions of the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

Mr. Thomas Barclay (Birmingham), President, in the
chair.

Present : — Messrs. Andrews (London), Churchill (Birm¬
ingham), Cross (Shrewsbury), Hampson (London), Stead
(Leeds), Symes (Liverpool), Williams (Manchester), and
the Solicitor of the Association.

December 25, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

523

The President said, that by the courtesy of the Presi¬
dent of the Pharmaceutical Society, Mr. Greenish, they
were in possession of a copy of the intended Bill, and he
was quite sure that the action of Mr. Greenish in furnish¬
ing them with the Bill would commend itself to the
entire body of chemists and druggists throughout the
country, who would see the extreme desirability of
united action in the present crisis of the trade.

The Committee then carefully considered each clause
of the Bill, and after much discussion, in which all the
members present took part, the principles of the Bill
were with a few exceptions approved.

It was then unanimously resolved ‘‘That the Draft
Bill as amended be forwarded to the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society for consideration at its next
meeting.”

It was further resolved “That the Sub-Committee
appointed by the Law and Parliamentary Committee to
consider urgent cases, be requested to watch the progress
of the Bill and take such action as it may consider
necessary.”

jraceetrings of Sacitfific Sbatuim.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

A meeting of the Executive Committee was held at
17, Bloomsbury Square, on Wednesday, December 15,
1880, Mr. H. B. Brady, F.R.S., in the chair. Mr. G. F.
Schacht, Professor Attfield, F.R.S., Messrs. F. B. Benger,
C. Ekin, T. B. Groves, S. Plowman, W. Southall, C.
Umney, M. Carteighe and Dr. Tilden, F.R.S., were also
present. Mr. R. Reynolds, the President, and Mr.
Mason sent letters regretting their inability to attend.

The report of the Year-Book Committee, suggesting
some modifications in the preparation and publication of
the annual volume, and the best way of compiling a general
index to all the year-books and volumes of transactions,
was received and adopted.

A letter was read from the Assistant Secretary, Dr.
Senier, tendering his resignation, which was accepted.
Professor Attfield, Mr. C. Ekin, and the Honorary
Secretaries were appointed a Sub-Committee to take the
necessary steps for obtaining the services of a successor,
and report to the Executive Committee at its next
meeting.

It was resolved that the salary offered should be £100
per annum.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday*
December 16, Professor H. E. Roscoe, President, in the
chair.

The following certificates were read for the first time : —
B. Akroyd, H. Baker, M. M. Bird, H. P. Cooper, H. W.
Fenner, T. S. Judson.

The President then called on Mr. Rufile to read a
paper —

On the Estimation of Nitrogen by Combustion , including
the Nitro- Compounds. — For strictly correct chemical pur¬
poses the nitrogen in a substance is estimated by Dumas’
method. In analytical practice the process usually em¬
ployed is the well-known soda lime method of Will and
Yarrentrapp. It has long been known that with some
compounds containing nitrogen this process gives very
imperfect results. Thus sodium nitrate when burnt with
soda lime gives an acid instead of an alkaline distillate.
It has been proposed to add various substances to the
soda lime to obtain better results. The author has tried
the effect of numerous devices of this nature. Mixing
with sugar, a current of hydrogen, of olefiant gas, of
marsh gas, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, sodium
formate, sodium acetate, hydrogen sulphide, ferrous sul¬

phate, sodium sulphide, sodium sulphite, sodium hypo¬
sulphite, potassium hyposulphite, barium hyposulphite,
barium hydrate ; instead of lime, mixtures of caustic soda
with various reducing substances, sulphur, iron, charcoal,
tin, zinc, antimonious sulphide, antimony, arsenic,
arsenious acid, sodium hypophosphite. All, however,
yielded results much too low, or were inconvenient. A
mixture of sodium hyposulphite and sodium hydrate
yielded theoretical results; but had the great objection
that it could not be obtained as a powder, only as a wet
mass. After many trials it was found that a mixture
containing 2 molecules of sodium hydrate, 1 molecule of
pure lime (from marble), 1 molecule of sodium hypo¬
sulphite, the first two being slaked together, dried and
finely powdered, gave very satisfactory results with all
varieties of guano, gunpowder, nitrates of soda, potash
and silver, picric acid, sodium nitroprusside, East Indian
linseed, milk residues, dried flesh, etc. The author use3
2 inch lap welded steam piping, bored out to -§ths inch, in
22 inch lengths for combustion tubing. The substance
is mixed with 1^ gram of a mixture of equal parts of
sulphur and wood charcoal. Thirteen grams of the above
soda lime mixture and 21 grams of powdered hyposulphite
of soda are weighed off, and mixed. Five grams of this
mixture are placed at the back of the combustion tube ;
then the mixture containing the substance, then the rest
of soda and hyposulphite, finally 18 grams of ordinary
soda lime. The combustion is commenced 4 inches from
the front end, and continued gradually until the evolution
of gas ceases ; it is maintained at a red heat for ten
minutes. The average time of a combustion is forty-five
minutes. As results may be quoted the following : —

Theory. Found.

Potassium Nitrate . 13 86 13T6.

Silver Nitrate . . 8*23 8‘03.

Sodium Nitrate . 16‘47 1 6 ’32, mean of five analyses.

Picric Acid . . . 18*34 17*91, „ six „

In answer to Mr. Perkin, the author stated that he
had not used the method with any organic nitro-compound
other than picric acid. It did not succeed with aniline.

Mr. Warington said we must not too hastily conclude
that the soda lime process does really fail. There were
many eminent chemists who contended that when fairly
conducted it gave good results. If the temperature was
too high the ammonia formed was decomposed again.
Errors also crept in when air was aspirated through the
tube when hot; care should also be taken to have a good
layer of soda lime in front of the mixture. He did not
think that it was quite fair to conclude that the results
obtained by the soda lime process must be wrong, because
those by Dumas’ method were higher. The question
was one of very high practical importance in the analysis
of manures.

Dr. Voelcker testified to the value of the author’s
process when mixtures of ammonia salts and nitrates had
to be dealt with. He could strongly recommend it. The
points to be attended to in the soda lime process were
plenty of soda lime and complete combustion, without
too high a temperature.

Mr. Ruffle said that he had carefully attended to the
precautions just mentioned in the combustions he had
made with soda lime.

The President then said that Dr. Carnelly had been
good enough to promise to show the experiments con¬
cerning the Effect of Pressure on the Fusing Point, of
which the Fellows present had doubtless heard. The
author did not propose to read a paper, as his results
were published elsewhere, but only to show the experi¬
ments.

Dr. Carnelly then explained the device which he had
adopted in order to secure and maintain a vacuum in the
case of ice ; for the success of the experiment the tension
must be below 5 millimetres. The apparatus consisted
of a wide glass tube, §" in diameter and about 5 to 6
feet high ; this is placed in a vertical position and is
connected at its upper end with a strong glass flask

524

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 25, 18S0

placed at right angles and surrounded with a freezing
mixture. The apparatus having been inverted and filled
with mercury, the lower end of the tube is closed with
the thumb and placed under the surface of a layer of
mercury about 10 inches deep. On withdrawing the
thumb the mercury sinks in the tube to the barometric
height and a large Torricellian vacuum is obtained, which
is surrounded as far as the flask is concerned with a
freezing mixture. A small quantity of boiled water is
now introduced, which rises to the top of the mercurial
column and surrounds the bulb of a thermometer sus¬
pended inside the tube. The water is then frozen, and
the depth of the layer of mercury in which the tube
stands reduced to about 3 inches; in consequence, the
mercury in the tube sinks and leaves a detached column
of ice with the thermometer bulb in its centre. This
column acts as a cork, shutting off the large vacuous
space above from the small vacuum below. By carefully
heating the tube the ice is melted round the circum¬
ference of the plug and a fine annular opening is made
between the ice and the inside of the glass tube; this
restores the communication between the upper and lower
portion of the vacuum. As soon as this is effected, any
aqueous vapour which is formed is at once condensed by
the freezing mixture, and the vacuum is kept intact.
Under these circumstances the author has made the ice
so hot that the thermometer in the centre of the cylinder
stood at 180° C. before the ice melted. In the experi¬
ment shown to the Society the thermometer only rose to
30° C., when the cylinder (which was too large and
therefore too heavy) dropped off the thermometer. To
prove that the ice was really hot, the author has con¬
trived and carried out some experiments in which the
cylinder of hot ice was dropped into a small calorimeter
filled with water ; the temperature rose when the ice
was introduced, whereas if ordinary ice, it would of
course have been lowered. The author then showed two
experiments with camphor and mercuric chloride, which
were perfectly successful. The camphor was contained
in a glass tube closed at one end and connected at the
other with a Sprengel pump. On heating the tube the
camphor melted, but on starting the Sprengel pump the
camphor, as the pressure decreased, solidified, though
the heating was continuous. The mercuric chloride was
similarly raised many degrees above its ordinary melting-
point, when kept under diminished pressure, without
liquefying, but on allowing the atmospheric pressure to
enter, by cutting the tube, the solid mass immediately
melted and began to boil.

Professor McLeod suggested that the cylinder of ice
might be used as its own calorimeter ; on admitting the
atmospheric pressure, if the ice were at 180° C., it should
liquefy into water at about 100°.

Professor Ayrton pointed out that although these
results seemed at first sight at variance with the experi¬
ments of Sir William Thomson and the well known
calculations of James Thomson, according to which an
increase of pressure lowers the melting-point, there was
really no direct opposition between them, because the
constants on which Carnot and James Thomson based
their calculations, were only constants at temperatures at
and below 32°, and we had no evidence until these
experiments of Dr. Carnelly as to the value of these
constants at higher temperatures. Under ordinary
conditions an increase of pressure produces a slight
diminution of the melting-point, yet it was perfectly
in accord with the principles of thermodynamics to
suppose that at temperatures above 32° a slight diminu¬
tion of pressure might enormously raise the melting-
point.

Mr. F. Brown said that he did not quite understand
how removing the pressure from the outside of the ice
would affect the ice in the interior, and it was difficult to
see why the ice in the interior should not liquefy if
raised to 180°, even if the diminution of pressure pre¬
vented the liquefaction of the surface layer.

A vote of thanks to Dr. Carnelly, from a crowded
meeting wras then passed by acclamation.

Dr. Armstrong then read a joint paper : —

On some Naphthalene Derivatives. By N. C. Graham
and himself. It wras a continuation of the authors’
former paper, and dealt especially with experiments they
have made to establish the law of substitution, for ft
napthol. In their previous communication they have
shown that Merz and Ebert are correct in regarding the
naphthol-sulphonate produced Iby fusing naphthalene-/3-
disulphonate with potassium hydroxide as identical with
that obtained from /3-naphthol, and have pointed out
that in this acid the radicles are probably in the relative
positions 2 : 3 The action of bromine on the potassium
salt of this acid is now described. The product of
the action of a single molecular proportion is a
highly characteristic bromo /3-naphtholsulphonate,
C10H5Br(OH) (S03K), which crystallizes in colourless
plates, sparingly soluble in cold water. If two molecular
proportions of bromine are employed, a dibromosulphonate
C10H4Br2(OH)(SO3K) is formed, which is also colourless,
but more soluble and less characteristic in appearance
than the monobromo salt. By the action of three or
four molecular proportions of bromine, however, coloured
salts containing less bromine than those resulting from
the employment of a less amount of the halogen are pro¬
duced. The product of the action of 3Br2 is probably a
mixture of the products of the action of 2Br2 and 4Br2.
The latter crystallizes in lustrous deep orange plates,
moderately soluble in water, forming a deep red coloured
solution. Potassium and bromine determinations a^ree
with the formula C6H4(0)2(0Br)(S03K), which is that
of a potassium bromoxyl-a-naphthaquinonesulphonate.
Bromine apparently has no action on this salt. Having
obtained a quantity of what they presumed to be the
dihydroxynaphthalene of Ebert and Merz, the authors
converted it into a sulpho-acid by treatment with twice
its weight of bromine. The product, however, was
entirely different from that recently described by Griess,
being incapable of forming colours with diazo compounds ;
on treatment with bromine, nitric acid, etc., it yields a
number of highly characteristic bromonitro and bromo
derivatives. The authors were thus led to doubt whether
Ebert and Merz are correct in stating that only one of
the two naphthalene disulphonates is convertible into a
dihydroxynaphthalene.

The Society then adjourned to January 20, when a
paper “ On some Hydrocarbons present in Resin Spirit,”
by H. E. Armstrong, will be read.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting of the above Association, held Dec. 8,
Mr. F. W. Collinson, Vice-President, in the chair, a
paper was read by Mr. F. W. Branson, on “The Geology
of London District.”

As an introduction to the subject proper, facts were
given to prove the once molten condition of the globe,
during the cooling of which the present crust was formed,
which is generally allowed to be less than forty miles in
thickness.

The chief physical forces which have caused land
elevations and depressions were next noticed, as the
formation of parallel mountain chains, due to lateral
pressure, caused by contraction of the earth’s crust. The
ejection of lava might be produced by pressure of the
earth’s crust on the fused contents. This was shown by
the effect caused on a mass of molten lead in a hot ingot
mould, the crust of which, as soon as formed, was suddenly
cooled by a stream of cold water, causing ejection of yet
fluid contents through crater-like orifices.

Reference was also made to views held by Italian
physicists respecting the attraction of sun and moon on
the molten contents of the earth, in the causation of
periodic volcanic eruptions.

Before passing to the consideration of deposits in the
London basin, the more important rock systems were

ember 25, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

525

consecutively noticed and the more striking physical
conditions of the periods pointed out, e.g., the first
differentiation of ocean anl continent indicated during
the early Cambrian period, also the formation of tem¬
perate, tropical and glacial climates from previously
isothermal conditions, and also the strata in which the
more important types of animal and vegetable life first
appeared, the whole series showing a progressive develop¬
ment to more highly organized genera, air-breathing
vertebrate animals and dicotyledonous plants finally ap¬
pearing.

The deposits in the London basin' were next detailed,
attention being called to the similar character of the
Hampshire, Paris and Vienna basins.

The area ind thickness of the London clay was pointed
out, this formation being thinly capped with Bagshot
sand at Hampstead, Highgate and Harrow, the inter¬
vening districts having been iu the past denuded of
Bagshot sand and other deposits, which at that time
extended over a large area. •

The lowest member of the series, Thanet sand, chiefly
met with on the surface at the mouth of the Thames,
occurs as an inlier at Chislehurst.

A recent discovery at Northampton, of considerable
geological importance, was then described, e.g., the oc¬
currence of igneous rocks and a good water supply at
800 feet depth, immediately below the Liassic forma¬
tions. Fossils were exhibited from cores brought up
from various depths. The Artesian borings of the
London district were here noticed, and some remarks
made on the water-bearing capacity of the rocks under¬
lying London.

Lastly, reference was made to the varying geological
condition existing during the Tertiary Period, and also
to the more interesting fossil remains that have been
found in the Thames Valley, Sus scrofa being found
conjointly with several species of elephants, etc., and a
little later evidences of human agency being discovered
in the gravels by the finding of flint implements.

The paper was illustrated by a good series of diagrams
and fossils, kindly lent for the occasion by Professor
Tennant.

After a discussion, in which Messrs. Collinson, Wyles,
Stuart, Parkinson, Robinson, Miller, Wallis, McKnight
and others took part, a vote of thanks was passed to the
author.

Mr. Branson then called the attention of the meeting
to the variation in strength of solution of hypophosphorous
acid used in pharmacy, the usual strength being 10 per
cent.; some pharmacists, however, supply a stronger
acid. The presence of calcium in larger quantities than
is desirable was shown to exist in the samples exhibited
by the addition of ammonium oxalate and ammonium
hydrate. The occurrence of calcium was explained by
the solubility of calcium oxalate in hypophosphorous acid,
shown by precipitation, when the acid is neutralized with
ammonium hydrate, and also by the incomplete decom¬
position of the calcium salt by oxalic acid, when the
process advised in Parrish’s ‘ Pharmacy ’ is followed. A
very much purer acid may be obtained by decomposing
pure barium hypophosphite with dilute H2S04; but if
the commercial salt containing calcium be used, the
resulting solution contains calcium sulphate. Pure barium
hypophosphite may be obtained by the reaction of excess
of pure recrystallized barium hydrate on ammonium
hypophosphite, and boiling off the ammonium hydrate,,
and separating by filtration, a little phosphate which
forms when the solution is boiled finally decomposing
with the slightest possible excess of H2S04. Ammonium
hypophosphite solution can easily be obtained by the
reaction of ammonium oxalate with calcium hypophos¬
phite in the presence of slight excess of ammonia.

The Chairman announced that the lectures given by
the St. John Ambulance Society would commence on
Tuesday, January 11, at 9 p.m., in the rooms of the
Association. Lecturer, Dr. Casson.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday
December 16, Mr. R. H. Parker, Vice-President, in the
chair.

A paper was read by Mr. C. Walker, on “British
Ferns and their Allies.” — The author commenced with a
description of ferns botanically considered, including the
details of their manner of growth and reproduction. The
principal . British ferns were then described, and the
localities in which they were found mentioned. Mounted
specimens of most of the ferns were exhibited. The use
of ferns in medicine was next treated of as follows : —

“ In medicine ferns, with one or two exceptions, are now
no longer used in this country. Formerly no less than
twenty of our indigenous species were so used. How
may we account for this ? Have our ferns no real medi¬
cinal properties? Let U3 examine the question for a
minute.

“ With extension of commerce, intercourse with other
countries and facilities for carrying on that commerce,
many new drugs came into the market, and soon indi¬
genous plants were thrown into disuse and despised, and
foreign drugs were and are everything, and so compara¬
tively little has been done in investigating the medicinal
properties of our English plants and ferns.

“No doubt the virtues of our plants and ferns were
exaggerated eighty, or in many cases a hundredfold.
No chemical analyses could then be made, and they were
used in a crude state, so that their real properties were
not known. But allowing for all this, I think, from
analyses of one or two that have been made, we are
justified in believing that in our ferns as well as in our
native flowering plants there may be found properties of
value to the physician and to the chemist of the future
which are not now known. Among the known con¬
stituents are tannic acid and gallic acid in abundance in
many ferns, also soda, especially in the brake fern,
formerly used for its alkali in soap-making ; phosphate
of potash, in the spores of Lycopodium clavatum ; and
starch, mucilage and sugar in most ferns; oxalate of
potash and silicic acid in the Equiseta. Lycopodium
Helago is purgative and emetic.

“ I must say a word about N. Filix-mas, the only official
fern. Its properties are well known and are well
described in the ‘ Pharmacographia,’ ‘ Medicinal Plants,’
and other books. We are told it may be distinguished
from N. orcopteris, A. Filix-foeminina , or N. spinulosum,
that might be substitued for it, by the eight bundles of
vascular tissue, and by its containing in the parenchyme
glandular cells secreting a green oily fluid.

“ Formerly, the following ferns were used as —

“ Vulneraries : C. officinarum, Osmunda regalis, S.
vulgaris, B. hunasia, 0. vulgatum.

“ Taenicides or worm destroyers : N. Filix-mas, N.
FUix-focminina, P. vulgaris, P. oquelina.

“ Expectorants : Asplenium trichomanes, A. rutamuraria,
A. Adiantum-nigrum , P. vulgar e.

“ Alteratives in fever : C. crispa, S. vulgare, A. capillus-
veneris.

“ Antilithic : A. capillus -veneris.

“ Diuretic : Equisetum arvense.

“ Purgative : P. vulgare.

“ This list will show the extent to which ferns were
formerly used in medicine.”

After a discussion, a vote of thanks was awarded to
Mr. Walker for his paper.

Mr. Hooper then gave his Report on Botany — -
Notes on Parasites and Saprophytes.

BY D. HOOPER.

In former times the word “parasite” comprehended
every organism that was under any form found associated
with or attached to or growing on some other specific
type; but on the advancement of research plants and

526

T Hi: PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 25, 1880.

animals under this name have been divided and each
section now bears a title more consistent with its
characters. Hence in botany “ parasites ” are those
plants which grow upon others called their “hosts,”
obtain their nourishment from them and eventually bring
on their destruction; whilst “saprophytes,” a term
introduced about ten years ago (from ouirpos, putrid, and
(pvTov, a plant), is defined as “plants which obtain their
support from organic matter in a state of decomposition.”

Of parasites there are two kinds: those of (1) a green
and others of (2) a pale colour. Examples of the former
occur in the Loranthaceae and Scrophulariacete ; of the
latter in the Orobanchacete, Rafflesiaceae and certain
fungi. Among the parasites of the first class, some
interesting points connected with the life-history of the
well known mistletoe ( Vtscum album), have been recently
noticed. If a seed of this plant be made to adhere to a
glass pane of a window, after some hours one or two arm-
lilce shoots (according to the number of embryos in the
seed) will protrude and twine towards the darkness of the
room, avoiding, the external light. When developed these
roots also serve to fix the plant upon its host; and
again, these are the organs by which it absorbs its food,
and although formerly these parasitic roots were termed
“nothus” or pseudo-roots, it would appear from their
aspect and the functions they perform that these suckers
or stem bases are morphologically and physiologically
analogous to roots of ordinary plants. As the mistletoe
grows the roots come in contact with the juices inside
the bark and are prolonged inwards in a direction parallel
to that of the medullary rays. The cellular systems of the
two plants thus come in contact, but no communication
takes place between their vessels. As growth goes on and
annular rings of wood are added to the stock, similar rings
are added to the mistletoe, so that the two woody layers
become coincident. The presence of mistletoe on a tree
is said to induce such an increased flow of sap in the
stem and to prevent its due flow to the branches as to
slowly and surely procure premature decay ; an apple
tree under these circumstances will for a few years grow
faster than others and the yield of the fruit be finer ; but
this fast life is of short duration and the parasite seals its
own fate with that of its supporter. It would seem that
mistletoe absorbs crude sap which only consists of water
with some mineral matter in solution and elaborates it in
its foliage. The composition of the ash of mistletoe, ac¬
cording to the experiments of Grandeau, differs widely
from that of its host. He found more K and H3P04,
but less Ca, and the amount varied according to the tree
upon which it grew. The evidence as to the property
of mistletoe depending upon the tree it preys upon is
conflicting. Viscurn monoicum, a parasite upon a species
of Strychnos, is a deadly poison ; preparations from the
Viscum growing on the oak were used for their astringent
and tonic properties; but Dr. Long, who has lately
recommended it for use, is of opinion that its properties
are not affected by the character of the trees on which
it grows.

The pale coloured parasites, being destitute of chloro¬
phyll, are not able to obtain their carbon by decomposing
atmospheric C02, and must therefore obtain it in an
assimilated condition from plants that have chlorophyll.
For this reason they are found as the dodders on furze,
etc., orobanche on roots, the Rafflesia on a kind of vine,
and fungi as a disease on cereal crops. Among these,
the habit of the broomrape deserves notice. Few plants
produce more seeds than this parasite, and as the seeds
are very minute their spread is accounted for by becoming
mixed with those of the crop when gathered at the time
of seeding. It occurs on different clovers. When a seed
attaches itself to a root of this plant it at once strikes and
then devolops underground a large starchy tuberosity,
and then sends up a stem bearing scales and flowers, the
whole of a dull brownish-yellow colour. The absorbing
surface of the root is so very small compared with the
large amount of work done, that it was thought unneces¬

sary for the union to continue throughout its life, and it
has been found that if the parasite be detached soon after
the stem has shown itself, it will continue to grow in¬
dependently of its foster-parent. The persistent manner
in which these plants grow on the same species, as if they
were capable of the power of natural selection, is ascribed
to their living only on those plants whose juices furnish
them propitious nourishment.

Saprophytes are very similar in many respects to the
pale parasites, the difference being more physiological
than anatomical. The British examples are Neottia nidus-
avis (bird’s nest), Epipogium and Corallorhiza, and some
schizomycetes fungi. Like parasites they are said not
to possess proper roots, they are often leafless; the small
organs attached to the stem, of a papery or succulent
consistence, are called cataphyllary or scale-leaves. Their
seeds are very minute and the embryo is frequently found
to be undeveloped. But, unlike parasites, they obtain
their carbon compounds from matter in a state of erema-
causis or decay, and hence are found in peatland bogs
and leaf soil; this vegetable mould forms humus, and
this again by oxidation becomes a mixture of unknown
and various acids, having an attraction for ammonia ;
soluble salts are thus formed, which are at once absorbed
in various stages of decomposition by the lower extremi¬
ties of the plant. By an indirect method, then, the
decaying foliage gives up materials for growth of the
saprophyte, just as cellulose in the endosperm of the
date, oil in the seed of Ricinus and starch in cereal grains
convey their support to the embryo of the seedling only
after chemical transformation.

In classification, some of these parasites and sapro¬
phytes are closely related to plants which differ so widely
from them in habit, the dodder is allied to the leafy
convolvulus. This disparity is accounted for by the
theory of descent. They are transformed descendants
of leafy ancestors, which did form chlorophyll, but
gradually became accustomed to take up the assimilated
product and food materials from other plants or their
available products of decomposition, and the more they
did this the less needful did it become for the plants
themselves to assimilate, the green leaves became mean¬
ingless and ceased to form chlorophyll, and therefore
became of no service to the new form, and little sub¬
stance as possible was employed in their development,
and they gradually degenerated.

After a short discussion on the paper, the meeting
adjourned.

gispw.-ing Hleworantm.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we woxdd suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information . m

[472]. Perhaps I. G., in his reply last week about aq.
caryoph., is not aware that using magnesia in the pre¬
paration of medicated waters is rather a dangerous
practice ; as a small portion of the magnesia is soluble in
water. When a water (prepared with magnesia) is
dispensed with an alkaloid like strychnia, it is not at all
improbable the strychnia will be thrown out, and the
patient is thus liable to take it all with the last dose.
Precipitated chalk will be found a better and a safer
powder for rubbing the oil with, in making medicated
waters.

Endymion.

December 25, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

527

[473]. From the answer as to the sulphate of iron, given
by Mr. E. B. Kendall, I should say that he either uses
very little of it, or knows nothing about it. It is most
decidedly wrong to use ferr. sulph. exsic. unless specially
ordered, as its chemical composition is very different
to the other two sulphates. But, “ferr. sulph.” and
ferr. sulph. granulata ” are precisely the same, chemi¬
cally, the only difference being the mode of crystalliza¬
tion, and any dispenser accustomed to using ferr. sulph.
will at once say the granulated is by far the preferable
of the two.

Endymion.

[473]. As the B.P., 1867, is the standard by which
the dispenser has to be guided, I think he ought in every
possible case to dispense the prescription as written ac¬
cording to the B.P. nomenclature, unless the intention of
the prescriber is known to be otherwise, or that it bears
evidence of an error committed in writing it. Ferri
sulph. or ferri sulph. granulata should be dispensed, both
being alike in chemical composition.

Coalville. W . R.

[480]. H. K. was, I think, right in communicating with
the prescriber, as the dose is so largely in excess of that
usually attached by the wholesale houses, viz., 1 to 3
grains. If failing in this, I think he would be perfectly
justified in dispensing it, as in severe neuralgic affections
it is frequently prescribed in large doses, at intervals of
two, four or six hours, with great benefit. I have myself
dispensed it in doses varying from 1 to 12 grains.

Coalville. W. R.

[480]. I believe “ Squire ” states the maximum dose
for croton chloral hydrat. to be 5 grains ; this may be
exceeded to a great extent, as from 10 to 15 grains is
frequently given in acute facial neuralgia, and in some
cases the dose has been extended to 3SS-

“374.”

[480]. H. K. was quite justified in communicating
with the prescriber. Croton chloral hydate is frequently
given in 5 and 10 grain doses, and'Liebreich has given as
much as 60 grains.

It is much to be regretted that medical men do not
adopt some method of underlining or initialing, in cases
where the dose intended to be given exceeds the normal
maximum. It would save the pharmacist a deal of trouble
aud prevent delay or suspicion on the part of the
customer.

G. S. Illingworth.

[480]. Under the circumstance (i.e., of doubt), H. R.
was quite right in ascertaining the opinion of the pre¬
scriber, Now, the question asked is, “ What is the usual
maximum dose? ”

There appears, on reference, to be a considerable
amount of difference as to really what is the dose. In
Squire’s ‘ Companion,’ it is from 1 to 2 grs., but may be
increased to 5 or even 10 grs., if the patient bears it
well. On looking elsewhere, I find it mentions the dose
as from 3 to 40 grs. Now, clearly this great amount of
discrepancy shows that it rests entirely with the medical
man in attendance to regulate the dose.

C. T. M.

[481]. I should by no means dispense this prescription,
and if it were by any means possible I should communi¬
cate with the prescriber.

“374 ”

[481]. It would certainly not be right on the part of
D. Spenser to tamper with the prescription. Fortunately,
the remedy was at hand, which was the right course to
pursue.

With this preparation, like many more, the dose seems to
beentirely regulated by the prescriber, and the only method
to adopt, which is at all likely to overcome the perplexity
it causes to the dispenser, is for the practitioner to sign

his initials against it, in order to show that he often gives
such increased doses.

C. T. M.

[4S2]. I should dissolve the quin, sulph. by means of
the ac. sulph. arom. and a little aq. chloiof., then tritu¬
rate the sodse bibor. and pot. chlor. in a mortar with the
rest of the aqua clilorof. and mix the two solutions, and
put on the bottle a “ shake the bottle ” label.

“374.”

[482]. Put the quinine into the bottle, then a little aq.
chlorof., add the ac. sulph. arom., which will dissolve it.
Make a solution of the pot. chlor. and sodse bibor. in a
mortar with the rest of the menstruum, and fill up the
bottle. There will be a separation, due to the cinnam.
and ginger contained in the ac. sulph. arom. A “shake
the bottle ” label is required.

C. T. M.

[483]. I do not think “Bute” was justified in dis¬
pensing magnes. carb. pond. ; if the written prescription
is to be adhered to, magnesia, B.P. (MgO), should be
dispensed; and I think also where “bismuth ” simply is
ordered, it is customary to use bismuth, subnit.

Coalville. W. R.

[483]. If “ Bute ” had taken the trouble to consult the
B.P., he would have seen he had erred in dispensing
“mag. carb. pond.”

The proper preparations would have been “mag. calc,
pond.” and “bismuthi oxidum.”

C. T. M.

CorrespanbcRa.

No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Spiritus Ammonite Aromaticus.

Sir, — In spite of the paper read at the Swansea meeting
of the Conference and the article in last week’s number of
the Journal on this preparation, it is evident the subject is
by no means yet threshed out. I take exception altogether
to the statement that the Pharmacopoeia process is an un¬
satisfactory one or that by it it is difficult to obtain a pro¬
duct of uniform strength. On the contrary, I maintain that
the process is a good one, and in saying this I think I shall
be borne out by every practical pharmacist.

If it be possible to do away with distillation, even in
part, and to make a good preparation by merely mixing the
ingredients, by all means let us adopt the simpler process.
Surely nothing can be easier to prove, and if anyone can
malie a sal volatile without distillation equal to that made
by the B.P. process, and will send a sample for inspection
at the next Evening Meeting of the Society, he will be
doing good service. In the meantime, I must say that
often as I have seen the attempt made to do away with
distillation, I have never yet known anything result but
miserable failure. It is unfortunate, perhaps, that “ modern
chemistry cannot recognize the mixing certain ingredients
in a retort and distilling something out of it as not exactly
a proper process,” but until that modest evolution of our
time,— the modern chemist,— can show us a more excellent
way, I hope we shall be allowed to retain our old fashioned
preparation.

Where varying results are obtained, it is probably due to
either —

Firstly. Too much heat being employed,

Secondly. Not sufficient condensing power,

Thirdly. The neglect at the close of each operation to add
to the distillate the carbonate of ammonia that invariably
collects in considerable quantity in the condenser, or,

Fourthly. Using a bad specimen of sesquicarbonate of
ammonia.

• By way of detail, I may add my practice is to distil from

528

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[December 25, 18S0.

a, glass retort sufficiently large to yield a Winchester quart
of the finished preparation; to use a large Liebig’s condenser
with a copious supply of water ; to form a connection with
the Winchester quart which acts as a receiver by means of
an adapter, so as only just to allow a sufficient exit for the
air in the bottle and to conduct the greater part of the
distillation at the heat of a water-bath, finishing the opera¬
tion by means of the naked flame of a Bunsen’s burner, the
bottom of the retort being protected by a piece of wire
gauze. At the close of each distillation the carbonate of
ammonia collected in the condenser is washed with some of
the distillate into the Winchester quart and the finished
product is occasionally agitated until the carbonate of
ammonia is all dissolved. Acting in this way, I can
make comfortably three Winchester quarts of sal volatile a
day. Practically speaking, the residue contains no am¬
monia, nor has there been any loss of ammonia or CO2
during the distillation.

The water-bath is made of two large tin cones, soldered
together at their smaller ends, forming a sort of huge hour
glass. The lower one is partially filled with water, and the
retort bedded in the upper one with tow. One of the
advantages of this arrangement being that in case of frac¬
ture, the spirit is kept from the flame and all saved.

If there be any difficulty, as alleged, in getting uniform
results on the large scale (though I think Mr. Thresh
effectually disposed of this bugbear at Swansea) , all I can say
is, so much the worse for the manufacturer, and the sooner
each pharmacist makes for himself so much the better will
he be, both in pocket and reputation.

Bath, C. E.

Sal Volatile and Chloric Ether.

Sir, — In Mr. Thresh’s paper on the above, p. 320 of
this volume, he mentions, in regard to sal volatile, that
I asserted that “ it is impossible for the distillate to contain
more than 1‘7 per cent, of ammonia, without being deficient
in carbonic acid; but . . . several of the samples

examined contained more than this amount of ammonia
. . . yet were richer in carbonate than samples contain¬

ing less ammonia.” I do not intend tfo dispute this, but
from one point of view his sample richest in carbonate was
still very deficient in it. It was the intention, no doubt
erroneous, of the compilers of the 1864 Pharmacopoeia, in
which this formula first appeared, that the distilled spirit
should contain in solution the normal carbonate of ammonia.
Dr. Gai’rod, in his * * Materia Medica,’ states, and I believe
he mentions it with some authority, “ the proportions of
ammonia and carbonic acid in this preparation are such as
to insure the formation of a neutral carbonate of ammonia.”
The quantities of carbonate of ammonia and strong solution
of ammonia ordered in the formula are such as will
theoretically produce this salt, but unfortunately it is very
slightly soluble in the mixture of alcohol and water
ordered for its solution. It is said to be quite insoluble in
absolute alcohol. Assuming that as normal carbonate in
solution would be the condition which the compilers of the
Pharmacopoeia would expect it to be found, my experi¬
ments, referred to by Mr. Thresh, were made, not by
analysis, but somewhat synthetically, to show that the
spirit could not contain near the quantity of ammonia it
was assumed it did without breaking up the normal
carbonate, in reality “being deficient in carbonic acid.”
Repeating some of my testings I find that taking the
ingredients ordered in the Pharmacopoeia formula, but
using only one-third the water ordered, — this would nearly
represent the resultant distillate, supposing no loss of
ammonia or carbonic acid took place in distilling, — a clear
solution is easily made of the carbonate and strong solution
of ammonia in this quantity of water, and upon adding this
gradually to the alcoholic solution of the oils, not one-
eighth of the ammoniacal solution can be added before a
crystalline precipitate begins to fall, whether the normal, or
half-acid carbonate owing to the splitting up of the neutral
salt and setting ammonia free, I cannot say, but supposing
it to be the normal salt, calculated from these data only
about 1 per cent, is held in solution when the precipitate
begins to fall. No doubt more of it will be held in solution
if an excess of caustic ammonia be present, and such is the
case with the product when the mixture is distilled ; but
theoretically, according to Dr. Garrod, it will then be
deficient in carbonic acid.

Skilled pharmacists, like Mr. Corder, Dr. Symes, and
Mr. Thresh , may be able to produce a satisfactory prepara¬
tion from the Pharmacopoeia process ; but that a preparation,
on which often hangs the life of a patient, and which there¬
fore ought to be a3 definite as possible, should have such
variations in strength as Mr. Thresh has shown this
preparation, as met with in commerce, to have, is not
creditable to pharmacy, and, provided pure carbonate and
solution of ammonia be used, there are great advantages in
making it by admixture rather than by distillation, as, made
by the latter process, it will always be of variable composi¬
tion. This mode of making it without distillation, as
suggested by Mr. J. F. Miller, has been carried out in the
United States Pharmacopoeia for twenty years. The U. S.
formula has only about half the quantity of carbonate
ordered that there is in the B. P. ; it is as much as will be
held in solution at ordinary temperatures. In addition to
the oils of nutmeg and lemon, the U. S. formula orders
oil of lavender, which would be better omitted, with the
difficulty in getting it of good quality at the present time.

The refinement of distillation has been discarded in most
of the spirits of the British Pharmacopoeia. Mr. Symons’s
suggestion to distil the oils and spirits is good, but if fresh
essential oils be used there appears to be little need for it.
Distillation almost of necessity throws the preparation into
the hands of the wholesale or large manufacturer, which is
not desirable. Still this is specially a British preparation
which has, perhaps deservedly, a large sale, and the flavour
ought to be such as would please the most fastidious taste.

In regard to chloric ether, Mr. Thresh shows there is
also a great variation. This is due to the mystery certain
manufacturers have tried to surround this preparation with,
and which ought to have been set at rest by the compilers
of the Pharmacopoeia, by inserting after the words “spirit
of chloroform,” synonym chloric ether, as they have done
after “strong tincture of ginger, synonym essence of ginger.”
That such was their intention, Dr. Redwood, the editor,
when lecturing on the 1864 edition, says*: — “ Spirit of
chloroform is new to the Pharmacopoeia ; but it has long
been used under the name of chloric ether.” I believe in all
the medical schools the students are taught, and it is now
generally accepted, that chloric ether and spirit of chloro¬
form are synonyms. Prescribers have informed me that
they object to the name spiritus chloroformi, which they
intend to be given when they order aether chloric., because
their patients get frightened at the word chloroform, and
will not take the medicine. I have suggested to them the
contraction sp. chlor.

10, New Cavendish Street, W. Vm. Martindale.

Sugar.

Sir, — In reply to Mr. Tanner, I beg to say that the
sample of sugar, to which I referred at the last Evening
Meeting, did contain lime, both as phosphate and as salts
other than phosphate.

Sidney Plowman.

“ Inquirer ” (Bexley Heath). — You are referred to the
rule as to anonymous communications, the enforcement of
which is especially necessary in the case of dispensing
queries.

A. S. T. should apply to the local authority for the
district.

A. C. Burden. — We do not know; the information
could possibly be obtained from the publishers, Messrs.
J. and A. Churchill, 11, New Burlington Street.

“ Tormented” will find numerous recipes for chilblain
liniments scattered through the present series of this Journal.
See, for instance, vol. ix., pp. 649 and 706, and a large
number in vol. i.

ill. — A recipe for composition powder will be found in
vol. viii., p. 498.

“ Juvenis .” — If you will furnish more precise information
as to the hospital, we will endeavour to obtain the formula
you require.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Rimmington, Planchon, Davis, Smith, Warriner,
Goodall, Major, Specific Gravity, Inquirer, Transfagio,
Hold Fast, Halle, Chemist, Molybdenum, Sarniensis,
Wonderful, W. C. E., B. W. and N., A. S. T., A. H. H.,
J. M. J. _ _ _____

* Pharm, Journ., [21, v., 476.

January 1, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

529

A NEW METHOD FOR THE EXAMINATION

OF COFFEE.

BY F. M. RlMMINGTON.

I think it will be generally admitted that the
methods in use for estimating the degree of adultera¬
tion in coffee are far from satisfactory as regards
definiteness and certainty, and that something ap¬
proaching nearer to chemical accuracy is very
desirable. Little has been done in this direction
since the days of the Lancet Sanitary Commission.

It may, possibly, not be generally known o
analysts that chicory, dandelion, and probably some
other substances that are used for mixing with cottee,
are readily deprived of colour by a weak solution o
chloride of lime (hypochlorite), and that this agent
has very little action on the coffee. \\ hen ns
method is adopted a portion of the coffee should e
gently boiled a short time in water with a little
carbonate of soda, so as to remove extractive as muc i
as possible; after subsidence the liquor should
be poured off, and the residue washed with distilled
water. When this has been sufficiently done, a
weak solution of the hypochlorite of lime is to be
added and allowed to remain, with occasional
stirring, until decoloration has taken 1

will be probably in two or three hours. The cottee
will then form a dark stratum at the bottom of the
glass, and the chicory a light and. almost white
stratum floating above it, and showing a clear and
sharp line of separation.

The chicory after this operation is in the very-
best condition for microscopical examination, and it
is not difficult to discriminate between chicory,
dandelion, or other substances. Although the
lower stratum may be dark, and have all the
appearance of coffee, other substances may be present
and should be sought for. I have recently met
with a substance that is entirely new to me, as a
coffee substitute, that is not affected by this treat¬
ment.

STUDIES OF THE GENUS STRYCHNOS.

BY G. PLANCHON,

Professor in the Ecole Superieure de Pharmacie, Paris,
and Honorary Member of the Pharmaceutical hocie y oj
Great Britain.

{Continued from page 492.)

III. The Curare of the Orinoco*

The curious course of the Orinoco is well known.
Issuing from the Parime mountains, it winds at first
in 3° N. lat. towards the west, as if it were about to
throw its waters into the Pacific Ocean, then returns,
forming the arc of a vast circle south of the bulk of
the Parime. After having received the Guaviare,
it turns sharply towards the north, till it reaches
the mouth of the Apure ; finally, changing its
direction, it flows towards the east, and falls, after
a long course, into the Atlantic Ocean, through
numerous mouths disposed as a delta.

In the first part of its course, from the convexity
of the arc, it sends towards the south a remarkable
branch, the Cassiquiari, which joins it to the Rio
Ne^ro and by this to the Amazon, furnishing thus,
according to Humboldt, the only known example
of a bifurcation and natural branching off of two

* Journal de Pharmacie et de (Jhimie, |»|, zyo.

Third Series, No. 549.

great basins in the interior of a continent.* In tlie
second part of its course it foi ms the famous cataracts
of Atures and Maypures, the description of which
forms one of the interesting “views of nature ot

Alexander von Humboldt. , .

It is in this region that the tribes of Indians live
who prepare the curare which has been made known
to us by Humboldt and Bonpland, that is to say the
first sort upon the botanical origin of wdiich there
was any approximate information given. Esmeraldas
is placed not far from the bifurcation of the Omioco
and the Cassiquiari; the Padano falls into the
Orinoco a little to the east of Esmeraldas ; Andavace
is situated at the point where :t separates from tie
Cassiquiari ; Vasiva is upon the Cassiq.iian, between
the Orinoco and Rio Negro; Javita is more to the
left, not far from the Rio Negro, but upon the upper
course of the Atabapo, which runs directly towards
the north and falls into the Orinoco, quite near to
the mouth of the Guaviare. These localities were
seen by Humboldt and Bonpland in 180°. ^ Ihe
first was visited by Robert Scliomburgk m 183. .t
Finally the report addressed in 1867 by the Governor
of the Amazonas district in Venezuela to M. Eng.
Thirion, the Consul-General of that republic a
Paris, refers to this same country. He says, 4 The
plant is found in the lands bordering, upon the
upper part of the rivers FemiJ and Cassiquiari and
their affluents, and also of the river Orinoco and its
affluents down to the fall of the Atures.” § They are,
moreover, the same tribes who are mentioned as
making the poison ; the Guinaus and Majonkongs
are in fact, according to Scliomburgk, designated
bv the Spaniards under the name of Maquiritares.||
Now, according to the report of 1867, this same
name and that of Piaroas is given to the tribes v ho

make the curare sent to M. Thirion.

What is the plant that enters as an essential
element into this curare 1 Humboldt and Bonpland
name it Bejuco demavocure , and add^[ to that designa¬
tion the description of this creeper given by E-unth
in a manuscript still unpublished at the time of the
publication of their journey. It appears from this
description that the plant has woody branches,
which are opposite, cylindroiel, and covered with a
brownish tomentose down. The leaves are opposite,
borne on short petioles 2 millimetres long, oval, oblong,
acuminate, very entire, marked with three strong
longitudinal veins, the ramifications of which form
a network of numerous anastomoses. I hey are
membranous, light green on the upper surface, paler
on the inferior surface, glabrous on both sides,
ciliated at the edges and bearing a brownish
tomentum upon the inferior surface of the vems.
They are from 4 to 6 5 centimetres long and 2 centi¬
metres broad. The plant grows at the mouth ot the

Padano, not far from Esmeraldas.

Kunth was unable to see in these leaves either
those of a Phyllanthus or of a Goriana , as was

* * Tableaux de la Nature,’ vol. i., p. 236.
f R. Scliomburgk, “ On the UrarU ( Annul of Nat. Hist,

V*t’l do not find the river Femi upon any map, even upon
that which has been constructed upon the scale of 1 in
900 000 by the Chorographic Commission of Nevv Grenada.
But I find there a stream called the Term, which falls into
the Atabapo near Javita, and I suppose that it is to tins

reference is made in the report.

§ Journal de TMrapeutique , April, 18/9, p.

!y ^Yoyag^au Nouveau Continent : Relation du Voyage,’
vol. ii , p- 548 (note).

530

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AN© TRANSACTIONS.

I

[January 1, 1SS1.

thought by Wildenow. Without hesitation lie
recognized one of the Strychnese, and he inclined
towards the idea that it was a Rouhamon , already
described by Aublet in his ‘Plants of French
Guiana.’

Schomburgk had the same idea, and he stated
that he had been confirmed in this opinion by a
conversation with Dr. Kunth, who determined
Humboldt’s plants.*

Nevertheless, in the ‘ Nova Genera et
Species Plantarum Americanarum’ of Kunth
(vii., p. 163) the species is described, not
under the name given by Aublet, but under
that of Lasiostoma(l) Curare. Also in the
‘Prodromus’ of De Candolle (ix., p. 17) it is
Rouhamon (?) Curare, DC., and not Rouhamon
Guyaneme , Aublet. And according to the
authentic specimens of Humboldt, which I
have seen in the Museum of Natural History,
the plant does not answer exactly to the species
described by Aublet and ought, in fact, to be
distinguished from it.

It was natural to ask whether the plant
which M. Thirion placed at the disposition of M.
Gubler is identical with that of which the description
has been quoted. It was sufficient to compare it with
the specimens given by Humboldt to the Herbarium
of the Museum of Natural History in Paris, to con¬
vince me that it did not at all resemble that plant
and that it belonged to quite another species.

Concerning this new species, which I have named
Strychnos G abler i,f I will give all the information
that I have been able to collect.

“ The curare,” says the official report, “ is a
creeper, the stem of which may attain a circum¬
ference of 24 inches. By means of its numerous
ramifications it is able to raise itself above the other
trees to a height of 40 to 50 feet. Its flowTer is small
and white. It grows in the higher lands having a
blackish soil and never in marshy and inundated
ground.”

The fragment of branch which I have had at my
disposition, and of which fig. 1J represents a small

Fig. 1. — Fragment of a Branch, showing numerous lacume
at the section of the wood.

portion, is 2^ centimetres in diameter at its largest
part ; it is about 27 centimetres long, and bears at
three-fourtlis its length a secondary branch, which
diverges at nearly a right angle.

A relatively thin ochraceous grey-browil bark,
covered with chalky white spots and rugose on the

* “I have little doubt that the plant with which the
Indians of Esmeraldas prepare their poison is Aublet’s
Rouhamow , and in this 1 am confirmed by a conversation
with Dr. Kunth, in Berlin, who, as is well known, deter-
mined von Humboldt’s plants” (If. Schomburgk, op. cit.,
p. 411).

T Comptes Rendus, Jan., 19, 1880.

j We are indebted for the use of the wood engravings
illustrating this article to the courtesy of Professor
Planchon. — Ed. Ph. J.

surface, covers a greyish or tawny grey wood, re¬
markable for the considerable number of pores
which open abundantly into a transverse section ; a
medullary canal, 5 millimetres in diameter, generally
empty, occupies the centre.

I have already given, in some detail, the anato¬
mical structure of these various parts,* and I, there¬
fore, will not repeat them here. Fig. 2, represents
the various layers of the bark, — suber, parenchyma,

s s p sc l

stony layer and liber,— and shows the relatively con¬
siderable breadth of the last but one of these layers.

With this fragment of wood M. Gubler entrusted
to me a certain number of leaves, which enables me
to give a description and figure of these organs.

These leaves are shortlv-petiolate, membranous,
stout, reddish-green above, pale below, elliptical or
oval elliptical, 10 to 15 centimetres long, 5 to 7
centimetres broad, entire at the margin, attenuated
at the base, acuminate at the apex. The midrib
gives oft* at the base two fine longitudinal veins
following the margin of the leaf, and at a variable
distance two other veins, stouter than the lower
ones, rarely opposite, which reach the apex within a
short distance of the margin. Transverse secondary
veins run from these principal veins, and form a
network, prominent principally on the inferior sur¬
face. The leaf appears glabrous to the naked eye,
but under a glass it shows rare, extremely short,
appressed hairs, which become more numerous on
the veins.

It will be seen by the descriptions which will be
given subsequently that these leaves do not agree
with either Strychnos toxifera, Fenth., or with S.
Castelnceanci , Wedd., or with any of the species
yielding the curares of other districts. Nor do they
resemble more those of >$. Hachensis, which grows in
Venezuela, and has been described by.Karsten in
his ‘ Flora of Columbia.’ The leaves of this species
are more broadly ovate, and less gradually attenu¬
ated; the veins, covered, with short hairs, all spring
from the base.

The root?, which I was able to procure at the
Exhibition of 1878, and of which M. Stanislas
Martin also has kindly given me a specimen, are
distinguished from the stem by the red colour of the
bark, which is deeply furrowed transversely. This
bark, which is relatively thin, covers a yellowish-
white ligneous substance, pierced by numerous very
fine openings that can only be well seen with the
aid of a glass.

The anatomical structure of these two parts recalls
strongly that of the stem. In the bark are distin¬
guished the same layers: suberous, parenchymatous,
stony and liber. But the characteristic stony layer
has a development much less than in the bark. It

* See before p. 4C9.

Fig. 2. — Transverse Section of the Bark. s.,k,s, suber; p, reddish
parenchymatous layer ; sc, stone cells ; l, liber.

January 1, 1831.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

531

is the interior or liber zone which extends consider¬
ably in breadth, it being nearly double as broad as

Fig. 3. — Leaf of StryChnos Giibleri.
the stony zone. . The structure of the various layers

is otherwise sensibly the same.

As to the wood, it presents the same elements and
the same characteristic lacunae, differing from those
of the bark only in their dimensions being much less.

Besides the Strychnos Gubleri, which is evi¬
dently the essential element of the curare, some
others have been mentioned, which unfortunately
are not known except by their vulgar names. 1 hey
are the “cariri,” “pieaton,” “iare,” and “hueva of
the official report. These names teach us absolutely
nothing as to the affinities of these species. ie
same fi the case with the plant which Humboldt
has named “ kiracaguero,” concerning which we
know only that it is derived from a tree with large

leaves.

(To be continued.)

PEPTONE*

BY C. A. PEKELHARING.

The researches of Plbsz, Maly and Adamkiewicz, the
author admits, point to the conclusion that albuminoids,
* Pfliiger’s Archiu., 22, 185-20Q. Reprinted from the
Journal of the Chemical Society, December, looJ.

although changed by the dig'estive fluids into peptones,
resume after absorption their original properties, anci
further, that peptone may be substituted for albuminoids,
as a food, not only without harm, but with positive
advantage to the animal. But it is obvious from the
methods of preparation of peptone adopted by these
observers, that the word “ peptone ’ has not the clear
and definite meaning usually attributed to it. The
method used in all these cases was the digestion of fibrin
by gastric juice. But the times deemed sufficient by
each observer for complete conversion vary widely. Plosz,
two to three weeks; Maly, two to three days; Adam¬
kiewicz, two to five hours. Despite these, differences,
the conclusions arrived at agree in. the main, viz.,. that
peptone can replace proteids as food, and that animals
so fed will not only maintain, but increase their weight.

After examining these results more in detail, the
author remarks on the importance of experimenting with
a substance of constant composition, and proceeds . to
describe his method of preparing pure peptone, which
depends on a property described by Place and Huizinga
(£ Onderzoelcingen gedaan in het physiologisch labora-
torium der Leidsche Hoogeschool,’ 1870, and ‘Maandblad
voon Naturwetenschappen,’ 1873, p. 29), viz., that in the
cold a solution of peptone, having an acid reaction., is
precipitated by neutral salts, the precipitate redissolving

on warming. ... ,

Fibrin from bullocks’ blood and egg-albumm was used,
and was digested with 0‘2 per cent, hydrochloric acid,
and pepsin (either commercial or prepared by extracting
pig’s or dog’s gastric mucous membrane in. glycerol) for
two to five hours at 40° C. The solution was then
neutralized until the reaction was very feebly acid, heated
to boiling, and filtered hot. The filtrate, after cooling,
usually opalescent or distinctly cloudy, was evaporated a
little, made strongly acid with acetic acid, and saturated
with sodium chloride. The somewhat abundant flocculent
precipitate so produced was filtered off, aftei eight to
twelve hours. The fluid, which filters readily, passes
perfectly clear through the paper, and the precipitate
dissolves very readily in distilled water on warming, still
not without a slight flocculent cloudiness, due to albumin
which has not been completely precipitated by boiling m
a feebly acid solution, but when precipitated by sodium
chloride and acetic acid is not soluble on heating. If the
precipitate is dissolved in a sufficiency of water, the fluid,
when separated from the albuminoid precipitate, is per¬
fectly clear; if, however, the distilled water.be spared,
with the idea of avoiding a large mass of fluid, the pre¬
cipitate will return on cooling. The solution is then to
be dialysed, in order to get rid of the acetic, acid and
sodium chloride. In one day, a precipitate of peptone is
formed, which continually increases as the dialysis is
pushed, and which on warming, or the addition of small
quantities of acid, alkali or salts, is completely dissolved.
After three or four days’ dialysis, the fluid is nearly free
from salts, and the precipitate may be removed, from the
dialyser, boiled in water, and the resulting solution, which
is not quite clear, filtered hot. The filtrate is. a pure
peptone solution, and will yield a heavy precipitate on
coolino-. It is to be concentrated at a gentle, heat, and
finally5 dried in a vacuum over sulphuric acid. When
dry peptone so prepared is a pure white powder, ana is
not hygroscopic. It has the following properties .

Heated over a flame, it does not melt, but forms strong
tenacious bubbles. The ash is small The substance
heated at 105° gave (M per cent, and 0’47.per cent. ash.

The powder is only partially soluble in cold water,
but dissolves completely on warming, separating again
as the solution cools. The solution has a perfectly

neutral reaction. . . ;il

Addition of a small quantity of sodium chloride will
prevent precipitation on cooling ; added in excess, liowevei ,
it causes a slight turbidity in the cold, which disappear

on warming

L VY til AAAAAAw • nil* *11 ~ /-v

Very small quantities of acids or alkalies will cam

532

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 1, 18S1.

solution in the cold. Peptone is precipitated from the
alkaline solution by sodium chloride in excess; this does
not occur, however, if the peptone is warmed in the acid
solution, provided the acid is not present in too small a
quantity, and has acted thoroughly (this is best effected
by warming) ; saturation with sodium chloride to the
extent of 4 per cent, gives a precipitate, which completely
disappears on heating. The same takes place if more
salt is added. When 16 per cent, of salt has been ex¬
ceeded, complete solution only occurs when the peptone
solution is somewhat dilute. Peptone is precipitated
from the feebly acid or alkaline solution by neutralization.
If, however, too much acid or alkali has been used for
solution, sufficient salt may be formed to hinder pre¬
cipitation. Strong nitric acid gives a precipitate, which
vanishes on heating, before the yellow coloration appears,
and returns on cooling. Silver nitrate added to a solution
of peptone which is cooling, and therefore is becoming
cloudy, increases the clou Jiness. The precipitate dis¬
appears almost entirely on cooling ; a slight opalescence,
due to sodium chloride, alone remaining. The pre¬
cipitate produced by silver nitrate is soluble in acetic
acid.

Absolute alcohol precipitates peptone in neutral, but
not in acid or alkaline solution. Potassium ferrocyanide
and acetic acid give a voluminous precipitate, soluble on
heating.

Basic lead acetate, with ammonia, tannic and phos-
pliomolybdic acids, give precipitates which are not soluble
on heating.

The precipitate yielded by Millon’s reagent dissolves
with a red colour, if only small quantities of the mercury
solution are used. More of the reagent gives a red pre¬
cipitate, permanent on heating; cupric sulphate, ferric
acetate, ferric sulphate, lead acetate, and basic lead
acetate do not precipitate the peptone solution, unless
sodium chloride or potassic acetate is present.

The author then proceeds to say that from these reac¬
tions no albumin can be present. Peptones from fibrin or
albumin or other sources resemble one another in all their
chemical properties. All are lasvorotatory, but there is
some difference in the degree of rotation, albumin peptone
having the least, and casein peptone the greatest, effect
on polarized light.

No elementary analysis was made by the author. The
question whether peptone is isomeric with albumin, or
differs from it by one or more molecules of water, is then
raised, and the experiments of Huizinga and others on
the subject criticized at great length. With the view of
s1 owing that these observers did not use a pure material,
Meissner’s peptones are examined with the same con¬
clusion.

BEHAVIOUR OF TANNIN TOWARDS PEP3IN,
ALBUMIN AND ALBUMINOIDS.*

The well-known property of the tannin of nutgalls to
precipitate dissolved albumin, albuminoids, gelatin, etc.,
is of particular interest pharmacologically. These pre¬
cipitates are insoluble in water, but soluble in moderately
concentrated acetic acid, also in an excess of solution of
albumin or gelatin (the resulting solution has a faintly
acid reaction), in dilute lactic acid, and finally in car¬
bonated and caustic alkalies. Tannin loses its property
of. coagulating gelatin and albumin arter it has been
mixed with an alkali to faint alkaline reaction. Such an
alkaline tannate ceases to act perceptibly upon albumin,
but stid possesses the peculiar astringent taste charac¬
teristic of tannin, when put on the tongue.

Pepsin, as well as peptone, in solution in water, behaves
exactly like albumin. Previous observers have partly

* Extract from a paper by Dr. L. Lewin. Reprinted
from New Remedies, October, 1880.

misinterpreted the action of tannin in Ihe stomach, in
presence of those bodies, because they failed to take
account of the simultaneous presence of hydrochloric
acid. For if tannin is added to a solution of pepsin a
precipitate is formed which only requires a little, say 0T
per cent., hydrochloric acid to dissolve it. The same is
the case with peptone. And if the solution of these
bodies lias been previously made acid, even by so small a
quantity of hydrochloric acid as is normally present in
the stomach, a precipitate is not produced at all.

Artificial digestion of fibrin or albumin by pepsin and
hydrochloric acid, in presence of tannin, takes place
normally, entirely uninfluenced by the latter. Nor is the
tannin at all changed, a fact which the author of the
paper we quote from has conclusively proven, by esti¬
mating the amount of sugar present before and after
digestion. Tannin would split up into gallic acid and
sugar. Experiment proved that the quantity of sugar
present after digestion was the same as was contained in
the original sample of tannin employed. (Commercial
tannin is hardly ever entirely free from sugar.)

The conclusions of the author are : that the artificial
digestion of albumin remains unaffected by the presence
of tannin ; that the latter does not prevent the formation
of peptone and does not precipitate the pepsin ; and that
these facts are to be ascribed to the presence of free
hydrochloric acid.

DUST, RAIN AND FOG.

At the meeting of the Royal Society of Edinburgh last
Monday evening, an important paper was read on “ Dust,
Rain and Fog,” by Mr. John Aitken, of Fa kirk. The
communication was very interesting, and was illustrated
by a number of successful and conclusive experiments.
Mr. Aitken’s results may be briefly summarized as fol¬
lows : — A vapour does not condense under ordinary
circumstances when cooled below its boiling point, except
on a free surface; that is to say, that if steam, for
instance, be blown into a receiver filled with ordinary
air, a white cloud is immediately formed by the condensa¬
tion of tie vapour on the innumerable particles of dust;
but if a jet of steam be blown into a receiver filled with
air, which has been filtered through cotton-wool, no
cloud is observed. The same fact was demonstrated by
means of another experiment. A large inverted flask
was fitted with a cork, through which passed a tube,
communicating with the air-pump. Over the interior
surface of the cork was placed a little water. When the
flask was filled with filtered air no effect was produced
by exhausting with the pump ; while with the flask filled
with ordinary air a cloudiness was immediately apparent,
which increased in density when the working of the air-pump
was continued. By using a flask containing air not perfectly
free from dust, an effect resembling a shower of rain in
minute drops was produced on rapidly withdrawing a por¬
tion of the air. Among other things, it was shown that
the fumes of burning sulphur (sulphurous acid will not do)
have a powerful effect in producing fog. Into a receiver
in which a grain of sulphur had been burned, a jet of
steam was blown. This instantly caused a dense fog,
through which nothing could be seen, and which con¬
tinued to fill the receiver for a much longer time than if
the atmosphere had simply consisted of unfiltered air.

From these and other observations which Mr. Aitken
has made, he concludes that if the air were free from
dust we should have no clouds, rain, or fogs ; but that
the excessive moisture would slowly condense on the
surface of the earth, on the trees and houses, keeping
them constantly wet. He is also of opinion that the
large amount of sulphur which is daily burned in the
coal fires in London, is a principal factor in the produc¬
tion of the “ pea-soupy ” fogs for which that city is
famous.

January 1, 1881.]

the pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

533

% m Krmaxeithcal fomml

SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of thin
Journal , books for review , etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Rlia^
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A dvertisements, and payments for Copies of the J ournal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, 11.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

1880.

The year Eighteen hundred and Eighty cannot
well be described as having been unexceptionably
favourable to pharmacists in Great Britain. lor
whilst the trade side of their calling has been assailed
from outside by, if possible, keener competition than
in any previous year, a breach has also been made
in the professional citadel, hitherto considered to be
impregnable, by an unexpected, and, to many, inex¬
plicable judgment. Besides this, a struggle has been
necessary to prevent the blunder of a parliamentary
draftsman being perpetuated in an Act to the dis¬
comfort of those using methylated spirit; whilst the
last month of the year has been marked by the
conviction of a chemist and druggist for the in¬
competence of one official inspector of weights and
measures that was held to have been proved by the
evidence of another inspector. It is not surprising
that under these circumstances the close of the year
should be busily occupied with preparations for a
campaign in which it is hoped that lost ground may
be gained, and fresh ground occupied.

Necessarily the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society has taken a foremost part in the action and
discussions which have been entailed by the events of
the year, and it is satisfactory to find that, notwith¬
standing some impatient and inconsiderate criticism,
provoked no doubt by the sharpness of the crisis, at
no time in its history did it enjoy more completely
the confidence of the general body of chemists and
druggists than now, as is evidenced hy the unanimity
with which all look towards it as their natural leader
in the attempt to battle with the difficulties by
which they are beset.

The constitution of the Council does not differ
much from that of the previous year. At the election
in May twelve members of the former Council who
offered themselves for re-election were all chosen,
whilst two who retired, Messrs. Rimmington and
Slipper (the former after several years’ service) were
replaced by Messrs. Radley and Andrews. In
July, Mr. Shaw, who had been a member of the
Council nine years, finding that he should no longer
be able to attend regularly, placed his resignation in
the hands of the President, and the Council, after
an expression of regret at losing Mr. Shaw as a

colleague, at its next sitting filled up the vacancy
thus created by the election of Mr. Edward North-
way Butt. At the first meeting ol the new
Council in June, Mr. Sandford having declined to
occupy the chair again, Mr. Greenish was unani¬
mously elected President, Mr. Robbins being chosen
to succeed him as Treasurer. Mr. Sciiacht was re¬
elected Vice-President.

It will be remembered that towards the end of
the year 1879 a “burning question” was set at
rest by a resolution of the Council that reporters
other than the one appointed by itself should be
admitted to its ordinary monthly meetings. A con¬
siderable portion of the January and a part of the
February meetings were occupied in the elaboration
of regulations for the proper carrying out of this
resolution. It had so often been alleged that im¬
portant discussions had been suppressed and that
business which ought to have been made known to
the members of the trade had been passed over in
silence, that it was excusable in others, as well as in
ourselves, to look forward with some curiosity and
expectation to the time when the piquant revela¬
tions of our contemporaries should put us in posses¬
sion of valuable information that had hitherto been
withheld. In this respect, however, the year has
been one of disappointment to us, at least, and we
notice signs of a similar unsatisfied craving in the
evident determination of one of the champions of
publicity to pursue the flying truth even within the
walls of a committee.

But the most important business of the Council
during the year, which has been made known, has
been in connection with the attempt to enforce the
provisions of the Pharmacy Act in the case oi co¬
operative stores and other similar public companies,
with a result, we are sorry to say, that has disap¬
pointed the reasonable expectations based upon the
judgment previously given in the Queen’s Bench
Division of the High Court of Justice, by the late
Lord Chief Justice Cockburn and Mr. Justice
Mellor, in the case of The Pharmaceutical Society
v. The London and Provincial Supply Association.
The appeal of the Association against this judgment
came on for hearing in February, before Lord
Justices Bramwell, Baggallay and Thesiger,
and in March their Lordships delivered judgment
in favour of the appellants, each upon somewhat
different grounds, but all holding in effect that a
corporation was outside the scope of the Act and
that, not being able itself to become qualified, it met
the intention of the Legislature if the agent by
which it effected the sale of poison were qualified.
Their Lordships were thus in direct antagonism
to the opinion expressed in the Court below,
and which, to the non-legal mind, might appear
a reasonable one, that no association of persons
should be free to do that which in their indivi¬
dual capacity would unquestionably be an offence.

534

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 1, 1881.

It now became the turn of the Council to appeal,
and the case came on for hearing in the House
of Lords on July 20, before the Lord Chancellor,
Lord Blackburn, and Lord Watson. In the
absence of Sir John Holker, who had led on be¬
half of the Society in the previous stages, the case
of the appellants was ably argued by Mr. Benjamin,
the London and Provincial Supply Association
being represented, as before, by Mr. Wills. After
the proceedings had extended over the greater
part of two days, judgment was delivered against
the Society and the appeal dismissed with costs.
It was again held that the word “person” in the
15th section of the Pharmacy Act could not be
construed to refer to corporations, and throughout
their Lordships’ judgments there was a manifest in¬
clination to treat the words “person who shall sell,”
in the 15th section of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, as
relating rather to the person effecting the sale than to
the proprietor of the shop. Lord Blackburn went so
far as to say that he felt “ strongly inclined to think
11 that if a corporation or anybody else caused an un¬
qualified person to conduct sales,” then on the prin¬
ciple, “ quifacit per ulium facit per se,” they would?
under section 15, be themselves liable to penalties.

Although this judgment probably will not be so
far-reaching in its effects as has been assumed by
some persons, since it is not every proprietor of a
large business that will care to throw it into the
power of a limited liability company for the sake of
adding another department to its operations, and,
moreover, there were already known to be in ex¬
istence great facilities for evading the Act, yet its
great importance could not be questioned. The
Council recognizing that a serious blow had been
dealt at the pharmaceutical legislation which had
been passed for the safety of the public, as well as
for the protection of persons who, trusting to that
legislation, might incur the cost and trouble of a
special education to enable them to carry on the
business of a chemist and druggist, decided at its
August meeting, on the motion of the Vice-President,
to refer the subject of the decision and its probable
effect on the future of pharmacy to the special com¬
mittee already charged with the consideration of im¬
provements desirable in the Pharmacy Act, with the
request that it would report as to the course it would
be desirable to follow. In November this committee
reported, recommending that steps should be taken
to obtain an amendment of the Pharmacy Act, 1868.
The report and recommendation were unanimously
adopted, and on the motion of Mr. Hampson, a
resolution was passed requesting the same committee
to draft a Bill and to submit it to the Council at its
earliest convenience. The resulting draft Bill was
discussion by the Council at its ordinary meeting
in December and again at a special meeting a
fortnight afterwards, and it is understood still to be
under consideration.

Whilst the Council has been thus engaged in the
elaboration of a Bill which in satisfying the reason¬
able expections of chemists and druggists should also
so commend itself to Parliament, acting on behalf of
the public, as to have a chance of passing, there has
been no lack of counsellors from the outside. As is
natural from a large body so variously circumstanced,
and with such differing interests, the advice has not
been altogether concordant, and it must be confessed
that some of the demands have been such as could
hardly be expected to be granted by a House of Com¬
mons that was not composed mainly of chemists and
druggists. In many cases there has been, unfor¬
tunately, a crudity of thought and narrowness of con¬
ception that implied inability to see beyond imme¬
diate surroundings and individual circumstances. Of
course there have been many exceptions to which
this remark does not apply and among them may
be mentioned the paper recently read before the
Glasgow Association by Mr. Kinninmont.

The time occupied in considering, and as far as
possible reconciling, the conflicting claims and in
embodying those which appear practicable in a Bill
will not to most reasonable persons appear to have
yet been excessive, but in the opinion of some
ardent spirits the work ought to have been done
with a promptitude rivalling that of Mr. Disraeli’s
celebrated, though short lived, “Ten Minutes Bill”
of 1867. It has even been laid down exactly how many
hours should suffice for the drafting of the Bill and
how many more would be required to throw it into
legal shape ; but the writer, although not deficient in
dogmatism, apparently does not aspire to the gift of
prophecy, for he omitted to state how long would be
required to secure acceptance of such a Bill, first, by
the trade and then by Parliament. One might almost
be excused for attributing the puerility of such
advice to juvenility of the mentor. At any rate it
certainly smacks of that kind of “logic” which
Longfellow’s student, in the ‘ Golden Legend,’
describes to his young friend as making —

“ An important part
Of the mystery of the healing art ;

For without it how could you hope to show
That nobody knows so much as you know?”

For obvious reasons the Council has avoided a
premature publication of the result of its delibera¬
tions, and we are, therefore, not in a position to
discuss the subjects dealt with in the draft Bill.
It is satisfactory, however, to notice that a copy
of it, as it left the hands of the Council at the
close of the special meeting a fortnight since,
having been supplied by the courtesy of the
President of the Pharmaceutical Society to the
President of the Trade Association, is reported
to have been laid by him before the Law and
Parliamentary Committee of that body and in
the main to have received its approval. But one
subject may be mentioned which doubtless has

January 1, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

.330

been under consideration, and that is the amend¬
ment of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, by the elimination
of the exemption in the 16th section of the making
or dealing in patent medicines from the provisions
relating to the sale of poisons, since, during the
year, communications have been received by the
Council from Associations in different parts of the
country urging that steps should be taken to secure
the restriction of the sale of patent medicines
containing poison to properly qualified chemists and
druggists. It is matter for grave doubt whether patent
medicints are so lree from the meshes ol the Act
as has been assumed, though perhaps nothing would
have been gained by an attempt to unduly strain its
provisions. Rut there can be no doubt that on
several occasions during the year a power has been
attributed to tl\e Council by writers in the public
press, especially with respect to the sale of pro¬
prietary narcotics, which it does not possess.
Although, however, these statements were in them¬
selves erroneous they were uselul so far as they
indicated the state of public opinion.

Several of the cases of poisoning reported during
the year have an important bearing on this point,
and some of them have evoked expressions of
opinion that ought not to be lost sight of in the
discussion of this question. Thus in one case of
poisoning by “ chlorodyne ” the evidence gave rise
to considerable discussion between the coroner and
jury as to the facilities which exist for obtaining
patent medicines containing poisons, and eventually
the jury appended to their verdict an expression of
opinion “that the most stringent provisions ought
“ to be enforced to prevent the sale of poisons in the
“ shape of patent medicines, and that, at all events,

« it should be made compulsory that a label should
“ be affixed thereto bearing the word Poison.” In
another case of poisoning by “ chlorodyne,” which
occurred a few weeks since, the medical officer of
health deposed that he had examined three samples
sold under this name and found morphia in them
equal in quantity to 10 grains, 8 grains and 5 grains
to the ounce respectively, and he considered that
such dangerous liquids “ ought to be dealt with
“ under the Sale of Poisons Act and labelled accord¬
ingly.” A third case of poisoning by “chlorodyne,”
which occurred at Leeds, also led to considerable

discussion in the daily press.

Among the other cases of poisoning that have
given rise to inquiries during the year, the follow¬
ing are worth notice : — One by carbolic acid ad¬
ministered for black draught in an infirmary ; one
by a baby’s mixture made and sold by a huckster ;
one by chloral hydrate through insufficient dilution
of a concentrated solution in a hospital; one by
laudanum sold for paregoric; one by a liniment
supplied bv a medical man at the same time as a
sleeping draught and in a similar bottle ; another
by a liniment that had been kept in a scent bottle ;

one by morphia sold by a boy in an “open surgery ”
during the absence of the assistant, and another by
a very strong solution of morphia supplied by a che¬
mist, a warning being given at the same time ; one
by “oleum phosphoratum, B.P.,” supplied for “phos-
phorized cod liver oil;” one by prussic acid, which
a surgeon is supposed to have taken instead of lauda¬
num through mistaking the bottle; and one alleged
case of poisoning by violet povvdercontaining sulphate
of lime. But the most curious case is one in which
a herbalist poisoned himself and his assistant whilst
attempting to demonstrate the innocuousness ol a
powder which he had prescribed for liver complaint.

It may be mentioned here that besides the im¬
portant prosecution under the Pharmacy Act already
referred to, there have been several instances in
which the Council has been successful in enforcing the
provisions of the Act against offenders, amongst which
was one who for a time seems to have thought to
extend the judgment in favour of corporations so as
to include private partnerships. In a large number
of cases, also, offenders have been compelled to desist
from theij’ illegal practices without going into court.
Besides these cases, there have been other successful
prosecutions, some undertaken by the Trade Associa¬
tion under the 17tli section of the Act, which relates
to the illegal labelling of poisons, and does not re¬
quire the action of the Registrar.

The year shows a falling off in the number of
persons applying for examination, the gross total
reaching only 2017, against 2296 in 1879. This
decrease extends to all the examinations, the largest
proportion, however, occurring in the Preliminary.
The net result shows a still further diminution in
consequence of the larger proportion of failures.
Thus, there have been but 125 candidates for the
Major, of whom only 57 or 45 '6 per cent, passed,
against 134 candidates, of whom 76 or 56'7 per cent,
were successful in 1879. In 1879 there were 656
persons sat for the Minor examination, and 340 or
5P8 percent, passed, but during the past year, out of
652 candidates, only 311 or 47’7 per cent, succeeded.
The Preliminary candidates numbered 1227, against
1474 in 1879, with 638 or 51*9 per cent, successful,
against 738 or 531 per cent. There were 13 candi¬
dates for the Modified, of whom 5 passed. In addi¬
tion 48 certificates of various examining bodies have
been received in lieu of the Preliminary examination.
Although, from one point of view, these figures
may furnish ground for congratulation, as showing
that a smaller number of persons have entered an
already overcrowded trade, yet from another they
indicate that the proportion of imperfectly educated
persons prematurely entering the examination room
is as meat as ever. That this is the true cause
of the large proportion of failures, and not an
undue stringency in the examinations, is con¬
firmed by the reports of the Visitors on behalf of
the Privy Council, and Dr. Maclagan, speaking

536

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 1, 1881.

of the Minor, expressly states his opinion “that a
“great many young men present themselves as can-
“ didates for admission to the profession of pharmacy
“ with totally inadequate ideas as to what is required
“of them, and with apparent forgetfulness of the
“ fact that by passing this examination they are to
“ get entrance to what is understood to be a scientific
“profession, not merely permission to follow a parti-
“ cular trade.”

Indeed it has long been evident that, in the eyes
of many persons, examination rather than education
is the gate of entrance into pharmacy, and “ prepara¬
tion for examination ” has consequently to a con¬
siderable extent overshadowed systematic training.
In June this subject was brought under the consider¬
ation of the Council through a motion by the Vice-
President for the appointment of a Committee to
inquire into the relation to each other of pharmaceu¬
tical education and pharmaceutical examination.
During the discussion and on other occasions there
were indications of a disposition to look for a remedy
in an enforced curriculum. The report of the Board
of Examiners presented at the next Council meeting
stated that the London Board had discussed the
subject, and the opinion had been unanimous that
the production by candidates for the Major and
Minor examinations of a certificate of having com¬
pleted a curriculum at some recognized school of
pharmacy was very desirable if practicable. It was
also stated that the Scotch Board had passed a
minute to a similar effect, and was of opinion that if
a curriculum were recognized at all it must be com¬
pulsory, not permissive. The Committee appointed
by the Council has not yet presented a report.

Another subject that has been frequently under
the consideration of the Council has been the Weights
and Measures Act, 1878. It will be remembered
that, as originally introduced into the House of
Commons, this Act would have made it illegal for
any chemist and druggist to have had in his posses¬
sion for the purposes of trade the ordinary apothe¬
caries’ weights and measures, as not answering to
any legal standard in the possession of the Board of
Trade. By the influence of the Council, the issue
of an Order in Council was obtained, creating and
legalizing such standards. But it soon became appa¬
rent that in the undue prominence and freedom
from control granted to inspectors under the Act,
and in their inability, as a rule, to carry out opera¬
tions requiring such nicety of manipulation as the
verification of the delicate weights and measures
used by chemists and druggists, there were elements
threatening serious inconvenience to the trade in the
application of the Act, which might be heightened
by the idiosyncrasies and whims of individual
inspectors. The subject was brought under the
notice of the Board of Trade by a letter from Mr.
Sandford, as President of the Society, and by a
deputation which waited upon Mr. Farrer, the

Secretary to the Board, and in response to an invi¬
tation a Memorial was drawn up by the Council,
setting forth some of the difficulties which had
occurred and the points upon which diversity of
practice existed. In reply a letter was received,
which, although containing an expression of opinion
upon some of the doubtful questions, practically
admitted that the Board of Trade had no power to
do more than advise, and that its advice might be
accepted or rejected at pleasure. The omission to
provide for a body having a controlling action over
the inspectors and authorized to decide in doubtful
cases as to the propriety of prosecutions is no doubt
a great blot in the Act. It has already been pro¬
ductive of inconvenience and hardship in the case of
Mr. Whittle, who has been convicted for being in
possession of unjust measures, although those mea¬
sures were properly verified as correct, and did not
vary so much from the standard as did the evidence
of the prosecuting inspector, as tested by the figures
of his own skilled witness, and by others, given as
the result of a trial of those measures by the officers
of the Board of Trade. The impotence of the Board
of Trade to do more than express an opinion was
very marked in connection with this case, for,
although the magistrates had applied to the Board
for advice, they not only suppressed the reply, but
decided in direct opposition to the opinion of the
Board, which was to the effect that the impugned
measures were reasonably correct.

In J une the introduction of a “Bill to Consolidate
“and Amend the Law relatiug to the Manufacture
“ and Sale of Spirits ;J necessitated prompt action on
the part of the Council, in consequence of an omis¬
sion of a single word which would have rendered it
illegal to be in possession of articles prepared with
methylated spirit, the manufacture of which was
allowed by the Bill. The chief interest to phar¬
macists lay in the utilization of methylated spirit in
the preparation of poisonous liniments. Here, again,
the Council was successful in impressing its view
of the subject upon the Government, and secured
the necessary correction in the Bill in its passage
through the House.

As it is not likely that the poor will cease out of
the domain of pharmacy for some time yet to come
it is satisfactory to find that the stream of benevo¬
lence in our midst shows no sign at present of drying
up. The amount received in donations and sub¬
scriptions has been upwards of £1350, or £100 in
excess of the amount received in the previous year.
The Council has thus been enabled to distribute,
besides the sum of £980, already pledged on account
of annuities, a further sum of nearly £650 in the
shape of grants for temporary relief. Two marked
features distinguish this fund from most others having
similar objects, the cheapness of its administration
and the absence of a necessity for expenditure on
the part of applicants, for assistance. Nevertheless,

January 1, 1881.]

the pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

537

in some cases, a natural anxiety has led to the
spending of money that could ill be spared, and at
the first meeting of the Council in the year, the
latter point, with which the name of Mr. Shaw is
closely associated, was again discussed. Later in the
year, apparently moved by the fact that a large pio-
portion of the chemists and druggists on the Register
do not subscribe to the Fund, Mr. Robbins moved that
it should be an instruction to the Committee that in
its administration members and associates of the
Society and their widows and orphans and sub¬
scribers to the Fund should have a priority. This,
however, was objected to on the ground that it
would damage the catholic character of the Fund,
and tend to make it more of a provident fund, and
eventually the motion was lost. At the election in
December four fresh annuitants were chosen, which
brought the total number up to thirty-two, three of
the former annuitants having died during the } ear.

The papers read at the Evening Meetings during
the past year have been as follows : “ Tincture of

Senega as an Emulsifying Agent, by Mr. H.
Collier ; u The Diffusive Properties of some Pre¬
parations of Iron,” by Professor Redwood ; The
Volumetric Determination of Alkaloids by Solu¬
tion of the Iodides of Bismuth and Potassium,”
by Mr. J. C. Thresh ; “ The Histology of Araroba
or Goa Powder,” by Mr. T. Greenish; “Note
on the History of Saffron,” by Mr. C. B. Allen ;
and, “The Use of Saffron in the Pharmaco¬
poeia,” by Mr. E. M. Holmes. It will be seen
that the list is unusually meagre, and it must be
admitted that although the papers read have, on
the average, been fairly up to the standard that
pharmacists have been accustomed to expect at the
Evening Meetings of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain, the fact that only six have been
forthcoming on the five occasions which furnish
the most favourable opportunities during the
year for bringing forward subjects of pharma¬
ceutical interest appears to indicate, so far as
numbers can do so, a great dearth of pharma¬
ceutical research. Explanations have not been
wanting, and one that has gained some currency
is' that the scarcity of papers has been due to the
withdrawal of a small honorarium which during a
short time it was the practice of the Council to
allow to the writers of papers. Fortunately, or
unfortunately, however, it is hardly necessary to raise
a question as to how many persons would be so in¬
fluenced, or as to the probable value of communica¬
tions the publication or extinguishment of which is
deliberately allowed by their authors to depend
upon a subsidy of a few shillings, for although the
practice of payment obtained during the early part
of the past year only four papers were then forth¬
coming in three months. Nor is this experience
peculiar to the meetings of the parent Society,
whilst a glance at the English journals will show

that too large a portion of the current pharma¬
ceutical literature is drawn from foreign sources.
The principal cause probably lies deeper than the
surface in the fact that the methods of pharma¬
ceutical education prevalent in Great Britain do
not create a taste for original researca or foster an
appreciation or even a tolerance of the records of
results of such thorough pharmaceutical work as is
done in other countries.

The Library has been increased by the addition,
by donations and purchase, of between three and
four hundred volumes and pamphlets. But the
principal event in connection with this department
during the year has been the publication of a
complete Catalogue of the books in the Society’s
Libraries in London and Edinburgh ; for from the
thorough and careful manner in which it has been
compiled by the Librarian, and the wide range of
the books included in this Catalogue, it forms
also a valuable index of the literature of the sciences
allied to pharmacy. It appeared at the end of
June, and a copy w*as ordered by the Council to
be sent gratis to all Members and Associates in
Business and supplied to Associates not in Busi¬
ness on application, and since that time about four
thousand copies have been disposed of. Conse¬
quent, as it appears, upon the issue of the Catalogue
there has been an increase in the number of books
borrowed from the Library. On the other hand,
there has been a marked decrease in the number of
visitors to the Library, both in the daytime and in
the evening. In 1879 the numbers amounted to
5201 in the day and 2264 in the evening ; but for
1880 the numbers are about 3100 and 1600 respec-
pectively.

A reprint of Bell’s 1 History of Pharmacy,’ with
a continuation to the period of the passing of the
Pharmacy Bill, by Professor Redwood, has also
been completed and issued during the year, and
a copy has been forwarded to every Member and
Associate in Business. Another work that has been
compiled and published under the direction of the
Council is an Index to ten volumes of this Journal.
This and two similar indexes compiled previously,
cover the whole of the time from the commencement
of the Pharmaceutical Journal in 1842 to the
completion of the eighth volume of the third series
in 1878. It also has been supplied gratis to Mem¬
bers and Associates upon application .

The Museum of the Society has been greatly en¬
riched during the year and easily maintains its
position as the finest accumulation of materia medica
specimens in the wTorld. Especially the collection of
Indian drugs has been much enlarged by numerous
specimens from the late India Museum presented
by the Government, and by further donations from
Dr. Dymock, of Bombay, as well as by the purchase
of a considerable number brought from Singapore
by Mr. J. Collins, a star-anise among which was

538

the pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

[January 1, 1881.

utilized in a recent paper. All these specimens are
now available for reference, having been arranged in
a new cabinet. The cinchona collection, thanks
to the generosity of Mr. J. E. Howard and Mr.
Whiffen, now includes specimens of all the India,
Java, Ceylon and Jamaica barks. A number of
drugs collected by Professor Bayley Balfour during
his recent visit to Socotra have been presented,
with a promise of information respecting them to
follow. The Exhibition in May was also a means
of adding to the stores. Duplicates have been freely
distributed towards forming or improving museums
in connection with several provincial associations, as
well as medical schools in London, Glasgow and
Aberdeen. Others have been sent to professors at
various universities and museums and have brought
many valuable specimens in exchange, especially from
Dr. Vogl, of Vienna, and Professor Diiagendorff,
of Dorpat. It is satisfactory to know that the
Museum is increasingly used for reference, and for
the identification of plants, drugs, etc., not only by
pharmacists, but by other investigators. It may be
useful to mention, lest any should think that the
dearth of papers at the Evening Meeting referred
to in another paragraph is due to lack of subjects,
that the Curator keeps a list of substances that still
require investigation.

The Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society
was held as usual in the month of May. It was
fairly well attended, and the report presented by
the outgoing Council was unanimously adopted. A
novel feature in connection with this meeting, which
was much appreciated and will probably be repeated
in future years, was an Exhibition in the Society’s
rooms of articles connected with pharmacy. Most
of the credit for its conception is due to Dr. Symes,
whilst the success which attended it was secured by
the energy and judgment with which the Curator
and his assistants carried out the instructions of the
Council.

The Annual Meeting was, as usual, preceded by a
Dinner of the members and their friends, which
took place at Willis’s Rooms, and on the evening
of the meeting the President and Council received a
numerous company at the Annual Conversazione,
held in the South Kensington Museum.

The Annual Meeting of the North British Branch
of the Pharmaceutical Society took place in April,
when a satisfactory report was presented and adopted.
Mr. J. B. Stephenson was again re-elected President,
Mr. John Nesbit Vice-President, and Mr. John
Mackay was re-elected to the office of Honorary
Secretary, which he has so long filled with benefit
to the Society.

The fir.'t Evening Meeting of the Session was
devoted, as usual, to receiving the reports of the
Professors, the distribution of prizes and the delivery
of an address to the students. It was reassuring to
find that although the Society’s School had been

suffering from what we hope may be a temporary
depression in respect to the number of students, it
once again evidenced the high character of the educa¬
tion it can give, by furnishing the man who carried off
the Pereira medal, the great open prize of the year.
The Jacob Bell Memorial Scholarships have fur¬
nished matter for congratulation in the markedly
increased appreciation of them, as evinced by a larger
number of competitors than in any previous year.
There were nineteen candidates for the two scholar¬
ships, and of these as many as nine obtained more
than the minimum number of marks necessary for a
qualification for a scholarship.

The address to the students was specially notable as
being delivered by one who was himself formerly a
student in the School, and who, although he has since
won eminence in the medical profession, has never
ceased to manifest interest in the work done by the
Societv. Besides addressing words of encouragement
to the students, Dr. Langdon D«>wn took the oppor¬
tunity of expressing his opinion that a prosperous
future for pharmacy would be dependent upon
the development of its special and professional rather
than its trade aspect. Borrowing an illustration from
Nature, he argued that as greater differentiation of
function marked a higher type of animal organism,
so also a multiplicity of functions, which included
the sale of patent medicines and counter prescribing
with the practice of pharmacy proper, wa3 a
sign of retrogression. Admitting the severity of
the present crisis, he said he considered that if the
Society and the body it represented rose to what he
conceived to be their duty, although there might be
fewer pharmacists in the immediate future, they
would be men of higher culture and scientific stand¬
ing than at present. It would be well, however, if
Dr. Langdon Down’s philosophical argument as to
the importance of differentiation of functions were
also well weighed by members of his own calling,
and especially by those of them who, not content
with dispensing for their own patients, compete with
pharmacists for the prescriptions of other practi¬
tioners as well as for the trade in smelling salts, hair
oil, and the like.

The future of the drug trade has also been the
subject of a considerable amount of correspondence
in this Journal, some of which showed failure on the
part of the writers to recognize the extent to which
the spirit of the age is antagonistic to protection
Even should the most sanguine expectations as to
what may be done by legislation be ful filed, there
can be no doubt, whether distasteful or not, that in
the future as in the past, to use the words of Dr.
Langdon Down, “ the process of evolution will be
“ in pharmacy the same as in biology, one of natural
“ selection and the survival of the fittest.”

Intimately associated with this question as to the
future position of the pharmacist is another that has
been before now discussed by the Council, and

January 1, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

539

(luring the year has cropped up on several occasions,
namely, the relation in which pharmacists should
in future stand to the Pharmacopoeia. The subject
was brought forward by Dr. Symes, in a paper read
before the Liverpool Chemists’ Association, in which
he advocated the importance of obtaining for phar¬
macists a legal right to be represented on the
committee charged with the editing of the Pharma¬
copoeia. On the motion, also, of Mr. Hamfson a
resolution was passed by the Executive Committee
of the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association,
expressing an opinion that the Pharmaceutical
Council, as representing pharmacy, should be legally
empowered to act in conjunction with the Medical
Council in framing and amending the future editions
of the British Pharmacopoeia. The subject was again
broached at the meeting of the British Pharma¬
ceutical Conference, and there is evidently the
greatest unanimity of opinion amongst pharmacists
as to the anomaly of their non- recognition in the
construction of a work which has the force ot law
in relation to them. Perhaps at no other time has
this anomalous position of the pharmacists of Great
Britain in relation to the national Pharmacopoeia
been so marked as at present, when the three im¬
portant Pharmacopoeias of France, Germany and the
United States, are being revised by committees
each including a considerable proportion of phar¬
macists.

At one period of the year uneasiness was created in
some quarters by an attempt on the part of a few dentists
to expurgate from the Dental Register some names
which they considered to be improperly iucluded in
it. As the decision rested with the Medical Council,
there was never any ground for fear of unjust, treat¬
ment, and the resolution of that Council not to be
led into dealing with the cases en masse in deference
to a sweeping dictum of counsel, but to decide each
on its own merits, was no more than might have
been expected. But the incident has proved how
necessary was the action taken, and first suggested
in these columns, to obtain the insertion of words in
the Dental Bill while passing through Parliament,
securing to pharmacists their then existing rights.

So long a time has elapsed since the Council of
the Pharmaceutical Society obtained from the
Government of the time a recognition of the pro¬
priety of exempting all chemists and druggists from
jury service, that it is not surprising to find that
many persons have forgotten or are ignorant of the
true position of this question, and that although it
has been delated it has only shared thb same fate as
the larger question of • the amendment of the law
relating to juries, which has been set aside year after
year in favour of what has been thought to be more
pressing legislation. Some little agitation has
taken place, and a memorial on the subject has been
addressed by the Executive Committee of the Trade
Association to the President of the Board of Trade,

and acknowledged. Probably, considering the fact
that the Association had previously had the subject
under consideration, and decided that it was useless
to seek legislation in a special Act, the acknowledg¬
ment was all that was to be expected, and the
memorial will have served its purpose as a placebo
to the more impatient members of the trade.

There have been numerous prosecutions under the
Sale of Food and Drugs Act, but only a few of these
have concerned chemists and druggists. Some cases of
prosecution for the sale of creaui of tartar containing
excess of tartrate of lime, and sweet spirit of nitre
deficient in nitrite of ethyl, in which chemists and
druggists were the defendants, have been successfully
defended; but the mujority of prosecutions for the sale
of adulterated drugs and medicines have been insti¬
tuted against hucksters and unqualified shopkeepers.
Notwithstanding this, and resting also upon figures
given in the returns of public analysts, as to cases
which had never undergone the ordeal of testing in
a law court, the Local Government Board in its
annual report made an assertion relative to the
adulteration of drugs which might be misconstrued
in a sense very injurious to the credit of pharmacy.
A more careful consideration of the facts by this
important department might much rather have
been expected to evoke an expression of opinion
favourable to a greater restriction of the sale of drugs
to persons capable of judging as to their quality.

The British Pharmaceutical Conference met at
Swansea, in August, under the Presidency of Mr.
William Southall, who chose as a subject for
his address some of the antiquities of pharmacy.
The usual number of papers were forthcoming, and
provoked interesting discussions among the not very
large company of pharmacists present. The most
interesting feature of the meeting was the presenta¬
tion to Professor Attfield of an address and a
large number of books, as a recognition of the
valuable services he had rendered the Conference
as one of its secretaries since its inauguration at
Newcastle-on-Tyne, in 1863. The vacancy caused
by the retirement of Professor Attfield was filled
by the election of Mr. M. Carteighe. On the
Continent the German Pharmaceutical Association
held a successful meeting at Breslau, extending over
five days, under the Presidency of Dr. Brunnen-
graber. The exhibition in connection with this
meeting has been described in the columns of this
Journal. In the United States the American
Pharmaceutical Association held its Annual Meeting
at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., in September. Amongst
other notable meetings of the year may be mentioned
that of the British Medical Association at Cambridge,
in August, and that of the British Association at
Swansea, in the same month.

The announcement of the intention to hold an
International Medical Congress in London during
the coming year suggested the opportuneness of

540

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 1, 18SI-

reviving the deferred project for a meeting of the
International Pharmaceutical Congress. The
subject was brought before the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society by Mr. Hampson, and a
committee was requested to make arrangements for
the reception of the Congress on the occasion of its
visit to London in August next. We understand
that the preliminary inquiries have elicited very
favourable responses, and that there, is every pro¬
bability that the meeting will be numerously
attended by continental pharmacists.

In Ireland pharmaceutical affairs, at least, appear
to have gone on with tolerable regularity and smooth¬
ness. Professor Tichborne has been again chosen
President of the Pharmaceutical Society of that
country, and the Council over which he presides has
been able to put the Irish Pharmacy Act in force
without receiving the untoward treatment ex¬
perienced on this side of St. George’s Channel. Sir
Dominic Corrigan, the first President of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, to whom,
perhaps more than to any man, it owes its existence,
has been removed by death, as have also two
Members of its Council, Mr. William Allen and
Mr. John Goodwin.

The year just closed has not been remarkable for
any important additions to the materia medica,
notwithstanding that trade enterprise now appears
to circle the earth in search of new drugs for the
relief of disease. Certainly the substance which has
created the greatest sensation, the resinous exudation
from the Pistacia Terebinthus, known under the name
of “ Chian turpentine,” was in use before the com¬
mencement of the Christian era, although in recent
times it has dropped out of notice. It was brought
into sudden notoriety through a paper published in
the Lancet by Professor Clay, in which he stated that
by its administration he had obtained extraordinary
results in the treatment of uterine cancer. The
sudden increase in the demand for Chian turpentine
revealed a great scarcity of the article, and the
consequent high price induced searches among old
stock for half-forgotten parcels of the drug that in
many cases proved very remunerative to the
fortunate finders. It also brought into the market a
large quantity of factitious material, to which,
notwithstanding that the characters of the true
turpentine had been published in greater detail than
ever before, Professor Clay did not hesitate to
attribute the want of success experienced by other
practitioners. Commercial enterprise was, however,
equal to the occasion, The probable amount of the
next collection in the island of Chio was gauged,
and in the prospect of a possible deficiency another
source of the drug was suggested by Professor
Fluckiger in the terebinth trees growing in the
forests of Algeria. But meanwhile numerous
observers have reported their failure to obtain the
results expected, and the Committee of the

Middlesex Hospital, which has a special ward for
cancer cases, has announced its intention to purchase
no more of the drug, so that although Professor
Clay appears to be as positive as ever as to its
value, it is evident that with this disagreement
among the doctors the future of Chian turpentine
is rather uncertain at present. The revival of its
use in medicine has, however, illustrated the service
that can be rendered to medicine by skilled
pharmacists, for as soon as it became evident that
the formulae originally devised by Professor Clay
for its administration were faulty, valuable sugges¬
tions for their improvement were forthcoming from
Messrs. Marttndale, Eve, Challice, Parker,
Branson and Palmer.

The cinchona barks have been the subject of
several communications, and it is evident that the
acclimatization initiated by the British Govern¬
ment in India and the Dutch Government in Java
is at length exercising a w.* ely spread influence.
Now that it has been made evident that cinchona
plants can be cultivated away from the native
habitat of the family, and that such cultivation can
be made remunerative, private enterprise is entering
into competition in the production of bark, and if
the anticipatory statistics quoted by Mr. J. Eliot
Howard from a Ceylon newspaper be nearly realized
the time is not far distant when that island alone
will be in a position to supply the world at its
present rate of consumption. But quality is an
important consideration as well as quantity, and if,
as Mr. Howard appears to suspect, the zeal of the
planters has outrun their discretion, the products
will be disappointing. In Jamaica, however, very
promising results are being obtained, some bark from
that island having realized good prices in the market
during the year. It is also interesting to note that
some of the most valuable bark that has come to
hand, rivalling the celebrated Ledger Calisaya in its
richness in quinine, had been stripped from trees
planted at the suggestion of Mr. Ledger in a district
in Bolivia where formerly the Calisaya flourished,
but from which it had been exterminated by the
improvidence of the method of collecting. In the
presence of this extension of cinchona cultivation
into countries differing considerably in climate, soil,
and other conditions from its original home, it is
not surprising to learn that samples of bark are now
and again met with that upset all the old notions as
to the determination of the value of a bark by its
physical characters. In some cases the peculiarities
that were formerly thought to be characteristic of
rich quinine bearing bark have been present in
samples nearly or quite devoid of that alkaloid,
whilst, on the other hand, skilled dealers have been
known to reject samples containing considerable
quantities of quinine, because they did not present
those peculiarities. Such an instance was brought
under the notice of the Conference at Swansea by

January 1, 18*1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

541

Dr. B. H. Paul, as being furnished by a variety of
bark first imported from South America about
eighteen months ago, which was so unlike the
ordinary kinds of quinine-yielding bark in appear¬
ance as to be thought not worth examination.
Analysis, however, showed that it contained quinine,
and it has since been imported in such quantities as
to constitute a considerable fraction of the mateiial
from which quinine is manufactured. Some doubt has
been expressed as to whether this bark is really the
produce of a cinchona, and except in the fact that it
contains quinine, there may be reason for this
opinion, though on account of its coppery colour it
has been termed Cinchona cuprea for' the present. In
any case its introduction serves to show that there is
still room for investigation as regards the quinine
yielding materials available in the South American
continent.

Another bark, the quebracho bianco bark, has
also been productive of considerable discussion in
the journals, though much of this literature has
been due rather to confusion caused by a similarity
in names than to the importance of the place which
the drug has yet attained in the materia medica.
An announcement by Dr. Penzoldt that the bark
of the quebracho bianco tree, a species of Aspido-
spemna, possessed properties useful in the relief of
dyspnoea, created a demand for it which was in many
cases supplied in the form of the wood of a “ que¬
bracho Colorado,” which is derived from quite auutlier
order, but happened just then to be better known
as being used as a tanning material for red leathers.
Whilst this mystification was being dispelled, another
investigator, Dr. Wulfsberg, had arrived at the
conclusion that the quebracho bianco bark itself was
at least a very near neighbour to a false cinchona
bark from Payta, described several years previously
by Professor Fluckiger, and that the alkaloid iso¬
lated by Fraude from the former and named
“ aspidospermine,” and by Hesse from the latter,
and named “pay tine,” were identical. It is curious
to note that a statement has been made that the red
wood has been found even more effective than the
white bark for which it was substituted in mistake ;
but it is possible that this has had its origin in the
fact that the quebracho bianco wood has been found
to contain the alkaloid which is looked upon as the
active principle and that this statement is only a
rechauffe of the original confusion. Though the
uncertainty may have produced temporary incon¬
venience, it will prove a permanent gain to science,
since it has called forth, in Dr. Hansen’s ‘ Die Que¬
bracho Rinde/ one of the completest pharmacognos-
tical treatises that has appeared in recent years.

Curare, the arrow poison of the South American
Indians, has been used to some extent in medicine,
but it has presented the disadvantage of an un¬
certainty of composition that rendered its adminis¬
tration anything but satisfactory. Although in all

cases virulently poisonous, very little was known as
to its derivation, or even whether an article that
professed to be uniform occurred in commerce under
that name. Professor Planchon has, therefore, done
goo l service in his “ Studies of the Genus Strychnos,”
now in course of publication in this Journal, by
showing that there are probably at least four
kinds of curare, each prepared by Indians resident
in different localities, but for all of which a species
of Strychnos , though a different one iu each case,
is made to yield the principal ingredient. Two
of these species appear to have been previously
undescribed.

The praiseworthy ambition of Japan, which leads
its merchants to compete with Europeans iu their
own markets, has introduced several new drugs
into commerce. A “Japanese belladonna root,”
which was thought to contain atropine, has been
examined by Mr. E. M. Holmes and referred by
him to a species of Scopolia. This root is known to
have been long used by Japanese physicians, and has
been variously stated by Dr. Martin to contain
solanine and by Dr. Langgaard to contain two new
alkaloids, which he has named “routine” and
“ scopoltine.” The plant is said to have the
peculiarity of communicating to liquids an ex¬
tremely strong fluorescence, and is certainly worthy
of further investigation, both chemically and
physiologically. Some further light has ako been
thrown upon the botanical history of Japanese
aconite by Herr Geerts, resident in Yokohama.
He refers it positively to Aconitum Fischer i, and
says that the two varieties that have been observed
as occurring in commerce are derived from the same
species, but differ in consisting in the one case of
the th>t tubers, and in the other of the succeed¬
ing but more poisonous ones. These are said to
undergo a special preparation during which heat is
applied, which would explain the differences in
appeal ance and in alkaloidal yield that have been
noticed. Star-anise is another drug that has been
imported from Japan and was at first looked upon as
star-anise which had been partially exhausted by
distillation. It appears, however, that this was not
the case, but that the star-anise grown in Japan is
deficient in aroma as compared with the Chinese,
and it seems probable that the Illicium anisutum
of Loureiro and the Illicium reliyiosum of Siebold,
which are given in all the text books as identical,
are really two distinct species. The kinds of anise
occurring in commerce have been recently described
in a paper in this Journal by Mr. E. M. Holmes.
An Indian henbane was brought under the notice
of the Pharmaceutical Conference by Mr. Greenish
as presenting indications that it might be profitably
employed in European medicine, but a subsequent
communication from Dr. Dymock seemed to show
that the price charged for it in India is prohibitive.

The stigmata of maize have been recommended as

I

542

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 1, 1881

of service in tlie treatment of cases of gravel and
nephritic colic, but it does not appear to have yielded
concordant results with different observers. Under
the name of “ tonga,” a drug of a composite character
was also introduced early in the year as a remedy for
neuralgia. One of its constituents was identified
botanically by Mr. E. M. Holmes, and Mr. Gerrard
published some results of a chemical examination
of it. But since that time the crude drug has dis¬
appeared in favour of a pharmaceutical preparation,
though the outlandish name has by no means been
kept in the background .

Another suggested addition to the materia medica
is a chemical compound known under the name of
resorcin, and is a substitution product of benzol, in
which two atoms of hydrogen have been replaced
by hydroxyl. It is said by Dr. Andeer to be a
good antiseptic, but without any irritating action.
Chemistry has also yielded two new anaesthetics,
methyl chloroform and monochlorethylenechloride,
as well as various mixtures that have been suggested.
The relative value of some of these anaesthetics has
been recently described in a report presented to the
British Medical Association. Besides these, a series
of borocitrates, said to have a specific action in calcu¬
lous disorders, has been described by Herr Scheibe.

Considering the important position in medicine
which has recently been assumed by antiseptics, it
is curious to note that the class of minute organized
bodies which they are used to combat also promise
to yield increasingly valuable assistance in the
treatment of disease. Pepsi ne and pancreatine have
been in use some time, but the increased attention
which has been paid to the subject, and which has
shown that they are accompanied by at least five or
six other distinct ferments in the digestive juices,
has led to a better appreciation of their true func¬
tions and favoured their use in a more scientific
manner. The valuable Lumleian Lectures delivered
by Dr. Roberts, and published in this Journal, form
an important contribution to the history of the sub¬
ject, and show how these ferments may themselves be
administered with the greatest advantage, or used in
the peptonizing of different substances to form a
nutritious, partially digested food, suitable for per¬
sons suffering from weak digestion. Amongst the
preparations for which Dr. Roberts has furnished
recipes may be mentioned peptonized milk, gruel,
soup, jelly, blancmange and beef tea.

A valuable paper on the preparation of pepsinehas
been contributed by M. Petit, giving the results o
a large number of comparative experiments. He
reports that, taking fresh pigs’ stomachs that have
not undergone alteration, and using suitable pre¬
cautions, he has succeeded in preparing pepsines
capable of converting into albuminose one thousand
times their weight of strongly dried fibrin. Sheep’s
stomachs yielded pepsine which was only one-tenth
as active. It may be mentioned here that ostrich

pepsine, which was vaunted to have a digestive power «
corresponding to the omnivorous reputation of the
bird, as well as a preparation from the gizzard of
the chicken, have been proved by the experiments
of Mr. James to be practically destitute of the power
of digestion.

Papaine, the ferment separated from the juice of
the Carica papaya fruit by M. VV urtz, has lately
been recommended for use in medicine. It has been
further examined and found to be of an albuminoid
nature, and is apparently produced by a process of
hydration of the coagulable portion of the juice.
Papayotin, the form in which this fermentative
principle was separated by Dr. Peck« ldt, is also'
quoted in the German price lists. Some allied
subjects, though not pertaining to the materia
medica, may be just referred to here, such as the
ferment to which the formation of gluten in dough
is attributed by Messrs. Weyl and Bischoff, the
digestive ferment said to be formed during bread¬
making and to be capable of peptonizing a con¬
siderable quantity of fibrin mixed with the dough,
and the series of ferments found to be present in
cheese by M. Duclaux.

As has been before stated, pharmaceutical research
has not been active in this country, and although a
large number of medicinal substances have been in¬
vestigated and made to yield their active principles,
the great bulk of the work has been done by chemists
resident on the Continent or in the United States.
One of the most indefatigable of these workers is
Dr. J. 0. Hesse, of Stuttgart, who, besides making
innumerable contributions to the history of the
cinchona alkaloids, finds time fur the prompt, but
exhaustive, chemical investigation of many of the new
introductions to the materia medica. Amongst his
work which has been recorded in this Journal during
the past year may be mentioned his examination of
a series of Alstonia barks, namely “dita” bark
(A scholar is), “poele” bark (A. spectabilis) , and the
“ Australian fever bark ”(A. constricta). Buth “dita”
bark and “ poele ” bark were found to contain certain
alkaloids in common, to which he has given the
names “ ditamine,” “ echitamine,” and “ echitenine,”
the second mentioned yielding a further peculiar
basic product which he calls by the euphonious name
“echitammoniumhydroxide.” In the “poe!6” bark
he has found a fourth alkaloid, “ alstonamine.” The
A Istonia constricta bark yielded still another alkaloid,
which Dr. Hesse considers to differ lrotn any noted
by previous observers, and has called alstonidine.

The aconite alkaloids have beeu the subject of
another report by Dr. Wright, which he proposes
shall be, so far as he is concerned, a final one. In
summing up the position of this investigation at the
point of his resigning it, he claims that the term
“aconitine” should be limited to a definite crystal¬
line body which he has separated and represents
by the formula 033H43N0j2. Eor such a definite

January 1, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

543

body there would no doubt be a demand, but it is
admitted that the difficulties attending its preparation
have prevented manufacturers from supplying it at a
moderate price. This difficulty, however, Dr. Wright
considers to be one that pharmacists should attempt
to surmount, and he thinks that the chemist having
demonstrated the existence and characters of such a
body, the commercial preparation of it may be left
in their hands.

Among recent chemical investigations having the
most important bearing upon pharmacy, the research
of Herr Ladenburg upon the principal solanaceous
alkaloids must take high rank. He has come to the
conclusion that the bodies formerly known as liyos-
cyamine, daturine and duboisine, are, when quite
pure, identical. Atropine has the same composition,
and like them splits up into tropine and tropic acid,
but it appears to be only isomeric, though it has been
found practicable to convert hyoscyamine into atro¬
pine. Another alkaloid found together with hyos¬
cyamine in henbane, which Herr Ladenburg has
named “ hyoscine,” is also represented by the same
empirical formula, C17H23N03, but splits up into
tropic acid and a base only isomeric with tropine,
and called “ pseudotropin e.” Herr Ladenburg has
further found that a whole class of new compounds,
which he has designated “ tropeines,” maybe formed
by substituting various acids for tropic acid in re¬
combining the alkaloid. One of these, homatropine,
obtained by treating with hydrochloric acid the
compound of amygdalic acid with tropine, promises
to be in some cases a valuable substitute for atropine.

Another exhaustive research, possessing perhaps
more botanical than pharmaceutical interest, is that
of Mr. H. G. Greenish on nigella seeds. From these
he obtained a new substance, melanthin, frothing
in aqueous solution like saponin and digitonin,
decomposing when treated with acid into melanthi-
genin and sugar, and closely related to the parillin
of sarsaparilla and the glucosides of hellebore.
No alkaloid was obtained, but a nitrogenous body pos¬
sessing acid properties was observed. There was also
an intensely fluorescent body, differing from that sepa¬
rated from the peony by Professor Dragendorff in
being soluble in petroleum spirit. The fat acid of
the solid fat contained in the seeds was principally
myristic acid. Altogether the results were con¬
firmatory of the observation that plants closely
allied naturally often contain similar important
constituents .

It must suffice to simply enumerate the more im¬
portant of the remaining plants that have been ex¬
amined and the principles obtained from them. Of
alkaloids, the presence of one in Baptxsia tinctoria
has been established by Dr. Greene; methylpelle-
tierine, pseudopelletierine and isopelletierine have
been added to the alkaloid previously found in
pomegranate bark by M. Tanret; thallictrine has
been separated from Tkalidrum macrocarpum ;

jaborine, a second alkaloid, from Pilocarpus pen-
n itifolius] scybaline, from Scybalium fungiforme ;
tulipine, from the garden tulip, by Mr. Gerrard ;
and perhaps superbine from Gloriosa superba. Pro¬
fessor Maisch, on the other hand, claims to have
disproved the presence of an alValoid in the rhizome
of podophyllum at any period of its growth. Mr.
Dott has also arrived at the conclusion that the
composition of the alkaloid beberia may be repre¬
sented by the formula C^H^NOg, upon grounds
stated in a paper read before the North British
Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society. Lastly, Dr.
Podwyssotzki has published a process for the ob¬
taining of pure emetine. Of non-nitrogenous bodies,
Phytolacca d'candra has yielded a crystalline neutral
principle, phytolaccin, and a new acid, phytolaccic
acid. The official jalap resin, obtained from an
alcoholic tincture, has been found to contain two
distinct resins, jalapin and convolvulin, whilst from
poclophyllin there has been separated a glucoside
resembling convolvulin. Other glucosides prepared
have been araliin, from Aralia spinosa, and eu-
patorin from E upatorium perfoliatum. Picrotoxin,
the poisonous compound prepared from cocculus
inclicus, has been separated by a series of fractional
solutions into three distinct bodies, picrotoxin, picro-
tin and anamirtin, only the first of which is poi¬
sonous.

A most important paper was contributed to the
Evening Meeting in March by Professor Redwood,
on the “Diffusive Properties of Some Preparations
of Iron.” It was called forth by an assertion by
M. Personne, that the preparation known as
“dialysed iron,” being in the colloid condition,
couldnot dffuse reality, anl consequently was inert
as a medicinal agent. Professor Redwood was there¬
fore led to make a number of comparative experi¬
ments as to the diffusive properties of the official
preparations of iron, to ascertain whether they were
open to the same objection. These seemed to show
that while the sulphates and chlorides are pre¬
eminent in regard to the extent and rapidity with
which they undergo liquid diffusion through a
membrane, the scaled preparations, and especially
those made with citric acid, are not deficient in this
respect. His experiment with dialysed iron, however,
appeared to be confirmative of M. Personne.

There have also been other valuable investigations
that come within the class sometimes included under
the title “ pharmaceutical chemistry.” An observation
by Mr. R. H. Parker, that ferrous iodide is gradually
decomposed in the presence of potassium chlorate,
has been utilized by him in working out a method
for the estimation of syrup of ferrous iodide. Some
results obtained in the examination of samples from
different sources went to show that a syrup of ferrous
iodide prepared from a “ liquor ” differs materially
from one prepared by the Pharmacopoeia process.
Mr. J. C. Thresh has pointed out the value of

544

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 1, 1881.

potassium iodide as a reagent for tlie detection of
traces of bismuth, and has also attempted to apply a
solution of iodide of bismuth and potassium in the
volumetric determination of alkaloids to a further
extent than previous observers. Mr. Thresh has
also devised a method for estimating the strength of
alcoholic solutions of chloroform, based upon the
insolubility of alcohol and solubility of chloroform
in petroleum spirit, and incidentally shown the great
variation in chloroform strength of such solutions as
met with in commerce. Mr. Fletcher has described
a very delicate method for the gravimetric estimation
of minute cpmntities of arsenic, based upon the large
proportion of silver thrown out of solution by the
reaction of arsenietted hydrogen upon silver nitrate.

Mr. H. G. Greenish has furnished evidence that
a large proportion of the cantharidin originally
present in blistering flies is probably left in the
residues as an insoluble compound, when they are
only extracted with the ordinary solvents, the
remedy suggested being to convert it by previous
treatment into a soluble potash or sodium compound.
Bromide of ethyl having come into use to some
extent as an anaesthetic, attention has been directed
towards methods for its preparation and purification,
and preference appears to be given to that suggested
by Dr. De Vrij, of distilling it from a mixture of
potassium bromide, sulphuric acid and alcohol, with
certain modifications. With respect to bydrobromic
acid, it has been suggested that it may be prepared
with advantage from barium bromide by decomposi¬
tion with sulphuric acid. A method of preparing
dilute phosphoric acid from amorphous phosphorus
has also been described by Mr. Lloyd. Professor
Fluckiger has shown that the effect of intense cold
upon laurel leaves is to destroy in them the source
of hydrocyanic acid and benzylic aldehyde. Professor
Van der Burg has published results which indicate
that Dr. De Jongh was in error in saying that the
light coloured cod liver oil contained more inorganic
ingredieuts than the dark.

In pure chemistry the work done has been too
extensive to be even recapitulated here, but exception
may be made to mention the synthesis of citric acid
and that of indigo. There have also been some im¬
portant discussions on the analysis of potable waters.

In the department of pharmacy the communica¬
tions have not been numerous. Mr. Martindale
has shown liow tlie difficulty of dispensing a doubly
dangerous substance like nitroglycerine may be
overcome. Mr. Elborne has described a process,
though not a new one, by which the residual tincture
may be recovered from marcs by upward displace¬
ment. Mr. Lloyd has described the conditions
essential to successful percolation. Mr. Naylor has
contributed a practical paper on the preparation of
green extracts. Emulsions have been the subject of
another practical paper by Mr. Gerrard, who
advocates tlie use of powdered gum acacia, and has

furnished a series of formulae convenient for making-
emulsions with various substances. Mr. Collier has
added tincture of senega to the list of emulsifying
media. Mr. Diehl has found that a soluble albu¬
minate of iron in a dry condition can be obtained
easily by precipitating its solution with common salt,
and that the product so obtained is uniform in com¬
position whether the solution ha3 contained excess of
ferric chloride or of albumen. Mr. Barnes has found
that cold water does not remove the bitter principle
from taraxacum and is also of opinion that an alco¬
holic extract of the root would be superior to the
Pharmacopoeia extract. Further, he has supplied a
formula for ipecacuanha wine, prepared by ma¬
cerating an acetic extract of the root in sherry.

In physics research has been very active and
successful. Besides the marked advance in the
history of the electric lamp, to which reference has
been recently made, Dr. Siemens’s observations upon
the influence of the electric light upon vegetation
have opened up a wide field for speculation. The
inquiry into the elemental state of matter, which
received such an impetus from ihe statements of
Professor Meyer in the previous year, have been
continued with valuable results. The subject of
the solubility of solids in gases recalls Mr.
Mactear’s and Mr. Hannay’s experiments on the-
crystallization of carbon. Dr. Carnelly has con¬
tributed some valuable information as to melting
and boiling points and has shown under what con¬
ditions ice can be maintained in the solid form at a
high temperature. But one of the most striking as
well probably as the most valuable triumphs of the
year has been the utilization of a beam of light for
the conveyance of sound by Professor Bell, in his.
photophone.

During the past year literature has been enriched
by the addition of a large number of books specially
interesting to pharmacists, but only one or two can
be noticed. First among these may be placed the
‘ Medicinal Plants ’ of Bentley and Trimen, which
has been issued in its complete form. Professor
Fluckiger has given us an English translation
of his ‘ Pharmaceutical Chemistry,’ and is also-
sending forth a new German edition of his ‘Phar¬
macognosy of the Vegetable Kingdom.’ A translation
of Prantl’s ‘Text-Book of Botany’ has placed the
theories of advanced botanists within the grasp of
English students. Another important botanical
work is Darwin’s ‘Power of Movement in Plants.'
In Chemistry also a translation of W urtz’s ‘Elements
of Modern Chemistry ’ has been furnished by the
enterprise of an American publisher, besides which,
there has been published a large number of text
books of more or less merit. Then there has been,
a re-issue of an old friend in Cooley’s Cyclopaedia.
We may conclude by mentioning two valuable con¬
tributions to pharmacy in the reports of the com¬
mittees of pharmacists respectively charged with the

January 1, 1VS1 ]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

545

consideration of alterations necessary in the pharma¬
copoeias of Germany and the United States.

Death has been busy as usual among our ranks,
and although the losses to British pharmacy have
not, perhaps, been so severe as in some previous
years, it has robbed us of many who will be much
missed. In Adolphus Frederick Haselden one
passed away who in the course of twenty years
served the Pharmaceutical Society as President,
Vice-President, Member of Council and Examiner,
and who contributed frequently to the Society’s
Journal. In William Walter Stoddart we have
lost another who for years occupied a seat on the
Council and who successfully blended a love of
science with the practice of pharmacy, and whose
assistance to the students of his own neighbourhood
will long be remembered. Charles Cracknell,
also, after being one of the earliest prizemen
in the Society’s school, during twenty-four years
acted as an Examiner and then for four
years as a member of the Council. In William
Aitkin, the North British Branch has lost a former
President and a Member of its Examining Board.
Further, in James Thomas Gw atkin, of Brighton,
Charles Cortis, of Worthing, George Shield, of
Arbroath, George Dutton, of Bolton, and Joseph
Linington Rastrick, of Southsea, the Pharma¬
ceutical Society has lost men who rendered valuable
services as Local Secretaries for their respective
districts.

We now bring this retrospect to a close, and if it
has not been altogether a cheerful one, and if the
entrance into the new year is rather overhung by
cloud, it is sufficient to look back a few years to the
time previous to the formation of the Pharmaceutical
Society, to mark the advance that has been made in
the face of what might have been then deemed much
more adverse circumstances, and there can be no
doubt that if pharmacists as a body will cultivate
the spirit so pre-eminent in the founders and early
leaders of the Society there will yet be a bright
future for pharmacy and its followers.

robhvdal an s a ctr crn s .

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

Assistants’ Section.

The second meeting of the session was held in
Anderson’s College, George Street, on December 15, at
9 o’clock p.m., Mr. Walter Paris, President, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been
read and confirmed, the President delivered an address
in which he advocated the necessity of chemists being
thoroughly conversant with their business in every detail.
Although in his opinion the time for the proposed enforced
curriculum had not yet arrived, as the present unremunera
tive condition of the trade neither warranted nor justified
it, it would certainly be accompanied with many advan¬
tages, and should it be insisted upon, it would be the
means of the establishing of schools of pharmacy in the
principal towns of England and Scotland, to which

the Pharmaceutical Society would, in all fairness, be
entitled to give a certain amount of support. He
sympathized with the local secretaries, having to act as
prosecutors in cases of infringement of the Pharmacy
Act, and hoped to see this remedied in the proposed
amended Act. He advocated the maintaining ot' full
prices of patent and proprietary medicines, regardless of
any opposition or competition, and considered it beneath
the semi-professional standing of pharmacists to place
themselves on a level with their competitors. When
the former found themselves with some dozens of dead
stock, combined with the small profit they had forced
themselves to supply them at, they would find it to
their advantage to let the trade drift back to its proper
channel. Counter prescribing was the only means by
which chemists could contend with the gross intrusion
on their business by medical men. He fondly hoped
to see them compelled to keep a qualified assistant
to manage their shops, in the revised Act, although no
Government, he was afraid, would so far interfere with
the liberty and convenience of the community as to
legislate for this end.

Mr. G. S. Illingworth thought that the nostrum trade
would sooner or later become extinct; meanwhile he
would advocate that chemists should reduce the prices
and run abreast with the competitors ; although such a
step might not bring sufficient remuneration, yet it
helped to link the business together. Referring to
medicine v. pharmacy, he considered that medical men
were legally justified in opening shops, but hoped that
by-and-by the law would compel them to employ at
least one qualified assistant in each shop. The present
system, Avhich the majority of doctors adopted, of
employing mere boys, and even girls, was (in his
opinion) unsafe for the public, and a very grave intrusion
upon the rights of the chemists. He could not avoid the
conclusion that doctors who so conducted their dis-
pensarits and shops not only lowered the dignity of their
own profession, but minimized the tedious duties of the
pharmacist in the public estimation.

The address was further discussed by Messrs. Blain
and Gilmour, after which the usual vote of thanks
was given to the reader and after the election of
members, the meeting terminated.

yudi;uneat;u-iT antr Ifafo

Poisoning by Chlorodyne.

Mr. William Carter, coroner for the Eastern Division
of Surrey, last week held a lengthy inquiry, at South
Lambeth, into the circumstances attending the death of
Mr. Henry Allen, aged 59, lately residing at 2, Priory
Place, who was poisoned by chlorodyne on Monday last.
From the evidence of Mrs. Jane Allen and other witnesses
it appeared that the deceased was a traveller in drugs,
and for some time past had given way to intemperate
habits. On Wednesday, in last week, he complained of
feeling unwell, and he remained at home until Saturday
night, when he obtained a bottle of chlorodyne. At an
early hour of Sunday morning he got out of bed, and
poured about 30 drops of chlorodyne into a tumbler of
water, which he drank. He felt no better, and while
Mrs. Allen was at church in the evening Allen again
resorted to the chlorodyne, and obtained a few hours’
rest. At half-past seven o’clock his wife was aroused
by the deceased, who had gone into the dining room to
take another dose. On returning to the bed room Mrs.
Allen was alarmed by observing her husband with clasped
hands murmuring a prayer. His breathing soon after
became so stertorous that witness had to call in assistance,
and Mr. Mackintosh, a surgeon, was sent for. The de¬
ceased rallied slightly after artificial respiration had been
resorted to, but he died during the day from the effects
of the poison.

Mr. Mackintosh was called, and said he was a registered

546

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 1, 1SS1.-

surgeon. He had previously attended the deceased when
he was suffering from the effects of alcoholism. In
answer to the coroner, witness said he was of opinion that
the deceased had died from the effects of an overdose of
chlorodyne.

The jury decided “ that the deceased’s death had been
caused by misadventure, through taking an overdose of
chlorodyne.”

The Sale of Food and Drugs Act and Taraxacum

Coffee.

On Thursday, December 16, at the Dewsbury Borough
Court, Alfred Pearson was summoned for an offence
against the Sale of Food and Drugs Act in conection
with the sale of a compound known as taraxacum or
dandelion coffee.

Fividence was given as to the purchase of the “ coffee,”
which was sold in packets bearing a statement that it
was a compound of taraxacum or dandelion coffee and
other wholesome ingredients not injurious to health.

Mr. Bimmington, the public analyst, deposed that he
had examined the sample sent to him and found that the
mixture was neither dandelion nor coffee. It contained
a large quantity of chicory and a substance he had not
been able to identify. The unnamed substance was not
an extract of taraxacum.

On the part of the defence it was stated by the
manufacturer, that the compound was a mixture of pure
coffee, taraxacum, in the form of a concentrated extract,
and burnt sugar.

After some deliberation the Bench decided to dismiss
the summons.

ftcbietos.

Aids to the Chemistry and Tests of the Pharmaco¬
poeia. By James Davison, L.B.C.S.I., etc. Dublin :

Fannin and Co. 1880.

The modern systems of curriculum education and
syllabus examination call into existence a large number
of little books of condensed information ; the matter thus
afforded must be not only correct but so worded as to
eliminate the possibility of misconstruction, or else such
books are worse than useless, for few attainments are
more easy than to firmly fix erroneous impressions on
the student’s mind and few more difficult than to remove
them.

The author’s object, as indicated by the title, is good,
and the prefatory remark that his notes are taken from
standard works would lead the reader to expect some¬
thing valuable to students of medicine and pharmacy;
but perusal involves disappointment, for errors and mis¬
leading statements are frequent; and lucidity and in¬
structiveness are sacrificed for brevity. On almost every
page may be traced want of care. The author says, “all
elements, with exception of hydrogen, may exhibit
different degrees of quantivalence.” The list of acidu¬
lous radicals contains “ oxides,” while “ oxygen ” appears
with the basylous. “ Alumen ” occurs under the heading
of metals. Phosphoric anhydride is mentioned and again
spoken of as phosphorus pentoxide without a reference to
their identity. Lotio nigra and lotio flava are said to be
respectively Hg20 and HgO dissolved in water. The
equations illustrating the formation of permanganate of
potash and arseniate of soda start with the manganate
and pyroarseniate, leaving the student to guess how these
bodies are formed from the materials used. Sb203 is
said to be “ made by acting on a solution of chloride of
antimony with carbonate of soda.” The formula of
ferric nitrate is given as Fe2 6HN03, that of the acidu¬
lous radical of ferridcyanides as Fe2Cy6, while Mu02 and
MuS04 are represented as the formulce for oxide and
ulphate of manganese.

Brevity is the soul of wit, but it takes a master mind
to communicate much information in short remarks. A
student would not learn much when told that “ bromine
is made by passing chlorine gas into sea water,” or that
chlorate of potash is “ made by passing chlorine into a
solution of caustic potash,” nor be much enlightened
when he simply heard that a certain test solution is
“ used as a test” for a certain substance without knowing
how or why.

Viewed as a whole, the arrangement of the book is
good and the style generally clear, so that the author
might by inserting more detail and by a more careful
revision of proofs, produce in another edition a work
really valuable to medical students ; but students of
pharmacy should begin with nothing less than the
Pharmacopceia and standard handbooks on chemistry.

Tables for the Analysis of a Simple Salt. By A.

Vintner, M.A. London : Longmans and Co. 1880.

This little work consists of four analytical charts such
as may be found in or easily compiled from any treatise
on practical analysis ; and some six or eight pages of in¬
troductory matter describing the principles of the tests
and the manipulation necessary for the use of the same.

The descriptive portion is not full enough for a be¬
ginner, and is superfluous for an advanced student, but it
leaves little room for fault finding on the ground of
correctness. It is a book scarcely calculated to be of
advantage to those outside the author’s own circle of
students, as its value over numerous similar works only
becomes evident when it is regarded as a collection of
notes on a course of practical instruction already re¬
ceived.

Dispensing HkmoranCm.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And ive would suggest that those who meet
ivith difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[451]. Before the correspondence on the above subject
closes, will you allow me to ask if the experience of any
brother dispenser coincides with my own in the following
particulars ?

Having once on a time to dispense the prescription,
“ Calomel, 3SS- To be blown into the eye, through a
quill, as directed,” — I supplied the calomel, which, having
obtained from one of the first houses in London, I knew
to be perfectly pure, and was surprised at my customer
calling soon after to say that each time my calomel was-
used the child was caused the most acute pain, or to use
his own words, “ screamed with pain,” whereas that
obtained from a West-end house was borne without in¬
convenience. At the time, much to my client’s dismay,
I was unable to offer any explanation, but, on reflection,
concluded that the calomel in ordinary use, though pure,
has a crystalline character, which of course would be-
likely to irritate an already acutely sensitive surface.
Since then, “ Howard’s ” has always been used, which I
suppose is prepared by precipitation, though whether
better on that account for general pharmaceutical pur¬
poses I am not prepared to say .

A. P. B.

[479]. It is not possible to produce a colourless
preparation at once in dispensing this prescription, as the
combination of the iodine with the ammonia takes place;

January 1, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

547

rather slowly, and a patient using the paint immediately
after mixing would be likely to experience a discolora¬
tion of the skin from the free iodine which it contains.
After the lapse of about a week almost all the iodine
combines with the ammonia ; the preparation turning
gradually lighter in shade during the process, until it
assumes a light-straw colour. It may then be safely used
without fear of causing any stain on the skin. For
details of the reaction “ Cymro ” may consult the answer
to “Dartmoor’’ in the Journal for November 27, p. 445.

Specific Gravity.

[483]. G. B. thinks the bismuthi carb. open to question.
He would have used the subnitrate, as he finds that is
usually intended, when so ordered.

The subnitrate is the best known to medical men, many
of whom are unaware of the carbonate or oxide being
officinal.

[483]. Both “ mag. carb. pond.” and “bismuth, carb.”
were the wrong ingredients to use in your mixture. You
should have used mag. calc. pond, and bismuth, subnit.
London. Endymion.

[483]. “Bute” was correct in using mag. carb. pond,
for magnesiae, but wrong in using bismuthi carb., for
when bismuth is written it is intended for bismuthi
subnit.

“374.”

[483]. “Bute” should have used “ magnesia,” B. P.,
i.e., mag. calc. pond, and bismuth, subnit., B.P., the
bismuth, alb. of 1864, which is generally understood to
he meant when “bismuth ” is ordered.

Hastings. J. M J.

[483]. “Bute” was most decidedly wrong in using
miagnes. carb. pond, for magnesia. Magnesia is a B. P.
preparation, and “Bute” will find on reference that it is
prepared by heating magnes. carb. pond, in a crucible
until all the carbonic acid is driven off ; in fact until
•calcined magnesia (as we more commonly call it) is pro¬
duced. He should have used magnes. calc. pond. There¬
fore, seeing that the British Pharmacopoeia gives as a
synonym for “bismuthi subnitras” the name “bismuthum
album ” (white bismuth), I should have used that prepara¬
tion rather than the carbonate : whether bismuthum or
•bismuthum album were ordered I should use the same
thing.

M.

[484]. The most probable reason for the explosion of
this mixture is the liberation of carbonic acid from the
mag. carb. pond, by the complex acid principles contained
in the rhubarb.

Specific Gravity.

[484]. I should say the reason of the mixture dispensed
by W. G. T. exploding must have been owing to the ext.
taraxaci (which readily and imperceptibly decomposes)
not being fresh; such a condition of an ext. taraxaci,
liquefied in a mixture, would liberate an acid formed by
fermentation, and would be acted upon by the carbonate
in the form of magnes. carb. pond.

Sunderland. T. H. D.

[484]. The explosions may be accounted for by the
theory that fermentation had set in, which was quite
likely to be the case, more especially if mouldy ext.
tarax. was used.

M.

[485]. “ Cinchona Calisaya ” was right in not filtering
his mixture, and putting on a “shake the bottle” label.
It cannot be dispensed without a deposit forming, which
is a portion of the active principle of the tr. cinchonas.
Sunderland. T. H. D.

[485]. On no account should this mixture be filtered
iSuch a practice, though defensible in some_very excep¬

tional cases, indicates in this instance an incredible
amount of ignorance. The cinchona alkaloids are throw n
down by the ammonia and to filter them out is to remove
the very essence of the mixture.

M.

[487]. This is a troublesome formula and I cannot
understand a hair wash being formed ; a hair cream would
be a more suitable designation for it. My experience
was as follows : — I rubbed down well the cocoa nut oil
in a warmed mortar, then added the rum, a few drops at
a time, until the whole was added, triturating well after
each addition. This gave a thick creamy preparation.

Sunderland. T. H. D.

[487]. I should say it was impossible to prepare this
as it stands. Could “ Despero ” not saponify the oil,
previous to adding the rum? Of course this is contrary
to the prescription, but it seems to be a case of choosing
the lesser of two evils.

M.

[488]. The reaction is evidently the formation of
sulphate of lead, and acetate of aluminum — which, if
like most other acetates, will be very deliquescent, as
follows : —

A123S04 + 3Pb2C2H302 = 2 A13C2H302 + 3PbS04.

Undoubtedly the best form of sending it out would be
to mix it in a pint of water, and label “ The lotion. To
be used as directed. Shake the bottle.”

M.

[488]. Pulv. aluminis, B.P., contains nearly half (47
per cent.) of its weight of water of crystallization, and
when mixed with acetate of lead a double decomposition
ensues, with formation of sulphate of lead and acetate of
ammonium and aluminium. The water of crystallization
being set free accounts for the pastiness observed by
“ Alpha,” and therefore an equivalent proportion of dried
alum (alumen exsiccatum, B.P.) must be used in dis¬
pensing these powders.

Specific Gravity.

[488], In reply to “ Alpha,” the reaction is as follows :
— The acidulous radicle (sulphate) of the P. alumini
liberates the acetic acid contained in the plumb, acet.,
hence the moisture.

Oundle. F. Davis.

[488] . “Alpha” will find the powdered alum and
acetate of lead mix best, and quite efficiently for a lotion,
with a bone spatula on paper, Rubbing the ingredients
together in a mortar liberates (if I may use the term) the
large quantity of water of crystallization alum possesses,
which is sufficient to liquefy the acetate of lead, also
possessing three molecules of water of crystallization, the
latter substance being soluble in a little more than double
its weight of water.

Sunderland. T. H. D.

[489] . This prescription should be dispensed as written
with a “shake” on the bottle.

Specific Gravity.

[490]. “ 374 ” thinks that, as “ plumbi acetas ” was to
be used in the form of a lotion, most probably the pre-
scriber intended ungt. plumbi to be used.

[490]. Judging from the prescription I think “Oint¬
ment” would be justified in dispensing ung. plumbi acet.
for ung. plumbi. Probably the prescriber meant a similar
preparation to the lotion, but in the form of an ointment
would be more convenient to use at night instead of
continuing the application of the lotion through the night.

Sunderland. T. H. D.

[492]. “ J. P. I.” — “ Sax. oleum purificatum ” is the
synonym for vaseline or petroleum jelly.

Oundle. F. Davis.

548

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January l, »^8li

[492] . “ Sax. oleum purificatum ” is a synonym for

vaseline, saxoleum being simply a variation of petroleum.
The root meanings of the two words differ less than do
our English words “stone” and “rock.” M.

[493] . What do your correspondents understand is
intended as the first ingredient in the following prescrip¬

tion ? —

R Berberise . 31-

Acid. Phosp. Dil . 3iij*

Tinct. Aurantii . 3^v-

Aq. Destil . ad £vj.

Syrup. Aurant . jj.

M. Coch. ampl. ter die ex aqua sumend.

Calumbo.

[494]. I had the following prescription given me to
dispense a few days ago, but could not do so. as I was
unable to get a preparation called by the doctor “ainmon.
quina carb.” Will some reader kindly inform me if he
knows of any such preparation ?—

R Ammon. Quina Carb . 3i‘ss-

Tr. Nuci Yoin . 3iss-

Ext. Ergot. Liq . 3^’j-

Eth. Sulph. Co . 3ij.

Inf. Quass . .ad t^vj.

M. ft. m.

Sig. 3SS ter in die ex aqua.

Edward Coxhead Hutchens.

[495]. The following was dispensed by me lately : —

R Liq. Hyd. Perchlor . Rl xx.

Potass. Iodidi . gr. iij.

Tinct. Cinchonse . ad. 3j-

M. Mitte §ij.

Take one teaspoonful in a wineglass of water twice a
day.

It was brought back with a complaint that when dis¬
pensed in London it was darker in colour and quite clear.
Mine was thick. Can anyone explain the difference ?
My tinct. cinchon. is prepared strictly according to the
B.P. Transfugio.

|Totes anb (Queries.

[697]. I should recommend Mr. Jones to make infusion
of gentian of Pharmacopoeia strength, and to submit it to
the greatest degree of cold he can command ; I have found
leaving it in the open air on a cold winter’s night sufficient,
but in warm weather artificial means must be resorted
to, and this makes it of course more expensive. Fifteen-
sixteenths of the infusion should be frozen the first time ;
this, after separating from the little liquid unfrozen, is
melted and again frozen ; this time very little extractive
matter is left in the ice ; the two liquids are mixed and
made up to one-tenth the bulk of the original infusions
with water, and then to one eighth with spirit. The result¬
ing preparation retains all the aroma of the fresh infusion,
and is much lighter in colour than the same preparation
concentrated by heat. Major.

®orrc5(3onbcnce.

Why do not our Young Pharmacists contribute
more to Original Research ?

Sir, — Speaking before the Leeds Chemists’ Association,
Mr. Louis Siebold laments the very slight improvement
that has taken place in the educational position of phar¬
macists since 1868, the year in which the Pharmacy Act
came into operation. He laments especially that those who
pass the examinations of the Society should make them
the end of their scientific career, the goal instead of the
starting point. He says that the Pharmaceutical Society
and Pharmaceutical Conference appeal almost in vain to
the rising generation of pharmacists for help in original re¬

search or literary contributions. If this is so, what is the
reason ? Are all the advantages that the study of science
offers proclaimed in vain before the eyes of the incredulous
and unappreciative pharmacist? I fear this is so, and that
the career offered is not sufficient to induce the cultivation
of general and technical scientific knowledge to the extent
that Mr. Siebold and many others would wish.

The business prospects and social position open to the
majority of pharmacists in this country are not such as to
induce them to consume the “midnight oil.” The business
position pecuniarily is not equal to that of an average grocer
or draper, and the social position is about the same. The
advantages of an assiduous cultivation of scientific pursuits
in particular instances here and there may be considerable,
but generally it amounts to this, that they constitute the
fortunate possessor general referee for the neighbourhood
in all matters concerning snakes, birds, plants, etc., filters
that will not filter, and water that “there is something
wrong with,” and for which an analysis is required free of
charge. # In fact the chemist in such_a case becomes a sort
of animated “ inquire-witliin-upon-everything.” He is a
very useful man in his neighbourhood, but must not look for
the commercial success of his neighbour the draper, or
the professional distinction of the M. D. in the next street.
His business does not contain within itself the potentiality
of such success. Here I think mffl^be found the reason why
so few who pass the higher examinations continue their
purely scientific pursuits — it does not pay. A low view, it
may be said. Perhaps so, but I imagine it would be the view
taken by most men similarly circumstanced. The whole
body of pharmacists can show a fair proportion of its mem¬
bers who have obtaintd eminence in the scientific world,
but the prizes of the profession are so few and so poor that
they fail to be a stimulus to the members generally, and
unless the chances of obtaining commercial success become
greater than they are now, or the possibility of applying
scientific knowledge usefully and advantageously be in¬
creased, I fear the level of scientific attainments in the
general body of pharmacists will remain much as it now is.
The general body of the members of a profession will never
be found to be educated above the average requirements of
the profession itself, and really what is becoming more
necessary every day in a pharmacist is rather a memory
that will retain the names and particulars of all the West-
end and American nostrums, than a knowledge of pharma¬
copoeia processes which are daily becoming more and more
superseded. Other careers afford a better remuneration (I
do not mean mere money value) for the same expenditure
of capacity and labour, and other careers will give social
distinction to scientific attainments, and some of our most
promising students finding this out have deserted pharmacy
for some more favourable sphere. Can they be blamed?
Pharmacy is a useful and a respectable calling and it requires
for its proper exercise some scientific knowledge and a
superior code of ethics, but it has few prizes to offer.
Many of its members follow scientific pursuits for the love
of them, and they gain greatly in all the advantages which
science and culture bring, they enter on a pursuit which
ever leads them on to fresh pleasures, but it cannot be ex¬
pected that the general body of its members should attempt
a higher range of attainments than is necessary to fulfil the
duties of their calling.

_ K. K.

Elegant Dispensing.

Sir, — I fail to understand the meaning of Mr. Leay’s
letter in the Journal of the 18th, when he speaks of
“ elegant dispensing.” It is not, I should imagine, elegance
that is required to carry out the intention of the prescriber,
but the purity of the ingredien's with accuracy that is the
most essential, combined with neatness in corking, capping,
labelling, and wrapping, and for that I maintain every
chemist has a right to be fairly remunerated.

302, Mare Street, Hackney, E. W. M. Covell.

Communications, Detiuris. etc. have been received fr« m
Messrs. Kendall, Garside, Nesbit, Mackay, Fennell, Mee,
Cartwright, Swinn, Farker, Langbeck, Local Secretary,
Careful Reader, Eureka, Only a Junior.

* Not long since I analysed some wall paper for a gentle¬
man, discovering arsenic; when my bill went in containing
an item of 5s. as charge for the examination, I received a
lengthy letter expressing surprise at the charge and that I
had not in the interests of science made the analysis gratis.

January S, 1SS1.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

549

CAPE TEA.

BY HENRY G. GREENISH.

Through the kindness of Mr. Holmes, Curator of
the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society, a quan¬
tity of a drug used in the Cape of Good Hope as a
substitute for tea, and called “Honig-thee,” reached
Professor Dragendorff in the spring of last year. As
several similar tea-substitutes have been shown to
contain theine or an allied principle, the examination
of this drug for that alkaloid was, as Mr. Holmes re¬
marked, a matter of some interest, and I willingly
acquiesced in Professor Dragendorff’s suggestion that
I should undertake the same. This examination
was followed up by a general investigation, of the
driic*, the results of which are embodied in this

^This sample of Cape tea was followed by a second
from Mr. Holmes, labelled “Bush Tea.”' As two
specimens were contained in the Museum of the
Pharmaceutical Institute I was enabled to compare
four samples of this tea-substitute with one another.

I. Honig-thee, said to be derived from Cyclopia
genistoides (nat. order Leguminosce).

The drug consisted of stalks and leaves, bound
together in bundles weighing about 300 grams each
and measuring in length about 45 centimetres.. The
stalks were of a yellowish-brown colour, varying in
diameter from 1 to 4 or 5 mm., bearing the leaves
arranged spirally in groups of three. The latter are
linear lanceolate, from 10 to 26 mm. long, about 2 mm.
broad, and § mm. thick. The consistence was some¬
what leathery, at the same time brittle ; margins
entire, rolled inwards so as almost to conceal the
midrib; colour dark green. A few reddish-brown
papilionaceous flowers about 12 mm. long, and 9 mm.
broad, with a deep-toothed calyx, were also found in
the drug. The odour, though not strong, was
pleasantly aromatic ; taste slightly bitter and as¬
tringent, not at all disagreeable. _

II. Bush Tea. — Botanical source not stated.

The sample consisted of leaves with a few flowers.
The majority of the former were from 10—15 mm.
long, 2—3 mm. broad, margins entire, rolled inwards,
but not so much so as in sample I. The leaf presents
a broader and shorter appearance. . The flowers are
yellowish, about 13 mm. in length, 4 in breadtlq calyx
toothed, but the teeth about half the length of those

in the foregoing sample. # „ r

III. A sample from the Martmy Collection ot
Drugs, labelled “ Cyclopia genistoides.” The external
characters were similar to those of No. I., but flov er&
were absent.

IV. A sample from the Museum of the Pharma¬
ceutical Institute, labelled “Cyklopia Vogelii, Cy-
klopia genistoides, de Bary, ‘ Cap-tliee presented
by Professor H. Kobler in Halle. Tlie leaves agreed
in appearance with those of sample II., but flowers
were absent.

Samples I. and II., which contained flowers, were
submitted to Professor Emeritus Alex. Bunge, of
this university, with the object if possible of identi¬
fying them. Professor Bunge, to whom I take this
opportunity of tendering my thanks, expressed his
opinion that, so far as the fragments at his disposal
allowed of determining, sample I. would probably
have been derived from C. longifolia or 0. galeoides ;
No. II. possibly from C. brachypoda. _ The two
samples could not be referred to one species, nor was
it probable that C. genistoides yielded either.

Third Series, No. 550.

On referring to Rosenthal’s ‘Synopsis Plantarum
Diaphoricarum’ C. longifolia, galeoides, and brachy¬
poda were found to be mentioned as yielding Bush tea,
supporting, therefore, Professor Bunge’s diagnosis.

Microscopical Structure.

I. Cyclopia longifolia (?) Leaf.

The transverse section of the leaf (fig. 1) shows a
prominent epidermis consisting on the upper side
of a single layer of large parenchymatous cells sur¬
mounted by a largely developed yellow cuticle. On
the under side of the leaf these epidermal cells are
much smaller and the cuticle much less developed,
except at the point just opposite to the midrib,

Fig. 1 .—Cyclopia longifolia (?) galeoides (?).— Trans¬
verse section of leaf: — e, epidermis; c, cuticle ; w,
midrib; n, n, n, side nerves ; n', side nerve branching
from midrib; b, bast fibres; d, cambium layer ’, et
woody tissue : g , vascular tissue ; f , cells containing
red colouring matter (here removed by washing with
water). For the sake of greater clearness _ the
parenchymatous tissue of the leaf has been omitted
in the wood-cut.

where they appear about the same size as those of
the upper surface. Next to the epidermis is situated
the parenchymatous tissue of the leaf, consisting of
rounded cells containing chlorophyll.

The midrib (fig. 2) is composed of a central portion
of more or less thickened wood cells arranged in layers
alternating with layers of thin- walled cells (paren¬
chyma of the wood) and bounded on the upper side
(i.e. on the side directed towards the upper surface of
the leaf) by spiral and annular vessels, on the under
side by several rows of thin-walled parenchymatous
cells (bast parenchyma). This bast parenchyma
contains probably sieve cells, but these could not be
detected, owing perhaps to the extreme minuteness
of the elements. Following these parenchymatous
cells is a layer of more or less thickened bast fibres.
Each nerve is surrounded by a single layer of large
(on longitudinal section long, cylindrical) cells filled
with a red colouring matter. This latter is soluble
in water, and if the section be warmed with dilute
sulphuric acid it assumes a deep purple tinge.

Treated first with iodine and then with solution
of chloride of zinc and allowed to stand twenty-
four hours, only the wood cells appeared yellow, the

550

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 8, 1881

wood parenchyma, vessels, and bast fibres and cells
assumed a violet-blue, the inter- cellular substance a
pale yellowish tint. Potash coloured the section
yellowish-green, the wood cells, vessels, and bast
fibres transiently yellowish ; the bast parenchyma
remaining unchanged. The cuticle was slightly
darkened in colour. With the naked eye a distinct
fluorescence in green was observable in the alkaline
liquid.

d, parenchyma; e, wood cells of woody tissue; /,
vessels mostly spiral and annular ; g, nerve branching
from midrib ; h, the spiral vessels, and k, bast fibres,
etc., constituting the same.

The addition of ferric chloride to a section pro¬
duced a greenish coloration.

. Stalk. — The transverse section (fig. 3) showed simi¬
larly an epidermis with a largely developed yellow
cuticle. Next to the epidermis are several layers of
rounded parenchymatous cells containing a granular,
partly colourless (1 protoplasm), partly red substance.
Within this parenchymatous layer are situated
groups of bast fibres forming together a tolerably
continuous ring, accompanied here and there by
stone cells, singly, or in groups of two or three.
These stone cells are thick- walled, and, as seen on
the longitudinal section, of irregular shape.

Between the bast fibres and the cambium ring is
a layer of small irregular thin- walled parenchyma¬
tous cells traversed by the medullary rays. In this
layer occur groups of very small elements apparently
produced by the division longitudinally of one of
the parenchymatous cells.* The examination of the
longitudinal section showed the presence of numerous
sieve cells.

The wood consists of libriform wood cells inter¬

spersed with irregular groups of tracheids, both spiral
and with ringed pores. It is traversed by medullary
lays formed of a single row of somewhat thick-
walled porous cells possessing an unusual vertical
length. The pith is made up of large rounded
parenchyma.

_Fig. 3. — Transverse section of stalk of C. longifolia (?)
galeoides (?) — c, cuticle; e, epidermis; p, parenchyma;
b, bast fibres; bp, bast parenchyma (and sieve cells);
cb, cambium layer ; st, stone cell ; mr, medullary
lays : l, libriform wood cells ; t, traclieiden. *

In addition to the frequent occurrence of starch
grains in the bark parenchyma, medullary rays, and
pith, and the red granular substance in the bark
parenchyma, the presence of well-formed sphaero-
crystals may be noticed, especially in the cells of
the medullary rays. These sphserocrystals are in¬
soluble in water, dilute hydrochloric acid and alcohol,
but readily dissolved by a solution of potash. They
are not coloured by iodine or by iodine and solution
of chloride of zinc and probably consist of an organic
acid or acid salt.

Iodine and solution of chloride of zinc coloured
the bast fibres wine-red, which passed in the course
of twenty-four hours to a violet. A similar colora¬
tion was noticeable in many of the cells of the wood,
especially the libriform wood cells, and of these those
situated near the bast ; but the coloration was not*
confined to these, as the vessels bordering on the
pith assumed a similar though not so intense tint.
Nor did the cells show uniformity in colour, for
while in the one case the whole section of the cell
was coloured violet, in a second the interior remained
yellow, in a third the interior assumed a violet tint,
the exterior a yellowish, in a fourth the violet and
yellow alternated with one another, thus rendering
the lamination (Schiclitung) very easily discernible.

The cells of the medullary rays and the inter¬
cellular substance remained after treatment with
iodine and chloride of zinc yellowish.

II. Bush tea. Cyclopia brachypoda (?).

The transverse section of the leaf (fig. 4) is much
longer and narrower than that of the preceding species.
The microscopical characters are similar, but the
cells containing the red colouring matter are neither
so large nor so prominent. The parenchymatous
tissue consists for the most part of somewhat narrow

* See de Bary, ‘ VergJ. Anatomic,’ p. 337, o±7, ng. io(j.

January 8, 18S1.]

the pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

551

cylindrical cells arranged parallel to one another and
at ri<dit angles to the surface of the leaf (known m
German under the name of Pallisaden-parenchym).

o me- £ —

-^£fXXxx:

Pig. 4.__ Cyclopia, bmchypoda (?).— Transverse section
of leaf:— e, epidermis; c, cuticle; m, midrib; n, n,
Bide nerves; n', side nerves just branching from
midrib ;/, cells containing colouring matter (removed
by washing with water) . The parenchymatous tissue
omitted for the sake of greater clearness.

III. Cyclopia genistoides (J longifolia ), Martiny

collection. ... ,

This leaf showed great similarity to No. I. ancl
is possibly derived from the same plant. The
microscopical examination did not reveal any charac¬
teristic difference .

IV. G. Vogelii, C. genistoides (?).

This drug is evidently not derived from the same

plant as No. III. The transverse section is much
longer and narrower and shows considerable re¬
semblance with No. II. As was the case with the
preceding sample, the absence of flowers rendered
the botanical identification impossible, but it is not
improbable that C. bmchypoda yielded the sample
under* consideration. The microscopical characters
do not call for any particular notice.

The specimen of “Busch Thee,” stated to be derived
from C. ge?iistoides examined microscopically by Dr.
Yogi, may possibly be identical with No. II., in
which the cells containing red colouring matter (not
mentioned by Dr. Yogi) are, in some cases, very
inconspicuous. The measurements given by Dr.
Yogi agree tolerably well with those which I have
made in this sample.

(To be continued.)

THE ALKALOIDS OE JABORANDI LEAVES.*

The alkaloid of jaborandi, pilocarpine, has been investi¬
gated particularly by Kingzett, upon the basis of the
preceding labours of Gerrard, + Hardy, § Drasche, || and
others. Kingzett ascribes to the free alkaloid the
formula C23H34N404 + 4H20, although these figures do
not agree very closely with his results. . He also
obtained, after the crystallization of this alkaloid, a small
quantity of a sticky substance which refused to crystallize,
and which was not further examined. By the dry dis¬
tillation of chloroplatinate of pilocarpine with excess of
alkali, Kingzett obtained a volatile product which he
considered identical with trimethylamine.

On the other hand, Poehllf has lately stated that he
obtained, under these circumstances, a basic body which
cannot be distinguished from coniine.

From the so-called false jaborandi, derived probably
from a species of Pipe)' ( Piper Jaborandi, Vollosa?),

* Abstract of a paper by Dr. Erich Harnack and Dr. Hans
Meyer, of Strassburg, in Liebig’s Annal. d. Chem., 204, 67.
Reprinted from Ne w Remedies, November, 1880.

t Kingzett, Pharm. Journ. and Trans., [3], viii., 255 ;
Journ. Chem. Soc., October, 1876.

j Gerrard, Pharm. Journ. and Trans., [3], v. 825, 865 ;
vi., 227, 965 ; vii., 255.

§ Hardy, Pharm. Journ. and Trans.. [3], v., 781; vi., 24.
| Drasche, Zeitsch. d. Ally. Oesler. Ap., Ver., 13, 283.

Hi Poehl, Ber. d. Deutsch. Chem. Qes., 12, 2185.

Parodi obtained an alkaloid, easily soluble in amylie
alcohol and benzin, but difficultly soluble in ether and
dilute acids (?), which he called jaborandine, and for
which he gave the formula C10H12N2O3.

Several investigators, for instance, Gerrard, Hardy, etc.,
have surmised that there may be two alkaloids in jaborandi.
Hardy particularly speaks of two alkaloids, but no deci¬
sive results were obtained. A theoretical reason for t yr
assumption of the existence of two different alkaloids in
jaborandi has also been the discrepancy .in reports
regarding the therapeutical action of jaborandi leaves.

The investigations of the authors of the present paper,
so far as they regard the therapeutic action of jaborandi
and its alkaloids, are given at length in the Archivf. exp.
Pathol, u. Pharmakol., 12. The principal result has been,
that pilocarpine was found, in most respects, to be entirely
analogous to nicotine in its effects.

In the present paper the authors give the results of the
chemical investigations, which may be briefly stated to be

the following : ,

Jaborandi contains, besides pilocarpine, a second alka¬
loid which is easily produced from the former and is present
in many commercial samples of pilocarpine. It is essen¬
tially different from true pilocarpine, and corresponds in
action entirely with atropine. This new alkaloid the
authors propose to name jaborine.

1. Preparation of pure Pilocarpine. — Commercial salts
of pilocarpine and preparations obtained by precipitating
the crude alkaloid with phosphotungstic acid contain
almost always small quantities of jaborine, the complete
separation of which latter is by no means easy. Free
jaborine is more readily soluble in ether, but less soluble
in water, than pilocarpine ; the chloroplatinate of the
former is more easily soluble in alcohol than that of the
latter y besides the jaborine salts are not crystallizable.

The authors tried to effect the separation of the two
alkaloids in the following manner. The alcoholic solution
of the impure salt of pilocarpine was precipitated with
platinic chloride, the precipitate was thoroughly washed
with alcohol, dried, and dissolved in boiling water. . That
portion of the platinum salt which first separated in the
cold, in form of thin crystalline laminae, was dissolved m
water and decomposed by hydrosulphuric acid. The
filtrate was concentrated, supersaturate d with soda, and m
single portions energetically shaken out with repeated
quantities of ether. Pilocarpine, being with difficulty
soluble in this menstruum, mostly remains m the aqueous
solution, which contains then no more jaborine. By pre¬
cipitating the acidulated solution with phosphotungstic
acid, and decomposing the precipitate with barium
hydrate, absolutely pure pilocarpine is obtained— but a.
considerable loss of substance is incurred.

The authors have subsequently received from Mr. E.
Merck, of Darmstadt, who had placed the material for
these investigations at the disposal of the authors,
samples of a pilocarpine — now sold as pilocarpmum
purum — which was free from jaborine.

The best test for the presence of jaborine in any pre¬
paration of pilocarpine is the physiological trial upon the
frog’s heart, as jaborine is capable, like atropine, to
paralyse the cardiac plexus of the pneumogastncs.

The analytical examination of pilocarpine was mostly
performed with the aid of the gold and platinum salts.
The latter was prepared as stated above ; from its solu¬
tion in boiling water it crystallizes, by rapid cooling m
magnificently iridescent, thin, yellow laminae ; on slow
cooling, however, in semicircular, warty,, crystalline
groups. It dries easily at 100° C., and contains no water

As the hydrogen determinations, in the course of the
ultimate analysis of the salt, gave somewhat higher
figures than theory required, the authors also analysed

sMt, which was1 prepared from pure hydrochlorate
of pilocarpine. In the course of this analysis they made
an observation, which, so far, had not been recorded of
cf0ld double salts. Namely, if an aqueous solution of

552

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

January S, 1SS1

hydrochlorate of pilocarpine is precipitated with chloride
of gold, a precipitate is obtained which, under water,
assumes a handsome crystalline shape. This has the
composition: C11H16N202,HC1 + AuC13. On now dis¬
solving this salt in alcohol and boiling for some time, it
separates again on cooling, in nice crystals; but the
composition now is: CnH16N202 + AuC13. That is by
boiling with alcohol, the hydrochloric acid is separated
from the double salt, and a new compound is formed, in
which the chloride of gold may be regarded as acting the
part of an acid, analogous to those compounds which
mercuric chloride forms with bases. Upon the bases of
their several analytical data, the authors arrive at the
formula C11H16N2G2, for pure pilocarpine.

Owing to the great similarity in action between pilo¬
carpine and nicotine, the authors attempted to find a
method of converting one into the other. Their close
relationship appears to be proved also by the fact that
jaborandi leaves yield, under certain conditions, basic
substances which may be regarded as products of the
decomposition of pilocarpine, and which are likewise
obtained on decomposing nicotine — namely pyridine-
bases. Such bases could be actually isolated from pre¬
parations of crude pilocarpine, obtained from E. Merck,
which consisted of concentrated mother liquors and which
possessed an intense odour of oil of tobacco.

By the dry distillation of pure pilocarpine with excess
of alkali, the authors obtained trimethylamine, thus con¬
firming Kingzett’s statement.

On the other band, by distilling the “crude pilo¬
carpine” with excess of potassa, a small quantity of a
volatile base distils over at 160° C., apparently identical
with coniine. This accounts for the statement of Poehl.
If “crude pilocarpine” is distilled by itself, no such body
is produced, but merely the pyridine-bases pass over.

2. Investigation of Jaborine. — The existence of a second
alkaloid in the commercial pilocarpine having been ascer¬
tained, the authors attempted its separation from the
crude material placed at their disposal by Mr. Merck.
This material consisted of concentrated mother liquors —
derived partly from jaborandi leaves, and partly from the
so-called false jaborandi ( Piper reticulatum, and other
species) — all of which were left behind after the crystal¬
lization of pilocarpine, and which appeared in form of a
thick red-brown syrup, having the odour of oil of tobacco
and a strongly alkaline reaction. The presence of pilo¬
carpine, pyridine, and other impurities interfered with the
separation of the pure base, and the further circumstance
that the salts of the latter do not crystallize prevented
the authors from obtaining the base in a state of suffi¬
cient purity to determine its ultimate composition.
Nevertheless, it was prepared sufficiently pure to prove
that its effects are completely identical in the animal
organism with those of atropine.

The two best methods so far discovered by the authors
for obtaining the new base are the following :

1. The alcoholic solution of the crude mother liquor,
acidulated with hydrochloric acid, was precipitated in
fractions with platinic chloride. (The chloroplatinate of
jaborine is more soluble than that of pilocarpine.) The
first portion of the precipitate, which soon coalesces to
smeary, rapidly hardening, and (in water) insoluble
masses, is rejected, the decanted liquid further pre¬
cipitated, filtered, and the filtrate now completely pre¬
cipitated. After again filtering, the alcoholic filtrate
generally deposits, on standing, another small quantity of
the jaborine salt. The latter and the last precipitation
are then extracted with boiling water, and the filtrate
concentrated in vacuo over sulphuric acid, Chloro¬
platinate of jaborine then separates either as a fine
bright-yellow powder, or as a dark-red amorphous lumpy
mass. Protracted washing with alcohol abstracts from
this deposit a little colouring matter; but the whole of it
cannot be so removed. By decomposing the platinum
salt, both the free base as well as ordinary salts were
obtained, but always in yellowish amorphous masses.

2. The crude substance was dissolved in water with
the aid of hydrochloric acid, filtered, and the filtrate
treated with solution of mercuric chloride, until the first
milky cloudiness began to increase to a precipitate. By
protracted agitation and subsequent filtration, a bright-
yellow liquid was obtained, which, after removal of the
mercury by sulphydric acid, was concentrated, mixed
with caustic soda, and then shaken out with ether. The
ethereal solution, on evaporation, leaves behind the
jaborine as a colourless amorphous mass.

The composition of jaborine, so far as the authors are
justified to conclude, must be closely approaching that of
pilocarpine. But the most interesting fact is this, that
jaborine is easily formed from pilocarpine. Even the
mere concentration of acid solutions of pilocarpine is suf¬
ficient to cause the formation of small quantities of
jaborine, which may be recognized by its physiological
effects. The same happens when pilocarpine is heated with
hydrochloric acid in sealed tubes. Still larger quantities
are obtained by simply heating pilocarpine itself.

Langley* already observed that the application of
extract of jaborandi produced irritation of the terminations
of the pneumogastric nerve in the frog’s heart ; and that
an application of pilocarpine produced their paralysis,
just like atropine. At that time this observation
appeared to be a paradox ; but now the explanation is
easy, namely, the extract of jaborandi must have been
free from jaborine, and therefore produced the pure
pilocarpine (nicotine) effect ; during the process of pre¬
paring the alkaloid, however, some jaborine was formed,
and contaminated the sample of pilocarpine he used. If
both pilocarpine and jaborine are applied to the frog’s
heart at one and the same time, only the effects of the
latter become evident, which consist in a paralysis of
the cardiac plexus of the pneumogastrics.

The same observations have been made by the authors.
They found that the commercial Fluid Extract of Jabor¬
andi is free from jaborine ; but on evaporating the
alcoholic and acidulated solution of an extract, as for
instance when attempting to separate pilocarpine, a
notable quantity of jaborine will be formed.

The authors finally add that, while the presence of
jaborine in the fluid extract, etc., cannot be with certainty
detected by physiological experiments, the possibility is
not excluded that small quantities of jaborine are con¬
tained, ready formed, in the leaves of jaborandi itself.

SEPARATION AND DETERMINATION OF ARSENIC. +

Emil Fischer finds that the method proposed simul¬
taneously by Schneider and Fyfe for the separation of
arsenic in toxicological examinations by distillation as
trichloride is not generally used for the reason that in
the ordinary cases the arsenic is gotten as arsenic acid,
which is not effected without previous reduction. He
finds, moreover, that ferrous chloride is a reagent specially *
adapted for this reduction, so that the arsenic can be
readily converted into arsenious acid and then distilled
as trichloride. Thus, by distillation with hydrochloric
acid and ferrous chloride, the arsenic is quickly and
completely converted into volatile trichloride, while all
the other metals of the sulphuretted hydrogen group,
including antimony and tin, remain behind in the liquid
with the iron. The estimation of the arsenic in the
distillate may be made either gravimetrically as trisul¬
phide, according to Bunsen, or better, volume trically,
after neutralizing with potassium carbonate with iodine
solution. The hydrochloric acid solution, from which
the arsenic is to be distilled, may contain sulphuric acid,
but not nitric acid. Metallic alloys are therefore best
dissolved in hydrochloric acid, with addition of potassium
chlorate. If nitric acid has been used it must be
removed beforehand completely by evaporation with
excess of sulphuric acid.

* Medicinisches Centralblatt , 1877, 124.

t Berichte , xiii., p. 1778; from Am. Journ. Pharm.

January 8, ISSl.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

553

PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE
PHARMACY ACTS.

A Bill intituled an Act to further regulate the Sale
of Poisons and to alter and amend the Pharmacy
Act 1852 and the Acts amending the same.

Arrangement of Clauses.

Preamble.

1. Examiners for Scotland.

2. Bye-laws to further regulate examinations.

3. Claims for registration by notice and certificates to
be made before 1st January 1883.

4. Repeal of Section 11 of Pharmacy Act 1852.

5. Limitation of the authority of executors and others
to continue a business.

6. Certificates of death and expense of same..

7. Registrar may require information and penalties on
default in regard to information.

8. Registered persons to sell medical prescriptions and

sell poisons.

9. Penalties and application of certain penalties.

10. Labelling of patent medicines being or containing
a poison and penalties on improper labelling.

11. Duly qualified keepers of open shops entitled to
lemedies in certain cases.

12. Penalties under Act not to exempt from other
penalties.

13. Persons keeping open shops to be liable for their
assistants etc. and interpretation of word “ person.”

14. Certain exemptions from serving on juries.

15. Act not to extend to Ireland.

16. Commencement of and short title of Act.

Preamble.

Whereas it is expedient for the safety of the public
that all persons selling or keeping open shop for- the
retailing dispensing or compounding of poisons and
medical prescriptions should possess a competent prac¬
tical knowledge of their business And whereas for the
purpose aforesaid it is expedient that the provisions
contained in the Act passed in the 15th and 16th years
of the reign of Her present Majesty intituled an Act for
regulating the qualifications of Pharmaceutical Chemists
hereinafter described as the Pharmacy Act 1852 and in
the Acts amending the same should be amended Be it
enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty by and
with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament as¬
sembled and by authority of the same as follows :

Examiners for Scotland.

1. Whereas by the Pharmacy Act 1852 it is enacted
that for the purpose of conducting Examinations in Scot¬
land the Council of the said Society shall appoint fit and
proper persons in Scotland it shall be lawful for the said
Council to appoint for the purpose of conducting such
Examinations any fit and proper persons whether such
persons shall be in Scotland or elsewhere.

Bye-laws to further regulate examinations.

2. It shall be lawful for the Pharmaceutical Society
of Great Britain from time to time by any Bye-law to
alter or amend the regulations respecting examinations
by dividing or sub-dividing the same and requiring and
regulating intervals of time between examinations or any
divisions of the same and by requiring and authorizing

evidence or tests of knowledge and of practical experience
on the part of the candidates and to regulate the notices
to be given and the fees to be paid by candidates on
the giving of notices for the passing of examinations
or the several divisions of the same but the Council of
the said Society may on application in that behalf allow
the intervals of time or any or either of them to be
shortened or waived in favour of any person or persons
named in any resolution for that purpose.

Certain claims for registration not valid unless made before

lsi January , 1883.

3. No claim for registration as a Chemist and Druggist
made by notice accompanied by certificates of having
carried on business before the passing of the Pharmacy
Act 1868 shall be valid or effectual unless such notice
be duly giyen prior to the 1st January in the year 1883.

Repeal of section XI. of Pharmacy Act, 1852.

4. Section XI. of the Pharmacy Act 1852 is hereby
repealed.

Limitation of the authority of executors and others to
continue a business .

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of section XVI. of
the Pharmacy Act 1868 it shall not be lawful for any
executors administrators or trustees of a deceased Phar*
maceutical Chemist or Chemist and Druggist to continue
the business of such Pharmaceutical Chemist or Chemist
and Druggist for a longer period than three years unless
by permission of the Council of the Pharmaceutical So¬
ciety of Great Britain.

Certificates of death and exp ense of same.

6. Notwithstanding the provisions of section XI. of the
Pharmacy Act 1868 every Registrar of Deaths in Great
Britain shall on transmitting to the Registrar under the
Pharmacy Act 1852 of every certificate of the death of
any Pharmaceutical Chemist or Chemist and Druggist
charge the cost of such certificate and transmission as an
expense of his office.

Registrar may require information and penalties on
default in regard to information.

7. The Registrar appointed or to be appointed undt r
the Pharmacy Act 1852 and the Pharmacy Act 1868
may at any time and from time to time deliver or cause
to be delivered at any open shop kept for the retailing
dispensing or compounding of poisons whethei as patent
medicines or otherwise or medical presciiptions or pur¬
porting to be the shop of a Pharmaceutical Chemist or
Pharmaceutist or Chemist and Druggist or Chemist or
Druggist or whereat there shall be assumed used or ex¬
hibited any name title or sign implying that it is the
shop of a person registered under the Pharmacy Act 1852
or the Pharmacy Act 1868 a notice signed by him re¬
quiring delivery to him within seven days thereof of a
statement in writing of the name and address of every
person then keeping the open shop and of the qualification
of every such person so to keep open shop and thereupon
the person or persons then keeping the open shop shall
within such seven days cause to be delivered to the said
Registrar a statement accordingly and in default thtreof
every person keeping the open shop and e cry person
afterwards during continuance of the default found
selling poison at or compounding medical prescriptions at
or acting in the management of the business at the open

554

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 8, 1881.

ehop shall be liable to a penalty of £5 but nothing in
this clause contained shall prevent any person from being
liable to any penalty to which he may otherwise be
subject and if any person wilfully makes or causes to be
made a false or insufficient return he shall be liable to a
penalty of £5.

Registered persons to sell medical prescriptions and sell

poisons.

8. It shall be unlawful for any person (either alone or
as a member of any partnership) to sell by retail or to
keep open shop for retailing dispensing or compounding
medical prescriptions or (whether as patent medicines or
otherwise) poisons within the meaning of the Pharmacy
Act 186S unless he be duly registered as a Pharmaceu¬
tical Chemist or Chemist and Druggist or be an Executor
Administrator or Trustee of a deceased Pharmaceutical
Chemist or Chemist and Druggist acting within the
exemption in relation to such Executors Administrators
or Trustees made by section XVI. of the Pharmacy Act
1868 or a Medical Practitioner entitled to and acting
within the exemption concerning certain Medical Prac¬
titioners made by' section I of the statute passed
in the thirty-second and thirty-third years of the
reign of Her present Majesty intituled “ An Act
to Amend the Pharmacy Act 1868 ” provided never¬
theless that nothing in this section contained shall
extend to or interfere with the business of wholesale
dealing in patent medicines nor with the business of
wholesale dealers in supplying poisons in the ordinary
course of wholesale dealing or of any member of the
Iloyal College of Veterinary Surgeons of Great Britain
or person ho5 ding a certificate in Veterinary Surgery
from the Highland and Agricultural Society in Scotland
in dispensing medicines for animals under his care.

Penalties and recovery and application of certain penalties.

9. Every person acting in contravention of any section
hereinbefore contained shall for each contravention be
liable to pay a penalty of £5 and the same may be sued
for and recovered in the manner provided by the Pharmacy
Act 1852 for the recovery of penalties under that Act
and all and every sum and sums of money which shall
arise from any penalties so recovered for offtnees incurred
under this Act or under the said Pharmacy Act 1852 or
under section 15 of the Pharmacy Act 1868 shall be paid
to the Treasurer of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great
Britain and shall by him be applied to the purposes of
the said Acts and this Act or either of them.

Labelling of patent medicines being or containing a poison
and penalties on improper labelling.

10. On the preparation for sale (whether by wholesale
or by retail) of any patent medicine or any article
bearing a patent medicine stamp hereinafter comprised
in the words patent medicine being or containing a
poison within the meaning of the Pharmacy Act 1868 the
person so preparing the same shall cause the box bottle
or vessel in which the same is contained to be labelled
with his name and address the name of the patent medi¬
cine and the word poison and he shall also cause the
wrapper if there be only one or the outermost wrapper if
there be more than one of the same to be so labelled, and
any person acting in contravention of this section shall
up n a summary conviction before two justices of the peace
in England or the sheriff in Scotland be liable to a penalty

not exceeding five pounds for the first offence and to a
penalty not exceeding ten pounds for the second or any
subsequent offence.

Daly qualified keepers of open shops entitled to remedies in

certain cases.

11. In case a duly qualified keeper of an open shop for
the sale is exposed to a penalty in respect of a sale by
retail of a patent medicine prepared for sale by another
person by reason of the box bottle vessel or wrapper in
which the same is contained not having been duly
labelled with the name and address of the said person
who prepared the same for sale the name of the patent
medicine and the word poison he shall after having paid
the same be entitled to be indemnified in respect of the
same and any costs properly incurred by him in relation
to the offence or conviction or his defence thereto by the
said person who prepared the said patent medicine for
sale or by any intermediate vendor of the same as he may
elect and every intermediate veudor shall be entitled to
be indemnified over by the said person who prepared the
same for sale or any vendor intermediate between them
as he may elect provided always that the person claiming
such indemnity must prove that he purchased the said
patent medicine not knowing it to be otherwise than
properly labelled and sold it in the same state in- which
he purchased it and any person from whom such
indemnity is claimed may prove that the conviction was
wrongful or that the amount of costs awarded or claimed
was unreasonable.

Penalties under Act not to exempt from other penalties-.

12. No penalty under this Act shall exempt any person
from being liable to any other penalty damages or punish¬
ment to which he would have been Bubject if the Phar¬
macy Act 1868 or this Act had not been passed.

Persons keeping open shops to be liable for their assistants
etc. and interpretation of word “person.”

13. All the provisions of the Pharmacy Act 1868 which
apply to sales of poisons and all the provisions of this
Act which apply to the preparation for sale of or to sales
of- poisons whether. as patent medicines or otherwise or to
medical prescriptions shall be deemed and taken to apply
to every person on whose behalf the preparation for sale
or the sale is made by any Assistant Apprentice or Ser¬
vant whether such Assistant Apprentice or Servant shall
be in the bond fide conduct of the business or not and such
Assistant Apprentice or Servant shall be deemed to be
the Agent of the person on whose behalf the preparation
for sale or the sale is made provided always that nothing
in this clause contained shall prevent any such Assistant
Apprentice or Servant from being liable to any penalty
to which he would otherwise be subject and in this Act
and also in section 12 of the said Pharmacy Act 1852
and also in section 15 of the Pharmacy Act 1868 the
word “ person ” shall include corporate bodies.

Certain exemptions from serving on juries.

1 4. Every person registered or who shall be registered
under the provisions of the Pharmacy Act 1852 or of the
Pharmacy Act 1868 as a Chemist and Druggist and who
shall be in business on his own account shall be exempt
from serving on all juries and inquests whatsoever.

Act not to extend to Ireland.

15. This Act shall not extend to Ireland.

Commencement of and Short Title of Act.

16. This Act shall come into operation on the 1st day
of January 18S2 and maybe cited as the “ Pharmacy Law
Amendment Act 1881,”

January 8, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

555

CIjc |ouma(.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , boohs for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomshiry Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square , W.C,
Advertisements , and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Chdrohill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Fharm. Journ.”

PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE PHARMACY

ACT.

Although a variety of considerations, not difficult
to be guessed at by those conversant with the present
condition of pharmaceutical affairs, have induced the
Council of the Society to continue in committee its
deliberations as to the form of the Bill by which it
is contemplated to bring about a suitable amend¬
ment of the present law, it will, we have no doubt,
be satisfactory to the general body to learn that the
publication of the result of those deliberations was
unanimously agreed to at the late meeting of
Council. In pursuance of that decision we hove
been furnished with a copy of the Pharmacy Act
Amendment Bill, and are thus enabled to place it
before our readers for their consideration.

As we pointed out some weeks ago, the attempt to
amend pharmaceutical legislation is surrounded by
difficulties, arising partly from difference of opinions
among those engaged in the drug trade, and in no
small degree from antagonistic influences from with¬
out. It is, therefore, especially desirable that the
several clauses of the new Bill should be considered as
much as possible in a catholic spirit as to the proba¬
bility of their provisions being beneficial to the general
interests of the trade, and that there should be on all
hands a disposition to waive individual opinion if it
can be shown that those provisions may be expected
to have such a tendency. It is only in this way that
one class of difficulties can be surmounted in the
attempt to amend pharmaceutical legislation, and
it is only by the unity of action on the part
of the drug trade at large which may result from
mutual concessions among themselves that there can
be any prospect of dealing successfully with the
other class of difficulties which will be encountered
from without. For it must not be expected that an
amendment of the Pharmacy Act, such as sketched
' out in the Bill agreed upon by the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society, will be passed into law
without opposition. A perusal of the draft which
appears in this week’s issue will show that a challenge
is thrown down to several opponents of those
interests which the chemist and druggist is con¬
vinced ought to be protected. In one respect the
introduction of this Bill into Parliament may be
viewed as a resort to a still higher court of appeal

than that of legal tribunals, viz., that of public
opinion as expressed by the Parliament of the realm.
The highest legal tribunal in this country has de¬
cided that the Pharmacy Act, 1838, does not apply
to corporations, even wdien they consist of persons to
whom it would apply individually, and this decision
has in some degree made the Acta dead letter. The
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society representing
chemists and druggists throughout the country now
pleads to Parliament that the law is in so far defec¬
tive, and seeks that it should be amended in accord¬
ance with the spirit of the original enactment.

This is a step which means war to the knife with
co-operative stores and their simulators, in regard to
the practice of pharmacy. Clause 13 of the Bill
provides in terse phraseology that the word “person,”
in section XY. of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, and for the
future generally, shall include corporate bodies, also
that all the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
which apply to sales of poisons shall be taken to
apply to every person on whose behalf a sale -is
made by any assistant, apprentice or servant, whether
such assistant, etc., be in the bond fide conduct of
the business or not, since such assistant, etc. , is to be
deemed the agent of the person on whose behalf the
sale is made, though still liable to any penalty to
which he would otherwise be subject.

Again, in clause 8 it is provided that it shall be
unlawful for any person, either alone or as member
of a partnership, to sell by retail or to keep open shop
for retailing, dispensing, ou compounding medical
prescriptions or poisons — whether as patent medi¬
cines or otherwise — within the meaning of the
Pharmacy Act, 1868, unless he be duly registered
as a pharmaceutical chemist or chemist and druggist,
or be otherwise entitled to do so under section X YI. of
the Pharmacy Act, 1868, or be a medical practitioner
entitled to and acting within the exemption made
by section I. of the Act to amend the Pharmacy Act,
1868.

These clauses strike at the root of the grievance
under wdrich chemists and druggists have lately
suffered so much from loss of business by reason of
the competition set up by unqualified traders. The
protection that would be afforded to chemists and
druggists if these provisions became law would be
but a reasonable compensatory recognition of their
compliance with the requirements of the law in sub¬
mitting to examination and devoting time and
money to acquiring the technical proficiency that is
deemed to be expedient for the safety of the public.
The business of a chemist and druggist is suffi¬
ciently an exceptional one to fully justify the claims
made by the Legislature upon those who enter upon
it, but it is an entire stultification of the prin¬
ciple upon which those claims are made to allow
the business which they have made themselves
competent to carry on to be usurped by associa¬
tions of persons who have not done so. But though
it is to be hoped such r ational considerations of

556

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 8, 1S£1

what is just to the chemist and druggist, no less <
than of what is expedient for the safety of the <
public, may prevail with Parliament when the Bill i
comes before it, we must not overlook the fact that
the prevalent tendency to look upon protection
in all cases with antipathy will operate in antagonism
to the proposed measure. It will be especially
necessary to make clear the necessarily intimate — or,
we might almost say inseparable — connection between
protection of the chemist and druggist in the
exercise of his business and the requisition that he
should possess a competent practical knowledge of
that business. The posses dun of such knowledge is
the only thing that makes him different from other
tradesmen ; the necessity of it is the only reason why
his business is to be regarded as forming an excep¬
tion to other kinds of tiade, and a high standard of
qualification is the only ground upon which he can
seek exemption from the rule of those free trade
principles which are appropriate enough to ordinary
•trade, though perhaps sometimes too extravagantly
admired.

Thanks to the efforts and example of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society in promoting the scientific education
of those intending to enter upon the business of
pharmacy, it can be shown that there has been an ad¬
vance in this direction, and that there is a tendency to
progress still further toward the general attainment
of the object which the Pharmacy Act declares to be
expedient. On this ground, no less than on that of
justice, it may be urged* up on the Legislature that the
protective measures sought for by the Pharmaceuti¬
cal Society in its Amendment Bill would contribute
materially to securing the attainment of that object.
They would, we believe, operate as an incentive to
education and by removing the cause for complaint
that the business of pharmacy is one too poor and
unreniunerative to admit of time and money being
expended in study they would do much to raise the
general position of the pharmacist in this country.

Let us hope that these reasons for according to the
competently qualified pharmacist a fair chance of
carrying on his business untrammeled by competi¬
tion into which he cannot enter may be strongly
urged upon the Legislature by those who will have
the conduct of the Bill in Parliament, for if that be
done we believe that they are sufficient to secure it
a favourable reception.

Besides the difficulties already referred to, there
is another which must be noticed, though it is pro¬
bably not so serious. We refer now to the view which
may be taken in some quarters of the 10th clause of
the new Bill relating to the sale of patent medicines
containing poisons within the meaning of the Phar¬
macy Act. This clause provides that such articles
shall be subject to the regulations as to labelling and
otherwise now in force as regards the ordinary sale
of such poisons, and it makes the sale of a patent
medicine — whether by wholesale or retail — contain¬
ing a scheduled poison, without due labelling, an

offence punishable by a fine not exceeding five pounds
on the first occasion, and ten pounds on any sub¬
sequent occasion, upon summary conviction. This
provision will no doubt be disapproved by the pro¬
prietors of patent medicines containing scheduled
poisons, and possibly it may be opposed by them ;
but on the other hand it is to be remembered that in
this particular public opinion is already in favour of
the step that is proposed in the new Bill. We may
add that communications have been addressed to
the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society on this
subject by the Privy Council and by other authorities,
and in view of the great number of fatal accidents
that have occurred from the misuse of secret pre¬
parations containing poison there is no question as
to the propriety of enforcing some precautionary
measures.

In the lltli clause of the new Bill provision is
made for indemnifying a qualified keeper of an open
shop who may have been exposed to a penalty for
the sale of a patent medicine containing poison, but
not properly labelled, provided he can prove that
he purchased the article not knowing it to be otherwise
than properly labelled, and that he sold it in the same
state in which he purchased it. This provision throws
the entire onus of properly labelling patent medicines
containing scheduled poisons upon the maker of
them, and as the clause deals specifically with the
preparations containing poison and sold as patent
medicines, it is an important amendment in the
interest of the public. According to clause 8, the
sale of such patent medicines is restricted to legally
qualified keepers of shops.

Among the other previsions of the new Bill we
may mention that relating to jury service, from which
it is proposed to make all registered chemists and drug¬
gist exempt when carrying on business on their own
account, this provision being general as regards both
England and Scotland. Widows are left as they
have been under the present Act, but there is a
provision that the executors, administrators or
trustees of a deceased pharmaceutical chemist
or chemist and druggist shall not continue to carry
on the business for a longer period than three years,
unless by permission of the Council of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society, so that in cases where an extension
of this time is appropriate it could readily be
obtained.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association will be held on

Thursday, January 13, at 8'30 p.m., when a paper
will be read by Mr. W. H. Symons, F.C.S., on
“ Starch and Starches.”

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association will be held

at the rooms, on Wednesday next, January 12, at
9 p.m. Mr. A. P. Luff, F.C.S., F.L.S., will read a
paper on “ The Chemical and Physical Properties of
Blood.”

.January 8, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

.357

(jtrmxsactiflits of % ^barmaceutital

SociehL

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, January 5, 1881.

MR. THOMAS GREENISH, PRESIDENT,

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Andrews, Atkins, Bottle, Butt,
•Churchill, Frazer, Gostling, Hampson, Hills, Radley,
Richardson, Robbins, Sandford, Savage, Squire, Symes,

and Williams.

The minutes of the previous ordinary meeting were
read and confirmed, as also those of the Special Meeting
held on December 14.

The Board of Examiners.

The Secretary read a letter from the Privy Council,
approving of the pharmaceutical chemists appointed last
month by the Council to act as Examiners during the
present year.

The following, being duly registered as Pharmaceutical
■Chemists, were respectively granted a diploma stamped
with the seal of the Society : —

Dunlop, Thomas.

Knight, Thomas.

Knight, William Tomkinson.

Lees, David.

Morgan, William.

Slater, William Martin.

Wood, Robert.

Wright, Alfred.

Elections.

members.

Pharmaceutical Chemists.

The following, having passed the Major examination
.and tendered their subscriptions for the current year,
were elected “ Members” of the Society : —

Christoph erson, Fred . Ipswich.

Dunlop, Thomas . Govan.

Evans, John . Oswestry.

Lewis, David . . . Manchester.

Morse, Charles Henry Stafford*. . Cambridge.

Newbury, Samuel . . St. Leonards-on-Sea.

Phillips, James Wilson . Newport, Mon.

Wright, Alfred . Loudon.

Wyatt, Charles Frederick . Chatham.

Chemists and Druggists.

The following registered chemists and druggists who
were in business on their own account before August 1,
1868, having tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected4' Members ” of the Society : —

Gaubert, Stephen . London.

Morris, George . . Wednesbury.

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

The following having passed their respective examina¬
tions, being in business on their own account, and having
tendered their subscriptions for the current year, were
■elected “ Associates in Business ” of the Society : —

Alexander, George . Liverpool.

Davies, Hugh . Machynlleth.

Evans, Thomas . . Burnley.

Litten, Henry . West Ham.

Pearce, Thomas Ellery . Tavistock.

Tookey, Edwin James . .Birmingham.

Welch, Alfred Edward . Great Yarmouth.

ASSOCIATES.

The following having passed their respective examina¬
tions, and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “ Associates ” of the Society.

Davies, Owen . Llanelly.

Evans, Thomas . Llandyssul.

Hartley, Thomas . Haslingden.

Higgs, Alfred Henry . Bristol.

Hill, Richard Mainprise . Scarborough.

Kemp, Herbert William . Horncastle.

Ross, Andrew Leighton . London.

Shipman, Joseph James . Chesterfield.

Stewart, William . Helensburgh.

Wynter, Ernest Charles . Seaford.

Willet, John Algernon . London.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, having passed the Preliminary exami¬
nation and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “ Apprentices or Students ” of the
Society : —

Aplin, Isaac Weston . Yeovil.

Bacon, Edward . London.

Barber, Daniel Stone . Dursley.

Batchelor, William . Staly bridge.

Baxter, William Smith . Bradford.

Bell, John Conyers . . . Hull.

Blidberg, Anders S. Frederic ...London.

Brown, Charles . Barking.

Burroughs, George Henry . Seaforth.

Butterfield, Frederick Victor . Thirsk,

Clarke, Harry Ward . Richmond.

Cook, Richard John . Southsea.

Cross, Charles Henry . Lancaster.

Davis, Frederick . Oundle.

Dawson, John Harper . Fife Keith.

Delarue, Edward Ludlow . London.

Dunn, George Stewart . Landport.

Ensor, John Thomas . Birmingham.

Evans, David . Newcastle Emlyn.

Gaskin, John Henry . Wolverhampton.

Greenall, Thomas Holdswortb. .Ashton.

Haines, George Richard . London.

Hanson, Christopher . Buckhurst Hill.

Heale, Henry . . . London.

Houfe, Robert William . York.

Hughes, Daniel . Holywell.

Ingle, George . . . Bradford.

Jones, Henry . Landport.

Jones, Morgan Isaac . Aberdare.

King, Richard Henry . Bradford-on-Avon.

Knibb, William . Nottingham.

Lawrence, Samuel . Oban.

Lawson, Albert Edward . Shrewsbury.

Lewis, Thomas . Newport, Mon.

MacCreath, David . ...Newton Stewart.

Miles, Charles . Dorchester.

Millbright, George James . Shrewsbury.

Morrall, Edward Ernest . Bridgnorth.

Morrison, Forbes . ' . Glasgow.

Nicholls, Reginald E . Lee.

Rogers, Frederick Hughes . Northwitch.

Rowsell, Philip Foale . Teignmouth.

Shallcross, Joseph Richard...... Tunstall.

Simpson, William . London.

Skinner, Robert . Liverpool.

Smith, William . Louth.

Stafford, Owen . ...Hyde.

Timbury, Alfred Jefferies . Leominster.

Tirrell, John, jun . Hanley.

Tyler, Charles Skelton . Cambridge.

Verity, Harry . Leeds.

Watson,- John Winder . Tunstall.

Wilkes, Thomas James . London.

Williams, John Thomas . Dowlais.

Williams, William Lloyd . Buckley.

Wilson, Samuel . St. Helens.

Winter, Joseph . Lancaster.

Woolley, Samuel Walter . Stamford.

558

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 8, 1881.-

Several persons were restored to their former status in
the Society upon payment of the current year’s subscrip¬
tion and a fine.

The name of the following person, who had made the
required declaration and paid a fine of one guinea, was-
restored to the Register of Chemists and Druggists : —
George Woolldridge, Royal Naval Hospital, Malta.

Reports of Committees.

Curator's Report.

The Curator’s report had been received, and included
the following particulars : —

Attendance. Total. Highest. Lowest. Average,

265 25 3 10

72 8 0 3

The following donations to the Museum had been re¬
ported, and the Committee recommended that the usual
letter of thanks be sent to the respective donors: —

November

j Day •

\ Evening

FINANCE.

The report of this Committee, including a recommen¬
dation that sundry accounts be ^paid, was received and
adopted.

BENEVOLENT FUND.

The minutes of this Committee included a recommen¬
dation of the following grants : —

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist, aged 66, and
unable to attend to business from ill-health.

£10 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist.

£10 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist,
having five children dependent upon her.

£10 to the widow of an associate.

Five other cases were deferred for fuller information.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

Librarian’s Report.

The Librarian’s report had been received, and in¬
cluded the following particulars : —

Attendance.

November

Total. Highest. Lowest.
i Day . . 274 16 5

\ Evening . 148 13 1

Circulation of books. Town. Country.

No. of entries . . . 201 146

Average,
linearly.
7 nearly.
Total.

347

Specimens of Liquid Aloes, Dragon’s Blood of
Draccena schizantha, Baker, Gum of Pterocarpus
Draco, and five other unnamed gums and gum-
resins from Socotra.

From Professor I. Bayley Balfour,
Specimens of the galls of Quercus Valonia and of a
species of Tamari: c; of the barks of Byrsonivia
spicata, Clusia rosea, Diospyros Sapota, Persea
Lingue and Virola sebifera.

From Professor Bernardin, of Melle-lez-Gand,
Microscopical Slides of a new Adulterant of Dande¬
lion coffee. From Mr. F. M. Rimmington.

An application had been received from the Leicester
Chemists’ Assistants’ Association for additional specimens
of materia medica.

The Committee recommended that such duplicates as
could be spared be sent.

The Committee had considered an application from the
Bristol Pharmaceutical Association, and recommended
that the Curator be instructed to forward such articles as
he can supply from the Museum, and to furnish the Com¬
mittee with a list of those he is unable to supply.

The Professors had attended and reported favourably
of their respective classes.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted .

HOUSE.

Carriage paid . . . £2 16s. 0 \d.

One of the missing volumes, the Chemist and Druggist
for 1866-7, had been returned to the Library.

The following donations to the Library had been
received : —

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Register,
Charters, etc., 1880. From the College.

American Pharmaceutical Association, Proceedings
at Fifth Annual Meeting, 1856.

From Dr. B. F. Davenport.
Bernardin (M.), Classification de 100 Caoutchoucs
et Gutta-perchas, etc.,. 1872[-5].

From the Author.

Pharmaceutisches Central-Blatt, 1833-44. 12 vols.

From E. G. Schweitzer, Esq.
Mesue (J.), Opera, etc., 1602.

From M. Gustave Doray, per Mr. E. B. Stamp.
Meyer (H.), tTber des Milchsaureferment, und sein
Verhalten gegen Antiseptica, 1880.

Scheibe (E.), Beitrage zur Kenntniss und Darstellung
der Borcitrate.

Schuppe (N. C.), Chemische Untersuchung der
Samen von Pinus Cembra.

From Professor Dragendorff.
The Committee recommended that the usual letter of
thanks be sent to the respective donors.

The Committee also recommended the purchase of the
following books : —

Darwin (C.), Power of Movement in Plants, 1880.
Markham (C. R.), Peruvian Bark, 1880.

Messer (F. A.), British Wild Flowers by Natural
Analysis, 1880.

Riche (A.), Manuel de Chimie M^dicale et Pharma-
ceutique, 3me £d., 1881.

The Committee had also ordered that the Library and
Museum be closed for the usual period at the Christmas
vacation.

The report of this Committee stated that estimates had
been ordered to be obtained for tablets in the Lecture
Theatre, to contain the names of the Prizemen and
Scholars, and one in the Hall to record legacies and
donations to the Benevolent Fund. The Committee
were of opinion that the minimum amount recorded
should be £50.

Mr. Williams thought it was an open question whether
it would not be wise to make the minimum amount which
should confer the privilege of having the donor’s name
placed on the tablet, a smaller sum. He thought
twenty guineas would be high enough, and that with '
regard to legacies, the Dames of all donors should appear,
irrespective of the amount.

Mr. Savage thought twenty guineas was low enough to
begin with.

Mr. Butt asked if the record was to be confined to a
gift at one time.

Mr. Robbins thought it should not.

Mr. Williams said it was desirable to encourage
donations as much as possible, and therefore the figure
should not be put too high, and should be allowed to be
cumulative.

Mr. Andrews said his own opinion was that the limit
should be ten guineas.

Mr. Butt asked if it was intended to limit this honour
to individuals, or to include firms.

Mr. Williams thought it would hardly do to include
firms. A firm’s voting privilege ceased in ten years ; it
was only in the case of individuals that the right lasted
for life.

Mr. Richardson did not see why there should be any
distinction between a firm and an individual. The object
was to stimulate people to give money for the benefit of
their poorer brethren, and the Council should do all in
its power to augment the Fund. He thought that all
donations of twenty guineas, whether from firms or
individuals, should be placed on the proposed list, and

January 8, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

559

that the sums should be cumulative, so that if a person
or persons gave ten guineas one year and ten guineas
•five years afterwards when the twenty guineas was made
up, his or their name should be added to the list. He
would therefore move —

“ That any person or firm giving twenty guineas, in
one or two sums, towards the Benevolent Fund as a
donation, the name of such person or firm be placed
upon the tablet in a suitable situation in the house
for that purpose.”

Mr. Savage seconded the motion, which he thought
seemed reasonable.

Mr. Williams asked if no distinction was to be made
between an individual and a firm.

Mr. Richardson said no ; firms had this disadvantage,
that though they gave ten guineas, they only had an
interest in the fund for ten years, whereas an individual
became a life governor.

Mr. Williams remarked that a firm did not die, like
an individual ; it might go on for ever.

Mr. Symes said if a firm composed of four persons gave
twenty guineas, the individual members only gave five
guineas each. Therefore, while he would make the pro¬
posed arrangement as broad as possible, he did not think
firms and individuals should be placed on the same footing.
It would not be unreasonable to double tho amount
given by a firm, and he would therefore move as an
amendment, that if an individual gave twenty guineas,
or a firm forty, his or their name should be placed on
the proposed tablet.

Mr. Butt seconded the amendment.

Mr. Frazer said there were some cases in which a firm
consisted of one individual only. He had known such
cases, in which benevolent societies had preferred to have
a donation in the name of the firm, as carrying more
weight.

Mr. Squire agreed with Mr. Symes. If a gentleman
wished to have his name appear as an individual, he
could do so by giving twenty guineas, but if he wished
the name of his firm to appear he must give forty.

Mr. Robbins thought it was the general opinion of the
Committee that it was not desirable to fix the same
amount for firms and individuals. It would not be fair
to an individual that three or four persons engaged in a
firm should have their names exhibited, by subscribing
the same amount collectively as he did individually.

Mr. Richardson said he had no objection to withdraw
his motion in order to ensure unanimity, though he was
still of opinion it would be better to make no distinction.
There were small wholesale firms which would subscribe
twenty guineas, but could not afford forty.

Mr. Hills hoped the motion would not be withdrawn.
The object was to get as much money for the Fund as
possible.

Mr. Hampson thought it undesirable that a firm should
rank exactly as an individual in the matter. It was
just possible that some firms might choose this a3 an ad¬
vertizing medium, and that was an additional reason why
they should give a larger amount than an individual to
gain this privilege.

Mr. Savage thought the difficulty might be met by
firms nominating one of their members to represent them.
He knew cases in which that was done.

The President said Mr. Williams had done good
service in bringing this matter before the Council, but at
present he thought it would be better to refer it back to
the Committee, which would bear in mind the views
expressed, and bring it oh again in a more matured
form.

Mr. Symes thought it would be a pity to lose the
benefit of all the discussion which had taken place, and
go over all the same ground again. He would move his
amendment in the following form : —

“ That sums given as cumulative donations to the
Benevolent Fund, amounting as a whole to not less
than twenty guineas by an individual or forty

guineas by a firm, entitle the donor or donors to have
his or their name placed on the proposed tablet for
that purpose.”

The Vice-President asked, with regard to the effect
of the cumulative amount, whether a man who sub¬
scribed a guinea a year for twenty years would be entitled
to the glory of a place on the tablet.

Mr. Williams said he thought a man who was so
careful and persevering would deserve to have his name
recorded.

Mr. Robbins said in some societies a man was made
a governor by a certain donation, and a vice-president
by a larger sum, and had some other title on giving a
still larger donation. It would be well to offer some
inducements to men to increase their donations. There
might be a second tablet for larger donations.

Mr. Butt thought one tablet had better be filled up
first.

After some further discussion the amendment was put
and carried, and then passed as a substantive motion.

It was also resolved, on the motion of Mr. Williams,
seconded by Mr. Andrews, —

“ That the names of all persons bequeathing legacies of
whatever amount to the Benevolent Fund be placed
on the tablet.”

The Secretary stated that, from the commencement
of the fund up to the present time, there had been
twelve donations of twenty guineas in one sum, ten
donations of twenty-five guineas and three of fifty
guineas.

The report and recommendations of the Committee
were then adopted, subject to the foregoing resolutions.

A Late Annuitant.

Mr. Richardson wished to mention the case of a
former annuitant who had been suspended from the list
and had recently died. There was a feeling in Leicester¬
shire that the man had not been fairly dealt with, and
though he had done his best to remove that impression,
it still remained to some extent.

The President said he bad had two or three inter¬
views with the person alluded to, and it seemed
impossible to remove him from the state of dirt and filth
in which he lived. On the last occasion on which he
visited him there was such an intolerable stench in his
room that he did not think anything would have induced
him t® enter it again.

Mr. Hampson, as a member of the Benevolent Fund
Committee, said it might be as well to state that after
the annuity in question was granted, the Committee
found that it had been somewhat under a misappreheu-
tion in granting it. It was found that the applicant
was renting a place in the country which was simply a
lumber room, while he lived in London.

Mr. Richardson said he was quite satisfied with what
had been stated by the President. He only wished it to
be stated publicly that this man had not been badly
used.

The Vice-President thought in mercy to the dead
the Council had better not go further into details.

Mr. Williams said if there was any impression abroad
that the Council had not done its duty, it was very
important that it should be thoroughly removed.

Mr. Robbins thought enough had been said about the
subject. The Council had already spent a great deal of
time over this case on previous occasions.

Mason’s College, Birmingham.

The President read a letter from Mr. Southall, saying
he was desired by the Medical Council of Mason’s
College to make application for a copy of the Pharma¬
ceutical Journal as published. He had also received a
private letter from ‘Mr. Southall asking him to support
the request.

Mr. Symes moved, and Mr. Churchill seconded, a
motion —

That the Journal and Transactions of the Society be

560

LTIE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNA^, AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 8, 18bl.

sent regularly as published to the Mason’s College,
Birmingham.”

The President suggested that the ‘ Historical Sketch
of Pharmacy ’ and the Catalogues of the Library and the
Museum, and also the back numbers of the new series of
the Journal should, if possible, be sent.

This was agreed to, and the motion as amended was
passed unanimously.

Reports of Committees — continued.

GENERAL PURPOSES.

The report of this Committee included the usual letter
from the Solicitor giving the details of cases placed in his
hands. Other cases of alleged breaches of the Pharmacy
Act, which had been brought to the attention of the
Secretary, were also reported.

The report and recommendations of the Committee
were received and adopted.

Report of Examinations.

December , 1880.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Candidates.

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, (8th) . .

„ (15th) . .

. . 7

2

5

. . 7

4

3

— 14

— 6

— 8

Minor, (8 th) . .

. . 19

7

12

,, (9th)

. . 28

12

16

„ (15th) . .

. . 22

13

9

„ (16th) . .

. . 27

11

16

— 96

—43

—53

Modified, (8th)

. . 1

1

0

111

50

61

SCOTLAND.

Candidates.

Major (15th) .

Examined. Passed.

... 2 2

Failed.

0

Minor, (15th) .

... 12 7

5

14 9 5

Preliminary Examination.

Certificates received in lieu of Society’s examination : —

University of Oxford . 2

University of Cambridge . 2

College of Preceptors . 4

Royal College of Surgeons of England . . 2

10

Amendment of Regulations for Examinations.

The Vice-President moved: —

“That the alterations in the wording of the Regulations
of the Board of Examiners recommended by the
Board at its meeting on December 16 last be adopted.”
The object of this was simply to make more clear the
present regulation. In the case of candidates producing
certificates from any of the other bodies which were taken
in lieu of the Society’s Preliminary examination, it was
the Board of Examiners which had to approve these
certificates; but it occurred occasionally, although very
seldom, that a candidate brought such a certificate to the
clerk in the office, for the first time, at the same time as
he tendered the fee for the Minor examination. The
object was simply to make it clear that the certificate for
the Preliminary must be deposited a certain time before
the fee for the Minor examination could be taken and
the name entered for the examination.

Mr. Atkins asked if the Board of Examiners was
responsible for the Preliminary examination. He was
under the impression that that was a matter settled be¬
tween the College of Preceptors and the office.

The Vice-President explained that the whole of the

examinations from beginning to end were placed in the
hands of the Board of Examiners, and it was responsible
for them. It was simply as a matter of convenience that
the Preliminary was deputed to the College of Preceptors.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Bottle and carried
unanimously.

The alterations referred to in this resolution are shown
in the following paragraphs, in which the words to be
omitted are placed between brackets, and the words
added are printed in italics : —

In the Section relating to the “ Preliminary Examination .”

“ * Certificates of having passed the Local Examina*
tions of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Durham}
or Edinburgh, the Examination of the College of Pre¬
ceptors, or those of any legally constituted examining
body previously approved by the Council, provided Latin
and Arithmetic be included in the subjects, are accepted
in lieu of this examination, and must be forwarded to the
Registrar, with the fee of two guineas, ‘for the approval
of the Board of Examiners. These certificates must be
approved by the Board of Examiners before the candidate
is eligible to enter his name for the Minor Examination .”

In the Section f elating to the “ Minor Examination .”

“ Candidates for this Examination must have [passed
the First or Preliminary Examination, and have] at¬
tained the full age of twenty-one years. They must have
passed the First or Preliminary Examination , and have
been registered as Apprentices or Students .”

In the Section relating to the “ Major Examination .”

“ Candidates for this Examination must have attained
the full age of twenty-one years. They must [and] have
passed the “ Minor ” Examination and been registered as
Chemists and Druggists at least three months previously.”

The Hanburt Memorial Fund.

The President said it would be recollected that two
years ago a sum of money was collected to form what
was called the Hanbury Memorial Fund, for the purpose
of giving a gold medal every two years for high excellence
in the prosecution of original research in the natural
history and chemistry of drugs ; the persons appointed to
award the medal being the Presidents for the time being
of the Linnean Society, the Chemical Society, and the
Pharmaceutical Society, the Preside ut of the Pharma¬
ceutical Conference, and one pharmaceutical chemist to
be nominated by the last mentioned two presidents.
The present year would be a very favourable time for
awarding the first medal, as in August there would be a
good many foreign pharmacists in this country on the
occasion of the International Pharmaceutical Congress.
He would therefore ask the Council to take steps to
carry out the idea of the founders of the fund.

The Vice-President moved accordingly —

“That the Hanbury Medal be awarded during the
present year and that the President be requested to
communicate respecting the award with the Presi¬
dents of the Linnean and Chemical Societies and
the President of the British Pharmaceutical Confer¬
ence.”

Mr. Hills seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.

Grants to Provincial Associations.

Mr. Williams then moved the following, of which he
had given notice: —

“That the Library, Museum and Laboratory Com¬
mittee be requested to revise the conditions and
regulations under which grants may be made to
pharmaceutical associations in the provinces.”

He said when an application was made some time ago for an
award of money to a local institution, all who heard it were
convinced that those who made the application had either
forgotten or were not at all acquainted with the regulations
which existed for making such awards. On referring to
the regulations, he found that when they were originally
framed, they were declared to be of a temporary nature ;

January 8, 1381.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

5G1

the idea being that there were a number of young men
throughout the country who were very anxious to obtain
educational assistance which would enable them to pass
the examinations. This was justified to some extent,
but latterly, the scheme seemed to have fallen almost into
abeyance, and he thought, therefore, it would be well to
refer the matter to the Committee to amend the regula¬
tions, and bring them more into accordance with the
present condition of things.

Mr. Savage seconded the motion.

Mr. Hampson was extremely surprised to find such a
motion put forward, because there had been no complaint of
the working of the regulations. He believed the regula¬
tions were ample ; no fault had been found with them.
Whenever an application had been made they had. been
found to work satisfactorily, and to reopen a question of
this kind without any real cause being shown was un-
advisable and unnecessary. Almost any application could
be received under the present regulations, and grants

made under them. _

Mr. Richardson thought it was in consequence oi
some observations he made last year that this motion had
been placed on the agenda paper, and he would say in
answer to Mr. Hampson that the slight discussion had
been of benefit, for in a very few weeks after it occurred
an application came from Leicester for a series of ^ speci¬
mens for their little museum down there. If the Council
was prepared to make these grants it was better to give
as much publicity to the fact as possible. Since these
regulations were made there had sprung up all over the
kingdom local associations, which had . their little
museums or libraries and educational media, and it was
very desirable that it should be known that the Society
was prepared to assist them by sending specimens suit¬
able for educational purposes. He was happy to know
that the Curator made it one of his great objects to pro¬
vide specimens of this kind.

Mr. Hampson asked if the present regulations had
been found in any way inapplicable.

Mr. Richardson : Not at all. But he thought it
quite possible they might be improved.

Mr. FRxiZER agreed with Mr. Hampson that the pre¬
sent regulations were ample ; all that was required was
their re-publication. If they were re-published, and so
made known to the present generation, he thought it
would meet the whole case.

The Vice-President urged Mr. Williams to withdraw
the motion for the present. It was scarcely in accord¬
ance with usage that a committee should be appointed to
revise regulations without some indication of the direction
in which that revision should take place. At the present
moment he must agree with Mr. Hampson that there
had been no complaints of the working of the regulations
now in force ; and his disappointment had been having
taken a prominent part in the matter at the outset not
at the way in which applications had been received, but
at the paucity of the applications themselves, which
showed an amount of apathy with regard to professional
improvement which he was not prepared for. Another
reason for postponement was this. It was possible the
Committee now sitting to consider the relation of educa¬
tion to the examinations might report at a not far distant
date, and possibly there might be in that report matters
which might materially enhance the desire on the part of
the local chemists to centralize themselves into associa¬
tions and more emphatically to further the cause of
professional education. If that should prove to be the
case it might give such a stimulus to the educational
movement in the provinces that it might be found de¬
sirable to modify the conditions in some definite direc¬
tions. .

Mr. Symes supported the view of the Vice-President.
It did not follow that the regulations were bad because
people were ignorant of them. He did not know either,
that the Museum was overdone with such an abundance
of specimens that they need be anxious to thrust them on

people who did not care about them. The day might
come when the regulations would be found inadequate,
and he should then be prepared to support their revision ;
but when the Committee had already quite as much work
as it could do, he did not see why it should have un¬
necessary work cast upon it. ...

Mr. Savage thought Mr. Williams was quite right in
suggesting that if renewed publicity were to be given to
these regulations they should be carefully revised, but he
had no objection to the matter being postponed.

Mr. Williams said he was willing to leave the matter
in the hands of the Council ; it did not press in any way.

The President said he did not remember any single
case coming before the Committee which the regulations
had failed to meet. But he did think it desirable that
the regulations should be published, so that the local
institutions should see that they could get assistance
from the parent Society.

Mr. Atkins agreed that the one great want in this
matter was a desire in the country for educational assis¬
tance. He should like to know if, when a local society
went into liquidation, any specimens it had received

were returned. .

The Secretary said he remembered one case in which
a money grant had been made, and the Society collapsed.
In that case part of the money was returned, and was
carried to the Benevolent Fund.

Mr. Williams said he would withdraw the motion
in response to the general feeling of the Council.

The Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill.

The Solicitor attended the Council at two o’clock to

advise on this matter. # .

The President said he presumed the discussion would

take place in committee.

Mr. Symes thought it should be in open Council.

Mr. Williams moved that the discussion be taken in
committee.

Mr. Bottle seconded the motion.

Mr. Richardson said he should oppose the motion.
He thought the time was come when the whole of the
proceedings might take place in open Council. .

Mr. Symes believed the time had now arrived when
the Bill should come before the chemists and druggists
throughout the country, so that they might know what
was being done. They had been long patiently waiting,
and it was now the duty of the Council to put the matter
more or less before them. The ideas contained in the
Bill had already been handed over to the Trade Associa¬
tion for consideration ; but that body, of course, could not
publish them because they were communicated as a
matter of courtesy and as a private and confidential
matter.' The time had arrived when the Bill must be
introduced. The Vice-President had given notice of a
motion, which he hoped would be carried, which would
place it in a fair way of progress, and to attempt to pass
a Bill which would be binding on all chemists and drug¬
gists throughout the the country, without giving them the
opportunity of considering it, would be an insult to them
which he hoped the Council would not be a party to
The President suggested that the Council should not
go over the whole Bill clause by clause, but that any
member who had any objection to any clause, or any
amendment to propose, should do so. Therefore, it would
be better to publish the Bill in extenso , as finally agreed
to, rather than a discussion upon it.

The Vice-President said he should have been disposed
to think the Council had better finish the discussion on
the proposed Pharmacy Act as it had been begun, in
committee, had not a certain fact occurred between the
last meeting and the present, which it seemed to lnm
removed it altogether from the hands of the Council.
He had seen in the Journal notice of the fact that
another body had been discussing the partly framed
amended Pharmacy Act, and since any set of men
outside the Council had been almost invited to express

562

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January S, 18S1.

opinions about it, lie saw no further occasion whatever
for keeping it from the rest of the trade. He should
therefore oppose the motion for going into committee.
He had, at the present moment, in his position as Vice-
President, no comment to make on what the President
had thought fit to do ; but as what he had thought fit to
do had taken the whole matter away from the first lines
which had hitherto appeared on the face of the draft,
“Private and Confidential,” it was no use blinking the
matter, and the Bill had better be discussed in open
Council, and let the world know the result.

Mr. Squire said Mr. Symes had alluded to this Phar¬
macy Bill having been handed over to another associa¬
tion by the President. It did occur to him, when he
first saw it, that the paper came to him as private and
confidential, and he did not feel that he had any right to
hand it over to anyone not a member of the Council ; he
was, therefore, astonished to find that it had been dis¬
cussed by another body.

Mr. Atkins said he should have no hesitation in
voting for the most public discussion of this question if
the effect were simply to bring in the deliberative power
of the whole body of chemists and druggists ; but itwas
not simply the chemists as a body who would be called
upon to discuss it, it would become public property, and
would-be debated by those who had interests opposed to'
their own. If it were the general feeling that that
should be done, he would not oppose it ; only let it be
thoroughly understood.-

The President said he accepted the entire responsi¬
bility of sending a copy of the Bill to the President of
the Trade Association. He considered it was too late to
ignore the existence of that body, numbering probably
five thousand members, and having the support and con¬
fidence of a large portion of the chemists of the kingdom.
The trade was on the eve of a struggle, and to divide its
forces just on the eve of the battle would, he thought, be
extremely imprudent -and dangerous. He was perfectly
certain that the Society could carry no Bill unless it had
the support of the Trade Association, and it was but
justice to the chemists and druggists of Great Britain to
give them an opportunity — not, at that early period,
individually, but through the Association — of discussing
the amendments which had been proposed. He bad con¬
sidered it a matter of duty on his part to send the copy
of the Bill in response to the expressed wish of the
President of the Association.

Mr. Frazer quite sympathized with the views expressed
by the President, as to sending the Bill to the l'epresenta-
tive of the Trade Association ; but he also thought that
the discussion of the Bill should be ended, as it was begun,
in committee. As one who opposed, almost without
exception, every one of the new propositions, he should
like it to go through the whole kingdom why he stood in
that position; he did not want to come under cover of
the Council. But he thought it would not be wise to
discuss in public these delicate and long reaching
questions, as they would then come before other bodies
than their own, with different views and different
interests. With that view he would suggest that the
Bill be discussed in committee, but that, whatever con¬
clusion was arrived at, the Bill in its ultimate form
should then be published, so that the constituents
throughout the country might know the conclusions at
which the Council had arrived.

Mr. Hampson said he had always been in favour of
publicity in the work of the Council as far as possible,
and he was sorry that he could not quite agree
with Mr. Symes. He thought it was advisable the
Council should complete its work in committee, and
when it had decided on the form the Bill should take, let
it be published as Mr. Frazer suggested. The Council
knew the reason why it had been thought desirable by
the President (he thought wisely so) to confidentially take
the Trade Association into counsel in the matter. In
doing so he had not given the Bill that publicity which J

the Yrice-President had represented. It was sent in con¬
fidence, and he believed full confidence might be reposed
in that body. He entirely endorsed the President’s view
with respect to the position of that Association. The
Pharmaceutical Society represented the trade to a certain
extent, but the other body represented the trade also,
and what was wanted at the present moment wa3 per¬
fect unity ; unless there were unity and concord the
Council might as well not attempt to carry anything.
He believed it was entirely with that idea that a copy of
the Bill had been sent; but he thought it would be
unwise to discuss it clause after clause openly. Let the
Council decide on what was wanted, and then let the
Bill be printed. The Council wanted to proceed with
the work this session, and the act of the President had
no doubt facilitated such a course, for it was by united
action only there would be any chance of carrying the Bill.

Mr. Williams said allusion had been made to a copy
of the Pharmacy Bill having been sent to the Trade
Association, but he observed that this Bill now before him
was headed “Private and Confidential.” He washed to
know whether it was a copy of this Bill that was now
about to be considered, or of some other, which had been
sent, because he had only seen the Bill in its present
form on the previous Friday evening.

The President said it was not that Bill.

Mr. Symes said that when the minutes were read, as
there was a deal of business to do, he had not interposed ;
but he noticed then a reference to a communication from
the Trade Association, requesting the Council to supply
it with a copy of the Bill. He heard nothing about that
at the last meeting.

Mr. Williams said that was at the adjourned meeting
of the Council, and no resolution was come to upon it.

Mr. Symes asked if it was considered by the Council.

The Vice-President said the Secretary had better
answer that question.

Mr. Symes said if it had due consideration it deserved
a resolution being passed with regard to it. The
Trade Association was no small body ; he did not stand
there as an advocate of the Trade Association, but as a
Member of the Council ; but it was a body the Council
could not afford to divide itself against in such a crisis as
the present, and if that application did not receive the
due consideration it deserved he could only repeat that
he thought the President acted very wisely in doing that
which he had done, whether it was regular or irregulai'.
He should like to know from the Secretary whether that
request for a copy of the Bill did receive consideration.

The Secretary said perhaps the better plan would be
to go through the actual correspondence which had taken
place.

The President said the application was for thirty copies
of the Bill. It was read just at the moment when the
Council was breaking up.

-Mr. Symes said he supposed it was smuggled through
at the end, like many other things.

The Vice-President objected to that interpretation
altogether. He would not say it was not introduced
towards the end of the meeting ; it might have been ; but
there was a distinct understanding that a Bill not being
framed — the Council not being agreed on the Pharmacy
Act Amendment Bill — it could not be handed over to any
other hands as the decision of the Council.

Mr. Symes wished to ask if a reply to that effect was sent.

The Vice-President said that having been present on
the occasion referred to, when, he believed, Mr. Symes was
not, he was under the impression that the decision was
that, under the circumstances of the case, the request could
not be complied with ; but when the proper time arrived,
the body referred to should be treated with the utmost
courtesy with which it was po-sible for one body to
treat another. But nobody could think of complying
with such a request then, any more than at the end
of the first meeting at which the Bill wras discussed.
It would have been simply absurd to hand over the

,

■

January 8, 18-1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

5G3

first sketch of an idea to another body for discus¬
sion, and accordingly, the Secretary had sent a reply
which he believed embodied the impression of the whole
Council at that last meeting. He was surprise! that
the discussion had come up in this tone, because there
was no implied slur or di-respect to any other body in
saying, “ We cannot supply you with that which we have
not got.’ The Council had not come to a conclusion,
and after the discussion to-day had finished, in all
probability the motion of which Mr. Butt had given
notice would be agreed to. He certainly should not
object to it, and he did not think anyone else would.

Mr. Hampson said there was one thing to be borne in
mind with respect to this matter. He understood that
Perl iament met to-morrow, and the Council was in this
position, that the trade yet knew nothing formally about
the Bill. Such being the case, it seemed a great anomaly
that the consent of the trade should be asked to it. A
sort of via media had been found through the wisdom
which gave a copy confidentially to the Trade Associa¬
tion. He thought it was undignified to continue this
discussion. Let the Council get to work on the Bill
and decide in committee what it should be, and then let
it be published as quickly as possible.

Mr. Richardson agreed with Mr. Hampson that this
discussion was very irregular, and would have come
better under the notice of motion given by Mr. Butt.
He quite acquitted the President of any offence in pre¬
senting the president of a kindred society with a copy of
the Bill. It was an act of courtesy which he was
perfectly justified in doing, and he exonerated him from
any blame in the matter. He looked upon that Associa¬
tion with very different eyes to some of his brother
councillors. He believed it was doing a great deal of
good. He did not see that it arrogated to itself any
position antagonistic to the Pharmaceutical Society. It
was a large Chemists’ Trade Protection Association, and
in that sphere could do an immense deal of good and
materially assist the Society in the larger sphere as
legislators for the whole trade. Therefore, it ill behoved
the Council to 3hovv any antagonism on the one hand or any
fear on the other. He had no doubt that the communi¬
cation would be treated confidentially by Mr. Barclay,
but he thought the Council might discuss this question
openly.

Mr. Andrews suggested that the Council might put
itself in order by having the minutes of the last Council
meeting read. The ’Vice-President had referred to a
discussion having taken place whether a copy of the
Bill should or should not be sent. Now he had no
recollection of that discussion ; on the contrary, several
gentlemen wei’e leaving the room, and some one said
there was not a quorum.

The Vice-President said he did not use the word
“discussion.”

Mr. Andrews said he thought the Vice-President
said the matter was taken into consideration.

The Vice-President : So it was.

Mr. Andrews said he wa3 a member of the Trade As¬
sociation as well as of that Council ; but if he thought there
was any antagonism between the two he should cease to
belong to the Association, because he was a pharmaceutical
chemist before anything else, and a lover of the Society.
He was convinced that the Trade Association only
wished to help that Society as fully as possible, and he
thought the President did one of the wisest possible
things under the circumstances, seeing how time was
passing, in acting as he had done.

Mr. Churchill said he was present at the Special
Meeting of the Council which had been referred to, and
he was under the impression most distinctly that there
was no resolution passed by the Council at the request of
the Irade Association that a copy of the Bill, or more
than one copy, should be sent. Nor could there be, be¬
cause there was not a quorum, as he himself pointed out.
The Vice-I resident said that two assertions had been

appai ently put into his mouth which he had never made.
He had not said there was a discussion or that a resolu¬
tion was passed. There had been a request, which could
not be complied with, and there was a general under¬
standing that it should be complied with when it was
possible.

Mr. Lutt said at the last meeting there was a letter
read from the Trade Association in which the President
of that Association applied for thirty copies of the Bill,
when finally agreed upon. Those words were expressly
mentioned, as would be seen by reference to the corre¬
spondence. It was decided by the gentlemen present that
that application was premature ; they could not send a
copy of a Bill which was even then being altered, and
which was looked upon as an imperfect measure. He
believed that the copy which was sent to Birmingham
was not even a copy of the Bill under discussion at the
present moment. The co-operation- of the Birmingham
Society was most desirable, but to send an imperfect copy
which was not what the Council had now to discuss, was
scarcely fair after the decision which had been arrived
at . by the majority of those present. As to the Bill
being driven up in a corner at the last moment, that was,
to a great extent, for want of having instructions suffi¬
ciently. early. The instructions to frame a Bill were
only given to the Committee on November 6, and he
thought it had done the utmost it possibly could since
then, and had got through a very fair amount of work.

Mr. Robbins said he was present at the last Council
meeting, and his impression of what took place then was
this. The Council had a Bill in print, which it had been
discussing, and the President mentioned that there was
an application from the Trade Association for thirty
copies of the Bill. The general feeling expressed by
those who remained until the end of the meeting was
that such a request could not be granted; but his
impression was that it was left to the President to send
a single copy, or one or two if he thought fit.

Mr. Gostling said he happened to be present up to the
very close of the last meeting, and he really must say,
as far as his recollection served him, the subject did not
receive any consideration at all. The letter was read,
and several members of the Council felt it desirable to
leave the room, and they were left without a quorum.
He himself said to the President, “ Under the circum¬
stances, I think you will be perfectly justified in letting
the Trade Association know how far we have got.” He
must, therefore, justify the President in the course he had
taken, and must also take his share of the respon¬
sibility.

Mr. Frazer thought the best thing the Council could
do would be to ask for the reply which the Secretary had
sent to the application of the Trade Association.

Mr. Hajipson suggested that the Council should go on
with the business.

Mr. Symes said the question was whether the Council
should go into committee or not. He had proposed that
the discussion should be in open Council ; but if it was
felt by the Council desirable to discuss the matter in
committee. As long as it was understood that the Bill
should be published as it left the hands of the Council he
bad no objection. The only reason the discussion had
taken that tone was because the Vice President com¬
menced by speaking in a condemnatory spirit of the
President’s action; but everything that had been said
tended to show that nothing had been done contrary to
constitutional practice. He hinlself was present at the
meeting referred to, although he did not remain until the
close, and, therefore, no official reply could have gone
He simply wished again to say that whether the Presi¬
dent had acted regularly or not, he had done the most
wise thing, which would help the Council amazingly.

The President said what he did he did openly
and stated in the presence of at least half a dozen, or it
might have been more, before he left the room. It was
his distinct impression that the letter from the Trade

5G4

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 8, 1881.

Association did not receive any consideration at all that
evening, and finding that the members were leaving, he
stated distinctly that he should take upon himself the
responsibility of sending to the President of the Associa¬
tion a copy of the Kill, and he telegraphed to him that
night that he would receive a copy of it by the first post
next day. What he had done was, he believed, in the
best interest of the whole body of pharmacists.

Mr. Frazer said his recollection was opposed to Mr.
Schacht’s view of what took place. He had a distinct
impression when he left the room, and he was perhaps
almost the last man that did leave, that a copy was to
be sent by the President.

The Vice-President said he should be sorry to be
misunderstood in any way. As for’ the tone which had
prevailed in some portion of this discussion he disclaimed
being responsible for it, because he was exceedingly care¬
ful in measuring his words in the first observations he
made, in which he was supporting Mr. Symes’s proposal
that the Council should discuss this matter in open
Council rather than in committee, for the reason that,
rightly or wrongly, it appeared to him to be no longer a
private matter. So far he did not in any way introduce
condemnation of the President’s action, and stated
distinctly that he did not feel competent to pronounce
any opinion upon it. With regard to the question of
whether he had misinterpreted what took place, he was
exactly of the same opinion still, and he appealed from
individual members, who might have preferences and
opinions on the matter, to the only official present,
namely, the Secretary, if he had a record that such was
the conclusion as announced by Mr. Frazer, or if he was
of opinion that a declaration on the part of the President
•was made publicly that he should do so-and-so Avith refer¬
ence to the Trade Association. He could only say that

did not hear it. If the Secretary, the sole perfunctory
person present, had it on his records, well and good. But
it appeared he had taken a perfectly opposite view, as
would be seen by the reply which he had sent in his
capacity as Secretary, but which the Council declined to
hear. Had it done so it would have been seen that the
Secretary's interpretation of what transpired was very
much wliat he had stated. In conclusion he begged to
say that he had expressed no disrespect to the President.
He purposely abstained from doing so.

Mr. Symes said he was willing to withdraw his
amendment.

Mr. Williams said it was not an amendment, it was a
distinct negative to the motion.

Mr. Bottle said that in previously seconding the
motion for going into committee he had not spoken,
because lie thought it unwise to occupy time which could
be more usefully spent in discussing the Bill, but he
entirely endorsed the view of .the President, who
certainly told him what course he proposed to take. He
distinctly said he had an application for thirty copies of
the Bill from the Trade Association, that he did not see his
way in the present position of things to send so many,
and then he asked if he (Mr. Bottle) saw any objection
to his sending a copy to the President or Chairman.
He replied that he saw no objection to sending it as a
matter of confidence, and he thought a more courteous
thing could not have been done.

The motion for going into committee to discuss the
clauses of the Bill was then put, and carried by a
majority of 11 to 5.

The discussion in committee continued for about four
hours.

On resuming,

Mr. Symes moved —

“ That the proposed Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill,
as now decided on by the Council, be published in
the Pharmaceutical Journal of Saturday next, and
copies be supplied to the editor of the Chemist and
Druggist and other journals interested in pharmacy,
on application being made for the same.”

Mr. Hampson claimed priority for a motion which he
had framed before the Council resumed, to the following
effect : —

“ That the Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee be
entrusted with the draft of the proposed Pharmacy
Bill, as now agreed to, and is hereby authorized to
take all necessary steps to obtain its enactment, and
that the Bill, when revised by the Solicitor, be pub¬
lished in the Society’s Journal.”

Mr. Symes seconded this motion.

Mr. Gostling thought the Council should see the Bill
in print, with all the amendments, before it was sent to
Parliament.

Mr. Radley said his idea was that the Bill should be
printed and circulated, and that the Council should again
consider it at its next meeting, with any suggestions
which might arrive from the country in the meantime.

He was very anxious that the country generally should
have an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon it.

Mr. Frazer said he declined to leave the lesponsibility
of sending a Bill to Parliament with any committee, or'
any solicitor, however much he might respect them. The
Bill must be finally approved by the Council before it
went to Parliament.

Mr. Symes said if the Council were to put the Bill
away in a drawer for another month, and all the clauses
were then to be discussed again with gentlemen making
objections to vrhich they would stick to the last, it was
equivalent to shunting the thing altogether.

Mr. Gostling said the Council had made very good
progress, and there was nothing gained by being in too
great a hurry. He should like to see the Bill published
in the Journal and in the Chemist and Druggist , and
then the opinion of the trade would be elicited with
regard to it, and the Council could go to Parliament
with greater confidence.

The President said he must ask Mr. Hampson to
make some alteration in his motion, as it was unduly,
pressing the Bill forward before it had been sufficiently
considered by the persons interested.

Mr. Hampson said he would withdraw his motion and
second that moved by Mr. Symes.

Mr. Butt suggested, in accordance with a notice of
motion which he had given, the addition of the words,
“and that thirty copies be sent to the Chemists and \
Druggists’ Trade Association.” I

This was agreed to, and the motion as thus amended
was carried unanimously.

The Late Mr. Baildon.

Mr. Frazer, wished before the Council broke up, to refer
to the death of Mr. Baildon, of Edinburgh. It took
place somewhat suddenly, and was unknown to himself
until the night before last. His funeral was taking place
that day, and it was with great regret that he was
obliged to be absent from it. Mr. Baildon was one of
the oldest and most esteemed pharmacists in Scotland.

He began as manager to Mr. Butler as far back as 1827.

His name had been associated with pharmacy in all its
phases. He was one of the promoters of the Pharmacy
Act in its extension to Scotland. He was a man of great
integrity of purpose, a man of science, and one who was
liked and esteemed by all who knew him. He himself
had known him by name for fifty years, and for forty
years personally, and the more he knew him the more he
esteemed him. He was quite sure there would be but
one feeling of regret amongst ail present at his loss. Mr.
Baildon never was a member of that Council, but all
along had been a member of the Edinburgh Council.

Mr. Williams said that, having on more than one
occasion had to visit Edinburgh in his official capacity,
he had received the hospitality of Mr. Baildon, and
was very much shocked and grieved to hear of his
death. He was quite sure that every member of the
Council would sympathize with the feelings of sorrow
which must animate all the member) of the Council of ||

January S, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

565

the North British Branch at losing a man for whom they
all had so much respect and esteem.

The President said he was sure every member of the
Council would sympathize with Mr. Frazer and his Scotch
friends in the loss of Mr. Baildon. He was not only a
loss to Scotland, but to pharmacy generally. He had
known Mr. Baildon for a great many years, and his name
had been associated more or less with the progress of
pharmacy ever since he had known him.

Election of Members of Council.

Mr. Frazer said he would move the resolution of
which he had given notice, although he was quite aware
it was too late to get it carried, namely : —

“ That the Council consider it desirable that the
Members of the Pharmaceutical Council should be
elected according to a plan of district representa¬
tion, and requests the Pharmacy Act Amendment
Committee to form a scheme for the purpose of
introduction into the Bill to amend the Pharmacy
Act.”

Mr. Hampson said he agreed with the principle
enunciated in the resolution, but regretted to say it
seemed impossible, as they had advanced so far in the
preparation of the Bill, to include any properly prepared
scheme in conformity with Mr. Frazer’s wishes. No
doubt Mr. Frazer wished the motion published so that at
any future time when the Bill was again amended it
might be included, but he was sorry to say it was now
too late.

Mr. Williams said it must not be assumed that the
Council would agree to it.

The subject then dropped.

Owing to the lateness of the hour the consideration of
two notices of motion and other business was deferred
until the next meeting of the Council.

rcbmcial mis admits.

EDINBURGH CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The third meeting of the session was held on Tuesday>
December 21, in the rooms of the North British Branch,
Mr. W. Aitken, Vice-President, in the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and
confirmed, the Chairman called upon Mr. C. F. Henry to
open the affirmative in a debate, “ Is a compulsory
curriculum for chemists desirable ? ” Mr. Henry argued
that the purposes for which pharmaceutical examinations
were instituted would be more effectually carried out
than at present were a curriculum made compulsory.
One of the objects of these examinations was that che¬
mists should be compelled to acquire certain knowledge,
which would the better fit them for carrying on their
business. No provision, however, had been made for the
acquiring of this knowledge, and the result was that they
had to employ the little time they had to themselves,
after their day’s work, to “cram ” it up, to the injury of
their health and the thwarting of the object of the
examinations. The institution of a curriculum, which
he defined as attending lectures on chemistry, botany
and materia medica for one hour daily, would cheapen
the cost of the present examinations, as a certain per¬
centage in the ordinary class examinations for each
subject might constitute a pass. Another advantage
would be that candidates would only require to pass one
subject at a time, and their minds would be relieved from
the strain which at present existed, through all the
subjects having to be passed in three or four hours.
Then, like the lawyer and the physician, chemists would
be entitled to call themselves professional men. At
present they had no right to consider themselves as such,
until the link which was wanting, viz., a curriculum, was
established. In concluding, Mr. Henry said the words

used recently by Dr. Husband in reference to sanitary
officers of health applied equally to the case of chemists
and druggists, viz.: “No well defined course of study is
laid down, and candidates are left to pick up the special
information required from books, or in any other way
that chance may determine.” The remedy suggested by
Dr. Husband was also equally applicable, viz. : “ That all
candidates should be required to undergo a course of
instruction,” or, in other words, there should be a curri¬
culum.

Phe Chairman then called upon Mr. J. D. Robertson
to open the negative.

Mr. Robertson regarded a compulsory curriculum as
unnecessary, impracticable and undesirable. Uncecessary
because, the present system of compulsory examination
made it impossible for anyone who had not been
educated to become a qualified chemist, and that there
existed no good evidence to show that the great argument
against the present system, viz., “cram,” would be re¬
moved by a curriculum. Impracticable, firstly, from a
master s point of view, on account of the revolution it
would .make in the hours of business, and secondly, from
an assistant s point of view, because the salaries paid are
not capable of affording much in the way of paying fees.
Undesirable, not altogether on account of its being un¬
necessary and impracticable, but because of the want of
evidence to show that it would tend to elevate the
trade to a “profession.” On the contrary, it might
be the means of driving from the trade those who, having
passed through this curriculum, found themselves adapted
for higher occupation than selling pennyworths behind a
druggist s counter, and would keep back those who could
get better salaries in other trades without the terrors of
a curriculum or examinations.

The affirmative was supported by Messrs. Boa and
Hill, and the negative by Messrs. Hutton and Aitken.
On putting the question to the vote, the affirmative was
carried by a majority of seven.

A number of queries were then submitted and replied
to, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman having been
passed, the meeting was brought to a close.

OLDHAM CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ AS¬
SISTANTS AND APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The first meeting of this Association for the year 1881
was held in the Society’s room at the Church Institute,
Mr. Bambridge, President, in the chair.

The President, in his introductory address, gave an
account of the progress of pharmacy during the past
year, and exhorted the members to avoid the system of
“ cram ” now so universally adopted and to study
thoroughly whatever they took in hand. He then read
a paper on “ New Remedies,” in which he spoke of the
sources, uses and principal characteristics of the more
important remedies which have appeared during the last
few years.

The paper was illustrated by numerous specimens,
and after a very interesting discussion, in which all the
members present took part, the meeting terminated.

^cirlhtmeirtarg mitr Ifiitu ^Lambings,

Poisoning by Chlorodyne.

On Saturday, January 1, Captain Taylor held an
inquest at the Wakefield Borough Police Station on the
body of a gentleman named Alfred Knight, twenty-two
years of age, who, it was supposed, had committed suicide
at a temperance hotel in Wakefield on the previous day
by taking a large dose of chlorodyne.

From the evidence it appeared that at noon the previous
Thursday the deceased had not left his bedroom, and was
snoring or breathing so hard that he could be distinctly
heard downstairs. Suspecting that all was not right

566

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 8, 1881.

the landlady called in a policeman about half-past^'one
o’clock, and he burst open the bedroom door.. The
young man was found lying in bed, almost on his face,
apparently in very good health and sleeping comfortably.
Consciousness could not be restored and he died about a
quarter to nine o’clock at night.

Dr. Hollings, who had made a post-mortem examination
of the body, stated that he was satisfied that the deceased
must have taken poison, as three or four ounces of a gruel¬
like liquid which he found in the stomach smelt very
strongly of chlorodyne. A 2oz. bottle containing cliloro-
dyne in a washstand drawer in the bedroom, and another
small bottle, which had also contained chlorodyne, were
found under the pillow of the bed in which the deceased
had slept.

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the
deceased had poisoned himself withjchlorodyne. — Leeds
Mercury.

Poisoning by Aconite.

Dr. Diplock, the Coroner for West Middlesex, held an
inquest on Tuesday, at the Chelsea Infirmary, touching
the death of Miss Amelia Walls worth, matron at the
Metropolitan and City Police Orphanage, at Twicken¬
ham.

From the evidence of Miss Daines, in the employ of
the Post Office, it appeared that the deceased was formerly
the assistant matron at the Chelsea Infirmary, and both
witness and deceased were invited to be the guests of the
matron, who had a few friends on Saturday last at the In¬
firmary. Deceased complained of a very bad cold, and Dr.
Webster, who was present among the company, made a re¬
mark that aconite and camphor were recommended in the
earlier stages of this complaint. He said “ a drop on sugar,
alternately with camphor.” Witness slept in the same
room as the deceased, and before going to bed the
deceased took something in a tumbler and water. She
also gave witness some, telling her it was good for the
headache. Some time afterwards witness felt very
restless, and had a strange sensation in her hands and
arms, and finding the deceased in even a worse state, she
spoke to her. Deceased said she felt as if she was
swelling, and would get out of bed and ask one of the
nurses to give her some coffee, and she accordingly left
the room, and did not return, and witness never saw her
again alive, and was dangerously ill herself.

Henry Kenney (after being cautioned by the coroner)
said he was the messenger and hall porter at the Chelsea
Infirmary. On Saturday night last the deceased came
down to the hall and asked for the key of the dispensary.
As she had formerly been a superior official he did not
hesitate, but afforded her -admission to the dispensary.
She said she wanted aconite and knew it when she saw it,
and after searching about for some time found a large
bottle containing some liquid, and by her directions
witness filled a phial from it.

By the jury : He had no authority to give out medi¬
cines, and was not authorized by the doctor to do so ; all
he did was to oblige Miss Walls worth, who was very much
respected while an officer of the Infirmary.

Dr. William Henry Netherclift, medical superintendent
of the Infirmary, deposed that between two and three
o’clock on Sunday morning he was called to the deceased,
who was gasping for breath, with open mouth and protrud¬
ing tongue. Her eyes were fixed on vacancy and the
pupils were much dilated. He asked her what she had
taken, and she gasped out “Aconite.” Every possible
thing was done for her ; all, however, was unavailing,
and death resulted from “aconite poisoning.”

The jury returned a verdict of death from mis¬
adventure. — S tandard.

Poisoning by an Overdose of Chloral.

Mr. W. H. Sale, deputy coroner, has held an inquest at
Old Normanton, on the body of Robert Eggleston North,

51 years of age, late a clerk in the employ of the Midland
Railway Company. Deceased was said to be in the habit
of taking various medicines which he obtained from dif¬
ferent chemists in Derby. On the morning of his death,
as he did not get up, the landlord went into the room and
found the deceased partially undressed, with his head
covered over with a blanket. The landlord thought he
was asleep and left him. He went again in a few
minutes to turn the clothes down from his left side, and
putting his hand upon his shoulder found that he was
dead. There was a bottle of brandy half full in the
room, and a large number of medicine bottles.

Mr. Goodall, chemist, of St. Peter’s Street, knew the
deceased by sight as a customer. He produced three
prescriptions which had been prepared for the deceased.
One of these prescriptions was for a soothing medicine,
and was prepared for the deceased’s wife, but the de¬
ceased also took it. There was a quantity of chloral in
the medicine. Deceased told witness that he suffered
from sleeplessness. Witness cautioned him against
taking too much chloral, once especially, but the deceased
treated the warning lightly, as if he knew what he was
about. A bottle of chloral mixture and a bottle of tonic
mixture were supplied to the deceased from his shop
about half-past seven o’clock on Wednesday evening.
The chloral contained 180 grains, and a full , dose would,
bo 30 grains.

William Parker Williamson, an assistant to the last
witness, stated that he supplied the deceased with the
two bottles of medicine mentioned. The deceased then
appeared to be as cheerful as usual. The empty bottle
produced was similar in size and shape to that supplied,
and had contained chloral.

Mr. H. F. Gisborne had made a post-mortem examina¬
tion of the deceased, and was of opinion that deceased
had died from the effects of an overdose of chloral.

The jury returned a verdict of “ Found dead in bed
the deceased having died from an overdose of chloral in¬
advertently taken.”

©tiiuarg.

HENRY CRAVEN BAILDON.

The present year was not many hours old ere the sad
intelligence reached us that death had again invaded the
ranks of pharmaceutical chemists, and removed from his
family and friends, Henry C. Bail don, of 73, Princes
Street, Edinburgh, so long well known and widely es¬
teemed.

Born in Coventry, Warwickshire, in the early part of
the present century, Mr. Baildon was in his 74th year.
When quite young, he came to Edinburgh as manager to
Messrs. Butler and Co., of London, and succeeded them
in the same premises where, for upwards of fifty years,
he has carried on for himself a large and successful busi¬
ness.

Mr. Baildon was one of the Founders of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society, and in the early days of difficulty and
opposition gave very valuable assistance in establishing
on a firm basis what has since become a most important
institution. When the first Pharmacy Act of 1852 was
being contended for, in and out of Parliament his exer¬
tions were unremitting. In particular, when it was pro¬
posed that a central examining board for the United
Kingdom should be established in London, he took up a
firm position, and along with others, threatened not only
opposition to the Bill itself, but the establishment of a
separate Scotch Society. The late Jacob Bell and those
associated with him, who were working strenuously to
carry out the contemplated measure, ultimately acknow¬
ledged the justice of this view of the case, and inserted a
clause appointing a Board of Examiners for Scotland

January 8, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

567

invested with the same powers and acting under the same
regulations as the one in London.

Immediately after the passing of the Act, Mr. Baildon
became a member of the Board, and continued to be an
examiner for many years. He was also, until very lately,
-one of the Edinburgh Council, and assisted in the
management of the affairs of the North British Branch.
Elected President for 1853-54, he was again raised to
that position in 1871-72. On the second occasion he
was specially asked to occupy the chair, in order that
the Pharmaceutical Society might be efficiently repre¬
sented during the meetings of the Pharmaceutical Con¬
ference, which paid the city a visit in the autumn of
1871, and of which he was appointed a Vice-President.
How well and ably Mr. Baildon fulfilled his duties, and
bow much the great success which attended the meetings
was due to his unwearied efforts and kind consideration,
is now a matter of fond remembrance to those who were
associated with him in this work. It was during this
meeting that he introduced the bark of the Rhamnus
frangula to the notice of the profession, regarding the
peculiar merits of which he read a paper. His com¬
munications to the usual scientific meetings of the Society
were numerous, some of which, though printed in the
J ournal, may be here named : — “ Paper with Reference
to Eight Cases of Specimens presented by Mr. R. Jamie,
Singapore,” read April 4, 1874 ; “ Paper on Goa Powder,
from D. S. Kemp, Bombay,” and a “ Paper on Some
Ancient Drugs,” March 13, 1875; “A Supplementary
Paper on Rhamnus Frangula Bark,” August 7, 1874. In
addition to his various papers, he was the author of an
ingenious process for crossing banker’s drafts with the
view of preventing erasure or forgery. For this invention,
which was highly successful, he secured two patents, and
it is still widely applied in banking establishments. He
•also registered a most ingenious method of “ nature
printing ” for ferns and other plants.

Mr. Baildon had, especially during the last ten or
fifteen years of his life, been in the enjoyment of good
health, and displayed, till within a few days of his death,
the mental and bodily vigour and activity for which he
was remarkable. Though he had complained more or
less for some days, it was not till Monday morning
(December 27) that he consented to the calling in of his
physician, who declared him to be suffering from pleurisy.
Although knowing the perilous nature of the complaint,
Mr. Baildon’s friends, trusting in the prompt measures
taken for his relief, the tried skill of his medical adviser,
and the excellence of his own constitution, were in great
hopes of his recovery. On Saturday afternoon, however,
without any warning to those attending him, he peace¬
fully breathed his last. His youngest brother who had
been long ill at Southport, Lancashire, only survived
Mr. Baildon by a few hours. The double loss has plunged
bis family and friends into peculiarly deep affliction.

In this short and imperfect notice it is not easy to do
justice to the character of such a man as Henry C. Baildon.
Warm-hearted, kind, genial, and hospitable, in manners
and disposition a perfect gentleman, we cannot but feel
that in him the city has lost one of its most respected
inhabitants and pharmacy one of its warmest friends
and brightest ornaments, and in recording this accession
to the long list of our departed celebrities, regret for our
loss is only alleviated by the memory of the many acts
of devotion to our Society and of kindness and courtesy
in all the relations of life which will ever be associated
with his name, and by the. assured feeling that such an
example is the most powerful incentive to others to go
and do likewise.

JOHN STENHOUSE, F.R.S.

On the last day of the old year passed away Dr. John
Stenhouse, F.R.S. , in the 72nd year of his age. He was
.a native of Glasgow, where he received his first education.
Afterwards he was a pupil of Graham and Liebig, and

became an unwearied investigator in the domain of
organic chemistry, his studies being a labour of love to
him. In the catalogue of scientific papers, published by
the Royal Society up to the year 1873, no less than
ninety papers are enumerated, written by him at different
periods. He has contributed not a little to the progress of
pharmaceutical knowledge, in recognition of which he
was, in 1856, elected an Honorary Member of the
Pharmaceutical Society. Aloin, oil of cinnamon leaf,
thymol, from the seeds of Ptychotis Ajowan, the crystalline
deposit in essential oil of bitter almonds, and myroxo-
carpine, are a few of the substances he examined. Of the
latter, a crystalline substance obtained from the white
balsam of peru, a specimen exists in the Museum of the
Society.

Dr. Stenhouse was a Royal Medallist of the Royal
Society, LL.D. of Aberdeen, and one of the founders of
the Chemical Society. On removing to London he was
appointed Lecturer on Chemistry in St. Bartholomew’s
Hospital. In 1865 he succeeded Dr. Hoffmann as non¬
resident assayer to the Royal Mint.

Though labouring for many years past under severe
physical suffering, yet he was not deterred from con¬
tinuing his scientific investigations.

In private life, as a Christian philosopher, as a stern
denouncer of scientific humbug, and as a kind and
sympathizing friend, he is said by those who knew him
best to have left behind him but few equals.

Year-Book of Pharmacy : comprising Abstracts of
Papers relating to Pharmacy, Materia Medica and
Chemistry, contributed to British and Foreign Journals,
from July 1, 1878, to June 30, 1880. With the
Transactions of the British Pharmaceutical Con¬
ference at the Seventeenth Annual Meeting, held in
Swansea, August, 1880. London: J. and A. Churchill.
1881.

Once more the opening year has brought a new “Year-
Book,” in the now familiar green covers, demanding a
place upon the pharmacist’s book-shelves as a^valuable
and portable resume of a year’s literature of the sciences
allied to pharmacy. In this one instance, at least, the
members of the Conference, who, as a rule, are so strongly
opposed to co-operative dealing and its results, may con¬
gratulate themselves that co-operation is advantageous,
as it places within their reach for a nominal sum a useful
annual volume that was not previously provided by
private enterprise.

The volume for 1880 is somewhat thicker than that
for 1879, and as the extra pages are all to be found in
the portion referred to in the first section of its rather
verbose title as the “Year-Book,” the immediate im¬
pression is that the increase is clue to greater activity
amongst writers; but a closer examination shows the
true explanation to lie in the greater length of the
abstracts, the number of titles being really less. The
value of these abstracts, considering past experience of
the Editor’s work, now va sans dire. In one feature,
indeed, that of arrangement, improvement is noticeable ;
and although this has not been carried to the extent
advocated in these columns in some previous notices, the
reader will find that where there are more than one
articles upon the same or an allied subject in a section,
they are fairly well grouped together. We confess, how¬
ever, that we are still puzzled as to the relative value of
the titles of the sections ; being unable to comprehend,
for instance, why the alkaloids of quebracho bark, the
constituents of coto bark, and other alkaloids, glucosides
and active principles, are included under “ Materia
Medica,” whilst a larger number of similar substances
are included under “Pharmaceutical Chemistry.” This,
however, is a minor affair, and by some may not be con¬
sidered a blemish. The important point is that the

568

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January S, 18S1

abstracts appear to be clear and trustworthy. Men tion
should also be made of the ably written Introduction .

We cannot close this notice without an expression of
regret that the printed list of members shows a dimi¬
nution of four pages, or equal to nearly 250 names.

Comsjwnbcnxj.

Spiritus Ammonia Aromaticus.

Sir, — Responding to the editorial suggestion on p. 478, I
should like to offer a few remarks on the above-named
preparation.

Mr. Thresh’s admirable paper incontestably proves that
great variation in strength is met with in what is sold as
sp. aramon. arom., B.P. (of preparations other than the
sp. I do not intend to speak). Large manufacturers also
seem to admit the difficulties of securing uniformity in its
preparation by the process at present official in our Pharma¬
copoeia. On the other hand, others, notably Mr. Corder
and C. E., seem perfectly satisfied with the results they
obtain by following more or less closely the official process.
I must confess that my own experience, extending over
some fifteen years, is »ot favourable to the retention of
distillation in its preparation ; for presuming that an
alcoholic solution containing free and combined ammonia
in certain definite proportions, and flavoured with aromatics,
is what is required by the medical profession, then it
appears to me that the process adopted is not one which
would be likely to produce such. There is, I think, no
question that mainly to this distillatory process are to be
traced the principal causes of variation in strength, and
not (as remarked by one manufacturer in an explanatory
note at the foot of Mr. Thresh’s paper) to the variable
nature of the sesquicarbonate of ammonia of commerce. I
do not altogether share the alarm of our friend, Mr.
Martindale, in contemplating the balance between life and
death being upset by a small excess or deficiency in the
strength of a dose of sal volatile ; but I entirely agree with
him that such variation as we see is most discreditable to
modern pharmacy.

Referring to Mr. Corder’s communication, I should like
to ask by what means, other than that stated in his letter,
he is “certain” that he gets the proper quantity of am¬
monia. The Pharmacopoeia gives us no indication of its
intentions regarding the ammonia strength of sp. ammon.
arom., and I can quite imagine a solution deficient in free
ammonia throwing down a crystalline deposit when exposed
to a low temperature. An increased specific gravity would
be quite compatible with either an excess of water or of
combined ammonia, or with a deficiency of free NH3. My
own experiments point to the fact that when the B.P.
process is carefully conducted the product has a higher
specific gravity than stated by that authority. It seems
somewhat strange that while the B.P. gives a number of
characters and tests, as well as the most explicit directions
for the preparation and examination of sp. setheris nitrosi,
it leaves us almost without a guide in the preparation
under notice.

This is a point that I think deserves consideration and a
remedy in the next edition of the Pharmacopoeia.

I am quite of the opinion of your correspondent, C. E.,
p. 527, that this subject is by no means “ Threshed ” out,
but, as a practical pharmacist, I am sorry I cannot agree
with him, either in his admiration for the official process
or in his wholesale condemnation of any sample not made
by that process. That it is possible to make a sp. ammon.
arom. without distillation that will compare favourably
with that made by the B.P. process, I am quite convinced,
and with the advantages of less risk, greater uniformity in
strength, and lastly, by a process which every pharmacist
may himself carry out. I am quite aware of the imperfec¬
tion of many of the published processes. By dissolving the
ammonise carb. in the water and liq. ammon. fort., and
then adding the solution so obtained to the spirit, a crystal¬
line deposit of acid ammonium carbonate forms, which
never completely redissolves, and the water added for this
purpose is generally in excess of what is contained in the
B.P. product, thus raising the sp. gr., while at the same
time it is deficient in combined ammonia. One statement
in C. E.’s letter has somewhat surprised me, as it no doubt
has other practical pharmacists. He says, “ Nor has there
been any loss of ammonia or CO2 during the distillation.”

Leaving out of the question for the present the first asser¬
tion, and taking into consideration the fact that he makes
use of a glass retort for the purpose of his distillation, he
cannot have failed to observe the brisk effervescence which
takes place so soon as a temperature of 40°-45p is reached,
and which continues visible until the mixture has reached
its boiling point, when, of course, it becomes indistinguish¬
able. 1 need not remind him that this effervescence is due
to COo, and that therefore there must be a considerable
loss of this gas, and it is just this liberation of CO2 that is
necessary before the ammonia salt can become soluble in the
alcoholic menstruum. Eoscoe,# speaking of acid ammonium
carbonate, says, “Its solution when exposed to the air, as

well as when heated above 36°, loses CO2 . It is not

soluble in alcohol, but if the alcoholic solution be allowed
to stand in the air, CO2 is evolved, and ammonium carbon¬
ate is dissolved.” If C. E. will take the proportions for sp.
ammon. arom. ordered in the B.P., minus two-thirds or
less of the water (one-third or less being presumed to be
present in the finished product), and place them in a flask
with a glass stopper having a groove filed in its side, and
gradually heat by means of a water-bath, keeping the tem¬
perature steady at 50°-55<?, he will see a continuous stream
of gas given off as long as a particle of the original ammon.
carb. remains undissolved, and if this temperature has not
been exceeded, no loss of alcohol, aromatics or ammonia
(free or combined) will be found to have occurred. If the
essential oils be of good quality, the product when cold will
be found to present characters but little differing from that
prepared by the B.P. process. As I am at present working
upon this subject, I defer suggesting a definite formula
until my experiments are complete. Should it be decided
to retain distillation as a means of preparing sp. ammon.
arom. (a proceeding much to be deprecated) in the next
edition of our Pharmacopoeia, it may interest those of our
brother pharmacists who are desirous, as far as possible, of
carrying out for themselves the processes of the Pharma¬
copoeia, to learn that it is by no means necessary to pro¬
vide themselves with expensive luxuries in the shape of a
s'eao -jacketted stoneware still and condensing worm ; the
ordinary tinware still with a Liebig’s condenser of glass,
which ought to be found in every pharmacy, being on the
whole a more convenient and effective apparatus for the
purpose; or simpler still, an ordinary tinware bottle,
such as is used for oils, etc., requiring in addition only a
bent glass tube (of as large a diameter as convenient) to
connect it with the condenser. No metallic contamina¬
tion will be found in the finished product, nor indeed in
more than a mere trace in the residue remaining in the still.
The pharmacopoeial quantity or more may by these means
be easily prepared at any time ; using, as a source of heat,
any of the excellent little gas stoves most commonly in use.
I could say a great deal on the subject of extemporizing
apparatus for pharmaceutical use, but must defer remarks
on this subject to a future communication. I would strongly
urge on all the desirability of carrying out as far as possible
the home manufacture of the preparations used in phar¬
macy, not only as a means of profit pecuniarily, but still
better, as affording means for efficient training of our pupils
and assistants. Alfred E. Tanner.

A Method of Estimating Chicory in Coffee.

Various methods are in use for estimating chicory in
coffee, but in practice I have found the following method I
proposed some time ago work very satisfactorily. First
carefully examine the coffee under the microscope.
Then take 10 grams of the coffee and boil it in 250
c.c. of water; then strain, and add diacetate of lead
until a precipitate ceases to be formed, well stir and put
aside to settle; if the coffee be pure the water above the
precipitate will be perfectly clear, but if chicory is present
the water will be more or less coloured according to the
quantity present, which can be estimated by comparing the
depth of colour, the same as the Nessler test for ammonia.

No doubt the foreign substance found by Mr. Rimmington
was roasted tigs. Damaged raisins are roasted and used with
chicory to make the French coffee; these are easily detected
under the microscope. Albert Smith.

Comm oni cations, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Goodall, Barnes, Falkner, Count, Bland, Southall,
Modlen, Starkey, Williams, Warrell, Grease, Percontator,
J. T. H., H. W., A, B,, M. _ __

* ‘ Treatise on Chemistry,’ vol. ii., pt. i., p. 182.

January 15, 1881.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

569

CAPE TEA.

BY HENRY G. GREENISH.

{Concluded from page 551.)

The Examination for Theine was made as
follows Fifty grams of leaves and 50 grams
of stalks cut small were exhausted by repeatedly
infusing with distilled water on the water-bath.
The deep brown-red filtrates were concentrated
to a syrup and excess of calcined magnesia and
powdered glass added. Thus treated the red-brown
colour changed to a yellowish-brown, and the
mass gelatinized, but soon became again fluid. It
was evaporated to dryness, finely powdered, trans¬
ferred to a bottle, and exhausted by repeatedly
shaking with ether. The ether solutions were filtered
off, the ether recovered by distillation, and the dried
residue weighed. It amounted to 0'0150 gram or
0*015 per cent. A few minute colourless prismatic
crystals were observed in the upper part of the flask,
which on being tested with chlorine water did not
yield the theine-reaction . A portion of the residue
after digestion with ether disolved in water acidulated
with sulphuric acid failed to give precipitates with
the alkaloid-reagents, as also an infusion of the drug
made with acidulated water. These tests prove the
absence of an alkaloid in the Cyclopia.

Wurthnerf found in “Capthee” 0*13 per cent, of a
substance which he took to be theine, but the quan¬
tity of which was, as I learn from Professor Dragen¬
dorff, too small to allow of all doubts as to its identity
with that alkaloid being set aside. Professor Fliickiger
has also examined “Capthee” for theine with, as orally
communicated to Professor Dragendorff, negative
results.

Being led by the yellow colour of the stalks to
suspect the presence of scoparin, which occurs in
the nearly allied Sarothamnus and Genista, the exam¬
ination for that substance was conducted as follows.

Three hundred grams of the cut stalks and leaves
were exhausted by boiling for two hours with 1|
litres of water, the decoction filtered, evaporated to
a small bulk, and allowed to stand twenty-four
hours in the ice-cellar. It did not gelatinize,
although finally evaporated to a very small bulk,
thus proving the absence of any considerable
quantity of scoparin. The ' concentrated decoction
was diluted with water and excess of neutral acetate
of lead solution added, which produced a voluminous
brown precipitate ; the filtrate was mixed with
basic acetate of lead, which gave a second similar
precipitate, somewhat lighter in colour. The filtrate
from this precipitate neutralized with potash yielded
a third bright yellow precipitate. Whilst working
on these precipitates, it was observed that the
filtrates on boiling with hydrochloric acid assumed a
fine rose-red colour. This reaction was yielded
more strikingly by the precipitates themselves. To
isolate this substance the first precipitate (with
neutral acetate of lead) was washed, suspended in
water, decomposed by sulphuretted hydrogen and
the filtrate from the sulphide of lead evaporated to
dryness in the water-bath. The powdered extract
was then boiled with absolute alcohol and filtered.
On cooling a pale reddish substance wars deposited
which was filtered off, washed with alcohol and
dried. The filtrate was mixed with ether, which
caused the separation of pale-red coloured flocks,

* Dragendorff ‘ W erthhestimrmmg .”

t Pharm. Zeitschrift far Russland, 1872, *vol. xi., p. 712.

Third Series, No. 551.

which were collected on a filter, washed w*ith ether,
and immediately placed in an exsiccator. This
substance was so hygroscopic that, on the evaporation
of the ether, it ran to a clear dark red liquid wThich
dried to a brick-red easily powdered mass. It was
also obtained in ruby coloured scales, but all
attempts at crystallization prove futile.

The filtrate from this precipitate yielded, on the
further addition of ether, a second filtrate differing
only from the first in being of paler colour. Nitrogen
could not be detected in them.

The first precipitate dried over sulphuric acid was
subjected to ultimate analysis.

0*5340 gram lost by drying at 110° 0*0355 moistures
6' 64 per cent.

0*1340 gram yielded 0*0005 gram ash = 0*37 per cent.

0*2282 dry substance calculated free from ash yielded
on combustion with oxide of copper in a stream of
oxygen —

H20 = 0*1093 gram H = 5 ‘3 2 per cent.

CO2 = 0*4663 „ C = 55*70 per cent.

0*2516 yielded—

H20 = 0*1283 gram
C02 = 0*5080 „

I.

0 = 55*70
H = 5*32

H = 5*66 per cent.
C = 55*06 per cent.
II. Mean.

55*06 55*38

5*66 5*49

These analyses correspond tolerably well to the
formula which requires —

0 = 55*97 found 0 = 55*38
H= 5*22 „ H= 5*49

Of the second precipitate —

0*2255 substance free from ash yielded —

H20 = 0*1165 H= 5*73

CO2 = 0*4298 C = 51*97 per cent.

The formula CgsHggO^B^O requires —

0 = 52*44 found 51*97
H= 5*59 „ 5*73

The small quantity of this precipitate at my
disposal allowed of only one analysis being made.

The following method of procedure was attended
by a better yield of this substance, to which we may
preliminarily give the name of “ cyclopin.”

The aqueous decoction of 290 grams of the cut
stalks and leaves was digested for several hours with
precipitated and washed hydrate of lead, and filtered
off from the voluminous yellowish-brown precipitate
which had formed. This was washed by suspension
in water and filtration ; the filtrates were evaporated
to a small bulk by distillation in a partial vacuum,
and finally to a syrup over sulphuric acid under
diminished pressure. The further treatment of this
residue will be subsequently described.

The precipitate was suspended in dilute spirit
(about 50 per cent) and decomposed by sulphuretted
hydrogen, warmed to promote the subsidence of the
lead sulphide and filtered. The deep red-brown
filtrate was evaporated to a small bulk by distilla¬
tion in a partial vacuum, filtered and finally brought
to* a syrupy consistence over sulphuric acid under
diminished pressure This was then treated with
absolute alcohol so long as a precipitate occurred.
This was filtered off, washed with alcohol and dried.
It will be described subsequently as “substance
difficultly soluble in alcohol.”

The alcoholic filtrate, measuring *200 c.c.,fwas
mixed with an equal volume of ether, the pre¬
cipitate (I.) allowed to subside, filtered off, washed
with ether and dried over sulphuric acid under
diminished pressure. The filtrate was again mixed

&70

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 15, 1881.

with 200 c.c. of ether and the precipitate (II.)
similarly treated. The filtrate from this precipitate
was mixed with 400 c.c. ether and the precipitate
which formed (III.) similarly treated. Of these
precipitate No. III. separated in pale reddish flocks,
Nos. I. and II. somewhat darker. No. I. contained
also an appreciable admixture of the substance
difficultly soluble in alcohol.

Further smaller quantities of these precipitates
were obtained from -the sulphide of lead by boiling
with alcohol, filtering and precipitating with ether.

The ether alcohol filtrate deposited no crystals on
exposure during a night to a temperature of — 22° C.
It was then evaporated by distillation. During this
process a substance separated out in minute sulphur-
yellow acicular crystals. It was filtered off, washed
and dried ; it proved to be insoluble in bisulphide
of carbon, soluble in hot water and in alkalies,
yielding with the latter a yellow solution with green
fluorescence. By continuing the evaporation of the
filtrate more of this interesting substance was
obtained. It will be described subsequently as
“ cyclopiofluorescin. ” The ether-alcohol filtrate was
finally brought to dryness; it still contained cyclopin,
but it was not considered worth while attempting its
further isolation.

Filtrate from Hydrate of Lead. — This was treated
with absolute alcohol so long as a precipitate was
formed, the latter filtered off, washed and dried.
It formed a yellowish substance easily soluble in
water. The aqueous solution gave with Fe2Cl6 a
deep brown coloration, solution of gelatine and
acetate of copper no reaction, solution of nitrate of
barium a precipitate soluble in dilute nitric acid.
Boiled with hydrochloric acid the pink colour
characteristic of cyclopin made its appearance.

The alcoholic filtrate mixed with baryta-water
yielded a bright yellow precipitate which a current
of carbonic acid failed to free from barium. In these
substances we probably have to deal with indifferent
substances or peculiar organic acids, not precipitated
by lead. The quantity at my disposal was not
sufficient to allow of a closer examination.

Cyclopin. — Precipitate III. was free from nitrogen
and yielded on combustion the following results: —

0*2116 gram substance dried at 110°, containing 0*0043
gram ash gave —

H20 = 0*1090 ' H= 5*84 per cent.

C02 = 0*4108 C = 54*0 4 per cent.

It contains, therefore, rather more moisture than
the sample first analysed and corresponds closely to
the formula which requires —

C = 54*41 found 54*04
H = 5*77 „ 5*84

I take these differences in composition to be chiefly
due to the tenacity with which the substance retains
moisture.

On boiling with a mineral acid (sulphuric or
hydrochloric) the aqueous solution of cyclopin
assumes a fine red colour, and deposits, on standing,
red brown flocks. The filtrate boiled with Fehling’s
solution reduces the same, and (as shown in a
subsequent experiment with the substance difficultly
soluble in alcohol which undergoes a similar decom¬
position) contains a substance capable of passing
into fermentation in contact with yeast. Cyclopin
is therefore a glucoside. To determine the amount
of sugar produced by its decomposition 0 *4788 gram

containing 0*0108 gram ash and 0*0336 moisture
was boiled for three hours with 25 c.c. normal hydro¬
chloric acid, allowed to cool, and the filtrate made
up to 100 c.c. 25 c.c. boiled with a moderate excess
of Fehling’s solution* yielded 0*0830 gram CuO. In
a second experiment 23 c.c. yielded 0*0790 gram
CuO. The mean result is equivalent to, in 100 c.c.,
0*1528 gram grape sugar = 34 *31 per cent.

The decomposition-product, which we may call
cyclopia-red, washed and dried weighed 0*1975 gram.
The filtrate still contained a notable proportion in
solution which, by evaporating a measured quantity,
drying at 100°, weighing and deducting the sugar
found, I estimated approximately at 0*093 gram,
making in all, 0*2910 gram or 65*4 per cent.
0*1667 gram of this substance, which was free from
nitrogen and contained but a trace of ash, yielded
on combustion —

H20 = 0*0775 H — 5*16 per cent.

002 = 0 3361 C = 54*98 per cent,

corresponding tolerably well to the formula C19H22O10,
which requires —

0 = 55*60 found 54*98
H= 5*36 „ 5*16

The decomposition of cyclopin on boiling with a
dilute mineral acid may be represented by the fol¬
lowing equation : —

^25^8^13 + 3H20 = C19H22O10 + C6H1206.

This equation requires that 100 parts of cyclopin
should yield 33*5 parts sugar and 76*4 parts cyclo¬
pia-red. I have found 34*3 per cent, sugar and 65 *4
per cent, cyclopia-red.

Cyclopin is insoluble in benzol, ether, petroleum
ether, chloroform and bisulphide of carbon, but very
easily dissolved by water. In pure concentrated
sulphuric acid it dissolves with a red- brown colour.
Frohde’s reagent produces an intense violet-red,
which, however, is not very permanent. The aqueous
solution is coloured deep brown-red by potash and
shows then a marked fluorescence in green. The
neutral solution gave the following reactions : —

Fe.2Cl6, dark olive-green colour, acidified by HC1,
yellowish, made alkaline with AmHO, dark brown.

Cu2A, dirty brown precipitate.

Pb2A, a slight yellowish precipitate.

AgN03, a precipitate insoluble in HNCL, soluble in
AmHO.

Sol. of gelatine

HgCl2

Sol. of tartar emetic

K2Cr207 with HC1, brownish-red coloration.

Dilute hydrochloric and sulphuric acids seem to be the
only acids capable of splitting up the glucoside into
its components. Phosphoric, acetic and tartaric
acids produce no red colour when boiled with it.

Cyclopia-red differs materially from cyclopin in its
difficult solubility in water. Freshly precipitated it
is much more easily soluble in alcohol than after it
has been dried. Ether dissolves but very small
quantities ; petroleum ether, chloroform and benzol
still less. With caustic alkalies it readily yields
deep wine-red solutions. Ferric chloride turns the
aqueous solution brown, neutral and basic acetates
of lead cause a cloudiness. The ammoniacal solu¬
tion yields with chloride of calcium and alum so¬
lutions deep violet, flockv precipitates. *

* Titration was impossible owing to the very intense
colour produced by the alkali with the small quantity of
decomposition product still in solution.

| produced no change.

January 15, 1S81.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

571

Stenhouse* found that when a decoction of the
leaves of Cyclopia latifolia , prepared with milk of
lime, is subjected to distillation with Mn02 and
H2S04 traces of quinone were evolved, whence he
concluded that cyclopia contained a principle allied
to, or identical with, the quinic acid of cinchona
bark. I have applied this test to cyclopin as well
as the other substances isolated, also to the aque®us
extract itself, but failed to obtain evidence of qui¬
none, although that body was readily yielded in a
parallel experiment with quinic acid and quinate of
lime.

In -close relation to cyclopin may be mentioned
the tannic acids present in cinchona and cinchona
nova bark.

The formula for cinchonatannic acid appears to
be not yet definitely fixed. It is describedf as a
very hygroscopic, light yellow, amorphous substance,
easily soluble in water, spirit and ether, splitting up
on boiling with dilute acid into sugar J and cinchona-
red, which latter, though almost insoluble in water,
dissolves easily in spirit and ether. For this cin¬
chona-red Schwarz§ found the composition 53 '6 and
55*4 per cent, carbon and 5*4 and 5*7 per cent,
hydrogen, according to the manner of preparation.
Rembold found 57 '5 per cent. C. and 3*9 per cent. H.
The cyclopia-red which I have analysed approaches
more nearly to Schwarz’s figures, viz., 54 97 per
cent. C., 5T6 per cent. H., but the small quantity
at my disposal did not allow of a second analysis.
Both cinchonatannic acid and cinchona-red may be
easily distinguished from cyclopin and cyclopia-red
by the insolubility of the latter two in ether.

Like the foregoing, the tannic acid isolated by
Hlasiwetzj| from false cinchona bark ( Cinchona nova ,
s. Surinamensis ) yields, on decomposition with dilute
sulphuric acid, together with sugar, a red substance
difficultly soluble in water, H but differs materially
from cinchonatannic acid in not precipitating gela¬
tine and tartar emetic solutions. The formula
assigned to it by Hlasiwetz, C14H1808, calculated to
C25, gives C25H32014, or cyclopin +H20. The de¬
composition product, cinchonanova-red, possesses the
formula C12II1206 (Hlasiwetz), which very nearly
corresponds to C19H1808, or cyclopia- red minus 2H20.
Indisputably cinchonatannic and cinchonanovatannic
acid stand in close relationship to cyclopin. The
first-named is characterized by its precipitating
gelatine and tartar emetic solutions, a property
shared by cinchona-red and cinchonanova-red, but
not by cinchonanovatannic acid, cyclopin or cyclo¬
pia-red.

The absence of this power of precipitating gela¬
tine from its solution and the want of any marked
astringent taste caused me to hesitate classing it
with the tannins and giving it the name of cyclo-
piotannic acid, but in calling the decomposition-
product cyclopia-red I think to indicate its relation
with other substances (some of them undoubtedly
tannins) which, on boiling with a dilute mineral
acid, yield similar decomposition products (cinchona¬
tannic acid, etc.).

The tannic acid isolated by Rochleder** from the

* Ann. Chem. Pharm., xxvii. , 257.

t Husemann, * Pflanzenstoffe,” 1871, p. 846.

X Reinbold, Ann. Chem. and Pharm., cxliii., 270.

§ Quoted by Rembold, loc. cit.

i| Husemann, loc. cit., p. 846.

^1 Rembold, loc. cit., p. 273.

** Husemann, ‘ Pflanzenstoffe,’ p. 733.

bark and twigs of the horse-chestnut tree dissolves
in ether, gives a precipitate with gelatine solution
and on boiling with a dilute mineral acid yields a
red decomposition-product which possesses the for¬
mula C26H22On or C26H20O10. Rhataniatannic acid
and rhatany-red possess similar properties. Catechu-
tannic acid is likewise soluble in ether and precipi¬
tated from its aqueous solution by gelatine. Tor-
mentilltannic acid yields a red decomposition-product
without perceptible formation of sugar. *

Substance difficultly Soluble in Alcohol. — This
formed a pale red, easily powdered substance, readily
soluble in warm water, with difficulty in alcohol.
Dried over sulphuric acid it contained D43 percent,
moisture, dispelled at 110°, and 4 ’83 per cent, ash,
principally phosphate of calcium. It was free from
nitrogen.

0-3208 dry substance (containing 00157 ash)
yielded on combustion —

H20 0-1482 gram H = 5*40 per cent.

C02 0*5655 gi-am C = 5*56 per cent.

This corresponds to the formula C25H30O16, which
requires —

C = 51*19 found 50 65
H= 5-11 „ 5-40.

On decomposing by boiling with dilute acid 0*4907
gram, containing 9*17 per cent, moisture and 6 "08
percent, ash, equivalent, therefore, to 0-4158 gram
dry substance free from ash, yielded sugnr 04 182
gram = 28*4 per cent, and decomposition-product
approximately 77-9 per cent. This decomposition-
product washed and dried contained 0‘28 per cent,
ash.

On combustion with oxide of copper in a stream
of oxygen, 0*2351 gram dry substance, containing
0 *0006 gram ash, yielded —

H20 = 04060 H = 5*02 per cent.

C02 = 0*4377 C = 50*90 per cent.

0*2760 gram, containing 0*0007 gram ash, yielded —

■H20 = 04205 H= 4*86 per cent.

CO2 = 0*5187 C = 51*36 per cent.

I. IX, Bleat). (49TIo20j2.

H= 5*02 4*86 4*94 4*97

0 = 50*90 51*36 5143 51*58

As seen, the analyses correspond to the formula,
C19H22012. The following equation may therefore
represent the decomposition : —

L05H20O16 + 2H20 = Cj9U22042 + C3H12Ofi.

This equation requires that 100 parts of the gluco-
side should yield 75*4 decomposition product and
30*7 sugar. I have found 77*9 and 28*4. Consider¬
ing the difficulties which stand in the way of the
estimation of the decomposition product, these
figures must be regarded as tolerably satisfactorily
agreeing.

Comparing the formula for this decomposition-
product with that of cyclopia-red, it will be seen to
differ only in possessing 02 more. This difference is
accompanied by a corresponding difference in the
formula of the mother-substance, and if that be
written C26H28015,H20 this parallelism becomes at
once evident, and here we may find the reason why
in the first instance three molecules of water are
combined, in the second only two, the third being
present in the mother-substance itself. In accordance
with the fornrulce, I have, for brevity’s sake, called
these substances oxycyclopin and oxycyclopia-red.

# Husemann, loc. cit., p. 698.

572

•THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 15, 1881.

The reactions of oxycyclopin are very similar to
those yielded by cyclopin, hut the green fluorescence
so distinct in alkaline solution of the latter is with
oxycyclopin imperceptible.

The Cydopiojluorescin consisted of pale sulphur-
coloured masses, seen under the microscope to con¬
sist entirely of slender needle-shaped crystals, and
containing no nitrogen, sulphur or ash.

0*2150 gram dry substance yielded on combus¬
tion —

H20 = 0*0930
CO2 = 0*3419

0*2000 gram yielded —
H„0 = 0-0878
C02 = 0*3290

H = 4*80 per cent.
C = 43-36

H = 4*87 per cent.
C = 44-86

I. II. Mean. CuHisOr’-

C = 43*36 44*86 44-11 44*44“

H = 4*80 4*87 4-83 4-76

The mean of the two analyses agrees with the
formula C14H18012.

This body is difficultly soluble in cold water, more
easily in boiling. In alcohol and ether, cold or hot,
almost insoluble, in solutions of caustic alkalies
readily with production of a yellow solution with
fine green fluorescence, recalling that shown by
uranium glass.

Moistened with pure concentrated sulphuric acid
it dissolved with a yellow colour, Frohde’s reagent
was likewise coloured yellow. In contact with con¬
centrated nitric acid the yellow colour is changed
instantly to a dark almost black tint, which turns
gradually brownish.

In aqueous solution the following reactions were
shown : —

Fe2Cl6 dark green. Heated passes to a red-brown.

HNOs (concentrated, and in considerable quantity),
deep red, passing to yellow.

Pb2A ) , ,.

Pb2APbO ! cIoudlness'

Cu2A dirty greyish precipitate, increased on boiling.
K2C207 and HC1, dark brown red.

It is not volatile without decomposition.

To the cyclopiofluorescin is due the green fluor¬
escence which is observed when a section of the
leaf is moistened with caustic potash.

The residue of the drug after treatment with
water was macerated several days with absolute
alcohol, filtered, the tincture evaporated to a small
bulk and diluted with water. A precipitate oc¬
curred which filtered off, washed and dried, formed
a dark coloured mass. It was almost entirely dis¬
solved by ether and chloroform, yielding dark green
solutions containing chlorophyll and a soft resinous
substance, probably also small quantities of fat.
The substance insoluble in chloroform and ether
was dissolved by alkalies, forming a red-brown solu¬
tion, and probably belonged to the class of phloba-
phensj; possibly it contained cyclopia-red.

The filtrate, after precipitation with -water, con¬
tained cyclopin and a substance which in alkaline
solution showed a dark green fluorescence. The
quantity at my disposal was not sufficient to induce
me to attempt their isolation.

If the residue, after extraction with alcohol, be
macerated with, dilute solution of potash, a dark
brown infusion is obtained, which does not fluoresce,
and which, when acidified, throws down a flocky

'* In respect to the percentage of carbon, these two
analyses do not show a satisfactory agreement. Want of
material unfortunately prevented me from repeating the
combustion.

brownish precipitate. Its examination I was com¬
pelled to defer.

To obtain an insight into the quantitative compo¬
sition of the leaves and stalks for the purpose, partly,
of allowing of a comparison with ordinary tea, the
following few experiments were made : —

J. Moisture and Ash.

0*8780 gram powdered leaves lost at 110° C. 0*1795
gram = moisture 20*44 per cent. On incineration 0*0325
gram ash was left = 3*70 per cent.

1-8655 gram stalks yielded moisture 0*1385 gram =
7*42 per cent., and ash 0-0150 = 0*80 per cent.

The ash consisted principally of carbonates of
potash and lime, with traces of sulphates, chlorides,
phosphates and iron, together with a little silica.

II. Substances Soluble in Water. — 10 grams of
leaves were digested with 100 .c.c. of water for
twelve hours on the water-bath, then allowed to
stand thirty-six hours, frequently shaken, and
finally the evaporated water replaced.

10 c.c. left residue 0*3165 = 31*65. per cent., and con¬
tained ash 0-0120 = 1*20 per cent. Organic substances
dissolved by water 30*45 per cent.

10 grams of stalks were similarly treated. 10 c.c. left
residue 0*1635 = 16*35 per cent., and contained ash 0*0080
= 0*80 per cent. Organic substances dissolved by water
1 5*55 per cent.

III. Metarabin (?). — 1*8958 gram leaves after
maceration with water, were treated for thirty-six
hours with 100 c.c., 0*05 per cent, solution of soda.
This proving too weak, the residue was macerated
for thirty-six hours with 100 c.c. 0*5 per cent,
solution of soda. 20 c.c. of each filtrate were mixed
together, acidified with acetic acid and precipitated
with 120 c.c. alcohol. The precipitate, after twenty-
four hours’ standing, collected, washed with alcohol,
dried and weighed, incinerated, and the ash weighed
and deducted, gave metarabin (1) 0-0247 = 6*51 per
cent.

The estimation of nitrogen was attended by the
following results : —

0-866 gram dry leaves yielded N. 0-01988 = 2-29 per
cent.

1-026 gram dry leaves after extraction with water
yielded N. 0*03066 = 2*03 per cent, (calculated on dry
leaves).

0*5008 gram dry leaves after extraction with water
and soda solution yielded N. = 0*01498 = 1*62 per cent.

0*4575 gram dry leaves after extraction with water and
soda solution yielded N. = 0"01400 = 1*65 per cent.

0*8365 gram dry stalks yielded N. = 0*00595 = 0*71 per
cent.

0*9142 gram dry stalks after extraction with water N.
= 0-006510 = 0*59 per cent.

Very small quantities of nitrogen therefore pass
into aqueous solution, and the “ tea” so made must
be almost entirely destitute of any nourishing pro¬
perty.

The following table shows the Cape tea compared
with ordinary tea, as far as the above experiments
allow : —

In Percentage.

Tea from Thea.

Tea from
Cyc opin.
20*4

Moisture ....

from

8*0 to 12-0

Ash .

Substances soluble

99

4-5 „ 5*5

3*7

in water ....

99

30*0 „ 33*0

30*4

Total Nitrogen . .

(seldom exceeded)

»

4*15 to 6-72

2*29

Mucilaginous sub-

stances ....

»

5*3 „ 6*4

1

January 15, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

573

As is seen, the substances dissolved by water
show a close agreement, while the total nitrogen
in ordinary tea is far in excess of that in Cape tea.

Before concluding, I must express my regret that
the small quantity of material at my disposal pre¬
vented me carrying the investigation farther.

Even v hen material is abundant, such substances
as cyclopin, uncrystallizable, hygroscopic and easily
decomposed, are difficult to obtain in the pure state,
and I do not think that in the foregoing analyses
that has as yet been satisfactorily attained. The
formulae assigned to the various substances isolated
and equations for their decomposition have been
given with the object of showing their approximate
composition, and allowing of a comparison with
other similar bodies. Should the substances be
subsequently obtained in a greater state of purity,
alterations in these formulae and equations will
probably be found necessary. In two instances I
have been obliged to content myself with one com¬
bustion (cyclopia-red and oxvcyclopin). So tar it is
certain, that Cape tea ( Cyclopia loncjifolial ) con¬
tains —

(1) . A glucosidal substance similar to cinchono-
novatannic acid, and undergoing, when boiled with
dilute mineral acid asimilar. decomposition, yielding
a substance bearing a close resemblance to cinchono-
nova-red.

(2) . A crystalline substance which in alkaline
solutions possesses a green fluorescence.

(3) . That a third substance analogous to cyclopin
(probably an oxidation product) may be obtained,
undergoing a similar decomposition.

Should an opportunity present itself, I trust to be
able subsequently to continue the investigation of
these substances, which, with larger quantities at
my disposal, and in a greater state of purity, would
undoubtedly yield interesting results.

Dorpat, Russia.

CHEMICAL MECHANICS.*

BY C. DE MARIGNAC.

On witnessing the calorific effects which accompany the
act of chemical combination, chemists have at all times
sought to determine the relations which exist between
these two classes of facts ; on the one side, affinity, con¬
sidered as the cause of all chemical combination ; and, on
the other side, the heat produced when this combination
takes place.

A century ago, Lavoisier explained this relation, by as¬
suming that simple bodies are only known to us in a state
of union with a certain quantity of caloric, which is set
at liberty Avhen these bodies enter into chemical combina¬
tions. Having his attention more exclusively attracted
to the phenomena of combustion, he attributed this too
exclusively to oxygen. Later, it was admitted for all the
elements.

The brilliant discoveries of Davy, on the chemical de¬
compositions effected by the galvanic current, gave rise to
the electro-chemical theory, proposed by this scientist,
and afterwards adopted and modified by Ampere and
Berzelius, which caused heat and affinity to be looked
upon in an entirely new light. According to this theory,
affinity is merely the reciprocal attraction of the opposite
electricities, which exist in either a free or a polarized
state in the elements which tend to combine, and the

* Being a Review of Berthelot’s “Essai de Mecanique
Chimique, fondee sur la Thermo-Chimie,” published in the
‘Archives des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles.’ From
the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

heat observed in chemical combinations results from the
mutual neutralization of these electricities.

When chemists abandoned the electro-chemical theory,
they returned to the system prevhvusly adopted, admitting
at the same time, the pre-existence of caloric in all the
elements. But, about this time, an important revolution
took place in the physical sciences ; heat and electricity
ceased to be considered as material fluids, combined more
or less intimately with ponderable bodies, and came to be
regarded as modes of motion. The discoveries of Mayer,
of Golding, of Joule, had demonstrated the mechanical
equivalent of heat. This new doctrine necessarily modi¬
fied the ideas entertained by chemists concerning the
origin of the heat and the electricity evolved in chemical
reactions, and led them to consider these manifestations
as complementary to one another, and as resulting from
the loss of molecular impetus attending the act of com¬
bination.

Vast erudition, and long bibliographical researches,
would be necessary, to follow this change of doctrine, and
to apportion to each scientist the share which he had in
it. We may, however, cite the memoir of M. Henri
Sainte Claire Deville (1860), and those of Babinet (1866).

A Danish chemist, Mr. Thomsen, whose labours have
greatly contributed to the progress of thermo-chemistry,
published in 1853 a series of memoirs,* in which he ex¬
plained the principles of this new science. Without de¬
riving them explicitly from the mechanical theory of heat,
he expresses the basis on which . they rest in terms which
recall this theory. He founds them on the two following
principles : —

1st. The intensity of chemical energy in a given body
is constant when the temperature is invariable.

2nd The totality of the heat given out in a chemical
reaction is the measure of the chemical energy brought
to bear in this reaction.

The chemical energy of a body, or, what is identical, its
capacity of developing heat, is what Mr. Thomsen calls
its thermo-dyPamic equivalent.

Mr. Thomsen has since tried to show that all the laws
of thermo-chemistry subsequently established by M. Ber*
thelot, were derived from the second of these principles. It
is true that they may be considered as consequences of it,
but only by including conditions and restrictions which are
not found in the statement of this principle. The best
proof of this is that fifteen years later, + when Mr. Thom¬
sen attempted to establish an agreement between his
principles and the manner in which bases and acids are
divided in a mixture of salts, he had to introduce a new
force, avidity, which is an inherent property of these
bodies, and in which it is difficult to find anything dif¬
ferent from chemical affinity under another form, inde¬
pendent of that which is measured by the heat given out
in combinations.

It is in reality to M. Berthelot that the honour belongs
of having stated with perfect precision the fundamental
principles of thermo-chemistry, and, above all, of having
shown, by a prolonged and numerous series of experiments,
that these principles are sufficient to account for all
chemical reactions.

Gifted with an eminently philosophical spirit ; deeply
versed in mathematics and in . the physical sciences;
trained to the most extended researches by his labours on
chemical synthesis, this scientist was better able than
anyone else to accomplish the task to which he has de¬
voted himself, which is to show the application, of the
principles of mechanics to the formation of organic com¬
pounds, and even to chemical reactions generally. .

For this, it was not sufficient merely to determine the
heat given out in chemical reactions. A not less import¬
ant portion of the laboursof M. Berthelothasbeenthestudy
of the conditions under which such reactions take place, and
more specially the study of the chemical equilibrium which
results from two contrary reactions, w hich are reciprocally

* Pogg. Annal., 88, 349; 90, 261.
f Pogg. Annal., 136, 65; also Archives, 1869, 36, 301.

Vk

574

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 15, 1881.

limited. This happens in the formation of ethers, in de¬
compositions and inverse recombinations produced by
electricity, etc.

Through the study of these subjects, the author was led
to new and important results in a branch of chemical
mechanics, already intimated at the beginning of this
century by Berthollet, under the name of chemical statics.
He has shown that the theory of Berthollet, by which we
are enabled to foretell chemical phenomena from the
mere knowledge of the physical conditions of insolubility
and volatility, has no foundation, except when there
already exists a previous equilibrium, which constantly
tends to renew itself. But the permanency of this equi¬
librium, and even its existence, are dependent on a still
more general condition, which had never before been
pointed out, and which has been defined in the principle
of maximum work laid down by M. Berthelot.

These researches have taken sixteen years — since 1864.
The results have been given in numerous memoirs, pub¬
lished in the Annales et Chimie et de Physique. M. Ber¬
thelot acknowledges the great help he has had from the
labours of his predecessors : Hess, Graham, Andrews,
Favre and Silbermann, and in the numerous series of
numerical determinations of the quantities of heat given
out in combinations, made by Mr. Thomsen, which are
generally remarkable for their accuracy.

The subject is not exhausted, and will not be for many
years, but M. Berthelot thinks that the time has come for
him to state the laws and general principles, the search of
which has led him to this long series of experiments, and
to show in what manner the ideas recently acquired on
the theory of heat allow us to bring the whole of che¬
mistry, that is, the formation and reactions of organic as
well as of mineral substances, under the same principles
of mechanics which govern other branches of physics ;
whence the title of ‘Essay on Chemical Mechanics founded
on Thermo-chemistry,’ given by the author to the work
which we are reviewing.

In his introduction, M. Berthelot states the three fun¬
damental principles of thermo-chemistry and chemical
mechanics, viz: —

I. Principle of Molecular Action. — The quantity of heat
given out in any reaction is the measure of the. sum of
the physical and chemical work accomplished in this
reaction.

This principle gives the measure of chemical affinities.

II. Principle of the Caloi'ific Equivalence of Chemical
Transformations, or, in other words, Principle of the Initial
and Final State. — If a system of simple or compound
bodies, taken in determinate conditions, suffers physical
or chemical changes capable of bringing it to a new state,
without giving rise to a mechanical effect exterior to the
system, the quantity of heat given out or absorbed by the
effect of these changes, depends solely on the initial and
final states of the system ; it is always the same, inde¬
pendently of the nature and sequence of intermediate
states.

III. Principle of Maximum Work. — Every chemical
change accomplished without the intervention of a foreign
energy, tends toward the production of the body, or
system of bodies, which gives out the greatest quantity
of heat.

The prevision of chemical phenomena is, by this last
principle, brought down to the purely physical and me¬
chanical idea of the maximum labour accomplished by
molcular action.

The following principle, deduced from the preceding,
is applicable to a multitude of phenomena : —

Every chemical reaction, which may be accomplished
without the help of a preliminary action, and apart from
the intervention of any energy foreign to the bodies pre¬
sent in the system, will necessarily take place if it be at¬
tended with evolution of heat.

The two first principles, above given, had not heretofore
been stated in such precise terms, but it may be said that
they had been implicitly admitted by the previous in¬

vestigators in thermo-chemistry. It wa*, however, M.
Berthelot, who first called attention to the principle of
maximum work, which is the basis of chemical statics.

In the statements made above, we may note the par¬
ticular care taken by the author in distinguishing, in the
calculations of reactions, the heat given out by chemical
reactions, properly so called, from that due to change of
state, and which is derived more specially from physical
energies, such as the liquefaction of gases, the solidifica¬
tion of liquids, changes of volume and of specific heats of
gases, of liquids and solids ; changes of tension in vapours,
and of fluidity in liquids, of crystallization and of crys¬
talline form in solids; also various modifications of the
amorphous state.

It is indeed only on the condition of keeping account of
all these circumstances, and of eliminating the share of all
these physical causes, that we are able to ascertain that
the heat given out in a reaction is the exact measure of
the affinities brought into play.

The first volume of M. Berthelot is specially dedicated
to chemical calorimetry, which is the study of the quan¬
tities of heat given out in chemical reactions. It forms
the exposition and confirmation of the first two principles
stated above.

These principles cannot be demonstrated d priori .
They are founded on a hypothesis, in itself very prob¬
able, that the imperceptible molecular motions developed
in chemical reactions obey the same laws a3 the motions
of mechanical motors, which may be seen and measured.
The accuracy of this hypothesis can only be established
by long series of experiments, and by the constant con¬
formity of the results obtained with those foreseen by
theory.

The first volume is divided into three books. The first
book develops the rules and general methods of chemical
calorimetry. The author reviews the various reactions,
combinations of elements, formation of salts, etc. He
gives the calculations for each case, also gives rules for
taking into account all the physical actions which inter¬
vene in these reactions, and shows, by numerous examples,
the agreement of experience with fundamental principles
established by him.

One chapter is devoted to the quantities of heat which
come into play in the reactions which take place in living
beings. Another chapter treats of the variation of the
heat of combination as influenced by temperature.

The second book contains descriptions of experimental
processes and of calorimetric apparatus, for the determina¬
tion of the quantities of heat given out in chemical re¬
actions, of specific heats, and of the heat due to changes
of state.

The great experience of the author gives a special in¬
terest to this description of the methods and apparatus
used by him, in which he has succeeded in uniting
simplicity with accuracy, and in which he has tried to
eliminate or, at least, to reduce as much as possible, the
corrections made necessary by the influence of exterior
causes.

The third book is devoted to numerical tables. It in¬
cludes numbers obtained by experiment, representing the
quantities of heat given out or absorbed during physical
or chemical changes of state which these bodies undergo
iu the operations of our laboratories. It therefore con¬
tains, besides results of thermo -chemical experiments, all
the data relating to specific heats, and to changes of State
(latent heats). It forms an extensive and exceedingly
useful compendium of the labours of all the scientists
who have studied these questions. We also find in this
portion very interesting discussions on numerous theoreti¬
cal questions suggested by the examination of these results.
We may cite more specially those which relate to specific
heat.

M. Berthelot states that the specific heat is the onl}
physical property by which simple gases differ from
compound gases. This property, however, is sufficient to
establish between these two groups such an important

January 15, 1S81.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

575

difference, that it is impossible to suppose that any of the
gases, now considered as simple, results from the union or
several other elements, such as we admit them at the
present time, or from the condensation of several equiva¬
lents of the same element. This union or condensation
must be understood to be comparable to that which gives
rise to compound bodies, such as are now known to us.
Simple gases differ from all compound gases formed with
condensation, by the constancy of their specific heat, while
for these last, the specific heat increases rapidly with the
temperature, and always exceeds in a notable manner, at
all temperatures, that of simple gases. They also, differ
from compound gases, formed without. condensation o
their elements, such as hydrochloric acid and carbonic
oxide (corresponding to four volumes, according to the
system of notation of the author), whose molecular specific
heat is equal to that of simple gases, and also remains
constant at all temperatures, by the fact that, the mole¬
cular volume always corresponds to one equivalent for
these compound gases, while it represents two 01 foui
equivalents for all the known elements.*

In the chapter relating to specific heats of solid bodies,
occur very interesting observations on the law of Dulong
and Petit, t and on the relations which exist between the
specific heats of compound bodies and those of their ele¬
ments. , -r. i . •

The second volume of the work of M. • Berthelot, is

specially dedicated to establishing the bases of chemical

mechanics. , .

The object at which the author aims is the highest that

science can propose to itself. Instead of confining itself to
the individual description of the properties, the pi epai a-
tion and transformations of chemical species, science must
endeavour to discover the laws governing these transfor¬
mations; the causes and proximate conditions which
determine them. The complete solution of this, problem
of chemical mechanics is not yet possible, and will not be
possible for many years. To solve it, we should know,
in every reaction, the masses of the particles brought into
play, their relative positions, the proper motions of each
particle, the exact nature, and the laws which govern the
forces which react on each other. Most of these dataai.e
wanting, and even if they were known, it is doubtful if
any -method of calculation would allow us to solve such a
complicated problem.

However, some portions of the problem may be at-
tempted. Since a long time, all that relates, to the pro¬
portions in which combinations take place is know n by
the laws of definite proportions, of multiple proportions,
and of equivalents. As to the prevision of reactions, we
have only had the laws laid down by Berchollet at the
beginning of this century. These only apply to special

* This difference is not so much in the specific heats
themselves, as in the relations of molecular volumes to
equivalents. In this respect, the reasoning of M.’ Berthelot
does not seem to me unobjectionable. It would be so if the
determinations of equivalents rested on fixed rules. But,
as he himself acknowledges (introduction, page. 21), equi¬
valents are only determined within an approximation of a
multiple,” it would only be necessary to change the multiple
which has been chosen more or less arbitrarily, for a given
body, to change the relation between its molecular weight
and its equivalent, which the author regards as character¬
istics of simple and compound gases. As an instance, it is
not clear why M. Berthelot considers the molecular of car¬
bonic oxide, C2O2 (four volumes), as representing one equi¬
valent. In the combinationsof this gas with oxygen, chlorine
and sulphur, it would appear that this quantity rather
corresponds to two equivalents.

+ Although we acknowledge, with M. Berthelot, that the
law of Dulong and Petit, when applied to solids, is not
rigorously exact, and that it cannot serve, in an absolute
manner, for the determination of atomic weights, still we
believe that he exaggerates the exceptions which it suffers,
and that it must be taken into account in the case of ele¬
ments whose physical properties are very similar, as in the
case of metals whose fusion points are not very far apart.

cases and meet with frequent exceptions. M. Berthelot
replaces them by a more general law, by which the pre¬
vision of the reciprocal actions between simple and com¬
pound bodies is reduced to the determination of the
thermic properties of the reacting bodies. W e may by this
new law foresee the reciprocal actions of compounds
towards one another and towards simple bodies, when we
know the quantities of heat given out in the formation.of
each compound. This new law is no other than the third
principle of the author, which has already been stated, the
law of maximum work.

Whence the division of this volume in two parts :

The first treats of what may be called chemical dyna¬
mics. It is the study of combination and decomposition,
and contains definitions of the opposing actions, on one
side, of chemical forces, and on the other side, of calorific,
luminous and electric energies, which determine the pheno¬
mena. In this way, the conditions are laid down which
determine the existence and the stability of combinations
for each separate body.

The second part is the study of the final state which
results from reciprocal actions between simple and com¬
pound bodies; this is chemical statics. In this part comes
into action the principle of maximum work, which is as
remarkable for its simplicity as for its generality. It
brings everything down to the knowledge of two things :
the heat given out by the transformations, and the stability
which belongs to each compound.

The author demonstrates the existence of this principle,
by the discussion of the general phenomena of chemistry. ;
afterwards, he develops the application of it to the reci¬
procal actions of the principal groups of substances, such,
for instance, as take place between elements and binary
compounds ; the reciprocal displacement of binary com¬
pounds, and specially of hydracids, when opposed to one
another or to water ; the reciprocal displacements of acids
in salts, and, finally, saline double decompositions.

It may be easily understood that it is impossible to give,
in a review of this kind, a clear idea of a work of such
importance and of such vast extent. We have only tried
to give an idea of t' ;e subjects treated in it. The theories
of M. Berthelot are well known, as they have been de¬
veloped by him for the last sixteen years in a series of
papers which have been read by all chemists. Is ever-
theless, the present work forms an important. epoch in the
history of chemistry, and shows the necessity of trans¬
forming its methods. In the future, it will, not be suffi¬
cient to state the reactions of which a body is susceptible,
as if they were mere experimental data. It will be
necessary to derive them from the general principles, of
which these reactions are consequences. Doubtless, the
edifice of chemical mechanics, whose foundations have
been laid by M. Berthelot, cannot be considered as complete.
Sixty years ago, the laws which govern chemical pro¬
portions were established, and nevertheless, the numbers
which represent equivalents have frequently to be recti¬
fied. We may expect that those which express the
quantities of heat of combination, or transformation, will
also require change, more especially, as. many of them
cannot be determined directly by experiment, but result
from complicated calculations in which a great number
of reactions have to be taken into account.

There are, moreover, many theoretical. questions of the
highest importance, the solution of which is at present

beyond our reach. . , , , ,. .

If the heat given out in the combination of two bodies is
the immediate consequence of the loss of momentum which
comes from the union of their particles, and if it measures
at the same time their mutual affinity, what then is the
first cause of affinity? Is it a special force as was once
believed ? Or is it the concordance in the vibratory

motions of the particles ? _ ... ...

Those combinations which arc attended with evolution
of heat are the only ones which can take place directly ;
but they do not always take place spontaneously. Many
of them must be determined by an exterior cause, such as

576

THF I* HARMAOEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 15, 1881

heat, light, electricity, but these' agents do not give to
the elements an energy of which they have already an ex¬
cess. How then do they act ?

These questions, and many others which will come up,
cannot fail to exercise for a long time to come the
sagacity of chemists. At any rate, an important step has
been made towards their solution when it has been shown
that the physical and chemical energies which come into
play in chemical reactions follow the laws of rational
mechanics.

MECOinC ACID.*

BY D. B. DOTT.

Meconic acid is commonly taken as an example of a
tribasic acid, the silver salts especially being instanced as
proving from their composition the fact of its tribasicity.
Dittmar and Dewar (‘Proc. Roy. Sec. Edin.,’ 1867)
endeavoured to decide the question of the basicity of the
acid and came to the conclusion, contrary to the usual
opinion, that meconic acid is dibasic though triatomic ; but
their experiments, as they themselves appear to admit, were
not conclusive. It may be noticed that only two ethyl
ethers of meconic acid have been prepared, and that with
aniline and morphia only dibasic salts are produced.
Hydromeconic acid, which is formed from meconic acid
by the action of sodium-amalgam, yields, likewise, only
dibasic salts. These facts militate against the generally
received view of the basicity of the acid.

It is, however, the supposed composition of the silver
and lead salts of meconic acid that has mainly led to the
belief in its tribasic nature. In Watts’ ‘Dictionary,’
and in other works on chemistry, triargentic and tri-
plumbic meconates are described. The triargentic salt
is said to be produced by adding nitrate of silver to a
neutral solution of ammonium meconate ; or by boiling
the bibasic salt with water. Wackenroder appears to
have been the first to furnish this information. Similarly,
by adding acetate of lead to neutral solution of ammonium
meconate, the triplumbic salt is said to be thrown down.

I have prepared and analysed these salts in manner
as described, and with results which do not bear out the
conclusions generally accepted. It would be superfluous
to detail all the experiments performed. Suffice it to say
regarding the silver salts obtained by precipitation from
acid and neutral solutions, that they were of very
variable composition, no two precipitates containing the
same proportion of silver, and none attaining the per¬
centage required by the triargentic salt. The silver was
estimated by igniting the salts, after drying at 110° —
120° C. The percentage obtained varied from 35 03 to
55'81. A quantity of argentic meconate was boiled in
water for a few hours, then dried and found to contain
56'45 per cent, of silver. Another precipitate boiled for
twenty-four hours gave a yield of silver equal to 6073
per cent. A portion of the same boiled with water for
forty hours gave 88-87 per cent, silver.

Ag;JC7H07~ 6278 Ag per cent.

Erom these results it is evident that the precipitates
obtained as above have not the composition of definite
salts, but must consist of mixtures. It is also manifest
that the meconate of silver when boiled with water
gradually suffers decomposition until almost nothing
but argentic oxide is left. Of course by stopping the
process at the proper time a substance would be obtained
yielding the proportion of silver required by a tribasic
meconate, but it would be fallacious to conclude that it
was anything but a mixture.

The lead salts prepared by precipitation gave a
proportion of plumbic oxide varying from 56 '21 to 6477
per cent.

Pb3 (C7H07)2 = 65 91 PbO per cent.

* Abstract of paper read before Royal Society of Edin¬
burgh, January 3, 1881.

Stenhouse states that he obtained basic meconates
of lead, one of them yielding as much as 747 per cent, of
PbO. I think it likely that it is just this tendency of
meconic acid to form basic salts that has given rise to
the belief that the acid is tribasic. In the present state
of our information, the evidence is in favour of the dibasic
nature of meconic acid.

-

THE MIGRATION OF EUROPEAN ANIMALS TO
AMERICA AND OF AMERICAN ANIMALS TO
EUROPE.*

BY PROFESSOR E. W. CLAY'POLE, B.A., B.SC. (LONDON),

OF ANTIOCH COLLEGE, OHIO.

The present paper is a sequel to one that appeared in
this Society’s Report for last year.f I then set forth
some facts, more or less well known already, regarding
the wholesale migration of European plants to America,
and their naturalization here, and the striking failure of
American plants to migrate to Europe and to establish
themselves there ; at the same time suggesting one among
several forcible causes which in part explain a fact at
first sight so strange.

Having been requested again to contribute to these
pages, it seemed to me that a somewhat similar sketch
of what has been taking place in another field might not
be without use or interest. The occupation of American
soil by European weeds and European men is not the
only occupation that has taken place. Another invasion
of this Western World, to most persons even less con¬
spicuous, has been going on at the same time, and now
this country is peopled with a European fauna hardly
less numerous than the European flora, to which last
year I called attention.

Not that the larger wild animals of Europe have come
over and taken possession of American soil. This would
be as difficult, I had almost said as impossible, as that
European trees should do the same. The obstacles
previously mentioned, which stand in the way of the
introduction of the forest trees of Europe, equally oppose
the introduction of the larger wild animals. But as
European weeds have freely crossed and settled here, so
have the smaller members of the European fauna — the .
animal weeds, if I may coin the expression — squatted on
Canadian and American soil and obtained citizenship
here. In other words, the so-called New World is
almost as much a home for European insects and vermin
as for European weeds.

Especially is this true of the more injurious and
annoying portion of the group. The list is a long one of
insects, which, though not native to the continent, have
crossed in the trail of man, and stand prepared to steal
from the farmer his hard-earned crops as they stole them
when both were yet at home in the old country.

It is more than probable that many readers will be
surprised to learn that some of the creatures to which
reference will be made are not natives of the Western
World. They are so common, so familiar, so widespread,
and many of them so destructive, that most persons
never doubt their home or ancestry, and consider them
as truly indigenous as the opossum, racoon and rabbit.

The European fauna gives us more decided proof that
its larger members could run wild here if they had the
chance than did the European flora. The pig ( Sus
scrofa) was one of the first domestic animals introduced.
Wherever the white man settles, this companion of
civilization settles with him. But the pig soon escaped
from his control, took to the woods and bred there in
great numbers, so that about the beginning of this
century they might be found wild in many of the
Midland States. Their later complete disappearance is

* Reprinted from the ‘Fourth Report of the Montreal
Horticultural Society,’ 1878.

t Reprinted in Pharmaceutical Journal [3] vol. x.,
pp. 404 and 464.

January 15, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

577

due to man. They still abound in many Southern and
Western States. The horse ( Equus caballus) and the ox
(Bos taurus) were introduced by the Spaniards in the
early days of their intercourse with the New World.
Escaping, as the hog, these animals too have run
wild and multiplied until the plains of Mexico and
South America seem naturally the home of the mustang
and wild cattle. But though the horse is not a native of
this continent, it is both curious and interesting to note
that North America can lay claim to his ancestors. The
tertiary beds of the Western States have yielded to the
labours of Professor Marsh the story of his family ever
since the time when he was represented by a fox-like
animal, whose five toes all reached the ground and were
serviceable for walking, whereas by gradual retrenchment
of these organs the horse now stands upon the. tips only of
• middle fingers and toes, the other digits being reduced
to mere rudimentary appendages or having altogether |
disappeared.

Besides these the European black rat ( Mus vattus),
the genuine old Tory rat of England, came over in the
“Mayflower,” or earlitr still, with Jacques Cartier, and
creeping ashore along the mooring hawser, crawled out
stealthily to see to what hind of country he had come.
Finding it a goodly land, with plenty of corn and nuts
and few rats, he squatted on it at once with his fellows,
and obeyed the command to increase and multiply. In
a short time the cellars, granaries and warehouses of
Canada and New England teemed with this irrepressible
European pest, and the same deadly feud sprang up
between him and man as had existed in the Old World
from time immemorial. He occupied the whole country
as fast as the white man, or perhaps a little faster, going
apparently somewhat in advance of him,, until North
America seemed a perfect rat-paradise, with plenty of
food, plenty of room, and few enemies except .man.

But the Tory rat had his day — he had his day and
ceased to be. The Whig rat— said to have come over
to England in the same ship that brought over William
of Orange — gradually spread over the whole of the
British Isles, fighting down, eating out, or mingling with
the old black rat. So complete has been the change
that now the so-called Norway or Hanover rat, the
brown rat ( Mus decuinanus), is master of the situation,
and the black rat, like the Celt before the Saxon, retired
to certain fastnesses, such as the Whitechapel docks,
where from some natural advantage or other cause, he
still holds his own, like the Celt in Wales and Cornwall.

In process of time it came to pass that the Whig or
Norway rat also crossed the Atlantic, and took up his
abode on these Western shores. Here he found the
country occupied just as it had been in England by the
rat of opposite political opinions, and the struggle
between Whig and Tory, so well known in the political
history of the United States, was enacted on another
scale, and a lower zoological level, but with similar
results. An observing friend of mine, who had moved
from Connecticut to Ohio forty years ago, assures me
that he has twice outwested the brown rat. On his
arrival in this (S.W.) part of the State, the brown rat
was unknown, and the ground was entirely possessed by
the black rat. Soon after his coming here the former
appeared, and the latter in a short time completely dis¬
appeared. After a residence of some years this
gentleman removed to Illinois, and in so doing again
passed beyond the range of the brown rat. . But in a
few years it followed, him, and the same dispossession
again occurred. The brown rat invaded the State, and
drove the previous occupant still further west. In this
way State after State has been overrun, so that it is
impossible to doubt that ere long the whole sub-domain
of Canada and the States will be as thoroughly held by
these vermin as are the subterranean portions of human

dwellings in the Old World.

Not as a friend of the rat, certainly, for the two
seldom live together, but as an accompanying nuisance,

the common mouse ( Mus inusculus) also came over from
Europe, and is now as mischievous and annoying here as
there. Judging from past experience, these two bid fair
to become as cosmopolitan in their distribution as the
white man whom they so constantly accompany, and on
whose labours they feed and thrive.

Of later importation, and rather designedly than
accidentally introduced, is the English sparrow ( Passer
domesticus). This inhabitant of Europe owes his presence
to his well-known insectivorous habits. Buffon estimated
that a pair of sparrows during the breeding season
destroy 4000 caterpillars a week. In this way they
greatly assist in keeping down the insect pests of Europe,
and have conferred similar advantages on many parts of
this country where they have been introduced. “It
supports equally well severe cold and extreme heat.
Not being migratory, its insect hunting practices continue
all the year round, and the full benefit, therefore, is
secured. The sparrow is a bold, somewhat intrusive
bird, used to city life, city manners and city smoke, and
quite capable of holding his own against most other birds
of his own size. But in some places where it has been
introduced and has done immense good by keeping down
or exterminating some of the most destructive of our
insect foes, such for instance as the canker worm, these
benefits have been forgotten, and the benefactor
denounced as a nuisance, not, by the way, an uncommon
occurrence amongst men. He is charged with driving
aAvay other birds, with making, a constant noise which
cannot be called musical, and with other heinous crimes
deserving capital punishment. Many of these charges
are unjust, and could his accusers have their, way, the
sparrow would soon be avenged by the mischief which
his insect food, if uneaten, would do. Says Mr. Oalvin,
forester to the City of Boston : —

“The introduction of the sparrow was immediately
attended with benefit almost beyond calculation. The
trees on the Common were infested with a nasty yellow
caterpillar which destroyed the leaves and buds . of the
elms and others. These insects increased very rapidly, in
spite of all that my men could do to destroy them, and
at the south end the elm trees were eaten every June by
swarms of canker worms. Both these pests have been
pretty nearly exterminated. But for the sparrow, how¬
ever, they would return. I believe that the wages of all
jjjy men could not compensate Boston for the loss of the
sparrow.

“ x say, without hesitation, the sparrow does not molest
or interfere with any other bird. All summer he is with
the robin and bluebird, and I have never witnessed any
animosity myself, nor have any of my men. The robins
were more numerous on the Common last year than ever
before. The chip sparrows have also become very
numerous, and may be seen feeding with the sparrows on
the same bit of bread. Before the sparrows came there
were no bluebirds. Now they are quite common, and
often treat the sparrows very badly and break up then-
nests. The sparrows of course show fight, but the blue¬
birds are always too strong for them.”

I have given this long extract, somewhat condensed,
in the hope that it may lead some to remember that the
destruction of a benefactor, when a part of his benefit
has been enjoyed, is the sure way to bring back the evil
he has in part removed. It is killing the goose that laid

the golden eggs. . , _ , , , , ,

At the same time it is quite possible and would accord

with the analogy pointed out in this paper that, in other
situations and outside of the cities, this bird may some¬
times so increase as to become mischievous. Many ot the
complaints, however, concerning them must be received
with great caution, for even when they are charged with
destroying buds, these buds may contain iusects and the
little fruit they eat is only a tithe of what they save.
Other devices than their destruction may be re. orted to,
I as in England, to protect fruits, etc., from their attacks.
The Rev. J. G. Wood says, in his 1 Natural History

578

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 15, 1881.

“ In every case where the sparrow has been extirpated
there has been a proportionate decrease of the crops from
the ravages of insects, as in Maine and Auxerre (France).”
Let us pause before yielding to the hue and cry now
raised in some quarters against the English sparrow.
Though at rather undue length on this point, I may add
the following : A friend of mine in this neighbourhood,
desirous of seeing more birds about his farm, and finding
that the canker worm was attacking his white elm and
apple trees, bought a dozen young English sparrows at
Cleveland, about the year 1872, for 18. dollars, a price
which would create some stir among English boys. Nine
of them died, leaving three, a cock and two hens. Next
year these Mormons built two nests and reared the young.
By the end of the following season the family numbered
thirty. Not a canker worm has since been seen on the
premises. The sparrows were seen devouring them whole¬
sale. They live with the other birds, building in the same
cot with the martins, who will sometimes drive them off
and break up their nests. The bluebird and chip sparrow
are very friendly with them, and no damage has been
done in the garden. One American robin or blue jay will
do far more mischief among fruit than fifty English
sparrows.

But it is time to pass on to the more immediate subject
of this paper — the insect immigrants from Europe. Let
me mention first a few the date of whose arrival is
unknown, but which probably accompanied some of the
earliest settlers.

Among the minor plagues of life, especially to the
housekeeper in this country and in Europe, but almost in¬
finitely worse here than there, is the ubiquitous house
fly ( Musca domestica), only inferior to the mosquito as a
torment, and far his superior in abundance around the
habitation of man. To whom the Western World is
indebted for this addition to its fauna, we shall never
know. Probably he stole a passage on the “Mayflower”
to New England, accompanied John Smith to Jamestown,
and Jacques Cartier to the banks of the St. Lawrence.
He has been here so long and increased so rapidly that
scarcely a house on the continent is free from his un¬
welcome presence. In spite of constant war waged
against these summer pests, their rate of multiplication
is so rapid that they swarm in millions in every town and
hamlet, and every effort to destroy them, or even to
reduce their number, seems hopeless.

Here we may allude to the flesh fly ( Musca vomitorici),
and the blue-bottle fly {Musca Ocesar), both old enemies
of the clean, but firm friends of those who live in dirt, and
among the offal of their food. Both of these, like the
house fly, have acquired by possession such inalienable
rights that a stranger would be likely to suppose America
to be their native land, and Europe the country of their
adoption.

The augoumois moth ( Butalis cerealella) is One of the
most destructive foes of the grain after it is stored in the
granaries of France. It eats out the floury part,
leaving a mere shell. It became common about the
beginning of the last century in North Carolina, whence
it spread into Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, and is
occasionally found in New England. It is sometimes very
abundant, and very destructive. This insect “ abounded
in exhibits from various countries” at the Centennial
Exhibition of 1876.

It is quite possible that not a few noxious species will
be found to date their introduction to the Centennial year,
though the Commissioner appointed to report on this
subject says : —

“ Most of the species obtained in the building have been
already distributed over the globe by the ordinary channels
of trade, and nothing is to be apprehended from the
addition of a few hundred thousand specimens to the in¬
calculable millions of the same kind now domiciled among
us.” The species found, which have not been previously
observed in the United States, will be innocuous. “ I
may therefore announce with moderate certainty that

no evil result will occur to our agricultural interests, from
any introduction of foreign insects by means of the
exhibits.”

The grain weevil ( Calandra granaria) is even more
destructive to grain than the foregoing. It is not un¬
common in granaries where this beetle is numerous to
find nothing left of a heap of wheat except the husk.
Moreover, all kinds of corn seem to be acceptable to this
destroyer, which has also crossed the Atlantic and com¬
menced its ravages in the granaries of America. After
the wheat has passed through the mill it becomes the prey
of the meal worm ( Tenebrio molitor) often a great nuisance
to the housewives of Europe, and now thoroughly natural¬
ized here. It feeds chiefly on damaged flour.

Turning to the orchard, the tiny apple tree bark louse
barely visible to the naked eye, in many places, and in
some years does more harm to the apple tree than any other
of its insect foes. It swarms in the orchard and the millions
of little beaks are engaged in sucking from the trees
their very life-blood. The effect soon appears in the sere
and falling leaf, and later in the death of the tree. For
this, too, we are indebted to Europe, where, however, its
ravages are insignificant compared with those which it
commits in this country. The Northern States and
Canada West are the districts in which it most prevails,
and where the greatest mischief is done.

{To be continued.)

THE CONFERENCE TESTIMONIAL TO PROFESSOR
ATTFIELD, F.R.S.

^The final meeting of the sub-committee was held at
17, Bloomsbury Square, on Wednesday, January 5, 1881.
Mr. G. F. Schacht in the chair. The Honorary Secretary
reported that the address having been formally presented
at the Swansea meeting of the Conference, the selection
and binding of the books had been left in the hands
of Dr. Attfield. Owing to absence from his house for
a time, and other causes, he had been unable to complete
his selection until the middle of December. The following-
letter was read : —

“Ashlands, Watford, December 17, 1880.”

“Dear Mr. Secretary, — I can now report that the
Conference books have all been delivered, the last batch
coming to hand within a few days of the time at which
they were promised by the binder. They look lovely in
their bright and varied tints; the editions are those
which combine usefulness with elegance in the happiest
manner; in short, the Conference present has been
placed on my shelves in a form most pleasing to me and
mine. I need not say how glad, indeed proud, I or
Mrs. Attfield would be to show them to any member
of the Conference who could favour us with a call at
Ashlands.

“Yours faithfully,

“John Attfield.” .

The following statement of account, duly audited, was
presented by the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, and
passed : —

Dr. £ s. d.

To subscriptions ........ 192 4 0

Cr. ' £ s. d.

By paid E. Bumpus for books . . . . 163 9 0

„ ,, W. Hooper for address ... 550

„ Postage . . . '. . 10 15 0

,, Printing and Stationery . . . . 12 15 0

192 4 0

Audited and found correct,
January 3, 1881. E. N. Butt.

January 15, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

579

SATURDAY , JANUARY 15, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, books for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and 'payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

PROPOSED PHARMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION IN

PRANCE.

At the present time, when the subject of pharma¬
ceutical legislation may be expected to occupy a
prominent place in the minds ol most of our readers,
it will not be out of place to lay before them a
sketch of what is being done in the same direction
amongst our French neighbours. Although we are
accustomed to think that the position of the phar¬
macist in France is much more satisfactory than it
is at home, and though there is in some respects good
reason for that opinion, the fact is that discontent
prevails among our neighbours across the channel to
a very great extent, and that there are many of
them who hope to see a reform of the laws that
regulate the practice ot pharmacy.

For some time past an amendment of the law has
been looked for in France, and quite recently a
lt projet de loi has been submitted to the considera¬
tion of the Conseil d’Etat, the main features of
which we now propose to mention.

Among the conditions for the exercise of the busi¬
ness of pharmacy it is declared that no Frenchman
is to be at liberty to practise pharmacy or to keep
open shop to prepare, sell, hold in stock or supply
any medicine, unless he possesses the diploma of a
pharmacien obtained in France, and unless he has
conformed with the formalities prescribed by law.
That being the case, however, pharmacists may,
without distinction of class, establish themselves
and carry on their business in any part of the Re*
public.

The pharmacist must not carry on his business
anywhere but in his own shop, and he must not do
so in more than one shop. He must not carry on in
his shop any other business but that of the trade in
drugs and medicines, and in general any of the
articles which appertain to the healing art. He is
to have his name written 'outside his place of busi¬
ness, upon his labels, and upon his invoices. More¬
over, he must indicate by a special label the
preparations intended for external application, and,
lastly, he must habitually reside at the place where
his business is carried on.

The association of unqualified persons under a
general title for carrying on the business of phar¬
macy is prohibited.

At the death of a pharmacist, his widow and heirs
may carry on the business for one year only, with the
aid of an assistant at least twenty-two years of age and
approved for that purpose by the Ecole de Pharmacie,
and under the supervision of a pharmacist also
approved in like manner.

The association of a pharmacist and a medical
practitioner in business is prohibited, as well as the
simultaneous practice of medicine and pharmacy.
Medical men may, however, supply medicines to
neighbours, if requested, in cases where there is no
pharmacist keeping open shop within a distance of
eight kilometres from the dwelling of the patient
but they must not keep an open shop.

Pharmacists are not to supply or sell medicines
without the prescriptions of medical men or of those
who have the right to sign an order of the kind. They
may, however, sell upon the demand of customers
simple medicines and innocuous compounds con¬
tained in a list that is to be appended to the Codex.

Except in cases where medical men specially in¬
dicate to the contrary, pharmacists are always to
conform to the formulae of the Codex in making
their preparations and compounds. Every pharma¬
cist is to provide himself with a copy of the most
recent edition of the Codex, and with all the supple¬
ments as they may be published. As appertaining
to this provision the sale or advertisement of any
remedy not comprised in the above category is
prohibited. The sale of any medicinal preparation
under any other name than that indicated by the
Codex is also prohibited.

The prefects throughout the country are required
every year to draw up a list of the pharmacists of
each class established in tlieir departments, stating
the name and surname of each, the date of their
qualification, and their place of residence.

No persons but pharmacists or others duly author-
rized may sell or supply any preparation, simple or
compound, intended for human use and to which
medicinal or curative properties are ascribed, nor
may they advertise them for sale in any way. At the
same time simple medicines in general use may be
freely sold if their application is unattended with
danger, and when their nomenclature is in accord
with the conditions determined by the Government.

Any person who considers he has discovered a
useful remedy, and is desirous that it should be
used, is to forward the formula for its preparation
to the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce,
when it will be submitted to a permanent Codex
Committee, which will determine whether it shall
be added to the Codex. All persons who are in¬
ventors or proprietors of remedies of which the
composition is secret, having had previous autho¬
rity to prepare, sell, or supply those remedies,
must proceed as stated above, and in default of
so doing within three months of the passing of the
law the authorization under which they have acted
will be cancelled.

580

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 15, 1881.

Public establishments, hospitals, and commercial
or industrial societies, having many persons employed
in them, may keep a pharmacy, but solely for their
own use, and upon condition that it is managed by a
pharmacien having a diploma. Such establishments
may not, without the sanction of the local authorities,
sell or supply outside of their own circle any kind of
medicine ; these pharmacies are not to be open to
the public.

In places where there is no open pharmacy within
a distance of eight kilometres the prefect may, at
the instigation of the Board of Health of the arron-
dissement, take steps to authorize suitable persons to
sell and supply certain medicines of simple prepara¬
tion and usage or of necessity in cases of pressing
danger. Such an authorization is to have no further
effect whenever a pharmacist is regularly established
within the distance above mentioned.

The wholesale trade in simple drugs and pharma¬
ceutical products is to be free, but there is to be an
express prohibition of the supply of drugs or any
pharmaceutical preparations by wholesale dealers to
consumers.

In future the certificates accorded to herbalists
are to be done away with, but those fresh or dried
medicinal plants which may be freely sold without
danger will be enumerated in a schedule.

There is to be one inspector of pharmacies, at least,
in each department. He is to be appointed by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, upon the
recommendation of the prefects, and is to be
selected from among the pharmacists of the first
class. Every year, at least, he is to make an in¬
spection of all pharmacies in his district, whether
open or not to the public, those of medical men
or other persons specially authorized to sell certain
medicines, and .those of persons dealing in medicinal
or pharmaceutical materials, or carrying on any indus¬
try connected with the manufacture of preparations
advertised to possess medicinal or curative properties.
Further inspections may also be made as often as may
appear desirable to the inspector or the local authori¬
ties. The cost of these inspections, varying from six
to eight francs a year, is to be borne by the persons
subjected to them.

The inspectors are to report any observed in¬
fringements of the law, and if requisite they may
call in the aid of the police or magistrates of the
locality.

Besides the infliction of certain penalties for
infringement of the law the tribunals are to have
power to order the closing of pharmacies that exist
contrary to the provisions of the law.

This proposed amendment of the law regulating
the exercise of pharmacy in France affords several
points of interest as compared with the state of
affairs in this country and the contemplated New
Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill. It has been con¬
siderably criticized already in some of the French
journals, and on a future occasion we may take an

opportunity of showing the opinion that is held of
its provisions among French pharmacists.

THE CHEMISTS’ BALL.

We need scarcely remind our readers that the
Chemists’ Fifteenth Annual Ball is to be held at
Willis’s Rooms, King Street, St. James’s, on
Wednesday next, the 19th inst. Application for
tickets should be made to members of the Com¬
mittee, a list of whom will be found in an
I advertisement on another page, or to the Honorary
Secretary, Mr. John F. Savory, 143, New Bond
Street.

CONTINENTAL JOURNALS.

It is announced that the Pharmaceutische Zeit-
sclirift fiir Russland, the organ of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society of St. Petersburg, which has hitherto
appeared once a fortnight, will with the commence¬
ment of a new volume be published weekly. It is
also to have a new Editor in Herr Edwin Johan-
son. We are also informed that from the beginning of
the year the Correspondenzblatt des Vereins analj-
tischer Chemiker will appear as the “ Repertorium
cler analytischen Chernie fiir Handel, Gewerbe und
ofentliche Gesundheitspflege , Organ des Vereins analy-
tischer Chemiker .”

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY IN ALGIERS.

In a recent consular report it is mentioned that
by a decree dated June, 1880, there has been
established in Algiers a preparatory school of
medicine and pharmacy, with chairs of anatomy,
physiology, pathology, clinical medicine, obstetrics,
toxicology, natural history, pharmacy and materia
rnedica, hygiene and therapeutics.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Societv will be held on Thurs-

«/ t

day evening next, January 20, when the following
papers will be read : — “ On some Hydrocarbons pre¬
sent in Resin Spirit,” by H. E. Armstrong, P.R.S.;
“Determination of the Relative Weight of Single
Molecules,” by E. Vogel; “On the Oxidation of
Organic Matter in Water,” by Arthur Downes,
M.D. ; “Analysis of Queensland Soils,” by Professor
Liversedge.

'

We understand that at the last Inns of Court
Lecture examination the prize for the highest marks
in all subjects was obtained by Mr. R. W. Giles,
late of Clifton.

The Annual Dinner of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Victoria took place on the 18th of November last
when the sixth toast on the list was “ The Phar-
“ maceutical Society of Great Britain and kindred

“ Societies.”

January 15, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

581

|p[jarmntcutiait Sac ret »• of Jfrelmvlr.

EVENING MEETING.

The first Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Ireland, for the session 1880-1, was held on
Tuesday, January 4, 1881, at the King and Queen s
College of Physicians, Kildare Street, Dublin. The
chair was taken by Mr. James E. Brunker, A.M., T.C.D.

There were two communications brought before the
meeting, the first was from Mr. John P. Harold, M.P.S.I.,

“ On a Commercial Sample of Citric Acid.” The sample,
some crystals of which were exhibited to the meeting,
had been analysed by Mr. Harold, who found that it was
free from tartaric and sulphuric acids and lime (the impuri¬
ties likely to be present) ; but its physical appearance,
having reference to the British Pharmacopoeia, was
abormal, the crystals possessing a distinct blue colora¬
tion, which indicated, in his opinion, the addition in its
manufacture of some blue colouring matter, possibly with
the object of improving its appearance, just as ultramarine
is sometimes added in the preparation of sugar. The blue
colour was considered to be possibly due to the addition
of Prussian blue.

The President., Professor Tichborne, observed that he
had never seen a sample of the kind before.

The second communication was by Professor Tichborne,
LL.D., F.C.S., “On some Peculiarities of Mineral Waters
as imported.” Dr. Tichborne described the properties
and composition, according to his recent analyses, of
several of the purgative, saline, and antacid mineral
waters. He stated that he had found lithium was an
ingredient in a large number of the alkaline waters.
Recently, he discovered that metal in Carlsbad spring,
in which, although it had been hitherto frequently
analysed and written about, strange to say, the presence
of lithium had escaped observation. . Ho now found it in
the water, well marked and in quantity amounting to
1 grain per gallon.

An interesting discussion followed, in which Dr.
Montgomery, Messrs. W. N. Allen, G. H. Grindley,
and the Chairman took part.

The meeting then adjourned.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

January 5, 1881.

Present — Professor Tichborne, President ; Dr. Aquilla
Smith, Vice-President ; Messrs. Allen, Bennett, Brunker,
Collins, Doran, Draper, Grindley, Hayes, Hodgson,
Oldham, Pring and Simpson.

The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

The Registrar read a letter from W. B. Kaye, Esq.,
Clerk to the Privy Council, relative to appointment of
Examiners, and enclosing copies of the Dublin Gazette.

A letter was read from Dr. R. W. Harley, thanking
the Council for having appointed him an Examiner, and
apologizing for not replying before, owing to illness.

A letter from Mr. J. P. Harold, M.P.S.I., was then
placed before the meeting, calling the attention of the
Council to a prescription label (which he enclosed) of a
well known wholesale firm, the issue of which he believed
to be a breach of the Irish Pharmacy Act.

The President said he had had an interview with
Mr. Harold relative to the matter, and had advised
him not to bring it forward ; but Mr. Harold did not
take his advice, therefore the letter came before them
for their consideration.

Dr. Smith said that the section of the Act which was
alleged to be infringed was not mentioned in the letter.
He therefore proposed —

“ That the Registrar be directed to inform Mr. Harold
in reference to his letter he has not stated the
particular section of the Act, the violation of which
he complains.”

Mr. Doran seconded the motion.

Mr. Hodgson asked if it was a family receipt that had
been compounded, and said if so, the firm referred to had
a perfect right to make it up, but had no legal power to
compound physicians’ or surgeons’ prescriptions, as one of
the partners was not a pharmaceutical chemist or
apothecary.

Mr. Hayes remarked that the Council did not know
what private arrangement might exist between the
partners.

The President said no legal arrangement could exist.

Mr. Oldham pointed out that there was no evidence as
to whether a physician’s prescription had been compounded
or not.

The motion was then put and passed.

A letter received from the firm reported at last
meeting to the Council as improperly using the title
“ pharmaceutical chemist ” was read, expressing regret
that the Act should have been infringed, and asking per¬
mission to use up the labels at present printed, and
undertaking not to use the title in future.

After some discussion it was proposed by Mr. Allen,
seconded by Mr. Bennett, and passed —

“ That the Council having no power to condone a
breach of the Act must request the firm to conform
to the law.”

Mr. Brunker in proposing his motion —

“ That the Committee appointed for the purpose of
considering proposed amendments of the Pharmacy
Act (Ireland) be requested to place themselves in
communication with a similar Committee appointed
by the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain,
with a view to co-operation between the two
Societies upon points of common interest to both” —
said, amendments were proposed to be made to the Irish
Pharmacy Act about a year since, and as the English
Society was at present entertaining somewhat similar pro¬
positions, he thought it would be desirable to place them¬
selves in communication with it, and that, should they .do
so, they would be received with friendliness by the English
Society. He referred to Mr. Kinninmont’s remarks,
published some time since in the Pharmaceutical J ournal,
and advocated all proposed amendments should be tending
towards the protection of the public. He suggested
there should be a public prosecutor, who should be com¬
pelled to prosecute upon a sworn information, as . at
present very few were willing to come forward to mention
breaches of the law. He thought that a community of
feeling might exist between the two Councils which would
for their mutual advantage.

The Vice-President remarked that the motion did not
commit the Council to anything, and suggested that
there should be some fund to remunerate the public
prosecutor, for in Scotland the public prosecutor would
not take up a case, as there was no fund from which he
could be paid. He would second the motion. .

The President considered that the English Society
would think well of their placing themselves in com¬
munication with them.

The motion then passed unanimously.

Robert Montgomery, L.A.H.D., M.R.C.S.E , was duly
elected a member of the Society.

A letter read was from Dr. J. W. Moore asking the
Council to change the hour for the Preliminary examina¬
tion to suit his convenience.

The Registrar to inform him that the Council could not

alter the hour.

For membership —

Mr. John Isaac Bernard was proposed by the President,
seconded by Mr. Brunker.

Mr. Solomon Donovan was proposed by Mr. Uicmam,

seconded by Mr. Hodgson. . ,

Mr. Brunker called attention to the “Weights and
Measures Act,” now in force in Ireland.

Mr. Grindley said he had called upon the inspector,
who had shown him the standards, but not those of
apothecaries’ weights. The inspector informed him hat

582

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 15, 1881.

notice would be given when he was ready to receive
weights or measures for verification.

The report of the Examination in Arts, held January 4
and 5, was laid before the meeting. Sixteen candidates
presented themselves, of whom twelve passed.

The meeting then adjourned.

|)robuTcial Srmisartkrns.

LEICESTER CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

A lecture was delivered in the rooms of the above
Association, on Wednesday evening, January 5, by Mr.
R. Winfrey, upon “ The Halogens.” The lecturer, who
illustrated what he had to say by numerous interesting
experiments, observed that these important elements, viz.,
chlorine, bromine and iodine, were called halogens,
because they will combine directly with bases without
forming acids, producing substances like sea salt.
Glancing at these elements, it was very easy to see that
in many respects they are very similar, and are by most
writers on chemistry classed together and studied
collectively. Chlorine was discovered by- Scheele in the
year 1774 ; he described the mode of producing what he
termed dephlogisticated muriatic acid, a term which was
strictly in accordance with the then established theory.
Before the discovery of chlorine and its use as a bleaching
agent linen goods were retained by Dutch bleachers Dine
months; they can now be bleached in England in as
many weeks. Chlorine decomposes and destroys the
most stable organic colouring matters, indigo being
converted into a brownish substance, the blue colour of
which cannot be restored. The presence of moisture is
essential to these changes, for dry chlorine will not even
affect litmus. The lecturer observed that chlorine did
not exist free in nature, but was found chiefly as a
constituent of common salt; it is not abundant in
vegetables, but is found in every animal excretion ; as it
is soluble in water and heavier than air it is best collected
by displacement. The lecturer prepared chlorine by
various methods, explaining the reactions by equations.
Passing to bromine, which was discovered about 1826, by
a chemist named Balard, he observed that this element
also existed in sea water, but its chief source was from cer¬
tain springs in Germany, and it was obtained by evapora¬
tion of the spring water and subsequent distillation with
black oxide of manganese and sulphuric acid. The
lecturer showed several experiments illustrating the
properties of bromine and the methods of preparing
the various salts of this element used in pharmacy.
Turning to iodine he observed that this element seemed
to be beneficial to many marine plants, which seemed to
have the power of abstracting it from the sea water and
storing it up in their tissues, for it is from this source that
all the iodine of commerce is obtained. Animals seemed to
possess this power also, for cod liver oil, contained a con¬
siderable percentage and so did sponges. It is chiefly
extracted from the Fucus pcilfnatus, which is collected on
the shore, dried, placed in pits, and all the vegetable
matter burned off, a fused mass called kelp being left.
The iodine existing as iodide of sodium is distilled off
much in the same manner as with bromine. Iodine is
only soluble in water 1 in 7000, the best solvents for it
being solutions of its own salts. One of the most charac¬
teristic properties of iodine is the formation of blue iodide
of starch, the best and general test for iodine. The lecturer
concluded, noticing the properties of these three elements.
At ordinary temperatures chlorine was gaseous, bromine
liquid, and iodine solid. Solution of chlorine being exposed
to light was rapidly decomposed, that of bromine slowly,
and that of iodine scarcely affected. Chlorine was very
soluble in water; bromine 31 in 1000 ; iodine 1 in 7000.

A vote of thanks to Mr. Winfrey brought a very
interesting evening to a close.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The sixth general meeting of the thirty-second session
was held at St. George’s Hall, on Wednesday evening,
December 22, together with the Literary, Scientific and
Art Societies of Liverpool, as an associated soiree , under
the presidency of his worship the Mayor of Liverpool
(Alderman W. B. Forward).

The soirie was formally opened in the small Concert
Room, at 7 o’clock, by the Mayor, who paid a high com¬
pliment to the various learned societies of the city, for
the valuable work they were doing.

At half-past seven o’clock, Professor Silvanus P.
Thompson lectured in the small Concert Hall on
“ Waves of Sound and the Photophone.” The lecture
was illustrated with experiments and drawings of
instruments shown on a large sheet of canvas by means
of a lantern arid the limelight, managed by Mr. Knott.
Professor Thompson said that this latest discovery
was due to the genius of Professor Alexander Graham
Bell, the distinguished inventor of the speaking
telephone. The aim of the telephone was the transmis¬
sion of sound and speech to a distance by means of
currents of electricity ; the aim of the photophone was
the transmission of speech to a distance by means of
beams of light. In the course of his lecture he explained
the phonograph and astonished the audience by ex¬
perimenting with it, the words “ Prosperity to Liverpool,”
and “Hip, hip, hurrah, the phonograph is a marvellous
invention,” being loudly repeated by the instrument.
He explained and gave illustrations of how sound was
generated in the photophone by beams of light. In
concluding his lecture Professor Thompson suggested
that in Liverpool, in establishing a University College,
they should not forget the science of which he had been
treating, and that there should be a chair of experimental
science, from which he thought the college would derive
strength.

The lecture was succeeded at nine o’clock by the
concert by the Liverpool Vocalists’ Union and the
Societa Armonica, which was highly appreciated.

In the Civil CouTt, at 9 o’clock, Mr. J. Swan, F.C.S.,
delivered a lecture on his new system of “Electric
Lighting for Domestic Use,” and gave practical illustra¬
tions. The Mayor occupied the chair, and there was a
crowded attendance. So much interest was taken in the
lecture that it was delivered in two parts, so as to admit
of two audiences. Mr. Swan, in the course of his lecture,
said that while the production of electricity depended
upon the galvanic battery the economical use of the
electric light was out of the question. It was only since
the discovery by Faraday of electricity developed by
magnetism and motive power that electricity had become
sufficiently economical to make electric lighting generally
a practical thing. Since that change in the aspect of the
case the question of how best to apply the electric
current for the purpose of electric lighting had become
one of great public interest. Until the present time the
great difficulty had been to produce a small and steady
light. No difficulty had been felt in producing large
masses of light, but such a light as was required for
domestic purposes was still a desideratum. He hoped to
show them that a great advance had been made in this
direction. In conjunction with Mr. Stearn he had been
able to construct a lamp on the principle of incandescence,
which enabled them to divide the electric light to any ex¬
tent without loss of economy. The light produced by his
lamp was absolutely steady and mild, and totally different
from the electric light with which persons were famliar.
The incandescent carbon was entirely secluded from con¬
tact with the air, and therefore there was not the slightest
deterioration of the atmosphere with the lamp, such as
occurred when gas was consumed. The lamp was also
economical, since they found that the light — equal to
that produced from 150 to 250 candles, and divided
among as many lamps as might be necessary — could be
prodticed by the expenditure of one horse-power. The

January 15, 18*1 ]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

583

lamps were durable, and so simple in use that any
servant maid could replace one in its holder if one
happened to be broken ; moreover, they were of such a
simple character as not to be expensive, when the
occasion arose for their replacement. He hoped before
long that electric lighting of that description would be
extensively used in the homes and places of business in
Liverpool. A number of lamps of the description given
by Mr. Swan in his lecture had been placed in the court,
and they were instantly lighted during the lecture. Mr.
Swan also exhibited an electric safety lamp for use in
mines. This lamp emitted a very brilliant light. The
lamp was moveable, and the light was shut out from
contact with the outer air, so that if it was in an ex¬
plosive atmosphere no danger could follow. The lamp
was exceedingly strong, and so constructed that if it
received a blow the light would be extinguished before
the lamp was broken.

Dr. Hicks lectured, in the Grand Jury Room, on the
“Hydroid Zoophytes of the District,” and Mr. Birchall in
the Crown Court, on “English Castles and Baronial Halls,”
while the various smaller rooms were devoted to a variety
of interesting and instructive purposes. The Great Hall
was, however, the principal attraction of- the evening on
account of the various exhibits which were therein dis¬
played, consisting of scientific instruments, works of art,
models, antiquities, etc.

On behalf of the Chemists’ Association the following
gentlemen and firms exhibited various specimens and
objects of interest : — Dr. Campbell Bi’own, Messrs.
Thomas Garside, F.C.S., A. H. Mason, F.C.S., Peter
Spence, Alexander Wall, F.C.S., F.I.C., Evans, Sons and
Co., Sumner and Co., and Symes and Co.

In thi3 Hall there was also an excellent and most
comprehensive display of microscopes and microscopic
objects, arranged under the superintendence of Mr. I. C.
Thompson, F.R.M.S.

At intervals during the evening Mr. W. T. Best gave
several performances on the large organ, and refreshments
were served in various parts of the building.

The soirie concluded at about 11 o’clock, and everyone
seemed highly pleased with the evening’s entertainment.

Although the weather was most unfavourable, about
4000 persons attended.

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The third meeting of the session was held in the
Manager’s Library, Anderson’s College, 204, George
Street, on January 5, at 9 p.m. The Vice-President,
Mr. Robert Brodie, was called to the chair.

After the reading of the minutes, in consequence of the
small attendance of members, probably due to the
meeting being held in a holiday week, it was resolved
that the reading of a paper on Botany, by Mr. Gilmour,
should be postponed, and that the meeting should be
adjourned until February 2.

SUNDERLAND CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The general meeting of the above Association was
held at the rooms, corner of William Street, on Monday
evening, January 3. The President, Mr. T. Walton,
in the chair.

The President congratulated the members upon the
satisfactory state of the Association at present. Although
the attendance had not been so good as it might have
been, principally on account of several of the members
leaving the town, yet those who had attended had been
doing good work. The laboratory had been fitted up and
was a great help to those who attended the chemistry
class, and the materia medica class had been a great
success. Several very good papers had been read,
and the conversazione had succeeded beyond expectation.

The President then thanked the officers and members
for their aid during the session, and wished the Associa¬
tion a prosperous year.

The Secretary then real the report for the half-year,
and afterwards, the election of officers took place with
the following result : — -

President, Mr. T. Walton; Vice Presidents, Mr. C.
Ranken and Mr. J. J. Browell; Secretary, Mr. J. T.
Humphrey ; Treasurer, Mr. J. Peacock ; Librarian, Mr.
A. Whitfield.

It was determined that the above gentlemen should
also form the Committee.

HRrlimnentariT antr

Poisoning by Carbolic Acid.

An inquest wa3 held on Tuesday, before Mr. Clarke
Aspinall, coroner of Liverpool, on the body of Nicholas
Garrahan, a night watchman in a foundry. According to
the evidence, deceased, while slightly the worse for drink,
went on duty about six o’clock, and shortly afterwards he
was found by one of the apprentices lying on his face. A
bottle was lying near containing carbolic acid, and the
medical evidence showed that death was caused by this
poison. Carbolic acid was kept in the foundry for dis¬
infecting purposes.

The jury returned an open verdict.

®bxtxxarg*

Notice has been received of the death of the following :

On the 16th of November, 1880, Mr. Edward Gilbert,
Chemist and Druggist, Bandon Road, Old Ford Road,
London. Aged 68 years.

On the 29th of November, 1880, Mr. Samuel Water-
house Preston, Chemist and Druggist, Marchmont Street,
London. Aged 72 years.

On the 13th of December, 1880, Mrs. Mary Hale
Chemist and Druggist, Brecon. Aged 64 years.

On the 14th of December, 1880, Mr. John Laycock,
Chemist and Druggist, High Street, Skipton. Aged 30
years.

On the 14th of December, 1880, Mr. Henry Metzler,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Minories, London. Aged 63
years. Mr. Metzler had been a Member of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society since 1853.

On the 15th of December, 1880, Mr. John Marshall,
Chemist and Druggist, John Street, Bradford. Aged 39
yetys.

On the 16th of December, 1880, Mr. John Ord, Chemist
and Druggist, Frederick Street, Westminster. Aged 40
years. Mr. Ord had been a Member of the Pharma-
ceutioal Society since 1876.

On the 18th of December, 1880, Mr. John Manshaw
Teear, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Humberstone Gate,
Leicester. Aged 61 years. Mr. _ Teear had been a
Member of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1842.

On the 21st of December, 1880, Mr. Thomas Crowther,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Tickill, Yorkshire. Aged 67
years. Mr. Crowther had been a Member-of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society since 1846.

On the 23rd of December, 1880, Mr. August Anholm,
Chemist and Druggist, Smeaton Street, Hull. Aged
54 years.

On the 24th of December, 1880, Mr. Gilbert Pickering
Watson, Chemist and Druggist, Lower King Street,
Norwich. Aged 64 years.

On the 25th of December, 1880, Mr. Owen Richards,
Chemist and Druggist,' Bridge Street, Aberystwith.
Aged 42 vears.

On the 29th of December, 1880, Mr. William Bryan

584

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 15, 1881 *

gispercsmg IftemoranticL

Salisbury, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Market Street,-
Leicester. Aged 49 years. Mr. Salisbury had been a
Member of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1858. Por
many years he was an assistant in the establishment of
Messrs. J. Bell and Co., Oxford Street.

On the 29th of December, 1880, Mr. Ellis Powell Jones,
Chemist and Druggist, Rhyl. Aged 54 years.

fitim'aj.

Inorganic Chemistry. By Dr. W. B. Kemshead,

F.R.A.S., F.G.S. William Collins, Sons and Co.

London and Glasgow. 1880.

Dr. Kemshead here provides a revised and corrected
•dition of his text-book, specially adapted for the use of
elementary students in the classes connected with the
South Kensington Science and Art Department. The
fact that this issue numbers the twentieth thousand
alone speaks much in its favour.

A definite syllabus, and examination questions pub¬
lished yearly, encourage the production of class books
containing just the requisite amount of information, with
but little beyond. Such books are unfortunately too
numerous and too largely used, but the one before us is
of a superior type; it not only thoroughly covers the
necessary field, but much information is added which
renders its perusal profitable, even to those who may
consider themselves to have stepped beyond the pale of
elementary classes.

The clear and explicit style, without excess of detail,
which pervades the book has its value enhanced by
quotations on difficult points from Dr. Frankland’s in¬
valuable ‘Lecture Notes for Chemical Students,’ Miller’s
‘ Chemical Physics,’ etc. Rational formulae are used
throughout, but, for the advantage of students unaccus¬
tomed to them, the principal equations are given in
empirical notation also. The graphic formulas, often so
difficult to instil into the beginner’s mind, are here
rendered very easy of acquisition.

Dr. Kemshead has provided rather more than can be
made thoroughly clear to an elementary student within
his prescribed limits ; for instance, the definitions of
isomerism and base, and the rules for correcting the
volume of a gas for temperature, etc., are not quite so
lucid as might have been desired. Some subjects, such
as catalytic action, are touched upon without a definition
of the same being given ; but as the work is essentially a
class book, the teacher supplies the deficiency, and the
omission can scarcely be considered a fault. A few
typographical errors may be found, and on page 96,
under HgO is written “mercurous” instead of “mercuric;”
oxide.

Throughout the text there is a copious supply of
experiments very practically described and illustrated by
well executed diagrams, eminently calculated, not only
to fix the facts on the student’s mind, but to cultivate
the faculty of observation and to furnish the beginner
with knowledge that will form a sound basis for the
subsequent attainment of the profounder principles of
chemistry.

As far as possible the book is brought up to the present
state of knowledge on points of importance to elementary
students, and a concluding chapter is given oil the lique¬
faction of the so-called permanent gases.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

Chemistry : General, Medical and Pharmaceutical ;
including the Chemistry of the British Pharmacopoeia.
A Manual on the General Principles of the Science, and
their Applications in Medicine and Pharmacy. By
John Attfield, F.R.S., etc. Ninth Edition. London :
J. Van Voorst. 1881. From the Author.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose salce partly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[473], Please allow me to put myself right with your
readers ir?. general and “ Endymion ” in particular: If
that gentleman will look again at what I said in the
Journal of December 11, he will find that I did not
advise the use of ferri sulph. exsiccat., as he implies in
his remarks of the 25tli ult. What I advocated was
that a medical man should order the preparation he
intends to be used, and having ordered it that it was the
duty of the dispenser (speaking generally) to use what is
written, and not what he thinks is the best. I say again
that if ferri sulph. is written it should be used.

Edward B. Kendall.

[484]. Two reasons may be given for the explosion of
the mixture:— 1. Succ. tarax., for evidently this is in¬
tended by “ ext. tarax.,” when slightly diluted, is very
liable to fermentation, even at ordinary temperature.
2. Many samples are more or less acid, and would pro¬
bably decompose the mag. carb. with the evolution of
sufficient carbonic acid to cause explosion if the bottle
was tightly corked.

J. M. J.

[487]. Will you please correct the statement of the
writer of “ The Month ? ” It was not I who recom¬
mended the use of magnesia in preparing aq. caryophylli.

H. W. Langbeck.

[%* Mr. Langbeck, in fact, recommended the alter¬
native use of an aq. carjmphylli prepared by mixing oil of
cloves with French chalk (silicate of magnesia), and
exhausting with distilled water. See p. 487. — Ed. P. J.]. |

[490] This is a lotion and ointment for the eyes. Ung. P.
is a contraction of Ung. Pagenstecheri, which is, I believe,
composed of the yellow oxide of mercury and cold cream,
but I do not know the proportions. It is frequently
ordered by a leading Manchester oculist. Probably the
formula emanates from a continental source, and has
been published, as the ointment is denoted in the list of
a local wholesale house.

Charles Swinn.

[%* The formula for Ung. Pagenstecheri is —

Ung. Hydrarg. Oxyd. Flav.

R Hydrarg. Oxyd. Flav . 0T5

Ung. Lenientis* . 5'0

M.

Hager's Praxis.

This would of course be yellow, unless a liberty be
taken, and hyd. oxyd. rub. be used. — Ed. Ph J.]

[490]. I should dispense ung. hyd. ox. rub. for the
ung. P. The prescriber’s memory or Latin seems to
have failed him, so he writes “ ung. precipitate,” or
rather, intended to do so. The prescription being for
the eyes, the red precipitate ointment is what is meant.

Hastings. J. M. G.

[490]. With reference to ung. P. I may possibly be able
to throw a little light on the subject.

Some time since a prescription was wTas brought to be
dispensed ; it was for a mixture and ung. P. Being able

* Ung. Leniens .

Ung. Cetacei Rosaceum, seu Cold Cream.

i

January 15, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

585

to communicate with the preseriber, an eminent oculist,
I found the ointment to be as follows : —

R Hydrarg. Oxydi Flav . gr. 32|

Crem. Frigid . 3].

M.

This, I believe, is a formula in use at the Manchester
Eye Hospital, and is called “Unguent. Pagenstecheri.”
As “ Ointment ” says it had been dispensed by a Man¬
chester firm, I am inclined to think that the above was
what was intended, but how it could be of a pink colour
I cannot understand, unless the cold cream had been
coloured.

R. S. Tickler.

[49S].

R Acid. Prussic. Dil . . . gr. 20.

Sol. Morph. Mur . ^ss-

Tr. Aurantii . Jiij.

Aquae . . . * . ad ^iss.

What should be given for 20 grains ?

Only a Junior.

[499]. Can any reader inform me which of the two
should be dispensed when ext. glycyrrhizae mollis is
ordered in a mixture, ext. glycyrrhizae liq., B.P., or ext.
glycyrrhizae, B.P. ?

Nil DEsrERANDUM.

[493]. In answer to “ Calumbo,” I should fancy that
berberina is the ingredient meant, it is prepared in the
following way : —

Treat a watery extract of barberry root with sp. rect.
as long as the water acquires a bitter taste. Distil off
the spirit and let the residue cool. Let the crystals
which form be recrystallized, first from s.v.r., then from
water.

Percontator.

[493]. Berberia or berberina is one of the active prin¬
ciples obtained from the common barberry (Berber is vul¬
garis), and from several varieties of calumbo root. It is
quite probable that this was what the doctor intended to
order. Had it been “berberke sulph.,” there need have
been no hesitation in dispensing beberia : but, as it is, I
think that the barberry alkaloid ought to be used.

M.

[493]. In my opinion the sulphate of the beberia alka¬
loid was intended to be used, this being the only form
met with in the B.P.

It appeal's to have been prescribed to take the place of
quinine, as it rarely or never produces nausea or headache,
though its febrifuge properties are far inferior to those of
quinine. Beberise sulphas, as a febrifuge, is given in
doses from 5 to 20 grains. There is a berberia, an alka¬
loid found abundantly in the common barberry ( Berberis
vulgaris), which is sparingly soluble in water. I do not
think this was intended.

Bedford. Henry W. Nichol.

[495]. In making up this mixture I find it thickens a
little, but it is dark coloured and quite transparent.
“ Transfugio ” does not say whether his was opaque or
not. Probably the London mixture was thick also.

M.

|Totcs anb (Queries.

[693]. In answer to No. 693, I have found the follow¬
ing recipe answer very well, and the resulting jelly is
quite transparent : —

Glycerine Jelly.

Glycerine,

Aq. Ros. .«..»•* aa f 3nj*

Aq. FI. Aur . . . f 3J.

Aq. Cinnam, a few drops.

Gelatine Lozenges (Nelson’s Patent) No. 10, or q.s.

Sarniensis.

[496]. Will anyone inform me what I should have
dispensed for ext. ergotse in the following ? —

R Pil. Assafcetid. Co . gr. 60.

Ext. Belladon. .

Ext. Nucis Yom.

Sulph. Ferri Exsic.

Ext. Ergot* . .

Podophyllin . .

Ext. Aloes Aquos.

Misce. Ft. pil. xxxvi. S. ij nocte.

gr- !J-
gr- iij-
gr. 25.
gr. 18.

gr. ij-

[697]. In your Notes and Queries, December 1880,
Mr. C. Jones asks for a formula for concentrated infusion
of gentian. Without going into the question as to whether
such a preparation ought to find a place in any modern
pharmacy, I must say that if such a preparation is kept,
it should be a concentrated infusion, and not a mere
tincture, as is generally the case. In making say a gallon
of inf. gent. co. cone., the best way to proceed is to
macerate 2 lbs. avoir, of fresh lemon peel (flavedo only),
and 16 troy ounces dry bitter orange peel, in one quart of
spirit for fourteen days, press out the spirit, and infuse
the marc with 16 troy ounces of gentian root (thin slices)
in eight gallons of boiling water for one hour, strain, and
evaporate in a steam or water-bath (preferably in vacuo)
to seven pints ; when cold mix with the tincture, allow it
to stand as long as possible and filter, make up if neces¬
sary to one gallon by pouring water over the precipitated
pectin. I do not, however, think that even this preparation,
mixed with seven parts of water, will fairly represent the
Pharmacopoeia fresh infusion, and I think it behoves
every chemist who can get a fair price for dispensing to
use nothing but fresh infusion; when two or three in¬
fusions are ordered in one mixture, if water of the same
temperature is used, and the time of infusion is the same,

thev can be made at one operation.

J P. B.

gr. 60.

[698]. Can any reader oblige with a good recipe for a

pomatum with vaseline as a base ?
r Grease.

Nemo.

I.

CmTcsjdaa&cnxc*

[497].

R Extract. Aloes . . ; . . • • gr- ij-

Hyd. Subchlor . gr« ij-

Ext. Hyoscyam. q. a. ut fiat pil.

II.

R Ext. Aloes Aquos. ...... gr. ij.

Ext. Coloc. Co . gr. iss.

Ft. pil.

In the above prescriptions which extract of aloes should
be used, Socotrine or Barbadoes ?

Only a Junior.

* * No notice can be talcen of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily
for •publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

Draft Pharmacy Acts Amendment Bill.
gir — The publication of the “Proposed Amendment of
the Pharmacy Acts,” in your last issue and the hope
uttered by certain members of the Council that the tiade
generally would express an opinion thereon, induce me to
draw attention to one special alteration set forth. I am tne

586

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 15, 1881..

more inclined to do this because the last paragraph in the
leading article of the same Journal somewhat incorrectly
describes the effect of this particular alteration in the
following words ; —

“ Widows are left as they have been under the present
Act, but there is a provision that the executors, adminis
trators, or trustees of a deceased pharmaceutical chemist
or chemist and druggist shall not continue to carry on the
business for a longer period than three years, unless by
permission of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society.”

Under the present law the representatives of a deceased
chemist may continue his business for an indefinite time,
and by so doing may enable his widow to maintain herself,
and rear her family in respectability and comfort, whereas
her power to do so under the proposed alteration would be
in many cases taken entirely from her. I set aside the
“ permission of the Council,” which might be applied for,
and might be granted or refused, as a condition bad in
itself, and improper for the Council to possess.

It is very well known that chemists generally are not
wealthy men, and it not unfrequently happens that a man
dies in comparatively early life leaving nothing behind him
but the small capital which he has worked up in his busi¬
ness. This may be yielding £300 or £400 a year, but it
converted into money would not produce enough, as an
investment, to keep his widow and family clear of absolute
want. It may be, too, that in the family there is a son
fourteen or fifteen years of age, who in due time would
succeed to that business. By fixing a time by which a
business must be sold, his chance is destroyed, and the
value of a business is also depreciated in the market.

Can any reasonable man say that under this new pro¬
posal widows would remain as they have been under the
present law ?

I, on the contrary, say that passing such an unnecessary
and oppressive amendment would indeed be to ie spoil
widows’ houses?’ and I earnestly trust that those who
agree with me in this will take care to let their views be
known to the Council before its next meeting (February 2),
after which the Bill will probably be at once submitted to
Parliament. I may add that my feeling on this point is
strengthened by the fact that when I moved the erasure of
clause 5 in the Council, the motion was only defeated by the
casting vote of the President.

For myself, I hope to see this widows’ question put into
a better condition even than it stands in the Act of 1868.
Those who were so intimately engaged as I was in framing
that Act, know well enough that the exemption set down
in clause 16 to enable the business of a deceased chemist to
be continued was intended mainly for the benefit of widows.
The clause has always been called the “ widows’ clause,”
and I would now definitely exempt them, as widows, and
not merely as “ executors, administrators or trustees.”
Piccadilly. George W. Sandford.

Sir, — Considering the experience wTe have recently had
of the value of even a single word in an Act of Parliament,
I should have expected a more careful draft Bill to have been
presented to the members of the Council. There seems
to me to be little difficulty in driving the historic “ coach
and four ” through the Bill as it now stands, for if I rightly
understand the meaning of the words, neither co-operative
stores, nor grocers, nor others need trouble themselves
much about it.

In the first place, the Act, if carried as at present, will
apply only to “ open shops.” Co-operative stores will
very rightly argue that they do not keep “open shop” in
the ordinary sense of these words ; they are simply private
associations for mutual benefit, and do not supply “ the
public:” hence they do not come within the scope of the
Act. Again, if a man keeps an “ opon shop” the Act
merely prevents his selling, retailing, etc. Now selling
and retailing involve the transference of goods for a con¬
sideration, and nothing else ; hence a grocer may distribute
these poisons— so far as this Act is concerned — provided
he makes no charge. It is not an uncommon practice
amongst many tradesmen to “give”' some present or
premium to a customer, and I can well imagine a grocer
informing his customer that although he does not sell — say
chlorodyne— he can present him with a bottle provided he
makes a purchase of a pound or two of tea. In fact, any
itinerant cheap Jack may pitch his tent on any open space
and work on the same lines.

I would suggest, therefore, that wherever the words
“open shop ” occur in the draft Bill, the words “house or
other place” should be conjoined, and that wherever the
words selling or retailing occur, the word “distributing ”
should be added; because in this way, not only do the diffi¬
culties referred to disappear, but the “safety of the
public,” which of course is our peculiar and chief aim, will
be best assured.

The few final words of clause 1, form a very inelegant
redundancy. I suppose most persons, “ fit and proper” or
otherwise, are generally in Scotland or elsewhere. I would
suggest that the clause end with the word “person;” if
some limit must be put upon the area whence examiners
may be obtained, say “persons resident in any part of Great
Britain,” or, if that is nob wide enough, say “ British
Empire.” “Qualified” persons too would be a better ex¬
pression than “ proper” person.

Clause 7 is just one of those involved clauses that are the
delight of the lawyers, and will form an excellent handle
with which a smart lawyer will turn the Act on its back.
I suppose the intention is to obtain information as to the

actual members of any firm or association selling or distri¬
buting poisons, etc. If so, it would be better to put it as
plainly as possible; more especially so as many members of
the Legislature are in favour of applying the principle to
every form of partnership.

Clause 10 is not sufficiently specific. The term “patent
medicine ” is more conventional than legal. An astute
lawyer would, I think, manage to wriggle, say, chlorodyne
through this clause. There are very very few “ patent ”
medicines nowadays; they are chiefly “nostrums” covered
by a Government stamp of definite value. I would suggest
that after the word “ article,” lme 2, should be inserted the
words “ subject to the provisions of the Act of 52 Geo. III.”

Clause 16. — 1 would suggest omitting the word “law,”
and cite the Act as the “ Pharmacy Amendment Act, 1881.”

I had hoped to have found a clause in the new Act
repealing that part of clause 2 of the 1868 Act which
imposes upon the Council the duty of making additions to
the poison schedule. I am strongly of opinion that this
places the Council in an invidious and false position. It
would be better to rest this power in the hands of the
General Medical Council, and thus do away entirely with
the idea that an addition can by any possibility be made on
trade grounds. I do not mean to suggest that the Council
ever has or even ever could allow their trade instincts to
bias them, but when we are dealing with what some may
consider the interests of other trades, it is best the Council
should be in a position like Caesar’s wife — beyond sus¬
picion.

Torquay. Edward Smith.

Sir, — I notice in the report of the Council Meeting as
published in the last issue of the Journal, that a member
of the Council stated “ he believed that the copy which was
sent to Birmingham was not even a copy of the Bill undsr
discussion at the present moment.”

As many of your readers might be led to infer from this
report that the President of the Society had forwarded to
me, as President of the Trade Association, a draft which
materially differed from the Bill which had been discussed
by his Council, I think it desirable on this point to quote
the last paragraph of a letter, dated December 29, 1880,
from the Secretary of the Society to the Secretary of the
Trade Association.

“ The draft Bill which you have sent me is not that
which will be under the consideration of the Council on
Wednesday next, nor indeed, does it happen to be the print
which was before it at its meeting on the 14th inst.,
although the differences between the two may be described
as merely verbal.”

Thomas Barclay.

Sir, — The projected Pharmacy Bill is evidently drafted
for the special benefit of a certain section of the chemists,
and not for the trade generally.

The disadvantage to the general body of chemists so far
exceeds the advantages as to be something like giving a six¬
pence with one hand and abstracting a shilling with the
other. True there are clauses directed against the stores
and the sale of patent medicines containing poisons by un¬
registered persons, but what are these weighed in the scale

January 15, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

58 7

against the 5th clause, which, except as a special privilege
from the Pharmaceutical Society, condemns to poverty the
children of all chemists who die before they have been able
to make adequate provision for their families.

Trusting the chemists of the country will unite in their
efforts to defeat or modify this objectionable clause.

John Terrill.

Sir, — Now that we are to have an amendment of the
Pharmacy Acts, may I suggest that we have an amended
Poison schedule, — that plumbi acetas and calx chlorata be
added to part II. At present it is an anomaly that Mr.
Perruquier, the barber, should sell his 2 ounces of plumbi
acet. in his hair restorer (?) without so much as a caution of
the danger he so readily supplies.

Specula.

Sir, — Having read over the proposed amendment of the
Pharmacy Act, I have noticed what I consider one or two
serious omissions : —

1st. That proprietors of branch shops are not to be
compelled to employ at least one registered assistant in
each shop. Take Liverpool, for instance, in which, and its
suburbs, I suppose there are at least a score of branch
shops, and not a single registered assistant in any one of
them. Therefore I cannot really see what ground we have
to take action against co-operative stores, who, at least,
employ one or more registered assistants, whilst we allow
members of our own trade to open as many shops as they
please and employ anyone they can get. I think the best
plan would be to forbid anyone to carry on more than one
business at the same time.

2nd. The Preliminary examination ought to be made
compulsory before commencing apprenticeship, which would
prevent a lot of men from obtaining apprentices, who are
really not capable of teaching them their business, and
who employ them in work for which they ought to keep a
porter; and would bring in a better class, and tend to
lessen the numbers entering an already overcrowded trade.
Fancy, a young man having paid a fee and served a five
years’ appi’enticeship, during which his time has been
occupied with the sale of oils, paints, colours, etc., and then
finding himself face to face with the Preliminary !

I think if these suggestions could be carried out they
i would greatly benefit the whole trade.

Sempervirens.

—

Wholesale Chemists and the New Bill.

Sir, — In clause 8 of the proposed amendment of the
Pharmacy Act, the sale of poisonous patents is restricted
to qualified chemists. Why should not the preparation of
the same likewise be restricted to qualified men? There
seems only one way of bringing this about, and that is, by
compelling wholesale chemists to qualify themselves, by
passing the necessary examinations ; and there seems to be
no reason why they should be exempted. In this way all
outside the circle of registration would be prohibited from
concocting and vending poisonous patents.

It is a well known fact that many a retail chemist is
brought to grief through the negligence of a wholesale
dealer, merely because the one is within the grasp of the law
and the other is not.

I have known of grocers in the country being supplied
with large quantities of arsenic for the purpose of preparing
sheep dip; thd wholesale trader in such a case is left to be
guided by his own conscience, for he knows he may sell
with impunity to anyone.

Surely this requires consideration so far as the safety of
the public is concerned. A sufficient capital seems to be the
only qualification necessary at the present time for whole¬
sale chemists, and until wholesale and retail chemists are
alike qualified by examination a looseness is certain to exist
in the Pharmacy Act.

W. S. T.

Homoeopathic Preparations.

Sir, — Will you allow me to direct attention to a possible
source of danger? I have often been asked for powerful
drugs, and on inquiry have found that the homoeopathic
preparations were wanted. If I had unwisely supplied
what my customer asked for, something like the case of
poisoning reported last week might have occurred.

, E. WARRELL.

Spiritus Ammonias Aromaticus.

Sir, — My letter was not intended for students, but was
addressed to fully fledged pharmacists; consequently, I did
not enter into detail unnecessarily, though I still think I
was sufficiently explicit.

Mr. Tanner a little misrepresents me, and has evidently
read my letter carelessly. When he makes me say, “Nor
has there been any loss of CO2 or ammonia during the
distillation,” he neglects to quote the words “practically
speaking,” which begin the sentence and which I used
purposely to guard against conveying the impression that
the conservation was absolute. Of course there is evolution
of CO2 during the process. This fact is too well known to
make it necessary even to allude to it. But it by no means
follows that this CO2 must be lost, and if Mr. Tanner will
be good enough to read the description again of the precau¬
tions I recommend he will see that there is provided an
almost air-tight communication, between the condenser and
receiver. I need only add now that the glass bent adapter
I use fits, by means of an indiarubber band, closely to the
condenser and reaehes a long way down into the Winchester
quart, and also that the distillate is frequently agitated.
The reasons for these precautions are self-evident.

In all sincerity I say it, if Mr. Tanner can produce a
sample of spt. amm. arom. made with distillation equal to
that made by the B.P. process, no one will be more obliged
to him than I ; but I note with regret that he defers
suggesting a definite formula until his experiments are
completed, as he is still working at the subject.

It is evident, therefore, that up to the present he has not
succeeded, and having witnessed so many failures, I feel it
would be wise to curb one’s expectations until he is in a
position to submit a sample to inspection and comparison.

The Alkaloid oe Jaborandi.

Sir, — In this communication I desire to direct attention
to certain particulars of the recent investigation conducted
by Harnack and Meyer,* as compared with my own earlier
study of the same subject ; and the remarks will be found
to apply to two principal points, viz., as to whether
jaborandi contains more than one alkaloid, and as to the
correct formula for pilocarpine.

In my investigation the leaves, twigs, and stems of the
genuine plant only were employed, these having been
kindly furnished me by Mr. Thomas Farries. The aqueous
extracts were altogether devoid of the odour of oil of tobacco
which characterized some of the preparations of Harnack
and Meyer, and I failed to obtain either the free alkaloid or
its simple salts in a crystalline state, in spite of all my
efforts, in which all known precautions against failure were
duly observed.

That the jaborandi upon which I worked ^contained but
one alkaloid is proved by two considerations. The method
employed for the isolation of the alkaloid was such that the
resulting product would contain the entire amount of base
present in the plant, and its examination furnished no
reason for believing it to contain more than one substance.
Further, its ultimate analysis gave results concordant with
those obtained by similarly 'analysing the well- crystallized
chloroplatinate. It will be at once apparent from this
statement that Harnack and Meyer are incorrect in affirm¬
ing that after the crystallization of the alkaloid, I obtained
a small quantity of a sticky substance, which refused to
crystallize. As a fact, the whole of the free base was soft
and plastic,” and refused to crystallize. Harnack and
Meyer adduce no evidence touching true jaborandi, of
the presence of two distinct alkaloids, and I am well con¬
vinced from my own investigation that there is only one
alkaloid. This, of course, is quite apart from the possibility
of its being found to exist in two states, such as many other
bases are known to affect.

Then, as regards the formula of pilocarpine, I see no
reason for abandoning that which I originally assigned to it,
and can adduce some reason for adhering to it. Ihe
analysis of the free base was conducted with all the refine¬
ment of the best methods, and a combustion in vacuo, with
cupric oxide and metallic copper, furnished carbonic anhy¬
dride and nitrogen in such quantities as showed the relation

* Annalen, 204, 67-84; Pharm.Journ ., January 3, 1881’
and Journ. Chem. Soc ., December, I8S0.

588

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 15, 1881.

of carbon to nitrogen, to be as 1 : 6, a requirement which the
formula of Harnack and Meyer does not satisfy or explain.

The analysis of the chloroplatinate revealed the same
relationship of the elements carbon and nitrogen and the
general concatenation of the analytical results is of such a
character that it is not excelled, so far as I can judge, by
the later results of Harnack and Meyer.

The percentage of platinum found in my pi’eparation
leads to a calculated molecular weight of 842. Now
C^H34N4042HClPtCl4 gives exactly 842.

The analysis of the free alkaloid led to C23H34N4O4 as the
simplest expression of the obtained results, and the analysis
of the chloroplatinate led to C23H34N404also as the simplest
formula for the alkaloid, pilocarpine. Harnack and Meyer
arrive at C11H16N2O2 or C22H32N404, showing an apparent
difference of CH2 in the two larger formula. In my opinion
future investigation in new directions is required, in order
to decide which formula is nearest the truth, and also to
enable chemists to speculate as to the constitution and
chemical relationships of pilocarpine. At present we only
know that trimethylamine can be obtained from it.

Until such new information is obtained I shall use my
own formula.

C. T. Kingzett.

Pharmacists and the Pharmacopeia.

Sir, — If the Pharmaceutical Society is to be represented
on the Council sitting for the consideration of a new
Pharmacopoeia, may I suggest that the delegates of the
Society should point out the advisability of using vaseline
as a basis for all ointments, it having now become so cheap
a commodity, and as it is so unchangeable in its compo¬
sition ?

George T. Starkey.

Syrupus Ferri Iodidi.

Sir, — The syrup made as recommended by the British
Pharmacopoeia gives no doubt a good result ; but be it pre¬
pared in whatever way it may it is liable to decomposition
more quickly if exposed to daylight than if kept in the dark.
To prevent this Mr. Groves and other chemists proposed the
addition of phosphoric acid, but I consider it objectionable,
for a medicament would be introduced into the syrup not
intended by the prescriber. The syrup can be kept for a
long time if filled in bottles of about 1 ounce capacity, in
the cork of which the end of an iron spiral (music wire) is
fastened, its other end reaching the bottom. These bottles
should then be kept in a dark and cool place.

It has been supposed that the smaller or larger amount
of glucose often present in the sugar might be the cause of
the decomposition of the syrup, but its presence, far from
deteriorating the preparation, on the contrary, conserves
it ; therefore honey has been proposed as a medium instead
of sugar.

W. H. Langbeck.

Chloral for the Toothache.

Sir, — In “The Month” of No. 548, I find a note of Dr.
Sporer, of St. Petersburg, recommending chloral in the
solid state to relieve toothache. This idea is not a new one,
for as far back as 1869, I employed it frequently, but only
with the .effect produced by chloroform, viz., anaesthesia of
the exposed nerve. Destruction of Leptothrix Buccalis and
therefore arrest of the decay, is out of question ; the latter
is attained by continual use of glycerinum acidi carbolici.

W. H. Langbeck.

The Buott Fund.

Sir, — Please allow me to acknowledge the following con¬
tributions to the fund in aid of old Mr. Buott. I regret to
say that his circumstances are still unhappy and dependent
upon the kindness of others. The entire sum received iu
response to my appeal is £34 8s. lOd. This will enable
him and his daughter, who takes care of him in his extreme
old age and adversity, to keep the assaults of poverty at
bay a little time longer. When the remainder of the sum

obtained is exhausted, and this eventuality is close at hand,
I know not what will become of them !

I cannot allow Mr. B uott to sink down into the depths of
poverty without pleading again in his behalf. Will nine¬
teen gentlemen (or ladies) guarantee the payment of one
shilling a week, that I may be able to pay him twenty
shillings per week? He is now very old and feeble, and
may not require our help and sympathy very long.

Robt. Hampson.

£ s. d.

George Harvie, Helensburg . 0 5 0

Jonathan Jessop, Halifax . 0 5 0

E. N. Butt, London . 1 1 0

Warrick Brothers, London . 2 2 0

Thomas Hyde Hills, London . 2 0 0

Errata. — In the abstract of Mr. Walker’s paper on
“ British Ferns,” before, p. 525, col. ii., in line 33, from
bottom, for “ Lycopodium Helago” read “L. Selago;” line
22 from bottom, for “ B. hunasia” read “ B. lunar ia ; ” line
20 from bottom for “P. oquelina ” read “P. aquilina.”

On p. 509, col. ii., line 5, for “ dilute solution of calcium
carbonate” read “ dilute solution of potassium carbonate.”

J. P. Richards and A. A. Qoodall. — Your letters have
been handed to the Secretary, to whom all instructions as
to the transmission of Journals should be addressed.

A Local Secretary. — You are recommended to com¬
municate your views to the Honorary Secretary to the
Chemists’ Ball Committee, who would no doubt bring the
subject under the notice of the gentlemen entrusted with
the arrangement of the details.

W. A. Cartwright. — We do not remember seeing such an
advertisement, but perhaps the advertisement agents,
Messrs. J. and A. Churchill, could give you the in¬
formation.

J. J. E. — A method of preparing “ salicylic cotton
wadding ” was described in vol. vii., p. 270, and another in
vol. x., p. 130. They consist essentially in a preliminary
treatment of the “wool” with soda to remove fat, and then
steeping it in a solution of salicylic acid in alcohol or
glycerine and water and drying.

Sarniensis. — According to Cooley, “pearl powder” con¬
sists of “ pearl white ” (subnitrate of bismuth) mixed with
an equal quantity or more of finely scraped French chalk.

T. Foden. — If you will read the draft Bill published in
the Journal for last week you will see that the subject you
refer to is dealt with.

A. B., U.S. — It has been stated that petroleum can be
deodorized by treatment with a mixture ef concentrated
sulphuric and nitric acids and alcohol. See vol. viii.,
p. 582.

N. M. Falkner. — The formula you require will be found
on p. 330 of vol. x. of this Journal.

Major. — Recipes for Lemon Syrup will bo found in vol.
ix. of the present series, pp. 689, 706, 806. For Ginger
Ale the following recipe is given in New Remedies : —

“ Into 1 gallon of boiling water put 1 lb. of sugar, 1 oz.
of best Jamaica ginger, bruised, f oz. bitartrate of potas¬
sium, and 2 lemons, sliced. Stir the ingredients frequently
until the water is lukewarm, covering the vessel carefully
in the intervals of stirring. Then add ^ to 2 ozs. of yeast
(liquid), and keep it in a moderately warm place until a
brisk fermentation sets in. The next day pour off the
liquid and strain it through flannel. Let it work another
day or two, strain again, and bottle, wiring down the
corks.”

Eureka.— We cannot undertake to recommend particular
houses.

A. H. H. — (1) Apply to the Secretary for a copy of the
pamphlet called •* ‘ Hints for Students.’ (2) The Phar¬
maceutical Latin Grammar is published by Groombridge
and Co., and Lindley’s ‘ School Botany ’ by Bradbury,
Evans and Co. (3) The “Bell Scholar ” does not “ enter
into residence,” but he has to attend the course of instruc¬
tion at the School commencing in the month of October
next after the examination .

Communications, Letters, etc.. have been received from
Messrs. Ellwood, Postans, Will, Parker, Tirrell, Mackay,
L., F. S. M., Specula, Discipulus, Hiawatha.

January 22, 1831. THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

589

THE ALKALOIDS OF ASPIDOSPERMA
QUEBRACHO BARK*

BY O. HESSE.

It has recently been alleged by Wulfsbergf that
aspidospermine, prepared by Fraude from the bark
of Aspidosperma Quebracho , is without doubt
identical with my paytine. As I, nevertheless,
doubted the correctness of this statement, upon the
around of what had been said about it by Fraude, + I
thought it advisable, in order to clear up the point,
to undertake a fresh investigation of the subject.
Naturally I used for this purpose only authentic

material. , , ,, , . .

This investigation showed that the bark m
question, for which I have to thank Professor
Baeyer, contains not the least trace of paytine, and
that aspidospermine is totally different from that
alkaloid. Consequently Wulfsberg’s allegation is

thus disposed of. „ , . _ . . c

But the examination of this bark was aLso ot
interest in another direction. It is known that the
Aspidosperma bark (or true quebracho bark) in many
cases favourably influences dyspnoea, and as Heir
Penzoldt§ could not bring the action of aspido¬
spermine quite into harmony with the action of tnat
bark he came to the conclusion that the bark must
still contain something that had a specially powerful

My investigation carried out on this direction has
shown, among other things, that the Aspidosperma
bark contains an alkaloid endowed with valuable
properties in relatively larger quantity (0*28 per
cent, against 0*17 per cent, of aspidospermine). .

I have named this new alkaloid u quebrachme.

It crystallizes from alcohol in small white anhydrous
prisms In hot alcohol it is readily soluble, less
freely in cold, and it is difficultly soluble in ether.
It melts at 214° to 216° C. (uncorr.) under partial
decomposition. Its composition corresponds to the
formula C^H^NgOg.

Calculated. Found. '

c . . . 71-18 71-22 71-14 71*21

H. . . . 7-34 7-51 7-52 7 53

N. . . • 7-90 7-72 — , —

Quebrachine dissolves in pure concentrated
sulphuric acid with a bluish colour, but in the
course of some hours this solution becomes giadually
darker in colour. If lead peroxide be suspended
in the solution it assumes pretty quickly a magnifi¬
cent blue colour. This reaction takes place with
especial beauty when sulphuric acid containing
molybdic acid is used, or when a small crystal of
potassium bichromate is added to a solution of the
alkaloid in concentrated sulphuric acid.

As quebrachine when boiled with solution of
perchloric acid gives a yellow solution, this reaction
immediately calls to mind strychnine and cuiarine.
But Herr Penzoldt has found that the physiological
action (upon frogs) of quebrachine does not cor¬
respond with that of strychnine, although it has a
moderately poisonous action. For instance, accord¬
ing to Penzoldt, 0-04 gram of quebrachine rapidly
killed a small rabbit.

Quebrachine is a strong vegetable base. In

* Berichte d. deutschen chemischen Gesellschaft , xiii.,

p. 2393. * ‘

f See before, p. 269.
i Berichte, xi., 2L89 ; xii., 1560.

§ Bed. klin. Wochenschrift, 1880, No. 40.

Third Series, No. 552.

alcoholic solution it blues litmus paper, and is
capable of completely neutralizing strong acids.

The neutral sulphate of quebrachine crystallizes
in four-sided prisms, which are easily soluble in
alcohol and hot water and moderately soluble in
cold water. In an imperfect crystallization it is
only obtained as a crystalline powder. In both
cases its composition agrees with the formula —
(C21H26N203)2, S04H2 + 8H20.

The neutral hydrochlorate also crystallizes in
short white prisms, which, although very difficultly
soluble in cold, are freely soluble in hot water. Its
aqueous solution gives with platinum solution a
dark yellow flocculent precipitate, with the com¬
position (C21H26N203)2, PtCl6H2 + 5H20.

Quebrachine also forms with other acids hand¬
some crystalline salts, which partly can be
advantageously distinguished from the corresponding
salts of aspidospermine by their slight solubility in
water. I shall refer to these in a subsequent com¬
munication, and shall then describe the separation
of these alkaloids from one another as well as from
three other alkaloids that accompany quebrachine
and aspidospermine in the bark in question.

STUDIES OF THE GENUS STRYCHNOS.

BY G. PLANCHON,

Professor in the Bcole Superieure de Pharmacie , Paris ,
and Honorary Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain.

(' Continued from page 531. )

IY. The Curare of the Upper Amazon.*

The region of the Upper Orinoco, which was
dealt with in the previous section, is connected by
the Cassiquiari and Rio Negro with that of the
Upper Amazon. Like several of its affluents, the
immense river, which after having traversed a great
part of Peru washes with its waters the southern
districts of Brazil, takes different names in various
parts of its course. In its passage through the
Peruvian mountains, from its source to the ^con¬
fluence of the Iqa, it bears the name of Maranon ;
then it is called Rio Solimoens down. to the con¬
fluence of the Rio Negro and the Rio Madeira.
This name is characteristic ; according to La Con-
damine,! it signifies “ the river of the poisons,” and
the name has probably been given because of the
poisoned arrows which are the ordinary arms ol
the inhabitants of its banks. Lower down, the
river bears the name of the Amazon.

Numerous rivers of considerable importance swell
the waters of the first two portions of its course.
These are, from west to east on the right bank, the
Ucayale, Javari, Juvua, Teffe, Purus and Madeira ;
upon the left bank, the Pastazza, Morona, Tigre,
Napo, Iga (called in its upper part Putu-Mayo),
Yapura (of which the name in Columbia is Caqueta),
and finally, the Rio Negro or Guaiana, the con¬
fluence of which is a little above that of the Madeira.
It is throughout this region that the curare of the
Upper Amazon is prepared, and that the plant is
found which 'is used for its basis. The tribes which
are mentioned by authors as devoting themselves to
this preparation live especially upon the southern
bank of the river. They are: first, below the con-

t

1745.

Journal de Pharmade, [4], vol. i., pp. 380 ant 488.

La Condamine, Histoire de l Acalcmie (>es Sciences,

590

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 22, 1881.

ftuence of the Tigre, the Yameos, who, according to
La Condamine, are very adroit in making long
blow-pipes for darting their poisoned arrows ; then,
not far from the banks of the Napo, the Orejones or
Oregones ; lower down, the Yaguas and the Ticunas ;
and lastly, upon the banks of the Maranon, and to
twelve leagues below the confluence of the Napo, the
Pebas or Pevas.

The curare brought over by La Condamine was
first experimented' with under the name of the
*( poison of the Ticunas.” He says, “ It is an extract
made by means of fire from the juice of certain
plants, and particularly of certain lianas. It is
asserted that more than thirty kinds of herbs or
roots enter into it. The Indians always compound
it in the same manner, and follow to the letter the
process which they have received from their ancestors
as scrupulously as the pharmaciens among our¬
selves proceed in the solemn compounding of theria-
cum, although probably this great multiplicity of
ingredients is no more necessary in the Indian
poison than in the European antidote.”*

The very judicious reflection of La Condamine we
know to be perfectly correct. In reality, there is
but one species which is necessary, and that is the
Strychnos Oastelnczana which Weddell has described,
and of which the principal characters are the follow¬
ing:—

The “ ramou, ” this being the popular name, is a
liana, or “ bush rope,” which, according to M.
Crevaux, attains a height of 20 metres. Its young
branches are remarkable for the ochre-yellow pubes¬
cence which, especially upon the floriferous branches
and peduncles, forms a thick close down ; large
tendrils, rolled up in the form of a crosier, are
also covered with this yellowish crust. The leaves
are opposite and of considerable dimensions (I have
measured some which have been 26 centimetres long
and 16 centimetres broad) ; they are elliptical, oblong,
or nearly ovate, acuminate, entire, shining green
above, paler underneath, having five longitudinal
veins, covered with ferruginous hairs, giving off
transverse veins that form by their divisions a very
distinct network. The flowers form a close dense
inflorescence, composed of cymes with short ramifi¬
cations grouped at the extremity of a thick peduncle.
Each of them has a calyx with five obtuse lobes, a
short corolla, naked at the throat, with valvate and
concave lobes, which frequently fall off before
arriving at maturity. The five stamens have
short filaments and anthers furnished towards their
base with bunches of descending hairs. The fruit is
still unknown. The leaves vary according to the
age of the plant. They vary in breadth, and- are
more or less rounded, but the species is very dis¬
tinctly characterized and easily recognizable.

M. Weddell’s specimens were collected among
the Pebas Indians ; those of M. Jaubert, at Calderao,
not far from the Peruvian frontier. As to M.
Crevaux, he has informed me that he met with the
plant : (1) At Calderao, or Calderon, in the same
locality as M. Jaubert, fifteen hours from the Peruvian
frontier ; (2) Upon the Rio Javari, an affluent on
the right of the Amazon, where the Ticunas Indians
are met with ; (3) Upon the Rio Yaguas, an affluent
upon the right of the Iga, and over the lower
three-fourths of the course of the Iga; (4) Upon
the lower three-fourths of the course of the Yapura.
Higher up than these regions the plant would appear

* La Condamine, op. cit., p. 490.

not to exist, which is indicated by the Indians
descending the river from thence to make their
provision of curare. Moreover, M. Crevaux assures
me that there is no better money, or barterable
commodity, in these countries than the arrow poison.
A small pot, valued at five francs upon the banks of
the Yaguas, is worth more than twenty on the
Upper Iga.

Together witli his herbarium specimens, M. Cre¬
vaux kindly gave me a piece of stem 60 centimetres
long, 3 centimetres in diameter, bent and twisted in
one part. The bark is grey-brown, strewn all over
with verrucous elevations of the same colour. Trans¬
verse furrows are to be seen here and there; they
are especially noticeable in the convex portion of the
curve.

This bark is not more than 1 to 2 millimetres
thick ; it covers a large ligneous portion, difficult to
attack with cutting instruments, greenish grey and
surrounding a very narrow medullary canal. At a
first glance no well-marked opening in the wood is
perceptible to the naked eye; but a closer examina¬
tion reveals a considerable number, especially in a
section cut obliquely to the stem.

The anatomical structure of the various parts is
that of the genus Strychnos in general, but with the
following peculiarities : —

In the bark the suberous zone is formed of a
variable number of rows of tabular cells, very
numerous where the verrucous excrescences occur,
to the number of seven or eight in places where the
bark is smooth. Underneath the zone of stony cells
has an average diameter and breadth. The internal
zone is remarkable for the considerable quantity of
these same stone cells which form numerous and
well-developed islets in the midst of the parenchy¬
matous tissue of the liber and of the medullary rays.
These cells become larger in proportion as they
belong to more central layers, so that they are some¬
times of considerable diameter and present under
the microscope a curious appearance through the
thin superposed layers that constitute their walls
and the ramified canalicula which traverse them
from the centre to the circumference. In this
respect the bark of the “ ramou ” is very charac¬
teristic.

The woody layers show numerous ligneous fibres
pressed one against the other, containing dotted
vessels of -average diameter and separated among
themselves by numerous medullary rays with several
rows of cells and by ligneous parenchyma extending
transversally and recalling the appearance of the
rays. Lacunae appear very few and slightly de¬
veloped in the internal part, and larger and more
extended transversally in the more exterior layers.
They are not filled with any secretion, but in some
may be observed traces of an indistinct tissue, the
nature of which remains to be determined.

Besides the K ramou,” travellers have noticed and
brought back to Europe other species, which without
having the same interest yet merit attention. It
remains to examine and determine them as far as
may be possible.

Among the plants which the Pebas and the
Ticunas add to the Strychnos Castelnocana , Wedd.,
the best known and most important is that which is
called “pani” by the Yaguas and “nobougo” by
the Oregones. M. Crevaux has brought back this
species from the same regions and also from the
banks of the Yapura, where among the Kuretou

January 22, 1831.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

591

and among

Indians it bears the name of “ yane ”
the Miranhas that of “nedjememmo.,,

The plant has been described by Weddell and
referred by him to the genus Cocculus ; it is his
C toxicoferus. Its flowers are not known, which
renders it difficult to indictate the genus exactly
By its leaves it recalls more the genera Abuta and
Chondodendron than the genus Cocculus ; but m the
absence of precise means for its determination, I will
designate it under the same name as the able botanist

who” first made it known* . . ,

It is a liana, the flattened trunk of which re¬
sembles a fasciated stem. The bark is thin and
smooth, dark brown, covered here and there with
greyish lichens. The small branches are cylindrical,
striated and glabrous. At the ends of long petioles
(22 centim.) they bear handsome leaves, 10 to
12 centim. long and 8 to 10 centim. broad, ovate,
slightly attenuated at the base, abruptly and
narrowly acuminate at the summit, entire at the
margin, glabrous on both surfaces, shining green
above, pale and whitish below. The venation is
rather characteristic. From the base of one strong
midrib are given off two lateral veins, which towards
the middle of the leaf bend round in an arch to
anastomose with the secondary veins. These to the
number of three or five spring from the midrib at a
very open angle and bend back in a sharp curve to
reunite among themselves. Tertiary veins run
transversely and form a loose network which is
prominent chiefly on the inferior surface.

An anatomical study of the young branches
shows that around a central mass of cellular tissue
constituting the medulla are a number of radiating
bundles, within very clear limits, with pitted woody
fibres, pressed one against another and surrounding
a certain number of large vessels, also pitted. These
bundles are separated from each other by broad
medullary rays, formed of from seven to ten rows of
cells, and terminating towards the exterior by a
cellular tissue, partly destroyed, which belongs
probably to the cambium zone. „

Opposite the woody bundles is found a well-
defined mass of liber fibres pressed one against the
other. Opposite the medullary rays the interval
between the woody bundles is occupied by a rather
compact mass of stone cells with very thick walls.
These stone cells occur scattered through the
cellular tissue which • surrounds this internal zone,
and the whole is terminated at the exterior by a
suberous tissue, formed by several rows of tabular
cells, becoming brownish in the superficial layers.

By the side of the preceding specimens; which
correspond very exactly to those that Weddell
supplied to , the Museum of Natural History, ought
to be noticed a specimen brought by M. Crevaux,
which represents a young shoot, with a root and a
slender stem, crowned by a bouquet ol five or six
leaves. These leaves differ in some characters from
the preceding. They have the inferior surface pale
green, but not whitish. In this they correspond to
the description by Weddell, but not to his herbarium
specimens. Neither is the venation exactly similar.
The lateral veins are five in number, the two
inmost nearly reaching the apex of the leaf befoie
recurving to form an arch, and the secondary veins
are reduced to one or do not exist at all.. Notwith¬
standing these differences I consider this specimen

* Castelnau, ‘ Expedition dans la partie centrals de
l’Amerique du Sud. Histoire du Voyage,’ vol. v., p. 22.

should be referred to Weddell’s species. A section
of the stem shows very clearly to the naked eye the
radiating arrangement of the woody bundles, which
appear pale in colour upon the more sombre back¬
ground of the tissue.

The taste of this bark is bitter and aromatic. A
fragrant odour is developed when this part of the
plant is cut or grated.

I have laid some little stress upon the. characters
of the Cocci dus toxicoferus because it is the plant
always mentioned as accompanying the il ramou ” in
the preparation of the curare ol the Amazon. I shall
indicate much more briefly the other accessory plants
of this preparation.

The following are those communicated to me by
M. Crevaux as being employed by the Ticunas and
the Pebas. First, there are three species of Piper : —

(1) A species, represented by a leaf, which re¬
sembles tolerably well Piper caudcitum , H. B. K.
(Artanthe caudata, Miq.).

(2) A young shoot, with roots, stems and leaves.
The leaves are narrow-lanceolate, 20 to 24 centi¬
metres long, 5 to 6 broad, and unequal at the base,
one of the sides of the limb descending the petiole a
centimetre lower than the other. . They are finely
punctate and approach, without being quite identical
with, Piper geniculatum. In their native country they
bear the name of “ ox tongue.”

(3) Another species represented by a young shoot
and remarkable for its large inequilateral leaves,
which are ovate, oblong, obtuse at the summit,
cordiform at the base, with two very unequal
rounded lobes, the largest of which covers one side
of the petiole and in its development passes over to
the other side of the limb. It is a Piper that must
be associated with the section Macrostachys ol the
Artanthe of Miquel, near to Piper pothifolium of
Kunth ( Artanthe pothifolia , Miq.),. but which is not
exactly referable to any of the species of this section
that I have seen figured or in herbaria.

(4) A species of Aristolochia , represented by its
rhizome, as large and long as a thumb, and by
numerous slender stems bearing leaves, which recall,
without resembling exactly, Aristolochia deltoidea,

or A. Raja, Kunth. . „ .

(5) An aroid, Diffenbachia Segumum ( Caladium

Seguinum, Yent.).

(6) One of the Phytolaccacese, Petiveria alhacea,
distributed abundantly in these American regions.

The Curare of Yapura.

The preceding species belong to the curare pre¬
pared 'by the Pebas and the Ticunas. Other species
are indicated by M. Crevaux as being used specially
for the curare made in the basin of the Yapura.

The poison has always for its basis the Strychnos
Castshmana, Wedd. There is also the Cocculus
toxicoferus, as has been previously indicated in
aivina the native names for the plant among the
Kueretou and Miranhas Indians. Among the other

plants may be noticed : — . ,

(DA species of Strychnos, which I have grounds
to believe new, and which I will designate pro¬
visionally Strychnos Yapurensis. It is represented
bv branches furnished with leaves, which are oppo¬
site, shortly petiolate, ovate, rounded at the base,
acuminate at the summit, entire, 15 centimetres long,
7 centimetres broad, glabrous, dark green on the
upper surface, bright green on the lower. The
veins are very prominent beneath and of a reddish

592

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 22, 1881.

tint. The midrib is very strongly marked ; from its
base spring two large veins which run at a certain
distance from the margin to the apex of the leaf, an¬
astomosing in their course with well-marked veins
which are" detached transversally from the midrib.
Quite against the margin on each side runs a fine
undulating vein anastomosing with the ramifications
of the lateral veins. The plant bears among the
Miranhas Indians the name “ guagueyemeu,’; and
among the Kueretou Indians that of “ moneratu.”
M. Crevaux refers to it as a plant used in the prepa¬
ration of the curare of the Yapura.

(2) A species of Spigelia that does not correspond
exactly to any of those I have been able to examine
in the herbarium of the Museum of Natural History,
nor to any description that I have been able to find.
It is a plant 30 centimetres high, the stem of which
is furnished with shortly petiolate, elliptical or lan¬
ceolate, acuminate membraneous leaves, much larger
as they are higher up the stem, finished by four at
the summit, which surround the base of the slender
inflorescence bearing tuberculous fruit. It is the
“gueyenetta” of the natives.

(3) A species of Aroideae, perhaps a Philodendron.
It is the “ niagua beremba ” of the natives. The
root enters into the preparation of the poison.

(4) A series of species too imperfectly represented
to enable me to determine them, and in respect to
which I must content myself for the time with
giving the native names. These are —

A species with compound pinnate leaves, having
a large number of leaflets; perhaps one of the
Meliaceae. It bears the name of “ehekatsa.”

Another plant with compound pinnate leaves,
of very considerable bitterness; probably one of
the Simarubem. It is the “ nichtcaheso ” of the
Miranhas.

A woody species, the root of which has a slightly
nauseous taste, and of which the leaves are simple, .
narrow, linear and acuminate. The “doketso” of
the natives ; perhaps one of the Anonacese.

Two species which bear the name of “ guanaso ”
among the Miranhas, and one of which the Kueretous
call “ kaa.”

A plant with handsome simple, obovate, acuminate
leaves. This is the “ ebemala ” of the Miranhas.

Another species, with large broadly- elliptical pen-
ninerved leaves, having a rather dense pubescence
upon the nerves. This is the “debao” of the
Miranhas, the bark of which is added to the curare
of the Yapura. The last two are probably species of
Anonaceae.

Finally, a curious species with large alternate
membraneous leaves, which are light green, broadly
obovate, acuminate, and covered upon the nerves by
a soft pubescence. This is the “ gueyenetso ” of the
Miranhas.

(To be continued.)

OLE ATE OF MERCURY.*

BY NATHAN BOSENWASSER.

sistence of butter at ordinary temperatures, the other two
being liquid. On exposure to the air for some time, the
liquid preparations become partly decomposed, mercurous
oxide being deposited. This decomposition takes place in
the solid 20 per cent, preparation also, but as air has
access only to the surface, it alone is found altered, the
bluish grey surface indicating a separation of mercurous
oxide, which is unable to settle to the bottom as it would
were the preparation liquid. The unexposed parts beneath
the surface will be found free from sediment and un¬
altered.

It would seem from this, as also from other experiments
made, that all oleates of mercury exposed to the air
become decomposed, losing the mercury from combination,
whether an excess of oleic acid be used or not. I would
recommend the following changes in the method of
preparing and dispensing these oleates.

1st. The preparation of the true oleate of mercuric
oxide.

This is done by combining mercuric oxide with its equi¬
valent of oleic acid. The proportions are HgO = 216,
2C18H3302 = 562, or one part of mercuric oxide to 2i?
oleic acid by weight. Oleate of mercury thus prepared
boils between 280° and 290° F., depositing mercurous
oxide. It is solid, transparent while melted, opaque on
cooling, and of the consistence of resin cerate in winter.

2nd. As the addition of cosmoline, vaseline, and allied
petroleum bodies, prevents the oxidation of the oleate, I
propose to bring the mercuric oleate to its requisite
strength of 20 per cent., by addition of these, thus
keeping a constant unaltered oleate of 20 per cent.,
which admits of still further dilution as may be desired
with cosmoline, vaseline, etc., to any percentage desired.
As a matter of cost these diluents ar6 again as cheap as
the excess of oleic acid, which presents no advantage as a
preservative or as a solvent.

3rd. The ‘National Dispensatory’ (Stilld and Maisch)
and other authorities, direct the use of yellow oxide of
mercury, the price of which is from thirty to thirty-five
cents per oz. The price of the red oxide of mercury,
chemically identical, is but six cents per oz. Upon experi¬
ment I have succeeded more easily in preparing the
oleate from this red oxide than from the more expensive
yellow oxide.

The oleic acid is heated in a porcelain dish to about
2209 F., the red precipitate then being added in small
quantities, with constant stirring. The heat should be
carefully regulated and not permitted to rise above 240°
F. If the oxide of mercury is pure, it will entirely
dissolve in pure oleic acid without sediment , otherwise it
will be best to pour the solution while hot, from the
slight impurities usually contained in red precipitate. As
the acid is usually not entirely free from impurities, a
a slight allowance will be found necessary in practice to
make up this deficiency. Oleate of mercury, as prepared
above, of 20 per cent, mercuric oxide strength, costs but
90 cents for material, whereas, if made entirely from
yellow oxide and oleic acid, the cost will be 1’80 dollars
per lb. The weaker oleates show still greater reduction,
cosmoline being fully twice as cheap as oleic acid. Possibly
to obtain liquid oleates, paraffin oil will do instead of
cosmoline.

The price, probably, more than anything else, prevents
the more extensive use of this oleate, and ought to be
reduced to reasonable figures.

The present method in use for making this preparation
consists in dissolving yellow mercuric oxide in excess of
oleic acid, sufficient of the latter being used to make a
resultant of 20, 10, or 5 per cent, mercuric oxide
strength. That containing 20 per cent, is of the con-

* Read before the Ohio Pharmaceutical Association.
From the Druggists' Circidar , January, 1881.

NOTES ON THE SNAKE-STONES IN CEYLON.

The following notices of these curious articles in one or
two books might possibly be of interest to the readers of
the Journal, although it is not strictly a pharmaceutical
subject. These notes are taken principally from Sir
Emerson Tennent’s work on Ceylon, partly also from
Wood’s ‘Natural History.’ They have been plaoed at
our disposal by Mr. R, Modlen : —

January 22, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

593

The use of the Pamboo-kaloo, or snake- stone, as a
remedy in cases of wounds by venomous serpents, has
probably been communicated to the Cinghalese by the
itinerant snake-charmers who resort to the island from
the coast of Coromandel; aud more than one well-
authenticated instance of its successful application has
been told to Sir E. Tennent by eye-witnesses. On one
occasion, in March, 1854, some civil officers of the
Government were riding along a jungle path in the
vicinity of Bientenne, when they saw one of two Tamils,
who were approaching them, suddenly dart into the
forest and return, holding in both hands a cobra di
capello, which he had seized by the head and tail. He
called to his companion for assistance to place it in their
covered basket, but, in doing this, he handled it so inex¬
pertly, that it seized him by the finger, and retained its
hold for a few seconds, as if unable to retract its fangs.
The blood flowed, and intense pain appeared to follow
almost immediately ; but, with all expedition, the friend
of the sufferer undid his waistcloth and took from it two
snake-stones, each of the size of a small almond, intensely
black, and highly polished, though of an extremely light
substance. These he applied, one to each wound in¬
flicted by the teeth of the serpent. The stones, attached
themselves closely, the blood oozing from the bites being
rapidly imbibed by the porous texture of the article
applied. They adhered tenaciously for three or four
minutes, the wounded man’s companion in the mean¬
while rubbing his arm downwards from the shoulder
towards the fingers. At length the snake-stones dropped
off of their own accord, the suffering of the man appeared
to have subsided, he twisted his finger until the joints
cracked (whether as part of the cure or in bravado
Tennent does not say), and went on his way without
concern. Whilst this had been going on, another Indian
of the party who had come up, took from his bag a small
piece of white wood, resembling a root, and passed it
gently near the head of the cobra, which the latter imme¬
diately inclined close to the ground; he then lifted the
snake without hesitation, and coiled it into a circle at the
bottom of the basket. The root by which , he professed
to be enabled to perform this operation with safety he
called the Naza-thalee Kalinga, protected by which
he professed his ability to approach any reptile with im¬
punity.

In another instance, in 1853, Mr. Lavalliere, the dis¬
trict judge of Kandy, saw an equally convincing demon¬
stration of the efficacy of this singular remedy. Sir E.
Tennent secured the snake-stones and pieces of wood
used on both these occasions. The root or stick of one
appeared to be a bit of the stem of an Aristolochia, and
the other was so dry that it was impossible to identify it
with certainty, but it resembled the quadrangular stem
of a jungle vine. It is, however, probable that the use of
any particular plant is a pretence or delusion ; the reptile
being ovei'powered by the resolute action of the charmer,
and not by any influence in the stick. The confidence
inspired by the supposed charm enables its possessor to
address himself fearlessly to his task, thus effecting by
determination and will, what is popularly believed to be
the result of charms and stupefaction. At the same
time, it is curioxxs that the natives of northern Africa,
who handle the cerastes without fear, ascribe their im¬
punity to the use of a plant with which they anoint
themselves before touching the reptile ; and Bruce says

Iof the people of Sennaar that they acquire exemption
from the fatal consequences of the bite by chewing a
. particular root and washing themselves with an infusion
of certain plants. He adds that a portion of the root
was given to him with a view of testing its efficacy in his
own person, but that he had not sufficient resolution to
undergo the experiment.

One of these stones was sent for analysis to Professor
Faraday, who pronounced it to be made of charred bone,
and in all probability to have been filled with blood, and
again charred. “ Evidence of this is afforded, as well by

the apertures of cells or tubes on its surface, as by the
fact that it yields and breaks under pressure, and exhibits
an organic structure within. When heated slightly water
rises from it, and also a little ammonia, and if heated
still more highly in the air, carbon burns away, and a.
bulky white ash is left, retaining the shape and size of
the stone.” This ash is composed of phosphate of lime,
and Sir E. Tennent observes, with much judgment, that
the blood discovered by Professor Faraday was probably
that of the native to whom the snake-stone was applied.

Another light has been thrown on the subject by Mr.
R. W. H. Hardy, who states that the snake-stone is in
use in Mexico, and that it is formed by cutting a piece of
stag’s horn into the proper shape, wrapping it lightly in
grass or hay, folding it in sheet- copper so as to exclude
the air, and calcining it in a charcoal fire.

Mr. Wood, wishing to test this, tried the experiment.
On removing the piece of horn from the copper, the hay
had been fused into a black mass (after exposure to the
fire for an hour and a half), easily broken, and forming a
complete cast of the horn, which fell out like an almond
from its shell. On comparing the charred horn with the
veritable snake-stone, it was found to be identical, except
in the polish. The fractux-e of both was the same, and
when exposed to a white heat in the air, Mr. Wood’s
specimen burned away, leaving a white ash precisely like
that of the real specimen, although Mr. Wood’s own
manufacture had an ash of an purer white than that
examined by Professor Faraday, possibly owing to the
absence of any blood in the former. On throwing it into
water, it gave out a vast amount of air from its pores,
making the water for a few seconds like newly opened
champagne, a peculiarity which agrees with Thun berg’s
description of the snake-stones used at the Cape, and
imported at a high price from Malabar. “ The rather
high polish of the Cinghalese snake-stone I could not
rightly impart to my own specimen, probably for want of
patience. I found, however, that by rendering the sur¬
face very smooth with a file, and afterwards with emery
paper, before exposing it to the fire, it could be burnished
afterwards by rubbing it with polished steel. Even in
the original objects the polish is not universal, the plane
side being much rougher than the convex.”

The manufacture of these stones is a lucrative trade,
carried on by the monks of Mlanilla, who supply the
merchants of India. Thunberg, in 1772, was shown the
stones used at the Cape by the Boers, imported “ from
the Indies, especially from Malabar,” at so high a price
that few of the farmers could afford to possess one. He
describes them as being convex, black, and very porous.

THE MICROSCOPIC CRYSTALS CONTAINED IN

PLANTS.*

BY W. K. HIGLEY.

It has been the custom to call all crystals that occur
in plants, whether in the cell contents, the cell-wall or
even the non-microscopic crystals that are found in the
outer portions of plants, by the common name “raphides,”
no matter what the form may be. And while giving this
general name to their form, a much more general chemical
composition was given, viz. : oxalate of lime ; and for a
}ono- time they were all supposed to have had this com¬
position, and even up to the present day many writers have
considered them thus. The decision of some seems to
have been based on the analysis of the inorganic matter of
one crystal-bearing plant, which proved to have the above
composition, and in drawing their conclusions they con¬
sidered that all crystals of apparently the same crystalline
form were of the same composition. But it is difficult to
tell, at all times, the exact crystalline form, as different
forms sometimes resemble each other very much. And as
the form may vary, so may the chemical composition.

^ Froin the American Naturalist, October and November,
1880.

594

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

f January 22, 1881.

Crystals of some form seem to be nearly or quite univer¬
sal”; on close examination they may be found in some
part or parts of the majority of plants. In some plants
they are only found in a certain position and of one form,
while in others they may occupy several localities of the
plant, and have as many forms. But the position and
form often vary so much that it has been recommended
by some authorities that they be made a family, and in
some cases a generic distinction in the study of systematic
botany.

Professor George Gulliver, while making dissections
under the microscope for the purpose of comparing the
relations between the structure of plants and animals,
made note of every case in the examination of plants
where raphides or other crystals occurred, and he says :
“It was not before a large accumulation of my notes had
been examined that crystals were thought of in this point
of view ; for they had not even been particularly looked
after, and were merely noted whenever seen, long before
their significance as characters was suspected. But
when every one of these notes on raphides had been
picked out, it was very unexpectedly discovered that the
plants in which they occurred would sometimes come
under certain orderly arrangements. Thus not a single
species belonging to the order Onagracese or Galiacese
was without a note of raphides, while in no single instance
were these acicular crystals noted in the next allied
orders.” A converse example is then given. He then
proves by more extended experiments that raphis-bearing
is essential throughout the lives of certain species. By
this and other experiments that I might mention, it is
shown that the form and position of microscopical crystals
in plants may be used as a distinctive character between
orders especially, and perhaps, to a certain extent, between
genera and species (?). Plant crystals as a character
would only be of benefit to the botanist who had at hand
a microscope that magnified at least a hundred and
twenty-five diameters. Hence the objection to making
them a means of identifying plants in our works on
systematic botany.

As to the history of crystals, Lindley states that they
were first seen by Rafn, who found them in the milky
juice of some species of the family Euphorbiacete, and
that they were afterwards seen by J urine in the leaves of
Leucojum vernum and elsewhere.

Edwin Lankester, M.D., writing on raphides, credits
Malpighi with the discovery of crystals in plants, who
found them in a species of Opuntia, and he says, further,
that they were afterwards described by Rafn as occurring
in the milky juice (latex) of some plants belonging to the
family Euphorbiacese, and that Jurine soon after found
them in the leaves of Leucojum vernum as stated by
Lindley.

Raspail seems to have been the first person who studied
crystals with their chemistry in view, at least he was
probably the first to demonstrate that some of the crystals
were composed of calcic oxalate.

John Quekett, in a paper written in or about the year
1852, also gives the credit of the discovery to Malpighi,
and says that they were subsequently described by Jurine
and Raspail, as stated above.

Professor Gulliver says that the raphides so early
mentioned by Rafn in the Euphorbiacese were only the
starch-rods which he (Gulliver) described as having found
in the latex of the British Spurges.

Crystals should be divided into (at least) three classes
and these seem to cover all the ground that was formerly
covered by the name “Raphides.’’ They are as follows :

1. Raphides.

2. Sphaeraphides.

3. Crystal prisms.

U 1. Raphides . — The term raphid is from the Greek
pacpls, a needle, and was formerly applied by De Candolle
to crystals resembling a needle in form.

Professor Gulliver gives the following definition of the
term: “These are slender needle-like crystals with

rounded, smooth shafts, vanishing at each end to a point,
from about ten to fifty or more lying parallel together so
as to form a bundle, which partially fills a cell or inter¬
cellular space.”

I have never been able to find over thirty in one cell,
*ind generally from five to twenty-five. The cells which
contain them are generally elongate, or quite oval. To
obtain these crystals in a bundle and still have a thin
section fit for microscopical work, a steady hand and great
care are required, as they are easily disturbed, when they
will be seen scattered in every direction. Often on slight
pressure they are seen to escape, one by one, quickly from
one or both ends of the cell. When this occurs they are
then known as “Biforines.” The bundle of crystals is
very loose and might be compared to a bundle of needles.

The genus Trillium affords a good example for the
investigation of these crystals, and still better the species
of the family Aracese, with one exception which will be
mentioned soon. In this family the raphides are found in
great abundance and are about the largest that I have
seen. As the plants of this order are very common, any
one may examine them at pleasure. They may be found
in any part, but are best seen in the stem.

2. Sphcer aphides. — This word is from the Greek (repair'd,
a sphere or globe, and paepts, a needle or pin. “They are
more or less rounded forms made up of a congeries of
crystals, many of which are prisms, often acicular.” As
they often have points extending in all directions from
the main body of the crystal, they appear rough and
frequently stellate ; they are generally found regularly
placed, one imbedded in the substance of each cell. A
collection of cells containing these crystals is known as a
“sphseraphid tissue.”

The flower parts of the geranium serve as a good field
for observing them. These crystals are very common
and are found in connection with raphides in the family
Vitacese. But the best place to examine them is in the
family Cactacese. These crystals as well as the next
class were formerly known, incorrectly, under the common
name “Raphides.”

3. Crystal prisms. — These are “acicular forms with
well-marked faces and angles both on the shafts and tips.”
They are found imbedded in the tissue of the plant and
are never seen in bundles or loosely packed together, or
single in a cell or intercellular passage. I have found as
many as five of these crystals imbedded closely together in
certain tissues, but generally only one. They vary much
in size but are generally much larger than raphides, from
which they may be easily distinguished. The family
Compositse furnish about the best field for the examination
of this class of crystals, but they are much less common
than the other forms of crystals.

My own observations and experiments have been, at
present, mostly confined to the natural orders Aracese,
Yitacese and Compositse. I examined the first two orders
especially, as they abounded in crystals, and this gave me
a better opportunity to examine into their chemical com¬
position with more sure and satisfactory results.

In examining each specimen for the composition of the
crystals, I first made the test under the microscope as far
as possible, and in the case of inorganic crystals incinerated
the substance and analysed the residue. Of course from
this analysis it is not possible to state the exact composition
of the crystals, whether they are, for example, acid or
neutral salts ; but we are able to state with certainty
what the elements are that enter into the crystal. And
at times and under certain conditions, and also by analogy,
the exact composition may be ascertained ; for example,
if on examining the tissues of a plant octahedrons are
found, and if under the microscope they do not effervesce
with acetic acid, but do with stronger acids, and if after
incineration we find on analysis calcium and carbonic
acid, we may conclude with certainty that these crystals
are composed of calcic oxalate. However, other acids
than the one just mentioned do occur, as phosphoric and
I carbonic acids; the former I tested for under the micro-

January 22, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL

AND TRANSACTIONS.

595

scope in the following manner: obtaining as large a field
as possible of the crystals, I added a drop of hydrochloric
acid and heated the slide slightly and then added a small
amount of molybdate of ammonia; heating the slide again
and allowing it to stand for some time, I placed it under
the microscope, when, it any phosphoric acid was present
the characteristic crystals of phosphomolybdate of am¬
monia would appear. These crystals are stellate forms
consisting of four or six points, and have a yellow colour.
This test requires care, as too much heat seems to dispel the
crystals.

The latter (carbonic) acid I detected an the usual

. manner with acetic acid.

The three acids mentioned above are the only ones that
I have found. Dr. Gray, in his ‘ btructural and Physio¬
logical Botany,’ page 60, reports sulphuric acid.

The tests applied for the base were the same as those
given in Douglas and Prescott s * Qualitative Analysis,
but the only base found was calcium. The methods of
testing given above were followed in nearly all cases.
Where there is any change it will be mentioned in its
proper place.

I will now give the results of my own work, com-
anencing with the order Aracese ; in this order the rapbides
are abundant and large, and the cells that contain them
are much elongated. The bundles contained from ten to
twenty-eight crystals. The number was noted in twenty
specimens and the average, twenty-five, taken from the
results. Raphides were found in all parts of the plant
Ariscema triphyUum ; they varied some in size, but were,
on the average, about T^th of an inch long and Ifl fo-gth
in diameter. The raphis-cells were very large and
elongated and easily distinguished from the surrounding
cells.

Dracontium, another species of the same genus as the
above, showed no material difference in the position, size
and number of the crystals from the first species.

In Symplocarpus fcetidus, or skunk’s cabbage, the
crystals were as common as in Ariscema, but were, on the
whole, somewhat larger, and were found, as in the above
species, throughout the plant. The raphis-cells of this
plant were about -g-Vth of an inch in length and y-aV^h in
diameter. Some of the crystals appeared to be biforines,
which I did not observe to be the case in any other species
of this order. Thus if the odour of this plant can be over¬
come, it furnishes a good field for work upon this subject.

In Acorns calamus, or sweet flag, I was not able to
find a single vapbid, and as far as I am able to find
articles upon the crystals of this family, none have ever
been reported, but time and again students have been
disappointed in not finding them. This genus is thus
marked off from the rest of the family, although agreeing
with the family characters perfectly in other particulars.
Dr. Gray, in his systematic arrangement of plants, places
this genus in the family Aracese, but Lindley, on account
of there being no raphides, and as the general characters
of the plant would not permit of its being placed in any
other family, places it in a family by itself, calling it
Acoraceae. This genus contains but iew crystals of any
sort. On examining a number of specimens I found only
a few crystal prisms, which effervesced and dissolved
with hydrochloric acid and wei’e probably oxalate of
lime. With the exception of the genus Acorus the
crystals mentioned in this family showed with certainty
that they were composed of phosphate of lime when the
chemical tests were applied both under the microscope
and also to the incinerated residue.

I shall now take up the "species of the family Yitaceae,
and in these a wider view of crystals will be presented.

This family gives us a good field for the examination
of both raphides and sphaeraphides in the same plant*.
In all the species that I have examined the raphides
were the most abundant in the leaves with their appen¬
dages, the petiole, and the epidermis of the stem in
young plants, while the sphaeraphides were more common
in the old stems and berry, but were also found, though

rarely, in the other parts mentioned for raphides.
Crystals in the grape have been known for a long time.
In the common cultivated grape, raphides are abundant,
but the largest are only found in the leaf and petiole,
and at times much smaller ones may be looked after in
the fruit. These crystals, whenever found, gave the
test for phosphoric acid and lime. In the pulp of the
berry sphaeraphides are abundant ; those of the fruit
stalks were about y^y^th of an inch in diameter. When
a collection of these is met with they form a beautiful
field, which I think is only surpassed in beauty by the
sph.eraphid tissue in the testa of the elm. These crystals
would not answer to any of the chemical tests except
those for calcium, so that I have reason to believe that
the base was combined with some organic acid, perhaps
tartaric.

Vitis cvstivalis and V. cordifolia abounded in both
sorts of crystals, but neither is as large as in the common
grape. In A mpelopsis quinquefolia I found raphides, but
they were often free, that is they were not in a close
bundle. The sphaeraphid tissue is very line in this species.
Each crystal seems to form a nucleus to a siiagle cell.
The cells are placed very regularly and symmetrical
in form. The blackberries contained raphides in more
abundance and of a larger form than those of the grape
fruits, but the largest were in the leaves and petioles of
the younger shoots. The sphaeraphides were not as
large as those of the grape. As in the genus Vitis the
crystals of this species, except those mentioned last,
seemed to contain lime as a base and phosphoric acid.

In this family all the crystals contained in the fruit,
except the raphides, gave the tests for lime, hut failed to
give the tests for the common acids, so that I think
it probable that the base was in combination with some
organic acid. I expected to find in this family more
acicular crystals, but in this I was disappointed.

The next order that I shall report upon is, as is well
known, the largest natural order, and is represented
by a number of hundred species, it being universal.
This family, the Composite, is well represented in the
Northern States. Raphides are not as common in this
family as in the other two, Araceas and Vitaceae, but
forms of all three classes do occur. I have only found
the needle-shaped crystals in the ovary or fruit, and
sometimes in the receptacle and involucre. In some
species minute cubical crystals occur which dissolve with
effervescence in acetic acid. Globular masses of crystals
known as inulin are quite common. I did aiot find the
rapbides in bundles except in one case, Achillea Mitti-
folium, which contained in the receptacle, on the average,
about twenty raphides in each bundle ; in all other
cases when raphides were found they were single, which
was perhaps due to some disturbance.

In Inula helenium I could find no ciystals except the
globular aggregate known as inulin. I his substance is
an organic compound having the compositioar C^H^O^.
Miller says that this is a variety of starch, insoluble
in alcohol but soluble in hot water, and by boiling with
dilute acids it is converted first into dextrine and then
into pure laevulose. It forms an insoluble precipitate
when its solution is mixed with one of acetate of lead
and ammonia is added. . I did not attempt to extract
it from the root as that is quite a difficult operation to
perform. The crystals appear like a globular mass with
fissures radiating from the centre outwards ; iodine, when
applied to the" well-cleaned section, gives with inulin
a distinct yellow colour. This statement is in direct
•opposition to that made by Fliickiger and Haubury
(see * Fharmacograpbia,’ under Elecampane). The only
part of the plant that I had was the root, it being too
early for the stem, leaves, etc., so that I am not able to
state what might be found in the other parts.

Taraxacum dens-leonis also contains inulin, but in
much smaller amount than the last, and also a few
sphaeraphides, which seem to have no particular location,
as they may be found, on close examination, in almost

596

THF PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 22, 1881.

any part of the plant, although rare. They were too
*mall and too few in number to obtain any definite
chemical tests with them. Also raphides . were present,
hut only in small numbers and not in bundles.

Ciclvorium lntybus contains inulin, but it is in still
smaller amounts than in the last.

• I also found inulin in the root of Cirsium arvense,
or Canada thistle ; in which plant raphides are formed
in the flower receptacle and also in the parts of the
flower, also some other , crystals which seemed to have
four faces tapering to a point at each end (crystal prisms).
The number of faces was probably double this. These
crystals were soluble, with effervescence in hydrochloric
and not in acetic acid. The raphides gave the chemical
test for phosphate.

In Cirsium muticum , or swamp thistle, the crystals of
inulin were very small and indistinct. The raphides
were found the same as in the last species, though more
numerous. The crystal prisms I was not able to find at
all, the reason perhaps is, that I had only a young plant,
while of the Canada thistle I had a fall or late specimen.
Cirsium lanceolatum gave the same results as C. arvense.

In Cynthia viryinica raphides of small size but no
inulin were found. There were also a few cubical
crystals in the lower part of the stem and in the flower
receptacle, which gave answer to the test for carbonic
acid with acetic acid, but the raphides proved to be
phosphate. The cubical crystals were about the ^W^h
of an inch in diameter.

Senecio aureus and S. balsamitce * contained acicular
crystals which, upon chemical examination, gave evidence
of oxalate of lime. In this genus I was not able to find
any raphides at all, nor any inulin. A few crystals
were present, but on account of their small size and
number, I was neither able to determine their form nor
chemical nature.

Lappa major, or common burdock, contained in the
flower receptacle and dried fruit minute, cubical crystals,
which gave the tests for carbonate of lime. No raphides
or acicular crystals of any sort were present.

Tanacetum vulgare contained both cubical and acicular
crystals, the latter in the leaves and petiole, and the
former in the flower parts and upper part of the stem ;
both oxalate and carbonate of lime seemed to be present.

The raphides of this order seem to be rarer in the
division or sub-order Liguliflorae, while the acicular
crystals or crystal prisms were only found in the sub¬
order Tubulifloree. Inulin is common to both sub¬
orders.

It will be seen on reference to my work that the
raphides seemed to be composed of phosphate of lime,
the acicular or crystal prisms of oxalate, and the cubical
crystals of carbonate of the same, while the sphaeraphides
seemed to be the same base combined with different
acids according to their locality.

It will be remembered that in the first part of this
paper I mentioned the fact that crystals of some form
were nearly if not quite universal, and as some slight
evidence of this I have compiled with care a list of all
the families in which crystals have been reported. This
is the beginning of a more complete list of the genera
and species which I hope soon to have ready for pub¬
lication, which will be classified according to the kind of
crystals that the species may contain.

. The following is the list of families : —

Cryptogamia.

+Filices Musci

Equisetacese Algae

Ilepaticce Fungi.

Characese

* A variety of S. aureus.

tT;Io this family I have seen crystals but once, and these
were contained in Phegopteris hexagonoptera.

PHjENOGAMIA.

Exogence.

Araliacece

Halorageae

Aurantiaceae

J uglandaceae

Balsaminaceae

Leguminoseae

Berberidaceae

Linaceae

Cactacece

Melastomaceae

Camelliaceae

Nyctaginaceae

Caprifoliaceae

Oleacece

C ary ophy 1 laceae

Onagraceae

C henopodiaceae

Orobanchaceae

Cinchonaceae

Oxalidaceae

Composites

Passifloraceae

Coniferae

Phytolaccaceae

Crassulaceae

Polygonaceae

Cruciferce

Pittosporaceae

Cycadaceae

Rubiacece

Droseracece

Saxifragacese

Elaeagnaceae

Scrophulariaceae (Gelsemineae)

Euphorbiacece

Tetragonieae

Ficoideae

Tiliaceae

F umariaceae

Urticaceae

Galacineae

Valerianaceae

Geraniacece

Vitacece

Galiaceoe

Zygophyllaceae.

Endugence.

Amaryllidaceae

Linaceae

Aracece

Marantaceae

Bromeliaceae

Melanthaceae

Burmanniaceae

Musaceae

Butomaceae

Orchidacece

Cyperacece

Orontiaceae

Dioscoreaceae

Pandanaceae

Graminece

Pontederiaceae

Haemodoraceas

Smilacaceae

Hypoxidaceae

Typhaceae

Iridacece

Xy rid ace as

Juncacece

Zingiberaceae.

Liliacece

The names that are in italics indicate the families in
hich I have seen and studied the crystals, but only in a
few cases their chemical composition.

Some of these, as the Onagraceae and Orchidaceae,
contain large and beautiful crystals. In the vanilla bean,
which is a fruit belonging to a species of the latter family,
T. F. Meyer, of the university class of 1878, has reported
and made drawings of the crystals. He states that they
are composed of the active principle of the bean and
belong to the second class or crystal prisms.

It is often supposed that minute substances have no
particular use, and so it may be thought of these minute
crystalline bodies ; but generally anything that occurs in»
such abundance and so regularly has some use in the
economy of either the animal or vegetable kingdom. On
the use of the crystals Professor Gulliver says : “ Although
the precise use of crystals in the vegetable economy may
be obscure, it is plain that whatever is constant in the
plant must be important, and by no means necessarily of
little importance because of such obscurity.” Taking,
for example, the Cactus family, which abounds in large
crystals, some specimens of which have been reported to
contain so many of these minute inorganic bodies that it
was almost impossible to move the plant without breaking
it, and when moved it was necessary to pack it in cotton
with great care, as if it were the finest jewellery. A case
like this is seldom met with, but as the occurrence of
crystals is so constant a feature of this family, they must
be of some use, which is, as yet, beyond the reach of
man’s power to perceive, and it would seem ridiculous to
say that they have no use, as some prominent scientific
gentlemen claim.

* ThO crystals of this family were shown to me by a
fellow student in the University, Ann Arbor, Mich.

January 22, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

597

But such crystals may be of use to man, perhaps in
two ways ; first, when contained in some medicine.

It is well known that the disease called “ rickets is
treated, or at least has been, with sarsaparilla ; now the
plant itself contains a large number of crystals which are
composed of phosphate of lime. Query— -why may not
this plant, in connection with its tonic effects, also
furnish some of the needed phosphate to strengthen the

bones? . .

Second, they may be of use to man when contained m
decaying leaves or plants, thus acting as a fertilizer.

Again, crystals are sometimes used by the merchant as
a test for the genuineness of a drug. The quality of
rhubarb is often tested by its grittiness, which is due to
inorganic crystals, and rhubarb should contain a high per

cent, of inorganic matter. # .

Other uses might be enumerated and given in this list,
and perhaps some of them are of more importance than
those mentioned, but sufficient has been said to show that
they are probably of some practical value to man. It is
hoped that this article will induce other investigators to
take up this subject and find, if possible, their exact use
in the economy of the plant.

The time is probably not far distant when we shall
know more about microscopical crystals iu plants, and for
that time we must all wait, each investigator endeavouring
to do his best.

THE MIGRATION OF EUROPEAN ANIMALS TO
AMERICA AND OF AMERICAN ANIMALS TO
EUROPE.*

BY PROFESSOR E. W. CLAYPOLE, B.A., B.SC. (LONDON),

OF ANTIOCH COLLEGE, OHIO.

( Continued from page 578.)

Every lover of apples is too familiar with the larva of
the apple worm or codling moth (Carpocapsa pomonella) and
with the mischief it does to the apple crop of Canada and
the States. Burrowing into the apple at the eye it nestles
around the core and pips until its growth is complete,
when it eats a way through the side of the fruit and makes
its escape. The housekeeper here hardly dares to put
a whole apple into her dumpling, as is the practice in
England, lest inside it should be the white fat larva of the
codling moth, with its accumulated grass. Its winding tube
bored hither and thither causes further waste in cutting it
out, and the value of the apple crop is often diminished by
a half by the wreck it works inside the fruit. Yet the
codling moth is no native of America, but was introduced
from Europe with the apple on which it feeds, and rapidly
spread over the Eastern and Midland Provinces and
States. It seems quite impossible to import the fruits
and flowers of Europe without sooner or later importing
the insects that prey upon them and destroy them. And
once here, many of them, as the codling moth, become
nuisances and pests, and inflict damage immeasurably
beyond anything known in the Old World.

The honey bee ( Apis mellifica ) was introduced into
North America at Boston by the English, in the seven¬
teenth century, and is said to have been driven over the
Alleghany Mountains by a hurricane in 1670. There is
no honey-making bee indigenous to North America,
though some of the species found here collect a small
quantity. They were long known to the Indian as
“English flies,” and Irving says they considered them
the harbingers of the white man. To this Longfellow
alludes, when in ‘ Hiawatha ’ his Indian warrior sings : —

“ Wheresoe’er they tread, before them
Swarms the stinging fly, the ahmo,

Swarms the bee, the honey-maker.”

Soon escaping from its human masters, it took to the
woods, where it multiplied rapidly, until now the honey-

* Reprinted from the ‘ Fourth Report of the Montreal
Horticultural Society/ 1878.

bee of Europe is familiar from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
and is often thought of as a native insect. It is, however,
probably of Asiatic rather than of European origin.

For many years the honey bee flourished in America
undisturbed by one at least of its worst European foes.
Not until the beginning of the present century was the
wax moth ( Galleria cereana) introduced, but the American
and Canadian bee-keepers now suffer as much from its
ravages as their brethren in Europe. It consumes their
wax, wastes their honey, and clogs the combs with its
web.

The European red currant is persecuted on this conti¬
nent by its imported European enemies to a degree quite
unknown in its old home. The currant borer ( Egeria
tipuliformis) has followed it, injuring and at length
destroying the bushes by boring in the stem. In or
about the year 1856, the European currant sawfly [Ne-
matus ventricosus) made its appearance, introduced, no
doubt, in earth about the roots of currant or gooseberry
bushes. Messrs. Riley and Walsh, in the ‘ American
Entomologist,’ traced it to the celebrated nurseries of
Messrs. Ellwanger and Barry, at Rochester, and suspect
that it had been previously imported into Maine and
Vermont. “In nine years it reached the Hudson River.
In 1860 or 1861 it was found at Erie, Pa., in 1864, at
Ann Arbor, Mich., having spread at the rate of about
25 miles a year. It has been known in this part of Ohio
for four or five years, and bids fair to run through the
whole country and make the raising of this favourite
fruit both difficult and uncertain.

Among the insect- plagues of the farmer there are two
so eminently destructive that they are objects of national
importance and deserve more than a passing mention.
In the first year of the infant Republic, and almost
before the ink on the Declaration of Independence was
dry, an enemy set foot on this continent destined to
commit greater ravages than any yet named. In August,
1776, Earl Howe, with a force of Hessian troops, landed
on Long Island, and while these soldiers were the foe to
which attention was directed, the real danger lay in the
straw they brought with them as litter for their horses.
There were in all probability concealed a few chrysalids
of the Hessian fly ( Cecydomyia destructor), future de¬
stroyer of the American wheat crop. Within two or
three years of that time, so rapid was its increase that
we read in the ‘Colonial History of New York,’ as
quoted by Dr. Fitch : —

“1779. No wheat can be bought for continental
money, nor for hard money under twelve shillings (two
dollars) a bushel. The last harvest was short on account
of a blast and & fly which before the snow fell devoured
the green blades.”

Since that time the Hessian fly has spread through
almost the whole country where the winter wheat is
grown, and its ravages have been at times so great as to
prevent the cultivation of the plant. ‘ It reached Sara¬
toga, at a distance of 200 miles, in 1789.” “It was
reported west of the Alleghany mountains in 1797.”
Says Dr. Harris : “ Wheat, rye, barley and even timothy
grass were attacked, and so great were its ravages that
the cultivation of wheat was abandoned in many places.”
It is not too much to say that in this locality (S.W.
Ohio) I have during the past two years seen many fields
in which one-fourth, at least, and in some a much larger
part of the crop, was destroyed by this insect.

Transcending, however, even the Hessian fly in its
destructive work in our wheat fields, is another European
immigrant, the wheat midge ( Oecidomyia tritici ], or, as it
is commonly called by farmers in this part of the country,
the weevil, a name which should not be employed, as it
belongs to a family of beetles. To Canada is the rest of
the continent indebted for the importation and distri¬
bution of this destroyer. According to Dr. Fitch, it was
recognized as early as 1828, on the St. Lawrence, above
Quebec, and it is said to have been found in N.W.
Vermont even earlier. Quebec appears to have been its

59 S

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 22, 1S81.

port of landing, and its progress over the country appears
to have followed the St. Lawrence and Sorel rivers.
Thence it steadily advanced upon the wheat crop in all
directions. About 1849 it began to destroy the crops on
the north shore of Lake Ontario. The Secretary of the
State Agricultural Society of New York estimated the
value of the wheat destroyed in that state in 1854 at
fifteen million dollars. Much was never reaped at all.
Canada, Upper and Lower, and Nova Scotia, sent in
similar reports, the loss in the former province being
estimated at two and a half million dollars in 1856. But
space forbids detail. Writing in 1865, Dr. Fitch says: —

“ In consequence of the presence of this insect over all
the New England States and all New York and Canada,
except their western parts, wheat has wholly ceased to
be a staple product. Wool-growing and dairying have
become the leading pursuits. Theserequire fewer labourers.
Then this insect has done much toward reducing our
population by producing extensive emigration to the
west.” “ Upon one of the Vermont hills, within sight of
my residence, from which in former years seven stalwart
men regularly made their appearance at militia musters,
the hearth fires are now extinguished and the dwellings
demolished.”

This is surely one of the most striking illustrations of
the truth that small causes can produce great effects if
sufficiently multiplied. The midge has driven the culti¬
vation of wheat out of many districts altogether, and in
many others it can only be continued because the heat of
the climate brings the plant to maturity before the insect
can seriously injure it.

The list is yet far from being exhausted. We have a
cockroach in America, a harmless insect enough. But
he has a relative, the Asiatic and European cockroach
( Blatta, onentalis), of habits so different that there are
many houses in England of which we may, without
exaggeration, say that the cockroaches tolerate the pre¬
sence of the human owners. This pest landed from
some infected ship, and at once preempted a claim in the
western world that extends from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. This claim his descendants are rapidly occupying
without the slightest danger of dispossession.

There are cheese-lovers in the old country who eat and
say they prefer “ skippery cheese ” to any other. I have
seen at least one such, who was accustomed to munch,
with apparent relish, a piece of such cheese alive with
what the uninitiated* declared were “maggots,” but
which he asserted were only cheese in a concentrated
form— cheese alive. To the cheese-maker in England
this “ hopper ” (Piophila casei ) is a nuisance, against
which he is compelled to wage unceasing war. But this
“nuisance” has long been at home in America, and the
epicure may gratify his taste for “ skippery cheese ” on
this continent without importing it from Europe.

About half a century ago — quoting again from Dr.
Fitch — the European onion fly ( Anthomyia ceparum)
made its appearance on this continent, and since then
has spread over all the Eastern States, though I have
not yet heard of it in the West. There is a native
American onion fly, but the mischief it does is so insigni¬
ficant beside that caused by its European relation that
few gardeners even notice its presence.

All our European immigrants, however, are not in¬
jurious. Let us relieve the monotony of this list by
noticing one or two. The garden tiger moth ( Arctia
cqja) is known, but has never become abundant here.
Several Specimens were taken at Trenton Falls in 1837
by the English entomologist, Mr. Doubleday. This
“woolly bear” of English children appears to be the
insect mentioned in ‘ Hiawatha ’ : —

“ The mighty caterpillar
Way-muck-kwana, with the bear-skin,

King of all the caterpillars.”

An English entomologist would be almost wild were
he to catch sight of a specimen of the Camberwell beauty
( Vanessa antiopa), and should he succeed in capturing it

his joy would be unbounded. It would be one of the
events of the season. Since its old haunts at Camberwell
were built over by the growth of the “Great Metropolis,”
it has become so exceedingly rare that Stainton, writing
in 1857, could say: “It has hardly been seen for ten
years.” Yet here, where it was introduced at an early
date, it has become so thoroughly naturalized that now it
is one of our common species, and in some seasons has so
abounded as to become destructive and awaken the
foolish fear of the countrv folks, leading them in not a
few instances in New England to fell the tall Lombardy
poplars on which the harmless larvae were feeding, under
the impression that they were poisorious and must be
destroyed at any cost.

But I must bring this list to an end. Let me notice
a family, small in size but great in number and in
destructiveness, and all foreigners, — a family whose mem¬
bers vex lady readers more than most of the above, —
the great moth family, using the word in its proper sense.
Foremost comes the clothes moth ( Tinea flavifrontella),
feeding on woollen fabrics ; the carpet moth (Tinea
tapetzella), whose home is between the carpet and the
floor; the fur moth (Tinea pellionella), so destructive to
winter clothing, and the grain moth (Tinea granetta).
This last is too common in granaries, where the cater¬
pillar forms it3 nest on the outside of the heap, binding
several grains together, nr spinning its threads over the
whole and covering it with cobwebs.

Space forbids more than a mention of many of the
parasites which have crossed in the train of man to prey
upon him and the domestic animals. The great army of
fleas, bed-bugs, lice, sheep, cattle and hog ticks, sheep,
horse or ox bot-flies, with the infamous muscle worm of
the pig (Trichina spiralis), are all foreigners naturalized
here, and combine with the native blood-suckers, pre¬
eminently the mosquito and black fly, to render some
places almost uninhabitable to those whose hide is thinner
than that of the rhinoceros.

(To be continued.)

MIALHE’S TOOTH-POWDER AND DENTIFRICE.*

The formulae for these are the following : —

Sugar of milk, 1000 part ; lake, 10 parts; pure tannin,
15 parts; oil of mint, oil of anise-seed, and oil of orange-
flowers, so much as to impart an agreeable flavour to the
composition.!*

Mialhe’s directions for the preparation of this tooth-
powder are : to rub well the lake with the tannin, and
gradually to add the sugar of milk, previously powdered
and sifted, and lastly, the essential oils are to be carefully
mixed with the powdered substances. Experience has
convinced him of the efficacy of this tooth-powder, the
habitual employment of which will suffice to preserve
the gums and teeth in a healthy state. This formula of
Mialhe has been recommended, especially when the
teeth have been blackened by the chalybeates. It would,
however, be useful in other cases.

For those who are troubled with excessive relaxation
and sponginess of the gums, he recommends the following
astringent preparation : — ■

Mialhe' s Dentifrice. — Alcohol, 1000 parts; kino, 100
parts; rhatany root, 100 parts; tincture of tolu, 2 parts;
tincture of benzoin, 2 parts ; oil of canella, 2 parts ; oil of
peppermint, 2 parts ; oil of anise seed, 1 part.:):

The kino and the rhatany are to be macerated in the
alcohol for seven or eight days, and, after filtration, the
other articles are to be added.

A teaspoonful of this preparation, mixed in half a
goblet of water, should be used to rinse the mouth after
the use of the tooth-powder.

* From New Remedies, January, 1881.
f Mialhe, ‘Chimie Appliquee & la Physiologie et a la
Therapeutique,’ 1856, 8vo., p. 638.

X ibidem, p. 638.

January 22, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

599

Cjre ||Ijarntamttkal Jommil.

- + -

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Jou/mal , hooks for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbuiy Square , W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Chorohill, New Burlington Street , London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

THE RELATIONS OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY.

While efforts are being made to effect an amend¬
ment of the Pharmacy Act, which may be hoped to
promote the interests of pharmacists and secure to
them a fair chance of remunerative compensation for
the qualification they are required to possess for the
efficient and safe service of the public, it is evidently
of especial importance that the attitude of the medical
profession in regard to this endeavour and the opinions
of the medical press concerning it should be observed
with attention. The practical relations of medicine
and pharmacy in this country are in many respects
far from being so satisfactory as could be desired, and
though we are not disposed to concur with those who,
on either side, make such defects as exist the ground
for mutual recrimination, we are strongly of opinion
that the prospective amelioration of the business of
pharmacy can only be hoped for as the result of
improvement in the relations between its followers
and medical practitioners.

In regard to dispensing, which is the especial
business of the pharmacist, and should be, as in
other countries, carried out almost entirely by him,
it would not perhaps be exaggeration to say that not
a tenth part falls to his share. This is a misfortune,
we think, for medical men, no less than for pharma¬
cists, and the alteration of such a state of tilings
ought to be one of the objects most strenuously
sought for by the latter. That there is a very
general disposition on the part of medical men
to view with favour the transfer of dispensing
to the hands of pharmacists, we have frequently had
opportunity of observing. Not very long since when
the chemists and druggists of Rochdale took this
matter in hand there was a very general expression
of opinion on the part of medical men that the
sought for change was desirable ; but still there are
so many incidental circumstances involved and so
many side influences t) be dealt with that the pro¬
gress made is but slight.

It is therefore with especial satisfaction that we
gather from the letter of Dr. James Williamson,
published at page 607, that a movement is being made
by several members of the British Medical Associa¬
tion, having for its object the discontinuance of dis¬
pensing by medical men. From Dr. Williamson’s
letter it appears that in the first instance it is only

in regard to cities that this is contemplated, and
there is good reason for such a limitation of the
attempt at the outset, but we cordially agree with
our correspondent in the opinion that this is a step
in the right direction, and one which ought to com¬
mand the sympathy and cordial support of the
Pharmaceutical Society as well as every member of
the trade.

That in order to carry out this important amend¬
ment in the practice of pharmacy in Great Britain it
is essential that the chemist and druggist should
supply exactly and skilfully what is ordered by
medical men and charge as reasonably as possible
for all medicines dispensed is a proposition that
cannot be controverted, and when we reflect on the
improvement which has been wrought during the
last twenty years or so in the educational training
of pharmacists in this country there is little reason
for fearing that there would be any shortcoming on
their part in fulfilling all the requirements of pre¬
scribes and their patients.

We gladly accede to the request of our corre¬
spondent, therefore, and with the object of encourag¬
ing discussion of the matter refer our readers to his
letter, sharing with him the hope that it may lead
to good results. Probably the meetings of the
Medical and Pharmaceutical Congresses that are to
be held in the course of the present year may afford
favourable opportunity for the discussion and for
the adoption of measures that would further the
desired object. In any case, the subject is worthy
of serious consideration, and we shall be happy to
receive expressions of opinion, both from medical
and pharmaceutical correspondents, as to the means
most likely to be effectual in seconding and carrying
into practice the desire of medical practitioners to
give up dispensing their medicines.

As yet we have not met with any expression of
opinion in the medical journals upon the proposed
amendment of the Pharmacy Act. In the Lancet of
last week there is a resume of the Bill, and the main
object of it is represented to be that of rendering
illegal the action of co-operative societies in dealing'
in drugs. This is perhaps too literal an interpretation
of the provisions of the Bill, and it would be more
correct to say that its main object is the
maintenance of the principle that personal qualifi¬
cation of the owner of a chemist and druggist’s
business is essential in the interest of the public.
The Lancet appears to think that in our statement
of the case the week before last we had overlooked the
fact that neither the Pharmacy Act nor the Medical
Act was intended for the. protection of the class which
it regulates, but that each was intended for the protec¬
tion of the public. We disclaim any such omission and.
on the contrary, contend that it is the protection of the
public which demands personal qualification of the
proprietors of pharmacies. If the legal necessity for
such personal qualification also operates incidentally
in favour of the pharmacist and protects him in the
exercise of the business, in so far as to leave him
undisturbed by the competition of persons who
have not that personal qualification, surely that is
an influence that should not be grudged, nor should

600

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 22, 1881.

it be regarded any more as the means of maintaining
a monoply than the provision of the 32nd section of
the Medical Act that no unregistered person shall be
entitled to recover charges for medical or surgical
advice, attendance, etc., or for medicine prescribed
and supplied. The qualified practitioner is in so far
protected against the competition of quacks and it is
in the interest of the public that he is accorded such
protection. There are also other provisions of the
Medical Act which operate in the same direction and
are in like manner justified by regard for the public
interest. We venture to assert that the personal
qualification of pharmacists, which is the leading
idea of both the Pharmacy Acts, is equally an essen¬
tial thing from the same point of view, and that
being the case we do not admit the argument of our
contemporary that it is necessary to show that
danger to the public is incurred by the practice of
pharmacy by associations of unqualified persons
employing a qualified pharmaceutical chemist to
conduct their business.

We regret that we cannot congratulate our readers
upon the evidence of any sympathy afforded by such
remarks as our contemporary has made upon the
proposed Pharmacy Bill. With the exception of
approval of the provision that patent medicines
containing poisons should be subject to the regula¬
tions now in force as to the ordinary sale of poisons,
the tendency of its remarks seems to be rather in
the opposite direction, although from the point of
view we have referred to above it ought, we think,
to be obvious that medical and pharmaceutical
interests are so closely connected as to necessitate
the cordial co-operation of both classes in any pro¬
jected measure of reform.

THE CHEMISTS’ BALL.

The weather has been sufficiently wild this week
to have excused the gloomiest prognostications of
failure concerning the Chemists’ Ball. But these
were not justified by the event, and the position
which this annual gathering has now attained could
hardly have been more markedly shown than by the
fact that on Wednesday about three hundred ladies
and gentlemen braved the snow and cold and con¬
sequent difficulties attending locomotion to put in
an appearance at Willis’s Rooms. Once arrived
there, their comfort and enjoyment were secured by
the excellent arrangements of the Committee, carried
out under the superintendence of the Honorary
Secretary, Mr. J. F. Savory. At the supper- table
the chair was taken by Mr. M. Carteighe, who
proposed the single toast, “ Success to the Chemists’
BalL” ___________

THE CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual dinner of the above Association will
take place at the Holborn Restaurant (Little Queen
Street entrance), on Wednesday next, January 26,
1881, Professor Bentley in the chair. Application
for tickets should be made early ( vide advertisement
in last issue).

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association will be held on
Thursday, January 27, at 8.30 p.m., when a Report
will be made by Mr. C. H. Hutchinson, F.C.S., on
“ Soxhlet’s Researches on the Quantitative Deter¬
mination of the Sugars.” A Report on Pharmacy
will be made by Mr. W. H. Symons, F.C.S.,
“ Notes on Vaseline.”

^transactions of tbc |1barmaautiial

Society.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

At a meeting of the Board of Examiners for England
and Wales, held in London, on Wednesday, January 19,
1881, the report of the College of Preceptors on the
examination held on January 4 was received.

Two hundred and seventy-five candidates had presented
themselves for examination, of whom one hundred and
forty -six had failed. The following one hundred and
twenty -nine passed, and the Registrar was authorized to
place their names upon the Register of Apprentices or
Students : —

(Arranged alphabetically).

Agar, John George . Mansfield.

Alderton, William Baker . Enstone.

Andrews, John Henry . Winchester.

Askren, Michael William . Thorne.

Auchinachie, Peter . Keith.

Baxter, Thomas Richd. Cooper. . .Birmingham.
Bearpark, Charles Frederick ...Scarborough.

Benest, Herbert William . Jersey.

Bentley, John Richard . Thirsk.

Black, Charles Jeffrey . Anstruther.

Blackham, William George . Liverpool.

Booth, Charles Henry . Walsall.

Booth, John . Keith.

Boucher, Hubert . Birmingham.

Bowen, George . Stafford.

Brackenbury, Richard Hayes ...Bardney.

Brampton, Isaac Arthur . Birmingham.

Brand, Roger . Wallsend.

Buck, Walter . Boston.

Buck, William Henry . Otley.

Burbank, Thomas J. A. R . Caistor.

Bygott, Walter Frank . Barton-upon- Humber.

Campbell, William John . Dundee.

Carpenter, Ernest Frederick ...Cirencester.

Casstles, Thomas Wallace . Bolton.

Castle, John William . Durham.

Clark, James . Buxburn.

Cook, George Russell . ...Grimsby.

Cox, Charles James . Guernsey.

Culverwell, Ebenezer . Torquay.

Curnow, Edmund . Penzance.

Davies, David . New Quay.

Davis, Albert Edward . London.

Eden, Richard A. S . Aberdeen.

Elliott, Henry Alfred . Derby.

Ellwood, William Mark . . Leominster.

Fawssett, Theodore . London.

Fisher, George . Wigton.

Foulds, Robert, jun . Liverpool.

Gardiner, David . Dundee.

Gardner, Charles Edward . Grahams Town.

Gardner, Joseph Samuel . , .Daventry.

George, Wm. Albert Watkin...Hirwain.

German, George William . Lichfield.

Glass, David . . . Edinburgh.

Godwin, Frederick James . London.

Goold, Bruce . Cardiff.

Grayson, William Hefiry . . Kidderminster.

Hall, Arthur William . Sunderland.

Harrison, Thomas . Bowness-on-W indermere.

Haslop, William Henry . Oldham.

Hay, Alexander . Montrose.

Hearnshaw, Arthur Donington. .Spalding.

Hern, George . St. Austell.

Holyoak, William Wringrose... Leicester.

Hope, John . . Wigton.

Horsley, Edward . Manordeilo.

601

i

January 22, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

Jackson, Herbert . . Horncastle.

Jobnston, James . . . ...Edinburgh.

Johnston, Thomas . Edinburgh.

Jones, Richard William . Llanberis.

Kelly, Philip Alfred . London.

Kershaw, William Henry . Dewsbury.

Lane, Henry Charles George ...Salisbury.

Law, James . Insch:

Lee, Benjamin . Leicester.

Lewty, Alfred E. R . Preston.

Leyland, Thomas William . Prescot.

Livingstone, James Taylor . Morecambe.

Lloyd, Henry . Pencader.

Loesby, John Newton . Ely.

Lyon, Walter Henry . Chatteris.

McNaughton, Henry Brougham. Ballinluig.

Mallinson, James Edward . Oxford.

Mander, Alfred . Coventry.

Marshall, Alexander James ...Linlithgow.

Miller, Thomas, jun . Leith.

Mole, Alfred Ernest . Sheerness.

Moyse, Arthur . Fareham.

Nelmes, George . . Liverpool.

Newton, John . Heckington.

Nicol, Joseph Clarke . Stirling.

Oldham, Arthur . Stamford.

Page, Thomas . Stourbridge.

Paton, Robert Alexander . Irvine.

Peden, William . . . Kilmarnock.

Poll, William George . Gt. Yarmouth.

Price, Joseph . Bilston.

Reyner, George . Thurlstone.

Richmond, Alfred Edward . Gt. Yarmouth.

Roberts, Herbert . Halifax.

Rogers, Frederick Samuel . Margate.

Rutherford, William . Retford.

Scharpe, Samuel Chaplin . London.

Shairp, William . Glasgow.

Shaw, William Alfred . Sheffield.

Shepherd, Robert, jun . Ellon.

Skewes, Josiah . Penryn.

Skyrme, Charles George . Cardiff.

Smithson, Frederick William... Thirsk.

Southall, Wilfred Francis . Birmingham.

Spencer, Harvey . . Cheddar.

Spencer, John . Keighley.

Strouts, Sidney Robert . St Mary Cray.

Sturges, Arthur Blackwell . Leicester.

Sutherland, Adam G . Edinbnrgh.

Symonds, James Alfred . Leamington.

Taylor, George . Edinburgh.

Taylor, Joseph John . Sittingbourne.

Thomson, George, jun . New Deer.

Tonking, Wm. Oliver Hosking.. Camborne.
Townsend, William Thomas ...Bradford.

Turner, Ernest . Cheltenham.

Walker, George Bilderbeck ...Wellingborough.

Warner, William . Bath.

Watson, Albert James . London.

Watson, Edward . London.

White, Edmund . Rochester.

Whiteley, John William . Gainsborough.

Whyte, Alexander . Huntly.

Williams, Henry Collins . Tredegar.

Wilson, John . Aberdeen.

Wood, Arthur Graham . Bingham.

Wood, Charles Granville . Oldham.

Wood, Walter . Blyth.

Wood, William . Scotswood-on-Tyne.

Woodhouse, Leonard Arthur ...York.

Woodruff, Albert Edward . Sandwich.

Wooler, Frederic William . Leeds.

The following is a list of the centres at which the
examination was held, showing the number of candidates
examined at each centre and the result : —

Candidates.

S T3

T3

rd

<D

CD

JZJ

£ -9

si

Ph

fcl

Aberdeen .

..14

10

4

Birmingham....

..15

10

5

Brighton .

.. 1

0

1

Bristol .

.. 8

2

6

Cambridge . . . .

.. 3

2

1

Canterbury ....

.. 4

4

0

Cardiff .

.. 7

4

3

Carlisle .

.. 4

2

2

Carmarthen . . . .

.. 7

3

4

Carnarvon ....

.. 4

1

3

Cheltenham . . . .

.. 2

2

0

Darlington . . . .

.. 2

0

2

Dundee .

. 6

3

3

Edinburgh ....

..26

8

18

Exeter .

.. 3

2

1

Glasgow .

.. 6

4

2

Guernsey .

.. 1

1

0

Hull .

..10

4

6

Inverness .

.. 2

0

2

Candidates.

S T3

rt v

s

_ OJ

h a

3

a.

pci

Jersey .

. i

1

0

Lancaster .

. 5

3

2

Leeds .

.14

5

9

Lincoln .

.10

6

4

Liverpool .

.11

4

7

London .

.32

10

22

Manchester .

.12

4

8

Newcastle-on-T.

9

5

4

Northampton ..

. 4

2

2

Norwich .

. 3

2

1

Nottingham .

. 6

3

3

Oxford .

. 2

2

0

Peterborough . .

. 4

3

1

Sheffield .

. 7

4

3

Shrewsbury .

. 7

1

6

Southampton ..

. 6

2

4

Truro .

. 7

4

3

Worcester .

. 4

3

1

York .

. 6

3

3

The questions for examination were as follows: —
Time allowed : Three Hours for the three subjects.

. I. LATIN.

1. Translate into English the following passages : —

A. Capto monte et succedentibus nostris, Boii et
Tulingi, qui hominum millibus circiter quindecim agmen
hostium claudebant, et novissimis praesidio erant, ex
itinere nostros latere aperto aggressi, circumvenere ; et
id conspicati Helvetii, qui in montem sese receperant,
rursus instare et praelium redintegrare cceperunt.

B. Quae quidem res Caesari non minorem, quam ipsa
victoria, voluptatem attulit ; quod hominem honestissi-
mum provinciae Galliae, suum familiarem et hospitem,
ereptum e manibus hostium, sibi restitutum videbat,
neque ejus calamitate de tanta voluptate et gratulatione
quicquam fortuna deminuerat. Is, se praesente, de se
ter sortibus consultum dicebat, utrum igni statim necare-
tur, an in aliud tempus reservaretur.

2. Parse — “ qui hominum millibus circiter quindecim
agmen hostium claudebant.”

3. Decline the words in (2) which undergo inflexion;
giving the present, perfect, supine, and infinitive of
claudebant.

4. Translate into Latin: — (i.) It was told to Caesar
that the cavalry of Ariovistus were approaching the
mound, (ii). After an interval of three days, Caesar
began to pursue the Helvetii with all his forces, (iii.)
One of the soldiers said that Caesar was doing for the
tenth legion more than he had promised.

II. ARITHMETIC.

[The working of these examples, as well as the answers,
must be written out in full.]

5. Goods were bought at 6^d. per lb., and the cost of
carriage is l£c£. per lb. They are sold at £4 10s. per
cwt. What is the gain_or_loss per cwt. ?

6. Simplify —

2j - § of n-

i of 3 j +

7. Find the sum, difference, and product of 573‘005
and ‘000754.

8. How do you convert degrees on the Fahrenheit
scale into their Centigrade equivalent? Express 45° C.
as degrees F.

9. If 1 cubic centimetre of a given liquid weigh 2‘45
grammes, what will be the weight in grammes of 1 5 litre
of the liquid ?

III. ENGLISH.

10. Distinguish adjectives from adverbs, preposition
from conjunctions. Give examples.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 22, mi.

6012

11. Name various ways of forming the plural in
English nouns.

12. From what roots are the following nouns formed : —
stitch , smith, shaft, shred , health, drift.

13. Parse the words in italics in the following pass¬
age .

“ Be thou therefore in the van
Of circumstance ; yea, seize the arrow's barb
Before the tense string murmur .”

14. Write a short composition upon one of the following
subjects ; —

(i.) The habits and qualities which are most favour¬
able to a student’s progress.

(ii.) The habits and qualities which are most favour¬
able to success in business.

(iii.) The true place of advertising in business.

(iv.) The value of Latin, Arithmetic, and English to
an intending Pharmaceutical Chemist.

Several queries were afterwards submitted and replied
to. In answer to the query, “ What is the composition
of the precipitate produced on adding an acid to infusion
of chiretta?” it was stated that by the action of acids
the chiratin present in the infusion is split up into-
ophelic acid and chiratogenin, a substance almost in¬
soluble in water, which constituted the precipitate in
question. The subject, however, seemed to require
further investigation.

The Chairman having intimated that the next meeting
would take place in February, when a paper on “Co¬
chineal and Cochineal Colouring,” will be read by Mr.
Robert Aitken, the meeting was brought to a close.

jtocteirmgs of Scientific Societies*

The undermentioned certificates were received in lieu
of the Society’s Preliminary Examination : —

Certificate of the University of Cambridge.

Scott, George . Mildenhall.

Certificates of the College of Preceptors.

Hamilton, Bruce . London.

Rookledge, Frederick . York.

Young, James . London.

^tobincial ^Transactions,

SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICAL AND
CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of the above Society was held on Wednes¬
day evening, January 12, Mr. Ellinor, President, in the
chair.

After the minutes of the previous meeting had been
read, and the ordinary business of the Society completed,
tlie remainder of the evening was occupied by a discus¬
sion on the proposed Pharmacy Law Amendment Bill, at
the conclusion of which the following resolution, proposed
by Mr. E. R. Learoyd, seconded by Mr. W. Ward,
F.C.S., was unanimously adopted : —

“ That this meeting, after due consideration of the
proposed Pharmacy Law Amendment Bill, cordially
approves of the provisions of the same, and pledges
itself to actively support it.”

EDINBURGH CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The fourth meeting of the session was held on Wed¬
nesday, January 12, in the rooms of the North British
Branch, Mr. J. D. Robertson, President, in the chair.
Owing to inclement weather the attendance was small.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and
confirmed,

The Chairman expressed regret that, owing to illness,
Mr. Reynolds was unable to read his essay on “Rhu¬
barb,” as expected, and called upon the Secretary to
read it in his absence.

In the essay, which gained the apprentices’ prize last
session, Mr. Reynolds tieated the subject in a systematic
and exhaustive manner, bringing the information regard¬
ing the source of the drug up to the most recent date.
It was well received by the Association, and was
generally spoken of as very creditable.

The following resolution was then submitted, and
unanimously agreed to, viz : — “ A member of any
kindred Association, coming to reside in Edinburgh,
and having paid his subscription for the current year
as a member of that Association, may be elected as a
member of this Association without further payment for
that year, on producing a certificate of membership from
the Secretary of that Association.”

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,.
January 13, Mr. D. Hooper, Vice-President, in the chair.
A paper was read on —

Starch and Starches.

BY W. H. SYMONS, F.R.M.S.

After a resumb of the history, morphology, and
chemistry of starch, the author proceeded to consider it
dieteticaily, and stated, “ That the power of digesting
starch is not by any means such as to secure the digestion
of all that enters the alimentary canal as food. Starch,
granules, especially when the starch has been ingested
in the raw state, have been frequently shown to pass off
from the alimentary canal in considerable numbers
with the evacuations, both in man and in the lower
animals.” — (Pavy.)

To prove this half a pound of Bermuda arrowroot of

the brand known as

<T)

had been mixed with milk and

drunk at intervals during the day, two ounces being taken
with each meal ; all other farinaceous food and fermented
liquors were abstained from, milk, eggs, and meat being
the staple diet. It is to be noted that the starch was not
retained in the mouth as long as it would have been had

it been eaten in the solid state, and would not be well
mixed with the saliva; but it had been proved by
experiment that saliva had very little if any action upon
unbroken starch granules, and a good portion of saliva
would be carried into the stomach with the meat eaten,
and this would be at liberty to act on the starch if it
had any power to do so.

As raw starch is frequently given to infants suffering
from diarrhoea, constipation was anticipated; but
contrary to expectation diarrhoea set in after the third
meal. The first stool, consisting of a light yellow frothy
substance, only was collected, well mixed with chlorine
water and strained through muslin; nothing was left on
the muslin but a few lumps of undigested fat. The
strained liquor was allowed to settle, which it readily did,
the liquid decanted, the sediment several times washed,
passed through fine muslin, and ultimately thrown- on a
filter paper, well washed with distilled water and
carefully dried ; yielding about an ounce and a half of
starch, perfectly free from odour and presenting the
usual physical characters of arrowroot.

Under the microscope the granules showed no
alteration of size or shape; the hilum was distinctly
visible, the rings less so ; but about one half the granules
appeared as if eroded on their surface.

With polarized light they exhibited the cross as
distinctly as before passing through the alimentary canal.
With boiling water, with iodine, with solution of caustic
potash, and with sulphuric acid it yielded the same
results as did a fresh sample of the same arrowroot.

The author believes that with care he could have

January 22. 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

603

collected most of the starch taken as food in the raw
state, and that it would be the same chemically and
physically as it was prior to ingestion, with the exception
of the erosion, which he has endeavoured to produce
artificially by the action of saliva, the pancreatic secretion
and chlorine water, but without success.

The paper concluded with a description of the general
microscopy of the starches.

After a lengthy discussion the thanks of the meeting
were awarded to Mr. Symons for his paper.

Itcfrieto.

The Electric Light for Industrial Uses. By R. E.

Crompton, Mansion House Buildings, and Anchor

Iron Works, Chelmsford. London, 1880.

Mr. Crompton has been known to the public for some
time past as an electric light engineer and as the inventor
of a successful electric lamp. We are thus led to expect
that he will be able to give sound, practical advice on
the increasingly important subject of electric lighting,
and we are bound to say that this expectation is quite
realized in the pamphlet before us.

This pamphlet has been written for the information of
owners of large floor spaces, yards for loading and un¬
loading vans, etc., and others desirous of employing the
electric light as an improvement on the existing methods
of illumination.

The author thinks it will be convenient for an intending
user of the electric light to have the following questions
answered : —

1. How is the motive power for driving the machines
best obtained ?

2. What are the merits and demerits of the generating
or dynamo machines now in the market ?

3. What are the corresponding merits and demerits of
the regulator lamps ?

4. The most convenient and useful accessories, lanterns,
cables, switches, carbons ?

5. What will be the working cost ?

This classification will doubtless be found very con¬
venient to many of the class of readers for whom this
pamphlet has been written.

Mr. Crompton states in his preface that he has endea¬
voured to be strictly impartial in his judgment of the
merits and demerits of the dynamo machines, motors,
cables and carbons ; but he very frankly tells us that
about the lamps he cannot speak so impartially, as, natu¬
rally, he cannot but think his own to be the best.

In most cases Mr. Crompton advises, and we think
justly so, the use of a separate engine to drive the current
generator or generators, as the case may be, as if from
any cause the speed is liable to vary, such as by putting
loads on or off the engine, corresponding variations in the
lights are produced. This is the reason why sensitive
governing gear is of such great importance in all engines
used for the production of the electric light.

Mr. Crompton, however, assures us that there is no
difficulty in procuring perfectly trustworthy engines from
at least fifty makers. He appears to think highly of
Messrs. Marshall, of Gainsborough, and Ransomes,
Sims and Head, of Norwich, as makers of engines with
very perfect automatic gear. We believe Mr. Crompton
used one of Marshall’s engines for the lights at the
Alexandra Palace, and that its working was quite satis¬
factory to the electrical superintendent.

As regards the dynamo machines, the author thinks
“it is very doubtful if the Gramme and Siemens ma¬
chines have ever been fairly beaten in economic efficiency
by any of their later rivals, as it must be allowed that ail
the later inventors have only rung the changes on the
Gramme ring or the Siemens bobbin.”

The points he draws the intending user’s attention to
in choosing a machine are —

1. The internal resistance of the machine itself, on
which depends its power of giving a stable current against
a given external resistance.

2. The firmness and durability of the construction,
mechanically considered.

3. The wear and tear and risk of damage in working.

Mr. Crompton states that the Gramme machine has

commonly an internal resistance of 1 ohm, or thereabouts,
as against ’7 to *75 of the Siemens machine, and as a
consequence, Schwendler, Hopkinson and Tyndall have
come to the conclusion that Siemens’s machines give
better results than do Gramme’s ; but the author
pertinently remarks that had they compared the two
machines on even terms of internal resistance, they
would probably have found the difference to be in¬
appreciable.

Mr. Crompton also seems to think highly of the Biirgin
machine, a low tension machine, from Switzerland. In
his opinion, the character of the light from low tension
machines is very satisfactory as regards whiteness in
colour and the power of penetrating a foggy atmosphere.
Of the high tension currents of the Brush machine,
capable of turning 16 arcs in series, he does not so much
approve, as the colour is not so good, being sometimes
purplish, blue and greenish, and the arc being more
flickering and unsteady. We cannot but agree with him
on this point ; the arcs of the Brush lights at the Liver¬
pool Street Station of the Great Eastern Railway Com¬
pany appear to have a distinct rotatory movement at
intervals, which is entirely absent in the really splendid
low tension Siemens lights at the British Museum.

In the latter installation, the steadiness of the liarhts
is almost all that can be desired, the lamp feeds are
nearly absolutely unobservable, and the light appears
exceedingly uniform and constant.

It is said that the electromotive force of the large
Brush machine is equal to 800 Volts. Mr. Crompton
believes, and we think rightly, that Brush has con¬
siderably overdone the tension of his current, and that if
he had been content with four or six arcs in series
instead of sixteen, he would have obtained better results
as regards steadiness and purity of colour.

Some very good instructions are given for managing
the machines which cannot but be of service to an
intending user. The plan of taking off the brushes to stop
the current is rightly condemned as destructive to the
contacts ; that this must undoubtedly be so is perfectly
apparent to anyone accustomed to seeing the burning
of the contact breakers of induction coils by the extra
current of the primary circuit, and of course the two
cases are analogous when the wire of the electro-magnets
of a dynamo machine are in circuit with the armature.
In all cases a separate switch should be provided.

As regards the use of oil on the commutator, we are
in favour of its use if the oil can be depended on for not
leaving an insulating film by wear. We believe the late
Dr. Golding Bird used oil on the commutators of his
electrical apparatus and found no appreciable ill effects
from its use, and it is almost invariably used on the
circuit breakers of electro-motors.

On the question of regulator lamps the author is quite
at home and his remarks are of considerable value,
himself being the inventor of a regulator lamp notwith¬
standing. We think we may say, as regards his own
lamps, of which we have had some little experience, that
in practice they have been found highly satisfactory and
to yield a very steady light and to be durable and fairly
simple in construction, whilst their price is moderate.

As regards conducting cables, the author finds from his
own experience that the nineteen wire strand cable of the
Silvertown Company is as desirable as any in the market.
We know personally that’this is so ; its flexibility is very
good and the dielectric (indiarubber taped and tarred)
is all that can be desired.

G04

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 22, lSSl.

As to carbons Mr. Crompton appears to think Sautter
Lemonnier’s or Carre’s are as good as any to be had ; not
that he is quite satisfied with any of them. He tells us
that the late M. Gaudoin latterly succeeded in making
carbons freest from electrical defects ; the noiseless white
light and the regular concave crater and freedom from
ash being nearly perfection : they were, however, not
straight, nor of regular thickness, otherwise they were
exceedingly commendable. Then we are told that his
secret died with him.

But we must close our summary of this interesting
pamphlet, as we have already exceeded the limits of our
space. Several points of interest, such as the cost of
production and the cost of maintenance of the electric
light, and the comparative tables given by Mr. Crompton,
must unwillingly be left unnoticed. We recommend our
readers to get the pamphlet and read it themselves if
they are sufficiently interested in the subject.

gispmsircjj JJtemarmiba.

[496]. “Nemo ’’should have dispensed ergotine (Bon-
jean), which is an aqueous extract of ergot.

Jenkins.

[496]. The German Pharmacopoeia supplies a process
for the preparation of the solid extract of ergot. It is
reddish-brown, has a pungent, bitter taste, and an odour
resembling that of roast meat. Dose 1 to 5 grs. This I
think should be used in dispensing the prescription given
by “Nemo.”

[496]. “374” would have evaporated down some ext.
ergot, liq., and would have used it in about the same con¬
sistency as other extracts.

[497]. I believe that aloes barb, is always used unless
aloes soe. is particularly specified.

374.

[497]. The extract of Socotrine aloes is generally used
when ext. aloes or ext. aloes aquos. is ordered.

Nemo.

[497]. In both prescriptions extractum aloes socot.,
B.P., should be used, and always, when ext. aloes is so
ordered ; for whenever ext. aloes barb, is required, it is
always specified.

Jenkins.

[498]. Most likely the prescriber intended acid, prussic,
dil. gut. 20.

374.

[498]. Twenty minims of acid, hydrocyan, dil., B.P.,
should be given for the 20 grains ordered in prescription.

Jenkins.

[498]. Acid, prussic, dil. 20 grains would, I believe, as
nearly as possible be represented by 21 minims.

Nemo.

[499]. When ext. glycyrrhizse mollis is ordered in a
mixture the B.P. ext. glycyrrhizse should be used, and
not ext. glycyrrhizse liq. B.P.

Nemo.

[499]. Ext. glycyrrhizse is generally called ext. glycyr¬
rhizse mollis. Heie I should use ext. glyc. liq.

374.

[499 J. I should certainly have used ext. glycyrrhizse
B.P., which, like most other extracts, when received
from wholesale houses, is more of a “mollis” consistency
than a pilular, as directed by the B.P.

Jenkins.

®0mspaiTLHnxe>

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for 'publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Draft Pharmacy Acts Amendment Bill.

Sir, — It may be an open question whether a member of
Council is justified in publishing how he recorded his oven
vote on a subject discussed and voted upon whilst that
Council was in committee ; but it is beyond question that
no member has a right to publish the vote of another given
under those circumstances, and more especially when that
vote happened to be, as in the present instance, the casting
vote of the Chairman, on whom occasionally devolves that
important duty.

The publication of the Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill
was intended by the Council to give the whole trade an
opportunity of expressing their views on its several clauses ;
the letter of a member of Council, therefore, at this early
stage may be considered at least premature. Its appearance,
however, seems to require from me a defence of the vote in
question.

Mr. Sandford’s views on what he terms the “widows’
clause” (the 16th section of the Pharmacy Act, 1868) do
credit to his feelings; he depicts the misery that would
result from carrying the amended clause in its present
form and dwells feelingly on the “spoiling of widows’
houses” and so forth, as though the subject could be
regarded from one point of view only. Is there not another
and more practical point from which business men contem¬
plate the widows’ question?

The experience of those who, from their position, have
large opportunities of considering this subject in all its
bearings is, that in by far the majority of instances it
would be mercy to the widow if she were obliged to dispose
of the business within a given time after the death of her
husband. In special cases, such as that alluded to, the
Council would have the power to extend the time and I
feel sure would not fail to regard such cases with considera¬
tion.

The widows’ clause admits the qualified assistant
conduct a business, and in an amended Pharmacy Act that
permission must be removed or limited. With this provi¬
sion, at variance with the spirit of the whole Act, which
implies personal qualification , our course is crooked, illo¬
gical, and suicidal. This clause has been our stumbling-
block in the past, and, if retained, would continue the same
in the future. Occasional hardships may arise, but these
exceptional cases cannot be legislated for. To borrow a
hacknejed but very expressive phrase, “hard cases make
bad laws.”

In the present crisis it behoves every chemist and drug¬
gist in Great Britain to acquire clear views, free from senti¬
ment, on this important subject. The widows’ clause opens
the door for qualified assistants to conduct a business the
owner of which is not qualified; and if that be permitted
in the case of widows, why not also in the case of stores,
limited liability companies, grocers, et hoc genus omne ?

The safety of the public, the advance of medical science,
and the progress of pharmacy, with the well-being of the
pharmacist, can be secured only through the personal quali¬
fication of the owner of the business being insisted upon,
and this personal qualification can only be obtained by evi¬
dence of fitness shown in the examination room ; a qualified
assistant is only a subordinate and cannot as such be con¬
sidered a, free agent.

Sound legislation requires the maximum effort of the in¬
tellect with a minimum interference of sentiment.

Thomas Greenish,

President of the Pharmaceutical Society.

20, New Street, Dorset Square.

Sir, — In to-day’s Journal Mr. Sandford sets forth his
views of clause 5 of the proposed Act, and after taking *
exception to a statement in your last week’s issue concern¬
ing widows (which statement is true notwithstanding), he
argues that certain cases of hardship will occur it this
clause becomes law, and strengthens his position by pub¬
lishing certain voting in committee.

January 22, 1SS1.]

605

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

Although I was very desirous that the whole discussion
on the Bill should have taken place in open Council, I
should hesitate to write on this point, but that in making
this part of the proceedings public property Mr. Sand ford
has inadvertently so stated it that your readers would be
led to a very different conclusion from that which they
would have arrived at had they been present or had the
whole proceedings been published.

The facts as they occurred are simply these. The clause,
as originally drawn, and the erasure of which Mr. Sandford
moved, proposed that one year should be the limit to which
executors or trustees should be allowed to carry on a busi¬
ness without special permission, the voting being as he
states in his letter. But when three years was proposed as
the period, the amendment was carried by a very decided
majority; therefore the division recorded by Mr. Sandford
and used by him to support his views has really nothing to
do with the clause as published, and on which the opinion
of the whole trade is invited.

I am not the author of this particular portion of the Bill,
and when it first came before us it certainly did occur to
me that we could do very well without it, and that under it
«ome cases of hardship might possibly arise, although not
many. But a few minutes’ consideration served to show
that we had two evils before us, and it was but common
sense to choose that which was by far the least. The main
feature of the present Act is, that for the safety of the
public it is desirable that the individual proprietors of
chemists’ shops should be qualified, and that the employ¬
ment of a qualified servant cannot confer qualification on
the employer. Immediately we lose sight of this the Act
is not worth a straw, and our chance of benefitiqg the trade
ceases. The Legislature is surely not so blind as to believe
that the public are protected by (an unqualified) widow or
executor carrying on a chemist’s business by means of a
qualified assistant for an indefinite period, and are not
protected if a corporate body does the same thing. The
question then arises, Are we to abandon the main feature
of our Act and with it the hope of protecting the interests
of the whole trade, because of certain sentiment which
suggests some cases of hardship which will probably never
arise ? Are we to give up all hope of ameliorating the
evils of the present on account of some imaginary evil in
the future ?

The Council as a whole are as desirous as Mr. Sandford
•that the trade should look at this and, indeed, at all other
points of the Bill, and express their views thereon, but by
all means to look at both sides of the question.

Liverpool. Charles Symes.

Sir, — 1 am glad to see that Mr. Sandford has taken up
his pen in opposition to the 5th clause in the proposed
amendment (so-called) of the Pharmacy Act, and is pleading
the cause of the fatherless and v idow against those who
seek to perpetuate the injustice they have been made to
suffer through the interpretation which has been most
unfairly given to clause XVI. of the Act of 1868. There is no
doubt, as Mr. Sandford says, that that clause was intended
specially for the benefit of widows, and its meaning seems
clear enough to anyone who understands plain English ; but,
a-s is too much the case in pharmaceutical matters, plain
English and common sense have been pushed aside, and
whilst any other person may continue a business indefinitely
after the death of the proprietor, his widow, for whose
especial benefit the clause was intended, is by a legal quibhle
deprived of its advantages.

Surely before the Bill goes to Parliament, if it ever does
•get there, this 5th clause will either be withdrawn, or so
modified as to enable a widow to continue the business of
her deceased husband, and bring up her children in comfort
and respectability without having to ask permission of the
Pharmaceutical Council or anyone else.

Taking the proposed Bill altogether, I do not think it
would be any great loss if it never got nearer Parliament
than it is at present, for there is hardly a line from one end
of the Act to the other, except clause 14, that is likely to
be any advantage to the chemists and druggists, whilst there
are several additions to the vexations and annoyances to
' which they are already subject.

Clauses 8 and 13 are apparently intended to prevent the
sale of drugs, etc., by co-operative stores and similar
associations. But does anybody really imagine that those
clauses will have that effect? They may possibly prevent

the sale of a few articles in the poison schedule, and the
dispensing of a few prescriptions containing them, at those
establishments ; but the great evil from which we suffer,
viz., the selling of drugs and medicines of every description
by co-operative stores, drapers, grocers, tailors and shop¬
keepers of all sorts, will not be touched' in the slightest
degree.

A great deal is said about the public safety, and the
benefit to the public in connection with the proposed Bill ;
but I do not quite see why we should go so much out of our
way in the supposed interests of the public to get so little
benefit to ourselves ; the public are not so ready to trouble
themselves about our interests. After all the expense and
trouble a man may have taken in passing tie examinations,
fitting his shop with every appliance of the most approved
kind, selecting his stock with the greatest care, taking
every precaution to guard against accidents, and doing
everything possible to obtain the confidence of his customers,
let a grocer or any other tradesman close by begin to sell
drugs, etc., on the usual terms these gentry do that busi¬
ness, he will soon see where his customers go, and how the
generous public appreciate his efforts. No, let the public
look after their own interests, which they are quite capable
of doing. We have done quite enough in that line without
laying any more burdens on ourselves than we have to
bear already. Although the Bill is professedly aimed at
persons outside the trade, it will also, and quite as
vexatiously, affect many who are properly and legally in
the trade ; for every druggist who puts up a cough mixture,
or cough pills or lozenges, in which opium in any shape is
contained, will be obliged to put on a poison label, and be
subject to the same penalties and annoyances as outsiders,
without benefit either to himself or the public whose welfare
is so tenderly looked after.

W e hear a great deal about the laws relating to pharmacy
in France and elsewhere, and how desirable it is that the
same laws should apply to us. But one important point
seems always to be either forgotten or ignored, namely,
that whilst pharmacists there are subject to stringent laws
and regulations, the public have no choice but to get their
medicines from the pharmacist, and have their prescriptions
dispensed by him ; they cannot go to the grocer or the
tailor or the cobbler, and buy what they like, where they
like, and when they like, as they do in this country.

If we must have a new Pharmacy Act at all, let us at all
events try for one that shall confer some benefit upon us in
return for the restrictions it imposes, and if we are to be so
very anxious about the public interest, do not let it be
without some advantage to ourselves.

Manchester. W. Wilkin sox.

Sir, — I beg to offer for consideration and opinion of your
readers, whether a clause somewhat like the following
would not be more comprehensive than the open shop
clause now in use, and would allow corporations and part¬
nerships to be registered: — It shall be unlawful for any
unregistered person, or partnership, or body corporate, to
supply by retail; or to employ any servant, agent, or
deputy to act as a dealer in any of the poisons enumerated;
or to compound any medical or veterinary prescriptions, or
private recipes, containing any of the aforesaid poisons,
under a penalty of five pounds for each ©ffenoe. The ex¬
ceptions in favour of medical men and veterinary surgeons
to remain as at present.

George Brown.

Sir, — Is Mr. Sandford’s tear for the widow sincere ?
Does he insist on personal qualification and registration on
the one hand and the utmost laxity on the other ?

Mr. Weller’s advice just now should not be lost. Fancy
a deceased physician’s widow, or a surgeon’s, say. ‘‘Sir
Benjamin Brodie and Co., Surgeons,” on a brass plate, and
in the consulting-room one of the late surgeon’s clinical
clerks. “ What a take in !” a patient would say. “Where’s
Sir Benjamin?” “Alas! no more! His widow has an
interest in the concern.”

It is this laxity and self-interest that has made our Acts
of Parliament abortive. In this London of ours how many
deceased chemists are driving a huge business? Right and
honest enough, doubtless, in any other trade, but in the
face of qualification and legislation, a terrible farce, and as
such for the Pharmaceutical Society it has proved.

I am very grateful to the Council for the painstaking

606

[January 22, 18&

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

labour the draft Amendment Act shows, but, as I told the
Secretary years ago, to attempt to get a really stringent Act
of Parliament would raise a perfect hornets’ nest of opposi-
sition. W e cannot do it. Let us spend the money we have
in education or amending our examination laws ; but do
not let us waste it in trying to do an impossibility. Any
person with the calibre of a cabinet minister would see
through the thing in five minutes.

We shall never have a Pharmacy Act in this country at
all until a bishop is “translated” and the Government
takes the matter in hand.

79, Grosvenor Road, Highbury. George Mee.

Sir, — So grave a matter as the above should not Joe too
hastily proceeded with, and certainly not without amp le
time being allowed for a full and thorough discussion of its
proposed provisions. I believe that the best method
of obtaining such would be by summoning,- at once, a
special general meeting of the membei’s of the Society, to
which all members of the trade should be asked and allowed
to take part. We may expect, without doubt, that some of
its provisions will meet with determined opposition from
those interested in the co-operative movement, who will
certainly be on the alert after the recent legal proceedings of
the Society against them.

I am, however, heartily glad that so able a member of
our Society has so courageously attacked what struck me
immediately, on reading the proposed Bill through, as
being quite an uncalled for and unnecessary amendment of
the law with. reference to the carrying on of a business by a
widow ; surely a widow, if she complies with the require¬
ments of the Act, ought to be allowed as a matter of right,
rather than one of favour, to continue it for the support
of herself and the education of her children. To give by
enactment any such arbitrary powers as proposed into
the hands of a Council would be a most undesirable and
dangerous innovation, and I sincerely hope that such an
obnoxious proposition may soon be consigned to the limbo of
obscurity which it deserves.

I do not quite agree with “Sempervirens” in some o his
suggestions ; but with reference to the conduct of branch
shops, although there are to my knowledge many fully
competent yet unqualified assistants able to manage them,
I would go so far with him as to re-echo his wish that only
duly registered persons should be allowed to conduct them ;
and with a provision of this kind, I think we could go to
Parliament with better grace and ask for the further pro¬
tection sought for.

A clause in which a provision might run to this effect,
that no branch shop shall be held to be properly carried on,
unless under the management of a person registered under
the Act of 1868, whose name shall be duly returned to the
Registrar during the last week of each year ; and also should
any change in the management occur during any other por¬
tion of the year a notice to that effect should be sent to the
Registrar within six weeks of such alteration.

The suggestion as to limiting the number of bi’anches to
be in the possession of any one registered person would be
too retrogressive a movement in the present commercial age
to meet with general approval.

' Stowmarket. George James Gostling.

Sir, — Without presuming to give any general criticism
of the New Pharmacy Bill, I venture to urge upon the
consideration of its promoters the necessity for a small
change in clause 10 where it requires “ the name of the
patent medicine and the word poison ” to be attached. It
is important that the name of the poison should also be
included in the requirement.

If a medical man, called in to a patient in a dangerous
state, finds he ha3 partaken freely of “ Greenish’s Balsam
of Glycerine — Poison,” the namo of the medicine “ bals am of
glycerine,” is little use to him, and the word “ poison’’ only
indicates one thing — that he should have no more, But if
the label also indicates the presence of ant. tart., morphia,
and hydrocyanic acid, it aids the judgment of the doctor,
and the recovery of the patient.

It is of public importance that innocent sounding names

be not allowed to hide poisons, against the danger of which
the Poison Act is supposed to protect the public.

No doubt when Greenish prints the wrappers for hia
celebrated “ Glycerine, ” he will take care to* inform the
public that it is only in conformity with the regulations of
a foolish Act of Parliament that the word “ poison ” appears
there at all.

I have not much faith in Acts of Parliament, but I think
it would be a disgrace upon the Pharmaceutical Society to
promote a Bill which, in this particular, so palpably
sacrifices the public good to the interests of patent medicine
proprietors.

Barnard S. Proctor.

Sir, — I was pleased to see Mr. Sandford’s comments upon
the injustice that would be done widows (and those who in
course of time might become widows), provided the Phar¬
macy Law Amendment Bill, 1881, came into operation in
its pr sent form.

I cox; fider that the law in this respect should be amended,
not by unnecessarily harsh measures towards the widow, but
on the contrary, by permitting her to carry on the business
of her deceased husband for any indefinite period by the
aid of a qualified assistant. With this proviso the Pharmacy
Act would accomplish its end with regard to the safety of
the public, and many widows and fatherless children would
be kept from want, as so clearly explained by Mr. Sandford.

With regard to co-operative dispensing and selling of
poisons, this would be effectually stopped, provided the
Pharmaceutical Society could pass a bye-law to the effect
that any chemist who takes service under any co-operative
society should be struck off the Register.

Stow-on-the-Wold. Thomas Blackman.

Sir, — The proposed amendments of the Pharmacy Act
about which we have heard so long, are at length before us*
and, as you justly observe in your recent leader (page
555), “it is especially desirable that the several clauses of
the new Bill should be considered as much as possible in a.
catholic spirit as to the probability of their provisons being
beneficial to the general interests of the trade.”

Looking at them from the broadest point of view, I must
confess I fail to see any real practical good likely to result '
from their adoption, or that they will in any way improve,
as they at present stand, our old friend of 1868, imperfect
as that friend undoubtedly is; while, on the other hand,

I cannot but fully concur in the views so ably expressed by
Mr. Sandford, that to pass such a clause as clause 5 would
be a most objectionable and oppressive act.

Turning to clause XVI. of Pharmacy Act, 1868, what more
can be desired than is to be found there for the safe con¬
duct of a business unfortunately left in the hands of a
widow? It runs thus: “ Upon the decease of any pharma¬
ceutical chemist or chemist and drxiggist in business at the
time of his death, it shall be lawful for any executor
administrator or trustee of the estate of such pharma¬
ceutical chemist or chemist and druggist to continue such
business if and so long only as such business shall be bond
■fide conducted by a duly qualified assistant,” etc. Upon
what possible ground can it be considered needful to nullify
so ample and just a provision, by the proposed amendment,
whereby, however satisfactorily such a "business may be
going on, the widow is compelled, - nolens voleixs, either to
change her name or her home at the expiration of three
years, with the option, it is true, of presenting herself as a
humble suppliant before the Council for permission to
maintain herself and family out of the proceeds of her late
husband’s business, instead of becoming a recipient of the
Benevolent Fund annuity? Can such an amendment be
considered beneficial to the general interests of the trade?

With respect to clause 7, I am completely at a loss to
comprehend its force against the citadel it is intended to
demolish. It touches a subject upon which I have not
unfrequently spoken and written, publicly and privately,
and as invaluably have been met with the rejoinder, by
those at head quarters, that inasmuch as “ open shop ” wa3
the only term used in the Act, the hands of the law were
powerless where members of an association alone were
served ; and yet, strange to say, this very term, and this
alone, we find used throughout the proposed amendment.

mm

-January 22, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

607

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Such a clause, as it now stands, would be beneficial only to
lawyers and their satellites.

Again, much as we deprecate the sale of poisons by un¬
qualified persons, I cannot conceive that we are justified in
subjecting ourselves to so objectionable a proceeding as that
embraced in clause 10, whereby every proprietary medicine
“containing a poison within the meaning of the Pharmacy
Act, 1868,” no matter how infinitesimally small the quan¬
tity, is forthwith to be branded, as a dangerous and noxious
compound, with the word “ Poison,” failing which a penalty
of five to ten pounds is to be forfeited. Surely some other
means might be devised by which to overcome the difficulty
without putting upon our own shoulders such a burden,
■and imposing upon the public the use of a word, which, by
its frequent recurrence, would soon become valueless. Can
■such an amendment be “ considered beneficial to the general
interests of the trade ? ”

Mr. Sandford tells us that the Bill will probably be
submitted to Parliament after the next meeting of the
Council. Would it not be more in accordance with former
practice that so important a step should be submitted to a
special general meeting of the members before being carried
to Parliament ? Such has, I believe, been the rule hitherto,
and would, I venture to think, be desirable on the present
occasion.

I have had the chemists of Brighton canvassed upon the
question and herewith forward eopy of the memorial
signed by thirty-seven out of forty -two called upon, two
being absent from home. The original will be presented
by Mr. Sandford to the Council at their next meeting.
Hoping other towns will adopt a similar means of express¬
ing their views.

Belgrave Rouse, West Brighton. Edwin B. Vizer.

Sir, — I think, with Mr. Smith, that the words “ open
shop’* are not sufficient, and that his addition of “house
or any other place” should be added; also the word
“ distributing.” I would also suggest (section 8) after six¬
teenth word (partnership), “corporation or association”
should be added. I think also in case of the death of a
-chemist his business ought to be protected, if the business
is under proper management ; and I think assistants ought
to be all qualified in every business.

Henry Long.

Sir, — Many and various are the suggestions of your
correspondents respecting the proposed New Pharmacy
Bill, some of which I have read with interest, but in all I
fail to see a plan for effectually dealing with the vexed
question of stores and patent medicine dealers, at the same
time really proving a benefit to the trade.

I believe some clause might be added to the Bill, whereby
we might feel thankful that we had elected such Councillors
to administer to our wants. It would be useless on my
part to recapitulate the grievances of many men who are
struggling against the opposition of stores and small shop¬
keepers.

I will, therefore, with your permission, ask if it would
not be possible to get a clause in the new Bill to the
following effect : — “ That from the date of the passing of
this Act no person or persons shall sell or deal in drugs or
chemical compounds unless such person shall be a duly
registered pharmaceutical chemist or chemist and druggist
within the meaning of the Act.”

If something to this effect were added I am sure it would
prove a boon to thousands who would then be able to make
a living ; at the sattie time raise the standing of the trade
which now takes so much time, money and study before
young men are allowed to commence business. It is all
very well for some correspondents to talk about “ taking
the bull by the horns ” and forming associations for
mutual protection. I was in business years enough to
find this game would not do ; having had experience in
this way (I mean as to arranging prices) I was not
long in finding we had a Judas amongst us. Therefore,
my humble opinion is that unless our rulers, who, as
I said before, we have elected in the hope that they
will look after our interests, fail to cany some such
measure as I have named, the respectability of the trade will
gradually die out, and the pharmacist of the rising genera¬
tion will find after all his toils to enter what he believed

to be not only a respectable but remunerative trade, he is
only on a par with his neighbour the grocer, whose educa¬
tion is perhaps of the most limited kind, but who is
privileged to sell everything excepting a few poisons. I
would like to say more, but fear I have already trespassed
too far. I trust the suggestion may in some way be duly
considered for the benefit of the trade.

North Staffs. M. P. S.

Sir, — Although it would be erroneous to suppose that the
draft of the proposed amendments can be deemed perfect,
yet I feel that one would be quite justified in asserting that
the omission from the amendments of any means for corn-
trolling the keeping of branch shops is a flagrant omission.
I am glad, therefore, that one of your correspondents has
drawn attention to the matter.

The principal motive which has impelled the trade to
solicit amendments to the laws which govern it, is unques¬
tionably the opposition which the trade has had in co-opera¬
tive trading. Yet, while a clause is introduced which would
tend to make co-operative pharmacy illegal, it is introduced
with “regard to the public safety,” although it is quite
well known that the drug departments in stores are
generally under the superintendence of legally qualified
druggists. Now, it is unjust and unreasonable to seek
repressive legislation on this point while we permit branch
shops to be carried on as they at present are. Thus, in the
town in which I am an assistant, there are thirty drug
shops owned by druggists and doctors, and of these shops
fifteen are under the charge of unqualified persons. Prac¬
tically, they are under the entire charge of the unqualified
persons, for the owners attend these shops not more than
nine hours per week, and in some cases even, only once a
week or fortnight, and that only to see how the businesses
are going on financially. Consider from such circumstances
upon what the “ safety of the public ” is dependent. The
evil, however, does not end with the public safety, for
branch shops directly tend to impede the progress of the
younger members of the trade. Thus, in the town in ques¬
tion, I am aware of many a locality where I could make a
more comfortable livelihood as a master than I at present
do as an assistant, yet I am prevented so improving my
circumstances by the fact that all the localities are occupied
by branch shops.

Again, the public convenience is not served by branch
shops, for I find that the suburban public will not patronize
them unless in cases of emergency, or of a trifling nature,
preferring rather to go to shops in which masters themselves
are iu charge, for any particular thing which may be re¬
quired.

Now, sir, having carefully read your article this week on
the proposed pharmaceutical legislation in France, I find
that our French neighbours would allow only one place of
business to each pharmacien. Such legislation on our part,
would, I have no doubt, be considered contrary to the
principles which govern our commerce, yet I have little
hesitation in saying that our Government would see the
reasonableness of having all drug shops under the direct
charge of legally qualified persons. -

I think that the attention of the Council should be
forcibly drawn to this important subject, and for this pur¬
pose perhaps some of your readers will supply such
statistics as I have given you. It is possible that branch
shops are not so common in every town as in that which I
cite : yet the case remains that one-half of the drug shops
here are kept by unqualified persons, and as the whole in¬
tention of the pharmacy law is (in a legal point of view)
the safety of the public, we must, I think, remove this
anomaly before we endeavour to repress the wickedness of
co-operative pharmacy.

Medical Dispensing.

Sir, — A movement has been made by several members of
the British Medical Association respecting the importance
of medical men in cities giving up dispensing, and sending
their prescriptions to chemists in their neighbourhood.

Every one must feel that this is a step in the right direc¬
tion, but the members of the Pharmaceutical Society
themselves must help in accomplishing this object, no less
to the relief of medical men, than to their own advantage.

• To ensure this, however, it is essential that the chemist
should supply exactly and skilfully what is ordered, and

608

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 22, '1881

charge as reasonably as possible for all medicines dis-

T)6tlS6u

If a better understanding could be established it would
result in an advantage to both medical practitioners and

chemists. ...

If you will kindly give these few words a place in your
Journal, and encourage discussion on the matter, it must
lead to good results.

James Williamson, M.D.

* 44, Mildmay Park, London, N.

Spiritus Ammonite Aromaticus.

Sir,— I hasten to apologize to your correspondent
C . E. for my incomplete quotation from his letter ;
probably a greater injustice is done to an author by partial
quotation than by misquotation* for the latter manifestly
carries with it its own refutation, whilst the former by its
apparent truth and semblance of veracity is calculated to
mislead the majority of those who only superficially read
it. I trust, therefore, that in begging to be allowed to
repeat the quotation in its complete form C. E. will acquit
me of any intention to misrepresent him. He says:—
“Practically speaking the residue contains no ammonia,
nor has there been any loss of ammonia or CO2 in the
distillation.” As stated in my last letter, it is to the latter
part of this sentence that I take exception; the truth being
that “ practically speaking ” there has been a loss of C02
equal to about 60 per cent, of the quantity included in the
carbonate of ammonia employed; in other words, the
product contains about 60 per cent, less CO2 than the
materials used in the distillation, and neither India rubber
bands, nor “an almost air-tight communication between the
receiver and condenser,” nor any other means consistent
with the safety of the apparatus will prevent this loss of
CO2, even if it were desirable to do so.

Your correspondent admits the evolution of C02 during
the process, but says, “it by no means follows that this
CO^must be lost,” a conclusion, to say the least of it,
entirely opposed to fact ; for if the CO2 be not lost
perhaps he will kindly inform us what has become of it,
for every “fully fledged” pharmacist should know that
this disengagement of CO2 takes place long before distilla¬
tion commences, and that, therefore, an empty Winchester
quart with an almost air-tight communication between it
and the condenser would be wholly inadequate under the
circumstances to condense and retain it.

I must, in conclusion, beg to repudiate the charge which
C. E. has preferred against me, of having read his letter
carelessly ; on the contrary, I can assure him and your
readers that the startling nature of the assertion made
respecting the CO2 caused me to read it over carefully
several times to be quite sure that I had not misunderstood
its meaning. That I had not so misunderstood it is con¬
firmed by C. E.’s last letter.

Alfred E. Tanner.

P.S. — I should like here to utter a protest against the
idea implied in the opening sentence of C. E.’s last letter.
That our Journal should be used as a means of conveying
information to “fully fledged” pharmacists only, to the
exclusion of students, is, I think, an utter perversion of its
legitimate function. The information which its pages convey
ought, I think, to be equally available to the one as to the
other.

Harnack and Meyer’s Research on Jaborandi.

Sir, — I quite agree with Mr. Kingzett that Harnack and
Meyer’s research has not established the presence of a
second alkaloid in jaborandi or pilocarpine; it is true they
have made observations pointing in that direction, but their
observations are not to my mind sufficiently conclusive to
establish the identity of a new base.

Harnack and Meyer are stated to have prepared their
new alkaloids from mixed residues obtained from jaborandi
leaves and fabe jaborandi ( Piper reticulatum) . Now these
are two distinct plants of different natural orders, the latter
of which no investigation has yet shown to contain pilocar¬
pine ; it is, therefore, obvious that experiments upon such a
mixture are of doubtful value; they might as reasonably
mix beiladpnna and aconite extracts and call an alkaloid
obtained therefrom a new base.

Again in one part of their paper they say that jaborine,
their new base, is contained in jaborandi leaves; in another

part of the paper that fluid extract of jaborandi is free from
jaborine, but that jaborine is produced on evaporating its
acidified alcoholic solution. These statements are incon¬
sistencies which shake one’s faith and detract very much
from the value of their communication.

University College Hospital. A. W. Gerrard.

Equalization of Doses.

Sir, — It is fairly well known that an equalization of
doses, as to measure certainly, and possibly equally as to
weight of various medicines would prove itself a common
convenience to those who prescribe and to those who dis¬
pense, and so in a scarcely indirect way would result as an
advantage to those whose convenience it is the object and
equally the interest of the prescriber and the dispenser to
consult.

The subject has been mooted already, both here and
abroad. The compilers of the Pharmacopoeias of various
dates of this country have never quite lost sight of this
considerable convenience, and let me add of this sterling .
safety. I speak of safety because the practitioner has to*
recall at very short notice, as things at present are, very
vari m3 . doses and he has to rely on the dispenser as hm
only safeguard against accidental disaster, and perhaps also
from my own standpoint, because the prescriber is in such
case the responsible person and has to lean in this matter
on the gratuitous benevolence of the dispenser, although as
a matter of practical experience he, with fair confidence,
very well may.

But then this difficulty seems to be quite an artificial
one. There exists, for example, a definite dose for every
remedy; I mean an understood standard dose, such for
example, let me say, as 1 grain avoirdupois for a dose of
quinine. Now if every drug were to be arranged, by the
British Pharmacopoeia authorities, of course (since no other
authority exists), so as to be 1 grain, or 1 drachm, or 1
ounce (if only the liquid and solid measures should ever
come to accord) . This could only come by suitable dilution
with some indifferent medium, say starch for solids, or
water or glycerine or, if you will, spirit for liquids. Then
we should be in this position that we should only have to •
regard the grain or the fluid drachm (or the 60 grains, but
that is never a very serious difference), or the ounce, or the
odd grains, that (as we are) makes up that ounce, which
would demand bur main care, and that, as I take it, is to
avoid at least the risk of harm when we are aiming at the
opposite of harm. Furthermore, if a definite authoritative
dose could be set up, as indeed it already has been in some
degree, then it would remain open to any prescriber and
equally to any pharmaceutist (as his safeguard) to arrange
the double or any fraction of the received dose, which would
readily be remembered as a standard in prescribing or dis¬
pensing for individual cases. Let me suppose that Epsom
salts shall stand for a standard solution, as 1 drachm to the
ounce of water ; now, in an 8 ounce mixture this could be
considerably varied.

24, Weymouth Street, Balmanno Squire.

Portland Place, W.

■

“ Gratia.” — There is an Ext. Stillingise Fluid, in the
U.S.P., as well as a Tinct. Sanguinarise. A formula for
Ext. Eucalypti is given by Cooley.

“ Argos.'' — We should follow the B.P. formula for Inf.
Cinch. Flav., with the necessary, substitutition. Future
questions relating to the contents of the Journal should be
addressed to the Editor and not the Secretary.

A. J. Burden. — Henfrey’s ‘ Elementary Course of
Botany ’ or Balfour’s ‘ Manual.’

H. L. — See the formula for Syrup of Croton Chloral
given by Dr. Symes in September last, before, p. 241.

Solvent. — The quinine is first converted into oleate by
precipitating the alkaloid from the sulphate with ammonia
and dissolving it in oleic acid, and this is added to the cod
liver oil. See a paper by Mr. Stiles in vol. v. of the pre*
sent series, p. 641.

“Junior.” — Starch glaze is a mixture in varying pro-*
portions of finely powdered borax and starch.

A. E. Tanner. — The note onp. 578 contains the substance
of the communication, which was not published in any other
form.

Communications, Luttkrs, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Humphries, Claypole, Southall, Sowerby, Dewson*
F.S.M., O.A.S.

January 29, 1881.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

609

“THE MONTH.”

Although, the weather around London is by no
means such as to lead us to expect to find medicinal
plants in bloom, yet such does not appear to be
everywhere the case, for a correspondent, who sends
to the Gardeners' Chronicle a list of about a hundred
and twenty plants in blossom at Falmouth on the
6th of January, enumerates, among others, Borago
officinalis, Berberis aquifolium, Veronica salicifolia,
Vinca major , Vinca minor , Pyrethrum Parthenium
and Daphne Laureola ; while at Tresco, in the Scilly
Isles, the Aloe Socotrina was in full blossom in the
open air on the 6th inst., in company with many
handsome exotics that require in London the protec¬
tion of a conservatory.

In the neighbourhood of Penzance, according to a
writer in the Garden (December 25, p. 276), there
were to be seen in blossom Anthemis nobilis and
Papaver Rliceas , Veronica officinalis, P otentilla replans,
Silene maritima, Lychnis diuma, the primrose, and
many other wild and cultivated flowers.

Mr. Thomas Hanbury contributes to the Gardeners'
Chronicle (January 8, p. 46), a list of nearly three
hundred plants in blossom in his garden near
Mentone on January 1. Among these several
medicinal plants are noticeable, viz., Eucalyptus
globulus , Globularia Alypum, Datura alba, Calendula
officinalis, Aloe Africana, Punica Granatum , Viola
odorata, and Rosemary, as well as others of economic
interest, such as the Abyssinian tea tree ( Catha edulis ),
and the carob tree ( Ceratonia siliqua).

In the Economic House at Kew the cola nut tree,
Cola acuminata, may now been seen in blossom. Its
small polygamous flowers hare no corolla ; but the
single yellow floral whorl consists of a coloured
calyx, which at Kew does not manifest the, purple
spots which these flowers are said to possess in their
native country.

The curious Petiveria alliacea is also now display¬
ing its long whip-like spikes of inconspicuous
flowers. It possesses acrid properties, and the leaves
exhale a garlic odour when bruised. In Brazil it is
put into baths to restore power to paralysed limbs.
According to Lunan, it is used to stop toothache, and
the juice as a remedy in hysteria. He states that
if chewed the root will render the tongue as dry
and black as would be caused by a malignant fever.
In Jamaica it is known as “guinea-hen weed,” those
birds being said to be very fond of it. The plant
received its name in honour of the celebrated apothe¬
cary and botanist, James Petiver.

Probably many of our readers have noticed, either
at Kew or elsewhere, that various species of juniper
not unfrequently present two forms of leaf on the
same branch, so much so that if gathered separately
it would be difficult for any one who had not seen
them growing to guess that they were obtained from
the same plant. In a letter to Nature (January 20,
p. 267), Dr. Masters points out this fact and says with
regard to it that it is now generally believed to be
an instance of the reflex, as it were, of an ancestral
state of things. Thus the Retinosporas common in
our gardens and balconies are supposed to represent
an immature or “larval” stage of some Thuja,. the
proof of which is occasionally furnished by portions
of the plants suddenly assuming the foliage charac¬
teristic of that genus. But this peculiar development
appears to be met with in fossil coniferse also. Dr.
Masters also directs attention to the resemblance in
form and arrangement of the adult leaves in some
Third Series, No. 553.

Thujas and allied plants to the disposition of the
leaves in Selaginella, and the close resemblance
between the leaves of some species of Lycopodium
and the “larval” leaves of many conifers.

But it seems doubtful if this similarity of form
indicates a common ancestry in all cases, for the
peculiar lanceolate form of many species of different
natural orders which grow near rivers, etc., can
scarcely be considered to owe the shape of their
leaves to a single ancestor. Thus the willow,
oleander and willow herb, have leaves very similar
in shape.

In the recently issued Botanische Jahrbiicher, a
a curious mode of growth is described by Engler,
as occurring in the araceous plant Zamioculcas
Loddigesii, a species with pinnate leaves. If one of
the leaflets is detached and planted, a swelling takes
place in a few days at its base, and the tuber thus
formed produces two buds, below each of which
roots are formed. The plant has been thus propa¬
gated at the Kew Botanical Gardens.

In a lecture lately delivered at the Royal Horti¬
cultural Society, the Rev. George Henslow directed
attention to the peculiar method effected by the cycla¬
men of burying its fruits, as described by Darwin in
his ‘ Movements of Plants,’ and illustrated it by
the Trifolium subteiraneum, which by its recurved
claw-like calyx assists the peduncle in burying the
pods below the soil. As in the case of the ground
nut (Arachis hypogoea), which indeed derives its
name from this habit, the object appears to be
to enable the fruits to absorb moisture and nutritious
matters, and so cause them to ripen better, as those
in which the burying process is prevented do not
usually came to maturity. During the past month
some fruits, imported from the Azores, and exhibited
in Co vent Garden Market under the name of
“passion flower fruits,” were stated by Dr. Masters
not to be the fruit of Passijlora edulis, but of Crypto
mandra betacea.

In a recent number of the Linnean Transactio'ns
the Rev. George Henslow published his opinion that
some of the so-called scorpioid cymes, e.g., Hyos-
cyamus, are not sympodia, but monopodia ; in other
words, are not cymes at all, but indefinite inflo¬
rescences. In the present number of the J ournal of
Botany, l)r. Sydney H. Vines gives a full account of
the history of the term, “scorpioid cyme,” and shows
that much confusion exists in text-books with regard
to its use, some authors making it synonymous
with helicoid cyme and others drawing a distinction
between the two. Unfortunately, in the paper above
alluded to, Dr. Vines states that fig. 1 exactly re¬
sembles a diagram in Bentley’s ‘Manual of Botany,
3rd ed., 1873, p. 200. As the diagrams do not cor¬
respond in the Journal of Botany (probably owing
to a typographical transposition of the numbers 1
and 2) Dr. Vines’s meaning may not be easily
followed in this case by all who read it. Dr. Vines
points out, however, that according to the most
recent researches of Goebel,* the inflorescences of
Hyoscyamus niger, Symphytum officinale, Ancliusa
officinalis and Borago ojfficinalis, as well as that of
several other Boraginaceous plants which he investi¬
gated, show by their development that they are
monopodia with a flattened growing-point, which
bears two rows of flower rudiments on its dorsal
surface, a statement that Kraus had previously made
with regard to bractless scorpioid cymes, so that it
4TTArb. d. Bot. Inst, in Wurzburg Bd.,’ 11, 1880. .

610 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 29, 1881.

Goebel’s statements are correct, the scorpioid cyme
is a* mere fiction, and what has hitherto been
described under that name must hereafter be con¬
sidered as a form of unilateral raceme. It seems,
however, difficult on this theory to explain the
forking of the branches of the inflorescence in Sym¬
phytum, etc., the form which at least renders plausible
the suggestion of Kaufmann, that bracteate scorpioid
cymes are produced by repeated dichotomy of an
axillary bud.

During this time of frost and snow there is ample op¬
portunity for lovers of nature to observe the singular
effects of frost on the leaves of evergreens. When
. the leaves of such plants are frozen, some of the sap
is forced into the interspaces between the cells, and
as these are more abundant in the under-surface of
the leaf, it may be observed that the colour there
changes to a deeper green, and at the same time the
leaf appears more transparent, owing to the replace¬
ment of the air by ice. In PLelleborus niger and
Taxus baccata and some other plants, the under-sur¬
face has been observed to become at first dotted with
dark green, which, as the temperature falls below
24° to 26° F., spreads over the whole under-surface. In
a warm room the fluid rapidly passes back again to
the cells. Dr. J. N. Moll, of Utrecht, has observed
that in taking leaves from an outdoor temperature
of 30° F., to an indoor one of 48c F., the infiltration
of water into the intercellular spaces disappeared in
fifteen seconds in Aucuba japonica, and in one minute
in the holly. He finds this phenomenon common to
all plants, the infiltration disappearing in a few minutes
more or less, according to the species. When the
temperature rises above freezing point, even touching
with the tip of the finger causes the instantaneous
disappearance of infiltration from the spot touched.
The drooping of leaves under the influence of frost,
although imperceptible without measurement, in
some plants, Dr. Moll finds to be common to all
he examined. The latter phenomenon has been also
noticed by Hofmeister iu the leaves of Pinus Strobus
and Pinus excelsci, in which the leaves become
pendent and flaccid when the temperature descends
to the freezing point, but rapidly regain their normal
position when a thaw takes place. It is worthy of
note that the leaves thus assume a position in which
snow is more likely to fall off, and thus prevent to a
certain extent the injury to the branches supporting
them by the weight of snow that would collect upon
the leaves. .

In the Annales des Sciences Naturelles occurs a
translation of a Russian paper on the “Influence
of the Intensity of Light on the Decomposition of
Carbonic Acid in Plants,” of which the following is a
summary : — (1) For a whole series of plants there is
a maximum intensity of light favourable to the de¬
composition of carbonic acid, and if this maximum
be exceeded no more carbonic acid is decomposed,
but in some cases the energy of decomposition is
diminished. (2) A jet of gas equal to 50 candles is
able, if the dark rays be carefully absorbed, to cause
an extraordinary decomposition of carbonic acid, the
quantity of oxygen liberated being, in relation to
that obtained under the influence of sunlight, as
three to one, indicating the existence of a favourable
maximum intensity of light. (3) The existence of
a maximum is probably connected intimately with
the changes of position and size of the grains of
chlorophyll. (4) This maximum is of the greatest
importance in studying the influence of the coloured

rays on the decomposition of carbonic acid and also
partly explains the contradictory opinions enter¬
tained by different writers.

Herr C. Bernbeck, an apothecary in Germersheim,
describes in the Archiv cler Pharmacie , p. 431, a
new adulteration of valerian root. This consists of f
the root of Slum longifolium, a variety of S. lati -
folium , which is abundant on the margins of the
ponds and ditches and in marshy meadows of the
lowlands of the upper Rhine, where he has observed
S. latifolium , in some years, owing to a prevalence
of floods, undergoing a transformation into S. longi¬
folium. This plant differs in not having its stem
leaves like those of S. latifolium , all the leaves re¬
sembling the root leaves of that plant, but with the
leaflets or segments rather longer and less sharply
serrate. The root also differs, the root fibres be¬
coming thicker and the stolons or slender creeping
shoots being absent, owing to the plant growing in
places left dry by the water, instead of at the margin
of and partly in the water. He accounts for the
root being mixed with valerian by the latter growing
in the same places and being gathered by peasants
at a time when the characteristic differences of leaf
and flower are not observable. The Sium root may be
distinguished by its simple rootlets being less fleshy
and more wrinkled than those of valerian and not
of a homy consistence.

At the drug sales this month, there were noticed,,
among other things, quebracho bark, evidently
obtained from young smooth-barked trees, also the
ods of the tree containing the characteristic mem-
ranous seeds, gum acaroides, false sarsaparilla and a
quantity of the bright orange-red sarsaparilla grown
in Jamaica, which is quite different in appearance
to the so-called “Jamaica Sarsaparilla” of com¬
merce.

At a recent sale, some apparently fine specimens
of Flor. rosse gall, were offered, which seemed, if
anything, to be of a richer and more purplish tint
than such as are generally met with ; these, on
examination, proved to be artificially coloured with
an aniline colour or some similar dye. There is
reason to believe that a small quantity of these
leaves had entered into retail commerce before the
adulteration was discovered. Those chemists and
druggists, therefore, who may have purchased this
drug within the last fortnight, should look to their
samples. -Safflower seeds, under the name of
“ curddi,” and false Chian turpentine, have been
noticed at the drug sale this week.

In the British Medical Journal (January 1, p. 25)
an account, copied from the Lyons Medical, of the
poisoning of some young children of the Orphan
Asylum at Rocca is given. The children had been
chewing fragments of roots of glycine (sic) in¬
stead of Spanish liquorice, the amount chewed by
each child having varied from 15 to 90 grains. The
symptoms produced were similar to those of poison¬
ing by laburnum. The writer remarks that glycine
seems to possess marked toxic properties, .and that it
acts like tobacco. It is unfortunate that the scientific
name is treated as a vernacular one in this case, as
it leaves the reader in some doubt as to the species
of Glycine, intended, that generic name having been
at different times, and by different botanists, applied
to the Wistaria sinensis , and also to Abrus pre-
cat orius and Voandzeia Africana, Glycine soja ,
Apios tuber osa, and other well-known plants. It is
at least an argument for the retention of botany as a

January 29, 1881.] .

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

611

branch of medical education that such a want of
accuracy not unfrequently occurs.

A correspondent of the same journal remarks, with
regard to the growth of the Eucalyptus globulus in
the Campagna, that the fever which in the neigh¬
bourhood of the Tre Fontana Monastery, which was
formerly of such a pernicious character that it
proved fatal to all the eighteen friars who first
attempted to plant the eucalyptus, is now of so mild
a character that all thoughts of abandoning the
monastery and the work have been given up. This
improvement is attributed to the growth of the
eucalyptus tree, of which 25,000 have been planted
within the grounds of Tre Fontana. _

In the Revue Medicale for January, M. Timbal-
Lagrave (fils) gives an interesting account of the
forms of Aconitum Napellus found in the Pyrenees.
He distinguishes three forms: A. orientate, having a
large ellipsoid root ; A. centrale, with elliptical trans¬
versely striated small roots, and A. occidentale, with
elongated oval roots, of which two or three occur on
the same plant. When cultivated in gardens these
wild forms of aconite are apt to lose their activity to a
certain extent. Thus the aconite of Luchond -Ados and
of the lake of Oo, when cultivated, gave only 0 35 gr.
of alkaloid per kilogramme, the wild plants yielding
1-25 gr. from the same amount of root. The experi¬
ments made tend to show that the roots yield
from two to four times as much alkaloid as the
leaves. The difference in the activity of various
samples of aconitine, as experimented with by M.
Duquesnel, in the presence of Claude Bernard, show
that there is considerable risk in employing aconitine
of unknown source. Thus, in the experiments now
alluded to, the subcutaneous injection of \ milli¬
gramme of aconitine killed a bird in very different
periods, as follows : — in one minute, in fifteen
minutes, in an hour and a quarter, and in . two
hours. These figures suffice to show that it is
highly necessary there should be some guarantee as
to strength given with the aconitine supplied by the
makers, or that some test should be given in the
Pharmacopoeia by which its strength may be ascer¬
tained. The author, unfortunately, seems to he
ignorant of the valuable investigations of the aconite
alkaloids by Messrs. Wright and Luff, and others in
this country. It may be useful to remember, in
connection with the varying strength of commercial
aconitine, that it has recently been shown by Dr.
Ringer “ that atropine has an antagonistic effect to
that alkaloid (Lancet, January 8, p. 74). It seems
a singular coincidence that the same week m which
this fact was published, there should be recorded
(in the British Medical J ournal , p. 64) a case of fatal
poisoning by aconite in which the action of atropine
as an antidote does not appear to have been tried.

The antagonistic action of atropine to that of
either pilocarpine or muscarine is attributed by Dr.
Ringer to chemical displacement. He considers
that atropine has a stronger affinity for the muscular
and nervous structure of the heart than these sub¬
stances, and displaces them, replacing their effect by
its own. The experiments which have led him to
this conclusion are detailed in the Practitioner for
January, p. 5. If this theory be correct it would
seem to follow that muscarine and pilocarpine have
not a sufficiently powerful affinity for the same
structure to act antagonistically to atropine. Pilo¬
carpine was found by Lewin to be useful in syphilis,
but owing to a tendency to produce collapse, he con¬

sidered it to be less safe than mercury (Practitioner,
January, p. 56).

Dr. Keyser, in the Phil. Medical Times (N ovember
6), confirms the observations previously made by Drs.
Volcher and Fuchs, to the effect that hydrobromide
of homatropine causes so considerable an irritation
of the conjunctiva that it is not likely to come into
general use as a substitute for atropine or duboisine.
Its action does not begin any sooner than that of
duboisine, but passes off more readily, viz., in six or
twelve hours instead of one to four days, as is the
case with duboisine, and this seems to be its sole re¬
commendation.

In the Lancet for January 15, Dr. J. H. Batty e
speaks highly of the use of “silicon lozenges” as an ano¬
dyne in the treatment of cancer, each lozenge con¬
taining 1 grain of silica. The formula is published
in the Edinburgh Medical Journal for November,
1874.

Dr. Dabbs, of Shanklin, writes to the British
Medical Journal (January 15, p. 86), in praise of
ingluvin, as a remedy in certain cases of the sickness
of pregnancy. He gives it in the dose of 10 to 15
grains twice a-day, one dose at as early a hour as
possible, and the second at about 8 or 9 a.m. .

In the Practitioner, Dr. J. Sawyer, of Birming¬
ham, in some notes on recent remedies, states that
he has used fuchsine (chlorhydrate of rosaniline)
with success in cases of alburriinarhu He gives it
in the form of a pill, containing 1 grain of fuchsine,
made up with extract of gentian and, if indicated,
with also a little carbonate of, or reduced, iron. It
colours the urine and faeces, and if given in the
form of fluid, stains the lips and mouth also. It
will be remembered that this remedy was recom¬
mended for use in chronic albuminuria complicated
with anasarca in the British Medical J ournal for
October 11, 1879, since which time it has been used
with considerable success in France by Dr. Bouchut

and others. _ '

In the New Yorlc Medical Journal, Dr. E. A.
Anderson states that the leaves of Vaccinium crassi-
folium, which are said to resemble those of Uva-ursi,
act powerfully as a diuretic when given in large
doses. He consequently uses it in combination
with bitartrate of potassium in the treatment of

dropsy. # . .

An interesting point in connection with Alstoma
constricta has recently come to light. According to
a quotation in the Therapeutical Gazette , Dr. A. VY.
Bixby has found that the action of the “ Queens¬
land fever bark” resenibles in many respects the
combined action of quinine and nux vomica. This
accords well with the statement made by Dr. O.
Hesse that the bark contains two alkaloids, one oi
which (alstonine), in his opinion, possesses properties
akin to strychnine. Considering how nearly allied
the Apocynaceae are to the Loganiacese, in a bota¬
nical point of view, it is not astonishing that there
should be this similarity in their physiological
action. The bark is said to contain about 25 per
cent, of alstonine, while it only yields 0‘05 per cent.

of alstonidine. . tt *ivu «.

In the Lancet (Jan. 22, p. 158), Dr. A. H. Allbutt,
of Leeds, records a case in which Chian turpentine
prolonged the life and alleviated the suffering* of a
patient suffering from medullary cancer oi a fungoid
type behind the ear. Even if, as would seem to be
the case, there are only a few instances in which Chiau
turpentine appeal’s to be of service, there are at

612

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 29, 1SS1.

least sufficient to sliow that it should not be thrown
altogether on one side as a useless drug, but should,
at least, have a place among the other remedies
for uterine cancer, such as ergot of rye, croton
chloral, or (locally applied) glycerine of carbolic acid.
"When the large quantity of spurious Chian turpen¬
tine which has appeared in the market during the
last twelve months is taken into consideration,
together with the fact that a good deal of it
must have been consumed in this country, the want
of success attending its administration, in many
cases, is at once accounted for.

A rutaceous plant, growing wild in the Argentine
Republic, where it is called <i naranjillo,” and which
has recently been described as a new species by
Grisebach, under the name of Xanthoxylum Naran-
jillo , has been examined by D. Parodi, whose atten- .
tion was directed to it through its resemblance to
Pilocarpus jaborandi in its therapeutic properties,
which are those of a sialogogue, sudorific, diuretic
and stimulant. He reports ( Revista Farmaceutica,
vol. xviii., p. 409) that he has separated a substance
forming salts with acids, having a decided alkaline
reaction and giving all the reactions characteristic of an
alkaloid, which he has named “ xanthoxylina.” The
plant also yielded a hydrocarbon, “ xanthoxylene ”
(C10H16), analogous to piloearpene, a crystalline stear-
optene, xanthoxylin, and finally an aromatic essen¬
tial oil, having an odour between balm and lemon.
From the great 'similarity of this plant to jaborandi
it appears worthy of further experiment in a thera¬
peutic direction.

Salicylic silk is recommended by Mr. McGill, of
Leeds ( Lancet , January 1), as a surgical dressing
having advantages over salicylic cotton-wool and
carbolic gauze, in being more absorbent and more
elastic and requiring less frequent changing. It is
made from silk “noils,” a waste product sold for
stuffing cushions and chair bottoms, which is soaked
in a solution of salicylic acid made by dissolving the
acid in methylated spirit and boiling water. After
soaking 'and drying ; ten parts of the silk should
weigh eleven ; consequently the silk when ready for
use contains 10 per cent, of the acid. Mr. Reynolds,
of Leeds, has more recently added to each pound of
silk 1 ounce of glycerine, which fixes the acid and
prevents it from shaking out and causing unpleasant
sneezing.

An observation by Herr Fabini ( Pharm . Zeit. ,
xxv., 766), that commercial carbolic acid, after it had
been in contact with copper, reddened in a few days,
and the fact that as a rule in aqueous solution it has
an acid reaction on litmus paper, led him to suspect
that the well known reddening of carbolic acid was
due simply to the presence of a trace of copper.
Experiments hardly confirmed this, but Herr Fabini
found that when a drop of ammonia solution was
added to carbolic acid containing copper the acid
became dark red coloured in three hours. Upon
adding also a drop of ammoniacal cuprous oxide
solution or of ammoniacal cupric sulphate solution
to perfectly colourless carbolic acid a strong red
colour was produced in a few hours. He, therefore,
concludes that the reddening of carbolic acid in¬
duced by ammonia is referable to the presence of a
small quantity of copper, and he thinks this the more
probable from the fact that carbolic acid usually
comes into commerce in cylinders of zinc containing
copper, from which a trace might be derived which
is afterwards acted upon by the ammonia in the

atmosphere. This conclusion has since been ques¬
tioned by Herr Hoffmann {Pharm. Zeit., xxvi., 3),
partly upon the ground that ammoniacal copper solu¬
tions, however dilute, are alwaj^s blue and never
red. He found that upon adding a drop of annno-
niacal solution of copper sulphate to liquid phenol,
a greenish-brown, rather than a red-brown, was
produced ; but he admits that carbolic acid to
which ammoniacal copper solution had been added
was coloured deep red-brown in forty-eight hours.
On the other hand, ammonia solution, both with
colourless and reddened carbolic acid, always pro¬
duced a blue colour. The question cannot be said to
be yet settled, and it is obvious that in future experi¬
ments, considering the minute quantities of copper
and ammonia by which, if Herr Fabini’s theory is
correct, the red colour is produced, it will be desirable
to avoid using an excess of the reagents lest a delicate
reaction be obscured.

It is known that chloral, however preserved, at the
end of a variable time becomes insoluble in water, in
which state it is known as metachloral. M. Byasson
in investigating the cause of this change has found
{Comvtes Rendus , xci., 1071) that anhydrous chloral,
if only purified by rectification, however frequently
repeated, always retains traces of sulphuric acid.
But if these be removed, by agitating the chloral
with 1 per cent, of its weight of .caustic baryta, de¬
canting and redistilling, the anhydrous chloral can
then be kept an indefinite time without alteration.
Some comparative experiments made with chloral
placed in sealed tubes appeared to show that the
change under the influence of sulphuric acid takes
place more rapidly when the chloral is exposed to
the light, and that hydrochloric acid induces a
similar transformation, but more slowly and incom¬
pletely.

Some time ago considerable interest was aroused
by a remark made by Sir Henry Thompson, when
lecturing on calculus diseases, which implied that
there was something in the condition in which the
purgative salts occurred in natural mineral waters
that invested them with special properties. Taking,
as an instance, Friederichshall water, Sir Henry spoke
of the average dose of 7 ounces as containing “about
25 grains of sulphate of soda and 20 grains of sul- '
pliate of magnesia, which taken in any combination
you like out of a druggist’s drawer would have no
appreciable action.” This statement was probably
based upon a published analysis by Liebig; but in
one of a valuable series of- reports on the mineral
waters of Europe by Dr. Tichborne and Dr. Prosser
James, now in course of publication in the Medical
Press and Circular (n. s., vol. xxx., p. 265, and xxxi.,
p. 12), the authors describe it as an unfounded
notion .and state that, although Liebig’s analysis still
fairly represents the quality of the ingredients and
their relative proportions, the Friederichshall of com¬
merce is now “much stronger and centesimally
richer in ingredients.” In fact, according to an
analysis made by Dr. Tichborne, a dose of 7 ounces
of Friederichshall would represent at the present
time 57| grains of sulphate of soda and 47 grains of
sulphate of magnesia.

In a paper read before the Royal Society last
month, Mr. Crookes deals with the subject of heat
conduction in highly rarefied air {Nature, January 6,

. 234). Previous experiments as to the transfer of
eat across air of different densities have appeared to
show as a general result that heat conduction is almost

January 29, 18S1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

613

independent of pressure. Mr. Crookes’s experiments,
however, point to a somewhat different conclusion.
They were made with glass globes containing accu¬
rate thermometers and exhausted to various degrees,
which were either allowed to cool from a raised tem¬
perature, or were heated by being plunged into hot
water, and the time occupied in each change of 5 de¬
grees of temperature, as indicated by the thermometer,
being noted. The plan of raising the temperature
gave the most constant results. Working within
ordinary limits not much diminution in the rate of
rise was observed with increased exhaustion ; thus,
with a pressure of 760 millimetres 121 minutes were
occupied whilst the thermometer was rising from 25°
to 50°, and with a pressure of 1 millimetre 150
minutes, whilst the time only increased to 252
minutes, even when the exhaustion was carried to 12
millionths of an atmosphere. But beyond this point
the retardation was more marked, the time with 5
millionths of an atmosphere being 322 minutes and
with 2 millionths 412 minutes. The explanation sug¬
gested by Mr. Crookes is that up to a certain point the
diminution in the number of impinging molecules is
compensated by the fewer collisions and consequent
increase in the mean length of the path and aug¬
mented motion of the molecules, and that it may not
be until high exhaustions are reached, in which the
mean length of path between collisions becomes
comparable with the diameter of the globe, that
further exhaustion produces a notable fall in the rate
at which heat is conveyed from the enclosing case
to the thermometer. Thus a reduction of pressure
from 5 millionths to 2 millionths of an atmosphere
caused a fall in the rate equal to twice that which
occurred by the reduction of pressure from 760 milli¬
metres to 1 millimetre, and it is inferred that an
additional diminution of a millionth would produce
a still greater relative retardation.

According to the American Journal of Pharmacy ,
it has been determined by a Sub-Committee of the
Committee on the Revision of the United States
Pharmacopoeia to recommend the official adoption of
a substance to represent the soft paraffin substances
now so largely used in pharmacy under such names
as vaseline, cosmoline, etc. The suggested pliarma-
cpoeial designation of this substance is " saxoline.”

In the very lengthened discussion in the “ Dis¬
pensing Memoranda” which resulted from the
question, “What is meant byhyd. chlorJ” one point
of some interest was touched upon by A. P. B., page
546. He found that calomel from one source when
blown into the eye could be borne with impunity,
whilst that from another source caused considerable

Eain. That the latter must have been in a crystal-
ne condition is suggested, and with some probability,
but it was evidently one of those peculiar cases
which should have been thoroughly investigated.

It is reasonable to suppose that the particles were
in one instance crystalline, in another amorphous ;
but the difficulty should be solved, and a microscopic
examination would be one means of setting the
question at rest. A thorough investigation with
satisfactory results would have raised the chemist in
the estimation of the medical attendant, and this is
just one of those instances where the pharmacist
could give evidence of superior training.

Since the remarks last month on the powder of
plumbi acet. and p. aluminis, when it was observed
that the two powders mixed together keep very well
in that condition, repeated references have been

made by correspondents to the same subject, and in
nearly every instance it is assumed that on mixing
the two ingredients decomposition necessarily takes
place, and that consequently the mixed powder
becomes moist, inferring, therefore, that the pre¬
scription is not a suitable one for the prescriber to
order for his patient. Such, however, is not the
case, and those ingredients, each in a state of powder,
may be mixed and kept, without any special precau¬
tion, for any reasonable length of time without
change. If the alum, sulph. be powdered at the
time it is required to be dispensed, it is just possible
that a sufficient amount of water may exist in the
interstices of the crystals to determine a decompo¬
sition which seems to have been occasionally met
with and very generally assumed. There is no
necessity for the suggestion that alum, exsic. should
be used, and its employment in this instance cannot
be sanctioned.

The first ingredient in prescription, No. 493, may
safely be assumed to mean beberia, and most pro¬
bably that which the prescriber intended to be used
was the sulphate of the alkaloid, a preparation of the
B.P. , beberiae sulphas. It is usual to combine it, as
in that prescription, with an acid and carminatives.
Beberiae sulphas is much esteemed by some members
of the medical profession, but is not in very general
use.

There is no such article known as the ammon.
quina carb. in No. 494, and it is scarcely probable
that any solid preparation of quinine would be pre¬
scribed in that proportion. It is very likely a slip
of the pen ; the omission of “ liquor ” renders it
probable that some confusion may have existed in
the prescriber’s mind when he wrote that prescrip¬
tion. Presuming that it has been correctly read,
there is little doubt but that an error has been
committed and that the preparation of quinine
intended was the tinct. quinse ammon.

In the prescription, No. 495, there must necessarily
be a deposit, which deposit, by shaking the bottle,
should be given in divided doses with the super¬
natant fluid. The compound which forms in .a
mixture ot pot. iodid. and liq. hyd. perchlor. is
Mayer’s solution for determining the presence of
some of the alkaloids, and has on more than one
previous occasion been referred to in these columns.
Its presence in a fluid preparation of cinchona would
cause a deposit of the alkaloids with more or less
extractive matter. Such a mixture cannot be clear
excepting after subsidence of the separated matter,
and in no case should that be left out of the mixture,
or the greater part, if not the whole, of the alkaloids
of the cinchona will be left out also.

The Phannacopoeial preparations of bark create
more difficulties in dispensing than, perhaps, those
of any other drug. Supposing the several pre¬
scriptions to have been faithfully prepared the
. difference can only be accounted for on the assump¬
tion of different kinds of bark having been used for
the same preparation in different establishments.
It can scarcely be conceived possible that any
dispenser would separate the deposit that occurred
in a mixture containing a preparation of cinchona
bark with a view of sending out a clear mixture.

The ext. ergot, ordered in No. 496 not being official,
the ext. ergot, liq., B. P., may be evaporated to the
consistence of an extract and used in this instance, 16
ounces, according to Squire, yielding 2j of solid
extract. In the prescription, however, the dose

614

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

(■January 20, 1881.

seems to indicate the use of a more active preparation,
and on reference to the German Pharmacopoeia
there is an ext. secalis cornuti, made in accordance
with the principle advocated by Bonjean, that of
using spirit to throw down mucilageous matter with
inorganic salts. The preparation is more elegant
and possesses greater activity than an extract which
is the result of simple evaporation . The use, therefore,
of Bonjean ’s ergotine may safely he recommended as
more calculated to fulfil the requirements of the
prescribes In considering which yields the most
active preparation, care should be taken that it
answers to the description of the article ordered in
the prescription.

When either ext. aloes or ext. aloes aq. is ordered,
as in Nos. 1 and 2 of 497, the extract of socotrine
aloes should be used, and the other only when
“barb.” is ordered. This follows the nomenclature
of the Ph. Loncl., in which ext. aloes is described as
an extract from socotrine aloes. Its synonym in
the Pharmacopoeia of 1836 being ext. aloes purif.
Also in the same Pharmacopoeia, the ext. of barba-
does aloes is ordered as such. The aloes of the
prescription No. 1, therefore, accords with the
nomenclature of the Ph. Lond., and in that of No.
2, the only addition is that of “aquos.” The two
really indicate the same preparation.

It is not unusual for grains to be inadvertently
written when guttse are evidently intended, as in
prescription No. 498. It may safely be assumed
that guttse were meant by the writer, and should be
dispensed by the chemist. It is sometimes difficult
to say what latitude should be allowed to questions;
but from “Juniors” it may perhaps be considerable
and the inquiries be still perfectly legitimate.

The ext. glycyrrhizse mollis of prescription, No.
499, does not admit the use of ext. glycyrrh. liq.,
but rather that of a soft extract of liquorice. The
word “ mollis,”* probably has some reference to the
directions for the preparation of some of the extracts
of the London Pharmacopoeia in two forms, “extractum
molle quod ad pilulas fingendas aptum sit et durum
quod in pulverem teri possit.” A soft extract, in
fact the ext. glycyrrh., B.P., was doubtless intended,
and more especially as the extract was to form part
of a mixture.

THE MIGRATION OF EUROPEAN ANIMALS TO

AMERICA AND OF AMERICAN ANIMALS TO

EUROPE.*

BY PROFESSOR E. W. CLAYPOLE, B.A., B.SC. (LONDON),

OF ANTIOCH COLLEGE, OHIO.

{Continued from jpage 598.)

And the end is not yet. Not yet has Europe ceased
to send over to America her surplus population — human
and insect, worthy and worthless. For more than two
hundred years the cabbage enjoyed almost perfect exemp¬
tion in this country from the attack of insects. The
American cabbage butterfly ( Pieris oleracea), it is true,
fed upon it, but the damage done was trifling and usually
confined to the outer leaves. Into this cabbage paradise,
however, the Evil One at length gained entrance in the
form of the English cabbage butterfly ( Pieris rapce).
Crossing the Atlantic unperceived, he landed at Quebec
about 1857. In a year or two entomologists began to
collect these insects — pleasant links of association with
the old country — and gardeners began to collect the
larvaj — unpleasant memorials of the same — and both

* Reprinted from the ‘Fourth Report of the Montreal
Horticultural Society/ 1878.

united in foreboding trouble to the growers of cabbage.
Few, however, realized the extent to which their fore¬
bodings would be fulfilled. Professor Packard, writing
in 1869, could say: “It is now found in the vicinity of
Quebec and the northern parts of New England.”* West
and south spread the new immigrant, multiplying rapidly
and travelling fast, until the growth of the cabbage
became utterly impossible in many localities. It is said
to have destroyed 500,000 dollars’ worth in the state of
New York in one year. It works incomparably more
mischief here than in Europe, eating into the very heart
of the cabbage, and so ruining far more than it destroys.
It appeared in this part of Ohio about 1872 or 1873, and
is reported in the ‘Canadian Entomologist' for 1877 to
have then reached Chicago. f It is now far west of
Chicago and St. Louis, X so that probably in a few years
the whole country east of the Rocky Mountains will be
only too well acquainted with this insect and its depre¬
dations. Fortunately, one at least of its foes has followed
it across the Atlantic, and is gaining to a great extent
the upper hand. This fly (Pteromalus puparum), which
lays its eggs in the caterpillar, annually destroys the
greater part of the broods. Two years ago, out of twenty
chrysalids I failed to obtain a single butterfly ; swarms
of these parasites issuing from the cases instead. An
anonymous writer from Ontario has aptly described this
mischievous little insect from the gardener’s point of
view in a recent number of Vick’s Magazine : —

“ Frisking, flirting, airy sprite,

Little Satan robed in white,

Favourite of Beelzebub,

Breeder of his choicest grub,

With befitting courtesy,

I take off my hat to thee.

“Blighter of the gardener’s hopes,

Fell destroyer of his crops,

Thy existence shall be brief,

Though I smash a cabbage-leaf ;

Having put thee out of pain,

I will don my hat again.”

And this immigration is still going on. Asparagus has
been a favourite vegetable for thousands of years. By
Roman writers it is extolled as highly as by those of
to-day. Its introduction into America is not on record,
but no one can doubt that the English colonists lost no
time in importing the culinary vegetables of their old
home. Asparagus has become as great a favourite here
as there. In its introduction its greatest foe and closest
companion was, unwittingly, of course, left in Europe.
No American insect attacked it, and for more than two
centuries it was cultivated in peace and with profit. But
about the year 1858, according to Dr. Fitch, the asparagus
beetle ( Crioceris asparagi) made its appearance in Long
Island — imported, no doubt, with asparagus from England
— and spread rapidly over the district, from Astoria as a
centre, occasioning such ravages that many asparagus
beds were ploughed up as useless.

As if the foregoing list were not long enough and
gloomy enough, we have quite recently added another,
an enemy to the housekeeper, who may expect additional
labour and anxiety in consequence of its advent. About
the year 1874, says Dr. Lintner — to whose kindness I
am indebted for some of these details — the European
carpet beetle ( Anthrenus scrophularice) was first noticed
in several parts of the state of New York. Dr. Hagen
reports it as early as 1872 at Buffalo, and 1873 at Cam¬
bridge and Boston. Three-fourths of these latter cases
were traced, he adds, to a large carpet store in Washing¬
ton Street, Boston. “Should this insect,” says Dr. Lintner*

* This range was too narrow for that year.

f The account given in the place cited of its introduction
differs from that usually accepted by placing it apparently
at least three years too late. See Packard’s ‘ Guide to
Insects and Report of the Entomological Society of Ontario’
for 1875, p. 31.

X I learn this year that it is still unknown at Kankakee,

January 29, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

615

“ become as common as another of the same genus (<4.
varius), it is difficult to conceive how the luxury of
carpets can still be indulged in within our homes.” The
danger is great. “ Its power of increase is almost in¬
calculable. Camphor, pepper, tobacco, turpentine, carbolic
acid,” says Dr. Lintner, “ are powerless against it.” _ It
eats large holes in the carpets, and living in the crevices
of the floor, cuts them through as with a pair of scissors
along the joints of the boards.

Thus has Europe contributed to people America.
What will be her next gift ? And it must be borne in
mind that these European incomers multiply far faster
and do, as a rule, infinitely more mischief here than
there. So there is this, that some of them were not
recognized in Europe until the reports of their wide-
spreading havoc in America excited alarm. The British
Privy Council met specially to take measures for pre¬
venting the introduction of the Hessian fly into England,
not knowing that it had been there from time imme¬
morial and had gone thence to the West.* In one or
two instances, at least, it is still somewhat uncertain
whether the insect migrated from Europe to America or
from America to Europe. The woolly apple tree bark
louse ( Eriosoma lanigera ) is an example of this. To
the causes of this remarkable difference of behaviour I
shall return presently. It is enough here to notice the
fact.

Here this list must end, because time and space fail.
Add to the depredation of these foreign pests the
numerous native insects which plunder the farmer and
the gardener to an extent unknown in England, and we
shall not be surprised to learn that, according to an
estimate made not many years ago by a competent
entomologist, the annual loss to the country exceeds
300,000,000 dollars. The prospect is not comforting.

The other side of the question now calls for considera¬
tion. To what extent has America contributed of her
insect population to increase the destroyers of European
farmers’ crops ? Here, as was the case with American
weeds, we are struck with the scantiness of the list.

Foremost among fruit destroyers of native origin is the
detested plum weevil ( Conotrachelus nenuphar). More
fruit is destroyed by this insect than by all others together
in many parts of the country. Few are the kinds that
are spared by this little Turk. The eggs are laid in the
plum and nectarine, and the fruit withers and falls ; in
the cherry, and the fruit swells and ripens, but the house¬
wife must stone or examine almost every single one in
order to determine whether she is canning fruit or a hotch¬
potch of weevil-grubs, grass, and fruit together ; in the
apple, and the fruit shrinks, becomes one-sided, and falls
off hard, knotty, bitter and woody material, instead of
flesh. In many parts of the country the culture of the
plum has been abandoned, and the trees have been cut
down. The downy skin of the peach saves it from becom¬
ing the nest of this weevil, but when the fruit is ripe the
snout of the beetle bores through the rind and then lets in
! . fungus spores, which soon cause fermentation and decay.

* No easy or thoroughly successful mode of checking it has
been discovered, and it continues to work havoc among
the orchards and gardens of the United States, and to
some extent in those of Canada also.

Yet this insect has never crossed to Europe. There the
plum and cherry, the peach and nectarine grow un¬
disturbed, and grubby fruit is almost unknown.

The canker worm ( Anisopteryx vernata), so widely dis¬
tributed and so destructive- to the apple tree, if it has
ever crossed the Atlantic has not established itself on the
other side. The squash bug ( Coreus tristis), so mischievous
in gardens, and the yet more noxious chinch bug

* An interesting paper might be written on the migra¬
tion of some of these insects to Europe from Asia, for not a
few of them can be traced to the eastern continent, and it
must not be inferred that the original home, whatever that
expression may mean, of all these insects is Europe because
they are here spoken of as European.

( Rhiparocliromns hucopterus), of which Dr. Shimer says
that in 1864 it destroyed three-fourths of the wheat
and half of the maize through almost the entire North-
West, are equally unknown there. The apple tree
flourishes there free from its deadly enemy, the apple tree
borer ( Saperda Candida). The peach tree is not killed by
the peach tree borer ( Aegeria exitiosa). The apple tree
web worm ( Clisiocampa Americana) and the forest web
worm (O. sylvatica) never spin on the orchard and forest
trees their silky webs. The northern army worm ( Leucania
unipunctata), which sometimes covers wheat fields in the
United States, is there unknown. The American cut
worms ( Agrotis ) have never been seen there, though
represented by European forms. The black locust tree of
America grows and flourishes in Europe free from its
native foe, the locust borer (Clytus robinice), which renders
its growth impossible in some parts of the States.

The leaves of the rose, the pear, the vine and the
raspberry, are not there destroyed by the attacks of the
slugs, or larvae of four sawflies ( Selandria rosce , S. cerasi,
S. vitis, and S. rubi). The tussock moth ( Orgyia leuco -
stigma) does not destroy the foliage of the shade trees,
as in Philadelphia and other cities. The ash-grey
blister beetle ( Lytta cinerea), which renders the culti¬
vation of English Windsor beans impossible in many
parts of the States, has found no lodgment there. The
currant spanworm ( Abraxas ribearia), sometimes so
destructive in Canada and the States to the red currant,
is not known in England. None of the American bees
and wasps have emigrated thither. The same is true
of the butterflies and moths of this continent, even the
abundant black bordered sulphur {Colias philodice), which
feeds chiefly upon the European clover in America, has
never, so far as I am aware, been seen in England.

A few exceptions must, however, be noted to the
general exemption. “The only specimen of white ant
which exists within the limits of the United States
( Termes frontalis) has been known for a long time as a
guest in the plant-houses of Schonbrunn, in Germany,
but is not reported to have spread into the surrounding
country.” “A very minute yellow ant (Myrmica molesta),
which often infests houses through the United States,
has, according to Frederick Smith, become generally
distributed and neutralized in houses in England.” The
American cockroach ( Blatta americana), says Dr. Hagen,
is common in sugar refineries at Archangel. The pea
weevil ( Bruchus pisi), of which Mr. Bethune remarked in
the ‘Canadian Entomologist’ for January, 1876, “we fear
it may soon become a source of great loss to our agri¬
culturists,” is another immigrant to Europe, where it is
now common in the south, though the damage it causes
is much less than that which it commits in some parts of
America. Professor Kalm says the inhabitants of some
parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York have
been compelled to abandon the cultivation of this delicious
vegetable, in consequence of the prevalence of this insect.
And Professor Riley says : “The knowledge of the fact may
not add to our enjoyment of a mess of green peas, yet the
fact nevertheless remains, that those of us in^the Missis¬
sippi Valley who indulge in this delicious esculent devour
a young weevil with nearly every pea we eat.”

It has been doubted whether this pest of the garden
is really a native of America. It was first noticed near
Philadelphia, whence it has spread over the States, and
threatens Canada. The garden pea being an imported
vegetable, the insect must, if native, have originally fed
on&some other plant, not a solitary instance of change of
food. Though it prefers a warm climate, yet Mr.
Saunders, of London, Ont., says it prevails in all parts of
Canada, from the Red River to Quebec, and in some
places so abundantly as to discourage farmers from grow¬
ing peas at all. Professor Riley adds : “ We in the W estem
States are in the habit of sending to Canada for seed
peas, because we then get them free from weevils, but
the 'reason is their greater care in destroying the
weevils and in sorting their seed.” Though thus mis-

616

THE PHARMAOEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 29, 1881

chievous here, yet Kirby and Spence say it does not
occur to any injurious extent in England.

England has given to America her meal worm ( Tenebrio
molitor), but she has received another in return in
American flour (T. obscurus), which is now found in
some places in tolerable abundance. It feeds on dry and
sound flour, whereas the European meal worm is only
found in that which is damp or otherwise damaged.

Would that we could stop here, but there is one notorious,
terrible exception, which claims notice. It first attracted
attention about the year 1866, though it had been men¬
tioned by Dr. Fitch ten years earlier. The leaves of
certain varieties of vine, especially the Clinton, were
covered with galls from the size of a pea downward.
But the mischief was so slight that the late Mr. Walsh
could write of it in 1860 ; “I do not think there is much
likelihood of it ever becoming so numerous on any vine
as unduly to check its growth.” So far, however, is this
expectation from agreeing with the fact that this little
insignificant gall louse is threatening seriously to injure,
if not to ruin, several varieties of vine in this country.
This insect, like some others, the potato beetle, for
example, has shown its good taste by transferring its
attention from its native food to the now highly culti¬
vated plants from Europe, and has taken hold of the
European vine ( Vitis vinifera). At some time, and by
some means at present unknown, it was conveyed to
France, where the havoc it has made among the vine¬
yards is such that the French Government has offered a
reward of 20,000 francs for an efficient and practical
remedy. The names of Mr. C. Y. Riley, late of St. Louis,
Mo., and now one of the Entomological Commissioners
at Washington, and of MM. Signoret, Lichtenstein and
Plan chon, are indissolubly connected with the investi¬
gation of this minute grape vine gall louse ( Phylloxera
vastatrix). The second of these gentlemen, while prose¬
cuting his investigations, was shut up in Paris by the
German besieging army, but nothing daunted, he carried
on his studies of this little louse, and wrote by balloon
that though he himself was reduced to cats, dogs and
horseflesh, the phylloxera, which he had in boxes, kept
well and in good health ; a good illustration of the pursuit
of knowledge under difficulties.

The gall louse is of two forms — one living in the
summer on the leaves ( gallicola ), and the other in the
winter on the roots (radicicola). In Europe the latter
appears to be the more common, and is certainly by far
the more mischievous. Our limit only allows a few facts.
Since 1865 it has spread from Avignon, northward, east¬
ward and westward, until it now prevails over the whole
district between Montpelier, Lyons and Toulon. Out of
75,000 acres of vineyard in the department of Avignon,
60,000 have been destroyed. In the department of Gard,
half an average crop was produced in 1871. In the
commune of Graveson, the mean crop of 1865, 1866 and
1867, was 220,000 gallons; in 1868, 121,000 gallons, in
1869, 48,000 gallons; then diminishing year by year,
until in 1873, the yield was only 1100 gallons. Instances
like this might be given to almost any extent, both from
Europe and this country. It is already wide-spread here.
Mr. Riley says: — “I have traced it back in this country
to 1834. I have with my own eyes witnessed it in
Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, New York,
New Jersey, Maryland, and in Ontario, and have evi¬
dences of its occurrence in North Carolina, Tennessee
and Florida.” To these I can add Ohio. At present its
attacks are chiefly made upon the varieties of the frost-
grape ( Vitis cordifolia or riparia), and the European
vine ( V. vinifera ), and their hybrids, such as the
Clinton, Cornucopia, Taylor, Marion and Delaware.
How long this will remain true it is impossible to say.

This pest is evidently at present little known in
Canada, but vine-growers in the Dominion will do well to
be on their guard, and make themselves acquainted with
its appearance and habits. “Forewarned, forearmed,”
should be their motto, or it may be in their midst, and

work them endless vexation and loss, before they know
what is hurting them. In the ‘Report of the Entomo¬
logical Society of Ontario for 1877,’ Mr. B. Gott, of
Arkona, says: — “I have already seen specimens of it,
and it is my decided opinion that unless some effective
remedy is found, our vines will suffer much from the
effects of this tiny insect upon their leaves, and especially
their roots.” The difficulty of finding any such remedy,
may be seen from the fact that the 20,000 francs offered
by the French Government remain unawarded, and that
it is now proposed to cut a canal from the River Rhone,
and flood the vineyards in winter, at a cost of 102,000,000
francs, in order to save “ 60,000 acres, yielding products
amounting to 200,000,000 francs a year.

The difficulty felt by the Italian Government in dealing
with this plague may be seen from the following ex¬
tract : —

“ The restriction on the importation of plants of any
kind whatever, and from any quarter, is most rigid. A
consignment of the newly discovered aroid, from Sumatra,
was subjected in Genoa to formalities and delays that
seriously compromised the safety of the tubers. In some
places gentlemen must dispense with the ordinary floral-
decorations in their button-holes. On the French frontier
no one is allowed to gather a bouquet of wild flowers in
foreign soil, and take them across the border, for fear
that the much-dreaded pest should exist in it. All
scientific reasoning seems to be at an end in the minds of
the Italian Government officials.” Nat., Feb. 20, 1879.

These words called out the following reply : —

“ It was soon found that to forbid the importation of
foreign vines and fruit trees was quite ineffectual, as it
only gave occasion for smuggling on a grand scale, en¬
couraged by certain horticultural firms, who did not fear
to compromise their respectability by so doing. They
began by introducing the prohibited plants in their leaf¬
less state, labelled ‘choicest exotics,’ to the utter confusion
of the custom house officials, who, not being naturalists,
were at a loss how to act, until the government was
obliged at last to send the order that no live plant should
pass the frontier.” This will give some idea of the
difficulty of excluding such a pest. The same periodical
reports that an Australian insect (. Dorthesia ckaracias),
probably introduced with the blue gum tree, is killing
many of the orchard and other trees in California. This
same insect has proved a great pest in South Africa.

(To be continued.)

TINCTURA RUSCI.*

This tincture is recommended for ringworm, by
Professor Kaposi, in Hebra’s work on skin diseases.

Of the genus Ruscus, which is classed with the
Smilacese or Liliacese, three species have been employed
medicinally, all of which are indigenous to Southern
Europe, one, R. aculeatus, Lin., or butcher’s broom,
being also found in England. The rhizome, known as
radix rusci or brusci, possesses aperient and diuretic
properties, and was formerly much used in visceral
diseases. This is doubtless the species employed for the
above tincture, but we have been unable to find a formula
in old or recent works, though several give directions
for decoctions. Since the dose was from 10 to 30 grains
in powder, the tincture is, perhaps, best made of 20 parts
of the powdered drug, exhausted with sufficient dilute
alcohol to obtain 100 parts. The taste is disagreeable,
sweetish and bitter.

The other two species referred to are Ruscus hypophyllum
and R. hypoglossum, Lin., the former of which was
known as laurus alexandrina, the latter as bislingua,
uvularia and laurus alexandrina angustifolia. The root
and evergreen leaves were employed in diseases of the
uterus and bladder.

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, January,
1881.

January 29, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

617

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, hooks for review , etc., should he addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should he sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square , W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. JournJ

THE DIFFICULTIES OF PHARMACEUTICAL
LEGISLATION.

More than a month has now passed since we
ventured to suggest the probability that the attempt
to bring about an amendment of the Pharmacy Act
would have for one of its first results the demonstra¬
tion that popular opinion among pharmacists is far
from being unanimous in regard to any of those
subjects which are considered to be of importance in
connection with the future of the art they prac¬
tise. We then pointed out that the existence
of such differences of opinion as were to
be anticipated would render the task of
drafting a Bill one of much greater difficulty than
would otherwise appertain to the work to be carried
through, and subsequently, when publishing the
preliminary draft of the Bill ordered to be published
by the Council, we suggested the desirability of
mutual concessions between those who hold adverse
opinions, provided it could be admitted that the
contemplated provisions of the Bill would in any
degree conduce to the general interests of the trade.

In placing these remarks before our readers we
had no desire to take the position of a croaker or a
prognosticator of evil, but rather, if possible, to
prevent the manifestations of unfavourable symp¬
toms that might be regarded as possible. It seemed
to us that if there were any room for introducing a
measure to reform and ameliorate pharmaceutical
affairs, the chief things needful for arriving at
a successful issue were harmony of feeling and
unanimity of action among the promoters of the
Bill. So strongly were we impressed with the
necessity of this condition that we urged the culti¬
vation of mutual willingness to waive individual
opinions so far that, if there could not be unanimity
of sentiment, there should at least be concurrent
and harmonious action.

The response to the invitation given at the last
Council meeting that members of the trade
generally should express their opinions upon the
Bill has certainly not failed to furnish a justi¬
fication of the fears which, in the articles above
referred to, we rather hinted at than expressed.
It would be mere affectation to question the
existence of a discordance, not to say antagonism,
of opinion in regard to the main features of the

draft Bill, which does not promise much for the
successful issue of the undertaking now in hand.
The subjects which have evoked these expressions of
dissent are precisely those to which we referred as
being probably the most prominently noticeable.
Widows and the bearing of the Pharmacy Bill upon
their interests have come first to the front, and Mr.
Sandford, acting upon the hope expressed by some
members of the Council that the trade generally
would state their opinions, has come forward as the
uncompromising advocate of the maintenance of
“widows’ houses,” regardless of its inconsistency with
the main feature and leading idea of past pharma¬
ceutical legislation, viz., the personal qualification
of the individual to whom a business belongs. Mr.
Sandford is not even content with the position of
widows as they have been under the present Act, but
reverting to the intention of those engaged in fram¬
ing the Act of 1868, and to the object desired by
them to follow from the exemption set down in the
16th section of that Act, he would now seek to carry
out that intention still further than it has been
carried, by definitely exempting widows from the
provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, as widows,
and not merely as executors, administrators or
trustees.

Viewing the position of a chemist and druggist’s
widow as a matter of sentiment the opinion ex¬
pressed by Mr. Sandford will doubtless be ex¬
tremely popular with a large portion of the trade, but
it is precisely this view of the matter which appears
to be the most inappropriate that can be conceived in
regard to what is demanded for the general interest
of the trade. Personal qualification of the owner of
a business is, as the President affirms, the very
soul of the Pharmacy Acts : that must be, as hitherto,
the main object of all endeavours to improve the
position of the pharmacist, and even by the decision
that has been given against the Council in the late
litigation, the wholesomeness of that principle has
not been questioned, but merely the scope of the
Act’s phraseology. But if in the case of the widow
of a chemist and druggist it be maintained that the
safety of the public is sufficiently guarded by her
carrying on business through the aid of a qualified
assistant, the whole principle of the legislation is
abandoned, and there cannot be any logical justifica¬
tion for objecting to other unqualified persons carry¬
ing on business in the same way.

Still, as we have remarked, the sentimental view
of the matter will with many prevail over the
logical one, even when the interests of the trade
are at stake, and, as our correspondence columns
last week and this week show, Mr. Sandford will
unfortunately have supporters. Still more unfor¬
tunately he will have opponents, and when we take
into account who they are that figure already in that
attitude we cannot hope much for the prospects of
success in the projected amendment of the Pharmacy
Act.

618

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 29, 1881*

It is, moreover, not only in regard to the question
of widows that the prospect of success in amending
the Pharmacy Act is doubtful, but in several other
points of view there is evidence of tendencies
too contrary to leave much hope of a satisfactory
measure being carried. Mr. Barnard Proctor
well expresses the feeling of disheartenment
which must be felt by many on hearing the
demand for a monopoly in the sale of all kinds of
drugs and pharmaceutical preparations, and we
think it would be well if those who think with
him would follow his example by putting on record
their conviction that legislation in favour of the
druggist is not to be looked for or wished for.

It is painful to have to note from time to time
that in this respect so many members of the trade
seem to have no proper conception of what apper¬
tains to the exercise of their business or of what they
can claim in their own interest with any show of
reason. It would seem as if those belonging to this
category were involuntarily bent on demonstrating the
inutility of pharmaceutical legislation and of giving
support to the opinion that the trade would be better
without any Pharmacy Act and left to be governed
by the principle of the survival of the fittest. In any
case it is evident that neither the drafting of a Bill,
nor the passing of it through Parliament, will be a
matter of such facile execution as has been supposed
possible.

THE CASE UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND
MEASURES ACT.

It will be a matter of interest to many of our
readers to know that the hearing of Mr. Whittle’s
appeal against the judgment of the Marylebone
magistrates will come on at the Westminster Sessions
House, Broad Sanctuary, as the first case on Saturday
morning next at 10.30. The appeal is being con¬
ducted by Mr. Glaisyer, of Birmingham, for the
Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association. The
counsel for the appellant is Mr. Besley and Mr.
Poland is for the respondents.

THE CALENDAR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL

SOCIETY.

We have received an early copy of the Calendar
of the Pharmaceutical Society, issued under the
authority of the Council, and are authorized to say
that by the time these lines reach our readers this
useful little volume will be ready for delivery. Of
course, after the manner of Calendars, it contains
all necessary information respecting the Society,
such as Lists of its Members, Associates and Ap¬
prentices, Charter, Acts of Parliament, and Bye
Laws, as well as a list of the Subscribers and
Donors to the Benevolent Fund, giving the number
of votes to which each is entitled. But in addition
there is an Appendix containing a large amount of
information interesting to chemists and druggists,
as it includes most of the Acts of Parliament, or the
essential portions of them, having a special bearing
upon their business. We notice for instance that
it contains as fresh matter the portion of the Spirits
Act, passed last year, which relates to the sale of
methylated spirit, and some extracts referring to the
Weights and Measures Act.

We understand that the Register is also nearly
ready, and these two volumes, taken together with
the Registrar’s Report, will enable us to give next
week our usual statistical notice on the relations
of the Society and the trade to each other.

Crairsarticms of tbe

Stfdefy.

NORTH BRITISH BRANCH.

The third meeting of the present session of the North
British Branch was held on the evening of the 21st inst.,
in the rooms of the Society, 119a, George Street, Mr.
J. B. Stephenson, President of the Branch, in the chair.

The minutes of the former meeting were read and con¬
firmed.

The Chairman, at the opening of the meeting, said this
was the first meeting since the death of Mr. Baildon.
Mr. Baildon had been a very frequent attendant at their
meetings and an occasional contributor to their pro¬
ceedings, and their museum especially had been enriched
through him. He (the Chairman) was sure it would be
the wish of the meeting to honour the memory of Mr.
Baildon by placing on record their sense of the great loss
sustained through his death.

The Honorary Secretary announced the following dona¬
tions : —

To the Museum. — A box containing a unique collection
of Chinese Drugs, as put up for sale in the drug stores of
China and the East Indies : presented by Mr. A. Mackay,
The Dispensary, Singapore (late of Edinburgh).

To the Library. — (1) Journal of the Chemical Society for
December, 1880, from Mr. Mackay; (2) Canadian Phar¬
maceutical Journal for December, 1880; from the Ontario
College of Pharmacy; (3) The Pharmacist and Chemist
for December, 1880, from the Chicago College of Phar¬
macy ; (4) ‘ The Year-Book of Pharmacy ’ for 1880,
from the British Pharmaceutical Conference; (5) 1 vol.
and part of a vol. of Goebel’s ‘ Pharmaceutische Waaren-
kunde,’ with beautiful illustrations, from Mr. E. G.
Schweitzer, London; (6) The American Journal of Phar¬
macy for 1879 : a new addition to the Library (to be
continued).

Mr. D. B. Dott, Edinburgh, then read the following
“ notes —

Solubility op Some of the Salts op Morphia.

BY D. B. DOTT.

In the published statements concerning the solubility
of the salts of morphia there are considerable discre¬
pancies, while the proportions given by some authorities
are obviously erroneous. These results have doubtless in
many cases been obtained through the substances em¬
ployed having varied in composition, or through the
different experimenters having prepared their solutions
n various ways.

I have determined the solubility in water of the prin¬
cipal morphia salts, and although the results are not
supposed to be rigidly accurate, I believe they will be
found sufficiently correct for practical purposes. The
method employed in each case was the same. A satu¬
rated solution was prepared by digesting the salt in water
in a closed test-tube for three days, the tube being
frequently agitated. The solution was then quickfy
filtered into a tared beaker, the temperature at the same
time being observed, after which the vessel and its con¬
tents were immediately weighed, and the solution evapo¬
rated to dryness on the water-bath. Before weighing the
residue it was thoroughly dried in the bath and allowed
to cool in the exsiccator.

Hydrochloride. — a. 33*79 grs. water at 10° C. dissolved

+

1*31 grs. morphia hydrochloride (M.HC1. 3H„0). This
makes the solubility 1 in 25*79.

+

b. 34*54 grs. water dissolved 1*34 grs. M.HC1.3H20,
which gives a solubility of 1 in 25*77.

Of course the residue left by evaporating a solution of
the muriate on the water-bath is the anhydrous hydro-

January 29, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

619

chloride, so that it is necessary to convert the numbers
obtained into the corresponding proportion of hydrate,
then to subtract the latter number from the weight of
the solution, in order to find the amount of water re¬
quired to dissolve the salt.

Sulphate. — a. 59 ‘02 grs. dissolved 2*56 grs. morphia

+

sulphate (M2. H2S04.5H20), or 1 part is soluble in 23-05
parts water at 10° C.

+

6. 53*83 grs. dissolved 2*31 grs. M2.H2S04. 5H20, or
1 part is soluble in 23*30 parts water at 10° C.

When an aqueous solution of the sulphate is evaporated
to dryness on the water-bath, the residue consists of the
2-hydrate. The salt as crystallized from water is the
5 -hydrate.

Acetate. — a. 18*21 grs. water at 108 dissolved 8*77

+ —

grs. morphia acetate (M.A.3H20), or 1 part is soluble in
2*07 parts water.

6. 20*82 grs. water at same temperature dissolved 9*80

+ -

grs. M. A.3H20, or 1 part is soluble in 2*02 parts H20.

The solution of the acetate must be evaporated very
gently, and finally taken to dryness in the exsiccator, as
it is readily decomposed by heat.

Meconate. — a. 54*73 grs. H20 at 12° C. dissolved

+ -

1*97 grs. morphia meconate (M2Mec.5H20), making the
solubility 1 in 27*78.

6. 94*10 grs. H20 at 12° dissolved 3*38 grs.

+ -

M2Mec.5H20, making the solubility 1 in 27*83.

Tartrate.— a. 162*685 grs. water at 14° C. dissolved

4- —

18*03 grs. neutral tartrate of morphia (M2T.3H20), or
1 part of the salt is soluble in 9*02 parts water.

b. 117*67 grs. water at 14Q C. dissolved 13*08 grs.
+ —

M2T.3H20, or 1 part is soluble in 9*00 parts water.

The solubility of the acid tartrate is much less. It is
indeed rather sparingly soluble in water.

Citrate. — a. 80*85 grs. water at 10° C. dissolved 4*14

+ —

grs. di-morphia citrate (M2.C.5H20), or 1 part is soluble
in 19*52 parts water.

+ —

b. 41*67 grs. water dissolved 2*13 grs. M2C.5H20,
giving a solubility of 1 in 19*56.

Valerate.— a. 8*31 grs. water at 12° C. dissolved 1*93

4" —

grs. morphia valerate (M.V.H20), which makes the
solubility 1 in 4*30.

+ -

b. 69*89 grs. water dissolved 16*23 grs. M.V.H20,
making the solubility 1 in 4*32 parts water.

Like the acetate the valerate is liable to a certain
amount of decomposition by heating. The solution
ought, therefore, to be evaporated, and the residue dried
without exposure to a high temperature.

The comparative solubility of the above-mentioned
salts near the ordinary temperature may be seen by
reference to the annexed table : —

Acetate . . .

. 1 in 2 parts water.

Valerate . .

. 1 in 4j

99

Tartrate . .

. 1 in 9

99

Citrate . . .

. * 1 in 19£

99

Sulphate . .

. 1 in 23

99

Muriate . .

. 1 in 25f

99

Meconate . .

. 1 in 27^

99

Morphia Acetate.

BT D. B. DOTT.

In the Pharmacopoeia instructions for the prepara¬
tion of acetate of morphia it is directed to “ evapo¬

rate the solution with the heat of a water-bath until
it concretes on cooling,” and finally to “dry the salt
with a gentle heat.” These directions render the
composition of the product somewhat uncertain, as by
continued exposure to a moderate heat a portion of the
combined water will be driven off ; but it is probably
intended that the salt should only be dried until it is not
sensibly moist.

In order to ascertain the composition of acetate of
morphia prepared by the B.P. process, a sample of that
preparation was examined in manner as follows : —

(1.) 14*44 grs. exposed under bell-glass over sulphuric
acid lost in weight 0*99 grs. r= 6*85 per cent. Then trans¬
ferred to water-bath the 13*45 grs. lost 1*65 grs. = 12*26
per cent. The total loss being 18*28 per cent. The
dried salt was treated with water and left undissolved,
5*66 grs. =39*12 per cent. The morphia in the solution
was precipitated by ammonia and dried under 100° C.
It weighed 4*74 grs. =32*82 per cent.

(2.) 50 grs. of the same sample dissolved in water left
2*67 grs. morphia, equivalent to 5*34 per cent. The dis¬
solved morphia obtained by precipitation weighed 34*30
grs. = 68*60 per cent.

(3.) 15*935 grs., exposed in the air-bath at 110° C.,lost
4*49 grs. =28*17 per cent. The residue weighed 11*445
grs. = 71*82 per cent. This did not dissolve to an appre¬
ciable extent in water and evidently consisted of pure
morphia, the combined acid and water having been
driven off.

(4.) 12*75 grs. of another sample when dried in exsic¬
cator lost 1*015 grs. =7*96 per cent. The dried salt was
then treated with water and left undissolved, 0*78 grs.=
6*11 per cent. To the solution excess of ammonia was
added and the precipitate collected. After drying it
weighed 8*41 grs. = 65*96 'per cent.

(5.) 50 grs. of the same dissolved in water left 3*03 grs.
of uncombined morphia, equal to 6*06 per cent. The
combined morphia precipitated from the filtrate weighed
33*46 grs. = 66*92 per cent.

(6.) The loss in exsiccator in three samples was esti¬
mated with the following results : —

11*63 grs. lost 0*96 = 8*25 per cent.

13*32 „ „ 1*23 = 9*23 „ „

13*43 „ „ 1*07 = 7*96 „ „

Now it is evident from the results of experiments (4)

and (5) that the decrease of weight by exposure in the

exsiccator is almost entirely due to loss of water, as the
increase in the amount of uncombined morphia after
drying is only 0*05 per cent., indicating that no note¬
worthy proportion of the acid had been eliminated. From
experiment (1) we see that the acetate loses weight in the
water-bath after it has ceased to do so in the exsiccator ;
but it is evident from the results of (1) and (2) that this
is partly due to loss of acid, seeing that the uncombined
morphia had increased from 5*34 to 39*12. If we deduct
the percentage of free morphia originally present from
that obtained after drying we get the number 33*78.
Now the weight of acetic acid equivalent to that amount
of morphia is 6*68. But the loss of weight in the water-
bath is 12*26, so that 5*58 is due to loss of water. The
third experiment proves that by exposure to a tempera¬
ture of 110° C. in the air, the whole of the water and
acid is driven off, leaving the anhydrous alkaloid.

In drawing conclusions from these results, it must be
borne in mind that we are not working with pure acetate,
but with an acetate containing an admixture of free mor¬
phia, and also that the whole of the combined morphia is
not obtained by precipitating with ammonia.

The average loss of weight in exsiccator is 8*05 per
cent.

C17H19N03.C2H402.3 H20 for the loss of 2 H2O = 9*02
per cent.

The loss of weight at 110° C. is 28*17 per cent.

C17H19N03. C2H402. 3 H20 gives a percentage of 28*82
of acid and water.

620

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 29, 1881.

The residue left by drying at llO5' C. is=71'82 per
cent, of the salt.

C17H19N03. C2H402. 3 H20 gives a percentage of mor¬
phia = 71 ‘42 per cent.

It is, therefore, evident from what has been said that
acetate of morphia, prepared by the Pharmacopoeia
process, contains 3 molecules of water, and that the
formula ought to be given as Cl7H19N03.C2H402.3H20.
The official formula is defective in so far as it omits
the water of crystallization. It is interesting to notice
from a posological point of view that the percentage
of morphia in the acetate is nearly the same as in the
muriate and sulphate. If the acetate were dispensed as
an anhydrous salt, an appreciably larger dose of morphia
would be given than by the same weight of muriate.
All samples of morphia acetate which we have examined
approximate more or less closely to the composition above
given. Such a salt ought to yield by precipitation with
ammonia not less than 72 per cent, of morphia hydrate.

Mr. J. Nesbit, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Portobello,
followed with “ Notes on the Solubility of the Sulphate
of Beberia.” Mr. Nesbit exhibited numerous specimens
illustrative of his experiments.

Notes on Sulphate of Beberia.

BY J. NESBIT.

This preparation, which has long had a place in
Edinburgh pharmacy, has always been a source of
difficulty to the dispenser, from its partial solubility. The
Pharmacopoeia states that water forms with it a clear
brown solution ; this, we all know, does not apply to the
article we are invariably supplied with. It is certainly
soluble in the proportion of one part of the salt in six or
eight parts of water, forming a clear and permanent
solution ; but when this is diluted, or a larger quantity of
water is used, a muddy looking mixture is formed, which
on standing deposits a bulky precipitate. This peculiarity
being so contrary to my experience of the solubility of
alkaloid salts, I looked up the various works on pharmacy,
but in none could I find any reference to the decomposi¬
tion which evidently occurs.

Dr. Maclagan thought he had found another alkaloid,
sipirina, in the commercial salt but on a subsequent ex¬
amination he came to the conclusion that this was not an
alkaloid, but an oxidation product of beberia, and this I
have always considered the precipitate to be.

The following experiments were undertaken to elucidate
this point : —

A solution of the salt, in proportion of one part in fifty
of distilled water, was prepared and after standing for
twenty-four hours was filtered. The filtrate on being
tested with litmus gave no acid reaction.

The precipitate was also examined for acid, but with
a negative result, and after washing with distilled water
it was dissolved in rectified spirit and tested for sulphuric
acid, of which it gave no indication.

The filtrate, after standing some days, during which
time it retained its brilliant transparent brown colour,
was evaporated on a water-bath to a syrupy consistence
and scaled without artificial heat. On re-dissolving this
it gave nearly as turbid a solution as the salt from which
it had been originally prepared. No doubt the very
moderate heat of a water-bath had caused some de¬
composition, or possibly that combined with the influence
of the atmosphere had effected the oxidation before
alluded to.

The Pharmacopoeia, in the process for its preparation,
directs that the sulphuric acid be added in slight excess,
an instruction which does not seem to have been adhered
to in this case, as the filtrate was decidedly basic and the
precipitate gave no indication of acid either free or
combined.

To satisfy myself of the correctness of this, fifty grains
of the sulphate were dissolved in a small quantity of

water and precipitated with chloride of barium; the
beberia, however, went down with the sulphate of
baryta, and after considerable washing it was found
impossible to separate the latter in a sufficiently pure
state for weighing.

Other fifty grains were now mixed with nitrate of
potash and carbonate of soda and ignited, the residue
dissolved in distilled water, acidulated with nitric acid
and BaCl2 added; the precipitate weighed 11 grains,
which on calculation is equal to 7 '5 per cent of S03 in
the sulphate of beberia.

Another portion of 50 grains was dissolved in distilled
water and precipitated with ammonia; the filtrate and
washings were estimated as in the previous experiment.
The precipitate in this case weighed 12 grains, equal to
8 per cent, of S03 in the sulphate of beberia, the mean of
the two experiments being 775. Now, the theoretical
quantity of S03 in the Pharmacopoeia salt is 1173 per
cent., thus showing a deficiency of nearly 4 per cent, in
the commercial article. How far this conclusion is cor¬
rect you may judge from the preparation I now submit to
you. In the first place a solution of the ordinary salt
was made and the estimated deficiency of S03 added, the
solution evaporated and rescaled. The scales have the
usual brown translucent appearance and dissolve readily
in water, giving a clear solution ; but after standing for
forty-eight hours a deposit takes place, which I have no
doubt arises from the oxidized product existing in the
original salt, the result of its evaporation when in the basic
condition. Another quantity of the basic preparation
was now dissolved in 50 parts of water and after standing
for twenty-four hours, 4 per cent, of S03 added, the solu¬
tion filtered from the insoluble portion of the precipitate,
the filtrate evaporated and scaled. The result is a salt
soluble in water in all proportions giving a clear brown
solution, and otherwise answering the description of the
officinal preparation.

The conclusions from the foregoing experiments are
that the commercial salt is deficient in sulphuric anhy¬
dride to the extent of 4 per cent. ; that in a strong solution
the uncombined beberia is dissolved by the sulphate, but
on dilution is precipitated ; and further that there is no
difficulty in making a preparation perfectly soluble, and
in every way answering to the tests of the Pharma¬
copoeia.

In a discussion which followed, Mr. Dott remarked
that sulphate of beberia was a mixture of several alkaloids,
etc., and not a definite chemical compound, and that no
formula ought to be placed opposite the name, the formula
given in the British Pharmacopoeia being wrong. Mr.
Gilmour also made a few remarks with reference to his
experience of the article.

xabxntfal mis admits.

MIDLAND COUNTIES CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The annual soiree of this Association was held in the
Town Hall, Birmingham, on Friday evening, January 21,
and was attended by a large number of visitors. The
orchestra was decorated with shrubs, and a number of
industrial processes, chemical experiments, and interesting
exhibits were shown.

The east upper corridor was occupied by Messrs.
Southall, Brothers and Barclay, who showed an exten¬
sive collection of specimens illustrating the composition
of various kinds of waters, saline and fresh. The
different kinds of common salt were included in the
exhibit as being derived from ancient seas, through
the medium of rock salt and brine liquor, and several

anuary 29, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

621

' I

)

aquaria were also shown with living specimens in salt
water, made from a mixed sea salt containing the various
salts as found in real sea water. The rest of the corridor
was occupied by the manufacture of essence of lemon.
Messrs. Southall, Brothers and Barclay, assisted by their
correspondents, showed the sponge process conducted by
native Italian girls. The partly ripe fruit is peeled into
three slices. After standing a day, it is gently squeezed,
and the exuding essence is absorbed by a sponge lightly
passed over it. The sponge is squeezed out when full.
A second quality of essence is made from the remaining
peel by distillation. In the great gallery, the same firm
showed a large collection of rare and curious drugs.

Messrs. Harris and Co., Bull Ring, Birmingham, showed
some Japanese products, some much more potent in
medicinal properties than the corresponding European
ones. There were also some papaw leaves, which have the
power of rendering tough meat tender and digestible, and
duboisia leaves which have properties similar to bella¬
donna, but are said to be three times stronger.

Messrs. Wyleys and Co., Coventry, exhibited a number
of American "drugs and new preparations, and in addition
a number of educational microscopic slides.

Messrs. Evans and Son, Liverpool, showed a case con¬
taining all the drugs of the British Pharmacopoeia, and
a collection of all the varieties of Turkey opium which
are now known in the market; also a collection of
twenty-two derivatives of opium furnished by Mr. A. H.
Mason, F.C.S., which were discovered in the course of
experiments, undertaken with the view of building up
morphia. The harnonograph and the umbragraph,
which much interested the visitors, were here exhibited
by Messrs. Drittler and lies.

In the west corridor a series of experiments were
shown, under the direction of Dr. Tilden and Mr. C. J.
Woodward, B.Sc. The image of a soap film was pro¬
jected on a screen, the beautiful prismatic colours being
much admired.

Mr. Holbrook showed the lengthening of a bar of iron
by being magnetized, and an apparatus illustrating the
cause of the phenomenon.

Mr. A. N. Cresswell showed apparatus for sorting
shot, etc.

Dr. Tilden lent some vacuum tubes, and exhibited the
beautiful spectra of many gases, nitrogen, silicon fluo¬
ride, etc.

In the lower corridor, Professor Poynting showed
Chladni’s vibration figures in sand, and the figures produced
by floating magnets, which attracted much attention.
Here the process of electro-plating was shown by Messrs.
Barker, Brothers, and many articles were plated for the
visitors.

Mr. H. Muller, Mary Ann Street, Birmingham, also
showed a machine for making alpha gas.

The opposite lower corridor was occupied by Messrs.
Hinde, Brothers, Suffolk Street, Birmingham, who
showed the various processes of brush making, — the
cutting of the backs and stocks, the sorting and fixing
of the bristles, drilling, polishing and finishing,— all
in operation. The raw materials were also displayed
and the finished goods. Among the samples of hair
shown was some said to have been cut from the heads
of massacred Bulgarians.

In a dark room by itself was shown by Messrs. Ihlee
and Horne, Aldermanbury, London, Balmain’s luminous
paint. Substances painted with this paint and exposed to
plenty of light during the day are distinctly visible in the
night.

The practical working of the telephone was shown by
the Midland Telephone Company (Limited) in a room
under the orchestra, which was largely visited.

During the exhibition a military band performed a
selection of popular music. Soon after half-past nine
dancing was commenced, and was kept up to an early
hour. All the arrangements worked very satisfactorily,
and a most enjoyable evening was spent.

LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The third meeting of the present session was held in
the Chemistry Lecture Theatre, Mechanics’ Institute,
which had been kindly lent for the purpose, on Wednes¬
day, January 19, at half-past eight o’clock, p.m., the
President, M!r. Councillor Stead, in the chair, when a
lecture was given on —

Phosphorus and its Compounds.

BY A. J. REID, B.A.

The lecturer said the ultimate source of phosphorus
is the old granitic rocks, those rocks which are termed
“amorphous” by geologists; not amorphous because they
are not crystalline, for as a rule they are highly crystal¬
line, but because they are unstratified; in these rocks it
occurs mainly in the forms of the minerals, apatite and
phosphorite. It is also found in the lavas of volcanoes,
both active and extinct, and in coprolites, which are the
fossilized dung of huge lizards that existed during the
secondary ages of geology. And here it may be remarked
in passing that both the excrement and urine of animals
contains phosphorus, and that the excrement of birds and
reptiles is particularly rich in this element. By the
disintegration of the primitive rocks, and the transport
of their particles by the various water courses which
traverse the surface of the globe, the compounds of phos¬
phorus are disseminated through the soil and give rise to
the fertile plains. Phosphorus is never found in the
earth in a free state, but always in the form of a metallic
phosphate, most usually phosphate of lime.

From the soil plants extract and concentrate in their
tissues the compounds of phosphorus, and this element
has been found to be indispensable to vegetable life.
Soils which have been exhausted of their phosphorus
compounds are unfit for the support of plants, and the
practice of manuring has mainly for its object the supply¬
ing of phosphorus compounds to the impoverished soil.
Phosphorus is found in all parts of the plant, but more
particularly in the seed; and in some plants more than
in others, the cereals being particularly remarkable for
the large percentage of phosphorus they contain.

The quantity of phosphoric anhydride (P205) per cent,
in the burnt residue of different vegetables is —

Ash of turnips . 6T

„ potatoes . 11’3

„ oats . 14'9

„ wheat . 16 4*

Phosphorus is further concentrated in the bodies of
animals, having passed into them from plants, for every
animal is supported, either directly or indirectly, by the
vegetable kingdom. It is particularly characteristic of
the soft bodies of marine mollusca and Crustacea, and in
the vertebrata it is collected in large amount in the
bones in the form of phosphate of lime, while its existence
in an unoxidized or free state has been demonstrated in
the blood, brain and nervous tissues generally. This
free phosphorus appears to be essential to the exercise of
the higher functions, for the amount of it in man is
found to be greatest at the period of greatest mental
vigour, and in infancy, old age and idiotcy the proportion
is much less, while in insanity, where there is a morbid
excess of nervous energy, the amount of unoxidized phos¬
phorus is also abnormally excessive.

The proportion of phosphorus per cent, in brain matter
is stated to be —

Brain of idiots . 1 to 1*5

„ sane persons . . . , 2 „ 2*5

„ madmen . 3 „ 4‘5f

It is also a well known fact that the loss of phosphorus

from the system in the excretions is considerably in¬
creased under protracted nervous excitement or during
periods of excessive brain work. Within comparatively

* From Tidy’s ‘ Modern Chemistry.’
f From Tidy’s ‘ Modern Chemistry.’

622

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 29, 1881.

very recent times the internal administration of free
phosphorus as a restorer of failing nervous energy and in
the treatment of diseases arising from a loss of nerve power,
such as phthisis and certain fevers, has come much into
vogue among medical practitioners, and there is no doubt
of its being a most effectual nutrient tonic to the nervous
system. The two preparations of free phosphorus em¬
ployed in pharmacy are “oleum phosphoratum,” or phos¬
phorus dissolved in almond oil, and “pilula phosphori.”
From the extremely poisonous character of yellow phos¬
phorus, which is the only form employed as a remedial
agent, great care is necessary that its administration is
confined only to medicinal doses, the maximum being
about the sixth part of a grain.

Phosphorus was accidentally discovered by Brandt, an
alchemist of Hamburg, while attempting to extract the
philosopher’s stone from urine, in 1669; he sold the
secret of its preparation to one of his countrymen for 200
dollars. In 1768, Gahn, a German chemist, discovered
phosphorus in bones, and, in the following year, Scheele
invented a ready process for extracting it from bones,
which was substantially the same as that which is now
employed. By this process “bone-ash,” the residue
which is obtained when bones are burnt in an open fire,
and which consists almost entirely of tricalcium phos¬
phate [Ca32(P04)], is treated with concentrated sulphuric
acid; the result is a soluble superphosphate of lime
[CaH42(P04)] and insoluble sulphate of lime, and the
two are separated by filtration. The acid solution of
superphosphate is then evaporated to a syrupy consistence,
mixed with charcoal and heated to redness in a retort ;
the phosphorus rises in vapour, and, being led into water,
condenses in yellow drops. This crude phosphorus is
purified by re-melting under water and squeezing through
wash-leather, and is then usually cast into sticks.

The element phosphorus is remarkable for two circum¬
stances, viz.: (1) its abnormal vapour density, and (2) its
allotropic modifictftions.

(1.) The atom of phosphorus is pentavalent, that is, it
has a five-fold atom-fixing capacity, as is seen in the for¬
mula for phosphoric chloride, PC15, and the weight of
this atom, as compared with the weight of an atom of
hydrogen is 31, for in all the combinations of phosphorus
this element is present either in the proportions of 31
parts by weight or some simple multiple of 31 ; in other
words, its atomic weight or combining equivalent is 31.
When, however, the weight of a litre of vapour of phos¬
phorus is compared with that of a litre of hydrogen, the
former is found to be sixty-two times as heavy as the
latter. In order, therefore, that phosphorus should be
brought into conformity with Ampbre’s law that “the
molecules of all bodies, simple as well as compound,
occupy the same space under like conditions,” we are led
to the conclusion that the molecule of phosphorus is com¬
posed of four atoms, and we accordingly write its formula
P4, or represent it pictorially, thus —

P^EP PEEEEIP

I I or || ||

P^^P P=EF?P

(2.) Phosphorus occurs in several allotropic forms. In
addition to the ordinary yellow phosphorus, the prepara¬
tion of which has been described, we have a white opaque
form resembling porcelain, known as Rose’s variety, and
obtained by the action of light on common phosphorus
kept under water ; a black viscous form, known as
Thbnard’s phosphorus, produced when common phos¬
phorus is melted and suddenly cooled to a low tempera¬
ture; and a red form, known as Schrotter’s variety. But
only two of these are of practical interest, viz. , yellow or
common phosphorus (Pa) and the red or amorphous phos¬
phorus (P/3).

Pa is a soft, translucent, waxy-looking solid, but
brittle at low temperatures ; its specific gravity is 1*84;
it melts at 44° C., but, if melted under an alkaline
liquid, it may be cooled far below that temperature

without solidifying. If, however, in this state it be
touched by a solid point, such as the end of a file, it
suddenly solidifies, and the temperature rises to 44° 0. ;
it boils at 290p C., of course, in an atmosphere incapable
of acting upon it chemically (as hydrogen or carbonic
acid), and forms a colourless vapour. It is insoluble in
water, but dissolves sparingly in ether, chloroform, ben¬
zol, oil of turpentine, and the fixed and essential oils, and
readily in carbon bisulphide, phosphorous chloride and
chloride of sulphur. It may be obtained in crystals of
rhombic dodecahedra by evaporating its solution in
carbon bisulphide in an atmosphere of carbonic acid.
It fumes in moist air, giving off white vapours of a garlic
1 odour, which in a dark room are luminous. In thi3 action
a portion of the oxygen of the air is changed into ozone,
and the fumes are said to consist of ammonium nitrate
formed by the action of the ozone on the air and aqueous
vapour. Their luminosity is prevented by the presence of
inflammable vapours, such as olefiant gas, ether, naphtha,
etc. The fumes of phosphorus, if continually inhaled,
produce a caries or decay of the lower jaw, and to this
distressing malady the employes in match manufactories
are, from their circumstances, exposed. Pa has very
powerf ul chemical affinities ; its great affinity for oxygen
makes it extremely inflammable. It takes fire in open
air a little above its melting point, and impurities, such
as oxide of phosphorus, render it more inflammable; it
also takes fire when placed in contact with chlorine, bro¬
mine, iodine and melted sulphur. To its chemical activity
is also due its extreme reducing action. A stick of
phosphorus placed in a solution of silver nitrate or gold
chloride is speedily encased in a covering of reduced
silver or gold. Pa is an active poison when taken
internally, and is the principal ingredient in the phos¬
phorus paste employed for killing vermin. The symptoms
of phosphorus poisoning are severe nausea and vomiting
and general gastro-intestinal irritation, and the only re¬
medial measure to be adopted is the immediate appli¬
cation of the stomach pump or an emetic. Cases of
phosphorus poisoning are unhappily not uncommon, from
little children being allowed carelessly to suck the heads
of lucifer matches. The detection of phosphorus in
cases of death by phosphorus poisoning is effected by
boiling the contents of the stomach or the suspected
substance in a flask with water in the dark, if any free
phosphorus is present luminous flashes will be seen.
Another test for the presence of phosphorus is the green
colour which it imparts to the cone of the hydrogen
flame when any substance containing it is introduced
into a Marsh’s apparatus; this effect, however, is also
produced by P/3, hypophosphites and phosphites.

P/3 is made by heating Pa in a flask filled with car¬
bonic acid to a temperature between 230° C. and 240° C.;
this is known as Schrotter’s method. It can also be
prepared by acting upon Pa with just a trace of iodine,
a little iodide of phosphorus is formed, and the remainder
of the Pa is converted into P/3 ; this is known as Brodie’s
method.

P/3 is obtained as a reddish-brown friable mass with
conchoidal fracture. Its specific gravity is 2T. It melts
at 260° C., and is then reconverted into Pa and bursts
into flame ; serious accidents have occurred at Birming¬
ham, where P/3 is manufactured on a considerable scale
according to Schrotter’s method, owing to the tempera¬
ture being inadvertently raised to the point of reconver¬
sion. It is insoluble in carbon bisulphide, phosphorous
chloride and chloride of sulphur. It is very inert
compared with Pa ; chlorine acts upon it, but it does
not take fire, and it may be swallowed without producing
any poisonous effect.

The principal consumption of phosphorus is in the
manufacture of matches. In an ordinary lucifer match
the head of the match consists of a mixture of phos¬
phorus with either nitre, when we have the “silent
match,” or chlorate of potash, when we have the
“ detonating match,” the mixture being held together

January 29, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

623

by strong glue ; such a match ignites when rubbed upon
any rough surface. In safety matches, however, the
head of the match consists of a mixture of chlorate of
potash, antimony sulphide, and finely powdered glass,
while the prepared surface consists of P/3 and powdered
glass, all held together as before by strong glue. When
such a match is struck a little of the P/3 from the pre¬
pared surface adheres to the end of the match, and, in
contact with the chlorate of potash, takes fire, setting fire
also to the antimony sulphide, both burning at the
expense of the chlorate of potash. The antimony sulphide
is not ignited by the heat of friction alone, hence the
match cannot be struck upon any ordinary rough surface.

The lecturer illustrated his lecture by experiments,
and went through the various compounds of phosphorus,
enumerating their properties, describing their mode of
preparation and characteristic reactions, as well as
illustrating by graphic symbols the manner in which
the molecules of these compounds are supposed to be
constructed, taking the opportunity to draw the atten¬
tion of his audience to the analogy between phosphorus
on the one hand, and nitrogen, arsenic, antimony and
bismuth on the other.

Mr. E. Yewdall proposed a vote of thanks to the
lecturer, which was seconded by Mr. Ferguson, and
carried with acclamation.

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The third meeting of the session was held in Ander¬
son’s College, George Street, on Wednesday, January 19,
Mr. Paris, President, presiding. After a few intro¬
ductory remarks from the chair, Mr. George Gilmour
was called upon to read his paper on “ Analysis of the
Metals,” of which the following is an abstract : —

Mr. Gilmour, after making a few introductory
remarks, advised those who had not already begun to
study to do so at once, as the difficulties were far more
apparent than real, and said the young student should
begin by taking a salt of each of the five groups of metals,
such as lead nitrate for the first, corrosive sublimate for
the second, alum for the third, magnesium sulphate for
the fourth, and common salt for the fifth. By making
solutions of these compounds in distilled water and putting
each into a clean test tube and placing these tubes in a
stand, the student would get a better idea of the groups
than he would by listening to any number of lectures, in
this way : — To each tube he should add a few drops of
dilute hydrochloric acid ; this would give a precipitate in
the first tube, which would represent the first group,
Ag, Pb, Hg,' the latter in the mercurous state. The
other four tubes would remain unaltered. To these add
sulphuretted hydrogen gas dissolved in water. Number
two would now give a precipitate, and represent the
second group of ten metals, Cu, Bi, Cd, Pb, Hg" (in the
mercuric state), As, Sb, Sn, Au, Pt ; the third,
fourth and fifth tubes remaining unchanged. Now add
ammonia (to neutralize the acid), and then sulphide of
ammonia, when a precipitate in the third tube will
show that it belongs to the third group containing
Fe," Fe,"' Ni, Co, Cr, Mn, Al, and Zn. To the two
remaining tubes now add acid phosphate of sodium ; the
precipitate in the fourth tube shows it to be of the fourth
group, while the absence of any precipitate after the
reagents have been applied in this order shows that the
fifth tube contains one of the fifth group. The fourth
and fifth groups consist of four metals each, viz.,
Ba, Sr, Ca, and Mg, in the fourth ; NH3, Na, K and Li
in the fifth.

Mr. Gilmour now showed how the student, having got the
group, should proceed to find which metal of the group it
was, stating that one test should never be considered enough,
and that there should be at least three, one for the group
and two confirmatory. He then gave a short resume of

the various flame tests and dry tests, as they are called,
mentioning the more important ones in each class.

A warm and favourable criticism followed, in which
Messrs. Adams, Illingworth, McDonald, Laing and
Paris took part. Votes of thanks to the lecturer and
President ended the meeting.

grBmtrmijs of Scientific Satieties,

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday,
January 20, Professor H. E. Roscoe, President, in the
chair.

The following certificates were read for the first time : —
F. N. Benjamin, J. J. Eastick, C. A. McMunn, W. G.
McMillan, Toyokichi Takamatsu, P. Vieth.

The President then announced that the Faraday
lecture would be delivered by Professor Helmholtz, on
April 5, at the Royal Institution. The subject of the
lecture would be “The Modern Development of Faraday’s
Conception of Electricity.”

The President then called on Mr. Vivian Lewes to
read a paper on —

Pentathionic Acid. — In March last the author, at the
suggestion of Dr. Debus, undertook an investigation on
pentathionic acid, the existence of which has been denied.
The analyses of the liquid obtained by Wackenroder and
others by passing sulphuretted hydrogen and sulphur
dioxide through water are based on the assumption that
only one acid is present in the solution, and consequently
do not establish the existence of pentathionic acid ; as for
example, a mixture of 1 molecule of H2S406 and 1 mole¬
cule of H2S606 would give the same analytical results as
H2S506. Moreover, no salt of pentathionic acid has been
prepared in a pure state. The author has succeeded in
preparing barium pentathionate thus : — A Wackenroder
solution was about half neutralized with barium hydrate,
filtered, and the clear solution evaporated in vacuo over
sulphuric acid. After eighteen days crystals, which
proved to be barium tetrathionate with 3 molecules of water,
formed. These crystals were separated, and the liquid
further evaporated, when a second crop was obtained,
intermediate in composition between the tetra- and
pentathionate. These were separated, and the mother
liquor on standing deposited some oblong rectangular
crystals. These on analysis proved to consist of baric
pentathionate with 3 molecules of water. This salt dis¬
solves readily in cold water ; the solution is decomposed
by strong potassic hydrate, baric sulphite, hyposulphites
and sulphur being formed. By a similar method of pro¬
cedure, the author obtained potassium pentathionate,
anhydrous, and with 1 or 2 molecules of water. The
author promises some further results with some other
salts of the higher thionates.

The President said that the Society had to thank the
author for a very complete research on the subject of
pentathionic acid. He, however, begged to differ from
him as to his statements concerning the researches of
Messrs. Takamatsu and Smith. In his opinion these
authors had proved the existence of pentathionic acid.
He hoped that the crystals (which were very fine) would
be measured.

Dr. Debus said that no one had previously been able
to make the salts of pentathionic acid, and expressed his
sense of the great merit due to the author for his per¬
severance and success. The paper opened up some highly
interesting theoretical speculations as to the existence of
hexathionic acid. If potassium tetrathionate was dis¬
solved in water it could be recrystallized ; but potassium
pentathionate under similar circumstances splits into
sulphur and tetrathionate ; but a mixture of tetrathionate
and pentathionate can be recrystallized. It seemed as if

624

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 29, 1881.

the sulphur when eliminated from the pentathionate
combined with the tetrathionate.

Dr. Duprd asked Dr. Debus how it was that a molecule
of tetrathionate with a molecule of pentathionate could
be recrystallized, whereas 2 molecules of pentathionate,
which should when half decomposed furnish a molecule of
tetra- and a molecule of pentathionate, could not.

Dr. Armstrong then read a preliminary note —

On some Hydrocarbons from Rosin Spirit. — After giving
an account of existing knowledge of rosin spirit, the author
described the result of the examination of the mixture
of hydrocarbons remaining after heating it with sulphuric
acid, and diluting with half its volume of water, and
steam distilling. Thus treated, rosin spirit furnishes
about one-fourth of its volume of a colourless mobile
liquid, which after long continued fractional distillation
is resolved into a variety of fractions, boiling at tempera¬
tures from 95° to over 180°. Each of the fractions was
treated with concentrated sulphuric acid, and the un¬
dissolved portions were then refractioned. The hydro¬
carbons dissolved by the acid were recovered by heating
under pressure with hydrochloric acid. Besides a cymene
and toluene, which have already been shown to exist in
rosin spirit, metaxylene was found to be present. The
hydrocarbons insoluble in sulphuric acid are apparently
all members of the CnH2n series. They are not, however,
true homologues of ethylene, but hexhydrides of hydro¬
carbons of the benzene series. Hexhydrotoluene, and
probably hexhydrometaxylene, are present besides the
hydrocarbon C10H20, but it is doubtful if an intermediate
term is also present. It is by no means improbable,
however, that these hydrocarbons are, at least in part,
products of the action of the sulphuric acid. Cahours’,
Kraemer’s and Godzki’s observations on the higher frac¬
tions of crude wood spirit, in fact, furnish a precedent for
this view. Referring to the results obtained by Anderson,
Tilden and Renard, the author suggests that rosin spirit
perhaps contains hydrides intermediate in composition
between those of the CnH2n - 6 and CnH2n series, also
derived like the latter from hydrocarbons of the benzene
series. Finally, Dr. Armstrong mentioned that the
volatile portion of the distillate from the non-volatile
product of the oxidation of oil of turpentine in moist
air furnishes ordinary cymene when treated in the manner
above described. The fact that rosin spirit yields a
different cymene is, he considers, an argument against
the view which has more than once been put forward
that rosin is directly derived from terpene; probably
rosin and turpentine, though genetically related, are
products of distinct processes.

The next paper was —

On the Determination of the Relative Weight of Single
Molecules. By E. Vogel, of San Francisco. — This paper,
which was taken as read, consists of a lengthy theoretical
disquisition, in which the author maintains the following
propositions That the combining weights of all elements
are one-third of their present values ; the assumption
that equal volumes of gases contain equal numbers of
molecules does not hold good ; that the present theory of
valency is not supported by chemical facts, and that its
elimination would be no small gain for chemistry in
freeing it of an element full of mystery, uncertainty and
complication; that the distinction between atoms and
molecules will no longer be necessary ; that the facts of
specific heat do not lend any support to the theory of
valency. The paper concludes as follows : — “ The cause
of chemical action is undoubtedly atmospheric pressure,
which under ordinary conditions is equal to the weight of
76 cubic centimetres of mercury, one of which r=6'l 45
mercury molecules, so that the whole pressure = 467
mercury molecules. This force which, with regard to its
chemical effect on molecules, can be multiplied by means
of heat, is amply sufficient to bring about the highest
degree of molecular specific gravity by the reduction of
the molecular volumes. To it all molecules are exposed
and subjected unalterably and if not accepted as the

cause of chemical action, its influence has to be elimi¬
nated to allow the introduction and display of other
forces.”

The next communication was —

On the Synthetical Production of A mmonia by the Com¬
bination of Hydrogen and Nitrogen in Presence of Heated
Spongy Platinum (Preliminary Notice). By G. S. John¬
son. — Some experiments, in which pure nitrogen was
passed over heated copper containing occluded hydrogen,
suggested to the author the possibility of the formation
of ammonia ; only minute traces were formed. On passing,
however, a mixture of pure nitrogen (from ammonium
nitrate) and hydrogen over spongy platinum at a low
red heat, abundant evidence was obtained of the syn¬
thesis of ammonia. The gases were passed, before
entering the tube containing the platinum, through a
potash bulb containing Nessler reagent, which remained
colourless. On the contrary, the gas issuing from the
platinum rapidly turned Nessler reagent brown, and in a
few minutes turned faintly acid litmus solution blue ;
the odour of NH3 was also perceptible. In one experi¬
ment 0’0144 gram of ammonia was formed in two hours
and a half. The author promises further experiments as
to the effect of temperature, rate of the gaseous current,
and substitution of palladium for platinum. The author
synthesized some ammonia before the Society with com¬
plete success.

The President referred to the synthesis of ammonia
from its elements recently effected by Donkin, and re¬
marked that apparently the ammonia was formed in
much larger quantities by the process proposed by the
author of the present paper.

Mr. Warington suggested that some HC1 gas should
be simultaneously passed with the nitrogen and hydrogen
and that the temperature of the spongy platinum should
be kept just below the temperature at which NH3 disso¬
ciates, in order to improve the yield of NH3.

On the Oxidation of Organic Matter in Water. By A.
Downes. — The author considers that the mere presence
of oxygen in contact with the organic matter has but
little oxidizing action unless low organisms, as bacteria,
etc., be simultaneously present. Sunlight has apparently
considerable effect in promoting the oxidation of organic
matter. The author quotes the following experiment : — A
sample of river water was filtered through paper; it required
per 10,000 parts ’236 oxygen as permanganate. A second
portion was placed in a flask plugged with cotton wool,
and exposed to sunlight for a week; it then required
•200. A third portion after a week, but excluded from
light, required ‘231. A fourth, boiled for five minutes,
plugged and then exposed to sunlight for a week, required
0 T9 8. In a second experiment with well water a similar
result was obtained ; more organic matter was oxidized
when the organism had been killed by the addition of
sulphuric acid, than when the original water was allowed
to stand for an equal length of time. The author also
discusses the statement made by Dr. Frankland “ that
there is less ground for assuming that the organized and
living matter of sewage is oxidized in a flow of twelve
miles of a river than for assuming that dead organic
matter is oxidized in a similar flow.”

Analyses of Queensland Soils. By Professor Liver-
SIDGE. — These analyses are of interest, as the soils
include samples from localities which were exempt from
the disease which was prevalent in the sugar plantations
around. Analyses of the organic and mineral constituents
of the surface and sub-soils are given.

On the Volumes of Some Compounds of the Benzene ,
Naphthalene , Anthracene and Phenanthrene Series. By
W. Ramsay. — The author has determined the volume of
a number of these substances in a perfectly pure state by
the method given in Chem. Soc. Journ., 1872, 473. The
numbers are in every case smaller than those calculated.
The mean of the differences in the benzene series, 3*92.
The author has also determined the differences in the
naphthalene and the anthracene series, and finds that

January 20, 1381.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

625

there is a certain proportionality observable in the con¬
densation of members of the benzene, naphthalene and
anthracene series.

On the Atomic Volume of Nitrogen. By W. Ramsay.

_ The author discusses the very slender grounds on which

the accepted value of nitrogen in the amines (2‘3) rests.
From experiments with anilin, toluidin, dimethylanilin,
he concludes the value of nitrogen to be about 7, a
number which is more probably true for several reasons
discussed by the author.

On a New Theory of the Conversion of Bar Iron into
Steel by the Cementation Process. By R. S. M/YRSDEN.—
The explanation of this phenomenon is to be found in
the diffusion of carbon in an impalpable powder into the
heated iron. It is analogous to the penetration of a red
hot porcelain crucible by carbon in an impalpable powder,
observed by the author, ‘ Proe. Roy. Soc.,’ Edinburgh, x.,
712, the carbon diffusing into the bars of iron while in
an expanded and softened state. Silicon can apparently
diffuse in a similar way through iron.

On the Action of Sulphydrate of Potassium on Chloral
Hydrate. By W. W. J. Nicol (Preliminary Note).—
The chloral hydrate was obtained from Kahlbaum. Some
freshly prepared sulphydrate of potassium was placed in
a flask and some chloral hydrate added; at first the
crystals dissolved quietly, then gas was evolved, and the
solution became more coloured and a light yellow floccu-
lent body 'separated : when this body appeared equal in
bulk to the liquid, the fluid was filtered and the residue
washed and dried in vacuo. Bisulphide of carbon ex¬
tracted from it 3 per cent, of sulphur, the residue gave
on analysis the formula C3H4S204, which agrees very
closely with that of a mixture of thioglyoxylic acid and
thioformic acid in molecular proportions. A lead and
barium salt were obtained, containing respectively 54*5
per cent. Pb and 43‘2 per cent. Ba.

The Society then adjourned to February 3, when the
following papers will be read : — “ On the Estimation of
■Organic Carbon in Air,” by A. Duprd and H. W. Hake;
“ On the Action of the Copper-Zinc Couple upon Ni¬
trates,” by M. W. Williams.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting of the above Association, held at 32a,
George Street, Hanover Square, January 12, the Presi¬
dent, Mr. F. W. Branson, in the chair, a paper was read
by Mr. A. P. Luff, on “ The Physical and Chemical Pro¬
perties of Blood.”

The author commenced with a brief description of the
circulation of the blood and its uses as a medium for the
conveyance of nutritive materials to the tissues, and for the
removal of the products of waste from them. The physical
characters of the red and white blood corpuscles and of
the liquor sanguinis or blood plasma were next considered.
The cause of the clotting of blood when shed was fully
considered, together with the reasons for its not clotting
in the vessels of the living body, the synthesis of fibrin
being shown experimentally. The chemical properties of
blood were next discussed, references being made of the
analyses of Playfair and Boeckmann to show that dried
blood and dried flesh are practically identical in ultimate
composition. The gases present in the blood, the causes
of their retention and removal, and the importance of the
haemaglobin or colouring matter of the red corpuscles
were next brought under consideration.

The paper concluded with the chemico-microscopical
test for blood in stains.

The paper was illustrated by diagrams and microscopic
preparations, the circulation of blood in the living frog’s
web being also shown.

After a discussion, in which several members took part,
a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the author for his
most interesting paper.

arlianmttitrg aufr Xkoaibrugs.

The Weights and Measures Case.

This case, in which Mr. Whittle was convicted for
having illegal glass measures in his possession, was in the
list of appeal cases before the Westminster Sessions, on
Saturday the 22nd inst. Mr. Besley appearing for the
appellants and Mr. Poland for the respondents. When
the case was called Mr. Poland stated that it was a very
important one and would probably take some hours, as
there were scientific witnesses on both sides, and suggested
that it should stand over until some convenient day
which the court might appoint for hearing it. It could
hardly be reached on that day, and if it were it could
clearly not be finished. It was only a fine of 6d.

The Assistant Judge said he supposed it was a question
of principle.

Mr. Besley said it was more than that, it was really an
enormous question.

The Assistant Judge said they might say it was an
enormous principle. He would order it to be postponed,
to be mentioned on the next day on which the court sat.

Mr. Besley said the appellants were really the Chemists
and Druggists’ Trade Protection Society of Birmingham ;
and the York Glass Company was also very materially
interested, as 15,000 of these measures had been made,
and if they were false they were liable to a £50 penalty.
The solicitor was a Birmingham solicitor and amongst
the witnesses were Professor Redwood and also a witness
from the Board of Trade, and one from York, so that it
would be most convenient if the court would allow notice
to be given of the day when it would be convenient to
try it, so that it should not be necessary to come
prepared with all the witnesses simply to hear it men¬
tioned.

The Assistant Judge said that was only reasonable; it
was doubtful if it would be taken on the next day on
which the court sat for hearing appeals ; but if there was
any reasonable prospect of its being taken, sufficient
notice should be given to allow of the witnesses being
summoned.

The case has since been set down for hearing on
Saturday, the 29th inst., at 10‘30 a.m.

Ikbiehu

Poisons : their Effects and Antidotes. By A. B.

Prescott, M.D., F.C.S., of Ann Arbor, Mich., Pro¬
fessor of Applied Chemistry in the University of

Michigan, etc., etc.

In opening this work, which appears to be a reprint
from a cyclopaedia, general or particular, we were at
once attracted by the plates of plants, and examined it
with interest, in the expectation of finding a contribution
to the history of the poisonous plants of the United
States. \Ye were, however, doomed to disappointment.
Either the flora of the United States is blessed with a
singular absence of toxic vegetables, or the writer has
failed to record them. The only plant figured which is
not generally familiar to either the pharmacist or the
horticulturist of this country is Arum triphyllum, “ In¬
dian turnip, dragon root, Jack-in- the-pulpit, wake Robin,”
but as it is the spathe of the Arum maculatum that is
represented under this name, we are not much the wiser.
The other American plants figured are, Rhus toxico¬
dendron and venenata, Veratrum viride, Gelsemium semper-
virens, Lobelia inflata, Podophyllum peltatum, Kalmia
latifolia and Ampelopsis quinquefolia. The beautiful
kalmia, which is known by the names of laurel, big¬
leaved ivy, calico bush, or sheep laurel, is accused of
killing sheep and rendering the flesh of partridges poi¬
sonous. The Indians formerly used a decoction of it for
the purpose of suicide. The Ampelopsis — the well-known
Virginian creeper— is stated, on the authority of this

626

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 29, 1881,

Journal, July, 1876, to have poisoned children who
chewed the leaves. The remaining figures are those of
plants indigenous to both countries, or which are natu¬
ralized or cultivated in America. Amongst these we
have henbane, which is said to grow in “ waste places in
Northern United States, where the soil is very rich.”
We are told that “ children have been poisoned with the
berries {sic), and the young shoots have been mistaken
for 'parsley and eaten as a salad,” which latter certainly
shows great want of discrimination. Hemlock is natu¬
ralized in some states. Eoxglove and deadly nightshade
are cultivated. The opium poppy is not mentioned as
cultivated. The indigenous poisonous plants mentioned,
but not figured, are Aconitum reclinatum , a trailing species,
with white flowers, Cicuta maculata, Phytolacca decandra,
poke, scoke, garget, known here as Virginian poke weed,
a handsome plant, which bears a profusion of dark purple
berries, the plant itself colouring purple as they colour.
It is occasionally seen in gardens in this country, and is
quite worthy of cultivation. The young shoots are edible
when cooked. The root is emetic in doses of 10 to 30
grains, poisonous in larger. The berries have the same
properties to a less extent. Spigelia Marilandica, Caro¬
lina pink, formerly used in this country as a medicine for
worms, now almost obsolete. This is also a handsome
“herbaceous plant,” sometimes cultivated here. Oxytropus
{Oxytropis) Lamberti, “ crazy weed of Colorado, yarrow,
milfoil ; ” this grows abundantly in Colorado. “ It is a
belief that cattle and horses acquire a taste for this plant,
and their appetite for other food fails ; they become
emaciated, partly demented, etc.” “It is also said to
have been used for a beer, and to affect man in much the
' same manner.” This plant has been subjected to a
thorough chemical analysis by Miss C. M. Watson, and
physiological experiments have also been made with it,
without as yet very determinative results. It will be
noted, from some of the vernacular names of plants we
have quoted, in what a haphazard manner old country
names have been bestowed upon new country plants,
which must sometimes be perplexing to Americans them¬
selves.

Under the head of “ Poisoning by the Stings and Bites
of Animals,” stings of insects and bites of serpents are
treated of, but bites of dogs affected with rabies are not
mentioned. We are not in a position to state whether
the risk is greater or less in the United States than in
England, but we presume it exists.

In allusion to the laws of this and other European
countries in relation to dangerous adulteration of foods,
as by colouring matters, etc., our author somewhat
loftily remarks, “In this, as well as in many other
things, a fully informed people may protect themselves
without the aid of law. If, in this country, we are not
able to guard the purity and integrity of food by legal
restrictions as well as they do in Europe, we should be
as well able to do the same thing in a better way, by the
self-protective ability of well apprized citizens.” How
soon this general apprizement is likely to be arrived at
is matter for speculation, but if we may judge from the
actual teaching, and the impetus to acquiring general
knowledge now given by our board schools, we are
certainly less likely to be so backward in this country as
we formerly were.

In the remaining half of the work, which treats of
inorganic poisons, the author appears to tread upon
much surer ground and has given a useful epitome of the
various chemical poisons used in arts or manufactures,
employed about the person as hair dyes, etc., or used in
food or confectionary for flavouring or colouring purposes.
Sugars and “table syrups” appear to have been subject
to grave suspicions in the United States and many
varieties have been examined, but with the exception of
iron in excess no injurious chemicals have been found.

Alarm has also been excited by the enormous
quantities of Paris green employed for the destruction of
the Colorado beetle, more than 100 tons of this arsenical

green having been sown in the soil of Michigan in a
single year. Very careful analysis by good chemists has
failed to detect arsenic in growing plants, and a course of
experiments by Professor Kedzie, of the Michigan
Agricultural College, seems to have clearly established
the fact that the water supplies are not liable to bo
poisoned by its use.

The work concludes with a useful table directing what
is best to be done in cases or accidental poisoning before
the physician takes charge. The most noticeable
introduction is the free use of fresh charcoal in cases,
of poisoning by opium or vegetable alkaloids. Charcoal
is directed to be obtained in a way that would be seldom
available in this country, namely, “by quickly pounding
coal from a wood fire,” but from the great absorptive
power that charcoal has upon alkaloids its usefulness
would appear to be pretty clearly indicated.

CflTOsp0tt'Qtrra.

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

—

The Draft Pharmacy Acts Amendment Bill.

Sir, — In your issue of the 15th inst., I was sorry to see
Mr. Sandford taking what I regard as an unstatesmanlike
position.

This week I must say I feel considerably disheartened at
the narrow and selfish tone of several correspondents.

I do not expect my words to have weight with those who-
look to Parliament to help them out of their difficulties,
yet I feel that I ought to put on record my conviction that
legislation in favour of the druggist is not a thing to be
looked for nor wished for.

It is not ureasonable that a man who fits himself for
public requirements should hope to derive some benefit
from regulations adopted for the public good ; but no one
should expect national laws to be made or modified for
individual or class interests.

It is contrary to national interest that the sale of simple
drugs should be restricted to the hands of scholarly men, but
it is necessary, for the national good, that the sale of poisonous
drugs should be so restricted. Insomuch as the scholarly
man can deal in all the drugs his customers require, he-
derives a personal benefit from this legal restriction of
their sale, and with this advantage, small as it is, he must
be content.

If ignorant men can sell, as well as he, the common
drugs, and be content with small profits, then must the
qualified man consult his individual interests and resources-
in determining how he must meet this competition.

If it be sufficient for public safety that a qualified assis¬
tant carries on a shop for an unqualified person, then phar¬
macists have no reason to object to that being the law
in all cases, whether widows or corporate companies, or any
other persons be the owners. If public safety require that
the owners of pharmacies be qualified men, and I quite
think this is the case, — then neither corporations nor widows
nor any other power should be permitted the licence to do
public wrong. It is the duty of the Pharmaceutical Society
to see that they be not allowed to sin in this particular, and
it is the duty of the widow’s personal guardians to see that
she be not subject to needless suffering.

The first step towards the latter object is that a pharma¬
cist having a wife liable to be dependent upon, but not
qualified to conduct his business after him, should insure
his life for such an amount as would, together with her other
resources, enable her to carry on some other business not
involving the same responsibilities and probably better
suited to her habits.

I believe widows would generally be saved from loss if
compelled to sell the business within' twelve months ; but
this is no valid part of the argument.

I may add in conclusion that no pharmacist ought to be
allowed to habitually leave his business in the manage¬
ment of an unqualified assistant. If a man has two shops

627

-January 29, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

he ought not only to be qualified himself, but should have
a qualified assistant in each.

To enter into the arguments of my position would be too
large a task at present. I must be satisfied with the
simple statement, which in truth I think will be readily
.appreciated by most readers who are not under the shade
of self-interest. I would rather that pharmaceutical
legislation were indefinitely delayed than that we should
attempt it while we are divided among ourselves. If we
-are to apply to Parliament at all, let us do it with humble¬
ness and honesty of purpose, with clean hands and a pure
heart.

Grey Street , Newcastle. Barnard Proctor.

Sir, — I think it would have been more candid on the
part of Mr. Sandford had he stated in his letter how often
the “ widows’ clause ” had been discussed, and how often
he had been in a minority in such discussions both in
committee and Council.

However, as he has thought proper to appeal from the
decision of his colleagues to that of the trade, by all means
let the question be discussed in public; but let it be clearly
understood what hangs upon the conclusion to be arrived
at, and who is to be held responsible for the result.

If the executors, etc., etc., of a deceased pharmaceutical
^chemist or chemist and druggist are to be allowed to carry
on a business indefinitely with the aid of a registered
assistant, why may not a limited company do the same p
'To ask the first, and disallow the last, would be held by
disinterested persons to be blowing hot and cold with the
same breath, and would, in the opinion of the majority of
the Council, ruin our chance of obtaining an amended Act
which would satisfy the trade, and which is called for from
:all sides.

Mr. Sandford’s sympathies must be with widows owning
large businesses, as a small trade cannot possibly keep a
•qualified assistant and leave a sufficient income fgr the
proprietor. In the great majority of cases it is far wiser to
•sell-at once.

When the cry about spoiling widows’ houses is raised,
let it be remembered that there are also wives’ houses to be
considered. The widow can be provided for by a widows’
■fund ; but in the event of our obtaining an Act so mutilated
as to be worthless, perhaps Mr. Sandford will tell us how
the needs of wives and young families are to be satisfied.

George S. Woolley.

Sir, — To those who have awaited long and patiently the
-advent of the Pharmacy Acts Amendment Bill it is scarcely
reassuring to find that there exists within the Council
. itself so antagonistic a feeling upon what must be con¬
sidered the vital section of the amendment that it has
already produced not only a skilful attack upon the part of
the Leader of the Opposition, but also a powerful defence
by none other than the chief officer of our present Govern¬
ment, ably seconded by one of his most earnest fellow-
"workers.

Bearing in mind the import of the recent legal decision,
it is scarcely possible to account for this wide difference of
•opinion upon the part of those entrusted with the framing
■of the amendment, and unless the situation speedily changes,
to the vast body of members its mere existence will be
disastrous in the extreme.

The Pharmacy Act of 1868 was designed to create an
individual responsibility in what was contended to be an
•exceptionally responsible calling ; that Act has, to all
intents and purposes, been annihilated by the indefinite
•character of the words used to define that responsibility.
The draft amendment before us, in few unnecessary phrases,
again attempts the creation of an individual (or in the case
of firms) corporate qualification and its attendant liabilities,
and apparently with more chances of ultimate success. But
let us once admit a clause in the interest of our widows,'
and from that moment the amendment will be doomed,
sooner or later, to the ignominious fate of its predecessor.
To his friends, the widow and children of a deceased che¬
mist (if he lias neglected life assurance and all other
provident measures) is a legacy of the most serious de¬
scription, but to the general public a thing of no importance
whatever, and, probably, any advocate of less than average
ability could easily persuade the softest-hearted judge in
England that a business could be conducted in a more

business-like manner by a miscellaneously constituted cor¬
poration under a qualified managership than by a widow in
a like position.

Should a saving clause to the amendment be introduced,
its opponents would certainly use this argument before the
Parliamentary Committee, and it is not reasonable to
suppose that we could gain for private interests what we
cannot grant for public convenience;

I would suggest that immediately after the result of the
Council meeting in February is made public a special
general meeting of members should take place, in order to
consider, first, the 5th section of the amendment and tlie
advisability of special legislation for branch businesses, and
afterwards the less important sections of the amendment,
as may be thought proper. The correspondence upon this
subject has already been sufficient to show the existence of
distinctly opposite views, but, as a means of expressing
©pinion, it feebly compares with that obtained by the
assembling together of men whose future position is im¬
perilled and who recognize the essential character of the
point at issue.

A general meeting of the members of the Pharmaceutical
Society at this critical juncture, attended as it would be by
representatives of the Birmingham Association and dele¬
gates from our provincial societies, will do more to prove
to the Council the grave earnestness and rear>y sympathy
of its constituents, as the difficulties with which they con¬
tend are one by one explained, than a whole volume of
journalistic controversy.

Kilburn. Charles B. Allen. -

Sir, — As discussion is invited and is very desirable on so
important a question, I submit a few remarks on the pro¬
posed Pharmacy Acts Amendment Bill.

In my opinion the President and Mr. Symes are nearly
right in their views on the “widows’ clause,” for, under
existing regulations, who is the responsible party in case of
an accident ? Not the qualified assistant, who after all is
but an assistant, and surely not the widow who knows
nothing about the business she is the owner of. This
evidently is not conducive to the “public safety.”

I should suggest that the clause should make it
absolutely illegal for the business of a deceased chemist to
be carried on for more than three years under any circum¬
stances (a much shorter, time would suffice to arrange its
transfer, etc.).

I beg to differ from P. M., and think every pharmacist
should be entitled to have as many shops as he has capital
and business tact to conduct, provided that each branch is
under the superintendence of a legally qualified assistant,
the owner, of course, bearing all responsibility.

Such a clause as M. P. S. proposes, so obviously opposed to
free trade in commodities in universal use, would certainly
cause the rejection of the whole amendment. To ask for a
monopoly over “drugs and chemical compounds” ( e.g .
gum acacia, alkali, “ soda”) would be absurd.

An Act affording reasonable protection in return for the
anxiety of the examination room is undoubtedly needed,
but an arrangement between medical men and chemists, as
proposed by Dr. Williamson, would do more to improve
our condition than any legislation could do, and be more
satisfactory to medical men and the general public.
Tiverton. Fred. Taylor.

Sir,— I wish to express an opinion through the medium
>f the Pharmaceutical Journal as to the proposed amended
Pharmacy Act regarding the i i patent medicine clause,
md would venture to suggest that those containing
scheduled poisons be sold only by duly qualified chemists
'not necessarily to be labelled “poison”) stated on each
package; the proprietors or makers also to be qualified.
5ther descriptions of nostrums might well be classed with
impounding and dispensing medicines, which appears to
ne compounding in a wholesale form, and should bear some

amount of responsibility. __ „ _

Geo. W. Sargent, M.P.S.

17, Church Street, Kensington, W.

Sir,— Much interested in the discussion of this subject in
your columns, I venture to express my sympathies with
some of your correspondents in thinking that the projected
Bill is not a sufficiently bold one.

62S

THE . PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 20, 1881.

To be consistent with its purposes undoubtedly it should
include a clause respecting branch businesses, compelling
all such to be superintended under the proprietor by a
qualified assistant only. The suggestion, also, of Mr.
Blackman merits attention, that assistants to civil service
and limited liability companies should not be admitted to
or excluded from the Register.

The patent medicine clause will open a mine of difficulties
to individual chemists with their own proprietary articles,
and it is just a question whether the substitution of the word
r< poisonous,” might not modify in a degree the terrifying
effect that the ominous word, “ poison ” would be sure to
convey to a large number of the public.

I wish also to submit that it is a fair time to ask for the
exclusive right of pharmaceutical chemists and chemists
and druggists to deal in drugs by retail. At present a
course of training is undergone, certain examinations are
made compulsory, only for what ? The exclusive right to
deal in a few poisons. Why should not the restrictions
now be extended to all substances used in medicine, which
for the public welfare surely are best dealt with by those
whose knowledge of them has been tested by examination.
With this would necessarily be included the exclusive sale
of (pure and simple) patent medicines.

Stafford.

Sir, — Can it be said we are approaching Parliament with
an amended Pharmacy Act for the safety of the public,
with the object of prohibiting corporate bodies and other
.unqualified persons from encroachments upon our pro¬
fession, and then insert a clause whereby unregistered
widows and executors (who are ignorant of the business)
can carry on the trade independent of any qualification at
all? Surely this would ruin our chance of success. The
Legislature would ridicule such a one-sided scheme. It is
personal qualification we must aim at as proprietors, other¬
wise common sense must admit that the publie are as safe
in the hands of one unqualified person as another.

The provision which relates to all scheduled poisons and
their preparations, whether as patent medicines or other¬
wise, being labelled poison, and only sold by registered
persons, is quite proper; moreover, after the proposed
amended Pharmacy Act has been so thoroughly discussed
and revised on behalf of the profession by the experienced
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, and also satisfac¬
torily passed on behalf of the trade by the Law and
Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Association, the
proposed Act should at once be submitted to Parliament.
If such a variety of opinions are entertained we are in great
danger of the new Bill never reaching Parliament.

M. P. S.

Sir, — The opinions of members being invited on the
Pharmacy Acts Amendment Bill, the following suggestions
may not be deemed unworthy of consideration. ‘

Although the Amendment Bill to a certain extent pro¬
vides for the qualification of individual proprietors of
chemists’ businesses, still clause 13 fails in supplying a
remedy for preventing unqualified persons having an in¬
terest in chemists’ businesses, either in the form of part¬
nerships or from trading under the titles of defunct firms.

If it be the object of the Pharmaceutical Society to
endeavour to raise the status of a chemist to that of a
profession (which the present qualifications warrant), then
surely the example of the higher branches of the medical
profession should be followed. When from death or other
causes a surgeon’s or physician’s practice is transferred, we
never find another practising under his or their names.
Why, therefore, should it be otherwise in the case of a
chemist, when there are ample opportunities of properly
using his predecessor’s name for identification by his patrons
without actually trading under it.

So long as this increasing evil of trading under other
names is permitted to exist amongst ourselves, so long do
we offer an advantage to unqualified persons for trading
under any deceased firm’s name by simply employing a
qualified manager, the manager being registered and repre¬
sented as the sole proprietor. Under such circumstances
the present Amendment Bill is inert.

Strongly do I suggest the insertion of a clause so framed
to prevent evasion and with an appended severe penal

clause compelling the registration of all individuals in
business as chemists, trading separately or as partners,- and
further enforcing them to have their names in full, as they
appear on the register, placed in the usual manner over
their respective establishments in such a way as may be
deemed satisfactory by the Council.

Respecting clause 5, I consider the original proposition
of one year sufficient for the disposal of a deceased chemist’s !
business. In connection with the very strong reasons
brought to bear on this point by Mr. Greenish in his very
able letter of last week, it also appears most inconsistent that
unqualified widows should be allowed to hold the position
of chemist, after the Council very wisely have decided to
admit women to qualification and membership; also unjust
to the members of the Society in general, and more parti¬
cularly to those of the opposite sex who have already i
qualified.

The philanthropic view taken by some concerning the
“ widows’ clause ” is quite foreign to the question of
whether an Act be just or unjust, or necessary for the
safety of the public. It is generally admitted by many
of the writers of the recently published letters, that the
number of cases in which the effects of the amended clause
might be severely felt would be comparatively small, and
if the present condition of the Benevolent Fund is
inadequate, certainly a little extra exertion on the part of
the Local Secretaries would only be wanting to further
develop it to meet all reasonable requirements.

Warwickshire.

Spirit. Ammon. Arom.

Sir, — You must be heartily tired, as I am, at the un¬
necessary and profitless prolongation of this discussion, and
I am sorry to have to encroach once more on your space,
but it is for the last time, and I will be very brief. I must
remind you that this discussion has arisen in consequence
of the charge brought against the B.P. process, that owing
to distillation, and consequent loss of COa, the finished
product contains a varying quantity of free ammonia, an
excess giving an undesirable causticity to the spirit. My
contention is, that proper precautions being taken, there is
no such loss of COa, and that practically speaking unvarying
proportions of free ammonia and neutral carbonate can be
obtained.

Evidently I ought to have been more explicit, and if it
will give your correspondent any satisfaction, I am quite
ready to acknowledge that I am very stupid ; but I never*
dreamt of being misunderstood, as I took it for granted
that no one who had once made spirit, amm. arom. by
distillation could ever suppose I referred to conservation of
CO-2 beyond these limits.

I need hardly point out that saying I abstained from
going too much into detail because I was writing for fully
fledged pharmacists is a very different thing from saying,
as I am accused ot saying, that the Journal should not be
used as a means of conveying information to students.
Surely such a perversion is little less than childish.

C. E.

The Frost.

Sir, — As showing the severity of the frost during the
present winter, perhaps the following may not be unworthy
of being brought under your notice. Last week I observed
the contents of two bottles of zoedone and a bottle of
Rose’s lime juice frozen into solid blocks of ice, which were
without taste. The stopper of the lime juice bottle had
been thrown out, otherwise, the bottles were intact. On
breaking the bottles, and melting, first the zoedone, the
liquid obtained was perfectly colourless and tasteless, no
gas being developed. With the lime juice ice, the solution
was perfectly neutral, in fact the whole tumblerful could
have been quaffed without the least facial disturbance,
owing to the entire absence of acidity. Could you or any
correspondent tell me the cause of this ?

11, Union Place , Aberdeen. Wm. Henry Bisset.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been receive 1 from
Messrs. Summers, Roberts, Barclay, Bannister, Calvert,
Blyth, Spilsbury, Atkinson, Expectorant, Argos, Pax and
Bellum, Mucilago, Apprentice, Sub Flor, J. A. S., C.

February 5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 629

Cl xc Ufrdrwitteutinit Joimral,

SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 5, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, books for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C .

Advertisements , and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. J ourn.”

THE CHARGE AGAINST A CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST

UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT.

The result of the appeal in Mr. Whittle's case
against his conviction for an alleged infringement of
the Weights and Measures Act is so 'far satisfactory
that it is- now decided Mr. Whittle was not guilty
of an offence under the Act. We cannot, however,
avoid expressing some regret that this decision was
arrived at upon technical grounds, and not by a
consideration of the case upon its merits. So far as
Mr. Whittle is individually concerned, it is suf¬
ficient that the Assistant Judge and bench of magis¬
trates were of opinion that there was no proof that
he had in his possession for use in his trade false or
unjust measures within the meaning of the 25th
section of the Act of Parliament.

According to their view of the matter it was
indeed immaterial whether the four measures in
question were really accurate or inaccurate in any
sense, for inasmuch as they bore the stamp of
an inspector authorized under the Act, and the
45th section of the Act provides that a weight
or measure duly stamped by an inspector under the
Act shall be a legal weight or measure throughout
the United Kingdom unless found to be false or
unjust, Mr. Whittle was held, to have been inno¬
cent of any offence. The measures on account of
which Mr. Whittle was summoned before the
magistrates at Marylebone Petty Sessions came
within the provision of the 45th section by having
the stamp of verification of the York inspector upon
them, and even if they were in fact incorrect and
had been improperly stamped by the York inspector
there was no use or possession of the measures after
they were found to be false or unjust — if, indeed,
the dictum of the Marylebone inspector is to be
accepted as constituting such a finding,— and conse¬
quently no offence was committed under the 25tli
section of the Act.

Mr. Whittle may therefore congratulate himself
upon the proof now afforded that the course he
adopted with a view of placing himself loyally in
conformity with the law was sufficient for his own
protection, and the trade generally may gather from
the decision of the Court of Appeal some reason for
a feeling of security against interference, provided
Third Series, No. 554.

they follow his example. It is held that the finding
a duly stamped weight or measure to be false or
unjust is not to have a retrospective action, but that
it is only the use of such a weight or measure after
having been found false or unjust which constitutes
an offence under the 25th section of the Act.

• But though there is reason for some satisfaction at
the issue of this case, we apprehend that possible
danger of inconvenience to chemists and druggists
still remains in regard to the carrying out of the
work of inspecting the weights and measures used
by them. . Inspectors of weights and measures
appear too much inclined to follow the example,
of public analysts by acting upon their own con¬
struction of the Act and assuming the position of
public prosecutor. In doing so we think they
would be making as great a mistake as public
analysts have done. Both classes of officials are
capable of rendering really good service to the public
with credit and advantage to themselves ; but it is
not by determined hobby riding, or by the attempt
to. enforce crotchets of their own, that this can be
done. The superfine precision that assumes the
possibility of absolute purity or absolute accuracy
is to be regarded as rather the indication of theoreti¬
cal ignorance and deficiency of experience than of
anything more respectable, and in the case now re¬
ferred to there has been too much - evidence that
these conditions have obtained.

It is for this reason that we regret there was no
inquiry into the real facts of the case so as to deter¬
mine with certainty whether the measures in ques¬
tion were properly graduated or not. It was
contended by some of the witnesses that measures
of the kind could be graduated with such accuracy
that the several measurements were within one-tenth
of a minim of the absolute volume, also that the re¬
sults obtained in testing such measures ought to
agree within one-tenth of a minim, this proposition
being, in fact, but a corollary of the former one.
But a comparison of. the results arrived at by the
Marylebone inspector, by Dr. Wynter Blyth, and
by the Board of Trade does not furnish much reason
for accepting these opinions as well founded. Some
of the data of these observers are as follows : —

No. 1. 240 m. Conical Measure.

' , Marylebone

* Graduation, inspector.

Dr. Blyth.

Board of
Trade.

5

in.

. ; -1

-0-36

-0-3

10

m.

. . -1*5

-0-31

-01

15

m.

. . - 2-0

-1-67

-1*8

20

m.

. . -1

-0-93

-11

25

m.

. . -1

-1-79

-1-1

No. 2. 240 m.

Conical Measure.

10

m.

. . - i-o

-o-oi

-0-5

15

m.

. . - 2-0

—

-1*3

20

m.

. . -2-0

-0-92

-1-0

30

m.

. . -i-o

-1-19

-0-9

No. 4. Cylindrical 60 m. Measure.

10

m.

. . -i-o

— 0-29

+ 0‘3

15

m.

. '. -i*o

- 0-43

+ 04

630

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [Frtma&ry 5, 1881

From this comparison it will be seeu that in most
instances there is a difference of much more than
one-tenth of a minim. Moreover, there is not one
instance in which any one of the results obtained by
Dr. Blyth or the Board of Trade agrees exactly
with those obtained by Mr. Tibbey, the Marylebone
inspector, and there are several instances in which
the results of Dr. Blyth and of the Board of Trade
agree in differing from those of the Marylebone in¬
spector.

Dr. Blyth stated that he had bestowed great care
upon his observations, taking a quarter of an hour
to each reading, using a carefully levelled telescope,
etc., but still there were such sensible discrepancies
between the results he gave before the Marylebone
magistrates' and those stated at the hearing of the
appeal, that we must here again infer that there is
some misconception in regard to the idea that it is
possible to obtain results agreeing so closely as it
has been represented they ought to.

In our opinion the differences obtaining between
the results of different observers in testing these
measures are chiefly to be ascribed to errors of
observation, and in the case of those larger
differences between the results of the Marylebone
inspector and of others to defective, observation by
him. It is fortunate that we have the opportunity
of comparing these different series of observations
upon the measures in question, and we think it
important to call attention to the fact that .there are
differences between almost all of the results. That
this, should be the case will also be apparent enough,
when it is remembered that as the standards of the
Board of Trade do not admit of the measurement
of less than one minim the fractions of minims
recorded can only- be approximately correct. It
may be possible to tell the difference between three-
quarters of a minim and a quarter of a minim, but it
would be much less easy to distinguish between
four-tenths and sixth-tenths of a minim, so that
even in this way alone errors may arise of greater
magnitude than one-tenth of a minim.

We cannot close our remarks on this case without
expressing our opinion that the Marylebone autho¬
rities would have acted more wisely if they had
sought counsel from the Board of Trade before in¬
stituting proceedings against Mr. Whittle instead
©f afterwards, and that they would have done better
to accept the opinion of that department as to the
sufficiency of the measures for purpose of trade than
to have acted as they did in accordance with Dr.
Blyth’s opinion that the Board of Trade officials do
not understand their business.

THE EVENING MEETING.

In consequence of the length. of the reports of the
Council Meeting and the Legal Proceedings we are
compelled to defer the publication of Professor
Redwood’s paper and the discussion upon it until
next week.

CrattsarfmiTS of the Igbarmauewtical

Stfdetg.

MEETING OE THE COUNCIL

Wednesday, February 2, 1881.

MR. THOMAS GREENISH, PRESIDENT,

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Andrews, Atkins, Bottle, Butt,
Churchill, Frazer, Gostling, Hampson, Hills, Mackay,
Radley, Richardson, Robbins, Sandf ord, Savage, Squire,
Symes, Williams and Woolley.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Secretary read a letter from the Secretary of
Mason’s College, Birmingham, thanking the Society for
the Journals and other publications sent in accordance
with the resolution passed at the previous Council meeting.

Mr. Savage, as the member who moved the resolution
referred to, drew attention to a paragraph on the subject
which had appeared in the Chemist and Druggist, and
expressed his opinion that when next the writer of it felt
disposed to put pen to paper, he had better take a blue
pill and a black draught, for he must certainly have been
in a very bilious state when he wrote it. It was as
glaring an instance of bad taste as lie had ever seen.

The President was glad Mr. Savage had alluded to
this matter. His attention was called to the paragraph
shortly after it appeared, and he certainly considered it to
he in extremely bad taste. He hoped the privilege ac¬
corded to any member of the press to be present at the
deliberations of the Council would not be used or abused
in that manner on any future occasion.

The Glass Measures Case.

The President said that since the last meeting of the
Council the conviction of a chemist and druggist for having
false glass measures in his possession had, through the
action of the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Associa¬
tion, been quashed. The trial lasted from half-past ten
to half -past four, and the Assistant Judge, Mr. Edlin,
who tried it, was most emphatic in his statement with
regard to the position in which a chemist was placed
by the use of measures which he had no opportunity
of testing for himself, and which he purchased verified.
Mr. Edlin said he looked upon it as a trap for trades¬
men, and that the Legislature could never have in¬
tended that chemists purchasing a measure verified by a
local inspector under the Act should be convicted of
usiog a false and unjust measure. It was possible that
there might be a further appeal, but it was very refreshing
to hear a common sense view of the meaning of the Act.
The effect of the decision was that a verified measure was
not false or unjust until it had been determined so to be
by a competent authority. Tf it were .used' after that, no
doubt the chemist would be liable to conviction, but not
before.

Mr. Robbins, who had also been present at the hearing
of the appeal, added a few words on the case.

Members of the Council who Retire.

The lot being taken in the usual manner for the seven
members of the Council who should retire in May next,
the following names were drawn : —

Gostling. Hills. Sandf ord.

Greenish. Radley. Symes.

Hampson.

The following, who remained in by lot last year, now
retire by rotation :

Bottle.

Churchill.

Williams.

Butt ( vice

Richardson.

Woolley.

ShaW re-
* signed).

Robbins.

The following remain in office for another year : —

Andrews.

Mackay.

Schacht,

Atkins.

Frazer.

Savage.

Squire.

February 5, 1SS1.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

631

Elections.

members.

Pharmaceutical Chemists.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and tendered their subscriptions for the current year,
were elected “Members” of the Society : —

Davies, Richard . London.

Gostling, John Henry . Halesworth.

Hardwick, Arthur . London.

Slater, William Martin . Ipswich.

Wood, Robert . Hull.

Chemists and Druggists.

The following registered chemist and druggist, who
was in business on his own account before August 1,
1868, having tendered his subscription for the current
year, was elected a “ Member ” of the Society.

Joah Fawthrop . Bolton.

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

The following having passed their respective examina¬
tions, being in business on their own account, and having
tendered their subscriptions for the current year, were
elected “ Associates in Business ” of the Society : —

Minor.

Brooker, Algernon . Forest Hill.

Brewerton, Thomas . Padiham.

Brown, John . Rugby. .

Cocksedge, George Bloomfield... Wokingham.

Creer, George . Castletown.

Field, William . Rotherfield.

Gordon, John . Knaresborough.

Heslop, Henry Hills . Kingswinford.

Ray, William Frederic . Greenwich.

Ronchetti, Thomas Angelo . South Stockton.

Senier, Harold . . Tulse Hill.

Sumner, John J . Birmingham.

Modified.

Biss, John William . Bedford.

Lancaster, J ohn Bulgin Snow . . .London.
Younger, Robert Edward . Ipswich.

ASSOCIATES.

The following having passed their respective examina¬
tions, and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “Associates ” of the Society.

Bakewell, William Whitehorn. .Uttoxeter.

Beaulah, William . Manchester.

Bevis, Walter . . Newport, I. W.

Bilson, Frederic Estall . Newark.

Carter, William . .’ . St. Neots.

Edwards, James John . .Coventry.

Eunson, John . Kirkwall.

Garland, Thomas William . Acock’s Green.

Goldby, Frank . Abingdon.

Hornby, Alfred . . London.

Jones, Edmund . Hanley.

Last, Alfred John . . . Rochford.

Lawrence, George Richard . Boston.

M’Dougall, Rea Ireland . Edinburgh.

■ Palmer, Edwin Thomas . . Hammersmith.

Patterson, Thomas . . . Preston.

Power, William . Greenwich.

Quick, William Thomas . Brompton.

Suart, George . Lancaster.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, having passed the Preliminary exami¬
nation and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “ Apprentices or Students ” of the
Society

Ashton, Frederick William . Market Harborough.

Bailes, Henry C . Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Bearpark, Charles Frederick ...Sj^' borough.

Billington, John . North wich.

Booth, Charles Henry . Walsall.

Bostock, Samuel . Hyde.

Bostock, Thomas Henry . Eastwood.

Briggs, Alfred Henry . Blackburn.

Buck, Anthony Smith . Liverpool.

Campbell, William John . Dundee.

Clegg, George . Accrington.

Cook, Samborne . Nottingham.

Davis, Albert Edward . London.

Eastes, Ernest John . Deal.

Eden, Thomas Watts . Evesham.

Fargher, Charles . Douglas.

Fisher, George . . Wigton.

Fotheringham, Alexander K. ...Dumfries.

Gammie, William . . Turriff.

Gardiner, David . Dundee.

George, William A. W . Hirwain.

Godwin, Frederick James .. .. .London.

Goodall, Arthur Abraham . Fallowfield.

Go wans, John Bruce . Perth.

Hall, John Thomas . Manchester.

Handford, Thomas Edward ...Torrington.

Harvey, Robert Rose . . .Cardiff.

Hay, Alexander . Montrose.

Healy, Joseph . Leicester.

Holloway, William Alfred . Redruth.

Holyoake, William Wringrose. . .Leicester.

Hornby, Robert William . London.

How, Thomas M . . . Kerriemuir.

Hudson, Alfred George . Nottingham.

Humphries, Charles Josiah . Ipswich.

Jones, Llewellyn John Walter.. Swansea.

Kelly, Philip Alfred . London.

Lay, William George . Clevedon.

Lewis, James William. . . . ; . Pontgarreg.

Leyland, Thomas William . Prescot.

McIntyre, William . Wakefield.

McNaughton, Henry B . Ballinluig.

Mayor, John Beecham . Manchester.

Miller, Henry . Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Newdick, John . Ashford.

Oldham, Arthur . Stamford.

Price, Henry Thomas . Shrewsbury.

Price, J oseph . . . . Bilston.

Proudman, Edward William ...Leominster.

Richards, Arthur . . Swansea.

Robinson, Richard Fredk. Wm. Man Chester.

Rushton, Martin . Liverpool.

Shairp, William . Glasgow. ~

Skinner, Alfred James P . Seaton.

Smith, John .

Smith, Joseph de Carle . Norwich.

Snowdon, John . Gainford.

Southall, Wilfred Francis . Birmingham.

Taylor, Joseph John . . Sittingbourne.

Thompson, John Park . . Alston.

Tite, John Reynolds . Towcester.

Todd, John William . Peebles.

Turner, Ernest . . Cheltenham.

Turney, John Davy . Plymouth.

Watts, Francis W . Banbury.

Watson, Edward . London.

Weston, George, jun. . . Sleaford.

. Wheeldon, William Henry . Derby.

Whiteley, John William . Gainsborough.

Williams, George Alfred . Shrewsbury.

Williams, George Rowland . Hitchin.

Williams, Herbert Edward . London.

Wood, Arthur Graham . Bingham.

Woodruff, Albert Edward . Sandwich.

Wright, Joseph Pretty . Burton-on-Trent.

Several persons were restored to their former status
in the Society upon payment of the current year’s sub¬
scription and a fine.

632

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 5, issi.

REGISTRAR’S REPORT.

MEMBERS, ASSOCIATES, AND APPRENTICES OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR 1880.

Lite Members.

Subscribing Members.

Associates

Associates

Pharmaceutical

Chemists.

Chemists &
Druggists.

Pharmaceutical

Chemists.

Chemists &
Druggists.

in.

Business.

not in
Business.

Apprentices,

Number in 1879

241

2

1742

812

965

• • •

• •

„ restored, 1880

w • *

• • •

4

2

5

• • •

• «. •

„ elected, 1880

t • •

• • •

65

24

137

« • •

« • •

241

2

1811

838

1107

Deaths, Secessions, etc.

4

• • «

82

35

82

• • •

Total Strength of the Society
Summary: —

237

2

1729

803

1025

840

1074

'1879 .

241

2

1742

812

965

827

1071

1880 ...

237

2

1729

803

1025

840

1074

Increase

• M

« • •

60

13

3

Decrease

4

...

13

9

• • •

...

• « «

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE NUMERICAL STRENGTH OF THE SOCIETY

FOR 5 YEARS: 1876-80.

MEMBERS.— PHARMACEUTICAL

CHEMISTS.

ASSOCIATES IN

BUSINESS.

1876

1877

1878

1879

1880

1876

1877

1878

1879

1880

Restored to Membership

6

5

5

7

4

Restored . .

2

3

1

3

5

Elected

64

56

45

67

65

Elected...

160

159

153

133*

137

(Total additions)

70

61

50

74

69

(Total additions)

162

162

154

136

142

Deaths, Secessions, etc.

82

84

79

91

82

Deaths, Secessions, etc.

32

54

69

70

82

Decrease

12

23

29

17

13

Increase

130

108

85

66

60

Total Number of Subscribing

Total Number of Associates

1

Members .

181111788

1759 1742

i

1729

in Business .

706

814

899

965

1025

ASSOCIATES NOT

IN

BUSINESS.

MEMBERS.— CHEMISTS

AND DRUGGISTS.

1876

1877

1878

1879

1880

Increase

18

19

13

1876

1877

1878

1879

1880

Decrease

70

24

• • •

Restored to Membership

1

2

4

1

2

Total Number of Associates .

Elected „

36

23

25

19

24

not in Business .

814

832

808

827

840

(Total additions)

37

25

29

20

26

Deaths, Secessions, etc. •

36

34

31

33

35

1876

1877

1878

1879

1880

Increase

1

• • •

• • •

• • •

• • •

Increase

82

120

31

3

Decrease

• • •

9

2

13

9

Decrease

...

...

14

• « •

Total Number of Subscribing

Total Number of Apprentices

naan

Members .

836

827

825

812

803

or Students .

934

1054

1040

1071

1074

LIFE MEMBERS.

1876.

H- t

OO

•

1878.

1879.

1880.

Pharmaceutical Chemists ... .

251

247

243

241

237

Decrease .

10

4

4

2

4

Chemists and Druggists . ...

3

2

2

2

2

Decrease .

1

• u

«#«

4 ••

* 134 were elected, but 1 afterwards passed the Major, aud was elected a Member.

February 5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

633

ANALYSIS OF EXAMINATIONS FOR THE YEAR 1880.

FIRST OR PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

Number of Candi¬
dates during tbe
Year.

Number of Success¬
ful Candidates
during the Year.

Number of Rejec¬
tions during the
Year.

Number of Exa¬
minations during
the Year

Average Number
of Candidates at
each Examination.

Average Number
of Rejections at
each Examination.

Percentage of
Rejections.

1227

638

589

4

30675

147*25

48-0

MAJOR, MINOR, AND MODIFIED EXAMINATIONS.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Number of days on which the Board met for conducting the Major, Minor, and Modified Examinations . 26

Average attendance of the Members of the Board of Examiners at each Meetino- ' i o

O ••• mi t+» AO

Examinations.

Number of Can¬
didates during
the Year.-

Number of Suc¬
cessful Candi¬
dates daring the
Year.

Number of Re¬
jections during
the Year.

Number of Ex¬
aminations dur¬
ing the Year.

Average Num¬
ber of Candi¬
dates at each
Meeting.

Average Num¬
ber of Rejections
at each Meeting.

Percentage of
Rejections.

Major .

116

53

63

6

19-33

10-5

54-31

Minor .

551

250

301

6

91-83

50-16

54-62

Modified .

10

4

6

6

1-66

1-00

60-00

SCOTLAND.

Number of days on which the Board met for conducting the Major, Minor, and Modified Examinations... 9
Average attendance of the Members of the Board of Examiners at each Meeting . ... 7

Examinations.

Number of Can¬
didates during
the Year.

Number of Suc¬
cessful Candi¬
dates during the
Year.

Number of Re¬
jections during
the Year.

Number of Ex¬
aminations dur¬
ing the Year.

Average Num¬
ber of Candi¬
dates at each
Meeting.

Average Num¬
ber of Rejections
at each Meeting.

Percentage of
Rejections.

Major .

9

5

4

4

2-25

i-o

44-4

Minor .

102

61

41

5

20-40

8-2

40-2

Modified .

3

1

2

2

1-50

1-0

66-6

THE REGISTERS OF PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTS AND CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS,

1880.

Additions during the year : —

Number of persons who have passed the

Modified Examination . 5

Minor „ 311

Major • „ . '5.8*

Number of persons registered on payment of )

t he Registration Fee, having been in business > 16

before August 1, 1868 . )

Number of persons restored to the Register on ) - -

payment of a fine . . J -15

Placed on the Register by virtue of restoration ) -

to Membership — Pharmaceutical Chemist... J
An Associate of the Society before July,

1842, restored and elected a Member — 1

Pharmaceutical Chemist .

An Associate of the Society before July, 1842,
was elected a Member — Pharmaceutical
Chemist .

Decrease of numbers on the Register . 89

438

* These having already been included in the number
who passed the Minor, do not increase the numbers on
the Register.

Number of Pharmaceutical Chemists on the Register, December 31st, 1880
„ Chemists and Druggists

Erasures during the year : —
Deaths : —

Notices from Registrars
Other sources .

Erased at the request of registered persons ?
themselves . 3

Erased by order of the Council ... ... ...

Erased by the Registrar in pursuance of the.
provision set forth in section 10 of the]
Pharmacy Act, 1868, after sending two
' registered letters to which no answer has
been given . . . . . '

2,308

11,154

- 13 462

203

67

6

2

160

438

634

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[February 5, 1881.

The Registrar’s Report.

The Secretary laid on the table his report for the past
year, including a comparative statement of the strength
of the Society during the past five years. (See pp. 632
and 633).

Mr. Bottle said the report contained very important
figures, and he wished he could see more associates
coming forward to pass the Major examination, and take
their places as members of the Society, so as to qualify
themselves for taking seats at that Board. The Society
did not appear to lose numerically, but it certainly did
not increase in membership as it should. He should be
glad if he could say anything which would stimulate
young men, not to be satisfied with passing the Minor
examination, but that before entering on the active
business of life, they should continue their studies a little
longer, so as to take the higher qualification, which would
enable them at no distant date, perhaps, to occupy seats
around that table.

Mr. Atkins was quite sure the remarks of Mr. Bottle
ought to be supported by the whole of the Council, but
he thought nothing would tend more to attain the
desired result than clearing the atmosphere of pharmacy,
and giving pharmacists a more assured position.

It was resolved that the Registrar’s report be entered
on the minutes and published.

Register and Calendar for 1881.

The Secretary laid on the table a copy of the Register
and of the Calendar for 1881.

Reports of Committees.

FINANCE.

The report of this Committee, including a recommen¬
dation that sundry accounts be paid, was received and
adopted.

HOUSE.

This Committee had had under consideration the
proposition to place on a tablet in the hall the names of
donors to the Benevolent Fund, and recommended the
Council to rescind the resolution passed on this subject
on January 5, and that in lieu thereof, it be resolved
that the name of any person giving twenty guineas in
one, or not more than two, sums be placed on the tablet.
It further recommended, after full discussion and due
consideration, that the names of firms who are donors to
the Fund should not be inscribed on the tablet.

An estimate for preparing the tablet was submitted
and recommended for adoption.

On the motion for adopting the report,

Mr. Savage said he did not approve of the alteration
proposed by the Committee. He saw no objection to the
names of firms who subscribed being placed on the tablet.

Mr. Symes thought it rather unfortunate, as this
matter was not sent to the Committee, that the Com¬
mittee should have undertaken to offer any further
recommendation. The Council was pretty unanimous in
the matter, and he did not see what right the Committee
had to rediscuss it. It seemed to him a waste of time.
An important point had been mentioned by Mr. Atkins
last month, that firms would often give sums of money,
when individual members of those firms could not. He
would move as an amendment, —

“ That the recommendations of the House Committee
be received and adopted with the exception of that
portion which refers to donations to the Benevolent
Fund.”

Mr. Savage seconded the amendment.

Mr. Hampson said he was responsible for moving the
resolution in Committee; it might not be a very impor¬
tant matter, but he did not think it at all unfortunate
that the Committee which had the practical carrying
out of this affair should have offered a suggestion to the
Council. He thought the recommendation was one which
might be fairly supported. He supported it on the
ground that benevolence was an individual act ; and the
donation of £20 by six persons forming a firm was very

different from the gift of a similar amount by an indi¬
vidual.

Mr. Robbins thought the recommendation was not of
so much importance with regard to firms as it was with
regard to the amount which might be subscribed.
According to the resolution passed lust month, a person
who gave a donation of a guinea per annum for twenty
years would be entitled to have his name placed on the
board, whilst one who subscribed £5, or £3, or £2 annu¬
ally several years would not. If this were adhered to, it
would entirely alter the character of the fund, because
donations would be given instead of subscriptions, which
would be a very serious thing, as donations were obliged
to be funded. He thought at any rate donations should
be given in not more than two sums, to entitle a person
to have his name placed on the board.

Mr. Bottle said he was probably bound by the
resolution of the Committee, of which he was a member,
although he was not present when it was passed. Had
he been present he should certainly have opposed it.
The Council had decided the matter, and for a committee
to undertake to reverse that which the Council had
decided was rather going out of its way; moreover, if it
was for a committee at all, it should be left to the Bene¬
volent Fund Committee to make any recommendations.

Mr. Williams said he was unfortunately preventtd
attending the meeting of the Committee or he should
have opposed the resolution. He could not understand
three or four gentlemen meeting together, and under¬
taking to reverse the decision of the Council.

Mr. Hampson remarked that the Committee had not
attempted to do so. It simply made a recommendation.

Mr. Williams said if it was the opinion of the
Council that the resolution of last month should be re¬
scinded he should bow to it, at the same time he could
see no good reason for doing so. There seemed to be
some confusion in the minds of some of the speakers as to
the distinction between subscriptions and donations, and it
must be remembered that subscriptions only could be used
for current expenses ; the donations have to be invested.

Mr. Robbins said that made it all the more necessary
to alter the resolution.

Mr. Gostling, as a member of the Committee, did not
feel that it was reversing the decision of the Council,
only it was felt by the members of it that the suggestions
now made were really worth consideration once more
before the resolution was acted upon. He did not think
it was ever the intention of the Council, as pointed out
by Mr. Robbins, that twenty separate donations of a
guinea should entitle a person to have his name placed
on the board.

Mr. Symes would be very sorry to endeavour in any
way to limit the action of the Committee, but the Com¬
mittee having made a report to the Council, and the
Council having passed a resolution upon it, there was no
occasion to re-discuss the subject. He hoped the effect
would be to get a much larger number of substantial
donations than the Secretary informed the Council had
hitherto been made. If any individual were so persistent
as to go on giving a donation of one guinea for twenty
years, he was fully entitled to have his name inscribed
on the board.

Mr. Richardson expressed his astonishment at the
action of the House Committee, of which he was a
member, but he had taken no part in this discussion.
When the Council deliberately passed resolutions, and
passed them on to a committee to carry them out, it was
the duty of that committee to do so, unless there were
some very exceptional state of circumstances to prevent
it being done. He believed Mr. Hampson objected to.
the course adopted by the Council, because it would lead
to firms giving donations by way of advertising thqjn-
selves. But if it were to be so, who would benefit by it ?
Only their poorer brethren who came and asked for
assistance. He was astonished that any feeling of petty
jealousy should lead to an objection to any system of

February .3, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

635

gathering money. He hoped this practice would not be
followed in future, and that the Council would affirm by
a large majority the resolution come to last month.

Mr. Sandfokd thought the Council was in a muddle
altogether on this subject, because it should, he thought,
have been referred to the Benevolent Fund Committee to
■consider what names should be put on the Board. It
had been said that the Committee had reversed the
decision of the Council; but that was a mistake, as it only
asked the Council to reverse its own decision. He did
not think it would do to allow the names of donors of
twenty separate guineas to be published ; but that was a
point on which he should like to have the opinion of the
Benevolent Fund Committee.

The Vice-President pointed out with regard to the
argument that benevolence was an individual feeling, that
no doubt that was correct, yet individuals could not
always carry out their benevolent feelings ; on the other
hand, a firm might feel itself impelled to a course of
benevolence where an individual might not, and from
considerations which were perfectly legitimate. He could
well imagine that a wholesale firm might feel called upon
to assist the weaker members of the trade from which it
derived its profits ; it might not be so much a matter of
private benevolent feeling as of duty in such a case.
This was not a new question ; it had been settled, and
unless a very strong case were made out it should not be
altered. As to the supposed case of a person giving a
guinea annually for twenty years, he would remind the
Council that at the end of that time his donation would
really be worth a good deal more than £20. If a man
were in the least degree impelled by such a consideration
at all, he would point out, that the longer he went on,
the stronger would be his inducement to continue his
donations until the end of the twenty years. An ordinary
subscriber could discontinue at any time.

Mr. Atkins did not at all share the feeling that the
Committee had in any way interfered with the functions
of the Council in suggesting that the matter should be re¬
considered. Still he had not heard any reason given why
it should be reconsidered. It very often happened that
benevolence was of the qjhcial character to which refer¬
ence had been made ; for instance his own name figured
on such a board as donor of £100 to a hospital, although
he had only handed over the money as executor.

The amendment of Mr. Symes was then put and
carried.

Some discussion then arose as to the carrying out of
the original resolution, objection being made to the
wording of it, and

Mr. Sandford moved : —

“ That the question of deciding the regulations to be
observed in recording donations to the Benevolent
Fund on the tablets to be placed on the walls of the
Society’s house be referred to the Benevolent Fund
Committee for consideration.

Mr. Churchill supported the suggestion. There was
no doubt the Council dealt with the matter rather
hurriedly, and it seemed to him a dangerous thing for any
inducement to be held out to a man to change his sub¬
scription into a donation.

The President said practical difficulties came before
the Committee, which was almost unanimous in its
recommendation to the Council to reconsider the matter.
Mr. Sandford’s suggestion would meet the difficulty.

Mr. Richardson thought as the Council had decided
on the amounts, it would be irregular to send the question
back again to a committee. -No doubt there was a clerical
error in the original resolution, as it seemed to negative
the idea of the donation being given in one sum ; but that
could easily be corrected.

Mr. Mackay thought it very desirable that this
question should go back to the Benevolent Fund
Committee, especially for consideration as to whether
the regulation should be made,, as he understood was
intended, retrospective. It seemed to him rather curious

to have a board at all, but it would certainly be a very
weak point to go back any number of years.

The motion was then agreed to.

BENEVOLENT FUND.

The report of this Committee included a recommen¬
dation of the following grants : —

£10 to the widow of a registered chemist, age 71.
Applicant has received four previous grants.

£15 to the widow of a former member, who is now suf¬
fering from chronic disease.

£15 to the widow of a member, aged 83.

£10 each to two of the unsuccessful candidates for
annuities at the late election.

<£'10 to a former member who had received six previous
grants of £10 each.

Two other applications, one of which had reference to
aid in getting an orphan into an asylum, were deferred
for further information.

The report and recommendations were unanimously
adopted.

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

Librarian’s Report.

The Librarian’s report had been received, and in¬
cluded the following particulars : —

Attendance.
December .

Year 1880 .

Total. Highest. Lowest.
Day . . 215 15 3

Evening .95 11 1

Day . . 3037 22 0

Evening . 1564 17 1

Average.

9 nearly.
6 nearly.
10

8 nearly.

Circulation of books. Town. Country. Total.

December . . . . 163 119 282

Year 1880. . . . 1773 1347 3120

~ i December, . . £2 0s. Id.

Carnage paid j Year 18g() < . £25 17s<

The following donations to the Library had been
received : —

American Journal of Pharmacy, 1880.

From the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.
Analyst, 1880. From the Editor.

Archiv for Pharmaci og technisk Chemi, 1S80.

From the Publishers.
Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal, 1880.

From the Ontario College of Pharmacy.
Chemical News, 1880. From the Editor.

Chemist and Druggist, 1880.

Chemists’ and Druggists’ Diary, 1881.

From the Proprietors.
Chemist and Druggist; Australasian Supplement,
1880.

From the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria.
Chemists’ Journal, 1880. From the Editor.

Education, Journal of Trinity College, London, 1880.

From the College.

Educational Times, 1880.

From the College of Preceptors.
Journal of the Chemical Society of London, 1880.

From the Society.
New Remedies, 1880. From the Editors.

Ny pharmaceutisk Tidende, 1880.

From the Publishers.
Journal of the Photographic Society of Great
Britain, 1880. " From the Society.

Pharmacist, 1880.

From the Chicago College of "Pharmacy.
Zeitschrift des allgemeinen osterreichischen Apo-
theker-Vereines, 1880. From the Verein.

Anzeiger der kaiserliche Akademie der Wissen-
schaften in Wien, mathematisch-naturwissen-
schaftliche Classe, 1880. From the Akademie.
Proceedings of the Royal Institution of Great Britain,
1880. From the Institution.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Chemical Society, J ransac-
tions, 1880. From the Society.

636

THE FHARMAOEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

'[February 5, 1SSI-

Journal of the Linnean Society of London, 1880.

From the Society.

Bulletin de la Society Botanique de France, 1880.

From the Society.

Medico -chirurgical Transactions, yol. 63.

Proceedings of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical
Society of London, 1880. From the Society.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, 1880.

From the Society.
Victoria University and Owens College Calendars,
1880. From the College.

Royal College of Physicians of London, List of Fel¬
lows, etc., 1880. From the College.

Journal of the Institute of Actuaries, 1880,

From the Institute.
Year-Book of Pharmacy, with Transactions of the
British Pharmaceutical Conference, 1880 (2 copies).

From the Conference.
Transactions of the Botanical Society [of Edinburgh],
1880. From the Society.

Proceedings of the Literary and Philosophical

Society of Manchester, vol. 16-19.

Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society,
vol. 26. From the Society.

Tommasi (D.), Reponse a une note de M. A. Riche
sur la reduction du chlorure d’argent, 1880.
Tommasi (D.), Sopra una nuova modificazione

isomera del triidrato alluminico, 1880.

From the Author.
Tilden (W. A.), Introduction to Chemical Philosophy,
2nd ed.., 1880. From the Publishers.

The Committee recommended that the usual letters of
thanks be sent to the respective donors.

The Committee also recommended the purchase of the
following works : —

Botany of California, vol. 2, 1880.

Cooke (M. C.), Illustrations of British Fungi.

The Librarian had drawn the attention of the Committee
to the great falling off in the attendance in the Library.

Curator's Report.

Attendance. Total. Highest. Lowest, Average.

Morning 264 17 3 10

Evening 36 8 0 2

The following donations were reported : —

Specimen of young Quebracho Bark.

From Messrs. Corbyn, Stacey and Co.
Specimen of Star- Anise Bark, from Singapore.

From Messrs. T. Christy and Co.
Specimens of Calisaya, Crown, and Red Cinchona
Barks, from Jamaica. Also a specimen of
Calisaya Bark, cultivated in Bolivia.

From Mr. T. Whiffen.
Specimens of Moravian Rhubarb Root; Liquorice
Root, and Inspissated Juice prepared from the
same ; Galls of Pistacia Terebinthus ; large
Hungarian Oak Galls ; lesser Hungarian Galls ;
Vaseline and Ozokerite, from Galicia ; Austrian
Oil of Turpentine ; Polish Oil of Turpentine ; Oil
of Pinus Pumilio (Oleum Carpathicum).
Herbarium specimens and dried roots of Aconitum
Na/pellus, A. variegatum and A . lycoctonum ; Gentiana
cruciata , G. pannonica and G. asclepiadea, and G.
cruciata, collected on the Alps.

From Dr. A. Vogl, of Vienna.
Samples of Japanese Star- Anise and varieties of
Linseed. From Mr. H. B. Cocksedge.

Specimen of J apanese Star- Anise.

From Messrs. Burgoyne, Burbidge, Cyriax & Farries.
Specimens of pure Aspidospermine, Citrate and
Sulphate of Aspidospermine.

From Herr E. Merck, Darmstadt.
Specimen of Quebracho Bark.

From Mr. W. B. Cranwell.
Specimen of the Rusa Grass, from which the oil
previously sent was distilled.

From Dr. Dymock, Bombay.

Specimen of leaves and stem of Guaco, and Para
Tonquin Beans.

From Messrs. Symes and Co., Liverpool,

Duplicate specimens had been distributed to : —

The North British Branch.

Leicester Chemists’ Assistants’ Association.

Professor Bernardin, Melle lez-Gand.

Professor Maisch, Philadelphia.

Professor Fristedt, Upsala.

Professor Dubois, Ghent.

Dr. Morel, Ghent.

Herr Dittrich, Prague.

University College Hospital.

Royal Botanical Gardens, Regent’s Park.

Mons. Chantre.

The specimens for the Bristol Museum wTere now
ready for despatch, with the exception of a few of
those asked for, of which the Curator had no duplicates.

The Professors had attended and reported favourably
of their respective classes.

Professor Redwood had reported that he had been fur¬
nished with the necessary materials and apparatus for his
dispensing class, which was progressing favourably.

A letter had been received from a member suggesting
the desirability of placing in the Society’s Museum two
or three inexpensive microscopes of low power for the use
of students. The subject had been discussed, and the
further consideration of it deferred.

Mr. Williams said the falling off in the attendance in
the Library was a very serious matter. Had any ex¬
planation of it been laid before the Committee ?

Mr. Hampson said the Committee was very much con¬
cerned at this falling off, but was not able to assign any
cause for it, except a lack of interest on the part of the
members resident in London and the suburbs. It was true
that more books were now circulated than formerly, but
these went principally into the country. It was a deplor¬
able fact that the Library was not so much appreciated
as it ought to be. It was unique in character, and was
probably the best pharmaceutical library in the world.
It contained a vast quantity of very valuable books, and
it was very disappointing to find that chemists in London
did not take more advantage of the treasures it contained.

Mr. Richardson hoped that the suggestion which had
been made for placing a few microscopes in the Museum
would be adopted and carried out in a liberal spirit. The
Committee thought this would be the means of inducing
young men to study the microscope, and would be the
means of bringing them more into the Library.

The President said it might be as well to give the
figures of attendance in the Library during 1879 and
1880. In 1879 the day attendance was 5201; in 1880,
3037. Evening, 1879, 2264; 1880, 1564. Showing a
great falling off in the attendance both in the day and in
the evening. Possibly it might be only temporary, but
the Librarian was, equally with the Committee, unable to
account for it.

A resolution adopting the report and recommendations
of the Committee was then carried unanimously.

.

general purposes.

The report of this Committee included the usual letter
from the Solicitor as to the conduct of cases in his hands.
Several fresh cases of alleged infringements of the
Pharmacy Act had been under consideration, in some
of which it was recommended that proceedings be
commenced.

The report was considered in committee as usual. On
resuming, the report of the Committee was adopted.

During the sitting of the Council a second letter was
received from the Solicitor, reporting that a prosecution
against

A. J. Wright, 76, South Castle Street, Liverpool,
for an infringement of the Act, by assuming the title of
a druggist, had been successful, the defendant being-fined
£5 and 29s. costs.

February 5, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

637

The Preliminary Examination.

The Secretary read the report of the London Board
of Examiners on the Preliminary examination held in
J anuary.

The next business was to consider the following resolu¬
tion of the Board of Examiners : —

“ That in the opinion of this Board, power should be
taken in the new Act to discontinue the holding of
the Preliminary examination by this Society through
the medium of the College of Preceptors, and in all
cases to accept in lieu thereof the certificate of
having passed the examinations of other examining
and educational bodies, previously approved by the
Board and Council.”

Mr. Mackay asked if the word “ Board ” ought not to
have been in the plural ? Had the Scotch Board con¬
sidered the matter ? He understood that both Boards
had similar powers with regard to the examinations,
whether preliminary or scientific.

The President said this was a report of the Board of
Examiners in London on the Preliminary examinations,
which were never placed before the Board in Scotland.

Mr. Mackay asked if he were to understand that the
Board in London could do anything in connection with
the examinations without the concurrence of the Board
for Scotland ? If so, it was a novelty altogether. They
in Scotland thought the two Boards were working in
harmony, and their efforts for many years past had been
to render the two Boards as much alike as possible.
Not only as a matter of right, but as a matter ot
courtesy, there should have been some communication
with the Scotch Board on this matter before any
resolution was sent to the Council. Preliminary
examinations were held in Scotland the same as in
England. He should like to know why this exceptional
course should be taken.

Mr. Symes asked how the resolution came before the
Council ? Was it an annual report ? He sympathized
with the observations of Mr. Mackay.

Mr. Williams said the Board of Examiners in London
met four times a year to receive the results of the
Preliminary examinations which were conducted by the
College of Preceptors. He Relieved the question had
never been raised of sending it to the Scotch Board.

\ Mr. Mackay said that was another matter altogether.
These were specific meetings for specific purposes ; but
here he understood a special meeting of the English
Board had been held, at which a resolution had been
proposed and sent to the Council. The two things were
quite distinct.

The Secretary said the resolution was passed at a
meeting of the Board of Examiners held on January 19
to receive the report from the College of Preceptors as to
the Preliminary examinations. He would again read this
report and the resolution passed by the Board of Exami¬
ners upon it.

Mr. Mackay said he should ask the Council to delay
the consideration of the resolution until a copy had been
sent to the Board of Examiners in Scotland for con¬
sideration. He asked that more particularly because he
could see a great deal of difficulty even in discussing it,
and still more in carrying it. It was a strange resolution
in some respects, because it opened such a very wide field.
There were various examining bodies, both in Scotland
and England — universities, colleges and other institutions.
He would move —

“ That the resolution proposed by the London Board
of Examiners be referred back, with a request that
the Scotch Board be consulted before the matter is
discussed by the Council.”

Mr. Savage seconded the motion.

The Vice-President said he should support the motion.
He only wished to point out that this meeting of the
London" Board of Examiners was exceptional in this
respect, that it was not a meeting for the purpose of

examination, and therefore neither the President nor
Vice-President were present.

Mr. Bottle quite admitted that there was a slur on
the Scotch Board in the way this had been done. At
the same time he thought the recommendation was un¬
necessary, as the Council had power to take the exami¬
nations of as many bodies as it liked. It did not need to
go to Parliament for authorization.

Mr. Williams pointed out that the recommendation
was to take power to discontinue the Society’s awn Pre¬
liminary examination, which was quite a different thing.
Probably the Board of Examiners had passed the resolu¬
tion in this hurried way because it considered there was
not time to consult with the Board in Scotland, and it
knew that a Bill was to be discussed, which would
probably receive its finishing touches at the Council
meeting of that day, and he could well understand that
the London Board desired to bring its views befor.e the
Council. By the strict letter of the law there was no
such thing as a Preliminary examination at all, and
therefore there would be great difficulty in drafting any
clause which would meet the requirements of the London
Board of Examiners.

Mr. Atkins was very sorry to find the slightest difficulty
had arisen at this early stage, and he entirely sympathized
with Mr. Mackay, but if this delay should at all imperil
the adoption of the principle he should much regret it.

Mr. Sandford said he always wished to act with the
greatest respect towards the Board of Examiners, but it
was quite clear to him that this matter had been done
hastily, and that the Board had assumed a right which
never belonged to it. It was the function of the
Council to approve of the bodies whose examinations
should be received, but the Board of Examiners not only
asked to be allowed to share in this, but put itself first.
One or two things he had seen lately had shown him that
the Board of Examiners had taken a wrong view of the cer¬
tificates which went to it by the authority of the Council.

Mr. Frazer was very glad to hear what had been said
by Mr. Sandford. He had had occasion from time to
time since he had been on the Council to inform the
Examiners that they were appointed by the Council, which
made the regulations, and that it was not for the
Examiners to alter those regulations.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

The Assistant-Secretary said now the discussion was
over he might be permitted to state that he was in at-
tenance at the meeting of the Board of Examiners and
an inquiry was made when the Scotch Board would meet.
He answered that the ordinary meeting of that Board
would not take place until the middle of February, and
members of the London Board then concluded, therefore,
there would be no opportunity to consult their Scotch
colleagues before the meeting of the Council. It was un¬
derstood the Bill would be settled that day, and the
London Board was anxious that its views should come
before the Council before the Bill was completed.

The Vice-President was very glad to hear this state¬
ment, because he could not believe it possible that the
London Board meant any disrespect to the Scotch Board.

Mr. Mackay remarked that the Scotch Board had
never shown any indisposition to hold a special meeting
whenever it was required in the interest of the Society.

Exhibition of Pharmaceutical and Chemical
Apparatus, etc.

Mr. Symes then moved the following resolution of
which he had given notice : —

« That an Exhibition of Chemical and Pharmaceutical
Apparatus and other objects of special interest to
pharmacists be held in the Society’s Rooms at the
period of the annual meeting in 1881, or at the
meeting of the International Pharmaceutical Con¬
ference or Congress in August ; and that the Library
and Museum Committee be requested to consider and
report on the best means of carrying out the same.”

638

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[February 5, 188 J.

Mr. Richardson seconded the motion.

Mr. Williams suggested that the proposition should
be withdrawn, as far as it referred to the meeting of the
International Conference or ' Congress in August, as
there was nothing definitely fixed with regard to that.

Mr. Hampson said that there would be no objection to
leaving it to the Committee to decide at which of the
two meetings it was most advisable to hold the
exhibition.

The President said there was no question there should
be an exhibition, the only question was when it would
be most useful and convenient. That should be better
decided by the Committee.

The motion was put and carried unanimously.

The Draft Pharmacy Acts Amendment Bill.

The President said the next business was to consider
certain resolutions passed at Edinburgh, Glasgow, and
elsewhere, and if any gentleman had any similar docu¬
ments to bring forward, they should be read, and then
the discussion would take place upon them in committee.

The Secretary read the following communications : —

“ To the President and Council of the Pharmaceutical
“ Society of Great Britain.

Extract of minutes of meeting of the Council of the
North British Branch, held in the Society’s rooms, in
Edinburgh, on the 18th January, inst.

“ The Council took up for consideration ‘ The Pharmacy
Law Amendment Act.’

“ Clause 1. In the course of the discussion on this
clause it appeared that the Council here fully appreciated
the intention of inserting it, which they believed to be
a more perfect assimilation in the working of the two
Boards by having the power to appoint examiners other
than Scottish on the Scotch Board. But they believed that
the means would not be found capable of accomplishing
that result, even admitting that the occasion existed;
and besides, they regarded the converse side of the arrange¬
ment, viz., the representation of Scotland on the London
Board — which they presume is also contemplated — as
quite impracticable. And on the other hand, they held
that the Scottish constitution of the Edinburgh Board
was an essential part of the understanding arrived at on
the occasion of the passing of the Act, 1852, that this
arrangement has worked quite satisfactorily ever since,
and to change it now, as proposed in the clause, would
have the appearance of implying a want of confidence in
the Scottish Board, and might be regarded as such by
that Board. In these circumstances the Council unani¬
mously resolved to oppose this clause.

“ Clause 2. It was moved by Mr. Kinninmont that the
words ‘ with the sanction of the Privy Council ’ be in¬
serted after the words ‘ Great Britain.’ This was seconded
by Mr. Ainslie and agreed to . The insertion was thought
desirable as a check on hasty legislation.

“ Clause 5. The Council were strongly opposed to re¬
stricting, in any manner, the provisions of section 16 of
the Act, 1868, and the discussion showed that they would
rather favour an expansion of these provisions and the
special adoption of them to the case of widows.

“ The other clauses gave rise to a good deal of discus¬
sion, but there was no amendment or opposition proposed
to any of them.

“John Mackay,

“ Honorary Secretary .”

“ Edinburgh . 27th Jan., 1881.”

“Edinburgh, January 25, 1881.

“A meeting of the chemists and druggists of Edinburgh
and neighbourhood was held at Edinburgh on the 21st
inst., to consider the Pharmacy Law Amendment Act.

“ The meeting was numerously attended, there being
fifty or sixty present. Mr. Gilmour was voted into the
chair, and it was agreed to read the clauses one by one,
and to take the sense of the meeting on them separately.

“ The clauses were accordingly read, and gave rise to
lengthened discussion, and were approved of, with the
exception of the 1st and 5th.

“It was moved by Mr. Mackenzie, seconded by Mr.
Ewing, and unanimously agreed to, ‘ That the first
clause should be deleted from the Bill.’

“With regard to the 5 th clause, there was a consensus
of opinion that it was more unfavourable to the interests
of the widows than the clause in the 1868 Act, while it
was also felt that by raising the question at all, the prin¬
ciple of personal qualification would be more jeopardized
than it is at present. It was therefore unanimously
agreed that the wisest course would be to delete this 5th
clause also from the Bill, and it was resolved accordingly.

“It was further agreed that the foregoing resolutions
should be laid before the Council in London.

“ (Signed) W. Gilmour,

“ Chairman

“ Glasgow Chemists and Druggists’ Association.

“ At a general meeting of the trade, convened by public
notices in the newspapers, which was held in Anderson’s
College, 204, George Street, on January 25, 1881, at 11
a.m., Mr. Robert Brodie, Vice-President, in the chair,
the following resolutions on the various clauses of the
proposed Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill were approved
of, after a varied discussion, in which Messrs. Kinninmont,
White (Brown Bros.), R. Brodie, J. C. Steel, John
Walker, Adam, and J. C. Hunter took part.

“ Preamble. Approved.

“ Clause 1. That the Examinations in Scotland should
be conducted as they are now, by Scotch
Examiners.

“ Clause 2. That by consent of the Privy Council
should be inserted after the words Great
Britain.

“ Clause 3. No objection.

“ Clause 4. That Section XI. should not be repealed.

“ Clause 5. That it should be struck out.

“ Clause 6. Approved.

“ Clause 7. Approved.

“ Clause 8. Approved.

“ Clause 9. It was the opinion of the meeting that we
in Scotland should have a trial in pro¬
secuting offenders against the Pharmacy
Act by the Public Prosecutor instead of
by the Pharmaceutical Society.

“ Clause 10. It was the opinion of the meeting that
the name of the active poison in any
patent medicine should be mentioned;
also it should be labelled distinctly
“ poison,” if it contained any.

“ Clause 11. This clause being very obtuse, it was con¬
sidered just that the penalty ought to
be recovered from the maker of any
patent medicine containing poison or
poisons who had not fulfilled the regu¬
lations of the Act.

“Clause 12. No objection.

“ Clause 13. No objection.

“Clause 14. That it should be struck out, in case the
privilege of pharmaceutical chemists in
England who are exempt be taken away.

“Clause 15. No objection.

“ (Signed) Robert Me Ad am,

“ President,

“John C. Hunter,

“ Honorary Secretary .”

“ Registered Chemists’ Trade Association of Liverpool,

“ 31, Old Hall Street,

“Liverpool, 28 Jan., 1881.

“ E. Bremridge, Esq.,

“ Dear Sir, — I have to acquaint you that the Registered
Chemists’ Trade Association of Liverpool have held tuo
meetings to consider the amendments to the Pharmacy

February 5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

639

i

Acts as proposed by the Pharmaceutical Society, at which
each clause was taken seriatim and discussed.

“ The Committee have instructed me to convey to you
their approval of the proposed amendments and their
willingness to render any aid in their power to get them
passed into law. “ I am, dear Sir,

“ Yours, very truly,

“ (Signed) J. Hocken,

“ Hon. Sec .’

“ Rochdale and District Chemists’ Association.

“ Rochdale, Jan. 31st, 1881.

. “ Resolution adopted at a meeting of the Rochdale
Chemists’ Association, on Wednesday evening, Jan. 26th,
3.881.

“That the Secretary be requested to write to the
Pharmaceutical Council giving a general approval of the
proposed Bill, but at the same time respectfully suggest¬
ing that in case the clause prohibiting the practice of
dispensing by co-operative stores should be rejected by
the Legislature, that relating to the question of widows
be withdrawn or expunged, and also to draw your atten¬
tion to the fact that under the existing law, branch shops
can be and are conducted without qualified assistants,
contrary to the spirit of present and also of proposed
legislation : and further to suggest the propriety of urging
the LocaJ Associations or members of the trade through¬
out the country to use their influence with their respective
parliamentary representatives in favour of the Bill.

“ (Signed) J. W. Bamford,

“Hon. Sec.”

“ Sheffield Pharmaceutical and Chemical Association,

“ 17th January, 1881.

“ The President and Council of the Pharmaceutical
“ Society of Great Britain.

“ Sir and Gentlemen, — I am instructed to forward you
a copy of a resolution passed by the above association, on
the 12th January, proposed by Mr. E. R. Learoyd,
seconded by Mr. W. Ward, F.C.S., and unanimously
carried : —

“ ‘ That this meeting, after due consideration of the pro¬
posed Pharmacy Law Amendment Bill, cordially approves
of the provisions of the same, and pledges itself to
actively support it.’ “I am, Sir, and Gentlemen,

“ Yours respectfully,

“ G. T. Wilkinson Newsholme, .

“ Hon. Sec.”

“ South Hackney.

“Gentlemen, — We, the undersigned, respectfully suggest
the following few slight alterations in proposed amend¬
ment to Pharmacy Act : —

“Preamble.

“ After the words ‘ open shop,’ add the words' ‘ within
the meaning of the Pharmacy Acts in any part of Great
Britain.’

“Clause 1. After the words ‘any fit and ’ — ‘qualified
persons residing in any part of Great Britain.’

“Clause 7. After the words ‘delivered at any open
shop,’ — ‘ or other establishment.’ After the words ‘ me¬
dical prescriptions,’ — ‘ or' domestic receipts, or drugs, or
chemicals.’ ‘ Keeping the open shop ’ — * or other es¬
tablishment.’ ‘ Selling poisons,’ — ‘ drugs, or chemicals.’
* Business at the open shop,’— ‘ or other establishment.’

“Clause S’. After the words ‘keep open shop,’ — ‘or
other establishment.’ * Medical prescriptions or ’ — ‘family
receipts.’ Fifth line, after the word ‘poisons,’ — ‘drugs or
chemicals.’

“Clause 13. After the words ‘or to medical prescrip¬
tions,’ — ‘ or drugs or chemicals.’

“ Respectfully yours, • ■

“Robert Owen Fitch, M.P.S.G.B.

200, Well Street, South Hackney.

“John Adolphus Clark, M.P.S.G.B.,

1 1, Duncan Place, London Fields, Hackney.”

“ To the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great

Britain.

“We, the undersigned pharmaceutical chemists and
chemists and druggists residing in Brighton and Hove,
Sussex, desire to record our decided disapproval of clause
5 of the proposed amendments of the Pharmacy Act,
whereby ‘ It shall not be lawful for any executors, ad¬
ministrators, or trustees of a deceased pharmaceutical
chemist or chemist and druggist to continue the business
of such pharmaceutical chemist or chemist and druggist
for a longer period than three years, unless by per¬
mission of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain.’

“We consider that such a law would in many cases
prove seriously detrimental to the interests of the trade,
and therefore appeal to the Council to erase the said clause
entirely from the proposed amendments.

“ Edwin B. Yizer.

“ Charles C. Watts.

“ Edward Henry Moore.

“ George G. Muston.

“ Charles Barton.

“ Henry Barton.

“ L. C. Perress.

“ Thomas Glaisyer.

“ Philip Walton Blacklock.
“ John Field.

“ Edward Histed.

“ Edward R. Harris.

“ Joseph Edwards.

“ Frederick Warneford.

“ W. H. Gibson.

“ George Bright.

“ Thomas Billing.

“ Wm. Else.

“ J. H. Fairbank.

“ Kinneard Metherell.
“John Padwick.

“ George Hickley.

“ Richard Cargill.

“ W. R. H. Sprackett.
“ John Phillips.

“ Thomas Jeeves.

“ Charles H. Wavell.

“ G. G. Hornsby.

“ J ohn Arnold.

“ Robert Walmsley.

“ J. Smithson.

“ Isaac Garrett.

“ Fredk. Wm. Salmon.
“ Thomas Bullen.
“Wm. Cornish.

“ Marshall Leigh.

“ Thomas Robson.”

A letter from Mr. Sutton, of Norwich, was read,
asking if anything could be done in his district to assist
in securing the passage of the Bill. #

At the conclusion of the reading of these communi¬
cations —

Mr. Sandford said he had also two letters, which he *
would not take up time by reading. One was from Mr.
Keen, of Fenchurch Street, drawing particular attention
to sections 1 and 5, which he thought objectionable, and
section 7, in which he thought there should be provision
made for branch establishments. The other' letter was
from Mr. Balkwill, of Plymouth, drawing attention to the
injustice of the 5th section.

The following communication was also read from the
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland : —

“68, Grafton Street,

Dublin, January 12, 1881.”

“ To the Registrar, Pharmaceutical Society of Great

“ Britain.

“Sir, — ln behalf of the Pharmacy Act Amendment
Commitee of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, I
beo- to bring under your notice a resolution unanimously
adopted at the last meeting of the Council of our Society,
held on the 5th inst.

“‘Resolved. That the Committee appointed for the
purpose of considering amendments of the Pharmacy Act
(Ireland) be requested to place themselves in communica¬
tion with a similar Committee, appointed by the Phar¬
maceutical Society of Great Britain, with a view to co¬
operation between the two Societies upon points of common
interest to both.’

« Our Committee was formed some two years ago to
consider certain difficulties in the working of our Act and
to suggest amendments. After considerable discussion of
the amendments proposed, those of which I enclose copy
were accepted by the general Annual Meeting of the
Society in October, 1879.

640

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[February 5, 1881.

■

“ They were then laid before the permanent officials of
the Irish Government, by whom they were favourably
received. Unfortunately, the position of Irish affairs has
ever since rendered it impossible for the Government to
take up the question in the House of Commons, and it is
hopeless to expect any Government action upon it for
some time to come.

“ The necessity for the first seven amendments arises
from the fact that certain vested rights were reserved to
individuals under our Act, and it has become desirable
that the names of all persons claiming such rights should
be placed on record by requiring to come in and register.
In the absence of such a provision ‘ The Sale of Poisons
Act ’ is virtually a dead letter in Ireland at present.

“ The pi’oposed interpretation clause (No. 8) was
adopted by our Society long before the decision in the
London and Provincial Supply Association case.

“ The amendments to which our attention has been
directed have their reference principally to the working of
the Irish Act in matters peculiar to itself ; but beyond
and beside these we are not unmindful of the fact that
amendments may be introduced when our Act strictly
follows the lines of the Act of the English Society.

l‘We have learned with satisfaction that the Pharma¬
ceutical Society of Great Britain have taken up and dis¬
cussed several such amendments, and in accordance with
the x’esolution above referred to, we now beg to place
ourselves in communication with your Committee, and
hope that an interchange of views may tend to the
carrying out of such amendments, as may be desirable,
as well as to encourage a feeling of co-operation between
the two Societies.

“We are fully prepared to accept the fact that no
amendments in the direction of trade protection, pure
and simple, will be advisable to propose, nor will such be
likely to be accepted by the Legislature, but we are satis¬
fied that after the experience of so many years amend¬
ments may be suggested which will tend to the safety and
convenience of the public, as well as to the advancement
of the profession of pharmacy in this and in the sister
kingdom. “ I am, Sir,

“ Faithfully yours,

“ (Signed) J. E. Brunker, M.A.,

“ Honorary Secretary of Committee.

“ Proposed Amendments in Pharmacy Act (Ireland), 1875,

adopted at General Meeting of Pharmaceutical Society

of Ireland, October 1, 1879.

“ 1. That it is desirable that the Pharmaceutical Council
should seek powers which will enable them to compel all
persons to register their names who, under section 31,
have their right to sell poisons preserved to them.

“2. Also to compel all chemists and druggists actually
engaged in the sale of poisons or poisonous drugs at the
passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1875, on making a decla¬
ration to that effect and giving reasonable proof thereof,
to be registered on payment of a fee not exceeding three
guineas, and that such persons shall be styled ‘ registered
druggists.’

“ 3. That a list of such registerered druggists shall be
published from time to time by the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society.

“ 4. That it shall be illegal for any person to sell
poisons or poisonous drugs, or to style himself a registered
druggist, except he shall be so registered, save and except
he be a qualified medical practitioner or duly registered
by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland or otherwise
exempt under the provisions of the Pharmacy Act.

“ 5. That it shall be unlawful for any registered
druggist to keep open, shop for retailing, dispensing, or
compounding medical prescriptions.

“ 6. That the pena’ties for infringement of these clauses,
and the modes of recovering same, shall be the same as
provided in the Pharmacy Act.

“7. That all bye-laws or rules for registration shall be

approved by the Privy Council prior to their being put
in force.

“That in reference to the Pharmacy (Ireland) Act,
38 and 39 Viet., c. 57, and more especially in reference
to section 30 of said Act, the word ‘person ’ shall be held
to mean and imply any association of persons, whether as
a partnership, society or company (limited or otherwise),
of which one or more members shall not be qualified
under the provisions of the said Act.”

The Council then went into committee to consider the
memorials which had been received, and in . connection
therewith the clauses of the proposed Bill- which were
affected by them.

On resuming,

Mr. Frazer rose to move, according to notice, certain
amendments in the proposed Bill, and asked leave to read
his remarks, which was accorded to him.

He then moved : —

“ In the Preamble, to omit ‘and medical prescriptions,’
or if these words are retained, insert after them in
each case ‘ containing scheduled poisons.’ ”

In moving this amendment, I acknowledge at once that
I am aiming at the overthrow of one of the root prin¬
ciples that underlie this whole Bill, namely, the extension
to non-poisonous drugs, when in the form of prescription,
of the restrictive principle that has hitherto applied to
only a limited number of poisonous agents. Though this
newly proposed restriction does exist in the Irish Phar¬
macy Act, it has not hitherto had a place in any of the
numerous Acts that apply to this country. It is to this
innovation that I venture to offer my strongest protest
here in open Council, as I have done on three previous
occasions when the Council sat in committee. I do not
seek to disguise the fact that I myself am quite conscious
that this is a strong step to take, and one that should not
be taken lightly. I hope, therefore, that you, Mr. Presi¬
dent, will permit me, as briefly and as concisely as I can,
to lay before yourself and the Council some of the
arguments by which I have felt myself shut up to move
as I am doing. My first speech was made, and my first
vote given in this Council nearly ten years ago, almost
immediately after listening to a speech by Mr. Richard
Reynolds, and to other speeches by several friends still,
like myself, here. That speech, like that of Mr. Rey¬
nolds, was made and that vote given against the imposing
by legislative enactment of additional restrictions to
those contained in the Act of 1868 upon myself and my
fellow-tradesmen throughout the kingdom in carrying on
our business as dispensing chemists. Where I stood
then, I stand now, and in giving notice of the long list of
amendments standing opposite my name in the agenda
paper of to-day, I believe that I acted in entire harmony
with the principles that guided my action then. I most
earnestly decline now, as I declined then, to forge with
my own hands additional chains for my already sufficiently
burdened limbs. In addition to the moral obligations, as
well as the civil responsibilities, under which we all act
in carrying on a most onerous, as well as honourable
business, we carry it on under the restrictions imposed upon
us by the Act of 1868. I act, I hope, loyally within the
lines laid down for the conducting of our business by that
Act. But I decline to be myself instrumental in narrow¬
ing still further these lines. I draw the line at “scheduled
poisons,” — I do not wish my liberty as a dispenser of
medicines where these do not enter to be restricted
by Acts of Parliament. I demur to the “ safety of the
public” calling for such additional legislation as is sought
for by this Bill, even at the call of some of those friends
with whose action ten years ago I so heartily agreed. It
will be replied to this, I know, that the chains I object
to are not intended to encumber our limbs, but those of
others outside of our Society, whether these be “persons”
such as the family grocer, or “ corporate bodies ” such as
the Civil Service or other stores. But chains they are,
notwithstanding, and we cannot get them imposed on

February 5, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

641

others and leave ourselves free. The restrictions upon
the sale or dispensing of “scheduled poisons” were imposed
by Parliament in the interests of the public and for their
safety, but Parliament will, I believe, refuse to put ob¬
stacles, not now existing, upon the public in obtaining
non-poisonous drugs, where no call in their interests
exists for such further legislation. And if Parliament
refuses to sanction this restriction, I feel sure that it will
j refuse to sanction the restrictions sought in this Act to
be imposed not only upon the makers, but upon the re¬
tailers also of patent medicines containing “scheduled
poisons .” It will greatly surprise me if, when they come
to understand it, the trade itself throughout the country
consents to be entangled in the conducting of its business
by such restrictions as are sought for now, and which, if
obtained, would greatly limit, as well as hamper, the sale
of proprietary articles — the said trade being itself at once
their makers and retailers. In conclusion, let me say
with all seriousness that I would not have ventured to
take up the ground I have here done, had I not been
possessed with strong fears .that if this Act does reach
Parliament as it now stands, and should there be carried
into law, its operations will be felt to be so oppressive by
ourselves, and so antagonistic to the interests of the pub¬
lic (as was the case with the Old Apothecaries’ Act of
Ireland, and from which they have only recently been
in a measure delivered), that the next great movement in
this Council will be to seek its removal from the statute
book of the country.

Mr. Butt said he would second the amendment
formally, in order to give the Council an opportunity
to express its opinion upon it, not that he agreed with it.

Mr. Bottle asked the seconder if he could tell him
WThat it meant. Mr. Frazer had put his name to certain
amendments to the Bill, but his speech appeared to him
to be in favour of rejecting the Bill altogether.

The amendment was then put and negatived.

Mr. Frazer then moved the second amendment,
namely, to omit clause 1 of the Bill.

This had been already discussed by the Council in com¬
mittee, and was carried on division by 11 votes to 6.

The clause was therefore struck out.

Mr. Frazer then moved that in clause 2, the words
u with the consent of the Privy Council,” be inserted after
the words “Great Britain,” but in deference to the opinion
of the Council, it having been explained by the Solicitor
that the words were unnecessary, he withdrew the amend¬
ment.

The Vice-President then proposed certain verbal
amendments in clause 2.

‘ Mr. Williams said he was very much inclined to move
to omit the clause altogether, because the Council was
committing itself to what it did not clearly understand.

Mr. Symes said these amendments had already been
discussed in committee.

Mr. Williams said he had a right to discuss them in
open Council.

Mr. Symes said the clause was permissive, it was not

compulsory.

The motion that the clause as amended form part
of the Bill, was then put and carried by 12 votes to 2.

The clause as amended is as follows :

“ Bye-laws to further regulate Examinations:

“ 2. It shall be lawful for the Pharmaceutical Society
of Great Britain from time to time by any bye-law to
alter or amend the regulations respecting examinations
| by dividing or sub-dividing, the same and requiring and
regulating intervals of time between examinations or any
divisions of the same and by requiring and authorizing a
course of study to be gone through and other evidence or
tests of knowledge and of practical experience for the
efficient- carrying on of their business on the part of the
candidates and to regulate the notices to be given and the
fees to be paid by candidates on the giving of notices for
the passing of examinations or the several divisions of the

same but the Council of the said Society may on applica¬
tion in that behalf allow the intervals of time or any or
either of them to be shortened or waived in favour of any
person or persons named in any resolution for that
purpose.”

Mr. Frazer then moved that clause 5 be erased.

Mr. Sandford seconded the motion. He said he had
on several occasions expressed his opinion of the injustice
and cruelty of this clause, and he trusted that now it
would be erased, and not go to the House of Commons
to be disputed over there. He should be very sorry to
see it left in the Bill. He knew well enough the
Council was told it should look at the question in a
catholic spirit, but he preferred to look at it in a
Christian spirit. This was not a widows’ clause, although
it had been called so ; the omission of it would
not allow a widow to come in simply as a widow, but if the
clause were carried it would prevent a widow, either as
executrix or administratrix, or her husband’s executors,
carrying on the business for her or for the benefit of her
family. He had a letter from Mr. Balkwill, who told
him how it would have applied to his own case. His
father died when he was ten or eleven years old ; there
were two brothers, and the business was carried on for
their benefit, and it was now a flourishing one, whereas
it must have been shut up entirely had such a cruel
clause as this been put in force. Then he asked the Council
to attend to the expression of opinion from Brighton,
where every chemist, he believed, but two, had signed
the memorial against the retention of the clause. Then,
again, the Council should consider its friends north of the
Tweed, where the feeling was very strong against the clause,
both in Edinburgh and Glasgow. He might appeal to the
evidence which had been given in the Journal and elsewhere
against such a provision. On the previous occasion the
clause was carried by the casting vote of the President,
and then it was said by Mr. Symes in a letter that he
(Mr. Sandford) had not fairly stated the case, because the
provision for three years was carried by a large majority.
He would remind Mr. Symes that the three years against
one was carried by a large majority, but when the abso¬
lute withdrawal of any limit of time was voted upon
the Council was equally divided. Some one suggested
two years, Mr. Williams suggested twenty-two, then a
shorter term was named, and ultimately the three
years was carried in opposition to the one, not in oppo¬
sition to the non-existence of the clause at all. Those
who opposed him had chosen to publish the reason, the
only reason they could possibly bring against allovving
executors to carry on a business by means of qualified
persons : it was simply because they thought it was
admitting the thin end of the wedge of deputed quali¬
fication. He was exceedingly sorry when he saw it put
forward in print that if the Society were asked, to allow an
executor to carry on business by means of a qualified person,
it could not in fairness prevent the stores and other bodies
carrying on business also. It did not rest with him to
bring forward such an argument, and he was very sorry
it had been published to the world. It was that feeling
which was now preventing the Council doing justice to the
widows and families of deceased chemists, and he hoped
the Council would vote for Mr. Frazer’s motion and
erase clause 5 from the Bill entirely. .

Mr. Mackay supported the motion. He said there
was evidence before the Council of the strong feeling
which existed in Edinburgh against the insertion of such
a clause. The feeling in Edinburgh went not only to
exclude the clause altogether, but would have gone even
a step further and recognized widows in a more emphatic
way. That there had been extreme cases of hardship in
connection with widows having been left to struggle on
with a family, and having been obliged to relinquish a
business, and being reduced from comparative comfort to
almost beggary, was undoubted. He himself could not
see the reason for inserting clause 5 to the exclusion of a
clause which he thought was an extremely mild one, but

642

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[February 5, 188 J.

which fulfilled all that was desired, namely, clause 16 of
the Act of 1868. He had never heard any argument
raised against retaining the clause, excepting one which
carried no weight and certainly carried no conviction,
which had been alluded to by Mr. Sandford, that if the
business were allowed to be carried on on behalf of a
widow by a qualified assistant, then the stores and all
other parties must be allowed to do the same. Those
who advanced such an argument, must forget altogether
that the widow of a chemist stood in a very different
position indeed to that either of a corporation or a party
having no interest but that of making money. He was
pleased to know that the omission of the clause was lost
by such a narrow vote as the casting vote at the last
meeting, and he hoped when it came to the vote again
it would be expunged altogether from the new Act.

Mr. Savage said he could not be silent on this occasion.
He had hitherto supported the views so ably expressed by
Mr. Sandford, and had never yet heard a single argument
why this clause should not be obliterated. It had been
said that if it were omitted the co-operative stores must be
admitted to the trade. The cases were totally dissimilar.
There might be a legal point in it, but that would simply
arise from bringing the subject forward in this clause.
If the clause were left out no question whatever arose;
the position was simply left as it was before.

Mr. Woolley said the members of the Council had
several times lately been subjected to Mr. Sandford’s
hard knocks, and his charges of inhumanity and want of
Christianity, and other epithets of that description, and
now he was quarrelling with them because some of them
ventured to put forward their reasons why they supported
this clause. He could not see what harm was done by
stating publicly that they considered the public safety
was endangered by widows being allowed to carry on the
business by means of a qualified assistant. It had been
said that Edinburgh was in favour of Mr. Sandford’s. view
of the case, but against that there were Liverpool, Birming¬
ham, Sheffield and Rochdale. All those places saw that
if they allowed this clause to go, and allowed widows to
carry on the business indefinitely, the Bill would be
utterly lost, and they had not the slightest chance of
carrying it. There might occasionally be a hard case
made out with respect to a widow, but that might be met
by providing for them a widows’ .fund. On the other
hand, in the statistics of the state of trade at present,
there were something like 13,000 members of the trade,
all of whose businesses were suffering by the present
state of the law. It was acknowledged on all 'sides that
the law wanted alteiing, and that by the state in which
it now was business was suffering, the result being that
the number of indigent widows was being increased. He
held that the step which Mr. Sandford wished to take
would directly tend to increase the number of indigent
widows. It was said that the case of the widows was
entirely different from that of the stores. How anybody
could advance such a statement seemed to him beyond
belief. If widows were allowed to carry on business with
the aid of a qualified assistant why should not anybody
else do the same ? If this clause were expunged the
chance of obtaining an Act would be utterly and irre¬
trievably gone.

Mr. Hampson said Mr. Sandford laid great stress on
the Christianity of the matter, as if he considered that
one side were Christians and the other heathens. But
there was such a thing as a heathen having a sense of
justice and propriety, and he was willing to put himself
in that class. He believed it was a just thing to put this
clause in the Bill. It was essentially a matter of prin¬
ciple and public safety. He entirely demurred to Mr.
Sandford’s idea that it was purely a matter of selfishness.
It .was nothing of the kind. He maintained that a
business was much better conducted when the proprietor
himself was qualified than when it was conducted simply
by a qualified servant. When the principal was qualified
the public were safer than when there was only a qualified

assistant, who might be here to-day and gone to-morrow.
Again, supposing there was an assistant, supposing lie
did not do the right thing, and he was discharged, there
would be no one to attend to the shop at all. To be con¬
sistent, Mr. Sandford ought to have included widowers as
well, because there were now several lady pharmacists,,
and if they died their widowers ought to be considered.
He seemed to be bewitched by these widows. He had
always been opposed to the admission of maids to the
Society ; but he clung to the widows with the greatest
pertinacity. Another reason for objecting to the clause
being altered was that, even in legislating for widows, it
would simply benefit those who had a large business ; the
poor unfortunate widow, who really ought to have their
sympathies, was beguiled into the trap of carrying on the
business which would ultimately be her ruin. A rich,
widow in a large business could dispose of it to good
advantage, and that was the best thing she could do.
His main argument, however, was that the public interest
was better served where the principal was himself quali¬
fied, and if he died, his business, as in the case of other
professions, should fall into the hands of other qualified
persons.

Mr. Squire said he should vote against the retention
of the clause as a matter of common sense. It was put
in because it was considered not to be for the benefit of
the trade that a trustee or widow should be allowed to-
carry on business with a qualified assistant, in other words
that it was wrong to do so ; but if it was wrong to do sa
at all, it must be wrong to do so for three years.

Mr. Williams said the result of expunging the clause
would simply be that clause 16 of the old Act would
remain in force, and many members of the Council might
think it would be better to leave the law as it stood
rather than introduce a new clause which would disturb
things and do mischief.

Mr. Robbins said the clause for which this was to be
substituted had worked very well for a number of years,
and he had been opposed to this clause all along. If there
had been unanimity he would, however,' have voted in
favour of it; but when Edinburgh and Glasgow, which
really meant all Scotland, and Brighton were opposed to
the clause, how could the Council hope to carry it. He
therefore thought the Council could not do better than
drop it at once. If he thought there was any chance of
carrying the Bill by retaining it he would have submitted
to the majority, but there would be no hope of carrying
it against the opposition raised outside.

Mr. Symes thoroughly endorsed what Mr. Hampson
had said with regard to the supposed injury to poor
widows. He had come to the conclusion that no charge
of want of sympathy for widows or orphans could be
brought against those who supported this clause. It was
legislation for rich widows, if any, rather than poor. A
widow with a large business could afford to pay a hand¬
some sum for an efficient man to carry on the business of her
deceased husband, but not so with a poor widow. A
small business bringing in £200 or £300 a year could not
possibly pay a well qualified business man who would be
in every way capable of carrying on the business on his
own account ; and that w&s the only class of man who could
usefully be employed in such a case. There would not be
subsistence for these unfortunate people if such a man
were fairly paid for doing the work. To commence an
argument on this Act by appealing to sentiment was
quite outside the logic of the question. It was said he
had charged Mr. Sandford unfairly with making an in¬
correct statement. He was very sorry to find a man like
Mr. Sandford, who had the rules and laws of the Society at
his fingers’ ends, departing so much from those rules as to
publish in the public press what had occurred there in a
private committee. He himself should have hesitated to-
do anything of the kind, and he was very sorry that Mr.
Sandford had set such a very bad example. The public
knew nothing at all of one year as the period at which
the executors were to close the business. The Bill which

February 5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

643

the Council invited public discussion upon, and which
Mr. Sandford must have referred to in his letter, was one
published in the previous week’s J ournal, in which three
years was the period named.

Mr. Sandford said the Bill had been sent to the
President of the Birmingham Association, and was before
the Council at its last meeting with a period of one year
in it.

Mr. Symes said that had not been published. The only
one printed in the Journal and to which reference could
publicly be made was the one which mentioned three years.
The public knew nothing until after the publication of
Mr. Sandford’s letter that one year had been before the
I Council at all.

Mr. Sandford said the Bill the Council had been con¬
sidering was one with one year in it, and that Bill had
been sent to Birmingham by the President.

Mr. Symes said he would ask the Secretary to read
clause 5 of the Bill as published.

Mr. Williams thought this point need not be discussed,
as it had nothing to do with the question before the
Council, or else the sitting might last all night.

Mr. Symes said it was a question of challenging the
truth of the statement he had made. He did not know
there was any limit as to the time when the Council should
cease its meetings. If he were charged with making an
untruthful statement he had a right to defend himself,
and to speak for three hours if necessary. He must
repeat that the only Bill open for discussion was the one
with a period of three years, and that Bill was pub¬
lished before Mr. Sandford’s letter.

Mr. Sandford said the period of one year was discussed
at that table.

Mr. Atkins suggested that it was not essential to Mr.
Symes’s argument to continue this discussion.

Mr. Symes said it was essential to show the truth¬
fulness of his statement, which Mr. Sandford attacked.

Mr. Atkins said no one doubted his truthfulness.

Mr. Sandford remarked that they could discuss that
point between themselves privately.

Mr. Symes said he supported the clause on the principle
of personal qualification. It was for the protection of the
public that there should be a qualified proprietor of a che¬
mist’s business or of a branch business. He knew it was
said that this was protection, and it had been said on high
authority that the presumption was always against
protection; that no interests were worth protecting
unless they could protect themselves. But he main¬
tained that at the present time there was more protection
in England than there had ever been before. This
clause gave protection in the interests of the public, and
because it also happened to protect a class it was no
reason for disagreeing with it. He should support it on
the ground that public protection was thereby attained.
To introduce confusion by throwing out the clause would
be fatal to the Bill altogether. He maintained that
those who were antagonistic to it took a much narrower

view than those who supported it.

Mr. Richardson said it was his intention to vote for
the retention of the clause, and expressed his astonishment
that Mr. Sandford had set the bad example of writing to
the papers and telling the public what was done in
committee. It was not, however, for him to read a
homily to Mr. Sandford, who was one of the fathers of
the Society, but he maintained it was very wrong for
those who occupied the position of members of the
Council to be constantly writing explanations of what
occurred in committee. He would only mention one
circumstance, and that was in support of his vote. Some
ten years ago he was consulted, on the death of a chemist in
Leicestershire, as to what the widow should do in
reference to her business, when he strongly recommended
her to dispose of it. At that time it was an exceedingly
good one, and she might have obtained a very fair price
for it ; unfortunately she did not take his advice ; she was
a very intelligent and clever woman, capable of carrying

it on, but, what with bad assistants and one thing and
another, in about five years she could not dispose of the
business at all, because it was all gone, and she could
not even dispose of the fixtures, and was now living on
charity.

Mr. Atkins said he must explain his vote on this
question, because he was obliged to make a change of
front as a matter of principle. On the previous occasion
he had voted against this clause, but he felt bound now
from what he heard to dismiss the matter of sentiment
altogether and to vote for its retention. He did not go
into the matter of sentiment ; but he might say it was no
use attempting to minimize the hardship which the
clause would no doubt involve, for he knew particular
cases in which the action of it would almost justify the
use of the word cruel. On the other hand, he had no
doubt there were cases, such as Mr. Richardson had
alluded to, where it would be well for a widow with a
small business to relinquish it. Still, the question was,
for what were they going to Parliament ? What was the
object of this contemplated legislation 1 If it were the
one principle of endeavouring to establish the necessity
of personal qualification, to that they must adhere, how¬
ever hard the incidence of the law might be in particular
cases. It was simply nonsense to refer to the 16th clause
of the former Act, because the Council would not require
to go to Parliament at all if that Act gave all that was
required. If the carrying on of businesses by widows
were legalized it would be legalizing it for private firms
and individuals, and having listened to all the arguments
which had been brought, he felt bound to record his vote
in favour of retaining the clause.

Mr. Andrews said anything which appealed to a body
of English gentlemen in behalf of charity to widows and
orphans, and especially the widows and orphans of those
engaged in their own occupation, must be treated with
the greatest respect and sympathy, and he sympathized
with the objections of Mr. Sandford, and for many years
past had advanced the very same arguments. But when
he . was appointed on the Committee to consider the
Amendment of the Pharmacy Act, he felt it his duty
to obtain more information on the subject than he had
previously possessed, and the result was that his opinion
was entirely altered. He was aware of cases in which
hardships would no doubt be inflicted if this clause were
carried. But the Council must look to the large mass
and not to individual and private cases. He was quite
convinced that in the majority of cases it would be far
better for the widow to sell the business as quickly as
possible, and in exceptional cases, where it might be wiser
to retain them, it would still be lawful for the Council to
permit the widow to earry on the business ; as, for in¬
stance, in the case of a son nearly of age. Again, he
would refer to the fact mentioned by Mr. Hampson, that
wealthy widows were protected, but not poor widows.
The Council would be astonished to know the vast
number of chemists’ businesses carried on by the pro¬
prietor alone, without any assistant, and which, therefore,
would not afford to pay for an assistant in case of the
proprietor’s death, and if the Council were to take the
principle of charity and kindness into consideration, it
must take the worst cases. These arguments, however,
sank into entire insignificance compared with this fact,
that the rejection of this clause would entirely go against
the great principle and fundamental doctrine of the Bill,
which was that of the personal responsibility of the o wrier
of the business, and that no one should be able to shield
his own incapacity under the qualification of another
person. Injurious as this might be in individual cases,
it would only be felt by a few widows of chemists, and
they would suffer in company with the widows of clergy¬
men, solicitors, medical men, and many others.

The Vice-President said he could not vote for the
clause without saying one word. It had been said by
Mr. Squire that if it were wrong to limit the period
during which executors should carry on the business it

644

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[February 5, 1881.

must "be wrong to allow it at all, and there was a certain
amount of logic in that. He had before voted in favour
of the time being limited to one year, and he would not
have gone so far but that without it an absolute pecuniary
loss would be inflicted in the peculiar case of the
chemist’s trade. The chemist’s was a business partly
professional and partly absolute trade ; notwithstanding
he had a qualification, he was bound to supply himself
with materials; he might have a £1000 worth of stock
upon which he had to exercise his brain power. That
was so much absolute property, and a margin of time
must be given for the realization of that property, and
that took it out of the category of a purely professional
calling. That alone justified the Council in putting into
the Bill a power of carrying on the business of a deceased
chemist at all, even for five minutes after his death.
The question was at what point should that cease. His
own opinion was it should be one year, and he believed
further that had the voting taken place from one year
upwards the Council would have stopped at two years,
but as it happened to come down from twenty-two years
it stopped at three. He should take the sense of the
Council on that point whether it should not again be
altered to one year.

Mr. Gostling said the question was an important one,
and he wished just to explain his vote. He voted on
this principle alone, that the principle of the Act being a
personal qualification of the proprietor, the Council was
only doing justice to all the members of the trade by
insisting on that. As Mr. Hampson had properly ob¬
served, it was doing a greater act of kindness by enabling
men to provide for their widows than reserving their
sympathy and allowing them to carry on business after
their husbands’ death. He had advised his own wife in
case he should die first to dispose of the business imme¬
diately, rather than attempt to carry it on.

Mr. Bottle said very much had been said on both sides
of this question, and no doubt much more might be said,
but there was such a thing as expediency, and if the
Council was desirous of going to Parliament with any
prospect of carrying the Bill, it was expedient that it
should, if possible, be unanimous in sending it there. It
had already expunged clause 1 in deference to the expres¬
sion of opinion from Scotland, and he would appeal to it
to treat No. 5 in the same way. If it had been a ques¬
tion of inserting clause 16 of the old Act he should say
that it would not for a moment stand, and the Couhcil
could not go to Parliament to ask permission for a widow
to carry on business, and at the same time ask for a per¬
sonal qualification in others. But there was the old clause
which, in his opinion, there would be no objection to.
Even if this clause passed, who was to take the responsi¬
bility of saying which widow should have permission to
carry on business longer than the prescribed time ? If
widow No. 1 came for permission, and it were accorded,
it would be impossible to refuse Nos. 2 and 3, and
so it would go on until the clause was absolutely in¬
operative.

Mr. Frazer, in reply, said Mr. Woolley had contended
that if the Council licensed a widow to carry on business,
why might not a greengrocer or anyone else open a
shop. But the difference was that a greengrocer was a
person who could not himself get a qualification. As to the
question of the poor and the rich, the rich could protect
themselves, but the poor could not. If the widow were
so poor that the business would not support a qualified
assistant she could not take advantage of the clause. The
only other remark he would make was this, in reply to
Mr. Andrews, that the question had really been re¬
opened by those who now sought to insert this
clause.

The question was then put, when the following
voted : —

For omitting the clause : — Messrs. Bottle, Frazer,
• Mackay, Robbins, Sandford, Savage, Squire and Williams.

For retaining the clause : — Messrs. Andrews, Atkins,

Butt, Churchill, Gostling, Greenish, Hampson, Hills,
Radley, Richardson, Schacht, Symes and Woolley.

The clause was therefore retained.

The Vice-President then moved an amendment that
in clause 5 the word “ one ’* be substituted for the word
“ three ” in the fifth line.

This was seconded by Mr. Gostling, but was lost on a
division by 9 votes to 4.

Mr. Churchill then moved to substitute the word
“ two ” for “ three,” which was seconded by the Vice-Pre¬
sident. This on a division was lost by 6 votes to 3.

Mr. Williams then suggested that the discussion
should be adjourned, as there were several other
important clauses, and it was too late to continue the
discussion.

Mr. Hampson submitted that the Bill had substantially
received the assent -of the Council and had been abun¬
dantly considered in Committee clause by clause.

The Vice-President said the Council was somewhat
in Mr. Frazer’s hands, as he was entitled to move his
amendments.

Mr. Frazer said he would, with the permission of the
President, move the whole of his remaining amendments
together, and then if no one seconded them, of course
they would fall to the ground. He accordingly moved
the following amendments of which he had given notice,
but the motion did not meet with a seconder : —

Clause 7, page 4,* line 33 and 34

7

99

5 „

n „

12

8

99

5 „

20 „

21

10

99

6 „

17

11

99

6&7

13

99

7 „

12 „

13

14

99

7

Omit “ whether as Patent
Medicines or otherwise ,
or Medical Prescript
t ions.”

Omit “or Compounding
Medical Prescrip -
tions.”

Omit “or Compounding
Medical Prescriptions ,
whether as-Patent Me¬
dicines or otherwise!'

Omit “ and the word
Poison.”

Omit the whole Clause.

Omit 11 whether as Patent
Medicines or otherwise ,
or to Medical Pre¬
scriptions .”

Omit the whole Clause.

Mr. Hampson then moved that—

“ The Bill as now amended be accepted by the Council
as the Pharmacy Law Amendment Bill.”

Mr. Andrews seconded the motion, which was

carried.

The Vice-President moved:—

“ That the Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee be
requested, after full consideration of the best method,
to approach the Lord President of the Council, with
the view of explaining the provisions of the Phar¬
macy Law Amendment Bill, as now agreed to, and
of endeavouring to induce him to take charge of the
Bill in Parliament.”

Mr. Atkins seconded the motion.

Mr. Williams said that did not seem to give the Com¬
mittee any alternative if the Lord President declined to

do so.

The Vice-President said in that case the Committee
must come back to the Council for further instructions.
The motion was then put and carried.

Mr. Williams then moved that the communication
from the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland be received.

Mr. Andrews seconded the motion, which was carried.

The proceedings of the Council were not concluded
until 6 p.m.

* The “ page ” and “ line” have reference to the Bill as
printed for the usp of the Council.

February 5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

645

larliameuteji mtfcr

The Charge against a Chemist and Druggist under
the Weights and Measures Act.

The appeal of Mr, Whittle against the conviction of
the Justices sitting at the Marylebone Court, came on
for hearing, on Saturday, the 29 th ult., before P. H.
Edlin, Esq., and a Bench of Magistrates.

Mr. Besley and Mr. Tickell appeared for the appellant ;
Mr. Poland and Mr. Mead for the respondents.

Mr. Besley said there was a matter which could be
conveniently argued before entering upon the merits of
the appeal, viz., the point that the conviction was bad
upon the face of it ; in other words that the formal con¬
viction returned to the sessions was not in law sufficient.
The statute was the 41 and 42 Viet., c. 49, s. 25. Every
I person who uses or has in his possession for use for trade
weights and measures, and so on, which are false
or unjust shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £5, or
in case of a second offence £10, and so on. It was ob¬
vious that this statute was intended to apply to weights,
measures or scales kept for use for trade, and if any one
had in an attic weights and measures, and used them for
the purpose of limiting his diet, as to the quantity of
bread or meat he should eat, he would not be liable to
any penalty, even although the weights and measures were
unjust. Now those words, “for use for trade,” were
omitted in the conviction.

The Assistant Judge asked if the statute supplied a
form of conviction.

Mr. Poland said there was no special form.

Mr. Besley: It simply convicted him for having in his
possession in his house, not for use for trade, certain un¬
just measures. He contended, therefore, that the con¬
viction was bad upon the face of it, and cited the case of
ex parte Bradlaugh in support of his contention.

Mr. Poland admitted that the conviction was bad upon
the face of it, but contended that the Court had power to
amend, and cited the case of Reg. v. Tomlinson, 8 Law
• Reports, Queen’s Bench.

• After a lengthy argument,

The Assistant Judge said the Court was of opinion
that it had power to amend the conviction, supposing that
it was proved to it that the magistrates at the time
of the conviction had evidence before them to show that
the measures in question were in use for the purposes of
trade. In an ordinary case that evidence might be
given in the course of the case, but if Mr. Besley Wished
it the Court must have that evidence first, so as to amend
the conviction before proceeding further.

Mr. Besley said he must not be supposed to give up
anything in this case, and if the Court was going to try
and make jurisdiction he must let his friend prove the
ground upon which he went.

The Assistant Judge said it was a very simple ques¬
tion, namely, Is this man in trade, and was the proof of
his being in trade given to the magistrates ?

The case then proceeded as follows : —

Mr. Frederick Walter Tibbey sworn. Examined by

Mr. Poland.

Are you an inspector of weights and measures for the
St. Marylebone Division? — Yes.

I think you have been so since January, 1878? — Yes.

Do you produce an Order in Council of the 14th of
August, 1879? — Yes.

Did you, after that Order in Council was issued, see
the defendant in this case ? — I did.

The Assistant Judge : What is the defendant ?

Mr. Poland : He is a chemist and druggist, my lord.

He is a chemist and druggist, keeping a shop ; is that
so ? — Yes.

At No 6, Townshend Road, St. John’s Wood? — Yes.

Now when was it you called on him ? — At the time of
giving notice that these things came within the meaning

of the Act of Parliament. I should think about three
months after the Order in Council was issued. I could
not speak to a day.

What did you tell him about the Order in Council ? —
I told him that apothecaries’ weights and measures
would be under inspection the same as ordinary weights.

Did you say anything further to him about it besides ?
—I told him I should pay him an official visit to inspect
his apothecaries’ weights and measures at some future
date ; in fact, I gave that notice to all chemists.

On the 19th of last October did you go to the de¬
fendant’s shop ? — I did.

Did you go behind the counter and test four measures
that you found there ? — I did.

The Assistant Judge: You found them there behind
the counter ? — I found them there behind the counter on
the dispensing shelves.

Glass measures? — Yes.

Mr. Poland : You tested. them? — I did.

Did you find them in your judgment defective? —
Incorrect.

Did the defendant see you test them? — Yes.

The Assistant Judge : Is not that sufficient?

Mr. Poland : I think it will save time to complete this
witness.

Mr. Besley : I am not acquiescing, my lord, in going on
until the amendment is made.

The Assistant Judge : I think we had better not.

Mr. Poland : I will take your lordship’s suggestion.

The Assistant J udge : Did you give evidence to the
same effect that you have given in the box to-day to the
magistrates on the hearing of the original charge against
him?— I did.

That is to say, as to his being a chemist and druggist
and as to your finding these measures which are alleged
to be defective ? — I did.

Were you sworn? — I was.

You took the oath before you gave your evidence ? — I did.

You gave evidence to that effect before the magistrates?
—I did.

Mr. Poland: Was the 25th section read to the
magistrates? Was it under this 25th section that the
proceedings were taken? — I believe so, I could not say
positively.

Were you asked by the Chairman how the measures
were used ? — I was; at least, for what purpose they were
used.

What did you say ? — For dispensing drugs.

The Assistant Judge : You say it was under the 25th
section.

Mr. Poland : He says the Chairman asked him for
what purpose they were used, and he says for dispensing
drugs.

The Assistant Judge: “For having in his possession
for use ” are the particular words. Do you ask us now to
add those words'? Consider the words you ask us to
add, Mr. Poland, please.

Cross examined by Mr. Besley.

Is that a copy of the summons that was taken out by
you ? (handing the same).

The Assistant Judge : You must know ; you need not
read that long document through. — It is one of the same
style of forms.

Mr. Besley : We have the summons itself, my lord; I
am content if Mr. Greenwell gives it to me.

You yourself have never seen anything sold by the
measurement of these glasses? — I have seen things sold
by the measurement of these glasses.

Of these four particular glasses? — Not of these
particular four.

I want to know whether, in regard to these particular
four glasses, have you ever with your own eyesight seen
anything sold by the measurement of any one of these
four glasses? — I have not.

You said very fairly they are used for the purpose of
compounding medicines according to the prescriptions of

646

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[February 5, 1881.

medical men ? — Or for the sale of any particular
individual drug.

These were upon the dispensing table,— in use on the
dispensing table ? — In use on the dispensing table. But
they would be used for individual drugs as well as com¬
pounded drugs. They would be used for the sale of drugs
generally.

As a matter of fact you never did see a sale made ? —
Not by these four measures ; I should not be likely to.

With regard to the total of the contents of’the glasses,
they are actually correct, every one of them, are they
not? — I have not summoned on the total capacity.

I say with regard to the total capacity every one of
them is correct? — I have never tested them to the total
capacity.

The Assistant Judge: Now, Mr. Poland, what words
do you wish inserted?

Mr. Poland : My lord, “for having in his house, situate
as aforesaid — ”

The Assistant Judge : I was going to suggest following
the words of the statute; what do you say to these
words, “ for having in his possession for use in his trade
at his shop, situated as aforesaid ? ”

Mr. Poland : I was going to use the exact words, “ for
use for his trade as a chemist.”

The Assistant Judge: Then the words added are
simply “for use for his trade as a chemist,” after the
words, “ in his possession.”

Mr. Poland : Yes, my lord.

The Assistant Judge: You know, Mr. Besley, if we
have no jurisdiction to make this amendment, you have
your remedy.

Mr. Besley : Yes, my lord ; I am carefully saving it.

The Assistant Judge: You may; I am not at all
afraid of the result.

Mr. Besley : I do not know whether your lordship has
considered whether in the amended form you have a con¬
viction before you ?

Mr. Poland : Do you raise any further objections to it
now?

The Assistant Judge : This is the only objection that
has been brought to our notice. I have handed the
amended conviction to Mr. Poland for him to see it.
Mr. Poland, we have granted the application and we
have amended, and now the conviction is before us as
amended, and it is for the respondents now to satisfy us
that it is well founded, and we call on the respondents to
proceed with their case.

Mr. Besley : I only desire not to acquiesce in its being
a good conviction now.

Mr. Poland : Now, my lord, I will try and state the
facts in this case as briefly as I can. This Act of Par¬
liament, which was passed in 1878, now clearly deals
with apothecaries’ weights and measures, because the
second schedule of the Act contains the Board of Trade
standards following, which at the commencement of this
Act are stated to be in use under the direction of the
Board of Trade. At the bottom of the second column it
says, “ measures used in the sale of drugs ; fluid ounces,

4, 3, 2, 1 ; fluid drachms, 4, 3, 2, 1; minims, 30, 20, 10,

5, 4, 3, 2, 1,” The Order in Council which I have
referred to, says that it has been made to appear that a new
denomination of standards for apothecaries’ weights and
measures is required, and they have caused the same to be
duly made and deposited in the custody of the Board of
Trade. Therefore, by virtue of the power vested in Her
Majesty by the said Act, Her Majesty is pleased to approve
the said denominations set forth in the schedules hereto,
and that the standards for the same shall be the Board
of Trade standards in like manner as if they were men¬
tioned in the second schedule in the Weights and Mea¬
sures Act, 1878. Then it gives the full description of
apothecaries’ weights and measures. Section 20, sub¬
section 2, says : — ‘ ‘ Drugs, when sold by retail, may be
sold by apothecaries’ weight.” Then, my lord, I need
not trouble you with reading the section, the offence is

under the 25th section, but of course, the 59th section says,
“ That if a person has in his possession, when he is carry¬
ing on trade, a measure which is incorrect, it is to be
deemed to be in his possession for use for trade.” That
is all I need trouble you with. In this case I wish to
state at once that there is no imputation of dishonesty
at all against the defendant. He is a chemist of re¬
spectability.

The Assistant Judge: He is adjudged to pay the sum
of Qd. merely because the magistrates did not consider he
had committed an offence of a serious character.

Mr. Poland : More than that, he is a gentleman of
respectability who, of course, would not intentionally
use a false measure, and I wish to state further than that,
that he did buy these measures, which have a mark
upon them of a public body, of the inspector of York.
They are marked at York and they were marked
as though they were correct. Therefore he was under
the full belief that when he was using these measures
he was using measures which were correct, and therefore,
so far as he is concerned, there is not the slightest
imputation upon him, and the magistrates only inflicted,
as your lordship has pointed out, a nominal find of 6d.,
because they considered that the Act was one of very
great importance, and that persons who carry on trade
have the obligation cast upon them, by this statute, of
ascertaining that the measures are In fact correct
measures, and that they cannot, when measures have
been in use a long time or a short time, and the Act has
been infringed, turn round and say that what they did
they did innocently, because the duty is thrown upon
them, as traders, of ascertaining that the measures with
which they supply articles to the public are correct
according to this statute.

The Assistant J udge : Is there any public office at
which the standard measures are deposited, which would
enable the manufacturers of glass measures to compare
what are manufactured with the standards ?

Mr. Poland : Oh yes, there is no difficulty whatever.

The Assistant Judge : I should suppose so.

Mr. Poland: In this case, as you have heard, the
defendant was told that the apothecaries’ measures came
within the Act of Parliament, and then the inspector 'of
Marylebone, in the ordinary course of his duty, goes
about to various tradespeople, and amongst others he
thought the time had come to go to the chemists. When
he went to the defendant’s shop he found these four
measures, which were defective, and he, simply perform¬
ing what he believed to be his duty, took possession of
these'measures, and laid the facts before the magistrates.
The sole question is, admitting the good faith of the
defendant, has he infringed this Act of Parliament ? Has
he by having in his possession for the purpose of dis¬
pensing. drugs, that is selling drugs to the public in
his shop by these measures, committed an offence ? I
think the Court will be of opinion that the case is an
important one, a very important one, because although
the quantities here are very small, yet you are dealing
with what may be potent drugs, and the measures them¬
selves dealing with very small quantities, of course, small
quantities are of importance. Then there is this also
felt, that it is a mere question of price in the manufac¬
ture of glass. Of course, there may be variations ; but
after the thing is manufactured, in marking it, it only
requires care and skill. You must pay for care and skill,
and if things are sold at a cheap rate, carelessly done,
then mistakes occur; but if a higher price is charged
for the extra care and attention required accurately to
mark these measures, then chemists, like other people,
must pay a little extra for these glass measures, which no
doubt can be made with perfect accuracy. When I say
with perfect accuracy, I mean wdthin almost one-fenth of
a minim. Of course, strict actual accuracy may be nearly
impossible. Still you must deal with these things as a
question of degree. Ordinary and proper care and proper
skill being applied in marking these measures, are they so

647

February 5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

defective as to be within this Act of Parliament ? Of
course, it is in the interests of chemists themselves that
it should be so if they dispense medicines and make them
up with these glasses. Two or three words more, and I
will call the witnesses. There are two sets of glasses
which were taken. One is the one which I now have
before me, and it is No. 4. It is a cylinder. The other one I
will take is No. 1, which is more convenient to illustrate
what I have to say. Nos. 3 and 4 are these two cylinders, and
they are marked in fives. There is a figure 10, that means
10 minims, but then below the 10 there is a stroke which
shows the half. It has not 5 put against it, but the first
stroke is a 5. Then what is intended to be double that
is 10. Then it goes up to 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60, there
being a mark between each so as to mark the 5.
Sixty minims make a drachm, and, as shown in the
schedule, 30 make half a drachm. Now these two mea-
.sures, 3 and 4, are no doubt both of them inaccurately
marked, because in some of the instances the measure is
too little and in some of the instances, dealing with the
spaces representing fives, they are too much. Of course
. it is very easy to measure a mark for 60, and taking the
whole together the 60 is accurate, but when you come to
deal with the different divisions they are in some in¬
stances too little and in some too much. With regard to
No. 4, at the division from 15 to 20 there is IT too little.
Now IT in 5 of course is very considerable, and you will
find that not taking proper care in dividing these cylinders
when they were made, there are these mistakes in these
two cylinders. There were two others taken at the same
time of a conical shape. Of course, as they taper down
those are more difficult to mark. This, my lord, contains
240 minims; that would be half an ounce, or 4 drachms,
and that in the same way is divided in tens and in fives
by the division between the two tens. It runs up 10, 20,
30, 40 and so on up to 60 ; then it goes to the larger
numbers, and you will find that in measure No. 1 between
10 and 15 there is 1*8 deficiency in 5. That is nearly 2
minims — within a fraction of 2 out of 5. That is about
36 per cent.

A Magistrate : Too little ?

Mr. Poland : Yes. Between the next division there is
a deficiency of IT, and so on. These have been very
carefully checked indeed. The inspector is supposed to
be a person of very considerable skill; he tested these
things at the shop and he tested them afterwards. He
had tested them in various ways and his evidence is
confirmed by the medical officer of public health of the
parish. The public analyst had also tested them most
carefully; he is a man of considerable eminence, and I
have no doubt that the table of figures I shall put before
you is accurate, and* that there are these various defi¬
ciencies in some instances and in other instances there
are excesses. *

The Assistant Judge : In 3 and 4 you say there are
excesses ?

Mr. Poland: In No. 1.

The Assistant Judge : Do you contend, Mr. Besley,
that these measures are accurate measures according to
the standard ?

Mr. Besley: We contend that they are accurate
measures.

The Assistant Judge: The respondents, you know, will
have to satisfy us that they are inaccurate measures.
You meet that allegation by direct denial, and you say
we contend that they are accurate measures according to
the standard ?

Mr. Besley : With this - reservation ; accurate in the
sense that it is impossible to be more accurate, and that
the Board of Trade has said they ought not to be found
fault with.

The Assistant Judge: That raises a grave question.
If you say that they are accurate or that they are inac¬
curate to such an inappreciable extent that the Board
of Trade has permitted these standards to be used -

Mr. Besley : With regard to these four, they have put

in writing the opinion that they ought not to be con¬
demned.

The Assistant Judge: Before or after these proceed¬
ings ?

Mr. Besley : Pending these proceedings.

The Assistant Judge: Pending the conviction before
the magistrates ?

Mi-. Besley : After the first hearing, before the convic¬
tion took place, which may account for the 6c?. The
Board of Trade in writing declared that they ought not
to be condemned — these four.

The Assistant Judge: That might be a very strong
fact in the case, deserving respectful consideration, but
would not be conclusive.

Mr. Besley : It was after a communication from the
magistrates asking the Board of Trade to let the officers
test and report. That report was sent by the Board of
Trade, accompanied by a statement that it did not
think that these particular four vessels ought to be con¬
demned. Perhaps I may remove a wrong impression,
from my friend Mr. Poland.

The Assistant Judge : Never mind that.

Mr. Besley : My friend seems to imagine that the mea¬
surement takes place between the lines, whereas every
measure is taken from the bottom, so that the only dif¬
ference would be from the bottom to the point where it
is measured. They do not take the measure 5, and then
put in a drop more and add to the other measurement
but take it from the bottom of the glass.

Mr. Poland : If the deficiency is admitted, it narrows
it very much indeed.

The Assistant Judge : I think we can scarcely antici¬
pate that Mr. Besley will admit -such a deficiency as
would amount to a breach of the law, in the face of what
he has before him, namely, that the Board of Trade has
certified to the correctness of his client’s measures. It is
an extraordinary proceeding.

Mr. Besley : I must call witnesses in order to inform
the mind of the Court.

Mr. Poland : My friend has introduced to the attention
of the Court a letter from the Board of Trade, and I need
not say to the Court that, reytresenting the magistrates
here, I desire that everything which is fairly admissible
in evidence should be brought before the Court, and I
do not at all object to reading the letter which was
written by the officer of the Board of Trade; and it
makes the case still more important, because, is it to be
the duty of the inspector in each case, when he finds a
defect, and a very considerable defect in these small
measures, to say, “Oh, I do not think they are sufficiently
defective ” ?

The Assistant Judge: Does it not depend upon the
construction of the Act of Parliament? It depends on
the actual measure ; the Act of Parliament prescribes the
measure.

Mr. Besley: My lord, the Act of Parliament does
not prescribe the measure. It says nothing about
measures for drugs; it says weights for drugs. That
will be a point in the case. .The statute does not give
measures for drugs at all ; it gives weights.

. Mr. Poland: I have before me the actual figures,
which I shall read to the Court, of the deficiencies in
these measures. First the statement of errors which
the gentleman on behalf of the Board of Trade, who
examined these very things, says existed ; so that it
really is a question upon that. The gentleman I shall
call states they are a little under what they make out.
For instance, instead of 1-8, they make it 2. But still,
whether it is 1-8 or whether it is 2 minims in 5,*
can that be said to be a correct measure? There is
no doubt in these glass measures a certain amount of
difficulty in making them, that is in marking them. But
I shall call before the Court, if the evidence is admissible,
persons who are in the trade, and who will say that the
measures can be made with much greater accuracy than
these are; not merely by any special care, but with

648 the PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 5, 1881-

ordinary care and skill in the manufacture that all these
measures can be made so as not to have these various
defects which undoubtedly exist in these measures. My
friend wishes me to read the letter written by the
Board of Trade, and I have no objection to do that,
although it appears to me to be really not evidence in
the case, because the Board of Trade cannot determine
this matter ; it must be determined in each case by the
Court, which is to construe the Act of Parliament. This
is the letter, dated 24th November, 1880. [The learned
counsel then read the letter sent by the Board of Trade
to the magistrates, printed before, p. 516]. I really do
not know what that means.

The Assistant Judge : Does that not mean for ordinary
purposes these might be measures of sufficient accuracy,
bnt for the limited purpose which an apothecary has to
observe in measuring his drugs it might be otherwise?

Mr. Poland : If it means that a chemist makes up a
prescription, and he uses one of these glasses, in¬
stead of five minims he errs, according to the Board of
Trade’s own showing, by the deficiency of 1*8.

Mr. Besley : I think not. It is upon 40 minims there
is 1*8 deficiency.

Mr. Poland : When you get up to that, of course you
start from the bottom, but when you get up to 15, as
shown there, if you will just follow that statement of the
errors in minims of the four graduated glass measures, Nos.
1, 2, 3, and 4, in the first 5 minims there is a deficiency
of -3 ; so that they are able to measure it ; this shows
they are actually able to measure '3 of a minim, and the
Board of Trade officer says that in the first 5 minims
there is ’3 minim deficient ; add another 5 to that, that
is in the first ten there is T minim deficiency. When
yoiT get up to 15 it is 1’8

Mr. Besley : Then it falls again.

Mr. Poland: Suppose, therefore, there was a potent
drug required to be- measured 15 minims by No. 1
measure, instead of giving 15, he would only give
15 minims minus 1*8 ; that is 2 practically. And then if
you go on to 20, it is 1*2 reduced again. Then when you
get up to 35, you will find that they cure the defect at
that point by making it T too much.

Mr. Besley : That is, it is from the bottom of the glass
always.

Mr. Poland : At any rate this statement shows that
you can actually measure and test to the extent of T of a
minim.

The Assistant Judge : Certainly I cann/ot think that this
letter bears out what Mr. Besley stated as to its effect ;
because Mr. Besley very broadly stated that in the letter
of the Board of Trade, the Board o‘f Trade had expressed
its opinion that these were proper measures, whereas
these words indicate that, in their opinion, for apothe¬
caries’ purposes they are measures which should not be
allowed.

Mr. Besley: Oh, no.

The Assistant Judge: Let me read the words: —
“Although the differences,” — that is the differences
pointed out in this statement to the magistrates —
“ Although the differences from the imperial standards,
as shown in the accompanying statement, are larger
than should be allowed .in other forms of apothecaries’
measures.” This appellant is a chemist and druggist, a
ge ntleman who dispenses medicine, that is to say, he
makes up prescriptions; therefore wbat you say is
certainly not borne out.

Mr. Besley : I hope the Bench will read the letter. I
say what I said is borne out. The English language can¬
not have two meanings.

The Assistant Judge : I do not know that ; it is some¬
times very ambiguous.

Mr. Poland: In Acts of Parliament it generally has.

The Assistant Judge : You made a broad statement to
this effect— that the Board of Trade had written to the
committing magistrates expressing its opinion that the
mpeached measures were sufficient and proper; whereas

it appears' that they expressed their opinion that for
ordinary trade purposes they ought to be deemed so, but
for the purposes of apothecaries’ use they should not be
allowed.

Mr. Besley : That is not so, my lord. That letter
begins by apothecaries’ measures. It says with regard
to other measures, where there is not a difficulty of mark¬
ing. The difficulty of marking does not exist in some
apothecaries’ measures, and then you require greater
accuracy ; but with regard to all cylindrical and conical
glass measures, we say, for all ordinary purposes of a
chemists’ business they are absolutely correct, and we do
not think you ought to condemn them.

Mr. Poland: That raises the difficulty — what is an
inspector to. do 'under this Act of Parliament? Of
course one tenth of a minim might be of no conse-
qence whatever. It might be the different mode of
testing. But when you have heard the ordinary
inspector of measures for that parish, who finds they are
defective, and the public analyst, who also finds they are
defective, the Board of Trade testing their measurement,
and saying it is defective, as stated in that table — and
I shall show you that it is a mere question of price, that
these glass measures are in fact made with perfect
accuracy, and can be made with accuracy, then must not
a chemist do what can be done, namely, get his measures
as accurate as they can be made? . Unless you are to
draw a line at that, and to say that they must be as
accurate as they can fairly and properly be made, what
is an inspector to do ? Then you leave it to the inspector
in every case to say, “ I do not think two minims
difference is much; I shall not interfere.” Another

may say, on the other hand, “ Four minims difference

is not much; I shall not interfere.” What is to be
done? Is it not obvious that the Act of Parliament
intended that they should be as accurate as they

could be; of course leaving the magistrates who deal

with the facts of each particular case to say whether
a penalty should be a substantial penalty of £5, or
whether it should be, as in this case, 6c?. ; because the
conviction is not for the purpose of punishing the
defendant by way of punishment for any moral delin¬
quency, but for the purpose of enforcing the law, and
compelling him and the other chemists in future to take
care that their measures are as accurate as they can
fairly be made to be. That is the object of the con¬
clusion. If this conviction is quashed, it throws the
whole thing at large ; whereas, if it is confirmed, all that
the defendant and other chemists must do, will be to say,

“ We must go to first class makers and take care that we
get our measures accurate, even if we have to pay a little
more.”

The Assistant Judge : It seems to me a great hardship
is imposed on persons who have to use measures under
such an Act of Parliament. It would be far better that
the Government itself should vend these articles, in the
same way that they do postage stamps, where absolute
accuracy has to be observed, where persons acting per¬
fectly bond fide would be subject to penalties, although
they may in perfect good faith purchase from a competent
manufacturer what they believe to be correct measures.
There is a great hardship thrown upon them.

Mr. Poland : They are potent drugs, poisons and medi¬
cines.

The Assistant Judge: If it is necessary to protect the
public against such minimized differences in matter, let .
the Government themselves issue proper measures under
their stamp.

Mr. Besley : All these measures are under the proper
stamp of the official at York, where they are manu¬
factured.

The Assistant Judge : The Government should manu¬
facture them. .

Mr. Besley : My friend says- it is a matter of expense.
That is not so.

The Assistant Judge: They are measures bond fide

649

February 5, 1861.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

•issued. The defendant purchased them from a manu¬
facturer recognized as a competent person in the particular
trade to supply such articles.

Mr. Besley : And further, my lord, tested.

The Assistant Judge : He uses them in perfect good
faith, and then there comes in some day, unexpectedly,
an inspector of weights and measures, with a microscope
and no end of delicate machines, and finds out he has a
minim too much or too little. Then the trader is taken
before a magistrate, convicted and fined Qd.

Mr. Poland: I should only say that the magistrates
who heard this case felt it was one of very great import¬
ance, and that on the evidence they could not dismiss
the summons. They thought the charge was legally
proved, and the Court will have to say whether that
decision is right or wrong. If it is right, I venture to
submit it will be a very good thing if it is upheld . If it
is wrong, the whole matter will be thrown at large, and
inspectors will have very great difficulty thrown upon
them. Appearing for the magistrates, I need hardly say
my desire is that all the facts should be fairly put before
the Court, and I will now call the witnesses.

Mr. Frederick Walter Tibbey, recalled, examined by

Mr. Mead.

The Assistant Judge: Let him have all the four
measures before him, and let him be examined as to the
order in which he has spoken in this statement.

Mr. Besley : The statement varies from that of the
Board of Trade.

The Assistant Judge : Have you put your statement as
to these differences in writing, because in a case of this
kind, it would be very convenient that we should have it ?
Mr. Besley will not object.

Mr. Besley : Not the least.

The Assistant Judge : It would be very much better,
or else we shall have to be engaged a very long time in
taking a note of all these figures.

Mr. Mead: You are the inspector of weights and
measures for Marylebone parish ? — I am.

Under the Act of Parliament? — Under the present
Act of Parliament.

Have you made the testing of weights and measures
your study for some time past? — I have.

You have had great experience ? — I think I have had
the largest experience of any inspector in England.

You have already referred to the Order in Council of
the 14th August, 1879, with reference to apothecaries’
measures ?— Yes.

You say that three months after that you gave notice
to the appellant, Mr. Whittle, that his weights and
measures would be liable to be inspected? — Under the
Act of Parliament.

The Assistant Judge : He carries on the business of a
dispensing chemist, does he ? — Yes, my lord.

Mr. Mead: At 6, Townshend Road? — Yes.

On 19th October you went to his shop ?— Officially, to
test his measures as to their accuracy.

You went behind the counter and you found the four
you produce here to-day deficient ?— I did.

In what way did you test them in the shop ? — I tested
them with the local standards issued by the Board of
Trade under the Order in Council.

Then under the Order in Council you had received
standards from the Board of Trade ? — From the Board
of Trade.

The Assistant Judge: You had standards furnished to
you in your official capacity ? — Yes.

Mr. Mead : Those are what are called pipettes ? —
Pipette- measures.

You tested them in the shop with ordinary water, not
distilled water ? — I did, with ordinary water at the
temperature of the atmosphere.

You found them deficient? — I did..

Did you speak to the appellant with reference to that?
— 1 did.

What did you say to him ? — I told him I would test

them at my office, and if I found them incorrect I should
have to take proceedings in the matter — to summon him
under the Act.

What did he say to that ? — He said he bought them
from the York Glass Company and he thought they
ought to be light as they bore the York glass stamp.

What did he say ? — He produced his bill and said he
purchased them from the York Glass Company and he
presumed they were correct.

What mark did he say they bore ? — He said they bore
the York glass mark. .

Did you take them to your office and then did )rou test
them ? — I did. I tested them with water at the tem¬
perature laid down by the Board of Trade, 62° F.

Did you test them by measurement first or by weight ?
— I am compelled to test them by measure under the Act.

Which did you do ? — By measure.

You used pipettes for that ? — I did.

Take No. 1 measure first. Have you your notes made at
the time ? — These were made at the time of the inspection
in the office.

The Assistant Judge: Have you not copied them out
so as to hand them to us (a copy was handed to the
Judge).

Mr. Mead: The first one- is conical ? — Yes.

Take it from the bottom, it proceeds by steps by fives
until you get to 60 ?— Yes.

Then by tens to 120 ? — Yes.

Then by thirties ? — Yes.

The Assistant Judge: I find here stated the deficits are
at 5, 1‘2, and at 10, 2.

Mr. Mead : I suppose you filled it with water up to the
mark above the 5 minims first of all ? — I did.

In the first onset you fill your pipette ? — With water
at the proper temperature, then lower it from the
pipette into the glass until you get the exact line of
water in a line with the mark on the measure. What
remains in the pipette gives you the deficiency or excess,
as the case may be.

You filled the pipette with five minims?— Yes.

Then you filled up that measure up to the first sub¬
division ? — Up to the first line.

The Assistant Judge : Then you stop the running from
the pipette ? — Yes.

How do you do that ?— By the finger. The finger is .
always at the top.

Mr. Mead: When you fill the measure the water
forms a concave surface, does it not ? — Yes.-

You call that the meniscus ? — Yes.

You call it capillary attraction, I think, that forms
that ? — The meniscus is caused by the capillary attraction
of the water to the glass.

Do you take the bottom of the meniscus ?— I take the
bottom of the meniscus in testing these measures.

That makes it as fair as possible to thtf appellant? — To
his advantage.

What do you say would be the fair line to take, the
top of the meniscus or the bottom ?— The centre.

These measures are used for tinctures as much as any¬
thing ? — They are.

And tinctures form a flat surface ?— Yes.

The Assistant Judge.: There is more capillary attrac¬
tion, I suppose, with tinctures ?— No, my lord, less.

Mr. Mead: Having measured the 5 minims, what
deficiency did you find ?— On No. 1 measure, I found a
deficiency by the pipette of 1 minim.

Now if you will read the result of your testing of the
other subdivisions his lordship will check it. What
deficiencv was there between 5 and 10 ?

Mr. Besley : There is no deficiency between the 5 and
10 ; they are all reckoned from the bottom.

The Assistant J udge : He has not said the deficiency
between the two. He tested the deficiency in one
figure, it makes the deficiency 1 minim out of 5, and 1 h
on 10. There is a difference of We need not do
that sum j we take the total from the bottom.

G50

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[February 5, 1881.

Mr. Mead : At 10 minims what did you find?— 1^-.

At 15 minims ? — 2.

At 20 ?— 1.

At 25 ?— 1.

Now take No. 2 conical measure.

The Assistant Judge: In another column he has
given the deficiency in grains, of course it is a very low
decimal, and a very small decimal indeed '911458 as to
5 minims. Do you want the evidence of the grains ?

Mr. Poland: Oh, no.

-The Assistant Judge: I should suggest to Mr. Besley
whether any question arises on that.

Mr. Besley : My lord, I shall have to do those sums.

The Assistant Judge: Then go on with your second
One.

The Witness: No. 2 conical measure was tested in
exactly the same form with water at the same -tempera¬
ture as before. Deficiency at 5 minims 1, 10 minims 1,
15 minims 2, at 20 minims 2, at 25 minims 2, at 80
minims 2, at 35 minims l£.

A Magistrate : Are they all deficiences, or are some
in excess ? — All deficiencies.

The Assistant Judge : There it ends ?— Yes.

Mr. Mead : Take No. 3 in the same way, that is a
cylindrical one ? — Yes. It was tested in exactly the
same way, a deficiency of 1^ on 10, and of 1 on 15.

Now, No. 4 ? — Tested exactly in the same way, 1 on
10, 1 on 15, 1J on 20, 2 on 25, 1^ on 30, and 1 on 35.

The Assistant Judge : All deficits ? — All deficiencies.

All on the safe side then as far as potency is con¬
cerned ? — Yes.

Mr. Mead : That is all you have to tell us in regard to
the measurements ?— Yes.

Did you test them again by weight ?— I did.

The Assistant Judge : Do you want it ?

Mr. Mead : It depends on my learned friend.

Mr. Poland : He has i hecked it.

Mr. Mead: You have checked them by weight? — I
have.

In the most careful way that it is possible?— Yes.

And you and Dr. Blyth, since you tested them alone,
have tested them together? — We have checked them to¬
gether, and Dr. Blyth did it himself independently of me.

Besides you and Dr. Blyth having tested them sepa¬
rately and independently, you have tested them together ?
— We have.

And substantially with the same results? — Yes.

The Assistant Judge : With the same results ? — Practi¬
cally with the same results.

Have you got those pipettes with you ? — Yes, my lord.

Mr. Mead: There is one other question. You have
tested thousands of similar measures, and found them
correct ? — I have.

So that it is possible they should be correct ? — Quite
possible.

Cross-examined by Mr. Besley.

Do you know anything about the glass manufacture ? —
The manufacture of glass ?

Have you ever been in any glass manufactory where
they make such instruments as these ? — I have not.

With regard to the mode of testing, has the Board of
Trade given you directions, or advice, if you prefer the
word, that to the bottom of the meniscus is the proper
way to test ? — It 1 as done so now.

Since this case came on it has told you that ? —
Yes.

And had you previously tested by taking the top of the
meniscus ? — By taking the centre.

As far as your eye would permit you to take the centre ?
— You can get a correct line of sight through the centre.

With regard to the figures, did you cease to test these
instruments, in the first one for instance, beyond 25 ? —
I did.

You never tested beyond 25 ?r— No — at least, beyond 30
in one or two cases.

Twenty-five on the first? — 25 on No, 1.

You have not, since the Board of Trade sent its reply
to the magistrates, tested whether it is right in saying
that at 35 minims, there is an excess of *1 ; at 40 an
excess of IT ; at 45 an excess of 1*9; at 50 an excess of
1*6; at 55 an excess of 1*9; at 60 an excess of 1*4 ; at 70
an excess of *5. You do not dispute ' these figures? — I
have never tested them.

Have you not had the curiosity, since the Board of
Trade sent this letter, to test them ? — I have not, it does
not form part of the case.

Do you dispute that at 240 minims the measure was
correct ? — I have not tested them.

You do not deny that it may be correct at 240 ? — It
may be correct.

Is it quite within the range of possibility that you have
put your mark on incorrect measures ? — I might have
done such a thing, but I think it is very improbable.

The Assistant Judge: I do not follow your question
— incorrect pipettes ?

Mr. Besley: No, incorrect measures. He is an in¬
spector who has a right to mark.

The Assistant Judge : I do not understand the ques¬
tion. The counsel suggests that it is within the bounds
of possibility that you have put your mark on incorrect
measures ; whose measures, and when, and in relation to
what ?

Mr. Besley : The Act of Parliament perhaps is not very
familiar to the Court.

The Assistant Judge: Do you mean put his mark to
condemn them ?

Mr. Besley: No, my lord, a mark of approval on
them. The 45th section, says, “a weight or measure
duly stamped by an inspector under this Act shall be a
legal weight or measure throughout the United Kingdom,
unless found to be false or unjust, ’and shall not be liable
to be restamped because used in any place other than that
in which it was originally stamped.”

The Assistant Judge: You mean stamped under the
Act. You are a man who stamps measures? — I do.

Mx% Besley: Is it within the bounds of possibility
that you stamped measures as accurate which are more
inaccurate than these ? — I should think it was very
doubtful; in fact I should think it was almost an
impossibility.

Does not the testing depend very much upon the exact
power of the eye to test? — It depends greatly on the
line of sight.

It depends greatly on the power of the operator to
see the exact line of sight correctly? — Yes.

The Assistant Judge: In order to get the line of sight
do you hold it in your hand ? — On a level surface.

You do not trust to the hand to hold it? — No, my lord.

There is no possibility of any mistake from any
trembling of the hand, or anything of the kind? — No, my
lord.

Mr. Poland : It is done with a spirit level. — There is
a small table. (The witness produced the stand which
he used.)

The Asisistant Judge: Perfectly level? — Yes. It
must be perfectly level, levelled by means of a spirit
level.

Mr. Besley : How do you bring it to your line of
sight ? — We have to use several means to ascertain it.

I want to know ? — By placing myself on an exact level
with the stand.

That depends on your ability to do so ? — Certainly.

So that if you go down a little too much or not far
enough it makes a difference ?— But in fine measures like
this we generally use a telescope.

Tell me in what way ? — I tested these with a telescope.

Tell me by what means ? — The measure is placed on a
level table with the telescope in front of it, and a spirit
level in front, and on the cross of the telescope: You
place the measure exactly in front of the mouth of the
telescope arid by looking through at this end you must
get the exact centre,

February 5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

651

That would be if the telescope had not a glass larger
at one end that the other. — The telescope is made for the
purpose.

The Assistant Judge : You do not look through the
large part of the glass.

Mr. Besley : If you reflect for a moment you will see
that if you are looking through a small aperture of glass
and through a larger one at a distance, unless the eye is
perfectly true you may, when you are dealing with
thousandth parts of an inch, get inaccuracy.

The Assistant J udge : He says he measures this mea¬
sure with greater accuracy than he could do with the
naked eye.

The Witness: Yes, my lord.

Mr. Besley : Then with that assistance you do not deny
that the most practised persons may vary in their results?
— They may vary to a slight extent.

Now let us see whether you have not varied. Mr. Blyth
is the gentlemen who is to support your case ? — I am
sure I do not know.

Who is Mr. Blyth ? — Dr. Winter Blyth is the medical
officer of health.

Was he called at the hearing before the justices ? — I
believe he was.

Do you know that he was called on the part of the
prosecution ? — I know he gave some evidence before the
magistrates.

For instance, are you positive that Dr. Winter Blyth is
incorrect when upon instrument, No. 1, on the line with
the 5 which you call a deficiency of 1 minim, he calls it
a deficiency of *395 ? — No, I cannot say.

You have sworn it is 1 minim ? — Yes.-

If Dr. Winter Blyth has sworn and will swear again it
is ‘395, do you mean to say he is not just as likely to be
correct as you ?. — Dr. Winter Blyth ascertained his by
weight.

Is not weight a more fair test than any other? — I
should think so.

Weight is better than volume ? — I should think so.

Now having got the information, as you probably have,
from Dr. Winter Blyth, that it is not 1 minim, but ‘395,
what do you say now? Is it ’395 or 1 minim ? — I say by
the pipette it is 1 minim ; by my standard measure is¬
sued by the Board of Trade it is 1 minim.

With regard to the standard measure with which you
deal, that is dependent on the accuracy of the standard
measure ? — Certainly.

And do you know that it is almost impossible in mark¬
ing to mark with absolute exactitude ? — It is not im¬
possible, otherwise how do scientific men do with their
instruments ?

We shall have evidence that they do not do it. — As
the standards are manufactured it must be possible to

do it.

To your mind all the standards are exactly alike ? —
They are, within fractions, and that it is enough for
me.

The Assistant Judge : You see there is a very material
difference in your point of view if you answer correctly.
There is a difference between you and Dr. Blyth of ’6,
with respect to this particular measure. He only makes
it four-tenths, and you say it is an entire minim, or ten-
tenths. You say then with respect to one of your alleged
deficiencies, according to your own admission, by the
pipettes of the Board of Trade where you find a minim,
Dr. Blyth finds it *395 ? — Dr. Blyth ascertained his re¬
sults by weight and it is impossible for anybody to ascer¬
tain it so corectly by fluid measurement.

Then according to your own admission you will accept
Dr. Blyth’s as the more accurate ? — Most decidedly.

Mr. Besley : Just the* same again with regard to Mr.
Chaney’s, the Board of Trade gentleman, who sent his
figures up to the magistrates. You know perfectly well
that he, instead of making it 1 minim at that point, makes
it *3 ? — Mr. Chaney ascertained his result exactly in the
same way as Dr. Blyth, by weights.

Then probably he also may be more accurate than you?
— Certainly it is by weight.

The Assistant Judge : What is your measurement with
regard to that whioh he says is three-tenths ?— - 1 minim.

The Assistant Judge : Then there is a difference of seven
tenths.

Mr. Besley : On the next you suggest there is a defi¬
ciency of 11 minims? — Yes.

Dr. Blyth puts it at '34 ? — I am sure I do not know
what he puts it at.

*34. There is a wonderful difference there between you
and Dr. Blyth, is there not ? — There is a difference, and
there is a difference between a minim and a grain.

The Assistant Judge : I am not taking a word of this.

Mr. Poland : I shall call Dr. Blyth.

The Assistant Judge : You must consider the time of
the Court. If you establish that by evidence, why need_
we have these hypothetical questions.

Mr. Besley : I will not ask any more. I hope you do
not think I intend to waste any time.

The Assistant Judge : These are hypothetical questions
and we shall have the positive evidence of Dr. Blyth
upon the matter.

Mr. Besley : With regard to measure No. 3, after Dr. .
Blyth had been engaged you gave up No. 3 altogether as
an incorrect measure, did you not ? — I am sure I do not
know. I know by the pipettes it is, as near as it is
possible to obtain it, what I have stated it to be. I know
nothing of Dr. Blyth’s testing.

Were you present in Court on the re-henring when
Mr. Whittle was told he need not trouble himself about
measure No. 3, or when Professor Redwood came to your
place to inspect these measures ? You were present ? —
I was.

On the occasion of Professor Redwood and Dr. Paul
coming there did you tell them they need not trouble
themselves about No. 3 ? — I did not.

They did not test it ? — I said there were only two sub¬
divisions. There were several other subdivisions on the
other measure they did not test.

Was it not your suggestion ?; — I do not think that
it was.

Did you suggest they need not trouble themselves
about No. 3 ? — I did not suggest any such thing. It was
not for me to suggest. They came there to test the
measures, and they tested what they chose.

Did you not by words tell them they need not trouble
about No. 3 ? — Not to my recollection.

Do you say that ? Professor Redwood is here and Dr.
Paul. — I cannot help that. I have no recollection of
saying such a thing.

By words did not you point out to them with respect
to No. 3 that it was given up ?— No such thing. It was
not for me to say it was given up. How should I know
it was given up ?

You know, do you not, that the Board of Trade order
does not refer to any 15 minims at all. There is no such
measure at all in the Board of Trade order ? -The Boai d
of Trade regulations ?

The Order in Council ?— By the Order the standards

bear 15 minims. . .

The Order in Council does not recognize anything
between 10 and 20.— That I am sure I could not say
without refering to it.

Or the schedule of the Act. You know the Act, do
you not ? — I have read the Act of Parliament.

The schedule of the Act which was read in opening
this case ?

Mr. Poland : It does.

Mr Besley: It does not, excuse me. Schedule i\o. z
says minims 30, 20, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. There is nothing
about 15 in that at all.— But you will find it referred to
in the Order in Council, I think.

Can you tell me this? There are of these graduated
marks upon that instrument, something like 21, are
there not ? — I have not counted them.

652

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 5, 1881.

There should be? — This is a 60-minim measure, divided
into fives.

They are not marked, are they ; only you assume they
are fives. There 'is no figure against them ’- -The figure
is against 10, 20 and 30.

Not against the intermediate mark? — No ; but I think
you will find the Act says where the capacity is so small
it is not necessary. They can be passed without.

The Assistant Judge : They are divided into sevenths,
according to what you said just now.

Mr. Poland: No, my lord; this is divided all the way
up the same — by tens. (The measure was handed
up.) . 4

The Assistant Judge : Although there is not a figure
there, as he sa}-s, it is divided into fives.

Mr. Besley: With regard to all the four, as to the
maximum capacity, whether it be 240 minims, or 60
minims. You do not say they are inaccurate? — I have
not tested them.

You sent the glasses to Dr. Winter Blyth to support
this case? — I did not send them at all. He came to the
glasses.

By your wish ? — Not by my desire. He was instructed,

I presume, by the solicitor or the magistrates.

I believe you were a long time before you admitted
that these four glasses were all stamped by the inspector
of York. Are they so stamped?

The Assistant Judge : Whereabouts is the inspector of
York’s stamp?

Mr. Besley: It is the “YK.,” a combined letter, my
lord, “V.R.” and “YK.” Do you call each of these a
glass measure? — Each subdivision.

Then you call each glass twenty measures. As I under¬
stand you, as to measure No. 1, you call it not one but
twenty-two measures? — It is a measure at every line
that is drawn across it ; it constitutes a measure.

Mr. Besley: He says he does not regard the glass
vessel before your lordship as one measure but as twenty-
two measures.

The Assistant J udge : It is intended to be used for
measuring more than one quantity. It is intended to be
used for measuring as many quantities as the marks cn
the glass will admit of ? — That is quite correct.

Mr. Besley : Then we should be obliged to contend
this, that every mark ought to have the inspector's mark.
If it is twenty-two measures, of course there must be
twenty-two authentications by the inspector, according
to that. My contention will be whether these are really
measures within the meaning of the Act. I should say
they should be called graduated instruments for the
purpose of dispensing.

The Assistant Judge : That is a very difficult question.

-Mr. Besley : That arises here.

Re-examined by Mr. Mead.

There is only one point I want to ask you, with
reference to the minim and the grain, what is the distinc¬
tion? — A minim in measurement does not constitute a
grain in weight.

But the proportion is given in the Board of Trade
order at •911458; it is roughly nine-tenths. A minim
by measurement equals nine-tenths of a grain in weight ?
• — Exactly.

Dr. Alexander Winter Blyth sworn. Examined by

Mr. Poland.

Are you medical officer of health for the parish of
St. Marylebone ? — I am.

And public analyst ? — Yes.

I think yoii are Fellow of the Chemical Society and
Vice-President of the Society of Public Analysts ? —
I am.

I think you have had very large experience in cases of
. this kind ? — Yes.

Just look, at these four measures. Before the convic¬
tion in this case, were you requested by Mr. Greenwell,
the vestry clerk, to examine those four measures? —
I was.

And did you afterwards give evidence before the
magistrates ? — I did.

Just take No. 1. You have in your hand, I think, the
notes made at the time. Just take No. 1 and look at
those. Do those papers contain your measurements of
those four ? — These papers contain my measurements of
the four measures, but these are measurements that I
have made since the conviction.

That does not matter. What do you say now, having-
made it several times; which do you say are the accurate
ones ? — I say these are as accurate as it is possible to
measure.

In your judgment are those strictly accurate? — They
are.

You put it in two ways, but the deficiencies, I think,
will be sufficient. Will you read the deficiencies from
these papers ? — I have them here.

Begin with No 1 ?— No 1 is a conical measure. In the
first five minims, I find a deficiency of ‘2 ; a deficiency
on 10 minims, ’5 ; 15 minims, a deficiency of 2 minims ;
20 minims, a deficiency of 1*6 ; 25 minims, a deficiency
of 1*6 ; 30 minims, a deficiency of *5.

Now No. 2 ? — No. 2, at 5 minims, a deficiency of ’5 ;
10 minims, a very small excess, it may be called accurate;
15 minims, 1/4 deficiency.

The Assistant Judge: I have 1*2.

Mr. Poland: I have the original here; it is miscopied.
Now 20 ? — At 20 minims, l-2 deficiency.

The Assistant Judge : This is very badly copied.

The Witness : At 25, 1*5 ; 30, 1*3.

Mr. Poland : Now take No. 3 measure, the cylinder ?
— No. 3, on the 10 minims, a deficiency of ‘7 ; 15, T.

Now No. 4 ? — Division 10, a deficiency of T ; 15, a
deficiency of *9.

The Assistant Judge: Where you do not point o\it
any deficiency or any error we may take it you found it
correct ? — Yes, my lord.

In No. 3 you only point out with regard to the divi¬
sions 10 and 15? — No, my lord, I only tested the
measure at those particular divisions.

Oh ! we are not to assume, therefore, because you do
not give other errors, there are not other inaccuracies ?
— No; I have only tested the measure at those divisions.

Mr. Poland: In No. 4'what are the deficiencies? — At
10 minims the deficiency is T; 15, ’9; at 20, ‘8; at 25,
T3 ; at 30, ‘8 ; at 35, ‘7.

Now these figures you have just read you believe to be
as accurate as it is almost possible to ascertain? — I do,
because I took every precaution. I was a quarter of an
hour over each division. I examined it with a telescope
of low magnifying power, which was carefully levelled.
The bottom of the measure was on a support, properly
levelled, and each. division was carefully brought before
the centre of the telescope. The water was dropped in
and several determinations were made of almost every
division. I believe it is as accurate as it can be done
and it can only be done accurately in' that way.

I suppose you have seen a large number of measures of
a similar kind ?— I have, and graduated instruments of
all kinds.

In your knowledge all these things could be made
much more accurately than they are? — Most decidedly.
I could do so myself, although an amateur.

Given the manufactured piece of glass you could mark
them more accurately than they are marked there ? —
They can be marked as accurately as they can be read.

Within how much ? — Observers might differ by weight
T of a grain, with very great care ; therefore you might
have an error of one-tenth of a grain.

Or one-tenth of a minim ? — I am speaking by weight.

The Assistant Judge: If ycfu reduce it to measure
perhaps there is one-tenth of a minim to which you might
differ ? — A minim is nine-tenths of a grain.

They may differ to rather less than one-tenth of a
minim. Do you put it about that ? — Yes, my lord.

You think we can fairly allow for differences of

.

February 5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

measurement to the extent of one-tenth of a minim ?—
Yes.

The Assistant Judge: We are now approximating to
the question we may have to determine. It is only for
Mr. . Besley to show otherwise ; but if this gentleman’s
opinion is correct, as an expert, we can fairly allow of
differences of measurement by different persons to the
extent of one-tenth of a minim.

Mr. Poland : In dispensing drugs is it material that the
measure should be as nearly as possible accurate ? — I con¬
sider so, certainly.

The Assistant Judge : In dispensing drugs you require
accuracy in such measures. — Yes.

The Assistant J udge : The Act of Parliament does
whether he does or not, and so does the Order in Council.

Mr. Poland: Take No. 1. You consider 2 minims de¬
ficiency in 15 as a very material defect? — I do, because
there are many medicines in which 2 minims is a thera¬
peutic dose. You would get a certain effect with a
dose of 2 minims; therefore, I consider it a serious
: error.

Even 1 minim, is that a serious error ? — I think so,
certainly.

Cross-examined by Mr. Besley.

I think, Dr. Blyth, you were examined before the jus¬
tices ? — I was.

Are. you of opinion that you can more accurately test
by weight than by measure ? — Most decidedly. '

Did you speak when before the magistrates of the re¬
sult of your testing by weight ? — I did.

.Have you got those figures now ? — I have not them
with me. They agreed very fairly with these.

You know the Pharmaceutical Journal, do you not ? —
Yes, I have heard of it.

Tell me this, on No. 1 measure did you not befoi’e the
magistrates say that at 15 minims it was '67 grains
deficient ?

The Assistant Judge : Which of these is that ?

Mr. Besley : Before the magistrates this gentleman
gave the result of testing by weight and not in
. minims, testing by weight, not testing by volume ? — I
have the weight here of my last determination, and it is
1 '77. It is impossible for me to carry the figures in my
head.

Surely you supplied the gentleman that called you as
a witness with the evidence you gave before the
magistrates ? — I believe they had that, but I have not
got it.

Where is the paper with the result of your weight,
tests ? — I have not got it. They differed very little from
these.

Do not say that, because if this be accurate it differs
wonderfully. Por instance, No. 1 measure at 15, did not
you state upon your oath before the magistrates that the
weight was -67 grain deficient ? — I do not think so, I
cannot remember. I do not think so. I do not think I
said anything of the kind.

Cannot you remember what you said ?— That is my
more recent, examination, but I compared those weights
with the weights taken in a more accurate manner.

Mr. Poland: You will give my friend the weights now
from these, if he wishes it.

Mr. Besley : Please to look at this for a moment and
tell me, although you have lost your own notes, is not
that absolutely the evidence you gave on your testing by
weight { (handing a copy of the Pharmaceutical Journal
to the witness.) It is impossible for me to remember
these abstract figures.

Why did not you bring the notes you used when
before the magistrates ? — I did not know that they would
be wanted.

Why did you change the memoranda you made ? —
Because I wished to test it in the most accurate way
that.it was possible to test it, and took the greatest time
possible, so as to bring before the Court the most accu¬
rate statement.

Did you tell the justices that which was inaccurate ? —
I certainly did not.

Do you mean to say now that the difference between
the •6/ grain and what you are telling the magistrates
here of 2 minims in that one testing is not a serious
difference ?

Mr. Poland : He does not admit that he said that.

The Witness : I believe that is a misprint— that there
ought to have been a 1 before that -67. There were a
few minor differences.

Mr. Besley: Tell me what you call a few minor
differences. A tenth. There has not been a difference
of more than a tenth between the testing before the
magistrates and my present testing.

. The Assistant J udge : I understand if there were
differences between the evidence you first gave and the
figures you give now, you adhere to those given now
because you took extra care ? — Most certainly, my lord.

You bestowed more time, care and attention upon it
for the purpose of arriving at the measures which you
have stated to-day ? — That is exactly the case, my lord.

The Assistant Judge: Then it amounts to nothing,
because we have to determine on the facts before us.
The only observation is that such is the mode of cal¬
culating these measurements that it is quite possible for
an experienced person to make a different measure one
day to what he does on another, and when we find that
gentlemen do differ in measuring, I think’ we may take
that for granted. It is proved already to the satisfaction
of the magistrates.

Mr. Besley : But to what extent ? That is a very
material matter in this inquiry — the extent to which
there may be differences.

The Assistant Judge : That is very wide. The same
person may differ in the measures he would arrive at,
measuring on different days.

Mr. Besley : And the same person measuring by
weight and by volume.

The Assistant Judge: What this witness has stated
amounted to this, that so fine are these measurements that
the same measurer measuring on Monday, when he comes
to deal with these very small measurements may find a
different measure one day to that at which lie arrived on
the previous day. But this gentleman says, “I measured
these glass measures with the greatest accuracy, using the
best means, and I have given you what I believe to be
the most accurate measure to be arrived at by myself.”
That is what you say ? — That is exactly what I say.

Mr. Besley : What I want to know from you is whether
you mean that the difference between your own results — I
am not asking about other people, I am asking about
yourself — whether the difference of . testing by weight,
which is the evidence you gave before the magistrates,
and now your evidence to-day by volume does not give a
difference between 735 of a minim at No. 15 on No. 1
measure, whereas now you say 2 minims; whether you
have not changed your evidence from the difference
between 735 minim down to 2 minims ? — Most decidedly
not.

What did you say before the justices was the result of
the testing by weight at No. 15 of measure No. 1 ? — That
I cannot answer, because I cannot remember the exact
figures I gave. You are asking me for abstract numbers ;
"but I know there was a large deficiency, that is all I can
say on No. 15.

My friend, Mr. Poland, has offered me a copy of your
report. Would you mind looking at it.

Mr. Poland : If this is what he had before the magis¬
trates.

Mr. Besley : If it be so, so long as he can have here
what he had before the justices, I shall be satisfied.

Mr. Poland: If Dr. Blyth can remember it as
being so. (Paper handed to the witness.)

The Witness :- These are not my original notes, but
here is what I suspected, a misprint. It is 1*67 instead
of ‘07.

654

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. ['February?, >88).

Mr. Besley : You call the difference between 1*67 and
2 minims an inappreciable difference? — No, excuse me.
This by weight — before the magistrates, it is No. 15, 1‘67
grains deficient. I make it here 177, which is T of a
grain difference.

You have given it me in grains. Now will you give
it me in minims ? You say 2 minims ; what you call 1'67
in grains, what is that in minims? • Then I should have
the contrast? — It is a calculation I could not make in my
head. A minim is nearly nine-tenths of a grain. There
is about T of a minim difference between the two deter¬
minations.

One-tenth of a minim difference, and that one before
the magistrates less than what you speak to now? —
Quite so.

The one before the magistrates done by weight and
what you speak of now done from volume?— Done also
by weight.

I thought you had been doing this by volume since? —
No ; I have done them by weight.

You have always done them by weight?— Always done
them by weight.

The Assistant Judge: You have given the measure¬
ments in volume, having taken the* weight and the
measure? — No, my lord; I have translated it by calcula¬
tion. I have taken it in every case by weight, but in
order to state it more clearly I have turned it into
minims.

Mr. Besley : All your testings are by weight ? — Yes.

You turned it into minims for the purpose of assisting
us. Now with regard to No. 1 measure, at 5 minims
Mr. Tibbey calls it 1 minim deficiency. You only call
it ’2. Do you call that a great difference ? — Of course
there is a considerable difference — a discrepancy there.

Is there not an awful discrepancy between the inspector
and yourself ? You come and give' us accurate evidence
upon which, probably, the Court will rely ; you talk of
two-tenths, whereas the inspector who summoned the
defendant talked of 1 minim on that one measure. That
is a great difference ? — It is eight-tenths difference.
There is a difference.

Is it not a great difference? — That is the exact
difference- — eight-tenths.

The Assistant Judge: I think that difference is much
larger than should be allowed for, because he said you
can fairly allow for difference of measurement by
different persons to the extent of one-tenth of a minim.
You succeed by cross-examination, in fact there is
evidence in chief, that there is in respect of these par¬
ticular allowances a difference of eight-tenths, which is
seven-tenths in excess of what ought to be, supposing
there is proper accuracy of measurement by both. It
amounts to that. — That is an argument in your mouth,
Mr. Besley.

Mr. Besley : Oh, yes, my lord. The discrepancies are
most material in this case. I think I had better select
one or two from each measurement. That will be suffi¬
cient for the argument. Now, with regard to No. 2, you say
that at the point supposed to be marked 10 minims, that
is absolutely right, or, if anything, a small excess? — Yes ;
that is very correct indeed. I make it *07 of a grain in
excess, which may be an experimental error. Therefore,
it may be said to be absolutely correct.

In that case is it not rather startling that Mr. Tibbey
should swear to it being 1 minim deficient ? — I do not
know how he made it, I am sure. That, of course, is a
discrepancy.

Is not that such a serious discrepancy as is inexplicable
to you, a scientific professional gentleman? — That is done
by measure. I always consider by measure it is not a
good way of testing.

Do I understand that the whole matter might be
corrected if there were powers to compel marking after
testing by weight ? — I do not go so far as that. I think
by the pipette you can tell whether a measure is accu¬
rate or inaccurate j if you wish to obtain the exact

amount of inaccuracy of measurement it ought to be by
weight.

Just suppose for a moment that No. 2 measure was the
inculpated measure, and that it was upon that particular
point of 10 minims it was said to be false or unjust; you
say it would be absolutely true and correct, do you not ?
— At that particular subdivision.

At that point ? — Yes.

How can you say that it can be accounted for — by the
testing by volume instead of by weight, when what you
now demonstrate to be absolutely correct Mr. Tibbey calls
a deficiency of 1 minim. That is what I want to get at.
What you give here, and we believe, you, and the Court
will probably accept it, is that at that particular point of
No. 2 measure at 10 minims it is absolutely correct, and
Tibbey says it is 1 minim defective. I want to know how
you explain it ? — I do not think it is my business to
reconcile discrepancies. I am ready to bear witness to
facts.

The Assistant Judge : Which is that ?

Mr. Besley: No. 2 at 10 minims, where Tibbey says it
is 1 minim deficient the witness comes and says it is quite
correct, or if anything a little in excess.

The Assistant Judge: According to Mr. Tibbey at
figure 10 there is a deficiency of 1 minim, and according
to this gentleman it was either accurate or he would
rather say it was in excess, therefore the difference
between these gentlemen is more than 1 minim.

Mr. Besley: Yes, my lord. Now take No. 2 measure
at point 30. You tell me it is 1’3 deficient? — Yes.

That is your corrected and properly tested figure, is it
not? — Yes.

What did you say that was before the magistrates ? — I
really could not say.

What is it on that paper?

The Assistant J udge : What have you got there ?

Mr. Poland: It is a copy I have before me; if the
witness, when he sees it before him, can remember it,
well and good.

The Witness : They are not notes made by me at the
time.

The Assistant Judge: Not made by you at all, it

seems.

Mr. Besley : If it be necessary I will call the short¬
hand writer, who can prove what this gentleman said.
The absence of his notes is a matter upon which I must
comment.

Mr. Poland : By all means, in due time.

The Witness: In this paper it is '91 deficiency.

Mr. Besley : When Mr. Tibbey puts that at 2 minims
is not that a serious deficiency ? — No.

The Assistant Judge : It is a deficiency of 1 minim
according to the evidence. It is a most serious discrepancy
compared with the evidence he has given to-day.

Mr. Besley: You said a minim and a decimal before.
It is ’91 ? — I do not know whether it is correct or
not.

To-day you say it is 1 ‘3 minim? — Yes, which I am
certain is right.

Is it not a serious difference, first of all, between less
than a minim and 2 minims as spoken to by Tibbey, is
not that a serious discrepancy ? — If it exists, but I really
cannot say,

You cannot explain this discrepancy ; but with regard
to yourself, how do you explain that by weight you
bring it to -91 before the magistrates and now you bring
the difference 1*3? — I beg to say I do not say that I
brought it out before the magistrates .*91.

I suggest you did ? — I cannot admit the suggestion. •

Do you mean to say you have had no curiosity to look
at the figures you swore to before the magistrates and
the new and more accurate figures you swear to to-day ?
. — Most decidedly. I found the differences very little
indeed.

Did that one vary as much as the difference between
1*3 and less than a minim ? — I cannot sav.

if

February 5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

655

The Assistant Judge : Which are you referring to ? —
This is 30 minims and the No. 2 measure.

Mr. Besley: Take No. 3. I understand that at 15 you
bring out T deficiency only ? — That is all ; it may be
considered fairly accurate.

And you did not give any evidence as to that before
the magistrates, did you, at all ? — I scarcely remember, I
do not think I did.

You said nothing about No. 3 ? — I do not think I was
examined on No. 3, nor do I think I examined it before.

You do not think you had tested that before ? — No.

That is a contrast between T by your evidence and
1 minim by Tibbey’s evidence. Now I pass to No. 4.
Did you give before the magistrates only evidence with
regard to the 5 minims, 10 minims, and 15 minims
points ? — I do not remember.

Did you state that at 10 the difference was about ’3
before the justices, and now T before the Court of
Quarter Sessions ? — I could not recollect.

Are you prepared to say you did not tell the justices it
was the difference of ’3 of a minim ? — I am not at all
clear.

And now to-day you say it is T of a minim ? — But I
must say that before the justices, I believe, if I remember
rightly all my differences were in grains and not in minims.
Therefore I could not have said it was three-tenths of a
minim, I should have said its equivalent in grains.

The Assistant Judge : Is that observation applicable to
all the answers you gave before the magistrates, because
if so, the learned counsel has been acting on erroneous
instructions. He has asked you what you said as to
minims? — Yes, my lord; it is always in grains, the
evidence before the magistrates.

Mr. Besley : I am not under any delusion, I think. He
has turned them into minims himself since he has been
in the box.

Is the difference between T of a minim and 1 minim,
which is Tibbey’s figure, capable of any explanation
except bad operating ? — I do not know how he tested it.

1 am not in a position to afford explanations of dis¬
crepancies.

You say that 25 is only 13 deficient, what he calls

2 minims; is it so? — My measurement of 25 is 1‘3.

As contrasted with his 2 minims ?

The Assistant J udge : There is a difference again
of *7.

Mr. Besley : With regard to the interest of chemists m
dispensing medicines, when you take potent poisons it
would be an advantage to have the mark under rather
than over the quantity, would it not? — No; I do not
think so; because, under the Sale of Food and Drugs
Act, if medicine were sent to me as an analyst, and that
medicine had not its proper amount of drugs in it, I
should certainly have to give a certificate that it was not
of the nature the purchaser required and purchased.

Yes; but will you kindly dismiss from your mind the
Adulteration Act. I am talking of dispensing medicine.

The Assistant Judge: If you were to suffer from a
wrong dose, would you rather suffer from a weaker than
a stronger one ? It may depend on the disease you had
to cure, probably ? — Certainly. '

Mr. Besley: Is it not safer to dispense medicine with
less poison than more ?

Mr. Poland : Poison is a medicine, and if you do not
give enough medicine the patient suffers.

(Adjourned for a short time.)

Mr. Besley : I think I will only trouble you with the
20th division of No. 4. You say the deficiency is 1-3 of
a minim ? — Yes, 1*3.

When you were before the justices you said nothing
with regard to that at all, did you ? — I really cannot say.
I cannot remember those sort of things.

Because you have not got your paper ? — I have not.

Then the difference of seven-tenths of a minim— that
is a large discrepancy, i3 it not ? — It is 1 ’3 deficient.

As against 2 minims by Tibbey ? — It is *7 discrepancy.

That is a large discrepancy ? — Well, it is ’7 discre¬
pancy. I suppose he did it by volume and I did it by
weight. By volume is not a very accurate way.

Is it a fact with regard to the imperial standards that
it is quite impossible to have them entirely free from
error ? — I do not say so at all ; I would not allow that
for a moment.

Have you tried by weight against the imperial standards
issued by the Board of Trade? — I have not, but I have
articles of glass in my own laboratory which will de-*
liver accurately by weight or by measure. I therefore
do not see why the imperial standards should not be
equally accurate with my own scientific instruments.

But you know nothing about the way in which the
imperial standards are made? — I have only a general
knowledge.

The Assistant Judge: The imperial standards in this
case are the pipettes issued to the inspectors, that is the
standard by which we have to consider in this case,
whether the appellant’s measures were accurate or
inaccurate, whether it is the proper standard or not.

Mr. Besley : I think not, my lord, the question is
whether the measures were unjust and false.

The Assistant Judge : Unjust and false.

Mr. Poland : The words of the section are “ false or
unjust.”

The Assistant Judge : Those are very important words.
A false weight — a false or an unjust weight. An unjust
weight is false. False is distinguished from unjust. It
is disjunctive.

Mr. Besley : Are there practical difficulties of construc¬
tion and graduation of measures of the particular form of
those four? — The conical ones are more difficult to read
than cylindrical ones, therefore there is more difficulty in
graduating conical ones than cylindrical ones.

You say conical glass instruments are more difficult
to read for the purposes of marking? — Quite so.

Than the cylindrical ones ? — Quite so.

Therefore there is the more probability of inaccuracy
in the conical ones than in the cylindrical ones? — Yes.

So that a good chemist, where exactitude was required,
would be more likely to use a cylindrical than a conical
measure? — He ought to, I should think.

The Assistant Judge : This is a very recent Act of
Parliament ; has there been any decision by a superior
Court on those words, “ false or unjust? ”

Mr. Besley : None, my lord.

The Assistant Judge : This is the first case that has
arisen under this Act of Parliament ?

Mr. Poland: The first I know of, my lord, on this
point.

Mr. Besley : I believe, my lord, the fact is that the
Act did not operate upon chemists until the Order in
Council of 1879.

That is hardly an answer to my question. I want to
know whether there are practical difficulties in the con¬
struction and graduation of measures of the particular
forms of those lour measures ? — There are practical diffi¬
culties in graduating all measures, but there are more
difficulties in graduating this conical form than the
cylindrical form.

There is a difficulty in the graduation of all measures ?
— There is a practical difficulty.

That springs, does it not, from the imperfections
sometimes of sight, and also when the marking has been
done, in the turning of the wheel which makes the
marking permanent ? — I do not know, I am sure.

You do not know how it is done yourself ? — I am not
acquainted with the method that they use. I know the
method that I should use, but I am not acquainted with
the method that is used.

Do you know that these glass measures are made first
of all without marking at all ?— I am aware of that.

Then do you know that a film of varnish is put upon
them, and they are then tested for the purpose of
graduation with liquid from the pipette ? — I know that too.

656

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 5, 1881.

And that no mark can be made in the varnish without
some breadth of the line, can there ? — A line must have a
certain amount of breadth.

It must have breadth. And after the glass is marked
with the transparent varnish upon it, it has to be placed
and held against a wheel rotating at an enormous speed,
has it not ? — Well, that would not be my method of
marking it. I should etch it with hydrofluoric acid.

You might introduce a more expensive method, but as
a matter of commerce, is it not the fact that they are
marked in that way ? — Very likely.

First of all you have the eye operating on the pipette
to see that it is accurate ; that is on the glass before it
is marked; then after it is marked, actually making it
permanent by a rotary wheel ? — That is an imperfect
method of manufacture which is not followed out in
scientific instruments.

But those are common glasses ordinarily used by
chemists ?— Yes.

Do you agree with Mr. Chaney that the measures now
in question, four of them, may be accepted as correct for
the purposes of ordinary trade ? — Most decidedly not.

You do not agree with the Board of Trade? — No; I
have a most decided opinion on that point.

You say they may not be accepted as correct for the
purpose of ordinary trade ? — No.

A Magistrate : When you speak of the number of de¬
ficiencies, does that mean the deficiency as measured
from the last figure of the glass, say the 5 degrees, or
from the very bottom ? — Always from the bottom. If it
is deficient T of a minim in 10, that means the whole of
the measure is 9'9 minims.

The Assistant Judge : The glass is filled up to that point
which you are testing the accuracy of. — Up to the point.

Necessarily from the bottom ? — Yes.

A Magistrate: I do not quite understand; for at 15
minims of No. 1 you say there are 2 minims deficient,
measured from the bottom, and at 20 minims you say the
deficiency is only T61 — Because the glass must have been
wider at that particular division, and it must have made
up for the deficiency.

The Assistant Judge: You are referring, I think, to
the conical glass ; but the same observation would apply
to the cylindrical one. The deficiency appearing at the
lowermeasurement, might be corrected by an actual in¬
accuracy between that measurement and the one above
it, and that tends to reduce it when you come to that
point? — Yes.

A Magistrate : In that case there must be an excess in
the second division as against the deficiency in the other.
They are not equally divided ? — No; they are not equally
divided.

The Assistant J udge : In short, in taking the larger
measurement as between this and the next measurement,
there may be an excess, and that would tend to correct
the deficiency in the measurement below or vice versa ? —
Yes, my lord-

Re-examined by Mr. Poland.

Did you try them with the pipette as well ? — I did. I
tried them all just roughly with the pipette.

The Assistant Judge : That reminds me of what I
want to ask you. Did you use the same pipette measure
as Mr. Tibbey? — I cannot say, my lord. I asked Mr.
Tibbey for a pipette measure, and he gave me the
measure. Whether it was the same or not, I do not
know.

Although you cannot say it was the same as he used,
it was a measure which he gave you ? — It was.

We will ask him whether the measure he gave you for
the purpose of your measurement was the one which he
had used for his measurements. We will get that out.
Let Mr. Tibbey be asked that question at once.

Mr. Tibbey recalled.

Mr. Tibbey: Yes, my lord. It was one of the Board
of Trade standards which Dr. Blyth used.

The Assistant Judge : Was it the one you had used

for the purpose of this case ? — I believe so. We' have
only two sets, and one, the first set, is rather awkward to
use. I am almost certain that Dr. Blyth had the 60-
minim tube in the second set of pipettes.

Did he have the same test measure or pipette for his
measurements that you had — actually the same measure ?
— I am almost positive.

But not quite ? — I should not like to swear to it, my
lord:

If we find a difference in the measurement of these by
different instruments, might there not be a difference
between different pipettes issued by the Board of Trade ?

Mr. Besley: I shall give you affirmative evidence that
there is, my lord.

Mr. Poland: At all events, both sets were Board of

Trade sets? — Yes.

Dr. Blyth recalled.

Mr. Poland : Did you apply the pipettes? — I did.

Did you find the measures inaccurate with the pipettes ?
— I did ; but the exact amount of inaccuracy I did not
take any note of, because I do not approve the testing
by the pipette, not for myself.

Mr. Besley: Would the Court allow me to put one
question on that ? He says he tried with the pipette of
the Board of Trade and found inaccuracies. What I
war.'t to know is this, whether his more accurate taking
of the amount by weight instead of by volume does not
show that the actual pipette of the Board of Trade was
inaccurate ?— I never tested the pipettes of the Board of
Trade. I should have, to answer that question, to go-
through a very careful investigation and test each pipette.
I have not done so, so that I could not answer the
question.

The Assistant Judge: Surely the alleged inaccurate
measures of this gentleman, the appellant, ought to be
tested by one recognized standard, and he ought not to
be called upon to meet a case in proof of which different
tests are applied for the purpose of showing the inaccuracy
of his measures. If Mr; Tibbey and if the last gentleman.
Dr. Blyth, used the same test for the purpose of ascer¬
taining whether the appellant had in his shop accurate
measures or not, then we can understand it; but if we
have first of all to consider whether these are unjust
measures or false Measures or accurate according to one
test and then accurate or inaccurate according to another
test, how many issues are we to try ?

Mr. Poland : The one issue to try is whether they are
false or unjust.

The Assistant Judge: In order to determine that
question, you bring, as it were, not the same standard
test, the same criterion, if I may use the word, but two.

Mr. Poland : One confirms the other ; the inspector
did test it with a pipette and it was inaccurate.

The Assistant Judge : And this gentleman by his
scientific apparatus for weighing.

Mr. Poland : Then they say Mr. Tibbey made a
mistake in the mode in which he tested, that it is
inaccurate manipulation. Then we tried it by more
scientific tests and show that in material parts they are
inaccurate.

The Assistant Judge : It may be that there is no
difference in the criterion; it maybe there is no difference
in the test and standards. It may be so, only it does
seem to me that unless the defendant examined what is
alleged to be unjust by what we must take to be the
just positive standard for the purpose of our decision, this
gentleman is certainly placed in a very great difficulty,
which I should be slow to believe the law intended him
to be placed in.

Mr. Besley : If I might be allowed to assist the Court
in that view ; you see by the statute that they appear to
have contemplated this, that with regard to certain
weights that every weight or measure that is stamped
and verified, that is to be good ; and it appears as if no
one is entitled to go behind that except this. If from
the composition of the measure or weight, such as lead or

February 5, 18S1.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

657.

tin or anything of that kind, or iron, by use, what was
stamped once and verified afterwards becomes unjust and
false, there must be a re-stamping and a re-verification or
a penalty. That shows it is inapplicable to this kind of
instrument.

The Assistant Judge : That does not meet my observa¬
tion.

Mr. Besley : In one sense it does, my lord. Every one
of these four measures is stamped and verified by the pro¬
per person at York, who is said in this statute to give
his authority over all England. Its coming away from
York does not make a difference. It may be used in
]• every part of England if once stamped and verified by
the inspector at York. And I think it does come to that
point. When once we have a measure, verified and
stamped by an inspector, which cannot alter — because
glass does not alter in its composition in any way -

The Assistant Judge: Then this question is a very
important one. It is tantamount to your saying — it is
perfectly immaterial to know whether you find Mr.
Tibbey’s measures do not coincide with this or whether
they are inconsistent, but because I have the mark of the
maker — the legal recognized mark -

Mr. Besley : Beyond the maker we have the inspector
of York, who is a public official there.

The Assistant Judge : Does he put the “ V.R.” on ?

Mr. Besley: He put the “ YK.” on.

Mr. Poland : We do not know that.

The Assistant Judge : I suppose it is so.

Mr. Besley: I will call him to prove this. In the
manufacturing, a portion of the “ YK.,” which is a joint
letter, which may be seen, is made, but until the in¬
spector comes, and he himself, with the rotating wheel,
makes the rest of the “ K.,” it is not his mark. I am
told he puts his mark with a diamond. He comes there,
and until he has put his mark with the diamond the
whole figure of the “ YK.” united does not appear upon
it. I will prove that to you when we come to that part
of the case.

A Magistrate : The inspector has made a mark verify¬
ing these as true measures.

Mr. Besley: Yes.

Mr. Poland : In consequence of my friend’s observa¬
tion, I ought to read the 45th section. The 45th section
is, “ a weight or measure duly stamped by an inspector
I under this Act shall*be a legal weight or measure through¬
out the United Kingdom unless found to be false or
unjust.” My friend did not read that. “ And shall not
be liable to be re-stamped because used in any place other
than that in which it was originally stamped.”

The Assistant Judge: Does not that throw upon the
person who may use such a measure the obligation of
•seeing that the inspector has not deceived him in what
he has alleged ? It presupposes that false measures may
be issued by inspectors, and that they may be false and
that they may be unjust.

Mr. Poland : And that they may be issued at York
and used in London, but they are still to be deemed to
be legal measures.

Mr. Besley: The view may be this. It presupposes
that what has been once marked by the inspector may,
through the material changing, change, but it does not
presuppose that an inspector ever sends out a glass in¬
strument which cannot change.

The Assistant Judge : There is a great deal in this,
because Mr. Besley, I can foresee, may possibly argue
that although this gentleman, after this alleged inaccuracy,
may be liable to a penalty- for having made use of it,
yet that on this section until it was found, that is to say,
by proper authority, to be false, he would not be liable,
it being issued by an inspector. I do not know whether
that argument has ever suggested itself to you.

Mr. Besley : It had not occurred so potently to my
mind, but it does occur to my mind ; I had the substance
of it with regard to the real meaning of the statute.

The Assistant J udge : It is to be a legal measure. Is

this an instrument issued by the inspector at York?
Assuming that it was for a moment, then this section
says that it is not to be condemned. “ It shall be a legal
Weight or measure throughout the kingdom unless found
to be false or unjust.” Now, of course, arises the
question what is the meaning of the word “ found.” It
may be that the reasonable interpretation of the statute
would be a notice on the part of a competent person who
is testing these measures that it is so. Was this gentle¬
man guilty then of an offence under this Act until the
inspector had given him notice that his measure, obtained
from an inspector and legal throughout the United
Kingdom, had been pronounced by him, and was found,
in other words, to be false or unjust. If that be really
the right construction of this section of the Act, although
this gentleman might be in peril for continuing to use
this measure, we should have to pause before we con¬
victed him of having infringed the Act before it was
found to be false.

Mr. Poland: This is a most important point with
regard to the construction of this Act of Parliament. I
should submit that it was not that one inspector is to find
another inspector’s measure incorrect.

The Assistant Judge : Then still better the position of
this gentleman. I am putting an interpretation on the
word “ found ” which would be less favourable to him.
It may be Mr. Besley may say, “ Oh, no ; you must have
it found by a competent Court.” I am putting it in the
most unfavourable way to the appellant, that is to say, I
suppose that the word “ found ” in the statute would be
satisfied, on an inspector or competent person saying it is
so, and giving notice. But If that is not the right con¬
struction, then where is this conviction ?

Mr. Poland : Pardon me, my lord, one inspector cannot
find that another inspector’s weight or measure is
wrong.

The Assistant Judge : He can seize the weights.

Mr. Poland : What is the machinery for finding ?
Found by whom ?

The Assistant Judge : Did the magistrates find it to be
a false measure ?

Mr. Poland : Certainly.

The Assistant Judge : Then it is not a false measure
until they find it so. And there is no offence for using
it until it had been so found.

Mr. Poland : They can only find it .to be a false
measure by convicting the man. There is no machinery
under the Act to say they are to try an issue ; just con¬
sider this. This is really a most important matter. Primd
facie it is a legal measure. This section says that a
weight or measure duly stamped by an inspector under
this Act shall be a legal weight or measure throughout
the United Kingdom unless found to be false or unjust.

The Assistant Judge : Who do you say is to find it, a
public tribunal such as a magistrate sitting in Petty
Sessions ? I want to know how you say that word ought
to be construed, because I assume it ought to be con¬
strued for the purpose of argument in the most unfavour¬
able way to the appellant. Put it in the other way, he is
in a still better position. Do you say it ought to be found
by the magistrates ?

Mr. Poland: Not at all, my lord. Primd facie it is a
legal measure, but if the local tribunal finds it is a false
measure it ceases to be a legal measure. That can only
be found by convicting a man of using an illegal measure.

The Assistant Judge : Oh, no : By convicting him then
and fining him they would really be fining him for using
that which the statute says was to be a legal measure
until they had found it to be otherwise.

Mr. Poland : How are they to find it ? Then they say
we dismiss this summons. What is the finding — what is
the machinery ?

The Assistant Judge : It may be a novel proceeding.

Mr. Poland : Of course, in working this Act of Parlia¬
ment the inspectors go to the Petty Sessions and are now
before this Court. It is most important, of course, that

658 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 5, 18814

the true construction of the Act should be ascertained,
and that there should be good sense given to the Act,
and it may be shown to be, as it probably is, workable.
Now, my lord, where is the machinery ? It does not say
that the weights and measuies are to be seized and that
then they are to be taken before the justices, who are to
determine whether they are false or unjust, and that if
they are false or unjust they are to cease to be be legal
weights and measures. There is no machinery, as your
lordship sees, by the Act for the Petty Sessions except on
hearing a summons ; there is no machinery for this Court
except an appeal ; there is no machinery for the Board of
Trade. He finds them unjust and he seizes them. Then
his duty is to proceed against the man. The section
says : — “ That a weight or measure duly stamped under
this Act shall be a legal weight or measure throughout
the United Kingdom.” That means out of the district
of the inspe ctor who marked it, unless where it is found
— where it is in fact found to be false or unjust.

A Magistrate : The inspector marks by his mark weights
and measures, which at that time are false or unjust.
You are assuming now they are false and unjust before
they are found to be so.

Mr. Poland : He has marked a measure which is in
fact, if I am right, false and unjust. Now, then, it is
found to be false and unjust; and then it goes on : “And
shall not be liable to be restamped because used in any
place other than that in which it was originally stamped.”

The Assistant Judge : You see it says, “ unless found,”
which clearly means, unless afterwards found. It seems
to me that what fell from me would possibly have more
force if the word had been “until” and not “ unless,” but
the word is “ unless ” found. But it is clear that the
finding must be subsequent, because it refers to the finding
as to the justice or falsehood of a weight previously
issued. Therefore, the statute clearly contemplates a
subsequent finding. But then it says that the weight
issued by an inspector shall be a legal weight unless found
to be false or unjust. That must mean unless afterwards
found. Do you contend that although it was a legal
weight until it 'was found to be unjust, and afterwards
found, that such finding has a retrospective operation and
that making use of it before, antecedently, is an offence
under the section ?

Mr. Poland : I am going to say that, my lord. Let
me say this word in addition.

The Assistant Judge: I am only throwing out an
opinion.

Mr. Poland : This Act is new to me, and I have no
desire here except to try and get at the real legal merits of
the case. Let me read the 48th section: — '“Every
inspector under this Act authorized in writing under
the hand of a justice of the peace, and also every justice
of the peace, may at all reasonable times inspect all
weights and measures, scales, balances, steelyards, and
weighing machines, within his jurisdiction, which- are
used or in the possession of any person or on any premises
for use for trade, and may compare every such weight
and measure with some local standard, and may seize and
detain any weight, measure, scale, balance, or steelyard,
which is liable to be forfeited in pursuance of this Act,
and may for the purpose of such inspection enter any
place, whether a building or in the open air, whether open
or enclosed, where he has reasonable cause to believe that
there is any weight, measure, etc., which he is authorized
by this Act to inspect. And any person' who neglects,
or refuses to produce, for such inspector, all weights,
measures, etc., in his possession or on his premises, or
otherwise obstructs or hinders a justice or inspector
acting under this section, shall be liable to a penalty not
exceeding £5, or in the case of a second offence £10.”
Now then, therefore, the things are seized. They are
found not to be legal measures in fact, and then, if they
are found not to be legal measures in fact, under section
25, he is liable to a penalty.

The Assistant J udge : Who is to find them ?

Mr. Poland : The magistrate, my lord.

The Assistant Judge: Then there is no offence “un¬
less found to be false or unjust.” It says, “ shall be a
legal weight unless found to be false or unjust.”

Mr. Poland : They are found — of course, legally found
— when the inspector has taken possession of them, and
they are liable to be forfeited. That is to be the issue
tried before the Petty Sessions. Then comes in section 25,
which says that the person who has in his possession,,
that is, the inspector has found them in his possession
and has taken possession of them because they appear to
him under section 48 to be unjust, he has found them,
for that purpose, by comparison with the standard mea¬
sures to be false and unjust.

The Assistant Judge : Mr. Poland, we must put a
reasons b’e construction on this clause in the Act of
Parliament, which is for the protection of the trader. It
is a clause clearly devised for the protection' of the trader
under circumstances where it may be somewhat difficult
for him to comply with the requirements of this statute.
Could the statute have said more if it had been dealing,
with a measure made by anybody until it was found to
be unjust ? A man might continue to use it, but at his
peril ; but surely this section shows that the intention
was to deal with official weights and official measures.
It says an official measure shall be deemed to be a legal
measure unless found to be unjust. Surely that throws
upon you the necessity of showing that before this gentle-
mon incurred the penalties for using this measure, it had
been found to be unjust.

Mr. Poland : I should say not, for this reason, that,
under section 48 the inspector by comparison says that
they are liable to be forfeited:

(The learned Judge here consulted with the Magis¬
trates).

Mr. Poland: Will you allow me to finish what I was

saying ?

The Assistant Judge : Certainly.

Mr. Poland : Just see how it works, because you see
when the inspector has compared the measure with the
legal standard he is to detain it because it is liable to be
forfeited in pursuance with the Act. Now what has to
be done ? This chemist says, “ My measure is perfectly
just.” The man says, “No.” The inspector says, “I
have condemned it; I say it is unjust.” What is to be
done then ? That is not a finding as a finding to deter¬
mine the question of fact. That is one man saying one
thing and the inspector saying another. Then section 25
points out how that is to be done. Thus the forfeiture
operates on the magistrate finding as a question of fact,,
when the man is summoned before him, that it is fake or
unjust, because that section says, following the exact
words of section 48, if they are found at the trader’s
place or used by him they are in his possession for the
purposes of use. Then, “ every person who has in his
possession, that which is found to be in his possession by

the inspector, as ” - as what ? That which is found

to be false or unjust, which is in fact false and unjust,
that which is a legal measure certified by a legal
inspector at York or elsewhere? “Every person who
uses or has in his possession for use for trade any weight,
measure or scale, etc., which is false or unjust shall
be liable to a fine not exceeding £5, or in the case of a
second offence £10, and any contract bargain or sale or
dealing made by the same shall be void.” That is to be
determined by the magistrate, and the weight, measure,
balance, or steelyard shall be liable to be forfeited.

The Assistant Judge: You must observe this. Ac¬
cording to what you say now, its meaning is, if the words
had been instead of these which we find, “ unless found
to be false or unjust,” simply, “if it be an accurate
measure.” Now just observe what you are bringing it to.
This is what you say. It is not a legal measure because
it was an inaccurate measure. Therefore the statute, to
carry out its intention, according to your view of its
intention, would have said if it be an accurate weight

February 5, 1881.1 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

659

or measure duly stamped, and so on, it shall he a
legal weight. Then it would be sufficient for you to
show that it was not an accurate measure. But it
is very differently phrased: “a weight or measure,”
whether correct or not — it does not say “ a weight or
measure duly stamped by an inspector under this Act
shall be a legal weight or measure throughout the United
Kingdom,” but then it goes on, “ unless found to be
false or unjust.” The words are not “ unless they prove
it to be inaccurate.” The words are “ unless found to be
false or unjust.” And do not the preceding words point to
an inaccurate measure ?

Mr. Poland : The reason is this, that all these weights
and measures are bound to be marked, but that is only to
make it a legal measure throughout the United King¬
dom. It is not to make it absolutely a legal measure, to
make it a conclusively legal measure by a person
using it.

The Assistant Judge : If the measure was not to be
stamped by the inspector for the purpose of the trades¬
man, if he were to be brought within the reach of the
penaltirs for an alleged offence of this kind, what is the
use of having a measure stamped at all by an inspector ?
It would be a mere trap for the tradesman.

A Magistrate : I can understand weights and measures
becoming false or unjust by reason of use, weather, and
so on. . But in the case of measures that do not alter in
their dimensions -by use, as in the case of these glass
measures, you are assuming in this case, it is false and
unjust at the time the inspector marked it with his
approval ; therefore he did stamp a false or unjust mea¬
sure.

Mr. Poland : And, my lord, if you really come to look
at section 48, he is to inspect all weights and measures.
They must be stamped- Then this section 45 is only for
the purpose of making primd facie a stamped measure
when it is stamped out of the jurisdiction of the person
using it, a stamped measure which is of good force in
London, as if it had been stamped in London. To illus¬
trate this case, this measure is stamped at York. They
might say, “Oh, what have we to do with the York stamp
in London ?” But the section says if it is stamped at York
it is nevertheless to be a legal measure throughout the
United Kingdom unless found to be false or unjust.

The Assistant Judge: To put it thus, the inspector
may have issued it and, nevertheless, the obligation is
upon the purchaser ; the user is to take care that what
he has bought of the inspector is accurate.

Mr. Poland: Yes.

The Assistant Judge: It is still on him, if it be not
accurate, then, he is liable to penalties.

Mr. Besley: Section 49 takes away the obligation.
There is the remedy. An inspector who does happen
accidentally to put his mark on what is wrong is liable
to the penalty.

The Assistant Judge : I cannot but think it impro¬
bable that the Legislature, using those words, making a
measure issued by an inspector, although a legal in¬
spector, a valid measure throughout the United King¬
dom, unless found to be otherwise, do not merely mean
to say a valid measure if it be accurate. That is what
you reduce the section to. If it be accurate per se, then
it is valid. But the words are very different, “ unless
found to be otherwise.” There is nothing in this case,
if I followed your opening correctly, to show that when
this gen leman was first charged it had been found to be
unjust. It was not until the inspector, in discharge of
his duty, — nobody reflects - on him — brought it to his
knowledge as inaccurate.

Mr. Poland : The measure might have a false mark
put on to it after it was issued.

The Assistant Judge : I am presupposing the fact that
it was properly marked.

Mr. Poland: We are dealing here with a question,
which is a very important question. I really submit
when you come to consider the Act of Parliament, I need

not say, with great respect, tliat it is not open to the
doubt that has been started on this point. You have
given the fact that these weights and measui'es may be
stamped in different parts of the country by local in¬
spectors, and it may fairly be said that a measure stamped
at York is not to be deemed to be a legal measure in
London ; but then the section says, and it is obvious that
is the meaning of it, not only by the marginal note, but
by the plain words : — A measure duly stamped by an
inspector under this Act shall be a legal measure through¬
out the United Kingdom. What was that put in there
for, but simply to say that a measure which is duly
stamped shall be a legal measure throughout the United
Kingdom for every purpose ?

The Assistant Judge : The words are arguable.

Mr. Poland : It must be clear that that is the meaning
of it, “ shall not be liable to be restamped because used
in any place other than that in which it was originally
stamped.” Is not that section perfectly clear that the
stamped measure, stamped by a local inspector, is to be
deemed to be not an illegal measure when used in London,
because it has not got the London inspector’s stamp on it,
unless it is found to be a false or unjust measure ? Is
not that obviously the meaning of that section, that it is
to be deemed to be a legal measure, notwithstanding that
being used in London it has not the stamp of a London
inspector?

The Assistant Judge: You cannot cut out these words,
“unless found to be unjust or false.”

Mr. Poland : That is a proviso that it is to be a legal
measure, that a measure stamped at York is to be a legal
measure iu London, although not stamped by the London
inspector, unless in fact it is a false measure.

The As. istant Judge: Then, as I say, your contention
is, that the buyer and user of such a stamped official
measure must himself take care that it is accurate.
There still remains tha obligation on him to take care
that he is supplied by the official with an accurate mea¬
sure. Early in the course of this argument I suggested
that what I thought was the right construction would be
clearer if the word “until” had been used, and not the
word “unless.” But here it is, “unless” — “unless
found.” You say this has been found, and having been
found, the statute means that the measure was always —
this appellant was always using an illegal measure, and
therefore he is punishable for the antecedent use of it,
the use of it before it was found.

Mr. Poland : In this particular case ?

The Assistant Judge: That may be the strict inter¬
pretation of the words.

Mr. Poland : May I add this ? The question does not
arise in this case, which would be a very different one, I
submit. If this gentleman was using one of his own
inspector’s marked measures, he would say, “That was
delivered out to me by one of your own inspectors,” and
practically that might prevent his being convicted. But
he is using here in London a measure of an inspector,
marked at York.

The Assistant Judge : What do you say with regard to
the particular locality of York ? Would it have been a
legal measure, having the official stamp, in York ? Do
you say this section is merely applicable to the use of a
locally stamped measure beyond the locality ?

Mr. Poland: I should think so. But still it is a more
difficult question than this, because this one, it seems to me,
when you come to consider it, was put in for the purpose
of saying that you need not have the measure stamped in
one place stamped again when used in another. It shall
be deemed to be a legal measure unless it is in fact not a
legal measure.

The Assistant Judge: That is to say, it amounts to
this. If it had been “ until ” there would have been far
more in what I think is the right construction of the
statute, but it is “unless found.” You say that has no
more meaning than this, that thig was a legal measure,
and was to be deemed such unless it were found not so;

660

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 5, 1881.

then it has been found. We understand your argu¬
ment.

Mr. Poland : Then I think, my lord, it all works satis¬
factorily. The inspector says, I find in your shop a mea¬
sure which is stamped by the York inspector, I compare
it with my local standard, which I have to work by, and
I am sorry to say that I find this measure is liable, in my
judgment, to be forfeited. I must seize it and detain it
in order that the local authority may determine whether
or not it is liable to be forfeited in pursuance of this Act.
Then that being so, the inspector has got it, and it is
liable to be forfeited under the Act, or not liable to be
forfeited under the Act. How is it to be forfeited under
the Act ? The inspector says, I look at section 25, and I
find in your possession for use for trade a measure which
is false or unjust. I therefore charge you with that
before the magistrates, and I ask the magistrates to
determine whether this measure is false or unjust, and
whether it is not right and proper ; that my seizure was
legal, and that it is liable to be forfeited. Then, my
lord, it seems to me you make good sense of the Act in
that way, and that it may well be that the justices said
in a case of this kind, if this gentleman was using a
stamped measure in good faith, they would fine him Qcl.,
or lcZ., — a nominal fine, but he must not go on. Because
if the magistrates acquitted him on this charge these
measures are returned to him, and are not forfeited, and
he goes on using these same weights and measures.

The Assistant Judge : Very different questions would
arise if the magistrates in the course of the litigation
expressed their finding to the effect that it was a false or
unjust measure ; his subsequent use of it would place him
in a very different position to that in which he stood
where he first went before them, because then there
would be a finding by a competent tribunal that it is an
erroneous measure.

Mr. Besley: There is no forfeiture until the second
offence.

The Assistant Judge : Is there not a forfeiture until
the second conviction ?

Mr. Poland : I do not know that.

Mr. Besley : Read the 25th section.

Mr. Poland : My friend has started a fresh hare now.
The words are, “Or in case of a second offence £10,” that
applies to that — “and any contract, bargain, sale or
dealing made by the same.” ' By the same what ?

Mr. Besley : By the same person.

Mr. Poland: Made by the same false weight or
measure. So that if it is a contract made by a false
weight it should be void, by the first conviction.

Mr. Besley : It is made by the same person. A mea¬
sure does not make a contract.

Mr. Poland : A person may make a contract by a false
measure. My friend does not appreciate the argument.
It shall be void. Why void ? Because you have made a
bargain by weights and measures which are false. That
is void. “ And the weight, measure, scale, etc.,” that is,
by which the same was done, “ shall be liable to be
forfeited.” So that it is quite obvious there is a forfeiture,
and the contract is void when made by false weights and
measures, that is, weights and measures which are false or
unjust, the penalty being £5 in one case, and £10 in the
other. It is not a novel mode of legislating.

The Assistant Judge : This is so doubtful a matter that
I think we must proceed with it. Certainly the section
is deserving of our very careful attention.

Mr. Poland : It is not any new mode of legislating.
Persons are liable to be indicted for receiving persons
who are lunatics, when they did not know they were
lunatics. There is a reported case, which says that it is
the duty of a person who carries on a business for profit,
it may be they are acting in perfect good faith, but if
they do an illegal act, for the protection of the public
they are punishable for committing a legal offence,
although the case ma/be met by a fine of 6d. or Id. or
£10. I think your lordship will see on really considering

these sections; that I have put the true view before the
Court. If it were- not so, it would be so difficult to know
what was to be done. I must really apologize for so
pertinaciously arguing it ; but it is so important a case
to have settled by this Court after full consideration, so
that all the London inspectors, and country inspectors as
well, may know what to do.

Mr. Besley: Will the Bench allow me to say a word?
My friend has omitted to call attention to the machinery
of the Act of Parliament. The machinery is this. That
first there shall be local standards made, and you will
find that the inspector who marks is protected by the
40th and 41st sections with regard to the provision and
verification of the standards from which he starts.
There is a provision that the local authorities shall
provide local standards for purposes of comparison by
way of verification and inspection. The 41st provides
that “a local standard of weight should not be deemed
legal nor used for the purposes of this Act unless it has
been verified or rectified within five, years before the
time at which it is used.” So that we begin with, the
person who marks — the inspector is protected by a
machinery that he may take it for granted that what he
uses as a standard, if it has been verified within five
years, is the measure by which his conduct is to be
viewed. Then comes the inspector, and the inspector
is bound by comparison with that standard to mark
only those vessels which are in accordance with the
standard. And if the inspector is guilty of any negli¬
gence in respect of the comparison of the vessel he
marked with the standard, he himself is liable to a
penalty. Then we come to the person using, and then
we have this condition of things, that whereas the
statute says distinctly, now you may rely upon it that
whilst a measure which has the mark of an inspector
upon it, as the inspector himself has been protected by
reference to the local standard, which is to be looked
to every five years, the user is protected in this Act by
the mark being put upon it, and he is protected by that
mark on it, unless it is found out to be false or unjust.
There is another penalty on any person who manufactures
a measure and puts on a false mark of an inspector, he
makes a false measure, and there is a penalty for that.
But when you have this state of things, that the vessel
has got the mark of the inspector on it, and he has acted
bond fide, he is protected if he has gone by a local
standard, however erroneous it may be, so long as it has
been verified within five years. Now you are asked to
say that a man has been rightly convicted of an offence,
who is admitted to be acting bond fide, with a bond fide
measure with a mark upon it. Why, if an inspector had
put a mark which he ought not to have put on, he might
be fined £5 or £10, or if this is not a bond fide mark then
the glass people might have been fined £5 or £10. So
that you are really taking the person who is most innocent
in the matter, who is using the measure, and saying that
this gentleman is to suspect of not putting on ‘the mark
properly ; that he is to suspect him of not having
compared the measure properly with the standard, which
he is bound to do. I submit, therefore, that the limited
meaning which my friend put on the wording cannot be
the true meaning.

The Assistant Judge : It comes to this, taking into
consideration these various sections of the Act of Parlia¬
ment, which regulate the conduct of the local inspector,
here is the inspector subject in the event of his neglecting
the obligation thrown upon him by the statute, subject to
penalties ; but if he acts bond fide, and if according to the
standards by which he has to construct these measures, or
he takes other measures and compares them before he
stamps them with the standard, and the results of the
comparison are such as to warrant his issuing these mea¬
sures, he is to be free from blame, and not amenable to
punishment. And if it is also to be said that they being
really inaccurate measures, five thousand persons to whom
he may send them, or who may rely on the stamp, are

ebrumy 5, 18S1.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

661

nevertheless to be subject to penalties. What a position
is the trader put in! Now is the man who should be the
more responsible party actually free from punishment, and
those who may have received measures bearing his mark
upon them, believing them to be accurate measures, and
using them as such, liable to penalties, and any number
of persons. Surely we must look at the whole machinery
of this Act of Parliament and see what the duty of the
inspector was, and see how far the Legislature intended
that persons who obtain their measures bearing the official
mark of an inspector should be deemed to have acted in
such a way as to bring themselves within the penalties
. of the Act, although such measures may be in fact in¬
accurate.

Mr. Poland: As traders they get the -benefit of the
false or unjust measures, whatever it may be.

Mr. Besley : Not in this case.

The Assistant Judge: The more responsible person,
who is the inspector who may have issued the measure,
is to escape, and the purchaser from him of the measure
with the official mark upon it, who uses it, believing it
to be accurate, is to be subject to penalties.

Mr. Besley: Would it not be much better to take the
view which the Court is, I think, inclined to take, that
unless found, as my friend says, in a court of justice, to
be wrong, or it may be found by the inspector, the user is
not liable.

The Assistant Judge : I foresee that we shall have to
state a case on one or more points for the consideration
of the Court above. It may be we had better proceed
to hear such further evidence as w£ may have on the

facts.

Mr. Poland: Section 49 says that an inspector is
liable who stamps a measure in contravention of the
' Act, or without duly verifying the same by comparison
with the local standard.

The Assistant Judge: Then was the inspector liable
who issued this ? Assuming this to be a duly issued
measure by the operations of the inspector, do you go so
far as to say that the issuing of this inaccurate measure
by the inspector subjected him to penalties under the
Act?

Mr. Poland : Section 42 appears to deal with this : —
“ If an inspector under this Act stamps a weight or
measure in contravention of any provision of this Act, or
without duly verifying the same by comparison with a
local standard, or is guilty of a breach of duty imposed
on him by this Act, or otherwise misconducts himself in
the execution of his office, he shall be liable to a fine not
exceeding £10 for each offence.”

The Assistant Judge : Do you say that in this case he
has been guilty of one or ‘other of the offences specified
by that 49th section.

Mr. Poland : I think so, my lord.

The Assistant Judge : You think he has ?

Mr. Poland : I think he has.

The Assistant Judge : Then this gentleman has been
so unfortunate as to fall into the hands of an inspector
who has Neglected his duty, and in contravention thereof
issued a false measure.

Mr. Poland : There might be great difficulty in proving
whether the measure was in the same state as when it
came from the hands of the inspector. The Act deals
with the case as it exists. It is found in a trader’s shop,
and the duty is thrown upon him of seeing that it is
correct. The penalty may be, as I have said, lcZ.
or £10.

The Assistant Judge: Behind all this there remains
the question whether you can find a man guilty of an
infringement of an Act of Parliament, and subjecting
himself to a penalty, unless you show he has the mens rea
at the time.

Mr. Poland : I should submit it is clear in this Acj.
that it is a breach of duty!; it is not mens rea.

The Assistant Judge : I cannot see where his breach
of duty was if he purchased a measure bearing the stamp

of the inspector, which the statute says is to be a valid
measure throughout the whole kingdom . I want to know
what duty he has broken. I have not heard one word
in this case to show that the appellant, Mr. Whittle, has
failed in any duty whatever.

Mr. Poland : I do not want to argue it over again.
The section is clear, it is found in his possession.

Mr. Besley : That does not prove the mens rea.

Mr. Poland : There is nothing in the Act about mens
rea.

•

Mr. Besley : The Courts say you are not to make a man
a criminal without it.

The Assistant Judge : Then there are the words,
“ false or unjust.” They are words we may have a great
difference of opinion upon. You may say “ false ” means
merely inaccurate, not correct. Mr. Besley may contend
that the word “false” is something more than inaccurate,
otherwise the statute would have said inaccurate ; that it
means false with the sense of fraudulent.

Mr. Poland : I should have said, my lord, that false
means untrue. It does not say knowingly false.

The Assistant Judge : “ False or unjust ” are the
words in this statute. It is true Mr. Poland may say
that the word “ false ” is to be construed as if it were
“ inaccurate,” “ not correct.”

Mr. Poland : Yes.

The Assistant Judge : Mr. Besley, by the word “un¬
just ” being used, would contend that “ false ” means
false in the sense of fraudulent, not merely inaccurate.
And how can it be deemed false in that sense? How
can this gentleman be supposed to have regarded it as
false, when he bought it with the official stamp of the in¬
spector upon it ?

Mr. Poland , That would be practically repealing the
section altogether. It is the same for everybody.

The Assistant Judge : Well, we must proceed.

Mr. Peter Harland McIntyre sworn. Examined by

Mr. Mead.

You are a manufacturer of graduated glass measures ?
—Yes.

You live at 30, Kirby Street, Hatton Garden; you
are a medical glass engraver ? — Yes.

You work for numerous firms of druggists’ sundrymen
in the metropolis ? — London and the Provinces.

Including Hanbury and Son, Sanger and Son, and less
firms ? — Some of the best firms.

Do you have to mark similar measures to these ? — Yes;
precisely the same class of measures as these.

Conical and cylindrical ?— Yes, precisely.

How do you mark these, by what process do you
measure them ? — The measure is put on a level board;
we have a little pipette when measuring these glass
things, which shows 5 minims fluid is put in the measure,
and a solution of gum and vermilion.

The Assistant Judge: What is the object of this
evidence ? You are calling one manufacturer to show
how he manufactures.

Mr. Poland : My friend cross-examined Dr. Blyth as
to whether it was possible to make these accurate. I
am going to show that with ordinary common care in the
trade this is not a defect that cannot be remedied.

The Assistant Judge : What is the use of the official
mark if it is to have no effect whatever ? Why should
the Act have prescribed official marks if traders cannot
rely on them ?

Mr. Poland : If a local authority appoints an incom¬
petent inspector, the public are not to suffer by that.

The Assistant Judge : Then let there be inspection of
all these things, and if they are used after that time, let
the user be subject to penalties.

Mr. Poland : My lord, this evidence is for the purpose
of showing that there is no practical difficulty in marking
conical and cylindrical glasses of that description.

The Assistant Judge: Accurately to the standard?

Mr. Poland : By the pipette, within of course, as you
will hear, a very slight deviation from real accuracy.

662 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 5, 1881.

Examination continued.

Mr. Mead : Within what do you say it is possible to
mark them ? — A one-drachm and all measures like that,
with proper care, you ought to mark it practically correct.
Occasionally an error might creep in, say half a minim,
but as a rule I should say it was practicable to mark
correctly.

To half a minim ? — In a drachm.

You would mark a conical one in the same way ? — Of
course a little more care would have to be used in the
conical, because the lines come closer to together, the
sight line would be a little more difficult to distinguish.
You adjust that, however, in every case. They could be
much better graduated than these, because with the naked
eye you can see these are inaccurate, being a taper
measure the 15 ought to stand closer to the 20, instead of
that it stands nearer the 10, showing an interval of about
3 ; then the top of the line shows an interval of about 7.

As you progress towards the top the intervals ought to
be less, because it is wider at the top, and allows more
volume between each ? — Yes, exactly so.

Have you made any difference since the Act has been
passed in your mode of marking ? — The only difference
we make is this. Before the Act passed, the few next
the bottom we used to measure, up to the second line,
and then to guess the intermediate lines all the way up.
If we were marking a 1- drachm tall measure we should
put in 5 drops, then 5 more would make 10, then drop in
10 more and guess the 15 line; but since the Act came
in, for tested measures each one has to be measured.

Mr. Poland : Do you charge more ? — A little.

Cross-examined by Mr. Besley.

Where is the glass factory where the glass measures
are made for you? — Some iu Yorkshire; some in Bir¬
mingham ; some in Stourbridge.

You are not the maker of the glass ?— We do all the
work that there is on it; there is no firm that is the
actual maker of the glass.

You buy your glass vessels ? — Yes.

Some from the York Glass Company ? — No ; we do
not do with the York Glass Company.

You mark them after they come to you ? — Yes.

Are you provided with a pipette ?— Here ?

Are you when you mark them ? — Everything is mea¬
sured with a pipette.

Not by weight at all, by volume only ? — Yes.

Have you ever compared your pipette with the stan¬
dard ? — We have only compared it thus far, that we know
the measures we send out pass the standard.

The inspector passes them ? — Different inspectors, not
one inspector only ; I am speaking of various inspectors
in London and the provinces as well.

That is the sole knowledge you have about the accu¬
racy of your marking ? — Decidedly.

Mr. Poland : The value of this evidence, my lord, is in
not merely selecting one witness. We have three or four,
but it will only be a word or two from each.

Mr. Thomas Tucker, sworn, examined by Mr. Mead.

You are a glass engraver? — I am.

And you supply different firms of druggists’ sundrymen
with glass apparatus and measures ? — They send me the
glass and I graduate it.

Is there any difficulty in accurately marking -measures
of that sort ? — None whatever, that I see.

You measure each graduation, I suppose, with a
pipette ? — I do. ,

The Assistant Judge : There is no difficulty in accu¬
rately marking apothecaries’ measures of this kind ? —
No.

Mr. Mead : Within what proportion of a minim ? — I
may endorse the previous witness’s opinion.

The Assistant Judge : According to the pipettes of the
Board of Trade.

Mr. Besley : He does not use them, I suppose.

Mr. Mead: You use pipettes ? — Yes.

Mr . Besley : But not issued by the Board of Trade.

Mr. Mead : Within what proportion of a minim can you
mark ? — I should say they could be done, as the previous
witness has stated within about \ a minim on the 60.

Cross-examined by Mr. Besley.

Half a minim on the 60 ? — I should think so.

You do not pretend to say that they are absolutely
accurate? — Well, they pass the standard of inspectors.

The inspector after you have graduated them — he
marks them ? — Yes.

That is your test of accuracy, that the inspector,
coming after you, marks what you havtf graduated ? —
Just so ; we presume they are correct after they pass
through his hands.

Y ou presume they are correct ; that is why you say it is
so easy ? — Yes.

How do you mark them, with a rotatory wheel ? — We
graduate them with a pipette, and mark them with a
pen, with whitening and gum water, the consistency
of ink.

Do you put a transparent covering to the glass ?— No ;

I do not use that. I do not understand that at all.

Have you ever had an inspector at your place .when
you have been marking your graduations ? — No.

Re-examined by Mr. Poland.

Do those appear to have been carefully done ? — No ; I
should say this one, No. 1, is very carelessly done.

A Magistrate : Does the Government inspector make
any charge for marking? — Yes.

The Assistant Judge: We must take the facts.

Mr. Besley : I shall object to his opinion about the .
marking, after we have had evidence of the actual facts.
Mr. Frederick France, sworn, examined by Mr. Poland.

You live at 13, Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell; are you
a glass engraver ? — Yes.

And have been so for more than forty years ?— Yes.

Have you been accustomed to mark measures for drug¬
gists ? — Yes ; and all experimental purposes.

Just look at those conical and cylindrical glasses. Can
you mark glasses of that description accurately or not ? —
Positively accurately.

In what way do you mark them ? — By pipette or by
weight, according as might be requisite.

The Assistant Judge : This is a novel kind of evidence.
It is evidence for the purpose of satisfying the Court
that the defendant is fined for not doing that which is
possible. Assuming that the argument on the other side
will be that the party is fined for not doing that which is
impossible to be done, you are calling witnesses for the
purpose of showing that this gentleman is punished for
not having done that, which is possible.

Mr. Poland : That it is within the Act.

The Assistant J udge : I never heard such evidence in
a court of justice.

Mr. Poland : That it is not a matter extremely difficult
to be done, but in the ordinary exigencies of trade it
can be done with reasonable care.

The Assistant Judge: It presupposes that the Court
will hesitate to convict this man lest it should be con¬
victing him for not doing that which is physically
impossible. That is what is amounts to. You are calling
witnesses into the box to show that accurate measures
can be made, and that this gentleman ought not to have
escaped punishment because it is impossible to make
accurate measures; because they say, we can make
accurate measures. I never heard evidence of that kind.

Mr. Poland : No objection was raised to it. It was
made evidence by my friend’s cross-examination.

Mr. Besley : I do not object, my lord.

Mr. Poland : I understood from .my friend's cross-
examination of Dr. Blyth that he contended it was next
to an impossibility.

.The Assistant Judge: You anticipate the defence.

Mr. Poland : It was raised by the cross-examination of
Dr. Blyth. This is the last witness, I am happy to say.

You say these glasses can be marked either by the
pipette, or by weight, according as they are required ?—

February 5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

663

Yes; and I may say almost positively correct ; in fact
by weight, positively.

By weight they could be made positively correct ? — I
make standards of all classes for medical men.

By the pipette, accurate within what ? — Within the
fraction of a grain or a drop.

Do you make the standards for the Board of. Trade ?—
Not direct for the Board of Trade ; but I believe most
of the standards of the inspectors which are used, both
in town and country, were my making.

Cross-examined by Mr. Besley.

You mark pipettes ? — I mean the standards they have
to pass.

You mark pipettes ? — Yes.

You do not make the glass ? — No.

You disagree with the evidence of the two previous
gentlemen who said that you could not do it within \
minim of 60 ?— No; I do not disagree.

You have sworn you could do it positively correct? —
Within a fraction.

Within what ; what do you call a fraction ? — A tenth
of a gram, or something as minute as that.

Within a minim on 60 do you mean ? — Oh, yes ; less
than a minim in 60.

Less than ^ a minim ; did you hear the last two
gentlemen say it was not possible within ^ a minim ?

Mr. Poland: No, they said it could be done.

Mr. Besley : Do you say so ? — I say I could do it.

What do you weigh with? — With distilled water at
the proper temperature.

Do you really mean to say you marked these things by
weighing ? — Many of them.

What do you charge when you mark by weight ? —
Various prices.

Do you charge more for marking by weight than by
volume ? — Certainly. •

How much more? — That all depends upon what the
article is; whether it is for a standard or for a simple article.

What do you charge when you mark by weight ? — I do
not think it is a fair question, that I should state my
charges.

Mr. Poland : That is the case, my lord.

The . Assistant J udge : It is open to you to make
admissions, and I take it, knowing your usual practice,
you will at once readily admit what is really uncontested.
May we take it as admitted by you, that in this case
these measures alleged to be inaccurate were issued by
the Government inspector and bore his mark ?

Mr. Poland: No, my lord; not a Government in¬
spector, a local inspector, appointed, I suppose, by the
Corporation of York. At least, I believe my friend will
prove that.

I he Assistant Judge: A local inspector appointed
under the Act ?

Mr. Poland : I have no legal knowledge, but I believe
my friend has witnesses to prove it. It is very likely it
is so.

Mr. Besley: That is your case at present ?

Mr. Poland : Yes.

The Assistant J udge : Before you address us, we
should like you to give us evidence of that, Mr. Besley.

Mr. Besley : I will call the man himself.

The Assistant J udge : Confine your evidence simply
to that point.

Mr. Besley: Yes, my lord.

Mr Thomas Calvert sworn. Examined by Mr. Besley.

You live at York ? — I do.

Have you for many years been inspector of weights
and measures for the city of York ? — Yes.

How many years ? — Forty.

The Assistant J udge : Are you reappointed every
year. Have you been appointed under the Act of 1878 ?
— Yes.

You are appointed annually ? — No, my lord.

You have been appointed under this Act, however ? —
Yes.

Mr. Besley: Are those four measures before you.
measures which you have first tested and then marked ?

(The witness examined them).

The Assistant J udge : Do they bear your marks to
begin with ? — They do.

It is called a stamp ? — Yes, my lord.

Those four measures bear your stamp, each of them ? _

Each of them.

Mr. Besley: Before you put on your mark, did you
test them in the ordinary way ? — I did.

. By the pipette, the Board of Trade Standard ?— By the
pipette, the Board of Trade standard.

Was that according to each graduation ? — It was.

When you find any of the glasses manufactured by the
York Glass Company, Limited, in anyway inaccurate, do
you reject them ? — I do.

, How do you reject them ? — I put a little scratch on the
line that I find fault with, and put the measure away.

When you find that the measures will not pass, you
put your diamond through a portion of the mark, and
throw it aside ? — Certainly.

And do not mark it ? — Certainly not.

You take every care you can, and as you think pro¬
perly ? — I do.

Cross-examined by Mr. Poland.

How long did you say you have been inspector of
weights and measures? — I was first appointed in
January, 1841.

You have been inspector to the corporation of York of
weights and measures since January, 1841 ? — Yes.

When this Act passed you remained on, did you? _ -

No ; there have been two or three Acts of Parliament
since that time. There were reappointments.

You have been reappointed? — Yes.

You were reappointed under this Act?— Yes.

When did you first test a measure of that kind? Just
hold up a conical one — After I received the copy of the
Board of Trade standard measutes, I believe in June.

June in the year before last? — June, 1880.

The first time you ever tested a glass of that kind was
in June last, is that so? — Yes.

You first began to test these delicate glass measures in
June last year, is that so? — Yes.

Who instructed you how to test them? — I do not
believe there was any instruction to any inspector.
I got none.

Did you get a spirit level to take care they were
standing perfectly level?— I did.

What else did you do?— I got a block and levelled it,
and put these on it.

Then what did you do? — Then I took a pipette.

And' tried it with the eye ? — Yes.

What water ? — With — not distilled water ; it stood at

62° F.

You find it rather difficult, do you not, with your
previous experience to mark those conical measures ? — I
have not to mark them.

You only check them ? — I compare the measure, and
if I find it correct, I put the mark on that is on the top.
I have nothing to do with graduating the marks.

The Glass Company do that themselves ? — They do.

You check them ? — Yes.

Have you marked them “York : ” that is put on by the
Company is it not ? — Partly so.

Now tell me what is your fee for marking for the York
Glass Company ; how much each ? — The fee I receive on
the part of the corporation.

What do the Glass Company pay ?

Mr. Besley : Is that in issue ? — I was stopped when I
was asking a previous witness.

The. Assistant J udge : Go on, Mr. Poland.

Mr. Poland : What fee does the company pay ? — They
pay Is. a dozen.

You have to test them, and you get Is. a dozm, &nd
you account for it to the corporation. That is so, is it ? —
Yes.

664

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 5, 1881.

The Assistant Judge : Here is a measurement
required to be performed with the most scrupulous
accuracy, with the assistance of the finest instruments,
and here is the public officer, the inspector, charging a
1<7. each. If the public is to be protected against the
possibility of error in instruments of this kind, do let
the machinery under which they are issued to the public
be known; the nature of the machinery and how the
testing proceeds, and who it is tests them.

Mr. Poland : Do you know that there have been a good
many complaints from the Board of Trade about the
York standards? — No.

Have you not heard any complaints ? — No.

About the York testing; that the things tested at
York have been found from time to time to be incorrect ?
—No.

•Have you any assistant ? — No ; I do all this myself.

The Assistant Judge : This does not touch the
question in our minds, for which we required to hear
evidence before calling on Mr. Besley.

Mr. Poland: I think it is very useful evidence to
to show that it was never intended that glasses tested in
this way at York should be considered absolutely
correct.

The Assistant Judge : I do not think it was ever
intended to consider it should be absolutely correct,
because an ambulatory inspector is appointed to go about
inspecting things. If after condemnation they are
used, then that is a very different state of things.

Mr. Poland : Tell me, on that conical one, what part
of the mark you have put on ? — I cannot show you from
here. (The witness walked across the Court and pointed
it out to Mr. Poland.)

I cannot see it by this light. Just describe it, Mr.
Calvert. Is it to make the R. perfect, the V.R. ? — It is so.

How do you know that is your mark. Has it any dis¬
tinguishing mark ? — There are other marks on the mea¬
sure that I know.

How can you tell, anybody could do that ?

The Assistant J udge : Are you sure those are your
marks or ftot ? — I am sure they are my marks.

Mr. Poland: Just attend, Mr. Calvert. The YK.,
you know, is on it, and everything except a little piece.

Mr. Besley : And two little strokes.

Mr. Poland : Anybody could do that ? — Anybody could
put a scratched mark on glass, undoubtedly.

It is the completion of the V.R., these two little marks,
and a little bit of the R. Now look at the conical one ?
— This is a conical one.

Now look at the cylindrical one, what is the mark
there ? — That is the same as thejone you have in your
hand.

That little bit is like that ? — Yes.

Two little touches ? — Yes, two scratches.

That is the way you do it ? — Yes.

How many of these do you test a week for the glass
company ? — Three hundred to four hundred.

Sometimes more, do you ? — Yes.

Do you ever reject any ? — Yes.

Very few, I suppose? — A good many.

Re-examined by Mr. Besley.

Have you any doubt at all that they are glasses you
marked yourself ? — No, not at all.

Mr. Poland : He says when he rejects a measure he
puts a dash against it.

Mr. Besley : He says he marks it out with a diamond.

Mr. Poland : Will you allow me one other question.
When you reject a measure, what do you do with it to
prevent it being used or sold ? — I put a mark across it
with a little scratcher I have, across the line that I
find fault with.

The Assistant Judge: When it is condemned you
do not issue it ? — Certainly not, my lord.

• Mr. Poland : You do not break it ? — Many times it is
broken. I do not break it, but they are taken away
and broken.

You give it back to the company ?— I put them in a
basket.

Are you sure those are not rejected; is there no mark
there ? — Certainly not.

The Assistant Judge: Do you put your stamp on a
rejected glass ? — Certainly not.

Did you explain that you examined it for the purpose
of seeing whether it had been rejected or not before you
put your stamp upon it ? — I do, my lord. I compare it
with water at every graduation.

Mr. Poland : Pardon me, he has not put any stamp
upon it.

Mr. Besley : Stamping is engraving by the Act.

Mr. Poland : The whole thing is made complete by the
York Glass Company ? — The V.R. is substantially com¬
pleted, and he says there is some little mark he puts on.

Mr. Besley : He finishes the R. in the V.R.

M.. Poland : Who can tell it is his finishing ?

The Assistant Judge: That is a question of evidence.
It is for the Bench to consider whether they are satisfied
that he did put his mark. It is easy for you to argue
that it is impossible for him to say whether he did or not,
but we have his evidence that he did.

Mr. Besley : I will give further evidence on that point.

Mr. Poland : It seems to me a most extraordinary way
of a public inspector stamping.

Mr. Besley : Why do you not proceed against him ?

The Witness : You see the V.R. YK.; it is the mark
between.

The Assistant Judge : Here is the V, the thin stroke
of the V, and then the thin stroke with the R? — The
right hand stroke of the V is the first stroke ; ' the R
is completed, and he says it is the lower stroke of the R ?
No, my lord, it is the mark across the centre of the R.
that I put on.

Mr. Besley: The words of the Act are, “In such
manner as to be so far as practicable indelible.”

The Assistant Judge i That is clear on this one ; now
hand the others.

Mr. Poland : It is not a distinctive mark.

Mr. Besley : It does not say so.

The Assistant Judge: There is no particular mark
described. This gentleman has used this way of marking
a standard, which may be a very imperfect way ; but for
this purpose it is his mark.

Mr. Poland : It is a mark like his.

The Assistant Judge : He says it is his. If it is his
it is of course like it : it is the thing itself. Of course you
ean argue on it.

Mr. Besley : I have another witness on this point.

Mr. Hutchinson sworn. Examined by Mr. Besley.

Are you the managing director of the York Glass
Company, Limited ? — I was the managing director at the
time this action was commenced, and although retiring
from the business I have been requested to represent the
company in that capacity.

The Assistant Judge: What company? — The York
Glass Company, Limited.

Mr. Besley: Are the measures made for the use of
druggists made in a part of the works called the blowing
house ? — They are.

They are then taken to*the cutting and engraving shop?
— They are.

And they are there graduated by comparison with the
Government standards with pipettes that are verified
with the Government standards ? — The pipettes are veri¬
fied with the Government standards.

You use those pipettes in the graduation? — In the
graduation.

How long has this process Jbeen done at the York Com¬
pany’s works ?

The Assistant Judge : I asked you to satisfy the Court
by proof, that these measures had been stamped, and
bear, therefore, the stamp of the inspector at York, from
whom they were said to come.

Mr. Besley : Yes, [my lord. Are there any of them

February 5, 1881,] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 665

manufactured and stamped by any other inspector? —
There are a few have gone to be inspected and to be
stamped elsewhere. There are none issued in any way
as coming from us, except what have passed through an
inspector’s hand.

With regard to the York stamp, is it a Y.R. combined
letter ?— V.R. YK.

Is that Y.R. the adopted stamp of the corporation ? —
The York city corporation refused entirely any crown
stamp, because they said it was very easily imitated.
They sent the inspector and myself both back.

The Assistant Judge : What stamp did they send
back ? — One of the suggestions was that it should be a
crown and number scratched upon it.

Mr. Besley : Did the York^corporation adopt the Y.R.
letters combined as their mark? — Yes; they adopted it
for this reason, that it is their mark on everything.

Are you able to say that these four glasses' are manu¬
factured by the York Company? — I have not had an
opportunity of looking at them (inspecting them). I
have no doubt of it.

The Assistant Judge : Perhaps you can also tell whether
they bear the stamp, and this is the more substantial
point on this occasion, of the inspector of York? — They
all bear the York city corporation stamp, and they are all
the manufacture of the York Glass Company.

Mr. Besley : The person who graduates previous to the
testing by the inspector, is he a person of experience ? —
Yes, he is ; he has been at it all his life.

How long has he been at it ? — Twelve years, I believe.

Long before the Board of Trade pipettes were sent
out ? — Yes.

Is this one of your manufacture showing the Y.R.
before the inspector has tested it and marked it ? — Yes;
that is the part the engraver puts on it at the works, the
finishing stroke is put by the inspector before passing it
for sale.

Under any circumstances do you ever fabricate glass
vessels with the mark of the inspector ? — Never.

Such a thing never occurs ?- — Never, *once.

Have you ever used those that are discarded by the
inspector? — If it is only a slight error, and the line can
be polished out until you cannot see that it has been
taken out and a new line can be put in at the correct
point, it might be presented again for inspection.

Would it be sent to the inspector again to be passed ? —
Certainly.

Those that could not be so corrected by the line being
rubbed out, would they be broken ? — Destroyed at once.

Whatever was marked as incorrect and was corrected
would still come before the inspector again? — Oh, yes;
he never places the finishing touch until he has passed it.

Is there a great difficulty — a practical difficulty in the
graduation of measures to be absolutely correct? — I
believe it is utterly impossible to have them absolutely
and scientifically correct by that method of marking.

You employ the best talent you can for the graduation
and obey the law by letting the inspector mark? — We
employ the best talent we believe existing in this
country.

Cross-examined by Mr. Poland.

T ou are not in the service of the York Glass Company
now? — I am not.

You only come to represent them ? — I represent them.

Does this Mr. Calvert, the inspector, reject many of
your glasses? — Comparatively few; of course, a con¬
siderable number, considering the thousands he has to
examine.

How many persons have you to test them ? — He tests
them all.

On your own premises? — One man.

Mr. Besley : To graduate.

Mr. Poland: Have you only one man who graduates?
— We have one on the premises graduating, and another
man was trained on the premises, who works in the city,
and has done some during the last six months.

Y.ou make a large number of them ? — A large number.

Do I understand you to say that there is no difficulty
in properly marking these cylinders and the conical ones
so as to be within ‘5 of a minim correct ? — I think if a
man was set to graduate one which was to come for
scientific testing he possibly might do it with that nicety;
but I think it is almost more than ought to be expected
of him.

That might be ; but a competent graduator, a com¬
petent man, is there any real difficulty in his graduating
these so as to be correct within ‘5 of a minim ? — Yes
there is.

What difficulty? — There is a difficulty.

What difficulty? — When the water is placed in it he has
two upright pieces of iron, about the thickness of a pen¬
holder ; he also has a pen which he dips into some white
substance. He holds that by these two pieces of upright
iron, to steady him, and by the eye he has to gauge the
bottom portion of the meniscus ; he has to place the
pen upon that ; he has then to move his measure round
on the wood to draw that line ; he has then to go over that
line, in whiting, which must be the thickness which the
pen point makes it ; he has then to go and by dexterity of
manipulation to place that line directly on to a wheel
which is charged with oil and emery ;• the point of the
wheel must be charged with oil and emery or it would
crack the measure; therefore, I do not think it is possible
that he can do it with positive accuracy ; he has to go as
nearly in the line as he possibly can.

Within ‘5 or *6 of a minim. Is there any real diffi¬
culty, if a man takes proper time over it and gives proper
attention, in making both those measures correct within
•5 of a minim ? Will you pledge yourself to that, Mr.
Hutchinson ? Do you mean to say a competent marker
cannot mark these, taking proper care and attention,
within -5 of a minim? — I do not exactly understand
what you allow as proper time to do it.

Why, reasonable time. There is no practical difficulty.
It is a mere question of time and skill, is it not? — I
should not like to bind a skilful man to do it.

But a skilful man would do it ? — I will not say that he
would.

What is the price of these things ? — I do not remember
the list price ; something like Is. each.

If they were made Is. 6d. each, he could afford to
give more care and attention ? — It does not matter
what the attention is, you cannot guarantee accuracy in
those.

Have you been in correspondence with the Board of
Trade about your marking? — No; it was the city, I
think, had a little correspondence with the Board, not
ourselves.

About complaints made that the York marking was
incorrect ? — Not that I am aware of.

What was the correspondence ? — It has never been
questioned anywhere but here.

Never questioned anywhere ? — Not to my know¬
ledge.

Not that the York marking has been found on various
occasions incorrect, have you never heard that ? No.

Listen to this : “ I have to add that complaints have
already been made concerning the York standard, and
the Board of Trade have for some time been in com¬
munication with the Corporation of York on the
subject.”

Mr. Besley : The “ standard.”

The Assistant Judge : The standard referred to m
that letter would be the deposited standard.

Mr. Besley : The local standard deposited it may be
with the Corporation.

Mr. Poland : The pipette by which the things were
tested is supplied to the inspector, the standard by which
the York inspector acted.

The Assistant Judge : That is, of course, if he had
incorrect standards, those standards were incorrect and
he would mark incorrectly.

666 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 5, 188

Mr. Poland : And their price is Is. each ? — I should
not like to say exactly.

The Assistant Judge : Mr. Poland, we do not think it
necessary in this case to call on Mr. Besley to open his
defence on the question of these measures, comparing
them with the real Government standard, because we
were of opinion that if he could satisfy us that they were
issued by the inspector, and bore the inspector's stamp,
then that we should be in his favour.

Mr. Poland : Then, my lord, as my friend has called
witnesses, I am entitled to say a word on this evidence.

The Assistant Judge : Yes, I know you are, but you
understand what the question is before us.

Mr. Poland : Yes, my lord, I quite appreciate it. ’

The Assistant Judge : We will hear you, Mr. Poland.

Mr. Poland : As I understand, the Court is satisfied
that these measures which were seized in the shop of the
appellant are, in fact, false and unjust; but, as they bear
the mark of the local inspector at York, in point of law
the appellant has committed no offence. Now, my lord,
I understand that that is the object for which this
evidence has been called, that these, in fact, although
used in a shop in London, bore the mark of the York
inspector, and although they are false — because for the
purpose of the argument it must be conceded that they
are false and unjust — yet no offence was committed.

The Assistant Judge : You, of course, proceed on the
assumption that these are inaccurate measures when they
come to be closely tested by the actual Government
standard, if there be any such thing as an immutable
Government standard.

Mr. Poland : My lord, I contend that although that is
so, the offence under this Act of Parliament has been
committed. Now, my lord, of course that is a very
important question, because they have been seized, and if
the conviction is quashed they are not forfeited, they are
to be returned ; they must be returned to the appellant,
and, in point of fact, then the decision will go to this,
that however false and unjust the measures are which a
man is using in his trade, if they have the mark of a
local inspector, competent or incompetent, upon them, no
offence has been committed.

The Assistant Judge: Our judgment will not go to
that; on the contrary, we should express our opinion —
we should hold otherwise. Therefore, do not assume that
that would be the effect of our judgment. It would be
directly contrary to it. I have expressly drawn attention
to the wide difference between the alleged offence in this
case of a tradesman bond fide using an instrument that
has been officially used without notice that it was inaccu¬
rate, and the use of such instrument after he has received
notice from the Government inspector that it is inaccu¬
rate.

Mr. Poland : I was dealing with that very case which
your lordship put.

The Assistant Judge: No, you said our judgment
would be to the effect that it was sufficient if it bore a
Government stamp.

Mr. Poland: Sufficient until the man is found using
it, that is involved in the proposition that in this case no
offence has been committed. Then a person could go on
using these measures which are stamped by a local
inspector, competent or incompetent, and may go on
safely using these without taking any means to test their
accuracy; but because they bear the mark of a local
inspector there is no other obligation on them, but to see
there is that mark upon it, and that they may go on
selling coals, potatoes, or any other commodity that there
may be — when it is found that a man has been dealing
for weeks, months, or years, with these measures so
marked.

The Assistant Judge: Suppose it is found that the
weight has been chipped, suppose it is found to be other¬
wise than as it must originally have issued from the
inspector who stamped it ; that would be a very different
state of affairs altogether. I am assuming the particular

case before us. We are not saying what our decision
would be under a state of facts different from these now
before us ; we are dealing with glass measures used by
apothecaries.

Mr. Poland: You are dealing with all measures, my
lord. This case involves the decision as to whether a
man can use all measures, whether for coals or potatoes
or any other article of merchandise, for the Act of Par¬
liament is the same for apothecaries’ measures as for
coals and potatoes ; and you are asked to construe this
Act of Parliament and to say that a man who uses in his
business a measure which is false and unjust commits no
offence if the measure bears the mark of a local in¬
spector. That is the position ; that is the legal decision
which you have to pronounce. Given a measure false
and unjust, given that it has the mark of a Government
inspector, given the fact that it has never been pointed
out to him that it is inaccurate, he commits no offence.
In law, to say that would be in point of fact almost in¬
volving the repeal of this Act of Parliament, because it
would be utterly useless if, when the inspector went
round to tradespeople, and said, “Your measure is £ lb.
wrong, or your measure is ^ oz. wrong, or your measure
is so many drachms wrong,” the man turned round and said,
“What of that, I have had this measure from York, or from
some other county; it has got the mark upon it; what
have I to do with the matter ?” Now, my lord, the Act
of Parliament does not say that a man who uses a
measure for trade, who has in his possession for use for
trade a measure which bears a local stamp upon it is
legal, but it says it is illegal if he uses a measure which
is false and unjust, whether it has a local stamp or not
upon it. There is not one word in the Act of Parlia¬
ment upon it to say, “ provided and be it enacted that if
such measure which is so false and unjust has the stamp
of the local inspector upon it he shall commit no offence.”
The Act does not say that. Why are those words to be
imported into this Act of Parliament? This case,
assuming that it is to turn on this legal construction,
really becomes a very serious matter indeed.

The Assistant J udge : It is.

Mr. Poland : Because the inspector is to go round to
the different parts of the parish and seize the measures.
But what is the use of his seizing them ?

The Assistant Judge : Yet it may be that the Act of
Parliament did intend that persons who have purchased
their measures from an inspector -

Mr. Poland : They do not get them from an inspector.

The Assistant Judge : They get them verified and
stamped by the inspector. It may be that the Act of
Parliament intended that those persons should be
entitled in this case to use such measures and to use
them legally, and that they were to be legal measures
unless found to be inaccurate. We have to look at the
25th section, that is the one on which you ask us to con¬
vict the appellant, in conjunction with every other clause
in the statute, and we cannot overlook the 45th section.

1 quite agree that the expression “ false or unjust ” is one
upon which different minds may place different conclu¬
sions. Whether it means inaccurate or whether it means
false in the sense of fraudulent, may be a very nice ques¬
tion ; but we cannot but observe that the Act of Parlia¬
ment uses that word not in a sense if it should be found
inaccurate, or until it may be found inaccurate, but unless
it be false it shall be a valid measure — it shall be a legal
measure, unless found to be false.

Mr. Poland : Of course, that is the point to be decided.
If it is to be a legal measure for all purposes, an inspector
has no right to seize it, and all contracts made upon it are
not to be void.

The Assistant Judge : Have the goodness to tell me
where the chemist is to go and test the measures which
he buys with the mark of an authorized inspector. What
is he to do ? Is there an obligation upon him to buy
scientific apparatus to test a measure before he uses it? Is
he to have machinery by which he can ascertain whether

February 5, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

667

-the Board of Trade will pronounce such a measure to be
a just and accurate one ?

A Magistrate : Why should the Board insist on having
them stamped at all if it is to be no protection to the
public ?

Mr. Poland : It is to some extent a protection to the
public ; but that does not get rid of the obligation on a
man that when he uses a measure with a stamp upon it
of a local inspector he must take his risk. He does not
have it tested by the Board of Trade, he does not get it
from an inspector of the place where he is carrying on
his business, where he is carrying on a trade for his own
profit, and I submit the Legislature has thrown upon him the
duty of ascertaining that he is dealing with a measure in
his trade which is not false or unjust, and the Act of Par¬
liament, as I submit, — I will read it presently — goes beyond
that, and it says it may be that you did not know it was
false or unjust, but all contracts made upon it are void,
and the measure is liable to be forfeited. The case in¬
volves this, that contracts made upon these measures are
not to be void, that they are not be forfeited. What is
the inspector to do ? The inspector goes there and finds
a man had been for weeks or months using false measures.
What is he do ? Take possession of them. What then ?
What is the use of his taking possession of them. They
have the stamp of the York inspector upon them. What
is he to do with them ? Is he to return them, and when
they are returned, is the trader to go on using them be¬
cause one inspector is not evidence against another ?
There is the York inspector, who says these are accurate,
and the metropolitan inspector says they are not. Who
is to determine it? According to that, there is one in¬
spector’s statement against another, and then in point
of fact these unjust inaccurate measures may be used
again by this man because they are not found to be illegal.
I say the very object of this statute is in terms clear and
expressive, and the Legislature has chosen in this case
to do as in many others, to make it an offence for a
man to have in his possession measures which are false
and unjust even although he did not know they were false
and unjust, and even although he believed they were not
fal-e and unjust.

The Assistant Judge: And even although they may
bear the stamp of the inspector.

Mr. Poland : That is conceded ; even although they
bear the stamp of a gentleman at York, the tester at
York. If it is to be all determined on this section I
would ask the Court whether, it being conceded that the
measures are false or unjust, they say that if stamped by
a local inspector he commits no offence. Let me read
the words: — “ Every person who uses or has in his posses¬
sion for use for trade,” etc., etc. (The learned counsel
again read the section.)

A Magistrate: They may become false or unjust
by use.

Mr. Besley : Exactly.

Mr. Poland : It is true they may, and notwithstanding
the stamp is on them. That clearly would be within the
section. How are you to tell ? The Act of Parliament
does not say “which he shall know to be false or unjust.”
The Legislature may make this an offence, and I submit
it has made this an offence, the penalty, of course,
being left to the magistrates, who may say these mea¬
sures being in fact false or unjust they must be forfeited ;
but, of course, as you relied on the stamp of a local
inspector, wre only fine you a nominal fine, one penny or
sixpence as the case may be, and as there is no moral
turpitude involved in the case, but for the protection of
the public the duty is thrown upon you of not using in
your trade measures which are false or unjust. I do
venture to submit, in this case, that as put by one of
the learned magistrates, a measure might have been
altered since. It might then bear the stamp of the
York inspector, and yet be false or unjust. It would
be impossible to ascertain who had altered it ; whether
it was altered by the wholesale or retail dealer after

it had been marked by the inspector or whether it
had been altered by the trader himself, and yet you
are to say he commits no offence under this Act, although
it is a measure altered after it had been used, bearing the
stamp, although in fact it was false or unjust. It is like
bye laws that are made very often. There is the case I
submitted some time ago about the lunatic, where the
Legislature says that you commit an offence by receiving
lunatics, even although you do not know they are lunatics.
And the matter is entirely a question as to the true
construction of this Act of Parliament, and I submit the
Legislature has carefully taken care not to use any
words which render it necessary for the person com¬
plaining to prove that the man knew that these things
were false or unjust, because otherwise it would have
said, “ fraudulently use.” It does not say fraudulently
use, it does not say fraudulently have in his possession,
it does not say use a measure which is false or unjust to
the knowledge of the trade. It leaves out all those
words.

The Assistant Judge : There are all those difficulties
which have been pointed out again and again. It is a
false weight, and it may be that the use of that word
is contra-distinguishable from unjust — it may be false or
unjust — it may he that the use of that word thus coupled
was intended to signify inaccurate, not false in the sense
of fraudulent. It may be so. That is fairly open to
argument, that the Legislature intended by the use of
the word ‘‘false ” to mean an inaccurate weight.

Mr. Poland : Does it not mean the same thing ?

The Assistant Judge : Incorrect, inaccurate.

Mr. Poland : Clearly.

The Assistant Judge : False or unjust ; but if so, then
what becomes of -the use of the word “ unjust ? ” Unjust
would be perfectly useless in that case, because if it were
inaccurate it would be sufficient to constitute an offence
that the measure was inaccurate. The use of the word
“unjust” would be perfectly unnecessary. Still the
words used are not “false and unjust ” but “ false or un¬
just.”

Mr. Poland: But then you have this Act of Parlia¬
ment passed for the purpose of having certain* weights
and measures. All commodities are to be sold by these
standard weights and by these standard measures, and if
you use a weight or a measure which is not accurate
accordingly7 to the standards created by this Act, then
that is a false weight or measure. It in an inaccurate
weight or measure. If it is less than the proper quantity
it is an unjust weight or measure; but in any event, even
if you give -more than the proper quantity, it is liable
then to be abused, and you must have all your weights
and measures true and accurate according to scale and
according to weight.

The Assistant Judge: You know it is not unusual for
learned judges sitting in Westminster Hall to refer to
dictionaries. I have known learned judges to refer to
dictionaries again and again for the meaning of very
common words, and a dictionary has been put into my
hands which gives the meaning of the word “ false,” and
it gives it the meaning which, without having such a
dictionary, I thought to be the proper meaning to attach
to the word, although I do not hesitate to say that it is
arguable — “ False : untrue, not faithful, hypocritical.”

Mr. Poland : Not true, not faithful.

The Assistant Judge: A measure issued by a Govern¬
ment inspector.

Mr. Poland : If you are speaking of a false coin, you
speak of false as meaning counterfeit coin, and fa’se/ in
this sense means not true.

The Assistant Judge : You say it is inaccurate. You
have repeated your argument, pardon me for saying so,
twenty times. You say it means inaccurate.

Mr. Poland : I say it means inaccurate.

The Assistant Judge: But, I think, although you may
say so, it is arguable, whether that does not mean some,
thing more, especially coupled with the words, “or un_

668

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 5, 1881

just,” because, if it was the intention of the Legislature to
merely condemn a person for having an inaccurate weight,
it need not have gone on and have said an unjust one.
But, however, it is the contrary construction which
we are disposed to hold, having regard to the clause in the
Act of Parliament, and that it imposes a penalty on the
subject, and we ought certainly not to give it a wider
interpretation than the Act actually compels us to give.

Mr. Poland: "With great respect, “false or unjust”
must be construed according to the subject-matter, and
where you have an Act establishing weights and measures,
“ false ” must be used in contradistinction to true. There¬
fore you have a weight which is accurate according to
certain standards, and you have weights which are false
or unjust.

The Assistant Judge : What is the converse of the
word “false” used in the standard ? Is there any word
where they have to express accuracy or correctness ?

Mr. Poland : Yes, “ true weights and measures.”

The Assistant Judge : True according to what ? Then
you have the two words “true” and “false.”

Mr. Poland : Yes, true weights and measures according
to the standards established.

Mr. Besley : I do not find the word “ true ” in the
standard.

Mr. Poland: False in the case of a coin, is counterfeit;
in this case they established weights and measures of a
particular standard, and then any weight or measure
which is not of that standard is false ; and in addition
to being false it may be unjust. I do submit that this is
a matter which should be left to be decided by the Court.

The Assistant Judge: If it is false it must be unjust.

Mr. Poland : It does not necessarily follow.

The Assistant J udge : Can a true measure be unjust ?

Mr. Poland : No, it may be using a measure that
is larger than the true measure; that would be liable to
abuse. You may not sell things by other than by the
true measure. You must not say, Oh, well, I did not
sell you that as a bushel ; that is not intended as a bushel
measure; but then the inspector says, Oh, I beg your
pardon, under this Act of Parliament you must have all
the divisions of bushels, sacks and half bushels. You must
not try and get rid of the Act of Parliament by saying that
that is not an imperial bushel, because it is not a bushel, or
any aliquot part of a bushel ; therefore it is false even if the
man were to prove that he was in the habit of using
that as a bushel when it was in fact more than a bushel.
That is why “ false ” is put in, because it is to be for all
purposes accurate in every sense. I submit this case
ought not to be stopped on that point, but that assuming
here for the purpose of argument that these weights and
measures were false and unjust (because that is assumed
for the purpose of this argument), that it is a case which
ought to be reserved for the opinion of the Supreme
Court if the Court should be against me on that conten¬
tion which I have addressed to it as to the true meaning
of this Act of Parliament.

The Assistant J udge : There is a question which I
should wish to ask Mr. Tibbey, so that there may be no
mistake about it. I think he has answered it.

Mr. Poland: According to section 44 measures are to
be marked with a stamp of verification, in such a manner
as best to prevent fraud.

The Assistant J udge : There is no particular method
prescribed, it seems.

Mr. Tibbey recalled.

The Assistant J udge : I understood you to say that
you tested these in the shop ? — Yes.

And you took them away ? — Yes.

They did not remain there after in the possession of
the defendant, and were not used afterwards by him in
his trade ? — No.

The Assistant J udge : That is what I wanted to be
quite clear about.

The Assistant Judge (after consulting with the magis¬
trates) : No doubt an important and somewhat difficult

question is raised in this case ; but after having heard all
the arguments of the learned counsel, on due considera
tion we are of opinion that this conviction should be
quashed, there being, in our opinion, no proof that the
appellant had in his possession for use in his trade a false
or unjust measure within the meaning of the 25th clause
in the Act of Parliament. The measures in question,
whether they be accurate according to the imperial
standard or not, bear the stamp of the Government
inspector by whom they were issued as accurate, and
there is no proof that they were known by the appellant
to be inaccurate, or that they were, known to be so at
any time while he was in possession of them. For these
reasons we think the conviction must be quashed.

Mr. Poland : Will the Court grant a case on that
point ?

The Assistant Judge : Yes ; I will give you the precise
words of our decision, because you see we put it somewhat
on different grounds to those which you surmised we
should base it upon.

Mr. Poland: Only one point of law arises that has

been suggested.

The Assistant Judge : We have carefully guarded
ourselves from any expression of what our opinion might
be after hearing the evidence in contradiction as to the
accuracy ; in case it be accurate according to the imperial
standard or not. Even if we did grant a case and the
Court above thought we should inquire into that, and
even supposing that the appellant did not know that it
was inaccurate, that he would be liable to a penalty, it
would be for the Court then to send the case back for
further inquiry. At present I do not think the time of
the Court ought to be occupied with it. That will be
distinctly understood.

Mr. Poland : Quite so ; my lord. Then the Court refuses

a case.

The Assistant Judge : No, I am quite willing to grant
a case ; but I point out that, as our judgment is based on
the construction of that section, should the Court above
think that, even although the defendant may not have
known Vhat this was an inaccurate measure, still he is liable;
then they would send the case back to us to find whether
the measure was accurate or not. But according to our
view of the statute we think we ought not to be troubled
with that question.

Mr. Poland : Then it will have to come back to the
Court.

The Assistant Judge : Then, as I said before, let it
come back ; but if the Court should agree with us, it will
not come back.

Mr. Poland : But will the High Court deal with the
question until the whole appeal is disposed of ?

The Assistant Judge : Certainly, on that finding.

Mr. Poland : I am quite content.

Mr. Besley: Will it be convenient, my lord, at the
same time to put in the case that one point about the
power of amendment ?

The Assistant Judge : I should not grant you a case
on whether there is a power of amendment. I have no
doubt whatever of the power. I shall not grant you any
case on that.

Mr. Besley : I did not know whether when you were
stating the one you would state the other.

The Assistant Judge : No, the conviction is before us,
as amended on the application of Mr. Poland, and we grant
the case. Our judgment will sufficiently express that
it proceeds on the two questions which you can clearly
see. On the meaning of the word “ false,” and on the
further fact that this was a measure issued by an
inspector and that it was not found to be false or known
to the appellant to be false or ever used by him after he
had knowledge that it was false.

Mr. Besley : I do not know whether it is necessary for
me to ask the Court to make any order for costs.

Mr. Poland: It is not usual to give costs agairst
justices.

y

j'.i

February 5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

669

Mr. Besley : Against Mr. Tibbey.

The Assistant Judge : No.

Mr. Besley: There is power under the Act.

The Assistant J udge : I am quite sure the magistrates
would not give it.

Mr. Besley: Would you reserve the question ?

The Assistant Judge: No; as far as this inquiry to¬
day is concerned, we do not not give costs, but we quash
the conviction. If Mr. Poland desires a case for the
consideration of the Court, he shall have the case, and
the case will sufficiently express the grounds of our
! judgment.

, Mr. Poland: Then, my lord, about the measures. What
is to be done with them ?

The Assistant J udge : If you would allow me to sug-
gest, gentlemen, I think that the four measures
should remain here locked up until the case is disposed of.

Mr. Poland: Very well, my lord.

Prosecution under the Pharmacy Act.

At the Liverpool County Court, on Tuesday, Feb. 1,
before Mr. J. F. Collier, judge, a suit was brought by
the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society against Mr.
Alfred James Wright, for the recovery of a penalty of
£5, under the Pharmacy Act, for having used the title of
druggist, not being registered.

Mr. Hull (Messrs. Stone, Fletcher and Hull) appeared
in support of the claim, and Mr. Wills Harper for the
defence.

A witness, named Dominic James Lynch, was called
and said that on the 14th of last month he purchased a
packet of Epsom salts, which he produced, at a shop in
South Castle Street, over which was a sign with the
names “Knowles and Wright, Shipping and Export Drug¬
gists.” It was also proved that the defendant was not
registered under the Act.

For the defence, Mr. Wills Harper explained that the
defendant had no interest as a partner in the business,
which^was acquired from him by Mr. Knowles at the end
of 18/9. He had since that time been merely an assis¬
tant at the shop, receiving a salary and commission, but
the sign remained unaltered.

The defendant having himself proved these facts, his
honour said he did not see how, under the circumstances,
the defendant could escape the penalty, because he clearly
used his name as a druggist. He therefore gave judgment
for the amount claimed with costs. — Liverpool Daily
Courier .

Poisoning by Morphia Lozenges.

An inquest has been held by the Manchester cit\
coroner, Mr. E. Herford, on the body of Thomas Kirwin
aged three years and ten months, the son of a labourer.

The evidence showed that on Sunday afternoon the
deceased was sent on an errand, and on returning said h<
lelt very sick, and shortly afterwards he become uncon
soious. As he remained in that condition, medical aic
was called in, and an emetic having been administered
without effect, the stomach-pump was applied, and £
quantity of fluid drawn from the stomach. The child
however, died about 10 o’clock on Sunday night. Th<
parents of the child afterwards heard that he, with othei
children, had taken some lozenges which were supposec
to be poisonous, and in the house was found a portion o:
a bottle, out of which the children admitted that the]
had taken something.

Mr. Robert Gibson, a “ manufacturer of vermin killer
medicated lozenges, and also of wholesome sweetmeats,’
W u°S? place of business is in Erskine Street, Hulme, wai
called before the coroner, and stated that between th<
closmg of the premises on Saturday and opening oi
Monday a window was broken in the establishment, am
a bottle abstracted, which contained lozenges, an in
gredient of which was morphia. These lozenges ha<

been prepared in accordance with the order of a medical
man in China, through a London house, and witness
imagined they were to be used for the same purpose as
opium, but they had not the disagreeable taste of that
drug.

In answer to the coroner he said that the medicated
lozenges and vermin killer were manufactured in a
separate portion of the premises from that in which the
wholesome sweetmeats were prepared. He also stated
that the window from which the lozenges were abstracted
was previously cracked, and there was now a hole in it,
but the window was at such a height from the ground
that a child could not reach it.

Dr. Henry Worswick, of Chorlton Road, said he, in
conjunction with Dr. Fairclough, had made a post-mortem
examination of the body, and had no doubt, from the
appearance and the evidence, that death was caused
by morphia. An eighth part of one of the lozenges
produced would cause an adult to sleep six or eight
hours, and a child of the age of deceased ought not to
have taken more than a twelfth of that quantity.

A verdict of accidental death was returned, and the
jury, considering that a window containing poisonous
sweetmeats ought to have been properly protected, made
a recommendation that in future it should be protected.

Correspunbeira.

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica -
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Draft Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill.

Sir, — In your editorial remarks on Mr. Proctor’s letter of
the 29th, you say that he (Mr. Proctor) “ well expresses the
feeling of disheartenment which must be felt by many on
hearing the demand for a monopoly in the sale of all kinds
of drugs and pharmaceutical preparations,” and a little
further on “ that legislation in favour of the druggist is not
to be looked for or wished for.”

To the first quotation I would say, I should be much sur¬
prised if this be the case with the “many,” and to the
second I would ask, what else do we want but this ? If I
am not greatly mistaken this is the burden of the cry of the
chemist.

I can hardly understand such a letter as Mr. Proctor’s
being written. Such abnegation is altogether too wonderful,
and deserves being put “on record” as desired.

As to “ national laws being made for individual or class
interest,” I say it has been done, and will be again and
again, and especially should it be in oUr case, as, having
been legislated at, in the shape of compulsory examinations,
etc., it is quite time we should be legislated for.

This leads to what ought to be the leading feature in any
Pharmacy Amendment Act, viz., that of giving us the total
privilege of selling all articles used as medicines, so as to
effectually prevent all stores and unqualified persons from
dealing with them, and without being a failure — or com¬
paratively so — that the present Act is, and the proposed one
would be. Anything short of this will fail to benefit the
bulk of the trade much.

Why cannot we have somewhat similar laws and privi¬
leges to those they have, not only in France, but in other
countries, which bring not only privileges and substantial
emoluments, but also such a standing and position, that
anyone who knows any of the countries of the continent
could not say we enjoy at present?

One word as to the widow question. Aside from any
sentimental view of the case, we ought to look on it as a
right that a widow should keep on a business with a qualified
assistant. Without many exceptional privileges, why should
we be subject to very exceptional hardships such as this
would be ?

It is a fact that we are a trade, not a profession, and why
should we be different in this respect from other trades, if

!

670

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 5, issi

the necessary precaution (a qualified assistant) be taken? In
many instances it would be preferable to the way many
businesses are conducted, where the proprietor, if seen oc¬
casionally, has next to nothing to do with the real working
of the business, in many cases left to unqualified assistants,
whereas in the widow case there would be the guarantee of
a qualified person.

The argument that if a widow could keep on a business,
then a company could, does not apply, as there is, I might
say, a sacred right on the one side, which common sense and
English justice would not interfere with, but which would
not apply to the other.

These are by far the two chief matters in connection with
the proposed Pharmacy Amendment Act. The other mat¬
ters in comparison with these are of little practical value to
the majority of the trade, as I think would be found on
inquiry.

Stonehouse, Plymouth. Pelham C. Maitland.

Sir, — One of the most extraordinary clauses in the pro¬
posed new Pharmacy Act appears to me that it should be
left to about a dozen men to say whether or not it would be
advisable to allow a widow to carry on the business of her
late husband beyond three years. Why should they wish to
assume any such right ? Surely the law ought to be the same
for all, without the interposition of anyone. The clause
altogether is most inhuman, and, I think, based upon a
misconception of the laws of political economy. I ask, is
it the duty of the State to sanction any Bill which provides
for the increase of pauperism ? Can anyone doubt but that
this will be the case to a more or less extent if the Bill
passes ?

I am very much afraid intense selfishness is at the bottom
of it all, for had the late law appeal been sustained we
should have heard nothing at all about it.

One of your correspondents suggests “ it is necessary for
the safety of the public.” Surely he cannot be in earnest.
Has he ever known a mistake made in a widow’s business
that has proved fatal, and carried on by a qualified person ?
The public good, no doubt, is what is to be looked at, but I
fail to see how it can be enhanced any more by a qualified
assistant managing a branch business, or one managing a
large one where several assistants are kept and where the
principal or principals do nothing else but attend to the
books, and have their pharmaceutical preparations made by
unqualified porters, than by one managing the business of a
widow. Another correspondent says “ a pharmacist should
insure his life so as to provide for his widow by means- of
her carrying on some other business.” He forgets to say what
business. Does he mean a coffee shop, or baby linen ware¬
house ? If not, what ? And pray why should a man or men
dictate to a woman as to what she is best fitted for in obtaining
a livelihood ? It is the same old, old story, the sacrifice of
woman on the altar of Jephtha’s God. Does it not occur to
your correspondent, a chemist’s widow would not have the
same social status she has now, if compelled to enter on any
such business ? If she likes to do so of her own free will,
well and good, but do not compel her to do so at the dic¬
tation of others, for their own benefit.

If the Council would take other matters into consideration
to improve the trade, I think they would be better employed.
For instance here is one : — What do all these advertisements
mean we see in evening papers so frequently, most of them
coming from so called first class houses ? Specifics for every¬
thing pretty nearly, and some of them backed up by a
medical man not a hundred miles from Harley Street ? Why
should these things be pushed on to the public at ex¬
orbitant prices, the advertisers themselves, in most cases,
well knowing they are of none, or very little use whatever ?
I asked one of them a short time since, how his preparation
cured a certain complaint, and was answered, “ I do not know
but it does.” I suggested, “ You do not know but it pays,”
which provoked a smile which I think I well understood.

Now if the Council would find some means to put a stop
to this polite lying (I call it), I think it would be much
better, and do not try to reduce the few simple occupations
that are tolerated to women by the overpowering exigencies
of modern life. Surely a woman can keep books and take a
note of her incomings and outgoings every week, and if she
does so she is simply copying a good many of the proprietors
of large businesses and branch ones]; and to try to get rid of
her because co-operative stores take money out of men’s

pockets (and it is presumed they cannot be put down unless
she is) is nothing more or less than a moral and physical
sacrifice of her. It will be hardship enough if her assistant
makes a fatal mistake, when she will be called upon, most
likely, to sell her business to pay for damages. The Council,
I hope, will see their way to remove this clause and try
some other of getting rid of co-operative stores trading
in drugs.

C. M.

Sir, — Having read the Amendment Bill, I do not think
it sufficiently stringent. Why not confine the sale and
manufacture of chemicals and drugs for human and animal
ailments, external and internal, to qualified chemists
under the Pharmacy Act, as it will then place grocers and
directors of stores under a very simple law : pass their
examinations and sell what they like. But chemists must,
not forget that they dabble frequently very much in other
businesses besides their own, so that I propose we pay a tax
and place ourselves as an educated body under Government
supervision . By doing so, we should not only increase the
confidence of the public, but, in my opinion, gain over the
medical men to give up dispensing.

As a rule we are, owing, perhaps, to the nature of our
business, a jealous and narrow-minded class of men, and it
behoves us to give up crying about the injury done us and
work together for the common good, and there is not the
slightest doubt but what we should succeed in improving
our positions wonderfully if we go to Parliament with a
clear and concise tale, offering to give as well as take.

I propose that a tax of £20 and £5 yearly be paid re¬
spectively by wholesale and retail chemists.

86, Northgate Street , Gloucester. E. G. Hughes.

Sir, — How will the proposed Pharmacy Bill affect the
patent medicines which may be in the hands of retailers ?

Probably £100,000 worth of “patents” containing poison
will be in stock when the Bill becomes law, none of which
will be labelled “ poison.” The makers will not be liable
for any sent out before January 1, 1882. What is to be
done with the quantity held by retailers ?

Surely this point needs consideration.

Another matter that needs reconsideration is the proposal
to label the bottle, pot, or box, as well as the outside
wrapper.

This is very serious for the retailer, as he cannot possibly
know if the bottle is labelled or not. The outside wrapper
is all that needs labelling, because the article is sold un¬
broken, and if the outside of the package is properly
labelled, the object of the clause is secured.

I think the proceedings for penalties should be taken
only by order of the Pharmaceutical Council, for there are
such great difficulties in the matter that most awkward
circumstances may occur. For instance, a retailer is con¬
victed of selling an unlabelled article ; he pays the penalty
and costs, and then proceeds against the manufacturer, who
may perhaps produce evidence that the article left his
hands long before the Act came into force. The poor
retailer has all the costs to pay and gets no redress.

Let the Council prosecute in all cases of non-labelling
and let them be compelled to go against the maker. By
this means the object in view will be attained without
vexatious injustice to the retailers.

17, High Street , Canterbury. J. R. Cooper. •

Sir, — I am glad Mr. Proctor has raised the tone of discus¬
sion going on at present in the Journal, by characterizing
certain objections to the amended Pharmacy Act as “ un-
Btatesmanlike.”

It is not presumptuous for a pharmacist to take a states¬
manlike view of pharmaceutical legislation, and it is his
interest to do so if he expects his representative in
Parliament to support a special Act for his benefit.
Taking this view I would advise all to bear in mind two
leading principles, which must guide those who frame a
Pharmacy Act and those who criticize it.

First. — The greater good or safety of the public, and

Second. — The personal qualification and responsibility of
those instrumental in securing that good or safety.

Now, it is obvious Mr. Sandford’s view of the “ widows’
clause” would be destructive to the second principle.

671

February 5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

A legal qualification cannot be transmitted with a busi¬
ness, it is a personal matter secured and guaranteed by law ;
the -vicarious management, therefore, of a business, for the
benefit of an unqualified owner is clearly against the objects
of pharmaceutical legislation and of the real interests of the
trade. The solicitude shown by Mr. Sandford for the
widow and fatherless is most creditable to his heart ; but
when feelings of that kind are imported into legislation
questions, which are based on hard unbending facts, the
issue must be unfavourable. The result of my observations,
and perhaps my experience extends farther back than Mr.
Sandford’s, is, that widows without a son or near relation
to manage do not benefit by delegated authority.

There may be exceptional cases, and special power can be
given to deal with such.

Montrose. * Geo. Bureell.

Sir,— L agree in the main with Mr. B. Proctor’s letter in
your last issue. Many, I fear, are hoping forthe impossible,
viz : that no one but a pharmacist should be allowed to
supply drugs or chemicals. This, if attempted, must surely
fail, and it is quite right that it should do so.'

What we want to achieve is this, that none but competent
persons shall be allowed to dispense prescriptions or supply
poisons, in whatever form they may be offered.

Some of the suggestions, by Mr. E. Smith, of Torquay, I
think demand attention, and no doubt the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society will do all that is needful in the
matter.

To attempt to introduce a “ widows’ ” clause would be a
great mistake. I doubt if a business carried on by an
assistant will, as a rule, be found remunerative ; and an
exception, here and there to be met with, is no real proof in
such a matter.

If a pharmacist’s business is to be carried on by an
assistant, you surely could not prevent a co-operative store
from doing the same.

The long and short of the matter is this : if we wish to
obtain an amendment of the Pharmacy Act that shall not
only be of benefit to the public, but shall also remunerate us
as a body for the responsibilities and anxieties naturally
attendant on our calling, we must throw all “crotchets” to
the winds and approach the House of Commons as a united
body, asking for what we feel our just claims; and in such
united action lies our only chance for success.

High Street, Barnstaple. Edward Pratt.

'Sir,-^-The number of patent medicines containing poisons
are so few in number, that the proposed restriction against
the selling of them by others than chemists would be of
no advantage to the trade and no relief against the present
system af “cutting” prices, when it is considered that the
chemists themselves would be hampered with restrictions
and regulations; or, as Mr. Wilkinson, in his letter to you,
puts it, “Although the Bill is professedly aimed at persons
outside the trade, it will also,' and quite as vexatiously,
effect many who are properly and legally in the trade ; for
every druggist who puts up a cough mixture, or cough
pills or lozenges, in which opium, in any shape is contained,
will be obliged to put on a poison label, and be subject to
• the same penalties and annoyances as outsiders, without
benefit either to himself or to the public whose welfare is
so tenderly looked after.” Another thing, the word
“ poison, w will be so commonly seen upon cough medicines,
pills, and lozenges, that it will cease to have that deadly
signification it ought to have upon more potent medicines.

And then again, there is the country village trade, where
no chemist could possibly obtain a livelihood. Can it be
said that it is in the interest of the public that they should
not be able to purchase a bottle of chlorodyne from a retail
grocer or patent medicine vendor ?

It is in the interest of the public that chlorodyne should
be. compounded by a pharmaceutist, and the law should
not allow it to be compounded by anyone else ; but when
the duly qualified pharmaceutist has compounded, labelled
and put upon it his name and address, then it is absurd to
try to get Parliament to put pains and penalties upon
anyone who simply hands it over at the request of a
purchaser. *

The proper course it to permit no one to have a patent
medicine licence unless he is upon the Register; get

Parliament to do that, and it will benefit the trade. A
special register, for country villages, could be kept and
certificates issued by the Registrar. The licences should
only be granted by the Excise, on production of the certificate,
precisely as a magistrate’s certificate has to be obtained
before a licence is granted to a retailer of wines and
spirits. Chemicus.

Sir, — A great deal has been said and written about the
widow of a chemist and the assistant carrying on the busi¬
ness (of course qualified). But, for the sake of argument,
suppose that an assistant (and there are many) who is
the right hand of his master, should happen to be left to
manage the business, through the death of the proprietor,
and the said assistant be not qualified, is it not hard for
him to lose his situation and also harder for the widow
to lose a valuable “servant,” of many years’ tried and
proved experience, and have to place over his head a
(perhaps) younger man, who happens to be qualified “ac¬
cording to law,” simply because ' the aforesaid assistant
was rather nervous at the “ examinations ” (which I dare
say a good many readers will understand), and although
wanting in some minor points could hold his own behind
the dispensing counter with any of the best “ passed' men ”
in the world ? Such a man, I say, would be debarred from
carrying on business for a widow, whose husband he may
have served faithfully for years, and at the husband’s death
lose a good situation, the widow a good “ servant,” and the
business a good master in every sense of the word.

Hampshire. 1). H. F.

The Relations of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Sir, — I expected on opening the Journal this morning to
find considerable correspondence in reply to Dr. William¬
son’s letter, but was disappointed to find, little more than a
casual remark in a letter from Mr. F. Taylor. Can it be
that chemists are so enamoured of the patent medicine trade
that they cannot turn their attention to something better
in every respect ? Especially when the proposal to discuss
the matter comes from the quarter they thought most
opposed to the change. It casts a. great reflection on us, as
a body, that a helping hand should be held out to those who
show no anxiety to help themselves.

Let us apply ourselves to find some plan which will meet
with the approval of the medical profession, so as to secure
that part of our business which the law compels .us to be
capable of discharging efficiently, and which so few of us
get, viz. , the dispensing of medical prescriptions.

What is it that the doctors require at the hands of the
chemists, with a view to bring about this change ?

First, that their instructions should be faithfully carried
out, and this is very important, both to the prescriber and
his patient. On this point the doctors need have no mis¬
givings. At the present time the higher branch of the
medical profession entrusts to the chemists the dispensing
of their prescriptions, and I believe this arrangement i s
carried out to the entire satisfaction of all the parties con¬
cerned. I am sure that if doctors only know the care and
exactitude exercised by chemists in this respect, they would
see that this work can best be done by a class who make it
their especial study, and who can complete it without the
probability of being called away, perhaps until hours after
the patient should have had the medicine.

But they also want the medicine to be supplied at as
moderate a cost as possible. I take it they consider the
price usually charged now is too hig;h if the plan is to be
generally adopted. If this is bo, it is our duty to see
whether it is not possible, with a great accession of busi¬
ness, to reduce the charge for dispensing. In carrying out
this, I think we would have to retain the prescription, and
so do away with the work of copying, and to further lessen
the time occupied in dispensing, I suggest that labels, with
ready printed directions, be more generally adopted ; it is
almost universal with doctors themselves. Then, again, the
general practitioner keeps a stock of pills ready made, so
that as soon as he has decided whether they are to be from
Ho. 3 or No. 33 formula, he puts the requisite quantity into
a box in the time that we should take to get a mortar to
make them in. We all know that it takes as long to make
one pill as it does to make a dozen, and nearly as long to
make a dozen as it does a gross, and if the medical men

672

THE PH ARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 5, 18S

would co-operate with the chemists to carry out a plan in
this respect similar to- what they adopt themselves, che¬
mists might take into consideration whether by this saving
of time, and being more fully occupied, they could not
afford to supply medicines from local practitioners’ prescrip¬
tions at lower rates.

Anyhow, I think the subject is worth discussion, and
some effort being made to meet the requirements of the
medical profession. Perhaps it is premature to enter into
the question yet whether any reduction can be made in
the charge for dispensing physicians’ prescriptions as we
have them now, and the usual routine to go through. We
must be prepared to meet with some opposition to the
change, even from chemists, for we must remember that
there are some who make it a special feature of their busi¬
ness to supply surgeons with drugs, and to these the change
may not appear so desirable as it does to others. I am con¬
vinced that if chemists generally show sufficient interest in
the matter, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society will
do what it can to carry out the intentions of the founders of
the Society.

Rochdale. E. Eobinson.

Low Priced “ Patents.”

Sir, — I am a druggist in a locality inhabited chiefly by
a “ working class ” population. Lately a grocer has opened
next door to my shop, who sells all “ patents ” at wholesale
prices. He deals also in cod liver oil and Parrish’s syrup.
Kegarding the latter he has a bill in capitals conspicuously
displayed informing the lieges that what his neighbour the
druggist charges 2s. for he is able to supply for Is. The
result has been- my customers have been reduced in number,
and the last straw was placed on the camel’s back by the in¬
formation conveyed to me by candid friends that the grocer’s
*( chemical food ” was far superior to mine, being taken with
great relish by children, while my production was sourer
and had somewhat of an inky after-taste. On procuring a
bottle of this superior grocery syrup, I find that it absolutely
does not contain a trace of phosphates of lime or iron, being
merely a rather watery syrup, nicely coloured with cochineal,
and flavoured with a dash of HC1. What action would you
recommend in the circumstances? We have no public* ana-
yst, and the Act has never been enforced in this district.

Hiawatha.

Spiritus Ammonite Aromaticus.

Sir, — I have read with interest the correspondence on the
preparation of the above spirit.

As my name has been mentioned in connection with the
subject I may say that for more than a dozen years I have
made sp. ammon. arom. by solution, using volcanic ammonia
and the finest oil of lemon. This way of working admits of
precision, and the product, though slightly coloured, is,
in my judgment, all that could be desired as a medicine.
I use it in dispensing and for making the ammoniated
tinctures.

But the public requires that its sal volatile shall be
colourless, and though this is a matter of no moment, yet
so long aB it is the custom, we cannot afford to disregard it.

By using rectified spirit of good quality, and oils of lemon
and nutmeg which have been distilled from an alkaline
liquor, spirit of sal volatile nearly as colourless as the B.P.
preparation may be made by solution, and quite as colour¬
less if the spirit of wine employed be sufficiently pure to
bear the addition of ammonia without being discoloured.
The rectified spirit of commerce does not usually stand
this test, but no doubt a purer spirit would be supplied if
there were a demand for it.

By the way, Mr. Tanner say3 that “ by dissolving the
ammonise carb. in the water and liq. ammon. fort., and
then adding the solution so obtained to the spirit, a crystal¬
line deposit of acid ammonium carbonate forms, which never
completely redissolves, and the water added for this purpose
is generally in excess of what is contained in the' B.P. pro¬
duct.” This difficulty may, however, be easily avoided. If,
instead of adding the solution to. the spirit, we add the
spirit gradually to the solution with brisk agitation, the
precipitate which forms is very finely divided, and soon
dissolves if the bottle is put in a warm place and occa¬
sionally shaken.

The specific gravity of sp. ammon. arom., taken alone, is
not a character of much value.

It seems very desirable that a remedy so extensively em¬
ployed both by the medical profession and the public should

have its composition more rigorously defined. Why not
state the amount of NH3 and of CO2 it ought to contain —
say 10 grains of the former and 6 grains to' the latter in the
fluid ounce ?

Lastly, I think the advocates of distillation will find it
hard to discover any good reason why that circuitous. mode
of preparing sp. ammon. arom. should not be superseded
by the more direct and reliable process of solution.

Sheffield. ’ John T.' Miller.

Hydrocarbons as Substitutes for Lard.

Sir, — In a recent nnmber of the Journal was a letter in
which the writer drew attention to vaseline as representing
materials of this class and suggestiug that in the new
Pharmacopoeia they should form the basis of all ointments.

Now, I am unable to speak of the action of these hydro¬
carbons from personal observation, but the following fact
may prove very useful in determining the aboye question.

A friend of mine was a short time since severely afflicted
with eczema. He used many kinds of local applications,
with varying results. At length, however, he was urged to
use one of the numerous forms of solid hydrocarbons. Being
in a state of misery, he lost no time in procuring some, and
trying it ; but instead of the promised relief, it drove him .
almost frantic. * . •

This may or may not have been an extremely exceptional
case ; but under any circumstances it points to the im¬
portance of the effects of these hydrocarbons being more
thoroughly investigated, and more clearly understood, ere
they be ordered to be used in the new Pharmacopoeia as a
basis for “all ointments.”

86, Curtain Road, E.O. J. E. SUMMERS.

' Effects of the Frost.

Sir, — In reply to Mr. Bisset’s letter in last week’s
Journal, I think the reason why he found zoedone tasteless
and lime juice neutval after they had been frozen and re¬
melted was owing to the fact that when water freezes it
excludes all foreign matter from its substance. Ice formed
from salt- water contains no salt. We may consider zoedone
as water holding in solution sugar, C02 and other com¬
pounds. In the act of freezing these would all be thrown
out. The lime juice may be considered in the same way. .
Belfast. Wm. Stewart.

Sir, — Mr. Bisset’s letter under above heading, in your
last issue, has prompted me 'to give you the following as
our experience : —

The lower part of one of our windows was filled with
“ vin-santd,” the majority of the bottles lying down. The
front row only were composed alternately of pint bottles of
“ vin-santd ” and “ zoedone.”

After the frost set in every bottle of zoedone was found
to contain a block of ice, the “ vin-santd” remaining un¬
changed for a week later, and then only two out of six in
the row freezing.

One quart bottle of “ vin-santd,” standing further back,
was the only other one in the window frozen. Two bottles
of zoedone had burst ; in the others the corks were hardly
disturbed.

On opening, though no effervescence, there was no ap¬
preciable lack of distinctive flavour, the zoedone being the
mor alatable of the two.

Ely. William Lincolne.

Associations.

Sir, — Having been a constant reader of this valuable
Journal, and taken particular notice of the progress and
advantages attained by the different associations of assistants '
and apprentices, I am/as’a Welsh promoter of pharmacy,
inclined to feel jealous of those neighbouring associations,
and would feel proud if I could arouse my fellow assistants
in South Wales to be up and forming something of the
same nature. I consider it a shame to think that we as a
nation are so backward in that respect. I hope that these
few lines will lead to a further investigation, and that
something to . the improvement of the rising pharmaceutical
students of South Wales will result. _ ONWARD.

Communications, Letters, , etc.have been received from
Messrs. Schacht, Conroy, Nesbit, Mackay, Wynter, Stewart,
Church, Green, Warriner, Humphrey, Wilkinson, Proctor,
Gostling, Local Secretary, Dalex, Pro et Con, Glycerine,
Ignorans, Nemo, Associate, Improver, Solent, Sanitas,
A. P. S., J. G. P. S., M. P. S.

February 12, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

673

THE WEIGHTS, BALANCES AND MEA¬
SURES EMPLOYED IN PHARMACY,
THEIR DEFECTS, AND THE REMEDY.*

BY PROFESSOR REDWOOD.

The Weights and Measures Act of 1878, and the
Order in Council of August 14, 1879, have imposed
new duties and responsibilities on chemists . and
! druggists by rendering it necessary that the weights
and°measures used in dispensing medicines, as well
I as those more commonly employed in buying and
i selling, should be officially verified and stamped,
j For although it may be considered doubtful (yet I
cannot admit even the doubt) whether the law was
intended to apply, and strictly does apply as regards
its requirements, to all the weights and measures
used in pharmacy, or only to those with which sales
by weight or measure are effected, there seems to be
no security against the application of the law to all
weights and measures by inspectors, and much
consequent trouble to dispensing chemists, except
by their submitting their weights and measures of
every description to the process of verification and
stamping.

The following extracts will show what the re¬
quirements of the law are with reference to weights
and measures used for trade ; what the meaning of
the term trade is as used in the Act ; and what the
liability of chemists and. druggists is in regard to
weights and measures which may be found in their
possession, although not used for trade in the sense
in which that term is employed in the Act.

The 24th, 25th, 28th and 29th sections of the Act
state that “ every person who uses or has in his
possession for use for trade a weight, or measure
which is not of the denomination of some Board of
Trade standard shall be liable to a fine,” etc. ; and
11 every person who uses or has in his possession for
use for trade any weight, measure, scale, balance,
steelyard, or weighing machine, which is false or
unjust, shall be liable to a fine, ’ etc. ; and ( every
weight, except where the small size of the weight
renders it impracticable, shall have the denomination
of such weight stamped on the top or side thereof in
legible figures and letters and “ every measure of
capacity shall have the denomination thereof stamped
on the outside of such measure in legible figures and
letters,'”’ and “ every measure and weight whatsoever
used for trade shall be verified and stamped by an
inspector with a stamp of verification under this
Act and “ every person who uses or has in his
possession for use for trade any measure or weight
not stamped as required by this section shall be
liable to a fine,” etc.

The 19th section defines the meaning of the term

trade, as used in this Act, as follows “ Every

contract, bargain, sale or dealing, made or had in

the United Kingdom for any work, goods, wares, or

i merchandise or other thing which has been or is to

be done, sold, delivered, carried, or agreed for by

weight or measure, shall be deemed to be made and

had° according to one of the imperial weights or

measures ascertained by this Act, or to some multiple

or part thereof, and if not so made shall be void ;

and all tolls and duties charged or collected accord-

in" to weight or measure shall be charged and

coflected according to one of the imperial weights or

measures ascertained by this Act, or to some multiple
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

* Read at the Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Society, February 2, 1881.

Third Series, No. 555.

or part thereof. Such contract, bargain, sale, dealing
and collection of tolls and duties as is in this section
mentioned is in this Act referred to under the term
trade.”

Now, this appears clearly to restrict the Act, with
regard to the requirements already specified, to such
weights, balances and measures, as are used for trade ,
that is, as the Act defines it, for selling any article
or doing anything in such way that the contract or
bargain is to do it for payment by weight or measure.

If a weight, balance, or measure is used exclusively
for the purpose of preparing, compounding, or dis¬
pensing medicines, and not for selling by weight or
measure, it cannot be said to be used, for trade , and •
would not, therefore, be necessarily subject to the
requirements of the law to which I have already
alluded, as specified in sections 24, 25, 28 and 29.
Any such weight, balance, or measure would be as
much excluded from the contemplated requirements
of the law as are those used exclusively for analytical
or other scientific purposes.

Then, if this be so, it may be asked why need
chemists and druggists trouble themselves about
having all dispensing weights and measures verified
and stamped ? The answer to this question will be
found in section 59 of the Act, which says, — “Where
any weight, measure, scale, balance, steelyard, or
weighing machine is found in the possession of any
person carrying on trade within the meaning
of this Act, or on the premises of any person
which, whether a building or in the open air, whether
open or enclosed, are used for trade within the
meaning of this Act, such person shall be deemed
for the purposes of this Act, until the contrary is
proved, to have such weight, measure, scale, balance,
steelyard, or weighing machine in his possession for
use for trade.”

An inspector is therefore authorized to assume
that any weight or balance found on premises which,
are employed for trade is itself used for such purpose,
and he may seize the weight or measure, if found
defective, and summon the tradesman, on whom
the duty will fall of proving, if he can, that the
weight or measure is either within the requirement
of the law, or is excluded by reason of its not being
used for trade.

It may not be always easy to satisfy a magistrate
that dispensing weights and measures are not some¬
times used lor selling by weight or measure. The
inspector may himself or through a friend or agent
have purchased 5 or 10 grains of quinine, 20 grains
of rhubarb, or a drachm of laudanum, and evidence of
this would go far to prove that dispensing weights
and measures are liable to be used for trade. But even
if the defence should be successful, the fact that a
dispensing chemist, in the performance of whose
duties great accuracy is required, had been sum¬
moned for using an illegal weight or measure, and
had escaped conviction only by showing that the
law did not apply to his case, would, in addition to
the trouble and annoyance of having to defend
himself in a public court, leave a ceitain stigma
upon his character.

It will be found to be the best and soundest
policy, therefore, for chemists and druggists to have
all tlie weights and measures of the denominations
legally available for use in trade, which they may
employ for any purpose or have on their premises,
officially stamped. That this will entail an additional
burden on chemists and druggists is obvious, and

674

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 12, 1881.

some expressions of complaint on this account may
be anticipated. But a thorough consideration of the
subject in all its bearings will tend, I believe, to
show that the interests of pharmacy may be greatly
advanced by those engaged in its practice promoting
the objects of this law, and as completely as possible
carrying out the regulations which the law con¬
templates.

If I were asked to point out a direction in which
British pharmacy, with all its modern improvements,
had manifested little or no progress, and was much
behind the existing state of pharmacy abroad and
the advanced state of science and art in this country,
I should refer to the imperfect arrangements adopted
for ensuring accuracy of weight and measure in
dispensing medicines.

The same old system of using a pair of hand
scales, which are taken out of a box and roughly
thrown back again each time they are used, which
prevailed a century or two ago, in the days when
Mithridate and Venice treacle were looked upon as
potent medicines, still prevails and is apparently
considered equal to the requirements of modern
pharmacy, which has to deal with strychnia, aconi¬
tine, and a host of active medicinal agents, the doses
of which should be adjusted not by grains but by
hundredths of a grain. Until recently the weights
and measures employed in dispensing medicines
have not been subjected to any official test of their
accuracy, and there is reason to believe that a great
part of those still commonly used are very defective.
It can hardly be said that the regulations hitherto
adopted for giving effect to the new applications of
the law to apothecaries’ weights and measures are
capable of fulfilling what is required in a satis¬
factory manner. The testing of these weights and
measures ought to be conducted on a different prin¬
ciple from that which has generally been applied in
the verification of the weights and measures used
in ordinary commercial transactions. In the latter
case the object is the protection of the purchaser
from fraud, and the principal aim in testing is to
ascertain that the weight or measure fully represents
the quantity indicated. If it be somewhat in excess
of the quantity, this, being in favour of the pur¬
chaser, would not be considered an offence in the
way that a deficiency would be. It is the usual
practice in making weights to keep them a little in
excess of the true weights they are intended to
represent, allowance being thus made for wear in
using. So also in testing weights, although no
deficiency is allowed, a slight excess is not objected
to, but is rather looked for, if not required, being
commonly designated the turn of the scales. This,
however, is a variable quantity, depending partly on
the sensitiveness of the scales and partly on the
judgment of the operator. If a weight turns the
scales in the right direction when tried against
the standard, it is so far right that it cannot be said
to be unjust for the purposes of commerce, and this
is what the law seems to have contemplated.

Now I venture to submit that this is not the right
system to apply in the making or the testing of
weights or measures used for dispensing medicines.
If some doses of strychnia were about to be weighed,
it would hardly be said that the use of a grain
weight that was half a grain in excess of its true
weight, and of a balance that took another half grain
to give the turn of the scales, would benefit the
purchaser or be a favour for which he would have

reason to be thankful. In dispensing the greatest
practicable accuracy is demanded, and for the attain¬
ment of this object it is necessary to have instruments
of exactness, and especially accurate weights and a
true and sensitive balance. Nothing here that is
a deviation from strict accuracy tends to favour the
purchaser, and with reference to weights, the only
ground on which any deviation can be justified is
that of the difficulty of preserving accurate weights
in an unaltered state from the effects of use. Some
deviations must be allowed, to admit of wear in
using, but they need not exceed narrow limits. In
making and also in testing apothecaries’ weights
with a view to their being verified and stamped, I
would suggest the following limits of deviation from
the legal standards, these deviations being in the
direction of excess : —

On \ grain . 0 ‘02 grain.

,, 1 grain to £)ss . 0‘05 ,,

„ D j to 3iv . . . . . . o-io „

„ ^i to gx . 0*25 „

These are the limits I have adopted in the verifi¬
cation of apothecaries’ weights, and which I have
submitted to the Board of Trade. I consider the
deviations indicated sufficient to allow for the effects
of wear, with careful use, during a reasonable time,
which is all that can be required. They are the
greatest deviations proposed to be allowed, but much
less than are now usually allowed, in weights of this
description when they are stamped, and are then
supposed to be in a fit state for the commencement
of their use. In time they will lose by abrasion and
may soon lose to a sensible extent if subjected to
rough usage. The careful and conscientious pharma¬
cist will of course from time to time have his weights
and scales tested and readjusted or renewed if neces¬
sary. He will do well to keep a set of weights for
the exclusive purpose of testing those in daily use.
But this is work that cannot be done without the use
of a suitable balance, — one sensible to the hundredth
or at least to the fiftieth of a grain, — and this
together with a set of accurate weights, such as are
used for analytical purposes, should be looked upon
as essential appendages to every pharmaceutical
establishment where medicines are dispensed. The
habit of using such instruments of precision when
required, as they often are in dispensing powerful
medicines, cannot fail to produce a beneficial influ¬
ence, and their use, as well as the dexterity required
for their successful use, will not only serve to dis¬
tinguish the operations of pharmacy from those of
ordinary trade, but will impress the public with the
importance of the scientific training to which the
pharmacist is subjected. The Pharmaceutical Society,
which has done so much towards promoting the ad¬
vancement of scientific pharmacy, is naturally looked
to for its aid in bringing about an extension of the
use of accurate weights and dispensing balances.
This object would be promoted by encouraging the
appointment of special inspectors for the testing and
stamping of weights and measures in which great
accuracy is required, and by inducing the adoption
by such inspectors of a uniform practice of stamping
only weights that come within fixed limits of devia¬
tion from the legal standards. As I have already
said, in the case of weights, only narrow limits of
deviation need be, and should be, allowed.

With regard to apothecaries’ graduated glass mea¬
sures, although the same object of attaining to the
greatest practicable accuracy in their construction

February 12, 1881.1 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

675

and use should actuate those by whom they are
made and used, the result will necessarily fall short
of what can be accomplished in the case of weights.
It may be broadly stated that we have no such
thing as accurately graduated measures of capacity.
The best results obtained in that direction are but

I approximations to strict accuracy. An operator
may possibly find that a quantity of a liquid which
he has measured with a graduated glass measure,
when tested by weight will prove to be the true
measure indicated by volume, but this is a result so
; rarely occurring that it may be looked upon as com¬
pletely accidental, and quite incapable of attainment
with certainty by the most skilled operator. There
are several difficulties that stand in the way of
correctly estimating the volume of a liquid by means
of a graduated glass measure. These apply partly
to the construction of the measure, and partly to its
use either in testing or in practically applying it
as a measuring instrument. In graduating the
measure, that is, marking its capacity, the proper
quantity of liquid must be put into the glass, and
another measure is used for this purpose, there¬
fore whatever difficulties beset the attainment of
accuracy in the instrument about to be produced
will have applied also, in some degree, to that which
is used in its production. The inaccuracies in one
are thus extended to, and may be increased in, the
other. When the measured liquid has been intro¬
duced, the position of its surface is to be marked on
the outside of the glass, and to enable the operator to
do this, the glass, before commencing the operation, is
partly covered on the outside with a sort of varnish
which can be easily removed at the end of the
process, and the height at which the liquid stands
in the glass is temporarily indicated by a mark made
in the varnish ; or sometimes a small spot is marked
on the glass with a coloured liquid from the point
of a fine brush without any varnish having been
previously applied. In doing this the glass must be
placed on a level surface, and the eye of the operator
must be horizontal with the surface of the liquid
and coincide with it. But the surface of the liquid
in a glass measure will not be level but curved, this
being caused by the adhesion of the liquid (water)
to the surface of the glass, producing a concavity or
meniscus the depth of which will vary with the
diameter of the vessel, the nature of the liquid, and
|j . the condition of the surface of the glass.

A question arises here as to what part of the
meniscus the marked line on the glass should
correspond to. There appears to have been no
fixed rule observed by the makers or by the testers
of these measures with reference to this point.
Some have taken the bottom of the meniscus, and
some the top, but the prevailing practice appears to
have been to take a point midway between the top
and bottom. About two months ago a circular was
sent to inspectors of weights and measures, by direc¬
tion of the Board of Trade, calling attention to the
fact that in a report of the Commissioners of Weights
and Measures, in 1870, Professor Miller, of Cambridge,
suggested that the bottom of the meniscus was the
best if not the only definable point that could be
taken in marking the surface of a liquid in a glass
tube. It appeared from this communication that the
Board of Trade, although they offered no authorita¬
tive instructions on the subject, favoured the opinion
that the bottom of the meniscus should be used by
inspectors in reading the indications obtained with

graduated glass measures; and the opinion thus
conveyed or implied has no doubt largely influenced
the practice of manufacturers as well as inspectors.
The adoption of one uniform rule in this respect
would tend to remove a very influential source of
errors in the use of these measures, for no near
approach to accuracy can be attained with reference
to them until makers, testers and users are agreed
as to the proper method of reading their indica¬
tions. If one reads from the top, another from
the bottom, and others, again, from some inter¬
mediate part of the meniscus, there may be differ¬
ences in the results arrived at of important amounts,
but differing, of course, according to the diameter
of the measure used. The object of the communica¬
tion of the Board of Trade appears to have been to
induce uniformity of practice in this respect, and
although I have heard of inspectors who claim the
. right to exercise their own judgment in the matter
and refuse to deviate from their accustomed prac¬
tice, yet I have no doubt there will be a general
disposition manifested to follow what may be looked
upon as a recommendation or at least a suggestion
from so high an authority as the head of the Stan¬
dards Office. I have reason to believe that the
Board of Trade look with some confidence to the
Pharmaceutical Society for the aid they are so
capable of giving in bringing about a more general
agreement in the practice of those engaged in making
and testing, as well as of those more largely engaged
in using these measures. I was myself at first dis¬
posed to consider the middle of the meniscus the
part that ought to correspond with the marked line
on the glass, but since my attention has been more
specifically called to the subject by the communica¬
tion from the Standards Office I have not only
adopted the method therein suggested, but have
come to the conclusion that it is the best and safest
method to adopt. The bottom of the meniscus is a
tolerably well defined line ; the middle of course is
not; and the top is less clearly defined than the
bottom.

Taking the bottom of the meniscus, therefore, as
the part of the surface of the liquid with which the
marked line on the glass should correspond, I may
now return to the operation of marking the gradua¬
tions on a glass measure. This, as I have already
said, is first done by scratching a line in the varnish
or marking a spot on the glass. The line thus
made will, of course, not be a mathematical line
having length without breadth or thickness. It
will necessarily have some thickness, which must
extend either above or below or both above and
below the lowest part of the line forming the
bottom of the meniscus. I would suggest that it
should extend above the boundary of the meniscus
rather than below it ; so also the spot must cover a
certain area and should occupy a position similar to
that of the line. The mark I am now alluding
to, however, is but a temporary mark for guiding
the operator in subsequently making a permanent
engraved line by the application of the engraving
wheel. Some dexterity is required in performing
both these operations, especially the former, which
requires that the eye of the operator should be
exactly level with the surface of the liquid. If it
be either above or below this position, the mark
made on the outside of the glass, apparently corre¬
sponding with the surface of the liquid inside, will
| not be in its right position. All the intended

676 TH7 L'HARMAOEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 12, 1831.

graduations of a glass measure are first marked
superficially while the liquid is present, and the
liquid being then removed the engraving wheel is
applied over the marks for the purpose of producing
permanent engraved lines.

Now all this, which is the work of those engaged
in graduating glass measures, involves several diffi¬
culties which are so many sources of deviation from
strict accuracy. There is first the introduction of
the right quantity of liquid into the glass. If this
is done by volume there are several obstacles to the
attainment of accuracy there. But of course it
might be done by weight, which would greatly
lessen the liability to error, but would also greatly
increase the time occupied in the operation, and
therefore it is not practically adopted with measures
of this description. Then with reference to the part
of the meniscus opposite which the line is to be
drawn, uniformity of practice on this point has not
yet been established, and even if it were now estab¬
lished, there are thousands of glass measures in use
that were graduated and officially verified and marked
before this rule came into operation. Then again
there is the difficulty of making the first superficial
marks in the right places, and the further difficulty of
making the engraved lines accurately to coincide
with the centres of the superficial marks. These
latter difficulties would still remain if the first diffi¬
culty as to the quantity of liquid introduced were
removed.

The result is that the graduated glass measures
used in pharmacy, even those that have been duly
tested and stamped by legally appointed inspectors,
cannot be relied upon with any confidence, unless it
is known what rule, if any, has been adopted in
testing them ; that is to say, whether the top or the
bottom or the middle of the meniscus has been
considered the part of the surface of the iquid with
which the engraved line is intended to coincide.
Even under the most favourable circumstances,
where the maker and verifier of the measure have
adopted the recent suggestion of the Board of Trade,
all that can be reasonably looked for is an approxi¬
mation to strict accuracy, and this only, as far as its
use is concerned, when the user of the measure,
knowing on what principle it has been tested and
verified, adopts the same principle in using it.
Under these circumstances there may be a near
approximation to accuracy, but still the indications
afforded by the engraved marks on the measure will
be almost always, and almost necessarily, either
above or below the right quantity. The general
tendency of inspectors, who have only been accus¬
tomed to the verification of measures used exclusively
for commercial purposes, has been to pass those that
were in excess of the true measure, even wheu the
excess is considerable, but to reject any that were at
all short of measure, thus acting on the same principle
as that adopted in regard to weights. This however,
is not the right principle to adopt in testing
apothecaries’ glass measures, which are almost ex¬
clusively used for dispensing medicines. In a cer¬
tain sense, excess of measure may be here looked
upon as a more serious error than deficiency. The
point to be aimed at is to have neither excess nor
deficiency. By very careful and skilful manipulation
the deviations from strict accuracy may be reduced
to a small amount, the extent of which will greatly
depend upon the area of the surface of liquid in the
measure. Thus, with measures of a conical form, a

deviation of two or three minims is scarcely
appreciable when the diameter of the surface of
the liquid is half an inch or more in extent. A
drop or two spread over the surface in such a
case forms a thin film which has breadth enough
but very little thickness. Measure-glasses of this
form are not well suited for measuring small
quantities of powerful medicines, and yet I find
most of the minim measures of the present day are
of the conical form, which it appears are preferred
to the narrow cylindrical measures because they are
more easily cleaned. Their introduction, however,
is a modern innovation, and one which I think ought
not to be encouraged. Looking back to the days of my
practical experience in pharmacy I have no recollec¬
tion of these conical minim measures which are
now found in every pharmaceutical establishment.
Minim measures used to be always of the narrow
cylindrical form, but even they are not free from
some defects. In addition to their not being easily
cleaned, it is sometimes found that they are not easily
emptied, this latter effect occurring more especially
when there is strong adhesion between the glass and
the liquid, or when under other circumstances some
of the liquid remains attached to the glass in distinct
drops. As measures, however, these cylindrical
glasses, when in a fit state for use, admit of greater
exactness of adjustment than do those of the conical
form.

One of the serious defects in the glass measures
now commonly used is that of having too many
graduations on the same measure. This applies
especially to small conical measures, which are

Real size of measure,
sometimes graduated up to 120 or 240 minims, with
marks for every 5 minims carried up to parts of the

• ' •

February 12, 1S§1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

677

alass where the surface of the contained liquid being
over half an inch in diameter, it is impossible to
measure with accuracy. This crowding in of a large
number of graduations, and thus making the same
measure serve both for minims and drachms, is a
great mistake, and the practice ought to be dis¬
couraged. Here is a half-ounce conical measuie,
with minim graduations from 5 minims upwards.
Now, who would think of using a measure of this
sort for measuring 5, 10, or even 15 minims, unless
it were in the case of an inert medicine, which, how¬
ever, would hardly be ordered in such quantities 1 But
the objection in this case is much greater when we
come to the graduations for successive quantities of
5 minims each higher up on the glass, where the
diameter of the conical vessel having increased, the
lines are so near to each other that they cannot all
have numbers attached to them, and it is not
easy to identify the values (if they have any) of the
closely crowded lines. On the introduction of a
liquid into such a measure, the meniscus will occupy
the space between three of the marked lines, so
that the reading might be either 10 minims more or
10 minims less, according to the part ol the meniscus
that the lines are supposed to correspond to. In
measures of this description I would have no
graduation below 10 minims, and then progress by
tens up to 30 minims, passing from 30 to 60, and
thence to 90 and 120, without any intermediate
marks. This is high enough to go with a measure
on which minims are marked. A measure having
a range of half an ounce should have no subdivisions
of less than half a drachm, and these should be
confined to the lower and narrower end of the glass.
The same may be said of an ounce measure, if well
made, so as to be narrow at the bottom and the
glass not too thick. With larger measures the
graduation should commence from higher points, the
tendency throughout being to diminish the number
of graduations and to avoid having any for small
quantities in large measures. What good purpose
can be answered by having a graduation for halt an
ounce on a half-pint measure, especially if it be of
the beaker form ; or even for so little as an ounce on
a twenty or forty ounce measure. Yet these gradua¬
tions are constantly found on large measures of the
beaker form. There are, no doubt, those who consider
that a multitude of graduations on a measure-glass
make the instrument more valuable, but a little reflec¬
tion and a knowledge of the circumstances attending
the production of the instrument, with its numerous
engraved markings upon it, would probably lead to
a different conclusion. Now, let us take a two-drachm,
half-ounce, or ounce measure glass, and consider what
has to be done to it before it is ready for use. The
manufacturer has first to provide the plain glass,
which must be of good clear glass that will not
unduly distort the rays of light that are to pass
through it when used. Then each glass has to be
submitted to the processes to which I have already
alluded for effecting all the graduations and markings
required for it. This constitutes a distinct class
of business, and, I believe, graduators undertake the
work at about 2 o?., or less, for each measure.
For this small sum is it reasonable to expect that
all the measurements and markings should be
made with the accuracy required in an instrument
such as would be used for purely scientific purposes ?
The only wonder is that the work is as well done as
it generally proves to be; but to look for perfection

under the circumstances would be as unreasonable as
it is, while expecting accuracy, to insist on having a
large number of graduations, and some of them use¬
less, on each glass, which must necessitate a more
hasty and less careful and accurate performance of
the work than might otherwise be afforded. I would
strongly urge upon pharmacists that they should
encourage the use of graduated measures in which
there should be a smaller number of graduations than
are now usually marked on them, and thus induce
more pains to be taken in producing measures of
greater accuracy.

This subject occupied much more attention in the
early days of the Pharmaceutical Society than it has
done latterly. The late Mr. Alsop, of Sloane Square,
in 1843, pointed out the great disparity there is in
the sizes of drops, depending partly on the nature ot
the liquid, and partly on the surface from which the
drops fall. He suggested a more general adoption of
the practice of ordering minims instead of drops in
prescribing medicines, and with the view of render¬
ing the measurement of minims more exact, lie
introduced what he called his minim meter, the
form of which was improved some years afterwards,
in 1851, by Mr. Ashton, a medical man, residing in
Cavendish Square. Mr. Alsop’s minim meter con¬
sisted of a straight tube of small, but uniform
diameter, drawn out to a small opening at the lower
end, and having a piston working in the upper open
end. by which a liquid could be drawn up into the
tube to any required height, and discharged again by
depressing the piston. The object ol Mr. Ashton’s
improvement was, by enlarging the upper end of the
tube where the piston works, to prevent the liquid
from coming into contact with the packing of the
piston. The same object was effected in a very
simple manner by Mr. Abraham, ol Liverpool, by
discarding the piston altogether and substituting for
it a small elastic indiarubber bottle which is attached
to the upper end of the graduated tube. With either
of these instruments the measurement of small quan-
ties of liquids may be effected with considerable
exactness. The graduated part of the tube may be
reduced in diameter, as it was by Mr. Ashton, so that
each minim should occupy the tenth part of an inch
or even more if desired, and the complete discharge
of the liquid from so narrow a tube is ensured by the
pressure of the air upon it when the piston is de¬
pressed . This instrument may be termed the syringe
<pipette. Small open pipettes to be worked w ith the
finger, and graduated only up to 5 or 10 minims,
each minim occupying half of an inch, are among the
instruments of greatest precision used by dispensers
for measuring liquids. Minim tubes of the ordinary
cylindrical form, but of small diameter and thin
glass, as shown in the drawing, are also supplied by
dealers in chemists’ sundries, and when caret ully
graduated may be sometimes used with advantage.
It is important, however, in using these small tubes
and, indeed, in using open tubes or small conical
measures generally, to ascertain that the innei sur¬
face of the tube is in a condition in which the liquid
will freely and uniformly adhere to the glass and
flow over it. To ensure this the surface of the glass
should be clean and not too dry. If the surface
should have any oily or resinous matter on it, or il
it be too dry, the liquid (water), instead of adhering,
may be repelled, and the surface become convex
instead of concave. Under these circumstances the
liquid, under the sole influence of cohesion among

678

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 12, issi

Syringe pipette
(full size).

its particles, will gather into dis¬
tinct drops which will remain at¬
tached to the surface of the glass.
The best method of perfectly cleans¬
ing the glass and preventing such
results is to put oil of vitriol into
it and afterwards to well rinse it
with water.

There is a slight source of vari¬
ance in the results obtained by
measuring with a graduated glass
measure, even when all the pre¬
cautions referred to have been ob¬
served, which is that the curvature,
and consequently the depth of the
meniscus, will vary with different
liquids. Thus, for instance, a resi¬
nous tincture will sometimes pre¬
sent an almost perfectly flat surface,
the resinous matter present having
partly destroyed the adhesion of
the liquid for the glass. This is
a result for which
allowance must be
made by the operator
in determining the
position the surface
of the liquid should
bear with reference
to the marked line
on the glass.

Having alluded to
two classes of mea¬
suring instruments

Minim pipette Minim tube

(full size). (full size).

which are used for the purposes referred to, — one
consisting of a vessel closed at the bottom and
open at the top, into which a liquid is intro¬
duced to the required height, and from which it is
afterwards poured by inverting the vessel, and the
other consisting of a tube open at the bottom (where
the liquid is introduced and discharged) and either
open at the top (until closed with the finger) or
closed there with a piston or elastic bag, — it is
necessary to observe with reference to these measures
that while the former are measures of capacity, the
latter are measures of delivery. The syringe or
elastic bag pipette is undoubtedly the form of appa¬
ratus, if properly graduated, with which the most,
accurate measurements may be made. This form of
instrument is made to deliver the quantities indicated
by its graduated markings. On the other hand,
the ordinary conical or cylindrical open-mouthed
measure glass is only a measure of capacity. It
contains the quantity of liquid indicated by any one
of its markings when filled up to that mark, but the
whole of this liquid cannot be poured out of it,
some being retained by adhesion to the surface of
the glass.

It will thus be seen that the volumetric measure¬
ment of liquids, as it is usually effected for pharma¬
ceutical purposes, is attended with many and serious
difficulties, and my object in this communication
has partly been to point out what the difficulties are,
not by any means with the view of inducing an easy
acquiescence in defective operations because it is
difficult to attain to greater perfection, but rather
to stimulate the members of our fraternity to push
forward in the acquirement of the highest practicable
precision required in the exercise of their art, by
which and by the necessity for scientific culture, the
art of pharmacy is distinguished from many other
pursuits.

The Board of Trade, who have already suggested
what they consider the right principle to adopt in
graduating and testing apothecaries’ measures, are
now, I believe, preparing a scale of errors which may
be allowed in these instruments. This, of course, is
founded on the admitted fact that slight errors can¬
not be avoided. Such error, will be greatest in
measures of large diameters and may in a glass,
the surface of the liquid in which is about 4 inches
in diameter, amount to 50 or 60 minims, and
in a small glass where the surface of the liquid is
from half an inch to a quarter of an inch in diameter
it may be from 1 minim to less than \ a minim.
The question of allowable errors, however, is one
principally affecting inspectors who have to verify,
and makers or engravers whose duty it is to graduate,
these measures. What the chemist .who uses them has
to do is, to purchase only measures that are guaranteed
to be graduated from the bottom of the meniscus, with
only slight deviations for errors and these extending
upwards towards the middle of the curve. He will
then be enabled to use them with the best security
he can be reasonably expected to provide for their
accuracy within the prescribed limits. It may be
some satisfaction to those chemists who have already
supplied themselves with measures that have been
verified and stamped when the practice was more lax
than it has since become, to know, that although
they may not be strictly accurate, yet, thanks to the
Trade Protection Association, the Court of Appeal
has decided that the use of such measures if legally
stamped does not constitute an offence in law until

February 12, 1881.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

679

formal proof has been supplied to the chemist that
they are false and unjust. If, with that knowledge,
he continues to use them he will be subject to well
deserved punishment.

It will, I am sure, be admitted that it is our duty
to further as far as we can the objects contemplated
by the Legislature and the Board of Trade in estab¬
lishing a uniform and correct system of weights and
measures for use in trade, and also to extend this
system to all departments of pharmacy, by using only
such weights, scales, balances and graduated measures
for dispensing medicines as will justify the announce¬
ment of “ prescriptions accurately prepared.”

[The discussion on this paper is printed at p. 683.]

ESTIMATION OF NICOTIA IN TOBACCO.*

Some work has been done by Mr. E. T. Pease, in the
estimation of alkaloid in leaf and manufactured tobacco,
by the volumetric method with potassium mercuric
iodide, as directed in detail by Dragendorff (‘Werthbes-
timmung einiger starkwirkenden Droguen,’ 1874, 52).

The tobacco was first dried, the portion weighed, then
macerated for at least twenty-four hours with water
acidulated with sulphuric acid, and the expressed liquid
concentrated and filtered. The solution from 2 to 3
grams of tobacco, was brought to 50 c.c., and of this
10 c.c. were taken for titration. The end of the reaction
was found by filtering a few drops through a very small
filter, trying the filtrate on a watch glass with a drop
of the volumetric reagent, and rinsing the filter into the
whole solution. The potassium mercuric iodide was
twentieth normal, or old decinormal, Mayer’s standard
(HgCl2 + 6KI).

The precipitate first obtained appears milky when
formed, but soon turns black and waxy, and settles
to the bottom in a coherent mass. Several of the opera¬
tions were duplicated, with but very slight differences in
results. The end of the precipitation is sharply defined.
No. 1. Cigars, 2'00 per cent, nicotia.

No. 2. Kentucky leaf tobacco, 4'05 per cent, nicotia.
No. 3. Sweet peach chewing, manufactured, with much
steaming, from same grade as No. 2, 3 '24 per cent, nicotia.

No. 4. Filler from real Havana tobacco cigar, 4'21
per cent, nicotia.

No. 5. “Havana-seed” leaf tobacco (grown in this
country from imported seed), 3'94 per cent, nicotia.

No/6. Gem cigarette tobacco, Richmond, Va., 3'93
per cent, nicotia.

A short clay pipe, some time in use and partly
coloured, though not darker than pipes seen on the
street daily, was pulverized, macerated in acidulated
water, and the solution treated as from tobacco. fhe
result of titration, if due to nicotia, indicated 0'4779
gram of that alkaloid. The pipe weighed 23 619 grams;
therefore 2'02 per cent, of alkaloid was indicated. .

Mr. Pease also made an experiment in determination
of tobacco smoke. The -presence of nicotia in the smoke
has been made the subject of discrepant reports. He re¬
ports the following result, also the one with the old pipe,
above stated, with some reservation. At present he is not
assured but that some of the empyreumatic products of
nicotia (or of tobacco) may react with Mayer’s solu¬
tion. Until research or experiment settles the question,
he could not interpret the results as positive evidences of
unchanged nicotia. A quantity of the dried Havana-seed
leaf tobacco (No. 5), weighing 3'6685 grams, was burned
in a brier-wood pipe (one- long in use). The pipe bowl
was tightly connected to glass tubing reaching to the
bottom of a four ounce flask, containing acidulated water,
and this flask was suitably connected with another holding
acidulated water. All the smoke was drawn through the
flasks. The filtered solutions were concentrated, and
titrated. A total of 0*0 SI gram of nicotia was indicated,
this being 2'48 per cent, of the dried tobacco burned.

* From the Journal of the Am. Chan. Soe., July, 1880.

Cljt Uljsrmittmfiral Jfounml

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , hooks for review , etc., should he addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociatcs respecting the
transmission of the Journal should he sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17 , Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, Tendon, W.
Envelopes indorsed u Pharm. J our nj

THE REGISTRAR’S REPORT.

Although accidental, there was a certain “fitness
of things” in the coincidence that on the day on
which the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society
put the finishing touches to the Bill for the amend¬
ment of the existing laws relating to pharmacy,
which it intends to lay before Parliament in the
name of the chemists and druggists of Great Britain,
the Registrar presented his annual statistical report
disclosing the number of pharmaceutical chemists
and chemists and druggists on the Registers and the
proportion of them who are there by virtue of having
passed a qualifying examination, as well as the pro¬
portion of them who are connected with the Society
which is assuming to aet in the name of the whole.
Should the Bill reach a discussion on the second
reading in the present unpromising session, no doubt
these statistics will be taken into consideration, and
it is consequently so far satisfactory to find that the
numerical strength of the Pharmaceutical Society,
both absolutely and relatively, was greater at the
end of the past year than at any previous period.
Nevertheless, it must be confessed that the sub¬
scribers to its funds are not yet numerically
proportionate to the unanimity with which the
whole trade looks to the Council of the Society at
times like the present to use its influence and
money in obtaining remedial legislation. The
statistics, however, are not without indications that
the Society contains within its ranks the elite of
pharmacy.

Commencing with the Register of Chemists and
Druggists it appears that it now includes 13,462
names. This shows an apparent decrease during
the year of 89. But to arrive at a correct conclusion
it is necessary to take cognizance of the fact that at
the close of the year the Registrar exercised the
power vested in him by the 10th section of the
Pharmacy Act of erasing from the Register the
names of persons who could no longer be com¬
municated with at their registered addresses. In
this way 160 names were erased, and as this repre¬
sented the accumulation of entries which had ceased
to be correct during two years, it may fairly be
assumed that the number of persons who in the
course of the year 1880 entered the calling of a
chemist and druggist through the portal of the

680

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[February 12, 1881.

Minor examination was about equal to the number
of names that became removable from the Register
during the same time through death and other
causes.

The above-mentioned absence ol increase, as apply¬
ing to the number of persons entering an already over¬
crowded calling, may be regarded with equanimity.
But when we turn to the Register of Pharmaceutical
Chemists we find that this also is nearly stationary,
the number of persons who have passed the higher
examination during the year 1880 having been only
9 in excess of the number whose names have become
removable from this relatively small Register, being
2308 against 2299. Here the prospect becomes less
satisfactory, as it shows what a large proportion of
men rest content with the bare legal qualification
and refrain from pressing forward to that higher
one which every-day experience proves to be of more
value to the pharmacist than any protection that the
Legislature is likely to grant would be. Still it is
interesting to note that there has now been a slight
increase in two successive years, which appears to
indicate that the point has been reached at which
the additions of examined men to the Register of
Pharmaceutical Chemists is equal to the combined
losses of examined and non-examined men, which
latter still constitute a considerable proportion of
the whole class.

This leads us to the next topic, which is the
relative proportions of examined and non-examined
men on the Registers. The number of persons
who passed the different examinations and the
relative proportion of those who failed has been
dealt with recently in our yearly summary and need
not be repeated here. Of course, as the Registers
are now practically only recruited by examination,
the proportion of examined men is an increasing
one ; the extent of the increase is ascertainable from
the new Register, a copy of which was laid before
the Council at its last meeting.

From this it appears that of the 2308 Pharmaceu¬
tical Chemists now on the Register 1450 or 62 ‘82
per cent, have passed the Major examination. The
number last year was 1410 or 61’33, so that the
increase of examined men on this Register has been
40, or 1 '49 per cent, of the whole. The relative pro¬
portion of Pharmaceutical Chemists who have passed
the Major examination to the entire number of Che¬
mists and Druggists is now 10*77 per cent., against
10 ’40 per cent, a year ago.

After deducting the Pharmaceutical Chemists there
remain on the Register 11,154 Chemists and Drug¬
gists. Of these 2853 or 25*57 per cent, have passed
the Minor examination, being a net increase of 208 ;
whilst the percentage relation to the entire Register
has simultaneously been raised from 19*52 per cent,
to 21*19 per cent. It will be observed that this class
still includes a much larger proportion of unexamined
men than the other ; in fact it will probably be a
matter of surprise to some to learn that one out of

every three examined men has passed the Major,
though the proportion of Minor men is becoming
larger every year. The two classes taken together
number 4303 examined men, or 31*96 per cent, of
the entire Register.

The following table will show these details more
clearly: —

January 1, 1880.

January 1, 1881.

Number.

Per cent.

Number.

Per cent.

Pharmaceutical

Chemists : — •
Examined . .

Non-examined

Me}16'96

““1 2308

10*77),..,,
6-37 J 1( 14

Chemists and

Druggists who
have passed the

Minor only . .

Remainder, in-

2645

19-52

2853

21-19

eluding those
who have;

passed the
Modified . .

8607

63-52

8301

61-67

Total . . . .

13551

100-00

13462

100-00

Turning now to the numerical strength of the
Pharmaceutical Society, we find, as before intimated,
that it is now absolutely greater than in any previous
year, and as this is coincident with a decrease in the
Register, it follows, a fortiori, that it is so also re¬
latively to the whole body of chemists and druggists.
According to the return the number of persons con¬
nected with the Society at the end of last year as
Members and Associates (excluding Apprentices)
was 4636, or 34*44 per cent, of the 13,462 on the
Register. A year previously the numbers were
4589, or 33*86 per cent. There has thus been a net
increase of 47, which has been mainly due to the
increase in the important class of Associates in
Business, as both the Pharmaceutical Chemist and
Chemist and Druggist Members show a small de¬
crease.

The decrease of 17 (or 2 less than in the previous
year) in the Pharmaceutical Chemist Members shows
that the point has not yet been reached when the
fresh elections of examined men are equal to the
losses of examined men as well as of those who hold
the title in consequence of having joined the Society
before the year 1853. But it is satisfactory to notice
that the additions to this class during 1880 were 1 1
in excess of the total number who passed the Major
that year, again proving that there is a disposition
among some who had previously held aloof to come
forward and join the Society. Of the 2308 regis¬
tered Pharmaceutical Chemists, 1966, or 85*18 per
cent, are now Members of the Pharmaceutical So¬
ciety.

The decrease in the Chemist and Druggist Mem¬
bers, amounting in this return to 9, is one that must
necessarily become more marked as years pass on.

The Associates in Business show an increase
of 60, and now number 1025, and the Associates
not in Business show an increase of 13, and num¬
ber 840.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

681

February 12, 1881.]

Besides the foregoing there are 1074 Apprentices
or Students of the Society, which is 3 in excess of the
previous year.

These figures also we throw into a tabular form : —

January 1, 1880.

January 1, 1881.

Per cent

No.

Per cent

No.

ofwhole.

ofwhole.

Pharmaceutical Chemists,
Members of the Society .

1983

86-25

1966

85*18

Other Registered Chemists

and Druggists connected
with the Pharmaceutical
Society .

2606

_

2670

—

Total number of Registered

Chemists and Druggists
connected with the Phar¬
maceutical Society . . .

4589

33-S6

4636

34-44

Registered Apprentices sub-

1071

1074

scribing to the Society .

■

EXHIBITION OF CHEMICAL AND PHARMA¬
CEUTICAL APPARATUS, ETC.

Xt will be remembered that the Council, at its
meeting last week, on the motion of Dr. Symes,
passed a resolution that an Exhibition of chemical
and pharmaceutical apparatus, and other objects ol
special, interest to pharmacists, should be held in
the Society’s rooms during the present year, but
referred the question as to the best time to the
consideration of the Library, Museum and Labora¬
tory Committee. On Wednesday last that Committee
met and decided that the Exhibition shall be held
in connection with the Annual Meeting of the
Pharmaceutical Society in May, and an official
announcement to that effect appears in another part
of this Journal. Applications for space by intending
exhibitors will have to be made to the Secretary
before the 1st of May ; but as this constitutes a
considerably longer notice than it was possible to
give respecting the Exhibition of last year, it may be
hoped that the number of exhibitors on that occasion,
though large, will be exceeded on the coming one.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY.

The courses of lectures on “ Chemistry and Phar¬
macy ” and “ Materia Medica and Botany ” in con¬
nection with the Pharmaceutical Society s School of
Pharmacy, 17, Bloomsbury Square, will recommence
on Tuesday, March 1, when Professor Redwood will
deliver his first lecture on “ Chemistry.” Professor
Bentley will commence his course on “ Materia
Medica and Botany’’ on Friday, March 4. Students
will find the ensuing five months a favourable
period for studying at the School, for between March
1, and the end of July they will have an opportunity
of attending not only the laboratory and the usual
courses on Chemistry and Pharmacy, and Materia
Medica and Botany, but also the summer course on
Systematic and Practical Botany, which is conducted
at the Royal Society’s Gardens, in the Regent’s Park,
where every opportunity will be afforded to them of
obtaining a practical acquaintance with plants.

In addition to the foregoing there is now, also, a
class for the acquirement of practical instruction in

Dispensing, which will recommence on Tuesday,
March 1, at 5 p.m. and be continued every Tues¬
day and Thursday, at the same hour, until the end
of July. The demonstrator, Mr. A. F. Dimmock,
who conducts this class, will be glad to receive any
autograph prescriptions with which members may
be good enough to favour him.

THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES QUESTION IN
PARLIAMENT.

It is consolatory to find, from the proceedings in
the House of Commons, that the unsatisfactory state
of the law in relation to the verification of weights
and measures is attracting the attention of our legis¬
lators. Ou Thursday, the 3rd inst., Mr. Chamber-
lain, the President of the Board of Trade, in replying
to a question put by Mr. Barran as to permission to
use defective glass measures for veterinary purposes,
referred to the recent quashing of a conviction and
said that the Board of Trade had no power to interfere
with the verification by local authorities of glass
measures, but that it was, with the assistance of the
Pharmaceutical Society and the principal local
authorities, preparing suggestions as to the scale of
errors that should be permitted.

Notice of another question, still more to the
point, has, however, been given by Mr. Ross, who
proposes on Friday night to ask the President of the
Board of Trade “ whether under the uncertainty
“ existing as to the interpretation of the 45th section
“of the Weights and Measures Act he proposes any
“legislation on the subject, by which an inspector
“ should be bound to accept as correct any measure or
“vessel duly stamped by an inspector outside his
“district, without himself verifying the accuracy.”
It is obvious that such legislation would be improper,
as it would prevent the testing of a weight or
measure after it has once received a mark of verifica¬
tion, although it might have since become grossly in¬
correct through wear and tear. But the question
may possibly draw from the Government an expres¬
sion of opinion which would have an important
bearing upon the threatened appeal of the Maryle-
bone magistrates against the quashing of their con¬
viction of Mr. Whittle.

THE ARSENIC ACT.

On Thursday evening, in the House of Commons,
Mr. Chaplin called attention to a recent trial for
horse poisoning in Lincolnshire, in which it was
stated that a large quantity of arsenic had been
sold by a chemist, who had entered the sale in his
book as “ to be used for horses,” and asked whether
the Government would take steps to prevent the
indiscriminate sale of arsenic by chemists for such
purposes. In reply, the Home Secretary expressed
an opinion that some amendment of the Arsenic

Act is necessary.

DEATHS OF ANNUITANTS.

We regret to have to announce this week the
deaths of two Annuitants on the Benevolent Fund.
Mr. Edwin Markland, who was elected an Annui¬
tant in 1875, died on the 30th of January, aged,
eighty years. Mr. George David Bensley, of
Wells, Norfolk, elected in 1877, died on the 6th
inst., aged fifty-five years.

682

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 12, 1881.

4

Craivsa.cti.oixs of tbc Jjljaxmacmttfal

Sochtir.

PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING.

Wednesday, February 2, 1881.

MR. T. GREENISH, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR.

The fourth Evening Meeting of the Session was held
on Wednesday, the 2nd inst., the chair being taken at
half-past eight.

Donations to the Museum.

After the minutes of the previous meeting had been
read and confirmed,

Mr. Holmes called attention to various specimens
which were exhibited on the table. The first was a
specimen of guaco, presented by Dr. Symes. The name
of “guaco” had been applied to a number of drugs in
South America which had been used as remedies for
snake bites. The drug had been recently imported into
this country, chiefly, he believed, for use in homoeopathic
medicine. The present specimen differed from the
majority of those he had seen. Whether the Mikania
Guaco had any real therapeutical value he did not know.
There was a specimen of Para tonquin beans which were
very much finer than the ordinary kind, though he did
not know that they were at all superior in quality to the
Chinese sort. Then there was a specimen of Japanese
star-anise. Those who had read the Pharmaceutical
Journal might have noticed the statement that Dr.
Geert had found the fruit to contain a poisonous oil,
and as it was imported into this country and sold at
about half the price of the Chinese star-anise, it appeared
probable that some of it might be mixed with the Chinese
star-anise, and so escape detection. It might be recog¬
nized by its smaller size, want of taste, and the paler
and thicker seeds. The Japanese star-anise had not
as yet appeared in this country mixed with the Chinese
kind in commerce, but he was afraid that it would
be so in course of time. He had been informed by
Mr. Passmore that such was already the casein Amster¬
dam. There was also on the table a specimen of a new
alkaloid, aspidospermine, and its sulphate and citrate,
obtained from the white quebracho bark. There were
also specimens of the oils of turpentine obtained from
Pinus sylvestriS, P. Laricio and P. Pumilio, which had been
presented by Dr. A. Vogl, of Vienna. There were also on
the table specimens collected by the same gentleman of
the different varieties of the gentian root of commerce,
together with herbarium specimens of the plants. He
noticed last year that a specimen of gentian which came
into commerce was remarkably ringed or annulated,
and that this feature was mentioned in ‘ Pharmaco-
graphia’ as a distinguishing character of the root of
Gentiana lutea. On close examination it seemed to
him that the rings were the scars left by the leaves
upon falling off, which left the vascular bundles of the
ribs, and these formed projecting points. He found
upon examination that this characteristic was not con¬
fined to G. lutea, but occurred also in the other species,
and appeared to be limited to what formed an upright
rootstock, and was well marked only in the larger
specimens of older plants of the larger species. One
of the gentians, G. aaclepiadea, which he found to be
used in medicine in Austria, had not an upright rootstock,
but a prostrate rhizome, quite different from any of the
other gentians which he had seen. Another specimen on
the table was one of Aconitum variegatum. This was one
of the species said to be mixed with the ordinary aconite
of commerce. It would be observed the Aconitum Napel-
lus had a much longer and more gradually tapering root
than Aconitum variegatum. The latcer plant was said to
be weaker in its action than Aconitum A apellus.

Mr. Bland said that the question had occurred to him
whether the oil which was obtained from the star-anise
was identical in chemical properties and therapeutical
effects with the oil of the Pimpinella Anisum. From
some specimens that had come under his notice lately, it
seemed that it was not so.

Mr. Holmes said that, as far as he knew, they were
identical in chemical properties. There was a difference 1
in their physical properties. One crystallized much more
easily than the other. The oil of Pimpinella Anisum
crystallized at 50°, while the oil of the lllicium anisatum
crystallized below 35°. He believed that ‘Pharmaco-
graphia ’ said that there was no other difference known.

He knew nothing of any therapeutical difference in the
properties of the two oils.

The President asked Dr. Symes whether guaco had
been chemically examined, and whether any alkaloid
had been obtained from it.

Dr. Symes said that he did not think that it had. As
Mr. Holmes had said, guaco was a term which had been
largely applied to numbers of plants, and samples of guaco
which had come to this country had consisted of two or
three species mixed together. This, however, was a
reliable sample of Mikania Guaco. In Brazil guaco had a
reputation for curing snake-bites ; but in the province of
Rio Grande it was used as a remedy for coughs. It was
somewhat of an expectorant, but had not the depressing
effect of ipecacuanha. It would be remembered that Mr.
Holmes had brought chekan before the Society ; that
substance had been used for winter cough, and guaco
seemed to fulfil the same purpose. It was pretty largely
used in France, and was recommended for several
purposes, having certain therapeutical effects. He ob¬
served in a French medical journal, the other day, that
they were comparing guaco with curare, and remarking
that, while there were some properties possessed in
common by these two substances, there were certain
properties which guaco did not possess. He (Dr. Symes)
did not think that Mikania Guaco had any properties in
common with curare. It was an innocent drug which
was taken by the natives as an infusion and drunk freely.
Whether its reputation in Rio Grande, as a remedy for
coughs, was due to its sudorific effects, he did not know.

It had been tried with some success in this country, but
not to a sufficient extent. He could not say positively
whether it had been chemically examined.

Mr. Holmes, replying to the President, said that he
did not mean to say that there were two or three different
kinds of guaco imported regularly into this country as
articles of commerce ; but different kinds were occasion¬
ally sent over to this country by speculators, and, not
meeting with any demand, they were disposed of at the
rummage sales, or otherwise disappeared. The other
guacos which he had seen chiefly belonged to the Aristo-
lochiacece. The guacos derived from the genus Aristolochia
had a very distinct camphoraceous odour, and a charac-
istic stem structure different from that of Mikania guaco.

He was not aware whether guaco had ever been histo¬
logically or chemically examined. It well deserved in¬
vestigation.

Mr. Martin dale asked Mr. Holmes whether he knew
that the two specimens of oil of turpentine that were put
on the table were really obtained from the oleo-resin
turpentine or from the pine leaf. He thought that it
would be a misnomer to term the samples oil of turpen¬
tine if they were distilled from the leaf, as he thought
these had been, and were known in commerce as fir wool
oil.

The President said that Mr. Holmes seemed to ac¬
count for the rings on the gentian in a manner which did
not agree with his (the President’s) idea. He had ob¬
served that the ringed appearance would be found in one
part of a root and not in another, as for instance in the
older part and not in the younger. His idea was that the
ringed appearance was largely due to age.

A paper was then read on —

- - -

683

February 12, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

The Weights, Balances and Measures employed in
Pharmacy, their Defects, and the Remedy.

BY PROFESSOR REDWOOD.

This paper is printed at page 673, and gave rise to the
following discussion : —

Mr. Bland said that that meeting was greatly obliged to
Professor Redwood for the very interesting and important
paper which he had read. It came with what might be
called a manifold authority, for Professor Redwood had
had practical experience as a pharmaceutist ; he was also a
Professor in the Society, and he was one of the officers
who acted under the statute by which this matter was
regulated. His (Mr. Bland’s) own impression was that
they were not very greatly indebted to the Legislature
for this additional act of paternal government, of which
they had had so many examples in recent years. He
wished that when the Act was passing there had been
some Parnells or Dillons to obstruct its passage. It
appeared that the tendency of legislation, as far as
chemists were concerned, was to put them down alto¬
gether as noxious animals. He could not but regard
the provisions of the Act as calculated to worry and
harass them. They were left in doubt as to the powers
of the Board of Trade and of the various inspectors.
Professor Redwood had told them that some inspectors
acted upon their own judgment in estimating the proper
capacity of the measures, and consequently one inspector
might condemn a measure which another inspector had
passed. • It was most unjust that a pharmacist should be
subject to any proceedings for using a measure that had
been officially verified. If an incorrect measure was
marked, the inspector who marked it ought to stand in
the gap. With regard to “ the turn of the scale,” Pro¬
fessor Redwood had used that term in a sense somewhat
different from that in which it was understood by re¬
tailers. They understood it to mean a small quantity of
a substance put into the scale in order to overbalance it
on the side of the substance which was being weighed.
He could not understand why in weights which were
used for the accurate weighing of powerful medicines
there should be allowed to be any excess at all. Professor
Redwood had said that a pharmacist ought to have in his
possession a balance which was sensitive to the y^th
part of a grain, but he had not stated how much such a
balance was intended to carry. He (Mr. Bland; should
consider it a very improper use of such a balance to place
it upon a counter for the ordinary rough work of dis¬
pensing. He agreed with what Professor Redwood said
with regard to graduated measures, but the paper appeared
to have made a new use of the word meniscus. The term
did not belong to a single surface. In elementary books
on optics it was stated that a meniscus was a lens of which
one side was convex, and one side concave. It was true
that Ganot, in his book on physics, used the term in
connection with the graduation of barometers, but he
applied it to a solid body — erroneously as he (Mr. Bland)
believed. The question about the level at which the
measures were to be graduated, was one of very great
importance. He disagreed with Professor Redwood in
his opinion on this subject. He believed that a line
somewhere above the middle line would be the true level
at which to graduate a measure. Chloroform, for instance,
formed a surface which was almost a plane without any
concavity at all. Supposing that they had to measure
six fluid drachms of chloroform in a measure which had
been marked in the bottom of the concavity, they would
have a quantity minus the true quantity represented by
the six drachms, because the measure being graduated
by the filling of it with water, there was not only the
measure up to the level of the graduation, but there was
that which superabounded in the shape of a ring of fluid
adhering to the glass itself. Therefore, the volume of the
chloroform and the volume of the water would not be
the same. It struck him that measures had one defect
which had not been mentioned, but which was very im¬

portant, and that was that many of the measures were
graduated on one side only. This was a source of very
frequent error, because if the measure was not held in
a perpendicular position, there would be a very material
difference in the quantity of liquid that would be required
to reach any particular graduation. It appeared now
that there was still another rod in pickle for them. In
this matter he was not only a pharmaceutical chemist,
but he was a dealer in measures, and he felt very much
in the position of a toad under a harrow. Any day some
local inspector might pounce down upon him, for he did
not know whether he was justified in having in his
possession measures which were not officially verified,
although they were for sale and not for use by himself
for the purpose of measuring. As to the Board of Trade
being about to issue a scale of allowable errors, whence
the Board derived their authority in that respect, he did
not know. It seemed that the Houses of Parliament
directed the Board of Trade, and the Board of Trade
sometimes directed Professor Redwood, and sometimes
Professor Redwood directed the inspectors. Who was
the prime authority, he did not know, but it appeared to
him very much like the horses having to be consulted
before the coachman could decide in which way he was
to travel.

Mi\ Postans said that, in the able paper to which they
had listened, Professor Redwood had shown that he knew a
good deal about the intricacies of the law, and he had
shown very nicely indeed how he himself could drive the
traditional coach and four through the "Weights and
Measures Act; but, with Professor Redwood’s usual
caution, he had also pointed out to pharmacists how unwise
it would be on their part to follow his example, unless they
happened to be as clever as himself. Professor Redwood
had clearly shown that the Act did not apply to the weights
and scales associated with scientific chemistry, but that,
undoubtedly, all persons connected with the trade and
practice of pharmacy were liable under it to have their
scales and weights adjusted and standardized and veri¬
fied. The syringe pipette, which had been recom¬
mended, would answer for such things as prussic acid, but
for general purposes there would have to be many of such
instruments in use. As to the minim pipettes, Professor
Redwood had also shown that they had great drawbacks.
He (Mr. Postans) remembered that years ago, when he
was an apprentice, they always had the upright pipettes ;
but great difficulty was found in getting them washed out
cleanly. They were certainly found to be good fly catchers
in the summer months. He was very much inclined to
stick up for the old conical measures. But there was
another side of the question. It was very desirable to
induce medical men to order spoonfuls by measure. Indeed
it seemed to him that spoons might be done away with
altogether if mixtures were taken by parts, and by such
means greater accuracy would be insured. Quite lately
some very strong medicines were ordered, and he had
reason to believe that the teaspoons used were not quite
what they should have been. It was well known that
household teaspoons varied from one to two drachms.

Mr. Frazer said that in the west of Scotland they had
an inspector who accepted the verification of any other
inspector in the kingdom, but that was not the case
everywhere. A local inspector in one place might reject
the inspection of another. Perhaps this Society might
have sufficient influence on those in power, to say that
a measure verified by one inspector in one part of the
kingdom should pass everywhere. The mark was
literally the Queen’s stamp, and a Queen’s servant in one
place disowned the signature of the Queen’s servant in
another place.

Professor Attfield said that he would submit that the
Act in question should have one little addition made to
its title to render the title accurately descriptive. He
maintained that, instead of its being a Weights and
Measures Act, it was only, from a scientific point of view,
a Weights and Measures of Water Act. As Mr. Blar d

684

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 12, 1882

had pointed out, when chemists and druggists measured
liquids other than water, that was ninety-nine times out
of one hundred, a measure that would deliver a drachm of
water accurately might deliver slightly more than a drachm
of some liquids, and far less than a drachm of others. In
the case of a measure holding a drachm of some thick
liquid, perhaps some half dozen drops of the liquid
would be left in the measure. It was to be remembered
that, as Professor Redwood had mentioned, they had to
deal with liquids in which they had to consider not only
the force of gravity, but the forces of adhesion and
cohesion. In using measures for liquids other than water,
they were allowed by the Act of Parliament to swallow
a camel, but they were compelled by the Act to strain at
a gnat. They were to strain to get the tenth of a drop
of water, while they might disregard the tenth of a
drachm of an important medicine. Another point of view
which one might take of this subject was, of course, the
point of view of policy. He did not wish to say a single
word against accuracy, but he thought that there were
better ways of being accurate than depending upon these
mechanical contrivances, and one was to depend upon
the knowledge, the skill, and the common sense which
every pharmacist ought to possess. The mischief was
that dependence on mechanism always tended to weaken
one’s sense of personal responsibility. He feared it was
as hopeless to attempt to enforce pharmaceutical accuracy
by Act of Parliament as by the same means to enforce
g >odness in the people generally.

Mr. Martindale said that Professor Redwood was
very severe upon the measurement of liquids, and pro¬
bably justly so. He would like to ask him whether he
would be inclined to favour the continental mode of
dispensing — that of weighing the liquids. He (Mr.
Martindale) had looked forvvai'd for some years to the
metrical system being introduced into this country, and
in that case there might be no measurement for liquids.
That was a great objection. They could certainly mea¬
sure small quantities into a large bottle much more
easily than they could weigh them. If 15 or 30 minims
of prussic acid had to be put into an 8 ounce mixture, it
could be done more expeditiously and accurately even
with the conical minim measure than it could be done by
weighing.

Mr. Long said that he hoped that the suggestions
which Professor Redwood had made would produce a
beneficial influence on pharmacy, by showing that it
ought to be entirely removed out of the category of trade
and into the category of a higher occupation requiring
science, qualification and remuneration. With Mr.
Bland and Mr. Postans he questioned the propriety of
such finessing with medicine as required a sixth of a
grain of this and a quarter of a grain of that and
the other, to be made into one pill and also to all
infinitesimal single doses requiring to be weighed. With
all due respect to the medical profession, he held that it
would be very much better if they would order less of a
potent medicine in a bottle, and give a larger dose.
The danger would be infinitely less than at the present
time. Dr. Paul, in an article about weights and mea¬
sures, had said that he thought that scales and weights, or
the scales especially, deserved better treatment. It was
a great trouble to get the scales kept as they ought to be.
With regard to the minim tubes he had used them for
eighteen years, but his assistant used sometimes to drive
the tube down to the bottom of the bottle, and it would
come out with the bottom off. It was all very well for
prussic acid and such things as that. The Government
ought not to stamp anything which was not correct.
What was the use of a Government ordering them to do
certain things and then giving them inaccurate data to
start with? They ought to use minim measures for
measuring minims, and ounce glasses for measuring
ounces. As to dispensing scales they should be supported
on the balance principle, and not on knife edges, and they
ought to be kept under a glass shade.

Mr. Holmes wished to make one remark with regard
to the conical measure. When he was an apprentice
his first difficulty was to tell exactly when the liquid
in the glass measure was level with the mark. He
could not see the mark opposite, and he found that
unless the measure was held perfectly even the
slight tilting on one side would cause a superfluous
quantity to be unwittingly measured. If the line were
carried round to the side it would be more easy to
see by the liquid crossing the line at the side when the
measure was not level. With regard to glass measures*
Professor Redwood showed that the inaccuracy did not
make much difference after all. In a 2 drachm measure
there might be 10 minims too much, according to the
variation of the line. But Professor Redwood further
said that, when the liquid was poured out, there was
always a small quantity left, so that the ten minims
would be divided, and the difference would probably be
only half a drop in a dose.

Mr. Atkins said that he thought that since they had
the Act they were bound as pharmacists to make the
best of it. He could not, however, but regret the fact
that the operation of the Act had been extended to che¬
mists. It was intended originally for the purposes to
which Professor Redwood called attention in the earlier
part of his paper, and related to what might be called
matters of trade — the giving of just weights and measures,
so that the purchasers should really get their money’s
worth. The Act seemed to exempt entirely and exclu¬
sively that body of gentlemen who would be specially
interested in it, namely, scientific men. They were left,
and he thought that chemists might have been left also,
as a humbler limb of the body of scientists. In the
country, chemists really would be considerably imperilled
by the action of incompetent inspectors. It was a matter
of prime importance that if inspectors were to descend
upon pharmacies and test the weights and measures, they
should themselves be tested first as to their accuracy.
He was glad, however, that the Act was to some extent
permissive in its action, and municipal bodies in the
country were using a wise caution with regard to the
adoption of the Act.

Mr. Salomon said that he had listened with a great
deal of pleasure to the excellent paper. Professor Redwood
called attention to the fact that though he was previously
in favour of the centre line of the meniscus being taken
as the true line of water, he now preferred to take the top,
and the gentleman who was at the head of the Standards
Office had adopted that view. He (Mr. Salomon) thought
that it would be much more easy, in the ordinary way of
dispensing, to get the true line by taking the line in the
centre as something to guide each way. He might say,
as a manufacturer, that he thought that the older measures
in existence, with very few exceptions, were taken from
the middle line of the meniscus, and that comparatively
few were taken on the lower line. If an alteration was
made it would be good for trade, because the old measures
would have to be broken down and a fresh stock produced.
With regard to the method in which the graduators made
the lines, he had never seen varnish used for the purpose.
As a rule, a pigment of chalk or something of the sort
was taken, and the mark was made with a steel pen.
The copper wheel got a better grip of such a substance
than it would get upon varnish. The establishment
which he represented were anxious to carry out the views
of the Board of Trade, and to meet the convenience of
chemists, but they had had considerable difficulty since
the Order in Council in 1879. As to measures which
were graduated on one side only, he believed that they
were only the cheaper ones.

The President said that they were much indebted to-
Professor Redwood, for bringing before them at the
present time the subject of measures, weights and scales.
It had been stated by one gentleman that it would have
been better if chemists’ measures had been left out of the
Act; but if that had been done their weights and

February 12, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

685

measures would not have been legal unless there had
been a special exemption with regard to apothecaries’
weights and measures. He thought that those now
present could not take too serious a view of this matter,
and more especially at the present time when pharmacy
was taking a very much higher position than it had
hitherto done. The greatest care ought to be taken to
get the most accurate measures, weights and balances.
Professor Redwood had reflected on the hand scales, but
he (the President) was very much in favour of the hand
scales if they were properly used and kept in a proper
condition. He preferred them to the counter scales
which were used on the Continent. It would be im¬
possible for the pharmacist to get through half his busi¬
ness if he had to use such a delicate balance as that
which was exhibited on the table. As to conical
measures, he quite agreed they were not so accurate for
small quantities as cylindrical measures, and he would
never use them. A cylindrical measure could be cleaned
out without much difficuly. The pipette which had
been shown seemed to be very accurate, but he did not
think that it could be very well used in practice; it
would be almost one person’s work to keep the pipette
clean.

Professor Redwood, in reply, said, with regard to the
observations which had been made about the balances,
that it must be borne in mind that he merely brought
them forward to indicate the sort of balances which he
thought every pharmacist ought to have, with which to
test his weights, and such ought to be used exclusively
for weighing such things as strychnia and morphia. He
would not contend that they should be used in all
dispensing, but he believed that a balance suspended in
the same way, though not in a glass case, would admit
of quite as rapid dispensing as the ordinary hand
balance. Mr. Oertling supplied a delicate balance in a
glass case for about £3 7s. 6cl. He, Professor Redwood,
strongly recommended pharmacists to introduce such
balances into their establishments, and he believed if
prominently set before customers, they would produce
a beneficial effect. Such a balance should be appealed
to whenever any very important medicine was ordered,
rather than one of the ordinary kind. There was a great
necessity for some improvement in the provision which
was made for accurate weighing and measuring in
dispensing. He agreed with what Mr. Bland had said
as to the use of the term “ meniscus,” but, nevertheless,
the term was employed as one which fairly represented
the appearance of the curve at the top of a liquid when it
was observed in a measuring glass. As to the desirability
of substituting weighing for measuring, that was a question
with which he had nothing to do on the present occasion.
He could not quite agree with his colleague, Professor
Attfield, that the Act ought to be designated one for
regulating the weighing and measuring of water. The
Act applied to dry measures and to measures of all
descriptions. He fully admitted that there was some
force in Mr. Bland’s argument that if a measure
which had been graduated to the bottom of the meniscus
was used for a liquid which did not exert the same
adhesion on the surface of the glass as water it would
not be a perfectly correct measure. He would like
to ask Mr. Bland how he would provide a remedy.
The evil would be quite as great if they took any
higher part of the meniscus. But what he (Professor
Redwood) contended for was that there was only one part
of the meniscus which could be clearly defined, and that
was the bottom. He received every day, from manufac¬
turers and dealers and druggists, verified and marked
measures, that he might give his opinion as to whether
they were accurate or not. There were not more than
one or two in every dozen on which he should be prepared
to put his mark. He believed if the Board of Trade
found the Pharmaceutical Society ready to back them
in measures which they proposed to suggest to the
trade generally, that a remedy would speedily be found

for that which was now a very crying evil, namely,
that chemists all over the country were using measures
which had been graduated and verified according to
different systems. Only the other day he found a mea¬
sure with 2 ounces graduated upon it at the bottom,
but which really contained 2 ounces drachms in
the space marked 2 ounces. Such results were coming
constantly under his observation. It was time that they
came to some agreement as to the mode of marking.
It did not matter much which plan was adopted, if all
the measures were made in the same way. It behoved
the Society to consider the present variations, and to
try to find a remedy. On that account he urged pharma¬
cists, when purchasing glass measures, to require a
guarantee that the measures had been graduated from
the bottom of the meniscus.

A vote of thanks was accorded to Professor Redwood,
and the meeting adjourned.

^Ijarnmceutical Socictii oi Jrctmvir*

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

February 2, 1881.

Present — Professor Tichborne, President; Sir G. B.
Owens, Messrs. Allen, Bennett, Brunker, Collins,
Grindley, Hayes, Hodgson and Oldham.

The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed,
and the consideration of letters was then proceeded with.

The first, from Mr. J. P. Harold, M.P.S.I., acknowledg¬
ing the receipt of the Registrar’s communication inform¬
ing him of the resolution passed by the Council at last
meeting, and saying that when he should have necessity
to again address the Council upon similar matters he
would more specifically define the portions of the Act
alleged to be infringed.

The second, from Mr. Joseph Holton, asking the
Council not to require him to produce a certificate of
having attended a course of Practical Chemistry as
required by the regulations of the Society.

The Registrar was directed to inform him that the
Council had no power to abrogate the bye-laws.

The third, from Mr. James Rooney, asking if it would
be legal for two persons, one of whom was qualified and
the other not, to open shop for the sale of drugs.

Mr. Hodgson said it would be contrary to the Act.

Mr. Oldham pointed out that it would be distinctly
illegal.

The Registrar was directed to inform him that such a
course would not be legal.

Mr. Solomon Donovan, Downpatrick, having been duly
proposed and seconded at last meeting, was elected a
member of the Society.

Mr. Grindley proposed, and Mr. Bennett seconded —

“That a committee be appointed to make arrangements
for the Members’ Annual Dinner of 1881.”

Mr. Grindley said that most present would recollect
that' about two years ago they had their first annual
dinner, and that last year from some cause which did not
transpire there was none ; he thought that it should not
be allowed to drop, aud with that intention had brought
the matter before the meeting, as it was a custom pre¬
vailing in most societies and was conducive to good fellow¬
ship between members who would be otherwise unknown
to one another.

The President said he did not think that the previous
dinner had been a success, and suggested that a much
better one should be provided in the event of their
arranging for it.

A long discussion followed, in which Messrs. Hodgson,
Brunker, Oldham, Hayes and Sir G. Owens took part,
and ultimately Mr. Grindley modified his motion to read
as follows : —

686

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 12, 1881.

“ That a Committee be appointed to report upon the
advisability of holding an annual dinner, 1881,”
naming as a committee Messrs. Draper and Allen, with
the proposer and seconder, and the amended motion was
then passed.

Messrs. Ponsonby and Murphy’s account for printing
from October 17, 1878, to September 30, 1880, amounting
to £51 15s., was presented for payment.

Mr. Hodgson complained of the length of time the
account had been running, and thought that they ought
to get the printing of the Calendars done by contract.

The President agreed that such a course would be much
better.

Mr. Grindley mentioned that the average cost of the
Calendars was £15 per annum.

After some discussion, Mr. Hayes proposed and Mr.
Allen seconded, that the account be paid, and the resolu¬
tion was adopted.

The report of the examiners for the licence of the
Society, examination held January 5, was laid upon the
table. Eight candidates entered their names; six pre¬
sented themselves for examination, of whom the following
five passed : —

Bernard Joseph Costello . 87, Lower GardinerStreet.

Thomas Hamilton Edgar . 7, Digby Terrace.

Thomas Edmund Golden . Parsonstown.

William Mark Oldham . 6, Ulverton Terrace, Dalkey

Edward Patrick Walsh . 10, North Earl Street.

The meeting then adjourned.

EVENING MEETING.

The second Evening Meeting of the present session
was held in the King and Queen’s College of Physicians,
Kildare Street, Dublin, on Tuesday, February 1, 1881.

The chair was taken by Mr. R. Donovan, M.P.S.I.

Owing to the unavoidable absence of the Honorary
Secretary, Dr. Tichborne, the minutes of the last meeting
were read by Mr. W. N. Allen and confirmed.

Amongst the members present were Messrs Grindley,
Harold, Draper, Allen, Wells, Patterson, (Evans, Conyng-
ham, etc.

A valuable and interesting paper of great pharmaceu¬
tical interest, “ On the Nitro-prussides of the Alkaloids,”
was read by Dr. E. Davy, M.R.I.A., Examiner in Che¬
mistry, Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.

Dr. Davy exhibited samples of the nitro-prussides of
quinine, strychnine, nicotine, and morphine, and explained
the methods for their preparation.

Mr. Draper, F.C.S. said that the paper was an im¬
portant one, specially interesting to pharmacists, and
expressed a hope that the members of the Society would
follow the example of Dr. Davy and participate in the
work of original research.

The other communication was by Mr. Draper, F.C.S. ,
“ Note on the Purification of Oleic Acid.” Mr. Draper
exhibited samples of purified oleic acid. After a discus¬
sion relative to the employment of the purified acid in the
preparation of some official preparations, the meeting
adjourned.

PRIZE ESSAYS.

Two prizes, of the respective value of two and three
guineas, are offered for the competition of candidates who
are members of the Society, or have passed its Preliminary
examination.

The essays must be sent, addressed “ Secretary of Prize
Essay Committee,” not later than June 1 next, and are
not to be signed by the authors, but accompanied by
a sealed envelope containing his name and address, and
referring to an initial or nom de plume at foot of the
essay.

I. — Three Guineas.

( Offered by Mr. II. N. Draper.)

For an entirely trustworthy and yet easily practicable
method of determining the purity of lithium carbonate.

II.— Two Guineas.

( Offered by the President.)

For the best essay on improved formulae for the syrups
of the Pharmacopoeia (particularly in reference to the
syrups of heinidesmus, poppies, roses, senna, and ginger).

\xob hrrial SDr ixm actions .

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The seventh general meeting of the thirty-second
session, was held at the Royal Institution on Thursday
evening, J anuary 20, the President, Dr. Symes, in the
chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed and the following donations announced : — ‘ The-
J ournal of the Liverpool Polytechnic Society’ ; « Pro¬
ceedings of the Liverpool Geological Society’ ; ‘ Year Book
of Pharmacy’ ; the current numbers of the Pharma¬
ceutical Journal ; Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal, and
the Chemists' Journal.

Mr. Granville H. Sharpe and Dr. George Tate were
elected members.

The following communication was then read
Adulterated Linseed Oil.

BY ALFRED H. MASON, F.C.S.

A few weeks ago I was consulted by a friend as to a,
method for the detection of a known adulterant in boiled
linseed oil. My friend had previously taken the opinion
of five well-known professional chemists, and as their
results were somewhat divergent, it occurred to him that
I perhaps might know of, or could ascertain some project
for its certain detection, or as a buyer of the article for
export I might have noticed the adulteration.

It has been definitely ascertained that about 250 tuns
of this adulterated oil have been shipped from Liverpool
to foreign ports, and as the adulterated article is unfit for
the purposes to which boiled linseed oil is applied, it is
rather a serious matter, and a fraud of this nature affects
the commercial reputation of our city. I take it, there¬
fore that the nature of the fraud having been detected
and being in possession of the facts as to the method of
procedure, it is a duty to make these facts public, and
perhaps this Association will be doing a good service to
our merchants by making them cognisant of the risks
they incur.

The adulterant employed was mineral oil, sold as
neutral oil. This oil has a specific gravity of *865, and
it flashes at 280° Fahr. Genuine boiled linseed oil does
not flash until heated to 540° Fahr, the adulterated oil
flashed at 330° Fahr.

The specific gravity of genuine boiled linseed oil is
•940 ; of the adulterated sample ‘9146.

It has been ascertained that in the manufacture of this
adulterated oil, about 30 per cent, of neutral oil is mixed
with the linseed oil, previous to boiling.

To determine the adulteration, Thomson’s method was
employed. The sample was boiled with an alcoholic
solution of caustic soda, by which the vegetable oil was
converted into soap. This is then mixed with sand, and
treated and washed with pure petroleum spirit, — dis¬
tilled at a temperature under 190° Fahr. — which dissolves
out the mineral oil, leaving the soap insoluble. The spirit
is then distilled off from the spirit solution of mineral oil,
at a temperature not exceeding 220° Fahr., and the
residue of the mineral oil weighed and calculated on the
weight of the original mixed oil taken.

By this method 24 per cent, by weight of mineral oil
has been abstracted from this sample, specific gravity

—

February 12, 188L] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

687

*8720, the sample itself being '9146, far below that which
genuine boiled linseed oil ought to be.

An interesting discussion followed in which many of
those present joined.

Mr. T. Farmer then read *he first part of a paper on
“ The History of Chemistry,” of which the following is a
short abstract : —

Notes of a Paper on the History of Chemistry.

BY THOMAS FARMER.

When the foundation stone of chemistry was laid,
we cannot even suggest. It probably originated in
the east, was built up daring the middle ages and com¬
pleted by Lavoisier, Black and Priestley. The word
ffluela. first occurs in the lexicon of Suidas, a Greek writer,
of the eleventh century, he defines it as “ the prepara¬
tion of gold and silver.” Robertus Constantinus, in
1592, gives the same definition and quotes Suidas as an
authority. Olaus Borrichius holds there were Greek
writers before Suidas. It is said that the King’s Library
in Paris contains a Greek manuscript of the fifth century,
but it was probably written about the tenth century by
monks, either of Alexandria or Constantinople. The word
“ chemistry ” is thought by many to come from x6W = to
fuse or melt, or xiW = that which is poured out. Plutarch
tells us that Egypt was called Chemia on account of the
dark colour of its soil, the word is related to the Coptic
Chem or Kheims, which signifies obscene, occult. This is
probably the true derivation of the word chemistry. The
earliest writer on chemistry known with any degree of
certainty was Geber, who lived in the eighth century ;
he was acquainted with many chemical substances and
all the processes practised by his successors during the
following eight or nine centuries. The theory of our
elements is perhaps the oldest physical theory with which
we are acquainted, it being certain that it was adopted
one thousand five hundred years B.c. There was a great
tendency among the ancient Greek philosophers to make
one element fundamental and from it evolve the rest.
Thales, who lived in the sixth century B.c., held that water
was the principal element ; Anaximenes, air ; Herekleitos,
fire ; Pherekides, earth. The theory of Thales had many
supporters in the middle ages, among whom was Van-
Helmont. It was brought to an end by Lavoisier in 1770,
after enduring twenty-four centuries. The ancients had
an idea of atoms. Leukippos held that the world was
produced by the falling together of small indivisible
atoms which possess rapid circular motion and are the
principles of things. Demokritos (460 B.c.) extended the
atomic theory of Leukippos. The greatest writer among
the ancients was Aristotle ; he wrote several works ; his
views were generally accepted during the middle ages
and he was the first to introduce the ether or fifth element
into Greek philosophy. He held that the four elements
were convertible into each other and regarded them as
states or conditions of matter rather than the matter
itself. It is certain that the ancients had no idea of
practical chemistry as we understand it. There was no
connecting link between chemical facts and theory ; the
thought of the age was against such a possibility, a man
who would make an experiment being thought unworthy
of the name of a philosopher. Seven metals were known
to the ancients, gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, iron and mer¬
cury. They were unacquainted with any other metals in an
uncombined state, but in a combined state their know¬
ledge of them was very considerable. They were also
acquainted with dyeing, the “ purple of Tyre ” obtained
from the “ Buccinum ” or “Purpura” of Pliny being
their most valuable and esteemed dye. Probably the
strongest acid known to the ancients was acetic acid or
vinegar. To a believer in the Aristotelian theory nothing
would appear simpler than the transmutation of one sub¬
stance into another, and the conversion of the baser
metals into gold would be left quite open. We can thus

understand the diligence with which the old alchemists
worked to discover the philosopher’s stone, the source of
all happiness. Although alchemy was a secret science,
the amount of literature on the subject was enormous.
Zetzner, of Strassburg, in 1602, published more than one
hundred tracts by notable authors ; later on was published
two large volumes containing one hundred and twenty-
two alchemical treatises. Greek manuscripts number
eighty-seven. To these we may add MSS. in Arabic and
Persian, and treatises in Spanish, Italian, German and
English. If we consult these works, of no matter what
date or author, we find mention of Hermes Trismegistus,
who was supposed to have lived some two thousand years
B.c. His tomb was said to have been discovered by Alex¬
ander the Great, in a cave near Hebron ; in it was found
a slab of emerald on which were written the precepts of
the great master on the art of making gold. The style of
the inscription bears such a very strong resemblance to
the style of the alchemical literature of the middle ages,
that we are perfectly justified in believing that Hermes
never had any existence at all. The alchemists firmly
believed in him, and even called themselves “ Hermetic
Philosophers.” A few of the principal alchemists were
Albertus Magnus, S. Thomas Aquinas, Bacon, Raymond
Lulli, Arnoldus and Basil Valentine.

The usual vote of thanks to Mr. Farmer brought the
meeting to a close.

BRISTOL PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting was held on the evening of Wed¬
nesday, January 26, at the Museum and Library,
Queen’s Road. Mr. G. F. Schacht, the President,
occupied the chair.

The following report was received and adopted : —

“ The members and associates have met from time to
time during the past year, and when the proceedings
have appeared to possess any general pharmaceutical
interest, they have been published in the Journal.

“ The Council are glad to be able to report that the
books of the library are much read. A systematic
inspection of the state of the shelves and of the entries
in the catalogue has enabled them with some confidence
to announce this gratifying fact. They take the oppor¬
tunity, however, of urging all who take the books away
to comply with the rule of recording the fact in the
catalogue, according to the regulation explained in its
first page. Owing to carelessness upon this point, the
Council are unable to trace two of their volumes, viz. : —
Roscoe and Schorlemmer’s ‘Chemistry,’ vol. 1, and
Gubler’s ‘ Pharmacy.’

“ They are also glad to announce that every specimen
of materia medica which they possess is now properly
named and arranged on the shelves of their museum.
For this most useful work, the Association is indebted
to the ability and kindness of Mr. Arthur Little, who
has bestowed much knowledge, time and labour upon it,
and who has further undertaken to continue the work as
soon as fresh material is placed in his hands.

“ The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great
Britain have most generously directed their Curator
to select such duplicate specimens from their own
museum as can be spared for the completion of that of
the Bristol Pharmaceutical Association. It is expected
that these will be delivered in the course of a few weeks,
and when arranged by Mr. Little they will, with those
already possessed, constitute a museum of materia
medica of real educational value.

“ The financial statement for the past year is herewith
appended. It will be seen that the operations of the
Association, although conducted with the utmost economy,
leave but a small balance in the Treasurer’s hands.

“ Having in view the large and direct advantages the
pharmacists of the neighbourhood are able to reap from
the Association, the Council appeal with confidence to

688

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 12, 1881.

them all, masters, assistants and apprentices, to join its
ranks and thus increase its sphere of usefulness. ”

Financial Statement.

Treasurer in Account with Bristol Phai'maceutical

Association.

Dr.

1880. £ s. d.

To subscriptions of 34 members at 10s. 6cZ. each 17 17 0
„ „ of 30 associates at 2s. Qd. each 3 15 0

21 12 0

Cr. £ s. d.

By balance due Treasurer for 1879 . Ill 7

„ hiring rooms . 300

„ attendants . ..100

,, annual payment to Treasurer of Bristol

Museum and Library . 12 12 0

,, stationery and Secretaries’ account . . . 2 18 10

21 2 5

Balance in hand . 097

21 12 0

The following were elected to act as the Council for
the current year : — Messrs. Allen, Berry, Pitman,
Plumley, Schacht, Stroud, Warren and White.

NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The annual supper of the above Association was held
at the Flying Horse Hotel, on Wednesday, January 26.
Mr. W. H. Parker, the Vice-President, occupied the
chair in the unavoidable absence of Mr. R. Fitz-Hugh,
the vice-chair being occupied by Mr. J. Lewis. There
were about thirty-five members and friends present.
The cloth being drawn and the usual loyal toasts
having been given, Mr. George proposed the toast of the
evening, viz : — “Success to the Nottingham and Notts
Chemists’ Association,” a in very suitable speech, which
was replied to by the Chairman. Other toasts followed,
the one of “ The Lecturers ” being responded to by
Mr. C. L. Rothera, B.A. Messrs. Cockrem and Massey
gave some very pleasing pianoforte pieces, and Mr.
Mark Meats also contributed to the enjoyment of the
evening by giving a series of humorous and characteristic
songs and impersonations.

Messrs. Evans, Leselier and Co., Clarke, Bleasdale
and Co., Oldfield, Pattinson and Co., and Mr. J. S. Hay¬
wood, promised handsome donations and prizes to the
Association. The usual vote of thanks concluded the
evening.

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The fourth meeting of the session was held in Ander¬
son’s College, 204, George Street, on February 2, and in
the unavoidable absence of the President, Mr. Robert
McAdam, the Vice-President, Mr. Robert Brodie, was
called to the chair.

After the minutes of previous meeting had been read
and approved, Mr. Brodie asked Mr. Archibald Pater¬
son (Govan) to read his paper on “A Visit to the late Gas
Exhibition.”

Mr. Paterson began his remarks in a racy and humorous
manner on the various uses to which gas could be applied,
from the heating of a plaster iron to the infusing of a
cup of coffee in the shop, if at any time the chemist and
druggist required to do so. He referred to the various
materials used in some of the gas stoves to give the appear¬

ance of coals burning, e.g., pumice stone, asbestos, fire
clay, etc. ; he also adverted to the use of gas as a motive
power, as shown by the action of several machines which
were propelled by means of gas. Mr. Paterson alluded
to the amount of information to be derived from such
exhibitions, where the various inventions for the utiliza¬
tion of gas are brought together so that they can be
examined and their respective merits seen. The other
products of coal were then touched upon, such as the
exhibits of shale oils, paraffin, and a whole series of the
aniline colours. He then made a short reference to the
electric light, which was well shown by two different com¬
panies, and threatens to rival gas for lighting large spaces,
although in the meantime the gas is more economical.
In conclusion, Mr. Paterson said the visitor, on leaving
the exhibition, was enabled to see cooking carried on in
all its branches by gas, as the refreshment department
got its heat for cooking from gas stoves ; and on getting
outside the exhibition the attention was attracted by the
model lighthouse, the light being gas instead of oil ; also
the floating gas buoy of Pintsch, which was supplied with
compressed gas to give a light for twenty days and nights,
and could be used to warn mariners of shoals and sunken
rocks. Lastly, an immense block of coal arrested the
attention from its hugeness, and the mind reverted to an
epoch far distant from the present, when no doubt the
mineralized vegetal material of which it is now composed
was once the inhabitant of some primeval forest, there
basking in the heat of the sun, and being refreshed by
rain from the clouds.

An animated discussion followed the reading of the
paper, in which Mr. J. A Clarke, Mr. Lees, Mr. Brodie
and Mr. Hunter, took part.

The next business was a short paper, by Mr. G.
Gilmour, on “Botany.” — The author treated upon the
various parts that go to form a plant, e.g., root, stem,
leaves, flowers, and fruit ; he also adverted to their
functions and the fertilization of a plant by pollen from its
own stamens and that carried on by insect agency. He then
showed some diagrams illustrating some of his remarks
and recommended young students to follow the plan of
Dr. Silver, which is, to cut pieces of paper of the same
shape as the various forms of natural leaves. By doing
so the mind becomes more impressed and their various
forms better remembered.

A short discussion on the paper ensued, after which the
Vice-President called upon the members to give Mr.
Paterson and Mr. Gilmour a hearty vote of thanks for
their respective papers. This was duly awarded.

The Secretary placed on the table a copy of the ‘Year-
Book of Pharmacy,’ presented by the Pharmaceutical
Conference, also a copy of the ‘ Progress of Pharmacy,’
presented by the Pharmaceutical Society. He was
instructed to convey the thanks of the Association to both

Societies for their gifts.

OLDHAM CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The sixth meeting of the session was held in the
Church Institute, on Monday evening, February 7, Mr.
J. Boyd, Vice-President, in the chair.

After the minutes of the preceding meetings had been
read,

The Chairman called upon Mr. Harrison to read a
paper on “ Gum Acacia.”

The essayist commenced by describing the sources of
the gums used in commerce, pointing out the difference in
appearance of the Turkey, Senegal, Barbary, Cape, East
Indian, and other varieties. Mr. Harrison then gave the
uses, adulterations, and chemical constituents of gum
acacia, showing experimentally the methods for the detec¬
tion of starch, etc.

An interesting discussion followed the reading of the
paper.

I

1

February 12, 1SS1-]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

689

fjrff tttittirgs of Scientific Societies.

THE BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL
CONFERENCE.

A meeting of the Executive Committee was held at
17, Bloomsbury Square, London, on Wednesday, Feb¬
ruary 2, 1881, Mr. G. F. Schacht, Vice-President of the
Conference, in the chair.

Professor Attfield, F.R.S., Messrs. T. Greenish, S.
Plowman, Charles Ekin, M. Carteighe and Dr. Symes
were also present.

Letters of apology for non-attendance were read from
the President (Mr. R. Reynolds), Messrs. Grose, Hughes,
Benger and Umney.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Sub-Committee appointed at the last meeting
reported that they had received twenty-five applications
for the post of Secretary, in response to advertisements
inserted in the Pharmaceutical Journal, Chemist and
Druggist, Nature and the Chemical News. Three of the
applicants were recommended to the Committee as being
eligible for the appointment.

A ballot having been taken, Mr. Philip Princep was
elected Secretary for the current year.

An honorarium of £10 10s. was voted to Dr. Senier in
acknowledgment of his services to the Conference during
the whole time- he had been one of its officers, and
especially during the past six months.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday, Feb¬
ruary 3, 1881, Dr. Gladstone, Vice-President, in the
chair.

The following certificates were read for the first time : —
W. E. Adeney, R. A. Edgell, M. Hiddingh, O. V. Pisani,
L. T. O’Shea.

It was announced that a ballot for the election of
Fellows would take place at the next meeting of the
Society, February 17.

The following papers were read —

On the Estimation of Organic Carlon in Air. By Drs.
Dupr]5 and Hake. — In a previous paper ( Journ . Chem.
Soc., March, 1879), the authors demonstrated the possi¬
bility of estimating gravimetrically minute quantities of
carbon by burning in a current of oxygen, absorbing the
carbonic acid in baryta water, converting the carbonate with
sulphate and finally weighing the barium sulphate thus
obtained, the substance thus formed weighing 19 '4 times
as much as the original carbon. The air to be analysed was
conducted by glass tubing into the laboratory, and there,
after filtration through asbestos, divided by a T piece and
suitable pinchcoclcs into two equal currents ; one of these
was sucked through an absorbing apparatus containing
baryta water, the other passed first through a porcelain
tube containing copper oxide heated to redness, and then
through an absorption tube. The result obtained with
the first current obviously gives the C02 in the air, that
with the second the C02 in the air + the C02 due to the
combustion of any organic carbon. Ten litres of the ordi¬
nary air round the laboratory after filtration through
asbestos gave ‘0001 to '0002 grain of carbon present as
organic carbon. The quantity of air emploj’ed in each
experiment varied from 4^ to 16 litres. Details of the
various experiments are given. The authors have not yet
attempted to estimate the suspended organic carbon.
The authors criticize the results previously obtained by
Boussingault, wdio found in 10 litres 0 0019 grain carbon,
and by Verser, who obtained in 10 litres 0 '00 15 4, about
ten times as much as the mean result obtained by
the authors (0-000154). They also refer to the results
obtained by Pettenkofer in his well-known experiments on
the elimination of H and CH4 by animals. Pettenkofer
seems to have assumed that the air in his experiments

was free from organic carbon, and thus to have laid his
results, on that subject, open to a serious fallacy.

The Chaiiman remarked on the importance of having a
method for estimating satisfactorily the organic carbon
in the atmosphere, especially in towns subject to the
visitations of fog, etc.

In answer to some questions, Dr. Duprd stated that the
greatest precautions were taken in making the joints ; the
glass tubes always overlapped, so as to expose the air as
little as possible to the caoutchouc tubing. Ordinary
metal gas tubing was at first employed, but absorbed so
much C02 that its use had to be abandoned. The excess
of carbon found by Boussingault might perhaps be ex¬
plained by the copper employed by him containing carbon.

Mr. Williams pointed out that ordinary black rubber
tube was very pervious to C02.

The next paper was —

On the Action of the Copper- Zinc Couple upon Nitrates
and the Estimation of Nitric Acid in Water Analysis. By
M. W. Williams. — The estimation is conducted as
follows : — Some strips of zinc foil are placed in a wide¬
mouthed stoppered bottle, and covered with a 3 per cent,
copper sulphate solution. When the zinc has acquired a
sufficient coating of copper, the solution is poured off and
the copper-zinc couple washed with distilled water and
finally with the water to be analysed. The couple is
again drained and the bottle then filled with the
water, stoppered, and placed in a warm (24° C.) situation,
until the reduction of the nitrates is completed. The
clear fluid is then withdrawn, and titrated directly by
the Nessler method ; about 1 square decimetre of zinc
should be used for every 200 c.c. of water containing 5
parts of NH3 in lOO’OOO. By saturating the water
previously with C02 or by adding a little pure sodium
chloride to the water the reaction can be expedited so
that it is completed in a few hours. The nitrates are
apparently first converted into nitrites and the nitrites
into ammonia. As soon as the water contains no nitrites
the conversion of the nitrates into ammonia is complete ;
in order to ascertain when this is the case, the author
employs metaphenylene diamine, which in acid solution
gives an intense yellow colour with nitrous acid. To
calcareous waters, which give a turbidity when the
Nessler reagent is added, the author adds a fragment of
pure oxalic acid, allows the oxalate to settle, and titrates
the clear liquid. The author has investigated the effects
of temperature, and the addition of various substances
on the rapidity of the above reaction. At low tempe¬
ratures, the formation of ammonia is much retarded.
The presence of alkalies, sodium hydrate, calcium
hydrate, etc., retard, whilst carbonic acid, sodium chloride,
etc., accelerate the reaction. The author also gives
tables showing the amounts of nitrous acid and ammonia
formed at different intervals after the commencement of
the experiments. In conclusion, the author stated that he
had applied the reaction so as to shorten the well-known
process of Frankland and Armstrong considerably^ and
had been able to avoid the addition of sulphurous acid in
the process ; he hoped to publish these results shortly.

In answer to a question of Mr. Groves, the author
stated that bicarbonate of soda hindered the reaction
quite as much as the carbonate.

Mr. Maxwell Lyte suggested that, as the action of the
copper-zinc couple seemed to be electrolytic, the retar¬
dation produced by sodium carbonate and the acceleration
by sodium chloride were simply due to alterations in
the electrical conductivity of the solution.

Professor Tidy did not quite understand the special
advantage of this process ; by the indigo method, following
out some suggestions given him by Dr. Voelcker, he was
now able to estimate the nitrates present in a water with
perfect accuracy in ten minutes. In his hands the

aluminium method had failed.

Dr. Dupre thought that the great value Oi i>li .
Williams’s process was in connection with Frankland and
Armstrong’s combustion method; if the use of sulphurous

690

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 12, 1881.

acid could be avoided and the nitrates got rid of by the
copper-zinc couple, this method of water analysis would
be almost perfect.

Mr. Warington made some remarks as to the precau¬
tions which should be taken in employing the metapheny-
lene diamine test for nitrites; solutions of different
strengths could not be compared together. He had found
the method given in Frankland’s treatise on water
analysis work well. He did not quite see the advantage
of the author’s method of estimating nitrates over the
indigo method. .

Mr. W. Thorp thought that the author’s method would
be of more importance in connection with the estimation
of organic carbon and nitrogen in waters than as a
method for estimating nitrates. He did not feel inclined
to join in Professor Tidy’s condemnation of the aluminium
method; he had had much experience with it at one time,
and found that it worked satisfactorily. He had some
difficulties with it with two classes of waters, rain water
and sea water. He agreed with Mr. Warington that a
direct estimation of the ammonia in water (without dis¬
tilling) was never satisfactory.

Mr. Lloyd had used the indigo process and the copper-
zinc process side by side ; in his opinion the first, as
modified by Dr. Voelcker, was the most expeditious.

Mr. Williams, in reply, said that he did not distil the
water before nesslerizing. To calcareous waters he added a
crystal of pure oxalic acid, which precipitated the lime ; he
had not found it necessary to distil the water. He
thought that when his process was combined with
Erankland and Armstrong’s, chemists would prefer it to
the aluminium method. He asked Mr. Thorp, how he
ascertained when the action of the aluminium had ceased.

Mr. Thorp replied that as all action ceased in five to six
hours and no more ammonia was formed in forty-eight
hours than in six, he concluded that all the nitrates were
decomposed. He thought that although the lime might
be precipitated the natural colour of a water would often
interfere with the nessterizing unless the water was
distilled.

On the Position taken by the Nitro Group on nitrating the
Dibromotoluenes. By R. Nevile and A. Winther. — The
authors conclude that bromine as well as CH3 has a
tendency to cause the nitro group to take up a position
para to it, or if the para position be occupied, then an
ortho position; and further, that the combined influence of
CH3 and one bromine atom can cause the nitro group to
take a position meta to the second bromine atom.

On some of the Various Derivatives of Toluene and the
Toluidines. By R. Nevile and A. Winther. — The
authors have prepared and studied bromnitrotoluene
obtained by the action of ethyl nitrite on bromnitro-
toluidine, m.p. 74°-75°. By the action of tin and hydro¬
chloric acid on the first mentioned substance an oily
orthobromparatoluidine was formed, which after solidifi¬
cation melted at 25° -26°. By the addition of bromine
water to a hydrochloric acid solution of this substance
tribromoparatoluidine was obtained, m.p. 82,o0-83°. By
converting dibromonitrotoluidine, m.p. 125°-130° into
diazoperbromide and decomposition with glacial acetic
acid tribromonitrotoluene, m.p. 105’8o-106-8° was ob¬
tained. By reduction with iron and acetic acid tribromo-
toluidine, m.p. 118°-118'6° was procured. A tetrabromo-
paratoluidine was obtained by the action of bromine
water on dibromoparatoluidine in EC1 solution. In
conclusion, the authors give a table containing the
various bromine, nitro and bromonitro "derivatives of
toluene and the toluidines investigated by themselves
and other chemists.

The Society then adjourned to February 17, when a
ballot for the election of F ellows will take place, and the
following papers will be read : — “ On a new Apparatus
for showing the Dissociation of Ammonium Salts,” by
D. Tommasi; “On the Estimation of Organic Carbon
and Nitrogen in Water Analysis simultaneously with the
Estimation of Nitric Acid,” by M. W. Williams.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual dinner of the above Association took place
at the Holborn Restaurant on Wednesday, January 26;
Professor Bentley in the chair. Amongst those present
were Dr. Stoeker, M.D. ; Dr. Berkart, M.R.C.P. ; J.
Hornsey Casson, Esq., M.R.C.S. ; Messrs. Greenish,
Robbins, and other eminent pharmacists.

After the usual loyal toasts had been duly honoured,
the Chairman gave the toast of “ The Medical Profes¬
sion,” which was suitably responded to by J. Hornsey
Casson, Esq., who stated that, in his opinion, the progress
made during late years in medicine was undoubtedly due,
to some extent, to the partial separation of prescribing
and dispensing ; and he ventured to predict that, in course
of time, this separation would become more complete, to
the mutual advantage of both branches of the profession ;
but, to hasten this result, pharmacists must exhibit a
spirit of concession as regards what is termed counter
prescribing.

The Chairman then proposed the toast of “ The Phar¬
maceutical Society,” which was responded to by Mr*
Thomas Greenish, ihe President, who alluded to the
efforts of the Pharmaceutical Society in promoting the
advancement of pharmacists generally.

The next toast proposed by the Chairman was that of
“ The Chemists’ Assistants’ Association.” He congratu¬
lated the members respecting the work achieved by them,
and stated that the position attained by the Association
showed how much might be done by unaided but well-
directed effort.

This toast was responded to by the President* Mr. F.
W. Branson, who alluded to the steady increase of the
members and the very satisfactory state of the funds of
the society. During the present session eight papers had
been read, with an average attendance of twenty-six. In
concluding, he thanked the preceding speakers for the
kind sentiments expressed towards the Association.

The toast of “ The Visitors ” was responded to by Dr.
Stoeker, and that of “ The Pharmaceutical Press ” by
Mr. A. C. Wootton.

Mr. Branson then proposed the toast of “ The Chair¬
man,” which was received with musical honours, and
tendered to him, on behalf of the members, their most
hearty thanks for so efficiently fulfilling the duties of
Chairman that evening.

Professor Bentley, in reply, stated that he had derived
great pleasure in being present, and assured the Associa¬
tion of his hearty goodwill.

The National Anthem concluded the evening’s pro¬
ceedings. A varied musical programme was contributed
by members and their friends.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,
J anuary 27, Mr. D. Hooper, Vice-President, in the chair.

The Secretary read a Report on Analytical Chemistry,
by Mr. C. H. Hutchinson, F.C.S., which had for its sub¬
ject, — “ Soxhlet’s Researches on the Quantitative Esti¬
mation of the Sugars.” This paper will be published in
a future number.

A discussion followed, in which the Chairman, Messrs.
Elborne, Senier, Symons and Thompson took part.

The Secretary having replied to the questions raised
in the discussion, the thanks of the meeting were awarded
to Mr. Hutchinson for his Report.

Mr. Symons then made a Report on Pharmacy, in
which he described various experiences with vaseline as
an excipient. This paper will be published in a future
number.

The paper was illustrated by numerous specimens kindly
lent for the occasion by the Cheeseborough Company.

A discussion followed, in which Messrs. Bird, Davies,
Elborne and Senier took part.

After passing a vote of thanks to Mr. Symons the
meeting adjourned.

February 12, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

691

Cormjjon’&fna.

The Pharmacy Acts Amendment Bill.

Sir, — It appears to some of us that the cry of a “ senti¬
mental grievance ” rests, not with those who oppose this
obnoxious 5th clause of the so-called amended Pharmacy
Act, but with those who are its advocates, and upon whom
rests the responsibility of having set this unfortunate ball
rolling.

Their plea is, “ Our aim is justice, and the protection of
the public.” To this we reply, Why, in the name of
justice, have you not introduced a clause to prevent pro¬
prietors of branch shops carrying on businesses which are
not under personal surveillance, and where, in many cases,
the public are not even protected by the employment of a
qualified assistant ?

Where then lies the logic of advocating the retention of
this clause on the principle of personal quali 6 cation ?
Surely, sir, apart from any sentiment, true or false, the
widow should have equal justice meted out to her, by being
allowed to carry on her business by means of a qualified
assistant, if she.be so advised, after the death of her husband.
The question of rich or poor has nothing to do with the
subject, and can be of no concern whatever to any member
of the Council. We stand upon the principle of even
handed justice — even justice to the widow — and we claim
for her — protection.

The shallow argument, used on one or two occasions,
that a doctor’s or a lawyer’s widow might urge the same
plea, is not to the point, and is of little worth. We belong
to a trade, and not to a profession, and it will be quite time
enough to argue that point when we have reached the order
professional, and can enjoy their unmistakable privilege,
4‘ protecvion.”

I am free to confess my obtuseness in not being able to
understand how it can be logical to allow a widow to carry
on the business of a deceased husband for three years (or
more, if, on application, the Council in their wisdom shall
see fit to permit it), even by a qualified man, when (so say
the sages) the interests of the public so loudly demand that
personal qualification of the principal is the one thing
essential to their protection.

These earnest logicians call upon the long suffering public
to be patient whilst they are manipulated by the hands of
the unqualified proprietor for three long years, at the expi¬
ration of which time, they — the sages— will annihilate the
widow, and set them free.

It is simply nonsense to say that if the carrying on of
businesses by widows were legalized, it would be legalizing
it for private firms and individuals.

There is no analogy in the case. The widow does simply
what her deceased husband would have done, struggle for a
living. She did not open the business, it has become her
legacy, and the qualification necessary for its continuance
injures none, and the interests of the public are protected,
whether it be for three years or a lifetime.

The private individual, or firm, or co-operative store, es¬
tablishes upon an unqualified basis, and the aim is, pure and
simple, to make money .

I have my own opinion upon the desirability or expe¬
diency of a business being carried on after the death of the
proprietor, but I have not seen a valid argument advanced
which at. all justifies this unnecessary interference of the
Council by inserting such an unjust clause in their Bill.

It would be no difficult matter to cite cases similar to the
one given by Mr. Richardson, where the result was adverse
to the widow; but I would remind him, as well as your
readers, that there are two sides to this question.

Some few years ago an old friend of mine died, leaving a
widow and two children. It was not a large business. The
widow was advised to continue it with an assistant ; she
followed the advice given ; the business is in existence still,
and is answering well. So much for the contrast.

In country places this can be done, and should not be
hindered by any false notions which those gentlemen with
“ fat ” businesses may hold, as they can know but little of
those of the “ leaner ” kind, which are to be found in small
towns and large villages.

A word in closing. If large firms and men of capital in
our own ranks had abstained, and would abstain from — I
cannot call it co-operation— this deliberate robbery of their
neighbours and confreres, there might be some good result

from further legislation; but until that healthier time
arrives T, for one, would say ‘ ‘ cui bono.’ ’

Brighton. G. G. Hornsby.

Sir, — I have watched with some interest the discussion
that has taken place at the meetings of the Council relative
to the proposed amendment of the Pharmacy Act, and also
the correspondence that has been carried on in your
columns. . .

I cannot but feel myself, that the insertion of what is
called the “ widows’ clause ” is both impolitic and unjust. I
have never yet heard that the public, for whose benefit we
are told this Bill is being projected, ever object to widows
conducting their businesses, of course with the assistance of
a qualified man ; in fact, the number of businesses thus
conducted, most of them very lucratively, points to the
opposite.

Now I venture to assert, that every argument urged
against the conduct of chemists’ businesses by widows
might, with equal cogency, be advanced against the practice,
now so prevalent, of conducting what are called branch
businesses

As the Bill at present stands, could anything more
inconsistent be imagined so far as the public safety is
concerned ? For instance, A. may have two, three, or more
businesses in the same town or city, or in different towns,
each managed by an assistant, but in the event of his death
his widow would not be permitted to continue one of them,
although she would most likely be able to command the
services of the same assistants, who were perfectly com¬
petent to conduct the business during her husband’s life *
time.

Surely those who are thus opposed to this new attempt
to impose upon us one of the disadvantages of a profession,
ought to be met with some better argument than that it
is a matter of sentiment.

It does not appear to me to be a very sentimental matter
that our wives should be deprived of the means of supporting
themselves and their little ones, and in many cases reduced
to poverty,— and for what reason ? Not because the business
would not prosper in her hands, or the interests of the
.public suffer, but that we may endeavour to assume the
rank of a profession, which we can never reach, but must
remain, as we are, traders to the end.

There can be but one reason why the Society does not
interfere with the question of branch businesses, that
it knows that there are men owning several businesses
(large capitalists generally) who would bring such an amount
of pressure to bear upon the Society that the projected Bill
would have to be immediately withdrawn, a sacrifice that
had better be made rather than we should be so unjust,
illogical, and inconsistent as to deny to the poor widow
what we are afraid to refuse to the man of capital.

In conclusion allow me to express my thanks to the
members of the Council for endeavouring to grapple with
our present serious difficulties ; but I believe if they persist
in keeping the 5th clause in the Bill, there will be such a
strenuous opposition raised to it throughout the country
that it will never pass.

Let them omit it, and I am sure the Bill will have the
support of the whole trade, an d would greatly increase the
prestige of the Society that I am afraid has of late been
rather waning.

62, Vassall Road. Alfred J. Gower, A.P.S.

Sir, — Several chemists have expressed their opinions of
the proposed Pharmacy Bill about to be presented to Parlia¬
ment.. A few agree with Mr. Sandford in pleading the
cause of the widow and fatherless, in whom we are all
equally interested ; but others of us may have a different
channel in making the necessary provision.

As Mr. Symes has said, “of two evils it is but common
sense to choose that which is by far the least.” It is abso¬
lutely necessary that individual proprietors of chemists
shops should be qualified, and that a qualified assistant
cannot confer qualification on the employer.

Ao-ain, branch shops should be managed by qualified as¬
sistants only. Let us then strive for legislation that will
restrict the dispensing of prescriptions and poisons to
chemists, and thus by building up a good establishment,
chemists will be better able to enjoy the comforts of life,
and leave behind them a fair competency for widows and

692

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 12, issi.

the fatherless. Moreover, I would recommend that each
chemist should take out a life policy, which would materially
assist to increase the same fund.

To chemists who have paid ten guineas, and received their
fF plo ix a of qualification, it is surely a small favour to ask
Government to limit the sale of drugs to chemists only.
After all, the amount of drugs used by the larger house¬
holds, compared with the consumption of provisions, is a
mere trifle. The family that spends £150 annually on
groceries, will probably not use £3 of drugs. I know of a
bond fide case, which I shall call “ luxurious extravagance ”
— a lady, who paid the sum of £70 for a single jacket, and
who was afterwards told that £40 was the real value. I
have reason to believe that the same lady would send to the
store if it were to save 3c l. in the Is. on the purchase of a
drug.

I consider that the system of free trade, as carried on in
this country, is tending to undermine the prosperity of the
State. That country is the most flourishing where one
section of the community contributes to the support of the
other.

A. P. S.

Sir, — Notwithstanding all that has been said by corre¬
spondents for the retention of clause 5 in the New Draft
Pharmacy Act, and though it has again been discussed by
the Council, and put to the vote with a majority of five in its
favour, I cannot help thinking that an act of injustice, in
the sacred name of justice, is being perpetrated by its
presence in the embryo Act. The case of a widow or
children of a registered chemist deserves something better
from the hands of the Pharmaceutical Society than that it
should be the instrument of blighting the prospects of
the family of a member whom they assume to protect.
Surely it is not dignified for the Society to act a part similar
to that of the inexorable creditor, who, “forasmuch as he
(the debtor) had not to pay,” ordered ‘ ‘ wife and children
to be sold and all that he had.”

Neither does it seem according to the spirit of English
law, which, apart from vested interests (and the widow of
a chemist may put in a claim on that score), recognizes
certain privileges and rights accruing to women in virtue of
tlieii marriage.

“A war for an idea” seems to me to he the part acted
by those who contend that we cannot ask Parliament to
prevent grocers, companies, and other unqualified individuals
and corporations from embarking and engaging in the trade
of a chemist, because here and there a widow may be found
carrying on the business of her late husband for the
sustenance of herself and children.

Again, the case of doctors, or lawyers, is instanced ; their
widows cannot continue their practice. But the case of a
chemist is not parallel. The business of a doctor is simply
the exercise of brains ; that of a chemist is in his stock of
drugs, etc., which his widow, advantageously or not, equally
with widows carrying on other descriptions of trade, has a
right to retain.

Sir, I will ask one question. If clause 5 is to be
retained, cannot a proviso be added that if a chemist by his
will appoint a registered chemist as one of the trustees, who
shall carry on the business for the benefit of his widow and
family, or children alone, then she or they shall be suffered
to retain possession of what, according to all English law
and precedent is truly and really their property ?

Philos.

Sir, — There seems to be a considerable diversity of
opinion anent the different clauses of the proposed amend¬
ment of ihe Pharmacy Act. This was to be expected, and
I am rather sceptical of the result being a successful one.

Clause 5 has had most attention. Sentiment, rather than
argument, has prevailed. Is common with the majority o '
the Council, I believe that the eliminating of this clause
from the Bill would strike a blow at its very essence anc
principle, viz., personal qualification. Polio wing out this
same principle, the Bill should seek to provide for al .
branch businesses being in charge of qualified persons.
There is a ring of class legislation in the idea of allowing
one person (qualified) to keep open, it may be, half a dozen
branches under the direction of unqualified persons, while
you ask for power to prevent a body corporate trading with
properly qualified management. I would urge the necessity
of proprietor and manager of every branch being qualified,

;hus affording the desirable protection to the public and
destroying, to a large extent, the plea for justice, which
stores and a large section of the community are very apt to
demand.

The patent medicine clause is a step in the right direc¬
tion, although it will still leave outside much of the
irado in these articles, articles of a kind for which it would
be impolitic to ask protection. I hail this clause also as a
means to the end of putting down quackery, especially that
drugging quackery which is so largely practised among all
classes of society.

The difficulties pointed out by Mr. J. R. Cooper anent
stock of patents on hand prior to January, 1882, can be
easily overcome by leading evidence to prove such to have
been the case. As regards prosecution for non -labelling I
would suggest that the retailer be responsible for external,
and the maker for internal labelling. By so doing it would
place each in their proper sphere of responsibility with least
trouble.

Peebles. R. L.

The Relations of Medicine and Pharmacy. — Some letters
on this subject have been received, but we are compelled to
defer their publication until next week.

Dialysis. — The gelatinization may be due to the process
of dialysis having been carried too far, and the same result
is said to follow contact with an atmosphere containing am¬
monia. To restore a gelatinized solution to the fluid condition
Hager recommends the addition of dilute solution of chloride
of iron, but in so small a quantity as not to give a reaction
with nitrate of silver.

Nemo is recommended to consult the Index to his Pharma -
copoeia.

E. B. C. — It is not legal for any unregistered person to
sell laudanum, even if he should label it “ poison.” If you
possess evidence that “shopkeepers other than chemists
take to retailing poisons ” you are recommended to forward
it to the Registrar.

“Actor,” whose question we do not understand, is referred
to the rule respecting anonymous communications.

“ Improver.” — The symbol “ 0 ” is defined in the Ap¬
pendix to the British Pharmacopoeia as equivalent to “ 20
fluid ounces,” and in the absence of evidence of a contrary
intention on the part of the prescriber, this definition
should guide the dispenser.

Associate.— Full information respecting the Appointment
of Dispensers in Her Majesty’s Naval Hospitals will be found
in the Calendar of the Pharmaceutical Society or in the
Pharmaceutical Journal for November 9, 1872, p. 364.

“ Ammonia.” — See the article on the subject in 'Watts’s
‘ Dictionary.’

W. Proctor. — We should think the information could be
obtained from the Registrar under the Trade Marks Act,
Southampton Buildings, W.C.

P. H. Mason. — Chrysophanic acid is soluble in benzol,
oil of turpentine, olive oil and other volatile and fixed oils;
probably experiment in this direction will furnish you
with what you want.

Associate. — The following recipe for bay rum, from an
American source, has already appeared in this Journal :
alcohol, 4 pints ; water, 3 pints ; Jamaica rum, 1 pint ; oil
of bay, 1 drachm ; oil of pimento, 2 drops. A few drops of
liq. ammonise will give the colour. Brilliantine is a solution
of castor oil in eau de cologne (1 in 4). A more complex
receipt will be found in vol. viii., p. 419.

J. Green. — There is no recognized form for making
tincture of gelsemium, some houses preparing it of a strength
equal to 1 in 5, others 1 in 10. See report of a discussion
at the Swansea Conference, before, p. 242. Recipes for
chromograph compositions have been given recently.

Expectorant. — The only effectual way of protecting a pro¬
prietary article, if it be a novelty, is to take out a patent.
It may be also protected indirectly by registration under the
Trade Marks Act.

A Local Secretary. — In the first case the use of the title
in the plural would, in our opinion, be illegal ; in the second
the use of the title at all would be illegal.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Eyre, Tully, Will, Orton, Fowler, Fargher, Annette,
Blanchard, Mansfield, Mason, Kermath, Walker, Chap¬
man, Wade, Inquirer, Scrupulum, C., M. P. S., A. B. C.,

; February 19, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

693

NOTE ON CAPE TEA.

BY PROFESSOR A. H. CHURCH.*

In this Journal for January 8, and 15, 1881, a
paper On Cape Tea by Mr. Henry G. Greenish ap¬
peared. The author describes the results of a most
careful botanical and chemical examination which he
has made of the leaves of certain species of Cyclopia.
His primary object was to learn whether or not the
interesting ’ substitute for tea, known as Cape Tea,
Boer Tea or Bush Tea, contains the alkaloid theme.
During this inquiry he recognized the existence of
several apparently new substances, amongst which one,
aacncmprl tli p nfimp. of “cvcloDiafluorescin,’

tical results which the examination of the substance
termed (t cyclopic acid ” afforded me.

Percentage of
carbon.

l.
• •
li.
• • •
ill.

iv.

Percentage
of hydrogen.

578

5-92

5-13

5-62

to which he assigned the name of “cyclopiafluorescm,
occurred in yellow crystals soluble in alkaline solu¬
tions with a fine green fluorescence similar to that of
uranium glass. Air. Greenish is obviously unac¬
quainted with the inquiries made by myself into
these questions. A reference to the Chemical. A eivs
for July 1, 1870, [vol. 22, p. 2], would have enabled
him to see an abstract of the results which 1 had
obtained and published more than ten. years ago. I
reproduce the abstract in question verbatim heie .

On Cyclopic Acid, a New Fluorescent Substance

EXTRACTED FROM THE CYCLOPIA VOGELII.

BY ARTHUR H. CHURCH, M.A. OXON., F.C.S
One of the plants used by the African Boers for tea is
the Cyclopia Vogelii. Endeavouring to extract theme,
from the dried leaves and flowers of this plant, I met
with a substance apparently new to science, and possess¬
ing one remarkable property, that of a high degree of
fluorescence. This character is best seen when a crystal
or two of the new body is dropped into a solution of
caustic soda and viewed in sunlight. An intense green¬
ish yellow fluorescence is perceived at first, but disappears

in the course of some hours. ,

I have named the new substance cyclopic acid, it is
extracted by enclosing a pound or so of the dried leaves
in a cloth, and immersing this for some days m water at
about 30°-40° C., occasionally squeezing the cloth. A
yellow powder gradually accumulates at the bottom of the
vessel of water, and should be dissolved in a mixture of
ether, alcohol, and water, acidified with a drop of acetic
acid. By two or three recrystallizations from weak alcohol,
the cyclopic acid is obtained pure. It contains only
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen ; different samples gav e
closely accordant results on analysis :

Percentages of Percentages of

carbon. hydrogen.

1. 53-43 5-78-

• 2. 53-58 5-92

3. 53-40 5-13

4. 53-36 . 562

These numbers correspond pretty fairly with the for

mula C7H804, which demands the following per
centages : —

Carbon . 53"84.

Hydrogen ......... 5-13.

Oxygen . . 41 03.

The formula C7H804 is rendered more probable by
the result of neutralizing cyclopic acid with a standard
solution of ammonia. The formula indicated for the
ammonium cyclopate thus produced was

c7h6 |NH4] 2o4.

It is possible, however, -that cyclopic acid contains
more hydrogen than assumed above, in which case it
would have the formula C44H4808, and its ammonium
salt be C14H14 [NH4] 408.

* i do. not purpose criticizing the results of Mr.
Greenish, which, indeed, in some particulars agree
precisely with mine ; but I think it may be of use if
1 give, in as compact a form as possible, the analy-
Third Series, No. 556.

Date of analysis.

6 November, 1868 53*43

13 „ „ 53-58

27 May 1869 . . 53" 40

6 April, 1870 . . 53*36

Analyses i. and ii. were made with the same pre¬
paration of cyclopic acid ; the analysis iii. wdth
another preparation, and analysis iv. with a third
sample. A portion of the last was also taken for
the neutralization experiment mentioned in my
original paper. In that case "06 gram ol cyclopic
acid required 9‘92 cubic centimetres of a standard
solution of ammonia of which each c.c.. contained
•'00142 gram of NH3. If we assume the bibasicity of
the acid, we may, from this result, conclude that its
molecule is C7Hs04, and not C14Hle08. But too
much stress should not be laid upon a single deter¬
mination of this kind.

It may be of service if I now compare the mean
percentages obtained in the analysis of cyclopic acid
with the nearest theoretical numbers demanded by
the formulae : —

Percentages.

Experiment,

mean.

I

eh-dbeOs-

Theory.

Ui.iHjgOg.

Carbon .

53-44

53-84

53‘50

Hydrogen

5-61

5-13

573

Oxygen .

40-95

41-03

40-77

100-00

It is somewhat singular that Mr. Greenish s
analysis of the body which comes nearest to my
cyclopic acid should have yielded only 44-86 per
cent, carbon at the most; while several of tlie otner
bodies described in his paper contained as much as
51 to 55 per cent, of that element. That Ins pro¬
posed formula for cyclopiafiuorescin should be
C14H18012 instead of C14H1808, which I suggested
for cyclopic acid, is a curious coincidence.

I may add that Professor Stokes examined the
fluorescence of my cyclopic acid about ten years ago.
And further, I should state, in a more definite mode
than that employed in the condensed account of my
research as it appeared in the Chemical News .ol
1870, that I utterly failed to detect a trace of theme
in my sample of Boer tea.

STUDIES OF THE GENUS STHYCHNOS.

BY G. PLANCHON,

Professor in the Ecole Sap'erieure c le Pharmacie, Paris,
and Honorary Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain.

( Continued from page 592.)

Y. Curare of French Guiana.

At the opposite extremity of the course of the
Amazon, quite near to its immense delta, there is
seen upon the map of La Condamine, the mouth oi
two rivers, the courses not being marked bin tor a
verv short distance. The easternmost is the Yari ;
the other bears the name of the Paru or Parou. i or
a long time unknown through a great part oi their
course, they have recently been explored by Dr. J.
Crevaux: the former in a journey undertaken by
him in 1876-77, from the coast of the Caribbean Sea
to the Amazon across the mountains that form e
high part of French Guiana ; the second m 1878-7 J.

The Paru runs parallel to the Yari, from which at
its source it is only distant two days’ journey on loot.

694 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 19, 1881,

The mountains which separate the two streams have
only a slight elevation. The upper part of the river
is occupied by the Trios and Roucouyennes Indians,
and it was in this region that M. Crevaux saw them
prepare the product which they call “ ourari,” and
which they use to poison the arrows intended princi¬
pally for the chase of a large black monkey called
the “ couata.”

In a letter addressed on the 15th of January, 1879,
to M. Leroy de Mericourt, M. Crevaux sent a photo¬
graph of a plant, designated, like the product that it
yields, under the name “ ourari,” and adds : — I be¬
lieve that it has to do with the real curare, since the
root bark, steeped in brandy, has produced in various
animals effects absolutely identical with those of
curare (experiments made at Para before Dr. Bricio).

The product is essentially yielded by the juice
extracted from the root of the plant “ ourari.” This
liquid is added to the juice of other plants which do
not possess any toxic property (experiments upon

animals and man). To make the curare the Indians
that I have- visited soak the roots, remove the bark
with a cutting instrument and express the juice with
their hands. The juice, added to some other jmim-
portant substances (among others a capsicum), is
very slightly heated and dried in the sun.

The juice of the root is very bitter, and stains \
hands brown, like tincture of iodine. It may be
handled with impunity, provided there are no
excoriations.

I have already stated that the plant, first photo¬
graphed and then brought to Europe by M. Crevaux,
is a new species of Strychnos, to which I have given
the name Strychnos Crevaux ii. The following are the
characters together with the figure : —

The plant is a climber which rises to the height of
40 to 45 metres. The stem bears numerous branches
(fig. 1), furnished at intervals with crosier-like
tendrils, swollen at their extremities. The slenderest
branches are covered with short yellowish hairs.

The moderately thick coriace¬
ous leaves are 5 to 8 centime¬
tres long, elliptical, lanceolate,
shortly acuminate, mostly atten¬
uate at the base upon a short
petiole of 4 to 5 millimetres.
The upper surface is glabrous
and shining ; the inferior sur¬
face is dull, also glabrous, except
the large veins, which bear
sparse appressed hairs. From
the well-marked midrib there
is given off' right at the base-
two fine nerves which run
along the margin, and at a cer¬
tain height two other more
marked curvilinear nerves di¬
rected towards the apex. The
inflorescence is axillary, much
shorter than the leaves, with
opposite bracts, bearing small
pedicellate flowers. The flowers
(figs. 2 and 3) have a calyx
with five lanceolate divisions ;
an infundibuliform corolla,
much longer than the calyx,
with five valvate divisions, re-
flexed and covered upon their
internal surface with whitish
hairs ; five stamens with adnate
anthers. The ovary is globular,
surmounted by a rather long
style, slightly dilated, and bi-
lobed at the summit.

One rather curious peculiar¬
ity of this species is the presence
of small, more or less forked,
very slender branchlets, which
occur at the axil of many of
the leaves. The axes of these
branchlets and the small oppo¬
site leaflets, which are only 2
to 5 millimetres long, are
covered with small recurved
hairs.

Together with the plant, M.
Crevaux communicated some-
fragments of root and stem.
The portion of root that I have
been able to study is 2 5 centi-

February 19, 1881.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

695

metres in diameter
reddish-brown colour,
tudinal blotches,

The hark is of a uniform
marked with several longi-
at tolerably

occurring

D

regular

Fig. 2. — Longitudinal section of the flower.

Fig. 3.-

A single flower.

intervals, striae and circular openings. Inside this
thin bark (1 mm.) is an extremely porous wood
marked with very numerous fine radial striae. There
is no trace of a pith.

The anatomical structure of the bark is that of a
Sirychnos , as it has already been indicated, with the
following peculiarities : — To the suberous tissue,
formed of twelve to fifteen regular rows of tabular
cells, which are brown, and strongly compressed in
the exterior portions, succeeds, without anything
intermediate, the relatively thin stony layer, formed
of at most four or five rows of moderately sized cells.

The liber zone is relatively large, twice as broad
again as the other two zones united ; it is remarkable
because it contains very few stone cells, and, on the
other hand, a very abundant parenchyma filled with
small-sized starch grains collected in great number
in the cells.

The wood is remarkable for the very considerable
number and the dimensions of the lacunae which
form the numerous orifices visible to the naked eye.

These lacunae frequently show in their interior an
irregular network of large meshes ; they do not
contain any resinoid matter. The very numerous
and well-developed medullary rays, and the ligneous
parenchyma, which forms concentric curves, contain
some crystals in their large cells, but especially a
quantity of starch grains analogous to those in the
bark.

The stem of Strychnos Crevcmxii that I have ex¬
amined has a diameter of 9 centimetres. The very
thin bark, scarcely 2 millimetres thick, is greyish-
white, with brown marks upon the blotches where
the external tissue has been worn off by friction.

It is warty, marked with irregular slight promin¬
ences, extending longitudinally. Its structure re¬
calls that of the root bark in the considerable
development of the liber zone charged with starch,
and the relative narrowness of the stony zone. It
differs from it in the more considerable development
of the suber, and by the presence between the suber
and stony zone of a reddish parenchymatous layer
containing some cells with much thickened walls.

The wood is of a grey colour and is pierced by an
infinite number of pores, which are still more de¬
veloped than those of the root. The lacunae present
the same tissue in their interior, the medullary rays
and ligneous parenchyma are also filled with starch

granules, so that upon touching any point of these
woody layers with iodine a deep blue, nearly black,
spot is immediately formed.

The accessory plants which M-.
Crevaux has reported to me as enter¬
ing into the preparation of the curare
of the Upper Parou all belong to the
Piperaceae. They are —

(1) A species bearing on the Upper
Parou the name “alimiere.” It is
represented by a young shoo1-, the
roots of which have a pungent flavour-.
The striated stalks bear at intervals
large nodose swellings from which are
given off coriaceous leaves upon thick¬
ened petioles 1*5 centimetre long.
These leaves are oblong or elliptical, .
slightly unequal at the base, 18 to 22
centimetres long, some narrow (5 cen¬
timetres), others broader (10 centi¬
metres), glabrous, and having 8 to 10
| secondary nerves springing from the
base of the middle nerve and recurving
margin of the leaf. The plant is a

towards the _ 0 ,

Piper that I have not been able to determine.

(2) A species with very slender, striated, nodose
branches, bearing shortly petiolate oblong or lanceo¬
late leaves, 12 to 15 centimetres long, 4 to 6 centi¬
metres broad, narrowly acuminate at the summit,
alternate and slightly unequal at the base, scarcely
coriaceous, glabrous, bright green above, greyish
underneath, with 8 to 10 secondary nerves, ana-
stomizing in a curve towards the margin of the leaf.
Very short slender catkins, 1 millimetre long, appear
opposite the superior leaves. The plant agrees
tolerably well with the specimens of Piper Icetuin ,
C.D.C. ( Ottonia Iceta , Kunth), which I have seen in
the herbarium of the Museum.

(3) A species called “ potpeu ” in the Upper
Parou. The leaves by which it is represented are
shortly petiolate, ovate-oblong, acuminate at the
summit, slightly unequal at the base. The nerves
are covered underneath by a short pubescence, as
also are the young branches. The plant approxi¬
mates to Piper Hostmannianum, C.D.C. ( Artantha
ramiji-ra , Miq.).

(4) A species named aaraeoupani” by the natives,
the nodose stems of which bear, at the end of pe¬
tioles 2 centimetres long, leaves which are 7 to 8
centimetres long, cordiform at the base, ovate, im¬
perceptibly and long acuminate, glabrous, dark green
on the upper surface, paler on the inferior surface,
with three strongly ascending secondary nerves. It is
one of the Piperaceae, but one to which I have found
nothing analogous in the herbarium of the Museum.

I mention only to record a specimen of Hura
crepitans, L., which M. Crevaux has added to the
preceding species, but which does not come from the
curare region. It was collected on the banks of
the Amazon, near to the mouth of the Parou. . It
appears that the juice of this plant is used to poison
arrows. The species bears the name of “ ouassacou.

(To be continued.)

VASELINE.*

BY W. H. SYMONS, F.R.M.S., F.C.S.

Although petroleum in some form or other has been in
use for two thousand years (Herodotus, born b.c. 434, is the

* A paper read before the School of Pharmacy Student
Association, J anuary 27 , 1881 .

696

Tlir 1'HARMAUEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 13, 1S81

first writer who distinctly refers to it), petroleum jelly or
vaseline has only been known during the last few years,
and is said to have been discovered by Mr. R. A. Chese-
brough, of the Chesebrough Manufacturing Company. I
have been unable to find any authentic account of the
manufacturing process, but according to the pamphlet
which I have on the table, and which most of you have
doubtless read, it is the residue from the distillation of
petroleum purified by an elaborate system of filtration,
known only to the company; or, at least, so says the
pamphlet. This secrecy of its manufacture is one of the
greatest drawbacks to its usefulness and official recogni¬
tion.

Vaseline was the subject of an original paper read by
Mr. J. Moss at the meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society,
on February 2, 1876. He describes it as a pale yellow,
translucent, slightly fluorescent, semi-solid, melting at
37° C. and having a specific gravity of 840 at 54° C.
It is insoluble in water, slightly soluble in alcohol, freely
so in ether, and miscible in all proportions with fixed
and volatile oils. It is not acted upon by hydrochloric
acid or solution of potash, and has all the other character¬
istics of a mixture of paraffins : an ultimate organic
analysis made by him gave 97 ‘54 per cent, of hydro¬
carbons.

Under the microscope, vaseline, in common with most
other fats, is found to contain numerous small acicular
crystals, doubtless consisting of a paraffin of higher
melting point than the mass, but these do not in any
way interfere with its usefulness, because of their
extreme minuteness and easy fusibility.

Vaseline may be kept indefinitely without becoming
rancid ; this is its chief characteristic, and together with
its indifference to chemicals and its readiness to take
any perfume is sufficient to recommend it for pharma¬
ceutical and toilet purposes in place of the fats generally
used.*

If vaseline be considered too thin it may be thickened
to any extent with paraffin wax. I have found one to
seven a good basis for general use, or one in ten would
answer for most purposes; but to obtain anything like
smoothness in the mixture it must be thoroughly beaten
whilst cooling. Vaseline alone being used for making
such ointments as that of ammoniated mercury, or for
diluting mercurial or the nitrate of mercury ointments, a
partial separation takes place on keeping; but if' a
mixture of paraffin wax and vaseline be used no such
separation occurs.

With regard to the preparations of the Pharmacopoeia, in
which vase ine has been suggested as a substitute for the
basis in present use, first and foremost I must mention
the nitrate of mercury ointment. Squire states that
this can be prepared from white vaseline by substituting
it for the lard and oil in the official formula. I tried the
experiment on half a pound of white vaseline, using the
B.P. quantities of nitric acid and mercury, and a
temperature rising to 214° F., but it was a decided
failure. I could obtain nothing but a mechanical mixture,
the vaseline being changed in colour from white to pale
yellow, and the acid solution continually weeping out
and nearly all of it could be separated by pressure.
It may be that failure arose from a lack of manipula¬
tive skill on my part, but I have generally been able
to get fair results with the B.P. process. I have on
the table a specimen of citrine ointment, prepared from
a mixture of white wax and vaseline and about the
same quantity of mercury, but rather less nitric acid ;
this specimen is about eighteen months old and is as
good as when first made. As far as my experience goes,
vaseline is not suitable for making citrine ointment of
full strength, but it certainly is useful for its dilution.

# One improvement seems to me possible, and that is the
isolation of single paraffins, of various melting points, one
suitable as a basis for liniments, another for ointments, in
place of the mixture of paraffins sold as vaseline.

Here is some fresh official ointment, and also some
recently diluted with vaseline. I likewise have a speci¬
men which I prepared two years ago, its colour is still
good. I found that the vaseline had partly separated
from it, and in future shall make it with one- eighth
paraffin wax.

The next troublesome ointment I think, is that of
red oxide of mercury. I have here a sample of the
official ointment, which has been kept for over two years,
and is now certainly an unsightly preparation ; also some
made with prepared lard, quite as bad. Benzoated lard
seems to have answered very much better, but still more
successful is the mixture of castor oil and beeswax,
suggested some years ago in the Pharmaceutical Journal.
Vaseline, however will take the palm for more elegant
appearance, and it will keep any length of time unaltered.

Compound lead ointment has been spoken of as very
liable to change. I have some here made from the
official formula, which has been kept over a year, and
also some made with vaseline eighteen months ago ;
likewise a sample of zinc ointment. The official oint¬
ments, although only a few months old, are quite rancid,
but the samples made with vaseline show no alteration
after being kept eighteen months.

Mercurial ointment is also very advantageously made '
with vaseline and wax, instead of with rancid fat, as is
usually the case. Under the microscope, samples of
both ointments exhibit globules of mercury of about
equal size.

Iodine is soluble in about twenty, times its weight of
vaseline, therefore vaseline is very suitable as a basis for
iodine ointment. I am not aware of any action occurring
between iodine and the paraffins, although action does
take place with chlorine and bromine under favourable
circumstances. I prepared some a few days ago, of B.P.
strength but without any iodide of potassium.

The crowning success for vaseline is in the preparation
of cold cream, and if this were the only compound
in which it could be used with advantage its mission
would, I think, be fully accomplished. I have made my
cold cream for some time with white vaseline and have
found a very marked increase in my sale for that article.

I have kept a sample freely exposed to air in a warm
place for some months without any alteration, except loss
of water. I make it by dissolving gij. of white wax
in one pound of white vaseline by heat, adding 3iss. of
borax dissolved in §ix. of water, and perfume with 3sa.. of
oils, stirring until nearly cold and then pouring into pots.

Vaseline, with or without paraffin wax, is undoubtedly
the best basis for pomades, and only requires one half the
quantity of perfume common fats do.

Vaseline has been suggested for internal administration,
but it is not the province of the pharmacist to discuss the
relative merit or demerits of any therapeutic agent ; it
behoves him, however, to study the best method of
exhibiting it and to bring it to the notice of the physician.

The Chesebrough Company prepare vaseline in the
form of pastilles, which they say contain 33 per cent, of
vaseline, with a like quantity of sugar and gum ; these
they flavour with wintergreen oil, which is very much
appreciated by our cousins across the Atlantic, but not so
much so on this side.

Vaseline can be emulsified with the usual agents. The
emulsion made with gum acacia is tolerably permanent,
also that with yolk of egg. If for external application the
vaseline can be mixed with one eighth its weight of white
wax and then emulsified with borax or any alkali. The
sample on the table was prepared by triturating 3ij« of
white vaseline and gy. xv. of white wax with 3xiv. of
water containing gr. xv. of borax in solution.

I am totally unacquainted with the various imitations
of vaseline now in the market. I think that as long as
the original company supply a pure article at a reasonable
price, we should not help others to reap the benefit of
research and enterprise in which they had no part. I do
not look upon vaseline as a nostrum or I certainly should

February 19, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 697

not have brought it before your notice this evening. It
is true we have not yet been let into all the details of its
manufacture, but it may be that such disclosure is not far
distant. Because the manufacture of Duncan’s chloro¬
form is kept a profound secret among the partners of the
firm, has that prevented the medical profession from in¬
sisting upon that particular preparation as an anaesthetic ?
If medical men do not hesitate, when it falls in with
the interest of the profession and the public, to recom¬
mend a particular preparation of a particular firm
to the exclusion of all other’s, I do not see why
chemists should consider it infva dig. to recommend
and use such an elegant and useful article as vaseline.
One trouble looms in the far distance, — will the supply of
vaseline last as long as the demand for it ? Coal may be
replaced, and heat and light obtained from electricity by
unknown means, but how shall we find a substitute for
vaseline, unless, indeed, we be able to make it from its
so-called elements! The supply of petroleum does not,
however, seem to show any signs of decrease at present ;
sources known two thousand years ago still yield bounti¬
fully, and if the American supplies prove as permanently
productive as those of the Old World, we may leave this
question for the present.

DIALYSED IRON.*

BY R. ROTHER.

The fact seems to be not widely known that the so-
called dialysed iron of the United States market is not
prepared by dialysis. . It is nevertheless the veritable
article as produced by the dialytic process, but obtained
by a much improved method, which dispenses with the
diffusion drum. The new operation consists in mixing a
small proportion of chlorhydric acid with washed ferric
hydrate, precipitated by ammonia, and setting the mixture
away for about three weeks, when the clear solution is
decanted from a slight residue and is then ready for use.
This knowledge, however, is so special and is kept so
sedulously secret by the manufacturing fraternity that
a practical chemist of much experience, on entering
another establishment, was laughed at for his simplicity
when he proposed to make dialysed iron by dialysis.
The writer himself obtained this knowledge from one of
the initiated only after having proposed his own method
as being new and important, and incidentally said, as much
superior to the manufacturers’ process as this is to
dialysis. The writer was at the same time informed
that if the factories were restricted to dialysis for their
product, they could not begin to supply the demand;
which shows that dialysed iron must be very saleable
goods.

Before proceeding with the exposition of his process,
the writer will first discuss a few points in the nomen¬
clature and notation of this subject.

According to the new chemistry, the terminology and
notation are chiefly based upon the valency, apparent or
real, of the elements. This admirable plan is not yet
by any means perfected, but is even unaccountably
encumbered by various ambiguities and conspicuous
inaccuracies, which long since should have been remedied.
Prominent among these is the term anhydride, generally
and erroneously used to indicate either a basic or acid
oxide. If there attaches any meaning to. words, an
anhydride would indicate a compound deprived of its
constituent hydrogen. Eor instance, sulphur and phos¬
phorus are the anhydrides of hydric sulphide (H2S) and
hydric phosphide (H3P) respectively. And dimethyl or
ethane (C2H6) is the partial anhydride of methane (CH4).
But according to the accepted terminology, the an¬
hydrides of hydric sulphate (H2S04) and hydric phos¬
phate (H3P04) are not S04 and P04 but S03 and P205,
that is, the hydrides, not alone deprived of hydrogen, but

* Prom New Remedies , January, 1881.

also of oxygen in equivalent proportion, in other words
freed from the elements of water, or dehydrated.
Consequently an anhydride ambiguously means an
anhydrate.

It certainly is not correct to say potassium hydrate
[K(OH)], calcium hydrate [Ca(OH)2], etc., since that
would indicate the hydrate of an elementary radicle,
which is not the case. It has, therefore, been proposed
of late to call them hydroxides, a term consistent with the
notation and more in harmony with fact. But even this
nomenclature cannot obviate the necessity of terming
acid and basic oxides anhydrates. Yet a distinction is
endeavoured to be made between hydroxides properly
so-called, and salts which crystallize with water, desig¬
nating the latter only as hydrates. A salt freed from
water of crystallization would accordingly be styled an
anhydrate, whilst a hydroxide freed from water is an
anhydride. This attempt at a fundamental distinction
is, however, utterly erroneous, as will be presently seen.

The formula of water may be written H(OH), a
hydroxide of hydrogen or hydric hydroxide. Now it
would be as incorrect to call this hydrogen hydrate as to
say that K(OH) is potassium hydrate, in fact the errors
are analogous. It is, however, perfectly correct to say
that H(OH) is hydric hydrate belonging to the general
class hydrates, of which potassic hydrate, ferric hydrate,
etc., are particular members, whose special characters are
due to the nature of the metallic radicle replacing the
hydrogen.

A fundamental distinction is also made between two
classes of salts, denominating them as basic or acid salts,
according to whether the normal salt has attached to it
basic oxide, hydrate, or both, or either acid oxide,
hydrate, or both. Salts containing excess of acid oxide
are further distinguished as anhydro-salts. The formulas
for these compounds as generally written are crudely
analytic -and represent an irregular order of union
between heterogeneous molecules, apparently at variance
with the law of valence. The writer will now, however,
show, as already announced above, that no such deviation
exists, and that all such combinations, inclusive of those
of the water of crystallization, are all subject to the law
of atomicity and the principle of the coalescence of the
same kind or similar molecules. This method of nota¬
tion, in contradistinction with the now prevalent one, is
intensely synthetic and at the same time comprehensibly
analytic. The union between the ultimate realities
composing an elementary molecule represents a degree of
force of the highest intensity. But in the union between
such molecules the original force by continued sub¬
division, according to the degree of complexity of the
compound molecule, is proportionately weakened through
all stages of transition down to the lowest order of
stability. Now, considering that iron is undoubtedly
hexadic, then the ferric molecule may be written FeYI2
indicating that the two Ee’s are united by six links
or subdivisions of the primative intramolecular force
(not to be understood as a force of traction). ' In ferric
chloride Ee2Cl6 or Cl3Fe = FeCl3 three of the links are
externally distributed among the chlorine, whilst three
remain intramolecular. But if we now substitute eight-
ninths (!) of the chlorine with hydroxyl, then we must
employ a triple ferric molecule to represent the change,
thus, (Fe2)3Cl2(OH)1e or Fe3Cl(OH)8. In this instance,
the intramolecular links are redistributed so as to con¬
nect the three ferric molecules. This redistribution of
the links of valence among multiple molecules is in most
case graphically representable, but may also reach an
extreme degree of diffusion as in the absorption of water
of crystallization. These synthetic formulas are remark¬
able for their compactness and convenience of manipula¬
tion. Thus, the so-called acid potassium acetate is
written KH(C2H302)2 instead of IvC2H30.2.H,C2H302.
The so-called di and triplum bic acetates

Pb(C2H3Oo)2.Pb(OH)2 and

Pb (C2H302)2. 2 (Pb (OH)o') are Pb (C2H302) (OH) and

693 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 19, ml.

Pb3(C2H302).2(0H'4. The ferric acetate of the German
Pharmacopoeia 2 Fe(C.,H.jO.,)3.Fe (OH)3 is
Fe2(C2H36.2)4(OH)2.

Potassium anhydrochromate K2Cr04.Cr03 is Cr2Og(KO)2
and the phosphoric acids HPOs, H4P.,07 and H3P04 are
P204(0H)2, P203(0H)4 and P202 (OH)6. Whilst the
present formulas of the phosphoric acids are absolutely
right, they are yet relatively wrong, since if pyrophos-
phoric acid is tetrabasic, the ortho- acid must be hexbasic
and the meta dibasic. This incongruity the writer had
already pointed out some years ago.

The nomenclature used with these proposed synthetic
formulas is in conformity with the notation. Ail salts
containing hydroxyl, and no matter whether so-called
acid or basic, are termed hydro-salts, the basic or acid
nature being inferable from the structure as determined
by the valence of the radicles. Thus Fe2C03(0H)4 is
called ferric hydrocarbonate, Fe2Cl (OH)- fe:ric hydro¬
chloride, (Fe2)3Cl2 (OH)l6 triferric hydrodichloride, .and
(Fe2)3 (N03)2 (OH)16 triferric liydrodinitrate.

The reason why ferric hydrate precipitated by am¬
monia dissolves so slowly in acids is due to the fact, as
the writer has elsewhere shown, that it is an oxyhydrate
(Fe20 (OH)4) which in order to be decomposed by acids
must first be changed into the normal hydrate by the
addition of a molecule of water. The reason for the
insoluble residue remaining is that all monad salts (am¬
ir oniu n chloride excepted), especially sulphates, precipi¬
tate the ferric hydro-salts, and that therefore the
insoluble residue corresponds to the amount of monad
salt adhering to the ferric oxyhydrate used. The dia¬
lysed iron of the market is usually represented to contain
a certain per cent, of ferric oxide purporting to be in the
colloidal or soluble state, no mention being made of any
chlorine present. Strictly speaking, however, no colloidal
ferric hydrate or oxide really exists. The compound, in
order to possess solubility, must contain a certain propor¬
tion of chlorine, that is, must be a hydro-salt. Deprive
the dialysed iron of its chlorine, and insoluble hydrate or
oxyhydrate will result.

After the successful application of ferric hydrocar¬
bonate in the preparation of ferric citrate and hydro¬
acetate, the writer used it in the preparation of the
official solution of ferric nitrate. In the act of dissolving
the fe: lie hydrocarbonate, it was noticed that much less
than the normal quantity of nitric acid sufficed to effect
a solution of all the carbonate. This liquid, having an
unusually deep red colour, was submitted to a prolonged
boiling heat, with the expectation of precipitating a so-
call'ed basic nitrate. No such result happening, the
writer then subjected the German solution of ferric
acetate, prepared from ferric hydrocarbonate and glaral
acetic acid, to the same treatment and obtained a like
result, no precipitation taking place. Chlorhydric acid
was then employed in one- sixth the normal amount,
aiming at the ferric hydrochloride, Fe2Cl (QH)g. On
the application of heat, solution resulted almost in¬
stantly with copious effervescence of carbonic oxide.
The deep brown-red liquid, wdien evaporated to a syrupy
consistence and spread on plates to dry, yielded similarly
coloured non-deliquesc^ nt scales of great solubility.

• Chlorhydric acid in one-ninth the normal amount and
the use of heat gave a similar solution of triferric hydro¬
dichloride Fe6Cl.2 (OH)jg which readily yielded soluble
scales. Chlorhydric in one twelfth the normal propor¬
tion and the use of heat formed a solution at first
which on continued absorption of iron ultimately gelati¬
nized from the effects of heat. It appears, therefore,
that among these compounds there is limit to the
stability under heat. Ritric acid readily forms hydro-
salts analogous and similar to the preceding. Acetic
acid (glacial) cannot effect a solution in less than one-
third tbe normal amount. But in this proportion it
gives ferric hydro-diacetate Fe2 (C2H302)2 (OH)4 which
contains only half as much acetic acid as the German
preparation. It is perfectly stable under heat, but yields

a scaled salt which does not redissolve without decompo¬
sition. Sulphuric acid is anomalous, it produces with
difficulty the salt Fe2 (S04)2 (OH)2 which differs by only
one-fifth less sulphuric acid than Monsel’s salt. The
writer will state in this connection that by the addition
of ammonium sulphate to Monsel’s solution an iron alum
in abundant beautiful white crystals was obtained, show¬
ing that the mother-liquor must have contained a hydro¬
salt having proportionably less acid than the original
liquor.

As a substitute for the dialysed iron of the market,
the writer now proposes a solution of triferric hydrodi¬
chloride equivalent in iron strength to the official
solution of ferric sulphate. Its preparation is as fol¬
lows: — Upon 15 troy ounces of disodic carbonate pour
half a pint of water and apply heat until a hot solution
is obtained, then pour into this one pint of solution of
ferric sulphate in a rapid and continuous stream and
with constant stirring of the mixture. Keep up the
heat a few minutes until effervescence nearly ceases, and
add water to the measure of 2 gallons. After a sufficient
repose, decant the supernatant liquid and wash the pre¬
cipitate three or four more times in a similar manner or
until the washings yield no trace of reaction with barium
chloride. Collect the ferric hydrocarbonate upon a filter,
and when the excess of water has drained away, dissolve
it in 1 troy ounce of chlorhydric acid with the aid of
heat and evaporate to the measure of one pint if neces¬
sary.

Detroit, Mich.

THE MIGRATION OF EUROPEAN * ANIMALS TO
AMERICA AND OF AMERICAN ANIMALS TO
EUROPE.*

BY PROFESSOR E. W. CLAYPOLE, B.A., B.SC. (LONDON),

OF ANTIOCH COLLEGE, OHIO.

{Concluded from page 616.)

Iu this connection I should like to commend to any
one who may read these pages, the works of the Entomo¬
logical Society of Ontario. All interested in the farm and
garden in the Dominion should know of its existence, and
give it all the aid in their power, especially by becoming
members. The monthly numbers contain many valuable
papers, chiefly original and interesting to entomologists,
while the annual reports are full of excellent information
for the general reader. The latter alone is worth the
whole subscription for the year (one dollar) to the prac¬
tical man. They contain full accounts of many of the
insects here briefly alluded to, and may be obtained from
the President, William Saunders, Esq., or the Secretary,
James H. Bowman, Esq., both of London, Ont. In par¬
ticular, I would refer vine-growers, in view of the fact
that attempts are now being made to carry on this branch
of horticulture ori a larger scale in Canada, to the brief
history of this grape vine louse in the Annual Report for
1874,f by the Rev. C. J. S. Bethune.

The details above given bring out strikingly the facts
that, as with plants, so with animals the march is west¬
ward; that European animals cross the Atlantic, and
settle in America, multiplying with enormous rapidity,
and doing incalculable mischief ; while, with a few ex¬
ceptions, American animals fail to establish themselves^:

* Reprinted from the ‘Fourth Report of the Montreal
Horticultural Society,’ 1878-
t I should like also here to suggest to the Council of the
Society the advisability of advertising apd selling their
reports separately, and at a certain price, so that those who
do not wish to read the technical details of the monthly
numbers, may be able to obtain these exceedingly useful
annual summaries.

X The statement has been made that the American qua¬
il og, or round clam ( Venus mercenaria), has been found
living in English waters, introduced accidentally with
American oysters.

• 699

February 19, issi.J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTION'S.

in Europe, or if established there, fail, save in one noto¬
rious instance, to do appreciable mischief.

It is also worthy of remark in passing that the
European insect often far surpasses the native of similar
habits and habitat. “ The imported onion fly is a grievous
pest in the East.” The native onion fly has only been
noticed by a few observers in the West. “The imported
rneal worm swarms throughout the whole country, and is
a great pest; the native species is comparatively rare,
and scarcely known to the millers and flour dealers.”
“ The native American bark louse is of little moment ;
the imported bark louse is one of the most dangerous foes
of the apple tree in America.’ ’

In view of these facts, what will be the future history
of the Colorado potato beetle ( Doryphora decevilineata) ?
Will it cross to Europe, and devastate the potato fields
there as it has done here ? Or will the Atlantic, or rather
the European condition of life on the other side, prove
more than a match for it ? It is hard to reply positively.
This insect has abandoned its native food plant in the
West, and has travelled eastward, ravaging the fields and
gardens on its way, until now it stands on the Atlantic
seaboard longing for more worlds to conquer. Advanced
detachments have crossed, but have thus far been met
with characteristic energy and uncompromising determi¬
nation, both in England and Germany, and stamped out.
This forlorn hope will be followed by others. Govern¬
ment edicts may do something, but cannot permanently
prevent their spread unless other causes combine to check
them. The grape vine louse has largely abandoned its
native food, ahd seized the European vine, with results in
Europe detailed above. The potato beetle may do the
same. On the other hand, the plum weevil has seized
the European stone fruit, and its ravages are here enor¬
mous, but it has not yet crossed. The ash-grey blister
beetle destroys the European Windsor bean in America,
but is in England unknown. The same is true of the
bean weevil and several other native insects. If the
analogy of the majority may be trusted, there is ground for
hope that with care these pernicious' insects may be unable
to - injure the potato fields of Europe. New enemies
may also there assail them, and find in them the very
food of which they are in want. But there is not sufficient
ground for confidence. No precaution should be neglected,
no Order in Council revoked. The risk is too great and
i the possible consequences too disastrous. The presence of
this beetle in the potato fields of Ireland might renew, in
part the horrors of 1847, and start a new tide of Irish
emigration to Canada and the States.

The facts above mentioned show conclusively that the
European fauna acts precisely as the European flora was
shown to do.'* Its members cross the Atlantic to America ;
they settle in the country ; they multiply faster than at
• home, oust the competitive native races, and as most of
them belong to what we call the injurious classes, they
work here destruction unknown to the old country, How
" shall we account for these facts ?

Some years ago the late Mr. Benjamin D. Walsh pub¬
lished - the following remarks: — “Our animals mostly
belong to an old-fashioned antediluvian creation, not so
• highly improved and developed as the more modernized
creation which exists in Europe. Consequently they can
no more stand their ground against European competitors
introduced from abroad than the Bed Indian could stand
his ground against the white Caucasian race. If by
chance an American animal finds its way to Europe it
can as a rule no more stand its ground there than could a
colony of Bed Indians in England.” To a cause somewhat
similar I last year attributed the wholesale migration of
European weeds to this country, and their naturalization
here. And there can be no doubt that Mr. Walsh has
suggested a real cause. No naturalist doubts that
America with its opossums is far more antiquated,
zoologically speaking, than Europe, where all such old-

* Pharm. Joum., [3], x., 404, 464.

fashioned beings are shut up fossil in the rocks, and
would look strangely out of date if, Bip Van Winkle-like,
they should come to life again. This higher development
of European life — a result of the sharper competition
there existing between closely allied forms of the more
recent geological changes which have there occurred —
gives the European immigrant an advantage in the
struggle for life wherever conflict occurs. And in many
instances this cause alone is sufficient to ensure its supre¬
macy over its old-fashioned antagonist.

But I think this cause alone, however real, is insuffi¬
cient to account for all changes similar to those mentioned
above which have occurred. For a complete solution of
the problem the following additional considerations re¬
quire mention.

The introduction of so many European plants, and
their wide extension over this continent, must, to some ex¬
tent,. have contributed to produce this result. Many of
these imported plants are the natural food of some one or
more of these imported insects. The weeds alluded to last
year, the various field crops and garden vegetables, main¬
tain their peculiar insect population. So great an abun¬
dance of insect food as is supplied by- the spread of these
plants over the whole continent could not but be attended
with an increase of these insects. Where food is abun¬
dant there population rapidly increases, both insect and
human. The sudden development over America of the
productions of another hemisphere could not but be
attended with a disturbance of the balance of life which
cannot at onqe be removed. European insects hold car¬
nival in such a vast expanse of country, covered with
imported vegetables and other plants long familiar to
them, but never in such abundance.

Moreover on crossing the Atlantic many of these insects
left behind them their hereditary foes — the parasites that
kept them in check in Europe. Every one of them is
there a prey to some one or more of these, by which its
excessive and permanent multiplication is prevented. It
is easy to see what must be the effect of introducing a
European insect to the wide fields and gardens of
America, and at the same time leaving behind its most
deadly enemy — the most useful parasite. The new country
is a perfect paradise for the happy new comers . They have
it all their own way, and multiply and feed and multiply
again until stopped by the mere exhaustion of their food
supply. No parasite burrows in their bodies or sucks
their blood, and the ruin they can in this condition work
for man is simply incalculable.

The most destructive insect mentioned in this paper,
the wheat midge, is exactly in this condition. “To this
day,” says Mr. Walsh, “it is not known that amy indi¬
genous parasite has attacked the wheat midge since it
landed on our shores,” some fifty years ago, nor, with one
doubtful exception, “ does any North American canni¬
bal insect prey upon it within the United States.” And
Dr. Fitch, writing in 1862, says : “How does it happen
that the midge in this country is vastly more destructive
than in its native haunts? I can impute it only to one
thing : The other insects which have been created for the
purpose of quelling this species, and keeping it within its
appropriate sphere have never yet reached our shores.
We have received the evil without the remedy.”

The currant saw fly, mentioned above, is at present in
a similar condition of freedom from its natural enemy.
Hence the enormous and unchecked depredations which
it annually commits. Many others might be added to the
list, which live here in perfect security, with the Atlantic
between them and their destroyers.

It has often been suggested that, as man has accident¬
ally introduced so many injurious insects from Europe,
he might intentionally .introduce their parasites. This is
reasonable, and would undoubtedly prove of great advan¬
tage to the country. Possibly it will some day be done
in that happy future, when science and intelligence have
more weight in the councils of the nations, when officials
are appointed to office because they are competent to dis-

700

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. H February 19, 1881.

charge its duties, and not because of their political
opinions, when men can combine for the national good as
well as for party purposes, and when so-called statesmen
regard the permanent weal of the nation at least as much
as their own personal aggrandizement. But that day is
not yet. To quote Mr. Walsh again, “Is it to be expected
that a crowd of men, members of legislatures, whose
heads are mostly full of such important things as cogno¬
vits, and assumpsits, and demurrers, and torts, and cau¬
cuses, and conventions, should condescend to think about
‘bugs’ ? What do they know about farmers, except that
they have got votes?” Meanwhile the Wheat Midge,
Currant Sawfly and Co., do just as they please, no one in¬
terfering to check them in a way that would prove most
effectual. And why ? Because the cost and toil would
come on the individual, and the advantage and profit on
the nation. Could these parasites be introduced and
covered with a patent in Canada and the United States,
they would be here before another year had passed, some
one would make a fortune, and the wheat-growing part
of the community would be enriched. Such work is
national work, and some day the nation and its legislators
may find time to do it and to pay for it.*

But when everything has been done which science can
suggest to remedy or palliate this great evil, I fear there
will always remain a difference between this continent
and England, to the disadvantage of the former. Nature
indicates this. In a hot climate, or in a climate where
the summer is hot, insects are always abundant. The
cool summers of England are unfavourable to them. The
hot American summers are highly favourable. Granting
then, that all the European parasites are some day intro¬
duced and that they do their duty to the utmost, yet a
larger number of insects will be annually produced. It
is true a larger number will be destroyed. But their
destruction by parasites will not entirely remedy the
evil. Every entomologist knows that most insects do
their mischief while in the larval condition. That is pre¬
eminently, and often solely their eating stage of existence.
Now, most parasites lay their eggs in the body of the
larva, not destroying its life, but preventing the develop¬
ment of the perfect insect. It is evident, therefore, that
the advantages accruing from the action of the parasite,
immense as it would be, would be limited to checking the
multiplication of this species by one means. The number
of both would be increased, pest and parasite, but greater
mischief would nevertheless be done by the former before
its destruction was accomplished by the latter. Thus,
how great soever the advantage of importing the parasite
would be, and I can hardly over-rate it, the entomologist
is too sanguine who anticipates from their presence im¬
munity from insect depredations equal to that enjoyed in
England.^

The best remedy for this evil will not be found until a
better system of farming is adopted: — until the plan of
skinning the land and going west has given place to per¬
manent occupation — until the farmer sows what he hopes
to reap. Many of these in*ect depredators would be
serious in England were the average yield there no greater
than it is here. But from an average of 28 bushels of
wheat to the acre, the farmer does not miss what would
cause heavy loss if taken from an average crop of 13
to 15 bushels. Better and cleaner farming, heavier crops
from less land, combined with what most Canadian and
American farmers excessively dislike — -close and constant

* If we may infer from the analogy of the Hessian fly, of
the results of introducing the parasites of the wheat
midge we must augur very favourably. To such an extent
is this pest annually destroyed, that out of more than one
hundred specimens collected last year in this locality, I could
scarcely obtain a single fly, most of the “flax seed” yield¬
ing its well-known four- winged parastic fly ( Ceraphron
destructor).

f The opinion here expressed is borne out by the damage
annually caused by the Hessian fly and cabbage butterfly,
though parasites of both these insects have been in America
many years, and are destroying them wholesale.

attention to little things — will be the most successful and
practical remedy for the evil — perhaps the only one with¬
in the reach of the individual.

In conclusion then, we see

lstly. That European insects, like European weeds,
migrate freely to America and become naturalized here.

2ndly. That when here, they multiply at a rate un¬
known in Europe.

3rdly. That their depredations are consequently on a
scale unknown in Europe.

4thly. That many of them are here free from parasite
and other enemies, which checked their increase there. "

5tblv. That American insects, with few exceptions,
fail to emigrate to Europe and become naturalized there.

6thly. That this difference between the eastward and
westward migration of animal life is due to the several
causes above named — the higher development and greater
complexity of European life, and consequent superior
ability to contest the ground — abundance of food, absence
of European enemies, and . slovenly farming and gar¬
dening.

7thly. That even after all has been done to remedy
the evil that can be done, there will probably yet remain
a greater loss from the ravages of insects than is ex¬
perienced in England, which can only be countervailed
by increased yield from the extent of land — a result of
greater care and better farming. Eternal vigilance is the
price of a good crop.

ETHERIFICATION OF HYDROBROMIC ACID.*

BY A. VILLIEES.

The extent to which hydrobromic acid, when treated
with absolute alcohol and a mixture of alcohol and water,
undergoes etherification varies greatly with the tempera¬
ture. Absolute alcohol, with different proportions of
hydrobromic acid, and heated at different temperatures,
gives the following results : —

Percentage of acid etherified,
JHBr+C2H60. iVHBr+O.HeO.

At ordinary temperature,

limit 658 days . . .

At 44° temperature, limit

68 0

52-5

658 days .

79*6

59-9

At 100° temperature, limit

658 days .

887

80*0

The percentage of acid converted into ether is not so
great as that of the carbon acids, moreover, it is not fixed,
but increases with the temperature.

These results show that combinations of alcohol with
hydrobromic acid are formed analogous to hydrates.

The presence of water decreases the extent of etheri¬
fication, and in large quantity prevents any action from
taking place ; the quantity of water required to prevent
the action- increases with the temperature. This is prob¬
ably due to the formation of hydrates of hydrobromic
acid, and the dissociation of. these hydrates as the tempe¬
rature is raised.

PUL VIS GLYCYRRHIZ2E COMPOSITU3,

Dr. E. T. Blackwell [Med. Times, Nov. 20, 1880)
proposes the following modified formula : —

In each teaspoonful.

R Sennse Pulv . 8 grains.

Sulphur. Loti . 8 „

Sacchari Albi, aa ^ss. .... 8 „

Foeniculi Pulv . 4 „

Glycyrrhizae Pulv., aa 3ij- . » • 4 „

M. —

In all, 32 grains, —

laxative 16 grains, excipient 16 grains, — an equal pro¬
portion.

This brings the quantity of sulphur to equal that of-
the senna. Such a powder is said not to be less acceptable
to the taste, while it is better tolerated by the stomach.

# Cornet. Rend., 90, 1488-1491. Reprinted from the

Journo.1 of the Chemical Society, February, 1881.

701

February 19, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

Cbt ||IjKrmamttiral |ounuil.

— * - + - •

SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 19, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , boohs for review , etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Brbmridoe, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed " Pharm. Journ

THE MEDICAL COUNCIL AND THE DENTAL ACT.

The sweeping and persistent asseverations of an
active party among the .dentists as to the incor¬
rectness of the ‘ Dentists’ Register ’ appear at last to
' have given rise to so much doubt as to necessitate the
. calling of a special session of the Medical Council,
at an unusual time of the year, in order that the
demand put forward for the removal of upwards of
five hundred names might he decided upon before
the ‘ Dentists’ Register’ for 1881 was printed.

It will he remembered that immediately after the
appearance of the first ‘ Dentists’ Register ’ it was
pointed out that it contained the names of a con¬
siderable number of persons who, although their
names did not occur in the Register of Chemists
and Druggists, had effected registration under the
terms of the Dental Act as having been, before
July 1878, engaged in the bond fide practice of
| dentistry with pharmacy. It was urged that no
persou could he correctly described as practising
pharmacy who was not registered as a chemist and
druggist, and that therefore these persons had effected
registration by means of illegal declarations. In
fact, an organization of discontented dentists
assumed an unwarranted, if not illegal, position,
and sent out a number of “ threatening letters ” so
suggestive of pains and penalties that about sixty
persons, apparently unwilling to run the risk,
applied formally to have their names removed from
the Dental Register. A larger number, however,
were not so easily frightened, and among these were
some who were acting as managers, assistants, or
apprentices to chemists and druggists, and con¬
sidered that in that character they were practising
pharmacy ; others alleged that although not
registered as chemists and druggists they were
entitled to be so ; and others were actually
registered, but not identified through change of
. address. These illustrate the larger number of the
cases, •

The subject came under the consideration of
the Medical Council at its meeting in July last,
when it was resolved that each case should be
decided upon its merits, and the Dental Committee

1 .

of the Council, constituted under the Act, was
requested to report on the facts, whilst the opinion
of counsel was to be taken upon different points of
procedure.

The report of the Committee just presented to the
Medical Council is a most elaborate one ; but it has,
to all intents and purposes, been superseded and
rendered nugatory by the “ opinions of counsel ”
read and adopted by the Council for its guidance at
the same time. Some of our readers who remember
the history of the passing of the Dental Act will not
be surprised to learn that in the opinion of the
Solicitor-General and Mr. Muir Mackenzie the
“ words bond fide engaged in the practice of
“ dentistry or dental surgery, either separately or in
“ conjunction with the practice of medicine, surgery or
“ pharmacy, have no reference to any legal qualifi-
“ cations to practise medicine, surgery or pharmacy ;
“ they are simply intended to indicate that if the
“ person seeking registration is qualified by reason of
“ his being bond fide in practice as a dentist, he is to
“ be none the less so entitled because that is not his
“ exclusive occupation, but is only carried on by
“him in conjunction with the practice of medicine
“surgery or pharmacy.” And again, “ The practi-
“ tioner in dentistry is to be registered in respect of
“his dental qualifications only, and the Council
“need not inquire as to his right to practise
“medicine, surgery or pharmacy.”

This opinion receives confirmation from the fact
that in the Schedule to the Act the form of applica¬
tion for registration contains no provisions for dis¬
tinguishing between persons • practising dentistry
separately and persons practising it in conjunction
with medicine, surgery and pharmacy, and in
altering the form so as to require such distinction it
would appear that the Medical Council has acted
idtra vires. Indeed the tendency has been to
reverse the proper positions, and, instead of con¬
struing the Act to provide that the practice of
pharmacy conjointly with dentistry was not to
prevent registration as a * dentist, to read it as
stipulating that in some cases a pharmaceutical
qualification was to be a necessary condition for
such registration.

It almost follows from the foregoing that the
words “with pharmacy,” or like words, following
the name on the Dental Register, are superfluous,
and the Medical Council is advised that the Register
should contain only the names of practitioners,
followed by their dental qualifications, and not any
reference to their qualifications to practise medicine,
surgery or pharmacy.

The Medical Council is also advised that the
words “ bond fide engaged in the practice of den¬
tistry” do not necessitate that an applicant for
registration should have been in business on his
own account, if he has discharged the duties of a
dentist and really practised as such ; practice being

702

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 10, 188 1.

defined as not merely rendering assistance to Ms
employer, "but tlie independent performance of
dental operations. With respect to apprentices,
counsel are of opinion that except under the pro¬
visions of the 37th section they cannot claim exemp¬
tion.

After consideration of the report of the Dental
Committee and the <£ opinions of counsel,” the
Medical Council first passed a resolution that all
statements with reference to the practice of medi¬
cine, surgery or pharmacy, now appearing in the
‘ Dentists’ Register,’ shall he erased. It then re¬
solved that the Committee’s report not having put
it in possession of any evidence to show that the
registered persons objected to by the Honorary
Secretary of the British Dental Association or by
Dr. Jacob were not at the time of their registration
bond fide engaged in the practice of dentistry it was
not prepared to order the removal of their names
from the Dental Register. A further resolution
provides that the persons who had their names
removed from the Register at their own request,
under the influence of- the “threatening letter,’’
shall, on application, have their names restored
without fee, subject to the discretion of the Execu¬
tive Committee as to the grounds upon which they
claim registration.

No doubt these decisions of the Medical Council
will be a severe disappointment to the aggressive
section of the dental profession. But after all, in
the recent legislation affecting dentists, as in all
previous similar legislation, Parliament jealously
provided against infringement of existing rights,
and it must be acknowledged that the men whose
registration has given so much umbrage can even
now do nothing that they could not have done legally
before the passing of the Dental Act. The attitude
of the General Medical Council in respect to dental
registration generally has also been the subject of
sharp criticisms in the medical journals from the
medical point of view, but this is a part of the

ubject with which we have no right to interfere.

1

A NEW MEDICAL ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

Although the prospect of carrying through legis¬
lative enactments this session seems to be very
unpromising, a Medical Act Amendment Bill has
already been introduced by Mr. Hardcastle, Sir
Trevor Lawrence and Dr. Farquharson. This
Bill is the latest expression of that effort to super¬
sede the present Medical Council and to create a
“ medical parliament,” which has hitherto frustrated
all attempts to bring about medical reform. From a
medical point of view it is characterized by the
Times as a Bill which no British Parliament coulc
ever sanction, since under a disguise of providing
for medical education it is a measure of scarcely

veiled trades unionism, containing provisions for

the repression of the practice of unqualified persons,
which would prevent the universities from sending
any but registered medical practitioners to represent
them on the new Medical Council, and thus deprive
the Council of the possible services of eminent mem¬
bers of the older universities, who being scholars, or
chemists, or philosophers, might often temper with
advice ©f the utmost’ value the purely medical view
of professional education.

To refer such a Bill to a Select Committee would
be, in the opinion of the Times , a waste of time, and
it is suggested as far more probable, as well as more
appropriate, that the whole subject of. medical
reform should be referred to a Royal Commission
that would calmly investigate what ought to be. the
relation of the State to the medical profession in
connection with the interests of the public.

That portion of the Bill which most directly
affects persons engaged in the business of pharmacy
is the clause relating to unregistered persons, and
it provides that if a person who is not for the time
being registered in the Medical Register practises
for gain, or attaches to his place of business the de¬
scription “ dispensary” or “ medical hall,” he shall
De liable on summary conviction to a fine not
exceeding twenty pounds.

The Bill provides for the repeal of the whole of
the Apothecaries Act of 1815, but in the 26th clause
it also provides, in lieu of the penal section of that
Act, that any person not registered under the Act,
who for gain engages in the medical treatment of
diseases, shall for each offence be liable on summary
conviction to a like penalty. In . other words, this
clause would, as the Times remarks, have the effect
of mulcting unqualified sellers of pills in penalties
which would involve the alternative of imprison¬
ment.

Immediately, following this is a provision that the
26th clause shall not interfere with the rights,
privileges or titles conferred on persons by registra¬
tion under the Pharmacy Acts, 1852 and 1868, and
as this clause relates only to unqualified practice, it
might be inferred from the phraseology that the
rights, privileges, etc., thus referred to related to
unqualified practice, if it were not the fact that
neither of the Pharmacy Acts confer any rights or
privileges in that respect. Whatever rights and
privileges chemists and druggists possess in the
matter of unqualified practice are of far older date
than the Pharmacy Acts, or even the Apothecaries
Act that is to be repealed by the Bill now referred
to, and in so far the saving provision of its 26th
section appears tp be little better than a means of
mystification.

It may, we think, be conjectured that the spirit
animating this clause of the Medical Bill in regard to
chemists and druggists is one imparted by some of those
self-styled defence associations which not long since
undertook to revive the contest between qualified

February 19, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 703

. and unqualified practitioners, and the nature of the
clause is sufficient to indicate that though they have
been beaten, they have not yet abandoned their
endeavours to harass and interfere with the business
i of chemists and druggists. We fail to recognize any
prospect of such endeavours contributing to a solu¬
tion of the question concerning the practice of
' “ counter prescribing.” Whatever may be the
opinion held of the propriety of that practice, it
' cannot be regarded otherwise than as a legacy in¬
herited by chemists and druggists from the old
apothecaries at the time when they to a great extent
abandoned their legitimate business, and assumed
the position of medical practitioners. Any legisla¬
tion that should justly and satisfactorily deal
with and remedy the confusion then inaugurated
in regard to medical and pharmaceutical func¬
tions must not only deal with the practice of
medicine by unqualified persons, but also with the
practice of pharmacy by persons who are not speci¬
ally qualified for that duty. Whether we shall
ever have a law establishing such a sharp line of
demarcation between prescribing and dispensing
as is maintained in some countries is perhaps
questionable, and it may also be questionable
whether, in the interests of the public, that is to be
desired, but certainly in any attempt to amend the
present state of affairs and attain to the future which
Mr. Wade rightly points to in his letter as the
proper aim of the pharmacist , cognizance must be
taken of the claims of the dispensing pharmacist as
well as those of medical practitioners if any kind of
satisfactory result is to be brought about. It may be
that in the consideration of the subject of medical
reform by a Royal Commision opportunity may be
presented for dealing with these and some other points
affecting the interests of pharmacists and their
relations to medical practitioners as well as to the
general public.

PHARMACY IN THE ISLE OF MAN.

About three years and a half since a correspondent

called attention in this Journal to the non-existence

*

of any law regulating the practice of pharmacy in
the Isle of Man, and suggested that the Pharmacy
Act, 1868, might with advantage be “extended so as
to include that island. Subsequently a petition,
signed by a majority of the chemists and druggists
in business in the island, was presented to the
• House of Keys, and in consequence, in December,
1879, a committee of the Tynwald Court was ap¬
pointed to inquire as to the qualifications of chemists
and druggists and as to the sale of poisons in the
Isle of Man. This Committee proceeded to make a
very thorough investigation as to the laws relating
to the practice of pharmacy which obtain in the
‘ three kingdoms, and the information collected,
together with the inferences drawn from it, have
recently been issued in the form of a report.

On consideration of the whole subject the Com¬
mittee expresses an opinion that it would be in the
interest of the public that the practice of phar¬
macy in the Isle of Man should be, as in the
United Kingdom, under legal recognition and con¬
trol. To secure this end the Committee recom¬
mended that the local Legislature should pass an
Act containing regulations similar to those in the
Irish Pharmacy Act, under which whilst the sale of
simple drugs, not being poisons, and “ patent medi¬
cines ” would not be restricted, the retailing, dis¬
pensing or compounding of certain scheduled poisons,
and the dispensing or compounding of medical pre¬
scriptions, would be restricted to qualified persons
“under regulations such as those contained in the
Pharmacy Acts of the United Kingdom.” The term
“ qualified persons ” it is proposed to define as mean¬
ing legally qualified medical practitioners who shall,
in order to obtain their diplomas, have passed an
examination in pharmacy; licentiate apothecaries
in England or Ireland ; registered pharmaceutical
chemists or chemists and druggists of Great Britain
or Ireland; and all persons who have hitherto
carried on in the island the “ business of a chemist
“ and druggist in the keeping of open shop for the
“ compounding of the prescriptions of medical prac-
“ titioners and for the retailing of drugs and poisons.”

With respect to registration, provision would have
to be made for carrying it out and it is suggested
whether the opportunity should not be taken t'o
constitute a general medical registration, which might
include the registration of persons practising phar¬
macy only.

The desirability of the practice of pharmacy in the
Isle of Man being brought more into conformity
with the conditions under which it is carried on in
other parts of the United Kingdom can hardly be
questioned, and we suppose in these days of home
rule this can be effected with least friction by the
island having the luxury of a Pharmacy Act of its
own. But as both the British and Irish Societies
contemplate applying to Parliament for alterations
in the present laws, it would perhaps be wise for our
Manx brethren to see what may be the outcome of
these applications before they themselves proceed to
legislation.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association will be held on
Thursday, February 24, at 8.30 p.m., when a paper
will be read by Mr. C. Thompson, by the “ Estima¬
tion of Manganese.”

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association will be held
at the rooms, 32a, George Street, Hanover Square,
on Wednesday next, February 23, at 9 p.m., when
Mr. Charles E. Stuart will read a paper on
“ Quebracho Bark, true and false.”

704

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 19, issi. *

^robmdal Crmrsat&ris.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The eighth general meeting of the thirty-second session
was held at the Royal Institution, on Thursday evening,
February 3, 1881, the President, Dr. Symes, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed, and the following donations to the library were
announced : — Th6 current numbers of the Pharmaceutical
Journal, and the ‘Calendar’ for 1881, from the Pharma¬
ceutical Society ' and the Canadian Pharmaceutial Jour¬
nal, from the Editor.

Eugenol.

The President exhibited a sample of eugenol which had
been placed in his hands on the previous day. He said it
had recently been noticed as a very energetic antiseptic,
and it was also said to be a remedy for toothache. Both
these properties could be readily understood, as oil of
cloves from which it was obtained, as well as oil of pepper¬
mint, had long been used to prevent ink, starch, paste,
etc., from becoming mouldy. The oils had also been long
regarded as remedies for toothache. It was also known
as eugenic or car} ophyllic acid, having a formula C10HI2O2
and forming salts with bases. He said, it would be in¬
teresting to determine its rotatory power as compared
with oil of cloves, which he would do by the next
meeting.

Frozen Lime Juice.

The Honorary Secretary (Mr. Conroy), called the at¬
tention of the meeting to a letter which had appeared in
the Pharmaceutical Journal of the previous week, by Mr.
W. H. Bisset, respecting the entire absence of citricity in
frozen lime juice. Mr. Conroy stated that freezing in no
way effected the citricity of the lime juice except by
separating the other constituents from the water, which
possessed the peculiar physical property of freeing itself-
from all other substances by freezing, hence the pheno¬
menon observed by Mr. Bisset. The knowledge of this
property of water was as old as the hills, and had long ago
been proposed as a means of concentrating lime and lemon
juices. Advantage was also taken of it for various other
purposes. Ure mentions that the old nobles of Russia
when they desired a more intoxicating drink than usual,
placed their wines or spirits in the ice of their frozen
rivers, until all the aqneous portion was frozen; when
they drank the ardent fluid concentrated in the centre.
Byron, in his 13th canto of ‘Don Juan ’ has the follow¬
ing allusion to it : —

“I’ll have another figure in a trice: —

What say you to a bottle of champagne ?

Frozen into a very vinous ice,

Which leaves few drops of that immortal rain,

Yet in the very centre, past all price,

About a liquid glassful will remain ;

And this is stronger than the strongest grape
Could e’er express in it3 expanded shape.”

During the late severe frost he had examined some
samples of frozen lime juice, and obtained the following
results from the analyses : —

Sample A. in its natural state was found to contain 7*85
per cent, of free citric acid. Having remained in its
frozen state for over an hour, it was thawed and found to
contain exactly the same qitricity.

Sample B. In this case the liquid portion was poured
away from the ice, and was found to contain 1275 per
cent, of free citric acid, while the frozen portion after
thawing tested only 4-45 per cent.

Sample C. represented a bucketful of ice taken from a
puncheon of juice. The ice had been slowly thawing for
several days, and the liquid portion allowed to flow away.
On thawing and testing the remaining ice it was found to
contain only 0'45 per cent, of free citric acid.

These experiments, he considered, conclusively proved,
f proof were necessary, what had already been said.

Mr. T. Farmer made an interesting communication on
some phenomena in connection with the “Mixing of Castor
and Heavy Mineral Oils,” which he practically illustrated.

This was followed by a communication on the so-called
“ Indian Opium,” by Mr. A. H. Mason, after which he
read the following paper : —

Peroxide of Hydrogen: — Its Manufacture, Pro¬
perties, Detection and Estimation, Application
and Uses.

BY ALFRED H. MASON, F.C.S.

This remarkable substance, though long known to
chemists, having been discovered in 1818 by Th^nard,
only attracted the attention of pharmacists some twenty
years ago, when Dr. B. W. Richardson, of London, pub¬
lished the results of his experiments regarding its
physiological and therapeutical action. Its occurrence in
nature has only within the last few years received much
attention, but since it has been shown that it exists in
small quantities in the atmosphere, and it has been found
in rain and in snow, and that all kinds of aromatic
plants produce it liberally, and its application com¬
mercially is being rapidly developed, I felt that a
communication to this Association respecting it would
not be without value, especially as I failed to find much
information respecting it in the ordinary text-books of a
chemist and druggist. Gmelin* gives several processes
for the formation of peroxide of hydrogen, dioxide of
hydrogen, oxygenated water, H202, but the method of
the discoverer, Thdnard, is given in elaborate and
interesting detail, great precautions being necessary for
its manufacture. He obtained it by acting upon barium
peroxide with dilute hydrochloric acid :

Ba02 + 2HC1 = BaCl2 + H202 ;
and in practice commercially, the rather crude method of
transferring one atom oxygen from a peroxide of barium,
or other substance, to water, by decomposing the per¬
oxide with an acid forming a monosalt, is adopted.

I have placed myself in communication with several
manufacturers and desire to acknowledge the courtesy
with which they have received my communication, but
with all the process adopted is a secret ; however, from
the researches I have made I venture to suggest that the
method of Thomsenf is the one which receives most
favour. Thomsen’s method consists in decomposing
hydrated barium peroxide with dilute sulphuric acid,
thus: — • •

Ba02 + H2S04=H202 + BaS04
The sulphate of barium forms a white insoluble precipi¬
tate, while the peroxide of hydrogen passes into solution
at once.

In the first place, he is particular that the barium
peroxide is pure, and for this purpose adopts the
following method: — Finely powdered commercial per¬
oxide of barium is dissolved in hydrochloric acid to
neutralization ; to the filtered and cooled solution baryta
water is added in sufficient quantity to precipitate
foreign oxides (ferric and .manganic), alumina and silica,
until a faint precipitate of hydrated peroxide of barium
forms. The precipitate is then filtered off, and the clear
solution is heated with concentrated baryta water, which
throws down the hydrated peroxide of barium. This is
well washed upon a filter until the washings no longer
evidence hydrochloric acid; the moist precipitate is then
transferred to well stoppered bottles, in which it will keep
unchanged for a long long. To prepare peroxide of
hydrogen the hydrate is gradually added to a cold
mixture of dilute sulphuric acid (of not less than five
parts of water to one part of concentrated sulphuric
acid) with constant stirring, and this is continued until
only a trace of free acid remains, when the sulphate of
barium is allowed to subside, the liquid is filtered and
then cautiously neutralized with dilute baryta water.

* Yol. ii„ 73.

f Ber. Deutsch. Chem. Ges., vii., 74.

705

February 19, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

Tho aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide thus prepared
is brought over sulphuric acid in vacuo, water evaporates,
and the solution of the peroxide becomes more con¬
centrated. *

Where this method is not employed, probably the
substitution of hydrofluoric or hydrofluosilic acid is
used, Ba02 + 2HF = BaF2 + H202, either the insoluble
fluoride or fluosilicate of barium is formed, peroxide of
hydrogen alone remaining in solution.*

Schonbein produced pure peroxide of hydrogen by
agitating in a large flask, under access of air, amalga¬
mated zinc in powder and distilled water. Oxygen is
absorbed by both the zinc and the water under forma¬
tion of oxide of zinc and peroxide of hydrogen ; the latter
he says is free from acid, keeps well without decomposi¬
tion and does not contain any metallic trace.

R. Bottger produced a peroxide of hydrogen which he
said was perfectly free from acid and would keep for
weeks in corked .vials, and may be exposed to boiling
temperatures without decomposition. He presses the
importance of this where the substance is required for

* medical purposes, the supposed instability having here
been a great drawback to its medical •application.

Kingzett produces peroxide of hydrogen H202, in situ,
by the rapid oxidation of turpentine.

In the electrolytic decomposition of water peroxides of
hydrogen and ozone are formed, and their relations are
peculiar; at one time it was conjected that ozone was
nothing else than peroxide of hydrogen. Peroxide of
hydrogen being oxygenated water, that is water
chemically combined containing in its molecule more
oxygen than water does (and not simply admixed as in
the case of aerated water), * Schonbein was led to
regard ozone as peroxygenated water, or in other words,
a more highly oxygenated compound than peroxide of
hydrogen; thus he represented ozone as equivalent to
H203, peroxide of hydrogen II202, water being H20.

But the investigations of Andrews, Brodie, Odling arid
others have shown that pure ozone is free from peroxide
of hydrogen, and is oxygen in a condensed state; not
condensed in the sense that a given volume of gas may

• be made to occupy a smaller space by the influence of
compression, but in the sense that the constituent atoms
are so arranged that each whole molecule of ozone
contains three atoms in space occupied by a molecule of
oxygen consisting of two atoms.

It would not be of any service in this paper to detail
the elaborate and patient investigations which have led
to so much controversy amongst scientific chemists upon
i the distinctive characteristics of oxygen, ozone and per¬
oxide of hydrogen, further than stating that oxygen gas
exhibits but few direct chemical reactions which are not
also shared by ozone and peroxide of hydrogen. It differs
from them, however, in being less active in its properties;
for instance, when brought into contact with a solution of
iodide of potassium it does not exercise any influence
upon it. It has no colour, taste or smell ; it has not any
action on litmus paper, does not oxidize silver, and it is
stable at all temperatures, and it has such general
negative characters that we can readily and unmistak¬
ably discriminate between it on the one hand and ozone
and peroxide of hydrogen on the other. Dr. Cornelius
Fox, in a work upon ozone, has fully epitomized the
amount of work which has been devoted to the study of
the subject.

I do not either purpose entering into details upon the
various processes by which peroxide of hydrogen has been
shown to exist in nature . C. T. Kingzett’s work upon
‘ Nature’s Hygiene ’ fully explains these.

Properties. — Peroxide of hydrogen is a colourless, trans¬
parent oily liquid of sp. gr. 1‘452, does not freeze at 22°
F., evaporates in vacuo at ordinary temperature without
decomposition, though much less readily than water ; does-
not redden litmus, but gradually bleaches both litmus

* Abel and Bloxam, p. 117.

and turmeric paper ; has a harsh bitter taste, similar to
that of tartar emetic ; whitens the tongue and thickens
the saliva ; when placed upon the hand it instantly turns
the cuticle white, and after a time produces violent
itching; it has a faint odour, reminding both' of ozone
and chlorine. It retains the second atom of oxygen in a
very loose state of combination. It escapes from the
water under various circumstances, sometimes so rapidly
as to cause violent effervescing, evolution of heat" and
explosion, accompanied sometimes with a flash of light.

The decomposition is effected by contact with the
binoxide of carbon, binoxide of manganese, various
other metallic oxides, by several metals', alkalies, and
also by heat. Some oxides in effecting its decomposition
are reduced to the metallic state or to a lower state of
oxidation, such as oxide of gold, silver, mercury and
the red and brown peroxide of lead.

In the case of silver, for example, the anhydrous com¬
pound is decomposed into oxygen and water. The same
decomposition is also stated to take place with a dilute
aqueous solution of peroxide of hydrogen, and the reaction
represented by the following : —

- Ag20 + H202 = 2 Ag + H20 + 02.

Here is the remarkable phenomenon of a powerful
oxidizing agent exerting a reducing action upon metallic
oxides, the metal being formed. The explanation, how¬
ever, lies thus : silver possesses only a weak power of
combination for oxygen, and the oxide accordingly
decomposes into its element. When oxide of silver is
brought into contact with peroxide of hydrogen which
itself contains one atom of oxygen, but feebly united, an
analogous reduction takes place ; the one atom of oxygen
in the peroxide combining with the one atom of silver in
the metallic oxide to form a molecule of free oxygen.

The decomposition- of peroxide of hydrogen is assisted
by the contact of many substances (notably alkalies), and
particularly by those which are themselves in a state of
charige or decomposition. On the other hand, the presence
of a little ordinary ether restrains the decomposition, and
not unlikely the reason for this is to be found in the fact
that ether itself gives rise to the - production of peroxide
of hydrogen by contact with air or oxygen.

Peroxide of hydrogen is miscible with water in all pro¬
portions, and it also combines with the hydrated acids,
with which it forms compounds in which it is less easily
decomposed than when uncombined. It bleaches organic
colouring matters, and as a bleaching agent is probably
the most perfect form that will ever be discovered, — the
second atom of oxygen uniting with the hydrogen or
carbon of organic . matter, and the result being simply
reaction, or water and carbonic acid ; no acid, as in the
case of chlorine, breaking up (and so bleaching) anorganic
compound by uniting with the hydrogen, hydrochloric
acid being formed, or sulphurous acid uniting with oxygen
and producing sulphuric acid, or permanganate of potash
uniting with hydrogen and depositing brown oxide of
manganese and. a salt of potash, etc., etc.

Detection and Estimation. — In order to detect the
presence of peroxide of hydrogen in solution the liquid is
rendered acid with sulphuric acid, some ether and a
little solution of potassic chromate is added and .the solu¬
tion well shaken (care must be taken in testing a made
solution containing the peroxide of hydrogen of commerce
as violent effervescence takes place). If hydrogen per¬
oxide be present the solution assumes a beautiful blue
colour, and on allowing it to stand the colour is taken up
by the ether, and a deep blue- layer separates out : this
blue compound is perchromic acid, and the reaction may
in a similar way be employed for the detection of chro¬
mium.

When hydrogen peroxide is added to a solution of
potassic iodide and ferrous sulphate iodine is set free, as
may be easily proved by the formation of blue iodide of
starch (Schonbein). This reaction is so dedicate that one
part in twenty millions may be detected ; other oxidizing
agents have the power of liberating iodine, but not in the

706

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February I9> 18sl.

presence of ferrous sulphate. Thus with chromic acid, it
first of all forms a blue colour; the oxygen is then
gradually evolved, the colour fading at the same time—

2 Cr03 + 3 HgOj = Cr203 + 3 H20 + 3 02.

If an excess of peroxide of hydrogen be used in this
experiment then a further reaction occurs, in which the
H202 loses exactly double the amount of oxygen lost by
the chromic acid, so the ultimate result is —

2 Cr03 + 6 H202 = Cr203 + 6 H20 + 09.

The strength of peroxide of hydrogen may be estimated
. by the following method:— A given volume is taken, and
placed in a tube with excess of potassic bichromate. On
agitation over mercury a volume of oxygen is evolved,
which supposing 1 c.c. of H202 has been taken, expresses
its strength in so many volumes. Thus 1 c.c. of a 10-
volume solution would yield 10. c.c. of oxygen at 0Q C.
and 760 mm. pressure. E. Schone’s experiments upon
the various reagents for peroxide of hydrogen have re¬
sulted in his being able to detect one two-hundredth
millionth with certainty, and with some practice one two-
hundredth and fifty millionth ; but for the quantitative
determination of hydrogen peroxide he does not consider,
these methods sufficiently sensitive, He therefore adopts
a colorimetric test, which depends upon the formation of
iodide of starch when solution of potassic iodide and starch
are added to the liquid containing peroxide of hydrogen.
He compares the intensity of the blue colour produced in
a given volume of- the liquid tested with a series of liquids
of like volume, in which definite quantities of peroxide of
hydrogen have been acted upon by potassic iodide and
starch water, and which are contained in clear glass
stoppered bottles of like shape and size as that in which
the test liquid is contained. Ten such vials, representing
01, 0‘2, 0'3, 0*4, 0’5, 0'6, 0*7, 0‘8, 0’9, TO milligrams of
hydrogen peroxide to the litre, constitute his colorimetric
scale, by which he is enabled to determine the one-
eighteenth millegram of H202 in a litre accurately, and
the one-hundredth millegram approximately. To ensure
accuracy the colorimetric scale is prepared fresh every
two weeks.* This test depends upon the fact that a
neutral solution of hydrogen peroxide gradually liberates
iodine from a neutral solution of potassic iodide, thus —
H2Oo + 2KI = 2 KOH + 12.

Applications and Uses. — Peroxide of hydrogen of com¬
merce is a solution of from 30 volumes to 10 volumes, i.e.,
a solution capable of evolving the quantity indicated of
gaseous oxygen when fully decomposed. Thus a 10-volume
solution represents the following: — 100 c.c. evolves
1000 c.c. oxygen, or in other words, it contains 304 per
cent, by weight of H202, and evolves T43 per cent, of
oxygen by weight. There is not much difficulty in ob¬
taining this solution by exhausting the quantity of oxygen
contained in the . peroxide of barium employed in the
process. Respecting our knowledge of the physiological
and therapeutical action of peroxide of hydrogen, the
medical profession is indebted to- Dr. B. W. Richardson,
of London.f In relation to its influence on organic
bodies, he found that to venous blood, deprived of its
fibrin, it imparts oxygen, with- an increase of heat and a
change of the colour to red. Fibrin and cellular tissue
cause it to evolve oxygen. Sugar and starch are decom¬
posed by it, giving out carbonic acid. Albumen, gelatin,
urea and cutaneous tissue have no effect on it. Injected
into the left cavities of the heart of an animal it restores
the irritability of that organ ; but has an opposite effect
on the right cavities. Thrown into the arteries, immedi¬
ately after death it restores for a time the contractile
power of the muscles, and suspends cadaveric rigidity,
while it counteracts the influence of various medicinal
substances that cause musctdar spasms.

Dr. Richardson inferred from his experiments that the
peroxide might be useful as an antidote to the narcotic
poisons, as a local application to gangrenous ulcers, and as

* Ph. Centralhalle, No. 45, 1875, p. 380.
f Lancet , October 20, I860.

an internal remedy in low forms of fever/* Subsequently
from various therapeutical trials of the remedy, he came •
to the conclusion that it is of great value in chronic and
subacute rheumatism ; acts in the removal of scrofulous
tumours like iodine* ; relieves the paroxysms of whooping
cough, and cuts short the disease more effectually than
any other medicine; affords great' relief in chronic bron-. i
chitis, with dyspnoea, and in phthisis ; operates favourably ‘
in the early stage by improving digestion and giving
increased activity to the chalybeate remedies; while in
the advanced stages, it affords great relief to the dyspnoea
and oppression, acting indeed in this respect like- opium,
without its narcotic effects. ' In general, it seemed to him
to him to improve digestion, and therefore to be useful in
cases complicated with dyspepsia. Sometimes, when
freely employed, it produced profuse salivation, suggesting
the idea that it might in other respects resemble mercury,
and possibly be found capable of replacing it to a certain '
extent in the treatment of disease. Dr. Day,+ Geelong,
reports cases of diabetes, which resisted ordinary treat¬
ment, yielding under the influence of an ethereal solution
of peroxide of hydrogen; but the experiments of Dr. 1
Richardson^ and Dr. Pavy§ show that whilst it exercises
considerable effect in diminishing the discharge of 'urine
and the secretion of sugar, it does not prevent fatality.

Locally employed, peroxide of hydrogen sometimes acts
very beneficially, especially in feeble, flabby, or ill-condi¬
tioned ulcers, in chancre and diphtheritic sores, in all of
which it operates, not as a corrosive substance, but prob¬
ably by imparting oxygen to the diseased tissues, and
thus destroying them.

One would naturally think from the foregoing observa¬
tions that we had a panacea for “all the ills that flesh is
heir to,” or even wonder, since the more recent demon¬
stration of its existence under certain conditions in Nature,
that those ills were present ; but I am informed that the
medical profession have given it a trial, and it has been
found wanting, and they naturally hold these statements
as impracticable, being unable to accomplish them. For
medicinal use the quantity sold is very small. Dr.
Richardson recommends the 10-volume solution. Dose
4 drachm to 2 drachms. But there is a large quantity of
the so-called ozonic ether used in medicine, which con¬
sists of a compound of absolute ether with peroxide of
hydrogen expressly made of 30 -volume strength.

The best known applica'ion of peroxide of hydrogen is
probably in its employment as an “auricome,” for bleaching
human hair, producing the yellowish tint, and making
hair of any colour paler. For this purpose, also, a' 10-
volume solution is used; the hair is saturated with it, and
then exposed for two or three days, when the oxygen is
liberated and the hair partly discolorized. If wanted in a
shorter time, after immersion the hair is dried in a water-
bath for a few hours, but the ultimate result is not so
satisfactory. A London hairdresser produces white hair, i
and it is conjectured that he employs a 20- volume solu- - j
tion to which is added some strong solution of ammonia,
and by this means the hair is decolorized and bleached,
and at the same time practically destroyed excepting so
long as it holds together.

Peroxide of hydrogen was once proposed for bleaching
blood serum, with the view of obtaining colourless albumen,
and effectually, but it was found too expensive for practi¬
cal application. Its use in the laboratory for practical ,
purposes has found some favour, for the oxidation of sul¬
phides into sulphates, etc., with the view of rapid estima¬
tion, etc.

It is also used for cleaning and bleaching old engravings
and oil paintings, etc. ; also for bleaching oil, wax, ivory
and tobacco, and for these purposes the addition of a .
little liq. ainraon. fort. ’880 renders the feebly combined
oxygen more willing to leave the water. It is also used

* Lancet , April, 1862.

t Lancet, January 11, 1868.

t Medical Times and Gazette , December, 1888, p. 62.

§ ‘ On Diabetes,’ 2 ed., p. 268.

i

February 19, 168].] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

707

for certain purposes of printing colours on various fabrics ;
it is also the chief constituent of the antiseptic and disin¬
fecting fluid called “ Sanitas.” For these latter purposes
the H202 produced by Kingzetl’s method is preferred.

It was its application to the bleaching of ivory that
led me to bring the subject before your notice this evening.
It is used in Sheffield to bleach the inferior ivory for knife
handles. The liquid is supplied by an ivory dealer in
London, and it consists of an aqueous solution containing
2 ‘9 per cent, of 'a rather crude peroxide of hydrogeu. The
mode of procedure is as follows : — The ivory is first
treated with a solution of common soda to remove the
greasy matter and open the pores; then say, 2 quarts
of the liquid are placed in a stone pot, 4 ounces of liq.
ammon. fort. *880 added, the handles immersed and the
whole put over a common shop stove for twenty-four to
thirty-six hours; the handles are then taken out and
gradually di-ied in the air, not tqo quickly, or they would
split. The deep colour of the common ivory is removed
and a beautiful pearly white ivory results when polished.

Peroxide of hydrogen is manufactured largely in this
country, also in America, and in Germany, but that of
English manufacture maintains a superiority as it is still
largely exported to those countries.

I feel convinced that the manufacture of this substance
is well worthy of the attention of scientffic and manufac¬
turing chemists; its present cost being prejudicial to its
employment. If a cheap article could be produced, its uses
would almost be unlimited, and I think I have shown that
mankind would be considerably benefited thereby.

A lengthy discussion followed, in which the Piesident,
Messrs. Chubb, Conroy, Tate, Watt, Williams and Wood
took part.

Mr. Mason briefly replied to the points raised in the
discussion, and a hearty vote of thanks to the author,
proposed by Mr. Shaw and seconded by Mr. Chubb,
terminated the meeting.

SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICAL AND
CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting was held at the rooms of the
Society on Wednesday evening, February 2, Mr. G.
Ellinor in the chair. The annual report was read by the
Secretary, which showed the Society to be in a flourishing
condition, with a satisfactory balance in hand. The
following officers were elected for the ensuing year: —

President, Mr. G. Ellinor, Ph.C.; Vice-Presidents, Mr.
E. Radley Learoyd and Mr. G. Carr ; Honorary Secretary,
Mr. G. L. W. Newsholme ; Teasurer and Auditor, Messrs.
Jervis and Cubley respectively ; Council, Messrs. W
Ward, F.C.S., Burnell, Purton, Watts, Turner, Hall.
W. Alcock and G. B. Owen, junr.

The President tendered his thanks for the honour con¬
ferred upon him in re electing him for another year. He
said it was no doubt a pleasure to all that suitable rooms
• had been obtained for their meetings, and he hoped that
the year upon which they had entered would be a success¬
ful and pleasant one, and that short papers and dis¬
cussions upon the various subjects of pharmacy would
be brought forward. All would regret so little had been
done during the past few years, which could be accounted
for by the loss of the old rooms, and tbe consequent
absence of any fixed place of meeting. The furnishing
and appearance of the new rooms gave one the feeling
of olden times, and would no doubt stimulate all to
increased activity. Some of the old specimens would
require re-arrangment, and some replacement, which no
doubt would be done, and the library would, doubtless,
be of great use ; it ought to be very much enlarged and
should contain books pertaining to the trades of. Sheffield.
Percy’s and Philips’s ‘ Metallurgy,’ and works on electro¬
plating, etc., should have a prominent place, seeing that
the principal industry of Sheffield is metallurgy. There
should also be a good work on microscopic analysis.

The members should put their shoulders to the wheel and
work steadily and carefully ; they need then fear no foe.
Their business was a personal one, and co-operative and
so-called civil service stores might do their worst ; there
would always be work for the plodding pharmacist. Every
true pharmacist had the confidence of his clients, and his
own knowledge and skill could soon produce for him
what he required. Hoping to have the support of the
officers and members of the Society, he had every reason
to anticipate a year of successful work and progress.

The Honorary Secretary announced the following dona¬
tions: — ‘Year-Book of Pharmacy,’ ‘Calendar of the
Pharmaceutical Society,’ Pharmaceutical Journal, and
Magazine of Pharmacy.

On the motion of the President, it was resolved that
best thanks be given to the several donoi’s.

Votes of thanks to the officers for their services during
the past year concluded the business of the meeting.

HALIFAX AND DISTRICT CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Society was held on Friday, Januavy
28,1881.

Mr. Shaw, President, introduced the clauses of the
Amended Pharmacy Bill to the considei’ation of the
meeting and a long discussion ensued as to their merits.

Mr. Dyer sti-ongly objected to the clauses in reference
to widows being compelled to sell their businesses within
a certain period of three years, thinking this would be
hai’d where a son was left who was intended for the busi¬
ness and who would not be of age in the time stated. He
therefore moved the following resolution: — “That if, on
the death of a member of the trade, a son is left of over
fourteen years of age, whom the widow is desirous of
qualifying, that no compulsory sale of the business shall
then take place, so long as 'the widow gives satisfactory •
proof that tbe business is managed by a properly qualified
assistant, and that the son is being regularly trained to
the business; this state of things to continue until the son
be twenty-two years of age, when if he has not passed his
examination the business be then disposed of.”

This was seconded by Mr. Hewens.

Mr. Councillor Brierley proposed, and Mr. Jessop
seconded an amendment: — “That the amended clause
compelling sale within three years is best.” On being put
to the vote the mover and seconder only voted for the
amendment, whilst for Mr. Dyer’s resolution all the other
membei’S voted.

No resolution was proposed in reference to the poison
clause, a decided majority appealing in the discussion to
be in favour.

It was intended to have discussed the patent medicine
question, but the evening was now too far advanced, so it
was decided to leave the subject for next meeting.

LEICESTER CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The general half-yearly meeting of this Association
was held at the rooms, Halford Street, on Tuesday, Feb¬
ruary 1, 1881, the President, Mr. J. J. Edwards in
the chair. After a few remai’lcs from the President, a
report of the past half-year’s proceedings was read and
adopted. The report stated that the number of mem¬
bers on the books had increased to thirty, and that two
members and three ex- members had passed the Minor ex¬
amination during the past session. The thanks of the
committee were expressed to Messrs. Allen and Hanbuiy
for a copy of ‘Science Papers;’ to the honorary members,
who by their subscriptions had shown a practical intei’est in
the welfare of the Association ; and to the Pharmaceutical
Society for valuable donations of specimens and cases.
Thanks were also due to the gentlemen who had con-
ti’ibuted to the interest and insti’uction of the members
by reading papers, etc,

708

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 19, lssi

The meeting then proceeded to the election of a com¬
mittee for the ensuing session, with the following result:
— Mr. H. J. Masters, President; Mr. J. J. Edwards,
Vice-President and Honorary Secretary; Mr. W. B.
Clark, Treasurer; and Messrs. S. F. Burford, F. W.
Lewitt, W. Thirlby and G. M. Winter.

atlimmttfavir anb i^ato ||?0aefrmgs<

Supposed Death’ op a Child feom Poisoning. A
Chemist censured for Carelessness.

On Saturday afternoon Mr. Wightman held an inquest,
at Sheffield, on the body of Jane Ann Truefitt, aged three
months, a child that had died on Thursday morning under
circumstances that called for inquiry. Mr. J. E. Dyson,
chemist and druggist, and his shopboy, William Henry
Duggan, were in the room during the examination of the
witnesses.

The deceased was the illegitimate daughter of Jane
Truefitt, who. is only sixteen years of age. The child had
suffered from convulsions from its birth, and also from
coughing. In order to relieve the cough Mrs. England,
the person who had charge of it, had given it four drops
of paregoric at different times, and on Wednesday
evening last, she sent her son with a small bottle
to the shop of Mr. J. E. Dyson for a pennyworth of
paregoric. The boy brought the bottle back, and she
gave the deceased four drops of its contents. About
eleven o’clock the child began “ to look queer,” to use
Mrs. England’s words, and she asked her husband to
taste what was in the bottle. He did so at once, saying
it was laudanum. He and his boy, an intelligent littlefellow
of twelve years, went to Dyson’s shop. Mrs . Dyson opened
the door, to whom England gave the bottle, saying that
laudanum had been given for paregoric, and at the same
time mentioning the child’s illness. Mrs. Dyson took the
bottle and returned with it after changing its contents.
She also gave England a draught for the child to cause it
to vomit. This emetic was administered without delay,
but it had not the desired effect.

Mr. Edward M’Lean, surgeon, Paradise Square, was
called in the morning, but he could do nothing, as the
child was almost dead. The only signs of the presence of
laudanum in the child were deadly coldness and very
minute contraction of the pupils. In answer to the
Coroner, he said these symptoms would also be compatible
with death from convulsions. It was too far gone to
enable him to say. If only four drops of laudanum had
been administered they would not detect the poison in
the body by means of a post-mortem or subsequent
analyses. Four drops of laudanum given to a child of
the age of deceased was almost certain to be fatal. In reply
to a juryman, Mr. McLean said paregoric could not
produce the effects he saw in the child.

William Henry Duggan, sixteen years of age, who had
been in Mr. Dyson’s employment for five years, said he
did not recollect seeing the boy or selling him anything,
but he would not go so far as to swear that he did not
sell him something. When the bottle was returned he
saw Mrs. Dyson pour the contents into a four-ounce mea¬
sure to see what was left. There were only a few drops
short of 2 drachms, the quantity of- laudanum Mr. Dyson
sold for lcZ.

Caroline M’Millan, single woman, was the next
witness. She said she was in Mr. Dyson’s shop on
Thursday, when she heard Mrs. Dyson say to Duggan
that he was to tell the coroner he did not sell any lauda¬
num except when the master or mistress was in. Duggan
said he would say that.

The Coroner, in summing up, said this, like many
other cases both here and at the Assizes, failed for want
of definite evidence. After hearing the medical evi¬
dence, the jury could make no more of it. The action of

Mrs. Dyson when the bottle was taken back to her was
very strongly indicative of a conclusion on her part that
the laudanum had come from there. He thought they
would consider the version of the story told by England,
his wife and the boy, who had given his evidence
wonderfully well, the correct one. Still, it left them
in this position, that there was not sufficient conclusive
evidence that the laudanum killed the child. He was
sorry it could not be brought to a more definite state.
His experience was quite in accordance with the evidence
of the medical man, that a post-mortem would throw no
light upon it whatever, as far as laudanum was con¬
cerned. If it did he was sure he would be justified in
saying it was the first post-mortem examination that ever
had. It ended the case not very satisfactorily, for there
had been very gross negligence and carelessness by a boy
being allowed to sell to another boy laudanum instead of
the article asked for.

Mr. Dyson and his assistant were recalled to hear the
verdict.

Mr. Dyson, addressing the coroner, said it was his
belief <hat the boy had made a mistake in supplying
laudanum for paregoric.

The jury returned the following verdict: — “ That the
deceased died on February 10, having been subject to
convulsions, and having had inadvertently administered
to it an overdose of laudanum, but as to the actual cause
of death there is not sufficient evidence to show ; and the
said jurors further say that Mr. J. E. Dyson, a druggist,
at whose shop the laudanum was purchased, is highly
censurable for the loose and careless manner in which,
laudanum is sold at the said shop.”

The Coroner hoped Mr. Dyson would take this as a
warning. If the doctor’s evidence had been conclusive,
he would have been at this moment in a very serious
position, as the law held that if a chemist killed a person
from not exercising sufficient care he was liable to a
charge of manslaughter. The same remarks applied to
the assistant, who was not old enough toi be retailing to
children of twelve years of ag3. The jury were quite of
opinion that he (Mr. Dyson) was censurable for allowing •
a lad to serve out laudanum or other drugs, and to make
such a grievous mistake as had been made in this case. —
Sheffield Daily Telegraph.

Selling Deficient Chemical Food.

On Thursday, February 10, Hugh Wallace, grocer,
467, St. Vincent Street, was charged, at Glasgow, before
Sheriff Balfour, with having sold to the assistant sanitary
inspector, on January 13 last, a bottle of compound
syrup of phosphates or chemical food, on which was a
label bearing the statement that every teaspoonful of
the food contained 2J grains phosphate of lime, and
1 grain phosphate of iron, but which, on analysis, was
found to contain only -J grain of phosphate of lime
and | grain of phosphate of iron. He pleaded guilty,
and his law agent (Mr. Bell) stated that there was no
adulteration, but simply an insufficient quantity of the
ingredients mentioned on the label; that there was no
intentional fraud, and that the difference in value of
the compound at it was, and as it should be, was only a
farthing.

Mr. Boss, for the prosecutor, said the compound was a
food used for young children.

The respondent, in reply to the Sheriff, said he
bought the food made up in large quantities, and had no
means of adulterating it, and that he was told by the
seller that it was genuine. He had stopped the sale of
the article, and returned what he had.

The Sheriff said the offence was more a formal than a
substantial violation of the Sale of Food and Drugs
Act, because the respondent did not manufacture the
food, and had no means of testing it. Despondent was,
however, the party responsible for selling it; and he
would impose the modified penalty of £3.

\

February 19 1881.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

709

{

\

i

I

Poisoning by Cyanide of Potassium.

On Saturday last Mr. Hawkes, Birmingham borough
coroner, held an inquest respecting the death of the Rev.
Robert Lewis Haworth, proprietor of the Middle Class
School, Frederick Street, who had been found lying dead in
bed. There was a tumbler on the floor containing a small
quantity of clear fluid and a slight sediment.

Mt. George Northall, assistant master to the deceased,
said there was a chemical laboratory at the school, of
which deceased kept the key. Amongst the preparations
was a bottle of cyanide of potassium. Deceased, in con¬
versation with witness, had expressed the conviction that
suicide was not only a cowardly thing, but would bring
punishment hereafter.

Mr. Henry Davis, surgeon, said the glass found on the
floor contained cyanide of potassium, which had been
dissolved in it. That chemical was a corrosive deadly
poison. It would not have been possible for deceased to
go to the dressing table to write on a paper and get into
bed again after taking it. Witness never heard . of
■cyanide of potassium being taken to sharpen the faculties.

Mr. Northall, recalled, said that in the arrangement of
bottles in the laboratory there were four in the following
order : liquid ammonia, liquid cyanide of potassium,
cyanide solid, and ammonia solid. The solid ammonia
bottle was missing.

A paper found by Mr. Davis upon the deceased’s
■dressing table was handed to the jury. The writing
appeared to be, “ Foolish curiosity has made me take

- . May Heaven condone it. Hope to come to. Do

not mind.” Only the words, “ Foolish curiosity has made
me take,” and “ Hope to ” are clearly legible.

The Coroner, in summing up, pointed out that the
theory that deceased might have mistaken the cyanide of
potassium bottle for the one containing ammonia was in¬
consistent with the paper found. If, as Mr. Davis said,
it would not be possible for deceased to have written the
paper after taking the poison, the only explanation would
seem to be that deceased committed suicide, having
written the paper beforehand to lead his friends to
attribute his death to some other cause.

The jury, after a few minutes’ consultation, returned a
verdict that deceased died from talcing poison, and that
he took the same by misadventure. — Birmingham Daily
News.

Notice has been received of the death of the following :

On the 24th of December, 1880, Mr. Edward Hodgson,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Stockton-on-Tees. Aged 7 4
years. Mr. Hodgson was one of the Founders of the
Pharmaceutical Society, having joined it in 1841.

On the 6th of January, 1881, Mr.. John Cowie,
Chemist and Druggist, High Street, Falkirk. Aged 29
years. Mj\ Cowie had been an Associate in Business of
the Society since 1872.

On the 13th of January, 1881, Mr. Robert James
Butler, Chemist and Druggist, Wandsworth. Aged 74
years.

On the 14th of January, 1881, Mr. John Brown,
Chemist and Druggist, Ripon. Aged 63 years.

On the 20th of January, 1881, Mr. George Brisley,
Chemist and Druggist, Little St. Andrew Street, London.
Aged 54 years.

On the 22nd of January, 1881, Mr. Thomas Moses,
Chemist and Druggist, Market Street, Northwich. Aged

36 years.

On the 23rd of January, 1881, Mr. John Moss,
Chemist and Druggist, Market Street, Chorley. Aged 45
years.

On the 25th of January, 1881, at Brighton, Mr. Robert
Barclay, of the firm of Barclay and Sons, Farringdon
Street. Aged.70 years.

On the 27th of January, 1881, Mr. John Walkden,
Chemist and Druggist, Thirlmere Road, Liverpool. Aged
40 years.

On the 6th of February, 1881, Mr. Edward Hughes,
Chemist and Druggist, Bridge Street, Llanelly. Aged 66
years.

On the 10 th of February, 1881, suddenly, Mr. John
Rayner, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Long Row, Nottingham.
Mr. Rayner had been a Member of the Pharmaceutical
Society since 1854. He was one of the Founders of the
Nottingham and Notts Chemists’ Association, in which
for upwards of fifteen years he filled the office of treasurer.

On the 13th of February, 1881, Mr. John Dickens,
Chemist and Druggist, Bridlington Quay. Aged 50
years.

Qisp nisi n a HT c m ar a nb a*

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column was established ,
considerable latitude is alloiued, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sendnng them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[500].

R Tr. Belladonnse . 3j-

Liq. Morph. Hydrochlor . 3SS-

Syrupi Gummi . 3yj*

Tr. Pruni Virgin . 3fj*

Aquae . ad §iss.

Will any of your readers kindly inform me what is
meant by “Syr. Gummi”? I used the Syr. Gummi
Arabici (from Beasley p. 417). Was I correct? or ought
I to have dispensed the prescription with Squire s pre¬
paration, (“Syr. Gummi Rub.”)?

Mucilago.

[501]. Will any reader kindly inform me what
appearance the following mixture should have when
properly dispensed? —

R Pot. Bromid . 3 j*

Pot. Iodid . . • 3SS-

Quinae Sulph . xih

iEther. Chloric . oU;

Aq. Pur . a<^ 5vj*

Misce. xss. bis die, cum §ss aquae.

Discipulus.

* [502].

R Potass. Iodid .

Potass. Bromid. . . .

. Tinct. Quinse . . . .

Sp. Ammon. Arom. . .

' Aq .

gr. 40
Iss.

j-

Misce.

The above prescription was handed to me a day or two
since. Customer states it was made up in London per¬
fectly clear. Can this be done without filtering out the
precipitate ?

Inquirer.

[503]. I had the following prescription presented to
me a day or two ago. Is it likely the^prescriber intended
7j. adipis ? Is not it more probably §j ?—

R . . Sf’ 1V*

* Sp. Vini Rect. 3j*

Adipis . ^3*

Ft ung. Sig. The neuralgic ointment.

F. Blanchard.

710

the pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

[February 19, 1381.

[504]. Squire’s ‘Companion to the B.P.,’ page 195,
gives ^iv. strong solution of ammonia in 3XX. of tinct. opii
ammoniata. Is liq. amon. fort, meant? — as.it says, under
heading “ Ammon. Liq. Fortior,” page 32, “ best given in
the form liq. ammoni*.”

Inquirer.

[505]. Would some reader inform me why I obtained
a curdy white precipitate on making up the following
prescription ? I may mention that, last of all, I added
h drachm of acid, sulph. dil. to dissolve the quinine.

R Sod* Salicylas . 3*3 •

Quini* Sulph . 5j-

Syr. Aurantii . ,^j.

Aquam . ad^vj.

Sig. xss. ter in die.

Dalex.

[506], I shall be much obliged if some of your corre¬
spondents will kindly say if I should be justified in using
tinct. valer. ammon. in dispensing the following prescrip¬
tion, as I am not aware of any liq. ammon. valer.

ft Ammon. Muriat . 3ij*

Liq. Ammon. Valerian . §ij.

Tinct. Aconiti . ill xij.

HSther. Chloric . 3^j*

Mist. Camphor* . ad §xij.

M. Ft. mist.

Apprentice. .

(Komsjiautmuc.

No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

The Proposed Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill.

Sir, — It appears to me that many who have sent their
opinions to this Journal as regards the proposed Amended
Pharmacy Act, entirely lose sight of the one great factor it
is imperative to observe in framing any Bill introduced into
Parliament, and which may subsequently be carried through
the various stages to a successful issue, viz., What is the
Legislature likely to grant ? The question is, in fact, not so
much what we may wish to obtain, as what can we get ?
and from this point of view alone may we hope to have
remedied the defects of the Pharmacy Acts now in force.

To disarm outside opposition, as far as possible, must also
be our aim ; therefore, the proposed Bill should not be
hampered with conditions to which objections may be taken,
but on the contrary the clauses should be devoid of all un¬
due appearance of selfishness, and so framed in the interest
of the public as to disarm the enemies of future pharma¬
ceutical legislation.

To this end there are three points which have been dis¬
cussed in the Journal, requiring the serious attention of the
framers of the proposed Act; for if the views expressed by
many are embodied, I am afraid we may look in vain for an
Amended Pharmacy Bill. The points alluded to are : —

1st. The widows’ interest.

2nd. Plurality of shops.

3rd. Patent medicines.

1st. Many insist on the insertion of a clause to enable a
widow to carry on the business of her late husband with the
aid of a registered assistant. Such a course would be suicidal
to the Bill ; for although it is honourable to the feelings by
which those who advocate the claim are actuated, it is both
unpractical and impolitic, as the question would have to be
answered, “ What is the difference between a widow and a
body corporate carrying on a chemist’s business by proxy ? ”

Again, I am not alone in believing that it would be con¬
ferring a very doubtful benefit on widows, allowing them to
carry on a pharmacy beyond the time necessary for dis¬
posing of it advantageously.

Chemists’ assistants, like all other classes of society, con¬

sist of honourable and dishonourable members, as every
employer knows who has been in business any lengthened
period, and if a widow employs one of the former to carry
on her business all well and good, but if she gets into the
meshes of the latter her business will soon be worthless, or
her assistant-manager may clandestinely work it into his
own bands or otherwise to her disadvantage.

2nd. Another weak point in our case is the plurality of
shops held by one person. This is a question not easily
answered, and if a clause is not inserted in the proposed
Bill, dealing firmly with this abuse, I would not give much
for our chance of a reformed Bill.

It is all very well if Smith, Brown, Jones and Robinson
have four shops, and each partner takes special charge of
one particular shop, but if Smith or Jones is sole proprietor
of four or five, “how can he superintend the lot?” What
protection have the public — and especially if his assistants,
as is often the case, are not on the Register? Again, what is
the difference between branch shops and the stores, beyond
the fact that the first may dispense medicines without the
services of a qualified man, but the latter must retain one?

From another point of view, I consider the pluralist sys¬
tem highly objectionable; if a chemist has five or six shops
(as I understand is the case not many miles hence), he draws
an income from each, which allows him to sell at lower
price than his neighbours who have only one source of in¬
come. Also does not the pluralist often stop the way of many
deserving young men who wish to commence business on
their own ac ount ?

To my mind there is great excuse for the widow continu¬
ing her late husband’s business, but none for the pluralist.

3rd. There are those who wish to incorporate a clause
confining the sale of patent or proprietary medicines to
chemists ; but, however devoutly that is wished for I do not
think the free trade spirit which prevades both Houses of
Parliament will allow it, since from time immemorial
(figuratively speaking) the vending of patent medicines has
been the common property of any tradesman who paid for a
licence; my experience goes some fifty years back, and book¬
sellers were the principal vendors of patent medicines in the
city where I was apprenticed.

In conclusion, I may say that our aim, pure and simple,
should be to obtain an Amended Bill securing the dispensing
of medicines and the sale of scheduled poisons to qualified
men, and if we obtain that our legitimate ends will be
served.

41, Market Street , Manchester. Thos. G. Gibbons.

Sir, — Referring to the draft of the new Pharmacy Bill, a
great deal has been said about its several clauses, none more
than that relating to widows, who by most writers are
compared with and regarded as on the same footing as
co-operative stores ; all appear to overlook the fact that
widows, like their deceased husbands, are mortal, and that
death in due time will bring their duties to a close ; perhaps
they would not even require, in many cases, the three years’
grace suggested. Of course provision should be made for a
proper person to conduct the business for her. This is
quite different to the stores, which is a perpetual business
that never had a qualified owner, and never intends to
relinquish its pharmaceutical department, since it pays.

Respecting the sale of general drugs and medicines in use
for internal and external use, what are pharmaceutists
examined in ? Does it not include all pharmaceutical pre¬
parations? If the examination extends thus far and is
necessary, it seems to follow, examined persons only should
distribute them. Why examine one person in certain
matteis (the pharmaceutist), and allow another (the grocer
or what not) to dispense or distribute them ? For public
good all that is necessary to examine in, should be protected
from ignorant dealers. I think there is a system in some
countries where medicines are dispensed by pharma¬
ceutists only, excepting in districts a certain distance
form any such man, when a licence is granted in out¬
lying districts to a respectable tradesman to supply simple
medicines.

It appears to me the best use is not made of the powers we
have to suppress the sale of scheduled articles by general
dealers. This neighbourhood abounds in such, which 1 think
should be put down by existing machinery; the new powers
sought will be a dead letter when obtained if more use be
not made of it than that now in force.

In respect to patents on hand at the time of passing
the Act, these may cause a little inconvenience, but I

February 19, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

711

apprehend manufacturers will be willing to exchange such
for a trifle or perhaps gratuitously ; if not, it will be soon
known what patent medicine requires to be labelled poison, —
and the chemist can easily supply what is required, — either
inside or outside as ths case require. We shall all know what
is wanted. Should the wholesale dealers supply contrary to
law, the retailer has his remedy. Besides I expect the fears
expressed will prove groundless.

H. R.

' The Relations of Pharmacy and Medicine.

Sir,— On former occasions I have addressed you on the

(above subject and expressed my belief that “ the future of
the chemist is to dispense,” and that help is not to be
expected or obtained through legislation.

Having no faith in the Pharmacy Acts Amendment Bill
giving protection to the chemist, and holding similar views
to those so ably expounded by Mr. B. Proctor on the 29th
ult., I read with satisfaction the letter of Dr. James
Williamson in your issue of the 22nd of last month, and
am astonished that your solicitation for the opinions of
medical and pharmaceutical correspondents has not been
responded to.

If, instead of hankering after restrictions on the sale of
patent medicines, drugs and chemicals, we could arrive at a
good understanding with the British Medical Association,
and establish a better feeling between ourselves and the
medical body, it would be the brightest dawn that pharma¬
cists have awakened to, out of a night of darkness, for many
days. If it could be arranged for the mutual benefit of
practitioners and chemists, that each should limit their
practices to their legitimate qualifications, confining them¬
selves solely to their own branch of medicine, then should
we be able to exalt our position, and leave the patent and
proprietary trade, "as well as numerous articles of retail,
that ought not to be associated with respectable pharmacies,
to sink or swim.

It may be premature for the chemist to enter into detail,
notice only of a movement having been made by several
members of the Medical Association, but there can be no
doubt that it is a “ step in the right direction,” and I think
I am correct in assuring Dr. Williamson that if lie will
make known the suggestions of his medical brethren, the
members of the Pharmaceutical Society will be ready to
give their aid to carry out so desirable a scheme.

The chief point foreshadowed as an “ essential ” element
to the success of this project is, that “chemists should
supply exactly and skilfully what is ordered, and charge as
reasonable as possible for all medicines dispensed.” To do
so will rest as much with the prescriber as the dispenser,
and when “ sending, their prescriptions to chemists in their
neighbourhood,” medical men must take care that they are
not all directed, as is the case at the present time, to one or
two favoured pharmacies with greater pretensions to excel¬
lence than their neighbours, who with fair proportions are as
well able to supply ability and quality at moderate charges.
If special recommendation is given to houses of note, failures
will be the result, inasmuch as these will enjoy a monopoly,

»and the bulk of chemists will be compelled to fall into their
old ways to obtain a living as best they can.

To bring the public into the arrangement with ourselves,
there will require to be great reductions in medical fees, as

Kwell as a smaller charge for dispensing and supply of medi¬
cines; and if the people who no w receive advice over the
chemist’s counter are all referred to the surgery nearest to
it, there should be no difficulties in arranging such a tariff
of charges that the fees of the surgeon and cost of the
medicine would not be greater than is now paid. It ought,
however, to be distinctly understood that after the advice
has been given and the prescription paid for, the patient
should- be at liberty to have it dispensed wherever he or
she desired, without being directed to take it to any par¬
ticular shop. If the old argument is resorted to, that it
becomes a medical man to make sure that what he orders is
“ skilfully and exactly ” supplied, and he ignores the young
beginner who has passed all his examinations in favour of a
shop with a name, then farewell to all prospects of the plan
succeeding, and the attempt will fall to the ground.

I am afraid the difficulties will be greater in persuading
the medical man to give up dispensing his own medicine,
than in inducing the chemist to reduce the charge of his
dispensing, for there are still needy apothecaries in the land,
a i well as destitute chemists; but it will be a pleasing day

when we find, instead of being jealous and envious of each
other, the two divisions of medicine are working in har¬
mony, for the good of the public, as well as their mutual
welfare.

174, Warwick Street, Pimlico, S.W. John Wade.

Sir, — With Mr. Robinson, I regret to find that Dr.
Williamson’s letter has met with so little response, due 1
think, not so much to apathy on the part of chemists as to
the feeling that though the giving up of dispensing by
medical men is a subject likely to be of more service to
them, as a class, than any pharmacy law amendment, it is
not one to be treated so much in a universal as in a local
and personal manner, the relations between medical men
and pharmacists varying so much in different localities as to
require the treatment of the subject differently in different
places. So important a subject is not to be considered in
an arbitrary or hasty manner, neither is its entire realization
to be brought about all at once ; but when a member of the
medical profession, seconded by remarks from yourself,
solicits expression of opinion thereon, it is a pity so little
correspondence has beeu the result. So by way of giving a
practical turn to the discussion, I would suggest that the
plan most likely to be of service in the matter is the more
general adoption by chemists of what is called “surgeons’
dispensing,” for though objected to by many, it is by
no means uncommon at the present time — it is simply
an arrangement by which a medical man in cases where he
does not wish to give a patient a prescription, instead of
supplying him with medicine from his own surgery, deputes
a certain chemist (or more than one if he chooses) to supply
the medicine and charge it to him (the doctor) at a pro¬
fessional or reduced price. Thus, of the three parties
interested in the transaction, viz., the public, the doctor,
and chemist, the public is not affected by the change ; the
doctor is relieved from all care and responsibility as to his
dispensing, and, as the chemist does not repeat the pre¬
scription without orders, is able to give a visit when the
medicine requires replenishing; and, lastly, the chemist,
though he charges less for this sort of dispensing, secures a
considerable ainouut of business which would otherwise go
in a different channel, and which, moreover, is of a nature
not likely to divert to the stores.

20, Boundary Rd., N.W. J. J. Chapman.

Sir, — But little notice having been taken of Dr. Wil¬
liamson’s letter in the P karma ceutical Journal of the 22nd
ult., I beg to offer a few remarks thereon.

It would be far better for chemists, instead of uselessly
wasting their time in trying to regain what may be regarded
as the lost proprietary medicine trade, to endeavour to
cultivate the most friendly relations with the members of
the medical profession by trying to show them that we can
be of the greatest service to them as well as to the general
public, and that we are worthy of their patronage and re¬
commendation. We should use every care in supplying
their patients with exactly what is ordered and intended ;
but as a great proportion of the profession have no know¬
ledge of pharmacy, it is our duty as “ ye doctor's cook ” to
compound their prescriptions, etc., skilfully and intelli¬
gently, and present the medicines in as elegant a form as
possible. It is also our duty to the public to vend them at
reasonable prices, and were we to do so more generally,
more medical men, “ in large towns especially,” would be
only too glad to be rid of their private dispenser and dis¬
pensary. But they and the public often complain, and not
without just cause, of the high, if not exorbitant, prices
now charged for dispensing the most simple recipe. A dis¬
pensing chemist, they maintain, has no right to charge the
same price for all medicines, whether the cost price is 3d. or
Is.; but simply a fair and equitable- profit on the ingredients '
of which the medicine is composed, and a small extra charge
for compounding, etc. There is no very great science in
putting the two or three ingredients together in a simple
mixture, and the prices now charged by some houses in
fashionable quarters is simply extortionate, and to a, great
measure, because when civil servants and others with limited
salaries began to discover the profits made or charged by
West-end shopkeepers, “ chemists -as well as others,” they
thought it quite time that something should be done to
help themselves,— for this reason, principally, stores first
came into existence. Doubtless had the West-end retailer’s
profits been more reasonable these supply associations

712

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 19, 1881.

would never have sprung into existence. Many *of the
public are now sufficiently educated to he able to tell the
ingredients and quantities of many prescriptions, and so
can judge if a fair price is charged; besides the price
charged for dispensing varies so much in different localities
as to induce patients to find out by any means the com¬
ponent parts of the said prescription, and often to purchase
the articles separately, and mix for themselves.

Take the following $ for instance . —

Tinct. Ferri Perchlor .

Spt. Chloroformi .

Aquae . . ad liv.

M.

A teaspoonful to be taken three times a day in half a
wineglass of water.

This was first dispensed in a fashionable city, and the
price charged in a plain corked bottle was 2s. 6d. The
next time it was made up in another town, a few miles
away, and the price charged was Is. 2 d.

Now I maintain that this latter price was fair and ample.
There is not any great eeience required in dispensing such a
]£>, and I have no doubt the ingredients were equally good
at both shops. This medicine was prescribed by a general
practitioner for a man in rather humble circumstances, and
the first charge of 2s. 6d. is nearly as much as many surgeons
would charge the class of customer for both advice and
medicine, and it is partly this system of overcharging and
trying to get as much as possible out of a customer that
estranges many medical men from the chemist and druggist.
It is unreasonable that the dispenser who uses no profes¬
sional skill should receive so much remuneration for a few
minutes’ service, and until dispensing chemists see their
way to fix their prices more in accordance with the market¬
able-value of the commodities supplied for medical purposes,
many medical practitioners will keep a dispenser and send
out their own medicines.

Let chemists only begin to fill prescriptions, etc., at
reasonable prices, a great many of the profession will soon
be only too glad to do away with the bother of their dis¬
pensing, and relegate this duty to its proper place at the
-chemist’s, and when that takes place it will matter but
little into whose hands the patent medicine trade goes.
That a mutual feeling between the profession and the che¬
mists that each ean work for the benefit of each other, and
the great good of the public at large, will in time ensue is a
consummation devoutly to be wished.

B. S. J.

Hydkocarbons as Substitutes fob Lard.

Sir, — I quite agree with your correspondent, Mr. J. R.
Summers, that more information as to the modus operandi
of these preparations is required before we sanction their
use in the place of lard as a basis of ointments, pomades,
®tc. I have seen considerable cutaneous irritation produced
by their use, and they possess the great drawback of not
being easily removed from diseased surfaces by the use of
soap or weak alkaline solutions. On account of a peculiar
adhesive tenacity I have frequently found them objected to
as pomades, although as far as appearance and keeping
properties go, they leave nothing to be desired. Probably
a mixture of pure lard and vaseline would improve both
and meet the demands of medicine. This question, one
would imagine, could be soon set at rest by a series of
experiments in some of the hospitals for skin disease.

72, Mansfield Road. Wm. Young.

Sir, — I can confirm the statement made by Mr. J. B.
Summers in reference to vaseline.

A person having tried the latter to relieve eczema, it in¬
creased the irritation to such an extent that he was com¬
pelled to wash it off and use uog. zinci, as he had been in
• the habit of doing.

I also think the properties and action of the hydrocarbons
should be fully investigated before adopting them as a sub¬
stitute for lard in the ointments of the Pharmacopoeia.

M. P. S.

Spirit us Ammonite Aromaticus.

Sir, — In corroboration of Mr. Miller’s letter on the merits
of sp. ammon. aromat. made by simple solution, Ell may say

that for the past six years 1 have adopted that process, and
think the preparation in every way preferable to the
variable product obtained by distillation.

Tunbridge Wells. J. Tully.

Tinctura Rusci.

Sir, — Allow us to remark that tinctura rusci {vide recent
number of your Journal) means tinctura olei betulse em-
pyreumatici, but not the tincture of some species of Ruscus.
We give you one of the recipes at hand, which Hebra used
to prescribe i 1 **

Olei Rusci (01. Betulse Emp.) . . grm. 40.

Alcoholis,

A5th. Sulph. i ...... aa grm. 4.

Olei Lavand.,

,, Rutse,

,, Rorismarini . . . . . . a& gtts. 20.

D. Sig. To apply with a bristle-pencil.

M.
Vienna.

G. and R. Fisk.

Effects of the Late Frost.

Sir, — Allow me to submit the following as a probable
explanation of the phenomenon noticed by Mr. Bisset, and
also by Mr. Lincolne, during the recent severe frost.

If water impregnated with COa be frozen while exposed
to ordinary conditions of atmospheric pressure, it will lose
the whole of the gas during the process of freezing ; but if it
be frozen under pressure, such as in an ordinary aerated
water bottle, it cannot so lose it ; and on examining the
resulting block of ice it will be found to be full of globules
of CO2. Mr. Bisset does not appear to have noticed any
evolution of gas during the melting of the zoedone ice,
although I have no doubt it did escape at that time.

The result obtained by tasting the zoedone ice seems to
have been different with the two gentlemen ; for Mr. Bisset
found it “ without taste,” while Mr. Lincolne, says “ there
was no appreciable loss of flavour.” The difference, how¬
ever, is only an apparent one, as the following will show : —

If a column of water, holding salts in solution, be frozen,
colouring and all truly extraneous matter will be thrown out
and may be seen adhering to the sides of the ice. But the salts
will be frozen in solutions although unequally distributed in
the block of ice. They will be in the greatest proportion at
the bottom. This is easily explained by the changes which
take place in the density of the solution during the process
of cooling and freezing. So that if Mr. Bisset’s lime juice
was frozen while the bottle stood in an upright position, a
piece of ice broken from the top would have little or no
acidity. He cannot have melted the entire frozen contents
of the bottle, else the solution could not have been “quaffed
without the least facial disturbance.”

Some salts and gases are said to be tasteless in the frozen
condition, and I believe it has been suggested as a method of
administering them medicinally.

Belfast. R. Mauchlen.

R. Roberts. — We are unable to give you the information
you ask for.

“ Ignorans.” — A recipe for the preparation referred to is
only a matter of calculation that presents no particular
difficulties.

C. — We know of no published formula for lin. petrolei.

“ Student ” is referred to the rule as to anonymous
correspondents.

“ Argos.” — Infusion of red bark would be of a deep red
colour, and very likely to contain more sediment than
infusion of yellow bark.

0. A. 8. — A little mucilage, previously dissolved in the
water, will prevent the separation of the quinine. Similar
questions have been discussed in the Dispensing Memoranda
on several occasions.

“ Scrupulum.” — It only requires a very simple calculation
to answer the question.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Victoria Pharmacy Board, Messrs. Modlen, Jones, Shen-
stone, Newsholme, Warriner, Napier, Davy, Liversedge,
G. P., E. C. P., W. P., W. G.T., Spondalium, Mr. Kinnin-
mont is thanked for his communication.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

“THE MONTH”

Although the London botanical gardens present a
somewhat dreary and desolate aspect at present, the
brief interval of sunshine and warm southerly
breezes in the earlier part of the month has brought
a few medicinal plants into blossom.

In the succulent house at Kew, there are now in
blossom several aloes, one or two of which may be
classed among medicinal plants. Of. these Aloe
plicatilis, with its oblong obtuse leaves, is one of the

species said to yield Cape aloes.

From the Isle of Wight a correspondent sends a
list of plants in flower, including Daphne Laureola,
Tussilaao Farfara, and Taraxacum officinale, while a
few of the earlier flowers, such as the Mercunalis
perennis, the snowdrop, and the primrose, are already
peeping up through the damp hedgebanks, and the
drooping tassels of the hazel and alder and the
golden catkins of a few of the willows are heralding
the approach of spring.

That singular plant, the Ruscus aculeatus, may
now also be found in blossom, the minute greenish-
white flower occupying the centre of what might at
first sight be taken for a leaf, but which really
holds the position of a modified branch or cladode,
there being a minute scale-like leaf subtending its
base. The plant is dioecious, the male flowers
having an abortive ovary, with a three-lobed stigma,
and three stamens united into a tube enclosing the
pistil, but with the anthers free. In the female
flower the stigma is peltate and entire, and the ovary
is also surrounded by the staminal tube, but the
anthers are not developed. The perianth consists
of an outer row of three ovate and an inner of three
linear segments. In the male plant also the cladodes
or leaf-like shoots are narrower than those of the
female plant, but in both plants they are slight y
twisted at the base, which accounts for their horizontal
position. The peduncle of the flower is considered to
be adherent to the cladode, which causes the flower
apparently to arise from the middle of the leal. . At
the base of the flower may be seen a minute scarious
bract. Its English name of “butchers broom is
supposed to be derived either from its having been
used to brush butchers’ blocks, a purpose for which it
is said to be still used in Italy, or to put over their
meat to keep the rats off, whence its Italian name ol
«* pontogopi ” or “ prick-rat.”. According to Gerarde,
the decoction of the roots is diuretic and slightly
expectorant ; but it does not appear to have evei
been used in cutaneous diseases.

The lavender fields are said to have been much
injured by the severe frosts this winter, and English
oil of lavender may therefore be expected to be of
unusually high price next season.

An interesting fact has been observed by Dr. E.
Tan<d in connection with the seeds of Strychnos Nux-
vomica, the date and some other plants. He finds that
the cells of the albumen, especially those towards the
centre, where the cells are larger and show a greater
capability of swelling in the cell wall, are penetrated
by a system of canals, by means of which communi¬
cation is established between adjacent cells, causing
a continuous connection of their protoplasmic con¬
tents a structure which he believes to be of great
advantage to the plant in the germination of. the

M(«t of our readers who have examined leaf tissue
under the microscope must be familiar with the fact
that the upper side of the leaf is generally furnished
Third Series, No. 557.

beneath the epidermis with a dense layer of palisade
cells at right angles to the surface of the leaf.
Haberlandt has observed in several plants, among
which are Aconitum and Sambucus, and A Istrcemeria
among monocotyledons, — that these palisade cells are
not single cells but branches of cells. . They do not
appear, however, to differ in function from the
ordinary kind. An investigation concerning the
stomata, or underground axial organs of plants, by
R. Holmfeldt, shows that they occur only on those
plants whose habitat is sufficiently dry to be porous
enough for gases to permeate. Thus none were
found on the rhizomes of Menyanthes trifoliata or
Asarum Europoeum, while in the underground
scale-like leaves of Saponaria officinalis as many as
272 per sq. mm. were detected.

In the American Journal of Pharmacy, Mr.
Heinitsh gives an account of the cultivation of
saffron in Lancaster county, where about 14 lbs.
of it are annually produced. The corms are planted
in June, and the stigmata collected in September,
and dried in the shade. About 50,000 flowers
yield 1 lb. of saffron.

In a letter addressed to M. Dumas, M. B5champ
has recently published ( Gomptes Rendus, xcii., 142),
some interesting information respecting what he
calls the “ microzymas pancreatiquesf or the parts of
the pancreas capable of acting as a ferment. These
can be easily separated, especially in winter, by
triturating the gland with water slightly alcoholized,
filtering and washing. The microzymes thus sepa¬
rated, being surrounded by a fatty paste, are treated
with ether containing a small quantity of alcohol
and then with water, which removes fat and sub¬
stances soluble in water, such as traces of leucine.
Obtained in this way the microzymes are described as
having a diameter of at least 0‘0005 mm., and being
of a greyish-brown colour and free from traces of bac¬
teria. They liquefy starch very easily and rapidly, and
water in contact with them appears to acquire nearly
indefinitely the same power of liquefaction. Twenty
bullock’s pancreases yielded 130 grams of moist
microzymes, containing about 12 per cent, of dry
matter, and some idea of the activity of this paste may
be gathered from the fact that 3 or 4 grams left in
contact with well pressed moist fibrin, at a tempera¬
ture of 36° to 45° C., dissolved in two hours ten times
its weight of the fibrin. It is worthy of note that
the action of pancreatic microzymes upon albumin¬
ous matters differs from that of the gastric juice, in¬
asmuch as the digested product of the former always
contains leucine, which is never the case with that
of the gastric juice. The microzymes do not appear
themselves to undergo any change, and can be used
again and again, and M. Bechamp considers them
t? consist of cells secreting a soluble contents in an
insoluble envelope, the liquid, which is the active
constituent, escaping by osmose. >

As connected with this subject it may be men¬
tioned that some experiments recently made by M.
Hallopeau (Rev. Med., January, p. 152), appear to
prove that pepsine acts in a different manner, and
that although it has hitherto been looked upon as a
soluble ferment, it is in reality an organized ferment,
i When pepsine from a dog, suspended in water, or
the gastric juice of a fish, is thrown upon a filter,
it will be found that the liquid which passes through
is inactive, whilst the substance which remains
on the filter is active.

M. Wurtz, who has recently been studying the

714

THE PH ARM A.CEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 26, 1881.

action of papain, finds that its apparently solvent
action depends upon its forming a compound with
fibrin, which compound is then decomposed by the
water present, with formation of a soluble hydrated
fibrin and the setting free of the ferment, which
repeats its action on fresh quantities of fibrin.

It has long been known that opium and bella¬
donna are natural antidotes; it has been proved
that poisoning by strychnine has been cured by
chloral, and that aconite poisoning may be expected
not to prove fatal if atropine be used as an antidote,
and yet fatal cases of poisoning by these drugs are
not unfrequent. Although not within the province
of a chemist to administer antidotes in cases of
poisoning, it sometimes happens that his memory
is taxed by a medical practitioner in the matter of
antidotes, and it may, at all events, be desirable to
place on record the fact recorded by Dr. Bartholow
(. Bri'ish Medical Journal, February 12, p. 240) that
one- twentieth of a grain of atropine is equivalent in
toxic power to about a grain of morphia ; but that as
a rule the antidote should be always given in small
doses, frequently repeated, until the respiration and
circulation become natural.

Although Dragendorff, Husemann and others have
directed that strychnine in cases of poisoning should
always be looked for in the liver, as its occurrence in
the brain is not easily detected, yet Lajoux and
Grandial have detected it in the brain of a person
who was poisoned by 2‘05 grams of tincture of nux
vomica (equal;, to 0 525 grain of strychnia), three-
fourths of which were employed subcutaneously, and
the rest administered by the mouth.

The action of picrotoxin has been investigated by
Drs. Cbirone and Testa {Ann. Uniw di Med. et Chir.,
April, 1880), with interesting results. They find
that it is capable of producing a true artificial
epilepsy of spinal origin, while einchonidine is
capable of producing epilepsy of cerebral origin
(. British Medical Journal , February 12, p. 224).

Another supposed remedy for cancer has recently
cropped up ; but the news seems too good to be true,
since the remedy is within the reach of all and,
except in whooping cough, has no repute as a
medicine. The remedy in question consists of
clover tea made from the blossoms of red clover,
which is infused like ordinary tea, and taken to the
extent of about a quart daily, before meals and at
bed time. A writer in the Medical News speaks of
it thus : — “ The clover tea has done wonders for us ;
my appetite is now good, my general health greatly
improved, and the wound is healing.”

New remedies seem to be the order of the day in
the United States. In the American Journal of
Pharmacy , under the name of “ diabetes weed,” a
root which has long been used in Georgia as a
remedy in dropsy is mentioned. It is recommended
in that disease and in chronic cystitis, calculous affec¬
tions, etc., and is given in the form of a tincture, one
and a half to two drachms for a dose (prepared
from 8 oz. of root to 16 oz. of sp. aether, nitrosi) or as
an infusion. The root is that of Actinomeris Helian-
thoides. In size it varies from that of a quill to
that of a knitting needle, and apparently contains
an oil and resin giving it the taste and somewhat
the smell of turpentine.

In the New York Times of January 15, attention
is called to the “Georgia Bark” tree, Pinclcneya
pubens, Mich., a cinchonaceous plant found on river
banks and in swampy localities from South

Carolina to Florida. It is a beautiful tree, 20 feet
or more in height, with large, ovate, acute, opposite
leaves, and downy cymes of purple flowers which
are radiant by the expansion of a calyx segment of
the marginal flowers. Michaux reported the bark
to be useful in intermittent fever, and his statement
has since been corroborated by Dr. Law, of Georgia,
and Dr. Fauntleroi, of Virginia. Cinchonine is
said to have been detected in it, but the action of
the bark is stated to be too slow to act as a substi¬
tute for quinine. It has the property, however, of
usually producing diaphoresis. The bark is given
in doses of 1 drachm, in the form of a powder or
decoction.

The bark of Holarrhena antidysenterica , R.Br., has
long enjoyed considerable repute in India as a tonic
and febrifuge, and especially as a remedy in dysen¬
teric affections. It was formerly imported into
Europe under the names of “ conessi bark,” “codaga
pala,” “ corte de pala,” and “ tellicherry bark.” In
1858, an alkaloid was separated from it by Mr.
Haines, and seven years after the late Dr. Stenhouse
again described the alkaloid under the name of
“ conessine.” The discovery, however, does not ap¬
pear to have led to any results. Recently this
alkaloid appears to have been again re-discovered
by an Indian chemist, Babu Ram Chundra Dutta
{Calcutta Med. News), and described by him under
the name of “ kurchicine,” from a native name of
the drug, and there appears to be some probability
now that it will be utilized in medicine. Kurchi¬
cine is said to be white, non-crystalline, and very
bitter to the taste. It is readily soluble in alcohol,
ether and dilute acids, less soluble in chloroform
and benzene. From acid solutions it is precipitated
by soda, ammonia and potash. A crystalline acetate
and tartrate have been obtained. The bark examined
yielded about 3 per cent, of the alkaloid. It has
been prescribed in the form of powder, in doses of
from 2 to 5 grains, and as a solution of the strength
of 2 grains to an ounce of water, the alkaloid being
first dissolved in a little acetic acid. It is reported
to have proved in no way inferior to the cinchona
alkaloids as anantiperiodic, and not to produce nausea,
vomiting or headache. The same alkaloid was found
to be present also in the seeds.

At the Pharmaceutical Meeting, in January, of the
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Messrs. Sadtler
and Rowland described a colouring matter obtained
from a West African wood, called “beth-a-barra.” This
colouring matter differs from chrysophanic acid
(which it resembles in appearance) in fusing at
135° C., and in containing a larger percentage of
carbon and hydrogen; but the authors suspect a
relationship to that substance, and intend to investi¬
gate the matter further.

At the same meeting Mr. F. Slocum read a paper on
absorbent cotton, and showed that it differed from
ordinary cotton wool in being perfectly free from
oily or greasy matter. ' He stated that the best mode
of preparing it is to boil the cotton with a 5 per
cent, solution of caustic potash or soda for about half
an hour, wash it, so as to remove all traces of soap,
press, and then immerse it in a 5 per cent, solution
of chlorinated lime for fifteen to twenty minutes.
The cotton is next again washed with a little water,
dipped in water acidulated with hydrochloric acid,
and afterwards boiled in a 5 per cent, solution of
alkali ; again washed, dipped in acidulated water, and
lastly washed thoroughly with pure water. The

I

February 23, 1881.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

715

washing away of the soap formed must be carefully
attended to, lest the chlorinated lime cause the deposit
of an insoluble lime soap on the fibre. The second
boiling with caustic alkali removes a non-greasy
organic matter. Professor Maisch remarked that
cotton is usually considered to be pure lignin, but
that under the treatment above described, it lost 10
per cent, of its weight, about half of which, at least,
appeared to be fat, although benzin, ether, or similar
fat solvents, removed but little from it, and improved
but very little its absorbent properties.

The chemistry of the yew seems as yet by no
means perfectly cleared up. D. Amata and A.
Capparelle have obtained from the leaves of Taxus
baccata a colourless crystalline alkaloid, giving dense
white fumes with the vapour of hydrochloric acid
and possessing a musty odour; also a volatile oil
resembling wild fennel in odour, and a colourless
crystalline non-nitrogenous principle. Both the
crystalline principles are sparingly soluble in water,
but readily in alcohol.

The possession of a little knowledge is sometimes
a dangerous thing, and the attempt to air it. is
occasionally very amusing. A striking attempt to give
unhesitatingly information of a dubious character in
answer to an inquiry appeared some time since in a
most useful natural history publication, in which it
was gravely stated, as a well known fact, that the
mandrake spoken of in the Scriptures was the Podo¬
phyllum peltatum. The facts that America was then
apparently unknown, and that podophyllum is a North
American species, were completely ignored. Again,
a London chemist, within the last few weeks, was
courteously informed by the wholesale herbalist to
whom he sent for true mandrake root ( Atropa Man-
dragord ), that his books told him it was identical
with white bryony root. This difficulty about names
is one that is constantly likely to arise wherever
vernacular names are used in prescriptions, and is
the natural result of the names of English plants
being applied to American ones.

At the drug sales this month there were observed a
quantity of Japanese star-anise, and among other un¬
common drugs, musk seed, J ava galangal, and Ceylon
cardamoms. Guaza, or Indian hemp, was offered in
unusually large quantity, and the samples of jabor-
andi leaves and Palembang benzoin were of unusually
fine quality.

The “ Cuprea ” cinchona bark is now coming over
in considerable quantities, no less than 1950 packages
having been sold at the drug sales during the first
fortnight in February, according to Messrs. Lewis
and Peat’s circular. This bark is much better than
a great deal of the so-called calisaya bark which
enters retail commerce, and contains on the average
about 1£ per cent, of quinine. It . is easily dis¬
tinguished by its remarkably smooth inner surface.

Dr. Liveing points out in the British Medical
Journal (p. 227) that among the various remedies for
ringworm the use of croton oil is very valuable
for intractable cases. Dr. Malcolm Morris, how¬
ever ( Lancet , February 12, p. 242), prefers a
milder treatment, and remembering that thymol has
an antiseptic action eight or ten times greater than
that of carbolic acid in preventing the development
of bacteria, and that chloroform is more rapidly ab¬
sorbed than alcohol, probably owing to its being
more readily taken up by the sebaceous glands, he
has tried, with success, the use'of thymol or menthol
mixed with chloroform, with oil added to hinder the

rapid evaporation of the latter and to prevent it from
acting as an irritant. The proportions used are,
thymol or menthol, \ drachm (or less when the skin
is tender or irritable) ; chloroform, 2 drachms ; olive
oil, 6 drachms. He states that in this way the
remedy is more easily absorbed and actually reaches
and destroys the fungus in the hair follicles.

In the same journal, Professor Charteris, of Glas¬
gow, speaks highly of the use ot salicin in preference
to salicylate of soda in acute rheumatism, and
remarks that the thirst and delirium which the
latter occasionally produces may be attributed to
impurities in the artificial compound, probably to
carbolic acid. He says that in some of the chief
continental hospitals pure salicin is alone employed,
and implicitly believed in for acute rheumatism.

Dr. B. W. Richardson has been further experi¬
menting on the use of ethylate of sodium, and finds it
can be used with remarkable success in the treatment
of nasal polypus, tattoo and mother-marks, warts,
and other cases. One point in connection with his
remarks has a practical interest to dispensers. He
states that chloroform must never be. added to it
to ease pain, as it may cause an explosion of some
violence. If any anodyne be used it should be an
alcoholic solution of opium. He remarks also that-
other alcohols, such as anjylic, butylic, etc., yield
corresponding compounds when treated with potas¬
sium or sodium, and that potassium ethylate is a
much keener caustic than the sodium preparation.

Mr. L. E. Sayre states (American Journal of
Pharmacy , January) that in the preparation of
pepsine it should be thoroughly dried before mixing
with sugar of milk; that if the mixture is made' while
the pepsine is moist, an incipient fermentation seems
to be induced, and the product obtained has less
digestive power than pepsine dried by itself and then
mixed with milk sugar.

It may interest some readers to know’ the reason
why medicine containing alkaline preparations
of bismuth, such as the ammonio-citrate, are apt
to blacken the patient’s tongue. Mr. J. Laurence
Hamilton, writing to the British Medical J ournal,
February 5, p. 193, states that it is probably due to
the reduction of finely powdered metallic bismuth
upon the tongue by the sugar formed in the saliva
after eating starchy matters. He found that the
saliva, taken after fasting several hours and added to
a heated alkaline solution of bismuth, caused no
blackening ; but that after eating some bread, and
then adding the saliva to the bismuth solution, a
blackening of the mixture readily occurred.

In a communication to the St. Petersburg
Technical Society, Professor Beilstein recommends
the use of sulphate of aluminium as the best
practical disinfectant. He states that the best
method of making the salt for disinfecting purposes
is to mix red clay with 4 per cent, of sulphuric acid
and to add to the mixture some carbolic acid for
destroying the smell of the matter to be disinfected.
According to this authority lime and its salts only
temporarily destroy bacteria, and under some cir¬
cumstances contribute to their development, and
sulphate of iron, even in a solution of 15 per cent.,
does not ultimately destroy bacteria, as they revive

when placed in a suitable medium.

Mr. F. L. Slocum points out, in the American
Journal of Pharmacy, that lor the purpose of
etching on glass a mixture of an equal bulk of sul¬
phate of barium and ammonium fluoride, -moistened

716 the PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 26, 1881.

with water and gently heated, acts much better
than liquid hydrofluoric acid. The latter leaves a
smooth surface and fluoride of ammonium alone a
slightly rough one, while the above mixture pro¬
duces a very rough, opaque surface.

The domain of physics continues to yield a rich
harvest of discoveries. Close upon the publication
of Professor Bell’s interesting investigation as to the
musical sounds produced by the action of an inter¬
mittent beam of light upon various solid bodies comes
a paper read before the Royal Society, by Professor
Tyndall, on the action of an intermittent beam of
radiant heat upon gaseous matter. The apparatus
used by Professor Tyndall consisted of a source of
heat, silvered mirrors for concentrating the rays, and
a circle of sheet zinc, provided first with radial slits
and afterwards with teeth, mounted vertically on a
whirling table, so that it could be made to rotate
rapidly across the beam of radiant heat, near the
focus. The passage of the beam through the slits
in the rotating disk produced the desired inter-
mittence, while a flask containing the gas or vapour
to be examined, placed immediately behind the
rotating disk, received the shocks of the beam.
From the flask a tube of indiarubber, ending in a
tapering one of ivory or boxwood, led to the ear,
which was thus rendered highly sensitive to any
sound generated within the flask. Upon placing
a small quantity of sulphuric ether, formic ether
or acetic ether in a bulbous flask (a test tube
answers very well) and allowing the upper part to
become filled with the vapour, and then placing the
flask behind the rotating disk in the path of the
intermittent beam a loud musical tone was produced.
These sounds were loud in proportion to the
absorbent property of the vapour, highly diather-
mous bodies, such as the vapour of chloroform and
carbon bisulphide producing only faint sounds. The
sounds were only produced when the intermittent
beam fell upon the vapour, and when the beam was
directed so as to fall on the liquid at the bottom of the
flask the sound ceased. More than this, when an ex¬
tremely thin layer of even an athermous liquid was
- placed between the rotating disk and a flask containing
vapour the power to produce sound was intercepted by
it. Gases were found to behave similarly. Dry air,
oxygen and hydrogen yielded a very feeble musical
note. When dry air was displaced by carbonic acid
gas the sound became far louder than that obtained
from any of the elementary gases. Nitrous oxide
gave a sound more forcible still, and when this was
displaced by olefiant gas “ it gave birth to a musical
note, which when the beam was in good condition
and the bulb well chosen seemed as loud as that of
an ordinary organ pipe.” Gaseous ammonia also
gave a loud note . It would appear that rigidity in
the walls of the containing vessel is a sine qud non.
A soap bubble blown with nitrous oxide, or olefiant
gas, and exposed to the intermittent beam, produced
no sound no matter how its size might be raised.
The pulses obviously expended themselves upon the
flexible envelope, which transferred them to the air
outside. That there was actual pulsation under
these conditions was proved by the behaviour of a
sensitive flame in the presence of such a bubble.
The sources of heat used by Professor Tyndall were
various. Commencing with a Siemens lamp con¬
nected with a dynamo machine the apparatus was
gradually improved until satisfactory results were
produced with a candle-flame, a red hot coal and a

poker at a temperature just below red heat. Professor
Tyndall also tried to extract sounds from the vapours
of perfumes, which in 1861 he had proved to be ab¬
sorbent of radiant heat. He limits his remarks to
the vapours of patchouli and cassia, the former of
which exercises a measured absorption equal to 30
and the latter equal to 109. Placed in flasks and
slightly warmed, sounds were obtained from both
these substances, but the sound from cassia was
much louder than that from patchouli.

The contents of the British Pharmacopoeia should
be at the fingers’ ends of every dispenser, but
difficulties occasionally present themselves which
require that other works be referred to, and a few that
may be advantageously consulted will be briefly
mentioned here. They will frequently be found
valuable in determining the composition of a pre¬
paration for which there is no official formula in
our national pharmacopoeia.

One of the most useful is Squire’s ‘ Companion/
which should occupy a place second only to that of
the Pharmacopoeia. In addition, Gray’s ‘ Supplement ’
will be found worthy of a place, which the present
edition may occupy until the appearance of another,
now much needed. Beasley’s ‘Manuals’ are also
very valuable and furnish a large amount of infor¬
mation difficult to find elsewhere.

Perhaps next in point of usefulness may be
mentioned Jourdan’s ‘Pharmacopoeia Universalis/
as containing a vast amount of useful matter
relating to foreign pharmacopoeias. When the
inquiry relates to a French preparation, Dorvault’s
‘ L’Officine ’ is without a rival.

Germany is well represented by Hager’s ‘ Phar-
maceutische Praxis/ which may be considered the
universal pharmacopoeia of Germany. Almost every
variety of prescription will be found in it. Many
others might, of course, be added, but it is scarcely
necessary to go beyond those mentioned, which
claim a place in every pharmacy, and in their value
for reference and occasional study will more than
repay the moderate outlay required for their purchase.

Syr. gummi, No. 500, is a case in point. It
originates in the French formula, which will be
found in Dorvault under the head of “Syr. Gummi.”
As the preparation cannot be made extemporaneously
according to the French formula, its place may be
advantageously supplied by equal parts of syr. simp,
and mucil. acacise, and these in fact will represent
the original. See Dispensing Memoranda, No. 276,
series 3, vol. ix., p. 869, and “The Month,” p. 878.
The syr. gummi rub. (Squire) should not be used,
as it is a preparation made from a eucalyptus gum,
an altogether different substance.

The appearance of No. 501 will very much depend
on the manner in which it is prepared. Without the
addition of mucilage an elegant mixture cannot be
prepared; but if the quinine be first powdered, then
well mixed with a little mucilage and largely diluted
with water before the addition of the other ingre¬
dients, a satisfactory mixture will result, and one
which will admit of the ingredients being given in
accurately divided doses.

“ Discipulus” should, when asking for information,
have stated his own results or any difficulty that
may have occurred when he dispensed the pre¬
scription. If anything special presented itself he
should have stated the character of it, or if it had
previously been dispensed different in appearance
from anything he could produce. Fuller information

• •

February 26, 1881.1 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 7 17

on the part of those who seek assistance from. the
readers of these pages would be more interesting and
more valuable.

It is sometimes difficult to determine what is ex¬
actly meant when a customer says that a mixture was
perfectly clear. The prescription, No. 502, cannot
be dispensed so as to form a perfectly clear mixture.
The tinct. quinse alone will give turbidity to the
water, and the same applies to the sp. am. arom., and
this is not diminished on the addition of the iodide
and bromide of potassium. The casual statement of
a customer cannot always be relied on as correct ;
there may be no intention to mislead, but the person
may not have cultivated a habit of accurate obser¬
vation. In this mixture a little mucilage may with
advantage be added, but under no circumstances
should the precipitate be filtered out of a mixture
without the special directions of the writer.

It is most probable that the writer of the prescrip¬
tion given by Mr. Blanchard* No. 503, intended it to
i be made up in the exact proportion as written. The
ung. veratriae, B.P., is 1 in 60, but the U. S. formula
is 1 in 25, and Hager, in his ‘Praxis,’ gives formulae
for veratria ointments of three different degrees of
strength, the strongest being 1 in 30. Supposing in
this prescription all the sp. vini rect. to be combined
with the adeps, the proportion would be 1 in 30, and
consequently weaker than that of the U. S. Pharma¬
copoeia.

The formula for tr. opii amnion. , Squire, is only a
copy of that of the British Pharmacopoeia. It would
be better, therefore, to refer to the B.P. with respect to
j a B.P. formula. The strong sol. of ammon. referred
to as. one of the ingredients is the liq. ammon. fortior,
which will be found under that term, and rendered
into English by the name strong solution of ammonia.
There should be no doubt in the mind of anyone who
claims to have a knowledge of his Pharmacopoeia as
to its meaning. It is clear and definite ; nothing can
be more so. Liq. ammon. fort, should certainly be
used. The meaning of the observation in Squire,
“ best given in the form liq. ammon.,” is that when
ammonia is given alone as a medicine, it is best given
as liq. ammon., — that is, diluted, — and in the tr. opii
ammon. the liq. am. fort, is more diluted than in the
liq. ammon., B.P. A reference to the ammonias of
the Pharmacopoeia should have rendered unnecessary
the inquiry No. 504.

There is no published formula for liq. ammon.
valer., but this preparation was discussed in the
Journals of February and March, 1873, and on page
. 697 is given a formula from Ferrand’s ‘Aide Memoire,5
which may be referred to. Hager’s ‘Praxis’ also gives a
formula for the same preparation, containing 20 per
cent, of valerianate of ammonia. A liq. amnion,
valer. was several years ago prepared and introduced
by Mr. Bastick, and there is every reason to suppose
that the writer intended this preparation to be used.
Of course tr. valer. am. may be intended; but as a
preparation named liq. ammon. valer. exists, it
would be proper in this case that it should be used
in prescription No. 506. Of course, as has been
remarked on previous occasions, the reference may
be to some private or hospital preparation, which
was in the mind of the writer when he penned the
prescription. There is represented here one of the
many difficulties which surround a dispenser and
which require his undivided attention, assisted by
practical experience, whilst engaged in dispensing
physicians’ prescriptions.

USES OF OIL OF ERGOT IN THERAPEUTICS*

The fixed oil which occasions so much trouble in
powdering ergot receives the following commendation
from Dr. Shoemaker, in the Medical Bulletin

“ The oil of ergot I have used for the past nine months
with the most decided success in a number ot cutaneous
diseases.

“ Since using this preparation I have carefully searched
the various therapeutic works and the different journals,
and have failed to find any one who has previously made
any observation on its external use.

“ The oil of ergot has long been known as one of the
principal ingredients of the ergot as found in the labora¬
tory of the chemist. It is the. waste material that has
been left after preparing the various ergot preparations.

If specially prepared, it can be made by the addition of
benzine to ergot by the process of displacement, and
afterward allowing the benzine to slowly evaporate.
When obtained from recently collected ergot it has a
reddish-brown colour, and about thirty-five parts of it
are present in every one hundred parts of ergot. It is a
moderately thick, non-drying fixed oil, and contains resin,
cholesterin, and lactic acid. It has a slight odour of
herring pickle, an acrid taste, and is soluble in both
alcohol and alkaline solutions. As a local remedy this
refuse oil is much cheaper than any of the other oils and
fats, and contains additional ingredients that make it a
most important therapeutic agent. When applied to the
skin it has both protective, soothing and astringent
action, and by its absorption frequently assists in
nourishing the diseased parts. It is a most useful
application in eczema of the lips, in which the surface
is tumefied and fissured, and readily bleeds upon the
slightest movement of the parts. It is also equally
efficacious in cracked nipple. - Pieces of cotton saturated
with oil of ergot, and placed over the lips or nipples for a
short time each evening before retiring generally arrest
the diseased state.

“Few remedies are so efficacious as oil of ergot in
checking the formation of scales in seborrhoea of the
scalp and other hairy parts of the body. If there be an
accumulation of scales and sebum upon the scalp, and
the hair be pasted down to its surface, the free use of oil
of ergot, either alone or combined with alcohol, will
bring about the most happy result. The oil of ergot is. to
be preferred for application in seborrhoea of the hairy
parts to either olive, almond, or any of the bland oils,
both for its cheapness and for its mechanical activity
upon the diseased state of the scalp. It not only over¬
comes mechanically the condition of the parts, but like¬
wise arrests by its soothing and astringent action the dry
and lustreless state of the hairs and the deadened ap¬
pearance of the scalp. This twofold purpose that the
oil of ergot fulfils makes it superior to all the other
medicinal preparations that .are used for seborrhoea sicca
at the present time. The oil of ergot is also of great
service as a local application in erysipelas. Brushing
frequently the surface in this disease with oil of ergot
relieves by its soothing and astringent action the tender
arid hot sensation, and causes the puffy, dry and glazed
appearance to abate. In rosacea, after depleting the
•parts, the application of the oil of ergot will soothe the
part, constringe the blood vessels, and thus modify very
much the diseased action.

“It is also efficacious in various affections of the mucous
membrane. In catarrh of the nasal passages, applied by
means of a probang, the results were most beneficial. It
acted with great promptness in ulceration of the cervix.
In deet, some marked cures had followed by injecting it
far back in the urethra. The oil of ergot made into an
emulsion, and used in both gonorrhoea and leucprrhcea
has been most successful in a number of instances.”

* From the Druggists ’ Circulir and Chemical Gazette,
January, 1881,

718

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 26, 1881.

THE PREPARATION OF CATGUT FOR LIGATURES.

BY PROFESSOR LISTER.

The following passage is taken from a lecture on the
Catgut Ligature, recently delivered before the Clinical
Society of London:* —

“Catgut, as you are doubtless all aware, is prepared from
the small intestine of the sheep. The gut is treated in
-what seems an exceedingly rude manner for so delicate a
structure. It is scraped with some blunt instrument,
such as the back of a knife, over a board ; and by this
means, as the people express it, the dirt is scraped out.
That which these people call the dirt is the exquisite and
complicated structure of the intestinal mucous membrane.
But while the mucous membrane is scraped out from
within there is also scraped off from without the circular
coat of muscular fibres. The result comes to be that the
intestine is converted into a comparatively unsubstantial
material, consisting of two parts or bands, one more
slender than the other. When the mesentery is stripped
off by a butcher, the peritoneal covering of the gut shrinks
into a narrow strip; and this, with some longitudinal
fibres, constitutes the more slender of the two parts to
which the intestine is reduced by this process of scraping.
The other part is the essential material from which the
catgut is prepared, and this is neither more nor less than
the submucous cellular coat of the intestine. When I
first visited a catgut manufactory I was astonished to find
that after this scraping process the intestine could be
blown up still as a continuous tube, as you see can be
done with this specimen, which has been treated in the
manner I have described. This exquisitely delicate struc¬
ture is a beautiful anatomical preparation of the submucous
cellular tissue, though made in so rude a fashion. This
coat of the intestine which, in the sheep, has this extra¬
ordinary toughness, is the material out of which the cat¬
gut is prepared. Eor what the manufacturer calls the
‘ ones ’ — the thicker form of ordinary catgut — all that is
done is to twist the entire tube by means of a wheel like
a rope in a rope-walk, up to a considerable degree of tight¬
ness, and then allow it to dry. It is afterwards exposed
to the fumes of burning sulphur, and for some more special
purposes it is bleached by the action of potash. But the
essential thing is the twisting and drying; it can be pre¬
pared without the use of sulphur, as well as without the
use of potash. Some specimens which I have here are
prepared by water only, without the use of any other in¬
gredient. This exceedingly beautiful structure, as I think
we must consider it, as fine as a horsehair, is prepared
without any reagent whatever ; nothing but the animal
tissue twisted and dried. For the finer kinds the tube of
the submucous coat is split up by means of razor blades
more or less numerous, according to the degree of splitting
required, connected with a conical piece of wood, which
is pushed along the tube.

“ Such, then, is the material with which we have to
deal. The first of the more recent experiments which I
performed with reference to it was made with a view of
ascertaining, if possible, what part the water played in
the ingredients used for the preparation by our old
method. If I steep unprepared catgut in a mixture of
dry carbolic acid and oil, however long it be so steeped,
although it will be, of course, abundantly aseptic, it
remains utterly unfit for the purposes of the surgeon ; a
knot upon it would still slip in a wound. But if, instead
of using carbolic acid in the crystallized state, we use car¬
bolic acid which has been liquefied by the addition of a
little water, we get in course of time a properly prepared
catgut. I wished to ascertain how much water was re¬
quired. The carbolic acid would enable oil to dissolve a
certain amount of water; would that amount of water be
sufficient which carbolic acid enables oil to dissolve ?
Accordingly I prepared jars of carbolic oil, some contain¬
ing the full amount of water we had used hitherto, some
a smaller quantity, and some none at all, and placed in

* Lancet, February 5.

them portions of the same hank of catgut. In due time I
proceeded to examine the result, by taking portions of gut
and putting them into warm water, and leaving them for
a certain time in order to ascertain how the knots would
hold. To my great surprise I found that which had been
steeping in the carbolic acid and oil without any water
was just as good as that which was in the carbolic acid
and oil with the water. This was contrary to distinct pre¬
vious experience. Reflecting on the matter, I saw that
the only possible explanation was that the catgut was
already, so to speak, prepared before I put it into the
liquid. Now it so happened that the catgut I had used
was several years old ; and it turned out that mere age
of the catgut prepares it : that in proportion to its age
it is rendered less liable to be softened by water or by
blood serum, and a knot tied upon it will hold better.
And thus I had, for the first time I believe, scientific
evidence of the truth of what is popularly spoken of as the
‘seasoning’ of various articles made of animal products.

I asked a person who sold violin strings if there was any
result from keeping the strings a long time. He said, no ;
the only result he knew was that they would probably get
rotten. But it so happened just about that time there
came an old fiddler to amuse the patients at the Royal
Infirmary of Edinburgh at Christmas-time. The weather
wa3 wet, and he said that his fiddle would not work pro¬
perly because the fiddle-strings were not properly seasoned.
So that he was aware that fiddle-strings, which, of course,
are catgut, are liable to seasoning, and require it. This was
to me a very important fact, because it served to explain
the success that I had had in my earlier experience with
the catgut before I knew at all the proper mode of pre- .
paring it. I look back with horror at some of my early
procedures with catgut. I have operated, for example,
on an irreducible ventral hernia, opened the sac, divided
the adhesions, returned the protruding intestines, stitched
up the mouth of the sac with the catgut, and then applied
stitches at considerable intervals in the skin. All went
perfectly well : but the mode of preparation that I then
used, if I had worked with catgut recently made, must
have ended in utter disaster; the knots must have slipped
in a few hours, and the intestines must have been pro¬
truded through the wound.

“ I need hardly say that this mode of preparation, inter¬
esting though it is, would not be satisfactory ; it would only
have, in a more aggravated form, the inconvenience of
the extremely long period which our old method requires ;
and, besides that, it by no means provides all the condi¬
tions that must be fulfilled in order to provide a perfectly
satisfactory state of the catgut for surgical purposes.
These conditions I will now mention. In the first place
I have spoken of a short period of preparation. This is
very desirable. Then it is essential that the catgut should
have proper strength, so as to bear any reasonable strain
that the human hands can put upon it in the thicker forms :
as when used, for instance, in such cases as the circum¬
ferential ligature of the thyroid vessels, in the removal of a
goitre, or for securing the pedicle in ovariotomy. And it is
not sufficient that it should be strong to start with ; it is
easy to get catgut strong in the dry state ; it is necessary
that it should be strong after steeping in blood serum for
a while. Take, for example, the case of tumour of the thy¬
roid. I passed in that case six ligatures ; and in a former
case where the tumour was larger I thought it prudent to
pass as many as eight, so as to subdivide more the mass
that had to be tied ; but it is not convenient to tie each
of these ligatures as soon as it is passed ; and the process
of passing takes a considerable time. Now it would be a
very sad thing if the residence of the catgut among the
tissues soaked with serum for a few minutes, or even a
quarter of an hour, should render the catgut so soft that
it should give way when we put the strain of the hands
upon it. That, then, is another point that is essential, if
the material is to be useful for all the purposes for which
it is desired. Then, again, it is necessary that a knot tied
upon it should hold with absolute security, not merely in

HI

February 88, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

hr

4

19

the first instance, but after soaking for an unlimited time
in blood serum. It is further needful that it should not
be too rigid ; for, as we shall see immediately, it is pos¬
sible for catgut to be over-prepared, in which case it
may remain almost like a piece of wire among the tissues,
and ultimately, perhaps, come away by suppuration m
consequence of the mechanical irritation which it produces.
But while the animal juices must be able to soften it suf¬
ficiently to render it mechanically unirritating, yet, on
the other hand, it will not do for it to be too rapidly dis¬
posed of by absorption. If it is to do duty for the ligature
of an artery in its continuity in the immediate vicinity of
some large branch, it must remain for a considerable time
of good strength, unabsorbed, and when it is at length
absorbed it is desirable that it should be removed in such
a manner that while it is reduced in thickness it should
still, as long as any of it remains, retain its tenacity.

“ Now these are a series of conditions which I. assure
you it is not easy to fufil completely. I have in various ex
periments complied with some of them easily enough, but
failed in others. Sometimes I have succeeded with all but
one, and one has baffled me. I have used various mate¬
rials in experiments, as you will naturally suppose. One
substance that suggested itself was tannic acid, so as to
convert the fibrous tissue of the catgut into leather. .1
succeeded well enough in some respects with tannic acid
applied in different ways, but in one respect I did not
succeed. I have not obtained by means of tannic acid a
kind of catgut that is not too speedily absorbed. Even a
piece of kid leather, cut into a suitable shape for sutures,
and rendered aseptic, became too rapidly absorbed.
Chromic acid was another agent which I very naturally
tried on account of its well known effect in hardening
tissues. Chromic acid alone does not work very well, but
I found that the addition of some other substance to it
aided its action very greatly. By adding, for instance, to
the watery solution a little glycerine, which produces a
reducing action on the chromic acid, we get a different
sort of liquid, which acts much more energetically on the
catgut. I was highly delighted with the results of the
action of this mixture of chromic acid and glycerine ; and
just about this time it happened that Mr. Oliver Pember¬
ton, of Birmingham, applied to me for a piece of catgut
for the purpose of ligaturing the external iliac artery in a
remarkable case of three aneurisms in one limb— two in
the femoral, and one in the popliteal. I thought I could
not do better than send him a piece of my recently pre
pared chromic catgut. I did so ; and a month afterwards
he wrote to me saying that nothing could be more, satis¬
factory than the result. He had operated antiseptically ;
the wound had united by first intention, and so far as the
case could go well, all had gone well. There was, indeed,
gangrene of the lower part of the leg, which Mr. Pem¬
berton had predicted would occur in consequence of the
existence of four successive obstructions in the course of
the arterial channel— viz., the ligature and three solid
aneurisms ; but the case, under proper management, was
doing well. Four weeks later, however, MP. Pemberton
wrote to me again, telling me that soon after his last
report the patient had begun to show signs of suppuration
about the seat of the wound. After a while the abscess
opened in the cicatrix, and one day the ligature which he
had placed on the artery was found lying unaltered on the
granulations.* It is now on one of the cards before you

_ an ovef -prepared ligature, which had. come away, rigid

and wirelike, making its way out, as a piece of glass might
have done by mechanical irritation. This opened my eyes
for the first time to the possibility of having catgut over-
' prepared. This over-preparation by means of chromic
acid is, I understand, to be found illustrated in a laige
German school at the present time. I have been told by
an American physician, who has lately been in London
after spending some time at that school, that the catgut
ligatures come away from all woupds to which they are
* For an account ofthis case by Mr. Pemberton, see the
Lancet , August 4, 1877.

applied in that clinique. They count the ligatures as
they put them on, and invariably see them all before the
case is done with. The catgut has been over-prepared.

“ It is by means of chromic acid, however, that I have
at length arrived at a result which appears to satisfy all
our conditions. But before speaking of the new method
I wish to say a few words more with regard to the old.
To what is it that it owes its virtue ? In this, bottle is
some catgut which has been nearly ten months in our old
preparing liquid — namely, 1 part of carbolic acid which has
been liquefied by means of water to five parts of olive oil.

In this other vessel, again, we. have catgut which has
been the same length of time in a solution of carbolic
acid in water. Water will only take up one-twentieth
part of its weight of carbolic acid; but the. effect pro¬
duced upon the catgut by the watery solution is very
much greater than that brought about by the four times
stronger oily solution. In the former case, as you can see,
the catgut is almost black — a sort of purple-black while
the other is comparatively pale, very little altered from
its original colour. This circumstance shows two things.
In the first place, the effect of the watery solution of
carbolic upon the catgut explains the efficacy of the water
in our old method. It is the watery solution of carbolic
acid in the liquid of the old method that is the effective
agent. But while that is the case, when the watery solu¬
tion is mixed with oil, the fact that it is so .mixed limits
and checks its operation. If catgut is kept in the watery
solution only, there seems to be no limit to the degree of
continuous preparation of the gut, so that it becomes more
and more dark in colour, and more and more difficult of
absorption by the tissues. It is otherwise when the
watery solution is blended with the oil. Though the process
does go on for many months, there comes a time when it
comes to a standstill. You need not fear that catgut pre¬
pared by the old plan is ever over-prepared. There is a
specimen on the table which at the end of twelve years is
as limp, after steeping in blood serum, as it would have been
at the end of a single year. Therefore, we possess in the
carbolic oil a means of checking any mode of preparation
that we may adopt, keeping it from that time forward not
materially further prepared, while at the same time the
large proportion of the carbolic acid to the oil (one to five)
ensures the catgut being maintained perfectly aseptic.

“ The method of preparation which I have now the
honour to bring before you is the following I dissolve 1
part of chromic acid in 4000 parts of distilled water, and
add to the solution 200 parts of pure carbolic acid, or abso¬
lute phenol. In other words, I use a 1 to 20 watery solu¬
tion of carbolic acid, only that the carbolic acid is dissolved
not in pure water, but in an exceedingly dilute solution
of chromic acid. But minute as is the quantity of the
chromic acid, it exerts, when in conjunction with carbolic
acid, a most powerful effect upon the gut. The first effect
of the addition of the carbolic acid to the chromic solu¬
tion is to change its pale yellow colour to a rich golden
tint But if the liquid is allowed to stand without the
introduction of the catgut, it changes in the course of a
few hours to a dingy reddish-brown, in consequence of
some mutual reaction of the two acids, and a considerable
amount of grey precipitate is formed. If, !\oyev^ ^at*
gut about equal in weight to the carbolic, acid is added as
foon as the ingredients are mixed, the liquid retains its
brightness, and the only change observed is a gradual
diminution of the depth of the yellow colour ; the. precipi¬
tate, which I presume still occurs, taking place into the
substance of the catgut. As soon, therefore, as the pre¬
paring liquid has been made, catgut equal in weight to
the phenol is introduced into it. If you have too large a
proportion of catgut, it will not be sufficiently prepared ,
if you have too small quantity, it may run the risk of
being over-prepared. At the end of forty-eight hours
catgut steeped in such a solution is sufficiently prepare .
It is then taken out of the solution, and dried and when
dry is placed in 1 to 5 carbolic oil ; it is then fit for . use.
I have here a sample of catgut prepared by this method.

720

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February j(, issi.

Although it has been steeped in warm blood serum since
this morning at 11 o’clock, it is still translucent and firm,
without being rigid, and a reef knot tied upon it holds
with the most perfect security.

“ The strength of the catgut depends upon different
circumstances. In the first place, sheep differ as to the
strength of their intestines, and the catgut-maker, if he
understands his business, will insist upon having his raw
material of the proper kind. In the next place, the in¬
testines must not be allowed to putrefy ; they must be
taken fresh. For these things you must, of course, rely
upon the maker of the catgut. In the next place, the
liquid causes a certain amount of softening of the catgut,
and if it is introduced in loose hanks, this will tend to
produce a little uncoiling of the twisted cord, and a still
greater degree of uncoiling will take place during drying.
It is of very great importance that this should not occur,
because it involves weakening of the thread, and that in
different degrees in different parts, and this may lead to
the gut giving way when you subject it to a strain. The
catgut, then, should be prepared on the stretch, both when
it is put to soak and when it is put to dry.

“ I need not enter into the mode in which this can be
done by the manufacturer. I may only say this, that the
surgeon who wishes to prepare it himself may do it in
different ways. For instance, he may take two large
test-tubes, one a little larger than the other, and he may
wind the catgut on the smaller tube, fixing one end by
sealing-wax, winding it round, and then bringing it up
again, and fixing the other end with sealing-wax at a
higher level than the liquid will come to, putting suffi¬
cient liquid into the larger test-tube, and introducing the
smaller test-tube with the catgut wound round it, with a
little shot to keep it down in the liquid. After forty-
eight hours he takes out the smaller test-tube and leaves
it till the catgut is completely dry. I merely mention
this as an illustration, and also as furnishing a hint to
some surgeons in private practice who may desire to pre¬
pare the catgut themselves. Or a couple of gallipots, one
larger than the other, will do just as well. But, as I have
already said, the principal uncoiling takes place during
drying, and for all ordinary purposes a sufficiently good
article is got by putting the catgut loose into the liquid,
and putting it to dry on the stretch, by tying the ends of
each hank to two fixed points in a room.

“ In the dry state, catgut prepared by this method is as
strong as need be. As to strength in the condition after
steeping in blood serum, I confess it is only this very day
that I have obtained evidence that catgut thus prepared is
really all that we can desire in that respect. The catgut
of the hank from which this specimen was taken mea¬
sured in the dry state 2f hundredths of an inch in
diameter, and broke at 13 pounds 6 ounces. I have found
by experiment that 10 pounds is the utmost strain that
my arms are able to put upon a cord. Thirteen pounds
6 ounces, then, is amply sufficient; while, at the same
time, the catgut is not at all too large for going into the
eye of an aneurism needle. Having obtained the other
day some fresh blood of a cow from the slaughter-house,
I took some of the serum to-day and put two pieces of
this same hamc of catgut in the serum, and I placed it in
a stoppered bottle in a warm box, at a temperature of
98° F. After more than half an hour I tested the
breaking strain (I must not stop to explain how that is
done), and I found that the breaking strain of the same
catgut, which in the dry state had broken at 13. pounds
6 ounces, was 11 pounds 4 ounces; that is though suppled
by the serum, it had only lost in strength 2 pounds out of
13 pounds. I think that is really all that can be desired.”

THE COFFEE LEAF DISEASE.

Two interesting papers on this subject were read at the
last meeting (3rd inst.), of the Linnean Society, the one
treating of its ravages in India, the other its nature and
spread in South America.

In the first Mr. William Bidio, in a letter to Mr. J.

Cameron, of the Botanic Gardens, Bangalore, refers to the
Coorg country situated in the Western Ghats where
European enterprise in coffee has been wholly developed
within the last twenty-five years, and where no disease
was observed till four or five years ago. The author
mentions that the disease appears to have been imported
from Ceylon, by way of Chickmoorloor, a district of
Mysore, 60 miles distant from Coorg. It seems worst in
impoverished exposed fields, and least where there is
shade and rich soil. A small red insect has been noticed
feeding over leaves covered with the pest, but what the
insect’s relation is to the disease, as yet remains undeter¬
mined. Plants grown from Ceylon seed suffer most,
while those trees of Coorg origin and growth are least
affected. A system of “renovation fitting” has been
successfully tried ; pits being dug at short intervals,
wherein after judicious pruning all the affected leaves are
buried, and this precaution seems to check the spread of
the disease, particularly among the Coorg coffee trees.

In the second paper, Dr. M. C. Cooke, describes and
summarizes all the data extant up to the present time of
the progress of coffee disease in South America. Planta¬
tions in Venezuela, Costa Bica, Bogota, Caraccas, and
Jamaica have been affected. He discourses on the nature
of the blight and is of opinion that the disease is a com¬
plicated one, being himself as yet unprepared to affirm
that either the Stptoria, the Sphcerella , or the Stilbum,
(three-so called different kinds of fungi), or all together, is
the true cause of the disease. At the same time he thinks
it possible that none of these forms of fungus are autono¬
mous and that all may be related to each other as forms
or conditions of the same fungus of which Sphcerella is
the highest and most perfect manifestation. He observes
that the discoloured spots may be without any visible
fungus upon them, and exhibit no trace of mycelium in
the tissues, or they may nourish a Septoria as seen by the
Rev. M. J. Berkeley, or a Sphcerella as found by himself,
or finally a species of Stilbum as seen by Professor Saeux
and himself. Further the Stilbum may occur on the same
spot as the perithecia of the Sphcerella, on both perithecia
and Stilbum, the one without the other may be found
occupying different spots. Dr. Cooke admits that alto¬
gether it is difficult satisfactorily to answer the question :
— What is the cause of this form of coffee disease ?

REPORT ON SOXHLET’S RESEARCHES ON THE
QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF THE SUGARS.*

BY C. H. HUTCHINSON, F.C.S.

The following is a brief rhumS of some important and
interesting work which Soxhlet published early last
year ;f since the examination of the reducing equivalents
of the various lands of sugar for alkaline, copper and
mercurial solutions has been critically performed, and
the results show us how much or rather how little abso¬
lute truth is represented by the ordinary method of
quantitative estimation, I have deemed the subject
worth consideration.

In order to eliminate any possible error arising from
the use of impure substances considerable pains were
taken to produce pure products, the methods are here
appended as of value for themselves as well as giving an
idea of the trustworthiness of the results of the work.
We will first consider the preparation of the stigars.

Invert Sugar. — The best refined sugar of commerce,
purified by crystallizing three times from water and
dried in vacuo over calcium chloride at a temperature
of 50° C. was used as the source of inverted sugar. Solu¬
tions containing 1 or ^ per cent, of the inverted sugar were
made by dissolving 9 '5 grams of this cane sugar in 700 c.c.
water, acidifying with 100 c.c. of a one-fifth normal solu¬
tion of hydrochloric acid, and heating for thirty minutes

# * Read before the School of Pharmacy Students’ Associ-
tion, January 27, 1881.
t Jour. pr. Chem., [2], 21, 227—317.

February s«, 1881.1 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

721

to a temperature of 100° C. on the water-bath, the
solution being then exactly neutralized with a titrated soda
solution and water added to 1000 c.c. or 2000 c.c. respect¬
ively. The change effected by this treatment is influenced
by a longer duration of the heating, or the employment of
a larger quantity of acid, for 0*475 gram cane sugar treated
| in the above manner is equivalent to 101*2 c.c. of
Fehling’s undiluted copper solution ; but if heated three
times as long only 100*5 c.c. are reduced, and if three
times the amount of acid be added, and the heat con¬
tinued for ninety minutes the reducing power is decreased
to 100 *2 c.Ci

Grape Sugar , Dextrose. — When such a quantity as a
kilogram of pure grape sugar is required, it is necessary
first to provide oneself with a small quantity of the
anhydrous substance, with which to start the crystalliza¬
tion of the larger amounts. If this cannot otherwise be
obtained it may be made by introducing 160 grams of
powdered pure cane sugar, in four or five portions, into a
mixture of 500 c.c. of 90 per cent, alcohol with 20 c.c. of
concentrated hydrochloric acid heated to 45° C. If
thoroughly stirred this amount will be inverted in two
hours. It is then left to crystallize, and as soon as the
first few crystals appear (after six or eight days) the
solution should be frequently shaken, by which means a
fair crop will be obtained after one or two days more.
The larger quantity is made by dissolving 4 kilograms of
| powdered cane sugar (the refined sugar of commerce) in
a mixture of 12 litres of 90 per cent, alcohol, with 480
c.c. of concentrated hydrochloric acid, heated to 45° on
the water -bath, the mixture being continuously stirred,
and the temperature kept from rising much above 50°.

' In two hours this amount of sugar will be dissolved and
inverted, yielding an almost colourless solution, which,
when cold, should be brought to crystallize by intro¬
ducing a small quantity of the previously prepared anhy¬
drous dextrose. If frequently stirred the separation of
the dextrose takes place in a few hours, as a finely
divided crystalline powder, and after twelve hours
70 to 80 per cent, of the obtainable portion will have
crystallized out; after standing twenty-four hours
longer the crystals may be separated from the liquid
by means of the filter pump, and should be washed with
90 per cent, alcohol until all traces of hydrochloric acid
have been removed, when the mass is finally once washed
with absolute alcohol and dried at a low temperature.
The sugar thus obtained must, however, be purified by
recrystallization ; this cannot be more satisfactorily ac¬
complished than by means of methylic alcohol (the methylic
alcohol of commerce should be purified by mixing with 20
per cent, of water and distilling from a water-bath, re¬
taining only the first four-fifths of the distillate which
has, as a rule, a specific gravity of 0*810 at 20 Q), in
which it is boiled five to ten minutes ; the liquid i3 then
filtered and quickly cooled, when it immediately becomes
opalescent from the separation of crystalline needles of
dextrose, a separation which is greatly accelerated by
shaking, the principal quantity being obtained in twenty-
four hours. By allowing hot saturated solutions to cool
slowly, especially when the specific gravity of the
methylic alcohol used has been brought to 0*825 at 20°
by the addition of about one-twentieth of its volume of
water, large crystals of anhydrous dextrose may be ob¬
tained, whose sparkling surfaces have great beauty,
resembling the finest crystallized cane sugar. Com¬
mercial impure dextrose is soluble in nearly all pro¬
portions in boiling methylic alcohol, but the author
of the paper states that he has not been able to get
these to crystallize.

Milk Sugar.— The pure milk sugar of commerce, re¬
crystallized four times, and dried at 100°, was the
preparation used.

Lactose. — This variety of sugar was obtained by the
action of a mineral acid on milk sugar, the details of the
operation being : 1 kilogram of milk sugar was boiled for
six hours with 4 litres of 5 per cent, sulphuric acid. The |

clear brown solution thus obtained was neutralized with
barium hydrate (whilst the liquid was still acid, barium
was found to be in solution. This is due to the formation
during boiling of levulic acid, whose barium salts have
an acid reaction).* The liquid filtered from barium sul¬
phate was concentrated, and divided into parts, some of
which were further evaporated, so as to produce syrups
of various strengths; but even after standing six weeks
in no case had crystallization commenced. The addition,
however, of a little hydrous dextrose to a small portion
caused this to solidify, after two days, to a yellow pasty
mass, and by adding small portions of this to the chief
quantities they were all caused to solidify. The separa¬
tion of the crystals thus produced from the syrup by
means of pressure was not possible until sufficient 80 per
cent, alcohol had been added to bring the whole to the
consistence of cream. By repeating this process, in all
four times, a cake of snow-white lactose was obtained,
the further purification of which may be effected by re¬
crystallizing either from 70 per cent, alcohol or from
methylic alcohol. In the first case, boiling 70 per cent,
alcohol is saturated with powdered lactose, filtered, and
allowed to stand, when after a few days a crust of fairly
well defined crystals (prismatic columns and tables) will
appear. In the second case, 100 grams lactose are dis¬
solved in 100 to 120 c.c. of water on the water-bath,
350 c.c. methylic alcohol added, and the whole boiled and
filtered whilst hot. Crystalline needles begin to be pre¬
cipitated as soon as the solution cools, and the separation
may be much accelerated by frequent shaking. This
method does not yield well defined crystals, but is con¬
venient from the rapidity with which crystallization takes
place.

Two preparations were the subjects of examination,
the one being three times crystallized from 70 per cent,
alcohol, the other an equal number of. times from methy¬
lic alcohol. It is especially characteristic of this kind of
sugar that its hot saturated solutions solidify very
quickly on cooling ; even, for instance, on the filter in
cases of filtration. Whether crystallized from alcohol or
water the crystals produced are anhydrous ; nevertheless,
in all experiments the sugar employed was dried at

100° C‘ , . I, .

Maltose , Amylon. — This was prepared in the following
Way : — 2 kilograms of potato starch were stirred up with
9 litres of cold water, and gelatinized on the water-bath.
After cooling down to 60° to 65°, an aqueous extract of
from 120 to 140 grams of air-dried malt, obtained at 40°,
was stirred into the mass, the whole being maintained at
60° to 65° for one hour, then brought to the boiling
point, filtered whilst hot, and evaporated to a thin syrup,
which was several times boiled up in portions with 90 per
cent, alcohol. The extract obtained by distilling the
alcohol from one of these was treated with absolute
alcohol in order to obtain a small quantity of a pure and
quickly crystallizing extract, which will yield a small
quantity of maltose with which to start the crystallization
of the larger portion. The alcoholic extract was there¬
fore evaporated to a thin syrup, and allowed to stand in
shallow layers, crystallization generally taking place
after a few days. This treatment is, of course, unneces¬
sary if a little crystallized maltose can be otherwise
obtained. The rest of the 90 per cent, extract,, after the
chief quantity of alcohol has been distilled off, is concen¬
trated to a thick syrup, and into this, when cold, a small
quantity of the crystallized maltose is stirred. After
three to five days the deep brown syrup solidifies to a
stiff crystalline mass, which may then be rubbed down
with methylic alcohol to the consistence of thin mud,
from which the methylic alcohol is removed, by means of
the filter pump. After once washing with methylic
alcohol the mass is pressed, and again subjected to the
above treatment, when it may be crystallized from 80
per cent, alcohol or from methylic alcohol. It is desirable

* H. Rodewald, ‘ Inaug-Dissert,’ Gottingen, 1879.

722

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 20, 1881.

to crystallize first from 80 per cent, alcohol, which, when
hot, must not be more than half saturated, so as to
prevent the formation of syrup drops on cooling, and
with this object each 100 grams of the maltose, pressed
as dry as possible, and not containing more than 20 per
cent, of liquid, is dissolved in 30 c.c. water on the water-
bath, to which 260 c.c. of 90 per cent, alcohol are added,
the whole being heated to the boiling point, and filtered.
When cold a little crystallized maltose is added, and if
frequently shaken the whole will in a few hours crystal¬
lize to a pasty mass. If crystals be not added, crystalli¬
zation does not begin for at least twenty- four hours, and
then takes place slowly, a thick crust being formed on
the sides and the bottom of the containing vessel. It is
advisable first to resort to disturbed crystallization, wash¬
ing the product with methylic alcohol, and again crystal¬
lizing, this time quietly. The further purification is more
rapidly effected by means of methylic alcohol, to which end
100 grams air-dried maltose are dissolved in 24 c.c. water
over a naked flame; 600 c.c. methylic- alcohol added, and
the whole boiled and filtered + crystallization commences
after a few hours, and may be accelerated by shaking.

The copper solutions employed were Fehling’s alkaline
copper and Lowe’s alkaline copper and glycerol solution.
Since Fehling’s solution cannot be kept without decom¬
posing, a quantity of pure cupric sulphate solution was
prepared, containing 69'278 grams cupric sulphate to the
litre, and to the required amount of this was added at
the time of the experiment an equal quantity of alkaline
Rochelle salt solution prepared fresh daily, the propor¬
tional composition of which was 173 grams Rochelle salt
dissolved in 400 c.c. water, to 100 c.c. caustic soda
solution containing 516 grams sodium hydrate in the litre.

Lowe’s solution, which contains more copper than
Fehling’s, was used only for gravimetric estimation; it
was made by dissolving ] 5 grams of hydrated cupric oxide
with 60 grams glycerol, 80 c. c. of sodium hydrate solution
of 1*34 sp. gr. and 160 c.c. water, made up to 500 c.c.

The methods of estimation employed were volumetric
and gravimetric ; early experiments, as well as the failure
to obtain concordant results on the part of other experi¬
menters, showed that some special conditions must be
fulfilled in order to attain uniform results; it was, in
fact, found that the reducing power of sugar for alkaline
copper solutions is only constant under exactly the same
conditions, and that if the same amount of sugar act in
one case on an amount of copper solution which it is just
able to reduce, and in another on an excessive quantity,
the reducing equivalent will in the firgt case be found to
be considerably less than in the second. From this, then,
it is evident that if a solution of sugar be added by small
quantities at a time to a copper solution, as in ordinary
volumetric analysis, the amount of reduction effected by
the first quantities will be greater than that produced
by the last ; such a method is therefore inadmissible.
On this account the procedure adopted by Soxhlet was
to add to a carefully measured amount of copper and
alkaline Rochelle salt solutions at the boiling point, a
certain amount of a 1 per cent, or ^ per cent, solution of
sugar, allowing the two to react for a specified time,
then filtering through a plaited filter, acidifying the first
half of the filtrate with acetic acid, and testing for
copper by means of potassium ferrocyanide, the experi¬
ment being repeated until two numbers have been found
varying by not more than one-tenth of a c.c. Thus,
to a mixture of 50’6 c.c. copper and 50'6 c.c. alkaline
Rochelle salt solutions, were added 50 c.c. of a 1 per
cent, sugar solution. After boiling and filtering, the fil¬
trate yielded a deep red coloration. Repeating the experi¬
ment, using 50 ’5 c.c. of the above solutions and the
same quantity of sugar, a filtrate was obtained yielding
no reaction. The end point is therefore between these two
= 101T c.c. Fehling’s solution.

From this it follows that gravimetric estimations of
sugar solutions are not possible except under certain
special conditions. The author of the paper has only

made use of them to determine the effect of excess of the
copper solution on the action of the sugar. His method
was to allow a known quantity of sugar and copper to
react, and then weigh the precipitated cuprous oxide
after reducing it to metallic copper; the filtering, re¬
ducing and weighing being all effected in the same tube.
For this purpose a small calcium chloride tube, about
130 mm. long and 13 mm. wide, was used ; the bulb of this
was half filled with somewhat stiff fibres of asbestos, laid
at right angles to the axis of the tube ; the solution to be
filtered was introduced by means of a funnel, the tube
itself being attached to a filter pump. In this way the
filtration may be effected with great rapidity. The preci¬
pitate was washed with hot water, then twice with
absolute alcohol, and finally, once with ether ; and when
this had for the most part been expelled by a current of
dry air, the broader end of the tube was connected by
means of a cork to a hydrogen apparatus, giving it a
slight downward inclination. The amount of heat re¬
quired for the reduction was very little, and a small flame
whose point is 5 c.m. from the tube was sufficient to effect
this in two to three minutes. The difference between the
weight of the tube before and after the experiment gave
the weight of copper reduced. It is of course necessary to
wash the tube thoroughly before taking the first weight.

Soxhlet convinced himself that only a low tempera¬
ture is required for the redaction by some observa¬
tions, in which a tube containing 4 grams of cuprous
oxide was placed through the side openings of an air-
bath, when he found that the reduction commenced at
130° and was complete in half an hour, during which
time the temperature had only risen to 135°. This
method has many advantages over the old one, not only
on the ground of convenience and cleanliness, but also of
rapidity and accuracy; for if alkaline solutions of copper
be filtered through paper a very appreciable amount of
copper is retained by the cellulose present, and according
to Soxhlet, the oxidation of cuprous to cupric oxide
can only be thoroughly effected by moistening with nitric
acid and heating, and under these conditions a very
perceptible loss may take place through the volatilization
of a basic copper salt. The first part of this statement
seems, however, open to question, since Brown and
Heron, in their admirable work on the transformations
effected in starch by diastase,* found that cuprous oxide
was entirely oxidized by simple roasting in the air.

{To be continued.)

CONSTITUTION OF THE TARTRATES OF
ANTIM0NY.+

F. W. Clarke and Helena Stallo have made a study
of the compounds which, like tartar emetic, are assumed
to contain the group antimonyl (SbO), and come to the
conclusion that they are not tartrates proper, but salts
of a complex acid called tartrantimonous acid. They
analysed the barium salt formed by adding barium
chloride to tartar emetic solution, and prepared also
corresponding zinc and cobalt salts, the percentages of
the metals found in these compounds corresponding
fairly to that demanded by theory. They attempted to
prepare the free acid by precipitating the barium out
of the barium salts, but found the acid very unstable, so
that when the barium was removed it rapidly decomposed,
depositing a white precipitate, which proved to be
Sb(OH)3. Their theory as to the constitution of tartar
emetic, then, is that it is the potassium salt of an acid
in which the dyad radical C4H406 enters, replacing two
groups, OH, of the antimonous hydrate Sb(OH),, thus :
j OH

Sb

> OH Sb \ ™
( OH

OH

Sb

c4H4o6

OK

Antimonous hydrate Tartrantimonous Potassium tartranti-
_ or acid, _ acid. _ monite (tartar emetic).

* Journal of the Chemical Society , No. 102, Sept., 1879.
f From the Am. Chem. Jour., vol. 2, p. 319. Reprinted
from the American Journal of Pharmacy, January, 1881.

723

February IS, 18U.) THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

Cl n Ipjarmamtfixal |auraa(.

- <. -

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1881.

_ •

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , hooks for review , etc., should he addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square. #

Advertisements , and 'payments for Copies of the Journal ,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. JournN

AMERICAN VIEWS OF THE FUTURE
PHARMACY.

We learn from an American correspondent that
the progress of the Council’s attempt to improve the
law regulating the practice of pharmacy is being
watched with considerable interest by pharmacists in
the United States. A similar endeavour is also being
made there, and we have been furnished with a copy
of a Bill, which it is proposed to have enacted the
State of New York by the present Legislature.

Two grades of . qualification for the practice of
pharmacy are established by this Bill. First, that
of pharmacist, the examination for which is to be
conducted with a view to ascertain the fitness of the
individual to act independently as principal or in
sole charge of a pharmacy where physicians’ pre¬
scriptions are dispensed, and drugs, medicines or
poisons are sold. Second, that of assistant pharma¬
cist, the examination for which is to be conducted
with a view to ascertain the fitness of the individual
to compound and dispense physicians’ prescriptions,
and to be entrusted, under the direction of a licensed
pharmacist, with the handling, care and sale of
poisons.

The licence to practise as a pharmacist, or as an
assistant pharmacist, is to be granted by a Board
of Pharmacy, upon application and compliance with
certain requirements, to persons who possess the
following kinds of qualifications : —

1st. Such persons as may be carrying on the
business of dispensing medicine' on their own
account at the passing of the Act.

2nd. Graduates of pharmacy or of medicine who
have had at least four years’ experience in stores
where physicians’ prescriptions are dispensed, and
have obtained a diploma from legally constituted
college of pharmacy or college of medicine, or a
foreign institution of equal rank and requirements.

3rd. Persons holding the certificate of registration
as a pharmacist of any Board of Pharmacy, legally
created under the laws of the State of New York,
prior to the passing of the Act now referred to.

4th. Persons who, having had at least four years’
practical experience in stores where physicians’
prescriptions are dispensed, shall pass a satisfactory
examination for the grade of pharmacist.

The licences thus granted are to be valid only
for one year, and every licensed pharmacist desiring
to continue his business is to give written notice of

his desire to do so before the expiration of the
licence he is practising under, and, upon payment
of a small fee, it will be renewed for another year.

The licence to act as an assistant pharmacist is to
be granted by the Board to persons holding a
certificate of registration as assistant pharmacist or
corresponding grade from any • previously existing
legal Board of Pharmacy in tlie State ; also to persons
actually engaged within the State in the business of
dispensing medicines and poisons at the passing of
the Act and having at least two years’ practical
experience in dispensing as above, upon passing an
examination before the Board ; and lastly, to persons
having four years’ practical experience of dispensing,
upon their passing a satisfactory examination.

The licences under which a pharmacist or an assis¬
tant pharmacist practises are to be conspicuously
displayed in the pharmacy or store where they carry
on business.

Any licensed pharmacist failing properly to renew
his licence will be liable to prosecution, and on con¬
viction to a fine of two pounds for each day he has
so continued his business, besides the costs of pro¬
secution.

At the very outset we recognize in this Draft
Bill a thoroughness of purpose that speaks well for
the state of opinion among American pharmacists in
regard to what is desirable for ameliorating the
future of pharmacy. According to the provisions of
the 1st section it is to be unlawful for any unlicensed
person to open or carry on any pharmacy or store
for the purpose of retailing, compounding, or dis¬
pensing drugs, medicines or poisons, or to .practise
pharmacy, either as principal or agent. It is also
to be unlawful for any unlicensed person to be
employed by the proprietor of a pharmacy or store,
or in any public hospital, asylum or dispensary, for
retailing, compounding or dispensing drugs, medi¬
cines or poisons.

Any unlicensed person carrying on a pharmacy or.
store, either as principal or agent, is to be held
guilty of a misdemeanour and upon conviction be
punishable by a fine not exceeding ten pounds and
the costs of prosecution for the first offence and for
subsequent offences by imprisonment or a fine of
twenty pounds, or both, with costs.

In like manner any unlicensed persons employed
for retailing, compounding or dispensing drugs, etc.,
in a pharmacy or store, as well as the employers of
such unlicensed person, are each to be liable upon
conviction to a fine of ten pounds and costs, and for
repetition of the offence to imprisonment or a fine of
twenty pounds, or both, and costs.

The employment of apprentices or junior assistants,
in pharmacies is permitted only for the purpose of
their being instructed in the practice of pharmacy,
and it is provided that they shall not be allowed to
prepare and dispense physicians prescriptions, or
to sell or furnish medicines or poisons, except in
the presence of a licensed pharmacist or assistant

724

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 26, 1881

pharmacist, and under his personal supervision and
responsibility.

As regards the sale of poisons it is provided that
it shall be unlawful to sell, retail, or furnish any
scheduled poison without a label containing the
name of the article and the word ‘ Poison ’ distinctly
shown, with the name and place of business of the
seller. The sale of a special group of poisons is also
to be registered in the same manner as in this
country, and the Register is to be preserved for at
least five years and to be always open for investiga¬
tion by the proper authorities. No poison of this
class is to be delivered without the seller satisfying
himself that the purchaser is aware of its poisonous
character and that it is to be used for a legitimate
purpose. Certain of the scheduled poisons are to
be kept in a separate compartment exclusively de¬
voted to them and inaccessible to the public. Whole¬
sale dealers are to have every box, bottle, etc., of
certain scheduled poisons labelled with the word
‘Poison,’ but they are not to be required to register
the sale of such articles in recognized wholesale
quantities. The penalty for failure to comply with
these requirements is to be a fine of five pounds and
costs for the first offence and for any further offences
twenty pounds and costs.

The adulteration of drugs is pretty thoroughly
dealt with in one section of the Bill, and the Board
of Pharmacy is empowered to investigate cases
reported to it as well as to notify to the public
prosecutor such cases as require prosecution. It is
probable, however, that in view of a much more de¬
tailed law being passed in regard to adulteration of
food and drugs, this section of the Pharmacy Act
will be struck out.

Another subject referred to by our correspondent
is Pharmacopoeia revision. This work is described
as progressing satisfactorily in the States, and with
the advantage of a spirit of harmony between the
medical and pharmaceutical members of the Com¬
mittee. To the former is conceded under all circum¬
stances any decision on therapeutical subjects, as well
as the remedial merits and demerits of new and old
drugs, while the pharmacists mainly confine them¬
selves to working out the text in accordance with the
rules agreed upon. This natural division of labour is
based upon a tacit mutual understanding by which
the proper dues are rendered to each profession.

Our correspondent further adds that, in his opinion,
and in that of many others in the United States, the
pharmaceutical profession in Great Britain should
have an officially recognized representation on the
next Committee of Revision. No Pharmacopoeia, he
adds, was ever satisfactorily constructed without the
aid of specialists, and there is no reason why these
specialists should not also be endowed with the
privilege of sitting as members of the Committee.
Moreover, co-ordination of the two professions in
this matter will not only render the Pharmacopoeia
more perfect and uniform, but will also bring about
a better understanding between the two professions.

Crmimticws oi % |j{jarmacmtical

Sadefjr.

EXAMINATION'S IN' LONDON;

February 16, 1881.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Ekin, Gale,
T. E. Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman and
Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Six candidates were examined. Two failed. The fol¬
lowing four passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Barnett, John Arthur . Salisbury.

Chapman, William Henry . Birmingham.

Dodd, William Ralph . Market Drayton.

Ekins, Charles . Lincoln.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty -one candidates were examined. . Twelve failed.
The following nine passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Beck, Albert Neve . St. Leonards.

Blarney, Edward Parr . Hayle.

Bowker, Ellis . Radcliffe.

Burt, Cyril Cecil Barrow . London.

Chapman, Ingram William . Crowle.

Dickinson, John George . Lancaster.

Dixon, Walter Henry . Aberdare.

Dobson, Fred Ainsworth . Great Driffield.

Wylde, Samuel Roe . Macclesfield.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

Two candidates were examined. One failed. The un¬
dermentioned passed, and was declared qualified to be
registered as a Chemist and Druggist : —

Dax, Henry John . London.

—

February 17, 1881.

Present— Mr. Greenish, President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Ekin, Gale,
T. E. Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman and
Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was also present.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Six candidates were examined. Three failed. The
following three passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Haden, Walter Edward . Lichfield.

Selleck, William Robert . Bovey Tracey.

Wimshurst, Frederick . Southborough.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-three candidates were examined. Thirteen failed.
The following ten passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists

Greenwood, Samuel . Sheffield.

Griffiths, John Samuel . Newnham.

Groves, Richard Henry . Blandford.

Heading, Herbert Henry . Ely.

Hobson, Thomas Coultas . Doncaster.

Hodgson, Alfred . York.

Holmes, Francis . Lutterworth.

Jones, Daniel Williams . Erwood.

Lewis, Thomas . Newport, Mon.

Martin, Anson Edwin . Birmingham.

February 18, 1881.

Present — Mr. Greenish, President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Ekin, Gale,
T. E. Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman and
Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was also present.

February 2(5, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

725

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty -four candidates were examined. Twelve failed.
The following twelve passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists

Meadowcroft, James . Bury.

Merrell, Arthur James . London.

Millhouse, Henry How . . Sleaford.

Ninnis, Thomas Martin . Truro.

Norfolk, Henry . Stockton-on-Tees.

Pemberton, Joseph . Pimlico.

Perkins, Thomas Frampton . Clifton.

Prosser, James Alfred . Birmingham.

Sheffield, Arthur John . Beverley.

Skinner, Robert . Liverpool.

Watts, Francis Wapshare . . . . ; .Banbury.

Wright, Robert . ...Buxton.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION. .

The undermentioned certificates were received in lieu
of the Society’s Examination : —

Certificates of the University of Cambridge.

Broadbent, J ohn Beaumont . . .Honley.

. Taylor, Thomas Ernest . London.

W estmoreland, William Henry . .Salisbury.

Certificates of the College of Preceptors.

Fisher, Isaac . Liverpool.

Powell, Thomas . Brecon.

Sharpies, Edward . ....Blackburn.

Certificate of the University of Oxford.

Hart, Frank . Bolton.

NORTH BRITISH BRANCH.

The fourth meeting of the 27th session was held on
the 17th inst., in the rooms of the Society, 119a, George
Street, Mr. J. B. Stephenson, President of the Branch,
in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Honorary Secretary announced the following dona¬
tions : —

To the Museum. — A box of specimens from the Society
in London. (The most important of these would have
been laid before the meeting, but Dr. Macadam’s speci¬
mens and apparatus took up all the available space.)
They will be noticed at a future meeting.

To the Library. — (1) ‘Silverlock’s Medical Reference
Book,’ presented by the publisher; (2) ‘The Pharma¬
ceutical Register of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria,’
for 1880, from the Board.

Dr. Stevenson Macadam, F.R.S.E., Lecturer on
Chemistry, Edinburgh, read a paper on—

Recent Advances in the Production of Artificial

Colouring Matters, including Artificial Indigo.

BY DR. STEVENSON MACADAM. F.R.S.E.,

Lecturer in Chemistry.

Dr. Macadam stated that within the last twenty-five
years the colours derived from coal tar had been gradually
supplanting all the natural or ordinary colours in the
dyeing and printing of cloth. At first the processes for
the preparation of the artificial colouring matters were
confined to the benzol or aniline series, but afterwards
included the carbolic acid and naphthalene series. In 1869,
however, the colouring matter of madder was prepared
artificially from another of the coal tar substances called
anthracene, and so successful has been the manufacture
and the application of this artificial colour to. dyeing
and calico printing that madder and its derivative,
garancine, ha-ve been almost entirely thrown out of the
market and replaced by the artificial colouring matter
alizarine and its derivatives. Within the last year another
mportant step has been taken, and indigo has now been

manufactured by artificial means from one of the coal tar
compounds, and it is merely a question of time
ordinary natural indigo will be supplanted by the artificial

indigo. , ,

The artificial indigo and a large number of other
artificial colouring matters were exhibited, and ntimerous
experiments made in dyeing to demonstrate that the
artificial colouring matters were identical with the natural
colouring agents.

Mr. Nesbit, Vice-President, proposed a vote of thanks
to Dr. Macadam for his interesting lecture. Mr. J. R.
Young seconded, and it was most cordially responded to
by the meeting.

Imbhrcial Crans admits

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

(Assistants’ Section).

The fourth meeting of this session was held in the
Manager’s Library, Anderson’s College, 204, George Street,
on Wednesday, February 16, at nine o’clock p.m., Mr.
Walter Paris presiding.

The minutes of last meeting having been read and
confirmed, Mr. David Lees then read a paper entitled
“Dreamland.’’ He began by referring to the sleeping
condition in general, and the physiological changes brought
about in body and mind during that state. He elucidated
the causes of dreams, as stated by the most recent
investigators, and contended that dreams were simple
and complete delusions, and ^ had no connection in any
case with the affairs of every day life, so far at least as
acting a prophetic part was concerned.

After some remarks from members, to which Mr. Lees
replied,

The President called on Mr. Lees to next introduce the
discussion upon the proposed enforced curriculum. This
measure he strongly protested against as being an unprin¬
cipled interference with the liberty of the aspirant to
pharmaceutical honours.

The members unanimously agreed that this curriculum
was quite unnecessary and at the present time un¬
called for.

There being no more business, the President asked for
a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Lees, which was accorded.
The meeting then closed.

|ltamirntg;s of Scientific Scrcietics.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday
February 17, Dr. Roscoe, President, in the chair.

After the minutes of the previous meeting had been
read and confirmed, the President announced that the
following changes had been proposed in the Council, etc.,
for the ensuing year Retiring members, N. S. Maske-
lyne and R. Angus Smith, from the list of Vice-Presi¬
dents ; C. W. Heaton, W. A. Tilden, J. L. W. Thudichum
and C. Graham, from the Council. New members pro¬
posed: — A. Crum Brown and J. Emerson Reynolds, as
Vice-Presidents ; C. Schorlemmer, G. H. Malcins, C. M.
Tidy and F. T. Brown, as ordinary members of Council.
The following gentlemen were then elected as auditors : —
F. J. M. Page, J. M. Thomson and R. C. Woodcock..

The following certificates were read for the first time :
J. F. Braga, H. Borras, T. C. Day, E. T. G. Gill, P. B.
Mills, F. Tiemann, G. Valentine, A. Walker.

During the evening a ballot for the election of Fellows
was held, and the scrutators, Drs. Hugo Muller and
Stevenson, declared the following gentlemen as duly

726

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 28, 1851

elected : — B. Akroyd, M. M. Bird, W. E. Benton, H.
Baker, M. Benjamin, H. P. Cooper, W. H. Coffin, J. J.
Eastick, H. W. Fenner, M. P. Gossett, S. Harvey, J. W.
James, T. H. Judson, A. J. King, W. E. Kay, C. A.
MacMunn, W. G. McMillan. W. J. Stavert, T. Taka¬
matsu, P. Vieth, G. J. Wiskart, R. W. Walker.

The President then called upon Mr. M. W. Williams
to read a paper —

On the Estimation of Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in
Water Analysis simultaneously with the Estimation of
Nitric Acid. — Of all the processes in use for estimating
the organic matter in water the safest and most thoroughly
scientific in principle is perhaps that of Frankland and
Armstrong. To this process, as at present worked, there
are, however, some objections. The time required to
evaporate the water is over twenty-four hours. The
water is kept for a long time in contact with sulphurous
acid, a portion of which may at any time be oxidized to
sulphuric acid. There is no test by which to make
certain that the nitric acid has been completely de¬
stroyed. A correction of some magnitude, calculated by
an empirical method has to be introduced, to allow for
the dissociation of ammonic sulphite. Moreover, nitrous
acid, which is produced by the reduction of the nitrates
by the sulphurous acid, attacks ammonia and amidated
bodies in acid solution, evolving their nitrogen in the
free state, and it is uncertain how far the nitrogen of the
ammonia and of the organic matter in a water undergoing
evaporation may be attacked in this way. The author
proposes to avoid altogether the use of sulphurous acid,
and to shorten very considerably the time required for a
water analysis. The process consists essentially in con¬
verting the nitrates into ammonia by the copper-zinc
couple, as described by the author at the previous meet¬
ing, distilling off the ammonia with the addition of a
little sodium carbonate, and evaporating the residue
in the retort to dryness for the combustion. The
process may be briefly described as follows: — The
zinc foil is carefully cleansed from grease, etc., by
boiling with dilute caustic alkali and its surface freed
from oxide by washing with acidulated water ; it is then
immersed in 3 per cent, copper sulphate solution, as
described in the previous paper. The copper-zinc couple
is carefully washed, placed in a wide-mouthed stoppered
bottle and the water poured on and allowed to digest at
the proper temperature until the reduction of the nitric
acid is complete. About 1200-1300 e.c. of water are used.
As nitrous acid is present in the liquid as long as any nitric
acid remains, 100 c.c. of the water are withdrawn, and if a
yellow coloration appears in half-an-hour after adding
metaphenylen-diamine and sulphuric acid, a longer diges¬
tion is needed. If no coloration appears the reduction is
complete. The remainder of the water is poured off from
the copper-zinc couple into a tall cylinder and decanted
from any particles of copper and zinc. A litre is distilled
in a glass retort until the distillate is free from ammonia,
one or two drops of a strong solution of sodium carbonate
being added. The ammoniacal distillate is neslerized,
and, after deducting the quantity of ammonia originally
present in the water, gives the quantity of nitric acid
present. The water in the retort is further distilled to
a low bulk, 200 c.c. Any carbonate of lime deposited is
brought into solution by the addition of a little sulphurous
acid. The water is then rinsed out into a smooth hemi¬
spherical basin, and evaporated to dryness on the water-
bath. The residue thus obtained is free from all com¬
pounds of nitrogen, except the organic matters contained
in the water. The combustion of the residue is carried
out as prescribed by Frankland and Armstrong. The
author has employed the process with many waters having
nitrates from 5 to 0‘5 parts N03 in 100,000 ; the results
agree with those obtained by the sulphurous acid method.
The author claims for the process that it is free from the
sources of error which accompany the use of sulphurous
acid for destroying the nitrates, and that it is more
rapid.

Mr. W. Thorp asked what precautions were taken to
prevent the introduction of organic matter with the
copper-zinc couple.

Mr. Williams said that it was very easy to exclude the
possibility of such introduction if care was taken in
making the copper-zinc couple.

Captain Abney then gave some account of some recent
researches which he had carried out in conjunction with
Colonel Festing —

On the Influence of the Molecular Grouping in Organic
Bodies on their Absorption in the Supra Red Region of the
Spectrum. — The authors have photographed the absorp¬
tion spectra of numerous inorganic and organic solutions.
The electric light was used. The portion of the spectrum
photographed was beyond the red, which is, of course,
under ordinary circumstances, quite invisible. The focus¬
sing of this portion was attended with some difficulty, as
nothing could be seen, successive trials had to be made
until the photographs came out sharply defined. Three
prisms were used, and the thickness of the layer of liquid was
about 6 inches . Many of the photographs were thrown on
the screen. Many of the organic radicals have in this ultra
red portion of the spectrum characteristic bands or groups
of bands which run more or less through all their com¬
pounds, so that after some experience it. is possible to
say, from its spectrum, whether or not a chemical com¬
pound contains a certain organic radical. The change
produced in the absorption spectrum of a substance by
the addition of oxygen, hydrogen, etc., was pointed out.

It is a curious fact that some of the well marked absorp¬
tion bands of the benzene nucleus (857), of alcohol (900)
and of water and chloroform (824) agree with some lines
of the solar spectrum. The absorption spectrum of
hydrogen seems to be one of lines. The investigation
seems likely to throw much light on the internal
structure of organic substances.

The President said the subject wrs one of great
interest, and as the investigation was still in its infancy
he must congratulate the authors on the results they had
already obtained. As Dr. Russell and Mr. Lapraik had
a paper on a somewhat similar subject he would call on
Dr. Russell to give his communication before entering
on any discussion.

Dr. Russell then communicated some results obtained
by Mr. Lapraik and himself on —

Absorption Bands in the Visible Spectrum produced by
Certain Colourless Liquids. — The authors have carefully
drawn the absorption spectra of these liquids in long
tubes (8 to 12 feet) in the visible part of the spectrum.
The liquids examined included water, ammonia in
solution in water, ether and alcohol, methylamine, etc.
The bands in the spectra of ammonia and methylamine
seem to be almost identical.

Dr. Armstrong pointed out how remarkably some of
the photographs of Captain Abney confirmed the views
held by chemists as to the constitutional formulae of
organic bodies. These results afforded a proof that a
chemical symbol represented not merely the behaviour
of a substance but gave a real picture of its internal
structure. . The spectrum of turpentine was exceedingly
interesting. He should like to ask whether in the
spectra of different radicals the bands were harmonies.

Captain Abney, in reply, said that some of the bands
nearly occupied the places of harmonies but not quite.
He should like to thank Dr. Hodgkinson on behalf of
Colonel Festing and himself for his valuable assistance
in procuring the various liquids with which they had
experimented.

On the Action of Hydrochloric Acid on Ethylene.
Alcohol. By C. Schorlemmer. — By heating glycol with
an excess of fuming hydrochloric acid in a sealed tube to
100°, the author has converted this substance into
ethylene dichloride and has thus disproved the conclusion
that the two hydroxyl groups had different functions.

On an Attempt to Accelerate the Process of Determining
the Soluble Salts in a Soil. By E. W. Prevost. — The

February 26, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 72 7

author added calcium sulphate and barium carbonate to
the soil, to expedite filtration, but in neither case were
satisfactory results obtained.

The Society then adjourned to March 3, when the
following papers will be read: — “On the Action of
Bacteria on Various Gases,” by F. Hatton ; “ On the
Oxidation of Organic Matter in Water,” by C. M. Tidy.
- - -

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,
February 10, Mr. D. Hooper, Vice-President, in the
chair.

Mr. R. H. Parker made a Report on Materia Medica,
dealing with the subject of “Eclectic Remedies.” The
author exhaustively treated of the botanical origin and
microscopical characteristics, as well as the chemical and
physical properties of the majority of the resinoid and
other substances known as eclectic remedies.

The paper was copiously illustrated by a number of
specimens, both of the preparations themselves and of
the plants from which they are obtained.

A discussion followed, in which the Chairman, Messrs.
Branson, Davies, Elborne, Fowler and James took part.

A vote of thanks having been passed to Mr. Parker,
the meeting adjourned.

_

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting of the above Association held on Wed¬
nesday, February 9, the President, Mr. F.-W. Branson,
in the chair, a lecture on “Induction of Currents and
some Practical Applications thereof” (illustrated by
experiments) was delivered by Mr. J. Stapleton. The
lecture will be printed in a future number of this Journal.

After the lecture, several interesting experiments were
shown with the induction coil, viz., the rotation of the
coil discharge round a magnetic pole in a vacuous glass
I globe ; the illumination of a spangle tube, about 3 feet
long, and afterwards an aurora tube. Attempts to charge
a series of ley den jars in cascade, and a leyden battery
from the coil discharge, were made, but on account of
the excessive dampness of the atmosphere, were scarcely
as successful as could have been desired. An illumination
of very fine vacuum tubes, kindly lent for the occasion
by Messrs. Cetti and Co., was much admired.

On the proposal of Mr. J. R. James, seconded by Mr.
D. Hooper, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr.
Stapleton for his interesting lecture.

—

I ’At a meeting of the above Association, held on
Wednesday, February 16, Mr. G. F. Snow, Vice-Pre¬
sident, in the chair,

(The following communications were read : — ■

The Quantitative Analysis of Tinfoil.— By Mr. R. H.
Parker. — The author, having sketched the history of
the metal tin and alluded to its different commercial
qualities, and the application of it and its compounds
to the arts and manufactures, proceeded to refer to the
various kinds of tinfoil found in the market and the
best method of estimating the amount of tin and lead
present in a given sample. The lead was estimated
gravi metrically , as sulphate or chromate, and the tin volu-
metrically by dissolving it in ferric chloride and titrating

the resulting solution with ~ permanganate of potash.

The results of numerous estimations were given, which
showed that the volumetric results were too high, even
when corrected by a blank analysis, so that in order to
obtain correct results, the permanganate solution should
be standardized by pure tin or by tinfoil, the percentage
of lead in which has been previously determined.

Resorcin.— By Mr. F. W. Branson.— The chemical
affinities and preparations of this recently proposed anti¬
septic were explained. A method was given for the con¬

version of phenol into resorcin, and its use on a large scale
in the manufacture of a dyeing material of a delicate tint,
was pointed out, as were also the preparation and properties
of its isomers, pyrocatechin and hydroquinone.

Ijarliamenfarw ant |1rotccbmgs,

Prosecution under the 17th Section of the
Pharmacy Act.

At the Petty Sessions, Winchester, on Friday, Feb¬
ruary 18, before E. D. Godwin, Esq. (Mayor), Chairman,
and a full Bench, Mr. James Cooper, of 10 and 11, High
Street, Winchester, general dealer, wa3 charged that he
did on Tuesday, February 15, sell to George Revill
Templeman, Assistant Secretary of the Chemists and
Druggists Trade Association of Great Britain, certain
poison, to wit, strychnine, in a certain packet, the cover
of which packet did not set forth the name and address
of the seller of the same, and that the sa;d sale was
effected, the purchaser being unknown to the seller and
not introduced to the seller, and that the date of the sale,
the name and address of the purchaser, and the name and
quantity of the article sold, not being entered by the
seller in a book kept by him for that purpose, in contra¬
vention of the statute in such cases made and provided.

Mr. Glaisyer, solicitor, Birmingham, prosecuted on
behalf of the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association
of Great Britain, and Mr. White, solicitor, Winchester,
appeared for the defendant.

Mr. Glaisyer said the summons in this case was issued
under the 17th section of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, which
enacts, “ It shall be unlawful to sell any poison, either by
wholesale or by retail, unless the box, bottle, vessel,
wrapper or cover in which poison is contained’ be dis¬
tinctly labelled with the name of the article and the
word poison, and with the name and address of the
seller of the poison, and it shall be unlawful to sell any
poison of those which are in the first part of the schedule
(A) to this Act, or may hereafter be added thereto under
section 2 of this Act, to any person unknown to the
seller, unless introduced by some person known to the
seller, and on every sale of any such article, the seller
shall, before delivery, cause to be made an entry in a
book to be kept for that purpose, stating in the form set
forth in schedule (F) to this Act, the date of the sale, the
name and address of the purchaser, the name and quan¬
tity of the article sold, and the purpose for which it is
stated by the purchaser to be required, to which entry
the signature of the purchaser and of the person, if any,
who introduced him, shall be affixed.” Mr. Templeman,
the Assistant Secretary of the Chemists and Druggists’
Trade Association of Great Britain, had purchased a
packet of vermin killer, analysed the same, and found it
to contain strychnine, which was one of the poisons men¬
tioned in schedule (A).

George Revill Templeman, called, sworn, and examined
by Mr. Glaisyer, said that on February 15 he came to
Winchester, and called at a shop in High Street, where
he purchased a packet of vermin killer. It wa3 not
labelled with the name and address of the seller. He
was not known to Mr. Cooper, and was not introduced
by anyone, neither was the sale entered in a book kept
for that purpose. He analysed the packet and found it
to contain strychnine. Mr. Cooper was not qualified to
sell poisons, his name not being on the Register of Che¬
mists and Druggists.

Mr. White, for the defence, referred to the opinion of
Mr. Justice Lush, expressed in the case of Berry v. Hen¬
derson, to the effect that the section under consideration
alluded to poisons in their simple state and did not appear
to contemplate their being mixed with other ingredients.

A report of the case inferred to wa3 handed to the
chair.

Mr. White, resuming, stated that the defendant was a

728 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 26, 1831

*mi I I ■ - - . ■ i ■ ■■ ' " " ' a- " ' - --- - - - —

general dealer in that city, who had lately commenced
the sale of patent medicines, and in supplying Battle’s
vermin killer he thought he was conferring a boon on
the public, as it was used by almost every householder,
and that the defendant, being a person licensed to sell
patent medicines, was not aware that he was infringing
the Act. If the Bench thought it was a case in which
a fine should be inflicted, he trusted they would make it
as small as possible, as the defendant had received no
previous intimation that he was doing wrong, and the de¬
fendant would take care that the Chemists and Druggists’
Trade Association would not find it necessary to again
send one of their officials from Birmingham to take out
another summons against him.

Chairman of the Bench: I suppose Mr. Cooper sold
the vermin killer at a profit.

Mr. White : Yes ; but not so much as the chemist’s.

Chairman of the Bench: The Bench are of opinion
the case of Berry v. Henderson does not apply to the
present case, and that as the defendant illegally sold this
article, they have no alternative but to fine him 20s. and
costs.

A Coroner upon the Sale of Vermin Killer.

On Tuesday last Mr. Bedford held a lengthened
inquest at the Sessions House, Westminster, into the
cause of death of Mrs. Mary Alnek, aged 60, a widow.
The evidence showed that the deceased had latterly been
in straitened circumstances and had been advised to
see the relieving officer. She did so, and he told her
that he had “ no home to offer her but the workhouse,
an order for which he was ready to give her.” On the
previous Friday night she went to bed in her own
room, and the next morning she was found dead.

Dr. Price, of 28, Great Smith Street, Westminster,
who was called to see deceased, and who made a post¬
mortem examination, said he had no doubt that the
deceased had committed suicide by swallowing the
contents of two packets of Battle’s vermin killer.

The Coroner said he was sorry to hear that so deadly
a poison could be obtained by any person who chose to pay
for it, and that such sales should bear some restrictions.

The jury endorsed the remarks of the Coroner, and,
having thanked Dr. Price for an analysis he had made
of the poison, returned a verdict of suicide whilst of
unsound mind. — Standard.

Poisoning by Prussic Acid.

An inquest was held at Durham, on Wednesday, Feb¬
ruary 16, before Mr. Coroner Graham, relative to the
death of Robert Laidman Hawksley, commercial traveller,
aged thirty-three years.

The evidence of deceased’s brother, Mr. William
Hawksley, showed that he and deceased, having returned
from Newcastle by the mail on Tuesday night, proceeded
to the office in Old Elvet, where they both took their
seats in their accustomed places, and commenced to do
some writing. In the course of the evening witness went
to his tea, leaving his brother Robert at the desk. Upon
witness returning to the office he found Robert still
writing, and upon his making some passing remark as to
his remaining at the desk so closely, Robert said, “ Oh,
yes ; I am making my will.” A few minutes after that
Robert rose from his seat, threw the pieces of foolscap
paper on which he had been writing into the fire, and sat
down in a chair, which was so situated as to place
witness’s back towards him. Immediately after that
witness heard his brother breathing heavily, and on
turning round he said, “ Laidman, my lad, what’s the
metter?” Deceased replied, “All right, William, I am
going to sleep.” Wituess then went to him and perceived
a strong smell of prussic acid, and on turning his eye
towards the mantelpiece he saw a small blue-looking
bottle, which had the stopper out and was empty, the

label having been scraped off. Dr. Jepson and Dr.
Barrow were called in, and having failed to administer
an emetic, they applied the stomach pump, but while
they were so engaged the deceased expired. Witness
stated that for some time his brother had been of intem¬
perate habits, and had often when in fits of intemperance
declared that he wished himself out of this world, but as
such remarks as those were common with persons excited
with liquor, he did not attach any importance to it, not
having the slightest idea that his brother would ever do
such an act as that he had done.

A chemist, named William Patterson, carrying on
business in Old Elvet, stated that at about six o’clock
on Monday, Mr Laidman Hawksley came into his shop
and requested to be supplied with a quantity of prussic
acid for the purpose of destroying a dog. Witness told
him he would much rather that the dog was brought to
him, so that he could administer the poison himself, but
Mr. Hawksley replied that the dog was out in the
country, aud that he intended on the morrow to go out
to him and give him the poison. Deceased then left the
shop, taking with him an unopened ounce bottle of
prussic acid, he having previously signed his name as
the purchaser of the same in the book kept by the che¬
mist in accordance with the Act.

The jury, after consulting a few moments, found a
verdict — “ That deceased committed suicide by taking
prussic acid whilst in a- state of temporary insanity.”

JOHN ABRAHAM.

We regret to have to record the death on Sunday last,
the 20th inst., of Mr. John Abraham, Pharmaceutical
Chemist, of Liverpool, who was formerly a Member of
the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, and for several
years filled the post of Local Secretary.

Mr. John Abraham was the founder, and for nearly
forty years the head of the well known firm of Clay and
Abraham, druggists, of Bold Street and Castle Street,
Liverpool. He was born in 1813, in the city of Carlisle,
where his father, Mr. Thomas Abraham, was for some
years a well-known contributor to the local press. The
family name was originally spelt Aburgham, which was
gradually changed by mutations of orthography, common
to many names, till at length it assumed the present form.
The Abrahams were maternally descended from the Fells,
of Swarthmoor Hall, in the north of Lancashire, and
they became connected with the Society of Friends
through the marriage of Mr. George Fox, the founder
of that society, with the widow of Judge Fell. Mr.
John Abraham very early became a politician of ad¬
vanced Liberal views, and as such he took a prominent
interest in the proceedings of the Anti Corn-Law Agita¬
tion. He became connected in various capacities with
many of the leading institutions of the city. For a great
many years he took a deep interest in the affairs of the
Female Penitentiary, of which institution he was Hono¬
rary Secretary for twenty -five years, and co-President
with the late Mr. William Crosfield at the time of his
death. He was associated with the late Sir William
Brown in the formation of the Gallery of Inventions
and Science. Of the Naturalists’ Field Club he. was a
member from the date of its formation in 1861, and he
continued to be its Treasurer from 1862 till recently,
when he was succeeded in that office by his son, Mr. j
T. F. Abraham. Of the Polytechnic Society he was also
a member, and its Treasurer for about fifteen years. In
May, 1867, he was elected a member of the Council of
the Pharmaceutical Society, and he retained his seat at
the Council table four years. He was also a member
of the Liverpool Chemists’ Association, of which he was
President in the years 1855-6-7, and 1868 and 1870. Mr.

February 2(5, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

729

Abraham was for some years President of the Liver¬
pool Registered Chemists’ Association, and he was also
first President of the Liverpool Chemists’ Early Closing
Association.

In the year 1856, when steps were taken to have some
certain means for adjusting the compasses of iron vessels,
a committee was formed, of which Mr. Abraham was a
member, and the result of its proceedings was the
marking along the dock walls of the degrees and minutes
which are used to the present time. He was also a
member of the two original private Microscopical So¬
cieties, one of which has now become public, holding its
meetings at the Royal Institution. At the time of the
great outbreak of cholera in Liverpool, Mr. Abraham was
a member of the select vestry, and during that time he
was most indefatigable in his exertions to stem the pro¬
gress of the devestations of the epidemic, being Chairman
i of the Special Committee appointed for that purpose. It
may be also mentioned that among the social improve¬
ments which he advocated years ago was the establishing
of a local farthing postage for letters, etc., long before
the halfpenny stamp was utilized as at present.

Mr. Abraham died at seven o’clock on Sunday evening,
at his residence, Riverham, Grassendale, of an illness
which was only noticed to have assumed a serious aspect
a little more than a week ago.

Notice has also been received of the death of : —

On the 19th of January, 1881, Mr. Thomas Gibson,
Chemist and Druggist, North Shields. Aged 75 years.
On the 12th of February, 1881, Mr. Robert Oliver
I Rees, Chemist and Druggist, Dolgelly. Aged 62 years.
On the 21st of February, 1881, Mr. Arthur Lloyd,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Camden Square, London. Aged
61 years. Mr. Lloyd had been a Member of the Phar¬
maceutical Society since 1845.

g'tsjKiishtg fjfcmotmtba.

In order to assist as much as 'possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column ivas established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
i t oill be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle . And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[500]. Syrup, gummi arabic (Beasley) is quite correct
though I have known the syr. gummi rubr. used in a
I similar prescription (vide “Dispensing Memoranda” [276],
vol. ix., p. 869, and answer to the same in “ The Month,”
| p. 878).

Edward H. Storey.
42, Castle Street East, Oxford Street, W.

[500], “ Mucilago ” was correct in not using syr.
gummi rub.

Minor.

[501].- In reply to “ Discipulus ” the quinae sulph.
should be powdered and a “ shake ” label attached. A
little mucilage would ensure the proper dose being
; administered.

Minor.

[504]. “ Inquirer ” might easily have satisfied himself
j that the “ strong solution of ammonia ” is correct in
“tinct. opii ammon. ” by turning to his B. P., though I
confess I should not care about taking the full dose.

Edward H. Storey.
42, Castle Street East, Oxford Street, W.

[504] . “ Inquirer” should examine his B.P., where he

cannot fail to see that liq. ammon. fort, is intended to be
used. Minor.

[505] . “ Dalex ” should have powdered the quinae

sulph. and. triturated with the syrup, which is sufficient
to cause it to shake up fairly well. In this manner I
believe there would be no great amount of decomposition ;
but to add acid, sulph. dil. 3ss. must throw out a great
part of the salicylic acid, and is a rather grave error to
make. “ Dalex ” might say what he charged for the
gvj. mixture. Minor.

[506]. “ Apprentice ” will find both ammon. valer. and
sol. ammon. valer. quoted in most wholesale price lists.
The sol. ammon. valer. (25 per cent., I believe) is often
used in some of the midland towns.

Minor.

[507]. A. B. C. would like to know how the following
prescription can be dispensed so as to present (when
freshly made) an opaque, yellowish -green mixture, with
very little sediment, and what should be the correct ap¬
pearance : —

R Fer. Am. Cit . 3ss.

Quinae Sulph . gr. xij.

Sue. Limon. Recent . ^iss.

Spt. Chlorof . 3j.

A(1 . ad gvj.

M.

[508]. For Sore Throat or Cold or Cough. —

R Tinct. Iod . 31 j-

Kali Iod. . . . . . . . .*. 3ij.

Four or five drops to be taken in half a wineglass of
cold water every night and morning.

Can anyone tell me how it is to be dissolved ?

E. C. P.

[509].

R Sodae Sulph . 3j«

Ammoniae Carbon . grs. xvj.

Sp. Chlorof ormi . 3j-

Aquae . ad 5viij.

M.

In dispensing the above, a few days ago, I rubbed the
two salts together in a mortar with a small quantity of
water. I had occasion to leave it for a minute or two,
and on returning found a kind of opaque, jelly-like mix¬
ture in the mortar. Will anyone kindly say what de¬
composition (if any) took place, and if the modus operandi
was a correct one ? W. G. T.

[510]. I had the undermentioned prescription pre¬
sented to me ; what was I justified in using for liq. cinch,
cord, Battley’s or the ext. cinch, flav. liq., B.P. ?

R Potass. Chlor . 3j*

Sp. Ammon. Arom . 3ij*

Sp. HSther. Chlor . 3j.

' Liq. Cinch. Cord . 3SS*

Aquae . . ad §vj.

1/6. 4ter horis.

Minor.

[511], I have received the following prescription, and
should like to know if it ought to be quite miscible. If
not, how should it be sent out ? I put on it a “ shake
the bottle ’ ’ : —

R Tr. Ferri . . .

Chloroform! . .

Gum. Camphorae
Sp. Yini Rect. .

01. Menth. Pip. .

M. sd. §ss quater in die

W. P

730

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [Februaiy 2e, lwi.

[512]. Will some of your numerous readers kindly
inform me the best excipient for making Bland’s pills? —
ft. Potas. Bicarb.,

Ferri Sulph. Exsiccat. . . . aa gr. iiss.

Ft. pil.

I have tried gum acacia, tragacanth, p. saponis, etc., but
cannot get a good result, the pills being large, and easily
broken.

F. J. 0.

®orrcsjiont)ence.

\* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Branch Pharmacies.

Sir, — The necessity of restrictions for conducting branch
pharmacies has been put forward by only a few of your
correspondents, this apparent apathy being due, I have no
doubt, to the interest of the trade having been concentrated
upon the “ widow’s clause.” But since this interest is
showing signs of abatement, and the Council has finally
determined to retain the “ widow’s clause,” I would ask
your readers to consider the relation which branch phar¬
macies hold to the spirit of the pharmacy laws.

These laws were formed under the supposition that “ it
is expedient for the safety of the public ” that the trading
in pharmacy should be conducted by persons certified to be
qualified to do so. The whol6 spirit of these laws clearly
indicates that a pharmacy ought to be superintended by a
qualified person. Yet we find in practice that a qualified
person may possess (if he have the means) an unlimited
number of pharmacies, and that these are not immediately
conducted by him. Moreover, these branches from the
centre pharmacy in which the qualified person conducts
personally, need not be directly under his supervision, for
they can be established in any part of Great Britain, and
when I add that these branches are generally conducted by
unqualified persons, it will become apparent to what extent
the spirit of the pharmacy laws is violated. I could quote
cases in proof of my statements, but I think that the trade
is fully cognizant of the extent of our internal weakness.
It is the more grievous in considering this matter to know
that our Council has taken no steps in the new amendments
to remedy the evil. Yet I am inclined to think that this
silence is less due to unconcern than to the difficulty in
forming a clause which would regulate the conducting of
hranches.

I cannot imagine how it can be expected that the some¬
what repressive measures should become law, while we
quietly pass over such a source of unsafety to the public as
we have in branch pharmacies. I would suggest to the
Council that before it be too late they should insert a clause
to this effect : —

“ It is expedient for the safety of the public that when a
qualified person, within the meaning of this Act, is owner
of more than one shop, and keeps such shops open for the
purpose of retailing, dispensing or compounding poisons, he
shall at each shop wherein he does not personally conduct
the business, employ and keep in attendance a person
qualified within the meaning of this Act.”

Such a clause, while ensuring the safety of the public,
also ensures to the druggist or pharmacist a perfect freedom
in trading, and, moreover, did such a clause exist, we would
inaugurate a great incentive to many young men of the
trade to work for their proper qualification. If unqualifica¬
tion be a misery, branch shops are undoubtedly greatly
palliative of it, for at present many unqualified assistants
obtain as good salaries in conducting branch shops, as
qualified persons would in the same circumstances.

I hope the trade will not pass over this matter so quietly
as it is at present likely to be.

Dundee. P. MaoEwan.

Sir, — 1 supposed that after the Council had completed the
draught of a Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill there would
be no room for further suggestions, but as letters continue

to appear in your columns, I venture to make one or two
observations which occur to me. I am surprised that no
one appears to have noted the opinion expressed during
recent litigation by high judicial authorities, that for some at
least of the purposes of the Act the seller of a poison
means the person who actually effects the sale. Now I
fear that this point is likely to attract the attention of
members of Parliament, if we ask for new restrictions,
except, as regards stamped medicines containing a scheduled
poison, and it is not unlikely that they may attempt to
prohibit poisons ever being sold by an assistant or apprentice
who is not legally qualified ; which would inflict a very
serious injury on many proprietors of small businesses. I
therefore very much doubt the wisdom of asking anything,
except that where a scheduled poison forms an ingredient in
a stamped medicine, the name and quantity of the poison
should be stated on the inside label and the word poison
affixed both inside and out, of course repealing the clause
of 1868 which exempts such from its operation ; also we
might ask for the extention of exemption from service on
juries to all chemists on the register. If, however, we must
have a more comprehensive Bill, it appears to me essential
to its passing, that there should be a clause prohibiting any
chemist from keeping a second shop unless it is within — say
a mile — of his principal shop, and is under the care of a
qualified assistant, or unless he is acting as the trustee of a
widow. There is much force in the arguments of those who
support the 5th clause, or rather there would be if they
were only consistent, and advocated also such a restriction
as proposed above of the practice of keeping branch shops.
Of course the vested interests of those already owning such
would have to be reserved, though they should be required
to employ a qualified assistant in each.

Kettering. A Country Chemist.

The Proposed Pharmacy Acts Amendment Bill.

Sir, — Mr. Gibbons’s letter in last week’s Journal contains
“ three points ” which, he considers, require “the serious
attention of the framers of the proposed Act ; for if,” he
continues, “the views expressed by many are embodied, I am
afraid we may look in vain for an amended Pharmacy Bill.”
With your kind permission, Mr. Editor, I should like to say
a few words upon the “three points.” First, “the widow’s
interest.” He asks, “ What is the difference between a
widow and a body corporate carrying on a chemist’s busi¬
ness by proxy ? ” To my mind the difference is this, that
the widow inherited the business from her husband, and he
inherited it by virtue of belonging to the Society founded
by Act of Parliament, which right he acquired by much
expense and labour ; and the body corporate, if he means
the stores, have assumed his rights and privileges, inde¬
pendently of the Society, without expense or study. Now
to common sense this is an injustice. But let us not try to
commit another injury in order to remedy one already
existing. A widow has a right to her husband’s property,
and no combination of chemists will, I am sure, prevail
upou the good sense of Parliament to take away that right.

Mr. Gibbons’s second point is “ plurality of shops,” and
he says, “ If a clause is not inserted in the proposed Bill,
dealing firmly with this abuse, I will not give much for our
chance of a reformed Bill.” As in the first point, so in the
second, self appears on the surface; yet he says, “What pro¬
tection have the public,” unless in the case of a firm, when
“ each partner takes special charge of one. particular shop,”
as though it were for the public good ? If it be for the public
good that the master only should take “special charge,”
what is the use of qualified assistants at all ? My opinion is
that they are better for “ the safety of the public” than the
majority of the present masters. But if the master only is
to take the “ special charge,” I would add some such clause
as the following : — “ For the greater safety of the public, be

it enacted that, on and after - , no chemist shall leave

his shop under any consideration, whether to attend a
meeting of his own society, municipal or otherwise, or to do
any business whatever, except for a period of fifteen
minutes at any one time, under a penalty of £20 for every
such offence.” Clergymen have more than one charge,
solicitors have more than one office, and “ doctors ” more
than one surgery, in different parts of the same town. .

With the third point I perfectly agree. But I do think
that no one but a chemist or a “doctor” should be allowed
to put up a “ patent medicine ” and send it into the market.

February 26, 1881.]

the pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

731

i I also am of opinion, that -words might he arranged in such
a form as to prohibit anyone selling drugs and chemicals
when sold as medicines, but those who have been educated
for the purpose. _ ^ Gkq> p poND>

Sir —If ever a steam engine was brought to kill a mouse,
the Pharmacy Acts have been framed to crush the legally
qualified chemist, and like a steam roller smooth the path
over his mangled body to the oilman, the grocer, and the
stores. The profits on the Bale of scheduled poisons are
barely worth the paper on which they are registered, and I,
for one, would gladly give up the gains of the past seven
, years to be freed from the responsibility of seven years

Being called upon by law to qualify and register at a cost
of mental toil and pecuniary sacrifice, we naturally ask
i with the Artful Dodger, “Where are our privileges?
j The privilege of being hauled up at a coroner s inquest,

J and placed in the eye of the public in a semi-criminal
position (although, if possessing the Major qualification,

; dismissed from jury service), are surely scant recompense
for the onerous and responsible duties of our office.

And yet, forsooth, some of your correspondents affirm
, that “ legislation in favour of the druggist is not to be
| looked for or wished for.” Why meddle with the Pharmacy

! Act at all then? ...

We have good reason to know how much the public care
: for us, so long as the stores are available, and yet 1 believe,
judging from the language quoted, they care more for us
i than we do for one another. There are two difficulties
| ahead of us ; one is the dispensing of medical men, and the
other the patent medicine question, and we cannot dispose
of the former until our hands are clean of the latter, and I
believe our motto will have to be “ the whole hog or
none.”

We must either discountenance, and if needs be, give up
the sale of nostrums, or apply for powers to be the only
vendors of them preparatory to a thorough investigation of
I their detriment to the public health, and no man who
I knows the end of inferior drugs, however averse he may be
j to protection, will deny that it would be a great boon to
! the public, if examined and registered druggists were the
only dealers in medicine in any form, rural districts having
i persons licensed for their sale. Let our leaders, when a
i fitting opportunity occurs, ask for and claim this as a right,
and then they will kill more than two birds with one stone.

Scarborough. Alfred Jones.

The Relations of Pharmacy and Medicine.

Sir, — I certainly agree with some of your correspondents
that an endeavour to promote a reciprocal feeling between
the medical profession and ourselves is far more desirable
! and “compatible” than wailing over the dying embers of
the fading profits on proprietary articles. But it would
I be suicidal and unwise to forget in our zeal for employment,

1 that more work means more assistance, and this, of course,

I implies more expenditure, to say nothing of the too fre-
i quently accompanying disagreeables. Ergo, I cannot see
j with your respected correspondent, B.S.J., that Is. 2d. is an
“ ample ” charge for dispensing a bottle of medicine con¬
taining thirty-two doses, and from a Latin prescription.

I Perhaps B. S. J. does not have any assistants to pay and
I board. If he has, metbinks he has unintentionally forgotten
j such minor (?) matters as rent, taxes, time, bottles, corks,
i labels, paper and sealing wax ; or it may be that in his
sphere of labour (I take my own lot to be little short of
slavery) errand boys or porters are so plentiful and
! obliging that they will run hither and thither all day long
, for the honour of bearing the conventional ‘ ‘ basket.”

That B. S. J. is correct in his idea about the extravagant
charges made by some bouses, I think few will deny ; but
there is a wide difference between exorbitant and remunera¬
tive charges. Let us by all means charge reasonably and
fairly for our work ; but on no account let us forget that
time, skilled labour, education and responsibility, have also
a just claim for reward.

Epsilon.

London International Medical and Sanitary
Exhibition.

Sir, — "We have much pleasure in announcing that arrange-
: ments have been completed for holding the International

Medical and Sanitary Exhibition initiated by the Execu¬
tive Committee of the Parkes Museum of Hygiene.

This exhibition will be held on the occasion of the
meeting of the International Medical Congress of 1881, and
will be open from July 16 to August 13.

The exhibitiou will comprise everything that is of service
for the prevention, detection, cure and alleviation of dis¬
ease, and will be divided into three sections.

Medical Section: — Surgical instruments and apparatus;
appliances of the ward and sickroom ; drugs, disinfectants,
medical dietetic articles and mineral waters ; electrical
instruments and appliances ; microscopes and optical
apparatus ; apparatus of other kinds used in the investiga¬
tion of disease ; appliances used for the treatment of sick
and wounded during war — street ambulances, etc.; ap¬
pliances used in teaching medicine ; books, diagrams,
models, etc.

Sanitary Section : — Domestic and hospital architecture ;
planning, construction, decorative materials ; ventilation,
lighting, and warming; water closets, sinks, baths, etc.;
sewerage and drainage ; water supply and filtration ; health
resorts and sanitaria ; books, diagrams, models, etc.

Miscellaneous Section: — Applications of hygienic prin¬
ciples to food and dietaries, clothing, etc. ; school furniture
and other articles more or less connected with the general
purpose of the exhibition.

The Exhibition will be held at South Kensington, space
having been granted for it by the Royal Commissioners for
the Exhibition of 1851. Applications for space from Great
Britain and Ireland and the Continent of Europe must be
made not later than Thursday, March 31, 1881 ; but applica¬
tions from India, the Colonies and America will be received
up to April 16, 1881.

Certificates of merit will be awarded to exhibitors. New
inventions exhibited will be protected under a certificate
from the Board of Trade. Exhibitors will be charged for
space, and it is hoped that the exhibition, in this and other
ways, will bo made to pay its expenses. An undertaking of
this magnitude, however, is not without risk, and although
upwards of £800 has been subscribed as a guarantee fund,
we hope the Committee will receive such additional con¬
tributions as will enable them to thoroughly carry out their
work. A list of the guarantors will be published in the
cataloguo.

Forms of applications for space, and all particulars, may
be had of the Secretary of the Exhibition Committee,
Parkes Museum of Hygiene, University College, London.
Office hours 10 to 4, Saturday, 10 to 2.

John Eric Erichsen, F.R.S.,

(President of the Royal College of Surgeons ),
Chairman of the Exhibition Committee.
Mark H. Judge,

(Curator of the Parlies Museum of Hygiene),
Secretary of the Exhibition Committee.

Parlces Museum of Hygiene,

University College, Gower Street , February, 22, 188

Spiritus Ammonia Aromaticus.

Sir,— Referring to a recent correspondence in the Journal
concerning the production of sp. ammon. arom. by direct
mixture without distillation, I have succeeded in adding
the S.V.R., etc., to the solution of ammon. sq. carb. and
liq. ammon., without precipitating the ammonia, by placing
the solution in a narrow mouthed jar in a water-bath at a
temperature of from 100 to 110° and adding the spirit
gradually with brisk stirring, and found that, at that
temperature, very little of the ammonia and practically
none of the S.V.R. was volatilized.

The spirit as thus made is scarcely to be distinguished
from the B.P. article prepared by distillation and will
possess the decided advantage of being always alike.

The jar of solution of ammonia should be allowed to
stand in the water-bath for about five minutes before
commencing to add the spirit, in which the flavouring
ingredients should be dissolved.

Clare, Suffolk. Thos. Stokoe.

Alumen, B.P.

gjr _ A short time ago I had occasion to examine a parcel

of what was sent as pulv. alum, sulph., B.P. (to make sure
that it was ammonia alum), but in the course of examina¬
tion it was found that potash alum had been sent instead Of

732

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 26, 1881.

the B.P. article. This was placed aside, and a second quantity-
ordered from another well-known London firm, which on
being subjected to examination also turned out to be potash
alum. This being the case, inquiry was made from the source
of the latest supply, and the information forwarded in reply
was of such a character that I think it is only right the
matter should be brought before the notice of pharmacists in
general . N ot having the reply at hand I am unable to give an
extract from it, but the gentleman who wrote it is a chemist
of the highest standing, and I am confident he would not
have made the assertion had he not good grounds for so
doing. As far as my recollections go he states, “ that they
had only one small jar of alumen, B.P., in crystals on their
premises, and that it was not procurable in London ; owing
to the enormous consumption of potash alum in the arts
and manufactures ammonia alum had become obsolete.”
No doubt the consumption of potash alum in the various
dye works alone is enormous, and the demand for ammonia
alum insignificant in comparison to that for potash alum,
so I presume the manufacturers have discontinued making
the official preparation, the resumption of which can only
be secured by pharmacists insisting on having (at least for
dispensing puposes) supplied to them the B.P. preparation.
Therapeutically considered, potash alum may be quite as
efficacious and good as the ammonia alum, but that does not
exonerate chemists from substituting a non-official for an
official preparation, and as long as the ammonia alum re¬
mains the only official one, it alone should be used when
prescribed by medical men, substitution in this case being
the ally of adulteration.

During the week I obtained from various establishments
samples of their B.P. alum ; on analysis every one was found
to be potash alum. I think that there is no need to go further
to prove how completely ammonia alum has become deleted
from the list of official preparations ; therefore, I trust this
notice will be in some measure the means of creating a de¬
mand for the B.P. preparation, which alone should occupy
the place in the dispensing department, if chemists were a
little more particular in the examination of their chemicals as
well as drugs. I have no doubt this deletion would never
have taken place, but I am afraid there is too much reliance
placed in what is sent from wholesale houses, and I think
it ought to be the incumbent duty of every chemist to see
that his chemicals answer the B.P. test before being used
for dispensing purposes.

31, London Street, Nonvich. W. Watson "Will.

Sale op Cough Lozenges.

Sir, — We have had a correspondence with the Commis¬
sioners of Inland Revenue, with reference to the sale of
“ cough lozenges,” and we beg to submit it to you for pub¬
lication in the Journal, as it may be interesting, and settle
a much disputed question.

J. B. Shillcock and Son.

“ Bromley, Kent, January 22, 1881.

“ To the Commissioners of Stamps, Somerset House.

“ Gentlemen, — We have been advised by the Secretary of
the Pharmaceutical Society to submit to you a sample of
cough lozenges and label, to ask. if they can be sold without
being subjected to the stamp duty; they are sold in bulk
and in boxes at 6d. and Is. each; we are anxious not to do
anything contrary to the Act. An early reply will oblige

“Yours obediently,

“ J. B. Shillock and Son,

“ Pharmaceutical Chemists.”

“ Inland Revenue, Somerset House, W.C.,

t( January 31, 1881.

“ Gentlemen, — The Board of Inland Revenue having had
before them your letter of the 22nd inst., have directed me
to acquaint you that ‘ Shillcock’ s cough lozenges ’ are liable
to stamp duty.

“Iam, gentlemen,

“ Your obedient servant,

“ F. L. Robinson.”

“ To the Secretary, Inland Revenue, Somerset House,

“ February 1, 1881.

“ Sir, — We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter ‘ R 590 stamps, 5 with reference to our applica¬

tion of the 22nd ult., respecting the liability of our cough
lozenges to the stamp duty. What we wanted to know, was,
whether they could be sold in boxes and bulk without being
stamped with a patent medicine stamp; the boxes we will
stamp, but what we want especially to know, is, may they
be retailed in large or small quantities, stamped as they are,
viz., ‘ Shillcock’s cough lozenges? 5 if not, could they be sold
retail, stamped ‘ cough lozenges, Shillcock, Bromley ; ’ or
must they be stamped simply ‘cough lozenges’ to be
exempt? We are sorry to be obliged to trouble you
further, but it is important for us to know what we can
and what we cannot do. The favour of an early reply will
oblige *

“ Your obedient servants,

“ J. B. Shillcock and Son.

“P.S. — We may mention that no descriptive bill is an.
closed with the boxes.”

“ Inland Revenue, Somerset House,

“ February 7, 1881.

“ Gentlemen, — With reference to your letter of the let
inst., I am directed by the Board of Inland Revenue to
acquaint you that the lozenges therein mentioned are
rendered liable to stamp duty by their being described as
* Shillcock’s cough lozenges.’ I enclose for your information
and guidance extracts from the Acts of Parliament imposing
and regulating the duty on medicines.

“ I am, gentlemen,

“Your obedient servant,

• “ F. L. Robinson.”

“ To the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, Somerset

“ House,

(< February 9, 1881.

“ Gentlemen, — We have the honour to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 7th inst., ‘R 802 stamps,’ in
answer to ours of the 1st inst., informing us that the
lozenges mentioned are rendered liable to stamp-duty by
their being described as * Shillcock’s cough lozenges.’ That
conclusively decides the first of our questions; but the
others are not noticed, viz., could they be sold retail
stamped ‘cough lozenges, Shillcock, Bromley?’ or must
they be stamped simply ‘cough lozenges’ to be exempt?
We regret the necessity of again trespassing upon yon, but
the questions are so critical, that it is of the utmost im¬
portance that they should be thoroughly defined, in order
to protect the trade and prevent infringements of the Act.
We shall be glad to be informed upon the last two questions
distinctly. We do not wish to trouble you further as to
putting them up in boxes, because in future we shall not
sell any without a stamp ; but what we want to know is,
whether we are excluded from selling them retail, under all
the descriptions on the lozenges above enumerated. We
enclose a cough lozenge described as such; can that be
legally sold by retail ? if not, we venture to say, there is
scarcely a chemist in the kingdom who has not for years
been subjecting himself to a penalty, because such lozenges
are universally sold by retail. This correspondence most
likely will be circulated in the Pharmaceutical Journal, as
it applies to all who retail such cough lozenges, and it is
therefore desirable that the question should be definitely
and authoritatively settled. The favour of a reply at your
earliest convenience will oblige.

“We are, gentlemen,

“ Your obedient servants,

“ J. B. Shillcock and Son.”

“ Inland Revenue, Somerset House,

“ February 15, 1881.

“ Gentlemen, — In reply to your further letter of the 9th
inst., respecting the liability to stamp duty of the cough
lozenges referred to, I have to acquaint you that the words
‘ cough lozenges,’ or ‘ cough lozenges, Shillcock, Bromley,’
if not accompanied by any recommendation, would not be
regarded by the Board as requiring the use of stamps.

“ I am, gentlemen,

“ Your obedient servant,

“ Fredk. B. Garnett.”

Communications, Lbtters, etc., have been received from

Messrs. Henderson, Blaine, Nunhouse, Gibb, Cathcart,
Burnham, Nichols, Owles, Radford, Sarniensis, Chemicus,
Islander, Epsilon, Pharmacist, Sigma, Robertus, Qusesitor,
H. C. H.

March 6, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

733

JAFFERABAD ALOES.*

BY E. M. HOLMES, F.L.S.

About a year ago a specimen of a drug known in
the Bombay market as Jafferabad aloes, was pre¬
sented to tbe Museum of the Society by Dr. Dymock.
In a letter received from him in July last, he states
concerning it : —

“ I shall try and send some small plants of the J affera-
bad aloe in a tin box. I want to have it compared with
Dr. Balfour’s aloe from Socotra, as the character of the
drug yielded by it is similar to that of Socotrine aloes in
not° giving a red colour with nitric acid. Jafferabad
belongs to the African family who were admirals to the
Mogul, and they may have introduced the plant. Differ¬
ence of climate might account for the difference of the
two drugs.”

The difference here alluded to will be best
understood by those who are familiar with the ap¬
pearance of Socotrine aloes, if the appearance of
the Jafferabad drug be here briefly described.

The specimen received from Dr. Dymock is a
circular flattened cake, inches in diameter, and
| of an inch in thickness. Externally it is of a black
colour, and having a lustre not unlike that of pitch, to
which at first sight the aloes bears some resemblance.
The fracture is black and glassy, and very slightly
porous, as if heat had been used in its preparation.
The powder, when two pieces are rubbed together,
is of a pale brown hue. When the glassy broken
surface is breathed on, it becomes, after a time, of a
brownish hue, and under the lens looks like aven-
turine, apparently owing to an immense number of
minute cracks, causing the partial separation of
minute translucent laminae. The odour is a character¬
istic one, having some resemblance to that of Soco¬
trine, but less fragrant, as if it contained a trace of
Barbadoes aloes and sandal wood. The taste of the
decoction is not so pleasant as that of the Socotrine
aloes ; but the amount of matter insoluble in water
seems to be equal in amount to that ol the Socotrine
aloes.

When submitted to the action of nitric and sul¬
phuric acids ho change takes place with the first
named reagent, but when the vapour of nitric acid
is passed over the mixture of J afferabad aloes and
oil of vitriol a slight greenish tinge is developed.
This hue is, however, quite different from the
distinct blue colour developed by Natal aloes when
similarly treated.

Dr. Dymock has cultivated the Jafferabad aloes
plant in his garden, and it flowered at the end of
last September. A few of the blossoms which he
sent me have been submitted to Mr. J. G. Baker, of
Kew, who has recently paid considerable attention
to this group of plants, and he considers, so far
as it is possible to determine from the flowers alone^
that they belong to Aloe A hyssinicct. Dr. Dymock
collected some of the aloes from the Jafferabad plant
in his garden, and found it to give the same reaction
as Socotrine aloes, and as he obtained the same
results as with the aloes imported from Jafferabad
there can be little doubt that the species of aloe culti¬
vated in his garden is the source of the drug bearing
that name.

A specimen of Mocha aloes in irregular masses,
which was obtained in the London drug market last
year, gives exactly the same faint greenish colour
when mixed . with strong sulphuric acid and the

* Read at the Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Society, March 2, 1881.

Third Series, No. 558.

vapour of nitric acid is blown over it. The powder
is more of a reddish-brown hue, like that of catechu,
and the odour slightly different. The surface has
the pitch-like appearance of the Jafferabad aloes, but
it seems to have been prepared with less care, which
might account for the slight difference in odour, and
as according to Dr. Pereira, ( Materia Medica,’ vol. 1,
p. 192 (4th ed.), it is imported from Muscat, lower
down the Persian Gulf, it seems probable that it may
be yielded by the same species of aloes. I hope to
receive specimens of the Jafferabad aloe from Dr.
Dymock shortly, when the identity of the species can
doubtless be set at rest.

My excuse for bringing forward incomplete infor¬
mation at the present time must be that it seemed
desirable, while the drugs from Socotra, kindly pre¬
sented by Professor Balfour, were under discussion,
to mention an aloes which seemed so nearly related
to the Socotrine variety.

[The discussion on this paper is printed at p. 746.]

NOTE ON SOME ARTIFICIALLY COLOURED
ROSE LEAVES.*

BY T. EDWARD GREENISH.

In the autumn of last .year my attention was
directed to the very brilliant colour of a sample of
rose leaves which had just been received in the
ordinary course of business, and the colour of the
infusion made from them confirmed my suspicions
that some method had been adopted for intensifying
the natural colour of the leaves, or that they had
been artificially coloured. The subject was put aside
for a more convenient opportunity for investigation,
when an observation which occurred in “The Month,”
that some rose leaves had appeared in the market
artificially coloured with rosaniline, again directed my
attention to the sample, and I subjected it to an
examination, with the view of ascertaining what
substance had been used to intensify the natural
colour, or if it had been coloured artificially.

The detection of rosaniline in red wine has engaged
the attention of many scientific men on the Continent,
where that subject has assumed great importance,
and various methods have been devised for detecting
its presence. A very good one, which in its details
possesses some interest, is given in the Journal of the
Berlin Chemical Society, 13, 2263. The process is
mainly grounded on the fixing of the colours by
means of wool.

To carry out the process, a tincture of the petals in
proof spirit was prepared of a strength of about 1 in
8. The deep crimson colour of this tincture con¬
trasted strongly with that made from natural rose
petals, which yielded but a slight colour.

Two ounces of this tincture were made alkaline by
ammonia, a few threads of fine white wool were
added and the whole boiled until the spirit and
ammonia were dissipated. The wool was taken out,
washed and heated gently in a test tube with a small
quantity of a 10 per cent, solution of caustic potash;
the resulting brown solution was cooled, and diluted
with half its volume of alcohol. A quantity of ether
equal in volume to the mixture was added and the
whole well shaken. The ether rose to the surface,
was removed, and, on the addition of acetic acid, the
pink colour of acetate of rosaniline was at once
produced and instantly discharged, by the action of
nascent hydrogen _ _ _ _

* Read at the Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Society, March 2, 1881.

?34 the pharmaceutical journal and transactions. [March 5, 1881

A variation in tlie above process consists in
evaporating the spirit from the tincture, rendering
it alkaline with ammonia when cool, and shaking
with ether; on saturating wool with the ethereal
solution and allowing it to dry, a pink colour more
or less intense is produced.

To test the presence of rosaniline in the infusion
made according to the Pharmacopoeia, 20 ounces
were treated by the first named process, and gave
■ample evidence of the presence of the dye.

Natural undyed rose petals treated by either pro-
£ess afford no such reactions.

Benzole and chloroform are without action on the
petals, either natural or dyed, but the latter yield
their colour to amylic alcohol.

The first named method, originally applied to red
vine, seems most satisfactory with a proof-spirit
tincture of the roses in question, and the presence of
rosaniline in the petals of this sample is placed
beyond a doubt. Its occurrence cannot be considered
accidental, and it is difficult to avoid the conclusion
that the coloration was effected with a fraudulent
intention. The arsenic usually present in rosaniline,
although minute and perhaps varying in quantity,
renders it incumbent on the pharmacist to reject such
a sample as the one which was the subject of this
investigation.

{The discussion on this payer is printed at p. 748.]

EXTRACTION OF COLCHICIA FROM THE SEED.*

BY LEMUEL I. MORRIS.

The powdering or grinding of colchicum seed has
always been a source of much labour and annoyance to
the pharmacist, and to overcome the difficulty, the
purchasing of seed already ground has often been resorted
to, a practice which does not commend itself to the
profession, for the reasons that the powder is more
expensive and can be very easily adulterated.

Dannenberg (Phar. Zeit., October 30, 1880) has recently,
m answer to an article by Dr. Molz (Deutsch. Amer. Phar.
Zcit.}, shown that he obtained results contradicting the
conclusions of the latter, who stated that colchicum seed,
when more than a year old, was nearly worthless, and
that colchicia could be extracted only by a strong
alcoholic or acidulated menstruum, while he (Dannenberg)
obtained the alkaloid reaction after boiling the seed,
which was not less than five years old, for only a few
moments in pure water. These different statements have
led to some discussions on the subject and a desire to
further investigate the matter.

To Dr. Hiibler (Arch, der Pharm., 1865), it seems,
Belongs the credit of making the first statement that
colchicia could be wholly extracted without powdering
ihe seeds, by digesting them for some time in a hot 90
per cent, alcoholic menstruum. When afterwards
powdered, and treated like the whole seed, it was found
that the alkaloid had been entirely removed, and that
very little if any soluble matter was extracted by the
menstruum from such powdered seed.

Mr. Rosen wasser, in 1877 (Amer. Jour. Phar.), after
some experiments, found that only one-third of the colchicia
was removed by macerating the whole seed, in officinal
menstrua, for some time. Had he employed a hot
menstruum, he would have obtained different results.

Some of the whole seeds were obtained from a cabinet
specimen of Professor Maisch’s, which has been in his
possession for over ten years. Of this sample, 50 grams
were macerated in cold dilute alcohol (sp. gr. ‘941) for
three days ; a portion of the tincture was then evaporated
so dryness, the residue treated with alcohol, again

* Read before the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy,
December 21, 1880. Reprinted from the American Journal
»/ Pharmacy , January, 1881.

evaporated to dryness, treated with water, and filtered.
The filtered liquid was tested with Mayer’s test, after
the addition of a few drops o/ nitric acid, when a yellow
precipitate was immediately produced. The seeds were
then well drained, and treated again with a fresh portion
of the menstruum, when an additional amount of alkaloid 1
was obtained. On treating them in a like manner for
the third time, no more alkaloid was obtained.

They were then digested in dilute alcohol, with a
moderate heat, for three hours, and on appljing the
usual tests a considerable amount of colchicia was found
to be present. After well draining, they were again
subjected to the action of heat and dilute alcohol, but no
alkaloid was found present on testing the filtered liquid.

The seeds were now well drained, powdered and
macerated in cold dilute alcohol for three days, when on
testing a portion of the menstruum none of the alkaloid
was found present, and the result was not altered by
digesting in the same menstruum, with a moderate heat,
for three hours, although a considerable amount of soluble
matter was extracted. The tincture obtained from the
cold maceration was evaporated to the consistence of an
extract, and weighed 4-806 grams = 9 ’61 per cent. It
was treated with alcohol until all the soluble matter was
dissolved, the alcoholic solution was evaporated to dryness,
the residue treated with water, the aqueous solution \
filtered, and the alkaloid precipitated by Mayer’s test; <
the precipitate, carefully washed and dried, weighed "093 I
gram = *18 per cent.

The decoction obtained from digesting the seeds with i
hot dilute alcohol was then evaporated to the consistence
of an extract, and weighed 2’0006 grams = 4'01 per cent, i
The extract was treated in a similar manner as the pre- j
ceding, and the colchicia precipitate was found to weigh
*161 gram = 0 ‘3 2 per cent., showing that nearly two-thirds
of the active principle was extracted by the hot, and only
one-third by the cold menstruum, the latter being the
proportion also obtained by Mr. Rosenwasser. In all
cases, the extracts and precipitates containing the
alkaloid gave the characteristic colchicia reaction with
sulphuric acid and potassium nitrate.

Some of the whole seeds were then boiled in pure water;
on testing the filtered liquid, colchicia was found present. '
The seeds were then powdered, again boiled in water, when, ’
on testing the filtered liquid, the alkaloid reaction was not ,
obtained, showing that the active principle was entirely
dissolved from the whole seed by boiling water.

Statements have been advanced at various times to
the effect that colchicia was precipitated along with the
sediment that deposits from liquid colchicum preparations.
The precipitated deposit was obtained from ten gallons
of fluid extract of the seed, which had stood for six
months. This sediment was carefully dried, washed
with water containing about one-fifth its volume of
alcohol until the washings passed tasteless, and then
treated in the following manner : One half of the washed
residue was boiled with water acidulated with acetic
acid, filtered, evaporated to dryness, treated with alcohol
and water in the usual way, when, on adding the alkaloid
test not a trace of colchicia could be detected.

The balance of the residue was boiled in strong alcohol,
filtered, the filtrate treated in the usual way; again no
traces of colchicia could be observed.

The results of the different experiments lead to the
following conclusions : — 1. That it is a waste of time and
useless operation to powder colchicum seed, as the active
principle can be wholly extracted by digesting them in the
ordinary menstrua for a few hours, at a temperature of
about 80° C. 2. That alcohol stronger than dilute (sp. gr.
*941) is unnecessary for any of the liquid preparations of
colchicum seed, since the whole of the alkaloid can be ex¬
tracted with that menstruum, or even with water. 3. That
the active principle is so soluble in the menstrua directed
in the different U. S. officinal preparations, that it is impos¬
sible for it to be precipitated from such solutions, either
as colchicia or in the modified condition Of colchicein.

March 5, 1SSI.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

735

%1!> itrimueutind Journal.

SATURDAY , MARCH 5, 1881.

THE “LANCET” ON COUNTER PRESCRIBING.

The probability that the subject of medical reform
will be referred to a Royal Commission for inquiry
offers some prospect that attention may be directed
to certain points affecting at once the interests of the
public, of medical practitioners, and of pharmacists,
and that measures may be suggested for removing
some of those grounds for complaint on one side or
I the other which have long demonstrated the necessity
of better regulation of the various functions to be
j performed in connection with the healing art.

That the Medical Bill, introduced by Mr. Hard-
castle, could not have proved suitable for effecting
such reform as is necessary, either in regard to the
i constitution of the General Medical Council, the
improvement of medical education or the prevention
of improper forms of medical practice, is tolerably
evident from the very general expression of disap¬
proval which it has called forth from most of the
medical journals, as well as from the writer of the
article in the Times to which we referred a fortnight
i since. The correspondence that has appeared in
i reference to the Bill, and the comments of the British
) Medical J ournal upon the letters of “ A Registered
Medical Practitioner,” further show the absence of
i unanimity amongst medical men as to what is de-
j sirable from their point of view.

As regards the penal clause of Mr. Hardcastle’s
! Bill, the Medical Times and Gazette concurs with
the writer of the article in the Times in thinking
| that it will easily be seen that a Bill containing such
! a clause is not very likely to become an Act of
: Parliament; but the Lancet has taken its appearance
in Parliament as an inducement to return to that
mode of dealing with the subject of " counter prac¬
tice ” which we have on former occasions felt bound
to declare unworthy of the position that journal
j holds and of the influence it exercises in virtue of
its traditional repute. In an article, entitled “ The
Wrongs of Counter Practice,” commencing with a
: disclaimer of any wish to quarrel with druggists, it
I is asserted that they cannot be acquitted by the
j Lancet of inflicting grievous wrong upon the medical
J profession and the public. Assuming to speak on
j behalf of the medical profession, the Lancet makes
no apology for placing their grievance foremost, be-
i cause that is considered to be the greatest, inasmuch
' as the legitimate fees of the practitioner are inter-
| cepted by the druggist’s practice of supplying medi-
I cines for coughs, indigestion, bilious attacks, sore
throats, etc.

Counter practice is denounced by the Lancet as a
system of irregular privateering, mainly because it
' P^vents medical men from getting fees, and for this
reason the druggist who responds to the request of

the public is characterized as a quack not one whit
less offensive to the public interests than the un¬
qualified practitioner who holds himself out as a
doctor.

. ft would appear that, from the Lancet's point of
view, all mankind are to be divided into two classes,
viz., legally qualified practitioners and quacks ; but
among the latter it is only druggists that are the
object of its condemnation, although for con¬
sistency’s sake it might have ventured to be equally
severe on those who doctor themselves or are
content to make use of patent medicines. Certainly
we have here evidence enough of the spirit of trades
unionism, which the Times speaks of as being
scarcely veiled in the Medical Bill of Mr. Hard-
castle. It is true that detriment to the public is
urged by the Lancet as another reason for its con¬
demnation of “ counter practice ” by druggists ; but
it is urged only as a secondary consideration, and the
statements made as to the injury inflicted upon the
public are of such a nature as would scarcely bear
examination. The real grievance is that “ counter
practice” by the druggist enables a sick person “to
do without the doctor.”

This is not, we venture to think, the spirit in
which a medical journal should deal with the
subject of “ counter practice.” Even if that prac¬
tice be regarded as an evil in all its relations, we
cannot hope that its discontinuance will be promoted
by such disingenuous attacks upon druggists as it has
become the habit of the Lancet to indulge in. Our
readeis will give us credit for having always sought to
maintain that counter practice is undesirable, both as
regards the real interests of pharmacy and the estab¬
lishment of good mutual relations between druggists
the medical profession. But we cannot shut our eyes
to the fact that other circumstances have to be taken
into account before druggists can be justly condemned
for “counter practice” after the fashion of the Lancet.
There is no ground for the opinion that medical men
alone possess a prescriptive and exclusive right to
administer medicine; nor is it true, as the Lancet
states, that the knowledge of drugs and their
uses possessed by druggists is picked up in the
exercise of their business as dispensers. We dis¬
claim altogether any attempt to justify or uphold
the treatment of disease by druggists, and we
venture to assert that such practice on their part
is very rarely, if ever, attempted. But it by no means
follows that the druggist, possessing by education
a special knowledge of drugs and their uses, which
is free to anyone to acquire, should be prohibited
from supplying remedies for simple ailments when
requested, or that he should be characterized as a
quack for rendering such service and making his
knowledge useful.

There are, no doubt, instances in which ailments,
apparently simple, may be the initial stages of grave
disease, but that is no valid reason why the suffering
individual should be precluded from asking the

736

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 5,1881

druggist to supply him with a remedy for diarrhoea,
for a sore throat or a cold. It would be monstrous
to compel persons under such circumstances to
consult a medical man and pay him a fee, when they
believe they can obtain relief for a few pence from
the druggist. And, moreover, as regards such cases
as those referred to by the La?icet, it must be re¬
membered that persons applying to druggists for
medicine are often advised to seek the aid of a
medical man.

Another point referred to by the Lancet is the
practice of repeating physicians’ prescriptions. This
is described as a “ form of counter practice really too
bad to characterize,” and it is asserted that the
system of copying and entering prescriptions has
little purpose except for this subsequent use and
for even altering the prescriptions so as to make
them answer for ailments other than those for
which they were prescribed. We cannot but
designate these statements as particularly disinge¬
nuous and unfounded. The Lancet ought to know
that the popular opinion in this country is that
when a prescription is obtained from a medical man
to whom a fee is paid the prescription becomes the
property of the patient, and that it is a common
belief he has the right to do what he chooses with it,
either in the way of repetition of its use for himself
or by recommending it to a friend. We do not mean
to say that such a proceeding is always wise, or that
it is in general desirable ; but however that may be,
it is no business of the dispensing druggist to step in
and enforce observance of a rule contrary to public
opinion. However desirable limitation of the use of
prescriptions may be, it is the province of the pre-
scriber, and not that of the dispenser, to impose that
limitation. If it be true, as the Lancet asserts, that
“ to perpetuate a prescription is to incur a risk of
injuring the patient, and in any case to wrong the
practitioner,” the removal of the risk and of the
wrong is wholly in the hands of the prescriber.

With strange inconsistency, as regards the interests
of the public, and even those of medical men, it is
contended by the Lancet that the supply of patent
medicines is unobjectionable as compared with the
supply of simple remedies by the druggist, because
they are supplied as sealed packages, and though
they may be misused by the public it would seem
that the consequences are not to be deemed of much
account. This argument is far from being in accord
with the opinions of medical men as to the unre¬
stricted sale of patent medicines containing potent
drugs, and we confess being utterly surprised to find
such a doctrine put forward in the Lancet.

The suppression of counter practice, however, is
the idea that has taken possession of our contem¬
porary, and it is declared that no measure of medical
reform will be satisfactory which does not provide
for this. Though the Lancet has no wish to quarrel
with the fraternity of dispensers, that is the sine qua
ncm, and the Pharmaceutical Society is called upon
to deal with this question before it comes under the
consideration of the Legislature. A request so
reasonable and urgent, says the Lancet, must cer¬
tainly be held to call for compliance.

By a sort of coincidence we may point out
that this subject has been dealt with by the
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society at its last

meeting, and for information as to the views of
druggists we would refer our contemporary to the
report of what took place when Mr. Radley moved
his resolution in reference to the penal clause of Mr.
Hardcastle’s Bill. We reciprocate the desire of the
Lancet that there should be no quarrel between dis- 1
pensing druggists and the medical profession, but at
the same time we venture to suggest that if such an
undesirable contingency is to be avoided the ques¬
tion of “ counter practice ” must be dealt with in a
manner very different from that proposed by the
Lancet , and conjointly with the equally important
question of medical dispensing.

THE MEDICAL REGISTER.

We are indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Miller,
the Registrar of the General Medical Council, for an
early copy of this year’s ‘ Medical Register,’ which
has on this occasion been brought out much earlier
than heretofore, and presents also some noteworthy
improvements upon previous editions. Besides im¬
provement of the typographical arrangement we
understand that the whole work has been subjected
to a most careful and laborious revision for the
purpose of securing as far as possible accuracy of
entries. The several Medical Acts up to the
present date are arranged and indexed at the
beginning of the volume, and on page 68 there
is a table showing the exact numbers of persons
registered in the local registers for England, I
Scotland and Ireland, pursuant to the 25th sec-
section of the Medical Act. From this it appears
that the total number of persons registered in the
three countries from the beginning of registration,
in 1858, up to the present time (January 1, 1881) is
35,367, of whom there remain now on the Medical
Register for this year 22,936. Of this latter uumber
69 A per cent, belong to England, 15 per cent, to
Scotland and 15 '6 per cent, to Ireland.

BRAND’S ESSENCE OF BEEF.

A protracted litigation in reference to this ^
preparation has been going on for some time
between two firms who claimed to have the right to
sell it, and an appeal from an order of Vice-
Chancellor M alins against Mr. H. W. Brand for
breach of an injunction to restrain him from selling
this and other articles was heard before the Court
of Appeal last Wednesday. The Master of the
Rolls decided that Mr. Brand, as the original !
inventor of the essence of beef, had a right to sell
it as Brand’s Essence of Beef, and that as his
circulars and advertisements were not within the
purview of the injunction the case must be decided
m his favour. Lord Justice Cotton delivered
judgment to the same effect and Lord Justice Lusii
concurred in the decision.

ANNUAL DINNERS AND THE BENEVOLENT FUND.

The chemists and druggists of Ipswich dined
together on the 11th ult., and on the 26th they
entertained the assistants and apprentices employed
in the town at dinner. One pleasant feature of
this meeting would very well bear imitation at
similar social gatherings. Among the toasts given
was that of “ The Benevolent Fund of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society,” and after it had been duly honoured 1
in the usual way, subscriptions to the Fund to the
amount of thirty-one shillings were collected and
have since been forwarded to the Secretary.

March 5, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

737

®vaits actions of tljc ybann.ucutical

Socicti).

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday , March 2, 1881.

MR. THOMAS GREENISH, PRESIDENT,

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Atkins, Bottle, Butt, Churchill,
Prazer, Gostling, Hampson, Hills, Radley, Richardson,
Robbins, Sandford, Savage, Symes, Williams and
Woolley.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The President said he wished to say a word respecting
the letter from the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, for
which purpose he would move that the Council should go
into committee.

The Council accordingly went into committee.

On resuming, it was resolved unanimously —

“ That this Council, having received a copy of sugges¬
tions for the amendment of the Irish Pharmacy Act,
refer the same to the Pharmacy Act Amendment
Committee for consideration and report.”

The following, being duly registered as Pharmaceutical
Chemists, were respectively granted a diploma stamped
with the seal of the Society

Barnett, John Arthur.

Burrell, Thomas.

Chapman, William Henry.

Dodd, William Ralph.

Ekins, Charles.

Gifford, Richard Lord.

Haden, Walter Edward.

Selleck, William Robert.

Wimshurst, Frederick.

Elections.

members.

Pharmaceutical Chemists.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and tendered their subscriptions for the current year,
were elected “Members” of the Society :

Barnett, John Arthur . Salisbury.

Chapman, William Henry . Birmingham.

Haden, Walter Edward . Lichfield.

Selleck, William Robert . London.

Wimshurst, Frederick . Brenchley.

Chemists and Druggists.

The following registered chemists and druggists, who
were in business on their own account before August 1,
1868, having tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “Members” of the Society : —

Heald, Alfred John . Burnham, Bucks.

Trinder, Edwin . Solihull.

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

The following having passed their respective examina¬
tions, being in business on their own account, and having
tendered their subscriptions for the current year, were
elected “ Associates in Business ” of the Society : — -

Minor.

Forgue, William . Falkirk.

Hardcastle, Stephen Barnabas.. Brighton.

Kemp, Harry . Manchester.

Martin, Anson Edwin . Birmingham.

Newman, Alfred Pointon . Crewe.

Parker, Thomas . Preston.

Place, Thomas . York.

Rutter, John . London.

Smith, William . East Dereham.

Tatam, Samuel Blackmore C.... Plymouth.

Modified.

Wilkinson, Robert . Penge.

ASSOCIATES.

The following having passed the Minor examination,
and tendered (or paid as Apprentices or Students) their
subscriptions for the current year, were elected “As¬
sociates ” of the Society : —

Ashton, Henry .. . Lynn.

Blarney, Edward Parr . Hayle.

Bowker, Ellis . Radcliffe.

Bowman, George Fell . London.

Cracknell, Herbert . London.

Dickinson, John George . Lancaster.

Dixon, Walter Henry . Aberdare.

Grant, Thomas Mackay . Edinburgh.

Griffiths, John Samuel . Newnham.

Groves, Richard Henry . Blandford.

Heading, Herbert Henry . Ely.

Hodgson, Alfred . York.

Lewis, Thomas . „ ...Newport, Mon.

McGlashan, James . Edinburgh.

Meadowcroft, James . Bury.

Merrell, Arthur James . London.

Millhouse, Henry How . Sleaford.

Ninnis, Thomas Martin . Truro.

Pemberton, Joseph . Battersea.

Perkins, Thomas Frampton . Clifton.

Rowland, Edward Edisbury ...Liverpool.

Richardson, George . Lancaster.

Sheffield, Arthur John . Beverley.

Skinner, Robert . Liverpool.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, having passed the Preliminary exami¬
nation and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “ Apprentices or Students " of the
Society : —

Benest, Herbert William . Jersey.

Broadbent, John Beaumont . Honley.

Briggs, George . Leeds.

Castle, John William . Durham.

Evans, William . Cardigan.

Foulston, George Robert . Hull.

Gantlett, Henry . Wolverhampton.

Hart, Frank . Bolton.

Langley, Frank C . Ashford.

Marshall, Sam . Hyde.

Millhouse, Edward . » . Grantham.

Sharpies, Edward . Blackburn.

Thomas, Benjamin . New Inn.

Thomas, Edward . Garstang.

Watson, Albert James . London.

Westmoreland, William Henry. Salisbury.

Whitwell, Alfred . York.

Wilcock, J ohn . . Lancaster.

Woodhouse, Leonard Arthur ...York.

Several persons were restored to their former status in
the Society upon payment of the current year’s subscrip¬
tion and a fine.

Reports of Committees,
finance.

The report of this Committee was received and
adopted, and sundry accounts were ordered to be paid.

Mr. Symes asked how many Calendars and Registers
were sold during the year.

The Secretary said very few, except about 1200
copies of the Register, which were taken by the Govern¬
ment.

HOUSE.

This Committee had taken into consideration the
painting of the premises, and recommended that the
outside be washed and painted with three coats, and
that the window frames be polished or varnished. The
Committee also suggested that in future the exterior of

738

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 5, 1881.

the building should receive one coat of paint every second
year.

Mr. Williams said the Committee could, of course,
make a recommendation such as the above, but it must
really lie with future Councils to carry it out or not, as
they might see fit.

Mr. Sandford said he would paint the wood work
certainly every second year, but he did not like to seethe
walls always freshly painted.

Mr. Hampson supported the report of the Committee.

Mr. Richardson thought it would be well to call in
an artist, to advise the Committee what colour should be
used.

Mr. Radley referred to the question of wood pavement
in Great Russell Street, and asked if this would not be a
favourable opportunity to press the matter, as the paving
was being renewed in Bloomsbury Square.

After some further conversation, the report and recom¬
mendations of the Committee were agreed to.

The Secretary said he had received a letter from the
Phoenix Eire Office, stating that the two stoves recently
put in the Laboratory would not prejudice the insurance
policy.

BENEVOLENT FUND.

The report of this Committee included a recommenda¬
tion of the following grants : —

£20 to a registered chemist and druggist, aged 58.

£20 to the widow of a late member, having two young
children dependent upon her.

£15 to the widow of a chemist and druggist, having
four children dependent upon her.

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist, aged 61.

£10 to the widow of a pharmaceutical member, who
has had three previous grants.

£15 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist,
having five children dependent on her; also

£35 to be expended by the Secretary at his discretion,
in order to secure the election of one of the children to
the British Orphan Asylum.

£5 to one of the unsuccessful candidates at the late
election of annuitants.

Several other cases were deferred for further informa¬
tion, and the Secretary stated that he had already eleven
more cases, which would probably be brought before the
Committee at its next meeting.

The Committee had considered the resolution passed
at the last Council meeting, with regard to the memorial
tablets, and had unanimously agreed to the following
recommendations : —

“ 1. That all legacies be inscribed on the tablet.”

“ 2. That the names of donors of twenty guineas
and upwards in one sum be also inscribed thereon.”

“3. That a donation of forty guineas and upwards
made by a firm shall entitle the name of the firm
or co-partnership to be also inscribed thereon.”

“ 4. That all subsequent donations in excess of the
minimum be added to the original amount, and also
inscribed thereon.”

Mr. Frazer said he did not approve of the resolutions
with regard to the tablets ; in fact, he did not approve of
the tablets at all, but he would not divide the Council
upon the subject.

The report and recommendations were then agreed to.

The Secretary reported that he had that morning
received a letter from Ipswich, with a remittance of 31s.
for the Benevolent Fund, collected at a dinner given by
the chemists of that town to their assistants and appren¬
tices, on the 26th ult. He wished the assistants in other
towns would follow the good example of their brethren in
Ipswich.

Mr. Churchill mentioned that he knew a case in
Birmingham in which the Council some time ago assisted
a mother and daughter. That assistance enabled them to
tide over a temporary difficulty. The daughter was now

married, and they were in fairly comfortable circum¬
stances.

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

Librarian’s Report .

The Librarian’s report had been received, and in¬
cluded the following particulars : —

Attendance.

January

Total. Highest. Lowest. Average.

Day . . 312 17 3 12

Evening . 109 11 0 5

Circulation of books. Town. Country. Total.

January .... 362 145 307

Carriage paid . . £2 5s. 6d.

The undermentioned donations to the Library had been
received : —

Bernardin (M.), Yisite a l’Exposition de Vienne,
1874.

- Classification de 160 Huiles et Graisses Vdgd-

tales, 2e Edition, 1874.

- - Classification de 40 Savons Vdgdtaux, 1875.

- - L’Afrique Centrale, Etude sur ses Produits

Commerciaux, 1877.

- Classification de 350 Matures Tannantes, 1880.

Maison de Melle, Notice sur les Collections Scienti-
fiques et sur le Musfie Commercial-industriel, 1871.

From Mons. Bernardin.

Flvickiger (F.A.), Notizen fiber das Canangaol oder
Ilang-Ilang-Oel, 1881. From the Author.

Pearson (J. J.), and W. H. Pollard, Observations on
the plant Ophelia chirata, the true or Dukkanee
chiretta, with remarks on the abuse of Phosphorus
as a Remedial Agent, 1880.

From Messrs. Symes and Co., Simla.

The Committee recommended that the usual letter of
thanks be sent to the respective donors.

The Committee also recommended the purchase of the
undermentioned works for the Library : —

Attfield (J.), Chemistry, 9th ed., 1881. 2 copies.

Beverovicius (J.), Idea Medicinse Yeterum, 1637.

[Sendivogius (M.),] Novum Lumen Chymicum, cui
Accessit Tractatus de Sulphure, 1644. Together.

Bouchardat, Manuel de Mature Mddicale, de Thdra- •
peutique et de Pharmacie, 2me dd., 1846.

Brom field (\V. A.), Flora Yectensis, 1856.

Cahours et Riche, Chimie des Demoiselles, [1868].

Crollii Basilica Chymica, etc., 1643.

Davy (H.), Elements of Agricultural Chemistry, new
ed., by J. Shier, 1846.

Dover (T.), Ancient Physician’s Legacy, 4tli ed., 1733.

Turner (D.), Ancient Physician’s Legacy Survey’d,
1733.

Fuller (T.), Pharmacopoeia Doinestica, 1723.

Pharmacopoeia Guyensis, 1826.

Jahr (G. H. G.), Nouveau Manuel de Medicine
Homoeopathique, Mature Mddicale, etc., 7me dd.,
1862. 4 tomes in 2.

Magendie, Formulary, 1828.

Morelli (P.) Methodus Prsescribendi Formulas Reme*
diorum, cum Adjuncto Materise Medicse Systemate,
1659.

Nesbit (J. C.), On Agricultural Chemistry and
Peruvian Guano, 3rd ed., [1856].

Reveil (O)., Formulaire, 2me dd., 1865.

Pharmacopoeia Londinensis, editio altera, 1817.

Pharmacopoeia Londinensis, by N. Culpeper, 1669.

Pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians of
London, translated by T. Healde, 9th ed., 1805.

Thomson (A. T.), Conspectus of Pharmacopoeias, 9th !
ed., [1828].

Thomson (S.), Health Resorts of Britain, 1860.

Frank (B.), Die Krankheiten der Pflanzen, 1881.

2 parts.

Hallier (E.), Untersuchungen fiber Diatomeen ins-
besondere fiber ihre Bewegungen und ihre Vege¬
tative Fortpflanzung, 1880.

I

March 5, 1881.) THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 739

Pierre (L.), Elore Forestihre de la Cochinchine. 20
to 25 parts.

Van Tieghem (P.), Traitd de Botanique. 8 parts.

Curator's Report.

The Curator’s report had been received, and included
the following particulars : —

Attendance. Total. Highest. Lowest. Average-

l Morning .269 26 5 11

. j Evening . 73 7 1 3

The following donations to the Museum had been re-
| ported, and the Committee recommended that the usual
letter of thanks be sent to the respective donors: —

Seeds of Lucurtia mammosum.

From Mr. J. C. Sawer.

Seeds of Ocotea Puchury minor.

From Messrs Wright, Layman and Umney.

Specimens of Russian linseed.

From Mr J. Baynes, Junr.

Specimens of Mikania Guaco and Para Tonquin
beans. From Messrs. Symes and Co.

Specimen of Barosma Camphor.

From Messrs. Herrings and Co.

Specimen of the Bark of Pilocarpus Selloanus.

From Mr. W. B. Cranwell.

Specimen of Opium prepared for Smoking.

From Mr. A. Bottle.

The following applications had been received : —

For loan of specimens to illustrate paper on ‘ Eclectic
Remedies,’ from Mr. R. H. Parker, to be read before
the Students’ Association.

From Mr. C. E. Stuart, for specimens of Quebracho
Barks, genuine and false, and a specimen of the plant, to
illustrate a paper to be read before the Chemists’ Assis¬
tants’ Association.

The Curator had been instructed to lend such specimens
as were required.

An application had been received from the Leicester
Chemists’ Assistants’ Association for additional speci¬
mens of materia medica.

The Committee had directed that specimens of those of
which there were duplicates should be sent.

Letters of thanks for duplicate specimens had been
received from the following : —

North British Branch.

Royal Botanical Gardens, Regent’s Park.

Kew Museum.

Professor Bemardin.

The Committee recommended that the Curator be
authorized to procure or purchase, with the sanction of
the President, rare or unusual specimens of drugs which
might be considered desirable for the Museum. Also
that specimen microscopes for the use of the students be
obtained, on approval, from Messrs. Baker, Collins and
Swift, respectively. The Committee also recommended
that an exhibition of pharmaceutical apparatus, etc., be
held at the Annual Meeting in May.

The Professors had attended, and reported favourably
of their respective classes.

The President said the Curator sometimes saw rare
drugs in the City, which could be had at the time; but if
! not obtained then, might not come on the market again
for many months . Sometimes he could obtain them with¬
out purchase, but at other times he required to lay out a
small sum upon them, and the recommendation of the
Committee was that he should be authorized to do so.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

IThe Annual Report.

The preparation of the annual report was referred to
the Library, Museum and Laboratory Committee.

Pharmacy Act Amendment.

The President suggested that the Council should go
into committee on this matter to consider some corre¬

spondence with the Privy Council. The Council might
then decide as to the publication of it.

On resuming, the minutes of the Committee were read,
including the following correspondence with the Privy
Council, which had been referred to by the President : —

“ Council Office,

“ 11 February , 1881.

“Sir, — I am directed by the Lord President of the
Council to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a
letter from Mr. Oldman, one of the Coroners for the
County of Lincoln, containing a resolution of the Jury
at an inquest held at the ‘ Brocklerby Ox,’ on the body
of a woman whose death had been accelerated by taking
chloral hydrate, setting forth that some restrictions
should be placed by the Legislature on the sale of that
drug.

‘ ‘ I am to request that you will move the Pharma¬
ceutical Society to favour his lordship with their remarks
upon these communications.

“ I am also to request that you will be so good as to
inform his lordship whether the Society have carried
out their intention, as expressed in your letter of 8th July
last, of framing certain amendments to be embodied in
a Bill restricting the sale of patent or proprietary
medicines.

“ I am, sir,

“ Your obedient servant,
(Signed) ‘ C. L. Peel.

“ The Secretary,

“ Pharmaceutical Society,

“ 17, Bloomsbury Square.”

“ Gainsborough,

“ January 29, 1881.

“ Sir, — I have the honour herewith to forward for your
information the depositions of witnesses taken at an
inquest held by me at Broughton, in this county, on the
21st instant, on the body of Mary Ward, together with
a copy of the inquisition as found by the inquest jury.

“I beg further to state that the jury unanimously
agreed to the following : —

“ ‘ That some restriction should be placed by the
Legislature upon the sale of such a drug as chloral
hydrate, which is becoming so commonly to be
taken as a sedative by all classes of society, and
the indiscriminate and unrestricted use of which
is highly dangerous to health and often to life.’

And I was requested by them to bring the matter under
your notice.

“ I have the honour to be, sir,

“ Your most obedient servant,

(Signed) “ Thos. H. Oldman,

“ County Coroner.

“ To the Right Honorouble

“ Sir W. Yernon Harcourt,

“ H.M. Secretary of State.”

“ 1 7, Bloomsbury Square,

“ London, W.C.,

“ February 16, 1881.

“ C. L. Peel, Esq.,

“ Privy Council Office, S.W.

“Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the due
receipt of your letter of the 11th inst., enclosing a letter
from Mr. Oldman, and to inform you that it will be laid
before and considered by the Council at its next meeting,
which will take place on the 2nd proximo.

“ Meanwhile I may respectfully point your attention
to the obvious error apparent on Mr. Oldham’s letter and
the verdict on which it is founded.

“ By an Order in Council on the 13th December, 1877,
confirming a resolution of the Council of this Sociely,
‘ chloral hydrate and its preparations ’ became deemed
poisons in the second part of the Schedule A, and con¬
sequently chloral hydrate is subject to the restriction
placed by the Legislature upon sales of poisons.

740

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 5, 1881,

“ I have further the honour to ask you to inform the
Lord President that the Council of this Society have in
the interval between their letter of the 8th July, 1880,
and the present time, carried out their intention of pass¬
ing certain amendments to be embodied in a Bill re¬
stricting the sale of patent or proprietary medicines
containing poisons, and that those amendments appear
by the prepared printed Bill, whereof four copies are
herewith.

“ The amendments of the Pharmacy Acts referred to
in the last clause of letter of the 8th July, 1880, are
likewise embodied in the enclosed Bill.

“ The enclosed Bill is the result of long deliberation,
and of efforts made by the Council of the Society to
ascertain the general opinion of chemists and druggists
on the matters under consideration, and was finally ap¬
proved at the meeting of Council on the 2nd inst., when
a Committee was appointed to transmit the same to his
lordship, and was charged with all such further com¬
munications on the subject of it as his lordship should
deem desirable.

“I am directed to assure his lordship that virtual
unanimity on the subject of the enclosed Bill prevails in
this Society and amongst chemists and druggists gener¬
ally, and to express a trust that his lordship will approve
all the provisions of the Bill, and will submit the same to
the consideration of Parliament.

“ I am further directed to assure his lordship that the
Committee of the Council of this Society will attend his
lordship’s pleasure by way of deputation or by preparing
papers of reasons or otherwise as he may suggest.

“ I have the honour to be, sir,

“ Your obedient servant,

(Signed) “Elias Bremridge,

“ Secretary .”

Mr. Hampson moved : —

“ That the discussion on the above be taken in com¬
mittee.”

Mr. Richardson seconded.

Mr. Frazer opposed the motion, but on being put to
the vote, the motion was carried, and the Council
accordingly went into committee.

On resuming, the report and recommendations of the
Committee were received and adopted.

Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill.

The following letter from the Council of the Chemists
and Druggists’ Trade Association was read : —

“ Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association
of Great Britain,

“ 23, Burlington Chambers,

“New Street, Birmingham,

“ February 28, 1881.

“ Secretary and Registrar,

“Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain,

“ 17, Bloomsbury Square, London, W.C.

“ Dear sir, — I beg to inform you that the annexed
resolution was unanimously passed by the Executive at
their meeting held on the 25th inst. I shall be much
obliged if you will place the same before your Committee
at their next meeting.

“ I am, dear sir,

“Yours faithfully,

“ W. F. Haydon,

‘ ‘ Secretary.

“ Resolved : — ‘ That this Executive having considered
the provisions of the Bill to further regulate the sale of
poisons and to alter and amend the Pharmacy Act, 1852,
and the Acts amending the same, placed before them by
the wish of the Pharmaceutical Council, agree to its
clauses, and hereby express their desire of co-operating
with the said Council, with a view of carrying the Bill
into law.’

Communications were also read from Dover, approving

of the Bill, and from fourteen chemists at Burnley, pro'
testing against clause 5 (now clause 4) of the proposed
Bill.

Mr. Richardson, asked if it would not be well for the
local secretaries to be communicated with, with a view to
calling meetings in their respective districts to consider
the Bill. If there was a wide-spread objction to the clause
in question, it would be better to alter it before the Bill
was introduced.

Mr. Frazer expressed his regret that the discussion on
the Bill last month had not been public, in order that
the constituents of the members of Council might know
the grounds upon which the Bill had been approved,
which might have disarmed a large amount of opposition.
Another thing he regretted was that it was not generally
known that the question of requiring a qualified man to
be placed in branch shops had been discussed.

Mr. Hampson rose to order.

Mr. Frazer said that the matter had been discussed
and the decision arrived at that it was not wise under
the circumstances to insert such a clause.

The President said it was hardly in order for Mr.
Frazer to state in open Council that which had been dis¬
cussed in committee.

Mr. Frazer again expressed his regret that the dis¬
cussion took place in committee.

Communications from the Privy Council.

The Council then proceeded to consider the communi¬
cation from the Privy Council, printed above, and also
the following letter, which had been received since : —

“ Privy Council Office,

“ Whitehall, 24 February, 1881.

“Sir, — I am directed by the Lord President of the
Council to transmit to you, to be laid before the Phar¬
maceutical Society for any remarks they may have to
offer thereupon, the accompanying copy of a letter which
has been received at the Home Office from Mr. G. E.
Rogers suggesting certain restrictions on the sale of
poisons and corrosive liquids.

“ I am, sir,

“Your obedient servant,
(Signed) “ C. L. Peel.

“ The Secretary,

“Pharmaceutical Society,

“17, Bloomsbury Square.”

“ 9, Bank Street,

“ Newton Abbot, Devon,

11 February 14, 1881.

“ To the Right Honourable
“ Sir W. V. Harcourt.

Sale of Poisons.

“ Sir, — Your reply to the question of Mr. Chaplin as
to the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill to
check the indiscriminate sale of poisons, encourages me
to bring before your notice what I, as a chemist and
druggist of twenty-five years’ experience, consider would
be the best check on the improper use of purchased
poisons.

“ I would have that all poisons in the schedules to the ij
Act of 1868, together with corrosive liquids, be brought
under the Sale of Arsenic Act of 1852. That the vendor,
in addition to making an entry in his register, shall make
a [duplicate of the same copy, and forward it to the
nearest police station.

‘ ‘ For such duplicate forwarded a minimum charge of
2d., together with postal charges, shall be made by the
vendor, and shall be paid to him by the overseers of the
parish or other rate-making authority.

“ I would most respectfully point out to you that at
the most important pharmacies poisons and corrosive ;>
liquids are not so frequently asked for as in small ones.

“ I am, right hoa. sir,

“Your obedient servant,

(Signed) “Geo. E. Rogers.”

March 5 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

741

“17, Bloomsbury Square, London, W.C.,

“ February 25, 1881.

“ Charles L. Peel, Esq.,

“Privy Office Council, Whitehall, S.W.

“ Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
yours of yesterday’s date, enclosing copy of a letter from
Mr. Geo. E. Rogers, of Newton Abbot, in which he
suggests certain restrictions as to the sale of poisons
under the Pharmacy Act, 1868, as also the sale-of ‘corrosive
liquids.’

“The Council of this Society will meet on Wednesday
next, when I will submit the matter for their considera¬
tion. I have the honour to be, sir,

“ Your obedient servant,

(Signed) “ Elias Bremridge.

“ Secretary and Registrar.”

Mr. Symes said he could not agree with the statement
that the use of chloral hydrate was increasing. His
experience went to show that it was not used nearly so
much as it used to be.

Mr. Williams said he could confirm Mr. Symes’s
statement ; according to his experience the use of chloral
hydrate was certainly diminishing.

Several members of the Council expressed the same
opinion.

Mr. Symes thought the Council could not do better
than endorse the letter already sent by the Secretary.

In reply to a question whether Mr. Rogers was on the
Register,

The Secretary said that he did not find the name on
the Register at Newton Abbot, but there was the same
name on the Register with a Birmingham address.

Mr. Churchill said he believed the entry just mentioned
referred to the same person, who was formally a ^hospital
dispenser.

Mr. Savage suggested that it was not necessary to go
into the individual character of the gentleman making
the suggestions, the nature of which was quite sufficient
to show that he had not had practical experience of the
working of the Pharmacy Act. The proposal was so
monstrous that the Council had better express its opinion
upon it at once.

Mr. Williams said it was possible that the sale of
chloral hydrate was increasing under the patent medicine
stamp.

The Vice-President suggested that the Council could
hardly agree on a letter at the moment, and that it be
left to the President and Secretary to draw up a reply.

Mr. Atkins said he did not think the facts would bear
out the idea which Mr. Williams had thrown out, that
the sale of chloral hydrate went on to any great extent
under the patent medicine stamp. He believed the sale of
the patent medicines containing this drug was decreasing.

Ultimately it was resolved —

“ That the Secretary’s reply to the Privy Council’s com¬
munication of the 11th ult. be approved by this
Council, and that it be referred to the President and
Vice-President to frame a suitable reply to the Privy
Council’s communications of February 11 and 24.”

Poisoning Horses.

The following memorial was laid before the Council : —

“ To the Council of the

“ Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

“ The Memorial of the Lincolnshire Association
for the Prevention of the Administration of
Poisonous Drugs, etc., to Horses.

“ Showeth. — That notwithstanding the passing of the
‘Drugging of Animals Act, 1876,’ and of other laws of a
similar kind, very considerable injury and loss is con¬
tinually sustained by farmers and others in the county
of Lincoln in consequence of the secret administration of
poisons, in one form or other, to horses under the care of
farm servants and grooms.

“ That the existing laws for the prevention of the
drugging of animals do not appear to be sufficient to

check the evil complained of, and that further action is
urgently necessary.

“That the following articles are amongst those which
farm servants and grooms procure and give to horses
without their masters’ consent and against their often
repeated wishes and orders, and very frequently with
fatal effect, notwithstanding the repeated infliction by
justices of the utmost penalties of the law to prevent it,
viz : — hellebore, buttyr of antimony, oil of vitriol, spirits
of salts, nitric acid and salts of copper.

“ Your memorialists therefore very earnestly urge the
Council to declare by resolution that the articles above-
mentioned ought to be deemed poisons within the
meaning of the ‘ Pharmacy Act, 1868,’ and, as speedily
as practicable to take all such steps as may be necessary
to submit the same for the approval of the Privy
Council. And your memorialists, etc.

(Signed on behalf of the Association)

“ Theo. Trotter, Chairman.

“ St. Benedict’s Square, Lincoln,

“ 13 th February , 1881.”

The Secretary drew attention to a report of a
question put in the House of Commons by Mr. Chaplin
respecting a case of horse poisoning at Ruskington, in
Lincolnshire, where it was proved that a considerable
quantity of arsenic had been supplied by a chemist and
entered in the book as “to be given to horses;” and the
reply of the Home Secretary that in his opinion the true
remedy would be the amendment of the Arsenic Act,
and that if Mr. Chaplin would introduce a Bill for that
purpose ho would assist him.

Mr. Hampson moved —

“ That the memorial from the Lincolnshire Association
for the Prevention of the Administration of Poison¬
ous Drugs, etc., to Horses be referred to the Phar¬
macy Act Amendment Committee.”

Mr. Symes seconded the motion.

Mr. Butt said he had received a letter from Mr.
Chaplin saying there was no chance of any Bill being
brought into the House of Commons for a long time.
Therefore there was no hurry about it.

The President thought there was a little hurry about
it, because it was quite possible that if a deputation
waited on the Privy Council in reference to the Phar¬
macy Act Amendment Bill some questions might be
asked about this subject.

The resolution was then put and carried unanimously,
and Mr. Gostling’s name was added to the Committee.

Mr. Sandford suggested that it was desirable the
Committee should meet as early as possible, so that if the
deputation from the Council had an interview with the
Lord President the whole of the matters under consider¬
ation might be mentioned.

It was therefore dtecided that the Committee should
meet on Thursday the 10th inst., at 12 o’clock.

The Annual Meeting.

It was resolved unanimously that the Annual General
Meeting be held on Wednesday, May 18th, next.

The Conversazione.

It was also resolved that the Conversazione be held on
the evening of May 18th, and the President and Vice-
President, with Messrs. Robbins, Sandford, Butt and
Williams, were appointed a Committee to make arrange¬
ments. The Secretary was directed to write to the autho¬
rities at South Kensington for permission to make use
of the Museum as usual.

Mr. Symes suggested that it might be as well to have
the Conversazione in August on the occasion of the
International Pharmaceutical Congress.

Mr. Williams said there would be, possibly, a con¬
versazione held at that time, but it would be under the
direction of the Medical Congress, and if the Conver¬
sazione 9f the Society was put off until then they might
clash.

742

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 5, 1881.

Reports of Committees— continued.

GENERAL PURPOSES.

The report of this Committee included the usual letter
from the Solicitor, stating the progress of cases which had
been placed in his hands.

Several other cases of alleged infringement had been
brought before the Committee, in some of which action
was recommended.

The Committee had also received an application from
the Aberdeen Society of Chemists and Druggists asking
for an annual grant of £20 for “providing suitable
premises for laboratory, museum and library, and where
classes can be conducted.” The Committee recommended
that a reply be sent stating that the Council could not
comply with the request, but would be prepared to con¬
sider any future application for assistance if it were shown
that a single grant would be of use in supplementing
local effort to improve pharmaceutical education.

The Council went into committee to consider the
details of the report, and on resuming, it was unanimously
adopted.

Report of Examinations.

February , 1.881.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Candidates.

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, (16th) .

. . . 6

4

2

„ (17th) .

. . . 6

3

3

— 12

— 7

— 5

Minor, (16th) .

. . . 21

9

12

„ (17th) .

... 23

10

13

„ (18th) .

. . . 24

12

12

— 68

—31

—37

Modified, (16th)

... 2

1

1

—

—

—

82 39

SCOTLAND.

Candidates.

43

/•

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major (23rd) .

... 2

2

0

Minor, (23rd) .

... 8

4

4

„ (24th) .

... 10

7

3

—18

—11

— 7

Modified, (24th)

... 1

0

1

—

—

—

21

13

8

Preliminary Examination.

8 Certificates had been received in lieu of Society’s
examination : —

3 College of Preceptors.

3 University of Cambridge.

1 University of Oxford.

1 University of Glasgow.

Regulations for Examinations.

The Vice-President proposed certain alterations in
the Regulations in accordance with the recommendation
of both the Examining Boards. The words in the existing
regulations, which said that in lieu of the Society’s Pre¬
liminary examination the certificate would be received of
any legally constituted examining body previously ap¬
proved by the Council, seemed to require explanation, and
candidates sometimes wanted to know which bodies these
were. A list had been carefully drawn up and approved
by the English Board, and he read a letter from the
Chairman of the Board in Scotland officially approving
of the list, as well as of the other alteration proposed, which
was to insert the word “ spelling,” so as to read “ In
awarding marks, spelling and the quality of handwriting
are taken into account.” He would therefore move —
“That the Board of Examiners for England and Wales,
and the Board of Examiners for Scotland be
authorized to accept in lieu of the Preliminary
examination of this Society either of the certificates
named in the following list, provided that in every case

Latin, Arithmetic and English are included in the
subjects of the examination on account of which the
certificate was granted —

University of Oxford.

(1) Junior local examinations.

(2) Senior local examinations.

(3) Responsions.

(4) Moderations.

(5) Examination for a degree in arts.

University of Cambridge.

(6) Junior local examinations.

(7) Senior local examinations.

(8) Higher local examinations.

(9) Previous examination.

(10) Examination for a degree in arts.

University of Durham.

(11) Junior local examinations.

(12) Senior local examinations.

(13) Registration examination for medical students.

(14) Examination for students at the end of their

first year.

(15) Examination for a degree in arts or science.

University of London.

(16) Matriculation examination.

(17) Preliminary scientific (M.B.) examination.

(18) Examination for a degree in arts or science.

University of Edinburgh.

(19) Local examinations (ordinary certificate).

(20) Local examinations (honours certificate).

(21) Preliminary examination for graduation in

science or medicine and surgery.

(22) Examination for a degree in arts or science.

University of Aberdeen.

(23) Local examinations (honours certificate).

(24) Preliminary examination for graduation in

medicine or surgery.

(25) Examination for a degree in arts.

University of Glasgow.

(26) Local examinations (senior certificate).

(27) Preliminary examination for graduation in

medicine or surgery.

(28) Examination for a degree in arts.

University of St. Andrew’s.

(29) Local examination (honours certificate).

(30) Preliminary examination for graduation in

medicine or surgery.

(31) Examination for a degree in arts.

University of Dublin.

(32) Public entrance examination.

(33) Examination for a degree in arts.

Queen’s University in Ireland.

(34) Local examination for men and women.

(35) Entrance or matriculation examination.

(36) Previous examination for B.A. degree.

(37) Examination for a degree in arts.

Oxford and Cambridge Schools' Examination Board.

(38) Certificate.

Royal College of Surgeons of England.

(39) Preliminary examination for the membership.

(40) Preliminary examination for the fellowship.

Apothecaries’ Society of London.

(41) Examination in arts.

Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons of Edinburgh.

(42) Preliminary examination in general education,

conducted by a board appointed by these two
Colleges combined.

Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

(43) Preliminary examination on general education.

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

(44) Preliminary examination.

Apothecaries’ HaU of Ireland.

(45) Preliminary examination in general education.

March 5, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

743

College of Preceptors.

(46) Examination for a first class certificate.

(47) Examination for a second class certificate.

Incorporated Law Society.

(48) Preliminary examination in general knowledge.
Secondly he would move —

“ That the list of certificates set forth in the preceding
resolution be published in the ‘Regulations for
Examinations.’ ”

And finally he would move —

“ That the regulations for the Preliminary examina¬
tion be altered [as above indicated] so as to include
‘ spelling. ’ ”

Mr. Gostling suggested the retention of the words “or
any other legally qualified examining body.” The
Victoria University would soon be incorporated, and
there might be other bodies whose certificate would be
entitled to be received.

The Vice-President thought it would be better to add
hereafter the names of any bodies which were thought
desirable. The object was to define the list and not leave
it vague and indefinite as at present.

Mr. Symes thought the subject should be referred to
the Committee which had been appointed to consider the
whole subject of education and examinations and await
its report, so as to avoid any mistakes.

Mr. Atkins said he was not sure, however carefully
the list had been prepared, that omissions might not
occur in it. For instance, Trinity College, London,
held Preliminary examinations on all scientific matters,
and he thought it would be better to add qualifying
words, such as Mr. Gostling suggested, rather than find
some body left out which had a fair claim to admission.

Mr. Robbins said he had seen the prospectus of an
educational establishment, at Brighton, which stated
that the examinations held there were accepted in lieu
of the Preliminary examinations of the Pharmaceutical
Society. According to the present list, that would be
shut out.

Mr. Savage said in all probability the examination
referred to was held by the Coilege of Preceptors, which
was included.

Mr. Hampson remarked that by passing this list, the
Council was not precluded from adding to it hereafter.

The Vice-President said he ha'd just been reminded
by the Assistant Secretary that this list had been founded
on the regulations of the General Medical Council.
It was intended to be quite comprehensive, and it was
better to have a definite list, subject only to future
modification by the Council if necessary.

The three resolutions were then agreed to unanimously.

Medical Acts Amendment Bill.

Mr. Radley then moved the following resolution of
which he had given notice : —

“That as the ‘Medical Act (1858) Amendment Bill’
now before Parliament, in the 6th clause of its 26th
section proposes to repeal the Apothecaries Act
of 1815, and instead of the protecting clause to
chemists and druggists therein contained, it imposes
a fine not exceeding £20 on anyone who for gain
engages in the medical treatment of diseases; this
Council, iegarding not only the immemorial rights
and usages of the trade but also the convenience and
advantage of the public at large, feel bound
vigorously to oppose the clause referred to so as to
prevent its becoming law.”

He said the Bill referred to had been introduced and
read a first time, and he, having been engaged iu three
different campaigns on this very question, felt more
strongly upon it perhaps than some other members.
On the general object of the Bill he had no remark to
make, but the 6th sub-section of the 26th clause was
this: — “In lieu of the penal clauses of the Apothecaries
Act of 1815, by this Act repealed, it is enacted, ‘ Any

person not registered under this Act, who for gain
engages in the medical treatment of diseases, shall for
each offence be liable on summary conviction to a fine
not exceeding £20.’ This section shall not interfere
with the rights, privileges or titles conferred on persons
by registration under the Dentists Act of 1878, nor with
the rights, privileges or titles conferred on persons by
registration under the Pharmacy Act of 1852 or the
Pharmacy Act of 1868.” At first sight it might be
supposed that this exemption was intended to cover the
whole question so far as chemists were concerned, but he
believed that anyone relying on it would be under a great
delusion. The Pharmacy Act was principally an educa¬
tional one, combined with regulations for the sale of
poisons, and was the result of an association of chemists
and druggists in defence of their rights in counter
practice, — or giving medicine within certain limits to
persons who applied for it, — not as medical men but as
chemists and druggists. Legally speaking, perhaps there
was no Act of Parliament by which that right was
conferred, but it had been the immemorial usage of the
trade, and that of itself carried a right. It was an
important matter to the trade, and still more so to the
general public, and he was quite sure that if the public
were asked to sign petitions, thousands and perhaps
hundreds of thousands of signatures could readily
be obtained. In 1815 an Act was brought forward
to take away this right, but it was successfully com¬
bated, and a clause was inserted which was under¬
stood to save the rights of chemists, and it was so
regarded by the prosecutors themselves, as would be seen
by reference to the ‘Historical Sketch of Pharmacy.’
Again in 1839 he remembered Mr. Warburton’s bill being
introduced, which contained a clause restricting the busi¬
ness of chemists to the compounding of medicines ; that
was successfully resisted, and it was followed, in 1841,
by Mr. Hawes’s Bill referred to at p. 87 of the ‘His¬
torical Sketch,’ which also contained a restrictive clause
on chemists and druggists. The defence was then taken
up strongly by the trade, some of the most honoured
names taking part in it, a resolution being moved by Mr.
Bell and seconded by Mr. Keating, “that the provisions of
the Bill deeply injure the interests and lessen the useful¬
ness of chemists and druggists, as well as affect the
comforts and resources of the poorer classes of society,
whilst the immediate and pressing wants of individuals
would create a liability to invasion which would be a
source of unceasing vexation.” Petitions were presented
against the Bill, and it was withdrawn. Some years
later Sir James Graham introduced a Bill, in the first
place throwing the practice of medicine open; but after a
short time the apothecaries and medical men succeeded
in getting him to introduce a clause again restricting the
operations of chemists. That was in 1845, and .that
again was successfully resisted by the chemists of the
time. This attack was now being renewed, and he trusted
the Council and the trade at large would be alive to the
importance of the matter, and not allow their rights to
be interfered with. If the Bill was likely to go forward
he trusted the opposition of the trade would be successful,
but the sooner the Council spoke out the better. He did
not in the slightest degree advocate interference with
medical men, as far as their titles and privileges were
concerned, but merely that chemists and druggists should
be allowed to continue to exercise their calling as they
had done hitherto. If ever there was a time when there
was less danger than at another of any misuse of this
privilege, it was the present when the proper education
of all pharmacists had been secured, and being more
educated they would naturally be more careful and more
alive to the responsibility of their position. The penalties
which attended any instance of malpractice were surely
sufficient to protect the public and prevent any abuse of
the privilege. He did not think any chemist was entitled
to leave his counter to give advice; but he strongly
advocated a defence of the ancient rights of the trade, and

744

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 5, 1881.

he trusted the Council would support him. It was known
how medical men invaded the province of chemists, but
they had never advocated any reprisals, either in the way
of restrictions on unqualified assistants or in any other
way. This Bill would have no effect on the thousands of
clergymen, nurses, homoeopaths, and others who gave
advice, and it was exceedingly individious that an attack
should be made upon pharmacists for simply administering
medicines in cases of necessity.

Mr. Sandford seconded the motion because he thought
the clause referred to was likely to do much mischief.
There was more in it even than Mr. Radley had men¬
tioned, for a little way earlier in the Bill it was provided
that no man should call his house a dispensary, provi¬
dent dispensary, surgical dispensary or medical hall
or use any other medical or surgical description, and
persons who did so should be liable to a penalty of
£20. This would shut out names by which many
chemists’ places of business were known. As to ex¬
emption, it said that the section should not interfere
with the rights, titles or privileges conferred by the
Pharmacy Act; but the right to do the things which
were here forbidden was not conferred by the Pharmacy
Act; it was a right by common usage, reserved in the
Act of 1815, which was proposed to be repealed, so that
if the Bill passed in its present form it would involve
a greater hardship than the old one. Everyone knew
that he was not an advocate for chemists prescribing, but
there were cases in which even the most scrupulous were
applied to and were obliged to give certain things whi6h,
according to a strict interpretation of the law, might be
held to be a treatment of disease. The line was so fine,
that it was practically impossible to draw it in all cases.
The Bill therefore required to be narrowly watched. The
Times had had an article deriding the Bill, but in the
Lancet of last Saturday there was an article in which this
kind of provision was advocated. The Council was
indebted to Mr. Radley for bringing the matter
forward, but he (Mr. Sandford) did not think there
was any chance of the Bill going through, for he under¬
stood that all the Medical Acts were to be sent to a
Royal Commision.

Mr. Hampson, referring to the proceedings in Parlia¬
ment on the previous evening, said that Mr. Mundella, in
answer to a question from Mr. Errington, had stated that
the Government had arrived at the conclusion that a
Royal Commission would be the best means of investiga¬
ting and reporting on the Medical ActB. The Bill, there¬
fore would not be proceeded with.

The Seceetary said the Bill was put down for second
reading on June 29.

Mr. Hampson said he was strongly tempted to support
the motion, but he had rather mixed feelings on the
subject. He would defend chemists’ rights; but in
their own Bill they were asking for certain privileges
with regard to dispensing medicines, and he thought
that medical men, on the other hand, were fully
entitled to the right of prescribing within a certain
limit; if that limit could be defined, the rights of the
trade ought to be conserved, viz., for simple ailments, as
they did at present. He knew there were some who
went beyond that, but he had always deprecated such a
practice as being essentially immoral and dangerous. He
wished something like a just reciprocity could be arrived
at by which pharmacists should obtain the dispensing of
the country, which was their inherent right. If the
work were equitably divided, and pharmacists had the
pharmacy of the country in their hands, he had no objec¬
tion to medical men having everything in the way of
medical treatment. But when medical men demanded
that a man should be fined £20 for giving a remedy for
a simple cold, he must protest against it. He wished the
position of pharmacists was better defined ; they had only
a Poison Act, which gave them more trouble than it was
worth. He thought when the Royal Commission met
there would be an opportunity of stating the case, and he

had no doubt the Council would act vigorously in that
direction. Before sitting down he should like to allude
to another matter, which might be brought before the
Royal Commission, namely, the Pharmacopoeia. He had
been looking forward for years to such an opportunity ; i
the Medical Council had been addressed on the subject,
but gave no answer, and he thought that the Phar¬
maceutical Council should claim to have a legal share
in the preparation of the Pharmacopoeia.

Mr. Frazer said he would oppose as much as anyone
any interference with himself or anyone else in the con¬
duct of his business, as he had done hitherto, but he read
the Bill differently to Mr. Radley. He thought suffi¬
cient attention had not been given to the words “ for
gain.” He might be asked if he would recommend
something, and the person might go somewhere else and
get it. His idea was that you might give any amount of
advice if you did not charge for it, and he thought, there¬
fore, the clause was really in the interest of pharmacists,
for he was sure no one present would think of prescribing
for a fee. As Mr. Radley had mentioned, clergymen and
others were constantly prescribing. The phrase to which
Mr. Sandford had drawn attention was no doubt objec¬
tionable, but there seemed no chance of the Bill passing,
as was shown by the comment of the Times upon it.

Mr. Symes could not support chemists holding them¬
selves out to prescribe in any way, but he must support
Mr. Radley’s motion. With regard to the clause men¬
tioned by Mr. Sandford, he thought it was objectionable
for chemists to adopt any title which conveyed the idea
that advice was given, and therefore he should like to see
that clause passed. A chemist could only prescribe
legitimately when requested to do so for some simple
complaint ; but by using these titles he lured the public
into a trap. On the other hand, he could not agree with
Mr. Frazer that this 6th clause was intended for the pro¬
tection of chemists. It was well known that persons, even
of high position, magistrates, and even judges, would
come into a shop and ask that something should be given
them, and the act of prescribing could not be separated
from that of selling, and when a charge was made for an
article he feared it would be held that the transaction
was one “ for gain.” If Mr. Hampson had not men¬
tioned the subject of the Pharmacopoeia he should have |
done so himself ; he had been very anxious to introduce
it into the Pharmacy Bill, but gave way rather than
provoke opposition. This, however, was an opportunity
which should be taken advantage of. It was the right
of the pharmacist to have a hand in the framing of the
Pharmacopoeia, not merely to do so on sufferance, and he
trusted that if any committee were appointed to watch
this Bill, it would take an opportunity of endeavouring
to introduce a clause giving them the right they ought to
possess.

Mr. Savage said there were two or three points of
importance in this matter. In the first place, the Council
ought to know what really was meant, which at present
did not seem at all clear. As to the medical hall and
other titles, he took it that the law would not be retro¬
spective, because there were some very high class estab¬
lishments known by that name, and he did not see why
they should be deprived of it. He could not agree with
Mr. Frazer that the words “ for gain ” would be a protec¬
tion ; but he thought it should be ascertained from the
framers of the Bill what was the real intention.

Mr. Gostling fully sympathized with the observations
of Mr. Radley and Mr. Sandford, for he felt when he
received a copy of the Bill that it might seriously affect
the position of pharmacists, and be a great disadvantage
to the public ; but seeing that the rights and privileges
conferred by the Pharmacy Acts were saved, he thought
it would to a certain extent prohibit the Council from
opposing it. He wrote, however, to Mr. Burden, the
member for South Norfolk, placing the matter before him
much in the same way as Mr. Radley had stated it, and
he had a letter from him stating that the promoters of

March 5, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

745

the Bill had agreed to abandon it, and to have the whole
subject referred to a Royal Commission before any legis¬
lation on the subject was attempted. That being so, he
thought it was hardly necessary to take any further steps
in the matter, especially as a similar statement had been
made as to the intention of the Government.

The President hoped Mr. Radley was aware that this
Bill had not escaped attention. The Secretary had sent
him a copy of it, and had drawn his attention to certain
clauses ; but after reading the article in the Times, and
various other remarks on the Bill, he had arrived at the
conclusion that it would be referred to a Royal Com¬
mission. Therefore, although all these Bills should be
watched, he did not think this one need excite any
immediate alarm. The Times said no such Bill could
ever pass a British Parliament. He himself should be
glad to see these matters referred to a Royal Commission,
for though pharmacists might lose a little, he thought, on
the whole, they would gain considerably.

The Vice-President thought the practical outcome of
the discussion might take the form of a recommendation
that after the announcement of Mr. Mundella that the
subject of medical reform should be referred to a Royal
Commission, application should be madecby the President,
at the proper time, to be heard before that Commission.
It appeared to him that that was the most fortunate
direction in which affairs would appear to be naturally
drifting in the interests of pharmacists. The only
satisfying result of all the efforts of the Council would lie
in the direction of its being generally recognized, both by
the profession and by leading thinkers amongst the
public, that pharmacy was an essential part of the
medical art. The best thing pharmacists could do would
be to try to work harmoniously with other practitioners
in that art.

Mr. Williams suggested that this should come as an
amendment ; not that he opposed what Mr. Radley said ;
in fact, at the last meeting of the Pharmacy Act Amend¬
ment Committee the Bill was informally considered
and he believed the general impression was that the clause
in question had been intentionally drawn to take away
whatever so-called privileges the chemist might be
supposed to enjoy under the Apothecaries Act. Still he
thought the Council could not do much good by discussing
the matter, and he should prefer it being referred to the
Committee to watch and report to the Council at its
monthly meetings. That would give the Council the
opportunity to apply for a hearing before the Royal
Commission.

The Vice-President remarked that what would have
held good as an argument on the previous night would
hardly hold good after the Bill had been practically with¬
drawn by its promoters, and the announcement of the
Vice-President of the Council to the same effect.

Mr. Williams did not understand it had gone quite so
far as a withdrawal.

Mr. Atkins did not think that stage had yet been
reached, though in all probability it shortly would be. He
had been corresponding with their late member, who
took a deal of interest in all these matters, and he
conveyed to him the impression that Mr. Hardcastle’s
Bill had not the ghost of a chance of passing, but that
it would be referred to a Royal Commission. Then he
thought would be the time for the Council to put a spoke
in the wheel, and he believed that its opinion would be
asked. He would not enter into the question of counter
practice, but with regard to the use of such terms as medical
hall, it was absurd to say that that was held out in any
sense as a bait for counter practice. Throughout the
West of England, many of the oldest and most respectable
houses, in which no prescribing whatever took place, used
these titles and had done so for seventy or eighty years.

Mr. Radley said after what had been advanced, he
would withdraw his original proposition and substitute
the following : —

“That the consideration of the Medical Act (1858)

Amendment Bill, now before Parliament, be
referred to the Pharmacy Act Amendment Com¬
mittee, and that the Committee be requested to
watch its progress, especially with regard to the
provisions contained in the 6th sub-section of the
26th section, which this Council considers inimical
to the recognized business of chemists, and to take
such steps as they may consider of pressing necessity,
and to report to the Council at its monthly meetings.”

This resolution was unanimously agreed to.

The Vice-President then moved —

“ That in the event of the subject of medical reform
being referred to a Royal Commission, steps be
taken by this Council to secure the hearing of able
pharmaceutical evidence.”

Mr. Atkins seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

The President reported that letters of thanks had
been received from Mason’s College, Birmingham, and
also from the Hull Pharmaceutical Society, for the
Society’s Journal and Calendar which had been for¬
warded.

The Late Mr. Abraham.

Mr. Sandford said that many members of the Council
must have seen with regret the announcement of the
death of Mr. Abraham, who had been for some time a
member of that Board, and who had always held a high
position in pharmacy. He begged, therefore, to move
the following resolution : —

“That an expression of sympathy be offered to Mrs.
Abraham and her family, assuring her of the great
respect in which the memory of the late Mr. John
Abraham is held by this Council, and their regret at
the loss sustained by his death.”

Mr. Hills seconded the motion, which was supported
by Mr. Savage, and carried unanimously.

International Congress.

Mr. Hampson asked if anything had been done for the
reception of members of the International Pharmaceutical
Congress when it met in August next.

The President said that invitations had been forwarded
to presidents of all known pharmaceutical societies and
other persons interested in pharmacy, from some of whom
favourable replies had already been received. Sufficient
time had not, however, elapsed to form an opinion as to
how many would be likely to attend the Congress.- He
would take this opportunity of saying that several months
ago, when the International Medical Congress was attract¬
ing some attention, he thought it would be very desirable
that the President for the time being of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society should be on the section of materia medica
and pharmacology as a Vice-President. He, therefore,
placed himself in communication with the executive, but
was informed that there was a hard and fast line, that
none but members of the medical profession could be
members of the Congress. Probably, however, as a sort
of compromise, he had received the following communi¬
cation : —

“ Royal College of Physicians,

“ Pall Mall, London, S.W.,

“ February, 9, 1881.

“ International Medical Congress, London, 1881.

“ Dear sir, — It has been decided by the Council of this
section (Materia Medica and Pharmacology) to issue
twenty invitations to pharmacists of distinction, at home
and abroad, to attend the meetings of Section XV.

“ It was the original desire of the Council to have
invited all the members of the Pharmaceutical Congress
to be held in London in the autumn of this year to con¬
sider themselves extraordinary members of our section.
This was found, however, to be impracticable, and
the issue of a fixed number of invitations to individual
pharmacists was determined on instead.

“We venture to hope that you will give us your
valuable aid in the matter by furnishing us with a list of

746

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 5, 1881.

the names of twenty pharmacists, British and foreign, to
whom we may despatch letters of invitation.

“We are, dear sir,

“ Very faithfully yours,

(Signed) “ E. Buchanan Baxter.

(Signed) “Frederick T. Roberts.

“ Secretaries.

“ To the President of the

“ Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.”

On the suggestion of the President, the Council went
into committee to discuss this letter, and on resuming it
was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Pre¬
sident to reply.

Mr. Hampson gave notice that next month he should
move that the Pharmaceutical Society contribute’towards
a fund for the entertainment of those who shall attend the
International Congress in August.

PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING.

Wednesday, March 2, 1881.

MR. THOMAS GREENISH, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR.

The fifth Evening Meeting of the Session was held on
Wednesday last, the chair being taken at half-past eight.
The minutes of the previous meeting having been read
and confirmed, a paper was read entitled a —

Note on Jafferabad Aloes.

BY E. M. HOLMES, F.L.S.

The paper is printed on p. 733, and gave rise to the fol¬
lowing discussion : —

The President said they were very much indebted to
Mr. Holmes for the paper which he had just read. Mr.
Baker, of Kew, who had paid very great attention to the
subject, was present, and the meeting would be very glad
to hear any remarks he might have to make.

Mr. Baker was ashamed to say that from the pharma¬
ceutical point of view he really knew nothing about aloes,
but he had lately paid a good deal of attention to the sub¬
ject from the purely botanical point of view, and had
lately written a monograph which had been published in
the * Proceedings of the Linnean Society.’ His friend, Mr.
Holmes, had asked him to come there that evening, and
he had consented to do so with great pleasure, because on
this question there were points where it was necessary for
botanists and pharmacists to help each other. There
were questions for the solution of which botanists would
furnish some of the evidence, and pharmacists could
furnish the other; it was, therefore, necessary and de¬
sirable that the botanists and pharmacists should meet
together and talk these questions over, and help one
another as far as they could to throw light upon these
disputed points. From a botanical point of view a great
deal had been lately done towards the elucidation of the
aloe family. There was an exceedingly fine collection of
aloes at Kew, and Mr. Peacock, of Hammersmith, had
brought together all the aloes and other succulent plants
he could get, and he had lately lent the pick of his
collection, which was a very fine one, to the authorities at
Kew Gardens. It was palpable to everyone that aloes
could not be represented satisfactorily from dried speci¬
mens. There never bad been such an opportunity before
for working out the limitation of the species and genera
as the last few years had presented, and he had taken ad¬
vantage of the opportunity by making notes and working
up the collection. The result of the work had been em¬
bodied in the monograph to which he had alluded, and he
would take the opportunity to review briefly what the bota¬
nists knew, and to point out which of the kinds needed
further light thrown upon them, as it would be very
likely the pharmacists would be able to furnish the
necessary information. There were about two hundred
species of aloes known, and of those all but about
twenty were natives of the Cape Colony, and in
almost all of these, both the flowers and leaves were

known and the characters might be regarded as satis¬
factorily worked out. The two hundred species were
divided into two groups. In one group you have a
brightly coloured flower, red and yellow, and in the other
group the flower is white, streaked with green, and the
body of the plant was very much smaller. None of the '
white-flowered group were of any value whatever for
pharmaceutical purposes. A large number of them were
known in cultivation, but they were small and they did
not hold any appreciable quantity of the yellow juice.
That group was divided into two genera. As they
knew, in the flower of these monocotyledons the calyx and
corolla were fused together into one, and the whole was
called a perianth, and then the divisions at the top were
called the limbs of the perianth. The two genera had
a small, pale coloured flower with green stripes upon it.

In the genus Apicra, including only six species, the limb
was very short. In the genus Haworthia the divisions were
unequal, the three top divisions arched over and the under
divisions, which were also three in number, were reflexed.
That genus included about fifty species. The other set,
with the brilliantly coloured flower, the red, the yellow,
and green, were divided into two genera. The genus
Gasterm, including about fifty species, was exceedingly
handsome ; the limbs of the perianth were narrowed at the
base, the top of the tube was constricted and curved
regularly so as to give the lower portion of the tube a
swollen appearance, and the segmemts of the limbs were
very small and spreading. The species of Gasteria were i
all natives of the Cape Colony. Then as to the true
aloes, of which there were about seventy-five species, »
fifty of them were natives of the Cape. In the true
aloss there was a perfectly uniform and regular perianth.
The tube was divided into segments and the stamens
arose from beneath the ovary and did not extend much
beyond the mouth of the perianth. The true aloes
differed very much from one another in the length of the
divisions of the perianth. Then came the sub-genus Pa-
chidodendron, of which there^were five species. There the
stamens were decimate and extended considerably from the
mouth of the tube, the tube was more or less curved. J
Then there was a section including a single species only,
the sub-genus Rhipidodendron, in which the stanens were .
not exserted ; the inner segments of the perianth were
divided down to the very bottom, the three outer ones
united about half way up. The officinal aloes belonged to
the aloes in a restricted sense, some of them to the
Pachidodendrons, one of them to the Rhipidodendrons.
From Mr. Holmes’ observations he understood that they
might place the officinal specimens under five different
heads. The first, the Barbadoes aloes, was taken at
a very early date to the West Indian Islands, and it
received its name because it was brought to England
from Barbadoes, about the latter end of the fifteenth
century. It was the Aloe vera of Linnaeus, the Aloe
vulgaris of Bauhin, and the Aloe barbadensis of Miller
(which was a name that had lately been revived), and
the Aloe perfoliata, which was a collective name in¬
cluding a number of different kinds, — all those
names applied to the Bardadoes aloes of commerce,
which was perfectly well known as a botanical species,
and as a pharmaceutical product. In India they said they
had two kinds of aloes. There was a plant called the
Aloe officinalis, Forsk., which differed in its red flower and
purplish tinted leaves from the Barbadoes aloe. He
should like to know if it was possible, from a pharma-
ceutical point of view, to establish any differential J
character between these two plants. Passing to the
Socotrine aloe, that was also said to be the product of
the Aloe socotrina. Before leaving the Aloe barbadensis,
he would mention that it presented the botanical
characters of a comparatively short tube with segments,
very much longer at the top, with stamens and style
exserted. The flowers of A. barbadensis were usually
yellow. Socotrine aloes came from the island of Socotra,
and although that place had been long known, and

March 5, 1SS1 ]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

747

stood in the very line of the main passsage for ships
to go to India, and aloes had been imported from it
for a very long time, it was only quite recently that
anything had been known about the flora and fauna
of that island. The British Association last year thought
this such an opprobrium in these days of discovery that
they formed a committee, and appointed Professor
Balfour to go to explore that island. Professor Balfour
had been, and done his work very thoroughly, bringing
about six hundred plants, a very large number of birds,
and a fine collection of butterflies, of which several were
new. He had also made valuable observations with
reference to the geology of the island. He was now
engaged in working up his plants, and would shortly
present a full report, with descriptions, of the new things.
All he need touch upon at present was the aloes that
grow there. There was one which was very plentiful all
over the island. Commodore Wickham Perry brought a
specimen over, which was entirely different from the
plant known as Aloe socotrina, and he (Mr. Baker) had
therefore established it as a new species, and called it
Aloe Perryi. Further specimens were brought by Mr.
James Collins a year or more later, and from those two
it was described. That was before Professor Balfour had
gone, but he had since brought back fine specimens of
the flower. From the materials brought back by Pro¬
fessor Balfour he had amended his description of the
Aloe Pewyi , and established with certainty the conclusion
that the Socotra plant was an endemic species. There were
two plants at Kew, growing side by side with the Aloe
vera. The plants had the same thick leaves and the
same character of prickles, but the perianth of Aloe vera
had long segments, while the Aloe Perryi had short
ones, and the stamens not exserted at all. They
had specimens of Aloe socotrina sent from the Cape
Colony. The name Socotrina was given, not in rela¬
tion to the island, but simply because the plant yielded
a yellow juice — succus citrinus. It had been fully
settled that the Aloe Perryi was an endemic plant. It
was confined to the island of Socotra, and although it
agreed very closely with Aloe vera in general habits it
differed in the character of its flower. The Cape or the
Natal aloes had been attributed to a great variety of
species. Sometimes it was stated that they came from
the Aloe arborescens, sometimes from the Aloe plicatilis ,
and sometimes from the Aloe ferox. The Aloe plicatilis ,
which belonged to the Rhipidodendron section, possessed
a large handsome flower, and was completely different
from all the other aloes. It formed a tree, which was
sometimes branched, and the leaves were arranged in two
distinct rows, about half a dozen in a regular tier, grow¬
ing one above the other. There were perfectly good
characters in the general habit of the plant, both in its
leaves and in its flowers. It was a most handsome species
and the only one belonging to the sub -genus Rhipido¬
dendron. It had stamens not exserted. The outer segments
were united almost half way up, and the inner segments
separated from one another down to the very bottom.
Aloe ferox belonged to the section Pachidodendron, and
had long divisions and long exserted stamens. He could
not suppose that the Aloe plicatilis and the Aloe arbo¬
rescens and the Aloe ferox could yield a similar product,
and he wished pharmacists to point out from which of them
it was that the product was obtained. If they could
procure authentic specimens of the leaves and flowers of
the plant from which the aloes was obtained, it would
enable the point to be determined. They had got all
they wanted to know about the Barbadoes aloes and the
Socotrine aloes, and attention ought to be directed to
this point, as it was not likely that those most dissimilar
species should yield the same product. Mr. Holmes had
only as yet obtained the flowers of the J afferabad aloes,
but when the leaves were procured there would be little
difficulty in settling the species which yielded it. The
Aloe abyssiaici was one of the commonest of the aloes,
and had a short tube which was the most general charac¬

ter of the whole genus. The Socotrine aloes had a long
tube and short segments. It certainly was not the So-
cotrine aloes plant ; but, so far as the flower went, it
belonged to the type most common in the genus. The
Abyssinian aloes had a flower with a short tube, long
segments and non-exserted stamens. Dr. Balfour ob°
tained a second species in Socotra, a small kind, which
was not likely to be of much value from a medicinal
point of. view. They knew extremely little of the aloes
of Arabia. Dr. Forskal, who wrote a flora of Egypt and
Arabia, had described three aloes as growing in°Arabia.
Out of those three, one of them a variety of Aloe vera,
was called in India the Aloe indica. There remained*
the other two which Forskal said came from Arabia, but
since his time no aloes had been brought from there.
The descriptions were imperfect, and nothing was known
about them except that they were sure three aloes existed
in Arabia, and specimens of them would be very
valuable. The idea of Linnaeus was to give exceedingly
short descriptions restricted to about a dozen words. With
regard to the Mocha aloes they knew nothing at all and
must wait till specimens were obtained. They knew that
the plant which botanists supposed yielded the Socotrine
aloes was completely wrong. It was perfectly distinct.
It was exceedingly like the Barbadoes plant in everything
but the flower, but there was no doubt about its being a
true and distinct species. All the evidence about the
origin of the Cape and Natal aloes was in a state of con¬
fusion, but if specimens were obtained there would be no
difficulty about determining their names, and the same
remark would apply to the Mocha and the Jafferabad
aloes.

Mr. Schacht would like to ask Mr. Baker if he intended
to imply that the Socotrine aloes were derived from that
species which he himself had identified as a new species.

Mr. Baker replied in the affirmative.

Professor Bentley was afraid he could throw no light
upon the matter which had been before them that evening.
He should, however, certainly have risen, even if he had
not been called upon, for the purpose of expressing his
thanks to Mr. Baker for the very lucid explanation which
he had given of the genus Aloe, and the sources of the
different commercial varieties, so far as was known, and
some of which he had mentioned were at present very
little known. The subject of aloes was such an interesting
one that they must all look forward with much interest
to Professor Bailey Balfour’s forthcoming description ; but
they were very glad to have these preliminary observa¬
tions from Mr. Baker at the present time. Of course, as
Mr. Baker said, the subject was both botanical and phar¬
maceutical, and it had always appeared to him to be a
disgrace when we were sending out exploring expeditions
to different parts of the world that the island of Socotra,
which, as Mr. Baker mentioned, was in the very line of
our steamers, should have been allowed to be practically
unexplored, although both pharmacists and botanists must
all have felti considerable interest in knowing what was
the species of Aloe which yielded the Socotrine aloes.
Everything up to the present time had been in doubt.
As Mr. Baker pointed out, Commodore Wickham Perry
brought over a specimen In 1878, which unfortunately
died; but it was well known at the time, and his col¬
league, Dr. Trimen, and himself had pointed it out in
‘ Medicinal Plants ’ that it was a species totally different
from Aloe socotrina. Specimens were also in their hands
from Mr. Collins, a former curator of the Society’s
Museum. Those leaves which he obtained were also shorter
than the so-called Socotrina, and it was clear that the so-
called Socotrina was not the source of the Socotrine aloes
of commerce. They looked forward with great interest to
the examination of the plants which had now been
described by Mr. Baker, and he supposed they would be
afterwards figured by Professor Bailey Balfour, and then
they would know that the species of Aloe which yielded
Socotrine aloes was a new one, and now named by Mr.
Baker, Aloe Perryi. That was a most valuable thing to

748

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

tMarch 5, 1881,

be made known, as there would be no uncertainty in
future with reference to the origin of Socotrine aloes.
The plants were distributed all over England, and
although they had not flowered, yet there was no doubt
they would flower in the course of the present season,
and they would then be thorougly well recognized. He
wished to express his thanks to Mr. Baker for giving
that information, and it ought to be a lesson for those
in power that matters so easily investigated at such little
expense should have been left so long without being
elucidated. With regard to Barbadoes aloes there could
be no question. The Aloe vulgaris had been well estab¬
lished for a very long time. Mr. Baker had said, and his
authority confirmed him and others in what they had
written, that Aloe vulgaris was originally introduced into
the island of Barbadoes from the Canary Islands. It
was not, like the Socotrine aloes plant, endemic to the
island ; but the Barbadoes aloes plant was originally in¬
troduced. As to the Indian aloe and the Aloe offici¬
nalis, that was a question which could only be settled
by botanists. Then with reference to the Cape aloes,
of course everyone knew there had been a great
doubt as to their origin. At the time of publishing
the ‘ Medicinal Plants,’ their attention was called to cul¬
tivated specimens of Aloe spicata, and they stated that it
probably yielded none of the Cape aloes. The origin of
Cape aloes was very little known. Various species had
been named. Aloe ferox doubtless yielded aloes, but there
were various other species stated to be the source of the
Cape aloes. The question to be decided was that which
Mr. Baker had suggested, and it could only be decided
by those who were out at the Cape. Those who had
friends at the Cape and could get specimens of the leaf and
the flower of the several plants should do so, in order that
the species might be thoroughly identified. If specimens
were thus collected they could be compared with the
commercial specimens, and in that way only could the
question be settled. They were very much indebted to
Mr. Holmes for his paper on the Jafferabad aloes. He
presumed from what he had heard that Mr. Holmes
suggested that it might be Mocha aloes, which was
referred to the aloes of doubtful plants. It came from
Socotra, and it was referred to the Socotrine aloe plant ;
but it was well known to be doubtful and it was very
interesting now to consider what the origin of Mocha
aloes was, whether from Aloe abyssinica, or from others.
It was said by Fliickiger and Hanbury that a portion of
the aloes from the Red Sea came from the Aloe abyssinica ;
and therefore if Mr. Baker was right, it only confirmed
that which was previously mentioned. He had great
pleasure in rising on the present occasion, not because
he was able to make any fresh observations of any value,
but for the purpose of thanking Mr. Baker for the
valuable information which he had that evening afforded
them.

The Chairman said the meeting was much indebted
to Mr. Holmes for having brought this subject forward.
It had opened up a discussion on a very important class
of drugs and had brought to that meeting Mr. Baker,
who had evidently paid very great attention to the subject.
It was a great privilege to have Mr. Baker with them that
night and they were much indebted to him for the
information he had given. At the same time it pointed
out how much they were indebted to Professor Balfour
for his investigation of the flora of the island of Socotra.
That interesting island, yielding a drag of such importance
as aloes, had remained without being investigated with
regard to its botany for very many years. There was a
fine opportunity for some of the advanced pharmacists
to take up this subject, and Mr. Baker had very properly
said that the pharmacists could work with the botanists
and the botanists with the pharmacists, and thus be
mutually serviceable to each other.

The thanks of the meeting were then accorded to Mr.
Holmes and Mr. Baker.

Mr. Holmes said there was in the Museum a specimen

of Mocha aloes, presented by the late Dr. Leared, which
bore a close resemblance in odour to Barbadoes aloes and
that if this were obtained from the Aloe officinalis it
would point to the same conclusion at which Mr. Baker
had arrived, that A. officinalis was a variety of A. vera.
Other specimens of Mocha aloes resembled the Jaffera¬
bad variety. The aloes from the north of India had,
however, quite a distinct odour from any other he had
met with. With regard to Jafferabad aloes, in odour,
vitreous appearance, and the test with sulphuric and
nitric acid, it more nearly approached the aloes from the
Cape than any other, and he could, therefore, easily
understand that the Jafferabad drug might be obtained
from an aloe belonging to that section. With re¬
spect to the Natal and Cape aloes he had but little doubt
that although these kinds might be prepared in various
districts from different species, yet that the same species
was probably used invariably in the same locality.
Mr. Baker’s remark that there were two species of
aloe in Socotra might perhaps throw some light on the
fact that two kinds of aloes came from Zanzibar, the one
known as Socotra and the other as Zanzibar aloes. The
latter was usually imported in monkey skins and had a
peculiar odour and slightly different appearance to the
Socotrine; whether the odour was due to the si; in in
which it was wrapped or to its being obtained from a
different species of aloe, he could not say. The question
whether difference of product indicated a difference of
botanical species was a very interesting and problema¬
tical one. It was well known that the Chinese and
J apanese peppermint plants closely resembled, in
botanical characters, th q Mentha arvensis of this country,
and yet that the essential oil yielded by them was quite
different ; also that the orange tree afforded a different oil
in the flower from that contained in the leaves. This
difficulty also applied to an aloes that came into the
London market, known as Curagoa aloes, which differed
in appearance and slightly in odour from the Barbadoes
kind. He should be glad to learn from some of the
members of wholesale firms, whom he noticed in the
room, whether they considered the Curagoa aloes as
identical in composition with the Barbadoes kind. It
might be that the odour depended upon the manner in
which it was prepared.

Professor Bentley pointed out that Mr. Baker, in
describing two species, had said one was very rare and
the other extremely common. They could, therefore, not
expect any commercial aloes to be derived from the first.
Those who were familiar with Fliickiger and Hanbury
knew that they described Socotrine aloes and Barbadoes
aloes as having somewhat the same character of odour.
The question of odour was rather a difficult one, as per¬
sons appreciated odours so very differently. He should
confess that so far as his sense of smell was concerned,
he considered that Socotrine aloes possessed a far more
agreeable odour than the ordinary Barbadoes aloes.

Mr. Baker thought that Professor Bentley’s supposi¬
tion was a true one, as they could not suppose it at all
likely that the species referred to would yield juice to
make it an article of commerce.

The Chairman then announced that the paper by
Mr. Holmes, on “ Some Drugs from Socotra,” had been
withdrawn, as Professor Balfour was himself engaged
in making a report of the drugs and other products
brought back by him from the island of Socotra.

The next paper read was a —

Note on Some Artificially Coloured Rose Leaves.

BY T. EDWARD GREENISH.

The paper is printed at p. 733, and gave rise to the
following discussion : —

The Chairman said he should like to hear from some
of the gentlemen present from wholesale houses if they
had met with any samples of artificially coloured rose
leaves in the market. ^

March 5, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

749

Mr. Gerrard would like to know whether Mr.
Greenish considered that the petals were those of Rosa
gallica which had been exhausted previously or of some
other variety of rose which had been dyed.

Mr. Mead said that a sample of leaves that had come
into his possession seemed to be unusually red. Having
been favoured with a copy of Mr. Greenish’s paper,
he had applied the tests named, and could confirm what
bad been stated. The leaves gave evidence of rosaniline,
and a decoction made from them was not so satisfactory
as that made from natural leaves. From the odour of
the decoction, he should say the leaves had not been ex¬
hausted before. They appeared to be leaves somewhat
gone off colour, and brightened up by means of the dye.

Mr. Child stated that in the month of August last
i year, a sample of rose leaves very highly coloured was
submitted to him for examination, and after looking at
them he pronounced them to be artificially coloured. It
first struck him that they might be coloured with rosaniline,
but after applying various tests he failed to detect its
presence. A short time previously he had a colouring
matter submitted to him by a firm in the City, which
yielded similar results to the colouring matter in the rose
' leaves. It had properties very similar to coleine, an
t article on which a paper had been read before the Chemical
Society some time previously. On treating the rose
leaves with ether and alcohol respectively, the ethereal
solution became of a slight pink colour, and the alcoholic
solution was of a much deeper colour. On acidifying the
solutions with sulphuric acid they were scarcely heightened
in colour, while in the solutions from true rose leaves it
had become materially developed. When neutralized with
potash the true rose leaves solutions assumed a greenish
yellow colour, while those from the coloured rose leaves
| became distinctly yellow. On again adding sulphuric
i acid the solutions from the natural rose leaves resumed
j their pink colour, whilst those from the coloured leaves
! became the colour of a solution of bichromate of potash.

! He failed to detect the presence of rosaniline, and there-
I fore attributed the colour to the dye he had referred to.

Professor Bentley would like to know if there were
j many of these artificially coloured rose petals in the market,

| or whether this was an exceptional specimen. He thought
| the appearance of those dyed petals was very different to
! that of the natural ones. He should like to know from
i Professor Attfield, another practical chemist, what the
j effect of the colouring matter would be when used in pre-
! scriptious. Probably the reason for colouring them was
| to keep them of a uniform colour.

The President said he should like some of the gentle¬
men connected with the wholesale houses to say whether
in passing round the market they had met with any
j samples of a similar kind.

Mr. Umney was sorry to say that he could answer in
j the affirmative. They were of German origin, shipped
i from Hamburg to many wholesale druggists in London,
i He could mention three firms who had had them in large
quantities, and some of them no doubt had found their way
j into various pharmacies in Great Britain. The fraud had

■ been detected after a time, but in the first instance the
1 trick was a successful one, and the Germans had the best of

it. The harvest of rose leaves last year was a very bad one,
and roses were very scarce. His own idea was that these
i were the leaves of Rosa centifolia, and that they had not only
j been dyed, but also dipped in perfume. He should say
at least a 1000 pounds weight, perhaps 2000 or 3000
' pounds weight, were sent over from Hamburg. They
. were offered openly in the London market.

Professor Bentley was also of opinion that the odour

■ did not appear to be that of the ordinary red rose. He
, thought they had had some kind of artificial perfume as

well as artificial colour.

Mr. Holmes had heard of two parcels of fourteen pounds
. each being returned by a retail chemist to a wholesale
house, and as the leaves appeared to have entered the
retail trade the subject was one deserving of attention.

He had seen a list of tests given for the different aniline
colours and one of them was said to give a blackish
colour with sulphuric acid ; and it occurred to him
whether the adulteration had been detected by the infu¬
sion turning dark when made with the false rose leaves.
He understood that the aniline dyes were now prepared
without the use of arsenic acid, and he should like to
know whether Mr. Greenish had looked for the presence
of arsenic or not. He had been told that the wholesale
price for the leaves was at present 4s. 6d. a pound, and
probably the high price had induced the Germans to
adulterate the drug.

The Chairman pointed out that the dye did not seem
to have penetrated to the centre of the tissue of the leaf,
but appeared to be quite on the surface.

Mr. T. E. Greenish, in reply, said he had not
examined the rose leaves botanically and could not,
therefore, say whether they were the petals of the
Rosa gallica or the Rosa centifolia. He did not think
they had been exhausted in any way. With regard to
the colouring matter, ether had no action on these rose
leaves, and caustic alkali, instead of producing the usual
green colour, produced a deep brown and afterwards
decolorized. The leaves were perfectly uniform in
colour, whereas those of true rose leaves were much
lighter towards the base of the petal. As to the quantity
in the market he could form no idea. He could not find
arsenic present in these although he treated them with
the usual tests. In rosaniline the quantity of arsenic was
said to vary from | to 6 per cent. The infusion was made
in the usual way and was certainly darker than the ordi¬
nary infusion made from undyed leaves.

The Chairman, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr.
Greenish for his paper, said it was one of those practical
subjects always acceptable in that room.

Mr. PoSTANS then called attention to a specimen of
oil obtained from aloes, and stated that it weighed only
2 drachms and was obtained from about 500 pounds
weight of aloes. Messrs. W. and H. Smith, of Edinburgh,
were the manufacturers and discoverers of this oil.

Mr. Holmes then called attention to the various
donations to the Museum which were upon the table.
The specimen of jaborandi bark differed somewhat from
the other specimens in the Museum. Mr. Cranwell had
told him that it was obtained from the Pilocarpus Sel -
loanus and the other from the Pilocarpus pennatifolius.
The Pilocarpus Selloanus came from Paraguay. There
was a specimen of the stearoptene or camphor obtained
from the oil of buchu, the physiological action of
which was worthy of investigation. Mr. Sawer had
presented a specimen of the seeds of the Lucuma mam-
mosum, and as he was here he would be able to give an
account of them.

Mr. Sawer said the seeds could be obtained in very
large quantities, and yielded a large percentage of a fine
fixed oil, which possessed a very delicate odour, and
which would be a very suitable base for a perfumed soap.
The seeds were derived from the West Indies, and it was
a matter of price as to how far they would be used.
Some small experiments had been made to ascertain the
amount of oil to be obtained, and he should think the
percentage would be about 25 per cent, of the gross
weight. There was also a small percentage of an essential
oil resembling bitter almonds in odour. That was about
all that was known at present, but meanwhile the subject
was being further investigated.

EXAMINATIONS IN EDINBURGH.

February 23 and 24, 1881.

Present — Messrs. Ainslie, Borland, Gilmour, Kinnin-
mont, Nesbit, Stephenson and Young.

Professor Maclagan was present on the 23rd, on behalf
of the Privy Council.

750

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 5, 1SS1.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

23rd. _ Two candidates were examined, and were

declared qualified to be registered as Pharmaceutical

Chemists : —

Burrell, Thomas . Montrose.

Gifford, Richard Lord . Blackburn.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

23rd. — Eight candidates were examined. Four failed.
The following four passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : — •

Bruce, Alexander Gibb . Broughty Ferry.

Chisholm, Alexander . ....Edinburgh.

Dawson, James . Bridge of Allan.

Henderson, Kobert . Old Meldrum.

24 th. — Ten candidates were examined. Three failed.
The following seven passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

McDonald, Kobert . Edinburgh.

McGlashan, James . Edinburgh.

Morrison, William Norman ...Inverness.

Kanken, John . Forfar.

Stephen, James, jun . Gamrie.

Stewart, Alexander Kennedy ...Kilmarnock.
Swindells, Thomas . Manchester.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

2ith. — One candidate was examined, but failed to pass.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned certificate was received in lieu
of the Society’s Examination : —

Certificate of the University of Glasgow.
Kichardson, George Clements ...Glasgow.

Brobhidal Crmtsarihms.

CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ TRADE ASSOCIA¬
TION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Meeting of the Executive Committee.

A meeting of the Executive Committee of this
Association was held at the office of the Association,
23, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, on
Friday February 25, 1881, at 1 p.m. Mr. Thomas
Barclay (Birmingham), President, in the chair. Mr.
Robert Hampson (London), Vice-President.

Present: — Messrs. Andrews (London), Arblaster (Bir¬
mingham), Bell (Hull), Churchill (Birmingham), Davison
(Glasgow), Harrison (Sunderland), Jervis (Sheffield),
Johnson (Malvern), Kerr (Dundee), Mackenzie (Edin¬
burgh), Walker (Coventry), Williams (Manchester) and
the Solicitor of the Association.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive
were read and confirmed.

The Secretary said that the defence of the Stockport
sweet spirit of nitre prosecutions, ordered by the
Executive at their last meeting, resulted in a decision
in favour of the defendant, £10 being allowed for costs.

The Report of the Law and Parliamentary Committee,
with which was embodied the report of the Sub-Committee
appointed by them to deal with urgent cases, was then
read. The report stated in detail the steps taken in the
defence of Mr. Whittle in the action that had been
brought against him, under the Weights and Measures
Act, for having in his possession certain glass measures,
which the Marylebone inspector had examined and
declared inaccurate, although they bore the verifica¬
tion mark of the York inspector. It added that no
notice of appeal had yet been entered. It then
recounted the communications with the Council of
the Pharmaceutical Society with respect to the decision
of the House of Lords in favour of the respondents in
the appeal case of the Pharmaceutical Society v. The
London and Provincial Supply Association Limited, and

the draft of the proposed Bill to amend the Pharmacy
Act. The Secretary had been instructed to prepare
a circular to be forwarded to eminent pharmacists
residing in the United States, the colonies and conti¬
nental countries, with a list of questions attached,
inquiring as to the state of the laws in their respective j
countries affecting the pharmacist and his business.
This circular had been translated into French and
German and issued under the President’s direction.
Numerous replies to it had been received and
the valuable information thus obtained had been
arranged in a tabulated form under the direction of the
Secretary. The Committee had considered the matter
of outstanding subscriptions, and, after deliberation,
reported that it would be to the advantage of the
Association if the names of all members whose subscrip¬
tions were two years in arrear were erased from the
Register. Sundry other matters which have already
been recorded in this Journal were also referred to.

The President said the Law and Parliamentary Com¬
mittee accepted great responsibility in ordering the
defence of Mr. Whittle, and he hoped the Executive
would endorse their action. With regard to the
Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill he said that the draft had
been discussed without calling the Executive together, as
they felt, from the state of the political atmosphere, that
there was no immediate hurry in the matter and that in
all probability little progress would be made with the
Bill before the Executive met. They also desired to
obtain the opinion of chemists resident in the country to
enable the Executive, when called together, to propose
any amendments that might be suggested. He was glad
to find the Pharmaceutical Council had agreed to one or
two important amendments suggested to them by the
Law and Parliamentary Committee.

Mr. Bell said he thought it very little use to keep
persons on the list of members whose subscriptions were
two years in arrear.

Mr. Jervis said he knew a number of persons in his
town who had not paid for some time, and who never
would pay.

Mr. Andrews said he had reluctantly arrived at the
same conclusion.

The Vice-President said, with regard to the Weights
and Measures Act, he hoped the Law and Parliamentary
Committee would direct their attention to what was
comtemplated by the institution of a “ table of errors.”
Before doing so, however, it would be necessary to
investigate the matter thoroughly. He thought that
the Association should aim at obtaining the relief of
chemists from the operation of the Weights and Measures
Act. It was, in his opinion, a most unjustifiable inter¬
ference with chemists and druggists.

It was moved by Mr. Andrews, seconded by Mr.
Harrison, and unanimously resolved : — “ That the report
of the Law and Parliamentary Committee be adopted,
and entered on the minutes.”

The Vice-President said the expurgation of defaulters
from their Register was an act winch all similar societies
had occasionally to put into force, and he would move : —
“That it be an instruction to the Secretary to com¬
municate with all members of the Association whose
subscriptions are, or may hereafter become, two years in
arrear, stating that unless the amount of arrears be
received by him within ten days from the date of the said
communication, their names will be erased from the
Register of the Association, and they will consequently
be debarred from all the privileges of membership.”

The resolution was seconded by Mr. Harrison and
carried unanimously.

The report of the Finance Committee was then read,
and on the motion of Mr. Davison, seconded by Mr.
Arblaster, it was adopted and entered on the minutes.

The report of the Sub- Committee appointed by the
Executive to consider the rates charged by railway
companies for the carriage on drugs was then read.

March 5, 1S81.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

751

The Secretary said that for some time past the ques¬
tion of railway rates had received the attention of the
local and other Chambers of Commerce. The Association
of Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom ap¬
pointed a deputation towards the close of last session, to
wait upon the President of the Board of Trade, with a
view of inducing the Government to bring in a Bill to
extend the powers of the Railway Commission, to enable
them to deal with excessive and differential rates. Mr.
Chamberlain said that if the public required it, steps
should be taken to enlarge the powers of the Commission,
that the Government would receive and consider any
evidence supplied to them on the subject, and that the
matter should receive his attention during the recess.
He was inclined to think it would be useless for the
Association to approach the railway companies, asking
for a reduction in the rates charged on the carriage of
' drugs, as some two years previously a deputation from
the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce had an interview
with the local managers of the railway companies at the
Great Western Hotel, when the companies’ representa¬
tives stated that they were trading bodies, and that one of
their main objects was to make a reasonable dividend
for their shareholders, that the rates they were entitled
to charge for the carriage of goods were laid down by Act
of Parliament, and that so long as they did not exceed
those statutory rates they must be allowed to conduct
their own business in their own way. A Select Com¬
mittee was appointed by the HouSe of Commons on
February 16 last to inquire into the charges of railway
companies for the conveyance of merchandise and parcels
and into the working of the Railway Commission, and to
report to the House as to any desirable amendment of
1 the laws and practice of the said charges and the powers
j of the said Commission.

After some further discussion; it was moved by Mr.

! Bell, seconded by Mr. Davison, and unanimously re¬
solved : — “ That the report of the Sub- Committee, ap-
I pointed by the Executive to consider the rates charged
j by the railway companies for carriage of drugs, be re-
j ceived, adopted and entered on the minutes.”

It was moved by the Vice-President, seconded by Mr.
Walker, and resolved: — “That the Sub-Committee
previously appointed to consider the rates charged by •
railway companies for the carriage of drugs be reap¬
pointed, and that it be an instruction to them to collect
such information as they may deem necessary, with a
view of submitting the same to the Select Committee
recently appointed by the House of Commons to consider
J railway rates.”

The President said the next subject on the agenda
j paper was the consideration of the amended Bill “To
1 further regulate the Sale of Poisons, and to alter and
amend the Pharmacy Act, 1852, and the Acts amending the
same,” accepted by the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society at its meeting on F ebruary 2nd last.

Mr. Bell said before considering the Bill as printed, he
should like to ask why the first clause of the draft Bill,
as approved by the Law and Parliamentary Committee
of the Association, had been cut out. It proposed to em¬
power the Pharmaceutical Council to appoint any fit and
proper person to conduct examinations in Scotland,
whether resident in Scotland or elsewhere. He thought
that embodied a very desirable amendment of the present
Act. The examinations in England and Scotland should
be as far as possible similar in all particulars, and as the
Council had power to place' Scotchmen on the English
Board, he could not conceive why the power should be
denied them of placing Englishmen on the Scotch Board.
Perhaps one of the members of the Pharmaceutical
Council who were present would enlighten him as to
the cause of the erasure of the clause from the Bill.

• The Vice-President said it was a matter of humiliation
j to many members of the Council that the clause had
been removed from the Bill. The Scotch members of
the Council were answerable for it, and it was evi¬

dence of a clannish feeling on their part much to be
deplored.

Mr. Churchill said the London Board of Examiners
might include as many Scotch gentlemen as the Council
might appoint, and he certainly thought it strange that
the members of the Council, resident in Scotland, should
have thwarted the original scheme.

Mr. Andrews said if the Scotch Board of Examiners
only examined Scotch candinates the matter would be
placed on a different footing, but that was not so. It
frequently happened that candidates who had failed to
satisfy the English Board of Examiners as to their effi¬
ciency, subsequently presented themselves before the
Scotch Board. He quite agreed with the remarks of Mr.
Bell, and regretted very much the erasure of the clause.

Mr. Mackenzie said he was of opinion that the Scotch
examiners could do very well without the presence of
Englishmen on their Board.

The clauses of the Bill as approved by the Pharma¬
ceutical Council were then considered seriatim.

Considerable discussion took place on clause 4, having
reference to the limitation of the authority of executors
and others to carry on the business of a deceased chemist.

A resolution approving of the principle embodied in the
clause was, on the motion of the President, seconded by
the Vice-President, carried unanimously.

The President said he wished on behalf of the Asso¬
ciation to express his thanks to the President of the
Pharmaceutical Society for the ability with which he
had conducted the launching of this Bill. A great deal
of responsibility had rested on Mr. Greenish in the
matter, and he thought the best thanks of the Association
and of the trade were due to him.

It was moved by the President, seconded by Mr.
Walker, and unanimously resolved : — “ That this Execu¬
tive, having considered the provisions of the Bill to
further regulate the sale of poisons, and to alter and
amend the Pharmacy Act, 1852, and the Acts amending
the same, placed before them by the wish of the Pharma¬
ceutical Council, agree to its clauses, and hereby express
their desire of co-operating with the said Council with a
view to carrying the Bill into law.”

The Secretary then called attention to the Medical
Act, 1858, Amendment Bill, introduced into the House
of Commons by Mr. Hardcastle. Section 26, sub-section 3, •
proposed to enact that : — “ If a person who is not for the
time being registered in the Medical Register, for gain
attaches to his residence or place of business, or otherwise
uses such descriptions as provident dispensary, dispensary,
medical or surgical dispensary or medical and surgical
dispensary, consulting dispensary, medical hall, or any
other medical or surgical' description, such person shall
for every such offence be liable, on summary conviction,
to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds.” He wished to
direct the attention of the Executive to the words “ dis¬
pensing ” and “ medical hall.”

Mr. Churchill said he thought chemists should not use
the words “ medical hall.”

The Secretary said that, although it might be desirable
to discourage the use of those words . by chemists in the
conduct of their businesses, the Executive' could not close
their eyes to the fact that very many members of the
trade had those words painted on their facia boards, and
printed on their labels. In continuation, he said sub¬
section 6 of the same section was as follows : — “ In lieu
of the penal clause of the Apothecaries Act of 1815, by
this Act repealed, it is enacted : — Any person not regis¬
tered under this Act, who for gain engages in the medical
treatment of diseases, shall for each offence be liable, on
summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding twenty
pounds. This section shall not interfere with the rights,
privileges or titles conferred on persons by registration
under the Dentists Act of 1878, nor with the rights,
privileges or titles conferred on persons by registration
under the Pharmacy Act of 1868.” The Bill was down
for second reading in the House of Commons on June 29.

752 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [March 5, 1881.

The President said he thought there was a probability
of a Royal Commission being appointed to inquire into
the working of the Medical Acts.

It was moved by Mr. Davison, seconded by Mr. Kerr,
and unanimously resolved : — “ That the Law and Parlia¬
mentary Committee be instructed to take such action as
they deem desirable with reference to the Medical Act,
1858, Amendment Bill, together with any other Bills
that may be introduced into the House of Commons.”

It was moved by Mr. Bell, seconded by Mr. Mackenzie,
and unanimously resolved : — “ That the Fifth Annual
General Meeting of the Members of the Association be
held in London on Tuesday, May 17 next, and that the
arrangements for the same be left in the hands of the
London Committee.”

The President said he regretted to announce the
decease of their late colleague, Mr. John Abraham, <jf
Liverpool. Mr. Abraham was well known to most of them
and universally respected, and he had materially advanced
the interests of the Association in it early stages. He
(the President) begged to move: — “That the members of
this Committee having heard with profound regret of
the decease of their late esteemed colleague, Mr. John
Abraham, of Liverpool, instruct the Secretary to convey
to his family their sympathy with them in their sad
bereavement.”

The Vice-President, in seconding the resolution, said he
was sure they all regretted the loss of Mr. Abraham.

Messrs. Andrews, Bell and Johnson supported the re¬
solution, paying a high tribute to the deceased gentleman.

A communication was read from a member suggesting
that a- Benevolent Fund should be formed by the Associa¬
tion. After some discussion the Secretary was instructed
to reply to the effect that the Committee did not see their
way to entertain the suggestion at present.

CorrcsjJon'Qcnte.

The Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill.

Sir, — A considerable amount of discussion has already
been devoted to the question as to the position to be accorded
to widows under the new Pharmacy Act which is now being
sought. But the arguments have not covered all the ground,
as you will see by the propositions submitted in the following
paragraphs. Although one or two of these may appear to
approach the reductio ad absurdam they ought not on that
account to be lost sight of.

From an outsider’s point of view, there is no principle on
which any spouse of la qualified person can be, as such,
either during life or after death of the qualified person,
deemed qualified.

There is no argument properly applicable to the female
spouse of a male not applicable to the male spouse of a female,
and therefore if exceptional legislation is to be, widow or
widower should not be the word used, and the only one for
use is spouse.

The proposed new qualification will not be “representa¬
tive all “ representatives ” are, as such, embraced by the
words executors, administrators or trustees now operative.

At present a dying spouse (male or female) can appoint
executors, and may or may not appoint a surviving spouse
to the office, and if no appointment be made a surviving
spouse is by law recognized as having the first right to
become administrator.

Thus the law confers on a chemist and druggist a right
to bridge an interval by appointing executors and excluding
a spouse; but should the proposal be passed, appointed
executors may carry on as representatives and a surviving
spouse may carry on, in Competition or otherwise, by force
of personal qualification under the statute.

And if personal qualification should, by the form of
matrimony, be transmissible from spouse to spouse — for
“they twain shall be one flesh” — it is not easy to see where the
process .should stop ; a surviving spouse may re-marry and
so on and on after the manner of the house that Jack built,

and if matrimony could . transmit the virtue of personal
qualification from spouse to spouse, it is difficult to realize
that the offspring of the happy union should be less
meritorious than its parents.

And observe the injustice towards pharmaceutical chemists
and chemists and druggists of the gentler sex, if the widows
of males are to be, whilst the widowers of females are not to
be deemed qualified.

Ladies are on the register, and if they be allowed to endow
men who marry them with personal qualifications, does it
not open a vista of usefulness to fair ones P Why should
marriageable men weary themselves to prepare for and pass
examinations ; to pass examinations may come to be regarded
as woman’s mission, whilst man, by making a judicious
choice and happy union, may attain the qualification
desired, but otherwise beyond his abilities.

VlGILANS.

G. J. — By reference to the Pharmaceutical Journal of
May 1st last you will find the information you require.
Your inquiry furnishes an illustration of a fact that
frequently comes under our notice, namely, that from
omitting to read the Journal regularly many of those who
should do so find themselves in need of information they
might otherwise possess.

G. C. — With respect to testing for methylic alcohol see
Prescott’s ‘ Chemical Examination of Alcoholic Liquors.’
You appear to have fallen into an error in speaking of
amylic alcohol.

T. Fletcher. — No such paragraph has appeared in this
Journal ; therefore your appeal to our sense of fairness is
hardly warranted.

S. E. C. — We should think not.

J. A. R. and Alpha. — Applications should be made to
the Registrar of the Medical Council, 315, Oxford Street.

“ Islander. ” — The only reason why a dealer in wine is
unable to hold a licence for the sale of methylated spirit i3
the provision in the first section of the Act 24 and 25 Yict.
cap. 91, “ That any person, not being a distiller or rectifier
of spirits, or a dealer in or retailer of beer, spirits, wine or
sweets, may take out an Excise licence authorizing him to
receive and sell methylated spirit.”

“ Quaesitor.” — The Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria
publishes a monthly journal as an “Australasian Supple¬
ment ” to a London contemporary. The office is at Mutual
Provident Buildings, Collins Street West, Melbourne.

Chemicus (Bristol) is referred to the rule respecting
anonymous communications.

II. J. Young. — If the word “published” were inserted
bejore “ formula” the phrase might be used; but we do.no
think the use of either of the designations given at the end
of your letter would be justifiable.

“ Spondalium.” — (1); Flake white is basic carbonate of
lead. (2) As to sp. setheris chlor. see the present series of
this Journal, vol. i., p. 68 ; vol. viii., p. 37 ; or vol. viii.,
p. 67 (in “The Month”).

‘ ‘ Chemicus.” — The three ingredients mentioned are known
preparations sent out by the makers whose names are at*
taclied. The formulae have not been published.

J. Miller. — Directions for the preparation of “ Chemical
Food” will be found in vol. viii., p. 482 and several other
places in the present series.

Sigma. — The text of the Dental Act may be found in vol.
ix. (i878), p. 52.

E. M. — The solution, before the addition of the nitrate of
silver should be made neutral by means of a little carbonate
of soda.

H. C. II. — See a paper read before the Chemical Society
recently, “ On the Atmospheric Oxidation of Phosphorus,”
by C. T. Kingzett {Tourn. Chem. Soc.} December 1880, p.
792; in abstract, Pharm. Journ., ante , p. 399).

H. A. A. — The Act does not apply to Jersey, Guernsey
or the Isle of Man.

“ Ignoramus.” — The correction, if worth making, should
have been made at the Evening Meeting and not in an
anonymous letter.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Hill, Johnson, Baker, Snell, Nichol, Smith, Wilkin¬
son, Kemp, Nicholson, Claypole, Beta, Nemo, Minor Man,
Ferrum, H. A. A., J. G. P. S., H. C. H. O., T. M.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

753

March 12, 1881.]

PHARMACY IN SPAIN.

The following notes on the condition and practice
of pharmacy in Spain, from the pen of Mr. L. E.
Dotesio, of Bilbao, who was formerly a pupil in the
School of Pharmacy, Bloomsbury Square, have been
kindly placed at our disposal by Mr. S. R,. Atkins,
of Salisbury : —

“ I have often thought of writing to the J ournal
upon Spanish pharmacy, etc., but through want of
| time have been unable to do so, and even now I fear
i I shall only be able to give you a very incomplete
account.

“Theoretically, pharmacy in Spain is perfect, but
in practice, of course, the weak points come out.
The curriculum is lengthy, two years being required
•to become a licentiate in pharmacy, and one year
more to obtain the title of doctor in pharmacy. No
one can be a pharmacist who ’is not previously a
bachelor in arts, and the curriculum is divided in
five years’ classics to become a B. A., five years in one
of the three academies of pharmacy to becotne a.
licentiate in pharmacy, with rights to open a phar¬
macy in any part of Spain or Colonies, and one year
more in practical analysis, etc., to become a doctor
iu pharmacy. Very few aspire te this latter tide,

. which is an expensive one. I cannot say that the
examinations are very searching, nor even, perhaps,
very impartial, recommendations, influence, etc.,
having a great deal to do with everything in this
country. There is certainly not enough practical work
I demanded, so that many young pharmacists find
! themselves crammed with theories, Pharmacopoeia,

! etc., and yet are not able to dispense a prescription
or make or spread a plaster. The consequence is
i that before opening their new pharmacies die sensible
I ones go in for at least six months’ practice. in sonie
friendly pharmacy where good practice in dispensing
is to be found.

“ In our pharmacy we often have one or two
' for instruction, which we willingly allow, as after-
i wards they become good customers to our wholesale
branch. The social status of pharmaceutists is that
, of a professional man, in every respect equal to the
| doctors. There are two on every Board of Health.

! The local secretaries are called sub -delegates, and
: are those who see to the diplomas, inspect phar-
; macies, and undertake all prosecutions, etc. On

I establishing himself, the new pharmacist sends his
diploma to the sub-delegate of the district, with a
request that he will inspect his pharmacy. . The

J sub-delegate at once does so, seeing that the place
is fitted with a still and other appliances, and all
j the official and officinal preparations ordered by the
i Academy of Pharmacy, and only after this visit does
j the establishment remain open to the public. The

I I pharmacist is strictly forbidden to prescribe in any
I way ; according to the strict letter of the law he

should only dispense doctor’s prescriptions, but this
is not observed, the public being supplied with any-
i thing non-poisonous it chooses to ask for.

“ As to prescribing, not a single case has come to
| my notice, and, I believe, it is not done by any
* pharmaceutist in Spain. Of course, to make up for
j this the doctors are forbidden to prepare medicines,
and really never do dispense ; in fact, would not
; know how to. There is an official tariff for charges
to be made for prescriptions, but it is very old, and
Third Series, No. 559.

wants revising, all modern drugs being at an excessive
price, so much so, that a reduction of nearly 50 per
cent, is often made on it ; therefore it merely serves
as a limit beyond which the pharmacist cannot
charge. On dispensing a prescription, the pharmacist
is obliged to copy it, to stamp it with his name and
address, and to put its number and price on it. P utting
the price on works fairly well, it is an obligation for
a new dispenser to respect the former dispenser’s
price, and although the public sometimes tears off or
obliterates the price, or some black sheep amongst
pharmacists sometimes charges a lower price than
what he puts on the prescription, these are rare ex¬
ceptions.

“ A pharmaceutist can only have one pharmacy,
and must reside there. At his- death, his widow or
children have a right to carry on the business under
the managership of a licentiate in pharmacy until
their death, when it must be sold. No other rela¬
tions but a widow or children can carry on the
business of a deceased pharmacist. No prescriptions
can be dispensed in any shop which is not a phar¬
macy, duly owned by a pharmaceutist. All patent
medicines and drugs can only be sold by pharma¬
ceutists. Wholesale druggists are not allowed to
retail anything medicinal to the public, and every¬
thing else they must sell in wholesale quantities.
A pharmacy must either be owned by the pharma¬
cist himself, or belong to the widow or children ol

one. '

« Pharmacists here would get on very well, were
it not for their excessive number, caused principally
by the innate pride of the Spaniards themselves, for
the very last peasant, if he has three sons, will not
rest satisfied until he has made them all professional
men, one a doctor, another a chemist, and the % third,
a priest. The country is suffering from an excess of
professional men; lawyers, doctors and chemists are
leading a semi-starving existence by thousands, whilst
agriculture and commerce, two promising fields here,
are almost completely neglected. My experience of
chemists in England, France and Spain is all alike ;
there is no esprit de corps amongst them ; they are
divided, only too delighted if any misfortune happens
to their brother chemists, forgetting in their selfish
joy that the same fate may likely overcome them

next. ,

“I have so far only met one example m
which two chemists have thoroughly co-operated
together to improve their position, and I therefore
consider it well worthy of mention. In — -

we have two customers, chemists, who have made
the following arrangement : — Finding that competi¬
tion was ruinous, and that the good citizens of
' were the only ones .who profited by it,
the two pharmacists determined to become firm
friends, and work together. Not only now do they
keep up their prices, etc., but they do without assist¬
ants, only one of the two shops being open at a time.
We will call them A. and B. A.’s shop is open
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday ; B.’s shop then opens
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and so on. 1 he
night bell is attended to in the same way. A., whilst
his shop is closed, is naturally at liberty, and finds
time to attend to the laboratory work, B. doing the
same when his .closing time comes. At the end of
each month they make up accounts, and it B. has
received more money than A., he gives him halt ol
the surplus. I need not add that they now live well,
and enjoy life thoroughly.”

754

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 12, 1881.

STUDIES OF THE GENUS STRYCHNOS.

BY G. PLANCHON,

Professor in the Ecole Superieure de Pharmacie , Paris,

and Honorary Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of

Great Britain.

{Concluded from page 695.)

VI. Curare of British Guiana.*

As in the case of French Guiana, it is in the high
ground which forms the separation between the
basin of the Amazon and that of the Atlantic Ocean
that the plants yielding the curare of British Guiana
are found. The principal river of this district is
the Essequibo, which takes its rise in the Acaraa
mountains, 60 kilometres north of the equator, and
running nearly constantly north (between 58° and
59° longitude E. of Greenwich) falls into the Atlantic
after a course of 990 kilometres. At 4° N. latitude
it receives on its left the Rupuruni, which itself
issues from a mountainous region east of the Esse¬
quibo, called “ Conuku,” “ Conocou,” or “ Corocou.”
At the foot of this high ground, on the west, run
numerous affluents, which unite to form the Parima
and run towards the Amazon.

It is in this region that the Macusis, the tribe
which more especially prepares the arrow poison in
British Guiana, live. I have already indicated the
composition, according to Robert Schomburgk, of
this substance, which was the first well studied in
reference to the determination of the species that
constitute its basis. It now remains to say a few
words concerning these plants.

The fundamental species is the Strychnos toxifera, ,
the “ urari ” of the natives. It has been described-
by Bentham {Ilook. Journ. Bot ., iii., 240), from
specimens brought home by Schomburgk. I need
not enlarge much upon this perfectly known species.
I will recall only that it is a climber which is dis¬
tinguished easily from other species of Strychnos by
the numerous* long patulous russet-coloured hairs
that cover the young branches, the club-shaped
spines and the dark green leaves. The leaves have
the ordinary venation of the genus (three or five
longitudinal nerves), and are membranaceous, ovate,
oblong and shortly acuminate. The flowers have a
hypocrateriform corolla, with a tube five times as
long as the lobes of the limb, covered on the exterior
with long hairs, and bearing at the base of its
divisions a whitish woolly down. The fruit is as
large as an apple ; it is rounded, acuminate, bluish
green, and contains the seeds in a bitter mucilaginous
pulp.

I have seen in the Museum of Natural History a
number of specimens of Strychnos toxifera , Benth.,
and have been able to study the anatomical structure
of a young branch. Further, Mr. Holmes, Curator
of the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain, has kindly sent me some pieces of
bark and a fragment of stem about 2 ’8 centimetres
in diameter, which have enabled me to note the
structure of those parts.

The Museum specimen of branch, which is quite
young, presents no trace of the lacunas so character¬
istic of species of Strychnos, and it might be thought
that they are not to be found in this species. But
the specimen of stem sent by Mr. Holmes leaves no
doubt as to the existence of this. character.

In this piece of stem the bark, which separates
rather easily from the wood, has a thickness of 1*5 to

* Journal de Pharmacie et de Cliimie [5], vol. ii., p. 105.

2 millimetres. On the exterior it is rough and ir¬
regularly furrowed longitudinally.. On the interior
surface it has a greyish colour and is delicately
striated longitudinally. A transverse section pre¬
sents as a conspicuous character a very considerable
development of the pale or whitish middle zone,
situated between’ two thin layers of reddish tint. In
this respect it much resembles Strychnos Gubleri.
The wood is greyish, marked by numerous con¬
spicuous streaks of a little brighter tint than the
ground of the tissue, or by very small openings
running tangentially. The streaks and openings
form moderately regular concentric layers.

Under the microscope the bark shows underneath
the reddish - suberous layer, formed of numerous
tabular cells disposed in regular series, a very narrow
parenchymatous zone, with cells extended trans¬
versely and containing frequently large crystals of
oxalate of lime. The zone of stony cells alone
'occupies two thirds of the thickness of the bark ;
the underlying liber layer, rich in crystals, recalls by
its appearance the second zone.

As to the wood, it presents the ordinary structure
of the Strychnos wood.’ The medullary rays contain
crystals in nearly all the cells. The lacunae are there
well developed, and in the greater part is found a
tissue forming a sort of network with large meshes.
In a longitudinal section very porous oblique parti¬
tions indicate well the origin of the characteristic
lacunae, which ate due to the presence in the wood
of reticulated vessels {vaisseaux grillages ).*

The second species of Strychnos which enters into
the composition of this curare, the “ arimaru ” of the
natives, has been described by Bentham {loc. cit. 105)
from Schomburgk’s plants under the name of
Strychnos cogens. It is a species still imperfectly
known, concerning which I can give very few details.
The plant is a climber, having coriaceous, ovate
lanceolate acuminate leaves, rounded at the base,
marked by five nerves, 4 to 5 inches long, 1£ to 2
inches broad, shining above, opaque, underneath.
The inflorescence is axillary, branching from the
base, shorter than*the leaves ; the corolla is not
known. The fruit is a • globular berry, yellowish,
and 6 to 8 lines in diameter.

The Strychnos Cogens grows near the Pirara, which
according to Robert Schomburgk’s map of British
Guiana, appended to the catalogue of the Exposition
Universelle of 1867, forms a canal of communication
between the streams which fall into the Rupuruni
and thence into the Essequibo and those which reach
the Amazon by the Parima.

The “yakki” of the natives is also a species of
Strychnos, which Klotsch has described under the
name of Strychnos SchovnburgJcii. It is described in
Martius’s ‘Flora of Brazil’ under the name of Strychnos
pedunculata, Benth. It belongs to the division of
the Rouhamons , and has been included in the
‘ Prodromus ’ of De Candolle under the name of
Rouhamon pedunculatum, A. D.C. I have seen
specimens of it in the herbarium of the Museum.
Richard Schomburgk found it near the Pirara.

This plant is a climber furnished with tendrils

* The existence of these vessels, and consequently the

explanation of the characteristic lacunae of the genus
Strychnos, has already been pointed out. It is to be found
in fact in the 3rd part of the ‘Handbuch tier physiolog-ischen
Botanik ’ of Hoffineister, partly re-edited by M. de Bary
under the title ‘ Vergleichende Anatomie der Yegetations-
organe ’ ; these vessels are described and figured on p. 596,
fig. 299.

March 12, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

755

rolled up like a crosier. The leaves are coriaceous,
oval or oblong, obtusely acuminate, with three to
five longitudinal nerves. The flowers are disposed
in axillary cymes, with long peduncles, with four
parts to the different verticels. The corolla is
hypocrateriform, with a tube shorter than the lobes of
the limb, and barbed at the throat.

As to the “ volkarimo,” the “ tarireng,” the
“ tararemer,” the “mamica” and the “maramu,”
the juices of which are used to thicken the curare, I
have no information to add to that which has already
been given.

! CULTIVATION OF RHUBARB IN FRANCE.

The cultivation of Rheum undulatum and R.
Rhaponticum has for some time past been carried on
profitably at Clamart, near Paris, and the products
of both plants, as so cultivated, are confounded in
commerce under the name of French rhubarb.
Recently M. Gallais has been making some experi¬
ments in the cultivation of Rlieum officinale at Ruffec,
in the Charente department, and he has communi¬
cated his manner of proceeding and results to the
Paris Soci6t6 d’Acclimatation.*

In the selecting of a suitable spot for the experi¬
ment M. Gallais states that he was guided by the
following considerations. The Rheum officinale grows
in Asia between the 30th and 39th parallels of
latitude, at an elevation of 4000 feet above the sea
level. The isothermal line of 12-9° of temperature
passes by Pekin, of which the latitude is 39 54 13
N. and above Milan rises to latitude 45° 54', running
to the west of Europe. By taking this isothermal
line and adding half a. degree of temperature for each
degree of latitude towards the south, and deducting
one degree of temperature for each 172 metres of

t elevation above the level of the sea, he arrived at the
conclusion that in the natural habitat of the plant
the average climatic temperature was 19° in summer
and zero in winter. Ruffec, the place where M.
Gallais’ experiment has been carried on, is situated
in latitude 46° 11" N., longitude 2° 8' 17", has an
average temperature of 17° C. in summer and 1*2° C.
in winter, and is at an elevation ot 96 metres above

the sea-level.

According to the analyses of Freiny and Pelouze
the rhubarb plant is rather rich in potash and
sulphuric acid, less so in silica, more or less rich in
lime, and rich in phosphoric acid. The soil at
Ruffec is calcareous, sandy, and very nitrogenous,
being composed partly of sands proceeding from old
degradations. These sands contain a considerable
abundance of silicious and aluminous matters. The
soil is very permeable, requiring during the summer
months about 5 cubic metres of water per are.

M. Gallais commenced operations with a plant ob¬
tained from Dr. Giraudeau, which in its turn was
derived from the original plant grown in the Botani¬
cal Garden of the Paris Medical School, from which
the species Rheum officinale was described by Pro¬
fessor Planchon in 1872. f

The plant cultivated in the shade, with a northern
exposure and in moist places, developed a luxuriant
vegetation, both in the size of its root and the ampli¬
tude of the leaves. But the product under such
conditions appears to have been of doubtful quality.

Whilst working upon the plant in the spring a

* Bulletin, [31, vol vii., p. 667.
f See Pharmaceutical Journal, [3J, vol. iv., p. OIK).

very short stem was noticed, appearing like a ball
covered with black scales, from which issued in the
first days of March an enormous bud, resembling
both in size and colour a hen’s egg. This bud gradu¬
ally developed and gave off leaves, which in the first
year of the plantation attained a diameter of one
metre.

In the month of June, desiring to develop a
vigorous vegetation whilst preserving the medicinal
principles, M. Gallais dressed each of the plants
with 100 grams of Peruvian guano. Being freely
watered, the root then grew considerably and formed
upon every side axillary buds, which produced in
their turn leaves that were smaller than those which
issued from the parent stem. Such buds, in develop¬
ing, give rise in the prolonged stalk to changes
which upon section become apparent as the mar-
blings that are held as characteristics in commerce
and are the work of Nature only. The plant was
left during the second year, with only such attention
as was necessary, to gather strength and to allow its
cellular structure to become more compact by the
concentration of its particular juices.

The collection was made at the end of the second
year; in the case of the plant growing spon¬
taneously the Chinese are said not to make a
collection until the end of the sixth year. The art
of cultivating this plant for medicinal purposes,
M. Gallais considers to lie not only in assisting
the growth of the plant, but in favouring the
development of the active principles, so that the
plant may arrive in a couple of years at the stage
which, when growing wild, it attains in six. The
known characters of French rhubarb he attributes
to the collection having been made before the plants
have arrived at maturity. As to reproduction M.
Gallais has obtained the best results with offshoots.
At Ruffec the plant seeds with difficulty in the second
year, and its cultivation from seeds is not always
successful, especially in rainy and cold seasons.

Every second year, in July or August, according
to the season and the growth of the plant, the roots
or prolonged stems were collected, and from these
stalks a considerable number of offsets or buds were
separated with a knife. The offsets were then
planted quincuncially in well-prepared soil, with a
clear interval of a metre between each. As soon as
the rainy and cold season set in these offsets com¬
menced to develop and continued during the autumn,
forming rounded roots, which have supported the
severest cold of the district, reaching 13° below zero.

Last year M. Gallais possessed eighteen plants,
which when pulled up, cleansed and dried, yielded
28 kilograms of product, described as being of good
quality and samples of which were exhibited to the
Society. The gathering and drying, however, are
looked upon by M. Gallais as more important opera¬
tions than even the cultivation.

In the month of August the leaves of the plant
become completely dry and a period arrives when
usually the soil surrounding the stem cracks and
exposes the enormous roots. It is just at this time
of apparent stagnation that M. Gallais pulls up
the roots and “ divides them most artistically into
pieces to imitate those imported, whether from Tar¬
tary, Russia, or Persia.” These pieces are cleansed
carefully and thrown at once into clean water that
has been acidulated by some vinegar or a few drops
of sulphuric acid, in order to prevent their
becoming blackened or taking a bad colour

756

THU I* H ARMAOEUTIC AL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 12, 18S1

through exposure to the air. After a momentary
immersion they are drained on hurdles and placed
immediately in a stove at a temperature of
30° C, This operation has for its object to form
a hard casing round the pieces, to compress
the juice and to prevent mouldiness and conse¬
quent fermentation. After some days of continued
drying the pieces are strung upon cords so as to
form large chaplets and these are hung in a bake¬
house or kitchen chimney, or, when the quantity
makes it worth while, in a stove. It is said that the
Tartars attach small chaplets of rhubarb to the
horns of their goats and sheep, and thus dry
them by exposure to the sun’s rays. M. Gallais
thinks, however, that another account is more
correct, which says that the rhubarb, cut into frag¬
ments and cleansed, is placed by the natives upon
slowly heated stones and carefully turned from
time to time, being afterwards strung to complete
the drying process. He is inclined to believe,
however, that a quicker drying would be preferable,
and proposes to place some of his next yield in an
oven immediately after the removal of the bread.

Last year M. Gallais made the experiment of
drying the root in the sun, but the result was not
satisfactory. The thick pieces dried slowly and
became completely decolorized instead of retaining
their dirty yellow tint, whilst the cellular tissue
underwent a considerable alteration due to a slight
fermentation. M. Gallais considers that these altera¬
tions would be prevented by a rapid drying, and
the juice being concentrated in the interior of the
piece its aroma would be preserved, whilst the pieces
would consequently acquire a commercial value in
proportion to their thickness.

M. Gallais’ operations have as yet been carried on
upon a limited scale, but he makes an estimate, in
• which he values the product at six francs per kilo¬
gram, from which it would appear that the cultiva¬
tion could be carried on profitably.

THE NITROPRUSSIDES OF THE LKALOIDS.

BY DR. EDMUND W. DAVY, M.R.I.A.,

Professor of Forensic Medicine , Royal College
of Surgeons, Ireland.

In a communication made to the Pharmaceutical
Society of Ireland on the 1st ult., of which the following
is an abstract, Dr. Davy remai’ked that the nitroprussides,
which were first studied by Dr. Lyon Playfair, had not re¬
ceived, on the part of chemists, the attention that might
have been expected from the interesting properties pos¬
sessed by those compounds ; for though it is now over thirty
years since they were first investigated, still comparatively
little has been added to our knowledge of those salts
beyond what was ascertained . by -Dr. Playfair, who
described very fully the principal characters of nitro-
prussic acid, and of some of its most important metallic
salts. As he appeared not to have investigated the organic
combinations of that acid, and scarcely any attention has
subsequently been given to them, Dr. Davy undertook
their investigation ; and the vegetable alkaloids being, as
a class, the most interesting and important organic bases
that we are acquainted with, he naturally directed his
attention to them in the first place, and the result has
been that he has succeeded in preparing several unde¬
scribed salts of those bases, some of which he exhibited
to the meeting, having first made some remarks on the
nitroprussides of the alkaloids in general.

Dr. Davy stated that he has ascertained that nitro-
prussic acid, the composition of which is represented by
the formula H2(NO)FeCy5, is capable of forming com¬

pounds with the different vegetable alkaloides or bases,
which are, for the most part, very sparingly soluble in I
water ; and when they are such, they may be readily
obtained by treating any of their soluble salts with a
solution of sodium nitroprusside, when the alkaloid will
be precipitated in union with the nitroprussic acid, \
producing sometimes a very characteristic precipitate or
deposit.

On being so formed, the salt will in some cases, as in
those of strychnine and brucine, exhibit itself from the
first as a more or less crystalline precipitate ; but in many
instances, if the precipitated nitroprusside is examined
under the microscope, it will be found to be at first amor¬
phous, or in the form of minute oil-like globules, which
latter, on subsiding, or on agitation, adhere to the sides
and bottom of the vessel containing the mixture, forming
a sticky, resinous looking deposit ; or the particles agglu¬
tinate together into little lumps or masses of a similar
character. But these deposits, on standing for a variable
period, assume, for the most part, a more or less crystal¬
line condition. In some cases, however, as, for example,
in those of veratrine and cinchonidine, there appeared to
be no disposition on the part of the salts to acquire a
crystalline form, even after the lapse of a considerable
time. Some of the alkaloids, as those of morphine and
nicotine, from their forming much more soluble salts
with nitroprussic acid, their nitroprussides cannot be
obtained by precipitation, as in the case of those
alkaloids the nitroprussides of which are sparingly soluble
salts. But these can be easily made either by directly
dissolving the alkaloid in nitroprussic acid, or by treating
solutions of their chlorides with silver nitroprusside, or
their sulphates with a solution of barium nitroprusside ;
when, in the first case, the insoluble silver chloride, and
in the second that of barium sulphate is formed, either
of which can be easily separated by filtration from the
soluble alkaloid nitroprusside produced, which on
subsequent evaporation, if the salt is crystallizable, can
be obtained in a crystalline form. But the use of the
silver salt with the chloride of the alkaloid is to be
preferred, as affording greater facilities for the prepara¬
tion of the nitroprusside of the alkaloid in a pure condi¬
tion.

Dr. Davy has ascertained that nitroprussic acid forms
(as might have been expected from its being a bibasic l
acid) two classes of salts with the alkaloids, viz., neutral
and acid salts. In the first there exist two molecules of
the base and one of the acid, and in the second one mole¬
cule of each. And he has observed that some of the
alkaloids, a3 for example, morphine, strychnine and
brucine, seem to be capable of forming only neutral .
salts, whereas others, as those of quinine, cinchonine and
nicotine, form both neutral and acid salts in combining
with nitroprussic acid. He has also noticed that where
the alkaloids form the two classes of salts just stated,
that in some cases the neutral salt is the most readily
crystallizable, and the acid one much less so, and vice
versd. Thus the quinine neutral salt crystallizes with
great facility, whereas the acid one does so with diffi¬
culty; on the other hand, the nicotine acid salt readily
assumes the crystalline form, whereas the neutral one
appears to be non- crystallizable.

Dr. Davy then proceeded to describe at some detail
the preparation and properties of the nitroprussides of
the more important alkaloids, commencing with strych¬
nine, it being one of the few organic nitroprussides to |
which some very slight attention on the part of chemists
had already been given. From his having ascertained
that some of those salts are very sparingly soluble in
water, — thus the nitroprusside of brucine requiring about
736, that of strychnine 847, and that of quinine 2500
times their weight of water at the ordinary temperature
in their solution, whilst that others, as those of morphine
and of nicotine, are very soluble salts, — from this dif¬
ference of solubility, together with the characteristic
appearances he has pointed out, which some of those

March 12, 18S1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

757

| compounds present when examined under the micro-

; scope, he expressed a hope that his researches on the

nitroprussides of the alkaloids may prove to be of some

practical value, as adding to the distinctive characters of

those bases, and thus furnishing additional means for their

detection and separation under different circumstances.*

I _ _

REPORT OF SOXHLET’S researches on the
QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF THE SUGARS.+

BY C. H. HUTCHINSON, F.C.S.

( Concluded from page 722.)

The results of the experiments were as follows : —

Invert Sugar — Time required for reducing Fehling’s re¬
agent, two minutes. 50 c.c. of a solution containing 1 per
cent. = 0*5 grm. of inverted sugar decompose —

101*2 c.e. of Fehling’s solution, undiluted.

99*5 „ „ „ +1 vol. water.

98*2 ,, ,, », +2 ,,

97‘3 ,, >, >, F3 ,,

97*0 „ „ „ F 4 „

100 c.c. of a solution containing J per cent. = 0*5 gram
inverted sugar decompose —

100*6 c.c. of Fehling’s solution, undiluted.

97*1 „ „ „ + 4 vols. water.

Using a constant quantity of Fehling’s solution, a
similar result was obtained, thus : —

| lXxS'SuuSed 1 Pe-nt. Sugar So, ,«on.

require . . . 49*4 c.c. = 0*4940 grm. inverted sugar.
100 c.c. F 1 vol.

water require . 50*3 c.c. = 0*5030 grm. inverted sugar.

100 c.c. + 2 vol.
water require . 50*9 c.c. = 0*5090 grm. inverted sugar.

. 100 c.c, + 3 vol.

water require . 51*4 c.c. = 0*5140 grm. inverted sugar.

100 c.c. F 4 vol.

water require . 51*5 c.c. = 0*5150 grm. inverted sugar.

100 c.c. undiluted i ^ oent Sugar Solution-

require . . . 99*4 c.c. = 0*4970 grm. inverted sugar.
100 c.c. + 4 vols.

water require . 102*9 c.c. =05145 grm. inverted sugar.
From these experiments it follows that 1 equivalent
| of inverted sugar (180) in 1 per cent, solution reduces
10*1 equivalents of cupric oxide when undiluted Fehling’s
solution is used, and 9*7 equivalents when this is diluted
with 4 volumes of water.

The following results were obtained by the gravimetric
process, and show the effect caused by varying the pro¬
portions and concentration of the reacting substances.
0*5 gram inverted sugar in a 1 per cent, solution added to
boiling Fehling’s solution and maintained 5 minutes at
boiling point.

c.c. Fehling’s Diluted with Grm. Copper Copper calculated
solution. vol. water. obtained. for 100 pts. sugar.

97*5 4 0*8560 171*20

195*0 4 0*9170 183*40

100*0 1 0*8742 174*84

200*0 1 0*9408 188*16

102*0 0 0*8903 178*06

150*0 0 0*9317 186*34

200*0 0 0*9456 189 12

300*0 0 0*9643 192*86

400*0 0 0*9710 194*20

Lowe’s

Solution.

150 (containing
copper=333

Fehling). 0 1*0800 216*00

200 (containing
copper = 444

Fehling). 0

1*1142

222*84

* Dr. Davy’s “Researches on the Nitroprussides of the
Alkaloids ” has just appeared in full, in the f Proceedings of
the Royal Irish Academy,’ 2nd series, vol. iii. (Science).

> f Read before the School of Pharmacy Students’ Associa¬
tion, January 27, 1881,

The remarks which Soxhlet appends to these experi¬
ments are thus classfied: —

1. The reducing power of inverted sugar, for alkaline
copper solution, is importantly influenced by the concen¬
tration of the solutions : a smaller quantity of sugar
being required to decompose Fehling’s solution in the un¬
diluted state than when it is diluted with 1, 2, 3 or 4
volumes of water. It is immaterial whether the sugar
solution be added to the cold or boiling copper reagent.

2. If inverted sugar acts on a larger quantity of copper
solution than it is just able to reduce, its reducing power
will be increased, the increment varying according to the
amount of copper in excess and the concentration of the
cupric liquid ; in the previous experiments the equivalents
varied from 1 : 9*7 to 1 : 12*6 these numbers being by no
means the limit of possible variation.

3. In a volumetric estimation of inverted sugar by
means of Fehling’s solution, the amount of copper re¬
duced by each successive addition of sugar solution is a
decreasing quantity, the results obtained are therefore
perfectly empirical, and are only true of that particular
set of conditions.

4. The statement that 1 equivalent of inverted sugar
reduces 10 equivalents of cupric oxide is not true, the
hypothesis that 0*5 gram inverted sugar reduces 100 c.c.
of Fehling’s solution being shown to be incorrect; the
real amount under the conditions laid down by Fehling
(1 volume of alkaline copper solution, 4 volumes of water,
sugar solution ^-1 per cent.) being 97 c.c., the results ob¬
tained under this hypothesis are, therefore, 3 per cent, too
low. Where, however, the above conditions have been ful¬
filled, the results although not absolutely, are relatively
correct ; not so, however, those obtained by gravimetric
processes, since the interference of concentration and
excess has not been previously recognized.

Grape Sugar, Dextrose. — Time required for reducing
Fehling’s solution, 2 minutes.

50 c.c. of a solution containing 1 per cent. = 0*5 gram
dextrose decompose —

105*2 c.c. Fehling’s solution undiluted.

103*7 „ „ „ +1 vol. water.

102*4 ,, ,, ,» F 2 ,, „

101*5 „ „ „ F3 „

101*1 „ „ „ F4 „

100 c.c. of a solution containing \ per cent. = 0*5 gram
dextrose, decompose —

104*5 c.c. Fehling’s solution, undiluted.

101*1 „ „ „ F 4 vols. water.

A repetition of the experiment, using a constant quantity
of copper solution, gave the following results : —

Fehling’s Solution. 1 per cent. Sugar Solution.

100 c.c. undiluted require 47*5 c.c. = 0*4750 gram dextrose.
100 „ Flvol. water ,, 48*25 „ =0*4825 „ „

100 „ F 2 , . 48*80., =0*4880

100 „ F 3

99

49*20 „ =0*4920
49*40 „ =0*4940

99

99

99

99

100 ,, F 4 „ „ ,,

\ per cent. Sugar Solution.

100 „ undiluted „ 95*7 „ =0*4785 gram dextrose

100 F4vol. water,, 98*90 „ =0*4945 „ . „

The above numbers show then that. 1 equivalent of

dextrose (180) in 1 per cent, solution reduces 10*52
equivalents of cupric oxide when undiluted Fehling’s
solution is used, and 10*11 equivalents when 4 volumes
of water are added.

The action of an excess of copper is the same in this
case as in that of inverted sugar. These experiments
prove that —

1. Dextrose has a greater reducing power for Fehling’s
solution than inverted sugar under the same circum¬
stances.

2. Results obtained on the hypothesis that 0*5 gram
dextrose reduces 100 c.c. of Fehling s solution are not
far from the truth, always provided that the conditions
of working laid down by Fehling were followed, as under
these circumstances the real amount of reduction is

101 c.c.

758

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 12, 1SSL

3. The remarks made with regard to the influence of
excess and concentration of the copper reagent on the
reducing power of inverted sugar, apply with equal force
to dextrose.

4. As in the case of inverted sugar, the results obtained
by gravimetric processes are too high.

Milk Sugar. — Time required for reducing Fehling’s
solution, 6 minutes.

50 c.c. of a solution containing 1£ per cent. = 075 gram
of milk sugar, decompose —

110*9 c.c. of Fehling’s solution, undiluted.

111*0 „ ' „ „ + 4 vol. water.

50 c.c. of a ‘solution containing 1 per cent. = 0*5 gram
milk sugar, decompose —

73*8 c.c. of Fehling’s solution, undiluted.

74*2 „ „ „ + 4 vol. water.

100 c.c. of a solution containing ^ per cent. =0*5 gram
milk sugar decompose —

73*9 c.c. of Fehling’s solution, undiluted.

74*1 „ „ ,, +4vol. water.

If the amount of Fehling’s solution be retained
constant, we have —

Fehling’s Solution. 1 per cent. Sugar Solution.

100 c.c. undiluted

require . . . 67*6 c.c. = 0*676 grams milk sugar.

100 c.c. + 4 vol.

water require . 67*6 c.c. = 0*676 grams milk sugar.

From these figures it will be seen that milk sugar, un¬
like inverted sugar and dextrose, reduces Fehling’s reagent
in the same proportion, whether it be applied in a lj,
1, or | per cent, solution, and whether the latter be
diluted or not. The small quantity more of Fehling’s
solution used in the cases where dilution was adopted
being accounted for by the greater amount of copper re¬
quired under these circumstances to produce a reaction
in determining the end point, the equivalent of reduction
varies on this account from 7*38 to 7*41.

The influence of excess of the cupric reagent is not so
great in this case as in those already referred to ; it is,
nevertheless, of consequence, as is shown by the fact that
0*750 gram of milk sugar, in a 1| per cent, solution,
boiled eight minutes with —

Copper cal-
Grarn culated for
Copper. 100 parts

Sugar.

112 c.c. Fehling’s solution undiluted,

reduced . 0*9790 130*53

225 c.c. Fehling’s solution undiluted,
reduced . 1*0133 135*11

Lactose. — Time required for reducing Fehling’s reagent
two minutes.

50 c.c. of a solution containing 1 per cent. =0*5 gram
lactose decompose —

98*0 c.c. of Fehling’s solution undiluted.

93*9 „ „ „ + 4 vol. water.

Employing a constant quantity of Fehling’s solution.

Fehling’s Solution. 1 per cent. Sugar Solution.

100 c.c. undiluted

require . . . 51*1 c.c. =0*511 gram, lactose.

100 c.c. +4 voL

water require . 53*3 c.c. = 0*533 gram, lactose.

The reducing equivalent is, therefore, for undiluted
Fehling’s solution, 1:9*8; when diluted with 4 volumes of
water 1 : 9*4.

The influence of excess of the cupric reagent was
shown by heating 0*5 gram lactose with—

Copper calcu-
Copper reduced. lated for I'jO
pts sugar.

196 c.c. Fehling’s solution

undiluted . . . 0*900 180

188 c.c. Fehling’s solution

+ 4 vol. water. . 0*866 173*5

From these experiments it follows that the reducing
power of lactose for alkaline copper solutions is affected
in the same manner, though not to the same degree, as
that of inverted sugar and dextrose.

Maltose. — Time required for reducing Fehling’s reagent
3 to 4 minutes.

50 c.c. of a solution containing 1 per cent. = 0*5 gram
maltose decompose 64*1 to 64*2 c.c. of Fehling’s solution
undiluted. 67*5 c.c. of Fehling’s solution + 4 vol. water.

100 c.c. of a solution containing J per cent. = 0*5 gram
maltose decompose 64*8 c.c. of Fehling’s undiluted
solution. #

When the amount of Fehling’s solution remains
constant it was found that —

Fehling’s solution. Maltose solution.

100 c.c. undiluted

required. . . 77*8 c.c. 1 p.c. = 0*778 gram maltose.

100 c.c. undiluted

required . . . 154*5 c.c. \ p.c = 0*7725 grm. maltose.

100 c.c. + 4 vol.

water. . . . 74*0 c.c. 1 p.p. = 0*7400 grm. maltose.

As in the previous cases the effect of an excess of
copper was determined by the gravimetric method, 0*5
gram maltose being boiled with —

Copper calcu-
Copper reduced. lated for loo

70 c.c. Fehling’s solut
undiluted . . .

128 c.c. Fehling’s solution
undiluted . . .

192 c.c. Fehling’s solution
undiluted . . .

74 c.c. Fehling’s solution
+ 4 vol. water . .

74 c.c. Fehling’s solution
+ 4 vol. water . .

136 c.c. Fehling’s solution
+ 4 vol. water . .

13 s c.c. Fehling’s solution
+ 4 vol. water . .

pts. maltose.

0*5654

113*08

0*5643

112*86

0*5649

112*98

0*5923

118*46

0*5936

118*72

0*6045

120*90

0*6058

121*16

The reducing equivalent of maltose for copper is, 6*1
when the sugar is contained in a 1 per cent, solution,
and the Fehling reagent is undiluted ; 6*41 when this is
diluted with 4 volumes of water, and 6*53 when twice as
much of the thus diluted copper solution is used as is
required by the reaction.

From these facts it follows that —

1. Maltose has the lowest reducing power of any of
the varieties of sugar subjected to examination.

2. It decomposes the copper solution more slowly than
inverted sugar, dextrose, or lactose, but more quickly
than milk sugar.

3. Similarly with inverted sugar, dextrose, and lactose,
concentration of the solutions affects the reducing power
but in this case the effect is opposite in kind, the power
being increased instead of diminished by dilution.

4. An excess of copper solution does not alter the
reducing power in undiluted solutions, it does, however,
when the copper solution is diluted with 4 volumes of
water. Dr. Soxhlet suggests that this action might
possibly be due to a conversion of maltose into dextrose ;
this, having a greater reducing power, would raise the
equivalent.

Lcevulose. — By calculating from the numbers obtained
for inverted sugar and dextrose, the reducing power of
0*5 gram lsevulose in a 1 per cent, solution is found to be
97*2 c.c. for Fehling’s undiluted solution and 93*0 c.c.
when this is diluted with 4 volumes of water ; the
equivalents corresponding with these numbers are 9*72
and 9*3.

The second part of the paper is devoted to a considera¬
tion of the action taking place between sugar and alkaline
mercurial solution. For this purpose, the preparations of
Knapp and Sachsse were employed. Knapp’s solution
is made by dissolving 10 grams of pure dry mercuric
cyanide in water, adding 100 c.c. of sodium hydrate
solution having a specific gravity of 1*145; the liquid
being diluted to 1000 c.c. was ordered to be applied by
heating 40 c.c. of it to the boiling point and adding a
h per cent, sugar solution until all the mercury is pre-

March 12, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

759

cipitated, the end point being attained when a drop of
the solution on a piece of filter paper held over the
mouth of a bottle containing sulphydrate of ammonium
is no longer blackened: this reaction is, however, far
less delicate than the one used by R. Sachsse, viz.,
the addition to the solution to be tested of an alka¬
line solution of a stannous salt : prepared by adding
an excess of potassium hydrate to a solution of stannous
chloride: an objection to Knapp’s solution is, that an
amount of sugar sufficient to reduce the mercurial liquid,
if added in one quantity, does not produce the desired
result when introduced in portions of 5 c.c. . On
account of this difficulty Sachsse recommended a liquid
containing 18 grams pure dry mercuric iodide dissolved,
by means of 25 grams of potassium iodide, in water ; to
this being added an aqueous solution of 80 grams of
potassium hydrate, and the whole bulk then made up to
1 litre. Knapp’s solution contains 7 ‘9365 grams of
mercury in the litre ; Sachsse’ s, 7*9295 grams. 100 c.c.
of the former are therefore equivalent to 100*1 c.c. of the
latter.

Preliminary experiments with Knapp’s solution
showed that it is as necessary to add the sugar in one
quantity in this case as has already been proved with
regard to the alkaline copper solution : that it is immaterial
whether one uses a 1 or | per cent, solution of sugar,
and that the reducing power found by Knapp, for this
solution is entirely wrong, he having asserted that
100 c.c. of his solution are reduced by 250 milligrams of
dextrose. Using the same means of detecting the end of
the reaction which Knapp had employed, Soxhlet found
that not more than 200 milligrams of dextrose, at the
most, are necessary for the reduction of this quantity
of the mercurial solution ; the error is attributed to the
use of dextrose obtained by drying commercial dextrose
at 100°, treating this with boiling absolute alcohol, and
using the crystals which this deposited on cooling
without further treatment, such a product being in
reality very impure.

Preliminary experiments with the preparation recom¬
mended by Sachsse showed that this, like Knapp’s solu¬
tion, gives different results, according as the sugar is
added in one or several portions. The way in which it is
influenced is, however, different, for when added in small
quantities less sugar i3 required than when the whole
amount is added at once ; the reverse of this being the
case with Knapp’s reagent. The results obtained by
using a 1 or | per cent, solution of sugar are different, a
larger quantity of sugar being required when added in
a 1 per cent, than in a J per cent, solution.

The following table gives the quantity of the various
kinds of sugar required for the reduction of a given
amount of the two mercurial reagents : —

100 c.c. 100 c.c.

Knapp's Sachsse’s

solution solution

are reduced by
mgrm. mgrm.

Dextrose, An-

in \ 0/o solution

202*0

325*0

hydrous .

l „ 1 „

99

201*0

330*5

i

200*0

269*0

Inverted Sugar .

2 >>

„ 1 „

99

199*0

266-0

1

198*0

213-0

Laevulose. . .

>> 2 J>

„ 1 „

99

197*0

222*5

JL

311*0

465-0

Milk Sugar . .

2 >>

„ 1 „

99

310*0

466*0

245*0

438-0

Lactose . . .

>> 2 >>

„ 1 „

JJ

242*0

442*0

Altered Milk

1

! >> 2 99

99

222*0

387*0

Sugar* . . .

! „ 1 „

99

223*0

388*0

i

308*0

491-0

Maltose . . .

» 2 5»

J> I >>

99

99

315*0

506-0

* Milk sugar boiled for one and a half hours with 4 per
cent, sulphuric acid, in the proportion of 50 c.c. acid to
each gram milk sugar, the solution neutralized and diluted
to the required strength.

From this it will be seen that the reduction produced
by the various kinds of sugar differs more in the Sachsse
than in the Knapp solution, and on this account the
former is more useful than the latter in distinguishing
to which variety a given sugar may belong.

As the result of much observation, the author unhesi¬
tatingly awards the Eehling reagent priority of place as
regards accuracy, safety and convenience ; the mercurial
solutions are nevertheless of great value where it is
necessary to identify the kind of sugar under examination.

PREPARATION OF PEPTONES.*

BY A. CATILLON.

Meat Peptone. — Meat being our principal nitrogenous
food affords the most useful peptone, and the product of
its artificial digestion closely represents the general
properties of all the albuminoid peptones. It may be
obtained as follows : —

Lean beef, finely cut ... 2 lbs.

Muriatic acid, sp. gr. 1*18 . . 5 drachms.

Water . 10 pints.

Pepsine, sufficient.

All fat and sinews are to be removed from the meat
before it is chopped. It is then digested for twelve hours
at a temperature of 45° C. (113° F.) in the acidulated
water with a slight excess of pepsine. The quantity of
pepsine necessary can only be determined by ascertaining
its strength through actual experiment. The mixture is
to be agitated from time to time, and the temperature
must be carefully attended to. Below 40° C. the
digestion becomes quite slow, and above 50° there is
danger of destroying the pepsine, a result which surely
follows near 70°. The mixture, at first like porridge,
becomes more fluid by degrees, and in from two to six
hours, is almost transparent. It is then a mixture of
peptones and syntonin, coagulable by heat or nitric
acid.

After twelve hours the liquid is strained and filtered.
Rapid filtration is a sign that the operation has been
carried far enough. Another test is that the filtrate is
coagulated by neither ebullition nor nitric acid.

The liquid is now saturated with bicarbonate of soda,
and evaporated on a water-bath till a pellicle forms on
the surface of the product. At this stage it has, when
cold, a sp. gr. 1*15, and contains very nearly one half of its
weight of solid peptones. It has a dark yellow colour, a
slight and not unpleasant smell, and an acidulous taste,
like concentrated broth, in no way repulsive. On an
average meat yields about one-third of its weight of this
concentrated preparation, which keeps for a long time
without moulding or undergoing alteration of any kind.
As solutions of albumen and syntonin are prone to rapid
decomposition, this is another test indicating the success
of the operation.

When, on the contrary, the manipulation has been
faulty, the liquid is brown instead of yellow, it soon
becomes turbid, and acquires a strong smell .and an un¬
pleasant taste.

Fibrin Peptone can be prepared like meat peptone, but
it offers no particular therapeutical interest.

Egg Peptone is also obtained in the same manner, with,
however, the following important difference. When some
light food is thought advisable for a convalescent, a soft
boiled egg is usually recommended, the semi-fluid albumen
being considered of easier digestion than the coagulated
albumen of a hard boiled egg. With artificial digestion
the case is different; raw albumen is much more slowly
transformed into peptone than the coagulated, thus
proving once more how differently reactions take place in
the animal organism and in the chemist’s apparatus.

White of egg, then, to be transformed into peptone is
to be first coagulated by the heat of a water-bath, and

* Druggists' Circular, January, 1881. From Repertoire
de Pharmacie.

760

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 12, 1881

having been cut in small pieces is digested with the pro¬
portions of water, acid, and pepsine above indicated. The
operation, however, need not be carried on for so. long a
time- with good pepsine a few hours are sufficient to
obtain a solution affording no precipitate, either with heat,
nitric acid, or ferrocyanide of potassium acidulated with
acetic acid. The solution being saturated with bicarbonate
of soda, and evaporated to syrupy consistence, is of a fine
amber colour, and almost tasteless and odourless. For
these reasons it would be acceptable to the most delicate
stomach. The only drawback is that eggs are expensive,
yield but little peptone and even that inferior as an
aliment to meat peptone.

Milk Peptone. — This is a great desideratum for sick
children, but owing to the chemical constitution of milk,
a peptone actually representing it as a whole has not
been obtained, and, perhaps, cannot be at all. M. A.
Catillon offers a process with which he hardly seems to
be satisfied himself, expressing at the same time some
doubts as to the value of the product. The difficulty is
that the fatty matters of the milk, an important compo¬
nent part, are not affected by pepsine, and therefore can¬
not be transformed into peptone. On the other hand, they
may be emulsified with pancreatine, but even then would
not form a permanent mixture with concentrated peptone
solutions. As milk deprived of its fatty constituents is
of but little value as an aliment, we are ready to accept
the conclusions of the writer that meat preparations are,
in every way, preferable.

CITRATE OF CAFFEINE.*

BY J. U. LLOYD.

Accepting the fact that caffeine is soluble in 9 parts of
chloroform, and that citric acid is practically insoluble in
chloroform, I argued that, if the results of my experi¬
ments be a mixture of citric acid and caffeine, chloroform
should separate the caffeine, leaving the citric acid.
That if a definite citrate of caffeine be formed, it might
or might not dissolve in chloroform, or, that chloroform
might possibly decompose it.

Result. — All endeavours to make citric acid and caffeine
unite from aqueous or alcoholic solutions were failures.
In all cases the chloroform dissolved the caffeine from the
residue, leaving the citric acid.

Attempts to form a citrate of caffeine by double decom¬
position of barium citrate and solution of caffeine in
water acidulated with sulphuric acid were failures.

Citric acid and caffeine in equivalent amounts refused
to unite if triturated with chloroform, the caffeine dis¬
solving alone. Then I examined a salt labelled citrate
of caffeine, and sold upon the market as such. This
was granular and semi-crystalline. It yielded one-third
its weight when triturated successively with two por¬
tions of chloroform, 15 parts each. This chloroform
upon filtration and evaporation gave mostly pure caf¬
feine. The residue, insoluble in chloroform, was mixed
with solution of sodium carbonate, when effervescence
followed, and a thick magma of feathery crystals resulted.
This magma was agitated with chloroform : the crystals
at once dissolved ; the chloroform solution contained
caffeine, the aqueous solution contained sodium citrate.
Other experiments supported the above, and I could not
doubt but the article under consideration contained one-
half its weight of citrate of caffeine, the remainder being
citric acid and caffeine. Upon dissolving tne original

* This subject has been kindly investigated by Professor
Lloyd at the request of one the editors of this paper. The
existence of a citrate of caffeine or of any other true salt of
caffeine with weak acids has been once believed to be
possible, but very strong arguments have at various times
been brought forward to prove their non-existence, and
nearly all authorities at present take the latter view. The
results of Mr. Lloyd’s investigations, briefly detailed below,
appear to throw a new light on this subject. — Ed. N. R.
From Neiv Remedies, February, 1881.

salt in water, decomposition ensued, aud subsequent eva¬
poration give simply mixtures of caffeine and citric acid.
Thus I was led to conclude that the preparation could not
have been made by aqueous solutions of the alkaloid
and acid. Then I experimented with various solvents, j
and found that to make the caffeine unite with the acid,
a solution must be used that exerted a solvent action
nearly alike upon both the caffeine and the citric acid.*
This solvent is best : chloroform, 1 part ; alcohol, sp. gr.

O’ 835, one-half part. The mode of procedure is as follows :

Formula. — Dissolve 30 grains of caffeine in 1 fluid
ounce of chloroform and mix this with a solution of 30
grains of crystallized citric acid in \ an ounce of alcohol.
Filter if necessary, and evaporate the filtrate in an evapo¬
rating basin over a water-bath until the residue is of a
syrupy consistence. Remove the dish, then cool to 50° F.,
rubbing the contents of the dish with a spatula, and con¬
tinue until a dry powder results. This is mostly citrate of
caffeine, but free citric acid and free caffeine are un¬
doubtedly present to some extent.

Remarks. — As thus prepared, citrate of caffeine is a
semi-crystalline, granular powder. It is permanent in the
air and soluble in a mixture of alcohol, 1 part ; chloroform,

2 parts. It decomposes when mixed with cold water, first
dissolving. If the proportions be such that the water
cannot hold the caffeine in solution, this substance sepa¬
rates in feathery crystals. Alcohol, sp. gr. 0”835 and
0-805, dissolve it with decomposition and deposition of
caffeine crystals if there be an excess of caffeine. It is
practically insoluble in carbon disulphide and cold chloro¬
form , although chloroform will extract any free caffeine
that may be present. It is necessary, in preparing it,
that the evaporating basin be removed from the heat and

then cooled. The subsequent rubbing with the spatula
favours combination. In one instance, the basin was
permitted to remain thirty-six hours quiet and in a cool
location, with scarce an appearance of crystallization, but
as soon as the syrupy liquid was stirred it solidified into
a dry crystalline mass. (This is sometimes the case with,
berberine, and in this case, when crystallization takes
place, it is with elimination of much heat.)

Experiments were made with the object of ascertaining’
whether, if the proportion of caffeine be increased, all of
the citric acid could not be made to enter into combina¬
tion. As yet this point is open. The indications, how¬
ever, are that such is not the case, and that at a certain
stage combination ceases, both free acid and caffeine re¬
maining. (Perhaps this may be likened to the prepara¬
tion of sulphocarbolic acid, in which a certain amount of
each acid must always remain free.)

Solutions (separate) of caffeine and of citrate of caffeine
in mixtures of chloroform and alcohol were sent to Pro¬
fessor Wm. L. Dudley for microscopic examination. He
kindly made the investigations and reported two classes
of crystals. If the slides be moistened with chloroform,
the caffeine disappears at once, the citrate of caffeine re¬
mains.

From the results of my investigations I am led to re¬
port that : —

Citrate of caffeine is a definite compound. It is de¬
composed by solvents which dissolve citric acid readily
and caffeine sparingly. It may be easily made by the
process inclosed, but that it is contaminated with both
free caffeine and free citric acid.f

* The conclusion is : Caffeine will not unite with citric
acid in presence of any solvent that dissolves citric acid
freely and caffeine imperfectly. Citrate of caffeine is de¬
composed by solvents that dissolve citric acid freely and
caffeine to a less extent.

t Professor Lloyd has sent us specimens of caffeine (pure),
citrate of caft'eiue, made according to his process, and solu¬
tion of citrate of caffeine, for microscopic examination.
One vial containing the latter has a few solid crystals de¬
posited on its inside, which differ from those characteristic
of citric acid and caffeine, and are doubtlessly the above-
mentioned salt. — Ed. N. K.

March 12, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

761

Cjje l^jarmamttxral Journal.

SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , books for review , etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements , and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. J ourn .”

THE INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL
CONGRESS.

Some months ago we called attention to the fact
that a project was then on loot lor holding an Inter¬
national Medical Congress in London during the
month of August next, and at the meeting of the
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, held about
the same time, Mr. Hampson, reverting to the re¬
solution which had been passed in 1874 to invite
the International Pharmaceutical Congress to hold
its next meeting in London, pointed out that as the
Medical Congress would have a section devoted to
materia medica and pharmacology, it might be desir¬
able to hold the Pharmaceutical Congress about the
same time as the Medical Congress.

In the discussion that followed it appeared that
there was some good reason for the opinion enter¬
tained by Mr. Hampson, for beyond the general
desirability that these meetings should be in some
way associated by reason of the subjects that would
most likely be dealt with at both of them, it was
made known by Mr. Hills that the President of
the College of Physicians had inquired whether the
Pharmaceutical Society would get up on the occasion
an exhibition of materia medica. Consequently
in pursuance of Mr. Hampson’s motion that an
invitation should be sent tor the International
Pharmaceutical Congress to meet in London about
the same time as the Medical Congress, a resolution
was unanimously passed by the Council instructing
the Library, Museum and Laboratory Committee to
made arrangements for the reception of the Inter¬
national Pharmaceutical Congress in August, 1881.

In the interval that has elapsed it does not seem
that there has been on the part of the organizers of
the Medical Congress any development of the idea
suggested by the inquiry of the President of the
College of Physicians, and if we may judge from the
letter addressed by the Secretaries of the Pharmaco¬
logical Section to the President of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society, read at the last meeting of Council,
all that is desired is the recommendation of twenty
British and foreign pharmacists who might be in¬
vited to attend the meetings of the Pharmacological
Section of the Medical Congress. As we learn from
this communication that anything beyond the issue
of a fixed number of invitations to pharmacists
of distinction at home and abroad has been found

impracticable, it may be inferred that the idea of
bringing together those who would take a practical
interest in the discussion of pharmaceutical subjects
has been abandoned in that quarter.

Meanwhile, however, in pursuance of the decision
arrived at by the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society, steps have been taken to provide for the
next meeting of the International Pharmaceutical
Congress being held in London next August. About
three hundred invitations have been sent out to all
the officials connected with foreign pharmaceutical
associations, as well as to such individual pharma¬
cists abroad as are likely to be able to attend the
meeting. Already a large number of answers have
been received, either accepting the invitation or
suggesting other persons who would be able to do so,
and in several instances pharmaceutical associations
have announced their intention of sending deputa¬
tions to attend the Congress.

It may therefore be regarded as certain that in
response to the invitation of the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society there will be a considerable
gathering of pharmacists of all nations next August
in London, and that the Committee charged with the
duty of making arrangements for their reception
will have to set to "work with diligence at the task
of organization. Fortunately this Committee in¬
cludes among its members one who has already
officiated as a delegate of the Society at the meeting
of the International Congress in St. Petersburg in
1874, and although Mr. Sutton, his colleague on
that occasion, has retired from the Council, his well
known interest in all matters connected with phar¬
macy will no doubt be a sufficient guarantee for his
active support. Of the delegates sent by the Society
to the previous meeting of the Congress, at Vienna,
in 1869, Mr. Sugden Evans is not now in the
country, but from Professor Red wood, his co-delegate,
the Committee will be able to look for advice and
guidance, based upon his experience of the way
business is conducted at these meetings and upon
his general extensive acquaintance with pharma¬
ceutical affairs.

With such assistance there is no reason to fear any
failure in carrying out the International Congress in
London in such a way that our foreign visitors may
be suitably entertained and that the opportunity
afforded for mutual intercourse may be productive of
benefit to the future interests of pharmacy.

It is not only in this country that anxiety prevails
in regard to questions affecting those engaged in the
practice of pharmacy. Although in Germany and
in France the exercise of that art is carried on under
conditions which are in some respects more advan¬
tageous than those obtaining at home, the pharma¬
cists of those countries and of America are deeply
engaged in considering what improvements can be
effected in the system of pharmaceutical education.
On this point, which has not yet been brought to the
utmost desirable perfection amongst ourselves, we

762

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

may learn from our foreign visitors something that
will he useful in facilitating the work now in hand
by the Committee appointed by the Council to
inquire into it.

As regards Pharmacopoeia revision, and the position
of pharmacists in the execution of that work, we
may look forward with certainty to the prospect of
benefit resulting from the discussion of this subject,
and from the acquaintance to be gained of the
manner in which the work is carried out in other
countries.

Another very important subject, appertaining to
the project of establishing an International Phar¬
macopoeia and constituting, perhaps, the only
presently feasible part of that project, is the equali¬
zation of the strength of galenical preparations, espe¬
cially those containing potent drugs. The possibility
of establishing standards for such drugs as opium, and
of deciding what kind of cinchona bark should now
be used for pharmaceutical purposes, should also be
borne in mind, as being work that might well be
done or prepared for by the action of such a body as
an International Congress of pharmacists.

Numerous other subjects will naturally suggest
themselves as affording fit material for discussion on
such an occasion ; but the nature of the meeting, and
the difficulties arising from difference of language,
will necessitate a limitation of those to be dealt with
which will call for considerable exercise of discretion
on the part of the organizing Committee, and prob¬
ably also for the previous preparation of addresses
upon the subjects decided upon for the business pro¬
gramme.

We hope soon to be in a position to place before
our readers some more definite information on these
points, and as to the general arrangements of the
Pharmaceutical Congress. In conclusion, it may
be useful to state that the preparations for the
Medical Congress have been vigorously pushed for¬
ward. Invitations have been issued to no less than
forty thousand medical men in various parts of the
world, and it is expected that the number of
visitors will be at least a thousand.

THE ANNUAL DINNER.

We desire to call attention to the announcement
on another page that a meeting will be held in the
Society’s house on Wednesday, the 16th inst., at
noon, to make preliminary arrangements for the
Annual Dinner of the Members and their friends in
May next. We hope there will be a good attendance,
in order that the Committee chosen to carry them
out may be a widely representative one.

ACCIDENT TO A CHEMIST.

We regret to record a painful accident to Mr.
Benjamin Stoakes, Pharmaceutical Chemist, of
Whitelriargate, Hull, who while engaged in oiling
some soda water machinery had his arm drawn in
between the wheels and almost literally crushed
off just below the elbow. The arm was amputated and
Mr. Stoakes has since been progressing favourably.

[March 12, 1881.

H^armaatitical jSariefif of Jfretair,

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

March 2, 1881.

Present — Professor Tichbome, President ; Dr. Aquilla i
Smith, Vice-President ; Messrs. Allen, Bennett, Brunker, ;
Collins, Draper, Grindley and Hayes.

The minutes of last meeting having been read and con¬
firmed,

A letter was read from Mr. F. W. Hatton, asking if
certain examinations which he had previously passed
would be taken in lieu of similar subjects in the ex¬
amination of the Society, was ordered to be replied to
stating that no portion of the examination could be
omitted.

The report of the Pharmacy Act Amendment Com¬
mittee, which consisted in informing the Council that I
the Committee had addressed a letter to the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society of Great Britain, and which has been already
published in the issue of February 5, 1881, p. 639, was,
upon the motion of Mr. Draper, seconded by Mr. Allen,
adopted.

Mr. John Isaac Bernard, having been duly proposed
and seconded, was elected a member of the Society.

An account from the Pharmaceutical Society of Great
Britain for Pharmaceutical Journals supplied to members j i
from January 1 to December 31, 1880, including postage,
and amounting to £47 10s. Id., was, after some discus¬
sion, passed for payment, upon the motion of Dr. Smith,
seconded by Mr. Hayes.

After some routine business the Council adjourned.

NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS. CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The fourth monthly meeting of this Association was
held at the rooms, Britannia Chambers, Pelham Street,
on Tuesday, February 22. The President, Mr. Fitz-
Hugh, F.C.S, occupied the chair, and notwithstanding
the inclemency of the weather there was a very fair
attendance.

Unanimous votes of thanks were passed to the follow¬
ing: ■ Messrs. Evans, Sons and Co, Liverpool, for re¬
fitting materia medica cabinet ; Mr. Edward Harvey, of
Messrs. Barron, Harvey and Co., for donation of £5 5s. ;
Messrs. Evans, Lescher and Webb, for donation of £5 5s. ;
Mr. Taylor, of Clarke, Bleasdale and Co., for donation
of £2 2s. ; Messrs. Oldfield, Pattison and Co., Manchester,
donation of £1 Is. ; British Pharmaceutical Conference
for ‘Year-Book of Pharmacy’; Pharmaceutical Society
for ‘ Calendar ’ of the Pharmaceutical Society ; Mr. J. S.
Heywood for prize to classes.

In a short speech the President, after remarking upon
the loss sustained by the Association by the death of its
late lamented Treasurer, Mr. Rayner, intimated that the
Council had appointed Mr. W. H. Parker as Treasurer,
pro tern., until the Annual Meeting in May. He then
introduced the lecturer for the evening, Mr. J. Rogers,
F.R.M.S., who proceeded to read a paper on “ The
Microscope, its History and Uses.” Mr. Rogers traced
the history of the instrument from the earliest ages, when
th$ Greeks and Romans used a rude kind of glass for
magnifying objects, and said that Nero, some two thousand
years ago, made use of a rude eye-glass to observe the
feats of the gladiators. After tracing the various im¬
provements through various ages up to recent dates, he
remarked that this instrument was looked upon in
the earlier centuries more as a magical than as a
scientific piece of mechanism, and that the greatest

March 12, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

763

improvements and developments of it had taken place
during the last century, notably Lester’s invention of
achromatic lenses. He then corrected a popular error,
in the fact that the microscope only simply enlarges the
object under view, but that it also produces a true image,
correct in every detail, in a magnified form. The
lecturer then dwelt upon the use of the microscope in
commerce and science as an invaluable method of
detecting adulterations in various commercial products,
as cotton, wool, seeds, etc. ; to water companies, to
detect sewage contamination ; to the analyst, whereby as
small a quantity as the thousandth part of a grain of
strychnine may be detected ; the physicist and biologist,
the geologist and mineralogist, in detecting insect
formation of islands, etc., thus deciding their value as
coal mining districts. The lecturer concluded by ex¬
pressing a hope that the study would be more generally
adopted, and as one calculated to reveal to the
beauties of nature, and also the unseen work of the
Great Creator. The lecture was listened to with great
attention, and was illustrated by a number of microscopes ;
one of which the lecturer brought with him belonged to
Ross, and was the one with which that great optician and
microscopist worked up to the time of his death, and was
especially mentioned by him in his will.

A hearty vote of thanks was given to Mr. Rogers at
the close of the meeting.

_

GLASGOW CHEMISTS’ AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The fifth meeting of the session was held in Anderson’s
College, 204, George Street, on February 2, Mr. Robert
Brodie, Vice-President, in the chair.

After the Secretary had read the minutes of the previous
meeting, which were confirmed by the members, Mr.
Brodie called upon Mr. J. A. Clarke to give his lecture
on the “ Chemistry of Food.”

Mr. Clarke began his remarks by touching upon the
structure and functions of the human body, and then
passed on to the various foods that were used by man to
build up and renew the body as it wears away by mental
or physical work. He then adverted to some of the
tables of Dr. Letheby and others on the relative values
of the various foods, e.g., beef, bread, starches, sugar,
fats, haricot beans, etc., etc., for keeping the body in
health. As no single food would do for an adult to
perform the various duties of life, it was therefore
necessary to take a mixed diet to give the human body
all the nutriment which it requires for those duties.
Mr. Clarke strongly recommended the use of less
butcher’s meat and more leguminous and starchy food
instead, and said that by doing so many would be
saved from having indigestion and bilious complaints.
Although not a vegetarian himself, still he had reduced
the taking of flesh meat to a minimum, and had thereby
felt better in health and had increased in weight upon
a leguminous and starchy diet combined with a small
quantity of fat obtained by using bacon and butter.
In conclusion Mr. Clarke showed by means of one of
Messrs. Southall’s food cabinets the various constituents
which go to make bread, sugar, cheese, beef, milk, eggs,
potatoes, etc., etc.

A long discussion followed the reading of the paper,
in which Mr. Brodie, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Lees, Mr.
Adams, and Mr. J. C. Hunter took part, and the general
opinion was that flesh meat ought to form a portion of
the diet of mankind, especially when living in such a
changeable climate as Great Britain.

At the close of the discussion, Mr. Clarke replied to
some points raised by the members who had spoken ; after
which the Vice-President called upon the members to
give Mr. Clarke a hearty vote of thanks for his instruc¬
tive and entertaining paper. This was duly given by the
members and there being no other business the meeting
terminated.

NORTHAMPTON PHARMACEUTICAL
ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the above Association was
held in the School of Pharmacy, College Street, on
Monday night, March 7, Mr. G. C. Osborne, the Presi¬
dent, in the chair.

Mr. Hajdlar, the Vice-President, reported that the
chemistry and pharmacy classes which he had conducted
had been held regularly, and were well attended.

Mr. Osborne also stated that good progress had been
made in both botany and materia medica.

On the motion of Mr. Norman, it was decided : “That
there should be a paper read, on some subject of interest
to pharmacy, every month after the business meeting.”

The Chairman kindly offered to read the first.

Mr. Hayllar proposed: — “That the Secretary should
write to the Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society,
stating that the Association was very desirous of renewing
the materia medica specimens, and that any specimens
the Society might think fit to send would be very thank¬
fully received.”

After some discussion, this was unanimously agreed to.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the meeting
to a close.

SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICAL AND
CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

The annual dinner was held at the King’s Head Hotel,
Sheffield, on Wednesday evening, February 23. Mr. G.
Ellinor, the President, in the chair. Among the visitors
were Messrs. A. H. Allen, F.C.S., Borough Analyst,
W. Ellidge, London, Messrs. Richards, Laysell, Freetson
and Blair (Messrs. J. Brown and Co. Limited).

The loyal and patriotic toasts having been duly
honoured, Mr. Cubley proposed “ The Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain,” to which Mr. W. Ward,
F.C.S., responded. Mr. A. H. Allen then proposed “ The
Sheffield Pharmaceutical and Chemical Society,” to
which Mr. Dobb ably replied. Mr. Burnell proposed
“The President.”

Several other toasts were given including “ The Vice-
President,” “The Treasurer and Secretary,” “The
Visitors ” and “ The Ladies.” A very pleasant evening
being spent.

EDINBURGH CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The fifth meeting of the session was held on Wednes¬
day, February 9, in the rooms of the North British
Branch, Mr. J. D. Robertson, President, in the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and
confirmed,

The Chairman called upon Mr. R. Aitken to read
paper, of which the following is a summary, on : —

Cochineal and Cochineal Colouring.

• While it is easy to say that cochineal in an insect, it is
not so easy to show why it should be so regarded. An
amusing instance of the errors to which this difficulty has
given rise, is that of M. Pomet, who, in a work on materia
medica, classes cochineal among the seeds, giving a minute
description of the plant from which the so-called seeds
were obtained, and a drawing of the plant with the seeds
adhering.

The two varieties of cochineal are the silver grain and
the black grain. A third variety, occasionally met with,
is the granilla, an inferior variety, consisting of very
small insects, and probably the young female before im¬
pregnation. Some writers regard the difference between
the silver grain and black grain varieties as due to a
difference in the method of preparing for the market.
From inquiries which I have made, however, I am in¬
clined to think that this is not so, and that the silver
grain consists of the young female after impregnation,

764

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 12, 1881.

while the black grain consists of the mother after the
eggs have been laid.

If one ©f the insects is allowed to soak in water, and
then pressed between two slips of glass, little round
bodies exude, which are the young insects. In the
natural order Hemiptera, to which cochineal belongs,
the various stages of the metamorphosis common to
insects take place in the body of the parent. This ac¬
counts for the young insects seen on pressing the cochi¬
neal, as described.

When cochineal is powdered and boiled with water, it
emits a peculiar bug-like odour. Treated with alkalies
the colour is intensified. This colour is due to carmine,
which is by some believed to be a compound of carminic
acid and an organic base called tyrosine. Others regard
it as consisting of carminic acid alone. Mr. Warren de
la Rue, who takes the latter view, prepared it by first
removing the fat from the insect, treating with acetate
of lead, decomposing the resulting insoluble carminate
of lead with sulphuric acid, purifying and crystallizing.
The colouring matter is precipitated by cream of tartar,
salts of tin, and oxalate of potash. Alumina, in a
gelatinous state, has a strong affinity for it, and will
remove the whole of the colouring matter from a solution.
Carmine of commerce is, according to Attfield, carminic
acid with about 5 per cent, of alumina, or occasionally
oxide of tin or albumen, the test for its purity being
its entire solubility in solution of ammonia. Cochineal,
owing to its high price, is very liable to adulteration,
and, I think, I may safely say one does not often see a
sample of unadulterated cochineal. In fact, it was the
different shades of colour produced in a preparation of
which it was one of the ingredients that led me to go
into the subject. The text-books say that it is faced up
with French chalk, white lead, etc., to give it a silvery
appearance and add to its weight, the adulterating
powder, of course, filling up the furrows on the insect.
The test for this is a microscopic examination, which
would show the absence of the white down which exists
naturally on the insect. I have examined a good many
specimens under the microscopes, and compared them
with a genuine sample, and though in some cases there
was a difference to be seen, in others it was very difficult
to say. This did not seem to me an easy method of
distinguishing the genuine insect, and having thought
the matter over, I at last hit on a plan which turned out
successful. I took a needle, and scraped the white
powder out of the furrows, and heated it on platinum
foil. If the white powdery matter was genuine, it dis¬
appeared on the application of heat ; but if adulterated
it remained on the foil, and could, if desired, be tested
either for lead or talc. This easy method of testing
depends on the combustion of organic bodies and non¬
combustion of the adulterating substances. Certainly
this plan would fail were the adulterating substance of
organic origin; but I doubt if a suitable one could be
found, as weight is the principal object, and that is to be
found mostly among inorganic substances.

Another method of testing is to titrate a solution of-
cochineal with a standard solution of potassium perman¬
ganate. Another is to prepare a standard solution of
cochineal for comparison with a sample under examina¬
tion. This last is a good test ; but one difficulty remains,
viz., that of obtaining a genuine sample. If cochineal is
purchased in the ordinary way from any of the drug
houses here or in London, I think I can safely say that
you will find all samples more or less adulterated. The
foregoing tests, of course, apply to the silver grain
variety. I have found experimentally that the black
grain variety is inferior in colouring matter to the silver
grain. I have been told that it is used by confectioners,
but, so far as I have seen, they use the silver grain.

Cochineal is of little value as a medicinal agent. The
most important preparation of it is liquor cocci or cochineal
colouring. I intended to have given a formula for the pre¬
paration of a good cochineal coloui-ing, but regret that

circumstances have occurred which prevented me going
into the subject so thoroughly as I pould have desired. I
hope, however, to indicate a method by which a satis¬
factory cochineal colouring may be prepared. The usual
method is to boil the cochineal with cream of tartar, salt
of tartar and ahim, the rationale of the process being that
the tartaric acid of the cream of tartar liberates the
carbonic acid from the salt of tartar, leaving the free
alkali, which decomposes the alum, with production of
gelatinous alumina, which, as previously stated, has a
strong affinity for the colouring matter. This prepara¬
tion will not keep unless spirit or some other preservative
is added to it. After standing some time it gives a
brilliant deposit of the well-known pigment lake. It
seems to me that a proper preparation of cochineal should
be a complete solution of the colouring matter, and not a
suspension, as is, to a great extent, the case with this
preparation. Another method is to macerate the cochi¬
neal with ammonia, and add rectified spirit to preserve it.
This makes a very elegant preparation; but if used to
colour jellies containing any vegetable acid, the colour
will be almost discharged, or at least so altered as to
produce anything but a pleasant tint. Another method
is that of dissolving carmine in ammonia, but this is too
expensive to be practicable. The method I have thought
most likely’' to produce a good colouring is grounded on
the following facts Gelatinous alumina will completely
absorb the colouring matter, and the lake so produced is
soluble in ammonia. I therefore throw out the suggestion
that a solution might be made by treating cochineal with
gelatinous alumina, adding sufficient ammonia to dissolve
the precipitate, and driving off the excess of ammonia by
a gentle heat; or the process might be reversed, viz.: —
Macerate the cochineal in ammonia for some weeks, and
then add alumina. This latter plan is used, I believe, by
dyers. By prolonged contact of the cochineal with am¬
monia a new substance, carminamide, is produced.

Mr. Aitken then exhibited a sample of genuine silver
grain cochineal, and some fat which he had extracted
from the insect.

A hearty vote of thanks was moved by the President,
seconded by the Vice-President, and carried with ac¬
clamation.

Several queries having been submitted and replied to,

The Secretary exhibited and explained a series of
microscopic sections of rhubarb. One slide consisted of a
number of sphaeraphides separated from the root. Other
two consisted of sections of the petiole, with numerous
cells, containing sphaeraphides. A section of squill bulb
was also exhibited containing raphides, and furnishing a
fine illustration of the difference between true raphides
and the so-called conglomerate raphides or sphaeraphides.

At the close of the meeting, the members had an oppor¬
tunity of examining the various specimens exhibited.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The tenth general meeting of the thirty-second session
was held at the Royal Institution, on Thursday evening,
March 3, 1881, the President, Dr. Symes, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed, and the following donations were announced :
The current numbers of the Pharmaceutical Journal ,
from the Society; the Canadian Pharmace%dical Journal,
from the Editor; the Chemists’ Journal , from the Presi¬
dent ; and several foreign Pharmacopoeias, from Dr.
Nevins.

The President alluded, in feeling terms, to the death
of Mr. John Abraham, and moved that the Secretary be
authorized to send a letter of condolence to Mrs. Abra¬
ham and family. This was unanimously carried.

JSugenol.

The President said that he had previously made some
remarks on eugenol, and had then promised to examine

March 12, 1S81.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

765

it optically, as regards its rotatory power. He had since
done so, and found that in this respect it did not differ
from oil of cloves, the rotation for 100 mm. being + 0*5.
Eugenol had acquired additional importance from the
fact that it was the body from which vanillin was pre¬
pared by Meissner’s new process, in which it was first con¬
verted into acetoeugenol, and this product was then
oxidized by permanganate of potassium, and subsequently
by bichromate of potassium, both in neutral solutions.
It was further treated, and finally crystallized.

Mr. A. Watt, F.I.C., F.C.S., made an interesting com¬
munication on “Peroxide of Hydrogen,” which was
followed by a lengthy discussion, in which the President,
Messrs. Conroy, Haddock, Tate and others joined.

Dr. G-. Tate next read a paper on the “Azo Dyes,”
which will be printed in a future number of this
Journal.

A unanimous and hearty vote of thanks was awarded
Dr. Tate for his paper, and the discussion was adjourned
until the next meeting.

rrf Sriciiitftc Storiettes*

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday
March 3, Dr. Roscoe, President, in the chair,

The following certificates were read for the first
time : — Gr. H. With, F. J. Farroll.

It was annunced that a ballot for the election of
Fellows would be held at the next meeting of the Society
(March 17).

The new list of the Officers and Council proposed for
the ensuing year, as announced in our last report, was
read from the chair.

The President then called on Mr. F. Hatton to read a
paper —

On the Action of Bacteria on various Gases* — The
experiments were made to ascertain the nature of the
action exerted by various gases on the life and in¬
crease of bacteria, and to observe what influence the
bacteria had on the percentage composition of the gases.
The bacteria were obtained by shaking fresh meat with
distilled water; the aqueous extract was filtered and
exposed to the air for twenty-four to thirty- six hours. It
was always found to be full of bacteria. A small flask
was half -filled with mercury, filled up with the bacteria
solution and inverted in a mercury trough. The gas
under examination was then passed up, a small glass
vessel was introduced under the mouth of the flask and
the whole removed from the trough. The liquid was
examined daily as to the condition of the bacteria ; the
sample being removed by a piece of bent glass tubing,
having an india-rubber joint. After about a week the
gas was pumped out by means of a Sprengel, and analysed.
Atmospheric air was first tried. The bacteria lived well
during the fifteen days of the experiment. T 15° — 22°.
A large absorption of oxygen took place, but it was not
replaced by carbonic anhydride. In a second experiment,
T 25° — 26*58, 20 per cent, of oxygen disappeared and
only 17 per cent, of C02 were formed. Pure hydrogen
after fourteen days had no action on the bacteria ; the
gas contained 0*34 per cent. C02, 98*94 per cent. H.
Pure oxygen after ten days was converted into C02, 29*98
per cent.; 0 70*02 per cent. A mixture of CO, 46*94 per
' cent.; C02, 1*27 per cent. ; O 1*27 per cent. ; N 50 51
; was next tried. After fourteen days the gas contained
: C02, 17*77 ; CO, 0*55 ; H 7*58 ; CH,, 2*50 ; N 71*57.
* In all of the above cases, the bacteria flourished well.

; Cyanogen was next tried. The solution of meat turned
gradually to a thick black fluid ; on the fifth day very few

I - j - - - - —

* This paper obtained for the author the Frankland prize
of £50, at the Institute of Chemistry.

bacteria could be seen. From this time, howevex*, they
increased, and on the twelth day were comparatively
numerous. On the fifteenth day the gas was analysed ;
it contained, CN, 5*35 ; C02, 57*59; O, 2*24; N, 34*79.
A second experiment g»we similar results. It appears,
therefore, that cyanogen is fatal to bacteria as long as it
exists as such, but that it soon decomposes into amnionic
oxalate, etc., and that the bacteria then revive, especially
in sunlight. Sulphurous anhydride was next tried. The
bacteria lived during the fifteen days. The gas contained
C02, 7*S7 ; O, 0*00 ; N, 2*13 ; S02, 90*10. Similar results
were obtained with nitrogen, nitrous oxide, nitric oxide,
and carbonic anhydride, a mixture of H and O, obtained
by the electrolysis of water, and coal gas ; in all cases the
bacteria lived well during the experiment. The author
next experimented with a solution of urea, 0*98 per cent,
and phosphate of potash, 0*4 per cent., sowing it with
bacteria. The bacteria lived well during the fourteen days
of the experiment ; small quantities of gas were evolved,
containing 0*53 per cent. C02, 2*64 per cent. O, and 96*8^
per cent. N. An experiment was made with spongy iron,
air, and bacteria ; on the fourth day all the bacteria had
vanished ; the air was analysed on the fifth day and
consisted of C02, 0*26, O, 0*00, and N, 99*74 per cent.
Experiments were also made with acetylene, salicylic
acid, strychnine, (10 per cent.), morphine, narcotine, and
brucine ; none of these substances had any effect on the
bacteria. On the other hand phenol, spongy iron, alcohol,
and potassium permanganate were very destructive to
these microscopic growths.

Mr. W. M. Hamlet said that thes<£ experiments con¬
firmed some observations of his own. He had found that
bacteria could exist in almost anything — in carbonic oxide,
hydrogen, 1 per cent, creasote, phenol, methylamine,
methylic alcohol, and chloroform; moreover Crace Calvert
had shown that they could live in strong carbolic acid. In
reply to Mr. Warington, the speaker said that the acetic
acid fermentation went on in the presence of chloroform.

Mr. Kingzett called attention to the fact that the
oxygen was completely used up when the meat infusion
was placed in contact with air. He did not think the
experiments represented the action of bacteria on gases or
of gases on bacteria, but rather the effects of various
gases on the mode and extent of ordinary putrefaction.

Dx*. Fi*ankland expressed his satisfaction with the
results obtained by the author in his laborious research.
He must confess that these results had surprised him not
a little; the fact that bacteria, which wei'e real organisms,
and could not be shielded under the term putrefaction,
lived and flourished in S02, CO, CN, etc., seemed to him
very extraordinary, and the question arose whether the
gei’ms to which infectious deseases were probably due
wei*e not similarly endowed with a power of great resist¬
ance to ordinary influences.

Mr. F. J. M. Page said that Dr. Baxter had proved that
with some fever-producing liquids their virulence was
destroyed by chlorine and sulphurous acid, and that he
had seen some expei*iments at the Brown Institution
which led to the same conclusion ; so it seemed that, at
all events in some cases, the virulence of infective liquids
was due to organic matter essentially different from the
bacteria observed by Mr. Hatton.

Mi*. Hatton then read a second communication —

On the Influence of Intermittent Filtration through Sand
and Spongy Iron on Animal and Vegetable Matters
dissolved in Water, and the Reduction of Nitrates by
Sewage, etc. — Filtration through sand : — A 14 feet vertical
glass tube 3^" in diameter was filled with sand. The
water was passed thi'ough at the rate of 4 litres per day.
Experiments were first made with peaty water diluted
with its own volume of distilled water. The organic
carbon deci-eased 1*527 part per 100,000, whereas the
organic nitrogen was but little affected. The addition of
a nitrifying material in the shape of 5 c.c. of stale urine
added to 4 litres of water did not promote the oxidation
of the organic nitrogen of the peat during filtx*ation. A

766

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 12, 1881.

filtered infusion of rape cake was substituted for the
peaty water and similar results were obtained. Some
experiments are then given as to the effect of sewage in
promoting the reduction of nitrates. A 5 per cent, solu¬
tion of clear fresh sewage containing no nitrates was
added to a solution containing 0-0853 gram of nitre, the
mixture shaken in a large stoppered bottle end estimations
of the nitric nitrogen made from time to time. For a
time the nitric nitrogen steadily diminished, until in fact
the sewage itself began to nitrify, and then the amount
increased. At low temperatures the sewage does not
seem to nitrify. It was found that when a solution con¬
taining nitrates and sewage was allowed to stand in
contact with air the oxygen in the dissolved air increased
4*5 per cent., while that in the air above the liquid
decreased 5 per cent. In sixteen days the N as nitrates
and nitrites decreased from 0-406 pt. per 100,000 to 0-075.
Thick sewage was much more active than clear sewage.
■Spongy iron when shaken up with a solution of nitre
converts the nitrogen into ammonia and free nitrogen.
Filtration through spongy iron rapidly reduces the nitric
nitrogen, converting it for the most part into ammonia.
Filtration of peat solution and solution of egg albumen
through spongy iron rapidly removed both the organic
nitrogen and organic carbon, no nitric nitrogen being
formed ; all the nitrogen being reduced to ammonia. In
some cases the carbon seemed to give rise to some marsh
gas.

Professor Tidy then read a paper —

On River Water. — In a previous paper the author
discussed the action of the three principal agents to
which the self purification of running water is due: —
subsidence, the scavengering propensities of fish, and the
oxidation of the organic matter. This oxidation being
effected partly by the oxygen in the atmosphere and
partly by the oxygen liberated by plant life. The present
communication is a reply to the criticisms of Dr. Frank¬
land on the former paper and to a paper by Miss Hal-
crow and Dr. Franklancl on the oxidation of peat. First
as to the oxidation of peat. Notwithstanding Dr. Frank-
land’s objections the author still maintains that the
Shannon is admirably adapted to prove oxidation, should
such a process be going on. Admit the ever recurring
entrance of feeders of peaty water, if it can be shown that
in spite of this constant addition of peaty matter there is
a manifest lessening of the peat in the water, then the
experiment, considering that all the chances and condi¬
tions are against proving oxidation, becomes a hundred¬
fold more conclusive than it would otherwise be. Ad¬
mitting that at four points along a course of forty miles,
at Portumna, Killaloe, O’Briensbridge, and at the junction
of the Mulcaire, the organic elements do indicate a fairly
uniform quantity of peat in the water, the question
remains, what has become of the floods of peaty matter
which have entered the river during its forty miles’ flow ?
Why does not the peat in the river increase in quantity
yard by yard ? Starting with a brown water at Kil¬
laloe, the river should be black over and over again before
it reaches Limerick. The author sums up this part of
the paper thus : — I cannot question for a moment that
peat is got rid of in the course of the flow of a river and
that oxidation is one of the agencies concerned in its
accomplishment. He then criticizes the paper by Miss
Halcrow and Dr. Frankland on the action of air on
peaty water, and objects that in no sense are these ex¬
periments, in which the same dribble of water is brought
ever and anon into contact with the same few bubbles of
air, comparable to the case of the Shannon, a river of
great volume, in free and open contact with an ever
changing sea of air, luxuriant with vegetable life and
fish. In one series of experiments in which some peaty
water was allowed to remain for a year in contact with
some air in a stoppered bottle, the author objects that
admitting oxidation to have occurred at the layer where
actual contact took place between the water and air,
any carbonic acid formed would act as a party wall to

divide the water from the purer air above, and making all
allowances for diffusion, there practically would be an
end of the process. He also points out that the carbonic
acid was in enormous excess in the air above the water
viz., 14‘7 parts in 10,000. In passing, the author
criticizes Dr. Mills’s remarks, and maintains that though
the combustion and the oxygen processes both give
valuable results, the latter is the better of the two. In
the second part of the paper the author discusses the
oxidation of sewage matter by running water, and con¬
tends that if sewage be discharged into a river so that
the pure water is twenty times the volume of the sewage,
after a moderately rapid flow of a few miles the whole of
the impurities will by oxidation and other agencies dis¬
appear, and the water be again restored to its original
state of purity. He objects to the opinion of the late Sir
Benjamin Brodie on the point in question, as he was a
witness who had not made a single experiment bearing on
this subject ; he then quotes many other opinionsfavourable
to his views, and points out that the Commissions of 1850
and 1869 and the Select Committee of 1867 approved of
the Thames, notwithstanding the sewage, as a source of
water supply. Dr. Frankland’s experiments on the
Irwell, the Mersey and the Darwen are next considered.
These are, says the author, notoriously polluted sewage
rivers, containing no vegetation, devoid of fish, and
everything was against the regaining of purity ; yet Dr.
Frankland’s results show in the case of the Darwen a
decrease of organic elements of 41 per cent., and in the
Irwell of 31 per cent. Again, in the case of the Tees, a
river polluted at Barnard Castle by sewage and refuse
from dyers and fellmongers, after a flow of sixteen miles,
this river is reported at Darlington by Dr. Frankland as
of unimpeachable quality, bright and palatable. As to
Dr. Frankland’s statements that in the Severn a flow of
thirty yards reduces the organic elements by 32 per cent,
and that after a flow of a mile they were only reduced 12
per cent, more, the author contends that sewage is not
of a constant composition, and that some constituents are
much more easily oxidized than others. As regards the
wonderful diminution of chloiine remarked by Dr.
Frankland, the author still maintains that it was taken
up by vegetation, and quotes an experiment in which he
watered some watercress with a solution containing 40
grains of salt per gallon, and increased the quantity of ■
chlorides by 220 per cent. With respect to Dr. Frank¬
land’s criticisms on the experiments with sewage in
troughs, the author states that the sewage used was
filtered. To the criticisms of Professors Tyndall and
Huxley, the author replies by quoting the statistics of
ten years, which prove that zymotic diseases do not
necessarily result (sewage or no sewage) from drinking
river water any more than they can be kept away by
drinking chalk water. He asks Professor Huxley this
question, Can he give one single well authenticated case
where a drinking water in which the chemist failed to
detect manifest contamination has caused disease? The
author concludes by asking Dr. Frankland, As the
dangerous element in a water is entirely outside his ken
or detection what, in his judgment, is the good of water
analysis? Seeing that 100,000 bacteria may be present i
in a gallon of water, each bacterium being capable of im¬
parting disease, and yet be undetected by the most
refined chemical processes, how can he report any water
to be wholesome? What are his grounds for reporting a
water containing 0T of organic carbon to be of good
quality, and a water containing 0‘4 of organic carbon to
be of inferior quality, seeing that the first may contain i
millions of bacteria, which may be entirely absent from
the second? Why should absolute immunity of epi- I
demies of cholera be promised if only London would
drink chalk, water, which after all is merely rain water, |
and must have fallen in certain parts on heavily manured
land, and has afterwards filtered naturally through
chalk, and yet it be stated that there is not a tittle of
trustworthy evidence to prove that artificial filtration

- .

March 12, 18S1 1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

767

(which, judging from analyses, is more complete than
natural filtration) affords any safeguard against the
propagation of epidemic diseases.

The President said that the Fellows had just listened
to a powerful and interesting paper, which was sure to
lead to a lively discussion. As it was very late, he hoped
the discussion would be strictly confined to the question
of oxidation.

Mr. Hawkley had listened to the papers with much
interest. Much learning had been displayed, and many
ingenious and elegant phrases had been used ; but he did
not think that anything like a solution of the process of
purification, as it existed in nature, had been arrived at.
As a practical man, he would say, What does nature teach
ns ? If we go to a mountain covered with peat, we see
inky water on the surface, and yet a very few feet below
springs of water rise perfectly colourless and bright. This
is nature, not chemistry. Similarly, a stream may receive
the sewage of towns, and run into the ocean without any
colour at all. Moreover, the sewage of millions of in¬
habitants had been running into the ocean for years, and
yet it remained to all appearance free from sewage. On
the surface of the ocean one might well say: “Water,
water everywhere, and not a drop to stink.”

Dr. Frankland said that it would be difficult to notice
at that late hour all the salient points of Professor Tidy’s
elaborate paper ; but he would endeavour to refer to some
of them. Professor Tidy had explained that the purifica¬
tion of rivers is effected by three processes : subsidence,
the action of fish life, and oxidation.- As regards the
second, he does not clearly state whether the fish remove
organic matters in suspension or in solution. Fishes by
respiration must clearly remove oxygen from the water ;
so it would seem that they could only remove organic
matter in suspension. However, the substantial difference
of opinion was on the question of oxidation, to which he
would therefore confine his remarks. He would have
liked to have said something about the admirable paper
by Mr. Hatton ; but as time pressed, he must leave the
results to speak for themselves. First, as to the oxidation
of peat in the Shannon, Professor Tidy states that in a
flow of one mile from Killaloe the organic carbon de¬
creases from *8 to *48. This realty means that half of
the total organic matter has been converted into carbonic
anhydride, water and nitrogen or ammonia in the flow of
one mile. He would ask any chemist who has been
accustomed to organic compounds, whether he is ac¬
quainted with any substance which behaves in this way ?
To take one instance, aldehyde, a substance most prone
to decomposition, it, under similar circumstances, would
hardly be oxidized perceptibly. How improbable is it
that the flow of a mile should cause such an enormous
reduction, whilst the exposure of 51 square miles of
surface in the loch above should have such a slight in¬
fluence. Does Professor Tidy realty think that this
entrance of feeders of peaty water has any very great
influence on the composition of the Shannon, a river
which drains about one-fourth of Ireland ? None of
these feeders has a flow of more than a mile, and so
they cannot be but insignificant. He must take exception
to two of the three new analyses which Professor Tidy
gives, namely, those taken one mile below Castle Connell
and at Limerick, because the entrance of the largest
tributary, the Mulcaire, a river containing but little
organic carbon, and much suspended mineral matter
(which in its deposition carries with it much organic
matter), completely prevents’ any fair comparison between
these two places. Professor Tidy had somewhat ridiculed
the experiments which he had carried out with Miss
Halcrow on the oxidation of peaty water by agitation in
a bottle with air. Professor Tidy, moreover, made the
extraordinary statement, “ that admitting oxidation to
have occurred, any carbonic acid formed would probably
act as a party wall to divide the water from the purer
air above.” Now any scientist who can accomplish such
a conception without any great effort of the imagination

can accomplish anything if he wishes it. This notion of
a gas playing the part of a party wall need not be farther
alluded to. The percentage of C02 in the air above the
peaty water, 14‘7 parts in 10,000, which Professor Tidy
calls an enormous excess, is readily accounted for, as the
air in the laboratory contained 9 parts, and the gases
dissolved in the peaty water 199 parts in 10,000. Not¬
withstanding Professor Tidy’s great faith in nature, and
his objection to any experiments in a bottle, the speaker
ventured to say that in the case of the bottle, which was
fastened to the connecting rod of the steam engine, the
water was brought into contact with air much more
perfectly than in nature, and yet no oxidation could be
detected. If the permanganate process detects volatile
organic matter, which is missed by the combustion pro¬
cess, why does Professor Tidy not prove his point by
estimating the oxygen required by a water before and
after boiling. He must protest against the ignorance
which was ascribed to Sir Benjamin Brodie. Few people
had more opportunities of studying the action of oxygen
on organic bodies, and he was justified by this experience in
stating that it was absurd to say that organic matter
could be oxidized by rivers in such an easy way, although
he had not made any experiments directly with river
water. Professor Tidy omitted to state, with regard to
the supposed decrease of 41 per cent, of organic elements
in the Darwen, that between these two points its volume
had doubled, and that when a correction was made for
this observed increase in volume, the 41 per cent, became
13*2 per cent., and occurred in the organic nitrogen, and
no decrease was observed with the organic carbon. The
Thames was recommended as fit for drinking purposes by
the Commission of 1869 only if the sewage was diverted,
and the water efficiently filtered. As to the oxidation in
the Severn, where a flow of 30 yards diminished the
carbon by 32 per cent.; the time taken to flow 30
yards could not be more than a minute. “ If,” said
Dr. Frankland, “ I believed that some substance in the
sewage oxidized at this rate, I would endeavour to isolate
it, and bring it before this Society ; it would undoubtedly
burst into flame when exposed to the air.” Then we are
asked to believe that in one minute the plant life reduces
the chlorine by 40 per cent, in this section of the river.
The two circumstances taken together, the diminution of
the organic carbon and the chlorine, point irresistibly
to dilution. In reply to Professor Tidy’s questions, he
would say that water analysis tells us whether a water
has been contaminated with sewage, and if so when ;
that a water is reported as wholesome and fit to drink
when it has been filtered exhaustively through 1000 feet
of porous material. On this point he should like to ask
Professor Tidy how he can report a water as turbid and
yet as perfectly wholesome. If a river water contains
0*4 of organic carbon it has a disagreeable peaty taste.
In conclusion, he hoped that Professor Tidy would, after
reading Mr. Hatton’s paper, change his opinions, and no
longer believe in the utter destruction of bacteria by a
cold bath in the Thames. When they withstood the
action of cyanogen and sulphurous acid, it was difficult to
see why they should commit suicide by bursting their
envelopes by endosmosis.

Dr. Gilbert, whose remarks were received with hearty
approbation, wished to raise a protest against the ten¬
dency of Professor Tidy’s paper ; it, whether intentionally
or not intentionally, virtually advocated the discharge of
raw sewage into a river the water of which was to be
used afterwards for drinking purposes. Now there is no
doubt whatever that sewage after passing over land is
immensly purified, the organisms are got rid of and the
ammonia is oxidized, and it would be a great misfortune,
now that much was done in this direction after twenty
years’ hard work, if it should be understood by the
public outside this room that the Fellows of the
Chemical Society at all advocated the discharge of raw
sewage into a river.

The President said that all must echo the remarks of

768

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 12, 1881.

Dr. Gilbert ; they were most opportune. It seemed
that there were two distinct questions. There was no
doubt that the peaty matter in a river does disappear,
but the oxidation of germs or bacteria was another
question. Had Professor Tidy any proof that these
organisms were oxidized?

Dr. Bischof asked Professor Tidy whether his statistics
included any year when there was an epidemic disease.
As to the effect of spongy iron on bacteria, he must refer
the Fellows to a paper on the state of Shoeburyness, in
the Lancet of December 25.

Mr. Kingzett said that oxidation in nature was
probably not direct, but was effected by the infusoria,
bacteria, etc.

Professor Tidy very briefly replied. He disclaimed all
intention of ridiculing Dr. Frankland’s experiments or
of imputing ignorance to Sir Benjamin Brodie; he quite
agreed with Dr. Gilbert’s remarks, it was a very serious
matter to introduce raw sewage into a river. He should
always prefer deep well water ; he was emphatically a
water purist. He had not the least doubt that sewage
ought not to go into the river. He could not understand
that shaking up water in a bottle was comparable to a
running stream. Statistics are the best proof that
organized matters are oxidized.

A paper, by Dr. F. R. Japp and C. Colborne Graham,
on “ /3 Diquinoline,” was taken as read. The quinoline
employed was prepared from a mixture of aniline, nitro-
benzine, glycerol and sulphuric acid ; it boiled at 229®.
Equal volumes of quinolinb and benzoyl chloride were
heated in sealed tubes to 240° to 250° for six hours. A
crystalline product was obtained which was boiled with
strong HCI, filtered, extracted with ether and finally
precipitated with caustic soda. The base was obtained
in colourless, satiny laminae, fusing at 191°, soluble in
chloroform and boiling benzene. Analysis indicated the
formula C18H12N2. Its salts are diacid. A platino-
chloride was prepared. The authors suggest the name
a diquinoline for the liquid prepared by Greville Williams.

The Society then adjourned to March 17, when the
following papers will be read: — “On the Volumes of
Mixed Liquids,” by F. D. Brown ; “ On Boron Hydride,”
by F. Jones ; “ On the Action of Aldehydes on Phenan-
thraquinone in presence of Ammonia,” by F. R. Japp;
“ On the Action of Benzoic Acid on Naphthaquinone,”
by F. R. Japp; “On the Alleged Formation of Nitrous
Acid during the Evaporation of Water,” by R. Waring-
ton ; “ On the Absorption of Solar Rays by Atmospheric
Ozone and on the Blue Tint of the Atmosphere,” by
Professor Hartley; “Note on the Sweet Principle of
Smilax Glycyphylla ,” by C. R. A. Wright and E. H.
Rennie.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,
February 24, Mr. R. H. Parker, Vice-President in the
chair.

A paper was read by Mr. C. Thompson, on the Esti¬
mation of Manganese. — The processes described in the
paper for this purpose were divided into two classes : —
1st. Those used for estimating the amount of Mn02 pre¬
sent in manganese ores. Under this head the following
processes were briefly described and commented on, viz.:
— a. Bunsen’s iodometric method, by dissolving the ore
in HCI, and passing the evolved chlorine into a solution
of KI, when the liberated iodine is estimated ; b. Wel¬
don’s process, by dissolving the ore in ferrous sulphate,
and estimating with bichromate or permanganate of
potassium; c. Lensenn’s process, by the action of ferri-
cyanide of potassium on Mn02 ; d. Fresenius and Will’s
method, by the decomposition of oxalic acid in the pre¬
sence of H2S04 and Mn02. 2nd class. Those processes
by which the total amount of manganese can be esti¬
mated. In this class Guyard’s process for the preci¬

pitation of Mn as Mn02 by K2Mn208 ; this process has
been shown to be untrustworthy. The process of Volhard,
who found that in the presence of either a zinc, barium,
magnesium or calcium salt, manganese may be preci¬
pitated as pure Mn02 by permanganate of potassium.
The method of working this process was described at
some length, as was the standardizing of the per¬
manganate solution by means of a standard solution of
hyposulphite and iodide of potassium. The author had
worked upon this process, obtaining as the results of four
experiments on a sample of MnCl2, the following per¬
centages : — 98’4 per cent., 98*7 per cent., 98*8 per cent.,
and 987 per cent. Pattinson’s process, by precipitating
the manganese by a solution of hypochlorite of calcium,
in the presence of either ferric or zinc chloride, was next
described. Beilstein and Jawein’s two processes for the
separation of Mn and Fe were next referred to, in the
first of which the manganese is precipitated by iodine
from a mixture of mangano- and ferro-cyanides of
potassium as Mn0.2, which precipitate is afterwards
estimated by Bunsen’s or Weldon’s process. The second
process is based upon the fact that KC103 throws down
a precipitate of Mn02 from a boiling HN03 solution of
the manganese and iron ores. Lastly, a modification of
Eggertz’s process was mentioned, using ammonium salts
in place of sodium salts, as proposed by Mr. Dunstan.
After a short comparison of the above processes, Vol-
hard’s was pronounced the most simple and accurate of
all the volumetric processes.

A discussion followed the reading of the paper, and
after a vote of thanks bad been passed to Mr. Thompson
for his interesting paper, the meeting adjourned.

|)arlimeittrar mtir |)r0aefrmgs«

The Manufacture of Coloured Fires.

At the Leeds Police Court, on Friday, March 4, before
Mr. Bruce, Mary Ann Fourness and Son, who carry on
the business of chemists in Kirkgate, Leeds, were charged |
with having unlawfully carried on the manufacture of
certain explosives, to wit, coloured fires, elsewhere than
at a factory for explosives either lawfully existing or
licensed for the same, under the Explosives Act, 1875.

The Town Clerk (Mr. G. W. Morrison), stated that
the proceedings had been instituted at the instance of the
Home Office, and that he now appeared to prosecute by
the desire of Lieutenant Colonel Majendie, Her Majesty's
Chief Inspector of Explosives. The charge was brought
under the above named Act, section 4 of which, taken
together with section 39, prohibited the manufacture of
explosives (which, by section 3, included coloured fires),
except at a factory for the same lawfully existing or
licensed under the Act. Any person carrying on the
manufacture at any unauthorized place was liable to a
penalty not exceeding £100 a day for every day during
which he so manufactured. The defendants had carried
on the manufacture of coloured fires upon their premises
in Kirkgate, Leeds ; and, as he was instructed, they had
also illegally transmitted some of the coloured fires by
rail. Mr. F ourness now admitted the illegal manufacture
by pleading guilty to the charge, and he had therefore to
leave the case in the hands of his worship.

Mr. Bruce inquired what these coloured fires were.

In a certain sense, brandy when lighted was a coloured
fire.

The Town Clerk explained that the substances in
question were those generally used in theatres for scenic
effect, or pyrotechnic display. The defendants had sup¬
plied the Grand Theatre in Leeds.

Mr. Fourness stated that the coloured fire3 were not j
explosive, as was admitted by Superintendent Baker.

The Town Clerk drew attention to the fact that the
Legislature considered those substances dangerous, as
one of the Orders in Council under the Act required that

March 1*2, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

769

the operations of mixing and packing coloured fires or
stars should be carried on in a building or room ex¬
clusively appropriated for that purpose. The defendants
had erred unknowingly, and he did not press for a heavy
penalty.

In reply to certain observations of the learned Stipen¬
diary as to the nature of the offence,

The Town Clerk read the following extracts from the
Guide Book, written by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector :

_ “ It is not an uncommon belief that because a squib or

cracker, for example, or a ‘ coloured fire,’ is in itself an
apparently innocent article, it can hardly be necessary to
enfore the Act in its strictness as against such manu¬
facture. This view cannot be too emphatically con¬
demned. Coloured fires, if not made with great care and
with suitable ingredients, are very liable to spontaneous
ignition, and must therefore be regarded as the reverse of
harmless; and ‘lightning paper’ does not differ practi¬
cally from gun cotton. Several very disastrous accidents
have occurred in the illegal manufacture of fireworks in
dwelling-houses. ”

As the defendants had committed the offence through
ignorance of the statute, Mr. Bruce inflicted a penalty of
£ | L including costs, remarking, however, that if any per¬
son was summoned before him again for an offence of
this kind, the penalty would certainly be a very sub¬
stantial one, and one that would show that the Act of
Parliament was to be strictly observed.

fUfrbtos.

Experimental Chemistry for Junior Students. By

J. E. Reynolds, F.R.S. London : Longmans. 1881.

This is the introductory volume to a series of which
the three remaining portions are to expound the elements
of inorganic and organic chemistry. The author aims in
this volume, at conveying a rather comprehensive
knowledge of the principles of chemistry by means of
numerous and well selected experiments. By reading it,
and repeating as many of the experiments as possible
during apprenticeship, students of pharmacy would do
much°to lessen the difficulties they will meet with in
gaining the technical knowledge of chemistry which
they must afterwards acquire.

Dr. Reynolds is, if not original, at least somewhat
unusual in his method. He does not begin by intro¬
ducing his readers to the whole family of the non-metals,
but almost confines himself to hydrogen and oxygen and
their compounds, with occasional reference to a few of
the metals, and, by experiments on these, he gives
abundant opportunity for acquiring a sound knowledge of
the nature of elements and compounds ; isomerism ; laws
of chemical ' combination by weight and volume ;
equivalents ; the atomic theory, and the system of notation
which is its outcome; methods of determining atomic
and equivalent weights ; the nature of acids, bases and
salts ; the characters of metals and non-metals ; atomicity
(explained by a graphic system which is hardly so
satisfactory as that which expresses combining process by
hands or arms) ; the relation of chemical to the purely
physical forces, and many other matters of fundamental
importance.

The one impediment to the usefulness of the book
seems to us to be the comparatively expensive nature
of some of the apparatus, which would preclude its
use by most young students. There is no doubt, however,
that careful reading and repetition of the simple experi¬
ments, with which it abounds would be an excellent
preparation for extended chemical study. As many of
the exercises are quantitative a cheap balance would,
however, be almost a necessity, to secure the full benefit
offered by study on the lines of this admirable little book.
W e may add one regret that there is no list of apparatus,

with probable prices, attached, which would be par¬
ticularly useful with a book of this kind for quite inexpe¬
rienced students.

Chemistry: General, Medical and Pharmaceutical;
including the Chemistry of the British Pharmacopoeia.
A Manual on the General Principles of the Science
and their Applications in Medicine and Pharmacy.
By John Attfield, F.R.S., etc. Ninth Edition.
London : J. Van Voorst. 1881.

When a book reaches a ninth edition it may sometimes
be fairly looked upon as having passed beyond the ordeal
of criticism. But with works on science the case is
different. The restless activity of research in the
present day is so richly productive of fresh knowledge of
facts that the work of keeping such a manual as that
under notice au courant with the progress of science is
no slight task; on the other hand if this task be not
properly performed such a book would soon deteriorate
in value. How well Professor Attfield has kept his
book abreast of the times is evidenced by the fact that
it is as much a favourite among our go-a-head cousins
across the Atlantic as it is with students in this country.

In the present edition, for instance, we observe that the
sections on the alkaloids include notices of the latest
work of Wright on the aconite alkaloids, of Ladenburg
on the so-called “ tropines,” of Thresh on capsicine, of
Jobst and Hesse and Oberlin and Schlagdenhauffen on
the dita alkaloids. Dr. Senier’s table for the identification
of the principal alkaloids, acids, etc., has been added.
The section on the estimation of the cinchona alkaloids
has been practically rewritten, and now includes De
Vrij’s methods for the separation of the mixed alkaloids
from cinchona barks and for the separation and quanti¬
tative determination of the different cinchona alkaloids,,
and Kerner’s test for the ptlrity of sulphate of quinine
as well as Paul’s modification of it. The pages relating
to the cinchona alkaloids have had the advantage of being
revised by Dr. De Vrij. In a like manner for the estima¬
tion of morphia the methods of Prolliu0, Petit, and
Fliickiger are given. Similar illustrations might be quoted
from other parts of the book.

Professor Attfield’s Manual has long enjoyed and
probably will continue to enjoy a great popularity among
students as a practical text book ; but it may How fairly
aspire to another office. The adaptation of this ‘ Chemistry ’
to the requirements of medicine and pharmacy, the
frequent revisions it has received, and last, but not least
‘important, its unusually voluminous index, should secure
for it a place among the books of reference of medical
practitioners and chemists and druggists.

dispensing ffhmorantm.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column was established ,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re -
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle . And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
number's of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information. ' •

[500]. Taking the prescription literally, there could be
no objection to the use of syr. gummi arabici (as the
particular kind of syrup necessary is not specified), though
I should have dispensed syr. gummi rub. (Squire), as the
mixture Was probably prescribed for some pulmonary
complaint, such as phthisis, in which case the syr. gummi
rub. would, doubtless, be more effective.

In instances of this kind it would be a good plan for
■the dispenser to notify on the prescription the preparation

770

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 12, 1881.

he made use of, so as to ensure uniformity in colour, etc.,
when dispensed in another establishment.

Bedford. Henry W. Niohol.

[500]. “ Mucilago ” was quite correct in dispensing
“syrup, gummi arabici.” I cannot see why he should
have been in doubt what to dispense. If a customer
asked for an ounce of “ gum,” I do not suppose he would
give him red gum, but gum arabic, which is generally
understood when gum is spoken of.

Embryo.

[502]. If this mixture was sent out perfectly clear, it
must have been filtered, as it is impossible to get a clear
mixture without so doing. It i3 quite right when prac¬
ticable to send out mixtures as bright as possible ; but in
this case filtering is taking an unwarrantable liberty, as
by doing so the most useful part' of the medicine is re¬
moved'.

J UNIOR.

[503]. I should certainly have dispensed this ointment
precisely as written. It is not a duty of the dispenser to
consider what “it is likely the prescriber intended,” or
what he “probably” meant, but to follow the prescrip¬
tion as nearly as possible and practicable.

Juvenis.

[513]. How should the following mixture be dispensed,
and what is the extent of the decomposition? — •

1) Cit. Ferri et Quiniae . />]’.

Ammon. Carbon . • 3j*

Sp. Ammon, Aromat . Jfv.

Tinct. Opii . . / . 3b*

Aquae . ad Jviij.

R. A. P.

[514]. When ext. sarzae co. liq. is prescribed, what
preparation should be dispensed, and what is most likely
to be intended ?

C. E. Owles.

[515].

ty, Elixir Picis Liq.',

Chlorodyni . . aa 39-

Sy. Scilke . . ,^j.

Mist. Acacise . . ad 3iv.

M. ft. mist.

A teaspoonful once in four hours while cough is
troublesome.

Will any of your readers tell me what is intended by
“ elixir of tar,” as ordered in above prescription, and how
it is made ?

Pharmacist.

Comsprtdttnxt.

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica-
t ions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Proposed Change in the Constitution of the
Scotch Board of Examiners.

Sir,— In your Journal of Saturday I see reported the pro¬
ceedings at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the
Chemists and Druggists’ Association, lately, held in Bir¬
mingham, wherein the removal of clause 1 from the pro¬
posed Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill is, as I think, very
severely commented upon.

After the remarks of the Vice-President of the Associa¬
tion, and the humiliation under which he says he and some
other members of our London Council are suffering, it
would be unfair were I not to offer one or two words in ex¬
planation, especially as the two Scotch members at the
London Board are so distinctly pointed at as the parties
through whom alone the erasure was made.

Let me say the whole matter in connection with this
clause was well threshed in an unusually full meeting of .
Council, every member, I think, being present, when the '
decision was arrived at. The result was made known in
the usual form, and there I fancied the matter was at an
end. I may remind you that Mr. Frazer and myself took
our stand upon the proceedings at certain meetings in
Edinburgh and Glasgow, and of which ample evidence was
at the moment before the Council, proving that it was the
unanimous wish of those present at these meetings that
clause 1 should be deleted from the present ‘Bill.

I am quite aware that at first sight it may seem an
ungracious thing on the part of the two Sqotch members
having taken exception to this proposed clause, but the
ground of our procedure, in addition to the above, may be
easily explained.

Going back to the time when the Act of 1852 was being
prepared, the late Jacob Bell came to Edinburgh to enlist
the sympathies of chemists and druggists in connection
with the movement. He was warmly received, as he
deserved to be, and found no lack of earnestness or interest
in this proposed Act, and most of those in business gave
him all the assistance they could. When, however, he
promulgated the arrangement, which was then contem¬
plated, that there should be one Central Board of Exami¬
ners, sitting only in London, he was met with very strong
opposition; indeed, intimation was distinctly made that
unless a Board was conceded for Scotland, a separate Bill
'would be applied for north of the Tweed. Hot until after
Mr. Bell’s return to London was the appointment of our
Edinburgh Board agreed to, with powers to extend the
sittings to Glasgow and Aberdeen, if such a course was
thought desirable ; but the establishment of a part of the
Society itself was- effected under the name of the “ North
British Branch,” this being the title given to it by the
Founder of the Society himself.

Since 1852, the English and Scotch Boards have done

* Collected in Bolivia and southern Peru.

[503]. It appears very reasonable to make the ointment
of veratria, 4 -grs. to the ounce, although in very severe
cases of neuralgic rheumatism, it has been prescribed of
much greater strength, as in the following prescrip¬
tion : —

R Veratriae . grs. xxxvj.

Olei Olivse . 3SS*

Adipis ......... 3viiss.

01. Bergamot . tilx.

OL Santal . Rlij.

Bedford, Henry W. Nichol.

[505], The correct and most elegant mode of dispensing
the mixture, and that most likely in keeping with the
intentions of the prescriber, who evidently did not wish
the quinine to be in solution, but simply diffused through
the mixture, would have been to have dissolved the sodse
salicylas in a portion of the water, then to have added
the syrup and a small quantity of mucilag. acacise (about
3iv) ; to have rubbed the quinine down very fine in a
mortar, and to have added it to the mixture gradually,
shaking well up after each addition.

“ Dalex ” was not at all justified in adding acid to dis¬
solve the quinine. Doubtless if that prescription is taken
to another establishment to be prepared, it will be sent
out with the quinine diffused through the mixture ; hence
one of the causes for the frequent complaint we hear of
mixtures not being sent out from “ two places alike.”

Robertus.

[510]. In reference to “ Minor’s ” inquiry respectin
liq. cinch, cord. , I beg to offer the following abstract : —
“The bark of the Cinehona calisaya * was formerly termed
conlifolia.” Therefore there can be little doubt but that
the ext. cinch, flav. liq., B.P., would have been the proper
preparation to have dispensed, it being synonymous with
liq. cinch, cord.; also with inf. cinch, spissatum (Lond.).

Tavistock Street, Bedford. Henry W. Nichol.

March 12, 1SS1.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

771

good work, and still continue their labours. No Scotchman
has, so far as I kno >v, ever been proposed or elected to a
seat at the London Board of Examiners, though it is admitted
that the Council has this power. This refers to a period of
nearly thirty years. During the same period there has never
been any difficulty in obtaining the services of gentlemen
resident in Scotland to undertake the duties of examiners
here, and it has never up to the present time been explained
why such a change as that embodied in the deleted clause
was even proposed ; not only so, but I believe that practi¬
cally no one in business could be found ready to go up to
London five or six times a year, and there spend several
days during an examination, so that it is scarcely to be
wondered at that no proposal ha3 hitherto been made to
transplant Scotch examiners into English soil,

I am quite alive to the great importance that there should
be as nearly as possible identity in the two examinations,
and I need scarcely say how well the interchange of deputa¬
tions coming and going between the two Boards alternately
hastended to ensure this. Itmustalso be remembered that the
President and Vice-President of the Society are members,
ex officio, of our Scotch Board, and therefore it is not
surprising that the feeling here should be so strong and
unanimous in favour of letting well alone, and not disturb¬
ing a course of action which has worked so well in the past.

Thus, with no reason given for desired change, with the
fact that existing arrangements have worked so well, and
for so many years— with a distinct and conclusive clause in
the existing Act — looking to the constant change in the
Council itself and to the extent of the power’s sought in this
clause, by which at some future time the entire complexion
of the Scotch Board might be altered — and with the con¬
viction that, whether from a “clannish” feeling or not, our
Scotch chemists and druggists are unanimously against any
such innovation as the one lately proposed, I feel there was
no other courlte left for my colleague, Mr. Frazer, and
myself, then to give the proposed clause our firm opposi¬
tion, and which I am glad to say the vote in Council has
confirmed.

Edinbmgk, March 8. John Mack ay.

- -

Branch Pharmacies.

Sir, — There have been a few letters written to you on the
question of legislation for branch shops, but although I have
always deprecated the multiplication of shops where the
owner cannot possibly give personal superintendence, yet I
think there are difficulties which have been overlooked by
recent writers to your Journal.

Two facts 1 would especially impress on them : — First,
that branch shops are not all alike.

It is one thing for a chemist to open a branch shop quite
out of the neighbourhood of his own business, putting an
unqualified assistant in to manage it and giving no personal
superintendence himself from one week’s end to another ;
it is quite another thing for a chemist to have two businesses
! in one locality in such proximity to each other that he can
; give personal superintendence every day. Such businesses
j exist and are for the convenience of the public as much as
for the welfare of the owner. In an instance like this, at
which shop is the qualified assistant to be P

Secondly, if an Act came suddenly into force, compelling
branch businesses to be superintended only by these
possessing the Minor or Major qualification, it would be
disastrous both to a large number of experienced assistants
and also to the public.

To the former, for there must be hundreds of such well
qualified to conduct businesses, and they would practically
be thrown out of employ ; and to the latter, for I refuse to
believe that a young man, about twenty-one years of age,
with Minor qualification, is better fitted to conduct a business
than a man with double his experience, and thus “ the safety
of the public ” would not necessarily be the result of the
change.

No one need suppose that I have a contempt for the
pharmaceutical examinations. Possessing a Major qualifi¬
cation myself, I am not likely to undervalue them, but I
j do contend that they cannot take the place of practical

experience.

Looking at the proposed legislation generally, I wish I
could bring myself to believe that ihe House of Commons
: will render it illegal for corporate bodies to dispense and
! sell poisons. And. if it does not what remains but further
: restrictions ?

And if the privilege . we ask is not likely to be granted,
for pity’s sake save us from being further persecuted.
Liverpool. John J. Smith.

Sir, — I am pleased to find the question of branch shops
is not allowed to be put on one side, and I earnestly trust
it may be dealt with satisfactorily. It seems an injustice
to those of us who at great expense and time have satisfied
the requirements of the la w by passing the pharmaceutical
examinations, to see unqu alified men taking the position of
master in the management of a branch.

There is more reason in a qualified man managing for an
irresponsible body of men than for an unqualified man
managing a branch for a chemist, it may be, in another
town. If we are to use our endeavours to put a veto on
stores dispensing and retailing poisonous patent medi¬
cines, and I trust we shall succeed, let us by all means be
thorough in legislating, and put a veto upon the avaricious
chemist who in opening branches in all directions puts one
in mind of the octopus stretching out his arms and encircling
a wide area. If he wants more than one shop make him
keep a duly qualified man, as much as the widow, whom
some would like to crush.

Before I close, I should like to say one word about the
selling of drugs by grocers. Is it not possible to confine
the sale of drugs to chemists alone? It is bad enough to
see grocers selling Epsom salts, castor oil, seidlitz powders,
antibilious pills, digestive pills, Godfrey’s cordial, spirit of
nitre, etc., etc.; but when my customers tell me that Mr.
Catchall, the grocer, recommends his “cough mixture ” and
“teething powders,” it seems difficult to find out how
to compensate ourselves for the expense we have been
put to.

We have to “wait ” for customers now quite enough, and
those that we get are thoroughly earned by the necessary
skill we have to acquire, and the many restrictions' put
upon us in the conducting of business. I hope this ques¬
tion will not be ignored by those who are framing the draft
Pharmacy Act.

A Minor Man.

The Relations of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Sir, — In your issue of the 19th instant, three letters
appear, offering suggestions with reference to this subject.
There seems to be a general feeling, .both among medical
men and chemists, that the time has arrived for attempting
its permanent settlement. Such a settlement cannot but
conduce to the interests of the chemists and the public, and
also to the relief of medical men.

It seems to me a reasonable proposition that the doctor
having seen his patient should prescribe, and leave the
prescription to be dispensed by the family chemist.

I attach importance to that part of the proposition which
leaves the dispensing in the hands of the family chemist.
For the doctor to name a special chemist appears to me
very objectionable, except in cases where the family have
no special chemist. Under such circumstances he should
always recommend the nearest.

With regard to medical charges, this is a question that
concerns the medical practitioner himself alone, and need
not be further discussed here. What really is pertinent to the
question is the scale of charges which chemists are prepared
to adopt if this change be carried out. It is quite evident
that what may be called “ fancy prices ” can no longer be
charged. In many districts the scale of medical fees for
visits and medicine is so low that the addition of the
present very considerable charges made by some chemists
would become a serious burden to the patient. Medicines
must therefore be charged for with some reference to their
commercial value ; of course, the chemist must also be paid
for the education and training which are compulsory by
Act of Parliament.

One thing further demands attention. What are che¬
mists prepared to say concerning their own practice of
prescribing ? Are they ready to meet medical men half
way on the field of improvement ? If medical men are
willing to give up the very considerable profits of dis¬
pensing, are chemists equally ready to abstain from this
old but reprehensible practice ? In concluding this letter
I would venture to ask the opinions of some of your corre¬
spondents on this point.

Mildmay Parle , N. James Williamson, M.D.

77 2

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 12, 1881

Sir, — That there should he cause for these continual
bickerings ’twixt doctors and chemists is much to be re¬
gretted, and yet of the justice of the cause there is little
doubt. Both parties have, and do even now, go much out
of their way. But it seems only probably that a little
application of the “ give and take’.’ principle will do more
to regulate matters than legislation.

“ Counter practice” is a widely embracing subject and yet
I think a Royal Commission would find that the majority
of chemists do their best to regulate it within fair and
honest limits. But the dangerous knowledge regarding
medicines, unfortunately possessed, or rather volunteered,
by the outside public of the present day, is a point of great
importance with the pharmacist, and requires all his skill and
energy to cope with. It is this dangerous knowledge so
frequently applied that gives rise to the statement in the
Lancet that “ to perpetuate a prescription is to incur a risk
of injuring the patient, and in any case to wrong the practi¬
tioner.” OT the injustice of this remark, the medicals
themselves must be fully aware, for the remedy can only be
applied by their orders to patients. But what shall be said
to the growing practice of people obtaining ingredients
singulatim and making use of their parlour table as a dis¬
pensary for their own medicine and for distribution to their
friends ?

One cannot but also, on looking fully in the face the
cause of the success of patent and proprietary medicines,
heartily thank the medicals for their patronage and sugges¬
tions in this matter.

We should all, as pharmacists, be only too glad to see the
time arrive when doctors prescribe and chemists dispense,
only, until then, as Caesar says, omnes inter se differunt,
etc.

Ranunculus.

Dispensing Charges.

Sir,— I was glad to see the letter of B. S. J. in your issue
of the 19th \ilt. I quite agree with him that we shall do
more good by developing the dispensing portion of our trade
than by trying to bolster up the sale of patents, the latter
being a kind of business which no conscientious man can
regard with much satisfaction. I agree with him too in
believing that in order to increase our dispensing we must
charge such prices as will satisfy the medical men and the
public that it is to their interest to deal with us, though I
think your correspondent goes too far when he intimates
that “no professional skill” is required in compounding
even the simplest prescription.

I fear there is a tendency at present to make up for our
losses on proprietary articles by forcing up the prices of
drugs and prescribed medicines. Some of the prices in the
lists issued by the Liverpool and Manchester chemists are,
in my opinion, far too high. Thus the prescription given
by B. S. J., would by the Manchester tariff be charged
Is. 8 d.} because it is taken in teaspoonfuls, while another
mixture, taken in ounce doses, would be charged Is. 4 d.,
though the ingredients might be as expensive and might
take longer to mix. ’ What sense or reason is there in this ?
If we charge a fair price for the drugs and for the time and
skill required, what more can we justly ask?

But my chief object in writing is to point out a weakness
in the present system of dispensing charges. I believe it is
the general practice to charge the same on making up a
prescription the first time a3 on all subsequent occasions.
In cases of repetition, not only is the labour of copying the
prescription saved, but it must be obvious that it can be
dispensed more quickly the second or third time than the
first. Perhaps this applies more especially to small shops,
where the dispensing is chiefly done by one or two persons ;
but even in large concerns, the first dispenser can often
make a note in the prescription book, which will save a
good deal of time to a subsequent dispenser in the same
establishment.

According to my views, the price of your correspondent’s
mixture should be estimated thus: — Ingredients, 5d. or 6d.;
dispensing, about the same ; bottle, Id. or 2d. ; copying
about 3d. ; total, Is. 3d. for the fii^st time. In case of
repetition I should charge Is., or a penny les3 if the bottle
is sent to be refilled. Of course, in many cases, the second
item would require to be more than 6d., according to the
time employed; but in not a few the first items would be
less than here indicated. In dispensing pills, the ingre¬
dients are usually cheaper, while the time occupied is

greater than in the case of mixtures. For an ordinary box
of twelve pills, I should charge Is. the first time, and 9 d.
on subsequent occasions. For twenty-four pills, Is. 3d. and
Is. ; for six pills or less, 9 d. and 6d. The practice advocated
in the Manchester lists, of charging less for pills when pre¬
scribed with a mixture than when ordered alone, seems to
me as devoid of reason as that of charging by the dose.

One word, in conclusion, on the latest project for a patent
medicine league, with a system of “Boycotting” those
wholesale and retail dealers who refuse to be bound by its
conditions. Do the advocates of this precious scheme
object to buy books at “ 2d. in the Is. discount ? ” Would
they' have any tolerance for a trades union of booksellers
who should try to keep up their prices by such means as
have lately been suggested ?

Beta.

The Sale of Stamped Lozengss.

Sir, — The thanks of the trade are due to Messrs Shillcock
for having tried to obtain a proper exposition of the Patent
Medicine Act in so far as it relates to the sale of stamped
lozenges, but I question much if we are any wiser than we
were before the correspondence between Bromley and
Somerset House.

We knew previously that it was illegil to sell “Shill-
cock’s Lozenges” in boxes without stamps, and we knew
also that it was legal to sell the same lozenge without
stamp, providing no claim was laid to proprietorship by
using the possessive case, adopting simply the words,
“ Cough Lozenges, Shillcock; ” but the main question still
remains unanswered, viz., Is it legal to sell “ Shillcock’s
Cough Lozenges ” by the ounce, they not being in boxes ?

I have long since come to the conclusion that the ex¬
positors of the law at Somerset House either are unable to
understand it themselves or purposely refrain from giving
other than vague explanations.

For some months I. have discontinued the use of the
possessive case on my cough lozenges, to avoid being pounced
on by some over diligent officer of the Excise, and would
advise others to do the same ; they need not then live in fear
of the law.

I have myself seen the reply of the Commissioners of
Inland Revenue to a question as to the legality of selling

“ - ’s Bronchial Lozenges,” in which they unmistakably

say they may be sold loose without being liable to duty ;
but, if Messrs. Shillcock took this as their authority they
might some day find to their discomfort that “ circumstances
alter cases.”

As an instance of the partiality or the incomprehensi¬
bility of the law, I may mention that last spring a chemist
was fined for selling “Children’s Cough Mixture” un¬
stamped, though no claim was laid to any exclusive pro¬
prietorship, whilst a neighbour was and is still allowed to
sell “ Infants’ Carminative Mixture” unstamped. The
former label, altered to read “ Cough Mixture for Chil¬
dren,” but in all other respects the same, has since been
submitted to the authorities and allowed.

Wherein does the difference lie ?

When some one shall have .obtained an answer to the
main question, at once clear and decisive, they will confer
a favour by submitting it to your readers. Till then, 1
would advise them to “beware of man-traps.”

Manchester. H. Kemp.

J. E. Lord. — The address of Mr. Swan is Moseley Street,
Newcastle-on-Tyne.

R. J. It. and G. N. R. have not complied with the
regulation as to anonymous communications.

Sigma. — The Registrar of the Medical Council, 315,
Oxford Street.

X. L. — No person who is not registered under the
Dentists Act may use any name or title implying that he
is qualified to practise dentistry, or recover any fee or
charge for the performance of a dental operation.

J. Osborne. — The question should be addressed to a
surgeon.

J. Thomas. — Place them for some time in a closed com¬
partment with some odorous substance.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Bell, Boyce, Arato, Baker, Snell, Planchon,
Stephens, Collins, Radius, Sanderson, Alpha, Sloper.

March-19, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

77 3

OPINIONS AS TO THE ORIGIN OF
COMMERCIAL VANILLA.

The following details have been placed at our
disposal by Mr. J. (Jh. Sawer : —

An imperfect knowledge of the species and varieties
of this most valuable orchid has led to frequent con¬
troversy as to the origin of the vanilla found in com¬
merce, v^hether the whole of it is derived from one
species of plant of the genus Vanilla, from several
distinct species, from several varieties of one or more
species, or from several commercial sorts of fruit
yielded by one or more varieties or species.

Delteuil gives a list of the vanilla plants cultivated
in various countries, from which it appears that in
Mexico are found the V. planifolia (yielding the
finest fruit), V. sativa , V. sylveslris, and V. pompona
' (with short thick fruit called t: vanillon ”) ; Guiana
and Surinam, V. guyanensis ; Bahia, V. palmarum ;
Brazil and Peru, V. aromatica (which is the leas't
aromatic of all) ; and at Reunion two sorts, which
; appear to be varieties of V. ‘planifolia, the one
i usually called the small, the other the large vanilla,
l characterized by the stalk being thicker, the leaves
much larger, the flowers larger and of a cleeper
yellow tint, the fruit thicker, shorter and triangular,
but this being of inferior aroma its cultivation has
been almost generally abandoned.

In a paper recently communicated to the 1 Societe
d’ Emulation/ by M. Jaillet, on the “Culture and
Preparation of Vanilla,”* * * § the author infers from the
writings of various botanists on this subject, also
from personal observation, that the V. planifolia,
V. sativa, and V. sylvestris are identical, the distinc¬
tive specific characters not being clear and decided,
but depending upon the effects of age, climate, and
vigorous growth. He concludes that although there
really exist several species of vanilla and that there
iuay be many varieties of the same species, all the
commercial vanilla is furnished by the V. planifolia.
This would appear to be the opinion of the authors
of the ‘ Pharmacographia/ as V. planifolia alone is
mentioned as the commercial source, but perhaps re¬
ferring only to the products of Mexico and Reunion.

According to Bentley and Trimen (‘ Medicinal
Plants ’) there are several varieties of vanilla found in
commerce, as Mexican or Vera Cruz, Bourbon, Mau¬
ritius, Java, La Guayra, Honduras, Brazilian, etc., the
finest being the Mexican, of which there are different
qualities. They further state that these varieties of
vanilla are doubtless derived from different species of
the plant. The finest, such as the Mexican, is com¬
monly said to be the product of V. planifolia
(Andrew), f synonymous with V. claviculata (Swartz),
V. sylvestris ? and V. sativa (Schiede), V. viridifolia
(Blume), and Myrobroma fragrans (Salisbury). J

Scheide, a writer on the botany of Mexico, § con¬
sidered the V. sylvestris as probably a synonym of
V. planifolia, but Morren[| states that the exactness
of that opinion is not clearly demonstrated, and
declares that the writings of Blume,' IT Swartz,**

* Repertoire de Pharmacie ,'viii., p. 357.

t ‘ Botanist’s Repository,’ vol. ii., p. 538.

X ‘ Paradisus Londinensis/ t. 82.

§ ‘ Botanische Berichte aus Mexico,’ 1820. ‘ Linnsea,’

1829, vol. iv., p. 514.

II ‘Bulletins de l’Academie Royale de Belgique, ’jlc Serie,
xvii., part 1, p. 130.

U ‘ Flor. Javse;’ ‘ Bijdragen,’ 422, and ‘ Rumphia,’ vol. i.,
p. 197—198.

** ‘ Nova Acta. Upsal.,’ vol. vi., p. 66; ‘ FI. Ind. Occid.,’
1515; and ‘ Schrader’s Journ. Bot.’ vol. ii., fig. 1.

Third Series, No. 560.

Plunder* and Desvaux,f merely render more
difficult the question as to which species, varieties
and sorts are to be attributed the vanilla of com¬
merce ; also that this question could only be
solved by an experienced naturalist who should
examine the plants in the localities where they
actually grow, compare the different length,
thickness, shape, colour, flavour and value of the
fruit yielded by each species and variety and
accompany the diagnoses with drawings made on the
spot. This argument does not authorize M. Jaillet
to quote him as an authority for stating that the
whole of the commercial vanilla is derived from
V. planifolia-, Morren simply says that the finest
vanilla closely resembles the fruit of that plant.

The culture and preparation of vanilla, requiring
great care and management, are described by M.
Jaillet as follows (some slight remarks from other
authors being added, and one or two words
corrected): — In Mexico, plantations are established
either in virgin forests or in open fields. In the former
case it is necessary to cut down all shrubs, climbers,
aud such large trees as would give an excess of
shade, leaving only young trees suitable to serve as
supports to the plants. Preference is given to
those containing a milky sap, as the plant attaches
itself to the bark by means of aerial roots (pro¬
duced from the nodes), which are its veritable organs
of nutrition, the subterranean roots being very
insignificant in comparison to the size of the plant
(it is not uncommon to observe the gradual decay
of. the stalk near the root and at the same time a
remarkable development of the same stalk as it
increases in length). Close to each tree two cuttings
are planted side by side in the following manner :
in a shallow trench of about an inch and a half
deep and fifteen or twenty inches long is imbedded a
cutting as far as three joints or eyes, the three
leaves being first stripped off; the trench is then
covered up with dried leaves, leaf-mould, coarse
sand, brush- wood, etc. (The bed should be slightly
raised above the level of the soil, in order to prevent
a collection of stagnant water which might rot the
plants.) The remainder of the shoot, 3 or 4 feet long,
is tied against the tree. The supporting trees should
be quite 12 or 15 feet apart to allow sufficient room for
the development of the plant, the growth being very
rapid. After a month the cuttings will have taken
root, and must be carefully kept free from weeds and
underwood of all kinds. In the third year these
plants will commence to bear fruit. In the case when
it is desirable to plant a field, plain, or low-lying
ground, the method in Mexico is first to thoroughly
plough up the land and sow it with maize. While
this is growing a quantity of young lactescent trees
of the fig tribe make their appearance over the field ;
these, after a year or eighteen months, are large
enough to support the vanilla plants, which are set
in the manner above described, and from them the
finest product is obtained.

The mode of cultivation adopted in the Island of
Reunion is different. In Mexico where the fecunda¬
tion of the flower is left to nature, the plant is allowed
to climb up .over the trees, blit in Reunion where
the fecundation is performed artificially, the plant
mtist not be allowed to grow out of reach of the cul-

* ‘ Plantarum Americanum,’ and Catesby’s ‘ Hist. Nat.
de la Caroline,’ vol. iii., tab. 7.

t ‘ Annales des Sciences Naturelles, 3e Serie, 1846, p.

117.

774

THE PHARMACEUTICAL * JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 1U, 1881

tivator. When it is desired to start a plantation in
a forest, the cuttings are set at the foot of trees and
the trunks are connected together transversely by
sticks so as to form a trellis on which the plant can
spread ; but the planter is careful never to lop the
trees, for the reason that the vanilla, more than any
other orchid, loves a humid soil and is injured by the
direct burning rays of the sun. It is under large
trees that the vanilla is seen. in its typical form,
vigorous and productive. When an open field is
selected as the site of a plantation, the necessary .
supports for the plant must first be grown. For this
purpose mangoes and fig-trees are employed, but
preference is given to the Jatropha curcas , the tree
producing the physic-nut, which strikes readily from
cuttings, is of rapid growth, and furnishes an abund¬
ance of lactescent juice well suited to supply the
necessary nourishment to the vanilla plant.* When
these young trees have attained a size sufficient to
shade the plant, cuttings of the orchid are set in the
following manner : — Between the trees and along the
lines in which they are planted, a trench 8 inches
deep is dug ; the cutttings are placed in it and covered
with a little leaf-mould, dry leaves and straw ; the
rainy season is preferable for this operation, as suc¬
cess in striking the cuttings depends essentially on
moisture and shade. When the young shoots begin
to grow, it is only necessary to guide them along the
trellises and allow the aerial roots to rejoin the trench
between the supporting trees, and in two years the
plantation is in full bearing.

Fecundation. — As the labellum (the upper lip of
the stigmatic orifice) totally covers the female organ,
and the anther rests on that valve of the stigma, it is
evident that notwithstanding the dehiscence of the
anther, the orifice which allows passage to the pollen
is closed by the labellum, thus rendering spontaneous
fecundation comparatively rare. It does, however,
sometimes occur and may be attributed to the passage
of a winged insect, or to the action of the wind detach¬
ing the pollen from the anther ; but it seems more
rational to suppose that the brush-shaped appendage
situated on the labellum is solely intended for the
purpose of collecting the pollen and then depositing
it on the stigma at the moment when the flower
begins to droop and fade. Still the natural fecun¬
dation is a rare occurrence, for in Guiana, Mexico,
and all other countries where the plant is left to
itself, it has been observed that a length of 1 2 to 26
inches of vine will only produce one pod ; the
number of flowers on such length of stalk may
amount to forty, all of which can be artificially
fecundated. The old process for performing this
operation consisted in cutting the labellum, and was
not always successful ; this was improved upon by a
creole slave in the colony, who discovered that a
more rapid and sure method was to slip away the label¬
lum from beneath the anther, so bringing that organ
in direct contact with the stigma. In this manner
it is possible to obtain more than 3500 pods on a
single plant, but such forcing would cause the plant
to perish before the fruit could mature. Therefore,
it is advisable to select the finest flowers on each
bunch, fecundating only those Vhich present a large
fleshy peduncle. It is an ascertained fact that the
handsomest fruit are produced from the first flowers^

* The possible danger of the acrid matter contained in
this tree being absorbed by the vanilla plant has been
alluded to in this Journal by a writer in “ The Month,”
vol. xi., p. 430.

but the best from the last flowers which open on
each bunch. A bunch should not be allowed to bear
more than five or six fruits, and the fecundation is
assured when the flower is persistent and dries at
the extremity of the fruit. This result obtained, the
remainder of the bunch with all its buds should be
cut off.

Harvesting the Fruit. — As above observed, the
fecundated flower decays at the extremity of the
ovary, and after some days falls off, leaving the per¬
sistent gynostem attached to the fruit, which con¬
tinues to grow for a month, but must be left on the
stem for six months longer to allow it to ripen.
Each pod should then be cut off separately, as it
matures, instead of detaching the entire bunch, as is
done in some countries. The only certain indication
of maturity is the crackling produced when the pod
is pinched between the fingers. The apple-green-
or greenish-yellow colour is not a sufficiently reliable
sign. It is quite as important to avoid gathering
the pods too soon as too late. If unripe, the product
will lack fragrance, colour, etc. ; if over-ripe the pod
will be yellow at the end, and, if not already split,
is apt to become so in curing.

Curing the Fruit. — The odour of vanilla does not
pre-exist in the ripe fruit, but is developed by the
process of fermentation. When a pod is allowed to
remain on the plant, it splits into two unequal parts,
becoming first yellow, then brown, and finally
black. While it is drying, it exudes an unctuous
liquid of dark red colour, called “ balsam of vanilla,”
and when quite dry becomes brittle and devoid of
all perfume.

The following are the various processes for curing
the vanilla : —

Guiana Process. — The beans are placed in ashes,
and there left till they begin to shrivel ; they are
then wiped, rubbed over with olive oil, and their
lower end having been tied, are hung in the open
air to dry.

Peruvian Process. — The beans are dipped into ■
boiling water, tied at the end, and hung in the open
air for twenty days to dry; they are then lightly
smeared over with oil of palma christi, and a few
days later are tied up in bundles.

Mexican Process. — As soon as gathered the beans
are placed in heaps under a. shed, protected from
sun and rain, and in a few days, when they
begin to shrivel, are submitted to the siveating pro¬
cess. This is carried on in -two different ways, ac¬
cording to the state of the weather. If it happens to
be warm and fine the beans are spread out in the
early morning, on a woollen blanket, and exposed
to-the direct rays of the sun. At about midday or
one in the afternoon the blanket is folded around
the beans, and the bundle is left in the sun for the
remainder of the day. In the evening all the
vanilla is enclosed in air-tight boxes, so that it may
sweat the whole night. The next day the beans are
again exposed to the direct action of the sun. They
then acquire a dark coffee colour, the tint being
deeper in proportion to the success* of the sweating
operation. Should the weather be cloudy, the
vanilla is made into bundles, and a number of these
are packed together into a small bale, which is first
wrapped in a woollen cloth, then in a coating of
banana leaves, and the whole, enclosed in a mat, is
firmly bound, and sprinkled with water. The bales
containing the largest beans are now placed in an
oven heated to 140° F. When the temperature of

March 19, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

77 5

the oven has fallen to 113°, the smaller beans are
introduced, and the oven is closed tightly. Twenty-
four hours afterwards the smaller beans are taken
out, and twelve hours later the larger ones. During
this process the vanilla has sweated , and acquired a
fine chestnut colour. The delicate operation of dry-
in0, has now to be commenced. The beans are spread
on matting, and exposed to the sun every day for
about two months. When the drying is nearly
complete, sun-heat is no longer needed, and the
beans are spread out in a dry place until the neces¬
sary degree of desiccation is arrived at ; they are
then tied up in small packets.

Reunion Process.— The beans are sorted, according
to length, to be scalded. The long ones are steeped
in water heated to 194° E., during ten seconds, the
medium size during fifteen seconds, and the short
ones fully a minute. They are then exposed to the
sun between two woollen blankets until they acquire
the characteristic chestnut colour. After this ex¬
posure, which may last from six to eight days, the
beans are spread out under sheds to dry gradually.

The sheds in this colony being roofed with zinc,
they really constitute drying stoves, through which
a current of hot air continually circulates. This
desiccation takes about a month, during which time
the only care necessary is to turn the beans fre¬
quently, so that they dry evenly. At the moment
when it is found that the beans may be twisted
easily round the finger without cracking, that is to
say, "when, they have acquired a degree of dryness
which can be known only by experience,-— the opera¬
tion requiring the most minute and vigilant care
commences : this is termed the smoothing process.
The operator must pass every bean between his
fingers, and repeat this frequently, for, on drying, the
beans exude from their entire surface a natural tatty
oil. It is to this oil, which exudes as the fermenta¬
tion proceeds, that the lustre and suppleness ot the
bean is due. When sufficiently dry, they are tied
up in bundles ot uniform length. In this manner
the three commercial sorts are termed : — 1 . Fine
Vanilla. 8 to 11 inches long, nearly black,
unctuous, glossy and clean looking ; these soon be¬
come covered with frost-like crystals. 2. Woody
Vanilla. 6 to 8 inches long, lighter in colour,
more or less spotted with grey, not glossy ; these
are the pods gathered in an unripe condition ; they
crystallize very little, if at all. 3. Vanillons , of
which there are two sorts, those obtained from short,
but ripe fruit, which are excellent and irost well,
and those from abortive and unripe fruit, whose
perfume is simply the result of absorption from the
fine beans with which they have so long been in
contact.

The total yield

of the Mauritius and Reunion

plantations is estimated as follows : —

1875 . .

. 29,255 kilos.

1876 . .

. 34,322 „

1877 . .

. 4-1,270 „

1878 . .

. 35,000 „

1879 . .

...... 40,000 „

The Liatris odoratissima , a North American plant,
commonly called a wild vanilla,” is not an orchid ;
the name is simply given on account of the odour of
its leaves resembling that of vanilla and tonquin
beans. It has been described in this Journal, vol. v.,
[3rd series], p. 489. . _

The Angrcecurn frag cans , (Dupetit-Thours, ‘Or-

chidees d’Afrique ’ ) is an orchid much resembling
the vanilla. It is synonymous with Aerobion
frag vans (Sprengel), and Aeranthus fragrans (Reich-
enbach). In Reunion and Mauritius it is known as
“faham” and in Madagascar as “fanave.” The
dried leaves and fruit possess an agreeable odour,
resembling a mixture of vanilla, tonquin beans and
mellilot. Commercially, we know only the leaves.
The aromatic principle contained in them is soluble
in alcohol, in ether, and in boiling water ; it has been
isolated by Gobley* in the form of small white
silky needles, which on being pressed between the
fingers or slightly warmed develop the characteristic
odour of “ faliam” and bitter almonds. On analysis
this substance was found to contain — carbon, 76T2 ;
hydrogen, 4T2 ; oxygen, 1976; approximating it to
the constitution of coumarine. The fruit is supposed
to contain a larger proportion of this principle than
the leaves. The plant is propagated by seed. An
infusion of the leaves is taken as a beverage ; the
mucilaginous and bitter properties contained in them
are considered to act as a digestive and as a remedy
for pulmonary consumption, and the dried leaves
when smoked as beneficial in cases of asthma. A
somewhat similar odoriferous principle has been
found in the leaves of other orchideous plants, as
the Orchis fusca, and the Ophris antropophora, but
not identical with pure vanillin.

The amount of vanillin in commercial vanilla
from various sources has been estimated at from 1^
to 2| per cent. It has been doubted whether the
odour of vanilla is entirely due to vanillin, and
some chemists who have studied the question aver
that they have detected large quantities of benzoic
acid in Mexican vanilla; but the researches of
Tiemaun and Haarmanfi show that this must have
been vanillic acid or a mixture of this acid with its
aldehyd, vanillin. Whether such was the case, or
whether the samples operated upon had been
tampered with (it is known that inferior qualities
are dusted over with benzoic acid to imitate the
natural efflorescence), it is still believed that pure
vanillin, although the principal vehicle of the aroma,
does not constitute the sole flavour and perfume of
the vanilla bean and that the vanillin prepared
artificially by Messrs. Tiemann and Haarman will
not quite discourage the Mexican and Bourbon
planters.

As for the East Indian vanillon , the odour more
resembles that of heliotrope, probably owing to a
trace of benzoic aldehyd; it is exclusively used in
perfumery. According to the above mentioned
German chemists the amount of vanillin, in this
bean is only about 0*4 per cent., and it is more
difficult to isolate than from ordinary vanilla by
reason of the presence of a minute quantity of oily
matter which adheres to it with great tenacity.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF
AUSTRALIAN ALSTONIA BARK +

BY O. HESSE.

The bark of Alstonia constricta was examined in 1863
by Palm, who obtained from it a bitter substance, which
he called “alstonin,” by precipitating a decoction of the
powdered bark with tannic acid and then treating the
resulting compound of bitter substance and tannic acid

* Journ. cle Pharmacie, xvii., p. 350.

f Ber. Deutsch. Chem. Ges., Sept. 18, 1876.

J Abstract of a paper in the Annalen dear Chemie , vol.
ccv., p. 360.

776

THE :• HARMAUEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

March 10, 18S1.

in a suitable manner. According to Palm this substance
was a non-nitrogenous resin, and therefore not an alka¬
loid.

The method formerly adopted by the author* in the
separation from this bark of one of the alkaloids, —
namely, clilorogenine, — was based upon the assumption
that Palm’s “alstonin,” notwithstanding the alleged
absence of nitrogen, consisted essentially of chlorogenine,
an assumption that was confirmed by a control experi¬
ment made with a small specimen of authentic bark
supplied to the author by Professor Pliickiger. This
being established, the author did not hesitate to call the
alkaloid in question “ alstonine,” instead of “chloro¬
genine,” the former name being older than the latter.
The name “alstouine,” however, in the course of time
became repeatedly applied to other substances.

Thus Baron von Mueller, to whom the author’s
previous work on the Australian bark was evidently
unknown, in his work, * The Organic Constituents of
Plants ’ (p. 239), gives the name “ alstonin ” to Palm’s
substance. He also invests with it (p. 230) a body
which he obtained working in conjunction with L.
Pummel, by acidulating an alcoholic extract of the
bark with a little hydrochloric acid, adding a slight
excess of ammonia to the clear filtered solution, treating
the separated flocks with ether, evaporating this solution,
once more treating the residue with dilute acid, and re¬
peating the above process. The ‘ ‘ alstonine ” obtained in
this way was an orange-yellow transparent mass, melting
below 100° C., and having a distinctly basic reaction.
It was easily soluble in ether, alcohol and dilute acids,
less so in water. All these solutions showed in the
dilute condition a strong blue fluorescence, which was
not altered by acids or alkalies. Concentrated nitric
acid dissolved this substance with a crimson-red colour,
sulphuric acid with a red-brown.

Subsequently Oberlin and Schlagdenhauffenf gave the
name “ alstonine” to a crystallizable alkaloid, which they
extracted direct from the same bark by means of ether,
and by crystallization from a little ether separated from
another alkaloid that they named “ alstonicine.” They
were of opinion that their alkaloid formed the basis of
the substance similarly named by Mueller and Pummel.

Before, however, the author became acquainted with
Oberlin and Schlagdenhauffen’s communication, he had
ascertained by experiment that a basic mass was removed
from the bark by ether, which corresponded essentially
with porphyrine. A subsequent attempt to separate this
mass by means of ether into a crystallizable and an
amorphous portion was unsuccessful, and this led him to
undertake a fresh investigation of the bark, the results of
which form the subject of the present paper.

It was first asceitained that extraction of the bark
with ether yielded only a small portion of the alkaloid,
which, however, consisted principally of porphyrine. In
order to obtain a larger proportion of the alkaloids an
alcoholic extract of the bark was dissolved in water, and
this solution supersaturated with sodium bicarbonate,
when a brown flocculent substance, evidently a decompo¬
sition product of chlorogenine or alstonine, separated, and
was removed by filtration. The clear filtered solution
was now treated repeatedly with petroleum spirit, and
this with a small quantity of acetic acid until nothing
more worth the trouble was extracted. In this way
porphyrine and other substances soluble in ether were
separated from the carbonated solution, whilst the
alstonine (chlorogenine) remained dissolved in the liquid.

Alstonine (Syn. Chlorogenine).

This alkaloid is obtained from the carbonated solution
just referred to by supersaturating it with caustic soda
and shaking with chloroform. There results a blackish
brown solution of alstonine, which is filtered, and then

* Bericlite, vol. xi., p. 2234.

t Pharmaceutical Journal (_3j, vol. ix., p. 1059, from the
Journal de Pharmacie, June, 1879.

after the addition of sufficient water and acetic acid is
freed from chloroform by distillation. The acid residual
solution is filtered to separate a small quantity of brown
flocks, then treated with animal charcoal, which besides
colouring material, however, also takes up a considerable
quantity of precipitated alkaloid. The solution so purified
is then precipitated with caustic soda, which throws
down a large quantity of brownish yellow flocks that
quickly settle, but cannot be washed on the filter. The
saline liquor is therefore separated as much as possible by
decanting three times with cold water. This manipula¬
tion is successful, though at the same time a portion of
the alkaloid is dissolved, which may be recovered from
the washings by shaking with chloroform. When the
saline liquor has been removed as completely as can be,
the flocculent alkaloid is washed upon a filter with cold
water, the organic matter being separated as much as pos¬
sible from the sides of the filter with a platinum knife, and
distributed in the water. Finally, the alkaloid is brought
in thin layers upon smooth blotting paper, and dried at a
low temperature in the air.

The alkaloid then appears as a brown amorphous mass,
which can be rubbed to a brownish yellow powder. In
the exsiccator it loses water, and becomes darker in
colour and eventually coffee-brown, especially when
rapidly heated to 80° C.

In the earlier experiments the author used ammonia
to precipitate the alkaloid, but has now abandoned it,
because the ammonia imperfectly precipitates the alka¬
loid. It produced in the acid solution of alstonine a
more abundant precipitate, but this gradually disap¬
peared again, except a small portion. For the alkaloid
as precipitated by ammonia the formula C21H22N205 =
C21H20N2O4 + H20 was formerly published,- whilst the
alstonine precipitated with caustic soda gave figures
corresponding with the formula C21H20N2O4.

Calculated. Found.

C . 69-23 69-01

H . 5-49 5:47

N . 7*69 7-36

The alkaloid obtained as above contained only a trace
of ash.

The air-dried alkaloid contains 3| molecules of water, ,
part of which is given off in the exsiccator and part when
dried at 120° C. The dried alkaloid exposed to the air
rapidly retakes up one molecule of water.

Alstonine, when freshly precipitated, dissolves readily
in chloroform, but less freely after being dried in the air.

It is also freely soluble in alcohol, but it is very difficultly
soluble in ether, especially in the dried form. Its hydrate
(containing 3^ H20) melts below 100° C., whilst the anhy¬
drous alkaloid first becomes liquid at 195° (uncorr.).

Alstonine. contrary to Palm’s opinion, is a strong base
and forms salts with acids. The platinum salt, obtained
by precipitating a solution of the hydrochlorate with
platinum solution, when analysed gave results corre¬
sponding to the formula (C21H20N2O4)2"PtCl6H2 + 4H20.

With respect to the salts of alstonine the author adds
that the sulphate, hydrochlorate, tartrate and oxalate are
freely soluble in water-, but that in an excess of the acids
the salts are thrown down as brown flocculent masses.

A similar behaviour to that of these acids is observed in
an acid- like constituent of the Australian Alstonia bark,
which is obtained in brown amorphous flocks, and forms
with alstonine a difficultly soluble indifferent compound.
rlhe author thinks it very probable, therefore, that this
compound is identical with Palm’s “alstonin.”

Porphyrine and Porphyrosine.

As before mentioned, petroleum spirit withdraws from
the carbonated solution several substances which can be
transferred from it to acetic acid. The acid then
acquires a magnificent blue fluorescence and gives with
excess of ammonia a reddish white flocculent precipitate.
This precipitate is dissolved in e'ther and the solution
treated with animal charcoal, which takes up not only

March 19, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

777

a small residue of alstonine, but also another basic sub¬
stance which can be withdrawn from the animal charcoal
by means of dilute acetic acid. The acid assumes a
splendid purple-red colour and gives with excess of am¬
monia a flesh coloured precipitate, which changes rapidly
in the air. This alkaloid the author has. named “ por-
phyrosme,” and postponed its further examination.

After the separation of the porphyrosine the ethereal
solution is likewise treated with dilute acetic acid and
this solution precipitated with ammonia. The precipitate,
after drying in the air, is boiled for some time in genuine
ligroin ; a portion passes into solution, but upon cooling a
certain quantity separates out. The porphyrine, how-
ever, remains essentially dissolved and can be obtained by
evaporation of the solution. For its complete purification
it is necessary that the alkaloid should be treated in
acetic acid solution with animal charcoal.

The porphyrine precipitated from the decolorized solu¬
tion by means of ammonia forms white amorphous flocks,
which upon drying in the air yield white coherent masses
that can be triturated to a white powder. It dissolves
freely in ether, alcohol and chloroform, and upon evapo¬
ration of these solutions is again obtained as an amorphous
residue. The melting point of this alkaloid after drying
in the exsiccator is 97° C. (uncorr.).

If the alcoholic solution of porphyrine be diluted freely
with pure water a faint blue fluorescence becomes per¬
ceptible in it.

Concentrated pure sulphuric acid dissolves the alkaloid
with a purple colour, which becomes paler pretty quickly
and passes into a yellowish or brownish green. Concen¬
trated sulphuric acid containing molybdic acid also dis¬
solves the alkaloid with a purple colour. Concentrated
sulphuric acid containing chromic acid dissolves it with
a greenish blue, passing into a yellow-green. In acid
solutions porphyrine shows a blue fluorescence.

The quantity of porphyrine contained in Australian
Alstonia bark is very small, the author having obtained
only 0‘6 gram of pure alkaloid from nearly 2 kilograms

of bark. !

An analysis of the platinum compound gave re¬
sults corresponding with the formula for the alkaloid of
C21H25N:102. The platinum compound, dried at 120° C.,
corresponds with the formula (C.21H.25N30.2)2 PtCl6H2,
but the air-dried compound contains also 4 molecules of

water.

Alstonidine. \

This alkaloid was separated from the portion of the
alkaloids difficultly soluble in ligroin. This portion was
dissolved in a sufficient quantity of boiling ligroin, from
which, upon cooling, at first isolated needles and af tei - |
wards concentrically grouped needles crystallized out.
All attempts to obtain these apparently different sub¬
stances by crystallization from ligroin were unsuccessful.
The mixture was, therefore, dissolved in a little . boiling
alcohol and sulphuric acid added until the solution dis¬
tinctly reddened blue litmus paper. Upon cooling the
sulphate of a new alkaloid crystallized out, which was
collected, dissolved in dilute hot alcohol and decomposed
with ammonia. Upon the cooling of this solution the
alkaloid crystallized out in colourless concentrically
grouped needles. This alkaloid has been named by the
author “ alstonidine.”

Alstonidine dissolves freely in chloroform, ether, strong
alcohol and acetone, and crystallizes upon the evaporation
of the respective solutions. - It also dissolves freely in hot
dilute alcohol, crystallizing out upon cooling in colourless
needles. The alcoholic solution has a weak basic reaction,
and an intensely bitter taste, and shows a blue fluo¬
rescence that becomes more intense upon dilution with
water. Solutions of alstonidine in dilute acids show an
intense blue fluorescence. In such solutions, ammonia
and caustic soda produce white floeculent precipitates
that become crystalline almost immediately.

Alstonidine melts at 181° C. (uncorr.). In alcoholic

solution it gives no colour with ferric chloride. Concen¬
trated sulphuric acid, pure or containing molybdic acid,
and concentrated nitric acid dissolve the alkaloid without
any noteworthy coloration ; but upon dilution of these
solutions with water they assume a bright blue fluores¬
cence. Concentrated sulphuric acid, to which some pow¬
dered potassium dichromate has been added, dissolves
the alkaloid with a blue-green colour that becomes paler
after a time ; the intensity of the colour is restored by
shaking, but it again becomes pale, and this may be
repeated until a point is reached when the solution
remains a greenish colour.

Alstonidine forms salts with acids. The sulphate
forms colourless needles which easily crystallize from
hot water. The hydrochlorate crystallizes in beautiful
long needles, freely soluble in water and alcohol. The
hydriodate crystallizes in colourless stellate grouped
needles. The sulphocyanate forms white needles that are
very difficultly soluble in water. The platinum compound
is obtained as a yellow floeculent precipitate slightly
soluble in hot water. The gold salt also forms a floeculent
precipitate, whilst the mercuric chloride compound crys¬
tallizes in colourless needles, which are pretty freely
soluble in water, especially boiling water.

If solution of potassium dichromate be added to a hy¬
drochloric solution of astonidine no blood-red colour is
produced as with the corresponding porphyrine solution,
but a yellow floeculent precipitate is at once formed.

On account of want of material the author is com¬
pelled to postpone any communication as to the composi¬
tion of this alkaloid and its salts.

Alstonidine presents much similarity to Oberlin and
Schlagdenhauffen’s alstonine, but differs from it definitely
in that the latter with sulphuric acid containing chromic
acid is coloured first blue-green, then violet, and finally
purple-red. The author thinks that the method adopted
by those chemists for obtaining their alstonine almost
suggests the idea that the alkaloid might have contained
a certain amount of alstonidine. That those chemists
should have so completely separated their alstonine from
their alstonicine (which he considers to be evidently his
porphyrine) by crystallization from ether that the latter
in acid solution no longer showed a blue fluorescence he
does not think possible ; since, notwithstanding the great
difference in solubility in ligroin shown by porphyrine
and the crystallizable portion of the alkaloids, porphyrine
could not be so obtained as to no longer show fluorescence.

The author considers that the list of alkaloids from
the Australian Alstonia bark is by no means completed
with the substances named. This is indicated not only
by the difference in the crystallization before referred to.
In the separation of alstonine from the chloroform
solution at first dilute acetic acid was used, but this only
took up a small portion of that alkaloid. Dilute
sulphuric acid was therefore added and the mixture
shaken, when a red-brown turbid acid solution resulted
which upon standing became clear, with a separation of
small scarlet needles. These crystals were recognized
as the sulphate of a special alkaloid, but the quantity of
it was so small that an investigation of the alkaloid had
to be deferred.

FERRIC SUCCINATE.

BY PROFESSOR WSl. T. WENZELL.*

Since succinic acid in combination with the feme radical
has recently been introduced by the medical profession as a
remedy for the relief of jaundice, resulting from obstruc¬
tion of the biliary duct by calculi, and with apparent
success, a demand for a preparation combining efficiency
and elegance has arisen. The originator of this medicine

* Read before the California Pharmaceutical Society and
California College of Pharmacy, October 13, 1880. Prom
Neiv Remedies, February, 1881.

778

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 19, 1881

recommends the use of the hydrated succinate of iron as
the preparation from which he has obtained such good
results in the treatment of the affection referred to. But
the preparation is unsightly, and anything but elegant as
a pharmaceutical product.

Ferric succinate, in hydrated state or dried, presents a
cinnamon-brown amorphous substance, quite insoluble in
water. It is readily prepared by adding to a solution
in water of an alkaline succinate, a solution of ferric sul¬
phate, as long as a precipitate is obtained. In this reac¬
tion, contrary to the law first enunciated by the Saxon
chemist Wenzell, a half century ago, “when two neutral
salts are mixed together in solution, and a decomposition
is effected, the products of the decomposition would be
also neutral salts,” a basic ferric succinate is produced in¬
stead of a neutral succinate — a portion of the succinic
acid being liberated and remaining in solution. The reac¬
tion takes place between 1 molecule of ferric sulphate and
3 molecules of the neutral or normal ammonium succinate,
and with the assimilation of 2 molecules of water : —

Feo(S04)3 + 3(NH4)2C4H404 + 2H20-=

1 mol. ferric sulphate -f-3 mol. ammon. succin. +

= 3(NH4)2S04 + Fe202H2(C4H404)2 + H2C4H404.

Basic ferric succin. + Succinic acid,
(hydrated.)

Hydrated ferric succinate occurs in the form of an
amorphous precipitate, containing 1 molecule of water, of
which it is deprived on drying, and converted into the basic
salt Fe20(C4H404)2-

The hydrated salt is insoluble in a cold solution of suc¬
cinic acid or ammonium succinate, more soluble in boiling
solutions, from which it separates slowly on cooling. It
is more soluble in ammonium citrate, even at ordinary
temperatures.

A solution of ferric succinate in ammonium citrate is
quite permanent, and can be mixed with succinic acid and
ammonia without decomposition. An excess of ammonia
merely deepens the colour. The solution, evaporated at
a temperature not exceeding 130° F., solidifies, on cooling
and standing for a time, into a crystalline mass. By
experimental synthesis, working with exact molecular
weights, it was found that three molecules of ammonium
citrate were required to dissolve one molecule of the pre¬
cipitated ferric succinate, and from these data the follow¬
ing composition of the double salt of ferric succinate and
ammonium citrate has been deduced: Fe20(C4H404)2.
3(NH4)2C6H507, and from this molecular formula a work¬
ing formula for its preparation has been calculated: —

Liquor Ferri et Ammonii Succinatis ( Solution of Succinate
of Iron and Ammonium). — Dissolve 50 grains of succinic
acid in 3 fluid ounces of water, neutralize nearly with am¬
monia and dilute to 6 fluid ounces. Transfer the solution to
an 8 ounce bottle, add ^ a fluid ounce of the officinal liquor
ferri persulphatis and agitate well. Transfer the mixture
to filter and wash the precipitated ferric succinate
thoroughly with distilled water. Next take 89 grains of
citric acid, put it into a beaker, and add with stirring a
sufficient quantity of water of ammonia until the acid is
dissolved and the solution neutral.

Finally, transfer the moist ferric succinate to a porce¬
lain capsule, add the solution of ammonium citrate and
dissolve, assisted by a gentle heat.

This solution, when diluted to measure 6 fluid ounces,
will contain to the fluid drachm 2 grains of the ferric
succinate, Fe20(C4H404)2, or 5 grains of the double salt.

INDUCTION OF CURRENTS «AND SOME PRACTICAL
APPLICATIONS THEREOF.*

BY JOSEPH STAPLETON.

On the 24th of November, 1831, Michael Faraday
read a paper before the Royal Society, in which he
described some experimental results in electricity that

# Lecture delivered before the Chemists' Assistants’ As¬
sociation.

he had then recently obtained. The title of the paper
was: “1. On the Induction of Electric Currrents; 2.

On the Evolution of Electricity from Magnetism ; 3. On
a new Electrical Condition of Matter; 4. On Arago’s
Magnetic Phenomena.”

This was the first account of the phenomena in
question which had hitherto appeared, and with these
phenomena the name of Faraday will be associated as
long as the science of electricity exists.

I propose this evening that we should go over this paper
together experimentally, and endeavour to verify some of
the conclusions in it as far as it is possible to do in the
course of one short hour. I believe we shall all of us find
it exceedingly interesting; and, moreover, the subject is
one of growing public importance, as it is owing to the
discoveries detailed in this paper that the electric light is
to-day a commercial possibility as a means of illuminating
our streets and public buildings.

This is the principal reason why I decided to bring
before your notice this evening the subject matter of a
Royal Society paper of forty-nine years ago, and also, if I
may venture to say so, my wish to do something, if ever •
so little, towards keeping our remembrances of our dis¬
tinguished countryman’s services to science fresh and
green in our minds.

Faraday commences his paper by saying that “ The
power which electricity of tension [meaning thereby
frictional, or statical electricity as we now call it]
possesses of causing an opposite electrical state in its
vicinity has been expressed by the general term induc¬
tion.” He says next that “it is with this meaning that
he purposes using it in this paper.”

Then he goes on to notice that certain induction effects
of electrical currents have been described and recognized as
such, as in the case of “ magnetization [meaning as in the
formation of electro-magnets] ; Ampbre’s experiments
of bringing a copper disc near to a flat spiral; his
[Ampbre’s] repetition with electro-magnets of Arago’s
extraordinary experiments, and perhaps a few others.”
Then Faraday reasons that “it appeared unlikely that
these could be all the effects induction by currents could
produce, especially as upon dispensing with iron almost
the whole of them disappear, whilst yet an infinity of
bodies exhibiting definite phenomena with electricity of ,
tension still remain to be acted upon by the induction I
of electricity in motion,” voltaic or, more scientifically,
kinetic electricity being here meant.

After noting that “it appeared very extraordinary that
as every electrical current was accompanied by a corre¬
sponding intensity of magnetic action at right angles to
the current, good conductors of electricity, when placed
within the sphere of this action, should not have any
current induced through them or some sensible effect
produced equivalent in force to such a current,” he
goes on to say that these considerations led him “to
investigate experimentally the inductive effect of electric
currents.”

We come now to part one of Faraday’s paper, “Induction
of Electric Currents.” I will quote the first paragraph of
this part entire : —

“About 26 feet of copper wire, one-twentieth of an inch
in diameter, were wound round a cylinder of wood as a
helix, the different spires of which were prevented from
touching by a thin interposed twine. This helix was
covered with calico, and then a second wire applied in
the same manner. In this way twelve helices were
superposed, each containing an average length of wire of
27 feet and all in the same direction. The first, third,
fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh of these helices were
connected at their extremities end to end, so as to form
one helix; the others were connected in a similar manner;
and thus two principal helices were produced, closely
interposed, having the same direction, not touching
anywhere, and each containing 155 feet in length of wire.
One of these helices was connected with a galvanometer,
the other with a voltaic battery of ten pairs of plates, 4

March 19, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

779

inches square, with double coppers, and well charged, yet
not the slightest sensible deflection of the galvanometer
needle could be observed.”

Such a compound helix is now before you, which I
have made from the definite and concise directions given
by the great master in experimental electricity in the
foregoing paragraph. There are one or two differences,
however. I did not use “thin interposed twine;” neither
did I separate each elementary helix with a layer of calico.

I avoided these tedious items by using cotton-covered
wire which did all this without my intervention ; this kind
of insulated wire was probably not a commercial article
in 1831, though so common now and so easy to obtain of
any instrument maker or wire drawer.

Faraday states that with this compound helix he failed
to observe any deflection of the galvanometer needle.
Let us try the same experiment, using a more delicate
galvanometer than he possessed. Through one of these
composite helices I will send the current from five Grove’s
cells and with the other composite helix I will make a
circuit through a Thompson’s reflecting galvanometer
wound with a long coil of fine wire. On completing the
connections and pressing down the contact key which
makes contact with the battery we observe that the light
spot moves across the screen in a definite direction which
we note ; the key still being down, and consequently
the current still circulating in the coils of the helix,
the light spot comes to rest nearly at the zero of the
scale. Waiting until the light spot is quite steady and
then breaking the battery contact suddenly we get a
deflection in the opposite direction. Before we examine
these results I propose we should go a little further into
Faraday’s paper.

He constructed another similar compound helix, using
in this case six lengths of copper wire and six lengths of
soft iron wire, both wires being longer than those of the
preceding helix ; but whether the same battery current
was sent through the copper or the iron wire he was unable
to obtain any effect at the galvanometer. But still he
persevered, and it is perhaps well for science that he did
so. He made another coil of two long copper wires and
he increased his batteries tenfold, and now, — but we will
give it in his own words : “ when the contact was made,
there was a sudden and very slight effect at the gal¬
vanometer, and there was a similar slight effect when
the contact with the battery was broken.”

Then he goes on to say that repetition of these experi¬
ments, with a still stronger battery, produced no other
effects ; “ but it was ascertained, both at this and the
former time, that the slight deflection of the needle
occurring at the moment of completing the connection,
was always in one direction, and that the equally slight
deflection produced when the contact was broken, was in
the other direction ; and also, that these effects occurred
when the first helices were used.”

And now the discovery of current induction is complete,
and we see how laborious and painstaking has been the
search for the truth. It would seem from the text, that
Faraday was expecting effects different from those he
obtained ; it would appear as if he had expected a con¬
stant flow of induced electricity in the secondary circuit,
when the battery current was flowing in the primary
wire. Further on, he writes that the results he had
previously obtained with magnets led him “to believe
that the battery current through one wire, did, in reality,
induce a similar current through the other wire, but that
it continued for an instant only and partook more of the
nature of the electrical wave passed through from the
shock of a common leyden jar, than that from a voltaic
battery, and therefore might magnetize a steel needle,
although it scarcely affected the galvanometer.”

He found that this expectation was verified, and he
goes on to describe several successful experiments in this
direction. These experiments are all very valuable and
interesting, but we must proceed with the further develop¬
ment of the subject.

It occurred to Faraday that there might be some
particular action on making and breaking the contact of
the primary wire, so he set about producing the induction
in a different manner ; he made a wide zigzag form of
copper wire representing the letter W, and secured it on a
board. A second, precisely similar piece of apparatus was
made. One of these wire shapes was connected with a
galvanometer, the other was made part of a battery
circuit. On approaching the battery wire to the galvano¬
meter wire, the galvanometer needle was deflected, and
on removing it a deflection in the opposite direction
occurred. I will make this experiment with two bobbins
of wire made to slide within each other. I am indebted
to Mr. Neeves for the loan of this and other pieces
of apparatus on the table, which he has very kindly
lent me for this occasion. One of these coils I connect
with the reflecting galvanometer; through the other I
allow the current from one Grove’s cell to flow. On
approaching the two coils to each other, we get a very
evident movement of the light spot. On the withdrawal
of the coil we see that the movement of the light spot is
reversed. We must now endeavour to ascertain experi¬
mentally the direction of the induced current relatively
to the primary current.

The following is perhaps a simple method of remem¬
bering the action of a current on a magnetic needle : —

“ Imagine a watch, strung on a wire conveying a
current, so that this current goes in at the back of the
watch and comes out at the face through the central
pivots ; then the south pole of the magnet is impelled in
the direction of the hands of the watch.” (Fleeming
Jerikin.)

If we apply this in our case it will mean that the light
spot must travel to my left hand, as the directing
magnet of the galvanometer has its north pole to my
right hand. I will now repeat the preceding experiment,
taking care to insure that the battery current is going in
the same direction in the primary wire and in the gal¬
vanometer coil ; that is, assuming for a moment that the
current is going through the primary coil and the galvano¬
meter coil at the same time, which of course it is not.
Under these conditions, on making contact with the
battery we see that the light spot moves to the right.
On breaking contact the movement is to the left. This
experiment then tells us that the induced current at
“ make ” is in the reverse direction to the primary current,
and at “ break ” in the same direction.

Now we can state the first law of current induction : — •

“ When a current begins to flow , it induces an inverse
current in a neighbouring conductor ; when it ceases, it
induces a direct current, and both the currents thus in¬
duced are merelg instantaneous” (Deschanel).

Next I will vary the strength of the primary current
by suddenly interposing a resistance in the primary cir¬
cuit. I have previously arranged that the direction of the
continuous primary current is the same as in our previous
experiment; that is, that an “induced current direct”
will give us a deflection to the left. On making the
experiment we see that the light spot moves to the left,
which indicates an “induced current direct.” On with¬
drawing the resistance the deflection is in the opposite
direction. Hence the second law of current induction
may be stated thus : —

“ When a current receives a sudden increase, this pro¬
duces an inverse current in a neighbouring conductor,
and when it is suddenly decreased a direct current is
induced .” (Deschanel.)

Bearing in mind our experiment of approach and
withdrawal of the primary coil and the experiments
performed since, we can see that Ferguson’s summary
of current induction is correct and also conveniently
concise, which is :

“A current ivhich begins, a current which approaches,
or a current tvhich increases in strength, induces an inverse
momentary current in a neighbouring conducting circuit ;
and that a current which stops, a current which retires, or

78 0

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

March 19, 1881.

a current which decreases in strength , induces a direct
momentary current in a neighbouring circuit .”

We may now proceed to the second part of our subject,
which is part two of Faraday’s paper, “ The Evolution of
Electricity from Magnetism.”

I must be somewhat brief here and give results ob¬
tained without much detail or I shall be unable to notice
much of the matter I have arranged to speak of.

Faraday devised an experiment in which a welded iron
ring (soft iron), with three layers of wire, insulated from
each other and connected so as to form one long helix, was
connected with a battery of ten pairs of plates ; a some¬
what similar set of helices, containing two layers of wire,
was wound on another part of the ring, and these were
made part of a galvanometre circuit. On making contact
with the battery Faraday found that the momentary de¬
flection produced was far greater than he had obtained
before with a battery of tenfold power when he used
helices of much greater length of wire, but containing no
iron. [The experiment was then made with the coils
previously used, a bar of iron being inserted in the
primary coil.]

He also noted that the induced currents at “make”
and “ break ” were inverse and direct respectively as in
the former experiments without iron in the helices.

Faraday states that he obtained a minute spark
between charcoal points in these magneto- electric in¬
duction experiments at “ make ” generally, but rarely at
“ break.” This result is what one would scarcely expect
with our present knowledge of the subject; it would seem
to us now that the spark should be seen on breaking con¬
tact, and perhaps barely perceptible on making contact.
But we must accept this observation as probably correct,
as Faraday was too close and accurate an observer to be
easily mistaken.

Faraday’s second experimental magneto-electric induc¬
tion apparatus was composed of eight superposed helices,
four of which were constituted battery and four galvano¬
meter circuit respectively ; these helices were wound upon
a pasteboard tube, so that an iron bar could be inserted
at pleasure. He found scarcely any induction effects with¬
out, but very powerful effects with the iron bar in the
tube.

This was undoubtedly the first induction coil ever seen,
as far as we know, and was the ancestral apparatus from
whence we have derived the 42-inch giant coil of Mr.
Spottiswoode.

I think it is perhaps desirable, before proceeding further,
to state that I had at first intended to describe some of
the principal dynamo-electric machines in use for pro¬
ducing the electric light, but I found that it would
be almost impossible to do even scant justice to this
development of the subject without compromising the
value (such as it is) of the observations on the induction
coil; I have therefore been obliged to somewhat un¬
willingly refrain from going into this grand practical
outcome of Faraday’s electrical researches.

It was soon found that it was necessary to use a fine
wire, giving a great number of turns, in place of the
stout wire used by Faraday in the secondary coil.

The tension or electromotive force of the induced
current is largely dependent on this fact.

The iron rod of the primary coil was next replaced
with a bundle of iron wires, by which greater rapidity of
action was secured. This improvement, due to Bach-
hoffner and Sturgeon, dates from 1837.

Ruhmkorff, of Paris, appears to have been the first
to construct induction coils, commercially, capable of
giving a spark in air. Ruhmkorff’s first induction coil
is said to have been brought out in 1850 or 1851. To
Ruhmkorff must be assigned the merit of surmounting
the difficulty of securing the proper insulation of the
secondary wire. The success of Ruhmkorff’s induction
coil was doubtless due to the great care expended on this
part of the apparatus.

The next great improvement in the induction coil, due

to Fizeau, was the addition of a condenser to the
primary circuit ; a great accession of power was
immediately manifested by the instrument. Thus
slowly was the induction coil brought to the state in
which we are familiar with it. These gradual develop¬
ments of the instrument occupied a period of twenty-two
years, from 1831 to 1853.

The most approved forms of the apparatus of to-day
consist of an iron wire core surrounded by a few layers
of stout copper wire insulated with silk or cotton, the
whole forming the primary coil ; to this is attached the
condenser by a branch circuit. In all expensive instru¬
ments the primary coil is placed in an ebonite tube ; on
this ebonite tube the secondary coil is wonnd. The
secondary coil is composed of fine copper wire, all silk-
covered and making a great number of convolutions
parallel with the primary wire. The length of the
secondary wire may vary from 280 miles in Mr. Spottis-
woode’s coil to perhaps a quarter or half a mile in small
coils, giving from | to a £ of an inch spark.

The induction coil on the table is the joint production
of Mr. W. A. H. Naylor (whose absence from our midst
this evening, enforced by serious illness, we all, I am sure,
deeply regret) and myself ; its construction was under¬
taken by us with a view to its use in spectroscopic
investigations. (I will not this evening give you any
details of the technical difficulties we had to overcome
in its construction, but will reserve them until our next
meeting, at which I have undertaken to stand in my
friend’s place, at the request of your secretaries.) The
greatest length of spark we have obtained is 8J inches
with a slow working mercurial break driven by an
independent battery.

I will now proceed to show you the instrument
in action. I have arranged to use five large Grove cells
in the primary circuit ; for making the alternate interrup-
tions of the battery current, I am using an electro¬
magnetic circuit breaker, devised and constructed (for
my friend and myself) by Mr. Neeves, who has most
kindly offered me his valuable assistance this evening.
The break is worked by three independent cells ; three
cells give sufficient current to maintain a rather rapid
movement of the platinum contact piece, and I dare say
the coil spark will be sufficiently continuous to show
most of the experiments I have contemplated here.

I will first show you the spark with the primary con¬
denser in circuit and then the spark without the
condenser. No doubt we shall be able to see that there
is a considerable difference between the two sparks.
Next I will restore the condenser to its place and add a
condenser (a ley den jar) to the secondary circuit, and
you will not fail to notice the somewhat startling change
in the character of the spark. Next Mr. Neeves will
assist me to show you the spark from several jars
charged in “cascade.” [The experiments were then
made.]

I will endeavour to explain briefly some of the conclu¬
sions that have been arrived at respecting the induced
current. The electromotive force of the discharge is
believed to be almost entirely dependent on the number
of convolutions of the secondary wire, and on the strength
of the magnetic field produced by the iron core of the
primary coil ; a part of the effect is also probably due to
the relative nearness of the two circuits. From my own
experience I am inclined to think that within certain
small limits close proximity is unimportant. The electro¬
motive force of the discharge is greater the greater the
rapidity of demagnetization of the core, provided the
magnetic force of the core is at a maximum when the
circuit is broken. Hence a comparatively prolonged con¬
tact is required, which should be suddenly broken ; any
cause tending to delay magnetization, or any cause tend¬
ing to delay demagnetization reduces the efficiency (the
length of spark) of the instrument. Such an obstruction
exists, as I shall point out presently. I must not forget
to say that these observations apply to the “induced

4

iJ

March IP, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

781

current direct” alone. I am not aware how far they
affect the “induced current inverse.”

Mr Warren De La Rue has shown, in some experi¬
ments "With the chloride of silver battery invented by
him that great differences of potential are capable of
producing strong induced currents. He passed the dis¬
charge from 2280 chloride of silver cells through the
primary circuit of one of App’s induction coils, capable
of giving a 6 inch spark when worked with six bichro¬
mate cells, and he found that the chloride of silver
discharge working through a condenser in the primary
circuit gave thick strong sparks full 6 inches in length.
The chloride of silver battery gives a very feeble current,
owing to the high internal resistance of the cells ; that is
to sav, the quantity of electricity that flows per second is
very small ; but the small quantity that does flow possesses
considerable tension (or electromotive force), but is. in¬
capable of producing much chemical decomposition in a
voltameter. Hence it would appear that under certain
circumstances electrical discharges are capable of pro¬
ducing as great induction effects as strong currents
possessing little electromotive force; this observation,
perhaps, accounts for the increased length of spark
obtained by increasing the battery power, though at
the same time we may not sensibly increase the current.

In the induced currents of the secondary wire, it is
found that the electromotive force of the direct current
enormously exceeds that of the inverse current ; for
instance, in Mr. Spottiswoode’s coil a spark about 1 inch m
length is given on making contact (and you will remember
that this is the inverse current, as I showed you), and. on
breaking contact 42 inches, thirty Grove s cells working
through the primary circuit. In all other coils the spark
at “make” is scarcely visible, while at break of
course it is the spark that we are all familar with.

It is found that the two induced currents convey
similar quantities of electricity, but as I have just said
the tensions are remarkably different. Professor Blaserna,
in an elaborate research, has measured the time duration
of the two induced currents, and he found that the two
currents formed and attained a maximum in the respective

times of —

*000485 second for the inverse current.

•000275 „ „ „ direct „

In induction coils these time results are complicated
by the time required for the magnetization and demag¬
netization of the core.

I have said that a hindrance to magnetization and
demagnetization of the core existed. This interfering
cause is due to an induced current which forms m
the primary wire simultaneously with the battery
current; this effect Faraday named the “ extra current.
Faraday explained this “ extra current ” as due to the
inductive effects of the coils of the wire on each other.
It has been established by experiment that on a current
commencing to flow in a wire, a current in the same wire
is induced in the opposite direction, and on the current
ceasing to flow a current is induced in the same direction
and both these currents are momentary.

It is thus easy to see that tbe “extra current meeting
the battery current will of necessity delay it, and thus
hinder the rapidity of magnetization, and that on the
battery current ceasing the “ extra current will ten c. to
delay the demagnetization of the core. This is not
merely a theoretical difficulty, it is a practical one, and
is probably the reason of the difference we observed in
the spark given by the coil when the condenser was
removed. The coil condenser in great measure, no doubt,
diminishes the mischief caused by this “extra current.

I am not aware that it is decisively known to what the
decided advantages gained by the use of the condenser
are due. But there are certain reasons known for
believing that the condenser gives rise to a very brief
reverse current which neutralizes the ‘ extra current,
and thereby secures rapidity of magnetization and de¬

magnetization, thus increasing the inductive effect of the
primary coil on the secondary wire.

These reasons are, however, somewhat too complex to
discuss this evening. I will endeavour to do something
in the matter of proof at our next meeting, at which
we are to go into the “ Construction of Induction
Coils.”

A great deal more might be said on this subject of
induction, but I have already dealt somewhat fully, with
it for one evening, so I will conclude by mentioning a
few practical applications of the induction coil.

The induction coil has been applied rather largely, in
military and submarine operations as a means of firing
mines, torpedoes and cannon. Captain Noble, by using
induction coils, has succeeded in timing the passage of a
cannon ball at various parts of the bore of the weapon,
by means of the “ chronoscope ” invented by him.

Captain Noble’s device consists of a rapidly moving
train of wheelwork actuated by a heavy weight. The train
of wheelwork rotates metal discs ; on the circumference
of each disc a strip of white paper is fastened ; the paper
is covered on one side with a coating of lamp black. The
paper is connected with one terminal of an induction
coil ; the other terminal of the coil is fixed so as to be
just clear of the revolving edge of the disc. The primary
circuit of the coil is so arranged in one part of the bore
of the gun that it is cut by the shot in its passage along
the bore ; the severing of the primary, wire . with a
continuous current flowing through it gives rise to a
spark from “ the induced current direct,” which burns a
mark on the blackened side of the paper strip. The
primary circuits of other coils are similarly arranged in
different parts of the bore. The distance between, the
marks burnt on the paper strips is measured by a micro¬
meter gauge measuring to ToVfrth. of an inch. The linear
velocity of the paper strips, the distance between the
marks and the distance of the primary circuits from each
other all being known give the necessary elements for
calculating the velocity of the shot in different parts of
the bore of the gun.

The paper strips generally move at the rate of about
1000 linear inches to the second, so that 1 inch between
the marks corresponds to a time interval of 1000th part
of a second, and as the micrometer gauge measures to
T^th of an inch it is possible to obtain a linear

estimate representing a time interval as minute as the
one millionth part of a second.

Mr. J. E. H. Gordon has recently made an. important
practical application of the induction coil in electric
lighting ; he has developed the experiment, due to Mr.
Spottiswoode, of using the alternating current of a De
Meriten’s magneto-electric machine to excite the primary
circuit of an induction coil. The De Meriten’s machine
wives extremely rapid reverse currents which produce a
a thick strong spark from the secondary wire ; the coil
needs neither condenser nor contact breaker. Mr. Goidon
utilizes this strong spark to heat to incandescence two
little balls of platinum or platinum iridium alloy connected
to each terminal of the coil.

A light equal to forty candles is said to be. obtained m
this way from a comparatively small induction coil. of a
modified form. The inventor is experimenting with a
generator, containing one hundred coils, which yields one
hundred independent lights at an expenditure of two-horse
power, exclusive of what is required for the exciter. I am
not clear as to what is meant here, as if the De Meriten’s
machine is used it needs no exciter, as it is excited by
permanent steel magnets. But we shall know more
about the system when the patents have been secured.

Within the last few days Professor Ayrton has sug¬
gested that a simple form of induction coil should be used
as a test of the intermittence of a dynamo- or magneto¬
electric current. The intermittent current passing through
the primary wire at every pulsation would produce an
induced current which could be employed to heat a
platinum wire immersed in water or alcohol ; the rise of

782

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 19, 1881.

temperature after a given time would by calculation give
the amount of intermittence so to speak.

We have a beautiful example of induction of currents
in the “ Bell telephone,” in which the extremely feeble
currents which reproduce speech are formed in the
magnet coils by temporary changes occurring in the
magnetism of the steel magnets, which are brought about
by the vibrations of the ferrotype diaphragm.

Professor P. G. Tait has calculated that the current
which works the Bell telephone is about a thousand,
million times less than the current used “in ordinary
telegraphic work ” (Fleeming Jenkin).

I must, however, refrain from giving you any other
examples of magneto-electric induction, or I ought justly
to describe the various machines used in producing the
electric light.

A method of reproducing speech by using induction
coils has been discovered recently by M. Dunand. Stated
briefiv, the following are the principal details of his dis¬
covery : — In the primary circuit of an induction coil a
carbon microphone is interposed. A continuous current
from a few Leclanche cells flows through the primary
wire and the microphone. In the circuit of the secondary
wire a number of Grove’s or Bunsen’s cells are employed,
which are connected by one pole with a condenser of
thirty-six sheets of tinfoil, 2| inches square ; the other pole
of the battery goes to the one terminal of the secondary
coil, the other terminal of the coil goes to the condenser.
If while matters are thus arranged, words are spoken near
the microphone, the charged distant condenser reproduces
them ; thus the sheets of tinfoil appear to speak.

I experimented with this method with the view of
exhibiting it to you this evening ; but the results I got,
though sufficiently decisive to show that the principle
was correct, were too feeble to warrant me in bringing it
experimentally to your notice.

A possible reason why I failed to obtain such strong
effects as M. Dunand is perhaps to be found in the fact
that not having Leclanche cells at hand, I used two
Grove’s cells in the primary circuit. These gave too
strong a current for the purpose, as was shown by the
fact that at every slight movement of the carbon contacts
a feeble electric arc formed between them, which rapidly
destroyed the contact points of my hastily improvised
microphone. I intend experimenting further with this
interesting inductorium telephone at my earliest leisure.

Many other applications have been made of the induc¬
tion coil, but time forbids that I should go much further
into them. However, I must not conclude without
mentioning the great services rendered by this grand
electrical instrument in spectrum analysis, and how
important a place it has held in the splendid researches
of Mr. Crookes on “ Radiant Matter.”

Other minor but useful offices it has held satis¬
factorily in medical applications, etc., and in lighting
gas in inaccessible places in churches, etc., and at
the Albert Hall, South Kensington, and possibly else¬
where.

I have now to gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness
to Professor Ayrton, of the City and Guilds of London
Institute, for looking through most of my subject matter ;
to Mr. A. H. Allen, of Sheffield, for the lantern slide
I have to show you ; to Mr Neeves, for his kind
assistance and the loan of many pieces of expensive ap¬
paratus ; to Mr. Cooper, for his lantern and limelight
apparatus ; to Messrs. Cetti and Co., for the beautiful
vacuum tubes about to be shown, and to your two
Honorary Secretaries for the facilities they have granted
me in setting up my experiments.

As a fitting conclusion, Mr. Cooper will show you on
the screen a lantern picture of the man to whose great
mind and acute mental vision we owe the discovery of
the “induction of currents,” and whose life and career in
science all young scientific men may well endeavour to
imitate as far as their abilities will permit them to do so,
the “prince of experimenters,” — Michael Faraday.

TROUSSE AIT’S CATAPLASM.* *

Dr. Dieulafoy gives the following directions for its
preparation:— Take, according to the size of the afflicted
articulation, 3 or 4 pounds of bread — 4 pounds are suffi¬
cient for the knee-joint, 2 pounds for the wrist. Cut it
into pieces, removing carefully the hard portions of the •
crust, and soak the bread for about a quarter of an hour
in water. It is then taken out, tied in a cloth, and
squeezed to express a part of the water absorbed, so that
the bread remains moist but not too wet. It is then put
into a steam-bath, and allowed to remain there for three
hours, when it becomes like dry paste, which is softened
by the addition of camphorated alcohol. This dough is
then kneaded for about five minutes, till it is of the con¬
sistency of plum pudding. This is the most delicate point
in the making of the cataplasm, because if it is too soft it
will give way and spread out under the pressure of the
dressing, and if it is too hard it is apt to crumble and
break in small pieces, which might injure the skin. The
degree of consistency of the cataplasm must, therefore, be
very carefully supervised, bee iuse, unless one is in the
habit of making it, there is always a tendency to make it
too soft, either because the bread has not been squeezed
sufficiently before having been put into in the steam-bath,
or because too large a quantity of camphorated alcohol
has been poured upon it. The dough, having thus been
prepared, is spread on a linen bandage in the shape of a
rectangle, large enough to cover the whole of the joint.
The poultice must be at least one-third of an inch thick
at the edges, in order to prevent the thinner portions from
drying too quickly.

The surface of the cataplasm is then painted with the
following liquid mixture: —

Camphor, 7 grams (105 grs.)

Extr. opii, 5 „ (75 „ )

Extr. bellad. 5 „ (95 „ )

Alcohol, q. s.

This being done, it is applied by being put over the
affected joint, and covered by a non-evaporant covering.
The whole is then firmly fixed by means of a long flannel
bandage, over which is placed a linen one of the same
length. These bandages vary in length, according to the
size of the joint, and, consequently, to the size of the f.
poultice. The joint having been thus bandaged, it must «
remain perfectly immovable; the compression, although
firm, must not cause the underlying parts to become
oedematous ; this may be prevented, however, by band¬
aging them also. In order to prevent the layers of the
bandages from slipping, they must be sewn to each other.
The cataplasm then remains in the same position for eight
or ten days, after which time it is removed, and found to
be fresh and moist as if it had been just applied; it still
smells of camphor, and does not present the least trace of
mould. The skin which has long remained in contact
with it is perfectly healthy ; unless the cataplasm should
have been too thin at the edges, thereby either drying too
soon, or giving way under the pressure of the bandage,
and causing the skin to excoriate. This is Trousseau’s
cataplasm. At first sight it may appear too expensive
for poorer patients, because the cost of the material
amounts to from 2s. 6d. to 5s., if the appliance is made
in a hospital. If, however, we consider that, the expense
having been once incurred, the cataplasm remains in its
place for at least eight days, during which time no other
medicine is given, we are soon convinced that it is even
cheaper than most other appliances. The indications for
the use of this cataplasm are so obvious that they need
not be repeated here. In every kind of chronic or sub-
cute inflammation of the joints, when other means, such
as blisters and cauterization, have proved unsuccessful,
and even in the first instance, Trousseau’s cataplasm will
be found most useful and advantageous.

- - - - - -

* From the Canada Lancet, July, 1880. Reprinted from

the Practitioner, March, 1881.

March 19, 18tl.j

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

783

Clje Uhirnwtciiftnd |axmml.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, books for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
\ transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C,
Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

THE RELATIONS OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY.

We are glad to find that a response is being made
to the request of Dr. Williamson, and that some
expression of opinions as to the possibility of im¬
proving the existing relations of medicine and phar¬
macy is being offered. Naturally those opinions
will vary as they will be given from different points
of view, but if expressed with moderation and a due
regard for the influence of diverse conditions, we
cannot but think the discussion of this subject will
be productive of benefit. Though we do not at
present propose to offer any remarks upon the
letters we have received, we cannot omit expressing
our sense of obligation to Mr. Wade for the very
excellent exposition he has furnished of some of the
salient points to be considered by those who would
endeavour to bring about a more strict adjustment
of medical and pharmaceutical functions.

This subject has been for some time past under
discussion in the United States, and last November
we called attention to what was being done by the
College of Pharmacy and the Medico-Legal Society
j of Philadelphia. As a further contribution towards
the settlement of the points at issue, a circular has
lately been issued to medical practitioners and
pharmacists in Philadelphia, inviting their special
attention to the resolutions passed at the conferences
which had taken place.

These resolutions refer to the sale of patent
medicines, the repetition of prescriptions and to
counter practice. As regards the last named point
it is stated that as the diagnosis and treatment of
disease belong to the province of a distinct pro¬
fession, and as a pharmaceutical education does not
qualify the pharmacist for these responsible offices,
he should, where it is practicable, refer applicants
for medical aid to a regular physician.

On the question as to renewal of prescriptions, it
was decided that physicians, when writing a prescrip¬
tion which they do not wish renewed, should write
cn the bottom “ Do not renew,” and also inform the
patient of the fact in every case.

In reference to patent medicines it was decided
to request druggists to place them out of sight and to
discourage their sale.

In the circular that has been sent out it is urged
that the prevailing abuses to which these resolutions

relate make the druggist the business rival of the
physician instead of his professional coadjutor, and
that it was mutually recognized by both physicians
and pharmacists that a mutual or interprofessional
code of ethics should be adopted for the future
guidance and adherence of both professions. It is
also stated that though no appreciable good could
be effected without reasonable co-operation, a united
effort on the part of physicians and pharmacists
towards the correction of abuses must directly tend
to elevate pharmacy to a legitimate basis and to
restore to the practice of medicine the professional
domain that has been encroached upon by nostrum
practice.

It is now proposed to effect this co-operation by a
mutual agreement between physicians and phar¬
macists, and printed forms for the signature of ef.ch
have been sent out. The pharmacist on the one
hand engages to adhere to the terms of the three
resolutions above quoted, and in all cases where
applicants for medical treatment can be referred to
a regular physician that they shall not be prescribed
for by either himself or his employees. On the
other hand, the physician engages to promote
legitimate pharmacy by witholding his professional
patronage from all patent and trade marked phar¬
maceuticals, and to use his patronage and influence
in favour of those pharmacists who comply with the
request of the medical profession regarding the
correction of the abuses specified in the agreement.

It will be evident from what we have here stated
as to the proposed mutual agreement that the points
in regard to which improvement in the relations be¬
tween medical men and pharmacists is desired in
the United States are somewhat different from those
which have to be considered in this country.
Medical dispensing, which to a great extent makes
legitimate pharmacy an impossibility here, does not
appear to be so much the custom in the United
States, and in regard to dispensing, it is mainly an
unauthorized renewal of prescriptions that constitutes
any ground for difference between medical men and
pharmacists. On this point the medical profession in
the States maintain that a prescription is written as a
confidential direction or order to the druggist ex¬
pressing what remedies shall be prepared for the
patient to meet existing indications for the treatment
of disease ; that medicines should not be used except
under the judicious observation of the physician, and
that a prescription is not intended for the continuous
use of patients or their friends. At the same time,
however, it is admitted that it is the business of the
physician to make a compact to that effect with his
patients and to seek the aid of the pharmacist to
secure its observance. Unless he make such a
compact and instructs the druggist accordingly he
has no right to complain of his prescriptions being
repeated.

The point next in order of importance to the re¬
newal of prescriptions without directions appears to

784

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 19, 1881.

be the trade in patent medicines and proprietary
nostrums. This is evidently looked upon by the
medical profession in America as a serious source of
injury to the public as well as an encroachment upon
their legitimate province, and there seems to be a
determination to prevent the credulous public from
being “ misguided by the fulsome advertisements of
“pharmaceutical speculators that are constantly
“ displayed in the medical and pharmaceutical
“journals, and in the secular and religious press.”
The trade in these articles is regarded as outside
“legitimate pharmacy,” and for that reason the
United States pharmacists are urged both in their
own interest and in that of the medical profession to
discourage the sale of those articles.

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS.

We are enabled, by the kindness of Mr. Mac-
Cormac, the Honorary Secretary-General of the
International Medical Congress, to make known the
following particulars in regard to some of the enter¬
tainments and excursions arranged for by the Re¬
ception Committee.

On Tuesday, August 2, an informal reception of
visitors will be held in the afternoon at the Royal
College of Physicians, and it is thought that an
excellent opportunity will thus be offered for in¬
troductions.

On the evening of Wednesday, the English mem¬
bers of the Congress are to entertain their foreign
confreres at a Conversazione at the South Kensington
Museum.

On Thursday and Friday, other entertainments
are to be given, but they have not yet been definitely
fixed upon.

On Saturday, August 6, there will not be any
business meetings later than 1 p.m., and in the
afternoon excursions will be made to various places
of interest in the neighbourhood of London. On
that day also the Harvey Memorial Committee pro¬
poses that the statue of Harvey shall be unveiled at
Folkestone, and in view of that occasion most liberal
arrangements have been made by the South Eastern
• Railway Company. A special train will take be¬
tween one and two hundred members of the Con¬
gress, with other distinguished persons, to Folkestone
free of cost, and they will be received there by a
deputation of local authorities. After the ceremony
of unveiling the statue, the Mayor and Corporation
will entertain their visitors at a banquet in the
Town Hall. This visit will afford foreign visitors to
the Congress an excellent opportunity of seeing an
English watering place at its best time. On the
same day another excursion has been planned by
Dr. Langdon Down, who has generously invited
500 members of the Congress to a garden party at
Normansfield, Hampton Wick. Dr. Down will meet
his visitors at Teddington Station and guide them
through Bushey Park to Hampton Court Palace.
The party will then proceed by water to Normans¬

field. On the same day, also, Sir Joseph Hooker
will receive a number of members at Kew Gardens.

On Sunday special services will be held in St.
Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, at which
Canon Liddon and Dean Stanley will respectively
officiate.

CINCHONA BARK MARKET.

At the baric sale last Tuesday, no less than 6221
parcels of bark were offered, of these 515 were of
East Indian growth and 101 were from Ceylon. All
the remainder were from South America, chiefly of the
kinds known as soft Columbian, New Granada and
Carthagena bark. We understand that crown bark
and red bark are now being cultivated in South
America, and that from the examination of samples
which have reached this country, the amount of
alkaloids in these cultivated barks is much larger
than in the natural grown bark.

THE SUPPLY OF DRUGS TO THE ARMY.

Last week a question was put to the House of
Commons by Mr. Gabbett as to the conditions under
which medicines are now obtained for the use of the
army in England, Mr. Childers, in reply, said that
quarterly requisitions are received and settled for the
different stations, numbering upwards of one hundred,
and the drugs are then supplied direct to those stations
by either the Apothecaries’ Company or Messrs.
Savory and Moore, “according to the prices
tendered,” the prices being checked by those paid
by the Admiralty Contract Department, which
purchases from the drug trade. In Ireland medi¬
cines for the use of the army are similarly supplied
by the Apothecaries’ Company of Dublin.

POISONING BY (ENANTHE CROCATA.

The evidence given in an inquiry held on
Monday in Plymouth showed that three Greek sea¬
men, who had been sent to obtain water, gathered
and ate a quantity of the roots of the hemlock water
dropwort, under the impression that it was “ wild
celery.” The result was that one of the men died a
few hours afterwards, another was still lying in the
hospital, and the third attributed his more prompt
recovery to his having borrowed a shilling from his
captain directly he became unwell and expending
it in rum, which he drank.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association will be held
at 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C., on Thursday
March 24, 1881, at 8.30, p.m., when a paper will be
read on “ Heat in Relation to Chemical Action,”
by Mr. H. Allen.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting will be held at 32a, George Street,
Hanover Square, on Wednesday, March 23, when a
paper will be read by Mr. G. F. Snow, upon
“ Sulphur.”

March 19, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

785

ratrmrial Cransaxfems.

BRIGHTON ASSOCIATION OF PHARMACY.

A meeting of the above Association was held in the
Town Hall, Brighton, on Friday evening, March 11,
1881, the President, Mr. W. D. Savage, in the chair.

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of
1 the last meeting,

The President introduced the subjects of the Pharmacy
I Amendment Bill, 1881, and the Medical Act Amend¬
ment Bill, 1881, which resulted, after a discussion, in
which Messrs. Hornsby, Vizer, Barton, Cornish, Pears,
Walmsley and Leigh took part, in the following resolu-
; tions being passed : —

Moved by Mr. E. B. Yizer, seconded by Mr. M.
Leigh : — “ That a communication be made to the Phar¬
maceutical Council in confirmation of an opinion already
I expressed That the 4th clause of the Pharmacy
Amendment Bill, 1881 (referring to the compulsory sale
of a business carried on by a widow three years after the
death of her husband) is an unjust and unnecessary
infliction, and this meeting would urge the Council to
withdraw the clause in favour of the present 16th clause
of the Act of 1868, which has hitherto worked satis-
! f actor ily.”

Moved by Mr. Cornish, seconded by Mr. H. Barton :

« That this meeting is of opinion that clause 15, section 26,

: of the Medical Act (1858) Amendment Bill, 1881, in¬
tended to supersede the 28th clause of the Apothecaries
Act, 1815, would fetter the free action of the legitimate
business of a chemist and druggist; that this meeting
would urge upon the Pharmaceutical Council the neces¬
sity of watching the progress of the Bill, and if desirable
to employ counsel to oppose the introduction of any
clauses likely to interfere with the public requirements
and the interests of the trade.”

The Auditor’s report for the year was received, and
showed a balance in hand of £5 6s. id.

The next meeting was arranged to take place in
June, when a paper will be read by Mr. Marshall Leigh
on “ Trade Policy.”

A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the meeting
to a close.

—

OLDHAM CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held in the Church
Institute, Oldham, on Monday evening, March 7, Mr.
Bambridge, President, in the chair.

After the minutes for the meetings during the pre¬
ceding month had been read and accepted, the Chairman
called upon Mr. Buckley to read his paper on “ V egetable
Tissue and the Cells of which it is composed.”

The essayist commenced by describing the various
forms which the cell assumes in consequence of being
developed in a confined space, and the unequal nutrition
to which various parts of the cell-wall are subjected.
He then proceeded to describe the different kinds of
tissue formed by the union of these cells, showing what
parts of a plant were composed of parenchymatous, and
what of prosenchymatous tissue ; also pointing out the
parts of a plant in which spiral and laticiferous vessels,
ducts, pitted and dotted cells, etc., are located. Mr.
Buckley next spoke of the contents of cells and their
uses, observing that protoplasm was the real living
matter of the plant, to. which all the rest formed either
the framework or the food, and showing the differences
in colour when protoplasm and cellulose — the constituent
of the cell- wall — were subjected to the application of
sulphuric acid and iodine. Under the influence of
sunlight it was shown that chlorophyll exerted a great
influence in the utilization of carbonic acid gas by the
plant. The chemical composition of starch and cellulose
was pointed out as being identical, and that much of the

former was, during germination and at the time of
flowering, transformed into sugar, this change being
taken advantage of in the process of malting. The
different varieties of sugar existing in plants came in for
a share of attention, and in like manner sap, gum,
nuclei, and the more important of the substances found
in the cells of plants.

A vote of thanks was moved to Mr. Buckley for his
interesting paper and cordially responded to.

The President then proposed a vote of thanks to the
honorary members who had come forward so hand¬
somely and in such numbers with their subscriptions,
more having been received this year than in any previous
year. The vote of thanks was passed unanimously and
the meeting terminated.

ABERDEEN SOCIETY OF CHEMISTS AND
DRUGGISTS.

The annual conversazione under the auspices of this
Society was held in the St. Katharine’s Hall, on Wed¬
nesday, February 16. Dr. James Moir occupied the chair.

After tea the Chairman gave an interesting address
on the effects of smoking. To prove his statements, the
learned doctor quoted statistics, which although quite in
accordance with facts, seemed strikingly fanciful to those
unacquainted with the baneful results arising from the
habit. At the conclusion of the address a pleasant hour
was spent in listening to vocal and instrumental music
contributed by ladies and gentlemen present. The usual
vote of thanks brought this part of the evening’s
enjoyment to a close. The hall was then cleared for
dancing, which was kept up with much zest and to the
apparent enjoyment of all till well into the morning.
During the interval some of the younger members of
the fraternity gave a good rendering of the piece
“Furnished Apartments,” much to the enjoyment of
all present. All the company agreed in. saying that
pleasant though the whole of the past meetings were, this
one had surpassed them all.

The annual meeting was held on March 12, 1881, Mr.
Coutts, in the absence of the President and Vice-President
at the commencement of the meeting, was called to the
chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read
and confirmed.

The Secretary then read some correspondence with the
Pharmaceutical Society relative to an application for an
annual grant of £20 for the purpose of providing suitable
rooms for laboratory, museum, library and lectures.

After a prolonged discussion, in which all the members
took part, it was agreed that the subject be remitted to
the Lecture Committee for their further consideration
and report. The Secretary was also requested to procure,
if possible, a copy of a Bill just drafted by the Society,
and for which the sanction of Parliament is to be asked,
and to submit it to the said committee for their report.

The Secretary announced the following donations
to the library, viz: — ‘History of Pharmacy,’ from the
Pharmaceutical Society ; ‘Year-Book of Pharmacy from
the Conference ; Barker Smith’s translation of ‘ J oulie s
Quantitative Estimation of Phosphoric Acid.’

The Treasurer then presented his annual report which
showed a balance of £32 16s. 3 \d. standing to the credit
of the Society.

The following gentlemen were then elected office¬
bearers for 1881-2 : —

President, Mr. R. D. Presslie ; Vice-President, Mr.
G-. E. Broomhead ; Secretary, Mr.. A. Strachan ; Trea¬
surer, Mr. Jas. Paterson ; Librarian, Mr. C. Coutts ;
Auditor, Mr. J. Gordon.

The Lecture, Library and Price List Committees were
then arranged, the President, Vice-President, and Secre¬
tary to be members ex officio.

On the motion of Dr. Moir, a vote of thanks was passed
to the office-bearers for 1880-1.

786

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

March 9, 1881.

fjmmimtJjs of Scientific Societies.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting held at 32a, George Street, Hanover
Square, on Wednesday, March 9, Mr. G. F. Snow, Vice-
President, in the chair, a paper was read by Mr. C. E.
Stuart, on “ Quebracho Bark. True and False.”

The author stated that although some difference of
opinion might exist concerning the medicinal efficacy of
the recently introduced white quebracho bark and wood,
yet, as the interest of the pharmacist was to keep himself
well acquainted with all new remedies, the few notes
which he had just put together concerning the above
drug would, he hoped, be found useful. The appearance
of the white quebracho bark, Aspidosperma Quebracho-
blanco, and its microscopical details were described at
some length, but as this has also been so recently done in
this Journal, repetition is unnecessary. Details were
given of the alkaloid aspidospermine, and from a series of
chemical tests tried on a strong infusion of the bark, the
action of ferric chloride and tannin (aqueous solution) —
neither causing marked darkening or precipitation — were
specially selected as distinctive. Of four false barks
examined, three differed only slightly, in appearance and
microscopic structure, from the white quebracho; the
other bark showing almost identical arrangements, and
hard stone-cells (sclerenchyma) and crystal-bearing fibres,
precisely similar to those of the true bark, abounded.
But all three were darkened by ferric chloride (a speci¬
men obscurely referable to Loxopterygium Lorentzii, red
quebracho, only slightly) and gave more or less copious
fine white flocculent precipitates with tannin. The fourth
gave a tannin reaction only and possessed no crystal¬
bearing fibres. The author believes that these are the
only barks likely to be by any chance substituted for
white quebracho, and therefore the two reactions noted
above seem to form a rapid and easy method of distinc¬
tion, entirely apart from appearance and microscopic
structure, though these are, to anyone who has seen the
true bark, sufficiently characteristic.

The paper, which was oopiously illustrated by a series
of specimens kindly lent from the Pharmaceutical Society’s
museum and by Messrs. Christy and Co., together with
microscopic preparations by the author, was followed by
a lively discussion.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks, proposed
by Mr. C. Parkinson, and seconded by Mr. J. E. James.

||arliatmnteg mttr letter |^r0mtrwgs«

Poisoning by Ammonia.

On Wednesday evening, March 9, an inquiry into the
circumstances connected with the death of William
Spyvee, aged 75, was held at Lincoln, before Septimus
Lowe, Esq., city coroner. In opening the inquiry the
Coroner remarked that the case the jury were about to
investigate that evening was one of some little importance,
and would require their strict attention and earnest con¬
sideration. It appeared the deceased, William Spyvee,
feeling ill, applied for some medicine to a chemist named
Gadd, who gave him some strong ammonia, and from
that he suffered considerably and died that morning.

The following witnesses were then examined : —

George Cunningham, aged 16, in the employ of Mr.
Gadd, deposed that on Monday morning, about quarter-
past eleven o’clock, as he was going into his master’s shop
deceased was coming out. He, however, turned back again,
and sat on a bag of corks which had just come in, and,
pressing his breast with his hands, cried “Oh.” He stood
up and held both his hands up, and then slipped down
again. Whilst he was doing that Mr. Gadd was mixing
some “ stuff ” up. Witness saw him get 6 drachms of

rhubarb mixture, and he then went to the back counter
and poured some more “stuff” in the measure which
contained the rhubarb, and gave it to Mr. Spyvee. The
“stuff” that he mixed with the rhubarb was ammonia.
The deceased put the measure containing the draught to
his mouth and began to spit. He had not taken above
2 drachms of it when he gave Mr. Gadd the measure.
Deceased then stood up, and Mr. Gadd fetched him some
water from upstairs, and also some milk. Witness was
sent to Dr. Lowe’s surgery for a doctor, and when he got
back the deceased was upstairs. To the Coroner : — Mr.
Gadd put 6 drachms of rhubarb in the ounce measure
and filled it up with ammonia. The ammonia he used
was the strong liquid, and was in a bottle on the back
counter. Witness did not perceive any smell from the
ammonia when it was poured out of the bottle. Mr.
Gadd himself put the ammonia on the back counter.
Both the water bottle and the ammonia bottle were
exactly alike, but they did not stand near each other as a
rule. When the deceased spat out the medicine he did
not make any complaint of feeling worse, but merely
pressed his hands to his stomach, and exclaimed “ Oh.”
He did not seem as though he was going to be sick. In
answer to the foreman, witness said that when the
deceased gave Mr. Gadd the measure back, the latter
smelt it directly and threw away the remainder left in
the measure. To the Coroner : — The ammonia bottle was
kept on a top shelf, and the water bottle near the glasses
on the counter. Witness produced the ammonia and the
water bottles, both of which were exactly similar in
shape, each having a label about a couple of inches longt
Dr. G. M. Lowe stated that in consequence of infor¬
mation received from his assistant, he called at Mr.
Gadd’s shop, and Mr. Gadd informed him that the
deceased had gone to his home. Mr. Gadd also told him
that that morning the deceased came to his shop and
complained of certain pains and seemed faint. He sa.t
down, and Mr. Gadd then proceeded to mix him a
draught of his own accord. He put into a measure 4
drachms of the rhubarb mixture, and then proceeded to
fill it up, as he thought, with water. He had just pre¬
viously been using the ammonia. The deceased took the
draught and immediately complained of a pain in his
stomach and throat. Mr. Gadd then perceived the smell
of the ammonia, and gave the deceased some water, and i
he vomited freely. He sent for a doctor, and the de¬
ceased was seen by his (Dr. Lowe’s) assistant from the
surgery, who gave him the usual antidote and some oil.
He was attended to in Mr. Gadd’s private room until he
had sufficiently rallied to return home, and as the day
was moderately mild he returned without difficulty.
Witness found him at his residence, having some milk.
He found the lining membrane of his throat and mouth
intensely red and corroded, and his breathing was very
much embarrassed, as though the wind-pipe was inflamed.
His extremities were cold, and his pulse feeble. They
immediately removed him to a bedroom, put a steam
kettle on the fire, and obtained the services of a trained
nurse. Witness had a preparation of acetic acid and
olive oil administered, also beef essence and milk. De¬
ceased subsequently had spasmodic breathing. Between
the paroxysms he was cheerful and composed, and quite
conscious; he complained of a burning pain along the
gullet and stomach. On examining his chest, witness
found the deceased had symptoms of extensive disease of
the valves of the heart, with an undoubted tendency to>
bronchitis, and he considered him in a most perilous con¬
dition. He was carefully watched and attended to
throughout the night and the following day, but he sank
and died early that morning. Witness was of opinion
that he died from the effects of the administration of the
dose of ammonia. Strong ammonia was a powerful
alkali, which had a corrosive effect upon animal sub¬
stances. It would corrode the mucous membrane of the
mouth, gullet and stomach, and the vapour inhaled
would be liable to produce inflammation in the wind-pipe

March 19, 1881.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

787

and air passages. A teaspoonful had been fatal in the
case of an adult, but a much smaller dose would have
been fatal in a case like the deceased’s, where there was
so much appearance of disease.

The Coroner : Do you think the bronchitis was pro¬
duced by the ammonia?

Witness : I think it was in a great measure incited by
it. When ammonia of that strength was poured out it
had a very suffocating, pungent odour. Witness had no
doubt that death was attributable to the ammonia, and
there was no need for a 'post-mortem examination to verify
what he had said in any way.

Charles Frederick Gadd, after receiving a caution from
the Coroner, to the effect that whatever he said would be
taken down in writing, and might be used in evidence
against him, said he was an apprentice of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society by one examination, which qualified him
to practise as a chemist and druggist. On Monday
morning, about ten o’clock, the deceased came into his
shop and purchased 2 ounces of sublimate of sulphur for
rheumatism, for which he paid 1\d. He said he had
been very poorly, and rose very early in the morning, and
had had some brandy and tea given to him. At the same
time he complained of pains in his legs and arms, and
thought he had wind at the stomach as well. He went
to the door and opened it, and then returned, closed the
door, and sat on a bag of corks which witness had opened
previously near to the door. He threw his arms out, and
then pressed them to his chest, and complained of pains,
which he thought proceeded from wind. Witness, to
relieve him, took immediately 6 drachms of rhubarb mix¬
ture, and, anxious to give it to him, hurriedly measured
2 drachms of what he thought was water, making up the
mixture to an ounce. He went across the shop and
handed it to the deceased, and stood by him until he
had taken, he should think, about a quarter of .it,
when the deceased handed back the measure to him.
Perceiving the smell of ammonia, he immediately got
some cold water to dilute the ammonia in his mouth,
and afterwards some cold milk. He assisted the deceased
upstairs into his (Mr. Gadd’s) own room, and there
deceased vomited. The vomit was coloured with the
rhubarb, and smelt of ammonia. Witness then got
half a tumbler of milk and two teaspoonfuls of brandy,
with the intention of reviving him. He seemed some¬
what better, and witness told him he would acquaint
his wife about it before he went home, to which he
agreed. Witness got a cab and took him home, but he
appeared a little upset when they got there, and com¬
plained of the motion of the carriage. Witness stayed
a quarter of an hour, and then left, and saw deceased
again in the evening. The last time he saw him was
the previous night at ten minutes past ten o’clock,
and the last words he said were “I’m better, my
boy.”

To the Coroner : He gave the deceased the dose as an
act of kindness ; he thought it was his duty to relieve
him if possible. The bottle of what he supposed, to be
water was standing on the back counter. He had been
using the ammonia five minutes previously for scouring
liquor. As a rule, they were in the habit of putting
back the bottles in their places after using them, but. he
did not on that occasion. The draught of air passing
through the back door, which was open, would, he
thought, account for his not perceiving the smell of the
ammonia when he poured it out of the bottle. It was
about ten o’clock when he gave it the deceased ; he sent
for a medical man immediately. No one was at home
in the surgery, but they said as soon as anyone come
they would send them. Witness gave deceased an ounce of
olive oil in the meantime, besides the brandy and milk ;
he complained of a scalded tongue. As a rule the water
bottle was kept on the ledge and the ammonia on a
shelf that could just be reached by standing on tiptoe.

The Coroner : Do you think it wise to have a drug
like that in a similar bottle to the water bottle ? Both

having the same appearance, do you not think it wiser
to have different coloured bottles or different shapes ?

Witness : Yes, perhaps it would be better.

In answer to the Coroner, witness said he had known
the deceased six months, but he had never given him
medicine before. They generally used to have a little
conversation together when he came in, but on that
occasion he seemed to be very dull. There was a label
both on the ammonia and on the water bottles. Witness
had been engaged in the business seventeen years, and
that was the first accident of the kind he had had.

The Coroner then reviewed the whole of the evidence,
remarking that the only difficulty about the case was
that Mr. Gadd, being in the habit of mixing medicine,
and being where ammonia was often used, could not
have perceived the smell of the ammonia, as when it
was poured out it was pungent and powerful. Of course,
if Mr. Gadd should have been supposed to give the
deceased that drug with any evil intent the consequences
would have been most serious. It would have been a
case of murder. If he gave it to the deceased with great
negligence, and without any authority whatever, and if
he exhibited carelessness and wilful negligence or any¬
thing like that, then the case was manslaughter. If, on
the other hand, the jury thought there was not the
slightest intention to do it with an evil object, and there
was no wilful negligence or criminal carelessness, then
they would have to say it was homicide by misadven¬
ture.

The jury then consulted together in private for a
short time, and on the Coroner being afterwards called
in, the foreman (Mr. Edward Cooling) said the jury
agreed that the death arose through homicide by mis¬
adventure. At the same time the jury would like the
Coroner to urge upon Mr. Gadd the necessity of having
his bottles better marked. They thought the labels on
the bottles were so small that they could not easily be
distinguished one from another, and they also wished
Mr. Gadd to have different classes of bottles for the
water and the ammonia.

The Coroner accordingly called Mr. Gadd into the
ropm, and placed before him the recommendation of
the jury, and further reprimanded him for his negli¬
gence. — Lincolnshire Chronicle.

Ikbtew.

Peruvian Bark. A Popular Account of the Introduc¬
tion of Chinchona Cultivation into British India. By

Clements R. Markham, C.B., F.R.S. 1860 — 1880.

With Maps and Illustrations. Pages xxxiii., 550. 8vo.

London : John Murray.

We are glad to find that Mr. Markham has fulfilled
his promise of giving a popular history of the introduction
into and cultivation of the Cinchonas in India. The book
is divided into three sections. Part I. gives a history of
the efforts to obtain seed and plants from South America,
and Parts II. and III. give the history of the introduc¬
tion into and results of the cultivation in India.

In Part I. much is necessarily repeated which is to be
found in the author’s ‘ Travels in Peru and India,’ but
there is also much new matter which will be read with
interest, and the whole history of the attempt is brought
down to date so that, as the author puts it, the question
should be familar to “Englishmen and the educated
classes of India.”

The story of the reckless destruction of cinchona trees
has often been told, and how that fears, far from ground¬
less, were entertained of the falling off of supplies of
Peruvian bark in the face of a constant and increasing
demand. A remedy for this state of things could not be
hoped for unless conservation and acclimatization were
resorted to.

Dr. Royle urged most strongly the desirability of in¬
troducing the Cinchonas into India, but it was reserved

788

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 19, 1881

for Mr. Markham to carry out the idea. Considering, as
he says, that in India, fever, except in normal years of
cholera, is the most prolific cause of death, — far more than
all other diseases and accidents put together, amounting
in fact to one and a-half million a year, — he formed the
resolve to endeavour to place the Peruvian bark, in the
cheapest and most available form, within the reach of every
native.

The first step towards this goal, that of the introduc¬
tion of cinchona into India, has been successfully accom¬
plished.

The difficulties of this first task are by no means to be
overrated. There was the obtaining and transit of seeds
and plants from almost inaccessible and most hostile
countries to India ; to convert these wild plants into cul¬
tivated ones; to study closely their native habitats and
find a fitting home for them in India ; to find out by the
most searching tests the best and most suitable species,
and, lastly, to ascertain the cheapest available form of
alkaloid for use in India.

The early history of the Peruvian bark is well known
to our readers. As might be expected, Mr. Markham
still fights with an earnestness worthy of the best days of
Spanish chivalry for the spelling of the generic name
chinchona, instead of cinchona as now adopted. We
thought the question had been settled, and on our part
can only quote the words of the late Daniel Hanbury :
— “Changing so well-established a name and its many
derivatives . . . . has not met with the general

acceptance either of botanists, pharmaceutists or chemists.”

The descriptions of the various cinchona regions sup¬
plying the crown, red, Colombian, grey and calisaya barks
are well written, and the strenuous and long continued
efforts to represent these in India show an amount of
perseverance rarely equalled and still more rarely crowned
with such success.

After obtaining seeds a.nd plants the great difficulty
was the selection in India of the site for the first trial.
In this Mr. Markham was fortunate enough to obtain
the assistance of the late Mr. Mclvor, then in charge
of the Utakamand Gardens, whom he styles, and
most justly, the “ ablest arboriculturalist in India.” No
wonder, then, the author says that he “ gladly and with
perfect confidence ” committed this trial to Mr. Mclvor’s
care, and this confidence proved to be one of the most
important factors in the present success. Mclvor studied
the question carefully, and was fortunate enough to steer
clear of the earlier mistakes of the Dutch in J ava.

One of the good results of cultivation soon became
apparent. A sample of grey bark collected from the
same tree whence seeds had been obtained yielded 1'8 per
cent, of alkaloids, whilst the bark of plants raised from
those seeds yielded 7 '5 per cent.

The author gives the results of experiments on the
best methods of cultivation and harvesting the bark.
As to harvesting, two methods present themselves : cop¬
picing and mossing. Coppicing is cutting the trees down
near to the ground and allowing one or more shoots to
grow up in place of the removed stems. Mossing is
removing a strip of bark, and by excluding atmospheric
influences by means of moss, allowing the cambium to
renew the bark so removed. Certainly coppicing pre¬
sented the most obvious method, but Mclvor’s process of
“ mossing ” was a grand step in the improved results
obtainable. As is well known, “renewed” bark gives
(probably from a process of translocation) richer alka-
loidal results than original bark. Mr. Markham, how¬
ever, thinks that the operation of “ mossing ” cannot be
performed by other than skilled persons. But this we are
by no means prepared to admit ; removing a strip of
bark and then covering the denuded portion with mos?,
or (what seems to answer equally as well) a mixture of
cow-dung and clay, is certainly within the capacity of
the most ignorant coolie.

At Utakamand the hybridization of cinchonas seems
to have first been noticed. As Sir Joseph Hooker re¬

marked, some years ago, this may have been going on in
the native habitats of these trees. But certainly under
cultivation, it has had, and still will have, when better
understood, a most important bearing on the whole
subject, especially as analysed hybrids have yielded as
much as 12-2 of total alkaloids: a result far in excess of
the parental stocks.

Cinchona succirubra, C. officinalis and C. Calisaya are
greatly in preponderance at Utakamand, the first being
the species recommended specially for use in India, and
the two latter to supply the English market.

Altogether, this Garden, as a nursery for the cinchonas,
has been a grand success, and all its net receipts are now
clear profits ; this result Mr. Markham rightly attributes
to the endeavours of Mr. Mclvor. Since his death the
object of the Government seems to have been to obtain
large present returns, and thus many valuable trees have
been sacrificed.

As to other centres of cultivation, Ceylon undoubtedly
carries off the palm, and interesting facts are given
respecting this island; also of the early failures in Java,
and the subsequent successes, due to the labours of
Junghuhn, De Vrij, Van Gorkom and others.

To return to India, Sikkim claims some attention.
There certain species only are found to grow profitably;
but its chief interest arises from the fact that up to the
present time the most successful attempt to carry out
what the author deems to be the true object of his
enterprise — that of preparing a “cheap alkaloid” — has
been made here.

The results of the Madras and other medical com¬
missions, as our readers well know, pointed out that
quinidine and cinchonidine were very little below quinine
in therapeutical value, and that a preparation containing
these together with cinchonine — a combination Dr. de
Vrij has most aptly termed “ quinetum ” — would, if
cheap, be very desirable.

Mr. Broughton’s “ amorphous quinine ” was adjudged
by a committee to be too costly, but it seems on good
grounds that such a verdict was premature. Moreover,
Mr. Broughton was too much addicted to criticizing
others, and especially Mr. Mclvor’s labours, instead of
imitating his concentration of energy. However, he
made a good beginning and cleared ground for future
workers.

Mr. C. H. Wood, who was appointed quinologist to
the Darjiling Plantations in Sikkim, carried with hkn
not only theoretical but practical knowledge, and, as
might be expected, his efforts gave much better results.
In 1879 128,000 ounces of quinetum were prepared at a
cost of 1 rupee per ounce, thug effecting a computed
saving of about £64,000 to the revenues of India. It still,
however, remains to be proved whether India in this matter
can be independent of the home market, and naturally, Mr.
Markham looks upon the satisfactory settlement of this
question as the keystone of the enterprise.

There are now under cinchona cultivation, 847 acres
on the Nilgiri Hills and 2242 acres in British Sikkim in
the Government Plantations, besides some 4000 acres of
private plantations on the various hill districts of
Southern India, and 5578 acres in Ceylon. In 1879-80,
1,172,060 lbs. of bark were sold in the London market
from British India and Ceylon.

A well conceived plan, we are told, is half the battle.
Mr. Markham’s plan was a good one, and has met with
brilliant success. Some part of his success, however, is
doubtless due to his having had official charge at the India
Office for so long a period ; a period to all searchers for
information not easily to be forgotten.

We would willingly close our notice here, but there is
yet a dark side to the subject which we must notice.
Mr. Markham, as might be expected, speaks but lightly
of his own services; but the praise he gives to his co¬
workers belongs also to him in an eminent degree.
The labours of Dr. Spruce, the veteran botanist, of Mr.
Weir, Mr. Pritchett, and Mr. Cross, who has made five

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

789

March 19, 1881.]

or six journeys, are all alluded to ; nor is Mr. Ledger
forgotten, who, although not under Mr. Markham’s
orders, yet in obtaining the calisay a variety named Ledge-
riana by Mr. J. E. Howard, has laid India and Java
under a debt of gratitude. These men all worked with
a zeal and energy beyond all praise. They were paid
bare remuneration in the hope and expectation that, should
the enterprise prove successful, better acknowledgement
awaited them. Mr. Markham says the Government is
now netting thousands of pounds sterling ; but a “ deaf
ear ” has been turned to all his appeals. Can we wonder
then that Mr. Markham speaks of his “ indignation at
the injustice and treatment of these gallant men” ? Then,
too, it is patent to all how much of the success in the
selection of the best species has been due to the elaborate
analyses which have been made, anu to no one is the
Indian Government more indebted than to Mr. J. E.
Howard, not only for analyses, but for ad vide at every
step ; and for these splendid and gratuitous services he
receives but a letter of thanks, whereas, as a comic
writer once put it, “official bumbledom obstructing a
royal progress with an address, written by someone else,
receives the honour of knighthood.”

The book is well got up, and has a capital bibliography
and index, and will well repay careful perusal.

gtspeitshtjj Ittewarantm,

[510]. In this prescription I think “Minor” should
have used “liq. cinchon. cord., Battley.” The 3SS
ordered would give a dose equivalent to ^j of decoction,
whereas if “ ext. cinchon.' flavae liquid.” were used each
dose would contain only in 5 or half the minimum dose of
the Pharmacopoeia.

Edward H. Storey.

[512]. If F. J. 0. uses ferri sulphas exsiccata that is
thoroughly dry and reduces it with the potassse bicarbonas
to a very fine powder and then adds confectio rosos
gallicae and syrupus and beats into a mass quickly, he
will be able to make a pill very small (it should not be
larger than a 5 grain pil. rhei co.) which on drying is
quite hard.

H. C. H. O.

[514]. “ Decoctum sarsae co. cone. (1 to 15)” may be
used for extract, sarsae co. liquid., but it is impossible to
say if this is the exari; preparation intended by the
prescriber, who should be consulted if possible.

Edward H. Storey.

[515]. A form for “elixir of tar” is given in Dorvault’s
* Practical Pharmacy’ as under —

Elixir cle Goudron.

Alcool a 70° . 100 parts.

Goudron des Landes .... 5 „

Sucre . 15 „

Mix the sugar with the tar in a mortar, add the
alcohol little by little, and continue stirring until the
sugar is dissolved, then filter.

The alcohol is about the same strength as proof spirit,
B.P. Goudron des Landes is the tar obtained from Fin ns
maritima.

Eardly.

[516]. Can anyone suggest a good medium by which
the following can be made presentable without materially

diluting it ? —

Iodine,

Ac. Carbolic . aa p. aq.

It is usually ordered to be melted together, but the
result is most unsatisfactory.

Sloper.

[517]. I have had the following given me to dispense : —
Camphorse Chloral. . . # . . . . gr. v.

Ft. pil. Mitte viij.

Will someone be good enough to inform me what is
the best excipient to make them up with ?

Sloper.

[518]. Could any reader kindly inform “Sanitaa” what
is meant by tincture of tar ?

[519].

R Potass. Iodid . gr. 5.

Amyl. Nit . irt 2.

Pulv. Tragac. Co . gr. 5.

Glycerini . . . . irl 20.

Aquae . . . . ad fl. dr. 4.

M. Mitte fl. oz. 9.

A tablespoonful three times a day, half an hour before
meals.

This prescription was dispensed a few days ago. The
result was a mixture of a dark purple colour, and certainly
not very elegant appearance. A little pot. bicarb, added
before the pot. iodid. prevented the change, and formed
a presentable mixture. Would it be justifiable to make
the addition?

I may mention that the prescription was dispensed and
sent out as ordered. Alpha.

[520].

R Argenti Nitrat . gr. x.

.Aq. Destill . 5ss.

M. Sign. The drops.

J. D.

The above was brought to be dispensed this morning.
There was nothing to indicate its use. Remembering the
proverb about the middle way, I put it into a blue fluted
hexagonal bottle, but did not label it “ Not to be taken.”
Was this the correct thing to do? I may add that the
symbol after the words “aq. destill.” was sojwritten that
it might have been taken for gj. I read it 3SS, however,
and dispensed it accordingly (facsimile of original en¬
closed).

Islander.

[521]. The formula for pil. quiniae, B.P., is —

Sulphate of Quinine . . . . 60 grains.

Confection of Hips . 20 „ •

Now, whenever I have had quinine pills to make, the
excipient being confection of hips, I have invariably
found that it takes about 20 grains of confection of hips
to make a satisfactory pill with 24 grains of sulphate of
quinia. Can any of your readers say whether they have
ever made “quinine pills,” B.P., with a satisfactory
result?

J UNIOR,

[522].

R Hydrocyanic! Acidi (W.’s) . . . ill 12.

Liq. Bismuthi (Scht.) . 3j.

Tr. Calumbae . ^iss.

Bismuthi Garb . gr. 60.

Mucilage . 7PJ*

M. 1 3 every second hour.

A short time ago, a poor woman (club patient) brought
the above prescription about 9 o’clock at night. She in¬
formed me it was for an infant three months old. Con¬
sidering it a very powerful medicine for so young &
patient, I wrote a note to the surgeon who had sent it,
asking him if it was correct, as to the age of the child,
etc. As I lost my customer, since she did not return, I
presume my qualified friend was annoyed at my sending
the prescription back.

What wrould y®u have done in this case, made it up? .

Perhaps some of your readers will give me their
opinion.

Ferrum.

790

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 10, 1SS1

Camspiudmce.

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica-
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

Great Britain v. Scotland.

Sir, — When I expressed an opinion, in answer to Mr.
Bell’s question at the meeting of the Executive of the
Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association in February
last, with regard to the deletion of clause 1 of the Draft of
the Amended Pharmacy Bill, I simply gave expression to a
genuine conviction, a conviction which Mr. Mackay’s
apologetic explanation in your last issue does nothing to
remove, but something to fix.

The clause our Scotch friends were up in arms against,
led by the two gallant members of the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, ran as follows : —

“ Whereas by the Pharmacy Act, 1852, it is enacted that
for the purpose of conducting examinations in Scotland
the Council of the said Society shall appoint fit and proper
persons in Scotland it shall be lawful for the said Council
to appoint for the purpose of conducting such examinations
any fit and proper persons whether such shall be in Scot¬
land or otherwise.”

The justice of this proposal requires no demonstration or
apology, it being already legal for Scotchmen to sit on the
London Board of Examiners. Surely there was no in¬
justice or outrage in the endeavour to make the law uniform
and equitable, irrespective of the existence of the river
Tweed. It was not contemplated, as Mr. Mackay gratui¬
tously assumes, to change the character of the Scotch Board
of Examiners. Convenience and the relative distance of
Edinburgh and London will always regulate and rule the
constitution of each Board. But it might have been ex¬
pedient and desirable, for the sake of mutual experience,
and in order to promote uniformity of practice, to occasion¬
ally interchange one or two members of each Board, or in
the event of finding an Englishman — a contingency, of
course, highly improbable — living a few miles south of the
Tweed, “ fit and proper ” to serve on the Edinburgh Board,
this unique individual might have ventured, with proper
decorum, to have taken his seat near his Scotch brethren in
pharmacy, in spite of his hailing from another part of the
United Kingdom.

I think it is well to remember that the Society is the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, not of England
and Scotland, with no distinction of nationality, member¬
ship only being the test of suffrage and of executive capacity.
In the past, distinction of race and clan was a natural out¬
come, which often resulted in the glory of true patriotism ;
but in the management of a Society in which membership,
and not difference of location of nationality, is the bond of
union, it is much to be regretted that a misdirected national
sentiment should blind the understanding, and occasion
discord and unnecessary difference of views.

205, St. John Street Road, E. C. Robt. Hampson.

The Relations op Medicine and Pharmacy.

Sir, — With the three leading paragraphs of Dr. William¬
son’s last letter I think most chemists will accord, but those
following will scarcely tend to promote the good under¬
standing which was looked for in the “ movement of several
members of the British Medical Association.”

It medical charges are to be left as fancy fees, and concern
“the medical practitioner himself alone,” then Dr. William¬
son and his coadjutors may spare themselves further trouble
in arranging the prices that chemists should charge for dis¬
pensing, because that argument which applies to one branch
of the profession is equally applicable to the other. Fancy
fees of medical men and fancy prices of pharmacists are
wonderfully alike, and must be considered together. It is
true that “ in many districts the scale of medical charges
for visits and medicine is very low;” indeed, so low, as to
prevent qualified chemists from obtaining a living in a
legitimate manner, or rarely, if ever, seeing a proscription,
and so low as to raise serious doubts as tb the value of both
advice and medicine obtained from such practitioners. But
this is exceptional, and does not apply to the general
relationship of medicine and pharmacy.

Dr. Williamson will doubtless allow that a medical man
who has created for himself a position which permits him
to reside in a neighbourhood where his house rental is from
£150 to £300 or more per annum, provided with expensive
equipage, liveried servants, etc., would not be content to
receive the same fee as another equally clever, but living at
a rental of £50 per year, doing his rounds daily on foot,
and only occasionally indulging in a cheap vehicle. In many
instances these gentlemen supply precisely the same article
of equal value ; the one will consider five guineas not at all
in excess of his desert, while the other will be very well
satisfied with five shillings. It may be argued that this in
no way applies to chemists’ charges, but I humbly submit
the comparison does apply. Taking all chemists as equal
in qualification, which by the time surgeons have ceased to
dispense they will be, is there no difference in the style in
which medicines are prepared and delivered, beyond the
purity of the drugs ?

What are called “fancy prices” are not fairly repre¬
sented or understood, or Dr. Williamson would scarcely
suggest the greater consideration of “ commercial value ;”
neither would B. S. J. express astonishment that a 4 ounce
mixture, or eleven days’ medicine, should in one town be
charged 2s. 6 d., and in another only Is. 2d. Nor would he
believe that the chemist who asked the higher price ob¬
tained much greater profit than he who was amply repaid
by the smaller amount.

In wealthy neighbourhoods, where the aristocracy and
moneyed folks contribute to the maintenance of physicians,
there are pharmacists also, who undertake to meet the require¬
ments of the luxurious by entering into heavy expenses
and responsibilities. It is very possible that there may not
be any difference in the effects of medicine dispensed at a
pharmacy paying a rental of £50 or at one of £300 per
year; or whether the corks are purchased at 6d. or Is. 6 d.
per gross. It may not lessen its efficacy if the mixture is
sent out in common glass bottles uncapped, not sealed,
folded in cheap demy, after the manner of cutting shops
and private surgeries; but if pills are to be gilded or
silvered, and all the sundries employed are double or treble
' value to those used in other pharmacies, then it is easily
understood why a prescription which costs at one place
2s. 6d. to prepare is equal in “commercial value” with
that ’which elsewhere was obtained for less than half the
price.

It may do very well for dispensing surgeons to purchase
odd and any shaped bottles of the “rag, bone and bottle
merchant,” but that is not the custom with respectable
pharmacists who supply the better class public, that
expect to find their prescriptions finished off' neatly and
not dispensed in the slipshod manner of surgeons.

Dr. Williamson wishes to know what “ are chemists pre¬
pared to say concerning their own practice of prescribing ?”
That will depend entirely upon the answer given by practi¬
tioners as to their habit of dispensing. If chemists are told
they must reduce their prices, but medical men must be left
to charge what they please, it can scarcely be called meet¬
ing “ half way.”

Chemists would be glad to give up their old legiti¬
mate right to prescribe, if they could make sure of supply¬
ing the medicine which medical men prescribe. The
error is with the practitioners supposing that chemists
wish to prescribe. They do it solely in self-defence, and
because the poor and middle class public demand it of them.
If they did not prescribe, hundreds, who never see a prescrip¬
tion of the practitioners surrounding, could not possibly
exist ; and counter practice with the sale of proprietary
articles, etc., is their only hope. The “reprehensible”
practice, as Dr. Williamson is pleased to call our old estab¬
lished privilege, has been bred andfostered by some of his own
fraternity, who, not content with their fees for advice and
visiting, have also grasped “ the very considerable profits of
dispensing,” which is the natural source of the chemist’s
income, and so long as medical men continue to deprive the
chemists of this their very natural right, they must expect
that every effort will be made to compete with their
opponents, as far as the law permits.

In any change the initiative must proceed from the dis¬
pensing practitioner ; but it will be useless, if he is deter¬
mined to arrogate to himself the right to regulate chemists’
prices, without regard to his own fees.

Some medical men may affect to look down upon the
educated* chemist of the present day as an inferior animal,
below their social status ; but the requirements of the Legis-

March 19, 1SS1.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

791

lature do not permit the chemist to despise himself or to
accept a position incompatible with his studies and re-

SPThe difference between a tradesman and aprofessionalman,
X take it is, that the former is able to enter into commerce
without culture or education, the other is compelled to pass
through a curriculum and examination. A chemist is, there¬
fore, professional, yet through the dispensing practitioner
monopolizing his calling he is driven to trade, which is not
now his legitimate occupation.

174, Warwick Street, Pimlico. J ohn wade.

Sir, — As one who takes an active interest in our relations
to the medical profession, I should be glad ;of an oppor¬
tunity of replying to Dr. Williamson’s last letter.

Dr. Williamson remarks that the medical charges are
to be left to the practitioner, and on that particular point
no doubt we are all agreed.

I do not believe in fancy prices for dispensing or any¬
thing else, and should be willing to supply medicines
according to a fixed tariff, if the rates were fixed by a
society of chemists, say the Birmingham Trade Associa¬
tion. If a meeting could be ai’ranged to be held in London
in May next, after the annual meeting of the Association,
and medical men or representatives from the British
Medical Association be invited to attend, much good
would result from the ventilation of the subject.

Respecting “ Counter Practice,” I have never encouraged
it, and believe in division of labour as applied to medicine
and pharmacy. My practice has only been to suggest
simple remedies in the absence of the regular medical
adviser, and then only in slight ailments ; but you cannot
abolish the custom altogether; the point is to draw a line
fairly to all concerned. .

Much assistance may be given to medical men desirous of
giving up dispensing, by local chemists suggesting less
expensive remedies than quinine, or ext. cinch, flav. liq.,
for the poorer classes, and sending round samples of such
preparations as quineti sulph., ferri et cinchonid. eit., liq.
cinchon. E. I., etc., to medical gentlemen for their gratis
patients or others who are unable to afford the more
expensive articles. The majority of chemists would no
doubt be glad to make allowances on medicines to poor
people, and if medical men would mark the prescription
with an X. the chemist would understand that the medicine
was to be charged at a reduced rate.

An important element in reckoning the price of a
medicine is the time required in preparation, and this,
unfortunately, is often lost sight of, not only by medical
men but chemists also.

If the general public are to have medicines much cheaper
than the present rates of the Manchester list, something
will have to be done by arrangement with local practi¬
tioners to order medicines from certain fixed foimulse,
which can be kept ready prepared, and so save time in
copying the prescription and compounding.

I hope to see some practical result from this discussion, and
believe that it is to our mutual interest, and desirable foi
the convenience of the public that the practice of medicine
and pharmacy should be separated as much as possible.
Sandown, I. W. * George Brown.

Sir,— The questions of “counter practice” and the rela¬
tions of “ medicine and pharmacy” are not likely to meet
with solution while such disingenuous and uncalled for
attacks are made upon chemists and druggists by your con¬
temporary, the Lancet.

Fortunately, it is not the full exponent of general medical
opinion, although no doubt it does express the views of a
certain section of “malcontents,” who would be satisfied
with nothing short of an entire monopoly in all that relates
to medicine.

With regard to the “relations of medicine and pharmacy,
we are asked, “ What are chemists prepared to say concern¬
ing their own practice of prescribing ? ” “ Are they ready to
meet medical men half way on the field of improvement ?

My own reply to this is (and, I believe, I express the
sentiments of not a few), “ As practised by us, certainly
not.” It would be practically impossible. We do not pre¬
tend, nor have we ever done so, to treat disease. We
confine ourselves to simply aiding, when asked, the public
by suggesting what we consider the best remedy to bridge
them over a temporary difficulty ; this is counter practice,

pure and simple, and why should we relinquish it? It is
simply nonsense to talk about “ diverting fees from the

pockets of the doctors.” , ,

Why, sir, if we were to give up this legitimate counter
practice ” to-morrow, not a medical man about us would be
a sovereign the richer for it. The public would suggest
their own remedies, or apply to some charlatan for advice.
JVXy experience goes to prove that the public (rightly or
wrongly, I do not pretend to judge) have a peculiar dread
of a “doctor’s bill,” and they will stave it off to the latest

possible moment. . ,

But, sir, there is another question I should like to ask.
Can medical men, who do their own dispensing, affoid
to give up the practice ? What is to be said for. those who
contract for clubs, for parishes, for provident dispensaries,,
and those who emblazon their windows with : Advice and
medicine, 6d ; ” C( A visit and medicine, Is. . ‘

These are a numerous section, and in any compact entered
into between the “faculty” and ‘ chemists, these cannot

be ignored or left out in the cold. .

Again, are the profession (those who .do.it) ready to give
up writing popular books, and publishing all kmds of
remedies for the treatment of disease, whether in Encyc 0
psedias, in monthly numbers or in newspaper form •

These, amongst others, are questions which must be faced
and met in order to frame even a tangible scheme.

If I read the letter of your medical correspondent aright,
we are asked to do an unlikely thing— to surrender our own
“ inalienable rights ” in order that the pockets of the faculty
may be recouped by any possible loss they may sustain by
the transfer of dispensing to the legitimate, dispenser.
Why the better class practitioners and physicians have
already given up dispensing, and we do not hear that they

suffer loss thereby. , , ,

With regard to chemists’ charges, that does not concern
medical men any more than medical fees concern the che¬
mist ; these matters would soon find their proper, level, on
the principle of supply and demand, and the existence 01
healthy competition.

I for one, certainly do fail to see why the chemist should
be asked to become a kind of “ jackal ” for the faculty, and
to do a thing which would destroy self-respect, and signally
fail in its purpose, as it would become a kind of trades
union to compel the public to call in the aid of . a doctor
upon all occasions when they ask us for a little guidance m
a simple matter. I, for one, could not.be a party to such a
compact. Every honourable chemist is willing, nay, even
desirous, to meet the profession on “ fair ” and “ equitab.e *
terms. There are difficulties to be faced and met on both
sides, but they cannot be overcome by a policy so manifestly

“ one-sided ” as that suggested. ......

Probably the following suggestion may not be altogether

without value. , .

In some places where medical men wish to retain the
supply of medicines to their patients in their own hands, a
convenient arrangement might be made with two, three, or
four chemists, according to extent of area, to dispense and
send out the medicines of any medical man 011 a fair scale
of charges, to be charged to him, and repeated only by his
order. This would affect a great saving of tune, be a relief
to the prescriber, and in most cases satisfactory to the

P At any rate such a plan might be “ tentative,” and in the
end might be so carried on, or it would pave the way to a

general transference. , , , ^

However desirable this change may be, it cannot be done
bv a “ wrench;” it will need much mutual forbearance, and
kindly consideration of the “ rights ” and “ interests of all
parties concerned, and we must not forget that the public
will come in— as a very large factor too— to pronounce
upon any change, and especially so if it bears any semblance

to monoply. _ TTmj'NTR'RY

Tirinhton. ^r. G. HOR^SSBl.

Sir,— Replying to Dr. Williamson’s question in his letter
to your Journal of the 12th inst. , as to whether chemists
are prepared to discontinue the old but “ reprehensible prac¬
tice of counter prescribing, conditionally with, medical inen
ceasing to dispense their own medicines, I think that while
there will be considerable difference of opinion m the trade
as at present constituted, were a canvas made amongst those
who have entered through the examinations of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society, nineteen out of every twenty would be
found in favour of discouraging that portion of their busi-

792

THE ^PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 19„ 1881

ness, which as conscientious tradesmen they must feel least
qualified to discharge.

That chemists are occasionally called upon to prescribe,
and that they should be sufficiently expert to act in cases of
emergency; none will deny, but that they should be com¬
pelled as many now are to make prescribing a leading feature
of their business, is not at all satisfactory. Formerly, I
thought little about prescribing. I had my labels printed
in the orthodox fashion, notifying that physicians’ prescrip¬
tions were accurately dispensed. I purchased a book to
retain copies of all such work passing through my hands,
and although the volume became very dusty between such
times as I found it necessary to make entries, I still valued
it in somewhat the same fashion asihe man who bought and
•stored up crutches thinking they might be useful in days to
come, content to feel I was doing a sufficiently large and
remunerative business in patent medicines, proprietary
articles and general drug trade to provide for the modest re¬
quirements of a small family. In later years, however, the
profits were so seriously reduced in these things, that it became
absolutely a loss to deal in some of them, and what with an
increasing family and consequent expense, the necessity of
otherwise providing gradually forced itself home. A tea or
a wine and spirit agency, a petty wholesale, or a prescribing
addition, all suggested themselves as a means to the end, the
last being decided on for various reasons, but chiefly because
it required comparatively little outlay. Old medical works
were hunted up, a few new ones obtained, and the demand
already existing was carefully nursed and attentively culti¬
vated, and my much neglected prescription book at last
proved useful and began to fill in at an astonishing pace,
which may to all appearances be indefinitely developed.
1 do not feel qualified to do justice to my customers in
every instance, but I do my best for them, and that my
efforts are appreciated, and that I am in a certain sense
successful I am aware, but I am not unmindful of the fact
that my position is a false one and entails a heavy burden.

What is the alternative ? Must we refuse our bread and
butter, because the latter is salt ? or will the medical men
come forward and offer us their dispensing ? If so, I for one
would gladly surrender the responsibilities of
Hull. A Prescribing Chemist.

Chemists’ Charges.

Sir, — Your readers must be nearly tired of the letters
concerning chemists’ [charges, and the writers must have said
nearly all that is worthy of consideration ; it is therefore
with great hesitation I intrude on your columns to take
notice of “ Beta’s ” remarks, especially the following one —
“Ho the advocates of this precious scheme object to buy
books at 2d. in the Is. discount? would they have any
tolerance for [a trades union of booksellers, who should
try to keep up their prices by such means as have lately
been suggested ?”

To this question, I reply, the chemists would be very
pleased to see a trades union of booksellers for this purpose,
as an action of this kind would tend to show that the
present system of trading is bad political economy, and to
be successful in business a fair profit must be reaped over and
above mere working expenses by all who are engaged in
commercial enterprises.

The suicidal custom of booksellers allowing 2d. in the Is.
has been to cause the retail trade in the country to hold a
very small stock of books, many now even giving up the sale,
keeping only stationery and fancy articles ; they say that it
does not pay them now to go into the book trade, the profits
being too small to repay them even for the value of interest
on stock, to say nothing of the depreciation they sustain,
consequently authors find less sale, the public less choice,
and the booksellers themselves suffer to a very great extent
loss of income from the ruination of one of their principal
sources of business. The public’are beginning to see that the
past and present system of undue and uncalled for com¬
petition is morally and socially bad (witness the long list
of liquidations by arrangement in the Bankruptcy Gazette ),
and would gladly welcome a reaction of a better and sounder
state of things.

I will not tire you longer with this weary subject,
excepting to point out one thing which has been overlooked
by all your correspondents and even by you, Mr. Editor. It
is this The Society of Apothecaries, composed of eminent
physicians, Fellows and Members of the [Royal College of
Surgeons, lecturers at hospitals, etc. , etc., is a trading, as well

as an examining body. Every week a committee— all medical
men, remember, — sit to arrange matters, audit accounts, and
balance profit and loss. Now their retail and dispensing
orices are as high as any retail chemist’s in London.
Surely then we cannot do better than take the medical
profession as our guide in these matters, and this fact may
in some way settle the vexed question about chemists’
charges. James B. Gdyer.

The Detection of Strychnine in the Brain.

Sir, — In the last “ Month,” p. 714, there is a paragraph
to the effect that, “ Dragendorff, Husemann, and others
have directed that strychnine, in cases of poisoning, should
always be looked for in the liver, as its occurrence in the
brain is not easily detected,” a statement, in so far as the
detection of strychnia in the brain is concerned, not in
strict accordance with published facts.

That eminent toxicologist, Professor Dragendorff, in his
* Gerichfclich-Chemisohe Ermittelung von Giften,’ 2nd edit.,
1876, states that strychnine is retained by the liver, and
very slowly passes from that organ into the general circula¬
tion, to be finally eliminated through the urine; and he
instances the results of experiments made on animals,
tending to prove that if death quickly follows the admini¬
stration of strychnine, that poison is not necessarily found
in any other organ than the liver, the time which had
elapsed being insufficient to allow of its passing from the
liver into the circulation. The agreement with Husemann
is thus far, that strychnine should be looked for specially in
the liver, and that this poison takes more or less time to
pass into the circulation and present itself in other organs
of the body or in the urinary secretion.

In the ‘ Beitrage zur gerichtliche Chemie,’ by the same
author, and published in 1872, four years earlier than the
preceding work, will be found a series of results of experi¬
ments to determine the presence of strychnine in the
different organs successively, and in one paragraph he re¬
marks that the results of his researches establish the fact that
the presence of strychnine in the stomach, liver, gall bladder,
arterial blood, and the brain can be easily determined.

It is scarcely conceivable that Dragendorff, who could de¬
tect the presence of ’00015 grain of strychnine in 10 to 12 oz.
of urine, should experience any difficulty with the same poi¬
son if it had in any appreciable quantity reached the brain.

The detection of strychnine, even in very minute quantity
in the brain, in case of poisoning by that alkaloid, is not
therefore new, neither does it present any special difficulty.
The paragraph in question should therefore indicate, not '/
that Dragendorff directs that strychnine should be looked <
for in the* liver because its occurrence in the brain is not
easy of detection, but rather that the poison in question is
less frequently present in the brain. There was no difficulty
in detecting the strychnine when it was there, but there
would necessarily be considerable difficulty when the alka¬
loid was not present in that organ.

Another point on which the paragraph is somewhat hazy.
Assuming the tincture to be that of the French Codex,
which has a strength of one in five, or double that of the
B.P. (a hint for the compilers of the International Phar¬
macopoeia), there seems to be an error in the dose of the
poison mentioned as having caused death. 2*05 grams of
tincture would represent *00478 gram strychnia, or *0738
grain, not *525 grain. 0*0738, or about J^th- grain, would
scarcely represent a poisonous dose.

20, Neiv Street, Dorset Sq. T. Edward Greenish.

Erratum. — On p. 769, col. i., line 14 from bottom, for
“ hands or arms ” read “ bonds or arms.”

A. Turner. — See an “ erratum ” above.

A Chemist (Marseilles). — We are not acquainted with a
work on either of the subjects published in England.

Hymen. — By the admixture of carmine or some other
suitable pigment.

“ Euonymin,> is referred to the rule as to anonymous
communications.

“ Madiaon.” — (1) The provisions of the Act apply only
to the weights and measures used for the purposes of trade.

Yelk will find the information he requires in Ure’s
‘ Dictionary of Arts and Manufactures.’ _ _ _

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Illingworth, Mather, Austin, Martin, Snell, Shen-
stone, Anxious Inquirer, Sub Umbra Floresco, Bos, Beta,
O. H. S., J. F. H,

March 20, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

793

“THE MONTH.”

Notwithstanding the chilling north-west wind and
the occasional snow showers that it has brought in its
train, bursting buds and March flowers herald the
i coming of spring. Although for the Londoner it can
j hardly be said that the time of the singing of birds
i is come, yet violets, primroses and daffodils already
! oreet him in almost every street, and the drooping
catkins of the poplars and the green shoots of the
lilac indicate that winter is actually over.

From Hitch in a correspondent writes that the pul-
satilla has already lifted up its purple head on the
chalky downs, while the coltsfoot, the periwinkle and
jj golden celandine are coming into blossom, and the
j pink flowered thyrse of the butterbur (Petasites vul-
| garis), so easily overlooked at this time of year, decks
[ the damp banks of streams where later on the enor-
I mous foliage will command attention even at a con¬
siderable distance.

From the Isle of Wight, a correspondent writes
that the pretty moschatel, the whitlow grass, and the
rare Pulmonaria angustifolia are now in blossom.
He remarks further that although the number of
I flowers he has noticed in blossom this month are ex¬
actly the same as last year, yet they are not all the
same species.

In Kew Gardens the Barbacloes aloes plant {Aloe
vulgaris) may now be seen in blossom.

In the Cambridge Botanical Garden, Mr. R. J.
Lynch writes, there is now a fine specimen of that
curious atropaceous plant Mandragora vernalis in
full blossom, the yellowish flowers, resembling those
of belladonna in shape, nestling among the large
radical leaves ; indeed at a distance the plant presents
more resemblance to a beet or turnip plant, than to
the better known members of this family.

Probably most of the students who have visited the
Botanical Gardens at Regent’s Park have noticed a
singular plant, a Phyllanthus, in which the flowers ap¬
pear to be growing on the midrib of compound leaves.
The apparent compound leaf, however, consists of alter¬
nate leaves with flowers in their axils. According to
I Fritz Muller the leaves of this plant assume an al-
> most vertical position at noon on a summer’s day
when the sun is nearly in the zenith, returning at
3 p.m. to a horizontal position. This movement,
called paraheliotropism by Mr. Darwin, by which
plants when brightly illuminated direct their edges
towards the light, has recently been the subject of
some remarks by the last-named naturalist ( Nature ,
March 3, p. 409), who considers that the movement
is intended to prevent the full effect of radiation.
In Hedychium the lateral halves of the leaves bend
downwards apparently wflth the same object.

A correspondent of the Gardeners' Chronicle (p.
276, February 26), writes from St. Louis with regard
to Silphium laciniatum , that he has often examined
the plant, and that although the leaves are arranged
at their base in a spiral position, yet during,
their development the petiole is twisted so that the
blades face east and west and their edges point north
and south. The stem leaves being sessile show at
their base the original position, but their midrib is
turned about the middle, or in the small upper
leaves towards the tip, so that the upper part of the
leaf assumes the meridional direction, while the
lower part retains its original position. The large
flower heads on short and very thick peduncles are
almost invariably turned eastward. He confirms
Sir J. Hooker’s statement that in. travelling by rail
Third Series, N.o 561.

any alteration in the direction of the road becomes
visible at once by the altered appearance of the
leaves of the compass plant. The presence of
stomata on both sides of the leaves distinguishes
this species of Silphium from all others, S. compositum
coming next to it, all the others having a larger
number of stomata on the under surface. He re¬
marks that other Composite with vertical leaf
blades have a similar anatomical structure, notably
Lactuca Scariola , whose leaves assume not only a
vertical but a meridional direction, although a less
pronounced one than that of the compass plant.

At a recent meeting of the Edinburgh Botanical
Society, Professor Dickson exhibited some curious
abnormal forms of the pitchers of Cephalotus follicu-
laris, from which he concluded that the pitcher
cavity is an excavation or pouching of the leaf-blade
from the upper surface, that the leaf apex is repre¬
sented by the apex of the middle dorsal wing of the
pitcher, and that the pitcher lid is merely an excres¬
cence or outgrowth from the upper surface of the leaf.

At the same meeting, Mr. Symington Grieve men¬
tioned a remarkable case which he had observed of
the power of Fucus vesiculosus and F. nodosus to
buoy up large stones by the air contained in their
frond vesicles. He was led to observe this power by
. noticing grooved tortuous tracks beginning or ending
at a large stone, and at length detected a stone on
the move, buoyed up by the seaweed. Others were
afterwards observed, weighing from a few pounds to
several hundredweights, floating in a similar manner.

In Nature for February 24, a curious experiment
is recorded by Mr. W. Carter, which seems to
indicate that an excessive amount of moisture plays
some part in preventing the formation of chlorophyll.
The experiment is as follows : — “ If cress seed be
grown for a few days in the dark on damp cotton
wool and then beneath the surface of water intro¬
duced into an inverted glass jar filled with wrater,
they may be exposed to daylight for an indefinite
time without chlorophyll being developed. But the
plants are not dead, for if, after a few days’ exposure,
the cotton wool on which they have been grown is
cut in two beneath the surface of the water, and one
half with its plants is restored to the inverted jar
of water while the other is placed under an inverted
jar containing air only, and then these two jars be
exposed to full daylight, the plants in the jar con¬
taining air become rapidly green while the others
never do so. The editor of Nature suggests that
this may be due to the water keeping the tempera¬
ture too low, since in ferns and conifers the chloro¬
phyll is developed even in complete darkness if the
temperature be sufficiently high ( Nature , p. 388).

In the Journal of Botany this month there is a
valuable paper by Mr. B. D. Jackson, on “ Recent
Tendencies in Botanical Nomenclature,” which ama¬
teur botanists will do well to read before compiling
local lists of plants. It may be hoped, that the
tendency to give bare scientific descriptions of
plants in systematic works on botany may undergo
similar scathing criticism before long. Either stu¬
dents of botany do not accurately understand bo¬
tanical terms or else the loose manner in wdiich
such terms are used by different authors, as con¬
trasted with lecturers on botany, lead to great
uncertainty of meaning. Certainly persons of
average intelligence are not unfrequent] y puzzled
by the botanical descriptions in floras of the present
day. During the present month CSnanthe crocaia

794

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 20, 1881,

has been sentunder the supposition of its being Cicuta
virosa , while from a provincial museum a specimen of
fruits, there labelled as Cicuta virosa, proves to consist
of those of A ngelica sylvestris. Although Cicuta virosa
is rare or almost absent from some parts of the south
and west of England, yet the descriptions in British
floras should be sufficiently clear to prevent such an
error. This is of the more importance, since in one
of the cases above alluded to identification was
necessary to settle by what plant some persons had
been poisoned. It would appear not improbable
that in this way various plants, such as fool’s
parsley, have been unfairly credited with poisonous
properties. In the Gardeners' Chronicle a short time
ago, Mr. A. W. Dod stated that he had seen cattle
eat Cicuta virosa with impunity.

It will be remembered that towards the close of
last year two deaths in Altona were attributed to
poisoning by false star-anise. After the inquiry the
stock of star-anise at the retail shop from which the
suspected condiment had been obtained was seized
by the police and handed over to Dr. Langfurth for
examination. That expert now reports ( Pharrn .
Zeitung, March 19,) that the sample contains 30 per
cent, of Skimi fruit ( ? Illicium religiosum : see before,
p. 489), one half of which agrees with the characters
given by Professor Husemann (see before, p. 453),
while the other half consists of more elongated
carpels, which are almost always without seed and
scarcely opened. The fruit stalk of the “Skimi” fruit
examined is described as being mostly wrinkled,
clavate towards the fruit, and without articulations,
thus differing from those of star-anise, which are said
to be uniform in thickness throughout their length (1
to 3 centimetres) and provided at each end with a
prominent articulation. Dr. Langfurth recommends
that a doubtful specimen should be crushed in an
iron mortar or with a hammer, which causes the
Skimi fruit to give a strong aromatic odour resembling
a mixture of sassafras and cajeput oil and presen ting-
no similarity to the odour of star-anise. Another
good criterion is the amount of rancid oil contained
in the Japanese fruit. It is mentioned that in Ham¬
burg large parcels of adulterated anise have been
impounded that are said to have found their way
into the retail trade after the parcel from which
the Altona sample was originally taken had been
all given up by the importers.

The adulteration and admixture of crude drugs,
especially among those imported from Germany,
seems as frequent as ever. During the present
month Helleborus niger, consisting principally of
the root of Actcea spicata, has been noticed, and
copalclii bark has been picked out of cusparia, while
dried dulcamara has been offered in bundles under
the name of chirata. Provincial museums, with
collections of drugs, need to carefully compare their
specimens with the descriptions in works on materia
medica, lest errors in the specimens presented by
wholesale houses mislead those who use such speci¬
mens for purposes of study. A specimen of so-called
Winter’s bark, recently received for identification,
proved to be that of a species of Croton.

The French Minister of Agriculture and Commerce
has issued, at the recommendation of the Consulta¬
tive Committee for Public Hygiene, directions to
the various prefects that the sale of any alimentary
substance containing salicylic acid should be pro¬
hibited. This Committee reported that the acid is not
only dangerous from the direct effects it may produce

on the system, but is so also indirectly as favouring
the fraudulent introduction of substances into ali
mentary articles, rendering them more of less in¬
jurious ( Union Medicate , February 17, 1881).

In connection with this subject it may be remarked
that quite a paternal interest in the eating and drink¬
ing of the community is becoming strikingly manifest
in more than one foreign country. In Paris the
municipality is about to set up a laboratory, to be
attached to the prefecture of police, where any person
may have a suspected sample of food examined
qualitatively for nothing, or analysed quantitatively
for a fee varying from five to twenty francs. When
a sample is found to be adulterated an officer of the
department will be sent to obtain another from the
same source, which may form the basis of a prose¬
cution. In Vienna, also, it is said that a chemical
laboratory is to be set up by the local authorities,
and the Stadtpliysikus is to be assisted by a skilled
chemist, whose business it will be to examine
suspected samples of food, drink, perfumery, etc.

But the most startling report as to adulteration is
one relating to the United States, where recently a
committee appointed by the National Board of Trade
felt warranted in declaring that “ none of our staple
articles of food or drink are so commonly adulterated
as to be dangerous to health or life.” As the subject
is honoured with leaded type in a leading daily
journal that has recently consecrated sulphuretted
hydrogen to lighting and heating purposes and
announced the revivifying power of sulphate of
oxygen on a moribund emperor, it may be mentioned
for what it is worth. According to the Daily Tele¬
graph (March 21), in American stores “not only is
every adulteration known to the comparatively un¬
sophisticated British tradesman in vigorous employ¬
ment, but improvements upon them all, deadly
when poisonous, unwholesome when not, are con¬
stantly practised.” The vinegar is poisoned with
sugar of lead, the pickles with verdigris, the sugar
with chloride of tin, syrups with calcium, hams with
glucose, tea is faced with prussic acid, and “everything
with something.” “Oleomargarine” is “simply raw
fat impregnated with trichinae,” containing besides
such foreign matters as “ corpuscles of cockroach, blood
corpuscles of sheep, sprouting yeast, a dead Hydra
viridis, portions of muscular fibre, the fatty cells and
eggs of small parasites, the eggs of tapeworms,” etc.
Even the chemists are said to be adulterated, being
retained at high salaries to invent new methods of
adulteration and issue certificates of analysis that
are not correct. If the article from which these
quotations are made may not be described as a
disgrace to journalism, as that phrase appears just
now to be provocative of heart-burning, it is certainly
one of the grandest specimens of the roaring of a
young lion that has appeared even in the paper
boasting of the largest circulation in the world.

Olive oil appears likely to increase in price. Ac¬
cording to the Gardeners' Chronicle, the olive trees in
Provence are menaced by a scourge which may
ultimately prove as dangerous as the phylloxera. A
grey fly, known as the Dacus olece, has made its
appearance and has already devoured a large quantity
of olives. It lays its eggs twice a year, in July and
September. The small yellowish- white maggot eats
its way into the pulp of the olives, forming galleries.
When it has reached the adult stage it drops on the
earth and seeks a crevice or hollow in which to pass
the winter in the chrysalis state. Experience has

March 26 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

795

shown that the first generation does not always spoil
the olive, hut that the ravages of the second lot are
wholly destructive. It seems doubtful if the southern
peasants will have the energy to meet the menacing
evil in the only way known at present, viz : — to
pick up the olives which, weakened by the parasite,
fall to the ground, and remove the worms before
| they escape into the soil.

Buyers of olive oil will probably find it necessary
ere long to carefully examine that imported from
Italy. Cotton-seed oil is said by the United States
Consul at Naples to have found its way into the
• remotest mountain villages in Italy where the sole
production is olive oil, not merely as a substitute for,
but as an adulterant of, olive oil. It has also found its
way into Russia, one of the chief outlets for Italian
olive oil. As the cotton-seed oil can be sold in
Italy at half the value of olive oil, the inducement
to use it as an adulterant is very great. The
Government of Italy is endeavouring to impose a
heavy tax on cotton-seed oil with the view of
protecting the production of olive oil. It is obvious,
however, that a good test to detect the presence of
small quantities of cotton-seed oil would be a better
preventive to adulteration. Cotton-seed oil is a
drying oil, and if added in equal parts to olive oil
its drying nature is still evidenced by its leaving
sticky streaks near the mouth of the bottle when
droppings become exposed to the air.

Another adulterant of olive oil, which is more
likely to be met with in the American than in the
European market, is mustard seed oil. In California
the mustard plant grows in profusion and the seed
is collected by Chinamen, and sold at two or three
cents, per pound in San Francisco. The oil is sold
in the same city at a dollar the gallon. As it is
said not to turn rancid so quickly as olive or lard
oil, it is preferred by many for cooking purposes,

I and has on this account, and because of its cheapness,
been used extensively for adulterating olive oil.

Some very curious results, involving an element
of perplexity for a much respected portion of the
community, have been obtained by M. Muntz in
the application of his very delicate test for the
presence of minute quantities of alcohol, based upon
the conversion of the alcohol into iodoform. M.
Muntz claims that he is able to detect alcohol when
diluted to one millionth, and having examined earth
and air and water, rain and snow tor it, he finds it
{Comptes Renclus, vol. xcii., p. 499) to be almost omni¬
present, since only the very purest spring water gives
negative results. An incident that occurred not long
ago in an important public oifice points in the same
direction and may thus receive some elucidation.
A considerable scandal and scare had arisen in con¬
sequence of the sanitary condition of this particular
office, and amongst other things put under super¬
vision, a bottle of the water in use in the building,
duly verified with the official seal, was sent to an
eminent water doctor for examination, and was
found by him to contain an appreciable quantity of
alcohol. In fact, it was reported to bear considerable
resemblance to weak whisky toddy. The question
now arises whether this characteristic is to be re¬
garded as indicating the particular nature of the
fermentation to which the universal diffusion of
i alcohol is due or whether it throws any light upon
the habits of the clerks in the public office in
I question.

In view of the present enormous consumption of

glucose, especially upon the Continent and in the
United States, some experiments reported {Scientific
American , February 26) to have been made by Dr.
Nessler, of Baden, seem worthy of attention. If
commercial glucose be subjected to fermentation by
means of yeast, and the product be filtered and the
alcohol driven off from it by heat, there always
remains an unfermented portion which is bitter and
turns the plane of polarization to the right. In a
sample of glucose examined this unfermentable por¬
tion amounted to 26 per cent., and when this was
taken in a concentrated form, and in quantities
representing the residue from about 100 grams of
glucose, it produced in two persons violent cold per¬
spirations, severe persistent headaches and other
disagreeable symptoms. Whether this bitter sub¬
stance is formed during the fermentation or is
originally present in the glucose, and if the former
be the case whether or not its injurious effects are
neutralized by the alcohol in which it is usually
dissolved, are questions that have not yet been
determined.

The study of the phenomena attending the aerial
oxidation of moist phosphorus has given rise to much
discussion, not always devoid of acridity. For along
time it was assumed that the principal product was
ozone. Some two years since, Mr. Kingzett, who had
previously proved that in several instances the name
of ozone had usurped the place of that of peroxide of
hydrogen, was induced to assert that no known process
of slow oxidation had been established to produce
ozone, and that the gaseous body obtained during the
slow oxidation of phosphorus was altogether peroxide
of hydrogen. It now appears to be established that
both ozone and peroxide of hydrogen are formed.
According to Dr. Leeds {Chemical News, March 4),
they are produced approximately molecule for mole¬
cule, and both are evolved, the suspended peroxide
of hydrogen passing through a series of wash-bottles
without undergoing any but a slight absorption.
He also states that together with these two bodies,
and as a necessary part of the same series of reactions
incident upon the setting free of nascent oxygen, a
certain amount of ammonium nitrate is always pro¬
duced and retained in the water. This part of the
reaction is represented as follows : —

NN + 2H20 + 0 = NH4N03.

An alkaloid similar in physiological action to that
obtained from Sophora speciosa has been extracted
from Sophora sericea , a herbaceous perennial,
common on the high plains of Colorado and
Nebraska and extending into the lower hills of the
Rocky Mountains.

During a stay in Hong Kong and Shanghai, Dr.
P. Liborius observed that a tincture of an unknown
fibrous root was successfully used as a remedy against
ringworm. The root afterwards turned out to be
that of the Ithinacanthus communis, N. ab E., the
leaves of which, bruised and mixed with lime juice,
are, according to Dymock {Pharm. Journ., [3], vii.,
p. 190), used in India as a popular remedy for
“ Indian ringworm.” Subsequently a chemical exa¬
mination of the root was made by Dr. Liborius in
the laboratory at Dorpat {Pharm. Zeit. f. Russl.,
February 7), the principal result being the isolation
of a quin one-like body, supposed to be the active
constituent, resembling chrysoplianic and frangulic
acids in its antiseptic and antiparasitic properties,
and phlobaphene in some of its decomposition pro¬
ducts. Dr. Liborius calls this new substance “rhina-

796

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 26, 1881.

canthin,” and represents it by the formula #C14H1804.
Its presence in the plant is said to be limited to
certain intercellular spaces occurring in the bark,
the cellular tissue of this part appearing to be filled
with an intensely red contents, supposed to consist
of a compound of rhinacanthin with an alkali. It
is obtained by exhaustion of the powdered root
fibres with absolute alcohol. Rhinacanthin has the
peculiarity of forming with bases beautiful red com¬
pounds, that are easily decomposed by certain neutral
solvents, such as petroleum spirit, which dissolves
the rhinacanthin and assumes a yellow colour.

The oil of the Australian sassafras ( Atherosperma
moschata) has recently attracted a little attention in
this country. For some time past it has been used
in the colonial hospitals in Australia as a sedative to
the heart, it having a lowering influence upon the
action of that organ. It is given in doses of one or
two drops at intervals of six or eight hours. In
smaller doses it is used as a diaphoretic and diuretic
in asthma and other affections of the respiratory
orgaus. The tree grows abundantly in the gullies in
the mountains near the coast, both in Victoria and
Tasmania.

In the Arcliivos no Brazil attention is directed to
the oil of anda a$u {Anda Brasiliensis , Raddi), for
which it is claimed that it produces the same effect
as castor oil in a less dose ; that it has not the dis¬
agreeable odour of that oil, and is more fluid, and
therefore easier to take. It is given in the doses of
10 grams, which quantity neither produces vomiting
nor subsequent intestinal irritation, and is sufficient
to produce three or four alvine evacuations. It is
stated, however, that before expressing the oil the
embryo and the episperm must be removed, as they
contain a principle which produces colic. The re¬
moval of these parts is not, however, difficult, as the
seed is at least ten times larger than that of the
castor oil plant.

The oil of eucalyptus appears to be gradually
coming into favour as an antiseptic dressing. Dr.
Siegen recommends a solution of the strength of
3 grams of the oil to 15 grams of alcohol, and after¬
wards diluted with 150 grains of water. Ordinary
gauze is wetted with this solution, and, covered with
gutta percha tissue, kept in place by gauze bandages.
It is said to be perfectly antiseptic, and to cause no
irritation, even to very sensitive skins.

Another antiseptic appears to have been tried in
America, and has been shown by Dr. Beach to be
equal in antiseptic power to thymol. This is styroneor
cinnyl alcohol, obtained from the styracine of balsam
of Peru, or liquid storax, by treating it with alkali,
which separates the cinnamic acid from the cinnyl
alcohol. It is in the form of silky needles, has a
sweet taste and an odour of hyacinths. It is soluble
in twelve parts of water, and freely soluble in alcohol
and ether. A saturated aqueous solution of the
above strength was found to be a perfect deodorizer
of a foul ulcerated surface and to cause no irritation.
This explains to a certain extent the antiseptic and
healing properties possessed by tincture of benzoin,
a common domestic remedy for cuts, and in which
liquid storax forms an ingredient.

A new method of applying croton oil to ringworm,
etc., has been described by Dr. Ladreit de Lachar-
riere. He uses a mixture of 100 parts of croton oil
with 50 parts of wax and 50 of cacao butter, and
makes it into sticks like cosmetique by the aid of a
mould so as to apply it with great accuracy, both

as to extent and depth (British Medical Journal ,
p. 303).

Professor Fraser, of Edinburgh, has shown that as
atropine is a useful cardiac stimulant, it is beneficial
to give it by hypodermic injection fifteen or twenty
minutes before the administration of chloroform.
The strength of the injection he recommends is
yAt to At of a grain of sulphate of atropine, com¬
bined with At or * of a grain of acetate or hydro¬
chlorate of morphia. By this means the patient is
said to be less nervous, less chloroform is required,
and the vomiting, which is apt to occur with chloro¬
form, is got rid of or ameliorated.

Dr. Wainwright, of Milltown, New Jersey, states
that malarial fevers have been treated of late with
success by picrate of ammonium given as a pill,
in doses of 1 grain to 1£ grain, daily increasing, if
required, to 2 grains. It is stated that few cases
had to be treated longer than a week, and that if the
picrate was administered at the first appearance of
the attack it invariably put an end to the progress
of the fever. Although it stains the white of the
eye, the skin and the urine of a yellow colour, this
disappears in a fortnight after the remedy has been
discontinued. It is said to possess the advantage over
quinine of not causing nausea or tinnitus aurium.

Dr. Macewan, of the Dundee Royal Infirmary
(. British Medical Journal , March 5, p. 337), recom¬
mends benzoate of sodium as a substitute for the
salicylate, in the treatment of acute rheumatism.
He states that he has found it to be a remedy of
considerable efficacy in the treatment of rheumatic
fever, while possessing the advantage that it does
not give rise to the nausea and depression or the
unpleasant head phenomena which the salicylate
frequently produces. The dose given is 15 to 20 grains
every two or three hours, preferably in the form of
mixture. Its use has to be continued for twenty-
four or forty-eight hours after the rheumatic symp¬
toms have disappeared.

Small pox seems very prevalent in London, the
hospitals, according to recent accounts, being filled.
Various appliances to prevent the pitting caused by
this disease have been recommended at different
times, with apparently indifferent success. Dr.
Schwimmer, in the Gazette des HOpitaux, advises
a mask of pliant linen cloth, smeared inside with a
mixture of carbolic acid, olive oil, and chalk or
starch, in the proportion of 4-10 per cent, of the
acid, or of thymol, 2 per cent., with linseed oil and
chalk, the mask being removed every twelve hours.
One of the most simple means to prevent pitting,
and a very successful one, is simply to exclude
light by hanging a rug or other opaque object in
front of the window, the light apparently having an
irritating action, that stimulates the formation of
pus and causes the eruption to eat deeper into the skin.

Since vitriol throwing has become such a common
offence, it may be well to point out that in a case
which occurred during a chemical lecture, described
inth e Bulletin de Therapeutique, in which two students
were seriously injured in the face by the explosion of
a flask containing boiling sulphuric acid, the intense
suffering at first experienced ceased entirely about a
quarter of an hour after the application of a soft
paste of calcined magnesia and water in a layer
about 2 millimetres in thickness. M. Alande states
that the magnesia requires to be renewed in twenty-
four hours, but that patients, after recovery, retain
no marks of the accident.

March 26, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 797

In the American Journal of Pharmacy, Mr. R. B.
Fairthorne, under the heading of “ Practical Notes,”
recommends the use of a solution of hypochlorite
of zinc in preference to that of soda, as being free
from alkalinity, and consequently capable of being
; used in a more concentrated state if desired, as well
• as having the advantage of the astringent and anti-
| septic properties of the zinc compounds. The
! solution is made as follows Chlorinated lime, 12
! troy ounces ; sulphate of zinc, 24 troy ounces ; water
12 pints. The chlorinated lime is triturated a little
I at a time with 8 pints of water, and the decanted
| clear liquid is mixed with the sulphate of zinc,
previously dissolved in 3 pints of the water, and set
! aside for twelve hours ; the clear liquid, after straining
, the precipitate, is then made up with water to 11^

I pints of the finished product.

I Mr. Fairthorne also suggests a new method of
taking cod liver oil, which consists of adding ,^ij
of tomato or walnut catsup to each ounce of the oil,

{ the mixture being shaken before taken. He very
pertinently remarks that taking an ordinary emulsion
of cod liver oil is like eating codfish or lobster with
a dressing of sugar and gum. He has found the
i mixture of catsup and cod liver oil to agree with
j many persons much better than any other form in
j which cod liver oil had been taken, and this he
attributes to the association of substances generally
employed as additions to food bringing into opera¬
tion those digestive faculties of the stomach which
might otherwise remain dormant when such incon-
! gruous substances as sugar and one of the principal
j ingredients of fish are introduced together into the
stomach. Some years ago a paper was published in
one of the scientific journals showing that the condi¬
ments usually employed with particular kinds of
food were the most appropriate ones, since they de¬
veloped an electrical current, a phenomenon which
did not appear to be indicated by the galvanometer
when wThat would be considered by epicures to be
incongruous articles of food were experimented with.

I Possibly the action of different adjuncts to food on
the nervous system, and through it on the digestion,
may deserve more attention than is generally
devoted to that subject. Mr. Fairthorne, also states
that the following mixture is readily taken by the
patient Liebig’s extract, £ ounce ; extract of celery
seed, \ 'fluid drachm ; vinegar, 1 fluid ounce ; water,
2 fluid ounces ; cod liver oil, 5 ounces. The extract
: of beef is dissolved in the water, the vinegar and
oil added, and the whole shaken with the extract of
celery.

In the pharmacies in many parts of Italy are to
be found small bottles containing single doses of
kusso powder (about 20 grams) elegantly done up
and labelled as a specialty. It has been disputed,
howrever, whether these preparations correspond in
activity as a vermifuge with the powder prepared
from fresh kusso. This has led Professor Arena, of
Naples, to recall ( Giorn . Int. della Sc. Med. , vol. i., p.
542), the long known fact that kusso after being
kept some time loses its activity through a change
that takes place in the resin to which it owes its
properties. If this resin be extracted from fresh
kusso it is green, without speciahodour, with slightly
bitter disagreeable taste, and easily soluble in alcohol
and ether. The resin prepared from old pulverized
kusso, whilst it retains its solubility, is yellow and
shows no trace of bitterness. If the green resin from
fresh kusso be exposed for some time to the air it

also assumes a yellow colour and loses its bitter
taste.

A method of coating pills with cacao butter and
starch is recommended by M. Ditten ( Journ . Pharm.
J Alsace-Lorraine, vol. viii., p. 53). The cacao
cutter is melted at a gentle heat in a flat-bottomed
capsule or plate ; in this the pills are rolled energeti¬
cally. A considerable quantity of starch powder is
hen thrown in, and the pills are again shaken and
eft to cool. The cacao butter in solidifying forms
with the starch powder a coating described as being
impervious to the air, not cracking, and preserving
the mass from alteration or evaporation. Pills so
coated are said to be taken without repugnance and
to be disintegrated promptly in the stomach.

In referring to the questions asked in the “ Dis¬
pensing Memoranda,” the correct method of dis¬
pensing a prescription will, so far as it is possible,
be given with a view of assisting the dispenser
generally, or where any special difficulty presents
itself, the best means will be suggested for sur¬
mounting the difficulty ; but it would be undesirable
to aim at producing a particular colour in a medi¬
cine, which could be of no general benefit, and the
investigation necessary for that purpose may occupy
much valuable time.

In the mixture, No. 507, the aim of the dispenser
should be, in the first place, to dissolve the quinine,
which may be done by adding it to the lemon
juice and diluting it with the remainder of the ingre¬
dients dissolved in the water. The colour will be
yellowish brown, but a considerable sediment will
form on standing, which is probably a deposit of
iron, leaving the clear fluid green.

The prescription, No. 508, cannot be dispensed as
written, but by a little deviation in the solvent it
may be accomplished. The aim of the dispenser
should be to send out these drops with the full
quantity of iodine and iodide of potassium, but here
the quantity of iodide ordered is insoluble in the
tincture of iodine. If, however, the proper quantity
of iodine for 3ij of tincture be rubbed with the 3jj
of iodide of potassium they may be dissolved in 3ij
of a solution of about three parts of water to one of
spirit, which would probably be carrying _ out the
intentions of the prescriber. The solution will
contain the full quantity of iodine and iodide of
potassium ordered in the prescription, the men¬
struum only being modified. Before this is done,
however, it would be proper, if practicable, to bring
the prescription under the notice of the writer,
and most medical practitioners receive favourably
suggestions in pharmacy from those trained to that
department of medicine.

In making the mixture, No. 509, it appears from
W. G. T.’s report that the ingredients on being
rubbed together with a small quantity of water
became gelatinous after standing for a minute or
two. In the first place to rub two salts differing in
their character as much as sodse salicylas and ammon.
carb. was an error in practical dispensing. The two
salts should be separately dissolved in water and
then mixed together, finally adding the sp. chloro¬
form. But it is difficult to understand how the
appearance mentioned could have occurred, as these
two salts may be rubbed together without apparent
change, and yield subsequently a satisfactory solu¬
tion.0 The gelatinization cannot be explained as it
does not seem to take place, but on the surface of
such a concentrated solution a pellicle will form,

798

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [March 26, 1881.

which, on further standing, assumes a crystalline
appearance. The jelly referred to seems nothing
more than is commonly seen in saturated saline
solutions, and there is no apparent decomposition
calling for further remark. This memorandum, as
originally printed on p. 729, was incorrect; it has
therefore been repeated at p. 810.

When liq. cinch, cord, appears in a prescription,
as in No. 510, the dispenser will of course use ext.
cinch, flav. liq., B.P. The cort. cinch, flav. is the
cinch, calisaya, formerly called cordifolia. Liquor
and fluid extract being equivalent terms, the
preparation of the B.P. may be equally written liq.
cinch, cord, or ext. cinch, flav. liq., and so long as
there is an official formula for a preparation, that
of a private one should not be employed in medicine
unless the prescriber attaches a name to it as giving
a preference to the make of a particular house. Mr.
Nichol in his communication has fully explained
this matter.

The ol. menth. pip. and camphor, of prescription
No. 511, will be quite soluble in the sp. vini rect.,
but on being added to the water containing the tr.
ferri there will be more or less separation and
ultimate deposition. The question then arises, how
is a diffused oil with camphor to be held in suspen¬
sion. This may be done by means of a little mucilage,
the chloroform being mixed with one half the sp.
vini rect., and the oil of peppermint with the
camphor dissolved in it should then be emulsified
with a little mucilage and added to the other ingre¬
dients. A very satisfactory mixture may thus be made,
which will be permanent, and admit of the most
important ingredient being taken in divided doses.

In making the pills of prescription, No. 512, some
excipient must be used which will retard the decom¬
position of the two ingredients. The usual excipients
being more or less solvents will admit of decomposi¬
tion, and the evolution of carbonic acid will necessarily
make the pills large and crumbly ; such an excipient
as cacao butter would be preferable, and the decom¬
position with the formation of protocarbonate of
iron could not take place until the pills were in the
stomach of the patient. With this excipient and a
little vaseline, pills may be made that will retain
their shape and not be in excess of the ordinary
size.

In prescription, No. 513, the quinine is thrown out
of solution on the addition of the ammonia. To
make this mixture the solution of the citrate of iron
and quinine should be largely diluted with the
water, say one half, and have in addition a little
mucilage added to it, and the carbonate of ammonia
and sp. am. arom. being diluted with the other half
should be carefully added, with frequent shaking,
so that the separated quinine may be finely divided
and suspended by means of the mucilage which had
been previously added to the solution. Mixtures
containing quinine in its various forms with ammonia
have been so frequently treated in these columns
that future inquiries will be referred to the back
numbers of the Journal.

When ext. sarsae co. liq. is prescribed, No. 514, that
preparation should be used. The formula is not official,
but it is made after the formula for ext. sarsae liq.
with the addition to the sarsaparilla of sassafras,
liquorice root, guaiacum and mezereon. There is the
same difference between the formula for that and ext.
sarsae liq. as there is between the official formula for
dec. sarsae and dec. sarsae co. The ext. sarsae co. liq. is

a favourite preparation with some practitioners, and
illustrates a difficulty in the abrupt exclusion of old
preparations from a new edition of the national
pharmacopoeia.

The elixir picis liq. of No. 515 will be found in
Dorvault’s ‘ L’Officine 1 as elixir de goudron. The
formula is given by ‘ Eardley,’ p. 789. This inquiry
exemplifies an observation in the last “ Month,” that
dispensers, in addition to the British Pharmacopoeia,
should also have- in the pharmacy works of reference
for foreign formulae, and this will become the more
desirable, and even necessary, as intercourse between
the different nationalities becomes more intimate.
The pharmacopoeia of every European nation, save
England, has on its committee of revision pharma¬
cists, the most eminent that the several countries
can produce, and the results of their deliberations
may be studied with great advantage in the formulae
of the several pharmacopoeias. That day has long
since passed away when the pharmacists of Great
Britain could isolate themselves from the proceedings
of their continental colleagues without detriment to
their own advancement.

Iodine cannot be satisfactorily combined with car¬
bolic acid, as in No. 516. Such a prescription should
be brought under the notice of the writer. Probably
a strong tincture of iodine, which could be mixed
with the carbolic acid, would fully answer the pur¬
pose of the writer.

The prescription, No. 517, should also be brought
under the notice of the prescriber. He may not be
aware that when camphor and chloral are brought
together, a combination takes place, resulting in a
liquid which cannot be formed into pills of ordinary
size.

In No. 518, “ Sanitas ” inquires what is tincture
of tar ? It is mentioned by Van Mons in the
‘ Universal Pharmacopoeia,’ but no formula is given.
Tar is soluble in alcohol, and probably a suitable
tincture may be made of 1 ounce in 20 of proof
spirit.

The prescription, No. 519, contains nitrite of amyl,
and that therapeutic agent is usually found in a
more or less acid condition. When there is free
acid present the pot. iodid. is decomposed and iodine
liberated, which gives the blue colour in contact
with starch from the formation of iodide of starch.
The addition of potass, bicarb, would, of course,
neutralize the acid present in the nitrite of amyl,
and obviate the decomposition of the iodide ; but if
the nitrite were in a proper condition for internal
use it would be free from acid. However neutral it
may be when prepared, it soon acquires acidity.
The best plan is to use pure nitrite of amyl; the
next best to neutralize the acid previous to its use.
If the prescription were sent out of a dark purple
colour, it was an error of judgment on the part of
the dispenser. Such a decomposition should at once
have attracted his attention ; the mixture dispensed
of a purple colour v’ould lower him in the estimation
both of the medical man and of the patient.

Nitrate of silver in the proportion of 20 grains to
the ounce, as in No. 520, would most probably be
used as an application. As generally understood by
dispensers, the term “ drops ” would not apply to
such a solution, as it never could be intended for in¬
ternal administration. It may, however, have been
prescribed in drops for the eye. A very strong
solution is sometimes used as a vaginal injection.
| A label, “ the solution,’1 would have been very

March 26, 1S81.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

799

applicable, leaving it to the patient to use it, pre¬
suming tliat private instructions had been given by
the writer. It was very properly put into a blue
bottle to indicate that it was not to be taken in¬
ternally.

In reply to “ Junior,” No. 521, pil. quinae, B.P.,
can be made according to the formula ; but it must
be borne in mind that confection of hips, as usually
met with, is very dry and in a more or less crystal¬
lized condition. Confection of hips, B. P., is no
longer confection of hips when through keeping it
has changed its normal character, and to judge of its
capabilities of forming a mass with quinine in the
B.P. proportion it should be used in its proper con¬
dition.

The prescription, No. 522, is obscure, in so far as
regards the “ hydrocyanici acidi (W.’s).” The first
question that occurred to the dispenser would pro¬
bably be, who is this authority “ W.,” indicated by
the letter between the brackets? Being for a club
atient it is very probable that it was of a strength
nown to the chemist who usually dispensed the
prescribed club prescriptions ; but assuming it to be
acid, hydrocyan, dil., B.P., the dose thoroughly dif¬
fused in the mixture could be borne by a child of
the age indicated, and if “ Ferrum ” had any right
to dispense the prescription at all, he might have
safely used acid, hydrocyan, dil., B.P. “ Ferrum,”
being on the spot, should be in a better position to
judge whether the writer intended it as a prescrip¬
tion to be dispensed by any chemist, or whether he
intended that it should be done by a particular che¬
mist only. If by any particular chemist it may be
presumed that that special hydrocyanic acid was
known to him, and any other chemist with the
surroundings of the case present to him would
assume a grave responsibility in dispensing a pre¬
scription with so powerful an agent as hydrocyanic
acid of unknown strength as one of its ingredients, if
he knew that some other chemist was the one to
whom the writer intended the prescription to be
sent, which being a club prescription, paid for by the
medical man, and supplied to club patients, free of
charge, he was perfectly justified in doing.

NOTES ON VARIOUS FORMS OF LIQUOR OPII
SEDATIVUS.*

BY E. B. SHUTTLE WORTH.

It is needless to assert the necessity for a liquid pre¬
paration of opium other than the tincture. The extensive
use of Battley’s solution is, in itself, a sufficient indication
of the fact that such a preparation possesses advantages
which are not shared by the tincture. Even when
therapeutical differences are set aside, there is sufficient
reason for the abandonment of laudanum in all cases
where nicety of dose is a consideration. It has become
an article of too general use with the public to hold its
place as a reliable pharmaceutical preparation. Not only
is it open to competition in price, but, at the best, the
trade standard has been sensibly lowered, so that it is
not in accordance with the requirements of the B.P.
The tincture is now almost universally made with the
moist opium of commerce, which contains from 10 to 20
per cent, of water, while the Pharmacopoeia directs dry
opium to be used. It will be seen that the strength of
the preparation will vary in like proportion, and that in
no case will it come up to the official standard. In this
connection the fact may be mentioned that analyses of
laudanum made in England and on this side of the

* Read at a meeting of the Toronto Medical Society.
From the Canadian Pharm. Journ., February, 1881.

Atlantic show the variation in morphia strength to vary
as much as 300 per cent.*

The aqueous preparations of opium in use in Canada,
and more particularly in this city, are : — Battley’s solu¬
tion ; various fluid extracts made by manufacturing firms ;
solutions made after the model of the tinct. opii deodorata,
U.S.P. ; ext. opii liquid, B.P. ; and a so-called liquor
opii sedativus, originating in a recipe of an old Toronto
druggist, which is made and largely used by leading
pharmacists. When reduced to a tabular form the com¬
parative strengths of these preparations will be more
easily seen. The standard I have selected is tinct. opii,
B.P., and fractional parts of the minim are omitted: —

Tinct. opii, B.P., contains 1 grain of dry opium in 15
minims.

Ext. opii liquid., B.P., contains 1 grain of dry opium in
11 minims.

Liquor opii sedativus (Battley) contains 1 grain of dry
opium in 11 minims.

Liquor opii sedativus (Toronto) contains 1 grain of dry
opium in 4-8 minims.

Tinct. opii deodorata, U.S.P., contains 1 grain of dry
opium in 13 minims.

Various fluid extracts contain 1 grain of dry opium in
about 18 minims.

These various strengths, ranging very widely, occasion
much confusion to the dispenser, and, doubtless, mistakes
frequently occur, as also from the fact that prescriptions
directed to certain druggists, whose liquor opii sedativus
is known to the prescriber, often get astray, and are dis¬
pensed at establishments where preparations of different
strengths are used. Physicians are, therefore, often dis¬
appointed in the results anticipated, and not unfrequently
effects are produced of a still more serious character.
Uniformity of strength in such a remedy as this is of
paramount importance, and I am glad that this Society
has taken the initiatory step to bring about such a result.

The question as to what the standard of strength
should be is one which does not require much discussion.
The British Pharmacopoeia, an authority which, in these
matters, physician and pharmacist are alike bound to
respect, has already regulated this matter, and the selec¬
tion is in all respects a wise one. The liquid extract of
opium, B.P., is in strength identical with Battley’s solu¬
tion; the dose, 10 to 30 minims, is one easily remembered,
and is not so large as to add unnecessary bulk to mixtures
of which it may form a part ; nor so small that it cannot
be apportioned and calculated with accuracy, and dis¬
pensed with ease and safety.

The next point that arises is whether the liquid
extract of opium can be accepted as an efficient sub¬
stitute for Battley’s solution, and other proprietary pre¬
parations of a kindred character. This is a question not
so easily disposed of as that of strength, and as it
involves therapeutical considerations, must be left to the
decision of the physician. I may, however, perhaps be
permitted to make a few observations from a pharmaceu¬
tical standpoint, and in order to do this with clearness it
will be necessary to allude, however briefly, to the chief
constituents of opium, omitting those which are mere
chemical curiosities, and presenting the others in the
order of their therapeutical importance.

First, then, is Morphia , which, in good opium, is present
in the proportion of about 10 per cent., and is in com¬
bination with meconic acid, forming a salt that is soluble
in water. (2) Codeia. — According to Bouchert,t this
alkaloid has about one-third the narcotic power of
morphia, but is feeble and transient in its effects. It is
also soluble in water. (3) Narceine.— This is stated to
be about one-eighth the strength of morphia, but Farqu-
harson speaks of it as of little importance except for its
anaesthetic properties. It dissolves in water, though not
so readily as the foregoing. (4) Cryptopia. — Not used in

Canadian Pharm. Jour ., vol. x... 162, and vol. xi. 166.

■f' ‘Transactions French Academy,’ 1872. Can. Pharm.
Journ.. vol. vi., p. 136.

800

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 26, 1881

medicine, and has not been much studied, but is stated to
be one-fourth as strong as morphia. (5) Thebaine. —
Excitant, anaesthetic, not soporific, no effect in doses of 7
grains; slightly soluble in water. (6) Papaverine. — Has
no effect in doses of 15 grains. (7) Narcotine. (8) Meco-
nine. (9) Meconic Acid.— These three constituents are
not used in medicine, and according to the authority
above quoted, as also Rabuteau and Claude-Bernard, are
inert in small doses. Narcotine is insoluble in water.
(10) Resinous and odorous principles. — These are generally
believed to produce unpleasant effects. They are only
partially soluble in water, and may be modified and
partially dissipated by boiling. Soubeiran* has shown
that the proportion of water put in contact with crude
opium exercises an influence on the solution of the
resinoid principles, odorous oil and narcotine. Perierf
points out the fact that the quantity of water has an
effect on the solution of these principles, a large quantity
precipitating the resinous matters, and a concentrated
solution having the opposite effect.

From these statements the conclusion may be drawn
that a liquor opii tolerably free from obnoxious prin¬
ciples may be made by preparing an aqueous solution of
opium, concentrating the liquor by boiling, and redis¬
solving the resulting extract. Such is the liquid extract
of the B.P., but in order to effect a more thorough
separation of narcotine, meconine, meconic acid, resinous,
odorous and extractive matters, I would recommend that
the process be repeated several times, and that the re¬
sulting liquor be assayed for morphia, and brought finally
to such a measure that it shall show, by the pharmaco¬
poeia! test, a morphia strength of 3 grains to the ounce,
a small proportion of spirit being added to preserve the
solution from mould and deterioration by age.

That a liquor so prepared will be identical with
Battley’s solution we have the assertion of Mr. Battley
himself, who assured the late Mr. PereiraJ that “ the
only ingredients employed in the pi’eparation of his
liquor opii sedativus were opium, water and heat.”
From my own experience I feel justified in affirming
that, with careful manipulation, it is possible to produce
a preparation identical with that of Battley, by simply
following the process above indicated, but the estimation
of the morphia should be particularly insisted on. For
the assay of the solution most of the published processes
will afford satisfactory results, provided the performer
has sufficient experience ; the B.P. method, is perhaps, as
good as any. As the morphia strength of commercial
opium varies to the extent of some 200 per cent., the
necessity for the assay need not be further urged.

The obnoxious principles are, in the U.S.P. process for
tinct. opii deodorata, removed by treating the opium solu¬
tion with ether, but the process is wasteful and troublesome,
and gives no better product than that above indicated.

In conclusion, I would say that, by the modifications
proposed, the B.P. process will furnish a preparation
which is in every way satisfactory, and, by adopting the
liquid extract, a uniform, legitimate, and comparatively
low-priced preparation may be substituted for one which,
though reliable, is very expensive, and belongs to a class
of remedies which should be discountenanced.

PREPARATION OF SYRUPS BY PERC0LATI0N.§

BY G. H. GHAS. KLIE.

The U. S. Pharmacopoeia gives formulae for twenty-
three syrups. They are not all finished by the same
process, but to dissolve the sugar different degrees of
temperature are used. A few are finished by dissolving
the sugar at a boiling heat, a portion by effecting solu¬
tion with a gentle heat (90° to 100° F.), another portion

* TraitS de Pharmacie, i., 851.

1" 1 Bulletin des Travaux de la Societe de Pharm. Bor¬
deaux,’ xiii., 245.

X Pereira, ‘Mat. Med.,’ vol. ii., part 2, p. 2135.

§ From the American Journal of Pharmacy.

by agitating a previously prepared tincture, from which
the alcohol has been evaporated, with the sugar occasion¬
ally until solution is effected, and still another portion by
mixing a fluid extract, solution or tincture with simple
syrup. So we see that four different methods are directed, f
and it is striking that, except in a few only, the use of a
high temperature appears to be avoided as much as
possible. It seems that in these preparations the Phar¬
macopoeia would have dispensed with heat altogether, if
it had been sure that by adopting the cold process for all
unexceptionable products would be obtained.

In the following the writer proposes to give some of
his experience in regard to percolation (cold) of syrups,
which has been practised in his establishment for about
nine years with uniform good results.

Percolation, fifteen or twenty years ago, was among
pharmacists a comparatively novel process ; a good many
even to this day regard it with aversion and suspicion
because they think it more troublesome than the old
process, and because they do not believe that by it as
good and strong a product can be obtained. It is
doubtful whether percolation was practised by half a
dozen pharmacists of our city at the time mentioned
above. Still, since its adoption by the Pharmacopoeia,
it has gained ground steadily, and those who practise it
sufficiently long to find out its merits, especially for
the preparation of fluid extracts, will not return to the
old process for any consideration. To make a fluid
extract the Pharmacopoeia directs to exhaust some root,
herb, etc., of a prescribed degree of fineness, by perco¬
lation. To accomplish this so as to secure an unex¬
ceptional preparation requires not only the careful and
judicious selection of the drug, but also due care in
manipulation ; in fact, it requires a considerable
amount of experience. To make syrups by per¬
colation successfully requires not nearly so much
experience. If certain conditions in the construc¬
tion of the apparatus are attended to the rapidity
of the solution of sugar by the process varies only
in so much as the menstruum may be more or less
viscid. Since the Pharmacopoeia directs to exhaust
roots, herbs, gums, etc., by percolation, requiring quite
an amount of care, attention and experience, why should
not the simple solution of sugar be effected by the !
same process, since this, in comparison, requires little
attention, furnishes a product unexceptional in appear¬
ance and superior in flavour (in such as have volatile
ingredients) to those made by heat ? Syrups are also
made by agitating or -shaking together the sugar and
menstruum. But, in the first place, it takes longer to
dissolve sugar by this process than by percolation, and,
secondly, if any quantity of air is incorporated the ten¬
dency to spoil is accelerated. When syrups are prepared
by boiling they, or at least quite a number, need constant
supervision to prevent waste by boiling over ; with ever
so much attention to cleanliness, the straining cloths will
still often be found defective, and when the hot syrup
is strained into a glass vessel too much care can hardly
be exercised to prevent breakage. Straining through
even close cloth does not furnish an absolutely clear
syrup. In percolation breakage of vessels by heat is out
of the question, and the product has (when the process
has been properly conducted) the perfect clearness
attained by filtering through paper. When the simplicity
and cleanliness of the process is contemplated, the con¬
clusion is irresistible that it ought to have been adopted
by the Pharmacopoeia. Furthermore, it would be but
consistent to direct the process by which the soluble
parts of substances, apparently difficult of solution, are
extracted, for the mere solution of sugar, which is not at
all difficult to dissolve. Percolation is also illusti’ated to
perfection when sugar is dissolved by the process.

Percolation of roots, herbs, etc., with an aqueous,
spirituous or ethereal menstruum, and. that of sugar by
water, an infusion, decoction, a partly spirituous or other¬
wise tincture, cannot be conducted in the same manner

March 26, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

801

1

in every particular. Undoubtedly, because this has often
been attempted failure was the result. The writer of
this, about nine years ago, read in some pharmaceutical
journal (I believe it was the Pharmacist, of Chicago)
about the preparation of syrups by percolation, and
thought the idea capital. The process was tried at the
first opportunity with simple syrup. The percolator was
charged, as usual, with a wad of cotton in the neck, a
cork in the orifice, loaf sugar and water, adjusted on a
filtering stand, and set aside until the sugar had all been
disintegrated and settled. The cork was then removed,
and it was expected that percolation would proceed with¬
out any trouble ; but it did not. Having obtained 2 fluid
ounces of syrup in twelve hours, the process V'as discon¬
tinued and the syrup finished by boiling. Using cotton
wads for the percolation of syrups was found an utter
failure. In subsequent operations sponge wads were sub¬
stituted, and with entire success. A piece of common
close soft sponge is trimmed to a cone shape, 1 inch or
longer, and £, 1, 2 or more inches diameter.. The sponge
is thoroughly washed, and while still moist placed in
position in the neck of a percolator,, funnel or other
suitable vessel by slightly compressing it. Sponges with
small pores need little and such with large pores need
more compression in adjusting. If it is placed too loose
the syrup will pass too fast and not sufficiently cleai, if
placed too tight the syrup will pass too slow or not at all.
The proper amount of compression is reached when the
pores of a close sponge 1 inch long and h inch in diameter
are closed in such a manner by adjustment in a § inch
necked common half-gallon glass percolator that one pint
of syrup will percolate in an hour. According to the
size of the sponge, its compression, the size of the neck
of the percolator, and its capacity, less or a great deal
more may be obtained. When definite quantities of
syrups are made, towards the end of the process the
sugar must be heaped towards the centre of the perco¬
lator, because, since the process of displacement pro¬
gresses faster in the centre over the orifice than at the
circumference of the percolator, the sugar is dissolved
fastest there, and when dissolved down to the sponge
allows the menstruum to pass without dissolving the
balance. In a continuous process this precaution is
unnecessary. By percolation, when properly conducted,
syrups are obtained absolutely clear, just as if filtered

through paper. .

Some of the syrups of the Pharmacopoeia cannot be
prepared by any other than the cold process, for instance
syrupus allii, syrupus pruni Virginian®, and with these, as
also with fruit syrups, percolation may be considered the
ne plus ultra of perfection. In most of. the syrups of the
Pharmacopoeia filtration can be combined with percola¬
tion. For instance: It is not necessary to filter th.e
aqueous tincture of orange peel when syrupus aurantu
corticis is prepared, but after adding water to the evapo¬
rated portion, as directed, the turbid liquid may be imme¬
diately percolated with the sugar ; or, for syrupus
ipeeacuanhae, two fluid ounces of fluid extract of ipeca¬
cuanha are diluted with 12 fluidounces of water and,
without filtering, may be percolated with 26 troyounces
of sugar for 32 fluidounces of syrup. In each case a
transparent syrup results. Syrupus scillso compositus may
be prepared in two ways. The tincture of seneka and
squill is prepared by percolation, then evaporated to half
a pint and 14 ounces of water added, just as the Phar¬
macopoeia directs. To this the tartrate of antimony and
potassium is added, or the latter can also be dissolved m
the water before mixing with the evaporated solution ;
the mixed solution is then percolated with 42 troyounces
of sugar, and sufficient water is added through the perco¬
lator until the percolate measures three pints. Another
method is, to use the fluid extract of squill and seneka,
and proceed the same as above. Both methods furnish
good products, only the latter contains some alcohol from
the fluid extracts which the former does not.

Syrupus Ferri Iodidi.— The filtered solution of iodide

of iron, prepared from 2 troyounces iodine, quant, sat. of
iron and water, measuring 10 fluidounces, is percolated
with 16 troyounces of sugar, and, if necessary, sufficient
distilled water is added to make the product measure 20
fluidounces. In this instance a filtered solution is prefer¬
able, although one not filtered could be used.

The other syrups of the Pharmacopoeia can be made
the same manner, using for each the tincture or
aqueous solution, as directed, and then percolating with
sugar, either the quantity prescribed or as much as the
syrup ought to contain.

A goodly number of physicians prescribe fruit syrups ,
such as raspberry, strawberry, etc. The exquisite flavour
of these is preserved to the possibly fullest degree by
percolation. It is inexcusable for an apothecary to dis¬
pense, in prescriptions, the artificial preparations. During
the respective seasons of the fruits any convenient quan¬
tity of fresh, ripe fruit is expressed, the . expressed juice
is allowed to ferment and percolated with sugar quant,
sat. Strawberry syrup was prepared as follows :. A
gallon of fresh, plump fruit, after being pounded into
a pulp of uniform consistency, in a porcelain mortar,
was put into a glass covered vessel and allowed to fer¬
ment. This, according to the state of temperature, may
take from three to five days. To accelerate and com¬
plete the process of fermentation the vessel ought to be
shaken once or twice a day, to reincorporate the mass
which gathers on the surface of the juice. When fer¬
mentation has been completed this mass will generally
settle to the bottom of the vessel. When the expressed
fruit juice is fermented no shaking is necessary ; but
the work of gaining the juice by pressure is exceed¬
ingly tedious, on account of the gelatinous consistence
(pectin) of the fruit, which allows the pressure to be
but very slowly aud gradually applied. If the pressure
is applied suddenly and powerfully, the press bag or cloth
will be torn invariably. On account of this drawback
it is more expedient to ferment the crushed fruit and
then express. Fermentation can be observed and its
cessation determined to a nicety if a glass bent tube
inserted air tight in the cork of the vessel containing, the
fruit and its free arm is made to dip about. one-half inch
into water contained in a small glass vial, when the
finishing of fermentation is indicated by cessation of
evolution of carbonic acid gas escaping through the glass
tube under water in small bubbles. The expressed, fer¬
mented juice from the gallon of strawberries measured
2f pints. This was percolated with 72 troyounces loaf
sugar. The resulting syrup measured 5 pints. Rasp¬
berry syrup was prepared in the same manner.. Of both
syrups prepared in the summers of ’78 and ’79, I have
some on hand now, which, in the summer gone by, was
exposed to a temperature of between 80° and 85 F anr.
without spoiling. To insure the keeping qualities of
syrups prepared by percolation from fermented fruit
juices, it is of paramount necessity to use only such
juices in which fermentation has been complete, they
(the syrups) ought also to hold in solution a sufficient
quantity of sugar. Percolation regulates this to a nicety ,
by it as much sugar will pass into solution , as can be
conveniently held, and this is the best criterion of how
much sugar a syrup ought to contain. Percolated syrups
will not deposit any crystallized sugar in the bottles, except
if they are exposed to a continuous low temperature.

The German Pharmacopoeia directs heating to the

boiling point for most of its syrups. It is asserted by
some that syrups ought to be boiled, or heated to the
boilino- point, to effect precipitation of impurities. . Our
Pharmacopoeia does not seem to be of the same opinion,
since, with the exception of only a few, it either employs
a gentle heat (90° to 1008 F.) or none at all. Further¬
more, it is obvious that the use of heat would, m
some of the syrups, totally destroy the medicinal pro¬
perties for which they are generally prescribed and in
some which have flavours, of extreme volatility these
would be more or less impaired.

802

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 26, 1881.

PAPAINE ; A NEW CONTRIBUTION TO THE
HISTORY OF SOLUBLE FERMENTS.*

BY AD. WURTZ.

The author had established some time ago {American
Journal of Pharmacy , November 1880, p. 568) that
papaine, the soluble ferment of Carica papaya, is closely
connected with the albuminoid substances, both in its
composition and chemical properties ; and, the researches
having been continued, he is now able to give some details
regarding its digestive power, and to express an idea as
to its mode of action. In order to appreciate the energy
of its digestive power, a product which had been purified
by means of subacetate of lead was operated with, and
the analysis of which has been previously communicated.

In one experiment 0'1 gram of the papaine was digested
with 100 grams of moist fibrin, mixed with 500 cubic
centimetres of distilled water, to which some drops of
prussic acid were added. At the end of thirty-six hours
the mixture was filtered, and an insoluble residue of
dyspeptone collected, weighing when dry 2'5 grams. The
peptonic solution, which was precipitated by nitric acid
to which 500 grams of alcohol were added, furnished an
abundant precipitate of parapeptone, which weighed after
drying 8 ‘9 grams, while the alcoholic solution left upon
evaporation and drying a brown residue weighing 10'3
grams. The residue, having been taken up again with
water, the solution ceased to give a precipitate with nitric
acid, and when evaporated left a heavy brown coloured
syrup, which deposited crystals ; the latter, after being
purified by several crystallizations from water, with the
addition of animal charcoal, was obtained in the form of
colourless crystalline plates, presenting the appearance
of leucin.

It results from this experiment that the papaine had
dissolved 1000 times its weight of moist fibrin, of which
the largest portion had been transformed into peptone
not precipitable by nitric acid, and that, in consequence
of the complete hydration of the fibrin, it had even
formed a small quantity of a crystallizable amide body, it
being known that the same occurs in the process of
good peptic digestion.

In another experiment 0'05 gram of the same papaine
liquefied 100 grams, that is to say two thousand times its
weight, of moist fibrin, with the exception of a residue of
dyspeptone, weighing after drying 4'2 grams ; and
regarding the latter it may be stated that it is always
mixed with some impurities, such as hair, straw, etc.

The energy of this digestive action has inclined me to
think that in time the ferment, being of an albuminoid
nature, would be able to act upon itself in such a way as
to cause its hydration, and experience has verified this
prevision. When an aqueous solution of papaine, con¬
tained in a sealed tube, is allowed to remain at 50° C.
for several weeks, it becomes slightly turbid, and contains
then in solution a product more hydrated than the original,
as shown by the following experiments.

Three grams of purified papaine, containing, a deduction
being made for the ash, C 52'19, H 7T2, N 16 '4, were
dissolved in 20 cubic centimetres of water and heated for
fifteen days to 50° C. ; the solution became turbid and
deposited 0'064 gram of a substance containing 0'007
gram of ash. The filtered solution evaporated in vacuo,
and precipitated by alcohol, furnished 1*8 gram of colour¬
less papaine, which gave on analysis, deduction being
made for the ash, C 51 '29, H 7 '02. The alcoholic mother
liquid furnished 0'65 gram of a residue in which crystals
were slowly formed, apparently identical with the crys¬
tallized nitrogenous matter separated from the juice of
the papaya, and which will be referred to later. 1 '5 gram
of papaine, already modified by the action of water, was
redissolved in 20 cubic centimetres of water and the

* Jour, tie Phar. et de Ohim., January, 1881. Reprinted
from the American Journal of Pharmacy, February,
1881.

solution again heated for fifteen days to 50° C. The
solution precipitated by alcohol then gave a product
containing, deduction being made for the ash, C. 50 '46, ! ?
50 '42, H 7 '38, and the alcoholic mother liquid on evapora¬
tion left an uncrystallizable residue weighing 0T6 (
gram. It is thus seen that by simple digestion with
water at 50° C. the composition of the papaine becomes
so modified as to cause a decrease of 2 per cent, of
carbon.

This conclusion has been strengthened by a new experi¬
ment, in which 5 grams of papaine, containing C 5T8,

H 7'2, having been heated for two months with 20 cubic
centimetres of water at 50 9 C., furnished a papaine
containing C. 49'8, 50'3, H 7’3, 7'4. At 100° C., the
action of water on the papaine is still more pronounced.

4 grams of papaine, dissolved in 45 cubic centimetres of
water, were heated in a closed vessel for ten days at
100° C., the liquid depositing 0'084 gram of a precipitate
which contained but 0'0015 of ash. Precipitated by
alcohol, this solution gave a brown deposit containing, a
deduction being made for the ash, C 47'66, H 8T4, and
the mother liquor left on evaporation an amorphous
residue weighing I'll 4 gram. Some experiments may be i*
finally mentioned, which will, perhaps, throw some light
on the mode of action of the papaine.

0'3 gram of papaine was dissolved in 50 cubic centi¬
metres of water, and 10 grams of fibrin digested with
this solution ; and at the end of twenty minutes the
liquid was expressed and the fibrin subjected to prolonged
washing with cold water. In the liquid obtained by the
expression of the fibrin a new portion of 15 grams was
digested, and at the expiration of half an hour this
second portion of fibrin was expressed, and washed as
the first. Both portions (the first reduced to 7 grams by
the commencement of digestion, the second to 14 grams)
were digested at 40° C. with pure water, when both
becamce dissolved, the second leaving a residue of 4
grams of moist dyspeptone.

In these two experiments the washings had certainly
removed the dissolved ferment, and the washed fibrin
would not have been able to dissolve except by the action
of a portion of ferment fixed upon it, or perhaps combined
with it ; the ferment fixed upon the fibrin in an insoluble
state had then redissolved it in consequence of the hydra- •<
tion of the fibrin.

The objection could be made that the ferment is
retained by the fibrin in consequence of the difficulty of
causing the water to penetrate in the flocks, and in
response to this objection the following experiment has
been made.

Seventeen grams of fibrin were cut as finely as possi¬
ble with the scissors, then put in contact with a weak
solution of papaine for ten minutes at ordinary tempera¬
tures, then expressed and washed for half an hour under
a strong stream of water ; finally, ten times in succession,
and with expression, with distilled water. The last wash
water, put in contact at 40° C. with the fibrin, did not
dissolve from one day to the next the least trace of these
substances. The fibrin thus treated and washed was
digested at 40° C. with 75 cubic centimetres of pure
water, when the following day the solution was complete,
with the exception of a residue of 0T7 gram of dry
dyspeptone.

It is, then, established that the papaine commences by
fixing itself upon the fibrin, and that the insoluble product,
perhaps a combination of the fibrin and the papaine,
gives by the action of water the soluble products of
hydration of the fibrin, at the same time the ferment
being again set free can exercise its action on a new
portion of fibrin.

This action will thus be found to recall that of the
chemical agents, properly speaking, — sulphuric acid, for
example, —small quantities of which can exercise a
hydrating action, in consequence of the ephemeral forma¬
tion of combinations which are produced and resolved
without cessation.

I

March 26, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

803

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, books for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ.”

PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE ALKALI ACTS.

Although two years and a lialf have now elapsed
since the Royal Commission appointed to inquire
into the working and management of works from
which sulphurous, ammoniacal and other noxious
vapours are given off, and as to the effect produced by
such vapours upon animal and vegetable life, pre¬
sented its report, and although that report disclosed
a state of affairs urgently demanding strict and
judicious regulation, no legislation has yet been
effected upon the subject. This delay has, however,
not been due to an ignoring of the necessity, for
both last year and the year before a Government
Bill dealing with the subject was introduced into the
House of Commons, but towards the end of each
session was eventually sacrificed in favour of other
legislation that was considered more pressing. This
year a fresh experiment has been made, but it has
been commenced in the House of Lords, and a Bill
to consolidate the Alkali Acts of 1863 and 1874, and
to make further provision for regulating alkali and
j certain other works in which noxious or offensive gases
are involved, having passed safely through the ordeal of
the upper House, now awaits a second reading in the
House of Commons. Whether it will be more
successful than its predecessors may well be doubted,
but it is very desirable that a question so largely
affecting the health and property of the public in
many localities should be disposed of without further
delay.

The present Bill is divided into three parts, the
first relating to alkali works, the second to sulphuric
acid works and other specified works, and the third
to registration, inspection, methods of procedure, etc.
It is proposed that the Act, if passed, shall come into
operation on January 1, 1882, and it being a consoli¬
dating Act, provision is made for the repeal of the
Alkali Acts of 1863 and 1874, except as to the liabili¬
ties incurred under them previous to the passing of
the present Bill.

The Bill provides that every alkali work shall be so
carried on as to secure the condensation, to the satis¬
faction of the inspector, of the muriatic acid evolved
in such work to such an extent that each cubic foot
of air, smoke or chimney gas escaping into the atmo¬
sphere shall not contain more than one-fifth of a
grain of muriatic acid. Further the acid gases evolved

in the manufacture of sulphuric acid or sulphates in
such a work are to be so condensed that the gases
escaping into the atmosphere shall not contain in
each cubic foot more than is equivalent to four
grains of sulphuric anhydride. This is a less strin¬
gent provision than was recommended in the Report
of the Royal Commission, where a maximum con¬
taining equal to one grain of sulphur per cubic foot
was suggested, which .calculated to sulphuric anhy¬
dride would be equal to two and a half grains per
cubic foot. But the fact that legislation is still
required for restriction even to the larger quantity
evidences the great desirability for carrying it out
without further delay.

Alkali waste is another subject that the Bill pro¬
poses to regulate not an hour too soon. Every work
in which alkali waste is produced is to be so con¬
ducted that neither waste nor drainage from it,
so long as it contains sulphide, shall come into con¬
tact with acid liquid, and in a like manner, where
acid is produced it is to be prevented from coming
into contact with alkali waste containing sulphide.
The penalties under which these provisions are to be
enforced are fifty pounds for a first and one hundred
pounds for a second offence.

Sulphuric acid works are likewise proposed to be re¬
stricted to an escape equal to four grains of sulphuric
anhydride per cubic foot, and into the same category
come a number of manufactures referred to in the
Bill as “scheduled works. These include cement
works, where aluminous deposits are treated for
the purpose of making cement ; chemical manure
works ; gas liquor works ; nitric acid works ; sul¬
phate and muriate of ammonia works ; and chlorine
works, where the manufacture of chlorine, bleaching
powder or bleaching liquor is carried on.

In addition to the condensation of the gases spe¬
cifically mentioned there are general provisions that
the owners of such works shall use the best practic¬
able means of preventing the discharge into the
atmosphere of all noxious and offensive gases
and for rendering such gases harmless and inof¬
fensive when discharged. In the event of a failure,
in the opinion of the Court having cognizance of the
matter, to use such means, the owner will be liable
to a penalty of twenty pounds for a first offence, fifty
for a second, and five pounds for every subsequent
day during which the offence is continued.

In order to facilitate the carrying out of the
inspection it is provided that after the 1st of April)
1882, no alkali or scheduled work shall be carried on
unless it is certified to be registered. The certificates
are to last for one year and are to be taken out at
the commencement of each year, a duty of five
pounds in respect to alkali works and of three pounds
in respect to a scheduled work being paid for each
certificate.

It is intended that the inspectors shall be appointed
by, and the Act carried out under the supervision of
the Local Government Board, and that Body would be

804

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 26, 1881.

entrusted with the power of making such modifica¬
tions, subject to the approval of Parliament, as may
be deemed to be warranted in consequence of improve¬
ments in apparatus.

THE ANNUAL DINNER.

In accordance with an announcement made in
these columns and by advertisement, a public meet¬
ing was held at 17, Bloomsbury Square, on Wednes¬
day, the 9th inst., to make preliminary arrangements
for the Tenth Annual Dinner of the Members of the
Pharmaceutical Society and their friends. At this
meeting two resolutions were passed, the first to the
effect that the Dinner should be held at Willis’s
Rooms, on Tuesday, May 17, and the second fixing
the price of the tickets at 30s. each and deciding that
they should be obtainable only from the Honorary
Secretary. The following gentlemen were appointed
a Committee to carry out the necessary arrange¬
ments: — The President, and Messrs. Attfield,
Butt, Carteighe, Paul and Robbins. Mr.
Richard Bremridge was appointed Honorary
Secretary.

PHARMACY AT THE ANTIPODES.

At a meeting of chemists and druggists held last
October in Brisbane, for the purpose of “ considering
the advisability of forming an Association for the
conservation of the interests of the profession in
the colony of Queensland,” resolutions were adopted
inaugurating a Pharmaceutical Society of Queens¬
land, and a committee was appointed to draw up a
Constitution and Code of Rules. This work was
promptly carried out and on the 22nd of November
twelve gentlemen were elected to form the first
Council. A ballot resulted in the election of Mr.
Edward Taylor as President, Mr. J. H. Fitz-
gibbon as Vice-President, Mr. M. Ward as Trea¬
surer, and Mr. C. H. F. Yeo as Secretary.

In the twenty-fourth Annual Report of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria, a copy of which
has just been received, reference is made to an
unsuccessful attempt to induce the authorities of the
Melbourne University to include pharmacy in their
courses of lectures, and a hope is expressed that a
satisfactory arrangement for giving instruction in
pharmacy will shortly be made with the trustees of
the local Technological Museum.

PERSIAN OPIUM.

In a recent report from Mr. Consul-General Ross
on the trade and commerce of the Persian Gulf, he
states that the cultivation of the poppy in Persia is
yearly extending to fresh districts, and that now
about Shiraz and in Behbehan it is occupying much
of the land. This industry is generally regarded in
Persia as being highly beneficial to the country, by
increasing the revenue, and affording employment to
a large number of labourers.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting will be held at the rooms, 32a, George
Street, Hanover Square, on Wednesday, March 30,
when Mr. G. Brownen, F.C.S., will read a paper on
‘ Phosphoric Acid and some of its Combinations, ”

Cr aits actions of tbe pharmaceutical

Sffcitto.

NORTH BRITISH BRANCH.

The fifth meeting of the twenty- seventh session was
held on the 16th inst., in the rooms of the Society, 119a,
George Street, Edinburgh, Mr. J. B. Stephenson, President
of the Branch, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Honorary Secretary announced the following
donations : —

To the Library. — (1) The Pharmacist and Chemist ,
for February, from the Chicago College of Pharmacy ;

(2) The 24th ‘ Annual Report’ of the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria for 1881 ; from the
Council ; (3) The Supplement to the Chemist and Drug¬
gist , for November and December, 1880 (Australasian
supplements only), from the Pharmaceutical Society of
Victoria.

The Museum. — A few of the more important specimens
received from the Society in London, as announced at
previous meeting, were exhibited.

Mr. William Hume, Technical Chemist, Edinburgh,
delivered an address on the “ Rise and Progress of
Photography.” The descriptive sketch which he gave of
this art, especially of the progress made in recent years,
was very interesting, illustrated as it was by a number of
experiments showing how the different processes now
practised by professional photographers had been
developed. Many beautiful examples of some of the
processes adorned the walls of the Lecture Room.

The following is a resume of Mr. Hume’s address : — -

The Rise and Progress of Photography.

After some preliminary remarks, Mr. Hume said,
although it is impossible to draw any hard lines of distinc¬
tion, I shall find it convenient to divide my subject into
four sections; 1st, I shall endeavour to give you a brief
historical sketch, together with the leading optical and
chemical principles of photography, and this will lead me ,<
gradually, in the second place, to speak of the methods of
obtaining photographs direct from natural and other
objects. I shall then describe some of the principal
methods of reproducing photographs, and, lastly, mention
some of the many applications of photography. After
observing that there must be some present who remem¬
bered when there was no sun painting, Mr. Hume
referred to the black profiles and delicate minature
pictures common before the introduction of photography
and handed round specimens of these. He referred next
to the general action of light and its effect upon many
things, colours fading, old coats turning green, mahogany
darkened, oil bleached, skin tanned, and quoted Sir
Walter Scott, —

“ What though the sun, with ardent frown,

Had slightly tinged her cheek with brown.”

He next came from the general to the particular, and spoke
of the alchemist’s knowledge of silver chloride and its pro¬
perty of darkening upon exposure to light as remaining with
them an isolated fact too insignificant for men in search
of the philosopher’s stone, etc. Scheele, in 1777, was the
first to investigate this phenomenon, even his researches
leading to nothing directly bearing on the subject.
Ritter, of Jena, a few years later discovered the important
fact that silver chloride darkened most rapidly under the
violet and ultra-violet end of the spectrum. Thomas
Wedgwood, associated with Sir H. Davy, was the first to
produce photographic impressions of ferns, lace, and
paintings on glass, etc., by coating paper with nitrate of
silver solution. (Here fern prints, positive and negative,
were shown.) He afterwards found silver chloride answered
better. (Expt. Paper, prepared by floating it on solution of

March 26, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

805

i — -

sodium chloride and when dry brushing it over with solu¬
tion of silver nitrate, was taken, a dried fern pinned on,
and a piece of magnesium wire burned before it ; on
, removing the fern a distinct impression of it was seen.)
These great chemists ransacked their laboratories in vain
for some fixing agent. Niepce, of Chalon, in France, 1814,

I was the first to produce permanent photographs upon a
metal plate coated with solution of asphaltum in oil of
; lavender, the light bleaching the bitumen and rendering
it insoluble in oil of lavender. The plate was afterwards
I etched with acid ; this process was called heliography.

Daguerre, a clever French painter, inventor of the
! Diorama, began a series of experiments in 1824 with the
! view of fixing the image obtained in his camera obscura,
that beautiful invention of Baptista Porta’s. He worked
i away with little success, and entered into partnership with
! Nifepce in 1829. He observed how sensitive to light is a
I silver plate which has been subjected to the vapours of
{ iodine. After fifteen years of incessant toil he published
the daguerrotype process, and was afterwards awarded a
! pension from the French Government. (Here the daguerro-
j type process was described and specimens shown.)

In 1839, Henry Fox Talbot, six months previous to
I publication of Daguerre’s process, had read a paper before
: the Royal Society on photogenic drawings taken on paper
coated with silver chloride. He found silver iodide more
sensitive. He was even able to obtain instantaneous
pictures. The Rev. J. B. Reade discovered the accelera¬
ting power of gallic acid. (Hereexpt. Silver iodide paper
with fern 'pinned on was exposed to magnesium light and
the latent image referred to and developed by immersion
in a solution of gallic acid.) Fox Talbot’s calotype pro-
; cess was referred to as a process by which any number of
i copies can be produced, showing a superiority over
j daguerrotype, which can only yield one at a time.

; All these early workers had the utmost difficulty in
finding a suitable fixing agent, and it was not until Sir
1 John Herschel suggested the use of sodium hyposulphite
j that this desirable object was attained. The great
I astronomer also suggested the use of glass as a supporting
j medium for the vehicles holding the sensitive salts of
silver. Niepce de St. Victor, of Paris, obtained excellent
results by coating plates with a solution of albumen
j containing alkaline iodides and immersing these in a bath
of silver nitrate, thus forming a film of silver iodide. At
: this stage in the history of photography the new explosive,
gun cotton, was occupying some attention and from its
property of dissolving in ether, Le Gray suggested its use
in photography. In 1851 Scott Archer published the
| collodion process which reduced the art to the last degree
of simplicity. This process, modified in various ways to
suit different applications, has answered all the purposes
of the amateur and professional photographer, until
within recent years the gelatino-bromide process threatens
i to. supplant it altogether.

A glass plate was now coated with collodion and
immersed in a bath of silver nitrate. While there, the
| camera and lens were shown, and their use explained.
Taking the plate from the bath the creamy like film of
silver iodide was shown; with a diamond the plate was
cut in two, one portion plunged in a solution of sodium
hyposulphite and the other in a solution of potassium
cyanide, when in both cases the silver iodide was dissolved
out of the collodion film, thus showing the action of those
two useful fixing agents.

The gas was then turned ' out and a ruby lamp lit,
when another plate was prepared and exposed for a few
seconds under a negative before a gas flame. The
development of the latent image was then shown on the
screen by immersing the plate in the developing solution
held in a glass trough on the stage of a magic lantern,
when the image gradually made its appearance; after
i rinsing with water, a trough containing the fixing solution
was placed in the lantern and the plate immersed in this,
when the picture became clearer as the iodide of silver
was dissolved out of the film.

Before relighting the gas the gelalino-bromide was
referred to and the rapidity with which pictures could le
obtained by it was shown, first by the exhibition of an in¬
stantaneous picture of a steam tug, taken while going full
speed, the cordage even being sharply defined as well as
the action of the waves. This picture was allowed to re¬
main in the lantern while the spring shutter with which
it was taken was fitted on, and on the trigger being pulled
at a given signal the picture was seen for a moment or
less, thus giving an idea of the extremely short exposure
required with these very sensitive plates.

The gas being relit the difference between a positive
and a negative was pointed out and examples of each
shown.

In coming to the reproduction of photographs, the pro¬
cess of silver printing on albumenized paper was first
described and the toning and fixing of the prints explained ;
also the difference between a plain and vignetted print.

Leaving the silver process, the speaker next turned to
another department of photographic printing, based on
Ponton’s discovery, in 1843, that potassium bichromate in
combination with gelatine or other organic substances
became insoluble when exposed to light. The carbon
process, woodburytype, collotype, lichtdruck, photolitho¬
graphy, photogravure, etc., etc., were all briefly explained
and shown to be based on Ponton’s discovery.

A very fine life-size enlargement in carbon from a
carte-de-visite negative was hung on the wall, together
with carbon prints in various tints, very beautiful ex¬
amples of silver prints, woodburytype and other processes
mentioned above.

A photolithograph nearly 40 feet long was shown. A
frame containing some exquisite platinum prints was
shown and their permanency mentioned.

After referring to photo enamels or burnt-in photographs
on opal glass and photo- sculpture, as practised in Paris,
several specimens of a process for reproducing engineers’
and architects’ plans were exhibited, the lines being white
upon a blue ground (cyanotype).

Referring to the applications of photography, Mr. Hume,
quoting Shakspere, said “ Nature never lends the smallest
scruple of her excellence but she determines to herself the
glory of a creditor both thanks and use.” As must have
been seen, photography borrows largely from the physical
sciences, so she repays with good iuterest, for she willingly
lends her aid to all the arts and sciences. Amongst those
mentioned were its application in meteorology to the auto¬
matic registering of thermometric and barometric readings,
and the variations in the earth’s magnetism, application to
microscopy, astro- and spectro-photography, repression of
crime, military experiments, torpedoes, etc., progress of
engineering work, official photos of the Tay Bridge
disaster, surgical operations, impressions on wood blocks
for engravers, on canvas for artists, photography by arti¬
ficial light, gas, magnesium, electric light, pyrotechnic
mixtures in caves, pyramids, catacombs, etc.

On the motion of the President, who was supported by
Mr. Mackay, a most hearty vote of thanks was given to
Mr. Hume, by a large and appreciative audience.

|)robmcial ffransactians.

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

Assistants’ Section.

The fifth meeting of the session was held in Anderson’s
College, George Street, on Wednesday, March 16, at
9 p.m., Mr. Lees, Vice-President, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read
and adopted,

Mr. J. Laing introduced a very interesting discussion
upon the Pharmacy Act and the proposed amendments.

806

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 2G, 1881.

In treating consecutively the various clauses of the pro¬
posed amendments, he contended that the widow’s clause
had a special claim for the sympathy and support of the
trade, as widows possessed a certain interest and moral
right to be allowed to carry on business by means of
a qualified assistant, which right a corpoi’ate body
could not claim, upon the ground that corporations
assumed the calling, not necessarily for their support, but
upon mere speculative anticipations.

Messrs. Lees and Adams agreed that the amendments
called more for the protection of the chemist than the
public, and were of opinion that that would not escape
the vigilant eye of Parliament.

Mr. Lees, referring to the widow’s clause, said that the
sympathy herein expressed would not make the least
impression upon the policy or decision of Government.

Mr. G. S. Illingworth remarked that the safety which
the public at present enjoyed depended entirely upon the
poisons clause, and if any additional protection was to
be obtained from an amendment, it could only arise from
every shop or dispensary being compelled to engage a
qualified assistant or manager.

The discussion was continued till a late hour, when on
the motion of Mr. Lees, seconded by Mr. Illingworth, a
hearty vote of thanks -was accorded to Mr. Laing.

PRESTON PHARMACEUTICAL STUDENTS’

SOCIETY.

The first annual general meeting of the above Society
was held on Tuesday night, March 22, at the rooms, 41,
Avenham Street, Mr. T. H. Greenall, President, in the
chair. The following report was read and passed : —
“Your Committee have pleasure in bringing before
you the balance sheet for the year, showing a nett

balance in Treasurer’s hands of £2 18s. Id.

Balance Sheet.

Or. £ s. d.

By members’ subscriptions from March, 1880,

to March, 1881 . 4 10 0

„ members’ subscriptions from September,

1880, to September, 1881 . 117 6

„ fees of outside students to science classes .17 6

„ donations . 1153

9 10 _ 3

Dr. £ s. cl.

To rent of room . -.3140

„ coal and gas . 047

„ stationary and printing . 01211

,, incidental expenses . 2 0 8

Balance in hand . 2 18 1

9 10 3

“ In presenting their first annual report your Com¬
mittee congratulate the members on the successful result
of your undertaking in March last.

“ During the year the Society has increased from 11 to
18 members. The room being found too small has been
considerably enlarged.

“ In the summer months a class in botany was con¬
ducted by Mr. T. H. Greenall; also one in pharmacy by
Mr. S. J. Elliott, both of which were well attended.

“ A series of papers on materia medica have been read
during the year, the most prominent being ‘ Chloroform
and Ethyl Bromide,’ by Mr. J. W. Miller; ‘Preserva¬
tion of Herbs,’ by Mr. Thistleton; ‘Opium,’ by Mr.
A. Wilson ; ' Cinchona,’ by Mr. A. S. Denham ;
‘ Aloes,’ by Mr. S. J. Elliott; ‘ Rhubarb,’ by Mr. W. A.
Parkinson.

“ Classes in connection with the South Kensington
Science Department, conducted by Mr. Greenall, were
commenced in September, when 18 members enrolled
themselves for botany and chemistry.

“ At Christmas, an examination was held in botany,
Mr. S. J. Elliott taking the first prize (senior), Mr.
Parker first prize (junior).

“ The Committee take this opportunity of thanking
the following gentlemen for their kindness in helping
them by the loan of herbaria, materia medica, cabinets,
etc. : — Messrs. R. Singleton, W. A. Parkinson and L.
Todd; and by donations of books, etc., Messrs. Case
(Clay, Dod and Case), Poulson (Cox, Poulson and Co.),
L. Todd, Preston, Oldfield (Oldfield, Pattinson and Co.),
Clarke (Langton, Eddon, Hicks and Clarke).”

After the President’s address, the following resolution
was passed: — “That thanks be forwarded to Messrs.
Maw, Son and Thompson and Barron, Harvey and Co.,
for donations, and Messrs. Evans, Sons and Co., for
materia medica cabinet.”

Thanks were given to the retiring Committee, and the
following were appointed to serve the next half-year : —
President, Mr. T. H. Greenall; Vice-President, Mr.
S. J. Elliott; Messrs. Thistleton, Wilson, Norris and
Livesey ; Treasurer, Mr. R. Singleton ; Secretary, Mr.
A. S. Denham, 8, Regent Street.

Uroce^bhigs of jSacntific .Somites.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday,
March 17, Professor Roscoe, President, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The following certificates were read for the first time :
— A. J. Anderson, B. Browning, T. R. Ord, G. C. Robin¬
son, W. R. Smith.

During the evening the following gentlemen were
balloted for, and declared duly elected Eellows of the
Society, the Scrutators being Dr. Japp and Mr. J.
Spiller: — W. E. Adeney, H. Borras, J. F. Braga, T. C.
Day, R. A. Edgell, E. T. G. Gill, M. Hiddingh, O. B.
Mills, O. V. Pisani, L. F. O’Shea, F. Tiemann, G.
Valentine, A. Walker.

The following papers were read —

On the Volume of Mixed Liquids. By F. D. Brown. —
The author was led to make the experiments recorded in
his paper by the necessity of ascertaining with perfect
certainty and tolerable facility the composition of any
given mixture of two liquids. This necessity arose in
some other researches in which the author was engaged.
He determined to make use of density as the most
readily accessible property. On mixing several liquids in
pairs be found that in most cases a considerable expan-
sion'took place, in a few cases a contraction, whilst in only
one case did the volume remain unaltered. Similar facts
had been observed by MM. Bussy and Buignet. The
author proceeded to measure these changes of volumes
with great exactness. Special precautions were taken
regarding the temperature, the volume and the weight of
the liquid. A very carefully prepared thermometer
was very carefully used. The tubes used for containing
the liquid were of the form suggested by Dr. Sprengel.
The mixtures first tried were carbon disulphide and
benzene, carbon disulphide and carbon tetrachloride,
carbon tetrachloride and benzene. Curves and tables are
given representing the difference between the observed
and calculated volumes. These liquids had no apparent
action on each other. The two first pairs expanded con¬
siderably, the third slightly contracted. The author
thought that perhaps liquids having the same boiling point
might mix without change of volume. This hypothesis was
found to be false in the case of dichlorethane, b.p. 84°,
and benzene, b.p. 80°. Similarly, the idea that substances
whose molecular volumes were the same would mix without
change of volume was proved to be untrue in the case of
dibromet.hane, m.v. 88*6, and benzene, m.v. 86‘6, which sub¬
stances expand when mixed. Finally the author was led

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

807

March 26, 1881.1

i to the conclusion that these changes of volume are
j dependent on the chemical character of the molecules
! and are entirely independent of such physical properties
as the vapour tension, molecular volume, etc., similar
curves being obtained with mixtures of carbon tetra-
! chloride and benzene and carbon tetrachloride and
j toluene. All the above experiments were made at 20° C.
j From the experiments of Mendeljeff and Dupr<5 and
! Page it would seem that the change of volume would be
less marked at higher temperatures.

Professor McLeod asked if in every case, whether
expansion or contraction took place, heat was evolved on
mixing.

Dr. Debus asked whether at the point of maximum 1
expansion of a mixture the proportion of liquids in that
! mixture indicated a simple molecular relation, and
whether expansion was always accompanied by absorp-
i tion and contraction by liberation of heat.

Mr. Brown said that it was very difficult to say, as the
curve was nearly horizontal, where the point of maximum
expansion really occurred, but in the case of alcohol and
water the greatest contraction seemed to take place when
1 molecule of alcohol was mixed with three of water.
Expansion was not always accompanied by absorption of
heat.

The next paper was read by Mr. R. Cowper —

On the Action of Alcohol on Mercuric Nitrate. — With
the intention of preparing some fulminate of mercury, the
author had dissolved some mercury in nitric acid, and
from accidental circumstances had left the solution
standing some days before adding alcohol. On the
addition of this substance and heating, a precipitate
formed which was not fulminate of mercury. The in¬
vestigation of this body is given in the present paper.
Its formation was first observed by Soluro and Selmi,
and afterwards investigated by Gerhardt, who describes
it as a nitrate of ethyl, the hydrogen of which is entirely
replaced by mercury, crystallized with a molecule of
mercuric nitrate and 2 molecules of water,

C4Hg5(N03)2Hg(N03)22H20 :

this substance was not recrystallized and was probably
impure. Mercury is dissolved in twelve times its weight
of nitric acid (1'3), the solution is allowed to stand until
all nitrous fumes have escaped and the liquid is colourless;
j twelve parts by weight of pure alcohol, sp. gr. -80, are
added and the mixture heated. As soon as a precipitate
forms, the source of heat is withdrawn. The crystalline
precipitate is washed with alcohol and then with water.
It was recrystallized from dilute nitric acid (1 vol. in 4)
and gave on analysis the formula (C2H2Hg302)"(N03)2.
It detonates when mixed with sand, and struck. If its
temperature be raised rapidly it explodes at 129° — 130°.
If the temperature be raised very slowly it decomposes
quietly, leaving oxide and nitrate of mercury. This
substance can be prepared without heat. Treated with
fuming nitric acid and alcohol it yields fulminate. It
may be regarded as the nitrate of a dyad radical con¬
sisting of acetylene combined with mercury and mercuric
oxide. By treatment with potash a hydrate was obtained
(C2H.2Hg302) (HO)o. By treatment with potassic oxalate
an oxalate was obtained from the nitrate with the formula
i (C2H2Hg j02) C204. Sulphuretted hydrogen decomposes
the nitrate, forming mercaptan and mercury sulphide. In
a note appended to the paper Dr. Debus looks upon this
new base as belonging to tho type glycol, C2H4(HO)2, new
base, (C2H2Hg302)(H0)2.

Dr. Debus referred to the interesting nature of the
paper just read. This substance was interesting in two
ways, first, because it was a step towards fulminate of
mercury from alcohol and mercury nitrate, and secondly,
because of its constitution. He was at first inclined to view
the substance as a compound of acetylene, C2H2, with
orthonitrate of mercury, C2H2.Hg3(N04)2, but it was
evident from its behaviour that we had really to do
with an organic base containing mercury. In answer to
a question of Dr. Armstrong, he stated that free nitric

acid was in all probability always present as well as
mercury nitrate.

On Boron Hydride. —By F. Jones and R. L. Taylor.—
The authors found that magnesium boride could not be
formed by acting on boroflaoride of potassium with po¬
tassium. They give three methods for the preparation
of this substance. The first consists in acting on boric
anhydride with magnesium. Boric anhydride, which
has been recently and thoroughly ignited, is mixed
with twice its weight of magnesium dust, placed in a
crucible, the lid of which is firmly wired down, and heated
in an ordinary fire. The reaction is violent ; as soon as it
is completed the crucible is removed from the fire and
allowed to cool. The residue in the crucible is chiefly a
grey friable mass, containing boride, nitride and oxide
of magnesium, also boron and magnesium. The second
method consists in heating amorphous boron to a dull red
heat with magnesium dust in a current of hydrogen.
In the third method the vapour of boron trichloride is
passed over heated magnesium dust in an atmosphere of
hydrogen. The first method is the most convenient for
obtaining the magnesium boride in quantity. The boron
hydride is obtained by treating magnesium boride with
hydrochloric acid, but has not been obtained in a pure
state, being always mixed with a large excess of hydrogen.
The gas is colourless, with a most disagreeable odour,
exciting nausea and headache, and is but little soluble in
water. It burns with a green flame, which gives a brown
stain on porcelain ; it is decomposed by heat with separa¬
tion of boron, and gives a black precipitate with silver
nitrate, containing silver and boron. It combines with
ammonia, yielding a compound which is decomposed by
acids. The composition of the hydride, as far as could be
ascertained by combustion of the mixture of hydride and
hydrogen with copper oxide, is represented by the formula
BH3.

On the Action of Aldehydes on Phenanthraquinone in
presence of Amnonia. By Dr. F. R. Japp and Mr. E.
Wilcock. — In a previous paper the authox-s described
the preparation of a benzenylamidophenanthrol by the
action of benzaldehyde containing hydrocyanic acid on
phenanthraquinone. This same compound can be ob¬
tained with greater facility by treating phenanthraqui¬
none, benzaldehyde and aqueous ammonia at 100° in an
open flask on a water-bath. The substance, when puri¬
fied, crystallizes in tufts of colourless silky needles, fusing
at 202°. Similar compounds have been prepared and
studied by substituting cuminaldehyde or furfuralde-
hyde for benzaldehyde. Acetaldehyde has no action on
phenanthraquinone in presence of ammonia. If, how-
ever, phenanthraquinone is heated with aldehyde ammo¬
nia, a product was obtained which could not be purified,
and so its investigation was abandoned. By the action
of salicyl aldehyde on phenanthraquinone a lxew com¬
pound, C21Hl4N20, was obtained, a further investigation
of which is promised.

On the Action of Benzoic Acid on Naphthaquinone. By
Dr. Japp and Mr. N. H. J. Miller. — When naphtha¬
quinone is heated with benzoic acid to about 160°, the
liquefied mass almost solidifies from the separation of
minute crystalline needles. Water is eliminated during
the reaction. The pi'oduct is purified by boiling first
with alcohol to remove the excess' of benzoic acid, then
with anilin, and finally with alcohol again. The new-
compound is thus obtained in microscopic l’amifoi’m
needles, fusing above the range of the mercurial therrno-
metei’, and iixsoluble in all solvents yet tried. Analysis
gave results indicating the fonnula C9H40. Its forma¬
tion may be expressed thus —

2 C10H6O2 + C7Hg02 = C27H1203 + 3 H20.

Naphtha- Benzoic

quinone. acid.

This compound is exceedingly stable. By oxidation with
potassium permanganate in aqueous solution phthalic
but xxo benzoic acid is obtained. The authors find that
naphthaquinone also reacts with varioxxs other acids,

808

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 26, 1881.

both monobasic and dibasic, yielding crystallized com¬
pounds which are still under examination.

In answer to Dr. Armstrong, who criticized the no¬
menclature employed in the first paper, and thought it
was misleading, Dr. Japp stated that he had only fol¬
lowed the precedent of Ladenburg, who first prepared
bodies of this class.

Note on the Appearance of Nitrous Acid during the
Evaporation of Water. By R. Warington. — Selionbein
stated some time ago that whenever pure water or an
alkaline solution is evaporated ammonium nitrite is pro¬
duced, and that the same salt is formed during ordinary
combustion in the air. It has been, however, since
shown by Wright, Carius, etc., that this occurrence of
nitrites is due to impurities in the mateiials used or in
the atmosphere in which the experiments were con¬
ducted. The fact, however, still remains that pure water
evaporated to a small bulk under ordinary conditions will
generally contain nitrous acid. The author has endea¬
voured to determine the conditions under which this
occurs. He finds that pure water when evaporated over
a gas or even a spirit flame always contains nitrites, 1
litre of water in four hours contained O’OS mm. of N, but
that by using steam this quantity is diminished to one-
twelfth, and by evaporating the water in a retort the
introduction of nitrites could be altogether avoided. He
proves also that distilled water when exposed to the
ordinary atmosphere of a room in an evaporating dish
absorbs in a few hours sufficient nitrous acid to be
detected. Less nitrous acid is obtained when the water
is exposed in the country ; thus after twenty-seven days’
exposure in fields, water contained nitrous acid equal to
1 part of nitrogen in 15,000,000 of water. In conclusion,
the author gave some account of the marvellously delicate
test proposed by Griess, which far surpasses the delicate
metaphenylendiamine test. The latter can detect only 1
part of nitrogen as nitrous acid in 10,000,000 of water,
the former gives a distinct reaction with 1 part in
1,000,000,000. The test is described in Deut. Chem. Ges.
Ber., 1879, 427. The solution to be tested is acidified
with hydrochloric acid, a few drops of sulphanilic acid,
and a few drops of an aqueous solution of hydrochlorate
of naphthylamine added ; if nitrous acid is present a rose
colour is developed; in strong solutions a dark red pre¬
cipitate falls. The author expresses his obligation to
Dr. Witt, for calling his attention to the test, and fur¬
nishing him with the necessary materials. The author
exhibited the delicacy of this test, and the absorption of
nitrous acid from the atmosphere of the meeting room by
a dish of water which had been exposed since six in the
evening. The water immediately turned rose-red on the
addition of the solutions.

Dr. Gilbert said that Mr. Warington had proved that
the evaporation of water did not cause the oxidation of
nitrogen, but that the nitrous acid which was found in
water which had been evaporated was derived from
combined nitrogen existing in the fuel or in the air. It
was not, however, so clearly proved that the nitrous acid
in the atmosphere was not produced by the oxidation of
nitrogen.

Mr. J. Spiller had used the metaphenylendiamine test
and had reached the same limit of delicacy as that men¬
tioned by Mr. Warington, 1 in 10,000,000.

Dr. Wright then read a paper by Mr. Rennie and
himself —

On the Sweet Principle of Smilax Glycophylla. — The
leaves of this plant have long been used in Australia as a
remedy for scurvy, etc., but no investigation of the sweet
principle seems to have been hitherto made. The
aqueous extract of the leaves was first treated with alcohol
to precipitate albuminous bodies, filtered and the alcohol
distilled off ; after filtration the residue was then shaken
up with ether two or three times ; the ethereal extract on
evaporation yielded a yellowish crystalline mass readily
soluble in boiling water. This substance on purification
yielded a body, C13Hl406 + 2 or 3H20. Its molecular

weight could not be determined. On fusion with potash
at 250p, acidifying, etc., an acid, C9H10O3, m.p. 127° to
128°, was obtained, giving no coloration with ferric
chloride and an odour of a phenol when heated with soda
lime. As the original substance extracted from the
smilax seems to have properties distinct from the active
principle of ordinary sarsaparilla and from glycyrrhizin,
the authors suggest provisionally the name glycyphyllin.

Note on Usnic A cid and some Products of its Decompo¬
sition. By the late J. Stenhouse and C. E. Groves. —
Pure usnic acid can be prepared from the crude acid,
extracted from Usnea barbata by treatment with lime
and water, by first converting it into an insoluble basic
compound [Chem. Soc. Journ ., 1880). This compound is
then washed, decomposed by boiling with dilute hydro¬
chloric acid and the precipitate collected and washed :
the precipitate is stirred up with a considerable excess
of soda and hydrogen sodium carbonate added in excess;
nearly pure sodium usnate is thus precipitated. This
is purified by resolution and reprecipitation. The pure
sodium usnate is then dissolved in hot spirit containing
soda, and acetic or hydrochloric acid added : pure usnic
acid is thus thrown down in a crystalline state. If pure
sodium usnate be boiled with dilute hydrogen sodium
carbonate for some hours, air being excluded, a yellow
solution is obtained, turning black on exposure to the air.
When 1 part of usnic acid is dissolved in 3 parts by
weight of strong H2S04, the solution heated for three
hours to 60° C.,and then cooled and poured into 15 parts of
water, a flocculent precipitate of usnolic acid, C27H34O10,
is formed. This substance after purification crystallizes
from hot spirit in small yellowish prisms, insoluble in
benzene, carbon disulphide and ether, readily soluble in
dilute alkalies. From the formation of this substance
the authors suggest the formula C54H50O2i for usnic acid,
which also agrees well with the analytical numbers.
The molecular weight of usnolic acid could not be fixed.

The next three papers were taken as read.

On the Absorption of Solar Rays by Atmospheric Ozone,
and on the Blue Tint of the Atmosphere. Part II. By
W. N. Hartley. — The author has adopted for the esti¬
mation of ozone the process in use at the Observatory of
Montsouris. The ozone is absorbed in a solution of
arsenious acid to which a little neutral potassium iodide
has been added. The excess of arsenious acid is estimated
with standard iodine solution. The following are the
author’s conclusions: — 1. Ozone is a constituent of the
higher atmosphere to a much larger extent than near the
earth’s surface. 2. Ozone is destroyed by contact with
gases and organic matter in a moist atmosphere, as near
the earth’s surface, and that the collection of ozone from
the air is attended by the destruction of it to a large ex¬
tent. 3. The absorptive power of the ozone in the air is
quite sufficient to account for the limitation of the solar
spectrum. 4. The blue tint of the atmosphere is largely
due to ozone.

On the Nature of certain Volatile Products contained in
Crude Coal-tar Benzenes. By Watson Smith. — The author
has examined a sample of benzene from a London tar, from
the so-called “first runnings” of the still. After some weeks
of continued fractional distillation the author sp'it up the
product into three main portions : — (1). Boiling 40° to 53° ;
(2). 81° to 82°; (3). Above 82°. No. 1 contained carbon
disulphide, equal to about 6 per cent, of the original crude
benzene and by treatment with bromine furnished bibro-
manylene. No. 2 was pure benzene. The author looked
carefully for alcohol and acetonitrile, but was unable to
detect more than minute traces of either. It is stated by
Vincent and Delachanal, and by Witt, that alcohol occurs
in benzene distilled from coal tar ; but as the products
with which they worked were rectified, i.e., treated with
3 per cent, of strong H2SO2, followed by agitation with
alkaline lyes and subsequent distillation, the author con¬
siders that the vinic alcohol might have been formed
during this rectification.

Contributions from the Laboratory of the Royal College

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

809

March 26, 18S1-]

of Chemistry : — On New Zealand Kauri Oum. By E. H.
j Rennie. — This resin, the produce of the coniferous tree
Dammara australis, was first examined by R. D. Thom-
! son, who obtained by distillation an amber-coloured oil, to
which he gave the name dammarol. M. M. P. Muir also
studied this substance, and by distillation obtained an oil
boiling 155° to 156°, to which he gave the formula O10H20O7.
The author has re-examined the subject, he heated the
gum in a copper vessel through which a rapid current of
steam was passing. Fifteen pounds of the resin yielded
I 750 c.c. of oil; by redistillation a large portion was ob¬
tained boiling at 157° to 158°, colourless, with a strong
odour of turpentine. On analysis it gave numbers in¬
dicating C10H16. It had a very slight action on polarized
light. By the action of phosphorus pentasulphide, etc.,
s line cymene was obtained. On oxidation it yielded
tercp'athalic and acetic acids. It, therefore, appears that
the oil produced by the distillation of kauri gum consists
almost entirely of a terpene resembling the other members
of the family. •

The Society then adjourned.

The anniversary meeting will take place on March 30,
when the Longstaff medal will be presented to Dr. Thorpe.

The next ordinary meeting is on April 7, when a paper
will be read “ On the Estimation of Hydric Peroxide by
means of Potassic Permanganate” by W. E. Adeney.

-- - - - - ■ - - - - -

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

dichloromethane (methylene chloride) in presence of
sodium hydrate. Thirty grams of phenol are mixed with
a solution of 40 grams of sodium hydrate in 50 grams of
water. When the mixture is cool, 30 grams of methylene
chloride are added, and the whole is transferred to a
tube, which is, after sealing, placed in a water-bath for
about six hours. The liquid is then treated with a slight
excess of hydrochloric acid and exhausted with ether.
The ethereal solution containing the saligenin and any
excess of phenol is evaporated, and the residue extracted
with boiling water ; this, after cooling, is filtered from
any undissolved phenol, and concentrated on the water-
bath. Any phenol which deposits from this solution is
filtered off, and the filtrate allowed to crystallize over
sulphuric acid, the saligenin thus obtained being purified
by recrystallization. The yield is very small.

The reactions which take place are expressed by the
following equations. Sodium phenol (sodium carbolate)
is first produced by the action of sodium hydrate on
phenol : —

C8H5OH + NaOH = C6H5ONa + H20.

This in the presence of methylene chloride and sodium
hydrate yields the sodium compound of saligenin.
C6H5ONa + 2 NaOH + CH0C12 = C6H4.ONa.CH2OH +

2NaCl + H20.

This on treatment with hydrochloric acid gives
saligenin.

C6H4.ONa.CH2OH + HC1 = C6H4.OH.CH2OH + Na Cl

Theory indicates the existence of three isomeric oxy-
benzoic alcohols.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,
March 10, Mr. R. H. Parker, Vice-President, in the
chair.

'The Secretary, in the first place, explained and dis¬
cussed at length the theories of Kekuld, Ladenburg and
Korner to account for isomerism in the compounds con¬
taining the benzene nucleus. The formation of isomeric
oxybtnzoic compounds from phenol was then treated of
in the following report upon Organic Chemistry : —

On the Formation of Salicin Derivatives from

Phenol.

-

BY WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, F.C.S.,

Assistant Demonstrator of Chemistry in the School of
Pharmacy of the Pharmaceutical Society.

After the lengthy, and, I fear, tedious explanation
which I have given of the theories to account for
isomerism in the compounds containing the benzene
nucleus, we will consider the constitutional position
which the derivatives of salicin hold in this series
of compounds. The derivatives of which I am about to
treat — salicylic alcohol, salicylic aldehyde, and salicylic
acid, — may all be theoretically considered as formed from
benzoic alcohol, benzoic aldehyde, and benzoic acid, the
relation of which to benzene I have already indicated,
by the substitution of one atom of hydrogen of the
benzene nucleus by one semi-molecule of hydroxyl.

/X

CHoOH

\/

Benzoic alcohol.

/\

COH

\/

Benzoic aldehyde.

/N

COOH

V/

Benzoic acid.

OH

OH

OH

✓ \

CH2OH

/\

COH

/\

\/

X/

-

\/

COOH

Salicylic alcohol.

Salicylic aldehyde. Salicylic acid.

Salicylic Alcohol, Saligenin, Orthoxy benzoic Alcohol,
Saligenol C6.H4.0H.CH20H (1:2). — The preparation of
this body from salicin by fermentation with emulsin is
well known.

A synthesis of saligenin has recently been effected
by W. H, Greene* from phenol by the action of

* Compt. Rend., 90, p. 40.

OH

/\

CHoOH

\/

OH

/\

CH2OH

X/

Orthoxybenzoic

alcohol.

(1:2)

Metoxybenzoic

alcohol.

(1:3)

OH

/N

ch2oh

Paroxybenzoic

alcohol.

(1:4)

Only orthoxybenzoic alcohol (saligenin) is at present
known, but by analogy, and from the general rule of
substitution in phenol, it would be expected that the
para compound would have been produced in the above
reaction, the small quantity of the ortho compound
which is produced also favours this supposition. No
other compound, however, has as yet been isolated from
this solution.

Salicylic Aldehyde, Orthoxybenzoic 4ZcMyc£eC6H4.OH.COH
(1 : 2). — This body is the volatile oil existing in the
flowers of the meadow-sweet, Spiraea ulmaria ; it can also
be obtained by the oxidation of salicin with sulphuric acid
and potassium dichromate, and by the oxidation of the
corresponding alcohol, saligenin.

The synthesis of this body from phenol was made by
Reimer and Tiemann,* by the action of trichloromethane
(chloroform) in presence of sodium hydrate. Fifteen
grams of chloroform are gradually introduced with con¬
stant agitation, into a flask, fitted with a reflux condenser,
containing 10 grams of phenol previously dissolved in a
solution of 20 grams of sodium hydrate in 30 grams
of water, the temperature not being allowed to rise much
above 60° C. An energetic reaction takes place, the
mixture assuming a dark red colour, due to the formation
of “rosolic acid” ; after all the chloroform has been added,
the flask is heated on the water-bath for about one hour,
and the chloroform then distilled off.

To the solution, when cold, a slight excess of hydro¬
chloric acid is added, any rise in temperature being care¬
fully avoided ; by this means a dark red oil, smelling
strongly of nitrobenzol is precipitated ; the mixture having
been transferred to a retort, steam is passed through until
oil ceases to distil over. After pouring off the superna¬
tant liquid from the oil, the former is treated with ether
and the oil obtained by the spontaneous evaporation of
this solution mixed with the other portion, which is then

* Ber., ix., 824.

810

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 26, 1881.

extracted with a saturated solution of hydrogen sodium
sulphite. On treating this with an acid, salicylic aldehyde
is obtained in a state of purity. The yield is small. The
reactions are represented by the following equations : — •

Sodium phenol is first obtained.

C6H5 . OH + NaOH = C6H5 . ONa + H20.

This is then acted upon with chloroform in presence of
sodium hydrate, thus the sodium compound of salicylic
aldehyde is produced.

C6H5 . ONa + 3 NaOH + CHC13 = C6H4 . ONa. COH +
3NaCl + 2H20

which on treatment with hydrochloric acid, yields salicylic
aldehyde,

C6H4 . ONa . COH + HC1 = C6H4 . OH . COH + NaCl.

Theoretically, three isomeric oxybenzoic aldehydes are
possible,

We thus see that in presence of sodium hydrate phenol
yields : —

With dichloromethane CH2C12 - salicylic alcohol CgH4 . OH . CHoOIi
With trichloromethane CHC13 - salicylic aldehyde C5H4. OH . COH
With tetrachloromethane CC14 - salicylic acid CgH4. OH.COOH.

A discussion followed the reading of the paper, in
which the Chairman, Messrs. Bird, James and Thompson
took part.

A vote of thanks was passed to the Secretary for his
paper.

A discussion on the use of vaseline in pharmacy then
took place, being introduced by Mr. Braithwaite. The
subject was discussed by the Chairman, Messrs. James,
Lewis and the Secretary.

OH

/\

COH

\/

Orthoxybenzoic

aldehyde.

(l:2)

OH

/\

COH

\/

Metoxybenzoic

aldehyde.

(1:3)

OH

/\

\/

COH

Paroxybenzoic

aldehyde.

(1:4)

The ortho compound is salicylic aldehyde, the meta
compound is not known.

If the solution which remains in the retort be filtered
while hot and the filtrate treated with ether a body is ob¬
tained which crystallizes from water in white acicular
crystals and is paroxybenzoic aldehyde.

Orthoxybenzoic aldehyde (1 : 2) or salicylic aldehyde is
an oily liquid having a strong odour resembling nitrobenzol.
Its solutions are coloured deep violet by ferric chloride.

Paroxybenzoic aldehyde (1 : 4) is a body crystallizing in
white needles having no odour and giving a very faint violet
colour with ferric chloride.

I have prepared both of these compounds from phenol.
Specimens are on the table.

Salicylic Acid, Orthoxybenzoic Acid, C6H4.OH.COH.
(1 : 2). — This well known compound, which exists naturally
as methyl salicylate in oil of wintergreen, is obtained
from phenol by the action of tetrachloromethane (tetra¬
chloride of carbon) in presence of sodium hydrate,
Sodium phenol is first obtained, and this, acted upon by
carbon tetrachloride in presence of sodium hydrate, yields
sodium salicylate.

LC0H5ONa + CC14 + 4NaOH. = C6H4. OH. COONa
+ 4NaCl + 2H20.

This on treatment with an acid yields salicylic acid.

When made on the large scale carbon dioxide is simply
passed into heated sodium phenol instead of, as in the
above reaction, using it in the nascent state, i.e., by the
action of sodium hydrate on carbon tetrachloride.

Three isomeric oxybenzoic acids are known.

OH

OH

OH

/\

/\

COOH

COOH

\/

\/

COOH

Orthoxybenzoic acid. Metoxybenzoic acid, Paroxybenzoic acid.
(1:2) (1:3) (1:4)

ipispeitsing |$I?nraranir&

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column teas established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[509]. In consequence of an error in this memorandum
as printed on p. 729, it is reproduced : —

Sodas Salicylas . 9j.

Ammon. Carb . . grs. xvj.

Sp. Chloroform . ifl xx.

Aq . . . ad §viij.

In dispensing the above a few days ago, I rubbed the
two salts together in a mortar with a small quantity of
water. I had occasion to leave it for a minute or two,
and on returning found a kind of opaque, jelly-like mix¬
ture in the mortar. Will anyone kindly say what de¬
composition (if any) took place, and if the modus operandi
was a correct one ?

W. G. T.

[520] , Argenti nitras, when for internal medicine, is
usually prescribed in the form of pill, the dose being | to
2 grains. It is used in solution to form astringent
lotions, and collyria in ophthalmia, of which latter the
Allowing is an example: —

fit Argenti Nitratis . gr. x.

Aquae Destill . ^j.

Ft. collyrium.

One or two drops to be introduced into the eye every
second day (for Egyptian ophthalmia).

I am inclined to think the drops were intended “ Not
to be taken,” but from the abstruse manner in which
directions are given, I do not wonder at “ Islander ”
omitting the label.

Bedford. H. W. Nichol.

[521] . I have frequently made “quinine pills, B.P.,”
and have always obtained a good result.

Bedford . ' H. W. Nichol.

The ortho (salicylic acid) and paroxybenzoic acids are
formed in the above reaction, the relative amount of the
two depending upon the nature of the alkali used and
the temperature, potassium hydrate and a high tempera¬
ture yielding, entirely paroxybenzoic acid. Metoxy¬
benzoic acid is prepared in a different manner. The
three isomers are easily distinguished, especially charac¬
teristic being their reactions with ferric chloride, salicylic
acid giving a deep violet colour, metoxybenzoic acid
giving no colour, and paroxybenzoic acid giving a yellow
precipitate.

[522]. At first sight the prescription appears rather a
formidable one to make up for so young a patient, but
presuming the surgeon knew what he was about it would
have been wise to have made it upon his authority (re¬
serving a copy of the prescription), as doubtless he had
reasons of his own for prescribing the remedy, and also
for not making known his tenets for so doing.

Be that as it may, I consider that the surgeon (in con¬
sistence with the commonest rules of etiquette), might
at least have sent a suitable reply to “ Ferrum’s ” note.
Bedford. H. W. Nichol.

March 26, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

811

[523].

ft Zinci Phosphicli . gr- a-

Ext. Nucis Void . gr.

Ext. Lupuli . gr. ij.

Ft. pilul. Mitte xxiv. One twice daily after food.

Will any of your readers kindly inform me what change
hakes place in these pills ? When first made up they
form a good pill, hut after a few days swell very much
and then disagree with the patient. (They had been
varnished.)

Phosphorus.

[524]. How and ivith which ingredients ought the
following to be dispensed to make a clear mixture ? —

ft Camphor . . . . . 4 oz.

Spirits of Wine . . • . 4 oz.

Spirit of Ammonia . 4 oz.

Nemo.

[525]. What is the best method of dispensing the fol¬
lowing prescription? —

ft Pulv. Ferri Sulph . gr. 18.

Pulv. Aloes Socot. . . . . . . gr. 24.

01. Sabinas . ill 18.

Ext. Hyoscyam . q.s.

Ut ft. pil. xij. Sign. S. ij secand. nocte.

Sub Umbra Floresco.

[526].

ft Quinas Sulph .

Acid. Sulph. Dil . 3ij.

Aquae . ad §vj.

M. Sign. 3j ter die ex aqua sumend.

Should a sufficient quantity of acid, sulph. dil. be
added to dissolve the quinine, or should the mixture be
sent out with it but partly dissolved ?

Sub Umbra Floresco.

Notice has been received of the death of the following :

On the 28th of January, 1881, Mr. William Nathaniel
Goggs, Chemist and Druggist, Acre Lane, Brixton. Aged
42 years. Mr. Goggs had been a Member of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society since 1872.

On the 9th of February, 1881, Mr. George Sowter,
Chemist and Druggist, Mildmay Grove, London. Aged
48 years.

On the 14th of February, 1881, Mr. Charles James
Bloomfield Vlieland Coxeter Snell, Commercial Road,
Peckham. Aged 20 years.

On the 26th February, 1881, Mr. Frederick Davey
Cooper, Chemist and Druggist, Norwich. Aged 70
years.

On the 27th of February, 1881, Mr. William Edward
Willis, Chemist and Druggist, Northgate Street, Glou¬
cester. Aged 49 years.

On the 27th of February, 1881, Mr. Fretwell Hudson,
Chemist and Druggist, West Bar, Sheffield. Aged 61
years. Mr. Hudson had been a Member of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society since 1872.

On the 28th of February, 1881, Mr. Frederick William
Manthorp, Chemist and Druggist, Colchester. Aged 38
years. Mr. Manthorp had been an Associate in Business
of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1875.

On the 6th of March, 1881, Mr. George Frederick
Grinden, Chemist and Druggist, Olney, Bucks. Aged 34
years.

On the 11th of March, 1881, Mr. Joseph Carter Colston,
Chemist and Druggist, Finsbury Park, London. Aged 40
years. Mr. Colston had been a Member of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society since 1876.

On the 13th of March, 1881, Mr. John William
Sindall, Chemist and Druggist, Northampton Aged 38

years. Mr. Sindall had been a Member of the Phairna-

ceutical Society since 1870.

On the 16th of March, 1881, Mr. George Savage,
Chemist and Druggist, High Street, Lincoln. Mr.
Savage was a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society
from 1873 until 1880.

®orrcs|ionticntc.

Law versus Revolution.

Sir, — Mr. Hampson regrets that “a misdirected national
sentiment should blind the understanding and occasion
discord and unnecessary difference of views.”

Allow me to inquire, who, after some thirty years of
peace and pleasant practical working, has now brought in
the apple of discord to our Society ? Certainly not any
member on this side of the Tweed.

Edinburgh, March 22, 1881. John Mackay.

The Relations of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Sir, — I am glad to see various letters on this subject, and
trust they will lead to some practical result ; if such, how¬
ever, is to be the case we must remember that it is not only
for doctors and chemists to arrange the affair nicely between
themselves, but to take into consideration the interests of
the public, who are patrons alike of both physician and
pharmacist.

It was looking at the matter from this point of view that
induced me to suggest a month ago the plan of the chemist
dispensing for and charging the doctor instead of the patient
for medicines; because there is a large class of people of
limited means who have hitherto been in the habit of ob¬
taining medicine from their medical men free of charge, who,
in the event of medical men discontinuing to dispense, would
naturally object to have to pay an additional fee to the che¬
mist and would probably patronize those practitioners who
still continued to supply medicine gratis.

Now as it is the requirements of this, the most numerous
class of patients of that most numerous class of medical men,
the general practitioner, that we have in the matter of medi¬
cal dispensing to deal with — the mode of dispensing as at
present carried on in the West-end of London working well
enough among the more wealthy classes— and as those medi¬
cal men who dispense their own medicines do so for gain,
not exactly perhaps as profits on the sale of drugs but for the
sake of advantages obtained thereby, and would not be likely
gratuitously to forego such advantages simply for the benefit
of chemists, by carrying out the plan I advocate of trans¬
ferring their dispensing to an adjacent pharmacy they can
with little, if any, additional cost to themselves, without
affecting their patients or losing any of the advantages
of sending out their own medicines, be relieved of the
trouble, and gain considerably as to efficiency, style and dis¬
patch ; to say nothing of the mutual advantage to both
doctor and chemist in the shape of increased good feeling
and confidence which is brought about by the'more personal,
often daily, intercourse, which generally takes place in
arrangements of this sort.

It seems to me that at present this is the first and only
practical step in the right direction, though I look upon it
as only one step, the object being to get dispensing out of
the hands of medical men, without putting them to loss or
inconvenience or annoying their patients in any way ; after¬
wards will come the next step of the doctor giving prescrip¬
tions to be dispensed at the patient’s own expense.

The objection to naming a special chemist is more senti¬
mental than real, for the result of the scheme being the
saving of expense to the patient and not a connivance
between prescriber and dispenser for their own profit, the
advantages are equally shared all round. And as the
charges for dispensing are arranged between doctor and
chemist, according to circumstances, the difficult point as
to the desirability of alteration in chemists’ charges to the
public is avoided ; a point which would cause some trouble
in the case of medical men suddenly giving prescriptions for
all those medicines hitherto dispensed by themselves, for
they are generally of a less expensive and troublesome cha¬
racter than those now sent to chemists.

In passing, I would remark that in the event of any revi¬
sion of chemists’ charges to the public becoming necessary
upon the relinquishing of dispensing by medical men, that

812

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[March 20, 18S1.

certainly think they should be considered as a scale of fees
adjusted according to number of doses or quantity of medi¬
cine supplied, rather than a charge in proportion to the in¬
trinsic value of the component drugs, the charge as a rule
being not so much for material as for the knowledge and ex¬
perience necessary for carrying on a responsible business
with safety to the public.

In conclusion, as to prescribing, when a chemist is per¬
sonally and individually associated with one or more medical
men in the way I have mentioned, it is to his interest to
keep as far as he can from encroaching upon the preserves
of his medical patrons in the matter of prescribing ; thus his
opportunity and inclination for counter practice are reduced
to a minimum.

20, Boundary Road , IV. IF. J. J. Chapman.

Sir, — As we are invited to express our opinions on this
subject, I beg to make a few remarks, and in doing so will
be as brief as possible. Indeed I do not consider it worth
many words, because whatever may be said, either by che¬
mists or medical men, will not alter in the slightest degree
the present course pursued by chemists in the conduct of
their business, so far as prescribing is concerned.

I cannot do better than submit a case. A chemist, fresh
from the examiners of the Pharmaceutical Society, com¬
mences business. He has been educated for, and he knows
but one profession — his own legitimate one — and that he
has made up his mind to practise conscientiously and ex¬
clusively. But suppose, after waiting a reasonable time for
prescriptions, this important branch proves an utter failure ?
He rarely ever sees one — the medical men around him do
their own dispensing — and he finds, as it were, the very
ground dissolving under his feet. What is he to do ? How
is he to occupy his time ? Is that well-stored brain to be¬
come bankrupt ? Is he to starve ? No ; he will be pretty
certain to do two things. He will lay himself out for simple
prescribing, and he will also do what some of our great
houses have of late been driven to do, namely, turn patent
medicine proprietor.

As one of your correspondents in last week’s Journal
remarked, it is impossible for chemists to promise never to
prescribe j but to reduce prescribing to its very minimum,
is not in our hands, but rests entirely with medical men
themselves.

But whilst it is useless medical men and chemists worry¬
ing about that over which we have no control, there is a
system on which I have often written, which demands the
most serious and urgent attention — it is underselling. By
this our business is gradually being wrecked. A few of
us are maintaining proper prices and the dignity of our pro¬
fession ; we are holding on to the old barque, hoping soon
to see the day when our brothers -in -arms will show a far
higher aim than the ruinous practice of “ cutting.” Other
reforms may be necessary, but there is not one which re¬
quires such immediate attention as this.

86, Curtain Road, Finsbury. J. R. Summers.

Sir, — “A Minor Man” asks a practical and rational
question when he says, “ Is it not possible to confine the
sale of drugs to chemists alone?” With the grocers and
stores “ cutting” the “patents” and selling drugs, we have
left to us a Poison Act, which, as Mr. Hampson truly says,
gives ‘ ‘ more trouble than it was worth,” reaping certainly
a rich harvest (?) from the sale of poisons under it. It is
all very well for “Beta” and others to recommend the
developing of dispensing to make up for our deficiencies
under other heads. But how is it to be done ? Who has
power or authority to bring it about ? And further, con¬
sidering that dispensing is “ cut ” alike with “ patents ”
shall we be any better off than at present ?

I have no wish to “ croak,” but to me there appears but
a sorry look-out for many struggling chemists and druggists
who have spent their time and money in qualifying for a
position which they find usurped by grocers and stores, who
are monopolizing their legitimate trade.

Such persons will soon have to turn their attention to
some other more profitable and less harassing business or
become pensioners on the Benevolent Fund, to which now
they cannot subscribe, because of the curtailing of their
incomes from the causes mentioned above.

My opinion is that legally qualified chemists and drug¬
gists and pharmaceutical chemists, and they exclusively,
should have the privilege of selling drugs and medicines,

“ patent ” or otherwise, in addition to the sale of poisons
and the dispensing of prescriptions.

Again, I think it would be far more manly and to our
credit if, instead of going to the Legislature with the plea
of the “benefit and safety of the public” alone, we were
to ask for legislative protection of our just rights and
privileges as an educated, respectable and responsible body
of men. We naturally look to the Editor of the Journal,
the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society and the Chemists
and Druggists’ Trade Association to fight vigorously on
behalf of their constituents and supporters.

16 and 17 High Street, Cliffe , Leives. W. T. Martin.

Stamped Medicines and the Inland Revenue.

Sir, — We have noticed in your valuable Journal the
queries and replies of several of your correspondents re¬
specting what does and what does not require Government
stamps. We have the proper schedule, but fail to under-
stand it in some respects ; this being so we have written to
Somerset House enclosing certain labels and inquiring
whether they are liable to stamp duty, but our replies have
been unsatisfactory, merely acknowledging the receipt of
the letters. Some six weeks ago an inspector kindly pur¬
chased from one of our shops a preparation which was liable,
then unknowing to us, entirely through the unsatisfactory
reply we had received upon the same preparation. This
preparation was a 6d. bottle of cough mixture, and the fine
was £10 and costs, which was eventually reduced to £2 10s.
through our writing to the Chairman of the Board of Trade.
Whether our writing to the Board of Trade authorities has dis¬
pleased the Inland Revenue authorities we cannot say, but we
have been annoyed by them ever since, having one or two of
their inspectors visiting us every week. There would be no
objection to their appearance if they purchased the article
they ask for ; but they come in a sly, dishonourable way and
ask for a preparation (especially the cough mixture) for 6d.
We tell them the price has altered to 7^d., but they argue
and nearly compel you to supply them at the 6d. ; their
treaties of course being unsucessful, they go out and refuse
to purchase the preparation. The last one that came asked
for threepennyworth of Austin’s cough mixture in a bottle,
and although the label has been altered to “Cough Mixture,
Austin,” we dare not supply it, as the law says that any
medicine advertized by handbills, or in any. other way,
requires a stamp. We are fixed by them and can get no
satisfactory reply as to what course to pursue, and they have
evidently made up their mind that, if possible, they will
again catch us. We think that the Pharmaceutical Society
ought to take up the subject of stamps and make some
inquires from the Revenue Office, so that chemists may not
be constantly in doubt as to whether in selling their goods
they are liable to heavy fines. It would certainly be a
great boon to every chemist, as they now stand in a
doubtful position and to get a reasonable or satisfactory
reply from Somerset House seems a matter of impossibility.
Nechells. W. Austin and Sons.

G. IF. Stephens. — We cannot find any clue as to what the
name sent by you may mean. Have you made a mistake ?

‘ ‘ Bos.” — See the remarks on the condition of opium used
in the preparation of tinct. opii in vol. ix. of the present
series, pp. 706 and 797.

T. G. — See remarks on the dispensing of salicylate of
quinine in excess of solubility, before, p. 183.

J. H. Dingle. — (1) Hypnum cupressiforme , var. Jiliforme ;
(2) Scapania resupinata ; (3) Lophocolea bidentata ; (4)
Hypnum, striatum ; (5) Racomitrium lanuginosum ; (6)
Cladonia squamosa, var.

H. Y. Pratt. — There is already a Botanical Exchange
Club in existence, extracts from the Report of which are
annually published in the Journal of Botany. See, for
instance, vol. xvii., p. 369.

Nemo. — The Regulations as to the Dispensers in Naval
Hospitals will be found in the Calendar of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society, which may be had from the Secretary.

Vin SanU. — A mixture of borax and starch, both in fine
powder.

IF. G. T. — See the remarks on liq . chinchonae on p. 798 of
the present number. _ _ _

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. H. Greenish, Renner, Nicholson, Pratt, Vin SanttS
Bruised Worm, Student, Ferrum, G. W. F., J. E. C.

April 2, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

813

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A CLOSER KNOW¬
LEDGE OF SOME LITTLE KNOWN
LEAVES*

BY DR. HEINRICH PASCHKIS.

I. FOLIA PATCHOULI OF COMMERCE.

The drug occurring in commerce under this name
consists generally of leaves rolled together into
larger or smaller balls, mostly of a dark red-brown
colour, and having an intensely disagreeable smell,
remotely reminding of that of musk. Even in a
superficial examination of the dried leaves consider¬
able differences are observed in the leaf-balls taken
from the same sample. Some are of a light wood-
brown colour, others dark red-brown, others again
greenish coloured ; some have a sparse, others an
abundant and even velvety pubescence. These
differences become still more clearly apparent when
the balls are soaked for a time in water, and the
leaves then carefully spread out and smoothed . The
different leaf-forms which I have been able to obtain
in this way are represented and described in the
following paragraphs

First Form. — Broad, ovate, coarsely crenate, den¬
tate leaves, 10 centimetres long, diminishing at the
base into a long petiole, light brown, moderately
thin, not very abundantly hairy on both sides, with
one principal nerve, and the secondary nerves
forming curves running towards the margin. The

(large glands 0'048 mm. thick) imbedded deeply in
the epidermis and stalkless. In the former are
drops of a greenish-yellow volatile oil, which occurs
also in the hairs, as well as in the cells of the
epidermis and the mesophyll. In the mesophyll, in
the wall of the epidermis cells, and in the hairs, is a

Fig. 2. — True Patchouli Leaf, from nature, dried.

tannin. substance, giving a green colour with iron*
Except as to size, I found leaves of Pogostemon Pat -
chouli from the Vienna Botanical Gardens exactly
similar to this leaf ; but they were only 6 centimetres

long.

(Figs 1, 2, 3.)

Pig. 1,— True Patchouli Leaf, from nature, fresh. .
microscopic examination reveals in the epidermis of
the upper and under side deeply indented, mostly
elongated flat cells (0*063 mm. long, and 0 030 mm.
broad) ; among them, in greater number below and
fewer above, are stomata, with a single contiguous
cell. The epidermal cells of the upper side are
coarsely papillose, here and there brownish coloured.
The cuticle is thick. The mesophyll consists of a
row of palisade cells, below which is a layer ot
longitudinally elongated cells. Here and there are
rosettes of oxalate of lime. The hairs are simple
throughout , several-celled (up to 6) ; the cuticle of
the hairs is warty, which is especially very clearly
perceptible in the younger hairs. On the upper
and under sides are numerous glands (clrusen), one
kind bearing a small head upon a short stalk, the other

* Reprinted from the “ ZeitBchrift ” of the Austrian
Pharmaceutical Association, and communicated by the
author, to whose courtesy we are indebted for the use of
the wood engravings illustrating the paper. Figs. 2, 4, o,
7 and 8 are from the restored drug ; figs. 1,9, 10 and 11 are
drawn from fresh leaves. All arer two-thirds the natural
size.

Third Series, No. 562.

Fig. 3. — True Patchouli Leaf. — 1. Portion of a section:
(a), papillose epidermis cells; (b), large gland. 2.
Large gland from the surface. 3. Small gland. 4.
Hair.

False Patchouli Leaves.

Second Form.-* — Roundish, nearly transversely
oval, 5-fid, dentate, 10 centimetres broad and 8
centimetres long, with radiate venation and cordate
base. This leaf is dark brown above and grey-green
underneath ; moderately hairy on both sides, some¬
what more abundantly on the under side, rather
thin, but thicker than the first form. The epidermis
of the upper side consists of moderately regular
* Compare Wiesner, ‘ Rohstoffe/ p. 685.

814

[April 2, .1881,

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL

AND TRANSACTIONS.

ii

polygonal cells, 0-045 mm. in diameter, with
very few stomata ; those of the under side of
indented elongated flat cells (0'075 mm. long and
O030 broad), which enclose very numerous stomata
without contiguous cells. Inthemesophyll, consisting
of a series of pallisade and small transversely-placed
cells, occur round, bean-shaped or reniform muci¬
lage cells of ' considerable size (0-051 mm. long
and 0-030 mm. broad); besides these, very large
crystal glands (0’030 to 0'040 mm. in diameter)
are scattered there, especially in the neighbourhood
of the vessels, and smaller rosettes (ordinary size) of
oxalate of lime. On the upper and under sides,
more abundantly on the under, are implanted small
club-shaped glands, which are coloured dark brown
by solution of potash. On both sides, also, are found
one-ceUed hoirs , clustered in little bundles of six to
eight. These have a thick striated cuticle and con¬
tents that are coloured nearly red-yellow with solu¬
tion of potash. (Figs. 4 and 5.)

Fig. 4. — Second Form : False Patchouli.

Fig. 5. — 1, Part of a transverse section; 2, gland; 3
and 4, hair and stellate hair; 5, from the chlorophyll¬
bearing tissue of the “second form” of leaf; a, mucil¬
age cells.

Third Form. — Rhomboid obtuse leaves, with
coarsely dentate margin and three radiating nerves,
abundantly hairy on both sides, thick, of a brownish-
grey colour, attaining a length of 5 centimetres and
a breadth of 2% centimetres. (Fig. 6. )

Fourth Form. — Five-lobed sinuate leaves. The
two lower lobes are small and round ; the next pair
are larger, also round, showing at the margin a
second shallow sinus ; the remaining and largest
lobe is slightly crenate on both sides and acute.

The margin of these leaves is also coarsely dentate,
and drawn in acutely cordate at the base. The

Fig. 6. — Third Form : False Patchouli,
leaves are abundantly hairy on both sides, thick,
brown above, green underneath, and attain a length
of 7 centimetres and a breadth of 5^. (Fig. 7. )

Fig. 7. — Fourth Form : False Patchouli.

Fifth Form. — Palmate leaves, with five lobes
separated by deep sinuses. Each of these is
separated by a second somewhat shallower sinus
into two smaller lobes; all run to a point. The
margin is coarsely dentate, obcordate at the base.
The colour of this thinner leaf is brown above and

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ii

April 2, 1881.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

815

grey-green underneath. Its length and breadth
reach 10 centimetres. (Fig. 8.)

The two species last described have five radiating
j nerves. In their microscopic structure they corre-
\ spond perfectly with each other, and are also only
|| slightly different from the leaves of the second form.
As compared with the second form the epidermis
both on the upper and under side of the fifth form is
| composed of more indented smaller flat cells (0-030
!j mm. long), which on the upper side enclose among
them fewer and on the under side more stomata
I without contiguous cells. In the mesophyll, con-
j sisting of a simple inferior palisade series and
small roundish cells, are imbedded small rosettes
\ of oxalate of lime. Above and underneath occur
numerous club-shaped glandules, which turn brown
j with solution of potash, corresponding to those of
i the second form. The hairs occur either separately,

; in which case they are very large, thick-walled, and
have contents coloured red-yellow by solution of
potash, or in dusters of five to seven together, and
are then smaller and have thinner walls. All the
j hairs are single-celled. In these leaves I could not
find any mucilage cells or tubes.

Only the leaves first described as “folia patchouli”
can be spoken of as true patchouli leaves; all the
others must probably be considered sophistications.
The absence of glands containing essential oil and of
the characteristic many-celled hairs distinguishes the
latter clearly from the true patchouli leaves, whilst
all the false leaves present an almost similar macro¬
scopic and microscopic structure. They have all
radiate venation, and have similar glandules and
hairs. Probably they may all be considered as
derived from the same family. The mucilage
cells found in the second form allow of the diagnosis
as Malvaceae. The mixing of these false patchouli
I leaves in many cases goes so far that they form 80
per cent, of the drug. The leaves of the third and
fourth forms were most frequently found; the
t second and fifth more seldom. Only on one occasion
have I obtained a pure sample consisting altogether
of true patchouli leaves.

In the market gardens is sold, under the name of
“patchouli herb,,; a Labiate,- Plectranthus Patchouli ,
which on account of its odour resembling that of
patchouli oil is used frequently by housewives in the
same way as the Pogostemon leaves, in the protection
of clothes and furs from moth. These appear very

Fig. 9. — Plectranthus fruticosus.

similar to the true leaves in respect to both their
macroscopic and finer structure. They are 6 centi¬

metres long and 5 centimetres broad, ovate, acute,
with a doubly dentate margin, diminishing to the
petiole. (Fig. 9.)

The epidermis of the upper and under side is com¬
posed of a few indented flat cells, which on both
sides enclose among them a few stomata. The meso¬
phyll consists of a double row of pallisade and trans¬
versely placed cells. In the upper and under
epidermis are numerous large and small glands,
both of which correspond with .those of patchouli,
and the large ones also lie in the level surface of
the epidermis. The hairs are throughout simple,
several-celled (up to 14), are covered with a warty
cuticle, and have rose-reel contents.

In conclusion, there should still be mentioned
comparatively the leaves of two Malvaceae, Lavatera
obia (Fig. 10), which resembles the fourth form, and

Fig. 10. — Lavatera obia.

Pavonia JVeldenii (Fig. 11), which resembles the
third form. Besides the before-mentioned elements

there occur in the leaves of Lavatera obia oval
mucilage cells, 0’045 mm. long and 0-024 mm. in
diameter, and in the leaves of Pavonia Weldenii ,
besides the ordinary rosettes of oxalate of lime, some
cells, 0"045 mm. in diameter, which contain large
calcareous crystals imbedded in mucilage.

THE ALKALOID FROM PITURIE.*

BY PROFESSOR LIVERSIDGE, ASSOC. R. S. MINES, F.I.C.
The supply of piturie, upon which this investigation
was conducted, was obtained with considerable difficulty.
The blacks prize it very highly, so that it can only be
obtained from them in very small quantities at a time ;

* Abstract of a paper read before the Royal Society of
N.S.W., November 3, 1880.

816

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 2. 18S1

hence it involves the expenditure of much time and
trouble to collect together a few pounds weight of the
substance. It was obtained from the Diamantina blacks
who trade yearly with the Mulligan or Kylcockodilla
tribe, in whose country the piturie grows.

The first parcel of piturie was in the form of broken
twigs, and fragments of leaves of a pale brown colour,
emitting a smell somewhat similar to tobacco ; the fine
dust causes sneezing. This is its usual state, but a second
parcel was much less broken up and was of a darker
colour, the difference being probably due to the less
careful drying which it had undergone.

The author was informed that the blacks mix the
piturie with the ashes of the leaves of a particular plant
and usually roll the mixhire up with a green leaf into the
form of a quid before chewing ; the addition of the wood
ashes is doubtless made for the same reason that lime is
mixed with betel by the Malays and others, namely, for
the purpose of slowly liberating the alkaloid during the
process of mastication. The quid or bolus is, on cere¬
monial occasions, said to be passed from native to native,
each one masticating it for a time, and then passing it on,
it finding a resting place behind the original proprietor’s
ear until again required.

The effects of the piturie seem from all accounts to be
very much the same as those set up by tobacco-smoking ;
it does not appear to have the exciting effect upon the
blacks with which it was at one time credited. As is the
case with other luxuries, it is reserved by the older men
for their own use exclusively, neither women nor young
men being allowed to use it. The reasons for using it
appear to be much the same as those which induce white
people to smoke and in certain cases chew tobacco.

In a letter addressed to the author, Baron von Mueller,
gives the following account of the alkaloid obtained by
him from piturie : —

“Bor the preparation of piturine and piturie acid the
branchlets and leaves of Duboisia Hopwoodii, F. v. M.,
were subjected to exhaustion by boiling water, the
infusion evaporated to honey thickness, then mixed with
three volumes of alcohol, the resulting solution evaporated
to the consistence of an extract, the latter dissolved in
water and precipitated by basic acetate of lead. The
precipitate, separated by filtration, contained a peculiar
acid substance, while the filtrate, after sufficient concen¬
tration and after mixing with an excess of caustic soda
solution and ether, yielded to ihe latter the alkaloid
which was purified by agitating its etherous solution with
diluted sulphuric acid, thereby forming the sulphate of
piturine. The aqueous solution of the latter was then
again decomposed by caustic soda, the pure alkaloid
removed by ether, and the solution evaporated at a gentle
heat. It formed a brownish liquid of oil-like thickness,
heavier than water, of acrid and burning taste and
tobacco odour, much affecting the organs of sight and
respiration. It is volatile and forms fogs with diluted
hydrochloric acid, is of strong alkaline reaction, and com¬
bines thoroughly with acids.

“ Its hydrochloride forms precipitates with the chlorides
of platinum and gold, with picric and tannic acids, phos-
phomolybdate of soda, bi-iodide of potassium, the iodide
of potassio-mercury and potassio-bismuth, also with
phospho-wolframate of soda, but this precipitate is easily
dissolved in an excess of this reagent. Piturine mixes
with every proportion of water, alcohol, and ether. Con¬
centrated hydrochloric and nitric acids do not effect a
coloration with it ; concentrated sulphuric acid forms
reddish brown clouds and dissolves to a brownish green
liquid. The yield was about 1 per cent, of alkaloid from
the dried plant.

“Piturine is in some respects allied to nicotine, but
more closely akin to the duboisine of Duboisia myoporoides
(B. Br.), the latter being of lighter colour, of bitter not
aci'id taste, of fainter odour, less irritating to the eyes and
respiratory passages ; its hydrochloride in solution is not
precipitated by chloride of platinum, but is so by phospho-

wolframate of soda, and the precipitate is not redissolved
by a superabundance of that reagent.”

A. Ladenburg (Comptes Dead us, 1880, vol. xc., p. 874—
876), however, states that the alkaloid of Duboisia
myoporoides is identical with hyoscy amine and that it
crystallizes in small needles, fusing at 108°5 C., and is
isomeric with atropine, from which it is distinguished by
forming a brilliantly lustrous compound with gold chloride,
fusing at 152° C. Also when treated with baryta it is
converted into tropine and tropic acid, both of which are
also obtained from atropine.

The great discrepancy between A. Ladenburg’s account
and the Baron von Mueller’s, the author thinks can only
be accounted for by the supposition that Ladenburg must
have been supplied with a different material. Baron von
Mueller and Hummel ( Journ . Chem. Soc., January, 1879)
state very plainly that the Duboisia myoporoides yields a
volatile oily alkaloid. In the same paper Baron von
Mueller also describes piturie or duboisic acid obtained
from the precipitate given by the piturie on the addition
of basic acetate of lead.

In the Pharmaceutical Society’s Journal for April 5,
1879, there is an account of an examination of some
piturie made by Mons. Petit, of Paris, in which he comes
to the conclusion that the alkaloid is identical with
nicotine ; but M. Petit does not seem to have had
sufficient material to permit a combustion to be made of
the alkaloid ; he had to rely mainly upon its reactions
with certain chemicals, and apparently was only able to
make one determination each of the platinum and chlorine
in the platinum salt ; the amounts of which apparently
roughly corresponded with those required for the chloro-
platinate of nicotine, viz., 34’4 per cent, platinum and 37
per cent, chlorine, the percentages obtained being platinum
34 per cent, and chlorine 36 per cent. These results,
however, cannot be regarded as final, since, as will be
shown later on, the platinum salt cannot be depended upon,
as it is not of uniform composition.

In the preparation of the alkaloid by the author the
piturie was extracted with boiling water slightly acidified
with sulphuric acid, the liquid concentrated by evapora¬
tion and distilled with an excess of caustic soda, the alka¬
line distillate neutralized by hydrochloric acid, and
evaporated over a water-bath until reduced to a small
bulk ; the yellowish residue was once more distilled with
caustic soda, the distillate neutralized with hydrochloric
acid and again concentrated. It was now nearly colour¬
less, caustic soda was again added, and the liquid shaken
up with ether. The ether was next removed by distilla¬
tion at as low a temperature as possible in a current of
hydrogen, the heat meanwhile being raised gradually
until it reached 140° C., a bath of sulphuric acid being
used for this purpose. It was allowed to remain at this
temperature for about six hours ; the bath was then
removed, and the distillation continued at a still higher
temperature over a naked flame, the current of hydrogen
being still maintained, until all the alkaloid, with the
exception of a very small quantity, which had become
charred, had passed over in a clear and colourless condi¬
tion. During the distillation the thermometer indicated
a temperature between 243° and 244° C.

Sixty grams of the substance gave ‘622 gram of the
alkaloid, or 1 *037 per cent. In this case the alkaloid was
not allowed to boil, but was maintained at a temperature
of 140^ C. in a current of hydrogen for several hours, to
remove water and traces of ammonia. In a second
experiment 500 grams of the piturie gave 12 ‘34
grams of alkaloid, or 2 ‘47 per cent., when distilled in a
current of hydrogen. The piturie did not contain any
non-volatile alkaloid.

The alkaloid when freshly prepared is clear and colour¬
less, but with access of air rapidly becomes yellow, and
finally brown, especially when exposed to the sunlight.
In a sealed tube one specimen remained unchanged during *
eight months. It is soluble in all proportions in water,
alcohol, and ether, yielding colourless solutions. On

April 2, 1881.1

• THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

817

paper it produces a greasy stain, which disappears after
a time. It is just a little heavier than water, a drop of
it sinking slowly to the bottom of a vessel of distilled
water.

When freshly prepared its smell is very like that of
nicotine ; afterwards, when darkened in colour and
thickened in consistency, the odour is more like that of
pyridine. It is volatile at ordinary temperatures, its
vapour forming a dense fog with hydrochloric acid. Its
vapour irritates the mucous membranes very much, and
when working with, it induced violent headaches. The
taste is acrid and pungent, and very persistent.

The alkaloid neutralizes acids completely ; but the
neutral solutions of acetate, sulphate, and hydrochloride
all become acid on evaporation from the loss of alkaloid.
Oxalic acid is the only acid which yields a crystalline salt;
but this is more or less mixed with free acid, from the
loss of alkaloid by volatilization, an acid salt mixed with
free oxalic acid being left. Phe acetate, sulphate, and
hydrochloride, when kept over strong sulphuric acid, dry
up into hard, brittle, transparent, varnish-like substances,
without the slightest trace of crystallization, even after
standing for months. All these compounds are very
hygroscopic, especially the sulphate, and are very readily

soluble in alcohol. # ....

Neither concentrated hydrochloric acid nor nitric acid
changes the colour of the alkaloid in the cold, but when
warmed, hydrochloric acid imparts a slightly reddish
colour, and nitric acid turns it yellow. Concentrated
sulphuric acid turns it brown after some time, immediately
when warmed.

Platinic chloride does not precipitate an aqueous solu¬
tion of the alkaloid (1:100 aq:) so long as the alkaloid is
in excess, but when the solution has become neutralized,
the addition of another drop of platinic chloride throws
down a slight yellowish flocculent precipitate, which
dissolves on heating, but does not reappear on cooling ; if
a larger quantity of the platinic chloride be added, the
precipitate still dissolves on the application of heat, but
on cooling reappears in a crystalline condition.

In a solution of 1 part of the hydrochloride of the
alkaloid to 50 of water, a precipitate similar to the above
is thrown down, and if heated, a part redissolves, the
undissolved portion turns to an orange-yellow colour and
becomes crystalline — the dissolved salt also crystallizes
only on cooling. Under the microscope the crystals
appear to have the form of the octahedron, or combinations
of that with other forms belonging to the cubical system.
More dilute solutions of the hydrochloride are not
precipitated by platinic chloride.

In an aqueous solution of 1 part of the alkaloid to 100
water,

Mercuric chloride throws down a white cheesy pre
cipitate insoluble in excess of the precipitant.

Copper sulphate a light green precipitate insoluble in
an excess of the alkaloid.

A few drops of gold chloride give a reddish white pre¬
cipitate, which disappears on shaking ; a. larger quantity
gives a persistent flocculent reddish white precipitate.

Tannic acid gives a greyish white precipitate, easily
soluble in hydrochloric acid.

The double iodide of mercury and potassium gives a
heavy white crystalline precipitate.

The alkaloid behaves very like nicotine with picric,
phosphomolybdic and metatungstic acids ; the addition of
picric acid throws down a yellow precipitate soluble in
hydrochloric acid.

Phosphomolybdic acid forms a yellowish white amor¬
phous precipitate, insoluble in cold dilute hydrochloric
acid, easily and completely dissolved on warming.

The precipitate with nicotine is a dirty yellowish white,
amorphous, insoluble in cold dilute hydrochloric acid,
soluble when warmed, but apparently not so i-eadily as. is
the precipitate from the piturie alkaloid, some white
flakes being left undissolved.

Metatungstate of sodium forms with both piturine and

nicotine a white amorphous precipitate, soluble only in
much dilute hydrochloric acid when warmed.

When iodine dissolved in ether is added to an
ethereal solution of the alkaloid the fluid becomes
brownish red and turbid ; after a short time yellowish red
needles are deposited, the mother liquor being yellow ;
these crystals are easily soluble in alcohol, yielding a
brownish red solution; when the alcoholic solution is
evaporated at the ordinary temperature, indistinct needles
and oily drops are left behind.

When this alcoholic solution is treated with caustic
soda in the cold, a smell similar to that of iodoform is
emitted, not that of the alkaloid; from the nicotine
compound nicotine is liberated, according to Wertheim
(Watt’s ‘ Dictionary of Chemistry/ vol. iv., p. 471.

The iodine compound of piturie melts at about 110° C.,
that of nicotine at 100° C. (Watt’s ‘ Dictionary of
Chemistry,’ vol. iv., p. 47).

From coneine piturine is distinguished by its aqueous
solution not becoming turbid on heating nor by the addi¬
tion of chlorine water. It differs from aniline by not
being coloured by chloride of lime ; it differs from
picoline in specific gravity (picoline being only '9613 at
0° C.); from pyridine by its reaction with copper sulphate,
the precipitate Cu(OH)2 produced by pyridine with
copper sulphate redissolves in an excess of the precipitant;
and it appears to be distinguished from nicotine by its
reactions with platinic chloride, gold chloride, iodine and
mercuric chloride, also by Palm’s test. According to
Palm ( Russische Zeitschrift fur Phcirmacie, i., 4, and
Husemann’s * Pflanzenstoffe ’), nicotine when gently
warmed with a little hydrochloric acid of 1T2 sp. gr.
turns violet and on the addition of a little strong nitric
acid the colour changes to a deep orange. The only
sample of nicotine to be obtained in Sydney yielded the
latter part of the above test very well ; the orange being
very stable, the violet colour was not so well marked.
The piturine does not change colour at all, but when
more heat is applied it becomes yellow.

The Composition of the Alkaloid.

To determine the composition of the alkaloid, the
carbon and hydrogen were estimated in the usual way by
combustion with lead chromate; the nitrogen by the
soda-lime process ; the ammonium chloride left after the
evaporation of the excess of hydrochloric acid was titrated
with decinormal solution of silver nitrate.

The alkaloid for the deter m inatlon of the carbon,
hydrogen, and nitrogen was taken from two different
specimens prepared from two different supplies of the
piturie, but in both cases the boiling points were the
same, viz., 243p to 244° C.

To prevent oxidation, the alkaloid was enclosed in the
combustion bulbs immediately after its preparation.

The results obtained were as follows : —

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII.

Carbon . . 76 '63 76-54 . lost. 76 ’53 - 76 '46

Hydrogen . 8'49 S‘46 . S'5'2 S 51 .... 8 41

Nitrogen . 14 '80 15-00 . 15 01 ....

The average of these eight analyses is —

Carbon . 7 6*56

Hydrogen . 8 '48

Nitrogen ........ 14-94

And the relative proportions when calculated in the
usual way are —

Carbon . >v98

Hydrogen . 7 '96

Nitrogen . I'OO

or very nearly 6:8:1.

The formula would therefore be C6H8N, which

requires —

Theory. Found.

C6 =72= 76-59 per cent. 76'56 per cent.

H8= 8 = 8'51 „ 8-48 „ .

N =14= 14-90 „ 14-94 ,,

94 100-00 99-93

818

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 2, 1881.

To confirm this formula a platinum double salt was
prepared in the usual manner. The crystals so obtained
were orange red octahedra, fairly soluble in warm water,
but very easily soluble when even a trace of the free
alkaloid is present ; partly soluble in alcohol, but insoluble
in ether.

To ensure as far as possible uniformity of composition,
the platinum salts were always prepared from the same
portion of alkaloid with the same solution of platinic
chloride, and as much as possible under the same circum¬
stances; notwithstanding this, the percentages of platinum
and of chlorine obtained were never the same for the
salts prepared at different times, neither did they fit in
or correspond with the above-mentioned formula. The
amount of chlorine was too small for the usual proportion
of 1 Pt to 6 Cl met with in the normal double salts of
platinum ; in some cases it was even less than 1 : 5.

The amount of platinum was determined in twenty-
three cases upon salts prepared at ten different times, but
from the same substance and with the same platinic
chloride ; the amount of Pt varied from 34T5 per cent,
to 38*40 per cent. ; seven analyses yielded between 35*35
and 35*55 per cent. Pt. Nine determinations of chlorine
were made, and they varied from 31*32 to 36*86 per
cent. Cl.

The platinum salt is therefore clearly not of uniform
composition, or else very unstable ; it undergoes decom¬
position with loss of chlorine during evaporation, even
when conducted under the desiccator without the aid of
heat.

The mercuric chloride double salt, prepared by adding
an excess of saturated solution of mercuric chloride to a
solution of the hydrochloride of the alkaloid, crystallized
well in rhombic plates and prisms ; the double salt was
crystallized from boiling water, dried at 100° C., and the
amount of mercury and chlorine determined in it.

Two analyses gave —

I. II. Mean.

Mercury . 63*26 per cent. 63*09 = 63*175

Chlorine . 24*60 „ 24*64 = 24*620

The mean results calculated in the usual manner come
to 1*00 Hg : 2*1955 Cl, or 5 Hg : 10*9775 Cl, or very
nearly 5 Hg : 11 Cl., which would fit to the formula

(C6H8N).2HCl + 5HgCl2

which requires 63*31 per cent. Hg and 24*72 per cent. Cl,
while the corresponding compound of nicotine

C10H14N2,HC1.+ 5 HgCl2

would require 64*37 per cent. Hg and 25*15 per cent. Cl.

Besides nicotine is said to form under the same circum¬
stances a double salt containing 4 HgCl2 instead of five
molecules of HgCl2. ( Vide Watt’s ‘ Dictionary of Che¬
mistry,’ vol. iv., p. 47.)

The above two analyses appear to make it probable that
the true formula of the alkaloid is (C6H8N)2 or C12H16N2,
i.e. double that yielded by its ultimate analysis, but much
importance cannot of course be attached to such a com¬
pound as (06H8N)2HC1 + 5HgCl2, in which the amount of
alkaloid present is so very small.

0*2986 gram of the alkaloid required 18*5 c.c. XV normal
sulphuric acid, a corresponding amount to that required
by nicotine, to form (C10H14N2)2 H2S04 ; the molecular
weight of nicotine being 162, 0*0162x 18*5 = 0*2997
instead of 0*2986.

MYROXYLON PERUIFERUM, LINN. FA

BY THEODOR PECKOLT.

It was at the suggestion of the late Daniel Banbury
that this tree might afford balsam of Peru, that the inves¬
tigation, the results of which are herein described, was
undertaken.

* Abstract of papers in the Zeitschrift CEsterr. Ap, Per.,
1879, pp. 49, 145, 426, 441, 457; 1830, p. 130.

Myroxylon peruiferum is closely allied to M. Tolui -
ferum, differing chiefly in its smaller leaflets containing
elongated pellucid vesicles, and in the smaller flowers.
It is found in Tropical America from the south of Mexico
to Peru, and even as far south as the Province of Rio
Janeiro where, according to Martius, it is known as the
“ Oleo vermelho,” i.e., red oil; in the Provinces of Minas
and Espirito Santo it is called “Balsamo.”

It is a large tree, and indeed one of the most important
representatives of the primeval forests, often reaching a
height of 25 metres and a diameter of 6 to 6^ metres. It
is easily recognized at a long distance by its crown of
shining green leaves, decked in August with small white
jasmine-scented flowers, and in December by the
singular one-seeded winged pods. It prefers moist
mountain valleys, giving place at an altitude .above 200
metres to the allied Myrocarpus fastigiatus, Fr. Allem,
the “ Oleo pardo ” or “ Cabureiba ” of the Brazilians.

As it grows only in rich soil its presence in the forest
is considered as an indication of the fertility of the soil,
and consequently of its fitness for cultivation. Every
part of the tree is used by the natives. The leaves
yield a much esteemed, pleasantly flavoured tea. The
pods contain, in a cavity surrounding the seed, a small
quantity of a pale, yellowish, aromatic oleoresin, which
is carefully collected and preserved in the nuts of
Cocos flexuosci, and highly prized under the name of
“ Anguay do Guaiani,” or by the Portuguese as
“ Balsamo do Espirito Santo.” This product rarely
enters commerce. The bark is often used as a vulnerary
and as a tea for pulmonary affections. The bark of the
root is considered stronger and is used in syphilis. The
wood has a reddish-brown colour and an odour re¬
sembling a mixture of turpentine and balsam of Peru,
the duramen being of a darker red and a more powerful
odour. It is easily polished and is used for furniture or
by the foresters for water wheels, waggon axles, and
especially for situations where it is exposed to the air ; in
moist soil, however, it soon rots. It yields also a hard
charcoal much prized by smiths.

The leaves have a weak balsamic odour; ten kilo¬
grams afforded on distillation 5*603 grams of an ethereal
oil of weak but agreeable, yet peculiar odour; its specific
gravity was 0*874 at 14° C.

In order to ascertain if the trunk would yield balsam
of Peru, a large tree about a metre in diameter and 20
metres in height was selected, and the bark on two sides
was beaten with the back of an axe to loosen it from the
wood. After four days the loosened bark was charred
by the application of lighted torches and the bared spots
under the bark were covered with linen rags, and when
these had become of a brown colour they were removed
and replaced by fresh ones. The rags coloured with a
brownish oil gave, when pressed, scarcely a drop of
balsam, and were extracted with water at a gentle heat.

Martius states in his works that it is scarcely probable
that the balsam floats at the top of the water ; but it is
so, so long as the liquid is heated, and some must be
driven off during the process. When the liquid is cooling
the greater proportion of the balsam sinks to the bottom;
but still about one-third remains suspended in the water,
which, when the vessel is quite cold, collects at the
bottom. This balsam has a weaker odour than the
heated and cooled balsam.

As the tree was half a mile from the author’s dwelling
the rags, were changed only every morning and evening,
being brought home in a vessel filled with water. After
twelve days there was obtained in this way 230 grams of a
dark brown balsam of specific gravity 10*31 at 17° C.,
having a pleasant odour between that of benzoin and
vanilla, whilst the balsam of Peru of commerce has a less
pleasant odour and has a specific gravity of 1*150 to
1*160 at 17° C.

Pods. — Of the pods it was not possible to obtain a
quantity sufficient for the distillation of an ethereal oil.

One hundred grams of the pods treated by various sol-

j

4

April 2, 1881.]

the pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

819

vents yielded to ether 16*8 grams of a colourless balsam
of an Agreeable odour, soluble in alcohol, and m liquoi
notassae giving immediately a magnificent red colora¬
tion. The pods exhausted by ether gave up to absolute
alcohol 6'1 gr. of a pleasantly smelling soft resin, l
soluble in alkalies, and 1*05 of an odourless resinous acid,
soluble in alkalies, 19 grams of starch and small cpanti-

ties of albumin, glucose, pectin, etc. _

Baric. — The bark in the fresh state is smooth, of a grey -
preen colour externally, and clear brown within; it is« to
10 millimetres thick in old trunks, and has a very pleasant
balsamic odour, most of which disappears on drying.

The bark distilled with water yielded a milky distillate of
an agreeable cinnamon-like odour. From this liquid a
heavy oil, sp. gr. 1-017, separated after some time, iallin0
to the bottom' of the vessel in pearly drops. The oil when
freed from water was yellow and transparent and had
much the appearance of essential ml of almonds freed from
nru^sic acid, and was also similar m odour, but weaker. It
K a sharp’burning balsamic taste; 36 kilos brf hebark
Yielded only 30 grams of sp. gr. IT/ at 13 U ot the on
after thre/distillations, for the oil is only separated with
difficulty from the bark. In another experiment, made by
the employment of a steam heat on a partially dried barn
the oil was more easily and quickly obtained but the yield
of oil was less, and the sp. gr at 15 1 139 The o

‘ easily soluble in ether, chloroform aiffi absolute alcohol,

1 mrt requiring 30 parts of spirit of wine at 28 Oartiei,
Imparts of alcohol at 36° Cartier and 980 parts of water

£°\vhentobark was dried in the air and in a shady
place and afterwards powdered and submitted to diet
lation, instead of yielding an oil than water t

afforded from the same quantity on y 1 L. 688 p a of a clear

r^owS4 Sit7 £ tofresh baric
1000 grams were found to yield 0'9 gram of an e hereal
oil 4-6 of crystallized myroxylin, 97 gr. of cinnamic acid
5-9 per cent of tannic acid, 151 '9 of resin, B'8 per cent of
a waxy substance, besides balsamic, bitter, and a tasteless
and an odourless extractive albumen, gtoo^e pectin etc
Wood — The sawdust obtained from cuttm= up t

timber of this useful tree is thrown away t0 the °£

millions of kilograms, and could better be turned to
account for technical purposes than the wood itself. I
has a brownish colour and when fresh a strong odour like
that of a mixture of balsam of Peru and turpentine. It
burns easily when brought into contact with a clear but
sootv flam l giving off a pleasant odour and leaving a
white ash. ’ As the results of several analyses it was
found to yield as the principal constituents m 1000 grams
4-4 ethereal oil, 4*4 crystallized myroxylin, 5T balsam,
9.5 of an odourless soft resin, 3 IT of an acid resin
0‘09 gr of benzoic acid; besides traces of gallic ana
tannic acids, a red colouring extractive and inorganic

pale yellow colour or ate

,£X*£SS

taste, and is neutral to test paper. , t f

When treated with sulphuric acid and bichromate ot

Dotassium it yields on distillation, besides a few drops of
oil a distillate containing butyric and valerianic acids
When submitted to the action of a mixture of nitric anc
sulDhurTcTcids it gives off a penetrating odour, and 1

gram of oil affords & l togthUe whin ex-

used with

f?uml on

further examination to be a complex body consisting of
five acid resins, a neutral resin and a small quantity

m Myroxylin is obtained in the largest quantity fr0“ J^e
barl/bu/the preparation and purification of the crystals
is* very troublesome . The best method of obtaining the

crystals is as follows:— The bark, dried m the is ex¬
hausted with alcohol of sp. gr. 0-865, and the liquid
filtered hot and the filtrate allowed to cool, when white
flocks of a waxy matter are deposited. The alcoholic
solution filtered from the wax, is then evaporated by
nnf;i if no longer ffives off the odour or

solution mreieu uum *■ . >

distillation, until it no longer gives off the odom of
alcohol ; then treated with boiling distilled water to l em
resin, the clear solution precipitated with neutral and
afterwards with basic acetate of lead, the precipitates
removed by filtration, the lead precipitated by dilute
sulphuric acid, and then by sulphuretted hydrogen;
lastly, the liquid filtered and evaporated to a syrupy
consistence and allowed to crystallize m a cool place.

Another method is by exhausting the sawdust of th~
wood with bisulphide of carbon, evaporating by distil la¬
tion and separating the resinous oil whmh adheres t° the
conglomerated mass of crystals left in the retort, and
purifying them by solution in boiling alcohol and i -

CrThe acicular crystals are odourless and colourless,
readily soluble in chloroform and bisulphide of carbon,
less in ether and boiling alcohol of 80 per cent., and w^h
difficulty in cold alcohol, and insoluble m cold or boiling
water. It is a neutral substance, uniting neither with
acid ndr bases, and does not appear to be a glucoside. It
would seem to be a chemically indifferent crystalline
resin, and resembles in many points the myroxocarpm of

St When" compared with true balsam of Peru, the balsam
obtained from M. Peruiferum exhibits the following dif¬
ferences :

Sp. gr. 0 955. M. Peruiferum.

Taste slightly pungent, but
not warming : aromatic
and astringent ; odour
aromatic.

Sp. gr. 0-160. M. Pereirce.

Taste warming to the
tongue ; then burning
the throat ; bitter and
aromatic ; odour agree¬
able, like vanilla. , , , ,

Yields a volatile oil when Gives only traces of a vola-

distilled with water. tile oil.

Mixes with chloroform in Acts in the same manner
n\\ urouortions but deposits a powdery

^ ^ precipitate on standing.

Dissolves in six parts of Soluble in alcohol of 90 per
alcohol of 90 per cent., cent m all proportions,

and gives, after a time, and forms no deposi .

a fawn-coloured deposit. . ,

Ether, benzin and petro- Insoluble in these three
leum spirit dissolve only liquids,

the yellow oil (cinna-

Bisulphide of carbon only Bisulphide of carbon par-

partially dissolves it, tially dissolves it, form-

nivto a yellow solution. ing a clear light brown

° ® . solution.

Castor oil takes up 15 per Mixes with castor oil in all
cent proportions.

Equal volumes of balsam The same treatment causes
and concentrated sul- to formation in twelve

phuric acid mixed give hours of a gelatinous

a stiff mixture which, mass of a reddish-black

kneaded with water, colour, which kneaded

yields a brittle resin, with water colours it

which is not sticky when dirty green; the mass,

pressed between the after washing, is sticky,

finTrs! and o£ greasy consistence.

In many points to balsam from the wood of M. Perm-
feru,n agrees with balsam of Peru, and the author thinks
& many medicinal purposes replace that more
expensive drug, and might be distingu shed in commerce
^Brazilian balsam. He states that he lias used it with
remarkable success as a balsam for wounds and m the
treatment of scabies* _

at my. a fact of its mixing readily with castor oil in all _P10*
portions would give it anlrdvanta^e over the balsam of Peru
for use in stimulating pomades.

820

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 2, 1881.

AZO DYES.*

BY GEORGE TATE, PH.D.

‘The aniline dye industry, which sprang into existence
on the discovery of mauve'ine by Perkin in 1856, must be
regarded as entirely the creation of the scientific chemist.
The chemical investigator in his endeavours to solve in¬
teresting and important chemical problems has discovered
new colouring bodies, or, in attempts to determine the
constitution of natural dyes has been enabled to introduce
new and more economical methods for their production.
I may instance to you, 1st, the discovery of dioxyanthra-
quinone, by Graebe and Liebermann in 1868, as being
identical with alizarine, the dye of the Rubia tinctoria, the
artificial dye having now almost entirely taken the place
of the natural product, and further, the discovery by Pro¬
fessor Baeyer, in seeking to prove the constitution of
indigo, of a new, technically practicable, synthetic method
for the preparation of this valuable dye.

The various beautiful and gorgeous colours which have
within the last twenty years come so extensively into use
are, from the chemical point of view, derivatives of ben¬
zol, C6H6.

The author next explained the constitutional formulae,
or graphic representations of the arrangement of the atoms
building up the molecules, of a few of the simple organic
compounds ; serving as an introduction to a description
of the ring-formula proposed by Kekuld to explain the
various transformations which benzol (benzene) and its
derivatives are capable of undergoing.

H(l.)

C

/\

(6) H C C H.(2).

II I

(5) HOC H.(3).

\/

C

H.

(4.)

It was then shown how by substituting one hydrogen
atom in benzol by an other univalent element or univalent
compound radicle or group, such as N02, NH2, etc., the
monosubstituted benzol (benzene) compounds were ob¬
tained. '

Nitrobenzol, C6H5N02, amidobenzol or aniline, C6H5NH2,
methylbenzol or toluol, C6H5CH3, phenol, C6HOH, were
given as the chief of these substituted benzols.

Kekuld’s formula was then made use of to explain the
fact of there being three classes of disubstituted benzols,
known as the ortho, meta and para compounds, the ortho
being obtained when the H atoms marked 1 and 2, meta
when 1 and 3, para when 1 and 4 were replaced.

In the ortho series were classed : — Ortho-dinitrobenzol,
C6H4(N02)2, orthodiamidobenzol, C6H4(NH2)2, phthalic

acid, C6H4(COOH)2, orthonitrotoluol, C6H4 j ^q3> etc.

In the meta series (Meta-) dinitrobenzol, C6H4(N02)2
(meta-) diamidobenzol or m-phenylenediamine —

C6H4(NH2)2;

m-nitrotoluol,C6H4 j ^Q3,isophthalicacid,C6H4(COOH)2,
resorcine, C6H4(OH)2, etc.

In the para series: — Para-dinitrobenzol, C6H4(N02)2,
terephthalic acid, C6H4(COOH)2, etc.

The preparation of several of these derivatives was
briefly sketched : —

Nitrobenzol, obtained by treating benzol with nitric
acid ; aniline from nitrobenzol by reduction in acid solution,
e.g., by acetic acid and iron.

M-dinitrobenzol by the action of nitric and sulphuric
acids on benzol, the meta compound being the chief con¬
stituent of the product.

Diamidobenzol, obtained by reduction of the corre-

* Abstract of a paper read before the Liverpool Chemists’
Association, March 3, 1881.

sponding dinitrobenzol, the meta from the meta, the para
from the para.

The author then continued —

The so-called tar colours, derivatives of benzol, may be
divided into four classes.

In the first class we have the derivatives of triphenyl-
methane —

c6h5

I

H — C — C6H5

I

c6h5

These are rosaniline (the base of magenta), aurine, rosolic
acid, malachite green, the phthaleines (eosine, fluores-
ceine), etc.

In the second class, the azo dyes, saff ranine, aniline
yellow, chrysoidine, etc., derivatives of azobenzol,

c6h5-n=n-c6h5.

In the third class, nitro-derivatives of phenol (C6H3OH),
or naphthol (C10H7OH), e.g., picric acid and naphthaline
yellow.

In the fourth class, derivatives of anthraquinone,
C14H802, e.g., alizarine.

The azo dyes have, on account of the interesting reac¬
tions by which they are formed, as well as of their
practical utility, especially attracted the attention of
scientific chemists. They are so called from being sub¬
stituted derivatives of azobenzol (the product of the
reduction of nitrobenzol in an alkaline solution), though
not usually prepared from this body.

The formation of aniline I have already described.
Benzol is nitrated and the nitro-benzol reduced in acid
solution ; for the production of azo dyes this or an amido
compound is transformed into a so-called diazo salt.
The diazo compounds, as a type of which diazo-benzol,
C6H5 — N = N, may be cited, form an important class;
they are capable of undergoing many and interesting
changes, and the study of these reactions has greatly
advanced theoretical chemistry, and in leading to the
discovery of the azo-derivatives has caused a new chemi¬
cal industry to spring up. They were discovered by P.
Griess, in 1860, and are obtained by the action of nitrous
acid, HN00, on an aniline salt.

C6H5NH2.N03H + HN02 = C6H5 - N = N - N03 + 2H20.

Aniline nitrate. Diazobenzol nitrate.

Diazobenzol, C6H5N2, does not exist in the free state,
it is a univalent compound basic radicle and can, like
ammonium, NH4, replace hydrogen in acids to form salts,
e.g., the nitrate, the sulphate, C6H5N2.S04H, the chloride
C6H5N2.C1. The salts are obtained by passing nitrous
acid into cold aqueous solutions of the corresponding
aniline salts or by adding nitrite of potassium to solutions
of aniline in excess of the acid whose diazo salt the
operator wishes to obtain. The salts are obtained as
precipitates on the addition of alcohol and ether.

Change of Diazo Salts with Aniline into Diazoamich
Compounds. -

When a diazo-salt, such as the nitrate, is brought in
contact with aniline a change takes place represented by
the equation : —

CfiH5Na.N03 + H2N.C6H5 =

Diazo nitrate. Aniline.

c6h5n2 - hn - c6h5 + hno3.

Diazoamido-compound.

The new body is void of basic properties and can mani¬
festly be produced by allowing nitrous acid gas to act on
an excess of free aniline dissolved in alcohol. In contact
with aniline the above body forms one, isomeric, but with
entirely different properties, both physical and chemical.

C6HbN = N i nh-c6h5 + c6h3nh2 =

Diazo-amido-benzol. Aniline.

C6H5N = N - c6h4nh2 + c6h5nh2.

Amido -azo-benzol.

In the neutral body diazoamidobenz >1, two benzol

April 2, 1881.]

THE

PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

821

rWs are connected by three nitrogen atoms; m the basic
amidoazobenzol by two, only. We may regard the mole¬
cule as separating at the dotted line ; the diazo group
then becomes substituted for H in the ring of the anili
molecule, aniline being again formed. A minute quantity
of aniline is thus capable of effecting the change.

AmMenzol, C6H5 - N — N - C6H4NH2, forms the
chief ingredient of aniline yellow; it is azobenzo
where one H is substituted by the amido group, NH2.

It is manifest, however, that, according to our theory,
at least three isomeric amidoazobenzols could exis ,
three according to the position of the H atom m aniline,
replaced by the diazo group, with respect to the amido
group NH2, ortho, meta and para. We find, however,
that1 only the para compound is formed, i.e., the diazo
group endeavours to place itself m the para position (1 )
to NH,; in the same way that the substituent intro
group placed itself in the meta position to the mtro group
already present, forming metadinitrobenzol, or in the
ortho and para positions to the methyl group w en
forming nitrotoluol. Therefore if, in the above action,

we substitute para-amidotoluol C6H4 j NH* for aniline

we shall get no action, whereas with the corresponding
meta or ortho compound (where the place opposite (1 4)
the NHo is free to be substituted) a dye is formed

thus: . p-ri /i\ m

C6H5N2 - NH - C6H5 + C6H4 J nh32 (3) or =

Toluidine or Amidotoluol

C6H5— Na - C8H3 1 g^+NH2C6H5

^OneoTthe most important dyes of tlie class which we
_ _ „ ic nhwitieni.d.in.p.. the base of which is

are’ clrysoidiA the base of which is
dl iTwaTfirst obtained by Caro in December, 1875, by

allowing metadiamidobenzol (metaphenylenediamine) to
act on diazoamidobenzol. The formation of this base is
exactly analogous to that of aniline yellow or that of a
dye from orthotoluidine; only the meta compound win
react, the same law of substitution holding g

case also. _

C6H5 - N = N - NH C6H5 + 52t4-“

C6H5 - N =N— C6H3(NH2)2 + NH2C6H5
0 Witt discovered this new body in the following
January, independently of Caro. He found that a diazo
salt reacted directly with phenylenediamine with pro¬
duction of diamidoazobenzol.

C6H5 - N = N . N03 + C6H4(NHa)2 =

Diazobenzol nitrate TT7.Tr.

C6H5 - N = N - C6H3(NH2)2 + HN03
as a blood red precipitate on mixing aqueous solutions of

^Chrylo^dfne o^ commerce is the hydrochlorate of the
base; it is soluble in water and dyes silk and cotton
wool orange yellow, and like all azo dyes without the aid

of a mordant. „ , . , .

Manchester or Bismarck Brown is formed by a reaction

exactly similar to that expressing the formation of
chrysoidine, metaphenylene being used m place of ani¬
line. Nitrous acid is allowed to act on an excess of a salt
of this base; a diazo salt is thus formed, which with the
excess of the diamidobenzol (meta) gives a tnamidoazo-

benzol: — ‘ , _TTT

u" S N2C1 , r< tt NH2 (1)_

°6H4 M/W j NH2 (3)-

CH \ N2"C6H4 5NH2 + HCi.

C6H4jNH.2 | NHo

Triamidoazobenzol.

The hydrochlorate forms the dye Bismarck brown.

Many other dyes are derived by complex reactions
from these simpler bodies. Induline is formed by the
action of the hydrochlorate of aniline on amido-azo-

benzol.

Saf ranine, C21H20N4.HC1, is a valuable dye, and re-

places saffron. _ .

The tropseolines are obtained like chrysoidine, by using

sulphonic acids of phenol or amido benzols, c.g. .

C6H5N2C1 + C6H4 J gQ3H“

C6H5— N2-C6H8 |g^H + HCl.

In the same way resorcine gives rise to the production

of a dye. _ . , ,

Biebrich Scarlet is derived from a double azo compound,
C6H5.N2.C6H4N2.C10H7O, obtained by diazodizmg ami¬
doazobenzol and treating the salt with naphthol. lhe
sodium salts of the mono and disulphonic acids form the

commercial dye. . ... , .

Recognition of Azo Dyes. — The action of. mild reducing

agents gives us a ready means of distinguishing a dye of
the class' under consideration from the triphenylmethene

derivatives. . .

Bodies of both classes, when subjected to the action of
zinc and a weak acid (acetic acid), lose their colour; azo
bodies give under such treatment hydrazo bodies, tn-
phenylmethan dyes, c.g., magenta or rosolic acid give so-

called leuko compounds. .

Hydrazo bodies are readily reoxidized, atmospheric air
beino- sufficient to restore the azo group, with production
of colour. Leuko compounds, on the contrary, require
moderately strong oxidizing agents to reform the dye
With chrysoidine base the change may be expressed

thUS‘ C6H5-N=N-C6H3(NH2)2 + H2=

C6H5 - NH - NH - C6H3 (NHo)2.

Diamidohydrazobenzol.

One atom of oxygen abstracts two H atoms the double
bond between the two N atoms being restored.

If the reduction of a hydrazo * compound, is continued
further, with strong reducing agents, e.g ., tin and hydro¬
chloric acid, the molecule is split up into two, the con¬
nection between the two nitrogen atoms connecting the
benzol rings entirely dissolves, and in the case of chrysoi¬
dine, aniline and triamidobenzol are formed, thus . -

C6H5 — N = N — C6H3(NH2)2 + h4 -

C6H5NH2 + C6H3(NH2)3
In the case of Bismarck brown : —

( N = N— CLH, \ NH

C6H4

n=n-c6h3

NHo

NH0 + H4=

l NH l NH2 (1)

4 NH2 + °6H4 NH2(3)

C6H ( NH2 j (4)

that is to say, 1 molecule of diamidobenzol and 1 of
triamidobenzol, where the three amido groups occupy the

P°In this way the probable mode of formation of a dye

may be determined. • ,

Certain of the dyes may be distinguished from each
other by the characteristic changes in colour they undergo
on the addition of a. strong acid. Saffranine, for example,

gives a blue coloration. _ . . . , ,

The dyes I have described are derived from azobenzol
bv substitution in the benzol-ring. They give rise to dyes
where radicles are substituted for hydrogen of the amido
group NHo. Chrysoidine gives on heating to 100 with
benzylchloride, C7H7C1, a dibenzyl chrysoidine

Ci2H10N4(C7H7)2

An increase in the molecular weight causes a change m
the tone of a dye ; but with increase of basicity cr salt-
formino- capacity we obtain an increase m tinctorial power.
Thus in Bismarck brown, where the three amido groups
wive the molecule a very weakly tribasic character, the
tinctorial power is greater than that of chrysoidine where
only two such groups are present.; this again is a stronger
dve than aniline yellow, i.e., H in ammonia substituted
'ITohAhisl^inrse^TrSpiller “ On the Identification of
Coal-tar Colours,” Report Brit. Assoc., 1880, p. o4^, and
Chemical News, vol. xlii., p. 191.-— Ed. Bhaum. Journ.

822

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 2, 1881

by an azobenzol group (which like phenyl, C6H5, weakens
the alkaline nature of ammonium, a marked distinction, by
the way, from the effect produced by the substitution of
ethyl or methyl in ammonia, NH2C2H5 being capable of
expelling ammonia from ammonium salts, whereas aniline
is weaker in this respect than ammonia).

In England, where comparatively few chemists work in
the domain of organic chemistry, the aniline dye industry
has attained but little importance ; on the Continent,
fostered by the researches of an army of workers, it bids
fair to become one ©f the first chemical industries.

THE COMMERCE OF GUM ARABIC AT TRIESTE.*

The commerce of gum arabic at Trieste has for a
number of years past assumed very large proportions.
Mr. L. Ordega, Consul-General of France at Trieste, has
furnished, under date of August 10, 1880, an interesting
account of the total movement, as well as a list of the
thirty-two grades into which all the gum arabic arriving
from Africa is divided.

The total importation and exportation during the years
1877, 1878 and 1879 was as follows : —

1877

1878

1879

The

gums

are

Importation.
2,695,100 kilos.
2,726,300
4,638,400
divided into the

Exportation.
2,707,600 kilos.
2,796,400 „

3,080,900 „

following thirty-two

grades, + of Avhich the mean prices per 100 kilos hav,e the
following ranges [in American money, calculated by
Ed. N. R-] : —

Dollars. Dollars.

1. (Gum) Arabic, white, No. 1, a . . . 74’76 to 75*60

2. Ghizira, white, No. 1, b . 51*66 „ 52*08

3. Arabic, pale-yellow, No. 2, a ... 52*08 „ 52*50

4. Ghizira, pale-yellow, No. 2, b . . . 43*26 „ 43*68

5. Arabic, yellow, No. 3, a . 42*00 „ 43*26

6. Ghizira, yellow, No. 3, b . 3570 „ 3672

7. Arabic, superfine, choice, No. 4, a . . 32*34 „ 3776

8. Arabic, fine, No. 4, b . 29*82 ,, 30*24

9. Ghizira, fine, No. 4, c . 26*88 „ 2772

10. Arabic, medium, choice, No. 4, d . . 28*56 ,, 28 ’98

11. Ghizira, medium, choice, No. 4, e . . 2076 „ 21*00

12. Arabic, granular, No. 5, a .... 24*36 „ 2478

13. Arabic, granular, No. 5, b .... 21 *84 „ 22’26

14. Ghizira, granular, No. 5, c . . . . 19*32 „ 2076

15. Suakin sennary, granular, No. 5, d . 18 ’28 „ 19*32

16. Suakin ordinary, granular, No. 5, c . 12*60 „ 13*44

17. Arabic, crude, granular, No. 5, f . . 29*82 ,, 30 24

18. Arabic, crude, select, No. 5, g . . . 39*90 „ 40*32

19. Sennary and Ghizira, crude, granular,

No 5, h . 19*78 „ 20*58

20. Gedda, No. 6. a . 31*50 „ 31*92

21. Senegal, choice, No. 6, b . 29*40 ,, 30*24

22. Senegal, crude, No. 6, c . . . . . 20*58 “ 21*00

23. Arabic, crude, No. 7, a . 28*56 „ 29*40

24. Arabic, crude, without dust, No. 7, b. 32*76 „ 33*60

25. Arabic, crude, granular, No. 7, c . . 33*60 „ 34*44

26. Sennary, crude and Ghizira, No. 8, a . 19*74 „ 20*16

27. Sennary, crude and Ghizira, without

dust, No. 8, b. . . 19*74 „ 2076

28. Sennary, crude and Ghizira, granular,

and without dust, No. 8, c . . . 19*74 ,, 20*16

29. Suakin, crude, No. 9 . 16*80 „ 18*06

30. Senegal, genuine crude, No. 10 . . . 29*40 „ 29*83

31. Damaged gums, No. 11, accoi'ding to quality.

32. Powdered gums, No. 12, according to quality.

The available stocks during 1877 amounted to 1,700,000

* From Journal des Consulats, January 1, 1881. Re¬
printed from New Remedies, March, 1881.

t Compare particularly ‘ Pliarmacographia ’ [2], 235 seq.,
where the quality and sources of the standard grades are
given. There is some discrepancy between the kinds men¬
tioned by ‘ Pharmacographia ’ and the usage among the
merchants at Trieste; but this is not to be wondered at.

kilos; but in 1879 they exceeded 3,600,000 kilos; and
even this enormous reserve was hardly sufficient to satisfy
the demands from the various markets of Europe. On
August 1, 1880, the stock on hand at Trieste was as
follows : —

Kilos.

Arabic ....

. . . . 387,000

Ghizira ....

. . . . 57,000

Sennary . . .

. . . . 1,400

Stiakin ....

Gedda ....

Total . . . 838,0.00

The construction of new routes has rendered the trans¬
port of the Suakin gum more easy from its place of
origin to the port of debarkation. Unfortunately, cer¬
tain rains, called karif in Egypt, frequently interrupt
communication with Khartum; owing to this circumstance
no arrivals whatever from Suakin reached Trieste during
the whole of last October. The movement in gums is
most active during the months of September, October
and March.

SYNTHESIS OF ATROPIC ACID.*

BY A. LADENBURG AND L. RUGHEIMER.

The masterly researches of Professor Ladenburg, on the
constitution of atropine and other solanaceous alkaloids,
have repeatedly been mentioned in this journal. The
successful synthesis of atropine from its products of
decomposition, namely tropic acid and tropine has been
recorded. It was only required now to find a method of
producing both of these latter bodies artificially, and at
that time already, Professor Ladenburg announced that
he expected to solve the question. On page 2041 of the
Berichte der Neutsch. Chem. Ges. (issued Nov. 22, 1880)
the successful synthesis of tropic acid is announced.

Atropine has the composition C17H23N03. When this
is heated with hydrochloric acid, or with baryta, it takes
up one mol. of water, and is converted into a new alka¬
loid tropine, C8H15NO, and tropic acid, C9H10O3 (both of ,
which were successfully recombined, by Ladenburg, to n
atropine). It had previously been ascertained, however, 7
that, if the decomposition of atropine with baryta is
conducted at a temperature of 130° C., or if hydrochloric
acid is allowed to act upon it, for several hours, at the
same temperature, the tropic acid is itself deprived of 1
mol. of water, and is converted into C9H802, which re¬
ceived the name of atropic acid, and into an isomer of the
latter, of the same composition and termed isatropic acid.

In a previous communication, Professor Ladenburg has
shown that hydratropic, atrolactic, atropic, and tropic
acids may be successively converted one into the other,
and, to accomplish the synthesis of tropic acid, it only
remained now to produce one of the three first-mentioned
acids artificially.

The particular acid which Ladenburg succeeded in
producing, is atrolactic acid. He started from dichlor-
ethylbenzol, 06H3. CC12.CH3, which can, itself, be formed
artificially. By treating with cyanide of potassium and
alcohol, two carbon nuclei were introduced, producing
CgHg. C.CN.C2H5O.CH3, while chloride of potassium and
hydrochloric acid were eliminated. The cyanogen nucleus
was decomposed by treatment with barium hydrate,
whereby ammonia was eliminated, and by treatment with
hydrochloric acid, separating with ether and final warm¬
ing with carbonate of sodium, an ethylated atrolactic acid
was obtained. This was easily converted into atropic
acid by boiling with 50 parts of concentrated hydro¬
chloric acid.

It now only remains for Professor Ladenburg to
succeed in accomplishing the synthesis of tropine, and, so
far as we know, there is a good prospect of his success.

* From New Remedies , March, 1881.

April 2, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

823

Cjjc fourmil.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1881.

DRUGGISTS’ CHARGES EOR DISPENSING.

Among the subjects upon which medical men are
occasionally wont to inveigh against dispensing drug¬
gists, that of the charge made by them for medicine
has been repeatedly dealt with in a manner that
is not only unfair but calculated to mislead the
public and excite an unreasonable prejudice against
the druggist. Some effusive possessor of the legal
qualification to practise medicine for gain, having,
perchance, more leisure than practice, is periodically
finding himself constrained to write to a newspaper
and descant upon the enormity of druggists charging
more for medicine dispensed according to a physi¬
cian’s prescription than the bare commercial value of
the ingredients contained in the medicine.

-One of the latest instances of this mistaken
activity on the part of medical men is furnished by
an anonymous correspondent of the Standard,
signing himself M.D., and heading his letter with
the startling title “ A Thousand per Cent.” The
case he describes is that of a patient who had been
recommended to him as deserving gratis medical
advice, and for whom he had charitably prescribed
an ointment consisting of twenty grains of ammo-
niated mercury and two and a half ounces of lard.
For that ointment he states that his patient was
charged eighteenpence by the chemist who made it
up, and apparently with the object of making that
charge appear in conformity with the sensational
heading of his letter, he proceeds to state that since
ammoniated mercury is quoted in the wholesale
chemists’ price lists at three shillings and eightpence
per pound, the actual value of twenty grains of it
would be less than one farthing.

With this suggestive representation of the drug¬
gist’s behaviour the matter is left by the M.D.,
whose letter appears in the Standard, for the readers
of that paper to draw their own conclusions, and the
• writer goes on to contend that the labouring classes
are not entirely responsible for the great out-patient
abuse associated, with the metropolitan hospitals,
because of the scale of charges indicated by the case
he mentions as being made by dispensing druggists.
He thinks that the existence of what he terms the
gigantic demoralizing machine kept up by the charit¬
able London public, which encourages the working
population to take, as paupers, ointments and mix¬
tures in their own pots and bottles, and invites them
and their wives and daughters to spend half days in
out-patients’ rooms, is to be attributed to the exag¬
gerated charges made by druggists for dispensing
medicine ordered by medical men. If it were not
for the assumed unreasonable nature of these charges,
he believes that the evil custom he speaks of would
grow rusty and less injurious.

As matters now stand in regard to the business of
dispensing medicine we deny altogether that there

is, as a general rule, any ground for the complaint
that druggists’ charges are unreasonably high. In
judging of this matter, however, it is altogether
inadmissible to take the wholesale cost of drugs,
or even their retail price, as the basis upon which to
determine what is a fair charge for medicine dis¬
pensed by a druggist. The intrinsic value of the
ingredients in medicine often constitutes but a com¬
paratively insignificant part of the sum that is to
be regarded as fair remuneration for the work of dis¬
pensing. For the efficient performance of that

.work, and for the. safety of the medical practi¬
tioner’s patient, it is essential that the dispenser
should possess a competent knowledge of his busi¬
ness, that in fact he should be in the same manner
as the medical man a legally qualified person. To
attain that position he must have been suitably
educated, and for those reasons he, like the medical
man, is entitled to remuneration for his skilled
services upon a professional scale, altogether apart
from considerations as to the intrinsic money value
of the drugs which he compounds.

Medical men who, like the correspondent of the
Standard, think that medicine should be valued ac¬
cording to the mere cost of its ingredients, and by
allowing a rate of profit such as would suffice for
groceries and haberdashery, fail to recognize, in their
own interest and in that of their patients, the impor¬
tance of the work to be done by the dispenser. They
overlook the value of the skill that he must possess
in order to judge of the quality of his drugs and to
compound them in a proper and accurate manner
according to directions of the prescriber.

But beyond these circumstances it must be re¬
membered that the dispensing of medicine, though
properly the function of the druggist, is so generally
carried out by medical practitioners for their
patients that in many instances druggists rarely
or ever have a prescription brought to them, and
having so little of this kind of business to do their
charges must necessarily be higher than if the whole
or greater part of the dispensing was carried out by
them. Dr. Potter, in a letter to the Lancet last
week, expressed the opinion that if doctors wish to
see their profession advanced in true dignity and
efficiency, they must cast away the miserable relic
of earlier and more ignorant times, and stand forth
in their true characters as physicians instead of
apothecaries. He fully admitted, as very many of
his colleagues do, the inexpediency of medical dis¬
pensing, and that from the druggist’s point of view
it is indefensible ; but while regarding the practice
as being some excuse for counter prescribing he did
not seem to recognize the possibility of removing
both causes of complaint by mutual concession and
arrangement. It is not a case requiring one side or
other to make the first move, or, as Dr. Potter puts

it, to give way; but it is a case in which a

824

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 2, 1881.

simultaneous move on both sides must be made for
their common benefit.

No doubt it is very true that if a man could buy
his physic for sixpence he would not find it an
economy to lose half-a-day’s work in getting it for
nothing ; but we take it that it is rather the fear of
a “ doctor’s bill ” that induces many to have recourse
to the aid offered by hospitals than the belief that
druggists' charges are exorbitant. To the very same
feeling also may be ascribed very much of the
“ counter prescribing,” of which some medical men
complain so loudly. The poor know well enough
that often for a few pence they can obtain from the
druggist a remedy for simple ailments and that it
would cost them far more if they went to a doctor.
If gratuitous medical treatment is to be discouraged
for all that are not actual paupers, and the work¬
ing classes are in this particular to be taught self-
respect, the doctor’s charges must be adapted to their
means no less than the druggist’s charges for dis¬
pensing the medicines he orders.

Whether the reform in this respect, which the
writer in the Standard thinks so desirable, is to be
best achieved by adopting a system of medical in¬
surance such as that referred to by Mr. Radley in
the Standard of last Thursday, or by other means,
we will not pretend to say ; but it is, we think, at
least certain that one most essential condition for
the realization of such a reform, and for the removal
of grievances complained of by both medical practi¬
tioners and druggists, is a better mutual understanding
and co-operation between these classes. Let there
be an end to unprofitable talk of carrying on counter
prescribing as a measure of justifiable retaliation, and
to equally unprofitable criticisms upon the mode in
which medical dispensing is often carried out in
surgeries. The practice of counter prescribing as
well as the resort to hospitals for out-patient
relief, and, we may add, the growing' use of
patent medicines, are each and all indications that
there is something out of joint in the domain
of medicine. People of scanty means find them¬
selves unable to seek the advice of a medical
man because of the expense it involves, and
consequently they fall back upon whichever of
the three alternatives they find most convenient.
Though fortunately there are not, as Dr. Potter
states, more than thirty thousand chemists and
druggists in this country engaged in carrying on
counter prescribing, we do not hesitate to say that
the majority of those who do so would willingly
unite with medical practitioners in the endeavour to
exchange that part of their business for the more
appropriate one of dispensing the medicines ordered
by the latter.

The interests of both classes are so closely connected
that there should be harmonious concert rather than
the mutual recriminations that are so often heard, and
if it could be arranged that the dispensing medical
practitioner shook off from him what remains of the

old apothecary by giving up the mortar and pill
machine in favour of the druggist, there is every
reason to believe that the public would be benefited
by the change no less than those more immediately
concerned in the arrangement.

In any case we must again enter our protest
against the attempt to make druggists appear extor¬
tionate or unjust in their charges for the services
rendered by them, as dispensers, to medical men and
to their patients. It is probable that if the work
of dispensing were more generally placed in the
hands of druggists there might be a reduction in the
scale of charges in certain cases or under special
conditions ; but whatever may be done in this
direction it is essential that the dispenser should be
as much considered from a professional point of
view as the medical practitioner with whom he is
to co-operate for the benefit of the public.

EVENING MEETING.

The last Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Society for the present Session will be held on
Wednesday next, April 6, when a paper will be read
on “Wanika, a New African Arrow Poison: its
Composition and Properties,” by Mr. A. W
Gerrard. The chair will be taken at half-past
eight o’clock.

PHARMACY IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

In this colony the Pharmacy Board for carrying
out the examinations has been up to the present
time under the control of the Government. Now,
however, that a Pharmaceutical Society has become
well established, the present president of which is
Mr. F. Senior, of Sydney, a Bill is being prepared
with a view of identifying the examining body with
the Society. The examinations are said to be
thoroughly practical, and the diplomas of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and of the
neighbouring colony of Victoria are accepted in lieu
of them.

By the courtesy of a correspondent we are able to
give some interesting information with respect to the
conditions under which pharmacy is carried on in
New South Wales. In a large representative estab¬
lishment in Sydney, where four assistants are kept, •
from eight to ten thousand original prescriptions are
copied annually. The establishment opens at 7
o’clock a.m., and the shutters are put up again at
6 p.m., which is the tea-time. After this two out of
the four assistants remain on duty until 10 p.m., or
11 p.m. on Saturdays, when the establishment finally
closes. On Sundays the doors only are open from
8 a.m. until 10 p.m., two assistants being on duty.
The salaries commence at £2 per week, besides board
and lodging (estimated at 25s.) for the first year, and
advance 5s. per week each year until a maximum is
reached of £3 (equal to £4 5s.) in the fifth year.

Our correspondent adds that a qualified man,
provided he is of good character and has a pleasant
manner, may generally secure an engagement. Be¬
sides this, opportunities for commencing business in
the country districts frequently present themselves
to respectable men having command of a small
1 amount of capital.

I

if

April 2, 1S81.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

825

Cimsarimns.

“ Es machte Gotfc der grosse Schopfer
Aus einem Goldmacher einen Topfer.’

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The eleventh general meeting was held at the Royal
Institution, on Thursday evening, March 17, the Pre¬
sident, Dr. Symes, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed ; and the following donations to the library
were announced : — The current numbers of the Pharma¬
ceutical Journal , from the Society; and the Chemists’
Journal, from the President.

Mr. Arthur M. Hugill was elected a member.

Interesting communications were made on the follow¬
ing subjects —

On “ Sweet Red Pepper,” by the President; “Hydro¬
gen Peroxide,” by Alex. Watt, F.C.S., F.I.C.; “Artifi¬
cially Coloured Rose Leaves,” by Michael Conroy, F.C.S.

These were followed by a paper on “ The History of
l Chemistry” (second part), by Mr. Thomas Farmer.

The History of Chemistry from Paracelsus to
John Dalton.

BY THOMAS FARMER.

In my last paper you will remember I left alchemy at
its zenith : all implicitly believed in it ; all were sanguine
of its early success. Indeed so sanguine were they in
1404, that Parliament considered it necessary to pass an
Act abolishing the practice altogether, a few persons only
by special licence being allowed to carry it on. It was
feared that the secret of transmutation would be found
out, and the happy alchemist, whoever he might be,
would become too powerful for the State. Several patents
were granted to persons who supposed they had dis¬
covered the art of making gold, during the reign of
Henry VI. The firm belief in alchemy is well illustrated
by the life of Bottgher. As a boy he was very much
fascinated by the science, and after several years of hard
study, probably getting tired of his failures, he one day
pretended that he had discovered the philosopher’s stone.
He communicated with his master, Zorn, and succeeded by
some means or other in making him and several others
believe that he had really done so. The news spread far
and wide ; crowds gathered round the door to get a sight
of the wonderful man, and among others came Frederick
the First of Prussia, who, being in great straits for money
at the time, determined to remove him to the strong
fortress of Spandau, there to make an infinite quantity of
gold. The young gold-cook suspected the king’s intention,
and did the wisest thing possible under the circumstances, —
resolved on flight. He got into Wittenburg, and appealed
for protection to Augustus the First, Elector of Saxony,
who, being himself very short of money, conveyed
Bottgher under a royal escort to Dresden, where he was
very well looked after. Augustus had to leave him for a
time, to visit Poland ; but while there, running short of
money, wrote to Bottgher asking him to send the
formula, so that he might make gold to supply’his wants.
Bottgher, thus pressed, sent a bottle containing a reddish
fluid, which he said possessed the magic properties. It is
not necessary to say the experiment failed : the copper
obstinately remained copper, and not a particle of gold
made its appearance. On examining the instructions
more closely Augustus noticed that “ it should be used in
great purity of heart,” and. remembering that he had
spent the previous evening in very bad company, and was
not as sober as he might have been, attributed his failure
to this, went to confession, received absolution, and
repeated the experiment with no better result. Augustus
now became furious, and told Bottgher that if he did not
make gold at once he should be hanged. Years passed
away, he was not hanged, and ultimately discovered, not
the conversion of copper into gold, but the conversion of
clay into porcelain. His specimens pleased the elector,
who erected him workshops, over the door of which these
verses were inscribed : —

There is nothing more amusing than to read the alche¬
mical literature published at this period. Everything is
enshrouded with the greatest mystery. ‘ The wicked,
avaricious man is ordered not to pollute the science, but
to leave it for the wise and righteous. Compounds and
elements are represented by plants and animals. As an
example, Basil Valentine, who was remarkably fond of
symbolical designs, represents the solution of a metal in an
acid, by putting a lion for the acid and a serpent for
the metal. The lion eats the serpent : certainly nothing
could illustrate solution more simply. Metals were
regarded by many as compounds of sulphur and mercury.
Gold was condensed sunbeams. Metals were supposed to
grow, and it was quite customary to close mines so that
the contents might grow again. These instances might
be multiplied without end, but they would be of no value
to you, and would not serve to raise in your estimation
the science which, as the most ardent alchemists said,
could be distinctly traced back to Adam himself. The
following remark of Whe well’s may be readily applied to
alchemy: — “ Experience collected her stores in vain, or
ceased to collect them altogether, when she had only to
pour them into the flimsy folds of the lap of mysticism ;
who was in truth so much absorbed in looking for the
treasures that were to fall from the skies, that she
heeded little how scantily she obtained, or how loosely she
held such treasures as might be found near her.” We
have now to consider a new phase of the science.

Paracelsus (1493-1541) pointed out the value of che¬
mistry as a handmaid to medicine, and his views being very
feasible caused men to turn their attention from the pur¬
suit of alchemy to the new way pointed out — that a know¬
ledge of the composition of bodies, necessarily furthered
by alchemy, was important to the better prevention
and cure of their ills. Paracelsus himself did but little,
if anything, in the way of discovery and research. He
mentions bismuth and zinc, and associates them with
metallic bodies ; makes use of sal. ammoniac and several
compounds of mercury. He assumed the existence of
three components of all inorganic substances, and was the
first to include in the same classification animal and vege¬
table bodies. He held that the health of the organism
depended upon the continuance of the true proportions of
these constituents, while disease was caused by a disturb¬
ance of their relation. The writings of Paracelsus are as
ridiculous and nonsensical as the general alchemical
writing of the time. “The life of metals’ is a “secret
fatness;” “of pearls,” “ their splendour ; ” “of arsenic/’
“a mineral and coagulated poison.” “ The life of man is
nothing else but an astral balsam, a balsamic impression,
a celestial, invisible fire, an included air, and a tinging
spirit of salts. I cannot name it more plainly, although it
is set out by many names.” Altogether he -seems to have
been a very peculiar man. As a boy he set out a penniless
vagabond in pursuit of learning. He wandered about over
Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Poland
picking up stray scraps of medical and other knowledge.
In 1526 he performed several cures on certain notable
personages, by which means he wheedled himself into the
medical chair at Basil University. His first act was to
burn all the works of Avicenna and Galen, assuring his
astonished audience that “his shoe-strings knew more than
these physicians.” He became worse and worse and was
very seldom sober when he appeared at the lecture table.
The Basil people found him out, and at last he had to
decamp through insulting a magistrate. The chief sup¬
porters of the Paracelsian doctrines were Thurneysser
(1531-1596), Bodenstein, Lefebvre and Ldmery in France,
and Dr. Wills (1621-1675) in England. The era of Para¬
celsus continued to the end of the seventeenth century.

Contemporary with Paracelsus was Agricola (1490
-1555), who did much to advance technical chemistry.
Many of his methods are said to be in use at the present
day. His work ‘ De Re Metallica’ contains a complete

i

826 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [April 2, 1881.

treatise on metallurgy and mining. There is also
Oswald Crollius, who mentions nitrate of silver by the
long retained name of “luna cornea,” or horn silver, and
who was also acquainted with fulminating gold. Another
person of note is Libavius, who died in 1616. He
sought hard to free chemistry from the mazes of alchemy,
and was to some extent successful. He was a very
patient worker, and discovered the “ fuming liquor of
Libavius,” now called perchloride of tin. He proved that
the acid obtained by distilling alum with sulphate of iron
was the same as that procured by burning sulphur with
saltpetre ; he was clever at making artificial gems, and
was able to imitate almost any precious stone by colouring
glass with various metallic oxides. He greatly assisted the
general progress of science by collecting together all the
main facts of chemistry into a work called ‘ Alchemia,’
published in 1595, and which may be considered the first
chemical handbook. His chief object was the prepara¬
tion of medicines, but he still believed in the idea that
the transmutation of metals was quite possible. His
ideas of chemical combination do not appear to have been
any clearer than the ideas of those who preceded him.

J. Van Helmont, who lived between 1577 and 1644, looked
upon water as the principle of existing things.* To air he
granted the rank of a true element. “The Archoeus,”
something without form, he imagined to draw all bodies
from water, to which its generating spirit was attracted by
the odour of a ferment or ama-vitalis. The idea that water
was the principle of things originated with Thales of
Miletus, who lived in the sixth century B.C., perhaps
because Homer made Okeanos the source of the gods.

Francis de la Boe Sylvius (1614-1672), who studied
carefully the works of Descartes and Van Helmont,
founded the Iatro-chemical sect among physicians ;
he believed that the health of the human body de¬
pended upon the relation of its acid and alkaline fluids,
which acted upon each other and produced a neutral
substance, and that there were two kinds of diseases, the
one produced by acidity, the other by alkalinity. This
theory led to the establishment by Ldmery and Macquer
of the distinction between acid and alkaline compounds,
and paved the way for the conception of chemical
affinity. Glauber (1604-1668), in his ‘ Miraculum
Mundi,’ treats of his wonderful salt, sulphate of
sodium, which is known to this day as Glauber’s
salt. In other works he describes many chlorides
of metals; the sulphates of copper and iron; nitric,
sulphuric and hydrochloric acids, but does not theorize
on their composition. He held the belief that the prin¬
ciples of all things were mercury and salt, and that salt
was the origin of all things. Robert Boyle (1627-1691)
was the first to overthrow the doctrines of the Iatro-
chemists. In 1661 he published the first edition of his
‘Sceptical Chemist, or Chemica-Physical Doubts and Para¬
doxes, touching the experiments whereby vulgar spagy-
rists are wont to endeavour to evince their salt, sulphur,
mercury, to be the true principles of things/ in which
both the Aristotelian and Pai’acelsian doctrines were
completely overthrown. With him another new leaf is
turned ovsr in the history of the science. He held that
it Avas not possible to tell the number of the elements,
and that all bodies are to be considered as such when
they are not capable of further decomposition. He was
the first to completely grasp the difference between
elements and compounds, and held that chemical combi-

* Van Helmont believed that metals and rocks could be
resolved into water ; that animal bodies were produced from
it because fish live upon it. And he made what appeared
to him a vei-y conclusive experiment to show that it was
capable of producing vegetable matter. A willow weighing
5 pounds Avas planted in 200 pounds of carefully dried earth,
and frequently watered. At the end of five years it was
taken up, and found to weigh 169 pounds and 3 ounces.
The earth wa3 found to have lost only 2 ounces. “ Therefore,
164 pounds of wood, bark, roots, and leaves,” said Van
Helmont, “are produced from water alone,”

nation consists of . an approximation of the smallest
particles of matter. To him belongs the honour of
showing that chemistry is not a handmaid of any branch
of art, but a part of the grand study of nature. His j

Avritings and experiments fill six large quarto volumes.

In his investigations on the “ Spring of the Air,” he dis¬
covered the relation betAveen volumes of gases and pres¬
sures to which they are subjected. The laAV may be
enunciated thus: —The volume of a gas varies inversely
as the pressure, and is known as Boyle’s law. Boyle had
views of the material nature of fire that biassed his ideas
of the composition of the atmosphere, for although he
noticed that metals formed calces Aveighing more than
the metal itself, he held that this proved the material
nature of fire and flame, and even gives experiments Avith
the object of “ arresting and weighing the igneous cor¬
puscles.” He rather inclined to a belief in “but one
universal matter of things.” In his ‘ Imperfections of
the Chemical Doctrine of Quantities,’ he points out the
contradictory character of the classification of the acids
and alkalies by Sylvius. Iatro -chemistry was opposed
by Coming (1606-1681), Sydenham (1624-1689), Pit-
cairne (1652-1713), and Boerhaave (1668-1738). It
gradually lost repute, and its fall was sealed by Hoffman
(1660-1742). Kunckel (1630-1703) made a great number
of researches, his chief being on phosphorus. He did
not believe that the increase in the Aveight of metals
Avas due to the absorption of fire ; but his explanation was
even more misty than the theory he did not believe.

Beefier (1635-1682), Avho made the first attempt
to bring physics and chemistry into closer relation,
in his work ‘Physica Subterranea,’ held that the in¬
gredients of matter were water and earth, and from
these three earths Avere produced — fusible, fatty, and
fluid. Stahl (1660-1734) enumerated four elements —
water, acid, earth, and phlogiston. Beefier explained the
calcination of metals by saying that they were composed
of an earth and something driven off. The burning of
sulphur, for example, was thought to be the resolution
into an acid and true sulphur, or that combustible part
driven off ; to this the term phlogiston was applied by
Stahl. When a metallic calx was reduced by fusing with f
charcoal, it Avas thought that phlogiston Avas absorbed,
and in course of time, charcoal, lampblack, and other
reducing agents came to be considered as almost pure
phlogiston. The phlogistic theory was objected to by
Stabel and others on the ground that metals increased in
Aveight during the act of calcination, which was contrary
to the idea of anything being subtracted. This objection
the Stahlians met with the argument that phlogiston had
a negative weight. The phlogistic theory was supported
by Neumann (1683-1737), Pott (1692-1777), Marggraf
(i709— 1782), and Macquer (1718-1784), Avho discovered
arsenic acid. Although wrong, the phlogistic theory
exercised a great influence on the true understanding of
chemical phenomena ; it took the place of the “ souls and
spirits ” assigned by the alchemists to metals and salts,
or Avhat Avas termed by Geber, “ the humidity of metals.”

It gave such a plain and excellent account of chemical
action that the facts and observations of later periods, such
as the existence and properties of oxygen, were almost
unheeded. It Avas only in the latter part of the eigh¬
teen th century that the part played by oxygen in the
formation of many chemical compounds Avas recognised.

In Hooke’s ‘ Micrographia ’ for 1665 it says that there
exists in air a substance similar to that Avhiclx exists in
saltpetre. In the treatises of MayhoAv, published 1668-
1674, oxygen is described under the name of fire air
aerial spirit, and nitre air. Dr. Hales published his
experiments on gases, and NeAvton, early in the eigh¬
teenth century, in bis ‘ Opticks,’ indicated their nature
and formation ; but to Dr. Black, Avho experimented early
in the eighteenth century, is due the honour of making
the first steps toward getting a knowledge of the specific
properties of the various gaseous bodies. Dr. Priestley
(1733-1804) also distinguished himself in pneumatic

April 2, 1881.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

827

chemistry. In 1772 he discovered nitric oxide gas, and
on the 1st of August, 1774, he discovered oxygen by
heating the red oxide of mercury; he considered this
gas as dephlogisticated air, for he thought that as it was
a better supporter of combustion than “ common air,”
it had parted with its phlogiston, and was therefore in a
better condition to take up that body from other sub¬
stances. When air drew phlogiston from burning
substances, he believed that it became saturated and had
no further affinity for it. Cavendish (1731-1810), like
Priestley, was of the phlogistic school of thought. His
chief discovery, and the one by which he is best known
to us, was that when hydrogen and dephlogisticated air
were mixed in proportions necessary to phlogisticate the
air, and exploded, water was produced; he also found
that the same product was produced when common air
and hydrogen were exploded. He established the
difference between nitrogen and hydrogen, pointed out
the importance of knowing the specific gravity of gases,
and discovered the pneumatic trough. Scheele (1742 to
1786) held to the phlogistic theory, and his conceptions
bore very strong resemblance to those of the other con-
temporai'y chemists : in his dissertation on ‘ Air and
Eire,’ he says fire consists of air and phlogiston. His
other works worth notice are ‘ A Dissertation on Elint,
Clay, and Alum,’ ‘Analysis of the Human Calculus,’
and the accounts of his discoveries in the ‘ Transactions
of the Royal Society of Sweden.’ To Scheele as a
theorist we owe but little, the chief honour being due
to him for his practical work. He isolated tartaric acid
in 1769, discovered chlorine and baryta in 1774, glycerine
in 1779, and first pointed out its properties in 1784; he
first obtained hydrofluoi’ic acid in 1771, pointed out its
properties in 1781, and the same year prepared tungstanic
acid. Between the years 1776 and 1786 he discovered
benzoic, molybdic, lactic, mucic, oxalic, malic, and gallic
acids, and made several important observations on
arsenious acid. Towards the end of the eighteenth
century Bergman, of Upsala (1735 to 1784), gave a
great impetus to analytical chemistry. He devised
methods of examining compounds in the wet way and .by
means of the blowpipe, and he also gave a dissertation on all
the chemical substances known at the time. The nature
of compounds, according to his idea, that were formed by
the mixture of reagents, depended on the sum of their
attractions. In 1777 Wenzel’s observations were pub¬
lished ; they followed up those of Bergman and Kirwan,
and from them the idea of equivalency took its rise.

Lavoisier (1743-1784) gave an entirely new aspect to
the science of chemistry. Of him Liebig says: “ He dis¬
covered no new body, no new property, no natural
phenomena previously unknown, but all the facts estab¬
lished by- him were the necessary consequences of the
i labours of those who preceded him. He infused into the
science a new spirit.” In the year 1765 Lavoisier firmly
believed in the existence of phlogiston ; but we find that
eleven years later his faith is beginning to waver, for he
states that to explain certain phenomena we must assign
to it certain qualities other than those mentioned by
Stahl. In a memoir ‘On the Nature of the Principle
which combines with Metals during their Calcination,
and which augments their Weight,’ he describes the
production of “fixed air” from charcoal and in the re¬
duction of calces ; but he does not mention the fact that
Priestley in the preceding November had acquainted
him with his experiments, nor whether he had seen the
observations made by Bayen in the Journal de Physique
of February and April, 1774, that the change of a
metallic element into a calx is due to the fixation of an
“ aerial fluid,” and that the red oxide of mercury is
reduced by heat alone, without the addition of anything,
and that it loses weight. In 1777 Lavoisier combated
Priestley’s assertion that air is rendered irrespirable
through becoming loaded with phlogiston. In 1778 he
brought forward the theory that the “ dephlogisticated
air ” of Priestley was the universal oxygenizing principle,

which, combining with nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur,
and charcoal, forms nitric, phosphoric, vitriolic and
carbonic acids ; and with the metals, calces. He further
held, that all the phenomena of combustion could bo
explained without the assistance of phlogiston, of the
existence of which there was no evidence. In 1783,
having heard of the labours of Cavendish, and their
results, he made a number of experiments to determine
what substance was produced when hydrogen burns, and
to test the accuracy of the work of Cavendish. Assisted
by Meusnier, he proved that water contained hydrogen
by passing steam, through a tube containing red-hot wire,
and from the results of these experiments he explained
that the evolution of hydrogen observed during the
solution of metals was due to the decomposition of
water, the metal becoming oxidized and the hydrogen
escaping. The revolution that Lavoisier made in
“ chemical thought ” completely sealed the fate of the
“philosophy of Stahl,” which, notwithstanding the noble
efforts made on its behalf by Gren, Wiegleb, Delamethe-
l'ie, and Kirwan, declined, and the new doctrines of
Lavoisier took its place. In 1779 Lavoisier published
his ‘ Traitd ELmentaire de Chimie’ in which his doctrines
are clearly set forth. He was helped in the establishment
of his system by Fonrcroy, Monge, Guyton de Morveau,
and Berthollet (1775 — 1809), who in 1785 published a
paper on dephlogisticated marine air, or chlorine, as it
is now called, in which he pointed out its bleaching
properties. Following up the experiments of Priestley, he
showed that ammonia was composed of three volumes of
hydrogen gas to one of azotic. In 1803 he published his
work on ‘ Chemical Statics,’ in which the conclusions
arrived at by Bergman regarding the laws of the combina¬
tion of acids and bases were disputed. The views of
Berthollet were opposed by Proust (1775 — 1826), who
had already shown that tin and antimony unite with
oxygen, and iron with sulphur, in two definite proportions
He had a long correspondence with Berthollet, in which
he conclusively proved to him that all compounds are
definite, and contain only fixed proportions of their
constituents. The next person of note to whom we come
is John Dalton (1766 — 1844), who is well known to us
all, from the fact of his having been the first man to
apply the atomic theory to chemistry. The discovery of
the theory is not itself due to Dalton, as many suppose,
for it was known to Leukippos, and further extended by
Demokritos (460 B.C.), who said of atoms that they
were invisible by reason of their smallness, indivisible by
reason of their solidity, impenetrable and unalterable ;
they have neither heat, cold, nor colour, and are infinite
in number. An atomic theory had even been formed
long before the time of Demokritos, by Kanfida in India,
and is the chief feature of the Nyayan system of philo¬
sophy. The theory of Leukippos is ascribed by Possi-
donius to Moschus, a Phoenician. Indeed, we learn from
the translation of a Hindu poem, ‘ Shi’ri’n and Ferhad,’*
by Sir William Jones, that the Hindus not only possessed
an atomic theory, but associated with those atoms the
force of attraction. These few examples will be
sufficient to show you that long before the time of
Dalton atoms were known, had probably been discarded,
although they were used by some writers on science
during the Middle Ages, and were at last applied
by his mathematical mind — for mathematics was his
favourite study — to explain the phenomena of che¬
mistry. All of you are probably aware of the circum¬
stances that led him to frame the theory. While
experimenting with marsh and olefiant gases, he
observed that, calculating the carbon in each case to
be the same, the amount of hydrogen in the one was
double the amount of hydrogen in the other, also that
the amount of oxygen in carbon dioxide was double that
in carbon monoxide. From these and other observations he
framed the atomic theory, which will ever be a memorial

# A divine spirit and the human soul disinterestedly pious.

828

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 2, 1881

to his name. Dalton communicated his new theory to
Dr. Thomson, who promulgated it in his ‘ System of Che¬
mistry,’ 3rd edition, 1807. It may be mentioned that
his theory appears to have been foreshadowed in 1791
by W. Higgins, of Oxford, in his ‘ Comparative View of
the Phlogistic and Anti-phlogistic Theories.’ The first
separate publication of Dalton was his ‘ Meteorological
Observations and Essays.’ On October 3, 1794, he read
a communication on “Extraordinary Facts relating to
the Vision of Colours,” first drawing attention to that
remarkable peculiarity “ colour blindness,” or “ Dalton¬
ism,” as it is sometimes called. In 1801 he read essays
on the “Constitution of Mixed Gases,” “ On the Force of
Steam or Vapour from Water and other Liquids at
Different Temperatures, both in a Torricelian Vacuum,
and in Air,” “ On Evaporation,” and “ On the Expansion
of Gases by Heat.” In 1803 he appears to have pictured
the appearance of his atoms, for in his paper “ On the
Absorption of Gases” we read: “A particle of gas press¬
ing on the surface of water is analogous to a single shot
pressing on a pile of them.” In 1808, in his ‘New
System of Chemical Philosophy,’ he writes : — “Whatever,
therefore, may be the shape or figure of the solid atom
abstractedly, when surrounded by such an atmosphere
(of heat) it must be globular; but as all the globules in
any small given volume are subject to the same pressure,
they must be equal in bulk, and will, therefore, be ar¬
ranged in a horizontal strata like a pile of shot.” His
idea, therefore, differed from that of Demokritos in this —
that while Dalton believed the atoms were equal in size
and of the same shape, Demokritos believed them to be
unequal in size and of different shape. In 1832 Dalton
received the degree of D.C.L. of Oxford, in recognition of
his scientific labours. When invested in his scarlet robe,
it appeared to him, by reason of his “ colour blindness,”
the “.colour of nature,” that of “green leaves.” In 1833
Government granted him a pension of £150 per annum,
which, in 1836, was increased to £300. In the autumn
of 1834, he received the LL.D. of Edinburgh University.
He had a very quiet, dry manner, and it is related that
one day his- physician finding him very much better after
a severe attack of catarrh, ascribed his improvement to
a dose of James’s powder. “ I do not see how that can
be,” said Dalton; “for I kept the powder until I could have
an opportunity of analysing it.” Of Dalton, Professor
Sedgwick says : “ He possessed a beautiful moral sim¬
plicity and singleness of heart, which made him go on
steadily in the way he saw before him, without turning
to the right hand or the left, and taught him to do
homage to no authority before that of truth.”

A most interesting discussion followed, in which the
President, Messrs. Chubb, Morton, Watt and Williams
joined, and a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the
author.

NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A social meeting in connection with the above Associa¬
tion was held at the Flying Horse Hotel, on Tuesday
evening, March 22. The chair was occupied by the Pre¬
sident, Mr. R. Fitzhugh, F.C.S., and there was a
moderate attendance of members.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and
confirmed, the President then called upon Mr. Jackson,
who officiated as Secretary in the absence of Mr. Warriner,
to read the clauses of the proposed New Pharmacy Act.
Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4 were agreed to nem. con. On clause
5, which limits the time an executor may keep on a
business after the death of the proprietor, considerable
discussion arose, in which most of the members took part,
and very different opinions were expressed. Eventually,
Mr. W. H. Parker proposed — “ That this meeting objects
to clause 5, thinking it harsh and unjust to widows.” Mr.
E. C. Patchitt seconded the motion.

Mr. Jackson then proposed as an amendment — “That
this meeting approves of the clause,” which was seconded
by Mr. R. Widdowson. On a vote being taken the
amendment was carried by ten votes to six, and it was
afterwards put as a substantive motion and carried by
same majority.

Clauses 6, 7, 8 and 9 were approved without any
difference of opinion, but a long discussion arose on clause
10, which compels proprietors of patent medicines con¬
taining poisons to label them as such. This it was felt
by some would interfere with the sale of cough mixtures,
etc., over the counter, and would cause much unnecessary
trouble; but as the clause expressly refers to articles
bearing a patent medicine stamp, it was thought the sale
of other preparations by chemists would not be affected,
and Mr. Beilby proposed, and Mr. R. Widdowson seconded,
that this clause be approved of, which was carried. The
remaining clauses were agreed to without discussion.

Mr. Middleton then proposed, and Mr. Beilby seconded,
“ That the Secretary inform the Council of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society that this meeting, having discussed the
proposed Pharmacy Act, hereby approves of the same,”
which was carried.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the pro¬
ceedings.

EDINBURGH CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The sixth meeting of the session was held on Wednes¬
day, March 9, in the rooms of the North British Branch,

Mr. J. D. Robertson, President, in the chair.

The minutes of last meeting having been read and
confirmed, Mr. Maclaren, read a paper on “ Our Associa¬
tion, its Aim and Object.” Mr. Maclaren advocated a
change in the Association in the direction of making it
more of a debating society or ordinary mutual improve¬
ment association and not confining it so exclusively to
the discussion of purely pharmaceutical matters.

Mr. Henry thought it would be going backward instead
of forward to reduce the Association to the level of an
ordinary debating society. He also thought as there were
already so many mutual improvement associations in A
Edinburgh another one was quite unnecessary, and that
the aim and object of the Association would be best
carried out by the members confining their attention to
the study and discussion of subjects strictly belonging to
their profession.

Mr. Robertson agreed generally with the statements
made by Mr. Henry, and pointed out that the Association
was already a mutual improvement association confined
to one department of knowledge, that department being
the one most essential to them as chemists and druggists.

He concluded by moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Maclaren,
which was heartily accorded.

groceebings of Scientific Societies,

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

The anniversary meeting of this Society was held on
Thursday, March 30, Professor Roscoe, President, in the
chair.

The President gave his annual address on the general
condition of the Society. At no period in its history has
the Society been in such a flourishing condition. The
number of Fellows is the largest ever recorded — 1096.
The papers read have increased both in number and
importance, whilst the attendance and interest displayed
at the meetings have at all events not diminished. The
income has also increased, being £2916 as against £2719
the income of the preceding year. The number of papers
read — 113 — has precluded the necessity of having lectures
during the past session. The journal still upholds its

April 2, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

829

character for accuracy and usefulness. Many additions
have been made to the library; duplicate sets of some
periodicals have been purchased; the books have been
rearranged, and are now classified according to the sub¬
jects. Two card catalogues have been prepared, one
arranged according to the authors’ names, the other ac¬
cording to subjects.

The research fund, founded in 1876 by the donation of
£1000 from Dr. Longstaff, now amounts to £4427. The
City companies have materially aided the foundation of
this fund. Up to the present time, thirty-seven grants
have been made, in sums varying from £100 to £5, and
amounting in all to £1021.

The President then briefly alluded to the more im¬
portant discoveries in chemical science during the past
year. The observed alteration in the density of chlorine
has been admitted by Victor Meyer to be due to some
unexplained error ; whilst the well-established fact of the
diminution in density of the vapour of iodine at a white
heat can be explained by the dissociation of the molecules
of that element. The solar and stellar evidence of the
question of the decomposition of metals is being accumu¬
lated by Mr. Lockyer; but as yet has not assumed a
sufficiently cogent form to enforce its general acceptance
by chemists, perhaps because the nature of the proof is
not one with which they are familiar. The researches of
Captain Abney, in conjunction with Colonel Festing,
have been continued with conspicuous success. By photo¬
graphing the absorption spectra of organic compounds in
the infra red part of the specti’um, they have accom¬
plished for organic metals what ordinary high temperature
spectrum analysis does for the inorganic metals. In these
invisible portions of the spectrum are shown characteristic
and distinct bands and lines for each organic radical, so that
a glance at these photographs decides whether or no ethyl,
methyl, etc., are present, just as a glance at the luminous
portion of the spectrum satisfies us as to the presence of
calcium, sodium, etc. An investigation of greater im¬
portance to chemistry has seldom, if ever, been communi¬
cated to the Society. An equally important confirmation
of certain fundamental views of modern chemistry has
been obtained by Helmholtz from a discussion of electro
phenomena; an account of these will be given at the
forthcoming Faraday Lecture. During the past twelve

(months not only has Baeyer succeeded in producing indigo
artificially, but its manufacture on a commercial scale has
been undertaken by competent hands. The first point of
•departure was cinnamic acid, the last link in the chain
orthonitrophenylpropionic acid, from an alkaline solution
of which pure indigo blue separates out on heating with
grape sugar. The theoretical yield of indigo is 68 per
cent. ; 40 per cent, has been obtained. Kolbe’s idea that
the four combining units of each carbon atom are not of
equal volume was apparently verified by Schreiner’s re¬
searches on the methyl ethyl carbonic ethers. Gunther
and Roese have, however, obtained results which flatly
contradict those of Schreiner. Various new and rare
metals have been prepared by Marignac, Nilson, Clfeve,
etc.

The Society has lost by death two foreign members,
Professor Heintz, of Halle, and Professor Mulder, of
Amsterdam, and ten Fellows: — Sir B. C. Brodie, Dr.
Stenhouse, Professor W. Hallows Miller ; Messrs. J.
Tennant, W. W. Stoddart, W. Arnot, A. C. Bruce, T.
Eltoft, R. Johnson and the Rev. D. W. Ladley.

The President then presented the Longstaff Medal to
Professor Thorpe, of the Yorkshire College, as the Fellow
who in the opinion of the Council had done the most to
promote chemical science by research during the past
three years. The medal is of bronze, on one side is a very
successful portrait of Dr. Longstaff. . The medallion
portrait is by Mr. A. Bruce Joy, the dies by Wyon, and
the medal was struck at the Mint. It is accompanied by
a purse of £20.

Dr. Longstaff rose to propose a vote of thanks to the
President for his report and to move its adoption. He

said that it was a source of great gratification to him to
be present at the presentation of the first Longstaff
medal. He traced back his love of science to his perusal
of three books, when a schoolboy — Joyce’s ‘ Scientific Dia¬
logues,’ Blair’s ‘Primer of Chemistry ’ and the ‘Life of Dr.
Franklin.’ His researches had been principally confined
to the application of chemistry to manufacturing purposes,
but he hoped by his share in founding the Research
Fund that he had contributed something towards the
advancement of scientific research. He trusted that the
research fund would be still more successful and that
more persons who had benefited by the application
of discoveries in chemistry to manufactures would come
forward and contribute.

Mr. Carteighe, in seconding the motion, referred to
the debt which the Society owed to the President for his
very regular attendance.

The President, in returning thanks, said that no apology
was needed from Dr. Longstaff ; he had originated the
research fund and thus done a very good work for the
progress of science.

The Treasurer, Dr. Russell, then read his report. The
principal items are as follows : — Receipts : —By subscrip¬
tions, etc., £2287 ; sale of Journal and Index, £323 ;
dividends, £223. Expenses: — Journal, £1688; library,
£441 ; house expenses, £176 ; collector’s commission, £114.
The total income is about £2900 ; the expenditure, £2600.
The assets amount to £8193. The Treasurer congratu¬
lated the Society on its very flourishing financial condition,
and pointed out specially the increase in the subscriptions
and in the sale of the journal.

The Treasurer then gave an account of the research
fund, the principal items of which are given in the
President’s address.

The Auditors then presented their report, and various
votes of thanks were passed.

The Society then balloted for the Officers and Council
for the ensuing year.

The Scrutators, Dr. Japp and Mr. J. Spiller, declared
the following to have been duly elected : — President,
H. E. Roscoe ; Vice-Presidents, F. A. Abel, Warren De
La Rue, E. Frankland, J. H. Gladstone, A. W. Hofmann,
W. Odling, Lyon Playfair, A. W. Williamson, A. Crum-
Brown, J. Dewar, J. H. Gilbert, A. V. Harcourt, J. E.
Reynolds, J. Young ; Secretaries W. H. Perkin, H. E.
Armstrong ; Foreign Secretary, Hugo Muller ; Treasurer,
W. J. Russell ; Council, F. I). Brown, M. Carteighe,
H. McLeod, G. H. Makins, E. J. Mills, W. C. Roberts,
C. Schorlemmer, J. M. Thomson, C. M. Tidy, W. Thorp,
T. E. Thorpe, R. Warington.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association was held at the
rooms, 32a, George Street, Hanover Square, on Wednes¬
day, March 16, the President, Mr. F. W. Branson, in the
chair.

Mr. W. A. Wrenn read a paper on the “Prepara¬
tion and Strength of Commercial Pepsine,” in which he
pointed out how the activity of the product is influenced
by the mode of preparation. The results of an examina¬
tion of a series of numbered samples were tabulated,
considerable variation of strength being shown. In the
preparation of coagulated albumen, used for testing
pepsine, uniformity of division is a matter of importance.
This Mr. Wrenn said was best obtained by pressing the
hard boiled albumen through a suitably sized sieve, a
method he thougnt preferable to slicing. The strength of
acid, and the exact temperature at which maceration must
be performed, and the means of maintaining the same con¬
stant, were considered. Lastly, a number of samples of
pepsine were exhibited in the various stages of manufac¬
ture by different processes.

Mr. W. R. Dodd read a paper on “Brewing,” com¬
mencing with a short history of the subject, together with
a general outline of the processes, materials used, and the

830

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

t April 2 1881.

chemistry of the various stages. The author stated that
although one of the oldest arts, brewing had until quite
recently been conducted in the most empirical manner,
the production in earlier times differing in great measure
from that of the present day. A fermented liquor
obtained from barley as early as 1960 B.c. was known to
the Egyptians and others under the name of zythum, and
in Gaul as cerevisia. Mr. Dodd said that the first step
of importance was that of malting, and alluded to the
various stages of that operation, pointing out the necessity
of the maltster being a practical man in order that he
may judge from the character of the barley as to whether
the treatment prescribed by the excise authorities would
yield a satisfactory result. The author then detailed the
manner in which the recent alterations affect the maltster.
He showed that good water in a brewery is of the utmost
importance, and though the action of mineral constituents
upon the product is still a debated question, he laid great
stress upon the desirability of comparative freedom from
organic matter. The processes involved were divided
into four stages, viz., washing, boiling, cooling and
fermenting, but the author attached most importance to
the first and last. He touched upon the methods adopted
to insure the uniform diffusion of malt in the water, the
temperature at whioh they should be mixed, and the
time of maceration ; showing the necessity of boiling and
also of rapid cooling to the temperature most favourable
to fermentation. The author showed the advisability of
examining the yeast from time to time to ascertain its
purity and freedom from bacteria. The methods of
ascertaining the potential energy of a given sample of
yeast, also for roughly judging the quality of malt were
illustrated by experiments. Specimens of various kinds
of malt and of wort in its progressive stages were also
shown.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the
authors.

IParliameirtarg mtir |hTrmbhtp«

Poisoning by Arsenic.

A case of wholesale poisoning has just occurred at
Binbroolc, a village on the Lincolnshire Wolds. Mrs.
Gibson, the wife of a shepherd, made a number of
cheesecakes. After eating one of them she suddenly
became unwell, and the neighbours who visited her, and
who had eaten some of the cakes, were also taken ill.
Upon testing some of the cakes it was discovered that
the woman had mistaken a tin of arsenic for ground rice,
and had mixed the poison in her pastry. The arsenic,
which was used by her husband in dressing the sheep,
was kept in a cupboard in a tin precisely similar to that
which contained the ground rice. The woman died a
few hours after she had eaten the cake, before medical
aid could be obtained, and eight or nine of the neighbours
remain seriously ill from the effects of the poison. —
Medical Press cencl Circular.

♦

Notice has been received of the death of the
following : —

On the 27th of January, 1881, Mr. William Townsend,
Chemist and Druggist, Burton-on-Trent. Aged 67
years.

On the 26th of February, 1881, Mr. Matthew Urwin,
Chemist and Druggist, Charlotte Terrace, North Shields.
Aged 28 years.

On the 6th of March, 1881, Mr. Jonathan Sparke
Walton, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Bouverie Street, Fleet
Street. Aged 34 years. Mr. Walton had been a
Member of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1870.

On the 21st of March, 1881, Mr. Richard Porter
Bulmer, Chemist and Druggist, Market Place, Pockling-
ton. Aged 46 years. Mr. Bulmer had been a Member
of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1873.

On the 22nd of March, 1881, Mr. Thomas Binge,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Stockbridge Terrace, Pimlico.
Aged 81 years. Mr. Binge had been a Member of the
Pharmaceutical Society since 1842, and although he
never took a prominent position in the deliberations of
the Society, he always manifested a warm interest in its
success as an educating body.

On the 25th of March, 1881, Mr. William Stephens,
Chemist and Druggist, High Street, Merthyr Tydfil'.
Aged 57 years.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

Saint Bartholomew’s Hospital Reports. Edited by
W. S. Church, M.D., and Alfred Willett, F.R.C.S.
Vol. XVI. London: Smith, Elder and Co. 1881.
From the Editors.

A Guide to Therapeutics. By Robert Farquharson,
M.P., M.D., etc. Second Edition. London : Smith,
Elder and Co. 1881. From the Publishers.

Rocky Mountain Health Resorts. By Charles
Denison, A.M., M.D., etc. Boston : Houghton,
Mifflin and Co. 1881. From the Author.

A Practical Guide to Health and Longevity. By
G. W. Bacon, F.R.G.S. London : G. W. Bacon and
Co. 1881. From the Publishers.

On the Action of Carbolic Acid upon Ciliated
Cells and White Blood Cells. By T. Mitchell
Prudden, M.D. From the Author.

Milk and its Analysis. By Walter Gibbons. Man¬
chester. 1881. From the Author.

D tsjj ciising Htfimo rantur.

In order to assist as mych as possible our younger
brethren, for whose salce partly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
yiumbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[524]. If “ Nemo ” dissolves the camphor in the spirits
of wine, and afterwards adds the spirit of ammonia there
can be no difficulty in dispensing a clear mixture.
Ipswich. J. C. Culph.

[527]. Would any reader of the Journal state how he
would dispense the following prescription? —

R Kerm. Min . grs. v.

Tr. Vera trice Virid . Rl xv.

Loch. Pectorialis .... ad §iv.

M. Ft. mist.

374

[528]. I received the following prescription to make

up

R Tr. Ferri Perchlor . ^ss.

Liq. Strychnice . Jss.

Syr. Limonis . 5j.

M.

The above had been dispensed by a London chemist.

I made it up with the syr. limonis, B.P. The conse¬
quence was, a dark looking mixture ; this was returned
to me, with the complaint that it was much darker in
colour than that prepared in London, which was of light
colour.

The only way I can account for the difference is that

■ April 2, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

831

my syrup was made according to the B.P., aud the
London syrup must have been made from a private
receipt.

I conscientiously dispensed this prescription with B.P.
preparations ; still mine was pronounced wrong, and the

London right.

What colour should it be, dark or light ?

Anxious Inquirer.

[529].

R Tinct. Iod. c. Am . . • SB-

Linim. nocte maneque utend.

W. J. S.

I dispensed the above yesterday. It had been pre¬
viously dispensed in London and Hull, and I was told
the liniment must be colourless. These non-official for¬
mulae are puzzling to a sub-pharmaceutical Robinson
Crusoe like myself. Can anyone give me the original
formula? The prescription was written in the south dis¬
trict of London. Islander.

[53°].

R Acid. Salicy!af . Tjiij.

' Aq . . . ad ^vj.

^ap. coch. ampl. ter die.

Will any reader kindly inform me how the above should
be dispensed? and oblige Beta.

[531].

R Ammon. Sesquicarb . yij.

Ammonii Bromid . . . 7)iv.

Salicine . Bij.

Quiniie Sulph . 5> j.

Spt. Chlorof . 7)ij •

Aq. Flor. Aurant. . . . (fv.

Glycerine . 3j.

Aquae . adgviij.

M. An eighth part to be taken every four hours.

The above prescription is a copy of one left yesterday
to be dispensed. My modus ojperandi was to rub down
the quinine in a mortar, adding the salicine and glycerine,
thinking the glycerine would suspend the quinine and sali¬
cine, having previously dissolved the ammon. bromid . in
t^vj. of water with the spt. chlor. and aqua flor. aurant.
i then added the contents of my mortar. So well, so good.
Lastly, the ammon. carb. in solution was added. After
shaking the bottle, a gelatinous substance, as described by
W. G. T., floated on the surface, leaving the mixture
nearly clear. I should not have troubled you with the
above had I not seen W. G. T.’s difficulty in Saturday’s
Journal. J- H.

[532]. “ Chemicus ” Would be glad to know what ap¬
pearance the following mixture should have : —

R Ferri Am. Tart . gr. v.

. Tr. Calumbae . 3j*

Liq. Ammon. Cit . gss.

Aquae Destillatae . ad^j.

M. Ft. haustus. To be taken every eight hours.

There being no quantity of doses ordered I sent a 12-
oz. mixture, twelve doses. The patient brought it back,
bringing with him a 12-oz. bottle. of the same mixture,
dispensed by one of the best London firms, for compari¬
son with my own, that being quite a clear mixture, with¬
out any deposit, while the “ London ” mixture was very
thick, with a deposit at the bottom of the bottle. Which
of the two was" right ?

33, High Street, Ilfracombe.

[700]. SULLIVAN’S CEMENT.— Can any reader
give me a recipe for making Sullivan’s cement and
thorough modus operandi of manufacture?

J. G. P. S.

[701]. RANGOON OIL. — Can any reader oblige by
mentioning what oil is generally sold as Rangoon oil ?

TTmura ‘Ft.o'r.rrco.

Correspanbcita*

No notice can be taken of anonymous communico -
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessary ly
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Scotch Board of Examiners.

Sir, — Does Mr. Mackay or any other man know a good
reason why I should not hold a seat on Ike Scotch Board of
Examiners? I have held a seat oil the London Board, and
Edinburgh is only half the distance. Candidates for exami¬
nation go from Newcastle to Edinburgh and are received.
Why not Examiners ?

Grey Street, Newcastle. Barnard S. Proctor.

Proposed Pharmaceutical Legislation.

Sir, — If Mr. Gladstone in his forthcoming Budget struck
out the patent medicine licence and stamp duty, and sub¬
stituted a £2 2s. licence for every person (not a pupil) en¬
gaged in selling or dispensing drugs, including apothecaries, .
he would remove nearly all our difficulties, and render an
Amended Pharmacy Act unnecessary. The licence would
of course be granted, like the solicitors’, to qualified masters
only. Of course employers would pay for their assistants,
thus — “John Stokes, licensed for self and two assistants,
£6 6s”

79, Grosvenor Road, Highbury. George Mee.

Sir,— I heartily endorse the remarks of Mr. W. T.
Martin in this week’s Journal. It seems to me that
chemists are afraid to go to Parliament to ask for what
is their just right. I have no hesitation in stating that we
have at least the sympathy of all shades of political opinion,
and if our case is only laid before the House fairly we
should succeed in passing a good protective Bill. All
drugs and patent medicines ought to be retailed by chemists
only. The fact that a patent medicine requires a stamp is
sufficient to prove it is for medicinal use, and decidedly for
many reasons its sale ought to be in the hands of the
chemist. Most of us had to pay a good premium for our
apprenticeship ; by the Act of 1868, we are compelled to
pass the several examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society
at great expense and self denial, and the business is an
exceedingly responsible one.

CEREDIG.

Chemists’ Prices.

Sirj_On Thursday last there appeared in the Standard
a letter signed M. D., which I consider will entirely mislead
the public to the great detriment of the chemist. I there¬
fore wrote a reply which the editor of the Standard
has not thought fit to publish. Now, sir, the Pharma¬
ceutical Society being an influential body any communica¬
tion of theirs would, no doubt, be taken notice of, and I do
think that such a letter as the one in question should not'
be allowed to pass unnoticed by them.

215, Lewisham High Road. Francis Dymott.

ITotes anb (Queries.

[699]. AQ. MELLIS is an ingredient in Mr. Erasmus
Wilson’s well-known hair lotion. What is the formula
for the preparation intended ? Nemo.

Sir> — The enclosed letter, taken from the Standard news¬
paper of March 24, is likely to mislead the public in the
matter of chemists’ charges, and as such should not be
allowed to pass unnoticed.

In attempting to prove the exorbitant profit charged on
his prescription, M. D. refers only to the cost of the in¬
gredients, and says nothing of the care, time and practice

832

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 2, 1881.

required in preparing it satisfactorily, but omits to state
that our education, though not so costly as his own, is one
nevertheless requiring much time and study, as well as
expense. I have before me a prescription for a powder
containing one-fourth of a grain of calomel, and calculating
in the same manner how much of the medicine costing
3s. 6cl. a pound would amount to — I will not stop to ascer¬
tain, but the exactness required in weighing, and time
occupied in dispensing it leaves a profit which no reasonable
person would dispute about, and 1 might, with equal justice,
set the value of M.D.’s prescription at the cost of the ink
and paper it was written on.

George Nind.

6, Ringford Road, West Hill , Wandsworth.

Cape Tea.

Sir, — In the “Note on Cape Tea,” by Professor Church,
published in your issue of February 19th, are some points
which call for remark from me.

I have not access in Dorpat to the Chemical News , and
it was not until after the publication of my paper in the
Pharmaceutical Journal that my attention was directed
to an abstract of Professor Church’s paper, in the Journal
of the Berlin Chemical Society , under the head of “ Corre¬
spondence from London.”

Apart from the fluorescence (which is shown by my
cyclopiofluorescin only in alkaline solution) Professor
Church has neglected to give any qualitative reactions of
his cyclopic acid. The only criterion, therefore, of
identity or non-identity is the ultimate composition of the
substance. In my paper on Cape Tea I have called special
attention to the discrepancy in the two determinations of
carbon.^ Of the purity of the substance analysed I have
no doubt ; the microscope showed it to consist entirely of
well defined pale sulphur-yellow acicular crystals. Till
future analyses place me in a position to confirm or correct
my results I cannot regard the identity of the two sub¬
stances as placed beyond doubt. I was quite aware that
the amount of carbon was unusually low for such a sub¬
stance a3 cyclopiofluorescin, my attention having been
specially drawn to that fact by Professor Dragendorff at
the time the analyses were made. At the same time I
cannot regard that fact as being the more singular because
other substances examined contained as much as 51 to 55
per cent, of that element.

I do not doubt that Professor Church has made inquiries
into the questions which induced me to undertake the
examination of the Cyclopia (viz., the presence or absence
of theine, or of any allied alkaloid, or of scoparin), but his
paper, as published in the Pharmaceutical Journal,
February 19, certainly contains no definite answer to any
one of those questions. At the same time a systematic
chemical examination of the drug could not have failed to
reveal the presence of cyclopin, which is contained in con¬
siderable quantity.

Had I, therefore, been previously acquainted with
Professor Church’s paper I should still have published my
own in the form in which it appeared in the Pharma¬
ceutical Journal .

I trust on my return to London to be able to procure
sufficient of the Cape tea to enable me to set at rest the
question of identity or non -identity of the cyclopic acid
isolated by Professor Church from Cyclopia -Vogelii and the
cyclopiofluorescin contained in the Cyclopia longifolia.

Dorpat, Russia. Henry G. Greenish.

The Bitter Substance in Glucose.

Sir, — Will you please permit me to correct a statement in
the “Month” of last week’s Journal, p. 795, in which Dr.
Nessler is said to have made experiments in regard to
glucose and to have considered the question whether the
bitter substance be originally present in the glucose or
formed during fermentation not yet determined ?

It was I who first, as far back as March, 1879, gave an
account of this bitter principle, described its origin, effectf

* The analyses were as follows : —

I. II.

C=43-36 44-86

H— 4-80 4-87

t Taking two glasses of fermented liquor containing this
bitter substance, it caused irresistible sleepiness, stiffness
of the neck and a severe headache, which lasted several
days.

_ _ _ ■

and chemical reactions which I found to be similar to those
of colchicine. This my account appeared in No. 7 (April
1, 1879) of the- Correspondenzblatt des Vereines andly •
tischer Chemilcer, it was further published in the Bunzlau
Pharm. Zeitung, No. 63, 1879, and No. 1020 (June 13, 1879)
of the Chemical Neivs, as follows : —

“ Foreign Bitter Principle in Beer. (H. W. Langbeck).

— The author prepared two samples of a fermented liquor
from solution of glucose with small quantities of tartar,
tartaric acid, kino, and a few drops of a mixture of formic
and cenanthio ether. Fermentation was set up by means
of sound pressed yeast, and was maintained at a tempera¬
ture of 188 to 20°. One sample, filtered through flannel
after four days and allowed to stand for three weeks, in a
stoppered cask at 8°, yielded a pleasantly vinous liquid.

The second sample, not, filtered till after five days, tasted
intensely bitter, and grew worse on standing. The newly
formed yeast, at first of a whitish yellow, had taken a
brownish colour, died off, was precipitated by the more
alcoholic character of the fluid, and formed with the
alcohol in nascent state that substance, which betrays
itself by its bitterness in unhopped fermented liquors when
the fermentation has been neglected. The compound in
question is by no means innocuous. It was isolated by
treating the liquor according to Dragendorff5 s methods I
and II. The author succeeded in obtaining it in a crys¬
talline form and describes its reactions. •

“ The solution of the bitter principle acidulated with
sulphuric acid becomes turbid with potassium hydrargro-
iodide, and clear again by adding a mixture of alcohol and
ether; heated a yellow-brown substance remains which is
insoluble in water. The solution becomes turbid with
chloride of gold ; the latter is reduced if heated.

“Ammoniacal silver solution is reduced in the cold.
Potassium biiodide effects a brown precipitate in the cold.
Picric acid remains clear in the cold, turns brown if heated.
With pyrogallic acid it becomes turbid in the cold. Tannic
acid does not change it in the cold, but the solution becomes
turbid if heated and assumes a deep yellowish-green colour
if a drop of diluted ferric chloride is added ; refrigerated and
diluted with water, I obtained immediately the dark blue-
green precipitate of tannate of iron. Phosphomolybdic acid
forms in the cold a dirty yellow-brown precipitate; the
supernatant liquid becomes dirty greenish ; heated the
precipitate becomes green, the liquid blue, then dirty grey-
yellow ; dried blue-green.”

127, Leman Street, E. H.’W. Langbeck.

Southport. — A dispensing query has been received bearing
the post mark of this town, but giving no other clue to the
writer. Many similar questions are sent anonymously,
but the impropriety of answering them indiscriminately
must be obvious.

W. Vinson. — You do not seem to be aware that there are
botanical exchange clubs already in existence, See the
answer to Mr. Pratt in last week’s J ournal.

“ Nemo ” is recommended to extend his search as far as a
Latin dictionary.

John. — No diploma is given.

“ Liturgia.” — No, not always. Refer to a Latin dic¬
tionary.

Anxious Inquirer. — Your communication was only de¬
layed.

Only a Junior. — The British Pharmacopoeia is the only
authority.

Bruised Worm. — An answer to your question would be
affected to some extent by the ultimate destination of the
wine, and that, at present, would appear to be a matter of
conjecture.

Nabob — See a paper on a “ Recent Application of Phos¬
phorescence,” in the Pharm. Journal for May 1, 1880,

p. 882.

Penelope. — We do not think there is such an office.
Perhaps you refer to the dispensers in naval hospitals,
the regulations concerning whom will be found in the
Society’s Calendar.

J. Garth— Tetraphis pellucida.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs, BrowD, Oldfield, Martin, Jacque.

April 9, 1SS1-1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

833

“WANIKA,” A NEW AFRICAN ARROW
POISON: ITS COMPOSITION AND PRO¬
PERTIES.*

BY A. W. GERRARD, F.C.S.,

Teacher of Pharmacy at University College Hospital. ■
Tlie use of poisons to render more deadly the
warlike weapons of man is a practice followed by
uncivilized nations in various .parts ot the world. In
most instances their source and method of preparation
are jealously guarded by their possessors as know¬
ledge to them of the highest moment, and, as a con-
senuence, the endeavour to obtain authentic inhuma¬
tion and specimens is surrounded with the greatest
difficulties and dangers ; nevertheless, travel and
research in the nineteenth century have brought
to light much of the mystery surrounding these

things. . . __

Recently, Dr. Sydney Ringer received from Mr.

Robert W. Felkin, a gentleman who has been
travelling in Africa, through Livingstone’s territory,
specimens of an arrow poison, together with a
poisoned arrow and some specimens described as the
antidote to the poison. These were placed at my
disposal, and, being altogether unique, I entered
upon an investigation ot their piopeities and com¬
position. ‘ .

The poison with which the barb of the arrow is

smeared is enveloped in the leaf ot a \aiicty of grass
or maize, the entire parcel in size and form being
much like a sausage. Its length is 4$ inches, and
circumference 3 inches. At each end it is tied with
a strong ligature, one end of the ligature being
carried about an inch down the parcel, turned at
ri"ht angles, and passed round its circumference,
then looped ; this is repeated four or five times,
until the other extremity is reached, and firmly
tied. Its weight averages 1^ ounces. On breaking
a parcel, a black extract, of firm consistence and
almost odourless, was lound in its interior.

The arrow is made in two pieces, fittiDg together
by a socket situated about 4 inches from the baib.
The barb is of iron of native manufacture. The
object of the arrow being in two parts is that
when a man is struck the barb may not easily be

withdrawn. , „ „ .

The antidote is stated to be made from five roots.
The proper proportion of each was given to Mr.
Felkin, together with a porcupine quill. The roots
have been submitted to Prolessor Oliver, who le-
ports that he is unable to give any information as
to their botanical source. The quantity of either
root was much too small for a pharmaceutical in¬
vestigation. To prepare the antidote, the roots are
converted into charcoal, which is coarsely powdered,
and preserved by being placed in a bottle-shaped
"ourd. When a warrior is wounded, he makes a
special whistling noise, and the medicine man, w ho
is usually hiding amongst the trees, approaches, and
gives the antidote mixed with honey. <

Judging from the taste of the roots forming the
antidote, they do not appear to possess any active
property. If they do? it is still difficult to believe how
they can retain it after they have undergone carboni¬
zation. Charcoal is well known as an absorbent ot
poisons taken by the stomach ; but it has not yet
been proved that it antagonizes them when intro¬
duced primarily into the circulation. In two ex-

* Read at an Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Society, April 6, 1881.

Third Series, No. 563.

periments with animals where the antidote was given
it entirely failed.

At this time, writing to Mr. Felkin for information,
I received the following reply : — “ The use of arrow-
poison is very general in Africa ; but that which you
have is only used on the East Coast, between Zanzi¬
bar and the Sourali Land, and is a special poison
made by the Wanika and Wakamba tribes, who live
to the west of an island called Mombasa. Extracts
are made from some eleven different roots, but I
cannot tell you how or what plants are used. It
was only with the greatest difficulty that I was able
to get the poison at all. It is generally made fresh
1 every time a cow calves,’ or about twice a year..
The antidote is generally made fresh each month.
I have sent for more of that, as the sample given to
Dr. Ringer is not good, I believe.

“ Death follows a wound in some fifteen or twenty
minutes, and unless the antidote is given, within
five minutes of the time when the wound was re¬
ceived it does no good. I have seen the antidote
used with success, and have cut out the arrows from
-wounded men, and seen that nearly all the poison
has been absorbed. ... As you have doubtless
found out honey is mixed with the poison to make
it stick.

“The flesh of animals can be eaten when killed by
these poisoned arrows. The poisons used in Central
Africa are not so complicated, only four or five roots
being used. I am inclined to think the poison is
really one root. At the same time it must be re¬
membered that this Wanika poison is terribly feared
by all the neighbouring tribes, whereas this cannot
be said of the poison used in the centre or by the
tribes near the Nile, north of the Line. I may men¬
tion that none of the roots are used fresh. The root*,
bark of trees, and twigs of shrubs are collected, dried,
and then used as required. The natives are most
jealous of the secret, and there are but few men in
each tribe who know how to collect the plants;
others know how to prepare the poison. The secret is
handed down from father to son ; but the elders ol
the tribe (not knowing the secret themselves) try
the young man first, and he can only be entrusted
with the knowledge after the consent of the elders
has been given.

“ Curious ceremonies are enacted at the times
when the poison is prepared ; but no strangers are
allowed to be even near at the time. Dancing and
singing are carried on round the huts where the po ts
are°on° the fire, and the moon must be in a certain
position and of a certain age.”

In reply to further inquiries, Mr. Felkin says: —

“ The things used in the antidote were all given
Dr. Ringer as given to me by the medicine man, and
the porcupine quill forms a part of the antidote.

“ I think that several of the ingredients are not
absolutely needful, for the man told me that the
small white root was the most powerful, and that
without it the others were no good.

“The proportions of roots, etc., given Dr. Ringer
are just enough for one batch of antidote.

“It was not possible to see the antidote made,
but I was told to bake the whole ingredients given
to me, grind them between two stones, mix well,
and then add honey q.s., to make a sticky semi¬
fluid mass.

“ The seeds* I think I have seen between Foweira
and Fatiko in Central Africa ; I have sent them to

* Strophanthus seeds sent to Mr. Felkin for recognition.

834

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 0, 18S1

|

my companion, and he will reply fully, as he took up
botany. I did not do much at it.

“ Seeds look very much like what makes a very
deadly poison on the East Coast. Either the hair
of a cow, or seeds such as those sent me, are cut
up very fine, and then mixed with milk or even
water and given the thirsty traveller to drink.

“ Fearful inflammation is set up and death is an
almost certain consequence.”

Botanical information being entirely w anting, no
clue to the plants yielding the poison was obtainable;
but as the result of physiological experiments, to be
described further on, and comparing these with the
physiological action of an African arrow poison in¬
vestigated by Dr. T. R. Fraser, I have but little
doubt that the chief ingredient of the new poison is
a Strophanthus, either S. hispidus or S. Kombe, nat.
ord. Apocynaceae, thus closely allied to the genus
Strychnos.

In 1872, Joum. of Anatomy and Physiology, vol.
vii., Dr. T. R. Fraser made a communication on an
African arrow poison, which I will summarize. The
poison was collected in the expedition of Bishop
Mackenzie and sent to Dr. Christison, from a plant
described as a wToody climber, growing in the forest,
both of the valley and hills, at various places be¬
tween the coast and the centre of the continent.
The plants climb up the highest trees and hang
from one to the other like a bush vine. The flowers
are pale yellow. The poison was sent to Dr. Fraser
In the form of follicles, 10 to 12 inches long and
about an inch thick, containing one hundred to two
hundred small seeds attached to a beautiful comose
appendix. The plant yielding the follicles was pro¬
nounced by Professor Oliver to be a Strophanthus.
Dr. Fraser obtained from the seeds an alcoholic
extract containing crystals, also a powerful active
principle; the method of preparation and physical
properties of the latter are not described. Physio¬
logical experiments demonstrated the Strophanthus
to be a powerful paralysing agent and cardiac
poison.

Amongst the Hanbury collection of materia
medica bequeathed to the Pharmaceutical Society,
is a specimen of Strophanthus follicles, agreeing with
those described by Dr. Fraser. Mr. E. M. Holmes
kindly gave me about twenty of the seeds, an alco¬
holic extract of which produced the same physio¬
logical action as both Dr. Fraser’s and the Wanika
poison, thus strengthening the evidence that the
plant yielding the Wanika poison is a Strophan¬
thus.

Examination for Proximate Principles. — Five
grams of the extract were dissolved in 15 c.c. of
water and filtered from insoluble earthy matter,
consisting mostly of particles of sand ; the filtrate
was evaporated to 5 c.c. and treated with 50 c.c. of
alcohol, and separated from the albuminous precipi¬
tate; the filtrate, upon evaporation, gave a pale
brown viscous residue. A small portion of the
residue dissolved in water separated a brown flaky
resin ; its clear solution gave no precipitate worthy
of note with alkaloidal reagents. With ferrous and
ferric salts it gave a bluish-green precipitate, indi¬
cating the presence of a tannin. Another portion
treated with ammonia and chloroform, and after the
chioroform with ether, gave upon the evaporation of
these solvents a minute residue of no apparent im¬
portance. A further portion was boiled successively
with ether, chloroform, benzole and benzine; of these

the ether only left upon evaporation a small residue
of acid reaction and narcotic odour, insufficient for
further examination.

A portion of solution gave abundant evidence of
glucose wThen treated with Fehling’s solution.

The preceding results affording no evidence of the
presence of an alkaloid, search was made for a gluco-
side in the following manner: — Three grams of
alcoholic extract of arrow poison was diluted with
water and filtered from insoluble matter, then
treated with basic lead acetate, filtered, and residue
washed with alcohol; excess of lead was removed
by sulphuric acid, and the solution left upon
evaporation a pale straw-coloured mass weighing
1 gram. This was again examined for alkaloid with
negative results. Fehling’s solution demonstrated
that glucose was still present, the removal of which
appeared to present considerable difficulty; but after
several experiments it was accomplished in the fol¬
lowing mauner, the process, I believe, being a new
one : — The extractive last described was dissolved
in 20 vols. of absolute alcohol, and 30 vols. of chloro¬
form slowly poured into it, with frequent shaking ;
after standing at rest for ten minutes there separated j
to the surface a sweet fluid containing the glucose,
the active principle being mainly retained in the
mixed alcohol and chloroform solution. A second
treatment in this way removed the last traces of
glucose. The residue obtained upon evaporation
weighed 33 grams, was of a neutral reaction and
showed no trace of crystalline character ; it dried up
to a scale which was of pungent, bitter taste, leaving
a sensation on the tongue of isolation of the spot on
which it was placed. A portion now treated with
Fehling’s solution gave no reduction till boiled with
a dilute acid, thus giving evidence of the presence
of a glucoside. If nitric acid be used for the conver¬
sion into glucose a characteristic reaction is developed
on heating, viz., a distinct but dull red colour, soon
passing to a yellow, and an odour similar to that of .
nitrosalicylic acid. The glucoside is freely soluble '
in alcohol and water, quite insoluble in ether and
chloroform ; on combustion it yielded no ash ; with
strong sulphuric acid it gives but a slight brown
colour ; heated with soda lime it evolved ammonia.

No other reactions were obtained worthy of record.

The separated resin was examined and found
freely soluble in alkaline solutions, ether, and
alcohol ; the alcoholic solution formed a compound
with basic lead acetate from which a purified resin
was separated with weak nitric acid. Its properties
were not further investigated.

Physiological Action of Extract and Glucoside. —

The following are Dr. Ringer’s conclusions from his
experiments conducted in the Physiological Labora¬
tory of University College : —

“ I have no doubt that this arrow poison is the
same as that investigated by Professor Fraser in
1870. The seeds Dr. Fraser investigated were de¬
rived from a Strophanthus.

11 1 find that this arrow poison is a powerful
muscle poison. It is as active as veratria. Un¬
like veratria it does not prolong the relaxation of a
muscle after its contraction.

“ Injected under the skin of a frog it destroys all
muscular irritability in about an hour and a half.
Eight minims of a 5 per cent, solution will kill a
cat in about eight minutes, and muscular irritability
is destroyed in about three-quarters of an hour.

“ It is a feeble poison to motor nerves.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

835

April 9, 1881. 1

« It has no effect on afferent nerves.

“It is a powerful cardiac poison, as powerful as
digitalin, and more powerful than veratria. It
arrests the ventricle in systole.

“It does not prolong the systole of the heart

nearly so much as veratria.

“ It has hut little action when administered by
the mouth. Five minims of a 5 per cent, solution
hypodermically given will kill a cat in from fifteen
to twenty minutes, whilst forty-five minims given by
the stomach cause only nausea and vomiting, with a
little weakness.

« The antidote is useless, for a cat to which the
antidote was freely administered was . killed in
twenty minutes by an injection of 6 minims of a
5 per cent, solution of the poison.

<c Neither topically applied does it antagonize the
action of the poison on the frog’s heart.”

Although the glucoside I have obtained represents
the action of the poison, I am not inclined to name
it as a definite principle, for if, as Mr. Felkin has
stated, eleven plants enter into its composition, such
a mixture, and prepared by an African savage, . is
not likely to yield a pure product. More material
is yet required, and that in the form of the plants
used, before the exact properties of the active
principle can be fully ascertained ; but at present
the physiological evidence identifies, the active
principle of Wanika arrow poison with strophan-.

Iii the absence of a name I have called this poison
after one of the tribes who employ it.

[ The discussion on this paper is printed at p. 849.]

COMMERCIAL MOTES ON OPIUM.*

BY KARL VON SCHERZER,

Austrian Consul-General at Smyrna.

Among the many productions of Anatolia, nothing is
so important, from a commercial point of view, as that

most precious export, opium .

Asia Minor is the most northern part of the vast
regions adapted to the cultivation of the poppy. From
the East Indies this cultivation has gradually extended
to Egypt, Algiers, Anatolia, and lastly to Persia, where,
towards the close of the last century, the Dutch Colony,
the members of which mostly had important establish¬
ments in Asia Minor, introduced the poppy. The Society
of Commerce of the Netherlands, which had frequent
dealings with the Dutch colonies in India and Java, gave
the first impulse to this great trade. Even now this
society buys about a quarter of the regular crop, to cover
the requirements of its commerce in the Indian archi¬
pelago. Formerly opium was only used by smokers and

exclusively by Asiatics. .

Opium requires a sandy clay soil, which must not have
lain fallow, but be prepared for this crop the year before.
If the land has not been already manured, it should.be
well fertilized with stable manure, and ploughed twice,
the second time at right angles to the first. The seed is
put in the second furrow, which should not be too deep.
In order to cover the seed lightly, a tree, with all its
branches, is dragged across the field thus tilled, by oxen.
But care must be taken that the soil does not become too
wet in the interval between the cultivation and. the
sowing, and that the covering is but light. The light-
coloured seeds are preferred, that is those which are
yellow or white. They produce plants with white and
yellow flowers, and vigorous poppies, which yield an
abundant juice and a clear gum, while the grey or black

* Taken from his recent work : ‘ Smyrne, consideree au
Point de Yue Geographique, Economique et Intellectuel.
2de edit., 8vo. Leipzig, 1880. Reprinted from New
Remedies, January, 1881.

seeds, which have blue and dark red flowers, have small
heads, contain less juice, and give a dai'k coloured opium.
Moreover, chemical analysis shows that light coloured
opium contains more morphia than dark. They reckon
about £ lb. (fiscal pound) of poppy seed for each dunum, *
which before being sown must be mixed with four times
the quantity of sand or fine earth, so that the ground
may be evenly sown in equal proportions, which would be
difficult with the seed alone. The end of October and
the beginning of November are considered most favourable
for sowing, especially when the fine weather following
the first rain has prepared the ground for cultivation.
The sowing is done exactly the same as for poppies in
European gardens .+ The germination takes about fifteen
days. Should frost occur, and the seeds not open on
account of the earth being covered with a hard crust,
the land is cultivated and sown again at the end of
November or the beginning of December. While winter
lasts, the plant remains small, and grows only by the
root, which, in a well pulverized soil, becomes strong and
does not suffer from night frosts, even if the plant
itself was injured. When spring comes, the development
is rapid, according to the vigour of the root and the
success of the seedlings. The plant is then trimmed and
thinned; weeds are destroyed, and poppy stalks, when
too crowded, also. Sometimes, when weeds grow afresh,
a second weeding is necessary. The plant then increases
rapidly, and puts forth from one to four stalks, 3 or 4
feet high, which flower at the end of April or the begin¬
ning of May. The poppy heads come to maturity about
fifteen days after the flowers fall. . Its ripeness is tested
by gentle pressure with the finger. The ripe poppy-head
is soft; when green it is hard. One must learn to
perceive the ripeness at the proper time, for the incisions
should then be made immediately. The harvest itself
should be gathered in a few days; otherwise the over¬
ripe poppies, that is to say, ripe poppies left unpicked for
six or eight days, give no juice.

The incisions are made in the afternoon, with a small
curved knife. The incision is made half way up to the
head and around it. To this end the poppy is grasped
with the thumb and fore-finger of the left hand, and half
the incision made with the right, after which, without
otherwise shifting one’s position, the poppy is slightly
turned round, and the incision completed. As soon as
the blade (which should never penetrate the capsule, for
if this be cut through, the juice is lost) enters, the white
juice of the poppy escapes and flows about the cut. It is
then left to dry in the sun in its place for six or eight
hours. By this time it will have thickened, and changed
to a yellow resinous substance which later on becomes a
reddish-brown. It is then taken off with a knife and
kneaded into spherical cakes of various sizes, seldom
weighing more than 2 lbs. (fiscal}!) each. These cakes,
wrapped in poppy leaves, are dried in the sun for several
days. The cakes, while yet soft, are packed in baskets,
or in little osier packages lined with cloth. To prevent
the cakes from becoming disfigured, or sticking to one
another, they are always dusted over, with the dry fruits
of a species of Rumex. To get in the crop of 5 dunums,
a harvest which we have before said must be. quickly
gathered, requires ten labourers. The average yield of a
dunum is estimated at 4 lbs. (fiscal) or thereabouts.

In Asia Minor the cultivation of opium is only success¬
ful in the valleys of Kutaja,Ushak, Karahissar, Balikesri,
Afium, Sparte, and Konijah, which are mostly protected
from cold winds by high mountain ranges, and where the
deep soil, adapted for wheat, is especially suitable for the
A dunum is a piece of ground 900 square metres. —

Ed.N.R. , . A J ,

f The common poppy, cultivated in central Europe for

its seed alone, gives excellent opium, it is true, but its ex¬
traction being only practicable on a large scale, this opium

is too expensive. . .

+ The author means the Custom House Found (Zoll-
pfjnd) of the German Custom’s Union (Zollverein) 1 kilo —
1-963 Zollpfund. 1 Zollpfund = 509’4 grams .—Ed. N. R.

836

TH” I' IIARMAUEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 0, 1881.

poppy. The principal arrivals from the interior reach
Smyrna at the end of July or the beginning of August.
Fresh opium is too heavy for sale. The older opium,
-irhich is dry, and therefore costs more, is preferred.

The sale concluded, the opium is examined in the
presence of both buyer and seller by an expert, recognized
as such by all the merchants, and all pieces of a different
quality, or mixed with foreign matters, so as to be worth¬
less, are rejected. The condemned portion is returned to
the seller, who disposes of it at 20 or 30 per cent, discount
to French and German manufacturers of morphia. The
inspected is hermetically sealed in tin boxes, and
eas$d in wood, when it is ready for export. _ The best
opium comes from the Kutaja or Kutachia district, that
is, from the village of Bogaditsh and its neighbourhood.
It is in rather small round cakes, of a light brown colour,
with bluish gloss, and diffuses a pungent odour. It
contains from 11 to 11| per cent, of morphia.

The opium known to commerce by the name of yerli,
anl which comes from the western districts (Kintabir,
Akhissar, Kiirkagatsh) only contains from 8 to 10 per
cent. Another kind, called Roba mercantile or Roba com¬
mune, cultivated in Afium Karahissar, is very common in
the market. This last production, which is in dark
coloured cakes, almost black, contains but from 7^ to 9
per cent, of morphia. Finally, the poorest kind, furnished
by the province of Konijah, the cakes of which are small,
very hard, and dark coloured, contains only 7 to 8 per
cent, of morphia, and is sold under the name of add
fordinary).

The price of opium depends above all on the year’s
crop. This has varied of late years between 4000 and 7000
baskets of about 150 lbs. each. Usually, however, when
4000 baskets [couffes) are harvested, the average price
per tsheki* is 200 piastres, which corresponds to 23s. 7 d.
per English pound; 34 francs the \ kilogr.; 18 fl. 15 kr.
the Vienna pound; while a harvest of 7000 baskets will
reduce this price to 120 p. = 14s. 2d. the English pound,
20 francs 46 c. the | kilogr., 10 fl. 75 kr. the Vienna
pound, free on board at Smyrna. The harvest is less
when, for example, either want of rain has delayed the
sowing fifteen days, or when hard frost has injured the
plant, or when the months of March and April pass with¬
out rain, or if this should come at the time of ripening.

The price of opium is also gdverned : —

1 . By the reserves from the last harvest in the ware¬
houses of Smyrna and London, which are the chief
markets for opium.

2. By the demands of America, which has for some
years required a large quantity of opium for her Western
States, where this article is not used so much by phy¬
sicians as by the Chinese immigrants (since the construc¬
tion of the Californian railways) who smoke it largely. +

3. By the Persian and Indian crops. Persia has for
some years cultivated opium with some success, and the
European markets were abundantly supplied with opium
from this source, when the famine, which in 1871 desolated
Persia, put a temporary end to its cultivation. India,
really the chief opium producer, cannot satisfy the
Chinese demand, even when the harvest is a maximum
one, but supplies itself from London and Smyrna.

4. By supply and demand.

The prices, which often fluctuate 100 per cent, per
tsheki in one season, that is to say, from August unti

* A tsheki is a weight, differing for different products.
A tsheki of goat’s hair is 2 heavy okas or 800 drams = 2561
grams ; a tsheki of opium is 27^f 2 heavy okas, or 34 kilos
587 grams, or 7622 lbs. avoird. — Ed. N. R.

t This is not exactly the case. Probably the larger portion
of this opium finds its way into patent medicines and into
the hands of persons addicted to opium eating. It is wel .
known that many of the Chinese in the United States
smoke opium. For this purpose an extract of opium must
be prepared, and it is not unlikely that some Chinese in
the U. S. are engaged in its manufacture. Certainly there
is but little opium for smoking imported, as the custom
house returns show. — Ed. N. R.

May, offer ample scope for speculation. More than one-
fourth thus changes hands annually; furthermore, the
same state of affairs exists in the markets of London and
New York. We may add that opium is an article of
daily sale, and therefore the speculation is independent of
the consumption. It frequently happens that prices are
lower in foreign markets than where it is produced.

THE ANALYSIS OF SOAPS.*

BY JUL. LOEWE.

For the determination of moisture the author takes
from 8 to 10 grams, shaved very finely, and dries them
first, at 60° to 70°; afterwards at 100° to 105°. If it is
supposed that the soap contains caustic alkali, the process
must be conducted in an atmosphere free from carbonic
acid. The free alkali may also be determined before the
process of drying by exposing a portion of soap, shaved
very fine, and weighed upon a watch-glass in a cylinder
filled with dry carbonic acid, and closed, the . proportion
of caustic alkali being calculated from the increase of
weight. The exposure must not last too long, in order to
prevent the formation of bicarbonate.

To determine free unsaponified fat, the portion of dried
soap is thrown into a rather high beaker capable of being-
well covered, and extracted with benzol or petroleum
with the aid of heat, according to the method of Perutz,
and decanting, when clear, into a small tared flask. If
the decantation is difficult, it is passed through a weighed
filter, which is afterwards used for the alcoholic solution
of the soap. After two or three extractions the filtrates
are collected and distilled, the residue dried at 108°, in a
chloride of sodium bath, and the increase of weight of
the flask is noted, which shows the proportion of the non-
saponified fat.

The residue freed from such fat is covered with about
8 to 10 parts of alcohol at 90 per cent., and heated to 40°
to 50° in the water-bath. Caustic alkali, and that in
combination with fatty acids, along with glycerin, are
readily dissolved, whilst soda (carbonate), farina and
mineral impurities remain undissolved, and after washing
with hot alcohol, and drying at 100°, may be weighed.
In the better class of soaps, the residue does not exceed
1 to 1^ per cent.

A moderate stream of well-washed carbonic acid is
then allowed to play upon the surface of the warm
alcoholic filtrate. Caustic alkali, if present, is deposited
as alkaline carbonate. The beaker is covered, allowed to
stand till clear, heated in the water-bath, the contents
filtered, and the filter is washed with warm alcohol. In
the aqueous solution of the residue the carbonate of soda
may be determined volumetrically.

The second alcoholic filtrate, thus freed from soda, is
mixed with sulphuric acid diluted with alcohol as long as
a turbidity is produced. When clear, .the sulphate of
soda deposited is .filtered off, collected upon a weighed
filter, washed with alcohol, dried at 110°, and weighed.
The weight shows the alkali which was in combination
with the fatty acids.

The filtrate is acidulated with sulphuric acid, mixed
with water, and freed from alcohol by evaporation in a
platinum capsule. When cold, the acid aqueous extract
which may contain glycerin is separated from the con¬
gealed fatty acids by filtration. These acids, as well as
the glycerin, may be determined by known processes, the
latter after the accompanying sulphuric acid has been
saturated with barium carbonate.

The residue, insoluble in alcohol, after being weighed,
is washed with cold water till the filtrate makes up
exactly 60 c.c. The water is then driven out of the
filter by means of alcohol, and the residue is dried at 100°.

After being weighed the residue is submitted to micro¬
scopic examination in order to detect starch. Mineral
impurities are sought for by ordinary analytical methods.

* Zeitschrift fur Analytische Chemie. Reprinted from
Neio Remedies, January, 1881’.

.

\

April 9, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

837

.

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1 1

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- + -

SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 1881.

INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL CONGRESS.

It will be seen from the report of the proceedings
of Council last Wednesday that the projected
meeting of the International Pharmaceutical Con¬
gress this year in London may now be looked
forward to as a certainty. Already a sufficient
number of foreign pharmacists have announced their
intention to be present on that occasion to make it
likely that the meeting will be a successful one, and
it is to be hoped that many of those who are yet
uncertain whether they can attend will be able to
do so.

The Committee appointed by the Council last
Wednesday, to act as the executive body in making
the necessary arrangements for the Congress has
already held two meetings, at which additional
members have been placed on the Committee, and
various preliminary steps of organization have been
taken. In the first place, we may state that the
time for holding the three business meetings of the
Congress has been fixed for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of
August, and that on the 30th of July there will be
a conversazione at the house of the Pharmaceutical
Society for the official reception of visitors and for
the purpose of personal introductions. On the fol¬
lowing Monday the first business meeting will com¬
mence at eleven o’clock, and after the delivery of an
address by the President of the Pharmaceutical So¬
ciety, welcoming the visitors, a President and Officers
will be elected to carry out the special business of
the Congress.

A programme of the proceedings has been drawn
up provisionally, and in the course of a few days it
will be distributed both abroad and at home among
those who may be expected to take part in the
Congress. It is proposed that the subjects to be
discussed shall be arranged under three separate
heads, one day being devoted to each. These
subjects are pharmaceutical education, Pharma¬
copoeia revision and the equalization of the strength
of official preparations containing potent drugs.
This last named subject, which may be regarded
as the most feasible step towards the establishment
of an International Pharmacopoeia, is one that has
on various occasions been referred to as of con¬
siderable practical importance, not only to phar¬
macists and medical men, but also to the general
public, and it to be hoped that its discussion at the
Congress may lead to some means being devised for
bringing about international uniformity in certain
preparations commonly employed in medicine.

Pharmaceutical education, and the means by which
it may be made more conducive to placing pharma¬
cists in a position commensurate with the advances
that have been made in the educational training of

medical men, now engage the consideration of the
pharmacists of most countries, and the state of things
prevailing in our own country ought to make the
discussion of this subject especially interesting.

We have so recently referred to the subject of
Pharmacopoeia revision, and to the desirability of an
official representation of pharmacists in the body
entrusted with that important work, that it is
unnecessary now to do more than point to the
International Congress as a suitable opportunity for
discussion in this respect, and for obtaining an ex¬
pression of opinion that may be beneficial in ren¬
dering the case of British pharmacists less exceptional
than it has been hitherto.

At present it would be premature to say anything
as to the precise mode in which these subjects are
to be placed before the Congress for discussion, but
we believe it is the intention of the Executive
Committee to ask for expressions of opinion on the
various points of detail coming under one or other of
the heads above mentioned, and if sufficient material
for the purpose be furnished in that way to collate
the views put forward and prepare reports to submit
to the meeting.

It has also been decided that the Executive
Committee should at once communicate with the
Presidents of Pharmaceutical Associations in the
provinces, requesting their co-operation in arranging
for the forthcoming Congress, and in the meantime
we take this opportunity of expressing our hope
that such assistance will be liberally accorded.

THE BENEVOLENT FUND.

The Benevolent Fund, established by the Phar¬
maceutical Society for the relief of unfortunate
pharmacists or their relatives, is, in some respects,
certainly one of the most successful achievements of
the Society, and it might have been expected that
when, at the passing of the Pharmacy Act, its
benefits were made available for all members of the
trade there would have been a proportionate increase
in the number of subscribers to the Fund. But since
that time it has always been a source of regret that
this has not been the case and that a very large
majority of the chemists and druggists never sub¬
scribe to the Fund at all.

The total number of subscribers to the Fund does
not amount to two thousand, although the number
of those for whom the Fund is applicable is between
thirteen and fourteen thousand. Consequently it
is evident that, as a natural result of this dispropor¬
tion between subscribers and non-subscribers, there
is the probability that a majority of the applicants
for relief at any time will not have any claim upon
the Fund, in so far as having formerly been sub¬
scribers to it would constitute such a claim. Under
present conditions, therefore, the applicants for relief
who have been subscribers are placed at a disad¬
vantage as compared with others who have never
subscribed to the Fund.

838

THE PHAKMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April f), 1881.

Mr. Bobbins long since pointed out this circum¬
stance as being one that required consideration.
Though it may be pleasant to look upon the Benevo¬
lent Fund as a pure charity, supported by the . well-
to-do for the benefit of the needy, it must not be for¬
gotten that as between those unfortunate members of
the trade who are compelled to seek relief from
the Fund it is a positive injustice that those who
have contributed to it all their life should only stand
a chance of sharing equally with others who had
never contributed to the Fund at all.

The most satisfactory mode of doing away with
this unfairness would unquestionably be increasing
the number of subscribers to the Fund so largely
that it might lie regarded not only as a charity, but
to some extent also as a benefit club, from which any
unfortunate but deserving member of the trade
might look for relief, partly because he had been a
contributor to it in his prosperous days. Such a
development of the Benevolent Fund and of its
beneficial influence is, however, to be looked for
only as a result of more zealous action on the part
of the Society’s Local Secretaries. The prosperity
of the Fund depends to a very great extent upon
their efforts, and when it is possible to instance such
facts as those mentioned by the Society’s Secretary
at the last Council Meeting, there can be no question
that some of the Local Secretaries do not do all they
might do towards obtaining subscribers.

It is in that direction that we think improve¬
ment is most desirable. No doubt it may be wished
that the trade comprised more charitable people ;
but to be practically charitable it is necessary that
one should be moderately wealthy, and by far the
larger proportion of those connected with the
drug trade will have less reason for contributing
to the Benevolent Fund from that motive alone
than from consideration of the possibility that
by some unexpected reverse of fortune they may be
compelled to have recourse to it for assistance. Out
of regard for the kind of charity which begins at home,
however, there ought to be a much more numerous
list of subscribers to the Fund; and even if the
amounts subscribed were small, the fact of its
being generally supported by the trade would be in
itself a very considerable gain.

THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON MEDICAL REFORM.

The Lancet states there is good reason to believe
its arguments against the formation of a Commission
on medical reform in which medical men should
be conspicuous by their absence have prevailed
with the Government so far as to lead to the aban¬
donment of the idea, and that we may look confi¬
dently to the formation of a Commission so composed
as to command the respect of the medical profession
and of the public. We congratulate our contem¬
porary on its success in this respect and hope that in
similar cases this recognition of its views will serve
as a precedent for the due representation of technical
interests in other bodies that have to deal with
matters affecting those interests.

mis actions of .% ^bminaccufual
iSoticijr.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

Wednesday , April 6, 1881.

MR. THOMAS GREENISH, PRESIDENT,

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Andrews, Atkins, Butt, Churchill,
Frazer, Gostling, Hampson, Hills, Mackay, Badley,
Richardson, Robbins, Sandford, Savage, Squire, Symes,
Williams and Woolley.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Late Mr. Abraham.

The President read a letter which had been received
by the Secretary from Mrs. Abraham, thanking the Coun¬
cil for the letter of sympathy sent last month.

Nominations for Council and Auditors.
Council.

The Secretary reported that he had received twenty -
four nominations to fill the fourteen vacant seats on the
Council, and that the following sixteen had declared their
readiness to accept office if elected : —

Bottle, Alexander, 37, Town wall Street, "Dover.

Butt, Edward Northway, 13, Curzon Street, W.
Carteighe, Michael, 180, New Bond Street, W.

Churchill, Walter John, 46, New Street, Birmingham.
Gostling, Thomas Preston, Market Hill, Dis3.

Greenish, Thomas, 20, New Street, Dorset Square, N.W.
Hampson, Robert, 205, St. John Street Road, E.C.

Hills, Walter, 338, Oxford Street, W.

Radley, William Valentine, 42, Hampton Road, South-
port.

Robbins, John, 372, Oxford Street, W.

Richardson, John George Frederick, Houghton House,
Stoneygate, Leicester.

Spink, Harry Nelson Bowman, 3, Marsham Street,
Westminster, W.

Symes, Charles, 14, Hardman Street, Liverpool.

Williams, John, 16, Cross Street, Hatton Garden, E.C.
Wills, George Sampson Valentine, 116, St; George’s Road,
Southwark, S.E.

Woolley, George Stephen, 69, Market Street, Man¬
chester.

The following eight nominees had declined or had not
expressed their willingness to accept office : —

Bell, William Henderson, 96, Albany Street, Regent’s
Park, N.W.

Gulliver. William, 6, Lower Belgrave Street, S.W.

Hills, Thomas Hyde, 338, Oxford Street, W.

Sandford, George Webb, 47, Piccadilly, W.

Savory, Arthur Ledsam, 143, New Bond Street, W.
Shepperley, George, Long Row, Nottingham.

Wade, John, 174, Warwick Street, Pimlico, S.W.

Young, John Rymer, 42, Sankey Street, Warrington.

Auditors.

The following had been nominated as Auditors for
election in May next, and had declared their willingness
to accept office : —

Hodgkinson, William, 74, Golden Lane, E.C.

Lescher, Frank Harwood, 60, Bartholomew Close, E.C.
Stacey, Samuel Lloyd, 300, High Holborn, W.C.
Thompson, Henry Ayscough, 22, Worship Street, E.C.
Watts, William Manning, 32, Lower Whitecross Street,
E.C.

Mr. Mackay said he supposed it would be of no use to
make any remark on the list which had just been read,
but he could not allow it to pass without saying that he
felt personally an amount of regret which he was unable
to express that Mr Sandford and Mr. Hills declined to

April 9,1881.) THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 839

be put in nomination. There were so many associations
connected with those gentlemen, both as regarded the
Council and the Society, that he was sure the regret he
felt must be shared by all who wished well to the
Society.

Mr. Savage hoped those gentlemen would reconsider
their decision.

The President feared it was now too late to do that.
He was sure it would be with great regret the whole of the
Council would find that Mr. Sandford’s name was not
amongst those who had accepted nomination, and the
same with respect to Mr. Hills. Ever since he had been
on the Council, which was now a long time, those gentle¬
men had given the utmost attention and a large amount
of time to the business of the Society, and he was sure it
would be a great loss to the Council to part with such
able members.

Mr. Gostling, as a comparatively young member of the
Council, wished to supplement what had been already said.
He was sure that every member of the Society would feel
great regret that those two gentlemen thought it desirable
to withdraw. In fact their names had been so intimately
mixed up with the Society that it would be a matter of
great regret to find that they no longer appeared at the
Council Board.

Mr. Savage was sure that the regret which had been
expressed would not be confined to that Council, but
would be shared throughout the country. It would not
only be a matter of regret, but also of surprise, that two
such able men should retire.

Mr. Frazer said he did not like to be silent on this
occasion, though he felt too deeply to say much. When
he was first elected on the Council, being perfectly igno¬
rant, he was ashamed to say, of the politics of the body,
j he had waited on Mr. Sandford, who had received him
with a kindness which could not be surpassed. He
felt sure the Society at large would feel the loss very
deeply.

Mr. Atkins said that to him it was not merely a
matter of regret, but also of surprise, and he was
perfectly unprepared for it. It was true he had heard
I some time ago that Mr. Sandford contemplated such a
step, but he had hoped that second thoughts had pre¬
vailed over first. He could hardly realize the existence
of the Society apart from Mr. Sandford, and he extended
the same remark to Mr. Hills, whose generosity, kindli¬
ness and sound common sense had always been available,
and he had no idea that he was contemplating such a
step.

Mr. Richardson said he must add his humble
tribute, as one of the youngest members of the Council,
to the discussion. Coming from the midland counties,
he could assure the Council that the names of Mr. Hills
and Mr. Sandford were household words in pharmacy.
He could only regret that this step should have been
taken in a crisis of the history of the Society, when it
was about to go to Parliament for further powers. Mr.
Sandford had assisted in the foundation of the Society,
and Mr. Hills was one of the connecting links with
Jacob Bell, whose portrait adorned the Council room
i walls. To him it would be a sad thing to come into the
room, month after month, and to miss their faces. The
present resignation could not be helped, but he hoped
that after a year’s rest the Council might have them back
again. At any rate, he hoped the Council would not
lose the name of Hills, for. he saw a gentleman of that
name on the list of nominees, and he hoped he would be
returned.

Mr. Williams said he had, perhaps, been thrown more
into contact with those gentlemen than many other
members of the Council, and when he found they in¬
tended to retire he could only say he looked upon it as
nothing less than a calamity. He was quite sure that
the Society and the trade at large would suffer severely
from their absence. In times of difficulty, when the
Society required good calm judgment and advice, it had

found both gentlemen, especially Mr. Sandford, the very
men it required — the men to guide when in difficulties.
If he had known that they were going to retire he should
not have allowed his own name to remain on the list. He
had wished to retire, but had been persuaded to remain
on a little longer ; but he should certainly feel it a great
loss to be without the assistance and advice of those
gentlemen.

Mr. Radley, as one of the founders of the Society,
could not help rising to say how much he regretted the
removal of two gentlemen who had been so long con¬
nected with the Council. The founders were a small
number, and were getting less year by year, and this was
a serious loss to sustain at such a time.

Mr. Sandford said he must ask the indulgence of the
Council for a few minutes, after the kind expressions
which he had heard all round the table, regarding Mr.
Hills and himself. It had been an effort to him to with¬
draw his name from the Council, having sat at the table
for nearly thirty years. He had formed at that table
some of his most intimate friendships, and although
many had passed away on whose memory he looked
with the greatest possible regret, yet he still saw about
him many with whom he should have been glad to
have associated with longer. But he felt that he was
worn out; 17, Bloomsbury Square, had become a sort of
second home to him ; no doubt the Secretary would
say that he had been there in season and out of season,
but he felt that he could not longer continue. It had
been a great pleasure to him to do what he could for the
benefit of the Society, and at such a time as this he felt
there might be a question about retiring, because he
knew that when the Society was going to Parliament
for an amendment of the Pharmacy Act, it was desirable
to have on the Council men who lived on the spot, and
who could get at members of Parliament to a certain
extent. He was very glad, however, to see the name of
Hills on the list of candidates, for he was afraid that his
own retirement had, to some extent, set the example to
Mr. Hills, but Mr. Hills happily had a relative of the
same name, who he hoped would succeed him. He could
assure his colleagues that he felt most deeply the kind¬
ness he had always experienced at their hands. Of course
they differed occasionally, but he left that. Council table
without one s'ingle drop to embitter his cup in recollec¬
tion of his attendance there. It had always been a
source of pleasure to him to be associated with the
Council, but he now felt that there ought to be on the
Council more active men — not more active than he had
been, he was happy to think — but more active ihan he
could be now, and that the Society would benefit by the
change. He could only thank the Council for the very
kind expressions which bad been made.

Mr. Hills also thanked the Council for what had
been said. It was a great blow to him to leave the
Council, but he felt that it was time to do so. He had
been about twenty- one years upon it, and he thought it
was better now to leave the work to younger men. He
could thoroughly re-echo the sentiments of Mr. Sandford,
and he believed that if his nephew were elected he
would do his duty in a straightforward and honourable
manner. He begged again to thank the members of the
Council for their kind expressions.

Mr. Sykes said he should not rise merely to repeat
what had been already said by so many, but he hoped
the Council would not altogether lose the benefit of
these gentlemen’s advice when required, or when the
President might think it desirable to seek that advice.
He was perfectly sure they would be ready to afford
that help.

Mr. Savage suggested that the Council ought to pass
a special resolution expressing its regret at losing the
services of, these two gentlemen, and hoping to have the
assistance of their advice when occasion required. He
would give notice of motion for such a resolution for
next month.

340

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTION'S.

[April 9, 1881.

Henry Bates, of Oldham, an Associate of the Society
before 1842, was restored to his former position in the
Society upon payment of the current year’s subscription
and a fine.

Elections.

members.

Pharmaceutical Chemists.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and tendered their subscriptions for the current year,
were elected “ Members ” of the Society : —

Barnes, James William . London.

Bates, Henry . . Oldham.

Burrell, Thomas . Montrose.

Ekins, Charles . London.

Eowler, William . Bath.

Gifford, Richard Lord . Blackburn.

Morgan, William . ...London.

Chemists and Druggists.

The following registered chemists and druggists, who
were in business on their own account before August 1,
186S, having tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “ Members ” of the Society : —

Bagshaw, Henry Braddock . Birmingham.

Davies, Charles . London.

Dixon, William . Ash, next Sandwich.

Garman, Cornelius Edwin . London.

Kirkby, William . Sheffield.

Parkins, Thomas . Salford.

Reckless, Arthur Henry . Ashbourne.

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

The following having passed their respective examina¬
tions, being in business on their own account, and having
tendered their subscriptions for the current year, were
elected “ Associates in Business ” of the Society : —

Minor.

Callander, William Wright . Ilminster.

Cooke, Edmund Herbert . Totnes.

Farquhar, Robert F orbes . Insch.

Francis, Matthew Robert . London.

Golding, John Frederick . London.

Gooch, William Hobbs . Dedham.

Martlew, Thomas . Carlisle.

Maurice, James . Plymouth.

Tucker, William Tyley . London.

Warren, Francis William . London.

Modified.

Attenburrow, George John ....

Bridgman, William Louis ....

Carter, James .

Coates, Edwin .

Millidge, Alfred .

Williams, James .

ASSOCIATES.

The following, having passed their respective examina¬
tions and tendered (or paid as Apprentices or Students)
their subscriptions for the current year, were elected
“ Associates ” of the Society : —

Minor.

Austin, Charles Wilson . Surbiton.

Bond, Peter Gillard . Kingsbridge.

Chisholm, Alexander . Edinburgh.

Dobson, Fred Ainsworth . Great Driffield.

Fletcher, James Edward . Saltley.

Gould, Henry Thomas . Newport, I.W.

Johns, John . Llandilo.

Matthews, Herbert Rouse . London.

Nelson, Harry . York.

Peat, Joseph . Accrington.

Stephen, James, junr . Gamrie.

Watts, Francis Wapshare . Banbury.

Modified.

Thomas, Joseph Josiah . Ryde.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, having passed the Preliminary exami¬
nation and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “Apprentices or Students” of the
Society : —

Elston, William Alfred . London.

Evans, Evan . .Carmarthen.

Foulds, Robert, junr. . Liverpool.

Fraser, John . . Edinburgh.

Hamilton, Bruce . London.

Hamilton, Henry ..‘ . ...Finchley.

Hemstead, Alfred Joseph . Rochester.

Latham, Walter Joseph . Spalding.

Lees, James Nall . ..Rochdale.

Roberts, Lewis . Aberystwith.

Taylor, Thomas Ernest . London.

Thomas, David.. . Pontypridd.

Whitford, William . London.

Wright, Charles Franklin . Great Yarmouth.

Several persons were restored to their former status in
the Society upon payment of the current year’s subscrip¬
tion and a fine.

The name of the following person, who had made the
required declaration and paid a fine of one guinea, was
restored to the Register of Chemists and Druggists : —
Charles Mackaness, High Street, Chesham, Bucks.

Addition to the Register.

The Registrar reported that —

David Edwards, 67, Hall Street, Stockport,
having made the statutory declaration that he was in
business before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
and this declaration having been supported by a duly
qualified medical practitioner, his name had been placed
on the Register.

Honorary Members.

The Council went into Committee to select names for
election in May as honorary members, and four names
were ordered to be suspended in the Library in the
usual way, for one month preparatory to election.

Auditors’ Report.

The Secretary laid on the table the Auditors’ report
for the financial year ending December 31, 1880.

Reports op Committees.

FINANCE.

The report of the Finance Committee was received and
adopted, and sundry accounts ordered to be paid.

HOUSE.

The report of this Committee was mainly confined to a
statement that estimates would be obtained for the
tablets to be erected recording the names of prizemen
and donations to the Benevolent Fund.

Mr. Richardson hoped these tablets would be erected
before the Annual Meeting.

The President said it was just possible this could be
done, but it was rather doubtful, as the boards would
require time to thoroughly dry before being erected.

Mr. Richardson said it was very desirable in the
interest of the Benevolent Fund that they should be up
by the Annual Meeting.

The report was received and adopted.

BENEVOLENT FUND.

The report of this Committee included a recommenda¬
tion of the following grants : —

£10 to the widow of a late annuitant, aged 45.

£10 to the widow of a former member, aged 63. . .

£10 to the widow of a former member, aged 39.

Eastbourne.

St. Mary Church.
Bamber Bridge.
Edinburgh.
Newport, I. W.
London.

.iff '

April 9, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 841

£10 to the widow of a former member, aged 40.

£10 to the widow of a former member, aged 61. This
applicant has had several former grants.

£5 to the widow of a late annuitant on the Fund, aged

67.

£10 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist,
formerly in business, but lately an assistant, aged 46.

£15 to the widow of a former member, aged 64.

£15 to a former member, aged 68.

£10 to the daughter of a former member, who has had
several previous grants.

£10 to one of the unsuccessful candidates for an
annuity at the late election, aged 74.

Several other cases had been before the Committee,
and deferred for further information. Two applications
| the Committee declined to entertain.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

The President said he might be allowed to make an
observation with regard to the condition of the Benevo¬
lent Fund. Last month the Committee had twenty-three
applications for relief, and although he did not think a
j deserving case had ever been passed over, the Committee
was now obliged to ask the question — Could the Fund
afford it? The subscriptions were not coming in as
readily as could be wished, and possibly these few re¬
marks might induce chemists and druggists throughout
the country to subscribe to the Fund. He might say,
and he did so with great pleasure, that the Secretary
would by-and-by announce the receipt of a cheque for
fifty guineas from the Chemists’ Ball, and though he was
almost afraid to say anything in favour of dancing before
his Scotch friends, he thought it was very gratifying to
find that so much benefit to the Fund had arisen from
j what a Scotch preacher had described as “ expressing
the emotions of the mind by the rhythmic action of the
lower limbs.”

Mr. Hampson said the Committee was exceedingly
anxious about the condition of the Fund, which was
certainly not in a prosperous state. On the previous day
several members had spoken on one subject, viz., that the
time might arrive when the recipients of the Fund should
be only those who had contributed to it at some time or
other. The whole thing might have to be re-arranged.
The large number of chemists who, as the law stood,
were entitled to apply for relief, as compared with the
small number who contributed to the Fund, made it very
sad to contemplate the future. He hoped it would not be
necessary to alter the conditions, and exclude those who
did not contribute ; but unless there was a better response
in the future, he feared it would have to come to that.

The Secretary said the prosperity of the Fund de¬
pended in a great measure on the efforts of the Local
Secretaries. He could mention one case in which the Local
Secretary, in a place where there were only three members
connected with the Society, had got ten subscribers to
the Fund. In another place, where there were ten
members, the Local Secretary said no one would sub¬
scribe to the Fund.

Mr. Symes said he happened to be Local Secretary for
j Liverpool, although he had only recently been appointed,
and therefore his remarks might not have so much weight
as if he had had longer experience. He suggested that
it would be a great advantage if the Local Secretaries
had the list of members whose subscriptions they were
desired to collect placed in their hands earlier, and if the
list were arranged alphabetically and the addresses
added.

Mr. Savage noticed that in the Auditors’ report it
appeared there was one annuitant less than last year, but
the absolute outlay was £60 14s. less.

Mr. Williams said he thought the annuitant only died
late in the year.

■ Mr. Robbins said the Benevolent Fund was rather
over- weighted. He had brought the subject forward
Borne time since, when he did not meet with much sup-

I

.

* ’• • ' '

port ; but he found now that several gentlemen were
beginning to see that it required consideration. There
were less than 2000 subscribers, whilst the Society num¬
bered about 4000 ; but the benefits of the Fund were
applicable to something like 13,000 or 14,000. It was a
question which must be taken seriously into consideration
before long. It was hardly fair that those who had con¬
tributed all their lifetime should only come in for an
equal share in the end with those who had never contri¬
buted at all.

Mr. Williams said the Benevolent Fund was not a
benefit club; it was a charity, and those who subscribed
to the Fund did so from charitable motives. He did not
suppose that any of the subscribers did so with the idea
of coming on the Fund themselves, but, unfortunately, it
did happen sometimes that they were compelled to do so,
and it was always very painful to the Committee when
this was the case. He wished there were more charitable
people in the trade who would take this view of the
Fund, that it was a charity intended for all who
were connected with the trade. If it were to partake
of the character of a benefit club, into which persons
might pay so much per month or per annum, with the
expectation after so many years of being able to draw an
annuity, the whole thing would have to be altered.

Mr. Robbins remarked that charity began at home.

Mr. Symes suggested that it would be well to issue a
new form of circular, which might have more effect than
the old stereotyped form which had been in use for some
time.

Mr. Richardson was rather disappointed at some of
the remarks which had been made, especially those of
Mr. Hampson, because on a previous occasion that
gentleman had stated that the Benevolent Fund was in
a very flourishing condition, and had pooh-poohed a
proposition he had made with a view of increasing its
resources. He maintained that the rich ought to assist
the needy, and he cordially agreed with Mr. Williams
that the benefits should be extended to all persons
engaged in the trade. But it must be remembered that
pharmacy, especially in the country districts, had been
much under a cloud during the last few years. Still he
hoped the Fund would receive larger donations and sub¬
scriptions from those who could afford to help their
poorer brethren.

Mr. Hampson asked what Mr. Richardson referred to,
when he said that he had pooh-poohed a suggestion for
the benefit of the Benevolent Fund.

Mr. Richardson said he referred to the suggestion
that all persons or firms who contributed certain sums
should have their names inscribed on a tablet ; when
Mr. Hampson remarked that donations might be given
simply for advertising purposes. It appeared to him
that that did not matter so that the Fund benefited ;
and there were some people undoubtedly whose pockets
could only be got at by an appeal to their self-interest.

Mr. Radley was very pleased to report, in contrast to
the supineness of many of the trade, that a surgeon of
his acquaintance, who had formerly been a chemist, sub¬
scribed a guinea annually to the Benevolent Fund.

The President said he hoped the few remarks which
had been made would produce a good effect. If the
applications received by the Committee could be printed,
he was sure the Fund would receive large additions ;
but he hoped that, even without that, the same result
might be attained.

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

Librarian’s Report.

The Librarian’s report had been received, and ill*

luded the following particulars : —

Attendance. Total. Highest. LoweBt. Average.

^ , l Day . . 347 22 8 14

February . j Ev'ning , hq il l 7

Circulation of books. Town. Country. Total.

February .... 383 131 314

Carriage paid , , £2 7 s. 6cJ,

842

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 9, 1881.

The undermentioned donations to the Library had been
received : — :

Attfield (J.), Chemistry, 9th ed., 1881.

. From the Author.

Baildon (H. B.), The Spirit of Nature, 1880.

From the Author.

Milton (J. L.), Hygiene of the Skin, 1879.

From Dr. Cattell.

. New South Wales, Legislative Assembly, Deport on
Museums for Technology, Science and Art, etc.,
in Europe, by A. Liversidge.

From the Deportee.
New South Wales, Department of Mines, Annual
Deports for 1878 and 1879, with maps.

Doyal Society of New South Wales, Journal and
Proceedings, 1879, vol. 13. From the Society.
Dragendorff (G-.), Altersbestimmung der Hiih*
nereier.

Schwartz (N.), (7 her das Verhalteu einiger Antisep-

tica zu Tabacksinfusbacterien, 1881.

Zander (A.), Chemisches fiber die Samen von

Xanthium Strumarium, 1881.

From Professor Dragendorff.

Schar (E.), t)ber Cortex Quebracho, 1881.

• •

— Zur Ubersicht und Kritik der Desinfektions-
mittel, 1881. From the Author.

The Committee recommended that the usual letter of
thanks be sent to the respective donors.

The Committee also recommended the purchase of the
undermentioned works for the Library : —

British Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, 2nd ed., 1876.
(A second copy.)

Church (A. H.), Laboratory Guide, 4th ed., 1877.
Helmholtz (H.), Popular Lectures on Scientific
Subjects, 1881. 2 vols.

Helwig (A.), Das Mikroskop in der Toxikologie,
1865.

Jackson (D. E. Scoresby-\ Note Book of Materia
Medica, 4th ed., 1880.

Khory (D. N.), Digest of Medicine, with Tables of
Indian Materia Medica, 1879.

Proctor (B. S.). Lectures on Practical Pharmacy,
1873. (A third copy.)

Wallace (A. B.), Island Life, 1880.

Curator's Report.

Attendance. Total. Highest. Lowest. Average.

i Morning . 350 30 6 15 ‘

| Evening . 74 13 0 3

The following donations were reported : —

Specimen of Pure Desorcin.

From Mr. W. Martindale.
Specimen of False Sassafras. •

From Messrs. Hearon, Squire and Francis.
List of the Plants in the Koishikawa Botanical
Gardens, Japan.

From Professor E. Kinch, Tokio.
Specimen of Trebizond Opium.

From Professor Attfield.
Specimen of Maltese Cummin.

From Messrs. Godfrey and Cooke.
Applications for materia medica specimens had been
received from the Sunderland Chemists’ Assistants and
Apprentices’ Association.

The Curator had been instructed to send such duplicate
specimens as he was able to spare.

Letters of thanks for duplicate specimens had been
received from the Kew Museum ; the University of
Ghent ; the Bristol Pharmaceutical Association j and
Professor Henslow.

The duplicate specimens of materia medica for the
Bristol Museum had been despatched and a specimen of
Trebizond Opium had since been handed to Mr. Schacht,
for the same institution.

A few duplicate specimens for. the Leicester Chemists’
Assistants’ Association were ready for despatch.

An application had been received from Mr. A. Dumtan,
for the loan of specimens from the Museum, to illustrate
the formation of salicin and its derivatives.

The Curator was authorized to lend such specimens as
were required.

Exhibition of Pharmaceutical Apparatus.

A circular with regard to the Exhibition of Pharma*
ceutical Apparatus had been drawn up and it was
recommended that a sub-committee, consisting of the
President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Mr. Butt and the
Curator, be appointed to make arrangements for the
Exhibition.

International Pharmaceutical Congress.

The President had reported that he had issued about
three hundred invitations for the International Pharma¬
ceutical Congress, and the Committee recommended that
a small committee be appointed to make arrangements
for the entertainment of visitors, with power to add to
its number gentlemen not members of the Council.

Annual Report.

The draft of the annual report had been considered
and ordered to be printed and sent to each member of
Council.

Mr. Mackay expressed his gratification at the Com*
mittee having placed two microscopes in the library for
the use of students. When Dr. Maclagan suggested the
same thing some years ago in Edinburgh, it was rather
pooh-poohed ; but he could only hope that the students
who attended the library in London would find the
microscopes as useful as they had been found in
Edinburgh.

The President said he did not think the placing of a
microscope in the museum in Edinburghhad ever been called
in question ; but the idea was, and to that exception was
taken, that they were used in the examinations. Since he
had been on this Committee, which was now some eight
or nine years, the question of putting microscopes in the
library or museum had never been raised. On one occa¬
sion he had asked the Council that a microscope
should be provided for the use of the Curator, which
should also be available for students when required.

Mr. Mackay said the fact was that in Edinburgh they
had a microscope to which exception was taken, but Dr.
Maclagan never suggested that it should be used in the
examinations.

The report and recommendations of the Committee
were then unanimously adopted.

The Boards of Examiners,

The President moved —

“That a deputation of the Board of Examiners for
Scotland, with Mr. Mackay, be invited to attend- the
June meeting of the Board of Examiners for England
and Wales.”

It had been found by experience that such an interchange
of visits had resulted in the examinations being as nearly
as possible identical, and as a deputation from the English
Board went to Scotland last year it was now the time to
invite a deputation from the Scotch Board to England.

The Vice-President seconded the motion, which was
carried unanimously.

The Annual Deport.

The Council then went into committee to consider the
draft annual report. Various verbal amendments were
made, and the report was then approved, the Library,
Museum and Laboratory Committee being authorized to
add thereto any matter of sufficient importance which
might arise before the next meeting of the Council.

Deports of Committees— continued.
pharmacy act amendment.

This Committee had considered the Irish Pharmacy
Act Amendment Bill and recommended that the Pharma¬
ceutical Society of Ireland should be communicated with

April 9> ISM.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 843

to the following effect : — That the Council desires to
express its sympathy with the efforts of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society of Ireland to obtain amended legislation,
but in the absence of any special knowledge of the
requirements of pharmacy in Ireland it is unable
properly to discuss the particular amendments now
; suggested.

The Committee had also considered the memorial from
the Lincolnshire Association for the Prevention of the
Administration of Poisonous Drugs, etc., to Horses, and
was of opinion that as most of the articles mentioned were
largely used for technical purposes in various trades, to
place them in the poison schedule would cause great in¬
convenience to the public, without remedying the evils
complained of. The Committee was of opinion that if
the “ Drugging of Animals Act ” were better known it-
would meet the difficulties of the case.

The Secretary had reported that no further progress
! . had been made with the Medical Act (1858) Amendment
Bill, which stands for second reading on J une 29 next.

The report and recommendations of the Committee
, were received and adopted.

THE CONVERSAZIONE.

This Committee reported that a letter had been received
from the authorities of the South Kensington Museum,
granting the use of the building on the same terms as in
previous years for the Conversazione of the Society in
' May. The Committee had instructed the Secretary to
make arrangements for refreshments as before, to engage
the band of the Grenadier Guards and a glee party, and
to issue invitations as in previous years.

The report and recommendations of the Committee
were adopted unanimously.

EXHIBITION OP APPARATUS.

This Committee had decided that a circular should be
issued inviting exhibitors, and the Secretary had reported
that several applications for space had been received.
The Committee had decided that all applications for
space must contain details of the proposed exhibits, and
must reach the Secretary before April 30.

The President called attention to the fact that the
j Committee would meet every week for the purpose of
making arrangements for this Exhibition, and it had also
given notice that the Society could not be responsible
for articles sent for exhibition. It had just had to pay
for certain articles which were lost at the last Exhibition.

Mr. Atkins asked if any stops were taken to protect
the property.

The President said there were assistants specially
employed, under the superintendence of the Curator.

Mr. Symes asked if wholesale drug and chemical
houses had been communicated with.

The President said he was not quite sure who had
received invitations, but they had been sent to all who
exhibited last year, and to many more than had been
invited last year.

Mr. Symes said he had been asked within the last few
days, whether wholesale houses having drugs of special
character would be admitted. He was pleased to say
that one firm in Liverpool was endeavouring to get some
things of interest from Canada.

The President said it was necessary that the Com¬
mittee should be careful to exclude nostrums, and to
give the preference to novelties and improvements in
appliances.

The report was then adopted.

general purposes.

The report of this Committee included reports from
Professors Redwood and Bentley as to the prize examina¬
tions at the end of the first course.

Professor Redwood had reported that ten students in
his class had competed, of whom four obtained more than
three-fourths of the total number of 100 marks.

. Professor Bentley had reported that sixteen competi-

I *•

I fe¬

tors in his class had sent in papers, of whom he recom¬
mended seven for recognition.

The Committee having opened the envelopes marked
with the mottoes named by the Professors, in order to
ascertain the names of the competitors, recommended
that the following awards be made.

Chemistry and Pharmacy.

Bronze Medal . .-.Frederick Charles John Bird.

Certificate of Merit ...William Kirkby.

„ „ Daniel Davies.

„ „ Thomas Lewis.

Materia Medica and Botany.

Bronze Medal . John Oldham Braith waite.

Certificate of Merit ...Charles Walker.

„ „ Frederick Charles John Bird.

„ „ Andrew Hutcheson Cleland.

„ „ John Henry Atherton.

„ „ Thomas Lewis.

„ „ Richard Henry Groves.

The report also included the usual letter from the
Solicitor respecting cases which had been placed in his
hands. •

The Committee also had had before it certain cases of
alleged infringement of the Pharmacy Act, and in two
cases the Solicitor had been instructed to take pro¬
ceedings.

The Council went into committee as usual to consider
the report.

On resuming, the report and recommendations were
adopted.

The following communication from the Privy Council
was received and ordered to be entered on the minutes: —

“Privj Council Office,

“ Whitehall,

“ March 14, 1881.

“Sir, — I am directed by the Lord President of the
Council to transmit to you, for the information of the
Pharmaceutical Society, the enclosed copy of a report
which has been received from Dr. Greenliow on the
Pharmaceutical Examinations held in the year 1880.

“I am, Sir,

“ Your obedient servant,
(Signed) “ E. Harrison,

“ The Secretary to the

“ Pharmaceutical Society,

“ 17, Bloomsbury Square.”

[Copy.\

“ Report on the Examinations held by the London Board

of Examiners of the Pharmaceutical Society during the

year 1880.

“ I have not for several years had occasion to report
any change either in the regulations for candidates or in
the mode of conducting the examinations of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society; neither has any alteration been made
in these respects during the last year ; indeed, looking at
the results of the examinations, I do not consider any
material change at present desirable. The Minor
examination, which confers all the privileges of the
Pharmacy Act, as now conducted, affords a sufficient
guarantee of competence to keep an open shop for
retailing, dispensing, and compounding medicines. It is
thoroughly practical and any increased stringency could
only have the effect of adding to the already large number
of candidates who are rejected.

“ The first or Preliminary examination was conducted
last year, as for several previous years, by the College of
Preceptors, under the direction of the Board of Examiners
of the Pharmaceutical Society.

“ At the four meetings held for this examination, during
the year, 1227 candidates were examined, 638 of whom
passed and 589 failed. The rejections were therefore in
the proportion of 48*0 per cent. Of the candidates who
failed 26 were rejected, although they had gained the
minimum number of marks in each of the separate

844

the pharmaceutical journal and TRANSACTIONS.

[April 0, 1881.

subjects of examination, because they did not attain the
aggregate number of marks required for passing the
whole examination; 107 failed in all the subjects, namely,
Latin, arithmetic, and English; 60 failed in English;
52 in Latin; 148 in arithmetic, and 196 in two of the
three subjects.

“ The large number of rejections at this examination is
in accordance with former experience. It is quite evident
that there is a lamentable defect in the early education of
the candidates, for the examination is not a very severe
one, and, with exception of Latin, might probably be
passed with facility by most youths who have passed
through the higher standards of education in good
national schools. Indeed, even as regards Latin, many
national school boys could without doubt pass this exami¬
nation with ease and credit.

“ According to the present regulations, it is only re¬
quired that a candidate should have passed the Pre¬
liminary examination, without the intervention of any
specified interval, before coming up for the Minor exami¬
nation. This seems to be an objectional arrangement on
two grounds ; first, because it affords an opportunity for
an imperfectly educated’ youth to obtain employment in
a chemist’s shop with the intention of being educated up
to the standard of this examination during the three
years he must be actually engaged in dispensing medi¬
cines previous to presenting himself for the Minor exami¬
nation; and, secondly, because the preparation for this
examination must, in the supposed case, occupy a large
portion of that leisure which ought to be devoted to
preparing himself in the technical and practical parts of
his calling. It appears to me that these objections would
be, at least in some measure, obviated if young men were
required to pass the Preliminary examination previous to
the commencement of their apprenticeship or studentship,
and, further, if no evidence of time employed in dispensing
medicines was received excepting that of having served
as an articled apprentice or student with a legally
qualified chemist and druggist.

“The London Board of Examiners held twenty-six
meetings for conducting the technical examinations
during last year. At these meetings, 116 candidates
presented themselves for the Major examination, 63 of
whom passed, and were registered as pharmaceutical
chemists, and 53 were rejected, being at the rate of
5 4 *31 per cent, Rather more than one-fourth of the
candidates who failed were rejected because they did not
gain the full passing number of marks upon the whole
examination, although they had obtained the minimum
passing number of marks in each of the separate subjects ;
26 failed in chemistry and practical work, and 16 in
botany.

“ I regret to observe so small a proportion of the young
men who have passed the Minor, or qualifying examina¬
tion, come up for the Major examination. This arises,
no doubt, partly because of the wider scope of the exami¬
nation, partly also, perhaps, because being already regis-
. tered as chemists and druggists, and qualified to keep
open shop for the purpose of selling and dispensing
medicines, the higher qualification confers no additional
business privileges; and, lastly, probably because the
title of pharmaceutical chemist is not sufficiently dis¬
tinctive to induce candidates to undergo the expense and
trouble of passing another examination in order to
obtain it.

“ It is, therefore, a question worthy of consideration
whether some other and more distinctive title than that
of “Pharmaceutical Chemist,” such, for example, as
“Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society,” might not be
advantageously substituted for the present name, and
have the effect of inducing a larger number of candidates
to present themselves for this higher qualification. On
public grounds, it is very desirable that a greater number
of persons should hold it, inasmnch ,as the members of
the Board of Examiners are selected from amongst per¬
sons of this class. During last year 551 candidates

offered themselves for the Minor qualification. More
than half of these failed, namely, 301, being at the rate
of 54*62 per cent. Of these failures 48 occurred because
the candidates had not obtained a sufficient proportion of
marks to pass the whole examination, although they had
gained enough to pass in each of the separate subjects ;
71 failed in chemistry; 37 in reading Latin prescriptions ;
29 in materia medica ; 25 in practical dispensing; 20 in
botany; 17 in pharmacy; and 54 in two subjects.

“It is impossible to say how many candidates would
have failed in more than two subjects, because whenever
a candidate is found to have failed in two subjects, his
examination is discontinued; but I may mention that in
addition to the 71 candidates who were rejected in che¬
mistry, 30 others failed in that subject together with one
other subject, and in addition to the 37 who could not
read prescriptions written in the Latin language, 15
others failed in this, together with one of the other sub¬
jects comprised in the examination.

“ It is painful to note that there does not yet appear to
be any improvement in the results of this examination.
This plainly shows that there is some serious defect in
the mode in which the candidates are trained for their
calling. To some extent the suggestion I have already
made, that the candidates should be compelled to pass
the first examination before being articled as apprentices,
would probably tend to remedy this, particularly if taken
in conjunction with my other recommendation, that the
only evidence of practical training should be that of
having served such an apprenticeship. This latter provision
would involve a degree of responsibility on the part of the
master for his apprentice’s success in the examination,
which does not always now exist. I am, further, of opinion
that now candidates are not admissible to the examina¬
tion until they have attained the age of twenty-one years,
it would be no hardship if the period of practical training
in a shop were extended to five years. It might, indeed,
happen in the cases of young men who had served their
apprenticeship in country places, that they might desire
to spend a portion of their apprenticeship either in
London or in some other large town. To provide for
this, it might be permitted to a young man, in such
circumstances, to spend the last two years of the five in
a different pharmacy from that to which he was first
sent as an apprentice.

“The propriety of compelling candidates for this
examination to pass a certain time at a school of
pharmacy has been a good deal discussed lately among
persons who are interested in the subject of pharma¬
ceutical education. I am, however, of opinion that a
curriculum, or special course of study at a school of
pharmacy, is not required for persons who are preparing
for the Minor qualification. The examination, when
properly conducted, affords a sufficient guarantee of a
candidate’s fitness for registration under the Pharmacy
Act, and the examination is not at present so high that
a fairly educated young man cannot very well prepare
himself for it during the period of his apprenticeship, more
especially if the length of the apprenticeship were extended
to five years. Neither, on the other hand, do I think it
desirable to raise the standard so high that special study
at a school of pharmacy would be required. The Phar¬
macy Act was enacted in order to secure that chemists
and druggists should possess a competent practical know¬
ledge of their business, and to place some restriction
upon the indiscriminate sale of poisons. These objects
being already in a great measure accomplished under the
system now in force, it does not appear to me necessary,
in the interest of the public, to require any higher
qualifications to entitle a person to be registered as a
chemist and druggist than already exist. As a fact,
however, I may state that the greater number of the
candidates for the Minor qualification do actually study
at a school of pharmacy, with the very frequent and
obvious result of being crammed up for their examination)
without having acquired practical skill and competence,

April 9, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

845

The question of studying or not, at such an institution,
may, therefore, I think very well be left to the discretion
of the candidates themselves.

“On the other hand, the Major being essentially an
honours qualification, only to be obtained by persons who
already hold a registered right to carry on business as
chemists and druggists, the requirements for passing it
might, in due time, be set at a higher standard and in¬
clude attendance upon a fixed curriculum or special
course of study at a school of pharmacy. The Pharma-
ceutieal Society might, I believe, very properly be per¬
mitted to make any regulations in reference to it which
the Council considered right, subject to the approval of
I any bye-laws to that effect by the Privy Council. Only
ten persons presented themselves for the Modified exami¬
nation during last year, four of whom passed and were
registered as chemists and druggists, and six failed. There
are still, I understand, a considerable number of candi¬
dates upon the list for this slighter examination ; but inas¬
much as they were obliged to send in their applications
to be admitted to it before December 31, 1869, it* does
seem that there would be no hardship if, after the lapse
of so many years, they were now compelled either to pre¬
sent themselves for examination within a certain fixed
period of time, or to forfeit the privilege of admission to it.

“ I have already incidentally expressed my opinion that
the examination for the Minor qualification, which is that
which is really of chief public importance, as at present
conducted, is satisfactory and sufficiently stringent. I
now desire to add that the examiners manifest much tact
and great kindness and forbearance towards the candi¬
date, affording nervous or weak men ample opportunity for
passing. Although I look forward to the standard of the
Major examination being raised at some future time, it is
quite obvious, from the very numerous failures, that such
a measure is not at present expedient. It could only have
the effect of diminishing the already scanty number of
candidates.

(Signed) “E. Headlam Greenhow.

“14a, Manchester Square,

“March 8, 1881.”

Proprietary Medicines.

The following letter was read : —
j “ Association of the Owners of the Proprietary Medicines,

“ 95, Farringdon Street, London,

“ To the President of the. “18 March, 1881.

“Pharmaceutical Council.

“ Sir, — I am directed by the Managing Committee of
the above Association to draw the attention of the
Council to one or two points in the proposed Amendment
to the Pharmacy Act, it being the opinion of the Com¬
mittee that should the Amendment become law, it would
interfere largely with the property of owners of proprie¬
tary medicines.

“ The Committee is also of opinion that a few slight
alterations in the wording of the Amendment could be
made which would leave its spirit unchanged whilst
depriving it of the power of damaging large vested
interests.

“ The alterations which the Committee respectfully
' suggest are as follows : —

“ Clause 8. To leave out the words . in brackets
‘ whether as patent medicines or otherwise.’

“Clause 10. To leave out the words ‘or containing’
and adding a few words with the view to providing that
the Pharmaceutical Society alone shall have the power
or right to institute proceedings against anyone for acting
in contravention of this clause.

“ Waiting the favour of a reply,

“ I remain, Sir,

“ Yours respectfully,
(Signed) “ Geo. R. Barclay,

“Secretary .”

Mr. HaMPSON moved that the letter be referred to the
Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee.

Mr. Richardson seconded the motion, which was
carried unanimously.

The Pharmacopeia.

Mr. Hampson moved the following resolution, of
which he had given notice : —

“That it is desirable that this Council should take
steps to ensure that the Pharmaceutical Society be
represented before the Royal Commission on medical
reform, in order to obtain for pharmacists a legal
position in the framing of the British Pharmacopoeia.”
It would be within the recollection of the Council, that
in July, 1874, the Council agreed to the following
resolution: — “That this Council respectfully urges upon
the General Medical Council the desirability of asso¬
ciating more practical pharmacists with any Committee
which may be appointed for the purpose of preparing
any future edition of the British Pharmacopoeia or any
further addendum to the present issue. This Council
would be prepared to nominate such pharmacists, in the
event of the Medical Council agreeing to their proposal.’
And then followed a resolution to the effect that a copy
of that be sent to the Medical Council. To that communi¬
cation no answer had been received; but since then
six years had elapsed, and he thought now there was’
a favourable opportunity of bringing the question for¬
ward again. The Government was prepared, as far as
could be learned, to appoint a Royal Commission upon
the whole subject of medical reform, and as the position
with respect to the Pharmacopoeia was one of law, it
was absolutely necessary that the Council should take
some step. As the result of the Royal Commission,
there would be a Government Bill, and there would
be no other more suitable opportunity of obtaining what
he considered to be a fair position. As matters now
stood, the Medical Council had the sole right to prepare
the Pharmacopoeia without any consultation with any
other body, and if it did call in pharmaceutical aid, it
was only as a sort of voluntary concession to obtain
the needful assistance. This had been done hitherto,
and pharmacists could not complain very much of
the result, because they had been singularly fortunate in
Professor Redwood, who was so high an authority upon
pharmaceutical matters, and Mr. Squire’s assistance had
also been obtained, and no doubt great improvements had
been introduced into the last Pharmacopoeia. Still the
position was not a satisfactory one in comparison with that
of their brethren in other countries. The Society for many
years had been promoting education and furthering re¬
search, and had done everything possible for the purpose
of establishing pharmacy on an intellectual and legitimate
footing; it, therefore, naturally fell to its lot to share in
the preparation of the national Pharmacopoeia, since
when that was issued it became, as it were, part of the
Act of Parliament, and all pharmacists were bound to
conform to its standard. They were doubly bound to do
g0 — bound by the Pharmacopoeia itself, issued by the
Medical Council, and also by their own Act of Parlia¬
ment, and yet they could do nothing but raise a protest
after it was issued if there was anything in it unsatisfac¬
tory and impracticable. They had had by courtesy some
information when a new Pharmacopoeia might be in
preparation, and copies of what Avas proposed had been
sent to a few select persons for their consideration, and
no doubt that had been to a certain extent beneficial,
but the time had now arrived when they should ask for
a more assured position, such as had been obtained in all
civilized countries except their own, where pharmacists
had a fair share in this work. In France, Germany,
Austria, Belgium, Holland and the United States, the
pharmacist was on equal terms, and in some countries
had a larger share than the medical man, in the prepara¬
tion of the Pharmacopoeia. He had been trying lately to
think what could be the objection raised by medical men
to this necessary request, but could not conceive what it
could be. He was anxious to approach them in the
most friendly spirit and he admitted that pharmacy was a

I

846

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 9, 18S1.

subsidiary branch of medicine, but still it was a branch,
and it was to their interest that they should work harmo¬
niously. In this spirit he made the proposal. He did
not wish to trench on the rights of the medical profession ;
but pharmacists ought to take up their right position, and
it was in the interests of medical men themselves that
the Pharmacopoeia should be a work of such a character
as to be a credit to medical practice, and it could only be
of that character if practical pharmacists were associated
in its preparation. He did not wish the Committee to
interfere with what should be introduced into the Phar¬
macopoeia, the question of doses or therapeutics, but
simply that practical pharmacists, nominated by the
Society, should have the working of the methods and
undertake experiments with a view to agree upon the best
methods, so that they should be up to the present state of
knowledge. If the Council did not take advantage of
this opportunity it might be a great many years before
such an occasion again presented itself.

The Vice-President said Mr. Hampsonhad asked him
to second the motion, which he was quite ready to do,
though he thought the subject specially referred tohad been
included in the resolution carried at the last meeting. '

Mr. Hampson said the Council had never yet agreed
that it was desirable that it should have a legal status
with respect to the Pharmacopoeia, so that it would be
impossible in carrying out the former resolution to re¬
present views before the Royal Commission, which did
not receive the acceptance of the Council. He, therefore,
did not think this resolution was covered by the general
terms of the previous. one.

The Vice-President said he was quite prepared to
endorse these particular views, as he completely sympa¬
thized with them. His only doubt at present was whether
it would be wise to pass special resolutions upon every
particular topic which the Council might wish to argue
before the Royal Commission. If it were the fact that the
Council had never declared that pharmacists ought to
have a hand in the preparation of the Pharmacopoeia, it
would be as well to record the fact, and, therefore, he was
prepared to endorse the motion, but he would rather
something should be added to the effect that to carry out
this principle the subject be referred to a committee, in
order that it might formulate such subjects as in its
opinion the Council should advocate before the Royal
Commission.

Mr. Savage endorsed very much that had fallen from
the Vice-President, but he could not think it would mili¬
tate against the proposition of Mr. Hampson if the com¬
mittee, or deputation, representing the Society before the
Royal Commission had much more general powers besides
the specific point mentioned. There was a very impor¬
tant clause in the Medical Bill taking away from the
Apothecaries Act that portion which was generally in¬
terpreted to give' chemists and druggists certain privi¬
leges, and if that Bill were passed as proposed, it would
be detrimental to the pharmaceutical body. Therefore,
while heartily supporting this proposition, he did not
think it would weaken it to attach to it that the deputa¬
tion should have full power to represent the Society on
other matters.

Mr. Atkins reminded Mr. Savage that the questions
of the Royal Commission on medical reform would depend
very much on the exigencies of the House of Commons ;
but the question of a new Pharmacopoeia might come up
independently of thalt, by the action of the Medical
Council, and might come on at a much earlier date
than the report of the Royal Commission. He therefore
thought it would be wise to pass the present resolution.

Mr. Williams said when Mr. Hampson brought this
question forward some time ago and moved a resolution
which was negatived, he was one of those who had voted
against it ; but he was reminded that the reason of his so
voting was not that he did not consider it most important
that some representative of the Pharmaceutical Society
should have a voice in the construction of the Pharma¬

copoeia, but that motion proposed that the Council should
go to the Medical Council and claim- a legal right, and
on that point he disagreed with Mr. Hampson. The
position now was very different, and he could cordially
support the motion. It had been urged many times
that the pharmaceutical body ought to have a voice
in the construction of the Pharmacopoeia, but he would
remark that that would be a great responsibility to take.

It was much pleasanter to be a critic of such a work
than to be the author ; but pharmacists owed a duty to
themselves and the public in respect to this question, and
especially to themselves, because, as Mr. Hampson had
pointed out, they were bound by the Pharmacopoeia, and
in the present state of the law it was important that they
should have a voice in saying that the conditions imposed
were consistent with the present state of knowledge. At
the same time he agreed with the Vice-President that it
would be advisable to make the resolution more general.

Mr. Andrews said every pharmacist would agree
with this proposition. He could not agree with Mr.
Williams that it would be better to mix up other things
with it. The Council had before it a very definite
proposal, which was clear and undeniable, and it had
better keep that as it was and if it were thought
necessary to introduce other matters to make a separate
motion.

Mr. Radley said reference had been made by one or
two speakers to the resolution which was carried
following on his suggestion at the last meeting. It was
a matter of great importance and was remitted to the
Committee, upon whom the responsibility rested to take
any steps required with reference to this Royal Commis¬
sion, and he personally relied on this Committee to do its
duty in the matter and bring forward whatever was
necessary.

Mr. Frazer, though he was not: prepared to move an
amendment, was not sure that this was the wisest mode
of attaining the purpose they all had at heart. He
almost thought the Medical Council would act wisely
by asking that Society to assist in preparing the future
Pharmacopoeia, but he did not think it was modest on
the part of the Council or that it had any legal right to
insist on taking part in the work. The Pharmacopoeia
was a huge prescription, and as medical men did not
consult them in writing prescriptions, so neither could ;!
they insist on being consulted with reference to the
preparation of the Pharmacopoeia. He thought the
Council would attain its object better by leaving it as it
was and not insisting on a legal position which he did
not think it could claim.

Mr. Mackay said there could be but one feeling in the
minds of all pharmacists as to the common sense nature
of the view propounded, that the Pharmaceutical Society
should hold a certain position in assisting to compile the
Pharmacopseia. But while that view commended itself
to the Medical Council, as that body had shown by
asking for pharmaceutical assistance, he was at a loss to
see the ground on which the Council could proceed to
establish any legal position. He thought it would be
better to remit this matter to the Committee, which
should bring up a report upon it.

Mr. Symes supported the motion. He held that the
pharmacists should not merely have permissive power to
assist in framing the Pharmacopoeia, but that they should
have a legal position and standing. He could scarcely
share the fears of Mr. Atkins that the new Pharmaco¬
poeia might be framed before the Royal Commission sat,
and pharmacists ought to have a voice not only in fram¬
ing the Pharmacopoeia but in saying when one should be
issued. If they had a legal position in the matter it
would be their duty at the present moment to take steps
for introducing the new Pharmacopoeia ; but whereas they
found themselves in the position that grave errors existed
in the original work, they were utterly powerless to say
that a new edition should be framed, and it was delayed
on the paltry excuse that a number of copies of the

April 9, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

847

i

i

present edition had been printed, and that there was no
reason for issuing a new one. That showed the necessity
that some persons who had more at heart the responsi¬
bility of trying to carry out the instructions of the
Pharmacopoeia should be associated in its preparation.
They were required to abide by it, and yet there were
certain directions which it was impossible strictly to
follow. That showed there was a burden upon them,
which they should attempt to remove. In all civilized
countries that he was aware of, pharmacists had this
position. He certainly must demur to Mr. Frazer’s
statement that the Pharmacopoeia was simply a huge
prescription. There was all the difference in the world
between the two. One was private property, and the
other was a public affair, and was subject to the pro¬
visions with regard to the Adulteration Act and to legal
proceedings if the formulae were not carried out, or if
the results did not correspond with certain tests.

The President said he should be inclined to put the
resolution more strongly than it was framed, and to say
that it was not only desirable but necessary that the
Society should be represented before the Royal Commis¬
sion. He was glad that in the motion prominence had
been given to the Pharmacopoeia, and thought that if
the Council did not seek to obtain a position to be heard
on the Royal Commission it would be very much wanting
in its duty to the body at large. It was, therefore, its
bounden duty to take some steps, and he had very little
doubt himself if it took those steps in a proper spirit it
would be received courteously. He had not the slightest
doubt but that the Council would have with it seven¬
teenth-twentieths of the medical profession, for in his
own conversation with medical men of some standing,
he found they were, almost without exception, in favour
of such an arrangement. He might be excused reading
a few lines from a letter he had received from the
United States, in reply to the invitation to attend the
Pharmaceutical Congress : — “ Pharmacopoeial revision
progresses here satisfactorily and, what is greatly to be
rejoiced at, with a spirit of harmony between the medical
and pharmaceutical members of the Committee. To the
former is conceded, under all circumstances, any decision
on therapeutical subjects, as well as the decision on the
remedial merits or demerits of new and old drugs; while
the pharmacists mainly confine themselves to working
out the text in accordance with the rules agreed upon.
Of course, on many points, both physicians and pharma¬
cists have the right to render an equally valid opinion.
It should be added, that this division of labour is not
based upon any actual resolution adopted in committee,
but upon a tacit mutual understanding, by which the
proper dues are rendered to each profession. In my
opinion, and in that of many others in this country, the
pharmaceutical profession in Great Britain should have
an officially recognized representation on the next com¬
mittee of revision. No Pharmacopoeia was ever satis¬
factorily constructed without the aid of specialists, and
there is no reason why these specialists should not also
be endowed with the privilege of sitting as members of
the Committee. Co-ordination of the two professions in
this matter will not only render the Pharmacopoeia more
perfect and uniform, but will also bring about a better
understanding between the two professions.” He did
not think he could add anything to those remarks.

Mr. Hampson, in reply to Mr. Williams, wished to say
that no doubt if pharmacists gained their right position they
would have a considerable responsibility, but that re
sponsibility would do them .a great deal of good. It
would bring out their best qualities, as responsibility
always did. With reference to Mr. Mackay’s remark, he
did not think there was the least fear of giving offence.
Pharmacists had been too retiring in connection with
this question altogether and had kept themselves too
. much in the dark, as if they were simply hucksters and
shopkeepers, although they had been doing what they
could to advance pharmacy. He hoped now they were

stretching out their hands, their medical friends would
receive them with an equally warm grasp.

The motion was then put and carried nem. con .

The Vice-President then moved, as a rider to the
above : —

“ That the Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee be
requested to select and formulate all matters they
may think it the duty of this Society to advocate
before the Royal Commission about to be appointed
upon medical legislation, and submit the same to
this Council.”

Mr. Williams seconded the motion, which was at once
put and carried.

International Pharmaceutical Congress.

Mr. Butt then moved the following resolution, of which
he had given notice : —

“That a Committee be appointed, consisting of the
President, Vice-President, Messrs. Bottle, Carteighe,
Hampson, Hills, Sandford, Dr. Paul and Professor
Redwood, with power to add to its number :

“ To fix the date on which the International Pharma¬
ceutical Congress shall be held ;

“ To organize generally the programme of business to
be transacted at the meeting;

“To decide on subjects to be dealt with, and the mode
in which they shall be brought forward.”

He said it would be' as well to mention a few of the
details with regard to the origin of this Congress. About
eighteen or twenty years ago, a few prominent pharma¬
cists on the Continent considered it advisable to meet at
some central point to discuss matters of general interest
to pharmacy. The first meeting was held at Brunswick,
and a few years afterwards a second was held at Paris.
At the conclusion of the business at Paris, it was resolved
that the third meeting should be held at Vienna in 1867,
and in due course the Committee appointed to carry out
the proceedings at Vienna sent out its invitations, and
an invitation was received by the Council of this Society,
requesting it to send delegates to that Congress. Mr.
Sugden Evans, the then President, and Professor Redwood
were appointed, and a full report of the proceedings
would be found in the second series of the Journal,
vol. ii,, p. 174. The subjects which appeared to be
generally discussed were pharmaceutical education and
the universal codex. After the business, a Committee
was formed to decide where the next meeting should be
held, and that Committee decided that it should be held
at St. Petersburg in 1872. In consequence of the Franco-
German war, however, and the unsettled state of the
Continent, it was deferred until 1874, and early in that
year the Society again received an invitation to send
delegates to St. Petersburg. Mr. Greenish and Mr.
Sutton were appointed delegates, and that Congress was
held from the 8th to the 12th August, 1874. At the
conclusion of the business, the members present
felt a desire to hold the next meeting in London;
but the English representatives stated that they
had no authority to invite the Congress, and explained
that they would bring the matter before the Society at
an early date. A full report of the proceedings was sub¬
mitted to the Council in October, 1874, signed by the
two delegates, and subsequently Mr. Greenish brought
forward a resolution that the International Pharmaceu¬
tical Congress be invited to hold its next meeting in
London. That was seconded by Mr. Hampson and
carried unanimously. It was then decided that it should
be held in 1879, and again, in consequence of the dis¬
turbed state of the Continent arising from the Turkish
war, it was postponed somewhat indefinitely. The next
step was taken by Mr. Hampson at the Council meeting-
on August 4, 1880, when he drew attention to the fact
that the International Medical Congress was about to be
held in London, and suggested that it would be desirable
to hold the International Pharmaceutical Congress about
the same time. After some discussion the matter was re-

848

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 9, 1881.

f erred to a Committee, and as a result, invitations had been
sent out to the most eminent pharmacists on the Continent
of Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States. In
reply to those invitations several answers had been
received, but as the time was somewhat distant he
had no doubt a great many more would still be re¬
ceived, and everything led the Committee to suppose
that there would be a considerable number of foreign
pharmacists gathered together in London at the invitation
of the Society at some date which remained to be fixed.
The general object of this Congress appeared to be the
discussion of subjects in relation to pharmaceutical
education, the stimulation of pharmaceutical research, and
the compiling of the International Pharmacopoeia. The
last, he feared, was somewhat of a utopian scheme, for
with the divergency of the practice of medicine in different
parts of the civilized globe he was afraid it would be
almost an imponderable volume, but a step, and a great
step in advance, might be gained if pharmacists only had
a voice, which he hoped they would have soon, in the
preparation of the Pharmacopoeia, and if they could
assimilate the strength of the preparations of the more
powerful drugs in general use, and particularly of the
powerful poisons and alkaloids. In the present day
people travelled a great deal; they took prescriptions
about from one country to another ; and where medicines
had the same name but differed in strength, mistakes
were liable to occur. Of course, with the majority of
things contained in the Pharmacopoeia slight varieties
of strength were not of much importance; but there
were preparations, such as those of hydrocyanic acid,
strychnia, morphia and opium, in which variations of
strength might be very important. The Society having
invited those gentlemen here, it would be its duty to
entertain them. How that should be done he could
hardly say, though it had been already discussed to a
certain extent. At Vienna, after the conclusion of the
business, the delegates were entertained hospitably at a
banquet, and on the following day an excursion was
organized to the top of the Semmering Pass, where they
were received with bands of music, and a luncheon was
provided. At St. Petersburg the case appeared to be
somewhat similar. There was a dinner and a steamboat
excursion, and he supposed that British pharmacists
ought to do something, of the same kind. It was quite
certain they would have to entertain them intellectually.
He presumed there would be a conversazione in that
building, and that papers would be read and discussed, and
that there would be an opportunity of showing them
their unrivalled museum and library, which he believed
were not to be equalled by any private collection
or by that of any pharmaceutical society in the world.
Another matter of interest would be the presentation of
the Hanbury Medal to the distinguished gentlemen who
should be selected by the Committee. As to other
matters they - must be left to the Committee, and he
supposed that all would be called upon for a little dona¬
tion to assist in defraying the expenses.

Mr. Hampson seconded the motion.

The President said he could not add anything to the
very interesting account which Mr. Butt had given of the
previous proceedings. He knew the president of the first
Congress which was held in Brunswick, and at the second
Congress in Paris the International Pharmacopoeia was
first spoken of. That question was again brought for¬
ward at Vienna, when the French pharmacists were asked
to give their idea of an International Pharmacopoeia.
At the St. Petersburg Congress there was an immense
mass of paper laid on the table representing the French
pharmacists’ idea of an International Pharmacopoeia,
but it was not adopted because it was found to contain a
perfect Codex instead of suggestions for one International
Pharmacopoeia. The conclusion arrived at then was that
the International Pharmacopoeia should not supersede any
national Pharmacopoeia in existence, but should contain
simply those medicines which were powerful, such as nux

vomica, which was double the strength in France that it
was here. Some people seemed to consider the Inter¬
national Pharmacopoeia something which might be framed
in the next half century; but he would remind the
Council that in Switzerland a few years ago there were
twenty-five or twenty-six Pharmacopoeias which now were
reduced to one, and the same thing had occurred in
Germany. There was no reason why there should not
be a small Pharmacopoeia which should contain potent
preparations used in this and other countries, and which
should form an appendix to the ordinary Pharmacopoeia,
and that this would be the means of bringing the
opinions of the pharmacists of different countries to
a point with regard to the strength of these preparations.
That was one of the subjects which would come before
the Medical Congress ; but there were other subjects •
which would have to come before the Pharmaceutical
Congress, and it would be the duty of one of the Com¬
mittees to formulate the business to be done. In the
letter of invitation which had been issued suggestions
had been asked for, and some had been already received
and others had been promised. He believed a consider¬
able number of foreign pharmacists would be here in
August next, and he had every hope that they would be
well received, and felt sure it would give a great impetus
to Bx'itish pharmacy.

It was suggested that this Committee should consist
only of members of Council in the first instance, with
power to add to its number others, either members of
Council or not. It was also considered that this Com¬
mittee might exercise the functions of the Committee
recommended by the Library, Museum and Laboratory
Committee to be appointed for the purpose of providing
for and arranging the entertainment of visitors to the
Congress. *

The resolution was then put and passed unanimously
in the following form : —

“That a Committee be appointed, consisting of the
President, Vice-President, Messrs. Bottle, Butt,
Hampson, Hills and Sandford, with power to add
to its number other gentlemen, including those who
are not members of the Council ;

“ To fix the date on which the International Pharma-
maceutical Congress should be held ;

“ To organize generally the programme of business to
be transacted at the meeting ;

“ To decide on subjects to be dealt with, and the
mode in which they shall be brought forward ;

“To provide and make arrangements for the enter¬
tainment of the visitors to the International
Congress.”

Mr. Hampson then moved : —

“That the Pharmaceutical Society contribute £100
towards the fund for the entertainment of those who
attend the International Pharmaceutical Congress
in August next.”

Mr. Richardson suggested that it would be well first
to consider whether the Council had legal power to make
such a grant.

The President said he had consulted the Solicitor upon
the subject, and he would ask the Secretary to read his
(the Solicitor’s) opinion, which was accordingly done.

Mr. Hampson said this motion seemed to follow as a
natural corollary to that which had just been passed, and
he thought the Council could pass it with propriety.

Mr. Squire seconded the motion.

The President said it would be a good sum to head a
list, and he had no doubt .subscriptions would come in to
the required amount.

The motion was then put and carried.

Certificates to be received in lieu of the Pre¬
liminary Examination.

The Vice-President then moved the following resolu¬
tion : —

“ This Council having, without notice, discontinued to

849

I : Y .

April 9, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

receive the third class certificates of the College of
Preceptors, and having thereby excluded certificates
which are alleged to have been obtained for the ex¬
press purpose of being submitted in lieu of the Society’s
Preliminary examination —

*l It is resolved —

That the Board of Examiners be authorized to accept,
in lieu of the Preliminary examination of this
Society, the third class certificate of the College of
Preceptors, provided Latin was included in the sub¬
jects of the examination for which the certificate
was awarded, and provided the certificate is dated
prior to January 1, 1881.

“ This authority is to extend to the meetings of the
Boards in December next and no longer.”

He briefly explained the necessity for the resolution, which
arose from the resolution which had been passed on the
previous month the effect of which was to exclude the
third class examinations of the College of Preceptors.

Mr. Symes said when the resolution came before the
Council last month he thought it was rather premature
and that it would have b?en better to have remitted the
subject to a Committee. It was certainly unfortunate
the Council should have been led into this dilemma, and
t^e question was, whether it was quite certain it was not
<• dug an injustice as well to some other body in a similar
manner. He was therefore rather inclined to think it
would be wise not to carry this resolution, but refer it to
a committee to see whether there were not any other
bodies excluded unwittingly who might be entitled to
make a similar protest.

Mr. Mackay asked what was the nature of this third
class examination.

The Vice-President explained that the difficulty was
that it only included a certain portion of the first bsok
of Caesar, whereas the Society’s Preliminary examination
included the whole of the first book, and he believed there
was also a slight difference in the arithmetic. He agreed
there might possibly have been improvement in the reso¬
lution of last month if the Council had postponed its
operation for a certain time ; but granting that, he did
not think it was any argument against the present reso¬
lution. If another difficulty arose next month he should
be prepared to move a similar resolution, but at the same
time he quite believed himself that no such difficulty
would arise.

The resolution was then carried.

Another communication was read from the Secretary
to the Nottingham and Notts Chemists’ Association,
informing the Council that that Association had agreed
to support the Bill clause by clause.

PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING.

Wednesday, April 6, 1881.

MR. THOMAS GREENISH, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR.

The sixth Evening Meeting of the Session was held on
Wednesday last, the chair being taken at half -past eight.

The minutes of the previons meeting having been read
and confirmed,

Mr. Postans rose to make a correction in respect to
the specimen of oil of aloes exhibited at the last meeting,
which should have been reported to have been sent by
Messrs. T. and H. Smith, of Edinburgh.

A paper was then read, entitled —

. “Wanika,” a New African Arrow Poison: its
Composition and Properties.

BY A. W. GERRARD.

This paper is printed on p. 833, and gave rise to the
following discussion : —

The Chairman said the meeting was much indebted to
Mr. Gerrard for the valuable paper he had just read,
which was one of a series of equally valuable papers with
which he had favoured them. The subject was one
which required further materials before definite results
could be arrived at. He should like to hear a few re¬
marks from Professor Bentley on the subject.

Professor Bentley said he had been much interested in
the paper, and by the way the poison had been investi¬
gated by Mr. Gerrard. He also felt great interest in the
physiological experiments of Dr. Ringer. Whether the
botanical source of the poison would turn out to be as
stated was, of course, a question which could only be
decided when sufficient specimens of the substances
used in its preparation were obtained. The source of
the poison could not be ascertained from a bit of the
root, and there was very little information as to the
plant from which it had been derived. The investiga¬
tion of these poisons might ultimately lead to important
results. In the paper, Mr. Gerrard had stated : “ Judging
from the taste of the roots forming the antidote, they
do not appear to possess any active property.” Now
that was the case with the Calabar bean, about which
very little was known, except that it was a poison,
until it was investigated by Sir Robert Christison. It
did not at all follow, because there was no special taste,
that the substance was a less intense poison, and therefor®
the only real test was the physiological action. He did
not understand Mr. Gerrard’s statement that he had but
little doubt, “ that the chief ingredient of the new poison
was a Strophanthus, either Strophanthus hispidus or Stro-
phanthus Kombe, natural order Apocynacese, thus closely
allied to the genus Strychnos” There was no very
close alliance between Strophanthus and Strychnos, al¬
though they belonged to neighbouring orders, both of which
contained many very poisonous plants. He hoped Mr.
Gerrard would continue his investigations, and, if possible,
obtain some good specimens of the plants from which the
poison was obtained, and it might lead to their obtaining,
as had been the case with many of these poisons, valuable
therapeutical agents. They must not be discouraged if
they did not get definite results at first.

Mr. Holmes then drew attention to the specimens of
Strophanthus follicles, referred to by Mr. Gerrard. These
were from the Hanbury collection. The poison spoken of
by Mr. Gerrard come from the east coast of Africa ; the
specimen before them came from the west coast, and was
collected by Dr. Baikie, during the Niger expedition, and
it was possible that the same species extended across the
continent and was used as a arrow poison by various
tribes. Professor Bentley had alluded to a distinction

A letter was read complaining of an infringement of
the Pharmacy Act1 at Aberdare, which was referred to
the General Purposes Committee.

A communication was read from the Honorary Secretary
to the Brighton Association of Pharmacy, enclosing the
following resolutions passed at a meeting of the Associa¬
tion, held in the Town Hall, March 11, 1881 : —

“ Resolved, that a communication be made to the
Pharmaceutical Council, in confirmation of an opinion
already expressed, that the 4th clause of the Pharmacy
Amendment Bill, 1881 (referring to the compulsory sale
of a business carried on by a widow, three years after
the death of her husband), is an unjust and unnecessary
infliction; and this meeting would urge the Council to
withdraw the clause in favour of the present 16 th clause
of the Act of 1868, which has hitherto worked satis¬
factorily.”

“ Resolved, that this meeting is of opinion that clause 1 5,
section 26, of the Medical Act (1858) Amendment Bill,
1881, introduced to supersede the 28th clause of the
Apothecaries Act, 1815, would fetter the free action of
the legitimate business of a chemist and druggist; that
this meeting would urge upon the Pharmaceutical Council
the necessity of watching the progress of the Bill, and if
desirable to employ counsel to oppose the introduction
of any clauses likely to interfere with public requirements
and the interests of the trade.”

850

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 9, 1881.

between the properties and characters of the Loganiaceee
and Apocynaceae. He, however, held the opinion that they
were not very widely separated in properties. The South
American species of Strychnos and Oelsemium sempervirens
both appeared to possess a somewhat similar action to
the Strophanthus. Moreover the Gelsemium had been
placed by some botanists in the Apocynaceie and by
others, in the Loganiacese, He had on the table a speci¬
men of Tanghinia venenifera — the ordeal poison of
Madagascar ; he did not know exactly whether it had the
same poisonous character as the Strophanthus, but at all
events it was interesting as belonging to the same
natural order. Several plants belonging to the Apocy-
nacese appeared to be used in various parts of the world
a3 poisons. In Jamaica a powerful poison was obtained
from Urechites sviberecta — also an Apocynaceous plant.
This he believed had also a similar paralysing action.
The active principle had only a short time since been
described by Mr. J. J. Bowrey, in a paper read before the
Royal Society. Mr. Gerrard had spoken of the poisonous
action of the “ Wanika” when applied subcutaneously, and
he should like to know whether it had a similar effect when
taken internally. Of course, in studying poisons it was a
most important thing first to obtain a knowledge of physio¬
logical action, and then to find an antidote that might be
used when fighting with tribes who used these poisons.
He should like to know whether any experiments had
been made to see if atropine would act as an antidote, as
it had, he believed, an opposite action on the heart to
that of the “ Wanika ” poison.

Mr. Plowman inquired if Mr. Gerrard had tried
whether the glucoside when isolated was freely soluble
in a mixture of 20 volumes of alcohol and 30 volumes of
chloroform.

The Chairman then said that the paper had been a
very interesting one, but there appeared to be some
difficulties in connection with the matter, and what
appeared to him to be contradictions. According to Dr.
Ringer, the antidote possessed no value at all, whereas,
Mr. Eelkin said if applied within five minutes it was
successful. It was difficult to understand, how, when a
poison was injected subcutaneously, carbonized matter like
the antidote, taken by the stomach, could do any good. Mr.
Eelkin had stated that he had cut out the flesh in some
instances together with the arrows and had seen that nearly
all the poison had been absorbed, but he did not state
whether death had followed or not. He should like to see
some person who had seen the arrow shot, and the animal
die within a giyen time. There seemed to be a deal of
mystery about these arrow poisons which had not been
cleared up. They were much indebted to Mr. Gerrard,
and he hoped he would continue his investigations and
possibly he might arrive at some valuable result.

Mr. Gerrard in reply remarked that it was quite
true that the subject was surround e'd with much mystery,
and there were apparent contradictions, but as far as he
had been able to obtain materials he had brought them
before the Society for the purpose, if possible, of finding
out the truth. In answer to Mr. Holmes’s q uestion as to
the internal dose, the amount of the poison given inter¬
nally was about nine times larger than that given sub¬
cutaneously, and it had scarcely any poisonous effect —
there was simply vomiting and nausea produced. They
had not at present made any experiments to see whether
belladonna would act as an antidote. They believed that
the poison caused death ultimately by asphyxia, and it
might probably be that death could be retarded by perform¬
ing the operation of artificial respiration. That was the
conclusion arrived at from the post mortem appearances.
Dr. Ringer had used the glucoside in his experiments,
and the dose which acted as a poison to a frog was one-
fourth that of the extract. He had not tried whether the
glucoside was soluble again in the same solution, but he
should infer that it was. As to the efficacy of the anti¬
dote, Mr. Eelkin had expressed himself decidedly in its
favour, but it was possible he was mistaken. He was

sorry that he was not there to explain the matter, but he
had been prevented from attending by another engagement.

Professor Redwood then brought to the notice of the
meeting a small balance, made by Mr. Stone, of Glou¬
cester Street, Queen Square, which he considered much
more suitable for pharmaceutical purposes than the scales
generally used. What was wanted was a small balance,
which could be used in all important cases, for weighing
out the active principles now employed" in medicine, such
as strychnia, where great . accuracy was required in ad¬
justing doses, and which would not be too expensive.
The balance before him, as then, adjusted, was sensible to
the one-hundredth of a grain, but by a simple arrange¬
ment the centre of gravity could be altered so as to make
it sensible to the fiftieth of a grain, and by an alteration
of the bearings to the twentieth of a grain. As the
great difficulty in the way of introducing more accurate
instruments arose from the cost, he felt perfectly justi¬
fied in drawing attention to this balance, which was
especially adapted for pharmaceutical purposes, and
which could be obtained for 35s. It was quite notorious
that the weights generally sold for dispensing purposes
were very inaccurate, and he knew from experience that
nearly all the weights used by pharmacists were in¬
correct to an extent which was perfectly unjustifiable.
He thought it was the duty of pharmacists to endeavour
bring to about an alteration in that respect, as there was
no reasm why the weights used for dispensing purposes
should not be as accurate as those used for analytical
purposes.

The Chairman thought abalance accurate to the tenth or
twentieth of a grain would be a great boon to pharmacists,
but those hitherto offered had been very expensive. It
would be an advantage to have the beam and pillar
nickel plated, and the weights of aluminium, as they
would not oxidize, and would therefore continue accurate
for a much longer time.

Mr. Allchin asked whether he understood Professor
Redwood to say that these balances should be used for
ordinary dispensing, as it would take a much longer time
to dispense powders and pills with them than with
scales which were not so sensitive.

Professor Redwood said that a balance sensitive to the
hundredth part of a grain would not be suitable for ordi¬
nary dispensing purposes. He agreed with the Chairman
that a balance sensitive to the tenth or twentieth of a
grain would be sufficient for ordinary purposes ; but there
were many cases (such, for instances, as where solutions'
had to be made for subcutaneous applications), where it
was of the utmost importance that both sensitive balances
and accurate weights should be used. He had had some
experience in dispensing, and he did not contend for the
use of a balance of that description to the entire exclu¬
sion of the ordinary dispensing scales, where a dispenser
had become used to the latter. He believed, however,
that ultimately they would come to the replacement of
the ordinary hand scales by balances of that description,
which could be kept in better order and were more uni¬
formly suitable for pharmaceutical purposes. He saw no
reason why every pharmacist should not be provided with
a balance suitable for use in all cases requiring a delicate
instrument. With reference to weights, they were often
so inaccurate that 5 grain weights weighed 6 or even 7
grains. He had no idea of the extent of the inaccuracy
of the weights supposed to be adjusted, until recently.
He had been obliged to reject hundreds, because he found
them very inaccurate and such as could not be sanctioned
by law. He had every reason to believe that the law would
be made more stringent as those in authority became
aware of the extent of the evil which, existed.

Mr. Plowman wished to join in a protest against-
the idea that accuracy was not required in pharmacy,
and would welcome the introduction of a balance which
would weigh accurately. In some cases he had been
obliged to use a chemical balance, but it was very

April 0, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

851

inconvenient to do tljis and took up considerable time.
He had tested some weights and found them as much as
30 per cent. out.

Mr. Postans said he supposed that the object of
bringing that balance before the meeting was not for the
purpose of leading them to believe that all other scales
were useless. The hand scales answered exceedingly
well for ordinary dispensing, but there were times when
the fractional parts of grains were required and for that
purpose a more delicate instrument was wanted.

Mr. Allen inquired what was the difference between
I the delicacy of the ordinary hand scale and the present
balance.

Professor Redwood replied that the ordinary hand
scales could be made so as to turn to the one-fourth of a
grain or the one -fifth of a grain, but it was very rarely
indeed that any could be found affording indications even
“to that extent, and there were too many of them, he was
sorry to say, which were not sensitive even to half a
grain.

A gentleman inquired whether the object of having
, stamped weights was not that they might be relied upon.

Professor Redwood was sorry to say that their being
stamped was no guarantee of their reliability. There
were some inspectors who had passed such as were very
defective.

The Chairman believed that if pharmacists supplied
themselves with accurate instruments, so as to show the
public that prescriptions would be prepared with greater
accuracy by trained pharmacists than by others, it would
be a great advantage to themselves.

Mr. Gerrard suggested that some rules should be
laid down as to the scales to be used for dispensing pur¬
poses. Where the doses did not exceed five grains, he
thought a balance accurate to a tenth of a grain should
be used. Where the dose was from five grains to sixty
grains, a balance accurate to one-fourth of a grain, and
for large quantities, a balance accurate to a single grain.
In making up doses for physiological purposes it was
essential that a very accurate balance should be used, as
a fraction of a grain would make the greatest difference
in physiological action.

Mr. Holmes then called attention to the specimens
j on the table which he said clearly showed that their
friends abroad had not forgotten the Society at home.
Dr. Dymock, who had long been a most liberal contri¬
butor to the museum, had sent them several specimens,
among others, the ginger plant, for the herbarium, which
was rarely seen in flower at Bombay. In this plant, as
in others of the same order, the flowers were borne on a
scape arising directly from the rhizome, and not on the
ordinary leafy stem. Another specimen was a kind of
peppermint, cultivated at Bombay, for yielding oil of
peppermint. This plant had nearly sessile leaves, and
the flowery spikes were long and tapering, like those
of Mentha sylvestris , being thus quite different to those
of peppermint. In China the oil of peppermint was
obtained from another species of mint, which bo-
tanically was allied to the Mentha arvensis. It
•was interesting to find a plant so nearly approaching
the Mentha sylvestris as this Bombay plant, yield¬
ing such an oil. Dr. Dymock had also sent a speci¬
men of the oil of the Nardostachys Jataman'si, specially
prepared for him by Messrs. Kemp and Co., of Bom¬
bay. It had an odour somewhat resembling valerian
And tea combined, and not' a particularly pleasant one.
This plant had been stated to be the spikenard of Scrip¬
ture, which, in his opinion, was more likely to have
been the ginger grass, the oil of which was a marketable,
And in other countries an expensive, article of commerce,
while the oil of Nardostachys was not in commerce, he
beleived. He had also sent a specimen of the oil of
Naregamia alata. Naregamia (data was a drug used by
the Portuguese, at Goa, in doses of 12 to 20 grains, as
An emetic, and did not possess the property of producing

tightness of breath and other disagreeable symptoms
which were induced in some persons by ipecachuanha.
He had also sent some Indian henbane seed. It had
occurred to him (Mr. Holmes) that henbane grown in
India might be more powerful than that grown in this
country, and he had inquired of Dr. Dymock, who said
he did not know, but had forwarded some seeds for
experiment. He had sufficient to distribute small quan¬
tities for growing purposes, and should be happy to give
some of those seeds to anyone who would like to grow the
plant to see whether it was superior to our own. Next he
would call attention to a few specimens sent by Baboo .
Ram Chundra Dutta, second assistant to the Professor
of Chemistry at the Calcutta Medical College. A letter
had been received from Professor Warden, in which he
says : — “ A few mails ago, the second assistant in my
laboratory, Baboo Ram Chundra Dutta, forwarded to
your address, per Overland Parcel Post, a small box con¬
taining the following articles : — Bark of W right ia antidy-
senterica , or Kurchi bark ; False Kurchi bark, e.g., bark
of Strychnos I\ ux- vom ica ; Kurchicine, an alkaloid con¬
tained in Kurchi bark ; Indrayava, or the seeds of Kurchi
oil extracted from the seeds. The Baboo wishes you to
offer the above mentioned drugs for the acceptance of the
Museum Committee. The existence of an alkaloid in
Kurchi bark appears to have been forgotten, and none
of the authorities on Indian drugs make any men¬
tion of it; Baboo Ram Chundra Dutta, therefore, de¬
serves the credit of having re-discovered kurchicine.'’
With regard to that alkaloid it was described in the
Journal of February last, and was said to be not inferior
to quinine in its antifebrile, action. He might mention
that one reason these seeds had not been largely used
in this country was that in the bazaars in India there
was to be found another seed, that of Wrightia tinctoria,
known as sweet anderjow, not having the same action
and without bitterness. The bark of this tree also was
sometimes substituted for the true drug. Kurchi bark
and seeds were valuable in fever as a tonic, and in
dysentery, and deserved a trial in this country as the
alkaloid was stated to be not inferior to quinine in
activity. A number of the specimens on the table had
been lent by the Rev. Mr. Peake, who had been a mis¬
sionary in Madagascar. First was a horn used by 'the
natives of that island in one of their ceremonies on
New Year’s Day. An infusion of bitter grasses and
honey was put into the horn, and in the ceremony of
blessing the people they were sprinkled with the infusion.
There was a specimen of grave cloth, used for wrapping
round the dead before burial, which was dyed with a
yellow bark. Some years ago, that bark came to this
country under the name of Mongumo bark, and was
then supposed to possess a medicinal character. It
yielded a brick-red dye, and rendered the material
almost indestructible. Next was a specimen of the
root of the tapioca plant. There was also a pair of scales
and weights used by the natives of Madagascar, in
connection- with their materia medica. " The weights
appeared to be made of iron. For grain weights they
used ordinary grains of rice with the husk on, two
of them being considered equal to an ordinary grain
weight. Mr. Peake had also lent a specimen of the
ordeal poison of Madagascar, and stated that the native
Government of that island had issued a proclamation
forbidding its use. The last time the poison was used the
fines imposed amounted to 7000 dollars. Not only the
person using the poison was fined, but also the entire
community where the poisoning occurred. There were two
earthenware pots, such as were employed in the ordinary
preparation of medicine, a larger pot, used by the ladies of
Madagascar to hold pomatum, and a horn spoon, by which
the pomatum was extracted, a brush and comb combined,
made of fibre, and a tobacco pouch ; the tobacco, coarsely
powdered, being sucked between the lower lip and the
front teeth. Referring to other specimens, he was sorry
to say they indicated that adulteration of drugs was still

852 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [April 9, issi. .

carried on. A sample of liquid styrax when brought
to him appeared to be pure, only weaker in odour than
usual ; but after heating it, it gave off a decided odour
of resin. When worked in water, it had somewhat the
consistency of plaster, and seemed quite different from
the ordinary drug. Dissolved in spirit, it gave a dark
coloration with ferric salts. The genuine remained
uncoloured. The specimen of false sassafras on the
table seemed to consist of chips of some other wood
slightly perfumed with sassafras. The crystals of iodocya-
nide of mercury and potassium before them were prepared
by Mr. W. Copney, who also prepared the beautiful crystals
of alum in the museum. Mr. Copney said, with reference
to this specimen, “ although under ordinary circumstances
unchangeable (that presented was prepared in 1851), the
affinities of its constituents are of the feeblest : very
weak acids sufficing to reduce it to the red iodide.
Exceptions to this are the hydriodic and hydrocyanic
acids, for the latter of which it thus becomes a delicate
test. It is soluble in water, 1 in 25, 60° F. Thera¬
peutically it should be of value as an external appli¬
cation, but the determination of this must be left to the
medical pratitioner.” Lastly there was a specimen of
resorcin presented by Mr. Martindale, which was per¬
fectly white and pure. He had seen somewhere an
interesting account of this substance, and one sugges¬
tion made was that it should be used in the form of a
stick as a substitute for nitrate of silver, because it did
not discolour the skin, but formed a white scar instead of
a black one.

Mr. Jackson then made a few observations on some of
the specimens.

Ijmerimtjjs af Scientific Societies.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

Faraday Lecture.

A crowded audience of Fellows and visitors assembled
at the Royal Institution, on Tuesday, April 5, to hear the
Faraday lecture.

It was delivered by Professor Helmholtz —

On the Modern Development of Faraday's Conception of
Electricity.

The President of the Society, Dr. Roscoe, occupied the
chair.

The lecturer first referred to the exactness and preci¬
sion of the words of Faraday, and the way in which, by a
kind of intuition, he arrived at a large number of general
theories, without the aid of mathematics. The great
fundamental problem which Faraday called up anew for
discussion was the existence of forces working directly at
a distance without any intervening medium. He saw, with
wonderful sagacity, how, by the systems of tensions and
pressures produced by the dielectric and magnetic polari¬
zation of the space which surrounds electrified bodies,
etc., all the phenomena of electrostatic, magnetic and
electromagnetic attraction, repulsion and induction could
be explained without having recourse to forces acting at
a distance. The lecturer then turned to the second fun¬
damental problem aimed at by Faraday, the connection
between electric and chemical force. Faraday’s experi¬
ments contradicted the theory of Berzelius that the
quantity of electricity collected in atoms was dependent
on their mutual electro-chemical differences, and proved
the truth of the well-known law of definite electrolytic
action. Since that time, our . methods of observing and
measuring electrical phenomena have enormously im¬
proved ; currents which would require a century to
decompose a milligram of water can be very well
observed. Kohlrausch has proved that in dilute solu¬
tions of salt, etc., every atom under the influence of
currents of the same density moves on with its own

peculiar velocity, independently of other atoms, the
total amount of chemical motion being represented by
the sum of the equivalents of the cation gone forwards-
and the anion gone backwards. This established, Fara¬
day’s law tells us that the same definite quantity of either
positive or negative electricity moves always with each
univalent ion. The most startling conclusion from this is
that if elements are composed of atoms, electricity also„
both positive and negative, is divided into definite ele¬
mentary portions, which behave like atoms of electricity.
Now, it can be shown that electrolytic conduction is not
limited to solutions of acids and salts, but that solid
bodies, such as glass, behave like electrolytes. The
lecturer then proceeded to consider the forces which
produce these motions, and showed how enormous was
the quantity of electricity, as measured by its electro¬
static force, required to decompose a small quantity of
water ; thus the electricity of 1 milligram of water-
separated and communicated to two balls 1 kilometre:
distant would produce an attraction between them equal
to 25,000 kilos. From various considerations we are-
driven to the conclusion that the motion of the ions. <
through the interior of the liquid is resisted solely by
the mutual attractions of the electrical charges of the
ions. As soon as the ions are to be separated from their
electrical charges the current meets with a powerful
resistance, the overpowering of which requires much
work. The lecturer then surveyed the mutual relations
between heat, electricity and chemical action, and stated,
as the facts leave no doubt, that the mightiest of che¬
mical forces are of electric origin. He concluded, with
Faraday, that the forces termed chemical affinity and S
electricity are one and the same.

CBmspilbeita.

“ Ferrum." — We think that as “Spiritus” is the more
important word of the two it should be taken as indicating
the intention of the prescriber.

0. A. S. — The principle to be followed in dispensing a
mixture where quinine is thrown out of solution has been
laid down several times in connection with the ‘ * Dispensing 2
Memoranda.” See before, p. 798.

G. W. F. — Sulphide of calcium is used as a remedy for
boils, a tenth of a grain being given hourly or every two or
three hours. It is said not only to cure existing boils, but
to prevent the formation of fresh ones.

A. Oldfield. — D' Unger's Formula for Tinct. Cinchon.
Rub. — Red cinchona bark powdered and exhausted with
proof spirit, so that one ounce of fluid shall contain the
active principles of one ounce of the bark.

W. Barron. — There is considerable difference of opinion
as to the proper strength for Tincture of Gelsemium. See
the discussion reported in the present volume, before, pp.

242 and 243.

Ignoramus. — Probably the name is a misreading for
“ apomorphia.”

R. S. T. — Ruspini’s Styptic, according to Gray, is “ said
to be a solution of gallic acid in spirit, scented with rose.”

Nabob is recommended to apply to the Secretaries of the
respective societies.

Q. Ray. — We are not acquainted with such a work.

Associate. — Cooley gives the following recipe for a storm
glass solution ; — Camphor, 2 dr. ; nitre, 1* dr. ; sal am¬
moniac, 1 dr. ; proof spirit, 2£ fl. oz. ; dissolve.

Student. — We are unable to say; the subject is one for
experiment.

J. F. H, — The fountain is not a continuous one, but when
properly constructed, to use the words of the writer to
whom you refer, it “ lasts some time.”

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Dyer, Hunter, Robinson, Covell, Verity, lllings-
worth, Young, Lees, Brown, Craig, King, Reynor, Buckley,
John, One who has been Sold, Nabob, Ignoramus, Eardley,

Apy ill 6, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

853

A MALAGASY MATERIA MEDICA.

Both archseologically and medically, the medicines
and other remedies used by the natives oi any
country (especially those of countries so little
known as Madagascar) are a matter of interest to
Europeans, especially as we owe the greater number
of our most powerful remedies to the often unwritten
pharmacopoeias of other countries. Erom the
following list of Malagasy remedies, drawn up by
Dr G W. Parker, a medical missionary sent out by
the London Missionary Society, it will be seen
that (as might be expected) the Malagasy doctors
are herbalists, and that, while many of their
remedies are useless or even disgusting, there is some
wheat among the chaff. Where specimens were sent
the plants have been identified at Kew, by Mr. J.

G Baker, and the result has been placed at our dis¬
posal by the Assistant Director, Mr. W. T. Thiselton
Dyer. * Although a few European remedies appear in
this list, yet only their peculiarly native use is given,
while the rest are purely native remedies :

1. Sprains and Dislocations.

Marovelo (a plant).— Scraped.— Infusion drunk.

2. Broken Bones.

Har&to. — Splints made of split bamboo or anything
else at hand, applied to the limb, then bandaged.

3. Manddlo (Colic).

Atsoro (root of a plant).— Chewed, and saliva

swallowed. , _ , , ,

Lavaravina [a species of Rumex.]— Pounded leaves.

— Infusion drunk.

Voanantsindrana (“Cape Gooseberry. _ )— [Physalis
peruviana]. — Pounded leaves. — Infusion drunk.

4. Recent Sores.

Soot ; iron filings ; scrapings of a cow’s horn.— Any
of these applied to the sore, dry.

Nifinakanga [Zornia diphylla; Commelma mada
oascarica sent also with the same 'name]; bofmto
tozimaniry.— Entire plants.— Infusion drunk.
“Cape-Lilac” [Melia azederacli] leaves; Alum.—
Boiled together.— As a lotion for the sore.

5. Accidentally drinking an Insect called Tsingdla.

Soot.— Mixed with water.— Drunk.

Harahara (Lignum Yitse (1)).— Scraped and infused.
— Drunk.

6. Angatra ( Gonorrhoea ).

Yoafbtsy [Aphloia theseformis]. — Leaves. — Any
bitter tasted plant. — Made into decoctions.
Drunk. Evohana mafana, or warm water vapour

btitlife*

7. M&nirdno (Ascites).

Yoafotsy [Aphloia theseformis]. — Leaves. — Made
into a decoction. — Drunk.

8. Vdankdnina (Indigestion).

Rovy (said to purge).— Infusion.— Drank.
S6ngos6ngo [Euphorbia splendens.] Vavoroka (Vahy

Vorakai).— These two plants, poisonous in any
but very small doses, are given by guess. Decoc¬
tions or infusions. — Drunk.

T&nat&nana (Castor oil seeds).— Boiled in water.

Drunk.

9. Bdnatra : Vdy (Abscesses).

Pounded Rice mixed with Chillies. Hofika (fruit) .
scraped or pounded. Y oriravina (leaves) . clioppec
Third Series, No. 564.

up. F&ntsiiiakdholMiy (leaves) : broiled over a
fire. — Any of these as poultices.

10. Tdmboka.(A disease peculiar to animals).

Turmeric. — Pounded.

F^ntsinakohol^hy (a plant). — As decoction. — Drunk
by the diseased animal.

Tanatanana [flowers of the castor oil plant, Ricinus
communis]. — ?.

Tamdnakatodiakoho. —

11. Hdzaka (Eczema).

Taimbltsy (a tree) [Psorospermum sp.].— As decoc¬
tion. — As a lotion.

12. Tsevo-drano (Onychia).

Alum and Chilies. — Mixed and wetted. As poul¬
tice. . u.

Red Vdamanga (a plant). — Scraped. — As a poultice.

Kapllam-boatavo (dried gourd rind). Scraped. ■

As a poultice. . . ,

Hdry (root of a plant).— Skin scraped off— Rubbed

on the finger.

13. Kitrotro (Measles) Neudram bdaldvo ■ (Chicken

Pox), Bdmbdnyl.

Talmborontsiloza.— Entire plant powdered, boiled ia
an earthern pot, and then used as a vapour-bath.
Evohana akdho. — A fowl cut up, and treated m the
same way as the Taimborontsiloza above.

14. Nendra (Small pox).

Fowls. — As diet: vc ,

Yoasary (Lemon or orange leaves) ; Fane fit ra (a
plant). — These two, boiled together in an earthern

pot, are used as a vapour-bath. # .

Note, — The Fanefitra is equally a protective against
small pox, if a piece of it, tied to a bit of stiing,
is worn hung round the neck ; but of course you
must not use also “the foreigner s charm, i.e., \ac-
cination .

15. Kibdy (Bubo).

TaimW (iron slag pounded), 1 part ; Fi^-pary (chewed
sugar cane), 2 parts.— Mixed, then burned together.

_ As poultice or as ointment with lard added.

Lemon juice.— Either simply expressed and used as
a lotion or slices not squeezed applied to the boil

or sore.

16. Tety ; Fdrasisa (Condylomata and other
Syphilitic Tumours).

Hanidraisoa (leaves and root) ; Autsointsoma (leaves).
Zaliana [Phyllarthron Bojenanum] (leaves)
Lavaravina (whole plant). Bongo (leaves and
root) . — Fresh leaves "bruised, or dried leaves burned
to ashes.— As poultices ~ .

M&hat&nilndo (entire plant). —As decoction.— Drunk.
Tslav&ramonina (leaves and root).— As decoction
(first mixed with Hanidraisoa. Diunk.

Tsin§OTE:!— This last is said to be the most efficacious
remedy for syphilis.

17. Kifdngo (Carbuncle).

Fotsiavkdika [Gnaphalium luteo-album, Helichry sum
sp.] (entire plant).-Burned to ash.-Mixed with
lard as ointment.

18. Hdtina (Scabies).

Dingadingana [Jussiaea repens].— Pounded fresh.—

Ang^vodlaiia (a tree) [Agauria salicifolia.].— Decoc¬
tion. — As a lotion.

854

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 16 1881.

Tambftsy (root) [Psorospermum sp.l. Harongana
(a tree) [Haronga paniculata]. — Pounded. — As
poultices.

19. Tanddmotra { Urticaria ).

Rkdriatra (a plant) [Antliospermuni plicatum.] —
Boiled and used as a vapour-bath.

20. Anga-drdno { Scurf or psoriasis on the head).
Mdita: boiled in 'water. Ox-gall: mixed with
water. — As hair washes.

21. Olitra {Toothache).-

•Alum; Ginger; Soot; Chilies; Tobacco; Sulphate
of Copper. — Any one or more of these used for
plugging the hole in the tooth (the ginger being
chewed first).

22. Tsdkodhina {Hiccough).

The patient is startled by a sudden noise or move¬
ment.

23. Stumbling .

The injured or bruised part is urinated upon by
another person.

24. Cuts and Bruises .

Zozdro [Cyperus papyrus.] — Burnt to ashes. — Used
as an ointment, mixed with lard.

25. Mahbry mivdlana ; Manehitra {Diarrhoea).

Hardngana [Haronga paniculata]. Guava [Psidium
pomiferum]. Voandnoka, Kelifodra. — jbeaves of
any of these. — As decoctions. — Drunk.

26. Mivdlan-drd {Dysentery and Dysenteric
Diarrhoea).

Y61omb5dipdna [Dyospyros sp.] (ebony chips).
Harongana (leaves). [Haronga paniculata]. Yolom-
borona (leaves or chips) : “borona” is Tetradenia
fruticulosa. Any of these as decoctions. — Drunk.

27. Tsy mivdlana {Constipation).

Ginger rhizomes. — Scraped, wetted with water. — As
a poultice to the nates.

28. Rohana {. Rheumatism , Gout and Periostitis).

Fandrotrarana [Cynodon Dactylon] (entire plant).
Sodifaf&na leaves. — Either of these pounded,
soaked in cold water early in the morning and
used as poultice.

Note.— Rbhana is also the term used to describe the
state of a child which ought to be able to walk,
but does not. The remedy for the child’s disease
is to bury him (or her) in sand up to the waist, in
order to frighten the child into moving his legs.

29. Pia {Pains of childbirth).

Ydanbnoka (leaves). Sampivato (leaves). Voatavo
(leaves of any cucurbitaceous plant). — Any of
these as decoctions. — Drunk.

30. Bbvohoka mandoa {Vomiting of pregnancy).

Sirampatana (the white ashes from the hearth. —
Eaten.

T&vimbililnitany. — Black earthern plate (not very
tough), either pounded roughly or eaten just as
it is.

31. Midlana am-pandrlana {Stiffness of the muscles
of the neck , due to lying too long in one position).

(The stiffened muscles must be rubbed by some
person who is known to be one of a pair of twins.
.No other person will do.

32. Accidentally drinking tsibdbdka {tadpoles).

Soap. — Scraped and made into suds with water. —
Drunk.

33. Tor ana tdmpoka {a sudden feeling of faintness).

Onions ; Turmeric ; any alcoholic liquor. — The two
former are pounded, then spirit added. — Drunk.

Note. — This remedy is said to be equally efficaciou8
without the spirit (most Malagasy would prefer
the spirit alone).

31. Mardrin-drdno dmy ny vdva {Sores on the lips ,
causing dribbling of saliva).

Salt. — Chewed, and saliva allowed to flow over the
sores.

Banana (leaves). — Dried ash mixed with suet. — As a
poultice.

35. Manbvika {Neuralgic pains).

Iron filings. — Drunk with water or used as a poul¬
tice.

36. Anakdndro : Hodi-mena {Leprous spots in the

skin).

Tsivdangivy. — Angivy is Solanum Indicum, or
Melongena. — Juice to be squeezed out upon the
skin.

Harkndro (entire plant). — ?

Atdditsindr&no (eggs of a green grasshopper). — Kill
the animal by pulling off its head, then squeeze
out its eggs upon the skin.

37. Panda { Freckles , Sunburning).

Sulphur and lard. — Mixed. — As an ointment.

Mango tree resin. Rditra hazo, the juice which ex¬
udes from several kinds of wood used as fuel. —
Either of these simply rubbed on the face.

38. Tambavy {a vague term for any disease in a

child).

Frog-soup. — Drunk by the child.

Note. — The proper animal from which the soup
should be made is a large toad of a brown colour,
about 8 inches in length, called “ Shmba-kaka.”
The efficacy of this frog-soup seems to be due to
the difficulty of procuring this animal !

39. Teha-dolo {Swollen Eyelids).

The swollen eye is gently slapped several times with
the corner of a cloth ; this remedy acting on the
homoeopathic principle 11 like cures like,” a slap from
the wing of a ghost being the supposed cause of this
disease.

40. Mdso voalay {any foreign body entering the eye
and there setting up irritation).
Fandrotr&rana [Cynodon Dactylon] (entire plant).
Anainamy [Solanum nodiflorum] (young stalks). —
The closed eye is gently rubbed with either of
these remedies.

41. Headache .

M&favt) (a plant). — Leaves smoked J.u a pipe.

42. Sore Throat.

Anamamy [Solanum nodiflorum, Jacq.] (entire plant).
Fiandrilavenona [Malva sylvestris]. — Either of
these pounded, mixed with honey, and eaten.

43. Ngorongbsy {Jaundice).

Turmeric or Rice. — Boiled in milk. — Eaten.
Yoaketsihetsy (leaves). — Infusion or decoction. —
Drunk (purgative).

Tsikobokobondanitra (entire plant. — Infusion or de¬
coction.— Drunk.

April 16, 1881.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

855

44. Tdzo (. Malarial Fever).

MMavd (entire plant or leaves).— Smoked m a pipe.
Nlfinakknga [Zornia diphylla] (entire plant).
Kiranj ay (entire plant). Landemo (leaves). —De¬
coctions. — Drunk.

45. Kdukana ( Round Intestinal Worms ).
Taimborontsiloza. Kodladlavdrona [Oxalis corni-
culatal. Kotrokotrobata [Kitchmgia n. sp.J.—
Pounded and infused, or as decoctions. Drun .
Yoatamenaka (a fruit).— Roasted and pounded, or
scraped. — Eaten. .

Tant^rakala. — Decoction. — Drunk.

]\J0TE. _ “The first of these I know to be efficient ; the

fourth is also much used ; but the fifth is said to be
the most certainly successful.”

46. Fordna (after Circumcision).

Oil of any sort.— Simply rubbed on the cut surface.
Villantsahona. — Infusion or decoction as a lotion tor
tbe cut surface.

47. KdhaJca (Cough).

Sanatry (fresh).— Scraped into water and drunk
Tbho (a fish).— A quantity of these are boiled in
water, with some ginger, and the water drunk.

48. Kdhaka Idvaremy (Whooping Cough).
Aferont&ny [Mollugo nudicaulis]. — Decoctions*—

Drunk.

49. Mdmpiempaka (Blistering Remedies).

T6ngotramb6abe (Bruised fresh leaves.) Songosongo
[Euphorbia splendens] (Juice). — As local appli¬
cations to part to be blistered.

2j0TK. _ “The former I have seen to blister quite as

well as cantharides plaster ; the latter is nearly as
efficacious.”

50. Vdtsy (Warts).

Trabotrabokena.— The lungs of an animal (usually
of an ox) crushed, and applied raw to the wart.

51. Angamdty (> Strangury , Partial Suppression of

Urine .

Banana fruit: one slice roasted; Voanantsindrana
TPhysalis peruviana] (fruit) : crushed.— Mix, boil
together and eat. Follow up this draught with
another draught, composed of one fowl’s egg beaten
up in milk, and boiled, then drunk.

Vdafdtsy (leaves); [Aphloia thearformis]. — R.
Voafotsy leaves, h pint; water, 1£ pints.— Boil
till water equals $ pint only ; then drink at one
draught.

Names and Supposed Properties of the Chief
Hova “ Ody ” or Charms.”

1 povy ?— If an infusion or decoction be drunk it
will cure colic and indigestion.

2. San&try (stalk of a climbing plant).— This will
prevent you- from being killed by another man s
a cfiarms.”

3. Mandr&vas&rotra : “remover of difficulties” (bark
of a plant).— Usually taken along with No. 1 above,
as both have the same action.

4. Fan&lasompatra. — Acts like Nos. 1 and 3.

5* Al&kamlsy (chips of yellow wood).— Acts like

Nos. 1 and 3.

6. SSnasffiia ?— Action unknown.

7. Hblat&fa. — Action unknown.

8. Tsilaltra “unbearable.”— Action unknown.

9. Manavodrevo. — Action unknown.

10. Voantangena [Tanghinia venenifera (fruit)].—

Used in the “Ordeal by Tanghena; ” described in
Ellis’s ‘ History of Madagascar.’

11. Fandfitra. — Tied to a bit of string, and hung
round the neck ; this will keep off small pox.

12. Kisdmpy (the stalk of a plant). 13. F&naz&va
“ enlightener.’’ — The former has a bitter taste ; but
both have the same property of enlightening your
road in the dark.

14. Rais&onjo “father of an arum.’’ — This, added
to any other “ charm,”, neutralizes the effects com¬
pletely.

15. Odyf&dy (what one might call “essence of
common sense.” — This will prevent you from eating
or drinking whatever is not good for you.

16. Mamdnjy “saving.”— To save anything from
being lost by yourself or by any other person, or to
save any person from any accident or calamity, you
drink this.

17. Hitzo-m&nga “ blue wood.” — Called also “ the
grandfather of all charms.” Tied to the horns of
cattle it wards off cattle diseases.

18. M&nanj&ra “having a share.” — Called “the
strongest charm,” because it is a very hard wood ;
used for making walking sticks, idols, etc.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A CLOSER KNOW¬
LEDGE OF SOME LITTLE KNOWN
LEAVES*

BY DR. HEINRICH PASCHKIS.

II. HENNA LEAVES AND POWDER FROM
LAWSONIA' ALBA.

Under the name “henna al henna” (“chenna”) a
powder is used by Persians, Arabs and Egyptians, as
a cosmetic, which I have submitted to a close investi¬
gation. . „

For this purpose I used three specimens, one ot
which had been for a long time in the Pharmacolo¬
gical Institute of Vienna ; another had been recently
sent there by Dr. Polak; the third was kindly
furnished to me by Professor Dr. J. Neumann (the
last was obtained from the Persian Embassy). All
three specimens corresponded with one another both
in appearance and ffiicroscopical features. The henna
powder is greenish-brown, tolerably uniform, feeling
somewhat sandy between the fingers. In the glass
vessels in which it has been preserved for a long time
it has acquired upon the surface, under the influence
of light, a reddish tinge. Microscopically examined
it was recognized as a powder of Lawsonia leaves
rendered somewhat impure by forameniferous sand.
The general elementary forms which are described
subsequently, as well as entire leaves and abundant
crystals of oxalate of lime, were also found m it. #

Of the leaves themselves I have had two kinds
before me : one coming from Persia, the other from
the French colony of Senegal ; the former was placed
at my disposal by Herr Professor Vogl, the latter by
Dr. Moeller. The Persian leaves correspond with,
two herbarium specimens of Lawsonia alba , Lam.
(L spinosa and L. inermis, Linn.) in the Pharmaco¬
logical Institute in Vienna, and with those oi L.

* Reprinted from the “ Zeitschrift ” of the Austrian
Pharmaceutical Association, and _ communicated by the
author, to whose courtesy we are indebted for the use of
the wood engravings illustrating the paper.

856

THE F’HARMAUEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 16, 1881.

spinosa, except some variation in the size. The
Senegal leaves are only distinguishable from the
others by being larger (1 to 2 centimetres longer).
The Persian leaves are ovate, acute, mucronate,
disappearing at the base into the short petiole.
•In length they attain 2 centimetres; their greatest
breadth is 1 centimetre. The margin is entire, some¬
what revolute. The coriaceous shining upper surface
is greenish-brown ; the under side is rather lighter
coloured. There is one principal nerve, the lateral
nerves anastomosing not far from the margin.

The epidermis of the upper side consists of polygo¬
nal cells, crowded together, leaving between them an
extraordinary number of stomata. Among the epi¬
dermis cells occur, in tolerable abundance, but irregu¬
larly distributed, single cells which are remarkable
on account of their size (0-033 mm. by 0-018) and the
strongly refracting property of their contents (muci¬
lage). These appear equally striking in a transverse
gection of the leaf. The mesophyll consists under
the upper surface of. a double palisade layer, and
below that of cells containing chlorophyll crowded
together. (Fig. 12 and 13). Among these cells occur

ggam am

Fig. 12. Lawsonia alba. Transverse section.

Fig. 13. Upper surface.

numerous rosettes of oxalate of lime. The epider¬
mis of the under side scarcely differs from that of the
upper ; an almost equal number of stomata occur in
it. In solution of potash a section assumes uniformly
a beautiful yellow colour. Chloride of iron reveals
in the mesophyll a tannin turning green with salts of
iron ; the epidermis cells also, with the exception of
the before-mentioned protoplasm -cells, easily turn
green. The microscopic sugar test gives a negative
result ; as also treating with chloride of zinc, which
only colours the epidermis violet. Leaves kept a
long time in alcohol became a somewhat pale reddish
colour ; under the microscope, sections treated with
potash solution appeared of a very beautiful delicate
rose colour. The Senegal leaves scarcely differed in
structure from the others.

For the purpose of chemical investigation, 50 grams
of the powder were digested with 1 litre of water,
filtered, and the filtrate evaporated to dryness, form¬
ing a dry extract, dark brown in colour, bitter tasting,
and smelling of caramel ; a specimen gave sugar when

tested. A very small portion of the extract was
soluble in alcohol with a yellow-brown colour. In
ammonia the greater part was soluble, with a beauti¬
ful Malaga brown colour.

The residue from the treatment with water was
digested with 96 per cent, alcohol, filtered, the fil¬
trate concentrated by distillation, again filtered (the
residue consisting of black viscid drops, containing
wax and chlorophyll), and then evaporated in the
air. The supernatant water was poured off. The
fine granular wood-brown residue was afterwards
dissolved in hot alcohol ; after cooling, and remain¬
ing some time, another small quantity of odourless
and tasteless dark brown residue remained, which
behaved as described of the last residue. The last
alcoholic solution gave upon evaporation a brown
resinous mass, which in a suitable quantity of alcohol
was soluble with a golden brown colour, and could
be diluted with water, showing a slight turbidity.
It was decolorized by hydrochloric or nitric acid, and
became a very deep brown colour with solution of am¬
monia or soda. This substance was further scarcely
soluble in cold water, and only to a small extent in
hot water (the dirty yellow turbid solution being
coloured blackish-green with chloride of iron). In
benzine, carbon bisulphide, amylic alcohol, ether
and chloroform it was partially soluble, and in

?itroleum spirit and turpentine almost insoluble.

he alcoholic solution, diluted with water, gave the
following reactions: — With hydrochloric acid, an
opalescent turbidity; nitric acid, a yellowish tur¬
bidity ; chromic acid, a dirty yellow-brown turbidity;
caustic soda or ammonia solution, a clear dark Ma¬
laga brown ; stannic chloride, dirty greenish-yellow
rusty brown flocculent precipitate ; solution of alum,
a dirty yellow turbidity; chloride of iron, dark
greenish brown ; lime water, turmeric yellow, with
a slight brownish precipitate ; chloride of lime, light
yellow, with a slight brownish precipitate ; cyanide
of potassium, citron yellow, clear ; acetate of copper,
sea-green, with a slight red-brown precipitate.

Tliis last resinous mass and the above-mentioned
residue were washed frequently with hot water, and
then completely dissolved in boiling ether. Upon
the evaporation of the ether there was obtained a
very acrid mixture of two resins ; one an acrid soft
resin ; the other a hard resin, appearing under the
microscope in turmeric-yellow scales. The wash-
water, which was of a beautiful flesh red colour, con¬
tained tannin (coloured green with chloride of iron)
and colouring matter (becoming intensely brown
with ammonia or soda solution), the separation of
which in such small quantity was impracticable.

In a second experiment 25 grams of coarsely
powdered leaves were mixed with caustic lime, —
upon which they gave off a very disagreeable odour
resembling trimethylamine, — and dried. The pro¬
duct was digested with alcohol, filtered, the lime
precipitated with sulphuric acid, the liquid con¬
centrated by distillation, again filtered and soda
solution added to an alkaline reaction. A slight
turbidity resulted, and as the liquid did not clear, it
was shaken with amylic alcohol, and the greenish-
yellow solution in amylic alcohol evaporated. Placed
in a watch glass there shot out some very delicate
tufts and needles of brownish-yellow crystals, which
dissolved in water and separated again from the
aqueous solution in the same form. These crystals
were evidently only sodium salts, which separated
out from the water removed with the amylic alcohol.

April 16, 1S81.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

857

Lastly, 100 grams of powder* * * * § were digested with
potash solution and water with heat and the infusion
distilled. The water clear distillate showed distinctly
an alkaline reaction and had a very disagreeable
smell. It was reduced to one-half by redistillation
and the resulting strongly alkaline liquid was treated
with dilute sulphuric acid and evaporated upon a
water-bath. The liquid, at first water clear and
colourless, assumed upon warming a tint of rose
red, and at the close was of a brownish colour ; but
at this temperature it could not be brought to
dryness. Upon the advice of Professor Schneider,
the small quantity of liquid was neutralized with
potash solution, which caused considerable effer¬
vescence ; there was given off, at first, an indefinite
disagreeable (aromatic) odour, and then a clearly
ammoniacal pungent vapour, having a strongly
alkaline reaction. The liquid, diluted with distilled
water, was now again submitted to distillation, and
the vapour conducted into a well-cooled receiver
moistened with hydrochloric acid. A dense white
mist was developed. The distillate was then evapo¬
rated at a very low temperature upon a water-batli,
when there resulted a white deliquescent, faintly
ammoniacal smelling salt. A portion was dissolved
in a very small quantity of absolute alcohol, which
upon evaporation left it as a white deliquescent salt
similar to that previously obtained. A portion of
this latter product treated with solution of potash
gave off at first a penetrating fishy smell, which was
very similar to that of trimethylamine, gradually
passing into a pure ammoniacal odour. The solu¬
tion with caustic potash became, after standing a few
minutes, a delicate rose colour. These phenomena
I think I may refer to a volatile, easily decom¬
posable amine base, if not directly to trimethyl¬
amine. The preparation of it in a pure state and in
sufficient quantity and its analysis being impractic¬
able with the small quantity of material at my dis¬
posal, I reserve its further investigation until subse¬
quently.

Henna has been in use among orientals from the
most ancient times until the present day for colour¬
ing the finger nails, the soles of the teet and palms
of the hands ; also the points of the beard and the
hair. As to the method of producing the dye statements
differ. According to a communication made to me
orally the powder is stirred with water to make a
paste and this is spread directly upon the place to be
coloured, which is thus tinged orange-red. Experi¬
ments that I have made upon myself lead me to
doubt the activity of a paste so prepared. My
finger was only soiled, but not coloured. With
some alkali, however, I obtained, not a yellow or a
red, but a brownish colour, which corresponded
with my experiments. In the dyeing of hair black,
the henna should be used in combination with in¬
digo, an innocent, if not very handsome dyeing ma¬
terial.

Finally, it may be mentioned that in the East the
ends of the manes and tails of old horses are coloured
red with henna. Besides this, henna is used in India,
as “ mayndie,” in the dyeing of leather, and in recent
times, in France, for the dyeing of silk. T Further,

* This quantity was supplied to me by the kindness of
Dr. A. Braun. The microscope showed in this, as in all the
other powders, an enormous admixture of sand. A pre¬
liminary incineration gave more than half (62 per cent.) of
incombustible residue.

f Wiesner,.' Rohstoffe des Pflanzenreichs,’ p. 67 4.

the root is used in pharmacy, as “red alkanna,” for
colouring ointments and pomades.

The earliest and, at the same time, clearest notice
of the use of henna I find in Prosper Alpinus,* who,
under the designation, “ Ligustrum iEgyptium,
Elhanne vel Tamarhendi,’’ gives a very good figure
and description of the plant. He says, “ They make
from the leaves a powder which is called ‘ arch¬
end a.’ This the women use as a beautifying
material, by staining their hands and feet with it of
a golden yellow colour. Not by mixing with the
juice of Lanaria or of Struthium, but simply with
water, they produce a golden yellow water which
dyes the same colour. If our women had used this
substance for rendering their hair golden (pro
de aurandis ccqnllis), which might be used without
injury, they would not have allowed their heads to
be singed by the sunbeams and injured in every
possible way.” According to him, also, the powder
is used for sweaty feet, and for ulcers of the mouth,
gums and genitals, and the flowers are used as a
remedy against headache. Similar statements occur
in Loureirof and in Yietz.J Finally, in a more
recent work§ I have found statements that corre¬
spond with those of old Alpinus. In India the plant
is used as a remedy against all possible diseases and
also as a dye material. For this latter purpose the
powdered leaf is made into a paste with catechu.||

THE PREPARATION OF FORMIC ETHER.

BY HENRY TRIMBLE, PH.G.

Having occasion to prepare considerable quantities of
this ether, and finding the process in which sodium for¬
mate is employed a long and tedious one, it occurred to
me that it might be made by adding alcohol to the acid
during its formation from oxalic acid and glycerin. I
have since found the fact mentioned in an English text¬
book on chemistry, but as no formula is given I offer the
following, with the hope of benefiting those who have
never met with the statement: —

Ten parts each of oxalic acid and glycerin with 1 part
of water are heated in a flask, connected with a con¬
denser, for about twelve hours at a temperature between
100° and 110° C. When effervescence has ceased a small
quantity of liquid will be found in the receiver, but as
that is largely water it maybe rejected. To the mixture
in the flask, consisting of glycerin and formic acid, is
added 4 parts of alcohol, and the whole kept at a tem¬
perature not exceeding 50° C. for several hours. It is
then submitted to distillation, continued until the ther¬
mometer indicates 120° C. The distillate is found to
consist of two layers. The upper ethereal one is sepa¬
rated, washed with water containing a little sodium
hydrate, and distilled.

The yield is about 4 parts, specific gravity •910 at
15’5° C., while theoretically it should be 8 parts, a loss
which may be accounted for. By adding 5 parts of water
to the contents of the flask and distilling, a moderate

* ‘Historia iEgyptiNaturalis/ written in 1592, pub. Ludg.
Batav., 1735. Pars, ii., De Plantis zEgypti, p. 23, cap. xiii.

t Loureiro, * Flora Cochinchinensis/ Berlin, 1793, p.
281.

J Vietz, c leones Plantarum/ .Vienna, 1818, vol. vii.,
p. 70.

§ Drury, ‘ Useful Plants of India/ p. 285.

|j Dymock, “Notes on Indian Drugs,” Fharm. Journ.,
[3], vol. ix., p. 894. After an historical notice which goes
back to Solomon, Dymock gives also a notice upon the uses,
which corresponds with the above. Synonyms : Mehndee
(Hind, and Bomb.) ; Marutouri, Aivanam (Tam.) ; Mehedi
(Beng.).

*[[ From the American Journal of Pharmacy, March,
1881.

853

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 1G, 1881.

quantity of formic acid will be obtained. It was thought
that if alcohol were added instead of water an additional
amount of the ether might be obtained ; but this is not
the case, because the acid is so diluted by the glycerin
that it will not combine with the alcohol. There is
always a great loss when the ether is manufactured from
sodium formate, therefore this process is offered as not
only being cheaper but also as furnishing a purer product
with less trouble and in less time. It may not be out of
place to mention that amyl formate may be prepared in
the same way, therefore, in all probability, the formates
of the other radicals.

THE BENEFICENT AND TOXICAL EFFECTS OF THE
VARIOUS SPECIES OF RHUS.*

BY T. J. W. BUKGESS, M.B.

The most noteworthy example of this genus in Canada,
and the one to which the greater part of my remarks will
apply, is commonly called poison ivy. So far as my own
knowledge extends, but little is known of this plant to
the profession at large, except through cases of poisoning
by it presented for treatment. Now, when we consider
how common it is, and the number of persons liable to
exposure to its noxious influence, — the labourer engaged
in railway work and in clearing bush-land, the farmer
working about his fences, one of its favourite lurking
places, and the child so often employed in gathering the
wild flowers with which our woods abound, — I cannot
impress on you too strongly the necessity for a thorough
knowledge of the various species, their appearance, and
that of the plants with which they are most likely to be
confounded, and their physiological effects, with the pre¬
vention and cure of these. Some of the varieties being
used for domestic purposes, and others in the practice of
medicine, I will also draw your attention to their uses in
the arts, and their pathological effects, with the class of
cases in which they have been found most beneficial when
employed as medicines.

The only representative of the large order, Anacar-
diacece, the Cashew family, in northern North America,
is this genus Rhus, a name derived from the Greek verb
ptco (reo) “ to flow,” so called because it was thought to be
useful in stopping hemorrhages. And, truth to tell, the
name was not inaptly applied by our forefathers, all the
varieties being possessed of more or less astringent pro¬
perties, some of them in a very marked degree. The
genus, to the non-botanical commonly known as sumach
or shumacb, is composed of trees or shrubs having a
resinous or milky acrid juice ; alternate leaves ; small,
regular, greenish-white or yellowish flowers, and a fruit
forming a sort of dry drupe.

No less than fourteen varieties of Rhus are, or have
been, used in the arts and sciences (the term including
medicine), and these I shall, for convenience of descrip¬
tion, divide into two classes, native and foreign, dismissing
the latter with but a brief mention of their uses.

Of the foi’eign species there are six : —

Rhus cotinas , sometimes cultivated in our gardens for
ornamentation, under the names “smoke plant,” “purple
fringe tree,” and, from the curious appearance of its seed
vessels, which look like a powdered wig, “perri wig-tree,”
is known in commerce as Venice sumach. It is a small
tree with purplish-green flowers, supported on hairy
peduncles, and is a native of Siberia, Austria, and
Northern Italy. It is not used in medicine or pharmacy,
but yields one variety of a wood known in trade as f ustic,
which has been largely employed for producing a yellow
dye. A noticeable peculiarity about this species of Rhus
is, that its leaves are simple, like those of the elm and
maple, and not compounded, like the horse-chestnut and
ash, as is the case with the rest of the genus.

Rhus coriaria. — Of this, both the leaves and berries

* Read before the Canada Medical Association at Ottawa.
From the Canadian Journal of Medical Science.

have been used as astringents and tonics, and the ground
twigs as a dye-stuff. It is a native of the Ukraine, in
Russia, and has been regarded by the inhabitants of that
country, combined with a decoction of Genista tinctoria
leaves, as a preventive of hydrophobia. It is employed
both internally and locally, and the peasantry have great
faith in its curative virtues, but extended trials in other
parts of Europe have shown it to be useless in this much-
dreaded affection.

Rhus succedanea is indigenous in Japan. From its
berries is expressed a wax sometimes used in pharmacy,
known as Japan wax. It is of medium quality, ranking
between beeswax and the ordinary vegetable tallows.

Rhus vernicifera, varnish or Japan sumach, inhabits
India and Japan, where it is highly prized for its yielding,
from incisions made in the stem, a gum from which is
made one of the best of varnishes.

Rhus Metopium is found in the West Indies, chiefly
Jamaica, and is said to be one of the sources of “hog-
gum,” so extensively used by bookbinders in the process
of marbling paper. This peculiar, and certainly not
euphonious, name is derived from the fact that hogs,
when wounded, are reputed to rub themselves against
this tree, so as to cover the wound with its juice, and
form a protection against the irritation of insects.

Rhus semialata, a native of China and Japan, yields a
gall largely used, especially by the Chinese, in dyeing
their celebrated yellow silks. It is also highly esteemed
by them as an astringent medicine.

Of the native species of Rhus there are eight, and, not
to afflict you with their scientific distinctions, I will
classify them as poisonous and non-poisonous, chiefly
confining my botanical descriptions to the poisonous
class, it being most important, both in a diagnostic and
prophylactic point of view, to be able clearly to distinguish
these from certain non-poisonous plants resembling them.
The eight species are equally divided, four being innocent
and four highly noxious. And first, let me draw your
attention to the non-poisonous varieties, meaning by this,
non-poisonous by contact with the plant, for, if adminis¬
tered internally, in large doses, even the innocuous ones
act as irritants.

Rhus aromatica — fragrant sumach- is a straggling bush
with three foliate, hairy leaves ; the pale yellow flowers,
in clustered spikes like catkins, precede the leaves, which
are sweet-scented when crushed. It extends from Lake
Superior westward and southward, in dry rocky soil, a
variety, the Rhus trilobata of Nuttall, chiefly affecting
the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevadas. This plant
has, during the last two years, whether justly or not I
cannot from my own experience say, obtained a high
reputation as an astringent, and is at present being
lauded in journals devoted to materia medica. In
licematuria and chronic cystitis, where the ordinary reme¬
dies — ergot, gallic acid, and muriated tincture of iron —
have failed, it is said to have been used with the happiest
results. In phthisis, though not advanced as at all
curative, it has a favourable effect in checking the
hemorrhage, night sweats, and diarrhoea, often so ex¬
hausting and distressing. Five to 20 drops of the fluid
extract may be given every hour in extreme cases of

!

hemorrhage, and lessened as relief is obtained. For the

diarrhoea, 15 drops may be given after each stool, while
the night sweats are best treated with a dose of 10 to 20
drops each night at bed-time. In the diarrhoea of
children, where the stools are frequent, the pulse soft and
feeble, the skin pale, the eyes sunken, and there is loss of
flesh and general sense of lassitude, it is by some regarded
as invaluable. Its use is also advocated in menorrhagia,
dysentei-y, and diabetes insipidus, but it is in enuresis
(incontinence of urine) that it has gained its highest
reputation. Dr. Cooper, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, regards
it almost as a specific in this complaint, and in the
November, 1879, number of Neio Preparations, records a
number of cases cured by its use. From the strong
testimony to its value, I would urge upon you, who are

April 16, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

859

much more likely to see casesof this not uncommon affection
than one engaged in , asylum practice, to give it a fair
trial if you have not already done so. It is given in 15-
drop doses four times a day, the last being administered
just before retiring, till improvement takes place, when
only the night dose is given, and continued until the
habit is cured. At the same time, the patient should
strictly adhere to the rules of drinking but little during
the evening, and voiding urine just before going to bed.
The best form for use is the fluid extract, and a nice
formula for its administration is : —

FI. Ext. Rhus Aromatica . . . . |j.

Glycerine . . 5,ss*

Aquae . * acl 3^v*

M. Sig. 3j four times daily.

Several medical friends, who have used this drug in
various affections, have furnished me with records of
cases treated by it, which may be thus tabulated : —

Disease.

No. of
Cases.

Result.

Chronic Cys-

Much improved.

titis . .

1

Phthisis . .

5

In all, attacks of diarrhoea and
night sweats were relieved.

Diarrhoea of

Six cured ; three died.

Children .

9

Diarrhoea of

One cured ; in the other the drug
seemed to have no effect what¬
ever.

Adults

2

Menorrhagia

5

In all there was a wonderful
effect in checking the discharge
at the time. In three cases,
after use at two menstrual
periods the discharge was nor¬
mal, and has since, now five
months, continued so. The
fourth case is improving, but
the fifth shows no radical
change.

Enuresis . .

3

Two cured; one improved.

This record speaks strongly in favour of an extended
trial of the remedy in the class of cases enumerated,
though its greatest benefit would seem to be shown in
menorrhagia and enuresis.

Rhus glabra, variously known as sleek, smooth, Penn¬
sylvania and upland sumach, officinal in the United
States’ Pharmacopoeia, is found over the greater part
of North America, south of the Arctic circle. It is a
shrub 2 to 12 feet high, with straggling branches, covered
with smooth, light grey or somewhat reddish bark. The
compound leaves, consisting of eleven to thirty-one leaf¬
lets, whitened beneath, in autumn change to a beautiful
red. Growing along fences, borders of woods, and in
rocky fields, its flowers open about July, and the fruit,
often eaten by the country people, ripens in early fall.
Excrescences produced on the under surface of the leaves
have been used as a substitute for the officinal galls ob¬
tained from the oak, Quercus inf actor ia. Like galls, these
excrescences are due to pirncture of the young shoots by
a hymenopterous insect to deposit its eggs, ihis irritates
the part, and a tumour arises, the result of morbid growth.
The eggs enlarge with this growth, and are converted
into larvae, which feed on the vegetable matter. Finally
the larvae become flies, and escape by eating their way
out. For use, these excrescences should be collected
when of full size, just before the eggs are hatched. All
parts of this plant contain a large amount of gallotannic
acid and the bark is often used in tanning. The berries

li r .

have a sour astringent taste, and owe their acidity to-
malic acid, which, according to Mr. Cossens, is not con¬
tained in the berries themselves, however, but in the
pubescence which covers them. An infusion of the fruit
has been used as a refrigerant drink in febrile complaints,
and as a detergent astringent gargle in common and
ulcerated sore throat. It has also been employed with
great success in mercurial ptyalism; but for this, an
infusion, or still better, a fluid extract of the inner bark
of the root, is best adapted. The fluid extract also
possesses tonic properties, and may be used in doses
of J — 1 3.

Rhus copallina, dwarf sumach, mountain sumach, or
the gum copal tree, is a shrub with running roots, 1 to
7 feet high, inhabiting rocky hills. Its branches are
downy, and the petioles between the leaflets are wing-
margined. Gum copal, so largely employed in making
varnishes, is the product of a number of different trees,
one of which, according to some authorities, is the Rhus
copallina. This plant possesses similar, but less strongly
marked, medicinal properties to Rhus glabra, and may be
used as a substitute for it.

Rhus typhina, staghorn sumach, grows very commonly
throughout Canada along railway tracks and on sterile
hill-sides. It forms a tree 10 to 30 feet high, with orange-
coloured wood. The branches and stalks are densely
velvety hairy, with serrate leaflets, pale beneath. This,
the fourth and last of the innocuous native species, also
possesses properties similar to Rhus glabra, and may be
substituted when that plant cannot be had.

Of the four indigenous species which possess poisonous
properties, one is an inhabitant of the Southern States,
and a second of California, while the third and fourth
are common in all parts of North America, between the
35th and 60th parallels. Since their poisonous, and prob¬
ably their therapeutic, effects are similar, I will first give
a short description of each species, and devote the re¬
mainder of my remarks to the physiological and thera¬
peutic actions of Rhus toxicodendron, the common form of
poison ivy in Canada.

Rhus pumila, growing only in the Southern States,
and very common in North Carolina, is a pubescent
shrub, about a foot high, said to be the most poisonous of
the Eastern varieties. Its pinnate leaves, consisting of
about eleven oblong, coarsely-toothed leaflets, are downy
beneath. The three upper leaflets are often confluent,
the terminal one, when distinct, being attenuate at the
base. The flower panicles are nearly sessile, while the
drupes are covered with a red, silky pubescence.

Rhus diversiloba of Torrey and Gray, or Rhus lobata of
Hooker, approaches very nearly to Rhus Toxicodendron.
It is generally a shrub, but sometimes a climber, and is
said to be the most poisonous of all the Rhuses. It is
chiefly a native of California, where it is known by the
Spanish name of “ Hiedra.” Its leaves consist of three,
rarely five, obtuse, lobed leaflets ; its flower panicles are
shorter than the petioles, and its fruit is white and
pubescent. With her usual generosity, Nature, according
to Dr. Canfield, provides an antidote to poisoning by this
species, in the shape of another Californian plant, the
Grindclia hirsutula, of which either the bruised plant
itself, or a decoction, is applied to the parts.

Rhus venenata, formerly called Rhus vernix, is known
by the different names of poison dogwood, poison elder,
poison ash, poison sumach, swamp sumach, white sumach,
and varnish tree. Affecting rich, swampy ground in
shaded situations, it is a shrub or small tree, usually
growing from 6 to 18 feet high, and one of the largest
of our native species of Rhus. The trunk seldom exceeds
3 inches in diameter, and, branching at a height of 3 to
5 feet, usually makes a repeatedly two-forked ramification,
the final twigs terminating in thick clusters of leaves.
The smooth bark is dark grey on the trunk, lighter on
the branches, and reddish on the twigs and petioles. The
leaves, expanding in May, are at first dark yellow in
colour, but become deep green with a paler under surface

&60

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 16, 1881.

when mature, and, finally, at the first touch of frost,
assume a beautiful deep crimson hue, that can fairly vie
with the maple for brilliancy of effect. The seven to
thirteen leaflets forming the compound leaves are obovate
oblong in shape, and entire. The small yellowish flowers
are arranged in loose and slender axillary panicles, form¬
ing large masses of fragrant bloom at the ends of the
branches, whioh attract innumerable swarms of bees.
Whether the honey derived from this source possesses
any poisonous properties I am unable to say, but, as at
various times there have been reports of poisoning by
honey in particular localities, it would be a point well
worthy of investigation whether this form of poison ivy
does not also abound there. The berries, ripe in October,
are whitish or dun-coloured, with striate stones, and look
somewhat like bunches of small grapes — a similarity,
however, which is immediately dissipated by the slightest
glance at the leaves, in the grape simple, in the Rhus
compound. Taken altogether, this tree makes one of the
handsomest shrubs imaginable when in blossom, but is,
unfortunately, one of the most deadly. Rhus venenata
has been thought to be identical with the Rhus vernici-
j 'era of Japan, and when incisions are made into its bark
there is a copious flow of viscid fluid, yellowish at first,
but soon changing to a deep black, which, when boiled,
makes a fine varnish. The poisonous properties of this
tree are said to be more powerful than those of Rhus
Toxicodendron ; persons exposed to its influence being
more apt to suffer, and more severely. I have known
several cases of poisoning due to this plant being mistaken
for the common elder, an error which could never arise
were the fact borne in mind that both varieties of elder
found in this country have the margins of the leaves
toothed, whereas in Rhus venenata they are entire. In
addition, the elders have dense masses of flowers, and a
fruit which, when ripe, is either red or black, while this
form of poison ivy has slender, scattered bunches of
flowers, and a fruit whitish in colour when mature.

Rhus Toxicodendron may be made to include Rhus
radicans, as botanists are now pretty well agreed that it
is merely a variety of the former; its differing form and
characters, viz., more entire leaflets and high climbing
stem, being dependent on the circumstances of its habitat.
Rhus Toxicodendron was first described in 1635 by
Cornu tus, in his works on Canadian plants, as a species
of ivy. The Indians were well aware of its properties,
and its effects were mentioned by Kalm and other
travellers in North America. Poison oak, poison ivy,
poison vine, poison creeper, and sometimes poison mer¬
cury, are names applied to it. It is found within the
same range of territory as the Rhus venenata, and is by
far the commonest form throughout Canada. It generally
grows in fertile and low grounds, but will thrive in barren
and elevated places, and attaches itself to any bodies in
its vicinity by numerous thread-like rootlets given off
from the stem. Sometimes it climbs spirally to the tops
of our tallest trees, attaining a height of 40 or 50 feet.
Again, it is met with along the sides of fences, which
serve as a convenient support, or crawling over brush, or
rocks, or along the ground, in which cases it never exceeds
from 1 to 3 feet in height. This low form sends off many
small branches, the pendulous extremities of which often
give the plant a bushy appearance. The stems are from
to 2 inches in thickness, and covered with a greyish-
lirown bark. The leaves, which are said to be eaten by
cattle with impunity, are trifoliate ; the leaflets being
rhombic ovate, pointed, pubescent beneath, and variously
notched, of a shining red when they first appear in the
spring, but bright green at maturity. The flowers are
small, greenish white in colour, and disposed in simple
axillary racemes. The fruit is a round dry berry, as large
as a pea, of a pale green colour, ripe in October. Like
Rhus venenata, from the bark, when wounded, exudes an
acrid, milky juice, which, exposed to the air for a few
hours, changes to an intense black, and will leave in¬
delible stains on linen or cotton, not effaceable by any

known chemical. It has been used as a marking
ink. According to Dr. Joseph Khittel, the principal
chemical constituents of poison ivy are gallotannic acid
and a volatile alkaloid, to which it owes its poisonous
and medical properties. The later researches of Professor
Maisch, however, have proved that the acridity of the
juice is due to the presence of a hitherto unknown
volatile acid, analogous to, but distinct from, formic and
acetic, — toxicodendric acid, which, when isolated, is found
to affect the skin, either by direct contact or by its
vapour, exactly as the fresh plant itself does, proving
beyond doubt that the poisonous properties of the plant
are due to it. This principle is in great measure dis¬
sipated in the process of drying, and hence dried prepara¬
tions of the plant are much less apt to act noxiously,
though even these should be handled with great care by
such as are susceptible to poisoning by it. The plants
for which Rhus Toxicodendron is most often mistaken are
the Virginian creeper or American ivy ( Ampelopsis quin-
quefolia), with which the climbing variety often entwines
itself, and Arabia nudicaulis and A. quinquefolia, com¬
monly known as wild sarsaparilla and ginseng, often found
growing with the low form. The plants are very easily dis¬
tinguished if one will take the trouble to remember a
single simple distinctive mark, viz., five leaflets on a
single Jleaf-stock, whereas Rhus Toxicodendron has only
three. Other distinguishing marks are, that the Aralias
have regular serrate leaves, and in A. nudicaulis the flower
stem is separate from the leaf-bearing one.

THE MUSK-DEER IN TIBET*

As some degree of doubt seems hitherto to have
prevailed among naturalists whether the musk-deer
(Moschus* moschiferus) occurs on the Tibetan plateau,
or whether it is confined to the wooded districts of the
Alpine Himalaya, Mr. R. Lydekker has contributed to
the J ournal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal a brief paper,
in which he gives the result of his recent investigations
into the subject. Mr. Lydekker says that during the
summer of last year he met in Lahul a Tibetan, who had
formerly occupied a high official position of Lhasa, and
who informed him that the musk-deer was of common
occurrence on the Tsanpu River, in the neighbourhood
of Lhasa. He has also learned from Mr. W. H. Johnson,
British Commissioner in Ladakh, that it is found in the
country below, and to the east of Lhasa, along the course
of the Tsanpu River. The musk brought from this dis¬
trict, Mr. J ohnson says, has wrongly acquired the name
of Khoten musk ; this appears to have originated from
the fact that Khoten being a large Buddhist city and im¬
portant trading place, the musk was carried there from
Lhasa, and thence to India. Mr. Johnson also observes,
that the musk-deer occurs only where the birch tree
grows. This evidence, added to what he has collected
from various works on Tibet and the neighbouring regions,
appears to Mr. Lydekker to show that a species of Moschus
occurs in Tibet, though he has no means of knowing
whether it be the same as M. mosrliiferus. The musk-
deer is of common occurrence in Bhutan, and it appears
to him probable that it extends north of that district, in
most of the open countries up to Tibet, and thence across
or round the Gobi desert into Siberia. The occurrence
of the musk-deer far in on the Tibetan plateau is a fact
of considerable importance, in Mr. Lydekker’s opinion,
as it is the only instance of any of the large mammals of
the forest-clad Alpine Himalaya extending its range into
the dry and desert regions to the north.

GIGANTIC RHUBARB.

According to the Journal de St. Petersburg, Colonel
Przewalsky, while making his way from Sining-fu to the
sources of the Yellow River, passed through a plateau
where a rhubarb plant grows wild, and attains an extra¬
ordinary development. Roots were found which were 16
in. long, 12 in. broad and 7 in. thick, and weighed 26 lbs.

# Erom The Journal of Applied Science, Feb. 1, 1881.

April 16, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

801

SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, books for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street , London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. JournP

DR. GREENHOW’S REPORT ON THE
EXAMINATIONS.

The publication of the report presented to the
Privy Council by the Government Visitor on the ex¬
aminations conducted by the Pharmaceutical Society
again brings prominently forward a circumstance
which has frequently been discussed from various
points of view. We refer to the number of failures
to pass the several examinations and the very large
proportion those failures bear to the total number of
candidates presenting themselves for examination.
At first sight it is evident from the returns of the
Boards of Examiners that there are serious grounds
for regretting the misdirected efforts which lead to
these results. At one time it was not unusual to
hear the rejection of candidates for the necessary
examinations spoken of as the infliction of injury
upon the trade, inasmuch as many were thus de¬
barred from taking up the business of a chemist and
druggist. We cannot acknowledge having any
sympathy with this view of the matter, and having
regard to the nature of the Minor examination as
well as the Preliminary examination, we should be
disposed to look upon the rejection of candidates
for those examinations rather as a circumstance of
positive benefit to the trade than otherwise.

Taking, in the first place, the Minor examination
as the means by which legal qualification to carry
on the business of a chemist and druggist is obtained,
we find that Dr. Greenhow expresses his opinion
that it is sufficient for the purpose, and that it is
conducted by the examiners with much tact, great
kindness and forbearance towards the candidates,
affording nervous or weak men ample opportunity
for passing. It is, however, impossible to overlook
the apologetic tone of his remarks upon the scope
and stringency of this examination or to avoid the
conclusion that the opinion expressed as to its
adequacy as a gauge of pharmaceutical qualification
has only reference to actually existing conditions.

As regards the Preliminary examination there is
even more positive indication in Dr. Greenhow’s
report that the demands made upon candidates are

only just equal to the very lowest standard that is
recognizable consistently with the object it has in
view. At this examination, however, there still
continues to be as large a proportion of rejections
as hitherto, although, as Dr. Greenhow remarks,
it is in every respect one which boys having no
higher education than that obtainable in good national
schools would be able to pass with ease and credit.

As a further indication that the examination
which confers all the privileges of the Pharmacy
Act, though affording a sufficient guarantee of
competence to keep an open shop for retailing,
dispensing and compounding medicines, is not to
be regarded as all that is desirable for certifying the
qualification of a pharmacist, we may refer to Dr.
Greenhow’s comments upon the small number of
young men who go up for the Major examination,
after having passed the Minor or qualifying exami¬
nation. Dr. Greenhow expresses regret that this is
the case, and being decidedly of opinion it is desir¬
able on public grounds that a greater number of
persons should hold the higher qualification, he
suggests the propriety of considering whether some
means cannot be devised that may have the effect of
inducing a larger number of candidates to present
themselves for the Major examination. He suggests
also that the requirements for passing this examina¬
tion might in due time be set at a higher standard,
including attendance upon a fixed curriculum or
special course of study at a school of pharmacy.

The general tendency of these remarks appears,
therefore, to be in favour of raising the standard of
pharmaceutical qualification, and though it is ad¬
mitted this can only be hoped for at some future
time, even in the case of the honours qualification
conferred by the Major examination, we may accept
them as evidence that the examinations are far from
being unnecessarily severe. Still under these con¬
ditions the failures amount to upwards of one half
of the number of candidates presenting themselves
for the several examinations, and it is impossible to
doubt that this fact points to the existence of very
serious deficiencies in the means by which youths
are supposed to be trained for conducting the busi¬
ness of pharmacy. Though the rejection of such a
large number of candidates in the Preliminary and
Minor examinations may be looked upon as having a
beneficial, rather than injurious influence upon the
interests of the trade, it is unquestionably a great
evil as regards those who find themselves thus pre¬
vented from following out the career they looked
forward to, and in the interest of pharmacy it be¬
comes a most important question to consider lnw
the existing system can be purged of those defects
which are the cause of so much disappointment and
misfortune.

Dr. Greenhow’s report offers some suggestions in
this respect which are deserving of careful considera¬
tion. Objection is in the first place made to the
admission of candidates to the Minor examination

862

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 16, 1881.

without any sufficient interval between it and the
Preliminary examination. This affords opportunity
for imperfectly educated youths to obtain employ¬
ment either as apprentices or otherwise in chemists’
shops with the intention of being there educated up
to the standard of the Preliminary examination
during the three years they must have been actually
engaged in dispensing medicines before being admis¬
sible for the Minor examination. In such cases Dr.
Greenhow thinks that the greater portion of the
leisure time which ought to be devoted to prepara¬
tion in the technical and practical parts of the busi¬
ness would be occupied with preparation for the
Preliminary examination with the result that if this
be passed successfully, failure in the Minor exami¬
nation is probable. It is suggested, therefore, that
the passing of the Preliminary examination should be
required before the commencement of apprenticeship
or the equivalent period of studentship, and that in
addition to this no evidence of time employed in
dispensing medicines should be received, except that
of having served as an articled apprentice or student
with a legally qualified chemist and druggist.

By this means, Dr. Greenhow considers that the
admission of imperfectly educated youths into the
business as apprentices would be prevented, and that
by thus eliminating at the outset from the intending
candidates for the Minor examination those who are
unable to pass the Preliminary examination, the
probability of failure in the Minor examination
would be considerably reduced. Certainly it seems
likely that such a system would have the effect of
improving the class of apprentices, and the fact of
the apprentice having passed one of the examinations
necessary for pharmaceutical qualification might be
expected to involve a degree of responsibility on the
part of the master for his pupil’s success in the Minor
examination, which Dr. Greenhow thinks does not
always exist now.

A further suggestion is offered bv Dr. Greenhow
in reference to the required period of practical
training, and he thinks that, since candidates are not
now admissible for the Minor examination until they
have attained the age of twenty-one years, there
would be no hardship in extending the period of
practical training to five years. He would not
require that the whole of this time should be passed
in apprenticeship in one place, but that in the case
of youths apprenticed in the country the last two
years of the period should be spent in a pharmacy
either in London or in some large town .

These suggestions for amendment in the system of
early pharmaceutical training and for improving the
educational standard of the youths admitted to that
training, are not by any means startling in regard to
novelty, for the desirability of adopting such a plan
of improving the quality of what may be called the
raw material of British pharmacy has long since
been advocated in these columns ; but now that it is
recommended by the official representative of the

Privy Council, we may, perhaps, expect to find it
command more attention, as being necessary not
only in the interests of pharmaceutical students, but
also for improving the future of pharmacy. The
number of those now engaged in this business is
disproportionately in excess of the opportunities for
its successful prosecution as a semi-professional
occupation, and under the conditions of retail trade
that are now developing there seems to be a specially
urgent need for raising pharmacy as a business above
the range of competition with grocers and general
dealers. One of the most obvious conditions of
success in the endeavour to bring about such a result
is the limitation of the number of persons engaged
in the business, and the increased demands of qualifi¬
cation by which that is effected may most reasonably
be relied upon for making the business better worth
the attention of highly educated and competent men
than it is at present.

In Dr. Greenhow’s report mention is made of the
proposals, which have lately been discussed, in re¬
gard to the establishment of a pharmaceutical cur¬
riculum, and the opinion he expresses is not in
favour of its necessity. But his opinion on this
point is not so much based upon aspirations for the
higher development of pharmacy as limited by regard
to the actual scope and intention of the Pharmacy
Act, and since its objects are in great measure accom¬
plished under the system now in force, it does not
appear to him necessary in the interests of the public
to require any higher qualification to entitle a person
to registration as a chemist and druggist. It is
quite natural that as a Government official charged
with the duty of seeing that the provisions of the Act
in regard to legal qualification are properly carried
out, he should take such a view, and that, looking
upon the Act merely as a measure for restricting the
sale of poison and otherwise protecting the public, he
should accept the Minor examination as affording a
sufficient guarantee of fitness for registration under
the Act. Neither does he, front this point of view,
think it desirable to raise the standard so high that
special study at a school of pharmacy would be
required. Moreover, he adds, that as a fact the
greater number of the candidates for legal qualifica¬
tion do actually study at a school of pharmacy, with
the very frequent and obvious result of being
crammed up for examination without having ac¬
quired practical skill and experience.

From this it may be gathered that any such im¬
provement in the system of pharmaceutical education
as shall be conducive to the advancement of the
material interests of pharmacists, and the improve¬
ment of their position as regards other trades and
the medical profession, must be sought by the
development, from within their their own body, of
a high standard of qualification and not by trusting
to the incidental protective influence of enactments
intended less for the benefit of their class than for
that of the general public.

April 16, 1831.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

563

admits of tbc |1biinuureutixal
jSocictn.

NORTH BRITISH BRANCH.

The sixth and last meeting of the session was held in
the Society’s rooms, Edinburgh, on Wednesday, March 30,
Mr. J. B. Stephenson, President of the Branch, in the
chair.

The minutes of the former meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Honorary Secretary announced the following
donations : —

To the Museum. — (1) Aloin in crystals, presented by
Messrs. T. and H. Smith, Edinburgh ; (2) Fine crystals
of cream of tartar presented by Mr. J. R. Hill, Edinburgh ;
(3) Large crystals of sulphate of magnesia, presented by
Mr. James McGlashan, Edinburgh.

To the Library. — The Pharmacist and Chemist, for
March, from the Chicago College of Pharmacy ; The
Journal of the Chemical Society, for December and
January, from Mr. Mackay.

Dr. William Craig then read the following communi¬
cation on the “ Medicinal Plants of England and
Ireland ” with illustrations.

The Medicinal Plants of England and
Ireland.

BY WILLIAM CRAIG, M.D., F.R.S.E.,

Lecturer on Materia Medica, Edinburgh School of Medicine.

In April 1877, I had the honour of addressing the
North British Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society on
the “ Medicinal Plants of Scotland,” and in selecting a
topic for this evening, I thought I might follow up the
subject of my lecture to you four years ago, by ad¬
dressing you on the medicinal plants of England and
Ireland.

In describing the medicinal plants of England and
Ireland, I shall follow the natural orders as given in the
last edition of Balfour’s ‘ Manual of Botany.’

Ranunculacece. — Only two plants are officinal in this
natural order, and one of them, Aconitum Napellus, Linn.,
is mentioned in all floras as an English plant. It is a true
native of moist and shady pastures in subalpine districts in
the Alps of Europe — Russia, Central Asia, and America.
Most botanists believe it to be an introduced plant into
England, but even this is by no means certain. Bentham
speaks of it as “ apparently wild in some shady places in
Western England and South Wales.” Babington speaks
of it as a plant having the appearance of being a true
native. It is extensively cultivated as an ornamental
herbaceous plant, and it is frequently met with as an
outcast or escape from gardens. It is not regarded as
a native of Ireland.

The plant is easily distinguished from other British
plants by its short tapering root, its deeply divided leaves
of five pointed segments, and its raceme of blue flowers
with peculiar hooded sepals.

Its leaves and root are officinal and form very im¬
portant articles of the materia medica. It is a sedative
to the heart’s action and alleviates pain when applied
locally.

PapayeracEjE. — This order contains only two officinal
plants, Papaver somniferum, Linn. , and Papaver Rhceas,
Linn., both of which are found in England. The first,
Papaver somniferum, is generally believed to be an
introduced plant, although, in several places it has the
appearance of being wild, especially near the sea and in
the fens of the Eastern counties of England. It is easily
known by its being glabrous and glaucous. It is the
mo3t important plant used in medicine. The only part
officinal is the capsule. This is used in the ripe state
as poppy heads, Papaveris Capsulce of the B.P., and in the
unripe state as the source of opium.

Papaver Rhceas, Linn. — Commonly called corn or red

poppy, is a common corn-weed in many parts of England,
Ireland and Scotland. It is easily known from the other
British species by its smooth globular capsule, and by the
hairs of the peduncle being spreading. The only species
at all possible to be confounded with it is Papaver
dubium, Linn., but this species has an oblong capsule
and the hairs of the peduncle adpressed. The petals are
officinal and are chiefly used for colouring purposes

Crucifer.®. — Three plants of this natural family are
officinal and all of them are found in England and Ireland,
but one only as an introduced plant, the horse-radish,
Cochlearia Armoracia, Linn.; Armor acia rust icana of other
botanists. It is generally supposed to be a true native of
South Eastern Europe, but is undoubtedly perfectly
naturalized in many places in Britain. In Hooker and
Arnott’s ‘ Flora ’ we find these words — “ Said to be wild
near Swansea, also in some part of the North of England.”
The officinal part is the root. In all text-books on
materia medica we find this root contrasted with aconite
root. The two roots are never confounded by students
of materia medica although they are, sometimes, by
ignorant cooks or butlers ; true aconite root has been
mistaken for the root of horse-radish, but only because
they have been grown together in gardens, and in winter
the one has been dug up by an ignorant person in
mistake. The root is used in medicine chiefly to cover
the taste of nauseous medicines, as creasote. ,

The other two cruciferous plants are Sinapis alba, Linn.,
and Sinapis nigra, Linn., white mustard and black mustard
Both of these plants are more abundant in England than
in Scotland, and both occur also in Ireland. They are
generally found in waste places and under hedges. There
are three species of Sinapis found in Britain, the two
officinal ones and S. arvensis. They are very easily
distinguished from each other by the seed vessel : Sinapis
arvensis has smooth spreading pods, S. nigra has smooth
adpressed pods, and S. alba has spreading hairy pods.
The seeds of both the black and white mustard plants
constitute the Sinapis of the Pharmacopoeia, but the
seed of the black mustard only furnishes the Oleum Sinapis.

Linace®. — This order has only one officinal plant.

Linum usitatissimum, Linn., common flax. — This plant
has been in culitvation from the earliest times, and at
the present day is nowhere known in a truly wild con¬
dition. It is, however, found in England, Ireland and
Scotland, in corn-fields, road-sides and waste places, as
an escape from cultivation. The seeds are officinal, and
are used on account of their oil, and for their muci¬
laginous properties.

Rhamnace®. — In this order only one plant is officinal

Rhamnus catharticus, Linn., common buckthorn. — This
is a small tree, 10 or 12 feet high, with spreading
branches. It is a native of both England and Ireland,
but is a rare plant in both countries. The fruit is a
black berry or drupe, and its juice is the part used. It
is possessed of purgative properties.

The Rhamnus Frangula, Linn., the alder buckthorn, is
not officinal in our Pharmacopoeia, but is officinal in the
German and other Pharmacopoeias. It occurs in
England, Ireland and Scotland, but more frequently
in the two former countries. Its bark is used as a
purgative. It is easily distinguished from R. catharticus,
by the flowers in R. Frangula being hermaphrodite, and
the parts in fives ; its leaves being entire on the margin,
and its branches being without spines.

Leguminos®. — This order contains at least fifteen offi¬
cinal plants, but only one of them is indigenous, namely,
Sarothamnus Scoparius, Wimmer, the Spartium Scoparium
of other botanists, the common broom. This plant is a
shrub, 5 to 8 feet high, and is easily recognized by its
angular twigs and by its bright yellow scented flowers.
This is a very common plant in England, Ireland and
Scotland, growing chiefly on dry hilly waste and busy
places. The twigs or “ tops ” are officinal, and are easily
known by their angular character and their bitter
nauseous taste.

864

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 16, 1881.

Rosacea:. — This order contains at least eight officinal
plants, and of these, only one ( Rosa canina, Linn., com¬
mon dog rose) is found in England and Ireland. It is
also very common in Scotland. This is by far the most
common of all our wild roses, being abundant in hedges
and thickets everywhere. The fruit is officinal. After
being deprived of its seeds it is made into a confection
with sugar, and is used for making pills. According to
the B.P., the fruit of the other wild British roses may be
substituted.

Another plant in this natural order is sometimes
placed by botanists as a British plant, the Prunus
domestica, Linn., the plum tree, whose dried fruit forms
the Prunurn of the B.P. It is doubtful if the plum tree
be now known in a truly wild condition, and the belief
entertained by the most eminent botanists of the present
day is that it is a cultivated variety of the common
blackthorn or sloe, Prunus vulgaris , a tree common in all
parts of the United Kingdom. An intermediate form is
Prunus insititia, Linn., the bullace tree, the origin of
the well-known fruit, damsons.

U MBELLiFERiE. — Of the ten officinal plants of this
natural order, one, Conium maculatum , Linn., is found
in England and Ireland, and also abundantly in many
parts of Scotland. It is easily recognized from all other
umbelliferous plants by its smooth dark purple-spotted
stem, and its peculiar odour, an odour greatly increased
if the plant be rubbed up with solution of potash, owing
to the disengagement of conia. The plant is very
generally distributed, growing on waste places, by the
sides of streams, ditches and borders of fields.

Carum Carui, Linn., common caraway. — Occurs in both
England and Ireland. It grows in meadows and pastures
and is generally distributed ; in many cases undoubtedly
an escape from cultivation, but frequently having the ap¬
pearance of an indigenous plant. Bentham speaks of it
as well naturalized, if not truly indigenous. The plant
has long been cultivated on account of the aromatic pro¬
perties of the fruit. The fruit is officinal, and is easily
recognized by its odour.

Other two umbelliferous plants are occasionally
met with in England, but only as introduced plants,
Coriandrum sativum , Linn., coriander, and Fosniculum
dulce, D.C., sweet fennel. Neither of these plants
can be said to be known definitely in the wild
state, and both have been cultivated on account of the
aromatic properties of their fruit. In the opinion of
many eminent botanists the sweet fennel is only a culti¬
vated variety of the common fennel, Fceniculum vulgare,
Gr., a plant believed to be indigenous on some parts of,
the coasts of England and Ireland. In one edition of
Hooker and Arnott’s ‘Flora,’ we find these words,
“ The true fennel of the gardens, F. dulce is scarcely
distinct, and may be the Norfolk and Suffolk plant.”

Caprifoliacea:. — The only officinal plant in this order
is Sambucus nigra , Linn., common elder. This is a
small tree with sweet scented cream-coloured flowers,
and fruit like small blackberries It is indigenous to
England and Ireland. The fresh flowers are officinal
for making Aqua Sambuci. The flowers are often used
for flavouring jams and jellies, for which purpose they
are well adapted.

Valeri anace aj. — Valeriana officinalis, L. — The only
officinal plant in this family is abundant in England and
Ireland. It is generally found in moist places by the
sides of plantations, ditches, and streams. It is the only
British species of valerian with the lower leaves divided.
A variety called sambucifolia, with fewer and broader seg¬
ments to the leaves, is common in England, and some
botanists describe it as a species, V. sambucifolia. The
root is officinal. It is a short thick rootstock with nume¬
rous rootlets — 3 or 4 inches in length — and is easily known
by its peculiar odour. It is said that the roots of wild
plants are more active than the cultivated ones. The
characteristic odour is developed chiefly during the process
of drying. It is used as a stimulant and anti-spasmodic.

Composit.e — Of the five officinal plants of this order
three are found both in England and Ireland.

Anthemis nobilis, Linn., common chamomile. This is
a much branched plant, about a foot high. It is
indigenous to southern England and Ireland. The
flower heads or capitula are officinal. Two varieties,
known as the single and double flower-heads, are re¬
cognized in the British Pharmacopoeia, the latter being
the result of cultivation. The plant has bitter and
aromatic properties.

Taraxacum Dens-Leonis, D.C., Leontodon Taraxacum
of other botanists, the common dandelion. — This plant is
abundant everywhere in meadows and pastures. It is
easily recognized by its toothed runcinate leaves, its
smooth hollow peduncle and its yellow flowers. The
root is the part used. It possesses tonic and cholagogue
properties.

Lactuca virosa, Linn., acrid lettuce. — This plant is a
native of England, occurring on banks and roadsides,
especially in the south-eastern counties. The whole
plant abounds in a milky juice, which is possessed of
slightly hypnotic properties.

The genus Artemisia furnishes santonica, from which
santonin is obtained; of this genus four species occur in
England and three in Ireland. It is probable that
santonin is contained in the flower-heads of all of them.

Eric ace a:. — This order contains only one officinal plant,,
and it a native of England and Ireland. It is the
Arctostaphylos, Uva-ursi, Sp. This is a trailing shrub
with evergreen leaves, somewhat resembling those of the
common box. This plant is very abundant in the
Highlands of Scotland. It is also found in the North of
England and in the north-west of Ireland. The leaves
are officinal and are used in urinary affections. The
leaves are easily recognized from every officinal substance,
but they are apt to be confounded with those of Vac -
cinium Vitis-idcea, L., but these are easily distinguished
by their revolute margins and by their being dotted
beneath. In the B.P. a negative character is given for
uva-ursi leaves “ not toothed on the margin,” and almost
ail writers on materia medica have fallen into an error
in explaining this. It has been supposed that this is
meant to distinguish the leaves of uva-ursi from Vacci -
nium Vitis-idcea. For example, in one of the most recent
text-books on materia medica, the new edition of Dr.
Scoresby Jackson’s work by Dr. Moinet, we find the
following regarding the leaves of Vaccinium Vitis-idcea : —
“ They are known by their serrated margin.” The leaves
of this plant are neither serrated nor toothed on the
margin, but the leaves of Arctostphylos alpina, Spreng., a
species in Britain limited to the Scotch Highlands, has its
leaves serrated on the margin.

Solanacea:. — This order is very important, not only for
the medicinal plants it contains but also on account of its
containing the common potato, Solanum tuberosum, which
furnishes a very important article of diet. This order
contains six officinal plants, some of them furnishing most
useful articles of the materia medica. Of these, four are
found in England and three in Ireland. I shall briefly
refer to each of them.

Solanum Dulcamara, Linn. — Bitter, sweet, or woody
nightshade. This is a climbing shrub, with the upper
leaves auricled at the base. It has purple flowers and
red berries. It is a common plant in England and
Ireland, in woods, hedges and waste places. The stem is-
officinal, but it is not possessed of much medicinal value.
The only other British species, S. nigrum, L., is easily
distinguished by its leaves having no auricles, by its
white flowers and its black berries. This plant is also
common in many parts of England and Ireland.

Atropa Belladonna, L., deadly nightshade. — This is a
herbaceous plant, with a perennial root. It is 3 or 4 feet
high and is easily recognized by its entire leaves and by
its dark shining pulpy fruit, about the size of small
gooseberries. It occurs in waste stony places, generally
I near old castles and ruins. At one time it was very

April 16, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

865

abundant near the ruins of Furness Abbey, in Westmore¬
land. It is a doubtful native of Ireland. The leaves
and roots are officinal in the B.P. It is a valuable
hypnotic and subduer of pain, and is the most efficacious
medicine known for checking the nocturnal sweating of
wasting diseases. It also powerfully dilates the pupil.
It owes its activity to an alkaloid, atropia.

Dyoscyamus niger, L., common henbane. — This is a
biennial plant. It is 2 to 3 feet high. The whole plant
is clammy and has a disagreeable odour. Its flowers are
yellow, with dark purple veins. Its fruit opens by an
operculum. It is found in waste places, borders of fields,
especially on calcareous soil near the sea. It is found in
England and Ireland. The leaves are officinal, and are
possessed of properties similar to those of belladonna, but
weaker. It owes it activity to an alkaloid, hyoscyamia.

Datura Stramonium , L. — Common thorn-apple, so-
called on account of its prickly fruit. This plant is an
annual, about 2 feet high, with large sinuate leaves and
conspicuous white funnel-shaped corolla. Like the pre¬
ceding plants it has a special affinity for waste stony
places. In England it is rare and exists only as an
introduced plant. It is not recorded from Ireland.
The leaves and seeds are officinal. In many cases,
however, what is sold as leaves of stramonium consists
solely of chopped up stems of the plant. It is used
chiefly in asthma. It owes its activity to an alkaloid,
daturia.

Scrophulabiace.'E. — Only one plant of this order is offi¬
cinal, and it is abundant in England and Ireland. It is
the Digitalis purpurea, L., common foxglove. This is one
of the prettiest of all our British plants, and is very
common in many parts, growing on dry hilly places and
roadsides. It is easily known by its beautiful raceme of
purple flowers. The leaves are officinal, and are distin¬
guished from all other officinal leaves by their crenate
margin, by being downy beneath and narrowed into a
foot stalk. It is used principally for its action on the
heart and as a diuretic.

Labiate. — Of the four officinal plants, only two are
found in England and Ireland, Mentha piperita, L.,
peppermint, and Mentha viridis, L., spearmint. Both
these plants are found in many marshy places in England
and Ireland, in some cases, however, as escapes from cul¬
tivation. They have both been long cultivated on account
of their aromatic qualities. In both cases the fresh plants
are officinal on account of the volatile oil obtained from
them. The two plants are easily distinguished from each
other by their leaves. The leaves of peppermint are
stalked, while those of spearmint are sessile.

Thymeleace.e. — This order contains two officinal plants,
and they are both natives of England, but unknown in
Ireland. Daphne Mezereon, L., Mezereon, and Daphne
laureola,Li., spurge laurel. The former is a very rare plant
in England, but believed to be truly wild in some of the
southern counties. Its flowers appear before the leaves in
early spring, are of a pink colour and sweet scented. The
spurge laurel is more abundant, growing in woods and
thickets, preferring a calcareous or clay soil, and is not un¬
common. It is a very different plant from Mezereon. It
has evergreen leaves, and the flowers are axillary and of a
green colour. The bark of both species is officinal under
the name of Mezerei Cortex, and is easily recognized by its
extreme toughness, its silky white interior and its cinna¬
mon-brown colour externally.

Cannabinace^e. — This order contains only three species,
two of which are officinal, and of these one is a native of
England, the hop plant, Humulus Lupulus, L. This plant
is easily known by its twining habits, its rough three to
five-lobed leaves, and its peculiar green coloured globular
fruit, called a strobilus. The plant is truly indigenous in
many counties in England, and is also recorded from
Ireland. It has long been cultivated on account of its
fruit, which is so largely used in the manufacture of beer.
The fruit is officinal. It contains a volatile oil which is
narcotic, and a bitter principle which is tonic.

Ulmace.®. — Only one plant in this order is officinal and
it is found in both England and Ireland.

Ulmus campestris, L. The elm. — There appears to be
considerable confusion in regard to the officinal species of
elm. Few writers on materia medica are correct in regard
to this plant. There are two species of elm recorded in
British floras, the one often called the English elm and
the other the Scotch elm. The general belief is that the
English elm is the one officinal in our Pharmacopoeia.
And certainly this is the one described in most text¬
books. This, however, is erroneous. We find that even
the authors of the ‘ Pharmacographia ’ have committed the
same mistake. By a reference to the B.P. it is found that
the Ulmus campestris, L., is officinal, and this species is still
further described as “broad-leaved elm,” a phrase which
is only applicable to the Scotch elm, often called wych-
hazel. It is further said to be indigenous, and the English
elm is generally believed to be an introduced tree. The
question comes to be, what species is meant by U. campes¬
tris, L. All botanists who have examined this subject
have come to the conclusion that it includes the Scotch
elm. Some maintain that it includes also the English elm.
There can be no doubt that the Scotch elm, Ulmus mon-
tana, With., is officinal, and if Babington be correct in
saying that Ulmus campestris, L., includes the English elm,
Ulmus suberosa, Ehrh., then that tree too is officinal; but
all those who maintain that the English elm alone is offici¬
nal are undoubtedly wrong. This mistake arises to a
great extent from confounding Ulmus campestris, Smith,
with Ulmus campestris of Linnaeus. The inner bark is
officinal and is possessed of astringent properties, but
there is not much necessity for retaining it in the B.P.

CoRYLACEiE or Cupuliferje. — Two oaks are officinal, but
only one is a native of Britain, Quercus pedunculata,
Wild., Quercus Robor, L. This is a very common tree
all over Britain. Two varieties are generally noticed by
botanists, one called Sessiliflora, with a longer petiole,
and having no stalk to the fruit, but Babington confesses
that he has “failed in learning to distinguish them.” The
officinal part is the bark, which is used as an astringent.

Conifer/E. — Of the officinal pines none can be said to
be truly indigenous in England, although we have it on
the authority of Hooker and Arnott that Pinus sylvestris
and Pinus Pinaster “ are becoming established by
spontaneous dissemination over the vast moorlands and
bogtracts of West Hants and Dorset.” The former is
abundant in the Highlands of Scotland and the latter is
a true native of the South of Europe. In Ireland there
is good evidence that Pinus sylvestris was originally a
true native and even yet is indigenous. It is generally
believed that various species of pines were originally
found in Ireland, as is manifested by the cones found in
some of the peat bogs of that country.

Juniper us communis, L. — Common juniper is a very
abundant plant in many parts of England and Ireland.
It grows on dry barren hills. Its leaves end in a prickly
point and its fruit is a berry of the size of a large pea
and of a dark purple-blue colour. The fruit is officinal ;
from it we obtain an oil which is a powerful diuretic.

Monocotyledones. — Of the fifteen officinalmonocotyle-
donous plants only one is found in England and Ireland.
It is the Colchicum autumnale, L., meadow saffron. It
is abundant in meadows and pastures in some parts of
England and Ireland. The flowers appear in autumn
and the leaves and fruit in the following spring. The
seeds and corm are officinal and used in gout and
rheumatism. It belongs to the Melanthacece.

All the cryptogamous plants officinal in the B.P. are
found in England and Ireland. These may be said to be
four in number.

Filices. — The male fern, A spidium Filix Mas, Lastrea of
other botanists. This fern is very common in England
and Ireland and is easily distinguished from all other
ferns by the position of the sori and its rigid bipinnate
fronds. The rhizome is officinal and is used as a remedy
for tapeworm.

8G6

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 16, 1881.

Lichenes. — Cetraria islandica.— Iceland moss. This is
a very abundant plant in Iceland but is also frequent
in the Scotch Highlands, and is also fouryd on the
mountains of England and Ireland. The whole plant
is officinal and has tonic and nutrient properties.

Fungi. — Two of these may be said to be officinal,
Claviceps purpurea , the ergot fungus, and Torula
Cerevesice, the yeast plant. The former is a very import¬
ant medicinal plant, inasmuch as its compact mycelium
or spawn constitutes ergot. Ergot is no part of the
rye plant, although it is generally obtained from it.
This fungus is often found growing on the rye, but there
are upwards of thirty British grasses on which the ergot
fungus has been found, and the ergot of these plants is
very active. It is used for its effects on the uterus and
as an astringent to the blood vessels.

I have thus gone over the various officinal plants of
England and Ireland. It will be found that one third of
the officinal orders are represented in England and
Ireland, and about one in fifteen of all the medicinal
plants are found in England, some of them furnishing
very important articles of the materia medica.

In conclusion I would earnestly recommend students
to make a collection of all the indigenous medicinal
plants.

Mr. J. Falconer King, City Analyst, Edinburgh, next
read a paper on : —

The Adulteration and Falsification of Drugs, in

CONNECTION WITH THEIR SALE UNDER THE FOOD AND

Drugs Act.

Mr. King remarked that the object of his paper was
principally to explain to the meeting the different
instances of adulteration or falsification of drugs which
had come under his notice, directly or otherwise, and to
endeavour to elicit by discussion the opinion of members,
who were certainly the best qualified to form a sound
judgment on the matter, whether these were really
cases of adulteration within the meaning of the Act.

The cases adduced were mostly those which have
on various occasions been fully reported in the Journal;
e.g., sophisticated paregoric, sweet spirit of nitre, quinine
and iron citrate, milk of sulphur, violet powder, etc., etc.

A good deal of discussion followed the reading of the
paper.

Dr. Craig said there was no doubt that the British
Pharmacopoeia was the standard by which they were to
be guided. Whatever articles were in that book were
drugs in the truest and in the legal sense of the term.

Mr. Nisbet was inclined to regard most of the cases Mr.
King had adduced as extreme and exceptional. He had,
he said, been many years in the trade, and had never
come across adulterated drugs, except in museums.

Mr. Mackay also thought the cases mentioned were very
exceptional. The time, he said, had gone by for adulte¬
ration. Wholesale dealers had their characters at stake.

Mr. Young took a similar view of the matter.

The Chairman endorsed what had been said by Messrs.
Nisbet, Mackay, and Young, and believed adulteration
of drugs was not at all common in Scotland.

Mr. King having replied, a vote of thanks was awarded
him for his paper.

A similar compliment was awarded Dr. Craig.

Igljarmuceutical Sodctn of Jfrelmvir.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

April 6, 1881.

Present — President, Professor Tichborne; Vice-Presi¬
dent, Dr. Aquilla Smith; Sir G. B. Owens, Messrs Allen,
Bennett, Brunker, Collins, Doran, Draper, Grindley,
Hayes, Hodgson, Pring and Simpson.

The minutes of last meeting were read and signed.

A letter was read from the Secretary of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society of Great Britain relative to communica¬
tion of January 12, and which was referred to the
Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee.

A letter was read from Mr. William Thomas asking if
his having passed the Modified examination in England
would entitle him to be allowed the Preliminary exami¬
nation.

The Vice-President said that the Privy Council having
approved of the regulations, no alteration could be
made by the Council.

The President directed that a reply should be sent
stating that as no Preliminary examination had been
passed as required by the Society he would have to con¬
form to the regulations.

A letter was read from Mr. Henry Bell requesting the
Council to inform him if in conformity with the Phar¬
macy Act (Ireland) he could reside abroad, and have his-
business conducted by a partner not qualified under
the Act, and requesting information as to any legal
hindrance.

The President remarked that the course proposed in
the letter was illegal, but considered that the letter did
not give definite information.

Mr. Doran asked if Mr. Bell wanted to carry on as a
druggist.

Mr. Draper thought that from the letter Mr. Bell
was not qualified, and if so he did not come within the
Act.

Mr. Hodgson, referring to the query as to going into
partnership, said he might take as many partners as he
liked, provided he did not dispense or sell poisons.

The President said that in that case a firm with one
unqualified partner was illegal.

Mr. Pring considered that they should direct him to
consult a solicitor and suggested sending him a calendar.

Dr. Collins said that this being a legal question it was
not for them to advise.

Sir G. B. Owens considered some definite advice should
be given, or if not, withheld altogether.

Mr. Grindley thought the query not put painly enough.

Mr. Brunker then proposed and Sir G. B. Owerts
seconded —

“ That in reference to Mr. Bell’s letter, the Council
reply that a person qualified under the Irish Act
could not legally act in the manner proposed by
him.”

The resolution passed unaminously.

A letter from a member, reporting a case of illegal
dispensing, was read.

Mr. Brunker said the letter had already been read in
Committee.

Mr. Allen remarked it could be referred to when the
report of the Committee was considered.

Mr. Hodgson suggested that both should be read
together.

The report of the Law Committee was then read, and
a long discussion took place upon the recommendation to
prosecute in the case reported, which was finally referred
back to the Committee, upon the motion of Mr. Bennett,
seconded by Mr. Pring —

“ That the report of the Law Committee be accepted
and they be authorized to carry it into effect.”

A letter from Messrs. Ennis and Son, relative to the
late prosecution of Mr. Brownrigg, was read, stating that
as he had not paid anything they had directed that the
warrant for his arrest should issue.

Mr. Grindley reported the proceedings of the Dinner
Committee, after which a discussion took place resulting
in the matter being postponed, as October was considered
a better time to hold a dinner than May, the month
which had been proposed.

Messrs. Yeates and Son’s account for apparatus
supplied for the use of the examiner in chemistry was
ordered for payment.

The reports of the examiners were laid upon the table.

April 16, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

867

At the Preliminary examination twelve candidates had
presented themselves, of whom nine passed.

For the licence of Pharmaceutical Chemist, seven can¬
didates had presented themselves, of whom the following
six passed : —

Charles William Brooks . Longford Terrace, Merrion.

Samuel Thomas Johnston ...19, North Earl St., Dublin.

William M‘Carthy . Athy (Re-examination).

George Lane M‘Cormack ...75, North Strand Road.

David John M ‘Kinney . Cookstown, County Tyrone.

Meredith Rountree Whitla... Diamond, Monaghan.

The meeting then adjourned.

robinit a l %x an s a droits .

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The sixth meeting of the session was held in Anderson’s
College, 204, George Street, on Wednesday, March 30,
Mr. Robert McAdam (Glasgow Apothecaries’ Company),
in the chair.

After the minutes of the previous meeting had been
read and adopted,

The President called upon Mr. J ohn C. Hunter, Hono¬
rary Secretary, to give his paper on “ Rambles among
Lead Mines, with Specimens of Ore.”

Mr. Hunter began his remarks by referring to the late
Mr. Adam Smith’s celebrated work on ‘ An Inquiryinto the
Nature and Causes of Wealth of Nations,’ in which work
Mr. Smith brings out the importance of the farmer as a
source of wealth to any state. But since Mr. Smith’s time
hundreds of other sources of wealth than that produced
by the cultivation of land have come into existence by
the progress of the mechanical and chemical arts, so that
some parts of a county poor in surface crops are yet rich in

I golden and other metalliferous crops found far beneath the
surface of the soil. A description of Laxey Lead Mine,
situated in the Isle of Man, was then given, special refer¬
ence being made to the great water wheel, said to be
the largest in the world, used to keep the mine free of
water. Reference was also made to the workings of the
mine, and the stamping and washing of the lead ores
before being taken to the smelting furnaces. Mr. Hunter
then gave a description of the lead mines in Scotland
situated at Wanlockhead and at Leadhills, where a
mining community live and work 1400 feet above the
level of the sea ; this is said to be the highest place in
Great Britain where all the year round any community
dwells. This region is very bleak, barren and wild, sur¬
rounded as it is by high hills and nearly destitute of trees,
but amidst all the dreariness the district was the birth¬
place of Alan Ramsay, the poet, author of the ‘Gentle
Shepherd,’ and other poems ; also builder at his own ex¬
pense of the first theatre in Edinburgh and founder of
the first circulating library there. Leadhills mining
village was touched upon, also the interior workings of
the mine, as well as the way the ore is sent to the stampers,
and finally to the smelting house to be decomposed by
heating the galena or lead sulphide with coal into pure
bar lead. The chemical changes from sulphide of lead
or galena to pure bar lead were then explained. A
special note was made of a "long chimnev running up the
, hillside to condense the vapours of arsenic and antimony
present in lead ores; afterwards, Pattison’s process for
desilverizing lead was mentioned. In conclusion, Mr.
Hunter made reference to the action of water, both pure
and aerated, upon new lead pipes, causing, if not observed,
sometimes cases of lead poisoning, through the cumulative
action of lead when absorbed into the system. Lastly,
mining speculations, their riskiness, and fluctuations in
their profits, were touched upon. On the table were laid
specimens of copper, lead, gold and silver ores, which were

referred to by Mr. Hunter during the course of the
paper.

After a few remarks from Mr. Kinninmont and Mr.
Robert Brodie on poisoning by lead being absorbed into
the system, the President called for a hearty vote of thanks
to Mr. Hunter for his very instructive paper and his
amusing stories of mine speculations. This was duly given
by the members.

The Secretary mentioned a donation to the library of
the booklet ‘ On the Estimation of Phosphoric Acid in
Phosphates and Manures,’ by M. H. Joule, translated
by Mr. J. Barker Smith, and given by him to the Asso¬
ciation.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The twelfth general meeting of the thirty-second
session was held at the Royal Institution, on Thursday
evening, March 31, 1881, the President, Dr. Symes, in
the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were and con¬
firmed, and the following donations were announced : —
The current numbers of the Pharmaceutical Journal ,
from the Society ; and the Canadian Pharmaceutical
Journal, from the Editor.

The President exhibited a new pill-coating machine,
and gave a detailed description of the manner in which it
was to be used.

Mr. Edward Davies, P.C.S., F.I.C., read a paper on
*• Protoplasm.”

The paper was ably discussed by Messrs. Chubb,
Farmer, Tate and others.

Mr. Davies replied at length to the points raised in
the discussion, and at the conclusion was awarded a
hearty vote of thanks.

BRISTOL PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION.

A general meeting was held on Friday, April 1, at the
Bristol Museum and Library, Queen’s Road, Mr. G. F.
Schacht, President, in the chair.

After the preliminary business, the President said the
chief objects of the meeting were, as the notice cards had
already informed the members, to receive some detailed
accounts of their possessions, both actual and virtual.
Certain of their friends had for some time been engaged
in very close work for the Society’s benefit; and the
Council had now thought it time to invite the members
and associates to a full knowledge of the results. He
was happy to say he could congratulate them sincerely
upon the highly satisfactory condition of their collec¬
tions both of materia medica and of books. For this
they were largely indebted to the kindness of the
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society who, as would
no doubt be remembered, had presented them with most
of their specimens and nearly all of their books. They
were also much indebted to their friend Mr. Arthur
Little, who had devoted both time and knowledge to the
arrangement of their collection; and finally they were
under great obligation to the Council of the Bristol
Museum and Library, by whose good favour and help
their own Council had been able to make arrangements
calculated to afford much encouragement for study to all
their younger friends.

Mr. Schacht then called upon Mr. Arthur Little to
explain the scope of their collection of materia medica,
and the arrangement he had thought best to adopt.

Mr. Arthur Little reminded the members that the
collection of which he should presently speak was well
stored in upright glass cases that conveniently occupied
a distinct compartment in the Bristol Museum. Though
quite distinct, it was immediately surrounded by noble
collections, botanical, zoological, and mineral, and was,
therefore, capable of being studied in connection with
either of these departments of science — a matter of no
small advantage to the real student. He thought few

868

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 16, 13S1.

such opportunities for good pharmaceutical study existed
anywhere as were now available in Bristol.

This recently arranged collection of materia medica
originated in a few dozen typical specimens of the more
important drugs, got together many years ago by the
late Mir. Stoddart and other friends. This small nucleus,
growing and increasing by additions and contributions
from various sources, was subsequently much enlarged by
a grant of specimens from the Pharmaceutical Society ;
and early in the present year, in response to an applica¬
tion for specimens necessary to complete the collection, a
further large donation was received from the parent
Society.

As now arranged in the Association’s cases, the collec¬
tion — at present confined entirely to organic materia
medica — presents for examination more than two hundred
and fifty typical specimens. These have been distributed
among the seventy natural orders to which they respec¬
tively belong, the sequence of the orders corresponding
with that given in the ordinary text-books. Much as¬
sistance was derived in settling this and other points,
especially in reference to the vexed question of nomen¬
clature, from the ‘ Pharmacographia ’ of Hanbury and
Fliickiger, and from Mr. Holmes’s admirable catalogue
of the Bloomsbury Square Collections, a copy of which
latter work is placed in the materia medica cabinet for
reference.

Special attention has been paid to the more important
drugs, their several qualities and varieties, and the
substances employed in adulterating them. These have
been arranged side by side in groups for comparison, the
adulterant being in all cases placed beside the substance
it is employed to adulterate, even when it does not belong
botanically to the same natural order. In this way,
several very instructive and valuable series of specimens
have been obtained, among which may be mentioned the
following : —

Pareira brava. — 1. Chondodendron tomentosum (root
and stem); 2. Cissampelos Pareira ; 3. Common false
Pareira brava.

Cinchona. — 1. Pale bark, in quills, from South America
and from India ; 2. Calisaya bark in quills from Ceylon,
and flat pieces from Bolivia; 3. Red bark in quills from
the Himalayas ; 4. Hard Carthagena bark ( Cinchona
cordi folia) ; Maracaibo bark ( C . Tucujensis).

Ipecacuanha. — 1. Cephaelis ipecacuanha (brown and
blackish-grey); 2. Psychotria emttica ; 3. lonidium

Ipecacuanha.

Cardamoms. — 1. Malabar ; 2. Madras ; 3. Aleppy,
and 4. Ceylon.

Sarsaparilla. — 1. Jamaica; 2. Honduras; 3. Lima;
and 4. Mexican.

Senna. — 1. Alexandria (a, elect; b, adulterated with
argel leaves, c, with G. oboxata ); 2. East Indian; 3. Tin-
nevelly.

Rhatany. — Peruvian and Savanilla, etc., etc.

The collection, although thus extensive and valuable, is
still wanting in a few drugs, without one, at least, of which
it cannot be considered in any sense complete. That one
is opium, which, with the exception of a single sample of
Trebizond opium, just placed upon the table by the Pre¬
sident, Mr. Schacht, is entirely unrepresented. Specimens
of scammony resin, Socotrine aloes, elaterium, and the
balsams of Tolu and Peru, are also among the desiderata.
Lastly, a few coloured drawings or dried and mounted
specimens of the chief indigenous medicinal plants would
form a very desirable and useful addition to the col¬
lection.

At the request of the Chairman, Mr. Algernon Warren,
the Honorary Secretary, then said he thought he should
be doing the Association good service by offering in a
concise form some idea of the literary treasures placed
within their reach by the arrangements concluded between
their own Council and that of the Bristol Library. Their
own books occupied a compartment in the extensive
library in which they were then sitting, and they were

being so well used by the members and associates that
there was little need for him to say much about them,
except a few words of gratitude to the Pharmaceutical
Society for the gift ; but he thought a rapid account of the
general disposition of the mass of books about them, all
of which were open to their perusal, would be of use.

The large outer reading room contained many of the
leading works of fiction and standard books on travel,
history, archaeology and philosophy. In the room above
were found the varied creations of the poets, works on
antiquities, on natural history, on military matters, on
theology and parliamentary history.

The inner room contained treatises upon geology, as¬
tronomy, etc., the works of classical authors, current -
scientific and medical magazines and works on art, in¬
cluding some in the French and German languages. The
galleries of this room displayed numbers of medical and
scientific works, and series of the standard reviews and
magazines.

During the explanations thus hastily summarized, Mr.
Warren constantly referred to individual works of special
merit or of unusual interest, and finally observed that
his recent investigations enabled him to say with some
confidence that from a literary point almost every variety
of taste could be met and fairly satisfied from the re¬
sources of that library.

After ample discussions of the subjects suggested by
those two communications, Mr. Little and Mr. Warren
were warmly thanked, and the proceedings terminated.

I meetings of Scientific Varieties*

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held cn Thursday, April
7, Dr. Russell in the chair.

The following certificates were read for the first time :
■ — T. P. Venable, A. J. Shilton.

The Chairman then called on Mr. W. Jago to read a
paper —

On the Organic Matter in Sea Water. — On p. 133 of the
sixth report of the Rivers Commission it is stated that
the proportion of organic elements in sea water varies
between such wide limits in different samples as to
suggest that much of the organic matter consists of living
organisms so minute and gelatinous as to pass readily
through the best filters. At the suggestion of Dr.
Fankland the author has investigated this subject. The
water was tollected in mid-channel, between Newhaven
and Dieppe, by the engineers of the London, Brighton and
South Coast Railway, in stoppered glass carboys. The
author has used the combustion method, the albuminoid
ammonia and in some cases the oxygen process of
Professor Tidy. To determine how the various methods-
of water analysis were affected by a change of the
organic matter from organic compounds in solution to
organisms in suspension, some experiments were made
with hay infusion ; the results confirm those of Kingzett
( Chem . Soc. Journ., 1880, 15), the oxygen required first
rising and then diminishing. The author concludes that
the organic matter of sea water is much more capable of
resisting oxidizing agents than that present in ordinary
fresh waters and that the organic matter in sea water
is probably organized and alive. Several tables accom¬
pany the paper. The author promises some further work
on the subject.

In answer to Mr. Piesse, the author stated that no
determinations of phosphoric acid were made.

Mr. W. M. Hamlet then read a paper —

On the Action of Compounds Inimical to Bacterial Life ►
— After criticizing the experiments of Crace Calvert
[Chem. News, xxii., 281), in which the solutions were
exposed freely to the action of the air and were in some
cases even allowed to dry up, the author details his
method of experimentation. Flasks similar to those of

£pril 1C, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

869

Pasteur ( Etudes sur la Bierc, 81) -holding about quarter
litre were used. The liquids employed were Pasteur’s
fluid, with sugar, beef-tea, hay infusion, urine, brewers’
wort, and extract of meat. Each flask was about half
filled and boiled for ten minutes, whereby all previously
existing life was destroyed. The flask was then allowed
to cool, the entering air being filtered through a plug of
glass wool or asbestos. The flask was then inoculated
with a small quantity of previously cultivated hay solu¬
tion or Pasteur’s fluid. Hydrogen, oxygen, carbonic oxide,
marsh gas, nitrogen, and sulphuretted hydrogen were
without effect on the bacteria. Chlorine and hydric
peroxide (about 7 per cent, of 5 volume solution) were
fatal to bacteria. The action of various salts and organic
acids in 5 per cent, solution was tried ; many, including
potash, soda, potassic bisulphite, sodic hyposulphite,
potassic chlorate, potassic permanganate, oxalic acid,
acetic acid, glycerin, laudanum and alcohol, were without
effect on the bacterial life. Others, the alums, ferrous
sulphate, ferric chloride, magnesic and aluminic chlorides,
bleaching powder, camphor, salicylic acid, chloroform,
creosote, and carbolic acid, decidedly arrested the
development of bacteria. The author has made a
more extended examination of the action of chloro¬
form, especially as regards the statement of Muntz
that bacteria cannot exist in the presence of 2£ per
cent, of chloroform, which substance is, therefore, useful
in distinguishing physiological from chemical ferments.
The author concludes that amounts of chloroform,
phenol, and creasote, varying from £ to 3 per cent, do
not destroy bacteria, although their functional activity is
decidedly arrested while in contact with these reagents.
To use the author’s words, bacteria may be pickled in
creasote and carbolic acid without being deprived of
their vitality. The author concludes that the sub¬
stances which destroy bacteria are those which are
capable of exerting an immediate and powerful oxi¬
dizing action, and that it is active oxygen, whether
from the action of chlorine, ozone or peroxide of hydro¬
gen, which must be regarded as the greatest known
enemy to bacteria.

Mr. Hamlet, in replying to some remarks of Messrs.
Kingzett and Williams, said that in all cases the solu¬
tions which he had used had been Completely sterilized
by exposure to a temperature of 105° for ten minutes.
The indiarubber tubing he had used was steamed. Car¬
bolic acid solution must contain at least 5 per cent, of
carbolic acid to be fatal to bacteria. He was quite aware
of the importance of distinguishing between the action
of the two substances on various kinds of bacteria,
and was quite prepared to say that a treatment which
would be fatal to one kind of bacterium might not
injure another.

The Society then adjourned to April 21, when a
paper “ On the Estimation of Hydric Peroxide by means
of Potassic Permanganate,” by W. E. Adeney, and one
on “ The Oxidation of Sulphurous Acid,” by H. B. Dixon,
will be read.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting of the above Association on Wednes¬
day, March 23, Mr. F. W. Branson, President, in the
chair,

Mr. G-. F. Snow read a paper on “ Sulphur,” in which
the subject was treated historically, physically and phar¬
maceutically. The history of sulphur was traced from
the earliest periods to the present time. The different
physical conditions of sulphur, and their values in the
arts and medicine, were illustrated and explained, and
the author next referred to its use in pharmacy. The
various kinds known as sulphur vivum, lotum, subli-
matum and prsecipitatum were described, the former as
being now used principally for veterinary purposes;
sulphur lotum was considered as having somewhat fallen
into disuse. Sulphur sublimatum and its preparations

were noticed, especially in connection with the conf.
sulphuris, B.P., in which it was observed that the cream
of tartar generally crystallized when kept any length of
time. The omission of sulphur sublimatum in the p.
glycyrrh. co. of the B.P. was spoken of as a mistake, as
the demand for the p. glycyrrh. co. of the German Phar¬
macopoeia, so much prescribed by medical men, justified
the belief that the objections which have been urged
against the introduction of sulphur into this preparation
were not well founded. Sulphur prsecipitatum was next
noticed, and it was contended that its connection with
the lac sulphuris, Pharmacopoeia, 1721, might be traced
through several Pharmacopoeias ; analogous cases were
noticed, such as sal volatile, tincture of steel, etc. A more
reliable preparation for the production of ung. sulph.
hypochlor. than the present powder in use was considered
necessary. Although a liquid chloride of sulphur is some¬
times used, mixed with ung. sulphuris, B.P., yet this
method somewhat lacks the exactness demanded. In
conclusion, the author said the amount of sulphur im¬
ported into this country during the last three years, was,
in 1878, 43,604 tons; in 1879, 41,012 tons; and in 1880,
46,895 tons.

Some very fine specimens of native, refined and plastic
sulphurs were shown from the firms of Messrs. May and
Baker and Brandram Brothers.

A good discussion followed, in which the Chairman,
Messrs. Stuart, Hartridge, Parkinson, Killick and Princip
took part, after which a vote of thanks was proposed by
Mr. Stuart, and seconded by Mr. Parkinson.

The next paper read was a —

Note on Oleate of Bismuth. — By Mr. C. R. Killick,
— In the search for a compound of bismuth which should
be soluble in a fatty basis there has yet been found no
substance giving so much promise of usefulness as the
oleate. In 1876 a solution of the normal nitrate,
Bi(N03)3, in glycerine, was suggested as partially
supplying the want, but it. was doubtless due to the
partial decomposition of the salt that its use has been
abandoned. There have been several forms given for
making the oleate, but the resulting compounds either
contained a large excess of oleic acid, or else occupied a
great amount of time in their preparation. The method
adopted by Mr. S. C. Betty, and laid before an evening-
meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society, was that of
gradually incorporating finely divided oxide of bismuth
with oleic acid, heating to nearly the boiling point of the
mixture, then allowing it to stand at a temperature of
60° F. for four days, when solidification takes place.
By this means a product containing 20 per cent, of the
base was obtained, but subsequent experience showed
that under apparently similar conditions uniform results
were not obtained. Dr. McCall Anderson suggested a
process similar to that sometimes used in the manu¬
facture of zinci oleas, viz., digesting 1 oz. of the B.P.
oxide in 8 oz. of oleic acid, allowing to stand for two
hours, then heating on a water-bath until dissolved.
The method which the author found most successful was
to decompose a definite weight of the nitrate by boiling
with liq. sodse, washing with aq. dest., afterwards
depriving of water by washing with spirit. The pre¬
cipitate is transferred to the oleic acid and heated on a
water-bath with constant stirring until combined. The
oxide thus obtained is much more readily soluble than
that which has been dried by heat, and the spirit being
miscible with oleic acid, offers no obstacle to combina¬
tion. After becoming solid the temperature is gradually
raised until liquefied, and the spirit, together with any
water which may be liberated during the operation, is
driven off. The product may be made by this process to
contain 30 per cent, of the base ; it somewhat resembles
the oleate of lead in appearance, but is of softer con¬
sistence, and may be mixed with vaseline or a fatty basis
to form an ointment.

Specimens of the oleate made by different processes
and of the ointment were shown.

870 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [April 16, 1881.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,
March 24, Mr. D. Hooper, Vice-President, in the chair.

Mr. Henry Allen read a paper on “ Heat in relation to
Chemical Action,” which will be published in a future
number of this Journal. The paper was copiously illus¬
trated by diagrams, showing the principal forms of calo¬
rimeters used for the determination of the heat given out
during chemical combinations, and also by tables giving
the thermal equivalents.

A discussion followed the reading of the paper, in which
the Chairman, Secretary, Messrs. Branson, Parker and
Senier took part.

After a vote of thanks had been passed to Mr. Allen
for his interesting paper, the meeting adjourned.

Death of an Opium Eater in Leeds.

Mr. Malcolm held an inquest on Monday, April 4, at
the Town Hall, on the body of Alice Poole, aged 51
years, the wife of John Poole, brick and tile maker.

The evidence of the deceased’s husband was to the
effect that his wife was a confirmed opium eater contrary
to medical advice. He had frequently bought her a
shilling’s worth of opium at a time. On the 25th ult. he
purchased eightpenny worth for her from Mr. Wright,
chemist, Kirkstall Road.* The deceased died on Friday
last.

Emily Poole, daughter of the last witness, deposed that
on Thursday night last she purchased sixpenny worth of
opium for her mother. This was in addition to the
quantity bought by her father on the previous Friday.
On Friday last her mother was taken very ill, and Mr.
Bacon, surgeon, was called in. He had attended her
previously, and knew she was an opium eater.

Mr. Bacon stated that when he saw the deceased she
was in a dying state. She had a very livid appearance,
and the pupils of her eyes were much contracted. She
died the same evening (Friday) from chronic opium
poisoning. The piece of opium produced (the remains of
that purchased by the daughter) was about sixty grains
in weight, the usual medicinal dose being from a half to
one grain. The opium was obtained at the shop of Mr.
Wright.

There being no doubt as to the cause of death, the jury
returned a verdict in accordance with the medical
testimony. — Leeds Mercury.

Alleged Thefts of Government Stores at
Stonehouse.

At the Stonehouse Petty Sessions, on Friday, April 8,
before Messrs. W. E. Matthews (in the chair), C. Simp¬
son, H. H. Tremayne, Admiral Watson and Major-
General Fowler-Burton, county magistrates, George
Prout, private R.M.L.I., and Samuel Sprague, marine
store dealer, of Stonehouse, were charged with stealing a
quantity of Government stores, namely, a tin of castor
oil, a tin of cod liver oil, a jar of phosphorized oil, and
eight rolls of sticking plaster; John Williams, private
R.M.L.I., was charged with stealing a quantity of Govern¬
ment drugs, namely, a bottle of juice of hemlock, one of
phenic acid, and another of carbolic acid, and also a jar
of cod liver oil and some quinine.

Mr. W. Eastlake, solicitor and Deputy- Judge Advocate
of the Fleet, who prosecuted, said he had received in¬
structions from the colonel-commandant to prefer the
charges, and having called evidence should ask for a
remand.

* No entry corresponding with this name and address ap¬
pears on the Register of Chemists and Druggists. — Ed. Ph. J.

Fleet-Surgeon Hemy Loney said he had charge of the
Royal Marine Infirmary and the medical stores. A
sergeant named Smale looked after the building, and
kept the keys under his instruction. On Wednesday
afternoon he received a communication from Corporal
Denley, in consequence of which he went to the stores,
and found a quantity of cod liver oil and castor oil
missing, and it had since come to his knowledge that
some rolls of plaister and some phosphorized oil were
also missing. On Thursday Re went to the shop of
Mr. P. C. Maitland, chemist, of Chapel Street. He saw
some Government stores there, one of the jars bearing
the hospital mark, and containing phosphorized oil. There
were also two large drums, one containing castor oil and
the other olive oil. These bore no mark, but they were
similar to those kept at the infirmary. The prisoner
Prout was formerly a servant to witness, but had been
discharged, and Prout was now a servant of one of the
other surgeons of the same department. Of the articles
found at the shop of Mr. Netting, chemist, of Manor
Street, Stonehouse, he recognized one bottle, which con¬
tained juice of hemlock.

William Denley, Corporal R.M.L.I., said he was dis¬
pensary man at the infirmary, and on Monday he missed
some spermaceti oil, a bottle of cod liver oil, and some
iron. On Wednesday he missed some castor oil, olive oil,
and phosphorized oil. He went to Mr. Maitland’s shop,
and there saw two drums, which were in every respect
similar to those at the infirmary. The plaister he saw at
Mr. Maitland’s was also similar.

Mr. Pelham C. Maitland, chemist, 31, Chapel Street,
Stonehouse, stated that the prisoner Sprague came to his
shop on Wednesday afternoon and offered some castor and
cod liver oil for sale. He asked prisoner where he ob¬
tained it, and Sprague replied that he had bought it from
a vessel in the docks which carried a large nnmber of
passengers and two surgeons. He further asked prisoner
if the man of whom he had purchased the articles had
any right to sell them, and the prisoner replied “ Yes.”
Witness bought the castor oil and refused to buy the
other, saying he would consider it. About 6 p.m. the
the same day Sprague returned with the prisoner Prout,
and asked witness to buy the other oil, which he did,
giving 37s. for the both. He paid the money to Sprague.

Police Constable Egan said that on Thursday he ap¬
prehended Prout about 4 p.m., charged him with stealing
a quantity of Government stores, and in reply he said he
knew nothing about it ; Sprague gave it him to sell, and
a glass of ale for doing so, and that he could prove.
Witness afterwards went to Mr. Maitland’s, and asked
him if he had bought any Government stores, and he
produced the articles referred to, and witness took charge
of them. Later in the day he apprehended Sprague, and
charged him with the same offence, and he in reply said
Prout gave them to him to sell, and promised to divide
the receipts. He received 37s., and they shared that sum.

Sergeant McNellan stated that on Thursday he went
to the Royal Marine Barracks, and by order of -the
colonel- commandant he took the prisoner Williams into
custody. He charged Williams with stealing Govern¬
ment stores, and the prisoner replied that he bought
them from a mate of a vessel in the docks. That morn¬
ing Williams had said he did not buy them of a mate,
but Prout gave them to him. Witness went to Mr.
Netten’s, chemist, of Manor Street, Stonehouse, where
he found the articles produced.

Charles Henry Foot Menhennick, assistant to Mr.
Netten, said last autumn the prisoner Williams came to>
his shop and offered for sale two or three bottles of
quinine, two bottles of pill masses, and one bottle of
confection of roses. He asked the prisoner where he
obtained the articles, and he replied at Malta, where
he had been a doctor’s servant, and when he was
leaving the doctor gave them to him. Witness told
the prisoner that the proprietor was not then in, and
asked him to call the next day. The prisoner then said

April 16, 1SS1J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

871

he was going away, and witness thereupon gave him a
sovereign for the lot.

In answer to Mr. Matthews the witness said that he
did not make any entry in the day-book of this, but
accounted for it to the proprietor on his return.

Mr. Mathews thought it was rather a loose way of doing
business, and further remarked that the profit on buying
the goods at such a low rate was large.

This was all the evidence now offered, and the pri¬
soners, who asked no questions, were remanded until
Thursday. — Western Morning News.

gisfenshtg ||lmToranim,

In order to assist as much as possible jour younger
brethren, for whose sake pa/rtly this column was established ,
considerable latitude is allowed , according to promise , in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions , or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[527]. This prescription presents two obstacles to the
eye of a novice, first, the somewhat obscure “ Kerm.
min./’ which, however, is simply an abbreviation of
Kermes mineral (an odourless, tasteless and very dark
crimson powder, which is employed in continental prac¬
tice as a substitute for James’s powder), and then the
equally abstruse “ loch, pectorialis,” simplified by calling
it lohoch or linctus pectorialis, a composition of equal
parts of oxymel of squills, simple syrup and mucilage of
* acacia.

I think the most practicable method of dispensing it
would be : —

(a) To triturate the Kerm. min. with a part of the
linctus.

( b ) To pour into the bottle and shake together.

(c) To add the tr. veratriae virid., and finally the re¬
mainder of the linctus.

Bedford. H. W. Nichol.

[529]. Tinct. Iodic. Am. — “Islander” will find the
following become colourless in twenty-four hours : —
ft. Tinct. Iodi . t^ss.

Liq. Ammon., s. g. ‘960 . §j.

Misce. G. Brown.

9]. I believe it is the general custom in preparing
iodi c. ammonia, to simply decolorize by the addition
of liquor, ammon. fort, the tincture of iodine of the
British Pharmacopoeia. I have found 3j* to -33. of
tincture and two or three days’ exposure to the light
quite sufficient. The resulting so-called colourless
tincture is a complex mixture ; when kept for some time
it smells strongly of garlic and deposits colourless
■crystals.

G. S. Illingworth.

[52

tinct.

Holes itnb (Queries.

[699]. AQUA MELLIS. — “ Nemo ” wishes for the
formula for aq. inellis. I have great pleasure in forward¬
ing him one : —

ft Ess. Bergam.,

Ess. Moschi . aa 3o*

01. Rhodii,

01. Caryophylli . aa gr. vj.

Aquae Rosae ........ oviij.

Sp. iEther. Nit . 3j*

Sp. ViniRect . Oij*.

Croci Stig . gr. iij.

M. T. Lees.

[701]. RANGOON OIL. — “ Fowne ” says, “ amongst
the several naphthas there is one called Burmese naphtha
(or rangoon tar). It consists principally of liquid
homologues of marsh gas, associated with small quantities
of hydrocarbons of the benzol series, paraffin and hydro¬
carbons analogous to colophene.” I should think
Rangoon tar and Rangoon oil are the same.

374.

[702]. GLYCERINE OF PEPSINE.— Which is the
best way to dissolve pepsine in glycerine, and in what
proportion will it dissolve ?

A solution of pepsine in glycerine is required in place
of pepsine wine.

H. G.

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Pharmaceutical Titles.

Sir, — A paragraph anent the Major qualification, in Dr.
Greenhow’s report which was submitted to the last Council
Meeting, recalls an appeal I made some six years ago to the
more prominent and influential members of our Society to
endeavour to make the title conferred on passing the Major
examination more respected and sought after.

From a good general knowledge of the feelings of the
trade, I thoroughly endorse Dr. Greenhow’s statement that
probably “ the title of pharmaceutical chemist is not
sufficiently distinctive to induce candidates to undergo the
expense and trouble of passing another examination in
order to obtain it.” I say it with all respect,' but I am
convinced that the founders of the Society made an
unfortunate blunder when this title was chosen, and it is to
be regretted that the Society has hitherto been content
merely to endorse that selection.

I think it will readily be granted that a title indicating
scientific attainments is a marketable article which even
“ professional” men do not scruple to buy : how much more,
therefore, ought this aspect of the question to have commen¬
ded itself to a trading class ? Yet we find that through excess
of modesty or a feeling of being above dependence on a
“handle” to their names, the founders of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society threw away the opportunity of securing the
power to confer (on examination) a title with the proper
ring about it, and ever since 1808, after Parliament put all
power into their hands, the Society has continued to barter
the head and shoulders of their weakling to an unexamined
class who are willing to pay two pounds down and subscribe
a guinea a year.

To again quote the words of Dr. Greehhow, “ It is, there¬
fore, a° question worthy of consideration whether some
other and more distinctive title than that of ‘ Pharmaceu¬
tical Chemist,’ such for example as ‘ Fellow of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society/ might not be advantageously substituted
for the present name,” and the doctor goes on to say that,
“ on public grounds it is very desirable that a greater num¬
ber of persons should hold it.” I, therefore, submit that one
main incentive to students to push on to a higher degree
would be to grant a title more suggestive of examination,
and in proof that this is a felt want, I have but to point to
the too frequently seen addendum “by examination,” which
I hold is but a clumsy mode of supplying a defect in the
original title. The American degree, “ Graduate in Phar¬
macy,” which we see much more frequently on the pages of
the Journal than our own more valuable “ Pharmaceutical
Chemist,” is an example of the sort of title I would suggest,
although to consistently make use of such a title in England
the holder ought perhaps to have gone through a college
curriculum. But a better name may be originated by our¬
selves, and, merely as a suggestion, I mention, “ Licentiate
of the Pharmaceutical Society.” Further, since now-a-days
“doctor” has ceased to have its contracted and original

872

[April 16, 18sl.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

meaning of ‘ * teacher,” and besides doctors of divinity, law
and medicine, we have doctors of music, doctors of science,
and doctors of philosophy, why not * ‘ doctors of pharmacy?”
I am aware that this latter suggestion takes us into quite a
new country, and through which we would have to fight
every step. "W ithout doubt, pretension to such a title as
doctor of pharmacy would stir opposition in many
quarters, but we ought to remember that we are phar¬
macists first, and physicians’ helps afterwards; and further,
grant a searching examination, following, if need be, Dr.
Greenhow’s suggestion of “attendance upon a fixed curri¬
culum, or special course of study at a school of pharmacy,
and the class of men likely to take the degree would be found
the most unlikely to trench upon the physician’s domain, and
dabble in counter practice.” I wish I were sure of no
opposition from our own ranks, from members, who, them¬
selves safe on the top shelf, seem to think that they are
above the rough and tumble every day hustle, and pooh-
pooh, as “ scientific pretension,” the laudable ambition of
the struggling pharmacist to reap all possible benefit from
the examinations.

I do not think that the adoption of “Fellow” for
“ Member ” of the Society would be any advantage. Perhaps
Dr. Greenhow does not appreciate the necessity of having a
title apart from membership. Not every Major man is
connected with the Society, and being myself not a stranger
in Burlington House, I know how really little “Fellow”
may mean.

If an improvement of the title conferred by the Society
can be brought about without going to Parliament, I
commend the subject to the attention of the Council, and
hope also for some interchange of opinion through your
columns ; but remembering the foolish personalities into
which the last correspondence degenerated, I would beg
that it be taken for granted that we know all about the
“ self-exaltation ” aspect of the question, and that arguments
for or against be directed to the main issue.

G. L. Huet.

Relations of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Sir, — Before the correspondence on “the Relations of
Medicine and Pharmacy ” closes it might not be out of place
to give again the reply of the committee of the Rochdale
Chemists’ Association to the query of the medical men
relative to counter-prescribing. It was published in your
columns on July 12, 1879, and is as follows: —

“Ever since the incorporation of the Pharmaceutical
Society, chemists generally have discouraged prescribing, in
the hope that they would ultimately have the duty of dis¬
pensing the prescriptions of medical men. Where this
practice prevails, there is no prescribing done by the che¬
mists, except for such simple ailments as the medical profes¬
sion do not care to treat, or- the public do not think of asking
their advice about. The result may be thus briefly summed
up. The more dispensing by chemists, the less prescribing;
the less dispensing, the more prescribing.”

Nearly all, if not quite all, the medical men who took
part in the discussion of this question, at th# conference
between the medical men and chemists of this town, ac¬
quiesced in this vidV of the subject, and some went so far
as to say they were glad that chemists relieved them of
those cases where the patient would object to pay their
usual fee for consultation, when only a worm powder, or a
little medicine in simple ailments of children, was required.

Let us hope that as soon as the correspondence on the
subject closes, an effort will be made to arrange for a con¬
ference between representatives of the two bodies, as being
the most likely means of leading to practical results.
Rochdale. ' Ralph Robinson.

The Benevolent Fond.

Sir,— The pathetic appeal of the Secretary for help
towards the Benevolent Fund, which accompanied his
reminder to me of the non-payment of my annual sub¬
scription, provoked me to give vent to a few crude sugges¬
tions which occurred to me at the moment. Mr. Bremridge
suggests the ventilation of those ideas through your eloquent
mediumship, and I, therefore, repeat to you the same
remarks in a somewhat similar strain, but backed by the
approval of the Secretary of the Society.

Imprimis , let me say that it is a disgrace to a Society

whose members are universally considered gentlemen (save
the mark), and only a little lower than the angelic profes¬
sion of medicine, to have their corporate benevolence repre¬
sented by such a paltry sum as that which figures in the
annual statement.

To remedy this, I suggested three plans. The first was
to convert the Benevolent Fund into an insurance society,
to include amongst its provisions, one to secure an annuity
to a person after a certain age, as is done by several so¬
cieties of the same kind. This would give everyone con¬
nected with the Society some object in subscribing to the
Fund.

My second suggestion was to inspire the sleeping genius
of men who, as a rule, received a fair education, and
amongst whom there must be some talent. This talent I
propose to utilize in providing entertainments in London
and the provinces, to induce the benevolent to become
helpers to poor chemists, and at the same time to provide
an evening’s amusement to people who, in small out-of-the-
way towns, are bored to death with ennui.

To show I do not speak rashly I may say I can give the
name of one gentleman of the cloth who has many a time
entertained a fashionable audience for an evening with
recitations which went far to rival the best attempts of
Bellew.

My third idea was arrived at by doing a simple sum,
which shows that if each one of the 13,000 members were to
drop daily, on taking the till, one penny into a box pro¬
vided for the purpose by the Society, the same box lo be
forwarded on the 1st of January in each year to the
Secretary, the sum so provided would amount to the fairly
handsome total of about £20,000. Besides this, such a box,
placed in a conspicuous place in the pharmacy, would place
many a penny at the disposal of the Fund. I am not so
Utopian or Quixotic as to suppose that every member of
the 13,000 would comply with such a suggestion. But I
venture to prognosticate that the amouut so obtained the
first year would exceed £10,000. •

21, Paddington Street , W. Alfred Beaven.

Chemists’ Prices.

Sir, — I noticed, in a local paper, the letter referred to by
Messrs. Nind and Dymott, and criticized in your recent
leader. According to our “ price list ” the price of 2£ ounces
of a compound ointment, by prescription, is Is. 8d. ; and
when several ingredients are prescribed, the dispenser re¬
quiring a warm mortar,, slab, etc., in order to turn out an
elegant ointment, I think the “price list” rate is not too
high; but the committee recommend that, “in cases where
the composition of the medicine is very simple, or where the
pecuniary circumstances of the patient call for abatement,
the dispenser may make a reduction at his discretion,” and
I am of opinion that the ointment in the letter referred to
was charged too high.

Edinburgh. “JOHN.”

W. M. Coveil. — There are unfortunately a large number
of persons who appear to think with yourself, but we are
not of opinion that any good would be done to the trade at
large by giving your views greater publicity than has already
been done.

T. M. Stiles. — In order to be eligible as a Bell Scholar a
candidate must already have entered the calling of pharmacy
to the extent that he must have passed or been engaged not
lef s than three years in the pharmacy of a registered chemist
and druggist. What career may be open to him subsequently
we do not venture to prognosticate.

W. L. — The offensive odour communicated to the breath
by some specimens of bismuth has been attributed to the
presence of tellurium as an impurity. See Pharm. Jow'n ..
[3], vol. vi., pp. 501 and 561, and other places in the same
volume.

J. T. Bilney. — An aniline black marking ink is described
in vol. v., p. 912, of the present series of this Journal. The
passage is too long for reproduction.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Allen, Root and Tinkers, Fireworks, C. J., W.
E. E.

April 23, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

873

CONTRIBUTION TO THE CHEMISTRY OF
NERIUM ODORUM.

Preliminary Note.

BY HENRY G. GREENISH.

No attempt having, to my knowledge, as yet been
made to isolate the active principle of this drug, the
poisonous properties of which are well known in India,
I was induced to undertake the investigation, deem¬
ing it not improbable that a chemical examination
would reveal the presence of a principle similar to
the oleandrin of Nerium oleander or to the wrightin
or conessin of Wrigktia ( Nerium ) antidysenterica.

The following quotation from the Pharmacopoeia
of India, in which the root is official, will serve to
show the uses made of the drug in that country, and
the properties assigned to it : —

“ Nerium odorum, Aiton (Bot. Mag ., 1, 2032), the
sweet-scented oleander, much cultivated in India for
the sake of its flowers, which are used in certain
religious ceremonies by the Hindus. All parts of
the plant, especially the root, are recognized by the
natives as poisonous, and, as such, are used for
criminal and suicidal purposes ; y et we find in the
‘Salief Shereef ’ (p. 129), and other works on Indian
materia medica, it is prescribed in leprosy and other
diseases. It is mentioned here chiefly with a view
of enforcing caution in any trials which may be
made with it, as in overdoses it is productive of
serious and even fatal effects. Two interesting cases
of poisoning with it are recorded, one by Dr. J.
Broughton (‘ Bombay Med. Phys. Trans.,’ iv. , N. S.,
p. 4 in app.), and the other by Dr. A. Greig (‘Indian
Annals of Medical Science,’ vol. ii., p. 295). In the
latter, which proved fatal, death, according to Dr.
Greig, was due to the directly depressing influence
which the drug exercises on the nervous system. A
case in which tetanic symptoms followed the ex-
-hibition of the root bark is. recorded by Mr.
Kamicakyd Nath Acherjee ( Indian Med. Gaz., vol.
i., p. 218, 1866).

Simpson* observes that the hill plant is more
poisonous than that cultivated in gardens, and men¬
tions the occurrence of tetanic spasms similar to those
caused by poisoning with strychnia ; but he notices that
strychnia exerts no marked influence on the pulse,
whilst in poisoning with oleander “preternatural
slowness of the pulse is a well marked feature.”
“Besides its action on the nervous system there¬
fore,” says Simpson, “ the poisonous principle of
the oleander appears to have a special depressing
influence on the heart.”

The quantity of the drug at my disposal was about
400 grains. I am indebted for it to the kindness of
Mr. E. M. Holmes, Curator of the Museum of the
Pharmaceutical Society, to whom I take this oppor¬
tunity of expressing my thanks. It consisted of
pieces, varying in thickness from the size of a goose
quill to over an inch in diameter, the majority
measuring three-eighths to five-eighths of an inch.
Externally the bark presents a greyish wrinkled
appearance. On removing the outer layer, the
inner is seen to be yellowish-green in colour. The
wood is soft, easily cut, and possesses the- same
yellowish-grey colour as the bark. The latter,
which is of medium thickness and adheres tolerably
firmly to the wood, is remarkable for its intensely
bitter taste, which in the wood is hardly noticeable.

'* Pharm . Jouvn. Trans., [3] vol. ii., p. 666.

Third Series, No. 565.

Microscopic Examination. — A transverse section
showed the bark to be composed of an external
la^er of about ten rows of cork cells, followed by
parenchymatous tissue traversed longitudinally by
numerous laticiferous vessels still containing in many
instances the dried latex. On the longitudinal
section, the course of the laticiferous vessels may
easily be traced, especially after treatment of the
section with iodine and chloride of zinc. By this
means the parenchymatous cells are coloured blue,
whilst the dried latex absorbs iodine and renders
itself so more evident by its yellow colour. Bast-
fibres are not present. Between the wood and the
bark is situated the cambium layer with its thin-
walled cells. The wood consists of the usual ele¬
ments, viz., wood-cells and vessels. They are some¬
what thin-walled and of small diameter. Single
rows of narrow parenchymatous cells (medullary
rays), loaded with starch grains, traverse the wood
from the centre to the circumference. The absence
of pith shows the drug to be a root.

By treatment of the longitudinal section with
iodine and chloride of zinc, numerous sieve-cells in
the inner bark are brought to light which otherwise
easily escape observation. Crystals of oxalate of cal¬
cium are numerous.

Chemical Examination. — The bark being the seat of
the greater part of the bitter substance, it was deemed
advisable to separate the same from the wood. Ninety
grams of root-bark were obtained by cutting and
scraping, leaving 280 grams consisting of the wood
and small rootlets.

Each portion was reduced to a coarse powder and
macerated seven days, with sufficient absolute alcohol
to cover it, at the ordinary temperature, followed by
two days at a temperature of about 35° C. The al¬
coholic solution was then filtered off, the residue
pressed, and the maceration with alcohol repeated.
The united filtrates were evaporated on the water-
bath to a small bulk, during which operation a quan¬
tity of yellowish fatty oil separated out. This oil
was free from bitterness and proved to be soluble in
ether and petroleum spirit. To completely remove
it the concentrated alcoholic solution "was diluted
with several times its volume of water, and to the
milky fluid thus obtained powdered bole was
added. The whole was brought on to a filter and
yielded a perfectly clear filtrate, which was then
evaporated on the water-bath to a small volume.
In extracting the active principles of this root it
would be advisable to remove the oily matter by treat¬
ment of the powdered drug with petroleum spirit.

I. Filtrate of the Bark.— This, though already
slightly acid, was rendered distinctly so with dilute
sulphuric acid, and shaken with petroleum spirit,
which, however, removed but traces of fatty sub¬
stance (probably the above-mentioned oil). After
the separation of the petroleum spirit the liquid was
shaken with chloroform which, in addition to be¬
coming itself coloured, caused the separation of a
yellowish-brown oily liquid that floated between the
aqueous and chloroformic solutions. This oily sub¬
stance was removed, heated for a few minutes to
100c C. to drive off traces of chloroform, and finally
dried over sulphuric acid. It was then finely pow¬
dered, and digested successively with chloroform and
ether, washed and dried. It proved to possess an in¬
tensely bitter taste, to be easily soluble in cold water,
but insoluble in chloroform.

The aqueous liquid from which this substance had

874

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 23, 1881.

"been separated was now again shaken with chloro¬
form, and the two chloroformic solutions so obtained,
which contained by far the greater part of tTie
substance extracted by chloroform, evaporated to
dryness. The residue was yellow, amorphous, very
slightly soluble in cold water, more easily in boiling,
but easily soluble in chloroform, and possessed an
intensely bitter taste.

These two bitter substances are, as I shall pre¬
sently show, powerful cardiac poisons, and resemble
digitalin and digitalein in their behaviour to chloro¬
form and water. I have proposed, therefore, for the
substance soluble in chloroform, but difficultly
soluble in water, the name “ neriodorin for the
substance easily soluble in water, but insoluble in
chloroform, the name “ neriodorein.”

After removing the neriodorin from the aqueous
solution by shaking with chloroform, it was found
that a bitter substance still remained in solution.
The acid liquid was accordingly neutralized with
carbonate of barium, evaporated to dryness, and
treated with absolute alcohol, which solvent left
on evaporation a residue possessing the characters of
neriodorein, although not quite pure.

II. Filtrate from the Wood. — This was treated in
a similar manner, but the addition of sulphuric acid
to the aqueous liquid after the removal of the fat
was avoided. The separation of neriodorein as an
oily liquid was inconsiderable, and the neriodorin
obtained by shaking with chloroform was a shade
darker in colour than that from the bark.

Neriodorein. — Purified as above described by wash¬
ing with chloroform and ether, dried over sulphuric
acid, and powdered, it was obtained as a pale lemon-
yellow amorphous powder. The taste is intensely
bitter, and is followed by a numbing sensation
lasting a considerable time. It is insoluble in
petroleum spirit, ether, benzol, chloroform, bisul¬
phide of carbon, amylic alcohol and acetic ether,
both warm and cold, but is easily soluble in cold
water, and also in alcohol.

The aqueous solution possesses a neutral reaction.
It contains no nitrogen, and when burnt on platinum
foil leaves only traces of ash.

The addition of chloroform to a concentrated
aqueous solution of neriodorin causes its separation
as an oily liquid, part, however, remaining in
aqueous solution. Chloroform and ether precipitate
it from its alcoholic solution in pale coloured flocks.
Glacial acetic acid dissolves it, but on evaporation
1 eaves it behind as a yellow, amorphous, varnish-like
mass. Digestion of the aqueous solution with animal
charcoal fails to remove the yellow colour. No
attempt to crystallize it was attended with success ;
but I believe it to be crystallizable, since it passes
through the septum of a dialyser completely and
with facility.

Pure concentrated sulphuric acid produced with
dry neriodorein a reddish-brown colour, at the edges
violet, passing gradually to a dirty yellowish-brown
and green.

Sulphuric achl and cane sugar gave at first the
same colour, turning subsequently violet-blue. A
drop of concentrated nitric acid added to the sul¬
phuric acid solution coloured it yellow. Frohde’s
reagent yielded a deep dirty violet colour.

A one per cent, solution in water was neutral in
reaction to litmus. It was not precipitated by basic
acetate of lead solution, but the addition of a drop
of ammonia caused the formation of a voluminous

gelatinous precipitate. With tannic acid it yielded
a yellowish precipitate. Ferric chloride tinged the
solution slightly brown. With potassio-mercuric
iodide, cupric acetate and neutral lead acetate no
change was observed. Fehling’s copper solution was
reduced on boiling with the aqueous solution of
neriodorein, but the ease with which the latter dis¬
solves in absolute alcohol and in a solution of 1 vol.
chloroform in 4 vols. of absolute alcohol proves the
reaction not to be due to any sugar present as im¬
purity, although that substance had been detected
in the root.

A solution of neriodorein in water containing 2 per
cent, hydrochloric acid, heated for a couple of hours
in a sealed tube in the water-bath, was found to have
undergone decomposition, rendered evident by the
separation of a yellow resinous substance. The
tube was allowed to cool, broken open, and the still
slightly yellow coloured liquid filtered from the de¬
composition product. The former was entirely free
from bitter taste, but still reduced Fehling’s copper
solution on boiling. The decomposition product
was treated with absolute alcohol, which dissolved
a yellow substance leaving a residue consisting
of colourless needle-shaped crystals. The latter
appeared insoluble in water, ether, alcohol, and
alkalies, but soluble in chloroform. The alcoholic
solution allowed to evaporate left a yellow amor¬
phous residue soluble in chloroform, alcohol, and
boiling water. Treated with Frohde’s reagent this
yellow substance yielded a beautiful violet colour,
passing gradually to a dirty green. Neither of these
substances reduce Fehling’s copper solution when
boiled with that reagent. Neriodorein would seem
therefore to be a glucoside, but to settle this point
decisively a more minute examination would be
necessary than the amount of material at my
disposal permitted me to make.

An aqueous solution of neriodorein was mixed
with milk of lime and evaporated to dryness in
the water-bath. The mixture was found to have
lost its original bitter taste, and on warming with
absolute alcohol yielded no appreciable quantity to
that solvent. This decomposition requires further
investigation, as also that brought about by heating
with dilute acid.

Neriodorin formed a clear yellow transparent
tenacious varnish-like mass, which after long
standing over sulphuric acid was not brittle enough
to allow of its being powdered. It was easily
soluble in chloroform, very difficultly in cold water,
more easily in boiling, imparting to both hot and
cold water its intensely bitter taste. Petroleum
spirit, benzol and bisulphide of carbon did not dis¬
solve it ; ether dissolved only traces. In alcohol it was
tolerably readily soluble. All attempts to obtain it
in a crystalline condition proved futile. Like
neriodorein it was free from nitrogen, and the
aqueous solution had a neutral reaction. Copper
solution was reduced on boiling. Heated in a
sealed tube with 2 per cent, hydrochloric acid it
underwent a decomposition similar to that observed
when neriodorein was subjected to the same treat¬
ment, and yielded the same decomposition products,
viz., a white crystalline substance, yellow amorphous
substance, and, probably, sugar.

The alcoholic solution mixed with milk of lime
and evaporated to dryness lost its bitter taste and
left a residue from which boiling alcohol extracted a
yellow resinous substance insoluble in water,

April 23, 1881.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

875

differing in this respect from the similar decomposi¬
tion product from neriodorein, which was insoluble
in alcohol but soluble in water.

Concentrated pure sulphuric acid dissolved nerio-
dorin with yellowish-brown colour, which passed to
a violet in contact with the vapour of bromine or of
nitric acid.

Frohde’s reagent produced a deep violet-red,
passing gradually to a beautiful violet-blue, ancl
assuming finally a dirty green tint.

The saturated aqueous solution (produced by boil¬
ing a small quantity in water, cooling and filtering)
showed a neutral reaction, yielded with ferric chloride
a deep reddish-brown colour which was discharged
by acids and alkali, with basic acetate of lead gela¬
tinous flocks, and, acidulated with dilute sulphuric
acid, gave with solution of potassio-mercuric iodide
a copious whitish precipitate.

Neriodorin and neriodorein possess, therefore,
considerable similarity to one another, but may be
distinguished by their behaviour to solvents (chloro¬
form and cold water) and in aqueous solution to
ferric chloride, basic acetate of lead and potassio-
mercuric iodide. Curiously enough, although the
former is difficultly soluble in cold water, the pre¬
sence of but small quantities in the neriodorein is
sufficient to render the latter extremely hygro¬
scopic, a character not possessed by it in a state of
purity.

To ascertain the action of neriodorein on the
system, large healthy frogs were selected for the ex¬
periments, and the aqueous solution of neriodorein
injected hypodermically, the animal’s heart being, if
necessary, exposed, to permit of the beats being
counted.

0'0016 grams caused, in fourteen minutes, diminu¬
tion of the heart beats from 70 to 12 per minute,
followed by a temporary rise to 60 ; after the lapse
of five minutes longer the heart ceased to beat. This
cessation of the heart’s action was closely followed by
cessation of the respiration.

The same dose was administered to two frogs, the
heart not being exposed. In one case it proved
fatal, but in the other recovery ensued in the course
of twelve hours.

0-0008 gram did not prove a fatal dose.

00032 gram was followed by death in the course
of one hour and a half.

A very slightly alkaline solution of neriodorin
proved likewise poisonous, but quantitative experi¬
ments were not undertaken with this substance
owing to the difficulty of obtaining a solution suit¬
able for hypodermic injection.

In none of these experiments were the tetanic
symptoms, mentioned by Mr. Kamickhya Nath
Acherjee,* noticed.

An aqueous solution of neriodorein was subjected
to dialysis. The action of the last dialysates on the
heart was found to be equally powerful with that of
the first, and of the intermediate dialysates. It
would seem probable, then, that neriodorein is a
simple substance and not a mechanical mixture.

Since the conclusion of the foregoing experiments,
I received from Mr. T. Greenish, in London, a small
quantity of the bark of Nerium odorum. The sample
consisted of small pieces of a thin bark, internally
and externally of a greyish-brown colour, bearing
some resemblance to mezereum bark, from which,
however, its short fracture at once distinguished it.

* Loc. tit.

A transverse section showed much similarity to
the section of the root previously described. Small
portions of adhering wood showed the same thin-
walled wood-cells and vessels. The bark, which is
bounded on the outside by several layers of cork
cells, consists of parenchyma, containing numerous
groups of bast fibres arranged in a ring around the
wood. Small starch grains and crystals of oxalate
of calcium are numerous. The chemical examination
yielded evidence of the same two bitter substances
as found in the root.

The above experiments show that Nerium odorum
contains two closely allied bitter principles, probably
glucosides, both possessing the characters of powerful
cardiac poisons. Aided by a liberal grant from the
Pharmaceutical Conference, I am now endeavouring
to obtain larger quantities of the drug, with a view
to investigating more closely the nature and composi¬
tion of these two bodies, and of comparing them with
the active principles of the closely allied Nerium
oleander .*

Dnrpat, Russia.

CASTORETJM.f

BY JOSEPH FUCHS.

According to WeberJ castor is the accumulated skin
unguent ( Hautsalbe ) of the prseputium penis et clitoridis,
and is not secreted by glands, but by the vascular thick
skin of the praeputium. The castor would contain the
gradually accumulating separated epidermis cells of the
pr.eputium, new layers of which are continually formed
whilst the outer layers fall off. During my pharma¬
ceutical career of forty years I have taken much interest
in this subject, and have been so fortunate as to be
able to remove the castor from seven beavers, and have
also [frequently been in the position of having in my
hands those occurring in commerce.

Among the beavers from which I removed the castor,
were two young beasts, that had nearly attained the size
of the old ones ; they were well nourished, and wh en I
opened them their flesh was yet warm. They had been
caught together shortly before in a tributary of the Danube
and at once brought to market. The two pairs of sacs
weighed together scarcely 43 grams. Upon slitting them
up longitudinally I found the surfaces of the walls en¬
tirely and uniformly covered with hard fissured warts,
lying close together, the size of a lentil, of dull earthy
appearance, light brownish-yellow colour and little smell,
which even after drying scarcely resembled the European
castor. The sacs were divided into two halves, but no
further accumulation of substance was found at the base.
They were consequently only thin membranes with a
small quantity of castor substance and therefore unsuit¬
able for use as a medicine. They were interesting to me,
since I believed I might draw from them the conclusion
that the castor at least is produced in the sac itself and
secreted by glands, augmenting with the age of the
animal, and when it occurs in more considerable quan¬
tities it is pressed downwards gradually through the
natural movements of the animal and collects into a
compact mass, as it is actually ordinarily found in the
older beavers. Tolerably large sacs are therefore often
met with, which upon slitting longitudinally could be
divided quite well into two halves without any large
accumulation at the lower end being observed. This
fact, however, would not find an explanation if simply

# I should be much indebted to any reader of the Journal
who could give me information where I should be able to
procure supplies of this and other species of Nerium,
especially the Persian N. Kotschi.

f Archiv der Fha/rmacie , March, 1881.

X Verhandlungen d. konigl. sdchsischen Gesellschaft der
Wissenschaften , vol. ii., 1849, p. 185.

876

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 23, 1S81

the smegma praeputii were pressed into the sac. In
that case, if the sac were moistened in water the con¬
tents would separate from the surface of the inner walls,
which, however, is quite impossible without rupturing
the walls, and especially is it so in those sacs that can be
separated into two halves. Neither would the fact be
explained that the castor substance is always traversed
by membrane. Further, it is worthy of mention that in
the before-mentioned pairs of sacs from the young beasts
no folds were yet observable on the inside, but the inner
walls were tolerably smooth ; therefore it may be as¬
sumed that the folds, which are always distinctly present
in the older beasts, first originate at a later age after the
increase in the substance.

Weber says further, in a section entitled “Simple
Glands in the Skin of Castoreum,” verbally as follows : —
“ On a small portion of the castor sac I have, indeed,
noticed very simple, round, lenticular glands. They
were so small that they could only be observed through
the microscope. They were simple round hollows, not
divided into several cells, and had a wide opening that
was nearly half as large as the circumference of the
gland. They did not possess any excretory ducts, but
opened immediately upon the surface, and were conse
quently only shallow depressions. They occurred so closely
together that their distance from each other scarcely
equalled their diameter. From the lamellar structure it
is sufficiently obvious that castor is not exclusively the
secretion of these glands, but that the entire skin,
through its peculiar formation of cells and lamellae,
which consist of cells growing from beneath, takes part
in its production.”

The glandules observed by Weber occurred probably in
the upper portion of the sac, and could the more easily be
seen because at this part only a very small quantity of
substance is ever present, whilst at the lower part the
mass collects more together, and the glands can no longer
be observed, whilst no solvent is known that would
dissolve the whole of the substance, so as to remove it
from the walls and leave them naked, without rupturing
them. From what has been said it follows that it is not
necessary to assume that anything beyond the substance
produced in the sacs themselves is introduced from any
other source.

With respect to the appearance of castor t.iere are
two kinds. Some sacs have contents with an earthy
lustreless appearance. When this is the case such sacs
can ordinarily be divided almost completely into two
halves, splitting longitudinally. When the animal is
older a larger mass of substance is found, packed together
at the lower end, up to which the divisibility extends ;
sometimes the sacs are almost full. The entire mass has
an earthy appearance. Such castoreum always effervesces
more or less energetically with acids. The colour varies
from light citron-yellow to brown and almost brown-
black, in which last colour, however, some lustre can be
observed. Further, there are sacs the greater part of
the contents of which occur at the lowest part, closely
packed together and distinctly permeated by membranes.
The dried substance has a fatty lustre, is almost always
of a darker colour, mostly black-brown, upon fracture
translucent at the angles, and effervesces more or less
with acids. The effervescence depends upon the presence
of carbonate of lime. Weber says that he has found sacs
where the castor contained a considerable quantity of
carbonate of lime. Friedrich Muller, Mohr and others
have likewise found considerable quantities of carbonate of
lime in castor. They were persuaded as to the genuine¬
ness of the specimens, and attributed the occurrence to a
diseased condition of the animals. Mohr especially men¬
tions cases in which castor contained 40 per cent, of car¬
bonate of lime. I once obtained a pair of sacs for
examination which were the largest that I had seen. They
weighed 630 grains, and differed from the sacs recog¬
nized otherwise as genuine in their ovoid shape. I am
able to vouch for their genuineness, since I knew the

sender to be an honourable man, and probably the greater
part of the castor in the Vienna market came from his
district and through him into commerce. The outer
skins could be partially removed without difficulty, and
the contents formed a compact mass of light yellow
colour, and so moist that upon cutting it some liquid
appeared. This liquid had a very disagreeable urinous
odour with a faint admixture of that of true castor. The
substance effervesced with acids and contained, according
to my examination and that of another chemist, 83 per
cent, of carbonate of lime. On one occasion some cas¬
toreum was offered to me for purchase, which consisted
of five sacs, and came from the collection of a deceased
pharmacist, who had preserved them as a rarity. They
were oval, much dried up and hard. In two the outer
skin was rubbed off from the lower part so that the
contents could be seen. These were ashy grey, had a
smell similar to genuine castor, and presented no signs of
sophistication. A small quantity taken out effervesced
most energetically with acids and left only a very small
residue. I agree entirely that so large a proportion of
carbonate of lime in castor is to be ascribed to a diseased
condition of the animal. Such castor is not fit for use
medicinally. Weber expresses himself upon this point as
follows : — “ Since the prseputium and its extensions come
into contact with the urine and become moistened by it,
the calcareous substance which I on one occasion found in
a castor sac from a beaver killed a short time previously
was probably a precipitate from the urine.”

It is also stated by others that urine can reach the
castor sac, and they support their opinion upon the
occurrence of ammonia in the substance. But this am¬
monia might also have been first formed after the preser¬
vation of this animal substance for a long time in a moist
condition in the drug store, and this is the more likely
because it always occurs only in small quantity. Through
the rarity of the beaver and the high price of castor it is
not to be wondered at that in this respect so few exami- •
nations have yet been made by experts, and that there¬
fore much still remains uncertain.

Thus in the most recent pharmacognostical works it is
stated that castor occurs in the sacs in the liquid con¬
dition and afterwards dries up. This opinion is quite
incorrect. In former times, when the beaver was not so
rare as at present, pharmacognosists, and consequently
also the older pharmacopoeias, described the consistence
of castor as being like that of an ointment. Also, Weber
says that castor is the skin unguent ( Hautsalbe ) of the
prseputium penis et clitoridis and that this contains a
gradual accumulation of decayed epidermis cells of the
prseputium of which new layers are continually formed,
whilst the outer layers fall off. Further, that he took
from a fresh castor sac a small piece ( Brocken ) on the
point of a knife and examined it under water microsco¬
pically, etc. It follows, therefore, that Weber could not
have seen the castor in a fresh condition as a liquid, but
found it similar to the smegma prseputii of men and
animals, which was confirmed by Lehmann, who at the
request of Weber chemically examined the castor, in a
communication to the Saxon Scientific Society at Leipzig,

“ Upon the Chemical Behaviour of Russian and Canadian
Castoreum and of the Smegma Prseputii of Animals.”*
Also, in the previously described sacs from the two
young animals, I observed the trace of substance as an
unctuous smeary mass, and in the other five pairs of sacs
which I took from the animals themselves, I found the
castor substance always of an unctuous consistence.

Although a liquid has been found by some persons in
the castor sacs, this can only have occurred in cases
where the sacs were taken from diseased animals; I
myself have met with it there, as previously mentioned.
From what has been stated I think it may justly be
affirmed, that the castor substance is secreted by glands

* Transactions ? vol. ii. (1849), p. 200. See also Archiv
d. Pharmacie.

April .23, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

877

in the sacs themselves, and that it occurs in them not
in a liquid but an unctuous condition.

The foregoing is the result of observation of the castor
from European and Siberian beavers. Essentially it is
correct also respecting that from Canadian beavers,
especially a3 respects origin and consistence. A more
important distinction between the Canadian and Euro¬
pean, as well as the Siberian castor, consists in the odour.
The Canadian has a much weaker and quite different
smell — recalling that of old willow bark — from that_ of
European or Siberian castoreum, which has an entirely
characteristic very strong smell, considered by several
pharmacognosists to resemble that of birch oil or Russia
leather. This difference in odour is the most certain
distinguishing character of the two kinds of castor
occurring in German commerce. Frequently the effer¬
vescence with acids is given as a character of the Euro¬
pean and Siberian castor, it being said not to occur with
the Canadian. In fact, Canadian castor scarcely ever
does effervesce with acids. But neither do the Euro¬
pean and Siberian castors always effervesce with acids,
and the best sorts effervesce the least. Indeed, upon
pouring acid upon the substance of either of the two
kinds of castor bubbles always adhere to it, but
these are only air bubbles. As a rule, I have never
observed in the Canadian castor that diseased con¬
dition, in which carbonate of lime frequently collects
in considerable quantity, as repeatedly observed by
myself and others. In this respect my observations
differ from those of Weber, since he alleges that he
found a larger amount of calcareous substance in the
Canadian castor.

Further, the shape of the sac has been indicated as
a character by which the two commercial varieties of
castor may be distinguished. The European and
Siberian sacs are said to be more flat and rounded,
whilst the Canadian are more pear-shaped. This is not,
however, always the case. Those sacs which allow of
being divided entirely or even partially into two halves are
ordinarily flat also in the Canadian, but they occur in
that kind very seldom ; whilst in both kinds the pear-
shape occurs frequently, and in the .Canadian almost
constantly. Certain it is that the egg-shaped sac3 are
always somewhat suspected in the European as well
as the Siberian castor, on account, probably, of a larger
contents in carbonate of lime, by which the drug is
diminished in value. It may be remarked, however,
that the Canadian castor, fair as this occurs in commerce,
is frequently adulterated. Sacs are met with from
which, after keeping some time, especially in summer, a
black mass flows ouf, which is nothing more than a
resinous substance; others contain a lighter gum-resinous
substance.- From such sacs the outer skin, after
moistening in water, can frequently be separated
tolerably easily. The artificial sacs, however, do not
occur now so frequently as I have observed them
formerly. Such falsifications may be guarded against by
purchasing the best, and by breaking each sac in the
middle and taking only those in which it can be
distinctly seen that the substance is permeated by
membranes. This is easily done, because the Cana¬
dian castor usually occurs in a very dry condition,
whilst in the softer sacs a good knife removes every
difficulty .

RESORCIN AND HYDRO &UINONE.*

In our last volume (see before, p. 435) we gave an
abstract of the investigations of Dr. Andeer, on the anti¬
septic and antifebrile action of resorcin, and we there
also briefly explained its chemical constitution and re¬

* From Pharmac. Zeitung, 1880, No. 90, and Schweiz.
Wochensch. f. d. Pharm. 1880, No. 33. Reprinted from
New Remedies, April, 1881.

lationship to hydroquinone and pyrocatechin. The fol¬
lowing remarks, which are derived from several papers
since published, may be considered as a supplement to
that article.

The first experiments on the effects of the dihydroxyl-
benzols (that is the above three bodies) were instituted
by Dr. L. Brieger, of Berlin, who found that all three
possessed antifermentative as well as toxic properties. It
suggested itself, therefore, to use them in place of phenol
or carbolic acid, over which they had the advantage of
not being caustic, and, therefore, of being capable of
being applied in a very concentrated form, where carbolic
acid would destroy tissues or occasion great pain. Among
them the hydroquinone seemed to be specially valuable
on account of its lesser toxic effects. This body gave
especially favourable results in gonorrhoea. The pains
usually accompanying every fresh gonorrhoea disappeared
as soon as the gonorrhoeal flow stopped, and the latter
was quickly ^accomplished by using solutions of hydro¬
quinone of 1 to 2 per cent. But it was also employed
successfully in infectious eye-diseases, such as blen-
norrhoea, etc., being particularly valuable, because it
exercises no irritating action on the cornea. Resorcin
yielded less favourable results ; injections of solutions of
this body in the urethra caused great pain without at all
diminishing the flow.

While Dr. Andeer’s experiments chiefly pointed out
the usefulness of resorcin as anantiseptic, it was shortly
afterwards shown by Professor Lichtheim, in Berne,
that it is also a powerful antipyretic, which in magni¬
tude of effect and certainty is in some respects even
superior to quinine and salicylic acid. On giving
to a patient in high fever a dose of 2 to 3 grams of
resorcin, its effects are noticed after a few minutes ;
dizziness and buzzing in the ears, reddening of the
face, lustre of the eyes, acceleration of breathing and
also of pulse, but the latter irregularly. After ten to
fifteen minutes the skin begins to become moist, gradually
the secretion increases, and after about fifteen minutes
the patiant is in a profuse perspiration. As soon as this
appears, the before-mentioned symptoms of excitement
disappear, and there ensues a rapid subsidence of the
fever. The pulse decreases in frequency and the tem¬
perature falls, both being normal about one hour after
the drug has been administered. The reduction of tem¬
perature amounts in such cases to about 3° C. and more,
and the pulse is reduced by more than one third. But
while resorcin thus exhibits more powerful effects than
quinine and salicylic acid, it has the disadvantage that
the duration of these effects is comparatively short. Yet
even this drawback alone would not seriously interfere
with its common use as an antipyretic, for a drug capable of
rapidly causing the subsidence of fever, even for a compara¬
tively short time, would be highly valuable. The real objec¬
tion is that resorcin causes symptoms of excitement, which
in some cases are very prominent. The patients become
delirious, their utterances become partly inarticulate and
unintelligible, and sometimes a slight convulsive tremor
of the hands and fingers is noticed. But these symptoms
pass rapidly away, though they are disagreeable enough
to retard the employment of resorcin internally as an
antipyretic.

These results were also obtained and confirmed by Dr.
L. Brieger, particularly so far as resorcin is concerned.
With hydroquinone the results were more favourable;
doses of 0'2 gram of the latter were sufficient to reduce
the temperature without producing excitement; but on
raising the dose to 0‘8 or TO gram these symptoms made
their appearance. The antifebrile effect of both resorcin
and hydroquinone passes off rapidly in a short time.
Hydroquinone has an advantage for hypodermic employ¬
ment. Being entirely free from caustic properties, solu¬
tions of it produce no more pain or damage than injections
of pure water. It is recommended to employ a 10 per
cent, solution, and to inject two hypodermic syringes full
of this.

878

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

[April 23, 1881.

HEAT IN RELATION TO CHEMICAL ACTION/

BY HENKY ALLEN.

I intend bringing before you this evening a few of the
results that have recently been obtained by experimenters
in the branch of chemistry or physics known as thermo¬
chemistry.

The production of heat by the chemical action of com¬
bustion, arid the presumption of some definite relation
existing between the amount of this action and that of
the heat produced is, of course, no novelty ; but it may,
I think, be safely affirmed that not till within the last
twenty years had the amount of heat produced in che¬
mical combinations and decompositions been, except in
very few instances, at all accurately determined.

Such determinations are in truth very difficult, and
require considerable knowledge and manipulative skill,
both chemical and physical. The difficulties have, how¬
ever, been for the most part overcome, and determinations
are now made with an accuracy which may be considered
wonderful, when the complications entering into them are
ustly appreciated.

Considerable advance was made in this direction from
1842-1853 by the experiments of Dulong, Hess, Graham,
Andrews and Favre and Silbermann; but the results
obtained by them have been thrown into the shade by
the long continued and delicate researches of two philo¬
sophers, viz., the Danish professor, Thomsen, and the
French — Berth elot . It is to the latter especially we owe
the distinct enunciation of the fundamental principles of
thermo-chemistry, and their systematic application to
observed chemical phenomena, and it is to these prin¬
ciples and their application I would briefly direct your
attention this evening/

We have to deal then with the convertibility of che¬
mical action into heat, and the first questions are : What
is heat ? and what is chemical affinity? Heat, long re¬
garded as a form of matter, has been proved to be
actually a form of motion, producible from and con¬
vertible into other forms of motion. Whenever work is
done on a machine without producing equivalent mechani¬
cal effects, an amount of heat is emitted equal in value
to the work lost, and vice versd. Moreover there is ob¬
served a universal tendency of all kinds of energy to
degenerate into a uniform diffusion of heat, and so to
become less and less available for the production of work.
I shall endeavour to show that in these respects chemical
energy resembles other forms of energy.

Chemical affinity may be defined as the resultant of
forces which tend to unite one element to others, or to
keep united the elements of compound bodies. Suppose
this “ affinity ” or energy to come into play in the case
of two elementary gases. The molecules of each gas
before combination are undergoing motions of translation,
rotation and vibration. At the moment of combination
these molecules may be supposed broken up into their
constituent atoms, which are precipitated with intense
rapidity upon the atoms of the other.

Heat results, comparable in amount with that produced
by the collision of sensible masses of matter, such as a
hammer upon an anvil. The molecules of the resulting
compound will generally have motions differing greatly
from those of the original gases, while their mutual
action and distance will also be altered. The whole of
the heat produced may be said, in a certain sense, to be
due to the expenditure of chemical energy, and in some
very few cases it is actually so. In most cases, however,
the compound formed has physical properties very
markedly different from those of its components, and
physical energy comes into play.

For instance, the compound formed may immediately

* Read at a meeting of the School of Pharmacy Students’
Association, March 24, 1881.

f The data of this paper are taken from ‘ Essai de
Mechanique Chimique fondea aur la Thermochimie,’ par M.
Berthelot. Paris, 1879.

become a liquid, or even a solid ; if it remain a gas its
volume may decrease ; or its specific heat may be dif¬
ferent from the mean of its components : any of which
actions will affect the resulting amount of heat produced.

In order to obtain the actual heat produced by chemical
action, all these interfering actions must be duly allowed 1
for. It is this fact that so complicates calorimetric ex¬
periments. Moreover, as we shall see, such determina¬
tions can be very seldom made directly, but have to be
arrived at from the results of several indirect experi¬
ments.

Before passing on to the principles of thermo-chemistry,
it will be interesting to give a brief description of some
of the principal apparatus used by M. Berthelot in his
calorimetric determinations.

(1) is the apparatus used in ordinary determinations.

It consists of the calorimeter proper of platinum, con¬
taining water, capacity about 600 c.c., supported on three
cones of cork, the latter placed on a thin slab of wood
inside an envelope of silvered copper. This again is
placed on blocks of cork inside a double envelope of tin,
containing water between its sides, and provided with a
stirrer ; each envelope, as well as the calorimeter itself,
has a cover. The tin envelope is covered externally with
felt. A thermometer is placed within the calorimeter
which can indicate a difference of C., and is gener¬

ally used as a stirrer. Another thermometer is placed in
the water contained in the tin envelope.

(2) is the apparatus used for the combustion of solids,
e.cj. , sulphur, carbon, etc. It consists of a thin two-necked
glass flask, which is placed within the calorimeter. Oxygen
gas is introduced by one tube; another spirally coiled
round the flask carries off the products of combustion.
The larger neck is furnished with a cork, through which
passes a small tube, also corked, down which is dropped a
splinter of glowing charcoal to inflame the sulphur. The
latter is placed in a little dish of baked clay, supported J
by a thin platinum wire.

(3) is the apparatus employed for reactions which do
not take place at the ordinary temperature of the air,
but require a heat of nearly 100° C. It consists of three
concentric thin test tubes ; two long, and of nearly the
same diameter, and the third shorter and broader. The
solution to be heated is placed between the two long V
tubes, and this space is closed at the top, but communi¬
cates with a tube, which is coiled spirally, and passes out

at the top of the calorimeter. These tubes are fitted by
a stopper into the outer tube, which is empty. Heat is
imparted by pouring a definite amount of water at a
definite temperature into the innermost tube. This
water is heated in the apparatus (shown in 3a) by steam ;
about 25 grams of water only are used in a calorimeter
containing 800 grams of water, to prevent a rise of
temperature of more than 2° C.

Let it be required to determine the heat produced by
the decomposition of ammonium nitrite (AmN02) into
N and water. (This decomposition does not take place
rapidly under a temperature of 80° C.) Twenty-five
grams of water are heated to about 85° C. in 3a, and let
run into the inmost tube, which is then closed. The
space between the tubes only contains water, as this is a
preliminary blank experiment. After ten minutes, a
thin pointed steel wire is introduced, and a hole is made
in the bottom of the three tubes. The air in the outer¬
most tube is liberated by piercing the stopper; the
water is thoroughly stirred, and its temperature noted.

The same process is then repeated with solution of
ammonium nitrite between the two tubes instead of ; 1
water. The nitrogen evolved escapes by the spiral tube,
and is cooled before leaving the calorimeter.

The amount of nitrite decomposed is estimated either
by measuring the nitrogen evolved, or by determining
the amount of nitrite left in the tube by means of per¬
manganate solution.

A special apparatus is used for the combination of two
gases, such as oxygen and nitrogen binoxide, which com-

April 23, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

879

bine spontaneously and without explosion. A small flask
of known volume is filled with the one gas, sealed, and
placed inside a larger flask. The volume not occupied by
the small flask is then determined, and altered, if neces¬
sary, to some required multiple of the other. The large
flask is then filled with the second gas, sealed up, and
placed in the calorimeter, being held in position by a
spiral wire. It is then shaken so as to break the small
flask at a point that had been previously weakened, and
the rise of temperature is noted.

(5) is an air thermometer, invented by M. Berthelot,
for temperatures of over 300° C. It consists of a cylin¬
drical bulb (4 c.c. capacity), furnished with a tube of
length 1200 mm. and internal diameter *2 mm., con¬
taining air; the other end is fitted with a capacious
reservoir, and contains mercury. The special advantage
of this thermometer is due to the large size of the bulb
relatively to the content of the tube, the former being
about one hundred and thirty times that of the latter ;
this result is that variations in the temperature and pres¬
sure of the external air exercise scarcely any influence on

the reading. .

We come now to the fundamental principles of
thermo-chemistry or chemical mechanics, which I will
give in the words of M. Berthelot. They are three.:-—

“ (1). Principle of Molecular Work. — The quantity of
heat liberated in any reaction whatever measures the
sum of the chemical and mechanical work accomplished
in that reaction.

“ (2). Principle of the Calorific Equivalence of Chemical
Transformation , or Principle of the Initial State and the
Final State.— If a system of simple or compound bodies,
taken in definite conditions, undergoes physical or che¬
mical changes capable of bringing. it into a new state,
without giving rise to any mechanical effect exterior to
the system, the quantity of heat liberated or absorbed as
the effect of these changes depends simply on the initial
and final states of the system, and is the same whatever
may be the nature and the sequence of the intermediate
states*

“(3). Principle of Maximum Work. — Every chemical
change brought about without the intervention of an
extraneous energy tends to the production of a body or a
system of bodies which liberates the greatest heat.”

As a deduction from which, “Every chemical reaction
that can be effected without the assistance of preliminary
work and apart from the intervention of an energy
extraneous to that of the bodies present in the system,
necessarily takes place, if it produces heat.

It may render the matter clearer to trace the analogy
between these three principles and the familiar pheno¬
mena which occur in the case of falling bodies. When a
body falls to the earth, the heat evolved by impact on
the ground will bear some definite relation to the height
from which it fell : and heights might be actually
measured in this way, if there were not far readier
methods available. Here we have the counterpart of the
first principle just enunciated, which asserts that the
heat evolved in any reaction measures the amount of
work done, i.e ., the loss of chemical energy ; but in this
case the determination of the heat evolved is the only
method of ascertaining this loss. Of course it is hardly
necessary to say that the production of this heat in no
way explains why the reaction takes place, any more
than the heat emitted when a body strikes the earth
explains the force of gravitation.

Again, whatever be the path taken by the falling
bodyt the work done by its fall is always the same. It
may fall perpendicularly, or down an inclined plane, or
may describe a parabolic path in the air, but the work
done is in every case measured by the perpendicular
height of its fail. This is identical with our second
principle, which asserts that the heat produced depends
only upon the starting point and the result of any series
of operations, whatever be the intermediate steps.

Finally, a body will always tend to fall as far as it

can, and if it is free to fall it will fall. This is the
counterpart of the third principle, the “ Principle . of
Maximum W ork,” which states that the reaction which
will evolve the greatest amount of heat always tends to

occur. ,

I shall now endeavour to show the application of these
principles, (1) to the determination of the heat equi¬
valents of reactions; (2) to the prediction of various
chemical transformations.

There are extremely few cases in which the. chemical
energy expended in the formation of a chemical com¬
pound can be determined by one direct operation and
uncomplicated by any simultaneous physical action.
Hydrochloric acid is an example. Here 1 vol. of H and
1 vol. of Cl combine to form 2 vols. of HC1; all three
bodies are gaseous, and there is no condensation. The
heat of combination is easily found to be 22 units. I will
explain the meaning of this expression. 1 he unit of heat
here adopted is the amount of heat required to raise 1 litre
of distilled water from 0° to 1° C. ; 22 units then would
raise 22 litres of water 1° C. This heat is generated by
the combination of 1 gram of hydrogen with an equiva¬
lent weight, i.e., 35 5 grams of chlorine. . Again, the
heat of formation of common salt is 97 ‘3, i.e., 1 equiva¬
lent or 23 grams of sodium in uniting with 35*5 of
chlorine evolves heat sufficient to raise the temperature
of 97-3 litres of water 1° C. Generally, however, some
indirect method must be adopted and the second
principle is applied. This principle admits of very
simple experimental verification, e.g., charcoal burnt in
excess of oxygen to form C02 gives + 47 units : when it
forms CO it evolves only +12-9 : but CO combines with
oxygen and liberates 34*1: but 12*9 + 341 = 47 : or the
total heat is the same whether C02 is formed by two
operations or one. Take a simple case : The heat of
S03 + BaO =BaS04. The mutual action of two solids is
very irregular, and the heat evolved cannot be therefore
directly measured with accuracy. The method. of pro¬
cedure is this : — Combine S03 with water, combine BaO
with water, and mix the two solutions; we have as a
result merely BaS04 and water ; but

S03 + H20 = sol. H2S04
BaO + H,0 = sol. BaHo2
BaHo2 + H2S04 = BaS04 + 2H20

+ 18-7
+ 13-9
+ 18.4

51'

. ' . BaO + S03 in combining evolve 51 units.

In other cases use is made of the difference of heats,
e.g., to determine the heat evolved by the solution of
C02 in water, a solution of KHo and a solution of C02
(each of definite strength) are mixed: heat evolved -a.

Then a similar solution of KHo is mixed with watei
and a vol of CO<> added, so that the resulting solution of
KCOo is of a ""like strength to that obtained in the
previous case; heat evolved — b: then b — a gives the

heat of solution of C02 = 2'8 units.

I will now bring before you a complicated determina¬
tion, which I hope to be able to make clear, viz., the
heat of formation of hydrocyanic acid from its elements.
As you are aware, hydrocyanic acid treated with con¬
centrated hydrochloric acid produces formic acid and
ammonium chloride. „ „ „ „

HCN + HC1 + 2 H20 = H2C02 + NH4C1 ; +11T5

From the starting point of

C + H5 + N + 03 + HC1 sol. + water

to the final stable condition

C02 + H00 + NH3 . HC1 sol. + water, .
there are two paths ; the one by direct oxidation of the
carbon and hydrogen, and the union of hydrogen and
nitrogen to form ammonia, which combines with the
hydrochloric acid; the other by the union of carbon,
hydrogen, and nitrogen to form hydrocyanic acid, the
decomposition of the last into formic acid, and the com-
bustion of* the formic acid into C02 and H20 ; each

should give the same quantity of heat. _

* H2C02+0=H20+COs

880

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 28, 1881.

(1) C + 02 = 94*

H20 = 69*

N and H3 and Ag = 35*15
NH3 + HC1 = 12*4

210*55

(2) HCy — a;

2H20 = 138*

HCy into Formic A. = 11*15
Combust, of Formic A.= 69*8

£ + 218*95

x— —8*4

i.c., 8*4 units are absorbed in the synthesis of HCy.

The method of substitution can often be used with
advantage, e.g., to determine the heat of HBr and HI :
chlorine liberates Br and I from these compounds,
forming hydrochloric acid.

Cl + HBr = HC1 + Br (liquid) = + 12*5
but HC1 = 2*2. *.HBr = 22- 12 5 = 9*5
Cl + HI = HC1 + 1 (solid) =+28*2
. - .HI = 22 -28*2 =-6*2

. • . 9*5 units are evolved in the formation of HBr ;
while 6*2 units are absorbed in the formation of HI.

Enough has now been said to show generally the
methods adopted in heat determinations, and I now
proceed to show the use that can be made of these results,
in accordance with our third principle, which asserts that
such reactions as evolve the most heat always tend to
take place.

The first happy investigation of the physical conditions
which determine chemical reactions was made by Berthol-
let, who, in 1807, in his ‘Statique Chimique,’ propounded
the theory, founded upon numerous observations, that
chemical reaction is determined by the insolubility or
volatility of the products. A more extended investigation
shows that while this theory is corroborated in numerous
cases, there are others, and not a few, which the theory
cannot explain, if it be not entirely contradicted by them;
such are the decomposition of insoluble phosphates by I
strong acids, the decomposition of alkaline cyanides by
oxide of mercury, and the decomposition of sulphates by
hydrochloric acid, etc. In fact, the theory may be said
to hold good as long only as the conditions of the prin¬
ciple just mentioned, viz., the principle of maximum
work, are satisfied.

The application of this principle to a few simple and
well know reactions I will now notice. s

Nitric oxide combines immediately with oxygen,
forming the teroxide or the tetroxide, according to the
proportions present ; i.e.,

2N0 + 0 = N203 : +20 : 2N0 + 02 = 2N02 : +34. |

The latter reaction disengages more heat and, therefore,
will take place when there is sufficient oxygen present. A
comparison between the heats of formation of the several
oxides of nitrogen is instructive.

It will be seen that all these numbers are negative, i.e.,
heat is absorbed in each case ; the oxides, therefore, do
not admit of direct synthesis from their elements ; the
heat, too, of nitrous oxide is less negative than that of
the others ; it is, therefore, the most stable and is not
attacked by oxygen.

£N20=- 9
NO = -43*3
£Na03 = -32*8
NOa= -24*3
^N005= -22*3
HN03= +12*3

The difference between the fourth and fifth members
of the group is small, and this explains the fact that the
pentoxide does not admit of direct production from the
tetroxide ; the latter, however, is easily converted into
nitric acid in the presence of water, as the numbers
indicate. These oxides of nitrogen are all familiar bodies ;
upon what principles can we then explain their formation ?
The first two can be produced by heating ammonium

nitrate, the formation of which evolves 75 units ; when
it is heated it decomposes in various manners.

NH3.N03 = N20 + 2 H20 : 118-18-75 = 25
= No + O + 2 H20 : 118-75 = 43
= N; + NO + 2 H20 : 118-75-43 = 0
In each decomposition, except the last, heat is evolved,
they are, therefore, all possible ; the heat required for the
formation of the oxides being supplied by that evolved by
the production of water.

The formation of water develops much heat ; oxygen
and hydrogen will not, however, combine spontaneously ;
some preliminary work has to be done upon them, by
heat, etc., which is perhaps spent in resolving the
molecules into their constituent atoms. The amount of
heat = 29*1 for water in the gaseous state, 34*5 in the
liquid state, 35*2 in the solid state, the difference being
due to the latent heat of steam and water respectively.
The production of hydrogen peroxide evolves only + 23*3
units, and therefore this body is never formed when
hydrogen burns in excess of oxygen ; to produce it oxygen
is made to combine with BaO= +5*9 and Ba02 is then
decomposed by HC1 giving +11. The energy required
is thus supplied indirectly.

It is interesting to note the part played by the excess
of energy contained in such bodies as hydrogen peroxide
and others that absorb heat in their formation. This
oxide is a powerful oxidizing agent, and its potency is
often explained by saying that the oxygen liberated by
its decomposition, being in the nascent state, has a greater
tendency to enter into combination than when it is in its
ordinary condition. Without denying the existence of
this “nascent state,” it may suffice to say that such an
assumption, both in this and many other cases, is perfectly
j gratuitous. For instance, hydrogen dioxide decomposes
| into water ‘and free oxygen with the production of 11*2
units of heat, or 44*8 units for each molecule of oxygen
produced. This heat, if confined to the products of the
decomposition, would raise them to a temperature of about
1000° C., and is therefore quite sufficient to explain the
superiority of the body under consideration over free
oxygen as an oxidizer. It is possible, however, to regard
this amount as being the heat produced in the formation
of a molecule of oxygen from its atoms, less the heat
absorbed in the decomposition of the dioxide. The
peculiar reactions of ozone can be, perhaps, best explained

in the same way. j £ : 203 = 302 : + 29*6 j Again, it is

known that hydrogen dioxide acts in a peculiar manner
upon oxide of silver, the reaction being

Ag20 + H202 = H20 + Ag2 + 02 :
the decomposition has been explained upon the ground of
the attraction of the atoms of oxygen for each other,
which is thought sufficient to upset the unstable compounds
in which they were existing. But if it is considered that
the heat of Ag20 is only + 3*5, while that of H2G2 is - 11*2,
the reaction will be seen to evolve heat to the amount
of 11*2 - 3*5 =+ 7*7 ; an amount quite sufficient to
account for the result, apart from any atom attraction,
though it is probable that the latter may occur.

A study of the compounds of the haloid elements and
their relations to each other and to other bodies is very
interesting from a calorimetric point of view. I will
first call your attention to the following table, which
gives the heat of formation of several compounds of
hydrogen in different states : —

Result Result a dilute
a gas. solution.

H +C1 = HC1 : +22 : +39*3

H +Br (gas) =HBr : +13*5 : +33*5

H +Br (liquid) = HBr : + 9*5 : +29*5

H +1 (gas) =HI : - *8 : +18*6

H +1 (solid) =HI - 6*2 : +13*2

1 [ H2 + S (gas) =H2S : + 3*6 : + 5*9

2 j H2 + S (solid) =H2S : + 2*3 : + 4*6

4 H2 + 0 = H20 : +29*5 : +34*5

(To be continued.)

April 23, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

881

C| xe Ujjtirmatmtkal fflitriral.

- ♦- -

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , books for review , etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Brem ridge, Secretary, 17 , Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

A dvertisements, and payments for Copies of the J ournal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

THE DEATH OF MB. MACK AY.

The death of Mr. Mackay, following so unex¬
pectedly the withdrawal of Mr. Sandford and Mr.
Hills from the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society, makes a serious addition to the loss that the
Society’s Executive has to sustain, and when con¬
sidered in connection with the small number of
nominees for election who have consented to become
candidates for a seat upon the Council, it affords no
little reason for anxiety as to the future of the body
by which the interests of the trade are to be provided
for. The work to be done by members of Council
is now so considerable that it requires a very large
sacrifice of time and attention to perform the various
duties appertaining to them. At the same time, the
exigencies of business are such as to debar many
men from undertaking those duties without neglect
of their own affairs, and hence the number of pos¬
sibly eligible pharmacists is limited within a very
narrow compass.

This fact alone ought to be regarded as a reason
for grateful estimation of the services rendered to
the trade generally by those who have the oppor¬
tunity to take part in the conduct of the Society’s
business, as well as the interest in its welfare
to induce them to give their time to the work.
Of the services rendered by the two members of
Council who are about to retire it is not our in¬
tention to speak, since they are sufficiently familar to
all readers of this Journal to render any such attempt
unnecessary and since as a matter of complimentary
recognition on their retirement from office they will be
dealt with by the Council itself at its next meeting.
But in the case of the member whom the Council
has just lost by death, it may not be out of place to
recall the fact that he had served upon the Council
for no less than twenty years, a constant attendant
at its meetings and at committees, notwithstanding
the distance of his residence from London, and
always an active as well as useful participator in the
business to be done.

The services of Mr. Mackay in connection with
the establishment of a Branch of the Society in
Scotland and on the Board of Examiners there will
be remembered as having been productive of great
benefit. His loss at an age when there was still
every probability of long continued activity will be

felt especially by the Scotch Branch of the Society,
and it will be no disrespect to those who have
worked with him in carrying on its business to
say that they will find a difficulty in filling his
place.

During the last forty years Mr. Mackay has acted
as Honorary Secretary of the North British Branch,
after having been largely instrumental in securing
the co-operation of Scotch pharmacists with Jacob
Bell in the formation of the Society. Throughout
that period he has been untiring in his exertions to
promote the efficiency of the Museum and Library
of the Branch and to keep up the interest of the
Evening Meetings.

As regards the general affairs of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society, also, there is reason to bear Mr.
Mackay’s services in grateful remembrance on
account of the active part he took in connection
with the Society’s Journal and in the improved
organization of its finances. So likewise in the
alteration of the footing on which the School of
Pharmacy stood to the Society, Mr. Mackay’s
activity was prominently exercised.

THE INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL
CONGRESS.

The Executive Committee entrusted with the
duty of making suitable arrangements for the Inter¬
national Pharmaceutical Congress has good reason
for anticipating that the action it has taken in
inviting the co-operation of provincial associations
will be attended with success, since, in response to
its request, Mr. Richard Reynolds, the President
of the Pharmaceutical Conference, and Mr. Thomas
Barclay, the President of the Chemists and
Druggists’ Trade Association, have allowed their
names to be added to the Committee and have
signified their desire to assist in carrying out the
work, as well as their willingness to take part in the
proceedings of the Congress.

By the time this number of the Journal is cir¬
culated the Presidents of provincial associations
throughout the country will have received a circular
setting forth, as far as can be done at present, the
contemplated programme and asking them to co¬
operate with the Executive Committee in such
manner as they may consider most conducive to the
interests of pharmacy. We venture to express the
hope that thi3 solicitation will be cordially responded
to, and that contributions to the subjects of discus¬
sion will be furnished in time to admit of their being
adequately dealt with when the reports are drawn
up by which the several subjects are to be intro¬
duced for discussion.

It is scarcely necessary to point out that at a
meeting like the International Congress, where
pharmacists of several nations may be expected to
be present, the difficulty of intercommunication of
opinions, due to want of familiarity with the English
language, must be provided for in a special manner,

882

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 23, 1881.

and it is only by previously collating the views of
those who desire to take part in those discussions
that the several subjects can be put before the Con¬
gress in a useful way. It is with this object that
intending visitors to the Congress have been re¬
quested to send in to the Executive Committee a
statement of the views they entertain on the subjects
to be brought forward. In the discussion of those
subjects at the Congress, opportunity will be given
for speakers to address the Congress in their own
language, and reporters will be provided who can at
once translate the leading parts of their addresses
for the general convenience of those to whom the
language used by the speakers may not be intel¬
ligible.

We may mention that the Executive Committee
has received a suggestion that “the relation of phar¬
macists to the public and to the medical profession”
would form a suitable subject for discussion, and

closelv related to this is another recommendation,

%/ '

decided upon by the Pharmaceutical Society of
Austria, of the question, “How far may the phar-
“ macist go in supplying medicines to the public
“ independently of professional direction without
“ trenching upon the province of the physician ? ”

These two suggestions open up a wide field for
comment from various points of view, and under
existing conditions the discussion they may give rise
to would not fail to be of interest and utility.

The subject of a Universal Pharmacopoeia has been
so much a standing topic of discussion by the Inter¬
national Congress at previous meetings that it can¬
not well be left out of the programme on the present
occasion ; but it is proposed to limit the discussion of
that subj ect to the inquiry as to what means can be
adopted for equalizing the strength of official pre¬
parations containing potent drugs and common to
the Pharmacopoeias of most countries. This is a
strictly practical question, and one that is deserving
of very careful consideration, as being for the present
one of the most feasible steps towards the establish¬
ment of a Universal Pharmacopoeia. If a sufficiently
strong case can be made out, and there be a general
agreement among pharmacists as to the desirability
of making the preparations referred to of uniform
strength, the conclusions arrived at by the Inter¬
national Congress may furnish a basis for represen¬
tations from pharmaceutical societies in different
countries to the authorities who have the power to
make the required alterations in the respective
Pharmacopoeias, and in this way the desired object
might probably be effectually achieved.

The other subjects mentioned in the circular issued
by the Executive Committee, viz., Pharmaceutical
Education and the Revision of Pharmacopoeias, are
both of especial interest j ust now to British phar¬
macists. There i3 but too much need for introducing
improvement in the conditions under which youths
are prepared for a pharmaceutical career and in this
respect we may learn much from our foreign visitors.

As regards the part to be taken by pharmacists in
Pharmacopoeia revision, again, there is every reason
to expect that when this subject is discussed by the
Congress, and the practice of other countries is made
known, it will become apparent that our own pro¬
cedure is no less anomalous than insufficient for
securing the most satisfactory results.

In each of these bearings therefore we believe the
meeting of the International Congress in London
would be beneficial to British pharmacy, and though
we are far from wishing to insist especially upon
this mere utilitarian view in recommending it to the
support of our readers, we may at least urge that as
one reason for giving it their support.

THE CANADIAN PHARMACY ACTS.

A case recently decided in the Appeal Court of
the Dominion of Canada appears to indicate that the
multiplication of Pharmacy Acts in different parts of
the world will tend to restrain any undue propensity
for roaming that may manifest itself in pharmacists.
According to the Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal
a Mr. Bennett, of Brantford, was in 1879 registered
under the Ontario Pharmacy Act. Shortly after¬
wards he shifted his quarters into the province of
Quebec and commenced business as a chemist and
druggist in Montreal. Thereupon he was summoned
by the Quebec Pharmaceutical Society for illegally
using the title of “ chemist and druggist ” and fined
five dollars and costs. As he still continued in
business he was again summoned and again fined. He
then appealed to a superior Court, but failed to
establish his point that the registration under the
Ontario Act gave him any right to practise pharmacy
in Quebec. Mr. Bennett next sought for an injunc¬
tion to restrain the Pharmaceutical Society of Quebec
from further prosecution, on the ground that the
Quebec Pharmacy Act was unconstitutional and was
ultra vires of the local legislature, it being an inter¬
ference with trade and commerce which were regu¬
lated exclusively by the Dominion Legislature. The
petition was dismissed ; but with great pertinacity
Mr. Bennett again appealed, only to be once more
beaten. The attempt to upset the Quebec Act was
therefore unsuccessful from first to last, and Mr.
Bennett, if he still wishes to practise pharmacy in
his new home, will have to satisfy the requirements
of the local board of examiners.

The subject, however, has a wider interest, and
now that pharmaceutical legislation is being sought
and attained in so many of our colonies it is at least
worthy of consideration under what conditions, if
any, the certificates of the examining boards in the
different colonies might become interchangeable.

THE EXHIBITION OF CHEMICAL AND PHARMA¬
CEUTICAL APPARATUS, ETC.

We think it desirable to remind persons intending
to contribute to the exhibition in connection with
the forthcoming Annual Meeting, but who have not
yet intimated their desire to the Committee, that ap¬
plications for space must be made before the 1st of
May. Such applications must be accompanied by a
detailed description of the articles it is proposed to
exhibit, forms for which may be obtained upon ap¬
plication to the “Exhibition Committee,” 17, Blooms¬
bury Square.

April 23, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

883

Crmtsattimis of % ^jjarmaouikal

Stfdefjr*

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

At a meeting of the Board of Examiners for England
and Wales, held on Thursday, April 21, 1881, the report
of the College of Preceptors on the examinations held
on April 5, was received.

Three hundred and thirty-four candidates had presented
themselves for examination, of whom one hundred and
eighty four had failed. The following one hundred and
i fifty passed, and the Registrar was authorized to
place their names upon the Register of Apprentices or
Students : —

(Arranged alphabetically).

Armstrong, John Alfred . Lincoln.

Ashton, George . Buxton.

Austin, William Hoskin . Devonport.

Bainbridge, John . Kirkby Stephen.

Barker, Robert Henry . Ambleside.

Barnes, Albert George . Bath.

Barnes, William Robert . Plaistow.

Barrett, John Richard . Devonport.

Baxter, George Munnerby . Chester.

Beckwith, Arthur Eredrick ...Colchester.

Bell, Richard Henry . Hanley.

Berry, James Henry . Bradford.

Bignall, Rowland . Dartford.

Bloomer, Joseph . Cradley Heath.

Bond, Arthur Stuart . Bristol.

Brinsford, James Arthur . Birmingham.

Bulmer, Bethel . Pickering.

Burgess, Arthur Henry . Alderley Edge.

Oarhart, Harry Manaton . Portishead.

Clark, Henry . Barton-on-Humber.

Coates, Arthur . Belper.

Coleman, Charles Goodwin . Shipston-on-Stour.

Golman, Alfred Ernest . Newport, I. of Wight.

Corden, Louis Nicholas . Brentwood.

Cowper, Joseph . Penrith.

Cox, Henry Stancer . Bedford.

Cross, Arthur Richard . Shrewsbury.

Cumber, Charles Davis . Guernsey.

Curtis, Wallace Edward . Hatch Beauchamp.

Cussons, Martin Chapman . Appleby.

Davies, Frederic Andrew . March.

Davies, Gwilym Clement . Aberdare.

Davies, Llewelyn Henry . Llanidloes.

Day, Henry William . Margate.

Dewing, Charles . New Malton.

Dunn, Spencer S . London.

Elsdon, Herbert William . Wells, Norfolk.

Evans, Daniel . . Rhos.

Barren, William James . London.

Felthouse, Charles . Tam worth.

Fox, Arthur Edward . Falmouth.

Foxon, Alfred James . Boston Spa.

Frost, Wilfred Elliot . Derby.

Galashan, George Alexander ...Belfast.

Garvie, William Alexander ...Leith.

Girdlestone, Arthur Edward ...Grantham.

Go wans, William . Brechin.

Gregory, Matthew Joseph . Worksop.

Grieve, William . Crieff.

Griffiths, Richard Lloyd . Llanidloes.

Hallilay, Frank . . Leeds.

Hampshire, Frank Reginald ...Wakefield.

Hamlin, Charles Booth . Crediton.

Hargreaves, Fredk. Bentley ...Chorley.

Harris, Joseph Bastable . Totnes.

Harvey, Joseph Charles . Halesworth.

Hatfield, George William . London.

Hickmott, Albert Ernest . London.

Hill, Arthur Croft . London.

Hill, Frederick William . York.

Hind el, William Henry . Darwen.

Hine, Alfred Ernest . Beaminster.

Hine, Richard . Beaminster.

Hogg, John Alexander . Edinburgh.

Hollis, Henry . Birmingham.

Holmes, George Hirst . Sheffield.

Holmes, Thomas Mason . Bowness-on-Winder-

mere.

Hood, Charles . Brechin.

Hordley, Henry Clement . Stoke-on-Trent.

Hughes, Thomas Griffith . London.

Johnson, William . Stoke-on-Trent.

Judd, Henry . London.

Lamacraft, Charles A . Putney.

Lauder, George . Kelso.

Lesiter, Frederick William . Richmond, Surrey.

Linnell, Percy Allison . Manchester.

Lister, William Benjamin . London.

Lobban, Alexander . Keith.

Lockwood, Johnson . York.

Loveday, William Dunmore ...Irthlingborough.

Lyle, William . Rothesay.

McArdle, Francis James . Liverpool.

McEwan, Donald . Dunfermline.

Mackfie, William Sharp . Rothesay.

Mackay, David James . Edinburgh.

Mackenzie, Robert Young . Nairn.

Macmillan, James . Thornhill.

McMurray, Peter Buchannan... Paisley.
MacNaughton, George Wm. F. Edinburgh.

Maxwell, Thomas Well wood ...Montrose.

Mellin, Joseph Richard P . Wimbledon.

Menzies, James . Crieff.

Milligan, George . Manchester.

Morgan, Charles . Bristol.

Morrell, Arthur William . Derby.

Morriss, Herbert . Lynn.

Munro, John . Paisley.

Nichols, William Hartley . Leeds.

Norris, William... . Pembroke.

Parker, Edward . York.

Parry, William Harrop . Llanrwst.

Paterson, Alexander . Portsoy.

Pearson, Frederic John . Doncaster.

Perkins, Samuel Augustus . Plymouth.

Philp, Richard Arthur . St. Austell.

Pipe, William Philip . Lynn.

Pirie, James . Keith.

Pitt, William Carey . Gloucester.

Porter, Sidney . Nailsea.

Preston, Thomas Issotfr . Leeds.

Pullan, Walter H. L . Wakefield.

Redgate, Frederick Tibbits . Lincoln.

Reece, Charles Clement . Llandilo.

Reynolds, William Marshall ...Torquay.

Ross, Alexander . Inverness.

Rundell, Charles Walter . Cardiff.

Rundell, William Carvosso . Blackburn.

Russell, James Richard . Bedale.

Sands, Robert C . Edinburgh.

Sara, Herbert . . Falmouth.

Schofield, Samuel Reuben . Abingdon.

Siggers, George William . Colchester*.

Smale, Frederick Thomas . Plymouth.

Southwell, Charles Arkinstall... Chapel Ash.

Stanwix, Henry . .Darlington.

Strawson, Fred . Leyton.

Thatcher, Robert . Mottram.

Thomas, Arthur . Nar berth.

Thomas, Ernest Lloyd wick . St. Dogmells.

Thomas, James Watkin . New Quay.

Thomason, Allan Elkington ...Birmingham.

Tireman, John Thomas . Darlington.

Yawser, Arthur . March.

884

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 23, 1881.

Walker, Alfred Ernest . Mansfield.

Walker, John Brown . North Vennel.

Watson, Edwin Joseph . Birmingham.

Watt, John Charles . Darlington.

Wheatley, Charle's Henry . Ryde.

Wheeler, Joseph Kingston . Bristol.

Williamson, Robert Charters ...Dunfermline.
Williamson, Theophilus R. W... Cardiff.

Willocks, Robert Stuart . Brechin.

Willows, Herbert George . Doncaster.

Wilson, George Waite . Boston.

Woffindin, Thomas . . Market Rasen.

Wokes, Thomas Siminson . Hull.

Woodhouse, William Henry ...Stourbridge.

Woodson, George Leopold . Sheffield.

Worrall, John Edward . Ep worth.

Wright, Charles Edward . Burton-on-Trent.

The following is a list of the centres at which the ex¬
amination was held, showing the number of candidates
examined at each centre and the result : —

Candidates. Candidates.

S -a !

<D

TJ

£3* *0

rd

$

1

aj H)

QO

d

dt

"3

M.S

W

CO

a

Ow

•H

X

Aberdeen .

... 9

4

5

Lancaster .

. 7

2

5

Birmingham...

...17

9

8

Leeds .

.15

7

8

Brighton .

... 2

0

2

Lincoln .

. 7

5

2

Bristol .

... 8

6

2

Liverpool .

.13

5

8

Cambridge . .

... 1

0

1

London .

.46

19

27

Canterbury ..

... 7

1

6

Manchester .

.19

8

11

Cardiff .

... 8

3

5

Newcastle-onT.

6

0

6

Carlisle .

...10

3

7

Northampton ..

. 1

1

0

Carmarthen ..

... 6

5

1

Norwich .

. 5

4

1

Carnarvon ..

... 3

0

3

Nottingham .

.16

5

11

Cheltenham . .

... 1

1

0

Oxford .

. 3

3

0

Darlington . .

... 7

4

3

Peterborough .

. 4

2

2

Dundee .

.. 11

4

7

Sheffield .

. 6

4

2

Edinburgh . .

...22

9

13

Shrewsbury .

.10

4

6

Exeter .

....10

8

2

Southampton .

. 7

2

5

Glasgow .

...21

8

13

Truro .

. 6

4

2

Guernsey .

.... 2

1

1

Worcester .

. 1

0

1

Hull .

.... 4

2

2

York .

.11

6

5

Inverness .

.... 4

1 2

2

The questions for examination were as follows : —

Time allowed: Three hours for the three subjects.

I. LATIN.

1. Translate into English : —

* ' A. Prima luce, quum summus mons a T. Labieno tene-
retur, ipse ab hostium castris non longius mille et quin-
gentis passibus abesset, neque, ut postea ex captivis com-
perit, aut ipsius adventus, aut Labieni, cognitus esset:
Considius, equo admisso, ad eum accurrit; dicit montem,
quern a Labieno occupari voluerit, ab hostibus teneri : id
se a Gallicis armis atque insignibus cognovisse.

B. (i.) Divitiacus multis cum lacrimis Caesarem corn-
plexus obsecrare ccepit, nequid graviusinfratrem statueret.
(ii.) E& disjecta, gladiis destrictis, in eos impetum fecerunt.
(iff.) Si populus Romanus alicujus injuriae sibi conscius
fuisset, non fuisset difficile cavere. (iv.) Consuescunt dii
immortales interdum hominibus secundas res concedere.

2. Decline luce, castris, insignibus, and give the gender
of each.

3. Account for the moods of abesset, voluerit, teneri , in
the passage above (A).

4. Decline in all their cases, singular and plural, bonus
vir, nova res ; and give the perfects and supines of moneo,
rego, and audio.

5. Translate into Latin; — (i.) The army crossed the
river by boats and rafts, (ii.) Caesar called together the
hostages, and inquired of them which way the enemy had

gone. (iff). It is the master’s business to teach, the pupil’s
to learn, (iv.) Life is short, death is certain; live well,
and you will die happy.

II. ARITHMETIC.

[The working of these examples, as well as the answers,
must be written out in full.]

6. If a person’s estate be worth £1384 16s. per annum,
and the land tax is 2s. 9 \d. in the pound, what is his net
income ?

7. Divide 2 by the sum of 2f, f, and 4 ; add If — f to
the quotient ; multiply the result by the difference of
5f and 4f.

• •

8. Reduce *00449 to a vulgar fraction; and find the
value of 3 225 of 2f guineas.

9. The boards for flooring a rectangular passage, whose
length is 25*72 metres, and breadth 6*1 metres, cost
24*4 francs; it costs to floor a room 15*25 metres long,
with the same quality of boards, 217*26 francs; find the
width of the room.

III. ENGLISH.

10. Define conjunctions, and classify them, giving
examples.

11. Write a simple sentence, and add to it adjectival and
adverbial clauses.

12. Give the origin and meaning of the following
prefixes : — con, de, sub, un, in. Illustrate your answer by
examples.

13. Parse the words in italics: —

“ Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt,

Surprised by unjust force, but not inthralled.”

*14. Write a short composition on one of the following
subjects : —

The conditions of Success in Life.

Are Drilling and Gymnastics desirable for young grow¬
ing boys ?
or’

Any town or country with which you are familiar.

NORTH BRITISH BRANCH.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the North British Branch of
the Society took place in the Society’s rooms, 119a, George
Street, Edinburgh, on Tuesday, April 19, Mr. J. B.
Stephenson, President of the Branch, in the chair.

The President read the annual report which, on the
motion of Mr. Kinninmont, supported by Mr. Kerr, was
unanimously approved of.

Annual Report, 1880-1.

The Council has again to lay before the North British
Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society its report for the
past year.

The operations of the Branch in furtherance of the
objects for which it was established continue to be
carried out steadily and successfully in all their depart¬
ments.

The museum and library are constantly receiving
accessions in the form of unique and valuable contributions
from friends and well-wishers of the Society, and the
Council has pleasure in announcing that its experience
in this respect during the past year has not been less
gratifying than in preceding years. These contributions
are announced as they occur, at the monthly scientific
meetings, and are recorded in the Journal.

The facilities afforded for study in this department,
appear still to be duly appreciated by students, the
number visiting the rooms having been 1011 during the
day and 768 during the evening, being 11,930 in all
since this system has been in operation. The Honorary

Secretary has also issued special tickets as usual for the

-

* This must be taken by all candidates.

April 23, 1881.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

885

classes of those Lecturers on chemistry and materia
medica who grant this advantage to students connected
with the Society, and your Council has the gratification
of stating that vhe medals in both of these this session have
been carried off by members of the Society.

There have been six scientific meetings during the
season. The attendance on all occasions has been quite
satisfactory, and the communications interesting and
instructive. These are printed and appear in the J ournal.
The Council desires to record its acknowledgment of
the kindness of all the gentlemen who favoured it with
their valuable contributions.

The Board of Examiners has met at the usual
intervals during the past year, in all upon ten days, and
the numbers of candidates presenting themselves were
eleven for the Major, of whom seven were found duly
qualified ; one hundred and five for the Minor, of whom
sixty-three passed ; and four for the Modified, only one
whom was successful. Putting aside the Major and
Modified numbers as too small to afford a reliable basis
of percentage, the rate of rejections has been 40 per cent.,
a little lower than it was last year. The number of can¬
didates is somewhat less this year, but it had been un¬
usually high in the preceding year. Eor the Preliminary
examination in Edinburgh there have been seventy-nine
candidates, of whom forty-seven were rejected. The
number is considerably greater than last year, and the
percentage of rejections is practically the same, being
considerably over 50 per cent.

Since last report, a deputation from the London Board
has visited Edinburgh for the purpose of being present
during one of the examinations here. The interchange
of opinions and sentiment was, it is believed, as satis¬
factory to the members of both Boards on this, as on
former occasions. The Council in London contemplates
a continuance of this interchange, and has invited a
deputation from the Scotch Board to be present at the
June examinations in Bloomsbury Square. It seems
now to be admitted that this system is an efficient means
of maintaining that similarity in the conduct of both the
Major and Minor examinations by the two Boards, which
is so desirable.

Within these few months a Pharmacy Law Amend¬
ment Act has been drafted and approved by the Council
in London. While it was before that body, the Council
here deemed it its duty to meet for the purpose of con¬
sidering it. After a prolonged discussion, it was agreed
that opposition should be taken against the first and
fifth clauses of the Bill (as it then stood). The former
of these clauses proposed to take powers to appoint
examiners other than “in Scotland” to the Scottish
Board. A resolution against the clause was carried
unanimously, and upon being represented to the London
Council, both by minute and by Scottish members of
Council, the clause was withdrawn. The opposition to
the fifth clause, however, was not so successful, and it
has been allowed to stand part of the Bill. The object
of this clause is to restrict to three years the time during
which the business of a deceased chemist can be carried
on for behoof of a widow, which had been left indefinite
in the Act of 1868. It is unnecessary to enter here on
the considerations which led to the resolutions against
both these clauses, especially as they have already been
put on record. Suffice it to say that with regard to the
first, the distinctively Scottish character of our examining
Board had been embodied in the statute, thirty years
ago, doubtless for sufficient reasons, and that there
seemed no good reason for disturbing it now, and with
regard to the other clause it was thought that the reason
alleged for altering the provision of the Act of 1868
seemed equally valid against the term of three years ;
and that the provision itself would be endangered by
raising the question at all. In its other enactments the
Bill seems eminently desirable. It has not yet been
presented to Parliament, and your Council cannot help
fearing that the present session of Parliament, judging

from appearances hitherto, is too busy a one to afford
much hope of it being passed. Your Council has also
to remark that at a general meeting of the trade in
Edinburgh, which was held to consider the Bill, and
which was numerously attended, substantially the same
attitude as your Council assumed was taken up with
reference to it.

We have to lament the death during the year of two
of the oldest members of the Society in Edinburgh — Mr.
Aitken and Mr. Baildon, both of them ex -Presidents and
former members of the Examining Board. In the last
year’s report the Council had to express its regret that
Mr. Baildon had declined, on account of his advancing
years, to allow himself to be nominated for the election
as member of Council, and to express a hope that he
might still be long spared to aid it with his counsel
and sympathy. This hope has unhappily not been realized,
and the notice of his death, which appeared at the time
in the Journal, showed the estimation in which he was
held, and the loss which the Society has sustained by his
removal.

Postscript. — It is with feelings of the most profound
distress that the Council has to record the death of its
invaluable Honorary Secretary, Mr. Mackay, which took
place this morning at 3 o’clock.

At this moment of overwhelming sorrow, it can do
no more than express the deepest sympathy with his
bereaved family, and the sense of its own irreparable
loss.

The President then submitted the result of the voting
for the Council for 1881-2, when it was found that the
following gentlemen had been elected : —

Mr. William Ainslie . Edinburgh.

Mr. D. Frazer . Glasgow.

Mr. William Gilmour . Edinburgh.

Mr. D. Kemp . Portobello.

Mr. A. Kinninmont . Glasgow.

Mr. G. H. Laird . Edinburgh.

Mr. R. McAdam . Glasgow.

Mr. G. D. Mackay . Edinburgh.

Mr. J. Mackenzie . Edinburgh.

Mr. A. Napier . Edinburgh.

Mr. J. Nesbit . Portobello.

Mr. A. Seath . Dunfermline.

Mr. J. B. Stephenson . Edinburgh.

Mr. D. Storrar . . Kirkcaldy.

Mr. J. R. Young . Edinburgh.

The President here remai’ked in connection with the
election of the new Council that 210 billets had been
sent out, and owing to Mr. Mackenzie’s name having
been omitted, in consequence of the miscarriage of his
acceptance, other 210 billets were issued. The total,
number returned was 118, 10 of which were duplicates,
and 4 informal, leaving 104 to be tabulated. All the
documents in connection with the voting were submitted
to the meeting.

Mr. Gilmour moved and Mr. Blanshard seconded a
hearty vote of thanks to the President for his conduct
in the chair, and the President acknowledged the com¬
pliment, expressing his thanks for the support and in¬
dulgence which he had received.

MEETING OF THE NEW COUNCIL.

The Council met immediately after the annual meet¬
ing, and on the motion of Mr. Young, who paid a hearty
trfbute to Mr. Stephenson’s ability in the chair on previous
occasions, and a similar compliment being accorded to
him by Mr. Frazer, he took the chair.

Mr. Nesbit also thanked the meeting on being elected
Vice-President.

The Committee for visiting purposes was the same
except with the addition of Messrs. Laird and Nesbit.

The Auditors of last year were again appointed.

The appointment of Honorary Secretary was left over.

886

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 23, 1881

wtomal

&xmxmrtmx8.

EDINBURGH CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual business meeting was held on Thursday,
April 7, in the rooms of the North British Braneh, Mr.
J. D. Robertson, President, in the chair.

The minutes of last meeting having been read and
confirmed, the financial statement was read by the
Treasurer. It showed an income of £7 15s. and a balance
from last session of £4 4s. id., making in all £11 19s. id.
The expenditure amounted to £3 9s. id., leaving a balance
in the hands of the Treasurer of £8 10s.

The Secretary then read the annual report : —

The Committee had much pleasure in congratulating the
Association on the highly satisfactory balance-sheet which
the Treasurer had been able to present. The membership
was 48 this year as compared with 45 last session, but
it was thought it might still be largely increased. The
attendance at the meetings during the session had kept
well up to the average, notwithstanding the fact that two
of the meetings were held during two of the most severe
snowstorms of last winter. The Committee had also
been able to carry out the printed syllabus in its entirety
and the papers had again been all contributed by members
of the Association. It very much regretted to have to state
that no apprentices had competed for the prize offered
this session, but as this appeared to be due partly to some
misunderstanding it was recommended that it be offered
again next session, in the hope of seeing a more satis¬
factory response to the offer. It recommended the
members generally to make a diligent effort to increase
the membership and thus the usefulness of the Association.

The financial statement and annual report having been
read and adopted, the Secretary stated that the regret
which was felt in connection with the apprentices’ prize
was somewhat relieved by the fact that the silver medal
in connection with Dr. Stevenson Macadam’s chemistry
classes had been won this year by Mr. George Coull, an
apprentice -member of the Association.

The Association then proceeded to appoint office¬
bearers for next session, when the following were elected :
President, Mr. William Aitken; Vice-President, Mr.
P. Boa ; Secretary, Mr. J. R. Hill ; Treasurer, Mr. C. F.
Henry ; and as members of Committee, Messrs. Adamson,
Coull, Forret, Fraser, Hutton, McDonald, McPherson,
Simpson and Wood.

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Council of
the North British Branch fo its kindness in granting
the use of the rooms, and it was resolved, as formerly, to
give a donation of £1 Is. to the Benevolent Fund in
return for this privilege.

Some further business having been completed, the
meeting was closed with a cordial vote of thanks to the
office-bearers and Committee for the session just ended.

OLDHAM CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held in the Church
Institute, on Monday evening, April 4, Mr. Bambridge,
President, in the Chair.

After the minutes for the meetings during the pre¬
ceding month had been read and accepted, the President
called upon Mr. Blanche, dentist, to deliver his lecture
on the “ Teeth.”

Mr. Blanche, in commencing, begged to apologize
for introducing such a subject to a society composed
almost exclusively of members of the pharmaceutical
profession, as, in large towns and cities, the practice of
extracting teeth and prescribing for the diseases to which
these organs are liable had gone into its proper channel,
that is to the dentist, although still in country districts
it was necessary that the pharmacist should have some

knowledge of the various branches of dental surgery, so
that, in a case of emergency, he might be fully prepared to
relieve the patient, or to recognize any disease of the
teeth requiring the skill and knowledge of the dental
surgeon. The lecturer first spoke of the genesis, develop¬
ment and eruption of the teeth, showing that they were
not, as popularly supposed, bones, but dermal appendages,
formed originally from the softest tissue in the body.
He then pointed out that the teeth are divided into
incisors, canines, bicuspids and molars; that the tooth
itself is composed of enamel, dentine, pulp, cementum
and periosteum; that the enamel is only acted upon
by mechanical violence or chemical agency; that dentine
is highly sensitive ; that cementum is nearly true
bone, containing approximately 32 per cent, of animal
matter, and that the pulp is soft, vascular, nervous,
and covered by cellular membrane. Mr. Blanche next
enumerated the diseases to which the various parts of
the tooth are subject ; of the enamel, none, or very few
after their development, and admitting of no treatment ;
of the dentine “caries,” a softening of the bony sub¬
stance caused by animalcules ; of the cementum, many,
the principal one being “ exostosis ” caused by over¬
nutrition of the part ; and of the pulp there are many
diseases, the most common being inflammation of the pulp,
caused by caries eating away the dentine and thus
exposing the nerve. There is another disease of the
pulp termed “ polypus,” which, although it may be cut
away over and over again, admits of no permanent cure.
The lecturer said that a very large number of infants die
annually during dentition through omitting to call in the
dentist, who, by his skill and attention, might often
alleviate the sufferings, if not preserve the lives, of the
little ones. The different methods of teeth-extraction
formed the concluding part of the lecture, Mr. Blanche
comparing the old and new methods, pointing out the
error under which many people labour that taking out
a tooth is an operation requiring no skill, and showing
the dangers arising from unskilful persons extracting
teeth.

At the conclusion of the lecture Mr. Boyd moved a
vote of thanks to Mr. Blanche for his very interesting
address, observing that many of the' statements of
Mr. Blanche he had himself verified by actual experience.
Mr. Harrison seconded the motion, which was unani¬
mously accepted.

THE REGISTERED CHEMISTS’ TRADE
ASSOCIATION OF LIVERPOOL.

The sixth annual reunion of this Association was held
on the 5th inst. To meet the convenience of members it
was thought desirable this year to have a supper instead
of the usual dinner, with the result that a larger attend¬
ance was secured. The President, Mr. A. Redford,
occupied the chair, and Mr. Symes, Ph.D., Vice-Presi¬
dent, was croupier.

After the loyal toasts had been disposed of, the Presi¬
dent gave the toast of the evening, “ The Registered
Chemists’ Trade Association of Liverpool.” Commending
those present for courage and social instinct, he said,
such friendly gatherings as these were likely to draw
them closer together and to result in substantial gain to
their humanity. Glancing at the work of the Association,
its continued usefulness, and the fact that it was always a
rallying point when danger threatened, he dwelt particu¬
larly upon the “Price List,” now in its fourth edition
which the Committee had spared no pains in the
endeavour to keep revised to date and which was a
monument of union in Liverpool, and had a large sale.
The tariff of prices he considered fair and equitable, while
on the other hand he expressed strong disapproval of the
dishonourable and delusive device of under-selling. He
thought the calm area of a chemist’s life should be free
from such disturbing influences and that the pleas urged
for cutting down prices would not justify such a course

April 23, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

887

to the conscience, the descent being ever in a sliding-
scale deepening in degradation as the grave was reached.
As brethren their interests in the long run were one, and
a course of selfishness and envy would inevitably bring
about ruinous consequences. He deprecated any feeling
like panic or apprehensions of the future being encou¬
raged, for in such states of mind, too often the voices of
reason and conscience were unheard. If possible they
needed to keep clear of delusions, even about “patent
medicines,” and to try rather by a reform in economics,
by improved methods, intelligent enterprise and similar
unexceptional arts to make their business pay them honour¬
ably, and they might still hold their own amongst the
institutions of the country. He rejoiced to see around
him many who had often sacrificed self when the general
good was at stake, and hoped Liverpool would never lack
such men to carry on the work of the Association.
Coupling the toast with the name of Mr. J. Hocken, Ho¬
norary Secretary, who briefly responded, he referred to the
loss the Association had sustained during the year by the
death of two of its founders, Mr. J. Abraham and Mr. J.
Fletcher.

The toast “The Pharmaceutical Society” and “The
Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great
Britain ” was then given in favourable terms by Mr. B.
Dickins. In responding Mr. Symes, Ph.D., said, he
scarcely felt entitled to the eulogistic remarks which had
fallen from the last speaker. For some years past his
interests had been identified with those of both the
profession and trade of pharmacy, and if whilst following
his vocation, he had been able to do ever so little to serve
his day and generation, that was something to be grateful
for. Had time permitted, it would have given him
pleasure to have said more about the two societies with
which his name had been associated. It would not have
been difficult to show that the Pharmaceutical Society
was sometimes blamed for turning a deaf ear to their
requests or for neglecting their interests where no such
neglect had existed. Some of the proceedings of the
Society must be done in committee, but he ventured to
say that much more was so done than there was any
necessity to keep secret. Some years ago referring to the
old proverb “ Unity is strength,” he pointed out the
desirability of there being a better understanding
existing between the Pharmaceutical Society and the
Trade Association, at the same time promising to exert
himself to bring about such a result ; this he had never
failed to do when opportunity presented itself, and
others had been equally or more active in the field, and
to-day these two great societies were working more in
harmony than at any previous time of their existence.
Having to leave in order to go to London to attend the
meeting of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society he
would ask Mr. Woodcock, a worthy member of the Trade
Association, to say a few words in completion of this
hurried and imperfect speech.

Mr. Woodcock said he was proud of the honour he
held of being one of the Committee of the Chemists’
and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great Britain and
congratulated the chemists of the country that there was
such a society established, ready at all times to take up in
a practical way matters affecting the interests of the
trade generally; he referred to the support given by local
associations, and thought, that if similar societies to this
were formed in other large towns, they would materially
assist the larger society, and tend by greater unanimity
to remove the cloud which at present seemed to over¬
shadow the trade, and this he hopefully believed would be
accomplished before long.

Mr. J. A. Turner then gave in facetious terms the
toast of the “ Liverpool Chemists’ Association, and the
Birkenhead Chemists’ Association, and kindred Societies.”
In the absence of Mr. Symes, the President, Mr. Conroy,
Honorary Secretary, responded on behalf of the Liverpool
Association, and Mr. A. Stewart and Mr. J. Ball for the
Birkenhead Society.

Mr. R. Parkinson, in complimentary terms, proposed
the health of the President, Mr. A. Redford, which was
drunk with musical honours. Mr. Redford, after respond¬
ing, gave the health of the Vice-President, Mr. Symes,
which was most cordially received and responded to on
his behalf by Mr. Woodcock.

The pleasure of the evening was considerably enhanced
by excellent songs, kindly given by Mr. J. Frederick
Smith and Mr. A. H. Mason, F.C.S., and recitations by
Mr. H. Jackson (Messrs. W. and H. Jackson) and Mr.
Peat, who fairly deserved the thanks heartily given by
the whole of the company.

The annual meeting was held on Thursday the 7th
inst., when Mr. A. Redford was unanimously re-elected
President. The former members of the Committee,
Messrs. Redford, Hocken, Parry, Parkinson, Turner,
Warhurst and Wright, were re-elected, and Mr. H.
Wyatt in place of Mr. A. H. Blain who retired. The
Treasurer’s statement showed an improvement in the
state of the funds ; there being cash in hand amounting
to £5 16s. 10 d., besides a number of the fourth edition
of the “ Price List ” issued during the current year.

The annual report was read, adopted, and ordered to be
printed.

garlxamcittitrir mib letter

Proceedings under the Pharmacy Act.

The case of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great
Britain v. Piper, instituted in the Bloomsbury County
Court, in which the plaintiffs sued the defendant for
a £5 penalty incurred by his having kept open shop
for the sale of poison, viz., having taken an order for
and sold and delivered an article containing poison, has
been terminated by the defendant paying into court the
amount of penalty and costs.

The case of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great
Britain v. Harrod, instituted in the Bloomsbury County
Court, in which the plaintiffs sued the defendant for
a £5 penalty incurred by his having kept open shop
for the sale of poison, viz., having taken an order for
and sold and delivered an article containing poison, has
been terminated by the defendant paying into court the
amount of penalty and costs.

Alleged Death of an Infant from the Application
of Impure Violet Powder.

On Friday, April 8, the Coroner (W. H. Garrington,
Esq.), held an inquest at the Dial Tavern, Crasswell
Street, Landport, on the body of the female child, aged
sixteen days, of Henry Williams, the landlord of the
above house. — From the evidence of Eliza Craven, who
nursed Mrs. Williams, it appeared that the deceased was
to all appearance quite healthy at the time of birth, but
about six days afterwards betrayed uneasiness, and the
skin dried and peeled off, leaving a raw dry surface.
This spread by degrees to every part of the body except
the top of the head. The third day after the birth the
nurse had begun to use some powder which Mrs. Williams
had told her to take from the mantelpiece. It was
contained in an ordinary powder box, and she used
it with a powder puff. Dr. Green’s attention was called
to the state of the deceased last Monday week and the
use of the powder was discontinued. The child gradually
got weaker, and became convulsed two days before her
death, which took place on Sunday. Mrs. Williams
said that she had often used the powder upon her other
children, and noticed that they became sore where it
was applied, but at the time she had no suspicion this
arose from the use of the powder, thinking they were
sprayed by the cold weather. — Dr. James Green, of the

888

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 23, 1SSI

Commercial Road, said that there was nothin? unusual
in the appearance of the powder, and it smelt like violet
powder. It was contained in a square box made of
pasteboard with the name of “Hovenden” on it. He
attributed the death of the deceased to the extensive
inflammation of the skin, which, he was of opinion,
was produced by the application of impure violet
powder.

The Coroner, in opening the proceedings, had an¬
nounced that he had been informed by Dr. Sykes, the
public analyst, that an examination of the powder had
proved that it contained sulphate of lime, or what was
commonly known as plaster of paris ; and the inquiry
was adjourned for the purpose of ascertaining by analysis
the exact percentage of sulphate of lime in the pow¬
der. — Portsmouth Times.

Action against a Chemist.

In the Birmingham County Court, on Thursday, April
14, George Day Horton, a chemist, was sued by Thomas
Proctor, a retired butcher, for £50 for personal injury
resulting from the improper making up of a prescription.
Plaintiff, while suffering from gout, copied a prescription,
the ingredients of which were two parts rhubarb and one
part calcined magnesia, and sent it to the defendant to be
made up. The entry in the defendant’s book was
rhubarb, calomel and magnesia. The plaintiff took
the powders, and was badly salivated. He incurred
a surgeon’s bill of twelve guineas.

The jury returned a verdict for £15. — Western
Morning News.

Theft of Government Stores from the Marine

Barracks.

At the Stonehouse Police Court on Thursday, April 14,
before Mr. J. F. Fortescue (in the chair), Admiral Watson,
Mr. W. Matthews, and Mr. H. Tremain, further inquiry
was made into the thefts of medical stores from the
infirmary of the Royal Marine Barracks, Stonehouse.

George Prout, a private of the Royal Marines, and
Samuel Sprague, a marine-store dealer, of Stonehouse,
were charged with stealing a quantity of Government
stores from the infirmary of the Marine Barracks. Mr.
Eastlalce, Admiralty law agent, appeared to prosecute ;
Mr. F. R. Stanbury defended Sprague, and Mr. J. E.
Curteis defended Prout.

Dr. Henry, fleet surgeon, attached to the Royal
Marines, repeated the evidence given on the last occasion,
and Mr. Curteis questioned the witness as to the identity
of the articles. The value of the goods found at Mr.
Maitland’s was £6 15s.

To the Bench witness said he had no moral doubt
they were Government stores ; but there was no mark
upon them by which he could identify them.

Corporal William Denly, who said he was the dispen¬
sary man of the division, gave corroborative evidence. He
identified the jars by a mark on the bottom ; but, in reply
to the Magistrates’ Clerk, he said he did not see the mark
before the jars were missed. It was the contractor’s
mark.

Mr. Curteis said he wanted to bring out that it would
be impossible for a man to take these things from the
infirmary without being seen by the sentry.

Mr. Maitland, the chemist, also repeated the evidence
with reference to the goods having been sold to him by
Sprague. He dealt with Sprague, who said he got the
articles from a large steamer. Sprague asked Prout to
have a glass of beer, but he did not see them divide any
money.

In reply to Mr. Curteis, witness said the mark on the
jar had nothing distinctive in it. It was such as anyone
would have who dealt with that house if wholesale

chemists. He knew the house very well. They supplied
thousands of chemists.

The prisoners were committed for trial at the assizes.

Sprague was admitted to bail in two sureties of £50
and himself in £100.

At the conclusion of the case, the Chairman said he
was desired by the Bench to say a few words with respect
to the manner in which Mr. Maitland, the chemist, had
conducted himself. The Bench thought his practice in
connection with these men was hazardous in the extreme.
He was liable to place himself in the awkward position
of a man charged with receiving stolen goods. He
bought these goods clearly very much under their value
from men who were strangers to him, and the Bench
wished to caution him and to express a hope that he
would be more careful in the future.

Mr. Maitland had previously explained to the Bench
that he had questioned the men, and that he gave them
as much for the goods as they were worth to him.

John Williams, a private in the Royal Marines, was
then charged with a similar offence.

Mr. Eastlake said this case really arose out of the last.
The police found that medical stores had come into
the possession of another chemist, whose explanation of it
was that he had them from Williams. Williams was at
one time a gardener at the infirmary; he afterwards
served afloat ; and at the time of his arrest he was a
lamplighter at the barracks and at the infirmary. He
did not desire to connect this case -with the one just
heard, but when Williams was apprehended he said he
had these stores from Prout.

Mr. Eastlake stated that the infirmary sergeant was
under arrest for neglect of duty, in not having reported
the loss of these things at the time.

Mr. Stanbury said in this case the prisoner, under his
advice, would plead guilty, and ask the Bench to deal
with the case in a summary manner. The prisoner had
been in the service fourteen years, and had three good
conduct stripes.

Mr. Eastlake said, as he had already intimated, he did
not ask the Bench to commit in this case. He concurred
in the main in what had been said on behalf of the
prisoner, and he believed justice could be met by the
Bench dealing with the case summarily.

The Chairman said as that was not a petty session day
they could not deal with the case then, but they would
remand the prisoner and then deal with him summarily. —
Western Morning News.

Prosecution of a Medical Practitioner for Selling
Defective Chemical Food.

On Tuesday last, at Glasgow, Dr. J ames Downie was
charged, before Sheriff Balfour, at the instance of the
Local Authority, with a contravention of the Food and
Drugs Act, by selling a bottle of chemical food which
did not contain the requisite percentage of ingredients.
The bottle was purchased on the forenoon of March 3
last, at the drug shop at 4, Abercromby Street, by Mr.
Robert Inglis, ordinary sanitary inspector, for purposes
of analysis, and he paid 2 s. for the bottle. It was supplied
by a girl, who told Mr. Inglis that if he waited till six
o’clock he might see Dr. Downie. On being analysed by
the public analyst the drug was found to contain *47 of
a grain of phosphate of iron, and '38 of a grain of phos¬
phate of lime, whereas it should have contained 2^ grains
of phosphate of iron and 1 grain of phosphate of lime.
For the defence it was contended that Dr. Downie, who
had been in partnership with a medical student, had had
nothing to do with the shop for the past eighteen months,
but only used a room off the shop for the purpose of con¬
sulting with patients, although the business was carried
on in Dr. Downie’s name, and with his consent. The
Sheriff found the charge proven, and imposed a fine of
£3. — Glasgoxo News.

April 23, 1SS1.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

889

©bituarg.

JOHN MACKAY.

It is with the deepest sorrow, which we are sure will be
shared by all the members of the pharmaceutical body,
that we have to record the death of Mr. John Mackay,
Honorary Secretary to the North British Branch of the
Pharmaceutical Society, which took place in Edinburgh
on the morning of Tuesday last, the 19th inst., after a
very short and severe illness. Mr. Mackay attended the
meeting of the Council in London on the 6th of this
month and returned to Edinburgh on the 7 th. He was
then suffering from a bronchitic affection to which he
was liable, but was able to be at business up till Tuesday
the 12th. On that day he was seized while in his office
with alarming symptoms which were, it was feared,
premonitory of severe illness, and which developed
within the next day or two into acute inflammation of
the lungs, to which he succumbed on the morning of
the 19th.

Mr. Mackay’s life was so crowded with action, and his
character was so many sided, that it wrould be impossible
to do justice to his memory in a notice like this. Indeed,
such a task may be looked on as superfluous, because
his utterances and his acts have been all along so pro¬
minently before the public, and his name has become
such a household word, that any record of him intended
for pharmacists is apt to weaken the impression that the
mere anouncement of his death is fitted to convey.

Born at Edinburgh in the year 1818, Mr. Mackay was
apprenticed to Messrs. Pugh and Plews, of that city,
when only twelve years of age. Six years afterwards
he became assistant in the house of John Bell and Co.
in London. Whilst there he became acquainted with
Mr. Jacob Bell, an acquaintance which ripened into a
close intimacy and was maintained until -the death of the
latter. In 1838 he opened shop in Edinburgh as a
pharmacist, which profession he has successfully pro¬
secuted ever since.

From Mr. Mackay’s association with Mr. Jacob Bell
his sympathies were early enlisted in the cause of phar¬
maceutical advancement and elevation, and throughout
all the contendings from 1841, even until the other day,
there was no one who displayed a warmer interest or
made more unceasing efforts for those objects. But it
was more especially to the interests of the North British
Branch of the Society that his efforts were directed. . Of
this Branch since 1841 Mr. Mackay has been Honorary
Secretary, declining again and again to be nominated for
the chair, feeling, as he often said, that he was more useful
as secretary. He was the animating and guiding spirit
of its proceedings. During all that time (he has recently
been heard to declare) he was never absent from the
meetings, whether for business, examinations or scientific
purposes, except on two or three occasions, and then only
owing to illness, and it was mainly through his personal
efforts (although he has always been ready to give his
coadjutors the credit of it) that the North British
Branch and the Scottish Board of Examiners occupy
their present position. In 1861 he was elected member
of the Council of the Society, and the recorded pro¬
ceedings of that body show what an efficient member he
has been.

In addition to labours of this kind Mr. Mackay has
been the contributor of numerous papers read at Evening
Meetings and printed in the Journal. These partake of
various characters — scientific and commercial — and are
uniformly practical and interesting. The most recent
was a long paper on the Homburg Springs, where he had
gone two years ago with Mrs. Mackay for their health,
and this had constituted his holiday task.

In 1869 the services of Mr. Mackay to British phar¬
macy were acknowledged by a public dinner and the
presentation of a magnificent service of plate, which was
very generally subscribed for both in England and Scotland.

Outside the Pharmaceutical Society Mr. Mackay was
known as a public spirited citizen, and has held various
honorary positions in public bodies.

In estimating Mr. Mackay’s character, one is at once
confronted with the difficulty of the task. He was pos¬
sessed of so many gifts and attainments, rare in them¬
selves, and still rarer in combination with one another,
that it was natural to admire, to respect, and even to
love the man without well recognizing the particular
qualities which called forth these sentiments. He was a
man of strict business principles and habits, yet the most
playfxd and delightful companion, and the most perfect
type of a good host in his own house. He possessed a
full share of the “ perfervidum ingenium” of the true
Scot, yet was always the refined and courteous gentleman.
No one had a greater contempt for the hollow and unreal
than he; yet no one could be more conciliatory and
tolerant with opponents. In short, he possessed a large
share of the fortiter in re, as well as the suaviter in modo ,
a combination rare indeed, but of irresistible influence.
Herein probably lay the secret of his success in all he
undertook, and the explanation of the immense amount
of work he was able to overtake with incredibly little
friction. It is hardly right to intrude into his family
relations. Yet no one had the honour of even a slight
introduction to his domestic circle (and there are very
many in our own body who were so honoured), but
could easily perceive that there he was, in a very remark¬
able degree, the loving and beloved husband and father.
It is in contemplating his ability, — his goodness, — his de¬
votedness, — that the great loss the Pharmaceutical Society
has sustained by his removal will be most realized ; but
the feeling of loss is somewhat mitigated by the conscious¬
ness of the heritage he has left in the memories of a
career, the embodiment of high and noble resolve, and of
strenuous and virtuous achievement.

Notice has also been received of the death of the fol¬
lowing

On the 1st of February, 1881, Mr. William Douglas
Meikle, Chemist and Druggist, High Street, Great Berk-
hampstead. Aged 38 years.

On the 8th of March, 1881, at Witham, Mr. Frederick
Samuel Rumsey, Chemist and Druggist, Old Bethnal
Green. Aged 35 years.

On the 2nd of April, 1881, Mr. Sam Field, Chemist
and Druggist, Scholes, Wigan. Aged 38 years.

On the 5th of April, 1881, Mr. William Jennings
Southee, Chemist and Druggist, Mare Street, Hackney.
Aged 30 years.

On the 6th of April, 1881, Mr. Frederick Appleyard,
Chemist and Druggist, Denholme, Yorkshire. Aged 73
years.

Erratum , —In the obituary notices on p. 831, Mr.
Matthew Urwin should have been described as of South
Shields instead of North Shields.

gtsjmmmj ||temorantm.

In order to assist as much as 'possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[527]. I presume the difficulty experienced with this
prescription is the want of a formula for loch, pectorialis.
This preparation is frequently prescribed on the continent,
and is to be found in the French Codex as looch huileux.
The form is : —

890

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 23, 1881.

01. Amygd. Dulc . 15.

Pulv. Gum Arab . 15.

Syr. Gummi . 30.

Aq. Elor. Aurant . 15.

Aquae . 100.

Make a mucilage with the gum and twice its weight of
water ; to this add the oil in small quantities, and, lastly,
dilute with the remaining liquids.

Perhaps I had better mention that syr. gum. acacise is
intended, seeing that one of your correspondents a few
weeks since said he should use syr. gum. rub. as being
more active.

Eardley.

[528]. The dark colour referred to by “ Anxious In¬
quirer” doubtless arises from the action of the ferric
chloride on the white of the lemon peel, and as it would
be impossible to peel the lemons so fine as to exclude all
white, the mixture if dispensed correctly with B.P. syrup
should have a dark appearance.

The London firm must have unjustifiably used a syrup
prepared from a private formula.

Belgravia. Fireworks.

[529]. Tinct. Iodi c. Ammon. — By this is meant tinct.
iodi, B.P., with sufficient liq. ammon. fort, to render it
colourless.

Belgravia. Fireworks.

[529]. Tinct. iodi ammon. is prepared from several
different formulas, and is liable to considerable variation,
though it should always be dispensed colourless. Squire’s
‘ Companion ’ contains a form taken from the German
Pharmacopoeia, which adds hyposulphite of soda as well
as ammonia. I believe it is usually prepared by de¬
colorizing B.P. tincture of iodine with strong solution of
ammonia. It requires some weeks to complete the reac¬
tion unless an excess of ammonia is added. Dorvault’s
‘ Pharmacie Pratique ’ says, to have an instantaneous
decoloration add an excess of ammonia, then add hydro¬
chloric acid until the liquid has a slight alkaline reaction ;
any chloride of ammonium which may be precipitated
can be easily removed by filtration.

It would be a difficult matter to say which is the
original formula, so each chemist is left to choose which
he thinks best.

Eardlet.

[532]. There should certainly be no deposit in this
mixture. The London firm must have, quite unneces¬
sarily, used heat to dissolve ferri ammon. tart., and
thrown down ferric oxide.

Belgravia. Fireworks.

[533]. Would “Dispenser” be justified in sending out
the following prescription with the quinine dissolved by
the aid of a little acid, or rub the quinine in a mortar,
and put a “ shake the bottle ” label on? —

R Quin. Sulph. . .

Yin. Ferri . .

M.

Syr .

Inf. Quass. . ,

Aq. Menth. Pip.

3ss. bis die.

ad

grs. nj.

Iss.

3ij.

|ij-

3iv.

A Student.

[534], The following prescription was presented to me
to be dispensed a short time ago : —

R Ferri Bromid . 3iss.

Potass. Bromid . 3^vss*

Aqu® . ad ^ix.

From three separate “ ounce bottles ” of ferri bromid.
the result was as follows: —

No. 1 readily soluble, forming a clear colourless solu¬

tion, but after a few minutes a slight precipitate was
visible.

No. 2 a clear solution as before, but no precipitate
during twenty-four hours, after which time I cannot
state.

No. 3 immediately presented a very unsightly, muddy
mixture, due of course to a dense brown precipitate.

Would any of your readers kindly give an explanation
of the cause ?

Jacque.

[535]. Will any reader kindly inform me of a good
excipient for the following pills ? —

R Hyd. Chlor . grs. xij.

Ext. Coloc. Co . grs. xxiv.

Pulv. Scammony . grs. xxiv.

M. et ft. pil. Mitte xij.

Also a good excipient for the following : —

R Ext. Aloes Aquos . 3j-

Ft. pil. Mitte xij.

W. E. E.

[536]. Could any of the readers give me any informa¬
tion as to the difference (if any) between ferri citras and
ferri ammon. cit., B.P. ? If there is any, could anyone
give me the properties and appearance of the ferri citras,
and if in a prescription ordering ferri citras should I
have been justified in using ferri ammon. cit. ?

Assistant.

[537].

R Potassae Bicarbonatis .....

Potasses Salicylatis .

Sp. Chloroformi . . .

Aq. Menthae Pip. . ad 3viij.

M. Fiat mistura cujus capiat cochleare medium ex
aqua frigida omnibus horis tert.

The above mixture turns black after it has been kept
some time. Will any reader kindly say what decomposi¬
tion takes place ?

H. G.

[538]. Are the following ingredients compatible with

one another? —

R Ammon. Carb . . . 3ij-

Spt. Chloroformi . 3ij.

Acid. Hydrocyanic. Sch. '. .... ill xvj.

Ferri et Ammon. Cit . 3rJ-

Infus. Gent. Co . ad^viij.

I have been told by a friend that they are not, the
acidum hydrocyanicum being incompatible with ferri
et ammon. cit. Is it so?

Harry Verity.

[539]. I had the two following prescriptions to dispense
two days ago. Would anyone kindly tell me whether I
was right in adding “acid, sulph. ail,” to dissolve the
“ quinine,” and also in using a little “ aqua ” to dissolve
the “ potassii iodid.,” neither being ordered ? —

I.

R Quin. Disulph . gr. xij.

Pot. Bromid . 3j*

Syr. Aurantii ... , . . gss.

Aquae . ... ad §vj.

M. Ft. mist.

II.

R Potassii Iodid . 3u*-

Lin. Camph. Co. ....... %].

Lin. Belladon . gj.

Ft. liniment.

R. J. D.

April 23, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

891

No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the vrriter; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

I — — —

The Benevolent Pond.

Sir, — The Secretary hit the right nail on the head when
he remaked at the last meeting of the Council that ‘ ‘ the
prosperity of this Fund depended in a great measure on the
efforts of the Local Secretaries.” Speaking from personal
experience I .can fully ratify and confirm that statement.

The Chemists’ Trade Association here sets an example
worth following, where the Local Secretary is looked upon
as the actual representative of the Association in his town, to
whom blank receipts are annually sent, together with a list
of present subscribers in his town, and a request to extend
the list if possible, thus taking it for granted that in
accepting office he is willing to do something for the general
good of the Association. Were this plan adopted by our
Society, the Local Secretaries would understand that their
existence was to be known not only by the annually printed
list, but by their work, and would probably begin to feel
.■some sort of responsibility that the amount of subscriptions
from their town should fairly represent the trade in the town.

I would suggest in addition to the blank receipts, a printed
form should be sent, containing a brief risumi of the work
of the Fund during the past year, together with a request
that in the event of not being already a subscriber the
receiver should become such, and if employing assistants
that he should endeavour to enlist their support to the
Fund, and further stating that the Local Secretary would
hope to call shortly for subscriptions. This should be
printed note size, so as to be forwarded by the Local Secre¬
tary, per halfpenny post, to each chemist or subscriber in

the town. A WORKER.

- - — -

The Examinations.

Sir, — 1 have read with much interest the report of Dr.
Greenhow and your valuable leading article upon the sub¬
ject of the examinations. Will you allow me to offer a few
remarks which suggest themselves to my mind ?

The amount of disappointment occasioned by so many re¬
jections at the examinations, and the consequent loss of valu¬
able time and money to the youths and their friends, gives
rise to serious reflections upon the existing state of things,
and the question will evidently crop up how far the master of
a youth is liable and to what extent does his obligation ex¬
tend in teaching him his business. Let it be fairly asked
what are the conditions under which a boy is placed to
successfully learn his business in a country town. How
many pharmacists are there in England, even .in towns of
twenty or thirty thousand inhabitants, who are doing a purely
dispensing trade? I speak from long and extensive expe¬
rience when I say not many, and I am sure there are
thousands of so-called chemists doing a large mixed trade and
yet perhaps do not average half-a-dozen prescriptions a week.

Is it not a fact that the greater portion of the country
businesses are so mixed that it would be difficult to tell
which was the most represented, the oilman, tobacconist,
manure dealer or wine and spirit merchant ?

And these are the sources from which the greatest number
of candidates are sent to the Minor examination. The
whole thing requires revision, three years spent in a Bhop
would be all that is required to give a youth the ordinary
routine knowledge of his business ; the remaining time should
be spent in a school of pharmacy, so aB to give a youth a fair
chance of getting past his examination.

I trust before a new Pharmacy Bill is passed persons
competent to form an opinion will be sent down into various
parts of England to gain valuable information as to the
working of a country business, and that we may not be
legislated for by men who know really nothing of the cha¬
racter of a country business. I trust this subject will be
well ventilated; I am sure its importance demands it.

One who has been in the Trade for Thirty Years.

_

The Position of Pharmacy, especially in its
Relation to Medicine.

Sir, — Although the above has already formed the subject
of some able letters, I venture to send you a few lines as an
expression of my opinion in the matter. In doing this, I

would first remark that to my mind it is of the utmost im¬
portance at the present time that chemists should combine
together to resist all attempts, made either directly or in¬
directly, to drive them back upon the merely commercial
portion of their business. In a crisis like the present, when
the existence of pharmacy as a distinct calling is seriously
threatened, surely it is of the highest import that we should
be united, and that dissensions should not exist among us.
The choice lies between two lines of policy, the one of ag¬
gression, the other of retrogression. The question really at
stake is, shall pharmacy advance or shall she decline ? And
the present is the time for those at the head of pharmaceu¬
tical affairs to take a fresh departure in that line of policy
which has up to now marked the action of the leaders of
pharmacy and which aims at its continual advancement.

“ The Pharmacy Acts Amendment Bill,” as approved by
the Council of the Society, is an indication of the fact that
the members of the Council are fully alive to the danger
threatening pharmacy, and of an earnest endeavour to
grapple with it.

Now what is the proper office and function of the
pharmacist P He is, in the first place, a retailer of drugs
and chemicals, and in this respect differs nothing from the
ordinary tradesman. And yet pharmacy cannot, by any
means, be considered as a trade, nor the pharmacist as a
tradesman, in the ordinary acceptation of the term. The
definition of pharmacy as a trade does not cover the whole
of the ground, so to speak, for closely associated with it is
an innumerable number of transactions involving much
care and skill, and which combine to give to pharmacy its
peculiarly unique and distinctive character as a calling. It
is, in point of fact, partly a trade, and partly a profession,
the latter element predominating. To give a homely and
simple illustration. A customer visits the chemist and
purchases, say, an ounce of flowers of sulphur. He pays
for it and so far the transaction is one simply of trade.
But suppose he asks “ How much of this may I take for a
dose ? ” we trench at once upon the professional side of
pharmacy. Pharmacy has, in fact, the duties and respon¬
sibilities both of a trade and of a profession, and it is no
exaggeration at the present time to say that it takes the pay
neither of one nor the other.

Then again, it is no doubt part and parcel of the duty of
pharmacists to investigate the nature and composition of
all drugs introduced into use as medicines, and also to dis¬
cover how the various substances thus introduced shall best
be treated, in order to yield their active principles, or pre¬
parations so representing, in a more convenient form, the
active properties of the drugs, as shall better fit them for
use as remedial agents, both by the medical practitioner
and by the general public. Not only so, but it has hap¬
pened in the course of events (probably owing mainly to
the action of the Legislature in the institution of examina¬
tions), that the chemist is required to go through such a
course of training and experience as necessarily makes him
familiar with the properties of drugs, and their use as
medicines. This is recognized by the public, who, more¬
over, expect the chemist to possess this amount of know¬
ledge, and who in many instances have more faith in the
skill of the chemist than in that of the medical man, and
certainly, in simple cases, will far more readily consult the
chemist than the doctor. And what reasonable objection
can exist against the chemist prescribing in cases of simple
ailments? A person is troubled with an attack of diarrhoea;
is he therefore to walk up the street to the nearest doctor,
when the chemist next door can give him relief just as
readily ? Or mayhap he has a slight attack of headache ; is
he therefore to consult a medical man, when perhaps all he
needs is a dose of sal volatile ? In such cases as these (and
few chemists go further than this) , it is absurd and ridiculous
that medical men should talk of the chemist giving up
counter prescribing.

But in speaking upon this subject, one’s mind reverts
to another branch, closely connected with it, viz., the dis¬
pensing of prescriptions, which naturally falls within the
province of pharmacy.

Now as to any arrangement being arrived at under
which ‘the chemist shall concede to the medical man the
sole right to prescribe, whilst, on the other hand, the latter
shall hand over his dispensing to the former, I am of
opinion, that although some general agreement of the kind
is both desirable and possible, yet that any exclusive and
complete arrangement would not be possible, and even if
possible, might not be altogether desirable. For example,

892

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 23, 1881.

in some districts, as in country villages, and also in the
densely populated and poorer quarters of large towns, the
acquisition of the dispensing would be of small pecuniary
value to the chemist ; and it would be found better to
continue what I believe to be the general, if not universal,
practice at present, viz., for the doctor to do his own
dispensing : the cost of medicine supplied being included in
the fee charged. Then again, it would most likely be found
that a few chemists would refuse to give up counter¬
prescribing; whilst some doctors would just as rigidly
adhere to the old practice of dispensing their own medi¬
cines. But I think it would be found that chemists are
just as willing (in fact more so) to give up counter¬
prescribing as the medical man to close his dispensary.
For the remark ofttimes made by chemists is no new one,
“ The docters dispense their own medicines, and therefore
I shall continue to prescribe.”

In this matter, I think medical practitioners ought
to take the initiative, for it is no concession to chemists
that they should cease dispensing; whilst the chemist
can certainly claim that in cutting himself free from
counter prescribing, he is giving up that which he may
lawfully claim as lying within his province. More¬
over, I think it eminently necessary, both for the sake
of the pharmacist and the safety of the general public,
that the retailing and dispensing of drugs should fall
entirely into the hands of the chemist; or at any rate,
that he should have granted to him a far more extended
monopoly in this respect than he at present possesses. Is
not this his rightful claim F The Legislature of this land,
by Act of Parliament, has acknowledged the existence of
pharmacy as a distinct calling requiring a special training ;
and has furthermore demanded special qualifications in the
matter of examinations. But to what purpose is all this ?
Truly it puts the pharmacist into possession of a rich
inheritance ! A sorry result indeed it is, that he finds at
the end of all, — one half his living parted from the other,
and appropriated by the dispensing doctor ; whilst on the
other side he finds himself engaged in a competition for
his daily bread with the cheap grocer and the petty shop¬
keeper. No wonder, I say, that he is tempted to retaliate
upon somebody or other, and do a little prescribing on his
own account.

Before bringing this letter to a close I cannot refrain
from uttering a word or two of protest against those misre¬
presentations of the position of the chemist in respect of
pharges, which are made too often. It needs but a few
moments* consideration to see the falsity of the position in
which we are being placed in .the eyes of the public at
large, and this too by those of whom better things might
be expected.

The pharmacist serves an apprenticeship, paying as a rule
a heavy premium, with the object of acquiring a practical
i knowledge of his business. Then in nine cases out of ten he
must go through a curriculum at a school of pharmacy in order
to acquaint himself fully with the theoretical portion of his
business. Engaged in business, he has a considerable sum
of money invested in stock, fixtures, etc.; his expenses are
great in the matters of rental of premises, payment of assist¬
ants, rates and taxes; and again his risks are great by losses
by breakage, ete. Add to this that the business is an ex¬
ceedingly trying one, requiring the expenditure of a great
amount of care and skill (for the chemist must be a man who
never makes a mistake), requiring unfailing and constant
attention on his part, and necessitating long hours of busi¬
ness, hours too, fraught with many anxieties which are
peculiar to pharmacy. This thing being considered, is it
to be expected that in dispensing a prescription, for example,
the bare current price of the drug should be charged? Un¬
doubtedly in the case of a poor person, where this is indicated
upon the prescription by the medical man, by means of some
word or letter, a reduction in the dispensing fee would be
made ; but any proposition embodying the principle that in
dispensing a prescription the nominal value of the drugs
used should be taken as the regulator of the charge for dis¬
pensing is absurd and devoid alike of reason and common
sense. If the pharmacist is to continue to exist (and look¬
ing upon him in the light of a public servant I think he can
ill be spared), it will not be at co-operative store prices, for
his returns are small and hence the profits must bear a con¬
siderable ratio to the returns. It appears to me that the
best plan open to the pharmacist is to adhere strictly to the
usual prices for drugs, and to encourage, so far as possible,
the development of the professional side of pharmacy.

In conclusion, I would express my conviction that of all
public servants, boarded and lodged upon the industry of
the people of this land, none is more worthy of his hire than,
the pharmacist.

Great Yarmouth. R. WrIght.

The Pharmacy Act, 1868.

Sir, — Attention ha3 frequently been drawn to the fact-
that since chlorodynes and soothing syrups are sold by
drapers and stores, the means of suicide and infanticide
are within the reach of every one; but I fail to see what
benefit would accrue to the community at large if the sale
of these proprietary articles was restricted to chemists and
druggists.

A recent endeavour to trace the sale of strychnine to some
person or persons in this neighbourhood raised the question
as to who has the right to inspect a chemist and druggist’s
poison register, and elicited the fact that Battle’s vermin
killer, which contains strychnine, is sold by unregistered
persons. I have reasons to suspect that many dealers in
photographic chemicals do not comply with the provisions
of the Pharmacy Act, and venture the opinion that the
poison clauses of this Act should be more strictly enforced.

Bromley Common, Kent. Thomas Jobson.

Citrine Ointment.

Sir, — I noticed in the Journal dated February 10, that
a writer on vaseline had failed to make the “ citrine oint¬
ment with vaseline ” by the instructions given in my ‘ Com¬
panion.’ I may say that I first made it myself four or five
years ago, and it has been prepared ever since without a
failure. The mercury and acid are put into a wide-mouth
bottle or flask and whilst the action is going on the vaseline
is heated in a water-bath to 180° F. If the mercury is not
completely dissolved, the flask is held in the water-bath till
it is ; it is then poured into the vaseline and the whole stirred
till cold. One part of this ointment with three of vaseline
has been used by the oculists and highly approved by them.

277, Oxford Street. Peter Squire.

Messrs. Kirby and Co. — We fail to see that the circum¬
stances as stated by you are such as to require notice in
this Journal.

W. Banbury. — You are recommended to communicate
the details as fully as possible to the Registrar and consult
him upon the question.

T. T. — We do not know what, if any, societies are repre¬
sented by the letters referred to.

“ Percontator.” — The preparation you refer to is a pro- )
prietary one, and we have no special means of ascertaining
its composition.

H. L. — The solution of hydrobromic acid recommended
by Dr. Fothergill is made by dissolving 5X> 3VJ* &r* xxviii, of
bromide of potassium in four pints of water and then
adding Sxiij, 5j. gr.xxxvij of tartaric acid. But see a paper
by Mr. Palmer in the Pharmaceutical Journal for March 1,
1879, p. 721.

A. Reynor. — We are unable to comply with your request.
For terms for advertisements, apply to Messrs. Churchill,

11, New Burlington Street, W.

Santonin. — As far as is known the physical change
which takes place in santonin upon exposure to light is not
accompanied by any chemical decomposition.

Hoiner. — In order to ascertain the composition of the
preparation in question, you are recommended to submit it
to chemical analysis. As to its properties you are referred
to the statements published by the vendors.

H. C. H. — Probably Sedum reflexum. Send another
specimen in July, when in flower.

C. J. — We are not aware of the existence of any authentic
information on the subject.

J. G. — Oleate of zinc may be prepared by mixing
together hot solutions of soft soap and sulphate of zinc,
washing the precipitate and drying. Mr. Gerrard ( Pharm .
Journ., [3], vol. iii., p. 141), prepares an oleate of zinc by
heating together one part of oxide of zinc with four parts of
oleic acid until dissolved. He also gives a formula for an
ointment containing two parts of the oleate so prepared,
one part of oil of almonds and one of prepared lard, mixed
while hot. _ ______

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Drummond, Gibbs, Wild, Campbell, Kinninmont,
Kermath, Dispenser, Boo.

April 30, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

893

“THE MONTH.”

Although the cold north-east winds have some¬
what retarded the progress of vegetation, and the
character of the month has been that of March
rather than April, yet the warm sun has brought
forth many of our spring flowers. Bluebells, prim¬
roses, cowslips and wood anemones are now carpeting
the woods and pastures with their bright blossoms,
and the light green of the larch refreshes the eye of
the rambler in the country. The trees in the
market gardens near London, too, are covered with
blossom as though a snowstorm had passed over
them, the profusion of dazzling white blossom cover¬
ing the plum and pear trees like snowflakes.

Botanical gardens are now preparing, as it were,
for their examination and for the demand that will
be made upon them by botanical lecturers and
students next month. Already several natural
orders are well represented. The Amentiferse,
Amaryllidaceae, Liliacese, Melanthacese, Labiatae,
Ranunculacese, Atropacese, Saxifragaceae, Aristolo-
chiaceae, Papaveraceae,Berberidaceae and Apocynaceae,
have all some flowers in blossom. Among medi¬
cinal plants may be seen in blossom Sanguinaria
canadensis, Asarum canadense, and Adonis vernalis,
with its large yellow crocus-like flowers and finely
cut foliage. Among rare British plants, Anemone
apennina , Epimedium alpinum, Lamium maculatum ,
Doronicum Pardalianches,Leucojum cestivum,Muscari
racemosum, Fritillaria meleagris, Euphorbia Cyparis-
sias and Scrophularia vernalis may all be seen in
blossom at Kew.

Few who have looked over botanical gardens but
must have been struck with the fact that the gain
to the student arising from the grouping of a
number of different species and genera of one natu¬
ral order together in one flower bed is more than
counterbalanced by the loss of the natural habit
and vigour of the plants, and by the absence of facts
concerning their habits and places of growth, which
might under other circumstances have been inferred
from their surroundings. The fact that certain
plants are known to belong to certain orders because
they have been seen in certain flower beds may assist
the memory, but can scarcely be calculated to stimu¬
late examination of the flowers themselves.

The handsome collection of hellebores, at Kew,
has been in ' full beauty during the past month,
a result probably due in their case to the fact that
the plants occupy not a systematic position but a
shady place near trees, and thus approach more
nearly to their natural habitat.

The elegant drooping pencilled flowers of the
wood sorrel, and its graceful leaves, so sensitive to
light and apparently to moisture also, are now to be
found in moist shady woods. Although the style
varies in length in different specimens, yet it is not
constant, and the position of the stigma beyond the
stamens seems intended for the pollen to tail more
readily upon it. Some of the Equisetaceae are now
pushing their spikes of* fructification above the
ground in fields and damp sandy banks, notably
Equisetum arvense and E. maximum, aud their spores
are in a good condition for examination. If ex¬
amined in water, the student will find the elaters
rolled around the spore ; but if in the dry state, they
will be seen spread out as usually represented in
botanical works. The elastic force exerted when dry
would seem to have some part in causing the bursting
of the spore cases and the dispersion of the spores.

Third Series, No. 566.

Those who are fortunate enough to live where
such rarities grow will now find the pretty little
grass, Knappia agrostidea, in blossom. The true
oxlip, Primula elatior, Jaftq., is also now in full
lower. Although readily recognized again when
once seen, it is not easy to point out its distinctive
characters. The calyx is of a greener colour, much
narrower, not at all inflated, and the peduncle and
pedicel are more slender and the flowers more
drooping — almost in a secund manner — than in the
cowslip. A Barnet correspondent writes that the
Lathrcea squamaria , Petasites fragrans, and Ranun¬
culus auricomus are now in bloom.

In the Isle of Wight the flowers seem to be con¬
siderably in advance of those in the neighbourhood
of London. The common broom, Arum maculatum,
Euphorbia amygdaloides , Asperula odorata, Sanicula
europcea, Matthiola sinuata , Symphytum officinale,
Armeria maritima, and even the hawthorn, have
already been seen in blossom there.

A Warwickshire correspondent sends a large
specimen of Lycoperdon giganteum, which appears
to be known in that county under the name of
“buckfois,” and to be highly esteemed by the country
people as a remedy for restraining haemorrhage. At
this time of the year it is found as a dusty, spongy
mass of spores and minute threads, botanically called
the capillitium.

One of the botanical names for the bluebell,
Hyacinthus non-scriptus , has probably puzzled many
a young botanist. Its origin, according to a writer
in the Gardeners ’ Chronicle, April 2, is due to the
fact that it is not the hyacinth of the Greeks, and
has not the letters Ai, Ai (alas) on its petals, as the
Greek plant fabled to have sprung from the blood of
the boy, Hyacinth, is said to have had.

According to Professor PringsheinTs. recent re¬
searches on chlorophyll, its presence in the cor-
puscles coloured by it favours the assimilatory
powers of the corpuscles, in consequence of the absorp¬
tion of light by the chlorophyll. The first visible
product of the assimilatory power of the corpuscles
is hypochlorin, from which, according to Pringsheim,
the starch, glucose, oil and tannin found in the cor¬
puscles are derived by oxidation. This conclusion
is based upon the fact that the quantity of hypo¬
chlorin in a corpuscle varies inversely as the quan¬
tity of starch which is present, and that hypochlorin
cannot be detected in seedlings until they have
been exposed to light of such intensity as to enable
them to assimilate. It has long been known that
the seedlings of various species of Pinus become
green in the dark, and it is found that hypochlorin
makes its appearance in these in the later stages of
germination.

Sir John Lubbock’s paper on “ Fruits and Seeds, ’
in the Fortnightly Review for April 1, may be real
with interest and profit by students of nature, for it
is full of suggestive inquiry. The methods which
plants possess of protecting their seeds during the
ripening process and of dispersing them when ripe
are as varied as the modes of fertilization of the
flowers, and no less worthy of investigation. The
differences occurring in different species of the same
genus are very instructive. Thus in the Viola hirta
and V. odorata , in which the abundance of radical
leaves would prevent the dispersion of the seeds to
any distance, the fruit stalk bends downward and
tries to bury itself, while in F. canina, in which the
leaves are small, the fruit stalks are erect, and

894 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. . (April 30, 1881.

the carpels, by contracting, eject the seeds sometimes
to a distance of 10 feet. The occurrence of hooked
seeds and fruits on such plants as come into contact
with animals, and of tho*se with wings and comal
hairs or pappus in places where such accessory ap¬
paratus is best fitted for distributing the seeds, and
the stickiness of the mistletoe berry which leads to
its being planted on trees by birds rather than falling
to the ground, are among some of the remarkable
instances of adaptation to circumstances described in
the paper. The object of the great similarity of the
castor oil seed to the tick insect does not seem quite
clear, whether to protect them from graminivorous
birds or to induce insectivorous ones to swallow them.
The different modes of ejecting seeds, whether by a
watch-spring contraction of the carpel as in Carda-
mine hirsuta , by a longitudinally spiral twist as in
the broom, or by endosmotic force as in the squirting
cucumber, show that nature is by no means limited
in its resources.

During the past month the new Natural History
Museum at South Kensington has been opened to
the public, and the large botanical collections
formerly contained in the British Museum are now
accessible to the public and to botanical students.
The inconvenience which those in the centre and
east of London will naturally feel at having to go so
far west, and at the collections being separated from
the library, will, to some extent, be counterbalanced
.by the benefit accruing to those who live in the
west, and perhaps made up for by the magnificent
botanical library which is now being formed in the
botanical department at the Natural History Museum.
The increase of room and of light will be found by
visitors to be no inconsiderable advantage. Con¬
siderable improvements also are being made in the
arrangement of that portion of the botanical depart¬
ment which is open to the general public

On Easter Monday the Economic Museum at
Kew, after having been closed for the winter, was
opened to the public. A new wing has been added
to the museum for the reception of the large collec¬
tion of Indian drugs and other economical and
botanical products formerly in the India Museum.
The whole of the museum has been rearranged by
the able and indefatigable curator, Mr. J. R.
Jackson, A.L.S.

Several cases of poisoning by belladonna liniment
have recently occurred. In one of these, in which a
wine glassful (jij. pij.) had been swallowed, recovery
took place on the administration of the physiological
antidotes, pilocarpine and tincture of opium. Of the
former i of a grain was subcutaneously injected
every fifteen minutes until i of a grain had been
used. It did not cause the least perspiration.
These accidents seem to point to the necessity of
adding, in a future edition of the Pharmacopoeia,
some well-known, powerfully odorous substance to
the liniment, or of adopting some other means of
readily distinguishing it from other medicines.

Two cases have recently been recorded in the
United States, in which respectively the infusion
and oil of tansy have proved poisonous. In the one
case, in which an infusion of \ ounce of the dry herb
was taken, the patient died in twenty-six hours. In
the other, in which £ drachm of the volatile oil had
been taken, an emetic was sufficient to cause re¬
covery.

From a note communicated to the Lancet, , March
26, p. 524, it seems evident that chrysophanic acid

acts constitutionally in psoriasis, and presumably
also in other skin diseases. According to the writer
of the note alluded to, Professor Charteris, of Glas¬
gow found that in a case of psoriasis, in which chry¬
sophanic acid (1 drachm to 1 ounce of excipient) was
applied to the limbs on one side of the body and
cotton wool only to the limbs on the other side, the
cure of both sides was complete in ten days. It is
obvious, therefore, if the above conclusion is correct,
that in experiments in which two medicaments are
applied simultaneously on opposite sides of the body
for comparison of effects it will be necessary to
ascertain whether one or both are absorbed before
attributing an equal action to both. The supposition
that chrysophanic acid is absorbed and acts physio¬
logically is, however, questioned by other competent
authorities.

Hydrofluoric acid seems to be attracting attention
in medical circles as a remedy for goitre. Dr. E.
Woakes describes in the Lancet (pp. 459, 497, 537),
a number of cases in which this treatment has been
successful. The dose prescribed at first is usually
15 minims twice a day, but this is increased in
some cases to 30, 40, or even 50 minims, two
drachms being the limit of toleration. In Dr.
Woakes’s hands the remedy has proved effectual in
about 87 per cent, of the cases, although the treat¬
ment has taken a lengthened period, varying from
six weeks to several months. The acid used in the
treatment was prepared by Mr. Bullock. It contained
30 per cent, of gaseous acid and for internal admini¬
stration was diluted by 200 per cent, of water, in
which state Dr. Woakes says it can be kept in
glass bottles for dispensing- and is tolerated by the
stomach. The stronger 30 per cent, solution must
be kept in a gutta percha bottle fitted with a cork,
not with a gutta percha stopper, as the latter admits
air and the acid is thereby deteriorated.

Dr. Woakes was led to try the acid from the
consideration that fluorine belonged to the same ■
group as iodine, which has already been found of >
use in that disease, and that there appears to be a
physiological relationship between drugs belonging
to natural groups, whether in the domain of botany
or chemistry. It is not a little singular, however,
that a remedy which must be abundant in Derby¬
shire, where the disease is so common as to have
received the popular name of the “Derbyshire neck,”
should be found to act almost as a specific for the
disease, and seems to point out that fluorine has an
opposite action in large and minute doses.

As long ago as 1866,* M. Maumene, as the result
of experiments, attributed the cause of goitre to the
presence of fluorides in drinking water, and indeed
produced goitre in a dog by a course of five months’
treatment with fluoride of potassium. A suggestion
of the possible usefulness of hydrofluoric acid as a
homoeopathic remedy for goitre occurs in Hughes’s
‘ Pharmacology ’ (part i., p.‘26),- published in 1875.

Professor Binz {Lancet, April 16, p. 638) has
recently shown that chlorine, bromine and iodine,,
when inhaled, paralyse the nerve centres, and cause
death by cessation of the respiration, not of the heart.

This fact becomes of some importance when it is
considered that chloride of lime or liquids giving
off chlorine are sometimes placed in the rooms
where patients are sleeping, and seems to indicate
that disinfectants which give off oxygen or ozone

— - - - * jl |

# Medical Times and Gazette, Hay 5, 1866.

April 30, 1881,1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

895

are to be preferred for such purposes to those which
are liable to give off chlorine gas.

M. Armaingaud, of Bordeaux, in a communication
to the AcacUraie de Medecine , states that repeated
hypodermic injections of pilocarpin will cure the
troublesome fetid perspiration of the feet without
any injurious effect upon the system. This it
appears to do by setting up a hypersecretion in
the salivary glands. Jaborandi, which produces a
general sudorific action, does not give the same
beneficial results ( Lancet , April 16, p. 638).

According to M. Auger ( Union Medicale , April
14) a lotion containing 1 part in 1000 of sulphate of
atropine, applied by means of a compress wetted
with the solution and covered with oiled silk or
gutta percha, gives considerable relief to the pain of
cancer without causing symptoms of absorption,
such as dilatation of the pupils or dryness of the
throat.

The oil of ergot, obtained by exhausting the drug
with benzene and allowing the benzene to evaporate,
has been turned to account in the United States as
an external application in erysipelas, eczema, and
various skin diseases, in which it is said to have
been used with excellent results. .

Not long ago dugong oil was introduced into this
country as a rival to cod liver oil, and now a new
claimant has appeared under the name of “ oolachan
oil.” At ordinary temperatures it appears to have a
consistence between that of dugong and cod liver oils
and a taste that is perhaps slightly more agreeable
than either. The oolachan fish is about the size of
a herring, and is met with on the coast of British
Columbia and Vancouver’s Island. It is so full of
oil as to be known as the candle fish, for when dried
it can be used as a torch.

Dr. Petersen (Peter sb. Med . Woch., March 28)
finds that the odour of iodoform can be completely
masked by the addition of tincture of musk in the
proportion of one drop to the ounce of iodoform,
whether this be in the solid or fluid form.

Some experiments with the bark of the Erythriria
corallodendron , a large leguminous tree growing in
the north of- Brazil, where it bears the name of
“mulungu,” have been reported by M. Bochefontaine
(Convptes Rendus , xcii., 733). In its native country
the bark is popularly used as a sedative and hypnotic,
under the form of a decoction, tincture and extract.
M. Bochefontaine found that a decoction and a
filtered aqueous solution of an extract gave precipi¬
tates characteristic of an alkaloid, which he has
provisionally named “ erythrine,” but does not
appear to have further examined chemically.
Physiological experiments made by subcutaneoiis
injections of the aqueous liquid showed that this
acted upon the central nervous system by diminish¬
ing or abolishing its normal function. M. Boche¬
fontaine concludes, therefore, that the bark possesses
the sedative properties attributed to it in Brazil, and
that these are due to the alkaloid it contains.
Should any further contribution be made to the
history of this alkaloid, it will be as well to
remember that the name “ erythrin ” is already used
as a synonym for erythric acid, occurring in Roecella
tinctoria and other lichens, whilst “ erythrine ” is a
synonym for cobalt bloom (C^AsC^-f-H^O).

A short time since (see before, p. 511), M.
Tanret separated a crystalline neutral principle from
the fruit of Simaba Waldivia , which is frequently
confounded with that of S. Cedron. Some physio¬

logical experiments carried out by M. Dujardin-
Beaumetz ( Comptes Rendus , xcii., 731) show that
this principle, waldivin, is a powerful poison, but
slow in its action, death in the case of dogs not
occurring until from five to ten hours after injection,
even when the dose’ is many times that necessary to
produce death. In the human subject and in dogs
it provokes vomiting when administered by the
stomach, but rabbits fall into a profound stupor which
continues until death. In cases of snake-bite and
hydrophobia it has failed to prevent a fatal termi¬
nation, though when administered to mad dogs in
doses of 0-004 gram daily it is said to cause an entire
suppression of the exacerbations, the animals re¬
maining insensible and dying without convulsions.
Waldivin does not appear to exercise any influence
in cases of intermittent fever. On the other hand,
cedrin, the corresponding principle "of S. Cedron, is
less toxic, but possesses decided febrifuge properties,
though the action is slower and less sure than that of
quinine. Like waldivin, cedrin exercises no in¬
fluence in cases of snake-bite, so that if there be any
foundation in the popular reputation in South
America of the seeds of Simaba Cedron as a specific
against the bites of venomous serpents (see vol. iii.,
p. 801) it is not due to this principle. Neither sub¬
stance produces toxic symptoms in frogs,- even in
large doses.

Although the profit on cinchona plantations is
said to be from 70 to 80 per cent., cinchona growers
in Ceylon and the East Indies will need to look
closely into the cost and possible profit of their
plantations, since they may soon have to com¬
pete, not only with the Government plantations,
but with enterprise in Bolivia. In 1878, a few
private individuals tried the experiment in that
country of cultivating the cinchona tree, and now,
according to the report of the Dutch Consul, there
are on the banks of the Mapiri, at La Paz, four or
five hundred thousand young trees of two years’
growth. In other places also new plantations are
springing up, chiefly on the mountain slopes, which
are cultivated for three-fourths of their height. The
cultivation of the cinchona in its original home is, of
course, easy, the chief danger being from drought or
ants during the first two years, and the only labour
necessary is to keep the young plants free from weeds
during the same time. To give shade to the seedling
plants bananas are planted between them. Already
excellent yellow bark, from Bolivia has been sold in
this country, and cultivated South American red
bark, yielding 3 per cent, of sulphate of quinine, has
lately appeared in the London market.

At the drug sales this month large quantities of
the bark known as “ china cuprea” have again been
offered, and with it some bark closely resembling
it in external appearance, but not containing
quinine. Several other parcels of bark have
also been offered which do not appear to contain
quinine, and probably do not belong to the cinchona
genus at all. The variety of gum which gives a
ropy mucilage, in appearance like white of egg, is
still to be met with in commerce. It may interest
those who have it in stock to know that it may be
restored from its allotropic to its natural condition by
dissolving it in hot water, and allowing it to stand for
twelve hours or so in a warm place. In appearance
the gum is hardly to be distinguished from the best
“Turkey” sort, but is of a greyish, rather than a
yellowish- white tint.

896

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 30, 1881.

The new Handels- Bericht of Messrs. Gehe and
Co., of Dresden, contains, as usual, interesting
information as to the German drug and chemical
market. The demand for quebracho bianco bark has
been met by several large importations from the
Argentine republic, much in excess of present
requirements, and there has been consequently a
considerable fall in the price. For the same reason
the alkaloid aspidospermine and its citrate have
become much cheaper. The preparation of the pure
alkaloid is said to be difficult, as it is accompanied
in the bark by a number of other more or less dis¬
tinctly characterized bodies. It is expected that the
bark from young trees will be more profitable to
work than the bark and rhvtidoma of old stems
which have hitherto been sent over. Meanwhile
the demand for aspidospermine is said to have almost
fallen into oblivion. Should, however, the more
reasonable price revive the desire for experiment,
the intensely bitter-tasting citrate and sulphate are
suggested as more suitable than the pure alkaloid,
which on account of its difficult solubility in water
scarcely tastes bitter. The demand for hydrobromate
of homatropine, which was at first so large as tem¬
porarily to exhaust Messrs. Gehe’s stock of belladon-
nine in its preparation, has also nearly ceased. It
appeals to be established that the action of homatro¬
pine varies in different individuals, and for this reason
oculists are generally returning to the use of the
more constant, if more powerful, atropine. Jabo-
randi leaves are becoming an important article of
commerce, 11,500 kilos having been imported into
Hamburgh during the past year and quickly sold at
good prices. The imports into London and Paris are
described as having consisted of thin greenish leaves
from the Argentine Republic and South Brazil, con¬
taining little pilocarpine, and in fact, not true Pilo¬
carpus pennatifolius leaves. A sample of jaborandi
bark from Buenos Ayres possessed a very powerful
odour, but proved unsuitable for the preparation of
pilocarpine. This alkaloid has become considerably
lower in price, and is proportionally in larger
demand ; it is to be included in the new edition of
the German Pharmacopoeia. Jaborine, which is de¬
scribed as a decomposition product due to the faulty
preparation of pilocarpine, is said to have an analo¬
gous but weaker action. Pure jaborine is a bronishw
liquid, having a peculiar odour somewhat resembling
jaborandi and tobacco. Boldo leaves are also in
request, although the importation is limited. The
use of tannate of pelletierine as an anthelmintic is
said to be increasing considerably.

One subject mentioned by Messrs. Gehe has been
more than once referred to in these columns, namely,
the confusion existing in respect to the aconitines,
which is not only a reproach to pharmacy, but a
source of danger to the public, siuce the widely
varying activity of different preparations sold under
this name has already led to serious accidents. Ac¬
cording to some experiments made by M. Hottot,
5 milligrams of English aconitine (Morson’s) killed
frogs in thirty minutes; 3 milligrams of Hottot’s
aconitine killed them in three minutes; and one-
twentieth of a milligram of Duquesnel’s crystallized
aconitine killed them in three minutes. Dr. Lang-
gaard, too, writes from Tokio that he has obtained
from a Japanese species of Aconitum an alkaloid far
exceeding in activity Duquesnel’s preparation. For
several years Messrs. Gehe prepared an aconitine
from the roots of Aconitum ferox , adopting the

method used in the preparation of veratrine, and
stating the fact in their lists. But they have received
so many communications as to the violent action of
this preparation that they have now abandoned it.
Seeing, therefore, that the use of different roots and
different methods of preparation must necessarily
result in widely differing products, which when sent
into the market under the same name must constitute
a source of danger, it is only reasonable to expect
that an attempt should be made to define authori¬
tatively in the different pharmacopoeias the source
and character of the substance to be henceforth
supplied when aconitine is ordered. In attaining
this end some valuable assistance should be derivable
from the labours of Dr. C. R. A. Wright and his
colleagues.

A new process for the industrial manufacture of
carbonate of potash is being experimented upon in
Montpellier ( Comptes Rendus , xcii., 725). Magnesia
or carbonate of magnesia is added to an aqueous
solution of chloride of potassium and the mixture is
stirred in the presence of carbonic acid gas. Bicar¬
bonate of magnesia is first formed, which passing
into solution reacts upon the chloride of potassium
and precipitates the potassium in the form of a double
carbonate of magnesia and potash (MgC03.HKC03).
This precipitate, which is crystalline, when heated,
either dry or in the presence of water, gives off
carbonic acid gas and splits up into carbonate of
magnesia and carbonate of potash, which are sepa¬
rated by water. The carbonate of magnesia is
available for a second operation, as also is the
carbonic acid gas evolved during the last reaction.

Until recently it was supposed that chlorine com¬
bined with ammonia only in the proportions found
in sal ammoniac. M. Troost, however, succeeded in
obtaining what he calls a tetra-ammoniacal hydro¬
chlorate and a hepta-ammoniacal hydrochlorate
( Comptes Rendus, lxxxviii., 715). He now reports
still greater success ( Comptes Rendus , xcii. 715), in
obtaining new analogous crystalline compounds of
ammonia with hydrobromic acid and hydriodic acid.
The formulae of the compounds are thus represented
by M. Troost : —

C1H,NH3 BrH,NH3 Iff,NH3

- BrH,NH3+NH3 IH,NH3+NH3

C1H,NH3+3NH3 BrH,NH3+3NH3 IH,NH3+3NH3

C1H,NH3+2(3NH3) BrH, NH3+ 2 (3 NH3) IH,NH3+ 2(3 NH3)

The nearly allied position usually assigned to caf¬
feine and theobromine in respect to uric acid, is,
apart from a certain family likeness in the empirical
formulae, based upon only a few observations, and
with a view to throwing further light upon the
subject Messrs. Maly and Hinteregger ( Monatshefte
fur Chemie, ii., 87 and 126) have been turning their
attention to the decomposition products of those
substances. By the oxidation of caffeine by means
of chromic acid they obtained dimethylparabanic
acid (the “ nitrotheine ” of Stenhouse and thecholes-
trophan of Rochleder). Theobromine, when treated
similarly, yielded methylparabanic acid, a compound
also obtained by Dessaignes by heating a base pro¬
duced by the action of nitrous acid on creatinine
with hydrochloric acid and probably formed also by
the action of baryta on creatine. The homologous
relation existing between these two vegetable bases
is therefore characteristic also of their oxidation pro¬
ducts: caffeine (CgH10N4O2) yielding dimethylpara¬
banic acid (C6H6N203), while theobromine (C7H8N402)
yields methylparabanic acid (C4H4N203). According

April 30, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

897

to Herr Schmidt ( Berichte , xiv., 812) some attempts
to convert caffeine into theobromine by withdrawing
the methyl group by means of hydrochloric acid
have been unsuccessful. In the same communication
Herr Schmidt describes the hydrochlorate, hydro-
bromate, two hydriodates, nitrate, sulphate, acetate,
normal butyrate and isovalerate of caffeine. He
states that caffeine only yields uniform well-charac¬
terized salts when it is directly acted upon by the
respective acids in a concentrated condition. The
“so-called citrate of caffeine ” is referred to as a
body proved to be non-existent ; but the author is
probably unacquainted with the work of Mr. Parsons
(see before, p. 760), who found that when solutions
of caffeine and of citric acid in a liquid having an
equal solvent action on each body (such as chloro¬
form, 2 parts ; alcohol, sp. gr. *835, 1 part) are mixed
together, a definite citrate of caffeine is formed,
which, however, is decomposed by water or any other
solvent that dissolves citric acid readily and caffeine
sparingly.

The composition of commercial picrotoxin appears
to be still the subject of research. Messrs. Schmidt
and Lowenhardt ( Berichte , xiv., 817) agree with
Messrs. Barth and Kretschy that upon boiling
picrotoxin with benzol two substances, picrotoxinin
and picrotin, may be separated, the former being
much more soluble in benzol than the latter ; but
they do not agree that these bodies occur in com¬
mercial picrotoxin as a mixture. They hold rather
that picrotoxin is a definite compound, which splits
up under the treatment, the decomposition pro¬
ducts being picrotoxinin and picrotin. This they
represent by the following equation

f''3fsH40O16

Picrotoxin.

_ __ 6 + H21H24O10

Picrotoxinin. Picrotin.

= c15h16o

They report also that they have isolated from the
cocculus grains, besides picrotoxin, a body which is
not bitter, crystallizing in fine white needles,
difficultly soluble in hot water, nearly insoluble in
cold water, alcohol and ether, and represented by
the formula C19H26O10. Whether this body is iden¬
tical with the anamirtin of Messrs. Barth and
Kretschy, which, however, was described as the
most soluble in water (see before, p. 352), remains
to be determined ; meanwhile it is called “ coculin.”

In the Pharmaceutische Zeitung fur Russland
(March 29, p. 229) there is a preliminary notice by
Magister Theegarten upon a new variety of Euro¬
pean opium from Bulgaria, a sample of which has
been submitted to him by the medical authorities
of the principality. The opium, which was in cakes
covered with unidentified leaves, was brown on the
outside, lighter brown internally, and contained a
few seeds. The smell was strong and resembled
that of good opium; the taste was bitter and acrid.
When powdered the opium yielded a powder lighter
in colour than the cake. Water dissolved 69 -65 per
cent, of the original weight of the opium, and in the
filtrate was found 8 per cent, of pure morphia. The
aqueous solution, which had an acid reaction
formed a brown liquid, which when dilute became
red upon the addition of a drop of perchloride of
iron. Probably owing to the opium being in small
pieces and having been kept in a warm place it
contained only 4'22 per cent of moisture.

In the supplement to the Hungarian Pharma¬
copoeia about to be issued the following new
remedies will be included: — Nitrite of amyl, hydro-
chlorate of apomorphia, citrate of caffeine, the leaves,

tincture, and volatile oil of eucalyptus, salicylate of
sodium, thymol, physostigmine, hydrochlorate of
pilocarpine and vaseline.

It is difficult with such a preparation as phosphide
of zinc to determine the change likely to take place
when it is mixed with extracts, as in No. 523, in
order to form a pill. Changes are known to have
occurred with oxide of silver, which in some in¬
stances have been followed by an explosion. The
circumstances under which these occurred will be
found in the earlier volumes of the Pharmaceutical
Journal. But phosphide of zinc has never been so
extensively employed, and from some observations
by M. A. Viger, a French pharmacien {Pharmaceu¬
tical Journal , [3], vi., p. 982), it appears that he found
several samples manufactured in Paris defective, one
containing a small quantity of oxide of zinc.

If No. 524 be treated as a prescription, the spirit
of ammonia of the Pharmacopoeia Londinensis, 1836,
should be used, and that being a rectified spirit
preparation there would necessarily be complete
solution of the camphor, which is soluble in equal
parts by weight of spirit ; but if it be one of those
numerous recipes which admit of some latitude as
regards these preparations, spirit of ammonia would
be taken to mean an aqueous solution of ammonia,
instead of a spirituous one, and consequently the
camphor previously dissolved in the spirit of wine
would be thrown out of solution by the ammonia.
The answer to this question, therefore, must be, that
if made with a spirituous solution of ammonia it
will be a clear mixture ; but if made with merely an
aqueous solution, which is often used in domestic
recipes for spirit of ammonia, the mixture instead
of being clear will have most of the camphor
thrown out of solution, and only diffused through
it. This seems to be Mr. Culph’s view, p. 830.

It is not unusual to find a prescription for pills
containing essential oil much in excess of that the
other ingredients are capable of taking up, and
sometimes this is the case when the oil does not
form an essential part of the remedy. In the case,
however, of No. 525, the oil of savin is prescribed as
a therapeutic agent with a specific object in view.
It must, therefore, in this instance be dispensed, and
if the dried sulphate of iron be used in the proportion
of two-thirds the quantity of the sulphate ordered,
and as an excipient a very small quantity of gly¬
cerine of tragacanth, there will be little difficulty.
Care should be taken that the extract of henbane
be evaporated to a stiff consistence previously to its
addition to the other ingredients. Reference is
suggested to some previous remarks on a similar
prescription in “ The Month.”

The writer of prescription No. 526 having ordered
a certain quantity of acid, sulph. dil., though insuffi¬
cient for the solution of the quinine, it would be
very generally assumed by dispensers that he in¬
tended complete solution; if some quinine were
allowed to float in a solution of it, this undissolved
quinine would be very likely to determine the
crystallization from the solution on the side or
bottom of the bottle, the small particles acting as-
nuclei for that purpose.

The first ingredient in prescription No. 527 is
kermes mineral, — synonym, antimon. sulphuratum— ■
B.P., and the second is looch pectoralis; looch is
equivalent to linctus, and the formula is given by a
correspondent. There would be little difficulty in
preparing the linctus extemporaneously, bearing in

898

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 30, 1881.

mind the proper method of emulsifying the oil by
rubbing it with the powdered gum arabic, and then
adding the water. Having made the linctus, the
further manipulation with the kermes mineral must
be obvious; care should be taken that it be tri¬
turated with a little of the fluid, and afterwards
thoroughly difliised through the mixture.

It has been on a former occasion observed that it
is difficult to determine what is meant when a mix¬
ture made up in one place is said to be darker, and
the same made up at another place to be lighter;
these minor differences cannot always be explained
or accounted for, and probably in many instances
may not be material. With reference to the one
now in question, that of No. 528, the first colour of
the mixture will depend on the tinct. ferri perchlor.,
which sometimes becomes much darker in keeping ;
but on its addition to the syrup of lemon it becomes
several shades deeper, from its contact with that
syrup, and this is mainly dependent on the care
which has been employed in preparing the lemon
peel for the syrup. The galenical preparations of
the B.P. should be intelligently prepared, and then
in dispensing prescriptions, the result, a correctly
and faithfully prepared prescription, can be con¬
fidently relied on. It must not be hastily as¬
sumed that a private formula was used for the
preparation of the syrup by the last dispenser
because the resulting mixture differed a little in
colour ; that may have been due to a variety of
minor causes.

There is a formula for tinct. iodi decolorat. in the
German Pharmacopoeia ; it will be found in Squire’s
‘ Companion/ as follows: — Tinct. iodi decolorat. Ger. :
Iodine 10, hyposulphite of soda 10, distilled water
10 ; dissolve and add alcohol ammon. sp. gr. 0’808
(10 per cent.) 16, agitate and then add alcohol 75;
set aside three days and filter. This is most
probably intended when tinct. iod. c. ammon. is
ordered, and it would be safe to use it unless it be
known that a preparation from a private formula
was intended. The preparation from the above
formula should be a clear and colourless neutral or
faintly alkaline fluid. The decolorization of ordinary
tincture of iodine, unless excess of ammonia be em¬
ployed, requires time. This subject has been re¬
ferred to on a former occasion in these pages. .

The acid, salicylic, of No. 530 should be rubbed to
a fine powder and then triturated with sufficient
mucilage to fairly suspend it when mixed with the
water; about half an ounce will be sufficient for this
purpose, and the mixture should be accompanied by
a “shake” label. It has been observed on several
occasions previously that when a crystallized sub¬
stance is in excess of that the fluid will retain in
solution, it must be rubbed down and suspended by
means of mucilage ; no attempt should be made to
dissolve more by the aid of heat, or the result will
be the crystallization of all that is contained in the
bottle.

The proper method of dispensing the mixture, No.
531, is by first dissolving the salicin by the aid of
heat in a small quantity of the water, and when cold
adding the solution to the other ingredients, with
the exception of the quinine, previously dissolved in
water ; the quinine should then be rubbed in a
mortar with a little mucilage and added last. A
very satisfactory mixture may in this manner be
made with the suspension of the quinine. The
method adopted by J. H. was not a good one, and

resulted in the suspension of the salicin, which, as
suggested, may be dissolved. This mixture contains
salicin and not sodse salicylas, as the one referred to
quite recently by W. G. T.

The mixture, No. 532, should be quite clear and
about the colour of tincture of calumba; it is
difficult to understand how it could have possessed
any other appearance. Under the head. “ Cha¬
racters and Tests ” in the B.R it is stated that the
ferri am. tart, is in “thin, transparent scales of a
deep garnet colour, and soluble in water,” and there
is nothing in this mixture that should materially
interfere with the colour and solubility.

If the vin. ferri of prescription No. 533 be in a
proper condition it will not contain sufficient free
acid to dissolve the quinine, and the introduction of
sulphuric acid into the mixture would not be
admissible; but if the quinine be mixed with the
vin. ferri and the mixture be placed for a few
minutes in a water-bath complete solution will be
effected, and mixed afterwards with the other
ingredients will form a clear mixture, and one not
liable to any change.

To make an elegant mixture of No. 534 a solution
of the bromide of iron should be first prepared, and
may contain from 5 to 20 grains to the fluid drm.;
the solution is clear and of an olive green colour.
This, when added to a solution of bromide of
potassium, is decomposed with change of colour to a
rusty brown, and finally deposits a red sediment of
iron. This decomposition with deposit of iron is
due to the presence of a little hydrate of potash in
the bromide of potassium, and it may be obviated
by the addition of a little citric ^cid to the solution
previous to the addition of the bromide of iron.

In each of the two prescriptions under No. 535 there
is an obvious error; the directions should probablyrun
thus : — “Misee et divide in pil. xij.” In each case a
very good and possibly the best excipient will be the
decoction of aloes, a few drops of which will serve
to combine the pills of each of these prescriptions.

This inquiry indicates that feature which has
on several occasions previously been commented on
in these columns, the want of self-reliance, and
apparently an entire absence of the effort or dispo¬
sition to investigate personally any one of the many
simple problems with which the daily practice of
the dispenser brings him into contact. It is
difficult to name an excipient that would have
failed to combine the ingredients of these two sets
of pills. The cry is raised to Jupiter, but the
shoulder is not at the wheel.

In reply to “Assistant,” No. 536, ferri citras is
understood to mean ferri ammon. citras, B.P., when
met with in a prescription. In the Pharmacopoeia of
the United States there is a ferri citras and a ferri
ammon. citras, but this fact does not affect the princi¬
ple to be adopted with regard to English prescriptions/

It is difficult to account for the mixture, No. 537,
turning black after being kept some time; the change
must be looked for in some impurity in one of the
ingredients or the contact of one of them with some
foreign substance. T iiere seems no reason vrhy such a
change should occur.

With reference to prescription, No. 538, acid, hy¬
drocyanic. is incompatible with the salts of iron ; but
in a mixture such as the one in question, it can
scarcely be said to be incompatible with the am-
monio-citrate of iron contained in it. The odour of
hydrocyanic acid will continue perceptible after such

April SO, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

899

a mixture has been prepared and kept for a reason¬
able length of time. T _

In the first prescription of No. 539, R. J. D. was
not right in adding any dilute sulphuric acid to dis¬
solve the quinine ; it should have been powdered and
suspended by means of mucilage. With regard to
the second under the same number, in this also there
was no necessity for the addition of water, as the
potass, iodid. being rubbed in a mortar with lin.
camph. co. and lin. bellad. will readily dissolve.

R. J. D. should always try a prescription just as
written, and if in this mixture of the two liniments
he had failed to dissolve the iodide of potassium, then
as a solution of this sort was essential to the liniment
he might have ventured to add a few drops of water
in order to facilitate the solution.

ROSE OIL, OR OTTO OF ROSES *

BY CHARLES G. WARNFORD LOCK.

This celebrated perfume is the volatile essential oil
distilled from the flowers of some varieties of rose. The
botany of roses appears to be in a transition and some¬
what unsatisfactory state. Thus the otto-yielding rose
is variously styled Rosa damascena, R. sempervirens, R.
moschata , R. gallica, R. centifolia, R. provincial is. It
is pretty generally agreed that the kind grown for its
otto in Bulgaria is the damask rose (R. damascena ), a
variety induced by long cultivation, as it is not to be
found wild. It forms a bush, usually 3 to 4 feet, but
sometimes 6 feet high ; its flowers are of moderate size,
semi-double, and arranged several on a branch, though
not in clusters or bunches. In colour, they are mostly
light red ; some few are white, and said to be less produc
tive of otto.

The utilization of the delicious perfume of the rose
was attempted with more or less success, long, prior to
the comparatively modern process of distilling its essen¬
tial oil. The early methods chiefly in vogue were the
distillation of rose water, and the infusion of roses in
olive oil, the latter flourishing in Europe generally down
to the last century, and surviving at the present day in
the south of France. The butyraceous oil produced by
the distillation of roses for making rose water in this
country is valueless as a perfume : and the real otto was
scarcely known in British commerce before the present
century.

The profitable cultivation of roses for the preparation
of otto is limited chiefly by climatic conditions. The
odoriferous constituent of the otto is a liquid containing
oxygen, the solid hydrocarbon or stearoptene, with which
it is combined, being absolutely devoid of perfume. The
proportion which this inodorous solid constituent bears
to the liquid perfume increases with the unsuitability of
the climate, varying from about 18 per cent, in Bulgarian
oil, to 35 and even 68 per cent, in rose oils distilled in
France and England. This increase in the proportion of
stearoptene is also shown by the progressively heightened
fusing point of rose oils from different sources; thus
while Bulgarian oil fuses at about 61 to 64 Fahr. ; an
Indian sample required 68° Fahr. ; one from the south
of France, 70° to 73° Fahr. ; one from Paris, 84° Fahr. ;
and one obtained in making rose water in London, 86° to
89£° Fahr. Even in the" Bulgarian oil, a notable dif¬
ference is observed between that produced on the hills,
and that on the lowlands.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the culture of roses,
and extraction of their perfume, should have originated in
the East. Persia produced rose water at an early date,
and the town of Nisibin, north-west of Mosul, was
famous for it in the 14th century. Shiraz, in the 17th
century, prepared both rose water and otto, for export to

“ * From the Journal of the Society of Arts, February 11,

881.

other parts of Persia, as well as all over India. The
Perso-Indian trade in rose oil, which continued to possess
considerable importance in the third quarter of the 18th
century, is declining, and has nearly disappeared; but
the shipments of rose water still maintain a respectable
figure. The value, in rupees, of the exports of rose water
from Bushire in 1879, were — 4000 to India; 1500 to Java;
200 to Aden and the Red sea; 1000 to Muscat and
dependencies; 200 to Arab coast of Persian Gulf and
Bahrein; 200 to Persian coast and Mekran, and 1000 to
Zanzibar. Similar statistics relating to Lingah, in the
same year, show — Otto: 400 to Arab coast of Persian
Gulf and Bahrein ; and 250 to Persian coast and
Mekran. And Bahrein, Persian otto : 2200 to Koweit,
Busrah and Bagdad ; rose-water : 200 to Arab coast of
Persian Gulf, and 1000 to Koweit, Busrah and Bagdad.

India itself has a considerable area devoted to rose
gardens, as at Ghazipur, Lahore, Amritzur, and other
places, the kind of rose being R. damascena , according to
Brandis. Both rose water and otto are produced. The
flowers are distilled with double their weight of water in
clay stills ; the rose water ( goolabi pani) thus obtained is
placed in shallow vessels, covered with moist muslin to
keep out dust and flies, and exposed all night to the cool
air, or fanned. In the morning, the film of oil, which
has collected on the top, is skimmed off by a feather, and
transferred to a small phial. This is repeated for several
nights, till almost the whole of the oil has separated.
The quantity of the product varies much, and three
different authorities give the following figures: — (a)
20,000 roses to make 1 rupee’s weight (176 grains) of
otto; (b) 200,000 to make the same weight; (c) 1000
roses afford less than 2 grains of otto. The colour ranges
from green to bright amber, and reddish. The oil (otto)
is most carefully bottled ; the receptacles are hermetically
sealed with wax, and exposed to the full glare of the sun
for several days. Rose water deprived of otto is esteemed
much inferior to that which has not been so treated.
When bottled, it is also exposed to the sun for a fortnight
at least.

The Mediterranean countries of Africa enter but
feebly into this industry, and it is a little remarkable
that the French have not cultivated it in Algeria.
Egypt’s demand for rose water and rose vinegar is sup¬
plied from Medinet Fayum, south-west of Cairo. Tunis
has also some local reputation for similar products. Yon
Maltzan says that the rose there grown for otto is the
dog-rose {R. canina), and that it is extremely fragrant,
20 lbs. of the flowers yielding about 1 dr. of otto. Genoa
occasionally imports a little of this product, which is of
excellent quality. In the south of France, rose gardens
occupy a large share of attention, about Grasse, Cannes
and Nice; they chiefly produce rose water, much of
which is exported to England. The essence (otto)
obtained by the distillation of the Provence rose (R.
provincialis) has a characteristic perfume, arising, it is
believed, from the bees transporting the pollen of the
orange flowers into the petals of the roses. The French
otto is richer in stearoptene than the Turkish, 9 grams
crystallizing in a litre (If pint) of alcohol at the same
temperature as 18 grams of the Turkish. The best pre¬
parations are made at Cannes and Grasse. The flowers
are not there treated for the otto, but are submitted to a
process of maceration in fat or oil, 10 kilograms of roses
being required to impregnate 1 kilogram of fat. The
price of the roses varies from 50 cents to 1 franc 25 cents
per kilogram.

But the one commercially important source of otto of
roses is a circumscribed patch of ancient Thrace or
modern Bulgaria, stretching along the southern slopes
of the central Balkans, and approximately included
between the 25th and 26th degrees of east longitude,
and the 42nd and 43rd degrees of north latitude. The
chief rose growing districts are Philippopolis, Chirpan,
Giopcu, Karadshah-Dagh, Kojun-Tepe, Eski-Sara, Jeni-
Sara, Bazardshik, and the centre and headquarters of

900

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 30, 1881.

the industry, Kazanlik (Kisanlik), situated in a beautiful
undulating plain, in the valley of the Tunja. The pro¬
ductiveness of the last-mentioned district may be judged
from the fact that, of the one hundred and twenty-three
Thracian localities carrying on the preparation of otto in
1877 — they numbered one hundred and forty in 1859 —
forty-two belong to it. The only place affording otto on
the northern side of the Balkans is Travina. The geo¬
logical formation throughout is syenite, the decomposition
of which has provided a soil so fertile as to need but
little manuring. The vegetation, according to Baur,
indicates a climate differing but slightly from that of the
Black Forest, the average summer temperatures being
stated at 82® Fahr. at noon, and 68° Fahr. in the evening.
The rose bushes flourish best and live longest on sandy,
sun-exposed (south and south-east aspect) slopes. The
flowers produced by those growing on inclined ground are
dearer and more esteemed than any raised on level land,
being 50 per cent, richer in oil, and that of a stronger
quality. This proves the advantage of thorough drainage.
On the other hand, plantations at high altitudes yield
less oil, which is of a character that readily congeals,
from an insufficiency of summer heat. The districts
lying adjacent to and in the mountains are sometimes
visited by hard frosts, which destroy or greatly reduce
the crop. Floods also occasionally do considerable
damage. The bushes are attacked at intervals and in
patches by a blight similar to that which injures the
vines of the country.

The bushes are planted in hedge-like rows in gardens
and fields, at convenient distances apart, for the gathering
of the crop. They are seldom manured. The planting
takes place in spring and autumn ; the flowers attain
perfection in April and May, and the harvest lasts
from May till the beginning of June. The expanded
flowers are gathered before sunrise, often with the calyx
attached; such as are not required for immediate distilla¬
tion are spread out in cellars, but all are treated within
the day on which they are plucked. Baur states that, if
the buds develop slowly, by reason of cool damp weather,
and are not much exposed to sun heat, when about to be
collected, a rich yield of otto, having a low solidifying
point, is the result, whereas, should the sky be clear
and the temperature high at or shortly before the
time of gathering, the product is diminished and is
more easily congealable. Hanbury, on the contrary,
when distilling roses in London, noticed that when
they had been collected on fine dry days the rose
water had most volatile oil floating upon it, and that,
when gathered in cool rainy weather, little or no volatile
oil separated.

The flowers are not salted, nor subjected to any other
treatment, before being conveyed in baskets, on the heads
of men and women, and backs of animals, to the distilling
apparatus. This consists of a tinned-copper still, erected
on a semicircle of bricks, and heated by a wood fire;
from the top passes a straight tin pipe, which obliquely
traverses a tub kept constantly filled with cold water, by
a spout, from some convenient rivulet, and constitutes
the condenser. Several such stills are usually placed
together, often beneath the shade of a large tree. The
still is charged with 25 to 50 lbs. of roses, not previously
deprived of their calyces, and double the volume of spring
water. The distillation is carried on for about one hour
and a half, the result being simply a very oily rose water
(ghyul-suyu). The exhausted flowers are removed from
the still, and the decoction is used for the next distilla¬
tion, instead of fresh water. The first distillates from
each apparatus are mixed and distilled by themselves,
one-sixth being drawn off; the residue replaces spring
water for subsequent operations. The distillate is
received in long-necked bottles, holding about 1£ gallon.
It is kept in them for a day or two, at a temperature
exceeding 59° Fahr., by which time, most of the oil,
fluid and bright, will have reached the surface. It is
skimmed off by a small, long-handled, fine-orificed tin

funnel, and is then ready for sale. The last-run rose
water is extremely fragrant, and is much prized locally
for culinary and medicinal purposes. The quantity and
quality of the otto are much influenced by the character
of the water used in distilling. . When hard spring water
is employed, the otto is rich in stearoptene, but less
transparent and fragrant. The average quantity of the
product is estimated by Baur at 0’037 to 0'040 per cent.;
another authority says that 3200 kilograms of roses give
1 kilogram of oil.

Pure otto, carefully distilled, is at first colourless, but
speedily becomes yellowish; its specific gravity is 0‘87 at
72-5° Fahr.; its boiling point is 444° Fahr. ; it solidifies
at 51‘8° to 60‘8° Fahr., or still higher: it is soluble in
absolute alcohol, and in acetic acid. The most usual and
reliable tests of the quality of an otto are (1) its odour;
(2) it3 congealing point; (3) its crystallization. The
odour can be judged only after long experience. A good
oil should congeal well in five minutes at a temperature
of 54-5° Fahr.; fraudulent additions lower the congealing
point. The crystals of rose-stearoptene are light, feathery,
shining plates, filling the whole liquid. Almost the only
material used for artificially heightening the apparent
proportion of stearoptene is said to be spermaceti, which
is easily recognizable from its liability to settle down in a
solid cake, and from its melting at 122° Fahr., whereas
stearoptene fuses at 91 ’4° Fahr. Possibly paraffin wax
would more easily escape detection.

The adulterations by means of other essential oils are
much more difficult of discovery, and much more general;
in fact, it is said that none of the Bulgarian otto is com¬
pletely free from this kind of sophistication. The oils
employed for the purpose are certain of the grass oils (An-
dropogon and Cymbopogon spp.), notably that afforded by
Andropogon Schcenanthus, called idris-yctghi by the Turks,
and commonly known to Europeans as “geranium oil,”
though quite distinct from true geranium oil. The
addition is generally made by sprinkling it upon the
rose leaves before distilling. It is largely produced in
the neighbourhood of Delhi, and exported to Turkey by
way of Arabia; it is sold by Arabs in Constantinople in
large bladder-shaped tinned-copper vessels, holding about
120 lbs. As it is usually itself adulterated with some
fatty oil, it needs to undergo purification before use.
This is effected in the following manner: — The crude oil
is repeatedly shaken up with water acidulated with lemon
juice, from which it is poured off after standing for a day.
The washed oil is placed in shallow saucers, well exposed
to sun and air, by which it gradually loses its objection¬
able odour. Spring and early summer are the best sea¬
sons for the operation, which occupies two to four weeks,
according to the state of the weather and the quality of
the oil. The general characters of this oil are so similar
to those of otto of roses — even the odour bearing a
distant resemblance — that their discrimination when
mixed is a matter of practical impossibility. The ratio
of the adulteration varies from a small figure up to 80 or
90 per cent. The only safeguard against deception is to
pay a fair price, and to deal with firms of good repute,
such as Messrs. Papasoglu, Manoglu and Son, Ihmsen
and Co., and Holstein and Go., in Constantinople.

The otto is put up in squat-shaped flasks of tinned
copper, railed kunkumas, holding from 1 to 10 lbs., and
sewn up in white woollen cloths. Usually their contents
are transferred at Constantinople into small gilded bottles
of German manufacture for export. The Bulgarian otto
harvest, during the five years 1867-71, was reckoned to
average somewhat below 400,000 meticals, miskals, or
midkals (of about 3 dwt. troy), or 4226 lbs. avoirdupois ;
that of 1873, which was good, was estimated at 500,000,
value about £700,000. The harvest of 1880 realized more
than £1,000,000, though the roses themselves were not so
valuable as in 1876. About 300,000 meticals of otto,
valued at <£‘932,077, were exported in 1876 from Philippo-
polis, chiefly to France, Australia, America and Ger¬
many.

April 30, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

901

THE ROOT OF HYDRANGEA ARBORESCENS.*

BY JACOB BAUE, PH.G.

In looking over the pharmaceutical and chemical
literature with reference to hydrangea, the only analysis
found was that by Mr. Jos. Laidley, of Richmond,
Virginia, in the year 1851, since which time no one
seems to have published anything with regard to the
principles to which the drug might owe its activity.
Laidley found but gum, starch, resin, etc. In Writing of
the drug and its uses in gravel and urinary diseases, he
notes some marked cures effected by its administration,
which are no less remarkable than some which have been
communicated to me by Dr. Jno. H. Parrish, of Saun-
dersville, Tenn., who has used with good results an extract
of the root prepared by the late Prof. Edward Parrish,
and recently by Mr. Clemmons Parrish. He says, “ My
case-books show thirty-one cases of gravelly deposits in
the bladder, which I believe to have been cured by
hydrangea ; I remember no case in which it has failed
under fair circumstances. I regard hydrangea as a
valuable remedial agent not only in sabulous troubles, but
in any case where the functions of the kidneys are
impaired.” Other physicians have recommended it in the
same complaints. That it is used by many physicians
may be known from the words of Prof. J . U. Lloyd, of
Cincinnati, who writes : “ The section of country about
Cincinnati annually supplies large amounts of hydrangea
root for other markets.”

A quantity of the root of good quality was obtained,
its identity established and carefully inspected as to the
absence of all foreign admixtures. This was ground
suitably for percolation ; some difficulty was here en¬
countered owing to the peculiar ligneous character of the
root, the greater portion of which is an insipid ha**d
wood, with but a thin much fissured bark, which, as
found in the market, is quite frequently detached
in thin concentric layers, due to the unequal shrink¬
age of the wood and bark in drying. The peculiar
sweetish but acrid taste of the root seems to reside in
the bark.

Three grams of the root were ignited, yielding -13 grams
of ash, the greater portion of which was soluble in water.
The appropriate tests being made, carbonates, sulphates
and phosphates of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium
and iron were found in the ash.

In a preliminary investigation, which was undertaken
to ascertain the best solvents for its important constituents,
a decided indication of an alkaloid was obtained by the
application of the various alkaloidal tests j the following
experiments were made in order to isolate the alkaloid,
if possible.

One thousand grams of the drug being exhausted with
alcohol of *828 sp. gr. by percolation, yielded 38-209 grams
of extract, which was redissolved in a small quantity of
warm alcohol, and poured into one quart of water
previously acidulated with acetic acid ; the resin separated
weighed 6*43 grams.

The filtrate (a) was set aside for further investi¬
gation. The resin obtained bad a sweet, mild, but
afterwards lastingly acrid taste. It was insoluble in
ammonic hydrate, almost entirely soluble in potassic
hydrate, which solution was precipitated by hydric
chloride. Approximately one-half the resin was soluble
in ether. The insoluble portion was almost insoluble in
amylic alcohol. The alcoholic solution of the resin was
precipitated by solutions of neutral and basic plumbic
acetate .

The filtrate (a), obtained on separating the resin, was
evaporated to an extract which had a saccharine odour and
a bitterish taste, and weighed 31*566 grams. This extract
was dissolved in a small quantity of warm water and

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, April,

1881.

filtered ; the next morning the solution contained a few
crystals which it was found impossible to separate.
Solutions of neutral and basic plumbic acetate were
added to thoroughly precipitate tannin, yielding a bluish-
black precipitate with iron salts ; the excess of lead was
removed by sulphuretted hydrogen, the filtrate evaporated
to small bulk, acidulated with hydric chloride and shaken
with ether ; the ethereal layer evaporated spontaneously
left but a slight residue, in which no alkaloid was
present.

The aqueous portion was then shaken with pure
amylic alcohol, the latter separated and evaporated to
dryness, the slight residue remaining gave in solution
the following reactions : with Mayer’s solution, a light,
whitish, flocculent precipitate ; with iodine in potas¬
sium iodide, a brown precipitate. Phosphomolybdic
acid and tannin both gave precipitates. Platinic chlo¬
ride gave a yellowish precipitate having a crystalline
appearance on standing a short time. Picric acid gave
no precipitate.

One hundred and twenty-five grams of the drug were
exhausted by maceration and percolation with pure coal
tar benzol. The greater portion of the benzol was re¬
covered and an extract weighing 1‘43 gram was obtained.
Warm acidulated water (with HC1) was shaken with the
extract and yielded then, with the alkaloidal reagents, light
precipitates. Tests for glucosides were also applied with
no indication of their presence. The extract was almost
entirely dissolved by alcohol.

The drug exhausted by benzol was dried and exhausted
by 80 per cent, alcohol. On evaporation to a small bulk
a few crystals separated ; 'the solution was acidulated,
diluted and precipitated with plumbic acetate. After
removing excess of lead by sulpuretted hydrogen, the
filtrate gave again indications of the presence of an
alkaloid by the above tests. The drug treated with
benzol and alcohol was exhausted with water ; the extract
obtained contained sugar and gum.

Five hundred grams of the powdered root were boiled
repeatedly with acidulated water, the mixed decoctions
evaporated to a small volume, the gum removed by an
equal volume of alcohol, and, after recovering the alcohol,
the tannin precipitated by subacetate of lead, which
precipitates also colouring matter. After removing excess
of lead reactions were again obtained pointing to the
presence of an alkaloid ; however, judging by the quantity
of drug operated upon, this alkaloid, if such it is, must
be present in minute quantities. The presence of an
alkaloid would, indeed, be interesting as being the first
one discovered in any plant of the natural order Saxifra-
gacese.

The constituents of hydrangea root, determined by
these experiments, are resin soluble in ether, resin in¬
soluble in ether, probably an alkaloid and a crystalline
compound, the nature of which was not determined ;
also tannin, gum, sugar, colouring matter, and 4’33 per
cent, of ash.

FERROUS SUCROCARBONATE.*

BY C. TANRET.

By substituting cane-sugar for milk-sugar in the pre¬
paration of “ masse de vallet,” a syrupy mass interspersed
with crystals is obtained. The crystals are of a brown
colour and opaque ; the angle between the lateral faces is
79-40°. Sp. gr. = l‘85. They are decomposed by the
neutral solvents of sugar, the sugar going into solution
and ferrous carbonate being precipitated. The sugar acts
but faintly on Fehling’s solution until heated with acid,
when it readily reduces it.

The analysis of the crystals corresponds with the for¬
mula (C12H22011)3(Fe;,c6.1)o.

* From Journ. Pharm . [5] , 2, 4G9— 471. Reprinted from

the Journal of the Chemical Society, April, 1881.

902

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 30, 1881

THE SOLUBILITIES OF ALKALOIDS IN ALCOHOL.*

BY ALBERT HENRY LAFEAN, PH.G. .

On several occasions having been called upon to make
alcoholic solutions of the alkaloids, and, upon consulting
the different text-books, finding the statements differing
very much, it was thought a useful subject of investiga¬
tion to determine the solubilities from actual experiments.
In most cases alcohols of different strengths and various
temperatures were employed for the solubilities as given
in text-books. Besides this the article is frequently
merely stated to be “very” or “slightly” soluble.

The authorities which were consulted were the United
States Dispensatory, the National Dispensatory and
Storer’s ‘ Dictionary of Chemical Solubilities,’ and below
is given a list of the alkaloids selected for the experi¬
ments, with a table showing their solubility in alcohol of
usual strength, as determined by the writer, and as given
by text-books.

The method of ascertaining the solubility of the alka¬
loid was to place a given quantity in a somewhat less
quantity of alcohol than that recommended by the text¬
books or authorities, contained in an accurately graduated
tube, and at ten degrees higher temperature than the

standard temperature selected (60° F.). The alkaloid
was digested for several hours, with occasional agitation,
and if the quantity of alcohol was insufficient an addition
was carefully made until solution was effected at this
slightly higher temperature. If an excess of alcohol
happened to be added the tube was left unstopped, to
permit evaporation, for a few hours, until a slight depo¬
sition took place. If this failed to be dissolved at a
slightly elevated temperature, a very small quantity of
alcohol was added, sufficient to take up the slight excess,
and the solution was then brought to the proper tempera¬
ture, 60° F.

This plan was adopted because it was believed to pre¬
sent advantage over the usual methods of digestion, or
by cooling, as less troublesome, less liable to error, which
in the case of ordinary digestion is apt to occur, with an
excess of the salt [1 Editor], through moisture adhering
to the excess of salt [?] that is filtered out, and also less
danger through supersaturation, which is likely to happen
by the hot process. Moreover, it was believed that it
would be better to give solubilities that represent the
actual amount dissolved under such conditions as are
likely to exist in actual dispensing practice.

•

United States Dispen¬
satory.

National Dispensatory.

Storer’s Dictionary of Chemical
Solubilities.

Lafean.

Atropia . .

Soluble in 8 parts of al¬
cohol.

Soluble in a little alcohol.

3 to 8 parts cold alcohol.

Easily soluble in alcohol.

Soluble in 1 '5 part cold alcohol.

Soluble in 2 of alcohol.

Cinclionia .

Soluble in boiling alco¬
hol, which deposits a
portion on cooling.

Soluble in 140 parts SO
per cent, alcohol.

Soluble in 400 parts alcohol, 80 per
cent, at 17°.

110 parts, at temperature of boil¬
ing.

33 -8 parts strong alcohol.

115 *78 parts alcohol, -90 per cent.,
15°.

126' 5 parts absolute alcohol, at
about 15°.

Soluble in 145 of alcohol.

Cinchonidia

None given.

Soluble in 20 parts "80
per cent, alcohol.

88 parts cold alcohol.

'833 and 19 of the same alcohol, at
boiling.

In 12 alcohol, ’835.

Soluble in 30 of alcohol.

Caffeia . .

Soluble in alcohol.

Not freely soluble in
water, more so in al¬
cohol, and chloroform,
but less in absolute
alcohol and ether.

20 parts alcohol, 21°.

25 parts 85 per cent, alcohol, 20°.
Quickly soluble in boiling alcohol.

Soluble in 150 of alcohol.

Coleliicia .

Very soluble in alcohol.

Freely soluble in alcohol.

Soluble in alcohol.

Soluble in 3 of alcohol.

Daturia

Is very soluble in alcohol.

Identical with atropia in
solubility.

Vid. Atropia.

Soluble in 2 of alcohol.

Morphia .

Slightly soluble in cold
alcohol, and freely so
in boiling alcohol,
which deposits it on
cooling.

Soluble in 30 boiling and
50 cold alcohol.

20 parts cold and 13 of boiling alco¬
hol, sp. gr. *822.

Soluble in 215 of alcohol.

Narcotina .

Soluble in 100 parts cold
and 24 parts boiling al¬
cohol, which deposits
it on cooling.

None given.

Soluble in 100 parts cold and 24 of
boiling alcohol

Soluble in 265 of alcohol.

Quinia . .

Is very soluble in alcohol.

Soluble in 30 parts SO
per cent, alcohol.

Soluble in all proportions of cold
absolute alcohol, and in almost
all proportions of alcohol 90 per
cent.

Soluble in -8 of alcohol.

Quinidia .

None given.

Soluble in 45 parts abso¬
lute alcohol.

Soluble in 45 parts cold absolute
alcohol.

3 "7 parts of warm ordinary alcohol.

Soluble in 115 of alcohol.

Strychnia .

Boiling officinal alcohol
dissolves it without
difficulty, and deposits
it on cooling. Very
sparingly soluble in
absolute alcohol.

120 parts cold and 10
parts boiling SO per
cent, alcohol. Sparing¬
ly soluble in absolute
and dilute alcohol.

1200 parts alcohol, 80 per cent.,
ordinary temperature. 10 parts
boiling 80 per cent, alcohol.

Soluble in 175 of alcohol.

Veratria

Soluble in 11 parts of al¬
cohol, *847.

Soluble in 3 parts of al¬
cohol.

Soluble in 3 parts of cold and 2 of
bailing alcohol.

Soluble in "S of alcohol.

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, April, 1881.

April 30, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND -TRANSACTIONS.

903

Cfxc journal.

- «. -

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, books for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

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transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mb. Elias
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A dvertisements, and payments for Copies of the J ournal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

CINCHONA BARK AS AN ARTICLE OF THE
OFFICIAL MATERIA MEDICA.

In a recent number of the Pharrnaceutische Zeitung
Professor Fluckiger has drawn attention to the
uncertainty now prevailing as to the kind of cinchona
bark that would be best to use for pharmaceutical
purposes. He considers that from the importance
of that drug as a medicine this circumstance alone is
sufficient to justify the existing desire for a revision
of the German Pharmacopoeia, and the same view
may be applied to the Pharmacopoeias of most other
countries.

One of Professor Fluckiger’ s objections to the
three kinds of cinchona bark now officially prescribed
is that they are referred to only as of South American
origin, and lie points to the development of the
supply of bark from British India since 1867 as
having now reached a stage when Indian grown
bark requires to be considered in a very different
manner from what was possible when the last
German Pharmacopoeia was published in 1871.

The question to be considered is how the culti¬
vated cinchona bark imported from India should be
dealt with in a new Pharmacopoeia, and Professor
Fluckiger is of opinion that its consideration must
not be confined merely within the limits of a pharma¬
copoeia commission, or undertaken exclusively from
a medical or pharmaceutical point of view, but that
it must be conducted also with suitable regard to the
present position of cinchona bark as an article of
commerce as well as the probable form that it may
take in the future.

From an examination of the various circum¬
stances obtaining in regard to those varieties of
South American cinchona bark which are now
official Professor Fluckiger arrives at the follow¬
ing conclusions, which, we think, will be of interest
to our readers.

The flat calisaya or yellow bark of the Pharma¬
copoeia, he finds to be more scantily and less
regularly exported than formerly and at the same
time it has become inferior in quality, the amount
of alkaloid in the Peruvian and Bolivian calisaya
bark being very much less than we were formerly
accustomed to. Whatever may be the cause of this
deterioration it is unquestionable that the official
calisaya bark does not meet the requirements

which the Pharmacopoeia should demand of cin¬
chona bark to which preference is to be given.
Such bark ought to be obtainable abundantly
and uniformly at a comparatively moderate price,
and it should contain an adequate as well as a
constant amount of alkaloid. In addition to these
points it is to be remembered that the therapeutic
action of cinchona bark must be in part ascribed
to other constituents besides the alkaloids. The
quinotannic acid, quinovin and quinovic acid,
as well perhaps as quinic acid, are present in
smaller proportion in the stem bark of calisaya
than in most kinds of branch bark. All these
facts are regarded by Professor Fluckiger as being
so unfavourable to calisaya bark that lie would re¬
commend its being abandoned as an article of
the official materia medica. As a further reason
for taking such a step, he refers to the geographical
as well as the political situation of the frontier lands
of Bolivia and Peru where the cinchona calisaya is
indigenous. The high table-land surrounding the
Titicaca Lake is very difficult of access, very insuffi¬
ciently connected with the rather defective ports of
the Pacific Coast, Islay, Arica, or, if the territory
in question be somewhat further extended, even
Iquique and Cobija. Occasional violent floods and
earthquakes also combine to render the develop¬
ment of these localities very questionable, and the
present unsettled state of the country is a further
reason why the pharmacist should not rely upon
such an uncertain source for the supply of such an
important drug as cinchona bark.

The same remarks are applied to the bark known
as Loxa or Huanuco bark, and even somewhat more
forcibly. Though perhaps it may be hoped that at
some future time the Chilians may improve the con¬
dition of the southernmost cinchona district adjoining
the ports of Cobija and Iquique there is now little
prospect of rapid economical advance in the central
district of Peru surrounding Huanuco. If the Peru¬
vians have not hitherto seen the desirability of
making a sensible use of their cinchona wealth it is
not likely they will now be able to undertake the
cultivation and planting of trees as a business, and
it may be feared that impending revolutions will
scarcely leave the Government of that unfortunate
country time or means of opening up the interior
for trade.

As to red bark, it is urged that the district where
the Cinchona succirubra is indigenous in South
America is so limited as to account for the very
scanty supply of this bark and also for the high
price it commands. Whether bark of the same
character may not eventually be obtained at a
cheaper rate from India is a question that must be
left for the future to solve, but for the present there
can be no hope of obtaining thick stem bark, such as
is ordered by the German Pharmacopoeia. Such
bark is not often to be had at all, and its intrinsic
value seldom corresponds to its price.

904

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 30, 1881-

In Bolivia and that part of Peru within the valley
of the Amazon cinchonas are probably abundant, as
indicated by Ledger’s discovery of the very valu¬
able tree named after him; but those sources of
supply will become accessible only when the
numerous rivers of that immense region shall have
been opened up for regular traffic. The possibility
of exporting cinchona bark of excellent quality from
that locality has already been practically demon¬
strated, but it will probably be a long time before
there be any trustworthy means of communication.

Beyond these sources of South American cinchona
bark there is the northern part of the cinchona
region in Columbia and Venezuela, to which belong
the C. lancifolia and G. pitayensis. The south western
section of this district is partially connected with
the Atlantic Ocean by the rivers Cauca and Magda¬
lena and this part of South America undoubtedly
still yields the greater portion of the cinchona bark
of commerce. At the ports of Carthagena and
Sabanilla especially,- as well as those of Maracaibo,
Puerto Cabello and La Guaira, are very consider¬
able harbours, which are connected with the Atlantic
Ocean by the Carribean Sea, and for the ship¬
ment of bark they have an obvious advantage over
those situated on the Pacific. The objection raised
by Professor Flitckiger to taking the bark sup¬
plied from this district for pharmacopoeia purposes
is based upon the difficulty he thinks there would
be in making a selection from among the various
kinds differing very considerably in their appearance
and in the amounts of alkaloids, etc. For the pre¬
paration of quinine, mere differences of character are
of less importance, provided that the amount of
alkaloid be sufficient; but in selecting a variety of
cinchona bark for the Pharmacopoeia it is, in Profes¬
sor Fluckiger’s opinion, at least necessary to put
prominently forward a specific kind of bark, even if it
be not exclusively ordered. If the bark thus adopted
is to be moderately uniform in outward appear¬
ance he thinks it is scarcely possible to look for it
from Columbia or Venezuela, while at the same time
he thinks there is much reason for giving preference
to a branch bark rather than a stem bark. The
latter is always proportionally more costly, since it is
better to work in the quinine factory.

After thus surveying the native habitat of the cin¬
chonas from the Central Cordilleras to the northern¬
most extremities of the mountain range without
finding any part of it whence cinchona bark is to be
obtained to suit the requirements of the Pharma¬
copoeia, Professor Fluckiger points to the cin¬
chonas cultivated in India as presenting the most
advantageous opportunity for the selection of an
official bark for the Pharmacopoeia.

As regards the amount of alkaloid in Indian grown
bark, experience has shown that it is increased by
cultivation and though all Indian grown cinchona
bark may not be equally rich, that is also the case
with the bark growing wild in South America. As

time progresses it may be expected that the systematic
culture of cinchona trees in India and Java will have
led to a knowledge of the most favourable conditions
for securing the largest and most uniform produce.
It is now beyond question that India furnishes ex¬
cellent cinchona bark and it only remains to inquire
whether that country can be relied upon for yielding
enough of it. At present the supply from India
may be taken as amounting to about one-tenth part
of the entire production from all countries, although
it was only in 1867 that the first Indian cinchona
bark made its appearance in the London market.
Professor Fluckiger thinks, therefore, that it is only
a question of time when South America shall be
equalled in this respect by India and other colonies
and that the latter may even become the chief
source of supply.

Following up the question as to the kind of bark
to be selected from among those grown in India,
Professor Fluckiger does not approve of deciding
altogether from the amount of alkaloid. He holds
that if the physician desires to have recourse to the
curative action of the alkaloids it is best to employ
them in a pure state, and to employ cinchona bark
or some one of its pharmaceutical preparations,
chiefly in cases where the accessory influence of
other of its constituents is desired. From this point
of view it is admissible to dispense altogether with
bark, which like good flat calisaya, is of value chiefly
on account of the quinine it contains.

In selecting from among the branch bark of
various kinds of cinchona there is some difficulty,
but taking all things into account Professor Flucki¬
ger inclines to that of C. succirubrci as being most
suitable to adopt as official for pharmaceutical pur¬
poses ; but in order to provide against any possible
future experience contrary to that we now possess,
he would not entirely exclude other kinds of bark
provided they contain a sufficient amount of alkaloid.

SYSTEMATIC AND PRACTICAL BOTANY AT THE
GARDENS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY.

It will be seen by reference to the advertisement
of the School of Pharmacy of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain, that Professor Bentley will
commence his Course of Lectures and Demonstra¬
tions on Systematic and Practical Botany at the
Gardens of the Royal Botanic Society, Regent’s-
Park, on Saturday morning, May 7, at 8 o’clock.
The Lectures will be continued on the succeeding
Friday and Saturday mornings till the end of July.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association will be held on
Thursday, May 5, at 8.30 p.m., when a paper on
“Ozone ” will be read by Mr. T. Lewis. A Report
on Botany will be made by Mr. D. Hooper on
“ The Coffee Leaf Disease.”

April 30, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

905

Crmxsuriioits of % |Jbanu&cmticaI

jSfltkflL

BOTANICAL PRIZE EOR 1882.

A Silver Council Medal is offered for the best Herba¬
rium, collected in any part of the United Kingdom,
between the first day of May, 1881, and the first day
of June, 1882 ; and should there be more than one col¬
lection possessing such an amount of merit as to entitle
the collector to reward, a second prize, consisting of
a Bronze Medal, and also Certificates of Merit, will be
given at the discretion of the Council. In the event of
none of the collections possessing sufficient merit to
justify the Council in awarding medals or certificates,
none will be given.

Competitors must be Associates or Apprentices or
Students of the Society, and under twenty-one years
of age.

The collection must consist of phanerogamous plants
and ferns, arranged according to the natural system of
De Candolle, or any other natural method in common
use, and be accompanied by lists, arranged according to
the same method, with the species numbered.

The collector must follow some work on British botany
(such as that of Babington or Hooker), and state the work
he adopts. The name of each plant, its habitat, and the
date of collection, must be stated on the paper on which
it is preserved.

Each collection must be accompanied by a note, con¬
taining a declaration signed by the collector, and certified
by his employer, or a pharmaceutical chemist to whom
the collector is known, to the following effect: —The
plants which accompany this note were collected by my¬
self, between the first day of May, 1881, and the first day
of June, 1882, and were named and arranged without any
other assistance than that derived from books.

In estimating the merits of the collections, not only
will the number of specimens be taken into account, but
also their rarity or otherwise, and the manner in which
they are preserved, and should a specimen be wrongly
named, this will be erased from the list.

The collection must be forwarded to the Secretary of
the Society, 17, Bloomsbury Square, on or before the first
day of July, 1882, indorsed “ Herbarium for Competition
for the Botanical Prize.” After the Prize Distribution
in October, collections will be retained one month, under
the care of the Curator of the Museum, for the inspection
of persons connected with the Society, and then returned
to the collector, if required.

Erratum. — On p. 884, in the list showing the]number of
candidates who were examined at the various centres in
the last Preliminary examination, opposite Aberdeen,
for 9 examined, 4 passed, 5 failed, read 7 examined, 3
passed, 4 failed.

xaimmvil ©ransarikrris.

PRESTON PHARMACEUTICAL STUDENTS’

SOCIETY.

A meeting of the above Society was held at the rooms,
Church Street, on Friday evening, April 22. Mr. T.
H. Greenall, President, in the chair. A paper was read
by Mr. S. J. Elliott on “Some of the Arrangements
which ensure the Cross Fertilization of Plants by the
Visits of Insects. » Mr. Elliott first touched on the well
established fact that cross fertilization was an advantage,
if not an absolute necessity, to the propagation of the
species, and then reviewed those natural orders in which
occur some of the most interesting arrangements for

securing the transference of the pollen by bees. After
the paper a discussion took place on the question of the
gradual disappearance of plants bearing insignificant and
unattractive flowers.

It was announced that the following donation had been
received : — ‘ Materia Medica Cabinet,’ and Southall’s
‘ Organic Materia Medica,’ from Messrs. Southall,
Brothers and Barclay.

SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICAL AND
CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

The second general meeting of the session was held in
the Society’s rooms, on Wednesday evening, April 13,
Mr. Ellinor, the President, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read,
Mr. Ellinor proposed, and it was unanimously resolved,
that a letter of sympathy be sent to Mrs. Hudson on the
death of her husband.

Mr. Andrew Graham was elected a member of the
Society.

Mr. Learoyd then took the chair and Mr. Ellinor read
a paper entitled “ A Few Notes on Prescribing,” which
was listened to with great interest and called forth some
discussion.

A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Ellinor for his paper
concluded the business of the meeting.

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

(Assistants’ Section).

The sixth and final meeting of the session was held in
Anderson’s College, on Wednesday, April 20, at 9 p.m.,
Mr. Paris, President, in the chair.

The minutes of previous meetings having been read
and adopted, the Secretary read the annual report, which
records the session now closed as one of comparatively
fair success; although the average attendance had slightly
decreased, the library had been more fully used than in
some sessions. The election of office bearers and
Committee was postponed owing to frequent changes
occurring among the assistants during the recess.

A few valedictory remarks from the President ended
the session.

Urnmfrhrjjs °f Sncntifk j^aeiies*

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday,
April 21, Dr. Debus in the chair.

The following certificates were read for the first time :
A. B. Avarne, A. W. Duncan, T. King Rogers, J.
Schwartz, P. Trigger, G. Tate.

It was announced that a ballot for the election of
Fellows would take place at the next meeting, May 5.

The following papers were read —

On the Distillation of Mixtures of Carbon Disulphide
and Carbon Tetrachloride. By F. D. Brown. — These
experiments were carried out by the same method as that
employed by the author in some similar experiments,
made about eighteen months ago, with carbon disulphide
and benzene. An improvement has been made in the
still, which in the present research was of copper, shaped
like an ordinary tin can ; the upper portion is covered
with a copper jacket closed at the top; it has a sloping
bottom, at the lowest portion of which is inserted a tube
leading to the condenser. The vapour which rises from
the boiling liquid is thus not subjected to the cooling
action of the air in the neck of a flask, but, after rising
from the inner vessel, descends though the copper jacket,
and thence through the tube to the condenser; any
liquid which may condense, therefore, runs into the con¬
denser and not back to the still. The liquids were
purified with the utmost care. The composition of the

906

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April SO, 1881,

distillates was found by a careful determination of
specific gravities. The objects of the research were
(1) to find the boiling point of every possible mixture
of the two liquids, and (2) the composition of the vapour
evolved by any mixture when boiling. Tables and
curves accompany the paper. The first set of experi¬
ments was made at the ordinary atmospheric pressure.
Another set was carried out at a pressure of 434‘8 mm.
The author was rather astonished to find that the curves
at the two pressures coincided, and that, therefore, when
a mixture of two liquids is boiled, the composition of the
vapour evolved is independent of the pressure under
which ebullition takes place. This important conclusion,
the author hopes to confirm by experiments with other
liquids. In conclusion, the author discusses the various
theories of fractional distillation, proposed by Wanklyn,
Berthelot and T. E. Thorpe, shows that none of the
formulae proposed by these investigators agrees with the
results contained in the present paper, and it appears
that the general expression for the ratio of the weights,

X1 W1

X1, X2, of the two vapours given off is — r:— C where

W1 and W2 are the relative weights in the mixture, and
C is a constant (3*5) which replaces the varying ratio
of the vapour tensions. The author suggests that the
ordinary vapour tensions which hold good when a vapour
is diffused in a vacuum do not hold good when that
vapour is diffused in a space containing another gas. He
promises further research on this point. He shows that
the results obtained by Thorpe, Berthelot, etc ., agree with
those obtained in the distillation of two substances which
do not mix, and suggests that this non-mixing might be
determined by the presence of traces of water.

Professor Hartley then read a paper —

On the Estimation of Hydric Peroxide by means of
Potassic Permanganate. By W. E. Adeney. — The
author undertook the investigation in consequence of
some statements published by 0. T. Kingzett as to the
error which might be caused by using an acid solution
of permanganate, which threw some doubt on some
results obtained by Professor Hartley by the above
method. As a result of the investigation, it appears
that although the numbers previously obtained by Pro¬
fessor Hartley have to be modified, the conclusions which
he drew from those numbers are not affected.

On the Oxidation of Sulphurous Acid. By H. B.
Dixon. — When sulphur dioxide mixed with a large excess
of air is passed over a moist surface, especially if an
alkali be present, much sulphate is produced. There
is no doubt, moreover, that dry S0.2 and dry O at ordinary
temperatures have no action on each other, but the
question still remains open as to whether sulphur dioxide,
oxygen and steam at 100° combine to form hydrogen
sulphate. This question, which the author states is of
interest in relation to the formation or non-formation of
sulphuric acid in the combustion of ordinary coal gas,
he has endeavoured to answer in the present paper.
He has observed very carefully whether any diminution
of volume takes place when S02, O and steam at 100°
are left in contact in McLeod’s gas analysis apparatus.
No contraction was observed as long as the temperature
remained at 100°. On cooling the mixture so as to
allow water to condense, a distinct contraction took
place; thus a mixture of 38'98 c.c. after standing for two
hours at 5° measured 38-91, and after standing for two
hours at 8° measured 38'86 c.c. The author concludes
that sulphurous acid is unoxidized in a damp atmosphere,
as long as the temperature is above the dew point, and
that the sulphuric acid in a gas-lighted room is formed by
the oxidation of hydrogen sulphite, which is first pro¬
duced by the solution of sulphurous acid in water con¬
densed on cold and hygroscopic surfaces.

Dr. Armstrong thought that the experiments showed
that H2S03 could not exist in a gaseous state, as it was
already known that S02 could not be oxidized by O under
these conditions.

Mr. Kingzett asked if the conditions of the above
experiments fully reproduced the conditions existing in a
gas jet. There was an enormous difference in the tempera¬
tures employed in the two cases, and probably at the high
temperature of a gas jet H2S04 might be formed.

Mr. Page said that temperature had a great deal to do-
with the oxidation, and instanced the old Letheby sulphur
apparatus, in which the quantity of sulphate produced
wa3 very much increased when the cylinder was kept hot-
by some non-conducting covering.

Mr. Dixon said that no H2S04 was produced in an
ordinary gas flame, but if the products of combustion were
rapidly sucked into cold water, all the sulphur was
obtained as H2S03.

On the Reduction of Cinnamic Alcohol. By E. Hatton
and W. R. Hodgkinson. — When cinnamic alcohol is
acted on by sodium amalgam in the presence of a large-
quantity of water almost the sole product is /3 phenyl-
propylic alcohol. If, however, an amalgam containing,
about 15 per cent, of sodium be employed with but a
small quantity of water, the reaction proceeds much
further. Cinnamic alcohol from storax, boiling between
248° and 252°, was digested in a steam-bath with sodium-
amalgam for three or four days. Water was then added
and the whole distilled in steam. A quantity of an oily
body distilled over, which on distillation boiled at 1 40°-l 47%
and by its odour and analysis was identified as cinnamene.
The aqueous portion of the distillate was neutral, but-
rapidly decolorized a solution of potassic permanganate.

It was treated with permanganate until a pink colour-
remained; on evaporation a potassic salt was obtained,
which was converted into a lead salt, and analysed. It
proved to be a formate. The ultimate reaction is therefore
C6H5.CH : CH.CH2OH + H2 = C6H5.CH.CH2 + CH3OH.
Neither a nor /3 phenylpropylene appear to be formed
when the cinnamic alcohol is nearly anhydrous.

The Society then adjourned to May 5, when a ballot
for the election of Fellows will be held, and the following
papers read “ On the Action of Humic Acid on
Atmospheric Nitrogen,” by E. W. Prevost; “On the
Active and Inactive Amylamines,” by R. T. Plimpton ;
“On the Products of the Action of Alkalies on Ethyl
/3 Ethylacetosuccinate,” by L. D. Thorne; “On the=
Action of Sodium Alcoholates on Fumaric Ether,” by ![
T, Purdie.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

Heat in Relation to Chemical Action.*

BY HENBY ALLEN.

{Concluded from page 880.)

It will be seen at once that heat is developed by the
substitution of chlorine for Br, I, and S in these
hydracids and therefore that the latter should be decom¬
posed by chlorine; which is the case. Bromine too
displaces sulphur and iodine easily. The mutual rela¬
tions of sulphur and iodine offer some complication.

In dilute solution iodine should decompose H2S with
the decomposition of sulphur and formation of hydriodic
acid. On the contrary sulphur ought to decompose
anhydrous hydriodic acid with liberation of iodine. This
has been found to be so ; and it is further indicated by
the fact that it is impossible to produce a solution of
hydriodic acid above a certain strength by the action of
iodine upon sulphuretted hydrogen. The limit observed
corresponds to the commencement of the production of
anhydrous hydriodic acid which can exist in a concen¬
trated solution, the\ action continuing as long as there is
only a stable hydrate of the acid present.

According to the numbers given, oxygen should displace
sulphur in sulphuretted hydrogen, as it does.

For chlorine and oxygen theory indicates a thermic

* Read at a meeting of the School of Pharmacy Students’
Association, March 24, 1881.

April 30, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

907

equilibrium in solution, chlorine should decompose water

*

Cl2 + H20-f water =2HCl + 0+ water : + 4’8
On the other hand anhydrous HC1 should be decomposed
by oxygen :

O + 2HC1 = C1.2 + H20 : + 7’5
The former reaction is well known; the latter has been
accomplished by electricity and by heat ; a mixture of
oxygen and hydrochloric acid gas passed through a red-
hot porcelain tube is partially decomposed with pro¬
duction of water and free chlorine. The incompleteness
of the action is due partly to the dissociation of the water-
vapour and partly to the inverse action that occurs on
cooling.

Finally, oxygen decomposes hydrobromic acid slowly
and hydriodic readily, whether gaseous or in solution ; a
result agreeing with theory.

I will now notice some distinctive features of hydriodic
acid. This body, under certain circumstances, is capable
of acting as a powerful reducing agent, thus differing
greatly from the corresponding compounds of chlorine
and bromine. Thus a strong solution of hydriodic acid
is decomposed by sulphurous or sulphuric acid, the latter
acids being reduced to H2S and iodine being de¬
posited : —

S02 + 6 HI = H2S + 2 H20 + 3 10 : +5 5*4
H2S04 + 8HI = H2S-f 4H20 + 4I2 : +68'9
On the contrary, in dilute solutions, iodine oxidizes
sulphurous acid :

S02 sol. + 2 H20 + 12 = H2S04 + 2 HI : +10-5
This positive quantity is produced by the solution or
rather combination of anhydrous hydriodic acid with water

which disengages +19*4. A dilute solution of sulphurous
acid is oxidized by bromine or chlorine ; hydrochloric acid
has no reducing action on sulphuric acid ; hydrobromic
acid acts thus : — -

H2S04 + 2 HBr (gas) = S02 + 2 H20 + Br2 (liquid) = — 3*8 :
the sign be’ing minus : the reaction is explained by the
fact that some of the anhydrous acid combines with the
water produced, developing heat which more than com¬
pensates for that absorbed by the reduction.

The reduction of organic bodies by hydriodic acid
affords still more definite confirmation of the principle we
are considering. The concentrated acid decomposes
alcohol thus : —

c2h6o + HI = C2H5I + H20 )
c2h5i +hi=c2h6 +i2 i

There are here two actions, each evolving heat : —

2 HI — H2 -f- 12 : 2 x "8 — 4- 1 ’6

C2HgO + H2 C2H6 + H20 : + 23"

24-6

37-2 18-6 x 2

If the dilute acid were used 2 HI dil. H2 + 12 + water:

)

j i.e., more heat would be absorbed

than is evolved by the reduction, in fact the dilute acid
has no action upon alcohol. By referring to the table it
willbeseen that no such reduction can occur if hydrobromic
acid or hydrochloric acid be substituted for hydriodic: the
heats absorbed being —27 (2 x - 13*5) and - 44 (2 x - 22)
respectively. I will next direct your attention to the
second table in order to point out some relations between
the haloids salts of the metals and the corresponding
oxides and sulphides that possess thermic interest.

Metal combined with

Oxide combined with

O.

CL

Br.

I.

s.

HoS.

HC1.

HCl dil.

Na .

50*1

97-3

90-7

74*2

51'6

3-85

13-7

Ca .

•

66

85-1

75-8

59*3

46

Ba 3-9

13-85

Mn .

47

56

50

34

Zn .

43-2

48-6

43-1

30

21-5

9-6

9-8

Fe".

34-5

41

35

19

11*9

7-3

10-7

Fe"'

31-9

A1 .

65-3

53-6

44-2

28-8

Pb .

25-6

42-6

38-5

26-6

8-9

13-3

25

7-7

Hg"

15-5

31-4

30-4

22-4

9-9

24-35

26-75

9-45

Ag .

3-5

29-2

27-7

19-7

1-5

27*9

37-9

20-6

Au#"

1*9

7-6

As0"3

77-3

69-4

59T

28-8

Ple .

181*9

107-8

P°u*.

?

75-8

54-6

26-7

From these data some obvious consequences may be
deduced.

Each chloride will be seen to have a higher number
than the corresponding bromide, and each bromide than
the corresponding iodide ; bromine will therefore replace
iodine, and chlorine will replace both iodine and bromine
in every case.

Chlorine should displace oxygen from all the metallic
oxides with one exception. Such displacement actually
occurs, though generally requiring the assistance of heat.
In the case of the alkalies and alkaline earths the excess
of energy is sufficient to form hypochlorites and such-like
bodies, which, however, are decomposed at a higher
temperature.

Chloride of aluminium, on the contrary, i3 decom¬
posed, though incompletely, by oxygen at a red heat.

It is, however, possible to prepare the chloride from the
oxide, using the energy of the combustion of charcoal,
viz., 14*4, which surpasses the heat (11*7) absorbed: —
AljjOj + 3 Cl2 + C2 = A12C16 + 3 C 0.

Chloride of manganese, too, is decomposed by oxygen,
contrary to the numbers here given, but the result is due

to the formation of a higher oxide, which has a heat of
58 cir.

The relations of bromine and oxygen need not be dis¬
cussed ; bromine displaces oxygen in most cases. Bromide
of aluminium, on the contrary, when red hot takes fire in
dry oxygen with the formation of the oxide and free
bromine.

The mutual relations of iodine and oxygen require a
more detailed notice. According to the table, iodide
should displace oxygen from combination with sodium
and potassium, a result first observed by Gay-Lussac, the
action occurring at a low red heat. On the contrary, at
about 400° iodide 'of potassium absorbs oxygen, with
formation of basic iodate and an iodized iodide. The
formation of the iodate, liberating about 44 units, com¬
pensates for the oxide formed at the expense of the
iodide. This action, I may say in passing, explains the
difficulty of preparing an iodide entirely free from iodate
and alkali.

The iodides of calcium, zinc and iron, are easily decom¬
posed by oxygen, the case of iodide of iron being very
familiar. Manganous iodide takes fire in oxygen.

908

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 30, 188.1.

The vapour of aluminium iodide becomes explosive when
mixed with the same gas. All these actions are seen to
agree perfectly with theory. It will be noticed that the
difference of heat units between the oxide and iodide of
A1 is much greater than that for any other metal given.

The numbers, in the case of lead, are nearly equal.
Accordingly, iodide of lead is decomposed when heated in
a current of oxygen, and oxide of lead is similarly decom¬
posed by iodine.

Lastly, there are two metals, Hg" and Ag, whose
iodides are not attacked by oxygen, while their oxides
are readily decomposed by iodine. In this case also, the
law of maximum work holds good.

We have seen that generally chlorine has greater
affinity for the metals than oxygen; in the group of
metalloids, however, to which phosphorus and arsenic
belong, oxygen readily displaces all the haloid elements
from their combinations. The compounds of boron and
silicon give similar results.

Decomposition of Water by Metals. — The combining
energy of water being about 34, all the metals in the
list down to aluminium should be able to affect its
decomposition. Na and Ca do so in the cold, the rest
when heated. Between iron and hydrogen there is
equilibrium ; this is indicated by the fact that the iron
can be reduced by hydrogen, and oxidized by steam.
The insolubility of alumina, which covers the metal in a
thin film, prevents the decomposition in this case. Lead,
though falling below 30, at a high temperature decom¬
poses water, but the action is here complicated by disso¬
ciation. At a lower temperature, hydrogen reduces
oxide of lead and oxide of silver.

Action of Hydrochloric Acid. — The limit of the action
of the dilute acid (heat = 39) is at lead. The concen¬
trated acid, on the other hand, should be decomposed by
all the metals here, except gold. In the case of mercury
and silver, a heat of 500-600° C. is required to effect the
decomposition.

Hydrobromic and hydriodic acids are completely de¬
composed, even in the cold, by all the metals as far as
silver, with evolution of H. A word as to the mutual
displacements of these hydracids and their salts. We
have seen that chlorine displaces bromine and iodine
from combination ; this occurs in the case, e.g. of silver : —
Agl + Cl = AgCl + 1, etc.: +9 ’5.

On the contrary, hydriodic acid attacks chloride of silver,
forming iodide and free hydrochloric acid. This reverse
action can be very easily explained ; thus : —

AgCl + HI = HC1 + Agl.

+ 29-2 -*8 +22 +19*7:— 28-4 + 417= +13-3.
the difference between HC1 and HI being greater than
that between AgCl and Agl heat is evolved by this
reaction. A similar reaction occurs with other metals.

Sulphides. — The attraction of sulphur for the metals
decreases from sodium to silver. On the contrary,
hydrogen sulphide attacks the oxides increasingly in the
same order. The heat evolved in the case of Hg and Ag
is at once seen to be due, not to the combination of the
metal with the sulphur, but to the attraction of the
hydrogen of the acid for the oxygen of the oxide. All
the sulphides down to iron are decomposed by dilute
HC1; those below only by the concentrated acid. These
facts agree with the thermic equivalents.

The action upon metals of acids containing oxygen
presents some peculiar features.

(1). Sulphuric acid, when dilute acts as HC1, liberating
H, and forming a sulphate. When concentrated, it is
often without action in the cold ; but when heated it is
reduced by the metal (or by the hydrogen liberated) to
sulphurous acid; the reaction in the case of copper
being : —

, Cu + 2 H2S04 = SO>2 + 2 H20 + CuS04.

The heats of formation being : —

+ 2 x 967 : + 34*5 : + 2 x 29’5 : + 91*8.

= 193-4: =185-3.

The results (= - 8*1) would seem to indicate the im¬

possibility of such a reaction ; while it is evident that,
still less can any simple substitution of Cu for H take
place (91’8 - 967 = - 4’9). If, however, it be remembered
that sulphuric acid undergoes dissociation upon heating
(H2S04 = H20 + S03), all difficulty is removed. The
actual equation will be : —

Cu +S03 = CuO + SOo )

CuO + S03 = CuS04
or Cu + 2 S03 = CuS04 + SO„

2x51-5: +91-8: +34-5
= 103 : - 126-3 and 126-3 - 103 = + 23’3.

In this case a further action occurs, some sulphide
being formed : —

Cu + 2 SOo = CuS + CuS04
+ 69: +5-1: +91*8 and 96-9— 69= +27' 9.

(2). Nitric Acid. — This acid never forms nitrates by
simple substitution of metal for hydrogen, but decom¬
poses, giving oxygen, which combines with the metal, the
resulting oxides being attacked by more acid. Two
molecules of the acid (2HN03 or H02, N205) furnish,,
according to circumstances, 1 to 5 atoms of oxygen, nitro¬
gen or one of its lower oxides, or a mixture of these being
simultaneously formed.

The heat of formation of nitric acid is (liquid) 19'9.

,, ,, ,, j> » (solid) 20"5.

,, ,, ,, „ ,, (solution) 27*1.

The heat of solid nitrate of silver is only + 7 ; that
of ferric nitrate +33'4; the former could not there¬
fore be produced directly ; the latter might theoretically
with evolution of heat 33*4 — 20*5= + 12’9 or (dilute)
30'4— 27"1= +3"3; the actual reaction, however, is —

Fe2 + H20 . N205 = Fe203 + H20 + 2 NO )

Fe203 + 6HN03 = Fe26N03 + 3H20 \

The heat is H20 . N205 = H20 + N20<> + 03.

27-1 : +34-5 : -433 : +34*5 -70*4= - 35*9,
i.e.y — 12 for each equivalent of oxygen. The oxidation
of iron evolves +31*9, the combination of more acid with,
the oxide formed : —

H20
Fe2 6No3
Fe003 = 31-9, 64-9-59
HN03 = 27-1, =5-9

= 34-5
= 30-4

= 64-9

59

+ 5 "9; the total heat, therefore, will be —

5-9 + 31-9-12= +25-8.

I have no time to enter into an examination of the
reciprocal displacements of acids and of bases, though the
subject is most interesting. I may just briefly allude to
the double decomposition of neutral salts. The terms
strong and weak, applied to acids and bases, are familiar*
but vague. M. Berthelot has given a precise definition.
The term “ weak ” he applies to an acid or base the salts
of which are more or less decomposed by solution in
water into free acid and base. Salts not so decomposable
are formed by a union of a “strong” acid with a “strong”
base. Adopting this definition, the general rule of de¬
composition is that the strong acid combines with the.
strong base, and the weak acid with the weak base ; in
other words, the most stable and the least stable are the
salts formed.

For instance, when a solution of ammonium nitrate is
mixed with a solution of potassium carbonate, a double
decomposition occurs; ammonium carbonate and potas¬
sium nitrate are formed. This is indicated by the fol¬
lowing numbers : —

K2C03 + 2AmN03=Am2C03 + 2KN03; — 3"1 (absorbed).
On the contrary, Am2C03 + 2KN03 mixed in solution
neither absorb nor evolve heat. The heat of each of the
four salts in solution is : —

^K2C03, 12-9: AmN03, 12-5 = 25-4

Am2C03,8'

5:KN03, 13-8 = 22-3

difference = - 3’1.

It will be said that this absorption of heat is in direct
contradiction of the principle of maximum work. It
must be remembered, however, that the salts are here in
solution ; if their heats of formation in the solid state be

i

3

1

i

April 30 lSgl.l

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

909

used in the calculation, it will he found that heat is
evolved, as it should be.

In this case, the ammonia is a weak base, and its
Kitrate accordingly suffers in solution a partial decom¬
position, giving a little free ammonia and a little free
nitric acid. This nitric acid attacks the carbonate of
potash, and disturbs the equilibrium ; more nitrate pf
ammonia decomposes, and the reaction continues till
complete.

Take another example : —

Na.2S04. (solution) + ZnA'3 (solution): +’45 (evolved).

2NaA' (solution) + ZnS04 (solution): —'34 (absorbed).

It might be thought that acetate of zinc decomposed
sulphate of soda ; but, in fact, the opposite reaction takes
place : —

Na2S04 + Zn A'2 = 2 NaA' + ZnS04,
the heat evolved in the first case being due to the
dilution of the acetate of zinc solution, which evolves
more heat than the dilution of three other solutions
together. The heat of the anhydrous salts prove the
reality of the decomposition : —

ZnA'2 : 3*3 : iZnS04, 11*9.
iNa2S04 : 347 : Na2A', 18-3.

38* 30-2.

38 - 30*2 = + 7*8 (evolved).

Let me here give an instance of the use of heat
measurements to measure slow decomposition of weak
salts by water, e.g., ferric acetate. This body gradually
decomposes in solution into basic acetate, which remains
in a pseudo-solution, and free acetic acid.

The fresh solution treated with solution of

potash evolves . + 8*87.

The same solution kept two months . . -i- 10*39.

After eighteen months . +12*8.

A solution, six times as dilute, kept only

three weeks . .... +12*82.

The fresh solution heated to 100° C., and

then cooled . . • + 12*72.

The last three numbers indicate the libe¬
ration of nearly all the acetic acid, the
heat of acetate of potash being . . . +13*3.

In the examples just given the salts formed remain in
solution ; the reactions in which precipitation occurs are
better known, e.g.,

Na2S04 + SrCl2 = 2NaCl + SrS 04 (precip. ).

There is no doubt here but that decomposition takes
place; the heat is at 5° : +*41; at 16° : O; at 25° :
— *33 ; these results indicate clearly that the heat of
the solutions does not determine the reaction.^ On the
contrary, if all the bodies be anhydrous, heat is evolved
( + 7), a quantity which scarcely varies between 0° and

100° C.

There is no time to go further this evening; otherwise
we might find ourselves entering on the application of
beat measurements to the wide field of chemical equili¬
brium or to the study of organic chemistry. I have
thought it best to confine myself to familiar reactions,
but enough has been said, I think, to show the value of
thermo-chemistry, not only in giving a satisfactory
explanation of apparently abnormal reactions, but
especially in indicating the points of connection and
mutual relations between chemistry and the physical
sciences.

arltamentajj anb

i^ato

Serious Charge against a Chemist under the Sale
of Food and Drugs Act.

At Bridgwater, on Monday, the 25th inst., Mr. William
Henry Griffith, chemist and druggist, carrying on business
on the Cornhill, was charged with that, on March 16, the
guardians of the Bridgwater Union demanded of him a

certain drug — to wit, a solution of * sulphate of quinine,
and that he unlawfully sold to the said guardians and to
their prejudice, a certain drug which was not of the
nature, substance and quality of the drug demanded.
Mr. Cook, 'Town Clerk, prosecuted, and Mr. E. Barham
appeared for the defendant.

Mr. Cook, in opening the case, after explaining the
provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, said that
Mr. Griffith, the defendant, who was a highly respectable
chemist in Bridgwater, had entered into a contract with
the Board of Guardians for the supply of drugs, one of
the articles to be so supplied being quinine. On March
16 last, in consequence of a previous communication
between Mr. Weller, one of the district medical officers
of the Union, residing at Westonzoyland, and Mr.
Parsons, medical officer of health, Mr. Weller sent to Mr.
Parsons a prescription as follows :— “Sulphate of quinine,
20 grains ; diluted sulphuric acid, 25 drops ; water up to
10 ounces.” After the receipt of that, Mr. Parsons placed
himself in communication with Mr. Parker, the borough
inspector of nuisances, and the prescription was after¬
wards taken to Mr. Griffith, the defendant, by a girl
named Keirle, a daughter of the woman for whose use it
was intended, and who was then, and had been for some
time before, suffering from intermittent fever, being
under the care of Mr. Weller. The Bench would
see at once how important it was in this case, as
the woman was suffering from fever, and in other
cases where fever existed, that there should be a
faithful compliance, on the part of Mr. Griffith, as
holding the post of the Union contractor, with the
prescriptions furnished to him. The girl, as the bearer
of the prescription, was afterwards followed into the shop
by Mr. Parker, who entered it just as the prescription
had been made up, and the bottle was being handed to
•the girl by Mr. Griffith. Mr. Parker took the bottle,
notifying that he was going to send a sample of it for
analysis to the public analyst. He divided it into three
parts, one part being left with Mr. Griffith, a second
part being retained by Mr. Parker, and the third part,
consisting of 3 ounces, being sent to Mr. Stoddart for
analysis. Mr. Stoddart’s certificate, dated March 24,
and addressed to Parker, was as follows : — “I, the under¬
signed public analyst, do hereby certify that I received
on March 17, 1881, a sample of solution of sulphate of
quinine for analysis, which then weighed 3 ounces, and
having analysed the same, I declare the result of my
analysis to be as follows : — I am of opinion that it con¬
tains only *64 grains of sulphate of quinine instead of 2
grains in each fluid ounce.” Mr. Cook added that one
scarcely liked to trust himself to describe the flagrant
character of the offence of Mr. Griffith in so dealing
with Mr. Weller’s prescription. Here was a woman
suffering from intermittent fever. Whether life or
death was dependent on a literal compliance was not
for him to say; but at all events it involved most
probably the speedy recovery of this woman and the
consequent happiness and prosperity of the family.
These were the facts of the case so far as he was
instructed, and he apprehended that if he succeeded
in proving them the Bench would come to the conclusion
that both from a public point of view, a contract point of
view, and in other ways, a very serious offence indeed had
been committed by Mr. Griffith. The only way for them to
mark their sense of it would be by determining what pro¬
portion of the £20, if they thought the whole fine need
not be inflicted, should be imposed for the offence so com¬
mitted. Mr. Cook then called

Mr. John Weller, practising at Westonzoyland, and one
of the medical officers under the Bridgwater Board of
Guardians, who said that on March 16 last he had a
Mrs. Keirle under his care as a pauper patient. On that
day he gave a girl named Charlotte Keirle, daughter of
the woman referred to, a prescription, as follows :— “For
Izet Keirle. Sulphate of quinine, 20 grains; diluted
sulphuric acid, 25 drops, and water to 10 ounces.” The

910

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 30, 1881*

woman Iveirle was suffering from intermittent fever,
The quinine never reached her.

By Mr. Barham: The drugs were charged to the
Board of Guardians.

Mr. J. F. C. Parsons, medical officer of health, said
on March 16, the girl Keirle brought the prescription
referred to by the last witness to him. He had previously
had communication with Mr. Weller. After receiving
the prescription he (witness) communicated with Mr.
Parker, the borough inspector, who left his house about
the time with the girl.

By Mr. Barham : He had been in communication with
Mr. Parker on the subject before — a fortnight before.
Mr. Parker’s action was at his (witness’s) request, acting
as the medical officer for the Rural Sanitary Authority.

Mr. J. Parker, inspector of nuisances for the borough,
said on March 16, he went to the house of the last witness
at his request, and there met the girl Keirle. He saw
the prescription produced, and afterwards accompanied
the girl to the shop of Mr. Griffith, chemist. Whilst she
was in the shop he (witness) stood immediately opposite,
and had a view of the girl in the shop all the time. In
about two minutes he went into the shop, and saw there
Mr. Griffith and the girl. Mr. Griffith was then in the
act of handing a bottle to the girl. Witness asked “ Is
this the quinine referred to in the prescription of Dr.
Weller ?” Mr. Griffith replied, “ Yes, it is.” Witness
then said, “ I have been directed to take it for the purpose
of analysis by the public analyst, Mr. Stoddart. I shall
divide it into three equal parts, one of which I shall retain
myself, another you may have, and the third I shall take
to Mr. Stoddart.” He then divided it as nearly as he
could in his presence, and handed one of the parts to Mr.
Griffith, retaining two parts himself. He afterwards
communicated with Mr. Parsons. On the 17th he took
one of the two parts to Bristol, and delivered it to Mr.
Stoddart personally. On the 24th or 25th he received
the certificate produced from Mr. Stoddart.

Mr. Barham: I object to its being produced as
evidence.

The Clerk : What is the objection?

Mr. Barham : That it was not obtained in pursuance
of the directions of the Act of Parliament. (To the
witness) : You took the sample under the directions of
Mr. Parsons.

Mr. Parker: Yes.

Mr. Barham: In the information you say the guar¬
dians demanded this drug, and that it was sold to the
guardians, and yoii say the same now ?

Mr. Parker: Yes.

Mr. Barham : Then this was a purchase by the Board
of Guardians, was it not ?

Mr. Cook : That is a question of fact for the Bench to
determine.

Charlotte Keirle, aged 14, living at Othery, said on
March 16 she received a paper from Mr. Weller, which
she took to Mr. Parsons in the Square. She also saw
Mr. Parker there, and afterwards went to Mr. Griffith’s
shop. She received a bottle containing something from
Mr. Griffith, and gave it to Mr. Parker whilst in the
shop. Her mother was ill on that day.

This was all the evidence.

Mr. Barham, for the defence, contended that the pur¬
chase was made by the Board of Guardians, and not by
Mr. Parker, and that as the Act contemplated that the
proceedings should be taken by the person who made
the purchase the Act had not been complied with.
There had been no proof that Mr. Parsons, upon whose
instructions Mr. Parker had acted, had any authority
from the Board of Guardians to institute these proceed¬
ings. .

This led to a lengthy legal argument, Mr. Cook con¬
tending that Mr. Parker acted throughout as the agent
of the Board of Guardians, and that there had been a
strict and literal compliance with the provisions of the
Act as regarded the mode of procedure, the notification

of Mr. Griffith, the causing of the analysis to be made,,
and in instituting these proceedings.

At the close of the legal argument, in the course of
which some cases were referred to on either side bearing
on the points raised,

Mr. Brice, the magistrates’ deck, addressing Mr,
Barham, said “ Do you go into the merits at all?”

Mr. Barham replied in the negative, adding, however,
that he would merely point out that whatever might be
the explanation of the matter it did not necessarily follow
that there had been any of the flagrant conduct on the
part of Mr. Griffith that had been spoken of by Mr. Cook.
This Act of Parliament allowed some excuses, but it made
no allowance for any mistake or error that might have
been committed, and which would possibly relieve Mr.
Griffith from any moral blame.

The magistrates retired for deliberation, and on their
return into court,

The Mayor said : The magistrates have gone into this
matter thoroughly, and it is very painful to them to find
a tradesman in the position of Mr. Griffith summoned here
for such an offence. The penalty will be £10 and costs.

Mr. Barham applied for a case to the Court above, and
the application was acceded to.

Mr. Cook applied for allowance of the usual fee in the
event of the conviction being upheld, and this was also
granted.— Bridgwater Mercury.

©frituam

Notice has been received of the death of the
following : —

On the 19th of March, 1881, very suddenly, Mr.
William Gowen Cross, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Mardol,
Shrewsbury. Aged 61 years. Mr. Cross was regis¬
tered as a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society in
1847, but had been connected with it some time before
that date. He was the Society’s first Local Secretary
for Shrewsbury, and continued in that office till his death.
Mr. Cross was the representative of one of the oldest
families of burgesses at Shrewsbury, and has been con¬
nected with the municipal government of the town since
1856. He was a justice of the peace for the borough,
and twice filled the civic chair. At the time of his
death he was presiding alderman of the police com¬
mittee. His funeral took place at the Shrewsbury
General Cemetery on March 23, and was attended by
, nearly all the public office holders in the town, as well as
by a large number of county magistrates and friends.

On the 12th of April, 1881, Mr. Edmund Henry
Laffere, Chemist and Druggist, Market Place, Hather-
leigh. Aged 45 years.

On the 17th of April, 1881, Mr. John Creed Henly.
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Penge Road, South Norwood,.
Aged 82 yeafs. Mr. Henly had been a Member of the
Pharmaceutical Society since 1842.

gtspeitswg IHcmorantm.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose salce partly this column was established ,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And xve would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[533]. If “ Dispenser ” were a practised dispenser, he
would certainly know how to dispense this prescription.
The quinine will dissolve without difficulty in vin. ferri.

374.

April 30, 1881.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

911

[534]. Squire makes a sol. ferri brom. which might be

used here, the strength of which is 4£ grs. to 3j* •

o i 4.

374.

[536]. Ferri ammon. cit. is also called ferri cit.

[536]. Ferri citras is prepared by the evaporation at
14q<? Y. of a solution of ferric hydrate and citric acid.
It occurs as a dark amber coloured scale compound,
slightly soluble in cold water, easily so in warm water.
It is ordered in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia and a process
oiven for its manufacture. Ferri ammon. cit. is generally
intended and dispensed in England when fern cit. is
ordered. The dispenser should, however, be guided as to
what the prescriber intended by surrounding circum-
stances. If occurring in an American prescription, fern
ammon. cit. is not intended.

Francis Carter.

but I wish to reaffirm that it is not seemly that a gentleman
actively engaged in preparing candidates for examinations
should aspire to be a member of the body which appoints
the Examiners, and in certain ways controls the examma-

tl0lTis a pity Mr. Wills has not learnt this. “ Be gustibus

non est disputandum.” . . . ,r

I have not this year received a circular from Mr. W ills.
As far, however, as my memory serves me, I believe one of
his claims for support, as stated in a former circular, was
made upon the ground that he was strongly inteiested in
educational matters. May this interest continue ! It is
quite proper for the chief of a firm of teachers advertising
“home work given to do” to be personally interested in
the advancement of education. I think, however, it is dis¬
tinctly improper that such an one should become an elector
of the Board which tests the value and extent of that
education, and, as Mr. Reynolds suggests, the Privy Council
will be very likely to think the same thing.

April 26, 1881. A Young Member.

[538]. Ferri ammon. cit. and acid, hydrocyan. sch. are
incompatible.

[539]. I.— I think that the quinine would -be very
nearly, if not quite, dissolved by the syr. aurantn. ^

[539]. I.— R. J. D. is not justified in dissolving the

quinine. It should be powdered and a “ shake the bottle

label attached to the bottle. ^

Francis Carter.

[539]. II.— The liniment will dissolve the pot. iodid.

[539]. II.— If R. J- D. triturates the potass, iodid.
with the lin. belladonnas, and then adds the lin. camph.
co., he will obtain a perfect solution without the addition

of water. a ^ ri _

Francis Carter.

‘[540]. I had the following prescription given me to

dispense a few days ago _ .

R Emulsionis 01. Morrhuee Co. • _ • • oYJ*

For the above I gave a simple emulsion of cod liver oil
made with yolk of egg, sugar and flavoured with a little

rose water and tincture of oranges.

Could you oblige me by saying whether I was right or

not in doing so ? .

I thought at the time it might be some private or

hospital formula.

L Country Chemist.

(Eorrcspantitncc.

* *

No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Election of Council.

Sir — Among the names of those gentlemen who have
declared their readiness to serve on the new Council, it
elected, I notice that of Mr. G. S. V. Wills. Last year
Mr. Wills manifested similar eagerness in the same direction,
and several letters concerning his candidature appeared in
the correspondence columns of the Journal.

One of these, from Mr. Richard Reynolds, very completely
stated the objections to the occupation of a seat on the
Council by one whose business consists in preparing candi¬
dates for the pharmaceutical examinations.

I cannot add anything to the remarks of Mr. Reynolds,

* Plxarm. Journ., May 8, 1880.

Sir, — What are we coming to ? There are fourteen va¬
cancies in the Council and only sixteen gentlemen are found
willing to accept the office, if elected ; and even one ol
those, in the face of the correspondence which appeared in
your columns last year (see Mr. Reynolds’s letter, Ph. Jo in n.,
[3], x., p. 908), would have shown good taste by declining to
accept nomination for the office. ■

Are there no more amongst us able and willing to act as
councillors? or is the Society, by adversely criticising its
executive without offering the help and advice it alone can
give, rendering the position of its leaders too invidious and
thankless to be worth the trouble and anxiety accompanying
what should be a coveted position of dignity and honour .

Besides indications of short-sighted apathy amongst the
members, personal observation has led me to conclude that
a great many of them are culpably careless in reference
to the manner in which they tender their votes for the
election of the Council. In the cases alluded to, the list of
candidates is hurriedly scanned and the less familiar names
erased without a thought as to the views the candidates hold,
or the extent to which they are likely to be able to carry
out the arduous and responsible duties they offer to undei-
take. The names may be familiar of those whose vocation
entirely unfits them for the position they crave; while theie
are gentlemen whose names are, from various causes, . less
familiar to members in general, but who are able, in virtue
of the positions they hold, the abilities they possess and
the time they are prepared to devote to the welfaie of the
Society, to command the respect and confidence ot its

members to the utmost extent. _ . , ,

The present is an important crisis ; pharmacists are bem„
sorely tried by unfair competition on the one hand and.
excessive legislation on the other ; the Society has lost by
resignation two of its most valued and most respected
advfsers. It, therefore, behoves every member ‘tou^HttUy
to realize the position of our calling and to do “s share
towards the advancement of pharmacy by voting at the
coming election for not less than fourteen gentiemen^ who,
as councillors, will most effectively uphold the dignity
the Society and most zealously defend and advance its

interests. Enitar.

«ir — In the list of nominations for Council I notice the
name of a gentleman who advertizes his willingness to
prepare for a pharmaceutical career individuals who have
no knowledge either of the Latin language or essay writing.
Such assistance, if given gratuitously, would doubtless have
been praiseworthy during a past transitional period, but at
the present time pharmacy needs fewer but bettei educated
candidates, therefore such a course of action is prejudicia
to progress and in my opinion should certainly not be
encouraged and rewarded with a seat at the Counc

B°Mn* Wills, being directly interested in the success °r non¬
success of candidates for the various examinations of the
Society, can scarcely be expected to perform, without bias,
such duties as the selection of Examiners or the considers
tion of the important subject of pharmaceutical education.

912

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[April 30, 18 ‘■l

Pharmaceutical Titles.

Sir, — The Privy Council examiner having officially intro¬
duced the above subject, I beg to add a few remarks to
those of Mr. G. L. Huet. I do not think that the majority
of pharmaceutical chemists pass the “ Major ” examination
for the sake of the greater repute which the higher title has
in the view of the public, because the public scarcely knows
the relative value of the numerous titles by which the
pharmacist seeks to individualize himself; but the “ Minor”
man usually proceeds to the “Major” because he has
sufficient ambition or desire for knowledge not to rest con¬
tent with a minimum qualification for the practice of his
profession.

I do believe that a well-defined title would stimulate a
larger number of men to pass the “Major” examination
than do so at present. Those who shirk this question seem
to me to put the question in the form of this dilemma : “If
a student is fond of learning he needs no stimulus, and if
he dislikes learning no stimulus will be of any avail ; but as
he is either fond of learning or dislikes it, a stimulus is
either needless or of no avail.” But fondness and dislike
are not the only two possible alternatives, for there may be
some who are neither fond of learning nor dislike it, and
to these a stimulus in the shape of rewards is desirable,
and if the reward be sufficiently valuable, it may even
allure those who dislike study.

The title F.P.S. (Great Britain), as suggested by Dr.
Greenhow, is one that would be analogous to those of
F.R.C.P. and F.R.C.S., both honourable diplomas; but
the re. are other “Fellows” whose titles a pharmaceutical
chemist would scarcely care to add to his name. A more
alluring and distinctive one would be that of doctor of
pharmacy, and would be quite in harmony with the titles
accorded to the highest ranks in the other branches of the
medical profession, viz., the degree of M.D. and the
diplomas of doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S ) and dental
medicine (D.M.D.); whilst our Portuguese brethren have
set us the example by granting the title of “ licentiate in
pharmacy ” to those who pass the lower examination (their
Minor), and that of “ doctor in pharmacy ” to those who
pass the higher examination (their Major).

We have only to look at the varieties of doctors who exist
to see at once that the use of this title by pharmaceutical
chemists would not interfere with the privileges of phy¬
sicians, surgeons and apothecaries, the greater number of
whom are dubbed with the title of “doctor” without
possessing it; whereas there are a large number of men
possessing and using the title who do not practise medicine,
viz., D.Sc., D.C.L., LL.D., D.D., Lit. Docfc., Mus. Doc.,
etc., and no ill result has flowed from this custom.

If the Major examination be either not comprehensive
enough, or not stringent enough, by all means make it so ;
but let there be such a title (pliarm. doct.) gainable by a
knowledge of the subjects embraced by our own profession
as will raise our status in the eyes of the public, be an
ample guarantee to the Government for the correct discharge
of our functions, and be of such distinction and value as to
induce able men to enter the ranks of our profession.
Manchester. A. H. Jackson.

Preparing for Examination.

| [Sir, — A recent Journal contains two letters, 'one com¬
plaining about the number of failures in the examinations,
and the other is a long wail about everything in general
and nothing in particular. In the advertising columns
there is also a verse of four lines of the most wretched
doggerel ever penned : —

“ Six ingredients you must know,” etc., etc.

Is it any wonder that the list of unsuccessful candidates
should be so long when young men are educated (crammed,
rather, to cheat the examiners) , in this way.

Is this the way to educate men who are expected to be
intelligently acquainted with such a profession as ours in
all its details ?

I have refrained hitherto from drawing the attention of
your readers to this matter in the hope that some one
better qualified would have done so.

“Thomas Carlyle.”

Vaseline, and its use for making Citrine
Ointment.

Sir, — A nice lemon-coloured ointment may be made with
white vaseline, vice the lard and olive oil ordered in the
Pharmacopoeia for making unguentum hydrargyri nitratis,
and a dull orange-coloured ointment may be prepared from
yellow vaseline, if, in either case, the solution be mixed
with the vaseline, as Mr. Squire says, at 180° F. The
action is very similar to that which takes place in making
the Pharmacopoeia ointment; the mixture froths up, and
the mercurial solution if well stirred does not separate on
cooling, it is all absorbed in the ointment or evaporated.
Still, I think the preparation is a different one therapeuti¬
cally to that of the Pharmacopoeia, which contains a complex
mixture of basic nitrate of mercury, elaidin, fatty acids in
combination with mercury, etc. On heating white vaseline
with pure nitric acid a frothy evolution of nitrous fumes
takes place, and a lemon-coloured mixture is formed; on
heating yellow vaseline with nitric acid a dark orange one is
produced. On testing white vaseline by boiling and agitating
with liquor potassse for some time a frothy and somewhat
milky emulsion is formed ; in fact, it appears partially to
saponify, but on cooling a complete preparation takes place.
Taking the clear liquor potassse from the mixture and adding
diluted hydrochloric acid in excess no fatty acids are set
free, dispelling the suspicion that white vaseline might
contain some organic fat. It is curious how at times white
vaseline acquires a disagreeable rancid odour; so does the
yellow, but it is not so prone to do so. Yellow vaseline
does not make as perfect an emulsion as the white when
boiled with liquor potassae, still it does froth and emulsify
to some extent, as will heavy paraffin oil when so treated.

_ Wm. Mabtindale.

Sir, — I think perhaps I ought to apologize to Mr. Squire
for having mentioned his name in connection with citrine
ointment and vaseline, but when I read the paper he refers
to before the Students* Association, I had no idea it would
be published in extenso (although I subsequently saw a
printed proof). But I still think that when used alone
“vaseline is not suitable for making citrine ointment ” and
that very little else “but a mechanical mixture” is
obtained, from which an acid solution of nitrate of mercury
will separate on pressure or fusion. Of course in the official
ointment a large proportion of the nitric acid expends
itself in producing elaidine; likewise when a mixture of
wax and vaseline is used very little free nitric acid is left,
and I cannot but think that the therapeutical action of ]

“ ung. hyd. nit. c. vaselin.” must be very much greater
than that of “ung. hyd. nit. B.P.” ; the former may
perhaps be elegant in appearance and highly approved by
oculists, but does not by any means represent the official
preparation.

St.John’s Wood. Wm. Hy. Symons.

The Alleged Bobbery of Government Stores. — We have
received from Mr. S. Maitland, Treville Street, Plymouth,
a communication stating that he is not the Mr. Maitland
referred to in the report of the hearing of this case. A
reference to p. 870 will show that there is no ground for
misconception on thi3 point.

Stamp (who failed to enclose his card). — We do not
think that the subject is suitable for discussion in this
Journal.

Export. — (1). Seemann’s ‘Flora Vitiensis,* Reeve and
Co., would probably answer the purpose. (2). Proctor’s
‘ Practical Pharmacy’ (Churchill).

J. Hurst. — Cooley gives the following recipe for an
amber liquid: Dragon’s blood (in coarse powder), 1 part;
oil of vitriol, 4 parts ; digest, and when the solution is com¬
plete dilute with q.s. of soft or distilled water.

W. J. Campbell. — According to the Explosives Act, 1875,
coloured fires are included in the term “explosives”
and are subject to the same regulations as gunpowder. An
epitome of the Act will be found in the ‘ Calendar of the
Pharmaceutical Society.’

P. E. C. — The letters can only be imperfectly removed by
rubbing with a bit of soft wood.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Dr. Hesse, Dr. Parchkis, Dr. Reichardt, Messrs. Bate,
Southall, Colebrook, Madsen, Wright, Nichol, Evans,
Tillet, Lux, Inquirer, W. F. G., E. A. H.,M. P. S., T. H.

May 7, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

913

r— - -

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A CLOSER KNOW¬
LEDGE OF SOME LITTLE KNOWN
LEAVES.*

pliyll are smaller and cylindrical; those at the
margin larger and spindle-shaped. They are not
woody (are not coloured either with phloroglucin or

BY DR. HEINRICH PASCHKIS.

III. LEAVES OF ANGRiECUM ERAGRANS,

P. Th.

Folia Faham ; Bourbon Teaf (Orchidaceos).

The specimens examined were in the possession of
the Vienna Pharmaceutical Institute and came partly
from the Vienna Exhibition of 1873, partly from the
Paris Exhibition, and part was received direct from
Paris.

This drug, which occurs in French commerce, con¬
sists of well preserved entire leaves and leafy stalks.
The leaves are yellow to yellowish brown, softening
like leather in water and very tough. When freshly
obtained they have an agreeable, but not very strong
smell, remotely resembling that of coumarin. They
reach a length of over 7 centimetres and a breadth
of more than 1. In form they are linear, rounded
at the apex, and split up by a shallow indentation
into two unequal roundish points ; at the base they
attenuate only slightly and surround the petiole like
a sheath. The parallel veins are somewhat more
prominent on the under side than on the upper..

When examined microscopically the epidermis of
the upper side is found to be composed of very
regular long hexagonal cells (0-045 mm. long, 0-03
broad) which include no stomata between them.
(Fig. 14.) The contents of these cells consist either

Fig. 14. — Angrcecum fragrans.

Epidermis (above).

Fig. 15. — A.

fragrans.
Coumarin cry¬
stals.

of very small light-refracting granules, or very bril¬
liant drops and scales, or, finally, of delicate crystals,
which appear as four-sided needles, or scales and
tables. This cell contents is soluble in alcohol and
ether and runs together in potash solution to drops
refracting light strongly. The epidermis cells of the
under side are a little longer (0’064 mm.), and inclose
between them numerous stomata margined by swelled
thickened guard cells (004 long, 0-0288 broad). In
a transverse section the epidermal contour appears
to be slightly undulated. Next to the epidermal
layer of this side, which is covered by a thick yellow-
brownish cuticle, follows a subepidermal layer of very
much thickened cells furnished with narrow lumens.
These cells on the upper side stand further apart from
each other, are larger (reaching (VObSiO’OSb mm.);
on the under side they are closer to one another,
smaller (0 030 mm.), thick-walled and more or less
circular. (Fig. 16.) A similar cell occurs here and
there in the mesophyil. The mesophyll consists of
a wide-meshed tissue of oblong (under the upper side)
to quadratic (on the under side) cells. In a longi¬
tudinal section or softened in a macerated preparation
these supporting cells appear as more or less long (l-8
mm. or over), thick fibres, furnished with a small
hollow (bast-like fibres) ; those occurring in the rneso-

* Reprinted from the “ Zeitschiift ” of the Austrian
Pharmaceutical Association, and communicated by the
author, to whose courtesy we are indebted for the use of
the wood engravings illustrating the paper.

t Bee Vogl’s Comment.

Third Series, No. 567.

Fig. 16. — A. fragrans — Transverse section:
s e, subepidermal supporting-cell layer,
aniline sulphate). There occur besides in the meso¬
phyll crystal cells filled with raphides, which are
somewhat larger than the other parenchyma cells
and somewhat elongated in the direction of the axis
of the leaf (0T192:U0128 nun.). The vascular
bundles show a prosenchyma consisting of netted
porous cells, smaller (scalariform) and larger (spiral)
vessels, which are accompanied by numerous bast-like
fibres. There occur besides fibre-like series of cells,
which at first sight appear to conceal in each cell a
concretion of oxalate of lime. But these do not appear
clear under the polarizer microscope ; they are not
destroyed after prolonged treatment with Schulze’s
reagent ; and finally they are found in the ash of the
leaf in the same form. They appear to me to be
aggregations of silica, which have formed with great
regularity in the cell walls of this fibre-like series
(Fig. 17). In small depressions in the epidermis of

Fig. 71.— A. fragrans— Separate supporting cells (bast¬
like fibres) : a, from the mesophyll; b, from the mar¬
gin ; h, silica aggregations.

the underside of the Faham leaf occur glandules
which consist almost always of one stalk-cell and a
bladder-shaped head; seen from the surface these
appear like round brown spots about the size of the
stomata (Fig. 18). Their contents when boiled with

Fig 18. — A. fragrans. — Glandule,
potash solution are coloured turmeric yellow. The
exudation from the Faham leaves is of a light golden
yellow colour ; it has an agreeable slightly cinnamon¬
like odour, and a somewhat astringent taste.

914

THE PHARM ACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 7, 1881.

GUM SAVAKIN.*

BY GEORGE REIMANN, PH.G.

This gum is gathered near the west coast of the Red
Sea, further east than the other varieties of gum arabic,
and is shipped from the port of Suakin or Savakin ; hence
its name. It appears in commerce as subglobular tears,
which are more or less broken, have a conchoidal glass¬
like fracture, and, in consequence of numerous fissures,
appear quite opaque. It is imported in considerable
quantity and not unfrequently sold for medicinal use.

A mucilage made with 8 ounces of this gum to one
pint of water was found to be very thick and viscid, a
great deal of the gum remaining, as it seemed, undissolved ;
this was strained out. On diluting the mucilage with
water it was noticed that what appeared to be small
transparent globules separated, and upon repeated shaking
would not dissolve. Some of these globules were col¬
lected by diluting the mucilage with water, stirring con¬
stantly, allowing to settle, decanting the water, and
repeating this operation until all the soluble matter had
been removed. The globules were found to be insoluble in
boiling water, though on the addition of solution of caustic
potassa, or other caustic alkali, they were dissolved, but
the salts of the alkalies were without action. A quantity
of the globules were spread on panes of glass and dried,
yielding thin transparent scales. On boiling these with
water they would merely swell up and be transformed
into transparent globules again.

These experiments show that they are analogous to and
doubtless identical with gummic acid, which seems to
pre-exist in the gum in the free state, and in the mucilage
is held in suspension, while from a dilute aqueous solution
it separates as colourless globules.

Numerous expedients have been tried to prevent this
precipitation, and the only one found successful was to
carefully add, before straining, to one-half of the mucilage
sufficient solution of caustic potassa to make it very
slightly alkaline, then add the Other half of the mucilage
and shake the mixture well, which should now have a
slight acid reaction. After it has stood a little while it can
be strained without loss, and may be mixed with water
and otherwise used like that prepared from Kordofan gum.

Five grams of the gum were incinerated and yielded
T9 gram of ash, equal to 3'8 per cent. Analysis showed
the presence of calcium, magnesium and potassium.

COFFEE OIL.f

BY C. 0. CECH.

The author communicates some preliminary work on
the subject of this oil. During the roasting of coffee
berries the odour of the oil is very apparent, and it may
be seen on the surface of the concentrated extract of
coffee in the form of small drops. The quantity of oil
present varies according to the source and condition of
the berries, being from 8 — 13 per cent., and of this at
least one half is volatilized during the process of roasting.
No considerable escape of gas or oil vapour occurs during
the roasting until the berries turn brown. At that stage,
the berries are turned out and tossed in the air so as to
cool them very rapidly and prevent their burning ; the
oil vapour is thus lost, but might be saved by connecting
the roasting drum with an exhauster which would prevent
the risk of the berries catching fire, and would render it
possible to remove and condense the vapour of the oil. The
oil thus obtained would doubtless be of valu e for liqueurs.

The preparation of the oil was carried out by extracting
it from 50 lbs. of powdered coffee berries of various kinds
by means of ether-alcohol. In this way about 1200 grams
of a green, transparent, thick oil were obtained. It
deposited crystals of caffeine after standing for a time ;
and after three years separated into crystalline fatty acids,
and a clear green layer of liquid oil, the crystals forming
about two-thirds of the whole.

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, April, 1881.

t From the J. pr. Chem., [2], 22, 396 — 398. Reprinted
from the Journal of the Chemical Society, March, 1881,

C( n |)jmrmamttkal Journal.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY , MAY 7, 1881.

THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL.

The review of the Society’s affairs presented in
the report which will thi3 week be circulated among
Members of the Society closely resembles that of
the previous year in being free from reference to
matters upon which there has been any wide di¬
vergence of opinion, or by which the interest of the
pharmaceutical community has been unusually ex¬
cited. The greater part of the report is devoted
to giving the customary account of the financial,
position of the Society, of the additions to its
Museum and Library, the results of the exami¬
nations, and of the proceedings taken against per¬
sons who have infringed the Pharmacy Act. In
regard to the Society’s finances, it is pointed out
with regret that there has been during the year 1880
a decrease of revenue as compared with the year
1879. One of the causes assigned for this is a falling
off in the number of candidates for examination,
there having been two hundred and forty-seven
fewer candidates for the Preliminary, three less for
the Minor, nine less for the Major, and nineteen less
for the Modified examination, so that the receipts
from examination fees amounted to nearly five
hundred pounds less than in the previous year.

The income from subscriptions has on the whole
increased, for though there has been a slight diminu¬
tion in the number of Members of the Society,
chiefly as a result of deaths, there has been more
than a corresponding increase in the number of
Associates and Apprentices connected with the
Society.

Another circumstance that has operated to make
the balance in hand at the close of the past year less
than that of the previous year has been the excep¬
tionally heavy expenditure on account of law costs,
the publication of the ‘Progress of Pharmacy,’ the
Library Catalogue, and the Index to the J ournal for
the ten years from 1868 to 1878.

The cost of the index has been one hundred and
forty-seven pounds six shillings and eightpence, and
this amount has been charged to the Journal account
for the past year, as well as the sum of six hudnred
and ninety pounds four shillings and threepence for
postage of the Journal to Members and other persons
entitled to receive it. Notwithstanding these large
items of expenditure charged to the Journal account,
the total expense of the publication for the year
amounts to only six hundred and eighty pounds
nineteen shillings and sevenpence, that being the
difference between the receipts and expenditure, as
against seven hundred and forty-nine pounds four
shillings and elevenpence in the previous year.
Consequently, the Journal account this year shows a

May 7, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

915

decided improvement on last year, and if tlie expense
incurred for postage were deducted, there would be
a profit of nine pounds four shillings and eightpence,
without making any allowance for the large number of
copies distributed gratuitously to Members, Associates
and others.

During the past year, between three hundred and
four hundred books and pamphlets have been added
to the Society’s Library, many of these having been
presented, while others have been purchased by
order of the Committee. Some four thousand copies
of the new Library Catalogue have been issued, and
t he report states that coincident with the issue of
this catalogue there has been an increase in the
number of books borrowed, though there has been at
the same time a considerable decrease in the number
of visitors to the Library. It may, therefore, be
inferred that the catalogue has proved useful in
enabling readers to obtain the books they require
without having to come to the reading room. The
facilities for study in the Society’s Library have also
been increased by placing two microscopes there for
the use of students.

Applications have been made for about a thousand
copies of the Index to the Journal from 1868 to
1878 ; but the Council expresses regret that greater
advantage is not taken of the opportunity for re¬
ference presented by this Index, which is supplied
without charge to any Member or Associate of the
Society on application to the Secretary. If we may
judge from some of the inquiries addressed to us
from time to time a reference to this Index would in
many instances be found to give a clue to the
information desired.

The Museum has during the year received con¬
siderable augmentation from various sources. Many
specimens have been received from the Indian
Museum through the authorities at Kew, and
several valuable contributions have been made by
chemical manufacturers in Glasgow. The very
successful exhibition of articles interesting to
pharmacists, held last May in the Society’s rooms,
has been also a means of adding to the Museum
collections. Besides making additions of this kind
it has been possible to send duplicate specimens to
local associations and to interchange them with
British and Continental universities and with
eminent pharmacists at home and abroad.

The Evening Meetings of the Society during the
past session have been on the whole less satisfactory
than might be desired, and though the papers brought
forward have not been deficient in quality they have
been scarcely so numerous as could be desired.

The action of the Society’s executive in enforcing
the provisions of the Pharmacy Act has generally
been attended with satisfactory results ; but the ad¬
verse decision of the House of Lords in the case
between the Society and the London and Provincial
Supply Association having demonstrated the neces¬
sity for an amendment of the Act, a committee

was appointed to draft a Bill in order to render the
restrictions on the practice of pharmacy and the sale
of poisons more definite. As will be seen from the
report of the Council’s proceedings this week, steps
are now being taken to provide for a representation
of the Council’s views on this subject before the Royal
Commission that has been appointed to inquire into
the Medical Act; it may be hoped that, ere the
time for presenting the Annual Report again comes
round, some satisfactory progress may have been made
towards providing a remedy for the evils that have to
be complained of in connection with the business of
pharmacy.

The Benevolent Fund still continues to present a
falling off in subscriptions and donations, and there
appears to be a growing tendency to revert to the
former practice of confining its application to Mem¬
bers or Associates of the Society, since the throwing
open of this charity to all members of the trade has
not been responded to by such a more general sup¬
port of it as might reasonably have been expected.
A large proportion of the applications for assistance
come from persons who have never contributed to
the Fund, and the disproportion between the total
number of registered chemists and druggists and
those who subscribe to it has induced many who
have hitherto subscribed to withhold further con¬
tributions. This is a matter that we have repeatedly
urged upon the consideration of chemists and drug¬
gists, and we still hope that they may be induced to
take a more general interest in the well-being of the
charity.

The election of new members of Council for the
ensuing year has again furnished occasion for a dis¬
cussion as to disability for holding that position, and
on the one hand several correspondents have stated
their objection to its being held by anyone specially
engaged in carrying on the business of pharmaceu¬
tical instruction which it is part of the duty of the
Council to regulate, while on the other hand the
particular candidate for election as a member of
Council who has been thus objected to replies in his
defence. His chief arguments are that the objections
to his candidature are trivial, and that they only
come from a few young members, but that cannot
be admitted when it is remembered that Mr. Rey¬
nolds and Mr. Barnard Proctor are among the
number. The reasons that exist for the disqualifi¬
cation of a member of the Council from being
appointed a member of the Board of Examiners are
self-evident, and we venture to think that, in
addition to what has been urged by correspondents
on the subject, those reasons should be regarded
as having still greater cogency in demonstrating
the utter incompatibility between the functions of a
teacher of candidates for examination and those of a
member of the Society’s Council. We would there¬
fore suggest that Mr. Wills’s interest in the welfare
of our Society would be more appropriately exer¬
cised in undivided attention to the educational work
in which he is engaged than by seeking at the same
time a seat upon the Council.

916

THE PHAEMAOEUTICAL JOUENAL AND TEANS ACTIONS.

tMay 7, 1SS1

of tbe |)bimnarenlkal
§&amt£.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, May 4 , 1881.

MR. THOMAS GREENISH, PRESIDENT,

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Andrews, Atkins, Bottle, Butt,
Churchill, Frazer, Gostling, Hampson, Hills, Eadley,
Eichardson, Eobbins, Sandford, Savage, Squire, Symes
and Williams.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

Eoyal Commission on the Medical Acts.

The Secretary reported that the London Gazette of that
day contained the appointment of a Eoyal Commission
on the Medical Acts. The following is the announce¬
ment referred to : —

“ Whitehall, May 2, 1881.

“ The Queen has been pleased to issue a Commission
undpr Her Eoyal Sign Manual in words and to the effect
following : —

“ VICTOEIA, E.

“Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the
Faith, to Our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin
Eobert Adam Philips Haldane, Earl of Camperdown ;
the Eight Eeverend Father in God William Connor,
Bishop of Peterborough ; Our right trusty and well-
beloved Councillor William Henry Ford Cogan ; Our
right trusty and well-beloved Councillor Sir George
Jessel, Knight, Master or Keeper of the Kolls and
Eecords in Chancery; our right trusty and well-beloved
Councillor George Sclater- Booth ; Our trusty and well-
beloved Sir William Jenner, Baronet, Knight Commander
of Our Most Honourable Order of the Bath ; our trusty
and well-beloved John Simon, Esquire, Companion of
Our Most Honourable Order of the Bath; Our trusty
and well-beloved Thomas Henry Huxley, Esquire, Doctor
of Laws; Our trusty and well-beloved Eobert McDonnell,
Esquire, Doctor of Medicine ; Our trusty and well-beloved
William Turner, Esquire, Bachelor of Medicine ; and
Our trusty and well-beloved James Bryce, Esquire,
Greeting !

“ Whereas it is of importance to all classes of Our
subjects that the conditions under which persons are
permitted to represent themselves as qualified medical
practitioners should be such as to afford the best attain¬
able security for their skill and knowledge in medicine
and surgery.

“ And whereas powers in relation to the education and
examination for a grant of medical degrees, diplomas, or
licences to medical practitioners are by various statutes
and charters vested in certain universities, medical col¬
leges, and other bodies in the United Kingdom.

“And whereas under ‘The Medical Act, 1858,’ and
the Acts amending the same, the General Council of
Medical Education and Eegistration was constituted, and
vested with a superintendence over the exercise of the
said powers, and also with entering in a Eegister of
Medical Practitioners, and removing therefrom the
holders of certain medical qualifications obtained in
the United Kingdom, exclusive of those obtained in Our
Colonies or in Foreign States.

“ And whereas by the last-mentioned Acts certain ex¬
clusive privileges were conferred on the persons so
registered, and persons not so registered were placed
under certain restrictions, disabilities and penalties.

“ And whereas divers representations have been made
in Parliament and otherwise, and both from Our subjects
in the United Kingdom, and from the Governments of

Our Possessions out of the United Kingdom, in relation
to the unsatisfactory position of the above matters.

“ And whereas We have thought it expedient that,
with a view to legislation, further inquiries should be
made into the above matters, and that a Commission
should forthwith issue to inquire into the grant of
medical degrees, memberships, fellowships, licences, and
other diplomas by universities, colleges, and bodies in the
United Kingdom, and the courses of education and
examination, payments, and other conditions required as
a preliminary to such grant, and into the skill and know¬
ledge which such degrees, memberships, fellowships,
licences, or diplomas represent; and further to inquire
into the conditions and manner under or in which
medical practitioners are entered in and are struck off
the Eegister of Medical Practitioners, and the privileges
of registered and the disabilities of unregistered prac¬
titioners, and the position of medical practitioners so
registered in Our possessions out of the United Kingdom,
and the position in the United Kingdom of medical
practitioners educated in Our possessions out of the
United Kingdom or in a Foreign State.

“And further to inquire into the constitution, func¬
tions, powers, and procedure of the General Council of
Medical Education and Eegistration, and their relation
to the above-mentioned universities, colleges and bodies,
and to the medical profession.

“ And further to inquire into the result of ‘ The
Medical Act, 1858,’ and the Acts amending the same,
and into all matters dealt with by those Acts.

“Now know ye, that We, reposing great trust and
confidence in your knowledge, discretion, and ability,
have authorized and appointed, and do by these presents
authorize and appoint you, the said Eobert Adam Philips
Haldane, Earl of Camperdown, William Connor, Bishop
of Peterborough, William Henry Ford Cogan, Sir George
Jessel, George Sclater- Booth, Sir William Jenner. John
Simon, Thomas Henry Huxley, Eobert McDonnell,
William Turner and James BrycS to be Our Commis¬
sioners for the purposes aforesaid.

“ And for the better effecting the purposes of this Our
Commission, We do give and grant unto you, or any
three or more of you, full power and authority to call
before you, or any three or more of you, such persons as
you shall judge necessary by whom you may be the
better informed of the truth on the subjects herein sub¬
mitted for your consideration, and every matter con¬
nected therewith ; and also to call for, have access to,
and examine all such books, documents, papers, and
records as may afford the fullest information on the
subjects of this inquiry; and to inquire of and concerning
the premises by all other lawful ways and means what¬
soever.

“ And Our further will and pleasure is that you, or
any three or more of you, do report to Us, with all
convenient speed, under your hands and seals, the result
of your inquiries into the above matters, and what
amendments are required in the above-mentioned Acts,
and what provisions it is expedient to make in the
matters above-mentioned, or any of them.

“ And We further will and command, and by these
presents ordain, that this Our Commission shall continue
in full force and virtue, and that you, Our said Com-
misssioners, or any three or more of you, may from time
to time proceed in the execution thereof, although the
same be not continued from time to time by ad¬
journment.

“ And for the purpose of aiding you in such matters,
We hereby appoint Our trusty and well-beloved John
White, Esquire, Barrister-at-Law, to be Secretary to this
Our Commission.

“ Given at Our Court at Saint Janies, the thirtieth day
of April, one thousand eight hundred and eighty -
one, in the forty-fourth year of Our reign.

“ By Her Majesty’s Command,

“W. V. Harcourt.”

May 7, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

917

The Vice-President said it would be remembered
that a resolution had been passed by the Council that the
Pharmacy Acts Amendment Committee should formulate
all matters which it thought should be submitted to the
Royal Commission and present a report to the Council
for its approval. The question now seemed to be ap¬
proaching a crisis, the Royal Commission had become an
accomplished fact, and therefore he thought the Com¬
mittee should proceed to its work without delay, even
without waiting for the incoming Council.

Mr. Hampson was very glad the Vice-President had
introduced this matter, and thought it desirable that the
Committee should be empowered to act, without waiting
for the approval of its report by the Council. He should
submit a resolution on the subject later in the day, which
he hoped the Council would sanction.

The late Mr. Mackay.

The Secretary said he had to perform one of the most
painful duties which had ever fallen to his lot at that
Council table, namely, to report the decease of Mr.
Mackay, of Edinburgh, on April 19.

The President said since the last meeting, the Council
had lost one of its most able members. Mr. Mackay had
been more or less associated with the Pharmaceutical
Society since it was established forty years ago, and his
name seemed interwoven with pharmacy from that period
to the present. Mr. Mackay assisted very much in the
establishment of tbe Society and was especially active
with regard to the North British Branch ; in fact, up to
the very time of his death, he may be said to have been
the very life and soul of it. As a member of that
Council Mr. Mackay was not given to much speaking,
but when he did speak, he spoke with considerable
power. He had a very happy knack of seizing on the
salient points of an argument, and always seemed to have a
thorough mental grasp of the subject before him. As
President of this Society, he had felt it his duty to go to
Edinburgh and attend the funeral, in order not only to
convey to Mrs. Mackay and to the members of the family
the sympathy of the Council in their loss, but also to
show by his presence, as President, the sense which this
Council entertained of the loss which the best interests of
pharmacy generally had sustained in the death of Mr.
Mackay. He might mention that Mr. Mackay’s funeral
was attended by a very large number of his fellow
citizens, showing how much he had been respected and
his loss was deplored. He now begged to move —

“ That this Council desire to place on record
their deep feeling of regret occasioned by the
death of their late valued colleague, John Mackay,
whose presence at their sittings during a period of
twenty-one years will ever be remembered as a
source of unmixed pleasure to themselves and never-
failing benefit to the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain, more especially in the North British
Branch, where from the commencement in 1841, he
admirably performed the laborious duties of Hono¬
rary Secretary. The Council would also offer to
Mrs. Mackay and her family an expression of sin¬
cere sympathy in tbe affliction which has fallen on
them in their sudden bereavement, and desire that a
copy of this resolution, signed by the President and
Vice-President, be forwarded to them.”

The Vice-President said he seconded this motion with
the greatest sincerity, both as Vice President for the
moment, and as a private member of the Council. He
had not had that close intimacy and personal acquaintance
with Mr. Mackay which he knew many others at the
Council table had, but he knew him quite sufficiently to
feel the very highest admiration for his abilities, and for
the singleness and straightforwardness of his conduct.
He would like, therefore, in these two or three observa¬
tions to bear testimony to the loss which the Society had
experienced. He seconded the motion with the sincerest
feeling that it was right that some such record should be

placed on the books, and that some such testimony of
appreciation of her late husband should be sent to Mrs.
Mackay.

Mr. Sandford said, as the oldest member of the Coun¬
cil, he might be indulged for a moment in expressing his
great regret at the loss which the Pharmaceutical Society
had sustained, not simply the Council. He little thought
when he saw his friend Mr. Mackay sitting opposite
him that day month, that the Council would so soon be
deprived of his presence there. All the members of the
Council knew how great an advantage it always was to
have Mr. Mackay with them ; they knew how earnestly
he felt the honour of the Society ; they knew how well he
represented Scotland at that Council table ; but they also
knew how perfectly he promoted the interests of the
Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland. He was sure his
friend Mr. Frazer would be with him when he said that
Mr. Mackay was the life and soul of the Pharmaceutical
Society north of the Tweed. It was no common man
whom they had lost, and when the paper was read re¬
cently announcing that Mr. Mackay would remain on the
Council by lot during the ensuing year, they all felt that
for at least twelve months they would have the advantage
of sound counsel and advice from Mr. Mackay. It had
pleased God to remove him from this world, and he knew
no man who had left this world more deeply respected
than their friend, Mr. Mackay. The Vice-President had
said he had not had the privilege of the intimate personal
acquaintance with Mr. Mackay that some of them had
had. He (Mr. Sandford), for one, had been very in¬
timately connected with him. He saw him not simply
at that table, but always at his own house when Mr.
Mackay came to London, and on many occasions he had
had the privilege of staying with him in Edinburgh. He
was known at the Council as a man of good sound
practical common sense; but to know him thoroughly
one required to see him in his family, and to see how he
was beloved there, and he might say how he deserved the
love of his family. To see them together was a most
delightful thing. He would not trouble the Council
further, but he could not allow the resolution to pass
without expressing his most cordial concurrence with it.

Mr. Hills also attempted to address the Council on
the motion, but was unable to say more, than a very few
words expressive of his agreement with all Mr. Sandford
had said, and of the blow he felt the death of his old
friend of forty-four years’ standing to be.

Mr. Bottle, as an old member of the Council, desired
to add an expression of his sincere regret at the loss the
Council had sustained in the death of their late friend.
It had been his privilege to know Mr. Mackay, and he
esteemed it as one of the greatest privileges of his life.
He made his acquaintance at that table, and always met
him with the greatest pleasure; but, as Mr. Sandford
had said, to know J ohn Mackay was to know him in his
own home; to see him amongst his friends and his
family; to see him beloved as such men only were
esteemed and beloved. He would only add further that
he rejoiced very much that the President had gone down
to Scotland to attend the funeral as the representative of
the Council. He should himself have gone had his health
permitted him, but it was absolutely impossible for him
to do so.

Mr. Frazer said he could not be altogether silent on
such an occasion, though he was not sure that silence
would not be more eloquent in testifying to the high ap¬
preciation of and esteem in which he held his late friend.
It was not easy for him to realize the loss he personally
had sustained in missing from his side at that table him by
whose persuasive eloquence — as firm, however, as it was
persuasive — ho first mixed himself in any degree among
his fellow pharmacists. That was when tbe late Mr.
Jacob Bell first visited Scotland. He fought very hard
and long against the arguments used by Mr. Mackay to
get him to the Glasgow breakfast, and specially to the
Edinburgh dinner, the very first public entertainment at

918

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 7, 1881.

which he ever was present ; hut in the end, he, like many
others in Scotland, had to yield. Since then, and speci¬
ally during the ten years since he took his seat beside
him there, their intercourse had been of the closest, and
had been to him a most profitable, as well as pleasant one.
Though they took different views of many of the questions
that had been discussed there, not for one instant had
their intimate friendship been lessened or even endangered.
After what had been said already of Mr. Mackay’s great
services to that Society, he need not add more on this
subject. But this he would add, that while there were
at the table, still, gentlemen who had had the interests of
the Society as much at heart as their departed friend, he
was sure there was not one who would think he did them
injustice when he affirmed that none could have them
more than Mr. Maekay. One thing he would also add,
that while Mr. Mackay’s great good sense prevented the
parading of his religious views, he never, when the
occasion called for it, disguised them. Another thing he
thought he ought to add. It had been his privilege to
be present during the last moments of their friend, and
subsequently to that he had had some intercourse with
his family, and he might convey to the members of
Council the intense satisfaction that it gave to the family
to find that the Council was represented at the funeral
by the President. There were also letters from other
gentlemen, who, under the same circumstances as Mr.
Bottle, were prevented from being present. It so
happened also that the annual meeting of the Edinburgh
Council had been held within five hours of Mr. Mackay’s
death, and if a thunderbolt had fallen amongst those
present they could not have been more horror-stricken.

Mr. Hampson said he should like to add a word or two
as representing the younger members of the Council, and
to pay his tribute of respect to the memory of Mr. Maekay
and express his sense of the serious loss sustained by the
Council, especially by the Scotch friends, though the most
serious loss of all was that sustained by his bereaved
family.

Mr. Williams said every member of the Council must
agree with the sentiments which had been so ably ex¬
pressed. They all felt Mr. Mackay’s loss very deeply ;
he certainly did, and if his own health had permitted
should have attended the funeral.

The motion was then carried unanimously.

Nomination op a Member of Council.

Tne President said it was now his duty to nominate
a member of the Society to fill the vacancy in the Council,
and he begged, therefore, to nominate —

Mr. James Robertson Young, North Bridge, Edinburgh.
Mr. Young was a very able man, probably one of the
best men that could be got to supply the place of him
whom they had lost. He should add that Mr. Young’s
nomination would be very agreeable to his brethren in
Scotland.

Mr. Erazer seconded the motion, and said he was
quite sure there would be but one voice at the Council
when Mr. Young arrived there.

The Vice-President supported the motion. He had
made the acquaintance of Mr. Young when in Edinburgh,
and he was quite sure that he would grace the Council
table, as well as add to its efficiency.

The motion was then agreed to unanimously.

Deputation of Examiners from Scotland.

The Secretary read a letter from the North British
Branch announcing that the Board of Examiners in
Edinburgh had considered the invitation of the Council
to send a deputation to the examination in London in
June, and had decided that the deputation should consist
of the Chairman (Mr. Stephenson), and Messrs. Borland
and Kinninmont.

The Annual Report.

The Council then went into committee to consider the
draft report as amended. A slight addition was made
to it, and the Council having resumed, it was ordered to

be printed and issued with the voting papers for the
election of Council and Auditors.

The following, being duly registered as Pharmaceutical
Chemists, were respectively granted a diploma stamped
with the seal of the Society : —

Bevis, Walter.

Cann, James.

Chaplin, John Henry.

Clayton, John William.

Garland, Thomas William.

Goldby, Frank.

Hill, John Rutherford.

Matthews, Herbert Rouse.

Parker, William.

Preston, Henry.

Rheeder, Thomas.

Thomas, John.

Thompson, Arthur.

Walgate, Septimus.

Williams, Stephen.

Elections.

members.

Pharmaceutical Chemists.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and tendered their subscriptions for the current year,
were elected “ Members ” of the Society : —

Bevis, Walter . Newport (I. of W.).

Coverdale, George . Leeds.

Dodd, William Ralph . London.

Elborne, William . London.

Garland, Thomas William . Acocks Green.

Goldby, Frank . . . Witney.

Hill, John Rutherford . Edinburgh.

Hope, Arthur Peach . Wellingborough.

Lees, David . Glasgow.

Parker, William . Thirsk.

Preston, Henry . Ollerton.

Slicer, Walter . Bingley.

Thompson, Arthur . ... London.

Walgate, Septimus . London.

Williams, Stephen . Brighton.

Wimpenny, John McMillan ...Southport.

Chemists and Druggists.

The following registered chemists and druggists, who
were in business on their own account before August 1,
1868, having tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “ Members ” of the Society

Bickford, John Thomas . Exmouth.

Bowden, Ambrose . London.

Topham, John Samuel . Exeter.

Wolferstan, George Dacre . Midhurst.

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

The following having passed their respective examina¬
tions, being in business on their own account, and having
tendered their subscriptions for the current year, were
elected “ Associates in Business ” of the Society : —

Minor.

Baines, Francis . Corsham.

Barker, Alfred William . London.

Biddles, William Byron . Reading.

Bright, Frederick . Beckenham.

Brown, Thomas Laud . Ripon.

Campbell, Charles . Hull.

Carter, Henry Ayling . London.

Chapman, Ingram William . Crowle.

Cole, Edward Henry . Leeds.

Crichton, Alexander . Leith.

Cuttle, Arthur Edward . Scarborough.

De Peare, John Thomas . London.

Drew, John . Birmingham.

Evison, Alfred . Alfreton.

May 7 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

919

Foggan, George . Bedlington.

Fraser, John . Helmsdale.

Furness, Joseph Machin . Sheffield.

Grant, Donald . Portland.

Greenwood, Dennis . Cambridge.

Hall, Alfred Lee . Winchcombe.

Hannaford, William . Liverpool.

Hart, Arthur . Putney.

Hayhoe, William . London.

Hill, Ernest . New Swindon.

Hinksman, John . Carluke.

Hobson, George William . Buxton.

Illsley, Thomas Brown . Ripley.

Jones, Samuel . Holywell.

Jones, Thomas Mao tie . Cleobury Mortimer.

Joseph, Arthur Iorwerth . St. Leonards-on-Sea.

McCrindle, Thomas . Edmonton.

Macdonald, Ewan . Cheltenham.

Maxey, John Thomas . Wisbech.

Mager, William Kellc ...Queenstown (Cape Colony).

Neale, William James . Liverpool.

Ogston, William . Paisley.

Parrott, William Searle . Watford.

Pigott, Samuel . Manchester.

Ragg, William Watkins . Edmonton.

Ritson, George . Sunderland.

Salmon, Thomas . Denbigh.

Scobie, James . Edinburgh.

Shilton, James . Birmingham.

Shone, John . Whitchurch (Salop).

Simpson, William . Glasgow.

Swindle, Norman Vickers . Keswick.

Thompson, Arthur Stevens . London.

Thornber, William . Accrington.

Towler, George Bland . Liverpool.

Vaughan, John . London.

Venables, Samuel Henry . Kington.

Walker, James . Galashiels.

Walker, Thompson Farmery ...Brotton.

Wilkins, Robert Elliott . London.

Williams, David Henry . New Southgate.

Wilson, William Joseph . Oxford.

Modified.

Bletsoe, John . • . Richmond (Surrey).

Charlesworth, Charles E . Manchester.

Dwyer, John . London.

Johnson, Arthur . Rotherham.

Widdowson, Richard . Bulwell.

ASSOCIATES.

The following having passed the Minor examination
and tendered (or paid as Apprentices or Students) their
subscriptions for the current year, were elected
“ Associates ” of the Society : ~

Aplin, Isaac Weston . Yeovil.

Atherton, John Henry . Wigan.

Baker, Charles Frederick . Hitchin.

Baker, Walter Robert . London.

Barlow, Charles . Prescot.

Barnes, Thomas . Preston.

Bayfield, Gabriel Thomas . Norwich.

Billington, John . Northwich.

Braith waite, John Oldham . London.

Briggs, George . Leeds.

Briggs, William . . . Lancaster.

Chab6t, Frank . London.

Clark, Edward John . Swansea.

Clarke, Henry Robt. Stanhope.. Malvern.

Davies, Rees . Swansea.

Ellard, James . London.

Esam, Richard . Stamfoid.

Fielder, Arthur Buckley . Winchester.

Forret, John Alexander . St. Andrews.

Flintan, Francis Robert . Weybridge..

Freeman, Frank . West Dulwich.

George, Alfred Walter . Gt. Yarmouth.

Hewitt, John Richard . Birmingham.

Holt, John . Aislaby.

Horrell, Alfred Charles Julian.. Dartford.

Hughes, John Smith . Spalding.

Jowett, Henry . Leeds.

Joy, Francis John Jessopp . Cardiff.

Kinross, William Malloch . Edinburgh.

Kirkby, William . Ripon.

Leicester, Thomas . Chester.

Lewis, Jonas Henry . London.

Llewellyn, Lewis Herbert . Shrewsbury.

Maxey, William Henry . Boston.

Naysmith, Andrew . Arbroath.

Nettle, William R. P . Plymouth.

Orchard, Arthur Bishop C . London.

Page, Robert Steele . 1 . London.

Procter, George Woody att . Sunderland.

Ridgley, George Stevens . Gillingham.

Roberts, George . Dalston.

Robinson, Herbert E. J . London.

Rookledge, Francis E . Easingwold.

Seymour, Frederick Seth . Wimborne.

Shaw, Herbert . Grantham.

Skinner, Alfred James Page ...Seaton.

Skinner, Richard . Oxford.

Staley, Henry . Burton-on-Trent.

Tait, Robert . Edinburgh.

Turnbull, William Scott . Edinburgh.

Walker, Charles . Birstwith.

Walker, Edward . Leeds.

Wallbridge, Henry Alfred . London.

West water, George . Lochgelly.

Whigham, Robert Laing . . Cardigan.

Watts, George William . Clapham.

Wright, Robert . . . Buxton.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, having passed the Preliminary exami¬
nation and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “ Apprentices or Students ” of the
Society : —

Atkinson, Robert Burrow . . Pontefract.

Berry, James Henry . Bradford.

Bice, James . . St. Ewe.

Bond, Arthur S . .Bristol.

Bramald, Frederick Dixon . Wakefield.

Bruce, Joseph Percy . Hastings.

Burgess, Arthur Henry . Alderley Edge.

Close, Thomas . Middlesborough.

Cumber, Charles Davies . Guernsey.

Davies, Francis . Newcastle Emlyn.

Day, Henry William . Margate.

Elsdon, Herbert William . Wells (Norfolk).

Evans, Daniel . Rhos.

Feltham, Charles . Tamworth

Gregory, Matthew Joseph . Worksop.

Grieve, William . Crieff.

Harvey, Joseph Charles . Halesworth.

Hickmotfc, Albert Ernest . London.

Hill, Arthur Croft . London.

Jones, Frank . Manchester.

Lamacraft, Charles Arthur . Putney.

Lesiter, Frederick William . Richmond (Surrey).

Lister, William Benjamin . London.

Mackay, David James . Edinburgh.

Mainprize, John Vickerman ...Scarborough.

Nicholls, Charles . Wellington (Somerset).

Nichols, William Hartley . Leeds.

Parker, Frank Powdrell . Whitchurch (Salop).

Schofield, Samuel Reuben . Abingdon.

Thrift, Robert . Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Toplis, John Walter . . . St. John’s Wood.

Trezise, George T. E . Wellingborough.

Wright, Charles Edward . Burton-on-Trent.

Several persons were restored to their former status in

920

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 7, 1881.

the Society upon payment of the current year’s subscrip¬
tion and a fine.

The names of the following persons, who had severally
made the required declaration and paid a fine of one
guinea, were restored to the Register of Chemists and
Druggists : —

Robinson Brown, 222, High Street, Dudley.

James Maclagan, 33, Earl Grey Street, Edinburgh.

Honorary and Corresponding Members.

The following gentlemen, whose names were selected
last month, were unanimously elected honorary and corre¬
sponding members : —

Professor Attfield, E.R.S., London.

Professor Michael Foster, F.R.S., Cambridge.

Dr. Lyon Playfair, M.P., C.B., London.

Professor E. Russow, Dorpat.

Reports of Committees,
house.

The report of this Committee included a statement of
the estimates obtained for putting new sashes in three
windows and painting the outside of the house, and re¬
ported that these had been accepted and the work put in
hand. It also stated that the tablets for the hall and
lecture -theatre were in a forward state, and the Secretary
had been requested to make a list of the names to be
placed on the respective boards, in accordance with the
resolution to that effect.

The report and recommendations of the Committee
were received and adopted.

Lists of Prizemen.

The Secretary submitted to the Council a list of first
prizemen in the School of Pharmacy from 1842 to the
present time, also lists of Pereira Medallists, J acob Bell
Scholars and winners of first prizes for Herbaria. Also a
list of legacies to the Benovolent Fund.

The President said he believed all the members of
Council had had copies of the lists,

It was moved by Mr. Gostling and seconded by Mr.
Hampson —

“That the lists of prize winners and others now sub¬
mitted to the Council be referred to the House Com¬
mittee to give the necessary instructions for their
being inscribed on the tablets which have been
ordered for that purpose.”

Mr. Williams did not think the lists as they stood
ought to be placed on the tablet, for some names were
repeated several times. He thought what was wanted
was a list of prizemen, not a list of the actual prizes they
took, and he would suggest that the Committee have
power to revise the lists.

Mr. Butt agreed with Mr. Williams. He had looked
through the list, and there were several mistakes in it.
He thought the Committee should have power to revise it.

The President said he was quite prepared to accept
the suggested alteration, that the Committee have power
to revise the lists.

Mr. Sandford asked how it was there were eleven
first prizemen in one year.

The Vice-President said he could explain how that
arose, as it happened in the year in which his name
appeared. At that time it was thought unfair to certain
students that they should be put into the same examina¬
tions with young men attending the practical class. One
set of students devoted their whole time to studies, whilst
the others only attended the lectures, and were engaged
in business during the other part of the day. The result
was they did not enter the same examinations, and there
were two first prizemen for each of the three classes of
lectures.

The President thought the matter had better be left
to the Committee, who, he had no doubt, would go fully
into it.

Mr. Sandford asked if the resolution included the list
of donors to the Benevolent Fund.

The President said, No.

Donors to the Benevolent Fund.

The Council then went into committee to consider
what names should appear on the list of donors to the
Benevolent Fund.

On resuming,

Mr. Williams moved —

“ That the list of names of donors to the Benevolent
Fund to be placed on the proposed board include all
names of those who have given twenty guineas or
upwards to the Fund before July 1, 1881, with the
total amounts against each name.

“ That it be an instruction to the Benevolent Fund
Committee to add to the list at their discretion the
names of donors of further amounts, provided that
no such amount shall be less than twenty guineas.

“ That the same regulation shall hold good with respect
to the names of firms giving donations, with the ex¬
ception that the minimum amount be forty guineas.”

Mr. Andrews seconded the motion.

Mr. Sandford said some gentlemen had given twenty
guineas in one sum, and had also given money in the
whole amounting to fifty guineas. According to the strict
reading of the resolution formerly agreed to, those gentle¬
men would only appear as donors of twenty guineas.
He did not read it in that way himself, for he thought
when men had given a single twenty guineas and then
further sums, the gross sum should appear, just in the
same way as a man who gave twenty guineas now, and
then afterwards gave more, that sum would be added to
his name. Others had never given twenty guineas at
any one time, although their accumulated gifts might
amount to fifty guineas, or one hundred guineas. As the
resolution now stood, their names could not appear at all.

Mr. Butt thought the existing resolution (see before,
p. 738) would be quite clear with the addition of the
word “previous,” so as to provide for adding the amounts
given previously to a donation of twenty guineas, as well
as those sums given afterwards. He moved an amend¬
ment to that effect.

Mr. Robbins asked what was the limit to be put ; if it ex¬
tended to any small amount it would include annual sub¬
scriptions, and many people would give money as donations
instead of subscriptions ; which might affect the charity.

Mr. Symes said this matter had already been discussed
several times, and he thought it was pure waste of time
for the Council to go over a matter again which had been
so thoroughly discussed.

The Vice-President said supposing a man gave £3 a
year until it came to twenty guineas, would that entitle
him to be placed on the board, according to Mr. Williams’s
motion ?

Mr. Williams said he proposed that it be at the dis¬
cretion of the Committee.

Mr. Butt said that should only take effect after he had
once given twenty guineas in one sum.

The Vice-President said he understood the amend¬
ment to mean that nobody’s name should appear on the
board who had not at some time or other given twenty
guineas in one sum.

Mr. Butt said that was his meaning, and that was
what the Committee of the Council had already
agreed to.

Mr. Williams said the Secretary, in trying to draw
up a list to be placed on the board according to the
existing resolution, found he would have to omit many
names whieh they would all desire to see upon it, and
he (Mr. Williams) therefore moved the resolution to get
over the difficulty. It was a totally distinct proposition
from the amendment of Mr. Butt.

Mr. Richardson supported the motion.

After some further discussion,

Mr. Atkins said he could scarcely recognize the view

May ?, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

921

Mr. Williams put forward. If the sum was to be cumu¬
lative, why not begin with a guinea? He thought the
idea was to obtain large donations in lump sums.

Mr. Williams said in deference to the wishes of
several members, he would insert the words “ in sums of
not less than five guineas at any one time.” He should
also propose that the existing resolution be rescinded.

Mr. Sandford opposed the motion ; he said he knew
the course he advocated shut out his own name; but
he maintained he bad no right to have his name on the
board, not having given twenty guineas in one sum.

The Vice-President said Mr. Sandford represented a
certain class of donors ; he, on the other hand, had never
given sixpence as a donation, and, therefore, stood in a
different category. Mr. Sandford had argued that
nothing less than a twenty guineas donation entitled a
man to have his name on the board ; he, on the other
hand, considered the Fund had received the benefit of
Mr. Sandford’s two ten guineas donations, and would
like to record the obligation of the Society to Mr. Sand¬
ford for his munificence, whether it was done in one or
two sums. It was not merely from the donor’s point of
view the matter should be argued. He hoped the Coun¬
cil would now reverse the resolution previously passed.

Mr. Butt’s amendment was then put and lost by a
large majority.

Mr. Williams’s resolution as amended was then put
and carried in the following form : —

“ That the list of names of donors to the Benevolent
Fund to be placed on the proposed board include
all names of those who have given twenty
guineas or upwards in the aggregate in sums of not
less than five guineas at any one time, before the 1st
July, 1881, with the total amounts against each
name.

“ That it be an instruction to the Benevolent Fund
Committee to add to the list the names of donors of
further amounts in sums of not less than five guineas
at any one time, provided that no such amount shall
be recorded until the donation amounts to the sum
of twenty guineas in the aggregate.

“That the same regulations shall hold good with
respect to the names of firms giving donations, with
the exception that the minimum amount be forty
guineas.”

It was further resolved *. —

“That the following resolution of the Council of
March 2, 1881, be rescinded.: —

“That the names of donors of twenty guineas and
upwards in one sum be inscribed on the tablet.

“ That a donation of forty guineas and upwards made
by a firm shall entitle the firm or co-partnership to
be also inscribed thereon.”

FINANCE.

The report of the Committee, including the recom¬
mendations for the payment of sundry accounts, was
received and adopted.

BENEVOLENT FUND.

The report of this Committee included a recommenda*
tion of the following grants : —

£5 to a former associate, aged 56.

£16 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist,
for the purpose of placing two of her boys, aged 13 and 11,
in a school.

£10 to a former member, aged 59. Applicant has had
six previous grants.

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist, aged 69.

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist (female), who
has had five previous grants of like amount.

£5 to a registered chemist and druggist, aged 48,
suffering from an accident.

£5 to a former member, whose case was deferred last
month for further inquiries.

£5 to a former member, aged 50, whose case had pre¬
viously not been entertained, but applicant had attended

personally. The grant was made subject to further in¬
quiries being satisfactorily answered.

The Secretary said there was another case which he
had omitted to bring before the Committee on the pre¬
vious day, and which one of the members of the Council
would be prepared to speak to.

The Council went into committee to consider the case,
which was briefly described by Mr. Savage, and a grant
of £10 was directed to be made.

Mr. Atkins desired to thank the Council for a grant
made last month, which passed through his hands and the
recipient of which had desired him to convey her thanks
to the Council.

The report and recommendations were then received
and adopted.

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

Librarian’s Report.

The Librarian’s report had been received, and in¬
cluded the following particulars : —

Attendance. Total.

March .

j Day . . 435
| Evening . 134

Highest. Lowest. Average.
24 6 16

10 1 6

Circulation of books. Town. Country. Total.

March ... . . 206 172 378

Carriage paid . . £3 0s. 5 \d.

The under-mentioned donations to the Library had
been received : —

University libre de Bruxelles, Catalogue de la
Bibliothbque, 1869-75. From the TJniversitA
Flora of British India, by Hooker, etc., part 8.

From H.M. Secretary of State for India.
Dentists’ Register, 1881.

From the General Medical Council.
Fraser (T. R.), On the Kombd Arrow Poison.

From the Author.
Treffner (E.), Beitriige zur Chemie der Laubmoose,
1831.

Untersuchung des Bieres auf Bitterstoffe.

From Professor DraGendorff.
The Committee recommended that the usual letter
of thanks be sent to the respective donors.

The Committee also recommended the purchase of
the under-mentioned works : —

Ganot, Elements of Physics, 9th ed., 1879.

Jackson (B. D.), Guide to the Literature of Botany,
1881.

Payen, Industrial Chemistry, 1878. (Second Copy.)
The Committee had ordered that the Library and
Museum be closed from Thursday, April 14, at 5 p.m., to
Tuesday, April 19, at 9 a.m.

Curator's Report.

Attendance. Total. Highest. Lowest. Average,

j Morning .283 26 2 11

| Evening . 66 8 0 3

The following donations were reported

Fine specimen of Crystallized Iodo-cyanide of Mer¬
cury and Potassium. From Mr. W. Copney.

A fine specimen of Crystallized Barbaloin.

From Messrs. T. and H. Smith and Co.
Specimen of the “Wanika” Poison.

From Dr. Sydney Ringer.
Specimen of Tannin. From Mr. E. N. Butt.

Specimen of Oolachan Oil.

From Messrs. Burgoyne, Burbidge, Cyriax & Farries.
Specimens of Naregamia elata , Mentha incanat
Volatile Oil of Nardostachys Jatamansi and
Herbarium specimens, in flower, of the Zingiber
officinale. From Dr. Dymock, Bombay.

Specimens of Kurchi Bark and Seeds, False Kurchi
Bark and Kurchicin6.

From the BaBoo Ram Chundra Dutta, Calcutta,
Specimen of Artificial Oil of Meadowsweet and
Paraoxybenzoic Aldehyde.

From Mr. W. R, Punstan

922

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 7, 1881

The Committee recommended that the usual letter o
thanks be sent to the respective donors.

Letters of thanks for duplicate specimens lad been
received from the Leicester Chemists’ Assistants and
Apprentices’ Association, the Aberdeen Society of Che¬
mists and Druggists, and Professor Fristedt of Upsala,
and from Mr. C. E. Stuart for loan of specimens from
' the Museum for illustrating a lecture.

The Professors had attended the Committee and re¬
ported favourably of their respective classes.

PHARMACY ACT AMENDMENT.

The report of this Committee included the following
correspondence from the Privy Council with regard to
the Pharmacy Act.

[Copy.]

“ Privy Council Office,

“ (Silt April, 1881.

“ Sir, — I have submitted to the Lord President of the
Council your letter of February 16 last, and the draft Bill
which accompanied it entitled ‘ An Act to further regu¬
late the Sale of Poisons, and to alter and amend the
Pharmacy Act, 1852, and the Acts amending the same.’

“ The Lord President instructs me to acquaint you, for
the information of the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society, that after a review of the whole correspon¬
dence which has passed upon this subject, and a careful
consideration of the Bill framed under the direction of the
Society, his lordship is not prepared to submit the Bill for
the consideration of Parliament.

“ I am, Sir,

“Your obedient servant,
(Signed) “ C. L. Peel.

. “ Elias Bremridge, Esq.,

“Pharmaceutical Society,

“ 17, Bloomsbury Square.”

“ IZth April, 1881.

“C. L. Peel, Esq.,

“Privy Council Office.

“Sir, — I have submitted your letter of the 6th inst. to
the President and a Committee of the Council of this
Society, by whom I am instructed to ask the Lord
President to favour a small deputation from the Council
with an interview on the subject of the Draft Bill
entitled ‘ An Act to further regulate the Sale of Poisons
and to alter and amend the Pharmacy Act, 1852, and the
Acts amending the same.’

“I am, Sir,

“Your obedient servant,

(Signed) “Elias Bremridge,

“Secretary .”

“ Council Office,

“l§th April, 1881.

“ Sir, — I have submitted to the Lord President of the
Council your letter of the 13th inst., and I am directed
to inform you that his lordship will be ready to receive
a deputation from the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society on the subject of the Draft Bill ‘To further
regulate the Sale of Poisons and to alter and amend the
Pharmacy Act, 1852, and the Acts amending the same,’
after the House of Lords meets in May next.

“ I am to add that you shall be informed as soon as
the Lord President is able to fix a day for receiving the
deputation.

“ I am, Sir,

“Your obedient servant,
(Signed) “ E. Harrison.

“ The Secretary,

“ Pharmaceutical Society,

“ 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.”

The report also recommended the appointment of cer¬
tain gentlemen as a deputation to wait on the Lord Pre¬

sident of the Council, when he should signify his willing¬
ness to receive them.

The report and recommendations of the Committee
were received and adopted.

Royal Commission on the Medical Acts,

Mr. Hampson then moved — -

“ That the Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee be
empowered to represent this Council in respect to all
matters they might think it necessary to bring before
the Royal Commission appointed by the Queen to
inquire into the operation of the Medical Acts, etc.”
He said the Royal Commission was appointed and would
shortly begin its labours. The Council had heard that
morning, that by the resolution which stood in the books
the Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee had no power
to act except after going into various subjects and report¬
ing to the Council, and then the Council could, if it
thought proper, give the Committee further instructions.
But the Council would see that if immediate steps were to
be taken to obtain a hearing before the Royal Commis¬
sion, it would be necessary to enlarge the powers of the
Committee,- and that was the object of the motion. Of
course, he bore in mind the resolutions passed by the
Council. In the first place, there was one passed with re¬
ference to the question of counter prescribing, about which
it was not necessary to enter into details ; but the Com¬
mittee decided that it would be advisable to have its views
represented before the Commission, so that when the Bill
was framed there should be a satisfactory arrangement,
and that this vexed question might cease to exist. The
question of the Pharmacopoeia was another which the
Council had decided should be brought before the Royal
Commission ; and those were the only subjects which*
had been decided upon. He wanted the Committee to
be entrusted with powers to bring about an interview,
and to take the necessary steps to represent the Council,
and he felt sure the Committee might he trusted in this
matter.

The Vice-President said he had agreed to second the
motion, but he must candidly admit that to his mind it
seemed somewhat unconstitutional ; still he thought
it was necessary under the present peculiar circumstances.
He would rather that the Committee had drawn up
certain suggestions which the Council could have delibe¬
rated upon and approved before the Committee represented
those views to any Commission at all. That would have
been a preferable course ; but he feared the gazetting of
the Commission scarcely left time to go through this more
desirable form, and therefore he would urge the Council
to give a larger amount of power to the Committee than
under ordinary circumstances any Committee ought to
possess. Supposing he were to .remain on the Committee,
he, for one, should desire to do as little as possible with¬
out the full concurrence of the Council ; but at times it
would be necessary to act independently. He said this
because he should not like this course to be treated as a
precedent.

The President said it was somewhat unconstitutional
to empower a Committee to represent the Council, but he
thought that the motion might be improved by an altera¬
tion in the phraseology. He agreed that the fullest
powers should be given to the Committee, so that it might
act on very short notice when there was not time to take
the opinion of the Council.

Mr. Robbins suggested the addition of the words “ in
case of emergency.”

Mr. Williams thought the expression “to represent
the Council” rather a strong one. He should not object
to the Committee being empowered to act to the best of
its ability.

Mr. Atkins said he was much disappointed that the
name of the President did not appear as one of the
Royal Commissioners, it would have been a most graceful
compliment to the lower branch of the great profession
of medicine. The Council must, however, entrust the

May 7,1881.) THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 923

Committee with very fall if not plenary powers. As 'to
the preparation of a new Pharmacopoeia, there could
be scarcely any possible division of opinion ; and cn
the vexed question of counter prescribing, on which there
had been a difference of opinion at that Board, it was
well known that the Committee was pretty fairly divided,
both views being represented ; and he wa3 perfectly sure
that on a delicate point of that kind, if the members of
the Committee felt in a difficulty, they would wait for a
meeting of Council, and confer with their brethren. With
that expression of opinion he should vote for the motion,
because the subject required prompt action.

The Vice-President said if the Committee appeared
in any way before the Royal Commission it must appear
with all the force which the Society could give it. If the
Committee appeared as individuals, or as a section of a
body, it would not add to the weight of anything it had
to propose. He thought, therefore, that when the ad¬
mission to a departure from strict constitutionalism was
being made, it would be better for the Council to give
the Committee the title of being its representative for
the time being.

Mr. Squire thought that in the case of so important a
matter as representing the Council before a Royal Com¬
mission, there would be no difficulty in calling a special
meeting of the Council, if necessary, any more than
there would in calling the Committee on which there were
several country members. After all it would be only
calling a few more members from the country, and a few
more from town ; the matter would then be more fully
discussed, and the result would have more weight.

Mr. Savage understood that the objection was rather
to the words than the spirit of the motion. He would
suggest, therefore, that the words be “ that in case of
urgency, power be delegate 1 to the Committee to take
such action as they may think necessary.”

Mr. Frazer said every Commission or Committee
had powers to act on certain fixed lines, but the Society’s
deputation would not be able to show any fixed lines on
which it could act. If the Committee had simply power
to watch this matter, and call the Council together in
case of any emergency, it could not represent the Council.
He did not know whether there was any hurry, whether
Royal Commissions were rapid or slow in action ; if they
were rapid, it would be necessary to call a special
meeting of the Council.

Mr. Symes said the present was a special emergency
requiring special action, and the Council could certainly
grant special powers. If it had any fear of not being duly
represented on the Committee it could add to it ; but if
it had perfect confidence in the Committee it might
delegate full powers to it. Watching would not prevent
the evil. The Committee ought to have the power to
protect the interests of chemists and druggists generally
in the matters which had been already discussed, and in
any others which might occur in the Medical Bill.

Mr. Williams said, this Committee would cease to
exist that day fortnight.

Mr. Symes said the mischief might be done in that
time.

Mr. Williams said the first thing would be to apply for
permission to be heard by the Royal Commission.
He was not opposing the motion ; but it was an expiring
Council, and the Committee appointed last June would
expire that day fortnight.

Mr. Symes ssid that was a theoretical difficulty only ;
the Committee could act until another was appointed.

Mr. Sandford said his difficulty was that according to
the wording of the motion the Committee would be
empowered to represent the Council before the Commis¬
sion, that is, that that Committee and no other per¬
sons could go before the Commission, and give evidence
on behalf of the Council. He presumed the Council
would empower the Committee to request other persons
besides the members themselves to give evidence.

The President said he thought it would be competent

for the Committee to name persons outside the Council
to appear before the Commission as witnesses.

The Vice-President said nobody but members of the
Council could represent the Council.

Mr. Bottle said that was just the point; he thought
no one elected on that Committee outside the Council
could go before the Royal Commission and represent the
Council. He hoped the motion would be withdrawn, for
it seemed to him a perfectly new direction in which the
Council were stepping, and unnecessarily so. He did
not believe this Royal Commission would make any move
within the next fortnight, requiring any representation of
that Council before it. The Council would meet again
in a fortnight, and if necessary could be summoned a
little earlier to take into consideration what, if any¬
thing, it desired to put before the Commission. He
would urge, therefore, that the matter be allowed to
stand for a fortnight, and then what was cropping up
could be noted, and the new Council could appoint a
Committee to represent it. He would much rather a pre¬
cedent were not made of delegating to a small section
such an important matter as representing the Council.

Mr. Frazer asked if it would not be very awkward,
supposing the Royal Commission summoned some one
member from that Council, irrespective of the Committee,
to give evidence before it. If he gave evidence con¬
trary to the Committee, the Council would represent a
divided house.

Mr. Savage said that was one reason why he sug¬
gested the words “ they should take such action as might
be necessary.”

Mr. G03TLING said he saw the difficulty which existed
in the minds of many members in reference to the
motion, and whilst recognizing the possibility of the fact
that the Royal Commission might be in existence for
some considerable time, he thought it would not be
necessary to act until a new Council was elected. He
thought the present Pharmacy Act Amendment Com¬
mittee should have more power; he would therefore
propose an amendment : — -

“That the Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee
be empowered to act at their discretion on the
part of the Council of this Society with regard
to the Royal Commission on Medical Bills.”

The Committee required a little more power than it had
at present, and it would be a pity to allow this Com¬
mittee to lapse at the present time, when it might be
necessary that it should really be heard before the
Royal Commission.

Mr. Robbins said “ in case of urgency ” would be
better than “ at their discretion.”

Mr. Gostling said he would not object to add those
words.

Mr. Richardson said. he was not prepared to vote for
the motion. He agreed with Mr. Squire and Mr. Bottle
that if there was any necessity for acting, it would be as
little trouble to call the whole Council together as to call
the Committee. The President and Secretary were quite
competent to watch the progress of this Commission, and
he had sufficient confidence in them to know that they
would watch the interests of the Society and of the trade
for the next month. He demurred to what had been said
by the Vice-President, as to any member of the Council
not on the Committee being debarred from giving evi¬
dence before the Commission.

The Vice-President said he did not mean to convey
that.

Mr. Richardson said this was one of the most import¬
ant crises in the history of the Society. He hoped the
evidence compiled by the Commission would give occasion
for new legislation, both in respect to medicine and phar¬
macy. He had peculiar views on the subject, but would
not promulgate them then, though he believed they were
held by some of the most eminent men in the medical pro¬
fession. It was quite possible that both medicine and phar¬
macy would be brought under one governing power. He

924

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May ?, 1881.

hoped that any pharmacists who had given attention to
the subject would not be excluded from giving evidence
before the Commission.

The President said he was not at all insensible to the
gravity of the position, or to the fact that it was necessary
that the Council should take all steps, and be perfectly
prepared at a moment’s notice to act, and that the very
largest powers should be given to the Committee. His
principal objection was to the wording of the motion. What
was meant was understood now, but it was quite possible
that at some future time this might be taken as a pre¬
cedent, and land the Council in a difficulty.

Mr. Hampson said he was quite ready to accept any
verbal amendment which would not interfere with the
scope of the motion. It must be borne in mind that there
were certain lines of action already agreed to in respect
of what should be brought before the Commission. There
were two leading questions, the prescribing question and
the question of the Pharmacopoeia, and there were certain
definite lines which the Council had agreed upon: It
must also be remembered that the Committee would meet
very shortly, and make a report next month. This would
not exclude the preparation or the acceptance of a
report, and if the Councl considered at any time the
Committee was overstepping its proper duty, it would
have power to step in and stop anything which might be
objectionable. But he felt it absolutely necessary that
some Committee should have the power of acting as occa¬
sion required. In the first place, it was necessary for the
Committee to make a formal application to be heard
before the Commission. The next step would be to formu¬
late its views on the Pharmacopoeia question, and those
views would be brought before the Council for ratification
or rejection. It was especially in the initiatoiy stages that
the Committee required this extra power. If the Council
did not wish it, it would be much better the Committee
should cease to exist.

Mr. Andrews said there was one point he felt bound
to allude to. Mr. Richardson said something about
holding peculiar views "with respect to the connection of
medicine and pharmacy, and seemed to insinuate a sort
of wish that pharmacy should be brought under the
regulation of medical men. He hoped he had misunder¬
stood him, but at any rate such a view ought not to go
unchallenged. It would be a very bad day indeed for
pharmacists if they were brought under the power of
medical men.

Mr. Symes said he was about to rise to protest against
such an idea.

Mr. Richardson said he was not going to discuss this
matter, but Mr. Andrews had entirely misunderstood his
meaning. He should be prepared at some future time to
go into the subject, but he would only say now that his
idea was to get pharmacists properly and legitimately re¬
cognized by the State and the public if possible.

Mr. Gostling then presented his amendment in the
following form : —

'“That the Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee be
empowered to act at their discretion on the part of
the Council of this Society with regard to the Royal
Commission on Medical Bills, and that they be in¬
structed to take immediate steps for the proper repre¬
sentation of the Council before the Royal Commission
in the event of opportunity arising for that purpose.”

The Vice-President asked in what respect this dif¬
fered from the motion.

Mr. Gostling said it did not provide that the Com¬
mittee should represent the Council.

Mr. Stmes said the Committee as such had no power
to apply to the Commission; it must apply as repre-
sentating the Council.

Mr. Gostling said it was highly important that the
Committee should have sufficient power to go itself or
appoint or invite persons to go and give evidence before
the Commission, in order that the interests of pharmacy
migh^ be properly represented.

Mr. Frazer suggested that the words “ all matters,”
should be confined to all matters within the lines on
which the Council had decided.

Mr. Gostling said he, of course, intended that.

Mr. Sandford seconded the amendment, thinking it
preferable to the motion, for this reason, that although it
gave the Committee power to act for the Council, as, of
course, every Committee must have power, yet it did, in
the event of having an opportunity to appear before the
Royal Commission, charge the Committee to take such
steps, perhaps to call the Council together, or look around
amongst their fellow members of the Council and be
aided by others who were not members of the Committee.
In that way it would better represent the Council and the
Society before the Commission than by simply trusting to
the Committee to represent the Council. He could point
to many eminent pharmacists who had been on the
Council, but were not now members, who might give very
valuable evidence, and if the amendment was passed it
would open the door for those men to be invited.

Mr. Atkins said, with all due respect, he could not see
any distinction in principle between the amendment
and the original motion. He had hoped that Mr.
Gostling would have made a substantial amendment of
principle in which he could heartily have gone with him,
to the effect that the Committee, in the event of any¬
thing exceptional arising, should be empowered to call the
Council together specially. 'With such an addition he
should go in for heartily trusting the Committee.

Mr. Hampson said if the Council considered the
amendment an improvement with regard to phraseology,
he did not object ; it certainly gave the Committee quite
as much power to act as the words of the motion. All the
discussion seemed to denote that there was a want of con¬
fidence in the Committee. In a few days the Committee
would have to meet, under any circumstances ; but when
it felt it was entrusted with full responsibility, it
would perhaps meet sooner, and the result would be that
certain definite steps would be proposed, the first step being
to apply that it be heard before the Royal Commission.
Then it would have to formulate the views to be put
forward, which must be discussed by the Council. The
Council would not be giving the Committee carte
blanche ; it would have to report month by month, when
all the points raised could be discussed.

Mr. Churchill thought the Council had not fully
grasped Mr. Sandford’s idea, that the Committee should
look round, if it were to give evidence before the Com¬
mission, and get the evidence of some past members of
Council, or eminent men who did not happen to be on
the Committee ; otherwise he did not see much difference
in the two.

Mr. Savage said the difference was this ; in the one,
as the Vice-President had said, the Committee was limited
to monopolize the representation of the Council only,
whilst the amendment went beyond that, and therefore
it was preferable.

Mr. Gostling said the amendment was not intended
either to lessen or to increase the power of the Committee,
nor did he bring it forward with any idea of want of
confidence in the Committee; it was only to avoid the
precedent which it was feared would be established by a
Committee being appointed to represent the Council.

The amendment was then put and lost.

Mr. Squire then moved as an amendment—

“That the Council apply for leave to be heard before
the Royal Commission, and a special meeting of the
Council be called when leave has been obtained to
be heard.”

He proposed the amendment for the reasons he gave
when speaking a few moments before. Since then Mr.
Hampson had said the Committee did not ask for plenary
powers because it would report month by month to the
Council, which could then criticize the views of the Com¬
mittee. Now the only reason for giving £hese special
powers was special urgency, and that a special meeting of

May 7, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

925

the Council could not be called. But if the Committee
were to report month by month to the Council, and
therefore the Council had control over it, there was no
cause for urgency, and even if there were, it seemed to
him quite as easy to call the Council together as to call a
meeting of the Committee.

Mr. Bottle had much pleasure in seconding the
amendment, because it appeared to him it was travelling
in the way the Council had been accustomed to travel.
It did not delegate unknown power to any Committee ; it
did not offer an insult to the Royal Commision by
delegating a Committee to go to do the work of the
Council ; the Council undertook to do its own work in
its own way.

Mr. Symes asked why appoint a Committee at all, if it
were as easy to do all the work of the Society by the
Council ?

Mr. Richardson said this was a very different matter
to an ordinary Committee for carrying out the work of
the Council, and he was astonished at Mr. Symes, with his
capacity for business, asking such a simple question. This
was a matter which would probably not occur again in the
lifetime of anyone present, and it was of sufficient
gravity to justify a special meeting being called if neces¬
sary. He should, therefore, heartily support the amend¬
ment.

The Vice-President said that to him Mr. Symes’s re¬
mark did not appear at all out of place. Mr, Symes had
probably, by a rapid process in his own mind, arrived at
this logical conclusion, that if the Council made an appli¬
cation to be heard, and an answer was received — what
would then be the course of the Council ? The Council
would go into committee, and draw up certain matters
upon which it should be heard and the lines it should
take ; that would be approved by the Council, and then a
committee would be appointed, or some one to be heard
before the Royal Commission. It seemed to him that
would be only doing by a more roundabout process that
which was now proposed. Personally he should prefer
the ordinary course to be followed, but in the present case
it would be inconvenient.

Mr. Frazer thought Mr. Symes had given a very
strong argument against his own views. He said, why
appoint any committee if the Council were to do all the
work ? But the fact was the Committees were appointed
for carrying out certain work, such as painting, and told
what to do, but under Mr. Hampson’s motion, as it now
stood, the Council would be giving the Committee power
to do anything it liked.

Mr. Hampson said the Committee had already received
instructions. Some gentlemen seemed to think this was
a new matter sprung on the Council. The question of the
Pharmacopoeia had been before the Council three or four
times, and the prescribing question also ; and members of
the Committee had the views of the Council indelibly fixed
upon their brains. They had also the minutes to refer to,
if necessary. A report would be made in due course to the
next Council, so that it would still retain full powers. The
amendment was a vote of want of confidence in the Com¬
mittee. He had stood up time after time for strict con¬
stitutional procedure, but he thought the Council would
be perfectly safe in passing this motion.

Mr. Squire said he had no such idea in his mind.

The amendment was then put, and lost by nine votes
to eight.

The original motion was then put and carried.

Reports of Committees— continued,

GENERAL PURPOSES.

The report of this Committee included the usual letter
from the Solicitor, reporting what had been done with
regard to cases placed in his hands. Certain other cases
of alleged infringement of the Pharmacy Acts also had
come before the Committee.

The report and recommendations of the Committee
were received and adopted.

EXHIBITION OF APPARATUS.

This Committee had held several meetings, at which it
had resolved that articles which had before been exhibited
should be again admitted, as many persons might be
present who had not visited the last Exhibition. Various
applications for space had been received, and most ot
them had been complied with.

Mr. Atkins hoped care would been taken to protect
articles sent for exhibition, as some had been lost on the
last occasion.

Mr. Williams said he gathered from the report that
the applications were not very numerous. He should like
to know if the Committee could give any explanation of
this.

Mr. Richardson said there was a very important
exhibition at South Kensington this year which might
rather clash with this one.

Mr. Robbins said arrangements had been made by
which the doors of the museum could be fastened if the
Curator had to leave, with a view to affording more pro¬
tection to the exhibits.

Mr. Symes said he could not but agree with the decision
of the Committee not to admit proprietary articles ; but
it seemed to him there was rather a tendency on the part
of the Committee to draw the string rather tightly. The
character of the circular seemed to suggest that the
Committee last year had been rather overdone with appli¬
cations, and until the last half-hour he had been under
the impression that it was the same this year. He feared
the Committee had been rather too precise in its require¬
ments.

The President asked Mr. Symes to indicate what part
of the circular he referred to.

Mr. Symes said he did not object to the circular as a
whole ; but there had been remarks made which seemed
to imply that there was a little stiffness, which might have
frightened some people. It was quite right that a pre¬
ference should be given to new things ; but he had found
a maker of a mixing machine doubted whether he could
send in his machine again, though it had certain improve¬
ments in it. However, he was now going to send it. He
thought a few days’ grace . might be given, and many
more things might be sent in.

The President said the Committee had very much
relaxed the regulations with regard to the admission
of exhibits, and" had taken more trouble than usual this
year in the matter. The Committee had met every week,
and had gone very carefully into applications with the
Curator, who was on the spot to answer all inquiries.
He said, without the slightest hesitation, that it was
impossible for anyone acquainted with what the Com¬
mittee had done to find any reasonable cause of complaint
with it.

Mr. Williams called attention to the advertisement
which appeared in the Journal, which stated that it was
an Exhibition of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Ap¬
paratus, etc. He happened the other day .to ask a
manufacturing chemist if he was going to exhibit, when
he said: “Oh, no; you do not expect me to exhibit. You
only want apparatus.” He was afraid that some others
might have been misled in the same way.

Mr. Robbins wished Mr. Symes would mention what
the Committee had omitted to do which it ought to have
done. He agreed with the President that the Committee
had done everything possible to make the Exhibition a
success. It at first anticipated more applications than
there would be room for, and therefore it could not at
first say what room could be given to each applicant.
After a time, it found that the applications were not
coming in so fast as was expected, and he then wrote to
the President, and suggested that all applicants should
be at once communicated with, and this had been done.

The President having read the invitation, which had
been published,

Mr. Symes thought one member of the Committee had
partly explained the cause why the applications had no

926

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 7, 1881.

been so numerous. The Committee thought it was going
to be overdone with applications ; he had been told by
someone who had sent in an application ten days ago
that he had not yet received an answer. He could men¬
tion another case in which a gentleman had sent a very
beautiful specimen of an article which no doubt all had
on their shelves, but not in such a beautiful form, and
this was declined. He could quite understand that this
kind of thing would tend to limit the Exhibition. Still,
if the Exhibition were only half as successful as the last
one, it would form a centre of meeting, and would do a
great deal of good.

The President protested against this sort of criticism
of a committee appointed by the Council; if it were
pursued it would be impossible to get gentlemen to act
on a Committee for an Exhibition or for any other
business. If any remarks were to be made with regard
to special applications the names should be given, so that
the cases might be inquired into, and it might be seen
whether there was any bond fide grievance or not ; he
did not believe there was for one moment. If a Com¬
mittee were appointed it must exercise some discrimina¬
tion, or else it might as well be left to the Curator to
take iii everything which came.

Mr. Savage said he gathered that parties applied in
the first instance for larger space than the Committee
could entertain, and then the Committee replied at once,
and said they could not have so much space

The President said the Committee did not reply at
once, because it could not tell the amount of room that
would be applied for, and, therefore, it could not deter¬
mine the amount of space to be allotted to each individual.
Replies were sent, however, as soon as possible.

Mr. Hampson was quite content to leave the matter in
the hands of the Committee. He had not heai-d any¬
thing which would indicate the Committee was not doing
its duty.

Mr. Butt said the previous Saturday was the last day
for sending in applications, and since then the Com¬
mittee had met, and every application had been considered,
and the amount of space to be given to each individual
carefully gone into ; but until all the applications had been
received it was utterly impossible to allot the required
space. He believed every applicant had been written to,
and informed that the exhibit would be received and
space allotted, except to Messrs. Maw, who desired
to send in a large dispensing counter, for which there
would not be space in any room in the house. Every case
had been fairly considered, and not the slightest objection
could be taken to the action of the Committee.

The report of the Committee was then received and
adopted.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO INQUIRE INTO THE RELATION OF
PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION TO EXAMINATION.

The Vice-President said he would move presently: —

“ That the report and recommendations of the Special
Committee appointed ‘ to inquire into and consider
the relation to each other of pharmaceutical educa¬
tion and the pharmaceutical examinations,’ be re¬
ceived.

“ That printed copies of the report be distributed
amongst the members of the Council ; and that the
discussion upon it be deferred until a future early
meeting of the Council.”

He would suggest, therefore, that the whole report be not
read now, but he would only read a few portions,
sufficient to justify the Council in agreeing to the
motion. The report commenced by stating that the
Committee had laid down a definite plan for its own
action, which wTas given in extenso. Having done that,
the Committee went on to report that it had had
frequent and prolonged interviews with the three
Professors of the Society, with four members of the
Board of Examiners, deputed to represent that body, and
with three gentlemen of large experience in scientific

teaching and examination, not connected with the
Society. In addition to much information thus con¬
veyed by word of mouth, these gentlemen had favoured
the Committee with a condensed summary of their
views in writing. The individual members of the
Committee had also contributed the knowledge and
experience they possessed. They had discussed and re-dis¬
cussed these points ; and then came a number of facts and
statistics, and certain points upon which strong expres¬
sions of opinion had been given, all of which would, he
hoped, prove very interesting to all other members of
the Council. The Committee had then made the follow¬
ing recommendations :

“ 1. That candidates for examination be required to
produce evidence of apprenticeship or pupilage of not
less than three years with some duly registered chemist
and druggist.

“2. That the Preliminary examination, or its recog¬
nized equivalent, be passed prior to the apprenticeship or
pupilage. This can be insured by prohibiting a candi¬
date from presenting himself for the Minor examination
until three years after he has been certified to have
passed the Preliminary examination.

“ 3. That upon presenting himself for the Minor
examination the candidate be required to produce evi¬
dence to show, in addition to the requirements indicated
in Nos. 1 and 2, that he has within the time then present
and the date of his Preliminary examination attended a
course of lectures on chemistry, a course of lectures on
botany, a course of lectures on materia medica, and a
course of instruction in practical chemistry, of a scope
and character hereafter to be defined.

“ 4. That the Minor examination be divided into two
portions : — the technical : comprising practical dispensing,
prescriptions and pharmacy; and the scientific: com¬
prising chemistry, botany and materia medica. These
parts to be undertaken on two separate days, but as
portions of one examination the portion which includes
chemistry, botany and materia medica to be partly
written and partly vivd voce .”

He should not ask for any expression of opinion on
these proposals now, and would only say further that the
Committee had given this matter very deep considera¬
tion, and though the Council might not consider the
results wise, he did assure them that every one of these
recommendations was worth serious consideration.

Mr. Bottle seconded the motion, and desired to thank
the Committee for the very careful consideration it had
given to the matter.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.
The Royal Botanic Society.

On the motion of Mr. Symes, it was resolved : —

“That the sum of twenty guineas be paid to the Royal
Botanic Society for the privilege of Professor Bent¬
ley’s class attending the lectures given by the Pro¬
fessor in the Society’s Gardens.”

international pharmaceutical congress.

This Committee had held four meetings during the
month. The names of Professor Redwood, Dr. Paul,
and Messrs. Barclay, Carteighe, Reynolds and Robbins
had been added to it. Mr. Richard Bremridge had betn
appointed Secretary to the Executive Committee. He
had read to the Committee a copy of a letter which had
been sent in November last to presidents of pharma¬
ceutical societies and distinguished pharmacists in Aus¬
tralia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark,
Prance, Germany, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Italy, New
Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Spain and the United States.
A circular of invitation had also been sent out, to the
number of about three hundred and fifty, many replies to
which had been received. It was proposed that the
Congress should he opened by a conversazione to be held
by the President of the Pharmaceutical Society, in the
house of the Society, on the evening of Saturday, July 30,

May 7, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

927

STATEMENT OF ATTENDANCE OF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ON COMMITTEES

FOR THE YEAR 1880-81.

!

1

11

Committees

II

•1

held Once a

Committees held

•

Month or

Occasionally.

r?

7*

Often er. I

1

'*4

I

I

* - u . : 1 •

!

.

„ ' i|

c

0 £

D ©

0

P

Pm

a

<13

03

I

u

£ 1

i |j

H

ft I

X

W

t

<

O

1 !
C3

d

ci .

rO d

O

cn

0

o

P 1

>
o
a

H ;

u

o 1

0

©

H

s

S .1

M

w

«

53

E

II

w

_ >

o

o

ft

o

w

ft,

ft

S5

Number of Committee Meetings ;

|

10

||

12 |

!

9

n

10

<

s

HELD.

m

H

Andrews

36

[London) .

7

8

4

ft

8

9

Atkins

!

[Salisbury) .

ft

ft

ft

ft

0

5 i

5

Bottle

8

36

i

(Dover) .

ft

8

6

8

6

Butt

, !

18

52

( London ) .

♦

lot

hr t

9

8 ■

Churchill

10

i

(Birmingham) .

*

ft 1

ft

4

G

ft j

i

Frazer

V

i

ft

(Glasgow) .

■V.

ft

ft

ft

1

1

Gostling

*

! G

35

(Diss) .

10

4+

10

Greenish

10

36

77

(London) .

l

12

9

9

Hampson

9

19

52

(London) .

*

8

6

10

Hills

0

■ -

11

( London ) ... .

ft

5

3

0

Mackay

3

■

8

(Edinburgh) .

ft

*

ft

4

1

Radley

11

21

(Southport) . . .

ft

*

i *

10

*

Richardson

(Leicester) .

Robbins

1

10

7

ft

10

4

ft

11

26

49

(London) .

ft

11

8

9

Sandford

i

4

16

43

(London) .

ft

10

0

7

4

Savage

(Brighton) .

9

ft

*

ft

10

2

21

Schacht

(Clifton) . . • ••

9

2

1

O

10

1

17

41 1

Squire

4

3

ft

4

18

i

(London) .

7

j

5

Symes

(Liverpool) .

Williams

1

I

7

j ' *

*

!h

7

1

9

>7

i

9

1

1 10

:

| 9

24

*

45

(London) .

ft

11

Woolley

i •

1 e?

13

( Manchester ) .

*

i ,

ft

1 1

4

I

i 4

0

* Not appointed on this Committee. + Appointed on this Committee, October, 1880.

+ Appointed on this Committee, December, 1880.

NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES OF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AT COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR

THE YEAR 1880-81.

Andrews, Frederick . 11 ; Greenish, Thomas . 11 San d ford, GeorgeWebb . 12

Atkins, Samuel Ralph . 11 ' Hampson, Robert . i-

Bottle, Alexander . H j Hills, Thomas Hyde . I*

Butt, Edward Northway* . 9 Mackay, John ••.•••••••; . '

Churchill, Walter John . 12 Radley, William Valentine ...... 12

Fra7er Daniel 12 Richardson, John George E redk. 10

GoSg Thomas' Presto,, . 12 ‘ Robbins, John . 12 Woolley. George Stephen . 9

* Elected to the Council, August, 1880.

Number of Meetings during the year, 12. •

Savage, William Dawson . 12

Schacht, George Frederick . 12

Squire, Peter Wyatt . . 9

Symes, Charles . 12

Williams, John . 12

928

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 7, 1881.

and that the business meetings be held at the same
address on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, August 1,
2, and 3, at 11 a.m., an interval of one hour for luncheon
at one o’clock. On Tuesday, August 2, the guests would
be entertained at a banquet at Willis’s Rooms, and on
Thursday, August 4, there would be an excursion to some
place or places in the neighbourhood of London. Among
the subjects suggested for discussion were the fol¬
lowing : —

“ 1. What is the best method of securing the equaliza¬
tion of the strength of official preparations containing
potent drugs common to the Pharmacopoeias of all nations.

“ 2. Pharmaceutical education.

“3. Pharmacopoeia revision.”

The first presentation of the Hanbury Gold Medal
would also take place at the Congress.

Mr. Williams said he noticed that the meetings of the
Congress would take place on the same date as the
meeting of the Council and the Committees, which met
the day previously.

The President said it was proposed that the Council
meeting should be adjourned to the following week.

The report of the Committee was then adopted unani¬
mously.

Mr. Savage said he would defer the motion of which
he had given notice, relative to the retirement of Mr.
Sandford and Mr. Hills, to next month.

Report op Examinations.

April, 1881.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Candidates.

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, (21st) .

f-r

. . . /

4

3

(22nd) .

. . . 7

1

6

„ (27th) .

. . . ti

4

2

,, (28th) .

. . . 7

4

3

— 27

—13

—14

Minor, (21st) .

. . . 21

10

11

, (22nd) .

. . . 21

9

12

, (27th) .

. . . 21

9

12

(28th) .

. . . 20

11

9

(29th) .

. . . 28

16

12

—111

— 55

—56

Modified, (27th)

. . . 1

0

1

—

—

—

139

68

71

SCOTLAND.

Candidates.

Examined. Passed.

Failed

Major (27th)1 .

. . 3

2

1

Minor, (27th) .

. . . 8

4

4

„ (28th) .

. . . 10

5

5

—18

— 9

— 9

Modified, (28th)

... 1

0

1

22 11 11

Preliminary Examination.

Candidates.

Examined. Passed. Failed.

334 150 184

21 Certificates had been received in lieu of the Society’s
examination : —

11 College of Preceptors.

5 University of Cambridge.

1 University of Edinburgh.

1 University of London.

2 University of Oxford.

1 Apothecaries’ Hall, Dublin.

EXAMINATIONS IN LONDON.

April 21, 1881.

Present — Mr. Greenish, President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Ekin, Gale,

T. E. Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall
and Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION. ,

Seven candidates were examined. Three failed. The I
following four passed, and were declared qualified to bo
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : — 1

Bevis, Walter . Newport, I. W.

Cann, James . Dorking.

Chaplin, John Henry* . Wakefield.

Garland, Thomas William . Acock’s Green.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-one candidates -were examined. Eleven failed.
The following ten passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Aplin, Isaac Weston . Yeovil.

Atherton, John Henry . Wigan.

Barlow, Charles . Prescot.

Barnes, Thomas . Preston.

Biliington, John . Northwich.

Braith waite, John Oldham . London.

Briggs, George . Leeds.

Bull, Ezra J ohn . Cambridge.

Clark, Edward John . Swansea.

Collis, Arthur Frederick . Cheadle.

April 22, 1881.

Present — Messrs. Allchin, Barnes, Benger, Brady, Car¬
teighe, Corder, Ekin, Gale, T. E. Greenish, Linford,
Martindale, Plowman, Southall and Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Seven candidates were examined. Six failed. One
passed, and was declared qualified to be registered as a
Pharmaceutical Chemist : —

Goldby, Frank . Abingdon.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-one candidates were examined. Twelve failed.
The following nine passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Briggs, William . Lancaster.

Clarke, Hy. Robert Stanhope... Malvern.

Cottman, Frederick . Salisbury.

Davies, Rees . Swansea.

Ellard, James . London.

Farrar, George . Ossett.

Flintan, Francis Robert . Weybridge.

Freeman, Frank . West Dulwich.

Gascoyne, Edward . Wolverhampton.

April 27, 1881.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President ; Messrs. Allchim
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Ekin, Gale,
T. E. Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall
and Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Six candidates were examined. Two failed. The fol¬
lowing four passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Matthews, Herbert Rouse . London.

Parker, William . Sessay.

Preston, Henry . Mansfield.

Rheeder, Thomas . Knaresborough.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-cne candidates were examined. Twelve failed.
The following nine passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

May 7, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

929

Atkinson, Thomas . Penrith.

Grant, Thomas . Bristol.

Holt, John . Aislaby.

Hornby, Robert William . London.

Horrell, Alfred Charles Julian.. Dartford.

Ison, Harry .John . Wellington.

Jowett, Henry . Leeds.

Kay, Henry . Bradford.

Kirkby, William . Ripon.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

One candidate was examined, but failed to pass.

April 28, 1881.

Present— Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Ekin, Gale,
T. E. Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall
and Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Seven candidates were examined. Three failed. The
following fo ur passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Thomas, John . Crosswell.

Thompson, Arthur . Buxton.

Walgate, Septimus . Hull.

Williams, Stephen . Cardigan.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty candidates were examined. Nine failed. The
following eleven passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Chabot, Frank . London.

Lewis, Jonas Henry . London.

Marshal!, John David . Boston.

Orchard, Arthur Bishop Carey London.

Page, Robert Steele . London.

Portway, Arthur Cyril . Southwark.

Pratt, George . Bishop Auckland.

Procter, George Woodyatt . Sunderland.

Skinner, Alfred James Page ...Seaton.

Walker, Edward . Leeds.

Wilkinson, William Henry . London.

April 29, 1881.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Ekin, Gale,
T. E. Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall
and Taylor.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-eight candidates were examined. Twelve failed.
The following sixteen passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists

Ashton, Charles Sampson . Yeovil.

Ridgley, George Stevens . Gillingham.

Rookledge, Francis Eyre . Easingwold.

Saul, William Osborne . Sibsey.

Seymour, Frederick Seth . Wimborne.

Shaw, Herbert . Grantham.

Skinner, Richard . Oxford.

Staley, Henry . Burton-on-Trent.

Stretch, Joseph Harling . Snaith.

Timms, William Henry . Worcester.

Trubshaw, Charles . Dudley.

Walker, Chaides . Birstwith.

Wallbridge, Henry Alfred . London.

Watts, George William . Clapham.

Wilkinson, William . Whittlesea.

Young, James . . . London.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned certificates were received in lieu
of the Society’s Examination : —

Certificates of the College of Preceptors.

Barnes, James Burden . Knightsbridge.

Benjamin John Blake . .....Brecon.

Carter, Campbell J . Woolwich.

Davis, Charles . ...Leamington.

Farthing, George Thompson ...Spennymoor.

Francis, John Herbert . Wrexham.

Kernick, Hubert Rye . Cardiff.

Ridgley, Cromwell . Huntingdon.

Rollason, Abel . Bewdley.

Smith, Hopkin . Bridgend.

Wells, Gerald Ernest . Notting Hill.

Certificates of the University of Cambridge.

Churchyard, Oliver George . Ipswich.

Heaton, Simon Wood . Leeds.

Hodgson, Cuthbert . Otley.

Nott, Arthur H . . . Devizes.

Trounson, Francis P . Penzance.

Certificate of the University of Edinburgh.
Cargill, David A . Arbroath.

Certificate of the University of London.
Toplis, John Walter . St. John’s Wood.

Certificates of the University of Oxford.

King, James Hewlett . Bath.

Tull, Frederick Charles . Newbury.

Certificate of the Apothecaries' Hall, Dublin.
Deane, Albert Edward . Enniscorthy.

EXAMINATIONS IN EDINBURGH.

April, 1881.

Present— Messrs. Ainslie, Borland, Gilmour, Kemp,
Kinninmont, Nesbit, Stephenson and Young.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

27 th. — Three candidates were examined. One failed.
The following two passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Clayton, John William . Preston.

Hill, John Rutherford . Lasswade.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

27 th. — Eight candidates were examined. Four failed.
The following four passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Anderson, James . Dundee.

Coulthart, Thomas . Annan.

Dobson, Thomas Henry . Skipton.

Esam, Richard . Stamford.

28 th. — Ten candidates were examined. Five failed.
The following five passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Hay, William . Aberdeen.

Jones, John . Liverpool.

Keith, John . Glasgow.

Richardson, Joseph William ...Wakefield.
Welch, George Murray . Leith.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

28 th. — One candidate was examined, but failed to pass.

THE CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ TRADE
ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Report of the Executive Committee, to be pre¬
sented to the Fifth Annual General Meeting of
the Members.

Prosecution under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. — In
July last several chemists residing at Stockport were
summoned under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act for

930

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 7, 1881.

having sold sweet spirits of nitre, alleged to be “ not
of the nature, substance and quality, of the article
demanded.” The cases were investigated by the Secretary
on the spot, and guided by the information thus obtained,
and by the subsequent report of the Analytical Referee
of the Association, your Committee passed a resolution
instructing the Solicitor to defend and to take steps to
obtain all necessary evidence. One case was taken as a
test. The Solicitor conducted the defence and called as
witnesses Professor Attfield, Mr. Umney, the represen¬
tatives of the wholesale houses who supplied the nitre in
question, and local chemists. It was proved that the
specific gravity of the nitre was ‘850, and that it was of
good quality. After a protracted hearing the summons
was dismissed by the Bench, £10 being allowed as costs.

The decision is of great importance to the trade, the
line of defence being that spirits of nitre made according
to other formularies than that of the British Pharma¬
copoeia may legally be sold if of good quality.

This is the only case under the Act which the Association
has been called upon to defend during the past year, and
your Committee congratulates the trade on the significant
fact that prosecutions against chemists and druggists for
the sale of adulterated drugs are becoming year by year
more rare. It will be within the recollection of the
members that before the Association came into existence
such prosecutions were of very fi'equent occurrence.

Your Committee takes this opportunity of publicly
thanking the partners in those wholesale houses who
have from time to time, at considerable trouble and
expense, sent members of their firms, or representatives,
to give evidence in support of ca-es under this statute,
undertaken by the Association.

Weights and Measures Act. — Your Committee has,
during the past year, defended three members of the
Association in prosecutions under this Act of Parlia¬
ment..

Mr. W. Wilkinson, of Lambeth Walk, Surrey, was
summoned to appear before the magistrates at the
Southwark Police Court on May 19, 1880, for having in
his possession seventeen apothecaries’ weights which were
unjust, when a penalty of Is. per weight was inflicted.
This defence was ordered by your Committee on the
grounds that it was the first instance in which apothe¬
caries’ weights had been called in question, and that no
intimation had been given to the defendant that the
inspector for the district had been supplied with standards
for testing these weights. On the 27th of the same
month the President of the Association addressed a letter
to the President of the Board of Trade, directing his
attention to the fact that chemists generally were not
aware that standards for apothecaries’ weights had been
adopted by the Board of Trade, and that consequently
they were liable to be summoned if found in possession of
such weights unstamped, although no opportunity had
been given them to have these weights stamped, and
urging Mr. Chamberlain to order a notice to be sent to
all inspectors of wreights and measures, recommending
them as soon as they were in possession of their standards
to transmit a printed notice to chemists residing in their
respective districts, informing them that their weights
could be verified and stamped, and that a fair notice
should be given before making an inspection.

In consequence of this, early in June, the following
circular was issued by the Board of Trade to inspectors
appointed under the Act : —

“Board of Trade (Standards Department),

“7, Old Palace Yard, S.W., Jane, 1880.

“ The Weights and Measures Act ,

“Sir, — I am directed by the Board of Trade to acquaint
you, for the information of your local authority, that they
have recently had their attention called to the operation
of the above Act in regard to apothecaries’ weights and
measures. It has been represented that chemists and
druggists generally are ignorant of the effects of the

Order in Council of 14th August last with regard to
their weights and measures, and that difficulties exist
among the local inspectors as to the carrying out of this
Act.

“The Board of Trade wish, therefore, to call attention to
the subject and to explain how the matter stands.

“In the course of last year the Board of Trade received
representations from the Pharmaceutical Society and
others, in consequence of which they caused certain
standards of apothecaries’ weights and measures to be
made and duly legalized, and copies of these standards
have since been verified for the use of different local
authorities in testing chemists’ weights, etc.

“Copies of the correspondence on this subject are in¬
closed ; and in the letter of 3rd March last from this
Department, which was printed in the Pharmaceutical
Society’s Journal, is contained information as to the pro¬
visions and use of these standards.

“With reference to the representations contained in the
communication of the Chemists’ and Druggists’ Trade
Association of the 27th ultimo, I am to point out how
important it is that, as soon as your local authority have
determined to put the Act into operation in their districts,
and have obtained standards, public notice should be
given of their intention, and that this should be done
before their inspector is authorized to visit the shops in
their district. “I am, Sir,

“ Your obedient servant,

(Signed) “T. H. Farreb.”

Your Committee is of opinion that Mr. Chamberlain, by
this prompt action, deserves the best thanks of the
Association, as the local authorities immediately issued
notices that the Act would not be put into operation until
after an opportunity had been given to chemists to
have their apothecaries’ weights and measures verified.

About this time a letter from the Secretaryappeared in
the trade journals impressing on chemists and druggists
the necessity of their obtaining, without delay, weights
and measures agreeing with the requirements of the Act
of Parliament.

On July 7 last Mr. Freeman of Ledbury was defended
by the Solicitor in a summons charging him with having .1
in his possession for use for trade, one 141b. weight which I
was “ false or unjust.” The summons was dismissed on '
its being proved to the satisfaction of the bench that
the weight was not used for the purpose of buying or
selling goods.

In November last a communication was received at
the office from Mr. Whittle, of Townshend Road, St.
John’s Wood, London, stating that a summons had been
served upon him for having in his possession certain glass
measures which the Marylebone inspector had examined
and declared inaccurate, although they bore the verifi¬
cation mark of the York inspector, and were supplied
to the defendant as duly tested measures by the York
(Hass Company, and that the case had been heard
by the Marylebone Bench of Magistrates on the 1st No¬
vember, and adjourned in order that a report might be
obtained from the Board of Trade on the measures in
question.

The case was investigated on the spot by the Secretary,
and on the instructions of the Law and Parliamentary
Committee, the Solicitor defended Mr. Whittle at the
adjourned hearing which took place on December 6 last,
when the magistrates withheld the reply of the Board of
Trade and fined the defendant Gd. and the measures were
ordered to be forfeited, leave of appeal being given. The
appeal was at once entered by order of the same Com¬
mittee, and on January 29 last was heard at the Guild¬
hall, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, when Mr. Besley
and Mr. Tickle appeared for the appellant ; Mr. Poland
and Mr. Mead being for the respondents. After a long
hearing, during which several technical legal points were
raised by the counsel on both sides, the following judg¬
ment was given : — “ No doubt an important and some¬
what difficult question is raised in this case ; but after

May 7, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

931

having heard all the arguments of the learned counsel,
on due consideration we are of opinion that this convic¬
tion must be quashed, there being, in our opinion, no
proof that the appellant had in his possession, for use in
his trade, a false or unjust measure within the meaning
of the 25th clause in the Act of Parliament. The
measures in question, whether they be accurate according
to the imperial standard or not, bear the stamp of the
Government inspector by whom they were issued as
accurate, and there is no proof that they were known by
the appellant to be inaccurate, or that they were known
to be so at any time while he was in possession of them.
For these reasons we think the conviction must bo
quashed.”

On the application of the respondents’ counsel, leave to
appeal against this decision was given. No appeal has,
however, been entered.

Xeiv Pharmacy Bill. — On the decision of the House of
Lords being given in favour of the respondents in the
appeal case of the Pharmaceutical Society v. The London
and Provincial Supply Association, Limited, your Com¬
mittee passed the following resolution, a copy of which
was duly forwarded to the Secretary and Registrar of the
Pharmaceutical Society : — “That this Committee heard
with profound regret the decision of the House of Lords
in the case of the Pharmaceutical Society v. The London
and Provincial Supply Association, Limited, but learned
with satisfaction that the Pharmaceutical Council had
referred the decision of this case to the sub-committee
appointed by them to consider desirable improvements in
the Pharmacy Acts, and trust that the result of their
deliberations will lead to such proposed amendments of
the Act as this Association can assist in carrying through
Parliament.” At their meeting on December 10 last,
your Committee resolved to ask the Council of the Society
to provide the Association with copies of the draft of the
proposed Bill to amend the Pharmacy Act, when finally
agreed upon by the Council at its meeting convened for
the fourteenth day of the same month, and expressing
the hope that sufficient time would be allowed to enable
the Executive to consider the clauses of the Bill, with a
view to assist the Council by united action in carrying a
satisfactory measure into law. A copy of the Bill, trans¬
mitted to your President by the courtesy of the President
of the Society, came under the consideration of your
Committee at their meeting on December 17 last, when
resolutions were passed expressing approval of the
princip’es expressed in clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 11, and 12,
but suggesting certain modifications in clauses 5, 6, 7, 9,
and 10. A copy of the Bill as amended was by order of
your Committee forwarded to the Secretary of the Society
with a request that he would submit the same to the
Council. Some of the alterations suggested by your
Committee have since been accepted by the Council, and
the Bill in an amended form, came under the considera¬
tion of your Committee at its meeting on February 25
last, when the following resolution was passed : — “ That
this Executive having considered the provisions of the Bill
to further regulate the sale of poisons, and to alter and
amend the Pharmacy Act, 1852, and the Acts amending
the same, placed before them by the wish of the Pharma¬
ceutical Council, agree to its clauses, and hereby express
their desire of co-operating with the said Council, with a
view to carrying the Bill into law.”

The Proceedings of Parliament. — The Medical Act,
1858, Amendment Bill, introduced into the House of
Commons by Mr. Hardcastle, Sir Trevor Lawrence and
Dr. Farquarson, contains one or two clauses inimical to
the interests of the trade, and although the probability
of its passing during the present session is extremely
remote, it has been referred by your Committee to the
consideration of the Law and Parliamentary Committee.
It is entered for second reading on June 29 next.

Jury Service. —Your Executive at their first meeting
instructed the Law and Parliamentary Committee to
address the Government with a view of obtaining such

an amendment of the Jury Act as may provide that the
exemption from service on juries enjoyed by phar¬
maceutical chemists should be extended to all registered
chemists and druggists. A memorial embodying these
instructions was forwarded to Her Majesty’s Principal
Secretary of State for Home Affairs on October 6 last,
and in due course acknowledged by him. This memorial
has been printed in the trade journals. The question of
jury service is dealt with in the 13th clause of the pro¬
posed new Pharmacy Bill, and your Executive trusts
that the privilege of exemption from jury service may be
extended to all members of the trade by the passing
of that Bill into law.

Arbitration. — Your Committee lias, by the aid of the
Secretary, been instrumental in settling by arbitration
a dispute between two members of the Association as to
the right to sell under a specific title a certain article
manufactured by one of them.

Infringements of the Pharmacy Act. — Acting under the
instructions of the Executive, the Solicitor and Secretary
have considered several cases of illegal trading in poisons.
On February 18 last, a grocer, residing at Winches¬
ter, was fined 205. and 24s. costs for the contravention
of the Act, he having sold to the Assistant-Secretary
verm'n-killer, the cover of the packet of which did not
bear his name and address, and other formalities required
by the statute not having been complied with. The
Solicitor prosecuted on behalf of the Association.

Death of Mr. John Abraham. — Your Committee regi’ets
to announce the death of their late esteemed colleague,
Mr. John Abraham, which took place at Grassendale,
Liverpool, on February 20 last. He warmly advocated
the objects of the Association in its early days, and the
largo number of members residing in Liverpool and the
neighbourhood is in a great measure attributable to
the hearty support he continually renlered it. Your
Committee passed a resolution of condolence with Mrs.
Abraham and family at their meeting held on February
25 last.

Strength of the Association. — The list of members and
donors shows 4345 annual subscribers, and donations to
the amount of £71 16s. 6d., being a slight decrease in
the number of members and in the amount of donations
from the previous year. This may be accounted for in
a measure by the continued depression in trade which is
seriously affecting all societies dependent for support on
voluntary contributions. The erasure from the Register
of the names of all members whose subscriptions were
more than two years in arrear, in accordance with a
resolution passed by your Committee on February 28
last, has also reduced, for the time being, the numerical
strength of the Society. This necessary act of expur¬
gation has, however, placed it in a more healthy
condition.

Financial Statement. April 17, 1880, to April 19, 1881.

Receipts.

£

s.

d.

Balance brought forward from last

Account, viz. : —

Balance at Lloyds’ Banking Company,

Limited Current Account ....

60

4

0

Ditto ditto Deposit Account ....

S18

9

11

Ditto in hands of Treasurer ....

25

4

0

904

0

11

Deduct Law Costs, unpaid .

73

4

Q

Kt

4345 Annual Subscriptions at 5s. . . .

1086

5

16

0

Donations .

71

6

1158

1

6

Less — Outstanding Subscriptions and

Donations, April 19, 1881 .

281

15

0

Interest allowed by Bankers on Deposit
Account, less Interest and Commis¬
sion charged on Current Account . .

£1726 12 8

932

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

IMay 7, 1881,

Payments.

£ il

Advertisements .

Auditors’ Charges . . .

Canvassing Expenses .

Hire of Rooms for Public Meetings . .

Law Costs, viz. : —

Counsel’s Fees .

Solicitor’s Charges .

Ditto Travelling Expenses . . . .

Witnesses’ Charges and Expenses . .

Office Expenses, viz.: —

Cleaning .

Gas . .

Rates and Taxes . . .

Rent .

Postages .

Reporting .

Salaries, viz. : —

Secretary .

Assistant Secretary .

Clerks .

Stationery and Printing .

Sundries . .

Travelling Expenses, viz.: —

Executive Committee .

Secretary .

12

S

6

S5

14

1

25

15

0

62

19

0

O

4

1

4

11

7

8

2

H

26

0

0

172

10

6

10

0

73

6

0

109

12

0

26

17

6

£ s, d.

£ s. d.

4 10 6
18 18 0
48 3 2

5 4 6

186 16 7

40 18 7
109 9 0
49 6 4

383 G 6
115 15 2
11 3 10

136 10 0

1110 2 2

Balance at Lloyd’s Banking Company,

Limited, Deposit Account ..... 838 17 2

Ditto in hands of Treasurer ..... 13 3 5

862 0 7

Deduct Balance due toBankers
on Current Account . . . 149 10 9

Law Costs unpaid .... 85 19 4

- 235 10 1

- 616 10 6

£1726 12 8

We have examined the foregoing Account, with the' Books and
Vouchers of the Association, and find it correct.

(Signed) Laundy and Co., Auditors.
Birmingham, 20th April, 1881.

fitorrcspcrnbciTce.

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication ; but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Election of Members of Council.

Sir, — A duty at once grave and responsible will fall upon
our Society in the election of members to fill the seats left
vacant by the retirement of Messrs. Sandford and Hills,
and by the death of the Society’s tried and trusty friend,
John Mackay.

That we should lose the services of Messrs. Sandford and
Hills, at once, was a severe blow ; but to add to that the
death of Mr. Mackay fills us with sorrow and anxiety.
Such vacancies are difficult to fill. He who would succeed
to the seat of our lost friend should be one who has followed
the same worthy courses as his predecessor. There are few
to be found who can show the same ability, energy and in¬
dependence, who can command the same respect and can
afford to make the same disinterested sacrifice of time.
When we add to these high qualifications the further advan¬
tage that Mr. Mackay had had a quarter of a century’s ex¬
perience of the Society’s working, we realize how few there
are whom we could put in his place.

The nomination list contains the names of many men
well known in pharmacy for their ability and the good
work they have done, but others are not so well known, and
it is the misfortune of the electors that they often have to
judge between men whose modesty has kept them in the
background till nomination by some personal friend has
brought them to the front. When a man takes much in¬
terest in the progress of pharmacy, or the trade of the
druggist, he generally finds some opportunity of giving by

his deeds or his words evidence by which the electors may
judge of his fitness to represent them. On the present
occasion a careful examination of these evidences becomes
imperative. Looking over the contributions to pharmaceu¬
tical science or politics, as found in the index to the Phar¬
maceutical Journal, we see the name of T. Wills contributing
several scientific papers, but this is not the G. S. Y. Wills
who appears in the nomination sheet. I do not find any
contribution from him either in the interests of pharmacy
or of trade, nor do I even find that he is in the trade. He
professes to be a teacher of students, preparing them for
examination, and is best known in connection with “ the
postal system.” I will not call it a system of education,
for I cannot regard it as any better than a sham, and re¬
garding it I will only quote the words of his advertisement,
“Beware of imitations !”

Had it been desirable to put a teacher on the Council,
such a veteran as Professor Redwood would have justified
the appointment of one not having a tradesman’s interest
in our calling; but it has not been thought desirable to
place in that position anyone deriving his income from the
teaching of candidates for examination, much less, one
whose aim is to “pass ” the candidates, while the duty of
the Council is to provide that every precaution be enforced
to pass only the solidly educated students. It is unpleasant
to me to introduce so much of what may be attributed to
personal feeling in this matter. I do not know Mr. Wills,
and should not have mentioned him nor have written any¬
thing but in general terms, had it not been that Mr. Wills
has again placed himself on the list of candidates for office
after Mr. Reynolds having last year pointed out the objec¬
tion there would be to making the Council board open to
heads of rival schools of pharmacy, where the elect would
occupy a position of temptation from which most men pray
to be saved. If Mr. Reynolds’s reasoning had no weight
with Mr. Wills, the fact that his words were supported by
the voting which placed Mr. Wills the lowest of all candi¬
dates should have sufficed to convince him of their justice.

Barnard S. Proctor.

Sir, — Allow me briefly to reply to your correspondents of
last week.

So far as I can gather from the letter of a “ Young
Member,” and others, the chief objection brought against
me is that I prepare candidates for the examinations, and
that, therefore, I would endeavour to influence the Council
in the selection of the Board of Examiners. I have always
expressed myself satisfied with the Examiners.

In my last inaugural address to my students, I stated as
follows: — “Some students conceive that if they can only
get before certain Examiners they are sure of success, but I
do not think it matters which Examiner you get ; if you are
competent to pass you will do so, for although the Ex¬
aminers are not perfection, yet upon the whole, I believe
the arrangements are most fair and satisfactory.”

I have no desire to alter matters in this direction, and
should certainly scorn to take advantage of a position on
the Council by endeavouring to make the examinations less
stringent than they are.

The reason of my perseverance in this matter is my
deepening interest in the welfare of our Society, and I
believe that my experience as a teacher would be a material
aid, and not a detriment, to the Board.

I have not put myself forward this year, nor shall I
canvas, but as the objections to my candidature are of so
trivial a nature and come from but a few young members
whose judgment 1 have every right to question, I shall
persevere and if elected shall take my seat with the
conscientious endeavour to carry out my duties with
impartiality and independence.

GEORflE S. Y. YAlls.

E. Coleman. — Oentiana campestris.

“ Apprentice.” — Several communications on pill-coating
hav<3 appeared in this Journal; see vol. viii., p. 4G1 and
other places that are referred to in the Index.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received fn m
Dr. Reichardt, Professor Fliickiger, Messrs. White, Conroy,
Taylor, Jackson, Robinson, Hill, Down, Lyle, Greig,
Carter, Buckley, Tick, Pater iEneas, Country"|Chemist,

May 14, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

933

THE ADULTERATION OF OLIVE OIL.*

BY MICHAEL CONROY, F.C.S.

The subject of this communication suggested
itself to me by the following paragraph which
appeared in the Pharmaceutical journal of Marcli
26 last, under the heading of “ The Month.

“ Buyers of olive oil will probably find it necessary ere
long to carefully examine that imported from Italy.
Cotton-seed oil is said by the United States Consul a
Naples to have found its way into tne remotest
mountain villages in Italy, where the sole production is
olive oil, not merely as a substitute for,, but as. an
adulterant of, olive oil. It has also found its way into
Russia, one of the chief outlets for Italian olive oil. J
the cotton-seed oil can be sold in Italy at half the value of
olive oil, the inducement to use it as an adulterant is very
treat. The Government of Italy is endeavouring to
impose a heavy tax on cotton-seed oil, with the view of
protecting the production of olive oil. It is obvious,
however, that a good test to detect the presence of small
quantities of cotton-seed oil would.be a better preventive
to adulteration. Cotton-seed oil is a drying oil, and if
added in equal parts to olive oil its drying nature is still
evidenced by its leaving sticky streaks near the mouth
of the bottle when droppings become exposed to the air.

From inquiries which I have made, I learn
that very large quantities of cotton-seed oil are
shipped from this port (Liverpool) for Italy ; but my
informants say that most of it is used by the poorer
Italians for cooking and other domestic purposes,
instead of the more valuable production of the
olive, and that it is also chiefly used for tinning
sardines. That much of it is thus used there can
be no reasonable doubt, but it is nevertheless well
known that it is largely used for the adulteration of
olive oil, and unfortunately the published tests lor
its detection are very defective. In reference to
these tests we find the following m Fluckiger and
Hanbury’s valuable ‘ Pharmacographia, published m

“ So far as our experience goes, the processes
hitherto recommended for testing olive oil are only
available in cases where the adulteration is consider¬
able, and are quite insufficient for discovering a
small admixture of other oils. How little they are
appreciated may be inferred from the fact that the
Chamber of Commerce of Nice has recently offered a
reward of 15,000 francs (£600) for a simple and
easy process for making evident an admixture wit
olive oil of 5 per cent., at least, of any seed oil.

It is for the purpose of practically showing you
a simple and an easy test that will detect re
presence of 5 per cent of cotton-seed, or. any other
seed oil, that I have the honour of bringing the
matter under your notice this evening, but befoie
doing so we will take a cursory glance at those tests

most relied on at present. _ , .

M. Lefebvre’s method consists m taking advantage
of the densities of the various oils, and for that
purpose he constructed an oleometer, on the stem of
which were inscribed the. densities of the various fat
oils. It is obvious that this method cannot be
either delicate or reliable, for the reason that there
is not sufficient variation in the densities of fat oils
to enable them to be detected in mixtures. More¬
over it is even doubtful if the densities of oils from
any given source are constant. But granting that
they are constant, it would be a very easy matter o

* Read at a meeting of the Liverpool Chemists Asso-
hation, April 28, 1881.

Third Series, No. 568.

make mixtures to suit any required density ; hence*
this method is of little or no use.

M. Maumene’s plan consists in noting the amount
of heat evolved on mixing concentrated sulphuric
acid with the oils ; the drying oils giving off a much
greater amount of heat than olive oil under the
same circumstances. This is a better method than
the preceding one, but it is not sufficiently delicate.

M. Heydenreich and Penot also propose the use
of sulphuric acid ; but they distinguish the various
oils by the colours produced by the action of the
acid. Thus olive oil produces a deep yellow tint,
becoming greenish by degrees ; colza oil, a greenish
blue ; poppy oil, a pale yellow tint, with dirty grey
outline ; hempseed oil, a deep emerald tint, and
linseed oil becomes brownish-red, changing to black
brown. The test is applied by adding one drop of
strong sulphuric acid to 8 or 10 drops of the oil,
placed on a piece of white glass, resting on a sheet
of white paper. My experience is that these reac¬
tions do not always occur, as stated, in the genuine
oils, and that for the detection of adulteration the
method is utterly useless. .

The favourite method is, however, that proposed
by M. Poutet. It consists in beating up the oil
with one-twelfth of its weight of solution of nitrate
of mercury. The nitrous acid or nitric peroxide
evolved from this converts the oleine of olive oil
into elaidin, causing the oil, if pure, to become solid
in a couple of hours, while the drying oils remain
liquid. It will be seen from this that olive oil
adulterated with any of the drying oils will not set
as hard, nor as quickly as genuine olive oil, and that
the consistency to which the sample sets, and the
time occupied in setting, somewhat roughly indicate
the amount of adulteration. A modification ot this
process is to use nitric acid instead of the solution of
nitrate of mercury, and I believe that this plan is
practised by many oil merchants. The modus
operandi is to mix * a fluid drachm of strong nitric
acid with about 5 fluid drachms of the oil m a bottle
of 1 fluid ounce capacity, and to shake up biisklj ,
and put in a cool place for a few hours, when the
colour and consistency are noted. The results are
somewhat similar to those obtained by the nitrate of
mercury test. These two tests are, in my opinion,
the best published; but they are not satisfactory,
inasmuch as it is extremely difficult to judge of the
consistency of the results obtained, and, so far as my
experience goes, they are useless for samples con¬
taining less than 10 or 15 per cent, of seed oils.

The plan which I recommend as more suitable loi
the purpose is based on an improved method of
anplvin" this last test ; but instead of being guided bv
the consistency, I am guided by the colour produced.
The test is applied as follows: — Mix thoroughly
1 part of strong nitric acid (sp. gr. 1 *42) with 9 parts
of the oil to be tested, and pour the mixture into
a white porcelain dish capable of holding at least
10 times the quantity. Apply heat gently, until
the action between the acid and the oil is fairly set
up then remove the source of heat and stir well

with a glass rod until the action is over.

Pure olive oil thus treated and allowed to coo I
sets into a pale straw-coloured hard mass in an hou
or two while cotton-seed and other seed oils assume
a deep* orange-red colour, and do not set like olive

oil

In hot weather it is necessary to artificially cool
the sample so as to promote the setting; but to a

934

[May 14, 1881

ft

THE PHAEM ACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

practised eye the setting is quite unnecessary, the
colour being sufficiently distinct without.

It will be seen that the delicacy of this test
depends upon the great contrast in colour exhibited
between genuine olive and seed oils, when operated
on as described, so that an admixture of 5 per cent,
of any seed oil with olive oil is readily detected.
Another important feature in this, and possessed by
no other test, is the accuracy with which the
approximate amount of admixture may be ascer¬
tained ; and to practically show this feature, I have
on the table a sample of genuine olive, and one
of cotton-seed, and seven other samples, containing
respectively 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50 per cent, of
cotton-seed oil, which have been treated by this
method, and I venture to say that not one here will
experience any difficulty in picking out the various
samples, the gradation in colour being so uniform,
and I may also add that it is constant. It therefore
follows, that if an oil be found to set of a different
colour to that of a sample of genuine olive, the
approximate amount of adulteration can be found
by making and operating on a few mixtures con¬
taining a known percentage of the adulterant. A
little experience in working the test will wonderfully
assist in determining the percentage of admixture in
any sample, but in all cases I would recommend that
the test be performed in conjunction with a sample
of genuine olive. The quantities which I have
been in the habit of using are, £ a fluid drachm of
nitric acid and 9£ fluid drachms of oil, and having
used the test for about three years, I can confidently
recommend, it as thoroughly reliable and constant
when carefully carried out. The heat should be
removed as soon as the action has fairly started, and
the mixture should be kept well stirred until the
action is over. Should too much heat be applied,
the action becomes violent and unmanageable, and
some of the mixture will spurt out of the dish. This
spurting, however, may be prevented by placing a
plate or other flat body over the dish. The results
obtained are never as good when the action is so
violent as to cause spurting.

NOTES ON CANANGA OIL OR ILANG-
ILANG OIL.*

BY F. A. FLUCKIGER.

This oil, on account of its fragrance, which is
described by most observers as extremely pleasant,
has attained to some importance, so that it appears
to me not superfluous to submit the following re¬
marks upon it and the plant from which it is
derived.

The tree, of which the flowers yield the oil known
under the name “ Ilang-ilang ” or u Alanguilan,” is
the Cananga odorata, Hook. fil. et Thomp.,f of the
order Unonacese, for which reason it is called also in
many price lists “Oleum Anonce” or “ Oleum Unome.”
It is not known to me whether the tree can be
identified in the old Indian and Chinese literature. J
In the west it was first named by Ray as “ Arbor

* From the Archiv der Pharmacie, to the Editor of
which Journal we are indebted for a cliche of the woodcut
illustrating this paper.

f ‘Flora Indica,’ i. (1855), 130.

j “ No mention of any plant deflowers, which might be
identified with Cananga, can be traced in any Sanskrit
works.” — Dr. Charles Rice, New Remedies , April, 1881,
page 98.

Saguisan,” the name by which it was called at that time
at Lucon. * Rumphf gave a detailed description of
the “ Bonga Cananga,” as the Malays designate the
tree (“ Tsjampa ” among the Javanese); Rumph’s
figure, however is defective. Further LamarckJ [
has short notices of it under “ Canang odorant,
Uvaria odorata .” According to Roxburgh, § the
plant was in 1797 brought from Sumatra to the
Botanical Gardens in Calcutta. Dunal devoted to
the Uvaria odorata , or, properly, Unona odorata , as
he himself corrected it, a somewhat more thorough
description in his ‘ Monographic de la Famille des
Anonacees,’|| which principally repeats Rumph’s
statements.

Lastly, we owe a very handsome figure of the
Cananga odorata to the magnificent ‘Flora Javae,’
of Blume ; *§ a copy of this, which in the original is
beautifully coloured, is appended to the present
notice. That this figure is correct I venture to
assume after having seen numerous specimens in
Geneva, with De Candolle, as well as in the Deles-
sert herbarium. The unjustifiable name Unona
odoratissima , which incorrectly enough has passed
into many writings, originated with Blanco,** * * * § * who in
his description of the powerful fragrance of thu
flowers, which in a closed sleeping room produces
headache, was induced to use the superlative
“ odoratissima.” Baillonff designated as Canangium
the section of the genus Uvaria , from which he
would not separate the Ilang-ilang tree.

The notice of Maximowicz,^ £ “Ueber denUrsprung
des Parfiims Ylang-Ylang” contains only a confirma¬
tion of the derivation of the perfume from Cananga.

Cananga odorata is a tree attaining to a height of
60 feet, with few but abundantly ramified branches.

The shortly petioled long acuminate leaves, ar¬
ranged in two rows, attain a length of 18 centi¬
metres and a breadth of 7 centimetres ; the leaf is
rather coriaceous, and slightly downy only along the
nerves on the under side. The handsome and im¬
posing looking flowers of the Cananga odorata occur
to the number of four on short peduncles. The
lobes of the tripartite leathery calyx are finally bent
back. The six lanceolate petals spread out very
nearly flat, and grow to a length of 7 centimetres
and a breadth of about 12 millimetres; they are
longitudinally veined, of a greenish colour, and dark
brown when dried. The somewhat bell-shaped
elegantly drooping flowers impart quite a handsome
appearance, although the floral beauty of other
closely allied plants is far more striking. The fila¬
ments of the Cananga are very numerous ; the some¬
what elevated receptacle has a shallow depression at
the summit. The green berry-like fruit is formed
of from fifteen to twenty tolerably long-stalked
separate carpels which enclose three to eight seeds
arranged in two rows. The umbel-like peduncles

* Ray, ‘ Historia Plantarum, Supplementum,’ tomi i. efc
ii. ‘Hist. Stirpium Insulae Luzonensis et Philippinarum, a
Georgio Josepho Canello: London, 1704, 83.

f ‘ Herbarium Amboinense, Amboinsch Kruidboek,’ ii.
(Amsterdam, 1750), cap. xix., fol. 195 and tab. 65.

X ‘ Encyclopddie methodique. Botanique,’ i. (1783), 595.

§ ‘ Flora Indica,’ ii. (Serampore, 1832), 661.

|| Paris, 1817, p. 108, 105.

IT Yol. i. (Brussels, 1829), fol. 29, tab. ix. et xiv. B.

‘Flora de Filipinas,’ Manila, 1845, 325. Unona 1
odoratissima , Alangilan. The latter name, according to
Sonnerat, is stated by Lamarck to be of Chinese origin ;

Herr Reymann derives it from the Tagal language.

+t ‘ Dictionnaire de Botanique.’

XX Just’s ‘ Botanischer Jahresbericht,’ 1875, 973.

May 14, 18S1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

935

Cananga

are situated in the axils of the leaves or spring from
the nodes of leafless branches. The flesh of the fruit
is sweetish and aromatic. The flowers possess a most
exquisite perfume, frequently compared with hya¬
cinth, narcissus and cloves.

Gancincja odorata, according to Hooker and Thom¬
son or Bentham and Hooker,* is the only species
* ‘ Genera Plant arum, 5 i. (18G4), 24. 7

odorata.

I of this genus ; the plants formerly classed, together
with it under the names Unona or TJvai ia} among
which some equally possess odorous flowers, are now
distributed between those two genera, which are
tolerably rich in species. From TJvaria the Cananga
differs in its valvate petals, and from Unoncc in the
arrangement of the seeds in two rows.

Cananga odorata is distributed throughout all

936

THF PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 14, 1881.

Southern Asia, mostly, however, as a cultivated
plant. In the primitive forest the tree is much
higher, hut the flowers are, according to Blume,
almost odourless. In habit the Cananga resembles
the Michelia Champaca , L.,* * * § of the family Magno-
liaceoe, an Indian tree extraordinarily prized on
account of the very pleasant perfume of its yellow
flowers, and which was already highly celebrated
in ancient times in India. Among the admired
fragrant flowers which are the most prized by the in
this respect pampered Javanese, the “Tjempaka”
(Michelia Champaca ) and the “ Kenangga wangi ”
(Cananga odorata) + stand in the first rank.

It is not known to me whether the oil of cananga
was prepared in former times. It appears to have
first reached Europe about 1864; in Paris and
London its choice perfume found full recognition .J
The quantities, evidently only very small, that were
first imported from the Indian Archipelago were
followed immediately by somewhat larger consign¬
ments from Manila, where German pharmacists
occupied themselves with the distillation of the oil.§

Oscar Reymann and Adolf Ronsch, of Manila, ex¬
hibited the ilang-ilang oil in Paris in 1878; the
former also showed the Cananga flowers. The oil
of the flowers of the before-mentioned Michelia
Champaca , which stood next to it, competes with
the cananga oil, or ilang-ilang oil, in respect to
fragrance. 1 1 How far the latter has found acceptance
is difficult to determine ; a lowering of the price
which it has undergone indicates probably a some¬
what larger demand. At present it may be obtained
in Germany for about 600 marks (£30) the kilo¬
gram. IT Since the Cananga tree can be so very
easily cultivated in all warm countries, and probably
everywhere bears flowers endowed with the same
pleasant perfume, it must be possible for the oil to
be produced far more cheaply, notwithstanding that
the yield is always small.** It may be questioned
whether the tree might not, for instance, succeed in
Algeria, where already so many exotic perfumery
plants are found.

According to Guibourt,ff the “ macassar oil,” much
prized in Europe for at least some decades as a hair
oil, is a cocoa nut oil digested with the flowers of
Cananga odorata and Michelia Champaca , and
coloured yellow by means of turmeric. In India
unguents of this kind have always been in use.

The name “ Cananga ” is met with in Germany as
occurring in former times. An “ Oleum destillatum
Canangse ” is mentioned by the Leipzig apothecary,
Joh. Heinr. Linck,JJ among “some new exotics” in
the “ Sammlung von Natur- und Medicin- wie, auch
hierzu gehorigen Kunst- und Literatur-Geschichten,
so sich Anno 1719 in Schlesien und andern Landern

* A beautiful figure of this also is given in Blume’s
‘ Flora Javse,’ iii., Magnoliaceae, tab. I.

+ Junghuhn, Java, Leipzig, 1852, 166.

X Jahresbericht d. Pharmacie , by Wiggers and Huse
mann, 1867, 422.

§ Jahresbericht, 1868, 166.

|| Archiv der Pharmacie, ccxiv. (1879), 18.

■[f According to information kindly supplied by Herr
Reymann, in Paris, Nice and Grasse, annually about 200
kilograms are used ; in London about 50 kilograms and
equally as much in Germany (Leipzig, Berlin, Frankfort).

** 25 grams of oil from 5 kilograms of flowers, according
to Reymann.

tt Histoire Naturelle des Drogues Simples, iii. (1850),

XX Compare Fluckiger, ‘Pharmakognosie,’ 2nd edit., 1881,
p. 152.

begeben ” (Leipzig und Budissin, 1719). As, how¬
ever, the fruit of the same tree sent together with
this cananga oil is described by Linck as uncom¬
monly bitter, he cannot probably here refer to the
present Cananga odorata , the fruit-pulp of which is
expressly described by Rumph and by Blume as
sweetish. Further an “ Oleum Canangae, Camel-
straw oil,5’ occurs in 1765 in the tax of Bremen and
Verden.* It may remain undetermined whether
this oil actually came from “ camel-straw,” the
beautiful grass Andropogon laniger.

From a chemical point of view cananga oil has
become interesting because of the information given
by Gal,t that it contains benzoic acid, no doubt in
the form of a compound ether. So far as I, at the
moment, remember the literature of the essential
oils, this occurrence of benzoic acid in plants stands
alone, X although in itself it is not surprising, and
probably the same compound will yet be frequently
detected in the vegetable kingdom. As it was con¬
venient to test the above statement by an examina¬
tion I induced Herr Adolf Convert, a pharma¬
ceutical student from Frankfort-on-Maine, to
undertake an investigation of ilang-ilang oil in
that direction. The oil did not change litmus
paper moistened with alcohol. A small portion
distilled at 170Q C. ; but the thermometer rose
gradually to 290°, and at a still higher temperature
decomposition commenced. That the portions
passing over below 290° had a strong acid reaction
already indicated the presence of ethers. Herr
Convert boiled 10 grams of the oil with 20 grams of
alcohol and 1 gram of potash during one day in a
retort provided with a return condenser. Finally
the alcohol was separated by distillation, the residue
supersaturated with dilute sulphuric acid, and
together with much water submitted to distillation
until the distillate had scarcely an acid reaction.
The liquid that had passed over was neutralized
with barium carbonate, and the filtrate concentrated,
when it yielded crystals, which were recognized as
nearly pure acetate. The acid residue, which con¬
tained the potassium sulphate, wras shaken with
ether ; after the evaporation of the ether there
remained a crystalline mass having an acid reaction
which was coloured violet with ferric chloride.
This reaction, which probably may be ascribed to
the account of a phenol, was absent after the
recrystallization of the crystalline mass from boiling
water. The aqueous solution of the purified
crystalline scales then gave with ferric chloride
only a small flesh-coloured precipitate. The
crystals melted at 120° C. In order to demon¬
strate the presence of benzoic acid’ Herr Convert
boiled the crystals with water and silver oxide
and dried the scales that separated from the
cooling filtrate over sulphuric acid. 0 0312 gram
gave upon combustion (P0147 gram of silver, or
47*1 per cent. The benzoate of silver contains 46 ‘6
per cent, of metal ; the crystals prepared from the
acid of ilang-ilang oil were, therefore, benzoate of
silver. For the separation of the alcoholic constituent,
which is present in the form of an, apparently, not
very considerable quantity of benzoic ether, far

* Fltickiger, ‘Documente zur Geschichte der Pharmacie,’
Halle (1876), p. 93.

t Comptes Bendus, lxxvi. (1873), 1428, and abstracted
in the Pharmaceutical Journal, [3], iv., p. 28; also in
Jahresbericht, 1873, p. 431.

X Overlooking Peru balsam and Tolu balsam.

May 14, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

937

more ilang-ilang oil would be required than was at
command.

Besides the benzoic ether and, probably, a phenol,
mentioned above, there may be recognized in ilang-
ilang oil an aldehyde or ketone, inasmuch as upon
shaking it with bisulphite of sodium 1 observed the
formation of a very small quantity of crystals. That
Gal did not obtain the like result must at present
remain unexplained. Like the benzoic acid the acetic
acid is, no doubt, present in cananga oil in the form
of ether.

BENZOATE OF CALCIUM.*

BY JAMES T. SHINN.

Having been requested by Dr. Albert H. Smith to
prepare some benzoate of calcium for a patient, we at
first made it extemporaneously by rubbing together the
benzoic acid and carbonate of calcium with a little water
until effervescence ceased, making a pill mass of the
benzoate thus formed and dispensing it in gelatin cap¬
sules. As time was not always allowed for thorough
combination, the formation of carbonic acid gas in the
capsules sometimes caused them to swell and become
distorted, and it was thought best to have the salt
already prepared. The proportions of benzoic acid and
calcium in the benzoate are 113 to 20, or of the crystal¬
lized acid and carbonate of calcium, 122 to 50. Hence
the following formula for its manufacture : —

Take of — ^ .

Benzoic acid . . . ^iv. gr. xxxii (1952 grains).

Calcium carbonate . §i. 3V- (800 grains).

Boiling water . . Oiv. or q.s.

Mix the acid and precipitated chalk thoroughly in
a large mortar and add water gradually to allow most of
the carbonic acid gas to escape and prevent frothing over
of the liquid. When the combination has taken place,
or nearly so, the mass is transferred to a porcelain dish
and dissolved in the remainder of the boiling water, with

the exception of a slight excess of carbonate of calcium.
Eilter, while hot, into a shallow dish, when crystals will
form on cooling. The mother-liquors may be evaporated
twice more and yield more crystals, the whole product
being about ^iv. 3V-

The salt is in feathery crystals, of a silky lustre,
odourless, with but slight, rather alkaline taste, and
is soluble in about 24 parts of water. It may be dis
pensed either in capsules or solution, a very good form of
the latter being : —

R Calcii benzoat . gr. cxxviii.

Aquse destillat . D>vi*

Syr. aurantii . f^ii-

M. "Ft. mist.

This makes a solution, by the aid of heat, containing
8 grains to half a fluid ounce, which is the usual dose.

At a meeting of the County Medical Society, Drs.
Smith and O’Hara spoke of the great benefit this pre
paration had been in cases of albuminuria during preg¬
nancy, and, as the salt may be called for and is not on
the price lists of the chemists, a formula for its prepara¬
tion may be useful. The first crop of crystals can be
taken out and dried on bibulous paper within an hour of
the receipt of the prescription by the apothecary.

SALICYLIC ACID FOR BEE STINGS.

First remove the sting as quickly as possible with a
forceps or by scratching with a finger, but never with the
thumb and forefinger, becauses this squeezes more of the
poison into the wound. Next squeeze the wound until a
drop of blood comes out, and rub the place as large as
a dollar with an aqueous or dilute alcoholic solution of
salicylic acid. The effect is still better by injecting the
salicylic acid into the wound with the hypodermic syringe.
After this the spot is painted with collodion, to keep out
the air. — Oil and Drug News.

* American Journal of Pharmacy, April, 1881.

CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION

To he held in the Rooms of the Pharmaceutical Society
on Tuesday , Wednesday and Thursday , May 17 th,
18 th and 19 th.

ROOM No. 1. GROUND FLOOR.

(Materia Medica Museum.)

Scientific Apparatus.

Baker, C., and Co., 244, High Holborn, London , W.C.
Microscopes, for medical and pharmaceutical stu¬
dents and others, with appliances used by brewers.
Magnifiers, Dissecting Microscopes, Dissecting In¬
struments used in Botany.

Collection of Botanical and Chemical Specimens.
Lamps used in Microscopy.

Casella, Louis P., 147, Holborn Bars.

Gimingham’s Sprengel Air-Pump, with five fall
tubes.

Gimingham’s Patent Blow-Pipe.

Casella’s Patent Clinical Thermometer.

Casella’s Benzol Thermometer, for use in retorts.

Davis, Joseph, and Co., Fitzroy Works, Kennington
Park Road, S. E.

New Barometers, in Ionic, Gothic, Mediaeval and
Irish black oak frames, suitable for use in phar¬
macies, as a permanent attraction.

Insulated, Clinical and Bath Thermometers.

The A. B. C. Water Testing Apparatus, containing
sufficient solution for 1000 separate and distinct
tests, in case, with instructions.

De Grave, Short and Co., 59, St. Martins le Grand
A Chemical Balance, in glass case, with 12-inch
beam, and steel knife edges, working on agate
planes, and sensitive to -o-^th grain.

A smaller Balance, with 8-inch beam, sensitive to
^th grain.

Fine Dispensing Scales, in black polished glass case,
with slide motion pillar, sight hole, nickel plated
beam, and two shifting glass pans.

Similar Scales, in mahogany glass case, and shifting
plating copper pan.

Pillar Dispensing Scales, on mahogany box, with
shifting glass pan.

Pillar Dispensing Scales, on mahogany box, with
shifting glass pan, all nickel plated.

Pillar Dispensing Scales, on mahogany box, with
shifting glass pan, all silver plated.

Pillar Dispensing Scales, on mahogany box, with
shifting glass pan and slide motion pillar.

Counter Drug Scales, on mahogany box, with brass
pillar and box end beam.

Counter Drug Scales, on mahogany box, with brass
pillar and hook end beam.

Veterinary Scales, with brass pans, in oak box, and
weights, 4 ounces to \ ounce.

Veterinary Deep Copper Hand Scales and Weights,
4 ounces to ^ ounce.

Box-end Beam Grain Scales, brass pans, in mahogany
box.

Box-end Beam Grain Scales, glass pans, in mahogany
box.

Box-end Beam Grain Scales, glass pans, in mahogany
box, with nickel plated beam.

Box-end Beam Grain Scales, brass pans, in mahogany
box, the whole nickel plated.

Hook-end Beam Grain Scales, brass pans, in ma¬
hogany box.

Hook-end Bearn Grain Scales, glass pans, in mahogany
box.

Medicine Chest Scales.

Poison Scales, in mahogany box, with glass pans
• and weights, 6 grains to |th grain.

Counter Weighing Machine, on japanned stand,
with brass pan for 14 lb.

938

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 14, 1331.

Pedestal Weighing Machine, on mahogany box, with
brass pan for 14 lb.

Chemical Balance, on mahogany box, with specific
gravity pan and weights, 500 grains to y^th grain.

A set stamped brass weights, 1 lb. to £ ounce.
Avoirdupois.

A set stamped iron weights, 7 lb. to £ lb. Avoirdu¬
pois.

A set stamped apothecaries’ brass cup weights, 10
ounces to ^ ounce.

A set apothecaries’ stamped brass cup weights, 4
ounces to ^ ounce.

A set apothecaries’ stamped brass flat weights, 2
ounces to \ ounce.

Half dozen sets, drachm and grain weights (three
sets accurately adjusted and stamped, and three
ordinary stamped sets).

Half dozen sets, drachm and grain weights, in Her¬
man silver (three sets accurately adjusted and
stamped, and three ordinary stamped sets).

Half dozen sets, aluminium grains (three sets accu¬
rately adjusted and stamped, and three ordinary
stamped sets).

Three sets ordinary stamped round grain weights,
with turned up edge.

A set of ordinary stamped grain weights, 1000 to 10.

A set of ordinary stamped grain weights, (short
series, 100 to 10).

Gorham, J., M.R.C.S., Bordyke Lodge , Tunbridge.

Patent New Tubular Balance, used without tangible
weights, these being supplanted by a long arm,
which is lengthened or shortened at pleasure.

Lejeune and Perken, 24, Hatton Garden , London.

Ophthalmoscopes, by Drs. De Wecher, Landolt,
Liebrich and others.

Laryngoscopes, Clinical Thermometers, Portable
Medical Electric Batteries, Botanical Lenses,
Microscopic Objects and Cabinets, etc.

Symons, W. H., 2, Queen's Terrace , St. John's Wood.

New Case for Dispensing Scales.

Scales in ditto.

Wheeler, Edmund, 48, Tollington Load, Hollo¬
way, N.

Achromatic Microscopes, Objectives and Supple¬
ments suitable for Educational Purposes and
Chemical and Analytical Investigations.

Microscopic Objects and Preparations, chiefly in
reference to Botany, Pharmacy and Pathology.

Cabinets for Microscopic Objects.

ROOM No. 2. GROUND FLOOR.

( Chemical Museum.)
Pharmaceutical Apparatus.

Baker, Joseph and Son, 14, Tabernacle Walk,
Finsbury Square, E.G.

Patent Sifting and Mixing Machines.

New Patent “ Hopper ” Mixer.

Morton’s Patent Liquid Mixer.

American Drug Mills.

Bracher, P. H. and Co., 77, High Street , Win-
canton.

“ The Desideratum ” Patent Mixing Machines, the
mixer complete with one sieve.

Ditto, with side outlet.

Bourne and Taylor, Castle Street, High Holbom.

The “Simple ” Pill Coater for hand use.

The “Rotary” „

Stopper Loosener. See also Room No. 4.

Burton, Geo., 232, St. John Street, E.G.

American Drug Mill.

Burroughs, Wellcome and Co., 7, Snow Hill,E.C.

Improved Enterprise Tincture Press.

„ American Drug Mill. See also Room 5.

Digne and Co., 35, Place St. Michel, Coin du Boule¬
vard Chave, Marseilles.

Apparatus for enclosing Powders, etc., in Wafer
Envelopes, etc.

Harvey, Shepherd and Co., 33, 34, 35, Charter-
house Square, E.C.

Cartner’s Pill Coaters.

Corties’ ditto.

New Glass Label Dampers. See also Room No. 4.
Hutchings, J., 11, New Cross Road, S.E.

Champion Label Gummer.

Spile Drawer.

Maws, Son and Thompson, 7 to 12, Aldersgate
Street, E.C.

Pill Machines ; Powder Folders ; Pill Coaters ; Root
Cutters.

Moulds for Pessaries, Suppositories and Bougies.
Bronchitis Kettles and Inhalers.

Infant’s Food Warmers.

Beef Tea Apparatus.

See Room No. 5 for New Revolving Show Counter.
Reynolds, R., 13, Briggate, Leeds.

Model of Stirring Apparatus.

Sanitary and Domestic Appliances Co., 10,
Exchange Arcade, Deansgate, Manchester.

Fielding’s Patent “Indispensable” Double-acting,
High-pressure, Rapid Water Filter.

Shillcock, J. B. , and Son, Bromley, Kent.

Patent Leech Vase.

Safety Poison Labels.

Symes and Co., 14, Hardman Street, Liverpool.

Soluble Bladder Pessaries.

Mould for making ditto. See also Room No. 4.

Young and Postans, 35, Baker Street, W.

Maw’s New Glass Apparatus for collecting Pre¬
cipitates.

Allen’s Invalid’s Travelling Companion.

Allen’s New Ventilating Croup Kettle.

Allen’s Portable Domestic Hot Air and Vapour
Bath. See also Room No. 5.

ROOM No. 3.

Corsan, J. R., London Sandblast Works, 80, Gray's
Inn Road, W.C.

Specimens of Bottles engraved by Sandblast Process.
Cowan, Wm., 24, Avenue Street, Springbum, Glasgow.
Vaccination Shields.

Advertising Tablets Enamelled by New Process.
Day, E. O., M.R.C.S., 78, Waterloo Road, S.E.
Improved Feeding-Bottle.

Evans, Lescher and Webb, 60, Bartholomew Close,
H anovei' Street, Liverpool, and Montreal, Canada.

Materia Medica Cabinets.

Savar’s Specialities.

Druggists’ Sundries. See also Rooms No. 5 and 6.

ROOM No. 4. GROUND FLOOR.

Arnold and Sons, 35 and 36, West Smithfield ,
London, E.C.

Patent Clinical Thermometer, with Coloured Scale
to render the reading more easy, and constriction
to prevent the index from descending into bulb.

May 14, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

939

Patent Vaporizer or Bronchitis Kettle, Inhaler and
Vapour Bath Combined, in which possibility of
burning or getting out of order is prevented.

Patent Hypodermic Syringe, having a small oil reser¬
voir to keep the plunger moist and always ready
for use, with coloured gradations and screwed
mounts.

Patent Eye Syringe, by the use of which access of
air is prevented, and a delicate jet or spray thrown
with or without force, as required.

New Patent Constant Current Battery, requiring re¬
charging only once in two years, and with high
electro-motive force.

Arnold’s Invalid Alarm Bell.

Patent Simplex Enemas.

Registered Portable Enema, which can be carried
about full of fluid and ready for use.

Registered Universal Enema, a combination that
answers for rectum, vagina, eye, ear, nose, or for
cleaning wounds.

Improved Throat Spray Producer, with metallic tube,
which can be bent to any angle.

Lister’s Carbolic Spray Producer, with three metallic
flexible tubes adapted to diffuse or concentrate the
spray as required.

Lister’s Carbolic Steam Spray Producer.

Dr. Benton’s Improved Universal Douche, available
for the eye, ear, nose, or for cleansing wounds.
Alexander’s Urinary Test Case, very portable, con¬
tains everything necessary for use at the bedside.
Ophthalmic and Laryngeal Lamp, with parallel bars
and bull’s-eye condenser.

Instantaneous Vaccinator, superior to anything
hitherto in use.

India Rubber Bandages, free from sulphur.

Registered Desideratum Knife and Fork combined,
for use of invalids and those who have the use of
only one hand, from amputation, paraiysis, etc. .
Human Hair Clipping Instrument, for facilitating
diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the scalp.
Johnson’s New Section Knife, for cutting microscopic
sections.

Bourne and Taylor, Castle Street , High Holborn.

Electro-magnetic Apparatus on marble slab.
Electro-magnetic Apparatus, with indicator regulating
force of current.

Electro - magnetic Apparatus, small size for the
pocket.

Vaccination Shields. Absorbent Cotton Wool.
Lactometers.

Patent Funnel for filtering collodion and ethereal
preparations.

Improved Feeding Bottle.

Seamless Enema, without any metal mounts.
Porcelain Funnels, with handles.

Dr. Taylor’s Glass Inhaler.

A New Adhesive Plaster, soft, pliable, non -irritant,
will adhere to bleeding wounds and will not
harden.

Throat Spray of Glass, without corrosive metal.
Telephonic Stethescope, very sensitive .

Clinical Thermometer with indestructible index.

New Eye Douche.

Harvey, Shepherd and Co., 33, 34, and 35, Charter-
house Square.

New Angular Grain Weights.

New Stamped Drachm Weights.

New Verified Graduated Measures.

New Crackled Glass Spray Diffuser.

The “ Gem,” a smaller Spray Diffuser.

Mather’s New Felt India Rubber Corn Plasters.
Mather’s New Mustard Plasters and Leaves.
Mather’s New Porous Plasters.

Mather’s New Porous Belladonna Plasters.

Mather’s New Porous Capsicum Plasters.

Jahncke, Ernst, Canonbury Works , Dorset Street ,
Essex Road, N.

Patent Metallic Round-cornered Sliding-lid Boxes.
Patent Metallic Round-cornered Hinged-lid Boxes.

Martindale, W., 10, New Cavenish Street.

Portable and Poor Man’s Inhalers, for inhaling
medicated moist re.

Maws, Son and Thompson, 7 to 12, Aldersgate
Street, E.C.

Odorators.

Feeding Bottle Appliances.

Breast Relievers.

Waxed Paper.

Pond’s Extract Co., 482, Oxford Street.

New Enema, with Vaginal Dilator.

Symes and Co., 14, Hardman Street, Liverpool.

Enema Syringe.

Portable Medical Battery, English manufacture.
Portable Medical Battery, French manufacture.
Minature Medical Battery, French manufacture.
Electric Appliances, Dr. Imlach’s Urethral Irrigator,
fitted with Tiemann’s Patent Catheter.

Compress for applying Lotions, etc.

Compress for applying Lotions, Cauty’s Patent.

Rayle’s Self -filling Filter.

Korting’s Vacuum Pump and Gauge.

Wells, Geo., 12, North Street, Westminster.

Improved Feeding Bottles.

ROOM No. 5. FIRST FLOOR.
(Examination Room.)

Maws, Son and Thompson, 7 to 12, Aldersgate
Street, E.C.

New Revolving Fronted Show Counter.

[This counter is placed here on account of being
the only room large enough to exhibit it in.]

Burroughs, Wellcome and Co., 7, Snow Hill, E.C.

The Kepler’s Improved Extract of Malt and Emul¬
sion of Cod Liver Oil with Extract of Malt.

Messrs. Kesson and Robbins/s Oval Capsuled Pills.
Murray and Lanmon’s Original Florida W ater.
Hazeline.

Wyeth’s Compressed Soda Mint Tablets.

Burgoyne, Burbidges, Cyriax and Earries, 16
Coleman Street, E.C.

Vanillin in Crystals; Vanilla Sugar.

Coumarin, Crataegin, Heliotropin.

Naphthalene Monobromide for microscopic purposes.
Oolachan Oil.

Parke, Davis and Co.’s Fluid Extra6ts of Cascara
sagrada (Rhamnus Purshiana), Witch Hazel,
Jamaica Dogwood, Grindelia robusta, Cotton Root
Bark, Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon glutinosum),
Sanguis Bovinus Exsiccatus.

Bush, W . J., and Co., 20 to 23, Artillery Lane
Bishopsgate.

Essential Oils, Perfumes, Fruit Essences, Soluble
Essences, specially adapted for preparing extem¬
poraneously medicated waters, ginger beer and
lemonade.

Granulated Preparations.

Harmless Vegetable Colours and Carmine for

Lozenges. .

New Artificial Essential Oils, for perfuming oils
and soap:— Lilac, Tonquin, Pelargonium.

Oil of Sandal Wood, prepared from the Cochin-
China tree, stated to possess more powerful
medicinal properties than any other kind.

940

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

Christy, T., and Co., 155, Fenchurch Street , E.C.

Alkaloids prepared by A. Petit: —

Sulphate of E serine ; Pilocarpine, pure, Nitrate,
and Hydrochlorate; Tannate of Pelletierine ;
Duboisine Sulphate, and Active Pepsine.
Alkaloids prepared by E. Merck and Co. : —

Aspidospermine, crystalline and amorphous, Ci¬
trate, Sulphate.

Sweet Cayenne.

Seaweed.

Erythrophloeine, for making jelly, etc.

Chaulmoogra Oil and Seeds, Menthol, Spogel Seeds,
Kurchi Seeds, Ajowan Seeds.

Coca Extract and Elixirs (from the green leaves).
Curari in Gourds.

Papaw Leaves, Juice and Papayine.

Duboisia Leaves and Preparations : — Pituri, Guaco,
Damiana, Boldo, Paraguay tea, Atherosperma
moschata, Caroba Leaves, Rhinacanthus communis ,
Goa Powder, Hoang-nan Root, Kava-kava Root,
Sassy or Casca Bark, Mudar Bark, Alstonia Bark,
White Quebracho Bark, and a variety of Japanese
Drugs, Termite Earth, Odika Bread and Fat.

Clayton Aniline Co., Clayton , Manchester.

Pure Benzol, Toluol and Xylol.

„ Nitrobenzol, Nitrotoluol and Nitroxylol.

,, Bi-nitrobenzol and Bi-nitrotoluol.

„ Aniline, Toluidine and Xylidine.

Para-toluidine.

Ortho-toluidine.

Essence of Mirbane for perfumery.

Chlorate of Sodium.

„ Barium.

Corbyn, Stacey and Co., 300, High Holborn, W.C.
New Drugs: — Adonis verncdis, White Quebracho
Bark, Kava-kava Root, Stigmata of Maize,
Euonymin, Gynocardic Acid, Papayine, Oil of
Erigen'on canadensis, Chaulmoogra Oil.

New Preparations : — Liquid Extracts of Coca,
Damiana, Eriodictyon, Guarana, Quebracho, and
Vinca major ; Liquor Opii Dialysati, Liquor Phos-
phori, Liquor Piper methystici, Chaulmoogra Oil
in Perles and Ointment,

Cortis, A. B., 12, South Street , Worthing.

Chloricalcium.

„ in solution.

Gerrard, A. W., University Hospital.

Specimens illustrating the various stages in the
manufacture of Atropine, Duboisine and Hyos-
cyamine.

Evans, Lescher and Webb, 60, Bartholomew Close.

New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Chemicals.
Pharmacopoeia Ointments with “Fossilene ” basis.
Fucus vesiculosus and Preparations.

Coated Pills.

Plasters made with New Basis, and Spread on New
Material.

Membranous Capsules containing Nauseous Medi¬
cines.

Cabinets of Materia Medica.

Mackey, Mackey and Co., 1 and 2, Bouverie
Street , E.C.

Quinquinine ; Mist. Bismuthi Co., Mist. Cerii Co.;
Olei Morrhuae Co.; Theobromolline or Chocolated
Cod Liver Oil.

Saxcere; Phosphorated Saline; Liq. Santal. c.
Cubeb. et Buchu ; Quinine Salicylate ; Citrate of
Iron and Quinquinine.

Morson and Son, Southampton Row.

New Cholagogues. — Ammonium Benzoate; Euonymin;
Iridin; Leptandrin.

[May 14, 1881.

Salicylates of Ammonium, Potassium, Calcium, Zinc,
Iron, Lithium, Cinchonidine and E serine.

New Anesthetics. — Ethidene Dichloride, Methyl
Chloroform, Monochlor-ethylin-chlorid, Solution of
Glonoine, Ethylate of Sodium, Santonate of
Sodium, Citrate of Caffeine, Tannate of Quinine,
01. Pini Sylvestris, ver., Pepsine Lozenges.

Hopkin and Williams, 16, Cross Street , Hatton
Garden , E.C.

Pure Natural Salicylic Acid from Wintergreen Oil ;
Salicylates of Cinchonidine and Quinine, made
with the natural acid and quite neutral; Pure
Natural Salicylate of Sodium and Zinc; Sclerotic
Acid; Crystallized Acetate of Ammonium; Pure
Aldehyde; Beberine; Berberine, pure, Hydro¬
chlorate and Sulphate ; Cerium Citrate and Am-
monio- citrate in scales; Redistilled Chloral
Hydrate ; Daturine ; Diastase ; Eserine Sulphate ;
Eugenol; Fuchsine for mediciual use, free from
arsenic; Horn atropine, pure, and Hydrobromate ;
Hydroquinone ; Pure Oxide of Manganese for use
in medicine : Methyl-strychnia; Muscarine ;
Monobromonaphthalene ; Tannate of Pelletierine ;
Pure Picrotoxin; Pilocarpine Hydrochlorate and
Nitrate ; Potassium Chrysophanate ; Resorcin ;
Terebene ; Pure Urea; Solution of Trimethylamine;
Xylol ; Permanganate of Zinc.

Young and Postans, 35, Baler St., Portman Sq.
Resorcin ; Eugenol.

Pure Natural Salicylic Acid from Oil of Gaultheria;
Clinical Temperature Charts in portfolio, as used in
London Hospital.

ROOM No. 6. FIRST FLOOR.

Chemists’ Aerated Water Co., 45, Gifford Street,
Caledonian Road, N., and Montpelier Gardens,
Harrogate.

Sparkling Rubine.

Sparkling Limine.

Harrogate Kissengen Water.

Harrogate Sulphur Water, strong.

Harrogate Sulphur Water, mild.

Mineral Acid Water.

Evans, Lescher and Webb, Bartholomew Close, E. C.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages.

Montserrat Lime Juice and Cordial.

Vin-Sante, sweet and dry.

Idris and Co., Agincourt Works, Mansfield Road,
Haverstock Hill.

Mineral Water, in syphon bottles.

Aerated Lime Water, in syphon bottles.

Aerated Fluid Magnesia, in syphon bottles.

Aerated Citrate of Caffeine.

Aerated Salicylate of Lithia.

Sparkling Phosphade.

Sparkling Peptade.

Sparkling Lupulade.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages, including —

Sparkling Apple Wine.

Sparkling Orange Wine.

Sparkling Orange Quinine Wine.

Sparkling Peruvian Wine.

Ginger Ale.

Quinine Tonic Water.

Sikkan, a beverage containing all the nutritive con¬
stituents of oatmeal.

Packham and Co., Croydon.

Hedozone.

Soda, Potash and Lithia Water, in electro-silvered
syphons.

Aerated Distilled Water, in electro-silvered syphons

941

May 14, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

ft he Ub armaxmlixat faitnml

^ - ♦ -

SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1881.

THE PROPOSED EXAMINATION REGULATIONS.

When referring some weeks ago to tlie suggestions
offered by Dr. Greenhow in regard to the possible
improvement of the conditions under which the
Society’s examinations are conducted, we had no
expectation that there would be so soon another
official expression of opinion upon this subject, nor
had we any special reason for supposing that the
conclusions arrived at by the Committee appointed
at the instance of Mr. Schacht, to inquire into and
consider the relation of pharmaceutical education
and pharmaceutical examinations, would be so
closely in accord with the measures recommended
by Dr. Greenhow. From a comparison of the
Report presented to the Privy Council, last March,
and the statement made to the Council at its last
meeting of the recommendations which the above-
mentioned Committee offers as the result of its
labours during the past year, it will, however, be
seen that there is such an agreement between the
views of the Government Visitor of Examinations
and the Committee as will go far to demonstrate the
desirability of the proposed new regulations.

In both cases the very large number of failures
among the candidates who present themselves for
examination is the tact which has led to the expres¬
sion of opinion that amended regulations are required.
The frequency of such failure naturally affords evi¬
dence of the existence of defects in the mode in which
some of the candidates are, in early life, trained for
their calling, and though the practical working of
the examination system may be, as Dr. Greenhow
indicates, sufficient to secure the accomplishment
of the objects of the Pharmacy Act, as regarded from
a public point of view, it still remains evident that
as regards the advancement of pharmacy, which
is one of the chief objects of the Pharmaceutical
Society, there is a want of such a uniform sys¬
tem of education as would be sufficient to confer
competent knowledge and skill upon those who intend
to practise pharmacy.

The work undertaken by Mr. Schacht’s Com¬
mittee may therefore be regarded as having in
view this primary object of the Society s Charter,
and the recommendations that have been pre¬
sented to the Council may be construed as an
avowal that it is now time some steps were taken
to promote the establishment of a proper system
of pharmaceutical education. From the account
given of the proceedings of the Committee we are
at present only able to gather that it has consulted
the Professors attached to the School at Bloomsbury
Square, as well as other experienced scientific
teachers, and has taken into consideration their
experience of teaching and of examinations. The

material thus collected is to be presented to the

members of the Council in the form of a printed
report, and the discussion of the subject is to occupy
the Council at an early future meeting. Until this
report has been presented and published we shall
not be in possession of the grounds upon which the
Committee has arrived at its conclusions. Any dis¬
cussion or criticism of the several recommendations
would therefore be premature and out of place at
present. They were, indeed, only received by the
Council as the result of the Committee’s labours, and,
as Mr. Schacht pointed out, requiring the same
serious consideration by the Council that had been
given to the whole subject by the Committee.

In referring to the recommendations of the Com¬
mittee we must, therefore, confine ourselves to
showing the concurrence between them and the
suggestions offered by Dr. Greenhow with the
object of providing a remedy for some of the defects
rendered manifest by the results of the Society’s
examinations. As regards the period for passing
the Preliminary examination being properly fixed
before the admission of youths as apprentices, there
is a complete agreement between the Committee and
the Government Visitor of Examinations, and both
concur in thinking that there should be a sufficient
interval between the passing of that examination
and admission for the Minor examination to admit
of practical training and experience being obtained.

According to this arrangement the candidates for
the Minor examination would require to produce cer¬
tificates of having passed the Preliminary examination
at least three years previously, and also certificates of
having been engaged for not less than three years as
apprentice or pupil with a duly registered chemist
and druggist. As regards the evidence to be
furnished by candidates that they have had due
opportunities of acquiring knowledge of the scien¬
tific subjects that a pharmacist requires to be con¬
versant with, the Committee goes further than
Dr. Greenhow, and while the latter views the
Minor examination as, from his point of view, not
necessitating attendance at a school of pharmacy or a
special curriculum, the Committee recommends that
candidates should be called upon to show that since
the time of passing the Preliminary examination
they have attended courses of lectures on chemistry,
botany and materia rnedica, as well as a course of
instruction in practical chemistry. «

Looking at these proposed regulations merely as
means of protecting candidates against failure in the
Minor examinations it must, we think, be evident
that they are conceived in a spirit of regard for the
interests of those who desire to obtain legal qualifi¬
cation to carry on the business of pharmacy. That
their adoption would conduce materially to lessening
the number of failures is, we think, certain, and that
this would be a step towards the achievement of the
object of the Society’s charter is as little open to
doubt. How far that course may be expedient, and

942

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

under what limitations in respect to those who have
already passed some part or the whole of their ap¬
prenticeship is a matter for further consideration by
the Council, but as the question is one of great in¬
terest in its bearing upon the future of pharmacy in
this country, we may at least commend it to the
careful consideration of every member of the trade.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS OF
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Although the new Weights and Measures Act
has occasioned some trouble and inconvenience to
chemists and druggists, it cannot be denied that the
principle it involves is sound, and that when the
machinery for carrying out its provisions shall have
been properly adjusted it will be on the whole
beneficial. As a step promising to be conducive to
such a result we have to record the formation of an
Association of Inspectors of Weights and Measures,
having for its object the securing of uniformity of
action among them and the exchange of information
and ideas. The inaugural meeting of this Associa¬
tion has just been held at Manchester in the Mayor’s
Parlour, Town Hall, Mr. W. S. Brown (Chairman of
the Weights and Measures Committee of the City
Council) presiding on the first occasion.

Mr. Brown, in opening the proceedings of the
meeting on Monday, expressed gratification that the
Association was being formed and that it would be
a means of removing the difficulties and uncertainty
attending the administration of the Act. He
referred to the enlargement of the duties of
inspectors and to the delicate care they would
require to exercise in dealing with troy bullion
weights and the glass measures used by chemists
and druggists, expressing his conviction that their
object in carrying out the Act was not to oppress
tradesmen or to ask them to comply with require¬
ments that would be attended with difficulty, but
simply to secure the public against wilful fraud and
gross carelessness.

Rules and Regulations for the guidance of the
Association were then adopted, and after lunch a
paper was read by Mr. Wimhurst (the Inspector of
Weights and Measures for Manchester) on his
experience of the Weights and Measures Acts.
Considerable discussion followed, and it was resolved
to print and circulate Mr. Wimhurst’s paper.

In the appointment of officers for the ensuing
year, Mr. W. S. Brown was chosen as President,
Mr. Alderman Chandley, Vice-President, and Mr.
Winhurst, Secretary. In the evening, some thirty
gentlemen dined together at the Albion Hotel, the
Mayor of Manchester presiding and the Mayor of
Salford occupying the vice-chair.

On the following day Mr. Alderman T. Hidderley
(Chairman of the Weights and Measures Committee
of the Stockport Town Council) presided, and Mr.
Hare, of Birmingham, read a paper on the Counter
Weighing Machine. In the discussion that fol-

[May 14, 1881.

lowed it was stated that a large number of defective
machines were made and used. A suggestion being
made that scales and weighing machines should be
stamped as well as weights, it was urged that a petition
should be presented to the President of the Board •
of Trade, but the Chairman thought the matter
would be better left to Town Councils as one more
fit to be dealt with by them than by manufacturers
or inspectors.

THE BENEVOLENT FUND.

The decision of the Council to place prominently

on record in the Society’s premises tbe names of
donors of moderately large sums to the Benevolent
Fund will, it may be hoped, prove advantageous as
a stimulant to liberality in that direction. According
to the resolution passed last week the first list of
names will include those of all individuals who before
the 1st of July next have given twenty guineas or up¬
wards, and of all firms which have given forty guineas
or upwards, in the aggregate, in sums of not less
than five guineas at any one time. It will probably
be the case that some who have already contributed
sums above five guineas, but not equal to the mini¬
mum of twenty guineas in the case of individuals or
forty guineas in the case of firms, will be desirous
of making up their donations to the necessary amount,
and we therefore take the liberty of pointing out that
in order to be included in the first list the donations*
will have to be received by the Secretary by the
end of next month.

THE ANNUAL DINNER.

The Annual Dinner of the Members of the Phar¬
maceutical Society and their Friends, as most of our
readers are aware, will be held in Willis’s Rooms
on Tuesday next, and there is a fair prospect that it |
will prove as pleasant and successful a reunion as any
in previous years. The comfort of the visitors to such
gatherings, however, is always dependent upon the
adequacy of the previous arrangements and therefore
it is desirable, in order to facilitate the work of the
Committee, that gentlemen who intend to be present
and have not yet obtained tickets should do so at
once. As there are no Stewards this year, all
applications for tickets should be made direct to the
the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Richard Bremridge,

17, Bloomsbury Square.

THE EXHIBITION.

On another page will be found a Catalogue of the
Drugs, Chemicals, Apparatus, and other articles of
interest to pharmacists, which will be exhibited in
the rooms of the Pharmaceutical Society, on Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday of next week. It may be
convenient to point out that on the evenings of
Tuesday, when the Annual Dinner takes place at
Willis’s Rooms, and Wednesday, when the Annual
Conversazione will be held in the South Kensington
Museum, the Exhibition will not be open later than
5 p.in., but on Thursday it will remain open till
10 p.m. On Tuesday and Thursday all chemists
and druggists, whether connected with the Society
or not, are invited to view the display ; but on Wed¬
nesday, the day of the Annual Meeting, only Members
and Associates in Business of the Society will be
admitted.

!

May 14, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

943

Ibarmaceutteal Suncto of JWanft.

Imbrntml Stms actions.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

May 4, 1881.

Present — Professor Tichborne, President ; Dr. Aquilla
Smith, Vice-President ; Sir G. B. Owens, Messrs. Allen,
Brunker, Collins, Hayes, Hodgson and Simpson.

The minutes having been read,

Mr. Allen asked why the Law Committee had not
been summoned since last Council meeting, a case having
been referred back to it.

Mr. Fennell (Registrar) said he had not been directed
to summon it.

Mr. Brunker said Mr. Hayes and himself had con¬
sidered the matter. The gentleman who had reported
the case had written to say that his witness would not
come forward, and that he understood that the Council,
when a case was reported, would undertake to obtain
evidence, and having a difficulty in procuring an informer,
they considered it was useless to call the Committee until
some person had been obtained to act as informer.

Mr. Allen objected to the work of the Committee
being carried on by two or three members in an informal
manner.

The minutes ■were then confirmed.

The following letter from the Pharmaceutical Society
of Great Britain was then read, and ordered to be in¬
scribed upon the minutes : —

“ Dear Sir, — I have to inform you that your letter of
January 12* with proposed amendments of the Pharmacy
Act (Ireland), was under the consideration of the Council
of this Society at its meeting yesterday.

“ I am requested to say that the Council desires to ex¬
press its sympathy with the efforts of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Ireland to obtain amended legislation, but
that, in the absence of any special knowledge of the
requirements of pharmacy in Ireland, the Council is
unable to properly discuss the particular amendments
now suggested.

“I am, dear Sir,

“ Yours faithfully,

“Elias Bremridge,

“ Secretary .

“To J. E. Brunker, Esq., M.A.,

“ 68, Grafton Street, Dublin.”

Dr. Aquilla Smith called attention to the returns of the
examiners, which he considered defective in one respect :
that the results of the written portion of the examina¬
tion were not, except in one of the subjects, given
separately, so that the Council could not properly judge
the results. He also considered that in one of the sub¬
jects the standard of the questions was too low. At the
same time he did not like interfering with examiners ;
but he thought it proper to call the attention of the
Council to the returns, which he thought might in future
have an additional return of the marks awarded for the
written portion, so as to separate them from those ob¬
tained at the vivd voce examination.

The President deprecated dictating to the examiners.

Sir G. B. Owens agreed, and considered that when
they had appointed examiners they ought to have every
confidence in them, and suggested that the method of
awarding marks might be improved.

Dr. Collins thought that the present method was not
good.

Mr. Hodgson announced that the balance in bank to
the credit of the Society was sufficiently large to admit of
the withdrawal of £100 for investment, and gave notice
of a motion to that effect for next Council meeting.

The meeting then adjourned.

LIVERPOOL CHEMIST’S ASSOCIATION.

The thirteenth and concluding ordinary meeting was
' reld at the Royal Institution, on Thursday evening, April
28, the President, Dr. Symes, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed, and the following donations to the library were
announced : — The current numbers of the Pharmaceutical
Journal, from the Society; the Canadian Pharmaceutical
Journal , from the Editor; and the Chemists' Journal,
::rom the President.

Mr. W. Le Couteur was elected a member.

The President exhibited a very fine specimen of Persian
opium, also a tincture prepared from same, and explained
that this class of opium is now sent over of very superior
quality and much freer from oil than formerly. The
sample exhibited contained 12 per cent of morphia.

The Honorary Secretary, Mr. Michael Conroy, read a
paper on “The Adulteration of Olive Oil,” which is
printed on page 933.

A lengthy discussion followed, joined in by the Presi¬
dent, Messrs. Davies, Farmer, Haddock, Mason, Parkin¬
son, Watt, Williams and others.

Mr. Conroy replied at length to the points raised in the
discussion, and at the conclusion was awarded a hearty
vote of thanks.

The President then delivered his Valedictory Address
as follows : —

Valedictory Address.

This evening we hold the concluding general meeting
of the present session, and it becomes, my duty to say a
few words of a retrospective nature. In due course you
will have the annual report of the Association, and it is
not my wish to anticipate the work of the Council in this
respect other than to say that the session has been a
fairly successful one.

On looking around on the world of physical science,
outside the special province of this Association, at the
work that has been done since I addressed you in April
last, we do not find that the year has been marked by
any of those startling discoveries which characterized the
two or three previous years. No new means of conveying,
or rather of reproducing sound hundreds of miles distant,
or of magnifying sounds of the faintest into those of con¬
siderable force ; no new machine for the mechanical pre¬
servation and reproduction of speech has been invented ;
no new element of importance discovered, or gas previously
known only as gaseous has been liquefied. No process
for the artificial production of real diamonds or other gems
has been evolved, neither has the world been startled by
any announcement of extraordinary discoveries by Mr.
Edison concerning the electric light. Yet science has not
been retrograde or even stationary; it has been progres¬
sive. The telephone and microphone have been perfected,
and arrangements for working them on a large and im¬
portant scale have been consolidated. The electric light
has been making steady progress, and for public purposes
bids fair to be the light of the future.

The Chemical Society has been abundently supplied
with papers, many of which have treated of important
subjects, and have indicated marked progress in the
science we profess and are assumed to have a special
knowledge of. Amongst those papers, etc., the following
attracted my special attention “ The Comparative
Value of Different Methods of Fractional Distillation,”
by Mr. Brown; “ On the Relation between the Molecular
Weight of Substances and their Specific Gravity when in
a Liquid State,” by Professor Thorpe ; “On River Water,”
by Professor Tidy^ and “ On the Action of Air on Peaty
Water,” by Professor Frankland; “On the Analysis of
Organic Bodies containing Nitrogen,” by Mr. Perkin;
“On the Relation between the Molecular Structure of
the Carbon Compounds and their Absorption Spectra,”
by Professor Hartley.

944

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 14, 1881

A discovery in technical chemistry which will probably
prove of importance is that of a method of artificially pre¬
paring indigo, the starting point being toluene, which
associates it with coal tar colours.

Pharmacy, unfortunately, has not advanced as much as
we could have wished. About two and a-half years since
I read a paper before the members of this Association
entitled “ Suggestions for a New Edition of the British
Pharmacopoeia.” It was then and subsequently admitted
on all sides amongst pharmacists (and by many medical
men) that a new edition was desirable, but the work of
revision has not even yet commenced ; indeed, the Medi¬
cal Council, “ with a large stock of the present edition on
hand,” does not seem to see the necessity for a new edition.
This points clearly to the desirability of the pharmacist
having an improved position with regard to the work he
is called on to obey in the preparation of medicines, a
position which is regarded as his right in all other coun¬
tries. Not only has the pharmacist been ignored, but his
legal position has been assailed in another direction; the
loss of an important trial in the House of Lords has
justly caused some anxiety on the part of those who have
to depend on pharmacy for a livelihood. I am not an
advocate of general protection; free trade has become
one of the institutions of British commerce ; but under all
rule and all parties this so-called “ free trade ” has to be
conducted according to certain conditions and much of it
under certain restraint. The position which the Govern¬
ment takes is most anomalous, and its action inexplicable
with regard to a certain portion of the trading com¬
munity of this country, and particularly so with regard
to pharmacy ; for whilst there is a constant demand for
new restrictions and new regulations on the sale of
certain poisons, the great bulk of drugs, including many
deleterious substances and potent poisons, may be sold
indiscriminately by ignorant hucksters.

Again, whilst those who desire to practise and ad¬
vance pharmacy as individuals have very properly to
be educated and pass certain examinations before
they can do so, and even then have to conduct their
business under certain restrictions; a number of indi¬
viduals, as a corporate body, without any knowledge
of the business, and whose only object is avarice, may,
without restriction or restraint scatter poisons broadcast
if they so please.

In May last the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society held an exhibition of chemical and pharma¬
ceutical apparatus and other matters of interest to
chemists and pharmacists at Bloomsbury Square. This
not only improved the dull and routine character of the
annual meeting, but it afforded an opportunity for the
interchange of opinion and a centre of discussion on
subjects in which all present could enter with deep
interest. This was a decided success, in fact the only
success worth recording in the Society’s report for the
year. Great credit is due to Mr. Holmes, the Curator of
the Society’s Museum, for the energetic manner in which
he dealt with the undertaking and for the careful and
systematic manner in which the arrangements were
carried out.

The National Trade Association still perseveres in the
good work it has in hand, commending itself to the
support of all those who have the trade interest of
pharmacy at heart. Coming now to our own Association,
I have of late been looking into its history, and have
been much interested in these records of the past. The
Association appears to have been founded in 1849, but
the first copy of proceedings and annual report in our
possession is for the session 1850 to 1851. We still have
some few of the founders amongst us, and a gentleman
(Mr. R. Sumner) whose name appears early in the
history of the Association as its treasurer holds that
office at the present time. One or two have gone abroad,
whilst many have passed away to their final rest, the
present session having experienced the loss of one who
for many years took a deep interest in the proceed¬

ings and who for some years occupied this chair as
president.

There has recently been resuscitated a question as to
whether the Association should discuss matters which do
not come strictly within the objects as defined in its-
present laws, viz., chemical and pharmaceutical science.

It is not my wish that you should answer this question
to-night, but simply that we should gather from these
records before us the objects for which it was founded;
the periods of its history at which it was most successful
and the usages at those periods down to the present time.
[Extracts were read from the early laws and from the
reports of different years’ proceedings.] I think you will
gather from these facts that the Association was origi¬
nally one of chemists and druggists, that its proceedings
have embraced many subjects which have been neither
chemical nor pharmaceutical, that it has been most
successful when a fair proportion of subjects having a
trade or commercial interest have been discussed, and
that the object of its founders has been best attained
when its greatest general success has been achieved.

I admit that now we have both local and national
trade associations we ought to direct our attention chiefly
to the furtherance of chemical and pharmaceutical
science ; but I must enter my protest against any attempt
to unduly narrow the scope of our operations, to stultify
its growth, to minimize its usefulness and so render it a
thing with a name but without life, a mere existence
without usefulness.

In conclusion I wish to tender my best thanks to all
who have helped to make the past session successful, and
to ask them to accord the same support to my successor,
whom I will now ask you to elect.

Mr. R. M. Sumner, in a graceful and complimentary
speech, moved that a vote of thanks be given to the
President. This was seconded by Mr. A. H. Mason,
F.C.S., and carried with acclamation.

Election of President for the Next Session.

Mr. A. H. Mason, E.C.S., Vice-President, said it-
would be a difficult matter to give the President notice
to quit, had he not already informed them that his lease
had expired, and told the speaker that he did not see
his way to renew the lease. It had been generally
understood that the chair should pass on to the Vice-
President, but he did not see it was at all expedient that
that course should be adopted at the present time ; he,
therefore trusted that the members would not think it
intrusive, in the circumstances, if he undertook to
nominate a President. The gentleman he intended to-
name had already worked three years actively for the
benefit of the Association, and, as their Honorary
Secretary, had, by his ability, courteous manner and
tact, so successfully provided for the meetings, that
there had always been a good supply of papers. He begged
to name Mr. Michael Conroy, F.C.S., as President
elect.

Mr. A. Abraham in complimentary terms seconded the
nomination, which was supported by Mr. Edward Davies,
F.C.S., F.I.C.

The ballot was then taken, and the President declared
Mr. Conroy unanimously elected.

Mr. Conroy, in acknowledging the honour conferred
upon him, said that he felt the responsibility to be
very great, and that this feeling was intensified when
he considered the qualifications of the able practical
chemists and eminent pharmacists over whom he had
been elected to preside. The choice, however, was
theirs and not his, and therefore he hoped they would
overlook his shortcomings and render him their valuable
assistance. With this kindly help he promised that no¬
effort would be wanting on his part to carry out the
duties of the chair to the honour and advancement of the
Association.

May 14, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

945

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting was held in Anderson’s
College, 204, George Street, on Wednesday, May 4, the
Vice-President, Mr. Robert Brodie, in the chair.

After the adoption of the minutes of the previous meeting
the Secretary, Mr. J. C. Hunter, read a report of the
transactions of the society for the session 1880-81. This
stated that in the course of the session papers had been
read before the Association by Messrs. Kinninmont,
Walker, Gilmour, Paterson, Clarke and Hunter. The
meetings had not been so well attended as in some former
sessions, although the membership was about as large.
There had been no educational business in connection
with the society this session, but a general meeting of the
trade, called by public advertisement in the newspapers,
was held in Anderson’s College, 204, George Street, on
January 25, to discuss what steps were required with re¬
ference to the proposed Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill.
At that meeting the Bill was discussed, and a number of
resolutions were drawn up and transmitted to the Presi¬
dent of the Pharmaceutical Society to be read at the
Council meeting, on the day that the proposed Bill was to
be debated upon by them. The London Council, in de¬
ference to the wishes of the Scotch members, had agreed
that the appointment of Scotch examiners should remain
as formerly.

Mr. Maltman, Treasurer, then submitted his financial
statement, which showed a balance in favour of the
Society of £14 16s. ; this includes a balance of £3 8s. 9 d.
from the Library Fund.

Mr. J. A. Clarke, Librarian, gave in his statement of
the books perused by the members during the session, and
as convener of the price list committee he intimated that
he had a balance of cash on hand from sale of price lists
during the session, after deducting expenses, of £4 13s.

Mr. Illingworth, Secretary Assistant Section, also read
his report of work done during the session, which has
already appeared in the pages of the Journal.

Mr. Clarke moved the adoption of the reports. This
was seconded by Mr. John Currie, who said that although
the attendance had not been satisfactory this session,
still the subscriptions had come in well, and through
that, the financial condition of the Society was sound,
and he hoped that next winter there would be a larger
attendance of members at the usual meetings.

Mr. Currie moved a hearty vote of thanks to President,
Vice-President, Secretary and other office-bearers for
their exertions during the past session. This was duly
awarded by the members.

Mr. Brodie, Vice-President, in his closing remarks,
alluded to the loss the Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland
has sustained in the death of Mr. John Mackay, who so
long and ably filled the position of Honorary Secretary
to the North British Branch of the Society in Edinburgh.
Mr. Kinninmont endorsed in a few words what Mr.
Brodie had said with reference to his late friend and
colleague.

Owing to the lateness of the hour, Mr. J. A. Clarke
moved the adjournment of the meeting and the postpone¬
ment of the election of President and office bearers for
the ensuing session. This was seconded by Mr. Simpson
and approved of by the members.

The meeting was adjourned accordingly sine die.

NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The usual monthly meeting in connection with the
above Association was held at Britannia Chambers,
Pelham Street, on Tuesday last, April 26, the President,
Mr. R. FitzHugh, F.C.S., occupied the chair.

There was a good attendance of members and as¬
sociates, and after the usual formal business had been
transacted,

Mr. C. L. Rothera, B.A, gave a very interesting

lecture upon “Some Interesting Relationships existing
between Plants and Animals.” It was really an answer
to two questions which have recently been asked in con¬
nection with the science examinations, viz., “ What ad¬
vantage is it to plants to have irregular flowers ? ” and
“ What contrivances are found amongst flowers for pre¬
venting access of insects ? ” In answering the former
question, the lecturer first described a perfect flower,
then several kinds of irregular ones. He then based his
remarks chiefly on Darwin’s researches, proving that
fertilization was chiefly carried on by certain insects in
search of honey carrying with them the pollen from one
flower to another, and not so much by the generating
organs of one flower fertilizing itself. He then showed
that the irregular forms of flowers were such as to facili¬
tate not only the entrance of the insects into the flowers,
but also that the pollen should be so deposited on these
insects in a proper and convenient form as to be trans¬
mitted to the ovaries of others, thus causing cross fertili¬
zation. In answering the second question, the lecturer
showed that whilst it was advantageous to the flower
that certain insects should have access to it, it was also
advantageous that others should not have such access ;
nature, therefore, provided certain contrivances, such as
hairs, viscid secretions, or receptacles for water, etc., to
prevent such insects as ants, slugs, etc., gaining admission
to them.

The lecture, which was fully illustrated by diagrams,
was listened to with intense interest. At the conclusion,
a unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Rothera.

EDINBURGH CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

Annual Supper.

The fourth annual supper of the Association was held
on the evening of Thursday, April 14, in the Waterloo
Hotel. There were about seventy gentlemen present.
Mr. J. D. Robertson occupied the chair, and Messrs.
Hatton and Hill officiated as croupiers.

Supper being served, the Chairman gave the usual
loyal and patriotic toasts, that of the “Army, Navy,
and Reserve Forces,” being acknowledged by Mr. D. M.
Brown.

In proposing “ Success to the Association,” the Chair¬
man made reference to the encouragement the Associa¬
tion had received during the past session, especially in
regard to increased membership and greater interest in
the meetings. He had frequently heard doubts expressed
as to whether there were any advantages to be derived
from joining the Association, but the experience of three
sessions seemed to show that there were advantages.
These advantages were chiefly educational, and those
derived from members of the same calling meeting one
another, and he pointed to the fact that the membership
was larger during the past session than during any
previous one as a proof that these advantages were being
increasingly appreciated. He was confident that few, if
any, of those who had attended the meetings last session
had not learned something, and if members would con¬
sider it both their duty and privilege to add to the
interest of the meetings the Association would go on and
prosper.

Tne toast was warmly responded to.

Mr. P. Boa, in proposing “ The University and Royal
Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons,” said that this was
a toast which, however imperfectly he might introduce it,
was sure, of its own inherent merits, to command accept¬
ance. If universities were to be judged by their fruits
they need have no fear for the honour of the university
of Edinburgh. Pharmacists as a class, did not, he feared,
sufficiently avail themselves of its privileges. This was
to be regretted because, apart from the thorough instruc¬
tion imparted within its walls, there were the noble
associations connected with it, which were calculated to
kindle in sensitive minds an enthusiasm which might

946

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 14, 1881.

produce good fruit in after years. Although attendance
at any of its classes was not compulsory for the examina¬
tions of the Pharmaceutical Society, yet the opinion that
such should be the case was gaining ground, and he
hoped in a few years to see the triumph of that idea.
The Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons fulfilled
important duties and did good work. The illustrious
names on their respective rolls of fellows were sufficient
indication of their worthiness of the positions they
occupied as licensing bodies. Much had been said and
written of late regarding the relations existing between
medical men and pharmacists. These relations, he be¬
lieved, were as a rule of a friendly kind. There was one
thing in which he would like to see the co-operation of a
medical man and a pharmacist and that was in the pro¬
duction of a manual of materia medica, which, while
giving the usual outline of the therapeutic properties
and doses of drugs, should at the same time give a fair
representation of the most recent improvements in their
pharmaceutical manipulation.

The toast was acknowledged by Dr. William Craig, who
strongly advised the members to devote themselves to
the development and elucidation of the pharmacy of the
various drugs which they met with, and which offered a
wide field of usefulness in the department in which it was
their special function as pharmacists to work. By so
doing they would not only confer dignity on their own
profession but bring blessings to suffering humanity.

The “ North British Branch of the Pharmaceutical
Society,” was proposed by Mr. J. R. Hill. He regretted
that the duty of proposing this toast had not been put in
abler hands. He was still so young that the history of
the Pharmaceutical Society in Edinburgh came down to
him only as a tradition; yet it was a tradition which formed
a bright page in the history of pharmacy, and one which it
was their duty and privilege to maintain. Referring to
the founders of the North British Branch, he said that
one of them was so inseparably linked with the Society
which he had so long and ably served, that the name of
Mackay had become synonymous with the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society all over Scotland and beyond it. In speak¬
ing of the North British Branch they were naturally led
to turn their thoughts to those subjects which interested
British pharmacists generally, and foremost amongst
these they might put the appeal which had been decided
against them in the House of Lords, and the action to
which that result had led. Referring to the Pharmacy
Act Amendment Bill he said that the Council in London
went completely out of its way in making an attempt,
in the first clause of that Bill to denationalize the Scotch
board of examiners. While their English friends had
been kind enough to suggest that the opposition of
Scotch chemists to this clause proceeded from stupid
clannishness, he thought there were at least three good
reasons why the change should not have been attempted.
Firstly, it was entirely uncalled for; secondly, it was
repugnant to those feelings of sturdy independence
which form a prominent characteristic of Scotchmen;
and thirdly, they feared a revival of that spirit of
centralization which threatened, at one time, to deprive
them of a council and board of examiners altogether.
In these and other things to which he referred, they
looked to the North British Branch to guard their
interests, and they believed it would not disappoint
them. He deeply regretted that owing to the serious
illness of Mr. Mackay, Mr. Stenhouse could not be
present that night, and he was denied the expected
pleasure of coupling this toast with his name.

The toast was briefly acknowledged by Mr. D. Maclaren.

The other toasts were “ The Office Bearers,” by Dr.
Craig; “ Pharmaceutists,” by Mr. Hutton; “TheLadies,”
by Mr. Thomson; “The Chairman and Croupiers,” by
Mr. Edington.

The evening’s proceedings were enlivened by numerous
songs and recitations by members of the Association and
friends.

OLDHAM CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held in the Church
Institute, Oldham, on Monday evening, May 2, Mr.
Bambridge, President, in the chair. After the minutes
of the preceding meeting had been read and accepted,
the President called upon Mr. Blanche to deliver his
second lecture on “The Teeth.”

In commencing, Mr. Blanche briefly recapitulated
the substance of his preceding lecture, afterwards
entering more fully into the description of the minute
structure of the tooth, the diseases to which it is liable,
and the conservative and radical treatment of the same.
Mr. Blanche also gave a short account of the various
amalgams and tooth-stoppings used by dentists, showing
their composition and virtues, and the drawbacks attending
the use of some of them.

Mr. Watts proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Blanche
for his interesting lecture, the motion being seconded by
Mr. Heathcote and unanimously adopted.

NORTHAMPTON PHARMACEUTICAL
ASSOCIATION.

The closing meeting of the session was held at the
School of Pharmacy, College Street, on Tuesday, May 10,
1881, the President, Mr. G-. C. Osborne in the chair.

The accounts having been audited and found correct,

The Vice-President, Mr. J. Hayllar, read an exceed¬
ingly interesting and instructive paper on “ Dialysed
Iron.” A short discussion followed, after which a cordial
vote of thanks was passed for the paper. This paper was
the second of a series commenced a month ago, when the
President read a very instructive one on “ The Micro¬
scope,” describing its construction and optical principles,
and illustrating it by diagrams and figures.

The Chairman next gave a short risumi of the session,
stating that fair progress had been made in all subjects.
He said he should be very pleased to meet the members
occasionally during the summer for botany classes. He
also said that the society was much indebted to Messrs.
Southall, Brothers, and Barclay for kindly presenting one
of their materia medica cabinets, which would be very
useful.

A vote of thanks to the officers brought the meeting to
a close.

Utocecbings of Scientific Societies.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday, May
5, Dr. Roscoe, President, in the chair.

The following certificates were read for the first time
— G-. H. Bostock, W. Bedford, J. M. Collett, A. E.
Davies, J. E. Doyle, C. W. Marsh, A. Philip.

During the evening a ballot was held and the follow¬
ing gentlemen were declared by the scrutators, Dr.
Hugo Muller and Professor McLeod, to be duly elected
Fellows of the Society: — A. J. Anderson, F. J. 0.
Farroll, T. R. Ord, G-. E. Robinson, A. J. Shilton, W. R.
Smith, F. P. Venable, Gr. H. With.

The following papers were read —

On the Action of Humic Acid on Atmospheric Nitrogen.
By E. W. Prevost. — The author has repeated the three
following experiments of E. Simon ( Landes . Vers. Stats.,
xviii.): — (1) Humic acid and water were sealed up in a
tube containing nitrogen. (2) Nitrogen was passed for
twelve hours through a Liebig’s potash bulb containing
water and humic acid. (3) Humic acid and water were
placed in an ordinary flask whose mouth was closed by a
caoutchouc stopper. In all these experiments, Simon
states that perceptible quantities of ammonia were
formed. The author was unable to confirm this state-

May 14, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

947

ment ; in only one case was any formation of ammonia
observed. In this experiment 3 grams of humic acid were
hermetically sealed in a glass tube with 20 c.c. of water
and 76 '6 c.c. of air, and exposed to the light for eighteen
months; at the end of that time the water contained
ammonia equal to 019 c.c. of nitrogen. The author
used two samples of humic acid, one purchased from
Hopkin and Williams, the other prepared by himself
from peat. The humic acid was not soluble in water.

Dr. Gilbert said that he was disposed to agree with
the conclusions of Dr. Prevost that there was at present
no proof of the absorption of nitrogen from the air by
ordinary soils. With cereal crops 20 lbs. of nitrogen
could be taken out of a soil per acre, and then a distinct
decrease in the nitrogen in the soil could be noticed by
analysis ; but in the case of the leguminosae the case was
not so clear. For instance, 200 lbs. of nitrogen could be
removed per acre with a clover crop, and yet not only
was there no decrease in the nitrogen of the soil, but in
the surface soil an increase could be proved, after the
removal of the crop. Where this increase came from
had not yet been satisfactorily settled. One theory was
that it came from the nitrogen in the air ; another that
the wide-spreading clover roots abstracted the nitrogen
from a considerable depth of soil ; and from the falling
leaves, etc., the nitrogen in the surface soil increased.
It must also be considered that there was some difficulty
in getting a fair sample of the soil, and that the quantity
of combined nitrogen in an acre of ordinary soil 4 feet
6 inches deep was enormous (about 10,000 lbs), as com¬
pared to the above quantities; again, although clover
crops are to a certain extent indifferent to nitrogen they
do not get on in a soil where there is no nitrogen.

On the Active and Inactive Amylamines corresponding
to the Active and Inactive Alcohols of Fermentation. By
R. T. Plimpton. — The author has studied these bodies in
order to see whether any difference similar to those
which distinguish active from inactive amyl alcohol can
be detected in their corresponding derivatives. The in¬
active amylamines were obtained by treating the mixed
alcohols with gaseous hydrochloric acid ( Compt . Rend.,
Ixxvii., 1021), which first attacks the inactive alcohol ; a
quantity of inactive amyl chloride was thus procured.
The chloride was heated with its own volume of
saturated alcoholic solution of ammonia, and the result¬
ing hydrochlorides distilled with potash. The amyl¬
amines so obtained were separated by fractionation, etc.
Monamylamine, b.p. 96°-97°, had no action on polar¬
ized light. Diamylamine, b.p. 185°-186°; the hydro¬
chloride is insoluble in ether. Triamylamine, b.p. 237° ;
the hydrochloride is soluble in ether. In each case the
platinochloride, aurochloride, and the hydrochloride were
prepared and examined. Active amylamines. — About
3 litres of the mixed alcohols were distilled in a current
of hydrochloric acid for five weeks until the quantity
was reduced to 760 grams in a 10 centimetre tube,
rotation = 4°. The monamylamine was obtained partly
by converting the alcohol into cyanate and cyanurate of
amyl and boiling with potash, and partly by heating the
bromide to 100° with alcoholic ammonia. A length of
10 centimetres rotated 3° 5' to 3° 30' to the left; b.p.,
96°-97°; its hydrochloride is deliquescent and its solution
rotates feebly to the right. The diamylamine was
obtained by heating the active amyl bromide to 130°
with its own weight of alcoholic ammonia, b.p. 182°-184°;
10 centimetres rotated 5° 15' to the right. The hydro¬
chloride is easily soluble in water, alcohol and ether; it is
optically more active than the free amine. The triamyl¬
amine was obtained by treating the active diamylamine
with amyl bromide, b.p. 230°-237° ; 10 centimetres ro¬
tated 44° 15' to the right; the auro- and platinochlorides
were prepared. The salts of the active amylamines
differ from their inactive isomers in being deliquescent
and difficult to crystallize; they are also more soluble, The
inactive salts on the other hand crystallize well. The
boiling points and specific gravities also differ slightly. A

Cornu polariscope was used, and the rotation is given for
the yellow-ray.

On the Action of Sodium Alcoholates on Fumaric Ethers.
By T. Pukdie. — Wislicenus long since investigated the
action of the alkali metals on ethyl fumarate. Sodium had
no action at ordinary temperatures, but potassium acted
vigorously, producing, however, such a complicated re¬
action as to offer but little prospect of elucidation. More
recently, by the action of sodium ethylate in alcoholic
solution and subsequent addition of methyl iodide, a di¬
basic acid was obtained, which had the formula C6H10Og.
The author has undertaken this research to determine the
constitution and mode of formation of this acid. The
fumaric acid was prepared in the usual manner from
malic acid. The ethylic ether was prepared in three dif¬
ferent ways : — By leading hydrochloric acid gas into a mix¬
ture of alcohol and acid ; by treating the acid with sul¬
phuric acid and alcohol ; by the action of silver fumarate
on ethyl iodide. The first method is attended with cer¬
tain disadvantages. The action of sodium ethylate and
methyl iodide on ethyl fumarate was conducted according
to the well-known method used at Wurzburg in the pre¬
paration of the organic disubstituted aceto-acetic ethers.
At first two molecules of methyl iodide were used to two
atoms of sodium and one molecule of ethyl fumarate ;
finally half the quantity of sodium and methyl iodide was
used in order to secure a better yield. The mixture was
heated for twenty minutes, when it had a neutral reaction.
On the addition of water an oil separated, boiling at 225° ;
it proved to be the acid C6H10O5 ; it was converted into a
lead salt which was decomposed by sulphui*etted hydro¬
gen. The pure acid, crystallized in vacuo, melted at
86°. When ethyl iodide was substituted for methyl
iodide, in the above reaction the same acid was obtained.
Finally the action of sodium ethylate alone on ethyl
fumarate was studied; the same acid was produced.
Subsequent investigation confirmed the view that it was

iT_ i ^ v • j l CH(C,H5)COOH .
an ethyl ether malic acid j (2) JJ. OO OH isomeric

with Desmondesir’s monethyl malate. The author has
studied its properties and formed its calcium, barium and
silver salts. The action of sodium isobutylate on isobutyl
fumarate was investigated in a similar way. Isobutyl

malic acid j was obtained and its salts

studied. When sodium ethylate free from alcohol is added
to ethyl fumarate an addition product is apparently
formed, from which possibly by the addition of alcohol
iodide the synthesis of homologous acids might be effected.
The author promises further research on this subject.

On the Products of the A ction of Alkalies on Ethylic /3
Ethylaceto Succinate. By L. T. Thorne.— By the action
of strong potash, an ethyl succinic acid was obtained
identical with that prepared from a ethylacetosuccinic
ether. When, however, weak (5 per cent.) potash solution
was used a ethyl-/3-aceto propionic acid was formed,
which on attempted distillation gave off water, a new sub¬
stance C7H10O2 being at the same time formed. This sub¬
stance is a colourless oily liquid, with neutral reaction and
pleasant smell, boiling at 219°, vapour density .5-014.
The author hopes to be able to resume the investigation
and settle the constitution of this substance, which he

therefore leaves unnamed.

On some Carbazol Compounds. By E. H. Rennie and
W. R. Hodgkinson. — The authors have studied the action
of potassium carbazol (obtained by dropping potassium into
melted carbazol) on ethylchlorocarbonate ; white crystals
were obtained having the formula (C6H4)2NCOOC2H5.
The substance may be looked upon as a new urethane.

The Society then adjourned to May 19, when the fol¬
lowing papers will be read: — “On the Reaction between
Hydrogen and Nitric Oxide in the Presence of Spongy
Platinum,” by Lewis T. Wright; “A Method for the
Ready Estimation of a Soluble Sulphide and Free Sul¬
phurous or Free Sulphuric Acid even in the Presence of
Sulphates,” by O. V. Pisani.

948

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AiSD TRANSACTIONS.

[May 14, 1881.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting1 of this Association was held on Thursday,
May 5, Mr. R. H. Parker, Vice-President, in the chair.

A paper was read by Mr. T. Lewis on “ Ozone,” in
which he stated that as far back as the year 1785 a
peculiar phosphorus-like odour was observed by Van
Marum, during the electric discharge through air, no
investigation, however, of the odour having taken place
until the year 1840, when Schonbein’s attention was
attracted to it. He found that the odoriferous principle
thus obtained could be preserved in well -stoppered bottles
for a lengthened period. To this odour he soon after gave
the name of ozone. Some time during the following year,
Schonbein obtained ozone by the action of phosphorus on
moist air; besides which, Marignac and certain other
French chemists obtained it by passing silent electrical
discharges into perfectly pure and dry oxygen. The
researches into its constitution were then treated of,
and the different theories concerning its composition,
some of the latter being at various times that it was a
compound of H and 0, others that it was a body
analogous to chlorine, and, again, that it was oxygen in
an electrified condition. The constitution of ozone,
however, was shown to have been finally determined by
Andrews in 1856, who proved that “ozone from whatever
source produced was one and the same body, having
identical properties, and is not a compound body, but
oxygen in an altered or allotropic condition.” The
relation between oxygen and ozone was then referred
to, which was shown to be, that in the formation of ozone
three volumes of oxygen condense to form two volumes
of ozone, thus: — 303 = 203, this result being obtained
from the experiments of Andrews, Tait, Soret and
Brodie. “ Atmospheric ozone ” was then treated of, it
being found, on the evidence of Houseau, that ozone
is a constituent of the atmosphere. Attention was
then drawn to the controversy which had been pro¬
ceeding for some years, as to what are the compounds
which are produced by the action of phosphorus on moist
air, some chemists having held the opinion that ozone
was alone formed; others that peroxide of hydrogen was
alone produced ; Leeds having now, however, found
that not only is ozone formed, but also H202 and
NH4N03. Besides this, Leeds had determined that the
white cloud which is perceived when phosphorus acts on
moist air, and which was the antozone of Schonbein, con¬
sisted of H202 in a vesicular condition, and in that state
insoluble in water. Reference was also made to the re¬
cent work of Hautefeuille and Chappuis in connection
with this body, these chemists having condensed ozonized
oxygen at a pressure of thirty-seven atmospheres and a
cold of - 23° C., finding on removing the pressure that
signs of liquefaction appeared; besides this, they ob¬
served that, in a condensed state, ozone is an indigo-
blue gas, from which it has been inferred that the blue
colour of the atmosphere is due to ozone. Confirmatory
evidence has been obtained by Hartley, founded on the
fact that the ultra-violet rays of the spectrum were ab¬
sorbed by ozone.

A discussion followed the reading of the paper, in
which the Chairman, Secretary, Messrs. Branson, James
and Thompson took part.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Lewis for his
paper.

Mr. David Hooper then gave his Report on Botany,
taking for his subject, “ The Coffee Leaf Disease.” The
author commenced by giving some interesting facts con¬
nected with the history of the disease since it first
appeared in Ceylon in 1869, and referred to statistics
showing the yield and export of coffee, and the pecuniary
loss to enterprizers owing to the pest. The general
character of the disease was noticed. It was effected by
a parasitic fungus — the Hemileia vastatrix (B. and Br.) ;
its different appearance at certain seasons of the year
was explained. In “ the botanical examination of the

fungus,” the Hemileia, with its sporanges, cells, conidia
and mycelium, both in its ordinary and “filamentous
stage," was described, according to the investigations of
Messrs. Abbay and Morris. The report concluded with
a review of the remedial measures that have been adopted, i ,
either for the purpose of destroying the disease or pre¬
venting its spread. The application of sulphur and lime
and the extended cultivation of other plants, as tea and
cinchona, in the coffee estates, seem to have been the
most successful.

The paper was illustrated by diagrams, representing a
diseased leaf, portion of cuticle, and the fungus in
different periods of germination.

After a discussion upon this paper, the meeting ad¬
journed.

The Theft of Medical Stores from the R-oyal
Marine Barracks.

At the Devon and Cornwall Assizes, held before Mr.
Justice Manisty, at Exeter, on Tuesday last, George Prout,
38, private Royal Marines, and Samuel Sprague, marine
store dealer, on bail, were indicted for stealing one drum
of cod liver oil, one drum of castor oil, one jar of phos-
phorized oil, and eight rolls of plaster, the goods and
chattels of the Crown, at the Royal Marine Barracks,
Stonehouse, on April 6. Mr. Mackonochie prosecuted;
Mr. Clark defended Sprague. Prout pleaded guilty.
The case against Sprague, who was suffering from a
painful obstruction in his throat, and breathed with
difficulty through a tube, was then proceeded with. The
particulars have already appeared in this Journal.

Fleet- Surgeon Loney, attached to the Royal Marines,
Plymouth Division, and in charge of the Royal Marine
Infirmary ; Corporal Denby, dispenser at the Infirmary ;
and Mr. P. C. Maitland, chemist, of Chapel Street,
Stonehouse, were called.

Mr. Maitland said when Sprague asked him to buy
some cod liver and castor oil he asked him where he got
it from, and he said he bought it with other things from
a large passenger ship in the docks. He then asked
Sprague whether the man he bought it from had a right
to sell it, and he said “ Yes.” Sprague, however, came
three times before he bought these things, and on the
third time Prout came with him. He agreed to buy the
castor oil at id. per pound.

Mr. Clark, cross-examining : Before the magistrates
did you not say you gave him 3d. per pound ?

Witness : Oh, yes, I recollect now ; he asked id.

Re-examined: When I came to buy the lot I gave
37 s. for it.

To the Judge: I got the phosphorized oil and the
plaster into the bargain.

Police Constable Michael Egan deposed that when he
was removing the prisoners to the prison, Sprague told
Prout that he must say he told him he got the goods from
a ship in the docks; and afterwards, when the question
of what they should get came up, Sprague said “ five years
at least,” but Prout guessed “six months.”

Cross-examined by Mr. Clark : Did not Sprague say
anything about his innocence?

Witness: Not a word.

Mr. Clark: Did he not say if he was punished he
would be punished innocently ?

Witness: No.

Mr. Mackonochie, in summing up for the prosecution,
called attention to the fact that the prisoner had made a
statement with reference to his possession of the goods,
which he had not attempted to substantiate ; which,
therefore, they might take to be a false account, and
which, further, they might conclude was evidence of
guilty knowledge.

larliamwteg mxir

May 14, 1831.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

949

His Lordship, in reply to Mr. Clark, said he did not
think there was any evidence of stealing against the
prisoner, and he might confine himself to the charge of
feloniously receiving. . .

Mr. Clark, addressing the jury for the defence, said it
was almost an outrage on common sense that Govern¬
ment officials should come there and say “ We have a
large amount of property in our possession, but we cannot
identify it.” If there had been any Government mark upon
it, Sprague might more reasonably have been assumed
to have known the goods were stolen. Mr. Clark pro¬
ceeded to allude to Mr. Maitland’s evidence, which, he
said, differed in the number of times the prisoner visited
him and the sum per pound he gave him for the goods
from the evidence he gave before the magistrates, and
on that account, Mr. Clark said, if Sprague were guilty
of receiving, Maitland was more guilty of receiving.

His Lordship, in summing up, said observations had
been made, and he was not surprised at it, which went to
suggest that Maitland was mixed up in this affair, and
really guilty of receiving these goods under circumstances
which ought to have led him to believe the persons he
dealt with had not come honestly by the goods. But, of
course, he need not say that the fact of Maitland being
guilty of that misconduct, if it were a fact, did not make
the case any better as regarded Sprague. The jury must
remember they had evidence that Sprague was going to
divide the proceeds, and the goods were sold at a price
far below their value, which was always a suspicious
circumstance.’ The jury must feel sympathy for a man
who was in the grievous bodily condition of the prisoner ;
but they must leave that matter to his (the judge’s) con¬
sideration. That must not affect their minds. They
must simply try the case according to the evidence, and
whatever be the consequences, if they should be constrained
to come to the conclusion that the prisoner took part in
this matter knowing the goods to have been stolen, their
duty would be to convict him. If Maitland had a sus¬
picion that the goods were not honestly come by, the same
observation exactly would apply to Sprague.

IThe jury, after a few minutes’ consultation, found a
verdict of guilty, but recommended the prisoner to mercy
on account of his bodily infirmity.

His Lordship said he was inclined not to pass sentence,
provided the prisoner’s sureties would become bail for his
appearing when called upon.

Mr. T. C. Brian, the prisoner’s solicitor, said that he
would become bail temporarily for the prisoner.

The recognizances were then entered into and the
prisoner discharged. Sentence upon Prout was deferred.
— Western Morning News.

Poisoning by Arsenic.

At the Plymouth Police Court on Friday, May 8, before
Mr. J. F. Fortescue, borough magistrate, Henry Hillman,
a cooper, was brought up in custody and charged with
having attempted to commit suicide by taking a quantity
of arsenic.

Prisoner admitted the offence, but pleaded, as an excuse,
that he had been drinking heavily of late. In answer to
the magistrates’ clerk, prisoner said that he went to Mr.
Greenhill’s arsenic works, Calstock, a few days ago to
seek work, and whilst there put a quantity of arsenic,
which was lying about on the floor, in his pocket.
Prisoner was remanded.

.

Poisoning by Cyanide of Potassium.

On Wednesday, an inquest was held at Margate on
the body of William Saunders, a pensioner, formerly
sergeant in a hussar regiment. He had been unfor¬
tunate in trade since he had left the army, and had given
a bill of sale, under which his furniture had been sold.
A deficit remained, however, for which he was pressed,
He became depressed, and killed himself on Tuesday with

cyanide of potassium, obtained from a chemist who did
not enter the sale in the poison book. A verdict of
suicide whilst of unsound mind was returned, the
chemist being informed that he had infringed the Act
of Parliament. — Daily Telegraph.

(©bttarti.

"O

Notice has been received of the death of the
following : —

On the 5th of March, 1881, Mr. John Knight, Che¬
mist and Druggist, Market Place, Cambridge. Aged 78
years.

On the 23rd of April, 1881, Mr. Martin Penning Colk,
Chemist and Druggist, Bishop’s Road, Paddington. Aged
69 years.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

Inorganic Chemistry : adapted for Students in the Ele¬
mentary Classes of the Science and Art Department.
By Dr. W. B. Kemshead, F.R.A.S., F.G.S., etc. En¬
larged edition. London and Glasgow : W. Collins and
Co. 1881. From the Publishers.

Proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical As¬
sociation at the Twenty-Eighth Meeting, held in
Saratoga Springs, N.Y., September, 1880; also the
Constitution, Bye-laws, and Roll of Members. Phila¬
delphia. 1881.

The History of Salt; with Observations on its Geo¬
graphical Distribution, Geological Formation, and
Medicinal and Dietetic Properties. By Evan Marlbtt
Boddy, F.R.C.S., F.S.S., etc. London: Baillibre,
Tindall and Cox. 1881. From the Publishers.

Maladies Cancereuses. Observations par le Dr. Gerard
Von Schmitt. Paris: Leclerc. 1881. From the
Author.

The Study of Botany, with a Sketch of the
History of the Science. By William Southall,
F.L.S. Birmingham. 1881.

gispcrcsiipj ||temoranba.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column was established ,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[529]. Tinct. Iodi Decolorat. — The mention of the
German Pharmacopoeia formula which contains hyposul¬
phite of soda may induce some dispenser to attempt the
extemporaneous preparation of this application by the
use of hyposulphite alone.

Tincture of iodine treated with about 5 per cent, of
this salt will be decolorized almost immediately, to the
satisfaction of the operator; but, in the course of a day
or two the compound will develop into an abominable
mess, of which precipitated sulphur and sulphuretted
hydrogen will be the most evident constituents.

The patient’s anxiety to know what this means will
scarcely be dispelled by the most bland and lucid expla¬
nation of the chemical action which has taken place, even
if illustrated by equations and diagrams. To prevent
such a contretemps (it is not an imaginary one) I write
this caution.

950

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 14, 1881.

It is not generally known how small a proportion of
ammonia is necessary to prodnce a colourless solution of
iodine, if sufficient time be allowed for the combination
to be effected. I have found that abeut 2 fluid drachms
of liq. ammon. fort, sufficed for 4 fluid ounces of tinct.
iodi, B.P., and that 2 drachms of iodine dissolved -in 3
fluid ounces of spirit were decolorized by the same
quantity. These preparations have but a faint smell of
free ammonia, and are unchangeable. As there is but
little demand for them we find no difficulty in keeping a
sufficiency ready for use.

Clifton. Jas. W. White.

[540]. “ Country Chemist ” was quite right in what he
did, as probably the intention of the prescriber was
“ emulsio ol. morrhuse,” but on account of the various
ingredients he called it more correctly emuls. ol.
morrhuse co.

“ 374.”

[541]. I shall feel obliged if anyone will inform me
how to dispense the following mixture so as to make a
nice looking mixture or emulsion that will not separate ; —

ft Potass. Bicarb. . . 3b*

Ol. Olivas . . §j.

Gum. Acac. . . 3bj-

Aquae . .ad ^viij.

M. Et. mist. 3j. pro dosis.

w. c. w.

[542]. The following is a copy of a prescription re¬
ceived yesterday : —

Bismuth. Carb. .

....... 3J*

Ammon. Carb. .

....... 3j.

P. Tragac. . .

Aq .

. ad gvj.

It was dispensed as written. It had been prepared
elsewhere, and was then much thinner. I should be glad
of your opinion as to whether p. tragac. co. or p. tragac.
should be used.

Tick.

[543]. Will any reader tell “Country Chemist” the
best mode of dispensing the following prescription, as
the ingredients when combined deliquesce : —

ft. Acid. Carbolic . gr. j.

Acid. Salicylic . gr. j.

Codeiae . gr.

Ext. Rhei . gr. ij.

M. Ft. pil. sec. art. Mitte xviij. One pill twice a day.

[544].

ft Acid. Nitro-Mur . 3j*

Mur. Ammon . Jij.

Tinct. Nucis Vom . 3\j-

Liq. Taraxaci . ad jgiij.

Sig. coch. min. j. ex aqua ante cibo ter die.

Would the dispenser be justified in dispensing acid
nitro-mur. dil. or aqua regia, as is written ?

W. Lyle.

[545]. Would any reader acquaint me whether the
annexed prescription is a consistent one, and would an
assistant be authorized to refuse to dispense it ? viz. : —

R Acid. Sulph. Dil . Jfv.

Potassse Cbloratis . 3*j*

Aquae . ad §x.

Ft. gargar. Mix.

Inquirer.

[546]. Could any of your readers give me any informa¬
tion as to the best way of making the pill mass for the
following pills ? —

ft. Ferri Iodidi . 3ij-

Strychnise Sulphatis . gr. j.

Pil. Phosphori . Jj.

Acid. Carbolici . 3SS-

Cerae Albae . q.s.

M. In pil. lx. dividenda. Capiat unam ter in die post
cibum. (In phiala vitria servenda).

[547].

ft Stychniae Sulphatis . gr- j.

Acidi Carbolici . 3SS-

Extracti Aloes Aquosi . 3j-

M. In pil. xx. dividenda. Capiat unam hora somni
pro re natd. (In phiala vitria servenda). Sign. The
aperient pills.

Inquirer.

[548]. Is vaseline a suitable basis for the so-called hypo¬
chlorite of sulphur ointment ? That such a preparation
keeps well to all outward appearance I know, but is any
substitution paraffin product formed, and if so, is such
product prejudicial therapeutically ?

Vaseline.

[549]. Is the following prescription intended for a §vj
mixture, and should it be dispensed as such ? —
ft Inf. Rhei,

Inf. Calumb . aa §iij.

Vin. Ipecac . nix.

Sp. Ammon. Ar . 3*ss*

Tr. Calumb . 3ij*

Tr. Gent. Co . . 3*j*

Pot. Bicarb. . . 3j*

M. Capt. 3j ex aq. post prand.

Cymro.

Corrcspontmta.

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Benevolent Fund.

Sir, — Like your correspondent Mr. Bevan, I was the
subject of a reminder accompanied by the appeal on behalf
of the Benevolent Fund, to which I have been a subscriber
for many years. The facts contained in the appeal led me
to conclude that there must be something wrong in the rales
governing the work of the Fund to account for such a
manifest failure ; I, therefore, withheld my usual contribu¬
tion. It is quite clear that the scheme, as worked, has not
commended itself to chemists generally. When first estab¬
lished, both the subscriptions and the proposed aid were, I
presume, confined to pharmaceutical chemists, except what
was given by wholesale houses, and I think that the
throwing open the Fund to the larger body should not have
been done without such alterations in the rules as would
have ensured a corresponding increase in the amount of
support. But I fail to see how the suggestions of you
correspondents would meet the difficulty. I have great
faith in personal effort, and if all the Local Secretaries felt/
that they could give the scheme their earnest support, no
doubt but much might be done ; such, however, does not
appear to be the case. About a hundred of the Secretaries
are not themselves subscribers to the Fund, while nearly
half that number of towns having secretaries contribute
nothing whatever.

Standing pretty much alone, I have continued my
subscription without thinking, but I could not with a
knowledge of the facts have solicited contributions from
others. Mr. Bevan’s first suggestion has nothing “benevo*

May 14, 1SS1.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

951

lent” in it and must be dismissed as beside the mark; the
second is a joke ; the third looks splendid, but it is too
splendid for continuous working.

The question then is, what is to be done?

In the first place I would say, let the “benevolent”
character of the Fund be fully maintained ; but I have
always felt that the best service rendered is that which
assists others to help themselves. It appears that there
are more than thirteen thousand chemists on the Register,
any one of whom would be entitled to aid if needed, and the
Fund would admit of it ; and yet only about two thousand
contribute anything at all, the average contributions of
these being nearly 9s. 6 d. per annum, but for the total
number on the Register it is less than Is. 6d. This is mani¬
festly absurd, and is, I am persuaded, only to be remedied
by a very simple alteration in the rules. Let it be decided,
and made known, that no person now in business, or
entering into business who did not within the first year
become a subscriber to the Fund of at least 5s. per annum,
should hereafter be allowed to receive any assistance, and
there would be no need to solicit subscriptions, but there
would be a steady influx of cash, not to the extent of
£20,000 per annum, and not perhaps £10,000, but the
income would be raised to £4000 or £5000 per annum ; this
would warrant the number of annuitants being very nearly
doubled from the list of those who have been receiving
grants, and do a great many other things which I cannot
enumerate now. But I must not lengthen my epistle except
to say that I do not propose to give to subscribers any
greater rights than they have now, but simply to shut out
such as failed to contribute.

Torpoint, Cornwall. . R. H. Down.

Education and Examination.

Sir, — The report of the Committee on the examinations
has given me great satisfaction. The bulwark of the Pliu-
maceutical Society is the examination room.

That a change was imperative, a convincing argument, if
one more were required, is supplied by Mr. Wills’s letter ;
he has no desire to alter matters in this direction.

Dr. Greenhow goes to the other extreme, which though
right enough in principle would, in my opinion, be a serious
drawback to every young man passing his examination
without having made the very gratifying acquaintance of
the learned Professors of our, and similar schools. A really
good course of lectuies leaves its mark on a young man for
life. It does for his mind very much what those useful
divisions do to a writing table ; it enables him to pigeon¬
hole his facts, and establish a mental order.

He will come across in his every-day life a good many
scientific waste paper baskets, and he will find his mental
order of incalculable benefit. After all that is the real pro¬
tection, a something that protects itself. Registration is
merely a secondary matter, and those who are so anxious to
draw the line are very near it.

Given an array of skirmishers throughout the country,
well versed in the routine of our business, really practical
men, with a good knowledge of natural laws, and of the
correlation of forces, and they will require very little pro¬
tection, either from the Pharmaceutical Society or the State.
State recognition must follow, but it will be an evil day for
all of us if it anticipates.

79, Grosvenor Road , Highbury, N. George Mee,

Microscopes for Use of Students.

Sir, — I notice with much pleasure that the suggestion of
a member has been acted upon, and that a couple of micro¬
scopes have been placed by the Council in the Library for
the use of students. Might I venture to suggest that mem¬
bers and others interested in microscopy be invited to send
slides of objects of pharmaceutical interest for use with these
microscopes ? Sections of drugs would, I should think, be
especially appreciated, particularly those illustrative of
papers read before the Society.

St. John's Wood. Wm. Hy. Symons.

Note on the so-called “Allotropic” Gum Arabic.

Sir, — There is a variety of gum arabic at present in the
market which is imported from the port of Alexandria, and
most probably collected in the Soudan. As there is some
difficulty experienced in preparing a mucilage for pharma-
copoeial purposes with this gum, on account of it forming a
ropy or semi-gelatinoid mass when placed in water, it has
by some been attributed to an allotropic condition of the
gum, which I am inclined to believe is a mistake; this
conclusion is arrived at from the following series of experi¬
ments which were carried out with a sample of this gum.

Eight ounces of the gum were placed in a vessel with 12
fluid ounces of distilled water ; this was frequently stirred,
and after the lapse of two days it had assumed a jelly-like
consistency. This gelatinous mass was placed in an eva¬
porating dish, and heated to a temperature approaching
220° F., for ten minutes, without effecting the fluidity of
the mass, which adhered firmly to the stirring rod. To a
portion of the mass a small quantity of liquor potassoe,
diluted with distilled water, was added, and after a short
time this became in appearance and consistency like ordinary
B.P. mucilage. Placing this aside, a second quantity was
commenced with afresh, but the vessel was placed near a
fire with the temperature averaging 90° for twelve hours,
the result being a liquid, nearly resembling the mucilage
of the Pharmacopoeia, but containing numerous nodular
masses still remaining undissolved; a quantity of liquor
potassoe was added, which soon effected complete solution.
Believing this gelatinous consistency was caused by a
deficiency of mineral constituents in the gum, a third batch
was commenced, but instead of using all distilled water,
one-half was substituted by liquor calcis, and after twelve
hours’ standing and repeated stirring, there remained a
liquid having all the appearance and characters of pharma-
copaeial mucilage.

From the above it will be seen that solution was easily
effected by the addition of an alkali or alkaline earth with¬
out the agency of heat ; therefore, this leads me to believe
that the peculiarity of this variety of gum is due, not to a
state of allotropism, but to a difference in its chemical con¬
stitution, and that it contains a larger amount of arabin or
arabic acid than ordinary gum, which is the cause of it
assuming a jelly-like consistency when placed in water, and
that the partial solution of this gum after remaining for
some time at a temperature of 90p is caused by the forma¬
tion of a higher acid salt of calcium. Is it not probable
that this gum, although yielded by a species of Acacia , is
altered in constitution by some climatic circumstance?

W. Watson Will.

Pharmaceutical Titles.

Sir, — Whilst the subject of pharmaceutical titles is being
considered, I should like to ask whether it would not be
possible to secure that of “pharmaceutical apothecary.”
The word “apothecary” signifies “ a compounder of medi¬
cine,” and is therefore a most appropriate, as well as an
ancient and an honourable appellation, whilst the prefix
“pharmaceutical” would distinguish “Major” men from
licentiates of the Society, who might be called “ medical
apothecaries.” But there would be little danger of mis¬
leading the public, because few are aware that any qualifi¬
cation to practise medicine is indicated by the title in
question. I hope that the matter will not be allowed to
drop, but that those in authority will introduce some
change for the better, even if they pass by the humble
suggestion of

Pater J5neas.

Chemical Food.

Sir> — ln your “Parliamentary and Law Proceedings”
columns of a recent issue, I notice the case of convic¬
tion for sale of indifferent “chemical food,” and although
not desirous of being accredited with the defence of the
manufacture and sale of inferior preparations, yet I cannot
but express a hope that the standard of this article may
not be fixed on the limits stated by the analyst in the case,
viz., 2£ grains phosphate lime, and 1 grain phosphate
iron (please observe I reverse the figures, which in your
notice stand 2| grains phosphate iron, and 1 grain phos¬
phate lime). , . ...

In order to support this argument with more tangible
evidence, let us refer to the original formula of Professor
Parrish, published in Parrish’s ‘Practical Pharmacy,’ where
we find the following : —

952

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 14, 1881.

Take of —

Protosulphate Iron .

Phosphate Sodium . 5xi j •

Phosphate Calcium . 5xtj*

Phosphoric Acid Glacial .... 5XX-

Carbonate of Sodium ..... Oij.

Carbonate of Potassium . 5j-

Muriatic Acid,

Water of Ammonia . aa q.s.

Powdered Cochineal . .

Water . q.s.

Sugar . 2\ lbs. Troy.

Orange Plower W ater . 5j •

“Dissolve the sulphate of iron in $ij of boiling water,
and the phosphate sodium in oiv of boiling water. Mix
the solutions and wash the precipitated phosphate of iron
till washings are tasteless. Dissolve the phosphate cal¬
cium in 4 fluid ounces of boiling water and q.s. HC1. to
make a clear solution when cool; precipitate with liq.
amnion., and wash the precipitate. To the freshly pre¬
cipitated phosphate as thus prepared add the phosphoric
acid previously dissolved in water; when clear add the
carbonates soda and potash previously dissolved in water
and HC1 q.s. to dissolve any precipitate. Now dilute
with water till it measures 22 fluid ounces ; add the sugar,
and towards the last the cochineal. Dissolve by the aid of
heat, strain, and when cold add the aq. aurantii.

“ As thus made each teaspoonful contains about 2£ grains
of phosphate of calcium, 1 grain of phosphate of iron, with
fractions of a grain of phosphates of sodium and potas¬
sium.”

Now on calculating the phosphate of iron yielded by the
said amount of sulphate of iron, we find it to be 257 a grains,
which in the total syrup would equal 0'71 grain in a fluid
drachm, supposing all the sulphate to have been converted
into insoluble phosphate of protoxide iron, which, however,
is by no means the case, for owing to the solubility of the
phosphate in the sulphuric acid produced in the reaction,
actually in practice only 180 grains are obtained, which
calculated to syrup gives 0*5 grain per fluid drachm ! So
much for the strength in iron.

Again, as regards the lime element, we find it to be on
calculation to syrup, only 2 grains in a drachm ; this error,
coupled with the discrepancy arising from the varying
amounts of moisture present in the calcium phosphate of
commerce, probably brings the proportion of this ingredient
to a maximum of 1^ grain in a drachm.

So really we see the standard has been accepted (for the
case in point at any rate) without the examination in detail
which certainly should have preceded such acceptance ; for
although Parrish himself states that chemical food contains
the above stated proportions, yet I think this statement is
unquestionably founded on miscalculation of results, and as
such ought to be discarded for the formula he gives us for
the preparation of the speciality which bears his name.

Not only so, but such a high strength of phosphates in a
syrup, requiring as it does a large excess of acid phosphoric
to keep these in solution, renders it disagreeably acid to
taste, which, I think, is a decided inconvenience and dis¬
advantage.

In conclusion, I ask permission to recommend that the
standard be fixed at \ grain ferrous phosphate and 2 grains
calcium phosphate per fluid drachm, and in this opinion I
venture to think I am not isolated.

Birmingham. Alfred E. Robinson.

Balances.

Sir, — I am glad to see that the subject of pharmaceutical
balances is occupying some attention just now.

I have often been surprised to find so much care be-
Btowed on other matters in the pharmacy and the balance
altogether overlooked ; at any rate if it would turn at ^
grain it was considered pretty accurate.

The balances now used are liable to atmospheric action
to such an extent that frequent cleaning is necessary, which
soon puts them out of order by twisting the centres and
clogging them with dust ; possibly this might be prevented
by boxing in the centres, and the atmospheric action by
nickel plating.

I trust that a practical result will follow the discussion
of the question, and that some maker will produce a reliable

balance for dispensing and general pharmaceutical purposes,
at a moderate cost.

591, Old Kent Road , S.E. W. Greig.

The Buott Fund.

Sir, — May I again request a little space to acknowledge
;he result of my last appeal on behalf of old Mr. Buott, and
;o express my sincere thanks, and his also, for the generous
ielp>fforded him ? The seven first items on the annexed
ist are parts of the sum received before I pleaded in my last
etter for nineteen promises of one shilling a week to add to
my own weekly dole. To this latter appeal I have received
about twelve most willing responses, and also several sums
which have enabled me to pay weekly to Mr. Buott’s
daughter — who is constant in her attendance on her father —
twelve shillings, and sometimes fifteen shillings. It has
been necessary to give the larger sum several times, as the
poor old gentleman has been seriously ill. He is still con¬
fined to his bed, and is extremely feeble, and I am afraid he
will not “get about ” again.

I trust that his friends will enable me to continue the
grateful help thus afforded him, so that the few days, or
weeks, that remain to him may be blessed with the dew of
Heaven-sent kindness.

205, St. John Street Road, E.C. Robert Hampson.

£ s. d.

George Harvie, Helensburg . 0 5 0

Jonathan Jessop, Halifax . 0 5 0

E. N. Butt, London . 110

Warrick Brothers, London . . . 2 2 0

Thos. Hyde Hills, London . 2 0 0

A Friend. S. C. B . 0 5 0

J. C. A. Kester, Hull . 0 2 0

John Ottley, Sheffield . 0 13 0

Elizabeth Leech, Fulham . 0 15 6

R. H. Foster, Dover . 0 2 6

J. Hinds, Coventry . 0 18 0

“Bolton” per Wm. Blain, Bolton... 0 13 0

William Blain, Bolton . 0 13 0

Four Bolton Chemists, subscribed by

them at a dinner . 1 3 6

Dr. Kernot, Hastings . 0 5 0

J. Edisbury, Liverpool . 10 0

John Woodland, London . 1 6 0

L. Tompsett, Manchester . 0 15 0

H. D. AndersoD, Guernsey . 0 15 0

A Friend . 0 1 U

C. B. Miller, Blackheath . 0 15 0

R. M., London . 0 13 0

Benjamin Whitlow, Exmoutli . 0 13 0

A. W. Gerrard, London . 0 5 0

Robert Hampson, London . 0 13 0

Errata. — In the list of elections on page 919, Journal 567,
“ Naysmith, Andrew, Arbroath,” should have appeared in
the list of Associates in Business instead of Associates.
P. 929, col. i., line 21 from top, for Thomas, John, Cross¬
well, read Thomas, John, Aberystwith.

Inquire! \ — The sections of the Pharmacy Act, 186S,
relating to registration of the seller do not apply to the
business of wholesale dealers in supplying poisons in the
ordinary course of wholesale dealing.

H. H. — Yes. See, for full information on the subject,
vol. ix., p. 309 of the present series of this Journal.

F. Carter. — There appears to be a mistake in your state¬
ment as to the synonymy given in Attfield’s ‘ Manual/

J. G. Preston. — The preparation is one, we believe, sent
out by Messrs. Corbyn.

G. C. — Use Holmes’s ‘ Botanical Note-Book * until you
are familiar with the natural orders, and then Bentham’s
‘ Hand-Book/

One who has been sold. — We have found it expedient
not to publish communications of this kind unless the
writer takes the responsibility by adding his name and
address. The best protection is to put into practice the
old adage, Caveat emptor .

Communications. Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Richards, Hammett, Robardt, Reckless, Vinson,
Oliver, Haydon, Cutliff, Martin, Brady, Langbeck, Child,
Newsholme, Provincial, John, Isca, Desideratum, Querist,
F. H. D.

May 21, 1881.1 1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

953

: ■ - . ^ ■ ■■■ ^

THE EXHIBITION.

An Exhibition of Chemical and Pharmaceutical
Apparatus, Medical Appliances and Drugs and
Chemicals of recent introduction, was held in the
rooms of the Pharmaceutical Society, on Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, the 17th, 18th and 19th
of May. Although it was scarcely to be expected
that many new objects of interest could be shown
after the lapse of only one year, the Exhibition may
on the whole be said to have given great satisfaction
to the numerous visitors. The display of apparatus
was smaller than that of last year, but the rare or
new chemicals and drugs were present in much
larger number.

Weights and measures have attracted considerable
attention of late, and it is, therefore, not surprising
to find that balances and dispensing scales formed
quite a feature in the Exhibition.

Among the fine series of balances exhibited by
Messrs. De Grave, Short and Co., two for dispens¬
ing purposes were remarkable for their finish and
accuracy, the scales turning to one-tenth. of a grain,
having an easy slide-pillar motion, a nickel-plated
beam and a sight hole for observing the movement
of the index with greater facility.

Mr. Stone exhibited some dispensing balances and
cheap weights similar to those described by Professor
Redwood ath recent Evening Meeting of the Society.
The weights being lacquered while hot are described
as not liable to be affected by the atmosphere,
while the lacquered surface is too hard to be injured
by ordinary usage. An assay balance exhibited by
the same firm and which carries 100 grains in each
pan was stated to have been in use for two years and
to be still capable of turning to -dtath of a grain.
The improvement in cases for dispensing balances
exhibited by Mr. W. H. Symons consisted in the
rmht-hand side of the case being made to open and
shut by means of lateral hinges, so as to allow of

easier access to the scale pan.

A small, very .simple and compact balance, patented
by Mr. Gorham, a surgeon at* Tunbridge, attracted
considerable attention in this department. .This
instrument somewhat resembles the steelyard in its
construction, but differs in having no movable sepa¬
rate weight, the equipoise being furnished by the

movable weight of a graduated rod which slides in¬
side the long tubular arm of the balance (see fig. 1),
It occupies less space than an ordinary pair of scales,
is easily kept in order, there are no weights to lose,
and the balance is said to be used with greater facility
than the ordinary kind, while it will turn accurately
to 1 grain. Each balance is set by a standard, ana¬
lytical hundred grain balance made by Oertling. Ifc i
might, however, be an improvement for dispensing-
purposes if the scale pan were made of glass instead
of brass, and the scale made to turn to rVtli or at
least to -|th of a grain.

Messrs. Joseph Davis and Co.’s A. B. C. water-
testing apparatus consists of a portable set of tests
by means of which any person, without special chemi¬
cal knowledge, can ascertain if water contains any
impurities and their nature. It is intended for the
use of sanitary inspectors or private gentlemen and
farmers who may wish to test the freedom of their
drinking water from sewage or other impurities.
The handsome shop barometers exhibited by the.'
same firm, by means of a very simple, contrivance,,
consisting of an elongated index arm, are made to
point out at the same time the pressure of the atino^
sphere and the character of the weather in winter
and summer on the tables which the index touches,
these tables being based upon a series of authentic
meteorological observations. As the index is altered-
when required by a movable key the instrument
cannot be tampered with.

Mr. Casella exhibited a handsome Gimingham
Sprengel pump, such as is used in making the vacuum
tubes used by Crookes in his beautiful experiments.
The instrument exhibited, having five fall tubes,
naturally produces a vacuum more quickly than one
with a less number. The Gimingham blowpipe,
used in making the glasswork of the same apparatus, ,
appeared also to excite considerable interest (fig. 2).
The extreme ease with which a small or a large blow-

Fig. 2.— The Gimingham Blowpipe.

pipe flame, or a Bunsen flame, can be exchanged the
one for the other before the glass has time to cool, the
changes being effected in less than a second, render
jt extremely valuable for laboratory use, in working'
difficult joints in glass apparatus. This firm, also
exhibited some clinical thermometers in. which a
constriction, barely perceptible on the outside of the
tube, prevents the mercury index from returning fca

954

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 21, 1881.

that in the bulb. Their benzole thermometers for
nse in retorts for fractional distillation in aniline
works, etc. , are formed with a somewhat squat bulb
so as to be immersed in as small a quantity of
liquid as possible.

Messrs. Rae, of Anerley, exhibited some cheap
pocket magnifiers suitable for examining “pond
life5’ in botanical excursions, the presence of desmids,
diatoms, or infusoria being easily detected by its
means.

Messrs. Lejeune and Perken’s exhibit contained,
besides many other objects of interest, lenses whose
curve formed part of a cylinder instead of a sphere,
so as to correct astigmatism, i. e., a vision faulty in
one direction only. It included, also, Gaiffe’s por¬
table medical batteries. In one of these blotting
paper moistened with chloride of zinc is placed
between a plate of chloride of silver and another of
amalgamated zinc ; iu another, bisulphate of mercury,
made into a paste and placed in a zinc box, forms
the cell of the battery : so that in either case there
i» no fluid that can be spilt.

, C. Baker and Co., of Holborn, showed Parke’s patent
microscope lamp, with cooling chamber for the lamp
chimney, and a new travelling microscope occupying
only a space of 6 by 3 inches by 2 inches deep, as
well as a fine series of microscopic slides of urinary
deposits.

Mr. E. Wheeler, of Holloway, exhibited a very
interesting series of microscopes, together with micro¬
scopic apparatus and mounted slides, which proved
very interesting to the visitors with microscopical
proclivities.

In the Room No. 2, devoted to pharmaceutical
apparatus, pill coating machines formed a prominent
feature and seemed to indicate that this method of
rendering medicines palatable is increasing in favour
with the public. Cartner’s pill coater was exhibited
by Messrs. Bourne and Taylor and Messrs. Harvey,
Shepherd and Co. The latter firm, having recently
purchased the patent, claim to be the sole pro¬
prietors.

Cortie’s handy pill coater (fig. 3) for coating small
quantities of pills seemed to recommend itself to the

visitors from its con¬
venience and moderate
||( price. ' Messrs. Maw
14 and Son showed anew
form of pill coater
which seemed much
approved of ; in prin¬
ciple it somewhat re-
Fig. 3. sembles that shown

by Mr. Hoddinott last year, except that the instru¬
ment rotates in a vertical instead of a horizontal
direction and the pills are thereby subjected to a
motion which as nearly as possible resembles that
produced in the ordinary process of silvering pills,
though it can be made more rapid.

Mr. Cocking exhibited his pill piper and pill
machine, which evidently interested many of the
visitors who had not seen the apparatus before.

Messrs. Burroughs, Wellcome and Co., and Mr.
George Burton, both exhibited American drug mills,
n which an improvement has been made since the
last Exhibition, the stand being made heavier so as
to stand firmly and not to require to be fastened to
the counter, while the fineness of the teeth which
grind the powder has been increased and greater
tacilityhas been given of regulating the supply of

material and the fineness of the powder. The enter-
prize screw press showed an improvement over those
of last year, in being of stronger make so as to fit
it for pressing tinctures.

Messrs. J. Baker’s exhibit, besides comprising
some of the .apparatus shown last year, included the
“Hopper” mixing machine, of which only a model was
exhibited last year. In this apparatus the powders are
first thoroughly mixed in the hopper and then sup¬
plied as required by adjusting the apparatus to the
sifting instrument beneath, any grit or foreign matter
separated by the sieve being easily emptied out by
a simple contrivance without disturbing either the
powder that is being mixed or the powder that has
been sifted. Mr. B. Braeher’s “ Desideratum ” mixers
showed several improvements over those of last year,
the strength of the larger apparatus having been in¬
creased and a fly wheel added, and a side outlet for
the powder having been placed in the smaller ones.

Messrs. Maw, Son and Thompson’s exhibit in¬
cluded among other objects of interest a nickel plated
pill machine, a new form of powder folder which
possesses the advantage of not being easily over¬
turned, and palette knives with handles of xylonite.
This beautiful material, while whiter than ivory and
very hard, is said to have the advantage of not being
stained by grease or oil. A small apparatus, some¬
what resembling a Papin’s digester in miniature, for
making small quantities of beef tea for invalids,
seemed to present some advantages over the ordi¬
nary saucepan, as the liquid is heated by hot water
instead of the naked fire.

Filtering apparatus was represented in the exhibits
of the Silicated Carbon Filter Co., the Sanitary and
Domestic Appliances Co., and Messrs. Symes and
Co. In the filter exhibited by the first-named com¬
pany, the water is made to ascend through the filter so
that there is less liability of the impurities choking the
filtering medium. These are known as “ ascension
filters,” and the process has been applied even to the
ordinary table filter (see figs. 4 and 5). The Royle’s

Fig. 4. Silicated Carbon Company’s Ascension Filter.

self-filling filter, exhibited by Symes and Co., is fur¬
nished with an indiarubber collar, which enables it to
fit accurately to the tap to which it is applied ; the
pressure of the water between the tap and the top

May 21, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

955

of tlie filter keeping it water¬
tight, somewhat after the prin¬
ciple of the leather collar
around the piston-rod of the
ordinary hydraulic press.

Fielding’s patent Indispen¬
sable double-acting high-pres¬
sure rapid water filter, exhibi¬
ted by the Sanitary and Do¬
mestic Appliances Co., differs
from the last-named chiefly in
requiring to be soldered to the
tap to which it is applied, and
in permitting the use of a sup¬
ply of unfiltered water, simply
by placing the filter in a hori¬
zontal position. The filtering
medium is a combination of
A, AK . „ . charcoal and prepared felt.

Hutchings’ label glimmer (fig. 6) attracted quite a
little crowd of visitors throughout the Exhibition.

admission of air. The glass tube inside the bottle
is arranged to press constantly on the under side of
the bottle. The feeding bottle exhibited by Mr.
George Wells is best explained by reference to the
figure (see fig. 7), which represents a section of the

Fig. 6. — Hutchings’ Label Gummer.

In this ingenious apparatus, which, except the frame
is made of brass to prevent rust, the labels are placed
in a well, on a brass-plate, with a coiled spring
beneath it, the labels being kept in place by a
small roller, attached to a pressure bar. ihe
concave roller over which the labels are passed is
half immersed in a well containing water or mucilage,
and any surplus moisture is removed as the label
passes over a grating on its way to the bottle ; the
^rating covering a portion of the same well in which
the wet roller is placed. The inventor states that
after a little practice one hundred dozen bottles can

be labelled in an hour by this machine.

The model of a stirring apparatus, lent by Mr.
Reynolds, of Leeds, for the Exhibition, has been
already described in this Journal.* After the Exhi¬
bition it is promised to the Society as a donation

to the Museum. .

In Boom No. 3, Mr. Cowan again exhibited Ins

vaccination shields, which should be popular now
that small-pox is so prevalent.

Pond’s Extract Co. showed an improvement m
enemas, the female syringe being furnished with a
vaginal dilator for more complete irrigation than
by the ordinary form.

Several varieties of improved feeding bottles were
shown. In Mr. Day’s “Ne plus ultra” bottle the
stopper and tube of the bottle are made of a single
piece of india-rubber, the advantage claimed being
that there are no chinks in which the milk can
collect and turn sour. As tlie india-rubber stopper
fits air-tight into the neck of the bottle there is a
small aperture in the top side of the bottle for the

# See Pharm. Journ., 2nd series vol. viii, p. 221.

Fig. 7. — Wells' Feeding Bottle.

neck of the bottle with the metal cap. By screwing
down the plug A, the valve B is acted upon, an
the aperture for the passage of the food can be re¬
duced so as to regulate the flow of food with the
greatest ease. This is considered to meet a long-fe
want, and was first made by the inventor for the

benefit of his own children.

Mr. Corsan exhibited in this room bottles engraved
by the sand-blast process, and glass advertising tablets
with the letters cut by the same method, which were
much admired.

In Boom No. 4, Messrs. Arnold and Sons exhibited
a large series of medical appliances. Among those
which did not appear last year, were an instantaneous
vaccinator, which is in fact an adaptation of a scarifi¬
cator to the purposes of vaccination ; a kmte and
fork combined to obviate as far as possible the
awkwardness and inconvenience attendant on eating
their meals by persons deprived of the use of either
arm; and a human hair-clipping instrument used

in treatment of diseases of the scalp. . , ,

Messrs. Bourne and Taylor’s exhibits included
seamless enemas without any metal mounts, a
new adhesive plaster which is said not to harden
and to adhere to bleeding wounds, and some medical
batteries which seemed to meet ivith general appro-

1 4- *

Messrs. Harvey, Shepherd and Co. exhibited
Byland’s patent stopper, which is, by the aid of a
clip, screwed down on the top of the bottle, a
made water-tight and air-tight by the intervention

of an india-rubber ring. , . ,

Mr. Jahncke’s round-cornered metal boxes lor
cachous, lozenges, etc., formed a pretty exhibit, and
these, as well as some very handsome specie jars,
shown by Messrs. Maw, Son and Thompson, might
be considered to illustrate ornamental art as applied

t0 Messre.apotlis and Co.’s shop bottles with burnt-m
labels, and especially a new form with the etos o
a ruby colour showing through a white label, attracted

h notice

mMr Martindale’s portable inhaler claims to possess
the merits of simplicity of construction, as it requires
the minimum of exertion on the part of the patient
in inhaling the medicated air. Being furnished with

956

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

BSIa-y 21, 1881.

a woollen covering, it can be handled without burning
the patient’s fingers, and the temperature of the liquid
becomes lowered very slowly. The poor man’s in¬
haler is made on the same principle, but is sold at
one-third of the price.

Page’s patent vaporizer, shown by Messrs. Allen
and Hanburys, for filling the atmosphere of the sick
room with the vapour of cresolene or other medica¬
ments or perfume, seemed to meet with approval
from the medical men who observed it. Cresolene is
used more particularly in whooping cough, and is
said to represent the beneficial vapours of gas works
in the treatment of that disease.

The urethral irrigator, exhibited by Symes and
Co. , is furnished with a hollow flexible tube made of
indiarubber in the form of a bougie or catheter, and
the edges of the hole near the extremity are per¬
fectly rounded, so as not to cause any irritation.

A case containing very handsome specimens of
crystallized palmitic and other fatty acids was exhi¬
bited in this room bv Price’s Patent Candle Co. , and
attracted much attention.

In the room devoted to chemicals and new drugs,
one of the most interesting exhibits was a large
flask of phosphoric acid crystallized in long prisms,
prepared by Mr. H. O. Huskisson, and which is, it
is- believed, the first time that it has been prepared
in that state. A bottle of the acid in large but less
perfect crystals, close by, was exhibited to show that it
can be prepared in quantity, for commercial purposes.

A very interesting series of specimens, exhibited
by Mr. A. W. Gerrard, illustrating the manufacture
of atropine, duboisine and hyoscyamine and the ap¬
pearance of the alkaloids in different stages of the
process, was evidently an object of interest to the
visitors. In Messrs. Hopkin and Williams’s exhibit,
a beautifully white specimen of resorcin in well-formed
crystals was specially worthy of notice. It must
have cost considerable trouble and time to prepare iff
Crystallized acetate of ammonium and ammonio-
citrate of cerium in golden scales, and salicylic
acid and salicylates prepared from the natural
acid obtained from tire oil of wintergreen, were
also objects of interest to many of the visitors.
Monobromonaplithaline, recently introduced as a
fluid for mounting diatoms, and which shows their
markings better than any other known fluid on
account of its great refractive power, was exhibited
both by this firm and by Messrs. Burgoyne, Bur-
bidges, Cyriax and Farries. The last-named firm
exhibited some splendid crystals of vanillin; also cou-
marin and a fluid resembling hawthorn in odour,
and called cratmgin (the latter, as well as heliotro¬
pin and coumarin being employed, it is said, to flavour
snuffs, etc. ) ; a new substitute for cod liver oil, called
oolachan oil, and a series of preparations made from
new American drugs, and prepared by Parke, Davis
and Co., and also the drugs from which they are
prepared. These drugs were presented to the Museum
of the Society by the last-mentioned firm at the close
of the Exhibition.

The perfumes and oils exhibited by Messrs. W. J.
Bush and Co., appeared to be of excellent quality,
the oils of cinnamon, bergamot and sandal- wood
being extremely fine, the last being prepared from
the Cochin China tree. The oil of pelargonium,
although an artificial preparation, was at least equal,
if not superior, to the genuine oil; the essence of
pineapple also was of a particularly natural flavour.

Camphor in tablets was exhibited by Messrs. May.

and Baker and Messrs. Geo. Atkinson, of Aldersgate
Street. Camphor, sublimed, in flat cakes, and then
cut or sawn into tablets, was first introduced from
America ; an entire cake of this kind was exhibited
by Messrs. Evans and Co., of Liverpool. The
American variety has, however, a somewhat different
and less pleasant odour than that prepared in
England. The English tablets are also said to be
sublimed direct into tablet moulds, containing the
name of the retailer, by Messrs. May and Baker.

New drugs were well represented in the Exhibi¬
tion by Messrs. Christy and Co. Some of the most
interesting articles in their exhibit were a series of
preparations of papaw juice, papayine, a fine speci¬
men of chaulmoogra oil, pure pilocarpine, aspido-
spermine, hoang-nan root — the Chinese remedy for
hydrophobia — pituri, and the fat obtained from odika
bread ( Irvingia Barteri). In this exhibit, by one of
those singular and unfortunate typographical errors
which sometimes occur, and which was due in this
case to the misplacement of a line, erythrophloeine,.
the alkaloid of the poisonous sassy bark, is said in"
the Catalogue of the Exhibition to be used for
making jelly !

Messrs. Corbyn, Stacey and Co. also' exhibited a
series of new drugs and preparations, of- which
Adonis vemaiis and the stigmata of maize; the latter
now in some repute as a diuretic, were - not shown
by any other exhibitor.

Messrs. Mackey, Mackey and Co.’s preparations
of cod liver oil appeared to possess more of the
character of a paste than of an emulsion; but the
taste of the oil seemed fairly concealed, while the
odour was only slightly perceptible.

Messrs. Morson and Son’s exhibit included several
of the new anaesthetics, solution of glonoine, and a
number of new chemicals; among those especially* *
noticeable for their beauty being fine crystals of
caffeine and erythrite, and salicylate of zinc.

Messrs. Young and Postans exhibited a fine speci¬
men of resorcin, the new antiseptic, and a specimen*
of eugenol. The glass vases exhibited by this firm
for Messrs Hamilton, Long and Co., of Dublin,
coated inside and outside with sulphide of lead by*
Professor J. Emerson Reynolds’s new process, were •
exceedingly handsome, the sulphide giving them a
metallic lustre like that of galena. The articles are
coated by immersing them in a bath containing
sulphocarbamide or sulpho-urea, CSN2H4, and a
soluble lead compound, when the lead is deposited
after some time on the article in the form of a spe¬
cular* and firmly adherent layer which is identical in
general character with natural galena. The articles
are then washed and polished with leather. The
urea is now chiefly prepared from its metamer am¬
monium sulphocyanate for use in galena plating.
A fine specimen of the crystallized salt accompanied
this exhibit.

The Clayton Aniline Company’s exhibit formed a
unique and interesting set of chemicals, “one of these,
xylol, possessing some interest from having been* re¬
commended in the treatment of small pox.

Mr. J. Burrough again exhibited his spirit of
wine which he states to be specially free from
fusel oil.

McKesson and Robbins’s oval capsuled pills,
exhibited by Burroughs, Wellcome and Co., seemed
generally approved of. The thin coat of gelatine (?)'
with which they are covered is easily soluble and
keeps the substance of the pill soft inside, .while

•May *21, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

957

their oval form en¬
ables tliem to be more
easily swallowed than
those of a spherical
shape. An ingenious
inhaler for applying
ammonium <• chloride
in the gaseous state
to the throat and post¬
nasal cavity was shown
by the same firm (see
fig. 8).

Cortis’s chlori-cal-
cium is an application
of the fact that chlo¬
ride of calcium is one
of the cheapest disin¬
fectants in proportion to its power. Jt might well
-be used for drying damp rooms, or where objects
-.liable to become mouldy are kept.

This year the show of aerated waters and non¬
alcoholic beverages was a large one. The Sparkling
.Limine, prepared by the Chemists’ Aerated Water
-Co., was generally liked, the musty flavour of the
-lime juice being completely masked.

Messrs. Idris and .Co.’s Phosphade, and their
Sparkling Apple Wine, prepared with the real juice
, imported from America, were much approved of,
whilst- their lemonade speedily disappeared.

The aerated distilled water prepared also by
. Messrs. Pack-ham and Co., of Croydon, if it could be
• sold at a moderate price, like aerated water, as in
Paris, should command an immense sale. At
present it is said to be used by the nobility to mix
with champagne, claret or other wines. Hedozone,

. prepared by the same firm found many to praise its
delicate flavour. Zoedone, quinada, a pleasant
.beverage prepared by Messrs. Pollock and Co., as
well as several of Messrs. Evans and Co.’s non-alco-
.Jholic drinks, particularly the raspberry cordial, found
.their respective admirers.

THE ANNUAL DINNER.

The Annual Dinner of the members and friends
of the Pharmaceutical Society took place on Tues¬
day, the 17th inst., at Willis’s Rooms, Mr. Thomas
Greenish, President, in the chair.

Amongst the visitors were Professor Abel, C.B.,
'F.R.S., President of the Institute of Chemistry;
Dr. Broadbent, President of the Medical Society of
London ; the Master of the Society of Apothecaries;
-Mr. Chaney; Mr. Wyndham Cottle; Mr. Anderson
i Critchett ; Dr. Dowse; Mr. Thiselton Dyer, F.R.S.;
Dr. Bedford Fenwick; Professor Frankland, D.C.L.,
F.R.S.; Dr. Douglas Powell; Dr. Richardson, F.R.S.;
Dr. Gilbert Smith; and Mr. Sowerby.

The musical arrangements were as usual under the
direction of Mr. Winn, and the efforts of Miss Clara
Samuell, Miss Heath, Mr. Hanson and Mr. Winn
gave very general satisfaction. Mr. Turle Lee
..presided at the pianoforte.

Grace having been sung —

The President proposed “ The Health cf the Queen.”
.He said that whilst other thrones were agitated by
.Nihilism and Socialism, and whilst the modern appli¬
ances of science were employed to keep their occupants
an a state of abject terror, that of Her Majesty was fixed
firmly in the affections of her subjects.

The toast having been received with the usual enthu¬
siasm, and the National Anthem having been sung,

The President proposed “The Prince and Princess of
Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family.” This was also
warmly received.

The Vice-President (Mr. Schacht) proposed the next
toast. He said there was a character well known to
readers of modern fiction, the creation of an authoress,
alas! now no more with us, who, striving to find an
explanation for some of the difficulties that occurred in
her comparatively uneventful life, fell back on the con¬
solation : “ Well, I suppose them as made us knows best.”
He always thought that old soul was possessed of a very
fine philosophy, and more or less he had striven to realize
it for his own guidance and consolation, and he never
required it more than when he was informed of the
important duty which had been entrusted to him of pro¬
posing the toast of “Science,” coupled with the Royal
Society and the name of Dr. Richardson. If he had
been allowed to speak in his own individual name, he
should have liked to have said something of the office of
science in drawing forth continually fresh fragments of
truth from those recesses of nature in which it was
hidden; but he had to speak as Vice-President of the
Pharmaceutical Society, and he might be allowed to say,
speaking on behalf of the great community of pharma¬
cists, that they all revered science. It was, in point of
fact, very nearly the air they breathed; science was
as much necessary to pharmacy as to any other
practical art. Pharmacy was a practical art, depending
on scientific pursuits and scientific knowledge as much as
engineering depended on a knowledge of physics, or
navigation on astronomy, or medicine on physiology and
therapeutics. One thing more he might be allowed to
say, and that was that he knew the band of high-minded
men with whom he had laboured so long had been
possessed with this one idea, the same which pervaded
the whole body of those engaged in pharmacy and its
recognized exponents, whether they belonged to the
Society or not — they all had this one great notion, that
they would raise not an unalterable ideal modern phar¬
macist, but an alterable one, one who should grow
purer and higher as time went on. He would conclude
by proposing “ Homage to Science.”

Dr. Richardson, F.R.S., in responding, said in one of
his rambles in the country, he saw over an old gateway
the Roman motto, Illceso hi mine soletn, of which, “look at
the sun without being injured,” would be something lik
a translation. He had been called upon, on a minute’s
notice, to look at the sun, and they must not wonder,
therefore, if he were dazed in his reply. Lord Bacon
said that science was like a dragon, that with her claws
she clutched the earth, that she shook it to its centre
whilst she sat calm and watched all the changes of this
eventful world. That was a grand simile, but he should
rather say that science was like the sun, and in his
young and imaginative days he used to think that the
souls°of men of science must return to the sun from
whence they came. Science was all pervading; she
spoke through every sense, in every sound, and in every
language ; she assisted everything ; she gave the printer
his metal; she gave the writer his ink; she gave the
mathematician his learning of form and symbol; she
made everything and unmade everything; she was, in
fact the sun, and to propose her health was like proposing
the ’health itself, the life itself of the universe. He
shrunk from replying to that part of the toast , but
when he came to the Royal Society, although he occupied
so humble a position as compared with the learned Pre¬
sident of that body, whose absence they so much regretted,
there was something there which . he could, with some
kind of sympathy, approach. The Royal Society sprang
up at an eventful time. The words Whig and Tory
came in about the same period, and freemasonry also
received a new development. It also sprang, some said,
from Hoxton, and one of his literary friends had a joke

958

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 21, 1381.

that, as extremes meet, so Hoxton gave birth to the
Royal Society and Miles’s boy. It came with a definite
mission, to interpret science to the world. It was said
that Alexander upbraided Aristotle for selling his books,
but the philosopher replied that although he had sold
his books he had filled them with such obscurity that none
but the learned could read them. That was the state
of science teaching up to the time of the Royal Society,
which was established largely by the great men who
founded it in order that science might be made known to
the unlearned. The Royal Society had gained its great¬
ness in this way, following largely the greatest of its
representatives, the memorable Newton himself, who was
ever anxious to tear away all extraneous difficulties from
science, that she might stand forth in the completeness of
her beauty. The Society deserved much commendation
for the admirable style in which its transactions were re¬
corded, especially in early times, but he must say that of
late years the style of its literature had considerably gone
back, and there were papers now published which, in
another century, wrnuld hardly be readable. He would
thank them again in the name of the learned societies,
amongst which he must include the Pharmaceutical So¬
ciety itself, and therefore in thanking them for the toast
wishing health, strength and long life to all the learned
societies, he was really wishing it to themselves.

The President said he had next to propose a toast
which was always received on such occasions with great
enthusiasm — “ The Medical Profession.” Perhaps there
was no profession which commanded their sympathy,
admiration and gratitude to so great a degree as the
medical profession. Forgetful of self, and regardless of
danger, the members of that profession passed from one
bedside to another, constantly in the presence of and
engaged in relieving suffering humanity. Such was their
daily practice. But we also heard of them in battle fields
adverse to the British arms. There the surgeon fell by
the side of the wounded soldier, refusing to leave his
patient, recognizing one principle only, that of duty.
Again, those noble institutions, the hospitals of the
country, so valuable in advancing medical and surgical
science, and such a boon to the suffering poor, owed the
position they occupied in public estimation to the exer¬
tions and self-sacrifice of the medical profession. Every
pharmacist present must feel it an honour to be allied,
however remotely, to such a noble profession, and must
also feel grateful at being honoured with the presence
of several of its representatives, amongst whom was the
President of the Medical Society of London, Dr. Broad-
bent, whose name be begged to couple with the toast.

Dr. Broadbent begged to thank the company most
heartily for the kind way in which tbe toast had been
received. It was a very great satisfaction to himself and
to those members of the profession whom he saw present
to note the cordiality of feeling with which their pro¬
fession was regarded by that great Society. It was
true one might expect this cordiality, seeing that they
were, in a way, simple members of the great profession
which had for its object the relief of suffering. But it
did not always follow that kindred pursuits and com¬
munity of interests would bind people together in regard,
and it was a great satisfaction to find that no petty
jealousies for the present separated the two great
branches of the art of healing. One remark which
fell from the President reminded him that of the School
of Medicine with which he was connected, they had had
some distinguished representatives at the seat of war.
A young medical man from there, whom he saw the other
day, sat on the field of Islandula amongst the living and
dead on the night after the battle, owing his life to the
fact that he was on some other duty at the time of the
massacre ; and again he saw that in connection with the
affair at Majuba Hill another of his old students was
the one that took charge of Captain Romilly and looked

after him. It was a great profession, though he was
afraid they were yet in some respects to come short of
what they might be. Medicine, as a science, had rela¬
tions with every science ; but as an art it was con¬
cerned with matters of detail, and those details were
sometimes not sufficiently attended to, and in their
comparative neglect of societies like that, whose duties,
consisted in the preparation of remedies which they had
to rely upon for the relief of the sick, and in their failure
to take advantage of all that was placed before them,
they opened the door to many of tbe nostrums which
were placed before the public. The neglect of duty led
to unforeseen consequences. Within a few days he had
received a very clever lithograph informing him that a
certain nostrum was an infallible remedy for the late
stages of bronchitis and he did not know what else. It
struck him that they actually invited what was little less
than an insult by neglecting the work of members of that
Society. He hoped that medical men would always act
in harmony with that Society, and he was quite sure
that in relying on the work that was done on truly
scientific principles, they would be doing the best for
themselves, for the profession to which they belonged, and
for the public.

Professor Abel said he found himself something in the
position of the youngest bachelor at a dinner, who was
called upon to propose the most important toast of the
evening, “The Ladies,” for he was selected, as the repre¬
sentative of the youngest scientific professional institu¬
tion, to propose the most important toast, that of “The
Pharmaceutical Society.” However, he was glad he was
so selected, because it gave him an opportunity of saying
how thoroughly the Institute of Chemistry recognized
the cordial manner in which, after some natural reti¬
cence, the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain met
it in the first days of its existence. It was not unnatural
that the Institute of Chemistry and the appliances and
schemes proposed by it should be narrowly scrutinized
by the Pharmaceutical Society, and proud indeed must
the Institute feel that they might count amongst those
who most zealously worked for its advancement many
eminent men connected with the Pharmaceutical Society.
Young as the Institute of Chemistry was he ventured
to think it might be almost in the position of reading
some of its older brethren a lesson or two, though far be
it from him to say that that applied to the Pharma¬
ceutical Society. The founders of the Institute, who
were carefully selected amongst men of experience in
the government of kindred scientific institutions, con¬
sidered it one of their highest duties to determine on the
standard which should be adopted for the admission of
young member-, and it appeared to him that in this
matter they had followed a course which might perhaps
be of some little utility as an example to other and much
older institutions. They were met with this difficulty,
that the only known means of admission into a society,
scientific or professional, was by examination, and yet
that this method of examination, however carefully and
elaborately it might be conducted, failed in many
instances in thoroughly sifting the qualification of those
who desired admission. He thought that the founders
of the Institute had exercised a wise discretion when
they decided that they would adopt not merely a system
of examination, but would also insist on certain pre¬
liminary conditions of training or study, and that,
perhaps, was one of the greatest elements of success
in the Institute of Chemistry. He mentioned this
because he had seen that this very subject of ex¬
amination with reference to qualification had been
seriously considered by the Pharmaceutical Society. He
had noticed in the Pharmaceutical Journal certain ex¬
tracts from a most important report presented to the
Council by certain of its body, in which increased strin¬
gency was suggested in the examinations. This was a
subject which required the most serious consideration of

May 21, 1881.]

*TH£ PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

959

every society the success of which depended on the es¬
tablishment of a certain status. He had had a good
deal of experience in the good and bad results of exami¬
nation, having been for many years connected with the
examinations in another branch of knowledge where he
had seen the facility with which men with brains could
pass an examination, the short space of time in which
they could pick up an apparently sound knowledge of
science, mathematics and various branches of knowledge,
and he could also speak, from subsequent experience in
working with the men who had so passed, of the evanes¬
cent character of these acquirements. Therefore, they en¬
deavoured to make the examinations as practical and as
searching as possible ; but after all examination was to a
very great extent simply a test of memory, and he thought
this subject, which was engaging the attention of the
Society seriously just now, was one which ought not
lightly to be dismissed, and he was perfectly sure that if
they could succeed in coupling with those examinations a
satisfactory previous curriculum of practical study they
would have accomplished a very great benefit. The
Pharmaceutical Society had existed only about forty
years, and he did not think there were many other bodies
which could be shown to have done more work for the
public in the time. They had succeeded in bringing
about legislation of the most important character, and in
advancing their own particular profession in every way.
They found members of that Society connected with the
Royal Society, with the Chemical Society, with the In¬
stitute of Chemistry, and in fact with almost every learned
society, and it was only with diffidence that on the pre¬
sent occasion he stood there as a representative of those
who desired on all occasions to honour and respect the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. He would
couple with the toast the name of the President, Mr.
Greenish, who had been by no means the least in advan¬
cing the interests of the Society. But in speaking of the
Society other names crowded upon his memory, such as
Pereira, Thompson and Fownes, and they had now equally
illustrious names in Redwood, Bentley and Attfield. He
was perfectly sure the time would come when with com¬
plete and compulsory examinations they would see their
laboratories as crowded as that of the school which once
did so much good to counteract the evils that resulted
from indiscriminate examination .

The President, in responding, said that after twelve
months of Presidential work it was gratifying to hear the
toast^of the Pharmaceutical Society so warmly responded
to. He was situated just as pharmacy should be, with
medicine on the one side and science on the other. The
Pharmaceutical Society was established forty years ago,
and one of its main objects was the promotion of the
education of the pharmacist. How well it had accom¬
plished that purpose might be seen by comparing the
pharmacy of that period with the pharmacy of the present
day. At that time it scarcely existed; whilst at the
present time it compared favourably with the pharmacy
of other and more favoured nations, and an opportunity
of comparison would be offered at the meeting of the
International Pharmaceutical Congress, to be held in
August next, when they would meet with men distin¬
guished by scientific attainments and a knowledge ob¬
tained under conditions very different from any which
existed in this country until quite recently. One of the
greatest successes of the Society was that its value was re¬
cognized by the medical profession, and if the practice of
medicine were ever to become a great science, it would be
much assisted by the educated intelligence brought to bear
upon the preparation of remedial agents by the pharmacist.
It was stated by a learned judge not long ago, that phar.
macy was a fourth branch of the medical profession.
They were happy to accept the position, as it in some
measure defined their relations to the profession. A branch
bore leaves and leaves played an important part in the
economy of vegetation; they elaborated the sap, or in

other words, laboratory operations were carried on in the
leaf, and it was only after the new sap had been elaborated
in the leaf, that it was in a fit state to be used by the
plant in healing one part or building up another. So
necessary were the leaves to the well-being of the plant
that no plant could thrive unless the leaves were healthy,
and protected in the discharge of their proper functions.
It was for the pharmacist to prepare the remedial
agents and for the medical man to prescribe their use.
Truly, therefore, the pharmacist was the physician’s oook,
not to serve up the ready-made dishes of French, German,
or American manufacture, but dishes made in strict ac¬
cordance with the pharmacists’ book of cookery, the
British Pharmacopoeia. He begged to thank them all
for the honour they had done to the Pharmaceutical
Society in the person of its President.

Mr. Sandford next proposed “ The Health of our
Guests.” He said, although he had read in the Times the
other day a rather amusing and sarcastic account of a
public dinner, he confessed he always looked forward to
these annual gatherings with great pleasure, because they
tended to strengthen the bond amongst themselves in
carrying on the work they had commenced, and formed also
a link in the chain that bound them ; but beyond that, they
had present many friends whom they highly valued, many
distinguished members of the medical profession, and
other gentlemen who were in a high position in the world
of science, all men qualified to judge of the work the
Pharmaceutical Society had undertaken, and by their
presence he inferred that they approved of what had been
done. He would ask them to give the heartiest greeting
to those visitors, and even if it were true that they
suffered the agonies which had been depicted in the Times,
which he did not believe was the case, they should only
be more thankful to them for coming. He should couple
with the toast the name of Mr. Thiselton Dyer, who wa3
connected with the Royal Gardens, at Kew, who often
had the opportunity and always had the good will to
promote the interests of the Pharmaceutical Society.

Mr. Thiselton Dyer in responding said it gave him
great pleasure to be present on that occasion, as it always
did to work with the Society in every possible way in which
its purely distinctive objects could be promoted. At the
Royal Gardens at Kew they took botany to be their
province, and they made a kind of pretence to deal in the
same kind of way with the pharmaceutical botany, but
they must confess that they could not compete with a great
Society like that, and it was a great pleasure to him to
bear testimony to the great assistance the Society had
rendered to botanists like himself. Indeed, he must
express his personal sense of gratitude for the assistance
he had often received from that Society ; he constantly
had the Journal and corresponded with the officers, and
he felt that the quiet work done in the Museum was not
sufficiently appreciated. He was constantly amazed at
the excellent way in which the Journal was conducted, for
the editors seemed to keep their eyes open to all that was
going on in all parts of the world, and to give a resume of
what was new in pharmacology such as he did not see in
any other European publication. The Curator of the
Museum was a constant visitor at Kew and never lost
sight of any information bearing on pharmacology. Only
the other day they received at Kew, as was often the case,
a sample of bark, with a request to know what it was,
and he was not ashamed to own that they could not
answer ; but on applying to Mr. Holmes they were enabled
to explain all about it. It was a peculiar gratification to
him to find himself seated next Professor Bentley, his
first instructor in botany, and to find on the other side his
excellent friend Dr. Bichardson, with whom he had been
conversing about a paper which he read, some twenty-five
years ago, on the use of peroxide of hydrogen, v\ hich he
believed led, in the hands of a Frenchman, t » a very
prosperous business in what was called “ auricomous
fluid.”

960

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 21, 1881

SATURDAY , MAY 21, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, hooks for review, etc., should he addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should he sent to Mr. Elias
Brem ridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square , W.C .

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Chdrohill, New Burlington Street , London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ

THE ANNIVERSARY PROCEEDINGS.

The proceedings connected with the Society’s
anniversary this year have not been marked by any
incident of unusual interest, and as the detailed
reports of them occupy a very considerable portion
of our available space, it will be convenient to defer
until future occasions any further reference to the
subjects brought forward by the speakers at the
Annual Meeting, and to confine our present remarks
to the most important results of the week’s work.

The election of new members of Council for
the ensuing year naturally takes the first place
among these results, and though the regret we have
already expressed as to the small number of candi¬
dates for a seat upon the Council was repeated
by some of the speakers at the Annual Meeting,
it is satisfactory to find that such a marked pre¬
ference has been given to the most eligible among
that number. The Scrutineers’ report furnishes
unmistakable evidence of the fact that there is a
very general recognition of the principle that a
person engaged in the business of teaching candi¬
dates for the Society’s examinations is thereby
disqualified from holding the position of a member
of Council. On the present occasion Mr. Wills
has polled only 282 \otes out of 1540, showing not
only the very slender support accorded to his candi¬
dature, but also that it has been received with
much less favour than on the two former occasions
when he failed to be elected.

Of the other unsuccessful candidate for election
it is unnecessary to say anything in addition to what
is indicated by the small number of votes in his
favour. This we venture to regard as evidence of a
marked decline in the desire to prolong the contest
with co-operative stores and similar trading associa¬
tions in the way that was formerly believed to be
desirable. The number of votes polled by Mr.
Spink this year is very considerably smaller than it
was last year when the anti-store fever was at its
height, and is indeed, very little above what it was
when he first offered himself for election. In this
circumstance there is, we think, no little reason for
congratulation, not because we underestimate the
injury which has been done to chemists by store
trading, but because we believe it shows that a more
i ational opinion prevails as to the kind of measures

by which the future interests of pharmacy are to be
protected. The Council of the Society has, in re¬
sponse to the demand of what may be termed the
belligerent members of the trade, tried to the utter¬
most the store question, and has done so at great
expense, and though the result has been to support
the opinion that it was undesirable to take that
course, it cannot be said that the attempt was alto¬
gether useless, since it has in some degree given
satisfaction to a large section of the trade, and has
made clear the position in which chemists and drug¬
gists stand.

While expressing our satisfaction at the result of
the election, and the influences by which we believe
it has been determined, it is impossible to overlook
the fact first recorded in the Scrutineers’ report, that
not one-half of the number of persons entitled to
vote did exercise their power of influencing the con¬
stitution of the body by which affairs concerning
their interests are to be regulated during the ensuing
year. This is unfortunately no novel experience;
but it is every year more strange to find that the
same state of things continues when so much is
heard about the Council failing to represent the
trade throughout the country. Is it not rather
evidence that there is failure on the part of many
members of the trade to seek for representation and
to confer upon the executive body such vigour as
would enable it to exercise the strongest possible
influence in dealing with matters affecting the
interests of the trade ?

At the present time, when projects of reform and
amended legislation are being mooted, it cannot be
otherwise than as a circumstance tending to weaken
the influence of the Council, that the Legislature
or the public will look upon the facts that out of
some thirteen thousand registered chemists and
druggists in business there are less than four
thousand who have the right to vote for representa¬
tives, and out of that number only fifteen hundred
and forty who take the trouble to do so. If any¬
thing is to be done for the promotion of pharmacy
in this country the removal of this grave defect
must be one of the first steps, and whether it be
merely the trade interest of its followers or their
semi-professional status that is to be protected
and advanced, a successful result can only be
expected when more general support is given to the
body acting on their behalf.

The usual social gatherings incidental to the So¬
ciety’s anniversary have this year been quite as
successful as on former occasions. The number of
visitors at the Conversazione was 2456, notwith¬
standing the unfavourable state of the weather. At
the Annual Dinner, at Willis’s Booms, there was
some disappointment caused by the absence of the
President of the Boyal Society and the President of
the Institute of Civil Engineers, who were at the
last moment prevented from carrying out their in¬
tention of being among the guests of the Society,
but otherwise there was every reason for satisfaction,

May 21, ISM.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

961

Cvmtsactbus of tbc pbanramttiml

Sotufjr.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday May 18, 1881.

MR. THOMAS G RE!. NISH, PRESIDENT.

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.
Present — Messrs. Aml.ews, Atkins, Butt, Bottle,
Churchill, Frazer, Gostling, Hampson, Hills, Radley,
Richardson, Robbins, Sandford, Savage, Symes and
Williams.

The President read a letter which had been received
from the editor of The. Chemists' Journal, asking per¬
mission for a reporter to attend the Annual Meeting.
He presumed there would be no objection. No objec¬
tion was raised by any member.

Restorations to Membership.

Several persons were restored to their former status in
the Society upon payment of the current year’s subscrip¬
tion and a fine.

Pharmaceutical Legislation in Jamaica.

The Secretary read a communication which had been
received from the Colonial Office, enclosing copy of a law
passed in the Island of Jamaica, with regard to the sale
of drugs and poisons in that island, and asking for the
opinion of the Council upon it before it received the
Royal Assent. It was decided that the matter should be
considered at the next ordinary meeting of the Council.

The Ballot Papers.

Some discussion took place as to the mode in which
the ballot papers should be received at the Annual
Meeting. The b} e-law bearing on the subject having
been referred to,

Mr. Bottle contended that each ballot paper ought to
be presented in the envelope, with the name of the voter
on the outside, whether presented personally or sent by

post. . .

The Vice-President thought this regulation did not
necessarily apply to voting papers personally delivered.

Mr. Sandford said it had never been the practice,
and many persons would no doubt have destroyed the

envelopes. ,

The President thought it would be sufficient if an
officer of the Registrar were placed by the side of the
ballot box, and instructed to see that no one placed any
voting paper in it except his own.

Mr. Hampson said the voting ought to be made as
easy as possible.

The Council then adjourned to the Annual Meeting.

FORTIETH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

The Fortieth Annual General Meeting of the Members
and Associates in Business of the Society was held on
Wednesday, May 18, at 12 o’clock.

The Secretary having read the notice convening the
meeting,

The President delivered the following address : —

The President’s Address.

It is a time-honoured custom lor the President to
address a few words to the members and associates
in business on this, the occasion of the Annual
Meeting, and it is a relief for him to find that on
such an occasion he can speak without involving
the Council in the responsibility of his utterance.

It must be obvious that in the presence of a
vigilant press little is likely to be gleaned that can
claim the character of novelty, but some remarks
may properly be made on, and in addition to, the

plain statement of facts which annually characterizes
the Council report.

The smaller number of candidates for the Pre¬
liminary examination, although resulting in a loss
of revenue, and probably only an accident of the
year, cannot be considered an unmixed evil; the
overcrowding of the trade seems to imply that
the present conditions of entrance to the trade of
chemist and druggist are not properly understood,
either by the pupil or by the parent. In observing
the condition of unprtpareduess for the Preliminary
examination nothing strikes one more forcibly than,
the deficiency of the middle class education of this
country. Questions that a lad from one of the
national or boaid schools would answer without
difficulty appear to be to some of the candidates
perfectly incomprehensible.

The <]uestion often occurs to me, can the parents
of a youth be aware that, although he may enter
the calling of a chemist and druggist as an appren¬
tice, he will not be able to conduct a business
for himself until after he has passed ceitain exami¬
nations? Are the young men aware of it them¬
selves? Very great responsibility as regards this
early education, and further as to the opportunities
afforded for learning that business, rests on those
chemists who take apprentices. Is pliaimacy ever
to be raised whilst the present condition of things
prevails ?

The question whether the word “person” in the
Pharmacy Acts included a corporate body was one
which it was absolutely necessary to set at rest.
The case was ably argued, but the decision of the
House of Lords was adverse to this Society.

The Bill for amending the Pharmacy Acts has
been submitted to the Lord President, and . it is
hoped that the interview promised will reMiit in his
lordship considering the clauses of the Bill from the
point of view of the promoteis of that measure.

The relation of medicine to pharmacy is a sub¬
ject which has of lute received much attention.
That the dispensing of medical prescriptions should
be done by pharmacists, and that at no distant
period it will be done by them exclusively, there
cannot be a doubt ; but this end will be best accom¬
plished by the pharmacist educating public opinion
on the subject. If the trained pharmacist with a
personal qualification be not the best adapted, by
his special education, to dispeuse the prescriptions
of the medical profession, it must be his owrn fault.
The usual charges for dispensing done in pharmacies
are by no means higher than an adequate remunera¬
tion demands for the skilled labour employed, and
the intelligence required. They cannot be estimated
solely by the cost of the drugs employed.

The Evening Meetings have experienced a dearth
of suitable papers for reading and discussion ; but it
must be recognized that there exists in this metro¬
polis a Students’ Association and a Chemists’ As¬
sistants’ Association, both of which have showrn more
or less activity. There seems, however, wanting the
stimulus to that kind of investigation which results
in papers bearing the stamp of originality. In most
of the American colleges of pharmacy the student
must produce an essay embodying the results of
original research in some branch of pharmacy to
obtain the title of Graduate in Pharmacy, indicated
by the letters Ph.G. after his name, and practically
the same rule prevails throughout the Continent.
The Benevolent Fund appeals forcibly to those

962

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 21, 1881.

who are in a position to contribute to its funds.
Subscriptions are urgently needed to meet those
distressing cases of privation brought monthly under
the notice of the Committee.

I will digress here to read an extract from a letter
received this morning from one of the Society’s Local
Secretaries. He says: —

“I send you herewith a list of the new subscribers
which I have "been fortunate enough to procure for
the Benevolent Fund. There are fifteen new ones
this year, and although it has been some trouble and
work to get the small amounts, yet it is worth doing,
and you may possibly be able to persuade some other
secretaries to do the same, so as to add to your yearly
income.”

These cursory remarks on pasing events cannot
be brought to a close without a word in reference to
the retirement of Mr. Sandford and Mr. Hills from
the Council. They need rest. When the time comes
for a continuation of the ‘Historical Sketch of the
Progress of Pharmacy’ it cannot be written without
the name of Sandford being interwoven in its every
age, and the great influence possessed by Mr. Hills
as ever been exercised in the best interests of this
Society.

I am sure that you will with myself indulge a
hope that theirs is only a temporary retirement, and
that after a little repose they will again lend their
personal assistance in the struggles for the future of
pharmacy.

Death also has been amongst us. Mr. Abraham,
of Liverpool, is gone to his rest. In a long life of
usefulness he had earned for himself a character for
more than ordinary intelligence and was consulted
by his fellow- citizens on many important public
questions.

But the greatest losses have been sustained by our
brethren in the north. Mr. William Aitken and Mr.
Henry Craven Baildon, former Presidents of the
North British Branch, have also passed away during
this year. Both were representative men whose
places are not easily supplied. The best interests
of pharmacy have, however, sustained the heaviest
blow in the death of Mr. Mackay. Standing by his
grave whilst his mortal remains were committed to
earth I felt that pharmacy in Great Britain had
lost one of its ablest supporters in John Mackay.

One of our honorary members, well known in the
paths of science, Dr. Stenhouse, has been removed
from us, and I may here also mention another name,
probably unknown in this room, Dr. Philip Phcebus,
Professor of Pharmacy in Giessen University. He
it was that originated the idea of a Universal Phar¬
macopoeia, as distinguished from an International
Pharmacopoeia, and devoted the best efforts of his
life to its accomplishment. In the near approach
of an International Pharmaceutical Congress, this
mention of his name and' the reference to his labours
may possess a passing interest.

In the present depression of trade interests, the
question may be asked, What is the future of phar¬
macy ? The wave of co-operation in its various
phases is passing over the land and the ancient
landmarks of trade are being swept away. It found
the pharmacist, with his very mixed business, un¬
prepared for the changes which naturally followed.
Time may modify its effects, but the principle of
co-operation has taken a fast hold in the community.
The medical profession is advancing in education and
intelligence, and the time cannot be very remote

when the dispensing of medicines will be felt by
them to be incompatible with the time required for
the study of disease. The voice of public opinion
will then be heard requiring educated and trained
pharmacists to fill the vacant position. Pharmacists,
by a natural law, slow but certain, will then occupy
their true place in the economy of medicine for
which their education and training so eminently fit
them.

At the conclusion of the address, —

On the motion of Mr. Richardson, seconded by Mr.
Gostling, the report and statements of accounts were
taken as read.

The following is the text of the Report : —

The Annual Report.

In the Financial Report now submitted it will be
observed with regret that there is a decrease of revenue
in 1880, as compared with 1879, owing to a falling
off in the number of candidates for examination,
especially the Preliminary. The receipts from exa¬
mination fees amounted to nearly £500 less in 1880
than in the previous year. The income from subscrip¬
tions has increased, although there has been a slight
diminution in the number of members; this, however,
is more than compensated by an increased number
of associates and apprentices. The expenditure has
been unusually heavy, owing to there being several
items of quite an exceptional nature, namely, the
cost of publication of the Library Catalogue and
the ‘Progress of Pharmacy,’ and an unusually large
amount for law costs. There has also been the ex¬
pense of publication of an Index to the Journal from
1868 to 1878, amounting to £147 6s. 8 d. This amount
has been charged to the Journal account, and it will
be observed that although in addition to this there
is a charge on the Journal of £690 4s. 3 d. for postage
to Members and others entitled to receive it, the
total expense of the publication amounts only to
£680 19s. 7 d. The Journal account, therefore, if re¬
lieved from the expense incurred for postage, would
show a profit of £9 4s. 8 cl.

During 1880 there were fewer candidates than in
the previous year for each of the examinations. The
decrease was as follows : — Preliminary, 247 ; Modi¬
fied, 19; Minor, 3; Major, 9.

The Library has been increased by between 300
and 400 books and pamphlets, many of which have
been presented, and at the monthly meetings of the
Committee such books have been selected as it was
considered desirable the Library should possess.
About 4000 copies of the Catalogue of the Library
have been issued to members and associates of
the Society. An increase in the number of books
borrowed has been coincident with the issue of
the catalogue, but there has at the same time
been a considerable decrease in the number of
visitors to the Library. Two microscopes have re¬
cently been placed in the Library for the use of
the students, who will, it is hoped, avail themseves of
the facilities thus afforded of becoming familiar with
an instrument of such value in pharmacy.

Only about 1000 copies of the Index of the
Journal from 1868 to 1878 have been applied for
and distributed. The Council regrets that the
readers of the Journal do not avail themselves of
the great advantages for reference presented by
this index, which is supplied without charge to each
Member and Associate of the Society on application
to the Secretary.

An exhibition of articles of interest to pharma-

jiay 21, 1881. j

963

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

cists was held in the Society’s Rooms in May last,
and, the experiment having been successful, the
Council decided to hold a similar exhibition on the
17th, 18th and 19th of May in this year.

The Museum has received during the year con¬
siderable augmentation from various sources. Many
additional specimens from the India Museum have
been received from Kew, and some valuable contri¬
butions have been made by chemical manufacturers
in Glasgow; the Exhibition in May was also a
means of adding to the collection. Duplicate speci¬
mens have been sent to local Associations and inter¬
changed with British and Continental Universities
and with eminent pharmacists at home and abroad
as opportunity offered.

The papers supplied for the Evening Meetings
during the past session, though satisfactory in quality,
have been scarcely so numerous as could be desired.
This is to be regretted as, in addition to the more
scientific papers, subjects of practical interest fre¬
quently occur to the pharmacist in the exercise of
his vocation, the investigation of which would be
of general service.

During 1880 numerous infringements of the
Pharmacy Act, 1868, were reported by the Registrar,
and in all cases inquiries were instituted. Com¬
munications with the persons complained of in many
instances led to satisfactory results, but in others it
was found necessary to resort to legal proceedings.

The decision in the House of Lords in the case of the
Pharmaceutical Society v. the London and Provincial
Supply Association having been adverse to this Society ,
the Council appointed a Committee to draft a Bill
embodying amendments of the Pharmacy Acts to
render the restrictions on the practice of Pharmacy,
or on the sale of poisons, more definite. Prior to that
communications had been addressed to the Society
by the Privy Council, calling attention to the public
danger arising from the indiscriminate distribution
of poisons and other powerful drugs in the shape
of patent medicines, and ultimately asking “ whether
the Society had arrived at any conclusion as to the
desirability of legislation on the subject, and if so,
what form they are of opinion such legislation
should take. ” These communications were remitted
to the Pharmacy Act Amendment Committee, which
has reported to the Council, and a draft Pharmacy

(Bill has been prepared and sent to the Lord Presi¬
dent, who has consented to receive a deputation from
the Council on the subject. The Bill has been
printed in extenso in the Society’s Journal.

The report of the deputation from the London
Board of Examiners in April, 1880, to the Board in
Edinburgh was received by the Council in August
last, and places on record the conviction of the depu¬
tation that the examinations as conducted by the
two Boards correspond as nearly as could be expected
in general efficiency. A deputation from the Board
in Scotland will attend the examinations ot the
London Board in June, and. much advantage must
necessarily accrue in the maintenance of strict uni¬
formity in the practice of the two Boards.

The International Pharmaceutical Congress will
meet in London on August 1st, 2nd and 3rd, next, and
the Council has placed the Society’s house at the dis¬
posal of the Congress for holding its meetings. . It
has also issued about three hundred and fifty invita¬
tions to societies and individuals of various nationali¬
ties, and there is every reason to believe that the
meeting will be fully attended. A Committee has

been appointed to arrange the business of the Con¬
gress and generally to provide for the entertainment
of the visitors.

The first “Hanburv” Gold Medal, “for high
excellence in the prosecution or promotion of original
research in the natural history and chemistry of
drugs,” has been awarded to Professor Fliickiger, by
the Committee, which consists of the Presidents of
the Linnean, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Societies,
the President of the British Pharmaceutical Con¬
ference and Mr. H. B. Brady. The medal will be
presented on the occasion of the meeting of the Inter¬
national Pharmaceutical Congress.

The subscriptions and donations to the Benevolent
Fund again show a falling off from the previous
year. The Council regrets that the support of this
Fund is still confined to so small a percentage of those
who are entitled to its benefits. Out of 13,462 che¬
mists and druggists on the Register less than 2000
contribute to the Benevolent Fund, whilst a large
proportion of the applications for assistance are from
persons who have never contributed. The appeals tor
assistance are becoming more numerous, and the
Council would much regret to find itself unable from
want of funds to relieve the distressing cases brought
under its notice.

The Council cannot close this report without
alluding to the loss which has been sustained
during the year by the death of old and prominent
members of the Pharmaceutical Society.

Mr. Baildon of Edinburgh, who died in January
last, had from the earliest days been an active sup¬
porter, and Mr. Abraham of Liverpool was for several
years a most active member of the Council. But
more recently the death of Mr. Mackay has inflicted
a severe grief on all. His exertions in extending the
Pharmaceutical Society to Scotland are fully recorded
in the ‘Progress of Pharmacy’ recently published,
and his unwearied efforts in maintaining it are too
well known to need mention ; but his value as a
member of Council during a period of twenty years
can only be fully appreciated by those with whom
he was therein associated and by whom it is no
exaggeration to say he was sincerely beloved.

Mr. Mackay’s name was retained on the Council by
the lot taken in February last for the ensuing year.

At the Council meeting on the 4th inst., Mr.
James Robertson Young, of Edinburgh, was nomi¬
nated and elected by the Council to fill the vacancy
as Mr. Mackay’s successor.

[The Financial Statement and Benevolent Fund Account
are printed on pp. 964 and 965.]

Mr. Mee moved the adoption of the report. From
some parts of it, it looked rather as if the Society had
got into a rut, but he hoped they would manage to
harness some new horses to it, and drag it out again. The
receipts from examination fees were less this year, but
that they must be prepared for ; the only alternative
would be zeal and retrenchment. The Library had been
increased, which was a move in the right direction, and
so was the holding of the Exhibition in the Society s
rooms. It was exceedingly interesting and instructive,
and they ought to be very grateful to the gentleman who
suggested the idea. The Museum had been considerably
augmented, which was a great joy to them all. In the
next place the report touched on a very imp rtant
matter, the decision of the House of Lords with respect
to the case of the Supply Association. He was very
glad that the Society took up the position they did, even
though they had lost the case. He always thought the
case would be gained, but it went from court to court,
and the judges convinced him that if they were going to

964

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 21, 1881.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT tor the Year ending December 31st, 1880.

TUtetpts.

£ s. d. £ s.

Balance in Treasurer’s hands, January 1st, 1880 . .

Balance in Han. Secretary’s hands, N. B. Branch

January 1st, 18S0 . .

London and Westminster Bank— On Deposit • . .

Life Members’ Fund — Interest .

Interest on Investments .

1390 4

d.

5

43 0
500 0
87 18
015 6

Subscriptions : —

1729 Members, Pharmaceutical Chemists 1815
803 „ Chemists and Druggists. 843

1025 Associates in Business . 1076

840 Associates not in Business .... 441

1074 Apprentices or Students .

563 17

24 Entrance Fees . 50 8

Fines upon restoration to the Society

4790 2 0
42 5 3

4832

Examination Fees : —

1276 Preliminary Examination Fees
13 Modified ,,

679 Minor
126 Major

>>

2292 12 0
13 13 0
1875 14 0
505 2 0

It egistration Fees

16 Registration Fees as Chemists and

Druggists . . .

15 Fees for Restoration to the Register

84 0 0
15 15 0

4687 1 0

99 15 0

lExpcntflturc.

£ s. d. £

Balance due to Secretary, Jan. 1st, 1880 . 22

Annuity — Dr. Redwood . 100

Carriage of Books to or from the Library, and other parcels 27

Certificates of Death .

Conversazione . 200 14 0

Exhibition of Apparatus, &c . 26 17 3

Pharmaceutical Meetings . 39 4 1

17

s.

10

0

7

7

d.

ry

0

11

7

Examiners, Boards of— England
and Wales.
Fees to Examiners 1275 15 0
Fees to Su perin ten-
dents — Prelim.
Examination .

Hire of rooms for
conducting Pre¬
lim. Examination
TravellingExpenses 177 11
Refreshments for
Examiners . .

Apparatus, Drugs,

Chemicals, for
Examinations &
sundry charges
in connection
therewith . .

266 15 4

Scotland.
248 17 0

145 19 0 21 0 0

44 10

0

3

16

5

6

10

100 71 10 16 0

57 1 2 23 13 7

317

1801

8 11
3 6

- 2118 12

Fees to the College of Preceptors ... 128 12
Deputation to Scotland . 36 8

5

6
4

Fixtures and Fittings .

Furniture .

House Expenses: — Gas. Water, Coal, <fec , <fcc. . .
Journal Account (which includes £690 4«. 3d. cost
Postage to Members and others) — Balance . . .
Laboratory : —

Professor of Practical Chemistry — Endow¬
ment of Chair . 100 0

Prize Medals, etc. . . . 5 8

of

2283 13
64 19
17 0
233 2

0

9

Law Costs : —

General Charges . 350 4

The Society v. The London and Pro¬
vincial Supply Association .... 819 0

Lectures : —

Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacy —

Endowment of Chair .

Professor of Botany and Materia Medica —

Endowment of Chair .

Subscription to Royal Botanic Gardens
Prize Medals, etc .

100 0 0

100 0
21 0
18 10

Library

Librarian’s Salary .

Catalogue, New Edition, 5,000 copies
Purchase of Books, etc .

Museum : —

Curator’s Salary .

Assistant’s Salary . . . .

Specimens, Bottle.3 and Sundries

Branch of the Society in Scotland : —
Assistant secretary in Scotland — Salary
Current Expenses .

. 200

0

0

. 362

3

9

13

6

. 200

0

0

0

. 108

0

4

. 150

0

0

. 149

12

4

Postage .

Register .

Repairs and Alterations .

Rent, Taxes, and Insurance of Plate Glass

Returned Subscriptions to Associates .

Stationery, Engraving, Printing, and Office Expenses
Cost of Publication “ Progress of Pharmacy ”
Salaries : —

Secretary and Registrar:—

Salary . 450 0 0

Rent . 100 0 0

550

Assistant Secretary . 300

Clerks and Servants . S74

0

0

18

0

0

6

Cost of Materials supplied to the Bell Scholars . .

Council Prizes and Herbaria Medals .

Sundries (including £15 19s. 3d. for Diploma eases)
Travelling Expenses— Country Members of Council .

Refreshments for Council .

Balance, December 31st, 1S80 : —

lu Treasurer’s hands . 1519 2

In Secretary’s hands ... . 68 2

7

8

1587

3

1

0

11

680 19

105 8 9

1169 13 5

239 10 4

659 17 3

368 10 4

299 12
375 13
40 18
275 14
398 10
15 15
308 3
481 6

4

7

2

9

2

0

1724 18
10 0
8 12
21 IS
421 17
47 18

6

0

6

1

0

4

£12,274 19 11

£12,274 19 11

Kay 21, 1S81.1

THE PHAHMACETJTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

965

Ct.

Balance due to Secretary, January 1st, 1SS0 .
15 Annuitants, each receiving £35 ....
14 Annuitants, each receiving £30 ....
One quarter’s payment to an Annuitant (now
deceased) . . •

BENEVOLENT FUND, 1880.

£«.<?.£ s. d.

2 5 8

525 0 0
420 0 0

8 15 0

>>
?)
))
>)
) J

JJ
5 J
>>
>>

(now deceased) . 20

Casual Grants
A former Member, Dulwich . . . . aj

Ditto Birmingham . .

Ditto London ....

Ditto London ....

A Member, Bristol .

A former Member, Parkgate ....

Widow of a former Member, London .

Ditto, Horsfortli, near Leeds . .

Widow of an Annuitant, London . .

Ditto, London .

Widow of a former Member, Torquay
Ditto Brighton

Ditto Bristol .

Ditto Parkgate

Ditto Devizes .

Ditto Torquay

Widow of a Life Member, Surrey . .

Widow — former Member, Northampton
Ditto Brighton . .

Ditto Holywell .

Ditto Launceston,

Tasmania .

Ditto Wollaston .

Daughter — late Member, Southampton
Ditto East Dulwich

Orphans of a late Member, London,

ages 10, 9, £

An Associate, Wrexham . .

A former Associate, Glasgow .

Widow of a former Associate, Greenwich
Ditto Bath

A Registered Chemist and Druggisl

Norwich . .

Ditto

Liverpool . .

Ditto

London . . .

Ditto

Bristpl . . .

Ditto

London . . .

Ditto

Birmingham .

Ditto

Sheffield . .

Ditto

Glasgow . . .

Ditto

Staveley . .

Ditto

Liverpool . .

Ditto

Plumstead . .

Ditto

Bridgwater

Ditto

Dresden, Staffs.

Ditto

Liverpool . .

Widow of Reg. C.

& D., Birmingham

Ditto

London . .

Ditto

Hollinwood

Ditto

London . .

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Barnes
London . .

Northamptoi
Liverpool .
Ince . . .

Edinburgh
Acton . .
London . .

Clay Cross .
London . .

Secretary’s Casual Fund
Printing and Stationery
Postage .

J5

>>

1)

)>

>>

n

>>

>>

51
5 5
>5
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55
55

26

5

0

. 0

5S

L0

0

0

05

15

0

0

73

15

0

0

50

20

0

0

58

20

0

0

02

5

0

0

04

20

0

0

70

15

0

0

02

15

0

0

02

5

0

0

59

5

0

0

72

10

0

0

62

10

0

0

75

10

0

0

60

10

0

0

57

20

0

0

50

10

0

0

52

15

0

0

49

10

0

0

51

10

0

0

66

20

0

0

45

5

0

0

48

10

0

0

35

10

0

0

d 4

10

0

0

45

10

0

0

29

15

0

0

50

20

0

0

32

10

0

0

70

10

0

0

53

5

0

0

68

10

0

0

40

5

0

0

44

5

14

0

71

5

0

0

66

10

0

0

54

10

0

0

78

15

0

0

55

10

0

0

84

10

0

0

59

10

0

0

41

12

0

0

44

10

0

0

55

10

0

0

57

10

0

0

33

15

0

0

45

15

0

0

45

15

0

0

34

10

0

0

40

5

0

0

58

10

0

0

32

10

0

0

25

10

0

0

50

5

0

0

40

15

0

0

34

5

0

0

43

15

0

0

31

0

7

10

7

8

980 0 0

Purchase of £250 Consols . .

Balance in Treasurer’s hands, Dec. 31st, 1S80 .
Balance in Secretary’s hands, Dec. 31st, 1880 .

Balance in Treasurer’s hands, Jan. 1st, 1SS0

Dividends on Invested Capital .

Donations . ... 41 7 0

Subscriptions .... . 1184 14 10

€r.

s. c 1 . £ s. d>

305 17 5

551 5 0

1226 1 10

037 14 0
5 0 0

47 14 3
249 1 3
155 2 5
6 0 8

£2083 4 3

£20S3 4 3

— --- -t.--

Bank of England, on the 31st December, 1880

General Fund . . .

Life Members’ Fund

) „ „ „ . (20,500 0 0

| New 3 per Cents, j 3>000 0 0

Fund . . . 1

lorial Fund . f
ial Fund . . f
emorial Fund /

Benevolent Fund
Pereira Memorial
Bell Memorial Fu
Hanbury Memorial

Secretary's Casual Relief Fund .
Hills Prize Fund— Russian Bonds

Consols

doi

( 18,500

0

0

3 100

0

0

1 2,050

0

0

^ 400

0

0

23,500 0 0

21,050
105
300

0

0

0

OW V/ V

WILLIAM HODGKINSON
F. HARWOOD LESCHER

THOMPSON

W. MANNING WATTS

Auditors.

March 4, 1881

9G6

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 21, 1881

take upon themselves a great responsibility, it must rest
on all persons who were actually carrying on the business.
They must make up their minds that the Legislature
would never allow a man to become qualified, and then,
after establishing two or three businesses to put unqualified
men into them, and go himself to Nice, Mentone, or some
other delightful spot and draw the revenue from them.
If they wanted pharmacy put on a sound basis, they
must go to the foundation, and insist on education,
examination and personal attendance. He would not
say anything about the Bill, but he was very glad to see
the Hanbury Gold Medal was to be presented to Pro¬
fessor Fluckiger. He regretted to see that subscriptions
and donations to the Benevolent Fund showed a falling
off, and he thought it would be a matter of consideration
for the Council whether a rule should not be intro¬
duced that no person should participate in the fund unless
he had previously subscribed to it. That would stir
up a great many people. Many persons thought they
would never have to come upon the fund, but sometimes
they were mistaken. It was said that riches had wings.
He considered riches were gases, and when you con¬
sidered how many were influenced by them, it was no
wonder they lost their balance. They were also reminded
in the report of the shortness and uncertainty of life ; he
could only say, as a general said to his troops when he
saw them shattered with grape and canister, “Close up
your ranks.” That was why he had overcome his natural
reluctance to public speaking, and moved —

“That the Report of the Council as now read be
received, adopted and printed in the Society’s
Journal and Transactions.”

Mr. J. B. Mackey (London) seconded the motion and
desired to thank the Council for their efforts on behalf of
pharmacy generally.

Mr. Smith (Torquay) said he did not know whether he
was in order in asking a few questions on the balance
sheet, but he must say the report did not take a very
satisfactory view of the state of pharmacy at the present
moment. It was only by redoubled efforts that they
would be able to cope with co-operation on one side and
many other evils on the other. It was not his intention
to propose any amendment, although he held it was one
of the most discouraging and disappointing reports ever
presented to the Society. It commenced with regretting,
it went on with regretting, and unfortunately it had to
end up by regretting; but no doubt the members of the
Council were not responsible for this regret. They could
not help the times or the disadvantages under which they
laboured, and, therefore, it would be wrong for anyone to
move an amendment, simply because he did not think
if they were all on the Council they could improve upon
it in any way. It was simply the result of the conditions
of the case. Having said thus much, there were one or two
points on which he should like a little explanation if it
were not out of older, and pr bably some members of the
Council would be able to elucidate the matter. In the
first place, with respect to the Journal account he found
an adverse balance of £680 19s. 7d., which included, it
was said, £690 4s. 3d. cost of postage to members and
others. Surely there must be some asset somewhere or
other. No doubt ad that was true, but what he wanted
to see was some explanation about it. Was there no
supplementary Journal account to which they could refer?
This sum of £690 seemed to him a heavy cost of postage,
but on looking at the Journal every week to induce him
to advertise he was told there was a guaranteed circula¬
tion of se\en thousand. He wanted to know where did
those seven thousand Journals go, and how were they
accounted for, because according to their own report there
seemed to be five thousand four hundred and seventy-one
persons on the Register entitled to the Journal. No
doubt there were a few hundreds more who received
it, but the difference between six thousand and seven
thousand represented a thousand per week, or over fifty-
two thousand a year, a very large number of Journals,

which on the face of it did not appear in the accounts.
He was bound to say he did not think the Journals ought
to be posted to every one free. All those who paid their
guinea a year were certainly entitled to have it free, but
he certainly did not think apprentices or students who
only paid half-a-guinea should have it post free. He had
never had an apprentice, but in the course of his career
he had had a great number of assistants who were en¬
titled to the Journal, and these Journals became an un¬
mitigated nuisance in the house. The young men read
his copy of the Journal, and their own were thrown into
the waste paper basket ; and he did not suppose he was
singular in his experience. He had no doubt there were
hundreds of Journals that had better not be printed, and
on which the cost of postage might be saved. Then, again,
with regard to the School of Pharmacy ; that school was
endowed with something like £350 a year ; it had its rent
free, and he supposed it had gas and water free. He
should like to see stated in the report how many students
it had educated during the past year, and how many had
passed into the profession, through the Minor or the
Major. It was not a pleasant thing for him and others
to have the notion that they were subsidizing a school of
pharmacy in order to turn out well-educated first-rate
chemists, medical men, and so on. He might be wrong,
but he certainly had that impression. There was one
other point he was sorry to see not mentioned in the
report. A great number of the members were provincial
men. The year before last there was a miserable pittance
of £35 granted to provincial associations, but last year he
found it was an absolute blank. He thought the Society
ought to do something considerably more for provincial
associations, for if it did not the guineas would be with¬
drawn and would be applied locally. He did not know
whether that was desirable, but he should say not,
and, therefore, he thought, whether assistance was ap¬
plied for or not, it was advisable to devise some scheme
whereby they might aid provincial associations to a
much greater extent than now. In his own part of
the country they had no provincial associations; but he
saw from the Journal that there were such associations
scattered over the country, some doing exceedingly good
work, and others not doing such work as they would do
if a helping hand were stretched out to them, not
grudgingly doling out a few pounds here and there, but
systematically; they would then flourish, and when they
flourished then he would have little fear of the parent
Society flourishing too ; but one could not flourish with¬
out the other. There was one point he should have liked
to say a few words upon, but as it was at the present
moment sub judice , it perhaps would be hardly right to do
so ; but he was glad to see the education question was taken
up by Mr. Schacht, and that they were likely to have the
matter put on a better foundation. For his own part he
had been for many years disappointed with the results of
examinations. He said it advisedly, after many years’
experience; with their present system they turned out
neither good assistants nor good masters, for the simple
reason that the Minor examination was practically the
final one. The Minor ought simply to take place when a
youth had completed his apprenticeship, to entitle him to
take a situation as an assistant ; but all men ought to pass
the Major as a matter of % course before they went into
business. He hoped he had not gone too far in saying
what he had done with regard to these examinations, but
he felt strongly on the matter, and this was not the time
when they should sit still with their hands in their
pockets and do nothing. Somebody should speak, and he
had taken on himself the task, and he hoped he should
hear not only the feet of some of the gentlemen around
him indicating that they agreed with what he said, but
also their voices.

Mr. Urwick said he agreed with Mr. Smith in many
points, but thought he was taking too gloomy a view of
things. They must remember that this report followed
an exceedingly successful year, when there was a great

May 21, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

967

accession of young men coming forward for examination.
Although they bad gone back this year they must not con¬
sider that they were always going backwards in financial
matters. The only way to arrive at a conclusion was to
take an average over several years. As to the Journal
account, they had had that explained several times, and
those who had attended the meetings, or read the reports
in the Journal, ought to understand the matter by this
time. It would not do to explain all the accounts in
detail, but any member could get the information very
easily. Again, they were told the expenses were very
great this year, but they could not have a loaf after having
eaten it. They all pressed the Council to take the step
they did last year in the store question, which caused the
exoenditure of a large sum, but he did not regret having
spent the money, for he thought it was very well laid
out. They knew now where they were, and could look
around and try and amend their position by getting a
new Act to put them in the right position with the
public. The public must be protected by having
medicines dispensed by qualified men; if the Act had a
loophole by which it could be run through they must
go to the Legislature and have it amended, not for their
own benefit, but for the benefit of the public. If the
Legislature would not do that, let them open the gate to
all and have unqualified pharmacy. He should regret
as much as any man that this should be so, but they
must be consistent. He thought the Legislature would
say, No, they must be examined men ; and that was the
principle he desired to see carried out. He was glad to
know the Council bad been active in repressing offences ;
it had been his duty to bring one or two cases before them,
and in every instance they had taken it up and been suc¬
cessful, and had recovered fines, so that now grocers were
becoming exceedingly careful how they dispensed prescrip¬
tions. He hoped the Council would seek to get represented
before the Royal Commission, and also that they would
not confine themselves to having representatives merely
of West-end traders, but would try and get men from
various parts of the country, so that the interests of all
classes might be made known. He could not close with¬
out saying how much he regretted to see that two such
valuable men were retiring ; they were giving up their
first love. They must have been there nearly forty
years. He felt that in the departure of Mr. Sandford
and Mr. Hills the members of the Society lost two men
whom they could not replace; they had not both the
same qualities, but they had each qualities of very great
value to the Society. Mr. Sandford would never give a
thing up which he thought ought to be carried out for
the benefit of his fellow-tradesmen, and he felt that their
places could not be filled up. Mr. Mackay had been re¬
moved in a different way. They must all mourn his loss,
and sympathize with his friends. He also had been
equally valuable, and he could only advise those coming-
forward to make him their example, and try, as far as
possible, to imitate him. As he had said before, Mr.
Sandford was leaving his first love; but he hoped he was
not going to make love to the widows. He knew he had
a great affection and tenderness that way. He hoped
when the Bill was before Parliament Mr. Sandford would
assist the Society in carrying it.

Mr. Brown thought if the Council could give a debtor
and creditor account with regard to the J ournal it would
be more satisfactory to the Society. They could then
charge the cost price of the Journal supplied to members,
and it would show exactly whether it was a paying
concern or not. Whilst on that subject, he wished to
ask whether the Journals could not be posted a little
earlier, so that members who resided in the suburbs could
get them before Monday morning. Living at Greenwich,
he got his Journal, the first week in the month, on the
Monday morning, and he was sure that those living in
the country must get theirs before he did ; no doubt on

Sunday morning. _

Mr. Mackenzie said he should like to say a few words,

not to condemn the report, but in some degree to endorse
the remarks of Mr. Smith. Last year £35 was put
down for provincial education, but small as that pittance
was, this year it was absent. He thought anyone who
had gone carefully over the figures of the report for
some years would come to the conclusion that rather
than have this stock question, which always led to
discussion, it would be much better if the Council would
be kind enough to conform to the wishes of members and
give a greater amount of detail as to the expenses of the
Journal. He noticed also that there was a air of
sadness throughout the report, especially with regard to
the examinations. By the providence of God, one who
had been conspicuous for many years amongst them had
been removed, and they naturally missed him as a man of
mark; and he might take that opportunity of saying
how much they in Scotland thought of the act of the
Council in deputing the President to attend the funeral
of Mr. Mackay. Looking over the financial report, the
income appeared to be something less than last year.
Then it was £14,000 odd, and this year it was £12,000.
He noticed also in going through the details in the
report, as compared with the one ending 1879, that there
were fewer passing all grades. In 1880 there were 2312;
in this year 2094. He found also that the expenses were
increasing. He should like to see a little more done
from a provincial point of view in diffusing the benefit of
their funds throughout the country. He thought this
Society, with its funded property, ought to step out of the
rut and give something liberal. He had argued this
question several times, and he believed it would be a good
investment. The extremities were getting a little cold,
and if they could infuse a little warmth into them they
would vitalize the whole constitution. It was a long cry
to London from some quarters, and in some respects the
system in vogue there was not a healthy one, as it was
understood young men could be assisted to pass the ex¬
amination by methods which were not to be recommended.
They had not that difficulty to contend with in the
provinces. A reference was made in the report to the
Pharmacy Bill, and he was not one who believed that that
Bill was in all respects what it should have been. They had
enemies, and they found in this Bill too much of direct
shooting,— pointing directly at them,— which he did not
think was advisable to do for the purposes of passing the
Bill, and he should have preferred a different mode of
procedure. The purpose ought to be to give as. much
security to the public as possible, and to show Parliament
that was their honest desire, and to take as much as they
possibly could in return. The present Bill he did not
think exhibited enough of this, either in one respect or
the other. The public good being manifestly their
desire, they should have made a strong effort to secure
that ; no shop should be opened by any chemist which
was to be under any young man not thoroughly qualified.
He would like also all their partnerships to be such that
every partner in any business throughout the land should
be one and all qualified men. That would strike at the
very root of the evil. They were just lopping the tops of
the twigs of this upas tree instead of going directly to
the root. If that were done it would be a great step ; it
would meet the difficulty of the stores. He thought they
should ask from Parliament a measure providing that
the sale of articles intended for medicinal use should be
vested entirely in the hands of men who had gone to the
expense of qualifying themselves for the purpose of dealing
with them. That would commend itself to the Legisla¬
ture, and it would have been well if the Bill had contained
such clauses. Another question .which it would become
them to grapple with was the question of medical men play*
ing fast and loose. Among a certain substratrum of the
profession there were some who seemed to be partly
doctors, partly surgeons, and partly druggists, but he
thought that they ought to take their choice. He was
alad to know that it was the law in the College of Phy*
sicians in London, that if any gentleman became pos«

968

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 21, 1881.

sessor of their diploma, he was debarred from dispensing
in any way, and he believed that the great majority of
the higher class of the medical profession would hail
such an Act, and aid in getting it passed. The class of
practitioners to whom he had referred were a great
torment to the chemist, and they found in the west of
Scotland, where a large number of them were manufac¬
tured, that they left shops in the charge of a boy, or some¬
times a girl, whilst they were out on their professional tours
during the day. If chemists were obliged to employ
qualified assistants, these medical men ought also to be
put on the same footing. It seemed to him that the law
charges of the Society were very high. He did not
complain of the £819 spent on the special case to which
reference had been made, but there was a general feeling
throughout the country that the Society did very little
in law matters for the benefit of the members, and he did
not know how it was so much money was spent. A
great deal was done elsewhere not costing so much. He
thought they might pay less or the advantages obtained
might be greater. He also saw what was a conundrum
to many, how there had been a gradual increase of the
sums charged for clerks and servants. In 1879 it was
£703; in 1880, £770, when he complained of it ; but this
year it had shot up to £874. He believed in paying
servants well, but this year there had not been so much
work to do, and he did not understand why the expenses
were so much more.

Mr. Fitch said he was not going to find fault with the
Council as he had done before, because he thought they
had done all that could possibly be desired, though he had
a suggestion to make as to the Bill which was to come
before Parliament. He considered that no gentleman
had any right to keep a branch shop and leave it to the
management of an unqualified assistant, and then com¬
plain of a co-operative store which did the same or per¬
haps rather better, because there the drug department
was left in charge of a qualified assistant. If they went
to Parliament and asked it to sanction a Bill that
chemists might have as many shops as they liked and
leave them in charge of unqualified assistants, and at the
same time asked to restrain the stores which left a branch
in charge of a qualified assistant, they would get no Bill
whatever. He always thought that the worthy Secretary
held a very undignified position in going about in the
character of a spy to see where the Poison Bill was con¬
travened, and he suggested the Council should engage some
discreet person to fill that position. His reason for
making that suggestion was this, that he held in his
hand the price list of a co-operative store, in which he
was sorry to say one of the peerage had a considerable
interest, and in thatli < t there was this statement : — “ In
all patented articles, 3'. tner for the toilette or otherwise,
the store has an undeniable advantage over the shops,
and this is also the case in respect of patent medicines. The
reduction in price i n these things varies from one-half to
one-third, but thisi s because the chemists and druggists
are reluctant to diminish their enormous profits, and have
not opened their eyes to the fact that they are gradually
driving away customers from their shops.” Now, the
drugs were kept in the grocer’s shop, there was no quali¬
fied person present, and among the things sold was
Battle’s vermin killer, a 3c?. packet for 2^d. It was a
disgrace to the peerage of the land that they should
patronize such a system as that. In order to give force
to the Bill he would recommend that the Secretary be
empowered to cut up the Register into sections, and to
send a section of it to each town or parish and get one
gentlemen to wait upon every chemist in his district and
obtain a signature to a petition to Parliament in favour
of the Bill, and in addition to ask the Local Secretaries
to get a deputation up in their districts to their own
individual members to favour the Bill, so that a deputa¬
tion should wait upon every gentleman sitting in the
House of Commons. If the whole trade went in a
homogeneous character they would find that Parliament

would listen to their wishes, provided they got rid of the
evil of allowing unqualified people to conduct business.
He begged to move the following resolution : —

“ That the Secretary be empowered to cut up the
Register and get the signature of every chemist on
the Register to a petition to the House of Commons
to amend the Pharmacy Act in accordance with the
principles of justice; namely, that the registered
members shall have the exclusive right to trade in
drugs and physic.”

A Member inquired the name of the store to which
reference had just been made.

Mr. Fitch said it was the Columbia Market Store.

Mr. Long seconded the motion.

Mr. Hampson submitted that the motion was not in
order, inasmuch as there was a motion already before the
meeting.

Mr. Fitch accordingly withdrew his motion.

Mr. Long considered that the law costs which had
been incurred in the trial against the London and Pro¬
vincial Supply Association ought to be paid by the
Government, as they were a branch of the Government,
and were only carrying out the Act of Parliament. They
were entrusted with the management of pharmacy, and
had an Act of Parliament which stated that unqualified
persons should not do such and such things, and it was
their bounden duty to enforce that Act, and yet they
were mulcted in these expenses in carrying out the law of
the land. He maintained that the law was in their
favour still ; that they were justly and legally entitled to
be the sole persons to retail poisons, and it was not
possible for anybody else to conduct the business ; they
could do nothing but .encroach upon the rights of poor
chemists and druggists. The Society had always en¬
deavoured to raise the standard of the members and of
the articles sold, and where would the present proficiency
of chemists and the excellence of medicines have been
had it not been for the Society? He thought that who¬
ever was against them was pursuing a very short-sighted
policy. If he did not think it would be disadvantageous
to lose the whole of the present authority, be should be
willing that the Society should be dissolved ; but as they
bad that authority they must cling on to it, and the body
of the trade should assume a more independent and less
timid and nervous aspect. They ought to have had a
mass meeting, and to have shut up their shops until the
Act had been passed.

Mr. Howard Hall complained that the Journal was
not delivered in many instances until Monday morning.

The President remarked, with respect to the
distribution of the Journal, that the post office
authorities sent a van to the printers at 5 o’clock on the
day they were printed, so that if there was any delay in
the delivery, the delay rested with the post office.

Mr. Hall said he noticed that the fees paid to
examiners had been increased in England and decreased
in Scotland. He did not know whether the staff had
been diminished in Scotland, and thought that some
mention might have been made of this in the report. He
noticed the expenses were more this year than they were
last, and if they continued having an increased expendi¬
ture and a diminished income, they would not be able
to continue. Everywhere they had the same tale to
tell, namely, that the number of pharmaceutical chemists
was diminishing, and he hoped that something would
be done at once to increase the number of young men
joining the Society. He was glad they had proceeded
against the stores, and they had been able to pay the £819
costs out of income instead of out of invested capital.
With regard to the funds in the Treasurer’s hand, he
thought that as the there was such a large balance, part
of it should be lodged on deposit.

Mr. Whittle said he was the chemist who had been
persecuted under the Weights and Measures Act. He
bought his glasses from the York Glass Company, and
felt sure that he should get the summons dismissed

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

969

May 21, 1881.]

when he went to the magistrates and explained that the
measures were stamped according to the Act. However
it was not so ; and although the magistrates said he had
done everything he could do, still he was held accountable.
At the Appeal Court he got a really common-sense
verdict, and he was glad to say that he had the
sympathy of every chemist in the country. He had re¬
ceived some very valuable instruction from the President
upon that occasion, and he thought the Society could not
have got a better case to have defended, as he had done
everything in his power to carry out the statute. What
were chemists to do? They could not test their
measures ; they were obliged to buy them already
stamped; and how were they to know whether they were
correct ? Witnesses had been put into the box to say that
they could test the measures to a tenth of a minim.
He did not say they could not, but he knew what he
thought about it. Medical men had told him that the
measures in ordinary use in chemists’ establishments
were sufficiently accurate for all trade purposes. Chemists
only did a small portion of the dispensing in this country,
the remainder being done by medical men, and yet the
inspectors never visited those gentlemen, which he con¬
sidered very unfair. He was sorry to see that they were
losing the services of Mr. Sandford on the Council, and
was also sorry that they had such a poor selection from
which to choose the Council for the ensuing year. They
had to elect fourteen out of sixteen names, so that every¬
one would agree with him that that did not leave much
margin. The worst thing they could do, would be to
select any person engaged in educational work to serve
upon the Council. No doubt many chemists might be
found who would be willing to sit on the Council, if
members did not so criticize the report at the Annual
Meeting ; and he thought, if the members could not
trust the Council with the Journal, the postage and the
like, that they ought not to elect them ; but having once
elected them, they ought to stand by them. It was true
the present report was not so good as former reports, but
the same might be said with regard to business. They
could not expect always to have a good year.

Mr. Wells said it was not his intention to criticize the
report which had been presented, except that he considered
it a subject of congratulation that fewer persons were
coming in as chemists ; instead of being a matter of regret
they ought to be glad that so few were coming forward
to share in the unprofitable work. He was delighted to
see that there were two hundred and forty-seven less
coming forward for the Preliminary examination. With
regard to the subscriptions to the Benevolent Fund falling
off, much as it was to be regretted, still, at the same time,
however trifling it might be, they could not be surprised
at it considering the present state of pharmacy ; when
things improved, no doubt the funds of the Benevolent
Fund would be increased. There was one thing he re¬
gretted, and that was that as a body they only met once
in a year to have their say, or it might be their growl.
He thought the law which governed the number of
meetings to be held should be altered, because practically
the Council were irresponsible for twelve months, and the
members could only complain when a large number were
going out of office, and then the Council could snap tneir
fingers at any complaint. In all lar0e mstitut
would be found that meetings were held at least every
six months, and if the members of the Council wished to
make themselves amenable^ — as they ought to be, because
they represented the whole of the chemists in the kingdom
they should meet their constituents every six months,
and he would respectfully throw out that suggestion for
the consideration of the new Council. He did not look
so much at the £ s. cl., but he thought if there was any
honour at all in sitting on the Council, that the Council
might meet without debiting the members with re¬
freshments. Surely they ought to be able to put their
hands into their pockets and spend a shilling or two oc¬
casionally. He was not speaking of individuals, but as a

body, and therefore he singled out no particular person.
He also had to complain of the large amount of money
which was spent for refreshments for the examiners, and
it would be found that if these two items were added to¬
gether there would be a lot of money which might be
given away to needy chemists. He thought it would be
expedient to have a supplementary statement showing
the total receipts and expenditure with regard to the
Journal account, and he agreed with the first speaker
that they should have some record of the result of the
chemistry, pharmacy, botany and materia medica schools
in the institution, so that they might see the result of the
endowments. While upon the subject of the Journal
he might say that he noticed with great regret in a number
of the Journal for the present year an advertisement had
been inserted, under the head of “ Assistants Wanted,
for an assistant at the Civil Sei’vice Stores in Oxford
Street. There again they were lending the columns of
the Journal to assist in getting assistants for a society
that was not doing the members any good, and there
must be lax supervision of the publication to allow such
an advertisment as that to be admitted. He did not
know whether one or two questions that he was going to
put would be considered particularly palatable, but they
were with regard to matters which materially affected
their interest. All over the country parties advertised
that they had the particular advantage of coming from a
certain firm, and in the bill which he held in his hand,
a person described himself as hailing from Godfrey and
Cooke, and that he was able to dispense at prices con¬
siderably under those of the stores. He should be glad
to know whether there was such a firm as Godfrey and
Cooke, and if not, whether it was not an evasion of the
Act to trade under a name which had no existence.. He
did not want to be personal, but he could give a list, of
some of the leading West-end chemists, who were trading
under names that no longer existed. Now was that
right ? If it was contrary to law, then the Council had
been remiss in neglecting to protect the public. He did
not say it was so, he merely asked for information. There
was a still more important matter affecting their interests,
and that was this, that certain persons, set up. in busi¬
ness and called themselves homoeopathic chemists, from
whom could be obtained belladonna, arsenic of any
dilution, and all the poisons which came under the Act.
If these people said the articles contained no. poison
at all, they were deluding the public, but if they
were what they represented them to be, then the
Council had been most remiss and had neglected
its duty to the whole of the chemists in allowing
these unqualified men to sell poisons. The fact was they
had got into a humdrum state of things ; they wanted a
little change in the Council so that.it should fairly re¬
present the general body of chemists throughout the
kingdom. At present the Council had no sympathy with
the members. He said that the late Council, and he
spoke of them as the “late” Council, gave a regular
slap in the face to the whole of the chemists of Great
Britain by electing a gentleman who was not a candidate
at the last election over the head of one who held the
highest number of votes as an unsuccessful candidate;
and he was not using a harsh word when he said it was
an insult. Everyone knew there was a certain place
paved with good intentions, and the intention , of the
Council might have been good but the result, to his mind,
was anything but satisfactory. He hoped the Council
would discourage the system which had lately grown up
of professors of the Society signing their names to puffs of
proprietary preparations. He did not object to the plam
“Mr.” or “Esq. but they ought to be above allowing the
name of the Pharmaceutical Society to be attached to any
of these things. The last introduction of the kind was from
Belgium, and was called the “Royal Universal Cooked
Food,” but one had only to taste it or smell it to know
that the greater portion of it was nothing but lentils ; and
yet the name of Professor Attfield was associated with

970

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 21, 1881.

it. In liis opinion this was derogatory. He should not
know Professor Attfield if he met him, nor Professor
Redwood, though he had great respect for these
gentlemen ; but when he saw another learned Professor’s
name connected with a certain wine, he should like to
ask that Professor whether he had ever marked the
progress of wine through all its stages, and if he did not
know that an analysis of two casks of wine would not
produce the same result, and that therefore there was no
uniformity. He had now had his growl, and he hoped it
would do some good and lead to some practical results.

Mr. Schacht said with regard to the absence of any
mention in the statement of account of moneys bestowed
for furtherance of provincial education, he never heard
of the expression without sympathizing with it, and if
it were uttered in the spirit of a growl he should be
uncommonly disposed to join cause with the growler ; but
his expression of disapprobation would aim rather at the
apathy which existed amongst pharmacists in the pro¬
vinces than at the Council. It was not for him to
deliver a lecture upon the subject ; but he might say, as
some small encouragement to other towns similarly
situated to that in which he worked, that whenever their
local society made any application to the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society for assistance, they had always
received considerable help. It was true that was not
mentioned in the report ; but they had during the
present year received considerable help from the Society,
not in the shape of money, but in the shape of a donation
of specimens towards filling the Museum ; and that was
a very important matter, because it could scarcely be
measured by money. Anyone could buy specimens, but
they could not be sure they were purchasing the actual
things the specimens were supposed to represent. If
the Society gave directions to the Curator to send
such and such specimens, those specimens would come
with the very best stamp upon them that they were
what they were represented to be. He thought it right
to mention that because, on behalf of the local associa¬
tion, in which he was very much interested, he felt that
such an expression of gratitude and acknowledgment was
due to the Society ; and as a member of the Council he
was glad to say that the only application made for
substantial help had been acceded to. He might go one
step further and say that if there had been any number
of applications they would all have received the most
respectful consideration.

The President, in replying to the various remarks
which had been made, said that nothing gave the Council
greater pleasure than to find their proceedings fairly
criticized, because it showed that the members who made
their appearance at the Annual Meetings had taken an
interest in the Society’s proceedings during the course of
the year. Mr. Smith had spoken of the Report, but in
placing a report before business men, surely it was
sufficient to place figures before them, and they could see
for themselves the way in which the money had gone.
Last year they had spent £1705 in quite exceptional
expenses, £800 of that being for law charges. They
could not have appeared before the Annual Meeting again
without trying the question as to the sale of poisons at co¬
operative stores ; they were urged to try it, and they tried
it, and had obtained law at its usual price. He might say
the law which they had obtained was not of the nature and
quality demanded by the purchaser. However, they did
get it, and having settled the point, they were not afraid
to bring the expenses before the meeting. With re¬
gard to the Journal, he hoped that question was now
thoroughly understood by the members. The Society sent
out annually about 300,000 Journals to members and
others who had a right to receive the same. The expenses,
£690, were really the expenses for postage. That amount
might be saved next year if every member would come
to the Society’s house and fetch his own Journal; and the
Journal account would then show a profit of £10, which,
added to the expense of the Index, would show a sum of

£150 to the good of the Journal. He hoped it would be
understood by members that the expense was simply the
expense of postage, and that otherwise the Journal was a
profit to the Society. Mr. Smith also mentioned about
provincial associations, and although that question had 1
been replied to by the Vice-President, still he might say
that provincial associations did not make applications ;
and that in every instance where application had been
made the Council had given it attention With regard
to the sale of vermin killer, he might inform Mr.
Fitch that if he could obtain a packet from a grocer, and
it was found afterwards to contain strychnine, the Society
would take action in the matter.

Mr. Fitch said that on previous occasions he had
brought articles to the Society, but no action had been
taken. Three years ago he bought certain articles at the
London and Provincial Stores in Regent Street, and the
Act of Parliament was then broken in four places. One
article that he purchased was aconite, and no entry of its
sale was made in the poison book. In the next place, a
prescription, written by himself, containing arsenic, was
put up and labelled : “ Prepared by Mr. Flowers, at 119,
Queen Victoria Street,” and he knew, as a fact, that Mr.
Flowers was dead, and that the person who served him
was Mr. Swan . As the name and address of the seller
were not given in that case, if the Council had proceeded
with it, they must have obtained a conviction.

The President remarked that complaint had been
made that meetings were not held more frequently than
once a year ; but, upon reference to the Charter, it would
be seen that they could only hold one meeting a year,
and no doubt many would agree with him that that was
quite often enough.- Mr. Whittle spoke of the Weights
and Measures Act and medical men using measures
which were not tested ; but he must bear in mind that
the Act did not apply to medical men.

The motion for the adoption of the report of the
Council was then put, and carried unanimously.

The Proposed Record of Donations to the
Benevolent Fund.

Mr. Carteighe said that one matter which had excited
the interest of a great many people had not been men¬
tioned in the report, and that was the erection of a tablet
on which the names of donors to the Benevolent Fund
were to be written, and also a tablet on which were to be
inscribed the names of successful students. As this was
a matter that concerned many members, he hoped the
President would state what was the intention of the
Council with regard to those tablets. Although there
had been discussions in the Journal, he had never seen
any reasons given for this particular form of advertise¬
ment. He could not help feeling that the Council, in
their desire to increase the funds at their disposal for
benevolent purposes, had lost sight of the primary objects
of the Society. No doubt it was an important thing to
have a good round sum for benevolent purposes ; but, on
the other hand, the Society was not founded simply and
solely for that object, and he must protest, with every
desire to be liberal, against pushing the Benevolent Fund
too prominently before other matters. If the tablets
were to be placed in the hall of the Society, with the
names of the donors to the Fund upon them, he imagined
the Council thought there would be a great acquisition of
donors; but he should like to know whether the hall
was the proper place to put up what might purely be
called by the public local advertisements. If not too
late, he would ask the Council to reconsider the matter.

Mr. Wells suggested that the tablets should be placed
“ In memory of - .”

Mr. Ekin said there was a strong feeling out of doors
against these tablets ; it was felt that they were hardly
in good taste, and that they were not quite worthy of
the Pharmaceutical Society.

Mr. Urwick thought that in the matter of benevolence
they should not let their right hands know what their

May 21, 1881.)

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

971

left hands did. There were many small givers, although,
perhaps, not so many as they could desire, who would be
afraid to give anything at all when they saw the lai’ge
donations of the rich members ; and he would warn the
Council against the expense of erecting tablets, especially
as during the last year their expenses had exceeded
their income.

The President said that with regard to the erection
of these tablets, the matter had been well considered by
the Council, who had arrived unanimously at the con¬
clusion that they should be put up. The boards had
been ordered, and would be put up, and the names of
donors and amounts of legacies would be inscribed upon
the board in the hall. Members might differ in opinion
with regard to the propriety of these, but for himself he
could not see any objection to them.

Mr. Carteighe asked whether they were committed to
any donors at the present time.

The President said he thought not.

Mr. Carteighe said that being so, he would move that
it be an instruction to the incoming Council to consider
the expediency of rescinding that part of the minutes
of Council which referred to the placing in the hall
of the Society tablets on which to inscribe the names of
donors.

Sir. Frazer had great pleasure in seconding the
motion.

Mr. Schacht inquired whether Mr. Carteighe objected
to the record of good deeds done in any form or shape by
anybody, and whether he objected to the names of per¬
sons who had distinguished themselves in scientific work
being recorded.

Mr. Carteighe replied that he objected in toto to the
tablets, and he believed that the men who distinguished
themselves in the School of the Society, and the donors
to the Benevolent Fund, did not require a public form of
advertisement, and that the advertisement would not
have the effect of increasing the number of donors or
stimulating in the slightest degree the work of the
students. If the Council had resolved that the good
deeds of the various members connected with the
Society should be recorded on tablets in any part of
the house, whether the good deed consisted in giving
money or winning prizes, he thought the system was not
a wise one, and he hoped the members would support
him in thi3 view.

Mr. Hampson said he had a certain amount of sym¬
pathy with Mr. Carteighe ’s objection, but he did not
think it necessarily followed that the same objection
could be raised to a blackboard being placed in the
School of Pharmacy. It was a customary thing to find
such a board in every school of medicine throughout the
country, and he did not think that a man ought to be
ashamed of having his name upon the wall as a memento
of good and honest work. If Mr. Carteighe withdrew
his opposition to that portion of the scheme he might
have a chance of carrying his proposition, but if not he
thought he stood a good chance of losing it altogether.

Mr. Schacht admitted it was an open question,
upon which there might be a variety of opinions, but he
must remind the members that in recording the names
of gentlemen who distinguished themselves they were
only following the example set by almost every educa¬
tional body of importance throughout the kingdom, and
he thought low motives ought not to be attributed to
those who had seen something like propriety in recom¬
mending such a course.

Mr. Richardson was astonished that Mr. Carteighe
had brought this question forward, because, if he was not
mistaken, he had seen an excellent portrait of Mr.
Carteighe embellishing the rooms of the Society. If he
was so virtuous about advertising others he was rather
astonished that he should have let his portrait embellish
the room of the Society. They had only followed an
example set by every hospital throughout the country.
If the funds of the charity could be augmented by this

means he did not see why anyone should carp at it.
They all knew that pharmacy was not in the excellent
state it ought to be, and every year the applications for
their benevolence increased, but unfortunately the
donations and subscriptions did not increase in a similar
ratio. He did not see that there would have been any
disgrace in having the board, and thought that if
motives were attributed such as had been suggested it
would tend to stamp out benevolence. If he was not
mistaken the tablet was already placed in the hall, so
that Mr. Carteighe’s motion was quite out of order.

Mr. Carteighe said if the meeting were of opinion
that the institution was of the kind of a public hospital
he was afraid that anything he could say would not be of
much use. He maintained that the public were not
invited to come into their Society, and he objected to
the names of donors to the fund being put upon the
tablet. He had no objection to withdraw the objection
as to the prizemen, and he might at once state that he
did not use the word “ advertisement ” in connection
with prizemen. He should be sorry to do anything
which would interfere with any stimulus to students, and
he would confine himself simply to the tablet on which
the names of doners were to be inscribed. He begged
to move —

“ That in the opinion of this meeting it is not ex¬
pedient to place the names of donors to the Society’s
Benevolent Fund on tablets in the Society’s house.”

A Member said he noticed that appeals were frequently
made by the Secretary and others on behalf of the Fund,
and he thought one reason why more country members
did not subscribe was that there appeared to be so little
necessity for so doing.

Mr. Horace Davenport looked upon the proposition
to inscribe the names of successful students upon a tablet
in a very different light to that in which he viewed the
proposal to have a board recording donations. He thought
it would be a very good thing to see the names of suc¬
cessful students placed in some part of the building, but
there was no necessity to put up the names of charitable
people. If they did so, was there to be a pro rata quali¬
fication or were the Council to decide whose names should
be put up ?

The President said the incoming Council could take
down the tablet if they liked, but he was sure the present
Council would not be disposed so to do. Before putting
the motion he might say that it was much to be regretted
that the matter had been brought forward without
previous notice, inasmuch as it had been fully discussed in
the Journal and elsewhere, and not a single complaint
had been made.

Mr. Wells said they came to that meeting to discuss
matters and not to be told that the Council had decided
on doing a certain act. The whole wisdom of the
chemists did not reside in the Council. The Council
were present to give an account of their stewardship, and
if the members objected to any part of their account and
came to the conclusion that the emblems of glory, or he
might call them emblems of vainglory, should be removed,
the Council were bound to obey the instructions of that
meeting.

Mr Schacht said he only meant to imply that the
question, which had been rather hastily brought before
the meeting, could scarcely be decided by a vote taken
then. The matter had been fully considered by the
Council, and he did not think they should be asked to
reverse a decision which had been come to after four or
five months’ deliberation.

Mr. Wells said if they were to believe in the old say¬
ing that “ in the multitude of councillors there is wisdom,”
he might say that they were a greater number than the
Council, and therefore of course they would be more
likely to arrive at a correct conclusion.

Mr. Wheeler thought that the erection of the tablets
could do no harm and they might do a great deal of good
to tha Fund.

972

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNaL AND TEANS ACTIONS.

May 21, 18 1.

Mr. Ekin disclaimed any wish to act in antagonism
to the Council, and asked if the Council were aware of the
feeling out of doors upon this subject.

Mr. Robinson said that as an outsider he might say
he had never heard a single objection to the proposal.

Mr. Symes said he had not advocated the erection of
the tablet, and therefore might perhaps be permitted to
make a few remarks. The matter had been for four or
five months before the Council, it having come before
them upon the recommendation of the Committee, and if
there was anything like the strong outside opinion which
had been represented he thought it was only right that
that representation should have been made to the
Council, so that the matter might have been considered
from all points of view. The pages of the trade journals
were always open to criticism, and if anyone had a
grievance they might bring it forward.

A Member said that letters sent to the Journal were
not always put in.

Mr. Symes said he had never heard of such an occur¬
rence. Without doubting the judgment of the meeting
he might point out that sometimes people arrived at a
different conclusion on second thought, and after voting
against the tablet at that meeting they might repent
when it would be too late.

Mr. Martindale supported the motion.

Mr. Urwick remarked that sometimes members took
the trouble to write letters to the Journal which found
their way into the waste-paper basket.

Mr. Bottle said although he was not one of the advo¬
cates for the erection of the tablets, still, as a member of
the Council, he ielt bound to support his brethren in the
decision which had been arrived at, and he did so on the
present occasion because he felt that without carrying
Mr. Carteighe’s proposition a modification of it might be
carried, probably with advantage. He must say he was
rather astonished when he saw the tablet where it was,
and he thonght a more fit and proper place for the board
might be found upon the Society’s premises.

Mr. Carteighe could not agree with this suggestion.

Mr. Bottle said that being so, he should move as an
amendment : —

“ That in the opinion of this meeting it is not ex¬
pedient to place the names of donors to the Society’s
Benevolent Fund on tablets in the Society’s hall.”

Mr. Atkins seconded the amendment. He was glad
that Mr. Carteighe had modified the motion, because a
precedent for setting up the names of successful students
might be found in all the best schools in the kingdom,
and he thought that the young men would be greatly
benefited by seeing the distinguished names on the
board. With regard to the tablet he thought, as he did at
the Council, that they were spending a large portion of
their time upon a comparatively small matter. He did
not think that the best place for the board was in the
hall, and it might be moved with advantage.

■Mr. Carteighe hoped the meeting would vote against
the amendment. It seemed as if every member of the
Council who had spoken on the subject was not strongly
imbued with the desirability of the tablet. He thought
he could see in it a form of applying to the public which
would, at least, become offensive, and, therefore, he called
upon the members to support him. It was better to
state this at the meeting, than for the Council to waste
some hours in deciding upon what should be the qualifi¬
cation for placing a person’s name upon the board.

Mr. Schacht said the Council had had so constantly
borne upon them the desirability of enhancing the
Benevolent Fund, that frequently they had spent many
hours in sifting who, out bf the many deserving cases,
they should relieve, and when the suggestion came that
it would be well to record their gratitude to those who
had in past times done well for that Fund, there surely
could be no self-glorification in recording the names of
the donors. Their sole purpose had been to adopt a plan
which might enhance the utility of the Fund, and he

hoped that gentlemen would think over the point before
they voted.

Mr. Hampson said he should stand by his colleagues,
although he had not taken an active interest in the
matter. With regard to low motives which had been
Suggested he could well imagine a person passing the
board and saying, I will have my name on that board
and will give a £1000, bxit if the board were dispensed
with they might lose that £1000.

Mr. Abraham said it was impossible to erect the
tablet without doing injustice to the poorer members.
If a poor member gave two guineas he did a more
charitable act than the rich man who gave ten guineas,
but the poor man’s name would not be inscribed upon
the board. They ought not to be guided by policy,
but should -do what was right and honourable.

The President remarked that the observations which
had been made by the various speakers had not altered
his opinion in the slightest.

Mr. Frazer asked whether the amendment which
had been moved was really not in the nature of a rider.

The Solicitor said the amendment, according to the
House of Commons practice, would be that the word
“ house ” be omitted in order that the word “ hall ” may
be inserted.

Mr. Bottle having withdrawn his amendment the reso¬
lution was put to the meeting by the President and carried.

The names were then read of gentlemen who had
consented to act as Scrutineers in connection with the
election of Members of Council. Their appointment was
agreed to unanimously by the meeting.

The following Registers were then placed before the
meeting by the Registrar in compliance with the pro¬
visions of the Pharmacy Acts, 1852 and 1868 : —

Register of Members, Associates and Apprentices of
the Society.

Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists.

Register of Assistants.

Register of Apprentices and Students under the Phar¬
macy Act of 1852.

Register of Chemists and Druggists under the Phar¬
macy Act of 1868. „

Mr. Stacey proposed a vote of thanks to the President
for the very able manner and the kind and forbearing
way in which he had presided over the meeting. In
asking him to receive such a vote of thanks, they could
not dismiss from their minds the fact of the great
interest which he always took in pharmacy. The Pre¬
sident had shown by his conduct that he had the interest
of pharmacy at his heart’s core, and that he desired to do
his utmost for the benefit of the Society. That led them
to another thought, viz., the able and efficient way in
which he had presided over the Council. He was sure
that the meeting would unanimously join in according to
their worthy Chairman and Px-esident their most hearty
thanks.

Mr. Urwick had much pleasure in seconding the
motion.

The resolution having been unanimously carried, and
briefly responded to by the Pi’esident, the meeting was
adjourned until Friday, to receive the report of the
Scrutineers.

ADJOURNED GENERAL MEETING.

Friday , May 20, 1881.

MR. THOMAS GREENISH, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR.

The adjourned meeting for receiving the report of the
Scrutineers was held on Friday, May 20.

Mr. W. K. Hopkirx, Chairman of the Scrutineers, upon ^
being called upon for the report, said that the bye-law
which requires that voting papers transmitted to the
Secretary under cover shall be l’eceived by him not less
than one clear day prior to the day on which the election
is to take place had been the subject of some conversation i

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

May 21, 1S81J

973

the Scrutineers. Several voting papers were

Radley, William Valentine, 42, Hampton lload,
Southport.

Richardson, John George Frederick, Houghton
House, Stoneygate, Leicester.

Road East,

amongst

received by post too late, and it was thought that this
bye-law placed voters residing in the country under some
disadvantage as compared with those residing in London,

for whilst the former, unless they came to town, had to I Robbins, John, 372, Oxford Street, W
post their voting papers so as to reach the Secretary Savage, William Dawson, 4, Park
not later than Monday, the latter could deliver theirs Brighton.

personally on Wednesday. He had, therefore, been re- Schacht, George Frederick, 7, Regent Street, Clifton,
quested by the Scrutineers to suggest the propriety of an Bristol

alteration being made in the bye-laws to allow of voting Squire, Peter Wyatt, 277, Oxford Street, W.
papers being received by post as late as Wednesday Symes, Charles, 14, Hardman Street, Liverpool.

Williams, John, 16, Cross Street, Hatton Garden, E.C.
Woolley, George Stephen, 69, Market Street, Man¬
chester.

Young, James Robertson, 17, North Bridge, Edin-

morning.

Mr

Hopkin then read the following :

Scrutineers’ Report.

We, the undersigned Scrutineers appointed at the
Fortieth Annual General Meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain, do hereby certify that we have
examined the voting papers committed to us, and report
the following : —

Voting papers reported by the Secretai'y to
have been issued . 3627

Voting papers received . 1635

burgh.

Auditors.

Voting papers issued but not returned

Voting papers received .
Voting papers disallowed : —

Informal .

Received by post too late

1992

1635

8

87
— 95

There being only the requisite number of candidates
(five) for the office of Auditors, the Chairman declared
the following duly elected for the ensuing twelve
months : —

Hodgkinson, William, 74, Golden Lane, E.C.

Lescher, Frank Harwood, 60, Bartholomew Close,
E.C.

Stacey, Samuel Lloyd, 300, High Holborn, W.C.
Thompson, Henry Ayscough, 22, Worship Street, E.C.
Watts, William Manning, 32, Lower Whitecross
Street, E.C.

Voting papers registered 1540

Result of the Poll .

Greenish

. 1448

Richardson.

1339

Symes .

. 1436

Radley . .

1323

Churchill

. 1428

Carteighe .

1287

Bottle .

. 1426

Hills . . .

1273

Hampson

. 1426

Butt . . .

1212

Williams

. 1398

Gostling .

. 1394

Spink . .

774

( Woolley .

. 1380

Wills . .

282

Robbins .

. 1354

1

W. K. Hopkin, Chairman

Charles A.

Blake.

Alfred E. Tanner.

A vote of thanks to the Scrutineers was proposed by
Mr. Walter Hills, seconded by Mr. Howard Hall, and
carried unanimously.

Mr. Hopkin, in acknowledging the vote, referred to
the fact that this year the ballot box had been during
the whole of the meeting in charge of an official, whose
business it was to see that no voting papers were placed
in it improperly. He thought that all was now done
that was possible to secure the proper conduct of the
election.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman was then passed
and the proceedings terminated.

Richard A. Robinson.
Isaiah Bourdas, junr.
J. H. Baldock.

W. B. Mason.

T. Edward Greenish.
Philip Princep.
Charles J. Mead.

W. H. Ferguson.
Charles B. Allen.
Edward H. Ridley.

W. H. Symons.
William Warren.
Robert Samuel Bathe.
R. Fisher Young.

William Gulliver.

The Chairman said it was a fact to be regretted that
at a time when subjects of great interest to pharmacists
were under discussion less than one-half of the voting-
papers issued had been returned. He thought it showed
great apathy on the part of many persons entitled to vote.

The New Council.

The Chairman then declared that the following gentle¬
men would constitute the Council for the ensuing
year : —

Chemists anir gntggists' Cimtrc

^ssotiatiom

MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

The annual meeting of this Association was held on
Tuesday, the 17th inst., at the Inns of Court Hotel,
Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

As usual, a meeting of the General Committee was
held previous to the public meeting, Mr. Thomas Barclay,
President, in the chair.

The Secretary having read the notice convening the
meeting,

The report which had been circulated (see before, p.
929) was taken as read.

Mr. Durrant (Hertford) moved that the report and
statement of accounts be adopted.

Mr. Mason (Liverpool) seconded the motion.

Mr. Paterson (Aberdeen) thought the Association had

Andrews, Frederick, 34, Leinster Terrace, Hyde Park, gone somewhat far in its approval of the Pharmacy Act

Amendment Bill as drawn. There were some good things
in section 1 and he thought it very desirable that if a
gentleman passed part of the examination he should be

j i i _ 1 _ T - 1, ~ .1 J mi J La aLIa f a nADnnnfvQfn niu

W.

Atkins, Samuel Ralph, Market Place, Salisbury.
Bottle, Alexander, 37, Tbwnwall Street, Dover.

Butt, Edward Northway, 13, Curzon Street, W.
Carteighe, Michael, 180, New Bond Street, W.
Churchill, Walter John, 46, New Street, Birmingham.
Frazer, Daniel, 113, Buchanan Street, Glasgow.
Gostling, Thomas Preston, Market Hill, Diss.
Greenish, Thomas, 20, New Street, Dorset
N.W.

Hampson, Robert, 205, St. John Street Road, E,C,
Hjlls, Walter, 338, Oxford Street, W,

told where he had failed and be able to concentrate his
attention on those subjects; but it seemed to him that if
the conduct of the Pharmacy Act was to remain in the
Pharmaceutical Society, that Association must take the
matter up and endeavour to get the Pharmaceutical
Square, I Society to do a great deal more for education in the
provinces than it had hitherto done. A great proportion
of the money was drawn from the provinces, but it was
pearly all spent in London or Edinburgh, principally in

974

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 21, 1881.

London. Their apprentices had no means of finding that
scientific and technical education which they were entitled
to from such a Society as the Pharmaceutical Society. If
it were to be entrusted with the whole regulation of the
profession wherever there were large university towns or
large centres, such as Birmingham, Manchester and other
places, where there were a large number of chemists and
apprentices, there ought to be educational appliances.
They sent up from Aberdeen on one occasion for assist¬
ance and were kindly informed that the Society would
make them a loan of £10 for three years and they would
have to replace all apparatus which they broke in that
time and send it back complete. They did not think that
particularly handsome, and they themselves started a
school for the education of apprentices, but they found it
very difficult to carry it on and to get up a museum, la¬
boratory and other appliances required to enable appren-
prentices to pass the strict examination which is now
required. He thought the least the Society could do was
to help in education, and wherever there was a laboratory
and other appliances established in a town, the examiners
should be sent there to examine the young men instead
of putting them to the expense of coming to London or
Edinburgh. Clause No. 2 he could not see any reason
for at all. If a person was registered at present as a
chemist and druggist, by passing his examination or being
in business before, it was only nonsense that he should
have to go and register again. Section 4 again would
make it unlawful for any executors to continue a business
for a longer period than three years except by permission
of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society. He thought
that a widow ought to be allowed to carry on business, if
she kept a properly qualified assistant, without having to
apply to the Pharmaceutical Society. He knew that it
had been the means in several instances in his own district
of saving the widow and family from coming upon the
parochial board. He should, therefore, like to move an
amendment something to the effect, that no amendment
of the Pharmacy Act would be satisfactory which does
not provide for the establishment of schools to enable
apprentices to get a scientific knowlege of their profession
while learning it, and to provide for examiners visiting
the various local centres throughout the country where
classes are established.

Mr. Hampson wished to make an observation or two
with reference to the remarks of the last speaker. He
had referred to the Pharmaceutical Society, but did not
seem to understand the position of things with regard to
provincial pharmaceutical education. Whenever an ap¬
plication had been received by the Society it had always
been treated with respect and wherever possible a grant
had been made ; but although the Society appeared, as he
said, to swallow all the funds and to give nothing out, it
was extremely careful how it expended the funds, and it
was necessary to have some guarantee that the money
spent in the provinces, in education, should be spent in
such a manner that sound solid education should be given.
That was the reason that the £10, £30 or £40 per year
were not sent broadcast over the country. It would be
very unwise expenditure unless they were absolutely sure
that there would be an equivalent value in teaching.
Surely, in Scotland, with its cheap universities and ad¬
mirable scheme of education, it was scarcely necessary to
apply to the Pharmaceutical Society at all. They could
get teaching in chemistry of the most admirable character
at almost any of the schools in Scotland, and instruction
in materia medica could be obtained wherever there was
a medical school, so that he was rather surprised to hear
this complaint from that country which had always been
looked upon as setting such a good example to England
in the matter of education. What they wanted was
something of a permanent and satisfactory character.
He would say the Pharmaceutical Society had never been
wanting in its duty, and if their Aberdeen friends would
only show a fair case, according to the rules laid down
and applicable to the whole country, for a grant, the

money would be voted as freely as could be desired.
With regard to widows, if Mr. Paterson had sat on the
Benevolent Fund Committee he would find the effects of
permitting widows to carry on business. They came
before that Committee as the consequence of carrying on
business, for it was a great mistake to do so in the majority
of cases. If the law were so framed that a widow could
carry on business to an indefinite extent by the aid of
qualified assistants it would only apply to those who least
required it, namely, the widows of men in large businesses.
A small business would not pay for a qualified assistant
and besides that they would be sacrificing the whole
principle of the Bill, namely, the principle of personal
responsibility.

Mr. Churchill (Birmingham) said Mr. Paterson was
evidently in error as to the clause affecting registration.
There was no suggestion that there should be any fur¬
ther difficulty about registration on the part of those
already on the list, but the intention was that no new
demands for registration should be entertained from
persons who had been entitled to registration for the last
twenty years, but had failed to come in.

Mr. Pollard (Ryde) thought the permanence of educa¬
tion which had been referred to militated against piece¬
meal examinations. He should not like it to go forth
that a candidate was to be examined in that way ; he
ought to be competent at any time to pass the examina¬
tion. There had been some writing on the subject lately
in various quarters to the effect that candidates who
failed should be informed — and he thought it quite right
they should — as to the points in which they were weak ;
but when they went up at any time they ought to be prepared
to pass the whole examination. He should not like it to
appear that they might go on cramming little by little.

Mr. Delves (Exeter) remarked that the amendment
had not been seconded, and it was therefore out of order
to discuss it.

Mr. Mason said there was nothing in the report
antagonistic to the Pharmaceutical Society, and it was
a pity that any discussion of that nature should arise.

Mr. Symes (Liverpool) said he thought the gentleman
from Aberdeen was quite in order, because the report
referred to the Committee having endorsed the Pharmacy
Act. He could not approve of the suggestion that
candidates should go up and pass an examination piece¬
meal, especially in these days when men could get
crammed for each separate subject at a time. He would
supplement what had been said by Mr. Churchill by
saying that the reason for the second clause was that
now and then applications came before the Registrar
of the Society from persons who he felt morally certain
had no right to registration at all, and so dissatisfied was
he that in nine cases out of ten he brought the matter
before the Council. It was a very unpleasant business
to be trying to decide whether a medical man had given
a correct certificate, or getting him to withdraw it, which
was frequently done. It was felt, therefore, that the
time was now arrived when the line should be drawn,
and after a certain interval they should cease to place
such persons on the Register. If Aberdeen had shown a
good case for help in the matter of education he was sure
it would have been granted, but speaking from his own
experience it was far more difficult to get young men to
come and form a school than to get the means to support
it. If the young men would feel that the responsibility
was their own, and do their utmost to obtain the
instruction they required, there would be no difficulty in
forming the schools or finding the means.

Mr. Mackenzie (Edinburgh) said he had always held
the opinion that there ought to be some method different
from that which had been pursued by the Pharma¬
ceutical Society with regard to examinations. Two
years ago the question was brought up about candidates
failing, and Mr. Williams, being then President, confessed
that he had told parties where they had failed, but
others had gone away and were not told at all. In the

May 21, 1881.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

975

College of Surgeons, in one notable instance, a man was
all abroad on one particular subject, and he was very
much downcast in consequence, and so set himself to the
study that since then' his name had been famous in
connection with that very subject. He referred to Sir
Robert Christison, who was plucked in materia medica.
He wished he could endorse heartily what Mr. Hampson
had said with regard to assisting education, but he
could not do so. In the Council’s report last year,
they found a paltry pittance of £35 paid for provincial
education, but this year salaries were going up by
hundreds of pounds. He wished the Society would be as
careful of the hundreds as of the units.

Mr. Harrison (Sunderland) did not know that the case
of Sir Robert Christison would apply to the argument.
He presumed that when he was sent back on materia
medica, he would also have to go through the entire
examination de novo.

Mr. Mackenzie : No, that is riot so.

Mr. Harrison said if not, if he had satisfactorily passed
in other subjects, he would be able to pass in them if
required, and there was no injustice done to young men
in asking them to go through an entire examination.
A man did not present himself solely for the purpose
of passing, but that he might prove to those who ex¬
amined him that he was competent to carry on business
which he intended to practise. He would point out to
Mr. Paterson that they would risk the passing of any
Pharmacy Act at all if they introduced the principle of
making the examinations more simple. Some time ago
the Legislature decided that a man who dealt in certain
poisons should be competent to undertake that serious
responsibility. They were now going to ask that that
principle should be enforced still further by making the
clauses more stringent, and if, at the same time, they
attempted to make the examination . less stringent, it

would be self-contradictory, and the Bill would certainly

be thrown out.

cMr. Paterson asked leave to explain that in medical
examinations if a man passed in 75 per cent, in any
subject he had no further trouble about it ; he had passec
finally. He did not suggest making the examinations less
strict than at present, but that if a man passed on one
particular point he should be free from further examina¬
tion in it. In Scotland there were many apprentices who
could not attend classes until 9 o’clock at night. In
Aberdeen one or two of the chemists were gratuitously
teaching apprentices after that time at night; but they
wanted to provide a place where they could go and study
and see the requisite specimens. There were no appren¬
tices in the north able to pay the fee of three guineas for
the university classes.

The Chairman said, in regard to the examination
question, he had seen a great many students who had
been up to Bloomsbury Square, and who had been plucked,
and he knew there was a great deal of heartburning
amongst many of them. They felt that they should like
to go back and pass in one or two subjects in which they
had failed; but the great question amongst examiners
and amongst all pharmacists now was how to put down
cramming, and they would be adopting a wrong plan if
they allowed students to pass, as had been suggested, in
two or three subjects and then to go up for a final ex¬
amination in the subjects in which they had failed.
Many of them would simply cram up and pass one subject
at a time ; but they did not want that class of men in the
trade at all. He was not surprised that the widows
question had cropped up, because it had occupied a great
deal of the time of the Executive Committee; but eventu¬
ally they could not see their way to any other course than
adopting the Bill as it stood. Before putting the resolu¬
tion, he should like to know if anybody had anything to
say with regard to the financial position of the Society.
The report showed a deficit of something like £200.

Mr. Urwick said he was astonished to see how
economically the Association had been worked. He did

not think any chemist ever invested five shillings better
than in that society ; even with regard to weights and
measures the services rendered the trade fully repaid all
that they had subscribed. He thought the failure in
education was in many instances through the masters
not seeing that the apprentices and students attended to
their studies and worked gradually on. Every case he
had known of failure was where a young man had tried
to get four years’ work into three months by cramming,
instead of steady and gradual work. The examinations
ought rather to be increased in stringency than relaxed.

The resolution for the adoption of the report was then
put and carried unanimously.

The Committee then proceeded to select 21 names out
of a list of 35 for recommendation to the general meeting
to be elected as the executive for the ensuing year.

Mr. Urwick and Mr. Wade were appointed scrutineers.
Whilst they were absent examining the voting papers,
the Chairman again appealed to the Committee on the
question of the funds. He thought possibly that the fact
of having £800 in the bank last year had affected
their receipts.

Mr. Paterson said the Association deserved support,
and no doubt when the report was read and the trade
and members saw what had been done the donations
would come in.

Mr. Harrison (Sunderland) thought the members of
the Committee might do a great deal by canvassing for
subscribers. The gentleman who preceded him on the
Committee was particularly energetic in bringing the
claims of the Society before the chemists in the district,
and the result was that they had a larger proportion of
subscribers than perhaps any other district in the
country. The Association could only go on in its work if
subscriptions were regularly and punctually paid.

Mr. Hampson said the list of members was less by two
hundred this year than last. There would have been an
increased of two hundred over last year, but the Committee
had decided to strike off a number of name3 of persons
who had not paid their subscriptions for two years. He
quite endorsed the remarks of Mr. Harrison, that it was
through the personal influence and interest of members
of the General Committee that the success of the Asso¬
ciation would be insured. After all, the great thing
required was an increase in the number of annual sub¬
scribers ; they had four thousand when they ought to
have eight thousand.

Mr. Paterson said it would be well if the Secretary had
the list of the names of gentlemen in the different towns,
who were Local Secretaries.

Mr. Mason did not think it advisible that one gentle¬
man should have to collect for two or three associations,
as he would have great difficulty in carrying out his
duties. It occurred to him that it would be very well if
a list of members were prepared, classified according . to
locality, so that they could each see in a moment which
of their neighbours belonged to the Association

Mr. Bell (Hull) said he had to go round, as secretary
to different associations, to the chemists of his town, and
he felt that when he was entering their places of business
he was looked upon something in the light of a tax-
gatherer. They had, however, been pretty successful in
Hull in supporting the Association.

Mr. Mackenzie suggested that it was a good plan for
two gentlemen to go together, as they often had more
influence than one going by himself. One reason their funds
were getting low was that the analysts and the inspectors
were getting so much afraid of them and their energetic
officers, that they had been very quiet of late. He
believed that those gentlemen had done more for the
Association than any member of the Committee.

Mr. Ellinor (Sheffield) thought that the greatest plea
was not what the Society had done but what it intended
to do.

Mr. Jervis (Sheffield) said the greatest difficulty m
getting subscriptions was from the smaller men, on whose

976

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 21, 1881,

- behalf they were most likely to be brought into legal
proceedings.

Mr. Churchill said he could not quite agree with Mr.
Hampson in his desire to have eight thousand 5s. members.
He would rather have four thousand 10s. subscribers.
He quite agreed with Mr. Jervis, that it was the 5s.
members who were the source of danger. If a man would
only come into the Society because he was afraid of being
prosecuted and would only give 5s., he was not unlikely
to land them in £50 expense.

Mr. Walker (Coventry) thought that remark cut both
ways. They ought to consider in subscribing to the society
that they were doing a good work for themselves, for
their fellow-tradesmen and for society at large, and the
more they could persuade that it was a good investment
the better.

Mr. Green (Woolwich) said the only argument that
made any impression in canvassing was that it was a
good investment.

Mr. Durrant said it was impossible to make too much
of that point that men should be induced to invest 5s. for
their own benefit. He had made personally a canvass of
every chemist in his district, which cost him a great deal,
but the result was not very satisfactory ; there seemed no
very general desire to give, and the only thing he could
attribute it to was that there was scarcity of funds,
and that they only paid those things which they were
obliged.

Mr. Maltby (Lincoln) endorsed Mr. Hampson’s remark
that their strength must consist in the number of members,
because they not only got each man’s money but his
sympathy and support. He was anxious that they should
have a surplus and have some funded property, and if that
were placed before the Association properly he thought the
Executive Committee would be enabled to take up cases
with greater zeal and less reluctance than they did at the
present time when they might have a fear of funds not
' being forthcoming.

Mr. Williams (Manchester) said many of the members
were in a very good way of business and comparatively
wealthy, and yet the amounts paid were in nearly all
instances the same. He thought the richer members
should be appealed to to give more handsomely than the
poorer ones.

Mr. Laird (Dundee) said there was a large number of
men in the trade who, he believed, did not take in either
the Pharmaceutical Journal or the Chemist and Druggist,
and knew very little what was going on about their
business. He thought it would be well if the Secretary,
in sending for the subscriptions, could give a short state¬
ment of what had been done during the year.

Mr. Ellinor suggested the formation of a reserve
fund, to which all members should subscribe 10s., or less
if they preferred, in addition to their ordinary subscrip¬
tion, until it attained a certain amount.

Mr. Jervis seconded the motion.

Mr. Mason supported it, and suggested that the whole¬
sale houses should be asked to give the reserve fund their
support.

The Chairman then asked what amount they would
suggest the reserve fund should be.

Mr. Maltby thought it should be £5000, which would
bring in £200 a year.

Mr. Mackenzie thought that sum too large.

Mr. Durrant said it was always best to have an object
sufficiently high to work at. There was no reason why
£5000 should not be raised if time were given. He
should be glad to give the same amount to a reserve
fund as he now subscribed, and he was sure there was a
large number who would as soon give 10s. as 5s., if there
was some object put before them.

The Chairman said there was nothing like having a
good amount in hand ; they would not have been so
likely to be attacked if it had been known they had
5000 in their hands.

Mr. Mackenzie did not believe so much in endow¬

ments ; he had greater faith in the members generally
than in having £5000 in the bank.

Mr. Churchill thought if such a resolution was passed
it should be carefully drawn by the Solicitor, as it would
bind the action of the Association for many years.

After some further discussion, in the course of which
Mr. Stead, of Leeds, supported Mr. Mackenzie’s idea
that £5000 was too large and would tend to check annual
subscriptions,

Mr. Holdsworth suggested that it would be better to
take a little more time to consider the exact form in
which this motion should be passed, and that it would be
well to bring it before the general meeting.

This was agreed to.

The Scrutineers then reported that the following
names were chosen for recommendation to the general
meeting : —

Holdsworth, T. W., Birmingham.
Jervis, W., Sheffield.

Maltby, J., Lincoln.

Mason, A. H., Liverpool.
Pasmore, G., Exeter.

Southall, Wm., Birmingham.
Stead, T. B., Leeds.

Symes, Charles, Liverpool.
Walker, G., Coventry.

Williams, F. F., Manchester.

Andrews, Frederick, London.
Arblaster, C. J., Birmingham.
Barclay, Thomas, Birmingham,
Bamaby, Henry, Rochester.
Beh, C. B., Huh.

Churchill, W. J., Birmingham.
Cole, F. A., Colchester.

Cross, W. G., Shrewsbury.
Davis, H., Leamington.
Hampson, Robert, London

Harrison, John, Sunderland.

The following names had been sent up from the
Scotch members. Messrs. Charles Kerr, Dundee ; Robert
Me Adam, Glasgow, and James Mackenzie, Edinburgh.

The Annual Meeting.

I

!

The report having been taken as read,

Mr. Wade moved its adoption. He said on this
occasion it did not appear to be of a very exciting
character, and he did not suppose there would be very
much discussion or dispute about it. It appeared to be
of a very business-like character, containing a plain state¬
ment of what had been done during the year, and he did
not think any exception could be taken to any part of it.
Great credit was due, not only to the Committee, but to
the officers for what had been done, and he thought the
statement was not unsatisfactory when they considered
the depression of trade, the unjust competition, and other
matters which chemists had had to cope with. It was a
wonder to him that the Society had been carried on at
such a small expense. It was true there had been a
deficiency of £200; but he was glad to find, having
regard to all the circumstances, that it was not much
greater when they considered what the Society had done
for the protection of trade ; that it had been started
under a cloud, and began with only fifty members, and
had now attained the position it had. He thought they
had every reason to be proud of it. The Association had
done a deal of good by protecting the trade from the
inconvenience put upon them with regard to the law
affecting the adulteration of food and drugs, and also in
respect of the Weights and Measures Act. He thought
they had acted very wisely in allying themselves with
the Pharmaceutical Society. With reference to the Phar¬
macy Act Amendment Bill, it was possible there might
be some little difference of opinion amongst the members,
and some might think they had given in too readily to
the Pharmaceutical Society on some points; but it
appeared to him from past experience of antagonistic
societies going to Parliament, that they had taken the
only wise course. Whatever differences of opinion might
be brought forward later, at the commencement they
had done well to join the Pharmaceutical Society, and
to show that there was no division on the main question.
They had also done well in making it understood that no
legislation could be effected against the chemists and drug¬
gists without that Association having a voice in the matter.
The J uries Bill was also under notice, and probably some
might remember eighteen years ago, when Mr. Ward
Hunt first introduced the Juries Bill into Parliament,
and the question was then before the Legislature

I

i

May 21, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

977

whether the whole of the druggists throughout the
kingdom should be exempted. Eor a considerable time
it was hoped that that would be so, and it was almost an
accomplished fact; but unfortunately jealousies cropped
up which at the last moment made it appear that so
large a number of druggists would be exempted, that it
was necessary only to exempt those who belonged to
another society, so that that attempt which had a very
good chance of being carried out only fell through,
through the jealousy of another society. He hoped they
would be warned on this occasion and take a wiser course.
With regard to the arbitration which had taken place, it
struck him that although it had been successful this
time, such attempts were not alway successful, and he
should like to know if both gentlemen were satisfied.
No doubt the intention was good, but he thought
perhaps in other cases it might lead to great difficulties,
and that arbitration was hardly the thing for a society of
that kind to undertake. He was pleased to see that the
report contained an allusion to the loss the society had
sustained by the death of one of its foremost members ;
and perhaps he should' not be out of place, while alluding
to the loss of Mr. Abraham, if he also alluded to the
more recent loss of Mr. Mackay. He had had the
pleasure of meeting him on several occasions, and a
more earnest man he never met with. The strength of
the Association was within within fifty-two of the other
society; and when they considered that there were
thirteen thousand in the trade, and that between four
and five thousand belonged to them, and between four
and five thousand belonged to the other society there
was still about one-third to account for. The report
showed that they had done all that could be done, and
also gave hopes that more would be done yet, if more
members would be got into the Association. He hoped
next year the finances would be in a much better condi¬
tion; but' the whole report was so satisfactory that he
thought the meeting would endorse it in every way.

Mr. Pollard (Ryde) seconded the motion. In his
j particular town, the members had not received any direct
benefit, as he believed there had been no cases defended
and no particular advice given. Still they felt grateful,
gratitude being an appreciation of favours to come. The
Society had made a reconnaissance in force, by going to
Winchester, and successfully carrying on a prosecution ;
and as those in his district whose names were on: the jury
list were liable to be summoned to Winchester, it naturally
excited their sympathy and admiration. If they had not
required to be defended, it was not because inspectors were
not about in their neighbourhood, and he had had several
visits himself ; but unfortunately for the inspector his
was a very sterile, preserve. He looked on the Association
as being strictly a mutual assurance society, and in that
light it recommended itself to every individual of the
thirteen thousand. five hundred who got their living in
the same way. He cordially indorsed most of what the
report stated ; the' Committee stood on. the same plat¬
form as those, and on the whole they had done wisely
and well.

The Secretary (Mr. Hayden) reminded Mr. Pollard
that not only had the Association been called upon to
defend cases in the south of England, but they had
defended a near neighbour of his, a chemist of Romsey, on
two occasions.

Mr. Whittle said he was the unfortunate chemist who
was prosecuted under the Weights and Measures Act,
though he had done everything any man could do. He
had bought new glasses, had them stamped according to
the Act, and he felt quite confident when he went down
to see the Marylebone magistrates that they would dis¬
miss the case. - Those Solomons, however, thought other¬
wise, and consequently they had to learn their lesson at
the Appeal Court. He must say he had to thank the
Executive Committee for the very energetic manner in
which they had taken up his case. They were quite
Unanimous that he should be defended, and he had also to

thank the Secretary and the Solicitor for the great interest
they took in the case and the attention they bestowed
upon it. Some chemists thought they had not benefited,
because they did not happen to have been persecuted, but
he could only say he wished the inspector had gone into
their shops instead of his. He considered that every
chemist in Great Britain was under a certain amount of
obligation to the Association, because who could say how
many prosecutions would have taken place if it had not
been for the action of the Society ? But these inspectors
now knew that if they attacked a chemist, the Association
was willing to step forward without hesitation and defend
him, if they considered he ought to be defended. He
thought the wholesale houses might support the Associa¬
tion to a larger extent than they did.

The Chairman said the wholesale houses had responded
most liberally when they were appealed to for special
donations.

Mr. Shepperley was quite pleased to see at what
a small cost the various law suits had been conducted by
the Association during the last two or three years, con¬
sidering how very important many of them were. The
future peace of pharmacy generally would be influenced in
a very considerable measure by the conclusions arrived at
in the deliberations and recommendations of the Royal
Commission about to sit, and which he believed would
sit within a week from the present time. He hoped that
their representatives would put matters in as plain and
straightforward a manner before that Commission as they
could. He noticed that the Commission included three
or four medical men, and they might naturally infer that
those gentlemen would look well after the interests and
privileges of the medical fraternity ; it would therefore
behove their representatives to explain their wants and
the general public convenience before that Commission.

Mr. Long was very much obliged to the officers of the
Association for what they had done, and much pleased
with the success which had attended the action of the
Association during the past year. Since the last meeting,
they had suffered a most unjust grievance. They were
continually hearing appeals to support the law, and
there had been an Act passed to maintain the law in
Ireland, but it seemed simply to be a case as to whose
interest it was. Their interest had not been maintained.
They had a law undoubtedly, which said that no person
except a chemist should be a chemist, and yet for the
sake of pandering to popular delusion, it was said that
any artificial person might be a chemist. He was not
anxious to introduce strife or to interfere with the passing
of the Bill; but. if it were necessary, as it was, that any
person who sold medicine should be qualified, no one else
should have a right to sell it.

Mr. Andrews said, with regard to the Juries Act, that
eighteen years ago it was endeavoured to exempt all
chemists and druggists ; but the difficulty then was to
define what a chemist and druggist really was. Since
the passing of the Pearmacy Act, 1868, that difficulty no
longer existed. He had always maintained that a phar¬
maceutical chemist had no more right to be free from
serving on juries than a chemist and druggist ; the right
should extend to the whole of the body. He believed
that both societies had their eyes open to this point, and
that it would not be lost sight of.

Mr. Churchill wished to make a remark on the arbitra¬
tion case to which Mr. Wade had alluded, in which their
Secretary acted as arbitrator, and he could not help
thinking that both parties must have been pretty well
satisfied. Mr. A. had been selling something which was
very much like an imitation of a proprietary article
belonging to Messrs. B. and Co. ; Messrs. B. and Co. set
to work with the law, and heavy penalties would no
doubt have been recovered ; but Mr. Haydon brought
both parties together. Mr. A. made an apology, de¬
stroyed all the labels, paid a small fine and got off very
much more cheaply than he would have done if he had
gone to law.

978

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 21, 1881.

Mr. Harrison said he knew there was a little feeling on
the part of some members about this arbitration case ;
he thought an unnecessary amount of feeling. If they
put themselves forward, and endeavoured to interfere and
settle cases without the consent of the parties, it would
no doubt, be unwise ; but if both parties had perfect
confidence in the Committee, and were willing to abide
by their decision, it was impossible to discover a method
of settling a difficulty more satisfactory to both. He was
pleased to hear the interest which the jury question had
excited, and was glad to find there was such an amount
of enthusiasm on the subject. He trusted that in a short
time equal justice would be done to chemists and druggists
as well as to pharmaceutical chemists.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

The Chairman having read the list of names recom¬
mended on the Executive Committee, for the ensuing
year, as given above,

Mr. Ellinor moved that the names of gentlemen to be
members of the Committee for the ensuing year, as re¬
commended by the General Committee, are hereby
appointed a Committee for the ensuing year.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Long and carried
unanimously.

The meeting then proceeded to ballot for the election
of officers for the ensuing year ; Mr. Radley, Mr. Bell
and Mr. Jervis being scrutineers.

The Chairman said Mr. Ellinor had proposed (a motion
that morning in the Executive Committee, which there
was not time to discuss thoroughly, and he would now
bring it before the general meeting.

Mr. Ellinor said he had great pleasure in proposing
that a reserve fund be formed in connection with this
Association, the amount to be £5000 or such other sum
as may be thought proper, and that it be obtained by
annual subscriptions, say of 10s. or any smaller amount.
He thought it would do good service; it would make
their enemies really fear them more than anything else.
They did not know what the course of legislation might
be, and they might have to defend themselves, and
therefore they could not do better at the present time
than form a reserve fund.

Mr. Maltby endorsed the views expressed by Mr.
Ellinor, that it would be desirable to have a reserve
fund. He did not know whether that was the best term
which could be used ; but he thought a sum of money
could be raised with very little difficulty if chemists and
druggists would put their shoulders to the wheel and en¬
deavour to raise it. Since he had been a member of the
Executive he had seen that if they had had a fund of this
kind on which they could fall back, it would often relieve
them from great anxieties when they had cases brought
before them which they were anxious to defend. No case,
to his knowledge, had been refused assistance on these
grounds, but sometimes one had been undertaken with
considerable anxiety, on account of the want of funds. It
had been thought by some that this scheme was impractic¬
able, but he thought there would be very little difficulty,
amongst twelve thousand or thirteen thousand chemists,
in raising a sum of money, whereby the society would be
placed in circumstances, not of affluence, but in a posi¬
tion to vigorously take up any case.

Mr. Pollard asked if the minutes contained any record
of a discussion on the same question some years ago.

The Secretary referred to the minutes of the Second
Annual Meeting held May 14, 1878, when it was moved
by Mr. Pearson, seconded by Mr. Lance, and unani¬
mously resolved, that a special effort be made to raise at
least £2000 by donations, to be used in protecting and
furthering the legitimate interests of chemists and
druggists.

Mr. Mackenzie asked to what extent that was realized.

The Chairman said there were £1645 received as
donations that year.

Mr. Mackenzie said he would move an amendment.
He thought the fact, when on a former occasion there

was a necessity of having a reserve fund, that their
ambition pointed to £2000, and that the trade generally
responded to the extent of about £1600, showed that the
amount now named was too large. It had been said that
necessity produced the man and he also believed that
necessity produced money. As mentioned already, they
had never neglected a case for want of money ; they had
been misled by fears and had been tom by doubts ; but
they had really always had sufficient for what they
wanted, and the proof of that was that they had £800 at
the present time invested. He thought it would be
rather adverse to their ardour to have a reserve fund ; it
would cut two ways. Experience had taught them that
in many departments money lying idle had not always
been an advantage to the vitality of the institution
possessed of the money. Its day had begun to decline
from the day it had money ; whilst it flourished so long
as it depended entirely on the freewill offerings of its
members. At the same time it might be well to have a
little more than £800. He did not like to put his hand
to anything there was not a fair probability of realizing.

He would, therefore, move an amendment that they
complete the former effort to raise £2000 before launching
the new one.

Mr. Ur wick seconded the amendment.

The Chairman asked if Mr. Mackenzie meant that
£400 more should be raised.

Mr. Mackenzie said he meant that the £800 should be
put as a nucleus towards raising £2000.

Mr. Urwick said that in attempting to raise £5000,
they would be attempting more than they could carry
out, and if they succeeded in getting it, it would tend to
check subscriptions. It was always well to keep interest
alive in what a society was doing. If they could by any
means bring those who did not at the present time take an
interest in the society amongst them, and convince them
that 5s. or 10s. given as a donation was money which
paid better interest than any other investment, they
would be doing more good. They ought to impress upon
members of the trade the benefits the society conferred
upon them ; and there was no doubt that if it had not been
for their success in defending the prosecutions in London,
many others would have been placed in the same position.

Mr. Harrison supported the amendment, because it \
would be far better to complete a matter begun some
years ago than to embark on a fresh project of the same
nature. Although there had been anxieties on the part
of the Executive whether the money would be forthcoming
for any work to be done, yet no work had absolutely gone
undone of want of funds. It appeared, as Mr. Mackenzie
had put it, that the occasion had always brought the
means, and whenever a special emergency had arisen,
means had been forthcoming to meet it. There was
another reason why it was not well to have too large an
amount. There was no better control which a con¬
stituency could have over those whom it elected than
providing the funds. If they provided the Executive
with a large sum of money they would not have such a
control over the Executive ; if on the other hand the
Executive were compelled to make an appeal directly to
their constituents for means to carry on the work, it would
be a guarantee that that work would be in thorough accord
with the sympathies of those they represented. On this
broad principle he strongly opposed any extension of the
resolution passed five years ago.

Mr. Mason asked if it was a fact that the resolution
passed two years ago limited the amount of subscriptions
to £2000. He should prefer making an appeal without
mentioning any limit. If they were now £200 in debt,
some of the amount raised might be appropriated in that

sociation only would be defended if occasion arose.

The Chairman said that would not do, because some¬
times typical cases arose, which it was necessary to
defend lest they should be made a precedent.

May 21, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

979

Mr. Hampson said he did not mind whether they got
£2000 or £5000 ; but there was one advantage in men¬
tioning £5000, because they would probably get a larger
.sum than if they only mentioned £2000. The effort put
forward would be greater when the larger sum was
named. Still it might be desirable to simply carry out
the resolution which stood on the minutes. He should
like, if possible, to infuse a little zeal into the meeting in
the attempt they were about to make. Once in the
nearly history of the Association he remembered remarking
that a very low body in the social scale, even the cats’
meat men, had a sort of benevolent fund, and some
organization by which they could operate for their own
benefit: the publicans, the bakers, dairymen and others,
had their trade societies, and he believed it would be
found that the sum at their bankers 'was very much
larger than that the Association was possessed of. If
•the Executive were to feel at ease, and free to take
important steps as occasion may require, they must feel
that they had something to depend upon. It was very
irksome when they had to consider whether a case should
be taken up, to have to send out a circular appealing for
funds. They ought to be able to put their hands in their
pockets at once, and he felt quite certain, there were
many gentlemen in the trade who ought to give £10, and
.some who ought to give £100 to the Association.

Mr. Pollard said he must support the amendment on
the ground that it was desirable to preserve contact with
the constituency. If Antseus did not sometimes touch
the ground he was in danger of being strangled.

Mr. Wade feared from some remarks which had been
made that the idea might be abroad that the enemy had
been scotched or killed, and too much faith would be
placed in the idea that there was an end of these prose¬
cutions. He was afraid it was only the beginning of
them, although for the present there might be a pause,
and there might not have been many occasions on which
it was necessary to defend druggists during the last
twelve months, still, he was not sanguine that there
would not be very many cases to defend during the next
year ortwo, and that they would not want funds to do it.
It would take all the spirit and energy out of the Com¬
mittee if they did not feel they had the whole of the
trade at their back to support them. When it went
forth that there was no fear of further prosecutions, but
that the inspectors were all afraid of their officers, he
feared it would make chemists think there was no longer
any necessity of contributing to the funds, and therefoie
he would rather put forth the other view, and let che¬
mists understand that any one might be called upon at
any moment and have to pay legal expenses out of his
own pocket unless he had that Association to help him.
He could only look forward to the success of this move¬
ment by making a selfish appeal to men s own interests.
He must say he approved of Mr. Hampson s idea, which
was something in the Joseph Hume style, to ask for
double as much as you want, in order to get as much as

you could. , .

Mr. Andrews said he should like to ask everyone here
what he had done in his own circle. He had not a single
friend in the trade who was not a member of the Asso-

Mr. Jervis said one gentleman had remarked that this
scheme would cut both ways. He wished to remind
him that those who came from Sheffield were accustomed
to make weapons which did cut both ways ; they made
guns to smash armour plates and they made armoui
plates that guns could not smash ; but one thing that all
the people of Sheffield tried to make was money. The
sooner they had a balance at their bankers, the sooner
they would be in a sound position.

Mr. Ellinor thought it was desirable to get as much as
they could. If £1600 could be raised in one year there
was no doubt that in a few years £5000 could be raised.
If they could not get £5000 let them get as much as they
could, but at any rate let them have a reserve fund.

Mr. Haydon suggested that perhaps the views of the
mover and seconder of the resolution and of the amend¬
ment might be met by a slight alteration of the wording.
They might simply ask the Executive to take steps to
raise an amount, say £5000, or such other sum as they
might think advisable.

Mr. Mackenzie said if they would say £2000 or such
other sum as they might think it advisable, he would
agree to it.

Mr. Stead thought £2000 was a preferable sum ; they
would put themselves in a wrong position if they added
to the prior resolution. It was much better to call on
the Committee to make a strenuous effort to carry out
the resolution carried at the Annual Meeting in 1878.
Chemists and druggists were not a wealthy body, for the
vast majority were struggling to make a living.

The Chairman suggested that the amendment might be
put in this form: — “That the Executive Committee be
requested to make the amount £2000 and to maintain it
so that they should always have a reserve fund of £2000.”
It was patent to all that going on in the way they were
doing they were living on their capital to a very great ex¬
tent. The law expenses had been very small this year,
but notwithstanding all their efforts to keep down ex¬
penses they could not live on their natural income and
had to encroach on the capital. If it were a recommen¬
dation to raise £2000, and keep it at £2000 it would
meet all the requirements.

Mr. Stead then moved another amendment : — “ That
the Executive Committee be called upon to make a
strenuous effort to carry out the resolution standing on
the books and bring the reserve fund to £2000.”

Mr. Harrison said that was just the effect of the
amendment.

Mr. Ellinor then said he would adopt the amendment.

Mr. Maltbv was surprised at the modesty of some
gentlemen in only asking for £2000. They got £1600 in
one year when they only asked for £2000, and that
augured well for the probabilities of raising £5000 if they
put their shoulders to the wheel. If they attempted to
raise it in one year their efforts would be futile, but he
should prefer that the resolution be worded somewhat in
this way: — “ That it is desirable to raise a fund of £5000,
and that it be left to the Executive Committee to carry
out measures for the purpose.”

Mr. Whittle seconded the amendment.

After some further discussion was it resolved unani¬
mously that the Executive Committee be requested to take
steps to raise and maintain a guarantee fund of £2000
for the purposes decided at the Annual Meeting in 1878.

The Chairman wished to remind members that this
amount would not be raised simply by talking about it,
he hoped the Association would strengthen the hands of
the Executive Committee in carrying out the resolution.

The Scrutineers then reported the result of the poll for

offiers, as follows : —

Mr. Thomas Barclajr, President.

Mr. Robert Hampson, Vice-President.

Mr. William Southall, Treasurer.

Mr. T. W. Holds worth, Honorary Secretary.

The Chairman, in thanking the meeting for the vote
which they had passed, said he felt it a great responsi¬
bility ; but he had wished that Mr. Hampson should take
the duties of President this year, and it was only on that
gentleman declining to do so that he allowed his name to
stand. However, the time, he hoped, would soon come
when the change he had suggested would take place, when
the Association would have for its chief officer a gentleman
who would do it credit and whose heart had before them
always beaten truly in the interests of the trade. The
Association had entered on another year and they had
a considerable amount of work. All looked smooth at
present, but those on the Executive Committee knew what
responsibility pressed upon them and anticipated that they
would have to use their best endeavours to maintain the
integrity of the trade and uphold its interests in many

980'

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 21, 1881.

ways. During the past year they had endeavoured to
protect chemists by all legitimate means. Whilst the
last Annual Meeting was sitting, it was stated that a
Mr. Wilkinson was attacked on the question of apothe¬
caries’ weights, and they at once took measures to defend
him. Mr. Chamberlain’s attention was drawn to the
matter, and the result was that the circular was sent out,
which had been of great service to chemists throughout
the country. With regard to the Pharmacy Bill, that had
not yet been launched ; but recognizing the responsibility
attaching to the Association with regard to the Royal Com¬
mission on the Medical Acts, which might include the
discussion of other subjects, the Executive had sent
out a number of inquiries as to the condition of phar¬
macy in other countries in order to obtain definite infor¬
mation. There was a considerable amount of information
on the subject, but when they wanted chapter and verse,
scarcely anybody knew anything about it. A good deal
of very valuable information had now been received,,
which he trusted would help them in future legislation.
The inquiries were made with regard to such questions as
the amount of education required, the curriculum of
education, the International Pharmacopoeia, the sale
of secret remedies, the relation of medical men t©
pharmacy, the legality of persons not being quali¬
fied in engaging in the business of pharmacy in part¬
nership with those who were qualified, and so on;
and a great number of answers had been received, some
of which he read to the meeting. Of course it did
not follow that the conditions which regulated pharmacy
abroad could all be applied to this country, but he
thought it was wise to get as much information as
possible so that they might in some way or other be able
to use it when the time of trial came. There was not
much chance, he thought, of the Medical Act Amend¬
ment Bill passing at present, but the Executive were
watching it and would do their best to prevent its
becoming law in its present form. One of the provisions
would deprive chemists of the right to use the words
“ Dispensing ” or “ Medical Hall” on their premises ; and
ttiis was a point on which some difference of opinion
prevailed, but they were all. of opinion that the Act of 1815,
should not be abrogated without some provision being
made in its place to protect the rights of chemists. He
should like to know whether it was the opinion of the
meeting that the Executive should endeavour to repre¬
sent it before the Royal Commission.

Mr. Hampson also thanked the meeting for having
chosen him as their second best man in the Society.
With regard to the Pharmacy Bill, the report stated that
the Executive had virtually accepted the Bill as pro¬
posed by the Pharmaceutical Society, and he was glad it
was so, because the only chance of carrying the Bill
through was in their being perfectly Unanimous, and not
attempting anything of a quixotic nature. The main
principle which the Bill attempted to carry out was
perfectly clear. It was an attempt to repair a certain
imperfection which was found to exist in the present Act,
and to bring co-operative stores and limited liability
companies more especially within the law. There was
another very important advance which the Society at¬
tempted to make in promoting .pharmacy, viz., to enact
that no person should keep a shop for the purpose of
dispensing physicians’ prescriptions unless he was quali¬
fied. He believed that if the principle of past legislation
was good, they might safely ask for this extra privilege.
Whatever might come of the Bill in the future, he hoped
the Society would be found working heartily with the
Pharmaceutical Society in carrying it forward. They
would remember the difficulty which existed in 1868;
when they Were clashing interests, and when they had to
have a patchwork Bill, which was now found wanting.
He believed that if that Association were in earnest, and
the Pharmaceutical Society also, the Bill was safe. They
must throw as much enthusiasm into the work as. pos¬
sible, and then when the Bill came before the House

they would be able to bring sufficient pressure to bear
and give sufficient reason to members of Parliament to
enable them to carry the Bill through successfully.

Mr. Holdsworth also returned thanks, saying he was
now the oldest officer of the Association. If his office
involved any great responsibility or was anything more
than what it was called, viz., an honorary office, he most
certainly should have declined to accept it for another
year, but as it only involved a certain amount of work
being done in the Central Department, Birmingham, and
as he happened to be on the spot, he was glad to render
such services as he could there.

Mr. Radley said he had great pleasure in reciprocating
the remarks of the Chairman, and as he was present at
the inauguration of the Association, he might be allowed
to express the pleasure he felt in seeing how it kept up its-
interest. His opinion was that if the £2000 effort were
to be successful a larger field required to be cultivated.
He hoped the Association would take some steps with
reference to the Royal Commission in defence of the
ancient rights of chemists and druggists to prescribe in
simple cases.

Mr. Mackenzie said that members might do a great
deal of good by writing special letters themselves to their
own members of Parliament when the Bill came before
the House.

Mr. Ward (Sheffield) asked if there were any local se¬
cretaries in connection with the Association.

The Chairman said every member of the General Com¬
mittee was a local secretary ex officio.

Mr. Ward (Sheffield) full endorsed the pointed remarks
made by Mr. Hampson with regard to the friendly feeling .
which should exist between the Association and the Phar¬
maceutical Society; He thought that the sooner they
dispensed with such titles as “Medical Hall” and “Dis¬
pensary” the better.

Mr. Urwick thoroughly endorsed what Mr. Mackenzie
had said, and thought that the sooner they dropped such
titles as had been referred to the better.

Mr. Kerr (Dundee) moved: — “That the Executive
Committee be authorized to take such steps as they deem
desirable to place the claims of the chemists and drug¬
gists before the Royal Commission on the Medical Act.”

Mr. Wade seconded the motion, and said many
members of the Executive Committee were also members
of the Pharmaceutical Council, and as they were all
agreed he thought they had better leave it to them.

The resolution was then put and carried.

Mr. Harrison moved a vote of thanks to the Executive
Committee and Officers for their work during the past,
year which was carried unanimously, and the meeting ,
separated.

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authentic
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

Testing of Olive Oil.

Sir, — In his artiole on olive oil, in the last number of the
Pharmaceutical Journal', Mr. Conroy appears to us to be
unaware that the test he describes is, in a slightly modified
form, well known as Hanchecorne’s.

We may add that in the course of a large number of
experiments instituted for the purpose of establishing a
reliable scheme for the detection and estimation of the
adulterations of commercial oils, we have (as far as we
know) been the first to remark that Hanchecorne’s reagent
it a still more delicate test for mineral than for seed oils.
i _ _ P. W. and A-. F; Stoddart.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Field, Haydon, Hicking, Jeffery, Ferrum, Aqua,
Puzzled, Provincial, Elgina, Medicus, Pill Driver, 374,
HA), A. B. C.y J> M» J.

May 28, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

981

“ THE MONTH.”

It is only now, when the trees are bursting into
beauty everywhere, that one notices what damage
the recent severe winter has done to half-hardy
shrubs and trees, and their bare and leafless
branches, covered, in the case of evergreens, with
brown and withered leaves, look as unseasonable as
the skull at the Egyptian feasts. The welcome rain
in the earlier part of the month, and the absence of
cold winds and frost, will, however, probably ensure
a plenteous autumn, the mulberry trees in particular
being loaded with blossom this year.

In the Herbaceous Ground at Kew, a number of
medicinal plants may now be seen in bloom. The
delicate bluish- white flowers of the Florentine iris,
and the dark violet-blue ones of the Iris Germanica,
planted near together, form a pleasing contrast
The pretty little Viola pedata , official in the Ameri¬
can Pharmacopoeia, and remarkable for its pedatisect
leaves, is now in full blossom, and the broom is one
mass of gold.

In the Umbelliferous bed, Carum Carui and Arch¬
angelica officinalis represent the order, and in the
Ranunculacese bed there are numerous specimens
of Podophyllum peltatum whose flowers are almost
concealed by the luxuriant leaves. Of the rarer
British plants, Meum athamanticum, Anemone Pul¬
satilla, Trollius europceus, Geranium phceum, Cypripe-
dium Galceolus, Euphorbia cyparissias, and the singu¬
lar little mousetail ( Myosurus minimus ) may now be

seen in blossom.

In the country the pastures have been white with
the blossom of Cardamine pratensis, and in some
localities the double flowers have been met with in
abundance. In this plant the double character of
the blossoms appears to be due, not as in the butter¬
cup (a specimen of which has been sent by a corre¬
spondent during the past month), to the alteration
of the stamens into petals, but, like the daffodil, to a,
series of flowers growing one inside the other, as if
an excess of nourishment had something to do with
the unusual development, or as if each ovule had
developed into a flower. The various causes which
lead to the formation of these flowers do not appear
to be thoroughly understood as yet, at all events in

this country.

Arum maculatum is such a common plant that
it is only when a case of poisoning occurs from
eating it, that one is surprised such cases do not
more often happen. In the British Medical Journal ,
p. 668, a fatal case of poisoning by this plant is
recorded. It is remarkable that so little is known
of the poison contained in this plant, or of its medi¬
cinal action. In a subsequent number of the same
journal, Dr. Murrell points out that the corm was the
active ingredient in the vaunted Portland powder, a
so-called specific for gout, and that it was official in
the London Pharmacopoeia of 1788, in the form of
a conserve made in the proportion of 1 part of the
fresh root to 1J of double refined sugar, which was
given in doses of a drachm to adults. It is still used
by herbalists in the same disease.^

The inflorescence of this plant is worthy of exami¬
nation. The flowers are proterogynous, the pistil ma¬
turing before the anthers, and although the stamens
are placed above the stigmas, the latter are withered
and incapable of fertilization by the time the pollen is
shed. The fringe of hairs which closes the mouth
of the tube points downwards, and prevents the
small insects which pass below it into the cavity of
Third Series, No. 570.

the spathe from returning until the maturity of the
stigma is over, when the stigmas each secrete a drop
of honey, the pollen ripens and falls on the insects,
and soon after the hairs become flaccid and allow
them to escape. Above the ordinary stamens there
are barren ones and sterile stigmas above the pro¬
ductive ones.

Among the plants now in flower at the Royal
Gardens at Kew, in the Economic House, is a speci¬
men of the Sium Helenianum, or angelica of St.
Helena, known to the natives as “ Jelico.” The stems
of this plant are brought to the market like bits of
bamboo, and are eaten raw by the natives. It is re¬
markable for having been found only in ravines
which traverse the sides of Diana’s Peak in the
island of St. Helena, where it grows in company
with cabbage trees and ferns ( Gardeners ’ Chronicle,
May 21, p. 663).

The winter-bark tree is also now freely in blossom
in the winter garden. In the orchid house the
singular flowers of the Sarracenias are now in full
bloom, and their structure can easily be observed,
the stigma being visible in the form of a projection,
not much larger than a pin’s head, on the under
surface near the extremity of each lobe of the um¬
brella-shaped style, which occupies the whole of the
centre of the flower. Although the leaves are fur¬
nished with contrivances, in the shape of honey-
secreting glands, to lure insects inside the pitchers,
and with others to prevent their exit, and with
others again by which apparently the manure
afforded by their decay can be absorbed, yet an
excess of insects in the pitchers causes the latter to
decay, and thu3 they are classed by Mr. Boulger as
hemi-saphophytes rather than as carnivorous plants,
there being no antiseptic digestive juice present, as
in drosera, etc. Mr. W. G. Smith has recently ob¬
served that in a saturated atmosphere and in a strong
light the petals rise and thus take a part in per¬
mitting the ingress and egress of insects. Some en¬
gravings of the flowers and much interesting informa¬
tion on the genus may be found in the Gardeners ’

Chronicle, May 14, pp. 627, 633.

One of our native plants, which grows near
rivulets and streams, in woods and meadows, and
now just coming into flower — (Enanthe crocata —
is one which should be known to all engaged in
pharmacy, on account of the dangerous nature of the
poison it contains in the root This is furnished
with four or five white tubers, which somewhat re¬
semble parsnips, and are, unfortunately, sweet to the
taste As it bears some resemblance in foliage, and
grows in similar places to wild celery, it was recently
mistaken for that plant by some Greek sailors at
Plymouth, one of whom died in five hours from
eatin" a tuber and a half. The account given in
the Lancet, May 21, 1881, p. 823, is instructive, as it
points out (1) that the exact physiological action of
this common plant is unknown; (2) that a sailor,
who ate the leaves only, recovered after drinking a
quarter of a pint of rum ; (3) that profuse bronchial
mucus is a prominent symptom, and that the hearts
action was slowed. These details seem to indicate

belladonna or atropine as a probable antidote and it

may be hoped that anti-vivisectiomsts will not object
to experiments being made on animals with this
poison in order to find an antidote with which to
save human life. Homceopathists, too, might take
the hint, and try it in minute doses m chronic
bronchitis, if they have not already done so.

982

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 28, 1881.

A circular recently received from the United
Kingdom Botanical Exchange Society indicates the
probability of a society being formed, whose objects
will be looked upon with some misgiving by many
hotanists. The society proposes —

“Eirst. To obtain specimens of the flora of various
districts, so that each member may procure any particular
one he may require.

“ Second. To collect seeds from plants that are rare or
local, distributing them among members for propagation
in suitable soils and localities, throughout the length and
breadth of the country, thus extending their growth over
a far wider area, and preventing their entire annihilation.

“Third. To send seedlings, young plants, medicinal
plants, ferns, etc., as far as may be practicable, to any
member desiring them, that through such transmission
he may introduce them into neighbourhoods where they
otherwise would never have appeared.”

The definition of the first object seems to avow
ignorance of the existence of the Botanical Exchange
Club, which has been successfully carried on during
the past ten or more years.

The second and third propositions, if carried out,
will render futile any future attempts at obtaining a
knowledge of the natural geographical distribution
©f plants in Great Britain, and would make Watson’s
grand ‘ Cybele Britannica ’ a dead letter.

Our rare wild plants are becoming exterminated to
a certain extent, and there is good scope for a society
to prevent their extinction by carefully sowing the
seeds of these plants in their natural habitats, so that
the ruthless depredations of collectors may be ren¬
dered harmless. Unfortunately, many so-called
botanists are mere collectors, and provided they get
good specimens of rare plants in their own collection
care little about the extinction of the plants them¬
selves. The society also proposes to induce pharma-
casts to test the medicinal value of our rare plants,
and to acclimatize foreign medicinal and other
plants. The energy of young botanists would be far
better expended in recording the variations of our
common plants under different conditions of soil,
climate and altitude, and in observing their relations
to insects, their various modes of propagation, etc.,
and, in short, doing the work of a true naturalist,
which is to observe and reveal Nature’s secrets, but
not to attempt to traverse her laws of geographical
distribution.

The explosive character of the anthers of Pane-
tana has already been alluded to in these columns.
These organs have been examined by E. Askenasy,
who finds that the outer side of the filament is
covered with transverse ridges lying close to one
another. The cause of the sudden straightening of
the filament and discharge of the pollen in Parietaria
erecta depends, according to this author, on the
development of the compressed elastic turgescent
tissue of the filament itself.

Pringsheim’s researches on chlorophyll have
frequently been alluded to, but it may not be out
of place to sum up the researches as far as they have
gone. These may be stated as follows. Contrary to
the usual opinion, chlorophyll is not directly instru¬
mental in decomposing carbonic acid, but acts as a
regulator of respiration by absorbing the chemical
rays of light and preventing the oxidation of the
carbon compounds from exceeding the assimilation of
carbon. Chlorophyll corpuscles are sponge-like
porous bodies, whose pores are filled with oily
matter, in which the green pigment is dissolved.

This oily matter generally contains hypochlorine,
the mother substance of the carbohydrates, and this
is protected from too rapid oxidation by the chloro¬
phyll. Hypochlorine is a powerful solvent of
chlorophyll and is always present in the green parts
of plants. It is the only product that phanerogamic
plants cannot form without the aid of light in the
course of their . germination, and is probably an
immediate product of the decomposition of carbonic
acid and serves to support respiration. The absorp¬
tion of oxygen increases in proportion to the
chemical power of the light, .and, unless protected
by the chlorophyll, the hypochlorine would be
destroyed by excess of light causing excessive oxida¬
tion ( Gardeners' Chronicle , May 14, 1881, p. 635).
This view of the action of chlorophyll seems to
be corroborated by the fact that while the thin
leaves of plants growing in deep shade, such as Oxalis
Acetosella , Mercurialis perennis, etc., have scarcely
any of the palisade tissue, full of chlorophyll, so
common in the horizontal leaves exposed to the
sunlight, in phyllodes and vertical leaves the
palisade cells are equally developed on both sides
of the leaf. In the spongy parenchyma in the
lower surface of horizontal leaves the chlorophyll
granules occupy a position parallel with the surface
of the leaf, but in an intense light they take up a
profile position, which is that always occupied by
the granules in the palisade cells.

One of the questions most frequently asked by
students who read about the fertilization of the
ovule, is, how do the pollen tubes reach the
micropyle? According to recent investigations by
M. Detmar, this is effected in several different
ways. In Daphne Mezereum , the conducting tissue
of the style projects in the form of a cone into
almost immediade contact with the ovule. In the
Compositae the conducting tissue of the style is
continued in the form of two parietal lines of .
mucilaginous cells on the inside of the ovary, meeting
beneath the basilar anatropous ovule. In Plumba-
gineae the long coiled funiculus brings the micro¬
pyle of the anatropous ovule immediately beneath
the base of the styles from which, as in Daphne
Mezereum , a cone of conducting tissue descends
nearly to the ovule. In Eicinus , the trifid con¬
ducting canal of the style opens into the three loculi
just above the insertion of the ovules, so that the
pollen tube is conducted straight to the funiculus,
which is swollen on the upper side and covered
with papillae that project in a tuft above the
micropyle. In Linum usitatissimum and Citrus
Aurantium similar arrangements occur. In Ver -
bascum Thapsus a conspicuous mucilaginous layer
overlays both placentae and funiculi. In ovaries
with free central placentation, as in Lychnis vesper-
tina, in which there are four rows of campylotropous
ovules, and the micropyles in each pair of rows
face each other, there are two conducting bands
between the rows bearing mucilaginous papillae.
In Primula elatior and Anagallis arvensis , a cone of
conducting tissue projects from the free central
placenta into the stylar canal. In Acorus Calamus
the upper margin of the integuments near the
micropyle is developed into a long papilla. In
Arum maculatum, in which the single parietal
placenta bears four to six orthotropous ovules,
a short canal extends from the style into the cavity
of the ovary, round the mouth of which and
covering the placenta are uni- or multicellular

i

May 28, 1881.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

983

papillae of various length. From these papillae at
the time of blossoming a mucilage is developed which
surrounds the mouth of the canal and the ovules,
reaching to the micropyle. In Euphorbia, helio-
scopia the papillae temporarily contain, starch grains
and the nucellus projects into the micropyle and
is in immediate contact with the papillae. The
pollen tube is thus directed on itsjsvay by papillae,
which nourish it by their amyloid or mucilaginous
contents, and its conduction to the micropyle is
therefore purely a mechanical phenomenon.

In most botanical text-books it is stated that the
boundary line between the animal and vegetable
kingdoms is by no means well defined, and that such
is still the case is evident from the discussion at
present taking place in certain scientific journals
Concerning the Myxomycetes, hitherto classed among
the fungi. In the Popular Science Review for
April, p. 112, Mr. Saville Kent brings forward
evidence to show that, “these organisms have
nothing whatever to do with fungi, but are
rightly referable to the protozoic division of the
animal series.” Dr. M. C. Cooke, on the other
hand, writing in Grevillea , refuses to part with them
from the group of fungi. Mr. Kent states that
he has seen the protoplasmic spheres ultimately
become amoeboid and flagellate, and extruded from
the spores of the fungus ; that carmine and bacteria
are both ingested by the amoe biform units, and
that the Myxomycetes differ only from the flagel¬
late infusori in the fact that the final act, that of
encystment, is accomplished by a mass of units
coalescing into a colossal spore receptacle or sporan¬
gium. He therefore designates them Mycetozoa
rather than Myxogasters, and compares the capil-
litium, or horny rete, to the keratose skeleton of
certain sponges, while the stellate calcareous crystals
scattered over the outer wall of the sporangium are
likened to the extra-cellular spicules of the sponges,
the raphides of plants being, in his opinion, charac¬
teristically intra-cellular.

On the other hand, in a paper read at the Royal
Horticultural Society ( Garden , April 30, p. 458), the
author stated his belief that bacteria or euglsena
give rise to the potato fungus. He placed on a
patch of cooked potatoes some fluid containing
euglsena, and after keeping at a temperature of 60
or 70°, some fungus appeared in seven days, and
after a fortnight the Phytophthora infestans was de¬
veloped.

It would seem to be a difficult thing to cut sections
of a diatom. Mr. U. Pring, however, has succeeded
in doing this by making thin slices of a diatomaceous
rock from Nykjobing, in Jutland, and his observa¬
tions relate chiefly to three species, in two of which
( Coscinodiscus oculus-iridis and Trinacria Regina)
he finds that the markings of the valves are true
alveoli, traversing the thickness of the outer layer,
and terminating against the inner one, which is also
perforated by similar apertures.

According to a statement in New Remedies , May,
1881, p. 131, M. Fleischen finds that the yield of
tannin is greater in oak bark grown on peaty soils
than in that grown in sandy loam.

In the same publication, p. 138, it is said that the
culture of the olive in California promises well, and
seems as well adapted to the climate ol the Pacific
coasts as the native oak, that it grows faster, and
bears earlier than in Europe, and that at the age of
eight years good returns are expected, a six-year-old

tree having been found to yield as much as a gallon
of fruit.

In the Mich. Med. News, Dr. H. M. Hurd, states
that he has tried cocculus indicus in cases of
confirmed epilepsy with good results, the number
and severity of the attacks being almost invariably
reduced and the intellectual activity improved,
rather than diminished as it so often is by the use of
bromides. It appears to answer best where the
patient is otherwise in good health and the con¬
vulsive attacks are attended with mania. In the
Virginia Med. Monthly , Drs. A. U. Wiseman and
W. S. Crump record cases of epilepsy treated with
gelsemium, in which the fits ceased soon after the
treatment and did not recur again for several
months.

In the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, Dr. C.
R. S. Curtis recommends the use of a decoction of
the leaves of the black walnut ( Juglans nigra) in
diphtheria ; the improvement in each case is said to
have been rapid, the oedema subsiding and the ash-
coloured spots disappearing. He was led to experi¬
ment with the leaves from having seen Juglans
nigra recommended by Professor Nelaton in his
‘ Elements de Pathologie chirurgicale,’

Mr. R. H. Firth, of Blackport, writing to the
Lancet, confirms Dr. Lee’s statement of the efficacy
of carbolic acid in the treatment of whooping cough,
which Mr. Firth cured in his own person by inhaling
carbolic spray for five minutes at a time, without the
use of any other medicine.

Dr. A. H. L. Hamilton has recently remarked in
the Lancet that the tribasic phosphate of silver may
be given with advantage in place of other silver
salts, as its administration is not attended by the
gastric irritability that often attends the use of
nitrate of silver or phosphide of zinc, while it can be
given in doses of ^ to ^ grain for months without
causing discoloration of the skin.

In the Lyon Medicate (December 19, 1880),
Weiser recommends the use of nitrite of amyl as a
disinfectant and preservative of urine, and states
that it is preferable to carbolic acid, as it does not
interfere with the tests for albumen.

It is stated in the Lancet that the oil of eucalyptus
is being used by Professor Lister, in combination with
dammar resin and paraffin, to impregnate gauze for
antiseptic purposes.

In a recent paper in the Practitioner , Dr. G-.
Oliver states that certain of the natural Harrogate
waters, such as the “Old sulphur” and “Chloride
of iron,” owe their efficacy to the presence of small
quantities of chloride of barium, which in these
natural solutions does not cause that irritation of
the mucous membrane of the throat and stomach and
sensation of dryness on the palate which the soluble
salts of barium, even when largely diluted, are apt to
produce when given in ordinary water. As a
vascular tonic, in the treatment of some cases of
scrofula where iodine is of little use, and in some
forms of eczema, Dr. Oliver thinks the use of these
waters containing barium chloride of considerable

service. .

According to information lately received from
British Guiana ( Gardeners' Chronicle , May 14, p.
635), salicylic acid is being largely used in the
manufacture of sugar to keep the juice from
fermenting. Cane juice, which in its natural state
would ferment in a couple of hours, can be kept for
days perfectly sweet, and much of the lime hitherto

984

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 28, 1S81.

used can be dispensed with, which would allow the
bright yellow colour of the juice to be retained.

A simple method of preparing iodoform bougies
with cacao butter is described by Mr. Rogers ( Ganad .
Phcirm. Journ. for May). It consists in melting the
cacao butter to the consistence of cream, mixing the
ingredients, and pouring the mixture into a piece of
glass tubing of the calibre required, corked at one
end. When cold the bougie may be easily pushed
out of the mould.

Podophyllum resin has been the subject of a very
thorough investigation by Dr. Valerian Podwissotzki,
and his report, which is in course of publication in
the Pharmaceutische ZeitschriH f. Russland, points to
results somewhat different from those obtained by pre¬
vious observers. He considers the ordinary product
obtained by precipitating an alcoholic extract of
podophyllum root to be a mixture of various sub¬
stances, and in this respect comparable to opium.
By separation of fatty and colouring matters he ob¬
tained an amorphous resinous substance, which he
found to possess all the active medicinal properties
of the drug ; this purified product he proposes to call
“ podophy llotoxin,” leaving the name “ podophy llin”
to the crude precipitated substance. Podophyllo-
toxin, in its turn, is said to be separable into a bitter
crystalline acid (pikropodophyllic acid) and a bitter
crystalline neutral body (pikropodophyllin), both of
which are medicinally active, and an amorphous acid
resin (podophyllic acid) which is inert. The colour¬
ing; matter has also been obtained in a crystalline
form ; but notwithstanding that it is usually looked
upon as a criterion by which to judge the quality
of the resin, Herr Podwissotzky finds it to be devoid
©f medicinal activity. This colouring substance has
been assigned the name “ podophy lloquercetin,” as
indicating its chemical properties.

Some further cases of poisoning by the fruit of
lllicium religiosum are reported from Japan, five
children having been found lying, convulsed and
foaming at the mouth, in the public park in Uyeno,
in the neighbourhood of some fruit-bearing plants.
Notwithstanding that medical aid was obtained,
three of the children died soon afterwards, whilst the
other two rapidly recovered. As a consequence,
Professor Eykman, of the University of Tokio, was
requested by the Japanese Government to make an
investigation as to the poisonous principle in this
kind of star-anise (known as “Shikimi”), and he has
described his results in an exhaustive and important
memoir, of which a translation will appear shortly
in this Journal. It will be sufficient now to say
that he reports having separated from the seeds of
Rlicium religiosum an extremely poisonous crystal¬
line substance, which he has provisionally named
w sikimine.”

Under the commercial name of “ essence de lin-
aloes,” an essential oil has recently heen introduced
into Europe from French Guiana, for perfumery
purposes, which notwithstanding the similarity in
name is a different product from the lignaloe oil
imported from Mexico. The latter, as formerly
shown by Mr. Collins ( Pharm . Journ., [2], x., 590),
is derived from the “citron wood” of Mexico,
probably a species of Amyris. The Guiana product
is, on the other hand, obtained from the wood of the
“ licari kanali,” the “female rose” or “white cedar”
of the French colony, which has been referred to a
species of Acrodiclidium, a Lauarceous genus. Ac¬
cording to M. Morin ( Gomptes Rendus , xcii., 998) the

oil of licari, as met with in commerce, is a limpid
slightly coloured liquid, lighter than water, pos¬
sessing an agreeable aromatic odour, recalling the
smell of the rose and citron together, and burning with
a smoky flame. When freed from a small quantity of
water that it usually contains it has a density of
0868 at 15° C., boils regularly at 198° C. with a
pressure of 775 mm., and has a levogyre action on
polarized light. Further, it is soluble in alcohol,
ether and glycerine. A chemical examination shows
that its elementary composition, like that of oil of
cajuput, is identical with the composition of Borneo
comphor (C10H18O), and that it can yield by dehydra¬
tion a carbide of hydrogen having the formula C10H16.

The discovery of Professor Selmi as to the forma¬
tion of poisonous alkaloids, which he calls ptomaines,
in the human body after death, has introduced a
considerable element of doubt into the subject of
post-mortem examinations, and it has been alleged
that in respect to a recent conviction for poisoning
in Italy the experts mistook one of these ptomaines
for delphinine. A convenient means of distinguish¬
ing between the two classes of alkaloids would
therefore be of great value. According to Messrs.
Brouardel and Boutmy ( Comptes Rendus, xcii., 1056),
such a reagent is available in potassium ferrocyanide,
which in the presence of all the vegetable alkaloids
they have been able to try, with the exception of
morphia and perhaps veratria, remains unaffected,
but in the presence -of a ptomaine is converted into
ferricyanide, forming prussian blue with salts of iron.
The method of procedure recommended is to convert
the base extracted from the corpse into sulphate and
place a few drops of a solution of the salt on a watch-
glass containing a small quantity of dissolved ferro¬
cyanide. If upon the addition of a drop of neutral
chloride of iron there is a formation of prussian blue,
all the vegetable alkaloids (with the exception of the
two named) are excluded. Like the ptomaines, how¬
ever, morphia acts freely upon the ferrocyanide, with
a production of prussian blue ; the veratria experi¬
mented upon gave only traces of the reaction, and
this result the authors think may have been due to
the presence of some impurities.

M. Armand Bertrand reports (Mon. Scientijique ,
[3], vol. xi., p. 493), that when a current of hydriodic
acid is passed into anhydrous bromal or chloral a
double decomposition takes place, hydrobromic or
hydrochloric acid being given off and iodal formed,
according to the equation C2HC130 + 3HI=
C2HI30 + 3HC1. Upon dissolving this product in
water and saturating with potash, iodoform is
obtained. M. Bertrand criticizes the statement of
Dorvault, in 4 L’Officine,’ that iodal is a well-known
body, boiling at 25° C., which has been tried as an
anaesthetic. This, he says, has had its origin in the
acceptance as a fact of some particulars which
Gerhardt gives as quite doubtful. This is hardly
all the truth, for different experimenters have claimed
to have prepared iodal as an oily liquid, boiling at
110° to 115°, whilst Schoonbroodt obtained, by the
treatment of alcoholic solution of iodine with potas¬
sium hypochlorite, crystals which in contact with
alkalies were decomposed into formic acid and iodo¬
form, and were supposed to be iodal. M. Bertrand
does not appear to hav ) given any details as to the
physical properties of the iodal prepared by himself,
so that a comparison cannot at present be made in
this respect between it and the products obtained by
earlier experimenters.

May 28, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

985

A compound of iodoform and strychnine, contain- that an evaporated alcoholic extract had been used
ing 1 molecule of strychnine to 3 of iodoform, and seemed to exclude the introduction of the lime salt
represented by the formula (C21H22N202)3CHI3 has, from that source, and eventually he was induced to
been recently described by M. Lextrait ( Comptes seek an explanation in the lead salts that had been
Rendus , xcii., 1057). It is said to be best obtained used as precipitants of colouring matter, resin, etc.
by dissolving 5 parts of crystallized iodoform and He found that specimens of litharge from three dif-
12 parts of strychnine in 500 parts of 85 per cent, ferent sources, when boiled in water, filtered, the
alcohol at a temperature a little below the boiling liquid treated with sulphuretted hydrogen and the
point ; the solution becomes decolorized, and upon solution evaporated, yielded crystals of sulphate of
being allowed to cool in a closed vessel deposits lime amounting to from 0'35 to 1T5 per cent.,
long prismatic crystals, which are removed, washed whilst specimens of acetate of lead yielded a still
with a little alcohol, placed between blotting paper larger proportion. M. SchlagdenhaufFen considers
and dried rapidly, protected from light or air. the sulphate of lime to be an impurity derived in
The compound is very unstable, being gradually the process of manufacture, rather than an inten-
decomposed by light with the liberation of iodine, tional adulterant, but points out the necessity that
It is decomposed at a temperature of 90°, and hot chemists engaged in the investigation of the con-
water decomposes it, the iodoform distilling off and stituent principles of plants should exclude this
leaving a residue of strychnine. Acids set free the source of error.

iodoform and form salts of strychnine. It is also As mentioned some time since the United States
partially dissociated by alcohol. It is insoluble in Pharmacopoeia Committee has decided to recommend
water, hot or cold, slightly soluble in 98 per cent, the official adoption, under the name “ saxolinum,”
alcohol, and freely soluble in ether and chloroform, of a hydrocarbon compound, to represent the nu-
but the solutions soon become coloured. Quinine merous mixtures of paraffins that have become so
appears to form an analogous compound, but the popular with dispensers. That the name suggested
author only' succeeded in obtaining it in a gelatinous should be criticized might be expected, and the
form, containing an excess of quinine. Pharmacist objects to the latter part of it on the

According to Fraude ( Berichte , xiv., 319) the ground that the substance is not, chemically speak-
genuineness of a specimen of Aspidosperma Quebracho- ing, an oil; but with curious inconsistency it pre-
blanco bark may be determined by boiling 5 grams of sently recommends the form “ petrolardum,” where
the powdered bark for five minutes in 25 c.c. of very the latter part is the Latin word, for lard or fat.
light petroleum spirit, filtering while hot and shaking Many of the difficulties and doubts which beset

the coloured extract with 10 c.c. of dilute sulphuric the pharmacist in his dispensing experience are such
acid ; then, after separating the sulphate solution as need not have anv existence and would not if the
from the petroleum spirit, decomposing with am- prescriber would try to consider prescriptions more
monia and shaking with ether, heating the ethereal from a dispenser’s point of view than is frequently
solution in a test tube and boiling the residue with the case. Some time ago an attempt was made to
solution of perchloric acid, or, in the absence of this, secure the adoption of a sign to mark large doses
treating with a little water and a few drops of con- of powerful drugs, but the result was hardly en-
centrated sulphuric acid, and after the addition of a couraging. According to the Medical Times and
small quantity of potassium chlorate, boiling for a Gazette, in Paris the Prefet de Police has taken a
longer time. If the bark be genuine, the result is somewhat similar subject in hand, and the walls of
the appearance of the beautiful fuchsine-like colour the city have been placarded with copies of a decree
characteristic of aspidospermine. issued in 1846, which enjoins upon all medical men

In view of the extreme variability of the commer- practising within the jurisdiction of the prefecture
cial nitrates of bismuth M. Tedenat proposes to sub- that when writing prescriptions ordering any poison-
stitute the phosphate for the subnitrate for use in ous substances they shall write out the doses in full
medicine {Journ. Pharm. et de Chim. [5], vol. iii., instead of employing figures, and it further prohibits
421). According to him it acts in rather smaller pharmaciens from dispensing any prescriptions in
doses (1 to 2 grams) and can be administered in a which this rule is not observed,
similar manner. Phosphate of bismuth may be Just about the time of the appearance of the last

1 prepared by dissolving phosphate of soda in dis- instalment of “The Month” the Pharmacopoeia was
tilled water, heating to ebullition in a porcelain or under the consideration of the Medical Council, and
glass vessel, and adding subnitrate of bismuth pre- it is a significant indication of the little importance

viously dissolved in a large excess of nitric acid attached by the Council to this portion ot the duties

gradually to the boiling solution. The reaction confided to it by the Legislature, that it turns out that

commences at once, and if the boiling be prolonged during the last three or four years the reappointment
the phosphate of bismuth is precipitated as a dense of a Pharmacopoeia Committee has been omitted
white granular powder, separating clearly from the through forgetfulness ! Well might Sir William
acid liquid in which it is contained. The precipitate Gull stigmatize the neglect which has been shown
should be washed on a filter until the washings are in respect to the Pharmacopoeia a disgrace to the
neutral to test paper and then dried in a stove. Council ! Further, the reappointment of a committee

fi During some recent experiments having for their after this lapse of time seems to have excited a

object the separation of organic bases contained in certain amount of nervousness, for the mover is

certain roots and leaves, M. Schlagdenhauffen was reported to have expressed a hope that it would not

t surprised to notice the constant occurrence of con- be considered that the object was to take immediate
siderable quantities of sulphate of lime in the liquid steps for the publication of a new edition, because
after dissolving the alcoholic extract in water, treat- there were at present about lour thousand copies on
ing with a lead salt, removing excess of lead by hand. Even Sir William Gull does not seem to

(means of sulphuretted hydrogen and filtering (Journ. contemplate a complete revision ol the Pharma-
Pharm. et de (Jhimie , [5], vol. -id., p. 397). The fact | copoeia at present; but he considers that the proper

986

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 28, 18S1.

course would be to publish a fresh Addendum every
year, dealing with new remedies. If this plan were
carried out until the stock of the present edition is
exhausted, supposing four hundred copies were sold
annually, there would then be a Pharmacopoeia and
ten official “ Addendums ” in existence. A motion
instructing the Committee in this direction was
nevertheless carried, and perhaps the very imprac¬
ticability of such a scheme may lead to the attempting
of something more reasonable. The question as to
the propriety of pharmacists being represented on
the Pharmacopoeia Committee seems to have been
entirely ignored.

Japan is to have a national Pharmacopoeia, and if
anything were required to emphasize the singularity
of the position of the pharmacists for whom the
British Pharmacopoeia has the force of law, as
compared with the pharmacists of the continents of
Europe and America, it is to be found in the fact
that in the construction of this Asiatic Pharmacopoeia
also pharmacists are to have a voice. The work is
confided by the Japanese Government to a Com-
mitttee consisting of ten natives and five Europeans
(four German and one Dutch) in the Government
service. Among the latter are Professors Geerts,
Eykman and Laangaard, whose names are already
known in connection with the investigation of
articles of the Japanese materia medica.

When a prescription is written containing a pre¬
paration such as that in No. 540 of the “ Dispensing
Memoranda,” for which there is no published formula,
the dispenser must exercise his judgment, taking care,
whatever proportions he may use, that a good emul¬
sion results. He will in this matter be much assisted
by a reference to what has been written on the subject.
In a paper by Mr. Gerrard, read at the Conference
at Swansea last year (see before, p. 285), the relative
proportions were given of powdered gum arabic and
cod liver oil to make a good emulsion, and if to
these be added a little svrup of orange flower, or as
suggested, rose water and tincture of orange peel,
a satisfactory result will be obtained, which by some
persons is more easily taken than the pure oil.
Yolk of egg may be used, but as it gives to the
emulsion a yellow colour, the gum arabic is to be
preferred. The formula is most probably one of
those that owe their origin to hospital practice.

In the mixture No. 541 the relative proportions of
olive oil and gum arabic are not suitable for a per¬
manent emulsion. By a reference to Mr. Gerrard’s
paper above alluded to, it will be seen that 1 ounce
of olive oil requires 4 drachms of gum arabic for
complete emulsification, and with these proportions
the emulsion is all that could be desired, and pos¬
sesses the usual permanency, but it cannot safely be
said that it will not separate.

Probably the best mode of dispensing the pre¬
scription No. 542 is, in the first place, to put from 1
to 2 drachms of rectified spirit into a bottle and on
it the ^ drachm of powdered tragacanth; shake so
that the spirit may separate the particles of pow¬
dered tragacanth, then pour on it the water in which
the ammonia) carb. is dissolved, and with fresh
shaking the mucilage will at once be formed. The
carbonate of bismuth should then be put into a
mortar, and the mucilage added with trituration.

The quantity of tragacanth ordered in the pre¬
scription is less than would be required if, instead of
water and tragacanth, mucilage of tragacanth had
been prescribed. If pulv. tragac. comp, had been

used by a previous dispenser it was an error, unless
he knew that it was the prescribed intention, and if
so, a note should have been made on the prescription
for the guidance of others into whose hands the pre¬
scription might fall. It must, however, be observed
that the pulv. tragac. co. would have made a mixture
more manageable by the patient; the present for¬
mula resulting in a very thick fluid, and the quan¬
tity of tragacanth for a 6 ounce mixture is unusual,
and for the purposes of suspension unnecessary.

A satisfactory pill cannot be made extempora¬
neously with the ingredients of No. 543. The
carbolic acid, although used in a crystalline con¬
dition, deliquesces. It is a prescription that should,
if possible, be brought under the notice of the writer;
if that cannot be done, equal parts of flour and bread
crumb may be used, 2 grains to each grain of carbolic
acid, which would necessitate two pills being given
for each dose. With regard to the excipient for car¬
bolic acid, reference should be made to previous
remarks in the Journal, which will be found in the
Index recently published.

In the prescription No. 544 there is no reason why
the acid. nit. mur. should not be used, the dose,
although somewhat large, is not exceptional ; at the
same time much difference of opinion may arise
amongst dispensers as to the intention of the pre-
scriber. What he has written is evident, but what
he intended to write may be open to question. The
dispenser would have been justified, taking the dose
of acid into consideration, in using the undiluted acid
in this prescription, but it very properly arrested his
intention, and if possible, it would be very desirable
to refer the prescription to the writer as being un¬
usual, seeing that the acid, nitromur. in its undi¬
luted state is not official, and an ingredient very
rarely met with in a prescription.

It is not easy to understand why a difficulty should
have been raised with regard to the ingredients of
prescription No. 545. What did “Inquirer” expect
to take place on pot. chlor. being mixed with
dilute sulphuric acid and the quantity of water
ordered ? If to a fragment of chlorate of potash two
or three drops of sulphuric acid be added an explosive
gas is evolved, but this does not take place with
dilute acid ; there is, however, a slow disengagement
of chlorine. An assistant would not be authorized
in refusing to dispense the prescription in the usual
manner.

In prescription No. 546 the same remarks will
apply as for the one just previously considered with
carbolic acid. But in this case with phosphorus
bread crumb is not admissible. Reference should
be made to former remarks on phosphorus pills,
where it is stated that ol. theobromse should be used
in preference to bread crumb where phosphorus
forms an ingredient in the pill mass; but bread
crumb may be used with great advantage, in ad¬
dition to wax or cacao butter, to give solidity to the
mass.

There is too much carbolic acid in the formula
No. 547 for a suitable mass, and in this instance
flour and bread crumb may be used. But it will make
the pills too large ; each one must be made into two,
and directions given that two be taken for each dose.
Carbolic acid is not very generally ordered in pills,
and when it does occur it frequently causes dis¬
pensing difficulties. It is very desirable that the
subject be brought under the notice of those writers,
few comparatively, who adopt the practice.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

987

May 28, 1881.]

Vaseline has been suggested for the ointment of
hypochlorite of sulphur, mentioned in No. 548, as
being preferable to lard, but reference should be
made to a notice of this ointment and the change it
undergoes, [3], vol. ix., pp. 689 and 698.

It is difficult to say what sized mixture the writer
of prescription No. 549 intended, but most probably
a 6-ounce mixture. In some establishments a rule
prevails that when the ingredients of a mixture are
over 6 ounces and under 7, they be put into a 6-
ounce bottle, but that when beyond 7 ounces they
should be put into an 8-ounce bottle. Happily lor
the comfort and peace of mind of a dispenser these
peculiarities of prescriptions are somewhat uncom¬
mon, and make their appearance at long intervals.

It is to be hoped that some of these anomalous
conditions as regards prescriptions occasionally come
under the notice of medical men, and that these
memoranda, originally introduced to assist dis¬
pensers, may at the same time contain matter
deserving some consideration at the hands of the
profession.

Correspondents from time to time raise objections
to some of the queries in the “ Dispensing Memo¬
randa,” on the ground that they do not involve any
difficulties which might not be easily overcome, and
quite recently an instance of this kind has occurred
in reference to the queries Nos. 544 and 545. The
writer asks, as to the former, why Mr. Lyle should
not dispense his prescription as written ? thus ap¬
parently begging the real question as to what is to
be understood by what is written. As to No. 545,
the opinion expressed is much stronger, and probably
there is more justification for it; but in either of
these cases, and indeed generally, a detailed state¬
ment of the reasons for disputing the existence of
difficulty or uncertainty in regard to the dispensing
of prescriptions would be more effectual in demon¬
strating the superfluity of the questions asked than
ex cathedra declarations that they are absurd. It
has been repeatedly pointed out that the u Dis¬
pensing Memoranda” are designed lor the instruc¬
tion of juniors, and for affording the better informed
an opportunity of rendering them assistance from
their superior knowledge and experience. F rom
this point of view it is to be desired that the corre¬
spondent who has pronounced Nos. 544 and 545 to
be “foolish queries” should communicate more
specifically his views concerning them, and thus
render the inquirers a service they will be able to
appreciate.

DIALYSED TINCTURES.*

BY CHARLES F. HEEBNER, PH.G.

Query: Can a dialysed tincture, be prepared from
drugs having alkaloidal active principles, so as to fairly
represent in their medicinal strength the corresponding
official tinctures of the United States Pharmacopoeia ?

The interesting and highly important discoveries made
by Graham in 1861, upon' the separation of crystalline
from uncrystallizable colloid bodies, by means of dialysis,
were the means of recommending this process to the
attention of the chemist and pharmacist as a method of
effecting certain kinds of analyses or separations.

The design of this paper is to demonstrate, from a
chemical point of view, that solutions of alkaloids may be
prepared by dialysis from powdered drugs, and that these

* Abstract of a thesis presented to the College of Phar¬
macy of the City of New York, March, 1881. Reprinted
from New Remedies, May, 1881.

solutions will have the same alkaloidal strength as the
official tinctures prepared according to the formulae of
the United States Pharmacopoeia.

This proposition received additional interest, from the
fact that in the thirteenth edition of the ‘United States
Dispensatory’ (foot-note on page 935) the following
statement is made, viz.: — “Notwithstanding the very
important aid promised to us by this process to pharmacy
when first announced, we are informed that it has proved
less practically useful than was hoped, as the great dilu¬
tion of the diffusate renders it liable to chemical change
in the amount of evaporation necessary.”

Many of our drugs, such as opium, aconite, nux vomica,
belladonna, etc., contain salts which are soluble in water,
and to which their activity is due. They also contain
various gummy, resinoid, albuminoid, fatty, protein, ex¬
tractive and colouring matters, which are objectionable
from a pharmaceutical and physiological point of view.

In endeavouring to ascertain the alkaloidal strength of
a tincture, we are obliged to remove these inert principles,
as they interfere with the action of chemical reagents,
and their removal is a most embarrassing task, particu¬
larly if we have had but a small portion of tincture to be
subjected to analysis.

In order to obtain a standard with which to compare
the results that might be obtained in the experiments, a
sufficient quantity of the following drugs was reserved
for all of the experiments detailed below, viz.: — Opium,
belladonna leaf, aconite root, and nux vomica, in powder
suitable for making tinctures.

Sixteen (16) fluid ounces of tincture were prepared
from each of the above-mentioned drugs by the United
States Pharmacopoeia process. Eight (8) fluid ounces of
each of these tinctures were subjected to the following
process of assay, for the purpose of obtaining a quantita¬
tive estimation of the amount of alkaloid present. This
process is a modification and combination of several well-
known methods for the determination of alkaloids. (For
the sake of convenience in referring to them, the process
of assay is divided into six successive steps of manipulation,
designated by the letters a, b, c, d, e,f.)

a. Solution of subacetate of lead is added to the tinc¬
ture until no more precipitate is produced. This pre¬
cipitate is poured on a filter and washed with distilled
water until the filtrate is colourless. The washed lead
precipitate, made up of organic matter, is then treated

b. with hydrogen sulphide to decompose the lead com¬
pound : sulphide of lead subsides, and the free acid and
combined alkaloids remain in solution. The precipitated
lead sulphide is washed with distilled water ; the

c. washings and filtrate are then evaporated to a small
bulk and treated with an equal volume of strong alcohol,
causing the precipitation of pectin and albuminoid prin¬
ciples. This precipitate is washed with alcohol on a filter,
and the filtrate and washings are evaporated at a tempe¬
rature below 100° F. to dryness.

d. This dried residue is dissolved in a small bulk of
distilled water, and, after twelve (12) hours’ maceration,
the acid solution of alkaloids is filtered from the residuary
organic matter, and made slightly alkaline by the addition
of a dilute solution of soda.

e. The alkaline solution is evaporated at a gentle heat
to dryness and reduced to a fine powder, and exhausted
with amylic alcohol.

/. The amylic alcohol is shaken vigorously with one-
fourth its bulk of distilled water, acidulated with sulphuric
acid ; this is repeated twice. The aqueous acid solution
of alkaloids, having been separated with a separatory
funnel, is then evaporated to a definite bulk [in the ex¬
periments of this series, to two (2) fluid ounces], filtered,
and titrated with Mayer’s one-half normal solution of
potassium iodo-hydrargyrate.

The composition of Mayer’s solution is as follows, viz.:

_ 13,546 grams of mercuric chloride, and 49’8 grams of

potassic iodide in 1 litre. The results are based on the
fact that a double iodide of the alkaloid is obtained,

988

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 28, 1SSI

which is very insoluble in water. The end of the reaction
can only be determined by the absence of further
precipitation, which may be ascertained by filtering a
drop of the liquid under examination, after each addition
of the reagent, upon a watch glass, and bringing the
same in contact with one drop of the titrating solution.

The one-half normal Mayer’s solution is made by dilut¬
ing the normal solution with an equal bulk of distilled
water. Dragendorff (in Werthbestimmung) recommends
the use of this diluted Mayer’s solution, and advises that
it should be added very slowly, drop by drop, in order
that the expected precipitate may be crystalline, and may
be deposited quickly. If the addition is made too rapidly,
the precipitate will be amorphous, and requires a long
time to assume the crystalline form.

The results obtained at the completion of step / of
assay process will be given below. In order to ascertain
whether a solution of the alkaloids of these drugs could
be obtained by dialysis, I moistened different portions of
the powdered nux vomica with variable proportions of
alcohol and water, with the intention of checking fermen¬
tation. The mixture finally decided upon was a menstruum
containing 25 per cent, of alcohol. The drug was made
into a soft magma with the menstruum and placed on
parchment, and was subjected to the process of dialysis
for one week ; at the end of that time the dialysate was
filtered, and a few drops tested for alkaloid with Mayer’s
solution produced a dense white precipitate.

The diffusate was then subjected to the same process
of assay as were the United States Pharmacopoeia
tinctures.

After the separation of the aqueous solution of alka¬
loids from the amylic alcohol (step / of assay process),
the nearly colourless solution was tested for alkaloidal
reaction with the following reagents, and with the follow¬
ing results, viz. : —

Platinic chloride produced a yellow precipitate.

Mercuric chloride produced a white precipitate.

Mayer’s solution of potassium iodo-hydrargyrate pro¬
duced a dense white precipitate.

Marme’s test* produced a dense white precipitate.

Nitric acid produced an orange-red colour with pre¬
cipitate.

Potassium hydrate and ammonia produced a white
precipitate.

Potassic bichromate produced a yellow precipitate.

Auric chloride produced a light yellow precipitate.

The above tests proved conclusively the presence of
strychnia and brucia.

The next step was to make experiments upon a definite
quantity of the drug, and estimate the amount of alkaloid
present in the diffusate. Accordingly, with the intention
of obtaining sixteen (16) fluid ounces of the dialysate,
the same amount of drug was used as is directed by the
United States Pharmacopoeia for preparing the officinal
tinctures, viz. : — Powdered aconite root, 6 troy ounces ;
powdered nux vomica, 4 troy ounces ; powdered opium,
1£ troy ounce; powdered belladonna leaf, 2 troy ounces.
While these drugs were being subjected to the process of
dialysis, the diffusate of aconite root was subjected to a
physiological test, which proved that this method of test¬
ing is attended with difficulties, which are far from
pleasant, though decidedly convincing. A few drops of
the diffusate were placed upon the tongue. In a few
moments the lips, tongue and throat become numb, the
lining of the throat felt hard, like leather; in fact, the
symptoms of poisoning by aconitia increased to such an
extent that I was obliged to resort to a dose of tincture
of nux vomica for relief.

From each of the drugs subjected to dialysis sixteen
(16) fluid ounces of dialysed tincture were prepared.

By comparing the dialysed tincture of aconite with the
United States Pharmacopoeia tincture, it will be noticed
that the former has a pleasant odour, far superior to that
of the latter ; it also has a sweet taste, with no acidity.
The same is true of the dialysed tincture of nux vomica,
which is nearly colourless. The dialysed tincture of opium
is an elegant preparation ; it has scarcely any of the acrid
nauseous taste which is so characteristic in the officinal
tincture, and the odour is far more pleasant ; its colour is
reddish brown.

The dialysed tincture of belladonna is also as far
superior to the officinal tincture as those already men¬
tioned and has a pleasant taste.*

The table shows the difference in weight between the
two kinds of tinctures.

Weight of fl. 3 xvi. of Tincture.

Tincture.

Aconite.

Weight. Sp. Gr.

Nux Vomica.

Weight. Sp. Gr.

Opium.

Weight. Sp. Gr.

Belladonna.

Weight. Sp. Gr.

'

)

Dialysedt . . .

U. S. P .

Difference ...

7266'2 grs.
6165'3 grs.
1100'9 grs.

0-9965

0-8592

j 7119 grs.
6049 grs.
1070 grs.

0-9764

0-8297

7190 grs.
6961 grs.
229 grs.

0-9862

0-9548

7169 grs.
6954 grs.
215 grs.

0-9833

0-9536

Eight (8) fluid ounces of each of these dialysed tinc¬
tures were carried through the same process of assay, for
estimation of alkaloidal strength, as the officinal tinctures
spoken of above.

Result. — Amount of Mayer’s one-half normal solution
required to produce complete precipitation : — •

Tincture. Aconite. Bella. Nux. Vom. Opium.

U. S. P . 6-5 cc. $2-8 cc. 7’7 cc. 53- cc.

Dialysed . +7 '2 cc. +3'3 cc. 7‘2 cc. 74' cc.

While carrying the tinctures through the series of ex¬
periments mentioned above, after the completion of step
c of assay process, a considerable amount of residue was
obtained from the United States Pharmacopoeia tinctures,
which represents the albuminoid matter, etc., while the

* Cdla, 2 parts; KI, 4 parts; H2O, 12 parts.

t Containing 25 per cent, of alcohol.

X The aconite and belladonna gave a marked precipitation,
but, on account of not having added the test solution
slowly enough, the precipitate was amorphous, and could
not be gathered upon a filter.

dialysed tinctures showed none whatever. The United
States Pharmacopoeia tinctures presented a large amount
of residue after the completion of step e of the assay
process, while the dialysed tinctures presented a much
smaller amount. Solution of subacetate of lead failed
to remove all of the colouring matter from the official
tincture, probably on account of the presence of alcohol.
This excess of colouring matter has been dissolved in part
by the amylic alcohol, which was used in steps e and /
of assay process, particularly with the opium, while in
that used for a similar purpose with the dialysed tinctures
scarcely any colouring matter is perceptible.

From the above notes, it may at once be inferred that
the dialysed tinctures excel the officinal tinctures in
every respect, and, in their alkaloidal characteristics,
may be considered equal, if not superior, to the alcoholic
extractive tinctures of the United States Pharmacopoeia,
though physiological experiments are required to demon-

# Samples of all these preparations were submitted by
the author.

May 28, 1881. J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

989

strate their medicinal activity before we can accept the
strong chemical evidence submitted in this paper.

In conclusion, we may state with great confidence that
dialysed tinctures, or solutions having the official degree
of strength, may be prepared from drugs having active
crystallizable principles, therefore the query of this paper
is answered affirmatively.

THE KAURI GUM OF NEW ZEALAND.*

Consul Griffin, of Auckland, makes an interesting
report to the State Department, from which we make the
following extracts, on the product of the kauri gum,
which is so extensively used in the United States for the
manufacture of varnish. It consists of the dried and
solidified sap of the kauri tree, a species of pine known to
botanists as the Dammara australis. It does not exist
in any other part of the world. It is found only in the
province of Auckland, in that part of the colony lying to
the northward of the thirty-ninth degree of south lati¬
tude.

It was the opinion of many for a long time that kauri
gum is a fossil article, like amber, and is no longer being
produced. This, of course, is a mistake, but it is never¬
theless true that the best and by far the largest quantitv
of merchantable kauri gum is dug out of the ground. It
is found at various depths, from just above the surface of
the soil to many feet below the surface. It is found on
bare hillsides, on flat clay lands, in swamps, and even in
some places that are covered with a more or less thick
coating of volcanic debris.

Sometimes the gum is found in small detached lumps,
and at other times large deposits will be found in one
hole. On cultivated land it is not unfrequently turned
up by the plough, and in many places the cutting of large
drainsin swamps has revealed large deposits of this
vegetable product.

In the forks of the large branches deposits varying
from a few pounds to nearly a hundredweight are some¬
times met with. When a kauri tree is cut in the bark,
even one of the largest and oldest, varying in diameter
from six to ten or twelve feet, it will bleed like a young
sapling. In a few weeks, if the weather be dry, a large
mass of half-dried gum will have oozed from the wound,
not unfrequently appearing in the form of a great thick
band, reaching from the wound to the surface of the soil
around the tree. When a tree is felled the stump bleeds
in a like manner until large masses of gum can be broken
off from the stump. This “young” gum is white in colour,
and has not the rich amber colour which age imparts to
it when stored beneath the surface of the soil away from
the action of sun and weather.

The gum is not soluble in water. It ignites freely and
burns with a lively sooty flame. It froths and bubbles,
and produces a pleasant aromatic odour. The perfume it
exhales when burning in the open air is not unlike that of
frankincense and myrrh.

Some of the finer specimens of kauri gum are used in
the manufacture of jewellery, but, while it is very clear
and beautiful, it is not so desirable for this purpose as
amber. It is nothing like as hard as the latter, and is
much more brittle, and insects and plants are not so
frequently found imbedded in it.

Kauri gum was known to the native race long before
the islands were settled by Europeans. I hey used it for
the purpose of kindling their fires, and it is also, said to
have been employed by them in their religious rites, but
there does not appear to be any ground for the statement.

Kauri gum became an article of commerce immediately
after New Zealand became a British colony. At first the
exports were small, amounting to about 100 tons per
annum. The price of gum at that time ranged from $24
to $28 per ton. The natives then were the only persons
engaged in searching for it and bringing it to market.

The implements used in digging for the gum consist of
* From the Scientific American, April 9, 1881.

a spade and a spear. The spear is a long steel rod about
half an inch in diameter, with a wooden handle with a
cross on the top like that of a spade or a shovel. The rod
is brought to a point, and the gum digger pierces in into
the ground. Practice and experience enable him to tell
whether he is touching a stone or a piece of gum. .When
he touches the gum he digs around it until it is extricated,
and then renews the search as before.

The number of persons regularly engaged in digging
gum varies from 1800 to 3000, the greater part of whom
are Maories, but even they do not show any special fond¬
ness for the work. They resort to it when they become
pressed for food and clothing on account of the failure of
their crops, or other causes. Many Europeans have
resorted to this kind of work, but they belong generally
to a class who are unruly and impatient of the restraints
which a civilized life imposes upon them, and who prefer
to camp out after the fashion of gipsies, and live in tents
and ranpo huts rather than in houses fitted for civilized
beings.

It is generally supposed that a European who resorts to
gum digging is unfitted for any other occupation. He
leads a reckless dare-devil sort of life, away from friends
and kindred, and from the restraints of civilization. All
the finer feelings of his nature become blunted, and he
falls to a lower depth than the savages with whom he
makes his home. Among this nomadic class are a number
of the degenerated sons of the aristocracy of Great
Britain.

When the gum is taken out of the ground it is covered
with earth, and its surface is found to be in a partial
state of decay. When the digger is tired of work he puts
his gum into a bag and carries it to his tent or hut, and
in the evening or upon rainy days he, with the assistance
of his wife and children, scrapes off the decayed surface
until the clear solid gum beneath is reached. When a
sufficient quantity of it has been scraped, it is put into a
box or bag and taken to the nearest store or public house,
where it is sold for what it will bring. Sometimes the
purchaser will assort it, but it is not generally sorted till
it reaches the city buyer, who employs a large number of
skilled hands for that purpose. The gum, after it is
scraped and assorted, is packed carefully, in boxes, so as
to prevent the lumps from breaking. It is then ready foi
export. The dust and scrapings are also exported.

Some of the gum is used in New Zealand for the
manufacture of varnish, but in no great quantity.

The export of kauri gum for the year 1880 will be
larger than that of any other year. The total export for
1878 was 3410 tons, and 3247 tons was the. total export
for 1879. The invoices thus far received indicate that
the total shipment for the year 1880 will be. 5500 tons.

The price of gum varies, of course, according to quality
and the condition of the market. It ranges from $14.4
to $720 per ton. The greater part of it, however, is
bought at the former price. The average price may be
safely set down at $216 per ton. At this rate the total
value of the estimated shipment for the year 18S0, viz.,
5500 tons, would be $1,188,000. More than two-thirds
of the gum goes to the United States. . It is either
shipped to New York and Boston in sailing vessels, or
to London for transshipment to the American cities.

It is a matter of regret, adds Mr. Griffin, that the
kauri forests are disappearing. The trees are being so
rapidly cut down that they will soon cease to exist. The
Government has not taken any steps . to protect them,
either by conserving those that remain or by planting
new ones. At the present rate of consumption, fifty or
eighty years will see the great bulk of the kauri trees
cut down. Of course, when the trees are destroyed ttiere
can be no deposits, and kauri gum will become a thing of

The amount of gum taken out of the . soil up to the
present time has been so great, Mr. Griffin concludes,
that it would probably require a forest growth of ten
thousand years to replace it.

990

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 26, 1881.

INULIN.*

BY H. KILIANI.

The author at the outset alludes to the discordant
results of former researches on inulin and to the necessity
of a fresh study of its properties and chemical relations.
In order to prepare it, roots of the Dahlia variabilis and
Inula helenium were boiled with water in the presence of
sodium carbonate. The liquid obtained was cooled by
a freezing mixture, and the separated precipitate was
dissolved in hot water, filtered, and again exposed to
a freezing mixture. After repeating this process three
or four times, the inulin is obtained perfectly white, and
is subsequently purified from levulose by absolute alcohol,
and finally dried over sulphuric acid.

Inulin obtained in this way is a white powder re¬
sembling starch; by slow evaporation of an aqueous
solution it forms “crystal spheres,” as observed by Sachs
and Prantl ( Jahresb ., 1870, 849). It is insoluble in
absolute alcohol, sparingly soluble in dilute alcohol and
cold water, but very soluble in hot water. The author
has confirmed the formation of a gum-like and horny
modification of inulin; the latter the author considers
to be a highly hydrated inulin, which is converted into
solid lumps of inulin in the same way that ferric hydrate
and silicic acid are converted into their corresponding
anhydrous oxides. Its sp. gr. is 1 '3491, and its optical
rotatory power, as determined with a Wild’s polaristro-
bometer, [a]d = 34'6 to 36'4, gives results agreeing with
those of Lescceur andMorelle (Ch. Soc. Journ., 1878, 970).
The author assigns to inulin the composition C36H62031-
( = 6C6HJ0O5 + H20). He has also confirmed the observa¬
tions of others that inulin, when heated with water in
sealed tubes at 1009, is converted into a sugar which
resembles levulose in chemical and physical properties.
When oxidized with dilute nitric acid, inulin yields
formic, oxalic, racemic, glyeollic and probably glyoxylic
acids. The author finds that glyeollic and saccharic
acids alone are formed when dextrin is oxidized with
dilute nitric acid.

Inulin is slowly oxidized by long contact with bromine
in sealed tubes, with formation of bromoform and car¬
bonic and oxalic acids; the hydrobromic acid formed
in the reaction converts the unchanged inulin into levulin.
This latter, by the further action of bromine, gives the
same products as inulin. By heating the brominated
liquid with silver oxide, some of the unchanged levulose
is converted into glyeollic acid. As this acid is formed
by the direct action of bromine and silver oxide, it is
possible that the inulin is converted by the bromine into
levulose, which is then oxidized by the silver oxide into
action of bromine and silver oxide on dextrose, and finds
glyeollic acid. For comparison tne author has studied the
that no oxalic, but only gluconic acid is formed, according
to the equation C6H1206 + 0 = C6H1;>07. Glyeollic acid
is formed as a secondary product of the action of silver
oxide on the gluconic acid. By distillation of inulin
with hydriodic acid, a small quantity of an oil containing
iodine is obtained, but its constitution could not be ascer¬
tained, as it readily decomposed. By the action of
nascent hydrogen on inulin (sodium amalgam and water)
neither mannitol nor mannitan is formed. Pure inulin
reduces ammoniacal silver solution and gold chloride, but
not Fehling’s solution, nor gold or platinic chloride.

When inulin is heated with baryta-water it is partly
converted into lactic acid. By inversion, inulin is
not converted at ordinary temperatures nor at 40° C.
into levulose (Barth, Ber ., [11], 474; 1878, 591).
It appears from these properties that inulin stands in
near chemical relation to levulose, and is probably its
anhydride. This is shown by the readiness with which
it takes up water in many reactions, being converted
into levulose. It, however, differs from levulose by not
reducing Fehling’s solution, and not undergoing fermen¬
tation with yeast, and not forming an additive compound

* Annalen, 205, 145 — 190. Reprinted from the Journal
of the Chemical Society , May, 1881.

with hydrogen. Levulose, the hydrate of inulin, differs
from dextrose in its oxidation products with nitric acid
and bromine water ; the former gives glyeollic and oxalic,
the latter gluconic acid. This difference may be simply
explained by supposing dextrose to be the aldehyde,
whilst levulose is the ketone of mannitol.

SIMPLE PROCESS FOR PREPARING PYR0GALLIC

ACID.*

BY T. E. THORPE, F.R.3.

Pyrogallol, or pyrogallic acid, is made, as the latter
name implies, by heating gallic acid, but the process
as usually conducted is very uneconomical, on account of
the difficulty of preventing the decomposition of the pyro¬
gallol into metagallic acid. According to the equation—

CyHgOg — CgH603 + C02

Gallic Acid. Pyrogallol. Carbon Dioxide,
gallic acid should yield 80 per cent, of its weight
of pyrogallol, but the amount usually obtained is very
much less than this; on the average not more than
30 per cent, is formed. The greatest yield is given at
a temperature of from 185° to 200° C. If the heat be
allowed to rise to 250 9, the gallic acid is converted into
metagallic acid, carbon dioxide, and water, thus : —

CyllgO- = C6H402 + C02 + H20

Gallic Metagallic Carbon Water.

Acid. Acid. Dioxide.

The difficulties attending the conversion of gallic acid
into pyrogallol have their natural effect on the price of
the latter article. Photographers may be interested,
therefore, in knowing how they may be able to prepare
their own pyrogallol from gallic acid by a very simple
and sufficiently expeditious process.

Ten grams (say 150 grains) of dry gallic acid and
30 c.c. (say 1 fluid ounce) of glycerine (preferably Price’s)
are placed in a 2-ounce flask or wide test-tube, and
heated on a sand-tray to a temperature of from 190° to
200 , so long as bubbles of carbon dioxide are seen to be
formed in the liquid. The gallic acid readily dissolves,
and in a very short time it is entirely converted into the
theoretical quantity of pyrogallol; this fact has been
verified by direct observations made in my laboratory.
The brown viscous liquid, after cooling, is diluted with
1000 c.c. (say 34 ounces) of water. A solution is thus
obtained, each ounce of which contains rather more
than 1^ grain of pyrogallol, sufficient, therefore, for
developing a quarter-plate according to Mr. Swan’s
instructions. In containing glycerine it of course re¬
sembles Mr. B. J. Edwards’s solution, which has found
favour with many photographers.

I have developed a number of plates (mostly Swan’s)
with solutions of pyrogallol procured in this way, with
results in nowise different from those obtained by the
use of a pure aqueous solution of crystallized pyrogallol
of equal strength. The method of conversion is very
easy ; the only point to be attended to is the tempera¬
ture, which should not be allowed to exceed 2009, other¬
wise the glycerine becomes very brown in colour. The
thermometer should be supported in the flask or tube by
a cork, perforated, of course, to allow of the escape of
the carbon dioxide ; and the bulb should be surrounded
by the liquid, which should be shaken from time to time.
The solution may, however, be very dark coloured with¬
out sensibly staining the film, provided of course, that
the time of development be not unduly prolonged — a
remark which applies equally to the ordinary method of
developing by means of the crystallized acid.

As the present price of pyrogallol is about seven times
that of gallic acid, the above process may be worthy
of the attention of photographers who practise alkaline
development.

* Read before the Photographic Society of Great Britain.

■May 28, 1881

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

991

% pF rwattufind journal.

SATURDAY , MAY 28, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal, books for review , etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Chorchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

PROTECTION OF PHARMACEUTICAL INTERESTS.

Though we fail to appreciate the advantages to
be derived from making use of the Society’s Annual
Meeting for the utterance of growls, there can he
little doubt that the expression of opinions for
which an opportunity is afforded by this meeting
may serve as a useful indication in regard to the
actual state of pharmaceutical affairs and the means
by which improvement may be effected. On the
present occasion we may gather from the remarks of
the speakers that there is a general recognition of the
necessity for seeking, in other ways than by appeal
to the law as it stands, to obtain such protection of
pharmaceutical interests as would conduce to the
welfare of those engaged in the business consistently
with regard for the public benefit.

So far as we may take the late meeting as repre¬
senting this state of feeling among the trade at large,
it does not appear that so much is looked for from
amendment of the Pharmacy Acts as from possible
measures of internal organization by which some
further advance might be made towards the achieve¬
ment of the objects set forth in the Society’s Charter.
One of the most important things of this kind,
referred to by several of the speakers at the Annual
Meeting, is the mode of education now prevailing,
and we are glad to find that there is evidence of an
advance in the state of opinion as to the desirability
of improving the education of apprentices and
assistants.

The large proportion of failures in the examination
by passing which legal qualification to carry on
the business of pharmacy is obtained, sufficiently
demonstrates the fact that the establishment of such
a uniform system of technical education as it is one
of the chief objects of the Pharmaceutical Society
to promote still remains to be accomplished. Not¬
withstanding the facilities afforded by the School of
Pharmacy founded by the Society, and by the
numerous other educational institutions where
instruction is to be obtained in the branches of
science that a pharmacist requires to be acquainted
with, more than half the candidates who present
themselves for the Minor examination are unable to

endure that test of fitness to carry on the business of
a chemist and druggist. This circumstance is one
which may reasonably be deplored from various
points of view. In the first place it indicates a
general want of any adequate appreciation of what
is necessary in regard to qualification for carrying
on the business of pharmacy. This is the case not
only with the candidates who seek to obtain the
legal right, but also with the general public, since it
cannot otherwise be supposed that parents would so
frequently neglect to secure for their sons a proper
education and thus expose them to the risk of
rejection after having spent several years in the
capacity of apprentices. As regards the persons
now referred to, it is evident that this deficiency is
one that urgently requires to be removed, inasmuch
as it. must be a fertile source of serious disappoint¬
ment and possibly disastrous consequences to those
concerned.

Again, as a matter affecting the protection of those
who carry on the business of pharmacy, the fact that
legal qualification is sought by so large a number of
persons who are not fit for the duties of that busi¬
ness is deserving of serious consideration, for it
points to the possible danger of properly educated
men having to face the competition of those who
may have managed to elude the tests of examination.
Natural instinct should lead pharmacists to guard
with jealous tenacity the portal of admission to legal
qualification and to regard the power of exercising
this influence as one of the most efficient means of
protecting themselves. The passing of the Pharmacy
Act in 1868, rendering it necessary for everyone
thereafter entering upon business on his own account
to be registered and to undergo an examination for
the purpose of testing his fitness, was an important
step in support of the Society’s efforts to advance
pharmacy. But experience has shown that exami¬
nation alone is not to be trusted as an infallible
safeguard against the admission of inadequately
educated men, and when it is remembered how much
ingenuity is bestowed upon the art of preparing
candidates for examination there is good reason to
fear that in some cases, if not in many, a parrot-like
capacity of answering questions may be sufficient to
hide from the examiners the want of real knowledge.

It is nowT generally admitted that a sound know¬
ledge of the principles of chemistry and fair skill in
the conduct of chemical operations constitute an
essential part of the qualifications of a pharmacist.
The regulations of the Board of Examiners leave no
doubt as to what i3 required, even of candidates for
the Minor examination, in this respect ; but in the
absence of any special provision for giving the
candidates an opportunity of acquiring the know¬
ledge demanded, it is scarcely to be wondered at
that so many of them make their appearance in
the examination room without being able to pass.

As regards botany the same remarks apply, -
though in a less degree, since the study of this

992

THE PHARMACEUTICAL , JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 28, 1881.

science can be carried on with greater facility than
that of chemistry ; but in regard to both chemistry
and botany there seems to be strong reason for
requiring candidates to produce evidence of having
gone through regular courses of instruction at recog¬
nized schools before being admitted for examination.
How this is to be done is a question that does not
seem to have been very thoroughly considered even
by those who think that the time has arrived for
doing it. We hear of complaints that the Council
of the Society has done so little towards the support
of pharmaceutical education in the provinces, but it
would perhaps be more reasonable if the Council
were to complain of the neglect of the education of
apprentices which results in rejection of candidates
for examination. Those candidates come up for
examination after having been for some years
apprentices, and perhaps assistants, in pharmaceutical
establishments, and it is during the time they were
so engaged that they should have devoted their
attention to the study of chemistry and botany.

Now that examination is no longer voluntary it
cannot be expected that the means of education can
be furnished by the Society in the same way that it
was while examination was altogether voluntary and
when the Society had to carry out the work of
demonstrating the necessity of scientific knowledge
on the part of pharmacists. If a knowledge of
chemistry and botany is to form part of the pharma¬
cist’s qualification it must be provided for by a
system of practical instruction. It will not do to
regard this matter like the stuffing of a goose, as a
matter of taste, and chemistry and botany as re¬
sembling the sage and onions which some look upon
as superfluous or even detrimental. We hope the
time has passed when such a view of the matter was
possible, and we are certain that is to the interest of
pharmacists that such a view should be discounte¬
nanced.

As regards materia medica and practical pharmacy
it may well be expected that the ordinary duties of
an apprentice to a qualified pharmacist will furnish
ample opportunity for acquiring a knowledge of
these subjects, as well as the practice of dispensing and
the reading of prescriptions, and that, if the passing
of the Preliminary as a condition of being eligible as
an apprentice were enforced, the ordinary period of
apprenticeship would offer ample opportunity for
attending systematic courses of lectures on chemistry
and botany, as well as passing through a course of
instruction in practical chemistry. There are now
many institutions throughout the country where this
can be done, and as regards the provincial schools of
pharmacy connected with various associations we
cannot imagine any step that would do more to sup¬
port them than a regulation made by the Council of
the Society and the Board of Examiners requiring
every candidate for examination to produce evidence
of having attended such courses.

As regards the Preliminary examination it would

not be unreasonable to introduce chemistry as one of
its requirements, now that chemistry is taught fairly
well in so many boys’ schools, and if that were done
we might expect to find a wholesome improvement
in the state of public opinion as to the educational
preparation needed for lads who are to be brought
up to the business of pharmacy.

Doubtless the consideration of this subject by the
Council, when the report of Mr. Schacht’s committee
conies before it, will lead to some steps being taken
in the direction above indicated, and perhaps the de¬
sire that is entertained by some to have a more
marked distinction of the better qualified members
of the trade may at the same time meet with satisfac¬
tion. We do not admit having very much sympathy
with the project of establishing a fellowship in connec¬
tion with the Society, inasmuch as such a distinction
is apt to be of little real value, and merely an indi¬
cation that its holder pays so much a year for the
privilege. But we should be glad to see the title of
pharmaceutical chemist made more effectively a dis¬
tinction than it is at present, and the Minor qualifi¬
cation restricted to assistants according to the original
intention.

TEMPERANCE ACTS AND PHARMACISTS.

As “ Local Option ” regulations as fo the sale of
alcoholic liquors are among the possibilities of
future legislation in this country it may be of in¬
terest to see how the pharmacists in certain sections
in Canada, in which a Temperance Act, known as
the “ Scott Act,” is coming into force, expect to be
affected by its provisions. According to the Cana¬
dian Pharmaceutical Journal a sub-section of the
Act provides for the supply of “ intoxicating
liquors ” for exclusively medicinal purposes, or for
bond fide use in some art, trade or manufacture.
For strictly medicinal purposes, druggists and other
vendors may sell, but only on the certificate of a legally
qualified physician, quantities of liquor of not less
than one pint, such liquor to be removed from the
premises. If for use in the arts, etc., a certificate
signed by two justices of the peace, together with an
affirmation from the applicant, must be forthcoming
before a sale may be made. All sales, for any pur¬
pose, are to be recorded, and a return of them is to be
made annually to the collector of inland revenue for
the district. Only one licence to druggists, or other
vendors, is to be granted in each township or village,
and two in each town ; in cities the allowance is to
be one to each four thousand inhabitants.

PROFESSOR DR. RUDOLPH BOETTGER.

The death of this celebrated chemist is announced
as having taken place recently at Frankfort- on- the -
Main, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. Professor
Boettger’s name will be associated principally with
the history of gun-cotton, of which, in 1846, he was
one of the discoverers.

May 28, 1881,]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

993

Irofaittrial feansadkrns*

SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICAL AND
CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

The third general meeting of the session was held in
the Society’s rooms, on Wednesday evening, May 11,
Mr. Ellinor, President, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read,
Messrs. G. H. Dunnill and Turner were elected members
of the Society, after which Mr. E. R. Learoyd, Vice-
President, read some “Notes on the Relation of the
Medical Profession to Chemists.” He first referred to
the immense advance that had been made from the ano¬
malous position held by chemists and druggists before
legislation was obtained through the efforts of J acob Bell
and others. He then pointed out that as it had taken
many years to raise the medical profession to its present
position, so it was not until 1868 that a legal definition
was given as to who were to be allowed to practise phar¬
macy. With the Pharmacy Act came a new era, so with
that incoming came a new school of thought, and he
thought he could as distinctly trace the progress of this
new school of thought as he could the progress of phar¬
macy as a profession. It followed that if new it must be
opposed in some way or other to what had gone before.
Time, a long period of time, must necessarily elapse before
its doctrines became understood and its laws adopted,
but he had no hesitation in saying that the period was
now rapidly approaching when many of the ideas handed
down by their predecessors will have gone the way of
the obsolete, or be remembered only as matters of histo¬
rical interest. To this old school of thought it was that,
even in our day and generation, pharmacists held a some¬
what unfortunate position in the estimation of certain
sections of the medical profession. Whether this would
continue depended upon themselves. If conscious of their
integrity and intelligently awake to their responsibilities
he contended that the old order of things would for ever
have passed away ; and not only to the public, but to the
medical profession itself, would it become clear and un-
disguisable that the chemist of to-day had actually be¬
come, by reason of his educational fitness for his calling, a
functionary whose importance and usefulness in his own
particular department was not second to the medical pro¬
fession itself.

A free discussion on the various points of the paper
ensued, and a cordial vote of thanks was awarded to Mr.
Learoyd, which concluded the meeting.

fjromtrinp of Smntifit jSootfits.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday, May
19, Professor Roscoe, President, in the chair.

The following certificates were read for the first time :
— H. Frankland, A. J. Hailes, J. P. Wilkes.

The following papers were read —

On Ammonium Nitrite and the Reaction between Hydro¬
gen and Nitric Oxide in the presence of Spongy Platinum.
By L. T. Weight.— The author has been engaged in
studying the reaction between ammonium chloride and
potassium nitrite when a solution of these substances is
boiled. He finds that free ammonia and ammonium nitrite
are always present in the distillate, and that the equation
is much more complicated than that usually given
NH4C1+KN02=N2 + KC1 + 2H20.

Further quantitative work on this reaction is promised.
The author then repeated the experiments of G. S.
Johnson ( Chem . Soc. Jour., March, 1881) on the synthesis
of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen in the presence
of spongy platinum. He has been quite unable to con¬
firm Mr. Johnson’s results. When hydrogen and nitrogen

(3:1) were passed through spongy platinum, small
quantities of ammonia were always formed, but the
nitrogen always contained traces of nitric oxide, recog¬
nized by the odour of nitrous acid when mixed with air
and the discoloration of iodide of potassium and starch
papers. The author found that the ferrous sulphate
solution did not absorb the nitric oxide completely, and
as is well known nitric oxide and hydrogen form
ammonia when passed over spongy platinum. When
nitrogen from the action of potassium hypobromite and
ammonium chloride was used instead of the nitrogen
from ammonium nitrite, no ammonia was formed in the
above experiment. Also by passing the nitrogen evolved
by boiling potassium nitrite and ammonium chloride
through absorption tubes charged with an alkaline solution
of sodium sulphite, instead of ferrous sulphate, the nitric
oxide was decomposed, and in one experiment, lasting an
hour, only 0-003 milligram of NH3 was produced, and in a
second, none. The author draws the following con¬
clusions : — That nitric oxide is not completely absorbed
by ferrous sulphate at ordinary temperatures ; that
hydrogen reacts upon nitric oxide to form ammonia in the
presence of cold spongy platinum when the hydrogen is
in sufficient excess ; that with nitrous oxide no such
reaction takes places ; that nitrogen and hydrogen do
not synthetically combine to produce ammonia in the
presence of spongy platinum, at least when the nitrogen
is produced by the decomposition of ammonium nitrite.

Mr. Johnson said that practically the author confirmed
his result that when nitrogen, purified by passing through
ferrous sulphate, was passed with hydrogen over spongy
platinum ammonia was formed. He begged to dissent,
however, from the author’s conclusion that the nitrogen
employed by himself contained NO. The gas which he
used had been passed for a whole hour over heated, finely
divided copper without altering its weight ; it was,
therefore, quite free from NO.

Mr. Warington suggested that the question as to
whether the gas contained NO or not, might be set at
rest by adding oxygen t-f> nitrogen and passing the
mixture into potassium iodide.

A short discussion then ensued, in winch Dr. Tidy,
Messrs. J. M. Thomson, Johnson, Wright, Thorp and
Warington took part, as to the decomposition of nitric
oxide by heated metallic copper. The general opinion
seemed to be that under certain circumstances traces of
NO might escape decomposition although passed over
several inches of heated copper.

Mr. J. M. Thomson then communicated a paper —

On the Synthetical Production of Urea from Benzol ,
Ammonia and Air, by the Action of Heated Platinum.
By E. F. Hekroun. — The author has aspirated air
through benzol and ammonia and then passed the mixed
vapours over a heated platinum wire ; urea was formed,
mixed with ammonium carbonate and sulphate and some
substance of a resinous nature soluble in ether. The
urea was purified and agreed in its reactions and compo¬
sition with ordinary urea. Spongy platinum and plati¬
nized asbestos and charcoal were substituted for the wire,
but no urea was formed ; also when olefiant gas was used
instead of benzol vapour no urea was produced. Ace-
tylen, on the other hand, behaved in a similar way to
benzol, and a considerable yield of urea was obtained.

On a Proposed Volumetric Method for the Ready
Estimation of a Soluble Sulphite and free Sulphurous Acid
or of Free Sulphurous and Sulphuric Acids even in the
Presence of Sulphates. By 0. V. Pisani.— This proposed
method is based on the following two equations

(1) M"S03 + 12 + H20 = M"S04 + 2 HI

(2) S02 + 12 + 2 H20 = H2S04 + 2 HI

By (1) it is seen that one molecular weight of a sulphite
yields two molecules of hydriodic acid, and by (2) that
free sulphur dioxide yields in addition one molecule of
free sulphuric acid. The author proposes to estimate the
iodine used and the soda required to neutralize the fluid
after the addition of the iodine, and from these data

994

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 28, 1881.

estimate the free and combined sulphurous acid. To
estimate the sulphates all the sulphur is oxidized by-
chlorine and the sulphates produced from the sulphites
deducted. The author has apparently not tested the
practical working of the process and no experiments are
given in the paper, which he submits to the criticism of
the Society.

On the Identification of Crystallized Alkaloids, etc., by
the Microscope and the Use of Polarized Light. By A.
Percy Smith. — The author states that the use of the
microscope in chemical analysis is usually ignored in
text-books not specially devoted to microscopic research,
and that he has found the advantage of an optical exami¬
nation in determining the purity of a crystalline salt.
He has used polarized light with selenite plate in the
ordinary way. The paper is accompanied with careful
drawings of crystals of strychnine, santonin, brucine
sulphate, cantharidin, etc. In most cases this mode of
identification only applies to pure alkaloids or their salts,
any admixture with other crystallizable bodies proving
fatal. The author has, however, recognized cantharidin
in a mixture of twenty-five alkaloids and identified
strychnine, cantharidin, santonin, opium and laburnum in
a mixture of lentil soup, bread, meat and cheese.

Professor Tidy said that he had some experience in
this subject, and that in most cases the microscope was
of little use in identifying the alkaloids by their crystal¬
line form, as a trace of some other substance sometimes
altered the appearance enormously. Thus a trace of
piperine would completely alter the crystalline form of
strychnine.

On the Colour Properties and Colour Relations of the
Metals of the Iron-Copper Group. By T. Bayley. — The
author continues in this paper his previous investigations
as to the quantities of cobalt and nickel or cobalt, copper
and iron as sulphates, which, when mixed, produce
colourless grey solutions. Thus at 5° C. a mixture of
1 part of copper and 1^ part of iron simulates a solution
of nickel sulphate ; at 15° C. equal parts of iron and
copper are required. The two following mixtures are
chromatically neutral, 20 parts copper, 7 iron, 6 cobalt
and 13 copper, 875 nickel, 6 cobalt. So that 875 parts
of nickel are equal, as regards quality and colour, to
7 parts of iron + 7 parts of copper. These colourless
opaque solutions in sufficient thickness transmit no light,
and the light transmitted by solutions of less thickness
is compound white light made up of the rays of two
complementary beams, one having its centre in yellow
and the other in the indigo. Under certain circum¬
stances described in the paper nickel forms the yellow,
copper forms copper-red, and cobalt forms orange solu¬
tion.

On the Effects of the Growth of Plants on the Amount
of Matter removed from the Soil by Rain. By E. W.
Prevost. — The experiments were carried on in large
glazed stoneware pans 18" in diameter, 10" deep, each
containing 100 lbs. of soil and provided with arrange¬
ments for collecting the drainage water. Analysis of
the soil, drainage water, composition of the ash of the
plants, etc., are given in elaborate tables; the plants
grown included cabbage, wheat, beans, clover and
turnips.

The President, in asking for any remarks on the paper,
took the opportunity to express his regret that the
authors of communications were not more frequently
present, as it was almost impossible to grasp the salient
points of a paper on hearing it read for the first time.

On the Action of Sodium on Cinnamic Ether. By F.
Hatton. — This paper is a continuation of some previous
work of Dr. Hodgkinson. The author has studied the
reaction and concludes that it is probably represented
in the case of 0 phenyl acrylate by the equation —

6 C6H5 . CH = CH,COOC2H5 + Na2

_9 j CH3 , o I C«?H5CHCH ,9/ri tt a \ , h
~2 j COOEt + " 1 COONa + AL20H20U3) + ±l2

The substance C20H20O2 decomposes partially on distil¬

lation. The action on ethylic /3 phenyl propionate is
similar.

The Society then adjourned to June 2, when the
following papers will be read : — “ On Isomeric Acids
obtained from the Ethers of the Hydride of Salicyl and
from Coumarins,” by W. H. Perkin; “On the Saponi¬
fication of Fatty Oils and Waxes,” by A. H. Allen and
W. Thomson; “On the Sulphides of Copper and a
Determination of their Molecular Weights,” by S.
Pickering.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting of the above Association, held March 30,
Mr. F. W. Branson in the chair,

Mr. G-. Brownen, F.C.S., read a paper on “Phosphoric
Acid and some of its Combinations.” By phosphoric
acid, the author said he meant tribasic or orthophos-
phoric acid. He urged the desirability of a strong as
well as of the dilute acid becoming recognized and de¬
fined in the next British Pharmacopoeia. The various
processes for making phosphoric acid were noticed, the
peculiarities of the processes and the chief impurities
of their results, arsenic as arsenic acid being shown to be
the most serious and objectionable contamination. After
describing the method for the detection of this and other
impurities, the author passed on to notice those salts
of phosphoric acid most commonly used, e.g., phosphate
of potash, soda, ammonia, iron, manganese and zinc ;
formulae and processes were given for the manufacture and
estimation or purification of these salts ; the modification
of the less soluble phosphates, when dissolved in acidulous
media, were also noticed, as well as the conjugated or
double salts. In the manufacture of phosphate syrups,
preference was given to the use of a liquor obtained by
the action of a strong phosphoric acid on metallic iron in
the form of turnings; the strength of the resulting
solution being estimated by pouring into alcohol, washing
the precipitate with alcohol, drying and weighing. Some
samples of phosphate of manganese having little solubility
in phosphoric acid, Mr. Brownen preferred to add the
carbonate to ac. phos. dil. and thus at once form the
soluble phosphate.

A very practical paper was brought to a conclusion by
a notice of the phosphatic compounds of glycerine, oleic
acid, etc., in the human economy, the union of calcium
phosphate with lactic acid, the digestive ferments, etc.

The paper was illustrated by experiments, and numer¬
ous specimens were shown, including ferrous phosphate
in crystals, also a soluble scale compound.

After an interesting discussion, a cordial vote of thanks
was passed to the author.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,
May 12, Mr. R. H. Parker, Vice-President, in the chair.
A report on Pharmacy was made by Mr. W. H. Symons,
F.C.S., dealing with the subject of “Scales, Weights, and
Measures.” The author first insisted upon the importance
to the pharmacist of delicate scales and accurately
graduated weights and measures, and then described the
various forms of scales and balances in ordinary use,
stating that the scales or balances employed should turn,
at least, to the tenth of a grain. The various forms of
weights were then described, the following table repre¬
senting the excess allowed on weights —

On the \ grain weight .... ^th grain.

On the 1 grain weight . . . . ^th grain.

On the 1 scruple to 4 drams . . TVth grain.

On the 1 ounce to 10 ounces . . . £ grain.

The method of graduation, and incidentally of stamping
glass measures, was then noticed, and the various forms
I of glass measures in the market described. The paper

May 28, 1881

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

995

was illustrated by specimens of the various kinds of
scales, weights, and measures.

A lengthy discussion followed the reading of the paper,
in which the Chairman, Secretary, Messrs. Bird, Elborne,
Groves, and MacDermott took part. A vote of thanks
was passed to Mr. Symons for his paper.

mlistnwnlarj smtr ^ato flrorairmgs.

Prosecution under the 17th Section of the
Pharmacy Act.

At the Manchester City Police Court, on May 11,
1881, before Mr. E. J. Headlam, stipendiary magistrate, a
summons was heard which had been issued on the appli¬
cation of the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association
of Great Britain, against Lewis and Company, Market
Street, general dealers. Mr. Henry Glaisyer (Birming¬
ham), solicitor to the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade
Association, appeared for the prosecution, and Mr.
Cobbett, of Manchester, for the defence.

Mr. Glaisyer said the summons was issued under the
provisions of the 17th section of the Pharmacy Act,
1868. The complainant was George Revill Templeman,
assistant secretary of the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade
Association of Great Britain, and the defendants were
David Levy, Samuel Eleazer Levy, Lewis Samuel Cohen,
Beresford Samuel Cohen and Herbert Samuel Cohen,
who carry on business in Manchester as Lewis and
Company. They seemed not to be content with a veiy
large and legitimate business, but they also dealt in
poisons which the Act said they had no business to
deal in. The 17th section of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
said it should be unlawful to sell any poison either by
wholesale or by retail, unless the box, bottle, vessel,
wrapper, or cover in which such poison is contained were
distinctly labelled with the name of the article and the
word poison, together with the name and addiess of the
seller of the poison, and it should be unlawful to sell any
poison of those which are in the first part of schedule A
of the Act or may be hereafter added thereto under
section 2 of the Act, to any person unknown to the seller,
unless introduced by some person known to the seller.
On April 5 Mr. Templeman went to the defendants’ shop
and there purchased a packet of Hunter s vermin killer,
which he ultimately analysed and found it to be a
preparation of strychnine. He was unknown to the
seller at the time and was not introduced by anyone, and
the name and address of the seller did not appear on

the packet. .

George Revill Templeman, assistant secretary of the
Chemists and Druggists' Trade Association of Great
Britain, being called, sworn and examined . by Mr.
Glaisyer, deposed to the facts stated by Mr. Glaisyer.

Cross-examined by Mr. Cobbett, he said he personally
analysed the contents of the packet and found it to
consist of strychnine, another substance which he believ ed
to be rice powder, and coloured with a blue matter.

Mr. Cobbett, for the defence, said he would like to call
his worship’s attention to the Act ; he would find that
section 17 said it should be unlawful to sell any poison,
and so forth, except in the manner provided ; and there
were different provisions made with reference to two
different classes of poisons, which were sepaiated by being
placed in different parts of the schedule. . In the case of
poisons included in part one an introduction seemed to be
necessary, but in the case of poisons included in part two
no introduction seemed to be necessary. 1 here seemed
to be a distinction made as to the two, but with regard
to the whole section, if his worship noticed, the piohibi-
tion was against the selling of poisons which were
specially mentioned in the schedule. After reading the
second section of the Act he (Mr. Cobbett) said the Act
was particularly careful to define what shall be a poison
within the meaning of the Act. If he would look at the

schedule he would find that it defined exactly and in
particular words what were to be considered poisons.
There was nothing whatever to show that a mixture of
poisons with other matters was a poison within the meaning
of the Act ; the Act used the word poison and the particular
poisons were defined and mentioned in the schedule, and
neither throughout the schedule nor in the rest of the Act
did he find any stipulation that any article mixed with
poison was to be a poison within the meaning of the Act.
It seemed to him the reason for this was a very obvious one.
Some poisons, as they knew, were mixed with a variety of
articles which would not cause death or even injure
health, and these articles were sold without a knowledge
probably on the part of those who sold them what the
ingredients were, and his contention was that it was
never intended the provisions of this statute should apply
to a mixture of materials and poisons, but to poison itself.
If this contention were correct then the Act would not
apply to the case in question. In support of his argument
Mr. Cobbett quoted the case of Berry v. Henderson,
reported in 22 Laiv Times Reports, new series, page 331.

Mr. Templeman re-called.

Mr. Headlam : What is the percentage of strychnine ?
— I did not test the quantity, but I should say about 2
grains.

Would that poison a human being? — It is poisonous in
doses of from one-half to two grains. Two grains are in
an average packet generally.

Mr. Cobbett then repeated his former arguments and
said that the construction placed upon the section of the
Act by Lord Justice Lush also applied in this particular
case.

Mr. Headlam: I think the case comes within the
meaning of the Act.

Mr. Cobbett then addressed the Court in mitigation,
and at the conclusion of his address —

Mr. Headlam considered the case proved and inflicted
a fine of forty shillings and costs.

Suicide of a Chemist and Druggist.

On Thursday, May 12, Dr. Danford Thomas held an
inquiry at the Railway Hotel, New Southgate, as to the
circumstances attending the death of Mr. Edmund
Henry Ombler, aged 43, a chemist and druggist, of 8,
Southgate Place, who had died from the effects of a large
quantity of prussic acid administered by himself.

Harriet Fordham, domestic servant to deceased and
Mrs. Ombler, said she last saw deceased alive on Tues¬
day morning between seven and eight o’clock. He was
generally very dull, but on Monday he went up to
London to vote at the election for coroner. When he
came back, and up to the time he went to bed at ten
o’clock, he appeared in better spirits. He first came
downstairs from his bed-room about a quarter before
seven on Tuesday morning, a thing most unusual, and
went into the shop, but shortly after went up stairs. In
about half an hour he came down a second time and
again went into the shop. She did not see him go up
stairs again, but shortly before eight her mistress met
her on the stairs and asked her where her master was.
On going into the drawing-room she found her master
lying onhis face on the rug. She raised an alarm, and it
was found that he was dead.

Mr. Evan Jenkins, assistant to deceased, said he had
just returned from his morning’s walk when he was
called by last witness, and found the deceased on the
ruo- in the drawing-room dead. A bottle with prussic
acfd, about half full, and stoppered, was on the mantel
shelf by the side of a measuring glass. He at once saw
what had happened and ran for the medical man.

The Coroner observed that he perfectly recollected
seeing deceased at the polling booth at Islington on
Monday, and shaking hands with him.

The J ury ultimately returned a verdict that deceased
died from the effects of prussic acid self -administered,
whilst in an unsound state of mind. Standard.

996

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 28, 1881.

A Coroner on the Sale of Oxalic Acid.

On Friday, May 13, Dr. Danford Thomas, the recently
appointed coroner for Central Middlesex, held an inquest
at the Clerkenwell Coroner’s Court, into the circumstances
attending the death of Harriet Lambert, aged 36, who
committed suicide by poisoning herself on the previous
Tuesday.

According to the evidence it appears that the deceased,
the wife of a bonnet- shape maker, had been for some
considerable time past addicted to habits of intoxication,
and that when she had no money to procure drink, she
would take clothing out of the house and pledge it, so
that she and her companions could obtain it. On Tuesday
she was joined by one of her companions, and as she had
no money, things were pawned, and after they had been
drinking for some hours, she told her companion to go
and get her a pennyworth of oxalic acid as she wished to
clean two hats with it. The companion went to the shop
of Mr. Huxtable, of St. John Street, and there she
purchased the poison, which she took to the deceased, who
some time afterwards mixed it up in some beer, drank a
part of it, and soon after died.

Mr. Charles Phill, assistant to Mr. Huxtable, chemist,
of St. John Street, stated that he remembered serving
the deceased’s companion with a pennyworth of oxalic
acid, which she said she wanted for cleaning two hats ;
and thinking that he knew her, and as it was only seldom
that they caused persons they knew to enter their names
in the register kept for registering the names of pur¬
chasers under the Act of Parliament, he did not ask her
to do so.

The Coroner, after looking at the Act of Parliament,
said there was not the slightest doubt but that in this
case the law had been broken, for it was clearly laid
down that the article of poison should not only be labelled
poison, but also the name of the poison, besides which the
purchaser, where known, should enter his or her name
and address in the register kept for that purpose, and
where the purchaser was unknown to the seller, then
auother person known to both parties should also be
required to sign the book. In this case the law, he was
afraid, had not been complied with, and the chemist was
liable to £5 penalty. He knew that although chemists
were bound to take and use precautions, yet people could
go and buy as much poison as they liked at anyone’s
shop without being asked a question, and this, he thought,
showed the imperfect state of the law on the subject.

The jury returned a verdict “That the deceased
committed suicide whilst of unsound mind, produced by
continual habits of intemperance. — Clerkenwell Press.

Suicide of a Druggist’s Assistant.

On May 20, Mr. Malcolm held an inquest at the
Leeds Town Hall, on the death of John Wood (42),
druggist’s assistant, formerly employed by Messrs!
Goodall, Backhouse, and Co., Boar Lane. In July last
the deceased left his house at 12, Rockingham Street, for
his work-place, but instead of going thither he went to
the Wakefield Asylum, where he gave himself up.
Recently he was discharged, on his sister, Mrs. Ann
Webster, of Merrion Place, agreeing to take charge of
him. It was stated by Mrs. Webster that he progressed
favourably until last Sunday week, when he met his
wife and child in the street. He afterwards became
depressed in spirits, and, it is thought, took a dose of
hydrate of chloral, which caused his death on Thursday.
The post-mortem examination, made by Mr. W. M.
Hurtley and Dr. Jacob, showed that narcotic poisoning
was apparent, and during Wednesday, when the deceased
seemed to be conducting himself somewhat strangely, he
admitted to his sister that he had simply taken a dose
similar to one which used to be given him whilst at the
Wakefield Asylum. A verdict of “Committed suicide
whilst temporarily insane” was returned. — Leeds Mercury.

Poisoning by Chlorodyne.

The Liverpool Workhouse has furnished another
illustration of the mania some “hospital birds” have for
tasting medicines. A girl, twenty-three years of age, an
inmate of the Lock wards, secreted the keys of the
medicine closet, and, while the nurse was searching for
them, she abstracted a ten-ounce bottle of chlorodyne.
With the exception of two small quantities, which she
gave to two other girls, the deceased drank almost the
whole of the bottle of medicine, or fully eight ounces !
The most of it was taken about nine o’clock in the
evening. At half-past ten, the night nurse was attracted
to her bed by the smell of chlorodyne. The patient was
then unconscious, and could not be roused in the
slightest degree. Dr. Forbes washed the stomach out
thoroughly, tried galvanism, artificial respiration, and
cold affusion, without any effect in restoring consciousness.
The treatment prolonged the action of the heart and
lungs, but the stimulation became less and less effectual,
and death occurred at five o’clock next morning. A
post-mortem examination was made forty-eight hours
after death. The lungs were extensively congested, and
the left heart full of a soft, whitish clot. The arteries
were slightly atheromatous. The stomach contained
some undigested food; its walls were pale; and both
stomach and contents smelt strongly of chlorodyne. The
liver was intensely congested. The spleen and kidneys
were not much affected. — Medical Times and Gazette.

Supposed Poisoning by Laudanum.

On Thursday, May 26, an inquest was held at the
Sessions House, Westminster, before F. S. Langham,
Esq. , Deputy-Coroner, on the bodies of William Taylor,
late a dispenser at the Army and Navy Stores, and
Elizabeth, his wife.

Mrs. Bignall, 47, Morton Terrace, Pimlico, said both
the deceased had lodged with her about thirteen months.
Just after twelve o’clock on Friday night or Saturday
morning, the 21st inst., she heard a noise downstairs, she
went down and saw that the husband was dying, and ran
to fetch Dr. Hunt. On returning, he was dead. He had
been unwell all the time he lodged there, and had been
in the hospital for a month before Christmas. He was
thirty-four, and his wife thirty-six. In less than half an
hour the wife became delirious, and was so the whole
night; about half -past six she dropped asleep, and did
not wake again. She had been a great sufferer from some
internal complaint.

Mr. J. H. Redding, assistant to Dr. Hunt, deposed
to seeing the deceased man on the Saturday morning
at about one o’clock. He was quite dead. The wife
was in a very excited state, but she seemed pretty welh
About three he was sent for again, and found her very
sick and faint, and then took Dr. Hunt to see her.
About half-past six or seven he was again sent for, and
found her quite dead.

Dr. John Hunt, M.R.C.S., L.S.A., said he had
made a post-mortem examination of the bodies. When
he first went he was informed that a bottle of lauda¬
num had been found. He heard from the landlady
that the deceased had been dispenser at the Army and
Navy Stores, and afterwards had joined the Army Service
Corps. He noticed no smell of laudanum from the mouth.
On making a post-mortem examination he found the brain
very soft; the lungs were healthy; the heart somewhat
flabby ; the liver about three times its natural size, and
much congested ; the stomach was healthy, but with the
exception of being congested, there was no odour from the
stomach. The kidneys were diseased ; the other organs
were healthy. He concluded that the deceased had been
a very persistent drinker, and had not eaten much. He
believed he died from a sudden attack of faintness, con¬
sequent on persistent drinking. He had since made an
examination of the stomach, and found no trace of opium.
When he went to see Mrs. Taylor, he found her in a

May 28, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

997

state of almost hysterical mania, and very sick and faint.
She had taken one dose of medicine, and they persuaded
her to take another. She died as had been described. A
4 •post-mortem examination showed that she had diseased
lungs; very feeble heart; liver congested; stomach
healthy, but empty; kidneys healthy; but she had a
large fibrous cancer in the uterus. He had no doubt that
she died of shock to the system in consequence of the
sudden death of her husband. She was quite conscious
when he first saw her, and she told him she did not
think her husband had taken any laudanum for some
time. It was quite possible he might have taken it
occasionally. A person given to drink often did.

The jury, having consulted, wished to know where the
bottle was found.

Police Constable George Ellis deposed that he was
called in and found the bottle produced on the table ; it
bore the label “ Tincture of Opium, B.P.,” it had no
other label. The cork was not dry. The woman
said her husband had been drinking heavily for three
days : also that he had been in the habit of taking
something to make him sleep. She did not know that
he had taken any that night.

'rlie landlady, recalled, said she had not seen the bottle

The jury returned a verdict of death from natural
causes in the case of the wife, and in the case of the
husband of death from excessive drinking.

that it undergoes no change, either chemically or
physically, but I will not be dogmatic on the point.

Vaseline Junior.

[549]. Probably a 3vj. mixture was intended.

“374.”

[549]. In reply to “ Cymro,” I think the prescription
is intended for a §vj. mixture, as the quantities are nearer
to that quantity than to 8 ounces.

Ferrum.

[550]. The following prescription, when dispensed by a
London house, appears as a perfectly bright and clear
mixture. Being unable to obtain a like result, I ask the
opinion of your correspondents : —

R Vini Ferri . ^iss.

Syr. Simplicis . 5iiss.

Liq. Fowleri . 3iss.

Aquae Puras . 31 j.

M.

“ Provincial.”

gisprasrag |fiunoranba.

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column was established,
considerable latitude's allowed, according to promise , in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And we would suggest that those who meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[541]. If W. C. W. uses 3iv. of mucilage (equivalent
to Zij. of gum acacia) and forms an emulsion with it and
the ol. olivae, and then adds the pot. bicarb, (previously
dissolved in part of the aqua) shaking the bottle
constantly, [he will get a nice-looking emulsion, which

will not separate. ~~

r M. H. Jones.

[541]. I should triturate the ol. olivae with the gum.
acaciae in a mortar, and having dissolved the potassae
bicarb, in the water, should then add gradually that
solution so as to form a presentable emulsion. ^ (j

0 1

[551]. Which is intended in the following prescription,
tinct. ferri acet., B.P., or liq. ferri acet., Ph. Ger. ? —

R Liq. Ferri Acet . 3*0 •

Tinct. Nucis Vom . 3j*

riEth. Chlor . 30.

Aquae . ad §vj.

M. Coch. mag. j. ter die post cibum.

J. M. J.

[552]. Will someone kindly inform me as to the
reason of the following mixture becoming solid on
standing for a few minutes, and what product is pro¬
duced : —

R Sol. Mag. Sulph. (1-2) . ^ss.

Spt. riEther. Nit. 5 . 3®s.

M.

HoO.

(JoraspBixbma*

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

[542] If “ Tick ” were to dispense the prescription as it
was written and not trouble about how it has been dis¬
pensed before, I do not think he could be wrong.

The Election of the Council.

Sir _ As a remedy for the statement made in last week’s

Journal, “ That more than half the voting papers sent out
were not returned,” I would suggest that the collecting of
papers be entrusted to the Local Secretaries, and should
they not have sent them in to head-quarters before a few
days prior to the election, then let the Secretary apply for

^This plan would secure a maximum of votes, and, I think,
tend to arouse greater interest in the affairs of the Society.
Derby. J- A- CopE-

[544] I think that this might be dispensed either way.
Acid. nit. mur. dil. is in more frequent use than aqua

regia.

“374.”

[545]. I do not see on what grounds “ Inquirer’ would
be justified in refusing to dispense this prescription^ ^

[547]. The best excipient for these pills, in my opinion,
is bread crumb and a little simple syrup. ^

[5481 In reply to “ Vaseline,” I should say that vase-
ine is a very good basis for ung. sulph. hypochlor., and

Sir —In looking oyer the record of past years of the
Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society it will be found
that attention has more than once been called to the large
Dumber of its members who are either too busy, too
indifferent, or tco idle to exercise the privilege of recording
their votes in favour of those whom they believe to be
worthy of their confidence. Unfortunately the year 1881 is
no exception to the general rule, and once more the Council
steps into office with the dead weight of nearly two thousand
unrecorded votes to act as an incubus throughout a period
which has perhaps never before been equalled for its burden
of anxiety, and its promise of real work.

If it were possible that a successful candidate for parlia¬
mentary honours could, in the retrospect of his election.

998

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 28, 1881.

remember that considerably more than one half of his
constituents refrained from voting he would probably be
ready to admit that there was something not altogether
sound in the affairs of a constituency so remarkable
eccentric at the polling booth; the fact alone would be
sufficient to make him dispirited, and to dull the flame of
that enthusiasm which but a few days before was burning
brightly on behalf of his constituents’ interests. To a
pharmacist, the constitution of the Government of his
country is, at the present time, scarcely of so much moment
as the constitution of the Pharmaceutical Society, for the
simple reason that whilst the pharmacist may be looking
towards the Government for a redress of his wrongs, the
Government, in the natural course of things, will turn
towards the Pharmaceutical Society for its guidance upon
questions concerning which the Council of that body is best
able to advise.

If this is a correct interpretation of our position, and I
believe it cannot be denied, how is it that so many fail to
realize the great necessity of lending to the Council of
the Pharmaceutical Society the whole weight of their
authority ?

Probably, in a short time, we shall be fated to hear, as
we have often before heard, that the Council is not a
representative body; if it was not representative in 1879,
or 1880, it certainly is not representative in 1881 ; but it must
not be forgotten that thei’e are nearly two thousand of its
constituents who do not possess the right of saying whether
it is representative or not, because they have not stirred a
muscle to alter its character. So likewise the general con¬
duct of the Council becomes the text throughout the year for
many volumes of argumentative discourse, and, as a rule,
in a mixed assembly it is not singular to find those who
consider that the Council is the personification of all that
is effete, and its component parts, every individual amongst
them, not worth their salt. Even indulgence in the
luxury of “ growling ” must be denied to those who
refused to bring a single brick to assist in the erection of
the temple of their anathemas.

I am fully aware that the truth is not always palatable,
and possibly some amongst the dormant two thousand, to
whom I more particularly address myself, will awake to
feel indignant that they should be challenged in their un¬
disputed right to do just as they please, and I would
remind them that if they are content to fold their arms
and watch the struggle they can have no claim whatever to
rush in and hinder the final coup de grace. Some may say
“I did not know the candidates ; how can I vote for those I
know nothing of?” If so, they must remember that many in
the list submitted to them were old, tried and trusty
friends — men who had done good service to pharmacy,
and, if God wills, will yet do more— and to say that they do
not know those, and have not years ago formed opinions as
to their qualifications and their capabilities, is to confess
that they have not rightly understood the duties which
devolve upon members of the Pharmaceutical Society. As
the strength of a river depends upon its contributory streams
and streamlets, 1 would pray the members of the Society,
as thoughtful men, to be more earnest in the vocation to
which they, at least, are called, remembering that there is
no possibility of sounding the advance till the vanguard is
properly supported by the masses in the rear.

Thus once again have we started, upon an arduous
mission, a body of our brother pharmacists competent to
work out for us that emancipation which we claim, not as
a favour, but as a clear, distinct and certain right ; the
result of their endeavours is scarcely doubtful if (and the
little word is here omnipotent) every member of the Society
does his utmost towards the furtherance of the same end.
Twelve short months will scarcely do it, but it should find
us well on the road ; our leaders at any rate will pause,
even as soon as that, for a new lease of power to urge
them forward, and, if needs be, will welcome the workers
you may send to help them in their toil ; but in granting
them the stimulus of your confidence or in sending them
others from your ranks, I beseech you, gentlemen, do not
add the skeleton of two thousand unrecorded votes.
Kilburn, N.W. Charles B. Allen.

The Annual Meeting.

Sir, — Even at the risk of having my letter as usual
thrown into your waste paper basket, I write to congratu¬
late the members of the Society on the decision arrived at

against the erection of the tablets on which the names of
donors to the Benevolent Fund were to be written and in¬
decently exposed to public gaze. I can imagine the
anxiety of a company of cheesemongers or greengrocers to
have the names of their great ones exposed to the ken of
the gaping crowd, but I fail to appreciate the vulgarity of
such a proceeding on the parts of educated pharmacists.
By all means honour our successful students in the way
proposed, but true charity blushes at the suggestion of
being emblazoned in such Beaconsfield-like “emblems of
vainglory.” I doubt not there are many donors of 5s. or
10a. to whom the sums named mean much more than £20
does to richer men.

Had I been able to attend the Annual Meeting it was
my intention to invite attention to the arbitrary exercise of
power by the Editor of the Journal over the insertion of
letters. If a correspondent dares to criticize the official
conduct of certain members of the Council, his letter is
cast on one side. I mentioned this matter recently to an
influential member of the Society, who agreed with me
that the Society’s Journal was far from being an impartial
medium of communicatipn. Our official organ should steer
clear of parties.

Leominster. M. J. Ellwood.

Analytical Certificates.

Sir, — Mr. Wells, at the recent Annual Meeting, in the
course of a “growl,” as he termed it, at the Council,
my colleague and myself, said he thought it derogatory
that I should sign my name, at all events as a Pro¬
fessor of the Society, to what he termed “ puffs of
proprietary preparations, ” appending it, for example,
to the report on a certain farinaceous food the greater
portion of which, he said, was nothing but lentils. I
should be sorry to do what is here suggested. Mr. Wells
accuses me of signing a puff and of giving a misleading
certificate, and then, logically enough, thinks I should not
associate the Society’s name with my own. The simple
answer is a denial of having done anything of the kind.
If the food was of the character he has rashly said it is
my certificate of it would no doubt be derogatory to me
and to the Society. Mr. Wells’s premisses are wrong. I
have not knowingly and in the offensive sense of the word
given a puffing certificate, while I indignantly repudiate the
charge of having given a misleading certificate. And as I
have done nothing derogatory myself I need not add I have
not associated the name of the Society with anything
derogatory. My critic, however, means well and therefore
deserves something more than a mere denial of his accusa¬
tion. He has, doubtless, seen questionable reports
appended to advertisements, and has not perhaps quite
sufficiently distinguished between things different. None
know better than analytical chemists themselves, and none
more regret that misleading analytical certificates have
more than once been published; hence analysts have
recently, Mr. Wells and others will be glad to know, taken
steps to avoid anything so discreditable to all concerned.
A conference on the subject, to which nearly every prac¬
tising analyst in the country was invited, has recently been
held. With scarcely an exception those present were in
favour of sound certificates for publication being granted,
for the widespread and legitimate demand of the public for
them was recognized; the demand, that is, that vended
articles of the quality of which consumers cannot easily
judge should be certified to be what they are stated to be
by an analytical chemist in a public position, or whose
reputation suffices for the desired guarantee. Previous
disinclination by such men to meet the demand was seen to
result in the issue of untrustworthy certificates, the work
being liable to fall into incompetent and unworthy hands.
And a general understanding was manifested that the giving
of certificates for publication should be accompanied by
conditions which would prevent abuse. A printed copy
of the proceedings was afterwards sent to everyone who
had been invited to the Conference. Good men may
now, therefore, be expected to give these reports, unless
indeed their salaries or their private means allow of them
indulging the desire to avoid publicity. Besides my own
name, the names of two gentlemen of unquestionable
eminence and honour appear in the advertisement columns
of the Journal containing Mr. Wells’s remarks, the one
well known at the University of Edinburgh and Vice-
President of a learned society, the other not unknown in

May 28, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

999

connection with the foundation of the Victoria University
and President of a great scientific society, and both, like
myself, honorary members of the Pharmaceutical Society or
Great Britain. The names also of three chemists in official
positions, together with the names of the bodies to the
staffs of which they are attached, are there given side by
side. When good men give sound certificates surely they
may append or omit at pleasure the names of the re¬
spective institutions and societies with which they may be
connected.

John Attfield.

The Annual Meeting.

Sir, — I have read with some interest the account of the
proceedings at the Annual General Meeting, and shall deem
it a favour to be allowed a little space for a few remarks.
The ill-humoured and grumbling speech of Mr. Smith, will,

I think, be read by most with a feeling of utter disgust.
The little loss on getting the Journal out seems to affect
him as much as if the cost came out of his personal ex¬
chequer. Then he growls because his assistants read his
Journal, and pitch their own into the waste paper basket ;
this certainly is very bad, for to wilfully throw aside the
well- written organ of an eminent Society can only be^com-
pared to cutting up the New Testament to wrap pen¬
n’orths ” in. His assistants’ journals are an “ unmitigated
nuisance” because they cost only half what lie himself
pays. This sort of “ schoolboy jealousy ” is highly unbe¬
coming in a man who is proprietor of a business capable of
keeping one or more assistants. The idea. of ventilating a
domestic grievance at the Annual Meeting is, I think,
childish in the extreme. ... „

His notion of the Minor examination is a queer one. He
thinks the apprentice ought to pass this on the expiration
of his apprenticeship. I should like to. know where the
average apprentice in the country is to gain his special and
practical knowledge in the subjects required. Mere reading,
he must know, is not sufficient to enable one to pass, and
experimental chemistry behind the counter to a boy appren¬
tice without the aid of a tutor is so much child s play,
especially as the average country chemist know no more
of analysis than he does of Greek.

Mr. Ur wick, who adopts a very much better tone than
Mr. Smith, tells us that the Council did very right in
spending the £800 in prosecuting the stores, as they now
know where they are. If they had looked a little ahead
they would have seen where they now are, for nothing is
clearer than the Pharmacy Act on the subject. The stores
employ not only a qualified manager for their drug depart¬
ment, but all their assistants are qualified;, this. compares
favourably with the best houses in Londen m point of effi¬
ciency of Btaflf. , , , . , ,

He says the public must be protected. What better
evidence of protection does he require than the qualifaca
tion of the whole staff? The amendment to the Pharmacy
Act would, if passed, provide an entire remedy; but 1 am
afraid the present Government have too great a load upon
their shoulders to enable them to get out of their own diffi¬
culties and confusion, to say nothing of introducing our
“ Amended Act.” Perhaps if that “ Bradlaugh was re-
moved, locked up, or something, we might then see just the

ghost of a chance. . . . ,

Mr. Wells’s question— that he should like to know
whether there was such a firm as Godfrey and Cooke ran
be easily answered. The business is the property of a
colonel in the army, and is managed by a qualified man
and assistants, and as such is no more an evasion of the
Act than the stores are, in the present state of the law.

I fear I have trespassed considerably upon your valuable
space by the length of this letter, but should you see fit to

publish it you have the many thanks of „

* A Qualified Chemist.

much relaxed, and that with the exception of a large dis¬
pensing counter no exhibit had been refused.

As our experience is decidedly at variance with, these
remarks, we trust you will afford us the opportunity of
correcting them.

As soon as the Exhibition was advertised, we sent in an
application for space to exhibit some large crystals cf
iodine, and fine specimens of various “scale” compounds
of iron. After an interval of some weeks we were informed
that the Committee considered that these substances had
no claim to novelty, and were therefore inadmissible as ex¬
hibits. Although this announcement was counter to the
resolution to which we have referred, seeing that we exhi¬
bited the same articles last year, when they were stated by
the Pharmaceutical Journal and other reports to be
amongst the most interesting and attractive objects in the
section, we should not have raised any protest.. We admit
that the Exhibition Committee were clearly within their right
in determining what class of objects should be admitted and
what rejected. But when we find that other firms were
allowed to exhibit precisely the same substances which were
denied to us, we think we have just cause to complain that
the action of the Committee savours of partiality. The
chemicals we proposed to send were certainly not ‘ ‘ novel,
but if the Committee congratulated itself upon having re¬
stricted the Exhibition to “novelties,” we imagine the
majority of visitors were not flattered by the presumption.

Apart from any personal feeling in the matter, we would
venture to suggest that on future occasions the Committee
might possibly do as much to promote the interests of phar¬
macy by encouraging the exhibition of pharmaceutical
products, and so stimulating manufacturers to aim at
perfection, as by further developing the attempt to trans¬
form the Society’s house into a coffee tavern.

Fletcher, Fletcher and Stevenson.

The Proposed Record of Donations to the
Benevolent Fund.

Sir —When I entered the Society’s house in the early
morning of Wednesday, the 18th inst., it was with con¬
siderable pleasure that I noticed on a black board which
had just been placed on the wall at the entrance, amongst
others, the name of one who in life, I remember, was
looked up to and held in the highest esteem for his generous
character and sterling worth; not, indeed, chalked up m
the manner that one is accustomed to note symbols ana
chemical formulae, but most beautifully emblazoned in
golden letters, recording his last act and deed on behail ot
the Society he himself had assisted in founding. I was,
therefore, a little surprised (as I did not stay for the
Annual Meeting) to find that Mr. Carteighe had raised
objections, and proposed a . resolution to take down this
board, on the principle that it is not good to publish such

86 Ir^ a sense I believe he is right ; but in the main I am
convinced that the Council have acted very judiciously in
carrying out the plan for noting such contributions, and
having, moreover, carried it unanimously throu-,
mittee, I feel that it deserves the hearty support of all

jjhannacist^e to^ ^ a board being piaced in the

laboratories mentioning the names of successful prizemen,
not, indeed, to flatter any man’s vanity as an advertisement,
but rather as a record of attained eminence for the encou¬
ragement of others, thus reflecting honour upon the school

and the practical nature of the teaching of the Pro^ssog*
t _ _ t.i. +Viof. flip resolution passed at the las

The Exhibition.

Sir — In your repo it of the discussion which took place
at the last Council meeting, relative to the arrangements
for the Exhibition, it is stated (page 925) that the Com¬
mittee had resolved to admit all articles which had been
previously exhibited, as many persons might be present
who had not visited the last Exhibition.” We observe also
that both the President and Mr. Butt were at great pains
to point out that the regulations this year had been very

I suppose, sir,

that the resolution passed at the last
Annual" Meeting will lead to a re -consideration of the
matter in Council, and if I may venture a suggestion, I
would add, let us by all means have a board n*ec^n|
names of all past and present Presidents and Vice-rresi
Ss, for surely it is a good thing for the younge: '
to be reminded by those names of men who, in times less
favoureTthan our own, fought and won . for the future
generation of pharmacists that position wffichbut fox ^ their
co-operation and goodly services we might not at the pre

"grpass7nPyv-ery rapidly indeed nowaday, and I
tbi*nk it a healthy sign that our Council should desire to do

something really pr^tical by way of linking the honoured
and respected ntmes of the past with the progress of the

fU3“ Baker Street, W. A. "W. Postans.

1000

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[May 28, 1881.
—

Assistants’ Salaries.

Sir, — As I am about to leave the drug trade, having
been in it for ten years as an apprentice and assistant,
may I be allowed an opportunity of expressing my dis¬
satisfaction at the amount of salary chemists’ assistants
receive as compared with men in other businesses.

While a boy is at school it is usual for his parents or
guardians to decide upon the line of business he is to follow,
and he is educated accordingly. Suppose the choice falls
upon the drug business. He is prepared for, and passes the
Preliminary examination. Then comes his apprenticeship.
To effect this in a good house a premium of £80 to
£130 or £150 must be laid out.

During his apprenticeship, and immediately it has
expired he is expected to prepare himself for and pass the
Minor examination.

He then takes a situation as an assistant and receives a
salary of say £30 to £40.

Take another case. Let it be that of a youth who goes
as an apprenti ce to a draper. He has during his apprenticeship
shorter hours, no Sunday work, and in many cases half-a-
day’s holiday each week. He completes his apprenticeship
and goes as an assistant. He passes no examinations and
all that is required of him is a good knowledge of arith¬
metic and that he be a good salesman. He receives in
return for his first year’s service a salary equal to that
which a chemist can only command after years spent in the
prosecution of studies to fit him for the responsible position
he holds.

The chemist works from twelve to fourteen hours a day ;
has to take Sunday work, and does not expect any increase
of salary in proportion to his extended knowledge gained by
experience. I myself live in the leading suburb of the largest
manufacturing town in England. I know scores of men,
my own age and younger, who are engaged in the wholesale
cotton business. Several were brought up to the retail
drapery and have since gone into wholesale warehouses.
These men can now obtain from £200 to £350 per annum,
(outdoor), but we in our calling, which is supposed to be the
leading retail businees, can never approach near to them,
nor can we obtain much more money in the wholesale.

The outside public are, very wrongly, under the impres¬
sion that chemists pay their assistants in proportion to the
profits which accrue from their businesses, and taking into
consideration the number of hours they work, it should
be so.

This, I need not remark, is certainly not the case, I am
fully aware that at the present time chemists in business in
some localities have a great deal to contend with, such as
opposition from co-operative societies, and the patent
medicine question, but speaking of good dispensing busi¬
nesses, I see no reason why assistants in such should not
be paid equally as well as drapers or grocers.

1 am at present managing a branch business, I have
thirteen hours’ work a day, 1 dispense on an average two-
hundred prescriptions a week (I will leave chemists to
iudge what profit is made from them), I take alternate
Sunday duty, and receive in return for this £40 per annum,
indoor.

"What inducement, I would ask, is there for young men,
without good prospects, to enter the trade, and what
opportunity is there of saving money out of one’s earnings?

If by your giving publicity to this letter (which, I am sure,
expresses the opinions of hundreds of men now in the
business), it may be the means of bringing about a better
state of things for chemists’ assistants, 1 shall be amply
repaid for my trouble, although, personally I shall not
benefit by it.

Will anyone more capable than myself take the matter
up ? I feel sure, if assistants would combine and argue for
themselves, they might do much to improve the condition,
monetarily, of a very underpaid class of servants.

A Revolutionist.

which I may name Pereira’s ‘ Materia Medica,’ Hanbury
and Fliickiger’s ‘ Pharmacographia,’ Watt’s ‘ Dictionary of
Chemistry,’ including the two completed supplements, Dr.
Ure’s 4 Dictionary,’ Gmelin’s ‘ Handbook of Chemistry,’
the ‘Year-Books of Pharmacy’; also the Journal of the
Chemical Society, the Pharmaceutical Journal, and Che¬
mical News for many years past.

Since their letter appeared, I have asked chemists who
are specialists in the analysis of oil, and they one and all
tell me that they have never heard of the test. So much,
therefore, for it being “ well-known.”

However, after a careful and diligent search of over two
hours, in a well-stocked chemical library, I found it men¬
tioned, in the ‘ Chemisches Central-Blat,’ 1873, in an article
by G. Glassner, where it is given under the name of
Hanchecorne (not Hanchecorne) as follows : — “Three parts
nitric acid, 40° (? Baume) is mixed with 1 part of distilled
water, and heated in a water-bath, with 3 parts of the oil
to be tested. Olive oil remains yellow, while seed oils be¬
come red.”

How, therefore, my test can be termed a “ slightly
modified form ” of this, I quite fail to see ; but whatever
the Messrs. Stoddarts’ opinion may be on this point, I am
quite satisfied that they will find it a very great improve¬
ment on Hauchecorne’ s, if they will have the goodness to
give it a trial.

In reference to the latter part of their letter, which is
extremely vague, I may say that I have been unable to
discover any published scheme or remarks by the Messrs.
Stoddart on the adulteration of oils.

31, Fleet Street, Liverpool. Michael Conroy.

Testing of Olive Oil.

Sir, — Previous to the publication of Messrs. F. W. and
A. F. Stoddart’s letter in your last issue, I was quite un¬
aware of the existence of what they are pleased to call
Hanchecorne’s “well-known” test, and, I think, sir, that
my ignorance on this score is pardonable when I failed to
find it mentioned in any English standard work, amongst

1

1

T. Deighton. — The editorial department is not re¬
sponsible for the despatch of Journals. In case of any
irregularity occurring application should be made to the
Secretary.

Peter MacEwen. — We fail to perceive any such irregu¬
larity as you imagine in the proceeding referred to in your
letter, and cannot concur with you in the assumption upon
which your opinion is based.

A.B.C. — The two forms sent are the common oxlip and
the cowslip. See Sowerby’s ‘Botany,’ where both are
figured. The true Jacquin’s or Bardweil oxlip is an eastern
species in England.

Elgina. — The dispensing of creasote in pills has been
fully discussed in the “Dispensing Memoranda.” See the
index of vol. viii., under the head “ Creasote in Pills.”

Lux. — We know of no Buch solvent.

W. B. Stonham. — We have not the works mentioned in
our possession, but we believe there are copies in the
Society’s library, which you might borrow upon application
to the Librarian.

H. Heale. — We do not know the name and address of the
maker referred to.

T. Weaver. — The initials appear to belong to the class of
things that “ no fellow can understand.”

G.T.B., Grimsby. — Phosphorus Paste. — The following is
said by Cooley to have the sanction of the Prussian
Government: phosphorus, 8 parts ; water (lukewarm), 180
parts ; mix in a mortar and add of rye meal, 180 parts :
when cold add, further, butter or lard, 180 parts ; sugar,
125 parts : mix the whole thoroughly.

“ Quercus ” should have sent his name and address.

Bulhosa. — An aqueous solution of perchloride of platinum,
used with a quill pen, has been recommended. Several other
recipes are to be found in Cooley and Beasley.

G. H. Jones.— Membership of the United Society of
Chemists and Druggists in 1867 would not, in itself, confer
any right in respect to registration under the Pharmacy
Act, 1868.

G. Hicking. — Attfield’s ‘ Chemistry.’

“ Puzzled .” — Information respecting Professor Lister’s
Boracic Acid Ointment will be found in vol. viii., pp. 743,
782, 822, and other places.

I

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Bush and Co., Wilford, Reynolds, Hutchinson,
Jones, Heale, H. C. H., Chemicus, Inquirer, Aurum,
Annual.

June 4, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1001

PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION IN
RUSSIA.

BY HENRY G. GREENISH.

One of the most important questions at present
under discussion in pharmaceutical circles is that of
the education required by a pharmacist. Is this
to be attained in special schools of pharmacy, or in
the universities ; and should the instruction in the
latter be received in specially arranged pharma-
; ceutical laboratories from men who have themselves
been educated as pharmacists, or do the professors
of chemistry, botany, etc., and the chemical labora¬
tories as at present existing suffice for the object in
view ?

Some years ago the subject was under consideration
in this country (Russia). So early as 1842, when
the conviction presented itself that the education of
the pharmacist did not meet the requirements of
the times, it was determined to try the matter experi¬
mentally, and it is to this determination that the
Pharmaceutical Institute of the Dorpat University
owes its foundation.

The reason for choosing the University of Dorpat
for this experiment is to be found in the fact that
at that time at least two thirds of the pharmacists of
the Russian Empire were of German nationality,
mostly belonging to the Baltic Provinces, and the
University of Dorpat is the one university of Russia
in which the German language is spoken through¬
out.

The following were the considerations which
guided the formation of this Pharmaceutical
Institute : —

1. That the students of pharmacy (although they
may not have completed the entire course of instruc¬
tion in the gymnasium*) should possess all the rights
of students.

The candidate for the matriculation examination
(who must have completed the whole course of study
in the gymnasium) must be able to express his
thoughts in Latin, German, and Russian, verbally
and in writing, without serious blunders. He must
be able to translate Tacitus, Horace, Livy, Homer
(Iliad), and Sophocles without difficulty. In mathe¬
matics he must be acquainted with plane and solid
geometry, plane trigonometry and indeterminate
equations.

The “ Quarta ” of the gymnasium is the standard
for. the apprentice about to enter a pharmacy. He
must be acquainted in Latin with the conjugations,
declensions, etc., and the principles of syntax ; in
Greek with the elements of Greek grammar; and
with the more important part of German and
Russian grammar ; in mathematics, calculations with
whole indices, the relations of the polygon to its
sides, special forms of quadrilateral figures, etc.

It was the conviction that the student after
entering the pharmacy at the age of about fifteen
would have opportunity in three or four years
as an apprentice, and three years as an assistant
to fill up as fully as necessary the gaps in his
education. Moreover when, at the end of his
apprenticeship, he had given evidence in the assis¬
tants’ examination (Gehulfen-exam) of scientific
ability, it was considered after the expiration of his

. * a. “ Gymnasium ” is a school recognized by Govern¬

ment as affording suitable education, especially for such as
intend passing the matriculation examination and studying
at a university. The teachers may or may not be paid by
Government.

Third Series, No. 571.

time as apprentice and assistant he would have
reached that time of life which may be assumed to
possess a certain mental maturity, and to stimulate
him to an earnest and conscientious use of the
advantages offered by the University.

2. That the students of pharmacy should have
access to all lectures delivered in the University,
and that they should be especially directed to attend
those on pharmacy, chemistry, botany, zoology, and
mineralogy.

3. In addition to these lectures, which they would
attend in common with students of medicine,
physico-mathematics and natural history, special
opportunity should be afforded them of receiving
instruction in pharmacy, pharmaceutical chemistry,
and materia medica, and of carrying out practically
such analytical work as might be required of a
pharmacist.

On this account a special pharmaceutical institute
was added as an integral part of the University, and
a professorship of pharmacy founded. Of this
professor it was required that he should have
received the practical as well as theoretical education
of a pharmacist.

After the lapse of thirty-eight years since the
foundation of this Institute, after it has been
under the management of four separate directors,
after many hundreds of pharmacists have here
completed their education, it would be quite
possible on the basis of experience so acquired to
give an answer to the question under discussion.
In point of fact, in Russia, not only pharmacists in
general but also the higher “medicinal Behorde”
have declared themselves in favour of a university
course of study for a pharmacist. Lately, too, with
reference to the reform of the universities, the
highest “ Medicinal rath ” has declared itself in
favour of their being remodelled on the type of that
at present existing at Dorpat,

In reference to this it might be proper here to
notice more closely the Dorpat University as suited
for the education of a pharmacist. It must first be
remarked that the classes from which the majority
of the students of pharmacy spring are not the more
well-to-do. Most young men who embrace the
career of a pharmacist are the sons of tradesmen,
etc., who have not the means to devote a large sum
to their study. This being so, and as the three or
four years as apprentice and three years as assistant
should be made use of to acquire a scientific ground¬
work, the endeavour has been made to offer students
the opportunity to acquire in the shortest possible
time the greatest possible amount of scientific know¬
ledge. On this account the plan of study (Studien-
plan) for a student of pharmacy embraces only three
semesters, or a year and a half, after the lapse of which
the student may present himself for his Provisor
examination, which confers upon him the privilege
of being entitled to undertake the management of
a pharmacy. I say “may” present himself, not
“ must.” The student, who at the end of this period
is not prepared to present himself, or whose means
allow of it, can study two or three years.

Formerly the plan of study was fixed in con¬
junction with the other faculties, and evidence was
required of the candidate that he had attended
lectures and received practical instruction as pre¬
scribed. Sixteen years ago, however, freedom of
study was introduced into the Dorpat University, in
consequence of which it is optional to the student

1002

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

June 4, 1881

which lectures he shall attend, and it is only required
of him that he shall have attended lectures or
worked practically in the laboratory during at least
six hours weekly. This principle has been retained
by the students of pharmacy also. The result has
been, almost without exception, that not only those
lectures recommended in the plan of study have
been attended, but also lectures on other subjects
interesting to the student.

Opportunity to attend such lectures has been
afforded them by another introduction into the
University which has existed for sixteen years, that
of “freedom of instruction.” The professor of a
subject is required to deliver within a specified
time all the lectures of the subject he represents
appearing in the plan of study ; but he has also
the right to deliver such lectures as may appear to
him likely to be of use to his students.

In addition to professorships there exist (as in Ger¬
man}) also “Docenturen” and “ Privatdocenturen.”
The occupants of these positions either partici¬
pate with the professor in delivering lectures on
the general subject or deliver lectures on special
branches of it. In pharmacy, for instance, lectures
are delivered by one “Docent” and one “Privatdo-
cent,” in addition to the professor. The plan of study
for the students of pharmacy embraces the following
subjects : —

I. Semester.

Hours.

weekly.

Pharmaceutical Propadeutik . . Docent Masing . . 2

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical

Chemistry I . Prof. Dragendorff . 5

Inorganic Chemistry . ,, C. Schmidt . 5

Physics I . „ A. von Oettin-

gen . . - 4

General Botany . ,, Russow ... 5

Practical Instruction in Pharma¬
ceutical Institute . ,, Dragendorff . 4

If. Semester.

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical

Chemistry II . Prof. Dragendorff . 5

Organic Chemistry . ,, C. Schmidt . 5

Physics II . ,, A. von Oettin-

gen ... 3

Pharmaceutical Botany .... , , Russow ... 3

Mineralogy . ,, Grewingk . . 3

Practical Instruction in the

Pharmaceutical Institut 3. . . ,, Dragendorff . 4

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical

Chemistry III . ,, Dragendorff . 5

Analytical Chemistry . ,, C. Schmidt . G

Materia Medica . ,, Dragendorff . 3

Zoology . ,, Flor .... 3

The Rendering of Prompt Assist¬
ance till the Arrival of the Phy¬
sician . Docent Dr Reyher. 1

Practical Instruction in the Che¬
mical Laboratory ..... Prof. C. Schmidt . 6

In addition to the above most important branches
the following are also recommended to the student -

Hours

weekly.

History of Pharmacy . Prof. Dragendorff . 2

Practical Instruction in the Use of
the Microscope, and Botanical
Excursions . ,, Russow.

But, in addition to these, other lectures are
delivered, and are attended by the majority of
students.

For instance, in 1878: — -

Hours.

weekly.

Toxicological Chemistry .... Prof. Dragendorff . 3

Practical Stoichiometry .... Docent Masing
The Relations between the Phy¬
sical and Chemical Properties of

Bodies . ,,

Chemical and V olumetric Analysis , ,

Chemical Estimation of Organic
and Inorganic Medicaments . Privatdocent Johanson.

It is hardly necessary to remark that the student

can also attend lectures on technical, physiological,
and agricultural chemistry, etc., etc. The time for
practical work in the laboratory (four hours weekly)
is not limited, and permission is readily given to the
student who wishes to work beyond this time. The
only reason for stating a time is that the payment
is regulated thereby, and it was desirable to make
this as moderate as possible. The payment is one
rouble per semester for every hour per week, to the
professor or docent. For practical instruction, a
similar sum has also to be paid to the good of the
laboratory. A student in his first semester attending
all the lectures in the studienplan would have 29
roubles (equivalent at the present rate of exchange
to about £2 18s.), and in addition to this 5 roubles
(10s.) to the good of the University. The Council
or Senate of the University undertakes the receipt
of all these payments.

The examinations are entered for in the Uni¬
versity, and take place after the completion of the
period of study at special times, usually once a month.
The professor and docent of pharmacy, the professors
of chemistry, physics, botany, zoology, and miner¬
alogy, with the docent who lectures on the “Render¬
ing of Prompt Assistance,” act as examiners. The
practical part of the examination (the preparation
of several chemicals, qualitative, quantitative and
toxicological analysis) takes place in the Pharmaceu¬
tical Institute. A fee for the examination is not
required ; 5 roubles only have to be paid by the
candidate to the Institute for material used.

The number of students has, of late, much in¬
creased. Whilst at the time when the present
professor of pharmacy first entered upon office there
were in the semester on the average thirty-five
matriculated students of pharmacy, the number is
now over a hundred. As this has taken place
at a period when the press of students to phar¬
macy has diminished, and notwithstanding that the
examinations at Dorpat are notably more severe
than elsewhere, the students of pharmacy appear to
have recognized the fact that the curriculum at
Dorpat is of advantage to them inasmuch they are
thoroughly educated in their special department, and
by communication with professors of all sciences
and students of all faculties their general education
is also advanced. For the state, which, as in general is
the case upon the continent, feels itself bound to pro¬
vide for scientific education, the arrangement of this
University has the advantage that only a professor of
pharmacy and a pharmaceutical institute have to be
added to the means requisite to every university to
ensure a thorough scientific education for the phar¬
macist.

The small means here available would hardly
allow of the institution of a special pharmaceutical
school.

As I have above remarked, the introduction of
the arrangements existing in Dorpat into the other
Russian Universities has been already assented to,
and in this matter the opinions of the Professor of
Pharmacy and of the Council of the University in
Dorpat had, of course, been taken into consideration.
Nevertheless the following alterations appeared
judicious.

In the first instance it has been generally recog¬
nized as desirable that the student of pharmacy
should possesses the knowledge required by the
“ Seeunda” in the gymnasium, and that the time of
study should be prolonged from three to four

June 4, 1S81.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1003

semesters (two years). The following plan for this
prolonged course of study has been proposed by
Professor Dragendorff, and met with the approval of
all authorities.

I. Semester.

Hours

Weekly.

General Botany . 5

General (Inorganic) Chemistry . 5

Physics (first part) . 8 — 4

Practical Pharmaceutical Chemistry . 10

Botanical Excursions.

II. Semester.

Pharmaceutical Botany . 4

General (Organic) Chemistry . 5

Physics (second part) . 3 — 4

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (I. ) . . . 5

Qualitative Chemical Analysis, practically in the
Chemical Laboratory . 12

III. Semester.

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (II.) . . 5

Analytical Chemistry . 4

Toxicological Chemistry . 3

Quantitative Chemical and Toxicological Analysis,
practically . 10

IV. Semester.

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (III.) . . 5

Materia Medica . 3

Botanical Histology (practically) . 2

Mineralogy . 3

Zoology . 2 — 3

The Rendering of Prompt Assistance in cases of

Accidents . 1

History of Pharmacy . 1

Professor Dragendorff has also proposed the exten¬
sion of the subjects for the Pro visor examination
(which confers the right of possessing or managing a
pharmacy) as follows : —

The candidate must show a knowledge (I.) of the
elements of mineralogy and zoology, and be able to
recognize and describe the official animals ; (II.) ol
botany, and especially the elements of morphology,
physiology, and histology, and the more important
systems. He must also be able to recognize and
describe the official plants. (III.) He must show a
general acquaintance with the principal laws in
physics and natural philosophy, as also in chemistry,
in addition to a knowledge of the characteristic
properties of the elements and the more important
groups of compounds. (IV.) In pharmacy, pharma¬
ceutical chemistry and materia medica, a general
knowledge of the whole subject. Further, he must
be acquainted with the posology of the official
medicaments, and be in a position in case of sudden
accidents to render assistance until the arrival of a

medical man. He must be able to solve a problem
in stoichiometry, to make a qualitative, quantitative
and toxicological analysis, and to prepare two
chemicals.

For the Magister examination, by which the
provisor acquires the right to higher Government
situations, was proposed, (I.) a more thorough
scientific knowledge of botany, zoology, physics,
general and pharmaceutical chemistry, materia
medica, and stoichiometry. Further, an acquaint¬
ance with the pharmaceutical laws in Russia, and in
the more important European States, the elements
cf crystallography, and finally more difficult quali¬
tative, quantitative and' toxicological analyses, and
the microscopic examination of some object.

The introduction of the degree of Doctor of
Pharmacy has been likewise proposed. Should the
prolongation of the course of study and the raising of
the standard of school education be introduced, the
apprenticeship would be shortened to two years, and
the time to be spent as assistant to one and a half.

Much of the foregoing information has been
supplied to me by Professor Dragendorff, and I take
this opportunity of thanking him for his kindness.

BOTTLING WAX PREPARED FROM A BYE-

PRODTJCT.* * * §

BY J. F. BROWN.

The balsam of Tolu, which has been used for pre¬
paring the syrup, has hitherto been utilized only
in making a varnish for pills, and it therefore
accumulates in course of time to a considerable
extent.

A composition useful as bottling wax may be
prepared by stirring into the melted balsam one
tenth its weight of levigated bole. It sets quickly,
with a fine glossy surface, and is less brittle than the
wax generally employed.

A mixture of residual balsam, amber resin, of
each 4 parts ; Venice turpentine, vermilion, of each
1 part; melted together and well stirred, form3
sealing-wax of very fair quality.

LACTATE OF ZINC.f

BY J. F. BROWN.

Having had occasion to prepare this salt during
the Easter holidays, when the usual sources of
supply were not available, I thought the formula
employed might be of service to others in a similar
emergency.

A quarter of an ounce, by weight, of syrupy lactic
acid was neutralized with strong solution of
ammonia, exactly 1 fluid drachm of the latter
being required. This was poured into a solution of
287 grains of pure sulphate of zinc in an ounce of
water and stirred for a few seconds.

Crystals began to form at once : after standing for
twelve hours they were washed twice with an ounce
of water, drained, and dried upon a porous tile.

The yield was 90 grains, and in colour and odour
it was superior to that supplied me by my wholesale
druggists.

Since a fluid drachm of strong solution of
ammonia should neutralize 45 grains of H2C3H403,
the syrupy acid employed appears to contain 41 per
cent, of real acid. If the formula for lactate of zinc
be correct, ZnC3H4033H20, the 90 grains contained
nearly 40 grains of acid, and the loss sustained in
washing the product was a little over 10 per cent.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A CLOSER KNOW¬
LEDGE OF SOME LITTLE KNOWN
LEAVES.7

BY DR. HEINRICH PASCHKIS.

IV LEAVES OF LIATRIS ODORATISSIMA,

mud.

The Liatris odoratissima is a Composite plant,
occurring very abundantly in the moist lowlands of
North America, especially Florida. The specimen
examined was one in the possession of the Vienna
Pharmaceutical Institute, which had been imported
direct. The leaves are exported in large quantity
and used as a perfume for snuff. In the native
country of the plant the leaves are employed as a
protection against moth.§ _ _

* Read before the Dover Chemists Association,

f Read before the Dover Chemists’ Association. #

+ Translated from the “ Zeitsclirift ’ of the Austrian
Pharmaceutical Association, and communicate 1 by the
author, to whose courtesy we are indebted for the use of
the wood engravings illustrating the paper.

§ Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. v., p. 489.

1004

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 4, 1SS1.

The drug consists principally of well preserved
entire leaves, occasionally with fragments of leaf
stalks or stalks with leaves attached. These are
bluish-green to brown. When softened in water
and dried they feel very smooth, as if they were
greasy or soapy, and become a beautiful dark green
colour. They smell agreeably and strongly of cou-
marin. They reach a length of 25 centimetres and
a breadth of 2| centimetres and are perfectly naked
on both sides. The surface on both sides is densely
covered with small pits and furrows and when the
leaves are viewed by transmitted light these spots
appear brighter. Here and there upon the upper
surface of the leaf, and very plentifully upon
the petiole, occur glistening scales, which under the
microscope are seen to be crystals of coumarin. The
margin of the leaf is very delicately undulated. The
leaves are oval, almost oblanceolate with the upper
end truncate, and at the base diminishing very
gradually into the long winged petiole. The
brownish mid-rib, of considerable thickness, stands
out very prominently on the under side ; the lateral
nerves leave it at very acute angles and anastomose
in the form of double nooses near the margin.

A microscopic examination shows that the epi¬
dermis of the upper side consists of almost polygonal
only slightly indented flat cells ; those of the under
sides are rather more indented. They attain a size
of 0’06 mm. in length and breadth (Fig. 19). Some

Fig. 19. — Liatris odcratissima. — Epidermis: —
d, gland; st, stoma.

among the epidermis cells appear to be double the
length and the same breadth. In the epidermis of
the upper and under side occur very numerous sto¬
mata, 0’04 : 0’03 mm. in dimensions. Besides these
there occur in the epidermis numerous yellow points
about 0’015 mm. in size, which are very elegantly
and symmetrically surrounded by somewhat smaller
cells ; these are the glands which will be referred to
subsequently, seen from above. The epidermis cells
themselves appear finely striated. A transverse sec¬
tion shows the very regular structure as follows: —
Under the thick cuticle (0’008 mm.) lie the epidermal
cells, of which the above-mentioned larger ones are
disposed irregularly among the others (Fig. 20).
Then follows, on both sides a layer of palisade
cells, only somewhat less densely arranged on the
under side, and finally several layers of almost
rectangular cells. Distributed irregularly in the
inesophyll occur roundish or oblong cavities (0’033
mm. in diameter, or 0T35 long and 0’03 broad or
more), which are filled with a greenish to a golden-
yellow contents, consisting of a homogeneous sub¬
stance (oil) in which separate smaller stronger
refracting drops are enclosed. In strong alcohol,
ether, etc., the yellow substance dissolves clear; with

tincture of alkanet it is coloured a beautiful orange-
red; in potash solution it forms large yellow-brown

Fig. 20. — Liatris odoratissima. Transverse section : —
g, gland ; oe, oil space ; st, stoma.

scales. Smaller and larger drops of greenish essen¬
tial oil and prismatic or six-sided tabular crystals of
coumarin occur in the cells of the mesophyll and upon
the epidermis.

The epidermis of the upper as well as the under
side is in many places indented with funnel-shaped
depressions (0 ’064 to 0’072mm.) (Fig. 21). In these

9

Fig. 21. — L. odoratissima. — g, gland ; c, cuticle ;
z, stalk-cell.

glands are sunk in the following manner : — The
stalk-cell is wedged in, like the keystone of an arch,
between the epidermis cells lying next to it; the
head of the gland is divided by two, three, or more
transverse walls. The delicate cuticle turns up before
reaching the stalk-cell and passes over the head. In
this occur as contents molecular granules and small
drops of essential oil (becoming coloured with tinc¬
ture of alkanet and turned brown by potash solution).
Similar substances occur outside the gland in the
depressions of the cuticle. The head of the gland
lies below the level of the epidermis. Seen from
the surface, and consequently also in the aspect of
the epidermis, it appears to be surrounded by a
tolerably regular polygonal contour, to which some
small epidermal cells contribute. In other places
the walls of the glandules are less or scarcely per¬
ceptible, the whole having broken up into a coarse
granular (crystalline ?) detritus, which is not soluble
in ether, alcohol or sulphuric acid (Fig. 22).

Fig. 22. — L. odoratissima. — Gland with transverse
walls broken down.

I found the same structure and the same oil
spaces and glands in the leaves of a Liatris which
was kindly supplied to me by Herr Kerner, Director

June 4, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1005

of the Vienna Botanical Gardens. They were
described as L. spicata, but they did not correspond,
on account of the hairs along the nerves, with the
description of this species which is found in De
Candolle.* A specimen of L. spicata in the her¬
barium of the Pharmaceutical Institute also shows
the hairv character of the leaf. The smell is similar to
that ofL. odoratissima, but it conies considerably
short of this in intensity.

In the Appendix to the United States Dispen-
satoryf there is only a superficial description of
Liatris spicata , the roots of which, as well as those
of other species of Liatris , are used in medicine as a
diuretic and in catarrh of the mucous membrane.
L. odoratissima is not mentioned in that work.
The golden yellow infusion of L. odoiata smells
very agreeably and tastes strongly aromatic, some¬
what bitter, and heating.

In the distillation of 250 grams of leaves with
water I obtained from the repeated distillate about
ten drops of a green essential oil having a veiy
strong agreeable smell. This dissolved in ether,
chloroform and absolute alcohol, and upon evapora¬
tion separated again in a liquid non-crystallme
form.

V. EUPATORIUM AYAPANA, Vent.

This plant occurs in Tropical America, the East
and West Indies, the Mauritius, and Java. The
specimens examined belonged to the Vienna Phar¬
maceutical Institute, and were partly from the
Paris Exposition and partly purchased direct. 1 hey
consisted of greenish yellow to reddish coloured well
preserved leaves and leafy stalks, having an agiee-
able odour. The leaves are lanceolate, but gra¬
dually acuminate, and diminish slowly at the base
into the short petiole ; they are of the thicxness o
paper. Under a magnifying-glass or lens only they
appear hairy, with fine hairs, somewhat more so
on the under side than on the upper. They attain a

st n

Fig. 23. Eupatorium Ayapana. — Under side of the
Epidermis. — st, stoma ; n, contiguous cell ; d, glan¬
dular hair; h, hair; oc, oil cell,

length of 9 centimetres and a breadth of 2. The
lowest two lateral nerves spring at a very acute

* De Candolle, v. 130: L. spicata, Willd.
f ‘ United States Dispensatory’ (Wood and Bache),p. 12.

angle from the principal nerve and each anastomoses
in the form of a noose not far from the margin.

The finer structure of the leaf is very simple.
The epidermis of the upper side consists of polygonal
flat cells (0-039 : 0*030 : 0'008) which enclose only
very few almost circular stomata, occurring only in
the immediate neighbourhood of the nerves (Fig. 23).
The epidermis cells of the under side are larger than
those of the upper side, and are either about equal in
length and breadth (0'045 : 0"035) or are elongated
in the direction of the axis of the leaf (0-088 : 0'019);
but all are nearly double as high as the epidermis
cells of the upper side. Upon the under side
occur numerous stomata, which with the guard cells
appear almost circular (0"019) and are provided with
one or two contiguous cells scarcely larger than a
guard cell. Upon the upper and under side
are implanted numerous hairs, which are always
several-celled. These appear either as ordinary
pointed hairs or as glandular hairs provided with
small club-shaped heads. All the hairs contain a
granular yellow substance, becoming darker with
potash solution, but the former contain besides
strongly refracting drops (essential oil). The nieso-
phyll consists of several layers (7 to 8) of isodiametric
roundish cells, in which .also, here and there, a small
drop of oil is to be found. Only occasionally is
a cell met with in the mesophyll filled with a
granular strongly refracting mass, which oil cell is
not distinguished from the others either in size or
form.

NOTES ON THE XANTHORRHCEA RESINS.*

BY JOHN M. MA.ISCH.

At a recent pharmaceutical meeting in Philadelphia a
resin was exhibited under the name of gum acroides, and it
was stated to be a new Australian product. Shortly after¬
wards, during a visit to New York, I made some inquiries
in relation to this supposed new commercial article, and
was surprised to learn that at one wholesale drug house
it had been in stock fully ten years ago, and subsequently
I learned from Mr. Charles Bullock that a quantity of
the same article had been on hand at the store foimerly
kept by Mr. Daniel B. Smith more than a quarter of a
century ago. It was evident from the information received
that the resin was not a new article in this country, and
on examination numerous notices of it were found, fi.om
which it became evident that the appellation acroides is a
corruption of acaroides, and that the resin is identical
with Botany Bay resin, which name is better known, at
least to the writer. Dunglison’s ‘ Dictionary says, of
the genus Xanthorrhcea “ There are several species.
Two resins are obtained from them ; one, the yellow resin
of Xanthorrhcea, or of New Holland, resina lutea Novi
Bclc/ii, Botany Bay resin or gum, ac avoid resin or gum,
resina vel gummi acaroi'des, which probably resembles
tolu and storax in medicinal properties the other, the
red resin of Xanthorrhcea or black boy gum."

This quotation gives the various synonyms, of the
substance in question, and points also, to its. origin. .A
tolerably full account of it and the allied resin or resins
mav be found in Pereira’s ‘Materia Medica, m Gui-
bourt’s ‘ Drogues Simples,’ etc. The following notes are

compiled from these and other sources

The o-enus Xanthorrhoea belongs to the natural, order
of Liliacese, is confined to Australia, and consists of
shrubby or arborescent plants, somewhat palm-like in
appearance, and having at the summit dense tufts of
very long, wiry, narrow, two-edged or somewhat tnan-

* Read at the Philadelphia Pharmaceutical Meeting, Apri
19, From the American Journal of Pharmacy, May, loot

1006

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 4, 1881.

gular leaves, resembling grass leaves; hence the name
grasstrees, by which the species are known in Australia.
The leaves are used as fodder for cattle, and the some¬
what sheathing base of the inner leaves and the buds
are eatable, and form, particularly when roasted, an
agreeable 'article of food. From the centre of the leaf
tuft there rises a long cylindrical scape, which terminates
with a long spike of small white flowers, situated in the
axils of the imbricate bracts, and producing triangular
three-celled capsules, containing flatfish, hard, black seeds.

R. Brown (1810) described seven species, viz., X.
arborea, australis, hastilis, media, minor, bracteata and
pumilio. The two first-named species are arborescent,
while the third and fourth have short stems, that of X.
hastilis being about 4 feet high, and is said to sometimes
attain a diameter of 1 foot, and then to be probably more
than a century old, owing to its slow growth. The last
three species named before are stemless, i.e., the stems
remain buried in the soil or rise scarcely above ground.

All the species abound in a resinous juice, which, on
exposure, hardens, and as obtained from the different
species undoubtedly differs in appearance and also in
composition. Guibourt distinguishes three xanthorrhcea
resins — one yellow, one brown and one red. The dark-
coloured resin is still ascribed by some authors to X.
hastilis, but Drummond (1840) pointed out that an
arborescent species, probably X. arborea, is in Australia
called black boy, and the Pharmaceutical Society of
Victoria state that X. australis (which is arborescent)
yields a large quantity of a brilliant ruby- coloured resin.
On the other hand, the botanist Smith refers the yellow
resin to X. hastilis and some other species. The last
named is the X. resinosa of Persoon, and of it Acaroidcs
resinifera is quoted as a synonym in Gray’s ‘Supplement.’
The name acaroid resin is thus explained. The different
xanthorrhoea resins have been described more especially
in regard to their uses in papers by Mr. Red ford as a
polishing material in American Journal of Pharmacy,
1863, p. 453, 454, and by Mr. P. L. Simmonds, in the
same journal, 1857, p. 226 to 228, and in 1866, p. 465 to
468; the papers last quoted refer chiefly to the use of the
resin in the manufacture of illuminating gas. The resins
seem to be obtained as natural exudations, the subter¬
raneous portions of the plant producing them in some
species, at least, apparently in great abundance; but
resin is also found covering the base of the leaves, and
it is secreted in such quantity in the woody stems that
after crushing the latter it may be sifted from the chips
to the extent ©f a hundredweight per diem by one
labourer.

The acaroid resin, which was first noticed in 1789 by
Governor Phillips (‘ Voyage to Botany Bay ’) is met with
in tears and in large masses usually, on account of its
brittleness, broken into irregular pieces. It is intermixed
with portions of wood, stalks, earth, etc., and when
fractured has a speckled or granitic character. The
pure resin is reddish yellow; the commercial article is
externally brownish yellow, and internally opaque and of
a pure yellow colour, resembling that of gamboge, but
always much lighter. This colour description by Guibourt
agrees with the sample presented here ; but since the
resin is described by some authors as being of a deeper
yellow than gamboge, it is evident that it must be some¬
times collected from different species. Triturated with
water it does not form an emulsion. When fresh it has
an odour analogous to that of poplar buds, but much
more agreeable (Guibourt) ; to us the odour appears to
approach very nearly that of benzoin mixed with a little
storax. By age the odour becomes weaker, and gradually
disappears, but it is always developed on powdering or
by fusion. The resin dissolves in alcohol, leaving only
0’07 of a gum insoluble in water and analogous to bas-
sorin. When heated it gives off white vapours, con¬
densing into brilliant small laminse, which Laugier re¬
garded as benzoic acid, but which Stenhouse (1848)founc
to consist largely of cinnamic acid,

The broivn resin has a more balsamic odour than the
preceding; the tears are roundish, externally deep red-
brown, and resembling dragon’s blood; but the fracture
is shining, glass-like, and in thin splinters it is perfectly
transparent and of a hyacinth-red colour. It is com¬
pletely soluble in alcohol, and contains more volatile oil,
rendering it viscous and somewhat adhesive.

The red resin is in distinct tears of a deep brown-red,
and sometimes externally bright red ; its fracture is
glass-like ; thin splinters are transparent and ruby-red ;
it is completely soluble in alcohol, the ligneous inter¬
mixtures excepted, and its balsamic odour becomes always
apparent on heating.

Reg irding the composition of the xanthorrhoea resins,
Pereira quotes the analyses of Lichtenstein (1799),
Schrader, Laugier, Widman (1825), Trommsdorff (1826),
and Stenhouse (1848). Heated with manganic binoxide
and sulphuric acid acaroid resin evolves the odour of oil
of bitter almonds, and by the action of nitric acid it
yields a large proportion of carbazotic (picric) acid with
little nitrobenzoic and oxalic acid (Stenhouse). Tromms¬
dorff found the volatile oil to be eolourless, fragrant, and
of a pungent aromatic taste. The resin is soluble in
solutions of the alkalies and alkaline earths. On dry
distillation much carbolic acid is obtained, with a small
quantity of a light oil, but, according to Sommer, no
umbelliferon. In 1866, Hlasiwetz and Barth ascertained
that acaroid resin on being treated with fusing potassa
yields large quantities of paraoxybenzoic acid, and from
the mother-liquor of the ethereal solution a little resorcin
and pyrocatechin was obtained, together with the double
compound of protocatechuic and paraoxybenzoic acids =
C14H1207.2H20, which had been previously obtained
from benzoin.

Three different xanthorrhoea resins were found by
Hirschsohn (1877) to be incompletely soluble in chloro¬
form and ether, but to dissolve completely in alcohol, the
solutions acquiring a brown-black colour with ferric
chloride. The solution of the acaroid resin is yellow,
and yields with lead acetate a precipitate, while the
solutions of the other two resins are red, that of X.
quadrangulare being not disturbed by acetate of lead,
while that of X. arborea produces with the same reagent
a turbidity; the chloroformic solution of the latter is
yellow, that of the former colourless.

The xanthorrhoea resins have been repeatedly suggested
as possessing some value in perfumery ; but they appear
to be inferior for this purpose to benzoin, storax and the
balsams of Peru and Tolu. Their medicinal properties
appear to be likewise not well marked. As early as 1795
acaroid resin was said by Kite to neither vomit, purge,
nor bind the belly, nor to act materially as a diuretic or
diaphoretic. Dr. Fish ( Boston Journal, x., p. 94) em¬
ployed it in the form of tincture with opium in fluxus
hepaticus and the colliquative diarrhoea of phthisis, and
it has been recommended in chronic catarrhs. A tincture
of acaroid resin, which has been given in doses of f3j.
to ij. mixed with milk or a mucilaginous liquid, has been
recommended to be made of equal weights of the resin
and alcohol, and, according to another formula, of
resin ^ij. to alcohol Oj. If used at all, the latter formula
would appear to furnish a preparation of proper strength.

AMMONIUM BITARTRATE.

It is well known that when a strong solution of tartaric
acid is added either to the stronger solution of ammonia
or to a saturated solution of ammonium carbonate, so
that there will be an excess of acid, a white crystalline
precipitate is produced corresponding in appearance and
taste to cream of tartar. This salt, which may also be
prepared by mixing concentrated solutions of 1 part of
ammonium chloride and 3 parts of tartaric acid, may
possibly find a place either commercially or medicinally
amongst the useful articles of trade or medicine. — R.
Fairthohnk, in Amer, Journ. of Pharmacy,

June 4, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1007

Clje Uljanmimtfmtl foutnal

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , hooks for review, etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square .

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting th e
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mb. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C,
Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ.”

ARE WE PROGRESSING!

The question propounded in tlie above terms by
Mr. Bottle at the late meeting of Council is one
that we hope will naturally suggest itself to many
others who take a deep interest in th e welfare of
the Society. That the loss which the Society has
suffered by the death of Mr. Mackay, and by the
retirement of Mr. Hills and Mr. Sandford, furnishes
occasion for considering this question need not, we
think, be insisted upon at much length, especially
when we bear in mind the circumstance that there
seems to be so little disposition among the members
of the Society to take an active part in the perform¬
ance of such duties as fall upon the executive
body.

On former occasions we have protested against
the outcry that the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society did not represent the trade at large, and the
utmost that we have been able to constrain our¬
selves to confess in regard to that outcry has been
to say “So much the -worse for those who are not
represented.” At the late Annual Meeting, however,
we were told that the Council has no sympathy
with the members of the Society, and as a justifica¬
tion of this view it was asserted that the late Council
had given a slap in the face to the chemists of the
country by the election of a successor to Mr. Shaw
last August. We cannot admit that there is any
reason for the opinion thus expressed. Valuing it
at the very utmost, it appears to have been stored up
till it became stale and good for nothing, since the
voting at the last election, affords the best possible
evidence that the action of the Council last August
in electing Mr. Butt, rather than Mr. Spink, to fill
the vacancy occasioned by Mr. Shaw’s retirement
was judicious in itself and in accord with sound
regard for the interests as well as lor the opinions of
those entitled to be considered.

When, therefore, in conjunction with the expres¬
sion of such opinions, we are told that the Council
lias no sympathy with the members of the Society,
we are unable to avoid the conclusion that such a
dictum is to be regarded more as a satire upon the
members of the Society than as a reproach to the Coun¬
cil. If those who have the right to be represented and

the power to secure representation fail to make
their influence constitutionally of account in the
conduct of the Society’s affairs, they forfeit the
privilege of criticism or complaint which they might
otherwise have been entitled to exercise. The fact
we referred to quite recently, that so many members
of the Society neglected to record their votes in
favour of any one of the few candidates at the late
election, and the further fact that on that occasion
so few of the large number of persons eligible as
members of Council signified their willingness
to do duty in that capacity, sufficiently indicate
the existence of an apathetic state of mind among
pharmacists which might be ground for apprehen¬
sion if it were not that we know there are a few who
may be trusted to serve the part of sheet anchors for
securing the general safety of the craft.

On looking back to the past history of the Society
it will be seen at a glance that the work has always
been done by a few individuals, and that year after
year the direction of pharmaceutical affairs has
rested in the same hands. There are indeed many
reasons why this should be the case, but at the same
time the knowledge that it must be so and that men
are willing to apply their time and energies in this
way ought to act as an incentive to provincial ac¬
tivity in support of the Society. The successful
working of the North British Branch might well be
emulated by many a Local Secretary with advantage
on all sides, and our Annual Meeting might be made
an opportunity for recording provincial progress and
adding to the stability of our central institution
rather than an occasion for expressing dissatisfaction
upon imaginary grounds.

In view of such considerations it may well be that
the question put by Mr. Bottle to reflective minds
will suggest a certain sense of misgiving. We are
glad, therefore, to have power to refer to occurrences
which show not only that pharmacy is progressing
in this country, but that the Pharmaceutical Society
is also progressing and gradually gaining recognition
as the representative of a cultivated and important
class. On more than one occasion lately, the
Council has been applied to by certain departments
of the Government for guidance and advice on legis¬
lative matters in which the interests of the public
and of pharmacists were jointly concerned, and such
official recognition is fitted to serve as a large com¬
pensation for the disappointment which has been
experienced in the attempt to make the existing law
a safeguard against improper encroachment on the
pharmacist’s province.

But, however satisfactory we may think the
manifestation of such marks of recognition towards
the Society which represents British Pharmacy, it
must not be forgotten that the promotion and even
the maintenance of such a position as is thus
indicated depends in some degree upon the support
afforded by every member of the class which the
Pharmaceutical Society is supposed to represent, and

1008

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 4, 1881.

we say supposed to represent, because in point of
fact such representation is unfortunately but nomi¬
nal as regards the greater portion of those engaged
in the business of pharmacy. It is unnecessary
that we should here dilate upon the weakness in
this respect, which is so much to be lamented, but
we may at least remind our readers, as being
probably more amenable than others to such ad¬
monition, that as the strength of any structure is to
be measured by its weakest point, so the influence
of the Pharmaceutical Society as a representative of
pharmaceutical interests mustbe limited by the extent
to which it is supported by the general body of those
engaged in the business, and if the interests of phar¬
macy be not actively promoted in the provinces
there must be a corresponding deficiency of strength
in the action of the metropolitan executive.

At the late Annual Meeting there was too much
evidence of looking to the Council for everything
and the prevailing tone of the speakers betrayed
far too little appreciation of the benefits of self-
help. We find some lamenting the absence of
subsidies to provincial schools that are unable to
support themselves ; others complaining that there
was a want of warmth in certain remote quarters
waiting for consolation from the Society’s funds;
but in no instance was there any indication given
that a provincial association was zealously and
actively endeavouring to promote the objects
of the Pharmaceutical Society by adding to the
number of its members, by enforcing scientific study
on the part of apprentices or by supporting the
Benevolent Fund.

By a strange inconsistency, moreover, the complaint
that so little was given in support of provincial
schools was coupled with a question as to the pro¬
priety of endowing the metropolitan school, and a
suggestion that the result produced in that way
might not be worth the outlay.

One member of the Society, without apparently
having taken the trouble to inform himself of easily
ascertainable details, occupied some time in raising
a presumption of mismanagement respecting the
Journal, which it will be evident from the Presi¬
dent’s statement to the Council last Wednesday had
no real foundation.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association will be held on
Thursday, June 9, at 8.30 p.m., when a paper will
be read on “ Borntrager’s Test for Aloes,” by Mr.
B. H. Groves. A Report on Inorganic Chemistry
will be made by Mr. C. H. Hutchinson, F.C.S., on
“ The Hydrochlorides of the Metallic Chlorides.”

It is announced that the Lord Chancellor has
been pleased to place the name of Mr. Areas Sapp,
Chemist and Druggist, and a Member of the Phar¬
maceutical Society, upon the Commission of the
Peace for the Borough of Basingstoke.

C.ims actions of tbe |)IjarmaxmticaI

Society.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday , June 1, 1881.

Present — Messrs. Andrews, Atkins, Bottle, Butt, M.
Carteighe, Churchill, Frazer, Gostling, Greenish, Hamp-
son, Walter Hills, Radley, Richardson, Robbins, Savage,
P. W. Squire, Symes, Williams, Woolley and Young.

Mr. Greenish having taken the chair, the minutes of
the Council meetings of May 4 and 18 were read and
confirmed.

The Late Mr. John Mackay.

The Secretary read a letter from Mr. George D.
Mackay, thanking the Council, on behalf of Mrs. Mackay
and the other members of the family, for the resolution
passed last month with regard to the late Mr. Mackay.

The Secretary also read letters received from Dr.
Lyon Playfair, Professor Michael Foster and Prof'essor
Attfield, thanking the Council for the honour done them
in electing them Honorary and Corresponding Members
of the Society.

The President read a letter to the same effect from
Professor Russow, stating also that he intended shortly
forwarding a paper to the J ournal.

Election of President.

A ballot being taken in the usual way,

MR. THOMAS GREENISH

was unanimously re-elected President.

Mr. Greenish, on taking the chair, thanked his col¬
leagues for the honour they had done him, and also for
the kindness and consideration they had shown him
during his previous year of office. He hoped he might in
the ensuing year continue to receive the same confidence
and support, and with that assistance he trusted to be
able to discharge his duties satisfactorily.

Election of Vice-President.

On a ballot being taken,

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT

was re-elected Vice-President.

The President said that he regretted that Mr.
Schacht was absent on the Continent on account of the
state of his wife’s health.

Election of Treasurer.

On a ballot being taken,

MR. JOHN ROBBINS
was re-elected Treasurer.

Mr. Robbins, in thanking the Council for the honour
conferred on him for the second time, said the duties of
the Treasurer, when there was an ample balance at the
bankers, were not very arduous ; but when he looked at
the roll of eminent pharmacists who had preceded him in
the office, he could not but feel gratified to find his name
so closely associated with theirs.

Standing Orders.

The Standing Orders were then read and unanimously
adopted for the ensuing year.

Secretary to the Board of Examiners in
Scotland.

The President said in consequence of the death of
Mr. Mackay, who had acted as Secretary to the Board of
Examiners in Scotland, he would move: —

“That the Chairman of the Board of Examiners in
Scotland be requested to undertake the duties of
Secretary to that Board in future, and to be the
medium of communication between that Board and
the Council.

1 “ That this Council desires to record its sense of the

June 4, 1881. J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1009

value of the services rendered to this Society by
the late Mr. Mackay in connection with the Board
of Examiners in Scotland.”

Mr. Bottle seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.

Secretary and Registrar.

Mr. Elias Bremridge was unanimously appointed
Secretary and Registrar.

Assistant-Secretary and Deputy-Registrar.

Mr. Richard Bremridge was also unanimously ap¬
pointed Assistant -Secretary and Deputy-Registrar.

Appointment of Examiners.

The Secretary reported that in consequence of Mr.
Young having been elected a member of the Council, he
had vacated the office of Examiner in Scotland. He
also reported that Mr. Carteighe, having been elected a
member of the Council, had vacated the office of
Examiner for England and Wales.

The Council went into committee to consider the
filling up of the vacancies, the reporters being requested
to withdraw.

The Council having resumed,

Mr. Henry Bellyse Baildon, of Edinburgh,
was appointed an Examiner for Scotland, and
Mr. John Clough Thresh, of Buxton,
was appointed an Examiner for England and Wales.

The above appointments are subject to the approval of
the Privy Council.

Elections.

MEMBERS.

Pharmaceutical Chemists.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and tendered their subscriptions for the current year,
were elected “ Members ” of the Society : —

Clayton, John William . Blackburn.

Rheeder, Thomas . Great Ouseburn.

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

year, were elected “ Apprentices or Students ” of the
Society : —

Adams, Amos . Barnstaple.

Barnes, James Burden . London.

Burn, Barnabas Pearson . Durham.

Coates, Samuel William . Ilkeston.

Cockerill, Thomas . Lynn.

Davies, Llewellyn Henry . Llanidloes.

Farr, Edward Henry . Monmouth.

Farthing, George Thompson ...Spennymoor.

Griffiths, Richard Lloyd . Llanidloes.

Guthrie, Thomas . Musselburgh.

Haward, Edgar . Lowestoft.

Heaton, Simon Wood . Leeds.

Hindi e, William Henry . Darwen.

Hughes, Thomas Griffith . London.

Johnson, William . Stoke-on-Trent.

King, James Hewlett . Bath.

McGregor, James . Edinburgh.

Mackenzie, Robert Young . Nairn.

Nott, Arthur Holbrook . Devizes.

Palmer, Richard Mason . S waff ham.

Smithson, Frederick William ...Thirsk.

Wells, Gerald Ernest . Notting Hill.

Williamson, Theophilus R. W... Cardiff.

Willows, Herbert George . Doncaster.

Wincott, Robert Thomas . Warwick.

Several persons were restored to their former status in
the Society upon payment of the current year’s subscrip¬
tion and a fine.

The names of the following persons, who had severally
made the required declarations and paid a fine of one
guinea, were restored to the Register of Chemists and
Druggists : —

Charles Morgan, 19, Oxford Street, New Clee, Grimsby.
Robert Roberts, 143, Northernden Road, Sale, Cheshire

Addition to the Register.

The following, having passed their respective examina¬
tions, being in business on their own account, and having
tendered their subscriptions for the current year, were
elected “ Associates in Business ” of the Society : —

Minor.

Cooper, Henry . London.

Ellis, John William . Abergele.

Leithead, Robert . West Hartlepool.

Martin, John Wesley . Penge.

Mitchell, Andrew . Dursley.

Moore, Albert . London.

Palmer, Edwin Thomas . Aylesbury.

Rowland, Edward Edisbury ...Manchester.

Torbitt, Charles . Oldbury.

Modified.

Still, David Usborne . New Charlton.

ASSOCIATES.

The following having passed their respective examina¬
tions, and tendered (or paid as Apprentices or Students)
their subscriptions for the current year, were elected
‘‘Associates ” of the Society : —

Minor.

Beck, Albert Neve . St. Leonards.

Bull, E. John . Cambridge.

Broad, Henry James . Stourbridge.

Portway, Arthur Cyril . Southwark.

Wilkinson, William . Whittlesea.

Modified.

Crocker, George . Weston-super-Mare.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, having passed the Preliminary exami¬
nation and tendered their subscriptions for the current

The Registrar reported that —

Charles Jackson, South Street, Chesterfield,
having made the statutory declaration that he was in
business before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
and this declaration having been supported by a duly
qualified medical practitioner, his name had been placed
on the Register.

Appointment of Committees.

The Council then proceeded to appoint the Committees
for the ensuing year, the following being the result of
the discussion : —

General Purposes. — The whole of the Council ; four to
form a quorum. To meet at six o’clock on the evening
before the Council meeting, and at such other times as
may be required.

Finance. — Messrs. Andrews, Gostling, Walter Hills,
Savage, P. W. Squire and Symes. To meet at half-past
four on the afternoon preceding the Council meeting.

Benevolent Fund. — Messrs. Bottle, Butt, M. Carteighe,
Churchill, Hampson, Radley, Richardson, Robbins,
Williams, Woolley and Young. To meet at half -past
three on the day preceding the Council.

Library, Museum, Laboratory and House. — Mr.
Williams suggested that the Librai-y, Museum and
Laboratory Committee and the House Committee should
be amalgamated. This was agreed to, and the following
gentlemen were appointed to act on the combined Com¬
mittee: — Messrs. Andrews, Bottle, Butt, M. Carteighe,
Gostling, Hampson, Walter Hills, Richardson, Robbins,
P. W. Squire and Williams. To meet at eleven o’clock
on the second Wednesday in each month, excepting in
August and September.

Pharmacy Act Amendment. — Messrs. Andrews, Bottle,
Butt, M. Carteighe, Hampson, Walter Hills, Symes
Williams and Woolley. To meet as occasion may require.

1010

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 4, 1SSJ.

Evening Meetings. — The three Professors, the Editor,
and the Curator of the Museum. To meet at twelve
o’clock on the Wednesday preceding the Evening Meet¬
ings, and at such other times as may be found desirable.

International Pharmaceutical Congress. — Messrs. Bottle,
Butt, M. Carteighe, Hampson, Robbins and P. W. Squire,
with power to add to their number.*

Appointment of Editor and Sub-Editor of the

Journal.

Dr. Paul was re-appointed Editor of the Society’s
Journal for the ensuing year, and Mr. F. Passmore the
Sub-Editor.

Appointment of Curator.

Mr. Holmes was re-appointed Curator for the ensuing
year.

Local Secretaries.

The appointment of Local Secretaries was deferred for
a month, in order that the Library, Museum, Laboratory
and House Committee might recommend a list of names.

The Secretary said there were now three hundred
and seven towns eligible to have Local Secretaries, and
votes had been received from two hundred and eleven,
ninety-seven not having made any return.

Reports of Committees,
finance.

Messrs. Andrews, Atkins and Savage, having acted as a
Finance Committee, and examined the accounts presented
during the month, recommended them for payment.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

Mr. Robbins said there was now a considerable
balance on the current accounts, and he suggested that
£1500 should for a time be placed on deposit account,
until an opportunity is found for investment.

Mr. Woolley asked if a better investment could not
be effected than 1^ per cent.

Mr. Richardson said there were many companies and
local authorities which gave 3^ or 4 per cent, for money
borrowed, and it was practically as safe as Consols.

Mr. Butt said the Council only had power to invest
in Government or real securities.

It was unanimously resolved that £1500 should be
placed on deposit.

HOUSE.

This Committee reported that it had settled the list of
prizemen, and ordered the names to be written on the
tablets. It had also superintended the painting of the
outside of the premises, and ordered some necessary
repairs in the basement.

Mr. Hampson drew attention to the annoyance experi¬
enced in the Council room from the noise of traffic in the
street, which had been already considered on more than
one occasion.

Mr. Williams said the Committee had discussed this
matter several times. It had considered the advisability
of putting double windows, but it was felt that this
would affect the architectural appearance of the building.
It had been hoped that the parish authorities would lay
down wood pavement in Great Russell Street, as had
been done in Bloomsbury Square, and he should like to
know if the Secretary had heard anything lately on the
subject.

Mr. Butt thought it was not desirable to put double
windows; it would be just as well to contribute to the
expense of the wood pavement.

The Secretary said the Committee had brought all
the pressure it could, both directly and indirectly, to bear

# [A meeting of this Committee was held on Wednesday,
when the following resolution was passed : —

“ That the following be added to the Committee : — Pro¬
fessor Redwood, Dr. Paul, Messrs. Barclay, Brady,
Ekin, T. H. Hills, Reynolds, and Sandford, and that
Mr. Richard Bremridge be appointed Secretary and
Treasurer to the Executive Committee.”]

on the parish authorities. He had got up a strong
memorial, signed by all the neighbours. It was
graciously received; but the authorities said they had
recently laid down new stone pavement, and when it
wanted repairing they would consider the matter. The
application to pay part of the expense was put on one
side altogether. He believed that in the course of time
the wood pavement would be laid down.

The report and recommendations of the Committee
were then received and adopted.

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

Librarian’s Report.

The Librarian’s report had been received, and in¬
cluded the following particulars : —

Attendance. Total. Highest. Lowest. Average.

. \ Day . . 346 25 6 15

Apnl • • j Evening . 126 11 2 7

Circulation of books. Town. Country. Total.

April . 162 114 276

Carriage paid . . £2 13s. 8cL

The under-mentioned donations to the Library had
been received : —

Meyer (A.), tTber Smilax China L., und fiber die
Sarsaparillwurzeln. From the Author.

Pharmaceutische Zeitung, 1881, No. 34.

From Professor Fluckiger.

Biefel (R.) und T. Poleck, t)ber Kohlendunst- und
Leuchtgasvergiftung.

Poleck (T.), t)ber das pharmaceutische Studium und
sein Institut an der Universitat zu Breslau.

The Committee recommended that thanks be sent
to the respective donors. It had also been resolved that
certain pharmaceutical and other works offered as a
present by Dr. Jul. Morel, of Ghent, be accepted.

The regulations for the use of the microscopes recently
placed in the Library had been considered.

The Committee had ordered that the Library be
closed in the evening of May 18.

Curator's Report.

Attendance. Total. Highest. Lowest. Average

Morning .331 33 5 15

Evening . 58 9 0 3

The following donations had been received and letters
of thanks were ordered to be sent to the respective
donors : —

Fruit of Strychnos Ignatii.

From Professor Fluckiger.

Model of Stirring Apparatus.

From Mr. R. Reynolds, Leeds.

Specimen of the stem of Strychnos M’Boundou ,
and some other native medicines from the Gaboon.

From Messrs. Thomas Christy and Co.

Specimens of the plant of Cytinus Hypocistis

From Mrs. Massey.

A letter of thanks for duplicate specimens had been
received from the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew.

The Professors had attended and reported satisfactorily
of their respective classes.

EXHIBITION.

The reports of two meetings of this Committee, relat¬
ing to the arrangements made for the recent Exhibition,
were received and adopted.

INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL CONGRESS.

This Committee had held several meetings and had
received several replies to the invitations which had been
sent out. The subscriptions already promised towards
the expenses of the Congress were £302, including the
£100 voted by the Council. Arrangements were in con¬
templation for reporting and interpreting the pro¬
ceedings.

The report and recommendations of the Committee
were received and adopted.

June i, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1011

BENEVOLENT FUND.

Four members of the Council had held a meeting to
consider applications for aid from the Benevolent Fund
and they recommended that the following grants be
made : —

£10 to the widow, aged 61, of a registered chemist and
druggist.

£20 to the widow of a pharmaceutical member of the
Society from 1842 to 1879, when he died.

£10 to the widow of a member, aged 61.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

The Inaugural Sessional Address.

The Council went into committee for the purpose of
nominating a member to deliver the Sessional Address
in October next. After some conversation, it was
unanimously resolved that Mr. Symes, of Liverpool, be
invited to deliver the address.

Mr. Symes said he was much obliged for the honour,
which was entirely unanticipated, and though he felt
some diffidence in undertaking the duty, as it was the
unanimous wish of his colleagues, he would do his best. .

Mr. Richardson suggested that this matter should in
future be decided earlier in the year, say in January or
February.

Mr. Williams said this was the first meeting of the
mew Council, and it was not competent for a Council to
ymake any arrangements beyond the current year.

The Sale of Poisons.

The President said that having noticed in the J ournal
of last week a report of a case of poisoning by oxalic
.acid, and some remarks made by the coroner, Dr. Dan-
ford Thomas, he thought it only right to address a letter to
that gentleman pointing out that he had not conectly
interpreted the law.

The Secretary read the letter which had been forwarded
.and also the reply from Dr. Danford Thomas, acknow¬
ledging the receipt, and saying that he had been guided
in his interpretation of the Act by what had been stated
by one of the witnesses, who, he concluded, understood
the matter, rather than by his own reading of the Act.
He was much obliged for the information which had been

afforded him. . , „ , ,

Mr. Andrews said he had noticed the report of the
case, and should himself have written to the coroner, but
that he felt sure some notice would be taken of it officially .
He was very glad that the President s letter had been
received so satisfactorily.

The Circulation of the Journal.

The President said that questions were asked by two
members, at the Annual Meeting, with regard to what
became of the 6000 or 7000 Journals which Messrs.
'Churchill stated were published weekly, as there were
only a little over 5000 subscribing members of the
Society. He had asked the Secretary to get out the
figures from the books, and he thought it would be satis¬
factory to mention them; they were as follows:—
Members, Associates and Apprentices .

Life Members . . . .

Sold by Messrs. Churchill — average . .

To the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
Free issue, Exchanges, Honorary Mem¬
bers and others .

Advertisers .

Public Libraries .

Total . . .

239

750

80

254

120

6919

It appeared, therefore, that the actual number disposed
[ immediately after publication was very close upon
000. This was the ordinary issue, but there were
ther copies sold in the office, and subsequently occa-
onally sent to persons not on the permanent free

list, so that absolutely there were often over 7000 copies
distributed.

The Secretary added that it was not an unfreqnent
occurrence to have to print an extra number of copies.

The Sale of Drugs and Poisons Law (Jamaica).

The following communication, a copy of which had
been previously placed in the hands of each member of
the Council, was taken as read : —

“ Colonial Office,

“ Downing Street,

“ 10 May, 1881.

“ Sir, — I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to
transmit to you, to be laid before the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society, a copy of a despatch from the
Governor of Jamaica, enclosing Law No. 10 of 1881 of
the Legislature of Jamaica, entitled * The Sale of Drugs
and Poisons Law, 1881,’ together with the Colonial
Attorney-General’s report thereon.

“ Lord Kimberley would be glad to be favoured with
any observations which the Council of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society may have to offer upon this Law before
it receives Her Majesty’s sanction.

“ I am, Sir,

“ Your obedient servant,
(Signed) “Edward Wingfield.

“ The Secretary,

“ Pharmaceutical Society.”

“ Sir A. Musgrave to the Earl of Kimberley,

“Jamaica. “ King’s House,

“ 4 tli April , 1881.

“My Lord, — I have the honour to forward to your
Lordship, for the gracious signification of Her Majesty’s
pleasure, the accompanying duly authenticated copy of
Law 10 of 1881, passed by the Legislature of Jamaica,
entitled ‘ The Sale of Drugs and Poisons Law, 1881.’

“2. This Law was introduced in consequence of
repeated representations made by Dr. Mosse, Superin¬
tending Medical Officer, of the great injury sustained
by the community from the absence of any system of
registration of persons engaged in the sale of drugs.

“3. Your lordship was pleased to observe, in the
ninth paragraph of despatch No. 41 of 25th October last,
that Dr. Mosse’s observations in his Annual Report on
his department for the year 1878-79, pointed to the
necessity for legislation to restrain the unlicensed sale
of drugs and poisons, and your lordship asked to be
furnished with my views on the question; but the
matter being already under consideration by the
Attorney-General with the view to the introduction of
a law, I thought it unnecessary to trouble your lordship
with any remarks, until I could transmit this measure,
which has been delayed somewhat longer than I
expected.

“ 4. I beg leave to enclose the Attorney-General s
report on the Law.

“ I have, etc.,

(Signed) “ A. Musgrave.

“ The Right Honourable

“ The Earl of Kimberley, K.P.,

“ etc., etc., etc.”

“ The Attorney-General’s Report on Law 10 of 1881.

“ Attorney-General’s Office,

“ 26th March , 1881.

“ Report on Law 10 of 1881.

“ I have examined the accompanying Law, entitled
‘ The Sale of Drugs and Poisons Law, 1831,’ and I am of
opinion that the Law is one which is not contrary to the
Governor’s Instructions.

“ Sections 2 to 13 of this Law provide for a system of
licensing for persons desirous of selling drugs and enact
that no unlicensed person shall sell drugs or poisons,
except such as are mentioned in section 5, under a
penalty.

1012

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 4, 18*1.

“Sections 14 to 17 make provision with a view as far
as possible to protect the public against stale and
unwholesome drugs.

“Sections 18 to 20 provide that on a sale of poisons
precautions, similar to those enforced by the English
law on this subject, shall be observed.

(Signed) “ Henry H. Hocking,

A ttorney- General .”

Jamaica — Law 10 of 1881.

The Sale of Drugs and Poisons Law, 1881.

Voth March , 1881.

Preamble— Whereas it is expedient to regulate the
sale of drugs and poisons in this Island : —

Be it therefore enacted by the Governor and Legisla¬
tive Council of the Island of Jamaica, as follows : —

1. 15 Viet. c. 7 repealed. — The Act of 15 Viet., chap. 7,
is hereby repealed ; but such repeal shall not affect the
past operation of the said Law, or any consequences,
penalty or proceeding, in respect of any offence com¬
mitted against the said Law.

2. Commencement of Law. — This Law shall come into
operation on the 1st day of July, 1881.

3. Interpretation Clause. — In this Law, unless the con¬
text otherwise requires, the following words and expres¬
sions shall have the following meanings assigned to them
(that is to say) : —

“ Poison ” shall include poisonous substance, poisonous
drug or preparation containing a poison, and includes the
articles contained in schedule A to this Law.

“Drug” shall include medicine, compound medicine,
or medicinal preparation.

“ Licence ” shall mean a licence granted under this
Law.

4. Prohibition of sale, etc., of drugs or poisons without
licence. — Erom and after the coming into operation of
this LaAv it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or
keep open shop for retailing, dispensing or compounding
any drug or poison, unless such person has first obtained
a licence under the provisions of this Law.

Penalty. — Any person offending against the provisions
of this section shall, on conviction thereof before any two
justices in a summary manner, forfeit and pay a sum not
exceeding £10.

5. Reservation of rights to sell certain medicines, drugs,
etc., and to sell generally to licensed persons. — Nothing
herein contained shall be taken to extend or apply to the
sale by any person of any drug or poison to a person
licensed under this Law, or to the right of any person in
this Island to sell the following articles (that is to say) :

1. Patent or proprietary or homoeopathic medicines,

if sold in any box, bottle, vessel or parcel, and
under wrapper or cover as imported into this
Island, or as prepared by any person having
a licence in this Island ; provided that such box,
bottle, vessel or parcel is properly secured, and
bears the seal, name or trade mark of the pro¬
prietor, inventor or manufacturer thereof, and
directions for its use.

2. Mineral or artificial waters, or the salts or other

material employed in their preparation.

3. Single medicinal substances enumerated in sche¬

dule B.

4. Any herb, vegetable, gum, oil or seed, except

poisons, in its natural state, though the same
may be employed in medicine.

5. Substances which though poisons are required for

artistic, industrial, manufacturing or scientific
purposes, subject however in this case to the
regulations hereinafter contained concerning
poisons.

6. Procedure to obtain Licence. — Examination. — Any
person desiring to obtain a licence under this Law may
apply in writing for that purpose to the superintending
medical officer for the same ; and such officer shall there¬
upon either personally examine such applicant as to his

knowledge of drugs and poisons, and his ability to pre¬
pare and make up prescriptions and medicines, and as to
his fitness to be entrusted with the sale of drugs and
poisons, or shall depute any one or more persons licensed
under this Law to conduct such examination.

Rules as to same. — In this last-mentioned case the
examination shall be conducted in accordance with rules
to be made by the superintending medical officer and
approved of by the Governor.

7. Preliminary Fee. — Before proceeding to examine
any such applicant as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the
superintending medical officer to demand and receive
such sum not exceeding £2, as may be approved by the
Governor. Such sum shall be carried to the credit of
the general revenues, which shall be liable for the cost of
carrying out this LaAv.

8. Grant of Licence. — The superintending medical
officer, if satisfied with the result of any such examina¬
tion as aforesaid, shall grant a licence under this LaAv to
the applicant.

Its Form — Schedule C. — Such licence shall be in the-
form given in schedule C to this Act or to the like effect.

9. Registered Medical Practitioner deemed to be Licensed.
— Medical practitioners registered under the medical laws-
of this island shall be deemed to be duly licensed under
this laAV, without the necessity of their applying for or
obtaining a licence.

10. Who are entitled to a licence without fee, and how
same to be obtained. — Any person possessing a diploma or
certificate, entitling him to practise as a pharmaceutical
chemist, or as a chemist and druggist, or as an apothecary,
in any part of the United Kingdom, shall be entitled
to receive a licence under this LaAv without payment of
any fee, on applying to the superintending medical officer,
and producing to him, or to some person deputed by him
for that purpose, his diploma or certificate, and satisfying
him, or such person as aforesaid, that he is the person
named in such diploma or certificate.

Any person who, on the coming into operation of this
Law, shall hold a certificate signed by two fellows of the-
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Jamaica, in pur¬
suance of and accordance with the provisions of section IT
of the Act 6 Victoria, cap 33, shall also be entitled, on
application to the superintending medical officer, to re¬
ceive a licence under this Law without payment of
any fee.

11. Register of Licences, and public notification thereof. —
The superintending medical officer shall keep a register of
every licence granted under this Law, and shall cause to-
be published in the Jamaica Gazette notification of every
licence so granted within fourteen days after granting
the same, and shall also, from time to time, at least once
in every year, cause to be therein published a list of all
persons holding such licences.

12. 0 mis proband i of certain facts, on accused. — In any
proceeding against any person for any offence against
this Law, the burden of proving any licence shall lie
upon the person accused, and any person shown to ha\Te
delivered to any other person any drug or poison shall be
deemed to have sold the same, unless the contrary be
proA^ed.

13. Drug department of store to be closed in absence of
licensed person. — No person having a licence under this-
LaAv shall leave his shop or store, or that part thereof
and that may be kept for the sale and dispensing of drugs-
and poisons, open during his absence without leaving some
person having a licence under this Law in charge thereof,
and actually in attendance therein, and any person
offending against the provisions of this section shall be
liable, on summary conviction of such offence, to a-
penalty not exceeding five pounds.

14. Prohibition as to stale, unwholesome or adulterated
drugs, etc. — No person having or keeping open shop for
the sale of drugs or medicines shall sell, or have or keep
in his possession, any drug or medicine in a stale or un¬
wholesome state, or in a state unfit for use, and no person

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1013

June 4, 1881.]

shall sell or expose or offer for sale as unadulterated any
drug or medicine that is adulterated.

Penalty. — Any person offending against the provisions
of this section shall, on conviction thereof in a summary
way before two justices, forfeit and pay any sum not
exceeding ten pounds, in addition to and irrespectively
of any penalty to which he may be liable in case he shall
not have a licence under this Law.

15. Power to seize and destroy such drugs, etc. — It shall
be lawful for the justices by whom any person is con¬
victed under the last preceding section to order the
seizure and destruction of the stale, unwholesome, unfit
or adulterated drugs or medicines, in respect of the
selling or having or keeping of which in his possession
such person has been convicted.

16. Power to enter, search for, inspect and analyse drugs,
etc. — The superintending medical officer, or any registered
medical practitioner authorized by him in writing in any
case, may at all reasonable times, either by himself, or
attended by one or more police constables, enter the shop,
store or house, of any person having a licence under this
Law, and inspect and search the same, and surve3r, prove,
and determine whether the drugs and medicines therein
are or. are not stale, unwholesome, or unfit for use as
such, and may take samples for further examination or
analysis of any drugs or medicines that he may see
reason to believe are not fresh, wholesome or fit for use,
paying a fair price for the same.

Proceedings on taking samples for analysis. — When any
sample is so taken as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the
licensed person aforesaid to require the superintending
medical officer, or practitioner authorized by him as afore¬
said, to put two other samples of any such drug or
medicine as aforesaid into secure bottles or vessels, and
to seal up or otherwise secure the same in such manner
as the person having a licence as aforesaid shall desire,
and to have one of such samples sent to the Island
chemist for examination and report, and the other sample
shall be left securely sealed as aforesaid with the person
licensed as aforesaid, in order that he may have the same
subjected to such independent examination or analysis as
he may see fit, and the said superintending medical officer
or medical practitioner, as aforesaid, shall thereupon
comply with such request.

The said Island chemist shall make such examination
or analysis of the sample sent to him as aforesaid, as may
be necessary to enable him to determine whether or not
the same are stale, unwholesome, adulterated, or unfit
for use as aforesaid, and shall send a certificate under his
hand of the result of such examination or analysis to the
superintending medical officer or medical practitioner, as
aforesaid from whom he has received the same : and in
such certificate he shall describe the state of the bottle or
vessel containing the sample aforesaid, and of the seals
thereon or other fastenings thereto.

17. Certificate of Island chemist. — Evidence. — In any
proceeding taken under this Act, the certificate of the
Island chemist, duly signed by him, shall, if it appear
therefrom that the bottle or vessel containing the sample
aforesaid, had its seals or other fastenings uninjured at the
time that he received the same, be primd facie evidence
before the Justices, or in any Court of Justice, of the
matters therein specified, and in the absence of any
evidence to the contrary shall be sufficient evidence
thereof.

18. Restx'ictions on sale of poisons. — No person shall
dispense, sell, or deliver any poison unless it be

1. In pursuance of the written order or prescription

of some registered medical practitioner, or in
pursuance of the written order of some person
licensed under this Law : or

2. In the presence of a witness who knows the

purchaser, and who signs his name and address
as witness to the sale in “The Sale of Poisons
Book ” (hereinafter mentioned) before delivery.
And no person shall sell, dispense, or deliver, to^any person

any poison, unless he distinctly marks and labels the box,
bottle, wrapper, or cover, in which such poison is con¬
tained, with the word “poison ” and with his name and
address written or printed on such label.

19. The Sale of Poisons. Book to he kept. Entries to
he made therein. — Every person selling or disposing of any
poison, or keeping any poison for the purpose of sale,
shall keep a book for the sole purpose of making the
entries hereinafter mentioned : such book shall be called
“The Sale of Poisons Book;” and every such person
shall on any sale or delivery of any poison, before delivery
thereof, make or cause to be made an entry of the name,
address and calling of the person to whom such delivery
is made, and the name and quantity of the article de¬
livered, and the date of such delivery, and either the
name of the medical practitioner in pursuance of whose
order or prescription the same has been delivered as afore¬
said, or the signature and address of the witness to the
sale as aforesaid, in accordance with the provisions of the
last preceding section.

20. Penalty on offences against sections 18 and 19. —
Every person who contravenes or negligently suffers or
allows any assistant or servant to contravene, any of the
provisions of the two preceding sections shall be guilty of
an offence against this Law, and shall be liable, on con¬
viction thereof in a summary manner before two justices
of the peace, to a penalty not exceeding £10.

21. Suspension of Licence. — When any person having a
licence under this Law is convicted of any offence under
this Law it shall be lawful for the justices by whom
such person is convicted, at the time of such conviction,
by writing under their hands, to order the licence of
such person to be suspended for any period not exceeding
six calendar months, and shall cause such suspension to
be notified in the Jamaica Gazette.

Effect of suspension. — During the period that any licence
has been ordered to be suspended as aforesaid the holder
of such licence shall, to all intents and purposes, be deemed
not to have a licence under this Law.

Schedule A.

Arsenic, and its preparations.

Prussic acid.

Cyanides of potassium, and all metallic cyanides.

Strychnine and all poisonous vegetable alkaloids and

their salts.

Aconite, and its preparations.

Emetic tartar.

Corrosive sublimate.

Cantharides.

Savin and its oil.

Ergot of rye, and its preparations.

Oxalic acid.

Chloroform.

Belladonna, and its preparations.

Essential oil of almonds, unless deprived of its prussic

acid. # , . , •

Opium, and all preparations of opium or of poppies.

Antimony and its salts. . >

Opium, and its preparations including morphia and its

salts.

Hydrate of chloral, and preparations.

Sulphate of copper.

Sub-acetate of copper (Verdigris).

Carbolic acid.

Croton oil.

Elaterium.

Laurel water.

Conium.

Schedule B.

Assafcetida.

Camphor.

Castor oil.

Epsom salts.

Linseed meal.

1014

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 4, 1SS1.

Senna.

Rhubarb.

Carbonate of magnesia.

Schedule C.

Jamaica Ss.

This is to certify that A. B. of is duly

licensed under the Sale of Drugs and Poisons Law, 1881.

Given under my hand this day of A.D.,

18

(Signed) A. B.,

Superintending Medical Officer.

The President suggested that the communication
should be referred to the Pharmacy 4ct Amendment
Committee.

Mr. Symes said the law was awaiting the Royal
Assent. It was to come into force on July 1, so that
there was no time to be lost.

The President said he thought the matter must be
referred to a committee. The receipt of the communica¬
tion had been acknowledged, and it must wait the due
course of business. It was a very important subject, and
care must be taken to answer the communication fully
and properly.

Mr. Hamfson thought there could be scarcely two
opinions as to the desirability of the subject being
referred to the Committee; but as time was an object, it
was a question whether the Council might not authorize
the Committee to send a reply, without waiting to report
to the Council.

Mr. Richardson thought this was going too far. The
Council had already given the Committee great powers ;
the thin edge of the wedge had evidently been got in, and
now Mr. Hampson was driving it up to the very hilt.
He did not see that there was any need for such hurry,
but agreed that the communication should be sent to the
Committee for thorough sifting, and then it should be
brought before the Council.

Mr. Frazer said he must refuse absolutely to delegate
to any Committee the power to represent him.

Mr. M. Carteighe thought if the Council did not send
Lord Kimberley an answer in a reasonable time, he
would act on his own judgment, and it would be
a great pity this opportunity of consulting with him
should be lost. He should be very sorry to do anything
which would hurt Mr. Frazer’s feelings, but really it was
a matter of business ; either the Council ought to proceed
at once to frame a reply or should authorize the Com¬
mittee to seud one in a short time.

Mr. Andrews supported the same view ; if the Council
did not send an answer at once it would be quite
useless.

Mr. Savage agreed with the last two speakers. This
was an important occasion ; it seemed to him a long time
even now since the communication was received.

The President said the letter was only dated May 20.
As soon as it arrived he had ordered a printed copy to be
sent to every member of the Council, and also to the So¬
licitor, so that if the Committee required his assistance
he would be in a position to give it at once.

Mr. Frazer thought the Council might consider it and
dispose of it at once.

Mr. Williams reminded the Council that it was not
called upon in any way to alter the law; it had not to
legislate or pretend to do so; but its advice was simply
asked as to the propriety of this law. If it could see, or
if the Committee could see, any obvious impropriety in
any of the clauses it would be its duty to point it out.
There was, unfortunately, an anomaly in one part of the
Pill which had been, no doubt, overlooked by those who
drafted it. There were registered persons who were to
have the privilege of selling poisons under certain re¬
strictions, but there were clauses which also gave the
privilege of selling articles in the second schedule to
those who were not on the Register, and they would be
able to do so without complying with the restrictions

which were imposed upon those who were registered.
No doubt this would be altered if it were pointed out;
but he thought the proper thing would be to refer the
Bill to the Committee, and give the Committee powrer
to reply to the Government as soon as possible.

Mr. Atkins was of opinion that this would be the
best course, although he shared Mr. Frazer’s feelings
with regard to the undesirability of deputing any undue
authority to a committee in a general way ; but this was
an exceptional circumstance and time \vas pressing. To
reply after the date at which the Act was proposed to
take effect would be absurd.

Mr. Young remarked that one of the items of business
on the agenda paper was to consider this matter, and if
the Council delayed too long, the Secretary of State
would no doubt act without waiting for its advice. It
would be better for those who objected to remit the
matter to a committee, to state what objections they had,
and perhaps they might be met. It was very desirable
that the Council should manifest its appreciation of the
courtesy shown it by communicating with the Secretary
of State in proper time.

Mr. Symes said it was only a question of half-an-hour
or an hour at the utmost, and that the Council might
dispose of the matter at once. The Bill had been in the
hands of the members of Council, and if they did not
peruse it, it was their own fault. He thought the
Council could arrive at a satisfactory opinion within an
hour, and it would be far more coux*teous to send a reply
at once.

Mr. Atkins said a matter of that kind could not be
satisfactorily discussed in a large meeting; it could be
much better done by a committee.

Mr. Richardson said he would withdraw his opposi¬
tion to the course suggested.

The President thought the matter should receive
full consideration and that the assistance of the Solicitor
should be obtained. He did not think the request of
Lord Kimberley could be properly complied with without
the advice of the Solicitor.

It was then resolved, nem. con., that the matter be re¬
ferred to the Committee to consider and to frame and
forward to the Colonial Office a report on the same.

Mr. Bottle said he hoped the Committee would be
summoned at an early date to dispose of this matter.

Retirement of Mr. Sandford and Mr. Hills.

Mr. Savage then moved, pursuant to notice, that—

“The members of the Council desire to express their
sincere regret at the retirement of their esteemed
colleagues, Mr. Sandford and Mr. Hills, and to
record their appreciation of the services they have
rendered to the Society for so many years. The
Council ventures to hope that the Society in its
efforts to promote the best interests of pharmacy,
may still continue to receive their valued advice and
assistance.”

He said he brought this motion forward both with regret
and with pleasure, — with regret that such a resolution
should have to be moved, and with pleasure that the
Council should be able to record its estimate of those two
gentlemen who had thought proper to retire from its
midst. After the manifest expression of opinion which
had already been given by the Council on a previous
occasion and at the Annual Meeting, it would seem
almost unnecessary to say anything in addition of the
gentlemen who had left the Council. But at the same time
it might be well to refer to a few particulars in connec¬
tion wTith those gentlemen. He found that Mr. Sandford
was elected in 1854, so that in reality his first appearance
on the Council w’as twenty-seven years ago. In 1855
and 1856, however, he vacated his place, for the purpose
of fulfilling the important office of overseer in his parish.
He wTas asked to stand for one year, and then his services
were found so valuable that he was enlisted for the next
year and the succeeding one. For two years, therefore,
he resigned bis position at that Council, but he came on

June 4, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1015

again in 1857. At that time the President was Mr. Bell,
and Mr. W. L. Bird was Vice-President; and when he
looked to the list of the Council elected at that time, he
found that out of eight, there were no less than six now
dead, namely, Mr. Bell, Mr. Deane, Mr. George Edwards,
Mr. Meggeson, Mr. Morson and Mr. Waugh. Mr.
Davenport and Mr. Peter Squire were the only ones now
living of the number. Mr. Daniel Bell Hanbury was at
the time Treasurer. In 1861 Mr. Sandford was appointed
Vice-President, Mr. Squire having been elected President.
In 1863 Mr. Sandford was elected President, and con¬
tinued so until 1868, being actively engaged the whole of
that time in the service of the Society. In the following
year a public dinner was given to him, and as an evidence
of the appreciation in which he was held by his friends
on the Council and others, reference might be made to the
portrait which hung on the wall of that room and to the
presentation of plate which was then made to him. All
those things spoke volumes as to his merits. The year
1870 was a memorable one, when there were two scruti¬
nies of voting papers for Council, in consequence of one
scrutineer having taken liberties with, at any rate, two
names, Mr. Evans being cheated of 103 votes, and it be¬
ing his own privilege to be deprived of 28. Accountants
were then called in and a second scrutiny took place. In
1870 Mr. Sandford was again President, Mr. Haselden
being Vice-President ; but he resigned in the following
April, and on that occasion a vote of regret was passed at
the loss of his services as President. Mr. Haselden became
President, and Mr. Bourdas was then elected Vice-President,
an office in which he had been followed by Mr. George
Edwards, Mr. W. Scott Brown, Mr. Bottle and himself.
With regard to Mr. Hills, all knew him so well that it
was not necessary to say much. He was elected in 1861.
On that occasion there were three members elected, Mr.
Mackay, Mr. Hills, and himself. So that Mr. Hills had
been a member of the Council twenty years, which was a
long period in a man’s life. He was first elected Vice-
President 1867, and in 1863 succeeded Mr. Hanbury as
Treasurer. In 1873 Mr. Hills was President and Mr.
Bottle Vice-President. Mr. Hills, though a very differ¬
ent man to Mr. Sandford, would be equally missed from
the Council. The Conference knew well the liberality
which he always manifested, for there was no place at
which it had met which had not tangible recollections of
his benevolence. It was quite unnecessary to enumerate
the many advantages which had resulted to the Society
from the benevolent and kindly feelings Mr. Hills pos¬
sessed. Although Messrs. Sandford and Hills had re¬
tired from the Council, it was not from inability to per¬
form the duties, but from a natural inclination to take a
little more rest; they were just as efficient as they always
had been, and he was sure would be as ready as ever to
take part in anything where their services would be of
use. This was shown by their action in connection with
the International Congress. In conclusion he would only
say, whilst regretting their absence, they had the best
wishes of the Council for their future.

Mr. Bottle, in seconding the motion, said that he did
not know that he had much to add to what had been so
ably expressed by Mr. Savage. With reference to the
services of their late colleagues on the Council, it had
been his privilege to sit at that table many years with
those and other esteemed members, some of whom had
passed away. But these two gentlemen had merely
retired into a more quiet course of life. Mr. Sandford
had been working there for twenty-six or twenty-seven
years, and twelve years ago, when a portrait and a
service of plate had been presented to him, it was felt
that as much had been taken out of him as could be
expected of any reasonable man; since then, however,
Mr. Sandford had gone in for another twelve years
of active service in the promotion of the best interests
of pharmacy. The Queen only asked for twelve
years’ service from a young recruit ; but in this case
the Society had had the same length of service from one

who was already a veteran. It had been his privilege to
serve as Vice-President to Mr. Hills, and it had been a
great pleasure to be associated with him, and to assist
him in every way he could to carry out what was
necessary in the interests of the Society. He extremely
regretted the retirement of those two gentlemen, and it
rather brought to his mind that the time was approaching
when, from one cause or another, he himself must follow
their example. However, he did hope to be able, for
another year, at least, to give the Council the best
advice he wTas able. In expressing the regret the
members of Council all felt at the loss of their two
colleagues, he was induced to repeat a question which had
been put not long ago, “ Are we progressing ? ” Since
then a good deal had been heard of want of progress
in pharmacy ; but he might express his own opinion that
pharmacy was progressing, that the Society was pro¬
gressing, and that at the present moment it stood in a
position it had never occupied at any former period.
That very day the Council had under consideration a
communication sent from the Government, asking its
advice. He believed that a great future was before the
Council and the Society, and that it was only in the
ordinary nature of things that the Society should increase
in itself, in its wealth and importance ; whilst it was
equally in the course of nature that individual men must
depart.

Mr. Robbins, having been associated for several years
with Mr. Sandford and Mr. Hills, felt that by their
retirement the Council had lost two of its most valuable
members. Mr. Sandford had spent a great number of
years in the service of the Society, almost half a life-time.
The members of Council always looked up to him when
they wanted information, and his knowledge of the law
on all matters affecting pharmacy was so great, that he
was often jocosely styled the Attorney-General. On all
difficult questions they sought his counsel, and his
opinions carried great weight. In Mr. Hills also the
Council lost one who had the welfare of the Society
truly at heart, one who spared neither time nor money to
carry out the work which was commenced by his friend
and predecessor, Mr. Jacob Bell. His kind and genial
manner tended in a high degree to the esprit ae corps
which was necessary to the good working of any society.
The Council could only express regret at the retirement
of those gentlemen, and he hoped that they had a great
many years before them to enjoy the repose which they
had so well earned.

Mr. Hampson wished to add just a’wordor two, as one
of the younger and less experienced members of the
Council, in support of the motion. All the members of
Council must endorse what had been said by previous
speakers; be shared those feelings most sincerely and.
deeply. In the absence of Mr. Sandford and Mr. Hills,
they should miss not only a pleasant and genial face, but
the wise counsel which Mr. Sandford especially was able
to give. It had been his misfortune to disagree on
certain occasions with Mr. Sandford, but he always felt
in doing so that he was disagreeing with an honest and
able opponent, who stated his views not only with great
force, but with the utmost sincerity. He therefore
always felt, if he disagreed with him, that it would be
well to reconsider his position. He congratulated the
members of the Council on possessing the memento of
Mr. Sandford which had been alluded to, and he only
wished they had a similar reminder of Mr. Hills, at the
opposite end of the room. He hoped some steps would
be taken to obtain a similar portrait.

Mr. Atkins said a divided feeling always occupied his
mind on such occasions as the present. On the one hand
he felt some hesitation in obtruding himself to add
auything to what had been so well expressed; but, on the
other hand, if he did not speak, he felt that afterwards it
might be supposed that he did not actively share in the
sentiments which had been uttered. At the danger of
obtruding himself, therefore, he must say he endorsed

1016

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 4, 1881.

every word which had been spoken in the way of affec¬
tion and of commendation of the two retired members.
From the first moment he entered the Council room, as a
comparatively unknown man hailing from the country,
he received from those two gentlemen nothing but the
kindest possible consideration, courtesy, and gentlemanly
demeanour. They showed a willingness to listen to
opinions crudely expressed, and a kindly consideration
for the ignorance of a new member, which he could
never forget, and he took this opportunity of warmly
acknowledging. When he considered Mr. Sandford’s
perfect knowledge of the working of the Society from
the very first, he bad been often surprised at the
gentlemanliness and patience with which he had listened
to those who were feeling their way into a more prac¬
tical acquaintance with it. With regard to Mr. Hills,
everyone knew his kindly, genial face, and they had
all participated in his hospitality. The Council had
lost two men, whom it would be exceedingly difficult
to replace. There was often talk about a crisis, but
it seemed to him pharmacists were always passing
through crises, and in the times through which they
were now passing, they certainly did want the admin¬
istrative power, the patient skill, and the knowledge
of details which those two gentlemen pre-eminently
possessed. His only feeling of satisfaction on that point
was that they did not reside in the country, but in
London ; and he was thankful that they would be, in a
sense, still unattached members of the Council, and
able to give the benefit of their advice if occasion
required.

Mr. Frazer said he only rose in order to prevent any
possible misapprehension arising from his silence ; because
he had the impression that this matter, having been
discussed a month ago, when every member of the Council
expressed his views regarding Mr. Sandford and Mr. Hills,
nothing would have been said on that occasion, except by
the mover and seconder of the motion. He probably
represented others who would not speak, but who
thoroughly endorsed all that had been said. He confessed
that he envied Mr. Hills some of his qualities ; he was a
solid, sagacious man, and able to give sound advice on
every question which came before him. It had been said
that speech was silver and silence gold ; and Mr. Hills
professed that golden quality, for which he often envied
him. He knew that all the members of the Council felt
the same, and it was not necessary to reiterate the same
sentiments all round the table. All felt the loss of those
two gentlemen, and cordially wished them many years of
happiness.

The President, in putting the motion, said he had on
two or three previous occasions lately expressed his views
with regard to the retirement of Mr. Sandford and Mr.
Hills, and it was unnecessary to repeat them. It had
always been a pleasure to meet Mr. Sandford and obtain
his advice on any matter affecting the course of the
Society’s buisness. Mr. Hills also had those business
qualities which were of very great value to the Council,
and he hoped the younger members, and the older ones
also, would profit by their advice.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

Mr. Richardson said he hoped the suggestion which
had been thrown out by Mr. Hampson, that the Council
should obtain a portrait of Mr. Hills, would not be lost
sight of. He thought it might be carried out if a proper
method were employed.

The British Pharmaceutical Conference.

On the motion of Mr. Butt, seconded by Mr. Atkins,
it was resolved —

“That the Executive Committee of the British Phar¬
maceutical Conference be allowed the use of one
of the rooms in the Society’s house for the purpose
of meeting, at such time as may be convenient to
the Society.”

The Pharmaceutical Exhibition.

Mr. Symes rose to move a resolution of which he had
given notice —

“That an Exhibition Committee be appointed.”

The President said he thought it would be necessary
before that was carried, that the Council should decide
whether an Exhibition should take place.

Mr. Symes said he was quite prepared to move that,
but he thought it would be better to appoint the Com¬
mittee, which Committee should consider the desirability
or otherwise of holding an Exhibition next year. Two or
three weeks ago, he should have been inclined to advocate
a triennial Exhibition, not an annual one, especially when
he heard the lamentations and fears uttered that this year’s
Exhibition would be a failure, but when he saw that it
was again a success, when he found that many members
of the Society had come long distances to see it, and had
expressed their satisfaction that they had done so, it
occurred to him that it was worth considering whether
it should not be made annual. He thought, however,
that that could be better dealt with by a committee, and
if the Council thought fit to appoint a small committee,
that it should consider first whether it Avas desirable that
an Exhibition should be held every year. Mr. Richard-
son was good enough to call his attention to the subject
earlier this year, which was a great advantage, but it
would be better if the Committee had had the whole year
before it. If the manufacturers knew the Exhibition was
to be a regular thing, they would be better prepared, and
the members of the Committee also would be on the alert,
and looking out for articles suitable to be exhibited.
There had been some few complaints, but he held that on
the Avhole the Exhibition had been a great success.
Something had been learnt by the experience of the last
two years, and no doubt this would enable them to make
future exhibitions more successful.

Mr. Richardson seconded the motion, and was rather
astonished that any opposition should be made to it. It
seemed to him it was quite as much in order to appoint
this Committee, as to appoint a Parliamentary Com¬
mittee, or Pharmacy Act Amendment, or any other
Committee. He agreed with Mr. Symes that an Exhibi¬
tion held either annually or every two or three years
Avould be of great advantage to the country members.
It gave them an additional inducement to come to
London, which the speeches at the Annual Meeting did
not offer. A well organized Exhibition every year, or
every alternate year, would be an immense boon to
many. He Avas afraid that the Committee who had
hitherto acted in this matter had not had the success of
the affair at heart, but had rather done it from necessity
than as a labour of love. He thought Mr. Symes was
quite right in moving for a Committee, and he hoped
that the Council Avould select as members of it those who
Avould take an active, and not a mere passive part in it.

Mr. Hampson agreed with the President in thinking
that bringing forward this motion Avas rather putting the
cart before the horse. There was no doubt the Exhibi¬
tion was a fair success, and he was anxious there should
be another ; but to move that an Exhibition Committee
should sit to consider something indefinite, without
deciding that an Exhibition should be held, seemed to
him altogether absurd. Let the Council first decide to
have an Exhibition, and then appoint a Committee.
There were twelve months before the next Annual
Meeting, and there was no possible hurry in the matter.
He thought it was rather unfortunate that this subject
should be opened by an attack on the former Committee,
and the throwing out of inuendoes that that Committee
had not been hearty in its work.

Mr. Richardson said he did not say so.

Mr. Hampson said Mr. Richardson certainly threw out
the insinuation that the Committee had not done justice
to the Avill of the Council.

Mr. Richardson said it was unfortunate that Mr.
Hampson was continually misrepresenting what he said.

June 4j 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1017

The President said he must remind Mr. Richardson
that he had remarked that the late Committee had not
the affair at heart, and he did not think that there was
any ground whatever for such a remark.

Mr. HAMPSON said he did not at all wish to misrepre¬
sent Mr. Richardson, and if he thought the former Com¬
mittee had not done its duty, he was perfectly right in
saying so. On the other hand he should say that he be¬
lieved it had, and it seemed to him rather unfortunate to
appoint another committee, ignoring those gentlemen
altogether. It was also unwise to ask the Council to
appoint a committee when it had not yet decided that
an Exhibition should take place.

Mr. Frazer suggested that a notice of motion should
be given that an Exhibition be held next year.

Mr. Williams said it would have been time enough to
consider whether there should be an Exhibition or not
when the time was approaching to hold it. He agreed
that it was most irregular to move a resolution of this
sort, that an Exhibition Committee be appointed, before
the Council had decided whether there should be an
Exhibition at all. He had no doubt when the proper
time came, which would be about February next, the
Council would decide to hold another Exhibition, and
then would be the time to appoint the best men and the
most active men on the Committee, to carry out the
wish of the Council. He supposed it was intended as a
kind of reflection on the members of the late Committee,
who, he thought, did their duty very well, that their
names were entirely left out. Not having been on that
Committee himself, he could speak without any prejudice.

Mr. Symes said there was no Committee.

Mr. Williams said there certainly was a Committee,
and a Committee of that description, when it had to
work, had to sit nearly day by day. There must be
men upon it who would come day by day and look after
little details ; it was no use appointing a Committee to
sit once a month for six months, because that meant
doing nothing at first, and then not having time to do
what was necessary at last. The last Committee met
every week, and several times twice a week. This was
not the right time to decide whether there should be a
Committee or not ; it was a great trouble and a great ex¬
pense to manufacturers to exhibit, and when an exhibitor
went out of his way to send things he should not be re¬
flected upon because he did not exhibit so well as he did
for a great international exhibition, which remained open
a considerable time.

Mr. Savage said the last Exhibition was so good that
no doubt it was an inducement to Mr. Symes to bring
the subject forward again. He knew many who came up
from the country the other day, who would not have
come but for the Exhibition; but he thought tnis motion
was rather premature. He saw no objection to coming
to a determination as to whether an Exhibition should
take place, for which purpose the appointment of the
Committee could be deferred.

Mr. Atkins said if the illustration of putting the cart
before the horse were objected to, it was certainly
begging the question to appoint a Committee to deal with
that which after all might not be done. Suppose lauer
on in the year the Council decided not to have an Exhi¬
bition, then the work of the Committee would be thrown
away. He thought the Exhibition had been fairly
successful, but he did not .think it would be so every
year. It might be so for another year perhaps, but still
he believed before long it would be found desirable to
only hold these Exhibitions triennially. It ought also to
be distinctly understood that trade interests should be
kept entirely on one side, and the Exhibition should be
in the interests of the development of Pharmacy and
inventive genius.

Mr. Andrews said he would move as an amendment
that a Committee be appointed to consider the desirability
of having an annual exhibition of pharmaceutical appa¬
ratus and appliances, and to report to the Council. He

should urge having one next year, for he believed the
greats success of the Annual Meeting this year was due
entirely to the fact that there was an Exhibition. He
had received several letters from gentlemen speaking in
high terms of it, and others from gentlemen who re¬
gretted that they could not attend.

Mr. Symes said unless the amendment was pressed he
would, with Mr. Richardson’s sanction, withdraw his
motion, and give notice of a motion for next month, that
an Exhibition be held next year. On the question of
order, however, as he was challenged for suggesting that
a Committee be appointed to do some indefinite kind of
work, his understanding certainly was that the first
business before the Committee would be to consider the
desirability or otherwise of holding an Exhibition next
year. It had been said earlier in the day that it was
very desirable to change about and have fresh members
on other Committees, and he thought the same thing
would apply in this case. He certainly did not mean in
any way to reflect on the character of those gentlemen
who formed — not the Committee last year, for there
really was no Committee last year — but a Sub-Committee
appointed by the Library, Museum and Laboratory
Committee.

The President said there was a Special Committee
which reported to the Council.

Mr. Symes said he had looked at the book, and it
appeared that there never was a Committee appointed by
the Council, but a Sub-Committee had been appointed by
the Library, Museum and Laboratory Committee. He
meant no reflection whatever on the members of the
Sub-Committee, but he would withdraw this motion and
give notice for next month.

Mr. Andrews then withdrew his amendment.

The Secretary read a letter from the authorities at
Kew, thanking the Council for the use of certain wood
engravings to be used in the official catalogue of the Kew
Museum.

The Secretary also reported that he had received a
letter from Dr. Hogg, of Paris, asking for certain in¬
formation with regard to pharmaceutical education in
Great Britain.

The Secretary also reported that he had received a
communication from the Secretary to the British Associa¬
tion, stating that an Exhibition, illustrating the progress
which has been made during the last fifty years in the
construction of instruments of scientific research, will be
held, in conjunction with the meeting of the Association,
at York, in September next, and asking for the support
of the Pharmaceutical Society.

IJinbuichil

NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the above Association was held
at the Flying Horse Hotel, on Tuesday, May 31. The
President, Mr. R. Fitzhugh, F.C.S., in the chair. There
was only a moderate attendance of members.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read
and confirmed, the meeting appointed Mr. A. Smith to
act as Auditor with Mr. F. Cohite, in the absence of
Mr. J. Lewis.

The President then called upon the Secretary, Mr. C.
W. Warriner, to read the Annual Report, which stated
that the Council had great pleasure in congratulating the
members upon the steady increase of the Association,
there being now upon the rolls of the Association 55
members, including country ones, and 29 associates, as
against 55 members and 25 associates the previous
session ; showing an increase of 4 associates. During
the past session several members had resigned and one
old and valued member has been removed by death in

1018

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 4, 1881.

i

the person of the late esteemed Treasurer, Mr. John
Rayner, who had worked assiduously for upwards of
thirteen years in that post, and who was one of the
founders of the Association. Immediately after his
decease the Council forwarded a letter of sympathy and
condolence to his widow and family, to which they re¬
ceived a very courteous reply. Financially the Association
was in a more prosperous state than it had ever been
before, the Treasurer’s account showing a balance in hand
of £67 17s. 2d. For this the thanks of the Association
were due to several donors, amongst whom might be
mentioned Mr. E. Harvey, Messrs. Evans, Lescher and
Webb, Mr. Taylor (of Clarke, Bleasdale and Co)., and
Messrs. Oldfield, Pattinsons and Co. The thanks of the
Association were also due to the Pharmaceutical Society
for the Journal, Calendar and Catalogue of Library; the
British Pharmaceutical Conference for the ‘Year-Book of
Pharmacy;’ to Messrs. Evans, Sons and Co., of Liverpool,
for refitting and arranging specimens in their materia
medica cabinet ; and to the following gentlemen for dona¬
tions of prizes to classes: — Mr. R. Fitzhugh, Mr. W. H.
Parker, Mr. J. H. Haywood and Mr. H. Cowley. During
the sessions several meeting had been held, including one
to consider the Thursday half-holiday closing movement
and others to discuss the proposed new Pharmacy Act.
The Council had still to report with regret that as a
rule the attendance of the members at the meetings,
especially the non-social ones, had been very limited.
At the special meeting of the trade, called on February
8, to discuss the proposed new Pharmacy Act, it was
decided, in consequence of it not being a representative
meeting, and considering the smallness of the attendance
of members and the apathy and general want of interest
shown on the subject, that no discussion on the proposed
new Act take place. The Act was afterwards discussed
clause by clause at a social meeting held on March 22,
when it was decided to support the Act as it stood,
which decision was communicated by the Secretary to
the Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society. The
Council had been in communication with the Town
Clerk for some time past respecting a room in the
new University buildings, but as yet no definite answer
has been received, and from inquiries made it is thought
that little or nothing can be done until after the buildings
are opened, when the Council hopes to be successful.
The Sub- Librarian had reported to the Council that
21 books had been borrowed during the session. The
examiners appointed to examine the papers in connec¬
tion with the materia medica and chemistry class con¬
ducted by Mr. R. Widdowson, adjudicated as follows: —
1st. Mr. W. W. Talbot; 2nd. Mr. W. F. Savage; 3rd.
Mr. W. Gill, and in accordance with the above, suitable
prizes were given by the Council and teacher, and pre¬
sented at the inaugural meeting of the session. During
the past session the Council secured the services of Mr.
John Quinton Bown, to give a course of thirty lectures
upon “ The British Pharmacopoeia,” its materia medica,
chemistry, botany and preparations, with practical illus¬
trations and examinations of the different roots, barks,
etc. This class had been most successful. In connection
with this class the President had offered a prize for prac¬
tical dispensing, and the Vice-President offered a second,
providing a sufficient number of candidates presented
themselves. Early in May, therefore, an examination
was held at the President’s establishment, when eight
candidates presented themselves. The results were after¬
wards examined by your President and Secretary, and were
found to be fairly well up to the standard. The first
prize was awarded to Mr. E. H. Judge, and the second to
Mr. John H. Potter.

The Treasurer then presented his balance-sheet, it
having been found correct by the Auditors. Upon the
motion of Mr. Ward, seconded by Mr. C. Fletcher, both
reports were received and adopted.

The meeting then proceeded to the election of officers
and Council the voting taking place by ballot with the

following result: — President, Mr. R. Fitzhugh, F.C.S.
(re-elected); Vice-President, Mr. T. B. Fletcher; Trea¬
surer, Mr. W. H. Parker ; Honorary Secretary, Mr. C.
W. Warriner (re-elected); Council, "Messrs. R. Jackson,
J. Wilford, M. Humphreys, W. Widdowson, F. White,
C. A. Bolton, R. H. Beverley and J. Lewis ; Auditors,
Messrs. C. Fletcher and A. Beilby.

A discussion then took place upon the best means of
carrying on the work of the Association for the ensuing
session, and further enlisting the sympathies of the
members and trade generally.

Mr. W. H. Parker suggested that exhibitions of vari¬
ous chemical apparatus and appliances should be held
from time to time, at the monthly meetings. This idea
met with general approval.

Mr. Bolton suggested that new blood should be brought
into the Council in order to give members more personal
interest in the Association, and that some of the older
members should make way for fresh ones.

Mr. Warriner hoped that new life would be thrown
into the society when it obtained rooms worthy of it in
the new University buildings, and hoped that then a good
soiree would be held, at which exhibitions of various
scientific instruments, etc., might be given, in order to
inaugurate a new era in the work of the Association.

Mr. R. Widdowson suggested that the soir&e be held
before, and that the town authorities be invited to be
present at it.

After some further discussion, the meeting terminated
by a vote of thanks to the President.

fflr0c.eebmgs of Srienttfic Stfrietus*

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,
May 26, Mr. D. Hooper, Vice-President, in the chair.

A report on Materia Medica was made by Mr. R. H.
Parker, “ Notes on Eclectic Remedies,” which will be
published in a future number of this Journal.

After a discussion upon the paper, which was illus¬
trated by specimens, a vote of thanks was passed to
Mr. Parker.

Harlimnenfarg mtb ITato ^combings.

Death after drinking Condi’s Fluid.

An inquest was held at Harwich, on Thursday, May
26, before Mr. Codd, coroner, touching the death of Mrs.
Blanch. It appeared from the evidence that deceased
had been under medical treatment for jaundice, and early
on the previous Sunday morning she went to a table in
her bedroom with the intention of taking a dose. In
mistake, however, she took a draught of the Condy’s
fluid, used in the bedroom as a disinfectant, but discovering
the error she had committed, immediately called for
assistance, and a medical man was summoned.

Mr. Samuel Evans, physician and surgeon, said he had
been in attendance upon the deceased for about three
days previous to Sunday. She was suffering from yellow
jaundice, and was progressing very favourably up to that
time. At about a quarter to seven o’clock that morning
he was asked to go and see the deceased as he was informed
she had taken some wrong medicine. He requested the
messenger to run back and give some mustard and water,
as an emetic. This was done, and as soon as he was
dressed he went to the house and administered another
emetic of sulphate of zinc. He found deceased had
vomited freely before he arrived. The Condy’s fluid
had of itself acted as an irritant. The deceased wras
conscious then and for some hours afterwards. He again

June 4, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1019

saw her about eleven o’clock the same morning, and
found her quite as well as he could expect, if not better.
A good deal of diarrhoea had ensued from the irritation
caused by Condy’s fluid. That, however, was rather
beneficial than otherwise, and deceased expressed herself
as better. The Condy’s fluid had produced a burning of
the throat and irritation which brought on vomiting.
He would not go so far as to say that it was not poison.
Garrod in his work had laid it down that from two to
eight drachms might be taken without injury to the
system, but he (witness) calculated that in this instance
deceased had taken 16 drachms. (This Miss Blanch
explained was not the case, as, although about an ounce
had been taken out of the bottle, some of it had been
used before her mother had taken the draught.) Witness
continuing, said the action of Condy’s fluid was certainly
poisonous, otherwise the stomach would not have rejected
it. It was never used internally, It was not a violent
poison, however, but an irritant. He considered it
poisonous if taken in sufficient quantity. There was
always a certain amount of stupor attending jaundice,
and on getting up the deceased was, no doubt, in a
somewhat sleepy state, and took up the first bottle she
met with. Death was not absolutely due to the draught
of Condy’s fluid. When he went to see deceased on
Sunday evening, much to his astonishment, he found a
certain amount of coma going on. This was about ten
p.m., and deceased was then more or less comatose. He
could not get her to make any reply to his questions
further than “Yes.” She could, however, be aroused to
take nourishment in the shape of milk. Next morning
he found her still more insensible, the coma having
increased. He succeeded in getting her to take some
castor oil, which during the day operated, but when he
saw her at night she was still more comatose with
stertorous breathing, showing to his mind unmistakable
symptoms of apoplexy, which he attributed to the rupture
of a blood vessel within the brain, caused by excessive
straining by vomiting. He was in hopes up till Monday
that she would rally. General paralysis took place at
the last. Deceased was 65 years of age. He attributed
the cause of death primarily to the Condy’s fluid, but the
immediate cause was the vomiting.

A verdict that the deceased lost her life from the
bursting of a blood vessel on the brain, caused by her
having taken Condy’s fluid in mistake for medicine, was
returned. — Harwich ancl Dovercourt Free Press.

Alleged Theft by an Employ^ at a Co-operative

Stores.

At Westminster Police Court, on Friday, May 27,
William Burton, an assistant and manager in the drug
department at the Army and Navy Co-operative Stores,
Victoria Street, was charged with stealing a box of
phosphorus pills, of the value of 2s. 3d., the property of
the society. On Thursday afternoon the prisoner was
searched as he went out of the place, and a bottle of
phosphorus pills was found in his pocket. He at once
sg,id that he had intended to pay for them on the following
day. The defence was that there had really only been a
mistake in taking away the medicine and forgetting to
pay for it in the ordinary way.

Mr. D’Eyncourt remanded the prisoner, and agreed to
accept bail. — Times.

Poisoning by Carbolic Acid.

An inquest was held at Warrington, on Monday,
May 30, by Mr. Driffield, on the body of William
Longshaw, a partner in the firm of W. .Longshaw and
Sons, chemical manufacturers, who met with his death on
Saturday through inadvertently drinking crude carbolic
acid. The evidence showed that a sample bottle of acid
was standing in the office, and deceased, goingin a hurry,
picked up the bottle, which was without label, and drank

some of the contents before the mistake was discovered,
thinking it was herb beer. Oil was at once administered,
but he died in a very short time. Verdict, “Death by
misadventure.” — Liverpool Echo.

Vinegar Adulteration.

In Glasgow, on Monday, May 30, Sheriff Balfour gave
decision in a case under the Food and Drugs Act recently
heard before his Lordship. The accused, George Lindsay,
grocer and provision merchant, 197, Dalmarnock Road,
was charged with having, on March 11, sold to Robert
Inglis, sanitary inspector, a bottle of malt vinegar, which
on analysis was found did not contain any of the con¬
stituents of malt vinegar, with the exception of 5 ‘48 per
cent, of glacial acetic acid, water, and a trace of sac¬
charine matter. Sheriff Balfour, in passing sentence,
said the question in the case was simply this, whether it
was malt vinegar that was sold, or acetic-acid and water.
Malt vinegar was asked for, but he held it was not malt
vinegar that was sold. If he did not convict, the result
would simply be that people would go on defying the
Act of Parliament and deliver to parties asking for malt
vinegar an article which was not malt vinegar. The
practice was one that ought clearly to be put a stop to.
The mere fact of the practice having crept into the trade
in Glasgow was certainly no reason why he should not
convict in this case, but rather a reason that the practice,
which was a bad one, should be put a stop to. The
practice simply amounted to this, it was sailing under false
colours, and selling an article under a misleading name.
The case was one for a nominal penalty, the accused
being merely a retail dealer and not a manufacturer.
His Lordship then imposed a penalty of £1. — Glasgow
Herald.

®0msp0nirmc&

No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Exhibition.

Sir, — It is generally accepted that one of the main objects
of repeated exhibitions, whether annual, biennial, or
triennial, is to indicate by the exhibits the extent and
character of the progress made within the interval of time
which has elapsed, otherwise the name, in its general
acceptation, is misapplied, and the exhibition becomes
changed in its character to that of a shop.

It may reasonably be assumed it was somewhat with this
view that the Council in February last determined that an
exhibition should take place at the time of the Annual
Meeting in May, and the subject was referred to the
Library, Museum and Laboratory Committee, from which
a smaller working Committee was formed to carry out the
details; this latter Sub-Committee being composed of two
London members with the Curator, the President and
Vice-President being ex-officio members of every Com-

Tkat there would be an exhibition was announced by ad¬
vertisement, which was continued without interruption up
to the time of the Exhibition being opened. Its character
and scope were pretty clearly defined as “ An exhibition of
chemical and pharmaceutical apparatus, and other objects
of special interest to pharmacists ” ; so that by intending ex¬
hibitors it could scarcely be misunderstood, and on March 16
the Committee issued and freely distributed a circular, one
paragraph of which I will quote here, “Preference will be
given to new and improved apparatus and appliances, also
to drugs and chemicals of recent introduction, and other
articles not previously exhibited.” The Committee met
every week, and the successive steps and documents printed
were inserted in the minutes, and those minutes read at the
meetings of Council.

1020

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[J une 4, 1881

But Messrs. Fletclier have a grievance, and to illustrate
their exceptional position they profess in their letter of
last week to quote from the Pharmaceutical Journal ; the
quotation being within inverted commas there is no ex¬
cuse for mis-statement “ that the Committee had resolved
to admit all articles.” Now the paragraph in question
runs thus ( Pharmaceutical Journal, p. 925): — “And that
the Committee had resolved to admit articles which had
been previously exhibited.” The difference needs no com ¬
ment from me. The resolution passed in committee really
was: — “The Committee resolved that as many ai tides as
possible be admitted, as probably many of those who would
be present had not previously seen them.” It is further a
mis-statement on the part of Messrs. Fletcher that an “ in¬
terval of some weeks” elapsed before they were informed
that their exhibits were inadmissible.

But I have not yet finished with Messrs. Fletcher’s
mis-statements in this letter. In the third paragraph
Messrs. Fletcher state that they sent in an application for
space to exhibit some “ large crystals of iodine.” They did
no such thing; they stated in their application simply
“ crystals of iodine,” and, as no chemist and druggist can
conduct his business without iodine in crystals, according to
the B.P. definition, this substance, as described by them,
could not be considered as new or rare.

A correction of these mis-statements in Messrs. Fletcher’s
letter puts a very different complexion on their case, and if
the Committee has erred in the discharge of a very difficult
duty, — as has been more than once asserted, but has not in
any one single instance been satisfactorily proved, — the
Messrs. Fletcher have failed to show themselves qualified
to undertake it.

That the President and Mr. Butt were perfectly correct
in stating that the regulations had been relaxed, the fol¬
lowing minute of April 21 (up to which time thirteen
applications only had been received) will show: — “Re¬
solved that the applications for space being less numerous
than was expected, it is deemed desirable that the rules
regarding exhibits should be somewhat relaxed.”

Even on May 12, “ the Curator stated that he had received
further applications for space, which the Committee re¬
commended should be granted.” This was beyond the time
named for applications to be received.

It is also a fact that no exhibit sent in accordance
with the printed regulations forwarded to every applicant
was refused, and this remark applies equally to those
of Messrs. Fletcher; but these gentlemen seem to be
afflicted with that obscure, but not uncommon disease,

“ mental obliquity or an inward squint.”

If Messrs. Fletcher’s preparations are as carelessly pre¬
pared as their letter on the Exhibition, in your last week’s
issue, they might be “ uniform and economical,” but such
uniformity would neither conduce to the advancement of
pharmacy nor the success of an exhibition.

One of the Committee.

Professorial Certificates.

Sir, — Professor Attfield has, I think, unwisely rushed into
print, because in seeking to defend the procedure to which
1 took objection at the Annual Meeting he has now made
the world acquainted with the fact that the system of pub¬
lishing misleading analytical certificates has assumed such a
form that analysts have recently taken steps to avoid such
discreditable proceedings. It appears, however, that on
the occasion referred to the resolution to grant sound cer¬
tificates was not unanimous, for Professor Attfield uses
the words “with scarcely an exception,” when referring
to the views of those present at the meeting. When 1
made the remarks about the two Professors of the Phar¬
maceutical Society, at the meeting on the 18th ult., they
met with the approbation of the majority of those present,
that is, if I may judge from the way in which my utter¬
ances were received. Quack medicines or nostrums, or call
them by whatever name you will, are admitted to be a per¬
fect bane to the pharmaceutical chemist in his legitimate
calling, and I therefore thought and said that I did not
think it right for a Professor of the Pharmaceutical Society
to append his name, as such, to puff, if you will, any pro¬
prietary article, of the composition of which the public
were in ignorance.

I hope I have not drawn too much attention to the article
I named accidentally.

The Pharmaceutical Society’s Council ought in pursuance

of the principles of the Society’s charter to do all in its
power to protect the chemists of Great Britain, and in
my opinion one way of doing so is to get every chemist
to advise his customers not to buy patent medicines, pro¬
prietary foods, or other such things of that class ; but as a
preliminary the Professors of the Society must discontinue
giving certificates; they should take higher ground than
this, considering the position they hold. Percy Wells.

The Annual Meeting.

Sir, — “ Qualified Chemist ” is pleased to call Mr. Smith’s
remarks at the Annual Meeting “ ill-humoured and grum¬
bling,” and adds, “ they will be read by most with a feeling
of utter disgust.”

Speaking for myself, I can only say that I read them with
much pleasure, and considered them manly and outspoken
and I certainly agree also with Mr. Smith when he says
that an apprentice ought to be able to pass the Minor on
the expiration of his apprenticeship. I quite fail to see
that Mr. Smith ventilated a domestic grievance at the said
Annual Meeting.

I am also able to give an emphatic denial to a “ Qualified
Chemist ’’ when he says, “ the assistants are all qualified at
the stores.” I can give him name and address of some who
are not.

Since he appears so fond of calling Mr. Smith “ childish
in the extreme,” allow me to say that is just what I think
with regard to his allusion to Bradlaugh, etc.

Shepherd's Bush, W. W. C. Taylor.

Sir,— I observe in your issue of the 28th May that Mr.
Ellwood, in a letter anent the Benevolent Fund tablets,
goes out of his way to refer to the late Earl of Beaconsfield
in a fashion which is in very bad taste, and quite out of place
in the pages of the Pharmaceutical Journal. 1 protest
against the J ournal being used to express political feeling.

If Mr. Ellwood wishes to air his political opinions, let
him betake himself to a political paper and not to a
scientific one ; in which he gives pain to the readers of this
Journal who view the late statesman from a different
standpoint.

One of the latest acts of the deceased earl was to leave
directions in his will of his desire to be buried in an
unostentatious manner in the quiet churchyard of Hugh-
enden, when the pomp and pageant of a state funeral were
open to him in another place. I wonder where the
“ emblems of vainglory ” are here.

X would suggest that Mr. Ellwood should take that
advice to himself which he tenders t* the Pharmaceutical
Journal in the last sentence of his letter and “ steer clear
of parties.”

Glasgow. _ Associate.

F. E. J. Cridland.—We are not acquainted with the
process followed in making the homoeopathic preparation to
which you refer.

Mr. A. Kinninmont and Mr. J. H. Wood are thanked for
their communications.

(7. T. Weary. — Probably Ranunculus Flammula. A
specimen should be sent in flower.

M. P. S— We should have thought hot water would have
been sufficient.

Insecticide— Perhaps as your customer has tried so many
reputed insecticides without success, the best way to meet
so sad a case would be to stimulate the chamber-maid to a
ittle extra exertion.

J. Smith. There is no provision for registering a medi¬
cine as such, but a distinctive trade mark used in connec¬
tion with it could be registered under the Trade Marks Act.

A. Dyson. — Neither licence nor stamp is required for the
sale of quinine wine made according to the formula of the
B.B.j if the wine be not sold as a special or proprietary
medicine, or recommended for the relief of disease.

J. Miller. — The recipe has been asked for recently in this
Journal without success.

Chemicus. — W e do not think a formula for a tincture has
been published. See vol. vi., p. 566, of the present series
of this Journal.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Nicholson, Townson, Dodd, Wells, Warden, Tay¬
lor, Brown, Evans, Woods, Stoddart, Smith, Civitas, Equity,
Minor, Associate, Assistant M. P. S., Fair Play, F. E. Gr.,

N, , 374.

i

June 11, 1881.]

the pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

1021

JAPANESE AND CHINESE ACONITE

ROOTS.*

BY DR. ALEXANDER LANGGAARD,

Academy of Medicine, ToJcio, Japan.

Among the riches of the Chinese and Japanese
materia medica aconite roots take a prominent
position. In vol. xvii. of the ‘ Honzo-Komoku ’f
(the P un-tsaou-kang-miih of the Chinese), aconite is
without reservation described as the best of all
medicines, and in accordance with this we find in
the works named, besides the sketch of its action
and use in the most diverse diseases, pages of con¬
siderations and reflections upon the origin of the
different aconites used in medicine, as well as detailed
instructions as to the cultivation, collection and pre¬
paration of the tubers for medicinal use.

Before I pass to the description of the tubers
which I have in my possession, I will briefly notice
the species referred to in the ‘ Honzo-Komoku,’ for
notwithstanding that that work, being of Chinese
origin, takes into consideration only Chinese rela¬
tions, yet until recently it also affected Japanese
physicians and druggists, and the latter were bound
to regulate their medical stores upon the basis of
that book.

The following list gives the kinds mentioned in
the Honzo-Komoku, with their names in Chinese
letters ; and next to these the Japanese pronuncia¬
tion (jap.), and the Chinese rendering (chin.) so far
as I am in a position to give the latter.^

1. r? u Bushi” (jap.), “ Fli-tsze”

yl* (chin.) ; also called

“Koku-bushi ” (jap.),

“ Heh-fu-tsze ” (chin.).

“ Uzu ” (jap.), “ Wti t’u”
(chin.) ; or

“Sen-uzu” (jap.), “Ch’uen-
wfi-t’u” (chin.).

“Tenyu” (jap.), “Tien-
hiung ” (chin.).

“So bushi” (jap.), “ Tseh-
tsze” (chin.).

“Roranshi” (jap.).

”■ A si>

7. /. “ Kusa-uzu " (

jjL imj §§ wfi-t’u ” (chin0*

“Utaku” (jap.).

“ Kusa-uzu” (jap.), “Ts’au-

From the frequently confused and obscure state¬
ments in the ‘ Honzo-Komoku ’ only so much is
certainly apparent, that these names by no means
describe the tubers of an equal number ol different

# Translated from the Archiv der Pharmacie (vol. xv.,
p. 161), to the Editor of which Journal we are indebted for
cliches of the original engravings.

t In the Japanese names the vowels are sounded as in
German, the consonants as in English.

x The Chinese names are taken from F. Porter Smith s
* Contributions towards the Materia Medica and Natural
History of China’ (Shanghai and London, 1871).

Third Series, No. 572.

species of Aconite ; the classification appears rather
to depend principally upon definitions of the form
and appearance.

( ^ith the exception of the last-mentioned kind,
“ Kusa-uzu,” which is described as the tubers of wild
growing species of Aconite, the others are derived
from cultivated plants. Through careful cultivation,
and abundant manuring with pigs’ dung, the tubers
appear to be obtained not only of special size, but
also numerous secondary tubers. By maceration for
some days in vinegar or child’s urine, salting, drying
or burying they lose considerably of their original
toxic properties, but they are thereby rendered suit¬
able for medical use.

“ Bushi” designates the secondary tubers ; “ Uzu”
the primary tubers. Under “ Tenyu ” are described
long tubers, originating from the “Bushi,” which
give off no further adventitious tubers. “ Sokushi ”
are smaller tubers growing out from “ Bushi,” whilst
by “ Roranshi” the smallest adventitious tubers, and
by Utaku the twice divided tubers are described.

“ Uzu ” is the name applied to the head of the
cormorant occurring in Japan, and on account of
the great resemblance of many aconite tubers to a
bird’s head, the Japanese call aconite familiarly
“ Uzu.” For precisely distinguishing them, the
secondary tubers are further called “ Bushi ” and
the primary tubers “ Uzu.” But these designations
are by no means exactly maintained and observed in
the commercial varieties of tubers, so that sometimes
a mixture of primary and secondary tubers figure as
“ Uzu ;” sometimes the primary tubers are described
as “ Bushi ” and sometimes, the secondary tubers
as “Uzu.” A similar inexactitude in nomenclature
seems also to obtain in China. “ Wfi-t’u ” and
“Tfi-tsze,” therefore, disclose equally as little as
“ Uzu ” and “ Bushi ” as to the age of the tubers.

Smith, in his work, previously quoted, does not
mention the distinctions given in the ‘ Pun-tsaou *
between “Wfi-t’u” and “ Fli-tsze.” “Wd-tu”and
“ Ch’uen-wii-t’u ” are there referred to as tubers of
Aconitum Sinense. Of “Wd-t’u” he only says,
“ The Chinese name here given refers to the resem¬
blance of the flower to the beak or head of the
crow which according to information given to me
is so far incorrect that the comparison to a bird’s
head refers not to the flower but to the tuber. The
same author refers “Fli-tsze” to Aconitum varie-
gatum, and says further, “ The plant is said to be
identical with the ‘Ch’uen-wii-t’u’ just named.
As found in the drug shops they are rather larger
than the roots to be directly described, but otherwise
precisely similar in appearance.” Under “T’ien-
hiung” the tubers are described of a “ staminiferous,
sterile variety of the Aconitum variegatum ,” If inch
long and inch broad, of blackish colour and often
covered with a crust of salt. In agreement with the
statements of the ‘Pun-tsaou,’ the “Tseh-tsze” are
further described as small secondary tubers of Aconi¬
tum variegatum, and “Ts’au-wfi-t’u” as the mixed
tubers of different very poisonous species of aconite
which are used in the preparation of arrow-poison.
Smith does not mention any tubers corresponding
to those referred to under Nos. 5 and 6, with the
Japanese names “ Roranshi” and “ Utaku they
appear to have disappeared from drug commerce in

China. . . ,

I now turn to the description of the tubers which

are found with Japanese druggists. Of the five
sorts one is imported from China ; the other four are

1022

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

June .11,1881

Japanese, and are used in Japan in the place of
Chinese.

1. , ^ ^ “Daibushi” (jap.). (Fig. I. a

Wr-r* to e). The name indicates “larger
<4 V Bushi.” This kind is impoited
from China in the salted condition, appearing as
large heavy napiform tubers, of a dirty grey _ or
grey -brown colour, strongly wrinkled, mostly having
dried up buds and bearing scars of adventitious
tubers that have been cut off and small warty ex¬
crescences. They are from 35 to 55 (average 45)
millimetres long, 30 millimetres in the greatest
diameter, and weigh from 67 to 16'6 (average 97)
In the air they become moist. They are

grams.

Fig, I. a and h. “ Daibushi,” \ nat. size, c and cl. Transverse
sections soaked in water, lg times magnified, e. Microscopi¬
cal transverse section, with starch removed by treatment
with potassium hydrate.

tough to cut, and have a saline taste, with a burning
after- taste. The transverse section, of a dirty brown-
yellow colour, exhibits a very irregular figure, as in
fig. 1 d, which by the Japanese is compared to brain
convolutions. Generally the transverse section is
character. i zed by groups of vascular bundles arranged
in a circle, which are separated from one another by
a somewhat denser darker coloured tissue (fig. 1 c).
Each of these groups represents, as it were, a system
complete in itself. Under the microscope can be
seen in each a circular cambium, four or five vas¬
cular bundles, and a pith. The fundamental tissue
consists of thin-wralled polyhedral cells, which are
completely stuffed with starch granules.

In the immediate neighbourhood of the
system the cells are somewhat thick- walled,
elongated, and arranged to correspond with
the circular figure. The outer layer of the
bark consists of a few rows of dark brown
thick- walled compressed tabular cells. Next
to these inwards follows a layer consisting of
from 5 to 7 rows of tangentially elongated
cells, which is marked off from the remain¬
ing tissue by a cellular sheath. The cells of
the cellular sheath are square and yellow
in colour. Stone cells do not occur.

25 grams of tubers yielded 375 grams =*.15
per cent, of alcoholic extract.

These are probably the tubers to which
F. Porter Smith* refers under Fd-tsze, but of
which he then further remarks that they are
said to come from the same plant as yields
the “ Ch’uen-wd-t’u,” which latter tubers
he derives from Aconitum chinense. This
statement is in agreement with the state¬
ment of the ‘ Honzo-Komoku/ and accord¬
ing to what has been said before upon the
relation of “Bushi” and “Uzu,” and respec¬
tively of “Fd-tsze” and “Wli-t’u,” the “Dai¬
bushi” would be the secondary tubers to
“ Ch’uen-wti-t’u ” or “ Sen-uzu.” But this
is, in fact, not the case. Among the aconite
which is cultivated in the gardens as an
ornamental plant, which I consider to be
Aconitum chinense , Sieb., I have frequently
met with plants having a primary tuber
similar in form and showing a transverse
section exactly resembling that of the “ Dai¬
bushi,” whilst the secondary tubers in their
transverse section present a form wThich is
met with in some tubers of “ Sen-uzu.”
According to this, at all events, “Sen-uzu”
would not be primary tubers. On the other
hand, however, it would not be correct to
represent the “Daibushi” simply as primary
tubers. In the description of them I have
mentioned that most tubers at their upper
end bear withered buds. But I have never
met with stem remains ; consequently they
cannot yet have borne any secondary tubers.
I consider them therefore to be certainly
secondary tubers, but secondary tubers
which are again on the point of growth,
after the tuber from which they sprang has
already died off. It can also be demon¬
strated by experiment that decided changes
in the appearance of the tuber commence
at the moment it begins to grow, and that
at a certain time the transverse section

* Loc. cit ., p. 3.

7une 11, 1881.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 1023

shows a similar formation to that which appears
subsequently on the developed stalk.

The tubers as they now come into commerce and
are used by the physicians bear evidence that they
have been submitted to some preparation.

It may be permitted here to make a short reference
to the preparation of powerfully acting substances
for medicinal use in general. Chinese medicine
makes a sharp distinction between poisons and
remedies, which is not known with us. Whilst
many of our* most valuable remedies must be
reckoned among the strongest poisons, with the
Chinese physician a poison always remains a poison ;
it is always pernicious and cannot be a remedy.
Notwithstanding this we find in the materia medica
a large number of substances with strongly poisonous
properties, which would appear to be contradictory
to what has been stated. But almost all these sub¬
stances have been prepared for medicinal use by
roasting, extraction with water, or with “sake” (the
alcoholic drink of the Japanese, prepared from rice),
or vinegar, in such a way that the active principle
must be partially or almost entirely removed or
decomposed. According to theory such substances
contain in their original condition, besides the
remedial principle, a poison, — for instance, “ Kusa-
uzu” contains the poison of cinnabar and arsenic
acid, — which must be removed before they are
used medicinally. The art of the preparation
consists in removing the poison without injuring
the remedial action, and it is upon this ground we
find such a countless number of instructions upon
the preparation of medicaments proceeding from the
greatest authorities in Chinese medicine. I must
not, however, be understood as saying that the
Chinese and Japanese reduce all poisonous sub¬
stances to a condition of inactivity, — which, indeed,
occasionally occurs, — but the substances are so
weakened in their action that relatively large doses
can be borne without injury. Some action is pro¬
duced, but not a dangerous condition or death.
The theory says then that the poison is removed and
the remedy is preserved. I have made this interpo¬
lation because we are often astonished at the enor¬
mous doses of powerfully acting substances which are
given by Chinese physicians, and because, as far as
I know, this preparation of medicinal substances has
been nowhere adequately set forth.

Some instructions for the preparation of “Bushi”
are of a nature that it would be impossible that the
smallest trace of aconitine would be left. Experi¬
ments upon rabbits with the tubers that I have
obtained showed ahvays an aconite action.

In the physiological examination, in order to
allow of a comparison being made between the
toxical properties of the different tubers, the extracts
were dissolved in as many cubic centimetres ol
water as grams of the tuber had been used, so that
1 c.c. of the solution contained the active constituent
from 1 gram of the tuber.

Experiments with Daibushi Solution of
Extract.— A white and brown rabbit, weighing
1700 grams, received subcutaneously 1 '7 c.c. of the
solution, corresponding to 0T5 gram of extract to
the kilogram of the rabbit. At the end of seventeen
minutes the respiration became very slow with some
dyspnoea, and then movement of the jaws and saliva¬
tion commenced. The respiration fell to seventeen in
a minute ; the pulse was slow, irregular, and marked.
Thirty- six minutes after the injection the animal

lay upon its stomach; the fore paws were slipped
forward sideways, showing that the sensibility was
not essentially injured. One hour and fifty minutes
after the poisoning the motions were still somewhat
uncertain ; the respiration was regular, and the heart
pulsated regularly at thirty-eight contractions in the
minute. The next day the animal was quite lively.
It follows that in this case we have to do with
tubers which probably through a short maceration
in vinegar and salting have lost a part of their
activity, but have not been completely exhausted.

By Japanese physicians these “ Daibushi ” are
preferred before all other tubers, and should properly
be always used in Japan when the prescription orders
“ Bushi.” On account of their high price — they are
about ten times the price of Japanese tubers —
Japanese tubers are frequently used in their stead.

2. “Sen-uzu.” (Fig. II. a to/.) These are tubers
grown in Japan, and are said to come into commerce
from the northern part of Nippon. In appearance

Fi*. II. a and &, “ Sen-uzu,” k nat. size, c and d,
transverse sections, soaked in water, 1 % times mag¬
nified. e, transverse section of the upper part of
a tuber, h nat. size. /, transverse of the lower part
of the same tuber.

they correspond perfectly until the tubers figured by
Hanbury in his ‘Notes on Chinese Materia Medica,’*

* Plmrm ireutical Journal , [2j, vol. iii., p. 263; ‘ Science
Papers,’ p. 258.

1 024

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 11, 1£8

/

/

under the name “ Chuen-woo,”* and referred by
v. Schroff to Aconitum chinense, Sieb. Smith refers
the “ Ch’uen-wti-t’u ” also to Aconitum Sinenst.

The tubers are smaller than the previous ones,
more roundish or conical, of a grey colour, dusty,
smooth or only finely wrinkled, seldom worm-
eaten, pressed in at the top, frequently bearing the
remains of a bud, and with small warty excrescences
on the sides. The point as well as the secondary
tubers are removed. They are from 15 to 40 mm.
long, attain a thickness of 30 mm. in the greatest
diameter, and weigh from 2*5 to 7 ’4 grams (average
4*5 grams). They are very hard and difficult to
cut, pure white and mealy at the transverse section,
after soaking in water becoming grey white or yellow
brown (fig. II. a and b). By means of the transverse
section three different kinds may be distinguished.

(1) . With a closed clearly defined cambium ring,
drawn out in the upper part of the tuber into a five-
to seven-angular more or less star shape; in the
lower part elliptical or annular ; enclosing a large
pith equalling or exceeding the bark in breadth
(fig. II. e and /).

Examined microscopically the outer layer of
bark appears to consist of a few rows of brown,
pressed together, tabular cells. The middle layer
consisting of seven to twelve rows of tangentially
elongated cells, and enclosing dispersed stone-cells,
is separated from the inner layer by a cellular sheath
©f square yellow cells. The cells of the inner layer
are tangentially elongated at the circumference, but
become polyhedral towards the centre. The me¬
dulla consists of large roundish polyhedral cells,
which, as well as the inner layer cells, are filled
with starch-granules. The vessels stand either ar¬
ranged in rows, or they form a bow opening outwards.

(2) . In this kind the cambium ring is angular,
not star-shaped. But there are besides, in the broad
inner bark layer, arranged in a circle, eight to ten or
more groups of fibro- vascular bundles, which appear
under the microscope as small stars (fig. II. d).
The microscopic structure resembles otherwise that
described under (1).

(3) . In this kind a closed cambium ring is wanting.
In a fundamental tissue consisting of parenchymatous
cells are vascular bundles arranged in a circle, which
microscopically appear as small stars (fig. II. c .)

The transverse sections described under (2) and
(3) correspond exactly with the transverse sections
©f the secondary tubers of the species which I have
described as the mother-plant of the “Daibushi.”
I have never in Japan met with wild growing species
ef Aconitum with similar tubers, and accordingly,
as I have further remarked above upon the origin of
“ Daibushi,” I consider them to be tubers of a species
©riginally Chinese, which has been introduced into
Japan as an ornamental plant and in some districts
(Oshu) cultivated on account of its tubers. In
agreement with this, in the ‘ Honzo-Zufu,5 a Japanese
botanical work, some species are described as pro¬
bably derived from China.

The Japanese name “ Sen-uzu” characterizes them
as primary tubers. This, if we understand “ Uzu ”
in the same sense as our words " primary tuber,” is
not correct; it appears, therefore, that the word
“ Uzu ” has a wider signification. In one place in
the ‘ Honzo-Komoku ’ it says, 11 If ‘ Sen-uzu ’ be
planted, they produce ‘Bushi,* therefore ‘Uzu’ is

* v. Schroff, jun., ‘ Beitrag zur Kenntniss des Aconit,’
p. 60.

the mother of 1 Bushi.’ ” The designation conse¬
quently does not refer here to the relation already
existing between two tubers ; it represents rather the
order in which the tuber becomes productive.

50 grams of the tubers yielded 2*46 of alcoholic
extract =4 *92 per cent.

The following experiment shows the enormous
toxic power of the tubers : — A black rabbit, weighing
1700 grams, received at 11.20 1 *7 c.c. of solution of the
extract, corresponding to 1 c.c. of solution, or 0*049
gram of extract to the kilogram of rabbit. At 11.27,
jaw movements ; salivation ; acute dyspnoea ; inspira¬
tion wheezing. 11.30, dyspnoea increased. 11.33,
respiration stopped frequently for several seconds;
this condition continued until 11.55, when the
animal lay upon its side. 11.57, slight convulsions.
11.58, stronger convulsions ; respiration ceased ; heart
ceased to be heard ; death.

The. experiment shows the stronger poisonous
property as compared with the “ Daibushi ” tubers.
But the appearance of the tubers explains this, and
shows that they are only dried and submitted to no
other operation, so that the considerable difference
in the toxic power does not argue against the accept¬
ance of a common origin.

For the chemical examination the tubers were
powdered and extracted with alcohol containing tar¬
taric acid. The alcohol was distilled off, the residue
taken up with water and filtered for the removal of
fat. The filtrate was precipitated with sugar of lead,
the liquid separated from the precipitate was freed
from lead with sulphuretted hydrogen, concentrated,
decomposed with caustic soda, and repeatedly shaken
with chloroform. After evaporation the chloroform
left a yellow amorphous varnish and a crystalline
body. The two could easily be separated from one
another. The varnish was dissolved in water con¬
taining sulphuric acid and precipitated with iodide
of mercury and potassium, the precipitate suspended
in water and decomposed with sulphuretted hydrogen,
and the liquid after being separated from sulphide
of mercury by filtration was concentrated at a low-
temperature. As after standing some time no
crystals were deposited, the liquid was made alkaline
with caustic soda and shaken with ether, which upon
evaporation left a colourless varnish that after dry¬
ing was brittle. Both the substances so obtained
possessed alkaloidal properties, were thrown down
by reagents precipitating aconitine, and differed from
one another chiefly in one being crystalline and the
other, which predominated quantitatively in the
tubers, not.

The latter has topically only a weakly irritant action.
Subcutaneously injected it produces movements of the
jaw and salivation. Chiefly the respiration is af¬
fected, whilst the heart pulsates rapidly and power¬
fully. Death takes place after several hours under
the symptoms of general adynamia. In dissection
the trachea is found filled with a bloody froth, the
lungs strongly hyperhsemic. The heart and left
ventricle are contracted, the right mostly filled with
bloody coagulum. The lethal dose lies between
0-003 and 0"005 gram per kilogram of rabbit. An
exact estimate of the lethal power of German
aconitine does not lie within my knowledge, but it
appears to have a weaker action than that prepared
from “ Sen-uzu.” I am occupied with a more exact
investigation of the action of the different alkaloids
obtained by me from Japanese tubers and hope to
be able shortly to bring it to a conclusion.

June 11, 1881.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

1025

These tubers are only seldom administered inter¬
nally by Japanese physicians. What has been stated
by von SchrofF* as to the internal administration
applies to “ Daibushi ” and other tubers used in the
place of “ Daibushi.”

{To be Continued)

CULTIVATION OF CINCHONA IN THE UNITED

STATES.f

Consul General Adams, of La Paz, Bolivia, states
that he has no doubt but that the cinchona may be
cultivated in some parts of the Southern portion of the
United States, where the soil and climate are favourable
to its culture. After a full, investigation into the
cultivation of the Cinchona Calisaya in Bolivia, he gives
the following information to those wishing to make the
experiment of growing the tree in the United States:—
“The seed is sown broadcast upon a hot-bed, such as
gardeners prepare in the spring for their early vege¬
tables. The manure of the llama, for which in the
United States sheep manure might be substituted, is
freely mixed with the surface soil of the hot-bed, and as
the seed is very high it should be slightly raked under
and the surface kept moist. As soon as the sprouts
appear a shade should be constructed over the bed

covered simply with leave*, straw or branches of trees,
which, while it protects the tender plants from the hot
sun, may allow the rain to penetrate and fall gently upon
them, and it is advisable to locate such hot-beds on a
hill-side, so that the water may quickly run off, con¬
tinuous and limited moisture being required rather than
quantities of water and heavy falls of rain. As soon as
the plant is grown to a height of from 6 to 8 inches it is
ready for transplanting. The ground chosen for a quina
plantation should also be sloping, if possible on the south
side of hill or mountain, as experience has shown here
that those located on level land do not prosper, and steep
mountain sides are here preferred. The plants are set at
regular intervals eight feet apart, and it is only neces¬
sary, if not better, to prepare the soil within a foot of
where each plant is placed, as I am assured that by
ploughing the whole field too much moisture would be
retained in the soil . The plants are then slightly
covered with fallen leaves or other rubbish to protect
them from the hot sun a while longer, until they show a
strong and healthy growth, after which all further care
seems to be unnecessary, in Bolivia at least, where even
the weeds are but superficially removed. A damp, warm
climate, with heavy dews at night and cloudy sky
during the days, rather than a hot burning sun, — such as
may be found in the mountainous regions of some of the
Southern States, like Alabama and Georgia, where mists
and threatening clouds hang over the mountains in
summer and still no severe frosts occur in winter — this
seems to be what is required for the cultivation of this
plant; and I should not be surprised if the experiment
should, under such conditions, prove successful, a result
which would undoubtedly add greatly to the wealth and
prosperity of the South. Bolivia being in the southern
hemisphere, the seasons for sowing and transplanting in
the United States will have to be changed; the former,
instead of October here, should be done in April, and the
latter in July, instead of January here. From these
intervals it will be seen that the seeds require a long
period to germinate and attain their first growth, but
from all accounts, if the above directions are followed
and a little patience shown in the beginning, very little,
if any, cultivation and trouble is necessary after the
plant is transplanted and becomes firmly rooted and
shows a healthy growth. In from five to six years the
tree grows to a height of about 1 0 feet, and 5 to 6 inches
in diameter, and at that age the bark contains the
greatest percentage of quinine, and is worth in Bolivia

* Loc. cit., p. 63.

f From the Oil and Drug News, May 17, 1881.

from 180 dollars to 200 dollars per quintal of 100 pounds.
When the tree has attained this size and age it is cut
down close to the roots, the bark stripped entirely from
the trunk and branches, and one of the new shoots from
the root is allowed to grow into a new tree. In India, I
am told, the custom prevails to strip only half of the tree
and allow this to grow again before the otter half is
taken off ; but by this process, I am assured, the
percentage of the sulphate contained in the second
growth is much smaller than that gained by the method
practised here. The seed which I have transmitted I
have procured from one of the best plantations, and is
warranted to be of the calisaya species — the best of the
cinchonas. Lately, since the cultivation of this tree has
assumed such large proportions in Bolivia, this seed has
become an article of local commerce ; so that should the
experiments in the United States prove successful there
would seem to be no difficulty in obtaining the necessary
seed in larger quantities,”

NOTES ON PHARMACOPOEIA! PREPARATIONS FOR
THE NEW EDITION OF THE GERMAN PHAR.
MACOPCEIA.*

Ammonium Bromide.

Biltz has had repeated occasion to prepare this salt,
and considers all of the hitherto published processes de^
fective. Among these are : 1. Decomposition of bromide
of potassium by chloride of calcium and carbonate of
ammonium in presence of alcohol; 2. Decomposition of
bromide of potassium by sulphate of ammonium in pre*
sence of alcohol; 3. Saturation of hydrobromic acid with
ammonia ; 4. Preparation from ferrous bromide and car¬
bonate of ammonium. He prefers the following process —

Cover the bromine with twice its weight of water in
an open flask, and add cautiously, under constant swing¬
ing and occasional cooling with cold water, water of
ammonia in portions, until all the bromine is just dis¬
solved to a colourless liquid. Now and then the flask
will have to be covered with a glass plate. The solution
is accompanied by the escape of nitrogen, and it is asserted
that only bromide of ammonium is formed. But even in
this case, there is formed an oxidized product, bromic or
hypobromous acid, just as iodic, etc., acid is formed when
dissolving iodine in solution of potassa. For, if a portion
of the liquid is acidified, it turns strongly yellow, and
chloroform, on being shaken with the liquid, extracts
from it free bromine. Now, to reduce the bromate and
hypobromite of ammonium to bromide, it is necessary to
treat the liquid with hydrosulphuric acid; but, before
doing so, enough bromine should be added to render it
slightly yellow, or the previous addition of ammonia to
the bromine and water is so regulated that a trifling
excess of bromine remains uncombined. This is done for
the reason that the colourless solution first obtained con¬
tains a little free ammonia, which would form sulphide
of ammonium on passing the gas, and this compound is
much more difficult to remove by boiling than free hydro-
sulphuric acid. After the current of the gas has con¬
verted the bromate, hypobromite, and free bromine into
bromide, the liquid, which is cloudy from suspended
sulphur, is boiled until the excess of the gas is completely
driven off, and, when entirely cold, filtered through a
double filter. The perfectly clear filtrate, which contains
some free hydrobromic acid, is now supersaturated with
ammonia, and evaporated to dryness.

The resulting product is entirely pure, excepting that
it contains such small percentages of chlorine as may have
been present in the bromine used.

Artificial Carlsbad Salt (Sal Thermarum Caroli-
nensium artificiale).

The formula proposed by the German Apothecaries’
Society is as follows : — _

# Extracts from the official proposals for alterations of
the first edition of the ‘ Pharmacopoea Germanica. From
New Remedies, April, 1881.

1026

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 11, 1881

Chloride of Sodium, pure, powd. . 115 parts.

Sulphate of Potassium, powd. . . 125 „

Sulphate of Sodium, dried . . . 200 „

Bicarbonate of Sodium, powd. . . 205 „

A white, dry powder. A solution of 6 grams (93
grains) of the above mixture in a litre of distilled water
yields a solution corresponding to the natural Carlsbad

water.

Cologne (Spiritus Coloniensis).
1. Schneider's Formula.

Oil of Bergamot
Lemon .

Lavender
Clove
Rosemary
„ Thyme .

„ Cinnamon
Musk ....

Alcohol . . .

Rose Water .
Orange-flower Water

yy

yy

yy

90-0 gm.

30-0

15-0

40 gutt.
48 „

24
40
0’06 gm.
3780-0 „
180-0 „
180-0 „

yy

yy

The oils are dissolved in the alcohol , the musk added,
and the mixture allowed to macerate for eight days.
Then the rose and orange-flower water are added, and
after the lapse of another eight days, the mixture is
distilled from the water-bath until 4000 gm. of product
are obtained.

2. W Urn's Formula.

Gil of Neroli . 4 parts.

„ Lavender
,, Rosemary
„ Lemon .
„ Bergamot
Alcohol . . .

4

8

8

15

1000

5>

Macerate a few days and filter. — German Apothecaries

Society.

Precipitated Sulphate of Iron.

100 parts of coarsely crystalline pure sulphate of iron
(ferrous) are dissolved in 160 parts of hot water and 20
parts of diluted sulphuric acid, the solution filtered, and,
after cooling, poured into 250 parts of alcohol of 0"832,
stirring constantly during the mixing, and for a short
time afterwards. The liquid is then left at rest for a few
minutes, the acid solution poured off, and the precipitate
immediately transferred to a filter moistened with alcohol
(0"832), or to a funnel loosely stopped with cotton, and
washed with alcohol (0"832) until litmus paper is no
longer reddened. The magma is then strongly pressed
between litmus paper and dried by exposure to air, fre¬
quently turning it, and renewing the blotting paper,
until the odour of alcohol has disappeared, and the salt
is so far dry that it neither adheres to the fingers nor to
dry blotting paper. It is necessary to be extremely
careful in drying this salt, since the loss of water of
crystallization is not reeognizable by the eye, though
this is readily seen in the case of the crystallized salt.
It is sufficient to expose the precipitated salt, at ordinary
temperature (not over 20° C.), to the air for one day,
changiag the paper frequently. This causes no loss of
water of crystallization. On the other hand, if the salt
is dried under a glass globe over caustic lime, the water
of crystallization is abstracted rapidly, only 3 molecules
of it having been found remaining after the third day in
one experiment.

Precipitated svdphate of iron, prepared by the fore¬
going process, contains fully 7 molecules of water of
crystallization. By faulty operation, such as using abso-
oute alcohol for precipitation and washing, the amount
of water of crystallization is rendered defective. The
salt keeps extremely well, provided the vessels in which
it is preserved are kept well closed.

It is not necessary to have free acid adhering to the
product, as is the case with the crystals. The salt
crystallizes, not in single crystals, but in very minute
grains of rhombic tables built upon each other. It is
easy to remove the intralamellary moisture by drying.

On the other hand, if the precipitate is allowed to remain
for some time undisturbed below the alcohol, it compacts
itself to larger crystalline lumps, which it is difficult to
wash out. Some pharmacists believe that the salt is best
preserved in an atmosphere impregnated with alcohol ;
but, under these circumstances, it acquires, after a few
months, an odour of aldehyde, and becomes oxidized.

{To he continued.)

THE CONNECTION OF THE MOLECULAR PROPER¬
TIES OF INORGANIC COMPOUNDS WITH THEIR
ACTION UPON THE LIVING ANIMAL ORGANISM.*

BY JAMES BLAKE, M.D., F.R.C.S.

During my prolonged reseaches on the phenomena
elicited by the direct introduction of inorganic matter into
the circulation of living animals, I have arrived at results
which, as I believe, open a new path to the solution of
certain riddles of molecular chemistry. The researches
were begun with the intention of applying these simpler
and better known substances for the analysis of physio¬
logical facts, but in the course of my experiments it be¬
came clear that living matter might serve as a means for
giving a clue to the molecular principles of inorganic
matter. In a discourse delivered in 1839 before the
Academy of Sciences of Paris, I showed that when solu¬
tions of different salts are introduced into the blood of
living animals the physiological action depends on the
electro-positive component of the salt, and little upon the
acid with which it is combined. A communication which
I read at a meeting of the Royal Society in June, 1841,
proved that the action of inorganic bodies introduced
directly into the blood of living animals depends on their
isomorphous relations ; and in a memoir communicated
to the California Academy of Sciences in 1873, I showed
that among the compounds of the metallic bodies, strictly
speaking, the physiological efficacy of substances belonging
to one and the same isomorphous group was proportionate
to their atomic weight ; the greater the atomic weight the
more intense the physiological action. This is not the
place to enter closely into the physiological action of the
bodies employed in these experiments. They included salts
in forty- one elements, and their action was tested upon
horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, geese, and hens with identical
results. Aqueous solutions of the different salts were
injected into the blood-vessels of the living animals.
Among those of the monatomic metals were salts of
lithium, sodium, rubidium, thallium, calcium, and silver.
They all agree exactly in their physiological action. The
fatal quantity of lithium sulphate for a rabbit is 1 grm.
per kilo, of the animal’s weight ; whilst of silver nitrate,
0"06 grm. was fatal. Among the diatomic metals tried
were salts of magnesium, iron, manganese, cobalt, nickel,
copper, zinc, and cadmium, as also calcium, strontium,
and barium. In the salts of the magnesium series, the
analogy of physiological action is very manifest, and their
activity is enhanced with the increase of the atomic
weight, rising from 0"97 gram per kilo, for magnesium
sulphate to 0'08 gram for cadmium sulphate. The salts
of calcium, strontium, and barium form likewise a group
in which the increasing physiological action is very dis¬
tinct, being 0"47 per kilo, in calcium chloride and 0"043
gram per kilo, for barium chloride. The physiological
reactions of the lead salts resemble those of the barium
group, though agreeing in certain reactions with the
salts of silver. (Similar transition-reactions were ob¬
served in the salts of magnesium, calcium, silver, and
gold.)

Among the tetratomic metals, the salts of thorium,
palladium, platinum, osmium, and gold were examined,
All showed great similarity in their physiological action,
ranging from 0"029 gram per kilo, in thorium sulphate to
0*003 gram per kilo, in gold chloride. The decided and
characteristic effect of this class of substances upon the

# From the Berichte der Deutsch. Chem. Gesellschaft.
Reprinted from the Chemical Netvs , April 29, 1881.

June 11, 18S1.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1027

action of the heart was shown in the most surprising
manner by the compounds of gold, which even in the
minute dose of 0"003 gram per kilo, kept up the action of
the heart for several hours after death, though the tem¬
perature of the body had sunk 13° below the normal heat
of the animal.

Among the hexatomic metals, the salts of glucinum,
aluminium, and iron (ferricum) agree perfectly in their
physiological reactions. The fatal dose per kilo, ranges
from 0'323 in glucinum, 0"007 for aluminium, and 0-004
gram in ferricum, all in the state of sulphates. The phy¬
siological action of glucinum confirms the view that
glucinum is a hexatomic metal.

Among the rarer earths, experiments were tried with
ytterbium, cerium, didymium, lanthanium, and erbium.
There was found a marked difference between the cerous
and ceric salts as in those of iron. The difference is, how
ever, less, being 1 : 3 in cerium and 1 : 28 in iron. Among
the non-metallic elements, compounds of chlorine, bro¬
mine, iodine, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, sulphur,
and selenium were examined. Chlorine, bromine, and
iodine agree closely in their physiological reaction, but
instead of an increase there is here a decrease in intensity.
Phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony do not induce any im¬
mediately perceptible physiological reaction. Arsenious
acid, injected in the proportion of 0 560 gram per kilo.,
checks the pulmonary circulation. Sulphur and selenium
are similar in their action, the latter being the more
powerful. The only exceptions to the rule, that isomor-
phous substances act in an analogous manner, are the
salts of potassium and ammonium. The latter produce
results resembling those of certain nitrogenous alkaloids.
If the carbon compounds exhibit similar phenomena in
their manner of action upon the living animal body,
researches concerning molecular relations will be greatly
facilitated. Dujardin has already demonstrated in this
direction, that in alcohols of one and the same series the
intensity of the physiological action is directly as the
atomic weight.

STEEL FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF DIES.*

I have referred in former Reports-! to the question of
steel for the manufacture of dies, and attention has
frequently been drawn to the difficulty experienced in
obtaining metal of suitable quality. Our knowledge of
the relation between the chemical composition and the
mechanical properties of steel may almost be said to have
been created since 1849, when the late Professor Brande
stated, in evidence before the Royal Commission on the
Mint, that he had analysed numerous varieties of steel,
but ascribed its peculiarities more to mechanical texture
than to chemical composition. Not long since the
appearance of the fracture of a sample of metal was
considered to afford trustworthy and sufficient evidence
as to its nature and properties ; but such rough methods
have now given place to the rigorous. physical, chemical,
and mechanical investigations to which metals must be
submitted as a matter of ordinary routine.

Although the steel at present supplied to the Mint
appears to show a marked improvement in the number of
coins struck per pair of dies, the difficulty involved in the
production of a suitable quality of steel demands careful
attention, and it appears probable that an examination
of the many advances in the metallurgy of. steel that
have been made in recent years cannot, fail both ^o
indicate the chemical and physical conditions which, a
die steel should satisfy, and to show the direction in
which, advance in its manufacture should be sought.

In regard to the first of these points it must be

* From the Eleventh Annual Report of the Deputy
Master of the Mint (1880).’ Appendix No. II. Memo¬
randum by Mr. Roberts, F.R.S. „ Arc.

f ‘ Report on European Mints Parliamentary Paper 466

(1870), p.27: ‘Eighth Annual Report (1877), p. 40 ; Ninth
Annual Report (1878)/ p. 89,

admitted that the information to be gathered is but
limited, for, notwithstanding the elaborate system of
tests above referred to, eminent authorities on the
subject hold that the recognized tests should be supple¬
mented by experiments in which the metal is actually
employed for the purpose for which it is required.

It will be well first to briefly examine tbe chemical
conditions which influence the resistance of metal to
mechanical strain. Carbon, it is well known, gives to
iron fusibility and renders it c qiable of being cast in
moulds. The result of very many experiments appears
to show that the presence of 0T5 per cent, of carbon
converts wrought iron into steel, rendering it capable of
being slightly hardened ; beyond l-5 per cent, of carbon
the metal ceases to be malleable, and is known as cast
iron. The influence of this metalloid on the tensile
strength is, moreover, very remarkable. ri hus an
increase from 0*15 to 0*1 8 per cent, of carbon will suffice
to increase the breaking strain by several tons per square
inch. Manganese is generally considered to act in a
similar manner to carbon,* but in certain cases it is
found to be specially beneficial in that it makes the
metal forge more readily.

Silicon appears to render steel fragile under impact
and diminishes its resistance to ti action. A small
quantity of this element is, however, serviceable in
rendering the material known as “ingot-metal” free
from blow-holes. With regard to sulphur and phos¬
phorus it is admitted that the presence of these metal¬
loids is on the whole prejudicial, but their influence need
not be specially dwelt upon here, as they do not occur in
sensible quantities in the high qualities of steel which
can alone be used for the manufacture of dies.

The effect of the simultaneous presence of two or more
of the above-mentioned elements in steel is extremely
complex, and often uncertain, so that it must be long
before we can hope for a complete solution of the ques¬
tion. It therefore becomes necessary to consider specific
cases.

The following analyses of typical samples of steel
employed in the Mint for dies were made by Mr. W. F.
Ward, my assistant in the Metallurgical Laboratory of

the Royal School of Mines.

A. B.

C.

D.

Iron . .

98-93

98-63

98-64

by difference 98-07

Carbon . .

0-82

1-07

0-79

1*19

Manganese

o-io

0-12

0-24

0-45

Silicon . .

005

006

0-18

0-29

Sulphur

trace.

trace.

o-oi

trace.

Phosphorus

5)

55

001

55

Copper . .

55

55

0-02

55

99-90

99-88

99-89

100-00

The sample marked A. was a die of exceptional
quality, having struck no less than 200,000 florins, the
normal out-turn of a florin die not exceeding 50,000
pieces. B. is the steel now employed, which, during the
past year, has been found to yield an average out-turn of
54,000 pieces per pair of dies. C. proved in practice to
be of unsatisfactory quality, owing to the frequency with
which it cracks during the operation of hardening, and
this fault was still more marked in the sample D. Their
use has therefore been discontinued.

It is unquestionable that the variations in the amounts
of the constituent elements indicated by the above
analyses to some extent explain the relative merits of the
samples. As has already been stated, the property of
hardening is mainly due to the presence of carbon;
indeed Chernoff, Siemens, and many others are of
opinion that true steel is a mixture or combination of
carbon and pure iron alone, and that all other substances
are impurities necessarily injurious in pure steel, though
sometimes apparently beneficial if they exclude or neu¬
tralize more injurious substances. Deshay es has
~*~T Les M6taux a 1’ Ex position Universelle de 1878/ Par
H, Lebasteur, Paris, 1878, p. 74.

1028

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 11, 1881.

shown that the broad groupings into which steels may be
divided (on the basis of their tensile strength) are
characterized by marked, although gradual, differences
in the amount of carbon they contain. This metalloid is
the one on which the mechanical properties centre, and
the elaborate researches of the distinguished engineer
whom I have just mentioned seem to point to the fact
that a steel containing from 0'6 to 0'75 per cent, of
carbon will be found best suited for the manufacture of
dies, providing the amount of other metalloids present is
satisfactory. Bearing in mind the fact already alluded
to, that a difference of only 0‘03 per cent, in the carbon
iB known to materially alter the tensile strength, it seems
reasonable to conclude that the inferiority of sample B.
as compared with A. may be mainly attributed to the
amount of carbon it contains. In regard to sample C.
the amount of manganese and silicon is relatively high,
and it may be confidently asserted that there is sufficient
chemical reason for its marked failure as a material for
dies. It would appear probable that the physical condi¬
tions to which it has been subjected in hardening and
tempering were unsuitable, and have also contributed to
such a result. With reference to D. the manganese and
silicon are exceptionally high, and it is obviously, there¬
fore, far removed from the class of steel that past experi¬
ence has shown to be suitable.

The question will be seen to be one of extreme
complexity, and even when the examination of the metal
is limited to its actual employment for the purpose for
which it is required, there still remain a great number
of conditions, the influence of each of which has to be
investigated. Taking the metal as received in square
bars from the manufacturers, the operations to which it
is subjected in conversion into dies are : forging, turning,
striking, hardening, tempering ; and the influence of
variations in such of these processes as can be varied
should be examined while all others remain constant.
Thus in his Memorandum for last year, Mr. Hill
adduced some figures tending to show that dies forged by
the steam hammer afford better results than those forged
by hand, and in his Memorandum for 1876, a table
is given from which it appears that the form of press
used also exercises a material influence. It is, however,
well to remember, in considering such a question, that
the quality of different bars, even from the same parcel,
varies both in regard to their chemical and physical pro¬
perties ; indeed it is now recognized that the same bar
may be expected to vary throughout its length. This
would alone account for the well-known fact, that die3
made of the same metal differ widely in the number of
coins they produce before cracking, and it points to the
necessity of only drawing conclusions from as large a
number of experiments as possible.

DISINFECTING POWER OF THE CHLOROPHENOLS.*

BY C. 0. CECH.

It has often been noticed that the addition of bleaching
powder to carbolic acid in dressing wounds causes healing
to take place more rapidly than when the acid is used
alone. It has been shown by Diamin that phenol and
bleaching powder react on one another, forming mono-,
di-, and tri-chlorophenol, which may be isolated and sepa¬
rated by treatment with a strong acid, and distillation
with aqueous vapour. The author, considering that these
chlorophenols are probably formed when carbolic acid
and bleaching powder are used together in dressing a
wound, and exert a healing power greater than that of
carbolic acid alone, attempted to prepare chlorophenols
in quantity by the above process ; it proved dangerous
on the large scale, and direct treatment of phenol by
chlorine gas was resorted to. A red crystalline mass was
obtained, from which white crystals are obtainable by

* From the J. pr. Cliem. , [2] , 22, 345—347. Reprinted
from the Journal of the Chemical Society , March, 1881,

pressure between filter-paper ; after purifying these
crystals by precipitation from their alcoholic solution by
water, they were dissolved in alcohol, and the bandages
were impregnated with this solution. These crystals con¬
sist of a mixture of three chlorophenols, in which trichloro-
phenol predominates, and is probably the most useful.
The chlorophenols present the advantage over phenol of
being less corrosive and poisonous, and trichlorophenol
probably has most advantage in these respects ; its value
as a disinfectant remains to be decided by the use of the
chlorophenol bandages.

THE SPECTROPHONE.

At a recent meeting of the Philosophical Society of
Washington, Professor Graham Bell communicated the
announcement of his discovery of the spectrophone, the
latest outgrowth of the photophone. When Mr. Bell
announced the discovery of the photophone last August,
he ventured to predict that probably all matter would
be found to possess sonorous properties of the same
nature as those manifested by the disks used in that
instrument. More recent investigations in Europe
with gases and liquids have fully verified this predic¬
tion. Any liquid or gas placed in a test tube, and
exposed to the action of a beam of light condensed
upon it by a lens can be made, by means of an inter¬
rupter, to emit musical tones. This has been shown
by Professor Tyndall in his paper, read to the Royal
Society, on “ Radiant Heat.” Some substances thus
emit feeble sounds, others stronger ones. Iodine
vapour, nitrogen oxide, and bromine give very loud
sounds. It is found that those substances which emit loud
sounds are those which absorb heat in a high degree, and
among these lamp-black is especially remarkable. It has
been questioned whether such sounds are provoked by the
luminous rays or by the dark ones. M. Mercadier expressed
the belief that the inciting rays are the red and dark ones.
This led Professor Bell, with Mr. Sumner Tainter, to ex¬
periment with the sonorous properties of carbon disulphide,
actuated by the light of the spectrum. When lamp-black
is exposed to the action of the light of the spectrum it is
found to give a sonorous reponse to all of its rays as far as
the middle of the violet, and perhaps beyond. The in¬
tensity of the sound, however, varies remarkably in diffe¬
rent parts of the spectrum. Taking the rays successively
from different parts, from the violet towards the red, the
sounds begin very feebly and increase in intensity,
reaching a maximum in the ultra-red. Beyond that
point they suddenly cease. The increase of intensity is
very gradual, the decrease very sudden. Other sub¬
stances have been experimented with, and while ex¬
hibiting similar properties, each has a range of its own.
Porous and fibrous substances give loud sounds. Thus
common wool or worsted is found to be very sonorous,
but the sounds are obtained wholly from the visible
parts of the spectrum and have the maximum intensity
in the green. In all substances tried success has
resulted, but nearly all have a very short range. In ex¬
perimenting with more homogeneous substances of simpler
constitution, still more definite results are obtained.
The rays of the spectrum are passed through sulphuric
ether. Outside of the ultra-red is a very narrow
band, which causes sounds, while the other parts fail to
produce them. Hydrogen peroxide gives sounds at several
places wholly within the visible parts of the spectrum,
and those places are found to coincide with the position
of the known absorption bands of that substance. The
same is found to be true of nitrogen oxide and a solution
of ammonia, sulphate of copper, and many other sub¬
stances. The general law deduced is that sounds are
produced in any substance by the rays which it absorbs.
Thus a kind of spectrum analysis can be obtained through
the intermediation of sound. The principal value of the
spectrophone, Mr. Bell believes, will be found in the
investigation of absorption bands in the ultra-red end of
the spectrum. — Times ,

June 11, lSSr

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1029

Che ^{mrmaxmlkal Icmnval

- 4 -

SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , hooks for review , etc., should he addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should he sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square , W.C.

A dvertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. JournJ

THE REPETITION OF PRESCRIPTIONS.

It is not very long since that we had occasion to
complain that the Lancet, in commenting upon the
practice of repeating physicians’ prescriptions, had
dealt with this matter in a manner that was
entirely unjustifiable, inasmuch as it was represented
that this practice was merely an instance of improper
procedure on the part of dispensing chemists, carried
on by them unnecessarily and with unworthy objects.
The charge thus made was obviously absurd, and
though appearing in the editorial columns of a
leading medical journal its unreasonable character
appeared so likely to present itself to the minds of
everyone competent to form an opinion on the
subject, that we confined our remarks upon it to the
suggestion that the Lancet ought to know better and
to a brief statement of our opinion that whatever
alteration of ordinary custom it may be desirable to
introduce in regard to the use of physicians’ pre¬
scriptions, the first step in that direction must be
taken by medical men.

For some time past the same subject has been
discussed in the United States, and though there
has been some disposition on the part of medical
men to treat the repetition ot prescriptions as a
grievance for which dispensing chemists were re¬
sponsible, it has now been tolerably well acknow¬
ledged that this is not the case, but that if a
physician desires that the medicine ordered in his
prescription shall not be dispensed more than once
without direct authority from himself, he must
establish that position as a compact between his
patient and himself, and must, moreover, place in
the hands of the dispensing chemist adequate means
of enabling him to justify a refusal to repeat a pre¬
scription, either by authorizing him to retain posses¬
sion of the prescription or by writing upon it that
the medicine is to be dispensed only once without
further directions from the prescriber.

To anyone conversant with the way in which
physicians’ prescriptions are made use of in many
cases it will be evident, with very little reflection,
that there would be serious difficulties to encounter
in any attempt to carry out a limitation of their use,
either by repetition or by transfer for use by other

persons than the patients to whom physicians have
given them. It may indeed be questioned whether
medical practitioners would generally be disposed
to place themselves in such a position in regard to
their patients as would be likely to result from the
endeavour to make a prescription simply an order
for one supply of medicine, leaving the patient
under the necessity of again seeking the advice of
the physician and naturally, we presume, of paying
another fee. At the same time it must be admitted
that there are sound reasons for the objections made
by medical men to the indiscriminate repetition of
prescriptions, and that the arguments adduced in
favour of a limitation of their use are well founded
from certain points of view. But when we have said
thus much we have really indicated all that is pos¬
sible within the scope of action that is open to the
dispensing chemist, and, as we have before remarked,
it is especially the province of the prescribing
medical practitioners to impose such limitations
upon the use of their prescriptions as they may
deem fitting and be able to obtain their patients
assent to.

Within the last few days we have had two in¬
stances brought under our notice which will serve
to illustrate some of the difficulties that dispensing
chemists have to contend with in connection with
the ordinary mode of dealing with prescriptions. In
one of these instances a lady sent to a London phar¬
macist a prescription, requesting that it should be
copied and the medicine made up for her. The
following day she wrote again to say that she found
she had sent the wrong prescription, enclosing at the
same time another one which she wished to have
copied in English, and sent to her together with the
mediciue ordered. This request appears to point to
a possible new phase of pharmaceutical business, and
it leaves one in doubt whether its object may not be
to obtain facilities for the practice of amateur dis¬
pensing or to guard against risks arising from having
medicines prepared at establishments where the
dispensers are not conversant with the ordinary
language of prescriptions. But, however this
may be, the request shows how much the
public expects to get out of a physician’s pre¬
scription through the medium of the pharmacist,
and how much such a document is looked upon by
the holder of it as property. In some such cases it
may be a very difficult matter for the pharmacist
to decide how to act ; regard for trade interest may
lead him in one direction or another ; but so far as
any ethical considerations affecting his relation to
prescribers are concerned, he would, in the present
state of public opinion as to the property in pre¬
scriptions, be powerless, unless supported by the
authority of those who give prescriptions.

In the other case to which we have refered above
a dispensing chemist in the country writes to a Lon¬
don house at the request of a lady to akk for a copy
of her prescription entered in the books of the Lon-

1030

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 11, 1SSI

don house under a certain number, and here again
we have evidence of the idea of proprietary right
which is commonly entertained in regard to prescrip¬
tions. Not only is the dispensing chemist expected
to dispense the medicine ordered in a prescription
whenever called upon to do so by the proprietor or
temporary possessor of a prescription, but it is clear
that he is also expected to act in a manner as trustee
of the property, and in the event of its being lost or
becoming otherwise inaccessible, to go the length of
reinstating the proprietor in possession of his lost
property by furnishing a copy from his own books.

Both from a medical and pharmaceutical point of
view this subject is one that might be usefully dis¬
cussed, and we would suggest that the forthcoming
International Congress that will assemble here next
August would offer excellent opportunities for doing
this. _

THE SOCIETY’S JOURNAL.

As we have expressed an opinion concerning Mr.
Smith’s remarks on the Journal account at the late
Annual Meeting it is perhaps only fair that we
should insert the letter which he has addressed to
us this week ; but at the same time we must state
that notwithstanding Mr. Smith’s disclaimer we fail
to find in it anything to modify our opinion that
his remarks raised a presumption of mismanagement.
In saying this much we, of course, assumed that Mr-
Smith meant to convey that, so far as the Society’s
financial statement was concerned, there was need
for explanation as to what became of more than a
thousand copies a week of our guaranteed circula¬
tion. If so large a number had not been accounted
for, even as waste paper, there would have been
mismanagement, and if they had been accounted for
in that form the mismanagement would scarcely have
been less. Therefore the presumption of some such
mismanagement was, we think, distinctly raised by
Mr. Smith, when he suggested that in respect of the
item of £680. 195. 7d. charged against the Journal,
“ there must surely be some asset somewhere or
other,” and when he supplemented that remark by
stating his conviction that “ there were hundreds of
Journals that had better not be printed.” So far as
concerns this point, the statement made by the
President at the last meeting of Council is sufficient
to show that the circulation of the Journal is what it
is represented to be, and it also shows that the asset
for which Mr. Smith appeared to be seeking is the
gratuitous weekly distribution of 5760 copies of the
Journal to the Society’s members, associates, and
apprentices, who are shown by the Society’s
Calendar to be entitled to receive the Journal.
As a member of the Society, Mr. Smith, should,
however, have been aware of this, and as a
former member of the Council he should have
been also aware that it is not customary to take
credit for this as an asset in the annual financial
statement. But even if these facts were not present

to Mr. Smith’s mind, they as well as other details
might, we repeat, have been easily ascertained by
any member of -the Society making inquiry in the
Secretary’s office, which course we think would have
been more appropriate than the one taken by Mr.
Smith, and it would have enabled him to ascertain
that upwards of 1 200 more copies were disposed of
by sale and otherwise.

So far, again, as concerns the matter of account
presented in the Society’s financial statement, we
contend that there was no occasion to ask, in re¬
ference to the Journal, for further explanation than
what is there given. The item of £680. 195. 7 d.
charged against the Journal in that statement is
incorrectly regarded by Mr. Smith as an “ adverse
balance ” in the Journal account, and his error in this
respect is the only foundation we can discover for
his remarks on this subject at the Annual Meeting.
In reality it is not as an adverse balance of the
Journal account that this item appears in the finan¬
cial statement, for the information given in brackets
beside that item shows that the larger amount of
£690. 4s. 3d, expended for postage, had been included
in the Journal account and that consequently there
was, in fact, a balance of £9. 4s. 8 cl. to the credit of
the Journal account, notwithstanding the circum¬
stance, mentioned in the Council Report, that it had
also been charged with the expenses of publishing an
Index to the Journal from 1868 to 1878, amounting
to £147. 6s. 8 d.

We have given so much space to this matter
because it is one that has been repeatedly brought
forward in a mistaken light and in a way calculated
to prejudice the Society’s interest in what should be
regarded as a valuable property, and we must
express our thanks to Mr. Smith that he has given
us an opportunity of stating the facts of the case
without exposing ourselves to the suspicion of having
a desire to blow our own trumpet.

EXHIBITION OF SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS.

As will have been noted through the reference
made to the subject at the recent Council meeting,
it is intended, in connection with the jubilee meeting
of the British Association at York, in September
next, to hold an Exhibition to illustrate, as far as
possible, the progress which has been made during
the past half-century in the construction of instru¬
ments of scientific research. With this view an
invitation has been sent out to men of science,
scientific societies and manufacturers to exhibit
instruments of the latest patterns and tools used
in their construction, and, if the science be fifty
years old, the instruments used in 1831, or, if not,
specimens of the earliest patterns that can be found.
It is proposed that the Exhibition shall extend from
the 31st of August to the 8th of September, and the
arrangements are to be under the superintendence
of a small sub-committee formed at York. Applica¬
tions for space must be made on or before the 15th
of July, and the necessary forms and other informa¬
tion may be obtained from the Hon. Secretaries,
British Association Offices, 17, Blake Street, York.

June 11, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1031

Hjrarmaceutitiil Sonctii of Jvelmvtr.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

J une 1, jloox,

Present— Professor Tichborne, President ; Dr. Aquilla
Smith, Vice-President; Messrs. Allen, Brunlcer, Collins,
Draper, Grindley, Harrington, Hayes, Hodgson and Payne.

The minutes having been read and confirmed,

The Council proceeded to consider Mr. Hodgson’s
notice of motion : —

“That a sum of £100 be invested in Three per cent,
stock.”

The President suggested that as Mr. Hodgson was not
present some member should propose his motion for him.

Mr. Draper thought that the present price of Consols
was so high that it would be advisable to invest in some
other security.

Mr. Grindley had come intending to move an amend¬
ment to that effect, and asked were they bound to invest
in Government securities.

The President considered that as trustees they would
be obliged to do so.

Mr. Hodgson, having arrived, said he had since last*
meeting balanced the accounts, and that after deducting
the amount required to meet outstanding accounts the
working balance would be too small, and he considered it
not advisable to invest at present.

The President called attention to a former resolution
requiring all sums to be invested in the names of three
members.

Mr. Brunker asked if the three were not the President,
Vice-President and Treasurer.

The President replied that it was so.

The motion, amended by adding, “at first available op¬
portunity,” was proposed by Mr. Hodgson and seconded
by Mr. Draper and passed.

Mr. Payne the proceeded with his notices of motion : —

2. Mr. J. C. C. Payne —

“To propose that after the word ‘Apothecary’ in the
last sentence of the second paragraph relating to the
Pharmaceutical examination, page 54 of the Calendar,
the following be added (after omitting4 to that effect’),
‘that they have devoted the whole of their time to the
practice and study of pharmacy in his establishment.’ ”

8. Mr. J. C. C. Payne —

“To propose that candidates for the Pharmaceutical
examination be required to send their certificates of
practical pharmacy and practical chemistry fourteen
clear days before presenting themselves for examina¬
tion.”

4. Mr, J. C. C. Payne —

“That a committee of three be appointed to examine
the certificates of candidates presenting themselves
for the Pharmaceutical examination, whose duty it
shall be to instruct the Registrar if the certificates
do not conform with the regulations of the Council.”
He said it might be in their recollection that there was no
rule in the Society at first requiring practical pharmacy,
and that subsequently a regulation requiring two years’
practice had been passed, and that the intention at that
time was that the whole time should be given; some,
however, had considered that if a student were to attend
an hour a day it would be sufficient. He was acquainted
with a gentlemen who had a student attending an hour
a day and one or two hours during the evening. He had
remarked it, and the reply was that there was no rule to
the contrary. He considered that it should be made clear
that the two years should be altogether spent in the prac¬
tice or study of pharmacy. He had brought the matter
before the Council in November, 1880, and had now again
brought it forward with some alterations. He considered
that all the certificates should be examined. Last year a
candidate had sent a certificate, which had been allowed,
of an apothecary who had not for certainly twelve years an

open shop or dispensary of any kind, and for that reason
he had proposed a committee, and a member of Council
in Dublin, Belfast and Cork should form the committee.

The \ ice-President suggested a committee in Dublin
which could refer to the country members for information.

The President, while concurring with the intentions of
Mr. Payne, thought that as proposed it would be im¬
practicable, and that the point objected to by Mr. Payne
was that the student was not an apprentice.

Mr. Hodgson had no personal interest in the matter.
Not having compounding upon his establishment, he had
no experience of what apprentices were required to do,
but thought that under the new rule, if passed, no time
for lectures could be allowed. His recollection was that
in the Apothecaries’ Hall the assistants and apprentices
were allowed time, and he considered that if the candi¬
dates had not learned compounding the examiner would
know how to treat them.

Mr. Hayes considered such a rule arbitrary. He took
apprentices for five years, and none under. He totally
disagreed with Mr. Payne, and could not conscientiously
sign a certificate under such a stringent resolution.

The Vice-President said that Nos. 3 and 4 were desir¬
able, but did not think No. 2 practicable.

Mr. Grindley thought, with reference to No. 2, it was to
guard against such practices as Mr. Payne referred to,
and that it was not hard to ask a student to say he had
not been employed in one establishment and learnt phar¬
macy in another.

Mr. Draper said in his opinion it would be utterly im¬
possible to carry out such a rule, and he was fully convinced
that a student would become a compounding automaton
under such a rule. He believed he might as well pro¬
pose a two years’ course of practical chemistry. The
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain had no such rule.

The President proposed that No. 3 and 4 should be
tried for a year, and No. 2 be allowed to drop, and a com¬
mittee of five, three for Dublin, and one each for Belfast
and Cork be substituted for a committee of three.

Mr. Harrington totally disagreed with Mr. Payne.

Mr. Brunker said Mr. Payne had brought the matter
forward in consequence of some questions asked at the
Annual Meeting. He believed what was required was
an interpretation clause ; he thought that to any sensible
persou the regulation as it stood could have but one
meaning, and that the Privy Council would not pass it.

The President called upon Mr. Payne to proceed or
withdraw.

Mr. Payne said his motions were intended entirely for
the benefit of the Society ; the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain required three years’ apprenticeship, and
during that period the whole time was required. It was
his intention to prevent persons who were six or seven
hours a day at some business not connected with phar¬
macy obtaining certificates, but seeing so much opposi¬
tion he would withdraw No. 2.

No. 3, seconded by Mr. Grindley, passed.

No. 4, amended to a committee of five, Messrs. Allen,
Brunker, Collins, Harrington and Payne, and seconded
by Mr. Harrington, passed.

Mr. Brunker proposed, and Mr. Payne seconded : —

“That it be an instruction to such committee to
satisfy themselves that the certificates granted
guarantee a bond Jide engagement in the regular
work of a pharmacy during the period.”

This was passed without dissent.

The motion, proposed by Dr. Collins, seconded by Mr.
Grindley : —

“That on the 1st July of each year, the Registrar of
the Pharmaceutical Society be instructed to send a
printed form to all the medical schools approved by
the Privy Council, for a return of all the pharmaceu¬
tical students registered with them during the session
then ended,”
passed unanimously.

The meeting then adjourned.

1032

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 11, 18*1.

I^raceebimjs of Scientific Snaetbs.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday,
June 2, Professor Roscoe, President, in the chair.

The following certificates were read for the first
time : — W. Rupp, J. D. Custance.

It was announced that a ballot for the election of
Eellows would be held at the next meeting (June 16).

The following papers were read : —

On the A ction of Solvents on Saponified Oils and Waxes.
By A. H. Allen and W. Thomson. — No satisfactory
process exists at present for the analysis of mixtures of
hydrocarbons with animal and vegetable fatty matters,
although a correct determination is often of considerable
practical importance. The process at first adopted by
the authors is as follows: — 10 grams of the sample is
weighed out into a 5" evaporating dish, 50 c.c. of an 8
per cent, solution of caustic soda in absolute alcohol
added, and the whole gently boiled with stirring until
frothing occurs; 15 c.c. of methylated spirit should now
be added and heat applied till the saponified oil is dis¬
solved. Five grams of sodium bicarbonate are then
gradually added with constant stirring, and lastly 50 to
70 grams of clean ignited sand are stirred in. The whole
is then dried for twenty minutes in the water-oven. The
mixture is transferred to a large test-tube having an
aperture at the bottom plugged loosely with glass-wool.
The tube is placed in a Xoxpette’s fat extractor (a
rather larger size than that usually made) adapted to a
small tared flask, containing 100 c.c. of petroleum spirit
(boiling below 80°), when the extraction is complete.
The petroleum spirit is distilled off and the dry residual
matter weighed. By using this process the authors
obtained the following percentages of unsaponifiable
matter: — Lard, 023 ; olive oil, 0 75; German rape oil,
1‘00; cotton seed oil, 1*64; cod liver oil, 1*32 and 0*46 ;
sperm oil, 39T4 and 51*31; spermaceti, 40*64; bees-wax,
52*38; carnauba wax, 54*87 ; Japan wax, 1*14; resin oil,
98*72; mineral lubricating oil, 99*90. In the case of the
cod liver oil the unsaponifiable matter contained choles-
terin. With spermaceti and the waxes this matter left a
sensible proportion of ash, doubtless because the solution
of melissyl or cetyl alcohol in petroleum spirit acted as a
solvent for sodium soaps. The authors tried to avoid
this inaccuracy by forming barium, calcium and mag¬
nesium soaps, but without success. They also investi¬
gated the action of various solvents on the sodium soaps
from various oils. They found too that the hydrocarbon
oils when present in quantity exercised a similar solvent
action, so that while the process above described gives
accurate results with unmixed animal or vegetable fats
and with unmixed hydrocarbon oils, with mixtures of
the two classes the method was unreliable. In such
cases they recommend the following : — 5 grams of the
sample are treated in an evaporating dish with 25 c.c. of
alcoholic soda, and the mixture boiled until it froths ; 50
c.c. of warm water are added to dissolve the soap, and
the solution transferred to a globular glass separator, of
about 200 c.c. capacity, furnished with a tap below and
stopper at the top ; the basin is rinsed out with 20 to 30
c.c. of water and then 30 to 50 c.c. of ether added. The
whole is then thoroughly mixed. The separation of the
ether can be hastened by cooling or by the addition of a
few c.c. of alcohol. The soap solution is run off, the
ether washed, and the washi ngs strained off. The ethereal
solution of the unsaponifial le matter is then run into a
tared flask, and distilled to dryness. The soap solution
must be agitated a second and third time with ether
if great accuracy is required. In order to test the
accuracy of the process the following mixtures were
analysed : —

Mixture.

Olive and shale oil .

i) .it t •

Olive and resin oil .

»> » •

» >> •
Lard and paraffin wax

Per cent,
of mineral
resin oil.

Found,

. 60

58*028 p. c.

. 20

19*37 „

. 60

53*05 „

. 60

59*42 „

. 20

19*61 „

. 40

40*48 „

The authors promise further investigations on the higher
alcohols from the waxes and also an examination of the
products of the saponification of Japan wax.

Experimental Researches on the Amalgamation of Silver
Ores. By C. Rammelsberg. — The author gives the re¬
sult of many quantitative experiments as to the reactions
which take place in the Mexican amalgamation process.
He has investigated the actions of cupric and cuprous
chlorides on silver, silver chloride, silver sulphide, arsenic
sulphide, antimony sulphide, and on complex combina¬
tions, particularly sulpharsenide and sulphantimonide of
silver.

On the Sulphides of Copper and Determination of their
Molecular Weight. By S. U. Pickering. — The cupric
sulphides were prepared by precipitation by hydrogen sul¬
phide, and by heating electrotype copper with strong sul¬
phuric acid at 180Q C. for thirty minutes ; the cuprous
sulphides by heating pure copper with strong sulphuric
acid at 124° for thirty minutes and by partial reduction
of cupric sulphide in a current of hydrogen. The author
has investigated the action of hydrogen and carbonic an¬
hydride on the sulphides and has also heated the sulphides
alone. When cupric sulphide is heated in a slow current
of hydrogen, hydrogen sulphide begins to be evolved about
200° C., and between that temperature and 265? the
cupric is converted into cuprous sulphide. On raising
the temperature no further reaction is noticed until a red
heat is nearly reached (580°-650° C.), when the whole is
reduced to the metallic state. Cupric sulphide when
heated in a current of carbon dioxide exhibits similar
phenomena: at 130°-150° cuprous sulphide is formed;
at 230° metallic copper. When cupric sulphide is heated
to a sufficiently high temperature in a gas which has no
reducing action upon it, half the sulphur is evolved and
cuprous sulphide is left. As the sulphur is obviously
eliminated in two distinct steps the author concludes that
the formula of cupric sulphide must be doubled, and is
therefore, Cu2S2.

Dr. Armstrong while admitting the extreme probability
of the view suggested by Mr. Pickering, did not think
that the fact, that the sulphur was given off in two steps,
was quite sufficient proof that the formula should be
doubled.

Mr. Pickering said that the only other explanation was
that part of the sulphide was reduced to metallic copper,
which immediately combined (at such a low temperature)
with another portion of unaltered sulphide. This seemed
to him very improbable.

The next paper was read by Mr. J. C. Thresh, and was
entitled —

Chemical Examination of the Buxton Thermal Water. —
The author first had his attention attracted by the ex¬
traordinary statement of Playfair that this water contains
206 cubic inches of nitrogen gas per gallon. Muspratt
increased the quantity to 504 cubic inches. The author has
repeated these determinations, but could only find about
22 c.c. of N. per litre. The erroneous results of Playfair
and Muspratt seem to have been obtained as follows : —
The gas which is found over the spring contains N. 98*98
per cent., C02 1*02. They estimated the C02 in the water
and assumed that the same proportion existed between the
gases dissolved in the spring as was found in the gases
evolved by the water. They completely overlooked the
fact of the greater solubility of C02 in water. The gases
dissolved in a litre of water are 22 c.c. N. and 14*5 c.c,
C02. The mean composition of the gas dissolved in the
water is, therefore, 59*78 per cent. N., 40*23 C02, which

June 11, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1033

by calculation from the co-efficients of absorption of
C02 and N. should evolve a gas containing 99‘12 per cent.
N., 0'88 per cent. C02. The author gives details of the
method employed by him in collecting and analysing the
gases. He has also made a complete mineral analysis of
the mud deposited by the spring. It contains 71 '1 per cent.
Mn304, T08 per cent, of matter inoluble in HC1, 0‘02 per
cent, molybdic acid, 0 30 per cent, cobalt oxide, 5 -3 per
cent, lime, 1’36 per cent, iron and aluminium oxides.
The presence of the molybdic acid was confirmed by the
yellow precipitate with sodium phosphate, etc. The
author suggests that the large quantity of nitrogen may be
accounted for by supposing the water to have been at one
time saturated with air from which the oxygen has been
removed by the lower oxides of manganese.

Mr. Thomas said that a spring near Cardiff similarly
evolved a large quantity of nearly pure nitrogen ; in this
case he had traced the nitrogen to a shale containing large
quantities of that gas.

The President then exhibited some specimens illustrating
the synthetical production of indigo by Baeyer ; also a
magnificent specimen of isatin lent by Dr. Schunck.

The Secretary then read a paper by E. J. Mills —

On Potable Waters, Part II. Determination of Total
Solids. — The author suggests that this determination
should be made by accurately observing the time which
a glass bulb takes to rise through a measured depth (22
centimetres) of the water. Care must be taken that all the
surfaces are clean and that the temperature is constant.
The time was taken by a metronome beating thirds of
seconds. This method determines every constituent that
is foreign to distilled water.

The following paper was also read by the Secretary: —

On the Estimation of the Value of Zinc Powder and on
a Gauge for Measuring the Volume of Gases without Cal¬
culation for Temperature and Pressure. By J. Barnes.
— The value of the zinc powder was estimated by the
amount of hydrogen evolved. The hydrogen is measured
by the quantity of water which it displaces. The gauge
consists essentially of a narrow graduated tube placed
in mercury; on the upper end of the tube a bulb is
blown. The value of the graduations is determined.
On exposing this bulb tube to the temperature and
pressure at which the gas is being measured, reading off
the division at which the mercury inside and outside is
level, and referring to a table, a number is obtained.
The observed volume of the gas is divided by this
number and the correct volume at once obtained.

The Society then adjourned to June 16, when a ballot
for the election of Fellows will be held and the following
papers read : — “ On the Isomeric Acids obtained from
the Ethers of Salicylic Aldehyde and from Coumarin,”
by W. H. Perkin; “Notes on Naphthalene Derivatives,”
by H. E. Armstrong ; “ On the Synthetical Production
of Ammonia,” by G. S. Johnson; “On the Sulphates of
Aluminium,” by S. Pickering.

ROYAL INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Selenium and its Applications to the Photophone
and Telephotography.*

BY SHELFORD BIDWELL, M.A., LL.B., M.R.I.

Before entering upon my subject, I must claim your
indulgence upon two grounds. A week ago I had not
the remotest idea that I was to have the honour of
addressing you here this evening; the time which I have
had for preparation has, therefore, been exceedingly
limited. In the second place, it is my desire (in accord¬
ance with the traditions of this Institution) not merely
to give a description of the experiments in which I have
for the last few months been engaged, but, as far as
possible, to reproduce them before you. Now these
experiments are mostly of a very delicate nature. In
the quiet of a laboratory— where time is practically

* Read Friday, March 11, 1881.

unlimited, and where an operation, if it should fail at
first, may be repeated an indefinite number of times —
success is tolerably certain to be finally obtained ; but in
exhibiting delicate experiments before an audience, one
is working under the most unfavourable conditions, and,
in case of failure in the first instance, the attempt
cannot generally be repeated. Moreover, the substance
with which we are chiefly concerned, selenium, is
apparently extremely capricious in its behaviour. Thi3
appearance is, of course, really due to our present
ignorance of its properties; but the fact remains that,
on account of the great uncertainty of its action it is a
very difficult substance to deal with.

Selenium is a rare chemical element which was
discovered in the beginning of the present century. In
many of its properties it closely resembles sulphur, and,
like sulphur and some other substances, it is capable of
existing in more than one form.

The ordinary form is that called vitreous. Selenium
in this condition is as absolutely structureless as glass,
and in appearance resembles nothing so much as bright
black sealing-wax, with, perhaps, somewhat of a metallic
lustre; its real colour, however, when seen in thin films,
is ruby red. Its melting point is a little higher than
100° C. In its second modification selenium is crystal¬
line. When in this form its surface is dull, its fracture
is metallic (not unlike that of cast iron), its colour is
grey or leaden, and it is quite opaque to light ; its
melting point also is considerably higher, being 217° C.

Vitreous selenium, if melted and kept for a certain
length of time at a temperature between its own fusing,
point and that of crystalline selenium, will crystallize ;
and I think I am right in saying, from casual observa¬
tion, though I , have made no experiments to verify the
point, that the length of time necessary for crystalliza¬
tion depends upon the degree of temperature, being
proportionately shorter as the temperature approaches
217° C.

Vitreous selenium is an exceedingly bad conductor of
electricity; it is, indeed, an almost perfect insulator.
Crystalline selenium is a moderately good conductor, and
it possesses this very remarkable property, whicU has
been utilized in the photophone and other inventions,
that it conducts better in the light than in the dark, the
change in its resistance to the passage of a current of
electricity through it varying, according to Professor W.
G. Adams, as the square root of the illuminating powei\

Let a galvanometer be connected to the two poles of a
battery by means of two copper wires. The passage of a
current of electricity will at once be denoted by the
deflection of the magnetic needle ; or, if a little mirror is
attached to the needle, and a beam of light be reflected
from it upon a scale, the movement of the spot of light
will indicate the movement of the needle. Let now one
of the wires be cut, and the two ends be joined together
by a piece of crystalline selenium. The spot of light
will again move, but its deflection will be very much less
than it was before, showing that the resistance of the
selenium is very much greater than that of the wire.
Moreover, if the piece of selenium be alternately exposed
to and screened from a beam of light, the deflection will
be greater when it is in the light than when it is in the
dark, showing a corresponding variation in its resistance.
This remarkable property of selenium was first announced
and exhibited by Mr. Willoughby Smith in 1873. But
the effects produced by the simple arrangement which I
have just described are small, and very delicate instru¬
ments are required for their observation.

Since that date several devices have been proposed for
exaggerating the effect, but they all depend upon the
fact^that the amount of the variation increases with the
extent of the selenium sui’face acted upon. It has lately
been the fashion to call these arrangements “cells,’
which, in most cases at all events, seems to be a very
inappropriate name. It has been suggested that they
should be termed “rheostats,” a name which well

1034

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 11, 1881.

expresses the purposes for which they are generally used,
and is less likely to lead to confusion than the other. In
deference to custom, however, I shall to-night call them
by the usual name.

The simplest selenium cell which could be devised
would be made by placing two short pieces of copper
wire parallel to each other, and very near together, and
connecting them by a narrow strip of selenium. The
effect produced by light is increased by lengthening this
arrangement. We might go on increasing the wires
with advantage until they were 10 or 12 feet long or
more, every additional inch of length producing an
increase of ‘‘sensitiveness” as it is called. But a cell of
this length would be cumbersome and unwieldy to use,
and in fact could hardly be lifted without being de¬
stroyed. Dr. Werner Siemens therefore adopted the
device (among others) of coiling up the wires so as to
form a double spiral, and thus made a convenient and
portable cell of great sensitiveness. But it is very diffi¬
cult indeed, as I know by experience, to produce these
double wire spirals of any considerable size without the
two wires touching one another at some point. After
many attempts I succeeded in producing spiral cells
about f inch in diameter, but I found it impossible to
exceed this size, and as it was not large enough I
adopted a simple and very effective variation of Siemens’s
method, which I believe has not been previously sug¬
gested. A copper wire is wound after the fashion of a
fiat screw around a narrow slip of mica, the threads of
the screw being about TV inch apart. Beside this wire,
and at a distance of ^ inch from it, a second wire is
wound in exactly the same manner, each of its turns
coming midway between two consecutive turns of the
first. Care is taken that the two wires do not touch
each other at any point. Over one surface of the mica a
film of melted selenium is spread, and after being worked
smooth and uniform it is crystallized. By this means
the two wires are connected with each other through half
their entire length, by a series of very narrow strips of
crystalline selenium.

I have here a tiny selenium cell which has been
constructed in this manner. Each wire makes about six
turns, and the area of the selenium upon its surface is
about half that of a threepenny piece, its thickness not
much exceeding that of a sheet of ordinary note-paper.
Its resistance, though it is very high relatively to that of
good conductors, is, compared with anything of the kind
that I had ever seen before, remarkably low, and its
sensitiveness to light is great. When a batswing gas-
flame is held at a distance of three inches from it, its
resistance is less than one-third of that which it measures
in the dark. Larger and more carefully constructed
cells, of course, show better results. No form, however,
that I have tried (and I have made several dozens) has
in my hands been superior to that of a double flat
screw.

When cells are to be made of any considerable size, the
labour of winding on the wires with sufficient regularity
is very great. By the help of a lathe this difficulty may
be reduced to a minimum. The method of proceeding
is this : — A cylinder is turned of hard wood, of length
and diameter slightly greater than that of the proposed
cell. This cylinder is cut longitudinally into two equal
parts, and between the two semi-cylinders thus formed a
slip of mica is placed sandwich-like. The ends are
secured with screws, and the whole is smoothed down in
the lathe. When the edges of the mica are quite flush
with the surface of the wood, a screw of from thirty to
forty threads to the inch is cut upon the cylinder. On
removing the mica from the wood its two edges are
found to be beautifully and regularly notched. The
first wire is then wound into alternate notches, and the
second into the others.

I will throw upon the screen the image of a slip of
mica with the two wires wound upon it, and ready for
the reception of the selenium coating, It will be seen

that the turns are perfectly regular, and close as the
wires are to each other, they do not touch at any point.

The next step is to apply the selenium, and to do this
properly is an operation which requires a certain amount
of practice and patience. The mica is heated to a tempe¬
rature slightly above 217® C., and melted selenium is
spread over its surface as evenly as possible with a metal
spatula. The cell is then cooled, and its surface should
be smooth and lustrous. Before you is an embryo cell
which has reached this stage of its preparation. The
selenium, being still in the vitreous condition, is a perfect
insulator, and when the cell is connected in circuit with
a battery and a reflecting galvanometer, the spot of light
is found to be absolutely motionless. I now propose to
crystallize the selenium in your presence. The mere
crystallization occupies a very short time. It is only
necessary to place the cell upon a brass plate, and raise
it by means of a Bunsen burner to a temperature some¬
what below the fusing point of crystalline selenium. The
method described by Professor Adams in his classical
paper published in the ‘Philosophical Transactions,’ is
entirely different. He heated a bucket of sand by
placing in it a red-hot iron ball. At thq expiration of an
hour he removed the ball, and placed in the heated sand
his pieces of vitreous selenium, wrapped up in paper.
After remaining for twenty-four hours, the selenium was
generally found to have attained the crystalline form,
and the resistance of some of his specimens thus pre¬
pared was far lower than that of any which have been
made by myself. Their sensitiveness, however, does not
appear to have been great. The method of crystalliza¬
tion which I generally adopt, and which is due to
Professor Graham Bell, has at all events the merits of
simplicity and rapidity. In two or three minutes the
whole surface of the selenium film becomes dull and
slate- coloured, and if, when the cell has attained this
condition, it be removed from the hot metal plate, I have
little doubt that on testing it with a galvanometer4 it
will be found to conduct electricity and to be sensi¬
tive to light. According to Professor Graham Bell,
nothing more is necessary for obtaining the greatest
degree of sensitiveness. The old-fashioned process of
long heating and slow cooling may, he says, be alto¬
gether dispensed with. In this matter my experience
differs entirely from his, for I find that cells which have
been kept for some hours at a temperature just below
the point of fusion, and then allowed to cool very
gradually, are vastly more sensitive to light than those
which have not been thus annealed.

The following table shows the resistances in the dark,
and under different degrees of illumination, of a few cells
taken from my stock. The resistance of No. 6, when
exposed to a lime light at 10 inches, is less than one-
fiftieth of its resistance in the dark.

Resistances in Ohms.

Gas Jet at

Cell

In Dark.

JSo.

12 Inches.

G Inches.

3 Inches.

Lime

4

400,000

190,000

150,000

80,000

Light at
10 inches,

6

290,000

80,000

54,000

29,000

5700

7

430,000

160,000

110,000

64,000

With

9

87,000

52,000

42,000

33,000

Alum Cell,

10

62,000

32,000

26,000

17,000

14,000

11

100,000

63,000

50,000

33,000

24,000

12

22,700

9,100

6,600

4,500

...

It is an interesting question, which of the coloured
components of white light has the greatest power in
effecting these changes in the resistance of selenium ; or,
again, whether the effect is produced by light at all, or is
due simply to heat. Captain Sale came to the con-

June 11, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1035

elusion, on moving a piece of selenium through the solar
spectrum, that the maximum effect was produced at or
just outside the extreme end of the red, at a point nearly
coinciding with the maximum of the heat rays. Pro¬
fessor Adams performed the same experiment with the
spectrum both of the sun and of the electric light, and
found that the action on the selenium was greatest “in
the greenish-yellow and in the red portions of the
spectrum. . Ihe greenish-yellow is the point of maxi¬
mum illumination, which is a remarkable fact ; but his
words seem to imply that there was a second maximum
in the red. The violet and ultra-violet rays, he says,
produced very little, if any, effect. In consequence of
the discrepances in these results, I determined to repeat
the experiment for myself. The source of light which I
used in the first instance was an oxy-hydrogen lime-light,
and the spectrum was formed with a bisulphide of
carbon prism. The experiment was repeated six times,
and three different selenium cells were used. The
results were precisely the same in every case, and proved
in the most marked manner that the greatest influence
occurred in the boundary-line between the red and the
orange ; thus differing completely from the results
obtained both by Captain Sale and by Professor Adams.
Moreover, the resistance when the selenium cells were
placed in the ultra-red, two inches beyond the limits of
the visible spectrum, was in every case lower than when
it was in the blue, indigo, and violet. But even in the
ultra-violet the resistance of the cells was lower than
when they were quite removed from the spectrum.

My friends Mr. Preece and Mr. W. H. Coffin, who
were present during these experiments, suggested that it
would be desirable to vary them by making use of
different sources oi light, and different methods of
dispersion ; and a few days afterwards, by the great
kindness of Mr. Norman Lockyer, they were repeated in
Mr. Lockyer’s laboratory by Mr. Preece and myself with
the electric light and a magnificent diffraction grating.
Nine experiments were made with three cells, and the
results were as absolutely concordant as those which we
had previously obtained ; but they all concurred in
placing the maximum at the extreme edge of the red,
thus agreeing with Captain Sale’s observations. One
other remarkable effect must be noticed. In the case of
a single cell — that which I distinguish as No. 6 — with
which three experiments were made, a second maximum
was observed in every case in the greenish yellow,
though the effect was about 20 per cent, smaller than at
the extreme red. The electric light, however, is from its
great unsteadiness most unsuitable for experiments of
this nature, and since no such exceptional phenomenon
was ever observed before or since, I am inclined to
believe that, by a coincidence which however remarkable
is by no means impossible, the light happened to be
unusually intense just on the three occasions when this
particular cell was in the greenish yellow. A third
series of experiments made with a gas flame and a
bisulphide of carbon prism, agreed with the first in
placing the maximum at the orange end of the red.
Many more combinations of sources of light and
dispersion remain to be tried, but time for these
and for innumerable other experiments which have
suggested themselves has hitherto been wanting: for
an operation which may be described in a dozen
words not unfrequently requires as many hours for its
performance.

By the help of a reflecting galvanometer I now pro¬
pose to show you the various effects produced by different
parts of the spectrum of the electric light formed by a
bisulphide prism upon the resistance of a selenium cell.
The maximum deflection is seen to occur when the
selenium is at the extreme outer edge of the red.

The effect of interposing various coloured glasses
between a gas flame and the selenium cell was also tried.
The greatest effect was produced by orange glass, the
smallest by green It was, too, observed as a remark¬

able fact that the light transmitted by a dark-blue glass
produced a greater effect than that which had been
passed through a blue glass of much lighter tint. But
on a spectroscopic examination the darker one was found
to transmit a certain portion of red light. I also tried
the effect of radiation from a black-hot poker held at a
distance of about 6 inches from the selenium, and upon
the first trial found that the resistance, instead of being-
diminished, was increased by several thousand ohms. I
imagine this to be due to a rise of temperature in the
selenium, and was thus led to experiment upon the effect
of temperature. In this matter, too, there is a remark¬
able discrepance between the authorities. Professor
Adams . says that an increase of temperature increases
the resistance of selenium, and even suggests that a
selenium bar should be used for the construction of a
very delicate thermometer. Dr. Guthrie, Messrs.
Draper and Moss, and others, make the directly
opposite assertion that the resistance of selenium di¬
minishes with heat. I repeated my poker experiment,
which had in the former case apparently corroborated
Professor Adams, and now to my utter astonishment I
found that the resistance was greatly diminished. This
second experiment, therefore, seemed to support Dr.
Guthrie s statement. A great number of experiments
were now undertaken for the purpose of arriving at the
truth of the matter, with the details of which I will not
weary you. Solutions of alum in water, of iodine in
bisulphide of carbon, plates of glass and of ebonite were
interposed between the selenium and the sources of light
and heat. The selenium was now fried, now frozen; and
the most contradictory results were obtained. At one
moment I felt convinced that Professor Adams was
right, at the next there appeared to be no shadow of
doubt that Dr. Guthrie’s was the true theory. In fact,
it seemed as if the selenium was possessed by a demon
which produced the variations in accordance with the
caprices of its own unaccountable will. At length, when
the confusion was at its height and the demon most
bewildering, the true explanation was suddenly x-evealed,
and so exceedingly simple is it that now the only marvel
is that it should have so long eluded discovery. The
secret of the matter is this : and it discloses one of the
most remarkable properties .of this most remarkable
substance. There is a certain degree of temperature at
which a piece of cxystalline selenium has a maximum
resistance. If a piece of selenium at this temperature is
exposed to either heat or cold — it matters not which —
its resistance will at once be diminished : and extremes
of either produce a far greater variation than is ever
effected by the action of light. A selenium cell which at
the ordinary temperature, measured in a dim light 110,000
ohms, was reduced by immersing it in oil at 115° C. to
18,000 ohms. The resistance of the same cell was
reduced by immersing it in turpentine at — 6Q. C. to
49,000 ohms. In the case of the single cell with which
I have hitherto made the experiment, the temperature on
each side of which the resistance is diminished is 24° C.*
Let this piece of selenium be gradually raised from a
tempei-ature of zero to a temperature of 100° C. While
passing from zero to 24°, its resistance will l-apidly
increase. Passing from 24° to 100° its resistance will
again rapidly diminish.

Until Professor Bell directed his attention to selenium,
all observations concerning the effect of light upon its
conductivity had been made by means of the galvano¬
meter. But it occurred to him that the marvellously
sensitive telephone which he has invented might with
advantage be used for the purpose, and on May 17, 1878,
he announced in this theati'e “ the possibility,” to xxse his
own words, “ of hearing a shadow by interrupting the
action of light upon selenium.” A few days after¬
wards Mr, Willoughby Smith informed the Society of

* The experiment has since been repeated with five
other cells, and their temperatures of maximum resistance
were found to be 23°, 14°, 30°, 25°, and 22° respectively.

1036

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 11, 1881.

Telegraph Engineers that he had carried this idea into
effect, and had heard the action of a ray of light upon a
piece of crystalline selenium.

When a selenium cell, a telephone, and a battery are
connected in circuit, a uniform current of electricity will,
under ordinary circumstances, flow through the telephone,
and a person listening would hear nothing. Suppose
now that a series of flashes of light were allowed to fall
upon the selenium. In the intervals of darkness the
selenium cell would offer a greater resistance to the
passage of the electric current than during the intervals
of light. The strength of the current would be con¬
stantly varying; and if the flashes succeeded one another
quickly enough and with sufficient regularity, a musical
note would now be heard by a person listening at the
telephone. The exact pitch of this note would of course
depend upon the rate at which the flashes succeeded one
another, being high when the succession is rapid, low
when it is slow. The nature of this sound is very
peculiar, reminding one of the moaning of a syren or the
rising and falling of the wind. With a sufficiently sensi¬
tive cell, powerful battery, and delicate telephone, the
sound may be heard at a distance of many feet.

I shall interrupt the steady beam of light which is now
falling upon the cell by causing a zinc disk with radial
slits cut in it to rotate in the path of the beam, and the
sound produced by the rapid succession of light and shade
upon the selenium cell will be heard in the telephone.
When the cell is screened from the light, the sound at
once ceases. When the screen is removed, the sound is
again heard as before. By using a system analogous to
that of dots and dashes, an intermittent beam of light
might be employed to convey photophonic messages to a
distance.

But Professor Bell has gone further than this. He
was not satisfied with merely interrupting a steady beam
of light, producing alternately strong light and total
darkness, but he aimed at graduating its intensity in
correspondence with the varying phases of the complex
sound-waves produced by the human voice. It is
evident that if a beam so regulated were allowed to fall
upon the selenium cell, the exact words spoken, with
their articulation unimpaired, would be reproduced in the
telephone. Professor Bell adopted a device which is
equally marvellous for its extraordinary simplicity and
for its perfect efficiency. The beam of light is made to
fall upon the face of a small flexible mirror, whence it is
reflected to the distant selenium cell, lenses being used
for the purpose of rendering the rays parallel and
condensing them where required. The speaker directs
his voice upon the back of the mirror, which takes up
the sound-waves and is thrown into a state of vibra¬
tion, thus becoming alternately concave and convex.
Now, when it is concave the light reflected by it is more
concentrated, and the selenium cell more brightly illumi¬
nated. On the other hand, when it is convex, the
opposite effect is produced : the rays are more dispersed
and the illumination of the cell less intense. And since
the movements of the mirror are in exact correspondence
with the sound-waves of the voice, so also will be the
intensity of the illumination of the selenium cell. The
strength of the current passing through it will vary in
the same proportion, and will cause the telephone plate to
vibrate in consonance with the mirror, and thus to
reproduce the exact sounds by which the mirror was set
in motion.

In the small experimental photophone which is before
you, the receiving station is within 20 feet of the
transmitter, and any sounds heard in the telephone
would of course be utterly drowned by the actual voice
of the speaker at the mirror. It is necessary, therefore,
to prolong the telephone wires, and carry them to a
distant room, where the sounds that have travelled along
the beam of light can be heard without interruption.
Professor Bell, using instead of a lens a large reflector for
receiving the beam of light, has heard words which were

spoken when the mirror was 700 feet away from the
selenium cell.

It is impossible to exhibit the photophone in action to
an audience, because the effects can only be heard by a
single person at a time. But I may mention, that in the
course of some experiments with this little instrument
which Professor Tyndall very kindly permitted me to
make here on the 7th of December last, every word
transmitted by it was perfectly understood.

I propose now to say a few words upon another and
very different application of selenium. In point of
interest and importance it cannot be compared with the
photophone : but since it is a child of my own I
naturally regard it with a certain amount of affection-
It occurred to me a few months ago that the wonderful
property of selenium, which we have been discussing this
evening, might be applied in the construction of an
instrument for transmitting pictures of natural objects to
a distance along a telegraph wire. I have constructed a
rough experimental apparatus in order to ascertain
whether my ideas could be carried out in practice, and
it is so far successful, that although the pictures hitherto
transmitted are of a very rudimentary character, I think
there can be little doubt that further elaboration of the
instrument would render it far more effective.

Iodide of potassium is very easily decomposed by
a current of electricity. If a piece of paper which has
been soaked in a solution of this substance be laid
on a piece of metal, which is connected to the
negative pole of a battery, and a piece of platinum
wire, which is connected with the positive pole, be
drawn over its surface, the path of the point will be
marked by a brown line, due to the liberation of iodine.
Let the platinum wire and the metal plate be connected
to a second battery in such a manner that a current of
electricity may pass through the paper in the opposite
direction ; and let a variable resistance be inserted
between the platinum wire and the first battery, and a
selenium cell between the platinum wire and the
second battery. And let the resistance be so adjusted
that when the selenium cell is exposed to a strong light,
the two opposite currents through the paper and the
galvanometer neutralize each other; then the point
when drawn over the paper will make no mark. But if
the selenium cell is shaded, its resistance will be
immediately increased, and the current from the first
battery will predominate. The point, if moved over the
paper, will now trace a strong line, which, if the
selenium is again exposed, will be broken off or
enfeebled according to the intensity of the light.

If a series of these brown lines were drawn parallel to
one another and very close together, it is evident that by
regulating their intensity and introducing gaps in the
proper places any design or picture might be represented.
This is the principle of Bakewell’s copying telegraph,
which will transmit writing or pictures drawn upon
tinfoil with a non-conducting ink. My instrument
differs from his in that the current is varied simply by
the action of light. The transmitting instrument
consists of a small cylindrical box 2 inches deep,
mounted upon a horizontal spindle, upon which is cut a
screw having sixty-four threads to the inch. This works
in two bearings 4 inches apart, one of which has an
inside screw corresponding to that upon the spindle. At
a point midway between the two ends of the cylinder a
pin-hole is drilled, and behind the hole a selenium cell is
fixed. One terminal of the selenium cell is connected
(through the spindle and stand of the instrument) with
the negative pole of a battery, the other with the line
wire to the distant station. The receiving instrument
contains a similar brass cylinder, similarly mounted. A
platinum point presses gently upon its surface, and is
connected both to the line wire and, through a variable
resistance, with the positive pole of a local battery, the
negative pole of which is connected through the galvano*
meter with the cylinder. A wire or earth connection

June 11, 1881.)

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

1037

between the negative pole of the local battery and the

I positive pole of the other, completes the arrangement.

To prepare the instruments for work the cylinder of
the transmitting instrument is brought to its middle
position and a picture not more than 2 inches square is
focussed upon its surface by means of a photographic
lens. The hole in the cylinder is then brought to
the brightest point of the focussed picture, and a scrap
of sensitized paper being placed under the platinum point
of the receiver, the variable resistance is adjusted so that
the two opposite currents through the paper neutralize
each other. When this is accomplished the two cylinders
are screwed back as far as they will go, the cylinder of
the receiver is covered with sensitized paper, and all is
ready to commence operations.

The two cylinders are caused to rotate slowly and
synchronously. The little hole in the transmitting
cylinder will in the course of its spiral path cover
successively every point of the focussed picture, and the
amount of light falling at any moment upon the selenium
cell will be proportional to the illumination of that
particular spot of the picture which, for the time being,
is occupied by the pin-hole. During the greater part of
each revolution the platinum point will trace a uniform
brown line upon the prepared paper, but when the pin¬
hole happens to bs passing over a bright part of the
picture, this line is enfeebled or broken. The spiral
traced by the point is so close as to produce, at a little
distance, the appearance of a uniformly coloured sur¬
face, and the breaks in the continuity of the line
constitute a picture which, if the instrument were
perfect, would be a counterpart of that projected upon
the transmitter.

The pictures upon which I have hitherto operated
have been mostly simple designs, such as diamonds and
squares cut out of thin metal and projected by a magic
lantern. But the instrument is in its earliest stage of
infancy. It is at present hardly a single month old, and
I regret to say that since its birth it has been shamefully

[neglected, circumstances having prevented me from
giving it even the ordinary care and attention which all
young creatures ought to receive. Nevertheless, I cannot
but think that it is capable of indefinite development;
and should there ever be a demand for telephotography,
it may in time turn out to be a useful member of
society.

accordance with the suggestion of Mr. Greaves, it was
agreed to hear the three charges together.

Major Ford, having been sworn, said that on May 19
he had occasion to call on Messrs. Greaves with reference
to their factory at Grassmoor. Witness went down their
yard in the Market Place (Low Pavement), and found
lying close to the door of one of the warehouses — firstly,
a barrel, containing 100 lbs. of powder, a box containing
12 lbs. blasting cartridges, one containing 25 lbs. having
been opened. Witness, having referred to Act 22 and its
provisions, which bore on the case, he proceeded t o
sections 39 and 44, which lay down that blasting car¬
tridges shall be considered and treated as gunpowder.
With regard to the second charge, witness said that
haying examined the powder near the door, which
weighed altogether 192 lbs., he proceeded to the building
at the bottom of the yard, and in which defendants kept
the explosives. This building, from its situation, would be
only ^qualified to hold 50 lbs., but 145 lbs. was stored in
it,— 7 5 lbs. in excess of the proper and lawful amount.
Witness ordered the 75 lbs. and the other 192 lbs., in all
267 lbs., to be put under seizure. With regard to the
third, charge, defendant had loose powder and a box of
cartridges standing open near the door of the warehouse
in the yard. Their worships would understand that any¬
one smoking would pass within a foot or two feet of the
powder, and within a very few feet of a large quantity
of petroleum, amounting to thirty-six barrels, in addition
to which there was a quantity of other oils. There were
in addition a number of empty barrels which had con¬
tained inflammable substances. Witness did not say
whether what he had stated was within the Petroleum
Act, but it was a source of very considerable danger.
If by any means a fire had taken place the petroleum
would have run down the yard, which inclines, and con¬
veyed the flames to a number of houses down the yard
and no one knew where else. He wished to say with
regard to the excess — 192 lbs.— which was found at the
door of the warehouse, that it was the powder to which
the charge of carelessness referred.

Mr. Greaves said that the magazine was registered by
the local authority to hold 200 lbs., and he therefore held
that Major Ford’s charge on that account must fail.

Major Ford explained that the local authorities simply
registered the building, but they did not settle the weight
of explosives to be kept.

Mr. Greaves : Have we not always shown a readiness
to obey any suggestions you have made in the past, and
was not our Grassmoor place within the requirements of
the Act ?

Major Ford : Well, sir, it was the condition of the
factory at Grassmoor which caused me to visit your
Chesterfield place. There is no mound round the place
as laid down by the Act.

Mr. Greaves replied to the charge at great length,
maintaining that no wilful offence had been committed,
and that there were only four barrels of petroleum in the
yard, which would not have ignited if a red hot poker
had been put into them. As regarded the breach of the
statute, he had never seen it, and he felt that the
authorities had not published the regulations as they
should do.

Major Ford said that the statute under which pro¬
ceedings were taken had been published in the Gazette ,
and could be obtained for \d.

Mr. Greaves, in defence, said that he had been in
business forty-five years, during Euch time no explosive
mishap had occurred, and he had never heard of any such
occurrence, and he would like the Bench to remember
that it was in his own interest to avoid any explosion
or occurrence such as had been suggested by Major
Ford.

After further discussion the Bench consulted a short
time, and inflicted a fine of £10 and costs (vhe powder
not to be forfeited), which Mr. Greaves remarked wa3,
in his opinion, excessive. — Derbyshire Times.

^Erlimneitfarg aitir STato ^mtebhrgs,

A Chemist Fined under the Explosives Act.

On Thursday, June 2, at the Chesterfield Borough
Police Court, Messrs. Abraham Greaves and Son, che¬
mists and powder and oil merchants, of Chesterfield,
were summoned by Major Ford, Inspector under the
Explosives Act, for having committed three separate
offences under the Explosives Act.

The first charge was that the defendants on the 1 9th
of last month, being occupiers of registered premises
under the provisions of the Explosives Act of 1875, kept
explosives exceeding 1 pound weight, the same not being
enclosed in substantial cases, bags, or canisters, so as to
prevent them from escape, as required by the Act. The
second charge was that they kept on their registered
premises an amount of powder exceeding 50 pounds in
weight, the amount found on the premises on the 12th of
last month being 317 pounds, which was not in a sub¬
stantially constructed building exclusively appropriated
for the purpose. The third charge was that the defend¬
ants, being occupiers of registered premises under the
Explosives Act, 1875, did not take all due precaution
for the prevention of accidents by fire or explosion. In

1038

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 11, 1881.

Notice has been received of the death of the
following : —

On the 19th of January, 1881, Mr. John Roose Elias,
Chemist and Druggist, Pentraeth, Angelsey. Aged 61
years.

On the 8th of April, 1881, Mr. Thomas Woodcock,
Chemist and Druggist, Bury. Aged 68 years.

On the 20th of April, 1881, at Canterbury, Mr.
Thomas Francis Tangney, Chemist and Druggist. Aged
45 years.

On the 5th of May, 1881, Mr. Thomas Potterfcon
Hickley, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Edgware Road, Lon¬
don. Aged 55 years. Mr. Hickley had been a Member
of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1852.

On the 10th of May, 1881, Mr. Edmond Henry
Ombler, Chemist and Druggist, New Southgate. Aged
43 years.

On the 21st of May, 1881, Mr. Henry Philpot, Phar¬
maceutical Chemist, Praed Street, London. Aged 67
years. Mr. Philpot had been a Member of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society since 1842.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

The History of Salt; with Observations on its Geo¬
graphical Distribution, Geological Formation, and
Medicinal and Dietetic Properties. By Evan Marlett
Boddy, F.R.C.S., F.S.S., etc. London: Baillibre,
Tindall, and Cox. 1881. From the Publishers.

Maladies Cancereuses. Observations par le Dr. Gerard
Von Schmitt. Paris: Leclerc. 1881. From the
Author.

The Study of Botany, with a Sketch of the
History of the Science. By William Southall,
F.L.S. Birmingham. 1881.'

An Unofficial Pharmacopoeia comprising over Seven
Hundred Popular Non-Official Preparations, and con¬
taining an Account of the Metric System of Weights
and Measures, Americanized and Simplified, and a
Comprehensive Dose Table, etc. By Oscar Oldberg,
Phar. D., etc. Philadelphia : Presley Blakiston.
1881. From the Publisher.

The Metric System in Medicine, containing an account
of the Metric System of Weights and Measures,
Americanized and Simplified, etc. By Oscar Old¬
berg, Phar. D., etc. Philadelphia: Presley Blakiston.
1881. From the Publisher.

ispwsmij Iftemarauim,

In order to assist as much as possible our younger
brethren, for whose sake partly this column was established,
considerable latitude is allowed, according to promise, in
the propounding of supposed difficulties. But the right
will be exercised of excluding too trivial questions, or re¬
petitions of those that have been previously discussed in
principle. And ive would suggest that those ivho meet
with difficulties should before sending them search previous
numbers of the Journal to see if they can obtain the re¬
quired information.

[550]. Having dispensed the prescription, I have
obtained a clear, bright solution and I cannot at all
account for the mixture being otherwise. I think that
the vin. ferri was not properly made, hence the cloudir
ness. G. E. Wells.

[550]. I cannot understand why “Provincial” was
unable to dispense this prescription so as to produce a
perfectly bright and clear mixture. It is a prescription
frequently ordered by Mr. Erasmus Wilson, and I have
dispensed it several times and have always found it
appear clear and bright. A. H. D.

[550]. Having dispensed this prescription, I do not
fail to obtain a bright and clear mixture. The liq.
Fowleri, although containing potass, carb., does not
contain sufficient in the quantity prescribed to precipitate
the iron.

London, W. P.

[550]. This mixture should be quite clear. It is taken
for granted that “ Provincial ” ought to use aq. dest.

“ 374.”

[551]. “374” would have used liq. ferri acet., Ph;
Germ.

[551]. I think the ferri acetatis of the Dublin Pharma¬
copoeia of 1826 is intended.

London, W. P.

[552]. In this mixture the spirit throws down the
mag. sulph., but itself remains unaltered.

“ 374.”

[552] . The magnes. sulph., although very soluble in
water (10 in 13), is but slightly soluble in weak spirit,
hence the magnes. sulph. is thrown out of solution when
the spirit, aether, nit. is added.

London, W. P.

[553] . Could any of your readers inform a student how
carbonate of ammonia and tincture of capsicum are
incompatible and what is the nature of the change
produced when both are mixed ?

Student.

[554]. The following prescription was presented to us-
to dispense a few days ago : —

R Alcool d’lode . .10 grammes

Acide Ph&iique . 1 „

Glycerine de Price . 80 „

Eau . 410 „

M. Pour gargarisma. . ,

We dispensed for the first ingredient the alcoholic
preparation of iodine of the French Pharmacopoeia, the
strength of which is stated in Squire’s ‘ Companion ’ to
be 1 in 12. It was sent out as a 16 oz. gargle of an
orange colour.

The gentleman for whom it was made up stated that
he had had it made up once only before, and that was by
an English chemist ; it was then perfectly colourless.
Perhaps some reader of the Journal can say which of the
two was right.

Junior.

Potcs anir (^Merits.

[550]. I am constantly dispensing the following (which
is almost identical with No. 550), and find it makes a

perfectly bright mixture : —

R Vin. Ferri . ^iss.

Liq. Fowleri . 3iss.

Syr. Simp . ^iiss.

Aq. Purse . ad 5iv.

M.

The only difference is in the quantity of water.

ClVITAS.

[703] . FLUORESCINE.— Would any reader kindly

inform me how this preparation is used for making the
colour for carboys ? N.

[704] . MrST. AGRIMONII COMP.— Would some

reader of the Journal kindly give the recipe for mist:
agrimonii comp. ? John.

[705]. HERMOND’S POWDER.— What is Her-
mond’s powder ? John.

June 11, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1039

Comsjjmtimtr*

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for •publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Society’s Journal.

Sir, — As one of the members who at the Annual Meeting
asked what became of the 7000 Journals advertised as issued
weekly, will you allow me to express my thanks to the Pre¬
sident for the statement presented by him to the Council ?
It is at once lucid and satisfactory, and had such a statement
accompanied the annual report there would have been no
necessity for raising the question at the meeting.

Perhaps I may be allowed further to say that I did not
raise “ any presumption of mismanagement respecting the
Journal,” as stated in last Saturday’s leader. I merely
asked for an explanation how the 7000 Journals were dis¬
posed of, seeing there were a “ little over 5000” persons en-
} titled to receive them. Further, so far were the details
from being “easily ascertained,” as you say, that neither
the President, nor Secretary, nor apparently anyone else at
the meeting, were able to give the information, for the
President in his reply stated that 300,000 were annually (or
5770 weekly) disposed of. Until, therefore, “the Secretary
had got out the figures ” presented to the Council last week
the matter stood in this way, that there were 5000 members
entitled to the Journal, that the number issued, according
to the President was 5770, but according to the publisher
7000

I am still strongly of opinion that a supplementary
Journal account should have been issued with the annual
balance-sheet. No business man could possibly accept and
pay an adverse balance of £680 *in connection with any
branch of this business without knowing the reason why,
as the members of the Society have been required to do.

8, The Strand, Torquay. Edward Smith.

[*%* It is shown at p. 1030 that Mr. Smith’s figures are all
incorrect. — Ed. Ph. Journ.]

— - -

Sir, — As an associate (not in business) I was much
troubled to read the speech of a Torquay gentleman at the
Annual Meeting, and think there must be few students and
assistants but felt inclined to rebut Mr. Smith’s sweeping
comments upon us as a class. I will ask Mr. Smith if half-
a-guinea is not more in proportion for an apprentice to pay
than for the average chemist who subscribes his guinea
annually, and while the Society is entirely neglected by so
large a majority of men in business, it is gratifying to find
a good number of apprentices joining. Mr. Smith must be
very “singular” in his experience as to the manner that
assistants use their Journals. At any rate, I joined the
Society eight years ago, and, I believe, have every number
in good condition, for, if at any time a non-delivery has
occurred, a few lines to the worthy Secretary has always
been quickly replied to.

As a rule, those who grumble most have least cause to do
so, and I should be pleased to know if Mr. Smith con¬
tributed to the Society’s funds as an apprentice or even as an
assistant. It is gratifying to read more moderate orations
which follow the objectionable one, and if any change is to
be made in the subscriptions, I would propose that Major
and Minor assistants should pay the same, namely, half-a-
guinea; the present system certainly is not any inducement
for them to take the higher degree.

After Mr. Smith’s own statement that there are only
5471 “persons” on the Register entitled to receive the
Journal. I can see no good in trying to reduce that number,
and rather think that an increase can only come from the
younger ranks. As the annual postage of each Journal
amounts to only 2s. 2d., I call it mean in the extreme to
talk of charging postage to students and assistants.

Then for provincial associations. I have had a fair
amount of experience with them, and would give no very
grand opinion of any which was not self-supporting from a
eash point of view, the Society having always shown itself
willing to assist with specimens, and even go to the
expense of “ postage” by sending a Journal for the use of
the reading room (where such exists).

By inserting the above you will confer a favour on one
who considers Mr. Smith’s remarks as uncalled for and
most injudicious upon the occasion.

Fair Play.

Assistants’ Salaries.

Sir, — I was pleased to observe a letter signed “ Revolu¬
tionist” in the Journal of May 28, and am somewhat
surprised that no comment has been elicited in the subse¬
quent issue of that paper. That some steps should be
taken by us as chemists’ assistants seems beyond a question,
but it is to be regretted that this subject has not been
earlier brought under consideration. The competition
with stores, combined with the proverbial “ bad times,”
will, I am afraid, at present afford a sufficient plea for
employers to remain obdurate in the matter of increased
remuneration. It is an admitted fact that our salaries
have been increased of late years; but this augmentation
has not been granted in ratio to the profits derived by prin¬
cipals ; it has been necessitated by the expensive curriculum
for examination. “ Revolutionist ” has evidently put a too
cheap estimation on his services, taking into consideration
the amount of business he represents himself to get
through; but I know several young men who, after a ten
months’ course at the “ Square” (and I presume a probable
expense of upwards of £100), have engaged in situations at
£40 a year. So much for the glory of the profession, after
payment of a premium and four or five years’ gratuitous
services. I find that many of my old school colleagues who
adopted other paths in life, such as bankers’ clerks, etc.,
are now receiving salaries which I cannot hope to attain to,
whereas they have the additional advantage of working
office hours from 9 till 4 or 6 o’clock and also receiving
Bank Holidays and Sundays entirely free. Apart from
the subject of salary, what is required in our vocation is
more time for recreation.

It will be granted that the pale and unhealthy appear¬
ance which characterizes chemists generally is owing to
excessive taxation of faculties while at business and late
hours, which latter debars us from enjoying those out-door
exercises and amusements that are absolutely essential
to robust health, and which men in other callings have the
privilege of enjoying. I have been connected with first-
class establishments both in London and the provinces
during the last few years and am fully convinced that the
want of more time for recreation is keenly felt by us as a com¬
munity. As a primary step in the way of reform I would
proposo that we advocate for at least half a day s holiday
per week. I think this a reasonable demand and one which
is not calculated to produce any serious inconvenience to
principals when properly established and recognized.

The remedy is in our own hands, and I may add that I
am not desirous of disseminating the elements of discord
betwixt employers and assistants ; yet I maintain that we
“ have a grievance,” and it remains to be seen whether we
have sufficient force of character in our midst to carry a
measure like this, or to still blindly yield to circumstances.
Can a few gentlemen in London form a committee to
receive general expression on this subject ?

Warwickshire. A Reformer.

Sir. — I quite agree with “ Revolutionist ” in his statement
that chemists’ assistants taken as a class do not receive a
proper remuneration for their services. # .

The business of his employer seems to be in a flourishing
condition, as shown by the number of prescriptions dis¬
pensed weekly ; so his master ought to have been able to
afford to pay his assistant well.

But I have noticed that chemists who do the most dis¬
pensing, and necessarily obtain the largest profits, pay their

assistants the worst. ., , .

A friend of mine, a Major man, lately took a situation
with a large firm at £35 per annum. I had occasion to
advertise for a situation about a year and a half ago, and
another firm offered me the same sum. No doubt this
state of affairs is brought about in a great measure by the
assistants themselves, who, not being satisfied with their
own capabilities to get a living, starting upon the same
footing as others, must do the jackdaw business, and take
some of the peacock’s feathers to make a better external
show, putting up over their establishments From Lash

1040

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 11, 1881.

and Dash’s,” etc., etc. Perhaps also the masters themselves
are a little blind to their own interests in not giving a
larger salary to the assistant, therefore driving him into
business on his own account, and he often takes for want of
capital one of those small pharmacies we see advertised—
e.g.y in the Journal of May 28 some may be seen offered at
£350, £130, and £50— where to obtain a’living he must go
in for cut-throat prices, and therefore a disadvantage to the
trade in general, whereas if such an assistant had received
fair pay he would have been content to have remained in
his former capacity. Another reason, perhaps, why we do
not get our share of the loaves and fishes is because there
is such a surplus of us in the trade, and “ Revolutionist ”
has himself done the right thing to benefit us, that is,
leaving the trade. Could he not prevail upon some others
to follow his good example ?

An Assistant and M.P.S.

The Exhibition.

Sir, — "We shall refrain from indulging in any lengthened
comment on the letter from “One of the Committee,”
which appeared in your last issue.

Our complaint was that we were prohibited by the Com¬
mittee from contributing to the Exhibition specimens of cer¬
tain chemicals which other firms were allowed to exhibit.
Your correspondent has not attempted to justify this prin¬
ciple of “ selection.”

After consuming three long paragraphs in dilating upon
exhibitions in general, he commences to quibble about the
precise wording of the resolution of the Committee as
quoted in our previous letter, and he at length succeeds in
discovering a distinction where there is no difference.

He then falls foul of the terms in which we described our
proposed exhibit, inasmuch as we simply asked leave to send
“crystals of iodine” instead of “ large crystals of iodine.”

"We were unfortunately ignorant of the fact that the ab¬
sence of adjectives was fatal, or we should have endeavoured
to supply ourselves with a few appropriate epithets. Surely,
however, “ One of the Committee” might have accorded us
some modicum of modesty, however much he may despise
that quality himself.

We are by no means wanting in our appreciation of the
labours of the Committee, and when we reflect upon the
enormous amount of work and anxiety which must have been
involved in the process of deciding between the conflicting
claims of no less than thirteen applications, which, as your
correspondent tells us, were actually received before April
2L, we marvel that even “ One of the Committee ” has pre¬
served his mental equilibrium.

We pass by the concluding paragraph of your correspon¬
dent’s letter, remarking only that we trust his confreres in
the Council will consider that its delicate insinuations reflect
credit upon the responsible member of what should have
been an important Committee.

Fletcher, Fletcher and Stevenson.

Glyckrinum Acidi Gallici.

Sir, — The paper on “ Pyrogallic Acid,” by Mr. Thorpe,
in a recent issue, should direct the attention of pharma¬
cists to the official glycerinum acidi gallici. In Squire’s
‘ Companion * it is stated that gallic acid is soluble with
heat in 5 parts glycerine ; also that in the B.P. solution,
which is made with 4 parts, “ part separates after cooling
and remains undissolved.”

Bearing this in mind, I have made it extemporaneously
when required; which has occurred several times lately;
and I have noticed a precipitate at the bottom of the bottle
when brought back to be replenished.

On the last occasion, however, the absence of this, as
well a3 a remark from my customer on the extraordinary
staining properties of the medicine, led me, after reading
Mr. Thorpe’s paper, to the conclusion that in my desire to
send out the preparation of full strength, I had carried the
heat applied to the point of converting some of the gallic
acid into pyrogallic.

The application of the colour test with milk of lime,
described in Attfield, confirmed this impression.

Without entering upon the exact therapeutic effect o:!
pyrogallic acid, which indeed is unknown to me, I woulc .
urge that it is desirable to bring about such an alteration at

;he next pharmacopoeial revision that sufficient menstruum
may be used to render the solution permanent, and to
avoid any risk of the chemical change I have described.
Dover. J. F. Brown.

The Testing of Olive Oil.

Sir, — We must express our regret that we have caused
the loss of so much of Mr. Conroy’s valuable time, but we
were not unnaturally under the impression that any process
ully described in a work of the nature of Cooley’s * Practical
Receipts,’ — a work cited twice in the very page of the
Journal in which Mr. Conroy’s letter appears — could but be
well known. Perhaps, however, ‘ Cooley/ is not of a suffi¬
ciently scientific nature to find a place in Mr. Conroy’s
chemical library.

On comparing the process there described with that
recently published it will be seen that the only points of
difference are the relative proportions of acid and oil, and
the point at which the experiment is arrested.

To our minds, it seems that shades of colour are much
more appreciable in clear liquids than in semi-solid masses.
In conclusion we are sorry that Mr. Conroy did not under¬
stand that the experiments to which we referred were only
part of a series we have undertaken during the last eight or
ten months, but whieh we have now almost completed. In
anticipation, however, of more detailed remarks we may
say, that with three or four exceptions, all the oils occurring
in commerce give reactions when treated by this method of
Hauchecorne’s, and that these reactions are in Borne cases
so peculiar as to be almost characteristic of certain oils.

Bristol. F. W. and A. F. Stoddart.

[*** We think Messrs. Stoddart’s original criticism of Mr.
Conroy’s recommendation ef a test for the purity of
olive oil was unnecessary, since Mr. Conroy merely
stated the result of his own experience, and further
since his mode of operating was certainly different
from that ascribed to Hsuchecome. — Ed. Pharm.
Journ.]

J. Hutchinson. — Amelanchier vulgaris.

Assistant (who should have sent his name and address),
will find information on the subject in the present volume,
before, p. 250.

Erratum. — In the notice of the Half-Crown Microscope
shown in the recent exhibition (before, p. 954), the
maker is spoken of as Messrs. Rae, of Anerley, instead of
Mr. C. S. Rae, of Allesley, near Coventry.

County Chemist.— The Bill is not yet been issued. No
doubt it will receive the attention of the Council if it ever
arrives at that stage.

Minor should study one or more of the standard works
upon food.

F. J. Field. — Your question is not explicit, as you say
nothing as to the colour desired. Probably experiments in
the direction of the tar colours would be successful.

Inquirer. — We cannot read your question.

Aurum. — Probably the article you refer to is the finely
divided gold obtained as a precipitate by mixing a solution
of chloride of gold with a solution of ferrous sulphate.

Ferrum. — We do not know of anything better.

Aqua. — A sufficiently approximative result may be
obtained by ascertaining the quantity of calcic carbonate
precipitated by boiling.

W. J. 8. — We think that your informant was correct.

W. F. G. — We think it probable that a zinc trough
would be acted upon.

Professorial Certificates. — We have received from Messrs.
Lloyd and Co. a letter on the subject which has been dealt
with by Professor Attfield and Mr. Percy Wells, in the
last two numbers of the Journal, but as to the composition
of their article we cannot recognize any obligation to
publish their answer to Mr. Wells’s opinion, which must be
taken for what it is worth. As to the other point they
refer to, opinions differ, and as we cannot undertake to
decide betwoen them, Messrs. Lloyd must be content that,
as they say, Professor Attfield “indignantly repudiates”
having given their article a “ puff.”

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Thresh, Rae, Madsen, Parker, Baker, Country
Chemist.

June 18, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1041

JAPANESE AND CHINESE ACONITE

ROOTS.*

BY DR. ALEXANDER LANGGAARD,

Academy of Medicine , Tokio, Japan.

{Concluded from page 1025.)

3* - 1 “Katsuyama-bushi.” (Fig.

HI* a to /•) These are tubers
\ H v likewise grown in Japan, which
come into commerce from Katsuyama, and are
named after that place.

Fig. III. a and b shows the tubers 4 natural size.
They are conical or napiform, dirty grey or yellow
brown, soft, tough, covered with an earthy saline crust,
bear scars of secondary tubers that have been cut off,

Fig. III. a and b, Katsuyama-bushi, | nat. size.
c and d, Transverse sections, soaked in water, 1 £
times magnified, e and /. Transverse sections, |
nat. size.

are strongly wrinkled, shrivelled, and have a cortex
that readily exfoliates. The largest, covered with
numerous warty excrescences, resemble on their
exterior tbe smaller “ Daibushi.” They are 18 to
38 mm. long and weigh 4T to 147 (average 8*8)
grams. They are almost always worm-eaten.

& The transverse section, of a light clay colour, is
tough or horny, and shows after steeping in water
a dark closed almost circular cambium ring, drawn
out towards the cortex in sinuses or undulations,
but not star-shaped, and enclosing a medulla more
than double the width of the cortex (fig. III. c and
d). In other tubers the cambium ring is star-shaped
(ficr. III. /). Finally, some are met with also in
which the cambium ring is wanting ; the vascular
bundles lie scattered and separated from one another
by a denser tissue (fig. III. «)• The cortex is fissured.
Examined microscopically it presents no special
characters.

* Translated from the Archiv der Pharmacie (vol. xv.,
p. 161), to the Editor of which Journal we are indebted for
cliches of the original engravings.

Third Series, No. 5 <3.

Forty grams of tubers yielded 4*C3 grams = 11*57
per cent, of alcoholic extract.

Experiments on rabbits showed that the tubers
are almost inert. Two or three cubic centimetres
of a solution of extract prepared in the manner
stated, per kilogram of rabbit, may be injected
without any result.

The origin of these tubers is unknown to me.
Whether we have here to do with the tubers of a
non-poisonous species of aconite, or whether the
tubers are made inactive by too conscientious prepa¬
ration, cannot be determined with certainty. Pro¬
bably the latter is the case. Extracts of the tubers,
indeed, give an alkaloid reaction, but the appearance
of the tubers points to a preparation energetically
carried out. It is remarkable that these tubers are
frequently used as a substitute for “ Daibushi,”
which latter, as has been stated above, show a
decided, though somewhat weak aconite action.

4 )1 “ Shirakawa-uzu.” (Fig. IV. a

M/ '“g to f.) Called after a locality,
“ Shirakawa.” The tubers pre¬
sent an appearance essentially different from all those
previously described. They are long napiform,
gradually tapering tubers, without remains of stem,
frequently pressed somewhat flat, heie and there
curved, with the points cut off and consequently
ending broadly truncate, wrinkled longitudinally,
with a warty surface, and bearing the scars of adven¬
titious tubers that have been cut off, of a dirty grey
colour, coated with an earthy saline crust, soft, tough,
to cut, strongly hygroscopic, and having a saline taste
that afterwards becomes acrid and burning (fig. IV.
a and b). The transverse section (fig. IV. c ) is nearly
oval, grey-white, fatty and fibrous. The cambium is
drawn out into numerous radiations or points, the
separate points being obtusely rounded. The me¬
dulla is large and in the centre of a dark grey colour.

Examined microscopically, the outer layer of bark
appears to consist of two or three rows of pressed-
together, thick-walled brown coloured cells. The
middle layer, consisting of five to seven rows of tan¬
gentially elongated cells, shows scattered stone-cells,
and is separated from the inner layer by a cellular
sheath formed of square yellow cells. The inner
bark, in its outer layer, consists of tangentially elon¬
gated cells ; towards the centre, these become more
roundish polyhedral, but in the interspaces between
two neighbouring points are elongated radiantly.
The fibro-vascular bundles, consisting of four to
eiaht vessels arranged in rows, are separated from
one another by medullary rays which are thus
allowed to penetrate to the bark. The vessels them¬
selves are scalariform vessels, provided with trans¬
verse walls, and frequently curved like a knee . The
medulla consists in the centre of large polyhedral
cells • where it fills up the points, the cells are much
elongated radiantly. The cells of the bark and of
the medulla are filled with starch (fig. IV. e and /).

Besides tubers with the transverse section described,
some are met with in which the cambium ring does
not radiate so far ; the medulla is smaller, scarcely
attaining to the thickness of the inner bark layer,
in which stand three to twelve vascular bundles
arranged in a circle, and separated fiom .one
another by a denser tissue (fig. IV. d). Examined
microscopically these tubers show a structure similar
to that described under “ Daibushi.”

25 grams of tuber yielded 5-58 grams = 22-32 per

1042

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June IS, 18S1.

ttSSSBm

mmm

rnmm

Hpa

HP

•VSMi&i

tH®

mmm

steps

HaaM

enSM

cent, of alcoliolic extract, containing much common
salt.

1 *2 c. c. of a solution of extract was subcutaneously
injected at 10.52 o'clock into a black rabbit weighing
1200 grams, corresponding to 1 c.c. of solution or
0*22 gram of extract per kilogram of rabbit. Some
minutes after the injection there was much restless¬
ness, the animal licking the place of injection.
After eight minutes movements of the jaw set in,
then salivation and difficulty of breathing, which
increased to a most intense dyspnoea. The heart pul¬
sated irregularly, but strongly ; 50 minutes after the
injection the respiration was again regular, without

From this kind also I obtained two alkaloids;
one crystalizing easily from ether, the other non¬
crystalline, and prepared as a hard colourless varnish.

5. “ Kusa-uzu.” (Fig. Y. a

\ v ^ to m.) The description of
these tubers I have already
given in another place.* For the sake of com¬
pleteness I give it here again, as follows : — “ They
are small napiform tubers, gradually tapering,
mostly running to a point, seldom ending obtusely,
frequently pressed somewhat flat in the upper part,
and slightly crooked. They are of a grey-brown

- colour, generally
strongly wrinkled
longitudinally and
transversely, seldom
smooth, frequently
bearing the remains
of stalk and the
scars of adventitious
tubers that have been
cut off, worm-eaten,
1 *5 to 3 ’5 centimetres
long, 0*8 to 1 ’5 cen¬
timetre broad in the
greatest diameter,
and weighing 0*7 to
1*5 gram. The trans¬
verse section is yel¬
lowish or pure
white, mealy in a
few examples, horny,
and then of a dirty
grey colour. The
bark, \ to ^ of the
diameter, is separa¬
ted from the medulla
by a darker, seldom
brown, generally in
some places some¬
what stellate, cam¬
bium ring. In pow¬
dering the tubers,
the dust provokes in¬
tense sneezing, and
causes burning of the
nose and lips, fol¬
lowed by dryness.
Occasionally sepa¬
rate vascular bundles
are met with scat¬
tered in the inner
bark layer. Fig. Y.
a shows a specially
large specimen. The
shape resembles, in
fact, that of a bird’s
head, and perfectly
justifies the designa¬
tion “ Uzu,” or the head of a cormorant.

The microscopic structure is shown in fig. Y. I
and in. I gives the structure of the tuber with the
drawn out cambium ring; m that of the tuber with
the round medulla. The latter is distinguished by
the large number of stone-cells and the distinct
medullary rays.

* Virchow’s ‘ Archiv,’ vol. lxxix., p. 229:— 1 “Ueber eine
Art japanischer Aconitknollen, Kusa-uzu genannt, und
uber das in denselben vorkommende Aconitine*

^ ^* ^^* a ™d,h: Shirakawa-uzu,” £ nat. size, c and d, Transverse sections of the
ame, soakea in water, 12 times magnified, e, Microscopic transverse section, with
starch granules removed by potassium hydrate. /, Vessels.

dyspnoea ; the heart contractions were still irregular,
but the pulse was not marked. About 12 o’clock
the animal sat in a squatting position. At 12.20
the heart still pulsated irregularly. Favourite food
was not eaten. Next morning the animal had
become perfectly lively.

Upop the origin of these tubers, I am not in a
position to. give any information. They are, how-
e\er, likewise prepared and salted. In their action
they behave nearly like “Daibushi,” and are said
to be used m their place.

_

June is, 1SS1.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 1043

Fig. y. a to/, {f Kusa-uzu.” <7 to k, Transverse sections, soaked in water, U times magnified. I, Microscopic section cf

w. Microscopic section of k. I and m treated with potassium hydrate.

50 grams of tubers yielded 4'07 grams =8'14 per
cent, of alcoholic extract.

The enormous toxic power of these tubers appears
from the following experiment: — At 12.18 o’clock a
white rabbit, weighing 1610 grams, received 3 ’2 c.c.
of a solution of extract, corresponding to 2 c.c. of
solution or 0T62 gram of extract per kilogram of
rabbit. 12.22, extreme difficulty of breathing;
respiration frequently stopping for several seconds.
12.25 and 12.26, convulsions. 12.27, animal lay
on its side ; respiration rattling and wheezing.
12.28, convulsions. 12.30, long- continued convul¬
sions; opisthotonus; pupils, previously contracted?

suddenly dilated to the utmost; breathing ceased;
heart not to be heard. Dissection the next morning
yielded the results already described.

This strongly poisonous action the tuber owes
chiefly to an alkaloid crystallizing easily from ether.
Paul and Kingzett attributed to it the formula
C^H^NOg. Wright and Luff, who investigated it
subsequently and named it “japaconitine,” set up the
formula C66H88N2021. Upon boiling with alkalies,
according to these authors, it splits up into benzoic acid
and a new base having the composition C2GH41NO10,
according to the equation —

C6CH88N2O21+3H2O=2(C7HcO2)+2(C20H41NO10).

1044

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June IS, 1881.

In the above-quoted work I have shown that this
alkaloid belongs to the strongest of poisons. The
conclusions to which I came, on the basis of experi¬
ments with rabbits and frogs, were as follows: —

(1) . It is one of the strongest poisons, exceeding
in toxic power aconite and pseudaconitine.

(2) . It possesses strong locally irritant properties.

(3) . In frogs, it gives rise to spontaneous motions,
diminishes the sensibility, and destroys the reflex
excitability and conducting power of the spine.

(4) . It excites and then paralyses the intra¬
muscular nerve endings, whilst the transversely
striped muscle still preserves excitability.

(5) . It is a powerful heart poison and kills through
paralysis of the heart muscles. Previously, however,
the vagus terminations in the heart are first excited
and then paralysed. The muscular motor centre is
also paralysed. In rabbits, an irritation appears to
precede the paralysis of this centre.

(6) . The phenomena in the respiratory organs are
central in their nature.

(7) . In rabbits, the paralysis phenomena observed
in frogs are wanting or only faintly indicated ; pro¬
bably because the animal dies too rapidly from heart
paralysis.

Besides this crystallizable alkaloid these tubers
contain still another non-crystalline varnish-like
alkaloid. ’

Hanbury,in his ‘ Notes on Chinese Materia Medica,
under “Tsaou-woo,” figures tubers which appear
to be identical with the “ Kusa-uzu ” tubers, and
v. Wasowicz describes the drug investigated by
Paul and Kingzett. Further, v. Schroff has re¬
ceived similar tubers from China in commerce.
It appears, consequently, that the Chinese and
Japanese tubers are derived from the same species.
As I have already mentioned above, in the ‘ Honzo-
Komoku’ the “Kusa-uzu” are represented as the
tubers of wild growing species. Whether they are
derived from one or more species does not appear
from the information. The authors named, as well
as F. Porter Smith, are disposed to look upon the
tubers occurring in commerce as a mixture of several
very poisonous species. In reference to the origin
of these tubers, I remarked in my work as follows :
“I consider them to be the tubers of a species with
blue violet flowers, the inflorescence of which always
springs in pairs from the axils of the leaves. The
helmet is higher, narrower, more curved, and more
strongly beaked than in Aconitum Napdlus ; the
stalk is thin and smooth; the leaves are deeply
incised, not hairy. Frequently two secondary tubers
occur, one opposite the other. They are said to come
from different mountain districts. I obtained them
during my residence this year in the Nikko moun¬
tains, where they are met with at about 1600 metres
above the sea level. More probably, however, with
the ‘ Kusa-uzu ’ tubers are mixed those from a species
bearing light violet flowers with a slender twining
stem, which is called by the Japanese, ‘ Hanaka-
dzura’ or ‘ Hanadzuru.”’

The best authority on the Japanese flora, Savatier,
represents three species of aconite as occurring in
Japan : —

(1) . Aconitum Lycoctonum , L., var. flor. ochroleucis.
— Jap. “Reisin-So.”

(2) . Aconitum Fischcri. Reich. — Jap. “Tori Ka-
bouto.”

(3) . Aconitum uncinatum, L. — Jap. “ Hana-dzour-
on.”

Aconitum Japonicum , Thunb., has been identified
by Miquel also, in his ‘Prolusio Florae Japonicae,’
with Aconitum Lycoctonum, and Aconitum chinense ,
Sieb., with A. Fischeri. Now those plants which I
obtained in the Nikko mountains and described as
the mother-plants of the “ Kusa-uzu ” tubers were
called by the inhabitants of the district “ Tori-
kabuto.” According to the above statement these
tubers were therefore derived from Aconitum
Fischeri, Reich. But the same name, “ Tori-
kabuto,” is also given by the Japanese for the same
plant which I held to be the mother-plant of
“ Daibushi ” and “ Sen-uzu.” According to this,
“Kusa-usu,” “Daibushi” and “Sen-uzu” would
consequently have the same origin, which is very
improbable, and Aconitum Chinense, Sieb., would be
united with Aconitum Fischeri , Reich. But it in
fact appears to be that the Japanese name “ Tori-
kabuto ” is by no mean? to be referred to one species
alone. “Tori-kabuto ” means “bird-helmet,” a name
which refers to the form of the flower and is a
generic name like Aconitum or “Eisenhut.” Han-
bury describes his “ Tsaou-woo ” tubers as “ Root of
Aconitum japonicum, Thunb.” This, according to
Miquel and Savatier, who describe A. Japonicum ,
Thunb., as synonymous with A. Lycoctonum , is
incorrect. Miquel gives for the same the Japanese
name “ Reisin-Soo.” “Rgshin-so,” which I have
likewise obtained in the Nikko mountains, is
certainly Aconitum Lycoctonum , the root of which
can never be confounded with the tubers of other
species. But Thunberg says, in the description of
his Aconitum japonicum: “ Differt ab A. Lycoctono
(1) foliis tantum profunde trifidis, (2)laciniis incisis,
obtusis, rotundato-dentatis.” As the Japanese name
he gives “ Soo-Huso.” The Chinese character which
is ordinarily read by the Japanese “Kusa-uzu” can,
however, also be read “Soo-uzu.” “Kusa,” grass
or herb, is the Japanese synonym for the Chinese
“ Soo.”

I must content myself with having referred to the
botanical relations; I am wanting materials for
comparison. The final decision I must leave to
others who are more competent on this question
than I am.

These tubers are only rarely used in medicine,
and then mostly externally. Probably the same
tubers are used also for the preparation of arrow-
poison, of which I recently obtained a small quantity.
0-1 gram killed a rabbit within thirty-three minutes
with symptoms like those I have described for jap-
aconitine (Wright and Luff).

According to their poisonous action consequently
“ Kusa-uzu ” and “ Sen-uzu ” take the first place ;
then follow “ Shirakawa-uzu ” and “ Daibushi,”
almost equally powerful, and lastly, “Katsuyama-
bushi.” In practice, therefore, it follows that only
“ Daibushi ” and “ Shirakawa-uzu ” can replace one
another in use. It will be of interest also to give
a comparison of the separate extracts.

“Sen-uzu” gave . . 4 -92 per cent, of extract

“Kusa-uzu” „ . . 8-14 „ „ „

“Katsuyama-bushi”,, . . 11-57 „ „

“ Daibushi ” „ . . 15 00 „ „ ”

“Shirakawa-uzu” „ . . 22-32 „ „ „

The most poisonous extract is yielded by “ Sen-
uzu” and “Kusa-uzu;” then follows “Daibushi;”
the “Shirakawa-uzu” has a somewhat weaker
action ; and last comes “ Katsuyama-bushi ” extract.

The Japanese physicians make extensive use of

June 18 1881.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1045

“Bushi;” they ascribe to it healing properties. It
brings fever which is present in the body, but not
apparent, to an eruption ; it has a stimulating action,
allays convulsions, and is diuretic. Its action extends
to all parts. It not only drives out disease from the
body, but it replaces disease by health. It is there¬
fore used in ague, diarrhoea arising from colds or
chills, rheumatism, apoplexy, paralysis, convul¬
sions and dropsy, always in combination with
other substances. “ Kankio-bushi-to ” (decoction
of rhiz. zingiberis and aconite), or a decoction
of “ Kankio ” (rhiz. zingiberis), “ Bushi ” and
Kinjin ” (ginseng root) are frequently used.
Equally much used is a decoction of “ Bushi-Mao ”
(Graminese) and “ Kanzo ” (rad. glycyrrhizee).
“Bushi” is also frequently given in combination
with “Shakuyaku” (root of Pceonia officinalis).

In the ‘HonzoKomoku’ there is a caution against con¬
founding tubers which are described as
“ Haku-bushi” (Jap.), “ Teh-futsze ”

(Chin.), that is, “white Bushi.”

These are the tubers of an aroid, which in external
appearance have a certain similarity to “ Kusa-uzu,”
but are easily distinguishable from them by their
light weight or through a transverse section.

In my investigations I have been helped in a
most trustworthy manner by my assistant, Mr.
Shimoyanea, Tokio.

BORNTRAGER’S ALOES TEST.*

BY RICHARD H. GROVES.

This test, proposed by Hugo Borntriiger, appeared
in the Zeitschrift fur anal. Ghemief It is there
described as being an easy and very delicate test by
which 1 part of aloes in 5000 can be detected. The
mode of operating is as follows: — A little of the
suspected liquor is well shaken with about twice its
bulk of benzene, which is allowed to separate and
being carefully decanted is shaken with a few drops
of strongest solution of ammonia. This is again
allowed to separate, when, if aloes be present, the
ammonia solution will be of a beautiful clear red
colour. In the case of solids a cold alcoholic solu¬
tion is made and treated in the above manner.

Thinking that the colour might be due to aloin, I
tried the test on some barbaloin, but obtained only
a very slight pink colour, which was probably due
to the occurrence in the aloin, as an impurity, of
traces of the substance giviug the colour. This
being the case, the next thought that presented
itself was whether all the varieties of aloes would
furnish the reaction, and if so, to what extent in
each case.

The test was accordingly tried on alcoholic solu¬
tions of six different varieties of aloes, namely,
Barbadoes (first and second quality), Socotrine,
hepatic, Cape and Natal. The solutions tested were
of 40 per cent., 10 per cent., 5 per cent., 2 per cent,
and 1 per cent, strength. In the stronger solutions
the colour was too intense for the gradual lessening
of colour to be well seen, nevertheless the second
quality Barbadoes was always the darkest and the
Natal the lightest. The following table represents
the results obtained with a 1 per cent, solution, the
aloes being arranged according to the intensity of
the colour obtained : — _

* Read before the School of Pharmacy students’ Asso¬
ciation, June 9, 1881.

Vol. xix., 165, 1880.

Variety of Aloes. Results.

Barbadoes (No. 2) . . Very red.

Barbadoes (No. 1) . . . ) Not quite so red as the

Socotrine . j former.

^aPe . Red with a tinge of brown.

Hepatic . Red.

Natal . \ Very. slightly red with a

‘ ( tinge of brown.

The colour given by the Natal aloes was so slight
that the test would not be at all reliable in more
dilute solutions than 1 per cent. The test was also
tried on a solution of 1 part second quality Barba¬
does in 250, but the colour obtained was not suffi¬
ciently distinct to be relied upon as a test. The
colour of the benzene solution in each case was
greenish-yellow, that which had been shaken with
the Natal and hepatic aloes being the lighter.

The idea naturally occurred that it was quite
likely that some bodies analogous to aloes would
behave in a like manner. Borntrager states that he
tried the test on preparations of logwood, worm¬
wood, cinnamon, pimento, colocynth, sweet flag,
liquorice, juniper fruits, burnt sugar, etc., but
obtained no reaction.

Czumpelik* has pointed out that aloes contains a
tannin-like body, and this suggested the application
of the test to tinctures of catechu and kino. After
shaking with benzene, half was used whilst in a
slightly opalescent condition, and gave a bright red
colour, similar to that produced by the aloes, but
the remainder which was set aside for a day to get
perfectly clear gave a very pale yellow colour with¬
out any trace of red.

Tannic acid is a known reagent for the detection
of alkalies, f and one drop of strong tincture of catechu
in a test-tube full of water gave a bright red colour
with strong solution of ammonia. This being the
case it points to the necessity of always allowing
the benzene to become absolutely clear before
decanting, and great care must be taken that no
little globules of the solution are remaining on the
surface of the benzene, or attached to the sides of
the tube, for if the liquid contain tannin a red
colour will certainly result. The results of my
experiments point to the following facts : —

First. — That the test could not be relied upon in
solutions in which Natal aloes might be present,
having a less concentration than 1 per cent., and
that in no case can it be used in solutions as dilute
as 1 part in 250.

Secondly. — That the colour is not due to aloin,
and if due to a tannin-like substance, it must be a
variety which is soluble in benzene.

Thirdly. — That extreme care must be taken when
employing this test for the detection of aloes that
the benzene layer is perfectly clear before decanting
from the underlying liquor.

The foregoing experiments were carried out in the
laboratories of the Society’s School of Pharmacy.

THE EARLY MANUFACTURE OF COD
LIVER OIL.

The following note has been placed at our disposal
by Mr. Thomas Townson, of Bridgwater : —

During my apprenticeship at Manchester, Dr.
Bard si ey began to prescribe cod liver oil at the
infirmary for rheumatism. The article supplied was

* C 'hem. Centralbl., 1866, 29.
f Zeitsch. fiir analyt. Chemie, vol. xx., p. 234.

1046

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 18, 1881.

the oil used by curriers under the name of ling liver
oil.

.Dr. Jenkins, a German physician, prescribed cod
liver oil in London, and the same description of oil
was supplied.

In the winter of 1839, passing Billingsgate Market,
I saw on one of the stalls a quantity of fine white
livers. On inquiring what was done with them I
was informed that a few were sold to the poor, some
were thrown into a cask to run to oil which was
burnt in lamps, and the rest were thrown into the
river. I requested them to send a few to Plough
Court, which I melted down in a wedgwood ware
dish, over a charcoal fire, and strained through a
cloth.

On showing a sample of the oil to the late Mr.
J. T. Barry, and explaining how I had prepared it,
he said if we could make such cod liver oil as that
he would not buy any more of such as we were
selling, and requested me to make a stock for sale.
That season we only made 40 to 50 lbs.

A sample of the oil was shown to Dr. C. B.
Williams, who was prescribing cod liver oil exten¬
sively, and he was much pleased with it.

The sale very much increased, and we were not
able to procure sufficient livers in the London
markets to meet the demand.

One Christmas Eve we had 25 cwt. of livers, and I
and two of our men were at work from 6 o’clock
p.m. until 7 o’clock the following morning.

When we first commenced making oil we were
able to pick such livers as we approved of, and the
yield of oil was one-half the weight of the livers ;
but when competition commenced and we were obliged
to take them all, the yield was only one-third.

The purity and sweetness of the oil as well as the
colour altogether depended upon the freshness of the
livers. If they were kept twelve hours before being
melted the oil had a yellow tinge and a stronger
flavour.

ILLICIUM RELIGIOSTJM, Sieb.*

ITS POISONOUS CONSTITUENT, AND ESSENTIAL
AND FIXED OILS.

BY J. F. EYKMAN.

The lllicium rdigiosum, Sieb. (Jap. “Shikimit no ki”),
a plant belonging to the family Wintered, growing wild
in Japan, is generally considered by the Japanese and
Chinese, and indeed from the earliest times, to be a
poisonous plant, and many cases of poisoning have been
attributed to this plant, especially to its fruit. Last year,
cases of poisoning also occurred at Leeuwarden, in the
Netherlands, through the use of commercial star-anise in
the preparation of “ anise milk.”]: According to a report
of the Commission which was charged with the investiga¬
tion of the cause of the poisoning, star-anise fruit is
said to have been used in the preparation of the beverage
which corresponded in description to the fruit of the
Japanese “ Shikimi no ki.”

Although a chemical investigation was undertaken, the
experiment failed to separate any definite poison in a pure
state from the suspected fruit. In some comparative, but
not very intelligible, analyses of the true and suspected
star-anise fruit there was found : —

* Translated from the “ Mittheilungen der Deutschen
Gesellschaft fur Natur- und Volkerkunde Ostasiens,” vol.
xxiii. (Yokahama, 1881.)

t Sikimi.

j This beverage is ordinarily prepared from Pimpinella
Anisum , less frequently fromstar-anise.

\

True

Star-anise.

Suspected
Star- anise

Extract .

per cent.

11-5

16-0

Green fixed oil . . .

99

3*8

3*1

Resin, insoluble in ether

99

G-65

11-9

lis resin consisted of —

Substance insoluble in water „

90-5

90-0

Resin insoluble in water

* 99

4-2

3-8

The presence of an alkaloid, both in the genuine and
the suspected fruit, was established by Lie general methods
for the detection of poison of Dragendorff and Stass-
Otto ; this alkaloid, however, was not further investigated.

From an acid extract of 250 grams of the suspected
fruit there was separated by shaking with chloroform
0-43 gram of a brown substance, which dissolved par¬
tially in water, and completely in alcohol. It was further
stated that milk boiled both with true and the suspected
star-anise was coagulated, and that in an extract of the
suspected star-anise which had stood three weeks the
poisonous principle appeared to have disappeared.

The symptoms following the administration of the sus¬
pected star- anise to different animals, such as dogs, consisted
principally of irritation of the stomach, producing vomit¬
ing and some diarrhoea. Injection of the extract into
frogs mostly caused death. In rabbits the symptoms
were, shaking of the head, restlessness, sometimes moving
in a circle, acceleration of the respiration, irregularity of
the heart-beat, then clonic convulsion, especially in the
hinder extremities ; a paralysed condition of the hinder
extremities followed, leading to violent convulsions and
death.

In the same place ( Pharmaceutische Weekblad, vol. vii.,
No. 4), it was also stated that Plugge,some years previously,
during his residence in Japan, had, at the request of the
Director of the Health Bureau there, investigated the
different parts of the “shikimi no ki;” but it is not
mentioned that he succeeded in isolating in a pure condi¬
tion the poison contained in it.

In No. 15 of the above-mentioned journal, Geerts .
communicates some cases of poisoning occurring in Yoko¬
hama with the fixed oil of “ shikimi ” seeds, which in
Japan is expressed and used instead of rape oil as a light¬
ing material.

This oil was used in Kanawago in the preparation of
food, and had produced in six persons symptoms of poison¬
ing. One died shortly after taking the food, the five others
recovered. Geerts communicates the following, in respect
to the investigation which he carried out at the request
of the Japanese Government : —

“ The oil used in the preparation of the food, which
was greenish yellow, and had a peculiar aromatic smell,
was a thick turbid liquid, with a strongly acid reaction ;
it yielded when heated with soda-lime 0'3 per cent, of
ammonia, derived from the albumenoids present, and
contained 6 per cent, of free fat acid. It was administered
in a dose of 10 grams to a large dog. After 50 minutes
the following symptoms of poisoning were manifested :
moving in a circle, vomiting, convulsive movements, re¬
peated vomiting of white froth and bile, difficult breathing,
dilated pupils and great restlessness, defecation, and all
the symptoms of irritant poisoning. After three hours’
quiet the dog drank water, and after about 5^ hours had
quite recovered. ”

The symptoms corresponded consequently with those
mentioned by the Leewarden commission. An oil con¬
taining less free fat acid, prepared by Geerts himself from
one year old seed, caused, in the same dose of 10 grams,
similar symptoms, even more strongly in proportion to the
percentage of free fat acid found (5‘9 per cent). A dose
of 2 grams of the powdered seed acted quite similarly,
but not so powerfully.

The investigation led to the following conclusions as to
the action and nature of the poison : —

(1) The poisoning symptoms of the fixed oil and the
seeds of the J apanese “ shikmi ” consist in repeated

June 18, 1S81.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1047

vomiting and other results of irritation of the central
nervous system.

(2) No alkaloid could be found with certainty ; probably
the fixed oil, or the free fat acids (of the oleic acid series)
formed the poisonous principle.

On the 29th of October of last year some fresh cases of
poisoning became known, which had occurred in Uyeno,
and which it was believed were also to be ascribed to
“ shikimi ” seed. The following was communicated to
me from the report of two Japanese physicians to the
Health Bureau. Five children were on that day found
lying in the road in Uyeno Park, foaming at the mouth
and violently convulsed. Notwithstanding that all re¬
ceived medical help, three of the children died soon after,
whilst both the others recovered quickly. The following
axe the details of the cases : — * . /

(1) Girl, 5 years 7 months old. Symptoms — Repeated
vomiting, convulsions, contracted pupils, blue skin and
lips, foaming at the mouth. Treatment — Pulvis ipecacu-
anhse, 8 grains, and an enema of soap. After motion,
white of egg and sodii sulphas were administered.
Result — Rapid recovery.

(2) Girl, 1 year old. Symptoms as above. Treatment
— Mixture consisting of chloral hydrate, 8 grains, simple
syrup, 4 drachms, given in three doses. Result — Rapid
recovery.

(3, 4, and 5) Two boys, 4 and 7 years old, and a girl,
8 years old. Symptoms — Repeated vomiting, convulsions,
vomiting of mucus and blood streaks, blueness of visage,
lips violet-black and covered with foam, pupils dilated,
muscles of the face strongly contracted, limbs cold, pulse
and respiration very weak. Treatment— Pulv. ipecacu-
anhse, 5 grains; subsequently another dose of pulv. ipecac.,
5 grains, and cupri sulphas, 2 grains ; this was followed
by slight vomiting of mucus and blood. Result — Speedy
death.

The opinion that these were cases of poisoning by
« shikimi” was based upon the occurrence of a number
of fruit-bearing specimens of Jllicium religiosum in
Uyeno Park in the neighbourhood of the place where the
children had been playing, and the discovery of some
“ Shikimi ” seed in the sleeves of the dresses and in the
vomit of one child and the faeces of another.

These cases of poisoning induced Herr Sensai Nagayo to
request me to undertake the chemical investigation, be¬
cause the isolation of the “ shikimi ” poison in a pure
state had not yet been accomplished, and it was of im¬
portance to learn more respecting it. I considered my
attention should be directed first to the seed, because these
were found in the vomit, and further, the investigation of
Geerts appeared to indicate that the poison was to be
expected in the oil from the seed.

But as at that time I had not a sufficient quantity of
seeds at disposal. I began with the examination of the
essential oil. The possibility was not excluded by the
foregoing that the poisoning was attributable to the un¬
ripe seeds, which contain much essential oil, or at least
that they contributed to it. As material for the prepara¬
tion of this oil 40 kilograms of fresh leaves was taken,
and by steam distillation and cohobation this quantity
yielded 177 grams of essential oil, or 0*44 per cent. The
oj], was strongly light-refracting, nearly colourless, faintly
yellow; when kept it became somewhat darker. In
distillation, part of it sank in the water and part floated
on the top ; the mixture was heavier than water, and had
a specific gravity of 1*006 at 16*5° C. The odour differed
from that of ordinary anise and star-anise oil , smelling
much more faintly of anise, and otherwise difficult to
describe exactly. It recalled laurel, camphor, cajuput and
nutmeg, the last beimr especially perceptible in the
distilled water. As to the peppermint-like odour, which
has been ascribed by some authors to the shikimi leaves,
it was not observed, either in the essential oil or distilled
water, or in the slightly bruised leaves.

When cooled in a mixture of ice and salt for some time
no solidification of the oil took place, or separation of

stearoptene, even at a temperature of — 20° C. With a
Hoffmann’s polarimeter the molecular rotatory power was
found to be [a]0= — 8*6°.

By fractional distillation from 50 grams of the oil
about one-sixth part was obtained as a terpene, having a
boiling point of 173° to 176° C., and a sp. gr. of 0*855.
With dry hydrochloric acid gas this terpene became a
thick liquid, but not solid. The terpene — not perfectly
pure, since it showed an anethol reaction — had a rotatory
power of - 22*5°.

Secondly, about one-fourth of the oil was obtained as
anethol, which did not solidify on cooling, had a boiling
point of 231° to 233° C., molecular rotation 0°, and a
sp. gr. of 1*048 at 12° C. In the first fractionation there
remained at above 290° C. more than 8 grams of a brown
extract-like residuum ; while in the following fractionation,
over 260° C., at which temperature the distillate was
coloured yellow through decompositiona, portion of the
oil was left as a resinified substance.

Besides its high boiling point and specific gravity, its
negative behaviour towards polarized light, anisoine and
other colour reactions, and faint anise or fennel odour,
the anethol was identified by its oxidation products.
Upon boiling it with nitric acid of sp. gr. 1*2 (Cahours) an
energetic reaction took place, with evolution of red
I vapour. A portion of the resulting product remained
undissolved as a yellow-brown resinous residue (nitrani-
side). From the filtrate there separated, after cooling, a
crystalline mass, which dissolved in ammonia, and was
again precipitated by nitric acid after the greater part of
the excess of ammonia had been driven off by evaporation.
After washing with water and drying, it partially sub¬
limed in needles, having a melting point of 174° C.
(nitranisic acid, anisic acid). The mother-liquor, con¬
taining nitric acid, yielded, upon evaporation, a consider¬
able quantity of large colourless crystals, which gave the
reaction of oxalic acid. The anethol oxidized with
potassium bichromate and sulphuric acid developed
distinctly the odour of acetic acid.

The essential oil of “shikimi” mixes in all proportions
with absolute alcohol, chloroform, benzol, glacial acetic
acid, carbon bisulphide, and fixed oils. In petroleum
spirit (b.p. up to 58° C.) it is somewhat difficultly soluble,
and it requires of 78*5 per cent, alcohol about 3| volumes
for complete solution. Various reagents behaved towards
the oil as follows : —

Chloral reagent: colourless; afterwards dirty brown-
yellow.

Brom-cbloroform (1:20): colourless; afterwards green-
blue ; finally dirty bluish.

Alcoholic hydrochloric acid: colourless; afterwards a
beautiful blue.

Concentrated sulphuric acid: (with development of
heat) dark red; afterwards purple-red.'

Frohde’s reagent : similar to sulphuric acid.

Fuming nitric acid : without action in the cold ; upon
gentle warming, orange-red.

Picric acid: dissolved in the cold to a yellow-red liquid.

Ammoniacal silver solution: slowly reduced, with
separation of silver.

Iodine : gave no puffing.

Tannin : did not dissolve.

Sodium: slight evolution of gas, with browning and
thickening of the oil.

Hager’s reagent : like sulphuric acid ; upon the
addition of the alcohol a dark wine-red solution resulted,
with a little reddish-white deposit.

Dry hydrochloric acid gas : beautiful violet-red, after¬
wards a beautiful blue.

Ten drops of the oil with sixty drops of alcohol and
anhydrous ether (distilled over sodium and giving no
reaction with anthraquinone) and about 150 grams of
sodium : immediately a beautiful greenish-blue ; after
some hours this colour passed to yellowish, whilst the
sodium became coated with a yellow layer.

The difference between the essential oil of the leaves

1048

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 18, 1881.

of Illiciuvi religiosum and other oils containing anethol stellati and oleum foeniculi — are shown in the following
used in medicine, — such as oleum anisi vulgaris and table : —

01. Anisi vulgaris.

•

Oleum Foeniculi.

Ol. Anisi stellati.

Ol. Illicii religiosi.

Constituents . . .

Chiefly solid and
liquid anethol.

Small quantity of ter¬
pene boiling at 190°
C., and liquid and
solid anethol.

Chiefly solid and
liquid anethol.

Dather much of a ter¬
pene boiling at 173°
to 176° C. ; liquid
anethol boiling at
232° to 233° C.

Melting Point . .

+ 6° to 18° C.

- 2° to +18° C.

About 0° C.

Not solid when cooled
20° C.

Specific Gravity

About 0‘903.

0-94 to 0*998.

0-978.

1006.

Molecular Dotation

0° to +0-5°.

+ 13° to +19-6°

0° to -0-4.

- 8-6°.

Alcoholic Hydro¬
chloric Acid.

Colourless, afterwards
reddish, then pale
red.

Colourless.

Colourless.

Colourless, afterwards
blue.

Chloral Deagent .

Colourless, afterwards
yellow and brownish.

Colourless, then beau¬
tiful red.

Colourless, then beau¬
tiful red.

Colourless, afterwards
dirty brown -yellow.

Ammoniacal Silver

In 24 hours no reduc-

Dike ol. anisi vul-

Like ol. anisi vul-

Deduction in a few

Solution.

tion.

garis.

garis.

hours.

Hager’s Deaction .

10 drops of oil, with
60 drops of ether
and about 0T50
gram of sodium.

In alcohol, a portion
of the sulphuric acid
and oil mixture re¬
mains undissolved as
a thick mass adher¬
ing to the sides of
the tube.

Colourless ; after 4
hours the mixture
nearly colourless ;
deposit yellowish-
white.

Mixture of oil, sul¬
phuric acid and
alcohol is perfectly
clear.

Like ol. anisi vul¬
garis.

Colourless ; after 4
hours liquid and
deposit yellow.

Mixture is nearly
clear; separation of
a little reddish-
white deposit.

Colourless ; quickly
bluish ; after 4 hours
liquid pale yellow,
deposit yellow.

In order to ascertain the action of the oil various
experiments were made with rabbits, to which it was
given internally. In small doses of 2 to 5 grams it
caused much acceleration of the heart’s action and of
respiration, afterwards weakness and lowering of the
body temperature and respiration, increased flow of
saliva, impediment to power of sight, paralysis, espe¬
cially in the hinder extremities. A dose of 5 grams
produced stiffness for several days, complete recovery,
however, following. With doses of 8 to 10 grams the
same symptoms were observed, but following more
rapidly one upon another; in a few hours convulsive
movements appeared, nearly complete paralysis of the
extremities ; afterwards collapse, death taking place
within twelve to twenty-four hours. Diuresis was not
observed.

Although these symptoms of poisoning correspond with
those of essential oils generally, especially those con¬
taining anethol, the oil appears to act deleteriously in
somewhat smaller doses than, for instance, ordinary oil
of anise. The explanation of this is probably to be
sought in the larger proportion of terpene contained in
the essential oil of “shikimi.”

From the large dose of about 10 grams, which given
internally to rabbits are to be taken as fatal, it follows
that the poisonous property of the air-dried fruit, which
only contain a little essential oil, and that of the seeds
and of the fixed oil expressed from them, which contain
still less, cannot be attributed to the essential oil. Ac¬
cording to the statement of Geerts 10 grams of the fixed
oil sufficed to produce vomiting, convulsions, etc., in
large dogs, and according to the Leeuwarden Commission
15 grams of the dried fruit sufficed to kill rabbits.

A further investigation of the seeds consequently ap
peared to be demanded for the discovery of the poison.
I obtained, therefore, 2 or 3 kilograms of seed, collected
in the pre'\ ious autumn. A sample was freed from the
testa, and vdth the kernels, which contain the fixed oil,
the following experiments were made: — 3 grams were
given to a young dog. In a shoit time symptoms of

poisoning set in, which generally and with a sufficient
dose of the poison consisted of disquiet, sometimes strong
barking, and frequent scratching of the belly and chest
with the hind legs ; then followed spasmodic yawning, with
twisting of the head and tongue, salivation and foaming,
strong spasmodic movements of the muscles of the sto¬
mach, vomiting in many cases several times repeated,
sometimes defecation, diuresis, strong convulsive move¬
ments of the extremities, tetanic spasms, afterwards col¬
lapse and death.

The seed-kernels were consequently further examined.
A quantitative estimation of the oil, extracting it by
means of petroleum spirit, gave the percentage of fixed
oil as 52-02 per cent. The weight of the kernel in pro¬
portion to the testa was as 58 '6 : 41*4, which gives the
proportion of fixed oil in the “ shikimi ” seed as at least
30 5 per cent.

The fixed oil wTas a clear, thick liquid, without any
special smell, and had a pale yellow colour, which upon
warming the oil almost entirely disappeared. It had a
specific gravity of 0-919 at 16’5° C. It dissolved in all
proportions in petroleum spirit,. chloroform, ether, benzol,
and carbon bisulphide; very slightly in cold absolute
alcohol and glacial acetic acid, in about 15 parts of
boiling absolute alcohol and 2‘5 parts of boiling glacial
acetic acid.

The oil contained no free fat acid; the alcoholic solu¬
tion was perfectly neutral. Cooled to 0° C. it did not
show the least solidification. Upon further cooling it
thickened gradually, was opaque white at — 7° C., but
at - 20° C. had not yet become quite solid, possessing at
the latter temperature the consistency of butter and a
wax-like white colour. It belonged to the non-drying
oils and gave with the elaidin test yellowish-white elaidir,
without, however, becoming perfectly solid. Tweid^-five
grams of the oil with 5 grams of concentrated sulphuric
acid gave a dark red-brown mixture, the temperature of
which rose 1 — 35° C., and which mixed with water
yielded a white magma. Strong nitric acid or a mixture
of equal parts of nitric and sulphuric acids produced no

June 18, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1049

change of colour. Nitric acid containing nitrous acid
was, however, coloured a beautiful bright red. With
strong soda solution it was easily saponified. From 280
grams of oil I obtained 265 grams of a mixture of fat
acids melting at 31 Q C.

Two grams of this oil was now given to a small dog.
Beyond slight disquiet no other symptom of poisoning
was observed. On the other hand, 2 grams of the seeds
deprived of oil produced the symptoms described above
in a high degree. Through a timely dose of 0'5 gram of
chloral hydrate* death was prevented.

Through these experiments it was consequently de¬
monstrated that the “shikimi” poison is not an essential
constituent of the oil, and consists neither of the free nor
combined fat acids, as was thought by Geerts.

The toxic property of the oil examined by Geerts must
therefore be referred probably to the admixture of a
small quantity of the active poison contained in the
seed powder, which in the warm pressing passed into
the oil; the large quantity of fat acids may probably
have contributed to this.

The remaining 8 grams of powdered seed deprived of
oil was macerated for some days in a displacement ap¬
paratus with 75 per cent, alcohol, containing 1 per cent,
of acetic acid, and after running off the liquid displaced
with 75 per cent, alcohol. The extract was coloured red
by a colouring matter, which had its seat principally in
the tunica interior. The entire quantity of the residual
powder ( about 5 grams) given to a dog produced not the
slightest symptoms of poisoning ; on the other hand, one-
fourth of the percolate, after evaporating and re-dissolving
in water, mixed with rice and flesh, produced in a dog
strong symptoms of poisoning. The remainder of the
percolate, into which therefore the poison had completely
passed, was mixed with acetate of lead ; the grey- white
precipitate was filtered off, and washed with spirit. From
the filtrate, as well as from the precipitate suspended in
alcohol, the lead was removed by means of sulphuretted
hydrogen. After evaporation of the alcohol both residues
were examined as to their toxic property, which showed
that the poison was not precipitated by acetate of lead.
The evaporation residue from the lead precipitate was
treated with water. The filtered solution gave a pre¬
cipitate with gelatine and albumen, but not with solution
of tartarated antimony. Gold chloride gave a strong
turbidity with rapid reduction. Ferric chloride caused
turbidity with a dark green-blue colour. _ The seeds con¬
sequently contain a tannic acid, agreeing in its properties
with the tannic acid of the chestnut and rhatany. . It is
probably this tannic acid which caused the coagulation of
milk boiled with “ shikimi ” fruit, as mentioned by the
Leeuwarden Commission. The husk of the “ shikimi
fruit doubtless also contains a tannic acid, since .in its
unripe condition it possesses a tolerably strong astiingent
taste. Meissner found also a tannin substance in the
true star-anise fruit as far back as the year 1818. He
gives the following numbers of an analysis of the carpels
and seeds of true star-anise :

Carpels.

Per cent.

Esssential Oil . • • 5 '3

Benzoic Acid . . . 0*2

Green Fat Oil . . ^ • 5-6

Resin Insoluble in .

Ether . . . • • 20.7

Extractive, Tannin
Substance, Salts, etc. 5 *1

Seeds.

Per cent.

Essential Oil . . .

1-8

Fat Oil .

17-9

Tallow-like Fat Oil .

1-6

Resin Insoluble in

Ether .

2-6

Extractive Matter . .

4*1

Gummy Extractive
Matter . 23’0

The amount of fat oil is consequently smaller in the

# Bv a communication from Mr. Sensai N agayo I became

iware that Dr. Langgaard had used chloral hydrate as an
antidote to poisoning of animals with shikimi fruit Wlt^
good results. As before mentioned, in two of the cases of
poisoning at Uyeno, chloral hydrate was administered with
good results and rapid improvement.

true star-anise than in the “ shikimi ” seed, in which I
found 30 '5 per cent.

The entire quantity of seeds (about 2| kilos.) was then
operated upon ; the kernels were almost completely freed
from fat with petroleum spirit, and then exhausted as
before by percolation with 75 per cent, alcohol containing
acetic acid.

The percolate was evaporated ; the residual extract
was warmed with some glacial acetic acid, and to the
mixture chloroform was added gradually until it caused
no further separation. The chloroform solution, which
was only faintly coloured yellow, was filtered off, and
the operation was repeated several times upon the residue.
From the united liquid the chloroform was distilled off,
and the acetic acid evaporated ; there remained an
amorphous yellow residue, which physiological experi¬
ment showed to contain the poisonous principle. Sus¬
pended in warm water, it swam in it like clear yellow
oil drops. Upon cooling, it became solid and gum-like,
and dissolved with difficulty in water. The aqueous
extract showed a strong acid reaction, and gave a white
turbidity with iodide of mercury and potassium. Heated
with hydrochloric acid a blue-violet to greenish colour
resulted, with the development of a characteristic odour.
As after some time it showed no crystallization, a further
purification was attempted.

As in the physiological experiment the poisonous
principle proved to be soluble in water, the amorphous
residue was extracted with a little water, which left a
considerable quantity undissolved. After filtration it
was shaken once with petroleum spirit, the separated
watery liquid treated with potassium carbonate, and
then shaken with chloroform. The chloroform separated
from the watery liquid left upon evaporation a small
yellow amorphous residue. Two small samples of this
substance treated with dilute mineral acids, and left for
some time, showed under the microscope crystals, among
which rhombic plates occurred.

The entire quantity (1-5 gram) of amorphous substance
was therefore treated with hydrochloric acid and placed
in an exsiccator. The next day several wart-formed
crystalline agglomerations had separated. Of these some
were removed from the liquid, and dissolved in boiling
water, and the filtrate, mixed with flesh and rice, given
to a large dog. After ten minutes the ordinary symp¬
toms were manifested ; the stomach and duodenum were
completely emptied by vomiting, but the dog died never¬
theless, after strong convulsions, within a hour and a half.

The crystals consequently appear to contain the poison
in a purer condition : but as they were still a little yellow
they had to be submitted to a further purification. Nearly
the entire remainder of the crystals was used, in order to
obtain through repeated recrystallization from water a
sufficient quantity of perfectly colourless crystals for
physiological experiment.

After a considerable loss of material about 25 milli¬
grams were obtained, of which about one-half, dissolved
in boiling water and mixed with rice and flesh, was
given to a young dog. The following symptoms were

observed: — . , . . . . ,.

After ten minutes : Disquiet, strong barking, twisting
of the head and of the tongue in the opened mouth,
scratching the stomach and chest with the hinder ex¬
tremities, afterwards crossness.

After fifteen minutes : Violent cramps of the muscles of
the abdomen with disposition to vomit, tetanic convul¬
sions with simultaneous extension of the four extremities,
stronger flexion of the head towards the back, and con¬
vulsive yawning, formation of foam, vomiting of a brown
slimy mass, starting forward, sudden turning round of
the entire body, afterwards strong convulsions in the
extremities, then paralysis, lastly collapse and death
after three hours.

From this experiment I consider I may draw the con¬
clusion that from “shikimi” fruit can be separated a
crystalline substance which is one of the most powerful of

1050

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 18, 1 881.

poisons; this I have provisionally named “sikimine,” until
its identity with a known substance can be established.
Under the microscope it shows stellate-grouped pointed
crystals ; also in one case prismatic forms were observed.

Upon the properties of sikimine I can only com¬
municate the following very imperfect information,
because the experiments could only be made with very
small quantities.

The crystals are hard, heavy, dissolve with difficulty
in cold water, better in hot water, ether and chloroform,
easily in alcohol and glacial acetic acid, do not dissolve
in petroleum spirit, nor in alkalies markedly better than
in water. They do not reduce alkaline cupric solution,
even at boiling temperature, nor after boiling with dilute
sulphuric acid.

The still somewhat impure crystals melt at about
•175° C. If heated more strongly they become red-
brown and diffuse a peculiar odour and finally carbonize
without leaving the least fixed residue. A small
quantity submitted to sublimation between two watch
glasses yielded a small quantity of oily sublimate, which
did not crystallize from aqueous solution, The aqueous
solution gave with iodide of mercury and potassium a
faint turbidity which disappeared with excess. The
solution in chloroform left on evaporation only an amor¬
phous residue. In a small specimen no nitrogen could
be detected.

( To be continued.)

THE INFLAMMABILITY OF VEGETABLE SUB-
STANCES BY NITRIC ACID.*

In consequence of the burning of a freight car during
the autumn of 187 9, on one of the railways in Baden, which
was suspected to have been caused by nitric acid, Pro¬
fessor R. Haas, of Carlsruhe, was called upon by the
Government to report whether that acid could produce
combustion or not. In the experiments made to solve
this question the conditions which might be supposed to
exist in freight cars containing nitric acid were imitated
as far as possible. Small boxes of a capacity of 10 to 16
quarts were charged with variable proportions of hay,
straw, tow and blotting paper — all of which substances
are used in packing — and placed within larger boxes,
while the space between them was filled with hay or tow,
to prevent too rapid a radiation of heat, because the
experiments were to be conducted in the open air, and
the outer box at the same time represented the walls of a
railway car. The material contained in the inner box
was now saturated with acid, and rather tightly com¬
pressed, so that when the cover was put on it was pretty
well filled. At first reddish and afterwards whitish
vapours were given off, finally a distinct smoke. On
lifting the cover, strongly glowing patches could be seen,
which rapidly increased all through the contents, and
which broke out in bright flames on access of free air or
gentle fanning.

With red fuming acid, or with acid of sp. gr. 1*48,
these results were obtained very rapidly and within a
few minutes. With ordinary acid, of sp. gr. 1 *395, it
required somewhat more time, and the action was less
energetic in the beginning ; but, in three different trials,
after about twenty minutes the same result was finally
obtained, provided the material was packed tightly in
the box, and was thoroughly saturated in its successive
layers.

It seems quite probable that even a weaker acid can
produce the same result in larger bulk and during warm
weather in a confined space which prevents rapid cooling.
Hitherto it has often been doubted that spontaneous
combustion could be caused under such circumstances,
but the above experiments and results are certainly in¬
controvertible.

* From Ber. d. Deutsch. Chem. Ges., 1881, 597. Re¬
printed from New Remedies, 1881.

CORRESPONDENCE ON THE SALE OF OXALIC ACID.

The following is the correspondence that passed
between the President of the Pharmaceutical Society
and the Coroner for Middlesex upon this subject : —

“ 21th May, 1881.

“ Sir, — Assuming the report of the inquest held by you
at the Clerkenwell Coroner’s Court into the circum¬
stances attending the death of Harriet Lambert, as
reported in the Clerkenwell Press, to be correct, I feel it
my duty to point out to you that you are clearly in error
in your reading of the Act of Parliament relating to the
‘ sale of poisons.’

“ All the poisons in the whole of schedule A. to the
Pharmacy Act, 1868, are to be sold subject to certain
conditions, viz. : That the proprietor of the shop at which
they are sold must be a registered chemist and druggist;
that the article must be labelled with the name of the
article, the word ‘ poison ’ and the name and address of
the seller.

“ In addition to these conditions the poisons in part 1 of
the schedule may only be sold to a person known to or
introduced to the seller, and the sale must be entered in
a book kept for that purpose, such entry being signed by
the purchaser. This latter set of conditions only applies
to articles in part 1 of the schedule and does not apply to
those in part 2.

“The 17th section of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, com¬
mences as follows : —

“ ‘ It shall be unlawful to sell any poison either by
wholesale or by retail unless the box, bottle, vessel,
wrapper, or cover in which such poison is contained be
distinctly labelled with the name of the article and the
word ‘poison,’ and with the name and address of the
seller of the poison.’

“ That paragraph defines the regulations to be observed
in the sale of poisons within the meaning of the Act and
applies to all of them equally. The remainder of the
section deals with the following details, viz. : — The
special regulations to be observed only in the sale of
those poisons which are in part 1 of the schedule ; the
amount of penalty for offences, and certain exemptions
from the general provisions set forth in the section : but
nothing subsequent to the section which I have above
quoted alters the general regulations to which articles in
part 2 of the schedule are alone subject.

“In framing the Act of Parliament regard had to be
paid to the necessities of arts and trades in which poisons
are extensively used, and restrictions which could not
practically be carried out had to be avoided.

“I am anxious that you should clearly understand this
matter, as unhappily cases of this kind will probably be
frequently under your notice in your official capacity.

“I am, Sir, yours truly,

“Thomas Greenish,

“ Dr. Danford Thomas, “ President.

“ Coroner for Central Middlesex. ”

“ Coroner’s Office, Paddington, W., May 28 th, 1881.

“ Sir, — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 28th inst. concerning the ‘Sale of Poisons Act,’ etc.

“ With regard to the inquest in Clerkenwell and the
sale of oxalic acid I beg to enclose you a cutting from
the Clerkenwell Press which satisfactorily concludes the
matter as far as Messrs. Huxtable are concerned.

“ With reference to the reading of the Act, to which
you draw attention in your letter, I beg to say that at
the inquest in question I was guided in my remarks by
the admissions of Messrs. Huxtables’ assistant who, I
presumed, knew the Act well, rather than from the Act
itself.

“I am much obliged to you for your letter which I
shall keep for future reference.

“ I am, your obedient servant,

“ Geo. Danford Thomas.

“ Thos. Greenish, Esq., “ Coroner.

“ President, Pharmaceutical Society.”

June 18 1881.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1051

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1881.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , hooks for review , etc., should be addressed to the
Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. J our n.”

PHARMACEUTICAL REFORM AS REGARDS THE
QUALIFICATION OF ASSISTANTS.

For the efficient treatment of disease one of the
things most essential as a preliminary is a correct
diagnosis, and in regard to that form of disease
which we hear of in various ways as affecting the
pharmaceutical body, nothing can be more useful for
showing the way towards remedial measures than a
clear exposition of the causes and conditions to which
the grievances complained of by principals as well
as assistants are referrible. In this sense our corre¬
spondent, who writes under the signature of “ A
Life Member for more than Twenty Years,” has
rendered good service, and we are glad to have the
opportunity of asking our readers to consider his
letter with careful attention, because we feel con¬
vinced that it goes straight to the root of much ot
the mischief which pharmacists throughout this
country have to contend against.

It is we think impossible to be too persistent in
our endeavours to expose the evil influence of cer¬
tain usages in connection with the drug trade, which
have acquired a kind of prescriptive sanction, but
are nevertheless so inconsistent with the idea of
pharmaceutical advancement that they can only be
looked upon as obstructive, appertaining to a past
condition of things, and requiring to be promptly
done away with.

The remuneration of assistants in the establish¬
ments of pharmacists, or of chemists and druggists,
was the especial subject by which attention was
first directed to the evils which a “ Life Member ”
regards from a more general point of view. Our
correspondent, “ Revolutionist,” contrasted the
salaries of chemists’ assistants with those of ^drapers’
assistants, as showing that the former were less
advantageous, independently ot the large outlay
which a chemist’s assistant is supposed to have had
bestowed upon his training, and he gave his own
case as an illustration of the argument that chemists’
assistants are not paid by their employers in pro¬
portion either to the value of the business they
transact or to the responsibility attaching to the
kind of work they have to perform. Taking his
statements as correct, we cannot wonder at his
dissatisfaction, or at his resolve to leave the business
and take up some other occupation. Incidentally

his doing so will be the right thing to benefit those
who remain, and, as remarked by “Assistant and
M.P.S.,” it might be well if many others could be
prevailed upon to follow his example, since it is
true there is not only a plethora of assistants com¬
peting for engagements at very low salaries, but
likewise a desire among them to try and secure
some improvement of that position by starting
in a small way of business on their own account.
It is in this way that the ranks of men in busi¬
ness are augmented beyond the requirements of
the public and in order to attract custom a destruc¬
tive system of competition is entered upon more
detrimental in its effects than any abstraction of
“patent or sundry” trade by co-operative stores.
But it is not without some kind of loss that a man
who has been for some ten years in a business, even
as an assistant only, can leave it and take up another
occupation. Even if he has by chance an oppor¬
tunity of doing so with advantage, the abandonment
of his previous pursuits, at a period when he might
be regarded as an experienced person, may well be
regarded as a loss. Consequently, the object of
reformers should be rather to remove or curtail the
causes by which the surplus of assistants is produced.

In some of the letters which have appeared on
this subject we can occasionally trace indications
of what the causes are to which we now refer;
but they are referred to by the writers rather
accidentally or instinctively than with any clear
perception that all the mischief is due to them.
Thus, for instance, in the letter of “ Reformer” last
week, he speaks of the necessity for an apprentice
paying a premium and giving “ four or five years’
gratuitous service.” This expression betrays a
want of proper appreciation of what is or ought to
be given on the one hand and on the other by the
pharmacist and his apprentice during the period of
pupilage. If there be any ground for the opinion
that the apprentice is to be credited with services
rendered during that period it is most probable that
he will have been under such conditions as those re¬
ferred to by “ A Life Member ” and engaged in doing
the work that might be done by a light porter, but
not receiving such technical training as would
enable him at a future time to command a liberal
salary as an assistant in a pharmaceutical establish¬
ment.

In trades of purely mechanical character it may
be that after a brief period an apprentice becomes
to some extent useful to his master, and moreover,
the technical training which is the object of his
being bound as an apprentice can in such cases be
furnished by manual operations useful to the master.
But in the case of the pharmaceutical apprentice
there is a great difference. During a greater part of
the four or five years that he is bound lor, his services
cannot be of much value at the dispensing counter
or even in the pharmaceutical laboratory, and what¬
ever work he can do there so as to be of future

1052

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 18, 1881.

benefit to himself would involve the bestowal of a
large amount of attention and instruction by the
apprentice’s master, which would more than counter¬
balance the value of the apprentice’s work.

The reports of the Boards of Examiners too plainly
show what is the result of the delusive system of
apprenticeship which offers apprentices no chance
of learning the essentials of their business, and when
we reflect that though the Minor examination limits
to some extent the number entering business on their
own account the class of assistants is still quite un¬
protected, it is evident that the influx of rejected
candidates into that class must be productive of
serious injury.

The future of pharmacy, which may be re¬
garded as being especially an assistant’s subject, will
evidently depend to a great extent upon what
is now done towards removing the evils pointed out
by a “ Life Member.” If no check is put on the
addition to the number of ill-taught and untrained
youths who are led to expect they may make a
living as pharmacists, or rather by carrying on
under that name the business of a general dealer,
there will continue to be a glut of candidates for
employment as assistants willing to accept any
kind of remuneration, and there must be in
consequence some proportionate disadvantage to
properly educated men. It ought therefore to be the
aim of assistants especially to promote the adoption
of more rigid regulations as to the conditions under
which qualification to act in that capacity is acquired.
It would be distinctly to the advantage of competent
men if recourse were had to the original intention of
the Pharmaceutical Society’s founders to make the
Minor examination a test of qualification for assis¬
tants and if it were made legally requisite that every
assistant should be qualified in that way.

As regards apprentices, moreover, there is at least
equal need of establishing restrictive regulations for
the sake of protecting the interests of educated
members of the pharmaceutical body. Apprentice¬
ship should be made unmistakably a condition for
obtaining technical training and not one for ob¬
taining gratuitous services of any kind. It should
be a condition attainable only for youths who have
had such an amount of school teeaching as would
enable them to speak and write their own language
correctly, to have command of the rules of arithmetic,
a fair knowledge of Latin and a general acquaintan ce (
with the principles of physical science. As an in¬
dispensable preliminary to apprenticeship with a
pharmacist, youths should be required to pass a
satisfactory examination of the scope above indi¬
cated, and we feel convinced that nothing in the
way of legislation or of such agitation as is referred
to by some of our correspondents would confer
one tithe of the advantage that might be expected
to result from this latter course, which would also
operate for the protection and security of assistants
at the present time, as well as for the benefit of

proprietors^hereafter. We earnestly hope that by
the discussion which has been raised, an opportunity
will be afforded for regarding, not only the super¬
ficial aspect of this matter, but also the less obvious
circumstances lying at the root of the grievances
complained of.

PHARMACY IN VICTORIA

We learn from the last number of the official
organ of the Pharmaceuti cal Society of Victoria that
the attempt at an arrangement with the trustees of
the Melbourne Technological Museum for the estab¬
lishment of a School of Pharmacy, which was made
when the Senate of Melbourne University refused
to establish a chair of pharmacy, has been successful.
A large lecture hall, as well as the laboratories and
apparatus, are to be available, and the lecturers are
to be nominated by the Pharmacy Board. A hope
is expressed that the offer of prizes may “ render our
new institute in its aspirations and designs in every
respect identical with that of the School of Phar¬
macy of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great
Britain.”

At the April meeting of the Council Mr. William
Bowen was elected President of the Victoria Phar¬
maceutical Society in the place of Mr. C. R.
Blackett, who had held office for the previous
three years.

A TECHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM FOR NEW SOUTH

WALES.

One result of the international exhibition in
Sydney will probably be the establishment of a
permanent technological, industrial, and sanitary
museum in that city. The management of the
project is at present in the hands of the trustees of
the Australian Museum, and they desire to solicit
through these columns donations of typical collec¬
tions of materials of economic value finding an
application in pharmacy, perfumery, etc., as well as
of the products in their different stages of manu¬
facture. No expense will be consequent upon the
donations; the proprietors of the British Trade
Journal have undertaken to receive and forward
cases, and the trustees will pay freight, etc. , on the
arrival of the goods in Sydney.

DALMATIAN INSECT POWDER.

Mr. Consul St. John, in a recent report on the
trade and commerce of Ragusa, remarks that insect
powder from Chrysanthemum Turreanum ( Byrethrum
cineraricefolium ) is one of the few articles of export
which the rocky soil of that part of Dalmatia allows
to be produced there. He adds that it is very de¬
sirable that the powder should be imported into
England direct from Ragusa, where it can be ob¬
tained unsophisticated, as when it passes through
Trieste it undergoes considerable adulteration.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association will be held on
Thursday, June 23, when a paper will be read by
Mr. J. 0. Braithwaite, on “ Microscopy as an
Aid to the Study of Structural Botany.”

June 18, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1053

SraixsatUmis jof tljc |||jmrtaatt;ticaJ

Scrdctir.

Go

EXAMINATIONS IN LONDON.

June 15, 1881.

Present — Mr. Greenish, President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Corder, Ekin, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Taylor and
■ Thresh.

Messrs. Stephenson, Borland and Kinninmont were
present as a deputation from the Scotch Board.

Dr. Greenhow was present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Six candidates were examined. Three failed. The
following three passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

O ,

Bilson, Frederic Eastall . Newark.

Cooper, Walter Temple ..' . London.

Davies, Thomas . Bridgend.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Tioenty-four candidates were examined. Sixteen failed.
The following eight passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Bates, Edward . Bicester.

Bramald, Frederick Dixon _ ...Wakefield.

Cook, Samborne . Nottingham.

Garry, Walter Finch . Canterbury.

Humphries, Charles Josiah . Ipswich.

Jackson, Frederic . Bawtry.

Jenkins, Evan Edward . New Radford.

Judd, Henry . London.

June 16, 1881.

Present— Mr. Greenish, President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Corder, Ekin, Gale, T. E.
Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Taylor and
Thresh.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Five candidates were examined. Two failed. The
following three passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Millhouse, Henry How . Seaford.

Nettle, William Robert Pett ...Plymouth.

Perkins, Thomas Frampton ...Clifton.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-three candidates were examined. Seventeen
failed. The following six passed, and were declared
qualified to be registered as Chemists and Druggists
Mackereth, Geo. Hems worth... Thorpach Grange.
Powell, Ernest Geo. Burrup ...Cheltenham.
Pritchard, Lewis T. Richard .. Neath.

Robinson, Whiteley . Knar esborough.

Sinzininex, Arthur . Manchester.

Thompson, John . Bakewell.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

One candidate was examined, but failed to pass.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned certificates were received in lieu
of the Society’s Examination : —

Certificates of the College of Preceptors.

Brown, R. H . Wigton.

Cooper, Henry Spenser . London.

Fellows, Vincent Litchfield ...Hampstead.

Horrell, Harry W . Dartford.

Limbrick, James Alfred . London.

Woodward, Moses Mellor . Nottingham.

Certificate of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Mondro, Thomas Frederick . Southampton.

Certificate of the University of Oxford.

Blain, Alfred Lucas . Bolton.

Itamimxgs of Scientific Societies.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,
June 9, Mr. R. H. Parker, Vice President, in the chair.

Mr. R. H. Groves read a paper upon Borutrager’s
“Test for Aloes,” which is printed on p. 1045.

A discussion followed the reading of the paper, in
which the Chairman, Secretary, Messrs. Allen, Mitchell
and Thompson took part.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Groves for his
paper.

The Secretary then read a Report on Inorganic
Chemistry, by Mr. C. H. Hutchinson, F.C.S., on

Berthelot and Ditte’s Researches on the Hydro¬
chlorides op some Metallic Chlorides.

The value of controlling experiments in all matters of
research must be admitted by everyone, and in the
present time of the rapid advance of knowledge in all
directions it becomes additionally desirable to make sure
of the ground on which our methods of reasoning are
based. Chemists must then see with pleasure the many
reactions of the elements with which they are familiar
subjected again and again to fresh trials, being thereby
shown to be trustworthy or not; amongst the various
methods of research in use, an increasing study of the
heat evolved or absorbed during the interaction of sub¬
substances, compound and simple, forms a most impor
tant factor, and one which is becoming increasingly
resorted to amongst investigators.

Experimenting in this direction M. Berthelot has
recently discovered some new compounds, to which I
shall briefly refer in this report. Amongst these is a tri¬
chloride of hydrogen4" which he believes to exist, for the
following reasons.

The solubility of chlorine in water varies at the same
temperature, according to the time of contact with an
excess of chlorine, and the intensity of the light. Thus at
12° 1 litre of water will, under the ordinary pressure,
dissolve 4 grams of chlorine, apparently the true solu¬
bility ; but if the contact be prolonged, 6 grams may be
dissolved, this increase being due to the decomposition
of the water with accompanying formation of chlorine
oxyacid3. The heat evolved during the solution of the
gas varies from 1*5 to 377 heat units per 35‘5 parts
chlorine, the first number being the equivalent . of
simple solution, the other of a more complicated reaction
involving the decomposition of the water. Now the
formation of hypochlorous acid is accompanied by an
evolution of only L9 heat units, that of chloric acid by
2‘0; therefore in order to account for the 377 units at
first observed an explanation was sought in some un¬
known reaction, which was additionally interesting to
the author as possibly accounting for an early observa¬
tion in which he noticed that a dilute solution of potash
in which two equivalents of gaseous chlorine had been
dissolved, when acted on by an exactly equivalent dilute
solution of hydrochloric acid, gave an excess of 2'9 heat
units beyond that evolved during the formation of
potassium chloride, whereas the heat of solution of the
chlorine employed amounts only to 1*5. From this it
would appear to be incorrect to imagine that chlorous
and hypochlorous acids in solution, when acted on by
hydrochloric acid, simply reproduce chlorine. A series
of experiments on the solubility and heat of solution of
chlorine in acid and alkaline liquids and solutions of salts
showed that the solubility is less in strong solutions of
the alkaline earths than in water. Thus a litre of a
saturated solution of magnesium chloride dissolved less
chlorine than a similar amount of water, but dilution
with 10 volumes of water caused an increase in the
solubility to 5-5, the subsequent formation of oxyacids of
~ * Comptes Rendus, xci., 251.

1054

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[Juno 18, 1881.

chlorine resulting as in the case of water. The behaviour
with a solution of hydrochloric acid differed very
notably, for here the amount dissolved and the heat
evolved are both increased. Thus 1 litre of a saturated
solution of hydrochloric acid dissolved 7*3 grams ; a
similar quantity of a solution containing about ^ hydro¬
chloric acid dissolved 11 grams of chlorine, a further
dilution of the acid causing a lowering of the equivalent
of solution ; an experiment on the heat evolved during
solution gave as a mean 4-7 heat units per 35*5 parts
chlorine. This number surpasses not only the heat due
to the simple solution of chlorine in water, but also that
of the formation of oxyacids, nearly reaching that of the
displacement of oxygen (4'8), which, however, does not
take place under these conditions ; and according to the
received ideas of the reaction between hydrochloric acid
and the chlorine oxyacids it would be difficult to imagine
that these could be formed at all in these circumstances.
Since the solution of, and heat evolved by, the unit of
chlorine in strong hydrochloric acid solution can in each
case amount to three times that produced by simple solu¬
tion in water, and bearing in mind the tendency of
chlorine and of the halogens generally to accumulate in
molecules such as are represented by the trichloride of
iodine, the trichloride and the tribromide of potassium,
the heat of formation of which are : —

I Cl +Clo=ICl3 + 9 ’6 heat, units.

KI + I2' = KI3 +10-10-8 „

KBr.+Br2 = KBr3 + 109-11-5 „

the author concludes that it is not unreasonable to
suppose that a combination of hydrochloric acid with
2 atoms of chlorine may exist, a view which is strengthened
by the heat unit 9‘4 observed under the circumstances.
He finally remarks that it ought not to be forgotten that a
solution of hydrobromic and hydriodic acids acts with re¬
gard to bromine and iodine respectively in a similar
manner.

Experimenting with manganous chloride, with the
double object of determining the influence of this sub¬
stance on the solubility of chlorine in water and of
possibly obtaining additional information with regard to
the reaction taking place during the preparation of
chlorine from manganic oxide, it was found that a
liquid of the composition MnCl2 + ll OH2 dissolved only
2 grm. chlorine per litre at 12°, a quantity which was in¬
creased to 3*5 grm. by prolonging the action until partial
decomposition of the water was effected, the heat units
evolved being 2'2- 3'3. These, being in the same order as
those obtained in the case of water, are but little favour¬
able to the assumption of a perchloride of manganese
existing under these conditions, although the liquid which
had been thus acted upon deposited on standing an ap¬
preciable quantity of the dioxide of manganese, the pre¬
sence of this being perfectly explicable by the known
decomposition of metallic chlorides by water with produc¬
tion of hydrates or oxides, which in this case had been
oxidized by the chlorine oxyacids present. This explana¬
tion was borne out by the fact that an increase in the
dilution caused an increase in the amount of precipitation.
If the manganous chloride solution was previously mixed
with hydrochloric acid, these results were considerably
modified, it being noticed that when a stream of chlorine
gas was passed into a concentrated solution of manganous
chloride, together with about half its volume of 30 per
cent, hydrochloric acid solution, the liquid was at once
turned brown and gave no precipitate even on standing
three months; saturated at 14° it contained 5'9 grm.
chlorine per litre. If the solutions be each diluted with 10
volumes of water and then mixed and saturated with
chlorine, 5 '35 grms. of this are absorbed per litre, no
coloration being produced, nor any precipitate, excepting
on standing for some weeks, when a sufficient quantity of
manganic oxide separates out to show that this may be
formed even in the presence of a large excess of hydro¬
chloric acid. Thus in the case of the strong solution one
finds that this dissolves nearly three times as much as the

simple aqueous one, and at the same time heat units
varying according to the stage of the reaction from 4 -6 to
3-2 are evolved, this being more than double the evolution
in the case of the aqueous manganous chloride solution
(2‘2). Judging from this alteration in the physical pro¬
perties of the solution, the author concludes that the first
action of chlorine on a mixture of manganous chloride
and hydrochloric acid is the production of a compound
not formed in the absence of hydrochloric acid, this
being a true perhydrochloride of manganous chloride
(HC13 . nMnCl2), and that the facts observed during the
preparation of chlorine from manganic oxide are due to
the dissociation of this compound, one of the products
being free chlorine, which is produced in increasing
quantity at an elevated temperature, corresponding with
the increased dissociation caused by agiven rise in
temperature.

An explanation of the difference in action between the
strong and the diluted acid solution is probably to be
found in the loss of potent energy by the anhydrous acid
consequent on hydration.

The formation of a precipitate of manganic oxide in
the presence of hydrochloric acid when diluted may be
similarly explained, as the hydrochloric acid, when in the
presence of water, forms a hydrated compound, thereby
losing a certain amount of potent energy. It would seem
then that the loss of just this amount renders the forma¬
tion of the double compound impossible, the reaction
between the manganous chloride and the water, together
with the oxidizing influence of chlorine oxyacids, then
takes place in the manner which has been before de¬
scribed.

The experiments next to be described were undertaken
with the immediate object of investigating the action of
hydrochloric acid on solutions of metallic chlorides,
certain compounds between these being of greater impor¬
tance and more frequent recurrence than would appear
to be generally recognized. Thus, to consider the case of
cadmic chloride.* If to a cold saturated solution of this
salt a concentrated solution of hydrochloric acid be
added, a precipitate is formed in a similar manner to
that which happens when a strong solution of sodium
chloride is treated iu the same way; but if a current
of hydrochloric acid be passed into the solution, the
chloride is transformed into a compound of a new aspect,
in crystals, harder, and more brilliant than before ; when
separated by decantation and dried on a porous plate,
an analysis gave numbers corresponding with the formula
CdCl2HC1.70H2. Exposed to the air they quickly lose
hydrochloric acid, becoming dark and opaque; heat
decomposes them : the heat of formation, in solution, is
20 "1 units. In a similar manner the hydrobromide of
cadmic bromide was prepared, an attempt to isolate the
hydriodide was, however, less successful, it being found
that cadmic iodide is extremely soluble in a saturated
solution of hydriodic acid, and that the liquid on reduc¬
tion to a temperature of - 25° deposited a fine crystalline
precipitate ; but this when separated and placed on the
porous plate liquefied. The hydrochloride of lead chloride,
shown to exist by the increased solubility of this salt in
a strong solution of hydrochloric acid, could not be
separated even with the help of refrigerants. The
hydriodide of this metal may, however, be easily obtained
by saturating a mud of lead iodide and water with
hydriodic acid gas; solution is, under these circum¬
stances, quickly effected, the liquid becoming warm
and depositing, on cooling, crystals of the formula
2PbI2.HI.10()H2. These are yellow, and clearer than
plumbic iodide; exposed to air and light they lose
hydriodic acid, and become somewhat red owing to the
presence of free iodine ; heat decomposes them, leaving a
residue of plumbic iodide, which is also produced if the
crystals be treated with 25 or more times their weight of
water. The heat of formation in solution is 23"3 units.

* Comptes Rendus, xci., 1024,

June 18, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1055

Whilst the halogen salts of lead are under consideration
a brief reference to the recently published work of M.
Ditte* * * § on the reaction between lead chloride, hydro¬
chloric acid and chlorine would not be misplaced. He
found that if chlorine gas be passed into a saturated
solution of lead chloride at 12°, containing 13 grams per
litre (according to J. C. Bell, Chemical Society’s Journal
[2], xxi., 350, the solubility of lead chloride is 1 part in
105-2 parts water at 16-5°, this would give 9’1 grams as
the amount soluble in 1 litre water) a salt is deposited,
and when saturated with chlorine the liquid contains only
5*5 grams of lead chloride. This solution gives, when
diluted with water, a precipitate of brown hydrated
peroxide of lead after standing a few hours, the liquid
then containing hydrochloric acid; in fact, the same
phenomena are observable as were recorded by M. Ber-
thelot with regard to manganese, in his work on the
preparation of chlorine, which may be explained in the
same way, since a further dilution produces an aug¬
mented precipitation. If chlorine gas be passed through
a solution of lead chloride in the presence of an excess of
this salt together with hydrochloric acid solution, the
lead salt will be slowly dissolved, yielding a solution of a
red colour, increasing in intensity with its concentration;
in this way a litre of solution containing 290 grams
hydrochloric acid can be brought to dissolve 180 grams
of lead chloride. The amount retained in solution varies
with the temperature; thus an acid liquid dissolving 175
grams at +10° will contain as much as 312 at -15°.
Heat decomposes the solution with evolution of. chlorine
and deposition of lead chloride ; if the liquid be
highly charged with hydrochloric acid a diminution of
the solubility of the chloride is observed. f From the
facts observed during his investigation the author, con¬
cludes that the compound formed during the reaction is
analogous to the double salt of manganese found by
M. Berthelot, and is a perhydrochloride of plumbic

With regard to the halogen salts of silver, M. Berthelot
corroborates an observation of H. Saint Claire Devilled
as to the existence of a hydriodide of silver iodide. He
found that the iodide of silver dissolves readily m
hydriodic acid solution, and that the liquid thus ob¬
tained disengages on exposure to the air some of the
hydriodic acid. At a certain stage fine transparent lamel¬
lar crystals are produced corresponding with, the formula
3 Agl . HI . 1 4 OH2. Exposure to light and air turns them
yellow; they are decomposed by heat or an excess of water
with the separation of silver iodide; the heat evolved
during the formation of this compound in solution is 21 ‘6
units Another similar compound exists, but is so soluble
in hydriodic acid that its separation could not be effected

even with the aid of refrigerants.

Working on this subject quite independently of M.
Berthelot, M. Ditte found that in relation to their reaction
with hydrochloric acid the metallic chlorides may be di¬
vided into two divisions, in the first of which may be
placed those whose solubilities are increased by the presence
of hydrochloric acid, in the second those whose solubilities
are diminished. As an example of the first class the chlo¬
rides of gold, platinum, bismuth, antimony, and mercury
may be quoted, in each of these cases definite hydrochlo¬
rides being formed. With regard to the compounds of
mercury, the proportional constituents of the salts ob¬
tained differed considerably according to the temperature
at which they were formed.§ One may well make a divi¬
sion of this class containing those metals whose chlorides,

* Comptes Rendus, xci., 765. ,

+ With regard to the solubility of lead chloride in solu-
ti<ms of hydrochloric acid alone, M. Ditte finds (C omptes
Rendus, xcii., 718) that tbis is diminished by the presence of
quantities of hydrochloric acid less than 10 pei cent., after
which an increase in the strength of the .acid causes a
marked increase in the solubility.

1 Comptes Rendus, xlii., 895. ^

§ Comptes Rendus , xci., 986, xcii., ood.

although additionally soluble in hydrochloric acid, are de¬
posited, on cooling the solution, in an anhydrous form, such
as argentic, cuprous and mercurous chlorides. Examples
of the second class will be found in the accompanying
table, with regard to which I have not thought it necessary
to enumerate the details described in the original memoir.*

Solution of hydrochloric acid
Water. saturated at 12°.

Chloride

1 litre dis¬

Crystals

1 litre

Crystals

of

solves

formed

dissolves

formed

Ca .

700

CaCl»60Hj

270

CaCl,20H.>

Sr .

500

SrClo0OH>

20

SrCli 20H.>

Mg .

720

MgClo 60H>

65

MgCl2 20H>
2C0Cl23OH2
(blue)

(35°)CoCl2OH4
(blue)
NiCl2OH2
(greenish yellow)

Co .

415

CoC1260H2

(red)

205

Ni .

600

NiCl260H2

(green)

40

Mn .

870

MnCl2 40H2
(rose)

190

MnCl2OH2

(white)

Cu .

630

CuC1220H2
(bluish green)

290

CuCl2OH2
(yellow brown)

To this same class belong also the chlorides of potassium,

ammonium, sodium, barium and thallium,

whose solubili-

ties are, as well known, very much lessened in the presence
of hydrochloric acid, being deposited in the anhydrous
form, thus showing that this second class may also be di¬
vided into sub-divisions, in the first of which may be
placed those metals yielding hydrous crystals but con¬
taining less water than at first, and in the second those
yielding anhydrous precipitates.

In conclusion I would draw attention to the remarks
of M. Berthelot on the hydrochlorides of the metallic
chlorides, t when he says that they are most important, de¬
termining as they do a large number of otherwise inex¬
plicable reactions, of which we may find an example in
the decomposition of mercurous chloride on boiling with,
or even by cold, hydrochloric acid, with production of
metallic mercury and mercuric chloride thus —

2HgCl + nHUl - HgCl2nHCl + Hg.

Now the decomposition of mercurous chloride, considered
alone, requires a considerable absorption of heat ; thus
2HgCl = HgCl2 + Hg, - 9'5 heat units, and as mercurous
chloride gives no sign of decomposition at the tempera¬
ture of the experiment, he believes the determining factor
is the formation of a hydrochloride accompanied by an
evolution of heat superior to 9 '5 units. The same explana¬
tion by means of the heat of formation of certain double
chlorides may account for the transformation of calomel
into corrosive sublimate under the influence of alkaline
chlorides, causing known cases of poisoning. To take an
example from another set of phenomena, one may con¬
sider the reduction of the halogen salts of the metals by
hydrogen. It is well known, for instance, that cadmic
iodide, bromide and chloride suffer partial decomposition
when heated in an atmosphere of hydrogen. So far
as the first two of these is concerned, the presence
of the hydrogen need only be considered as accelerating
the decomposition, as M. Berthelot found, that when
heated to the same temperature in an atmosphere of
nitrogen decomposition was similarly effected. From this
then it follows that the energy necessary for decomposi¬
tion is supplied by the heat alone, the acceleration of the
action in hydrogen being due respectively to the superposi¬
tion of the energy of formation of the hydrobromide and
iodide of the cadmium salt. In the case of the chloride,
no trace of chlorine was obtained by heating in nitrogen,
and as partial decomposition was effected in hydrogen it
is not unnatural to suppose that this is brought about by
the energy of formation of the double hydrochloride.

The reduction of lead and silver chloride by hydrogen
appears to be due to a similar action, an action \v hich is
very general in chemistry, and shows the importance of
these secondary and slightly stable compounds, the study
of which has up to the present been neglected.

* Comtes Rendus, xcii., 242.

f Comptes Rendus, xci., 1024,

1056

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 18, 18SL

A discussion followed, in which the Chairman, Messrs.
Allen, Atherton, Bird, MacDermott, Mitchell and
Thompson, took part.

The Secretary having replied, a vote of thanks was
passed to Mr. Hutchinson, after which the meeting
adjourned.

|)arlimtiratatg aitfr !§Wxr ^rorMinngs,

Fatal Explosion op a Soda Water Generator.

A distressing accident occurred May 11, in Nashville,
Tenn. Mr. J. R. Turner, who had a soda water stand
at the Exposition building, fearing that he might get out
of a supply before its close, went to his store to charge
another fountain to be sent at once to the Exposition
building. J. H. Farmer, who worked in the store, said
that Mr. Turner first put in the soda and then the acid,
which spurted out and burnt his clothing and face. He
let out that charge, and was engaged in filling another
when the needle of the gauge began to spin around until
it marked 150 pounds pressure. Farmer says that, al¬
though he had not had much experience in charging
fountains, he did not like to see the needle jump around
the gauge so suddenly. He told Mr. Turner that he was
fearful it was not all right, and said that he had better
keep away, Farmer stepping back about four feet himself.
He began to hear the fountain “ siz ” and again admon¬
ished Turner to get away. Farmer had no sooner said
this than the fountain exploded, the concussion knocking
him on the floor, and something falling upon his head.
As soon as he returned to consciousness he found that the
explosion had put out all the lights. He did not know
what had become of Turner. The last he saw of him
was when he had one hand on the fountain. He supposed
that Turner had perhaps jumped into the alley, as he was
standing near the door, which was open. He called him,
but there was no response. Groping and crawling out of
the house he got a candle and returned. He was greatly
amazed when he saw Turner ten feet away from the
fountain, with his head lying over a box, dead. A piece
of the fountain had struck him in the forehead, crushing
in the bones and scattering his brains all around the
room, not leaving more than a tablespoonful in the cra¬
nium. One of his hands was torn to pieces and his arm
was broken in two places.

The explosion made a report like that of a cannon, and
soon after hundreds of people gathered on the spot.

Deputy Coroner Adams held an inquest over the
remains, and the jury returned a verdict in accordance
with the above facts. — Druggists' Circular.

Poisoning by a Disinfectant.

An inquest was held at the Castle Inn, Torquay, on
Wednesday, June 8, by Dr. Gaye, coroner, on the body
of Albert Mardon, a boatman, about 45 years of age, of
Babbicombe, who died on the previous day, at the Torbay
Infirmary, from the effects of accidental poisoning.
Mardon, on the previous Saturday, whilst engaged on the
Babbicombe beach painting boats, asked some other boat¬
men for a drink of water. He was directed by them to
a certain shed, were there was water. He did not go
then, but shortly afterwards went to another shed by
mistake, where he found a jar, and thinking it contained
water drank from it. From the burning effects of the
liquid he discovered he had made a mistake. The jar
contained “Casson’s detergent,” which is known to be
a very deadly poison. Mardon was instantly taken to
the Torbay Infirmary, where he lingered in great agony
until Tuesday morning, when he died from the effects of
the poison.

The Coroner commented very severely on the absence-
of any label bearing the word “ Poison.”

The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental poison¬
ing.” — Plymouth Weekly Mercury.

Suicide of a “Travelling Chemist.”

At the Leeds Town Hall on June 8, Mr. Malcolm, the
Borough coroner, held an inquiry into the circumstances
attending the death of John Marks, aged 73, a “travel¬
ling chemist.”*

Mrs. Ellen Oliver stated that the deceased had lodged
at her house for some time past. Since Christmas he had
been in a low state of health, not having been able to ob¬
tain sufficient nourishment. He had been especially de¬
pressed during the last fortnight. On Saturday morning
deceased complained of having been bothered very much
over some “society” he was in, and that he was afraid
he was going to be turned out. She did not know to
what society the deceased referred. On Whit- Sunday
she did not see him until six o’clock in the evening, when
she took him some tea. He told her not to call him on
the following day, as it was a holiday, and he did not
want to be disturbed. Accordingly, on Monday she did
not go to his room until dinner-time, when she took him
another basin of tea. His door was locked, and as de¬
ceased did not answer to her knocks and calls she listened
at the key-hole, and heard him moaning heavily. She
called her son, who tried in vain to burst in the door,
and he therefore obtained a ladder and effected an en¬
trance through the bedroom window. On the door being
opened she saw deceased lying high up in bed quite un¬
conscious, and moaning very much. His breathing was
very heavy. A medical man was sent for, and the de¬
ceased was removed to the Infirmary. Under the de¬
ceased’s arms in bed was found an old cream-jug, which
had contained morphia, and a small powder was found
under his pillow, as well as a letter written by the de¬
ceased, and addressed to the coroner.

John Fearnley, retired Excise officer, stated that he
had known the deceased about seven years. He had met
him on several occasions lately, when deceased com¬
plained of being ill. He last saw him about three weeks
ago. Deceased had mentioned something to witness-
about his being a Freemason, and once said he should
apply for relief, but witness never heard with what
result.

Mr. Walter Henry Brown, house-surgeon at the Infir¬
mary, deposed that the deceased was brought to that
institution on Monday afternoon, apparently suffering
from the effects of strong narcotic poisoning. He was in
a state of profound coma ; and notwithstanding that all
the known remedies were applied, he died the same even¬
ing, from poisoning. There was nothing in the stomach
to show conclusively what the poison was, but in all pro¬
bability it was morphia.

The Coroner having offered a few remarks, the jury
unanimously returned a verdict of “Suicide whilst labour¬
ing under temporary insanity.” — Leeds Mercury .

llebieixrs.

Proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical As¬
sociation at the Twenty-Eighth Annual Meeting,
held in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., September, 1880 ; also
the Constitution, Bye-Laws and Roll of Members.
Philadelphia. 1881.

The new annual volume of the American Pharma¬
ceutical Association is considerably less bulky than its
immediate predecessors, but nevertheless still numbers
more than six hundred and fifty octavo pages. The re¬
duction is due to the section devoted to abstracts from
current pharmaceutical literature, which is first presented

* This name is not on the Register of Chemists and
Druggists. — Ed. P. J.

J-une IS, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1057

to the American Pharmaceutical Association as a Report
on Pharmacy, being considerably curtailed, whilst the
proceedings themselves are shorter than usual.

Of the papers that were read before the Association
that which stands first, and is in a sense the most notable,
is one on “ Pharmacopceial Nomenclature,” by Dr. Old-
berg. Some of the propositions in this paper are already
admitted in principle, the novelty lying rather in the
illustrations by which their reiteration is justified. Thus
no one would be inclined to dispute the rule that no
name used should be one that does violence to established
knowledge or perpetuates ignorance. The illustration
given of the violation of this rule is the use of the sub¬
stantive “ oleum,” both for a volatile and a fixed oil, and
in the former case Dr. Oldberg proposes to substitute for
it the word “ setheroleum.” Thus “ oleum myristicae ” and
‘ - oleum myristicae expressum ” in the B. P. would be¬
come “aetheroleum myristicae” and “oleum myristicae.”
Another instance is the occurrence of “acidum sulphuri-
cum aromaticum ” among the acids. Dr. Oldberg would
prefer to call it “ tinctura aromatica acida.”

The next rule laid down is that the name should be
clear and descriptive, as far as consistent with necessary
brevity. Here the author appears to lean toward greater
fulness, as in “myristicae semina,” instead of “myristica.”
He would also adopt the Berzelian nomenclature for
chemicals, and in the Latin terms distinguish between
the subsalts and persalts by the particle “ ic ” and “ os,”
as “ ferrosum chloridum ” and “ ferricum chloridum.”
The other rules are to the effect that official names that
are capable of more than one interpretation are unsuit¬
able, and that the generic portion of the name should
precede the specific.

There are many details in the paper well worthy of
consideration; but what is to be said of the following
as to the writing of prescriptions in Latin, especially in
view of the author’s expressed opinion against the per¬
petuation of ignorance ? — “ Since reading the above paper
before the Association it has occurred to me that it
would be highly desirable and quite proper to ignore the
possessive case in a nomenclature which is used by a
class of men who have absolutely no need of Latin or
Greek as a language, but only as a necessary evil, . . .
and who certainly, as a universal rule, know little or
nothing of Latin, and care less to waste their time in
acquiring even sufficient knowledge of the Latin grammar
to appreciate the correctness or incorrectness of the form
in which the nomenclature may be put . . . Why not
relieve physicians and pharmacists of the genitive every¬
where, and simply use the nominative case ? Latin
scholars might criticize a nomenclature so constructed,
but the pharmacopceial nomenclature is not intended to
satisfy scholarly taste or even bare grammar.” A long
list of names, drawn up in accordance with the author’s
views, are given at the end of the paper.

Another paper in the volume, drawn forth by the
pending revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia, is
the report, by Professor Diehl, on “ Fluid Extracts and
their Preparation.”

Maladies Canc^keuses. Observations par le Dr.

Gerard von Schmitt. Paris: Leclerc. 1881.

This pamphlet consists of a series of observations upon
the treatment of cancerous affections, according to a
special method, which the author has considered it to be
his “ duty to publish.” It is therefore better suited for
criticism in the columns of a medical than of a pharma¬
ceutical journal. The only point of interest to phar¬
macists is that the author indicates the use of preparations
of Mikania Guaco, applied externally, and administered
internally, in the treatment of cancer, and he says, 1 his
valuable medicine has enabled me to cure, without
operation, in the proportion of 40 per cent. It will be
remembered that “ cundurango,” which a few years ago
was the ephemeral specific against cancer, was attributed
among other sources to Mikania Guaco ,

Cumsjjflttirmce.

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

Assistants’ Salaries.

Sir, — After reading the letters of your correspondents,
“A Revolutionist,” “A Reformer,” and “An Assistant
and M.P.S.,” I must confess I agree with many of the
opinions expressed by them, and regret the small salaries
and long hours which fall to the lot of so many assistants.

Their remarks, however, naturally give rise to the fol¬
lowing questions : — 1st. On whose shoulders does the blame
rest for the state of affairs complained of at the present
time? and, 2nd. How can a permanent improvement be
best secured ?

In reply to the first, I am certain much of the mischief
is caused by those employers who, living in agricultural and
maunfacturing districts, do what is called a “ heavy trade,”
and call themselves chemists, without being such. They
induce large numbers of young men to enter the business
solely for the sake of the premium they obtain, and for the
benefit they derive from the employment of gratuitous
labour, their so-called pupils being required during the
greater portion of their term of apprenticeship to do only
such work as could be done equally well by an intelligent
porter. Hence, when the pupils are “ out of their time ” and
ought to be useful assistants, seeking situations at a remune¬
rative rate, they find, owing to the culpable neglect of their
masters, they only possess the barest knowledge of the
responsible duties which must devolve upon them should
they wish to enter any respectable dispensing establish¬
ment, and thus they are fain to offer their services for the
smallest pittance, oftentimes for their board, to anyone
who will take them, and teach them that which they
should have already been taught, in consideration of the
premium paid to their master, who has neglected his duty
in the most egregious manner.

Again, in another way, much blame rests at the doors of
those who, while doing a better class of business, take ap¬
prentices, and who in their anxiety to secure a premium
and gratuitous service, neglect to explain to the friends of
their intending pupil the nature of the several examinations
he will have to undergo, and the probable expense he will
have to incur in preparing himself to pass them in a credit¬
able manner ere he can “ commence for himself.” These
are subjects which rarely either the youth or his friends
have any knowledge of until after he is “bound.” It is
then too late for him to change his vocation should he un¬
fortunately discover that from imperfect previous education
and training he is not the proper kind of raw material out
of which the future educated and trained pharmacist is to
be formed. Nevertheless, many of the apprentices of both
these classes, some with great credit to themselves, manage
to pass the necessary examinations, and in due course swell
the ranks of “ qualified ” assistants. Should they not have
friends who can give them a little pecuniary assistance, they
oftentimes save a portion of their salary, and at length
invest £100 or £150 in either opening “another shop ” or
in purchasing one that has already been opened. Then
they have to work from 8 a.m. till 11 p.m., or even later,
from one year’s end to the other, or rather, have to “ remain
in,” for work is often scarce ; they only dream of taking an
“evening out twice a week,” or “half-a-day’s holiday once a
week,” until, perhaps, after the elapse of several years,
they resolve to take an apprentice, and perpetuate the evils
already pointed out.

Fortunately there are many masters who are notable ex¬
ceptions to those I have described, and it is to them and
their pupils we must look if we wish to see tho status of
pharmacy in this country raised to the level already attained
by it in most other civilized countries.

Finally, there cannot be the least doubt that at present,
as well as in the past, there are many more chemists in
business and assistants in the trade than are required to
supply the wants of the public, and assistants would do
well to remember that their salaries, like the wages of all
those who have their labour to sell, are governed by the
universal law of supply and demand, and still further

1058

THE PHAKMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 18, 1881.

regulated by the quality of the service offered ; but un¬
happily the supply is generally in excess of the demand
and the quality very inferior.

In reply to the second query, viz., “ How can a per¬
manent improvement be best secured ? ” no doubt many of
your readers will think me visionary, others may think me
“ A Reformer,” and doubtless all will call me “ A Revolu¬
tionist,” for although the remedies I propose are somewhat
of a drastic nature, yet I sincerely hope I shall live to see
them carried out, or at any rate with only slight modifica¬
tions, and that ere long.

1st. The pharmacist of the future must separate himself
from the drysalter, the oil and colour man, the agent for
Gilbey and other wine merchants, and from the general
sundry trade, and become what he calls himself — a phar¬
macist.

2nd. It must be made compulsory for every intending
apprentice to pass the Preliminary examination before his
indentures are signed. The Registrar of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society on the receipt of his name, intimating his
intention of presenting himself for examination, should
immediately send a circular to his parents or guardians,
which should point out to them the nature of all the
examinations he will have to pass, and the course of study
he will have to pursue, thus giving him an opportunity of
withdrawing himself, should he or his friends think that he
is unsuited for the trade, before he has incurred much
expense or lost any time.

3rd. At the expiration of his apprenticeship, which
should be of not less than three years’ duration, he should
be required to pass an examination in such practical subjects
as reading and dispensing prescriptions, and the method
of making the various preparations of the Pharmacopoeia,
and should evince a general knowledge of the nature and pro¬
perties of drugs and of the elements of chemistry.

On passing, he should be registered as an assistant, and
not until he has passed should he be allowed to take a
situation.

The above subjects are only those which every master
who takes apprentices should be competent to teach, — and if
not, he ought not to receive a premium for pretending to
teach that which he is incompetent to do, — and such as
every person who offers his services as an assistant should
be conversant with.

4th. The assistant should not be allowed to pass his
final examination, which would entitle him to be registered
as a pharmaceutical chemist and to commence business for
himself, until after he has spent at least two years as an
assistant, and another year in attending a course of
lectures on botany, on materia medica, and on chemistry,
the latter combined with practical instruction, in the
laboratory.

When this epoch in the “Progress of Pharmacy” is
reached, then, and then only, will the assistant receive
ample remuneration for his services, and find himself
better off as an assistant than as the proprietor of a
business “ returning £5 a week.” At the same time those
who qualify themselves for the highest examination will
find their reward by having all the surgeon’s dispensing
placed in their hands, and from the diminished competition
now arising from so many petty shops which cannot pay
their expenses without the addition of all kinds of miscel¬
laneous undertakings.

In conclusion, if the educated pharmacists of this country
would only put their shoulders to the wheel, and urge
on the systematic education and training of their pupils,
the Government of this country would soon recognize the
fact, and grant as much protection to the public and the
pharmacist as they contemplate granting to the inhabitants
of Jamaica, and I feel sure more is not required.

A Life Member for More than Twenty Years.

Sir, — Your correspondents, “Revolutionist” and “Re¬
former,” are, in my opinion, fair specimen* of the large
community of “ grumbling chemists’ assistant*,” and of the
men who, instead of improving our condition, and elevating
the trade generally, are endeavouring to degrade us, alike
in the eyes of our employers and the public, by putting us
on the same footing as striking mechanics and farm
labourers, whose reasoning powers will not allow them to
see far beyond the next week’s wages.

“Revolutionist ” is of course a stranger to me, and I will
admit he was badly paid, if his business were as he described

it ; but he was to blame, more than his employer. Surely if
he were the business man he described himself to be, he
could have found something more worthy of his time and
labour.

I have been frequently told by gentlemen not my
employers, business men too, who in a commercial view
were honours to the trade, that their greatest troubles in
business were to get assistants, thoroughly conscientious,
sober fellows, who understand their business, not men well
up in dispensing and knowing next to nothing of the retail,
nor vice versa , but those that could take either one or the
other with ease ; and to such there are plenty of vacancies
with very fair salaries, — equal to the much envied draper’s
assistant.

“ Revolutionist ” says directly a draper is out of his
apprenticeship he can get a salary equal to what a chemist’s
assistant can command after years of hard work. This is not
correct; drapers’ assistants have great difficulty in getting
situations at all. There are, I admit, some who get tolerably
long salaries; so there are amongst our elder brethren. I have
known several drapers’ assistants out of berths for months ;
but very seldom are we so situated.

It is true our hours are long, but, then, if we are not
earning money, we may be spending it. A draper’s life
must be awfully monotonous; same things over again, week
after week, year after year. Now ours, on the contrary, is
enchanting ; always something fresh turning up for us to-
marvel at and experiment upon. No, my brother pill-
rollers, we have quite as many enemies outside the camp
as we know how to deal with, so do not let us be agitated
by a few, who are not satisfied with the trade, but would
have us make rods for our own backs. Let us remember
we are not drapers, nor grocers, but chemists’ assistants*
and let us do for our employers as we, in time, trust our
assistants will do for us, and doubtless they will remunerate
us accordingly.

We want not only book knowledge, but practical business-
tact, so that we may rank as business men as well as partly
professional men.

If I could afford the time I could enumerate many ad¬
vantages we possess over the envied drapers’ and grocers’
assistants. I earnestly appeal to some gentlemen with
more talent and time at their command than myself to
endeavour to alter the tone of letters that have been ap¬
pearing in the Journal for some time past. It is most
disheartening to our younger brethren, and doubtless causes
them to drive off their studies. We have grievances; so
have every class of men, both professional and mechanics.
Had I my time over again, I would choose this in pre¬
ference to any retail trade.

Although I work hard from 7'30 a.m. to 9 p.m., I find
pleasure in my work ; so time flies quickly, and I am as
contented as rambling nature will allow me to be.

F. W. Doubleday.

Sir, — May I be allowed to say a few words with regard
to the inadequate remuneration assistants obtain for their
services ?

Considering the premium we pay, the long period we
work for nothing, and the cost we are to our parents as
apprentices, the wages we receive as assistants are not in
due proportion to the expenditure of becoming such. I
quite agree with “ Revolutionist” and others that chemists
who are doing a good business should pay their assistants a
little better, and those who have not a very flourishing one
and who cannot afford the pecuniary loss which larger
salaries would create might allow them half-a-day holiday
every week for recreation.

I think a vigorous agitation carried on amongst us for
higher wages would ultimately be successful, though at
present masters might plead their inability to raise our
salaries because of the state of trade ; this, they could not
continually do, as I imagine trade is not always going to
remain in the state in which it is at present.

As to shorter hours and more time for recreation, this can
easily be arranged if assistants would meet together and
discuss tbe matter with their masters. Where there are
two or three assistants in one shop, the absence of one for
half-a-day would not seriously inconvenience either his
master or his fellow-assistants.

I think if a chemist’s shop is open from, half-past eight to
seven it is quite long enough, and not from eight to eight.

•June 18, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1059

and eight to eleven on Saturday?, as is the case with a great
number of shops.

Before closing this letter, which I hope you will publish
if you think it worth while, allow me to utter my protest
against masters opening their shops on Sundays, thereby
forcing an amount of work upon their assistants which is
quite unnecessary, for if the public be once thoroughly
informed that they cannot obtain medicines from us on
Sundays, they will not fail to get what they require before¬
hand.

Incognito.

Sir, — At present, when so much is being said and done
for the advancement of pharmaceutical knowledge, it may
not be out of place to say a word on salaries. That the
services of chemists’ assistants are underrated remains no
longer a matter of doubt. On comparing the salaries of
•chemists’ assistants with those of grocers, drapers, etc., I
find that they very much agree. The latter in general have
shorter terms of apprenticeship and require to expend
nothing on books, classes, lectures, etc., while on the con¬
trary the former, if they have no other resources than their
meagre salaries, find it a very hard task indeed to keep
themselves respectable and obtain the education necessary
to pass the examinations. Doubtless this is the reason
why so few go in for the Major, the Minor qualification
being sufficient to put an end to such strict economizing,
and no one thinks himself bound either by duty or other¬
wise to remain longer on the rack. At the time when
assistants receive least they are called upon to expend
most, and while a system of compulsory education is
required (for education must be compulsory wherever a
standard of competence has to be attained and attested by
proper means), it is absolutely necessary that salaries
should advance at least one third more that what they are
at present in order to conveniently meet the requirements
of the assistant. Should payments continue as at present
I am at a loss to understand how it will work when it be¬
comes compulsory for assistants to attend a prescribed
number of lectures. Surely employers cannot remain
blind to the fact that in future the ranks must become
miserably thin, when there will be a dearth of really good
-assistants ; no doubt the disease will react and cure itself,
but only after continued inconvenience. A high status of
proficiency amongst pharmacists is a thing most devoutly
to be desired, and a compulsory curriculum is certainly a
step in the right direction for attaining such, but let those
who think such a step necessary beware of being misled
by the advantages to be gained and of overlooking the dis¬
advantages to be incurred. Before making rules it is
necessary to consider the position of those for whom they
are intended, and in this case, from a pecuniary point of
view, their ability not only to do justice to themselves but
also to the profession.

Equality.

The Discussion at the Annual Meeting.

Sir, — May I crave your indulgence so far as to spare me
space to say a few final words on the J ournal account P

I cannot for a moment accept the suggestion in your
Saturday’s leader that the item of £680 in the Journal
account is not an “ adverse balance,” or that I have made
an error in regarding it as such. The postage, under
existing arrangements, is part of the necessary expendi¬
ture incident to the issue of the Journal, and cannot
therefore, rightly, be omitted or separated from the J ournal
account. If there were no J ournal, there would, be no
postage, but as long as present conditions obtain, the
postage must be paid, and I know of no other account to
which the charge could properly be made. The item, there¬
fore, must be regarded as an “adverse balance. In the
annual financial statement it is put as “ Balance, Journal
Account,” in other words, the postage has been charged to
the Journal account, and thus has arisen the adverse
balance.” No doubt with postage struck out the acoount
shows a credit balance : a similar operation with respect
to the cost of printing, or of paper, or of both, would give
rise to a still more picturesque, though undoubtedly, very
fallacious balance sheet, not more so, however, to my mind
than the happy method of quietly shunting the postage
out of the way of the Journal, and trying to imagine that
it belongs to somebody or something else.

The “ assets ” I want to see have nothing to do with the
5770 copies gratuitously sent weekly to members, but are
more of the nature of “cash received for advertisements,”
“ ditto on account of sales,” and so forth; the kind of
assets, in fact, usually found in balance sheets.

The practice of bringing up balances from unpublished
accounts is unsound and unsatisfactory. Limited liability
companies sometimes issue very elaborate financial state¬
ments, bringing forward a balance from “ trading account,’*
without giving the latter, thus leaving shareholders abso¬
lutely without the least information as to the actual value
of the business, or how or when profits and losses have been
made ; but surely the members of the Pharmaceutical So¬
ciety are, as intelligent business men, fairly entitled to
have the fullest possible information, more especially when
that which is doubtless a “ valuable property” involves an
annual payment of nearly £700.

The contention “that there was no occasion to ask in
reference to the Journal for further explanation than that
given in the annual statement” is not likely to meet with
general acceptance. I, for one, strongly protest against
such a notion, for the withdrawal of the right to ask ques¬
tions respecting the Journal may readily be extended to
every other matter, resulting in the meeting passing the
report sub silentio. The idea reminds one very much of
the old, old game, “ Shut your eyes and open your mouth
and see what granny will send you.” Grown up pharma¬
cists may have “bees in their bonnets,” but I hope they
are not altogether “babies.” On several previous occa¬
sions the Journal account has been asked for ; I do not
doubt but that the Council will eventually feel constrained,
by force of circumstances, to give the more complete infor¬
mation desired.

The editorial foot-note to my letter says, “Mr. Smith’s
figures are all incorrect.” This is a serious matter, and
ought at once to be put right. The figures are, however,
not mine. I quoted them on the authority of the President
and publisher, and must therefore leave these authorities, to
make amends, if need be. If it is intended that the in¬
ferences I drew from the figures were incorrect, that point
has yet to be proved.

I must earnestly protest against the intimation that the
remarks I made at the Annual Meeting were “calculated to
prejudice the Society’s interest ” in the Journal. No one
values the Journal, from a literary point of view, more
than myself, and nothing was further from my mind than
to depreciate in any way, either the Journal or its manage¬
ment. My remarks were obviously aimed at the absence of
any financial statement which would enable members to
see how the Society stood in relation to its Journal..

One word more. “ Pair Play,” “an associate not in busi¬
ness,” inquires if I contributed to the Society’s funds as an
apprentice. Well, I joined the Society nearly thirty years
ago, and have, with little interruption, subscribed ever
since. I have also, as a pharmacist in business, had ample
opportunities during the last twenty years of noting the
habits of assistants, and when “ Fair Play ” can claim the
authority of an equally lengthened experience, he will pro¬
bably have acquired a little more modesty, and at least be
better able to judge of how far the “remarks” of his seniors
are “ uncalled for ” and “ most injudicious.”

8, The Strand, Torquay. Edward Smith.

gir> — With reference to the discussion on the issue of the
Journal, I must say I fail to see why the “ authorities that
be ” should be so incensed with Mr. Smith for asking for a
few particulars with regard to the “guaranteed circulation,”
and I cannot understand what figures of his are “ shown at
page 1030” to be “all incorrect,” as the only figures quoted
by him seem to be those used at the meeting, and working
as he did on all the data vouchsafed to us outsiders, I do
not see that he greatly erred in them. I quite agree with
Mr. Smith, Mr. Wells, and others, in thinking that a sup¬
plementary Journal account might be published with the
annual balance sheet, and cannot conceive why there should
always be such a disinclination exhibited on the part of the
officers of the Society to afford to the members a full account
of the receipts and expenditure of the Society in connection
with the production of its Journal. The statement might
be printed on a separate page of the report, and would, I
am sure, be fully appreciated by the members. .

As regards the complaint made by Mr. Wells against
the Professors that they append to their signatures a few

1060

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 18, 1881.

words showing their connection with the Society, I fail to
see in that anything more derogatory than the use by many
members of the letters “ M.P.S.” on the labels they attach
to their own proprietary articles, and as other analysts are
allowed to affix the names of the societies with which they
are connected, it would unjustly handicap our Professors to
prevent them from doing the same. In the case of both
members and Professors the idea is that the affix gives
them greater importance in the eyes of the public, and as
our Professors are hardly paid enough by the Society to
allow them unaided by other resources to revel in the lap of
luxury, I do not see why they should be deprived of a fair
method of adding to the commercial value of their certifi¬
cates.

Mr. "Wells’s excellent speech at the meeting touched on
several subjects which will not, I hope, be allowed to sink
undiscussed into oblivion. I know myself of one gentleman
who sat on the Council for more than twenty years (I can¬
not at the moment say how many more) without ever
putting the Society to the expense of a lunch ; but even if
it is now considered necessary to refresh our Councillors to
the extent of £50 per annum, and certainly we must re¬
member they do not (excepting, of course, the twelve
country members who get their trifling expenses of £420)
get any other remuneration for their trouble, I do think
the Examiners might manage (say with the three odd
shillings of their fees) to sustain their drooping forms from
10 a.m. till 3 or 4 p .m.

The insertion of the civil service store advertisement was
doubtless an oversight, and will, of course, be prevented
from occurring again ; but the retention by firms of names
of people who have been long deceased in their title, and
still worse the trading under names quite different from
those of any person in the firm, is a crying evil which may
be well commended to the Council for rectification in any
Pharmacy Bill they may consider necessary to bring
forward.

I would also wish to appeal against the conversion of the
Pharmaceutical Journal into an arena for political con¬
troversy, as, although confident of the staunch Conservatism
of the majority of our profession, I think we should be able
to find sufficient subjects of interest connected with phar¬
macy without venturing upon the engrossing topic of
politics.

Edward H. Storey.

42, Castle Street East , Oxford Street , IF.

[*#* If the data already published do not suffice to make
Mr. Storey perceive the inaccuracy of Mr. Smith’s
figures we must give up in despair any hope of
enabling him to do so. As regards other opinions put
forward in his letter, we note that a contempoiary
regards them as among the indications “that the scale
of intelligence, taste and humour in the Society runs
down to a very low point,” and it is with some hu¬
miliation we confess that we cannot say much in oppo¬
sition to this inference. — Ed. Pharm. Journ.")

Assistants at Co-operative Stores.

Sir,— In your issue of the 28th May, a letter appears
commenting upon the Annual Meeting, in which “ A Quali¬
fied Chemist,” whilst taking occasion to sound the praises
of the co-operative stores, commits himself to statements
which I think ought not to be allowed to pass unchallenged.
Referring to the recent law proceedings, he states, that “ the
stores employ not only a qualified manager for their drug
department, but all their assistants are qualified,” and this,
he adds, “ compares favourably with the best houses in
London in point of efficiency of staff.”

Such statements as these, gratuitously puffing the stores
at the expense of the trade, certainly deserve more notice,
both from chemists and assistants, especially those em¬
ployed in “ the best houses in London,” than they appear
to have had, and, as a qualified assistant, I desire to enter
my protest against such misleading assertions being
accepted as facts, and also beg to differ entirely from the
opinion expressed as to the comparative efficiency of the
stores and the “ best London houses.”

Not being personally acquainted with any of the store
assistants, I cannot speak so dogmatically upon the point
of qualification as your correspondent does when he asserts
that “all are qualified,” but that the statement is inac¬
curate can easily be shown by reference to the same

number of the Journal in which, singularly enough, his
own letter appears.

On page 996 I find the report of an inquest on the body
of a former dispenser at the Army and Navy Stores, and
who must therefore, if “ A Qualified Chemist ” is correct,
have been a qualified man.

I cannot find, however, that his name appears in the
Register, either as possessing Minor or Major qualifications;
in fact the only one he appears to have possessed wa3 that
of “dipsomania,” a qualification scarcely to be regarded
as compatible with the responsible duties of a dispenser.

Again, in the following week (June 4, page 1019), I find
an assistant and manager in the drug department of the
Army and Navy Stores is reported as being charged with
stealing a box of pills from his employers, the same having
been found on him on being “ searched ” when leaving the
place.

The name of this “ assistant and manager ” is also absent
from the Register, so that “ A Qualified Chemist’s” asser¬
tion that both managers and assistants are qualified must
be taken for what it is worth.

From inquiries made respecting the last case, I find that
assistants, on entering the employment of the stores, have
to make an agreement, in which they submit to undergo
the process of being searched.

Now, sir, I would ask, what young man having the
smallest particle of self-respect or honourable feeling would
consent to be the object of such a degradation, or would
knowingly enter into the service of an establishment where
such a demoralizing system was in force?

Is it possible that any respectable assistant would do so ?

And further, what confidence can the public have in an
establishment, the proprietors of which have so little faith
in the honesty and trustworthiness of their employes, that
they find it necessary to subject them to an espionage and
surveillance similar to that which prevails at our police-
stations and convict prisons?

Surely assistants who cannot be trusted in their em¬
ployer’s interests are not fit and proper persons to whom
the health and lives of human beings should be recklessly
confided. And yet that this is the case in the largest store
establishment in London is proved by the two cases I have
called attention to.

In conclusion, I think I have said enough to show that
the stores do not always employ qualified managers, that
the assistants are not all qualified (unless dipsomania
and kleptomania be held sufficient qualification), and finally
that to speak of the stores as comparing favourably in effi¬
ciency with the best houses in London is little less than an
insult to the latter, and one which I should have thought
“ A Qualified Chemist” would have been the last person
to offer.

Apologizing for trespassing on your space, I beg to sign
myself,

A Qualified Assistant.

“ Country Major.” — ¥e believe the interview has not
yet taken place.

“ Francais.” — (1) The examination is a written one, and
the papers in past years will be found in the Journal reports
of the October Evening Meetings. (2) This question would
be better addressed to a medical contemporary.

“Beginner.” — See a paper on the “Albumen of Com¬
merce,” in Pharm. Journ., [3], vol. viii., p. 253, for so
much of the information you require as can be supplied in
these pages.

H. C. H. — Alchemilla vdttgaris.

A. H. Clay pole. — { 1) Poa trivialis. (2) Festuca ovina.

J. Hutchinson. — (1) Carex pilulifera. (2) C. vesicarial
(3) C. panicea. (4) C. vulgans.

Woodbine.— (1) Stellaria Holostea. (2) Lychnis diurna .
(3) Solanum Dulcamara. (4) Anchusa sempervirens.

Unlucky Junior. — We think the subject of the position
of English assistants in France has already been sufficiently
discussed in the present volume.

C. F. Passmore. — The point is one that can be settled by
a practical experiment.

A. C. — No such process is known.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Messrs. Ward, W. S. Brown, Baker, Gostling, Parker*
Junior, Ophrys, Michel, Islander, F. R., H. M. H.

June 25, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1061

“THE MONTH.’*

Owing to the lateness of the season June may

almost he said this year to concentrate in itself not
only the wealth of foliage which has given the name
of “leafy June” to this month, hut likewise the
floral heauty and freshness of colour characteristic
of May. The rose, the queen of flowers, has already
begun to render the air fragrant, and if one may
judge from the abundance of flowers in this country,
it may be hoped that a similar luxuriance will obtain
in Bulgaria, or otto of rose, which has already become
quite scarce at Kijanlik and Constantinople, will be
still dearer. At present, however, no reports have
been received with regard to the new crop.

At the Kew Gardens several interesting plants
may be seen in blossom. Among these are the Aloe
Pernji, the species from Socotra, which has been
proved by Professor Bayley Balfour to be one which
yields the Socotrine aloes' of commerce, and is dis¬
tinguished from the Barbadoes aloes plant, Aloe
vera, in the perianth having short segments and in
the stamens not projecting beyond the flower.* One
of these specimens is now being drawn and will
shortly be figured in the Botanical Magazine.
Another plant of interest, the Chica ( Salvia • colum¬
baria, Benth.), has already been mentioned in
these columns as an important article of food. In
this little plant the flowers are rather small and
blue, and are produced in whorls, so that a com¬
paratively small plant produces a large quantity
of seed. Among other plants of pharmaceutical
interest now in bloom are the fenugreek (Tri-
qonella Fosnum-gr cecum), the coca plant, Dictamnus
Fraxinella, G Ulema trifoliata, Linum usitatissinum ,
Bryonia dioica, Tamils communis, Levisticum . offici¬
nale, Buta graveolens, Valeriana officinalis and
bistort. Other plants of interest to the botanical
student, and which are now in good condition
for examination are the aconite and several speci¬
mens of Delphinium and Thalictrum The flowers of
the latter should be examined in bud, as the sepals,
for there are no petals, are caducous in many species.
The clavate filaments of the anthers and the tendency
to repeatedly ternate division of the leaves in this
o'enus are also worthy of notice. Ranunculus ar-
%ensis, with its prickly achenes, ol which pheasants
are said to be very fond, is now in fruit. The pretty
variety, Lancastriense, of Geranium sanguineum is
now in full blossom. It is singular that this form
should apparently be confined to a single island, and
yet grow intermixed with the typical plant, Severa
natural orders are now in good condition for obser¬
vation, among others the Hypoxidacese, numerous
specimens of which may be seen in the house con¬
taining succulent plants. The plants of this family
differ chiefly from the Amaryllidacese m their dry,
linear, almost grass-like leaves, and m the calyx
being often hairy and green. The roots of some
species are aromatic and bitter, and one North
American species, Hypoxis erecta, is used as an ap¬
plication to ulcers. Other families worthy of exami¬
nation as presenting a considerable number of genera
in flower at the present time are the Ranunculacete,
Papaveracece, Boraginacese, Campanulacese, Oypera-
cese and Graminacese. Those who hve m cha ^y
districts will find Bromus erectus one of the most

eaAtgthfeSRtegent,s Park Botanical Gardens the
Rheum officinale rears aloft its handsome panicles
* See before, p. 747.

Third Series, No. 574.

of white flowers, easily recognized at a distance by
the elegantly drooping and tapering spikes of which
the panicle is composed.

Among our wild plants a very singular looking
umbelliferous plant may be found abundantly in
cornfields, Scandix Pecten-Veneris. In this plant the
cremocarp becomes enormously elongated after
flowering, so as to be sometimes nearly 2 inches
in length. These, like the fruits of dandelion and
oat, etc., are furnished with small upward prickles,
which enable them to bury themselves in the earth.

Another umbelliferous plant now in blossom,
(Fgopodium Podagaria, sometimes called wild
masterwort, from the resemblance of the leaves to
those of Imperatoria Ostruthium, but more commonly
known as Herb Gerarde or gout weed, deserves
notice on account of its being furnished with
abundant stolons, a rare occurrence in British
umbellifers. It appears to be chiefly propagated in
this way, for where once established it extends rapidly.
Gerarde says of it : “ This root, stamped and laid
upon members that are troubled or vexed with the
gout, swageth the paine, and taketli away the
swelling and inflammation thereof, which occasioned
the Germans to give it the name of podagraria,
because of his vertues in curing the gout.”

Asimina triloba, or, as it is sometimes called,
TJvaria triloba, the papaw or custard apple of the
Americans, is now in flower at the Cambridge
Botanical Gardens. Mr. Lynch, the curator, has
noticed that the inner surface of the inner petals
below the middle is thickly furnished with warty
masses of glandular tissue, the secretion of which is
attractive to flies and ants. The flowers are pro-
terogynous, i.e., the stigmas are ripe before the
anthers, and the flowers are therefore probably
fertilized by insects. A small spider has speedily
discovered that this exotic plant possesses attractions
for insects, and takes up its abode in the flower, in
some cases before the secretion is formed, in order
to be ready for the insects which will come to it.

It would be interesting to learn under these
circumstances whether the rapacity of the spider is
sufficient to prevent the fertilization of the flowers.
The ruminated seeds of this plant are strongly
marked by the infolding of the endopleura, so that
the seed when cut open has much the appearance of
a cockroach’s egg.

Some further remarks on the compass plant, Sil-
phium laciniatum, are contributed to the Gardeners ’
Chronicle, May 28, p. 699, in which Brigadier-General
Alvord, of the United States Army, states that
every possible experiment was tried on the plant,
and that it could not be moved by a powerful
magnet, nor did the most delicate instruments show
the°existence of any magnetism. It doubtless points
to the north under the influence of light. He
attributes the occasional east and west position of
the leaves to the action of a strong glare of light at
midday. The number of stomata on each side of
the leaf being equal, it would face the rising and
setting sun as a position of stable equilibrium and
hence point north and south.

In a recent lecture before the Royal Horticultural
Society (May 24), the Rev. G. .Henslow stated his
belief that the irregularity of corollas was caused by
the visits of insects, for when insects could only enter
the flower in one way such flowers were mostly, if
not always, irregular, but when the flowers could be
visited by insects from all sides they were regular.

1062

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 25, .1881,

The fact that under cultivation pansies and exotics,
such as pelargoniums, gloxinias, etc., showed a
strong tendency to become regular was due, he
considered, to the fact that the insects which usually
fertilized the flowers in their native countries were
not forthcoming, and that the flowers hence reverted
to their ancestral form. Hence in the pelargonium,
wThich has a tube or spur adnate to one side of the
pedicel, the flowers have become irregular, while in
the geranium they are regular. He also alluded to
the fact that some of our wild species of geranium,
like other plants with conspicuous flowers, are evi¬
dently intended for insect-fertilization, while those
with small flowers are self- fertilized. Thus G. pra¬
ts nse, with large flowers, is proterandrous, both
whorls of stamens maturing before the stigma, and
in G. pyrenaicum , which is smaller, only one set of
stamens ripens before the stigma, so that there is a
chance of self-fertilization if insects have not visited
the flowers, while in G. pusillum, which has very
small flowers, the stigma matures before either row
of stamens. This arrangement he considers is
brought about by the fact that where the corolla is
large, and the stamens produce much pollen, so
much nourishment is required that a delay is caused
in the development of the pistil, but if the corolla be
very small the pistil matures rapidly. It was also
noted as a curious fact that in a new variety of
pelargonium, in which pollen was found to be very
poor, the petals gained an advantage in being firmer
and more tenacious, so as not readily to fall off.

According to Nature, an attempt is to be made
by the members of the Livingstone (Congo) Inland
Mission to cultivate different species of cinchona in
the mountain valleys of the Congo. Seeds have
already been obtained from the Government planta¬
tions in India for this purpose.

The Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society,
under its present able editorship, is becoming one of
the most valuable of our scientilic periodicals, inas¬
much as it gives a most valuable and complete resume
of the scientific papers at home and abroad. One of
these, translated from the Botanischc Zeitung , is well
worthy of careful reading by those who are interested
in starches. It contains the observations of Professor
A. W. Sch impel’ on the mode of formation of starch
within the chlorophyll grains. So long as examiners
in science ask for the most recent information and ex¬
pect the knowledge of the candidate to equal, if not,
exceed their own, the columns of the Microscopical
Journal will form a most valuable mine to the
student who cannot find the information he needs
in the most recent text-books. Whether such a pro¬
cedure in our science schools tends to produce a
sound foundation of practical knowledge or no the
future must show. Another subject on which the
most recent information is given in a condensed
form is on bacteria. One interesting fact connected
with this group of schizomycetes is the discovery by
Hr. G. Thin that the Tricophyton tonsurans, a fungus
which pro luces a form of ringworm, grows only
when moistened with vitreous humour, but not
when immersed in it, and that hence inflammatory
exudation from the blood-vessels of the scalp, such
as is artificially produced by croton oil, etc., cures
ringworm.

One of the prettiest of flowering shrubs, and one
often cultivated in pots in London, is the oleander.
Few, however, who grow this plant are aware of its
poko.ious character. In the Gardeners' Chronicle

for May 28, p. 690, a case is quoted from the New
York Tribune of a single tuft of leaves eaten by a
fine healthy mare «ausing its death within twenty-
four hours. The flowers even have been stated to
cause death to those who have carelessly picked
and eaten them. The branches divested of their
bark and used as skewers have so poisoned the meat
roasted on them as to kill seven of twelve people
who partook of it. This plant, therefore, evidently
possesses similar properties to those of Neriunn odo-
rum, a plant well known in India and Persia to be
poisonous, and in which Mr. H. Greenish recently
found two bitter principles, neriodorin and neriodo-
rein, both of which proved to be powerful cardiac
poisons.*

In the last “ Month ” a short notice was given of
the use of Arum maculatum in gout. In connection
with this subject Mr. Martindale states (British
Medical Journal, p. 908), that he had some juice
of the plant expressed soon after it was shown in
this Journal that the active ingredient of tonga be¬
longed to the same family of plants as the arum,
and that recently a medical friend tried this juice
in one drachm doses in a case of obstinate neuralgia
which had been relieved on a previous occasion by
tonga and found it to give similar relief. It would
have been interesting to know whether the case in
question was one of neuralgia arising from rheu¬
matism, in which case the former reputation of the
arum as a remedy for rheumatism and gout would be
explained, and also the uncertain action of tonga,
which seems to give marvellous relief in some
cases and not in others. If Arum maculatum and
tonga contain a substance in common which cures
rheumatic neuralgia, the sooner a chemical and
physiological investigation is made of it the better.

In a letter to the Lancet, Hr. A. Paggi records an
observation which cannot be too widely published.
He states that in Paris he saw a case in which under
the inhalation of chloroform the heart ceased to beat
and artificial respiration for ten minutes failed to
restore circulation, when Hr. Labbe dipped a large
cloth in boiling water and applied it to the region
of the heart with the result of immediately restoring
the action of that organ.

The use of chloral as an antidote to strychnine is
apparently not so well known as it should be, and
as the chemist is not unfrequently in a case of emer¬
gency asked to give an antidote to a pet dog, the
following instance of its successful use deserves to
be recorded. Mr. E. K. Mansell in the Lancet,
June 18, p. 1015, states that he gave to a fox-terrier
bitch, which was suffering from severe symptoms of
strychnine poisoning, 60 grains of chloral in crystals,
putting it on the tongue and holding the dog’s mouth
until it was dissolved, because owing to the spasmodic
movements of the head, he failed to get it down in
the liquid state. The animal gradually went to
sleep and in three hours was able to walk, and has
since slowly recovered.

In the New York Medical Record, Hr. J. Waner
states that he has found Fowler’s solution of arsenic
given in drop doses on an empty stomach the best
remedy in the sickness of pregnancy, when this is
purely sympathetic in character, the effect being
almost magical. Hr. W. M. Campbell, of Liverpool,
in a letter to the British Medical Journal, June 4,
p. 881, states that he has found belladonna in repeated

* See before, p. 875.

June 25, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1063

small doses most effectual in the same complaint, so
that he is able to promise relief with an amount of
confidence which could not be justified by the usual
effects of bismuth, bromide of potassium, etc.

Dr. Bouger, of St. Pierre de Fursac, finds the use
of salicylic acid in small pox lessens the eruption
and diminishes the fever of suppuration. The
formula he uses is, alcohol, 10 to 15 grains; salicylic
acid, 1 gram; simple syrup, 20 grams; water,
50 grams. The dose is a tablespoonful every six
hours at the commencement, or every four hours in
the more advanced stage of the disease.

M. Bouchut, in further experiments with papain,
finds that it is a tcenifuge, for after administration to
a child, segments of tapeworm, 25 c.m. long, and in
a partially digested state, were voided. In the Mau¬
ritius it has long been known as a remedy for round
worm, and it seems probable that this new remedy
may have a future before it as an anthelmintic.

According to a note in the Repertoire de Pharmacie,
when musk is triturated with quinine in the pro¬
portion of 3 grains of the former to 10 of the latter,
the odour gradually disappears, so much so that
when the mixture is made into pills with mucilage
and liquorice powder, it is possible to distinguish
the odour of the liquorice powder.

A new method of detecting the comparative fresh¬
ness of eggs has been devised by M. Leppig, of
Dorpat, founded on the well-known fact that eggs
on long keeping lose water by evaporation and
absorb air, whereby the albuminous bodies are
gradually decomposed. He found by experiment
that the specific gravity of normal fresh eggs is
tolerably uniform, and that they undergo . uniform
alterations in proportional intervals of time, the
specific gravity an hour after being laid being
1-087 on the average. From his experiments he
concludes that good eggs for cooking, if not more
than a week old, should have a specific gravity of
1 -06 and eggs which refuse to sink in a solution of
salt of specific gravity 1‘05 should not be purchased,
if it can be avoided, but when the specific gravity
falls to 1-028 and below, they should be rejected as
unfit for use (New Remedies, p. 182). #

According to New Remedies, an American firm of
Peoria, Illinois, has offered three prizes for essays
relating to the actual average quality of the following
powdered drugs, ordinarily obtainable in the Ameri¬
can market Rhubarb, ipecacuanha, opium, cin¬
chona bark, jalap, gamboge, socotrine aloes, ergot,
and extract of liquorice. The names of manu¬
facturers and sources of supply are not to be men¬
tioned by the essayists, the object being to accumulate
information of general usefulness, and not for busi¬
ness purposes. This is a step in the right direction,
and should lead to improvement m the drugs lor
fudging from a recent paper m the American
Journal of Pharmacy on cinchona bark, and from
another in the June number of the same journal, in
which it is stated that, ipecacuanha was found to be
adulterated with almond meal, liquorice, corn meal
and potato starch, some American drugs must be of
very bad quality, and require examination.

An examination, in France, of some feeding-bottles
in which a fetid odour had become manliest whilst
in use has made some revelations that are the
reverse of palatable ( Comptes Rendus, xcu., 1146).
Sulphuretted hydrogen, which has on some previous
occasions been detected, was not present, but the
milk was found to be acid, semicoagulated, with the

fat globules misshappen, and containing a number of
very lively bacteria, and some vibriones. When
the india-rubber tubes were slit up longitudinally
coagulated milk was found containing the same
microbes, and in the cavity formed by the teat a
varying quantity of cryptogamic vegetation, which
being placed in skim milk gave in a few days
a considerable proportion of ovoid cellules that
developed into mycelium. This led to a further
investigation, and out of thirty feeding bottles taken
from ten different creches , twenty-eight were found
to contain in the india-rubber tubes similar
microbes and vegetation, whilst in two cases pus and
blood corpuscles were found in the teat cavity. It
is conjectured that the acidity noticed in the milk
having been first developed by the bacteria it then
formed a favourable nidus for the fungoid growth.
However this may be, such a development at the
cost of the constituents of the milk must cause a
profound alteration in its constitution, and the whole
investigation indicates that in feeding bottles it is
safer to avoid possibilities of fouling than to trust
the detergent instincts of those who have charge of
them.

Mr. G. U. Kennedy reports in the American
Journal of Pharmacy that he has examined the
yellow crystalline principle obtained by Mr. J. U.
Lloyd from the root of American calumba, Frasera
Walteri , and finds it identical with that obtained by
himself, confirming his opinion that the root contains
the same principles as Gentiana lutea. He finds that
the only difference between the two roots is that Fra¬
sera Walteri contains more of the gentisic acid, and
gentian more of the gentiopiciin.

M. Jaillett describes ( Repertoire , ix., 270) the
preparation of three iodides of bismuth, the thera¬
peutic properties of which have been found, by M.
Dujardin-Beauinetz, in various forms of diarrhoea,
to be more energetic than those of the subnitrate
of bismuth. The first, which is of a magnificent
golden -yellow, is prepared by moistening 30 grams of
subnitrate of bismuth with a. solution of 5 grams of
potassium iodide, and adding, with constant stirring,
100 grams of tincture of iodine (Codex) ; excess of
iodine is removed with 60° alcohol and subsequent
washing with water, and the product dried. F >r a
second iodide, which is canarv-yellow, the subnitrate
is first moistened with a little caustic soda solution,
then treated with tincture of iodine until the
mixture is of a dirty yellow colour (taking care not
to use excess of tincture), and next with the solu¬
tion of iodide of potassium, and finally repeatedly
washed and rapidly dried. The third iodide, which
is orange-red, is produced by pouring tincture of
iodine upon powdered subnitrate of bismuth with
constant trituration until the mixture is of a dirty
yellow colour, then adding a concentrated solution
of iodide of potassium until a thin paste results,
and leaving the whole to stand for several days, after
which it is washed with water to remove free iodine
and dried slowly in the air. The results obtained
appeared to show that these preparations are best
administered in doses of two to three grams.

The marked progress which has been made re¬
cently in the investigation of the alkaloids will
receive a fresh impulse from the contribution that M.
Grimaux has just made {Comptes Rendus, xcii., 1140),
to the history of one of the most important of them,
namely, morphia. This chemist was led by a con¬
sideration of the reactions and properties of morphia

1064

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 25, 1881

to the conclusion that it is a body with complex
functions approaching the phenols in its characters,
in which case codeia, differing from it in composition
by CII2, might be considered as its methylic ether.
To test this the transformation of morphia into
codeia was attempted by heating gently a mixture
consisting of 1 mol. of morphia dissolved in alcohol
containing 1 mol. of soda and 2 mol. of iodide of
methyl. The operation was so far successful that a
considerable quantity of iodomethylate of codeine
was formed, identical with the addition product of
codeine and iodide of methyl, together with a
smaller quantity of “ iodomethylate of morphia-
soda.” When, however, half the proportion of iodide
of methyl was used a small yield of free codeine was
obtained (the principal product being the morphia-
soda compound), which was dissolved out with
ether, and, after purification by conversion into
hydrochlorate and decomposition by a salt of
potash, presented all the characters of codeia ex¬
tracted from opium. In operating with iodide of
ethyl a new base was obtained, homologous with
codeine, which may be considered to be the ethylic
ether of morphia, as codeia is the methylic ether.
M. Grimaux is of opinion that by analogous treat¬
ment morphia may be made to yield a series of new
bases as numerous as the series of ethers of an
alcohol. To such a series he proposes to give the
generic name of “codeines,” whilst systematically
codeine itself would be called “ codomethyline
the new base already prepared would be “ codo-
ethyline,” and others accordingly. Some physio¬
logical experiments which have been made with
the new base show that it acts as a convulsivant ,
and is toxic in small doses.

As an illustration of the closeness with which the
chemical preserve is now being beaten, it may be
mentioned that a month before the reading of M.
Grimaux’s. paper, M. Chastaing had called the atten¬
tion of the Soci6tc d’Emulation pour les Sciences
Pharmaceutiques to the complex functions of mor¬
phia, and pointed out that whilst in some respects
it had the properties of an alkali, in others it pre¬
sented those of an acid or a phenol. At a subsequent
meeting, but still previous to the date of M.
that morphia is a phenol, and had given the formulae
Grimaux’s paper, M. Chastaing had stated definitely
of a crystalline morphinate of potash and a double
salt of morphinate and carbonate of potash. M.
Chastaing’s researches, however, do not appear to
have been printed until the present month ( Re -
pertoire de Pharmocie, J une).

Other additions to the list of artificial alkaloids
have been contributed by M. Tanret. When an
acidified solution of a peptone, obtained either with
pancreatine or pepsine, is treated with the ordinary
reagents for alkaloids a precipitate is formed differ¬
ing from those yielded by alkaloids only in being
soluble in an excess of peptone, alkaloidal precipi¬
tates not being soluble in presence of an excess of
salts of the alkaloids. This reaction, however, is not
conclusive of the presence of an alkaloid, and there¬
fore M. Tanret was induced to make some experiments
to determine whether alkaloids are produced in the
act of digestion ( Comptes Rendus , xcii., 1163). He
found that when a solution of a peptone is treated
with neutral carbonate of potash or caustic potash
and shaken with ether, a volatile alkaline liquid is
dissolved out, presenting all the characters of an
alkaloid. If, however, the peptone is first allowed to

become putrid there is obtained a considerable quan¬
tity of a solid non-volatile alkaloid. Crystalline
hydrochlorates of both these alkaloids have been pre¬
pared. When instead of a carbonate or a caustic
alkali an alkaline bicarbonate is used no alkaloid is
removed by the ether, and from this M. Tanret infers
that the alkaloids do not exist already formed in the
peptone, but are produced by the action of the al¬
kalies, because he finds that the base of the salt of
a peptone alkaloid, as prepared by him, is set free
by a bicarbonate. This, however, would not appear
to be the only possible explanation. The peptone
alkaloids give by their action upon ferricyanide of
potassium the prussian blue reaction indicated re¬
cently by Messrs. Brouardel and Boutmy as charac¬
teristic of ptomaine alkaloids,* but not immediately.

With respect to this ptomaine test, as was to be
feared, there appear to be so many exceptions as to
very much restrict its usefulness in forensic toxico¬
logical investigations. M. Gautier says ( Repertoire ,
ix., 278), that besides morphia the reaction is doubt¬
ful with hyoscyamine, emetine, igasurine, veratrine,
colchicine, nicotine and apomorphine. M. Tanret
( Repertoire , ix., 280) also obtained the formation of
prussian blue gradually with crystallized ergotinine,
crystallized aconitine, and amorphous and crystals
lized digitalin, and immediately with eserine, liquid
hyoscyamine, and amorphous aconitine and ergoti¬
nine. In addition to these vegetable alkaloids,
there are a considerable number of artificial alka¬
loids, some being very poisonous, which in the
presence of ferricyanide of potash and a persalt of
iron comport themselves like ptomaines; for in¬
stance, aniline, methylaniline, paratoluidine, di-
phenylamine, pyridine, collidine and others. The
prussian blue reaction is also, according to M. Le-
baigue (Repertoire, ix., 279), produced by solutions of
gelatine and extract of meat; though this like the
reaction of the peptone alkaloid would be explicable,
and would not affect the value of the test. The weak
point in it is that the behaviour of the alkaloids
formed naturally in the body is simulated by so many
powerful poisons of which the presence could not be
so satisfactorily explained.

In the domain of physics the subject which pro¬
bably has attracted most attention during the
present month has been M. Faure’s secondary
battery for the storage of electric force. It is just
now passing through the sensational stage, which
seems to have become almost as inevitable to new
inventions as the measles to juvenile humanity ; but
if one-half what has been predicated concerning it
turns out to be true, it might work almost as great a
revolution as the application of steam as a source of
power. In a letter to The Times (June 9), Sir
William Thomson describes the results obtained
with a “box of electricity,” containing “fourFaure
batteries, each about 5 inches in diameter and 10
inches high, forming a cylindrical leaden vessel, and
containing alternate sheets of metallic lead and
minium, wrapped in felt and rolled into a spiral
wetted with acidulated water.” The batteries in
this box, weighing altogether about 75 lbs., were
charged in Paris with electricity from an ordinary
Grove’s battery to the estimated extent of one
million foot-pounds and then, taken to Glasgow,
where they were submitted by Sir William Thomson to
tests extending over three weeks. Sir William Tliom-

* See before, p. 984, where by an inadvertence the terms
“ ferrocyanide” and “ferricyanide” are transposed. ,

:

Juno 25, 1SSL]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

10G5

son expresses an opinion that it is not an exaggera¬
tion to say that that amount of dynamical energy
•was retained in the box during its seventy-two
hours’ journey, and that the waste of the stored
energy by time is not great. For instance, one of
the four cells, after being discharged, was recharged
and left undisturbed during ten days, at the end of
which time it was tested and yielded upwards of a
quarter of a million foot-pounds, or an excess over
M. Faure’s estimate. Curiously enough the first
practical application made of the invention in this
country was the ignition of the platinum wire of an
ecraseur for the removal of a nsevoid tumour of the
tongue, for which purpose one of the cells was taken
out and carried to the place of operation. But the
largest useful application which Sir William Thom¬
son conceives to be at present waiting for the Faure
battery is to do for the electric light what a water
cistern in the house does for an inconstant supply,
and he estimates that a battery of seven such “ boxes ”
as that described would suffice to give the incande¬
scence in Swan or Edison lights to the extent of one
hundred candles for six hours without any percep¬
tible diminution of brilliancy. Such an accumulator
he would appear to anticipate being set up wherever
a store of dynamic energy is required and kept
charged from the engine by the house supply wire,
the supply being controlled by an automatic check.

But The Times , warming into unwonted enthu¬
siasm, sees more in the Faure battery than a mere
fixed accumulator of energy derived from the
burning of coal. It looks forward to a possible
near future when black diamonds may have passed
out of the range of practical application, and “ when
we may see electricity brought by electric railways
from the coast, or from the estuaries of tidal rivers,
and delivered in the great towns for the fulfilment of
all the purposes for which coal is at present directly
or indirectly employed.” A future is foreshadowed
“ with some certainty for our descendants, if not for
ourselves,” when the atmosphere of London will be
smokeless and clean, uncontaminated either by the
solid or gaseous products of combustion ; when
flowers and fruits will once more flourish in town
gardens, and many other blessings will accrue as
the result of the substitution of electricity for coal.

In fact, by thus assuming that the problem of the por¬
terage of electricity is solved, as well as that of storage,
in M. Faure’s apparatus, The Times outran the facts
altogether, and an illustration is thus furnished of the
mischievous effects of professorial puffs in misleading
the public upon scientific subjects. This was made ob¬
vious to some extent also by Punch. But in a letter
from Professor Osborne Reynolds, it is still more per¬
tinently remarked that the large-sounding “ million-
foot pounds,” stored up in the apparatus weighing
seventy-five pounds, was just equal to the energy
contained in an ounce and a half of coal, “ which
might have been brought from Paris or anywhere
else in the waistcoat pocket.” In respect also to
the proposed application of the accumulators in
driving cars, the great weight or the apparatus is an
important drawback. In an experiment made in
Paris, one hundred and sixty Faure accumulators,
"weighing eighteen pounds each, were used as the
source of motive power for driving a tram holding
forty persons a distance of six miles in one hour.
But Sir William Thomson points out (Nature,
June 16), as a feature of peculiar scientific interest,
that whatever work is done by gravity on the

carriage going down hill may, by providing other
accumulators, be laid up in store ready to assist
afterwards in drawing the carriage up hill.

Another eminent physicist, Professor Tyndall,
appears, also, to be somewhat dissatisfied at the cloud
of incense being burnt to the honour of M. Faure.
He considers (Times, June 17) that the real dis¬
coverer of this battery was Ritter; that Ritter’s
effects were greatly intensified by Plante ; and that
Faure, following and improving upon the work of
Plante, appears to have produced a secondary
battery of great power and considerable promise.
Professor Tyndall is also particularly caustic respect¬
ing the use of the phrase, “ box of electricity.”

In turning to the “Dispensing Memoranda” of the
month, before dealing with them seriatim, attention
may be called to the communication from one corre¬
spondent, who, alluding to an alleged decomposition
in a prescription, suggests the use of distilled water ;
this is a subject deserving of more consideration than
it generally receives at the hands of dispensers.

The “water” of the B.P. is “natural water, the
purest that can be obtained, if necessary by filtration.
Tests free from odour, taste and visible impurity.”
But when water, that is, the natural water, is directed
to be employed, distillation forms a subsequent part of
the process, as for instance, in the medicated waters ;
otherwise, the water employed throughout the B.P.
is distilled water. In the solution, therefore, of sub¬
stances, when the resulting solutions are not subjected
to subsequent distillation, distilled water is employed.

This method of procedure should be a guide to the
dispenser, and distilled water should invariably be
used in the dispensing of prescriptions, or a decom¬
position to a greater or less degree will occur, which
will detract very much from the elegance of the
result, and sometimes also from its efficacy.

If natural water be used in the manufacture of the
preparations of the B.P. used in dispensing, it will be
very difficult for aflispenser to avoid those instances
of decomposition which have been referred to in
these columns and which it is otherwise difficult to
account for.

The mixture from prescription No. 550 should be
fairly bright and clear. But this may be in some
measure dependent on the condition of the vin. ferri,
which is usually slightly acid ; if otherwise, the car¬
bonate of potash in the liq. Fowleri may throw down
a little iron and thus make the combination a little
turbid. Turbidity in the finished mixture may result
from the use of water which has not been freed from its
natural impurities, inorganic salts, etc., by distillation.

The liq. ferri acet. of No. 551 is not a preparation
of the B.P., and therefore not official. In the Dublin
Pharmacopoeia of 1826, however, there existed a for¬
mula for its preparation. It was a solution of car¬
bonate of iron in acetic acid, and there is also a
formula in the German Pharmacopoeia, where it is
directed to be made by dissolving oxide of iron in
acetic acid. The dispenser had better use the Dublin
formula in preference to that of the German, as the
prescription has no foreign character about it.

The dose of the tinct. ferri acet., B.P., as compared
with either the Dublin or German liq. ferri acet. is
pretty nearly the same ; the compilers of the
B.P. very probably introduced it with the view of
superseding the liquor official in the Dublin Phar¬
macopoeia, and it is very likely that the prescriber
intended the tincture to be used.

The sol. mag. sulph. of prescription No. 552

1066

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 25, 1 1.

*

pretty well a saturated solution, and when water is
abstracted by the addition of sp. eeth. nit. the salt
must fall, and very quickly after the appearance of
the first crystal. On mixing the two fluids it will
be seen that the supernatant portion gradually in¬
creases in bulk by the absorption of the water until
at last the magnes. sulph. gradually crystallizes out
of solution. The result described is merely a sepa¬
ration of the salt previously held in solution by the
water.

In reply to “Student,” No. 553, it may be assumed
that the decomposition, in reference to which inquiry
has been made, is nothing more than the deposition
of the oleo-resin of the capsicum on the addition to
the tincture of capsicum of the carbonate of am¬
monia.

The gargle of No. 554 is an illustration of the
difference which will result from a different order of
mixing the ingredients of a prescription. If, for
instance, the alcoholic solution of iodine be mixed
directly with the phenic acid it soon becomes colour¬
less ; but if the glycerine be previously added, the
contact of the iodine with the phenic acid is not so
immediate, and the solution, instead of being colour¬
less, still retains some traces of iodine; but even
then the yellow colour disappears on the mixture
standing for some time. The different results here
indicated have been referred to by a correspondent.

THE BOTANICAL RELATIONS OF ILLICIUM RE-
LIGIOSUM, Sieb., ILLICIUM ANISATUM, Lour.*

BY J. F. EYKMAN.

(Concluded from page 1050.)

The cases of poisoning in Leeuwarden, caused by
mixing the true star-anise fruit with that of “ shikimi,”
has again renewed the old controversy which was
formerly carried on rather vigorously by Siebold and
De Vriese, namely, whether the “shikimi no ki” ( Illicium
religiosum, Sieb.), growing in Japan, and the mother
plant of the star-anise official in Europe ( Illicium ani-
satum, Lour.), are identical or two different plants from
different species of the genus Illicium.

Many authors have again communicated their opinions
upon this subject in the Pharmaceutisch Weekblad (Nos.
15, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 30), but these depend principally
upon older authorities. Opinions are therefore divided
equally as formerly, and the question itself cannot be
considered to be yet settled.

In my opinion the question will probably not be
sufficiently solved before an exact comparative botani¬
cal description is published, by some competent person,
of undoubtedly authentic specimens of both plants.
Such polemics appear to me to be unfruitful so long
as the true mother-plant of the official star-anise, the
Cochin Chinese Illicium anisatum, Lour., is not more
exactly known, in order that it may be compared with
the better accessible Japanese “shikimi no ki ” and the
differences between them precisely established.

Probably it would not be undesirable if I add here
some general remarks upon both plants.

Japanese Plant.

Illicium rdigiosum , Sieb. (1837); Illicium Japonicum,
Sieb. (1825); Illicium anisatum, L., Jap. “Shikimi no
ki;” “Hana Shik mi ” (“Shikimi,” also written “Sikimi”
and “ Skimi,” appears to be derived from “ A shikimi ”
= Evil Fruit) ; “ Moso ” — Chin. “ Mang-tsao.”

* Translated from the “ Mittheilungen der Deutschen
Gesellschaft fur Natur- und Volkerkunde Ostasiens,” vol.
xxiii. (Yokahama, 1881.)

According to Iwasaki Jose, author of the ‘ Honzo
Zofu,’ it is also called “ Hana no ki ” (in the province of
Harima) and “Koshiba” (in the province of Enshu =
Totomi).

According to Yamamoto Boyo, author of the ‘ Hiaku-
shinko ’ (Description of a Hundred Drugs), Illicium rc-
ligiosum, Lour., both in China and Japan, is called “ Dai
ui Kio.” According to Ito Keisuke it is also called
“ Iririshi ya mu.”

Illicium religiosum, Sieb., has been imported into
J apan from China, and probably also from the Korea,
since the earliest times of the Buddha priests. In the
present day it is still looked upon as a sacred plant, and
therefore often cultivated near Buddhist temples, and
displayed in consecrated vessels at religious feasts. It is
also found near graves, a use which is due to the general
veneration for it, perhaps also on the ground that as a
poisonous plant it has the reputed power to keep insects,
etc., at a distance from the dead.

The powder of the bark and leaves also is used in
long thin cylindrical pastilles (“sen-ko”) as incense
in the Buddhist temples and in religious services.
Formerly such straight or circularly bent cylinders,
which when lighted burned regularly, were used as
time measures.

The plant grows wild now in Japan everywhere, on
the mountains and in the valleys. It was found in the
neighbourhood of Nagasaki (Oldham), in the centre of
Nippon, near Tokio (Thunberg), upon the Iwaya moun¬
tains (Siebold), near Yokosuka (Savatier), in large
quantities upon the island of Hachijo, in the province of
Izu (Iwasaki Jose), and in the provinces of Sagami,
Enshu, Tamba, Musashi, Hizen, Chozhu, etc.

The plant attains a height of from 6 to 20 feet. The
leaves are shortly (about 1 centimetre) petioled, coria- '
ceous, thick, feel waxy to the touch, evergreen, oblong
or oblong obovate, acuminate, cuneate at the base, entire
at the margins, free from hairs (like the whole plant),
about 7 centimetres long and 3 to 4 centimetres broad.
The flowers open in the spring, about April. The petals
are greenish or very slightly yellowish-white and have a
wax-like appearance ; they are from 1 to 3 centimetres
long, 0'5 centimetre broad, and 12 to 20 in number.
The stamens are 15 to 20. The fruit consists of about
eight carpels, arranged side by side in a closed circle,
which attains a diameter of 2 to 3 centimetres and a
depth of 0'5 centimetre. Each carpel has on the upper
side the persistent pistil. In the unripe condition the
fruit is green, juicy, and contains much essential oil.
When it commences to ripen, in the autumn, the carpel
rapidly dries up, especially upon the dorsal side, shrivels,
and becomes a red-brown colour.

When ripe the fruit opens rapidly lengthwise along the
upper side. I have frequently observed that the yellow-
brown seeds, which are about 0‘7 centimetre long and 0'5
centimetre broad, provided with a hard testa, and occur
one in a carpel, are hurled out with considerable force,
often to a distance of three or four metres.

The bark of the tree has, as usually stated, an aromatic
smell that is not disagreeable ; the fruit, on the contrary,
has a less agreeable odour and an unpleasant taste. The
seed kernel tastes sweetish. The leaves smell like the
essential oil prese nt in them.

All parts of the plant are looked upon as poisonous by
the Japanese, especially the fruit.

The “ shikimi no ki ” is indigenous in China, and grows
there also in the valleys and on the mountains. It is
called by the Chinese “ MaDg-thsao ” (mang =mad; thsao
= herb: Jap. “ moso ”), because it is said to cause
paroxysms of frenzy in human beings.

The different parts of the plant are used in China
similarly as in Japan. According to the ‘ Penthsao-
kang-mu ’ (Chinese Natural History), the dried leaves
are used in medicine. Powdered and mixed with rice or
barley flour, they are u«ed to kill fish, which, however
form an innocuous food.

June 25, 1S81.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

10G7

Mother-plant of the True Official Star-anise.

Illicium anisatam, Lour.; Anisum peregrinum, Bauh.
Chin. “Hwai hiang” (Jap. “Kai-Ko”); “Pah-koh-
hwui-hiang ” (Jap. “ Hakkaku uikio ” = octagonal anise).

“ Ta hwui hiang ” (Jap. “ Dai nikio ” = greater anise,
to distinguish it from “Sho uikio ” = smaller anise =
Fceniculum vulgare or Anethum graveolens, in Jap.
“ Inondo,” and Chin. “ Jira ”).*

In Japan the true star-anise is also called “Haku uikio ”
( = foreign anise).

This plant is indigenous in Cochin China, Siam and
the south-west provinces of China, as Yunnan. The
fruit of this plant, the true star-anise, is imported into
China and Japan. To Europe and India it is generally-
sent vid Hong-kong.

According to Rondot, the best kind is brought from
Foukien to Canton and from thence exported through
Tsiouen-tchou-fou. The fruit is also collected in
Kiang-si and Kuang-tung. A perfectly exact descrip¬
tion of this plant is at present wanting. It is said
(Loureiro) that it differs from the Chinese and Japanese
Jllicium religiosum , Sieb., in its inferior height (about 8
feet), its smaller and more oval leaves, which are not,
like the “ shikimi,’' accuminate at both ends, but
rounded, and in its greater number of stamens (up to 30).
The fruit of the true star-anise differs from that of the
Japanese in its distinctly sweetish, agreeable, strong anise-
or fennel-like odour and taste, and further in not being
poisonous.+

Distinctions in odour, taste, chemical composition (the
different amounts of fats present, the poisonous con¬
stituent, etc.), and physiological action, cannot, from the
point of view of the systematic botanist, contribute to
characterize two plants as different species, since these
properties, which possibly are due only to quantitative
differences, may depend upon climatic conditions. Yama¬
moto Boyo, author of the ‘Hiakushinko ’ (1843) remarks
upon this as follows: — “The Japanese fruit resembles
exactly the ‘hakkaku uikio’ (true star-anise) except in
the smell; this difference is, however, a result of the
influence of locality and climate, exactly as in the case of
Chinese cinnamomum. Planted in Japan this tree loses
its pungent taste and acquires moreover the aroma of
‘shikimi.’” There remain consequently only the few
morphological differences. In the Pkarmaceutisch Week-
blad (No. 30, Jahrg. 17), an anonymous writer (B.) states
that he once saw in Belgium the true Illicium anisatum,
Lour., and describes its characters as distinguished from
those of Illicium religiosum, Sieb. ; but the greater part
of his description exactly contradicts the foregoing.

B. says —

“ Illicium anisatum, Lour., is not large. Fruit with an
agreeable aromatic fennel-like odour and taste. Leaves
about 8 centimetres long and 2 4 cm. broad, lanceolate, acu¬
minate at the cuneate base ; drawn in to some extent at the
apex. Stamens usually 20..

“ Illicium religiosum, Sieb. — Tree 5 or 6 feet in
height. Leaves 6 cm. long and 3 cm. broad, nearly without
odour. Stamens present in larger number. Fruit with
scarcely aromatic odour, and a bitter turpentine-like

taste.” ^ .

According to B., consequently, the leaves are the
smallest and the stamens are the most numerous in
Illicium religiosum, Sieb., and not in Illicium anisatum,
Lour. Also, leaves with a cuneate instead of a rounded
base are ascribed to IUicium religiosum. He agrees, how¬
ever, with the statement of Loureiro concerning the

* Older naturalists probably also name Fcenicidwm
vulgare ( Jap. “ Kureno-omo ”) “Dai-ui-kio.” Li-si-chin, a
Chinese naturalist, calls only the fruit of Fceniculum
vulgare exported from Nehia “Dai-ui-kio”; all other
commercial kinds of F. vulgare he calls “ Slio-ui-kio.”

f The Leeuwarden Commission states upon this point
that the injection of the extract of the true star-anise into
frogs and rabbits did not induce the slightest abnormal
symptoms.

smaller habit of Illicium anisatum. But this is opposed
to the statement in Fliickiger and Hanbury’s ‘ Pharma-
cographia ’ that at an altitude of 2500 metres in the
province of Yunnan, in south-west China, the Illicium
anisatum, Lour., attains a height of 12 to 15 feet, which
is nearly the same height as that of the Japanese “shi¬
kimi.”

With such diversity and imperfection in statements,
also bearing in mind the generally divided opinions of
authorities such as Baillon, Mi quel, Bentley and Trimen,
and Maximowicz, it cannot yet be concluded that the
Cochin Chinese and the Japanese plants are systematically
identical, or that both constitute different species, as has
been done by some authors recently upon the ground of
differences observed between commercial specimens of
true star- anise and the fruit of Illicium religiosum, Sieb.

It is therefore of interest to ascertain how far the two
commercial articles differ pharmacognostically from each
other, and how far these differences justify the two
mother-plants to be considered as separate species.

From the report of the Leeuwarden Commission
(Pharmac. Weekblad, No. 4, 17 Jahrg.), I take the fol¬
lowing : —

“The suspected fruit in the star-anise examined was
smaller than the true. The carpels attained a length of
1 centimetre and a depth of 4 to 6 mm. ; they were more
shrivelled and wrinkled, and the carpels were mostly pro¬
vided with a beak, which was frequently thorn-like, and
at a right angle or pressed in towards the centre. In the
true star- anise fruit the carpels usually have a small blunt
apex, which stands out horizontally. The colour of the
false fruit was shining brownish -yellow ; that of the
seeds yellowish-brown and slightly darker than that of
the true star-anise seed.”

Hager (‘Handbuch der Pharmaceutischen Praxis’) also
describes the beak in the J apanese fruit as bent strongly
upwards.

G-eerts found in a comparison of a sample of fruit of
Illicium religiosum with true star-anise the following dif¬
ferences : —

(1) The ends of the carpels of the Japanese fruit are
acuminate and bent back upwards ; on the contrary the
ends of the true star-anise fruit are much less sharp and
are either horizontal or very slightly bent upwards.

(2) The fruit of the Japanese star-anise is more woody
and rougher on the surface.

(3) The seeds of the Japanese star-anise are of a paler
yellow colour.

(4) The Japanese fruit are more shrunk in upon one
another and more boat-shaped than the Cochin China
fruit of Illicium anisatum, Lour.

I myself have compared six samples of star-anise pur¬
chased from Japanese druggists, which could be recog¬
nized as true by their sweet anise-like taste, with a
sample of fruit of Illicium religiosum that was collected
from a specimen in my garden.

The comparison showed that none of the above-men¬
tioned distinguishing characters are constant.

Among the Cochin Chinese fruit many occurred,
especially among the smaller ones, which contained seed
of exactly the same brownish-yellow colour of the fresh
“shikimi” seed; many of them were at least as much
boat-shaped as the Japanese, and many were not larger
than them.

The difference in the beak was usually tolerably dis¬
tinct, but there were numerous exceptions in this also.
Especially in respect to the separate carpels and among
the best formed there occur many in the Japanese of
which the beak is not more strongly developed nor more
bent upwards than in the Cochin Chinese drug, and
among the fruit of the latter I found some with a sweet
anise taste, the beaks of which appeared exactly and as
much bent back as in the unripe “ shikimi ” fruit.

Quite in accordance with this von Siebold, gives in his
‘Flora Japonica’ (vol. i., tab. 1), a figure of the fruit of

1068

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 25, 1881

his lllicium religiosum in which the beaks of the carpels
correspond perfectly with those of the true star-anise.*

Schoor mentions further (Pharm. Weekbl ., No. 27,
17 Jahr.), that he had found in the museum at Leyden a
specimen of the fruit of lllicium, religiosum that came
from Siebold, which appeared exactly like true star-anise.
On this specimen it was stated that it had been plucked
from a very aromatic tree.

In the samples compared with one another by me, I
found further, that in the seed of the J apanese fruit (in ex¬
ceptional cases less clearly perceptible) the apex of the seed
was not rounded, but at the end of the keel terminated

a. Seed of lllicium religiosum , Sieb. B. Seed of J.
anisatum, Lour. C. Section through the testa of
J. religiosum. D. Section through the testa of I.

anisatum.

in a raised point, which I never observed in the true
star- anise. In another larger sample of “ shikimi ” seed
these exceptions became somewhat more frequent,
especially in the larger well-developed seed.

Althlugh in a superficial comparison of a sample of
“ shikimi ” fruit with one of true star- anise differences of
form cannot be denied, and these taken in conjunction with
the difference in odour and taste between the two drugs
appear to me sufficient for a pharmacognostical distinc¬
tion, because it is possible generally to discover “shikimi”
fruit in the Cochin China commercial article, + yet none
of these morphological differences can be taken as suffi¬
ciently constant to give certain information upon the
settlement of the question whether the two mother-
plants must be separated as distinct species.

The observed differences in form are therefore very
probably connected with the age, the manner and time of
collection, the conveyance, climate, etc.

A nearer study of the mother-plant of the true star-
anise, and of its fruit, as a drug, carried out by competent
persons, appears to be very desirable in order to decide
whether lllicium religiosum, Sieb., and I. anisatum,
Lour., are botanically different or form different species.
What was said upon this point by Daniel Hanbury
(‘ Science Papers,’ p. 189), therefore, still retains its im¬
portance : — “ Information should be collected by an eye¬
witness as to the production of this spice in Southern
China. Botanical specimens of the tree and full particu¬
lars respecting the collection of the fruits are desirable.”

Meanwhile, probably, we cannot go further than to
consider the Japanese “shikimi no ki ” as a poisonous —
probably only as a more poisonous — variety of IUicium
anisatum, Loureiro.

But from a hygienic point of view a distinction must
be made between the Japanese and Cochin China star-
anise as a commercial drug. For pharmacognostically
distinguishing the true star-anise from the fruit of
“shikimi” the following characters can be taken in
consideration : —

* I have never seen the beaks standing out horizontally
in the “ shikimi ” fruit in the unripe condition ; Siebold’s
figure is, therefore, probably that of a ripe fruit. This,
however, on account of the rounded form of the carpels, not
shrunken in upon one another, is not very exactly shown.

t In three of the above-mentioned samples of true star-
anise four fruits of lllicium religiosum, Sieb., could be
recognized by these characters, chiefly those of smell and
taste. In two of these fruits, which appeared old, the seed
were very dark coloured, exactly like most of the seed in
true star-anise.

Shikimi Fruit.
Disagreeable taste, not
sweet or like anise. Smell
not like anise, but faintly
resembling laurel, clove and
nutmeg.

Somewhat smaller than
true anise. Surface more
shining, red-brown. Beak
thin, frequently bent
strongly upwards or
crooked backwards. Car¬
pels more woody, much
shrunk in one upon another,
wrinkled. Seed mostly
yellow-brown, with a stout
keel and a raised apex.

Tokio.

THE PRODUCTION OF PEROXIDE OF HYDROGEN
BY HYDROGENIZED PALLADIUM.*

OZOBENZENE.

BY DR. ALBERT R. LEEDS.

Peroxide of hydrogen is to be bought at the druggist’s,
but the article that is so procured is water containing
about 1 per cent, of the real chemical, and looks exactly
like water. It is called oxygenated water. Its chemical
symbol is HOOH. It is usually sold under the familiar
name of the golden liquid, from the property it possesses
of giving ladies’ hair that extremely beautiful golden
colour which is by many so very much admired. I once
brought home a bottle of it, but the ladies to whom I
showed it felt no interest in it as a chemical product;
when, however, they learned of its effect on the hair,
they became greatly interested, and one of them cut off
a lock, washed and immersed it, and it came out a
beautiful yellow. This effect is produced by the che¬
mical’s violent oxidizing action, and its breaking up the
colouring pigment of the hair.

The first set of experiments that I instituted were to
determine whether oxygen alone, in sunlight or diffused
light, or oxygen together with platinum black, in sunlight
or diffused light, would oxidize benzene after long con¬
tinued exposure. In every case a negative result was
obtained, except in that of oxygen and platinum black
brought into contact with benzene and a little water in a
litre flask, and exposed to the direct sunlight. In the
course of a few hours the liquid became slightly yellow,
and at the end of eight days was dark yellow and in¬
tensely acid. A large amount of oxalic acid had been
formed, but no acetic acid and no phenol.

The earliest experiments upon the action of ozone
upon benzene were made by me two years ago with the
object of further studying the remarkable products ob¬
tained by;Houzeau and Benard in the course of their
investigations upon this subject ( Compt . Rend., lxxvi.,
572). Along with small amounts of formic and acetic
acids they obtained a gelatinous body, which when dried
formed a white amorphous solid, and which they called
ozobenzene. It was permanent only at low tempera¬
tures, and on gentle warming exploded with tremendous
violence. Fearing the possible formation of this dan¬
gerous substance, I made my first experiment upon 1 gram
of benzene ; but the amount operated upon was gradually
increased until in the eighth and final trial it amounted
to 35 grams. In some experiments the benzene was
cooled by a freezing mixture; in other trials it was
ozonized at common temperatures; and in the last, the

* At a meeting of the Academy of Sciences, New York,
on Monday, March 14, Dr. Leeds, of the Stevens Institute
of Technology, Hoboken, N.J., gave an account of experi¬
ments he had made, relating chiefly to peroxide of hydrogen,
benzene and ozone. From the Oil and Drug News, March
29, 1881.

True Star- Anise.

Taste sweet, anise-like ;
odour faintly of anise.

Somewhat larger than
“ shikimi ” fruits. Sur¬
face more resembling cork.
Beak short, horizontal,
or slightly bent upwards,
pointing outwards- Car¬
pels less woody, shrivelled
in one upon another, and
wrinkled. Seed mostly
dark brown with rounded
apex.

June 25, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1069

temperature was kept at 50°. The benzene was exposed
to the oxygen, strongly ozonized by the silent discharge,
and containing about 70 m. grams of ozone in the litre,
either in shallow dishes placed under a receiver, through
which the perfectly dry ozonized gas was kept flowing,
or in Geissler bulbs connected with other bulbs to arrest
the volatile products of ozonation. But in every case
the results were the same. Large volumes of carbonic
•acid were given off ; and the benzene, as it diminished in
volume, became converted into a dark yellow oily mass,
containing crystals of oxalic acid. In other cases, when
the ozonation was performed in bulbs, an amorphous
blackish mass separated out on the sides of the vessels.
From these residues no crystalline bodies could be ob¬
tained, either by the use of solvents or by sublimation.
No indications whatsoever were noted of the white ex¬
plosive body spoken of by Houzeau and Renard.

Besides carbonic and oxalic, formic and acetic acids
were obtained, the latter in considerable quantity.
Especial care was paid in making the experiments to
the detection of phenol; but, as far as the tests used
were concerned, no evidence of the presence even of a
trace of this body was obtained. Hydrogen peroxide
was likewise absent.

The fact that triatomic oxygen (03, ozone or active
oxygen) is not capable of oxidizing water to the form of
peroxide of hydrogen, while monatomic oxygen (O, or
nascent oxygen), is, rendered it probable that a similar
difference would be observed in the effects of ozone and
of nascent oxygen upon benzene. This supposition has
been confirmed by experiment. The nascent oxygen was
obtained by the action of phosphorus partially submerged
beneath the surface of water upon air at common tempe¬
ratures. When no benzene is present, the nascent oxygen
oxidizes the oxygen molecule to the form of ozone ; the
water molecule to hydrogen peroxide ; and the nitrogen
molecule in the presence of water to ammonium nitrate.
But on the addition of benzene the ozone action dis¬
appears. The resulting products differ according as the
reaction takes place in the sunlight or in diffused light.
In the former case, after prolonged exposure, large
amounts, both of phenol and oxalic acid, are formed;
the phosphorus is converted into yellowish-red amorphous
phosphorus, and the liquid remains colourless.

In the latter case, the flask being kept in a warm
place, the liquid becomes of a dark brown colour, and
abundance of oxalic acid, but no phenol, is formed. At
common temperatures the phosphorus goes into solution
in the benzene, and is gradually converted into a mass of
white dodecahedral crystals, the liquid remaining colour¬
less. It is only when the temperature is above the
melting point of the phosphorus (in these trials 50° to
70°) that the dark brown liquid is produced. Curiously
enough, though the flask becomes filled with dense white
fumes, no inflammation took place at these elevated
temperatures, the benzene vapour apparently protecting
the phosphorus from ignition.

Excess of calcium chloride was added to the syrupy
liquid, the dense precipitate of calcium phosphate and
oxalate (somewhat dark from a portion of the organic
matter carried down at the same time) filtered off, and
the filtrate evaporated to dryness. The soluble portions
were then dissolved out with the least possible amount of
water, the excess of calcium precipitated out by potassium
sulphate, the whole evaporated to dryness, and treated
with absolute alcohol. As a small portion of the potas¬
sium chloride was taken up by the alcohol, this extract
was again evaporated to dryness, and the operation re¬
peated three times, when only the organic matter re¬
mained in solution. It was of a yellow colour, and
pasty consistence; but as it could not be made to crys¬
tallize, and, furthermore, was in small amount, its further

investigation was abandoned.

After my research had been in progress, I found that
Professor F. Hoppe4Seyler {Bcr. dcr Deutsch. them. Geselh,
xii., 1551), starting out from similar views as to the

effects resulting from the action of nascent hydrogen
upon oxygen, had performed a series of interesting ex¬
periments with hydrogenized palladium foil. A piece of
such foil shaken up along with benzene, water and air, in
a flask, and allowed to stand for a time, yielded an
amount of phenol sufficient, after its conversion by the
addition of bromine water into tribromphenol, for
analysis. Besides the phenole, Hoppe Seyler obtained
a body which turned brown on the addition of potash.

On repeating the experiment, I obtained a very abun¬
dant reaction for phenol. On addition of lime water,
the colouring matter, which had been formed at the
same time, was thrown down as a yellowish-brown pre¬
cipitate. Not a trace of oxalic acid was present. To my
mind, no satisfactory explanation could be given of the
formation of phenol under these circumstances, except
upon the supposition of the production of peroxide of
hydrogen as an intermediate step. In the case of phos¬
phorus oxidizing in moist air, the contemporaneous
formation of both ozone and peroxide of hydrogen by
the action of the nascent oxygen upon the oxygen and
water is a demonstrated fact.

Three suppositions, therefore, were admissible : Either
the phenol was formed by the direct action of the
nascent oxygen ; or, second, by the action of the ozone ;
or, third, by the action of peroxide of hydrogen. The
first supposition requires that the oxygen should produce
by direct synthesis a molecule of phenol, which is in the
highest degree improbable. The second supposition is
inadmissible since the non-formation of phenol by treat¬
ment with ozone had been abundantly proven. The
third supposition admitted of the rational explanation
expressed by the formula —

C6H6 + HO, OH = C6H5-OH + H20.

Two modes of testing the validity of the third hypo¬
thesis presented themselves. The first was that of
bringing the hydrogenized palladium foil into contact
with water and air in a flask, and ascertaining if the
oxygen rendered nascent by oxidation of the hydrogen
would oxidize the water to the form of hydrogen per¬
oxide. In case an affirmative result was obtained in
this experiment, it would be important to try the second
test of treating benzene directly with a peroxide of
hydrogen solution.

A strip of palladium, after remaining for several hours
as the negative pole of a battery of six Bunsen elements,
in water acidulated with sulphuric acid, was placed
along with 10 c.c. of ammonia-free water in a half -litre
flask filled with air. At the end of three days the water
was tested with guaiacum and a solution of diastase. It
developed a deep blue colour. On addition of cadmium-
iodide-starch solution, iodide of starch was formed, and
on titration with sodium hyposulphite it was found that
the total quantity of hydrogen peroxide present in the
10 c.c. of water amounted to 0'67 milligram.

It is not improbable that both ozone and ammonium
nitrate are likewise formed in the course of this reaction ;
but of the former no satisfactory indication was obtained,
and the latter was not looked for, inasmuch as it would
have required the repetition of the experiment on a much
larger scale, and with many additional precautions.

The successful issue of this experiment encouraged me
to try what otherwise would not have been attempted,
the treatment of the benzene with H20„, and 20 c.c. of
benzene were allowed to stand at common temperatures
for two days in contact with 300 c.c. of a slightly acidu¬
lated 1‘2 per cent, solution of hydrogen peroxide. The
liquids remaining colourless, the flask was attached to a
reflux condenser, and placed in a water-bath. After the
water in the bath had been kept boiling for several days,
it was saturated with chloride of calcium, and the diges¬
tion continued at this temperature for two days longer.
At the end of this time the liquid had become yellow,
and was found to contain, beside the colouring matter,
oxalic acid and phenol. A very abundant precipitate
was thrown down from the aqueous solution on addition

1070

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 25, 1S8-1.

of bromine water, and this precipitate of tribromphenol,
after recrystallization from alcohol, was found to weigh
0*25 gram.

Not only is the direct conversion of benzene into
phenol by the action of hydrogen peroxide of much
interest, phenol having hitherto been obtained only by
some indirect process, but it supplies a satisfactory de¬
monstration of the validity of the third hypothesis above
stated.

FRUIT SYRUPS *

BY ADOLPH G. VOGELEK, PH.G., CHICAGO.

Already largely prescribed by practitioners in the
United States, syrup of raspberry constitutes a most
pleasant addition to many medicines, especially those
containing mineral acids. In many compounds it cannot
be advantageously replaced by any other corrective,
owing to its agreeable aroma. This syrup is particularly
adapted for saline antifebrile mixtures, or for potions
otherwise insipid, as for instance solutions of pepsin,
lactopeptin, etc., while it is also desirable for preparing
cooling draughts for the patient.

Strawberries, mulberries, and black cherries may be
mentioned as yielding palatable syrups, but in nowise
equal to that of raspberries.

The preparation of the syrup may be accomplished in
two ways : either the juice is expressed from the fruit and
then combined with sugar ; or the unimpaired berries are
mixed with sugar, when the latter will extract the juice,
leaving the berry shrivelled and tasteless. Owing to the
circumstance that practically but two months would have
been at my disposal for comparative experiments, I
refrained from endeavouring to determine the most pre¬
ferable method of making fruit syrups (two years would
be short allowance for such a purpose), and shall for that
reason only enumerate various methods as compiled from
different sources. I wish to remark, however, that I
should give preference to the process as exemplified by
the German Pharmacopoeia, modified by an addition of
five per cent, of alcohol to the contused berries previous
to fermentation (process No. 2). Pectin in this manner
will separate more rapidly, while the juice is less liable
to deteriorate. It may be found best to direct the pure
filtered juice to be preserved by means of Appert’s pro¬
cess, and to have the syrup prepared for this in small
quantities for actual use only. The raspberry syrup as
found in the market is quite a thin fluid, keeping
indefinitely, from which I infer that it contains an appre¬
ciable amount of alcohol. According to my personal
experience fruit syrups will undergo fermentation if
exposed in shelf-bottles ; if then the presence of a
specified percentage of alcohol will preserve the same, I
can see no valid objection to its introduction. Before
proceeding to enumerate the different processes for
making fruit syrups or juices, a test for distinguishing
natural syrup of raspberry from a spurious article may
not be out of order. I copy from ‘ Handbuch der Phar-
maceutischen Praxis,’ ii., pp. 830, 831.

Test for Syrup of Raspben'y. — a. Mix equal volumes of
the syrup and of ammonia 10 per cent. The colour of
true syrup changes to violet with a slight tinge of green.
If, however, the colour changes instantly or soon to green
or yellow, some foreign vegetable colouring matter is
present ; and if it should become colourless or nearly so,
it is adulterated with rosaniline.

b. If the syrup is coloured with red aniline the latter
may be detected by macerating in it some white silk or
wool, and rinsing the cloth in water. Water removes
the raspberry stain, but not the aniline. If the fabric be
dipped in ammonia the aniline dye will vanish, but
reappear on moistening with acetic acid.

Syrup of Raspberry. — 1. Contuse the berries, place
them in a vat, add 2 per cent, of sugar, and ferment the

* Prom a paper read before the American Pharmaceutical
Association. From the “Transactions.”

mass at a temperature of between 70° and 80? F. for
three or four days until all pectin has separated and no
more signs of fermentation are visible. Then express
the juice, which allow to settle in a cool place for two
days, decant carefully from the pulverulent pectin, and
filter. Preserve the juice by Appert’s process (see The
Druggists' Circular, 1878, p. 61), or convert into syrup by
dissolving in 5 parts of the clarified juice 9 parts of sugar,
and heating to the boiling-point. — ‘Handb. d. Pharm.
Praxis,’ i., p. 796.

2. A better and safer way is to add at once to the
freshly bruised fruit 5 to 6 per cent, of alcohol, and then
proceed as in the foregoing. This formula would seem
to deserve preference. — D. C., 1880, p. 99.

3. Crush the raspberries in a glass vessel with a wooden
pestle to a pulp, add to it 5 to 10 per cent, of cane or
grape sugar, and allow the whole to stand, stirring occa¬
sionally. When the mass ferments the juice becomes
clear ; it may then be filtered and bottled, or converted
into syrup. D. C., 1873, p. 130.

4. Put 6 pounds of raspberries into a china bowl, with
a quart of water in which has been dissolved 2^ ounces
of citric acid, and let it remain twenty-four hours ; then
strain, taking care not to bruise the fruit. To each pint
of clear liquid add 1J pound of sugar, and stir until it
is dissolved. — D. C., 1872, p. 128

5. Proceed as in No. 1. When the fermentation is
nearly ended (indicated by the appearance of a small
yellow fly) express the juice, add to every pound of the
latter 1 ounce of deodorized alcohol, set aside for one
night, and then filter. Bottle the juice, or convert into
syrup. — D. C., 1878, p. 109.

6. Macerate the berries in layers interspersed with
sugar, If pound of sugar to 1 pound of berries, for
twenty-four hours in a cool cellar, and then drain off the
juice. Preserve the syrup by means of Appert’s process.
— Parrish’s ‘Pharmacy,’ p. 264.

7. Add to the foregoing product some alcohol, or a
little bisulphite of lime. The flavour is not supposed to
be impaired by the latter. — D. C., 1870, p. 43.

8. Pure fruit juice, 16 fluid ounces; dilute acetic acid,

1 fluid ounce ; water, 7 fluid ounces ; granulated sugar,
3 pounds. Dissolve the sugar without heat. Preserve
in air-tight vessels in a cool place. The acetic acid is
objectionable. — D. C., 1874, p. 208.

Syrup of Mulberry. — Mulberry juice, 1 pint imp.; sugar,

2 pounds ; rect. spirit, 2J fluid ounces. Heat the juice
to the boiling-point, and when it has cooled filter it.
Dissolve the sugar in the filtered liquid with a gentle
heat, and add the spirit. — B. P.

Syrup of Strawberry. — Put 2 parts of strawberries
deprived of the calyx, without crushing them, into a
large-mouthed jar ; add to them 2? parts of sugar, and
frequently shake, keeping the vessel in a cool place.
The sugar absorbs the juice, leaving the fruit shrivelled
and tasteless, the latter being removed by means of a
strainer without pressure. Mix the clear syrup with 20
per cent, of alcohol. (Source, some German journal.)
I have made syrups of strawberry and of pineapple in
this way for soda-water, not adding any alcohol, but I
bottled it as soon as made. These syrups were excellent,
and I have kept some of them for three years without
change, only that a slight sediment would form, which
was easily separated. But this syrup will spoil as soon
as exposed to the air, except when kept on ice. The
above addition of alcohol overcomes this defect.

Syrup of Cherry. — Employ the black, sour variety.
Crush the cherries, together with the stones, and follow
the directions given in No. 2.

Fruit Syrup for Lemonade. — Raspberries, 1000 grams;
blackberries, 500 ; bilberries, 500 ; lemon, 3 fruits. Mash
in a stone mortar, and add of cold water, 1500,. Let
stand for three days, or until fermentation has finished.
Express and filter. In every 2500 dissolve citric acid,
40 ; and sugar, 4500. Boil up once in a copper kettle. —

‘ Handb. d. Pharm. Praxis,’ ii., p. 831.

.

'June 25, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1071

SATURDAY , JUNE 25, 1881.

MISCONCEPTIONS AS TO THE SALE OF POISON.

The correspondence between the President of the
Pharmaceutical Society and the Coroner for Central
Middlesex, published in last week’s Journal, ought
to be of service as evidence that sufficient atten¬
tion is not always paid to the provisions of the
Pharmacy Act, when complaints are made concern¬
ing the sale of poisons. It is above all things
desirable that coroners should not fail in this
respect since any remarks from them conveying
censure upon persons from whom poisons may
have been obtained are calculated to inflict
considerable injury upon those referred to. It
is clear that Dr. Danford Thomas was misled by
the evidence given before him at the inquest, but it
must also be admitted that there was much reason
for his presumption that the remarks of Messrs.
Huxtable’s assistant as to the practice in registering
sales of poison were based upon a knowledge of
what was required by the Pharmacy Act. There
was no occasion to offer an excuse for not registering
the sale of oxalic acid, because the law does not
demand that this shall be done, and this irrelevant
excuse was the only basis for the coroner’s opinion
that the law had not been complied with, and that
the chemist was consequently liable to a penalty of
five pounds.

We are glad to see that this view of the case has
been taken by Dr. Danford Thomas and that he
admits having been misguided by the statements
made before him. There is however another part of
his remarks to which we feel constrained to refer,
not in any captious spirit, but because we think the
statement that “ people could go and buy as much
poison as they liked at anyone’s shop without being
asked a question,” is neither justified by the facts of
the case nor an evidence of the imperfect state of the
law on the subject. Whether, in the case of those
poisons that may be legally sold without subjecting
the purchaser to examination as to the use they are
to be put to, it be requisite to impose more rigid
restrictions upon their sale may be a question for
consideration; but having constantly occasion to
observe and record the circumstances attending the
sale of poisons in cases where their misuse has led
to inquiry before coroners, we have no hesitation in
saying that as a general rule the existing provisions
of the law are carefully observed by registered
chemists and druggists, who are the only persons
legally qualified to sell poisons. The statement
made in the above terms by Dr. Danford Thomas
at the Clerkenwell Coroner’s Court, and reported
in the local paper as having been an expression of
what he knew to be the case, was therefore un¬
merited by the class to which he referred, not only

so far as relates to strict compliance with the pro¬
visions of the Pharmacy Act, but also as regards the
precautions voluntarily taken by chemists and drug¬
gists in the sale of poison.

There is, however, another reason for objecting to
statements such as those just mentioned, and that is
the miserable exaggeration to which they are sub¬
jected, and the perverted application made of them
by the “ young lions of the press.” The remarks of
a coroner at an inquest are eagerly seized upon by
some member of this fraternity, and blown up into
a portentous leading article, in which the chemist
and druggist is represented, almost like Iago, as the
malignant instigator of foolish or wicked people to
provide themselves with poisons, and try their effects
upon themselves and others. An instance of this kind
was lately offered by a London daily paper, containing
an account of three inquests, held upon June 6, over
persons who had poisoned themselves with carbolic
acid, opium and oxalic acid. The verdict of unsound
mind was given in all cases, and, we think, it is
no reproach to the common sense of juries to say
that it is the “ usual ” verdict in such cases, though
the writer of the article now referred to appears
to suggestthe contrary, and thinks it strange “no
effort was made to ascertain who supplied the
poisons. ” But he sapiently adds there can be little
doubt that they were severally purchased at druggists’
shops, where it is manifest that the provisions of the
law regulating the sale of deadly articles of this
nature are very frequently infringed.

Here we have almost the words made use of by
Dr. Danford Thomas, at the inquest above men¬
tioned, reproduced as if for the information of the
public, though in reality conveying to the apprecia¬
tion of anyone conversant with the law and with the
other circumstances of the case nothing more than a
demonstration of the ignorance of the writer and a
conviction that in many respects the liberty of the
newspaper press is capable of being a nuisance to be
feared rather than a privilege to be proud of. We
trust, however, that by means of such communica¬
tions as have passed bet-ween the President of the
Pharmaceutical Society and Dr. Danford Thomas
it may be possible to prevent, or at least to mitigate,
the injury which is done by heedlessly supplying
“ young lions ” with provender they cannot digest.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

Within a very short time the British Association
for the Advancement of Science will have been in
existence for half a century, and it has been decided
that the next meeting is to be held during the first
week of September next in York, the city where its
first annual meeting was held, in 1831, under the pre¬
sidency of Earl Fitzwilliam. To mark the im¬
portance of the forthcoming meeting, at which Sir
John Lubbock will be President, the General Com¬
mittee of the Association has resolved to appoint Past
Presidents of the Association as Presidents of nearly

1072

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 25, 18S1*

all tlie sections, and it has been thought that on
this occasion advantage should be taken of the oppor¬
tunity to show in some degree the beneficial influ¬
ence that has been exercised by the Association and
the progress that has been made since its inagu-
ration in the construction of instruments of scientific
research. There is, therefore, to be, as we have
previously notified,* an exhibition of scientific instru¬
ments used at various periods during the last fifty
years, the object being to contrast the instruments
of to-day with those in use at the time of the for¬
mation of the Association. It may therefore be ex¬
pected that the meeting of the Association this year
will be one of unusual interest and that it will be
very numerously attended.

We note these facts partly for the information of
those among our readers who are in the habit of
attending the meetings of the British Association,
and partly also because the British Pharmaceutical
Conference will, in conformity with previous custom,
hold its annual meeting at the same place and
about the same time as that of the British Association.
As yet we are not in possession of any detailed
information respecting the arrangements that will
be made for the Conference meeting, but we learn
that the local committee which has undertaken the
duties of providing for the reception of visitors is
taking steps to make the meeting a successful one.
Rooms have already been engaged at the Station
Hotel for members of the Conference, and in all
probability we shall be able in a few days to give
every requisite information.

Meanwhile we may usefully take this opportunity
of pointing out some of the features of attraction
which York affords, and of stating what is being
done to prepare for the meeting of the British Asso¬
ciation. In the first place we may remind our
readers that among the attractions of the city of
York its noble minster, its Norman castle, its Roman
remains and mediaeval walls are pre-eminently objects
of general and antiquarian interest. Y ork also contains
several manufactories interesting to scientific men,
and we understand that opportunities for visiting
these will be offered to members of the British As¬
sociation during their stay.

The city of York also presents in various other ways
considerable attraction as a place of meeting. It en¬
joys exceptional railway facilities, being within four
hours of London and of Liverpool, and about five
of Edinburgh and Bristol. In York itself the hotel
and lodging accommodation is ample, and at the
New Station Hotel, recently erected by the North
Eastern Railway Company, the ordinary tariff of
charge will not be raised during the meeting. The
North Eastern Railway Company has liberally
arranged for the issue of periodical tickets at cheap
rates to members and associates, for going and re¬
turning as often as desired during the time of the
meeting between York and the chief places in the
district. By this arrangement residents and visitors
at Leeds, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Scarborough and
Harrogate, will be enabled to attend the meeting,
and for those who may not desire to stay in York,
there will be a further opportunity of obtaining
lodging accommodation in some of the neighbouring
towns.

* See mtt, p. 10 30,

Ample accommodation for the sittings of the several
sections of the British Association and of the Phar¬
maceutical Conference will be afforded by the public
buildings of York. The Great Hall of the York¬
shire Fine Art Institution, capable of seating 3000
persons, will be used for some of the Evening
Meetings.

The Lord Mayor and Corporation of York have
placed their Guildhall at the disposal of the Local
Secretaries for use as a reception room. The Theatre
of the Museum of the Yorkshire Philosophical
Society, in which the first meeting of the Associa¬
tion was held in September, 1831, will be the place
in which the Geological Section will hold its sittings.
This museum, besides containing many of the type
specimens collected by the late Professor Phillips,
when he was its curator, has recently been much
enriched by the addition of other collections. The
beautiful grounds adjoining, which contain the ruins
of St. Mary’s Abbey and many other objects of
interest, Roman, mediaeval, and modern, will also be
open to visitors.

Among other places of interest it may be mentioned
that the Yorkshire Fine Art Institution, to which
the members and associates of the British Associa¬
tion are invited by the Council, will contain the
Prince of Wales’s Indian presents, lent by His Royal
Highness on account of the visit of the Association,
a collection of scientific instruments, and a valuable
collection of pictures, including the celebrated Dun-
combe Park collection of old masters. The minster
will also be thrown open for inspection. At Middles-
borough, Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and Co. will
show their new process for the production of steel
from the Cleveland iron, and Messrs. Bell and Co.
their boring for salt, both striking illustrations of
the utility of applied science. Excursions will be
made to Scarborough, Whitby, Castle Howard, Dun-
combe Park, Rievaulx Abbey, Aldborough — the
Roman Isurium — and to other places.

AN AMERICAN DEFINITION OF DRUG
ADULTERATION.

At the commencement of the present month an
“Act to Prevent the Adulteration of Food and
Drugs” came into force in the State of New York,
which presents some points of interest in its defini¬
tions. To commence with, the term “ drug,” as used
in the Act, includes all medicines for internal or ex¬
ternal use. A drug is to be deemed u adulterated,”
(1) if, when sold under a name recognized in the
United States Pharmacopoeia, it differs from the
standard of strength, quality or purity laid down in
that work ; or (2) if, when sold under a name not so
recognized, but found in some other pharmacopoeia
or standard work on materia medica, it differs mate¬
rially from the standards there laid down ; or (3) if
its strength or purity fall below the professed stan¬
dard under which it is sold. The State Board of
Health, which is entrusted with the supervision of
public analysts and chemists under the Act, is also
charged with the duty of from time to time fixing
the limits of variability permissible in any drug or
compound the standard of which is not fixed by any
national pharmacopoeia. The penalties under the
Act are for a first offence fifty dollars, and one
hundred dollars for a second or subsequent offence.
The Act is almost identical with one that has been
recently passed by the Legislature of the State of
New Jersey.

•June 25, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1073

rombrngs of Scientific Societies.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of the above Society was held on Thursday,
-June 16, Professor Roscoe, President, in the chair.

The following certificate was read for the first time

F. Sear.

During the evening a ballot was held and the following
gentlemen were declared by the scrutineers, Messrs.
Groves and Warington, to be duly elected Fellows of
the Society : — A. B. Avarne, G. H. Bostock, W. Bedford,
B. Browning, J. M. Collett, A. W. Duncan, J. E. Doyle,
A. E. Davies, H. Frankland, A. J. Hailes, C. W. Marsh,
A. Philip, T. K. Rogers, J. Schwartz, 0. Trigger, G.
Tate, J. P. Wilkes.

The President read a letter which he had received from
Lieutenant- Colonel Malcolm, Honorary Secretary of the
Museum Sub-Committee of the British Association: —
“ 17, Blake Street, York. It is intended to illustrate at
the forthcoming meeting of the Association, as far as
possible, the progress which has been made in the con¬
struction of instruments of scientific research during the
past fifty years. With this view scientific men, societies
and manufacturers are invited to exhibit instruments of
the latest patterns and tools used in their construction,
together with the instruments used in 1831. The Exhibi¬
tion will last only from August 31 to September 8.” The
President therefore invited Fellows of the Society who
could exhibit such apparatus to forward, as soon as
possible, details of the apparatus and space required to
the above address.

Mr. W. H. Perkin then communicated a paper on —

The Isomeric Acids obtained from Coumarin and the
Ethers of Salicylic Aldehyde. — Some years ago the author
showed ( Chem . Soc. Journ., 1877, i., 388), that by the
action of acetic anhydride and sodium acetate on the
hydride of methyl salicyl, an acid (methylorthoxyphenyl-
acrylic acid) was produced. By treating the hydride of
salicyl in the same way coumarin was formed. Tiemann
has since shown that this is preceded by the formation of
coumaric acid, which has a constitution analogous to the
above acid, but has an atom of hydrogen in place of
methyl. Now coumarin, when treated with alkalies,
gives a coumarate which, however, splits up into cou¬
marin when treated with acids, but if treated with
methylic iodide it produces a methylated acid of the same
composition and apparently the same constitution as that
obtained by the action of acetic anhydride on the hydride
of methyl salicyl; its fusing point is, however, nearly
100° lower than the acid from the hydride of methyl
salicyl. It can be converted into it by the action of heat.
The cause of this isomerism being unintelligible, the
•author has undertaken the present investigation for the
purpose of examining the acids, their derivatives and any
homologues which might be formed from the other cou-
marins. The acid obtained from coumarin is called by
the author the a, the other (3 methylorthoxyphenylacrylic
acid. The a acid was obtained in magnificent highly re¬
fracting crystals ; it is changed into the p acid by heat
and by violet or ultra violet light. The two methylic
ethers and the a and p ethyl acids were prepared and
examined. Nascent hydrogen converts both acids into
the same acid, dihydromethylorthoxyphenylacrylic acid.
The actions of nitric acid and bromine were also studied,
and various derivatives obtained. Isomeric dibromides
were obtained and experiments made with the methylic
ethers of the acids ; the p ether yielded 70 per cent, of a
dibromide, melting at 687° and 30 per cent, of a dibro¬
mide melting at 125° : the a ether yielded as a principal
product a dibromide fusing at 125°, with a small quantity
of the body melting at 68°. The action of bromine on
the a and p ethylic ethers was also studied. The actions
of fuming hydriodic and hypochlorous acids were examined.
The derivatives from propionic and those from butyric

coumarin were next prepared. These coumarins yielded
acids analogous to that from ordinary coumarin. From
the author’s research it appears that in general the effect
of chemical action on the a acids is to convert them into
the same compounds as are yielded by the p acids under
similar circumstances. This is probably due to the heat
evolved by the chemical action converting the a into a p
derivative. The limited action of bromine is an excep¬
tion, but in this reaction but little heat is evolved. The
hypothesis that the isomerism results from the difference
of structure of this group is considered, but is not thought
by the author to be established. The physical differences
of the a and p ethers described in the paper are con¬
sidered, and the author concludes as the boiling points,
densities, refractive indices, etc., of the a compounds
are all lower than those of the p body, and the a com¬
pounds are the less stable, that it is probable that the
molecules of the a body are further apart than those of
the p body. Reference is made to the fact that the
formation of these a bodies is always connected with
dehydration and rehydration, and a suggestion is made
that if a difference of proximity of the groups is the cause
of the isomerism, it is probably due only to a difference of
distance between the radical and the hydroxyl. It is
also pointed out that in most cases where bodies are what
is called physical isomerides they are hydroxylized pro¬
ducts.

Mr. Fletcher then gave a short statement of the results
which he had obtained from the measurement of the
various crystallized bodies prepared by Mr. Perkin.

Dr. Wright suggested that it would be interesting to
determine the heat of combustion of one or more pairs of
those a and /3 bodies.

Professor Hartley thought that probably some
difference might be found in the optical transparency of
these isomeric bodies.

Dr. Armstrong then communicated a paper by Mr.
G. Lowe and himself entitled —

Notes on Naphthalene Derivatives. — The authors have
continued their investigations as to the action of
sulphuric acid on naphthalene and confirm their previous
statement that three and not two disulphonic acids may
be obtained. By operating at 180° a mixture in about
equal proportions of the a and p disulphonic acids of
Ebert and Merz is obtained; but at 100° a third acid is
also formed, corresponding to the dihydroxynaphthalene
melting at 156° which they have described. This third
acid is obtained in relatively small quantity and the
authors have not yet established the conditions which
are most favourable to its production, nor have they
devised a satisfactory method of separating it from the
isomerides. They have confirmed their observations on
the action of fused potassium hydroxide on potassium p
naphtholsulphonate, but doubt whether more than a
single body is produced in the reaction. It crystallizes
from hot water (in which it is much less soluble than the
dihydroxynaphthalene previously described) in small
plates, melting at 218Q-220Q, it separates from acetic
acid in large ammonium- chloride -like forms. The
alkaline solution exhibits a blue fluorescence and rapidly
darkens on exposure to air.

Dr. Armstrong then described an isomeric /3 napthol-
sulphonic acid obtained by Mr. Stallard and himself
by dissolving p naphthol in cold concentrated sulphuric
acid. The authors were led to the discovery of this
substance by noticing that when less sulphuric acid than
Schaefer prescribes for the preparation of p naphthol-
sulphonic acid is used, it is difficult to obtain the salts in
the clear transparent crystals so characteristic of the
p naphthol sulphonates. The salts of the new acid are
much more soluble and when submitted to the action of
bromine or nitric acid readily exchange the sulpho-group
for bromine or N02, forming bromo and nitro derivatives
of naphthol. The acid previously known retains its
sulpho group under similar treatment. Dr. Armstrong
demonstrated this reaction to the Society and pointed

1074

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[Juee 25, 18S1.

out that it was a good lecture illustration of the extra¬
ordinary difference of th & S03H group according as it
occupied the so-called a or (3 position in naphthalene.

Mr G. 8. Johnson then read a paper —

On the Synthesis of Ammonia (third notice). — This
paper is practically an answer to the criticism of Mr. L.
Wright on the previous communication of the author.
Mr. Wright stated that the nitrogen used by the author
was not pure, that it contained nitric oxide, and that the
ammonia formed was due to the presence of this
impurity. The author of the present paper points out
that he relied for the purification of his nitrogen from
nitric oxide, not on an acid solution of ferrous sulphate,
but on pumice impregnated with hydrated ferrous oxide
precipitated by the ammonia evolved on boiling the
ammonium nitrite. He has repeated his previous
experiments and tested the N carefully for NO by
mixing with air and bubbling through starch and potas¬
sium iodide solution. Although no blue colour was seen
in half an hour, yet this pure N when mixed with H still
formed ammonia. Other experiments were made in
which the nitrogen was purified by mixing with air and
allowing the mixed gases to stand for some hours over
water rendered alkaline with potash. This also pro¬
duced ammonia when mixed with hydrogen and passed
over spongy platinum. The author finds that when the
pure nitrogen is passed through heated asbestos before
mixing with hydrogen it is no longer capable of com¬
bining with hydrogen in the presence of spongy
platinum. This experiment was exhibited to the
Society; as long as the asbestos was hot no ammonia
was produced, but on allowing it to cool, after about
twenty minutes a Nessler solution became distinctly
yellow. The author thinks that this experiment
indicates the existence of an active allotropic nitrogen
analogous to ozone and hopes to produce further evidence
on this subject. He concludes that he has proved that
the synthesis of ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen
obtained by the action of heat upon a solution of
ammonium nitrite is possible in the presence of spongy

platinum.

Mr. J. Mond said that after two years’ work at every
conceivable means of causing the direct union of nitrogen
and hydrogen with spongy platinum, platinized asbestos,
etc., he had only met with negative results, and had
come to the conclusion that the silent discharge was the
only means of effecting the direct union of these two
elements.

Mr. W. A. Shenstone then read a paper —

On the Alkaloids of Nux Vomica. — The author has,
with the aid of Messrs. Hopkin and Williams, extracted
the alkaloids from 56 lbs. of the seeds of Strychnos Nux-
vomica. His object was to extract and examine the
alkaloids prepared by using as little heat as possible, and
avoiding heat in the presence of acids or alkalies alto¬
gether. The process used is similar to that employed by
Dr. C. R. A. Wright. A solution of sulphate of brucine
was finally obtained, from which the alkaloid separated
on exposure to ammonia vapour. The brucine was finally
purified by conversion into hydriodide and regeneration
with sodium carbonate, etc. The brucine obtained did
not yield any evidence of the presence of strychnia, and
gave a crystalline acetate. Many analyses of the product
are given, which agree with the formula C2:,H26N204.
About 20 oz. o' mixed crystalline alkaloids were obtained.
The author searched the mother liquors very carefully
for the so-called igasurine; but all such bodies were
proved to be brucine with a trace of some persistent
impurity. By the action of alcoholic soda on brucine a
hydrobrucine, C23H28N205, was obtained. Its colour
reactions are di itinct from those of brucine.

Professor Hartley than read a short paper, entitled —

Notes on Photographs of the Ultra Violet Emission
Spectra of Ce* tain Elements. — The author draws the fol¬
lowing conch si >ns : — The ultra-violet spectra are com¬
paratively free from air lines. All the most important

groupings of metallic lines appear in the ultra violet
region. The sharp clear cut appearance and the nebulous
character of certain lines are even more strongly marked
than in the visible spectrum. Not only are long and
short lines noticeable, but many rays which consist of
mere dots are characteristics of certain spectra, while
certain strong lines appear to stretch not only across the
spectrum, but above and below its boundary edge.
When the photographs of the elements are arranged in
Mendeljeff’s series, certain well-defined groups exhibit
similarities in their spectra, e.q., Mg, Zn, and Cd ; Fe, Co,
and Ni ; Al, In, T1 ; Cu, Ag, Hg. Palladium also has a
spectrum somewhat similar to the spectra of the iron
group.

Professor Hartley exhibited some of the beautiful
photographs on which the above statements are based.

Mr. S. U. Pickering gave a brief statement of the
results arrived at in his paper “ On the Sulphates of
Aluminium.” He has sought for the seven or eight sul¬
phates of aluminium which are said to exist, but has in
most cases not been able to find any evidence of their
existence.

On Two New Oxides of Bismuth. By M. M. P. Muir.
— The author has repeated Boedeker’s experiments on
the action of aqueous potassium cyanide on a hot nitric
acid solution of bismuth nitrate ; but finds that the puce
coloured salt which is produced has the formula Bi207,
and not Bi205, 2H20, as assigned to it by Boedeker.
The new bismuth heptoxide is a fairly stable compound
towards heat; it begins to part with oxygen about 200°,
soluble in acids, giving deep red liquids, which are only
very slowly decomposed, and decolorized by boiling. A
hot concentrated solution of caustic potash dissolves
25 per cent, of the new oxide, forming a very deep red
liquid, from which acids throw down a red-brown sub¬
stance, containing bismuth, oxygen, and much water;
but, after washing with hot water, free from potassium.
The portion insoluble in hot potash consists of another
new oxide of bismuth. Bismutho-hypobismuthic oxide,
Bi407, sp. gr. 8 ’5, unacted on by potash, dissolves in
acids to purple-red liquids, only very slowly decomposed
by boiling, does not lose oxygen till heated over a Bunsen
lamp ; neither oxide takes up water from moist air.

The Society then adjourned over the summer recess.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of the Chemists’ Assis¬
tants’ Association, was held at 32a, George Street,
Hanover Square, on May 25, 1881, Mr. Branson in the
chair.

Messrs. J. R. James and W. Wyles were appointed
scrutineers to examine the voting papers for the election
of Council.

The Honorary Secretary then read the following
report of the Council : —

“The Council have pleasure in presenting the Annual
Report of Fourth Session.

“The Association numbers eighty-four ordinary and
seven honorary members. Thirty-three new members
have been enrolled during the session; an increase of
nine for the current year. Seven members have com¬
menced business during the session, including four mem¬
bers of the Council.

“It is satisfactory to note that the financial position of
the Association is very favourable, the balance in Trea¬
surer’s hands having increased to £31 5s. 2d.

“ The programme of papers, issued in October, has been
followed with but three deviations, and in addition five
extra papers on pharmaceutical subjects were volun¬
teered, making a total of sixteen, as follows, viz. : —
* Electro Metallurgy ’ (illustrated by experiments) ;
‘ British Mosses ; ’ ‘ Sir Humphrey Davy ; * ‘ Michael
Faraday;’ ‘Geology of the London District;’
‘ Strength and Impurities of Medicinal Hypophos -
phorous Acid ; ’ ‘ The Physical and Chemical Properties

June 25, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1075

of Blood ‘Induction of Currents and some Practical
Applications thereof ’ (illustrated by experiments) ;
* The Quantitative Analysis of Tinfoil ; ’ ‘ Resorcin ; ’
‘ Quebracho Bark, true and false ; ’ ‘ Preparation and
Strength of Commercial Pepsin ; ’ « Brewing ; ’ ‘ Sul¬
phur ; ’ ‘ Oleate of Bismuth ; * ‘ Phosphoric Acid and
some of its Combinations.

“ Of these, twelve were contributed by members of the
Association.

“ Five social meetings have also been held.

“ The average attendance for the session has been
twenty-four, the lowest being fifteen, and the highest
forty- eight.

“ A successful Annual Dinner was held at the Holborn
Restaurant, on January 26, 1881, at which Professor
Bentley, presided, supported by several eminent pharma¬
cists.

“Arrangements were made with the Council of the
St. John Ambulance Association for the delivery of a
course of eight lectures on ‘First Aid to the Injured.’
Thirty-two members subscribed, and at the conclusion
of the course an examination was held and certificates
awarded to the successful candidates.

“In conclusion, the Council tender their thanks to
donors to the funds of the Association, to the authors of
papers, to all who have rendered assistance to the Asso¬
ciation, and to the members generally for the cordial
support rendered to the Council at all times, and trust a
continuance of the same will enable their successors to
carry on the work of the Association with credit and
success.”

The Hon. Treasurer then presented his balance sheet,
of which the following is a summary : —

Balance from last year . . . £10 5 0

Subscriptions . 21 0 0

Donations . 32 15 6

£64 0 6

Expenditure .

Rent . £20 0 0

Printing and other expenses . 12 15 4

Balance in Treasurer’s hands . 31 5 2

£64 0 6

Mr. F. Carter moved and Mr. Wyatt seconded the adop¬
tion of the report and balance sheet. Carried nem. con.

After several rules had been slightly amende, a vote of
thanks to the Chairman brought the business to a close.

The Council for the current session consists of the
following gentlemen, viz.: — President, Mr. J. E. Stuart;
Vice-Presidents, Messrs. C. R. Killick and W. A.
Wrenn ; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. J. Hills Hartridge ; Hon.
Secretary, Mr. C. Parkinson ; and Messrs. F. W. Bran¬
son, Edmund Jones, E. Lapthorne, T. S. Pearson, A. J.
Phillips, W. H. Priestley, G. F. Snow and Owen
Wallis.

iparliametttejj ;tnir |Wb promftmgs.

Prosecution under 17th Section Pharmacy Act.

At the Greenwich Police Court, on Thursday, dune 16
last, before Mr. H. V. K. Measham (Stipendiary),
Thomas Watkins, of 14, Broadway, Deptford, S.E., was
charged with having sold to George Revill Templeman,
Assistant Secretary of the Chemists and Druggists
Trade Association of Great Britain, certain poison, to
wit, strychnine, in a certain packet, the cover of which
packet did not set forth the name and address of the
seller of the same, and that the said sale was effected the
purchaser being unknown to the seller and not intro¬
duced to the seller, and the date of the sale, the
name and address of the purchaser and the name and
quantity of the article sold, not being entered in a book,

kept by him for that purpose, in contravention of the
statute in such cases made and provided.

Mr. Glaisyer, Solicitor of the Chemists and Druggists’
Trade Association, appeared for the prosecution, and de¬
fendant appeared in person.

Mr. Glaisyer said this was a case under the 17th section
Pharmacy Act, 1868, to regulate the sale of poisons. The
defendant, who was an oil and colour dealer, sold at his
shop in the Broadway, to Mr. Templeman, a packet of
Battle’s vermin killer, which was subsequently analysed
by him and found to contain strychnine, which is poison
within the meaning of the Act; the packet in which the
poison was contained was not labelled with the name and
address of the seller. Mr. Templeman was unknown to
him at the time of the sale and not introduced, as
required by the Act, neither was the sale entered by him
in a book kept for that purpose,

The defendant stated he had no recollection of the sale,
but had no doubt it was true that he sold the article in
question. He had been in business a long time as oil and
colour dealer, and several of his colours contained poison.
He was not aware that he had done anything illegal in
selling the vermin killer and for the future he would
cease to keep it in stock. If the Act applied to the
colours sold by him containing poison, then his business
would be gone.

Mr. Measham said the Act only applied to certain
poisons mentioned in the schedule, and he advised the
defendant to obtain a copy of the Act and peruse it
carefully.

Mr. Measham : I suppose you do not press for a heavy
penalty in this case, Mr. Glaisyer ?

Mr. Glaisyer said he would be content with a small
fine. The object which his clients had in view was to
prevent the sale of poisons by incompetent persons, a
practice which was now carried on to a great extent, and
to show the public that it was illegal to do so.

Mr. Measham, addressing the defendant, said he would
advise him to be careful as to what he sold, and as he
had promised to comply with the requirements of the
Act for the future, he should only inflict the small penalty
of 5s. and costs.

A Disputed Milk Analysis.

At the Birkenhead Police Court, on Tuesday, June 14,
before Mr. Samuell, an adjourned summons against James
Stewart, milk-seller, for selling skimmed milk, came on
for hearing. Mr. Wain prosecuted on behalf of the
local authorities, and Mr. Spence (R. B. Moore and
Spence, Liverpool), appeared for the defendant. At the
previous hearing, Mr. Smith, inspector of milk, had
proved the purchase of a pint of milk on May 27, and
had put in a certificate from Dr. Vacher, the borough
analyst, stating that the milk had been deprived of 15 per
cent, of its cream. Mr. Moore, who appeared for the
defence on the previous occasion, had produced a certifi¬
cate from Dr. Campbell Brown, public analyst of Lan¬
cashire and Liverpool, relative to the quality of the milk,
but this had been ruled to be inadmissible, unless Dr.
Brown was present. Dr. Brown was now in court.

Mr. Wain objected to any evidence being called as to
the quality of the milk other than that of the borough
analyst. This objection the bench overruled.

Mr. Spence urged a number of minute technical objec¬
tions, all of which were overruled, except one as to the
inadequacy of the certificate. With regard to this the
magistrate expressed his opinion that the certificate was
all that the Act required ; but, as it might be desirable
to have more information as to the constituents of the
milk, he was willing to adjourn the case in order that
might be more fully set out.

Dr. Vacher said he had his laboratory book in court,
and was quite prepared to give any particulars. Having
been sworn, he stated in answer to Mr. Spence that in
analysing the milk he first weighed out 10 cubic centi¬
metres of milk, which weighed 10‘29 grams. In ascer

1076

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 25, lSSl-

taining the proportion of solids, instead of totting up to
100, he totted up to 102*9, a very useful mode, and then
the constituents came out : —

Water . 90*21

Fat . 1-70

Solids not fats . 10*99

Total . 102*90

The ash was 0*70. The result of the analysis was to
show that 15 per cent, of fat had been abstracted from
the milk. The standard amount of fat that he required
was 2*00, but the sample showed but 1*7. He had ana¬
lysed milk in which the fats were as high as 6*08, but if
this sample had come up to 2*00 he should not have certi¬
fied against it.

Mr. Spence asked Dr. Vacher what was his experience
as an analyst, and if he had not been unsuccessful in
three or four examinations, but Mr. Samuell said he
could not go into that, and it was not a proper question
to ask. He was satisfied that the corporation of Birken¬
head had appointed a fit and proper person to be the
analyst for the borough, and he was not the person to
examine Dr. Yacher as to his qualifications. He might
as well ask Mr. Spence if he knew more law than
Mr. Wain, or vice versa.

Dr. Yacher said it was not the fact. He never was
plucked at any examination.

Mr. Samuell said it would not make any difference
to him, because the very best men had been sometimes
unsuccessful. He was quite sure he should be plucked if
he went in for any examination now. He went on to
say that he had not the slighest doubt but that both the
analyses were right, but it must be shown that the same
sample of milk was examined by both parties.

Dr. Campbell Brown was then called and stated that on
J une 4, he received a bottle of milk from Mr. J. Stewart,
who was accompanied by another farmer. The bottle was
sealed with a red seal marked “C.I.N. Borough of Birken¬
head.” The seal was intact andhad not been tampered with.
He produced the bottle. When he received it the seal
was in better condition than that of the third, and as yet
untouched, sample produced by the inspector.

Mr. Samuell said it appeared a very insecure method
of sealing the articles. He could draw the cork of the
third sample without injuring the seal.

Dr. Yacher, who was examining the empty bottle
produced by Dr. Brown, said it appeared to have pre¬
viously contained sweet oil, which would add to the
quantity of fatty ingredients in the milk.

Chief Inspector Smith said the bottle was clean when
he filled it. He believed it previously contained spirit.

Dr. Brown said it was butter and not oil that was in
the bottle. He analysed the milk. He found lumps of
butter floating about in it, caused by the churning it had
received in its journey, sufficient to show that it must
originally have been a rich milk. Having taken out the
lumps of butter he ascertained the quantity of fat in them,
and found it of itself to be more than Dr. Yacher had
extracted from the whole of the milk. Then he analysed
the milk that remained and found an additional quantity
of fat, which had not been converted into butter, and
that, added to the butter found floating, made a total of
2*83 per cent, of fat, a standard somewhat above the
average of good Cheshire milk. He did not at all find
fault with Dr. Vacher’s standard, it was rather lower than
his own; therefore it was merely a question whether
Dr. Vacher got the whole of the fat out of his sample of
milk. There was internal evidence quite sufficient to
show that Dr. Vacher failed to get the whole of the fat
out. The proof of that was that he found 10*99 solids
not fats. That was almost the total solids found in
ordinary pure milk as it came from the cow with the fat
still in it. Whenever he got a result like that from an
analysis he knew that he had failed to get out the
whole of the fat, and he did the analysis again.
It was an exceedingly rare thing to get anything

like 10*9 solids not fat; 9*2 or 9*3 were much more
common. Deducting 9*3 from 10*9 left a difference of
1*6, and this was probably the quantity of fat that Dr.
Yacher failed to extract.

Mr. Samuell: Then your contention is this: that a
portion of the solids which Dr. Vacher classed as solids
not fats ought to have been a portion of fat ?

Dr. Campbell Brown said there was no doubt about it
in his mind, from Dr. Vacher’s own analysis, and that
allowance would make it correspond with his, or, in fact,
show the milk to be somewhat richer. That would be
accounted for by the fact that when he analysed the milk
it was a fortnight old, and the solids not fats had de¬
creased by decomposition.

Dr. Vacher said he could not think with Dr. Brown
that the solids not fats never reached beyond the point
of 9*2 or 9*3.

Dr. Brown said it was extremely rare for them to be
beyond 9*5. The standard adopted by the Society of
Public Analysts was 9*0.

Dr. Vacher quoted a work by Dr. Wakelin (sic), but Dr.
Brown said that authority was not worth anything for
judicial purposes, because he put forward a number of
analyses of milks at a much higher standard than were com¬
monly met with. If Dr. Vacher would become a member
of the Society of Public Analysts, he would be aware that
the matter had been very fully discussed by them, and
that they had fixed on a standard of 2 *20 for fats, and
9*00 for solids not fats. Dr. Vacher, by working on his
standard, would in two cases out of ten prosecute for the
addition of water where no water had been added. He
(Dr. Brown) had done over nine thousand milk analyses
up to the present, and something like two out of ten
would have been below the mark if the standard of solids
not fats was put as high as 9*60.

Dr. Vacher asked Dr. Brown whether, the two samples
being analysed, one in a fresh, the other in a sour con¬
dition, the results obtained by the analyst who anatysed
the fresh would not, cceteris paribus , be more likely to be
correct than those of the analyst who analysed the sour.

Dr. Brown replied that the answer to that was that
there was a regular diminution of the solids not fats
owing to the decomposition of the milk, and allowance
was therefore made corresponding to the age of the milk.

Mr. Samuell said this was a very interesting discussion,,
and he would sit and listen to it with a great deal of
pleasure, but he did not think it would aid him in forming
his judgment in the case, because where two gentlemen
disagreed so markedly as in this case as a matter of
course nothing remained for him but to dismiss it.

Summons dismissed with costs. — Birkenhead News.

JLefrteta*.

Practical Botany for Elementary Students. By
D. Houston. W. Stewart and Co., London, E.C.

1880.

The tendency to examine students in practical rather
than in theoretical knowledge is certainly increasing at
the present day and this is a matter for congratulation,
inasmuch as examination must always lead education
either voluntarily or involuntarily.

The object of the little book under consideration is to
meet this requirement of science schools, since it is in¬
tended “ to supply a practical hand-book for the use of
students of elementary botany who desire to obtain, by
the examination of actual specimens, some real knowledge
of the general structure of flowering plants, so far as*
may be worked out by the aid of a sharp penknife, a few
dissecting needles and an ordinary lens.” The preliminary
instructions contain some good hints, and the recommen¬
dation to sketch the dissected parts of plants is a good
one. The main portion of the book consists of very full
descriptions of a selected types of each of the fifteen

June 25, 1881.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

1077

natural orders included in the syllabus of the first step
of elementary botany issued by the Science and Art
Department. After the description of each type follows a
short lisc of some of the commoner species of the order,
a brief account of the general properties, uses and dis¬
tribution in time and space of the plants of the order, a
synopsis of the orders, another of all the natural orders of
British plants, and an index. It is difficult to under¬
stand the use of such a book except in the hands of a
teacher, since one of the primary recommendations issued
in the preface is to procure “ an elementary text-book
on structural and physiological botany, preferably Dr.
Hooker’s.” None of the terms are explained and the plants
are mentioned only by their English names. Thus, the
meadow buttercup is described as having “roots, fibrous,”
without any allusion to the fact that one meadow butter¬
cup possesses a corm ; and in the same natural order no
description is given of aconite, one of its most important
plants and one most difficult for a beginner to understand.
The natural orders being arranged in their systematic
sequence, it would be impossible for the student to go
consecutively through the list of plants, since in it white
goosefoot comes before the wild hyacinth and the sweet
pea before the hazel, spotted orchis and other spring
plants. The only possible use that can be conjectured
would be to use it as a key to ascertain, after describing
the plants mentioned in a schedule, whether the descrip¬
tion be correct. But even this would fail in some par¬
ticulars, in such a case as that of the meadow buttercup,
if the strident gathered any but Ranuncuhis acris ; nor
would probably the student, unaided, gather specimens
of the plant suitable to show all the characters mentioned
in the description. On the other hand, if a student care¬
fully examined these fifteen plants without examining
others, he would be able, in case any of these common
plants happened to be given for examination, to get more
marks than another who had not done so, and win se
practical knowledge might be more extensive. No one
could, however, carefully go through these fifteen plants
and dissect them under the eyes of a teacher without
having gained at least a knowledge of how to examine
plants practically, and on this account the book may be
safely used in science schools, but can be of little use to
the unaided student.

ComsponDcnce.

No notice can be taken of anonymous communica
lions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be autheiJi
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessar ly
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Society’s Journal.

gjj- _ I cannot see that Mr. E. Smith, if he at the Annual

Meeting said no more than he is reported to have said,
“ raised a presumption of mismanagement ” of the Soe-ety s
Journal. Whether or no he indicated it by manner, tone
of voice, or in some more subtle way, I, not having been

present, cannot say. . , .

His inquiries seem to me genuine and business-like,
pointiD* fairly to the demand for a supplementary detailed
Journal* account, which year after year has in vain been

urged upon the compilers of the annual statement.

The copyright of the Pharmaceutical Journal is without
doubt a valuable property, and its owners have a right to
know all about its working.- Nor is it fair to the memory
of Jacob Bell that his generous gift to the Society should
be so manipulated in the annual statement as to appear to
outsiders a source of loss rather than gam to the amount of

hundreds of pounds. . .

I can see no valid reason against a separate Journal
account in which cre.1 it nhould bo taken for the wholesale
price of the numbers distributed gratis by the Society.
The Society would, on the other hand, place the like sum
on the expenditure side of its annual statement to be each
year, I believe, more than balanced by a substantial and
unmistakable Profit of Pharmaceutical Journal.

So much time has in my remembrance been wasted by
inquiries directed towards the clearing up of the Journal
mystery, that I hope our worthy Secretaiy, a notoriously
good accountant, will be authorized to present in future the
J ournal account in such a form as to render further in¬
quiries unnecessary. Thos. B. Groves.

Sir, — Mr. Smith, in his criticisms on the Journal account
appears to be suffering from a very obstinate attack of
mental obliquity of vision for which there seems to be but
slight cause and I am afraid no relief.

Not many years since Mr. Smith was a member of the
Council; he surely ought then to have become acquainted
with the method of bringing forward the Journal account
into the several balance sheets; if he were not satisfied he
should have impressed on his colleagues the advisability
of publishing a full and particular debtor and creditor
account of the Journal : possibly liis intelligence at that
time had not been awakened to the enormity of the
offence.

Had the question respecting the Journal account been put
by an ordinary member of tbe Society the supposition would
have been that it was really for the sake of gaining infor¬
mation; but coming as it did from an ex-member of the
Council one is quite at a loss to account for the apparent lack
of knowledge evinced.

It was somewhat unreasonable to expect the President
to give him office figures without previous notice. He might
on another occasion, with as much reason, or rather with as
little reason, ask for particulars of the salaries of the
several clerks, etc., emplo3’ed at Bloomsbury Square. The
President’s statement at the Council Meeting on the 4th
inst., supplemented by your leader on the Uth inst., offers
an ample and satisfactory account of the disposal of the
Journals; if Mr. Smith is still unable to understand the
figures as published we may reasonably despair of pro¬
vincial education.

It appears that last year there was a weekly issue of
about 7* 00 Journals, the whole of the expenses incidental
to the publication during the year being paid by the adver¬
tisements and Messrs. Churchill’s sales, with a gain to the
Society of about £10. Had it not been for the expenses
attendant on the publishing of the index to the last ten
volumes the profit to the Society would have been about
£150. This seems to me to be very satisfactory. About 6000
numbers of the Journal are handed over every week to the
Society, which has engaged to give a Journal to each person
connected therewith who pays the subscription, and thus
becomes entitled to receive it. The postage paid for the
delivery of those numbers of the Journal, therefore, should
surely be charged to the general fund, and should not be
considered as a Journal charge at all. As I take it, the
postage of the Journal is an actual charge as against the
subscriptions received.

Mr. Smith’s remark, ££if there were no Journal there
would he no postage” is quite tiue, hut very absurd, and
not pertinent to the point at issue ; he might as well say if
there were no Pharmaceutical Society there would be no
Journal.

1 had not the pleasure of hearing Mr. Smith’s speech at
Bloomsbury Square on May 18, but as published in the
Journal he evidently takes full advantage of an English¬
man’s privilege of grumbling ; he commences by grumbling,
he goes on grumbling, and ends by grumbling. What a
time of it his assistants must have if he usually gives vent
to his feelings with such splenetic vigour !

No person can object, and the Council least of all, to fair
and honest criticism upon the annual report. Mr. Smith’s
captious remarks and opposition come from him, as an
ex-member of tbe Council, with an especial ill grace; he,
as one who has shared its labours, ought to be the first to
give all due credit to the Council in its honest endeavour
to do the best for the advantage and benefit of the Phar¬
maceutical Society.

Kilburn. W. T. Tucker.

Fh a r m ac euti c a l Educatio X.

g;r _ The subject of education and the claims of the

provinces appear to have engaged the attention of the last
Annual Meeting. Would you allow me through your corre¬
spondence columns to say that it has frequently occurred
to me that if some good scheme could be devised and carried
out by means of which the pharmaceutical contra in

1078

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

June 25, 1881.

Bloomsbury Square could keep up more frequent com¬
munications with the young men throughout the country
who are to form the future pharmacists, that a great
advantage would be gained by the Society and a great
benefit conferred upon the young men themselves ? Perhaps
one of the best possible means by which the Council in
London could connect itself with the various extremities
of the trade and profession throughout the kingdom, would
be through the agency of the provincial pharmaceutical
associations already in existence. I would suggest that
the Council institute local examinations, to be held say in
June in each year, in all the large towns where a responsible
committee, satisfactory to the Council, can be formed to
take charge of the examinations.

Taking it for granted that all youths pass the Prelimi¬
nary before they enter the trade, their term of apprentice¬
ship might be profitably spent in working up for these
local examinations year by year. Suppose there were two
grades in each subject with questions suitable for each, and
it be a rule that the grades be taken consecutively and the
subjects in a certain order, a constant incentive to study
would be held out to the young men during the time of
their apprenticeship, and if it was thought desirable prizes
or books might be offered for those students who obtained
a certain proficiency. One of the evils of the present
system is that young men pass much of the leisure time of
their apprenticeship without due regard to their studies,
and then when they attain majority think to “cram” all
they need for the Minor in, a few months’ time by
attendance at some of the schools specially organized for
the purpose of meeting the wants of such students, when,
if they do succeed, much of the information obtained thus
hastily is as quickly lost ; whereas if the student could be
induced to take these progressive steps, year by year, he
would be much more likely ts retain his knowledge. I
would not by any means seek to dispense with, or super¬
sede, the present examinations, but let them be the final
ones of a series instead of as now the only ones. Such an
organization, somewhat on the lines adopted by the
“Science and Art Department,” might meet the case;
indeed many students who now pass the “ Science and Art
Examinations ” as helps in their studies would, I think,
be glad to have some examinations specially relating to
the applications of science to their trade or profession.

Suppose a youth (as all should) passes his Preliminary
before he is apprenticed, he might in the first year take the
second grade examination in chemistry and botany.

Second year, the first grade in these subjects.

Third year, an examination in materia medica, second
grade, and one in reading and translating prescriptions,
second grade.

Fourth year, examinations in the first grade of these
subjects.

The papers set in these examinations should not be
difficult ones, but such as would tend to lead a student
up by degrees to the final examination in London. It does
seem to me that if some such scheme as I have l-oughly
suggested could be worked in a liberal spirit by the Council
it would be the means of very materially helping the pro¬
vinces by quickening the languid, and in some cases almost
expiring, local associations, by giving them something to
do, some purpose to serve in advancing the interests and
welfare of apprentices and assistants, and some more
intimate connection with the vital centre in London.

Leeds. Geo. Ward.

Assistants’ Salaries.

Sir, — After the voluminous correspondence in the Journal
of to-day, dealing with the subject of chemists’ grievances,
as well as your leading article on reform as to qualification,
I am in hope the question will be taken in hand at the
headquarters of the Pharmaceutical Society. The sugges¬
tions offered by “A Life Member for more than Twenty
Years ” are worthy of deep consideration, and if adopted
would, in a very great measure, lighten the burdens of those
in the trade.

In your leading article you say, “ It would be distinctly to
the advantage of competent men if recourse were had to the
original intention of the Pharmaceutical Society’s founders
to make the Minor examination a test of qualification for
assistants, and if it were made legally requisite that
every assistant should be qualified in that way.” I should
be glad to see this become law, but think it will be some

years before we are ripe for it, not until we cease to be
general dealers. What is to my mind the greatest evil that
we have to contend with, is, that chemists may have any
number of branch shops, leaving them under the manage¬
ment of assistants who are not qualified. What legislation
can we ask for against co-operative stores, grocers and sta¬
tioners in the face of such a legality? Every branch shop
should be under the management of a qualified assistant.
Let the question be taken up by our leading men and pushed
forward, its consistency will commend it to the minds of all
but those interested in maintaining the law as it stands.
It may be said that this would throw many competent men
out of employment. It would drive them either to Blooms¬
bury Square or to some other vocation, in either case a
desirable result. At any rate we must not neglect the
interests of the trade generally for the sake of those who
have neglected their opportunities. I will give, as shortly
as possible, what in my opinion are the advantages to be
derived by compelling chemists to have a qualified assistant
in each branch shop.

1. The proportion of assistants who are not qualified
being decidedly greater than of those who are, there would
be a greater demand for qualified men and a consequent
higher price offered for their services.

2. If the remuneration were higher, young men would
not be so eager to rush into business for themselves, so that
there would be fewer but better shops, and masters would
be better able to pay and assistants to demand higher
salaries.

3. If chemists had to pay their managers higher salaries
there would not be so many branch shops.

In advocating the change I have mentioned, I do not
write in the interest of either class, masters or assistants,
but in the interest of the trade at large. It is not desirable
that a few should have such facilities for monopolizing (or
nearly so) the trade. Putting that view of the matter aside,
there cannot be two opinions as to the policy of bringing
about this alteration in the law. We cannot look for
assistance from the owners of branch shops, but let not the
Pharmaceutical Society attach too much importance to the
possibility of losing some subscriptions by moving in the
direction indicated.

I am aware that this subject is not being brought
forward for the first time, but it is a pressing one, and one
which ought to be thoroughly ventilated.

Spero.

Sir, — I quite agree with your correspondent who signs
himself “ A Life Member for more than Twenty Years,” in
reference to assistants’ salaries, as much of the mischief does
result from the employers calling themselves chemists and
thereby obtaining apprentices.

I could quote an instance of a chemist in a fashionable
watering place who styles himself “Associate of the Phar¬
maceutical Society of Great Britain by examination both
classical and technical,” also assayer of drugs, etc., and yet
at the same time probably his principal trade is in paraffin
oil and benzoline, selling all kinds of paints (even lending
b ushes), postage stamps and envelopes, tea, cigars, etc.,
etc., so when by accident a prescription is brought in it
causes a sensation and a search all over the shop to find, if
possible, the various ingredients.

I do, for one, sir, consider it would be absurd to call my
place a pharmacy when, as before observed, my chief trade
is in oils and paints, also tobacco, cigars, etc. ; and to take
an apprentice would be cruel to him and also robbing his
guardians. Anti-Humbug.

Sir, — May I again trespass on your valuable space with
a few remarks on the above subject, and especially on the
letter of Mr. Doubleday which I think forms a striking
contrast to the broader views taken by “A Life Member ”
and “ Equality?” Although I do not object to be included
in the category of grumblers, yet the statement of Mr.
Doubleday, that, in my course of procedure, I am
endeavouring to degrade the community to which I have
the honour to belong, is a direct offence to my amour
propre which I cannot let pass.

That we have no cause for grumbling seems not only
adverse to the general opinion, but also to the dictates of
common sense. It would be interesting to know how Mr.
Doubleday intends to improve our condition or status by

.June 25, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1079

other means than promoting shortened hours and increased
remuneration. I am desirous of seeing pharmacy in a still
higher state of proficiency, but I am of the opinion that the
public are at present well served, yet the rapid progress
and increased intelligence we have acquired as a scientific
body has so far done little to increase our privileges. I
would commend the last two sentences of the letter signed
“Equality” for Mr. Doubleday’s peruaal. Prom ample
opportunities of observation I have had, I am convinced
that there is more scope for men of tact and smart business
qualities in almost every other business than our own. It
is well known that young men of business habits attain
salaries of £300 and £400 in some of the London silk and
drapery houses, whereas I have authority for stating that
there are not a dozen chemists’ assistants engaged in retail dis¬
pensing who receive £150 a year outdoor; E am including
the largest W est-end houses, where presumably the best men
are employed. I can, however, give the names of one or
two jewellers in London who pay their assistants £300 a
year.

If Mr. Doubleday takes an engagement in any first class
dispensing establishment during the London season, he
will find precious little time to conduct amateur experi¬
ments or marvel at their results, which alike are sternly
regarded by principals as involving both waste of time and
chemicals.

It is difficult to understand how any young man of spirit
can content himself “in making nails for his own coffin ”
from 7-30 a.m. to 9 p.m., when our contemporaries with
shorter hours of business are spending their evenings at this
season of the year in cricket, boating, or country rambles.
I still maintain that a shortened system of hours is (at
present) the first step in the right direction.

Let us then make a vigorous effort to secure for ourselves
the enjoyment of those privileges which, as principals in a
few years hence, we may generously and ungrudgingly grant
to the generation of assistants who shall serve us.

Reformer.'

Sir, — I read “A Revolutionist’s ” letter in the Journal on
the inadequate remuneration of chemists’ assistants, but
as his letter lacked a remedy for ameliorating our position
and having himself left the trade for a more lucrative
sphere, I fail to see what object he could have in making
known his grievance except a desire to disseminate that
dissatisfied feeling amongst assistants which his letter was
calculated to produce.

He appears to have drawn a one-sided picture of the case.
He unfavourably compares our pay with that of drapers
assistants, and beholds a white mountain in the cotton
trade where men receive £350 a year, but omitted men¬
tioning the number that attain that exalted position
without interest in less than ten years after apprenticeship.
If he turns his attention to a university graduate who has
spent a small fortune on his education, engaging himself as
curate for £120 a year, and maintaining his position in
-society, he will find some consolation in the fact that he is
not the only educated person who has not been able to save
money out of his earnings. Or he may take the case of a
surgeon, who is little better paid than we during assis-

He says it is necessary to lay out £S0 to £150 as
premium in good houses. That is true, and a great deal more
would be required to get into some houses, but young men
who can afford to pay that amount can generally buy an
established business without the aid of their earnings.

Then he describes the nature of his work, and gives his
salary as £40. Assuming him to possess ordinary business
abilities he has disposed of his services below market value
and deserved something more worthy. But on the subject
of salary he has betrayed himself, as he says- A young
man immediately after apprenticeship is expected to pass
the Minor, and then receives £30 or £40 a yeai. It A
Revolutionist ” has done what is expected m others and
passed the Minor, even in Ins fifth year, and received a
salarv of £40, his salary, instead of increasing as is the
case wi?h other young men, has remained stationary ever

61 The letters of “ Assistant ” and “ Reformer ” are written
in about the same strain, the gist being a suggestion for
forming a sort of trade union amongst assistants to resist
the matters’ terms. Though I have myself been an assis-
tanlTfor many yeara, 1 would gladly hail any improvement

in our ranks, but would be sorry to see such a crisis in the
trade, and in all seriousness I advise the assistants to avoid
to importune the masters with their plaint, and accept
their position as it stands, since they entered the trade
with open eyes, and they admit an improvement in it
since. It would be well for “ Reformer” first to seek the
experience of those who have, to their bitter cost, tried what
he now advocates, and he would then probably see that
this agitation in the Irish fashion deserves to be sup¬
pressed.

I have read “ Life Member’s ” letter and have given it
my serious consideration. Excellent as his remarks appear
m theory, most of them are totally impracticable; he and
you, judging by your leader, seem to be quite ignorant of
the state of pharmacy in the country, and if his suggestions
were carried out it would shut up quite 80 per cent, of the
shops which are at present carrying on a dispensing business
in connection with other trades.

R. W.

Sir, — Mr. F. W. Doubleday evidently began his letter
with the intention of proving that assistants are not under¬
paid, and that the opinion expressed by some to the contrary
is incorrect. If such was the task he set himself he achieved
a splendid failure.

I fail to see how we are degrading and placing ourselves
on the same level as farm servants and striking mechanics,
simply because we are trying to remedy a grievance admitted
by every correspondent who has written on the subject, and
not refutingly referred to in your leader of last week.

Mr. F. W. D. says that masters find great difficulty in
obtaining thoroughly conscientious and sober assistants,
who are able to take charge of either the retail or the dis¬
pensing counter. It does not require any great amount of
pentration to perceive that, if chemists require competent
assistants, they must be prepared to offer salaries in propor¬
tion to the experience and practical knowledge they desire
their assistants to possess, otherwise they will have to ac¬
cept the services of those, who, from lack of experience and
defective education, cannot secure a good situation, hence
are compelled to take the first they can get so long as it will
prevent them from starvation. Firms that pay well are
generally able to obtain efficient assistants, but if others
think they can do so for sums which any farm servant or
striking mechanic would refuse, I am afraid they are
mistaken.

It is quite refreshing to find that one amongst us is not
only not dissatisfied, but is even enchanted by having to
work from 7.30 to 9 p.m. I would suggest that he applies
for an extension of hours, and his request would doubt¬
lessly be complied with; then he would be able to live a life
in which he seems to revel. 1 think that such long hours of
hard work in an impure atmosphere tend to ruin the strongest
constitution amongst us and the life of seclusion we are made
to lead eradicates any desire we may have possessed to as¬
sociate with our fellow-men, and so leaves us a class of men
isolated from the general public and never interesting mar-
selves in anything beyond what immediately concerns us or
our trade.

The letter of a “Life Member” clearly points at the root
of the evil existing among chemists at present. By the
adoption of the principle of his letter, the chemist would
soon be better qualified to take up and hold a higher posi¬
tion in public estimation than the one he occupies now,
which though much lower he is not so well qualified to fulfil.
If such conditions as he names were in force and known
to the public, the number of apprentices would not be near
so large as heretofox-e, because of the expense which such a
course of ti’aining and instruction would be to their parents.
The decrease in number of apprentices would be followed by
a gradual corresponding decrease in assistants, who not being
so numerous, and steadily becoming a more efficient staff,
would be able to command better situations and higher
wa^es. Then when the assistants are better paid they will
be able to save a little capital, open a shop and carry on
business without the destructive competition so rampant
among chemists at present, and which is caused to a great
extent by young men beginning without any capital, and, to
enable them to keep going, selling articles at prices which are
simply infamous. Masters will say, that if assistants were
better paid there would soon be an overplus of chemists, as
directly they had amassed a little capital, they would com¬
mence for themselves. This, I think, would not be the case,

1080

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 25, 18S1.

as the supply of assistants would be much smaller in conse¬
quence of the falling off in the quantity of apprentices, and
the number beginning business would not be greatly in ex¬
cess of the deaths of chemists or not more than the increase
of the population of the country demands.

Incognito.

Sir, — Surely no one can have perused Mr. Doubleday’s
letter in Saturday’s Journal without feeling envious of his
position.

An uninterrupted shower of contentment must have in¬
advertently fallen on the head of this fortunate monitor of
“ pill rollers ” when we consider that our greatest source of
enjoyment, viz., “rambling nature,” is the only barrier
which stands between our hero and the climax of happiness.

It is most unjust of anyone, who perhaps by a chance
tide has been safely landed, to cast dirt in the faces of those

?oor unfortunates who are left to struggle with the waves.

t is amusing to notice the method which Mr. Doubleday
adopts in trying to reconcile “grumbling chemists’ assist¬
ants” to their lot. First, he classes them far below their
station, classes them with mechanics and farm labourers,
then he quietly reminds them that though in this condition
they are his brethren, and advises them to do to others in
future as others have done to them in the past. No wonder
that Mr. Doubleday finds his work enchanting when he
has so much time to marvel and experiment. This may
account to some extent for his long hours of business. A
little more experience, and perhaps he will be able to
compress two days into one. Some may be inclined to
think that the discussion which is at present being carried
on in the Journal will tend to degrade the profession ; it
cannot be said to be elevating, but surely it is requisite,
and I earnestly hope it may have the desired effect.

Before closing I would like to state my own experience.
On being apprenticed I was told that it was necessary to
pass two examinations, which were quite simple. My
employer undertook to give me lessons in Latin, a task
which he was utterly unable to perform, consequently after
the expiry of my apprenticeship I had to attend classes for
Latin and arithmetic, the fees for which I could ill afford
to pay. After failing several times I got through my Pre¬
liminary examination, and only began to work for the
Minor ( minus lectures, time and means not allowing such)
at a time when I ought to have been over it. I have got
over it now, however, and after nine years’ experience
receive a salary equal to £25 indoor. When I shall be able
to start in business on my own account remains a mystery.

Defence.

Sir, — In answer to Mr. Double lay’s letter, I beg to say
that I am one of those “fair specimens of the large com¬
munity of grumbling chemists’ assistants;” but then I
consider I have something to grumble at, the hours being
long, Sunday work required, and the remuneration slender.
Again, I do not always find business so “enclunting”
when customers ha^e a prescription for twelve pills, and
want half the number, and they would be glad if you would
kindly give them a “crpy” of the prescription for the
mixture, which they do not happen to want just now, but
they like to have it by them. In this sense perhaps,
“ something fresh may always be turning up for us to
marvel at and experiment upon.”

For my part I cordially agree with the views of “ Re¬
volutionist” and “Reformer,” and it is only when some
sweeping alterations have been made in that enchanting,
fascinating calling, “ where time flies so quickly,” that we
shall be “as contented as rambling nature will allow us
to be.”

“ 7'30 A.M. TO 10 P.M.”

Sir, — Your correspondent “F. W. Doubleday” must be
a man of very peculiar temperament if he is content to stand
behind the counter every night until 9 p.m.

As to our salaries, I do not think there is much to com¬
plain about, for a a young man who is well up to his business,
and who has passed the necessary examinations can always
find a situation and obtain a good salary. But to return to
our long hours, for that is our real grievance, I ask any man
of common sense if it is fair to keep young men behind the
counter until 9 p.m. for six days a week, with five hours of
Sunday duty? Such are the hours which the majority of
Edinburgh chemists think fit to confine their assistants. I

write as an Edinburgh qualified assistant. Now, what
time is there for healthy recreation after that hour ? It is
true that a great many chemists’ assistants acquire intem¬
perate habits from the fact that innocent amusements are
withheld from them, owing to the late hours.

“ Incognito ” writes a very honest letter, and it would be
well for us if masters would follow his advice.

Although “F. W. Doubleday” is contented to ramble
thirteen hours and a half daily behind the counter, I am
sure the majority of us would prefer to ramble elsewhere
after 8 p.m. on week-days, and every alternate Sunday at
least.

“Liberty.”

Repetition of Prescriptions.

Sir, — I have read with considerable interest what you
say about the repetition of prescriptions, and beg to
acquaint you with a case in point. A few days ago a young
lady, apparently (and as it proved actually) hardly fourteen
years of age, brought here to be dispensed, for herself, a
prescription of which I enclose a copy. It had evidently
been originally written for her mother (whose maiden
name it bore), but of whose age at the time I knew nothing.
The dose of tinct. canthar. is, as you will notice, nearly

fifteen drops. Should I have been justified in dispensing
the prescription without further inquiry — or even with it ?
Perhaps some of your readers will say.

$ Pil. Aloes c. Myrrh . 3iss.

Ferri Sulph . 3ij.

01. Pulegii . n\xvi.

Syr. q.s. ut ft pil. xxiv aequales, quarum gum. iij omni
nocte.

1£> Liq. Potassse,

Tinct. Lyttse ........ aa ^v.

Sp. Lavand. Co . 3j.

M. Cap. gtt. xxx. ex cyatho thea zingib. et humuli
meridie et vespere.

Islander.

Bleached Corks.

Sir, — A strange occurrence came under my notice a few
days since, which I think may be of interest to some of your
readers, and may put them on their guard. A prescription
was handed in to me, was duly dispensed and sent to the
patient’s home. The following morning the medical man
brought the bottles back saying that one bottle (the acid)
smelt so badly that the patient thought that putrid water
had been used ; on taking out the cork there was no doubt
that sulphuretted hydrogen had been generated, but from
what cause I was at a loss to know. I dispensed another
acid mixture which the medical man wanted, and it ap¬
peared, as it should, perfectly free from any taint. Judge
of my surprise, on examining it twenty minutes later, to find
it just as bad as the first.

Now these two were dispensed in precisely the game way,
with the same kind of bottle, cork, acid and water (filtered).

I then dispensed a third, using the same kind of bottle,
acid and water, but a short vial cork instead of a long dis¬
pensing one. This one remained in a perfect state, not de¬
composing in the slightest degree.

From these results it seems conclusive that it was the
cork that caused the sulphuretted hydrogen to be formed,
and the only way that I can account for it is that the corks
had been bleached with sulphurous acid. The mixtures
were simple ones, as follows: —

\}o Sodae Bicarb . 5j, 3ij.

Liq. Bismuthi . 5iv.

A. Hydrocy. Dil. . . . mxxv.

iEther. Chlor . “j.

Aquae . ad ^vj.

M.

A.. Cit. . . . . . . . . . . .

Aquae . svj.

F. R.

Communications, Letters, etc. have been received from
Dr. Trimen; Messrs. Parker, Brewis, Fairbank, Turner,
Hutchinson, Grail, Martell, Endymion, Inquirer, Student,
Ignorans, Chemicus, Hughenden, Galen, J. N., W. S.,

T. H. D.

June 25, 1881.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1081

INDEX TO VOL. XI.

(THIRD SERIES.)

Aberdeen Society of Chemists and Drug¬
gists, 785.

Abraham, J., Obituary Notice of, 728,
745.

Absinthe as an Insectifuge, 352.

Acetic and Allied Acids (D. Gorrie),
501.

Acetylorthoamidobenzoic Acid, 401.
Aconite Alkaloids, Report on the (C.
R. A. Wright and E. H. Rennie),
217.

— Japanese, 351.

— Japanese (D. V. Wasowicz), 149.

— Poisoning by, 424, 566.

— Roots, Japanese and Chinese (A.

Langgaard), 1021, 1041.

Aconitine and Allied Alkaloids, Cha¬
racteristics of (C. R. A. Wright), 2.

— Commercial, Varying Activity of,

611, 896.

— Crystallized v. Amorphous (C. R. A.

Wright), 19, 148.

— What is, Editorial Remarks on the

Question, 51.

Acorus calamus, 21.

Actinomeris Helianthoides, 714.

Adams, W. G., Constituents of Bodies,
222.

Adenanthera pavonina, 109.
Adulteration Bill, Proposed, for the
United States, 216.

— Daily Telegraph on, 794.

— Drug, American Definition of, 1072.

— Prize Essay upon, 446.

zEthusa Cynapium, 349; (J. Harley),
437.

Agriculture, Application of Chemistry
to (J. H. Gilbert), 230, 254, 335,
390, 414.

Aitken, R., Cochineal and Cochineal
Colouring, 763.

Aitkin, W., Obituary Notice of,
387.

Alcohol, Presence of, in Air, Earth and
Water, 795.

Algiers, School of Pharmacy in, 580.
Alkali Acts, Proposed Amendment of
the, 803.

Alkaloids, Crystallized, Identification of,
by Use of Microscope and Polarized
Light (A. P. Smith), 994.

— Nitro-Prussides of the (E. W. Davy),

756.

— Solubility of, in Alcohol (A. H. La-

fean), 902.

Allen, A. H., Petroleum Spirit and
Analogous Liquids, 266.

— A. H., and W. Thomson, Action

of Solvents on Saponified Oils and
Waxes, 1032.

— C. B., Election of Council, 997.

— C. B., Future of Pharmacy, 427.

— C. B., Pharmacy Acts Amendment

Bill, 627.

— C. B., Saffron, Note on the History

of, 449.

— H., Heat in Relation to Chemical

Action, 878, 903.

Aloes, Borntrager’s Test for (R. H.
Groves), 1045.

— Jafferabad (E. M. Holmes), 733.

— Species of (J. Baker), 746.

Alstonia Alkaloids, 251, 331.

— Constricta Bark (O. Hesse), 775.

— Spectabilis, Bark of (O. Hesse), 369.
Alstonidine, 777.

Alstonine, 776.

Alumen, B.P. (W. W. Will), 731.
Aluminium Alcohols (J. H. Gladstone),
442.

Amber Liquid for Show Bottles, 912.
American Pharmaceutical Association,
312.

Ammonia, Camphorate of, 208.

— Alkaline Solutions of, Report on ( J .

Woodland), 323.

— Compounds, New, 896.

— Poisoning by, 786.

— Synthetical Production of, (G. S.

Johnson), 624, 1074.

Ammonium, Bitartrate, 1006.

— Borocitrates, 390.

— Bromide, 1025.

— Nitrate and the Reaction between

Hydrogen aud Nitric Oxide in Pre¬
sence of Spongy Platinum (L. T.
Wright), 993.

— Picrate in Malaria, 796.

Amyl, Nitrite of, to preserve Urine,
983.

Amylamines of Fermentation (R. T.

Plimpton), 947.

Ansesthetics, New, 432, 512.

Anda Agu, Oil of, 796.

Andeer, J., Resorcin and its Therapeu¬
tic Uses, 435.

Andrews, F., Glycerole of Cinchona,
448.

Angraecum fragrans, Leaves of (H.
Paschkis), 913.

Anniversary Proceedings, Editorial Re¬
marks on the, 960.

Annual General Meeting, 961.

— Meeting, Letters respecting the (An-

nonymous), 999, 1020 ; (M. J. Ell-
wood), 998 ; (E. H. Storey), 1059 ;
(W. C. Taylor), 1020.

Annuitants, Deaths of, 258, 420, 440,
681,

— Election of, 518.

Antimony, Native Oxide of, 372.

— Tartrates, Constituents of the, 722.
Apomorphia Hydrochlorate in Sun¬
stroke, 111.

Apprentices, Election of, 29, 117, 298,
376, 557, 631, 737, 840, 919, 1009.
Aqua Lauro-Cerasi, Report on Strength
of Commercial Specimens of, (J.
Woodland), 322.

— Mellis, 871.

Arachis liypogsea, 494.

Aralia spinosa (L. H. Holden), 210.
Aristolochiacese as Antidotes to Snake
Poisoning (R. Modlen), 411.
Armstrong, H. E., Hydrocarbons from
Rosin Spirit, 624.

— H.E., Naphthalene Derivatives, 524,
1073.

Army, Supply of Drugs to the, 784.
Arsenic Act, The, 681.

— Illegal Sale of, 465.

— - in Tincture and Solution of Per-
chloride of Iron (F. W. Fletcher),
282

— Poisoning by, 387, 830, 949.

— Separation and Determination of, 552.
Arsenical Colours, Action respecting, 16.
Arsenicum, Gravimetric Estimation of

Small Quantities of (F. W. Flet¬
cher), 282, 348 ; (W. H. Darling),
328 ; (W. Thomson), 328.

Arum maculatum, 981, 1062.

— margaritiferum, 21.

Asarum Canadense, Oil of, 430.
Asimina triloba, 1061.

Aspidosperma Quebracho Bark, Alka¬
loids of (O. Hesse), 589.

Aspidospermine, 432, 896.

— and Paytine (N. Wulfsberg), 252,

269.

Assafcetida, Adulterated Sample of, 251.
Assistants, Qualifications of, 1047.

— Salaries, Letters respecting (Anony¬

mous), 1000, 1039, 1057, 1077; (F.
W. Doubleday), 1058.

1082

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

[June 25, 1SS1

Associates, Election of, 29, 116, 297,

375, 456, 557, 631, 737, 840, 918,
1009.

Atherosperma moschata, Oil of, 796.
Atropic Acid, Synthesis (A. Laden-
burg), 822.

Atropine and Daturine, Reaction dis¬
tinguishing, 431.

— as a Preparative to the Administra¬

tion of Chloroform, 796.

— in Cancer, 895.

Attfield, J., Analytical Certificates, 998.

— Professor and the Foundation of the

Pharmaceutical Conference (R.
Reynolds and H. B. Brady), 247.

— Professor, Conference Testimonial

to, 12, 82, 171, 578.

— Professor, Report on Practical Che¬

mistry Class, 305.

Austin, W., Stamped Lozenges and the
Inland Revenue, 812.

Azo Dyes (G. Tate), 820.

“Baby’s Mixture,” Poisoning by a, 425.
Bacha, 21.

Bacteria, Action of, on Various Gases
(F. Hatton), 765.

Bacterial Life, Action of Compounds
Inimical to (W. M. Hamlet), 868.
Baildon, H. C., Obituary Notice of,
564, 566.

Baker, J. G., Note on Mikania Guaco,
471.

— J. G., Species of Aloes, 746.
Balances (W. Greig), 952.

Ball, Chemists’, 580, 600.

Balsam Fir, the, 333.

Baraka var, 22.

Barclay, T., Pharmacy Act Amendment
Bill, 586.

Barnes, J. B., Ipecacuanha Wine, 259.
Bathe, F. J., Assistants in the South of
France, 208.

Baur, J., Root of Hydrangea arbores-
cens, 901.

Bay Rum, 692.

Bayley, T., Colour, Properties and Re¬
lations of a Group of Metals, 399.
Bdellium, Opaque and Indian, 41.
Beaven, A., Benevolent Fund, 872.
Beberia Sulphate (J. Nesbit), 620.

Bell, A. G., Selenium and the Photo¬
phone, 272.

— Scholarships, Award of the, 119.
Belladonna, Japanese, Constituents of

(A. Langgaard), 10.

— Liniment, Poisoning by, 849.
Benevolent Fund Account, 965.

— Fund, Annual Dinners and the, 736.

— Fund Committee, Reports of the, 30,

117, 298, 376, 458, 558, 635, 738,
840,921,1011.

— Fund, Discussion respecting the,

120, 301, 375, 558, 634, 841, 920.

— Fund, Editorial Remarks on the,

295, 83', 942.

— Fund, E ction of Annuitants, 518.

— Fund, G nts from the, 30, 117, 298,

376, 45 558, 635, 738, 840, 921,

1011.

— Fund,L J. ers respecting the (Anony¬

mous), b 7, 891 ; (A. Beaven), 872;
(R. H. D< wn), 950 ; (A. W. Postans),
999.

— Fund, Proposed Record of Donations

to the, 558, 634, 840, 920, 942, 970.

Bentley, Professor, Report on Botany
and Materia Medica Class, 303.

— Professor, Report on Herbarium

Prize, 306.

Benzoic Acid, Artificial and Natural,
432.

Benzoin, Test between Palambang and
Sumatra, 251.

Benzoylic Cyanide, Action of Zinc
Ethyl on (E. Frankland and D. A.
Louis), 399.

Bergenin, 511.

Beth-a-barra, 714.

Berthelot and Ditte’s Researches on
Metallic Chlorides, 1053.

Bidwell, S., Selenium and its Applica¬
tions to the Photophone and Pho¬
totelegraphy, 1033.

Bismuth and Bismuth Compounds
(M. M. P. Muir), 399.

— Iodides, 1063.

— Oleate (C. R. Killick), 869.

— Oxides of (M. M. P. Muir), 1074.

— Phosphate, 985.

— Preparations, Blackening of the

Tongue by, 715.

Bissett, W. H., Effects of the Frost,
628.

Blackman, T., Pharmacy Act Amend¬
ment Bill, 606.

Blake, J., Relation between Molecular
Properties and Physiological Ac¬
tion of Inorganic Compounds, 1026.
Blunt, T. P., Boruretted Hydrogen,
488.

Boa, P., Chloral and Croton Chloral,
441.

Bodies, Constitution of ( W. G. Adams),

222.

Boettger, R., Death of, 992.

Books Received, 18, 60, 166, 387, 467,
506, 584, 830, 949, 1038.

Boracic Acid Ointment (S. Hardwick),
13.

Borocitrates and their Preparation (E.
Scheibe), 389.

Boron and its Compounds (E. Davies),
451.

— Hydride (F. Jones), 807.

Boruretted Hydrogen (T. P. Blunt),

488; 508.

Botanical Exchange Society, United
Kingdom, 982.

— Prize for 1882, 905.

Bougies, Cacao Butter, 984.

Boutell, H., Assistants in the South of
France, 148, 208.

Brady, H. B., Hungarian Red Pepper,
469.

— H. B., Notes of a J ourney Eastward,

260.

Branch Pharmacies, Letters on (Anony¬
mous), 730, 771 ; (P. McEwan),
730; (J. J. Smith), 771.

Brand's Essence of Beef, 736.
Breadmaking, Chemistry of (C. Gra¬
ham), 14, 35, 56, 146, 161, 204.
Breslau, Pharmaceutical Exhibition in,
t 329.

Brighton Association of Pharmacy, 785.
Bristol Pharmaceutical Association,
341, 464, 687, 867.

British Association, 186, 197, 199,
222, 1071.

— Pharmaceutical Conference. See

under Conference.

Bromine, Volume of, at Boiling Point
(W. Ramsay), 481.

Brown, F. D., Distillation of Mixtures
of Carbon Disulphide and Carbon
Tetrachloride, 905.

— F. D., Volume of Mixed Liquids,

806.

— G., Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill,

605.

— G., Relations of Medicine and Phar¬

macy, 791.

— H., Danger of Concentrated Solu¬

tion of Camphor, 327.

— J. F., Bottling Wax from a Bye

Product, 1003.

— J. F., Glycerinum Acidi Gallici,

1040.

— J. F., Lactate of Zinc, 1003.

Buchu Leaves, Essential Oil of (F. A.

Fliickiger), 219.

Buott, C., Appeal on Behalf of (R.
Hampson), 20, 140, 148, 288, 588,
952.

Burgess, T. J. W., Beneficent and
Toxic Effect of Various Species of
Rhus, 858.

Burrell, G., Pharmacy Acts Amend¬
ment Bill, 670.

Buttercups, Poisoning by, 109.

Buxton Thermal Water (J. C. Thresh),
1032.

Caffeine, Citrate of (J. U. Lloyd), 760.

— Compounds and Composition of, 896.
Calcium Benzoate (J. T. Shinn), 937.
Calendar, Pharmaceutical, 618.
Calisaya, Cultivation of ( J. E. Howard),

244.

Calomel, Stability of (P. Hoglan), 438.
Calycin, 431. •

Camphor, Concentrated Tincture of,
Use of, 287 ; (H. Brown), 327.
Camphoric Acid, 166.

Canadian Pharmacy Acts, 882.
Cananga Oil (F. A. Fliickiger), 934.
Cape Tea (H. G. Greenish), 549, 569,
832; (A. H. Church), 693.

Capping Bottles, Soulan’s Process for,
418.

Carbolic Acid in Whooping Cough,
983.

— Acid, Poisoning by, 288, 583, 1019.

— Acid, Reaction of Ferric Chloride

with, 158.

— Acid, Reddening of, 612.

Carbolized Nasal Bougies, 114.

Carbon Bisulphide, Solubility of, in

Water, 353.

— Compounds, Relation between Mole¬

cular Structure and Absorption
Spectra of (W. N. Hartley), 482.

— Disulphide and Carbon Tetra¬
chloride, Distillation of Mixtures
of (F. D. Brown), 9()5.

— Organic, in the Air, Estimation
of (A. Dupre and H. W. Hake),
689.

Carbonic Acid, Decomposition of, in
Plants, 610.

Carlsbad Salt, Artificial, 1025.

Carnelly, T. Effect of Pressure upon
the Melting Point, 523.

Cassia Lignea, 498.

Castor Oil Emulsion, 285.

Castoreum (J. Fuchs), 875.

Catalogue of Library, 12.

June 25, 1S81.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS 1083

Cataplasm, Trousseau’s, 782.

Catgut for Ligatures, Preparation of
(J. Lister), 718.

Catillon, A., Preparation of the Pep¬
tones, 759.

Cayenne, A Sample of (T. Greenish),
344.

Cech, C. 0., Coffee Oil, 914.

— C. O., Disinfecting Power of the

Chlorophenols, 1028.

Cement, Glycerine, 171.

Certificates, Professorial, Letters re¬
specting (J. Attfield), 999; (P.
Wells), 1020.

Ceylon, Some Medicinal Plants in, 260.
Chapman, J. J., Protest against reduc¬
ing Prices, 167.

— J. J., Relations of Pharmacy and

Medicine, 711, 811.

Charges, Chemists’, Editorial Remarks
on, 139, 823.

— Chemists’, Letters on (Anonymous),

772, 872; (F. Dymott), 831; (J. B.
Guyer), 792 ; (G. Nind), 831.
Cheese, The Ferments of, 429.

Chemical Dynamics, Fourth Report
on (C. R. A. Wright), 400.

— Food (C. J. Robinson), 951.

— Food, Sale of Defective, 708, 888.

— Mechanics (C. de Marignac), 573.
Chemical Society, 398, 442, 481, 523,

623, 689, 725, 765, 806, (Annual
Meeting) 828, 852, 868, 905, 946,
993, 1032, 1073.

Chemistry, History of (T. Farmer), 687,
825.

Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Asso¬
ciation, 53, 318, 503, 522, 750;
(Annual), 973.

— and Druggists’ Trade Association,

Annual Report of, 929.

Chemists’ Assistants’ Association, 161,
384, 401, 465, 504, 524, 625, 690,
727, 786, 829, 869, 994, 1074.
Cherry, Syrup of, 1070.

Chestnut Leaves (J. L. Steltzer), 26.
Chian Turpentine, 611.

— Turpentine (J. Clay), 309.

— Turpentine (W. Martindale), 271.

— Turpentine Emulsion, 286.

— Turpentine, Note on, (F. A. Flucki-

ger), 309.

— Turpentine, Supply of, (T. Christy),

348.

Chinese Materia Medica, 518.

Chloral and Croton Chloral (P. Boa),
441.

— Conversion of into Metachloral,

612.

— Correspondence with Privy Council

respecting Sale of, 739.

— for Tooth-ache, 588.

— Hydrate, Poisoning by, 566, 996.

— Specific Volume of (L. M. Passa-

vant), 482.

Chloric Ether and Sal Volatile, Re¬
port on Commercial Specimens of
(J. C. Thresh), 320.

Chlorides, Metallic, Berthelot and
Ditte’s Researches on, 1053.

Chlorine, Physiological Action of, 894.
Chlorodyne, Poisoning by, 466, 545,
565, 996.

Chloroform, Determination of Strength
of Alcoholic Solutions of (J. C.
Thresh), 319.

Chloroform, Effects of, Local Applica¬
tion of the, 512.

— Treatment of Syncope from, 1062.
Chlorophenols, Disinfecting Power of

the (C. O. Cech), 1028.
Chlorophyll, Functions of, 349, 509, 793,
893, 982.

Chob-chini, 170.

Christy, T., Supply of Chian Turpen¬
tine, 348.

Chrome Ores of California, 418.
Chrysophanic Acid from Syr. Rhei
Residues, 111.

— Acid, Physiological Action of, 894.
Church, A. H., Cape Tea, 693.
Cinchona Bark as an Official Article

of the Materia Medica, 903.

— Bark, Java, 52, 510.

— Bark Market, 784.

— Cultivation in Africa, 1062.

— Cultivation in Bengal, 334.

— Cultivation in Bolivia, 895.

— Cultivation in Jamaica, 250, 277.

— Cultivation in the United States,

1025.

— Glycerole of (F. Loos), 412; (F.

Andrews), 448.

— Peculiar Kind of (B. H. Paul),

259.

Cinnamic Alcohol, Reduction of, 906.

— Ether, Action of Sodium on (F.

Hatton), 994.

Cinnamon Cultivation in Ceylon, 261.
Citric Acid, Impurity in (J. P. Harold),
581.

— Acid, Syrup of ( J. B. Moore),

471.

— and Salicylic Acids, Note on (F. C.

Clayton), 411.

Citrine Ointment and Vaseline (W.
Martindale), 912; (P. Squire), 892;
(W. H. Symons), 912.

Clay, J., Chian Turpentine, 309.
Claypole, E. W., Migration of European
Animals to America, and Ameri¬
can Animals to Europe, 576, 597,
614, 698.

Clayton, F. C., Note on Citric and
Salicylic Acids, 411.

Clover Tea in Cancer, 714.

Cocaine, Physiological Action of, 250.
Cocculus indicus in Epilepsy, 983.

Coccus Red (R. Rother), 130.

Cochineal and Cochineal Colouring
(R. Aitken), 763.

— Essence of, 60, 166.

— Stearopten in, 431.

Cod Liver Oil, Ashy Constituents in
Light Coloured (E. A. Van der
Burg), 189.

— Liver Oil, Early Manufacture of,

1045.

— Liver Oil Emulsion, 285.

— Liver Oil, Iodine- Iron, Analysis of

(E. A. Van der Burg), 189.

— - Liver Oil, Iodine-Iron, Preparation
of (S. D. Von Valkenburg), 209.

— Liver Oil, Methods of Masking the

Taste of, 797.

— Liver Oil, Oil of Anise to Mask the

Taste of, 111.

Codeia, Conversion of Morphia into,
1064.

Coffee Leaf Disease, 720.

— Method of Estimating Chicory in

(A. Smith), 568.

Coffee, New Method for Examination
of (F. M. Rimmington), 529.

— Oil (C. O. Cech), 914.

Colchicia, Extraction of, from the Seed
(L. I. Morris), 734.

Cologne (Spiritus Colonieneis), 1026.
Colour Changes, Method of facilitating
Perception of (A. Dupr£), 50.
Coloured Fires, Illegal Manufacture of,
768.

Colouring Matters of Flowers and
Leaves, 509.

Condy’s Fluid, Death after Drinking,
1018.

Conessine, 714.

Conference, British Pharmaceutical,
179, 217, 237, 259, 278, 319, 344,
689.

Election of Officers, 324.

List of Papers, 115.

Meetings of Executive Committee,
344, 383, 689.

Place of Meeting in 1881, 324.
Presidential Address (W. Southall),
181.

Report of Executive Committee, 179.
— of Treasurer, 180.

Conference, British Pharmaceutical,
Editorial Remarks on the, 159,
173.

Conference, British Pharmaceutical
Papers Read at the : —

Aconite Alkaloids, Report on the
(C. R. A. Wright and E. H.
Rennie), 217.

Aqua Lauro-Cerasi, Report on
Strength of Commercial Speci¬
mens of ( J. Woodland), 322.
Arsenic, Presence of, in Tincture
Solution of Perchloride of Iron
(F. W. Fletcher), 282.
Arsenicum, Gravimetric Estimation
of Minute Quantities of (F. W.
Fletcher), 282.

Buchu Leaves, Essential Oil of (F.

A. Fliickiger), 219.

Calisaya, Cultivation of (J. E.
Howard), 244.

Cayenne, Sample of (T. Greenish),
344.

Chloroform, Determination of the
Strength of Alcoholic Solutions
of (J. C. Thresh), 319.

Cinchona Bark, Peculiar (B. H.
Paul), 259.

Emulsions (A. W. Gerrard), 285.
Extracts, Green, of the Pharmacopoeia
(W. A. H. Naylor), 278.

Ferri et Quiniae Cit., Detection of
Amorphous Quinine in ( J. E. De
Vrij), 239.

Henbane, Indian (T. Greenish),
264.

International Pharmaceutical Con¬
gress, 278.

Ipecacuanha Wine (J. B. Barnes),
259.

New and Official Preparations (C.
Symes), 241.

Notes on a Journey Eastward (H. B.
Brady), 260.

Peppermint Oil, Constituents of (F.
A. Fliickiger and F. B. Power),
220.

Petroleum Spirit and Analogous
Liquids (A. H. Allen), 266,

1084

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 25, 1881.-

CONFERENCE, BRITISH PHARMACEUTI¬
CAL — continued.

Potash and Ammonia, Alkaline Solu¬
tions of, Report on (J. Wood¬
land), 323.

Sal Volatile and Chloric Ether, Re¬
port on Commercial Specimens
of (J. C. Thresh), 320.

Syrup of Iodide of Iron, Restoration
of Discoloured (T. B. Groves))
237.

Conium, Active Principles of, 351.
Conroy, M., Adulteration of Olive Oil,
933, 1000.

Cooper, J. R., Pharmacy Acts Amend¬
ment Bill, 670.

Co-operative Stores, Alleged Theft by
Employe at, 1019.

— Stores, Assistants at, 1060;

Copaiba Oil Emulsion, 286.

— Resin Emulsion, 286.

Cope, J. A., Election of Council, 997.
Copper Industry, Specimens illustrating
the, 382.

— Sulphides (S. U. Pickering), 1032.

— Zinc Couple, Use of, in Estimation

of Nitric Acid in Water Analysis
(M, W. Williams), 689.

Corder, O., Sp. Ammoniae Arom., 508.
Cork Tree, the, 134.

Corks, Bleached, 1080.

Corollas, Insects the Cause of Irregu¬
larity in, 1061.

Correspondence, 19, 108, 148, 167,
208, 247, 268, 288, 326, 347, 368,
388, 407, 427, 446, 467, 488, 507,
527, 548, 568, 585, 604, 626, 669,
691, 710, 730, 752, 770, 790, 811,
831, 871, 891, 911, 932, 950, 997,
1019, 1039, 1057, 1077.
Correspondents, Answers to, 20, 40, 60,
108, 128, 148, 168, 208, 228, 248,
268, 288, 308, 328, 348, 368, 388,
408, 428, 448, 468, 488, 508, 528,
588, 608, 692, 712, 752, 772, 792,
812, 832, 852, 872, 892, 912, 932,
952, 980, 1000, 1020, 1040, 1060.
Cosmetic Pomade, 208.

Cotton, Absorbent, 714.

Cough Lozenges, Sale of, Letters on
the (W. Austin), 812 ; (H. Kemp),
772; (J. B. Shillcock), 732.
Coumarin in Orchis Militaris and O.
Simia (G. C. Druce), 168; (F. J
Hanbury), 208.

— Isomeric Acids obtained from (W.

H. Perkin), 1073.

Council, Election of, 973.

— Election of, Letters on (Anony¬
mous), 911; (C. B. Allen), 997;
(J. A Cope), 997 ; (B. S. Proctor),
932 ; (G. S. V. Wills), 932.

— Meetings of the, 29, 116, 198,

296, 375, 456, 498, 55 7, 630, 737,
838, 916, 961, 1008.

Counter Prescribing, Lancet on, 735.
Coveil, W. M., Elegant Dispensing,
548.

— W. M., Future of Pharmacy, 447.
Cowper, R., Action of Alcohol on Mer¬
curic Nitrate, 807.

Craig, W., Medicinal Plants- of Ireland,

863.

Crinum asiaticum, 22.

Croton-Chloral Hydrate, Syrup of,
241.

Croton Oil in Ringworm, 715, 796.
Crystals, Microscopic, contained in
Plants (W. K. Higley), 593.

Cuprea Bark, 715, 895.

Curare of British Guiana, 754.

— of French Guiana, 693.

— of the Orinoco, 529.

— of the Upper Amazon, 589.

— Plants that enter into the Composi¬

tion of (G. Planchon), 491.
Curculigo orchioides, 21.

Curriculum, Opinion of Board of Ex¬
aminers respecting Establishment
of,. 35.

Cyanogen, Action of Zinc Ethyl on (E.
Frankland and C. C. Graham,
399.

Cyclopia, Species of, 549, 569.

Cyme, Scorpioid, 609.

Cyperus rotundus, 169.

Damiana,. Chemical Examination of
(H. B. Parsons), 271.

Darling, W. II., Estimation of Minute
Quantities of Arsenic, 328.
Daturine and Atropine, Reaction Dis¬
tinguishing, 431.

D’Anbney, T., Obituary Notice of, 39.
Davies, E., Boron and its Compounds,
451.

Davis, R. H., Alum Well at Harro¬
gate, 443.

Davy, E. W., Nitroprussides of the
Alkaloids, 756.

Dental Act, Medical Council and the,
701.

— Act, Registration under the, Edi¬

torial Remarks on, 12.

Dentifrice, Mialhe’s, 598.

De Vrij, J. E., Detection of Amor¬
phous Quinine in Ferri et Quinise
Cit., 239.

Diabetes Weed, 714.

Dialysed Tinctures (C. F. Heebner),
987.

Dialysis of Ferric Oxide, 511.

Diehl, C. L., Albuminate of Iron, 43.
Digitalis Leaves, Adulteration of, 430.
Dika Bread, 43.

Dinner, Annual, 804, 942.

— Annual, Report of the, 957.
Diplomas, Bogus, Manufacture of, 197.
Disinfectant, Poisoning by a, 1056.
Disinfectants (J. A. Russell), 422.
Dispensing, Co-operative Medical, 440.
Dispensing, Druggists’ Charges for,

823.

— Elegant (W. M. Covell), 548.

— from a Medical Point of View

Editorial Remarks on, 142, 455.

— Medical, Letters on, (Anonymous),

711, 731, 772, 791; (G. Brown),
791; (J. J. Chapman), 711, 811;
(G. G. Hornsby), 791; (W. T.
Martin), 812; (R. Robinson), 671;
(J. Summers), 812; (J. Wade), 711,
790; (J. Williamson), 607, 771.
See also under “Pharmacy, Rela¬
tion of Medicine to.”

Dispensing Memoranda, 18, 39, 60,
128, 166, 207, 228, 247, 325, 346,
366, 405, 426, 444, 486, 506, 526,
546, 584, 604, 709, 729, 769, 789,
810, 830, 871, 889, 910, 949, 997,
1038.

Dispensing Memoranda— continued.

[The first reference is to the query; [r] indi¬
cates the replies of co?'respondents, and [m] the
comments in “ The Month."]

“Acid. Nit. Mur” (544), 950; [r]
997 ; [m] 986.

Alcool d’lode (554), 1038 ; [m] 1066.

Alum with Sp. JEth. Nit. (474) j
427 ; [r] 445 ; [m] 434.

Ammonia Carbonate and Tinct.
Capsicum (553)» 1038.

“ Ammon. Quina Carb. ” (494% 548;
[m] 613.

— Strong Solution of, in Tinct. Opii
Amm. (504), 710; [r] 729; [m]
717.

“ Aq. Bull.” with Chlorate of Potash
(465), 407; [R] 426, 445, 486;
[m] 434.

— Caryophylli (472), 427 ; [r] 445,
487, 526, 584; [m] 434, 513.

— - Laurocerasi, Dose of (481), 487;
[r] 527 ; [m] 514.

Argent. Nit. Solution, Labelling of
(520), 789; [r]810; [m] 798.

Assafoetida with Magnesia (443%
228; [m] 254.

Bals. Copaib. in Mixture (475), 446 ;
[r] 487 ; [m] 514.

Berberke (493), 548 ; [r] 585; [m] 613.

“Bismuth.” and “Magneske,” Ren¬
dering of (483), 488; [r] 527,
547; [m] 514.

— and Pulv. Trag. (542% 050; [r]

997 ; [m] 986.

Bland’s Pills, Excipient for (512),
730 ; [r] 789 ; [m] 798.

Camphor Chloral in Pills (5*7)* 789;

[m] 798.

— Essential Oil with (51 1), 729 ; [m]
798.

— with “ Spirit of Ammonia ” (524),

811; [r] 830; [m] 897.

Carbolic Acid in Pills (543, 546, 547),
950; [r] 997; [m] 986.

— Acid in Powders (430), 19; [r]
40; 1_m] 113.

Castor Oil and Vaseline (45°)> 24/ ;
[m] 254.

Chloroform in Suppositories (446),
228; [m] 254.

“ Chloroformyl ” (445), 228 ; [m] 254.

Cocoa Nut Oil with Rum (487), 506;
[r] 547, 584 ; [m] 514.

Cod Liver Oil, Emulsion of (54°)>
911 ; [r] 950 ; [m] 986.

— Liver Oil, Phosphorized, Emul¬
sion of (444), 228 ; [mQ 254.

— Liver Oil with Ferri Amm. Cit.
in Mixture (440), 167 ; [m] 254.

Croton Chloral Hydrate, Dose of
(480), 487; [r] 527; [m] 514.

Elixir Picis Liq. (515), 770; [r] 789;
[m] 798.

Ergotine, Hypodermic Solution of
(469), 426; [r] 445, 487, 506;
[m] 434.

Eserine Sulphate in Ointment, Ex¬
cipient for (435)* 128'; [r] 166;
[m] 253.

Explosion of Mixtures (484* 4$6),
506; [r] 547, 584; [m] 514, 515.

“Ext. Aloes,” (497), 585; [r] 604;
[m] 614.

“ — Ergotae” (496), 585; [r] 604;
[m] 613.

June 25, lSSl.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1085

Dispensing Memoranda— continued.
Ext. Glycyrrhiz® Moll. (499), 585 ;
[r] 604; [m] 614.

— Hsematoxyli with Creta Prsep. and
Tinct. Opii (448), 247 ; [m] 254.
— Lupuli in Mixture (452), 325 ; [r]
346, 367 ; [m] 354.

— Sars® Co. (514), 770; [r] 789;
[m] 798.

Ferri Amm. Mixture, Colour of (532),
831 ; [r] 890; [m] 898.

— Brom. with Potass. Brom. (534)>
890 ; [r] 911 ; [m] 898.

— Cit. (536), 890, 911 ; [m] 898.

— Dialys. with Liq. Fowleri (468),
426; [r] 445, 487; [m] 434, 513.

— et Quin. Cit. with Sp. Amnion.

Arom. (513). 770; [m] 798.

Gallic Acid in Mixture (460), 347;
[r] 367 ; [m] 354.

Grains for Guttse (498), 585 ; [r]
604; [m] 614.

“Hyd. Chlor.,” Meaning of (451),
325; [r] 346, 366, 405, 426, 444,
486, 506, 546 ; [m] 353, 433, 613.
Hydrarg. Iod. Rub. in Excess of
Solubility (489), 506 ; [11] 604 ;
[m] 515.

f Hydrocyanic Acid, Dose (522), 789;
[r] 810; [m] 799.

— Acid with Ferri et Ammon. Cit.
(538), 890; [r] 911; [m] 898.

Hypophosphites, Preparations of

(449), 247; [R] 325, 405; [m]
254, 353.

Inject. Morphise et Atropi® (447)5
247; [a] 325; [m] 254.

Iodine, Tincture of, with Potass. Iod.
(508), 729 ; [m] 797.

— with Carbolic Acid (516), 789;

[m] 798.

— with Tinct. Opii and 01. Tereb.

(478) , 446; [a] 487; [m] 514.
Iron, Sulphate of, in Pills (473), 427;

[r] 445, 487, 527, 584; [m] 434.
Kercnes Min. (527)5 830; [r] 871,
889; [m] 897.

Lin. Iodi with Lin. Camph. (471),
426; [r] 445, 487; [m] 434.

_ Iodi with Liq. Ammon. Fort

(479) 5 487 ; [R] 546; [m] 514.

— Plumbi Co. (453)5 325 346 ;

[m] 354.

Liq. Ammon. Valerian. (506), 710;
[r] 729 ; [m] 717.

— Cinch. Cord. (510), 729; [a] 770,
789 ; [m] 798.

— Ferri Acetat. (5 5 1 )> ; [R.

1083.; [m] 1065.

_ Opii Sed. in Mixture (470), 426 ;
[r] 487 ; [m] 434.

_ Potass®, 01. Oliv® and Ott. Ros®

(466), 407; [a] 445; [m] 434.

_ Strychni® with Sod® Bicarb.

(457), 326; [a] 347, 367 ;[m] 354.
Looch Pect. (527), 830; [a] 871,
889; [m] 897.

Ma<mesi® Sulph. with Sp. jEth. Nit.

“(552), 997; [R] 1038; [m] 1065.
Mercury, White Calx of (462), 367 ;

[m] 434. . n „

Mixture, Size of (477), 446; |r] 487;
[M] 514; (549), 950; [a] 997; [m
987- r

Olive Oil Emulsion (541 , 9o0; [R
997 ; [m] 986.

Dispensing Memoranda — continued.

Oil, Essential, Pill Excipient for
(441), 167; [m] 254.

01. Sabin® in Pill (525), 811 ; [m]
897.

— Tereb., Acid. Acet. Glac., and Lin.
Camphor® (467), 407 ; [m] 434.

P. Tragac. (542), 950 ; [m] 986.

Pepsine in Pills, Excipient for (438),
128; [r] 167 ; [m] 253.

Phosphorus in Mixture (459), 347 ;
[r] 367; [m] 354.

Pil. Quin® (521), 789; [a] 810; [m]
799.

Pill Excipient (535), 890; [m] 898.

Plumbi Acet. with Decoct. Papav.
(463), 406; [m] 434.

— Acet. with Pulv. Alumin. (487),
506; [a] 547, 584; [m] 515, 613.

— Glycerid. (458), 326 ; [r] 347; [m]
354.

Potash Permanganate, Excipient for
(431), 19; [r] 40; [m] 113.

Potass. Chlor. with Acid. Sulph. Dil.
(545), 950; [k] 997; [m] 986

— Chlor. with Calx Hypophos. (486),
506; [m] 515.

— Iod. and Liq. Hyd. Per. with
Tinct. Cinchon® (495), 548 ; [a]
585 ; [m] 613.

— Iod. in Excess of Solubility (539),
890; [r] 911; [m] 897, 899.

— Iod. with Amyl Nit. (519), 789;
[m] 798.

Pulv. Ext. Coloc. Co., Excipient for
(436), 128 ; [r] 167 ; [m] 253.

Quinine Salicylate in Mixture (428),
18; [m] 113.

— Salicylate, Solvent for (461), 36/ ;
[r] 406 ; [m] 434.

— Sulph. in Excess of Solubility
(526, 539), 811, 890 ;[R] 911; [m]
899.

— Sulph. with Ferric Amm. Cit.
(507), 729; [m] 797.

— Sulph. with Liq. Ferri Phosph.
Mag. (434), 60; [m] 113 .

— Sulph. with Potassium Iodide m
Mixture (425, 432), 18,19; (501),
709; [R] 40, 729; [m] 112, 113,
716.

— Sulph. with Salicin in Mixture
(531), 831; [m] 898.

_ Sulph. with Sod® Bibor. and Pot.

Chlor. (482), 488; [a] 527; [m]
514.

— Sulph. with Tinct. Ferri Acetat.
in Mixture (433), 19 ; [m] 113.

— Sulph. with Tinct. Ferri Perchlor.
in Mixture (424), 18 ; [r] 39; [m]
112.

— Sulph. with Vin. Ferri (533), 890 ;
[a] 910; [m] 898.

Salicylic Acid in Excess of Solubility
(530), 831 ; [m] 898.

“Sax. Olei Purificati” (492), 507; [r]
547; [m] 515.

Sod® Salicylas with Ammon. Carb.
(509), 810 ; [m] 797.

— Salicylas with Quin. Sulph. (5°5),
710; [a] 729, 770.

Solomon’s Seal Bulb, Juice of (47^),
446; [m] 514.

Sp. iEtheris Nit. with Pot. Carb.
(456), 326; [a] 346, 367; [m]
354.

Dispensing Memoranda — continued.
Sulph. Hypochlorit. and Vaselin0
(548), 950; [r] 997 ; [m] 987.

Syr. Ferri Phosph. (454), 325; [r]
346 ; [m] 354.

— Gummi (500), 709; [r] 729, /69;
[m] 716.

Tinct. Catalp. Syr. (491), 507; [m]
515.

— Cinchon. in Mixture, Question of
Filtration (485), 506; [r] 547;
[m] 515.

— Ferri Mur. with Acid. Phosph.
Dil. in Mixture (429), 18; [r]
40; [m] 113.

_ Ferri Perchlor. with Syr. Limonis

(528), 830; [a] 890; [m] 898.

— Iod. c. Ammon. (529), 831 ; [r]
871, 890, 949; [m| 898.

— Nux Vomica in Mixture (426), 18 ;

[a] 40 ; [m] 112.

— Picis (518), 789; [m] 798.

— Quini® with Sp. Ammon. Arom.

(502) , 709; [a] 770; [m] 717.
Ung. Hyd. Iod. (442), 167 ; [a] 207 ;

[m] 254.

— Hyd. Nitrat. with Zinc. Oxid.

(437), 128; [a] 167; [m] 253.

— P. (490), 506; [r] 547, 584; [m]

515.

— Rumic. c. Sulph. (455), 326; [r]
346, 367; [m] 354.

— Zinci Benzoas (427), 18; [Rj 40;
[m] 112.

Veratria, Proportion of Lard with

(503) , 709; [r] 770; [m] 717.
Vin. Ferri with Liq. Fowleri (550),

997; [r] 1038; [m] 1065.

Zinc. Oxid. with Ung. Emolliens
(439), 167; [m] 254.

— Phosphide with Extracts in Pills

(523), 811 ; [m] 897.

Dispensing Memoranda, “ Month,
Replies to the, 112, 253, 353,
433, 513, 613, 716, 797, 897, 986,
1065.

- Teaching of ; Letters on (Anony¬
mous), 368, 428; (J. Mee), 327.
Distillatory Apparatus, J apanese, 262.

331.

Ditamine, 331.

Dixon, H. B., Oxidation of Sulphurous
Acid, 906.

Dock Ointment, 346, 347.

Doses, Equalization of (B. Squire),

608. .
Dotesio, L. E., Pharmacy in Spain, / 53.
Dott, D. B., Meconic Acid, 57 6.

— D. B., Morphia Acetate, 619.

— D. B., Solubility of Some of the

Salts of Morphia, 618.

Doubleday, F. W., Assistants’ Salaries,
1058.

Dover Chemists’ Association, 398. .
Down, J. L., Introductory Sessional
Address, 289.

— R. H., Benevolent Fund, 950.
Downes, A., Oxidation of Organic

Matter in Water, 624.

Druce, G. C., Coumarin in Orchis
militaris and O. Simia, 168.

Drug Trade, Future of the, Editorial
Remarks on the, 215.

Duboisine, Crystallized, 383.

Du Motay, C. T. (A. J. Rossi), 473.

1086

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 25, 1881.

Dunstan, W. R., Relation between
Chemical Constitution of Organic
Compounds and Action on Ultra-
Violet Rays, 54.

— W. R., Salicin Derivatives from

Phenol, 809.

Dupr£, A., Means of Facilitating Per¬
ception of Colour Changes, 50.

— A., and H. W. Hake, Estimation of

Organic Carbon in the Air, 689.
Dust, Rain and Fog, 532.

Dymock, W., Indian Henbane, 369.

— W., Notes on Indian Drugs, 21, 169.
Dymott, F., Chemists’ Prices, 831.

Early Closing in Nottingham, 13.
Eastward, Notes of a Journey (H. B.

Brady), 260.

Echitamine, 332.

Echitenine, 333.

Edinburgh Chemists’ Assistants’ Asso¬
ciation, 344, 441, 565, 602, 763,
828, 886, 945.

— Meetings of North British Branch

in,f421, 499, 618, 725, 804, 863,
(Annual) 884.

Education and Examination (G. Mee),
951.

— Pharmaceutical, Editorial Remarks

on, 311.

— Pharmaceutical, Letter on (G.Ward),

1077.

Eggs, Test for the Freshness of, 1063.
Elbourne, W., Upward Percolation,
20.

Elder, Pharmaceutical Preparations of,
512.

Election of Annuitants, 36.

— of Apprentices, 29, 117, 298, 376,

557, 631, 737, 840, 919, 1009.

— of Associates, 29, 116, 297, 375, 456,

557, 631, 737, 840, 918, 1009.

— of Council, 116, 918, 973.

— of Honorary Members, 920.

— of Members, 29, 116, 297, 375, 557,

631, 737, 840, 918, 1009.

— of Officers, 1008.

Electric Lighting, 433.

— Lighting (J. W. Swan), 360.
Electricity, Storage of, 1064.

Elliman, S. F., Dr. Down on Pro¬
prietary Medicines, 326.

Ellwood, M. J., Annual Meeting, 998.
Embelia Ribes as a remedy for Tape¬
worm, 432.

Emulsions (A. W. Gerrard), 285.

Ergot and the Ergotines (E. Schmitt), 23.

— Oil of, 717.

Eriodictyon Californicum (W. C. Holz-
hauer), 170.

Erythrina corallodendron, 895.

Etching Mixture for Glass, 715.
Etherification of Acids, 252.

Ethyl Bromide (L. Wolff), 3.
Eucalyptus globulus in the Campagna,
611.

— Leaves, Glaucous Appearance of,

110.

— Oil for Antiseptic Treatment, 250,

796.

Eugenol, 704, 764.

Eupatorium Ayapana (H. Paschkis),
1005.

— perfoliatum (G. Latin), 192.

Evening Meetings, 302, 378, 459, 682,

746, 849.

Evening Meetings, Papers Read at
the: —

Aloes, Jafferabad (E. M. Holmes),
733.

Rose Leaves, Artificially Coloured
(T. E. Greenish), 733.

Saffron, Note on the Use of (C. B.
Allen), 449.

— Use of, in the Pharmacopoeia (E.
M. Holmes), 450.

Wanika, A New African Arrow
Poison (A. W. Gerrard), 833.
Weights, Balances and Measures
employed in Pharmacy (T. Red¬
wood), 673.

Examination, Major, 62, 64, 358, 498,
519, 724, 750, 928, 1053.

— Minor, 62, 64, 358, 498, 519, 724,

750, 928, 1053.

— Modified, 62, 65, 358, 498, 724, 750,

929, 1053.

— Preliminary, 62, 63, 65, 357, 359,

499, 600, 602, 725, 750, 883, 929,
1053.

— Regulations, Proposed, Editorial

Remarks on the, 941.
Examinations in Edinburgh, 64, 359,
519, 749, 929.

— in London, 62, 358, 498, 724, 928,

1053.

— Dr. Greenhow’s Report on the,

Editorial Remarks on, 861.

— Letters on the (Anonymous) 891.

— Written, Appointment of Superin¬

tendents of, 119.

Examiners, Appointment of, 456, 557,
1009.

— Boards of, Reports of the, 35, 120,

378, 560, 742, 928.

— Scotch Board of, Proposed Change

in the Constitution of the, Letters
on the (R. Hampson), 790; (B. S.
Proctor), 831 ; (J. Mackay), 770,
811.

Exhibition, International Medical and
Sanitary, 731.

— Letters respecting the (Anonymous),

1019; (Fletcher), 999, 1040.

— of Scientific Apparatus, 1030.

— Pharmaceutical, 681, 942, 953.

— Pharmaceutical, Catalogue of the,

937.

Explosives Act, Prosecution under the,
1037.

Extracts, Green, of the Pharmacopoeia
(W. A. H. Naylor), 278.

Eykman, J. F., Illicium religiosum'
1046, 1066.

Faham, 913.

Faraday Lecture, the, 852.

Farmer, T., Notes on the History of
Chemistry, 687, 825.

Faure’s Secondary Battery, 1064.
Feeding Bottles, Cryptogamic Growth
in, 1063.

Feet, Malodorous, Cause and Treat¬
ment of, 110, 250, 895.

Ferments of Pancreas and Pepsine,
713.

Ferri et Quiniae Cit., Detection of
Amorphous Quinine in (J. E. De
Vrij), 239.

Ferric Chloride, Reactions of, with
Salicylic, Carbolic, Tannic and
Gallic Acids (H. Hager), 158.

Ferric Succinate (W. T. Wenzell), 777.
Ferrous Sucrocarbonate (C. Tanret),
901.

Ferrum Redactum, Estimation of Iron
in, 431.

Fertilization of the Ovule, 982.

Festing, — , Influence of Molecular
Grouping on Absorption of the
Spectrum, 726.

Fig, Digestive Power of, 250.

Filtration, Intermittent, Effect of (F.
Hatton), 765.

Finance Committee, Report of the, 30,
117, 298, 376, 458, 558, 634, 737,
840, 921, 1010.

Financial Statement, 964.

Fingermarks, Identification by, 433.
Fisk, G. and R., Tinctura Rusci, 712.
Fletcher, F. W., Arsenicum, Gravime¬
tric Estimation of Small Quantities
of, 282, 348.

— F. W., Presence of Arsenic in Tinc¬

ture of Perchloride of Iron, 282.

— F. W., Syrup of Iodide of Iron, 268.

— and Co., The Exhibition, 999, 1040.
Flowers and the Weather, 276.
Fliickiger, F. A., Buchu Leaves, Essen¬
tial Oil of, 219.

— F. A, Cananga Oil or Ilang-Ilang

Oil, 934. —

— F. A., Chian Turpentine, Notes on,

309.

— F. A., Mustard Oil, Analysis of, 472.

— F. A., and F. B. Power, Peppermint

Oil, Constituents of, 220.

Fly Paper, Poisoning by a, 268.

Fool’s Parsley (J. Harley), 437.

Formic Ether (H. Trimble), 857.
Formulae of some Inorganic Substances
(C. H. Hutchinson), 141.

Fowler’s Solution in Sickness of Preg¬
nancy, 1062.

France, Proposed Pharmaceutical Legis¬
lation in, 579.

— Assistants in South of, Letters re¬

specting (F. J. Bathe), 208; (H.
Boutell), 148, 208 ; (G. Weddell),
168, 248.

Frankland, E., and D. A. Louis, Action
of Zinc Ethyl on Benzoylic Chlo¬
ride, 399.

— E., and C. C. Graham, Action of

Zinc Ethyl on Cyanogen, 399.

— P. F., Action of Diazonaphthalene

on Salicylic Acid, 400.

Frasera Walteri Root, 1063.

Fraud, Charge of, 387.

Frazer, D., Amendment of Pharmacy
Act, 488.

Freckles, Treatment of, 353.

Frost, Effects of the (W. H. Bissett),
628; (W. Lincolne), 672; (R.

Mauchlen), 712; (W. Stewart),
672.

Fruit Syrups (A. G. Vogeler), 1070.
Fruits and Seeds, 893.

Fuchs, G., Castoreum, 875.

Fuchsine in Albumin aria, 611.

Fumaric Ethers, Action of Sodium Al-
coholate on (T. Purdie), 947.

Gallic Acid, Reaction of Ferric Chlo¬
ride with, 158.

Garside, T., Nickel and Nickel Plating
519.

Gases, Measuring of Vclume of, 1033.

June 25, 1SS1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1087

General Purposes Committee, Reports
of the, 31, 118, 298, 378, 459, 560,
63 6, 742, 843, 925.

Gentian, Concentrated Infusion of, 548,
585.

Geological Time, Recurrence of Certain
Phenomena in (A. C. Ramsay),
186, 199.

Georgia Bark Tree, 714.

Gerrard,.A. W., Emulsions, 285.

— A. W., Harnack and Meyer’s Re¬

searches on Jaborandi, 608.

— A. W., Wanika, a New African

Arrow Poison, 833.

Gibbons, T. G., Pharmacy Act Amend¬
ment Bill, 710.

Gilbert, J. H., Application of Chemistry
to Agriculture, 230, 254, 335, 390,
414.

Ginger Ale, 588.

Gladstone, J. H., Aluminium Alcohol,
442.

Glasgow Chemists and Druggists’ As¬
sociation, 398, 441, 479, 545, 583,
623, 688, 725, 763, 805, 867, 905,
945.

Glauber’s Salt, Manufacture of, in the
South of France, 50.

Gloriosa superba, Examination of (C.

J. H. Warden), 431, 495.

Glucose, Bitter Principle in (H. W.
Langbeck), 832.

— Fungus causing Fermentation in,

110.

— Presence of a Deleterious Substance,

795.

Glycerine and Starch, 353.

— in Acidity of Stomach, 111.

— Jelly, 585.

Glycerinum Acidi Carbolici (J. F.
Brown), 1040.

Glycerole of Cinchona (F. Andrews),
448 ; (F. Loos), 412.

— of Liquorice, 413.

Glycine, Poisoning by, 610.

Goebel, E., Hydrobromic Acid, 229.
Gold, Quantity of, used in Dentistry,

112.

Gorrie, D., Acetic and Allied Acids,
501.

Gostling, G. J., Pharmacy Act Amend¬
ment Bill, 606.

Government Stores, Alleged Theft of,
870, 888, 948.

Gower, A. J., Pharmacy Acts Amend¬
ment Bill, 691.

Graham, C., Chemistry of Bread Making,
14, 35, 56, 146, 161, 204.

— Medal, 374. _ .

Greece, Pharmaceutical Legislation m,

478.

Green, Emerald, for Show Buttles, 208.
Greenhovv, E. H., Reports on the Phar¬
maceutical Examinations, 313, 843.
Greenish, H. G., Cape Tea, 549, 569,
832

_ H,' G., Nerium Odorum, Chemistry

of, 873. , . .

_ fl. Pharmaceutical Education in

Russia, 1001.

— T., Cayenne, Sample of, 344.

_ T., Indian Henbane, Note on, 264.

_ T., Notes on a Trip to Russia, 379.

— T., Patchouli, 448.

_ T., Pharmacy Act Amendment BUI,

604.

Greenish, T., Presidential Address, 961.

— T. E., Rose Leaves, Artificially

Coloured, 733.

— T. E., Strychnine, Detection of, in the

Brain, 792.

Greig, W., Balances, 952.

Ground Nuts, 494.

Groves, R. H., Borntrager’s Aloes
Test, 1045.

— T. B., Restoration of Discoloured

Syrup of Iodide of Iron, 237.

— T. B., The Society’s Journal, 1077.
Guareschi, I., Podophyllin, 114.

Gum Acroides, 1005.

— Arabic, Commerce of, at Trieste,

822.

— Arabic, So-called Allotropic (W. W.

Will), 951.

— Hogg (C. L. Mitchell), 154.

— Savakin (G. Reimann), 914.

Gutta Peroha Compound, 433.

Gutzkow, F., Preparation of Soda from

the Sulphate by means of Lime
and Sulphur, 256.

Guyer, J. B., Chemists’ Charges, 792.

Hager, H., Reactions of Ferric Chlo¬
ride with Salicylic, Carbolic, Gallic
and Tannic Acids, 158.

Halifax and District Chemists’ Asso¬
ciation, 707.

Hamamelis Virginica, 509.

Hamlet, W. M., Action of Compounds
Inimical to Bacterial Life, 868.
Hampson, R., Appeal on Behalf of Mr.
Buott, 20, 148, 288, 588, 952.

— R., Great Britain v. Scotland, 790.
Hanbury, F. J., Coumarin in Species

of Orchis, 208.

Hardwick, S., Boracic Acid Ointment,
13.

Harley, J., Fool’s Parsley, 437.
Harnack, E., and H. Meyer, Alkaloids
of Jaborandi Leaves, 551.
Harrogate, Alum Well at (R. H.
Davis), 443.

Hatton, F., Action of Bacteria on
Various Gases, 765.

— F., Intermittent Filtration, Effect

of, 765.

Haydon, W. F., Exemption from Jury
Service in Scotland, 368.

Heat, Conduction of, in Rarefied Air,

612. .

— in Relation to Chemical Action (H.

Allen), 878, 906.

— Radiant, Action of Intermittent

Beam of, on Gaseous Matter, 716.
Hectograph Compositions and Inks,

137.

Heebner, C. F., Dialysed Tinctures,
987.

Helleborus niger, 509.

Helmholtz, — , FaradaVLecture, 852.
Henbane, Indian (W. Dymock), 369;
(T. Greenish), 264.

Henna Leaves and Powder from Law-
sonia alba (H. Paschkis), 855.

— Use of, in Algiers, 515.
Hermodactyl, 169.

Herroun, E. F., Synthesis of Urea, 993.
Hesse, O., Alkaloids of Aspidosperma
Bark, 589.

— O., Alkaloids of Dita Bark, 33L
_ O., Alstonia Constricta Bark, /75.

— O., Alstonia Spectabilis,Bark of, 369.

Higley, W. K., Microscopic Crystals
contained in Plants, 593.

Hills, T. H., Resolution of Council upon
Retirement of, 1014.

Hoglan, P., Stability of Calomel, 438.
Holarrhena antidysenterica, 714.

Holden, L. H., Aralia spinosa, 210.
Holmes, E. M., Aloes, Jafferabad,
733.

— E. M., Saffron, Use of, in the Phar¬

macopoeia, 450.

— E. M., Star Anise, 489.

Holzhauer, W. G., Eriodictyon Cali-

fornicum, 170.

Homatropine Hydrobromide, 611, 896.
Homoeopathic Preparations (E. V ar-

rell), 587.

Hooper, D., Parasites and Saprophytes,
525.

Hops, Bitter Principle and Resin of
(M. Isslieb), 6.

Horehound, White, 109.

Hornsby, G. G., Pharmacy Acts
Amendment Bill, 691.

— G. G., Relations of Medicine and

Pharmacy, 791.

House Committee, Reports of, 31, 119,
377, 458, 558, 634, 737, 840, 920,
1010.

Howard, J. E., Cultivation of Calisaya.
244.

Huet, G. L., Pharmaceutical Titles,

871.

Hughes, E. G., Pharmacy Acts Amend¬
ment Bill, 670.

Hume, W., Rise and Progress of Phar¬
macy, 804.

Humic Acid, Action of, on Atmospheric
Nitrogen (E. W. Prevost), 946.
Husband, H. A., Necessity for Better
Training and Education of Medical
Officers of Health, 499.

Huskisson, H. O., Iridescent Crystals
of Chlorate of Potash, 448.
Hutchinson, C. H., Formulae of Some
Inorganic Substances, 141.

— C. H., Report on Berthelot and

Ditte’s Researches on Metallic
Chlorides, 1053.

_ C. H., Soxhlet’s Researches on the

Estimation of Sugars, 720, 757.
Hyacinthus non-scriptus, 893.
Hydrangea arborescens, Root of (J.
Baur), 901.

Hydrobromic Acid, 892.

— Acid (E. Goebel), 229.

— Acid, Etherification of (A. Villiers).

700.

Hydrofluoric Acid in Goitre, 894.
Hydrogen Peroxide (A. H. Mason),
704.

— Peroxide, Formation of, 795.

— Peroxide, Production of, by Hydro¬

genized Palladium (A. R. Leeds),

1068.

Hydroquinone and Resorcin, 8/7.
Hyoscine, 351.

Hvoscvamine and Allied Alkaloids,

111, 351.

Hypophosphorus Acids, Strength of
Solutions of, 525.

Ice, Hot, 253.

Ilang-Ilang Oil (F. A. Fliickiger), 934.
Illicium religiosium (J. F. Eykman),
1046, 1066.

1088

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[June 25, 1SS1.

Indian Drugs, Notes on (W. Dymock),
21, 169.

Indigo, Artificial, 112, 431, 725.
Induction of Currents and Practical
Applications thereof ( J. Stapleton),
778.

Ink, Polygraph, 137.

— Ticket, 40.

— Writing, 166.

Insect Powder, Dalmatian, 1052.
International Medical Congress, Edi¬
torial Remarks on the, 115, 784.

— Pharmaceutical Congress, Editorial

Remarks on the, 761, 837, 881.

— Pharmaceutical Congress Committee,

Reports of, 1010.

Introductory Address (J. L. Down),
289.

— Address, Letter on the, 327.

Inulin (H. Kiliani), 990.

Iodal, 984.

Iodine, Density of, 141.

— Iron Cod Liver Oil, Analysis of

(E. A. Van der Burg), 189.

— Iron Cod Liver Oil, Preparation of

(S. D. Von Valkenburg), 209.
Iodoform and Strychnia, Compound of,
985.

Iodoform Bougies, 984.

: — Masking of, 111, 895.

Ipecacuanha Wine (J. B. Barnes), 259.
Ireland, Medicinal Plants of (W.
Craig), 863.

— Pharmaceutical Society of, 141, 179,

(Annual Meeting), 315, 397, 441,
479, 581, 685, 762, 866, 943,
1031.

Iron, Albuminate of (C. L. Diehl), 43.

— Borocitrates, 390.

— -Copper Group, Colour Relations of

the (T. Bayley), 994.

— Dialysed (R. Rother), 697.

— Iodide of, Solution of, 353.

— Iodide, Syrup of, Restoration of Dis¬

coloured, 508 ; (F. W. Fletcher),
268; (T. B. Groves), 237; (H. W.
Langbeck), 580.

— Sulphate, Precipitated, 1020.

— Tincture of Perchloride of, Presence

of Arsenic in (F. W. Fletcher),
282.

Isinglass, Japanese, Algae found in,
137.

Isle of Man, Pharmacy in the, 703.
Issleib, M., Bitter Principle and Resin
of Hops, 6.

Jaborandi, Harnack and Meyer’s Re¬
search on (A. W. Gerrard), 608.

— Leaves, Alkaloids of (E. Harnack

and H. Meyer), 551 ; (C. T. King-
zett), 587.

Jaborine, 252, 551, 896.

Jackson, A. H., Pharmaceutical Titles,
912.

J ago, W., Organic Matter in Sea Water,

868.

J ahns, E., Constituents of the Essential
Oils of Origanum vulgare and Thy¬
mus Serpyllum, 157.

Jamaica, Experimental Cultivation in,
198, 277.

— Proposed Law for the Sale of Poi¬

sons, 1011.

Japaconitine, 3.

Jobson, T., Pharmacy Act, 1868, 892.

Johnson, G. S., Synthetical Production
of Ammonia, 624, 1074.

Jones, A., Pharmacy Acts Amendment
BUI, 731.

— F., Boron Hydride, 807.

Journal, Circulation of the, 1011, 1030.

— the Society’s, Letters respecting the
(Anonymous), 1039 ; (T. B. Groves),
1077; (E. Smith), 1039, 1059;
(W. F. Tucker), 1077.

Journals, Continental, 580.

Juries, Exemption from Service on,
Editorial Remarks on, 355.

— Exemption from Service on, Letter
respecting (W. H. Pollard), 888;
(A. Stooke), 407.

J ury Lists, the, 258.

— Service in Scotland, Letters on

(W. F. Haydon), 368; (J. Stew¬
art), 348, 368.

Kali-musli, 21.

Kauri Gum of New Zealand, 989.

— Resin (E. H. Rennie), 809.

Kay, W. E., Sulphides of Vanadium,
399.

Kemp, H., Sale of Stamped Lozenges,
772.

Kiliani, H., Inulin, 990.

Killick, C. R., Bismuth Oleate, 869.
Kingzett, C. T., Alkaloid of Jaborandi,
587.

— C. T., Atmospheric Oxidation of

Phosphorus and Some Reactions of
Ozone and Peroxide of Hydrogen,
399.

Kinninmont, A, Suggestions for the
Amendment of the Pharmacy Act,
479.

Klie, G. H. C., Preparation of Syrups
by Percolation, 800.

Korai, 169.

Koriak-kizhan-gu, 169.

Kurchicine, 714.

Kusso Powder, Alterability of, 797.

Ladenburg, A., Synthesis of Atropic
Acid, 822.

Lafean, A. H., Solubility of Alkaloids
in Alcohol, 902.

Langbeck, H. W., Chloral for the
Toothache, 588.

— H. W., Copies of Prescriptions, 488.

— H. W., Glucose, Bitter Substance

in, 832.

— H. W., Syrupus Ferri Iodidi, 588.
Langgaard, A., Constituents of Japanese

Belladonna, 10.

— A., Japanese and Chinese Aconite

Roots, 1021, 1041.

Lard, Hydrocarbons as Substitutes for
(J. R. Summers), 672 ; (W. Young),
712.

Latin, G., Eupatorium perfoliatum, 192.
Laudanum, Poisoning by, 708, 996.
Lavatera obia, 815.

Lavender Water, Decoloration of, 446.
Lawsonia alba, Powder from, and
Henna (H. Paschkis), 855.

Lead Salts, Lime as an Impurity in, 985.
Leaves and Light, 510.

— Effects of Frost on, 610.

— Larval Forms of, 609.

— Little Known, Contribution to a

Knowledge of Some (H. Paschkis),
813, 855, 913, 1003.

Leay, J., Appeal Case in the House of
Lords, 108.

— J., Chemists’ Prices, 507.

Leeds, A. R., Production of Peroxide
of Hydrogen by Hydrogenized
Palladium, 1068.

. Leeds Chemists’ Association, 13,521, 621.
Leicester Chemists’ Assistants and Ap¬
prentices’ Association, 161, 317,
582, 707.

Lemonade, Fruit Syrup for, 1070.
Leptandra, Resin of (J. U. Lloyd), 370.
Lewes, V., Pentathionic Acid, 623.
Liatris odoratissima, Leaves of (H.
Paschkis), 1003.

Library, Donations to the, 30, 117, 376,
458, 558, 635, 738, 842, 921, 1010.

— Museum and Laboratory Committee,

Reports of, 30, 117, 298, 376, 458,
558, 635, 738, 841, 921, 1010.

Lime Juice, Frozen, 704.

Linaloes, Essence de, 984.

Lincolne, W., Effects of the Frost, 672.
Liniment, Poisoning by a, 246.

Linseed Oil, Adulterated (A. H. Mason)

686.

Liquids, Mixed, Volume of (F. D.
Brown), 806.

Liquor Opii Sedativus, Various Forms
of (E. B. Shuttleworth), 799.
Liquorice, Glycerole of, 413.

Lister, J., Preparation of Catgut for
Ligatures, 718.

Lithium Borocitrates, 389.

— in Mineral Waters, 581.

Liverpool Chemists’ Association (An¬
nual Meeting), 316, 341, 398, 441,
504, 519, 582, 686, 704, 764, 825,
867, 943.

— Registered Chemists’ Association,

886.

Liversedge, — , Alkaloid from Pituri,
815.

Lloyd, J. U., Citrate of Caffeine, 760.

— J. U., Percolation, Conditions

Necessary to Successfully Conduct,
192, 210.

— J. D. , Phosphoric Acid, 151.

— J. U., Resin of Leptandra, 370.

Local Government Board and the

— Adulteration of Drugs, 395, 427.

— Secretaries for 1880-81, List of, 31.
Lock, C. G. W., Rose Oil, or Otto of

Roses, 899.

Loewe, J., Commercial Analyses of
Soaps, 836.

Long, H., Future of Pharmacy, 347.

— H., Pharmacy Acts Amendment

Bill, 607.

Loos, F., Glycerole of Cinchona, 412.
Lozenges, The Sale of Stamped, Letters
on (W. Austin), 812; (H. Kemp),
772; (J. B. Shillcock), 732.

Lupulin, 6.

McCallum, Preparation of Opium for
Smoking, 229.

McEwan, P., Branch Pharmacies, 730.
Mackay, J., Obituary Notice of, 881,
889, 917.

— J., Proposed Change in the Constitu¬

tion of the Scotch Board of Exa¬
miners, 770, 811.

Maclagan, D., Report on the Examina¬
tions, 314.

Magnesium Borocitrates, 389.

-June 23, 1S81.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1089

Maisch, J. M., Gum Acroides, 1005.
Maitland, P. C., Pharmacy Acts
Amendment Bill, 669.

Major Examinations, 62, 64, 358, 498,
519, 724, 750, 928, 1053.

Malagasy Materia Medica, 853.
Malaria, the Bacillus of, 429.
Manchester Chemists and Druggists’
Association, 463.

Mancona Bark, 111.

Mandrake Root, 715.

Manganese, Oxide* of (S. Pickering),
442. .

Marcgraviacese, Nectaries of, 109.
Marignac, C. de, Chemical Mechanics,
573.

Martin, W. T., Relations of Medicine
and Pharmacy, 812.

Martindale, W., Chian Turpentine, 271.

— W., Citrine Ointment and Vaseline,

912.

— W., Sal Volatile and Chloric Ether,

528.

Mason, A. H., Adulterated Linseed Oil,

686.

— A. H., Peroxide of Hydrogen, 704.
Masson, D. B., and W. Ramsay, Volume

of Phosphorus at its Boiling Point,
481.

Mauchlen, Effects of the Late Frost,
712.

Meat, Canned, Alleged Poisoning by,
295.

Meconic Acid (D. B. Dott), 576.
Medical Act Amendment Bill, 702.

— Acts, Royal Commission on the,

916, 922.

— Officers of Health, Necessity for

Better Training and Education of
(H. A. Husband), 499.

— Reform, Royal Commission on, 838.

— Register, The, 736.
Medico-Pharmaceutical Abuses in the

United States, 235.

Mee, G., Education and Examination,
951.

— G., Pharmacy Acts Amendment

Bill, 605, 831.

— G., Teaching of Dispensing, _ 327.
Melampyrum pratense, Visitation of, by

Ants, 510.

Melting Point, Effect of Pressure upon
(T. Carnelly), 523.

Members, Election of, 29, 116, 297, 375,
557, 631, 737, 840, 918, 1009.
Mercuric Nitrate, Action of Alcohol on
(R. Cowper), 807.

Mercury, Oleate of (N. Rossenwasser) ,
592.

Metals, Colours, Properties and Rela¬
tions of a Group of (T. Bayley),
3".

Metric System, Application of, to Dis¬
pensing, 295.

_ System, Popularizing of the, 374.

Microscopic Slides for Students (W. H.
Symons), 951.

Midland Counties Chemists’ Associa¬
tion, 422, 620.

Migration of European . Animals to
America, and American Animals
to Europe (E. W. Claypole), 576,
597, 614, 698.

Mikania Guaco ( J. G. Baker), 471. <

_ Guaco as a Remedy for Snake Bite,

369.

Milk Analysis, Disputed, 1075.

Miller, J. T., Spiritus Ammoniae Aro-
maticus, 672.

Minor Examinations, 62, 64, 358, 498,
519, 724, 750, 928, 1053.

Mitchell, C. L., Gum Hogg, 154.
Modified Examinations, 62, 65, 358,
498, 724, 750, 929, 1053.

Modlen, K., Aristolochiacese as Anti¬
dotes to Snake Poisons, 409.
Molecular Grouping, Influence of, on
Absorption of Spectrum ( — test¬
ing), 726. ....

— Properties and Physiological Action

of Inorganic Bodies, Relation be¬
tween (J. Blake), 1026.

Month, The, 109, 249, 349, 429, 509,
609, 713, 793, 893, 981, 1061.
Moore, J. B., Syrup of Citric Acid,

471.

Moriya, N., Peppermint Camphor, 443.
Morphia Acetate (D. B. Dott), 619.

— Atropine as an Antidote to, 714.

— Conversion of into Codeia, 1064.

— Lozenges, Poisoning by, 669.

— Pellets, 512.

— Poisoning by, 1056.

— Solubility of Some of the Salts of

(D. B. Dott), 618.

Morres, H. W., Future of Pharmacy,
388.

Morris, L. J., Extraction of Colchicia
from Seed, 734.

Mosquitoes, Oil of Pennyroyal and, 251.
Motha, 169.

Muir, M. M. P., New Oxides of Bis¬
muth, 1074.

Mulberry, Syrup of, 1070.

Municipal Honours to Pharmacists, 28,
396, 420, 440, 1008.

Museum, Donations to the, 31, 118,
377, 459, 558, 636, 739, 842, 921,
1010.

Musk and Quinine, 1063.

— Deer in Tibet, 860.

Musli-Kand, 21.

Mustard, Analyses of Black and White
(C. H. Piesse and L. Stansell), 416.

— Oil, Analysis of (F. A Fluekiger),

472.

Myroxylon Peruiferum (T. Peckolt),
818.

Myrrh, Spurious Gums Imported with
(R. H. Parker), 41.

Myxomycetes, Position of, 983.

Nagarmotha, 169.

Nagdown, 22.

Naphthalene Derivatives (H. E. Arm¬
strong), 524, 1073.

Naphthaquinone Action of Benzoic
Acid on, 807.

Naphtholsulphonic Acid, 401.
Naranjillo, Constituents of, 612.

Nasal Bougies, 114.

Naylor, W. A. H., Green Extracts of
the Pharmacopoeia, 278.

Nerium odorum, Chemistry of (II.
Greenish), 873.

Nesbit, J., Sulphate of Beberia, 620.
Newcastle Literary and Philosophical
Society, 360.

New South Wales, Pharmacy in, 824.

— York, Pharmacy Bill for, 725.

— - Zealand, Pharmacy Act for, 396,
401.

New Zealand, Pharmacy in, 52.

— Zealand, Technological Museum for,

1052.

Nickel and Nickel Plating (T. Garside),
519.

Nicotia in Tobacco, Estimation of, 679.
Nilap-panaik-Kizhangu, 21.

Nind, G., Chemists’ Charges, 831.
Nitrates, Action of Copper-Zinc Couple
and Application in the Analysis of
Water (M. W. Williams), 689.
Nitre, Sweet Spirit of, Prosecution for
Sale of Defective, 122.

Nitric Acid, Inflammability of "V ege-
table Substances by, 1050.
Nitrogen, Estimation of, by Combus¬
tion { — Ruffle), 523.

Nitroprussides of the Alkaloids (E. W.
Davy), 756.

Nitrous Acid, Appearance of, during
the Evaporation of Water (R.
Warington), 808.

North British Branch. See under Edin¬
burgh.

Northampton Pharmaceutical Associa¬
tion, 383, 504, 763, 946.

Notes and Queries, 19, 40, 60, 166, 207,
247, 326, 347, 367, 407, 427, 446,
507, 548, 585, 831, 871, 1038.
Nottingham and Notts Chemists Asso¬
ciation, 383, 481, 521, 688, i62,
828, 945, 1017.

Nux Vomica, Alkaloids from (\\ • A.
Shenstone), 1074.

Obituary, 18, 39, 107, 166, 268, 326,
387, 405, 443, 486, 566, 583, 709,
728, 811, 830, 889, 910, 949, 1038.
Abraham, J., 728. '

Aitkin, W., 387.

Baildon, H. C., 566.

Boettger, R., 992.

D’Aubney, T., 39.

Mackay, J., 881, 889.

Phoebus, P., 52.

Plomley, J. F., 107.

Stenhouse, J., 567.

Wagner, R., 340.

(Egopodium Podagaria, 1061.

(Enanthe crocata, Poisoning by, 784,
98L r __

Oils, Action of, on Metals (W . H.
Watson), 371.

— and Waxes, Saponified, Action of

Solvents on (A. H. Allen and W .
Thomson), 1032.

— of Commerce, Detection of Ad¬

mixtures in the (A. Rdmont), 190.
Ointment, Boracic Acid (S. Hardwick),

13.

Oldham Chemists and Druggists’ Assis¬
tants and Apprentices’ Association,
565, 688, 785, 886, 946.

Oleander, Poisoning of Horse by, 1062.
Oleic Acid, Purified (E. C. Saunders),
113.

Oleo-Mirgarine, Manufacture of, in the
United States, 152.

Olive Oil, 794.

— Oil, Adulteration of (M. Conroy),

933, 1000.

— Oil, Testing of (F. W. and A. F.

Stoddart), 980, 1040.

Olives, Effect of Fermentation on Yield
of Oil from, 110.

Onagraceie, Stipules in, 350.

1090 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [June 25, 1881

Oolachan Oil, 895.

Opium, Bulgarian, 897.

— Commercial Notes on (K. von

Scherzer), 835.

— for Smoking, Preparation of (H.

McCallum), 229.

— Persian, 804.

- — Poisoning by, 366, 870.

— Smoking Apparatus, (T.Sampson),22.
Origanum vulgare, Essential Oil of

(E. Jahns), 157.

Oxalic Acid, Coroner on Sale of, 996.

— Acid, Correspondence respecting Sale

of, 1050.

Oxygen, Explosion while preparing, 252.
Oysters, Green Colour of, 349.

Ozone and Peroxide of Hydrogen, Some
Reactions of (C. T. Kingzett), 399.

— Formation of, 795.

— Liquefaction of, 7, 353.

Pall Mall Gazette on the Chemist and
Druggist, 137.

Pancreatic Ferments, 713.

Papaine (A. Wurtz), 129, 802.

Papaya Juice, 250, 350.

Parasites and Saprophytes (D. Hooper),
525.

Paregoric, Sale of Substitute for, 164.
Parietaria, Explosive Anthers of, 982.
Paringay-Puttay, 170.

Paris, New School of Pharmacy in,
356.

Parker, R. H., Iridescent Crystals of
Chlorate of Potash, 468.

— R. H., Spurious Gums imported

with Myrrh, 41.

Parsons, H. B., Chemical Examination
of Damiana, 271.

Paschkis, H., Angrcecum fragrans
Leaves, 913.

— H., Eupatorium Ayapana, 1005.

— H., Folia Patchouli of Commerce,

813.

— H., Henna Leaves and Powder from

Lawsonia alba, 855.

— H., Liatris odoratissima, Leaves of,

1003.

Passavant, L. M., Specific Volume of
Chloral, 482.

Patchouli Leaves of Commerce (H.
Paschkis), 813.

— Notes on (C. Sawer), 409 ; (T.

Greenish), 448.

Patent Medicines, Duty paid on, 374.

- — Medicines, Prosecution for Selling
without a Licence, 423.

Patents, Low Priced, 672.

Paul, B. H , Peculiar Kind of Cinchona
Bark, 259.

Pavonia Weldenii, 815.

Peckolt', T., Myroxylon Peruiferum,
818.

Pekelharing, C. A., Peptone, 531.
Pellet, H., Analyses of Soya hispida,
153.

Pennyroyal Oil and Mosquitoes, 251.
Pentathionic Acid (V. Lewes), 623.
Pepper, Hungarian Red (H. B. Brady),
469.

Peppermint Camphor (M. Moriya), 443.

— Oil, Constituents of (F. A. Fluckiger

and F. B. Power), 220.

Pepsine, Preparation of (A. Petit), 47.
Peptone Alkaloids, 1064.

— (C. A. Pekelharing), 531.

Peptones, Preparations of the (A. Cas-
tillon), 759.

Percolation, Conditions to Successfully
Conduct (J. U. Lloyd), 192, 210.

— Upward (W. Elbourne), 20.

Perkin, W. H., Isomeric Acids from

Coumarin and the Ethers of Sali¬
cylic Aldehyde, 1073.

Peru Balsam Emulsion, 286.

— Balsam, Test for Purity of, 251.
Petit, A., Preparation of Pepsine, 47.
Petiveria alliacea, 609.

Petroleum Spirit and Analogous
Liquids (A. H. Allen), 266.

— Wells in Pennsylvania, Yield of, 112.
Pharmaceutical Interests, Protection of,

99L

— Preparations, New and Unofficial

(C. Symes), 241.

— Reform as regards the Qualifications

of Assistants, 1047.

— Society v. London and Provincial

Supply Association, Letters re¬
specting (Anonymous), 108; (J.
Leay), 108.

Pharmacopoeia, German, Note on New
Preparations for the, 1025.

— German, Revision of, 340.

— Hungarian, 897.

— Japanese, 986.

— Medical Council and the, 139, 985.

— Pharmacists and the, Discussion in

Council respecting, 845.

— Revision from a Medical Point of

View, 160.

Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill, Edi¬
torial Remarks on, 497, 555. 617.

— Act Amendment Bill, Letters on

the (Anonymous), 587, 607, 627,
670, 691, 710, 752, 831 ; (C. B.
Allen), 627 : (T. Barclay), 586;
(T. Blackman), 606; (G. Brown),
605; (G. Burrell), 670; (J. R.
Cooper), 670, 727 ; (D. Frazer), 488 ;
(T. G. Gibbons), 710; (G. T. Gost-
ling), 606; (A. J. Gower), 691; (T.
Greenish), 604 ; (G. G. Hornsby),
691 ; (E. G. Hughes), 670 ; (A.
Jones), 731 ; (T. Jobson), 892; (H.
Long), 607 ; (P. C. Maitland), 669;
(G. Mee), 605, 831 ; (G. P. Pond),
730; (E. Pratt), 671 f(B. S. Proc¬
tor), 606, 626; (G. W. Sandford),
585; (G. W. Sargent), 627; (E.
Smith), 586 ; (C. Symes), 604; (F.
Taylor), 627 ; ( J. Terrill), 586 ; (E.
B. Vizer), 606; (W. Wilkinson),
605; (G. S. Woolley), 627.

— Act Amendment Bill, Proposed

(Text), 553.

— Act Amendment, Discussions in

Council respecting, 119, 378, 458,
459, 498, 561, 638, 739, 842.

— Act Amendment, Suggestions for

(A. Kinninmont), 479.

— Act and Assistants, 168.

— Act, Companies and the, Editorial

Remarks on the, 61, 81.

— Act, Infringements of the, 420.

— Act, Prosecutions under the (Cooper),

72 J ; (Copping), 39, 423; (Harrod),
325, 887 ; (.Johnstone), 423, 465;
(Lewis), 995; (London and Pro¬
vincial Supply Association) 65, 83;
(Piper), 325, 887; (Watkins), 1075;
(Wright), 669.

Pharmacy, Future of, American Views
on the, 723.

— Future of, Letters on the (Anony¬

mous), 408, 446; (Allen, C. B.),
427; (W. M. Coveil), 447; (H.
Long), 347 ; (H. W. Morres), 388 ;
(E. Pratt), 288 ; (R. A. Shields),
248.

— Relation between Medicine and, Edi¬

torial Remarks on the, 419, 599,
783.

— Relation between Medicine and,

Letters on the (Anonymous) 447,
467 ; (R. Robinson), 671, 731, 872;
(R. Wright), 891. See also under
Dispensing, Medical.
Phenanthraquinone, Action of Alde¬
hydes upon (F. R. Japp), 807.
Phoebus, P., Obituary Notice of, 52.
Phosphoric Acid (J. U. Lloyd), 151.
Phosphorus and its Compounds (A. J.
Reid), 621.

— Atmospheric Oxidation of, 7 95 ; (C.

T. Kingzett), 399.

— Paste, 1000.

— Pentiodide, 352.

— Solubility of, in Alcohol (G. F.

Schacht), 464.

— Tincture and Solution of, 468.

— Volume of at Boiling Point (D. B.

Masson and W. Ramsay), 481.
Photography, Rise and Progress of (W.

Hume), 804.

Photophone, 253, 272.

Phytolaccic Acid, 511.

Pickering, S. U., Oxides of Manganese,
442.

— S. U., Sulphides of Copper, 1032.
Picrotoxin, Composition of, 352, 897.

— Solution and Pills, 250.

Piesse, C. H., and L. Stansell, Analyses
of Black and White Mustard, 416.
Pill Coating with Cacao Butter, 797.
Pilocarpine, Alleged Misuse of, 236,
258.

— in Asthma, 250.

— in Fetid Perspiration of Feet, 895.

— Preparation of, 551, 896.

Pinckneya pubens, 714.

Pisani, O. V., Estimation of Sulphites
and Sulphurous Acid, 993.

Piturie, Alkaloid from ( — Liversedge),
815.

Planchon, G., Studies of the Genus
Strychnos, 469, 491, 529, 589, 693,
754.

Plectranthus fruticosus, 815.

Plimpton, R. T., Amylamines of Fer¬
mentation, 947.

Plomley, J. F., Obituary Notice of,
107.

Podophyllin (I. Guareschi', 114.
Podophyllum Resin, 984.

Poison, Misconceptions as to the Sale
of, Editorial Remarks on, 1071.
Poisoning by —

Aconite, 424, 566.

Ammonia, 786.

Arsenic, 387, 830, 949.

“ Baby’s Mixture, 425.

Buttercups, 109.

Carbolic Acid, 288, 583, 1019.
Chloral Hydrate, 566, 996.
Chlorodyne, 466, 545, 565, 996.
Disinfectant, 1056.

Fly Paper, 268.

June 25, 1881.]J]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1091

Poisoning by —

Glycine, 610.

Laudanum, 708, 996.

Liniment, 246.

Medicine, 424.

Morphia, 1056.

Morphia Lozenges, 669.

CEnanthe crocata, 784.

Opium, 366, 870.

Oxalic Acid, 996.

Potassium Cyanide, 709, 949.

Prussic Acid, 207, 485, 728, 995.
Star-Anise, False, 430, 453.
Steedman’s Powder, 165.

Strychnia, 498.

Tartaric Acid, 386.

Vermin Killer, 366, 505, 728.
Poisons, Prescriptions containing, Writ¬
ing of in France, 985.

Pollard, H. H., Exemption from Ser¬
vice on Juries, 388.

Polygraph Compositions and Inks, 137.
Pomade, Cosmetic, 208.

Pond, G. B., Pharmacy Act Amend¬
ment Bill, 730.

Porphyrine and Porphyrosine, 776.
Postans, A. W., Proposed Record of
Donations to Benevolent Fund,
999.

Potash, Alkaline Solution of, Report
on (J. Woodland), 323.

— Chlorate of, Iridescent Crystals of

(H. O. Huskisson), 448; (R. H.
Parker), 468.

Potassium Borocitrates, 390.

— Bromide, Disguising Taste of, 353.

— Carbonate, New Process of Manu¬

facture, 896.

— Cyanide, Poisoning by, 709, 949.
Pratt, E., Future of Pharmacy, 288.

— E., Pharmacy Acts Amendment

Bill, 671.

Preliminary Examination, 63, 357, 600,
883.

— Examination, Certificates received

in lieu of, 62, 65, 359, 499, 602,
725, 750, 929.

— Examination, Discussion respecting

the, 637.

— Examination, List of Examinations

to be received in lieu of the So¬
ciety’s, 742, 849.

Preparations, New and Unofficial (C.
Symes), 241.

Prescription, Action for Wrong Dis¬
pensing of a, 888.

Prescriptions, Copies of, Letters re¬
specting (Anonymous), 428, 468,
488 ; (H. W. Langbeck), 488.

— Dispensing of, in the Provinces,

Letters on (Anonymous), 388, 408,
447, 467; (J. D. Robertson), 408;
(G. T. Starkey!, 467.

— Repetition of, Editorial Remarks on

the, 1029.

— Repetition of, Letter on, 1080.
Preston Pharmaceutical Students’ As¬
sociation, 806, 905.

Prevost, E. W., Action of Humic Acid
on Atmospheric Nitrogen, 946.
Prices, Chemists’, Letters respecting
(Anonymous), 872; (J. J. Chap¬
man), 167 ; (J. Leay), 507.

Prizes, Award of the, 118, 843.

— Distribution of the, 302.

Proctor, B. S., Election of Council, 932.

Proctor, B. S., Pharmacy Acts Amend¬
ment Bill, 606, 626.

— B. S., Scotch Board of Examiners,
831.

Progressing, Are we, 1007.

Proprietary Medicines, Dr. Down on
(S. F. Elliman), 326.

Provincial Transactions : —

Aberdeen Society of Chemists and
Druggists, 785.

Brighton Association of Pharmacy,

785.

Bristol Pharmaceutical Association,
341, 464, 687, 867.

Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Asso¬
ciation, 53, 318, 503, 522, 750,
929 ; (Annual Meeting), 973.
Dover Chemists’ Association, 398.
Edinburgh (North British Branch),
421, 499, 618, 725, 804, 866,
884.

Edinburgh Chemists’ Assistants’ As¬
sociation, 341, 441, 565, 602,

763, 828, 886, 945.

Glasgow Chemists and Druggists’
Association, 398, 441, 479, 545,
583, 623, 688, 725, 763, 805, 867,
905, 945.

Halifax and District Chemists’ Asso¬
ciation, 707.

Leeds Chemists’ Association, 13,
521, 621.

Leicester Chemists’ Assistants and
Apprentices’ Association, 161,
317, 582, 707.

Liverpool Chemists’ Association (An¬
nual Meeting), 316, 341, 398,
441, 504, 519, 582, 686, 704,

764, 825, 867, 943.

Liverpool Registered Chemists’ As¬
sociation, 886.

Manchester Chemists and Druggists’
Association (Annual Meeting),
463.

Midland Counties Chemists’ Associa¬
tion, 422, 620.

Northampton Pharmaceutical Asso¬
ciation, 383, 504, 763, 946.
Nottingham and Notts Chemists’ As¬
sociation, 383, 481, 521, 688,

762, 828, 945, 1017.

Oldham Chemists and Druggists’
Assistants and Apprentices’ As¬
sociation, 565, 688, 785, 886,
946.

Preston Pharmaceutical Students’
Society, 806, 905.

Rochdale Chemists’ Association, 504.
Sheffield Pharmaceutical and Chemi¬
cal Association, 161, 602, 70 7,

763, 905, 993.

Sunderland Chemists’ Assistants and
Apprentices’ Association, 141,
583.

Prussic Acid, Poisoning by, 207, 485,
728, 995.

Pseudaconitine, 3.

Ptomaines, Test for, 984, 1064.

Pulvis Glycyrrhizse Compositus, Modi¬
fication of, 700.

Purdie, T., Action of Sodium Alcoho-
late on Fumaric Ethers, 947.
Purple Colour for Show Bottles, 208.
Pyretic, Use of the Word, 424.
Pyrogallic Acid, Preparation of (T. E.
Thorpe), 990.

Quassia, Poisoning by, 250.

— v. Mosquitoes, 234.

Quebracho Bark, Test for, 985.

— Colorado Gum, Origin of (A. Vogl),l.
Queensland, Pharmacy in, 804.

Quillaia Tooth wash, 372.

Quinine Duty in the United States, abo¬
lition of, 258.

— Sulphate, Deficiency of, in Prescrip¬

tion, Prosecution of Chemist for,
909.

— Sulphate, Testing of Commercial,

27, 351.

Ramsay, A. C., Recurrence of Certain
Phenomena in Geological Time,
186, 199.

— W., Volume of Sodium and Bromine

at their Boiling Points, 481.
Rangoon Oil, 871.

Raspberry, Syrup of 1070.

Redwood, T., Weights, Balances, and
Measures employed in Pharmacy,
673.

Register, List of Names liable to be
struck off the, 393.

Registrar’s Report for 1880, 632.

— Report for 1880, Editorial Remarks

on the, 679.

Reid, A. J., Phosphorus and its Com¬
pounds, 621.

Reimann, G., Gum Savakin, 714.
R^mont, A., Detection of Admixtures
in the Oils of Commerce, 190.
Report, Annual, 962.

— of the Council, Editorial Remarks

on the, 914.

Research, Original, Why do not Young
Pharmacists contribute more to?
548.

Resin and Turpentine, 261.

Resorcin and its Therapeutic Uses (J.

Andeer), 435, 877.

Review of the Year 1880, 533.

Reviews : —

Aids to the Chemistry and Tests of
the Pharmacopoeia (J. Davison),
546.

Botany, Elementary Text-Book of
(K. Prantl and S. H. Vines),
59.

— Practical for Elementary Students
(D. Houston), 1076.

British Wild Flowers (F. A. Messer),
505.

Chemistry, General, Medical and
Pharmaceutical (J. Attfield),769.
Electric Light for Industrial Uses
(R. E. Crompton), 603.
Experimental Chemistry for Junior
Students (J. E. Reynolds), 769.
Gas, Heating by (T. Fletcher), 465.
Inorganic Chemistry (W. B. Kems-
head), 584.

Levulins, Triticins und Sinistrins,
Ein Beitrag zur Kentniss des
(A. W. v. Reidemeister), 425.
London Smoke and Fog (F. Edwards),
425.

Maladies Cancereuses (G. Schmitt),
1057.

Peruvian Bark (C. R. Markham), 787.
Pharmaceutische Chemie (F. A.
Fliickiger), 17.

Poisons : their Effects and Antidotes
(A. B. Prescott), 625.

1092

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

[June 25, 1SS1.

Reviews — continued.

Power of Movement in Plants (C.
Darwin), 486.

Proceedings of American Pharmaceu¬
tical Association, 1056.
Professional Book-Keeping (W. J.
Gordon), 425.

Quebracho Rinde, Die (A. Hansen),
404.

Tables for the Analysis of a Simple
Salt (A. Vintner), 546.
Workshop Companion, 425.
Year-Book of Pharmacy, 567.
Reynolds, R., and H. B. Brady, Profes¬
sor Attfield and the Foundation of
the Pharmaceutical Conference,
# 247.

Rhinacanthin, 795.

Rhubarb, Cultivation of, in Prance, 755.

— Gigantic, 860.

— Species of (H. V. Schlagintweit),

454.

Rhus, Beneficent and Tonic Effects of
the Various Species of Rhus (T.
G. W. Burgess), 858.

Rimmington, F. M., New Method for
the Examination of Coffee, 529.
Robbery of Chemicals, 165.

Robertson, J. D., Dispensing of Pre¬
scriptions in the Provinces, 408.
Robinson, A. E., Chemical Pood, 951.

— R., Medical Dispensing, 671, 872.
Rochdale Chemists’ Association, 504.
Rose Leaves, Artificially Coloured (T.

E. Greenish), 733.

— Oil, or Otto of Roses (C. G. W.

Lock), 899.

Rosenwasser, N., Oleate of Mercury,
592.

Rosin Spirit, Hydrocarbons from (H. E.
Armstrong, 624.

Rossi, A. J., Cyprien M. Tessie du
Motay, 473.

Rother, R., Coccus Red, 130.

— R., Dialysed Iron, 697.

Rotoine, 10.

Royal Institution, 1033.

— Institution, Lecture Arrangements,

498.

Rubini’s Camphor, 508.

Ruffle, — , Estimation of Nitrogen by
Combustion, 523.

Rumex Ointment, 346.

Ruscus aculeatus, 713.

Ruspini’s Styptic, 852.

Russell, D. B., Disinfectants, 422.
Russia, Pharmaceutical Education in
(H. G. Greenish), 1001.

Saffron Cultivation in the United
States, 713.

— Note on the History of (C. B.

Allen), 449, 488.

— Spurious, 381.

— Sugar, etc. (A. E. Tanner), 508.

— Use of, in the Pharmacopoeia (E. M.

Holmes), 450.

Sagittaria sagittifolia, 350.

Sal Volatile and Chloric Ether (W.
Martindale), 528.

— Volatile, Report on Commercial

Specimens of (J. C. Thresh),
320.

Sale of Food and Drugs Act, Prosecu¬
tions under, 122, 164, 546, 708,
888, 909, 1019, 1075.

Salicin Derivatives from Phenol (W.
R. Dunstan), 809.

Salicylic Acid, Action of Diazonaph¬
thalene on (P. F. Frankland), 400.

— Acid for Bee Stings, 937.

— Acid for Dispensing, 427.

— Acid in Small Pox, 1063.

— Acid, Prohibition respecting Use of,

in Prance, 794.

— Acid, Reaction of Ferric Chloride

with, 158.

— Aldehyde, Ethers of|(WJH. Perkin),

1073.

— and Citric Acids, Note on (F. C.

Clayton), 411.

— Silk, 612.

Salvia, Species of, 109.

Sampson, T., Opium Smoking Appara¬
tus, 22.

Sandford, G. W., Pharmacy Act’ Amend¬
ment Bill, 585.

— G. W., Resolution of Council upon

Retirement of, 1014.

Sapphire Mines of Siam, 25.

Sargent, G. W., Pharmacy Act
Amendment Bill, 627.

Sarracenias, Flowers of the, 981.

Sassy Bark, 111.

Saunders, E. C., Purified Oleic Acid,
113.

Sawer, J. C., Notes on Patchouli, 409.

— J. C., Opinions as to Origin of

Commercial Vanilla, 773.

Scandix Pecten- Veneris, 1061.

Schacht, G. F., Solubility [of Phos¬
phorus in Alcohol, 464.

Scheibe, E., Borocitrates and their Pre¬
paration, 389.

Scherzer, K. von, Commercial Notes
on Opium, 835.

Schlagintweit, H. v., Species of Rhu¬
barb, 454.

Schmitt, E., Ergot and the Ergotines,
23.

Schnetzler, J. B., Flowers of Vinegar
and Wine, 155.

School of Pharmacy, Editorial Remarks
on the Society’s, 294, 681.

— of Pharmacy Students’ Association,

13, 54, 141, 161, 423, 465, 525,
602, 690, 727, 768, 809, 870, 878,
906, 948, 994, 1018.

Scientific Meetings, The Autumn, Edi¬
torial Remarks on, 11.

Scillin, 352.

Scopoleine, 10.

Scopolia japonica, Constituents of (A.
Langgaard), 10.

Scybaline and Scybalinic Acid, 252.

Sea Sickness, Preventive of, 247.

Seeds, Provision for the Distribution of,
893.

Selenium and its Application to the
Photophone and Telephotography
(S. Bidwell), 1033.

— and the Photophone (A. G. Bell),

272.

Session, Opening of a New, 277.
Sheffield Pharmaceutical and Chemical
Association, 161, 602, 707, 763,
905, 993.

Shenstone, W. A., Alkaloids of Nux
Vomica, 1074.

Shields, R. J., Future of Pharmacy,
248.

Shikimine, 1050.

Shillcock, J. B., Sale of Cough Lozen¬
ges, 732.

Shinn, J. T., Calcium Benzoate, 937.
Shuttleworth, E. B., Various Forms of
Liquor Opii Sedativus, 799.

Sieve Tubes of Dicotyledonous Plants,
473.

Silk, Salicylic, 612.

Silphium laciniatum, 793, 1061.

Silver, Tribasic Phosphate of, in Medi¬
cine, 983.

Sium Helenianum, 981.

— longifolium as an Adulterant of

Valerian, 610.

Small Pox, Preventive of Pitting in,
796.

Smilax China, 170.

— Glycophylla, Sweet Principle of (C.

R. A. Wright), 808.

Smith, A., Method of Estimating
Chicory in Coffee, 568.

— A. P., Identification of Crystallized

Alkaloids by Use of Microscope
and Polarized Light, 994.

— E., Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill,

586.

— E., The Society’s Journal, 1039,

1059.

— J. J., Branch Pharmacies, 771.
Snake Stones in Ceylon, 592.

Soaps, Analysis of (J. Loewe), 836.
Societies, Scientific, Proceedings

of : —

British Association, 186,1 99,222, 1071.
— Pharmaceutical Conference. See
under Conference.

Chemical Society, 398, 442, 481, 523,
623, 689, 725, 765, 806 (Annual
Meeting), 828, 852, 868, 905,
946, 993, 1032, 1073.

Chemists’ Assistants’ Association,
161, 384, 401, 465, 504, 524, 625,
690, 727, 786, 829, 869, 994,
1074.

Newcastle Literary and Philosophical
Society, 360.

Royal Institution, 1033.

School of Pharmacy Students’ Asso¬
ciation, 13, 54, 141, 161, 423,
465, 525, 602, 690, 727, 768, 809,
870, 878, 906, 948, 994, 1018,
1053.

Society of Arts, 14, 35, 56, 146, 161,
204.

Soda, Caustic, Corrosion of Vessels
used in Melting, 112.

— Preparation of, from the Sulphate by

Means of Lime and Sulphur (F.
Gutzkow), 256.

— Water Generator, Explosion of, 1056.
Sodium, Boiling, Volume of, at Boiling

Point (W. Ramsay), 481.

— Borocitrates, 389.

— Ethylate and Chloroform, Explosive

Mixture of, 715.

— Sulphate, Manufacture of, in South

of France, 50.

Solanaceous Alkaloids, The, 111.
Soorinjan, 169.

Southall, W., Presidential Address to-
British Pharmaceutical Conference,
181.

Soxhlet’s Researches on the Estimation
of Sugars, 720, 757.

Soya hispida, Analysis of (H. Pellet)*
153.

June 25, 2 SSI.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

1093

Spain, Pharmacy in (L. E. Dotesio),
753.

Special Preparations, Prescribing of,
408, 488.

Spectrophone, The, 1028.

Spectrum, Ultra-Violet Rays, Relation
between Chemical Constitution of
Organic Compounds and Action on
(W. R. Dunstan), 54.

Spiders as a Remedy in Ague, 512.

Spirit Bill, Passing of the, 160.

Spiritus Ammonias Aromaticus, Edi¬
torial Remarks on, 47 8.

— Ammonise Aromaticus, Letters res¬

pecting (Anonymous), 527, 587,
628; (0. Corder), 508; (W. Mar-
tindale), 528; (J. T. Miller), 672;
(T. Stokoe), 731 ; (A. E. Tanner),
568, 608 ; ( J. Tully), 712.

Sponge Trade in the Bahamas and Pro¬
pagation of Sponges, 492.

Squill, Active Principle of the, 352,
Squire, B., Equalization of Doses, 608.

— P., Citrine Ointment, 892.

Stapleton, J., Induction of Currents

and Practical Applications thereof,
776.

Star Anise (E. M. Holmes), 489.

— Anise, False (J. F. Eykman), 1046,

1066.

— Anise, Poisoning by False, 430, 453,

794, 984.

Starch and Starches (W. H. Symons),
602.

Starkey, G-. T., Dispensing by Country
Practitioners, 467.

— G. T., Proposed Introduction of

Vaseline into the Pharmacopoeia,
588.

Startin’s Lotion, 468.

Steedman’s Powder, Alleged Poisoning
by a, 165.

Steel for Dies, 1027.

Steltzer, J. L., Chestnut Leaves, 26.
Stenhouse, J., Obituary Notice of, 567.
_ J., and C. E. Groves, Usnic Acid,

808.

Stephenson, J. B., Address to the
North British Branch, 421.

Stewart, J., Jury Service in Scotland,
348, 368.

_ W., Effect of the Frost, 672.

Stoddart, F. W. and A. F., Testing of
Olive OH, 980, 1040.

Stokoe, T., Spiritus Ammonias Aroma¬
ticus, 731.

Stooke, A., Exemption from Jury Ser¬
vice, 407.

Storax, Liquid, Test for, 431.

Storey, E. H., Discussion at the Annual
Meeting, 1059.

Storm Glass, 207, 852.

Strawberry, Syrup of, 1070.

Strychnia, Chloral as an Antidote to,

1062. . ' .

— Chlorinated Derivatives of, 51 1.

511.

_ Detection of, in the Brain, i 14; (T.

E. Greenish), 792.

— Poisoning by, 498.

Strychnos, Studies of the Genus (G.
Planchon), 469, 491, 529, 589, 693,

754.

Study, Pharmaceutical, Opportunities
for, 339. # .

Styrone as an Antiseptic, /9o.

Sugar for Pharmaceutical Purposes,
459.

— Pure, for Syrups (W. Symons), 268.
Sugars, Soxhlet’s Researches on the

Estimation of (C. H. Hutchinson),
720, 757.

Sukhdarsan, 22.

Sulphites and Sulphurous Acid, Estima¬
tion of (O. V. Pisani), 993.
Sulphurous Acid, Oxidation of (H. B.
Dixon), 906.

Summers, J. R., Hydrocarbons as Sub¬
stitutes for Lard, 672.

— J. R., Relations of Medicine and

Pharmacy, 812.

Sunday Duty, 348.

— Trading in Glasgow, 52.

Sunderland Chemists’ Assistants and

Apprentices’ Association, 141, 583.
Superbine, 431, 495.

Swan, J. W., Electric Lighting, 360.
Symes, C., Address to Liverpool Asso¬
ciation, 341, 943.

— C., Apothecaries’ Weights and Mea¬

sures, 20.

— C., New and Unofficial Pharmaceu¬

tical Preparations, 241.

— C., Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill,

604.

Symons, W., Pure Sugar for Syrups,
268.

— W. H., Citrine Ointment and Vase¬

line, 912.

— W. H., Microscopes for Students,

951.

— W. H., Starch and Starches, 602.

— W. H., Vaseline, 695.

Syrup of Citric Acid (J. B. Moore), 471.

— of Croton Chloral Hydrate, 241.

_ of Iodide of Iron, Restoration of

Discoloured, 508; (T. B. Groves),
237; (F. W. Fletcher), 268; (H.
W. Langbeck), 588.

Syrups by Percolation, Preparation of
(G. H. C. Klie), 800.

— Fruit (A. G. Vogeler), 1070.

Thomson, W., Estimation of Minute
Quantities of Arsenic, 328.

Thorpe, T. E., Preparation of Pyrogallic
Acid, 990.

Thresh, J. C., Buxton Thermal Water,

1032. . .

— J. C ., Chloroform, Determination ot

Strength of Alcoholic Solutions of,
319.

— J. C., Sal Volatile and Chloric Ether,

Report on Commercial Specimens
of, 320.

Thymus Serpyllum, Essential Oil of (E.
Jahns), 157.

Tidy, C. W., River Water, 766.

Tinct. Cinchon. Rub. (D’Unger s) 852.
Tinctura Rusci, 616, 712.

Tinctures, Dialysed (C. F. Heebnei)

987.

Tinfoil, Quantitative Analysis of, 727.
Titles, Pharmaceutical, Letters on
(Anonymous), 912, 951 ; (G. L.
Huet), 872; (A. H. Jackson), 912.
Tomatoes, Preservation of, 310.

Tonga, 433.

Tooth Powder, Mialhe’s, 598.

Tooth wash, Quillaia, 372.

Townson, T., Early Manufacture ot
Cod Liver Oil, 1045.

Trade Marks, Infringement of, 505.
Transactions of the Pharmaceuti¬
cal Society 29, 62, 116, 198, 296,
313, 357, 375, 421, 456, 498, 518,
557, 600, 618, 630, 682, 724, 737,
804, 838, 863, 883, 905, 916, 961,
1008, 1053.

Abraham, Mr. J., Vote of Con-
dolence respecting Death of, 1 45-
Annual Meeting, 961.

Apprentices, Elections of, 29, 117,
298, 376, 557, 631, 737, 840, 919,

1009. , _

Associates, Elections of, 29, 116, 29/ ,
375, 456, 557, 631,737,840,918,
1009.

Attendance of Members of Council

Tanner, A. E., Saffron, Sugar, etc., 508.

— A. E., Spiritus Ammonise Aromati¬

cus, 568, 608.

Tannic Acid, Reaction of Ferric Chlo¬
ride with, 158.

Tannin, Behaviour of, towards, Pepsin,
Albumin and Albuminoids, 532.

— Japanese Materials containing, 510.

— Nasal Bougies, 114.

Tanret, C., Ferrous _ Sucrocarbonate,
901.

Tansy, Infusion and Oil of, Poisoning
by, 894.

Taraxacum Coffee, 546.

Tartaric Acid, Poisoning by, 386.

Tate, G., Azo Dyes, 820.

Taylor, G., Pharmacy Acts Amendment
Bill, 627.

— W. C., Annual Meeting, 1020.

Tea, Bourbon, 913.

— Cape (H. G. Greenish), 549, 569,

832; (A. H. Church) 693.

Teeth, Filling for, 208.

Temperance Acts and Pharmacists,

992.

Terrill, j., Pharmacy Act Amendment
Bill, 586.

Thalictrine, 111.

Theobromine, Composition of, 896.

at Meetings of Committees,
Statement of, 927.

Auditors, Election of, 973.

Baildon, Mr., Vote of Condolence
respecting Death of, 564.

Bell Scholarships, Award of the, 119.
Benevolent Fund, Annual Balance
Sheet, 965.

— Fund Committee, Reports of the,

30, 117, 298, 376, 458, 558, 635,
738, 840, 921, 1011.

_ Fund, Discussions respecting the,

120, 301, 375, 558, 634, 841, 920.
_ Fund, Election of Annuitants, 518.

— Fund, Grants from the, 30, 117,

298, 376, 458, 558, 635, 738, 840,
921, 1011.

— Fund, Proposed Record of Dona¬

tions to the, 558, 634, 840, 920,
970.

Botanical Prize for 1882, 905.

Chloral Hydrate, Communication
from Privy Council respecting
Sale of, 739.

Committees, Appointment of, 1009.
Council, Election of Members of,
116, 918, 973.

_ Meetings of the, 29, 116, 198, 296,

375, 456, 498, 557, 630, 737, 838>
916, 961, 1008.

1064

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[ June 25, 1S81

Tbansactions of the Pharmaceuti¬
cal Society — continued.

Council^ Nomination for Members
of, 838.

— Retiring Members of, 630.
Curriculum, Opinion of Board of
Examiners as to Desirability of
Establishing a, 35.

Dispensing Class, 296.

Education and Examination, Report
of Committee respecting, 926.
Election of Annuitants, 518.

— of Apprentices, 29, 117, 298, 376,

557, 631, 737, 840, 919, 1009.

— of Associates, 29, 116, 297, 375,

456, 557, 631, 737, 840, 918, 1009.

— of Council, 116, 918, 973.

— of Honorary Members, 920.

— of Members, 29, 116, 297, 375,

557, 631, 737, 840, 918, 1009.

— of Officers, 1008.

Evening Meetings, Discussion re¬
specting, 457.

—- Meetings. See under Evening
Meetings.

Examinations, Appointment of Su¬
perintendents of, 119.

— Discussions respecting the, 459,
560, 637, 742.

— in Edinburgh, 64, 359, 519, 749,

929.

— in London, 62, 358, 498, 724, 928,

1053.

— Reports of Government Visitors
on the, 302, 313, 843.

Examiners, Appointment of, 456,
557, 1009.

— Reports of the Board of, 35, 120,
378, 560, 742, 928.

Exhibition of Pharmaceutical Ap¬
paratus, 457, 637, 843, 925, 1010,
1016.

Finance Committee, Reports of, 30,
117, 298, 376, 458, 558, 634, 737,
840, 921, 1010.

Financial Statement, 964,

General Purposes Committee, Reports
of, 31, 118, 298, 378, 459, 560,
636, 742, 843, 925.

Hanbury Medal, 560.

Hills, Mr., Withdrawal of, from the
Council, 838, 1014.

Horses, Administration of Poisons to,
Memorial respecting the, 741.
House Committee, Reports of, 31,
119, 377, 458, 558, 634, 737, 840,

920, 1010.

Inaugural Sessional Address, 289.
International Medical Congress,
Communication respecting, 745,
— Pharmaceutical Congress, 121,745,
847, 926, 1010.

Ireland, Pharmaceutical Society of,
Communication from, 639, 644,
737.

Jamaica, Poisons Law, Proposed,

1011.

Journal, Circulation of the, 1011.
Library, Donations to the, 30, 117,
376, 458, 558, 635, 738, 842,

921, 1010.

— Museum and Laboratory Com¬
mittee, Reports of, 30, 117, 298,
376, 458, 558, 635, 738, 841, 9zl,
1010.

Lo:al Associations, Aid to, 457, 560.

Transactions of the Pharmaceuti¬
cal Society — continued.

Local Secretaries, List of, 31.
Mackay, Mr. J., Vote of Condolence
respecting Death of, 917.

Major Examinations, 62, 64, 358,
498, 519, 724, 750, 928, 1053. .
Medical Acts Amendment Bill, Dis¬
cussion respecting the, 743.

— Acts, Royal Commission on the,
916, 922.

Members, Elections of, 29, 116, 297,

375, 557, 631, 737, 840, 918,

1009.

Minor Examinations, 62, 64, 358.

498, 519, 724, 750, 928, 1053.
Modified Examinations, 62, 65, 358,

498, 724, 750, 929, 1053.
Museum, Donations to the, 31, 118,

377, 459, 558, 636, 739, 842, 921,

1010. ,

North British Branch, Annual Re¬
port of the, 884.

— British Branch, Meetings of the,
421, 499, 618, 725, 804, 863,
(Annual), 884.

Patent Medicines containing Poisons,
Sale of, Discussion respecting
the, 30, 845.

Pharmacopoeia, Position of Pharma¬
cists in respect to, 845.
Pharmacy Act Amendment Com¬
mittee, Reports of and Dis¬
cussion respecting, 119, 378, 458,
459, 498, 561, 638, 739, 842.

— Act Amendment, Communication
from Privy Council respecting,
739, 922.

Poisons, Letter from Privy Council
respecting Sale of, 740.
Preliminary Examination, List of
Examinations to be received in
Lieu of the Society’s, 742, 849,
— Examination, Discussion respect¬
ing the, 637.

— Examinations, 63, 357, 600, 883.
— Examinations, Certificates re¬
ceived in Lieu of, 62, 65, 359,

499, 602, 725, 750, 929, 1053.

— Examinations, List of Centres and

•Number of Candidates, 35.
President’s Address, 961.

Privy Council, Communications from
the, 739, 740, 843, 922.
Prizemen, Proposed Lists of, 458,
920.

Prizes, Award of the, 118, 843.

— Distribution of, 302.

Professors, Appointment of, 32.

— Reports of the, 302.

Register, Additions to the, 30, 298,

376, 456, 840, 1009.

Registrar’s Report for 1880, 632.
Report of the Council, 962.

Sandford, Mr., Withdrawal of, from

the Council, 838, 1014.

School of Pharmacy, Discussions re¬
specting the, 32, 122, 296, 298.
Shaw, Mr., Resignation of, 29, 116.
Spirit, Bill, Discussion respecting the,
32, 122.

Trimble, H., Formic Ether, 857.
Tripolith, 513.

Tropines, The, 111, 351.

Tucker, W. T., Position of Widows
under the Pharmacy Act, 507.

Tucker, W. T., The Society’s Journal,

1077.

Tulip, Alkaloid from the, 350.

Tully, J., Spiritus Ammonise Aroma-
ticus, 712.

Turpentine, Collection in the United
States, 26.

— Oil Emulsion, 285.

Ultramarine in Wall-Papers, 513.

Ung. Acidi Carbolici, 348.

— Rumicis, 346, 367.

United States, Adulteration for the,
216.

— States, Some Medico -Pharmaceutical

Abuses in the, 235.

Urea, Synthesis of (E. F. Herroun), 993.
Usnic Acid, (J. Stenhouse and C. E.
Groves), 808.

Valerian, Sium longifolium as an Adul¬
terant of, 610.

Valkenburg, S. D. von, Preparation of
Iodine-Iron Cod Liver Oil, 209.
Vanadium, Sulphides of (W. E. Kay),
399.

Van Allen, H., Viburnum pruni-
folium, 413.

Van der Burg, E. A., Cod Liver Oil,
Ashy Ingredients in, 189.

— E. A., Iodine-Iron Cod Liver Oil,

Analysis of, 189.

Vanilla, Commercial, Origin of (J. C.
Sawer), 773.

— Cultivation, 430.

Varnish, Crystal for Negatives, 228.
Vaseline (W. H. Symons), 695, 912.

— Introduction of, into the Pharma¬

copoeia, Proposed (G. T. Starkey),
588.

Vekhand, 21.

Verbascum nigrum, 429.

Vermin Killer, Poisoning by, 366, 505,
728.

Viburnum prunifolium (H. Van
Allen), 413.

Victoria, Pharmacy in, 804, 1052.
Villiers, A., Etherification of Hydro-
bromic Acid, 700.

Vinegar Adulteration, 1019.

— and Wine, Flowers of (J. B.

Schnsetzler), 155.

— Manufacture of, by Means of Bac¬

teria (E. Wurm), 132, 512.

Violet Powder, Alleged Death through
Use of Impure, 887.

Visha-Mungil, 22.

Viviparous Plants, 20.

Vizer, E. B., Pharmacy Acts Amend¬
ment Bill, 606.

Vogeler, A., Fruit Syrups, 1070.

Vogl, A., Origin of Gum of Quebracho
Colorado, 1.

Wade, J., Relations of Pharmacy and
Medicine, 711, 790.

Wagner, R., Obituary Notice of, 340.
Waldivin, 511, 895.

Wales, Local Association wanted for,
672.

Walnut Leaves, Black, in Diphtheria,
983. '

Wanika, a New African Arrow Poison
(A. W. Gerrard), 833.

Ward, G., Pharmaceutical Education,

1078.

June 25, 13S1.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

1095

Warden, E. H. J., Examination of
Gloriosa superba, 431, 495.

Warington, R., Appearance of Nitrous
Acid during the Evaporation of
Water, 808.

Warrell, E., Homoeopathic Prepara¬
tions, 587.

Wasowicz., D. V., Japanese Aconite,
149.

Waste, Utilization of, 216.

Water Analysis, Estimation of Organic
Carbon and Nitrogen- in (M. W.
Williams), 726.

— Oxidation of Organic Matter in

(A. Downes), 624.

— Potable, Controversy, 257.

— River (C. W. Tidy), 766.

— Sea, Organic Matter in (W. Jago),

868.

Waters, Natural and Artificial Mineral,
612.

Watson, W. H., Action of Oils on Metals,
371.

Wax, Bottling, from a Bye-Product
(J. F. Brown), 1003.

— Chinese White, 310.

Weather Glass, 207.

Weddell, G., Assistants in the South of
France, 168, 248.

Weights, Aluminium and German
Silver, 112.

— and Measures Act, Board of Trade

Report upon, 439.

— and Measures Act, Prosecution

under the, Editorial Remarks on,
373, 440, 477, 517, 629.

— and Measures Act, Prosecutions

under the (Freeman), 59; (Whit¬
tle), 385, 483, 625, 645.

— and Measures Act, Prosecution 1
under the, Letter from Board of :
Trade respecting, 516.

Weights and Measures, Apothecaries,’
Editorial Notes, 140, 356.

— and Measures, Apothecaries,’ Letter

on (C. Symes), 20.

— and Measures, British Association

of Inspectors of, 942.

— and Measures Question in Parlia¬

ment, 681.

— Balances and Measures employed in

Pharmacy (T. Redwood), 673.

— Incorrect, Verified, 382.

Wells, P., Professorial Certificates, 1020.
Wenzell, W. T., Ferric Succinate, 777.
Wheat, Analysis of, 15.

Widows, Position of under the Phar¬
macy Act, Letter on the (W. T.
Tucker), 507. Sce^also Letters on
Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill.
Wilkinson, W., PK. macy Act Amend¬
ment Bill, 605.

Will, W. W., Alumen, B. P., 731.

— W. W., So-called Allotropic Gum

A rnViir* 951

Williams, *M. * W., Estimation of
Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in
Water Analysis. 726.

— M. W., Use of Copper-Zinc Couple

in Estimation of Nitric Acid in
Water Analysis, 689.

Williamson, J., Medical Dispensing,
607, 771.

Wills, G. S. V.. Election of Council,
932.

Wine, Flowers of (J. B. Sohmetzler),
155.

Wolff, L., Ethyl Bromide, 3.

Woodland, J., Aqua Lauro-Cerasi,
Report on Commercial Specimens
of, 322.

— J., Potash and Ammonia, Alkaline

Solutions, Report on Strength and
Purity of, 323.

Woolley, G. S., Pharmacy Acts Amend¬
ment Bill, 627.

Wright, C. R. A., Aconitine, Charac¬
teristics of, and Allied Alkaloids, 2.

— C. R. A., Aconitine, Crystallized v.

Amorphous, 19, 148.

— C. R. A., and E. H. Rennie, Report

on the Aconite Alkaloids, 217.

— C. R. A., and E. H. Rennie, Sweet

Principle of Smilax glycophylla,
808.

— C. R. A., E. H. Rennie and A. E.

Menke, Report on Chemical Dy¬
namics, 400.

— L. T., Ammonium Nitrite and the

Reaction between Nitric Oxide
and Hydrogen in presence of
Spongy Platinum, 993.

— R., Pharmacy in Relation to Medi¬

cine, 891.

Wulfsberg, N., Aspidospermine and
Paytine, 252, 269.

Wurm, E., Manufacture of Vinegar by
Means of Bacteria, 132.

Wurtz, A., Papaine, 129, 802.

! Xanthorrhoea Resins (J. M. Maiseh),
1005.

Xanthoxylum Naranjillo, Constituents
of, 612.

Yew, Alkaloid from the, 715.

Young, W., Hydrocarbons as Sub¬
stitutes for Lard, 712.

Zinc Hypochlorite, Solutions of, 797.

— Lactate (J. F. Brown), 1003.

- — Oleate, 892.

— Sulphate, Nasal Bourgies of, 114.

PRINTED BY STEVENS AND RICHARDSON,

5, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, LONDON, W.C.

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